Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’

R.I.P. Jaywalkers

OK, so I have huge monkey feet (no offense to any monkeys intended).  I had turned the heel on the first Jaywalker and was working on the decreases to continue onto the foot, when I noticed this gaping hole and I could NOT figure out what I had done.  So I took the needles out, ripped it back  or so rows, and decided now was a good time to just try it on for size.  I COULDN’T FIT IT OVER MY FLIPPIN HEEL!  Granted, I am swollen as hell because I am 38 weeks pregnant, so I had my mom try it on because her feet are much closer to my ‘real’ feet size.  She couldn’t either.  I was in love with how they were turning out, too…

So I did look for other Chevron patterns that I could use, but I am going to wait.  I think I am going to get a more solid color sock yarn and just knit something lacey.  It stretches more, and frankly, I have been working on this sock so much lately (for me) I just need a break from this type of pattern.  I was very happy with how it was turning out, so I don’t hate you, oh ripped Jaywalkers, but we must part for a bit of time.

Finished the gloves for bro’s friend…will post pics of that tomorrow, they are going out in the mail and they are outta here!  WOO HOO!  Also need to post pics of the kiddo with his minion, which he has slept with since I made it for him…he loves it.

I also was working on a Grumpasaurus tonight for my son using LB Magic Stripes in black, white and red (his choice), and it turned out looking like poo.  I realized this when I was just about done with his body, so mommy is making an executive decision tomorrow and picking some solid colors for his wee Grumpy dinosaur.

I am the hugest fan of Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice, and it’s killing me not to watch the episodes from this season, but I have my C-Section scheduled soon and I figured that would be a really good thing to do while I was recooperating from that.  I wasn’t sure how droopy/drugged I would be and wasn’t sure about the knitting, but TV watching I could handle.  If I can knit, great, I will when I’m watching my shows, if not, no biggie I still have something to do.

That’s about it, my so-called life!

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Berroco FTW

Ever since Norah Gaughan has taken over Berroco I have been in love.  The latest 2 editions to Berroco’s pattern support though, is killing me.  I have always been plenty happy with their free patterns, and now she is FORCING me (yes, gun to the head and all) into buying the latest and greatest from them.  Jimmy Beans Wool, here I come!

Berroco: Norah Gaughan Vol 8 has much to drool over.  The ones that I particularly like are Monhegan, Ogunquit, Schwann, and Nidden.  Her lacework is to die for, and I am not always a huge fan of lace in garments, she seems to get it right every damn time, and makes me want to try them out.

Berroco #309, Berroco Weekend & Weekend Chunky didn’t quite steal my heart like Norah’s Volume 8, but I do love Troco, Ping, and Pong.  I really like Pesapallo too, but I would like to see it done up without the belt and cowl covering it so I can REALLY see it (so I am waiting for other brave souls to try it, is what I am saying.  Ahem.)  It looks like a great vest, and a vest mean more immediate satisfaction garment, so I am all over that!

On the sock front, I am still on the heel.  I have 3 hours in a lab tomorrow though, for bloodwork, so I should be able to at least get sock 1 done and start on sock 2.  I am also bringing the gloves with me so I can start the dreaded weaving in ends.  I need to get that out in the mail before it’s next year’s Christmas present!

Desperately need some more sleep.  Gonna take another go at it!

Ta ta!

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Finally some pictures!

My dad had to leave rather unexpectedly to get out of here before the weather went sour, so I haven’t had time to take those pics I promised a couple of days ago.  But today was Johnathan’s first day back at school, so this morning after I dropped him off I took those damn pics and here they are! (I think I would do anything right now just to distract me – having him for 2 weeks and then the house being so quiet is killing me!)

First off, the Gathered Scarf that was a Christmas present for my mom.  I am very happy with how it knit up and it is sooooo soft.  She said it doesn’t itch her neck at all which is the whole point of a soft and squishy scarf!

Lace Gloves.  The thorn in my side right now just because I hate weaving in ends and there are too many for my liking.  Eek.  This is the first time I had used Cascade 150 and I LOOOOOVE it.  I still have quite a bit of it left, not sure what I am going to do with it.

Next up:  Fingerless mitts for my boy.  He loved them.  And they look so freakin cute on him.  I just made it up as I went along…no pattern.  I did a 3 x 1 rib and thumbhole.  Easy peasy, lemon squeezy as my son says.

Finally, some dishcloths I gave my mom for Christmas.  She used to knit her own but with her arthritis her paws don’t like to knit so much.  She made the plain ole Grandma’s favorite dishcloth, so I thought I would mix it up a little for her.

That is all for my FO’s.  I have to seam up the first twin sweater, make the 2nd twin sweater…I just haven’t felt up to doing much of anything, this baby is coming soon and I have been pretty uncomfortable.  So small things make me happy right now.

A couple of UFO’s…a minion from Despicable Me at the request of my son, and the Jaywalkers that I FINALLY started that I can’t believe I didn’t start sooner.  I love how easy the stitch pattern is, but this yarn is knitting it up in an interesting pooling pattern.  I usually hate pooling but this is pooling…cool.  At least so far.  And the yarn is some I have never knitted with before and it really is a nice knit, especially with the affordable price range.  We will see how the FO holds up!

I have already gotten another 2 inches or so done on these.  They are going way faster than I would have expected on size 1 needles, but I think it’s because every row is a little hidden surprise for me.  Weeeeee.
Well, that’s it for now.  I started this post this morning and am ending it 10 minutes before TOMORROW morning comes around.  The days are so busy even when I have my ass planted firmly on some seat or other.  Tomorrow I hope to working on some (gag) weaving in ends and more Jaywalkers.  I am going to get googly sew-on eyes for the Minion, and have to do his feet and arms, and then more Jaywalker.  That will be my guilty pleasure for now, I think!

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Happy New Year!

Yes, insert generic title up yonder.

My Christmas was wonderful.  I actually got some yarn from my mother who is constantly riding my ass about not buying more yarn, so that put a huge smile on my face.

I just finished her ruffled scarf this afternoon, so I will post some pics of those tomorrow.  I am on glove 2 for my brother’s friend, and have the index finger, thumb, and weaving in allllll those ends and I can get them off in the mail.  My brother and father both showed up for Christmas and I thought it was going to be a very melancholy holiday for my mother and I.  But it made it a wonderful Christmas.  I told them they could take all my presents back because I had what I wanted – my family together.  I found out the day before my brother was leaving (he only stayed for 3 days!) that he was indeed leaving, so I didn’t get a chance to finish the gloves to send home with him, unfortunately.  But they should be done in time for me mail off on Monday.  Then I only have to finish the 2nd twin sweaters and get those off.  Those who know me know I am a late runner always it seems, so I am hoping that the fact that these are handmade items will lend some forgiveness.

I have been cracking out on getting caught up on Knitmore Girls, and KIPing it Real podcasts.  Every night I listen to them without fail, and when I am cleaning and stuff, they are always playing.  I am thoroughly enjoying both of them.  It took me forever to get caught up on the CogKNITive podcast, and I did get caught up, so I found some others that I really enjoy, and the 2 mentioned above have been my onlies lately.  I am listening to Jackie’s darling voice as we speak, as a matter of fact!

Johnathan’s fingerless mitts were a hit, I have some pics of them and they are so comfy on him, he LOVES them.  So tomorrow, scarf FO, glove UFO update, and fingerless mitt FO pictures.  I hate blogs that don’t post pics, and I am horrible at posting them.  Pot calling the kettle black, much?

Back soon with more updates!  I have some exciting things coming up I hope, and knitting is at the top of that list!

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The baby’s a-comin’

He wants out.  Now.  He is not due for another month.  This has been a rough pregnancy, I am extremely uncomfortable and I am not getting around well these days.  So who knows when he will show up.  Sooner rather than later, I hope though.

I have been continually working on Christmas gifts.  I have abandoned the gloves that I originally was making for my brother’s friend.  They were coming out too small, the yarn just wasn’t working for the project, and I just wasn’t feeling it.  I can’t give away something I have made that I don’t feel 110% proud of.  So I went to plan B, picked up some Cascade 150 in this gorgeous red color (which was his friends first choice anyways), and am making the Lace Panel Gloves from the Vogue Knitting Fall 2009 issue.  I am almost done with the thumb increases and ready to start on the fingers.  This project is giving me much more of the warm and fuzzies.  It is the first time I have knit with this yarn and I ADORE it.  Great stitch definition, not splitty at all, and it just knits up so nicely.  I am excited to try it on another project one of these days when I’m not broke!

I still have to finish the sweater for Marie’s twin #2, and I am making a last minute hat for my son per his request that knits up on US 7’s, so it should be a fast project.  It’s the Batman Hat, and I just went and bought some acrylic for it.  He has several wool hats that I have made him, and I think that this hat is going to be more used to run around the house wearing his ‘Thing’ hands, a scythe, and an Iron Man costume.  Yes, you read right.  His outfit combos CRACK ME UP.

So I have just been knitting away, trying to stay off my feet, and ignore the contractions as much as I can.  That’s about where I am right now!

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Finally, some progress!

I have no pictures, sadly, at the moment…but hope to get them up soon.

First off, I did finish my first project that required picking up stitches.  I have shied away from those types of projects (we will pretend I don’t have a fully knitted Hey Teach that I haven’t seamed together yet!) where I have to pick up stitches or seam.  This one I have to do both!  I did pick up the stitches but have not seamed yet.  The picking up of the stitches actually turned out way better than I expected it to…and the seaming is such a small portion of the project I don’t really see it giving me much grief.

My friend Marie had VERY premature twins and they are finally both home.  I am making them matching Ribbed Baby Jackets.  I did a lot of researching the forums on Ravelry and found a couple of posts about specifically picking up stitches for this project.  I found a blog post today that does a really good job of figuring out how to calculate, and why, what your ratio of picked up stitches is.  Of course it is knitting goddess Amy Swenson, and it is a post from last month but oh how I think I will refer back to it.

My brother also called me out of the blue over the weekend and asked if I could make a friend of his some gloves.  Once again, a project that I have never delved into before, but I am going for it.  I am using a heavily modified version of Deborah Newton’s Garter-Cuff Gloves and Mittens from Weekend Knitting.  It’s a fun knit so far.

At least I have a little more focus now.  I have to finish another of the Baby Jackets and finish the fingers on the gloves and get moving on glove 2.  Let’s hope it works out the way I plan it to!

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Knitting for Charity

I came across a volunteer program that I am thinking about signing up to do, probably after March of 08.  Financially I will be in much better shape, and hopefully I’ll be able to find a babysitter for Johnathan so I don’t have to depend on mom so much.

Anyways, it’s called Knit for Life.  The cause is something near and dear to my heart.  My aunt has breast cancer as we speak and not doing so well, and I personally know how therapeutic knitting can be.  I just hope that I am able to teach someone else how to knit.  I have given a couple of people refresher courses, but I haven’t taught anyone other than myself to knit from scratch.  We shall see.  I am supposed to be teaching a co-worker of mine to knit this winter, so part of it will be dependent on whether I can get out of my head and into words what I am trying to say.

The other thing I wanted to bring up was this site.  She puts up all these great sites and tidbits that I know I will be checking out frequently.

Christmas knitting is still trudging along.  I am still working on my secret pals scarf.  I am about half way done with it.  I hope to finish it today while I am home from work with the kiddo.

That’s it for now!

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Washcloths, beanie, and scarf oh my!

Update on Christmas knitting. I completed not Branching Out for mom, but another more simple lace scarf. I figured it would be better to finish something that wouldn’t take me forever because I didn’t know what the hell I was doing, as opposed to having to give her an IOU come Christmas because I have so much other knitting to do!

Mom’s Scarf:

Mom's Christmas PresentMade out of 1 skein of Joann’s Sensations Bellezza Collection Stellina Yarn. It was actually a pleasant yarn to knit with. It has a nice sheen to it because it has a shiny bit wound into the yarn. Pattern here.

Dad’s Beanie:

Dad's Beanie This is made out of the Telemark by Knitpick’s in Charcoal Heather. I have one of the fingerless mits done also, but am not going to post that until I’m done with both. This was done on US4’s, my own pattern. Just a simple ribbed brim beanie with basic decreasing. The top of said beanie, modelled once again by baby boy’s red monkey: Top view of beanie

And last but not least, a buttload of washcloths. And yes, that’s my technical term! I have more but have yet to dig them out from their hiding place, and I think I still have to weave their ends in. I am 4 rows away from completing another one that is white and rose. Like it a lot. I have yet to get tired of this pattern! It always keeps me occupied.

Washcloths

Now to go post all of these same pics at the Holiday KAL CAL!

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Updating

Well, I have been a horrid blogger.  Between divorce/child custody crap, work (inventory, audit, AND new system implementation all at the same time?  COME ON NOW!), and some other miscellaneous personal stuff, my life has been kicking my ass!  I have, of course, received all of my Christmas knitting yarn.  I have also been doing some birthday knitting.  I did join the Holiday KAL-CAL because I figured, why not!  Marly tempts me every one of her episodes to join, so I have to give into the temptation.  Especially since I’ve been busting my arse to get my Christmas knitting done!

So, where am I with the Christmas knitting?  I have completed one of dad’s fingerless gloves, and the matching beanie.  I have cast on for brother’s beanie with a brim and mom’s lace scarf.  I have completed 5 of the ballband dishcloths, and I knitted the Banana Republic knock-off for my mom.  I seriously modified the pattern for this though, because when I cast on and knit the first 6 or so rows, I tried it on and my noggin felt like it was in a vice grip!  So I recast on what I calculated would fit my head, and just knit til I thought I should start decreasing.  I was doing decreasing every 10 stitches on a 130-stitch hat, and it was just a little too short on mom for my tastes.  She thought it was fine, but I really don’t feel comfortable giving anyone something that I’m not completely happy with.  So I ripped back to right before the decreases, and am going to do an every 5 stitch decrease to make the top not so squared and to fit her head just a little bit better.  She also went with me to pick out the button to use on the little button flap.  Can’t wait to see it all done up!

I am at work posting right now, but when I get home (if I can get my wretched camera working!) I will take and post some pics.

Seriously, right now, knitting, reading, and my kiddo are the ONLY things keeping me sane.  Knitting, mainly, because sometimes the kiddo makes me insane too! lol  It calms me more than any meditation I have tried, and something that is actually productive comes out of it!

Speaking of reading, a new coworker got me reading the series that is based on the goings-on of a fictional yarn shop.  I have cracked out on the first one, am about halfway through it.  It is called The Shop on Blossom Street, written by Debbie Macomber.  Great reading so far.

I have taught one gal here at work to knit, and there are another two that want me to teach them this winter.  I am excited to share my love of knitting, as I got my mom knitting, and this one gal at work.  My enthusiasm is what sparks their interest, I think.  That and I am always showing progress on all of my knitting projects.  I love the feedback I get from them, because I can see that they can appreciate the work that goes into every piece I create with my hands.

OK, I’ve blathered enough.  Time to get my knit on!

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Christmas Knitting

Change of plans.  I spent $130 *eek* today on Christmas gift yarn.

My list:

Mom – Branching Out using KnitPick’s Gossamer in the colorway Sweet Peas.

Dad – Fingerless Gloves and Hat (patterns to be determined) in KnitPick’s Telemark, colorway Charcoal Heather.

Brother -  modified Hawkeye pattern, making it look more like a beanie with a brim, using KnitPick’s Swish Superwash in Black, of course!

Then I went to Elmore-Pisgah.com,  and bought several cones of different colors, to make the Ballband Dishcloth and Ninepatch Dishcloth times 2039843247, for my other family that I am going to gift (extended family).  I also got 3 cones of a cream-colored Sugar and Cream to make Absorba from Mason Dixon Knitting.  (A side note.  I got the MD book for the Ballband Dishcloth, and when I was just searching for a link for it, I FOUND IT FOR FREE.  Bastards.  It’s ok though, I adore the book and see myself using it for many of the projects.)

So once my packages get here, I am going to be cracking out on Christmas knitting.  I am excited but am definitely going to have to kick my knitting up a notch to get it all done in time.  I figured I will always have a washcloth on the needles, and work on the other projects for Mom, Dad, and bro at the same time.  I have to get the washcloths for my extended family done early, because they are across the country and I would actually like to get them done and shipped off BEFORE Christmas!

That’s it for now.  Life (work, kiddo, other personal BS I’m dealing with) is really kicking my ass, but I will try to keep this updated!

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