Here's Angelina. I probably won't really post today. I've been out a bit this week with the weather and a sick boy. I'm just swamped.

High road, an icy high road

I'm going to take the high road and not whine about my commute home (or daycare closing early). I had a lot of knitting time, got home in time to make turkey meatloaf for dinner, and spent more time than normal with Billy.

(Note to self: whenever you even think that you don't spend enough time with Billy, something happens to make sure you do!)

In housework news, I'm keeping up with the kitchen and got the vacuuming done. That which I am not going to whine about (including a fussy kid) made me think of lumping the housework all together, but I persevered. To reward myself I spent another half-hour with Angelina and some quality time with a glass of Portugese Red. Ah.

Billy cracks up whenever I take out my little toy camera. Don't you wish you could be this happy at 6 am?

Angelina has nearly reached 9". Next time you see her, I'll have started the sleeves! Yay progress! This is what happens when you have an EXTENDED bus ride do to icy roads!

What do you think? Would this be good for my t-shirt? (I didn't think Bleached or Zeal would be good.)

knitting loner

I'm usually a knitting loner, but I had to join Nona's Nothin but a tshirt knitalong. I have Calmer in stash and love, love, love Alison's design. I've added it to my paltry list of alongs.

Molly likes to share Billy's cheerios (or whatever he's eating). He's not so sure he wants her on his tray.

Domestic Goddess*

I found a new way to pique Hubby's interest: clean! I scoured the bathroom last night and did more dishes. Nice to have at least part of the house be clean. I'll vacuum tonight.

I have to confess, I made myself a little schedule and hung it up in one of the kitchen cupboards. Monday is the bathroom, Tuesday and Friday I vacuum (since Molly sheds considerably twice a week is necessary), Wednesday is dusting (something light for LOST night), and Thursday is mopping. Whew. Sundays remain laundry days and I reserve Saturdays for big projects (like decluttering my craft area, cleaning the fridge or oven, organizing closets, etc.).

Must get the husband to help me keep clutter down.

In knitting news, I'm still eeking along on Angelina. I'll wait and post another picture when I start casting on the sleeves.

Last night's commute home was quick. It wasn't until I was on the bus this morning that I remembered they removed the tolls on the GSP southbound at the Union plaza. No more parkway back-ups!


*with apologies to Roseanne

superwash, not superdry

So, I put Purlwise in the wash this weekend, to fluff her up and get rid of some of the ladders. Forgot to tell hubby to take her out before he put the clothes in the dryer. She shrunk. She still fits around my head (and boy is she soft now), but she doesn't cover my ears anymore. I was thinking I'd put some ear flaps on her (I am part hick you know), but I think I'll try blocking her first.

Not too much knitting progress to report. I did a little bit on Angelina, but nothing much else. I do have to get FIL off the finishing pile. F-I-L's b-day is just about 2 weeks away!

I'm trying to start a little knitting group here in the office. I actually posted signs in the kitchens on our three floors. I've gotten one call so far. I feel like such a geek!

I'm also trying to be more domestic. I was up early this morning and in the shower at 4:45 (couldn't sleep and Billy started to wake up but went back to sleep). I'm all caught up on the dishes and hope to tackle the bathroom tonight after Billy goes to bed. I'm hoping that if I break the house down into parts and do a part a day, I'll have a cleaner house. I've really been disgusted lately. And that's saying a lot! I have a high dirt threshold! Any suggestions would be welcome!

Molly wants to say hi, too.

Here's Angelina at nearly 6 inches.

Billy says good morning!

purlwise on my head

Could you guess Purlwise was a hat? The specs are: Gedifra Living in color 5101 (bought on sale at Herrschners.com); size 7 bamboo dpns. Gauge is tight, but I like my hats dense. I used the slipped stitch ribbing from Loll in the Calmer Collection and based the pattern on the Harlot's rolled brim hat recipe. I did have to modifiy the decreases to take my ribbing into account. I think if I make another one, I'll start the decreases earlier and put more rows between them. I'd like it to lie a little flatter.

I really like it. I think it makes me look very different. Hubby's not so sure he likes it. It's not my usual sweater and khakis deal.

So here's me and purl.

Am I the only one wondering

what Hurley was doing in a mental institution in the first place?

I must say I love LOST and I found quite a bit of black humor in last night's episode (intended or not I liked it). Unfortunately, watching tv in my bedroom is not conducive to knitting (no back support).

I have very little progress to report on living (and I haven't touched Angelina since Monday, do go see yarngirl's start on her Angelina).

I did get some stuff in the mail today. The yarn will be easy to explaing to Hubby (he TOLD me to buy it and it's for him), the swift, not so easy. Maybe I should sneak it home!

In other tv news, I find myself being sucked into Alias against my will. I really don't need anymore tv shows to watch and I'm coming into it late, but I find I can't stop watching it. I think it's inertia. I'm just glued to the spot after LOST.

Look what else arrived today. My swift!

The yarn came for Hubby's green socks. Guess I'll have to swatch and cast-on soon.

You're Betty Grable!


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It feels like 26 degrees F outside. In here, it's June! 79.8 if you can't read the photo. Hence, the tank (just don't tell HR).

Does this look like a March forecast to you? It doesn't to me! 

He's a walking dude

That's right, my baby boy has taken his first steps. Monday, about 2 minutes before my husband got home he took four steps not holding onto anything! He's done it a few times since, but won't do it if we have the video camera out.

Little booger, much as I love him, woke me up at 4:20 this morning. Mommy's tired! I also had to stay home with him yesterday because daycare closed for 7" of snow. Cowards!

So what did I do while he napped for 2 1/2 hours yesterday morning (but not at all in the afternoon)? Besides making a few phone calls, I did what you see below. It's a little something I concocted myself. It's in Gedifra Living (100% superwah wool) in a lovely tomato-red.

I loved that slipped-stitch ribbing when I was knitting the Loll cardi last summer and Zipo this winter (hem and cuffs) and decided to do the whole piece that way. Of course, I realized after the fact that I wouldn't have to PURL the whole thing if I knit in the round with the inside-out!

New project. I'm calling it living purlwise, because it's purled in the round. After I was 2 inches in I figured out how to get the slipped stitch ribbing knitting in the round. 'S okay. I like to purl (goofy me). 

Angelina progress. See, nearly another inch! 

Oscars = seaming party

I had a good time watching the Oscars last night and up a couple of sleeves. Although, seaming Zipo was literally a pain in my neck, it's done! Finally, a finished sweater. I can't believe how long he's been sitting around waiting for his sleeves! He's from the All Season Cotton Collection and I started him in December for my dad's birthday and the Manalong. Yarn is All Seasons Cotton in Safari (discontinued and purchased on eBay last year). I love the ASC and the pattern was easy (except for the neck). It's reverse stockinette with no shaping. I did shorten both the body and the arms. My father comes from a long-line of leprechauns*. I promise a better picture once I get Dad to model it in April (along with Mom in Air and maybe my sister in that Grecian Plait I finished last summer).

I made some progress on Angelina Friday. The bus driver decided to cut through Hoboken because it was Friday (highways due tend to back up on Fridays). Unfortunately, the surface roads and alternate route were horrible! It took a long time to get home, which meant 3/4" knit!

I also hemmed some curtains and altered some jeans this weekend. I'd claim to be domesticated, but very little else got done around the house. I'd so much rather play with my son!

* We have some Irish heritage and one of my Uncles claimed to be a leprechaun when I was a kid, to explain away the lack of height my dad and his brothers have. Of course, my grandfather is taller than all of them and the shortness comes from my meme who is not Irish!

What's this? A really crappy (sorry) photo of an FO! 

Swift Angelina

Well, she's not really swift. I've got nearly 3 inches done. Of course that's after a nearly 1 and 1/2 hour bus ride home, two and 1/2 hours of tv watching (part of Survivor, all of CSI: and Without a Trace), and the bus ride in this morning.

The swift refers to this bad boy. Who ever heard of a wood swift for $40? I think I got off scot free on the shipping, too. If you want a loom, this might be the time and place to buy one. They've got them half-price. I think they may charge shipping on those, though. Whoo boy are they big!

We did get about 7" of snow last night. It was tricky getting home. Lots and lots of fender benders on the road. They were pretty slick, but people drive like idiots. I could not believe the fools cutting off the bus. Dude, it's a bus; it'll win! The ride in this morning was fine.

There's a stench in my house. It's from the knitted bits decomposing on the compost/finishing pile. I can't believe I knit up Zipo in a month but have left him mouldering needing just sleeves and weaving in for nearly 2 monts! And poor Air. I started her back in September. She's in pieces! And Hello Billy only needs a zipper! I know I've said it before, but I think it's time for a finishing party. My goals this weekend are to get the floors cleaned in my house and finish a sweater!

Here's my progress on Angelina. As you can see, I've got nearly 3". 

Angelina begins. 

Last shot of my view.  

bloggus interruptus

This post was started and then put on hold while I moved. Now that the computer is set back up, we rejoin blogging in progress:

snow, snow, snow (original post title)

They're forecasting another 4-8 inches for us. We just got 5 on Monday. Granted it's mostly melted away by now. Of course, today's snow is supposed to be heaviest just in time for the evening rush home! Yippee! I think I'll be picking up Billy at daycare and hunkering down at home. I'll raid the pantry for dinner. I hope Hubby doesn't have a hard time getting home from his night out with the guys tonight.

I re-cast on for Angelina last night on the subway, the bus, and watching Lost. Do you know how many times I had to count to make sure I had 218 stitches? About 8! I do really like the crochet cast-on and will use it again. Although, at this tiny gauge with unstretchy-cotton, my fingers started hurting. I've got two rows done. Ths is going to be a loooooong-term project; especially since I haven't had a knittable morning seat on the bus all week. Eventually she won't be busable at all. Like in ten inches (about 2 years from now), when I cast on 2 billion more stitches for the sleeves. I'll have to find a busable project. I know, I know, Hubby's socks.

I finally move to the new department today. Rumor has it I will be moving into the internal, box-like office. It's only slightly smaller, but no windows. I will be getting a table and chairs for small meetings. I had hoped they'd put me in one of the empty external offices (although the only available one has no view). But, they've all been spoken for. (I didn't think they'd give me the old HR director's office, but I had to ask.)

This is my in-office stash. The box on the right is last week's purchases. The two big bags in back are some vintage blue phildar. The two bags in front are Gedifra Cicco for Paris Loops. the stuff on the left is acrylic odds and ends. The big ones were from Kristen when she was moving. 

new look

I changed my template. I don't know why a woman whose favorite colors are red, orange and purple decided to go all blue. Wait, yes I do. It's just such an adorable picture of my boy!

I'm taking a page from Lolly's book. Note the scarf.

provisional cast-on

So, I started casting on for Angelina last night. I have to re-do the 216 stitches. My cast-on wasn't really provisional. I'd like to re-start today, but I'm not sure I have a crochet hook. The crochet cast-on looks like the easiest to master (especially since I've cast on miles of crochet stitches).

I did buy some yarn this morning. Hubby told me last night that he really wants green socks and said he wouldn't mind if I bought sock yarn to make them. So I bought 5 skeins of some weird Turkish sock yarn. It's machine-washable, it's solid green. There will be enough to make his preferred lenght of mid-calf. (I don't think the wildfoote would have been enought at 440 yards). And it was cheap, cheap, cheap!

I hope we like the shade of green.

Just checked my bag. I do have a crochet hook. You know, I knew the cast-on was supposed to be provisional. I even packed waste yarn and used it last night to cast on 200+ stitches. Why didn't I check to see how one was supposed to provisionally cast on?

stash storage

This seems like a very good idea. I would very much like to do it. I would include ideas I have for that bag of yarn and organize my craft area in the basement (including setting up my knitting machine).

I think I'll have time for that right after I get all the other housework I haven't been able to do done. I need to take a few days off when daycare is open so I can put together 6-7 straight hours of cleaning!

finishing pile grows

So, I made some good progress on FIL over the weekend. Well, that is until it came time for seaming. The yarn is too chunky to seam with and separating the plies is impractical. Well, it's not hard to do, but the plies aren't strong enough to seam with on their own. I think I may wander over to Purl at lunch and see what they have for thin gauge wool in navy blue.

I was talking to hubby about what my next project should be. I've ruled out clapotis in the Maha (it doesn't like to drop stitches) and couldn't decide between Angelina and an Easter cardi for Billy. Hubby suggested I start his socks. One problem, I don't have a pattern. I've found a couple of simple patterns, including a generator. So, I have to swatch the socks and see if they'll work. I only have 2 balls of the dark blue Preface. I hope that's enough (fortunately Hubby's feet aren't super big).

I did pack up everything but the pattern for Angelina to get started on her. I didn't have a knittable seat so it didn't matter that I couldn't start. I should finish the swatch, anyway before I cast on, right?

Well, first day in the new position. Must get things going.

TGIF, sort of

What a week. I'm glad it's Friday. I'm also glad it's a long weekend and we don't really have any plans. All we've got on our plates is going to dinner at my in-laws tomorrow night.

I do have a ton of housework and laundry to do. And I'd like to try to do some finishing (Air, Zippo, Hello Billy). Not to mention, the lovely fiber wants to be spun up. Oh, and thank you notes for Billy's birthday and our taxes.

Whew.

I am sad that it's Friday because today is my friend Kristen's last day in the office. We've worked here together for nearly 7 years. She's my closest friend here and I don't know when I'll see her again. Bummer.

Not too much progress to report on FIL. I am past the pocket trim, but still quite a way from the armhole shaping. I had hoped to finish this weekend, but I don't think it will happen. Next week for sure. Then I can think about the two swatches I've started or maybe something else!

Don't tell FIL...

that I've gotten a bit bored with his blue-ness. I knit nearly 6 inches on FIL last night on the bus ride home, but he's just so blue and the right front is the same as the left front (but reversed of course). He's giving me the blahs.

Then, there was a sing-song voice from my bag. Knit me it said. I didn't want the talking yarn in my bag to freak out the people on the bus. So, just had to swatch the Maha (I'm tired of trying to spell it out). I whipped out the smallest needles I had on me and set to work. It's making a lovely fabric, although, my gauge is loose on 9s (the smallest I had). If I want to make Clapotis out of this, I'll have to try 7s. And it's colorful! I was a little worried when I first saw the balls in person as the colors are a bit brighter than I was expecting, but they look great together knitted up. I'm not quite sure what it will become. If I make Clapotis, I'll have 5 balls left. Enough for another Clap, but not much else.

My Maharajdah swatch (I think I always misspell that). 

Supportive Hubby

My husband wants to be supportive of me and my hobbies (obsessions?). So, when I said there was a knitting thing I wanted to go to in September, he tried to hide the pained look on his face. When I told him it meant 4 days in Atlantic City, he was more excited than I was. Stitches EAST here I come! Now, I just need knittinguniverse to get on the horse and get going with it. Sheesh, it's only 7 months away!

This means that there can be no more stashing until September. No more yarn purchases. I must knit through the stash for the next 7 months and clear out some room! I'll also be saving my pennies for the marketplace. Yippee!

This is Phildar Maharadjah in an unknown color way. I'm taking it home tonight and swatching for Clapotis. Startitis anyone? 

My latest stashquisitions made it a happier Tuesday. La la la, yarn! 

Molly, Queen Bully of my Heart, wants to know if I'm sure I know how to work a camera. 

It’s Tuesday, but you could sure fool me

How dare I have a life! How dare I need to take 1 and ½ days off from the office! How dare I be distracted from my job for a week because my 1 year old son needs to go under general anesthesia! You would think I’m completely slacking off here and not getting anything done (you’d be partly right), or that I have nothing to do but what you need done. Oh, don’t worry about it. Forget to tell me when that URGENT thing you need done gets done while I’m at the surgery center because you asked someone else and DIDN’T TELL ME!!!!

Sure feels like a crappy Monday in the office!

knitted homespun

I just had to knit up my homespun yesterday. I actually caston sitting at my desk. I posted pictures below. Sorry they're not better. Someday, I'll have a better camera. I'm just happy I can post anything.

I really enjoyed knitting it up; it was exciting to think I was knitting yarn I made! I'm going to work on being more consistent with the next batch. I don't know what I'll be able to make out of it. We'll see how much I wind up with. Yesterday's swatch is the size of a couple of postage stamps!

FIL is moving along. I've got a few more inches and then it's time for the armhole. If I have any free time this weekend, it's going to finishing. I want to get Zipo and Air done. Especially Air. She's been around since September!

Here is the front side. 

Here is the reverse side. 

which color

I think this would make a great summer-weight clapotis, don't you? I know I'm a little late for jumping on the band wagon (usually am, my Charlotte is in skeins under my bed from this summer), but now I want to make one, too. So, which color? I think the white would be most versatile. But, I'm really torn between the red, orange, or purple.

Thick and thin

I didn't get to watch all of Lost last night. Hubby, the boy and I went out to dinner and by the time the boy had his bath and bottle, there wasn't much left to watch. I did enjoy what I saw and can't wait for next week.

Angelina (1940s style jacket from White Lies) was swatched for a bit, but not during Lost. During Lost and the first few minutes of Alias (which I've never gotten into), I spun a small sample roving that came along with my flame roving. I definitely need to spin in a different place. I worked this roving in my bedroom, on my bed. Not good for the posture or the eyesight. We have very bad lighting in our bedroom. I don't know if you can tell, but it's of varying thickness because my draws were of various sizes and it's underspun in some places and overspun in others. It was good practice, though. I have a better idea of what to do when I start in on my burgundy roving purchased with my spindle (no picture). I wound up casting on and swatching for Angelina during CSI:NY. I think I'm going to like knitting her up. It's strange going back to such a tiny gauge!

As for FIL, he's growing. I've completed 6 inches from the cast-on. It's a bit more interesting than straight stockinette, because you work ribbing on the zipper edge (as in photo) and on the pocket edge (not in photo). Of course, being me, I am working the wrong number of ribs on the pocket side. I'm short one. Oh well. Who's going to know besides me? Well, me and the whole Internet? Seeing as I have 2 subscribers via bloglines, I think my secret's safe even if it is posted for the whole Internet to see!

It's a dreary gray day today and I could use a nap. I've been a horrible sleeper my whole life (I'd love to blame it on the PPD or the SSRIs, but I've had insomnia since I was a kid). Why is it, that the people who have no problems going to sleep can get by on less and those of us who have horrible times sleeping, can't get enough?

Handspun in hand for scale of skein. It's itty bitty. 

Look, I made novelty yarn. This is my first handspun in some freebie wool. Colorway is denim. 

Progress on left front of FIL from yesterday and this morning. This is the zipper side 

Rowan 37

Must renew membership. Must have new mag. Many, many things I must knit. Pretty poncho for renewing!

FIL thinks I don't like him anymore

After my last post, the sweater vest was whining on the way home. He thinks I don't like him anymore. Fortunately, I had a great conversation with a woman who works for Anne Klein in the fashion district. She works with the seamstresses, translating the designs into working patterns. Sounds interesting to me! I bet she's got mad sewing skills! She liked my Phildar "thread" and we talked about knitting and sewing and her growing up in Russia and what she used to do to be fashionable. She had this girlfriend in college whose grandmother spun a wool-blend with the girlfriend's collie's fur. It made wonderfully warm and beautiful knits! We chatted about that and how people still do spin pet fur. (I suggested Persian or Himalayan cat fur would be nice.) Don't worry Molly, you've got short hair. No bully knits for me! It was a nice ride home and I saw her again on the bus in this morning, but I had to sit at the back.

As photographed below, albeit poorly, I did finish the back of FIL this morning. I only had about 11 rows to finish him up after my gab & knit-fest home last night. (I impressed the lady on the bus by being able to knit by feel. I tried to explain that it was straight back and forth st st, but she wanted to be impressed.)

I did pull out the Quechua and the pattern and my 5s, but didn't really get started. I didn't feel well last night and I'm so wiped out still. I don't know if I had a bug or if it's the lingering effects of a late night and stress. I'm looking forward to casting on. Hopefully, I'll get the left front of FIL started tonight on the way home and can cast-on for Angelina while watching Lost tonight. Well, cast-on the swatch anyway.

You can't tell, but this is the back of FIL. Completed back, I meant to say.