Knittingupastorm: March 2006

Friday, March 31, 2006

Here is M wearing her brand spanking new pair of socks:

and a real view of the socks:

I used left over yarn from my cable/rib socks and a wee bit of Corrie's sock yarn to finish the foot. She loves them. Yeah!

I joined the KeyBoardBiologist's Family Sock Challenge, so this is the 3rd pair of the challenge I have made. 3 made, 5 more to go.

These is where I am on Clapotis. 11 increase repeats and 4 straight repeats done:

dOh, I started a new project from the Baby Knits for Beginners from Debbie Bliss. This is for a soon to be born baby whose gender I don't know, but hope it is a girl because of the purple colours I chose. If not, it can wait in the wings until the next girl is born.

I am off now to knit a bazillion rows of the Clap now. Have a good weekend.

posted by Lisa @ 8:31 a.m.

Thursday, March 30, 2006

Here is the finished Top Down Cardi, designed by CosmicPluto:

This is the amazing race, knitting edition sweater I raced to finish before LouLou. I did finish first, but Dianna was a very close 2nd. I hope she updates her blog with her NY highjinxs and shows us a picture of her lovely one.

I am having issues with the closures though and it is beginning to piss me off. I bought these buttons thinking they would work out fine, but I was dead wrong:

The garter stitch border is a bit flimsy to hold these buttons firmly in place, so I get a lot of gaping. I am going to go back to Fabric Land and see what other choices there are. Maybe I will knit on some I-cord ties? I need to find an answer soon because I would LOVE to wear it.

Thanks Laura for such a great easy pattern. I believe I'll be making another one in the future.

posted by Lisa @ 10:35 a.m.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Like yesterday today started out pretty crappy but I am assume it is because I am dead tired and my eyes are freaking killing me. I have an appointment to get my eyes checked next Tuesday. If the reason is not because I need some form of seeing aide, then it is off to the family doctor to figure out why the hell I have suffer from major headaches and blurfry vision. I have been experiencing these blinding headaches for about 6 months now and I can't take it anymore. Enough complaining, oh wait one more - when I went to the bank machine to get money out so I could get my first real cup of coffee of the day, the thing ate my card. Nice, just freaking nice.

Thankfully I work for a bank, so I went to the employee branch and the teller replaced my card, only to come to my desk and find my card sitting on my keyboard. I guess between the time it took me to get a replacement, the machine spat out my card and someone who knows who I am brought it to my desk. Nice. It is no good to me now, it has been cancelled. Lovely.

I don't have any knitting pictures to share with you because I doubt plain stockinette sleeves would send you over the edge of too much excitement. Trust me, I am about to start the armhole decreases of the first sleeve of Cutaway. It is taken every bit of restraint not to pick up Clapotis last night, but I know I can work on it exclusively once these sleeves are done.

Hopefully your day is better than mine.

posted by Lisa @ 9:53 a.m.

Monday, March 27, 2006

Yesterday when I posted how addictive Clapotee is, I had only knit about 20 rows. Now I have this many:

I have 113 stitches, so it is slightly larger than the original pattern now, but I want it to be bigger - similar to the size Wendy at Knit n' Tonic made hers. I am using Brooks Farm Yarn that I bought at last year's MW&SF and it is so freaking yummy. I thought it would be itchy, but after putting it up my pj top last night I found out I was dead wrong.

When I am at this year's MW&SF I think I'll be stopping by Brooks Farm Yarn's booth first to scoop me some more of grand stuff. Plus stopping at Tess Designs and then my friend and I decided we will hit the barn after these two booths because last year we (I really mean me) were too tired to look through the booths in the barn.

This year though, I do hope I get to meet some more bloggers, but if not, I am okay with that too. Considering I am far from a shy person, I do feel a bit weird going up to a 'complete' stranger and making idle chit chat. I am so not good with small talk. For those who know me - yes, you read that right, however I do know I am good at the long talk. Thought I would say it before you started bombarding me with comments about my talking.

Other knitting? I started the sleeve of Cutaway, only 104 more rows to armhole decreases. Sounds like a lot, but we all know how fast it will finish. I hope to finish both sleeves by the end of the weekend, so I can't start seaming the puppy.

Have a good one.

posted by Lisa @ 10:49 a.m.

Sunday, March 26, 2006

When I started Clapotee I didn't think it would be as addictive as it is. Holy moly my friends, I can't seem to stop knitting this thing. But I have to stop because I have run out of stitch markers and need to buy more. What luck I have, eh?

Well yesterday the knitting gods were smiling down on me. For some strange reason I jumped in the car and headed out to the local GoodWill store just to see if I could find any yarn. Lo and behold there was this huge bag of yarn just waiting for ME, all for $9.99. So of course I bought it. What did it contain? About 7 balls of crap and they will be returned to the GoodWill donation door.

5 balls of Paton's Cotton Top and 1 ball of wool ease:

I have 3 balls of woolease in Black, so this 4th ball gives me the option to make another top down cardi.

In this bag are 13 balls of Grand Moulin yarn. I did a google search to see if I could find any info on this stuff, but nothing. It must be pretty old. But I have enough to make a cardi like jacket.

Back to the luck thing - sometimes we have horse shoes up our ass, and sometimes we don't. After I paid for the yarn and put it in the back of the truck, I got in, started the engine, put my seatbelt on and some how managed to slam my left ring finger in the top of the truck door.

I can not even explain how I did it or how much pain I was/am in. It was torture. I now know how bugs bunny feels when he gets his just desserts. As I said, sometimes you have horse shoes up your ass, and sometimes you don't.

I did finish the right and left fronts of Cutaway, so I am about to sail towards sleeve island. I don't mind being on the island because my arms are so freaking short, I only have to knit 13" til I start the armhole decreases, so they should be pretty fast.

Have a good one folks.

posted by Lisa @ 8:38 a.m.

Friday, March 24, 2006

I always get a bit giddy when I spot new bags, purses, totes etc. I look at them and think, hmm, wonder what I could use that one for. 9 out of 10 times I walk away because I know I have way too many bags in the closet to justify buying one more.

But not this time baby. I went to the wine store yesterday, well that is somewhat of a lie. I went to the grocery store and on my way out I passed the wine store and bought a bottle of Hillebrand SAUVIGNON BLANC, an Ontario wine. I paid for it and the spotted this cute little wine gift bag and thought it would be perfect for my sock in progress.

What do you think? The outside:

The inside, I couldn't get the right light going, but you get the drift:

It even has a little handle on the back, so freaking cute.

Not much knitting to report because I am reading. A lady who takes the same GO train as me home was reading a booked titled Bitten, written by Kelley Armstrong and raving how great it is. So I asked her if I could borrow it when she was done she lent it to me. I am about half way through and find it very difficult to put down and now know why she loved it so much.

For those who know me I am far from a patient person and wanting to get things pretty much immediately kicked in when I learned Kelley Armstrong wrote 5 other women of the otherworld and promptly bought the remaining four at lunch today. The 5th one is due to be released this year, but I will wait till it comes out in softcover. That I can certainly wait for as I hate lugging hard covers around, plus I don't want to pay $40.00 plus for a book.

If you want to read a great story, buy Bitten, you won't be sorry. I know it sounds very freakish, but it is not. The storey is so intriguing and Kelley Armstrong writes so well she sucks you into the story. You definitely will not be sorry.

Enjoy!

posted by Lisa @ 2:19 p.m.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Thank goodness for conference calls. During one of my many calls, I finished M's sock, so now Corrie can have the yarn back to finish hers. So, what am I knitting on today's calls? The right front of Cutaway. The back and left front are done, and I want to finish the right by the end of the weekend. I believe the weather here in Toronto will start getting warmer week by week and I want to wear for those warmer days.

I noticed through my blog reading, Margene is knitting Cutaway too, so maybe I should challenge her to an Amazing Race, Knitting Edition? I understand she usually knits for the process, however, a bit of a challenge can always change that, can't it?

I went to hockey boot camp last night so no knitting, because the moment I got home I changed out of my sweaty clothes and passed out of the couch. Man, I was dead tired. Usually it takes me an hour or two to calm down, but not last night. I was out like a light.

In other weird news, someone stole from cheese from the office fridge. Can you freaking believe it? I certainly can't. I was so shocked. Idiots. So today, I put my cheese in the fridge with a note stating:

Whoever the big mouse was that stole my cheese better ask themselves before they take this package "Are you feeling lucky?". I didn't think so.

And signed my name.

The nerve of people. I cut up the cheese for the week on Sunday evening, so I only have to do it once and it is all nice and ready for me for my breakfast.

I wonder, do you think that idiot will steal it again?

posted by Lisa @ 9:21 a.m.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

I couldn't get to the SnB last night, so Corrie came over and had dinner with me and knit until about 10pm. We had a nice, nice time. I met Corrie over the internet about 2 years ago to meet up and knit and believe it or not, she only lives 5 minutes from my home. I could walk to her house in oh, about 15-20 minutes. We live that close and we met over the internet. Funny how those things work out.

Our friendship has grown from knitting buddies to sharing personal events - happy and sad. I am quite lucky to have her as a friend. I knew she was a keeper when my kids met her and instantly fell in love with her. Also, my kids are very excitable and social and love company, so anyone that can talk to me kids and enjoy them, I know they are keepers.

Corrie is knitting her first pair of socks with the same colour I made my cable/rib socks and promised me the left over yarn to finish up M's socks. Well, she is taking just a bit longer than we both thought to finish them, so she broke of the yarn and gave me more than enough to finish M's, so I wouldn't have to wait any longer:

Now the pressure is on me to finish my socks. Man, didn't see that one coming.

posted by Lisa @ 9:12 a.m.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

I entered Yarnmaven's contest today, which is to suggest where she should get her first tattoo placed. I normally don't enter contests because I've been burned, not once, not twice but three times in other contests and really, do you think I want to be burned again? No. But I'm sure if I win, the 4th time will be a charm.

The reason I am a bit leery of entering contests now is because I've entered some on our fellow bloggers' contests, won and was asked to send them my snail mail address. Easy right? Yep, however they did not follow through on their side of the deal. No prize for me. I really don't need the free yarn, even though it would be nice, especially if they stated they would send it. It is more of the principle, not the free gift.

I am the type of person that will follow through with my promises and threats, don't expect anything less from me. I guess I expect the same from others, but I shouldn't considering they are my virtual friends.

So wondering why I entered this one? Tattoos baby. I love them. I have three myself and would get more, however my life really doesn't suit getting anymore. Kids, working in a Bank, yadda yadda yadda. It kind of sucks to be a responsible grown up sometimes.

BTW - I started Clapotee with Brooks Farm Yarn I purchased last year at MW&SF. I have no idea why, but why the hell not?

Have a good one folks.

posted by Lisa @ 1:23 p.m.

Monday, March 20, 2006

To cover up the fact I don't have any knitting to share with you, here is a picture of how my big fat cat eats her food. The grab:

The deposit:

Yeah that's right, she lies down and uses her paw to scoop up the food and place it in her mouth. We really couldn't believe the nerve of this cat and if we catch her doing this we either start laughing or give her a little nudge to get her ass up and eat like a normal cat.

I still didn't sew the buttons on the top down, well that is a lie, I did and don't like where I sewed them on, so I have to take them off and re-sew them. Wonder how long it will take me to do that? I'll give myself till the end of the week.

Have a good one.

posted by Lisa @ 11:33 a.m.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

I went to Lewiscraft yesterday just to look around, and funnily enough some yarn came home with me. It is cotton sensation, a Lewiscraft yarn, which is 100% cotton and is destined to become Soliel. I have made Soliel already, however the neckline is a bit too deep and the straps a bit too wide, so this time around I'll make the modification like Kris.

When I bought this yarn I thought the green colour would match this skirt. You have to click on it, as blogger wont upload my pictures.

But I was dead wrong, see. (click to see the colour difference)

Ah, too bad. I love this skirt, however I can't find any tops to match the eggshell or green tones. So frustrating.

I have not been knitting much after finishing the Top Down Cardi because this knit ripped the crap out of my hands. Now that my hands are feeling so much better, I'm up for knitting full force. Problem is, I have way too many things I want to finish and not a lot of time to knit. Problems, us knitters have all the same ones.

posted by Lisa @ 10:53 a.m.

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Not sure if you can tell Spring Fling was a lot of fun for the kids:

For my mom:

This is the first year I didn't have to go on any rides with the kids or coax them into going on the scarier rides. The older of the two rode the Pirate Ship about 16 times until she finally had enough. The younger one went on the larger than life Cannon Ball ride. This is the ride where you slowly go up the big tower and then it drops you super fast to the bottom. Thank God they can now do these rides without me. Can you tell I really don't like rides?

On to knitting. I finally sewed the two buttons on my Top Down Cardi, sewed in the ends and blocked it. Finally. These small little tasks take a wee bit of time, but man, I really did procrastinate doing them. I will post a picture tomorrow because today no one is home to take one for me. Oh yeah baby - no one at home? Well let me tell you how much a relish this thought, and even more so that I can live it.

I am off to knit the left front of Cutaway, now that I know the right way to cast on at the end of the row. What I was doing looked weird, so I emailed Bonne Marie and she promptly emailed me back with the right way. What an amazing person she is. Honestly, you can't get this kind of customer service anywhere. Thanks Bonne Marie, I am well on my way now to a finished Cutaway.

posted by Lisa @ 2:40 p.m.

Friday, March 17, 2006

We are back from Niagara Falls and what a great time we had. The best part of the vacation was I didn't have to cook or clean up the dishes. Sounds crazy eh? Well not to me. Even though I didn't eat the healthiest food, I really don't care.

I did squeeze in some knitting time and finished one sock from the yarn Katherine gifted me:

Not bad if I do say so myself. I knit a lot in the car to and from NF, as well when waiting for the girls to finished jumping in the three huge jumping castles the hotel had set up. And of course in the hotel room. Life is sweet.

Here is a picture of the girls right before we are leaving for home. Do you think we tired them out?

For some kids watching TV is normal, but not for my kids. Once they plop themselves in front of the TV, I know they are pooped out. BTW - it takes a lot to tire out my kids, and by the time I do, I am so tired myself I plop down with them.

I am now off to sit down myself because we have just spent the day at Spring Fling at the Rogers Centre (aka Skydome) from 9am to 3pm. Boy oh boy, do I need a Tim's!

Have a good one.

posted by Lisa @ 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Well we are off to Niagara Falls and we'll be back on Thursday evening. Have a great week.

BTW, I joined Keyboardbiologist's Family Sock Challenge thanks to Just Knitting Around. It is a year long KAL to knit each family member a pair of socks. I think I can do it. I am already two pairs ahead. One for my BIL, and the other is almost finished for my youngest. I say almost finished because I am waiting for Corrie to finish her sock to get her leftovers. Holy Moly Corrie - come one missy - I need that yarn.

posted by Lisa @ 10:23 a.m.

Monday, March 13, 2006

I forgot to mention Katherine gave me one more thing, sock yarn:

I love the colour and feel of this yarn, but my first reaction to this gift - what are thinking girl? You know I am trying to reduce the amount of yarn in my house, and what do you do? Give me more. Thanks! No really, thanks. Hee hee hee.

I started knitting with this yarn and it is so wonderful to knit with. These socks are coming along with me to Niagara Falls tomorrow. My family are all going to the falls for some March Break madness for three days and two nights. I have been looking forward to this trip for awhile because now that my girls are older we can have so much fun this year. Not like the others were not, but for some reason when they are one year older, it just seems like things will be excellent.

Except my poor M has an ear infection. Great - so what do I do? Stock up on Advil, buy some ear plugs so water from the pool and waterpark doesn't get in her ears. Great mom, eh? Well, I think she will be okay. By the time we hit the waterpark she will have 10 doses of medication, so she is well on her way to recovery. Today she will watch the Little Mermaid 1 and 2, rest and relax and get ready for the big vakay!

I brought my camera to last weeks SnB so Brenda can play around with it and here is one of the photos:

That is all for now folks. Have a good one.

posted by Lisa @ 8:44 a.m.

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Ever have one of those crazy busy weeks? Well, I just ended one. Boy oh boy. No time to knit or blog. Yes, for those of you who are wondering if I finished the Top Down Cardi, I did. I would have a picture of it, but it is currently drying and waiting for buttons. I do hope it is dry by tomorrow so I can sew on the buttons and have a photo op.

I do have knitting to show you, however the FOs are not mine. My lovely knitting friend Katherine knit two top down tees for my girls:

The pattern is from the Loop D Loop book and I believe she used two strands of Cotton Tots. The girls love them. Wish I could get a pic with them wearing it, but M is sick and J is not at home. Thanks Katherine, I can't wait till they get to wear them.

Not only were my girls gifted with lovely knitting items, I was too. My friend from work doesn't like the feel of Kroy wool socks on her feet, so she gave them to me:

How lucky am I?

posted by Lisa @ 1:29 p.m.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

On Monday night my mom and I took Doo Doo, our cat of 16 years to be put to sleep. I took this last picture so my girls can remember her. They didn't even ask why I was taking a picture of them with her, but then again they do see me taking pictures of yarn and knitting. So nothing I do they consider odd. I have not told them yet, and dread it, but they will know it as soon as they go to the basement where my mom lives and Doo Doo isn't home.

I got Doo Doo when I was 19 years old and living at home. When I moved out at 22, I took her and the next day she went straight back to my parents' house because she hated it in my new apartment. Don't ask me how I know this, just know, within the hour, it was obvious.

Upon her return to my parents' house, Doo Doo instantly became my dad's cat. When my dad had his first heart attack, Doo Doo wouldn't leave his side. The EMS workers kept shoving the cat off the bed, but she was persistent, finally my mom locked her in the bathroom. My dad has been gone for over 5 years, and Doo Doo was a big part of his life, and now she is gone. I feel the worst for my mom - she loved this cat and I guess this was one of the last things of my dad's.

Thankfully I get my strength from my mom, so I know she will be alright, just sad, because a big part of her life is gone.

Rest in peace Doo Doo.

posted by Lisa @ 9:04 a.m.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

No knitting to report, only unknitting. Last night I picked up my Flower Basket Shawl and knit a few rows. Well, now I am taking out a few freaking rows as I dropped three stitches and can't seem to get back on track, so stitch by stitch is being removed. Man, I can't seem to get ahead with this little project. I almost ripped the whole thing out in frustration, but I didn't because I know I will love wearing it in the spring/summer months.

I keep asking myself if I am a process or product knitter, and I must say I am a bit of both. Take the FBS - this is my first big lace project and I want it to be perfect, so I am taking my time so I can enjoy knitting it. I so look forward to blocking it, as it looks very bumpy and unattractive - and of course wearing it.

With other projects, like the Top Down Cardi - that was a product knit. I just wanted to knit that as fast I could(oops, did I give it away that I finished?). I will totally enjoy wearing it, but only felt pleasure in the fact that it was a fast and easy knit.

I believe I am a complicated knitter, yeah, that is what I am. But I love it this way and glad I ditched the one project at a time rule, because now I love knitting more because there are NO rules I impose on myself.

Tonight is SnB and I am bringing Cutaway to work on. Have a good one.

posted by Lisa @ 10:14 a.m.

Monday, March 06, 2006

Wowza - what a weekend. I can't believe how much fun we all had on the Annual Girls Weekend Away. We watched season six of Sex in the City and about 3/4 of Desperate Housewives, season one. Both of these sets were a Christmas gift from my husband given specifically for this weekend. Boy oh Boy what a hit Desperate Housewives was with the ladies. I really didn't think I would like it as much as I do, however, I doubt I will watch it from week to week - I prefer to watch this type of show back to back, no commercials and I can find out what happens fairly quickly.

On the knitting front - I did knit quite a bit this weekend, alot of drinking and eating. I am a bit surprised I can knit drunk. I thought I would wake up in the morning to a mangled sweater and have to rip and re-knit - but nope, all was okay. Except I ran out of freaking yarn. Holy moly - not a happy person. So I ripped out Kate and now I have more yarn. I like Kate, but I don't like the Lion Brand Wool Ease next to my skin. Way too itchy and hot. No worries, I am not saddened by this.

I also gave Bob to my friend Christine. Why? Same reason as Kate. Too hot. Christine is always cold, so Bob will get more wear with her than me. Plus I know how much she appreciates a hand knit sweater.

Doesn't sound like a positive knitting weekend, eh? Even with all that, believe me I did. But I am not allowed to give updates on the Amazing Race, Knitting Edition until Tuesday night.

Who all thinks I finished the Top Down Cardi?

posted by Lisa @ 9:54 a.m.

Thursday, March 02, 2006

I wish I could say I have finished all the increases on the Top Down Cardi. I wish I could say I'm about to start knitting down for the body. I wish I could say 'Booh Ya'. But I won't.

In other good news, my kitty is back at home and thankfully doing so much better. The only conclusion the vet could come up with is she ate something and it had to work through her system. Great. $1000.00 later and no diagnosis.

At the SnB, Katherine asked me if it was okay if she knit a top down t-shirt for one of my girls. Is it okay? Absolutely! Wow - you have to love your knitting buds. Thanks Katherine - I do hope it all works out for you, well, I should say me! The girls will love ya.

I am off for a 4 night, 3 day girl's weekend away at a ski resort, so I'll post the fun details next week. In case you are wondering, I packed my knitting and alcohol first, then thought of everything else second. Wouldn't you?

posted by Lisa @ 9:16 a.m.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

And they are off....You would think I would post pictures wouldn;t you? I brought my camera to document the event, however I forgot the freaking card at home. Duh. So head on over to LouLou's place and see the action. Yeah, I know, action in knitting? You betcha.

One of the rules is not posting in progress pictures until we reach the next checkpoint, and that is next Tuesday. But I doubt there will be any in progress pics of the body - because I plan on finishing it. Yeah Dianna you heard me - finish it. Hope you have lots of Advil for your soar little hands and wrists, because baby I'm going smoke ya!

Enough trash talk for one day, need to say some for the end of the race.

I'm leaving Thursday for a 4 day girls weekend away which equals lots and lots of knitting time, well, between the drinking and all.

Have a good one.

posted by Lisa @ 10:15 a.m.

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Knitting Up A Storm!