I feel like ass

I don't know what it is, but I felt like ass all day today. Hopefully it will go away overnight. I say that because Dec. 24th I felt like this too, but when I woke up the next morning I felt fine. Is is allergies, I don't know. I really wanted to go letterboxing today, but didn't feel like moving off the couch or bed.

On the knitting front, I am working on starting a new knitting group. The one at Black and Brew in Lakeland has been really great and we have had a great response. So, I am going to start a second one in Winter Haven. I have a few people who are signed up on the CFS yahoo group that will be able to make it to Winter Haven but can't make it to Lakeland. Here is my new CFS Winter Haven poster...(work in progress)

I will continue to tweek it until I am done playing. That is the problem, I love to play with scrapbooking elements on my posters.

I don't know if I mentioned it but, my Mom got Sweater Wizard program for me. I am loving it! I have been keeping an idea book thingy with different sweater ideas that I have had and swatches of the stitches I wanted to use. But my math (like my spelling) is not so good and I was never comfortable trying to figure out a pattern. Now, just plug in the schematics and it generates a pattern for you. Even estimates the yardage needed. I am currently working on a very simple pullover pattern to try out some of the features. We will see.

12-23-07

SQEEEEE!

Paul and I found our first 2 letterboxes. And in the first one, we found a hitchhiker! Letterboxing Crack!

So what do you do after finding your first two letterboxes...

We went to Disney

Had some Funnel Cakes.

And, saw the beautiful Christmas lights that were on the castle!

12-19-07

Here are the stamps that I carved for Paul and I. Need to get log books for us. Paul needs to register with Atlas Quest. And we are off! First stop the park in downtown Winter Haven, the one across from our coffee shop. Hope to go to Disney this weekend and hopefully find the 2 boxes there.

I am so impressionable

Just so you know this is all Violet and Karen's fault. Have you heard of Letterboxing? I hadn't. But I have now and really want to do it. As directed by Mrs. Violet I went to Atlas Quest and found that there are 31 locations within 25 miles of my zip code. One just happens to be near our coffee shop. Tomorrow I am going at lunch to the local stamp store and buy a carvable stamp and tools. I don't know if I am going to make my log book or buy a nice journal type book.

Dec. 11, 2007

The work continues here at the house. This is Paul replacing the fixtures in the tube/shower. Which could also be considered both home improvement and good for the environment. That fixture has dripped for years and just recently started a steady stream. There was alot was wasted water. But, it is fixed now and no more leaking.

Bottoms Up

Before I start on how much I love the bottom-up construction of this sweater, a note on the progress of the hourglass sweater. I found that as I was decreasing, it was not decreasing quick enough and felt that it would have been too big. So, I decrease the size of the needle and went to work. This worked out great, no more baggy yoke portion of the sweater. I did continue to decrease a few more rounds before the purl round, as many have suggested.

So I used to think that top-down sweaters were my fav to knit. But since working with the Hourglass Sweater from LMKG I think for me bottom-up construction will work better for me. I have in the past had difficulty determining the cast on for the neck when working top-down. Inevitably it would be way too many stitches and the neck was HUGE. I was using some calculation that just wasn’t working for me. But, with bottom-up it seems less difficult. Maybe my brain just likes it better; I mean it is sensually the same thing just different direction. When I think about shaping and such, it seems to be easier to determine were to put darts. Also, my past top-down sweaters ended up with big arm holes, meaning that I continued knitting far to long before joining for the body. I don’t know it just seems easier for my brainy bits to understand and make a better fitting garment. It just all makes sense with bottom-up. I also like the sleeve joining process. With my past top-down the underarm was just nasty and ugly, thank god you don’t see that area very much. With bottom-up the sleeves are done, all I have to do is graft some stitches. I am sure it is no harder or easier than top-down, but like I said for some reason my brainy bits just wrap around this concept. So, next sweater project is for Paul. He wants a cabled sweater jacket. As much as I love my DH, I am dreading this a wee bit. We were looking through some stitch dictionaries and he of course picked out some very complicated cables. There was one that looked like a chain, but each time you crossed the cable to create the chain you had to cut the yarn. Ummm, NO! It will be my new found love bottom-up raglan shaped with cables and a zipper closure. I don’t know if there were be pockets. Maybe some side seem pockets so that it doesn’t interrupt the cabling.

FO...sorta

So... here is the Starsky completed seemed. It is not a FO though because I have to modify the sleeves which are too long and too big. The rest of the sweater is fitted but the sleeves are so baggy. Here's the plan: seem up the sleeve seems to a smaller size, then cut the excess. Then cut off the cuff and a the sleeve the length that is good, then re-knit the cuff. I think it can work. Good thing I know how to sew.

one of seven projects done

I finished the 4 everlasting bagstoppers from Knitty. Very fun project and felt good to do. It has actually got me to thinking more about environmental issues. So, because of these bags I called and got a recycling bin and will now be recycling. Also, the next time I go to buy laundry dish detergent I am going to buy more environmentally friendly products. I am also very fortunate that Paul is also on board with these changes.

Made some little numbered tags to put into the pockets of my Knit Picks Interchangeable needle set.

Starsky-Getting there

Okay, so I am more comfortable with saying that this just might fit. I was a little concerned because the back looked so small. I know that cables to suck in the knitting, but still. I pinned the parts to the dress form and can't stop looking out it. Need to work on the belt. About the belt, I might just find one in the store or make one out of some sort of fabric. The belt is slow knitting due to the length. Also need to block and seem. Getting close to finishing. I got a little boost to finish this due to the 46 degree weather we are having right now. That is cold for Florida.

So this is what I look like!

Before I start I would like to say that I am very excited to have a dress form. Freaking Awesome! But, I put all the settings correct to my size and now I don't like to look at it. It makes me want to loose weight. Then again, if I were to loose weight I would have to get a different size dress form. Well, start the "I love myself" mantra.

Project update. I am about an hour away from finishing the third of five everlasting bagstoppers from Knitty. I am a wee more motivated to finish these five because then I will move onto one of the my sweaters and be able to try it on the dress form. Also I must have miscalculated the yardage needed for each bag. I bought 4 skeins of Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn but each bag only uses 2. So, I will be making more which is cool 'cause they are really great.

Project rundown

I have a confession to make. I am a bad knitter. I have some many projects that are so close to being done. They all lay there with the hope that I will pick them up next and finish knitting or crocheting. I have one project that only needs fringe attached. So I need to be honest. Here is a list of the projects that are not finished.
1. Montego bay scarf. This is the one that just needs the rest of the fringe.
2. Starsky sweater. Now, I do have a partly good reason for putting this one down. I was waiting on 2 more skeins of yarn. I know, that is not excuse because now I have the yarn. The collar needs to be finished, the belt knit and sewing up the seems.
3. Hourglass sweater. I was also waiting for something to finish this. I needed size 7 needles, now I have them, but I don't like the double point. I am going tomorrow and getting 2 size 7 circulars.
4. Merino lace sock. Down the the heel portion of the first sock.
5. Hexagon Afghan.
6. Noro square Afghan.
7. Everlasting bagstopper. Just started today. Stalling on finishing all the other projects by starting this one. I do love it so so much, quick and I want to make about 5 of them. I am going to get more Cotton Ease, and some Sugar 'n Cream yarn to knit them.

So there you have it. My goal is not to start another project until these 7 projects are completed.

Digital Scrapbooking

I have been experimenting with digital scrapbooking. I am already using some elements in my photos. Some of the pages I see on the Scrap Girls website are so cool! I used to think most scrapbooking was kinda hokie and not very interesting, but I am starting to find very interesting downloads and elements that can be used now. Scrap Girls also has a great tutorial that can be purchased on using Photoshop Elements.
I tried traditional scrapbooking, but that takes alot of money which could be used for buying yarn. I do have a thing for scrapbooking papers. I need to figure out what to do with them, I have quit a collection.

Tropical Splash

More hand dyed Merino/Silk.

Razzberries

I just love to dye yarn. I love to see the colors as they blend. The unpredictability is scary but exciting. I got 3 skeins of the merino/silk blend from Knit Picks. It is nice yarn with a nice twist and has a little bit of shine.

OMG! OMG! Rockin Sock Club!

I mailed off my registration form and email today for the 2008 Rockin' Sock Club. I am so Freaking Excited!!!!!! I was at work and started to squeal. My coworkers think I am pretty crazy to get so excited about yarn, but they are used to it by now. They used phrases like "she is eat up with knitting".

Then, when I got home I got one of my shipments from Knit Picks. I ordered 3 skeins of the merino and silk blank fingering weight yarn. I want to dye some up for me to knit and maybe sell one on my Esty site. I have already dyed one skein. Pics to come soon.

Did I say how excited I am? OMG!

8 Random Things.

I was tagged by FiredUpFairy Knits. Go check out her blog, she is awesome.
Okay were to start?

1. I secretly want to be a performing belly dancer. I am fascinated by Rachel Brice. She has such a great style and wonderful movement. She does a style of belly dancing called Tribal. Don't tell anyone, but I even have belly dancing costumes.
2. I can't spell. Thank God for spell check.
3. Speaking of God, I have issues with the Bible. Unlike my Christian father, I don't put all my faith in something that men wrote, divine inspiration or not. I do believe in God and I am saved, but I don't follow typical Christian teachings.
4. I hate to be hot, which make living in Florida a challenge.
...this is getting hard...
5. I love to learn about all sorts of things mostly history, especially ancient history. My favorite channels are the History channel and History International Channel.
6. I am a licensed Message Therapist, but don't practice. I do keep my licence and I do keep up with my continuing education credits. I will use it someday.
....thinking. thinking....
7. I hate bars. I hate to be around drunk people. There is only on bar in my area that I will even consider going to and that is only because it is fairly calm and doesn't always have loud music playing. When I go out I like to socialize with people and constantly having to say "what" gets annoying.
8. I love the rain. I love to cuddle in bed when it is raining. Or knit. Or just sit out side and listen to it rain. This is were it is a good thing to live in Florida.

So there you have it. I don't know who to tag...I will get back to you on that.

Froged it

German Stocking after being frogged and reknit.

I couldn't stand the cuff of the German Stocking being so floppy. So I frogged it. I am now at about 3-3.5 inches. I've been thinking about my knitting alot lately. As I was contemplating frogging the sock I kept asking myself why it was bothering me so much to frog it. Was it the time I had spent? Was it just that it was messed up? What? I started wondering, am I a project knitter or a process knitter? Is it only about getting the project done or is it about the process itself that I enjoy? I don't know. I do know that typically when I am knitting something, I am always wondering if it is going to fit or look good. I have had so many projects that have just looked like crap, or just fit weird. I know that in the past my mistake was just jumping right in and not even doing a swatch or looking over the pattern and schematics. I think that these previous blotches on my knitting resume are probably why I am so anxious about finishing and trying on. I have gotten to a point in my knitting were I know enough that I can control to an extent the final outcome. When I make a mistake I am more likely to frog back and fix it.

So, back to the question. Project or Process? At this point I am going to be honest and say that I am a project knitter who is going to make an effort to enjoy the process. No more words like boring and phrases like "pain in the ass" are going to be used. It is about the process. It is about the relaxation not the anxiety. If it doesn't turn out, that gives another opportunity to enjoy the yarn running through my fingers or the needles clicking away without having to spend any money. I think I got caught up in the "how fast can I knit this?" not "how well can I knit this?".

Have to put it down

I am about 4 inches in the the German Stocking pattern from CookieA and I didn't look at the errata. So, instead of doing the 1x1 ribbing at the cuff, I did 1x2 which was on the pattern. I felt like it was wrong. My gut kept telling me to look at the errata, but I didn't I just kept on knitting. So here's the dilemma, do I keep on going and add elastic to the cuff to tighten it up or do I frog back? I am putting it down for the night and will think about this over night. I'll let you know what I decide.

Epcot Food and Wine 2007

Paul and I went to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival yesterday. We eat and drank our way around the world.
1st- Ice Wine and Merlot from the festival center.
2nd- Sangria from Morocco.
3rd- Sake from Japan.
4th- Honey Mead and cheese plate from Ireland.
5th- Champagne, Merlot, and Strawberry Crepe from France.

It was a really great day. A little overcast and sometimes rainy, but that didn't ruin our day. Great fun. Great food. Great drinks.

3 project update

Hourglass: So can we all say "Boring!"? But I continue on with this one. I tried it on and much to my surprise, it fits pretty darn well. Yeah!!! The yarn is lovely and once washed will be much more soft. It is in waiting for a few more days because I am waiting for my delivery of size 7dpn's for the sleeves.

German Stocking: Just cast-on. Not much to say, the yarn is soft!

Starsky: What can I say about this one? It is hard to knit at this point due to the bulk of the fabric. I hope it fits!

Welcome back...Howya been?

Well, we have been very busy bees around here. This is just a quick post so my blog doesn't get lonely. We have finished with the painting of the rooms. We only have to paint the trim and put up new trim/crown molding. So the 2 projects that are left...1. but up and paint trim, 2. strip and refinish the floors. I have my bedroom back now, it is no longer being used for a place to put stuff from other rooms that are being worked on. It is a proper bedroom now, which is nice, makes it a comfy place to go to sleep. So, in the next few days I plan to take lots of pics of the house and my progress on projects and post them.

Break from remodeling

The side panels have been finished and the back is very close to being bound off for the sleeves.

Paul's dream machine. He got the Halo XBOX 360, also not pictured, he got the Legendary Edition of Halo 3.

Friday night I got a new tat on my upper forearm. I love it!

Cat Rocks!

So, I am probably one of the last to figure out that Cat Bordhi rocks! But, I have been hearing lost about her and I had seen one of her videos on YouTube. Well, I figured I would take a look at her other videos. OMG, she makes so much sense and makes me want to try to a magic cast-on again. I tried it once and it did not work for me. And I just reached the increases on the Hourglass sweater which were ktfb increases and I wasn't that happy with them, like Cat says they leave a knit zit. Like I said, I watched the video on decrease and used her SSK decrease technique. I love this because it is the nicest looking SSK. So, her increase technique is going to be used for the rest of the Hourglass, just saying. I know I am rambling, but I am very excited.

perfection sucks!

The left panel of the Starsky cardigan went very smoothly. The right panel howerver has been kicking my ars! First I was about 5 inches in the pattern portion of the panel when I discovered that I twisted the cable in the wrong directions. Instead of holding the 3 stitches to the front, I held them to the back. At first my though was to just let it go and then I decided that I would never be totally happy with it if I knew there was this ugly goof up. So I frogged that. Then, I was about 1 inch from binding off at the top when I realized that I had no decreased enough on one of the edges. Was it the center edge or the armhole shaping? Who knows. So, again I frogged it to the point of shaping the center edge. I am currently re-knitting this and have finished the armhole and center shaping and I have the proper amount of stitches on the needles.

On the home front...I painted the dinning room yesterday and DH scrapped up all the linoleum in the kitchen/dinner area. It was so ugly and yellow and old...it had to go. It wasn't part of our original plan, then again the original plan was only to paint the project room. Since then we added the bedroom, kitchen/dinning room, and living room. I also convinced DH to let me put up a tile back splash in the kitchen. Damn DIY channel!

okay...thats bright.

The project room is painted, well the walls are painted I still have to paint the trim. I picked this turquoise color which is kinda scary right now, but I know that once the furniture goes in it will not be so bright. So, furniture plans. In this corner I want several book shelves, in different shapes. I also want to get a cushy chair for that corner. In the front of the room will be my sewing machine, cabinet and sewing area. On the opposite side will be a very long counter top for a lot of working space. the counter top is going to span almost the hole length of the wall.
On the knitting front. I got the left panel of the Starksy done. The Flirtation cable pattern worked out great I think. I am very happy with it.

I can explain...

We have been so busy around here.


Did we watch too much DIY? First it was the craft room (right). I wanted to take down all the ugly ass wallpaper, paint the room, and add a nice long project table. So, we started this. Then, I have been wanting to remove all the hideous paneling in the whole house. There was wood paneling and fake brick paneling in the living room. There was more wood paneling in the dinning room and fake red brick paneling in the kitchen. There was also wood paneling in the bedroom. So, one day after work DH decided to pull off all the wood paneling. This has led to lots of spackling, and drywall work. And...lots of DUST! The best part, if you notice on the bottom left pic of the dinning room there are black strips on the wall. This was were the paneling joined and they didn't want the light paint showing through. Who knows how much primer it will take to cover these. The strips are in the dinner room and bedroom. Good times!





Also, Sunday while at the coffee shop I was going to take some pics of my WIPs, but instead I decided to break my camera. I set my knitting bag down in a chair and it fell over and the camera went tumbling to the brick. There is a crack across the middle of the viewing screen, which meant I could not see what I was taking a pic of. How can I live without my camera? So, Monday night I went and got my new toy.

It is so cute and thin. I love it. I had an Olympus before and I'm familiar with the many functions, so another Olympus meant I didn't have to learn how to use it.

purchase and future projects

I used my Ravelry project queue today. I picked 3 projects and bought the yarn to make them.



Queued projects:

1. Starsky from Knitty- yarn: Knit Picks Bare Peruvian Highland Wool Bulky weight.

2. German Stocking by Cookie A.- yarn: Knit Picks Donegal fingering weight in natural/bare.

3. Hourglass sweater from "Last Minute Knitted Gifts"- yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in sapphire heather.



So, my thoughts...

Like a lot of knitter we have many projects that we oogle from books, pattern sites, and fav blogs. But, when it comes to purchasing yarn and starting a project, It would take me awhile to find them and decide which ones I like the best, and what type of yarn to use. Now, with Ravelry I have my list, I pick from this list, and can find out what types of yarns others are using. Great site! No more cluttered queue in my brain. My brain is not always a nice place to be.

Happy Birthday Love

new project tote

I found this at the Professional Beauty Supply store. I was going to get some new hair products for colored hair and when I walked in the Angels sang. I love this color. It was full of Matrix product which I don't use or need, but I did need this tote. It was only $20. I love that store, products that you would normally pay $15-20 for, they sell for about half. I have not really used my Massage therapy license, but I still keep it updated just so I can get such great deals on high priced products.

1st queen finished

Carolina, Last Queen of Naples 1st sock done. Mods: no purl rows. Continued to decrease gusset stitch until there were 30 instep stitches and 26 sole stitches Only decreased toe stitches to 10 on each needle. Started 2nd immediately, no 2nd sock syndrome here.

new hair

5.5 hours in the salon and I have new hair color. It varies between black, brown, red, and blonde. I like it!

Yeah Me!

I got my Ravelry invite!!! Yippieeeee!
So, my ravelry name is: Namastejulie.
I am sooo freaking excited, I am one of the cool kids now!

new projects

I have been wanting to make an Afghan. I started a ripple Afghan, but didn't really like it. So I found this flickr group called Hexagon Love with Afghans made from these hexagon shapes. I am unable to buy the Japanese pattern/book at this time, so after many tries I was able to figure out what I think is pretty close to the actual pattern. Using reds, pinks, and a turquoise color of Caron Simply Soft. This is an acrylic yarn, but it is very soft and washable, which in an Afghan is a good thing.

Carolina, Last Queen of Naples sock from Socktopia. Using STR in Pebble Beach. Oh, and I am soooo upset, BMFA discontinued Chapman Springs colorway. I loved that color. Once I found out that they were discontinuing the color I went to the site to buy 2 skeins and they had already taken it off.

I loved the color combo from the first chevron, using STR Watermelon Tourmaline and Fire on the Mountain. I decided to make this chevron version, pattern from Javajem-knits.

Central Florida Stitches poster. Officially going to re-start after a brief break and new local. Check out Central Florida Stitches Yahoo Group.

Chevron...The begining

Chevron Scarf oh how I love thee. I was so excited to get my STR order last night that I cast on the chevron scarf right away. I didn't cast on the recommended number of stitchesbecause I want it to be a little thinner. I live in Florida and I don't really need a scarf that is really wide.

Okay this is so weird. Sara my "special" mix breed dog is actually in Chloe's chair. Chloe has always slept in that chair, and Chloe is allowing it. By-the-way, the reason I call her "special" is because she always has a look of confusion and wonder. Anyway, back to knitting.

Trial and big ol' Error!

From design to finished project. My first attempt at a potholder. It started of great. But, the finished object looks like ass! The binding turned out awful. That's okay...learning experience.

So, there are 9 layers of fabric/batting in this. Next time I will leave out the layer of batting in the hand flappy things, and maybe a layer out of the base. I heated up an iron skillet to 350 degrees and held it for a good while and felt only a little heat through the pad. I don't think I will be holding anything for as long as I held it so, I think a layer of batting out of the base would not be a bad thing. So back the the drawing board on this one.

Next, I want to make this. Burda Pattern 7866. I was inspired to make a tunic top after reading Fuzzy Noodle's post about her tunic. She used a totally different pattern and did a lot of mods. I don't know that I will be able to do mods as well as she did, so I bought a pattern that is already fairly fitted at the waist/hips. I did get a black t-shirt like material just like her...I am such a copy cat. I also got the magazine "SewStylish". The pattern on the front cover is Simplicity "Sew Stylish" pattern #3631. There are like 11 different patterns that you can make after some mods that are explained in the magazine. I am liking the jacket, without the ruffle sleeve thing. They do have a long coat version of the same short jacket that looks really cool. So, I think I am off to layout my tunic pattern and see what happens.

Found Me!

Found you!
You signed up on July 4, 2007
You are #13215 on the list.
2241 people are ahead of you in line.
16935 people are behind you in line.
36% of the list has been invited so far

When I do the calculations I have about 2 weeks to wait. I hate to wait.

Rip it...Rip it Good!

Yes, I am going to have to frog back about 2 to 3" of knitting. This is supposed to be fitted. As you can see, it is not. So two choices: 1. put some ribbing around the waist area or some darts to pull the torso area of the sweater in. 2. Frog it back and make it right. I choose #2. If not I would not be happy with it and would not wear it. I wanted it fitted, I need to make it fitted. Not sure what is going wrong with my top-down sweaters, they are either too small or too loose. When I tried it on before removing the sleeves from the needles and placing them on scrap yarn, it was actually feeling a bit tight. So, I am going to rip it back into the sleeves a couple of rows, then join sweater under arms and this time I am not going to add stitches under arm. This sweater is a difficult one. You know...So far I suck at sweaters. Out of the 4 I have made, I only wear 1. The others have had bad issues. I would like to add this to the sweaters I wear.

WIP

Quick update...AC is working!Good thing for everyone around me...I don't deal with heat well!

WIP. Top-Down sweater. This is the first v-neck top-down sweater that I have knit. I need to come up with a name for this sweater. I love seed stitch, so I am using it on all the edges. The sleeves have been taken off the needles and body has been joined under the arms. Continuing with the v-neck, with hopes that it will be a fairly deep v-neck before having to join. The fabric that the yarn is creating is very soft. Yarn from knitpicks...can't remember which yarn, it is one of my post below.

1 of 6 has been sewn up. I still have to do some hand stitching, but that can wait. I treating this like an assembly line, and with all the lines of the pattern being straight I can use a rotary cutter which makes cutting very quick. I am able to cut through 6 layers of fabric at once. Once these are done I think I am going to make some stuff to go on etsy with the remaining fabric.

No AC

I am sitting here hot as hell and pissed off. The AC guy was supposed to come this afternoon and fix some part, but this afternoon he called and said he could not make it until tomorrow afternoon. It is sooo fucking hot!!!!!! It rained this afternoon and cooled it off some, but it is 83 degrees in here for fuck sake. I was in a sewing mood, but who would want to sew when it is hot as hell.

In my pissed off state, there was no way Paul was going to stop me from shopping. I bought 3 skeins of STR. Two for a chevron scarf and one for a pair of socks. You just try telling me "no" right now!

So...here is a pic of my finished purse.

Pattern: Amy Butler Handbag.

Fabric: Sale fabric from Joann's Craft store. It is nice and thick. Some sort of upholstery fabric. It is $3 a yard. Super Sweet!

A friend of mine from work liked the purse so much that she wants 6 for her granddaughters. So, another trip to Joann's and got 7 purses worth of fabric. Again only $3 a yard. And since each purse uses only 1/2 yard for lining and 1/2 yard for outside... thats just $3 per purse. Perfect. I have a lot of sewing ahead of me. Thank God DH cleaned out my project room so I can move around in there.

Yeah!

I made my first sale. I am like soooo excited! I sold the Frequent Lighting sock yarn from my 1,000 petals estsy store.

Here is a pic of the outgoing package, to be mailed out tomorrow as promised.

Also, got back from our 30 year Celebration for work. The company sent the employees and a guest to the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando. OMG...Paul and I walked into the room and just screamed. It was a SUITE! We felt like total rock stars. Here is a panoramic view of our room. We had a very fun weekend.