Knitting Overhaul

Moving On Out...

2004-10-27T09:34:00.000-04:00

This blog has moved. The new URL is http://quirkyknitgirl.blogdrive.com

Please visit at my new space!

The End is Near

2004-10-25T08:28:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the wierd double post deal. The first day, it kept loading and loading but wouldn't post or shut down...so I figured that blogger ate my post. Turns out, I was wrong!

Zeeby's bag from SnB is ALMOST done. I have a strap and a half left to do, then I just need to sew it together. And it's only half a year late! (Sorry, Mom.)

I'm about to run out of yarn though, which means an emergency trip for some more Lamb's Pride. *looks sheepish* Heh. Sheepish. Pun. Um, anyway, yeah, the two skeins of MC I think is going to be not quite enough. Gah.

Mostly, it will be used as a strap, and to sew together, so I'm not overly concerned about dye lots, I'm just not sure where to find Lamb's Pride in this area, and I'd really like to have this all done and wrapped up to give to my Mom as soon as I get home on Sunday. Otherwise, I can buy the extra yarn at home on Monday and then give it to her before I leave on Tuesday.

I've made progress on Broadripple, too, am through the gusset and into the toe. YAY! I've signed up for netflix, in order to facilitate the knitting. I shall have DVDs to watch, and doctors appointments to wait for, and much knitting shall be accomplished. And Christmas/Channukah/Winter Solstice shall be good this year. It shall, it shall.

Pictures will be coming soon.

Owie

2004-10-21T13:12:00.000-04:00

Size two dpns make my wrists want to cry.

Broadripple makes me smile, though. So....I supose the wrists will live.

Sore

2004-10-19T09:53:00.000-04:00

Size two double pointed needles make my wrists want to cry.

The sock is quite pretty, though, and makes me want to smile. :)

My apartment has been taken over by yarn. I must knit faster. Or hide. Whichever. ;)

Knit

2004-10-09T07:53:00.000-04:00

Haven't accomplished much, was distracted by wallowing in self-pity and my mother being in town.

Did knit some more on the blanket, which is lovely. Very pretty, in a manly sort of way.

I may have to make myself one in some very bright, girly colors when I am done.

Stash Enhancement

2004-10-05T06:57:00.000-04:00

Major, major, major stash enhancement. *swoons*

Went to visit my parents this weekend (and my orthodontist and oral surgeon...surgery date set for 21 December!) and went to AC Moore, Michaels, and my grandfather's house to retrieve YARNS!!

YARN I BOUGHT

First the yarn I bought--from AC Moore, two skeins of Classic Wool in a sort of rusty brown to make slippers for my Dad, a skein of TLC luster in blue for my aunt's socks (broadripple) and some needles. I heart AC Moore.

Then, Michaels, who is frantically putting stuff on sale to compete with AC Moore. Gotta love capitalism! I bought a bunch of homespun in various shades of green to make a small lap blanket for my grandfather, two skeins of microspun in bright orange and lime green which will become my aunt's 'parrothead' socks. And my mommy bought me two skeins of purple homespun to work on a comfy sweater. The kind you just want to curl up into when you don't care about looking cute, but want to be cuddly.

YARN I GOT FREE

I took most of the yarn left at my grandfather's house while I was there. My grandmother had some stashed away when she died, and since I am the only knitter, it is mine.

A trash bag and small tupperware container full of yarn. Mostly scary 70s K-Mart yarn, back from when good yarn required traveling long distances and paying lots of money. Some in some fugly seventies colors. But I'll use a lot of it for charity, and really, do animal shelter kittens and puppies care if their blanket is fugly gold? No. Not really.

Also, a lot of ends from baby yarn since she used to make preemie hats (started when I was born and they realized nothing fit me) for the hospital. Which I'll use to make multicolor baby hats or buy some baby yarn and use this stuff as accent stripes.

Knitting Progress

Got some progress made on Zeeby's bag. One side and the bottom strap are finished, and the other side is started. Must get this to my Mom soon.

Also, started on the lap blanket for my grandfather's Christmas/Hannukah/Birthday gift. It's birthday, though his birthday was in June (he turned 85) because a blanket is large enough I count it for holidays and birthday. Also, I'm running out of ideas of stuff for him. And it's Christmas/Hannukah because I'm converting and thus will be celebrating Hannukah--also, I will be seriously doped up on vicodin come Christmas, so I may be giving out gifts on Hannukah anyhow, as I will still be coherent enough to do so.

No progress on Haiku, as my parents get seriously wierded out by me knitting a baby sweater, and it's not good to scare the people who have the Visa.

Ciao, all!

The Bag Won't Die

2004-10-01T18:00:00.000-04:00

Made some small amount of progress on Zeeby's bag while I was in the hospital waiting for x-ray. I know my Mom really wants it, but oh my god it will not fucking die.

This is the bag of no end, I kid you not. 39" of garter stitch, plus another side, a pocket, and two long-ass straps. *sobs*

I also got a bit more done on Haiku which is zipping along very quickly and quickly leading me to develop a love affair with knitting baby items. I'm already through the first side and am starting the back, just after the back neck bindoff.

It's a little busy, what with the varigated yarn, but still adorable.

Must continue to knit evil!purse. Die, purse, die.

Cuteness!

2004-09-27T07:18:00.000-04:00

So, I started a completely useless project this weekend.

I have this random skein of baby yarn--no idea why, I assume I bought it for some reason or it's one I inherited from my Nanna, I have no idea which--and it's just been sitting around for a while.

So, after literally tripping over it for the tenth time, I decided it needed a better purpose than getting dragged across the floor by Padma. Who apparently thought that the baby yarn must die.

Thus I began Haiku from Knitty. It's ubercute and I've been totally girly with the knitting it--aww, look at the cute baby sweater!!

I have no idea what I'm going to do with Haiku when I am finished--give it to charity, perhaps, or hang on to it with the theory that eventually people I know will reproduce and I might need an emergency baby gift.

*pets Haiku* SO MUCH cuter than my organic chemistry homework.

2004-09-25T10:59:00.000-04:00

Padma says, "Chemistry? On SATURDAY? WHY?"

2004-09-24T07:56:00.000-04:00

Version two, significantly less blurry.

2004-09-24T07:55:00.000-04:00

Version one, slightly blurry.

Geeks + Knitting

2004-09-24T07:51:00.000-04:00

Today I'll be posting photos of the two variations on Fibonacci stripes I am debating.

That's whats happens when geeks are knitters! :)

In good news, my chem exam was pushed back to Wednesday, presumably due to the fact that half the stuff on it had yet to be covered--he just said, read it in the book.

Um, yeah. If I could learn organic chemistry just from a book, I'd be....much smarter than I actually am.

Stayed home sick yesterday, but couldn't even get much knitting done. Which I'm not real happy about, but oh well.

Now, I'm off to get ready for chemistry lab.

Ciao, all!

Knitting is NOT Organic Chemistry

2004-09-23T10:52:00.000-04:00

So why am I knitting when I have an exam on Monday??

Pictures below of the oh so pretty Noro dropstitch scarf.

I've noticed myself apologizing for the scarf...and I've decided to stop. Yes, in some ways a scarf is a 'beginner' project. But that doesn't mean it's just for beginners.

I don't knit because it's complicated. I knit because I like to, because I like to create things, because I like to be artistic.

One of the things I learned in art classes over the years, is that sometimes you have to let go and allow the project to direct you. I saw this yarn on clearance it was gorgeous, and there were three colorways that reminded me of myself and two of my friends. So I bought it.

I decided on a scarf because it was afordable, and because it suited the yarn well. I love the way this looks as a scarf. It's a cute, dresy little accessory. It's fun. Just because it's not hard, it doesn't make it less appealing.

Not to mention, while I enjoy the hard knitting, sometimes I just want to chill. If I'm knitting on the metro, or in between classes, or while watching the four hours of Sunday morning political shows. I am concentrating more on other things--sometimes I don't WANT to think any more.

In other knitting achievements, I also swatched two versions of a stripe pattern for my Dad's gloves. Not in the yarn or colors I will use, but just to see. Both are based on the Fibonacci sequence, and I'll post pictures later, while I figure which I like best.

Ciao, all!

More Scarfness

2004-09-23T10:50:00.000-04:00

Close up of the scarf, with more accurate colors

Finished Object!

2004-09-23T10:49:00.000-04:00

Drop Stitch Scarf (with speech I should be watching in the background)

Scarf!

2004-09-21T07:32:00.000-04:00

Finished object from last night--a drop stitch scarf.

I feel like such a newbie, being all look, I finished a scarf!

Normally I'm not a scarf kind of girl, but I found this lovely ribbon yarn from Noro, and it just begged to be a drop stitch scarf. It was on clearance, too, and I bought it in three colorways, to make scarves for myself and two of my best friends. I even have extra, as it turns out it only takes one skein instead of the two I had anticipated (I made the scarf super skinny, but I like it that way).

No pictures yet, as I am still trapped in Comsuck...er, Compaq hell. But as soon as I have a way to post photos, I will.

The scarf is fun, rainbowy colors--pink, purple, tan, green--and I can't wait to wear it.

Yarn, yarn, everywhere!

2004-09-20T08:05:00.000-04:00

The Knit Out on the Mall was fabulous.

I met up with Mary (who is, sadly, knitblogless), and a few friends of hers. One of whom we taught how to knit.

I attempted to learn Continental, as I want to do colorwork...also, they were giving out Bamboo needles, so yeah. :) *pets nice needles*

I also got some progress done on the drop stitch scarf that has been languishing in my stash, as well as the Princess Snowball cat bed I'm working on.

I'm vaguely contemplating ripping out the Princess Snowball in favor of doing Kitty Pi by Wendy. I don't really know. I can still return some of the fun fur. Decisions, decisions!

It was tons of fun to see all the knitters, although I have a sunburn on my face from knitting in the sun.

I liked a few things from the fashion show--the red tank and silver tank upcoming in..Vogue, I think? But the large amount of fun fur and ponchos and, even worse, armwarmers frightened me.

I just don't get the poncho thing. I really don't. Especially when said poncho is striped with fur. And paired with armwarmers. *shudder*

Funny, I don't remember my yarn being so furry..

2004-09-18T17:43:00.000-04:00

It's funny how often I look in my knitting basket and see not yarn, but the tail end of a kitten.

I keep telling Fred that isn't HIS Princess Snowball Cat Bed I'm working on, but he doesn't listen. It's not his though, it's for one of my cats at my parents house.

Pink would clash with his fur anyway.

Not much knitting done.

Lots of wallowing in the 7th circle of Hell--aka Compaq customer service. And lots of refurbishing an old beat up computer so that I may have some small prayer of passing classes while Compaq fucks up one more time.

Three days. About ten phone calls. They still can't get there shit together to get a computer to where it needs to be to get fixed. And when something goes wrong, they proceed to tell you that the only option is to repeat the whole process over again.

I am now cowering from the giant amount of work I need to do. It's really terrifying and...yes, terrifying.

*whimpers*

Even the knitting isn't making me smile.

Yarn is fun to play with.

2004-09-10T08:29:00.000-04:00

I did manage to knit a bit yesterday, the ribbing for my design, Sexier Than Your Average Aran.

I know probably one's first garmet design should be easier than an aran...but whatever. I never do things the easy way.

Case in point--I am probably dropping baby math in order to eventually take calc. Why? I have to have math to graduate. Math 9 seemed easy. I figure, no sweat.

Well...not so much.

Turns out, this guy doesn't use a book. He doesn't give practice problems. Well, he gave like, two, but he won't post the answers.

I asked him, where was it in the book? He said, it wasn't. I asked if there was another book he could recommend that I could look in. He said, no, just you have to come to class and take notes.

Thing is--I do. But if I don't practice problems, I freeze on a test. I panic. I can't write anything. And that happened in chem and physics, and I realize it and am trying to work on it, even though it means I may study more than some people.

But he won't give any help. I was so upset, by the prospect of failing EASY math, that I had a massive panic attack. And I don't know WHEN I would take a math class. I have one elective spot left, but I'm not giving it up, because that was my reward for next fall--one class I could pick whatever I wanted. For my last semester.

I don't know about dropping it, but I couldn't do anythign in my other classes, I felt so stupid and upset I just wanted to hide under my desk.

So, there was more crying than knitting.

Perhaps today I shall get some knitting done....

Again, I shall be really pissed if I fail easy math--I just did the algebra to design a freakin' sweater. An aran sweater no less. So obviously it's not that I am completely stupid.

Bah. I didn't want to go to grad school or med school anyway.

The Good, the Bad, the Completely Terrifying

2004-09-09T07:16:00.000-04:00

The Good

I began swatching a few days ago for my idea for a cute aran sweater. I don't like many published aran pattenrs because 1)they are just a tad TOO bulky, 2) they are completely shapeless and 3)the smallest size is a 38" bust, which leaves me 6" of ease and makes me look like a kid playing dress up.

So, I began work on my design "Sexier Than Your Average Aran" and last night I worked out a good bit of the algebra, and began to knit on the front. Which I am doing before the back, because the back is fairly simple (no cable) and if I completely screw up the front, I can figure it out before I do that.

I also began a Princess Snowball Cat Bed, made a acrylic keyboard duster, and a catnip stuffed mouse for my kittens.

The Bad

Car is back in shop. Now it won't start if it's warm, and leaves me stranded.

I don't think the mechanic dude is listening to me, because he's treating it like it never starts, which isn't true. It starts cold (like, not driven for a day) but not warm, and I'm afraid they are just going to stick another new starter in and not test it by driving it around and THEN starting it, and I am going to get stranded again.

The Completely Terrifying

Last night I turned ABC news in DC, and what should I see but my hometown, in NC! I looked up to see what I think was some people I know paddling across what USED to be a main road and is now, apparently, an extension of the French Broad River.

A friend of mine tells me that the French Broad is 10 ft above normal and 6 ft above flood level.

My parents are, thankfully, ok, as are my aunt and grandfather. And all animals. And I know my best friends family is okay, because they live on the side of a mountain, and if their house floods, I'm building an ark and renaming myself Noah.

No one has any water though, and it looks like a mess, and its driving me crazy that my car is in the shop because I want nothing more than to jump in it, head home, and help out. And make sure no on I know got flooded out.

Knitting...Knitting...What's That?

2004-09-02T07:19:00.000-04:00

KNITTING

I haven't done any lately . I know, oops.

I started a cable panel two different times, but kept being dissatisfied with it. It was late at night and I'd loose my place, or I just didn't like it...

I had been debating ripping out the last start, but Padma decided for me when I caught her trotting across the floor with the skein of yucky acrylic clutched in her mouth (it's as big as she is!), knitting unraveling behind her.

She's a strange one, my Padma. She appears to have much love for the acrylic. She likes to suck on it, which is very gross when you don't realize she has done it, and suddenly run across this soggy, thin, lifeless section of yarn.

Perhaps today I shall start some acrylic cat toys so they will leave my yarn alone.

SCHOOL

This semester I am taking organic chem, mathematical ideas, psychology of attitudes and public opinion, media politics and government, and information media and national security. And weight training.

CAR

Still not here. The mechanics got it back from the transmission place, the transmission stopped making funky noises (the new transmission, that is) but now the engine is missing (my dad says that means a spark plug misfiring or something) and the AC doesn't work. So they are looking at that.

It's been over a week past when it was supposed to be done, and they've created more problems than they've solved, and I am only paying what he quoted me. I'm not going to pay for their mistakes.

Not Much Knitting

2004-08-29T09:11:00.000-04:00

Much more frantic running about getting ready for school to start. Which I am horribly excited about.

I did finish the third block for the dog's blanket. Which is, as I said, just is a big excuse for me to try new stuff. And I'm enjoying that.

I have lots and lots of design ideas, I just am stuck on one thing--ribbing.

Usually , in patterns, it's worked on smaller needles. I just can't seem to find a rhyme or reason as to how one figures out what size smaller needles to use. Is there a formula? Does it involve swatching? If so, what is one swatching for? *scratches head*

So, not much on the knitting front, lots on the schools starting, school is starting front! YAY! *does happy dance*

I am SUCH a dork.

Cables, Cables Everywhere!

2004-08-25T08:21:00.000-04:00

Last night I finished two cable panels for the dog blanket I'm making for my mother's dog. Which is really just an excuse for me to practice new stitches and stuff. On cheap yarn.

I have pictures of at least one finished square, as well as the adorable kittens, but this computer is (old, and evil) not equipped to handle digital photos from my palm, so until I get mine fixed or deal with this....no pictures. :(

I have lots of stuff that needs finished--like weaving in the ends on my Faroese Style shawl, and my mini waffle knit socks, and Grecian Plait...gah. Then all the Holiday knitting....

My car was supposed to be fixed yesterday only it wasn't....so, I'm stuck here again today. They said my car would be done yesterday, probably in the morning. I called, they said, almost done, by this afternoon definately. So I returned the rental. Then afternoon came--we had a problem with some noise from the transmission...we'll have to look at it, but it will be done by this evening.

This morning I still haven't heard, and I need my CAR!!!!!

If I don't get it, though, I hereby declare this work on projects from the knitting basket day, in the hopes that I shall clear some of them out.

Especially my mother's birthday present (in May) that I NEED to finish before I go home again in September.

And Grecian Plait, because its hot out, but my school cranks the AC up, and I think it would be a really cute sweater to wear over a tank top when I'm in class.

Returning to Society

2004-08-22T10:13:00.000-04:00

Amusing quote last night from one of my friends: "You know, it's not unusual for sixty year old women to knit and have cats, but a 21 year old woman?"

Yeah, thanks dude. ;) I know, I'm wierd.

Yes, I do return, after no computer and no car for a week. I still don' t have a car--not really. I have a rental (WOO! Rent a Wreck!) so I can get to work, but it's limited milage so other than work and the store, I don't really get to GO anywhere.

And my computer is still not fixed, but I got my old one sort of running again, enough so I'm not completely cut off.

Meh. I'm going to go to a museum or something now. And then I'll clean. Really. I will.

I Really Am Alive

2004-08-07T10:45:00.000-04:00

What's New!

So, I have actually been getting knitting done. And a lot of sketching out stuff I want to design, since I keep running out of things to do at work. I have so many ideas!!

I'm currently having a lot of fun working on a project I wasn't thrilled about. My Mom wants a blanket for her dog (aka the Empty Nest Dog), and so I agreed for Christmas, Abby would recieve a blanket. I bought some yucky acrylic (not Red Heart though) because I know the dog will chew it up.

I wasn't looking foward to it, but then I got The Encyclopedia of Knitting from the library, and the blanket has become an excuse to try new stitch patterns! YAY! So, it's actually sort of fun.

2004-08-07T10:44:00.000-04:00

Padma Guards YARN!

2004-08-07T10:43:00.002-04:00

Moss Stitch Swatch

2004-08-07T10:43:00.001-04:00

Boring stockinette (die, guage, die)

2004-08-07T10:43:00.000-04:00

Diamond Spiral Swatch

2004-08-07T10:42:00.001-04:00

My New Project Basket

2004-08-07T10:42:00.000-04:00

Drop Stitch Scarf

2004-08-07T10:41:00.000-04:00

Drop Stitch Scarf Close Up

I'm In LOVE

2004-08-02T21:02:00.000-04:00

With the Encyclopedia of Knitting by Lesley Stanfield and Melody Griffiths. I just checked it out from the library, and may I say *DROOL*!!!

I have an old book, Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needle Craft that I inherited from my grandmother, but this book...I just love some of the pattern stitches much better (some, of course, are the same, but I like the instructions better...) and...oh.

I feel inspired. *beats design bug with a broom* The bamboo rib....some of the cables and lace....

I want to design and sell knitting patterns.....

I should start actually finishing stuff if I wanna do that, huh?

Comic and News

2004-08-02T07:53:00.000-04:00

Knitting News

Not much to report. Have worked on the Scarf That Won't Die.

I was at home a few weekends ago, and saw the most yummy ribbon yarn by Noro, and it was on clearance for 30% off! So of course I had to buy some. There was a pink/purple/turquoise colorway, a dark green/gold one, and a blue/turquoise/copper one and I got them with the intention of making drop-stitch scarves for myself and two of my friends.

So I cast on, decided that, yes, the LYS lady was smoking crack, and the recommended needles were too large (I asked, cause I couldn't find needle size on the tag, and haven't used ribbon yarn before)--I think she assumed because I was young, I wouldn't have the patience necessary to use anything less than a US13. Which is funny, because my first project ever when I was like seven was done on US6s.

Anyhow. Rip out, smaller needles. Ok, knit most of first ball of yarn...hmm. Too wide. Don't like it.

Rip back, cast on with fewer stitches. Decide to try beaded knitting with beads at the ends of the scarf. Spend more on beads than on yarn. Dislike beads. Frog once more.

Cast on yet again, with correct width (10 sts on US11s) and begin to knit.

Get distracted by work, errands, and sick kittens and make very little progress. The scarf will not die.

Comic!

Last night, while pondering the fact that I live on a giant target with Andrea, we realized that GW's only advice is "Always carry your GWorld".

Thus was born the adventures of the amazing GWorld!Man and his sidekick Latte!Girl (am open to better sidekick names) and the ever-present Helpful!Hippo.

This is a very rough sketch (I am so out of practice) of my characters. I hope to eventually develop better characters and do a few single-panel comics featuring them. And possibly longer ones if I feel so energetic.

Behold...

The Adventures of GWorld!Man and his sidekick Latte!Girl

But the pleasures of insomnia are ones I've never found...

This is what I did last night while not sleeping, and am now utterly exhausted.

I switched to a 36 mg dose of Concerta to try, took it at 10 am and COULD NOT get to sleep last night. And wasn't helped by Mr. Fred-man deciding to play with the blinds on my window. Silly kitten, night is for sleeping!

I really hope taking the Concerta earlier makes the insomnia go away, or I can get a sleeping pill from my shrink--I didn't have insomnia with Adderall, but I didn't have an appetite either--I'm HUNGRY all of a sudden again, and it's wierd but good.

All things considered, I function better without sleep than without food.

More kittens.

2004-07-22T21:37:00.001-04:00

Padma, the vulture cat. She likes to perch on things. And then reach down and bat you in the head. Her favorite spot is the back of my desk chair, but she also likes my decoupaged end table.

Padma, the Vulture Cat

Isn't she so cute? I love my kittens.

Gratuitious Cat Post

2004-07-22T21:37:00.000-04:00

The Fred-man loves the shawl. Someone needs to tell him he's a boy kitty, he needs manly kitty things, not girly ones! Silly Fred. He loves the yarn, though. I'll have to make him a manly knitted kitty bed.

Fred with the Shawl

He seemed most peturbed when I shoved him off the shawl.

Pattern Stitch

2004-07-22T21:36:00.000-04:00

Here is a close up of the center pattern panel on the shawl. I had some issues with the sides, where I would purl on the wrong side row, and I'd accidentally purl a yarn over with the stitch next to it. But it turned out okay in the end, so that's good. And I'll be more careful if I make one again.

Pattern Stitch

Finished Object!

2004-07-22T21:35:00.000-04:00

So, I finished the Faroese Style Shawl from Cast On, knitted in Lion Brand homespun.

Shawl

I like the way it turned out, but it's smaller, mostly because I didn't do a guage swatch, and I couldn't find US11 circs, so I used US 10.5s. I like it though, because I don't want a huge shawl. I like it, I think it's cute and cuddly.

If I did it again, I'd probably add an extra pattern repeated, or two, to make it bigger. But I like the way it turned out. And so does Fred, apparently.

HELP?

2004-07-21T07:52:00.000-04:00

Ok, so, first of all, I'm thisclose to done with the Farosese style shawl! YAY! I need it to take into work, because it's cold, and I want to have something warm but my sweaters and stuff aren't really dressy so I have on nice clothes and like a sweatshirt and it looks odd. I also learned to single chain crochet in order to do the edge.

Does anyone (read this?) know how to add links and lists to my blog? I looked at the help bar....and it was no help! I know some basic html tags, and how to look them up and use them, but what I DON'T know is where in the template to put them! It's all confusing to me. *kicks blog*

In other news, I am apparently full of fungi. Hence the funky red spots on my arm. Apparently one of the cats has a fungal infection, which (of course) isn't visible, so no one knew about it, and now I have it. So I have meds to put on my skin, and I'm taking the cats to the vet this afternoon so they can get meds.

The derm was great, though, I also have 2 other skin conditions, vitiligo and keratosis pilaris, which I had told couldn't be treated. Neither can be cured, vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder, and keratosis pilaris is genetic, but I had been told they were 'just' cosmetic. Which isn't true--because of my other health symptoms, I need to get checked out for other autoimmune diseases, since, like animals, they often travel in herds--but also dismissed the idea that I might actually care how I look.

This guy however gave me some meds--there is no guarentee either will work, and they will clear up the problem but not make it go away, but it's something. If nothing else, I can at least feel like I tried. There is less chance of the vit getting cleared up, but I'm so pale that it's really rather irrelevant unless I tan. Yay for Irish skin!

Now I have to actually go to work (missed yesterday for doc appts and because of a horrible bout of nausea as a side effect from the antibiotics from the ER, which I don't need and can stop taking) and then to the orthodontist (not mine, but a random one) to get spacers in then to the vet. AAAAHHH! So busy!

My goal tonight is to finish my shawl.

2004-07-19T08:01:00.000-04:00

The Fred-man! Now MY kitten!

2004-07-19T07:59:00.000-04:00

Padma is now my kitty!

Not so much knitting

2004-07-19T07:55:00.000-04:00

Didn't knit much this weekend, I ran all over, Carbon Leaf concert at the 9:30 club and then the Firehouse Expo in Baltimore, hanging out at Station 33 with a friend of a friend, then to our station (Station 1) to actually accomplish one of the 80 billion things I need to get done.

Cara straightened my hair on Friday night (after girls night, with yummy crepes and a half off sexy dress from Benetton, WOO!) and it was soooo wierd. I love it. I have to buy a straightening iron now, alas, I have sold out.

No, not really. I love my curls. I just hate the upkeep. I wanna be able to sleep on my hair, and not have to wake up three hours early to shower, and let my hair dry. I'd still wear it curly, especially if I were dressing up, because I think curly hair is cute and sexy (not so much on me, but in general) but during the week, low maintenance is the best.

AND I offically filled out paperwork and the kittens are MINE! Padma and Fred are now my precious kittens and no one shall take them away. *hugs kittens*

I also bought red shorts that have "Keep Back 200 Feet" printed on the ass, and a sticker that says "Sure, firefighters can stand the heat, but EMTs can legally take your clothes off" which makes the lack of knitting so worth it.

2004-07-19T07:54:00.000-04:00

I haven't seen my hair this straight since....third grade?

2004-07-19T07:53:00.000-04:00

Me with STRAIGHT hair!

2004-07-14T21:22:00.000-04:00

The Faroese Style Shawl, made from Lion Brand Homespun, this is my first project that has a lot of openwork, I really like how it's coming so far and I think it will be lovely and warm.

2004-07-14T21:21:00.000-04:00

See? I cast on a new sock right away! YAY! I will be a knitter with TWO socks....I swear.

2004-07-14T21:20:00.000-04:00

Close up of the waffle stitch on the sock, still blurry. But you can sort of see it.

2004-07-14T21:19:00.000-04:00

Sock! Sock! The pattern is the Mini Waffle Knit sock from...somewhere online. It's made out of Lion Brand microspun, and this is a horrible picture, but still...SOCK! I screwed up the kitchner stitch somehow, but it's together and fits so...eh.

She's ALIVE

2004-07-14T21:14:00.000-04:00

Well, doing a good impression of it, anyhow.

I have summoned up the energy to knit. Sadly, that's about all the energy I have. And as much as I adore the knitting, it really isn't an activity that should wipe me out. I sorta miss my other, higher energy stuff.

That being said.

I FINISHED MY SOCK!! LE SOCK IS DONE!! I like it. So soft and warm. And I was a good knitter and cast on for the second sock right after!

I also (because I am a project whore) cast on for the Faroese-Style shawl made from Homespun that was in the 2004 Spring Cast On. I've been wanting a shawl, I get cold so easily, and I had some spare homespun lying about, so this seemed like a good project.

The kittens seem to think that knitting is their own personal kitten theme park, and Fred especially likes the needles and yarn. He wants to say he's still a very manly kitten, however. He captures the evil shoelace and prances about with it proudly. As long as he never mistakes my current project for an Evil!Shoelace, we'll be okay.

So sleepy...must not go sleep...before 11...or maybe 10...*yawn*

Stuff

2004-07-03T18:17:00.000-04:00

Accomplished more on the sock. Should be working on the purse for my mother, but...

The kittens went to the vet today, cause I noticed Fred's eye was looking all funky and gross. :( Turns out they have chlamydia (!) in their eyes. So I have to put ointment on their eyeballs twice a day for two weeks.

Yeah, that should be fun.

I'm so tired; I got up at nine thirty today, and then I took a nap at eleven thirty cause already I was tired.

Yet the doctor says it's all in my head.

*growls*

At least I'll get lots of knitting done in waiting rooms as I chase doctors around trying to figure out what's going on.

Sex, Kittens, Socks

2004-07-01T07:17:00.000-04:00

I'm having angst about giving up the kittens. Worried they will develop abandonment issues--why didn't I want them, ect.

Got lots of progress on the sock. Turned the heel, which seemed to go slightly off, but it looks fine....so yeah.

SEX IN THE KNITTY is live.

So here's my take on the patterns.

Vicky--ADORE! ADORE!!! Looks complicated, but I MUST make it. The one with the fun fur edge, oh, so great. So me. Love corsets.

1930--actually, kinda cute. But I'm not sure how comfortable it would be. I'll have to think on it.

Betty--cute, but not me.

Hush-hush--quite cute, very me. I think I shall make it.

Mon petite chou--cute, but again not sure of the comfort factor.

Allusion--love it. Again, I must say how I adore corsets in all forms. I would say Allusion is the more daring--I'm not sure if I'd have the courage to wear it but it's still super cute. And I'll end up making it, I'm sure.

Iris--bleh. Not me.

Men's Thong--well, I'm not a man. And I haven't got one. And even if I did, I doubt he'd be the type to wear a thong.

Lolita Legs--SQUEE!!! LOVE FISHNETS! LOVE THEM! And now I could have these in many colors..*drools*

Velvet Oblivion--very nice

302 Calories--is it just me, or wouldn't licorice get all sticky and fuzzy and gross if you knit with it? Plus the whole edible panty thing is...well, to start with, totally inapplicable to my life.

Do Not Disturb--cute. but I live alone, so, kinda obsolete.

Condom Cozies--eh. No. Again, no application to my life. I'm like a Nun, but without the religion. Damn.

On the Moon--would make a cute purse, just because, and I actually sorta like the idea....mostly cause I'm always hunting for everything at the bottom of a huge purse or backpack.

Flick--um.....disturbed by knitted whip. Yet, it makes an oddly cute belt. Am I the only one to think that?

And so you have it.

I'm going to go cuddle the kittens and tell them again I love them, and I wish I could keep them but I'll try to find them a good home. *cries*

2004-06-30T18:55:00.000-04:00

Don't be fooled by Fred looking all innocent. Just like his Weasley namesake, he likes to cause TROUBLE! But he's very sweet and loves to curl right up next to you and sleep.

2004-06-30T18:53:00.000-04:00

Padma is a very sweet and cute kitten. She is sort of timid if you reach to pet her too fast, but she'll purr as soon as you touch her.

No, that's MY yarn

2004-06-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

So, I cast on yesterday for mini waffle knit socks with my lovely soft purple microspun (I WILL beat this yarn).

I got through the ribbing, four rows into the pattern, and realized I had somehow dropped a stitch and ended up ripping out the entire thing.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

I was aided in this endeavor by my new foster kitten! Yes, I am now the proud foster mama to two kittens, Fred and Padma.

Fred loves yarn. He really really really loves yarn.

Especially yarn attatched to my needles.

But he's so cute I can't get overly mad at him. I just have to remember to put my yarn away before I go to work.

I don't think I'm gonna want to give the kittens back....

Splitsville

2004-06-26T23:01:00.000-04:00

I think I am abandoning the purple microspun glove.

Why, you ask? (Or not, since I really have no idea if anyone actually reads this....if you do, comment! Plug me to your friends! Throw knitting needles at me! Something!)

Well, here's why.

1. Microspun splits like a bitch. And while I love the softenss, I think having it in gloves would just snag on everything. I'm thinking it may be better suited to a nice pair of socks to wear around the house.

2. I can't seem to figure out why, but there are gaps in between the fingers no matter what I do. I don't know if the yarn is stretching, if I'm not picking up stitches correctly, or what. But, yeah, gaps, and that doesn't make for warm gloves.

and finally,

3. I don't like the design. I based it off the design your own gloves from the Winter Interweave Knits, and while I've learned a lot about gloves from it...I don't much like it. There's no ribbing on the cuff, which I think would make for a drafty glove. And no thumb gusset.

I feel rather dumb for getting this far and abandoning it, but I really think the microspun would work better in another project. And at this point I am leaning towards socks. Because they would be warm and fuzzy to wear. And I like warm and fuzzy.

Now, to find a good sock pattern....

2004-06-25T23:10:00.001-04:00

Close-up of the cable, with the color WAAAY off

2004-06-25T23:10:00.000-04:00

Fat Hat for Andrea's Birthday

FINISHED

2004-06-25T23:07:00.000-04:00

Finished! The Fat Hat from Hip To Knit, knitted with 3 strands of Wool-Ease held together, in Colonial Blue.

It's for my friends' birthday, and hopefully there will be pictures of her wearing it once I give it to her.

It knitted up super fast, and looks so cute!

KIP

2004-06-25T08:03:00.000-04:00

Lots of knitting in public yesterday. On the Metro, in Dupont Circle, in Cosi (the manager looked rather ticked off).

I finished the middle finger on my glove but messed up the top, have to undo and fix it. GRRRR. No more knitting when I am about to pass out! I also am almost done with Andrea's hat, I have just a teeny bit left to do and it is uber cute.

I was sitting in Cosi, reading my Interweave Knits with the glove pattern and just drooling over stuff.

My problem is that I like the complicated looking stuff--I want to try an aran sort of sweater and I want to try some fair isle stuff, but I don't know about wearing it. I'm afraid it's too bulky or busy and would just swallow me whole.

Like, the Bed and Breakfast sweater in the magazine. I think it looks cute. But it's got lots of ribbing and cables. And I'm a very small person--102 lbs, wears a size 1, barely 34B sort of small person--and I'm afraid a sweater like that would just sort of overwhelm me and I'd look like a little girl playing dress up.

So I end up doing patterns that involve lots and lots of stockinette in one color because I know they'll look okay on me.

Thoughts?

Hats!

2004-06-23T22:07:00.000-04:00

I did frog the glove. Meh. Stupid microspun.

I started a new project (for which I had to buy new yarn!) for my friend's birthday. It's the Fat Hat from Hip to Knit. I couldn't find any super chunky yarn, so I bought Wool-Ease and am knitting three strands held together. It's a very pretty blue, and once it is finished I shall post pictures.

I feel like there should be room for more cable repeats, but it doesn't look like it. Hmm. I may make it slightly bigger lenght-wise, I don't know. We'll see.

I just hope it works out and it fits her.

If it does, I may have to back and get some purple yarn and make the variation with the gathered top. Cause it's cute and fast and fun!

And now I'm going to stagger off to bed. Because I feel all light headed and dizzy and I can't eat and I've lost fifteen pounds in a semester. And I'm seeing a doctor tomorrow and I'm going to plant myself in his office until they figure out answers or tests to give or SOMETHING.

Picking Up Stitches

2004-06-22T07:48:00.000-04:00

I'm an updating fiend lately, aren't I? I have no energy now to do anything other than sit at the comp or sit and knit, so that's probably got a lot to do with it.

Last night I accomplished more on the Zeeby's bag, which is boring me to tears. The 39" of garter stitch..*sob*. And all in one color. Blah. But it's for my Mom and she likes the bag, so there ya go.

I also worked on my glove. I didn't pick up stitches well, and there is a gap between the fingers. I've just started the middle finger, fyi. I am trying to figure out if I want to frog it and start over.

I know I SHOULD, but it's such a pain...especially since microspun splits like a bitch.

The glove is good practice though, since I'm already contemplating Christmas/birthday knitting. It's way early, I know, but almost everyone in my family was born in winter, so it all comes up at once, and I'm taking orgo next semester, so studying shall be a very important part of my life.

I think I'm going to do gloves for my Dad and maybe some golf club covers. And socks for my aunt, and a scarf for my other aunt and one for my uncle (lace for the aunt, alien illusion for the uncle) and a sweater for my Mom. I don't know what to do for my grandfather....he's the one that gets me. Arg.

I think I am going to frog the glove because if I spend all this time making it and then can't wear it, I'll be royally pissed.

Already the name of my blog is appropriate. Heh.

For those who don't know (probably most of the universe) overhaul is the part of firefighting where they go in and make absolutely sure the fire is out and try to figure out what happened and make sure there are no hot spots or anything. I called my blog Knitting Overhaul, because looking for problems and trying to figure out what the hell went one is probably at least fifty percent of my knitting.

I don't suppose I had to frog my glove is a reason to call into work, huh....? Blast it all.

2004-06-21T19:15:00.000-04:00

Pretty Knitted Things

Finished Object

2004-06-21T19:10:00.000-04:00

I just got the photos of my finished object from a few months ago, from the lovely Christina who has a blog I will link too...as soon as I figure out how to do that.

It's the ChicKami and I used this Egyptian cotton yarn by King Tut and it was most fabulous. And very pink. :)

The background of the picture is purple courtesy of Paint, because some dude was walking behind me when the picture was taken. And since he wasn't hot or anything, I edited him out. :)

But, yes, it is a finished object, and I am proud.

2004-06-21T07:40:00.000-04:00

The Steph

Hello!

2004-06-21T07:27:00.000-04:00

Well, this is my first post on my brand new blog!

This blog is intended to be a place for me to ramble about my knitting. It's also hopefully going to encourage me to knit more (omg! haven't posted! must knit!) instead of sitting here on the computer going, y'know, I think I've run out of internet.

What to say--my name is Steph, I'm a knitter, a writer, a college student, an intern, a volunteer EMT, and just a really random crazy girl. I live in the DC area.

Currently on the needles: Grecian Plait, from Knitty and Zeeby's bag from SnB (for my Mom's birthday....in May....so it's a bit late). Also a glove, designed using a pattern from....some magazine and knit in Lion Brand microspun in purple. Will take and post photos soonish.

So...that's my intro, and I have to go get ready for work now (my boss knits, how cool).

Ciao!