Stitch Bitch

2010-10-06T14:36:00.001-04:00

365Knits

2010-02-12T18:51:00.001-05:00

A new blog and a new journey...come join me

Yippee!!

2009-11-01T14:00:00.007-05:00

I recently convinced Carl to let me bring my wheel from my Mom's to our apartment. We picked it up yesterday along with a brand new computer (woo-hoo). The deal is that I have to put it away whenever I'm done with it so it now hides under our spiral staircase when not in use. He usually works on Sundays so I get the house to myself and I can just spin! I took it out this morning and I finally finsihed plying some of my first yarn from the wheel and I think its great! Its one ply of merino and tencel from CJ Kopeck and the other ply is a blend of alpace, wool, silk and angora from Glacial Ridge Alpaca's. Its lumpy and bumpy but I think it's just perfect.

When I was in Rhinebeck a couple weekend ago I bought myself a DVD called Spinning Wool - Basics and Beyond and after watching it the other weekend I got really excited about getting back in my wheel and trying out some of the things they talked about. After I was done plying I pulled out some beautiful targhee top from The Wool Room. I'm trying to spin it as fine as I can so I can either ply it and have a heavier fingering or not ply it and have some lace weight yarn. Its a really pretty color and I can't wait to finish it. I worked on this yarn for about 2-3 hours this morning but I had to stop because we have to clean our apartment before guests arrive on friday so I put it away and started sorting my summer/spring and fall/winter clothes. Now I'm off to do the boring things.

Oh and GO YANKEES!

Has it really been 4 months?

2009-10-22T11:21:00.001-04:00

Man does time fly? I can't believe my last post was in July! A lot has happened since then. I'll do a super quick recap.

Most importantly I found my Lady Eleanor shawl so everything is now right with the world.

At the end of July I ended up hurting my arm and spent over a month trying to get rid of my cubital tunnel syndrome. There wasn't much knitting going on during this period but I tried to finish the Cabled Riding Jacket for our Ireland trip at the end August but I failed. It still needs a sleeve and collar but I'm a little to mad at it to work on it at the moment. I think the cables are what hurt my arm the most so I'm bitter.

Ireland was absolutely amazing! I wanted to post throughout the trip but my little netbook didn't work half the time we were there. While we were in Ireland Carl finally popped the question so I'm now officially engaged which is super exciting and a little scary since I now have to plan a wedding (eek!). We have a date, 10/9/2010, a reception place and we meet with the Reverend this weekend. I think we're making good progress.

September was uneventful. I basically spent the month going to PT and trying to get my arm back in tip-top shape. I got to a point where I could knit again and I finished a really lovely sweater of my own design and I'm in the process of writing up the pattern. I really want to get it written and maybe submit it to knitty.com just for kicks. When they reject it I can just put it up on ravelry for all to see. I really like this sweater I think its classy but sexy. Hopefully it's unique enough for knitty to want it.

Last weekend was Rhinebeck and of course I went. Saturday was also my birthday so I spent the day buying myself many presents, petting sheep and gorging myself on yummy food. The only negative was that it was so cold that I couldn't even be bothered with taking pictures. That and I had so much stuff I could barely carry it all. Of course now my arm hurts again but I'll just have to try to not knit for a little while (yah right) and it will be better.

I hope there are still people out there reading this but if not that's cool. I'm looking forward to blogging again. Especially, with all this wedding planning I think I'll need somewhere to just let it all out. I hope you've all had a great four months!! And we'll talk again real soon.

Help me choose!

2009-07-09T15:29:00.001-04:00

I found these knitting mugs on cafe press and I can't decide. Number 1 is cute and funny but Number 2 is outragous but it could be too much! Which would you choose? Should I be bold or cute?

Sorry for being MIA but our laptop broke and I haven't been able to replace it yet. Once its fixed I can update the shop (i have so much to add!!) and I'll be able to blog again. Hopefully we'll have a new computer soon.

Its a sad day...

2009-06-23T13:57:00.003-04:00

It is official, Lady Eleanor has been lost. Just join me as I long her passing. She was a very good knit. We all loved her. She warmed us while we napped and comforted us while we had to flight in death machines...I mean planes. She will be missed.
MySpace Generators

Things that need to be explained to me...

2009-06-22T13:01:00.001-04:00

Watching the Open at Work - Good

Knitting on a break in a conference room with co-workers - Bad

Ponder that!

Pondering...

2009-06-18T17:21:00.001-04:00

I found this article about etsy being a false feminist fantasy and I really don't know what to think about it. There are bunch of people over at the etsy shop group on ravelry talking about it and that's how I found it. I know that I set up my shop as an outlet for my creative side. I'd love to be able to dye yarns for a living and become the next Lorna's Laces but that's not what I expect from etsy. If I wanted to make this a real business I'd probably come up with a real business plan, talk to some of the friends we do have in the textile/wool industry, make deals with bricks and mortar stores in my area and get my name out there at festivals. But I'm not doing these things. I feel like etsy gave me a community of people, yes they are mostly women, who love to be creative too. I would still be dyeing yarns and fiber even if I didn't have an etsy shop but I wouldn't be able to experiment as much because I'd run out of room in my apartment! Etsy has given me the freedom to create. I don't know why there are less men on etsy, maybe they're just not interested. Maybe the first commenter on the article summed it up. If its not getting them off or its not something they really need men just aren't interested. Women like the impulse buy. Maybe its as simple as that. I don't know...any opinions?

Nothing like brown baggin it!

2009-06-17T20:04:00.001-04:00

Sittin in the park drinkin, cold, and watchin Carl play some softball. I hope I'm not a bad luck charm...

Another night at the ballet

2009-06-12T19:23:00.000-04:00

Tonight I'm seeing Giselle and its supposed to be amazing. I wish had someone to share this with but I guess that's why have you all.

I'm currently standing in line waiting to go in. It's just me and a lot of old people. I was hoping they'd be open so I could run in and pee but no I've got to wait. I'm off to do my pee pee dance.

New Knitty

2009-06-10T14:04:00.001-04:00

Go, enjoy, knit!

Poldark!

2009-06-08T20:39:00.000-04:00

I finally found someone selling both volumes of the original production of Poldark. I spent the weekend watching 4 of 8 discs while spinning, dyeing and even doing my accounting homework. How managed to squeeze nearly 12 hours of movie watching in between all that work I will never know. I got a bunch dyed, including all the club orders which are drying and should ship out in a day or two!

My spinning is getting much better too. I finished this 5 oz batt of angora/alpaca blend and start on some awesome merino from LuLu's Yarns (I might have that name wrong but I know she's on etsy so Lux something so search for that undersellers. She was my secret pal last year and her stuff is gorgeous).

Tha cabled jacket is starting to frustrate me so were taking a break for a day or two. I managed to finish one shetland shopper on friday and it's great for holding almost anything. I can't wait to go to the "country" and got to some farmstands and fill it up.

I guess the weekend is over and I should get back to the after work relaxation.

woo..

2009-06-02T11:37:00.001-04:00

New Twist Collective! These little gators are so stinkin cute! And this sweater is awesome! I need to resist buying the pattern...

Does this mean the new Knitty will be up soon?

Lazy Saturday

2009-05-30T11:36:00.004-04:00

I should be doing my work for accounting class but instead I'm working on the Cabled Riding Jacket for our Ireland trip. I'm just about done with the charted bit and then I have to spend some time trying to understand the written instructions. Hopefully this will all happen today.

Tonight we have yet another birthday dinner for my brother (he turned 30 on May 23rd, man is he getting old hahaha). And afterwards Carl and I are going to get back to planning his little trip. Of course this trip means I can't go to Sock Summit this year but sometimes you just have to be selfless. Poor me, I have to go to Ireland instead...

I doubt any will care but I'm very excited so I'm going to share. I finally found someone on ebay who was selling the complete Poldark Mini-Series for Region 1! I don't know if any of you ever watched this but I used to love it when I was kid. I used to check every PBS station, no matter where I was, to see if I could catch an episode. I've been looking for the tapes or DVDs for my little (read: HUGE and obsessive) movie collection for years. Last night at about 11pm I had a feeling I should check ebay one more time and there it was. And the seller had 8 copies! EIGHT! And now he has 7. I can't wait for them to get here. Hopefully I can kick Carl out of the house for a few nights so I can hunker-down on the couch and watch. And one want to take a cute, nice, funny, half Argentine man for a couple nights? But you have to give him back!

OT: I'm currently watching How Clean is Your House and they have a blind man vacuuming and waxing the wood around the house. I'm very impressed that he does all the things he does. He spends his day riding horses and mucking stalls....very impressive.

OK back to work...

Just Wonderful

2009-05-29T22:45:00.001-04:00

I'm on the bus headind back from the ballet and it was wonderful. I think it might be my new favorite. The second act was amazing. The men had some impressive passes across the stage. There were moments where they seemed to stop in mid-air. All in all a great night out, even if I was all on my own. Though I will never understand why some people think jeans are appropriate attire for a friday night at the ballet...

Despite the Rain...

2009-05-29T09:46:00.003-04:00

Summer is here!

Last summer I started treating myself to ballet tickets for the summer. I just love the ballet and tonight is my first night of the summer. I'm seeing Le Corsaire which will be filled with lovely male dancers. Sadly, my favorite, Angel Corella, isn't dancing tonight. He's just beautiful. He's leap, he's turns...I could watch him for hours. Made I'll get to see him next time.

Look at him he's just gorgeous!

The other sad thing about the ballet is that I have to go alone. Carl tried to go with me once and just hated it. Sometimes I can rope a friend into coming but its rare. I'm going to grow up to be one of those little old ladies who go to the ballet alone. I should bring my knitting as practice!

Have a happy friday everyone!

Yum...

2009-05-28T19:20:00.001-04:00

Just made some sour dough. I can't wait for it to cool so I can eat it already. I hope it tastes as good as it looks. We really need to get a good bread knife one of these days.

I wish you could smell it...its wonderful!

Mothers Day Update

2009-05-12T10:18:00.001-04:00

I finished Mom's present early last week, gave them to her on Sunday and she absolutely loved them! She makes a great foot model too! I used the Althea pattern by Kirsten Kapur and 2 skeins of Louet Gems. She's on a pink-kick at the moment so she was super excited to have pink socks. We then ate some breakfast and headed over to Flying Fingers in Tarrytown so she could find some yarn. Of course she found all sorts of pinky things she wanted and of course I fell off the wagon and bought 14 skeins of yarn to make the Cabled Riding Jacket from Loop-d-Loop. In my defense, I only did this because I knew I would only make the thing if I actually bought the yarn for it so I seized the moment and made the purchase. The silk shawl I'm working on is about a finished. I need to pick up more yarn for the edging but I haven't decided what I want to do yet so I'm going to put that down till the weekend and swatch for the jacket.

I think I was inspired to make the jacket 1) because it gorgeous and 2) because I'm in the process of planning Carl's 30th birthday trip to Ireland. I know its an extravagant gift but I love the kid and he really wants to go so I'm scrounging up the cash and scouring the travel guides to find the absolute cheapest way to do this trip. So basically, if I'm not working, dyeing (shop update this week woo) or knitting I'm looking at flights and hotels and destinations...so if you have any tips, ideas or deals you know of please send them my way! I was originally planning to go during the off-season but things changed and we're now going at the end of August so my planning has been ramped up.

Ok back to work...I'm a busy busy bee!

You spin my head right round right round...

2009-05-04T16:51:00.006-04:00

I got to spend the afternoon trying out my first ever spinning wheel. I love love love my wheel and I'm so sad that I have to hide it at mom's till I'm able to clear out enough space (as dictated by Carl) to bring it home. I guess I'm going to be spending a lot more time with mom. Anyway, today a managed to spin up a 4 ounce batt of merino and tencel that I bought from CJKopec a long long time ago and its beautiful. Ok it lumpy and bumpy but it still beautiful to me. I only have the one single so I wonder what I will ply it with...also I probably should invest in a lazy kate so plying will be easier. Anyone have any pointers for plying?I'm sure I'll spin up something this weekend and will want to ply right away.

Yeah! Yarn!

2009-05-01T12:11:00.001-04:00

I managed to squeeze in one knitting store, Great Balls of Yarn in West Palm Beach. It was great and there was a really cute puppy and the ladies were so nice. Carl waited in the car which I thought was a bad move since they apparently ply the men with beer to keep them happy while they wait. I only bought two things. Some yarn to make this cute sideways sweater they had as a sample and a little something for Karen (a.k.a Ms. Choo Choo Knits).

We're off to the pool for some sun (and some poolside knitting)

Sorry

2009-04-30T16:03:00.001-04:00

Just read my last post and its filled with silly typos...sorry...the yarn shops are not in the air...ah vacation

Gone...

2009-04-30T15:48:00.000-04:00

Off to FL for a long weekend. I've got a silk shawl and mom's secret present. We're vacationing with 2 of our guy friends so is just me and the boys so there will be much teasing about the knitting but who cares! I mapquested a couple yarn shops in the air and hope to steal the car tomorrow so I can explore.

Have a great weekend!

Oh and I apoloogize for typos...we're at the poolside bar...

Yarn Harlot + Graham Norton = AWESOME!

2009-04-29T16:37:00.001-04:00

Ok someone posted this on Ravelry and I'm just stealing it but it is awesome!

Good-Bye to The Point

2009-04-27T19:39:00.000-04:00

I woke up this morning to a very sad email...The Point is closing on Wednesday. I headed down to the shop after work so I could use my last gift certificate and say good-bye to a truely wonderful store. The place was packed and the walls were near bare and everyone was rather somber. I will really miss this place. It was a wonderful community. I learned to dye there and spin. I really hate to see it go.

New Rules

2009-04-24T12:43:00.001-04:00

Choo Choo and I have becoming up with new rules regarding stash enhancement:

No wool till August
If we go to an outlet-type store (i.e., webs) we are allowed to buy wool if a specific project is in mind and we have not purchased yarn for said project on an earlier date.
Store credits and gift cards can only be used if they expire before August OR if we're buying non-wool and/or books
Books are ok - as long as they have a larger purpose - such as designing and we will try to BORROW from each other more - if one of us has a book - with the exception of a handy designing book cause that's a like a text book or a bible

Let's see if we can stick to them. And Yes I quoted you Karen.

2 Degrees of Separation

2009-04-23T11:26:00.001-04:00

People who have been with me since the beginning know of my love of:

1) All things British

2) Men in knee britches

3) The Scarlet Pimpernel

4) And anything written about, in or during the 1700-early 1900's...in particular the Napoleonic Wars and Jane Austen.

So you wouldn't have been shocked that I created a colorway of lace weight inspired The Purple Gentian from Lauren Willig's book The Pink Carnation.

Background covered...now on to the good stuff. I logged into my Rav account last night like I always do (about 90x a day) and I had a message from a lovely lady telling me that she's very good friends with Lauren Willig and she saw my Purple Gentian colorway and just had to send it to Lauren because she would get a kick out of it. Apparently, Lauren loves it. YAY! Now how do I get to meet her????

I want to be here

2009-04-22T15:40:00.000-04:00

And not in an office right now...

Alone

2009-04-22T13:09:00.001-04:00

Am I the only one who doesn't Twitter? I plurk, I facebook, I rav, I blog...do I need to twitter? Knitty twitters, our congressmen/women twitter, mothers, fathers, brothers...it seems like the whole world twitters but me. I hope I'm not missing anything.

My Father

2009-04-21T12:29:00.003-04:00

Remember how I had to make a GIANT sweater for my daddy because he's one BIG man...well here he is back in 1984 on my baptism day...

...he's so skinny and lanky!! I could have finished by Christmas if I had been knitting for 1984 Dad.

Enjoying the weather

2009-04-19T08:53:00.002-04:00

Yesterday Carl and I went for a hike in Blue Mountain Resevation to advantage of the beautiful weather (and I work off some of our winter fat). We drove up in the morning to the park and set off on the trail. Unfortunately, we forgot to bring our hiking book and had no map. Ok I say we but I'm the one who left it in the car. Mapless, we wandered through the woods for a couple of hours and had a marvelous time. Oh and we brought the Doctor along as well...he was just itchin to get outside.

And this morning I made bread! Now if only I had a proper bread knife. I ordered a couple bread making books so hopefully there will be more bread baking in my future.

And this afternoon I'm heading to The Point to meet Ysolda!

Where does the time go?

2009-04-15T12:58:00.001-04:00

I can tell you...Tax Season! Now that the busy time at work is over I can safely resume my knit-blogging. I wanted to write something several times over the last few weeks but all I could think about was how tired I was or how annoyed I was with something at work. I vowed that I would never discuss, particularly in a negative way, work, family or friends on the blog and I think I would have broken that vow if I wrote earlier. Now that the stress is lightening up and I'm returning to regular Alyssa (not stressed out, shrilly bitch Alyssa) I'm back and I've been bitten by the knitting bug.

I had Good Friday off and spent the morning/afternoon working on the Rosebud Vest. I got the pattern and yarn from the Brair Rose booth at Rhinebeck last year. The pattern has you knitting in pieces and I hate pieces so I knit the faux-cable patterned bottom flat and then joining in the round to do the St st part till the armpits and then back to flat. I finished it about an hour before I had to leave to catch that train to Mom's (ok I started it Wednesday night, I'm not that speedy). I quickly threw it on so I could admire my handy work and realized that the straps were too short so my neck whole was tiny. I was very bummed. I need to do some minor surgery on the thing one night this week. But its basically done and I can't wait to wear it to Rhinebeck next year.

When mom picked me up at the station that evening we made a wrong turn on the way back to the highway and I spotted a knitting store I had never seen on that street before. I made her park and we went in. Apparently, Flying Fingers is no longer in Irvington, NY but moved to Tarrytown, NY. Where was I when this move happened? Anyway, we bummed around in the store for a while. I made her flip through Naughty Needles and we had a good laugh. Mom picked out some yarns she liked and I bought them so I can make her some presents. I've already cast-on something for Mother's Day. I'm not going to say much about it till she gets it because she might read the blog (you never know with my Mom she's a very good lurker). When we were done (and I was broke) we strolled around town for bit and got back in the car. As we were approaching the exit that would take us to Nyack and to Jane at Knitting Nation I asked if we could go to the knitting store as she turned on the blinker to get off. And we continued our spontaneous yarn crawl.

The last time we were at Knitting Nation Mom bought two pattern books and no yarn. This time she wanted to get the yarn for at least one project but we had to find the pattern first. We were in the back of the store with Jane going through piles and piles of Debbie Bliss books till we finally found one of the sweaters. Mom then re-organized the Debbie Bliss area and scurried off to find yarn. I flipped through the new Sally Melville book Mother-Daughter Knits and fell in love. You know how everyone was head-over-heels for A Fine Fleece? Well I didn't get it but I now get how they felt because its exactly how I feel about this book. I want to make everything in it. In fact I bought the yarn to make the Reversible Tank right then and there and cast-on first thing Saturday morning. I worked all day on it (between dyeing) and begged Mom to let me bring it to church on Sunday (she said no) and I finished it up Sunday night! I love love love this book...go...buy it!

Anyway, Saturday night I took a wee break from the tank and helped Mom swatch for her sweater. In doing so I realized she was twisting her stitches and had to correct her knitting. I thought it was funny that I was re-teaching the woman who taught me but she soon got the hang of it and was ready to cast-on for real on Sunday before Easter dinner. I hope she's actually working on it now that I'm back at my place. I told her that I want her to have at least one handknit item to wear at Rhinebeck this year. Maybe she'll listen...

I finished the Lady Eleanor wrap about a week or so ago and its gorgeous. I think I added too many additional rectangles but that just makes it more comfy. I really love it and so does Mom. I nearly left it at her house this weekend and I'm sure I would have never seen it again if I had. Other than that I have no other FOs and I'm just working on Mom's Mother's Day present so I can get it done and move on to the ribbed sweater in Mother-Daughter Knits. I have 900 yards of worsted Brair Rose yarn in this lovely pinky colorway that's just itchin to become that sweater...

I promise pictures next time. Thanks for stickin around (if anyone actually has).

Must See!

2009-03-18T19:19:00.000-04:00

It does exist!

2009-03-16T17:57:00.003-04:00

I always thought that Wollmeise was the knitter myth. That is didn't really exist because I've never seen it and I can never get my hands on any. Then my friend Jovi sent me a message saying that she managed to snag two skeins of it and one of them was for me!!! So I now have my very first Wollmeise. Its soft and beautiful and I just wants to fondle it all day and night. I love it!! Thank you Jovi!!

Now I'm off to take care of Carl because he has a cold. I've been clorox wiping the house so I don't get sick too.

New Techniques

2009-03-15T11:54:00.005-04:00

My entrelac shawl is coming along swimmingly but I couldn't help but think that it would knit up faster if I didn't have to turn my work at the end of every row. So I went on youtube this morning and found the following video on knitting backwards.

Because you can't just watch one video on youtube I just found this. Is it weird that I think these are cool?

I always thought this was going to be a hard technique but its not! Its a little awkward but if I continue to use it as I work on this shawl I think I will perfect the technique! The shawl is getting way too big to keep turning it every 8 stitches...this is going to be a life saver.

I was going to dye yesterday but I was feeling rather uninspired so I decided to stay home and veg and I'm glad I did. Don't worry though I'll be back in the kitchen next weekend so there will be another update in March.

But then there's this. I love the EZ reference!

Ok I'm going to stop now. Have a good sunday.

Long Week

2009-03-08T17:05:00.001-04:00

Its been a while since I posted and I apologize but this week has been super crazy. Sunday night I found out that my grandpa had a stroke. I spent most of the early part of the week worrying about that till I finally was able to go home and look at him to make sure he was ok. He's doing great and I'm very happy that it was just a mild stroke. Unfortunately, this scare made me behind in most of my work this week so the second half of the week was spent playing catch-up.

I managed to mail out the club orders on friday and I can't wait for everyone to get theirs, spin them up and post them on the rav group. Its a great group of women...I don't think there are many men but hopefully one or two will sign-up for the abbreviated memberships.

Yesterday I went with my good friend Ms. Choo Choo to CT for a knitting day with a lady she met through sock wars last year. I had a great time and met some really awesome knitters. There was one lady who was like a knitting god. She was a wealth of information, was super sweet, generous and was so friendly. She kept mentioning all these great design books and Ms. Choo Choo and I sat there trying to commit them to memory. I dont think we remembered any of them but maybe we can email someone who knows this lady and get a list. I did find out that there's a knitting store in Jupiter, FL which is where we will be spending a long weekend at the end of April with some friends (all boys) and there's also a minor leaguage baseball team. So the plan is to drop the boys off at a game tell them to drink as much as they want and then head to the store. Or maybe I can just leave them in the house was a couple 12 packs and tell them to go town and I'll be right back? Hmmm, I think I'll come up with a few more plans just in case.

I'm almost done with the second sweater I'm designing but the weather has been too warm to work with 100% baby alpaca so Ms. Choo Choo and I decided to cast-on the Lady Eleanor Shawl Thursday/Friday night so we could start working on it on Saturday at the little knitting gathering. I had been listening to old Stash and Burn episodes and they mentioned the pattern. I happened to buy a lot Noro Matsuri that day and decided I really wanted to make the shawl. I emailed Ms. Choo Choo that night to find out if she had the pattern and she was very excited to hear that I wanted to make the thing because she had it her queue forever. So we decided to do our own little KAL.

Carl was on vacation all week and got back last night so I spent the evening with him and we past out early. I woke up at 5 am (or 4 am depending on how you look at it since we fell forward last night) and just couldn't go back to sleep. I watched Friday's episode of Mistresses and knit till Carl woke up. We had breakfast and of course I then passed out on the couch till 12:30. I've spent the rest of the afternoon updating the shop. Now I think I'm going to settle into my knitting again and maybe watch the first season of The Tudors till Carl gets back from work.

New Twist Collective

2009-03-01T22:42:00.000-05:00

Check it out!

Had a long weekend, I'll talk more in a bit I just have a few families things to take care of first. I hope you all had a good weekend.

Moment of weakness

2009-02-26T18:21:00.003-05:00

After a long day in the office mailing out tax documents to WAY too many investors (YAY Tax Season!) I decided to stop by the knitting store in our lobby, Stitches East, to check out their 50% sale. The store has been there for about 20 years or something like that and now its going out of business. I was weakened by my long day and because of that I bought 10 skeins of Noro Matsuri and 4 skeins of Kureyon Sock. I think I'm going to make Lady Eleanor from the Matsuri. I just need to find someone who owns Scarf Style so I can borrow it. The Kureyon Sock will be added to my pile being used for the babette blanket.

Now I'm off to work on the new sweater I'm designing! I'm using 100% alpaca and I think it's just growing and growing so I hope it looks ok when I'm done. Otherwise I'm going to have a very expensive and warm tent to wear in the winter.

Inspired to spin

2009-02-23T19:34:00.003-05:00

I've been dyeing a lot of spinning fibers and talking about spinning fibers and talking about spinning a lot the last few weeks and one person in particular (you know who you are) has inspired me to pick up my spindle again and start spinning. I'm currently spinning up this gorgeous roving from Portland Fiber Gallery and Weaving Studio:

Its called Catherine Moreland and this was the description "Dyed in the tones of both the green and gold woods of Northanger Abbey and the blue waters of Bath, this roving will brighten up even the most gothic and frightening of projects! Dyed over a soft and silky merino/bamboo base, this roving weighs 6.9 ounces and should learn not to stay up late at night, reading racy novels!" as an Austen freak how could I resist?

It's spinning up beautifully. It reminds me of a young sapling or new spring plants burst their way through the warming earth.

And I'm using this gorgeous Golding's Spindle that I bought in Rhinebeck this past fall.

It cost me a nice chunk of change in comparison to my other spindles but after using it I have to say I would have paid even more. This is the best spindle I've ever used. Its spins like butter and I never have to fight with it. I love it. I want more. I can't recommend these spindles enough. OK now its back to the spinnning..."you spin me right round baby right round..."

Wasted Sunday

2009-02-22T14:19:00.002-05:00

I went home to dye yesterday but my order from my distributor didn't arrive till I had to be on the road to my Dad's. Carl came with me and we drove up to CT to see Dad. The plan was to stay the night at Dad's and then drive Carl back into the city so he could work and then I was going to come back to Mom's and do a marathon dyeing day. Good plan right? But alas, at 10:30 last night I started to get really sick by 10:45 I was praying to the porcelain god. And it continued till the morning. The hour and a half drive from Dad's to my apartment was the longest drive I've been on in a while. But I'm home and I'm spending my day watching a Rock of Love marathon and trying not to get sick again.

BUT I finally gave Dad his sweater and he loved it. Ok back to lying down...I hate whoever gave this to me.

A good week

2009-02-19T18:48:00.001-05:00

I had my 100th sale yesterday afternoon, I finished my first ever design on Sunday, I started designing my second sweater and I figured out how to purchase a spinning wheel on layaway (no one tell Carl PLEASE)...its been a good week and its only Thursday!

I have to run out to dinner soon but I want to share my good week with you all and let you know that there are spots open in the Elements Fiber Club for the June, September and December mailings so if you missed the February 15th sign-up for the full club you can still get in on the action. Oh and I also setup a Ravelry group for the club. If you're not a part of the club, no worries you can still join and show your support for the shop and share pictures of your FOs and things like that!

I'm going to dye up a few things this weekend for the club, shop and the Phat Fiber Box in March. And I'm going to finally give Dad his sweater!! I can't wait to post the pictures of him wearing it. Its on a hanger right now in my closet and let me say my daddy is a BIG man. Next to Carl's clothes it look like a giant's sweater but Dad did try it on before I finished the collar and it fit him so I'm not worried. I hope Dad likes it!

I hope you're all having a great week too!

Update Complete

2009-02-13T21:47:00.001-05:00

The shop has been updated and now I pass out...night night.

Sign-ups for Fiber Club End this Sunday!

2009-02-13T12:52:00.001-05:00

Just a quick reminder that sign-ups for the Elements Fiber Club will close on Sunday, February 15th so head over to the shop and check it out! The more who sign up the more fun I can make this. I'm thinking a flickr group or maybe a ravelry group so you can all share your finished yarns with each other and maybe do some general conversating (yah made up word) about your love of fiber! So tell your friends and fellow fiber-whores! It's going to be fun!

Because Jovi is Awesome

2009-02-11T19:00:00.003-05:00

I met Jovi through my shop and she was kind enough to pimp me over on ravelry. She's the sweetest thing ever and a totaly fiber nut (sorry hun but you are). I thought, what better way to pay her back then to pimp her here on the blog. She spun this beautiful yarn from one of my rovings:

And she has many more in her shop dye by other indie dyers. If you love handspun yarns (frankly, who doesn't) head over and check out it. I'm telling you, you'll love it!

Yippie

2009-02-11T15:48:00.001-05:00

The computer comes home for the hospital today! Oh I can't wait to have it back.

Just wanted to share my joy. I hope you're all having a wonderful hump day.

The Computer

2009-02-09T17:23:00.001-05:00

Carl finally had enough the time to bring the computer to the fixer people at the end of the week last week. They took a look at it and the motherboard was all fucked up so that needed to be replaced and the power cord was shot so that needed to be replaced too. Together with parts and labor it was going to cost us $600. We decided to let them fix the computer since it cost us about $900 and we'd have to pay $300 more to replace it. Today I get an email from Carl informing me that the motherboard is fixed but the LCD screen is fucked up. It wasn't fucked up when we brought it in but apparently now its fucked up. Its going to cost another $300-500 to fix the LCD. So we're already in the hole $600 for problem #1 and now we have to decide whether we pay for the screen and spend nearly $1,100 on repairs or buy a new computer which would put us in the hole $1,500. We're opting for the $1,100 option. We still think the computer people fucked up the screen themselves because it worked fine before we shut it down and brought it in. But what can you do. I got to say, when Carl breaks something he REALLY breaks it.

Happy Monday!

Busy day

2009-02-08T10:20:00.001-05:00

I spent a lot of time dyeing yesterday and got a lot done. Unfortunately, I didn't get as much done as I would have liked. I still need to dye up the samples for the March Phat Fiber Box I hope to be able to dye them this coming weekend. I brought home a bunch of cones and 1/2 pound hanks to split up this week. Hopefully I will have enough time in the evenings to get them ready for dyeing this weekend.

I did try a new blend of sock yarn this weekend and I'm in LOVE with it. It's a blend of superwash BFL and nylon. It's super soft and it takes color beautifully! I think I might switch to it as my main base yarn for socks. It really is a dream to work with. I also tried out some alpaca/merino roving which was very nice to work with too. So there will be some very new items coming into the shop this coming week so keep an eye out.

A new little friend arrived yesterday and I'm super excited he's finally here!

He came from Gourmetchefff over on etsy and he's perfect! Her shop is currently empty but it looks like you can custom order softies from her so check her out. What I think is really funny is that he looks a lot like Carl! We laughed about that for a while last night while he tried to make the same face as the Doctor. Oh and if you don't know this is David Tennant as Doctor Who then you need to bone-up on your dork-culture.

Today will be filled with studying, knitting and a little Inspector Lynley Season 3. I need to finish the sweater from the design workshop so I can move on to some of the other designs that keep popping into my head. I think I'm going to have to buy a notebook soon so I can write down all these ideas for patterns! I have a hat pattern in mind right now that I think will be really cool. I just need to buy the yarns and swatch it up to see if I'm right or not. I guess my mojo really is back because I'm super inspired by my knitting at present.

Have a great Sunday! It's beautiful out!

How many Namaste bags can a knitter have?

2009-02-06T12:59:00.001-05:00

Once again Namaste has produced a mouth-watering bag that I just have to have. The new Zuma is just plain awesome. I really want to the eggplant color (yes I totaly stole that picture but I love it!!) if I can find it. But this would be my third Namaste bag (and probably my 20th knitting bag) do I really need a third one, even if it is super pretty?

In the news

2009-02-04T16:24:00.001-05:00

Look Ma' I'm famous!

I think its back!

2009-02-04T13:24:00.001-05:00

My knitting mojo that is! I think the weeks of working (or avoiding working) on Dad's sweater sucked a lot of my knitting mojo out of me. It's been hard for me to knit since its completion. Then I went to The Point on Sunday for their SuperBowl Sale and I was inspired to knit again. I bought some gorgeous alpaca yarn that I plan on turning into my second sweater design. I also got some sock yarn because its like a yarn shopping prerequisite. I got home Sunday and started feverishly working on the jacket I was designing when I went to the design class with Stefanie Japel. I really want to finish it so I can a) show it off and b) move on to my next design. I hope to write up the jacket pattern and either sell it or give it away for free on ravelry. Once I'm done with the jacket I can move onto the alpaca sweater. I'm so excited you have no idea!

In other news, I received the best comment ever about the shop last night. I had a customer send me this: "I have one of your superwash merino rovings in sunset and i adore it- its one of the best merinos I've spun...I am sooo in love with your merino! it's crazy, i kinda hated merino before i spun yours. and i've spun some well known indie dyers, too." It made me smile. Sometimes I feel like I dye in a bubble. I spend hours letting my creative juices flow and then I post them in the shop for the whole world to see and critique. I'm always worried that people are going to hate what I do or think my products are inferior or something like that. And then someone sends me a message like that I just can't help be smile. They really brightens my whole day.

Oh and I have a random question for you, when did the handle-bar mustache become a decorating item/pop culture symbol? Seriously, go to etsy and search mustache and I bet you find over a 100 things with a mustache on it from jewelry to shirts. I don't mean to knock anyone's products I just don't know when or where this started. Seriously, where did it come from?

Happy February!!

2009-02-02T13:23:00.001-05:00

Just a quick reminder that sign-ups for the Elements Fiber Club will close on February 15th so head over to the shop and check it out! The more who sign up the more fun I can make this. I'm thinking a flickr group or maybe a ravelry group so you can all share your finished yarns with each other and maybe do some general conversating (yah made up word) about your love of fiber!

They're coming

2009-01-31T10:01:00.001-05:00

I hate not having a laptop

2009-01-30T16:54:00.002-05:00

Being without my laptop is starting to get on my nerves. I had to bring my sad little broken computer in to the IT guys at work to have them backup the hard drive before we ship it off to Toshiba to be fixed. Unfortunately this lack of a laptop is effecting my blogging and my shop updating. I've had a bunch of new additions for the shop just waiting to be uploaded but no access to any of my accounting files for the shop. I had IT send the files to me today and now I can add new listings so sometime this weekend new things will arrive.

Knitting...what am I knitting? Well I've been working on some doggie booties for a friend of mine's new puppy. I couldn't find a good pattern so I'm just kind of winging it. They're all knitted and felted but I have to try them on the puppy this weekend to see if they fit and to figure out how to do the closure around the ankles. I hope they turn out alright but I'd loved to offer up the pattern to anyone else who needs to warm their puppy's feetsies.

I'm also debating whether to purchase a drum carder or not. I really want an Ashford Two-Speed so I can start playing blended fiber batts. The cheapest one I can find is for $395. Does anyone know if someone out there has a used one they'd like to sell me for a bit cheaper? I love working with carded batts and would love to make my own but I can't justify the purchase at the moment so if you know anyone please leave a comment.

I have to get ready to see some friends I haven't seen in a bit so I will end this post. I'm debating whether or not to bring my knitting since we're just going to be sitting around watching movies. I guess I'll see what Carl thinks. Have a very happy Friday and pray for my poor computer.

Catch up time!

2009-01-22T18:00:00.001-05:00

You're not going to hear a lot from me over the next few days/weeks. Monday night, my lovely and clutsy Carl tripped over over the power cord for the laptop which pulled the laptop to the ground. It landed on the connector between cord and computer and pushed the whole female connector inside the computer so basically my computer is fucked.

Anywho, I managed to study for my CFA exam some more, finish Dad's sweater (yippie!) and finish the felted bucket all on Monday. Of course I still have months worth of studying to do. I still have to clean Dad's sweater and give it to him. Hopefully that will happen before it gets too warm to wear the damn thing, AND I still need to felt the felted bucket. But all in all I think I had a rather productive day.

With all those projects out of the way I started working on the jacket I was designing in my class with Stefanie Japel. After working with all that natural raw wool for the felted bucket the malabrigo felt orgasmically soft. I can't stop knitting with it. Hopefully I can finish this jacket soon and maybe even write up the pattern in a way that others (not just me) can read.

Saturday will be a dyeing day so hopefully there will be new things in the shop. Unfortunately I have to figure out a way edit and post the new items in the shop but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Trying to be good.

2009-01-18T13:14:00.004-05:00

I think I've lost a bit of my knitting mojo. In order to get it back I'm spending today trying to clear out some of the WIPs that were almost done but I'm just being lazy about. Like Dad's sweater. I fixed the left side of the collar and the button holes are all done. Now I just need to finish the otherside of the shawl collar, seam in the collar and the button bands, sew-in all the ends and put on the buttons. Then all it will need is a little wash and dry and Dad will finally have his new sweater. Let's see how much I can get done today.

I also added some new rovings to the shop. I'm changing my acid dyes to a local dye company here in NYC. Aljo dyes are really lovely to work with and I think they give much richer color.

Ok no more wasting time I've got to get back to the sweater...oh and I need to get on the Wii Fit. So much to do so little time.

I had the weirdest dream last night

2009-01-15T07:33:00.002-05:00

These little flying saucers came to earth to check out the planet and would kill anyone that moved. Carl, myself and some others figured out that we needed to stand still when they were around so we managed to survive a few "attacks" and eventually a small group of people were left. One day they came back and the planet started to shrink in on itself. The continents sort of became a super-Pangaea where all the cities of the world were crushed into one city. You would look out at the skyline and see things like the Empire State Building next to the Eiffel Tower. It was bizarre. Then we all felt this strange pull and were forced to move toward this giant clam thing that I swear was going to eat us all but didn't. This giant clam had some sort of freakish mind control thing and must have been the leader of the little space ship army. Somehow the giant clam communicates that we will no longer be humans and will be converted to some strange alien almost robotic like creature in a weeks time. Before we changed they had to weed out the bad humans so the clam sent some of the alien robot people (that looked just like humans but could download new skills and talents like a computer downloads a new program). Then we started to battle it out trying to find a way out of the clutches of the giant clam and the robotic alien people. It ended with me somehow getting in touch with people that were outside this strange world which was really weird and I have no explanation as to how that happened. And then I get "home" from some sort of giant clam sponsored retreat on how to be a good alien robot person and I'm being arrested for killing a granny alien robot (which I didn't do). I also find out that Carl has been turned into grass because the authorities thought that would make me confess to something. Then I woke up.

Seriously, one of the weirdest dreams I've had in a long time. Giant clam leaders...really?

I hope you all enjoyed this little trip into my crazy mind.

Experimenting Naturally

2009-01-11T08:00:00.005-05:00

The new issue of Knit 1 has an article on natural dyeing by Shannon Okey. It inspired me to get in the kitchen and try some natural dyeing. She mentioned dyeing with blueberries and I happened to have a couple bags of frozen blueberries in the freezer AND the bodega up the street was have a sale on fresh blueberries (2 pints for $2!) so I bought a bunch and threw them in the pot.

The blueberry dyeing was so successful that I decided to poke around the kitchen to find other things I could dye with. I found some paprika in the cupboard and thought I'd try it out. I think I used too much because some of the granules didn't dissolve but the color I got was great! It took a lot of rinsing to get all the extra paprika off the yarn and I couldn't get the smell out of my nose for a few hours. I didn't know what paprika smelled like before this and I never thought it was a really powerful smell but after hours of smelling it I was starting to feel sick. So I guess I won't be dyeing with paprika again anytime soon. But the color is really nice.

I love the colors I got and today I think I'm going to head to the grocery store to see what I else I can use to dye with. I have one more skein of superwash-bamboo blend sock yarn that I can dye and I'm thinking maybe some cranberries or cherries. They should give me a nice pinky-red color. We'll see what happens.

I was so inspired by the natural dyeing that I ordered The Art and Craft of Natural Dyeing: Traditional Recipes for Modern Use by J. N. Liles I can't wait for it to come so I can find out more about this dye process. If I get good at this I think you might be seeing more natural dyeing in the shop. Of course I still love my acid dyes so they won't be going away anytime soon. Now I'm off to do my Wii Fit for the day and the grocery store. Happy Sunday!

Quick Reminder

2009-01-10T09:09:00.004-05:00

The Elements Fiber Club is ready for sign-ups. Here are the details:

4 or 8 ounces (your choice) of buttery superwash merino roving inspired by one the four elements will be shipped to you every three months for a full year of spinning goodness:

March - Air
June - Fire
September - Water
December - Earth

Sign ups will close on February 15, 2009 to allow me time to dye up the orders.

I'm really exited about this little project so head over to the shop, sign up and enjoy! Otherwise have a very happy Saturday!

Fiber Project 2009!

2009-01-07T19:36:00.003-05:00

Since learning how to crochet a couple weeks back I've wanted to learn how to actually make something other than a dishcloth. So I decided that my project for 2009 will to complete the Babette Blanket. And after a couple hours before work, some instruction from Little Ms. Choo Choo and some major focus this evening I think I managed to make my first square!!!

OK its a shitty picture but my camera died right after I took this and I'm so happy I wanted to show you all this!!! I know its a little square but I think I did it right and if I didn't I think its almost right. I'm going to try to bang out another one and see what happens. Maybe Little Miss Choo Choo can teach me how to "work over the tails" tomorrow so I don't have a million ends to weave-in.

How's Dad's sweater? Don't ask, it will get done.

Time for a little ramble...

2009-01-05T21:32:00.004-05:00

It's been a while since I've just rambled on so here we go...

Today was my first day back at work and man was it weird. I've spent the last approximately two weeks either driving around the Tri-State area or alone with Carl in the woods. Its been nice. I've had a lot of time to just relax and enjoy life. I got to escape into some really good books. I got to play board games which I never get to do and I really love them. I could knit or spin whenever I wanted. I could play video games all day. Basically, I could unleash the dorky kid in me and just be free. It was fun.

And mixed in with all that child-like fun I got to play house with Carl. I know we live together so what do I mean "play house"? Well we had a real kitchen with full-size appliances! We had a table!! God do I miss eating at a table!!! And I got to cook my wonderful man 3 meals a day for a week. It was great. The look on his face as he devoured his meals...priceless!

Oh it was just a very simple weekend. There were no parents or authoritarians to yell at us or otherwise ruin our fun. Domesticity was still novel and enjoyable. It was just easy livin. Maybe that's why this vacation was the hardest one I've ever had to come back from. We got back to basics and it was nice. I really felt normal (whatever that is?) and it was wonderful. We didn't spend a lot of money and we really didn't do all that much. We just enjoyed being. If only every day could be like that.

Its good to be home!

2009-01-02T11:35:00.003-05:00

We were on the road Christmas through last Sunday visiting family and eating and drinking WAY too much. By Sunday night we were all settled into our a little cabin in woods. As all my Northeastern readers know it was a very cold week and we were in a house with many windows and electric heat. We had a nice wood burning stove which was helpful BUT all our wood was wet so the logs would weep when we threw them on the fire. It wasn't perfect but it made us laugh. We spent the week reading, played board games and I did a little spinning. We cooked (read I cooked) 3 meals a day and just enjoyed each other's company. I did read one book in particular which was just amazing and I think you should all read. It's called The Bronze Horseman and its by Paulina Simons. I don't think she publishes in the States but you can order her books from Amazon. Anyway, she's an amazing writer and this story is just perfect. It's an epic romance and there were moments when I actually cried. Its so good you have to read it.

Me finishing book 1 of 3

mmm fire

I know you're all wondering is my father's cardigan done? I'm ashamed to say it isn't. I have to fix the button band and collar and I just don't have the energy to rip out the whole left side of the button band. I know its not a lot of work but I've had to rip back so many times already and I think this sweater and I need a little break from each other. I did give it to my Dad to try on on Christmas and it fits so that's good. The sleeves are a little long but he can roll them up. I hope to finish it this week and I hate that I'm slacking but I just can't look at it right now.

My brother loved his hat and couldn't stop talking about how wonderful it is!

I think he likes it!

The only thing that might keep me from finishing the sweater is...OUR NEW WII!! Yes, Carl got me (us) a Wii for Christmas and we're both very sore and we've already had one injury. I was bowling this morning and Carl was trying to put the computer down right behind me. I swung back to throw one AWESOME bowl and I smacked my hand right into the computer and now I have a HUGE blood blister on the tip of my middle finger which is making typing a little difficult but whatever, I'll live. I really like the boxing. Apparenly, I have a lot of anger inside and it all comes out when a punch those suckers! The only problem is that Carl thinks I look really funny while I'm boxing because I jump around and look silly. Now he wants to video it so I have to

watch out before I'm the next You Tube sensation!

Carl testing out the Wii

Now I'm off to rest my weary muscles before going to the grocery store...anyone want to go for me?

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T06:20:00.003-05:00

We're to start our annual Christmas tour and then we're heading to the Berkshires in MA for the week to hide and hopefully I can get a lot of knitting done for ME! Dad's sweater is near completion. I just need to do the button band and shawl collar and maybe block it. I hope to get this done by Friday. If I don't I will give it to him on Sunday when I see him again.

Have a happy healthy Christmas and I'll see you in the New Year!

For those who saw the Twilight movie

2008-12-24T09:52:00.002-05:00

Someone sent this to me today and I just had to share it. I laughed so hard.

Did you know?

2008-12-23T15:49:00.002-05:00

Cat Bordhi wrote a real book? I was looking around on amazon today and I see this book on my homepage and I notice that the author is Cat Bordhi. I click on it thinking, that can't be right Cat Bordhi writes knitting books. Nope I was wrong she also write literate. I wonder if it's any good?

This Sweater is Cursed

2008-12-23T07:07:00.000-05:00

I've been spending my little blogging hiatus going to Christmas parties, being sick and working feverishly on Dad's sweater. Sunday I managaed to finish the sleeves, attach them and start the the shoulder shaping. Last night I was one repeat away from finishing the shaping and I realized that I had misread the pattern (ok sweater not cursed, I just can't read) and I have to rip back everything from the white line up.

I nearly cried last night when I noticed. Carl made me put down my knitting and step away. I woke up this morning to learn that I could save 7 rows more than I thought I could last night. I threw in a safety line and now I'm going to frog. I thought I was going to have this done by Christmas but now I'm just not sure.

Apparently I can't read

2008-12-14T11:33:00.004-05:00

I've been working on dad's sweater and I have the body pretty much done and I have started the first sleeve. Things were looking good till I read the packaging my circle needle came in and I realized I'm knitting the body on a size 9 but the sleeves on a 10! OY!!! I re-checked my guage and its a stitch bigger than it should be on the 9's which I'm ok with since the more room the better for dad. It also means that my sleeves are now 1.5 sts bigger than they should be. I hope he doesn't notice because there's no going back now. Seriously, what kind of drugs was I on when I started this sweater? I guess I should stop worrying and just get back to knitting. But what am I going to do when I get to the saddle shoulder??? Leave it to me to fuck up something this big on this tight of a schedule.

EtsyKnitters Trunk Show Tonight

2008-12-12T14:20:00.001-05:00

We're doing a little trunk show - online - tonight! 3:30 EST, 6:30 PST. I"m going to try to make it for the very begininng before I have to head out to another Christmas party (luckily I can make an ass out of myself at this one). Stop by and see what other knitters are making.

Shop Update!

2008-12-08T19:56:00.002-05:00

And its just in time. All the rovings sold out this afternoon. But don't you fear...my roving is here!

These are some of my favorites:

I'm using two new fiber/fiber blends this time around, BFL (blue faced Leicester) and a merino/bamboo blend. I really love them both but for different reasons. The merino/bamboo blend is super luxurious and the BFL is more natural but soft. I will continue to superwash merino but it nice to play with new fibers.

Enjoy!

Tis the Season

2008-12-05T18:42:00.002-05:00

For Alyssa to get drunk and make an ass out of herself. We had our first Christmas party last night and it was thrown by one of the real estate agents Carl works with. I swear I didn't have that much to drink but it hit me like a ton of bricks. All I know is I was very vocal, happy and dropsy. I think I spilled a drink down the front of me because I was trying to listen to someone and I forgot I was holding a drink. Oh I engaged some stranger is a discussion (read debate) about the merits of religon. I nearly dropped a cupcake on the floor but saved it. The caterors were nice enough to congratulate me on averting that disaster. Luckily, I didn't really know any of these people and Carl says I wasn't really that bad I just uninhibited. So I don't think you'll be shocked when I tell you I will not be drinking more than ONE (yes one) glass of wine at any of the other parties this holiday season. At least I was happy right?

Anyway, Carl left tonight for a trip to Vegas with the boys so I have the house to myself which is freakin fabulous. I just ordered in some dinner and I'm getting ready to watch the next episode of Summer Heights while I work on Dad's cardigan. Have you been watching Summer Heights on HBO? Its so funny, check it out.

Tomorrow I'm getting up early to go home and dye some more rovings for the shop which should be fun. Then I have another Christmas party. Let's hope I can stick with the one drink thing so I don't make an ass out of myself there. Seriously, I'm never like this...I just don't understand what happened last night? I guess I have to stop thinking about this.

I never showed you all the Baby Surprise Jacket! I still have to weave in the ends and seam up the one for Violetta but the one for Tommy is completed and has been sent off to Argentina. I even got a chance to size it up on baby before it went out and I think it will fit.

It took me forever to find little soccer ball buttons but I'm so glad I did because its PERFECT!

Ok I'm off to work on Dad's GIANT cardigan. Have a great weekend and wish me luck with whole not making an ass out of myself thing!

how cute is this?

2008-12-03T19:54:00.001-05:00

I know I should be cleaning but etsy distracted me. See cute!

Hello!

2008-12-03T19:46:00.003-05:00

It's been quite a week. Because both our parents are divorced we have quite a bit of traveling to do each holiday season. Thursday we split up and I went to my mom's and Carl went to his dad's. Then on Friday we went to my Dad's in Connecticut and then we took an early morning ferry to Port Jefferson, NY on Saturday so we could drive over to his Mom's place on the Northfork of Long Island. Finally on Sunday we got to come home and not eat turkey. In addition to adding more miles onto my car I did manage to finish both Baby Surprise Jackets and the hat for my brother so I really do feel like I accomplish something and I gorged myself on 3 thanksgiving dinners.

The yarn for Dad's caridgan showed up on Monday and I cast-on as soon as I got home from work. I now have about 6 inches done. We watched a Stephen Segal (sorry if I spelled that wrong but I just don't care enough to learn how to spell his name) movie last night and I managed to get through a lot of stockinette while ~~watching~~ trying not watching). I'm still worried that the XL will be too big for him but my Step-mom confirmed that he is indeed an XL. I can wrap the thing around me twice!! I just don't think my Dad is that big but Carl says he's a big man (both in height and girth) so I shouldn't worry so much. So I'm going to just keep going and trust that I'm doing this right.

We have people coming over tonight so I need to get off the computer and finish cleaning. And I should probably try to get a few rows done on the cardigan before they get here...stupid guests...

Oh and I keep meaning to tell you all the read the Sookie Stackhouse books, you know the one's that TrueBlood based on. They're so good! I'm now on book 6 and I have to say I love Eric and Sookie needs to stop it with these other supernatural beings and just hump Eric. (sorry for the rant) You probably don't understand what I'm talking about so just go read the books. I promise you'll like them.

Pssst...

2008-11-26T11:52:00.000-05:00

New Twist Collective is up! I'm probably late to the party but I thought I'd share anyway.

Elements Fiber Club

2008-11-25T20:11:00.006-05:00

Tonight I launched the Elements Fiber Club over at the shop. Here are the details:

I think this will be fun! I hope you all enjoy.

I must be taking crazy pills

2008-11-25T09:08:00.002-05:00

With 29 days left before Christmas I had the brilliant idea of making my dad a sweater for Christmas. I just ordered the yarn from knit picks to make Smokin' by Jared Flood. I've been wanting to make my dad a nice old-man cardigan for while now and for some reason I thought this was the perfect time to cast on. The good things are that its knit in bulky yarn and my dad is very understanding. The bad thing is that my dad is HUGE! And there are no other males around of similar size so I can't even use them as a guide. I guess I will have to work with my stepmom to see if she can steal me a sweater of Dad's that I can then measure and work off of for size. Ugh its going to be a giant knit-a-thon till Christmas.

Thankfully the Baby Surprise Jackets are just about done. I hope to finish them tonight and then I just need to find buttons for the boy jacket and I'm done. Then I have my brother's hat but that shouldn't take too long since its just a hat. After that I think I'm done but who knows what else will show up on the knitting list.

And of course Kim Hargreaves has to have a new book out. The patterns in Amber are pretty but its still no Heartfelt. Though it doesn't keep me from drooling and wanting to buy the book. I need to get Thrown Together and Nectar too. Maybe Santa will get them for me...

Whoa Hang Over

2008-11-22T07:33:00.002-05:00

I went to see Twilight last night with some coworkers and friends. We got to the theatre at about 5:30 for the 7:00 show. We smuggled in some spiked hot chocolate and some wine for the show (hey it was a Friday night). We waited in line stuffing ourselves full for junkie movie theatre snacks and eventually they let us in the theatre. It was a freaking mad rush to get to seats like a Loehman's sale in there. I think I punched a lady when I tried to wave to my friends to get their attention about some seats. Once the mayhem was over we settled in with our drinks and waited for the movie to start. Personally, I enjoyed the whole experience of the movie. It was cheesy and parts of it were just SO wrong but I enjoyed it as a movie. Plus, we were basically a theatre full of adult women acting like 14 year old girls and I was in the drunk section (we made friends with the other alchies that were sitting behind us). I had a great time.

After the movie my friends and I said by to my coworkers and headed out to find a bar. Somehow my plan of just going to the movies on Friday turned into an all night Twilight Party. So now I'm sitting here, unable to sleep anymore, kind of hoarse and with a headache. Thankfully all I have to do today is see Carl's mother...sweet! Hopefully I can shake this off before we meet up with her. Oh I also have to go to the post office. I can't forget to do that.

I hope you all had a good Friday night! Let me know what you thought of Twilight if you saw it. We were a pretty divided front last night.

Leaf Green Handmade

2008-11-20T18:30:00.003-05:00

I keep forgeting to post about this but my lovely blogging friend Lin (of Queen of the Froggers) has an etsy store with really lovely handknit items. I recently purchased this super cute pouch (I stole your photo Lin because I can't find my camera at the moment):

I use it for all sorts of things but the mostly it hold my ipod. It's perfect for when I'm at the gym. I can throw my ipod, lock key and any other little things I need in there and carry it around with me.

She recently reviewed me and my shop as part of a little blogging experiment called "People Behind the Shop". You can read my interview here but you all know who I am. I really just want to spotlight Lin and her shop because frankly, she's awesome. And I like to support my fellow knitter, blogger and/or etsy sellers.

Now I'm off to find warm clothes and some dinner.

OMG

2008-11-19T21:29:00.002-05:00

I just found the most awesome thing I've ever seen!!! They have FRAGGLE ROCK on dvd!!

Shop Update!

2008-11-19T19:20:00.001-05:00

I updated the shop tonight.

Woo Hoo

2008-11-18T21:28:00.002-05:00

I crochted something!

It really is some "Thing" its all wonky and strange but its a start. I will cherish it forever...

Sleepy and Stained

2008-11-15T20:58:00.004-05:00

Since the rovings basically sold out in a day I needed to go home today to dye up more. I managed to dye about 8 more things of roving, 5 skeins of lace weight, 3 special skeins for my friends at L&V and 4 bulky skeins for a christmas present. I'm totally exhausted and my hands are all stained. I never know how to explain the stained hands when I go back to work the Monday after dyeing. I wonder if anyone really notices my blue, pink, brown, green...whatever color fingers. I wonder what they would say if they knew. Maybe they don't notice but I should really be more careful when I'm dyeing.

I also picked up one of my 6 (Yes SIX) textbooks for the CFA I exam that I'm taking in June. I guess life as I know it is over till exam is over. Its going to be weird studying again but I need to do something to further my career. So study it is. I tried to start on the train tonight but I kept falling asleep. I guess I can start tomorrow when I'm rested.

After reading the comments I think I have to tell you all that I do wear gloves while I'm mixing and dyeing but I think I get dye on me during those times when they're off. I think I need to pay more attention since I just attract dirt.

Oh and can someone explain to me the point of yarn dots?

So close but so far

2008-11-14T22:35:00.003-05:00

I was about to complete my Baby Surprise Jacket and then I ran out of yarn about 40 or so stitches from the end. I'm so mad because I'm completely out of the pink color. Luckily I have another ball on order from Knit Picks and hopefully I'll get it soon. So sad, I really want to seam this one up this weekend. But you have to move on so I've put the stitches on a holder and I guess I'm going to cast on the second Baby Surprise Jacket tomorrow.

This one is for Carl's nephew, Tommy, and will be made in cream and red. Because they live in Argentina I want to pick up some little soccer ball buttons for his sweater. Now I only have to figure out what kind of buttons to put on Violetta's sweater? Maybe I can run to Joanns when I'm at home this weekend and see what they have.

Now its back to relaxing! Oh and, 7 MORE DAYS TILL TWILIGHT!!!

CONTEST!

2008-11-14T09:53:00.001-05:00

Ok its not my contest but its a contest. Tell Karen the Choo Choo Knitter you're secret obsession!

Go now! (look at me being forceful)

Progess

2008-11-13T07:24:00.003-05:00

I've been feverishly working on the Baby Surprise Jacket for Carl's niece and I've made a lot of progress. I've been watching along with Meg Swansen's video to ensure I don't make a mistake.

I'm scared I might run out of the pink color so I'm trying to use as much of the white as possible since I have 3 or 4 balls of it. Fingers-crossed I have enough yarn.

Sorry this is going to be a rather distracted post because I made the mistake of trying to write this while watching Little Britain USA. I can't focus, must watch and laugh.

I'm a Yarnie

2008-11-11T17:30:00.000-05:00

I've been added as a Yarnie on Ravelry so stash your purchases and projects so I can see what you make!

Finally!

2008-11-10T20:42:00.003-05:00

I finished the Winter Twilight Mittens. I even weaved in the ends!!

They're perfect!

Now all I have to do is finish my:

Gossamer Shawl
Clapotis
Mesh Gloves
The Argyle Socks for my Grandpa
Brother's Christmas Present (shhh its a secret)
Swirl Shawl

But I think I might cast-on a Baby Surprise Jacket for one of Carl's nieces but then I have to think of something else to make for all the other little ones in his family. That means I have to figure out 3 other little kid/baby project that will whip up relatively quickly. Any suggestions?

Ok I'm going to get back to Inside the Actors Studio and enjoying my very warm and stylish hands!

In my dreams

2008-11-08T10:06:00.002-05:00

When I was in Alexandria, VA last weekend we went through the old torpido factory which is now being used as artist studio space. Each artist has their own little studio space where you can watch them work and see their art. I wish I could find a small space of my own somewhere in this city to setup a studio. Unfortunately, dyeing yarn/roving isn't really considered "art" by those who would be able to provide space like that (oh and I don't live in Virginia) so I guess I will have to be content dreaming about it. It would be so lovely to have a little space to call my own with a large table/work surface, a stove and oven, a sink and nice lighting. It would be great if I didn't have to pack everything away into a plastic tub at the end of the day like I'm packing away part of me. Plus, it would just be nice to have a space of my own.

Oh well, one day.

I was on my way to get coffee

2008-11-07T07:02:00.001-05:00

when I saw that someone had posted this at Ravelry:

Shop Update

2008-11-06T19:40:00.003-05:00

I added my first ever rovings to the shop. There are a few in the bunch that I really want to keep for myself but they're for the store so I have to part with them.

here's a sneak peak:

WOW half my rovings are gone and its been just over an hour since I put them up!! Thank you guys for the support! I guess I have to dye some more rovings for you all.

Sometimes I love mornings

2008-11-06T07:33:00.001-05:00

I'm sitting here having my coffee and watching Saved by the Bell and its still awesome. They're playing a beach episode, I loved when they worked at the beach club. Oh those crazy kids.

Exploding Brain

2008-11-05T17:00:00.000-05:00

Since class ended on Sunday my mind has been very busy coming up with designs. As I was walking to work this morning I passed a lady in lovely grey cardigan and thought...oo if I tweak this and add that...by the time I got to work I had an entire sweater outlined in my head. I'm guessing its time for me to grab a notebook so I can commit these ideas to paper. I'm excited about this new creative spark. However, I think knitting is starting to take over my life. I don't mind but I'm running out of room in my little brain for other non-knitter things. Oh well, I guess it could be worse!

I heart Stefanie!

2008-11-02T19:25:00.003-05:00

I just got back from my knitting retreatie thing with Stefanie Japel and I have to say I had an amazing time. If you don't know who she is you really should because not only is she an amazing designer she's also the sweetest person I think I have ever met. My friend and I drove down to Alexandria, VA on Friday afternoon and we arrived just in time to meet Stefanie at Knit Happens so we could get our books signed (oh yah she has a new book out called Glam Knits and its great!). We arrived at the store around maybe 8:30 so it was pretty quiet. We got some alone time with her before the classes started the next day. I have to say I was a little in awe of her. What do you say? "um, I like your patterns I think they're neat" ...actually that might have been what I said now that I think about it. Luckily, my friend can talk to anyone about anything so I just let her go and jumped in when I could (and I probably jumped in with super insightful comments like the one above). One thing we didn't realize when we signed up was that we were the only people coming in from out of town so once we checked in with the ladies at the shop they were a like "so you guys are the ones from New York, we were waiting to meet you. I can't believe you all drove down here for this that's awesome." Soon it seemed like everyone knew we were the knitters from New York. It felt a little like we were extra special for making the trip. I'm sure we weren't but it put a little spring in your step whenever someone in class would turn to you say "oh I heard there were a few girls coming from New York its so nice to meet you."

We left Stefanie to find some dinner and stumbled upon this really cute Spanish/Mexican/South American (we still aren't sure what kind of food it really was) place and decided to grab some margaritas and some food (which do you think was my priority!). We walked in and were instantly amused. All the waiters were dressed in costume (it was Halloween) while the patrons were dressed rather smartly. The lady next to us was actually wearing a tweed jacket with leather elbow patches! Anyway, the whole time we're there more and more waitstaff appear in increasingly more bizarre costumes. There was an Arab, the scream guy, Dracula (of course), a slutty bee, a slutty little Miss Muffet and our waiter a little man in a giant afro and tie-dyed shirt. The whole thing was surreal and we just laughed and laughed (ok some of the laughing may have been alcohol induced). The food was amazing, the drinks were strong and all in all we had an awesome time. We got back to the hotel knit, giggled and passed out.

My other friend drove down from New Jersey Saturday morning and met us at the hotel just in time to walk to class. We spent the whole day learning how to construct a top down raglan, how to add design features and adjust for our body types. And then we all got to work designing our own creations. I've had this one idea in my head for quite some time now so I was really eager to get it out of my head and onto some paper. Stefanie helped me work out the kinks and by Sunday I had it started on my needles. Now when I say started, I mean that I have 9 rows done but I know how to make the body. I need to figure out my sleeves and my collar but I figure get the body done and then I can move onto the other bits, right?

It was a great weekend and now I'm super tired and want to crash. Before I do, I want to share the only picture I got all weekend. This is our entire class with Stefanie:

Yes, that's me in the front with the Glampyre herself. I don't know how I got to be in front or why I'm slouching in such an unattractive manner but its photographic proof that I have met I real knitting celeb! Now that we've met her, my friends and I think she needs to move her little butt out of New Mexico to New York because...well...we're selfish and want her here!

Ok time to unpack and maybe sleep. I hope you all had great weekends too!

Turkish Baths are off!

2008-10-30T20:49:00.002-04:00

That's right! I didn't have to go to the Turkish Baths tonight! Unfortunately, our plans were cancelled because Carl came down with some kind of stomach bug. I put him to bed and I'm watch some Inspector Lynly while I work on my gauge swatch for my designing class with Stephanie Japel this weekend!! I'm so exicted. I can't wait to tell you all about it when I get back.

Equus and Turkish Baths

2008-10-30T07:55:00.003-04:00

Last night a couple girlfriends and I went to see Equus. I have to say it was phenominal and very intense. I thought the Daniel Radcliffe was amazing. Its the kind of play where the main characters are never really offstage and he never faltered. The naked scene was slightly awkward (I also think it might have been a little cold in the theatre) but once all the stripping was over and they got back to the action and talking I forgot all about the nudity. If you don't mind a slightly out there play with nudity that is VERY well written and acted go see it.

So I'm having my morning coffee right now (don't worry the coffee is on the table and the computer is on my lap just in case I spill again) and I'm trying to prepare myself for the day. I'm off tomorrow so I can head to VA for a class with Stephanie Japel so I have a lot to get done at work before I can leave. But that's not what I'm preparing for. The other day Carl asked if I would go to this Turkish bath place with him tonight. I said sure because I'm a good girlfriend. I went on the site last night to see what treatments they have and I was shocked! Every description scared the crap out of me. I kept hearing this deep eastern european voice as a read descriptions like "we'll beat and pound out the stress" "we hit you with brooms" "if you want us to be gentle tell us" and various other things (yes there is actually a treatment where they whack you with some sort of broom). I'm sure they aren't as violent as they sound but the descriptions don't encourage me to find out! Hopefully, I make it out alive tonight.

I know I haven't talked about my knitting very much this week but I really haven't done much. I still have a mitten to finish and I'm working on both my shawls. I've also been really into my spindle at the moment. Tonight I have to start winding all my yarn for class and knitting up a guage swatch. Of course that all depends on how bruised and beaten I am after this whole Turkish bath thing.

Off to work, have a good Thursday.

EUREKA!

2008-10-27T20:55:00.002-04:00

I finally figured out the support spindle!! And by "figured it out" I mean that I stalked Cat from LetKnit2Gether.com on plurk and asked her if she had any pointers. Apparently you need to hold the fiber at about a 45 degree angle from the tip of the sindle. Once you hit the correct angle the twist will actually start to travel up the leader/fiber. I kept trying to spin at a 90 degree angle and the twist never came. I nearly chucked thing across the room it was so frustrating. But now that I know, I'm making things yarn not pretty yarn but yarn all the same. So I should say a very big THANK YOU to Cat for helping me out (not that she read the blog but I still want to put that out there). I thought I was losing my mind when I couldn't figure the little bugger out. THANK YOU CAT!

I dyed

2008-10-26T17:33:00.003-04:00

I decided today I would dye some of the roving I bought. I think I had a little too much fun since I managed to dye about 3 of 5 pounds I have. They're all superwash merino and they feel like butter (really want to spin them). There are a few colorways I want to keep for myself but alas they must be sold.

They are all drying at my mom's house in the burbs. I'll pick then up on sunday and will hopefully have them in the shop next week.

I just made it back to the city and I'm exhausted. I asked my brother to get me a supported spindle for my birthday and it finally arrived so I'm trying to figure out how to use this thing but I'm at a complete lose. Anybody able to help (click the link to see what kind I got). Iwill love you forever if you can.

I was going to make potato and cheddar soup for dinner tonight but I am way too tired to make soup from scratch. I guess I'll make up a batch on friday when I'm off. Then Carl will have food for the weekend while I'm away with a few friends. It really is the best fall weather soup. So yummy with crusty bread...now I'm salivating.

Ok collapsing. I watched Lost in Austen yesterday and now I'm in the mood for a little Darcy so I'm going to curl up with Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife and read (I think this is the fifth time I've read this book...man does Mr. Darcy take her!...SWOON).

Scaring the "In-Crowd"

2008-10-24T11:36:00.003-04:00

I finished book in the Southern Vampire series (the books True Blood is based on) last night and had nothing to read on the bus this morning so I grab my copy of In Sheep's Clothing that I just received yesterday and headed out the door. I got on the bus, found me a seat and started reading. Next thing I know the little fashionistas on the bus are looking at me all strange-like. I started to chuckle a little inside, is it wrong that I found/find enjoyment in frightening them just a little?

Today I raise my geek flag a little higher!

Why I can't have nice things...

2008-10-24T07:35:00.000-04:00

I got up early, grabbed some coffee and my spinning and sat down at the computer to check ravelry quickly before I started my spinning. Next thing I know I'm spilling my coffee all over our BRAND NEW LAPTOP while Carl stares at me in horror. Next thing I know I'm jumping up to get paper towels, dumping the coffee out of the computer onto the coffee table (yah that has a whole new meaning now) and running to the bathroom to start blow drying the keyboard dry.

I guess I'm not spinning this morning and I guess I will have to drink my coffee before I get on the computer in the morning.

At least its friday!

Knitting Goodies!

2008-10-22T19:58:00.002-04:00

The HR lady at work gave me a gift certificate to knitpicks for my birthday. Of course I ordered some goodies right away. I picked up Knitting Lace with Meg Swanson and the knee-sel. I think knitpicks finally figured out how to ship in a timely manner because I placed the order on friday and it arrived today! I haven't been able to watch the DVD yet because Carl has been here and I think he'd kill me if I tried to make him watch it. I did however whip out my chart for the Winter Twilight Mittens so I could try out the knee-sel. This thing is awesome!!! I hated working on patterns with charts because I could never find a place to put my pattern where I could read it and knit at the same time. But now it's just right there in front of me!! Ok I know I sound like one of those sales people on HSN or QVC or something but this is thing is freakin awesome. I think I see many more charted patterns in my future.

Anyway, I've been waking up super early of late. OK 6 am is not super early but it is when you're 25, you live 20 minutes from work and you don't have to be there till 9am. I keep waking up at 6am bright-eyed and bushy-tailed ready to start the day. Carl however, has been sleeping in so my being awake annoys him so I have taken to sneaking up to the living room and knitting or spinning. I thinke this is the perfect way to start the day. I get a little coffee from the deli across the street and say hi to my coffee guys, then I come home, pop in something good to watch and I knit or spin. Its just so wonderful. I think its starting to effect my attitude too. I've been in a rather crummy mood the last few days but after some days of early morning me time I'm starting to feel a mood shift. I'm actually a little happier anbd pleasant! I know right...me...NICE!

Sorry, Carl just walked in with really good cookies, I'm trying not to salivate too much on the keyboard right now. I should probably take that as a sign to leave you. Have a good night!

And the winner is...

2008-10-21T07:18:00.008-04:00

Aunt Kathy!!! You have won two beautiful skeins of natural wool from Sankow's Beaver Brook Farm in Lyme, CT. In total I think there are about 450 yards. This stuff is beautiful, despite my crappy pictures. Email me (address in sidebar!) and we'll arrange shipment!

Aunt Kathy's Story:

I always remember my 15th birthday as being special, but can I tell you why? NO, it just was. Also every year once we were a teenager our dad would take us out to dinner at a grown up restaurant just the birthday girl and him. Those were very special.

Now every year, my mom and my two sisters and I always celebrate our birthdays on the same day in a Mexican restaurant and we flirt with the waiter and say OLE when we eat a red chip. One year the ceiling fell in on us in our booth, omg that was funny.

This year however (my birthday is 11-5) I am having a life changing surgery and from here on out this year will always be the birthday I LOVE the most.

Thank you all for participating! It's been so much fun reading your birthday stories. And thank you Eliza for reminding me to add Kathy's story!!

SHEEEP!!

2008-10-20T07:34:00.004-04:00

I'm back from the NY Sheep and Wool Festival and I'm exhausted! My mom and I had a fabulous time we have so many pictures to share with you guys. It was so much fun. Unfortunately, I have to run off to work this morning so you will have to wait for a real post. Till then please enjoy the sheep!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

2008-10-17T00:01:00.002-04:00

YAY it's my birthday!!! I am leaving today for Rhinebeck so I won't be blogging for a few days. I thought to celebrate my little birthday I'd give my blog readers a little birthday discount at the shop. So for all of today, October 17th, you can get 20% items in the shop just by writing "I read your blog!" in the comments to the seller when you order! When I get back from Rhinebeck I will return 20% of the purchase price to you (sorry there's no easier way to do this through etsy but a deals a deal!). Enjoy!!!