A Gathering of Wool

I Should be Saving Money....

2008-11-13T15:46:00.000-08:00

But instead I'm buying yarn. (and shoes)

I really want to make the Lion Neck Cardigan from Custom Knits. This book rocks! I would give it 6 stars if that was possible. The patterns are nice, some of them are outstanding in their simple but elegant design. But the true value of the book is the clean articulation of how to customize top-down seamless sweaters, including how to knit different types of sleeves from the top down.

I've read Knitting Without Tears and Knitting From the Top. Both are good (I especially like Barbara Walker) but Custom Knits summarizes the important concepts from both books and others in such an easy to understand and straightforward way that you wonder why you weren't able to figure it out yourself. (It's OK...Wendy Bernard has done it for you now so don't beat yourself up over it).

What does this have to do with not saving money?

The Lion Neck Cardigan pattern calls for Rowan RYC Soft Tweed, which is discontinued. I looked through my considerable stash for possible substitutions, checked Ravelry for other yarns that people used with that pattern and decided it was best to find some Soft Tweed.

After a little Googling, I found an amazing deal at Bargain Yarns which I immediately snapped up - 8 skeins of Soft Tweed in Bark. Then I looked around the site and found Cherry Tree Hill Silk and Merino Bulky. Bulky, people. 372 yards in each hank. I could not pass this up. I bought 2.

So you see, I'm not saving money because I'm buying yarn. (and shoes)

Do not tell my husband.

Unidentified Blue Blob

2008-10-31T08:17:00.001-07:00

If I told you this is supposed to be the Two-Toned Shrug from Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel, would you believe me?

Really, it is. Except that it's only one-toned. And it's got 3/4 sleeves. I've always wondered...is a pattern still the same pattern if you make a few minor changes like that? I think it is but some people have argued that it's different.

I started this a few weeks ago but haven't had much time to devote to it. The yarn is Dream in Color Classy in Blue Lagoon, which has been in my stash for about a year or so. This yarn is a must-have! It goes on and on forever (250 yds), is comfortable in your hands and the color is beautiful. My photos don't do it justice. Two skeins will be more than enough for the shrug in the 16" shoulder-to-shoulder width, even with the longer sleeves. I think, however, that this will be just a tad too big for me. The pattern says to size down if you're in between sizes. My husband took the measurement and he said he had been "generous."

Also, I should've tapered the sleeve. My arms are skinny-ish already. After seaming the first sleeve and trying it on, I noticed a slight puffing. So the sleeves won't be so fitted but that's probably OK. More than likely I'll wear this over a long-sleeved top anyway. If it really doesn't fit, I know who I can give it to.

In other news...well, there's no other news. My in-laws are here and we're going to San Francisco tomorrow to visit the California Academy of Sciences museum. I'm really excited because I want to see this place. It will be fun! My family (the Mailman side, that is) is geeky that way. I haven't been to a planetarium in ages. Hope to post lots of good photos soon.

Twinkle Shopping Tunic

2008-10-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

Back to the knitting!

Twinkle's Big City Knits has been on my shelf for a while. Against my better judgment, I managed to convince myself that I could channel the models in the book: be tall, willowy and boobless (TWB).

My first attempt at TWB was the Skating Sweater. Have I blogged about this already? I can't remember. Anyway I shopped from my stash and used Muench Big Baby (and in the process I denied Karalyn a new crib blanket). The result was less than stunning. Instead of being TWB I was short, stumpy and stacked (SSS). The fuzzy focus doesn't help either. I was also 10 lbs heavier in this photo. I knit this sweater last fall. Afterwards I came to my senses and said No to any more Twinkle sweaters.

Since then I've lost 10 lbs and gotten back down to pre-baby weight. The weight loss has clouded my thinking. Again I pulled out Big City Knits, looked at the models and said, "Tall, willowy, boobless! That's me!"

Earlier this week I finished the Shopping Tunic. During the knitting I started to get anxious. The yarn is so thick! The gauge is so huge! The measurements are so tiny! I held up the finished piece to my person to provide perspective on how small the sweater turned out to be right off the needles. Remember, I'm a size 1 or 2 petite. In the photo the sweater is "inside-out" since the purl side is actually the right side. What's that big wonky blob of yarn? I don't know.

To have a sleeker silhouette I decided to forego the pockets and the cowl neck. The pocket instructions were confusing anyway, and the cowl would've been itchy. Who needs it on a short-sleeve tunic? When I put the sweater on this morning, Karl had to laugh when he saw me roll it down my body. "Every father's nightmare," he commented. "You're not passing that down to Karalyn." However he said it looked nice on me.

It's not that great. In fact, I look SSS! Karl said, "Yeah, the thick yarn adds another inch or two." Sheesh! I need another inch or two but not around my waist or chest. Do you see how the armholes are weirdly stretched out? And this yarn, since it's roving, will pill and fuzz and break down very quickly. Which will make me even more SSS.

Oh well. Live and learn. I have 4 more skeins of Soft Chunky. I might...might...try the Evening Shell with it. If I do, some adjustments will need to be made.

In the meantime I thought I would wear this expensive designer sweater at least once. The weather is perfect for it today.

Happy Friday!

Who Am I and What Do I Do?

2008-09-23T15:48:00.000-07:00

I rarely talk about work or the company I work for here. It doesn't seem appropriate for a personal blog. However, I have to admit that who I work for and what I do there is part of my identity. Probably a bigger part of my identity than I'm comfortable acknowledging.

Right now I'm in the midst of a career stall.

My company went through a big layoff last September and I truly, truly thought I would be let go. In fact, only two people survived my immediate team of 11, myself and a new hire who was not allowed to be fired since he had been there less than a year. Even my manager was laid off. The reason I was spared was that I had taken a risk in early 2007 to do something completely different from the rest of the team. Isn't that ironic?

Since then, I've plodded along as best I could in my newly chosen career path - internal employee communications. What I've discovered, however, is that communications is not what it seems.

Communications is different to different people. To me, initially, it meant writing articles for newsletters and imparting information to people who needed to know. I was happy to do this. I love learning about new stuff and talking to people about it. I'm generally a nosy person anyway so this fit right in with my personality. But I started to get requests for weird stuff, like "what's our marcomm plan for this project?" and "are you going to create the policy for documentation?" I would get the former from management and the latter from my co-workers. Then people started asking me, "Where are we going to put our information? On SharePoint or on the [enterprise] wiki?" Eeek! What happened to the writing? I'll tell you - everyone began asking me to write all of their mass communications: "Hey, I need you to write an announcement about the product X release and send it to everybody in IT."

David Byrne would say, "And you may ask yourself, well how did I get here?"

It was a bit of an epiphany: communications is no longer just writing and telling. It's marketing. It's content management. It's technology a la Web 2.0. When I tried to explain the situation to my manager, he said, "Well yeah." (My manager, who is a few years younger than me, is attitudinally Gen Y. I on the other hand, flit between an older Gen X and a very young Baby Boomer when the mood suits me.)

When people ask me who I am and what I do, I hesitate. To say I'm in communications seems inadequate and misleading. Yet what else do I call it?

Clapotis a Finis

2008-09-15T20:24:00.000-07:00

My name is LynetteM and I am the 7,641st person on Ravelry to knit Clapotis.

This a beautiful, ingeniously simple pattern, one that I will never knit again. For too long this all-purpose scarf/wrap/makeshift throw/table runner lived in my dark and lonely WIP closet stuck in a "Section 3: Straight Rows" time warp.

The yarn came from Full Thread Ahead's booth in the Market at Stitches West a couple of years ago. Cherry Tree Hill Silk & Merino DK in "Foxy Lady." Three skeins were on sale for $45, a deal I couldn't pass up. I knew immediately what the yarn was meant to be. What I didn't anticipate was how long it would take to evolve.

Now that it's done I'm feeling spent, and somewhat at a loss. Clapotis is casually folded up on an end table not even blocked. It's coming with me to Vegas next month (along with my wicked platform sandals) but other than that I don't have plans for it.

Umm, so what's next? Clapotis took a lot out of me - I was so intent on finishing it. Time for Arwen? That's another Kate Gilbert pattern, maybe it's too soon. Cinnamon from Rowan Tweed? I can't decide. Perhaps I'll spend part of the evening swatching.

Ideas?

Random Things About Me and a Sea of Clapotis

2008-09-07T16:18:00.000-07:00

Allison tagged me for a few tidbits about myself so I thought I've give it a go:

My first name was Maria. It's a Filipino thing for daughters be named after saints. If that doesn't happen, the girls are given "Maria" as their first name but called by their second name.

I became a naturalized citizen at age 22 and promptly dropped "Maria." As a side note, I've changed my name 4 times.

I'm a left-handed golfer and my favorite club is my 7 wood.

I drive a stick shift. So sporty, eh?

Black and white film photography was my first love. After discovering the mysteries of the darkroom I was hooked.

I used to read Tiger Beat! I had crushes on Leif Garrett and the Bay City Rollers.

OK, there are rules for these random things. First rule is share the rules! Link to the person who tagged you. Then right your six random bits of tid. Let the tagger know when you've responded. Tag 6 more people. Let them know you've tagged them by commenting on their blogs.

I don't read a whole bunch of blogs anymore so I'll only tag a few more people: Lori, Jen and Ruth. And of course anyone who wants to join in the fun, please do so. Just let me know, OK?

So I didn't finish sewing my tote bag. It's been a couple of weeks since I started it and my interest has waned considerably. I was in the middle of sewing the handles when the sewing machine needle broke! Karl fixed it but I really just need a heavier duty needle. I'm procrastinating.

This afternoon, after cursing my last skein of Cherry Tree Hill which was giving me a little trouble, I managed to spit-splice it to my Clapotis working yarn.

I must be one of the last knitters on earth who has not made this thing. I've got seven more repeats to go and then I'll be done. This yarn is CTH Silk & Merino DK that I picked up at Stitches West a few years ago. I love the color but do you notice where the dye didn't take and shows up as white? Nothing I can do about it now but it really stands out. It kinda bugs me.

This coming week is my birthday week. Not that I'm celebrating. I keep forgetting it. 41 is not exactly a milestone birthday that I want to remember, you know? But it's good excuse for cake and shoe-shopping. I picked up a pair of Michael Kors peep toe black patent leather platform sandals at Nordstrom's. Very Las Vegas. Wicked.

Living in the Moment

2008-08-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

I can't beat myself up anymore that I don't blog as often as I'd like. That's just the way it is right now. I'm chalking it up to living in the moment. I am doing whatever I'm doing at this very minute, does that make sense? Hehe. Probably not but I swear I haven't had anything alcoholic to drink this morning.

On the knitting front, Clapotis is still on the needles. However, I'm determined to get this done by the end of September! It's close - just a few more repeats in the last section. Until it's complete, I vowed not to start on anything else.

Well At least, not knitting-wise.

I started sewing this tote bag last weekend. Sewing has always been an interest but the process is very intimidating to me. All that pressing and pinning and marking and cutting. I've sewn hems and small things like that before but I've never used a pattern. Patterns scare me. I found the tutorial for the tote bag and it didn't seem so hard. And I didn't have to worry about a pattern.

I started by not selecting the proper fabric. Instead of a stiffer canvas-type fabric I chose something flimsy. The saleswoman at Beverly's talked me into using a fusible interfacing that is literally as stiff as cardboard. I was afraid my sewing machine needle was going to break when I seamed the little gusset corners. The handles are all that are left to do this weekend. I promise to post a picture regardless of how the bag turns out.

Speaking of photos, here's one my aunt took in my parents' backyard in April. Karalyn can look quite different depending on who she's with. In this picture she favors Karl more than me.

Here's my little devil looking positively angelic.

A Little Bit of Summer

2008-08-06T17:05:00.000-07:00

The dog days of summer are here. I love this photo of Karalyn and her "boy friends" because it makes me think of simple summer pleasures that only kids can truly have. How I wish it could be like this forever for her.

Last Sunday we went on a short hike somewhere between Placerville and Mosquito. This was Karalyn's first time when she hiked on her own rather than being carried in a pack. Don't you love our hiking clothes?? REI catalog here we come.

Pool and Pigtails

2008-06-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

Do I really need to explain why I haven't been knitting much lately?

It's Hot! But I'll Wear My New Cardigan Anyway

2008-06-09T21:44:00.000-07:00

Debbie Bliss' Scoop Neck Cardigan. Size: small (32). Yarn: Noro Silk Garden #34, 7 skeins. Knitty things: size 8 Addi Turbo, 2.5mm crochet hook, 9 buttons.

Pretty, isn't it? A little scratchy and warm (it's 90 degrees outside) but it fits well and I like it! The sleeves caused me some issue - they are still too long despite taking 1 inch off. And I was very careful about seaming this one: all the pieces were blocked and I attempted to sew the sleeves to the armholes a couple of times each before I was satisfied. I used embroidery floss to seam because the Noro was simply too fragile for that. Sounds disturbing, huh? We'll see how it holds up when the weather cools down again and I wear it more often. It's actually seen some action already - I wore it in Seattle (got compliments at So Much Yarn) and a few days here at home when the temps were still in the 70s.

Next up is the "Dress Me Up" pattern for Karalyn from Yarn Girls Guide to Kids Knits. Wait till you see the colorway.

Oh, gotta a new haircut. I love the convenience of short hair but I'm not sure it suits everyone else, ha!

Gotta run, it's late again....

Have I Finally Grown Up?

2008-04-21T08:50:00.001-07:00

When I turned 30 my expectation was that I would reach full maturity and sophistication. You know, like a piece of fruit that you bought a little green that suddenly becomes ripe overnight sitting on the counter.

Turns out that never happened. I mean, it didn't feel like it happened. Although friends would say I'm really quite mature, what do they know because most of them are younger than me anyway.

All through my 30's I kept waiting for some sign that indicated I was grown up. I bought a house. I bought a car. I invested in stocks, mutual funds and 401k's. I took trips overseas and stayed in fancy hotels. I was promoted a few times at work. I had a long, stable relationship with a guy and we eventually married. We had a baby. Was I mature yet?

If I had asked myself that at 39 my answer would've been, "Almost." Now I'm 40 and sliding towards 41. The answer at this very moment is, "Yes, I'm really grown up."

You're probably thinking I'm either going through menopause or my birthday is coming up. Neither is true! What prompted this is I'm planning my daughter's 2nd birthday next month. Two whole years of baby goodness have gone by really fast. And in those two years I've finally felt like, well, a grown up woman. It hit me the other day - I'm planning a huge birthday party for my child. How mature that sounds. Wow. Being a mom does weird things like that to you.

Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones sums it up the best, "It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage." And my odometer has seen a lot of miles racked up lately.

BTW. That's the Skating Sweater in size medium from Twinkle's Big City Knits. I used Muench Big Baby and the whole sweater took less than a week, even with my hectic schedule. When I was knitting the thing, it looked like it would never fit - the piece was like large tube - but the yarn stretches and is form-fitting. I chose Big Baby because it was in my stash, but poor Karalyn was gipped out of a baby blanket.

Trumpets please! After a couple of years sitting in my WIP basket, Wiggles and Waves is finally finished. This pattern is from Blue Moon Fiber Arts and uses 2 different Sock Candy yarns. This project has been around so long, I don't have the yarn ball bands anymore. I knit with needles one size larger than called for. I paid for that mistake because I ran out of the blue variegate to make long sleeves. And I couldn't find the yarn anymore. But it's done and Karalyn will wear it either this summer or next. Woohoo!

Ode to Stripes

2008-02-20T13:02:00.000-08:00

For those who feared I had abandoned knitting altogether, think again! Aside from various socks and mittens for the wee one, I raced through a sweater for the Lil Babe. I give you - the Striped Sweater from Yarn Girls' Guide to Kids Knits. Ta-dah!

I finished this, what...a week ago. I don't even remember all the pattern details now. The yarn came from my stash: RYC Cashsoft Aran (a washable, cashmere and merino blend) in colors Foxglove, Haze and Bud. I had just enough plus a couple of skeins leftover for fingerless gloves later (hmm, Fetching comes to mind).

Karalyn on the back step. Adorable, yes? The sweater is huge on her. I think it's a size 2 toddler which was oversized anyway. Hopefully she can wear this in the fall too.

I've already moved on to other projects. I'm almost finished with the Twinkle Skating Sweater from Twinkle's Big City Knits. Also back on the needles is Karalyn's Wiggles and Waves cardigan which I am determined to finish before her 2nd birthday. This one is done except for the edging. I'll have pix of both next week, but keep your fingers crossed.

How Happy Are You Now?

2008-02-11T09:09:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been a grump.

I'm prone to bouts of unhappiness anyway but the weekend before last, I was simply mean. Details are not necessary here since rehashing it would only make me mad again (and a little ashamed). I've been trying to figure out why I've been unhappy. Life is nice: great husband and marriage, wonderful daughter and lovely family, decent job, decent money, terrific house, good health, all the yarn a knitter could ever want! So why the grumps?

This morning I spent some time reading a series of happiness articles on CNN and Oprah.com to try to figure it out. I took a quiz and scored myself - 27. This score is fairly high on the happiness scale actually, but also misleading. The questions in the quiz are very general. For example, if I had to live my life over again I would be OK to do it the same way except for one thing, and unfortunately that one thing is critical. I scored that question only a 5 out of 7.

The articles cite Dr. Robert Holden, an expert in the study of the pursuit of happiness. And he nailed my problem exactly - he calls it the "destination addiction" where you're contstantly looking for the next thing, the "more" that's going to make you happy once you obtain it. By doing so, you cannot be happy in the here and now, you are not satisfied with what you already have or have accomplished.

I've known this about myself for years except I've always labeled it as goal-setting. I can't be happy if I don't have something I'm working towards. I have really bought into the whole idea of happiness being in the journey, in the creative effort. So where and what has this gotten me? Far and a lot. I have achieved most everything that's important to me (see the list in the first paragraph). And now ironically, the question I'm asking myself is, "What's next?"

Well, I've got to figure out how to be content with all my life's riches. I have to look at my actual and metaphorical stash and say, "By golly I don't need to acquire any more, I already have enough wonderful stuff here to last me a very long time." I really have everything I need; now I should start creating beautiful things with it.

I agree with Dr. Holden in some ways. I agree that there can be such a concept as "destination addiction," but I actually believe that this addiction can be a good thing depending on your circumstances. It can get you out of a rut. It can motivate you to achieve your goals. It can help you realize your dream. But we also need to understand that at some point we don't have to keep reaching...we are there. And that life is good where we are and we need to keep it that way.

A little happiness here....

Wearing Baby Albert

2008-01-28T13:13:00.000-08:00

Many moons ago, in fact exactly 2 months before Karalyn was born, I knit the Baby Albert Jacket for her. Almost 2 years later, Karalyn is still wearing the jacket. How did that happen? It was sized for a 12-month old. If you click on the link, you'll see the yarn particulars for this sweater - SWTC Bamboo. The yarn has grown. In fact, it has grown with Karalyn.

In the normal knitty scheme of things, a sweater that stretches out like this is baaaad, very baaaad. Serendipitously, though, for a toddler who needs to go shopping every 6 months for new clothes, this sweater is perfect! She's been able to wear it for 2 fall/winter seasons now and it just keeps on stretching.

I wonder if there's any way SWTC could market this wonderful feature. Superwash and super stretch! Grows with your child! A knitter's dream.

5 Things I Want Karalyn To Know Before She Grows Up

2008-01-21T09:26:00.001-08:00

Got tagged by Tabitha on the Got Poo Poos? blog, so here's my take:

Five Things I Want Karalyn to Know Before She Grows Up

1. Being short is OK, better than being too tall.
2. It never hurts to ask. Nicely.
3. You will want to eat vegetables eventually.
4. There will be more than one love in your life, but trust that you will know which one is the best one.
5. Be a kid for as long as you can. Believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and the Great Pumpkin.

I am supposed to tag 5 people but...um, does anyone still read my blog and want to participate? You don't have to have kids to do this. If you want to do the meme, leave me your blog URL so I can check it out!

Travel Woes Stymie Would-be Safarians

2008-01-18T09:52:00.000-08:00

Can't a girl plan a trip these days?

Here's the story. I was supposed to go on one of those trips of a lifetime: an African safari. The plan was to leave January 15th for 9 days of dancing with the "Big 5". Heck. Wouldn't you know, people started killing each other after a suspicious presidential election in Kenya at the end of December. Both parties say the election was rigged and neither side can agree on how to negotiate. Their constituents decided that pillaging, raping and beating people up with machetes was the next logical step to peace and harmony. Sheesh!

Since the beginning of the year, my friends and I have been on pins and needles trying to figure out what to do. Because my trip was supposed to start and end in Nairobi, all this violence has wreaked havoc on my sense of security. My first trip to Africa and there's political unrest?? The nerve of these people.

Like the traveller newbies that we are, we decided to eschew the trip insurance. What for, we asked. Oh, in case we cancel the trip or something, said the travel agent. (Never mind that Africa as a whole is rife with civil and political turmoil). Imagine our relief when the tour operators decided to change the trip itinerary. We would've had to pay additional moola to change our flights and accomodations and therefore they had to offer us the option to cancel for a refund.

We pounced on that refund! I called up the travel agents and gave them a pitiful sad sack story, because, in truth, I am a pitiful sad sack for having gotten myself into this situation in the first place. But now we have a new problem: we can't get a refund on our airfare. Our options are to eat the cost (which would be a huge mouthful and cause an awful stomachache) or use the flights, somehow, by the end of February.

My friends and I are not exactly what you'd call decisive. We don't want to lose our money but we don't really want to go to Kenya. So we're trying our best to do neither one. Our latest plan is to stop in Amsterdam, since that's a stopover. Amsterdam has a lot going for it except, well, the weather sucks this time of year. It's rainy and cold which is the worst combination of conditions. We are currently looking into making Amsterdam simply our European gateway and travel onward to Paris or somewhere in Italy.

Oh, woe is me. Can't a girl just go somewhere on vacation without worrying about machine guns or being hacked via machetes? [sarcasm!]

To Knit, Or to Knit Not, That Is The Question

2008-01-14T09:52:00.000-08:00

To knit is to obsess, but to write is to be compelled.

This sums it up for me at the moment. You would not know it by reading this blog since I've gone weeks between posts, but I need to write. More. And often. About anything and everything, not just knitting. This blog has to evolve beyond just my yarn habit and knitting projects.

I've been mulling over my blog malaise for a little while. It isn't that I don't want to blog, but I just don't have much to say about knitting lately. Lack of knitting doesn't define my life although how would you know since I haven't blogged about it?

I'm considering changing my blog altogether, maybe even moving off of Blogger. What's holding me back is selecting a new name. All the witty, pithy ones have been taken. But I feel a little ridiculous that, as a person supposedly creative with words, I can't come up with something meaningful. The irony. Bloggers' block.

Did you make any new year resolutions? I did not. Personally I do not like resolutions, they don't motivate me in the least. In fact they accomplish quite the opposite! Most resolutions seem to focus on the negative - lose weight (because you're fat), stop procastinating (since you're lazy), get fit (because you're a serious couch potato). See what I mean?

Resolutions should be something enjoyable so that we want to actually do them. Let me see...I know I said I didn't make any resolutions but here are some examples of some that appeal to me:

I will read more books, and not just about knitting. I will not feel guilty about reading a trashy summer romance novel.

I will take a bath, using good bubble bath or salts, on Sunday nights before going to bed. Preferably with a book.

I will bake cookies and cakes more often for fun and share with friends.

I will spend more time in the backyard with my daughter and husband - whether we're swimming, barbecuing or pulling weeds. It will feel good just to be outside with my favorite people.

Hmm. That wasn't so hard. Maybe I *will* make a few happy resolutions after all.

Yarn Hipster

2007-12-12T10:37:00.000-08:00

Knitting with a toddler around can be a challenge. I made socks for Karalyn over Thanksgiving and she wound the extra yarn around her person. It made for a hipster look that I couldn't resist snapping.

Life is extremely busy and I've had to make tough choices with my free time. Unfortunately knitting has had to take a backseat to other activities, but it's always on my mind. When I've had time to knit it's been on WIPs...it's driving me crazy that I haven't been able to finish stuff that's been sitting around for months. Although I did manage to knit a very gratifying pair of toddler socks for my daughter when I was in Massachusetts. I badgered my husband to take me to Northampton and Webs. Wheee! What a store.

Is your Christmas tree up? Last Saturday we went to a tree farm and chopped down our tree. It's a lot bigger in our living room than it was on the farm! That was the first time I'd ever done anything like that, but it was fun and I hope we do it again next year now that I know what to expect.

OK, question for you all (if there are still any readers left...): what's your favorite Christmas cookie? I love to bake over the holidays and I want to make a batch of different kinds of cookies for Karalyn's daycare friends. Got any recipes you can recommend?

Feeling Like Felting

2007-08-22T13:16:00.001-07:00

I bet you can't tell this is a purse.

I originally planned to make the The Clutch You'll Never Give Up from One Skein. It called for one skein of Lamb's Pride bulky which I didn't have so I substituted SWTC Soy Wool instead. And because the gauge wasn't the same, I "compensated" by knitting it larger than the pattern called for.

A lot larger. When I finished the knitting, I showed it to my mother who said, "Oh that's a nice tank top." Ermm, Mom it isn't a garment. But her comment prompted me to take a picture of the erstwhile purse while I was wearing it.

Here's the completed project post-felting. The knitting needle below is 12" to give you an idea of the purse's felted size. BTW, in case you were wondering...the purse is knit in the round from the bottom up. When you're ready to make the handles, bind off the center stitches on each side for one round, then cast them back on in the next round and knit for a few more rounds. To complete the shaping, seam the bottom of the bag.

Soy Wool is really fuzzy, so much so that I attacked the purse with a regular razor to remove the fuzz. It was like shaving Sasquatch, but it worked! The razor blade really brought out the nubbly texture.

My current felting project is a tote in progress. I like this general design better where you knit a rectangle for the bottom and then pick up along the sides to knit the body in the round. For the handles I left live stitches at the ends of both long sides while binding off stitches in the center and the short sides. I'm going to work the handles starting on one side and then attaching them via grafting to the corresponding stitches on the other side. Make sense? I was inspired by the Sentimental Stripes Felted Tote although I'm not following the pattern per se.

I've been in a state of high anxiety both at home and at work. I have to remember that these are stressful times for everyone in my family, not just me. Look at our living room. This is the contents of my parents' home from North Carolina.

And this is the garage, which is mostly mine and Karl's but the couch and upside chairs are my parents'. It will be like this for the next few weeks.

Karalyn and the cats are a bit freaked. The cats have more hiding places than ever and they tend to stay out of sight. Karalyn has no idea what to think about the two new people who are suddenly living with us. Sometimes she handles it well. Other times she clings to my legs crying, not wanting me to leave even when it's just to go in the other room.

In the long run, I know this is all for the best and the current situation is just temporary. As soon as we can move out, everyone can get on with their lives and things will improve.

What Day Is It?

2007-08-08T08:31:00.000-07:00

I'm no longer sure.

All of a sudden it is early August and I cannot, for the life of me, account for what happened between Memorial Day and now.

Lots of things going on in our household of late. My parents have moved. At the moment and for the next 4 weeks, they are living in our guest room. Their belongings are still en route from North Carolina. At this point the moving van must be in Tennessee.

We haven't packed much of our own things, really. Procrastination at its best! The latest plan is to see what we can unpack of my parents' stuff and and use their boxes.

Work is busy for me and Karl. He's going on another trip and I'm trying to keep up with all the "comms" demand from my team. It's amazing to me that a position like communications could be considered unimportant (lots of marketing and comms people were laid off last year in IT) and yet every where I turn I'm asked to be on someone's team or help them with a communications issue.

Karalyn is chugging along. My parents are completely enthralled with her, as you can imagine. They are also surprised at how active she is. At 15 months she only slows down for naps and bedtime. My parents are worried they can't keep up but I warn them they better prepare!

As for the knitting, it's everywhere and nowhere. I started Clapotis a few weeks ago and while I love knitting it, it's slow going. The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill Silk/Merino DK in Foxy Lady. At the same time I've been motivated by my husband's cousin Heidi to do a little felting. So I'm also knitting a smallish, mediumish bag using Paton's Soy Wool stuff. It has a soft, slightly fuzzy hand. Kind of like petting a dog.

All the news for right now. How's your summer coming along?

I'm Feeling Blue

2007-07-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

Looky, looky - a finished sweater! On a whim, because that's how all my projects start, I picked up a pattern for a cap sleeve top from Dovetail Designs at Babetta's Yarn and Gifts. Maya introduced me to a terrific new yarn - GGH Tara - and it is now my new fabulous favorite cotton. You *must* check it out. It's super light with an amazing elasticity. Knitting with it was so comfortable.

Pattern: Cap Sleeve Sweater from Dovetail Designs

Yarn: GGH Tara, 72% cotton 28% nylon, 4 skeins in turquoise

Needles: US size 8 Addi's

Gauge: 4 sts/in, 6 rows/in

Notes: This pattern knits up very fast. It only took me 4 days and that's with a hectic mom's schedule. However, let me warn you - this pattern isn't well written/edited and I had to translate a few things as I went. At one point I emailed the designer, Val Love, because I couldn't figure out some of the math.

Modifications: The sweater was a little short even for my truncated torso so I added extra length at the bottom with the crochet trim (1 row sc, 1 row hdc, 1 row sc). Next time I will only pick up and crochet every other stitch for the first row of single crochet. Other changes for next time: start the armholes a little earlier by about 3 rows. Even for me, the armholes are snug. Also, I'd probably change the kind of decreases and increases used for the darts and side shaping.

It's going to be a busy few weeks as we pack and prepare for the move. Hottest time of the year, too. I think we must be a little loco.

Blog ya later!

Moving My Stash, Part 1

2007-07-13T14:25:00.000-07:00

With the move to the new house looming, I've reluctantly started to pack my yarn stash. "Reluctantly" because it's a daunting task. And because I really don't want to know exactly how much I have.

It's an embarrassment of riches.

Pictured above are 4 66-qt Rubbermaid bins of yarn. Not lightly, gently packed yarn mind you. I've stuffed the bins to the gills and can barely snap the lids on. The yarn is organized by color, which meant that some "lots" had to be separated. However, in the process I discovered I could make really pretty shawls by combining similar-colored but differently textured yarn.

Another interesting discovery or perhaps enlightenment...I thought I had more pink/magenta/fuschia than any other color range but in truth, I have more lavender/purple *and* teal/turquoise. If you look in my closet you'd see that the dominant colors are white, pink/red and black. I'm not sure what this means but I think it's important somehow. Like my subconscious talking to me.
Would you believe this is only half of my entire stash? The nicer half, but still only half. The other gigantic bins are in the study. They were the ones not quite worthy of being displayed in the cabinets, at least at the time I had purchased the shelves.

You probably know by now that the Destash site on Blogger has been turned off, and thank goodness. That was my nemesis and yet I couldn't stay away. That and the Yahoo group Knitswap.

But, going through my stash has brought me to my senses straightaway. I don't want to buy any more yarn! I can't believe how much I have, and it's so beautiful! I love looking at my yarn and almost regret having to knit any of it. Yet...it is also embarrassing and somewhat bewildering. What was I thinking? 19 skeins of Noro Iro? 28 skeins (yes, 28!!) of Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk? I haven't even swatched the DB Alpaca Silk yet. I had a notion of knitting Lara, but never got around to it.

In addition to 8 66-qt bins of yarn, I have 2 full garbage bags full of "Yarn To Go". There's still some nice stuff in these To Go bags but most of them are just twosies or threesies of skeins. It's funny. When I was sorting the yarn in these bags, I had a hard time deciding if they should stay or go. Then I began pawing through my Glamorous Yarn and it became very obvious what had to stay.

Here's the latest news on the house. We won't be moving in August after all. The renters, aka Sellers, need another month before their new home is finished. So being the nice people that we are, of course we will let them stay where they are. At this point it would be kind of silly to kick them out, but it does mean that my parents will probably live with us for a month before we move.

The good news...well, I can go on an Alaska cruise in August now if I can get my act together and plan it. Yay!!

Getting Back on Track

2007-07-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

At work we used to do these things called mid-year performance reviews, or just "midyears". We'd go through a formal process of assessing how we'd done at our jobs for the past six or seven months, compare them to the goals we documented in January and see if we had progressed. Or not. Some people complained that it was busy work but I thought it was a worthwhile process. It made us think about where we were heading and how we were going to get there.

Without further ado, I'm providing my own personal midyear.

From a career perspective I've really changed. I started the year stumbling around, confused, because my old job had been transitioned to someone else and I didn't want to do what the rest of my group was doing (IT, database stuff). We had just finished a round of layoffs and I survived but didn't know what I was going to do next. So I told my boss I wanted to "do communications". He understood what I was talking about. Now I am the designated comm person for my team and recently, like last week, completed two major deliverables for the quarter for a very visible project in IT. Not bad, but more layoffs are looming and I'm still not a shoe-in to stay.

At the beginning of the year I still hadn't lost all the weight from the pregnancy so I enlisted the help of a "health coach" through the Mayo Clinic health program at work. Basically someone kept tabs on me every other week or so to make sure I was meeting my goals. What I learned was that a coach couldn't help me if I couldn't help myself. It was a half-hearted attempt at staying on a diet and exercise program. I'm ashamed to admit that I squandered this opportunity with excuses like, "I'm sick again because of my daughter and daycare". I disappointed myself because even though I managed to lose a few pounds, I still didn't make the most of the healthy advice and coaching I was given. The rest of the year has to be better in terms of a healthy diet and consistent exercise.

I give myself mixed reviews on time management. I wish I could write a schedule, like making up a budget, and stick with it. The problem is the schedule varies from day to day as minute decisions get made. Even dinner choice can throw off a schedule so time management has to be tempered with a dose of flexibility. Some activities prioritize themselves. For example, knitting and blogging know their place because they are non-pressuring. They're happy to have me whenever I can get around to them. But other activities, like exercise, constantly remind me that I'm lagging behind. So time management is a major concern and I need to, ha ha, spend some time to figure this out.

From a family perspective, things are fantastic! Everyone in the house is doing well. If we can survive moving then we're golden for the rest of the year.

So, what's to conclude from this midyear? I'd say to keep doing what I'm good at, workwise. Writing and communications is good for me and good for my team so as long as I keep my head down I'll be OK. But what about exercise, diet and having enough time to do it all? I think I need to make some short term goals about each one; otherwise I'll flounder. Some people can just go with the flow but I'm more focused with a goal or objective in mind.

I can't end my post without a picture so here's one from a few weeks ago. We hiked Echo Summit with some friends who brought along their dog, Doug. Echo Summit is about halfway to Lake Tahoe on Highway 50. Even though it was the end of June we were pleasantly surprised to find some snow along the trail. It made for an interesting detour but you can see that Doug enjoyed the refreshment.

Have a happy and safe 4th of July holiday!

Summer in Full Swing

2007-07-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

You readers who are still commenting on my blog are troopers, I tell ya! I am happy to see that I still have a few friends in blogland despite my poor showing.

Summer is here and this one is another doozy. We bought a house. We own 2 houses. Oh My God. I never thought I would see the day. And in the midst of a big real estate slump, too. It's all because of Karalyn. I wouldn't have been able to convince Karl to buy a bigger home. He wanted vacation property up in Tahoe, a dream we still have. Right now, though, we bought a bigger home just 1.5 miles away from our current house. It's 1000 sq. ft larger with a much bigger yard and a pool. Wait till you see.

Yes, we decided on the house with the amazing yard. How could we not? The beautiful bank repo home was practically brand new, larger and actually fit our budget and storage needs better...but it had zero yard. I have always wanted a pool and Karalyn already loves the water. It was very difficult to decide. At one point, our offers on both homes were accepted at the same time!! Eeek!

In the long run, though, we decided on the slightly smaller and older home. Although the floor plan isn't as good as the other house's, it had everything else going for it. It is gorgeous too with custom paint, tile floors, plantation shutters, granite countertops, a double oven, loft, 3-car garage with epoxy floors and custom cabinets, a walk-in pantry...and did I mention the amazing backyard?

I wish I could show you the whole yard because it's beautiful, but the pool view will have to do. I can't wait to sit on the back porch after work, sipping a glass of wine and looking at this.

The bummer is we can't move until August but in the scheme of things, that works out just fine. The sellers are building a new house in a very hoity-toity, exclusive neighborhood and they need until August to rent back from us. However, my parents are moving out to California and they are going to rent my current house. Talk about perfect timing. They just sold their house in North Carolina so they will spend the next month and a half packing up and moving, very much like Karl and I are doing.

It's been a terrific year so far, knock on wood. Despite some stressful times many things have worked out for us and those we care about. Knock on wood. I am so amazed at our good fortune.

My knitting has fallen off in the past few weeks. Right now I'm working on 2 projects, the Hedera Socks by CookieA in Knitty and the 2-color Brioche Scarf from Weeking Knitting by Melanie Falick.

Lace socks consume a bit of concentration so, um, these haven't progressed much past the cuff and about 3 inches of the leg. But the lace is pretty. The scarf is my mindless knitting. Brioche stitch is really easy but brioche is not one of those instantly gratifying stitches. I'm using Lamb's Pride worsted in a light pink and dark chocolate brown. Nice but slow.

Hey, I tried emailing all of you who responded to my last post but perhaps I have old addresses? because some of the emails bounced back. Just so you know (Jen, Lucy, Joan and AJ) I tried! Of course, I should just comment on your blogs, huh? I'm thinking about you guys too, OK?

Welcome to summer, everyone, hope you're having a good one!

Running Late

2007-06-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

Oh God, how horrible!

I give myself an F on blogging. It's been, what, months? There's so much to talk about! I've missed you guys! I've missed writing in this blog but there are precious few free hours in my day now and I have to use them with care.

First off, the knitting. I haven't stopped knitting even though I've taken a hiatus from writing about it. Wanna see the latest? I took a deep breath and dived into my stash. What I came up with was the Colinette Giotto. It's been in the stash for, I dunno, 4 years? I bought 5 skeins in colorway Pietro but after reading about how this yarn stretches ad infinitum, I put it away, scared. Originally I considered the Waterlily Top from Interweave Knits but decided it would need too much intervention.

Then I happened upon the Tara Tank in the Yarn Girls Guide to Beyond the Basics. This pattern is simple and would show off the yarn without being a totally boring knit.

I had to go waayyy down on the needle size though. I think the ball band recommends size 10.5 or 11, I used size 8 and 9. I swatched using size 10's and was satisfied with that until I actually started knitting the body. It was very obvious it was going to stretch a lot and I wanted a fitted silhouette.

This tank only required 2 skeins of Giotto for the smallest size (32"). I still have 3 skeins left. Maybe I'll make a shrug. Not sure yet, but I'm going to take a break from the yarn. I don't recommend Giotto for beginners or wool lovers. Although this was a pretty fast knit, the yarn slowed me down. My needle tips would get stuck in the ribbon.

On to domestic news.

Karalyn is now a toddler. *sniff* Her baby phase went by so fast. She was walking before she even turned 1 and now she's on her way to 14 months. Our house is a happy mess but I try to remind myself that it's only temporary.

We took Karalyn to Ocean Beach in San Francisco. It was a very cool, extremely blustery afternoon. Karalyn ran to the water and promptly fell down. Amazing how much sand can get into little jeans. Like that sweater? One of my knits. It wears like iron - it has gotten a fair amount of abuse. It's only downfall is velcro. Just say No to Velcro, knitters!

I think in my last post I mentioned house hunting. Well, we hunted down 2 homes and put bids on both of them. One of them was a beautiful, huge, brand new bank repo. The other was a gorgeous 9-year old home with an amazing back yard. I'll let you know in my next post which one we decided on.

Watching the World Go By

2007-04-20T16:49:00.000-07:00

There are lots of days when I all I want to do is sit on a post, feel the breeze ruffling my hair, listen to birds chirping and generally watch the world go by. Then a friend or two might walk up and join me.

Those days are extremely few and far between now but I appreciate them when they come along, especially when they are unexpected.

On this particular occasion I had been driving around a neighborhood close by, looking at homes for sale. Karl and I are entertaining thoughts of moving into a bigger home and there was one in a neighborhood near these trails and a preserve.

It was dusk. Karl was doing a "walk-by". I discreetly parked near the trail entrance to wait for him. Karalyn was asleep in the back seat. The day had been long, and we had decided at the last minute to look at the house. I was glad to sit in my car and do nothing even for a few moments.

That's when I noticed the cat on the post. He was just sitting there, idle, the way cats are. He was so relaxed even as birds chirped in the pond and flew by him. Then another cat, the calico, wandered along the trail. He looked up at the tabby as if to say, "Yo dude," then settled comfortably at the base of the post.

When I was 20 my life was similar. Back then I dreamily thought of all that the future held and what I would be doing by the time I was 40. Little did I know that at 40, I would dreamily and nostagically be remembering the simplicity and easiness of being 20.

My thoughts for the day. Have a good one.

The Hoodie - Hot or Not?

2007-04-05T16:14:00.000-07:00

Project Specifics

Pattern: Santa Cruz Hoodie from Knit2Together, size 1 year
Yarn: Plymouth Dreambaby DK ), 50% acrylic microfiber and 50% nylon. 4 skeins in #127 (dark green), 2 skeins in #125 (sage). Yarn was double-stranded.
Gauge: 3 sts/in.
Needles: #10 and #11 Lantern Moon circulars.
Comments: A super easy pattern. I love raglans because they are easy to knit either in pieces or top down. I originally wanted to convert this to a top down. But using 2 colors and double-stranding the yarn changed my mind - too messy. I also decided not to make the pockets. What kid uses pockets??

I'm not sure what to make of the hood. Hoods seemed to come back into fashion a couple of years ago but to me they're rather a bother. Most of the time they are ornamental; I simply don't like wearing them on my head, especially if there are no ties. I debated not knitting the hood for this sweater but the cuteness factor won in the end. My friend will appreciate it.

Hoods, though, just aren't my thang. If I make this for Karalyn, who also has a hoodie phobia, I'll leave it out and make a roll neck instead.

What do you think? Would you knit a hooded sweater and actually use the hood?

My resolve to knit small things is competing with the nagging urge to complete the finishing of some sweaters. Wiggles and Waves comes to mind. I've also got a cardigan that I've never shown you because I've been too embarassed with my (lack of) finishing skills. The seaming needs to be frogged and redone. You'll see what I mean if I can bring myself to take a picture of it.

In other life news...my rose garden has exploded. Two years ago Karl and I planted three climbing rose bushes in what was then a very bare planter box. Karl even built a trellis. That spring the bushes spread like weeds because we had so much rain and ever since then we've had a lush, full rose bush trellis. Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend!

Pooper Scooper

2007-03-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

This week has been an unexpected experience of being a Stay At Home Mom.

As you may recall, I spent 4 months of maternity confinement last year after the birth of little Karalyn. At the end I was a little relieved to go back to work and start talking to adults again.

This week Karalyn stayed home due to another bout of stomach flu (the third for her, thus the third for me). I must say, in annoying 20/20 hindsight, those 4 months after she was born couldn't hold a candle to this one week.

Maybe it was because I was sick too. Maybe it was because the time was so unexpected. But geez, I am really not cut out to be a SAHM. Kudos and more power to the ones who are because it's a hard job. Especially so when your offspring is ill.

I managed to get some knitting done during Karalyn's naps although no photos yet. I'm working on the Santa Cruz Hoodie from Knit2Together for a friend's new baby and it's so cute. I'm done with everything except the hood itself, but it will be done and gifted up nice this weekend. I'll post photos.

Oh, and about the pooper scooper. Well I took Karalyn to the doctor. I managed to spend $20 and an hour of my time for nothing except to be told to scoop poop! He didn't diagnose Karalyn's illness, just vaguely said the stomach flu was going around and to give her lots of fluids. Then he handed me 5 frickin' sterilized vials for poop samples. I was supposed to collect the samples and send them to the lab. Do you know how hard it is to collect poop from a baby with diarhhea??

OK. Now that I've sickened you all with this little tale I'll stop. May you have a wonderful weekend.

Happy Knitting.

What Season Are You?

2007-03-18T07:35:00.000-07:00

There's a lot to catch up on so let's begin. This is going to be a photo-heavy post so prepare yourself. Get a cup of coffee while you wait for the pictures to appear.

Very first and foremost, I want to thank each one of you who responded to my knitting poll. I received many more answers than I ever expected. My paper, or at least the draft, was well-received by my writing workshop. My instructor thinks it is definitely publishable; the problem is where. It's very intimidating to submit it to newspapers and magazines and I'm just scared.

Last Saturday I visited a yarn store in the area (Elk Grove) that I'd never been to before, Knitique. Wow, what a place - a feast for the knitter who loves color and texture. As Cyndi said, it's the hippest LYS so far. Speaking of Cyndi, here she is (middle) with Caitlyn and Ruth on either side of her. This gives you a sense of how stuffed the store was, but so cute. Danielle, the LYSO, had such pretty displays all over. I especially liked how she had unwound skeins like Manos Cotton Stria and hung them from pegs on the wall.

Most of the walls were painted apple green but the back wall, where Danielle had placed the class table, was painted fuschia. Such a happy bright place!

Now notice how the gals are happily knitting in the picture. BTW, they all happened to be knitting socks that day. We brought goodies to eat and drink which you can't see from my vantage point. I would've joined the ladies in their knitting but I was distracted by

who would've terrorized the entire store if I hadn't held her the entire time. My childless knitting pals got a glimpse of my world that morning...Karalyn preoccupied all of my time at Knitique. I couldn't put her down to play (uh, did you notice how much stuff there was in the store?) so I walked around showing her all the yarn and letting her feel different textures.

There is one confession though...towards the end, I walked her to the back wall and was looking at some very pretty magenta cotton yarn. I was holding two skeins against my chest and holding on to Karalyn while I rummaged in the bin to find more. I only found one additional ball. So I put the other two down on the table and that's when I noticed that Karalyn had spit up on them. Ahh, that was an unexpected purchase.

In actual knitting news, I finished the Purple Sweater by Blue Alvarez Designs. OK people, what's wrong with this picture?

It is so unshapely it's not even funny. In fact, I was so disgusted by the way it turned out that I blocked out the shaping as much as I could. The sweater is still very wearable but not the way it was supposed to be. The pattern is an excellent candidate for resizing, which I plan to do. It didn't include a schematic but I should've drawn one out because I would've realized the sweater wouldn't be fitted. Lots of things had to be done, like cast on less stitches, shorten the yoke and recalculate the shaping.

Now none of that is rocket science but I didn't realize it until after I had finished the yoke and tried it on. I can tell you that I was in denial at that point. Oh, I thought, it's not too bad that the eyelets are below the armhole. Uh, earth to Lynette! Hell-o? I compromised with myself and started the shaping the body right away because otherwise the shaping would've occurred around my hips. That didn't fix it the problem either and in retrospect I shouldn't have done any shaping at all and just knit an oversized sweater to salvage the project.

Silly, silly girl. I'm tired of knitting sweaters that don't fit. This project really underscored the fact that I'm smaller than the regular size small. I must work through commercial patterns and resize them, period. Caitlyn, who is even teenier than me, said, "But don't you have Sweater Wizard?" Yes I do but I haven't figured out how to take a commercial pattern and translate it into Sweater Wizard. However, the above circular raglan should be easy to re-do so that's what I'm going to try. Just not immediately. I need to step away from knitting sweaters for me.

For the next few weeks or maybe even months I'm just going to knit small things...baby items, socks. And I'm going to read my knitting books. It's ridiculous that I have so many and have never really read them. I've been reading Maggie Righetti's Sweater Design in Plain English and enjoying it a lot, although Righetti's humorous/judgemental tone sometimes annoys me. I have a lot of EZ to read too. Reading about knitting is surprisingly very relaxing. For fluff, I finished A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber. I'm not a romance novel kind of gal but it got to me. I fnished The Shop on Blossom Street a few months ago and I was shocked that I liked it.

On a somewhat knitting-related note, two weekends ago I went with a friend to a color analysis class through Learning Exchange. Well, for the money it was disappointing. I expected to have "my colors done" and come home with a little book of personalized colors. That didn't happen but what we learned in class was intriguing enough that I found myself critiquing my closet.

I didn't know that I am a Winter!! I figured I was a Fall or maybe even Summer but I was very wrong. We took fabric swatches and held them up against us. It was very obvious I am Winter - strong, saturated but bright colors. Think teal and indigo, deep burgundy, magenta, fuschia, black, white and walnut brown (I wailed about pink). It has affected the way I look at my stash, but I was happy to note that most of the colorways are appropriate. Whew. The one thing that bothers me is that I have some orange.

This is a long post so I'll end it here, but I'll leave you with a little bit of spring. A couple of my indoor orchids are blooming. This is Jerry

and the other one in bloom is Vanda White...

Have a wonderful week! Let me know what season YOU are!

Knitting the Net - a Poll

2007-02-22T13:48:00.000-08:00

Fellow knitters, I am taking a non-fiction writing class and need your help with my writing assignment. My topic is: The impact of the Internet on the knitting culture. I'm conducting a poll on how knitters think the Internet has influenced their hobby.

Please take a minute to answer a few simple questions, most of them multiple-choice. You can answer them here in the comments or send the answers to me via email. Either way, you rock! And to show my appreciation I'm going to put your name in a drawing to win either some sock yarn from my stash or a $25 gift certificate to Elann. (note: this poll is also on Knitters Review; if you answer there, no need to respond here)

Here goes:

1. How long have you been knitting?
A. Less than a year
B. 1 to 5 years
C. 6 to 10 years
D. 11 to 15 years
E. 16 to 20 years
F. 21+ years

2. Do you have a knitting blog?
A. Yes
B. No

3. Have you purchased yarn and/or knitting accessories from an online source?
A. Yes
B. No

4. Do you listen to knitting podcasts?
A. Yes
B. No

5. How often do you visit knitting-related message boards and discussion forums (reading or posting)?
A. Once or twice a week
B. 3 to 5 times a week
C. At least once every day

6. Do you read knitting e-Zines (Knitty, The Daily Knitter, MagKnits, Knitnet)?
A. Yes
B. No

7. How often do you turn to an online source for knitting help versus looking it up in a book?
A. Rarely
B. Most of the time
C. Just as often
D. Sometimes

8. Have you met any knitters face-to-face whom you had previously known only online?A. Yes
B. No

9. Have you attended a knitting related event (Stitches, a retreat, fiber festival, etc.) because you found out about it online?
A. Yes
B. No

10. Has the Internet had a negative impact on your knitting? How?

11. What kind of positive impact has the Internet made on your knitting?

Me-Time

2007-02-21T10:31:00.000-08:00

I've been suspecting, for a very long time now, that I'm doing too much for the amount of time I actually have.

I am in denial about how much me-time I have to knit, take photos, blog, write, work out and read.

If I'm lucky I have 1.5 hours of me-time per day (sleep does not count). Where the heck does that 6.5% of my 24-hour day go?

Well, up until 2 weeks ago it was split between knitting and whatever else. And yes, I actually have been knitting! I've finished a couple of hats and started a sweater. The sweater is 80% complete. But then.

I started a class. I am taking a non-fiction writing class. I'm in week 3 of 8.

Plus I got sick. Again *sniff*

So me-time is taken up by either recuperative sleep or researching my essay topic.

Speaking of essay topic, dear readers, I will need your help. You are important to my essay. More to come in a later post.

Hand Knitted Gifts

2007-01-17T21:32:00.000-08:00

Karalyn has been the lucky recipient of a couple of knitted gifts recently. The first is from the talented Sarah, resident of Alaska (I was impressed), and my pal from the Knitters Review holiday gift exchange.

Look at the detail, isn't it pretty?:

Karalyn already has the reputation (at her daycare no less) of wearing cool duds which she promptly spits on the minute she arrives at school. Can you picture it... a bunch of moms and teachers cooing over the clothes - "How cute! Did you make that?!...*gasp* Er, she needs a spit rag..."

Sarah - don't worry, I'm not letting her wear this sweater until she can keep her food down! *grin*

Now from the very sweet and thoughtful Birdsong came this adorable Chinchilla teddy bear.

Uh huh. You know where that bear is headed...

...straight in Karalyn's mouth!

Birdsong deliberately knit it in machine washable yarn with no buttons or anything which could pop off or that Karalyn could accidentally swallow. Love that!

Other knitting news: I'm still working on Wiggles and Waves. *aggrieved sigh* But I'm making progress, truly. I splurged on a digital kitchen scale and measured the rest of the yarn for the sleeves. One short sleeve is done. One more to go, then the neckband. That scale is a marvel! I didn't need it but I sure like having it.

Quick small knits have been my saving grace of late. If it weren't for them I'm not sure I would have any FOs to post. My last FO was a fuschia sweater for Miss K:

Pattern: Top Down Baby Pullover from Knitting Pure and Simple, 6-12mo. size
Yarn: Plymouth Dream Baby DK, 50% acrylic 50% nylon, 4 skeins, fuschia
Needles: size 9 US (double-stranded)

Can't hold a candle to Sarah's sweater but I finished it, Karalyn wore it and spit on it.

My latest small knit is the super cute and easy (and free) Karlchen from Small Knits. "Karlchen" is Charlie in German. However, it sounds kinda Chinese to me because I have a friend named Oliver Chen.

All righty then. TTYL, people.

Happy New Year - Let the Simplifying Begin

2007-01-03T13:22:00.000-08:00

That's my resolution. SIMPLIFY. I was going to write about something else, something sentimental and drippy but I just don't feel that way right now.

2007 started with waiting. Waiting for people to get out of my way so I could start destashing everything - yarn, knitting bags, sheets, towels, clothes, shoes, STUFF.

I have waaayyy too many things. Does anyone need more? Because I can give it to you. I am overwhelmed with stuff.

I am at home in a sea of untidiness. If you know me at all, you would know that mess drives me crazy. And mess is what I have after the holidays - 7 adults, 1 baby and 2 cats resided together for 10 days. The tree and trimmings are still up. Boxes and tissue paper need to be recycled. Laundry everywhere. Dishes to be washed. I am paralyzed trying to decide what to do first. And second. Then third.

Here's where SIMPLIFY comes in. An hour ago I found myself removing all the sheet sets I don't want. And the towels that don't match or are faded. I am eyeing my study ruthlessly (Karl is out on an errand). And my yarn stash - boy, there's too much. I just need to give stuff away and not bother with selling. If you are reading this blog then you are in for a special deal. Take a look at destash photos. Except for the knitting bags, let me know if you want anything and I will give it to you. You just pay for shipping (or if you're local, I can meet you somewhere). Honest. You can have it for you, for a charity, whatever (Ruth and Rebekah, are you reading this?)

So what am I doing posting to my blog then, when I have so much to do? I had to tell *somebody*. I had to take a deep breath, have a glass of wine and a relax a little because I was just feeling so damn overwhelmed.

The sentimental post along with photos of FOs and a particularly nice knitting gift will come later. At this moment, I commend you for reading this really rambling post and thank you for your patience.

BTW. Karalyn says hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. She did. She started crawling and standing over the holidays.

Kitty Warhol

2006-12-19T15:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who commented and emailed me about how to finish the Wiggles and Waves sleeves! Now I know what to do, I just have to get it done....

Kitty Warhol is courtesy of a cool little Flickr thingamabob. Enjoy!

Wiggles and Waves Revisited

2006-12-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

Progress
Wiggles and Waves has reappeared. I got my act together. Yesterday I seamed the shoulders and wove in *a lot* of loose ends. What's left to do is pick up stitches around the armholes, knit the sleeves, pick up stitches around the neckline and knit the neckband. Question for you: I don't think I have enough of the main color to knit 2 long sleeves. How do I divide my remaining yarn so that at least the sleeves are the same length?

Casual Friday
Pattern: Knitting Pure and Simple Top Down Weekend Pullover
Yarn: Rowan Big Wool 100% merino, #021 Ice Blue, 6 balls
Gauge: 2.5 sts/inch
Needles: size 17 DPNs, 16" circular and 32" circular
Comments: Had trouble finding the right needles. I started out with Lion Brand but plastic just doesn't cut it. Also, keep in mind the circumference of the circular cable, you want the fatties not the skinny cables. Only Addi's had them. One last tip - knit the sleeves BEFORE the rest of the body.

I enjoyed knitting this sweater. I needed to see how a top down was constructed. While I was knitting this I also read Barbara Walker's Knitting from the Top about raglans and things made so much sense.

Santa Goes Shopping
I leave you with this funny photo of Santa and his elf on their way to Target. Or maybe Lowe's. Karl and I were going to pick out a Christmas tree and caught a glimpse of Santa on his motorcycle (I'm sure his license plate said "my other vehicle is a sleigh").

Have a great weekend!

Finished But Is It Complete?

2006-12-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

Pre Block
The Knitting Pure & Simple Weekend Pullover in Rowan Big Wool. Fini. I finished it during Turkey Day vacation but just now showing you the results. I was going to wear it as-is to a lunch with Cyndi but chickened out. It wasn't perfect; there's some laddering going on with the neck (drat those huge size 17 DPNs) and just general funky wacko impatient stitching. Cyndi convinced me to block the sweater. Gasp. No, no, I said! I am afraid!! She told me to be bold. Blocking is my friend.

Blocking Progress
Here it is, laying in a lonely way on the guest bed. It swam in my tub for about half an hour. I watched it turn a beautiful saturated sky blue as it absorbed water. Then the scary part - I pulled it out of the water, sopping and limp like a half dead kitty. When I rolled it up in towels I was convinced I had ruined it. As I reshaped it on the bed I kept thinking, "What have I done?" But now...now, it looks much better. Whew!

I've been feeling a bit blah. Blah this, blah that. No oomph or flair or zowies. Everything is just, you know, yadda yadda. It shows up in my photos. Blah.

NP&S Progress Check

2006-11-19T11:06:00.000-08:00

The one-armed gal. I look tired because I am tired. But I'm getting knitting done, by golly.

Next time I do this or any other top-down sweater, I'm going to finish the sleeves before the body. The body is rather heavy as I knit the sleeve in the round on DPNs.

This pullover is going to be as warm, soft and light as a cotton ball. Rowan Big Wool is niiiice. I'm beginning to be a fan of this yarn company. I might just join the Rowan International club.

I hope to have an FO photo the next time I post. See ya'll later.

How Much TV Is Too Much?

2006-11-12T18:37:00.000-08:00

Admittedly, I watch more TV now than I ever did. But that doesn't mean I really like it.

When I was a kid, I saw the usual shows - Gilligan's Island, Bewitched, Love Boat, all those goofy shows in the 70's. In hindsight they were a lot more wholesome and innocent than the violent and gratuitous crap we are offered these days.

However, when I was an infant and toddler I watched next to nothing TV. In fact, my first memory of TV was a basketball game (probably why I love Sportscenter so much).

Why am I talking about this? I read a CNN article about Moms and TV: A Love-Hate Relationship. I really have a thing about TV and babies and young kids. They don't mix. Is this considered too idealistic in this day and age? Working moms are caught between a rock and hard place - how to keep a child occupied while you try to get mundane but necessary chores done? I run around the house like a frazzled chicken picking up stuff, folding laundry, washing dishes while Karalyn is either playing in her gymini (which means I stop every few seconds to check on her) or taking a nap (then I stop every 20 min to I check on her).

There is a lot of guilt and frustration about how much TV a child should watch and what programming is considered helpful. If I had my way, Karalyn would only ever see Animal Planet, National Geographic, Discovery and History. Oh, a little DIY wouldn't hurt every now and then. But is even that too much? Is it too commercialized? Would she learn anything from them?

You know the worst part about it though? TV won't be the biggest problem when Karalyn gets older. By then it will be (gulp) the evil Internet.

All right, since this is a knitting blog here's a pic from the recent archives. My youngest brother moved to San Franciso in late summer. I went to visit him at the end of September. He lives a few blocks away from Imagiknit! He knew right where it was and indulged me with an hour of browsing bliss (gooood brother). I was taking my turn at the swift with my purchase of Malabrigo.

Happy Knitting all!

Two on the Needles

2006-11-07T20:39:00.000-08:00

Knitting content implies that there's been knitting going on, eh? All right, let's get started.

Exhibit A: I was desperately trying to finish something for October and ambitiously decided, in the last week, that I would knit the Weekend Pullover #224 from Knitting Pure and Simple. After all, it advertises itself as quick, only two days worth of knitting. That would've been accurate if I hadn't been such a cheapo. This sweater requires at least size 17 circulars in two lengths and in DPNs. Sheesh. Not sure that I would ever knit with such a large needle again, I tentatively bought Lion Brand plastic circulars.

I learned.

I learned that plastic needles with 100% wool is torture. To make it worse, the stitches tightened up a lot once they were off the needles and on the cable. I knit this much before I said ENOUGH, GET ME ADDI'S!! The thing is, size 17 metal Addi's with the fat cable is hard to find. The three closest stores to me did not have them. I ended up winning an auction from eBay. Hopefully they will arrive tomorrow. The good news is, I love the yarn - Rowan Big Wool in a light lavender (although it looks blue in the photo).

Exhibit B: The other Knitting Pure and Simple sweater. This is the Neckdown Shaped Cardigan. I'm patiently working on this one, it's my mindless knit. This morning I was in a teleconference and I managed to complete 8 rows in an hour. I danced a little jig in my cubicle. This one is with Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed from my stash. My knitting is so uneven! I think you can tell when I've had a tough day and when it's been OK.

Exhibit C: Nothing to do with knitting, this is the odd photo of the day - Garden Buddha. I've been feeding my neighbor's koi fish and the pond is surrounded by lush greenery and an eclectic assortment of garden art. I enjoy going over there because his backyard is so quirky, so tropical bohemian. The buddha brings good luck to the fish. Perhaps I should have one to watch over me while I knit.

The Great Pumpkin

2006-11-01T08:36:00.000-08:00

Karl's version of Charles Schultz' Halloween spirit.

Holidays take on a renewed significance when there's a baby in the house. We aren't big celebrators of any of the major holidays so it's funny that all of a sudden Karl and I were dashing around getting candy ready and making sure the pumpkin decorations were lit on the front porch. Karalyn's daycare had a Halloween parade with all the kids dressed in costumes. It was, as one parent said, organized chaos. Kids also renew their parents' sense of play. Karl and I definitely had a lot of fun dressing Karalyn up in her Great Pumpkin costume.

Hope you all had a ghoulish Halloween, take it easy on all the leftover candy! Knitting content will return in the next post.

Kuteness

2006-10-27T15:43:00.000-07:00

Per several commentors' request, I give you this from Karalyn's first portrait sitting. We were shopping at Babies R Us a few nights ago. A girl from Kiddie Kandids approached us about a portrait sitting. I only agreed to do it because we would get free 8x10 print since it was for training purposes.

Karalyn was a bit sleepy and hungry but she obliged with a few poses. It's not easy to convince her to smile when she's suspicious of what you're doing.

Now, see that blue sweater she's wearing? That's the Baby Bolero from One Skein that I knit over the summer. It's in a newborn size but the cotton yarn stretched a bit. Right now it fits her like a cardigan with 3/4 sleeves. She's going to continue wearing it until one day it's just a short-sleeved, fitted shrug.

Don't ask me about Wiggles and Waves. Aargh.

The KP&S top down v-neck cardigan is coming along. I've passed the section to slip the stitches for the sleeves and now on to straight stockinette for the body. I dread this part because it's kind of boring, but I have a question for you all.

The pattern says to work in stockinette until the piece measures 9" from the top of the shoulder. What does that mean? Do I measure from where the middle of the shoulder hits the neckline?

Confession: for the past 9 months, I have kept a quiet resolution to myself about completing one knitted item per month. I have managed to do this even through the chaotic last month of my pregnancy and during the sleep-deprived months of new motherhood. However, October probably won't see a new FO unless a miracle happens with Wiggles and Waves.

Next week I will have more photos, including more cuteness! Halloween is coming up!

Have a great weekend!

What's Up

2006-10-20T14:18:00.000-07:00

9 days since my last post. That's shorter than I thought.

On the knitting front: Wiggles and Waves is still on the needles if you can believe that. I've reached the point of seaming the shoulders but I don't think I have enough yarn to knit 2 long sleeves! This may be a spring/summer cardigan for Karalyn instead of winter/spring. I also started the Neck Down Shaped Cardigan (#241) by Knitting Pure and Simple. It uses DK weight yarn so the knitting is quite slow. I like it, though. Very easy, rather mindless. Something I'm not in a hurry to do.

I have to confess I went on a terrible yarn buying spree last month. Drat the knitswap and knitting-forsale Yahoo groups. I felt like a yarn addict - on a high when I was shopping but suffered guilt when the high wore off. I have sworn off buying any more yarn the rest of the year and just shop my stash. Caitlyn said her yarn is boring and I kind of feel the same way. I keep thinking I should have a sale or at least another swap to have different yarn to look at. Anyone wanna swap?

On the motherhood front: Lori asked me what advanced things my baby girl has learned to do since she started daycare. Well, she can roll over! Both ways: back-to-front and front-to-back. It sounds simple enough but these are some of the development milestones that parents anxiously watch out for. I'm really relieved Karalyn can roll front-to-back because she's a tummy sleeper. New mothers are constantly being told to put their babies to sleep on their backs to avoid SIDS. Karalyn, however, doesn't like to sleep that way. During her colicky period she would cry and cry before I finally gave in and laid her down on her stomach. Now that she can roll over to her back, I feel better about the way she sleeps.

She is also learning how to sit up, crawl by doing the inchworm, and eats a whopping 8oz every 4 hours. Not bad for a preemie! Her daycare teachers and other mothers are amazed she can eat so much. I didn't think anything of it...wasn't I supposed to teach her how much to eat and when? But apparently her eating schedule is something to be envied. I have to say, it's rather convenient because we can feed her at the same times we eat our meals.

On the work front: I survived the latest round of company layoffs. I may have told some of you that while I was on maternity leave, my department decided it was too difficult to maintain the software products I was managing. When I returned to work I found out my job was essentially being transitioned to another group. And guess who has to do the transitioning? Yepper. I don't know what I will be doing after this but I am still employed.

On the personal front: lately my private time has been few and far between. Seems like the only time I'm by myself is when I'm in the bathroom(!) or when I run an errand. As I drove to pick up some dinner the other day, I thought about what I would've been doing or been preoccupied by if I hadn't had a baby. A lot of things that I previously thought were important no longer seemed so. In fact, many seemed frivolous. With a shock, I realized how much my priorities have shifted. The basics - the health, happiness and love of my family - matter to me most right now. Not to say that I've lost my identity or given up things I like to do. Just that the focus isn't on me anymore. And that's nice.

One last thing...a shout out to Allison, my PC Pal. My company volunteers and raises funds at various schools in the area. One way to do this is by employees having elementary school pen pals via email. Allison is my pal - she plays soccer for the #1 team in the league, loves math and spelling and has a cat named Trapper. She asked me to mention PC Pals on my blog so here it is!

Have a great weekend everybody....

Manos or Malabrigo?

2006-09-26T08:45:00.000-07:00

Irked, I tell you. Just a bit.

Look at this (sorry for the fuzziness, took the photo in a hurry).

I haven't had time to knit, but it only takes 2 seconds to buy yarn over the internet. I've had a hankering for some Malabrigo and thought I had scored a deal on 7 skeins.

I was at the Destash Blog and when I saw the original picture of the 7 skeins, a fleeting thought went through my mind, "Hmmm. Looks like some Manos that I already have." I shook it off and went straight to PayPal.

But now look. The wound ball on the left is supposed to be Malabrigo. The skein on the right, Manos, from my stash. Don't they look the same thick and thin?? They feel the same.

Irked! But only a bit. On the bright side, I now have 10 skeins of #109 Manos to make a sweater. And I can continue my quest for the perfect Malabrigo. Hehehe.

No Time

2006-09-21T17:21:00.000-07:00

I love knitting.

I love blogging.

I love reading blogs about knitting.

I love you knitters who read my blog.

*sniff*

I have no time to knit,
blog
or read blogs.

I have returned to work.

I am now a working mother.

It is hard.

Will it get better?

Gad Zukes!

2006-08-31T13:02:00.000-07:00

Busy past 2 weeks.

Great fun hanging out with fellow knitter bloggers Caitlyn, Ruth, Cyndi and Lori.

And yes, Stephanie, I bought a camera! Actually 2. Karl has been dying to get a camcorder. So I bought the new Canon SD700 IS and the not-so-new Panasonic PV-GS300. Took both to the Bay Area last weekend for a wedding.

Had a blast, visited...

...heard these...

...and saw these...

On the domestic front, some knitting has been done. Like Wiggles and Waves...

...close up...

...but mostly I've been cooking a lot. I haven't talked about it much but I've been baking and cooking up a storm. The latest dinner was Chicken Marsala with Browned Butter and Mizithra Spaghetti...

...with a batch of Chocolate Zucchini Cake.

This weekend will be another adventure, and I'll share photos next week. Until then, hope you all have a fun Labor Day Weekend holiday!

Knitting - Not So Much

2006-08-21T10:04:00.000-07:00

Is it the weather? Is it lack of sleep? Is it just a case of the ho-hum's?

Whatever the reason, there's been little progress on the knitting front. I abandoned the idea of knitting a shawl in time for the wedding this weekend. I'm going to wear the shrug I made in the spring. The Leaf Lace Shawl is still on the needles and I'm quite enjoying it when I can focus. Something clicked with this pattern - I found myself reading off the chart instead of the written instructions and suddenly charts were easy!

After the self-imposed moratorium on yarn buying for the Yarn Focus Challenge, I've been acting like a gambler let loose in Las Vegas. My yarn stash has grown by several purchases - a total impulse buy of 12 skeins of discontinued Kool Wool on eBay (they were *cheap*!), 8 skeins of Valley Yarns' Longmeadow and 1 skein of Florence, and the latest obsession: Blue Moon Fiber Arts' Sock Candy. I stumbled on this yarn at Farmhouse Knits on a business trip last November. Since then I discovered a cult following of BMFA for the Socks That Rock, a hard-to-find merino sock yarn in gorgeous, unconventional colorways. Sock Candy is a cotton and lycra blend that's even more difficult to find. They don't even advertise it on their website, you just have to know about it.

In other news...I go back to work in less than three weeks. Karalyn is past her colicky stage and is changing rapidly every day. It's fascinating to watch her learn everything. One of the coolest things about being a mom is re-discovering the joys of life through a child's eyes.

As I'm writing this, Karl is playing with Karalyn while she's in her crib, teaching her words from a book..."What have we here? 3 Shells...and 4 turtles...and 5 starfish. What do you think of that? Can you say it with me?" She is concentrating really hard as he turns the pages. What could be better than this?

I Digress

2006-08-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

We interrupt the shawl indecision-making to bring you a little diversion:

Pattern: Baby Pirates Hat (aka Baby Skull Hat) from Jennifer at Purse-Ho Knits
Yarn: Plymouth Wildflower DK in pink and purple, 51% cotton 49% acrylic
Needles: size 4 US 16" circular and size 4 US DPNs
Gauge: 6 sts and 7 rows to the inch (or at least that's what it's supposed to be, hehehe)

So Jen generously provided this pattern for me to test knit because I couldn't resist the juxtoposition of a skull and crossbones image in girly pink and purple colors. Jen, I'm not sure I'm the best person to test knit anything! It's been over a year since I did any two-color work; confession - I had to take a peek at the Philosopher's Wool video for 2-handed fair isle to reacquaint myself with this technique. And yeah, my stitches are so uneven but a little toss in the wash should help. Eventually. No, I didn't block this before I took a picture of it. *slap my wrist*

Comments on the pattern for Jen: easy! I didn't have a hard time with it at all. My only suggestions are (1) recommending when to switch to the DPNs. I switched after I did the first 2 rows in the decreasing section but it probably would've been easier right after finishing the chart. And (2) in the decrease section, row 7 requires 5 k2tog's and a k1. Picky, yes, but you asked! Other than those 2 things I can't think of anything else to add. If I can knit this in a few hours, even though I had to re-learn the 2-handed technique, then anyone can. Thanks Jen!!

The instructions said to stick the hat onto the nearest baby so I looked around and discovered there was this baby just lying there and....yar.

OK, so back to the indecisive shawl for a minute. I want to knit a shawl because we're going to another wedding at the end of the month. Either one of the patterns I've already started would be just fine if the wedding is indoors. You can see where I'm going with this.

The wedding is in the Bay Area, outdoors, on a rooftop and in the early evening. The setting sounds truly romantic and I commend Erika for being so creative (because that's just the way she is). But dang it, I'm going to be cold! And it even says so in the invitation - "bring a jacket or shawl".

The other shawls won't cut it, thermal-wise. I've been hunting for a stitch pattern that would be dressy yet wouldn't be so holey that I would feel the draft. What do you think of this? My swatch for a proposed wrap (aren't wraps rectangular?). It's in Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran and I found the stitch in the latest IK. Check out the Weekend Pullover designed by Veronik Avery. My swatch is the center panel of Van Dyke Lace.

What do you think?

Can't Make Up My Mind

2006-07-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

Between this:

the beginning of the Easy Lace Poncho...

and this: the beginning of the Lace Leaf Shawl...

The poncho is much easier and uses worsted weight yarn. The shawl is a bit more complicated as well as more interesting. I can't make up my mind so I'll do both for a while and see which one wins out.

I've learned to multi-task with the baby and knitting is no exception. No, I haven't mastered knitting one-handed which would be quite a feat, but I can breastfeed and knit at the same time. Since Karalyn eats 6 or 7 times a day I actually have many opportunities now to get some quality knitting time in. Note, however, that this only applies to the easier poncho. The DK yarn for the shawl keeps getting tangled in her feet and hands.

Here's an interesting observation - cats and babies like the same things. Toys, milk, soft blankets and shoulders to sleep on. I've found the cats snuggled in Karalyn's pillows and eyeing her rattles with great interest.

Happy Wednesday!

In The Pink

2006-07-18T13:51:00.000-07:00

Pattern: "Polly" from Berroco Scarves and More Collection #225
Yarn: Berroco Pronto, color Wild Rose, 50% cotton 50% acrylic
Gauge: 3 sts/in
Needles: US size 10 and 11
Size: Large (12 mos)

Don't look too closely at the picture. It's a cute dress, very fast to knit and I liked the little detail using double yarn overs for the ribbons. But. My knitting is very uneven with this piece, especially the Reverse Stockinette. I had to put it down (to change diapers, burp the baby, etc.) and pick it back up so many times I thought I was never going to finish. Karalyn will wear it next year and she won't care that the knitting isn't perfect so I guess that's all that matters.

I'm trying to decide what to knit next. I want to do something for me but not a sweater...I still need to lose a little more weight. Maybe a shawl? An easy one like Shoalwater from Fiber Trends? I've got about 900 yards of Koigu Kersti in the Ocean colorway that would look very similar to the picture. Or, I've also got 600 yards of Lorna's Laces Lion & Lamb in Iris Garden. That would make a small Shoalwater or Clapotis. Can Clapotis be used as a shawl if I blocked it out?

While I make this extremely critical and important decision, I'm working on a pair of socks. I started them last year as an experiment using Magic Loop, the Figure 8 cast-on, 2 socks simultaneously and toe-up all at the same time. It was a bit much trying to do the socks on the same needles so I split them up but I still got bored. They have been on the needles ever since, and I suddenly feel compelled to complete now them even though they're just straight stockinette.

My days are running into each other. Beyond the feedings, diaper changes, burp sessions and seemingly endless crying jags (Karalyn's, not mine) I manage to get out. Sometimes I take Karalyn for a 2 mile walk to Starbucks. Sometimes we just meander around the mall. Then again, on some afternoons we just lie around on the ottoman and take a nap. I've watched every sporting event there is on TV. Oprah is my new friend. Life is very slow right now.

Latest photos of the babe.

Yarn Buying Withdrawal

2006-06-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

I haven't bought any yarn in 2 months! Not since before the baby was born. There I was, smug that I was doing so well in Rebekah's Yarn Focus Challenge (Rebekah, am I still in the hunt?). I had made only one purchase since starting that challenge, some Muench Big Baby yarn from By Hand Yarn and Knitting in Sonora. That seems like ages ago.

Can you blame me for a sudden urge to splurge? Lori told me about these stretchy circulars that would be neat for socks. So what if I haven't knit socks in a while. Wouldn't these be a good reason to whip up a pair?

I've been hankering for the Lantern Moon circular needles. So help me, I might just buy an entire set. If the needles ever get here, that is. Apparently they are still in transit from Vietnam. Does anyone else want these? They would be an unabashed self-indulgence. So beautiful I'd be afraid to knit with them.

OK, the day has started. Baby is fed, bathed and napping and it's not even 9am. I'm doing good. If she's amenable we might even go on a shopping trip this morning, woohooo! Yesterday I watched a show about a couple in the 40's who started their family later in life and now have had 6 kids in 5 years. EEEEEK! How do mothers manage their time? I'm still mystified.

A Time to Knit

2006-06-26T20:00:00.000-07:00

Quick, while the baby is sleeping I will post a short entry in my woefully neglected blog. Not that I haven't thought about it. I wish I could write every day! But a little person named Karalyn, aka "Spitty", is currently demanding all of my time so that's the way it goes.

In very spare moments I've been able to do a little knitting. Since the baby arrived I've knit another baby hat and a cardigan:

This is the Baby Hat from One Skein

Details - yarn is Peru DK Luxury, 70% merino, 20% alpaca and 10% silk. I used US size 4 needles but didn't change the pattern other than that. I originally knit this while Karalyn was in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) but her head was still too small to wear it properly. Now her head may be too big and it's super hot here so she won't wear it anyway. It's a cute hat. Easy pattern, very fast.

The latest item is the Baby Bolero, also from One Skein

This one is knit with Debbie Bliss cotton cashmere and is leftover yarn from the Diane tank from last year. I think I knit this on size 9 needles for the body and size 10 for the ribbing. Another easy knit, pretty quick. I wish I had done this in the round, though, instead of in separate pieces.

I'm currently halfway through another knitted item, a dress, for Miss Karalyn. That one is really, really fast but I wasn't able to do much more over the weekend beyond completing the back.

My days are different now (see Babe in the Wool). Before, I used to obsess about what I would knit and what yarn I would buy next. Now I am the 24/7 caretaker of a tiny baby. And it takes so much time! I've always taken pride in being an organized person and I think I still do pretty well, but wow it's a challenge every day just to be showered and changed by 10am. I still think about knitting a lot because it's my little escape. Those moments when I can knit more than one row are like gold.

Hopefully I can get more done when Karalyn is a little older (or is that just a pipe dream?)

Finished Object

2006-05-13T07:03:00.000-07:00

There's a reason I've been AWOL from this blog for the past couple of weeks. I have a long birth story to tell but that will have to be for another day. Here's the high level:

I developed a severe form of preeclampsia very quickly, literally overnight. In a span of 3 days, I went from my normal routine to Suddenly Motherhood. The complications from the preeclampsia made the labor long (26 hours after induction) and the delivery quite torturous (back labor with very little epidural effect). Plus, I had to have an assisted birth (vacuum) because the baby was stuck and I was exhausted and panicked.

When Karalyn finally showed up, though, it was like a miracle had just happened. I still get teary-eyed when I think about it all.

I was in the hospital for another 3 days while the doctor tried to get my blood pressure and edema under control - don't I look like I have Gary Coleman cheeks?? As of this writing, the baby is still in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She is doing wonderfully well - she's off any medications, she's eating well (I have already started to breasfeed) and she doesn't seem to be suffering any ill effects from all that had happened in utero and during L&D.

Everyone says she is a princess, though. She knows what she wants (a diaper change, feeding, etc) and gets it. I don't have a problem with that.

It's so hard to leave her at the hospital after a visit and I can't wait to have her home. So far I am enjoying everything about motherhood that I am allowed to experience. I feel so very, very lucky.

Karalyn Eve
May 7, 2006 3:50pm
4 lbs 14 oz
17 inches

(BTW, I finished Kristy's baby blanket! And right now I've knitting a hat for Karalyn. Preemie clothes and hats are very hard to find - knitters who have donated crocheted and knitted hats are angels.)

Baby Blanket Focus

2006-04-26T20:00:00.000-07:00

Many of you said a baby blanket may not be doable in 2 weeks. I think you're right but I'm trying all the same to finish this blanket by May 6th. If it's not done at least it will be close. I'm hoping to be more than halfway done by this weekend to take some pressure off next week.

This yarn was a find at Elann - a heavy worsted weight 100% superfine merino superwash at a discount. I love all those words! I'm knitting this basketweave blanket double-stranded which is why I have a fighting chance that it could be completed on time. I'm just a bit sad that I can't use the yarn for my own baby's blanket. Most of the current progress was courtesy of a day's knitting at Kirkwood Ski Resort this past Sunday. It was essentially the last day of ski season so Karl and I, along with my brother and his fiancee, went up for a last hurrah. It was a good knitting day for me.

Other than that, not so much happening on the knitting front. In a shameless attempt at promoting my other blog, I have more current news on Babe in the Wool.

This coming weekend the crew is (1) participating in a golf tournament - I'm driving one of the carts, yay! - and then (2) taking a quick trip to Yosemite country. We'll be spending the night in Sonora on Saturday and then most of us will drive into Yosemite and hike into the Hetch Hetchy reservoir area. I say "most" because I will instead meander along the quaint streets of Sonora and knit at By Hand Yarn. I'm thrilled at discovering yet another yarn store and hope to have a review for you next week.

Until then, happy knitting! Spring is finally here!

On My Front Porch

2006-04-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

Me and my big mouth have put me in a mild state of knitting panic. I am not off the hook regarding my friend's baby blanket. Here I was, smugly confident about surprising her with a hand-knitted baby ski hat and matching booties when all along she has been expecting a blanket! The blanket!

"I know about your special skills," she said when I asked her if she wanted anything specific from the ubiquitous Babies R Us registry. "From you, I'd like a blanket." Oh. Shit. Pardon my Lebanese.

I frantically made a mental inventory of my stash. The only yarn that would work is my coveted Laines du Nord Baby Cover which I specifically bought to crochet my own baby blanket. Oh. Crap. Worse, the colorway is just right for her because the variegated yarn, despite being pastel, is yellow and green - Green Bay Packer colors, her favorite team.

Fortunately I have 2 weeks until her baby shower. Drat these shower things. Why is it that grown, mature, sophisticated women willingly subject themselves to games like...Poopy Diaper...Pins in Rice...? It must be the gifts. I, too, will have my own baby shower tomorrow.

No pictures of the Packers blanket yet. It's just a simple basketweave pattern anyway.

Now, as for what's on my front porch. There was a dead lizard. I'm not going to show you a picture of that although at first I thought it was sleeping. Poor lizard. My cymbidium orchids are blooming wonderfully. These grow particularly well outside and like to be cramped in their containers. The more crowded the bulbs are, the better they bloom.

I bought these at Lowe's after the plants had already bloomed so I wasn't sure what color they were at first. The flowers stay open for weeks, sometimes months! The plants are extremely easy to maintain. The first year I watered them every week. Then I began to neglect them. It didn't matter - as long as they were fed every once in a while they were fine. They are extremely gratifying.

You may wonder what's so special about a tree sapling that I had to take a picture of it. Well, imagine this plant with absolutely no leaves or even buds. Just a stick, literally. That's what it looked like when Karl gave it to me for Valentine's Day. Now the maple is positively lush and we will plant it when the baby is born. We call it the "Karalyn Tree".

Another week gone by. One of the highlights was having lunch and knitting with Cyndi at the office. I think it was Cyndi who first suspected we actually work for the same company. Now she's on the same campus too! To think I would've missed out getting to know such a cool chick if it weren't for knitting and blogging. Serendipity. I have to admit, though, I envy Cyndi's spacious cubicle with natural lighting.

How did your week go?

Cutie Booties

2006-04-16T19:56:00.000-07:00

Never mind food cravings during pregnancy. I've had crafty cravings instead - of the baby knits kind. I didn't look twice at baby stuff before, not even when friends started to pop out their bambinos. Nothing like having it happen to yourself, though. I've been on a Bootie Quest since I saw a cute pair in Melanie Falick's Knitting for Baby (thank you, Caitlyn!).

This is my "practice pair" because when I read through the directions I wasn't sure I liked them. Turns out this pattern is rather well-known, as bootie patterns go. While I used the book you could easily follow this version. Yarn: Rowan 4-Ply. Needles: Bryspun 5" DPNs size US 4. Modifications: I added a slipped stitch selvedge to the garter stitch sole for easier pick-up. Observatations: relatively easy but the directions to even out the number of stitches per DPN were awkward. Next time I will do this on smaller needles, say #2.

The "production pair" is from 50 Bootees to Knit by Zoe Moeller with the textured cuff. Note that this matches the baby ski hat from a couple of months ago. My friend will receive both as one of her shower gifts. I may even have enough yarn to make thumbless mittens but we'll see. This super cute bootie pair took next to no time to knit but I was not pleased to seam the sole. It is knit in one piece but seaming the sole and heel are required. Yarn: Filati Biberon. Needles: Addi Turbo size US 2. Modificatons: none. Observations: Next time I will knit the sole separately with a selvedge, pick up stitches on all sides (like a purse) and follow the directions in reverse.

Another FO for the month is another gift scarf, this time for my youngest brother. Not that he will be able to use it any time soon because it's almost 90 degrees in Atlanta but it's the thought that counts. And it's still cold here in Northern California. Just an excuse for him to visit. I love this yarn! It is heavenly soft; I bought a skein for myself in loden green to make the same scarf later. It might be in everyone's stocking at Christmas too. The pattern is free from Misti Alpaca, an easy slip stitch that could be used for socks. Yarn: Misti Alpaca Chunky. Needles: Addi Turbo size US 13. Modifications: none. Observations: this is a short scarf, skip the ruffles to make it a few inches longer.

Spring is trying so hard to come to the part of the world I am. It's been another weird and wacky season weather-wise with lots of rain and cool temperatures. I wanna be in the 70's and 80's already so I can buy those cute maternity halters and tops! But I digress. There were brief respites from the rain this afternoon so I took a quick trip to the backyard for this photo of our garden path. Karl and I worked hard to finish this up last summer. At first the little plants were so skinny and lost-looking but the groundcover spread like weed. There are 4 different kinds. Wish I could tell you what they are but I only remember the creeping thyme and flea bean (the low shrub with white flowers which turn pink).

About 2 years ago I bought 3 iris plants, put them in the ground and promptly watched them wilt. I had faith they would come back, though, and they have for 2 years. I once kept iris bulbs in a basement for a year and planted them. They were fine. Other plants are blooming too. My outdoor orchids have been sensational. I'll show them next time. One of my indoor orchids, the dendrobium, is shooting up a flower stem. I whooped for joy when I discovered it because I've literally tried to kill this plant with no success. It hasn't bloomed in over 5 years.

The knitting is keeping me sane. I am slowly but surely getting the gestational diabetes under control but it's still hard to prick my finger 4 times a day. Actually it's more than that sometimes but I won't go into the goriness. Let's just say it's psychological torture for me because I'm such a wimp!

Hope ya'll have a good knittin' week.

Sometimes Life Gets in the Way of Knitting

2006-04-07T14:31:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. This is quickie post to let you know I haven't forgotten how to knit or blog, I've just been monumentally distracted by a recent complication in the pregnancy. No I'm not on bedrest (wish I was, then I could knit more!) but I'm preoccupied all the same. And it doesn't help that things have been busy anyway with appointments and childbirth classes.

I have been knitting though! In fact, I really look forward to when I can sit on the couch and just knit. It takes my mind off things. I finished another gift scarf for my brother's' birthday and now I'm practicing on baby booties before I knit a gift pair for a friend - yes, the one who was supposed to have a blanket but not anymore. The booties will match the baby hat I've already finished so they will be a set.

Rebekah will be glad to know that, although I've been tempted, I haven't purchased any yarn since she first posted about the Yarn Focus Challenge. However that hasn't stopped me from buying the Yarn Harlot's Knitting Rules! or a couple of baby sock patterns like this one. Or, for that matter, yet another new knitting bag. If you haven't heard of the yahoo groups Knitswap or Knitting-For-Sale, you might want to join. Someone advertised her barely used Namaste Executive Bag for only $40 including shipping so I jumped on that right away. Should be here
any time now.

That's all the news for now. Like I said, my mind has been on other things so I apologize in advance if you haven't seen any comments from me lately on your own blogs. I hope all of you are happily knitting away and that Spring has already arrived wherever you are.

Anniversary Post

2006-03-31T16:52:00.000-08:00

As March comes to a close, my last post for this month reflects on the past year.

I started this blog on March 2nd, 2005 with a bit of trepidation. What in the world would someone like me write about? My life is ordinary. My knitting is average. My writing is rusty. But oh, what a difference a year makes. You, dear blog readers, have witnessed an incredible time of learning and change for me.

On the knitting front - in no particular order of importance, I've learned how to knit lace and socks, conquered my fear of DPNs and taught myself new techniques like felting, Kitchener and the Figure 8 cast-on. Many projects were finished: a baby afghan, a lace capelet, 2 pairs of socks, the Diane tank, the Booga bag, a bunch o' scarves, a shrug, baby hat, baby jacket, the Shapely Tee and the One Skein Wonder. This is a list that's longer than I expected!

About blogging, writing and photography - blogging has generated renewed interest and confidence in my writing as well as in photography. How has it affected me? I started looking for opportunities to apply these skills in my every day. Some of you have been particularly supportive of this effort and sent me very encouraging email. You would be interested to know that I have managed to incorporate writing in my latest position at work. I have been designated as the "Communications Czar" for my overall group! Although not officially part of the job description, I'm hoping it will turn out to be something formal and permanent by the end of 2006. As for photography, it was extremely gratifying that 2 of my photos were accepted in my company's photography contest last fall. These photos are still touring the different company sites all over the world.

Speaking of travelling - you all have been subjected to posts about my trips here and abroad. I usually go on one big trip per year and since last March that adventure was Germany. However, you know by now I'm just as happy hiking in Mendocino, Yosemite, the Sierras and the urban jungle that is San Francisco. My new job (same company) also provides time to hop on a plane to Arizona and Oregon. No matter where I go, I somehow manage to find yarn shops and hope that some of my store reviews have been helpful to you.

Now new friends - blogging about knitting led me to meet several local knitters, wonderful people I never would've had a chance to know otherwise. And those who I haven't met in person yet, we still have time! And when we do finally see each other it will be as if we'd known one another for ages. I'm flabbergasted at this concept...blogging has truly brought a community of us knitters together! I so enjoy reading about your knitting and your lives. Everyone is fascinatingly different.

Personal notes - and of course through blogging you've come to know me not just as a knitter. You know...I have silly cats; that I adore my (sort of) new husband; about my futile efforts to be more patient; I own snowshoes; orchids are one of my weaknesses; I am a freak about cameras; that I will soon be a mother. Getting married and becoming pregnant (not in that order *grin*) are the most significant developments of all since last March, and captured here in the blog.

Who knew this would all happen? I think the blog has brought me good luck. The past 12 months have been some of the most fateful, momentous and memorable times of my life.

Thanks for sharing them with me.

Why You Should Swatch

2006-03-27T16:45:00.000-08:00

I think this photo says it all. I didn't swatch, but I knew it would be oversized because of the yarn. Oy, it looks likes it was made for someone with a wingspan 6 feet long! The sleeves definitely turned out funky. While I was seaming them up, I noticed how puckered they looked because of the thick and thin yarn texture. There's nothing I could do about that but it was a little distressing all the same. It looks like a bad scar.

Ah well, there's something charming in a homely knit kind of way about this shrug so don't get me wrong - I love it! I am wearing it at work and it's very comfy, warm. People looked at it wonderingly and said, "It's a shawl...with...sleeves?" Why yes it is. I'm glad I didn't rely on this for Vegas because it wouldn't have matched my dress but it's perfect as the office sweater or weekend cuddler.

Besides, big shrugs are trendy. Heck, take a look at this shrug from J.Jill. This is a $100 sweater. Of course, I think I spent that much on yarn anyway but at least it's yarn I selected and like very much. Although I didn't swatch per se, I measured my gauge after 6 rows and used it to calculate the height from top to bottom. The problem was that I didn't take into account the sleeve length. Duh. Details:

Pattern: Streakers Shrug from Interweave Knits
Designer: Pam Allen
Yarn: Crystal Palace Musique in Stormy Weather
Needles: Size 10.5 and 11 US Addi Turbo
Gauge: 3 sts/in, 3 rows/in
Modifications: I didn't knit the lace cuffs for obvious reasons

OK, so now what's next? I am progressing on Wiggles and Waves but I am slow with lacy patterns. My friend's baby blanket is sitting sullenly in my knitting bag. I pulled it out the other day and saw daylight coming through the loops. Holes! I can't handle the yarn - it's hard to differentiate the stitches. Novelties - phooey, spit! I might just make booties and a hat instead out of something comforting and friendly like merino.

Ya'll were awfully nice about the wedding picture and video. Thanks for the congratulatory wishes. It's not every day a girl gets married although I've had one more day than I'd like, hehehe.

Until the next time.

We Do

2006-03-25T07:20:00.000-08:00

Lynette & Karl
March 18, 2006
Las Vegas, Nevada

Can you say cheesy? Karl and I are camera-shy but at least he is photogenic in this picture.

In my last post, I had said how I wanted the week to fly. It just zoomed away and suddenly on St. Patty's day evening we found ourselves in Fabulous Las Vegas just before midnight. Setting the pattern for the rest of the weekend, we met up with a friend and promptly stayed out until 2am eating and catching up on each other's news.

On Saturday morning we taxied to the courthouse to pick up a marriage license in downtown Las Vegas. This was probably the sleaziest part of the whole deal...there was a special office just for licenses and it looked exactly like a bank: a long marble table in the middle with forms and pens, a cordoned line of people nervously waiting their turn, five teller windows to process your request. $59 dollars poorer, we walked out with a license.

The wedding was held much later that day at the MGM Grand's wedding chapel, Forever Grand. I had a hair up-do appointment at their swanky Cristoph Salon and Spa where the stylist spent an hour shaping my hair into a mod Asian bun. Then I walked over to the chapel, got dressed with Karl and, well, got married. Warning: Everyone who has watched this said it made them tear up and cry.

After the wedding we whooped it up with a super dinner at the Craftsteak (it was also Karl's birthday so we had a birthday cake) and then saw a Cirque du Soleil show, Ka. No one went to bed early that evening. The rest of the weekend was spent sightseeing, more eating, more staying out late. We hardly did any gambling at all. That's for another trip ;-)

We've been married for a week. Is it any different? Not at all! Except we have rings we keep forgetting where we put down last. The focus is now on a healthy baby and getting ready for her arrival.

As far as knitting goes, I slaved away each night last week trying to finish the Streakers Shrug but it overwhelmed me in the end. I was still knitting it on the plane on the way home from Las Vegas. In fact, our flight from Las Vegas was delayed so we rushed from one terminal to another to catch our connecting flight in Los Angeles. We were a sight to behold - Karl dragging a pregnant woman who was huffing and puffing with a large wad of knitting in her arms and a 12-ft train of yarn trailing behind her. No wonder everyone was staring at us.

I finished knitting the shrug this week but have to seam up the sleeves. Maybe pictures of that tomorrow.

The Week in Review

2006-03-12T12:59:00.000-08:00

Taking one day at a time has its pros and cons. On the pro side, you're able to focus on the tasks at hand for the day. There's potential to accomplish a lot this way. On the con side, you don't always see the flow of things from one day to the next. This means your days can be herky-jerky.

Take this week.

First, a disclaimer - I've been sick.

I started the week with ambition, but then encountered this:

Untangling this skein took me the better part of one evening and one morning. Even Karl got into the act and he became just as frustrated as me. But I was rewarded with:

Which later in the week turned into this swatch for a baby cardigan pattern called "Wiggles and Waves".

Some wiggle, some wave and the colorway:

The week also saw another Finished Object. The second crochet scarf which is a gift for, um, someone who might be reading this and therefore will know what their present is but oh well.

Yarn: Plymouth Encore Bulky in Chocolate and Burgundy
Gauge: something like 2 stitches per inch, I don't really know
Pattern: Cozy Crochet Reversible Scarf by Melissa Leapman
Stitch: *skip 3 sts, (sc, hdc and dc) in next stitch*
Hook: US size K

Another project that showed up on the needles is the beginning of the Streakers Shrug, a pattern from the latest Interweave Knits. It's on the needles because I want to complete it by the upcoming weekend. The yarn is Musique by Crystal Palace. The colors that really pop out are the aubergine and copper but it's hard to tell in this photo.

In non-knitting news, I picked up my dress for this weekend. I don't like what happened with the alterations...it's a bit tight and shortened up noticeably (it was supposed to be below the knee calf length). I may go with the second dress I bought as a backup. We'll see. I don't look very pregnant in this dress which is why I chose it.

The week ended with someone backing into Karl's new truck and me finally doing my taxes. Karl was very upset with the ding. It doesn't look too bad but you never know what damage has been done underneath. He's already going through the insurance motions.

As far as taxes are concerned, every time I do them I always feel blah, even when the final outcome is in my favor. Doing the taxes inevitably makes me want to attempt some drastic financial spring cleaning. This is when I feel the least mature. Dealing with financial matters reminds me of when I was 10 and opened my first checking account - it was so intimidating.

That was my herky-jerky, topsy-turvy week. I'm hoping the next 5 days will fly by so I can just get to the weekend. It'll be hectic which should make for some very interesting news and photos for an upcoming blog post. Stay tuned!

Off the Needles

2006-03-06T20:11:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to finally report a finished project that isn't a scarf or a hat. This is the baby's first knitted jacket, hopefully the first of many handknits my child will wear. The details:

Pattern: Baby Albert
Designer: Sally Melville
Yarn: Phoenix by Southwest Trading Company, 100% soy silk, color Candy
Needles: Bamboo circulars, size US 7
Modifications: The yarn overs were supposed to be knit through the back loop to tighten them up but if I had done that, I never would've found the button holes again. I also added the collar (20 additional rows).

The sweater hasn't been blocked yet; I'll do that this weekend. The difference between the frogged yarn and the new yarn was noticeable enough although you can't tell in this photo.

I was surprised to see that I hadn't posted anything in 2 weeks. I've been productive, I swear. But I can't show you the latest knitted gift project because the recipient lurks this site.

So. One project down, one almost finished, one still on the needles. Must be time to start another one, or even two! Will have photos of at least the swatches the next time.

Other updates...wedding rings are in. Dinner reservations for after the ceremony are made. Dress is being altered. This is too easy. Surely I'm forgetting something? But I wanted simple and so far so good.

Ya'll have a good week. Stay dry and warm.

A Surprise FO

2006-02-26T17:46:00.000-08:00

The past week didn't give me much time to finish up the Baby Albert jacket but I managed to squeeze in some quality knitting time anyway.

I swore to myself I wouldn't cast on for another project but I broke that promise in the latest visit to Babetta's Yarn and Gifts. A cutie ski hat for the baby! Oh yeah, we have grand plans for this kiddo to be some kind of snow bunny. Last Wednesday I was flying between San Jose, CA and Hillsboro, OR for the day. Something like 6 hours of total travel time for just 2 hours worth of face-to-face meetings. Ugh. In any case, I cast on and finished this little gem going to and fro. The details:

Yarn: Filati Biberon 100% Superfine Merino, Superwash
Needles: Size 3 US Addis
Gauge: 6 sts/inch
Pattern: Ribbed Baby Hat by Bev of Bev's Country Cottage
Modifications: I don't know if it's a mod but I couldn't tell if the pattern wanted me to purl the wrong side rows or not after the decreases on the right side. I did anyway. This is only my second knit hat.

The other quality knitting was getting in a few more inches completed on Kristy's baby blanket. I discovered something - I really need to knit the blanket in bright light. Bright light makes a difference. Duh. I found this out during our snow hike.

In my daypack is the blanket and a new ball of yarn. We hiked for only 2 or 3 miles and the guys let me sit around and knit while they tramped around the man made lake. Isn't this dog just gorgeous? His name is Doug and he's a Great Pyrenees.

As I sit and write this, the smell of roasted tri-tip and roasted potatoes is wafting through the air. I'm trying out Potatoes LaMarr, a recipe from Lori. I've been cooking on a regular basis; I find that it grounds me, a routine that is comforting to for me and Karl. Lately I've made a few items from Every Day with Rachael Ray, a new cooking mag. Our favorites so far have been the braised pork which reminds me of carnitas, and a raspberry-lemon shortbread tort that I made for Karl for Valentine's Day. Yum-O!

The last thing in this rag-tag post I want to say is just a small prayer for my dog, Tasha. She had just turned 18 years old but I clearly remember the day my brother and I brought her home. Tasha had been valiantly holding on for the past couple of years but she was really suffering. My brother had to have her put to sleep this past week. For Tasha and for my brother, I wish I could've been there with you both to give Tasha one last scratch behind the ears and kiss on the nose, and provide support to my brother. I love you both.

To Keep or Not To Keep

2006-02-23T09:57:00.000-08:00

That is the question.

I've got yarn stashed all over the house. The biggest stash is in the unfinished guest bedroom because we're still in the process of redecorating. Karl says he's going to build some cubbies for me but even so, I have too much.

So what to keep? How do I decide? I've got a few starter ideas...

Climate. Where I live, it's hot most of the time so I plan to keep the cottons and linens.

Color. I have a penchant for pink, lavender and neutrals. I'm not so keen on blues and greens.

Itch factor. Has to go.

OK, it's not much which is why I still have such a huge stash! I've tried selling via Knitters Review but not on eBay yet. Anyone have experience with this? Rebekah, I think you just put some stuff out there right?

I'd be willing to swap. This wouldn't necessarily reduce my stash right away but if it's yarn I'm more likely to use then at least I wouldn't be buying more :-)

Having mentioned the swap thing, let me know if any of you are interested in the Rowan Chunky Cotton Chenille. I have a ton of it and it looks pretty but it's hard on my little hands.

Any ideas on how to decide what stays and what goes?

To Do

2006-02-21T17:06:00.000-08:00

Sign wedding contract for MGM Hotel. CHECK

Book hotel and plane reservations to Las Vegas. CHECK

Buy dress for wedding. CHECK sort of

Schedule 4th ultrasound. CHECK

Schedule next blood test. CHECK

Select wedding bands. HUH?

Clean out stash from guest room. UMMMM...

Reorganize files in study. UH-OH

Finish the baby's room. NOT YET

Do taxes. EEEEEK

Seam the Baby Albert Jacket. MAYBE

Swatch crochet baby blanket. CHECK

Swatch crochet scarf. DYING TO DO THIS

Knit 2 more inches on baby blanket. BORING

Plan tonight's dinner. CHECK

Pack for business trip. BLECH

I am a list person. Lists are addictive. The only problem is, the list never gets any shorter.

What's on your list?

*************************

Some of you have asked interesting questions in your comments of late, and I haven't been able to respond personally so here are my replies for the entertainment of all:

Which dress did I pick out for my wedding? On Babe in the Wool, I reported a couple of dress picks in one of my posts. I went to David's Bridal and tried the cranberry "special occasion" gown. Beautiful color, 9 1/2 feet of fabric. I looked like an oversized vegetable. Plus I didn't want to spend that much on a dress that I would then pay another $50 to cut in half. I went to Nordstrom Rack and bought a couple of interesting dresses in aubergine. The plan is to wait until 2 weeks before the wedding, go to a seamstress and see if either one could be altered to fit my shape at that point. I also bought a dress on eBay which may or may not arrive in time to be altered. I'll try to take some pictures.

Oh. If it seems that I'm pretty nonchalant about the wedding, it's because I am.

Does Big Kitty really have her own prescription at a regular pharmacy? Yes, she most certainly does. Though I suppose once the wedding is over she will also have to change her last name as well. But not her initials: BKM.

How do you grow your orchids? Lots of light (put them on a south-facing window sill) and let them soak in the sink in tepid water once a week.

Agnes, your comment about my calmness since I found out I am pregnant is a sharp observation. I hadn't thought about it before but yes, I think you're right. Having a healthy baby is the highest priority and knowing this puts everything else in the proper perspective, including knitting and other hobbies. That is, I was taking knitting too seriously and the fun had gone out of it. I am beginning to appreciate it again as a relaxing and useful hobby. Especially since I am constantly reminded that I won't have much time for it later.

Did you all have relaxing weekends? Well, some of you did because I read about them in your blog already. I spent all of Sunday knitting on the Baby Albert. Now it just needs to be seamed, blocked and have the buttons sewn on. I really needed to just spend a day knitting and catching up on people's blogs. It was a treat.

Squares and Rectangles

2006-02-18T12:52:00.000-08:00

Blogging 3 days in a row. This must be a record for me. OK, warning. This is picture-heavy.

The simplicity of Sally Melville's Baby Albert Jacket is that it's just a bunch of squares and rectangles. This isn't an inspired photo but it shows you what I mean. The jacket is about 70% done, the left front and both sleeves are what's left. The clever thing about the pattern is that there are only 2 seams to sew - the sleeves. I will pick up stitches along the sides of the back piece and then down the sides of the front pieces.

Maybe this closeup will show it better.

The other baby item is a blanket I'm making for my friend Kristy. She is about 4 weeks behind me and is also having a girl! Kristy is a huge Green Bay Packers fan and I hunted high and low for this yarn in Packer colors but with no luck. The blanket is in ho-hum stockinette but I like the coordinating Cotton Twist colors for the crochet edging. You probably won't see this again until it's finished 'cause there won't be anything exciting to show until then.

Orchids are blooming around the house. Little Vanda White is the early one. She didn't bloom for 3 years until we moved into this house. Now she flowers at least once a year. *happy dance* She reminds me that I haven't totally lost my green thumb.

I leave you with a pensive photo of shy Miss Big Kitty. This lady has had her share of vet visits. Last year she was diagnosed with a hyperthyroid and weighed only a few pounds. She's back up to her fighting weight thanks to daily doses of meds. She has her own prescription at the pharmacy and I get a kick out of telling the pharmacist that I need to get a refill for "Big Kitty".

New Knitting Store in the Sierra Foothills

2006-02-17T14:16:00.000-08:00

For those of you who live in and around the Sierra foothills region, I found a new yarn store!

The store is tiny but they have plans for expansion. It's so cute painted off-white with antique-style decor, colorful bags and scarves hanging from the ceiling. Their selection is small right now but they are ordering lots as we speak. I noticed they carry more Karabella and Classic Elite yarns than I've seen at the other LYS plus a decent collection of Cascade. In fact, it's the first place I've seen that carries Madil (Italian-made) which I quite like but have only been able to find online.

I also appreciated the fact that they have crochet samples as well as knitted sweaters and scarves.

And the knitting bags! So many! They have a line from a local seamstress too which was nice. Quilted bags, funky fabrics, Lantern Moon.

Store owners are Donna and Debbie who were both there along with Debbie's daughter Casey to welcome me. I stayed for a while and chatted. They even asked *me* to teach a beginner's knitting class (I was wearing one of my knitted cardigans). I chuckled at the thought but was flattered.

Sierra Knitting Company is located in Shingle Springs off Highway 50 East towards South Lake Tahoe. When you drive along this strip of Hwy 50, you'll see what looks to be old western style storefronts (right next to a Starbucks and Food-for-Less, the irony). The store is next to the Mission Rogelio Mexican Restaurant. The address is 3300 Coach Lane Ste A3, Shingle Springs, CA 95682.

An Unusual Meme

2006-02-16T16:17:00.000-08:00

Birdsong tagged me with a most unusual and creative meme last week - a description of myself in poetry form using the letters of my name. In case you were wondering what the heck I've been up to the past few days, let me tell ya...I've been trying to figure out what starts with a "Y" that would describe me. I finally broke down and used Websters. Did you know that there are only a few pages devoted to the letter "Y" in the dictionary?

L oquacious with the written word but shy to speak up
Y outhful in mind, body and spirit
N ever regretting or second guessing any decisions of my past
E nthusiastic about impending motherhood
T empted at all times to grow my collection of yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks and fiber books
T rained as a bookworm and homebody, morphed into a recreational athlete and traveller
E njoying life as it unfolds each day

Thanks, Birdsong, for issuing this challenge. I had fun thinking about this. Now for you folks who like words this meme is for you: Agnes and Kelly. Anyone else who would like to try it, I encourage you. Let me know if you do it because I'd love to read your poem.

Other things I've been up to...I finished the red alpaca scarf which I will now refer to as "Tosh" in honor of the recipient. However, I wrapped it up before I remembered about taking a picture. You'll just have to take my word for it that Tosh is done. Now I'm currently working on the Baby Albert jacket as well as a baby blanket. The jacket is coming along nicely; I so love working with the Phoenix yarn. The yarn I'm using for the blanket is very similar to Berroco Plush, extremely soft and springy. It's in plain stockinette because there's no point in doing any fancy stitchery EXCEPT that I'm going to crochet a pretty edging with Berroco Cotton Twist Colors.

Non-knitting activities include trying on special occasion dresses for Las Vegas next month. I suppose I should be more excited about my wedding but at the moment it's sort of low on my priority list. We are getting married at the MGM Grand Hotel with just a few friends to witness the historic moment. And a moment it will be, I don't think the ceremony will last more than 20 minutes if that! But that's OK. The less time in high heels the better.

I want to thank all of you who responded with your Typical Knitter's Day. I'm amazed at how different some of your schedules are. At the same time, there is a common thread of knitting at night. This makes sense for the working folks but even for those of you lucky enough not to work this seems to be the case too.

No pictures today because I am lazy. But I've got some so stay tuned.

A Typical Knitter's Day

2006-02-08T20:12:00.000-08:00

When I read everyone's blogs I am always impressed by the sheer number of projects that you are working on and have finished. How do you find the time? I started thinking about what my typical day is like and where I fit the knitting in. Here's what a Lynette day looks like:

5:30am, wake
6-6:30am, go for a walk or run
6:30-7:45am, get ready for work
7:45 - 11:30am, work
11:30am - 12:45pm, lunch at home and if I'm lucky I can fit in a little knitting
12:45 - 5:30pm, work
5:30 - 6pm, decompress
6 - 6:45pm, make dinner
6:45 - 7:15pm, eat dinner
7:15 - 7:30pm, clean up
7:30 - 9pm, free time (errands, knitting, blogging, photo stuff, TV or some combination of these)
9 - 10pm, get ready for bed, read
10pm, sleep

I can't knit past 9pm without suffering some consequences (dropped stitches, etc). And the 10pm lights out is pretty firm because I can't stay awake.

What does your typical day look like? Where do you fit the knitting time in?

Scarf, and a Bit of Chaos

2006-02-03T17:39:00.000-08:00

I promised some evidence of knitting so here it is. This is the Misti Alpaca scarf that I'm making for a friend's birthday. Not very complicated since I'm on the mindless knitting kick.

One reason I've been busy is that we've been doing a massive remodeling of 3
bedrooms. I say we, but I really mean Karl. Anyway. We have switched the study and guest rooms and painted them. Nothing like impending parenthood to jump start room remodeling.

I'm not sure this photo is the most accurate representation of the green that we used for the study. This room gets a lot of light in the middle of the day but I took the picture in the late afternoon. It is a saturated shade of "Luscious Moss". We also added some chair rail trim to break up the huge expanse of mossiness and just picked out a colorful sconce for the corner. This room will be a combo study and craft room. We'll see how that works out, but we don't have much choice as you'll see in a minute.

We switched out the guest room because this one is just a tad bigger. We'll be able to add a small table for a TV and a dresser. My parents are staying with us for a whole month in June after I have the baby. I felt like they deserved some extra space during that time. The color here is "Earthy Cane". We aren't going to do a chair rail but are planning to do window and closet door casing. Karl wants every room to be a little different. Who would've thought he would have such
designing thoughts. I'm happy to have him do all this work so I'm not complaining. I threw down the pregnancy trump card so I wouldn't have to paint but I pushed around the furniture.

Now here's why we're having to combine the study with crafty stuff - the yarn room is going to be the baby room. Nothing has happened in there yet but this will be painted a sunny, cheery yellow to match the painted furniture. I think I want to do a border stencil too. The yarnmoire and most of the stash is in here, take a look. This used to be an old dresser that I've had since I was a toddler. I asked Karl to remove the 3 top drawers, create a shelf and attach some cabinet doors that we had lying around. Then we tried our hand at crackling. Turned out OK. We are going to use it for baby's clothes though. The matching sewing table is going to be a changing table.

And there you have part of my topsy turvy house! I should probably get used to the chaos because it won't be much better in a few months. That will be an adjustment. Now if I can just figure out other hiding places for my yarn...

Good Things Happen

2006-02-01T19:45:00.000-08:00

...to those who spend the extra 20 minutes driving around looking for a yarn store. My yarn store radar was in good working order tonight. While I did not find an LYS per se, I managed to sneak in a trip to Craftmart in Chandler. This store is kind of like a Beverly's with a selection of yarn that's noticeably nicer than Wal-Mart or Michael's. I was pleasantly surprised by the other craft items too, rather decent stuff.

My reward for my diligent efforts in looking for yarn was 40% off of Southwest Trading Company goods!! Woohoo! So I bought. A lot. 10 skeins total of Bamboo, Oasis and Melody. Now the problem is how I'm going to get it home without Karl finding out. Thank goodness he doesn't read this blog.

On Mindless Knitting

2006-02-01T09:03:00.000-08:00

A while ago, Caitlyn recently celebrated her 1 year blog anniversary and mentioned that she has "no shame" in admitting she enjoys/needs mindless knitting.

I have to agree but I was too chicken to admit it online. Bravo to Caitlyn! Of late, mindless knitting has been all I can handle but I was a bit ashamed to say so. I have been working on a lace scarf for a friend's birthday in a couple of weeks. She loves burgundy so I picked out a great alpaca merino sport weight from Misti Alpaca. It's been a pleasure to work with, very soft. The stitch pattern is my standby, what I used for the Not Knit Round Scarf from The Purl Stitch. Also new to the needles is the beginning of the Baby Albert Einstein coat from The Knit Stitch. The yarn is coming from a tank top that I knit over the summer but wasn't happy with, so I frogged it. I'm recyling the Southwest Trading Company Phoenix yarn for the baby coat and it's looking good in garter stitch. The first part of the coat is the most tedious (107 garter stitch ridges) but the mindless knitting is comforting. I can take it with me anywhere.

No pictures this go round, but perhaps you'll see the red scarf in finished form in a few days. I've been feeling a little blah on the photography front - the weather has made taking landscape shots a challenge lately.

I'm in Arizona for most of this week and haven't been able to visit any yarn stores in the area - they close before I can make it there from work. At the end of the month I'm running up to Oregon...ick. I won't have time to visit any yarn stores there either since that one is a day trip. Funny - I can be tentative driving around a new city unless my goal is to find a yarn store! Then I have everything mapped out.

Hope ya'll are having a good week!

Until the next day in the life....

Patience is a Virtue

2006-01-23T14:55:00.000-08:00

Which I do not possess.

In an earlier post, I talked about starting a baby blanket using Rowan cotton chenille and how I've found it to be hard going. After only a few more rows past what I showed in the picture, I am ready to throw in the towel. Really. I do not have the patience to keep fighting the cotton. It won. It will not be a baby blanket, stubborn thing.

Now I know that not everything in life is as easy as knitting with, say, Cashmerino. However. Why make life any more difficult than it already is? Does anyone think that Cashmerino is "too good" for a baby blanket? I have a huge stash of it which I thought would be another sweater but it's really too hot for that. Besides, I need to somehow use up my stash as much as possible before the baby comes - the room she will be in is currently my yarn room. *waahhh* (That's me crying)

Another yarn that I have totally lost patience for is Caron Fling. I bought this at AC Moore in North Carolina over the holidays. I liked the knitted sample scarf and thought I would make an everyday scarf for work. Fling is a "pigtail" chenille.

Pigtail. Chenille. What is wrong with those two words together?

You got it, it's even harder to work with than the Rowan CC! What was I thinking??

So at the moment I'm eyeing my current projects on the needles: a pair of socks using Cascade Fixation, a pair of socks using Trekking, and a baby poncho using Berroco Plush. The most instant gratification would be the poncho so I suppose I will work on that. It is my own pattern, a poncho done in the round. You'd think I would be more excited but the Plush was orginally slated for something else.

Now check this out. Is this a cute baby hat or what? I found this in one of the pregnancy magazines and the article actually says something like, "And if you ever wanted to learn how to knit now is a good excuse to try" and pointed to the free bunny beanie pattern. I wouldn't necessarily call this made for a beginner but it seems easy.

That's all the ranting and raving I have for Monday. (is it Monday? I really can't keep track anymore)

4 More Things

2006-01-21T07:34:00.000-08:00

It's early Saturday morning and I have the very rare opportunity to spend some quiet time reading blogs. This is better than perusing the local newspaper in my mind, so peaceful and yet productive at the same time.

Cyndi tagged me with a meme that's easy and quick so here goes:

4 Jobs You've Had in Your Life
1. Software Product Manager
2. Performance Test Analyst
3. Oracle DBA
4. Movie theatre box office jockey

4 Movies You Could Watch Over and Over
1. The Terminator
2. The Matrix
3. Steel Magnolias
4. Sixteen Candles

4 Places You've Lived
1. Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2. Durham, North Carolina
3. Sacramento, California
4. Folsom, California

4 TV Shows You Love to Watch
1. CSI
2. Law and Order
3. Sportscenter
4. Seinfeld

4 Places You've Been on Vacation
1. Kaui, Hawaii
2. Nelson, New Zealand
3. Port Douglas, Australia
4. Paris, France

4 Websites You Visit Daily
1. CNN
2. Yahoo Mail
3. Bloglines
4. People

4 Of Your Favorite Foods
1. My mother's lumpia eggrolls
2. Prime rib
3. Cheesecake
4. Mashed Potatoes

4 Places You'd Rather Be Right Now
1. New Zealand on a white sandy beach
2. Maui on a white sandy beach
3. Las Vegas, baby!
4. Holed up in mountain cabin with a roaring fire and hot chocolate

I think everyone I know has already done this meme so I won't tag, but if you haven't done it yet please feel free to do so and let me know so I can bop over and read it.

New Start

2006-01-16T18:04:00.000-08:00

My first finished object for 2006 is the Ruffle Scarf designed by Marty Miller for Interweave Knits Crochet in the 2005 special issue. This is the cover pattern. Details...

Yarn: Lion Brand Lion Wool, 100%wool

Color: Flower Pot

Hook: Crystalites, size J

Gauge: Huh?

Notes: Very easy, good for beginners. The pattern is just 4 rows of double crochet, increasing by doing 2 double crochets every other stitch for rows 2 - 4. I did 5 rows since the scarf was a bit skinny using this yarn. I'm very pleased with this early effort and it's something I can wear a lot since my wardrobe consists of many pink and lavender tops.

My next project reacquaints me with cotton. Since using wool for the past 3 scarf projects, I had blissfully forgotten how inflexible and unyielding cotton can be. Even worse when it's chenille and doubled up. This is the first baby knit - an easy striped garter blanket inspired by the Bulky Blanket in Yarn Girls' Guide to Simple Knits. I'm using Rowan Cotton Chenille that I bought from Elann a few months ago. Basically it's just 8 rows of lavender, 6 rows green, 4 rows pink, 2 rows blue. Think I can handle that? You would be surprised these days *grin*. Pregnancy makes you quite forgetful and absent-minded. I'm all about easy knits now to prevent knitting funk. I think the absent-mindedness was a major reason for the funk; I couldn't concentrate and just made mistakes all over the place. Frustrating but I know better now. I hope.

This was a hard picture to take; I had to use the tub hence the blinding white background. I broke one of my rules and shot indoors in the evening. Bad, bad but I was impatient to upload a picture.

In other knitting happenings, I met up with Caitlyn, Ruth and Cyndi at Frog Pond Knits on Saturday. So fun to knit and chat with you all. Like I said to Caitlyn, I felt like I already knew her and Ruth, and Saturday was a reunion of sorts.

Congrats, you survived Monday. Have a good week!

Until the next day in the life....

The Bump

2006-01-11T20:18:00.000-08:00

Look! I'm back!

Hey, I want to apologize from being away from blogland so long. I don't even know what everyone has been up to but I'll catch up. Now I'll try to be brief and not bore you with the minute details of my absence. Here are the top 10 highlights of the past several months:

#10 - I got a Palm TX handheld for Christmas, yay! More electronic gadgets - it stores my contacts, my calendar (from work), photos, music and even documents like, ahem, knitting patterns. Plus wi-fi and bluetooth to access the Internet when I'm on the road.

#9 - I bought a new digital SLR! It replaces the very nice Canon S2 IS which I sold. The SLR is the Minolta Maxxum 5D and fits lenses I already have. Pix in this post were taken with it, I'm still a newbie to this camera.

#8 - My orchids are blooming. Inside and out. Happiness.

#7 - Despite my knitting funk I've finished two pretty scarves:

My So Called Scarf using one skein of Manos which I gave to one of my mother's friends and the other is

a heather blue mohair lace scarf in which I used part of the pattern from the Not Knit Round Scarf in The Purl Stitch. The yarn is the discontinued "Imagine" from Lion Brand.

#6 - I'm teaching myself how to crochet! Again from Lion Brand, I'm using the new Lion Wool to see if I like it and well, I do.

This skinny scarf is the cover pattern from the latest Interweave Knits Crochet. The pattern is incredibly easy, just endless double crochet for several rows. I'll probably finish up with 5 rows.

Here's a close-up of the stitchery. I'm pleased because it didn't take me that long to pick up crochet once I spent a little time practicing. Crochet really is much easier than knitting so far.

#5 - Because I missed my 20th high school reunion, I was more than happy to meet up with some old friends from the Jordan High School class of 1985 over Christmas. Denny and Lisa, it was great to see you again!

#4 - Over the holidays I was also very shocked - in a good way - to discover that one of my oldest high school friends Kathleen got married last November and is expecting a baby this March! Wowwee!

#3 - My brother proposed to his girlfriend and she accepted. They are planning a San Francisco wedding over Memorial Day weekend. I must say, he picked a very nice girl to settle down with. And I will gain a terrific sister-in-law.

#2 - All right, all right...Karl and I decided we would get married too. This March.

And the #1 highlight of the past few months - we're going to have a baby! That's why I've been so distracted from this blog and from knitting in general. I'm essentially 5 months along and just started yet another blog, Babe in the Wool, as a journal of my pregnancy. I know, it's a cheesy title but my preferred title was taken. I didn't want to clog up this space with too much baby discussion unless we're talking knitted baby sweaters or something.

This is me as of today at 19 weeks, 4 days. You can hardly see the bump of my burgeoning belly but trust me, it's there. I also see I'm getting the dreaded fat face. Or maybe my hair is making it seem so.

There you have it. It's been quite a crazy fall and early winter. 2006 will be even more exciting.

Happy New Year to you!

Until the next day in the life...

100 Random Things

2005-12-06T15:07:00.000-08:00

Miss me? I don't have much knitting to talk about so here's this to tide you over. [LOOONNGG POST]

1. I was born in the Philippines and moved to the US when I was 3 years old.

2. I didn't become a citizen until I was 22. My coworkers threw me a party and I was very surprised - I had kinda taken it for granted.

3. Every weekend my parents' Filipino friends would get together and play mahjong until 2am. The kids played cards and bet with black jelly beans.

4. I do not speak Tagalog anymore.

5. I have learned French, Spanish and Japanese.

6. Carolina Girl 1989 and 1997, BS in Business and MS in Information Science.
7. I avoided computers until 1990 when I had to use one for work.

8. I was married to my college sweetheart in 1990.

9. I got divorced when I was 24.

10. My mother's best friend taught me how to crochet when I was little but it never took.

11. I had a kid's knitting machine, the kind that created a tube after you threaded yarn on the spool and turned a crank. That was my first introduction to knitting.

12. Skin care products are one of my weaknesses.

13. I have driven a stick shift since I was 22.

14. When I was 16, I won a writing competition at school but couldn't advance it any further because I wasn't a US citizen.

15. I was the news editor for my high school newspaper.

16. I was the business manager for the indie paper in college for a couple of years.

17. I learned to ski at 24.

18. I have been running since I was 18.

19. I have a tendency to date men with German or Norwegian heritage.

20. Photography became a serious hobby at 22.

21. I own at least 13 film cameras.

22. At the moment, I have 2 digital cameras.

23. My dogs' names were Ferdie, Sally, Tasha, Mathias, Stella, Woody and Jessie. Only Tasha, Woody and Jessie are still alive. They have other owners.

24. My cats' names were Cat, Big Kitty and Little Kitty. Cat ran away before I moved to California. Big and Little are current.

25. The tallest mountain I have hiked to the summit is Mt Sneffels in Colorado at 14,150 feet.

26. I have skied at Killington, Alta, Snowbird, Kirkwood, Sugar Bowl, Okemo, Sierra, North Star, Heavenly, Squaw, Alpine Meadows, Mt Rose, Sun Valley, Blackcomb, Whistler, Breckenridge, Vail, Keystone and Mammoth.

27. I have run the Bay to Breakers 4 times, the Bridge to Bridge twice.

28. I have ridden 65 miles twice, my longest bike rides.

29. My backhand is pretty mean.

30. Longest drive was 230 yards with a men's 3-wood.

31. I was not allowed to participate in any sports when I was a kid.

32. 80s music is another weakness.

33. I don't know exactly why, but I really like airports.

34. I cook everything but Filipino food.

35. Filipino food is tastier than other Asian food but you will develop heart disease faster.

36. I hate leftovers. They're just former meals.

37. I officially stand at 4'11" but my driver's license says I'm taller.

38. My mother says I'm short because I stubbornly refused to drink milk as a baby.

39. I have two younger brothers who both studied art history in college but ended up in the IT industry. Go figure.

40. I first read The Hobbit in 5th grade.

41. I always knew I'd live in California at some point.

42. I didn't have a Southern accent growing up. Everyone thought I was from California.

43. I will live in North Carolina again some day.

44. Countries I have visited: England, France, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the Philippines, Taiwan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand.

45. Countries still on my list: China, Iceland, Japan, Singapore, Antartica, Peru.

46. I am embarassed to admit being a huge Duran Duran fan back in the 80s. Roger Taylor was my favorite.

47. I also had a crush on John McEnroe. You can't be serious!

48. In my teenage daydreams, I thought I would be happily married by age 32 with 2 or more kids and being a stay-at-home mom.

49. Um...I'm 38, divorced once, kidless and working full-time...but happy nevertheless.

50. I thought I would grow up when I turned 30 but soon realized that maturity does not come with age.

51. Penguins are my favorite birds because they are short, can't fly and seem to have fun all the time.

52. My favorite time to write is when I've had a glass or two of wine, a la Truman Capote.

53. Secretly, I love to dance but can't find any guys to dance with. Karl does. not. dance. at all.

54. I "stole" Karl from another woman. She didn't deserve him anyway.

55. I can be very demanding. Because I'm a perfectionist. Some tell me I'm high maintenance.

56. Clutter makes me nervous.

57. Travelling, the actual travelling part like being on a plane or train, is strangely soothing.

58. My friends think I'm an electronic gadget geek. OK, what's wrong with having 4 cell phones???

59. I faint at the sight of my own blood. I passed out once when I had to had to have my finger pricked.

60. I do not drink milk or any white beverages.

61. I am very nearsighted but this condition wasn't discovered until I was third grade. Up to that point, my memories are all blurry.

62. I broke 3 teeth in a rollerblading accident.

63. I have torn both rotator cuffs because of skiing.

64. Oh, and I also tore my left ACL going down a stupid easy blue run. I had to be put on a stretcher and taken across the ski resort behind a snowmobile.

65. Snowmobiles are sexy when you're riding on one with your arms wrapped around your man under a cold clear starry night.

66. My first name was originally Maria. I dropped it when I became a citizen.

67. Filipinos like to give their children 4 names and call them by their second.

68. I am really not very Filipino. I think my mother subconsciously agonizes over that.

69. There is a hoard of snacks in my desk drawer at work but I hardly eat them. Control.

70. On the other hand, I cannot eat just one bag of Ruffles Sour Cream and Cheddar potato chips.

71. My favorite city is Boston. It has romantic connotations for me.

72. My favorite plant is lavender (not orchids, although I love those too). My yard is covered with lavender of all kinds.

73. I could really use a glass of wine right now.

74. I wish I was more happy go lucky.

75. Every now and then, I tell Karl what my favorite whatever is..fruit, color, item of clothing, etc., just in case we are ever on the Newlywed Game. And just in case he forgets those things.

76. I never had allergies until I moved to California.

77. My first volcano experience was on the Big Island where I hiked across a dormant caldera.

78. I get along better with men rather than women most of the time. This is curious. I think it's because with men, I can take 'em or leave 'em and they don't care. Or I don't care, anyway.

79. Money talk causes great anxiety.

80. Religion - don't go there with me. Actually, that's not completely true...I believe in believing in a higher, ethereal spirit. Organized religion bothers me.

81. I have a true soft spot for dogs of any breed. There's something about them that makes me feel very motherly. They are like little toddlers.

82. Cats do not inspire the same feelings, however. They are like...little evil toddlers.

83. My favorite color was black until about 3 years ago when I started knitting. I can't stand knitting with black yarn.

84. I grew up very sheltered and introverted.

85. Now most people think I'm quite outgoing.

86. Certainly everyone knows I like to organize trips, dinners, menus, anything that can be organized.

87. I used to want to be a travel agent specializing in ski vacations until I found out it didn't make much money.

89. My ideal job would be working as a photojournalist for a travel and/or cooking magazine. Wouldn't that be cool. Travel, eat, take pictures and blog about it.

90. It's taking me too long to write 100 things.

91. Ants give me the creeps but I like lizards (a California thing).

92. We came upon a rattlesnake while hiking in Yosemite. Then I rode by a couple on the bike trail around town.

93. I have run over 2 squirrels on my bike. My friends call me "Squirrel Killer".
94. I am not a fan of coconut.

95. Given the choice between a sweet chocolately bonbon versus a salty crunch snack, I will always go for the salt and the crunch.

96. Rain and thunderstorms always make me feel nostalgic for home.

97. There are a lot more than 100 things that are random about me.

98. Can you tell I like lists?

99. Change is good for you.

100. Favorite quote: "Know where you're going in life... you may already be there."

Yarn Stash Sale

2005-12-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

A little bit of this, a little bit of that.

Edited to reflect items sold 12/05/05.

All prices in USD, please email me at lgmalong AT yahoo DOT com if you have questions. Shipping will be USPS priority unless otherwise specified. Buyer to pay shipping costs. I accept Paypal and personal checks.

CASCADE PASTAZA - SOLD

Sky Blue - 50% wool, 50% llama

2 skeins, 132 yds ea.

4 sts/in on US#9

$4.00 per skein

Great for a fuzzy felted purse!

LA LANA FOCUS MONDIAL

Brown Tweed - 97% new wool merino, 3% nylon

8 balls, 130 yds ea.

3.75 sts/in on US#10

$5.50 per ball

Would make a beautiful cabled sweater!

BERROCO PRONTO PRINT

Coney Island - 50% cotton, 50% acrylic

14 balls, 55 yds ea.

3.25 sts/in on US#10.5

$3.50 per skein

Easy-care yarn for a baby blanket or kid's sweater

AUSTERMANN ACAPELLA

Marseille Blue - 50% kid mohair, 50% acrylic

4 skeins, 163 yds ea.

4.75 sts/in on US#4-5

$4.00 per skein

Would make a stunning shawl!

GJESTAL NATURGARN

Sea Blue - 100% new wool

8 skeins, 118 yds ea.

3.25 sts/in

$3.50 per skein

LE FIBRE NOBILI IMPERIALE - SOLD

Navy Blue and Cream - 80% kid mohair, 20% acrylic

3 skeins navy blue, 2 skeins cream, 109 yds ea.

4 sts/in on US#6-7

$2.50 per skein

Enough for a shawl and scarf

KATIA SEVILLA

Melon - 100% nylon ribbon

4 balls, 153 yds ea.

6.25 sts/in on US#3-5

$4.00 per skein

Enough for the sexy tank top pictured

KATIA SUMMER PATTERN BOOK #48

55 women's patterns for tanks, summer sweaters, bikinis, sporty tops

Includes pattern using Katia Sevilla above

CASCADE PIMA MELANGE

Chocolate Brown - 100% cotton

10 skeins, 115 yds ea.

5 sts/in on US#7

$3.00 per skein

For a sophisticated summer sweater or the Cable Eight Top from Interweave Knits

So Not Me

2005-11-17T16:35:00.000-08:00

I checked out Steph's blog today and saw that she had done one of those fun little bloggie personality thingies so I did one too:

Your Birthdate: September 9

You are a born idealist, with more pet causes than you can count.
You prefer be around others, both when working and while relaxing.
Generous and giving, you believe you can change the world one person at a time.
You're open minded and tolerant. People feel like they can tell you anything.

Your strength: Your go-with-the-flow flexibility

Your weakness: Your flair for the over dramatic

Your power color: Pine green

Your power symbol: Circle

Your power month: September

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

OK, OK. This is not me. I am not go-with-the-flow. I am not an idealist. I like to be alone. Green is not my power color, that would be burgundy or magenta. And a circle? No. I'm a right-angled kind of gal. But the other things are close: I am open-minded, generous and people can tell me anything. And I've been told I can be dramatic ;-)

It's been a while since I posted and I'm feeling guilty. It's the lapsed Catholic in me. The Zippered Cardigan still isn't done but I'm close - I have to sew the zipper and finish the collar. I'm really close! In the meantime I've been totally distracted by knitting for a friend's baby. I was supposed to knit something back in the summer. Doh. The baby is 3 months old now and I'm determined to finish something by Christmas. I've started a very easy cardigan called Baby Baby from Jill Eaton's Minnies using Berroco Plush. This yarn is so incredibly soft, like cat fur or cotton balls. I'll try to post pictures this weekend. Hopefully there will be something to take a photo of.

Until then, here's a fairly recent picture from the archives. A dog day afternoon...

Yarn Shop Review: Farmhouse Knit Shop

2005-11-09T10:18:00.000-08:00

Farmhouse Knit Shop must be the coziest yarn shop I've visited so far. Located in Beaverton, Oregon near the Nike headquarters and tucked in a small neighborhood, the shop oozes comfort, warmth and color.

The shop is actually a converted old house and consists of 4 rooms. Each room except the entrance has a wooden table and chairs in the center over an antique rug, with either a ball winder and swift or stacks of magazines. The sitting room - complete with fireplace and a mantle of knitted goods, comfy chairs - is stocked with handpainted yarns. There's a room devoted to sock yarn and yarn suitable for kids garments. Then there are two rooms of fabulous, luxurious fibers neatly organized in wooden cubbies.

The Farmhouse is decorated in a sumptuous, old country, Arts & Crafts kind of way with dark hardwood, period lamps and chairs and soft lighting. The colorful yarn contrasts with the decor beautifully. Gorgeous sample sweaters, felted bags and ponchos hang everywhere and goodies like delicate Lantern Moon silk needle cases and twinkling glass beads are scattered around in baskets.

According to Sandy, the proprieter, one of her bestsellers is a line of hand dyed yarn created by a local artist operating under the name Blue Moon Fibers. I bought three skeins of "Sock Candy", a cotton/elite blend in a deep blue sea, magenta, forest green and mustard colorway.

I had an interesting chat with Sandy about local yarn shops and the knitting trend in general. In the greater Portland area alone, she said something like 16 stores have opened in the past few years, mostly by relatively new and inexperienced retailers. In the meantime, the knitting craze has started to wane. A lot of store owners have seen their sales go down noticeably. Sandy wondered how long the new shops will stay in business versus those like hers which have existed before knitting became such a fad. I personally had not noticed the knitting thing tapering off (my own funk notwithstanding) but I have observed, with some dismay, the trend of the latest designs targeted at the 25-and-under crowd. There's nothing wrong with that - the yarn companies and designers want to make money - but the patterns in Knit It! and knit.1 aren't for me. When I asked if that target market could afford to buy quality yarn and keep the new shops afloat, Sandy's opinion was, "Credit cards. 18-, 20-year olds can get credit cards and charge the yarn." Whew. Thank goodness I didn't have a credit card when I was that young or I'd still be paying off those bills.

If you're ever in the Beaverton or Hillsboro, Oregon area which is about 45 minutes west of Portland, stop by Farmhouse Knit Shop and say hello to Sandy. You'll definitely be charmed.

Meme, Photos

2005-10-31T20:10:00.000-08:00

Edited to add: many of you have asked about the pictures I submitted for the company contest - thanks for your interest and kind comments! I posted the photos and a few others to Image Zone.

I've been tagged by Agnes with a knitting meme! Although it is a rather dubious honor to be tagged because I sound depressed :-)

What is your all time favorite yarn to knit with?
Debbie Bliss Cashmerino. Super soft, easy on the hands, luxurious.

Your favorite needles?
Addi Turbos, hands down. I hardly knit with anything else except for birch DPNs or bamboo circulars if the yarn is extra slippery.

The worst thing you've ever knit?
There's a tie between the Tivoli Tee and the Diane tank because I messed up both of them so badly, although with Diane you can't tell.

Your most favorite knit pattern? (maybe you don't like wearing it...but it was the most fun to knit)
Toughie. I guess I would have to say the Not-Knit-Round-Scarf, aka lacy capelet, from Sally Melville's The Purl Stitch. I had a tough time with the yarn used in but I really enjoyed the pattern itself.

Most valuable knitting technique?
Knitting continental style. I spent a month practicing this and will never go back to the English style.

Best knit book or magazine?
In terms of techniques, Vogue Knitting Quick Reference. I carry it in my knitting bag at all times. It's been a lifesaver when I've forgotten how to do something. For designs and photography, I love Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick and Interweave Knits. Very inspiring. I look through both when I need a pick-me-up.

Your favorite knit-a-long?
I've only participated in one, the Tivoli Knit-a-Long, and didn't fare too well. Doh.

Your favorite knitblogs?
My favorite blogs are a mix of knitting and life experiences. I love knowing how knitting fits into people's lives and reading about the other experiences that shape the writer. So with that in mind, I have to say A View From Sierra County written by Birdsong and Knotted Thread written by Kelly. And Knit Knack by Rebekah is a hoot!

Your favorite knitwear designer?
Veronik Avery who designs for Interweave Knits.

The knit item you wear the most? (how about a picture of it!)
The item I wear the most is the Give the People What They Want cardigan from Yarn Girls Guide.

But my favorite to wear is Marilyn by Debbie Bliss.

Who to tag?
How about it, Birdsong and Roberta?

I leave you with this photo of my camera-hogging cat, Little Kitty. She loves being photographed and is one of my favorite subjects.

A Bit of This, A Bit of That

2005-10-27T16:28:00.000-07:00

I haven't fully recovered from the knitting doldrums but managed to work on the Zippered Cardigan a little bit. I have to finish the decreases on one more front and then it's seam time. I said that to myself a few days ago, though.

Recently I've been distracted by the thought of knitting a shawl. I have the Shoalwater Shawl pattern in hand plus some lovely Lorna's Laces Lion & Lamb in Iris Garden, but the Leaf Lace Shawl is so pretty too. Stop! I must stop! I can't finish the cardigan and I'm thinking about a shawl??? Just because it's freezing in the office? Stop.

In other news, I am one of the winners in a photo contest sponsored by The Company I Work For (TCIWF). The theme of the contest was Corporate Values. TCIWF has 6 major values that everyone is supposed to adhere to, with several mini-values in each category. I submitted 4 pictures and 2 were selected out of a pool of about 600 photos. Not bad, eh? TCIWF will professionally print and frame the photos poster-size. They will be displayed at the annual awards banquet and then given to the contest winners afterwards.

That's about it for any interesting news this week. It's finally cool in Sacramento and I'm happy to be wearing sweaters, corduroys and tall boots. Hope you're happily knitting or wearing your knitting wherever you are.

Until the next day in the life...

Random Knitting Thoughts

2005-10-24T08:24:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for your encouraging words about this dratted knitting funk. Cassie said to do what moves me right now, which is spot-on with how I feel at the moment. What moves me is reading. Suddenly I have a voracious appetite for books! This makes me happy. Reading has been a dear pasttime. This past weekend I eschewed a 10-mile hike in Lake Tahoe to finish Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It was a satisfying read, not too heavy but certainly the most serious and thoughtful book in the series so far. I won't ruin the story for anyone but if you liked the previous Harry Potter books, you should enjoy the latest. There are interesting twists in the end! New books have been added to my shelf: The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt and The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. Both should be good snuggle-down-under-the-blanket kind of books. Perfect for autumn reading.

So these books had nothing to do with knitting except I noted the knitting references in the Harry Potter book - many sweaters from Mrs. Weasley. Will be interesting to see what they look like in the movie. Speaking of movies, I saw Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit over the weekend. Gromit knits! There was a cute scene where he picks up his needles and knits a bit on a jumper. Everyone looked at me when it happened.

The last random knitting thought - Katie Holmes, as the whole world knows, has been impregnated by the sly Tom Cruise; in an interview picked up by CNN, she says she is organizing a baby room and learning how to knit. Eeeeww. I don't know why this bothers me but it does. I don't approve of the Holmes/Cruise thing because I think Tom Cruise is a total control freak who brainwashed this young woman but WHATEVER, now she wants to knit. For the baby. It's just too, tooooo sickeningly pefectly young motherly.

I hope I didn't just offend anyone with that knit rant. I think knitting baby things is cool. Just the whole learning how to knit because I'm pregnant sounds so fake to me.

Oi. All right, things for you to think about on a Monday.

And Vicki, I plan to be at the Guild next Thursday!

Knitting Funk

2005-10-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

I just can't do it. I can't make myself pick up the needles and knit right now. My knitting bag is sitting on the couch, stuffed with the pieces and parts of the Zippered Cardigan but I haven't touched it since Monday night.

What is wrong with me?

I still enjoy reading everyone's blogs and keeping up with your knitting triumphs but right now I have lost a bit of motivation. I'm not in a bad mood or unhappy, just not inspired.

Even my cat senses something is amiss. I have thrown a pile of yarn on the yarn room floor, oddball skeins that I plan to donate. Each is zipped up in big plastic baggie. Big Kitty has taken to dragging the bags of yarn from the yarn room and leaving them in the hallway or in the doorway of the master bedroom. Is she trying to tell me something?

You know, not knitting has freed up an enormous amount of time. I have cooked dinners this week and started reading the latest Harry Potter. Still, I feel a bit adrift somehow.

Public Service Announcement - Freecycle

2005-10-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been hearing a lot about a virtual grassroots organization called "Freecycle". Actually I knew about this group a while back ago but didn't sign up until last month. The goal is to offer gently used items for free rather than throw them away, kind of like swapping household items with your neighbor. The groups are designed such that they are local and moderated by a volunteer in your town. Kind of a nice concept. You won't have to go very far. However you can sign up for as many towns as you want.

Since signing up, I've seen everything from bed frames to appliances to chickens and a rooster (must go together) to construction materials being offered for free. Someone was even giving away yarn but I was too late!

If you're a packrat (like my SO), there's got to be something in your home that you don't need but are too lazy to pack up and donate to Goodwill (like me). Perhaps you'd be willing to send out a short email and let someone who needs it come take it off your hands.

Miscellaneous

2005-10-17T16:53:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Kermit the Frog has just kicked off a world tour to commemorate his 50 years in Hollywood? He's come a long way. I didn't know frogs lived this long but he does have a Dick Clark air about him.

My fingers are tapping the keyboard waiting for inspiration and cleverness to begin flowing. It hasn't happened yet. I am at a loss for anything meaningful to say except "Hello World". Maybe it's because I did nothing this weekend. Wonderful nothingness. No trips, no excursions, just a normal Saturday running some errands, getting the house cleaned up and spending a decadent amount of time on the couch.

I discovered that my cable company is finally carrying DIY and I eagerly watched my first episode of Knitty Gritty. I wasn't sure what I was expecting but perhaps I'm just not hip enough for this show. The episode was about skirts. Lisa Daniels was the guest designer. The patterns were interesting and easy-looking, but the show's host seemed so impatient with the designer. And there were 3 youngish knitters of varying experience on the set. They introduced themselves in the beginning and promptly faded into the background. I wanted to know what they were knitting so furiously, why they knit, what they liked about it, etc. but there was nothing like that. The show was only 30 minutes and even less, really, with commercials. I can understand why they would move along like that but still...

I have made slow progress on the zippered cardigan. It's a fast knit when I'm doing it but I haven't had much time lately. So far I've finished the back and 2 sleeves. I just cast on for one of the front pieces. That's it. I need to run off now. Hope you all have a good week!

Until the next day in the life....

Nothing to Do With Knitting

2005-10-12T08:38:00.000-07:00

I brought some socks with me to our weekend camping trip to Yosemite National Park last weekend but progress was slow. It's hard to knit during the drive when the road curves and bends every hundred feet or so.

Instead, I did a lot of hiking! Almost 20 miles worth. Every year we make at least one pilgrimage to Yosemite and last weekend was probably our only one for 2005. It was gorgeous! Some fall colors were beginning to show, the skies were deep blue, the air was just crisp and cool enough. We took a couple of short hikes up to Vernal Falls and the Tuolumne Grove. You can see more pictures on Image Zone. Our main hike was new to everyone - a fantastic trail to the North Dome, a smallish rounded hump of granite that was directly across from Half Dome. It took my breath away, the view. It was one of the best I'd ever seen of Yosemite and we've done quite a few hikes there. Half Dome is the gold standard of hikes. If you go to Yosemite, you have to hike up to the top of Half Dome at least once. It's 18 miles roundtrip and takes all day. There are cables along the short side that you use to pull yourself up.

Along the way to North Dome we took a short detour to Indian Arch, an amazing natural rock formation. It's huge as you can see from the photo with the 4 guys. The arch looks so thin and brittle, yet once we were on it, it could hold a few of us up. Maybe not for long though.

The Tuolumne Grove was an easy hike to a small stand of sequoia trees. Sequoias are some of the longest-living trees in the world. They are gigantic but lovable at the same time. They are fairly rare since their living conditions have to be just right - the amount of water, the deep, loose soil, the elevation and temperature. My friend McGinnis pictured here is 6'4. He's standing about 6 feet in front of the tree.

So, not much knitting was accomplished. Thought about it a lot...I wonder if I could knit socks that could withstand all the hiking abuse. I haven't tried any sock yarn heavier than fingering weight so I have no idea what to use. I have sport weight but I'm not sure that would cut it. Any ideas or suggestions?

Until the next day in the life....

Knitting ROI

2005-10-05T21:04:00.001-07:00

As I was doing an impromptu sweater inventory in my closet last night, it occurred to me that while the number of handknit items in my collection has surpassed 10, I actually wear only a few on a regular basis. My favorites are Give the People What They Want cardigan, the Einstein jacket, the warm and girly Marilyn pullover and the Side-to-Side Ribbon Pullover.

It could be that the seasons dictate which sweaters I would wear, but even so there are certain ones that I gravitate towards more often than others. It could also be argued that these are the best fitting but that's not really true either. And then there are people who knit for knitting's sake and not use the garments or give them away altogether, but that's not my MO.

So why then? Well, after a moment's thought...I think it simply boils down to the best combination of function and comfort. Comfort is fit, softness and the degree to which the yarn does not irritate my skin. Fit is VERY important because if it doesn't fit, it isn't comfortable. Function is convenience, versatility and ease of care. If I'm going to worry that the sweater will get wet, must be dry-cleaned if it gets a speck of dirt on it or can only be worn in specific situations, it will probably spend most of its time in the closet rather than on my person. Versatility is a huge plus - I will wear something a lot if I can wear it on the weekends, at work or on a casual evening out. Given all of this, it won't surprise you to know that I wear the 2 cardigans the most often. Both of them are simple knits and I'm happy to say they've held up well so far.

Although I unofficially select each project based on the sweater's function, comfort, technique/stitch, style and yarn it seems I get the biggest bang for my knitting buck with the projects based on the first 2 criteria. This may change which projects I knit up in the next few months. The tweedy cardigan I'm working on now is a good choice - I'll most likely use it right away.

(By the way, the number 10 isn't random. Fran from the Knitter's Review forums once said you could consider yourself an intermediate knitter if you've knit at least 10 sweaters.)

Thanks for letting me ramble on. Which sweaters - or scarves, handbags, blankets, socks - have you knit that you use the most often and why?

Until the next day in the life...

Running and Knitting

2005-10-02T20:09:00.000-07:00

This weekend was the 2005 Bridge to Bridge 12K race in San Francisco! Karl and I drove down to Oakland on Saturday, spent a leisurely evening in Jack London Square and then ran the race this morning (Sunday). A more detailed account of the race can be found on Fit to Knit! and I posted some pictures on Flickr.

OK, confession time. I have made un-progress on the Tivoli. After I first tried it on, I just kept on knitting and didn't check the fit again...this was last weekend while I was in Oregon. Well, after I frogged a bit and reknit the 20 or so rows, I tried it on again and realized with horror that I had made some horrible mistakes. First was that the size was simply too big. I could've lived with this but secondly, the waist decreases were off. I mean, they weren't positioned correctly. It was so obvious and I was so mad at myself. This is the second sweater in a row that I impatiently screwed up. Is this a sign? Am I burning out? I felt like it that night. So I put the sweater away for now. I need some space and time from it. In the meantime, I got back on the horse and started knitting the Zippered Jacket from the 2004/2005 Winter Vogue Knitting issue. This is a very fast knit. I started yesterday (Saturday) and have already finished the back of the cardigan. It is supposed to have some small easy cables but the yarn I'm using is a thick/thin slubby yarn. It doesn't show the cables at all so I'm not doing them. However I am keeping the 2 purl stitches in the middle of the stockinette expanse as a design element. It will be repeated up the sleeves and on the 2 front panels.

The other knitting-related news is while in Jack London Square, I picked up this super-cute silk tote bag from an Asian import store. It's the perfect size for WIP knitting projects. I was very tempted to buy more than one but that would've been a little much, no? Karl was indulgent and made no peep about the purchase. He knows I have so many bags! But he can't really talk because he has about 20 backpacks himself. Anyway, this knitting tote is just darling, so chic and ethnic. It will probably pull double-duty as a hip bag for work too.

Whew, another weekend down. I've got a few more fun ones coming up and then hopefully I can settle in and enjoy the longer, cooler evenings at home.

Until the next day in the life....

I Can Knit That

2005-09-28T18:57:00.000-07:00

Have you ever *not* bought a sweater from a store or catalog because you thought you could knit it yourself?

While looking through the latest collection of catalogs that have started to clog my mailbox in anticipation of the holiday season, I realized I can no longer look at Knitted Objects in any catalog without first dissecting how they are constructed. Then I decide whether or not I can knit them. This mental game, which began when I started knitting, has become more and more gratifying: if I can figure out how a commercial sweater has been knit, (1) I feel fairly confident I can knit it and (2) I don't have the urge to buy it!

For example, my favorite store is J.Jill. I swear that half my wardrobe is from this store because they carry petite sizes in such cute clothes that can easily go from weekend (very important) to weekday. All right, I will end the plug there. Anyway. Look at the interestingly named Textured Purl-Knit Cardigan to the left. I can knit that. Chances are, I can buy the cotton yarn at a discount for less than the $68 retail price (labor cost is another matter). But why buy something as simple as a reverse stockinette, nay, Purl-Knit, sweater for that much?

On the other hand, please look closely - you'll need to click on the link to zoom - at the intriguing Hooded Aran Isle Cardigan from the Sundance catalog. Only $288. It looks like it is knit sideways with cables and other textured stitches. Hmmmmmm. I'd like to knit that. The sideways concept is not difficult and I've done it already. However I want to figure out how to knit the sleeves without breaking up the cable pattern. I've seen a shrug pattern in IK that is similar so I'm going to do a little research.

Would I consider buying the $288 "Aran Isle"? Heavens, no. I enjoy spending money but even I think that's excessive. I would rather spend the cash on good yarn to knit it myself. Natch.

Until the next day in the life...

Two Steps Forward...

2005-09-27T16:55:00.000-07:00

...one step back. Last night I discovered a hole in the Tivoli Tee. Drat! Not just one hole, even, there were two! Methinks my eyes thus crossed while driving back from Oregon on Sunday afternoon. I was almost done, but in addition to the holes I didn't like the way I had done the increases (which created the holes!) so I ripped back maybe 20 rows. I am annoyed but relieved. Those holes would have really bothered me. I was hoping to finish Tivoli for this month's project and it's still doable but I've got to focus. Do swatches count as FOs? They should, I've done several of them. I am planning to use the Gedifra I bought in Switzerland for a zip cardigan I found in Vogue Knitting. I would send you the link but VK has one of the worst knitting magazine sites I have seen yet.

Oh, I'm back in Oregon today for work this time. It's a long day when you get up at 5am, travel 4 hours, attend a 2-hour meeting, then travel back for another 3 or 4 hours. I brought some knitting with me but I am restless. I was working on the Carolina Blue socks, the one that I had done the Figure 8 Cast On for. I have since switched from the Magic Loop to DPNs for one of the socks. However, the DPNs are 8-inchers. I wrestled more with the needles and the yarn tangling in them than I did actual knitting so I think I will switch back to Magic Loop for both socks (single, not at the same time).

OK, getting close to boarding time. Until the next day in the life....

The Spinsters and the Knitters in the Sun

2005-09-26T13:23:00.000-07:00

-- William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Act II Scene IV.

Busy, busy! Last Friday, a group of us took the afternoon off and drove up to Ashland, Oregon for the season's end of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. We saw two shows, Twelfth Night and Room Service. The experience of seeing Twelfth Night in an outdoor theater was fantastic. We bundled up in warm clothes and brought blankets and seat cushions. Our seats were in the balcony; lucky for us the slight overhang prevented us from getting wet during the first couple of acts as a light rain fell upon everyone below. We sipped on hot chocolate while watching a mesmerizing production. The set and costumes were excellent and the acting was superb. Room Service was a completely different play, set in 1930's New York on Broadway about the antics of a play producer who connives various hotel managers to let his actors stay in the hotel and produce his show. It was hilarious, fast-paced and fun.

When we weren't watching the plays, we were enjoying some of the sights in and around Ashland. We hiked a trail up Brown Mountain before shopping in the quaint downtown area. I was keen on visiting The Web*sters, the local yarn store located in Ashland's historical district. I have ordered from Web*sters before for hard-to-find Lantern Moon needles and some books. I was expecting to find a small, charming shop. Instead I walked into one of the largest modern yarn stores I have visited so far with beautiful hardwood floors, shelves almost floor to ceiling, well-lit and easy to move around areas. The variety of yarn made my head spin with high-end name brands like Adrienne Vittadini and Colinette. Their collection of Noro alone took my breath away. I loved that they had swatches of most yarns. Samples of sweaters, purses and scarves were on the shelves or hanging on racks so that you could easily touch, survey and try on. None were for sale but each had a card with the pattern name, yarn, size, yardage and estimated cost to knit.

The store was so large they had a section for artsy clothes and accessories and the front glass counter was filled with jewelry. This was not a cozy store where people could gather to knit. There were no comfy sofas or chairs. There was a huge back room with a large table used for classes but it didn't look like anyone could just walk in and knit. That was disappointing but I can understand why. Web*sters has tremendous foot traffic since it's smack dab in the middle of a very popular, touristy shopping plaza. The prices were not cheap. A little girl of about 8 or 10 was in the store with her mother. She apparently had just learned to knit, wanted to make herself a sweater and asked the sales person for yarn around $3. None were to be had! In fact, the least expensive yarn was around $5 and that was on sale. I felt bad for the girl. I myself was so overwhelmed with yarn choices that I became as useless as a bunny paralyzed with fright. I did not buy huge amounts of yarn, just a Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton pattern book (the one with Klaralund), size 0 Addi's for socks, and a couple of balls of Touch Me to keep company with the matching ball of it at home. However, I hope I don't regret not buying any Noro.

Finally On the way home from Ashland, we took the long way back to Sacramento by visiting Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park. Pictures will have to come at a later date. I forgot to put batteries in my digital camera after I recharged them, duh, so the only camera I had was my Ricoh 28mm compact. It will take at least a week to get the film developed. I'll save my review of those parks for when I post the pictures.

Hey, did I tell you I did some knitting over the weekend too? Road trips are great for knitting! I am almost finished with Tivoli and I swatched the Alpaca Silk for the Bed & Breakfast Pullover from the Winter 2003 Interweave Knits. I also swatched for the Ballet Pullover from the Summer 2004 IK. There are a couple of other patterns that I want to swatch for before deciding what I'm going to knit next.

Whew, well I have more to write but it'll have to wait for another day. Hope you all are having a good week!

Sweater Wizard Review, Revised

2005-09-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

I owe a huge apology to Carol Wulster - the creator of several knitting software products - because I wrote a very amateur, ignorant review of Sweater Wizard earlier this summer. Patience is not one of my virtues and it cost me the effort of knitting a tank top last month because I did not take the time to thoroughly figure out how to use Sweater Wizard's features. Not to mention that I gave false information about the software. Horrible. And I thought I was being a good journalist!

In the earlier post, I said my biggest peeves were (1) I couldn't enter my measurements other than my bust size and (2) I had to figure out the waist shaping on my own, manually. The truths are, while the only measurement you are prompted for is your bust size, you can change ANY measurement in the schematic and it will adjust the number of rows and stitches automatically; secondly, in version 3.0 (which I purchased) there is an option to select 2 types of body shaping - standard and hourglass. This too is customizable.

Here is what the v-neck tank top original pattern looked like before I made my own adjustments to the torso measurements. Note that the length is 12 inches between the bottom of the armhole to the top of the ribbing which corresponds to 60 rows starting from the cast-on edge based on my gauge.

Now I simply change the 12 inches to 8 inches and select hourglass shaping of 14 inches. I hit enter and voila....notice how the number of rows for the torso has changed and how the schematic now reflects the pulled-in waist. Of course, the pattern directions are updated too.

I discovered this when I joined the Sweater Wizard group on Yahoo. Ai caramba. Sometimes one must, as we say at work, think outside the box. I was being too guy-like in my approach to the software: it must be intuitive; it has to be plug-n-play. Otherwise I actually have to think or, god forbid, ask for directions.

What does this mean? You know very well. I'm frogging the tank top (which I was sort of embarassed to show you anyway because I didn't think it came out right) and re-knitting it using a pattern created the proper way. Don't hold your breath, though. This is probably going to be next summer's repentant project. I'm itching to knit a wool sweater or two for fall/winter. You ladies knitting the Frieda are making me anxious!

Until the next day in the life.....

Borderline

2005-09-20T19:59:00.000-07:00

I'm liking this mid-1980's Madonna-esque photo of the Tivoli. What do you think? Maybe I should stop knitting now. All I need are black dangly accessories and a big ribbon in my hair. Not to mention a blonde wig. And..well, I could go on but I won't. Actually there are things about this that disturb me a little, like what should I do about the armholes? I picked up extra stitches on both sides of both armholes to avoid a gap in the corners, but it definitely looks like there are still gaps. Also, you can see where I changed yarn in between the boobs. I'm hoping this will go away with a bit of proper blocking.

I'm concerned that the waist shaping will not actually correspond with my waist. I haven't made any changes to this pattern except the accidental issue that I somehow didn't end up with enough stitches after casting on at the armholes (6 stitches short). After counting umpteen times, I finally decided it was going to be OK. I was worried the torso portion was going to be a little big anyway because I'm in-between pattern sizes (it goes from 28" to 32" and of course I need the 30"). I am not griping about the pattern! Please don't think that. So far it's been pretty easy, minus my brain burp about the cast-on. I'm just whining that my size is hard to come by. You've heard this before so I'll leave it at that.

Well now. How can you tell when you've been shopping just a little too much? When you leave your package, nay, your large box, that arrived yesterday of expensive new clothes that you bought on a whim on a business trip on your front porch overnight even though you saw it there as you pulled into your driveway. *yeah* Just another package.

I'm going to rip open that box of goodies now.

Second Wind

2005-09-19T20:21:00.000-07:00

[Warning: Long Post]
This is post numero dos for today, this must be a Personal Best. Agnes has pulled me out of the blogging rut by tagging me. Agnes, by the way, has some inspiring photos of her most recent knitted works. Go see them. The woman has been knitting for only a year. That blows me away.

Here are the questions. Along with some answers.

TEN YEARS AGO:I quit my job and started graduate school full time. I had applied to 3 schools, was accepted by all, offered a whopping $30K scholarship to UCLA but turned it down to go to my beloved alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I was so happy to do something completely of my own choosing, my own will and desire. Graduate school was a heady, fullfilling time of my life.

FIVE YEARS AGO:My relationship with Karl was getting rocky. I had begun working in a new subsidiary of my company and it was just like a start-up. I had no idea what I was doing, my love life was on its way to disaster and even though company stock was spirally downwards I bought a new car. I thought nothing would ever be as difficult as that year.

ONE YEAR AGO:I was getting ready to cut loose on my sabbatical with only a couple of weeks left at work. I had spent months planning a very full schedule in which I was home for only 3 weeks. My sabbatical consisted of hopping on a plane to Australia (Brisbane, Coolangatta, Cairns and Port Douglas) with a friend and my brother; hopping on another plane to New Zealand (with Karl, to drive the entire perimeter of the South Island), hopping on a plane to Las Vegas, hopping on a plane to North Carolina and Massachusetts for Christmas. I love airports.

FIVE SNACKS:Do I really have to say? This is so embarrassing. Karl says I am not one to eat healthy snacks. No wonder I have to run 5 days a week.

Andy Capp Hot Fries

Cheeto's

Shrimp Chips (especially the kind you can buy at Asian supermarkets, they are multi-colored and puff up when you throw them in a pan of hot oil)

Cape Cod White Cheddar Popcorn

strawberries

FIVE SONGS I KNOW ALL THE WORDS TO:

Crazy by Patsy Cline

In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel

Leaving Las Vegas by Sheryl Crow

Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around the World by U2

Superman by REM

FIVE THINGS I WOULD DO WITH $100 MILLION:

Buy a resort home for my parents in the Philippines and buy them in new house in Chapel Hill

Buy resort homes for me and Karl in New Zealand and Whistler, BC

Share the wealth with my brothers and set up trust funds

Contribute to charities

Travel all over the world

FIVE PLACES TO RUN AWAY TO:

Kauai, Hawaii

Bald Head Island, North Carolina

Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand

Vancouver, BC

Yosemite National Park

FIVE THINGS I WOULD NEVER WEAR:

White platform sandals

A Corset

Edible Undies

Body Piercings

FIVE FAVORITE TV SHOWS:

Law and Order

Sportscenter

Sopranos

Nigella Lawson (she's funny and sexy while she cooks...my heroine)

FIVE BIGGEST JOYS:

Being able to travel

Writing about whatever comes to mind

Being fit, healthy and safe

Being with Karl

Friends/Family

FIVE FAVORITE TOYS:

My cameras (they count as 1 entity)

Knitting stuff (also an umbrella category)

My road bike

My laptop

My heart rate monitor

OK, OK...Cyndi, Linda and Violet, consider yourselves tagged. This is a long one, though, so don't feel obligated. I know you're all busy.

Enjoy the week, happy knitting!

Ho Hum

2005-09-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

Not a lot going on knitting-wise in my corner of the world. I have been working on the Tivoli t-shirt and have had several debates with myself about what I should be doing with it...what kind of cast-on for the armholes, if I should try long sleeves, whether I should shorten up the torso. In the end I have not made any changes but my mind has certainly attempted different things. I decided not to do long sleeves after I found the Ballet Pullover pattern in the Interweave Knits Summer '04 issue. As far shortening the torso goes...well, this will just be longer t-shirt on me. I didn't think about shortening it until I reached the waist decreases and the thought of frogging doesn't appeal to me right now. We'll see. I'll try it on tonight.

Not sure exactly what's going on with the blogging thing. I think I'm in a funk. I haven't been keeping up to date with everyone's blogs. I want to, but I don't have as much "down time" at work as before. Which is the way it should be, right? Problem is, I don't have that much time after work either. I've been shopping.

Today's picture is a random selection from my album. This is Sally. We adopted her my senior year in college (undergrad) back in 1989. She died in March 2003. Sally was part Lab, part some-kind-of-snow-dog. She was very loyal to us, loved bounding around the backyard after a snowfall, kept my mother company on her walks and defended our house admirably with her intimidating, deep bark. Sally also farted like nobody's business. She would sit in the family room while we were watching TV and let one fly. Then look around to see if anyone noticed.

Until the next day in the life....

Knitting and Blogging on the Road....

2005-09-15T07:50:00.000-07:00

....are more challenging than you might think. I try to keep my knitting accoutrements to a minimum when I travel but sometimes that means I don't have something I need. The other night while I was working on the Tivoli, I came to the part where I'm supposed to cast on stitches for the armhole. I've cast-on in the middle of projects before, but for some reason I totally blanked out on this. I wanted one of my reference books to double-check and I didn't have it with me! Hate that. It was a total brain fry. I had to put the knitting away.

Then there is the small matter of making sure, wherever you are, that you have network connectivity. The next best thing to having a knitting reference book on you is to have access to the Internet to look up what you are forgetting. Not having Internet access is REALLY FRUSTRATING, especially when you are supposedly a techie person who can figure this out. Networks, though, are not my forte. I was very mad on Tuesday morning because, after I got the wireless to work at the hotel on Monday, it didn't work on Tuesday. Or Wednesday. Or today. Crappy thing!

This means I am blogging at work where I am hardwired. It's almost like a shot of morphine....ahhhhh, Internet, ahhhhh.

Well, the business trip is almost over. It's been hectic because we packed a lot in a few days. Not to mention always eating out - this takes up time. If I were by myself I'd just have a sandwich or a bagel but on this trip I've had full meals every night.

FYI, on the knitting and planes. I've been taking bamboo needles with me and no one has given me a problem. *knock on wood* I've flown on Southwest, America West and American Airlines this year and so far it's been easy. Have any of you had issues with flying and taking your knitting?

All right, better get back to work. Until the next day in the life....

38.3

2005-09-11T06:53:00.000-07:00

38.3 is today's date in "Lynette years". What I love about having a birthday in early September is that it's part of the change in the seasons - a welcome relief from the oppressive heat, some autumn colors beginning to appear, just a hint of winter. Even in the Sacramento area the weather has become cooler and just a few miles up the hill on Highway 50, the low shrubbery is turning a deep purple red.

Now that it's no longer in the 90s, I can think about projects for fall knitting. I went to my yarn room the other day and was amazed at all the pretty, nice and sumptuous yarns in my stash. I picked out a bunch and moved them into my bedroom stash (yes, yes, I have 2 stashes). My bedroom stash is the pile of yarn that eventually become actual projects. The Manos is there, along with 2 different types of Noro, the Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk from Sherry, the LL Lion and Lamb that I bought from Caitlyn, the Gedifra I picked up in Switzerland and some sock yarn. Potential projects are the Shoalwater Shawl using the LL, a couple of oversized cardigans (Manos, Gedifra), a cabled sweater (DB). Of course I could change my mind at any point.

The current knitting front is busy but manageable. On the needles are a pair of socks that I started on magic loop. I have since separated the socks - one on magic loop and the other on 8" Inox. I still maintain that shorter DPNs are better for my little hands. It's just that Inox doesn't make short size 1 DPNs. Also on the needles are the humble beginnings of Tivoli. If any of you have been considering this pattern, especially since Grumperina published it as Picovoli on MagKnits, you are more than welcome to join the Tivoli KAL. I finished the Phoenix tank and found the answer to the plunging V-neck in Ann Budd's A Handy Book of Sweater Patterns. No pictures of it yet, I need to block the neck. That may be next time.

Over the Labor Day weekend Karl and I were busy purchasing this. Then he promptly left the country for a quick business trip to Japan. I haven't driven it at all this week in fear of something happening to it in the parking lot at work (that's what happened the last time I drove a new car into work). We also went on a pretty hike in the Berkeley Hills before catching the BART to see the Oakland A's get pounded by the Evil Empire (Yankees). This weekend I celebrated my 38th by going on a 12-mile run on Saturday. Just to prove I still had the legs. However, afterwards I felt a little tired. Then I found myself looking at this. Little Kitty has been a terror all weekend long.

Well, I've got to get going on a bike ride this morning. It's sunny where I am but probably overcast where we're going, brrrr. Hope you all have a good week, I'll try to post from Arizona.

Until the next day in the life....

No Yarn Budget This Month

2005-09-06T17:21:00.000-07:00

That's because my yarn budget has been allocated to a much more worthy cause - a donation to the American Red Cross for the Hurricane Katrina Fund. Even better, my company will match the donation.

I was really out of touch with what was going on in the Gulf coast states last week, but now that I've caught up with the rest of the nation it feels like someone kicked me in the gut. I lived through a hurricane that took an unexpected turn from the North Carolina seaboard and travelled inland. I grew up taking tropical storms, flooding and tornados spawned by hurricanes for granted because they happened so often and we knew how to deal with the after affects, more or less. The conditions resulting from Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi are deplorable and shocking. I feel very helpless here, donation or not. I wish there was something more tangible that I could do.

Isn't it weird that life goes on even in the face of tragedy? While we go about our normal routine, whether it's sitting at our desks at work, dropping the kids off at school, or attending class ourselves it's really distracting to know there is a more important, critical event going on and people's lives are at stake. I would rather be working on that and trying to make a difference instead of wondering what I'm going to do about dinner.

So I was going to tell you about my weekend and the latest knitting news, but I don't feel it's appropriate. It's a bit belated but consider this my little candle being lit for the people of Hurricane Katrina: may they find comfort and solace from all the prayers and thoughts directed their way, food and shelter from helping hands generously extended.

Triathlon, Knitting, Golf and Dirty Laundry

2005-08-29T18:02:00.000-07:00

That's the past weekend in a nutshell. I was busy and well, now I'm kind of tired. My company sponsors annual site games, like a mini Olympics. Each company site has its own set of games and athletes. The events are spread out over several days. This past Saturday they had the triathlon, 5K and 10K activities. Karl was signed up by another friend of ours and he frantically started training about 2 weeks ago. There were two triathlon groups, A and B. The "A's" were the competitive ones, those that have done their fair share of triathlons and were expecting to finish in about 1.5 hours or less. The swim was 500 yards in the lake, the bike ride was 14 miles on a hilly paved trail and the run was a 5K. The B group started about 10 minutes after the A group swimmers were all out of the water. After the B group had transitioned to the bike ride, the 10K runners lined up and were on their way. They had to run the course twice because the route was only marked for the 5K. That was kind of a bummer.
Friends and coworkers came to cheer on all the athletes but the cutest and by far the most endearing was a family of 3 kids who came with signs saying, "Go Dad!"
There weren't many women at all in either triathlon group, at least not individual competitors. There were some women who participated in the relay portions. Regardless, I was really impressed with how fit these ladies were and I vowed afterwards that I would get in better shape. Cindy, pictured as she began her transition from the bike ride to the run, had tried to persuade me to sign up. She's in her early 40's and is fantastically fit. She did her first triathlon last summer.

In other weekend activities, I finished the front of the tank top and man is it revealing. Not only is it cropped but the V-neck is something to behold. I will have to pick up stitches around the neck anyway but I had originally planned to just do single crochet. Now it looks like I'll be doing about an inch of seed stitch.

On Sunday morning, I got up early and, because I had vowed to get into better shape, ran 9 miles for my long run. I felt good for most of it. The worst was in the first 4 minutes where my knee hurt so bad I wanted to cry. Then the pain went away. I will admit that I'm in denial about this and am refusing to see my doctor.

When I got home, Karl was in a grumpy mood because he had to clean up from an aborted wash attempt - our washing machine finally died. We had to make an emergency visit to Lowe's and bought a brand new Whirlpool set. I insisted on a top loader...I must be able to felt!

Then later in the afternoon we played 9 holes at Indian Creek Golf Course, where I eagled the first hole! Woohoo! I beat the guys again, handily this time with an eagle, a birdie and a par to score 32. I tried not to be too smug.

There's still a couple of days left this month to seam up the tank top and redo the neckline. I...must...finish....

Knitting, More or Less

2005-08-25T20:15:00.001-07:00

This month has been tough on the knitting front. Very little actual knitting has been done although I've thought about it and I've certainly visited with other knitters. However, there's still a chance for me to finish a project this month. In the next few days I'm going to work on completing the tank top to match my OSW. Yes, you've seen this little number before. It is little...even Karl commented on it's smallness. I'm hoping it will at least cover the boobs. I mean, look how low the V is.

On a completely different topic, Birdsong tagged me with a fun little meme so here goes my 23rd post 5th sentence:

There are two colors, green and white?

Doesn't sound very interesting, does it? By itself the sentence is totally incongruous but my 23rd post was about asparagus! So, did you know that asparagus comes in green and white varieties? The green is common here but in Germany you must try the white spargel. It is delicious – thicker, milder and more tender than the green variation, it has to be peeled before cooking. Because it’s grown in the ground rather than above, however, it is more difficult to harvest and therefore more expensive to come by.

The rules for the meme:
1. Go into your archive.
2. Find your 23rd post (or closest to).
3. Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
5. Tag five people to do the same.

I'm tagging Kelly, Ruth, Rebekah, Joan and Lori. What was on your mind when you started your blog?

In other life news, I've joined Fit to Knit!, a community blog for knitters who are starting or continuing a running program. Check it out, it's already inspiring. This Saturday, Karl is participating in a triathlon sponsored by the company we work for. It will be held at Beal's Point at Folsom Lake State Park. I am volunteering as a photographer. We've also been playing some golf lately, and this Sunday will be our 3rd outing of the month! That's 3 times more than last year. I've picked up Pilates again twice a week. All this exercise is definitely healthy for my state of mind. Oh, and the new job helps too. It's going well and there's even talk of sending me to Malaysia next year for a 2-month assignment. What fun!

I'll end this miscellaneous rambling with a miscellaneous photo, taken from my growing collection of digital archives. We've had such terribly hot weather in the Sacramento area this summer that I have a hard time thinking about winter. This should help - it's taken from atop Whistler Mountain near Vancouver, BC. I was on my way back to the lodge when I snapped this photo. Notice how clear it was from my vantage point before I descended into the fog.

Until the next day in the life...