The sweater for the little one is done. I finished it last night during the Yankee game. Well, I still have to weave in three ends and attach two buttons (first I have to buy two buttons). I really liked this pattern. It worked top down and the sleeves crocheted right on the body. No seaming!

I've started on a matching hat and then will do booties.

The next project (for which I am swatching) is a knit sleeper. It's from Family Circle Easy Baby Knits. I'm doing it in pastel green and baby blue. Hopefully, I'll have enough yarn. I'm trying to work through my stash a bit.

I'm also still under the request from my husband that I not buy anymore yarn until I finish a few projects.

I still haven't woven in ends on the baby's blanket, seamed the KG pillow nor have I touched the blanket for my parents in months. No wonder he called me the queen of unfinished projects last night!

Long time no blog.

It's been an eventful four months chez moi.

I got a huge promotion and am expecting my first child. (Hence the cryptic comments about the kolibri tank not fitting.)

That baby blanket I was supposed to start didn't get started in earnest until mid-July and has become my baby's first blanket. I just finished the border last night and only need to weave in a few ends.

I also started a baby sweater on Tuesday. I'm past the arm holes and cruising. I hope to have it finished by next week. Both the sweater and blanket are in baby white Fiesta. I bought a ton when I found out I was pregnant. I love the colors and the look of the yarn, but I'd forgotten how hard it is to work with. The stuff splits like you wouldn't believe!

Next on tap are a hat and booties. Then it's off to a kids knitting book I bought and another sweater!

I'm getting back into creating. The first few months of my pregnancy I barely had energy to get home much less crochet or knit. Now, the baby's going to be here in less than four months, my fingers have to fly!

I'm about 71/2 inches into the back of the Kolibri tank, but I'm going to drop it for a while. A, it's not going to fit me by the time I'm fnished and B, I've got baby things to make. One of my very good friends (I've known her since we were in first grade) is having a baby in August and I need to get a blanket done for her. So, I'm picking that up tonight.

Finished the Kolibri swatch today. I've decided to go with garter stitch. If I have enough leftover, I might make a stockinette one, too.

If I get a chance this afternoon, I'm going to figure out the number of stitches/rows my pattern needs. I've already got a schematic with the measurements (not to scale but taken from another tank I like). Hopefully, I can cast-on tonight.

I really want to be able to wear this tank to our company summer outing July 2. Think I can get it done?

Hey, I'm back.

I had a nasty sinus infection for most of May and that really cut down on the knitting and the desire to post. I got meds and am feeling back on my game. Got out of the habit of posting, though.

The KG pillow is done. I wound up ripping out all of the intarsia last week and went back to stripes. I was not happy with the intarsia at all. But, I’ve got the side seams finished. I want to run it through the wash before I put the form in and sew the bottom. Molly’s gotten a hold of it a few times and it’s covered in dog hair.

I have to give Molly credit. She was really sweet yesterday. I was knitting and she just lied down on my hip and let me knit while she napped. We did it for hours (most of the Yankees’ 17 inning marathon yesterday). I wouldn’t have been able to finish the pillow this weekend if she hadn’t been so cooperative and totally disinterested in my knitting.

I may not have been very productive or talkative lately, but I've been on a knitting shopping tear. I bought 11 skeins of Dale of Norway Kolibri in orange (discontinued and on deep discount at Herrschner's) a few weeks ago. It came in the mail last week. I've also bought 26 skeins of Reynolds Pebble Beach (21 in watermelon and 5 in brite blue), again deep discount (52% off) on a discontinued yarn at Herrschner's (plus, free shipping). Those balls haven't shipped, yet.

My husband is not pleased. I have sworn off any more yarn buying until I finish something (hence, roaring through the KG pillow yesterday).

Next on the needles is tank in the Kolibri. I brought two skeins and my needlemaster to work today so I could start swatching. Tonight, I’m going to measure my favorite tank and follow those dimensions to fit Bella from Berroco. Although I don't have a copy of the pattern, since it doesn't require any shaping, it shouldn't be too hard to wing. I'm also thinking doing Berroco's Jenna with the Kolibri.

I started my the swatch and so far I just love this yarn. It looks like silk and it’s working up pretty easily. Although, it’s not too tightly spun so ir splits a little. I’m thinking I won’t be able to use Jenna without a serious overhaul: 1) the pattern only goes up to large; 2) the gauge on the kolibri is not going to be right, it’s way too loose on 7s.

The pillow is officially lunch work only. I got a few rows of the intarsia done today and it looks ok. I may not have to rip again. I've only ripped it 4 times, I think.

Painted desert is going pretty well. I'm up to 16". Doesn't seem like much progress, but Molly's been needing attention a lot lately. I hope to get more done in the next few days. Only 44" more to go!

I got a bit of work done this weekend. I had managed about 3 rows in the intarsia of the pillow, which I then ripped out and have re-started. It requires a lot of concentration, so I haven't been doing too much on it.

Painted desert is cruising along. I'm in the 39th row, with 19 cluster rows completed. It's just about 15 inches high. I'm into the third of 10 skeins. I'll definitely have enough yarn. I sure hope it's wide enough for two people.

I really need to finish that pillow. At this rate, the blanket will be too big to carry and the pillow will still be hanging around. I promised my husband I wouldn't buy any new yarn until I finished something. Must work on the pillow!

Not a lot of progress on the pillow yesterday. I had a hard time starting the intarsia. I did get a couple of rows done, but it's not a good train project. I might be leaving it at home for evening work. Now watch, the dog won't let me work in the evenings. I'm also thinking of bringing it in on Monday and leaving it here all week for lunch hour work only. I'll see how much I get done over the weekend.

I brought the painted desert blanket with me today. It is a good train project. I got a few clusters done before the PATH got really crowded this morning. I haven't worked on it since Monday, so I'm really looking forward to lunch today.

Got my Needlemaster kit finally. I can't wait to start using it. I was looking at the needles I inherited from my grandmother and there aren't a lot of the intermediate sizes. I really think that there have to be others at the house still. I can't imagine that a knitter as accomplished as she was would have so few tools! I feel guilty sitting here and thinking about looking through her things to take needles and yarn, but no one else in the family would use them. I also feel closer to here when I use her needles and the balls of yarn she wrapped. Hers look so much nicer than the ones I do!

I joined the Crafter's choice book club. There was a flier in my Herrschner's package. I ordered Vogue Knitting, Vogue Knitting Quick Knits, and The Complete Guide to Sewing (or similar title) for a dollar each plus shipping. I also got The Knitters Stitch Bible (or something similar) for half price plus shipping. I know they'll kill me on shipping. My husband doesn't understand. I was also scaring him mentioning the Berroco pattern books I want. I promised I wouldn't order them until I checked local knitting shops first. I also promised I wouldn't get patterns or yarn until I'm ready to start a new project. Gee, I hope I get that pillow finished soon!

I'm just over 4 inches into the second side of the KG pillow. I got a lot done on the train and at home last night. I decided that I'm very bored with doing stripes, so I'm going to try intarsia again. I've designed a pretty flower and I'm sticking it in the middle of this side. I'm going to see how it will look if I do the flower in stockinette inset in garter stitch. If that doesn't work, I'll just make a stockinette panel. I'll be starting on that at lunch today. So, of course, the morning will crawl....

No news on the blanket still. I'm much more enthused about the pillow because there is a light at the end of that tunnel.

My next knitting project is going to be a tank top for myself. With a lot of walking on my commute and an office that's on the chilly side in the summer, I really like to have a few sleeveless layers. I'm going to do Jenna from Berroco. Now, I need to find a yarn. I'm thinking Lion cotton, but I don't know what color.

The KG pillow is up to 11 1/2 inches. I was able to do a few rows this morning on the PATH. I should be starting the second half this evening.

No movement on the blanket. I didn't get to work on anything at home last night.

The blanket is now just about 12 inches high and sitting on my dining room table. I managed to work on it a lot last night.

I brought KG's pillow today to help forestall any developing hand/wrist/elbow problems. No opportunity to knit on the train or PATH this morning. I did start to re-wrap a ball of yarn my dog had made a mess of. Now, I only need to get the dog hair off it!

Okay, by the numbers:

nearly 1 1/2 skeins used
just over 9"
23 total rows done
11 cluster rows done
8" into 12th cluster row

A long way to go (approximately 154 rows). But, not bad for starting the foundation row four days ago.

I neglected to mention that I developed a sore elbow over the last hour of crocheting. I may be picking up the KG pillow tomorrow. She could use some cheering up, anyway so the sooner I get that done, the better.

The blanket is up to 8 inches. I got quite a bit done in the car yesterday between driving to the Newark Bears game and riding down to Woodbridge where my husband picked up three new suits that had been altered. And the dog crashed pretty early. The fingers on my left hand are a little sore. I may have to switch back to knitting for a few days if they stay like this.

Looks to be another slow day in the office today. Going to be hard to wait and not pick up the project until lunch.

I've made some good progress on the painted desert blanket. I had to bribe the dog with a new bone, but I got a few rows done last night and nearly two more done this morning. I'm just about finished the ninth row with four motifs completed. It's about 3 and a half inches high. It's not a full 60 inches wide, it's 56 or so. My parents are thin people, it should still work for them. My husband decided this morning that he likes the colors more than he originally thought.

I have a sneaking feeling that it's going to be a very slow day around here again today. It's going to be tough holding off on crocheting until lunch time!

I did not bring the striped pillow in today. It's officially being neglected.

Reading KnitDad, all I want to do is open a yarn shop. I'd have classes and get to knit samples. I'd love to be surrounded by yarn and knitting and crochet tools all day. And the books and magazines! What a joy to sit and knit or talk about knitting all day! There really isn't one in my area, as far as I can tell.

But, here I am with a knitting project and a crochet project in a bag by my feet and I can't even look at them, much less work on them. I have to remember to get a new bone for Molly on the way home tonight. Just so I can watch tv and maybe crochet in peace.

I worked on the painted desert afghan at lunch and I'm just loving the colors and the way they show off the pattern. It's going to take forever to make, but I just adore it!

I do feel kind of bad that I haven't touched the KG pillow since I got home, but her birthday is the end of July, so I can take some time off.

I told my husband yesterday on our walk home that I had been a very good girl yesterday. Lion Brand is having a clearance sale and I didn't order anything. He said he doesn't mind me spending the money as long as I'm going to use the yarn. So, he'd prefer I didn't order any more yarn until I finish with what I've got (my most recent order I assume and not the scraps in my stash). Evil me was thinking this morning that I could order whatever I wanted and just have it delivered to work and keep it here until I could take it home and use it. Although, since he does the books, it would be hard to keep purchases from him.

Mind you, I don't ask for his permission to buy things. I only ask him when would be a good time to spend money since he handles our books.

Oooh, my Joann.com package came last night. I had to, had to, had to open in up right away. Even before I let the dog out. The painted desert is beautiful. I couldn't wait to start working with it. During the Devils game, while the dog chewed her bone, I swatched a couple of stitches from my 101 Crochet Stitches for Afghans book with an I hook. I didn't like the way a waffle pattern looked (3 fpdc, 3 bpdc), but found a cluster that looks absolutely fabulous. So, I measured my little swatch and calculated that I needed a 210 stitch foundation chain for an approximately 60" blanket. Gee, I must love my parents. I've started on the first row and have a long way to go. The Blue Hex was about this size, but since it was worked in the round the size was deceptive. This blanket is always going to seem like a huge project! I hope I bought enough yarn. Needless to say, I've got both projects with me today.

I also held KG's pillow against the 14" form that I had ordered and it will be fine.

Lunch hours are for knitting. I got six more rows done.

Perhaps I should change the name of my blog. Something to reflect the fact that I haven't crocheted in over a month. How about by hook or pointy stick?

I think it's cute.

I was extremely production last night. I hope I wasn't unsociable at the in-laws' but I got over 5 inches done in total yesterday. Unfortunately, this morning was the first time I measured it lying truly flat and it's an inch too narrow. I might try to block it out wider. If that doesn't work, I'll stitch a border or something. I am not starting over again!

Not to self, always, always, always lay the item you are making on a flat surface to measure!

The new KG pillow is about 1 inch high at this point, but I think I'll be much happier with it.

I was wrong; my Joann.com order will be here tomorrow. I kept thinking today was the 30th.

I'm concerned about my order at Herrschner's. It does not show up in my online account. I'm going to have to rummage through my home e-mail to find the confirmation and ask them what's up with it.

Okay. I'm not happy with the pillow. It's attractive and I've been doing a good job. But I'm completely stuck on the next color combinations and it's not what I wanted at all. I really should not have used pink as the main color. Therefore, I'm putting this piece away. Maybe, I'll be able to come up with something else for it or I'll just hold on to it as a memento, but it's not going to be KG's pillow. I'm starting over at lunch. Casting on in off-white and garter stitching stripes like Molly's blanket. And that is that.

In other news, my Joann.com order is on its way. I should have it tomorrow.

I also ordered a needlemaster set from Herrschner's. Yippee!

I'm cruising on the pillow. I've got 4 1/2" done, not counting the tuck panel. Molly had a new bone and was very happy to leave me to my knitting a lot last night. So far, it's really pretty, but I think if the stockinette is making it kind of preppy. And, the prettiness might be drawback. I hope she likes it. I'm not really sure anymore.

I keep checking on my order to see if it's shipped or not. I know, way to soon to be thinking it would be on the way. My husband was giving me a hard time this morning. I told him the total of the order and he felt that I should have gone to a store instead of ordering on-line, especially since I paid $7 in postage. I'd love to shop in person (and I might just spend more) but there really isn't a shop convenient to where I live. There's a yarn shop around the corner from my office, but I think the Manhattan prices would upset him more.

What I really want is one close to the house with a group I can join. I envy all of the journalers I read that have groups or go to stitch and bitch. I know of some crocheters/knitters here at work, but I don't like to hang out in Manhattan after work too much. We've been living in our house over two years and I really don't know a soul.

I don't know how to take this, when I got home last night Molly's blanket was in her water dish. I hope that was accidental.

I finished a few more rows on the KG pillow. Had tried a colored garter row, but ripped it out. Then I had to go back and twist the stiches. I always mess up frogging. Looking forward to getting back in the swing though.

60 ozs of Painted Desert and two pillow forms are making their way to me. I cannot wait until they get here.

This definitely made me rethink getting a Twix from the candy machine.

The Molly blanket is done. I finished sewing it together last night and she slept on it for the first time. I guess she likes. When I first put it in her crate, she pulled it out and tried to kill it by shaking her head. Then she tried to chew on it so I took it away. It's kind of ugly and it wouldn't win any prizes, but it was a great practice piece.

My husband was saying that I should make a lot of them and we'll have a table at our town's fair next year. Then I can start custom making them, and yada yada yada. He's got no concept of the fact that I'm a beginner and no one would buy one of my knitted projects.
A hex blanket, maybe.

Started the next project last night. I'm nearly four inches into KG's pillow. I'm aiming for 14" x 14". I'm making one long panel. It will be folded in half with an edge to tuck in (stole that idea from Vern on Trading Spaces), meaning only two seams to sew. I'm working the tuck panel as garter stitch. The rest will be striped stockinette. It's going to be predominantly pink. She's such a girly girl. I hope it works in her apartment!

Tomorrow, I get to place the yarn order I've been planning for weeks. I'm still toying with what pattern to use for Mom & Dad's new blanket. I guess I'll swatch a few that I have in mind and go from there. I can always make a painted desert hex.

Finally, finally, finally, the middle panel is finished. I got it done last night. I lost my knitting drive last week and didn't discover it againg until yesterday. The rest of today is weaving in ends and sewing the panels together. Hopefully, I'll be able to present her with it tonight.

We limited our luggage this past weekend, so I couldn't take any knitting with me. Which was fine, because as I mentioned, I wasn't really in the mood. We had a great time, though. I think we really needed it.

Once I'm done with the Molly blanket, I'll start on the pillow for KG. Later this week, I'm ordering yarn. At least the color for mom & dad's new blanket and pillow forms. I'm thinking of getting some other stuff, but we'll see.

I finished weaving in the ends on the striped panels. I've finally picked the color for the bone motif on the Molly panel and hope to get that done today. I really, really wanted to have it all done before we left her for the weekend (the husband and I are going to Montreal to see Bruce Springsteend and the E Street Band), but doesn't look likely.

My next project is going to be the striped pillow for KG. I'm bringing that to Montreal with me to work on in transit.

Next week, I order yarn (and pillow forms).

I've decided to kill the sweater project. I'm not completely sure that the pattern I had been working on will be something I like. Since chenille is hard to rip out (it's easy to pull the short fibers from the yarn) I want to be sure that I'll like it when finished. I've got some other things in mind for future use.

I'm a frustrated creator today. I didn't get to work on Molly's blanket last night and had to rip out and re-start the sweater again. Ugh. I'd like to go back to the days when I was cruising through projects.

I've got most of the ends woven in on the two striped panels for Molly's blanket. I've also decided to add a bone motif to the top of the panel with her name to give it the length it needs. Then, I'll be done.

I started another project last night. Got a jump on a beige chenille sweater. I won the chenille in an eBay auction months ago and since I've only got 8 balls I've been worried about what to make. I'm making a short sleeve v-neck sweater. Half-double crochet. I've ripped it out twice and may do so again. I'm trying to follow a sweater I really like and currently am running nearly 2" wide. We'll see how it goes.

Any leftovers will become teddy bears. Lion Brand has a cute pattern on their site.

I haven't been much of a knitting fiend lately. I've got the middle panel done, but it's not long enough. I've started weaving in ends, but have really been ignoring the whole thing. I'll fix that today. I just want to be done with it! Then I can start on whatever I'm going to do next.

Okay. I've finished the M and am contemplating ripping it all out (at least through the O) but I won't. It's done completely wrong, but the dog won't care. I just want to finish and move on.

So, I will.

I've obviously got a lot to learn about intarsia. Things are improving, but not perfect yet. I need to find some resources. Anyway, I finished the O and got a good start on the M last night. I'll be done this panel soon. I've got to figure out how to block the silly thing. It curls up like no tomorrow.

I promised my husband I wouldn't by any of the yarns I'm obsessing about until later in the month. That means I've got to work with what's on hand. I'm trying to find something to do with 1800 yards of chenille. I've been looking at a few beginner sweater patterns I have, but I'm just not sure. I could also start that pillow I was thinking about for my friend K. That would be fun.

Mostly, I'm thinking about tank top designs and cornmeal cotton. When oh when will Spring come?

I am obsessing about a new yarn. I really want to buy 60 ozs and make my parents a blanket with it. It would look so nice in their living room. It's too bad they don't have this color atHerrschner's. The yarn is 30 cents cheaper (adds up when ordering 10 skeins).

I know I said I would update yesterday, but the weather messed up my schedule. I was supposed to take Monday off and go to Yankee Opening Day, but the game was snowed out so I came to work Monday and just didn't think of it. I was at the game yesterday so here I am today. Make sense?

I did not get as much knitting done in VT as I had hoped. However, I have done a Y and two Ls on the stockinette panel of the blanket. They look like crap. I'm obviously doing something wrong. I looked at an intarsia sweater my grandmother made and I think I've got a handle on how to fix the problems. So, the O I started last night should turn out much better.

I have been too lazy, though. I did a swatch and realized that my rows are a lot shorter so the piece with the letters is going to be too short (and perhaps I counted the rows wrong on the other pieces). I'm toying with doing plain off-white garter pieces to help lengthen the middle panel. I think it will have a nice framing effect. Depends on how much I block the thing.

No knitting at lunch. Had to run an errand for the hubby and since I skipped the paper yesterday, had to read today's.

I won't be posting again until Tuesday. I'm heading to VT tomorrow and although my family has Internet access, I don't know that I'll blog. I will update on Tuesday when I get backto work because I hope to have lots of progress to report. (4+ hours in airports = lots of knitting)

I'm having a very hard time with this swatch. I've pulled it out and re-started at least three times. I'm doing something wrong and I cannot figure out what it is. I'll have to start over again at lunch today.

Second panel is finished. I bound off on the train last night. It's just the right size, too. I casted on and started the swatch for the stockinette panel. I may re-do it; my first purl row is all wrong. And gauge is looking awfully tight. I'd hate to have to re-graph my letters, but it's looking like I might. I've decided on doing each letter a different color. So far, I've picked pink, orange, forest green, royal blue and bright, bright red. I reserve the right to change my mind. Anyway I'm still making progress.

Bad Netter. Didn't knit a stitch all weekend. Worked out to be a good thing, though. I'm all jazzed up to finish the last few inches of the second striped panel and to start in on the middle panel. I'd like to be completely done the whole thing by the time I get back from Vermont next weekend. We'll see

Then, I'll need to start on something else. Still thinking about cornmeal cotton.

Things are moving along. I've gotten about 22 inches done. I've also got my letters charted on knitting graph paper. I have to re-do the chart, but I at least know what they're going to look like. At this rate, I'll be starting the letters this weekend if I get the chance to knit at all.

Time to start thinking about what to do next. I'm in love with a color of cotton at Lion brand(check out cornmeal under kitchen cotton). I'm thinking tank top. I'd buy the big cone of it and make placemats, too. The color just screams summer to me.

I've also got a chart of things in mind. On that list:

a striped pillow for my friend KG
Pumpkin afghan for Aunt Lindy
New sweater for Molly
teddy bears for various cousins at Christmas
Christmas garland for my mother-in-law
throw pillows for my in-laws
new blanket for my Dad
sweater for my Mom (or a blanket if she wants one)
I've also got 1800 yds of beige chenille to make something for myself

I should probably start with the things I have yarn for, my sweater, Molly's sweater, KG's pillow will be scrap pillow. But, I really want to buy some yarn. I have a Joann gift card from Christmas. I may have to do some shopping when I'm in VT (easiest access to a Joann store). Things to think about.

Up to nearly 17 inches in length. I need to pick up the pace! Not really. At this pace, I'll be done this strip by this weekend. What I really need to do is keep a better eye on my gauge. The width varies up to a quarter of an inch! Not much of a problem with this project, but it will be an issue when I start making sweaters.

The second strip is up to 13 inches. Go me. It would have been longer, but I had to spend time taking a few rows out and re-doing them. I screwed up in some funky way. Looking forward to getting a few more inches done at lunch.

Had a pretty productive Saturday in the car. I've got about 6 inches done total. This strip is slightly narrower than the first. I'm sure the dog won't mind. I've also decided to not match up the stripes; that will make my life easier.

I haven't been too productive. I had to re-cast on the second panel and I've only got a few rows done. I'm looking forward to getting a big portion done today and tomorrow.

Less than a week and the first panel is completed. I do have a ton of edges to weave in, but I'll do that later. I want to get a jump on the second panel today. First task is to write out the sequence of rows so that I don't have to drag the first panel around with me. I should be casting on at lunch. Woo-hoo!

I overstated the length of the panel yesterday. When I measured it again at lunch it was just over 17 1/2 inches. Now, it's just under 21 inches. Just about 5 more to go.

I'm looking forward to starting the second panel this weekend. I've been debating with myself whether I should follow the same pattern of colors or do a different sequence. I've decided to put the same size stripes in the same places but to do different colors. My next debate is whether or not to make the letters in the middle panel all the same color. I had been planning on doing them different colors but then my friend KG asked if they were going to be the same color and she got me thinking. I guess I'll play it by ear.

What a productive weekend. I've got just over 18 inches done on the first panel. At this rate, I'll be onto the other striped panel by the end of the week. I had thought that this project would take a while and I'd be working on it on the plane ride to VT (more like in the airport waiting for the plane ride), but I might have to pick up a different project! (Of course, weaving in ends and sewing together are going to take a bit of time.) I'll have it done just in time for her to not need a blanket. It was nearly 70 degrees here yesterday!

In two days, I have gotten over 8 inches done. So I'm about 1/3 of the way through 1/3 of Molly's blanket (not counting weaving in ends and stitching it together). This morning on the subway I started calling it Molly's triptych. It's turning out pretty well. I really should start measuring to make sure each row is the same.

I wore my new scarf yesterday. I received a number of compliments on it. I must say it's very warm and snuggly. I'm glad I was able to get a couple days' use out of it before it warms up for good.

I'm having a great time knitting. It's been a lot easier than I remember it from the last time I tried. Of course, I could be screwing it all up. I am concerned about how the edges are turning out, especially with the stripes. I'm going to have to look into it to see what I'm doing wrong. But, all in all it's turning out well. The stitches all look pretty uniform. I haven't checked my gauge, yet. I'll do that when I'm about ready to change colors again. I brought all the balls of color I'm using with me today. It's going quicker than I expected and I don't have a set pattern in my head so I'm not sure which color I'll want next. I do wish I had used the colors I have more of first, I could have put more stripes of those colors in. Oh well. Maybe I'll just use some of the colors I had rejected and not repeat any!

I wish my scraps included purple. But, I inherited a lot of the stash from my grandmother and she hated purple.

Let me just say that I love cable cast-on. It's so much easier than the long tail cast-on I was using. Of course, it's not good for every project but The Knitter's Companion says it's good for afghans, so it fills my bill today. And the circs fell much more natural than straight needles. I must say I'm pleased with my progress. I've gotten 4 plus rows done and have even managed changing colors for the first time. I should have a whole stripe done this evening. Woo hoo.

I still have to decide which is more comfortable English or continental. English feels more natural. I wish I could remember what my grandmother did. I really wish I had taken advantage of her knowledge when she was still around. She was a fantastic knitter, crocheter, sewer, all around crafter. It would have been nice if we could have shared this more. She taught me to knit once when I was a really little girl. I made tons of blankets for my Barbies.

This morning is just dragging by. I'd love nothing more than to pick up my knitting. But, my blogging about knitting wouldn't be encouraged, I highly doubt my knitting at my desk during office hours would be.

Scarf is done. I finished fringing it last night while watching the Devils game. And, of course it is too warm today to wear. Fortunately, it'll be back in the low 30s tomorrow. Don't know when I've ever said that before!

I've got yarns and needles picked out for Molly's blanket. I'm obsessing about intarsia and how to plot the letters, but that can wait. I'm doing the stockinet section last. Today, I need to cast-on for the first garter section. I'm really looking forward to lunch time today so I can get started. It's too awkward to try to cast on while riding the train, especially since I'll need to constantly refer to my book.

AH HA HA HA HA!!!

I rock!

I finished the blue hex last night. Done, finito. 60" of crochet warmth and cuddliness done in 6 weeks. The last thing I made this big took me over a year to do. And, and, and, and, I'm not going to see my sister for three weeks.

My new scarf is wearable at this point. If I weren't insisting on fringe, it would be done as well.

Time to get going on my next project. I've started designing a crate blanket for my dog. It's going to be 21" by 26". I'm making it in three 7" panels. The outside panels will be garter stitch with horizontal stripes. The main color will be off-white (I have tons of it). The stripes will be done in many, many colors. I need to go through my stash. The middle panel will be stockinet stitch in off-white with her name, Molly, running vertically. Cool, huh? I've decided to try intarsia for the letters and colors will again depend on what I have in my stash. Same with needle size, etc. I think I'll be using circular needles because I've heard they're easier, especially on trains and things.

I'm just so excited!

The blue hex is nearly done! I finished round 60 Saturday night and started on the edging right away. The edging's became a bit of a road block. The reverse double crochet wasn't turning out like it did the last time I used it. Well, I should say, the last time I thought I used it. Referring to one of my crochet books, I was doing the stitch correctly on Saturday, but it wasn't what I wanted. So, I fiddled some more then and again yesterday and decided to do a reverse slip stitch in the back loop. It adds no height and not much bulk to the edge, but it does give it a more finished look. A seed-stitch almost (of course a seed stitch probably looks completely different). I'm about half done the edging.

Needless to say, I really need to learn to do more types of edging. Actually, there's a ton more I need to learn. The stitch book I ordered last week will be shipping Wednesday. There should be lots of cool stuff to learn in that!

My scarf is moving along; I'm at about row 94. I'll have it just in time for the weather to warm up for Spring!

Yesterday's finger soreness was a good excuse to lay off the crocheting. I've barely touched the scarf since. I think I've hit that point in a project where I completely lose interest. It never happened with the blue hex, but I usually get completely sick of something and stop working on it for a while. Besides the soreness and the boredom, the weather can't decide if it's still winter or not. Yesterday morning, it was raining when I left my house, snowing when I got off the subway in Manhattan and down right icy when I walked home. It was freezing this morning, but they are forecasting 48-50 for the weekend and more snow next week! I thought I couldn't make up my mind.

I ordered a great book yesterday. I hope it's released Monday like it's supposed to be (I work in publishing I know how these things go). Then it will be in my hot little hands later next week. I haven't told my husband, yet, but I don't think he'll care. He wouldn't have any grounds to be bothered, he just bought tickets to 6 Springsteen concerts this summer. And, I still have money left over from my Fantasy Football win. (Yes, I the only woman and complete novice kicked all the boys' buts!)

I'm in a very crappy mood this morning. Edgy and cranky. Don't know why. I wish I could have given my husband an answer after I had bitten his head off, but I can't think of one.

The scarf is going to have to be longer than 48 inches. I've gotten to the low 40s and it barely fits around my kneck and face. Urgh.

The fingers on my left hand that I use to hold and move the yarn are getting stiff and sore. I don't know if I'm over doing it or if it's the weather change this morning. Perhaps I should take some time off the hook and see. I'm not feeling all that enthused about the projects today anyway. Not feeling enthused about anything. I sure hope this passes quickly.

I had a good time last night and Chicago was great. I highly recommend it. I nearly clapped after a few of the numbers. Acceptable on Broadway, not so in the movie theater.

I shall have the blue hex finished by the end of the week if I continue at this pace. (I'd say tonight, but I'm supposed to be going to see Chicago with a friend from work and tomorrow the hubby's out, so I'm solo with the puppy.) I made the turn into round 60 last night. Round 59 went pretty quickly so I hope 60 will, too. Then the reverse double crochet edging.

This is a really boring blog without pictures or anything. I should probably at least start linking out to displays for stitches and so on.

On the scarf front, I also hit 60, made the turn this morning. Only 36 rows and fringe to go.

I just made the turn into round 55. Lunch hours are great.

The blue hex is going swimmingly. I've made the turn into round 59. Two rounds and some edging to go and it's done. I worked on it quite a bit over the weekend and last night. It now looks as though I'll be heading home the first weekend in April (if I can stand to be away on my puppy's first birthday) so I'll be done in plenty of time. I'm thinking of shipping it home. It's going to be awfully big to carry onto a plane or train, especially if I'm carrying another project. I want to be there when my sister sees the blanket for the first time, so if I ship it, I'll mark it "do not open." That might work.

I'm about at row 48 on the scarf. I haven't picked it up much since Friday's commute home. At home, I'd rather work on the hex and I went to a trade show yesterday and didn't bring the scarf with me. I'd like to get it done while there's still a chance of needing it this winter!

I'm still trying to decide exactly what will be next. I need to go through my stash.

I had a very productive evening last night. I got a number of rows done on the scarf on the subway and train and with this morning's output I'm at about 23 rows, nearly a quarter of the way there. I also worked for two hours on the blue hex last night. I'm currently half-way through round 56. It's getting to be the right size. I was in our computer room watching CSI and since Molly was with my husband in the TV room downstairs, I was able to spread the blanket out fully. I haven't had a chance to do that much since I stopped bringing it to work. I get such a feeling of accomplishment seeing how huge it is.

By wrapping my measuring tape around my face like I would a scarf, I determined that a 48" scarf would be plenty long. So, at my current gauge, that's 96 rows. I've got 10 1/2 done. I should be more than an eighth done the scarf by the end of my commute tonight.

The beginning of a project is my favorite part. No, actually that's not true. The planning of a project is my favorite part. I love looking at patterns, colors, and different yarns. The shopping part is good. I like starting. The end is good, because you get a sense of accomplishment and then you can gift the project. I got the sweetest thank you from my cousin and his wife for the baby blanket I made. I absolutely cannot wait to give my sister the blue hex once it's done. She doesn't even know I've started it and I know she's going to love it. (She better or I'm keeping it.)

The middle's not bad, because again, there's a sense of accomplishment. That "whoo, half done" feeling. It's the part where you're between half and 2/3 done that stinks. Two-thirds just isn't a good fraction. Three-quarters is good, two-thirds is not.

And that's me being philosophical.

I obviously picked the uncool yarn art. Knitting is everywhere and there are tons of chi-chi knitting blogs and journals out there. I could not find a true crochet blog with a quick google search. I guess I could try again with more permutations, but why bother? Since it's not so hip, it's not going to have as wired a community.

I'm even more uncool becuase I don't have a hundred sets of needles spanning from Addis to bamboo and back. And I don't use fancy-shmancy handpainted, virgin lambswool for my creations. Call me cheap, call me kitschy, but I hate drycleaning. (Do any wool adorers know how carcinogenous those chemicals are? Or what they do to ground water?) I refuse to give someone a gift that's care is difficult.

Eh. Feel a bit of class warfare emanating from my poors. I just feel like the bastard step-child whose efforts are always pooh-poohed.

It's not that I have a thing against knitting. I don't. I want to become a better knitter. I just don't see how one is so much better than the other.

I haven't watched his show for years, and I know they stopped making new ones two years ago, but Fred Rogers will still be missed. He was a decent, kind man and kids need more role models like him.

Just had to put my two cents in there.

On the crochet front, I finished the hat last night. I finished up just as the train was pulling into my station. It's a little big and rather stiff, but it will do. My husband keeps suggesting I give it to his mom. She's always complaining about how big her head is. He also said it looks like Debbie Gibson, ca. 1987. Looking at the recent Delia's catolg, the '80s are most definitely in.

I saw a woman on the train who made the hat with the recommended chenille. It looks very different from my worsted acrylic version. But, I used what I had.

The scarf was begun this morning. I'm using the I hook and have gotten half way through the 3rd row. 117 to go (depending on how long I want it to be, 5' might be too much).

Molly was a very good girl last night. I tired her out with lots of tug and fetch so she sacked out about 9 and I got to work on the blue hex. I'm well into round 54. It's nice to have less than six to go. The edging will take a while. Reverse stitches are awkward.

Still undecided on my next project, definitely leaning toward the doggie blanket.

I spoke with my husband about the hat last night at the Devils game and he kindly pointed out that the hat is also NY Giants' colors. So, now I can wear it. Yes, I am a girl. I've just been with a sports-minded man so long, it's rubbed off!

I haven't done much on the hat since yesterday morning. I couldn't work on it on the way home last night; PATH trains are too crowded. And I just had to get out of the office at lunch.

I'll work on it tonight on the train home. I should be able to get it finished. I only have one or two rows left before I start on the reverse crochet edging. I remembered my F hook for the edging, too! Then it's onto the scarf. I really could have used both today. It's cold in NYC.

I'm debating what to start on next. My husband's suggested a few projects the last day or so, but they're not something I want to get started on right away. There may be no use for them and I won't know for sure for over a week.

I've been thinking about knitting a blanket for our puppy. She sleeps on towels in her crate, but she really likes the afghans we have on our sofas in the TV room. I think she'd like to have her own. And she won't be picky if my stitches aren't perfect. She also won't be picky about the color either. It will be a good scrap yarn, practice piece.

I'm nearly done the hat. Only one or two rounds left. Although I grabbed auxilliary hooks and some other tools this morning, I don't have my F hook for the edging. Oh well, it's not going to pattern anyway. I'll finish it with the G and if it doesn't roll properly, I can always pull out the edging and re-do.

I nearly decided to pull it all out this morning. I'm not enamoured with this hat. For once my gauge is too big; the hat's going to be huge. Which is probably a plus for curly hair. But, the colors are worse than I thought. The blue doesn't match my coat at all and the red and blue in the hat together will make me look like a New York Rangers' fan. Yuck.

I'm going to finish it and try to wear it, but if I finish on the way home tonight, I won't be wearing it. I'm going to see the New Jersey Devils play the Rangers and I don't want to be misidentified.

Crocheting's not been on my mind too much the last day or so. I've been preoccupied by other, private things. I'm in my head all the time lately. Maybe I should be ogling yarns and hooks instead of thinking so much!

A semi-productive weekend. I got a couple of rows done on the blue hex. It's funny. Molly will ignore me for hours, but as soon as I take out my crocheting, I'm the puppy's favorite pillow. She also likes to play with my projects. Mostly because she knows I'll chase her to get them back.

Got a few rounds done on the hat this morning. I have to remember to throw my F hook, scissors, and measuring tape in my bag tonight. If I get on a roll, I'll need them. I also need to grab a bigger hook for the scarf. H, I, or J?

Although I've done about 19 rounds (for about 5 1/2") on my hat since Wednesday, I don't feel like I've been a productive crocheter. I guess it stems from only getting about a row done on the blue hex. Of course a round on the hat is about 10 times faster than a round on the hex. I haven't had time to crochet at home the last few days. Last night, I was solo with the puppy. When she finally calmed down, she wanted to use me as a pillow. It's impossible to crochet with a 60 pound bulldog on your arm. Don't get me wrong, I love snuggling with her, I just wish I'd had some more time to work on the hex. I only have about three weeks before my trip to visit the family and I do so want to have it done by then.

I think I'm going out to lunch with some co-workers today, so that'll kill some of the time I had planned to work on the hat. Oh well, there's always the commute home.

By the way, I did count the rounds on the blue hexagon blanket and I have 9 left to go, not counting the edging. I should have it done in time for my trip home.

I wrote this entry yesterday afternoon, but couldn't get in to post it.

I've started another project, a scarf and hat set for myself. I haven't finished the hexagon blanket (affectionately known as the hex), yet. But, I bought a new coat on Sunday and my current hat and scarf do not match it. The coat is red with a navy blue lining. My hat is bright purple (my husband bought it for me) and my scarf is off-white, green, and dusty rose (a friend made it for me years ago). I know my hat and scarf do not currently match each other!

Originally, I was just going to do a hat and worry about the scarf later. I thought (because the lighting is so bad in our bedrooms) that the coat was red and black. Since I only had enough red and black in my stash for a hat, that's all I was going to do. I started on Monday and wasn't very happy with how it was going. Then, I wore the coat yesterday and realized once I got out into the sunlight that it's actually red and navy. So, after partially completing the first hat, I had to start over, but no great loss.

I have plenty of blue yarn. It's "midnight" blue, so it's not a perfect match, but it's a better than the hat I have now.

I'm working from a pattern from the Lion Brand site. They have a nice offering of free patterns. I'm doing the rolled brim hat. I'm on the tenth round. It's going to be mostly blue with a red brim (or red stripes, I haven't decided).

The scarf is just going to be double-crochet in blue with red stripes and maybe some fringe. I'll have to work out a pattern for the stripes. I don't have a whole lot of red maybe 3 ozs.

I decided to leave the blue hex at home and make the hat and scarf my travelling project. The hex is just too big to carry around. I have to count rows tonight to see how far along I've gotten. I didn't do too much this weekend, but I did get one finished last night. I've got it all scrunched up in a tote bag so I can easily move it out of harm's way if our puppy gets too interested.

I'm thinking of going home the weekend of March 15. I'll have plenty of time to finish it on the train up, but it would be nice to just have it completely done by then (and start something new on the train).

I don't know what I'm going to do with myself today. I left the blanket at home. It's gotten so it won't fit in my bag with my lunch and the book I brought. I haven't been carrying novels around with me for some time, but this one has a very cool cover that I wanted to share with our designer.

I can't believe I'm going to go the whole day without crocheting.

Just made the turn into round 46. Fourteen to go.

Started skein 10 this morning. I got to do a bit last night watching Westminster on TV. Molly had a new bone, so she left us alone for a while. We rooted for the bulldog, but he lost out to the standard poodle.

I'm trying to decide what to work on next. I want to knit a crate blanket for Molly; I think in sea green and off-white. I've been toying with using it to practice stitches. I'd do a bit in garter, then stockinet, etc. On the other hand, I have a pattern for a really cute jack o'lantern blanket. One of my aunts-in-law has a Halloween birthday. The hubby suggested making it for her. That would be a good project for the commute; it's done in pieces. But I hate piece work. Well, I hate sewing all the little pieces together!

I don't have to decide for a bit. The current project's still a long way from being completed. I just hope I still have the bug as strong as I do now. I'm nearly obsessive.

And, I know the pattern below isn't written properly. I'll fix it eventually.

I'm about 2 1/2 weeks into the blanket for my sister and I've only got about 18 rounds to go. Of course, the rounds take a lot longer to finish now than they did when I started. I'm on the ninth skein of 20. I think I'm going to have leftovers! I've been crocheting every chance I get. I'm glad I started to devote parts of my lunch hour to it. I've even been able to do some at home when our puppy is asleep or chewing on her bone.

Here's the pattern I wrote for it:

Fur's "pointy" afghan
(blue hexagon)

about 60" across

60 oz. variegated blue
ch 6, sl st in first ch to make round
rd 1 ch 3; dc; ch 2, *2 dc, ch 2; repeat * 4 times, sl st in top of ch 3, turn
rd 2 ch 3; dc in each dc; dc, ch 2, dc in each ch 2 space; skip sl st; join with sl st in top ch of ch 3, turn
Repeat until blanket is to size (~60 rounds)
Edging: reverse dc in each dc, 2 rv dc in each ch 2 space

Apparently, crocheting on the train makes one memorable. The other day I was crocheting on the train home and the conductor just pointed at me and said where I was getting off. Didn't need to see my ticket. If I were vain, I would have automatically assumed it was my good looks. But, I know it was the blanket I'm working on and my unique hobby.

I have not been neglecting my crocheting as much as I've been neglecting my crocheting blog.

To follow-up my thought of two weeks ago, on the subway home that Friday I remembered that I had money coming to me from winning our fantasy football league. I can buy all the needles, hooks and yarn I want! Woo hoo! I'm also thinking of buying bins to store my stash in.

I didn't get as much done that weekend as I had wanted. I dozed off in the car and woke up on outskirts of Atlantic City. I did finish the project I was working on. It was a baby blanket for my cousin and his wife. She's expecting next month. I missed the shower, but I mailed it last week. They should have it by now. I'm kind of worried he hasn't e-mailed about it.

As soon as I heard they were expecting, I knew I wanted to make them a blanket. I would have done a layette set but I've never made clothes before! I decided to try to make a blanket with a giraffe on it. She collects giraffes and I thought it would be cute. I could not find a crochet pattern for a giraffe blanket. I'm not a strong knitter, yet, so it needed to be crochet. I did find a pattern for "toddler squares" but it was meant to be cross-stitched onto a crocheted square. I didn't want to do that because I didn't want the blanket to have a wrong side. I decided to blow-up the pattern and try to crochet in color. Didn't work. I've got a better idea of how to do that now, but at the time I was clueless. So, I broke the cross-stitch pattern down into smaller squares I could crochet. They were a lot of fun to do during the commute. Piecework is great on the train. Then I had to sew them together. That part of piecework sucks! Anyway. Two weeks ago I was putting the border on. I even put a mane and fluffy tail on it! I sure hope they like it. It's a peach giraffe with light brown spots and a yellow background. It's very bright and soft. I used acrylic yarn so it would be easy care. I gave them a lifetime warranty. I just know the pieces are going to come a part!

I've been obsessing about crocheting. I started my next project immediately. It's a large blanket for my sister. She whined at Christmas that I'd made blankets for everyone but her. I pointed out that Mom doesn't have a blanket and she retorted that Mom got a tree skirt (made by me this fall). So, I asked her what she wanted. She said she liked the yarn in the tree skirt (Caron Christmas Ombre) but she wanted blues. And she liked the points on the tree skirt, too. (It's octagonal, I think. I'd have to check the pattern to remember how many points it actually has.) Long story short, she wants a blue, pointy blanket. I'm making a hexagon. I'm working in the round with the same style of corners as the tree skirt.

I wrote out a simple pattern but forgot it at work. And since I couldn't wait to start, I tried to just wing it. It took me five tries to get something decent going. None of my first attempts would lie flat. I have that problem often when working in the round. Anyway, I went back and re-started the way I had originally planned and it's working well. I've got 20 3 oz skeins to work through, and I'm nearly done 2.

All I want to do is crochet. My husband and I went to an NBA basketball game on Wednesday and as we were sitting there waiting for the introductions and the game to start I got really anxious thinking about how I could be better spending that time crocheting! I've got it bad. It's all I think about and all I want to do.

I got the Winter/Spring 2003 Lion Brand catalog yesterday. I really like to look at any sort of catalog, although I rarely order through them. Especially now with the internet, I spend a lot of money on Joann.com just because it's easier than trying to get to a craft store to buy yarn. There was a knitting and sewing shop in my town but it went out of business over a year ago. I stocked up on a few skeins of yarn, but I didn't go crazy. I haven't used some of it, but everyone's got to have a stash.

Anyway. Last week I was looking for patterns online for this chenille I won on eBay. I haven't decide what to do with it, yet. I'm waiting to see how thick the yarn is. I know I've got over 1600 yards coming to me, but if it's very fine, that's not going to work up as a lot. If it's bulky, I'll be able to make something big. And being a plus-size woman, something for me is by necessity something big. I also want to see the exact color, too. Sandstone could be anything. It didn't look too beige in the photo, but I work in publishing and I know that photos (particularly online photos) aren't always exactly representative.

Not really off topic, but I sure am rambling. To get back to the Lion Brand catalog. I was perusing their free patterns and requested the catalog. I've looked through it three or four times already and it's sitting on my desk for more perusals when I need a break.

It's just so fascinating to me. All the colors and types of yarns. There's this crochet hook set I really want. Although, I have most of the sizes, some in duplicate, my steel hooks were inherited from my grandmother and she wore off the numbers on someand it's not a complete set. Who knows if I'll ever make lace, but if I do I want the right hooks. There's just something about a complete set of matching hooks in their own little case. *sigh* Sometimes I think I'm more into the acoutrements of the hobby than the hobby itself.

I'm actually very into it right now. I've got a little project chart I started this summer where I track ideas that I have and fill in who they're for, what pattern I'm using, if I need yarn, if there's a deadline, etc. I'd love to make many more things, but it's difficult for me to find the time. I do crochet during my commute and I've been spending my lunch hours trying to finish up my most recent project (there is a deadline on that one, the baby is due in a few weeks). But, I don't really get a chance to crochet in front of the TV anymore. Our dog won't let me. She likes to chew on my projects and tries to kill the skeins of yarn. She literally pulled a couple inside out before I could get them away from her. When she finally goes to sleep for the night, I’m her favorite bed. It's hard to crochet when there's a 56 lb dog lying on you! I do crochet in the car when we travel. I'm very happy we're spending part of the long weekend in Atlantic City. I'll have nearly 4 hours in the car and time in the motel (my in-laws are dog sitting). I hope to finish one project and start another.

What a long post. And I still have tons of things to say. They'll have to keep. I need to get some work done or I won't be able to support my yarn habit.

I thought the best way to start a blog about my crochet activities would be at the very beginning...

I taught myself to crochet about seven years ago. I had gone home for Christmas for the second time since my move to NYC/NJ. I was bored out of my mind and looking for something to do. My sister had bought a learn to crochet kit. It came with an instruction manual and some hooks and other tools. She's a lefty and bought it because it had lefty instructions and I guess she wanted a hobby. She never did really learn. There were some yarn scraps around. I don’t know if she had bought the scraps to learn with or if they were just in the house to begin with. I decided to start fiddling myself. I started following the basic stitches and would work a few rows until I had each one down. Then I'd rip the whole thing out and start with the next stitch. I decided that I really liked it. Then I decided I really wanted to make something. I picked one of the patterns in the book for a basic afghan with a striped, wavy pattern. Southwestern ripples is the name of the pattern. It was a pretty easy double crochet with chain spaces. I went to the now closed Ames and bought off-white, forest green, dusty rose and sage yarn. My friend Kelly was with me. The whole time i debated colors she went on and on about how it would take me years to finish it. That burned me a little. I decided I'd finish it in time for her birthday in March and give it to her, just to show her. I'm perverse that way. So I started. I crocheted at my parents watching tv. I crocheted on the 11 hour train ride home. I crocheted in my apartment watching hockey games with my husband (well, we were living in sin at the time). I crocheted while he watched wrestling. You get the idea.

I did finish it. We went to VT a week or so after her birthday for my parents wedding anniversary and I gave it to her. She was surprised and very pleased. (And it matched her décor at the time.) It's the only project I've done that I didn't keep a picture of. It came out pretty well except my gauge got tighter as I went along (a problem that often crops up in my work) so it got narrower at the top. But, I did it. I've been hooked ever since.