Knitting the Blues

Just A Few Things

No Indigo Ripples Skirt yet. That's the first thing. I am really close though. There are a few things holding me back. First, work. There oughta be a law. Second, hand pain. Lots of it. And numbness. Typing sucks, too. And then there is work, it is really hard on my hands. Third, preparing for a little visit to Salt Lake City to see Margene!!!! Whoot! There will hopefully be much knitting on the plane, I have Motrin and I know how to use it.

Look what I did:

I went all girly-girl and got a mani-pedi.

I haven't done that in a long time. And they are all matchy-matchy. So fun. Of course with the way I abuse my hands with laundry and work and all, I'm surprised it isn't chipping yet. Soon.

I also hemmed those jeans. When you are 4'11" you are doomed to a life of hemming and altering. Jeans have always been an issue. Even though I am a petite, usually regular jeans fit better (previously discussed backside is the reason), so I have to hem, hem, hem. The thing with hemming jeans is losing that cool washed and distressed hem at the botton. I have taken to using this method to hem my jeans and love it. And see how there is fabric left on the inside? It is the perfect solution for when I have my growth spurt and need to let them down again. What!? You mean my nightly wish upon a star isn't going to work? I refuse to give up. Height and boobs. Is that too much to ask?

The best part about the jeans? Marked down to $9.97 at Gap and I had a 30% off. SEVEN BUCK FOR JEANS! AND THEY FIT! I also got another pair that was marked down to $6.97 before my discount. It was a good day for me to shop, especially as I am not fond of the shopping scene. It's amazing I have clothes at all, I dislike it so much.

I got the new Vosges Chocolates catolog in the mail today. You won't believe how they have gone and improved on chocolate. Did you see the banner? Look here. Now, even I can feel my arteries clogging just thinking about it, but for a treat? Yum, I hope I like it as much as I love this. Now you know the way to my heart. Or almost anywhere else you might like to be. Mmmmm.

Well, I must finish packing and sleep. I have decided to take the IR Skirt and plain socks to knit on.   And just one drop spindle and fiber. Why have to think too much when visiting? Just knit around and around. So calming. And not brain taxing. Have a great weekend, see you Wednesday!

You spoke. I listened. I knit on. And on.

Wow. You guys. You sure know how to make an old lady feel good about herself. You cannot know how you made my day! One or two of you had me blushing right here in my living room. Thanks. You know, I'm like everyone else, my self image is probably not that accurate, and I know I am more critical than of me than anyone else. It doesn't make it easier to drag myself out to the gym (I really would rather knit, you know) only to be surrounded by the yungins, all perky and firm, no parts showing the effects of pregnancies or gravity. It is all about how we feel though, isn't it? I feel strong and fit (and achy and sore) and my husband is appreciative. What more can a girl ask for?*

*Okay, it is about how we feel, but man, it does feel good to think men and women everywhere might be noticing, right?

Wake Up Call!

Well, in regards to my last post, the alarm has gone off! BRRRRRRRNG! I am filled with doubt over the Indigo Ripples Skirt by Kat Coyle, scroll down (yep, that is the project that was putting me to sleep). I decided to put half the stitches on a second needle and try it on, just to be sure it will fit and am not sure if it does or not. It seems like it may be a bit snugger than I want it to be.

BUT! (Pun may have been intended, I can't decide.) It seems to be about an inch or so too slim around the hips. BUT! The fabric is going to shrink lengthwise and the widest part of the skirt is still about an inch and a half lower than the widest part of my b**ty. Maybe it will shrink up and be okay. Or maybe it will shrink up and still be too snug. Or maybe I just need a skirt that is all siren-y and shows off my curvaciousness. Help! Your thoughts and opinions will be listened to (possibly ignored, true, but definitely listened to).

Knitting as Lullaby

My current knitting, aside from turning me into a Smurf, is putting me to sleep.

YAAAAWN

So I went for a run. There is nothing like racing the lightening and thunder the last mile or so to get your blood moving. The Red Sox and Patriots did their part, too. It's not a bad day. Now, if my hands can take the cotton for a little longer, I may just make some progress. Will U.S Open Tennis help me stay awake now?  Here's hoping......

Drama!? What Drama?

Inspired by Norma in her most recent Random Wednesday post I took a peek to see what google searches might have led to my blog.  I am proud to say that my blog is the first returned result for this search.  This, Norma, makes me tickled blue all over.  And pink.  They don't call me a <Knitting> Drama Queen for nothing, you know.

Seriously, this has me giggling for sure.  Stay tuned for more.......Knitting Drama!  hahaha........ 

Swing, Swing, Swing

Only Mr. Benny Goodman Swings It Better!

• Pattern: A-Line Tank by Mari Lynn Patrick, Knitsimple Spring/Summer 2007
• Yarn: Rowan Damask in Basalt
• Needles: Size 5
• Cast On: August 25, 2007. Three times.
• Bound Off: September 2, 2007, at least three times.

The color is way off, there is purple in there with the blue, so pretty

Let's review, shall we? I find a yarn I like. I find a pattern I like. The yarn and the pattern? Not really a match. Does that discourage me? No! What's a little thing like gauge to stand in my way? I cast on one time. Too big I think. I cast on a second time, knit to the armhole and hold it up to my body. Too small for sure (more a Clingy Tank than a Swingy one). I cast on a third time (bigger than the first-according to the largest size). Just right? I hope and I knit. I question the armhole shaping, but knit it as written anyway and move onto the front piece. I decide to change the armhole shaping on the front (would have been a little too revealing) and get to rip the back out again to change the shaping there. Oh, how I love the sound of those stitches popping out. I finish both pieces and hold the front up to my body. I am worried it is too small. I decide to do some math and after hours that ran late into the night I go to bed, intending on getting up the next morning and frogging the whole swanging thing and starting over. THIS NEXT PART IS IMPORTANT: Never, EVER, frog after ten o'clock at night. It is an impulsive and irrational move, usually inspired by an over-tired and emotional mind. Go to bed, get some sleep and come back with a renewed mind. The fresh light of morning has a wonderful rationalizing and balancing effect. I decide, before I start pulling out knitting, to pin the pieces together and try them on. Then I decide that it may all work after all. I pin and block.

Nothing left but the finishing, right? Two short seams, pick up and knit three rows of garter stitch at each armhole and then pick up for the necklines and straps. How long can that take? Honestly, this project is a perfect example of my determination and drive. I must have really wanted this stupid tank. First the seaming. It sucked. It still sucks. I pulled it out over and over and over. I was carefully matching row to row, but somehow kept screwing that up and ending up way, way off. Then there was the issue of the dropped stitch on the edge of one of the pieces. Instead of just securing it and adding a stitch, I ran it up the side creating a really tight edge in those few inches which really shows in the seam. And I just don't love the way the seams look. I tried so many times to make that seam look nice and it was a no go.

Then, as if I hadn't made enough changes to this pattern, I revamp the front and back necklines and straps. Ms. Patrick had me casting on half the shoulder straps, picking up sts along the front and then casting on half the shoulder straps seperately, knitting across those and then across the neckline and the other straps. Repeat on the back and then sew the straps at the shoulders. I plan on doing it all in one. In the end it worked, but after the third try. First: Used a knitted cast on and started knitting. I realize that I should have started by purling, so I tink back and redo. Then I just hate the look and decide to rip that all the way back and use a long-tail cast on. Much better. Took a couple of hours though, for a job that should have been about thirty minutes.

The sad truth? I could have knit three or four of these things in the time it took me to make this one. Do I think it is worth it? Hee, I love this tank. I may make another. I loved the yarn, which frogged and reknit pretty easily, only beginning to whine after the second or third time.  Anything else you want to know?  Like maybe, why I cut my head out of all of the photos?  Heh.  Go here and see why for yourself.  I'm just starting to use flickr and have not figured it out at all.  I may be bugging you all for tips.