Interpretation is everything

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.

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

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

     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

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

     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!

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.  

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.