fake yarn & fake trees

so, i have cast-on for my very first commissioned piece of knitting! i made a friend some fingerless gloves for a secret santa, and he asked me to make his wife some "dallas cowboy mittens". hmmmm. and he didn't ask me so much as just put money into my paypal. this was totally fine, and i would almost rather do them for free...because i couldn't even tell him what would be 'enough' for a pair of mittens. if you include yarn and time...you're talking about like a $100 pair of mittens, and that's if i get minimum wage! hehe, but oh well. glad to do it!

i must admit though...i am using some faux yarn, but hey! it's machine-washable! and i couldn't figure out how to modify a star chart, so he said plain white mittens would be fine. so i decided to make some white ones, but snazz them up a bit.

this is my second time doing the chevalier mittens, and the first time they ended up being really long. so this time around i cut-out 14 rows, and that seems to be just right. since i did a little chart modifying, the cables are a little wonky in places, but it's hard to tell...



so i got one done in about 24 hours, so i'm hoping to get these sent out by this weekend, wahoo! just in time for christmas. speaking of which, i still don't have a tree! i want a tree so much, i'd even take a little charlie brown tree.

washcloth weekend

how does the weekend fly by so fast?! i had some big knitting plans for the weekend, then all of a sudden it was sunday night and i'd made a washcloth, hehe oops.

i decided i'm going to make my mom some flower washcloths for christmas, i managed to make one petal for that...and a cute lion washcloth for myself! it seriously killed my hands though, and i think my needles totally carved designs into each other. i don't think it helped that i was holding the yarn double-stranded, but the mane looked so much better that way! :) seeeeeeeeeee



there was also some lovely knitting at braeda on saturday and tana almost made my brain fall out of my head with her seaming, i don't get it! i need to learn her ways. she is my mr. miyagi.

ok, back to work...i leave you with my lovely little hamster, fluffaluffagus being his usually crazy self!

anti-social lunch knitting

there are a few lovely ladies here at work who knit, and they get together every friday and knit by the fireplace (in the cafeteria, but still....there's a fireplace!) i got an email inviting me to go, which is so nice of them, very sweet. but i haven't gone yet, and i feel bad! but i really kind of like taking my lunch and knitting by myself and listening to my ipod. i'm such a loner knitter. is that bad? i'm sure if i went i'd like it, and i should really just go.

but i like sitting by myself and listening to keith and chemda :) i always sit in the same spot and see most of the same people walking by everyday. only a few of them look at me funny, i realized that i'm pretty covered in yarn. today i had on my hat and clapotis and was working on a sweater. they're just jealous! ;) here i am in all my lunch-knitting glory.



and because i love these and i have too much time on my hands!.......

NINE places I’ve visited

1: venice
2: paris
3: london
4: disney world (wanna go back!)
5: new jersey (don't go!)
6: wyoming
7: hawaii
8: queens
9: the michigan u.p

EIGHT ways to win my heart
1: iced coffee
2: suggest watching jurassic park, signs or the descent
3: be able to fix my knitting mistakes
4: hugs
5: strong handshakes (maybe not win my heart, but my respect!) ;)
6: tell stories
7: hold my hand
8. cupcakes!

SEVEN things I want to do before I die
1: go on a yoga retreat
2: go to india
3: get a dog
4: live alone
5: have kids (not soon!)
6: come to peace with my hair
7: travel alone

SIX things I’m afraid of
1: driving
2: bedbugs (i lived in nyc)
3: close talkers
4: my student loans
5: ghosts
6: the dark

FIVE things I don't like
1: weiner dogs
2: olives
3: getting out of bed
4: going to sleep with my hair wet
5: when my contacts rip while they're in my eyes!

FOUR ways to turn me off
1: smoke
2: own a weiner dog
3: hate oprah
4: be mean

THREE Things I do everyday
1: knit
2: get static shock from my earbuds
3: look in the mirror and think i should brush my hair

TWO things that make me happy
1: coffee
2: talking to my grandma

ONE thing on my mind right now
1: going home for christmas

charts are out to get me

i love s&b. i look forward to it every week, and it never disappoints! also, i learn something new every time i go. a couple weeks ago i learned that you read charts from right to left, not left to right! who knew?! apparently everybody but me! all those years of chart reading, and i'd been doing it backwards, i expect nothing less. and last night, i remembered that bottom up does not infact mean 'in the round'. duh! sometimes i wonder about myself...

also, tana helped me figure out a chart repeat that was practically invisible. only two rows into my 'lucy in the sky' cardigan and i'm already needed back-up, ahgeez. see! this is why i can never miss a s&b! i might be knitting things inside-out and backwards, who knows!

so i'm making my lucy cardy about 2 sizes bigger than my actual size, because i like loose fitting sweaters...i hope it ends up looking cozy as opposed to ridiculous. only time will tell! stay tuned to find out. and here is my lucy cardy hanging out on my desk at work...and this is my desk in it's 'clean' state. hehe

oh no you di-int!

my knitting has betrayed me! who woulda thunk it. so i blocked my sweet pea coat (even though i don't get or like blocking!) and everything was going fine, la la la, until the seaming. seriously, can i hire someone to seam for me? it is truly the pits. so i went over to knitty and found their tutorial and got the sides seamed, they look a little wonky, but what can ya do?!

then came the sleeves...ooooooh, the sleeves. they look like they are meant to fit a totally different sweater, there is no way they could be put on without looking like something created for the nightmare before christmas. so i'm going to redo them. i'm going to try and pick up stitches around the armhole and just do it my way. i was ready to just throw it in the back of my closet (like so many of its friends) but i figure, i put so much work into it, and my ravelry projects page is counting on me! so i must fix.

but in the meantime i bought 6 skeins of cascade 220 to make lucy in the sky, because why not cast-on for a new sweater when i have about 10 wips and a sweater that's giving me ulcers! haha, oh swells.

in more exciting news...i got my first tag! wahooooooooo! i'm not really sure how this fancy tagging thing works, but i'm gonna give it a try.

Lovely Lisa tagged me with a Six Things Meme:

These are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random, arbitrary things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

1. i love love LOVE making lists, so much so, that i'll add things to a to-do list even if they're done, just so i can cross them out.

2.lately i've really been wanting a career that involves pregnant women/babies. like being a doula, or doing those baby massages i saw on oprah once.

3.i cannot touch warm, damp towels or washcloths. like the kind they put on your hands and arms during a manicure, they make me feel like i can't breathe. (i am nuts.)

4.i do not own a t.v. and this is truly sad because i am a total televisionaholic. i even miss commercials!

5.when i was little the toys r us song 'i don't want to grow up, i'm a toys r us kid' made me cry, because growing up scared me so much and i wanted to be a kid forever. and i was right! being an adult is scary.

6.i love being in groups of people and just listening. i think this makes me seem anti-social sometimes, even though i'm having the best time ever! i just love hearing stories. :)

ok i'm tagging:

Jedimom

Cimorine

Sarah

Kata

i know i need two more peeps...but i can't think of anyone! ooops. :)

two owls, no turkeys

happy day after thanksgiving! i spent the day at my boyfriend's aunt & uncle's and had some yummy food...although no turkey. but i did love this broccoli, cheese, rice concoction someone made. we were there pretty much all day, so you KNOW i brought some knitting with me. i'm pretty much over feeling self-conscious about knitting at family gathering type events. i kind of feel like it makes me seem anti-social, and then i think about how much i really want to knit, and i couldn't care less what people think. :) hehe. nobody comes between me and my wips.

i brought my sweet pea coat with me and i finished the left side, so i only have the sleeves left! but i need sz. 13 dpns and of course i don't have any! i have just about every other size (doesn't that always happen?) i checked joann's and hobby lobby and they didn't have any either. i considered doing some math and knitting them flat and seaming, but that idea lasted about 5 seconds...i think i'll check the lys tomorrow.

so, since my sweet pea coat has to be set aside until i get my hands on some 13's i worked on my 'give a hoot' mittens. this pattern has had about 20 corrections since it came out....a month ago. and i am someone who does not trust my better judgement and i follow a pattern to the death! but i made it through, and my mittens are done and they fit! so i am pretty pleased. i even sewed on the little button eyes! they are my favorite touch. they are a light blue and they look like they are glowing.

i love that i have two full days of free time that i can knitknitknitknit. i am truly embracing my obsession these days. :) here are my owl mitts...

who am i kidding?

so, i messed up! i know this is par for the knitting course, but it never ceases to make me nuts! i finished the back of my sweet pea coat (wahoo!) and started the right front...that's where it all got crazy. it all began with the dividing for the pocket, i just didn't understand the pattern at all. so, after much thought, and pulling of hair, i decided to forget the pocket all together! who needs pockets anyways!? (actually i probably do).

so i ripped back at least 8 inches, and that just kills me. i would almost rather live with that funny looking stitch down there, i mean, who would notice?! besides me, every other minute or so. but since i'm putting so much time and love into this knitted piece of gloriousness, i figure the least i can do is re-knit a couple (dozen) rows.

here is a picture pre-frogging, when i thought i might just have a faux-pocket...ya know, the kind that are just rows of different looking stitches, that make no sense! sorry the picture is kind of dark, and don't mind the hair-tie stitch marker hehe.

wips>fos

happy tuesday! i'm hoping that the power of suggestion starts taking effect...because i woke up in the worst mood today. and even though i'm not really a morning person, that doesn't happen that often. and then i go to open some new tights, and they get a hole in them! what's up with that?! knitted tights wouldn't to day that! just sayin'.

on a knitted note, i talked to my brother yesterday and he already put a hole in the hat i made him. he has owned it for less than a week. he said it started to unravel by itself. mhmm, riiiiiiiiight. now, i know i'm no E.Z, but i also know a hat doesn't just start unraveling while it's on someone's head. maybe when i first started knitting, but not now! my mom asked if she can fix it, but i told her you have to be a knitter. haha, i don't really care though, she probably could, i was just irritated.

so i have lots and lots of things on the needles...mittens, a coat, a sweater, two socks, a scarf, and i want to start another cowl, but that will have to wait (at least another day or two). and out of all that stuff, only one thing isn't for me! oh man, i really need to knit for xmas exclusively (like that'll happen). but right now the sweet pea coat from twist collective is my #1 wip. oh how i love it. and it's on 13's, so it's zooming. here is a picture of me and my new prized wip.

done, will do, don't think so...

Happy Monday! I saw this list on someone's blog and I love these kind of things...so here goes! (and shhh, I'm on the clock!)

Bold is for what I've done, italics for what I plan to do, and nothing for what I don't.


Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with bananafiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffitti knitting: knitting items on, or to be left on the street
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Household items: dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...
knitting socks- or other small tubular items- on two circulars
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with selfpatterning/selfstriping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
JewelryKnitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair (i have a dog, it slips in!)
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

As I mentioned, I finally got a job! It's technically a temp. position, there is someone sick in the office, and she doesn't think she'll be back until the end of January. So I'm employed, but for the time being. Eeek!

I really thought the amount of time I spent knitting would go way down, and it has, but not as much as I thought. I knit at break and all through lunch so that's really nice. And I finally have something to finance all my yarn buying binges, wahoo! There is also someone in the office that knits, she's really fun. She's an older lady who magic markers her hair a different color almost everyday, so in other words, she's my kind of peeps.

I've been trying to squeeze in some Christmas knitting in between all the things I keep casting-on for myself (oops). So far I have about 25% of a scarf for my dad done. I'm not sure what I'm going to make everyone else. I tried making my mom some felted clogs, but that pattern seriously threw me and I quit. I think she's going to get some dishcloths or something. Alex will probably get some gloves, and Adam probably a hat and guitar strap. But we shall see!

I've been such a greedy knitter this winter, and with Christmas so close I should really get my act together!

guess who's back!?

so, remember how i was going to try and blog regularly? haha, oops? better late than never i suppose! well my last post was made from new york city. and i haven't been there since july 3rd. i am now at my new home in lincoln, ne. :) it has been pretty lovely so far. although, i'm starting to get a bit of cabin fever since i don't have a fulltime gig yet, but i'm looking!

some highlights of my time here so far; i have joined a stitch & bitch (squee!), i have had the most productive knitting time in my whole life in these past few months, i actually have more than 9 feet of space to live in, and my boyfriend and i haven't killed each other yet! haha, it's going really well.

on the knitting note, i'm on a major cast-on kick. even more so than normal. if i could, i'd cast-on something new everyday, nevermind the fact that i didn't finish yesterdays project. :) but i loves it. i started some christmas knitting. i'm going to make my parents some felted clogs, but i'm stuck on the pattern so i think i'm going to take it to s&b.

speaking of s&b...i absolutely love it. i can't believe i lived in a city with 10 million people and i never met a knitter until i moved to nebraska. haha, totally my fault, but still kind of crazy. we meet every wednesday and i look forward to it so much. the ladies crack me up and a good time is had by all. i've even learned how to spit splice! oooooh snap!

alright, i'm going to knit a few rows and hit the sack...more posts to come i promise! and pictures too!

on the clock

one of the best things about my job and about the hours i work, is that i get alot of alone time and alot of down time once it gets past 10pm. this means lots of knitting time :) i try to make sure that i always have at least one wip with me. today i brought my embossed leaves socks made in lisa souza's mother of pearl. i love love LOVE this yarn, the colors are really subtle, and its just so soft. this pair of socks has been 75% done for about 3 months. the only thing to blame is my insane a.d.d and casting-on addiction. the other sock has been waiting for its partner for some time now, i'm hoping to finish this up soon.

also i have my branching out scarf, its a proud moment because i'm knitting from my stash! and i also wanted to kind of go back to basics, i haven't made a scarf in years, and i love scarves, so why not!

and finally i have my buttony sweater, this baby was knit up in about 10 days! it's a personal record for concentration and devotion. and of course, i put off the tiny little last sleeve, probably doubling the time it's taking to finish. :) but i cant wait for it to be done, and one of my first finished sweaters! so here we have my night at work summed up:

101 in 1001!

so i joined the group 101 in 1001 on ravelry and i love making lists so much, almost as much as i like crossing things out on lists (i've been known to add things i've already done on to-do lists, just so i can cross them out) so even though it's a partial list, i'll put what i have so far...i think i'm going to count today as the starting day because i'm puttin' it out there! and that will get me to finish the list sooner. :)

started: may 11, 2008
ends: february 7, 2011
completed: 7/101

1-design socks
2- get a job i like (done nov.5, 2008)
3-get a dog/cat
4- get a bike (done july 2008)
5-handpaint yarn
6-start a regular home (yoga) practice
7-knit a sweater (done may 13, 2008)
8- knit the boyfriend an ipod case (June 25, 2008)
9-go to colorado
10-go on vacation somewhere sunny
11-open an etsy shop
12-go on a yoga retreat
13-teach yoga (more)
14-
15-get a library card (in ne) and use it regularly! (july 2008)
16-learn to spin
17-no pop for a month
18-knit a lace shawl (clapotis counts! aug. 19, 2008)
19-knit a blanket (regular human size)
20-have a garden
21-make homemade bread
22-get a sewing machine
23-sew myself a piece of clothing
24-mail 2008 holiday cards
25-make a new friend (s&b ladies :) )
26-go on a roadtrip
27-go hiking
28-send an unexpected gift to someone
29-lose weight (an undisclosed amount) ;)
30-make a candle
31-knit knee socks with scrap yarn
32-paint a picture
33-learn to make smoothies
34-buy a blender (see 33)
35-learn to make my own iced coffee
36-learn to hook rugs (sept. 2008)
37-get a regular meditation practice
38-read 5 books in a month
39-read 3 nonfiction book in a month
40-knit at least one thing from every knitting book/magazine i own
41-go on a cruise
42-go on a trip with my mom
43-drink green tea everyday for a month
44-get a massage
45-own a rocking chair
46-own a cozy chair (which will become my knitting chair) :)
47-join a s&b (aug. 2008)
48-go on a trip by myself
49-knit 10 things from my ravelry que
50-learn how to play my guitar
51-knit something for everyone in my immediate family
52-get a new laptop
53-get a car
54-volunteer for 3 different organizations
55-vote
56-carve a pumpkin
57-get my own christmas tree and decorate it
58-bake a pie
59-move out of ny (july 3, 2008)
60-

well helloooooooooooo!

so i'm really buckling down this time. and i am going to become a blogger! i am bound and determined after (at least) 3 attempts, i really think it's going to stick this time. i joined ravelry about a month ago and it has really gotten my knitting mojo going. i'm knitting like its nobody's business, on the subway, at home, at work, i'm tempted to start walking and knitting, but i doubt it will work on the busy nyc sidewalks and i've had terrible visions of someone grabbing my knitting and making a run for it, never mind my ipod and phone in plain view.

so i am a 24 year old currently living in brooklyn, ny. i came to ny for school and have been here for about 6 years. i'm originally from michigan, and will actually be making a cross-country move to lincoln, nebraska in about a month and a half, and i'm pretty scared about the transition from city to country, but being from michigan i think i'll do just fine.

currently on my needles i have about 4 projects, i am a complete a.d.d knitter, i cast-on like there is no tomorrow (because you never know!) i'm working on a regular monkey sock, a waving lace sock, the buttony sweater, and a monkey knee sock...i think there's something else, i just can't remember.

so i'm hoping to get these all done, i don't think i can take many more wips laying around, and i've been knitting from my stash! one of my proudest moments. :) ok i think this is good for a first post, i shall return with more juicy knitting details and hopefully some pictures.