Knitters Curse?

Is it just me, or is it every knitter who often feels it necessary to put their own twist on a pattern? Ok, good...it's NOT just me.

So then i'm going to assume that i'm not the only one who has had a cute idea for a pattern adjustment only to be cruising along on the project and realize, "oh shit!, this isn't going to work how i thought it would!"? However, being the crafty knitters that we are, we dutifully sit and rack our brains trying to figure out a solution to the problem at hand, right? Not only are we crafty, we're clever people too!!

Well, here's why i've gone on about this topic...i finished the baby blanket and decided that i had enough time and yarn left to make a little baby-cardi and hat. The pattern is a basic St st with a garter stitch trim. In the little pattern booklet that i have the back is done in a solid, one side of the front in two-color wide stripes, with a sleeve in a third color and i forget what the second sleeve is done in and i don't feel like going into the livingroom to get the book. I decided to do the sweater white with the garter stitch trims all in the varigated color of the blanket, the hat white with the brim done in the varigated garter stitch as well. Sounds sweet, right?

I'm cruising along, made my way through the cast on and four rows of garter stitch in the varigated yarn, then on row 5 i did the K4-P to end, and row 6 i knit all across but switched to the varigated for the last four stitches (are you working up a visual yet?), did the buttonhole on row 6 and 7, continued with row 8 K4-P to end, and as i was working my way to finishing up row 9 with it's K Across and switched over to my varigated yarn on the last four stitches, i saw it!! It was split apart, as if the very sweater i was knitting on was doing that funky Vulcan hand sign.


"Live long and prosper", my ARSE!!!

Eeeeek!! I never thought of that!!! What to do, what to do?? I frogged back to row 4 and then this is what i did:



Can you see it there?

Ok, here it is a bit closer:



I ended up using both strands of yarn on that 5th stitch, (or 23rd stitch if you're going the other way ;)~ and it managed to bridge the gap, but it created a ridge due to the bulk. Does it look funky or does it look like it should be there?? I'm thinking it looks ok, what do you think?

Ok, i better go back to it because i need to get this done before the Knitting Olympic Hysteria begins!!

~Suz~

Knitting and Stuff

Have you noticed that i'm really not cranking out this baby blanket as quickly as i should be? Well, as i've already written about once, there have been a few distractions and here is yet another...



This is a puzzle from hell, all birch trees, that Deb's Mom decided to start more than two weeks ago and i had originally decided to stay out of it and leave it as a time for Deb and her Mom to spend together, but gosh darnit i got sucked in. It's finished and still sitting on the table but i think i feel a demolition coming on because those two fools came home with two more puzzles today - not like there weren't already about 10-12 to choose from already, but they couldn't pass up the 88 cent sale.

And yet another forced non-knitting time...remember how when i closed my post last night i said i was going to go knit? Well, when i got off of the computer and turned to pick up my knitting i saw this...



...Luna had curled her little self up onto the baby blanket and she was all comfy and cozy and of course, being the loving mama that i am, i didn't have the heart to make her move...so i signed back on and played on Pogo for a while.

Ooooh, as i sat down to blog today, the PostWoman, whom i love soooo much, brought me this...


(KnitPicks- Shadow in Oregon Coast, Sunset, Redwood Forest & Lost Lake)

...it's my official "Knitting Olympics" yarn! Now i need to decide which color to use for Branching Out ?? I'm leaning toward keeping Oregon Coast for a pair of socks for Deb, she's the one who pointed out that color to me. So then i need to decide if a want a Branching Out that is more Spring colored or Autumnally colored?? Hmmm. I think i'm leaning toward Sunset...and just so you know the picture isn't portraying the colors quite right...(do they ever??) i even tried taking the picture by the wiindow in the hopes that the true color would be captured better, but NO. The color, especially for the two in the middle is running a bit hotter than it really is...the Sunset is deeper red and the Redwood Forest is browner rather than orangier. Well, at any rate...leave your color vote, eh? Thanks!!

~Suz~

Heidi Klum, You're OUT!

Heidi Klum, i think i speak for every Project Runway fan when i say to you, "We're sick to death of seeing you wear only black this season!! You're pregnant, not in mourning for goodness sake!!!"

Is anyone other than me sick of seeing this supposedly fashionable "Super Model" wear only black clothing on this season of Project Runway??

I mean, i know you were pregnant during the taping of the show, Heidi, but you happen to be one of THE most famous women in all of the world so i'm sure you have any number of designers dying to whip up some gorgeously colorful and FASHIONABLE maternity clothes for you. C'mon woman, be daring wear some color, show that amazing tummy of yours brewing a new life!

Ok, i'm done picking on Heidi for tonight, but can i say...BRAVO to the judges for finally ousting that bitch who wouldn't share the closet space and stole someone else's model!! Hag, good riddance!!! Your ass baring mini dress was appauling, half of your designs were sewn onto your model at the last damn minute and they looked like crap!!

Now, if only Santino could be the next to go! His Ego is too large for one show!!

I'm off to knit!! Thanks for the rant space.

~Suz~

Knitting & Drumming, Oh My!

When Deb and i went out shopping last Friday, i took a few pictures of the baby blanket i'm working on for my step-sister's baby.

Here's a closeup picture of the color and edging detail. The pattern is Diagonal Pattern Baby Blanket from the Lion Brand websight, it's very easy! I'm actually past the halfway point and working on the decreases now. I think when i'm finished i'm going to make a little cardigan and matching hat in white with the leftover of this yarn as the trim. I'm using Bernat Cotton Tot in Jelly Bean for the blanket.

Saturday night we finally made it out to the Carroll County Drum and Dance Circle. We don't have drums but we decided to go anyway. Here's Deb, shakin' her groove thang...

...and some of the other drummer. There were about 30 people there, we had a really good time and can't wait to go back. We were both very quiet and sort of didn't talk to anyone, like dorks.

Do you have any idea how much knitting one can do to a groovy beat?? LOTS!!


~Suz~

Tagged!

Eeeks! I've been tagged!! Thanks a lot Juanita!! How ya been woman??

Cj's Knitting Basket
Emy's blah blah blah blog
Purls Beyond Price
Knita Knittin
The Scattered Gemini

Select 5 people to tag:

So, I'm tagging Revia, Tdstraighjacket, Kris, Kirsti and Kat. If any of y'all have been tagged already, just lemme know....

Here goes...

What were you doing 10 years ago?

Still plotting my way out of a very cult-like church, i finally left in June of 1996.

What were you doing 1 year ago?

Getting fed up with my brother's alcoholism and being blamed for all of the problems in his house, i finally quit working for him at the end of January 2005.

What were you doing 1 hour ago?

Trying to sleep, but Deb's snoring is horrible today and her special needs nephew has been up for an hour and a half flashing his tv on and off in her Mom's room and calling out :hey" really loudly...he needs his meds!!

List five creative things you want to achieve this year:

Knitting socks that actually fit ME!
Knitting something lace.
Knitting an adult sized sweater.
Learning to spin.
Finding a beat so i can do some drumming.

List five snacks you enjoy:

Nachos, Tomato Bread, Ice Cream, Cookies, Peanut Butter & Syrup on Toast

List five things you would do if money were no object:

Buy a new car.
Buy some land and build a log cabin.
Hire Bob From the "Biggest Loser"
Camp all summer long.
Pay my parent's houses off.

List five bad habits:

Overeating.
Procrastination.
Lack of exercize.
Watching too much TV.
Putting off housework.

List five things you like doing:

Knitting!
Reading.
Reading other people's blogs.
Blogging.
Camping!

List five favorite gadgets:

The iPod i won in a sweepstakes, LOVE it!!, my PC, my digi cam, my cell phone, my cordless mouse and keyboard!

Name one thing you like about yourself:

My eyes!

Knitting Olympics

I'm in!!

I've just decided to join The Yarn Harlot's Olympic Knit Along !! It sounded like so much fun i just had to join, i mean, doesn't it sound fun to challenge yourself to a knitting project that you've never tried before and get it done within 16 days? AND the BEST part...to know that hundreds of other knitters are doing the same thing!! Weeee!!! What fun!!!

Yes, i do realize that i sound like i need a padded room!! But, all will be fine, i promise!

So far i've decided to do a lace project, that part's for sure!! I'm leaning toward Branching Out on Knitty. If anyone has any other suggestions of lace projects, let me know?!!

~Suz~

Knitting Distractions

We apologize for the recent interruption in knitting progress but not only do we have Evil Yarn, but we have things like this...

...distracting us!! It took me about 60-70 pages to get into but now i can't seem to put it down.

I did manage to do about 20 rows on Deb's scarf today, it needs about another 2 feet. Thank goodness we've not had hardly any snow or really cold weather here so far. It's supposed to be about 60 degrees here tomorrow so at least i know i'm safe for another day. ;)

Anyone have a good pattern for a baby blanket? I have about 6 weeks or so before it needs to be done and i have some Bernat Cotton Tot in "Wonder White" and "Jelly Belly" that i can use.

Happy knitting!!

~Suz~

Evil Yarn

...do you see this yarn?



It HATES me!!! It has it out for me, i tell ya!!

This yarn has been half of one sock - twice and a whole pair of socks once. Frogged each and every time! Gads!!

I have lymphedema in my legs and so my legs are HUGE and i have a very hard time finding socks that fit (if you've read about this before just skim down a bit)...i've only been able to wear a certain type of St. John's Bay slouch socks from JCPenny for the past 10 years or so and they come in black, navy, gray & white. BOoooooooooring!!! So of course i thought knitting my own socks would be so cool. Hrumph!!

I cast on 80 stitches (using the pattern from the First Time Sock Knitters Group), got the cuff and leg done and tried it on...too big. Frogged it. Cast on 60, got the cuff and the leg done and tried it on...too small (feeling like a warped version of Goldilocks yet??). Frogged it again. Cast on 70 and knit both socks, wore them for a day and they were stretched beyond belief. I tried shrinking them to no avail. WTF?!!! Why is it that when you want to shrink something, it won't get smaller...but Goddess knows as soon as you're wanting something to maintain it's size it will shrivel right up upon one drop of water hitting it!! UGH!!

So anyway, i've decided to give up on that yarn...you know the yarn i mean, the stuff up there looking all evil and scraggly from several froggings!

I'm going to give this yarn a whirl and a different pattern too...wish me luck!!


I'm so excited!! These arrived today, my very first Birkenstocks...$54.99 from Overstock.com

I'm loving them, they are so comfy and much softer in the upper than these...

...their $10 backhills step-cousins from WalMart. Dont they look so similar?? But the feel is so different!!

And here...really bad pictures of the hat i made for Deb and her scarf so far. Nothing fancy, just a K3P3 ribbbing on the hat cuff and the scarf. It's a light tan color of Caron Simply Soft.



Ok, that's about all for tonight. Knit on!!

~Suz~