Knittingupastorm: April 2006

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Not much to say so taking a blogging break for a couple of days.

posted by Lisa @ 11:40 a.m.

Monday, April 24, 2006

Well I guess there is a huge reason why this article was written. I have never made a sweater with cap sleeves before and now know why. It wasn't too bad seaming them in, I just used the mattress stitch and everything went smoothly. Except for the fact the sleeves were too wide. So I ripped out the cast off edge, decrease an extra 2 stitches and tried again. Not too bad. I left the seams as is, and hope the steam from the iron will help with flattening them out.

Before I start the next sweater, I will really have to digest the instructions on how to make a perfect cap sleeve, so I spend less time seaming the suckers in.

On the weekend I finished my BIL's future FIL's socks and forgot to take a picture of them before I gave them away. You are not missing much considering they are a plain old sock pattern using chocolate brown Shelridge Farm worsted weight yarn. BTW - he loved them, and was quite surprised I made them because when we were talking about it a few months ago he probably thought it was one big joke.

I started Green Gable, which is such a great pattern and so freaking easy. I do hope I can finish it up before MW&SF so I have a nice new tee to wear. Other than knitting the first skein of the Brooks Farm yarn for my Clapotis, not much knitting to report. I really sound like a broken record. But in the next few weeks I do hope to have Cutaway, Clapotis and Green Gable done.

Have a good one folks.

posted by Lisa @ 12:06 p.m.

Thursday, April 20, 2006

It has turned out to be such a great day. Not only is the weather fantastic, I finished the knitting of my BIL's future FIL's sock this morning and all I need to do is graft the toe - before Sunday. I think I can do that! Plus, I think I found my future SIL a job at my girls' daycare. Yeah.

Last night I finished the borders of Cutaway, blocked the sleeves and can at least attempt to seam the pieces together.

I also got to knit at lunch with Kathryn today and found renewed love for my Clapotis. I was a bit worried I wouldn't want to pick it up again, but once I got going, the going got, well, er going. If it wasn't for the lovely feeling I get knitting with this Brook Farm Harmony I do believe I would abandon it, but this yarn is so freaking squishy, so I will forge on.

In other great news, my friend of about 15 years finally has her Canadian Citizenship. Whew for Victoria. When she called me this morning to tell me they granted her entry to the country I started bawling like a baby. This has been a long battle for her and now it is finally resolved.

Last but not least, I went through my summer shoe collection and remembered all the great pair of sandals I have from last year. I thought I would be buying more, but nope, I think I'm set for summer, shoe wise that is. Clothes - that is a different story. But since I am on a bit of a high, we won't go there.

What an awesome day. I do hope it continues.

Have a good one.

posted by Lisa @ 1:11 p.m.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Not much for you today knitting wise, so I'll show a picture of Meeko squeezing herself into a little box:

This is her favorite box and she mostly sits in it when I am working at the computer. She follows me around like a little dog. It is quite strange, but cute all the same.

Because she is so freaking fat, she can't clean herself well, so I gave her a bath on Sunday. It was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. She took it quite well and after about 20 seconds just stood there and took it. This will be a normal event in our house because I can't stand the sight and smell of a dirty cat.

I took a few pictures of her after that didn't turn out well. I wanted to show her as a drowned rat, however it is impossible to show her as a drowned rat when she is this big.

Have a good day.

posted by Lisa @ 10:16 a.m.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

I don't have a lot of projects on the go right now, which is a pretty good feeling I must say. I have Clapotis and socks. The socks are for my BIL's future FIL using Shelridge Farm Worsted Weight yarn. My husband's brother is marrying this great Italian gal in December and her family is awesome. Not only because her mom makes the best, I mean the BEST freaking lasagne and chicken parmesan on the planet, but they are just nice people.

So why not make the FIL a pair of socks? He is a pretty great guy and because I am using a heavier weight yarn, thankfully I have already finished the first one. I need to finish them before Sunday as her family is coming to celebrate Orthodox Easter with us.

To ensure I don't start Green Gable before finishing the pair, I immediately cast on the for the 2nd and due to a few conference calls scheduled in the next few days and the SnB tonight - I should have enough time to be done way before Sunday Dinner.

On my way down to MW&SF, I have decided to take four projects - Clapotis, Green Gable, Hourglass Sweater (from the Last Minute Gift book) and this. I know it is quite a bit of projects, but I thought I would have a few on the go, just in case I got bored. Plus, when I cross the border with all my loot, the guards won't know if I bought the yarn or brought it. I am SO sneaky.

posted by Lisa @ 8:50 a.m.

Monday, April 17, 2006

People I am on a finishing role. Here is the little baby outfit I made for my friend's newborn:

Project Specs: Hat - Berry Cute Hat, Cotton Fleece, 4mm & 4.5mm

Cardi - Daisy, Cotton Fleece, 4.5mm (I love this pattern - thanks Stephanie)

Here is a close up of the buttons. Blurry, but hopefully you can see the little bears on them. Try as I might, I am a horrible photographer. Brenda - help me, please!

I love this little combo and will make it again when another little girl enters the world. BTW, the colour you see here isn't even close to the real colour. It is a berry colour, not blueberry pie.

Knitting with CF is so wonderful, it was such a shame when I finished knitting with it. Okay, that is going a bit far, but you know what I mean. The love will continue though, I did buy 3 more balls of CF in a really light pink to make Green Gable. Here is the link to the KAL. It appears this will be a very popular KAL, so get on the band wagon, I highly doubt you will regret making this sweater/t-shirt.

And another FO, here is the pair of socks made from St.Ives sock yarn gifted to me from Katherine.

When I was knitting with this yarn, I thought it might be too itchy for me to wear, but oh no my friends, this St. Ives yarn is quite nice and comfy on my little feet. I will be making more socks with this stuff, that is for sure.

Thanks again Katherine! When are we meeting again to have lunch and squeeze in some lunch time knitting?

posted by Lisa @ 7:08 a.m.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Carrieoke started a KAL for the Green Gable sweater. I joined, why not? It starts May 1st, which fits into my knitting schedule quite nicely. I can knit on it on the way down to the MW&SF! I planned on knitting this and this. But I think I can squeeze the Green Gable in. I think I was meant to knit this little tee. Woo Hoo.

In other funny news, my mom said something this morning that shocked and made me laugh out loud. I am still laughing about the word she came up with. Please note, I swear - a lot, but don't on my blog because really it is quite offensive in my opinion, but because this word is so funny, I will break my little rule.

In the mornings I get ready in my mom's apartment so that I can watch TV, knit or just be plain noisy and my husband and the kids won't be disturbed. This morning was especially funny, because when my mom was putting her contacts on, I said:

"Mom, man are you ever late this morning", she said:

"I know, I am feeling confuckled today".

Confuckled. What a word. It cracks me up.

posted by Lisa @ 9:15 a.m.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Oh man I bought the Green Gable pattern. I told myself I was not to buy it. But I couldn't get my mind off this little tee. I so blame it on Knit N' Tonic. If she didn't make it, I would never have known about this cute little tee. Thanks to Wendy, I bought the pattern and now need to buy the yarn. Man, oh man. It appears I have no self control, really I don't.

I finished all the pieces of Daisy and blocked the body this morning. This means, the sleeves go on the blocking board tonight and hopefully I will start seaming the puppy tomorrow night. I hope. I need to finish this little baby outfit before the baby gets too big and doesn't even have a chance to wear it. Got to finish it!

All I really want to finish before I go to MW&SF is the 2nd sock, the baby outfit and Clapotis. I doubt I will finish the last item, but plan to work on it in the car on the way down to Maryland. I can't believe there are only three more weekends until I go to MW&SF. Woo freaking hoo. I started The List, which I didn't do last year and didn;t know what to buy because I didn't have The List. This year will be different. I know which sweaters I want to buy yarn for. I have a mission. I do know I want to hit Tess Designs and Brook Farm first. Then peruse the main barn, then the little barns outside. Not only do I have The List and a plan, I have booked the hotel, know where the good places to eat are and where to go for a quick pint. I am so set for Maryland this year.

MW&SF here we come!

posted by Lisa @ 2:10 p.m.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Sometimes you have to wonder how kids come up with the games they do. My older daughter J, was playing a game yesterday called grounders, which is basically marco polo on land. She was 'it' and was running to find the others and ran head first into a tree. You would think she would see it, but no, she was running around with her eyes closed - in and around trees. See:

It doesn't look as bad in the picture as it does up close and personal. This girl can take pain, but this incident knocked her flat on her ass. She normally doesn't follow me around, but last night she might as well been my shadow. Poor thing. I took her to the doctor's office this morning just to make sure she did not break anything. He sent her for xrays, and if they don't call tomorrow morning then she is fine. I am sure she is. She is just in a lot of shock right now.

On the knitting front there isn't much to report. I am almost finished knitting the daisy cardi, and have not even attempted to figure out my little issue of understanding the berry part of the baby hat. I am having a duh moment with the hat, which I hope will be corrected shortly.

Have a good one folks.

posted by Lisa @ 11:01 a.m.

Monday, April 10, 2006

Have you seen the new Knitty? I have, and I am so not impressed. I was looking forward to this issue because I feel the need to knit something springy. Was there anything that jumped up and bit me in the ass? Nothing my friends, nothing. Except the snail and squid toys. My oldest loves snails, so I'll think I will add that to my knit list, but other than the toys nothing.

Not much knitting happened this weekend like most weekends. This one in particular was so busy my two days off just kind of flew by. On Saturday J and I went to watch a girls' hockey game to determine if she wants to join an all girls house league or stay in a mixed league. I think she wants to be apart of an all girls team next season, which will be great for her socially. Once we were finished watching the game, we went through the lobby and saw a sign up booth for floor hockey! I have been looking for one to no avail and then lo and behold like a halo over an angel's head there was a league I could sign her and three of her friends up for. Yeah. So I spent the morning going to my friends' houses to give them the forms, collect the money and then go back to the community centre and hand in my registration forms.

Saturday evening, J and I went to the Ontario Science Center for a sparks/brownies/girl guides sleep over. We went through their Yummy in my Tummy program, then slept in sleeping bags on the floor. Oh man, am I ever sore and tired today. I did it for the good of my girl. She wanted to go and they don't allow the sparks to go without a chaperone, so off we went.

On Sunday night I wanted to start the berry colour of the baby hat and for the life of me couldn't understand the instructions. I have made one before so I thought it would be fairly simple, however my sleepy mind took over and didn't allow any intelligent thought through. I'll give it another go at my Monday lunch time SnB.

Have a good week.

posted by Lisa @ 9:17 a.m.

Sunday, April 09, 2006

I ditched the baby sweater after I seamed the shoulders and one arm. It looks like crap and I for one am certainly not giving crap to a newborn. I understand the kid won't know or care, however I want the parents to put what I knit on her. So I decided to make another Daisy and this cute little Fibre Trends Hat - A Berry Good Hat. This is my progress so far:

So freaking cute. Any parent would be crazy not to put their daughter in this little get-up.

posted by Lisa @ 8:49 a.m.

Friday, April 07, 2006

Here are my new glasses:

Not bad if I do say so myself. What I really can't believe is the lenses cost more than the frames. WTF? I was a bit surprised, however if they help with reducing the number of headaches and eye strain I experience, it is so worth it.

I must feel like buying stuff because yesterday I finally decided to use up my gift certificate I received for a job well done at Holt Renfrew. I think this is one of the most expensive stores in the city and why my work place gave me a gift certificate there is beyond me. So I thought I would buy a pair of sunglasses with the certificate and pay the difference. Let me tell you my friends, the price difference was $375.00 plus taxes, so that was not happening. I settled on some products from Clinic.

Cream, toner, face wash, concealer and some lip treatment thingie from Clinic. This is pretty much all I could afford in there. I am looking forward to using this stuff but am afraid I might like it a bit too much and then wonder how I am going to continue buying it. I'll worry about it then.

posted by Lisa @ 1:25 p.m.

Thursday, April 06, 2006

I think my headaches and aching right eye will be cured in the next few days. It turns out I have a stigmatism in my left eye and my right one was compensating for it - so that is why I have been suffering for so long. D'isa! The doctor wrote me a prescription, I filled it yesterday at Lens Crafters and am sitting her with my brand new spanking pair of glasses. I would show you a picture, however the camera battery needs to be charged and oh yeah, the Internet at home needs to be working.

Once all is fixed I'll post a picture of my mug with the glasses on. I am not sure if they make a difference, but time will tell. If my head and right are not hurting by the end of the day then I'll know.

I wish I could say Cutaway was blocking, but she is not. I wish I could say the baby sweater is seamed, but I can't. I can tell you I started the second sock to match this one. (Sorry, can't find the picture, but if interested I took the picture in March/06).

That is pretty much it my friends. Have a good one.

posted by Lisa @ 9:34 a.m.

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Knitting? Lots of it here baby. I finished knitting Cutaway and will block her this week. Once she is dry I am going to promptly pick up the stitches to knit the border and then seam her. I am not going to procrastinate with this one. The weather is improving and she will be a great asset to my wardrobe.

I have finished the front and back of the baby sweater I am making for a friend's baby girl! Yeah he had a girl, so this little sweater will be perfect for her to wear in a few weeks. On to the sleeves, seaming and that will be that. This sweater is so easy - knit 4 squares, sew them together and you have a perfect little gift.

I have SnB tonight, so those little sleeves and Clapotis are coming with me. Not much to report on Clapotis, I am getting a bit bored with this knit because those straight rows are such a bitch to knit. Why? BORING, boring, BORING. Did I say boring? Oh yeah, really boring until you get to row 8 when you get to drop the stitches. And after about 4 times of dropping stitches, that gets kind of stale too. The Brook Farm yarn I am using has mohair in the yarn, so dropping them is a bit of a pain, I have to be very careful not to rip anything. Ah!

But I will keep on knitting on this thing, because I would like to go to MW&SF this year knowing I knit over half of the yarn I bought there last year. These are my finds from last year's festival:

3 skeins of Tess Design sock yarn. Knit 1 skein, gave 1 away and have 1 left over
2 skeins of Brook Farm Harmony - hopefully knit both before May
3 skeins of 100% wool (can't remember which company) - still in stash
1 skein of Puck Farm 100% cotton - This is the Flower Basket Shawl. I am about 1/3 of the way finished, and highly doubt I will have it done before May, but I am going to give it my best
1 skein of Puck Farm 100% rayon - still in stash waiting to become a nice wavy patterned scarf.

So I guess if things go my way, I will knit about half and not feel so bad about adding more from MW&SF. April will be a very busy month for me at work, so chances are slim, but I am going to keep the positive vibes going!

Have a great one folks.

posted by Lisa @ 11:01 a.m.

Monday, April 03, 2006

Proud Hockey Mom (warning no knitting content today). My older daughter's hockey team won the play offs this weekend. This is a huge feat for this team because they placed 5th in the season and literally stole the top spot. Wow. If you are interested about the play by play, keep reading, if not, tune in tomorrow for some knitting updates.

Friday the Rink Rats played the qualifying game to determine if the move on and the Rink Rats smoked the other team 3 - 0. My daughter scored the 1st goal, and apparently, when it is a shut out the first goal is the winning one! Who knew, not I. Good job J! Not only did she score that goal, defensively she was freaking awesome and she won every single face off. The winning of the face off is a great one too because she is about 6" shorter than the other centreman and totally smoked him. He got so mad at one point and started whacking her stick at the face off. The ref stopped the game and reemed him out.

On Saturday they won again and go to move on to play the 1st place team on Sunday afternoon. J didn't score any goals but was totally on her game and won most face offs, played defensively and had so many breakaways - she was smoking.

On Sunday, she scored the first goal to make the score 2-1 for the other team. Then another kid scored the 2nd tieing the game. On her next shift she scored the 3rd goal to put her team ahead. This goal was a beaut! She took the puck from the other team, skated from the blue line ALONE and it was just her and the goalie and she did a great wrist shot and put the puck in between the goalie's pads. The reason she was alone was all the other 9 players on the ice just stood at the blue line and watched her break away, stick handle the puck to trick the goalie and sunk it in.

Shortly after this goal, the other team got one in and tied it. So they had to go to an overtime period, then another and the Rink Rats finally won the game in the 5th period. They played two overtime periods, and they won!

I can't believe how well she did. Well, I can, but she never showed her talent to the coaches to that level - she must have understood how important these games were and stepped up to the challenge. I love it.

I guess the coaches realized her improvement as they voted her 2005/2006 Most Improved player and she got a medal.

The proud moment for her and her team didn't stop there - it was announced that in 30 years this house league has been around, the Rink Rats, the house sponsed team has won the playoffs. And my girl was a part of that!

Of course I have to include a picture:

Great job baby! Looking forward to next year's season.

posted by Lisa @ 10:29 a.m.

About Me

Knitting Up A Storm!