Yummy socks are a completed pair!  Hopefully the weather tomorrow will be sunny so I can take some pictures.

Even better news...

I'M GOING TO MD SHEEP AND WOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cordelia and I will driving down for the day on Saturday.  We still have to make all the plans, but it is looking good.  Is everyone meeting at 12:30 at Bldg 1?  I'm so excited!!!!!!!!



April 29, 2005
Yesterday was my last lecture for the semester!  Despite some technical difficulties at the start (I got through nearly the entire semester with very few technical problems, and on the last class, the sound doesn't work, and then it works and the projection stops working, but with the help of a couple of students [man, did I feel old... remember when we used to laugh at the teachers who couldn't work the VCR, now I know what they feel like] we got things working again), I think we ended class on a fun note.  Their final exam is on May 11th, so after I turn in grades on May 13th, the semester is officially over!  Although, that means the start of my qualifying exams... I have the committee meeting for that on the 5th, and I'm terrified about it.

I've gone into a knitting warp speed zone ("no, not ludicrious speed!") with yummy sock 2.  I have about 20 rows before the toe decreases and then I'll be finished.  I love the yarn and colors so much.  Not to be an instigator... but go buy some Lana Grossa HP 31!!  I can't wait to start on the pair for my mom.  As I said before, I will have one whole skein of the rainbow left over, I'm thinking that I can get 4 heels and toes out of one skein, so I can buy 2 solid colors and have rainbow heels and toes.  I'm thinking pink and blue or green or yellow...  so many options!!

I also made some progress on Flirty tonight and am about to start the armholes!  I finished one entire skein for the lower body and I think it will now be a good length (the original pattern is for a very cropped top, and that I could not pull off).

I've started on Asana, but haven't gotten too far.  I didn't tell Kevin that I bought the yarn, and so feel kind of embarassed about it.  Actually, I feel more embarassed about starting another new project.  I know I shouldn't and he doesn't really care what I do so long as it makes me happy... but I still feel a bit guilty about it (this is really all in my own head and not any fault of Kevin's at all, he is great about my knitting addiction).  Although, I have realized that to be suddenly like, "hey look at my new top" when I finish it would probably be more weird.

Thanks for all the great comments on the sock...

• Kim,  Noro potholders would be lovely, though that's something I don't have in the stash.  But it is a creative idea that I'll definitely be adding to the list.
• Jeanie, the key to walking and knitting is to walk slowly and be working on something small in the round.  It sucks if I drop a stitch because then I have to stop and stand there trying to fix it.
• Cordelia, I don't know what is up with this weather.  I just want sun and warm!  And no, I didn't wear mismatched socks... although I did think about it!!
• Froggy, pick up your socks... socks are so fun!!!  I'm still jealous you were at the beach the other day!
• Vicki, I have been thinking about those chenille washcloths as a possibility as well as little drawstring bags.  Great minds think alike! haha!  I should create a list of ideas for voting...

Oh... and how could I forget the weekly ER mention... I'm so afraid they are setting things up for Dr. Carter to leave.  I know he's been on the show since the beginning and probably wants to get on with his life, but I think that if he leaves that dooms the show.  I know people said that when Dr. Benton left and when they killed off Dr. Green... but Dr. Carter was the one we watched go from cute med student to hot, studly attending.  I hate when characters I like leave shows...

But on the upside, new FAMILY GUY on Sunday!!!!!!!!  (Although I did already see the episode thanks to one of my very, very nice students... and it is freakin' hilarious, so you all better watch!)



April 27, 2005
Yummy sock number 1 is finished!!

So I did go out to the Knitting Gallery today.  Since it was my third trip in less than two months, I figured that I didn't need to take the directions.  And of course, in some kind of mental fog I missed the exit.  So I ended up driving a little more than I had planned, but it was ok and I arrived at the LYS safe and sound.  I found what I wanted for my SP4 and will be mailing that off tomorrow.  Then I spent some time browsing.  I need to make a mental note that they have a lot of Anny Blatt yarns and I have an Anny Blatt book with several projects marked.  I didn't leave empty handed.  I got this...

And I saw this and couldn't resist...

Hopefully (for my wallet), yarn buying will be put on hold for awhile soon.  Is it a lame excuse for not buying yarn that there is going to be major road construction starting in a couple of weeks that will effectively block my ability to get to AC Moore and the Knitting Gallery?  I really don't want to go to the Michael's where I got the mismatched dyelots for the VK tank because 1) I'm still pissed about the VK tank (which is my own fault and Lions Brand, more than Michael's) and 2) last week when I was there, there a few moths near the Wool Ease.  Now of course, there are several unexplored directions for new LYSs, but so long as they are unexplored, I don't have as much of a burning desire to go.  Since going to the Knitting Gallery the first time, I can close my eyes and picture what they have and that makes me want to go back.  I guess I'm not as drawn by the unknown as by the known.  So, long ramblings basically to say, I'm going to try to hold off on buying more yarn for a while because I need to focus on (in no particular order):

• Lana Grossa socks (for me and mom)
• Box of Fire socks (I will finish them)
• Secret Project
• Flirty Rowan tank
• Asana
• Gloves for Kevin (he won't need them until it gets cold again, but gloves are like socks except with fingers)
• Creating something fun with the yarns sent to me by my SP4
• Knitting Afghan (remember this one!  I have 2 of nine squares completed; this would be good summer knitting since the squares aren't very big)
• Something using stash yarn (and possibly felting) to create gifts for the super, wonderful psychology secretaries, who are always so helpful to me and compliment me constantly on my knitting... if anyone has any ideas of good, quick gifts, please let me know (I need to make 3 and would prefer something other than scarves or hats)
• Frylock (Kevin bugs me about this all the time!)

Karma and Vicki, I know!!  This colorway makes me hungry when I knit with it!  The colors are so fabulous.  And, there was no walking this morning for the yummy socks, Annette, although it is sunny now and I really should return these videos... but I'm feeling lazy.  Yummy sock 2 gets to go to class with me tomorrow morning, I'll probably have to buy it its own can of Red Bull to stay awake (did I mention that Red Bull during class is amazing!  No sleepy feelings after finishing that!!)

**Oh, just a quickie note... if you leave me a comment to an old post, I don't always see it right away.  I don't get email notifications about comments, so if you leave a comment to an old post, sometimes I won't see it for a week or more.  Please do know that I appreciate all of them!!  And if you have a question or need help with something don't hestitate to email me!!  You are all super!!!!!**



April 26, 2005
Knitting and weekend blahs have been banished!  I am in love with these yummy socks, so much so that I held a special photo session this afternoon before heading to class.

Other good stuff that happened today...

• I got several compliments on the Chilled Plum dye in my hair.  (I guess I should take a picture to show y'all too!)
• One of my students gave me a gift... an advance copy of the new Family Guy that debuts on May 1.  I can't wait to watch as soon as the Mets game is over.
• I took a walk with my yummy sock.  We went to the video rental store.  Since I'm unhip and don't have an ipod, I knitted while walking... it wasn't too hard, I just had to remember to pause from knitting when it was time to cross the street.  (Wouldn't that be an interesting news story... "Woman hit by car in NJ.  Her first words, "where's my sock?  is it ok? were stitches dropped?"")
• After class, yummy sock and I sat outside and enjoyed the weather.  And a cat came by to say hello!  It is one of a couple of cats that we sometimes see around and it came over to sniff me.

Anyone want a bag of mismatched dye lots of slightly used Lion Brand Incredible?
 
 

Anyone...
 
 

Bueller?
 
 

Yeah, me neither.  Thanks for all your advice.  There's no way I could live with it.  The more I stared at it the worse it appeared.  So I ripped it all out.  I did try playing around with making a scarf and a shawl, but got thoroughly annoyed with the ribbon and threw it all in a bag.  I'm anticipating this yarn being buried at the bottom of the stash bin for a good long time.  It'll probably re-emerge eventually to become a couple of gift scarves, but I just can't face it.

I do still want to make the tank.  At the pace I was on, it would probably take about a total of 20 hours to complete the entire thing.  I'll probably pick up some new (AND SAME DAMN DYE LOT) Incredible in a couple of weeks.

This episode with the VK Tank has made me very unpleased with all my current knitting.  The Sparkly sock is likely going to be frogged.  I'm not liking it that much and I should really own up to the fact that it is too tight.  Box of Fire socks are just stalled.  Flirty, I like, but it is so slow.  Secret pattern is alright, but boring right now.  So I started the yummy socks with this yarn that I got a couple of weeks ago...

My new obsession is Asana from Knitty.  I didn't originally think very much about this pattern, but then I saw Rock Chick's version, and now I can't stop thinking about it.  I wonder if I have something in the stash that would work, although I do need to stop by the LYS this week to get a gift for my SP4....

And what made it even more of a Crap-tacular weekend was that we didn't get to see the Mets on Saturday.  When we got up at in the morning to decide whether to go or not, the weatherman talked on and on about how much it was going to rain and how cold it was going to be.  We decided that it would be unpleasant to sit in the stadium and be wet and freezing or worse, spend the money to take the train and subway only to find out the game is cancelled.  Of course the stupid, evil weatherman LIED!  It wasn't gorgeous outside, but it didn't rain one drop during the game and the Mets creamed the Nationals!  I truly believe I am cursed to never see the Mets win in person.  Needless to say, I didn't wear my new Mets T and thus have no pictures.  If the weather decides to return to Spring, I'll wear it and take a picture for y'all.

Time to go cheer myself up by watching more Arrested Development dvds.  (Shhh... I have a secret crush on Jason Bateman!)



April 23, 2005
New fashion statement...

And... uhm... you know that thing they always say about buying enough of one dye lot...

It is a bit (wee bit) exaggerated because of the flash, but they are distinctly different.  What do I do?!  Should I just say screw it and go with it as is?

April 22, 2005
Super quick because I need to get to my office...

Oh my god! Did you all watch ER last night? I started the front of the Vogue tank (yes, it is LB Incredible) which is 5 inches of 2x2 rib. Everything was going swimmingly, until that kid's eyeball popped out and I completely freaked and went on knitting autopilot only to look down a couple of minutes later and notice that I had reverted to stockinette stitch and had to rip out a bunch. From the previews for the next 4 episodes, it looks like I'll have to find something very simple to knit on while watching! This tank is so fun though because it is on huge needles it just flies. I could have it completed by Monday depending on what we end up doing this weekend.

Terby, the LB Incredible isn't bad to knit with, but it has the same problem as any ribbon yarn... do you let it get twisted or do you waste a lot of time untwisting so it lays flat. So far I've been doing some of both!

Jeanie, if you have one less row per inch, you might want to cut out a couple of rows. I had 2 less rows per inch, which is part of why mine kept ending up longer. I would cut out a couple of rows between the end of the decreases and beginning of the increases. Hold it up to yourself after you finish the decreases and see how long it is remembering that is takes 30 rows to complete all of the increases (4-5 inches) and adjust how many rows you cut out based on that.

Hi Pam! I will have to check out that yarn store! I've never heard of it before. Good luck with your sweater and definitely email me if you need help. Also email me if you want to get together and knit sometime; I meet up with another woman for knitting on Wednesday nights at Panera on Rt 1, you'd be more than welcome to join us!

April 21, 2005
Well, the Michael's near the Panera has pretty poor yarn selection so no Katrina for me, but they did have Lions Brand Incredible, so I picked up some balls to make this:

Thanks Carrie and Lolly Lauren, for the compliments on the Mets T. It looks like Saturday is going to be in the 50s and raining. I'll still wear my T, it'll probably end up hiding under a sweatshirt for most of the game.

Hi Yarnaholic1963, welcome to knitblogs! I'm glad you stopped by and liked mine. Let's see if I can help answser your questions... I made the NBaT in size small. TLC Cotton Plus would be great for the T. I made a sweater with Cotton Plus and loved it. I thought about using it for NBaT, but I couldn't find the colors I wanted. I eliminated rows because my row gauge was actually 2 rows off. I had less rows per inch than the required gauge. The rows that I eliminated were between the hem and first set of decreases and between the decreases and increases. I think I reduced the number by half in both of those sections. I would suggest checking your gauge and measuring how long you want the T to be from armhole to waist. Then figure out how many rows you need to achieve that length based on your gauge. Add up all the the rows between the hem and armhhole and compare it to the number of rows you need. If your number is less, eliminate rows in the straight areas where I did. Does that make sense? If you want help, email me (link in the sidebar) and I can help you out. As for the rest of your questions... I've been knitting for just over 2 years. I think I get so much accomplished because I try to knit in any little amount of time I get. I also try to set aside a couple hours every night to knit while watching TV. On the weekends, I try to squeeze in as much knitting time as possible. I do have the advantage that as a grad student, I make my own schedule so I can fit a lot of knitting time in. I've also noticed from knitting with other people that I do knit fairly quickly, particularly stockinette stitch.

Off to knit for a couple of minutes before class... if only I could knit during class!



April 20, 2005
Random thoughts...

I finished NBaMT last night.  Did I take a picture?  No, cause it was night and I've decided that I only like sunshiny pictures now.  Did I take a picture today?  No, cause I'm lazy like that!  You'll get a picture soon (probably when I wear it Saturday to the game... please pray for no rain!!).  The intarsia wasn't so hard once I realized which little clump of yarn belonged to which section.  I can see how well intarisia would work for big blocks of color (and I've got a cool idea brewing for another NBaT, but I need to find a new yarn to keep this interesting for me).  The weaving in of all the ends was not fun, but I managed.  Much of Tuesday was devoted to weaving and seaming.

Updated: I got unlazy, here are some pictures...

Flirty is at 18cm.  I decided that I will use one complete ball before starting the armholes.  I'm estimating that that will put me at about 25 cm or so, which should be closer to an acceptable length.  Interesting how my NBaTs have been too long (yes, the Mets one is still too long and I cut out a lot of rows) and Flirty seems likely to be too short (but duh, that's easy to fix if I just knit it longer... but size 2 needles and ribbing...).

I started a secret project.  It is using the leftover yarn from my cousin and aunt's ponchos (TLC CaraMia).  If the project works out, I'll post a new free pattern in a couple of weeks.

Both socks (Sparkly and Box of Fire) are stalled.  I hopefully will get working on them again soon.

I got the new IK in the mail yesterday.  There's some really cute stuff, and some stuff that isn't my style.  I don't want to bad mouth any of the patterns that I personally didn't like because I'm sure someone out there loved them.  Also, I'm sure that the patterns that I really liked are ones that others hated.  Kathy and I are knitting tonight at Panera (which is next door to Michael's).  If Michael's has Patons Katrina, I might be starting Pam Allen's Ribbed Shrug soon (tonight!).  I know some people dislike shrugs in general, but I think they are cute (more so the close fitting ones than the loose ones) and I know that I have more cute short-sleeve and sleeveless shirts that I could wear if I had a shrug (or two or five) for those cooler days.

I need to go down to the Knitting Gallery and pick up a final gift for my SP4.  I've got a good idea, I just hope I don't spend too much money (on picking up extra things for myself!!!).

I still need to decide on a contrast color for Flirty.  Since Flirty is white, it could really be anything.

Most of the red is gone from my hair now.  (Boo!)  On Monday I'm going to try the plum color.  In good hair news, I was able to braid it in 2 french braids this morning (and it is staying with the help of some hairspray).

I hate the dogs in our neighborhood who decide to bark and howl every freaking morning at 7am.  Don't get me wrong, I like dogs in general and someday hope to have my own doggy; I just don't like when their barking wakes me up every single day and especially on mornings when I could be sleeping in.  On that same note, WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE TO MOW THEIR LAWNS AT 8AM?  Not just on the weekends, but every day of the week someone nearby is mowing their lawn at 8am.  UGH!!  I need to purchase some earplugs.

Thanks for the comments on the hair and Klaralund from a couple of days back.  I do love Klaralund so much and would recommend most people making it (easy and fast).  I will say though, that the seam does cut right across the boobs, so it could be weird for some.  Since I wasn't blessed by the boob fairy, it isn't much of a problem for me.  For those more blessed, an easy change would be to knit the body pieces longer such that the seam would fall higher and not cut across the "girls" or make them shorter and the arm pieces longer to make a V-neck type cross with the sleeves in the front and back.  I kind of like that second idea... I might need to purchase some more Noro...

Ok, I'll stop these random thoughts before they get any randomer and I get too many more ideas of expensive yarns to purchase.

April 18, 2005
Are you ready for NBaMT in a tree?  (Heehee, that rhymes!)

Yesterday, Kevin and I worked outside.  Well, he probably did more work because I'm not into digging or actually touching dirt, but we are ready now to plant some tomatos and peppers.  We are going to have a tomato and pepper garden near the front of our place, and an herb garden in the back.  I spent my time working outside pounding pieces of plastic into the ground to delineate the garden from the lawn.  (Last summer when we planted some herbs, the landlord mowed them because he didn't realize we planted there).  Because of my hate for dirt, I have a lot of soreness in my butt and legs from squatting.  My wrists and upper back hurt too, and that has meant more breaks during knitting, except for that intarsia.  At one point, I was trying to decide if I should just stay up until it was finished because with so many extra threads I was afraid to move it (and then of course, today I throw it in a tree... clearly got over that fear!).

This weekend was also full of watching the wildlife in the backyard.  That birdfeeder I showed you last time, is now badly broken.  A squirrel chewed through the rope holding it up, and it smashed on the ground.  We've discovered that we have a pair of squirrels who live in the tree hanging over our yard.  I spent a long time on Saturday watching the one squirrel pig out on bird seed while the other gathered moss and took it up to its nest and then gathered more.  There is also a pair of cardinals that live near by and are usually in the yard.  And of course, the best is the groundhog!  We've seen him several times in the past week or two.  We've been leaving lettuce and celery scraps in the back for him.

Quick things... Sparkly socks are made out of Opal Royale and lots of people have been talking about the knitting kits at Target.  I checked them out the other day (on a tip from Connie) and the halter top is surprisingly similar (especially in the back) to my Sexie, but I didn't feel like wasting $15 on it.

Ok, time to get back to work so I can have knitting time later tonight!

April 15, 2005
Tonight we have a bunch of pictures...

First up, the hair in natural light and seeing how this is a knitting blog, notice what I'm wearing...

Red hair and Klaralund!!  I love both of them so much.  This picture is from Tuesday morning.  I wanted to get one more wear out of Klaralund before the weather warmed up.  It was the perfect weight for the day and no need for a jacket.  I think I need to get some more Noro yarn!

Next up, the pottery I made a couple of months ago.  They finally glazed and fired it, so I picked it up today.

The smaller piece is just something nonfunctional that I created.  The big jar has a flower on the front which you can't see too well in the picture.  The jar is now serving the purpose I made it for... holding all my pretty knitting needles (i.e. the non-metal ones) and it is in the living room, so all my needles are now close at hand!  I should remember to take a picture with all the needles in the jar.

More pictures, for some reason I was suddenly inspired to work on the Sparkly sock.  I think that I'd rather be working on that new sock yarn I bought last week (scroll down to 4/8), but I couldn't justify starting a brand new sock when I've got 2 on the needles.  And besides I need the needles Sparkly is on for the new socks.  I think that I will knit one Sparkly sock and then the new socks, and then finish the second Sparkly (and who knows where Box of Fire socks fits into that plan, stupid tiny size 0 needles!)

As you can see, it is a short sock and I've turned the heel and am beyond the gusset.  This has been travelling with me a lot.

Knitting on Flirty has slowed down somewhat.  The endless ribbing on tiny needles is quite boring.  Instead I finished up the back of NBaMT.

I like the way the sun and shade played with the color in this pic.  Also, I'm past the waist decreases on the front.  I just need to decide which Mets logo to use and how big to make it before I progress too much farther.

And finally, completely non-knitting related.  Squirrels drive me crazy.  I have a soft spot for small, cute, furry animals, and squirrels definitely fit that description.  But they are destructive little buggers!!  We bought this bird feeder last Saturday.

And this is what the squirrels have done to it...

They've pulled out the top plugs that regulate the amount of seed that comes out and have started chewing through the plastic.  Everytime I look out the window I see squirrels eating from the birdfeeder and no birds!

Ok ya'll, it is snack time, then a little more knitting, and then sleep time!



April 12, 2005
Wow!  I never expected such a huge response!!  Thanks all!  I love my online knitting buddies!!!  Last night, I decided to try Lively Auburn first since it squeaked ahead in the poll.  After this fades out, I'll definitely try the plum next, then cherry, then black, although no one seems in favor of that one!

• Robin, I'm slightly worried now because I was told one time when I got my hair colored at the salon that my hair just sucks up the color.  The girl couldn't believe how well my hair sucked in the color.  But last time I used a semi-permanent at home, it did fade within a reasonable time, but I'll be careful with that black when I get to it!
• Christy, oh my god!  The red would not stop pouring off my head!  When it said rinse until the water runs clear, I rinsed for 20 minutes and the water wouldn't run clear.
• Student, I'm assuming you're in my class, huh?  That's cool!  I tried Garnier Nutrisse last time and I really liked it.  But I was drawn to these since they only last two weeks, this way I can see which I like best and then get a corresponding more permanent version!
• Thanks, Lolly Lauren, Heather, Jaimi, Carrie, and Kim for your input and comments!  I appreciate all of them!!  Hair is fun to play with!!
• Thanks to everyone else who voted... 27 votes!  I thought I would be lucky to get 3!! Hahaha!

Ok, no more delaying... here are the pics...

These were taken after 10pm last night, so are with a flash.  I will try to get some natural light pictures today since it is super sunny outside!  I love it!!

And all this hair talk shouldn't outshine the super, terrific gift that showed up yesterday from my Secret Pal!

An awesome London subway map, two yummy types of incense, some cool Boss Lady gum (I saw this recently in a store and was going to buy it, but then got distracted and ended up not getting it), some little chicks in a basket, and a cool keychain.

And of course, the yarn!  Oh my god!!!  This is so gorgeous!  I've never seen Colinette yarn in person.  The colors are fabulous, the yarn is fabulous.  The blue on top is Zanziba and the pretty ribbon is Giotto.  As soon as I finish one of my current projects, this is going on the needles.  As what?  I don't know, but I have time to daydream about that!

Thank you SP4!!!  You're so awesome!!!!!!!!

April 11, 2005
Ok, I should totally be working on writing my lectures for this week and I really don't have anything knitting related to talk about, but I wanted to talk about my hair.

I know hair talk is taboo, but come on, half of the things we knit with are made of some type of hair!  So anyway, for those of you who don't know me that well, I love/hate my hair like anyone else.  I've always tried to take especially good care of my hair because I figure if I treat it good, it will be good to me.  And despite some bad perms in junior high, my hair and I have had a good relationship.  But I tend to get bored with it very easily.  This was fine growing up and when I was in college, because my wonderful aunt (who I made the poncho for) is a hairstylist and she was my personal hairstylist throughout that time.  She would cut it, perm it, color it, whatever I wanted.  Sometimes it looked fantastic, sometimes it didn't (after too many failed perms, I realized that my hair just doesn't want to be curly).  Since coming to graduate school however, it is hard to justify a 2 hour trip just to get my hair done on a whim.  I also realized that salons are freaking expensive (remember I went about 24 years without every having my hair done by anyone but my aunt) for cuts and colors.

The boredom with my hair is killing me.  When I get bored with my hair, my first instinct is to get it cut, which was how 2 years ago I ended up with really short hair (look back through the archives to see the growing out process).  The problem is that I really, really want it to be long.  As I think I may have stated here before, I want it longer than it has ever been (just beyond my shoulders).  So what choices do I have left?  Coloring!  In the past 6 months I realized that it was cheaper to color my hair at home and it only lasts for a short amount of time, and Kevin is happy to help!  I was terrified of coloring my hair on my own for fear of something going wrong.  But really, if something goes wrong, I'll just shell out the money to have it professionally colored, which is what I would have done if I didn't color it at home in the first place.  And this way I can try something temporary and fun, without the committment of permanent and expensive hair color.

So this is where I need your help, if you feel like helping.  I went to Rite Aid this morning and went a little crazy in the hair color aisle.  Well, particularly went crazy with one brand because I couldn't decide what I wanted, and since it washes out in 2 weeks, I can try them all, but which to try first.  I picked up L'Oreal's Color Pulse.  I've read some good and bad comments on line about this stuff, so we'll see what happens.  The color options are Electric Black, Chilled Plum, Funky Cherry, and Lively Auburn.  My hair is brown (somewhere between light and medium brown) so the effects of all of these will be dramatic.  I tried to find pictures of the shades, but L'Oreal's site is not cooperating, so use your imagination and vote...

Which color should Kim try first? Electric Black (obviously black) Chilled Plum (darkens and slightly purple) Funky Cherry (reddish pink) Lively Auburn (red) view results Send this poll to a friend!

April 10, 2005
I really ought to have been doing work this weekend, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.  Especially not with my new orange yarn and the knowledge that we are going to see the Mets on the 23rd, so I have a deadline.  And more so, I couldn't do work because on Saturday YarnHarlot's book "At Knit's End" finally showed up from Amazon.  So for much of the weekend, I've found myself knitting a few rows, then reading a few pages.  There are so many funny and "true" things in the book that I want to share them with Kevin, but I keep biting my tongue because I know he won't truly get it.  So I'll have to share some with my knitting class on Monday.

Anyway, after watching Cruel Intentions and the Stepford Wives (twice, I rented it and figured I ought to get my money's worth even though I didn't like the movie that much), the Mets games Saturday and Sunday, here is the progress on NBaMT:

Yep, that's halfway finished with the armhole on the back.  I can't tell you how much I love this pattern and love this yarn. It really is much more orange than this picture.  Since the bulk of the body is divided into little sections of decrease then knit x rows repeat 4 times and increase then knit x rows repeat 5 times, the knitting can be easily divided into little goals which makes it fly off the needles.  I should take a picture of the pattern I printed and have been tracking the progress on (for both the Rutgers T and this one).  By the time I finish the front piece, I doubt you'll be able to read much of the original printing!

Since I am doing this sleeveless, I have made a few changes, particularly in the armhole.  I've decided to decrease an extra 4 stitches on each side.  How do I know this is the right amount?  I don't.  I just guessed and am hoping for the best.  I also instead of following the decreases as planned, selected to do them in the way mentioned in the Knitty article on picking up stitches.  I thought that for a sleeveless top it would look nicer to have a smooth edge around the armhole without obvious decreases.  Here's how it looks:

I'm really happy with it!  And finally, I have been switching between NBaMT and Flirty since both have been making my hand hurt if I knit too long on either.  Interestingly, both projects are bothering my right hand, but they are making it hurt in different places.  Weird, huh?  Ok, so here's the Flirty progress...

It is tiny and slow!  The pattern says to start the armholes after 15 cm.  15cm!?!?  I am thinking I might go until 17 or even 20cm before the armholes.  I don't mind a top that is a little revealing, but I don't think I would wear something that cropped!  I certainly have more than enough yarn to make it longer since the pattern calls for 4 skeins and I have 6.  And I'd really like to use as much of the yarn as possible because what else am I going to make with 2 skeins of tiny white cotton yarn.  (Yes, I could make socks, but come on... white socks?!  I'll buy white socks at the store.  Socks I make for myself need color!!)

Oh!  Friday morning I purchased tix to go see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with special guest the Black Crowes on June 17th!!  Kevin and I saw Tom Petty two years ago at MSG around X-mas time and he was amazing.  With the exception of the 2 really trashed (and trashy) 40 something year old women sitting near us (I don't mean to offend anyone over the age of 40, but I just hope by the time I get to be that age that I can act like a drunk 40 year old and not a drunk 15 year old... I mean these two women were insane) and my falling down the steps onto my ass and not being able to sit on my right cheek for 2 weeks, the concert was among the best I've been to!  I can't wait to see Tom again!!  Hmmm... should I make a Tom Petty NBaT?!?!



April 8, 2005
NBaT was a huge success yesterday!  The yarn knit up into a nice fabric that was a perfect weight for the 70 degree whether we were having.  I got a lot of great compliments from a variety of people.  While I'm proud of my knitting abilities, I do get kind of sheepish when people tell me how fantastic something I made looks.  Thank you bloggie friends (Chris, Lauren, Rebecca, Alison, Karma, Mia, SP, Froggy, Vicki) for the great comments!  (For Mia, Rutgers is the university that will hopefully give me a PhD if I can get my butt in gear and finish the work I need to.)

Because I love my NBaT so much, I drove out to the Knitting Gallery and bought this:

This will become a Mets NBaMT.  Why the 'M'?  Because I want to adapt the pattern into a muscle T.  Sleeveless, baby!!!  The orange is the same Butterfly yarn as for the first NBaT and the blue is Cotton Classic II.

And because I couldn't leave with just what I went in for, I also picked up this:

These are destined to become some yummy socks with blue heels and toes.  The yarn is Lana Grossa Basic (100% cotton).  I just couldn't resist the colors.  I want to cast on for these right away even though I have two other socks in progress!



April 6, 2005
Thank you to my knit blogging buddies (Lauren, Christy, Froggy, Chris, Alissa, and Vaxgirl) for commiserating with me on my problem.  I knew that you all would truly know that pain of finally finishing seaming up a new sweater, trying to put it on and realizing you have a huge, freaking head!!!  Ok, so for a split second I thought my head grew enormous, but then I realized that it was the same size as always and that the neck hole was too small.  I basically posted right after noticing this and before investigating the problem farther.  I was terrified that it was not the black collar that was the problem, but that it was binding off too tightly on the front and back pieces.  I don't know how I would have dealt with that especially since it was all seamed and all the ends woven in.  Fortunately when I ripped out the whip stitch of the collar's fold-over, I realized that it was the binding off on the black collar that was the problem.  So, I ripped that bind off out and did it again using a needle 2 sizes bigger.  Then I carefully sewed it back down (ok, not really carefully, it is a mess, but it is on the inside, so who cares!).  And we have a completed NBaT on schedule for wearing tomorrow!!

I don't know why this got all blurry.  It looked great before I put it into the webpage.

D'oh!  This is blurry too and I have a dumbass look on my face.

Oh and here is the best one and a good reason to not take pictures of knits with a flash...

I'm very pleased with how this sweater turned out.  I had to reduce the number of rows between the waist decreases and increases because otherwise this would have been a dress!  I ought to have reduced the number of rows between the hem and the waist decreases because this is still several inches longer than most t-shirts normally I wear.  Otherwise, the fit is wonderful... snug, but not tight.  I really loved doing the hems, they were so easy and a great alternative to ribbing.  Thanks Alison for a great pattern!!  I have plans to make another one of these as soon as I can find the right colors (Mets blue and orange!!).

Oh... and another finished object:

I need to send this off in the mail to my Aunt ASAP!

So as far as those goals for the week, consider 1 and 2 finished!  I still haven't decided about the ball winder/swift or what I'm doing with Flirty, but I'm going to go play with Flirty now so maybe I'll have news and some progress pics of that (keep in mind it is on size 2 needles, so progress is slow!!).  Damn, I just realized all of my current projects are on tiny needles... Flirty on size 2, Sparkle Socks on size 1, and Box of Fire Socks on size 0.  I think I'm insane!!



April 5, 2005
CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP!!!!!!

CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP!!!!!!



April 3, 2005
First off, here is my guide to knitting backwards, if you are interested.  I swear it saves me so much time on stockinette stitch.

Second, check out the yummy dessert I made for Kevin and I after dinner tonight.

That's puff pastry with homemade whip cream flavored with Chambord and strawberries on top!  It was light and delicious.

Ok... knitting stuff.  Here are the goals for the week (pictures coming in the next couple of days).

1. Aunt's poncho is finished.  I just need to try it on and photograph it.  And then get it into the mail!
2. Finish NBaT so that I can wear it on Thursday.  This can certainly be done since I should be to the armhole on the back piece before bed tonight.
3. Spend more time with Box of Fire sock.  Oh, and Sparkly sock which has been sitting by my bed for a few weeks.
4. Figure out if I'm going to alter Flirty from Rowan 37 so that it is longer or if I'm going to leave it.  I need to figure this out quick because I already cast on and knit 5 rows.
5. Decide if I am finally going to break down and buy myself a ball winder and swift.  Why have I been resisting?  Well, because I was supposed to get one as a b-day gift, but well... hasn't happened, so I might have to gift myself.
6. If ordering ball winder and swift, do I purchase some yarn so that I can make cute little purses from Last Minute Knitted Gifts for the secretaries in the department who are so wonderful and helpful?
7. Also, need to start thinking up a kick-ass final gift for my secret pal 4.  I've been sending her things around mid-month, but I think for April I'll wait until near the end of the month and the reveal to send something... but what...

So that's where it stands.  I'll check back in later in the week (hopefully with knitting related pictures).

METS OPENING DAY TOMORROW!!!!!  



April 1, 2005 No knitting to report last night.  Instead I went and saw the "I'm Rich Bitch" tour starring Donnell Rawlings, Charlie Murphy, and Bill Burr.  Kevin was supposed to go with me, but his soccer game got moved up, so I went with Marian (another grad student and knitter!!!).  Kevin's email addy got picked to be among those who got to attend the "meet and greet," so Marian and I got there really early and got to sit in on a q&a with Charlie Murphy and Bill Burr.

After I got some autographs, we went in to watch the show.  The show was really funny.  Charlie Murphy filled in some details of his true Hollywood stories (from the Chappelle Show) that you couldn't air on TV.  Here are some more pictures...

...
Donnell Rawlings

...
Bill Burr

......
Charlie Murphy!

I have a lot of work to get done this weekend, but I'm hoping to squeeze in as much knitting time as possible.  For Karma and Lolly, I'll post some tips and links on knitting backwards over the weekend!