Casting Away

Taking the plunge...

2007-03-10T08:27:00.000-05:00

I guess I am going to officially switch to Wordpress (http://castingaway.wordpress.com) I'm going to keep this blog active for the time being because of all the KAL, etc, that I'm involved in. I don't want to accidently lose them.

I haven't decided what I will do with my "archived" posts on here. I know you can import to Wordpress but I haven't taken the time to look closely at what it involves. Has anyone done that and what was your experience? Any advice?

Thanks for making the extra effort to click to the new site (http://castingaway.wordpress.com) from here.

If you don't mind...

2007-02-19T12:35:00.000-05:00

I'm thinking of switching to Wordpress for my blog but I'm trying it out for a little while first. If you want to see it, go to www.castingaway.wordpress.com

Thanks for indulging me.

In the closet

2007-02-15T12:23:00.000-05:00

Have you ever been embarrassed by your inability to follow through and finish anything...ok, everything! Have you ever hidden the fact that you just casted on your ump-tenth project while so many neglected projects are staring you in the face?

I started something today that I don't want to tell even my closest friend (so instead I will post it on a publicly accessible blog--shows how much I think it is read!). Actually, the item is something that I have thought about knitting for a friend (different friend) for awhile. I finally got the book (SnB Nation) and the yarn (Cascade Pastaza) and decided that I needed yet another distraction. Did I mention that it was suppose to be a Christmas present?

Ok, on a more productive note...finished items!!!

This is my nephew, E, with his Very Hungry
Caterpillar. Cute, huh? Of course, he is more interested in the gift bag. Typical man.

And this is my niece, T, with her Huggable Hedgehog and book. Notice how the stuffed hedgehog has a woolly red hat just like the one in the book.

I know these are Christmas pictures and I know that it is the day after Valentine's Day. I know. But I just realized that for nearly all the UFOs I have, I have probably as many FOs. Nearly. I hope to acknowledge that in the next few posts. But don't hold your breath cuz we all know I am notorious for disappearing for months on end.

OH! I joined Bluemoon Fiber's Socks that Rock Club !!! I am so excited! The first kit arrives around the 1st week in March. In the meantime, I have also joined http://samkal3.blogspot.com/index.html and am nearly done with my first pair!

OH!!!! AND I finished my Jaywalkers!

yarn: Brown Sheep Wildfoote
colorway: Rock n Roll

needle: Addi Natura size 2 (I think! 1 or 2)

I'm very proud and wear them every occasion I get!

OK, enough for now. I have to admit that maybe my true motivation for sitting down and starting this blog thing up again was avoidance of house cleaning.

I have issues....

Hee Hee!

2006-12-03T23:21:00.000-05:00

Well, slap my face and call me Shirley! I did it. Lord knows how, but I just kinda made some rules (probably the common sense that Melanie would hope I had) and kept going. By the time I got to rnd 5, which was the next rnd where you could tell if you have the right number of stitches in the right order, it seemed to be working. Hooray!

It is a little bigger than I thought it would be but that is probably just my gauge from being so unsure of myself.

Pictures will come later.

Thanks for listening to my poor mouthing earlier!

HELP!!!

2006-12-03T18:32:00.000-05:00

This is a plea to anyone who might have finished the Brioche Hat that appears in Melanie Falick's Weekend Knitting? I am to the crown and am stuck. I have sent a barrage of emails out to everyone I can think of to ask for help, including Ms. Falick, herself. I LOVE the way this hat looks and really am dying to finish it.

Why is it that I can start and put on hold so many projects but this one I can't stop thinking about??? I guess I don't want it to get the better of me. That's what's so frustrating! I've done loads of projects that are harder or more involved but I can't seem to get through this one!!

HELP!!!

productive day?

2006-11-14T23:17:00.000-05:00

First, let me remind you that I am taking these photos with my webcam. I hope to update them once I get the camera back.

K's blanket
The pattern was inspired by a freebie pattern on www.bernat.com but I changed the edging. The original edging can be seen on the blanket for L2.

These are the socks I needed to finish the cuff on for my class on Thursday. I worked on them while waiting to get my hair done and while my color was developing and then finished the cuff when I got home.

And these are the newly casted on Jaywalker socks. This is Wildfoote in colorway Rock & Roll, which I love. I think I finally "got it." Amazing what taking the time to read the pattern will do!

I also attacked my knitting corner. While to some (read: my husband) it will look like nothing was done, I know that I weeded out a lot of old papers, found and put in their correct spot lots of knitting notions, and relocated to the guest room closet 2 (count em! 2!!) medium shop bags of odd balls of yarn. I feel good about it, anyway.

Rx for Knitalin?

2006-11-13T21:00:00.000-05:00

I've talked before about my knitting ADD. Its bad and its rearing its ugly head again. Why can't I be satisfied with the half dozen projects I'm juggling now?!? Why do I have the need to cast on more?

The things I am currently working on (at least the ones I can think of right now):
1) K's blanket (and, yes, I could have it done TONIGHT if I could find that damn prescription!)
2) socks for J (doing 2 on 1 needle and I'm down to the heel flap but waiting to show someone else how to do that)
3) socks for a class I am teaching (so I have to have the cuff done by Thursday night, but does that deadline motivate me? well, only to cast on for something else)
4) the P90 tank for my mom (the entire back now that I've ripped out)
5) Jaywalker socks (JUST casted on tonight!!! OH BOY!)
6) Unseamly Sweater (crochet from The Happy Hooker)
7) Avast for J (although I was more intrigued with the cable on it right now)

And a few more things that I haven't touched in forever.

And then Vicki goes and shows me how she has cleaned up and reorganized her knitting area, which I so need to do!!! I started re-balling partial balls of yarn tonight, too. I guess this is a good thing, though, and I shouldn't give myself a hard time about that!

OK, well, best get going on at least some of these. My goal? Finish K's blanket tonight. I'll report back on how that goes.

OK, now we're in business!

2006-11-12T22:05:00.000-05:00

Pictured are the gifts to my sister-in-law's family. Starting at the top center and moving to the right:
1) L1's "Purple Wooley" (her name for it. It is actually a "Huggable Hedgehog" by Fibertrends)
2) L2's ribbed baby hat (generic pattern using King Cole's Welcome)
3) L2's baby socks (variation on Cat Bordhi's Baby Life Ring socks since Welcome doesn't have a lot of stretch)
4) Mom and Dad's "La Luz Eye Mask" from Handknit Holidays using 100% silk.
5) K's baby socks (same as 3 but with Plymouth's Dreambaby DK and matching swirled rib to go with hat)
6) K's swirl ribbed hat (Dreambaby DK)

The blankets will soon follow as christening gifts.

OK, glad to get these posted!

A lesson in tension

2006-11-11T12:57:00.000-05:00

I started a sweater for my mother back in June--Art Yarns P90 Diagonal Triangle Tank. I got distracted by other things, as you do, and put it aside to finish for, hopefully, Christmas or her birthday in January. And there it has been for months.

This week I was lucky enough to attend a class by Naomi McNeely who wrote Compendium of Finishing Techniques. The purpose of the class was to bring in something that you were finishing and we would all discuss what to do. I didn't really have anything except a crocheted baby blanket for my new niece, K. I didn't even really have it to the point that it would need to be to put the edging on.

However, knowing I would see Naomi again on Sunday, I thought I would try to finish Mom's sweater and take it in to get help with seaming it (it is all garter stitch and I'm a little concerned about it "growing").

Wake up! I'm nearly to the point!

So this morning I finished the sweater, having only the last half of the back to go (sleeveless, THANK GOD!). The back was huge! The only thing I can figure is that my tension was way off. And it seemed to only be in the last half, so I must have been very relaxed over the last couple of days.

OK, I know, not that exciting. AND I had to frog it all (well, just all of the back). It would have been really hard to figure out where I was if I had only ripped back.

Anyhoo, working on it, again.

Also need to finish the baby blanket. I have her brother's, L2's, done.

K's has the same v-stitch center but I'm doing something different for the edging (haven't figured it out yet, though).

I would show you the other things I knitted and have already sent to the family but Blogger doesn't seem to want to upload this particular photo. Later, I guess.

Back to knitting.

Crochet

2006-10-24T21:18:00.000-04:00

I may have mentioned that I have gotten into crochet lately. I am having a lot of fun with it. It was a beautiful "heirloom" baby blanket pattern that got me back into it. Unfortunately, I let it go out the door without a picture. I'm hoping that the recipient decides to take a picture of her baby with it and send me a copy.

Anyway, the reason I'm even posting about this is that I want to know if there is anyone out there that has attempted the Unseamly Sweater from The Happy Hooker. I have found a couple of people's blogs and , unfortunately, it doesn't sound good. I have casted on and done the bottom and am at the waist shaping. I've had to rip out and start the waist over due to it not being large enough. I'm trying to go to a larger hook. Anyone's input would be appreciated.

More to come...

Where has the summer gone...

2006-10-17T07:55:00.000-04:00

Like I said in the last post, I've been more obsessed with other people's lives than with posting about my own. I find them much more interesting (and for good reason!). But a few big changes have happened/are happening.

Probably the biggest change in my daily routine was my friend, Bethany, moving to England. That was no fun. However, my typing skills have improved due to AIM. More on that later.

Summer began and that meant that the boat went in the water. While we did get some sailing in, this summer was a bit of a bust by our usual standards. It was just too hot!! And J is working a lot these days...sometimes weekends were just full of things that had to be done instead of things we wanted to do. While having the boat near the house was a help, I think it was also a henderance. We were more likely to look out the window, take note of the temperature, and decide that it probably wouldn't be a good day; as opposed to when we drove an hour to the boat and would go out in practically any condition because, why not??, we are already here. We only got a couple of trips in--one of which was the PSC Rendezvous. That was fun to meet all these people that have boats like ours. Our largest shock was to see that we were one of the least "finished" boats there. Those PSC owners are ANAL!! :-)

My most exciting news has to do with something that is happening as I speak...I am about to become an Auntie twice more!! J's older sister, K, is currently in the hospital awaiting the birth of a twin boy and a twin girl!! I got some crocheting to do!!

Oh, and that's my other life...uh...addition (not change). I got be by the crochet bug BAD!!! Pictures will follow.

So, must get going. More on all this later--I PROMISE!

Lots of excuses...

2006-06-10T21:39:00.000-04:00

but absolutely no good reason for my lack of blogging over the last 2 (?) months. I've been more of a reader--addicted to my bloglines and youtube.com.

But it took going to Jess' website tonight and seeing her post about Calla that got me back online tonight. I finished this a couple of days ago and, with a few changes, I love it. Some changes were on purpose (the wider straps) and some were mistakes (the more gradual decreases at the armhole).

I love the way it makes me look like I have a bigger chest than I really do!

Anyway, my changes to the armholes were due to misreading the pattern. The second instruction is to "dec 1 stitch each end every alt row X times (depending on size)." Well, I dec 1 st each end every 4th row (which is what the 3rd direction tells you). But I liked this better. By the time I got all that done (the mistaken part) I was nearly ready to bind off unless I wanted a boatneck tank, so I bound off the last 4 stitches (I was doing the Med size) by dec 1 st each end of next row (on RS) while simultaneously beginning the straps (I can't think of any other way to describe that--sorry). It just meant that I had to remember to do the same thing I did to one side to the other once I finished the first strap.

Anyway, good to be back. I'm heading out tomorrow to visit my parents so I don't know how much I will be around to post. Good news is that the boat is in the water and we have a cruise scheduled for the end of the month. More on that later, too.

T

Another distraction

2006-04-12T22:03:00.000-04:00

I've spoken before about my knitting ADD. Well, I've come across another project to distract me from the Vine Lace Cardigan.

Its Reid from Knitty.com. Besides the fact that I saw it online the first day and downloaded it WITH A MISTAKE and spent nearly all of knit night trying to figure out what was wrong with ME and why I couldn't figure out the chart, I'm lovin it. I'm making it for my to be 2 year old niece, L, for her birthday in July. I've chosen the light mint green in Paton's Grace for the main color but haven't decided on the edging.

And then I was talking to my dad and found out that my 4 year old niece, T, has rediscovered the bunny I made for her last Easter (from Debbie Bliss Toy Knits). Its her newest bedtime buddy and she even insists on going through the ritual of removing his sweater before going to sleep. SWEET!

I'm hoping to make the same Reid cardigan for T cause it is the perfect weight for a child living in the south.

That's all for now.

Has it been that long?

2006-04-08T17:57:00.000-04:00

I found myself hitting my Bloglines link and getting frustrated that there aren't new entries of my favorite blogs to read! Then I thought, "oh, that's right! I have a blog that I haven't touched in over a week!" Duh!

Honestly nothing to report. I only picked up the green cardigan yesterday. I rewrote the left front instructions some time ago, but I have honestly been afraid to start the 2 front panels. I wasn't really knitting at all. Maybe I over-extended myself with the baby blanket. Ah, well, at least I've started again.

So, see, this is why I've not posted! Nothing to say!

Progress?

2006-03-26T20:06:00.000-05:00

I have finished the back of the green sweater (tah dah!). And I thought I would fool myself into thinking that this is actually going faster than it is by skipping (for now) doing the 2 front panels and jumping to the sleeves. Its just a YO, P2Tog "Purse Stitch," so it would go fast. Until I realized that my gauge is off which would not effect the front and back but can make doing the arms (because they are more fitted) a real problem. I figure I need to get the body done to figure how to get the sleeves done. UGH! So I went this afternoon and picked up another set of needles (I needed the longer cord to do the edging around the neck anyway) and will begin the front 2 panels at some time (TOMORROW!!). This pattern is written in that way that really annoys me (sorry, Sally). You know, do the right front this way (all spelled out) and do the left side "to correspond to right front, reversing all shaping and pat placement." Anyone have any suggestions or tips, I'm all ears! Well, it isn't like I can't so it, its just that its a lot of thinking and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed--a little under the wire to get this done. Seriously, any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Believe it or not...

2006-03-20T22:53:00.000-05:00

I have pictures!!!

These are the socks I knitted for ViVi, my friend, Bethany's, little girl. I was so excited to get them to her and I think that she could only wear them for seconds...not really, but it just seemed that her feet grew that quickly!

I think I told you about knitting a chemo cap for a friend. Here it is. I really enjoyed knitting it and it was quick (mostly done in front of the TV and on a car ride) but I fear it might be too small. It does fit Bethany, though.

Here is the blanket that has plagued me for months. Well, not this blanket. When I finally settled on doing this pattern (out of Knit Baby Blankets by Gwen Steege) it didn't take long at all. The pattern did not originally call for any color changes and I would love to say that I did it with forethought. It was only because I couldn't get enough of just one color. I'm very happy with it. Somehow I think it looks more boyish--like racing stripes.

And, finally, the obligatory cat picture. Anne, I think it was, from PaperTigerKnits reminded us that she really has TWO cats but that one just did cuter things and held them longer so that she could get the picture. Same storey here. All the pictures of Bonita would just be of her rear as she runs away or of her looking sullenly at the camera. That's not near as cute as this:

So sorry...

2006-03-13T19:44:00.000-05:00

for my absence. But I have little to report. I got sidetracked by a chemo cap. Then I started working on the Vine Lace Cardigan again--totally ignoring the baby blanket.

E.R. (my brother's son) was born this morning. 8 1/2 lbs, 20 inches.

I started yet another attempt at a different baby blanket last night. I think this one is it. I should have it done in the next day or so and it will be off in the mail. Pictures will follow.

More later...

This is so wrong its amusing!

2006-03-03T20:10:00.000-05:00

Or is it? YES, YES, of course it is!!!

Your Birthdate: June 13

You're dominant and powerful. You always need to be in charge.
While others respect your competence, you can be a bit of a dictator.
Hard working and serious, you never let yourself down.
You are exact and accurate - and you expect others to be the same way.

Your strength: You always get the job done

Your weakness: You're a perfectionist to a fault

Your power color: Gray

Your power symbol: Checkmark

Your power month: April

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

OK, ready to share pictures!

2006-03-02T19:51:00.000-05:00

But first...this is too funny: Knitting Olympics News

OK, now...the Clapotis. I have to admit that the more time and yarn I put into this the more I was thinking, "this better be worth it!" And, boy, was it! I love this thing!

Here is showing you how long it is. I used 7 1/2 skeins of Noro Silk Garden in color 230. 4 skeins were given to me by Laura (my KR secret pal (not sure which #)

Here I am modeling it as it is pictured on the front of the pattern.

I'm afraid I really am that pale, by the way.

And it is big enough to wear as a shawl.

And, tah dah! The socks! Love 'em! This yarn, I think I mentioned, is Knit Picks Sock Landscapes. This was also a present from Laura--isn't she the best???

And I thought Marmalade had been watching me knit a little too closely.

Look what I caught under the coffee table!

I think he was making pretty good progress, but his claws kept picking the yarn. Ah, well.

So this is what it feels like....

2006-03-01T23:37:00.000-05:00

I couldn't wait to take pictures, download them to the computer, and then upload them to Photobucket to report that I finished Clapotis (photos to follow) AND I finished the second sock (which, by the way, looks NOTHING like sock 1--well, not completely true).

NOW will I be able to concentrate on the baby blanket? Doubtful.

Its late and I must go to bed.

Or maybe not...

2006-02-26T21:26:00.000-05:00

I think I suffer from KADD (Knitting Attention Deficit Disorder). I can't for the life of me stay focused on one thing!!!

Even though I have made no progress on the baby blanket, I have made progress on the cardigan. It has been a lot of fun and now I'm past the armhole decreases which had me worried.

But now I seem to have this new obsession: SOCKS! I even bought The Sole Solution software. So this is what I've produced in the last 24 hours:

This is done with Knit Picks Sock Landscape in New England Foliage. I made the pattern using the software specifying a round toe, short row heel and a "shaped arch."

I've done different toes and like this one for the fit better.

This is the shaped arch. Fits nicely.

This is my version of a combo short row heel/partridge eye (I think that's what they were talking about. I like it, anyway.

So, not too much else going on except I am completely ignoring all that I should be doing, but what's new?!?

I could've been a contender!

2006-02-17T23:01:00.000-05:00

I couldn't stand it any longer and casted on for Sally Melville's Vine Lace Cardigan in A Gathering of Lace. I'm loving it. It would have been what I would have done for the Knitting Olympics had the yarn arrived on time. But that's ok because I need to be concentrating on the baby blanket!!

But take a look!

You know, I'm surprised that I've not found that anyone else has tried this pattern. I googled it--normally that would pull something up. I also searched on Knitter's Review.

Ah, well.

I have gotten a little further on the baby blanket but still not even a 3rd done! UGH!

5 Things in my Fridge

2006-02-16T16:23:00.000-05:00

Cindy tagged me to list 5 things in my fridge. Oh, if I had ONLY 5 things in my fridge!!!

1) maple syrup--we had pancakes for dinner the other night!!!

2) homemade veggie soup--trying to be better. Its really good, too!!

3) orange juice--not a normal staple but I thought I would shake it up a bit.

4) Parmesan cheese--I have several partial wedges of this because everytime I'm at the grocery I can't remember if I have any at home!!

5) eggs--Margaret at Vulcan's Rest Fibers keeps chickens for eggs so I'm all the time getting handed cartons of eggs. Not all a bad thing!

Other than Cindy and Celia, I don't know of a lot of people who read my blog so, CELIA, list 5 things in your fridge, dahlin'!!

-----------------------------------------------------
In other news...

I haven't done anything on the loom since the last report. This is not good! But I've gotten a few ideas of things to try so I hope to get inspired soon.

The baby blanket is coming along. I'm nearly 1/3 finished and less than a week to B-Day (birth day). But I don't think I ever intended for the blanket to be there exactly by then.

I had to order another skein of yarn for my Clapotis. That's 8 skeins!!! Ouch--expensive scarf/shawl. Well, at least I didn't buy it all (Thanks, Laura !).

The correct color of yarn for my Vine Lace Cardigan arrived and I casted on this morning only to have the needle break (Addi Bamboo US 1). So I bought another needle and am going to try again!

That's it--nothing all that exciting! Later....

Weaving Update

2006-02-12T19:20:00.000-05:00

I love the way that the wrap looks when its all braided. We didn't have enough of the blue denim color so I chose a natural linen color for the edges and the hems.

Here I am threading the heddles. And I did it nearly perfectly. I only had 2 threads crossed out of 194 threads. Not too bad!

My friends, Bethany and Nicky, came over and helped me beam the warp.

So now Pierre is dressed, and TA-DA!!

So, I think I told you that I am using recycled blue jeans. I chose to cut them into strips about 1 inch wide. This is my question to any weavers reading this...is it bad that I can see between some of the strips? Believe me, I beat it hard! I've looked into weighing the beater. The loom walks like crazy and I guess I'll have to bolt it to the walk.

I've decided not to continue weaving until I've addressed this problem. Its cool if I need to un-weave it and maybe I could even cut the strips a little thinner. HELP?!?

Now for the obligatory cat pictures:

Marmalade loves his mommy's loom. Jay says I can't get mad at them for playing with my yarn and loom. Its not their fault that my crafts involve the use of cat toys.

I mentioned they were calling for snow? My kitties are indoor only but Bonita use to be an indoor/outdoor kitty and still longs for the out-of-doors. We thought we would let her see what it was really like out there. She lasted about 5 minutes.

Ever noticed that there isn't any sailing content yet? Well, its winter! Duh! But just for fun I'll show you a picture from last year.

Pretty, isn't she?

Somebody stop me!

2006-02-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

I already have too many things on the needles and now these rugs on the loom (yes!! more about that later). So what do I do yesterday? Buy more yarn. Yep, I went onto Little Knits and bought some of the Cascade Fixation Bulky sock yarn that was on sale. This yarn interested me because its cotton instead of wool and its bulky which means I can use size 7-ish needles. I'm not sure why socks have interested me so much these days. I need to finish the Log Cabin socks I have on the needles right now.

Since I wasn't properly participating in the Knitting Olympics last night, I took the time to start finishing some of my ongoing projects. I knitted for awhile on Clapotis. I think I'm going to have to buy another skein--ugh! I finished warping the loom and started on the rug--pictures soon. Maybe that will be my Olympic challenge--finishing projects I have procrastinated on for way too long.

Snow is on the way!!! Of course, they have downgraded our forcast to a winter storm warning while all those around us are getting heavy snow. Figures!

No Olympics for me

2006-02-07T10:43:00.000-05:00

Due to a technical difficulty I will not be joining in on the Knitting Olympics. I ordered the yarn and it arrived. I put it aside and thought nothing of it. Then last night as I was dozing off it suddenly occurred to me that I CAN NOT do this particular sweater (well, any sweater for me) in this particular color (Grass Shine from KnitPicks). It is very close to kelly green and would not be a good color for me. I am returning it and I have ordered the color that I thought I had ordered but somehow did not. I don't think it will make it by Feb 10th and I don't want to sign up and not be able to participate (deadline is tonight). However, should it show in time I might be an alternate on the sidelines--prepared to step in if needed.

I am 3/4 done threading the heddles. I'm still not sure what pattern (?) I will do but it will have to be with a straight draw. I was thinking of a mock satin but I don't know. I'm just happy that I'm that much closer to starting. I'm going to try to beam the warp on my own but I think I'm going to have to have some help. My goal is to have someting going by this weekend so that J sees that I am serious about this!

Catatonic

2006-02-05T19:08:00.000-05:00

I'm sitting here with my warp (all 8 yds!), new lease sticks (all cut to the right lengths and sanded), new boat shuttles (with linen on the bobbins) and rag shuttle (but I haven't cut the jeans yet) and I can't move. I'm terrified to start.

See, I've only threaded a loom by myself once and it was that little tabletop loom. When I realized that I was in over my head I just packed it up and took it to the shop where Margaret helped me out. I can't pack this loom up.

Ugh!

Anyhoo, wish me luck....

Playing with Handtools!

2006-02-03T21:15:00.000-05:00

Tonight I was doing a little searching on the internet about how to set up Pierre, my loom. I emailed Leclerc and they were nice enough to tell me that my loom is a Nilus 36" built in 1955 (just like I thought!). He said I should be able to use the online info to set up the loom. There are a few, I think, key differences between mine and the ones they have the .PDF files on, but I was able to figure out the brake treadle set up and use a huge staplers to attach the apron.

Now I just have to determine how you get the cloth beam "strung," or whatever its called.

I sat down and came up with the warp measurements for my first project. I even went to Goodwill and found some jeans to cut up. Oh, and I needed lease sticks--these flat sticks that you use in the threading process** and when you are weaving to even the tension on the warp beam so I went to a local hardware store and got them to cut me some. I spent $6 and felt so good about it. Who knows how much "official" Leclerc lease sticks would cost!!!

Again, messing about on the internet and I thought I would look up any blogs from weavers....found one and it had this little sidebar thing where you ask it a question and tap on the tea cup and it "read your tea leaves." So I asked it if this weaving thing was going to work out. This was the reply:

-your reading-
New Orleans
Description: While no coffee is grown in this part of the world, locals blend dark, rich coffee beans with chicory root, creating a distinct regional trademark.

Interpretation: Now is the time to take all that you have and make it work. While your resources may at first seem limited, by trying surprising combinations you may find a solution that is, in the end, better than any easy answer.
another reading?visit cafÃ© nation

Freaky!

**for anyone familiar with weaving terminology, I apologize for any mistakes I might be making. I'm a little new at this!

Look what I got!!!

2006-02-02T14:18:00.000-05:00

I would like to introduce you to "Pierre," my Leclerc loom. I can't wait to get started but I have to wait for Patty to get me the manual and a few other pieces she left at home. Then I'll have to purchase a few key pieces--shuttles, etc. I will be interested in discovering the age of this loom. It looks from the website to be pre-1995.

My first project, I think, will be new rugs for the kitchen.

In other news, I have posted links to 2 projects I have on needles--finally got a picture of 1/2 of the first pattern repeat of the Tumbling Block Baby Blanket for my nephew who is arriving in March.

Who has time to knit?

2006-01-31T22:12:00.000-05:00

As you may see to your right, I have joined the Knitting Kitty Webring. And I thought this was a good thing, until I realized that I am now obsessed with looking at other people's blogs instead of doing one of the main things that I have to so to stay on this webring--KNIT!!!

And I am thinking...THINKING...of joining the Knitting Olympics. Darn you, Yarn Harlot. I ordered the yarn yesterday for the Vine Lace Cardigan in A Gathering of Lace. We'll see if I come to my senses.

OK, off to try to see if I can get a couple of rows of the Tumbling Block Baby Blanket done so I can get a picture up on this blog!

Knitting in paradise...

2006-01-30T12:52:00.000-05:00

Nuff said, right? Ah, doesn't it just make you feel warm all over? I like pictures like this (I've taken them before) to refer back to when I am FREAKIN FREEZING through the winters! Not so bad here in the mid-Atlantic as it was in New England, though.

So what did I do?

<--Well, this is me on day one. The beach area of Caribe Hilton is really, really nice. In fact, most of my time was spent by the ocean even though I don't consider myself a beach kinda girl.

Later that same day, decided I needed a change of scenery.

Here I am knitting my Clapotis. I think many people thought I was crazy for knitting by the ocean. What? How is it any different from reading?

Speaking of, I have to admit that I like to KIP (knit in public) partly for something to do while I people watch but also because I like to draw other knitters out to have a chat. Now, I have read where others that KIP and don't like the attention of even other knitters. I think there is just something wrong with that! However to each his own. Anyhoo, I was disappointed that the only interest I got from anyone was the last day in line at the airport when a fellow traveler noticed my knitting and was curious about getting needles on the plane. Sad.

Now back to the vaca. The food was absolutely unbelievable!!! Oh, boy, do I have some walking and other penance to do for that! But, oh, so good.

And we had a little brush with "fame." Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony were staying at our hotel (???). One night J and I walked by the bar and saw them there. I'm ashamed to say that star gawking ensued--and we aren't even fans. Why is that???

Back to reality. I had a very nice walk this afternoon with Bethany and ViVi. I hope there will be a lot more of that going on from now on...BECAUSE...my wonderful, best friend from Oregon, Jennifer, just got engaged!!! The wedding is being tentatively planned for the beginning of May. I got a body to be working on!!! Yippee.... But I am very happy for her. Gage got him a good one!!!

Off to knit--a lot to do!

I am still alive...

2006-01-29T21:06:00.000-05:00

Just a quickie to let you know that I am alive and well. We just got back from Puerto Rico (pictures to come). Work for J--pleasure for me.

One bit of news that I have been wanting to talk about but have forgotten everytime I'm on here...I am attending Camp Stitches North Carolina this June with Cindy! Its a great weekend of knitting, talking, eating, and knitting! If that sounds like fun to you...look into it! Cindy and I have signed up for Jean Frost's Design Your Basic Jacket. We are very excited!

OK--more on the PR trip later!

Knitting intermission

2006-01-22T09:34:00.000-05:00

Wanna see what I've been doing?

I took a weaving class back in November (I think) and completed that project within a day. Granted, it was a small man's scarf, but still! I quickly threaded the loom for this project and promptly forgot/ignored it.

A friend has offered to sell me her much larger loom so I can make sizable rugs. It seems to have gotten the weaving juices flowing again (and I'm trying to convince Jay that I will be serious about this).

So this is going to be Christmas placemats. I was aiming for 6 but it may just be 4 once I decide which are ok and which aren't.

Never fear, knitting is still #1 in my heart! But did you know that weaving is faster??? However, you can't beat the portability of knitting!

Has the well run dry?

2006-01-19T15:42:00.000-05:00

I have been sleeping horribly--or, should I say, not sleeping at all for the last week. I don't know why. But its really starting to wear on me. Last night, as I explained to a friend, I felt like I had jet lag. I thought for sure I was going to sleep like a baby! And, again, I woke up repeatedly. Fingers-crossed that it doesn't happen again tonight.

Since I'm here I might as well leave a couple of pictures of my sweeties:

<-- I just love this photo of Bonita!

I like to call this one "kitty porn"-->

More later when I get some sleep!!

Starting over

2006-01-15T10:56:00.000-05:00

No, not the blog. I've been fairly pleased with my abilities to keep up with it. Its the blanket I'm making for my nephew...

I am a perfectionist when it comes to knitting. Cindy can attest to this. I pulled out 4 inches of knitting on a vest at Camp Stitches because I realized too late that I had left out a couple of decreases. Even my instructor, and the creator of the vest, was telling me that it wouldn't be seen. I was up until 2 am to get back to where I would have been had I not frogged.

So this blanket--well, I made a few mistakes but I was being really good about just going forward with it. Then I found a few more this morning. When I weighed my anxiety against the fact I was not even 1/6th of the way through the blanket, I decided I would frog and begin again.

Am I crazy? (don't answer that, Cindy!)

A little about my family...

2006-01-14T10:53:00.000-05:00

Woke up this morning to the second day of thick fog. If I didn't know better I would think I was back in Maine again. And I woke with a cold. I don't do sick well.

I mention in my profile that we have fur-kids. Well, I thought I would share a little history about them.

We adopted Bonita in the summer of 1999, a couple of days before we moved into our house. She was a "free to a good home" rescue kitten and I just couldn't resist the black smug on the end of her nose. She has a very distinct personality, as most cats do. She is referred to as the bitch often--but in a very loving way. She just wants what she wants, when and how she wants it. I swear that she could be heading to sit on her favorite perch and you could pick her up, take her to said perch and sit her there and she would jump down and run in the other room in a "pissy" fashion. But she is the one that will jump in your lap and react to a brushing in a rather erotic way.

Marmalade was adopted when we lived in Maine. He was also a rescue cat but had been in a kennel for 10 months. We were stunned at how scared he was at EVERYTHING! The first month we had him he wouldn't come out from under the bed! He has improved greatly but still has his moments that he doesn't trust you. I think that is a healthy self-preservation reaction. He is definitely MY cat. He follows me around and sits behind me on the couch or curls up around my head at night. He tells me when its time to go to bed and wakes me up in the morning by walking on my head until I get up ( recently read on Yarn Harlot's blog that she is having a similar issue. Good luck with that! I learned to live with it long ago.).

What made me think to do an entry about this is that I wanted to tell you about an interesting thing that happened a couple of days ago. I found the old quilt we had on the bed when we first adopted Marmalade and I washed it and decided to use it as a throw on the couch--my dear hubby likes to save on the propane bill, God bless him!. Immediately, Marmalade started blessing me with his constant presence RIGHT BESIDE ME!! I didn't get the connection at first. I thought maybe it was just another breakthrough with him--he has them occasionally. But when I realized he just hung out there more and more--on the quilt--I started putting 2 and 2 together. Sweet, huh? Its his safety blanket.

And, finally, a picture of my loved one, J. He is modeling a balaclava that I made for him. Because he never wore it, I sent it to my father. Honestly I don't think he wears it, either. Ah, well, you can lead a horse to water....

Why I love to knit....

2006-01-11T07:26:00.000-05:00

For the last few days my time has been taken up with the roll over from my old email provider to the new one. Boring and tedious!

But I finally got around to a baby blanket I had started last week, tore it out and started over. Its the Tumbling Blocks pattern from Knit Baby Blankets (Steege). Its only my first intarsia and its coming along SLOWLY. But this is what I love about knitting and why I think that this hobby will keep me, well at least my brain, young: I learned to knit and purl backwards! This was suppose to keep all the bobbins hanging down the back from tangling--RIGHT! It is fun, though. Pictures will follow once I get my camera battery charged.

In the meantime, it is Wednesday and this is a special day. See, I learned to knit when I lived in New Hamphire. Then my husband said we were going to move back to Maryland. I thought I was going to be sentenced to a life of Walmart yarn (not that there is anything wrong with that!) and buying yarn only off the internet (I find this sad because I like to feel yarn). However, a very nice person who's name escapes me right now told me about a yarn shop that opened near where I was moving. So I began hanging out there-- A LOT. Margaret is a sweety and her shop, Vulcan's Rest Fibers, is a God-send.

After the appropriate amount of time (read: immediately) I began the process of talking up the idea of a knit night group. She was hesitant at first--poor thing worked at the shop all day so why would she want to stay all night? She finally caved and we have a regular group of ladies that meet every Wednesday night for crafts (we have spinners, crocheters, rug hookers, weavers, etc), food and great conversations. Her are a few pictures:

I met Cindy (the knitting CPA) through this group, too. Speaking of Cindy, she posted a picture of the scarf I gave her: green corkscrew scarf. I was so pleased with how well it came out!

OK, let me get this "published" and I'm off to bed!

Christmas Pictures

2006-01-08T16:17:00.000-05:00

My sister-in-law just sent me some pictures taken at Christmas.

Well, in this photo you see my niece, L, opening her knitted gift (a fish from Fiona McTague's Knitted Toys )from her Auntie T (that's me!) . I am the one in the gold sweater which is a Melissa Matthey design I saw in Fall 2005 FCEK. I LOVE it! Unfortunately, it is either a holiday or fancy party type of sweater so it will get little wear. That's my other sister-in-law, A, beside me.

Here is the dog-in-law, Chili, who was not holding up so well to having 12 people in HIS house over the holidays.

Here is an upclose of the knitted fish.

OK, all for now. (Whew! That was actually pretty exhausting!)

Just one more thing....

2006-01-07T20:12:00.000-05:00

Sorry, but I don't want to lose the momentum. Hey, if I think of something to put on here, I'm just going to go with it!

I just wanted to take this moment to introduce the loves of my life (well, 2 out of 3 anyway!).

This is Bonita (on the left) and Marmalade. This is an older picture but they've not changed--I mean, they are cats. This was taken on the last day on the boat in Maine before we left to take the boat to Maryland. Yes, they were as happy as they looked!

Hopefully I will find the picture I am thinking of of the 3rd love (or is it 1st? Depends on the day of the week--heehee!)

Thanks for listening.

Shout out

2006-01-07T17:41:00.000-05:00

Is that even a cool thing to say anymore? Well, you'll soon learn (if you don't already know) that cool does not equal me.

I thought I would acknowledge those that I have included in my links list and why.

The knitting CPA? Well, she is my dear friend, Cindy, who has helped me to get even more addicted to knitting! She is an enabler--although she would say I am. She invited me along on the Camp Stitches New York weekend and I am hooked! We hope to go again this year.

Celia? She and I got to know each other over instant messaging about the Tempting sweater on http://knitty.com. We continue to converse about all things knit and more.

Paper Tiger Knits: Anne was my secret pal recipient from the Knitter Review this past year. I like to continue to keep up with her and her new job and new home.

Beautiful plumage: Laura was my oh-so-generous secret pal giver last year. What an amazing pal! Anyone would be lucky to get her! I hope to be posting pics of items I have knitted from yarn and projects she has sent me.

Cast On--just fun and relaxing. Hope you enjoy.

Starting again...again

2006-01-07T12:22:00.000-05:00

The big question is will I follow through THIS time???

This is my third attempt starting this blog. A few things have gotten in the way--dial up, life and not knowing html--but I think I might be ready. I feel determined to get this going.

The dial up part has been taken care of. As of yesterday we finally signed up for Radio Frequency Broadband--or something like that. Its fast and WIRELESS!!

Life is settled. We are back in MD and very settled into our home again. The boat is across the street and out of the water. We will be sailing the waters of the Chesapeake Bay this coming season.

So that leaves html. This is going to be challenging, but I'm a smart girl. And I know people....

You have to start somewhere and this is it. Welcome.