Tinkin' the day away..

Yeah, you heard me.

After finishing Wicked..(oh yeah she's done..and I love her! There will be pictures as soon as B gets home to take them. =) ). Where was I? Yeah. So after finishing Wicked, my sanity has been restored. I gained the courage to pick up the Forest Path Stole and rip out the triangle that went bad.
I am happy to report that FPS is now out of time out. After e-mailing with the designer, I have now got clear instructions on how to continue in the pattern. There is nothing to see as of yet. I have only tinked out the mistakes. It feels good to know that she is ready for action though!

But that is not the only thing that needs tinking. As listed on my sidebar I have been working on the Mystery Shawl (a Group from Goddess Knits.) Basically every week you get a new clue..totalling 5 clues. I got in on the action late..and so I am only starting clue 3, even though all the clues are out and many people have finished. So it's not really a mystery anymore..but I digress.
Anyway..I have been wanting to get some progress done on this because the new Mystery will be starting soon..and of course I am going to join..but I feel that I should have this one done before starting a new one.
So last night I got busy finishing the 2ND clue, and moved on to the 3rd, and quickly realized that I was 3 stitches short. I guess having 2 beers did not help matters any.
So I have tinked back 2 rows..and I am still coming up 1 short. I think I missed a yarn over somewhere..so that means tinking 2 more rows. Don't worry, I am OK. Believe it or not, all this tinking has been therapeutic.
Think about it, how often in life can you tink back a mistake you made? Never. You just have to learn from it and move on. Hopefully.
Wow. I'm like smart and stuff.

So here is the sum up of things. The mystery shawl is getting tinked. The FPS is back in action. Wicked is done. The Pirate hat is getting some love. And I started a pair of Jaywalkers. What? Did I forget to mention that?

And the one thing I am itching to work on? My Faina scarf..but I feel I need to finish up a few things first.

Oh crud..and March is a day away...that means new goals! And Sock Madness starts March 10Th.

Thank goodness I took the night off from work!

(Stay tuned..there will hopefully be a post on Wicked sometime this evening.)

P.S. Have you ever seen the word "tinked" used this much in one post? LOL!

Because I am too tired for pictures, you get this. =)

The Secret Pal 10 questionnaire...I know you are so excited!!!!


(Hey, if you were my pal you might be!)


I'm not even sure if I am signed up for the dang thing. I was supposed to get a confirmation e-mail..but I have received nada so far. Or maybe I trashed it? Who knows.
So yeah, I am going to give the whole Secret Pal thing a try. It seems people love it or hate it..

Hi Secret Pal! (If I actually have one. =) ) Otherwise, Hi blogland!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?


Oh my...I guess I in this category I would have to say anything soft. I have been buying up sock yarn and lace yarn like crazy lately. I do prefer the natural fibers..but I don't mind acrylic if it's a "nice" one.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have a needle storage "fabric envelope" that is overflowing at the moment..the rest are in a canvas bag. LOL

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I learned the bare bones of knitting when I was a kid. But I did not really learn until 3 years ago. I had a few people show me how..but it was not until I took a class and learned how to pick that I caught on.

I would say I am an advanced knitter. Anything I have not done, I am willing to try/learn.


4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Nope..not yet.

5. What's your favorite scent?

I like Jasmine, Magnolia, Vanilla, Coconut. And "clean scents." Not a big musk person or heavier smells (like Rose...I love Roses and their smell..just not on me.)

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Heck Yeah! Of course I love chocolate. Especially if it has nuts or other yummers in it. I also like jelly bellies..and I have recently learned that I really like treacle toffee.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I crochet..and I used to cross stitch..I say used to because I do not have the space to start that hobby again (although I still have all the stuff.)
I took a drop spindle class a few months ago..but it did not "stick". I did not pick up on it right away, and I did not learn everything (like plying.) and so I have lost interest. I would like to get a spinning wheel and maybe try another class that was a bit more involved...but until then..I guess the answer is no.


8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like all kinds of music, as long as it is not death metal or gangster rap. I am a big fan of Tori Amos, Dave Mathews, Regina Spektor, Carbon Leaf, Death Cab for Cutie..but let's put it this way, between B and I we own about 500 CD's.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I would say my favorite colors right now are pink and green..but I love deep reds and blues as well. And I really like pink and brown together. and lately I have been really attracted to purples.
But seriously, I have never met a color I didn't like.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I got one man..we call him B around here. And one master..I am the pet. =) She would be a cat and her name is Scrappy..or as B and I have nicknamed her...Professor Meowsenshitz.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

All of the above, except for ponchos...Wait, do mittens have the fingers? If not then I don't wear mittens..I wear gloves..but I could always try them out and see what I think. =)

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

What isn't? I love knitting socks, lace, sweaters, hats..never made full out mittens, or gloves..I would like to try someday..but I have done the fingerless mitts.

13. What are you knitting right now?

LOL. See side bar. A little bit of everything I am sure. =)

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Heck yeah! Do I look like an idiot to you?

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Circulars 1,000 %. Bamboo, plastic, and stainless steel all work for me..aluminum seems to be hard on the hands.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Doesn't everyone?

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Wow! Knitting or crocheting?
Knitting...probably about 3 years.
Crocheting?......uh 12 years maybe? LOL!

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Anyone where gifts are exchanged. =) I like Halloween too..although all the crazies have royally screwed up that Holiday. I don't even get any trick-or-treaters!

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Yeah, yarn, yarn, and yarn. And books, and dragonfly paraphernalia..beer, wine (but these last 2 usually disappear before I can call them a collection.)

Did I mention yarn?

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I really have been wanting to buy Knitting on the Road and Sensational Knitted Socks. I have also been eyeing Lace Style, Fitted Knits, and Victorian Lace today.
I subscribe to Interweave and Simply Knitting (UK)..and just signed up for Vogue Knitting.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Hmmmmm. Let me think..all I can think of right now is maybe learning how to make gloves with the individual fingers and thumb. Or try out some of that crazy stranded Norwegian knitting ( maybe some crazy stranded Norwegian gloves? Hmm there's a thought.) I think I have tried most everything else. But I LOVE learning new techniques..so if you can think of something, feel free to hit me with it!

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Uh yeah! Although I got no idea what my measurements are. But I wear a size 8..sometimes 9 shoe.

23. When is your birthday?

Early November. I am a Scorpio baby!

I promise,No muppets were harmed!

So a while back I was reading a post by Knit and Tonic where she was talking about doing a search for fur yarn on the Internet.

Of course, this ensued major comments on her well being, etc. But in the comments is where I learned about a little charity event that Minestrone Soup was hosting.
She had put a call out for fun fur hats to be knitted for the Boston Children's Hospital. Seems that the kids going through chemo love the fun fur..it's all the rage.
And then Erica offered to send me some fun fur she had in her stash (since I had got rid of all mine.)..so how could I resist?
I knew there would only be so much "fun" I could have with the fur yarn, so I put out a challenge to my guild..and had a little contest.
For each hat a person made, they got their name in a drawing to win a skein of STR.
Then, my mom was up hear visiting, and she wanted to help out, so she quickly knit up 3 of these cuties.
As of this moment, I have 11 to send off..there might be a few stragglers out there...
And here they are:

They kind of look like gumdrops don't they?

Oh, and this next picture is for me to remember my beautiful Alina STR. It's really hard letting this go, but those darn kids are worth it!

(Besides....I know where I can get more if I REALLY need it =) )

Monkey'in Around

They are everywhere in the blogosphere, just like I knew they would be.

But, in my defense, I did cast on as soon as I saw them.

So what if they took me over a month to complete? I finished the second one in less then a week. (Most of the second half in a day!)
These are going to my sweet little (not so little anymore) niece. who is leaving us to move to Canada to be closer to her fiancee.

Specs:

Yarn: Lorna's Laces in Mineshaft

Needle: Size 0 Addi done with Magic Loop Method

Started: Around Christmas, finished Feb. 17Th (geesh that's a long time!)

I love them, I want a pair for myself. I love me the Lorna's. And I don't care that they don't match..I think it is kind of cool that way.

So another project finished. I got a UFO, Sock a Month, and a Project Spectrum out of this one. (How's that for multi-tasking?)

(I do realize I need to step up my sock knitting if I have any chance of actually competing in Sock Madness!) Oh well, it will be fun no matter what!

Wicked Fun

So after the crazy hijinks with the Forest Path Stole, I decided a little non-thinking, restore my sanity knitting was in order.

So I turned to the Monkey Sock (progress noted on the side bar..FO pics soon!), and my Wicked Sweater.

And what a joy this sweater is to knit. I love top down construction, don't you? The yarn is Patons SWS, and I have to say that I LOVE IT. It's, wonderfully soft, the colors are luscious, and look! No Pooling (at least not yet, knock on wood)

I took it to Yarn Yoga tonight, (my LYS version of S-n-B) and got a lot done on it. I am hoping to have it done by the end of the month. We shall see.
I am loving this pattern so much I am going to do something I never do..I am going to knit it again, at least once, in black so I can wear it as part of my uniform at work. I already have the yarn for it, just need to make the time!

I've got good news and I've got bad news..

Bad news first.
The Forest Path Stole pattern I bought a month ago?

Seems I got a "special" copy. I got the one riddled with mistakes and clear as mud. Not only am I trying to attack lace AND entrelac..but I have to figure the pattern out as well? I don't think so.
I e-mailed with Debi tonight trying to figure out the discrepancies..but it is just a mess. I looked further on in the pattern and I noticed there were mistakes throughout the entire section I was working on.
I'm royally pissed. I can't believe a company/designer would send out a pattern full of mistakes. Maybe if it was brand new..but come on. This pattern was published in IK Summer 2003! You think they would have worked out the kinks by now.
(Obviously for those that have the magazine, they are worked out), but for me..and some of my fellow KALers I am sure..we get the added joy of trying to figure the damn thing out.
And because I am a bit obsessive and can't leave well enough alone, I have been trying to puzzle through this crap all night. Happy Valentine's B! =)
(He is sick, all he cares about is breathing right now. Poor baby.)
I have to blame it on the company that sent out this ridiculous excuse for a pattern. I have another pattern by this designer..the Faina scarf. Which I started today, but it was published by Fiber Trends and they always seem to do well with their patterns.
Yeah, maybe I am blowing this out of proportion. But DAMN! I have been so excited about this shawl, and was really looking forward to making it. And now, I don't know if that is going to happen. At least not until I get a corrected pattern (the magazine is sold out for that issue).

OK, well now for the good news.

This past week I got a lot of yummies in the mail.

The first to arrive was the sock yarn from The Heathen Housewife.

It's her own hand dyed and its incredibly soft. B loves it..I'm thinking he is hoping for some socks from this. We shall see. Thank you Shelly, and I am sure B thanks you too, since he will probably be the one who benifits from this lovely yarn. The dark choclate was SO yummy too, I must admit I did not share.

Then on the same day I received both of these lovely packages.

This first is from Lara. She was doing some destashing and I was happy to help her. You cant beat free! I only had to pay for shipping. Thanks again Lara!

This is 10 skeins of Filatura De Crossa Brilla. I am thinking of making the lace crocheted jacket from The Happy Hooker ( and also Stitch Diva) with this.

In fact, I am guessing that is what Lara planned on doing with it until she did not like the color (at least on her.)

Oh and last but not least:

The prize from Birdsong for winning the Hidcote KAL.

This ab-fab lace weight merino oro in a lovely light pink. I am not sure what it is going to grow up to be yet..but it's just delicious to know it is in my stash waiting for it's day. Thanks a million Birdsong..it is beautiful! And that Mocha Bar. YUM! B says they sell these at his work. I think i see more of those bars in my near future!

I may not be able to tell you what I am going to use this for, but I can tell you what it WON'T be. The Forest Path Stole! =)

Oh man, that whole FPS thing is really bumming me out. I sure hope something gets figured out there. =(

Anyone up for a game of checkers?

It's finally finished. And I could not be more relieved!
It was an easy knit, and I am pleased with the results..but this project just seemed to drag on forever...and ever..and ever.
But, it is done. And I think the new mama will like it a lot.

Pattern: Baby Blocks from Knit Along with Debbie Macomber, The Shop on Blossom Street

Yarn: Bernat Satin

Needles: Addi Turbos Size 6

Time to make: Nov. 3rd 2006- Feb. 11 2007 ( I didn't get serious about this until the new year.)

Thoughts: Simple, easy..but very very pretty.

Here's a close-up of the border..which is also in a checkerboard pattern..just at a smaller scale.

For those not familiar with the story..I started about 4 different baby blankets before I decided on this one.
I had seen someone in my guild make this blanket..and I had my heart set on it once I saw it. Only problem was, I did not know where to find the pattern. Then after my 4Th baby blanket attempt, I saw the blanket hanging up as a simple in my LYS, and I jumped for joy!
So I bought the $13 book for this one pattern. Then when I started knitting it, I had a huge DUH moment.
This blanket is nothing more the a basket weave! I could have figured this out on my own! But instead I let it haunt me for months..and then dropped a pretty penny to get my hands on the directions.
Oh well. Even with all that, I think it was worth it.

Now, where is the Forest Path Stole?? Oh, and that Wicked Pattern?? And that Mystery Shawl?? And, And...

It's not easy being green

Yeah, Kermit sure got that right.
The color green gets a bad rap don't you think? You have the phrase "green with envy" (where did that come from anyway? Guess if I really cared I could Google it..)..and then you got the whole green M-n-M thing (I remember my sister saving these in a jar to give to her boyfriend...that slut =) )..not that getting "turned on" is a bad thing..but it's not exactly in polite taste..and then to top it off, when you are sick people say things like.."Your looking a bit green today" or as my mom would say,"green around the gills."
Poor green. What did it ever do to us?
Well I for one am taking a stand! LONG LIVE GREEN I say. I'm gonna rock the green as much as possible.
It started with my blog, and then the Forest Path Stole, and now? Well now it's going to represented in my new project for the Faina Scarf KAL.
Check this out:

Isn't that sexy? That hot yarn comes from Joslyn's Fiber Farm and is called Shine. It is a 50% silk and 50% wool sport weight yarn..and I got 1250 yards of it.

It's so wickedly sick (that means divine in teen) I think I may have to unwind it and roll around in it for awhile.

I know your jealous..but there is more if you want it.

(Jealous, sexy, sick..maybe there is something to this green thing after all!)

Oh, and by the way..even with the mom here I have done some knitting. Most of it has been knitting and ripping out a new sock (my gauge is always too loose!) but I did manage to finish the first monkey sock and start the second.

B loves these socks..He wants them for himself..lace pattern and all. He insists it's a "manly lace". LOL. That man has no problem with his masculinity..well mostly, he wont wear pink. =) Too bad for him these are designated for my niece..I need to finish them right quick because she's moving to Canada at the end of the month. (SOB!)

Oh yeah, and after about 30 thousand try's, I think I finally found the right yarn and needle size for my Pirate Hat. We shall see when it gets bigger if it is going to fit....
That's it for now..I guess since it is already 1 in the afternoon I should go take a shower and get dressed huh?

Endings and Beginnings

Well, look at this..

That would be a finished Peapod folks. I need to steam it once more..but it's done. I'm pretty pleased with it. This was my first time doing mattress stitch, and I think I did a decent job of it. It's not perfect, but it's not horrid like I thought it would be.

It's hard to tell (click for big) but the buttons are white with little frosted flowers on them. Fitting don't you think?

And now that I have shown you something finished..I guess it's OK to show you some of my beginning's.

Here is the start of my Forest Path Shawl. 20 rows of moss stitch on size 2 needles takes longer then you think it would! I think I'm about 14 rows in.

The yarn is called Emerald (I'm about 90% sure on that) and I got it from Handpainted Yarns. It is beautiful, and nice to work with. This was my first purchase from them, and I am very pleased with the price and the quality of stuff.

I love the needles as well..I want to say they are INOX??? They have a great bend in the join, and the tips are wonderfully pointy..and they are not slippery like the Options, or as clingy as the bamboos. Working with nice stuff makes all the difference in a project, don't you think?

And finally, here is the start of my Wicked, I just got through one repeat of the collar, but it seems like it's going to be an addicting knit.

The yarn is Patons SWS..I really like it. It's SO soft, and each of the color ways is more beautiful then the last. I chose the green/pink blend because they are my favorite colors, and they are very "Springy".

Hope you all enjoyed the Superbowl..and got to watch it in your PJ's! Yeah Colts!

I thought I had a virus!

A computer virus that is, and maybe it was, who knows?
Wow, that was scary. I don't know about you all, but I use my computer every day...reading blogs, checking e-mail..paying bills..etc.
I felt like my left arm had been cut off today...I even broke down into tears once...
I guess that would explain why I was so obsessed with the computer that I tried a million things to fix it..and fix it I did!
That would also explain why there was little knitting done today (Peapod is still not seemed!), and why there are no pictures for you to see.
But, barring any natural, technical, or physical emergencies..there WILL be pics of Peapod finished tomorrow..not until the evening though since I am working in the morning..while all you get to cozy up with beer, hot wings, nachos and knitting to watch the "big game" in your pj's..I'll be standing around in a Very Quiet Restaurant hoping someone will come in and want to be served..(this girl needs to make some money!)
But I am not jealous or anything. =) Just need to get back on the ball with school and what-not so I can be a part of the "real world" as I like to call it.
So where was I before the rant? Oh yeah, tomorrow evening there will be finished pics posted on this blog, and if you are lucky maybe some pics of WIP's as well (although there ain't much to see yet..)

Ketch Up and UFO's

That's how I have felt all week..like I am just trying to catch up with things.

Between my mother visiting and getting sick...my knitting progress has been shot to hell.

I did manage a few things though.

I am almost done with Peapod..just got to sew in a sleeve and add the buttons. Tune in tomorrow for finished pics!

I swatched for Wicked..not only did I do the 4" square..but I also washed it! Maybe I can be taught after all! I got stitch gauge but my row gauge is off..I think I am going to forge ahead and see what happens...

I tried to start the Pirate Hat..I tried to make one previously and it was WAY TOO BIG. So I bought lighter weight yarn this time..not sure if that was the best idea..and now I got to decide if smaller needles (like 0's) or different yarn is the best choice..hmmmm.

I started the Forest Path Stole, I am halfway through the seed stitch border. I am loving the yarn, needles, gauge and pattern thus far...woohoo!

I found the Mystery Shawl Yahoo Group...and joined. LOL. I started late so I am behind, but I am having fun so far. It's a round shawl and I have never done that before. I am learning a lot.

I tought/ am teaching my mother how to knit toe-up socks. I think she's liking it.

On the UFO front:

January UFO:
I have worked steadily on the mitered blankie..not a lot to show yet..but I have done about 6 squares this month. hey, it's something! My plan is to try and do a square a day..and maybe allow a bit of time on Sundays for it.


Horrible pictures as usual, that's what happens around here when you take your pictures at night with horrible lighting. (Seems that's how all my pics get taken. Sorry)

February UFO:

Monkey socks from Knitty using Lorna's Laces in Mine Shaft. I hope to have these done by the end of the month. One, so I can gift them to my niece before she moves to Alberta, Canada (sob!). And Two, I want to finish them for the Sock a Month KAL I joined..(oh yeah..did I forget to mention I joined that as well?)

I think that's enought to keep me busy for a while. I am still working on the baby blanket as well...although I have ignored it the past few days. It's very close to being done, but it just makes me sick to look at it...maybe tomorrow I can face it again.