SMH

I'm such a blogger slacker here.  I just with no abandon and don't really post what I'm doing.  Meh.

So, here's what I've been thinking lately.  Bored with your stash?  Not really inspired with what you've got?  Wanna swap? 

I used to use paperbackswap.com a lot to swap out my old books for new ones.  Why not have a yarn swap?  Granted, I was seriously trying to figure out how to rate the yarn for valuse upon posting, but possibly by dollar value?  $20 is 2 pts?  *shrugs*  It's a work in progress. 

I know local gropus do a swap.  I see the practicality of this.  You can feel the yarn, yadda yadda.  But for those a little more adventurious who are not schooled in ALL types of yarns and brands, etc, why not start a little internet swap?  Could be the next big hit in e-commerce!  Who knows?

So, if anyone still reads this, suggestions?  Thoughts?  I've done a basic search and haven't come up with an internet site like paperbackswap for yarn.  I could do a whole Swap like the gawk phenomenon that's going on.  Paperbackswap, yarn swap, kid swap, *snickers*  I know a few moms that would SERIOUSLY go for that last one...

*skips back to work*

Yes...I'm a blogger slacker

Actually, that is to say I've been a knitting slacker.  I got sucked into this whole world of FB games.  I managed to climb myself out when I realized it was killing my neck!  *sigh*  Who knew?

So, I've started up again with some serious thoughts on de-stashing.  Well, that's not entire true.  I started up again when I was inspired to create a scarf (or two) this Christmas.  It really felt good to have something besides socks on my needles.  Why socks?  Well, because their easy to take on the train.  Now, I don't have to take the train so I can knit whatever I want on the way home from work.  It's too dark in the car to try to knit in the mornings atm (at the moment). 

So, I knit a Sporting Clube Portugal scarf for a friend of mine...in Portugal.  Go figure!  I had some yarn left over (yes I had to purchase yarn to make this and the other scarf), so made a ribbed hat too.  Yes, the hat is rotated....deal.  Being as I haven't ventured MUCH into the colorwork world, the scarf did have a bit of bunching, which I'm sure you can see.  He won't care, but I'm not happy.  But not unhappy enough to frog the whole thing and start over!  *snort*

Next was just a plain burgandy scarf for S for Christmas.  It's a bit shorter than I think he wanted, but he didn't say he wanted it longer!  No pic of that...it's boring.

If you follow me on Pinterest, you'll see that I have ambitious goals for de-stashing my yarn...of which there is plenty.  And, if memory serves, some on cones, too?  I think? 

Anyway, the first of the de-stash was the Caron Equinox Top in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Haze Heather.  Actually, I have it on today.  Here's the thing, I'm not a HUGE fan of all the pearl stitches, so I'm wearing it inside out.  It makes for an interesting and lacy pearl part of the rib.  And, well, my YOs on one side of the pattern just don't look like the other side.  I must play with this type or lacey ribbing to see if I can get it to look right.

I also have a pair of Dragon Skin socks I'm knitting.  Started those when I was still metroing in to work.  They just sit there and I work on them when I'm uninspired between projects.  LOVE that pattern!!  Especially in multi-color yarn.  Just looks cool!!

Okay, on to bigger and better things!  Someone posted a Spock hat they had seen on Ravelry.  I thought...hell I could make that!  She wanted one, so I decided to see if I could actually CREATE something NOT from a pattern!  *faints*  I did...  Check it!

The hat is your basic ribbed beanie.  It was the ears that I had issue with.  I actually DID write the pattern down.  Imagine that?  Me?  Write a pattern?  *faints again*  I haven't typed it all up yet, but I did. 

So...what else can I create?  I thought about cabled rib, done.  Tri-color rib scarf?  Yeah...did that.  Should post those pics too.  Hm....what's not been done?  What hasn't been tried and patterned?  This requires deep thought, but whatever it is will be in purple mystery yarn I bought in B'more many years ago when the yarn/knitting expo thingy came.  It was all I could afford...and only 4 skeins to boot.  The last thought before I went to sleep...a cardigan where the buttons and holes are hidden in the cable?  There's a thought....

Found some yarn!!

I found a skein of the yarn I needed for rectangula online, of course. It came in the mail last week, but I'm working on a Slitheryn scarf for my niece right now. When I'm finished with that I will finish up rectangula.

CTM bought me Custom Knits earlier this month. There are some nice patterns in there. I really need to learn how to alter fitted patterns to make them more fitted to my body. Between this one and Fitted Knits, I should be able to learn all I need to to make better fitting garments. Of course it doesn't help that I've been knitting square and bulky things to use up some stash. LOL

Apparently, I'm a speed knitter. *snort* I've been going to this knitting group in Del Ray for a couple of months now. They all give me a hard time about knitting so far. Granted I'm just knitting in the round, but this week they all agreed that it didn't even look like I was knitting. *shrug*

It's a great group of people. We have one token male knitter. He's funny! They're all funny! I don't think I've laughed so hard in a long time. I never really thought of myself as a very knowledgeable knitter, but apparently I am. There's two of us that get asked questions a couple of times a night. It's nice and I'll miss them when we move. I'll have to find a new knitting group where we move. *sigh* Just when I start to settle into a group, we move. Hopefully we will find a place that we're happy with and won't have to move every couple of years. Well, at least until we can afford a house of our own. Yeah, right! Dream on!!

FOs

I finished the Panini, but not the Rectangula. I ran out of yarn for it and haven't found the color at the store yet. I think I may have to break down and buy it online to finish that stupid thing. The panini is at work. I need to fix the seam at the shoulder. I didn't do such a great job at sewing it together, I guess. *snort*

Right now, I'm working on some baby sweaters. Somewhat long story, but I started the back of one baby sweater in a light blue Simply Soft before we left for FL. We visited with CTM's mom and step-dad and then his dad and step-mom. Well, we arrived in Avon Park Friday late afternoon. Unless you golf, there's N O T H I N G to do there. So, I knitted all day Saturday and at least 4 hours every day until we left on Wednesday to see his dad. Yeah, I got as far as I could with that yarn (yeah ran out again) and then had to go to WalMart to buy something to work on while I was there. I made it all the way to the sleeves of the second sweater before we left. I didn't knit at all when we were at his dad's.

When I'm done with all that, I'm going to make a cardigan coat type thing. Not sure which pattern I will use though.

I am soooooooooooo making these!!

My friend Jen made the Pomatomus socks from Knitty.com in Lorna's Laces shepherd sock in the Seaside colorway. I don't know that I'm a fan of the color, but the pattern is gorgeous! After I finish reading two books, I may start knitting on my commute to work and socks are a perfect small project to take on the bus/train. I bought a sample pack of sock yarn from KnitPicks.com, but I don't think two skeins will be enough to make socks that long. Then again, with my GINORMOUS calves, I may not make them that long to begin with. I don't think I have the patience to try to alter the pattern to fit my calves. No, those aren't my limbs in the picture.

So, as I was wandering around on Knitty.com, I saw these patterns from the current issue that may just have to put on my list of things to make.

sunday swing
mermaid's lagoon

Not that I need to add things to my list, but they have interesting patterns.

Yeah, I'm a serious slacker

So, I've made soooooooooo much since I last posted this. I made a shell that I hated out of Micro Spun in turquoise. I made CTM a sweater from some Knit Picks yarn. It's a 3/4 zip sweater. Yeah, you read it right. I put a zipper on a sweater for the BF! *snort* I made many, many, many...many scarves. Too many!!

Right now, I'm trying to destash so I'm making these two patterns out of yarn I already have. I found some nice and easy patterns to convert to the gauge for the yarn I have.

Rectangela - I'm making this in a Simply Soft purple. I thought I would have enough...turns out I didn't. So I had to set it aside until I could get some more to finish it up. It's easy enough to convert to any gauge yarn, which is what I was looking for. Besides, I'm always looking for something to throw on at work because I'm always cold.

I also have Panini on my needles. When I ran out of the yarn for Rectangela, I found another sweater that was easy to convert to this turquoise and chocolate brown boucle I had for a cardi wrap. I can't find the rest of the pattern for the cardi wrap so I had to rip that project out and start on this Panini pattern. I haven't really been knitting too much lately. I'm either too tired or not tired enough, so I've been reading before bed. The new schedule is wearing it's toll on me until CTM gets his work schedule down to a routine.

And I'm not a huge fan of the new late night alarm clock named Missy. *snort*

The Dog Sweater

So, she's really long, but that doesn't mean I should make the sweater longer than her. And my colorwork just doesn't look right. Any suggestions on a good reference for good colorwork technique? I just had two colors and knitting back and forth and in the around...



*sigh*



Now I'm working on the Equestrian Jacket from IK last fall I think with that possum yarn Mom brought home from New Zealand. We'll see how that works out. I just hope I have enough yarn.

Since I last blogged....

I finished the sweater, with grey trim because I ran out of purple. I finished a toddler sweater vest, a baby layette ( in crochet) and a baby sweater in knit. I am now working on a dog sweater in the lovely colors of orange and brown with BROWNS down the back for the Cleveland Browns. I have plans for an Ohio State one and maybe a Redskins one. We'll just have to see how the first one goes over...

I need to destash, so I'm guessing I need to knit some more baby crap because apparently, that's what I have the most yarn of any kind. I had a few projects in line for myself, but I have to rethink those now. The size might not be right anymore...my style has changed...whatever.

In any event, my needles (and hooks) have been flying lately in hopes to working my way through my stash. IK emails be damned!! I don't want to know about new alpaca or wool!!

Running out of yarn.

Which is what I'm doing on the purple sweater. SO, I decided to make the sleeves short. So far so good. I've increased as much as I need to and I just need to knit them a little longer before I work on the raglan part of the sleeve for the finishing. Hopefully it will all work out...

Worse than a cat...

So, we have a new addition to the family. Missy. She's a black lab dachsund mix and cute as can be! She looks like a lab puppy, but she's 2. So, I've been working on this sweater. Well, I haven't picked it up since we moved. The knitting bug just hasn't struck yet. However, I left the bag sitting out thinking, "She's a dog. What does she want with yarn?" Well, plenty!

We had her a couple of days at this point and she hadn't even shown interest in the bag, until one day. BF was gone for his review and I was the first one home that day. I open the door, and there she is COVERED in my nive sport weight grey wool yarn. I take two steps in the apartment and all the yarn in the bag was scattered to kingdom come! I just doubled over and LMAO! So, now the bag sits in the spare room with the door closed while I'm at work.

And yes, I know I owe y'all pictures. I've just been too lazy.

Okay...

So, I don't think I have enough yarn to finish the sweater I'm making. I think I'll just make it a short sleeve or 3/4 sleeve sweater. I still have to make the collar, too, so probably a short sleeve sweater will allow me enough yarn to finish the thing. It's been fun knitting it. I haven't done any cable work like this before. Makes me want to start a fisherman style sweater or something with more celtic knot work.

So...

I think I may run out of yarn for the sweater. I may have to make it a short sleeve sweater instead. *snort* It's not easy for me to reduce stitches in the pattern. SO I put the pattern in a sheet protector and took and dry erase marker and cross out the stitch as a decrease. That way I can tell where I am in the pattern and won't get confused as to which stitch I'm supposed to decrease next.

Keyhole Top

Yes, I made it in a lavender color. I didn't leave it open at the back, though. It looks okay. I need to get buttons and finish it, though...

http://www.interweave.com/knit/interweave_knits/galleries/bonus/spring_2007/keyhole.asp

Next Project...a sweater for me.

It's the Dickinson Pullover from IK Fall 07
http://www.interweaveknits.com/galleries/bonus/fall2007/zimmer.asp

Well, the back's not perfect, but I don't really care. It's the back. I'm not going to rip it out and fix it. I can live with it...The front on the other hand...which I haven't started yet, will be. So far, it's not been that hard to work on. The cables were a bit confusing at the beginning. I don't think I've crossed uneve cables before. You do a 3x1 and 3x2 cables during the pattern. I wasn't reading it right at first, but I figured it out later on and fixed the error of my ways. It's in a deep purple. The only color yarn I had for that project. I'm not ABOUT to purchase more yarn until I've dwindled my stash a bit.

I just hope after this that CTM will let me make him one...and I still need to finish that one for FH that I started before I left him. *snort*

Scarf is Done!!!

Yeah, now that it's warmer out and he doesn't need it, it's finally done. I need to wash and block it, though. It looks pretty good. Doesn't look like the picture, because that's a darker yarn, but the pattern is nice. It's VERY wide and VERY long. He wanted it long, anyway so he could wrap it around his face and neck. Hopefully, I'll get off my ass and take a picture of sometime soon, along with all the other UFOs that I have.

Holy Long Scarf!!

Thank goodness there isn't ANYONE at work this week. This scarf is taking FOREVAH! One row is at least 20 minutes. My hands are tired from holding the tiny little needles with ALL those stitches on them. It's easier to purl than it is to knit in this pattern. The slipped stitches on the knit side are harder to pick up as they're twisted. It looks REALLY cool though and I'll have to adapt that edge stitch for other scarfs. It's a nice finishing touch.

Serious Blogger Slacking!!

I need to take lots of pictures to post. I have a pair of socks that were a gift and A sock that I knitted the mate too. Not to mention the AFGHAN OF DOOM and the ugly warm socks. Maybe I'll do that this weekend. Who knows.

OH and there's the top down raglan that I made for a knit-a-long that is poufy in the back and I probably won't wear it ever. I'll probably just donate it or I might send it to Mom. It might fit her and she might wear it. If not, oh well.

I'm currently working on the Henry scarf from knitty.com. I've never done a waste yarn cast on. I've never knitted a scarf lengthwise. 400 how many stitches?? I ripped it twice before I finally got the pattern in my head. Now, I don't really read the pattern so much as just count the rows. I know where the slipped stitches are supposed to be. My brain apparently wasn't functioning this weekend when I was working on it. It's gonna take FOREVER as the slipped stitches aren't easy to knit in such a small yarn with such a tight knit weave look. BF LOVES the pattern though, so it's always worth it.

The cast off should be pretty interesting, too. It's kind of a kitchener stitch with only one set of stitches. I just hope I can pull it off and make it look as nice as it does in the picture. I'm using a lighter grey yarn, but so far it looks cool!!

*snort*

Yeah, I know. I owe peeps pics of socks I received in the mail. I had the camera out this weekend, too. I such a slacker...

I received my Knit Picks Options needles this week. YEAH! I have been knitting like banshee on the AFGHAN OF DOOM with them. Man, it's so nice to NOT have to fight with the plastic cables of circular needles anymore. Makes knitting SO much easier. However, I wish I would have purchased a longer set of cables. This thing is HUGE! I ordered some permanent circulars for sock knitting, too. I can't wait to put my Lady of Cups on those. I may take those with me this weekend on our trip through the Blue Ridge. We hit the Skyline Drive part this weekend and had a BLAST! I need something to relax with, though, if I'm not too exhausted.

We hiked 4.6 miles with 1000 difference in elevation from start to finish. It was KILLER and I was tired, so I'm glad I didn't bring them with me. But this weekend, we're supposed to camp, and I may need something for some down time from all the excitement of the day and that might help. Just have to see.

I'm ALMOST done with the AFGHAN OF DOOM though. I have about 10 rows of red, then about 3 rows of grey and four rows of white then I'm done with the pattern. I just hope I can finish it before his birthday! That would be a cool present! If not, I'll just have to order an Indians jersey for him. *giggle*

SUPAH Blogger Slacker

Yes, I finished these a looooooooooooooooooooong time ago. And yes, I just around to photographing this past weekend. I'm a SUPAH SLACKAH! *snort* Anyway, they look weird in this picture, but they fit me fine. I just hope they fit the intended sockee fine. They're 100% alpaca. I had it laying around and just thought I'd make some REALLY warm socks for my switchee.

No, I haven't taken a picture of the AFGHAN OF DOOM yet. I should. It's getting pretty big. I'm probably about a month away from finishing it. It looks cool from the front. The back is decent for my first colorwork piece. We'll see what it looks like when it's completely finished. I can't wait. It's warm, that's for sure! I try to work on it when it's cold outside like it'll be tonight.

Queen of Cups Socks Part 2!

Here's a pic of the new BF and me from June when we moved his stuff from Cleveland. That was our last trip to C-Land! YEAH!

THEY'RE DONE! I need to take a picture of them. They're fuzzier than the picture on knitty.com, but they're ALPACA FFS! They SHOULD be! I had such a great time making them, that I decided to start a pair using my Kool-Aid dyed yarn. I needed a project for the bus. I have to take the bus. Long story, but it involves my SOON TO BE EX (effing) HUSBAND! He's such a D.A!!

Anyway, I'm still working on the AFGHAN OF DOOM! I'm FINALLY past all the many different colors and just have the black and grey for right now so I should be able to FLY through that part. It SHOULD be done in time for his birthday. At least that's what I'm shooting for. Then I'll finish the top down raglan. I don't know if I'll wear it. I think I've grown out of the yarn. It would have made a cool, funky, scarf, though. I'll finish it anyway. Someone could use it. Along those same lines, I'm going to finish the SWEATER OF DIVORCE! *snicker* I figure I can give it to my BIL (brother-in-law) for Christmas or sumfin. I'll just have to see how it goes and if it's big enough. If not, I might just donate it. Someone could use it, too.

After that, I'm going to start some socks for my new BF, whom I LOVE very much and seriously think I could even knit a sweater for him and it would be fine. But, I'll wait a few years on that one. *snort* I need to knit SEVERAL baby things, too. Almost all my friends are preggers. Those are fun though...and SO CUTE!

I will take a pic of the socks BEFORE I mail them out, along with the blanket and the top down raglan, maybe even MY queen of cups socks, too.