Random Tag - From Sue - Pass it on!

So I've been tagged by http://suerothknits4fun.blogspot.com/ for 7 Random Facts Meme!!!

Here are the rules, and they must be posted on your blog:

1. Link to the person’s blog who tagged you (see above).
2. List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself.
3. Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog and also so they can look at your blog and not tag the same people all over again!
5. Let the fun begin.

Here are 7 bizarre/random/weird facts about me:

• My parents and my husband were all "only children". My daughter will probably be my only child - even though she will have a half-brother.
• I like having long hair - but can never let it grow long enough without getting it chopped off
• I love my job - as administrative as it is - and as different as it is from my degree in Art History
• I think you can love your friends more than your family
• My shoe size is 11. My sneakers are size 12.
• I am the tallest person in my family thus far.
• I secretly wish to take massage therapy classes so I can open an massage/yarn shop some day...and take a huge pay cut!

NOW... 7 people with blogs who I can tag!

• Alyssa (because I see her every day!) http://www.stitchbitch23.blogspot.com
• Amber (because she's hysterical!) http://yarny.wordpress.com
• Liz (because she lives nearby) http://artclassfailure.wordpress.com
• Ann (because she has beautiful designs) http://weaverknits.blogspot.com
• Anmiryam (because she names things after characters from Wallace & Gromit!) http://gromitknits.typepad.com
• Sarah (because she has tons of cute finished projects) http://shessassy.vox.com/
• Michelle (because I love so many of her unique projects) http://www.miknits.com

Home stretch...almost

I am slowly but surely decreasing on the right sleeve of the Bubble Cable Dolman - HALLELUJAH! Trouble is, for as much as an accomplishment as that may seem - the cabling will be DONE DONE DONE - I still have to pick up the waist/body ribbing and do another million rounds :o) Ok, so maybe another 7" of 2x2 ribbing - but you get the point. I'm hoping, praying, to have the arm done by end of tomorrow evening (fingers crossed). Ah, more pictures to come as well - the camera has been here/there and everywhere - and never quite in the right place at the right time...wouldn't you know!

Pet Peeve Numero Deux

Ok, so commuting in NYC is never easy - trains break down, they get delayed, they are packed full of people and so on.

However, any seasoned commuter knows the "walk left, stand right" policy on escalators. And any time there's a hold up on the "walk left" side, you know that it's some tourist or old person that doesn't know the rule. Everyone grumbles, people stretch to look around to see the hold up and it generally helps get your day off on the wrong foot.

But here's question. Why can't people stay in "lanes" - even IMAGINARY lanes at best??? First scenario - you're walking through the turnstiles and down a long platform which is at least 2 - 3 people wide. For arguments sake, let's say two. So ONE person will walk in the middle of ALL that space and clog the system, backing up dozens of commuters who are headed for their predetermined spot on that platform (most of us align ourselves to where the doors will open and where we will be let out at our destination - often times right at the stairways out!). Why can't that Clogger stay to one "lane" or the other so other's may pass???

Second scenario - when you arrive at your final destination and the people tumble from the subways, why can't people stay in their "imaginary lanes" while herding to the stairways? How difficult is it to realize that there are two sides to the staircase, each side warrants two rows of upward bound people and you need to position your walking toward a row - and not "change lanes". What if these people were driving on the road? It's the same darned theory!!! Use your blinker. Watch for oncoming traffic. URGH.

So that's what I have to say about pet peeves today - people who don't stay in their lanes SUCK! :o)

Bubble Cable - Update #6

Well, I didn't get through quite as much as I thought this weekend - my beloved husband is such a "do--er" and I didn't get a moments rest -- even with my aching back. Well, I got a little rest, but it would have been nice to have more knitting time. The "do--er" needs a supervisor - I should say a CONSTANT supervisor - when doing things inside the house. A long time ago I relinquished my input on OUTdoor projects -- but the INdoor ones I keep a constant eye on. This on again / off again weather has him jonesing for something TO DO (thus the nickname - The DO--er). Since he can't do much outside, he has been eyeing everything inside which in turn causes me a headache because I can't even take a nap without knowing everything will be as I left it when I wake up. Last weekend he was on the organizational kick - which caused out small office/play room to be upturned and the basement to get a facelift - and for lots of money to be spent to do it. If he had had his way, he would have completely redone the rest of the office this weekend - but I sternly put my foot down - he's just looking for more TO DO!!! URGH!!!

So anyway, the knitting was a slow go. I've gotten about 14 rows done across the head opening and I'm finally feeling like I'm almost half way (I keep forgetting about all the body ribbing that will have to be done once I get to the end of the other cuff). Oh well...moving along!

Bubble Cable - Old Posts from Ravelry

1/10 - Finished the 26 rows of increases and just started the main body across. The cabling FINALLY just comes to me instead of having to look at the chart - after a million rows what else would i expect?

1/9 - Finally go to the section where you CO 3 stitiches going from arm to body. Made a mistake last night - forgot three rows - had to FROG and re start last night and this morning. Back on track. Hoping to get to body by end of week to see more of sizing. Fingers crossed!

1/3 - I was reading through the pattern and can't believe the numbers for sizing and measurements - i'm 5'10" and can't phathom how this sweater will fit in the long run. I'm half tempted to FROG what I've done so far - which would totally stink - but will see how next section goes. I might even try basting the seam for the arm to see if it really fits - I have some muscles in my lower arms that the tapering effect might seem tight on. URGH, the fun of it all!

1/2 - My "wingspan" is greater than 60.5" so I made the ribbed cuff 6.5" and think it will be great. I'm going to chart out the pattern for the additional stitches that get added because they're hard to keep track of - a visual will definitely help! Will try to publish it in case anyone else would like to use

12/30 - I've tested the gauge - first on a lighter weight yarn (jojoland wool) and now using the Baby Ull. I'll be able to cast on as soon as I have the longer size 4's - VERY excited!

Knit Along Starts February 1st

Please visit knitwitsknitalong.blogspot.com to view/join our first project starting February 1st. We're thinking about a pair of socks - let us know what you're in the mood for!

A knitter's tools

Here are some ingredients which, I feel, are an important part of every knitter's "toolbox":

1. Needles you love!
2. Yarn you love even more!
3. Good friends to knit with
4. TIME to knit each day
5. Patterns that help keep you inspired
6. Family members who support your "addiction"
7. A blog (and Ravelry account) to share your thoughts, work, trials and tribulations
8. A continued passion to create
9. A support group of friends who can convince you not to buy more yarn!
10. Storage space for every yarn you "had to have"

Have a great day - Friday is almost here!

Pet Peeve Numero Uno

I keep telling myself that I'd like to make a pet peeve list - for no particular reason, just because. Maybe so I can expand on them and see if they bug the crap out of other people too!

So here's numero uno on the list (more in the future)...

Male/Middle-seat train riders!

I was coming to work this morning and I was in a window seat of a 3-seater. Another (male) commuter sat down in the aisle seat a stop later. A few stops after that - and the second to last stop for the train - another (male) commuter asked for the center seat. Now, I'm no skinny minnie. I probably take up my whole space - between my derierre and my bag on my lap, I stake out my territory fairly well.

But here's what peeves me today.

Middle seaters - generally male - who encroach on space outside of their own and feel they're not only limited to their seat - which, on NJ Transit, has CLEAR "lines" and upolstery "sections" - but ENTITLED to spread out and squeeze anyone in the window seat. I should stress that this happens more with MALE riders - especially when two are seated next to each other because, heaven forbid!!!, they touch even a centimeter of their clothes! Would that be gay of them??? URGH. Instead, it's ok for them to squash a female in a window seat and spread their legs as open as they can and hold their papers as wide as possible and, in general, show blatent disregard for their fellow riders. Male / center-seat riders are R-U-D-E.

And don't even get me started with the South Orange passengers who do NOTHING but complain about having to stand for a 15 minute train ride. Hello, I got my butt out of bed at 7:10 and was on the train at 7:47. They get on at 8:40 (or thereabouts) and bitch bitch bitch. Puh-lease!

I've digressed - it's all just SO frustrating

Tell me, how's your knitting going instead!!!

until next time...
kc

Sue will not buy Yarn Today #6

Sue will not buy yarn today...because I gave her yarn as an early Christmas present! Oh, I'm so sneaky!

The story behind this yarn is that Sue and I were IMing one afternoon and she sent me a link for this yarn from Doodlebirds - and I said "no, no, don't buy it you have enough yarn". Sneaky me bought the 2 skeins that were left - I kept the longer color change one for myself. Isn't it P-R-E-T-T-Y?!?!

Pay/Knit It Forward

Pay It Forward

Last week JoFrog posted about Pay it Forward. This has been making its way around the blogs and seems like so much fun! Her friend Hannah offered to make a gift for the first three people that commented on her post if they promised to do the same. Sign me up!

In turn I'd like to make something for you! Here are the rules:

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this pay it forward exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise!

The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

Comment away and I'll get knitting!

Ah, short rows, my favorite...NOT!

So I had started to tackle the Short Row Hat using the Rowan Tapestry yarn I bought on the Vineyard. The beginning was going rather well. I haven't done anything on it for over a week so I picked it up again this morning on the train. And again, went rather well.

UNTIL...

If you've done the hat you know the directions are in numbered/lettered sections. I was statrting from section #3 toward the end. Everything was going so well. I began section #4 and got most of the way through it. I got to the crown portion and the number of stitches wasn't working out correctly. Which was funny because all along I thought it was. So I "stepped back" for a second and looked at the triangles. Looks like I dropped a stitch somewhere between the first "half" triangle and the second one. But ripping out/back isn't like ripping out a single row and picking up where you started from. It's like taking a detour back 5 minutes in your trip and then trying to readjust to your location.

So that's where I am - trying to figure out where I am. And it's not easy! I keep having to rip more out and write it down to try and match it up to the pattern. But it feels all backwards and I keep kicking myself for even trying to knit it on the train when I couldn't FULLY concentrate. URGH.

Patty has finished two and they look awesome - one was done in a Paton's yarn - pinks/browns - very cute. The second is a cream alpaca and the monotone looks pretty cool as well. I'm sure that once I can get through one complete go-through I'll have more of a handle on it - but gosh, getting to that point seems like an eternity (esp for me - Speedy Gonzales as Sue calls me!).

Anyway, that's it for today. The hat will sit there in my bag until this evening - and ALL DAY i'll wonder what went wrong.

Until tomorrow - have a great day and a wonderful week everyone!

Knitting a skirt with 52 stitches on size 4's?

Ok, so here's my laugh of the day!

I'm on the train to work this morning and a woman sits down next to me a few stops into the ride. I'm casting on stitches (a second attempt from last night) for the "Boston Red Sox Socks" I've decided to conjure up for Matthew's Christmas present. The problem is that I'm alternating the red (K1) and white (P1) for the top rib and since I'm twisting strands, there is a lot less S-T-R-E-T-C-H to them. So the original cast on of 44 stitches on size 3's was a wash. I recast on 52 stitches with size 4's when this woman was sitting next to me. My thinking is that I'll be able to switch to size 3's and decrease a few stitches when I switch back to st st for the leg.

Here's the funny part...

So I drop one of the dpns and have to reach down to get it. I apologize to the lady for having to lean slightly in front of her. She strikes up conversation as follows:

L: Oh, that's ok, I always wanted to knit (*what does that have to do with me dropping a needle*)
Me: Yeah, it's a great thing to do on the train
L: My friends always made sweaters for boyfriends and the arms were always too long
Me: Yeah, that happens when you can't measure someone and are trying to surprise them
L: I can embroider
Me: (*silence*)
L: You look like you're concentrating (*uh, huh*) are you making something round? It looks complicated. A skirt?
Me: No, I'm making a pair of socks for my step-son for christmas
L: Oh, socks!


AM I MAKING A SKIRT???? That was the kicker!!! Yes, because I'm clearly knitting for Barbie or my thumb! Ha ha - too funny (*at least to me*) not to share!

Yes, the train sure brings out the weirdos sometimes :o)

...but I may buy a Knitting Machine!

My hubby has been bugging me to purchase a knitting machine for him since i can't remember him not bugging me. His grandmother used to have several of these gigantic things - and when she died - and he was married to his first wife - the family got rid of them (AND her stash of yarn). Well, I'm finally giving in and bidding on one for him on ebay - since I refuse to pay the astronomical amount that the chain craft stores are selling them for. If I get one, he'll love it. If not, oh well. I still think they're "cheating machines" anyway :o)

Yarnaholics Thought of the Day #4

I will not buy yarn today
I will not buy yarn today
As much as I feel I need to
I will not buy yarn today

I've got an abundance of yarn at home. Well, maybe not a HUGE stash - but a lot. And I've been REALLY trying to only replenish what I've used - so everything should always fit in the bins I have and not sit in boxes on the floor. Right now there's a box on the floor. I could probably organize the bins so I could get rid of the box, but nah, that's not happening any time soon. Part of the problem is that two bins are old, icky yarn. I'm actually trying to use some for christmas presents so I won't even need to see that yarn again - EVER! Alas, my gifts don't require all that much yarn so it's a slow process. And then I feel guilty - I SHOULD be using yarn I would wear for gifts, right? Why give the gift of second best? Well, most of the gifts are for kids - so what do they care? They'll probably lose the hats I'm making by the end of the winter, right? URGH

I will not NOT nOt NoT buy yarn today

Hope you don't either :o)

The Yarnaholics Thought of the Day #3

I will enjoy the monotonousness of knitting hats for christmas presents because it is therapeutic for my soul and well being. Spending time with yarn from my stash will be like hanging out with an old friend - and we'll have a good time!

Yarnaholics Thought of the Day #1

The Yarnaholics Thought of the Day #1

I will not buy yarn today because yarn is not as pretty (rewarding, funny, smart) as my friends.

Have a great - non-yarn purchasing - day!

UFOs don't go unnoticed

The textured sweater - believe it or not - has been laid aside - Honestly, I think it's bobble-overdose! I finished the back and am about 1/3 of the way done with the front (of the last color). Then the sleeves. I guess i'm not worried about the sweater getting back into my hands after my current project (SOCKS!!!) because I've tried it on and it fits nicely so there's no reason for me not to finish it. Perhaps it's also the back and forth using circular needles that are slightly too small - you would think i could have switched it up a little - but no, i'm lazy.

So now i'm knitting the Annetrelac socks from Interweave Knits Holiday 2007 Issue - oh how I love them - but that's a post for another day!

Mother-in-law saves the day?!?!!?

Just a quickie before I run out of work...

So Ken and I went to see Mama Mia yesterday (b'day gift for me from my parents last month) and we got stuck in "shut down your car you're not going anywhere" traffic as we were nearing the Lincoln Tunnel to come home.

Luckily (or so I thought) I brought along my current knitting project. Not so lucky of me, I forgot the actual paper-pattern for it - and remembered I was beginning a section where there were increases every so often (nearing the bust line). WHAT TO DO - having time to knit AND the project with NO pattern - sheer T-O-R-T-U-R-E!!!

I called my mom-in-law (for all intents and purposes - "Nana") and asked if she could PLEASE read me the pattern - and I walked her through where I needed and she had a good chuckle trying to decipher it for me - but I had read through things earlier so I had an idea of what needed to be done - just not the row numbers to do it on. In the end, I had the numbers and was able to knit for a while - in traffic and later when we were heading up the Henry Hudson to the GWB. Finally, my eyes gave into the lack of day-light and I put it away.

That's my little story for now. Maybe more photos tomorrow!

kc

But what if...?!?!?!

"But what if it doesn't fit when I'm done?" is probably one of the most frequent thoughts of any knitter. I say "thoughts" instead of "questions" because a question is something we might say out loud to another knitter - and I know it's easier to THINK I might be wrong, than admit defeat to my fellow knitters.

Sure, I rip when the pattern is wrong - FROG IT. When the gauge seemed to big (and I was right) - FROG IT.

But this time I'm not sure. I didn't want the sweater to be boxy - I wanted a closer fit. But DAMN, I'm a curvy girl and I'm just not sure how this pullover will turn out. I know I will inevitably get it on holders this weekend to try it on - or model it on my sewing mannequin - but WHAT IF...?!?!?!

Will I keep going with it? Will I gift it and ever make another one for myself? If I gift it - to whom? Can i sell it to recoup some of the cost?

Ah, TGIF!

Where it stands: I've finished the deep blue cluster section and am doing "shells" in a moss green - so far so good - the gauge seems dead on so I must be doing something right.

Have a great weekend everyone!

The swiper!

Sure, she's cute - but when mom's away the baby bug will play!

Here's a photo of her wearing one of the hats I made over the weekend - I found the other hat and the extra yarn laying on the floor in the office - when she was done with this one it was left on the floor of the front porch with the dog. That will teach me!