Monday, June 19, 2006

For all you cat lovers...this is too funny.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Lying on your back knitting is the height of sophistication...

This weekend I threw out my back. This is not the first time. Actually, its the third time in about 9 months. So, I haven't been able to do much of anything this weekend. Except of course some knitting. And some vicodin. The knitting went better than the vicodin. Now you can see!



Sorry about the Welcome to my Chest shot, but its kind of a busty top. And its tough to take these self portraits. You know.

Pattern: Ms. Marigold by the Zephyr Gals
Yarn: 2 and a little bit more of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece
Color: Jungle Green #460
Needles: 32" Addi Naturas size 5 and 32" Addi Turbos size 3 for the ribbing
Size: 38" Bust
Changes: I didn't crochet the ruffles since I still haven't learned how to. I kept the stitches live when you are supposed to cast-off. Then I knit into each stitch 3 times (k1,kbl,k1). Then I purled 1 row, then knit the next 3 rows and cast off knitwise. This little bit of garter stitch gave some textured interest and also stopped it from curling up to much.
I also increased the 10 stitches you cast on when joining the work in the round. If I had to do it all again, I wouldn't have increased those. But I'm very happy with the sleeves.

I love this pattern. I think this is the first knit I really like and like on me. I'm not usually a ruffle type, but I love the girliness inherent in them. Overall I'd have to give this pattern a big thumbs up.

UPDATE: I started this post this morning all excited I threw on the tank as soon as I got my last end in and instantly loved it. So, I just tried it on again and really looked at it. Well, um, there's a mistake. Somehow I knit too many rows on the right side, so my left side is shorter than the right. Its enough of a problem that I'm going to have to undo half of it and fix it. Its funny though I'm not really that upset about it. Knowing I'm really going to wear this tank a lot makes me want to fix it and not get hung up in repeating half of the process. I'm off to a redo. Once I get it fixed and done I'll get a good shot on a dressform.

I hope everyone's week is off to a good start!

Sunday, June 11, 2006

I stole this from Elizabeth over at A Mingled Yarn. I hope you've seen this movie since its brilliant. Otherwise you won't get the joke and its a good one.


According to the "Which Big Lebowski character are you?" quiz:




Why don't you check it out? Or we cut off your Johnson!




.... Vagina.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

When it rains...

I had to post this tonight since I posted the saga of the boy who was a friend and who didn't want to be a boyfriend. So, I've been a little down about men for a while. A little cut off. More of my own doing than anything else. But this past weekend with the wedding fixed all that. I flirted shamelessly with the single boys and was generally just myself. And how fun it was. When I left Utah I left the new boys, but kept the reminder that I'm fun and I like boys and they like me.

But today I got a call from one of the guys from this weekend saying he really enjoyed hanging out with me and would I mind if we tried to get to know each other better. Mind? Really, how cute is that? It probably won't work but what the hell, he's a goodlooking sweetie who thinks I'm pretty and interesting and has been thinking about me all week. I'm a big believer in savoring compliments. Not getting arrogant and full of yourself, but enough to boost you up when your down. I was just savoring this feeling when I turned my cellphone on this evening. Clockwork, people. Clockwork.

There was a message from the boy-not-friend. He just wanted me to know that he'd done some "thinking" and that he wanted to get together and "talk." Unfortunately, to paraphrase one of my all time favorite movies, Swingers, they only come back when you're over them. Ah well. I'm sure he just wants to be friends again, but it really doesn't matter. I'll call him eventually, but I really think I'm done. Funny how life always work this way isn't it?

My knitting news is not very interesting, but I did make some progress on Ms. Marigold today while knitting with Nicole. The next pics I post will be finals! It'll probably be a week, but I'll make it. And maybe I'll have some boy stories.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Looong post. Picture heavy!

Beware, long, rambly, disjointed post coming up.

I got back from my college roommate's wedding this morning. It was an interesting week, but it was a great time. I'll hit the highlights. The groom was nearly arrested at his bachelor party. The maid of honor's fiancee demanded his ring back (he returned it when he sobered up) and the bride broke into uncontrollable sobs as she started down the aisle (the tears were not of joy but of total fear of having 100 people staring at her--her dad had to talk her into staying). By the way she was walking down the aisle in a knee length black bubble skirt and white bustier with Anti-flag's "Rise-up" playing in the background.

The groom and groomsmen wore black three piece suits with Chuck Taylors and the bridesmaids were all in black with Fauxhawk hairdos (most of the groomsmen were sporting actual Mohawks so we felt it appropriate to mimic the theme). In the end it was a great party. They both are delighted to be married finally and not having to worry about throwing any kind of wedding for their parents. I think they would have hit Vegas had the mothers not been insistent. I take it as a very good sign that about six months ago they both wanted the wedding over, but the marriage to start. The happy couple are now on their way to Costa Rica. I can't wait until the pictures come back.


Thanks for indulging in that little vignette. And now for something completely different....


Many of the blogs I read, while not keeping up my own, are buzzing about the Summer of Stash. And it got me thinking. Not about how much yarn I have in my stash. I see that everyday sitting in my happy corner all soft and welcoming. Whispering things like: "Why do homework? Knit me up. I promise you'll like me. Come on first one's free..." No. What the summer of stash made me think about is what is hiding under my stash table. In my black faux alligator hat box. The UFO box. I gently opened it this evening and decided its time for a little inventory. And to fess up that some times on the blog I say I'm farther along on projects than I am as a nervous/hopeful wish thing. So here's all of it, and a little bit of shame and stagnation.

We'll start with the oldest projects in there:




This is the sleeve from Rebecca's Sweater with the Wide Collar. I can't decide what to do with this. I like the sweater but I'm afraid that it's going to make me look like the linebacker I fear I resemble. And honestly after seen the wedding video, I was in a strapless bustier, I'm not wrong about my huge shoulders. Frogging will probably occur.





This ity bity swatch like thing is actually my second attempt at starting Somewhat Cowl. I don't know why I dropped this one. I think it was the small gauge combined with trying to finish Clapotis for my Mom. I don't know if I'll finish it. But then I'd like to get the yarn out of my stash. Yep, this one is on the list for Summer of Stash.




Ultra Femme. Ah, the Ultra Femme. My problem here is that I'll never wear it. Yet another of my forgetting what I look like when presented with a model who in no way resembles me looking totally cute and like she's loving life in that top. Combine that with me having the perfect amount of all the necessary yarn and you have an almost finished object. To frog or not to frog?




Bamboo top by South West Trading Company. I think I will finish this one. And relatively soon. I'm just not all passionate about it. In fact, I never was. This was another batch of leftover yarn which needed a purpose. Second on the list.



My first pair of socks. I still have yet to get to them. I feel like I alternately need to be alone with the pattern and a block of completely uninterrupted time (I'm dyslexic, I like things untimed) or with three teachers watching me. Of course in that mental image, I'm really watching them. Another one for the list.




My new Clapotis. I'll finish this one, but then I feel no rush since I wont have anywhere to wear it for at least five months. This one will probably sit for a while.




This is the sleeve to my Phildar Jacket with the Wide Collar. I guess I have a thing for wide collars. Anyway, this was the project I was blowing through. The back then a front, then this much of the sleeve before I realized that I had converted the sizes incorrectly and that what I would end up with wouldn't close. I've frogged the rest of the jacket. But I haven't gotten over the "betrayal." This one may hit the list for this summer, if I can get over it. I hope I do since this would be perfect next fall.




Hearten is coming along. I've split the front for the V-neck so I'm basically halfway. Just the sleeves and seeming to go. This is definitely on the list.







Ms. Marigold. Most likely I will finish this first. Its a tank so that makes it faster, plus its a cute summer top.



Since I was looking at all the unfinished business I have going on in one corner of the room I couldn't help but look at the other side of the room.



This is how my brown satin and black lace dress looks right now. Almost finished. Still more hand work that needs to be done. But it really has to be done on a dressform. I'm hoping to purchase one in the next few weeks. Of course it would be easier to have one if I had some place to put it. Sigh. My studio apartment which seemed so perfect 8 months ago when I moved in and away from some crazy, one in particular, roommates is now showing its tarnish. But that's how it goes.

The last of the unfinished business (well the last I'm telling you about :)



All of these are books I've started. Most of them I've really enjoyed. At least I've enjoyed the few pages I've actually sat down and read. So by the end of the summer I want to have read all of them. Its not really a big challenge except I never seem to find the time to read. And when I do I generally opt for knitting instead. But this summer my classes are dying down a bit so I should have some more free time. At least that's what I'm hoping for!

Hope you all had a good weekend!

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