Finishing

I actually finished a project, so I feel the need to share.

My friend T and I had been going for walks with her pup but it's gotten cooler (and is now down right cold) at night.  She made a comment that she'd like a hat with ear-flaps (and she "doesn't care if she looks silly).  Enter Simpatico.  It's a more interesting pattern than a standard ear-flap had, knit with worsted weight yarn, and would give me a chance to attempt the magic loop.  I'm not sure I did that quite right, but it came out okay.

I prefer it with the ties, which I braided instead of using i-cord.  They are more for show as the ear-flaps are plenty long to stay down on their own.

Please ignore our messy living room - moving and all that jazz

 T wanted pink, and pink she will get.  I think if I were to do it again I'd use different yarn.  The Plymouth Europa Tweed is pretty but splits a bit too easily and is a little thicker than is called for in the pattern.  I went down a needle size and that made it work, but knitting bulky yarn (I wouldn't call this super bulky at all, despite the description) on size 5 needles was a bit of a pain.

End thoughts: while I like the end look, the pattern was sort of a pain.  The decreases aren't predictable and there are only two size options - Child or Adult.  My adult head is a bit too small and M's head is a bit too big.  Hopefully T's head is just right.  I don't think I'll be making it again unless someone requests it specifically.

I'd rather be knitting...

than blogging at the moment.  I even took photos and thought about what I'd write...but I just feel like knitting.

So instead of an actually post here is a photo of my progress on the William the Weed Jacket

I'm on to the shoulder decreases (also, her directions for connecting the sleeves...crappy).

Falling leaves...and falling temperatures

Fall is officially here.  Actually I think it's been fall for about a month now, if I got the equinox right, but it has just now started to get cold.  Friday I woke up to frost on my windshield.  I dug out my hats, gloves, and scarves.  It's my favorite time of year!  Not so cold that I am worried about frostbite, but cold enough to want gloves and a hat.

It makes me want to knit.  Thankfully I have lots of projects to keep me busy over the next few months.

First up is the sweater for William.  I'm knitting up the Grow Like a Weed jacket.  The sleeves are done and I'm onto the body.  It will be my first attempt at steeking.  I'm excited and petrified at the same time.  If it starts to unravel I may break down and cry.  I'm knitting it in Cascade Eco + is this dark green/blue color.  It's pretty awesome and I hope to have it done, steeked and blocked by Thanksgiving.  I love Cascade yarns and I was able to pick this up at my new local yarn shop.  Having a shop 2 blocks from work could be very, very dangerous.  Plus the owners is so sweet.  I may have turned into that annoying customer who's always there.  Oh my, I hope that's not the case...

Next I'm on to wedding knitting.  I am trying to make sure that none of my craft projects have to be completed.  I'm thinking of knitting a Clapotis for each of the ladies in our wedding party (two for me, one for Michael).  Looking at how long it has taken some people I'm a little nervous that I won't be able to get three of them done in time.

I also want a shawl for me and not to sound extremely selfish, but I would rather complete mine if I can only get one done.  I've got to narrow it down.  Right now I'm looking at Elise or maybe Autumn Leaves.  Then there's Umaro or this Entrelac shawl (that has gotten really bad reviews for the directions).  I'm really leaning toward the Autumn Leaves.  I love Jared Floods' designs and the leaves pattern seems appropriate for a fall wedding.  Hm...we shall see.

Now I'm off to look at healthy crock pot recipes.  Yep, it's officially Fall!

Progress on all fronts

In knitting news - I have both sleeves done for William the Weed jacket for my nephew.  I'll be starting on the body this weekend.  I'm so excited to try steeking...and so scared at the same time.

Also, I apologize in advance for future posts but suddenly it seems my life has become completely encompassed by wedding planning.  When did I lose my mind?  I never really thought much about wedding related stuff and suddenly it's all that comes to mind.

We have a date - note the new ticker/countdown.  We have the church reserved and now a reception site with caterer.  I'm getting to start thinking about wedding crafts, which is really what I'm looking forward to the most.  I don't want anything excessive but I'm hoping to complete shawls for each bridesmaid (two) and the groomsmaid (one) as well as myself.  If I find the time, I'm going to knit something for the mothers as well but that will be for later.

Also, I'm so stoked for our centerpieces.  The idea is still evolving but Michael thought of the greatest thing that is totally us.  A stack of antique looking books with vines "growing" around them.  We figure we'll start scouring thrift stores, yard sales, and ebay for some deals.

I'm just trying to not get stressed about it all.  This is supposed to be fun right?

Also - progress on the mini goals:

Step 1 - Drink at least 12 cups of water a day - Success

Step 2 - Complete one round of Power 90 - Today was Day 58.  I've been sporadic, but sticking with it.

Step 3 - Each small meals every 2-3 hours (at least 10g protein, no more than 40g carbs) - I'm not sure this is practical for me right now, but I'm trying

Step 4 - Don't eat within 2 hours of going to bed - Success

Step 5 - No more processed grains - So far, so good

Step 6 - At least one fruit or veggie with each meal - Two out of three meals. Progress

Step 7 - Get a minimum of 7 hours sleep. - Working on it still.

Things are happening in my little world.  So far I'm moving in the right direction!

We aren't Friends

Today should have been a wonderful day. To start it's Saturday - the only thing better is 6pm on a Friday evening. To put some icing on this particular Saturday I had plans to hit up some local yarn shops. Yet, for some reason, I was racking my brain Friday night on how I could get out of going. Me, trying to avoid yarn shops. Ridiculous you may say, but it all comes down to the company.

I'm new in town and attempting to meet people, and knitting a fellow knitter is especially exciting. So when a woman I had just meet asked if I'd like to go check out the Cat and Crow, which opened a few months ago, I jumped at the chance.

She picked me up (I was pretty sure she wasn't an axe-murderer, so I didn't feel freaked to get into a stranger's car) and the interior of the car was pretty clean. I'm always appreciative of a car that doesn't have fast food wrappers, pop cans, or the like skewed about. It wasn't until we'd traveled a few miles down the road that I notice the smell - a weird musty, barn like smell. I ignored it, because really what do you say?

So we continued down the road. I asked her how long she'd been teaching - and this lead to a long rambling story. She started teaching to pay her way through grad school, and it was all down hill from there. Grad school was great, but the actual job after the fact was not what she wanted it to be - at least I think that's what she was getting at. Thank goodness the Argyle Fiber Mill was close by, allowing for a pit stop and gap in her life history.

Life had not gone as she planned - it was one disappointing position after another. Also, she knows my boss and man was she surprised that I am actually enjoying it there. Not even the Cat and Crow or the Sow's Ear could uplift the downer. To her credit she was very nice, when we discussed knitting it was a really good conversation - but it always came back around to her career and how life gave her a raw deal.

When I arrived back home all I could think was: 1) I spent too much money in those lovely shops and 2) what the heck was the smell in her car?

She's a nice woman, we have the same hobbies, similar other interests (attempts at gardening, kitchens, local culture) and I really have no interest in becoming better acquainted. It's weird to me - but I might even avoid knitting groups that she is a part of...tragic.

Yarn Shop Reviews

Cat and Crow - The women are exceptionally nice. They carry local spun yarn, and even some yarns sheared from local sheep and alpaca. The big down fall - you won't find any of the less expensive yarns - which was annoying. I could understand if the shop intended to only carry local, or even American, yarns but there was plenty of mini mochi from Crystal Palace which is spun in Asia. So obviously the goal isn't to promote Local only. The book selection leaved something to be desire as well. It's a new shop, and I understand them not wanting to put a lot of capital into the store, but I'll check back in a few months and make up my mind then. I did find a book to add to my collection, The Opinionated Knitter. Nice find I felt.

Sow's Ear - A very nice shop. Coffee in the front, with plenty of tables to sit, enjoy a cuppa, and work on a project. All around is yarn, samples of completed projects, and accessories. (I finally found soles for my cable slippers.) They didn't have as many local yarns, but did have a lot of American yarns. And my favorite yarn brand, Cascade! I know it's not the fanciest, but its good quality and knits up wonderfully. Anyway they also have a great selection of patterns - I purchased the Swirl Shawl pattern. Unfortunately they didn't have any more of the yarn in the color I wanted. I guess I'll just have to go back and check again.

Beginnings

So, let's see how this goes...I am going to attempt to blog about my random adventures in knitting, with a non-knitting book review thrown in here and there. I may also attempt to make the photography interesting, but some things are beyond my control.

I'm currently working on "Something Red" from Knit and Tonic. I've been going on this baby for almost a week. I'm almost finished with the top (minus sleeves). It's my first attempt at anything remotely sweater-like.I have completed the back, to the section where the sleeves start to be knit later. it is knit top down in one piece, with the sleeves and edging knit last.

I love the simplicity of this cardigan. I'm not sure I would wear a more patterned one, and it makes it knit up relatively quickly.

As this is my first post I will introduce Topper. He is my pet Triceratops who growls to scare away the bad thoughts when I'm alone in my apartment. The kid makes me smile, and happens to hold fond memories of my first Valentine's Day that didn't go awray.

He holding the yarn for your viewing pleasure. It's Patons Decor, in Deep Sage Green, which I picked up at a sewing store in Sonoma. The 9 skeins had been hugely discounted, I believe less that $2 a skein, because they were discontinuing the yarn. Looking at their website, I think they just renamed it "Rich Sage Green" but mine might be a bit darker.

It is *gasp* 75% acrylic and 25% wool, worsted weight. I have to say I really love this color and I'm glad I was finally able to find a patter to use it. The yarn itself isn't too bad either. Not scratchy at all, in fact it is sort of soft.

My hope is to finish this by sometime next week. This may even be an attainable hope as I don't have work for the rest of the summer, and school doens't start until the 28th.

Wish me luck.