Jolie on the needles

I cast on for Jolie last night. I had to rip back to the cast on row, and got a "put it away you don't need your hobby stressing you" from the hubby when I was swearing because just couldn't establish the diamond pattern. I think it's because the pattern's not showing as well in my yarn as it does in the picture. I'm doing something wrong. I'm not sure how the slipped stitches showed up so well in the picture, but you can barely tell there's a diamond pattern. I think I'm going to have to rip again. I'm reading the pattern right, it's slipped stitches on stockinette. Although, slipped stitches on rev st might show up beter. I think I'll swatch some and then figure out how to re-start. Good thing this is aran weight and should knit up quickly, also very good it's a deep v-neck.

Our lunchtime knitting group is really taking off. We have another newbie who joined up on Monday. We took her over to Purl to buy yarn and needles. We're going to start meeting weekly and are talking about meeting once a month for dinner and we're going to KnitOut NY together.

I'm going to have to re-new my Rowan membership

Rowan 40 preview has been posted. Now this is why we all love Rowan. I like the looks of the new yarns, too. Especially tapestry. I'm very intrigued.

Happy August!

I couldn't post it yesterday, so you get it today. A cute pic of my sis in her apron about to cut her shower cake. That's one of the flower girls next to her.

Here's the great prize I got from Cygknit. Nice to come home to sock yarn! Isn't it gorgeous colors? So spicy.

Remember these socks? I turned the second heel this morning. I've been working on them since I finished the potholder last week.

I've also started swatching for MIL's birthday sweater. The birthday fast approaches (only 4 weeks away). I'm knitting Jolie from Rowan's Vintage Knits, scroll down, it's the beige v-neck. I'm knitting it in Jo Sharp Silk Road Aran Tweed in brindle. Perfect for this month's Project Spectrum. I swatched last night. Swatch is drying and I should be able to cast on tonight.

Weekend in Vermont

The bride-to-be liked her apron; birthday girl liked her socks; and B had a fun time meeting Nanny's cats and bride-to-be's greyhound.

I had a good time, too. I could have done without the additional hour in the car yesterday (single car accident on NY Thruway caused a 10 mile back-up). Not a stitch was knit, but it's not all about the knitting (shocking, I know).

Thanks for all of your comments on the socks and things. I'm running a bit behind today, so maybe a fuller post tomorrow (and e-mails to the commenters if I can track down e-mails for everyone).

DIY hottie alert

John Bruce from WYWO, was in the lobby of my building today when I left to get lunch.

I wonder if he finds the wait for the elevator here interminable like the rest of us.

Note, hair is very different these days.

would it have been worse to hem it?

I finished the apron last night. Whew. Someone explain to me how the tension on my bobbin can get screwed up when nothing else has changed in 24 hours? At one point I swore so loudly, Hubby came up to make sure I wasn't bleeding. I think it's cute, just don't look too closely at the stitching. Next time, I either use wider binding tape, or, I make the reversible one.

I finished the knitting on the potholder and then bleached all the off-white white. I'll get that finished up tonight (weave ends and crochet the pieces together). I couldn't bring it to work on the bus because the pieces are still drying. Then I need to wrap the gifts, do the dishes and pack.

Normally, I look forward to long drives as being lots of knitting time. I probably won't knit much more than a few stitches all weekend (depends on how things go if I'll have down time). Wish me luck travelling with the B by myself for 6 hours in the car.

andrea yates not guilty by reason of insanity

It's unfortunate that Andrea Yates's Postpartum Psychosis wasn't taken seriously five years ago when it could have saved her children's lives. It's not just the baby blues, and it's not something to be taken lightly. I'm finally off the meds and don't know how Randy Yates could ever have thought having five kids was a good idea. How living in a bus with a wife with a serious condition and four small children was a good idea. How leaving his seriously ill wife alone with five small children all day everday was a good idea. I wasn't nearly that ill two years ago and Hubby is scared of having another child because it does come back and it can come back worse. And if my father had died as well? I'm glad he doesn't blame his ex-wife and I hope she recovers and finds a way to forgive herself. Nice to see that some part of the Texas legal system believes in justice.

swirly girly FO

Hydrangea socks are done. Here they are on the window sill this morning.

I also tried modeling them. Please disregard the fact that my house needs a vacuuming.

I started a log cabin potholder over the weekend and will finish that up today. That's a shower gift.

The yarn is some vintage Phildar I got on eBay last year. 100% cotton. I went down a needle size and I'm going to crochet the two pieces together to prevent burns.

I finally started the apron last night. That's a pain in the butt. I hope to finish it tonight. Packing and wrapping tomorrow.

what I wanted to say yesterday

when blogger ate my post was, Thank you Cygknit for the wonderful prize. I can't wait to try out a new sock yarn. In just my colors, too.

I also wanted to talk about my hydrangea socks. See, I was here yesterday. About 10 rows from the toe shaping. Except blogger's not letting me post photos today to show you. But, I'm nearly done the toe and will FO the socks tomorrow.

ready to inplace afterthought

This is where I was before lunch stitching.

I'm a little further along. Heel should be finished on the way home.

Hope you all have a good weekend with lots of stitches. I'm off to finish a report and then go play with my boys.

still chevron

I'm hoping to start the heel sometime tomorrow. Then I'll have pics (and I need to replace the batteries, too).

I haven't touched lotsa dotsa.

Struggling with allergies. How am I in the only neighborhood in NY without a Duane Reade every block?

a hemming we will go

No knitting was accomplished after I got off the bus last night (and not much knitting on the bus, but I'll get to that later). I spent my evening working on this.

I'm calling her lotsa dotsa. She's a skirt. The waist needs to be tweaked and the hem needs to well, be hemmed. She's not quite what I was expecting, much busier, but I think I like her.

I did work on the second sock yesterday. This thing has me confounded. I keep thinking that there are huge differences between the stripes and it was driving me crazy yesterday. There seems to be a slight variation in color segment length (second ball has longer segments of each color) and I kept puzzling over how that made for narrower stripes (see I was thinking longer segments over the same stitches = less pooling = narrower stripes). But, in all actuality, I've been agonizing about this and poring over the different balls of yarn for nothing. Do the stripes (or rather swirls) look all that different to you?

sock, sock, snack

Kind of like duck, duck, goose, but with sugar and fiber.

Starting from the top, finished sock. I didn't weave in ends. If it doesn't fit recipient, I'll rip and re-do. They're just a smidge too big for me, so I'm hoping girlwhosefeetareslightlylargerthanmine won't have problems.

Just below that is beginning of sock two. Because if you're going to have to re-knit one sock, why not re-knit them both.

On the bottom are M&Ms pirate pearls. Not as great as I was hoping. I love white chocolate, but the candy coating made it too much sugar.

I realize that I've not been talking about motherhood or anything else much lately. Let's just say that B's life is revolving around "pool, water, " baby pool at home, and town pools with daycare and the grands. But not quite as much as he wishes it would! He asks for "pool, water" every morning at camp. We're hoping to go to the beach this weekend. I sincerely doubt he'll go anywhere near that water!

sock one just needs to be closed up

I didn't do much over the weekend. I was so tired. Anyway, sock 1 is nearly done. I'll get the grafting done on the way home and start sock 2. I think I'll be able to finish in time. Oh, I had plenty of yarn.

Thanks for the compliments on Cece. Between you guys and the ladies in my knitting group, I'm getting a swelled head. It really does help to have a great pattern, though.

let's see, stash, chevrons, and an FO

Well, I got some yarn in the mail yesterday. It's Rowanspun DK from eBay. After AnnyPurls was talking about the deals on Rowan- spun, I had to take a peek. Of course, I already have some orange 4ply and decided that for $39.99 and free shipping I needed this one.

I got a bit further on the Hydrangea Chevron. Mostly this was done on the bus and watching Baby Bach with Billy. I didn't knit on it at all watching tv last night. I started a chickami instead.

I'm making the largest size with shaping and wide straps in my leftover TLC Cotton Plus. Leftover from what you might ask.

Leftover from this: CeCe in TLC CottonPlus Salsa. I made the largest size but had to scale her up a bit. I added two lace repeats to the front and back and 9 stitches to each sleeve. I knit two repeats before I started the increases; I didn't want her too cropped. I really liked this pattern. In the picture I'm thinking, how long do I have to stand like this before the timer goes off. Good thing no one else was here and my office has a door!

yep, I know, it's boring looking at the same sock everyday

I promise things will be more exciting around here tomorrow, but until I get the button on and pics of me wearing Cece, all you get is more of the chevron sock.

I did finish the heel last night. I'm not 100% pleased with the kitchener on the heel. If I have time, I'll probably rip and fix it.

I've decided I don't like the in-place afterthought heel. It's too fiddly and I don't like having to weave in the extra ends.

I do have some excitement. I'm concerned I might run out of yarn. Yeah, I know, what knitter hasn't gone through that. I'll just have to knit faster to see if there's enough.

Yo, Dorothy, How you doooin?

Seriously folks, NJ does not need tornados. Can you see Vinny Bagodonuts in Oz?

chevron ad nauseum

Couple of more days until I have pics of something other than the chevron socks.

I have made much progress. This afternoon, I'm going to do the heel. I think the in place afterthought heel (I love the contradiction) will look nicely swirly in this yarn. I don't think I mentioned it but this is KnitPicks Sock Garden in Hydrangea. A discontinued color and yarn. It's 100% merino and so smooshy after the regia I've been using.

Cece did have her bath last night (light cold water wash in the machine, she is cotton and acrylic); then I smoothed her out on my blocking board. Looking at her on the blocking board I was thinking she's going to be way too wide, but I placed another sweater on top and it's okay. I also figure the cotton content will cause her to elongate once on. If she's not mostly dry by the time I get home tonight (which seems pretty unlikely with the humidity and rain in the forecast), I'll put a fan on so I can sew on a button and wear her Friday.

Thanks for the comments ladies, and anonymous pal who may or not be a lady. I know I've not been e-mailing and commenting on your blogs. I hope to be caught up soon and able to spend more time.

more chevron sock

So, I knit some more on the chevron sock. I also seamed up Miss Cece. She'll be taking a bath and getting blocked tonight. I hope she dries by Friday morning.

third try's a charming little sock

This is the third iteration of this sock. First, I tried the baby cable from Sensational Socks. Nope, all stitch detail was being lost in the colorway. Next, I tried the ridged feather and fan. Not a big fan of garter stitch ridges in the small striping. So, I'm trying the chevron sock (all from the same book). I'm thinking I like it. Goal is to have it finished by 7/27, since I'll be seeing the recipient on 7/28.

In other news, Cece rapidly approaches FO status. I finished the knitting last night. Now all I need to do is seam the under arm, sew on the neckband and weave in ends. I'll do that tonight so I can block her and have her ready to debut on Friday> Our group's next stitch lunch is Friday so that's the perfect day to take her out.

Netter's adventure in glazing

Or how I learned to love a wood chisel.

When faced with this, what is an enterprising gal to do? Take the day off and learn how to replace a window!

(If you want to know, hubby was outside trying to get our freaked out dog to potty, all those thunderstorms and nights of fireworks, and I was upstairs with B, he was banging and, whoops, broken window, his hand is fine)

First I read in my home care encyclopedia what needed to be done, then we all went to Depot to buy it. Then I took a personal day for Wednesday.

After dropping B off, I donned my goggles (imagine me all cute in a ponytail and safety goggles, again blogger's only letting me upload 3 pics) and started chipping away at the old putty with a glazer's chisel. That didn't work. Back to Depot and some real chisels and an hour or so later I had an empty window frame (Blogger's being jerky about this pic heavy post and since I want to show you the finished product, no pic of the empty frame).

I then had to face the daunting task of cutting a piece of glass to size. But, I was prepared. We had bought everything I could have possibly needed, except the ability to draw straight line. I tried, twice. But, had to get a piece of glass cut to size at my local hardware store (LHS for you in the biz). Have to remember that the service is so much more individualized. Not that they aren't knowledgeable at our box store...

Yeah, I was a failure with the glass cutting. Some glazer I'm turning out to be. But, it seems my metier might be putty. I knew all those years of playdough would pay off.

After that I showered, had a nice lunch, and plopped myself down with my knitting to watch the France and Portugal game. (Was going to post a cute pic of that, too.)

New Magknits

Great new issue of MagKnits. Lots of interesting stuff and a few new classics! Go check it out.

what I'm actually doing this weekend

During nap today, I've eaten Ben & Jerry's turtle soup and surfed the blogs. Yep, I'm that productive. Have started the toe shaping on the anklet.

TGI-alright already-F

I'm so looking forward to my four-day weekend. I'm going to sit outside while Billy plays in his little pool. I'm going to knit. I'm going to sew. I may read something. I may dye some yarn. I'm going to the Yankee game on Sunday. We'll probably grill something one day and go to some fireworks. Heck, I may even organize and clean!

What I am not going to do is think about my job.

Thanks for the compliments on the anklet, KSKS pal. It's of my own creation. Well, I got the stitch pattern from the 365 stitch perpetual calendar and the rest of it follows the regular sock formula.

You know you're a "real" knitter when you get a callus on the figure you hold your working needle against. Question is, is it a badge of honor or a sign I need to diversify? (I'd take a picture, but I got no macro on the $99 easyshare.)

all CeCe night

Here she is with her sleeves (and the anklet). I worked on her for three hours last night. She's actually fitting on the circular with little struggle. I sure hope she fits cuz she's purty.

Sock has 18 more rows since I had a long commute in (don't know why it takes so long when it's finally sunny).

third heel

So, I tried on the ribbing to the anklet yesterday on the way home (at 1:15) and found that it did indeed fit. So I stopped ripping and started re-knitting. I'm to here. Third heel flap completed and turned. Now onto the gussets.

I worked the pattern down the heel (since backless shoes are my favorite) and am working the pattern on the top of the foot just to slow myself down.

Hubby mentioned Monday night that he really likes these colors, but doesn't want a pair. I wish I could get that man to wear striped socks!

Did you notice AnnyPurls calling me lucky about my stashing while she's been a bit busy on that front herself?

I did not touch Cece last night. I spent a long time getting our DSL setup at home and then surfing till bedtime.

of socks and stash

I finished the chevron socks Friday. Sorry, no pic of my feet this time. I also received an Elann order (placed last week when they posted the multi-colored Esprit) and a skein I ordered from Cabin Cove Mercantile (Dave's blog is in my side bar, yes I'm too lazy to link today). I'm thinking the laceweight from Dave would make a great Icarus shawl (Interweave Knits summer 06).

I'm ripping and knitting a sock of my own make-up (hard to say you're desiging an anklet) from the regia cotton surf. First one was too big but it took me nearly to the toe to admit it, second seems like it's going to be a mite too small. Fortunatley, it's only a few days of concerted knitting time I'm wasting (Saturday, Sunday and yesterday).

Cece is making slow progress. I'll finish her someday....

it's safe and sound

And stashed away.

I've got ten balls of Lana Grossa bouclerino in Kelly green (merino and polyamide, and oh so soft).

Dale garn sisik in red (also really soft, but it's a blend of other stuff). 13 balls of that.

The fabric on the left is a bit more pink than I was expecting (should have gotten the blue one). It was going to be top or something. I think I'll make some PJs out of it.

The fabric on the right is just what I was expecting. A skirt or a top?

UPS says

my package was delivered at 11:09 (and I know who signed for it), but three hours later it's not in my hands.

rapidly approaching toe decreases

I should be working the toe decreases on my second chevron sock tonight. I only have about 8 rows to finish on the foot. I imagine I'll get so caught up in it I'll be kitchenering before bed. Yay! I'll be able to cast on for my Yankee socks this weekend. A propos since Hubby and I are going to the game on Sunday.

We had a good stitch yesterday. The second Cece sleeve only needs about two rows to be completed. I'll post a pic once I get the sleeves attached to the body.

I should have some goodies to show you later. I splurged a bit at Herrschner's last week (you don't say). There's some yarn and some fabric coming my way and it's supposed to be delivered today.

not really an island

I don't know if you can call where I am with Cece sleeve island. It's like an anthill surrounded by a puddle. Each sleeve is 4 rows of ribbing and then three lace repeats (8 rows each). I've got one done and am nearly halfway through the first repeat of sleeve 2. See?

I may need that cabana boy and the umbrella drinks when I join this whole thing up in a few days. Fortunately, raglan shaping means it will get smaller quickly (and it's a v-neck so that will help, too).

I didn't get much done on the socks yesterday. I spent most of the bus ride on the phone. Darn job, cutting into knitting time when I'm not even there!

eh

Knitting-wise I should be in a great mood. I finished the first Cece sleeve last night (no, I didn't take a picture, I will have one tomorroe). I've progressed further on the sock (see, two repeats since the heel). I guess it's just more of a work eh than a knitting eh. I think my mood would improve considereably if I were knitting!

of heels, and lace kicking my butt, and a questionnaire

I kitchenered the heel in the Lincoln tunnel this morning. Yes, they are fraternal. I'm not too bothered by it. I could have ripped and restarted at a different point in the repeat, but I'd rather just finish them.

I was feeling really great about Cece last night. I was 3/4 of the way through the first sleeve when I realized I'd skipped a K row. Granted, in the grand scheme of things, I probably could have just let it go, but I started ripping out the four rows above it. Three steps forward, four steps back. Thanks for the compliments on her. I can't wait to get her blocked and start wearing her. She'll be supplanting the sock for commuter knitting on Thursday because we're having a stitch lunch.

And for my KSKS buddy:

• What are your favorite colors? reds, oranges, purples
• Are you a new sock knitter? kind of new How long have you been knitting socks? just over a year
• Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? multicolored
• What fibers do you prefer in sock yarn? wool and wool blends
• Where do you usually knit socks? during my commute (on the bus, the subway)
• How do you usually carry/store small projects? in a ziploc bag in my larger work tote
• What are your favorite sock knitting patterns? don't really have one
• What are your favorite sock knitting techniques? haven't tried too many techniques
• What new techniques would you like to try? short row heels and toes, toe-up
• Do you prefer circulars or dpns for sock knitting? dpns, but I'm willing to try two on two circs (and I'm not fussy about circs)
• What are some of your favorite yarns? Koigu, regia sock yarns
• What yarn do you totally covet? Lorna's laces
• Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object? I can't think of a sock pattern in that category
• Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)? I use pretty much anything that will get the job done
• If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be? a KPPPM that looks better in a sock than in a skein
• Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack? white chocolate anything
• What’s your favorite animal? my bulldog
• Do you have pets? What are their species/names/ages? I have a bully named Molly, she's 4
• If you were a color what color would you be? today, I feel like fire-engine red
• Describe your favorite shirt (yours or someone else’s).. I've had a few favorite shirts. The one I miss most was a pink on pink pinstripe button up
• What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature?
• Tell me the best quote you’ve ever heard or read. "Take a drink with anyone and pick your pals where you find them" It's all about not pre-judging people and I found it an Albert Campion mystery by Marjorie Allingham
• Do you have a wishlist? nope

Cece with sleeve

Here you go, sleeve for Anny (that little lump on top) and body for yarngirl (yeah, the rectangular red thing). Not that either looks like much right now.

I was, of course, way too busy hanging out with the family this weekend to get much done, but I feel I've hit critical mass with her. I'm doing 3 repeats of the lace and then joining the sleeves to the body. Yes, another modification.

I've started the heel on the second sock. I hope to get that done this weekend. I want to start my yankee socks before the end of June. Because come July 1, I'm casting on for a pair of purple, feather and fan socks that have to be done for my sister's birthday.

Can anyone explain to me why a kid who hates sand on his feet (or hands) and won't go near the "big water," will whine for days about going back to the beach?

cece's started to look sleevish

I cast on for sleeve one last night. You don't want to see one and a little bit more of 1x1 rib do you? Good, because my camera needs new batteries.

I'm also part way through 3 color repeats on the second sock. Just about 1 more and I start the heel. I'm very happy with myself for liking short socks.

Have a great weekend everybody. I'll try to have pics Monday.

ending and beginning

One done, one started.

Anny, I'm back to where I was on Cece. Hope to start the sleeves this weekend and I'll try to get pics for you.

toe will commence

this evening, or whenever I pick up the sock again. If you look closely, you will see I've completed one more color repeat.

Cece has made negative progress. It's not her fault she's shorter, now. I'm the one knitting the wrong lace rows in the wrong places.

stashing the blues

Yeah, I bought more blue sockyarn. For some reason I was expecting the cascade to be fixation, although, it's clear from the site that it's not. Oh well. It's not quite what I wanted for Yankee socks, but it will make someone nice socks someday. In the upper-right is Regia Surf cotton. That will now be Yankee socks (and I have enough for lots of pairs). The Lily Chin Gramercy is going to be dyed and a lovely pair of DK socks. May wait to see what my KSKS partner likes before final disposition is made.

Still chugging along. Got about one inch to go till I start the toe decreases. Cece is getting about 4 rows longer everyday (each row is nearly 200 stitches). Soon, I will be starting the sleeves. I'll post a pic of that.

I'm so excited. My mom and dad are visiting this weekend. They haven't been down since April. Can't wait for them to see our little man. Wouldn't you want to share this?

KSKSwap

I decided to go for it and signed up.

tequila sunrise

Look what came in the mail for me on Friday!
Cygknit was my swapper. Didn't she do a great job? Perfect colors for me. Plus, she included some Lindt chocolates. Little sheepy-shaped milk chocolates and one of my favorite white chocolate truffles. No, they didn't make it to the pic. You know you're swapper's been reading your blog when she can tell you what the answer to a meme was from ages ago (I was a tequila sunrise on that cocktail meme way back when).
These skeins went out to my swappee on Saturday. Colors seem pretty accurate. Hope she likes them! I also (well, Hubby and B) mailed out the stockings which I seemed to have neglected to photograph.
My newest sock is going along. I'm in the middle of the slog to the toe. And I did manage a couple of more rows on Cece. I've started the v-neck shaping. A lot of housework was done this weekend (my parents are visiting and we'd reached our dirt-threshold anyway), so not much knitting.

I think I'm going to sign up for another along, Knit Sock Kit Swap. I figure I should have plenty in stash...

shh, don't tell okay

I extended my lunch hour by a few minutes so I could finish up the heel. (Hey, if I'm taking home 2+ hours of work, I can take 10 minutes for a sock.) I've got a little round candle stuck in the heel. Kind of feels like it's looking at you, huh?

blue period, black comedy

Blue period, because it's still the socks and we had blue sky this morning. Comedy, because I've been knitting along thinking this sock looks so big. But, when I tried it on I could barely squeeze my foot into it! Check out the itty-bitty eyelets from k1 yo k1 into one stitch.
The in place afterthought heel is a bit fiddly to get going, but I think we're all going to get a kick out of the "bulls eye" effecct from the stripes. Thanks for all the compliments gals, but you know it's all the yarn. I really like the strato stripes, too. I've got three other colorways at home!

blues before and after...

I get the blues before and after knitting you (forgive me Pat Dinizio).... That's the theme song to my Project Spectrum June project. The yarn is shadows and light Regia Strato I got from Elann a week ago. I actually started thinking of this song in reference to these socks because I can't tell if the really dark stripe is black or blue so I was thinking that there was blue before and after.

Yesterday morning, when I couldn't open blogger, much less post, they looked like this.

Today, after lots of commuter knitting (Cece is my at home knitting), they look like this. Tonight, I start the heel. New technique alert, in-place afterthought heel. (The pattern is the welt chevron sock, sans welts, from Sensational Knitted Socks.)

long time, no blog

I can't believe I've not blogged since May 26. Over a week.

Let's see if I can sum up:

Had a great time with the in-laws
Spent a haggard three-day week at work
Fun, baseball-filled weekend in Baltimore with the Hubby
Back to the haggard work thing

However, my last Herrschners order arrived. The colors are a bit wilder on the fluo (white with neon ribbon wrapped around is best way to describe) and the peach cotton cashmere is a bit more khaki. But I'll use them, eventually. I may wait until I know a baby girl before I do anything with the fluo.

Hubby's father's day gift also arrived. That was quick I only ordered it Thursday.

Billy broke my heart this morning. He woke up and cried and cried for Grammy. I think it's the first time I've not been able to comfort him (except, obviously, when I've pissed him off). I nearly cried myself. Guess Hubby and I need to be home a bit, hmmm?

I know it's June and it's supposed to be about blue, but I took this back and May and just took it off my camera today. I'm so glad we bought those washable markers.

Actually, I'll have some blue this week. I need to re-skein my dyeorama yarn and get that out. I'll also be FO'ing a couple of non-blue things. Including stockings (finished the knitting last night) and the beach jacket.