J's knitting blog

Finished Mittens

2010-02-20T15:47:00.005-05:00

I've finished the mittens for the Ravelympics 2010. Here they are:

I'm surprised at how easy they were to make. The first time around they were quite difficult proabably because I'd never knit them up before and the yarn was sport weight. I'm very pleased with them. I've already had requests from DH for a pair for himself.

We'll see.

2010 Ravelympics

2010-02-11T22:58:00.026-05:00

After getting nudged in the ribs one too many times by one of my sisters, I have finally relented and decided to replace the fingerless gloves I made for her more than 3 years ago. Naturally, I can't seem to locate the pattern that I used so this time I'll be using the pattern from Knit Picks called the Men's Convertible Fingerless Gloves. This is what they look like:

I'm not crazy about the picture, but you get the idea.
Hers will be black although I'm not sure if I'm going to sew a snap on or a button.

The best thing about this whole project is that I will be participating in the 2010 Ravelympics with these gloves. Now that the Winter Olympics will be starting tomorrow night in Vancouver, BC., knitters from all over will be knitting during the 2 weeks during the events. The point of it is to start the same time as the Olympics start, which for me will be 9 pm, EST. You have 12 days in which to finish the project, and the people at Ravelry.com have even set up names for the different events. For instance, my event is being called the 'Mitten Moguls'. Hopefully I can finish them up in the allotted time. The easiest part is knitting up the palms. Knitting up the thumb and fingers can get a little hairy. I'm just glad the gloves will be one color and not a pattern. Doing that on a thumb I have found to be tricky.

So,everybody plays, everybody wins. My sister gets her gloves, I get her off my back and personal satisfaction that I've created something for a loved one. I just hope this time she doesn't lose them 'cause no way am I making these again for her!

2010-01-05T19:26:00.002-05:00

Just a short update on the Autumn Rose Pullover pattern. I called KnitPicks yesterday and after speaking to someone who understood knitting terms ( the first person I spoke to didn't seem to comprehend the words "pattern" and "fair isle") I was told they would get the information to me the next day. Happily I can report they did call me back today and although I wasn't home to talk to the person, they left a message telling me that the fair isle pattern is arranged in the same order as it is on the website page. So, in other words, the webpage says, "C1, C2" and so on down the line until it comes to C11, which is the last color. Whichever color pattern you choose, be it the aquatic or original pattern, you know what the next color is just by looking at the name of the color next to C1 or C2, etc. etc. I hope this makes sense. I just wish they would put that somewhere on the page. So, needless to say, I'm very happy about this development. I can't wait to get started!

Sweater for the New Year

2010-01-03T17:42:00.009-05:00

The other day I received my order of KnitPicks yarn so that I could knit the Autumn Rose sweater. I chose the blue colorway since they did not have a purple one. I could probably make it up but I just don't feel like thinking about it.
Here is the colorway:

Isn't that just lovely? I've always like the combination of blues and greens and 2 shades of brown are thrown into that. It's just great.

Unfortunately the people at KnitPicks do not supply charts for all the different colorways they have made up. Therefore if you want to knit this sweater just as they have it, you have to make it up yourself or scour the net to see if someone else has done the work for you. Can I just say there are many intrepid dedicated knitters out there who sacrifice their time doing that! As I've been searching through the many blogs and websites for charts I have come across so many variations of color for this one sweater. It's wonderful to see so many creative women out there.

My annoyance at KnitPicks was starting to increase when I realized that they probably don't supply the chart that goes with the colorways they suggest because they want their customers to get their creative juices flowing and see what they come up with. It's either that or there is some kind of copyright law I'm not privy to and that is why they don't supply the charts.

Anyway, I found a color combination that will work for me. Stacey of Stacey's Stash has her colors listed on her blog and her substitutions. I will be working with those to see if they work for me. I think they will.

update

2009-12-31T19:48:00.006-05:00

Since today is the last day of 2009, and we are just a few hours away from the start of the new year, I thought maybe I should write on my blog. I was reminded by my DH and my DS-I-L that I have not touched this blog in a long time. They were quite correct. I looked at the last time I left a post and I was surprised to see that it will be almost a year in late January. Does anyone think it's time for me to post something, anything? YEAH! I think so.

Update on Inishmore: I finally finished it earlier this year. I believe my Ravelry page has more on this. There are pics on it that I took shortly after I finished it. I think it looks great on him, despite the different dyelots. Unfortunately, we don't know what the heck happened to it. We can't find it anywhere. It's really a strange situation.

In other news, this year I got to go to Cape Ann/Gloucester, Mass. to my first knitting retreat outside of NY. I had a wonderful time and what was even better was that my DH got to go with me. Don't get me wrong, I love my little guys, but every now and then we need a break from them. I ended up missing them incredible amounts. Still, it was a good retreat.

Looking back, I feel I didn't knit very much this year. I lost some of my enthusiasm for it. Although this was a good thing for my elbow, it wasn't such a good thing for my stash since I really didn't use it up so much. Speaking of stash... my DH finished my knitting room! We had a small room, about 10'x12', in the attic and my wonderful DH practically replastered the whole thing. Understand that I live in a house built circa 1850 and the room had never really been used as a living space. So for about 160 years there had never been a drop of paint on its walls and they were quite fragile. This was even more evident after we had the roof redone and after all the pounding by hammers on the roof, the ceiling in the little room was falling in at one spot. After DH was done with it, it looked SO much better. It's been painted and most of my knitterly-type things are there. It is the stash's new home. When I can/remember I will put pictures up.

I have picked up the needles since coming back from Stitches East which took place in October. I sort of made up a pattern for a vest I made. It was really more colorwork than anything else. It is yet to be blocked and therefore is upstairs in the Knitting Room. I used some "orphans" hanks from Countrywool I had bought about a year ago. I attempted to make it work, and although I don't think it came out very well, DH thinks it works.

I recently joined the lovely ladies from Countrywool (my LYS) and made an Icelandic Hat. I finished it!

This is my older DS modeling the hat. He won't wear it since it's purple. At least I know what size to knit for him.

So, here is my New Year wish for everyone. I wish for all who happen to come across my blog and for those who don't a very happy, loving, and peaceful New Year.
Abrasos para todos.

2009-01-27T09:24:00.005-05:00

So, it's been ages since I wrote anything in this blog but that doesn't mean I've been an idle knitter! (got a big grin on my face). Yes, I've been horribly slow with DH's sweater; I'm on the second sleeve (yay!). Oh, I almost forgot. I hope everyone's holiday season was an especially good one. I got one of my favorite things: a knitting retreat! This time I'll be going up to the shore in Massachusetts. I'm very excited about it.

Getting back to knitting... The past Sunday, the 25th, I went to a mitten class at my favorite LYS, Countrywool. I made these:

And here's another view:

These are for DS #2. My little guy keeps losing or misplacing his gloves so I thought with the leftover yarn I had from DS#1 Nordic sweater I'd make mittens. I've been knitting up I-cord to attach the 2 together but I'm not sure if that's really going to work well with the mittens. They were a snap to make, too. I suspect that they knit up quickly since I had little hands to cover but when I compare the amount of time I knit a hat recently, all in all it was one of the fastest projects I've done. Instant gratification, well, sort of.
The weather people are calling for a bad snowstorm starting much later today so I'm off to do some shopping. Keep on knitting!

I'm Done with This Sweater...

2008-11-17T11:54:00.008-05:00

Hey, am I on a roll here or what? 2 posts in 1 month? Will wonders never cease?
Anyway, I've completed my DS's Nordic sweater yesterday. I haven't blocked it yet but aside from that it is finished! Woohoo! The sweater looks good on the kid, just the sleeves are a little too long. That's ok though. He can just flip up the cuffs and Voila! Perfect fitting sweater. He's growing like a weed anyway so at least it will last him a while. It's not like his jeans that we bought in August and now they're not long enough for him. Unfortunately, I can't elongate it, not like you could on a girl's jeans where you could put a little lace on the hem and BAM! Pants will last a few more months. When someone comes out with butch-y lace, call me. I've got lots of pants I can use it on (like that will ever happen.)
Here's DS's sweater:

On to other news...
Since I am now finished with DS's sweater, I can concentrate once again on DH's long awaited (and long suffering) Inishmore. Currently I'm almost done with one sleeve. I just have to knit up the saddle shoulder part and I'll be finished with it. Yes, I still need to do the other one but since now all my time and effort will be focused on Inishmore, I'm confident it will be finished before the year is through (well, ok, maybe it's more like 95% confident it will be finished but whose counting?). And here it is:

Yes, from the picture it's obvious to me that you can tell that different dyelots are being used. Thankfully, when looking at it in person you can't really tell. Thank goodness for small miracles.

My next project will be a Philosopher's wool cardigan. I got the kit at Rhinebeck and since I had been lusting after the sweater for so long (at least 8 years) I saw it and said to myself, " Gotta have it!" The rest is history. More on this later...

Obama Wins!!!

2008-11-04T23:37:00.005-05:00

I have avoided saying anything political even though I have definite ideas about it. So, with that said, thank goodness he won! The alternative was just too, too, scary. All I can say is that the future looks brighter already. I'm so glad that people who would have voted Republican decided that Obama was the guy to lead the country for the next 4 years and also that people who didn't vote previously did this time.
That's all I have to say (excuse me while I do my happy dance!!!).

Virtual Yarns - Designs

2008-09-01T22:18:00.007-04:00

In case anyone doesn't know what Inishmore looks like ( it being the sweater my DH has been waiting patiently for for 2 years) that is it. Hopefully I linked it correctly. This business of linking pages together and whatnot is more like a crap shoot to me. If it happens, yay me. If it doesn't, oh well, I'll figure it out later or something.

BTW- This picture is from the Virtual Yarns.com website.

Been away for a while....

2008-08-27T02:19:00.007-04:00

Yes, it's been a while since I've added to my blog. Since then, I have finished knitting Giselle, but I'm not really happy with it. I overestimated on the sleeve length so I have to go back and fix that problem. Luckily I know how to do that thanks to Claudia at Countrywool. I had to do the same to one of DH's sweaters so now I'm fearless about ripping out knitting and putting the sleeves back together the way they should.

Now I'm working on Inishmore again and have successfully finished the front of the sweater. I happen to be have a major difficulty with the sweater now because I don't think I'll have enough of the Rowan Magpie Aran to finish it up. I wrote up my dilemma on Knitter's Review and one person came up with the idea of seeing if anyone on Ravelry had any in their stash. I took a look and sure enough, some people did. I even emailed a woman in Norway to see if she still had the yarn in her stash! I'm pretty desperate. Apparently, Rowan has come out with a yarn that allegedly is alot like Magpie called Pure Wool Aran. It looks like they have the color I want (Misty which in Rowanspeak is light grey). Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a single yarn shop in my area which carries it. I hesitate to order any since I don't know if the colors truly match. I'm not really sure what to do and I would really like to finish the sweater. DH has been extremely patient with me. I think he's been waiting for almost 2 years for me to finish. Of course, my tendinitis certainly did not help the situation. The sweater is heavily cabled so I couldn't work on it for long stretches (which I know I shouldn't do anyway!) without feeling a little pain in my elbow where the scar from the operation is. Oh well. If push comes to shove and I can't find any Magpie Aran, I guess I'll just have to turn Inishmore into a vest. I REALLY don't want to have to do that. I think it would be a crime.

In the Home Stretch!

2008-06-12T15:50:00.002-04:00

Yes, it's true...I'm at the home stretch of finishing up Giselle. Obviously, I did NOT wear it for L.'s wedding, and it would have been too hot anyway. It was easily over 90 degrees last Saturday and naturally the wedding was outdoors. It was in a park, which is a nice idea, but not when it's stinking hot and humid. I ended up buying a dress, at an excellent bargain price I might add, with a cotton bolero that came out to less than $35.00! I looked good in it too, if I must say so myself. I love it when I can find a bargain and be happy about the purchase, too.

In any case, the night before the weddding, I just sat there, trying to figure out the crochet parts of Giselle and I just couldn't wrap my mind around it. All my pieces were done and all I had to do was to put it together. I'm very sorry to say that the directions for this part of Giselle are highly in need of a good revision. IMHO, they are not very clear at all. Because of this, I've been making it up as I go along, but at the same time, trying to crochet the pieces together so they at least look somewhat like what are in the pictures. I wish those were clearer, too.

Enough of my kvetching! I am hoping by this time next week, Giselle will be done!!

More on Giselle

2008-05-28T12:00:00.004-04:00

Giselle is coming along nicely, but I fear I will not have enough yarn to finish the sleeve flare. I'm usually very good about buy extra yarn, and since I make it a point to swatch, I'm good about keeping gauge. Almost always do I have yarn left over. I can't even remember the last time I ran out, but it seems that I miscalculated and bought too little. I had bought 16 skeins of Ella Rae Bamboo Silk and apparently it doesn't seem to be enough.

I got the yarn at a very good price at the sale Webs was holding last month. Wow, do I REALLY like that place. It's a knitters and spinners paradise. It's a little over 2 hours away from where I live, and normally, I don't consider that a big deal. Lately though because of the oil prices being ridiculous ( $4.03 where I live) I have to consider it is cheaper to have things shipped. So, because of over inflated gasoline prices, I have to curtail my need to get out of the house and take a nice long drive to Webs. Even if I drove my DH's car which does so much better on gas than my car it still is not worth it. The only draw back is, of course, the feeling of instant gratification had by have the yarn in your hand as soon as possible.

Getting back to Giselle, since I'm making the long crochet version I have done the top and bottom, both sleeves and I'm almost done with one sleeve flare. I hope to goodness it fits me and looks decent.

Giselle con't...

2008-04-22T10:53:00.012-04:00

Update on Giselle:
I'm past separating the sleeves from the body and am now working on doing the waist shaping (if only I had a waist to shape!) I have yet to try it on since I need to get some waste thread and use it otherwise there is no way I can see how it fits.

BTW- Today is Earth Day! Let's not forget to try to decrease the "human footprint". Check this out to see how individual consumption can effect the earth. Towards the bottom of the page it says,'Consumption Interactive'. Click on that. If we don't take care of the earth, who will? It's the only home we have.

It's been a while...

2008-04-12T13:35:00.010-04:00

Yes, it's been a while since I posted anything. I did finish the purple sweater from Knit Picks and in general, I'm pleased with the outcome. I only wish I had sewn the sleeves better. I realize that I could probably undo the sleeves and sew them back on again but I have other knitting projects in the works. I still have Inishmore for DH and the Fair Isle vest. I also started to knit up some socks. My eagerness to get them finished is not really there. I think it's because the pattern is not really that interesting. A pattern can get really tedious if there's little interest in it. What stinks about that is that I have to get another one done after I'm finished with the one I'm working on now!
I've started another project. I'm just swatching now for this extremely lovely sweater:

This wonderful sweater comes from Sweaterdiva.com and the designer is Marnie Maclean. I had joined the silk corsetalong (Annie Modesett design) and she knit one up too; she posted pics of her corset and it looked awesome on her. What a beautifully knit up sweater. Of course it helps that she herself is very pretty. In any case, my best intentions are to knit it up and have it in time for a wedding I'm attending in June, early June I might add. The last time I tried that I was not very successful. I wanted to knit up Elizabeth I from Alice Starmore (Tudor Roses) and I ended up buying a black dress but I did try my hand at sewing a bolero together. That was successful considering I'd never really done anything like that before. I'm using Ella Rae bamboo silk in Crimson. The little swatch I've made up so far feels wonderful and looks great. Hopefully I'll get it finished and ready before June. I need to be careful I don't push it as my elbow sometimes bothers me still. Wish me luck!

Inishmore and Knit Picks sweater

2008-01-28T09:42:00.000-05:00

Since the camera is so readily accessable I thought I would go out on a limb and actually post 2 days in a row and post some pictures. It's sort of an update to yesterday's post.

So here is DH's Inishmore:

Now that I think about it, I would say it's 2/3 of the way done. This is the front since I've already knit up the back and it looks pretty much the same way. I really love working with the yarn, Rowan's discontinued Magpie Aran. It's a shame they didn't keep this yarn in their list of current yarns. IMHO it's easy on the hands and just knits up wonderfully. The cables just pop. I made an Inishmore for myself out of Magpie, a cream color, and I had the opportunity to wear it this weekend. DS #1 had a Cub Scout happening this weekend past and we were outside the whole time. I didn't feel cold at all.

Here is the Knit Picks sweater:

I know it looks kind of funny but I took this picture after I had divided the back and front; the circular needle I'm using hasn't been used in about a zillion years so it wants to stay as its coiled self. In any case, so far I am pleased with the way it's turning out. I don't get much of an opportunity to do Fair Isle work so this is a treat for me. I think it's really facinating how just by mixing colors and creating a pattern it comes together into something that is pleasing to the eye. Hopefully I'll be finished with it before the end of this year.

What I'm knitting now...

2008-01-27T13:10:00.000-05:00

Since I last posted I've started on that purple sweater from Knit Picks. I'm about 4-5" above the band of Fair Isle knitting on the body. Normally, the front and back are knit seperately but I really don't like doing purls in a pattern with a design like this. Instead I decided to knit it in the round and it's working great. I love this color purple. So far, so good.

I am also working on DH's Inishmore. I'm halfway up the front; I love this design because after a while the pattern is easy to remember. It seems improbable but really, I feel that is the case. The only problem with this pattern is the toll it tends to take on my elbow. I still have to be so careful with it. Eventually I'll take pictures of both sweaters. Someday.

It's Finally Happened! Pictures!

2008-01-10T09:50:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's true...there are finally pictures on my blog about knitting. I finished the Very Thought of Him sweater yesterday. I had to modify the collar since I didn't like the way it turned out when I followed the pattern directions. My collar sits on the front shoulders at a lower point than the original, which seems to almost to point out to the sides.

I wish this pic was sharper, so the details can be shown. The tips of my collar point down while the originals points out toward the arm.
You can't see it but the sleeves are quite long on me but I think it's supposed to be that way. I have to roll it up and there's about 5 in. of material doubled back. I have not blocked it yet and although I normally do block everything I knit, I won't with this. It's a mistake stitch rib and the last thing I want is ruin that aspect of the sweater. I also learned a few days ago that mistake rib stitch has a tendency to stretch out and stay that way. Although I did make it out of 100% wool, (Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool Heather Yarn color 912) and wool does have that wonderful ability to bounce back to its original shape, I fear that this sweater will continue to get longer and longer on me. It is very warm and comfortable and not scratchy at all.

I have in the works another sweater I want to make. It's a fair isle pullover sweater and just the other day my box of yarn came home all the way from Washington state. It will be the first time I'm using Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. Isn't that a pretty sweater?

It was designed by Louisa Harding and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to knit it. The pattern is from Modern Classics. In the book, the sweater is black, not this lovely amethyst color and the fair isle color work is not very exciting IMHO. The only problem is the largest size is 42" and I just a wee bit larger than that. Luckily I can whip out my trusty Sweater Wizard software (thank you Carole Wulster!) and change measurements so that it fits my voluptuous self. In doing this I have discovered that I will need a few more balls of yarn, maybe 2.
The one thing that bothers me is that although on Knit Picks' website it gives a choice of sizes, the larger sizes are not listed in the pattern book. I'm very glad that I'm able to use the SW program (finally!).

Now, for my next trick, I think I'll work on DH's Inishmore. It's about time!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T17:53:00.000-05:00

So, it's a brand new year. New hopes, dreams, wishes,etc. and a revision of last year's resolutions.
As for myself, my major resolution is the one that many other people make this time of year...losing weight. I haven't looked "normal" since I was in college and that was almost 20 years ago. Which brings up another landmark in my life; I'm going to be 40 this year and oh boy, I am sooo not psychologically ready for this one. Although I do have a few more months to wrap my mind around this concept, I don't think it will truly sink in until it actually happens. Stay tuned...

Of course, there are other things I'd like to set up as resolutions. Becoming a better wife/mother/sister/and friend to myself is one. Another one is to be happy. I am one of those wonderful people on whom you can rely on to point out the bleaker things in life, aka, a pessimist. It makes perfect sense to me! Why hope that only the best and positive things happen in life and be dissapointed when they don't when you can just as easily believe that things won't turn out the best way and then when they do you have a reason to jump for joy? I know, some people will roll their eyes and close their ears ( if that were physically possible) and shug off my attitude. Well, that's my attitude and I'm sticking to it.

I've added a different quiz result which is now below the Which Jane Austen character are you?quiz. I happen to really like JR Ward's Brothers of the Black Daggerhood books. The whole concept is so out of the realm of reality that you can't help but be pulled into the stories. I know she's got another book coming out this year and I'm really looking forward to it. So I just had to take the quiz and those are my results. (a wolf whistle heard in the background) What results!!!

Ahem...Oh, I'm sorry, is this a knitting blog? Yes, I believe it is. I still have The Very Thought of Him on the needles, but at least I'm practically at the end. I just have to finish the right side, the collar, and sew the thing together. Maybe I'll actually put a picture on the blog. Wouldn't that just beat all? Now, if I could just finish my DH's Inishmore....

Updating the Blog

2007-09-22T20:24:00.000-04:00

So, ok, I haven't posted in a long time. In that time I've left and gone to Fl. to see my parents, sister, and friends. My older boy has started the third grade and my DH had a hot disc ( a chiropractic term) so lost a week of school in the process. I also have decided to get "sliced and diced" by the orthopedist I saw about 2 weeks ago. I feel like I've done pretty much all that I can to get rid of this tendonitis in my elbow that I've had for 2 years now. I'm not really crazy about it but I feel like it's a necessary evil. One good thing is that this dr. works with the NY Giants so I figure if he's good enough for the Giants, he's good enough for me. Needless to say, I won't be knitting for a while, I just don't know how long. I have a knitting retreat scheduled for November and I have EVERY intention on attending it. I don't care if I have to sit there and listen to everyone else's needles clicking away, just to be in that atmosphere will do alot to calm me. There is a certain zen quality about knitting that I don't think you can get anywhere else. At least, there isn't for me.

On the needles I have The Very Thought Of Him, which is very easy to knit up so far, and I have DH's Inishmore, too. I WILL finish it, hopefully before next winter begins. My poor DH, he's been so patient with me. Unfortunately, those cables just make my elbow hurt like a bee-atch.

You know, one of these days I'm going to post with some pictures. That day is not today.

Vacation time

2007-07-28T01:02:00.000-04:00

This is going to be a short post. I haven't posted in a while and I figured since it was 1 o'clock in the morning, I thought, why the hell not? Presently I am in Jacksonville, Fl. visiting some friends of ours from our "living in Georgia" days. They have a very nice home and their daughter is such a cutey. When we lived in Ga., they taught us how to play Majjong, ( which was fun BTW), and today we got to learn how to play a card game called Hand in Foot. It's supposed to be related to the game of Canasta. I never played that either. It was actually a cool game to learn and I felt like I picked it up fairly quickly. The only thing was was that I reaffirmed my belief that I am mathematically challenged. I can add worth sh**.

Knitting has been quite slow. I'm still working on RCC and I'm down to the second cable on the bottom. I think it might take me at least 2 or 3 more cables to get to where I need to be before I finish it off. Unfortunately, I messed up my gauge and it will be smaller than I anticipated. Maybe I'll give it to big sister # 2. She's thin enough.

I'm going to start swatching for the other corset like creation by Annie Modesitt. About a year ago I tried to knit it using Lavold's Silky Wool. For some reason I just didn't get the whole pseudo cabling thing so I ripped it out completely and just didn't work on it anymore. This time I'm using a silk from Laine du Nord. Hopefully this will work out this time around.

Tomorrow we are off to Pembroke Pines to see my mom and dad. I haven't seen her in about 3 years so I'm anxious to see them. Doubtless my mother will totally lose it. She's nuts about the DS's.

Interpretation is everything

2007-06-30T10:41:00.000-04:00

I've been working on Red Carpet Convertable, and I was having a tough time of it. I read the pattern incorrectly, thinking Chart A had to be knit 20 times, as in 160 rows total. Thanks to Bogiebogie at Knitter's Review, I now understand that the 20 times meant 20 repeats in the same one row. I have to rip out at least 10 rows of knitting but it will be worth it. Someone give me a dunce cap.

I'm very eager to get going on this. I'm making the top, not the dress. Yay, I'm excited by this turn of events. I feel like I'm-- Jenny, eyes wide open--. That's a Star Trek, The Next Generation reference.

Yesterday we saw Ratatouille. I thought it was very good. It was even cooler since we went to a drive in movie theater. Matt and I stumbled onto this idea last year when we went to see"Cars," with our kids. It's cheaper than getting a babysitter, and Matt and I still get to watch a movie. Granted, the movies we watch are rated G, but at least I can say I've actually gone to a movie! Before we stumbled on the drive in revelation, I missed alot of movies except for the Harry Potter movies. Matt's mom came to the rescue, (Thanks, Mom).

I've been feeling better from this bronchitis I have. I finished the Z-pac yesterday but I still have a cough. I really hope it will go away soon. I dislike being sick.

2007-06-24T13:20:00.000-04:00

I haven’t written in a while (No Duhh!).

I completely frogged Liz I and will be doing that in the distant future, the waaaaay distant future.

My elbow is still bugging me but since I last posted, I’ve had to go to the orthopedist (a little young guy, probably about my age) and have received 2 cortisone shots. The first one worked and I got some occupational therapy sessions. It was temporary because the day after my birthday (eww, I’m 39 now), I went back to the little dr. and he gave me another shot. It feels better and I’m back at the OT sessions with Barbara. She’s really very good and knows what she’s doing! Finally, someone who knows their business! Sorry, I’m in a really icky mood today. I’m feeling like poopy since I’ve got a chest cold and my sinuses are all clogged up. I think I’ll be talking to a dr. tomorrow. Aaah, antibiotics, here I come!

On a professional life note, it looks as if I’ll be doing the chiropractor thing. Mike is being really generous and has offered me a partnership! He’s such a good guy. I hope his girlfriend appreciates him.

As far as knitting is concerned, I’m presently making socks. They are from “Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave”. I’m working on Embossed Leaf Socks with knit picks memories in a purple-yellow- green combo. I don’t know the name of the combination and apparently Knit Picks has run out of it. Oh well, I don’t think I’ll need anymore of it anyway. I finished one sock and I’m about 2/3 done on the other. After that I’m going to work on Annie Modesitt’s Red Carpet Convertible top/dress. I’m going to make the top. It’s originally made with a 100% silk ribbon but when I went to look at the price, I almost had palpitations! It’s about $33 for one ball which is 160 yards, more or less. So, I’m substituting with Louisa Harding Sari Ribbon which was “only” $9.95. I think I’m going to need more though. I have 13 hanks but the yardage is about 90. Oh well. I’d like to have it done before “summer Christmas” but I don’t think that will happen. Only time will tell. Until next time…

I see a dr. in my future

2006-09-20T13:49:00.000-04:00

I finally got myself an appointment to see an orthopedist about my elbow.  Unfortunately, it won’t be until next Friday.  The doc I went to see for it told me that that was pretty good time but I find that incredible.  It’s not like I live in NYC.  I live in a small town next to another small town so I wouldn’t think there would be much of a wait to see someone.  Oh well, what do I know?  Until then, my elbow is just getting worse and worse.  I can feel it.
     As far as knitting news is concerned, I’ve been thinking that I should pick up the Inishmore I had been making for Matt.  I only got as far as the back, and I think I was almost done with it.  I haven’t finished swatching for the ribbed corset.  Is swatching a necessary evil or what?  I hate doing it, but there it is.  It’s one of those things you just have to do, not that you want to, like going through root canal.  I don’t know of anyone actually looking forward going through root canal, do you?
     Next Friday can’t come soon enough.

Not much knitting going on

2006-09-17T01:14:00.000-04:00

     I know I haven’t blogged in a while, but as they say life goes on.  Unfortunately, my knitting has gone decidedly south.  I have pretty much given up on Liz I.  I restarted it 3 times, and I am just not satisfied with the results I’ve gotten.  Needless to say, I will not be wearing it to Randy’s wedding.  So I’ll put it off to the side and try to do something else.  I picked up the yarn I had designated for the Ribbed Corset (pattern by Annie Modesitt).  This too was another one of my “I don’t like the way this is coming out so I’ll rip it out and put it away” projects.  I have 7 skeins of Artyarns Regal Silk in a purple-yellow multi mix which I really like.  I started swatching for it and it’s taking me forever because of my bum elbow.  Something tells me I won’t get this done in time either.  It’s a shorter project, which ideally I would be able to finish before mid October, but my elbow is what it is.
     As I have stated before, tendonitis sucks!  I have decided to bite the bullet, so to speak, and call my MD to see if she can give me a referral to an orthopedist or maybe she herself can give me some steroids for the elbow.  I really didn’t want to have to do that, but I just can’t take it anymore.  I’m going on a knitting retreat (YAY!) in November and I need to be in the best shape.  Otherwise I’m really not going to have a good time.
     Steroids, here I come!

September

2006-09-02T09:36:00.000-04:00

It's September. What a wonderful time of the year! The kids go back to school, including my oldest, the husband goes back to school ( he's a teacher) and there is nothing like the feel of wool between your fingers. It warms my heart just to think of it.

As far as Liz I goes, it goes, albeit slowly. I'm done with the shaping at the bottom so I'm up to whatever is next after that. I don't have the pattern in front of me so I can't write about it. At this rate, I don't think I'll be wearing this to that wedding I mentioned previously in another post. Generally, I like to go shopping when I have an excuse, but I really liked the idea of wearing it for Randy's wedding. Oh well, let's see how far I get. I could probably get it done but having this bum elbow slows me down alot. I'm beginning to see a scalpel in my future if I'm not careful. If I have to give up knitting I will truly go crazy. It has preserved my sanity ever since I had my darling J (my oldest boy). I love him but the child knows how to push my buttons.

Frogging Liz I

2006-08-28T21:35:00.000-04:00

     I ended up completely frogging what I had so far of Liz I.  I just wasn’t pleased with the way it was working out, so for me, when all else fails, RIP!  Rip it good!  Sorry, ‘80’s Devo flashback.
     Now I’m back at it, and I’ve got the bottom edge done.  Now it’s just a matter of doing some type of short rows if I’m not mistaken.  I find doing short rows very tedious, but there it is.  I gotta do them, or else I’m going shopping before this wedding and I’d rather wear something I created (thank you, Ms. Starmore).  Her designs just take my breath away.  I wish I could design like she does.  I just need to find my inspiration.
     As far as this blogging thing goes, I’m still having trouble with it.  I have to figure out how to put buttons (is that what they’re called?) on the blog and I would like to link my blog with the Tudor Roses KAL.  I don’t even know if I can actually do that, I mean, is that allowed?  So, on I go with my struggle to figure out how to do things which to me are akin to programming.  That whole idea really sucks since I really, really did not like the BASIC programming class I took in high school.  Maybe it was because the nun I had wasn’t the friendliest of people.  I remember she was stand behind a podium and flip the cards she had had us write at the beginning of the year.  You had no idea if you were next.  It felt like Russian roulette many, many times.  Thank goodness that’s over.

Tendonitis Stinks!

2006-08-27T20:53:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I had to go and get myself an elbow brace because it hurts like hell. My elbow, that is. About 2-3 months ago it started to bother me enough that I had to put my knitting down and rest the arm. Since then, I haven’t been able to do much knitting which is truly a PITA. I’m just about going crazy at home and I find myself reading a lot and I mean A LOT. Because of this, I have gotten it in my head that maybe I could try my hand at writing. No, not anything to do with knitting, nothing like that. I’ve been reading historical novels and since then I’ve realized I’ve had misconceptions about individuals who write these kinds of novels. I really shouldn’t. It involves research, time, and dedication, not to mention a good amount of creativity and intelligence. I thought that if they could do it maybe so can I. At least I think I can. It may never amount to anything but who knows. Maybe somebody will like it.
Aside from these things, yesterday I went to a new yarn shop, well, at least it’s new to me. It’s called the Rainbow Sheep Shoppe and it’s a very nice store. The owner was friendly and quite helpful, not to mention she had a lovely selection of yarns, many things that I like such as Bartlett yarns, Harrisville, Cottage Craft. I will definitely be going there again. She only opens after 5pm since she has a regular daytime job. She’s also closer than some of the other shops I frequent. She doesn’t have the variety of wools that Countrywool has, but still, it would be worth the visit. As they say, it’s important to support the local yarn shops.

2006-08-24T09:17:00.000-04:00

So, I've decided to start this again. I got rid of the other blog. Let's see if this is any more successful.
I've been knitting Elizabeth I with the Tudor Roses Knitalong. I'm mostly pleased with what's been coming off the needles, but there are a few rows that I'm not pleased with. I'm fervently hoping that it all comes together when I have to block the sweater. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
Matt asked me if I was telling about the trip to Maine we recently took. Needless to say, I had staked out some yarn shops (managed to visit 3) bought some Bartlett in a denim-y shade of blue. I saw an Elisabeth Lavold pattern for a cabled sweater and decided I really had to have it so I got the yarn and ended up getting the book she wrote about Viking designs. Incidentally, I got my stash addition at Halcyon Yarn in the picturesque town of Bath. It's a great place, worth the trip.
I guess that's it for now.