I Love My Dog

Trucking Along....

I think I'm actually going to be able to finish this in time for Sissy's birthday. I really like this pattern. Just when you think you're getting bored, you get to drop a stitch. Genius. Dropping stitches on purpose is like a session with the Therapist. I'm definitely going to have to make one of these for myself. I won't be using the Microspun again though. It's okay. Just okay. Nothing special. I wish I could afford to make it out of Lion and Lamb but it's just far too expensive. One of these days.....

Friday Fill-In Numero Dos (Technically a Saturday Fill In)

1. The last good thing that came in the mail was the KnitPicks Catalog.

2. This week I'm grateful for my tax refund.

3. Artyarns Regal Silk is the most delicious thing ever.

4. Brooklyn Tweed inspires me.

5. I'm most happy when I finish a tough knitting project.

6. And all the roads we have to walk along are long, so let's get in the car and drive instead.

7. As for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to playing Guitar Hero w/Bob & Michelle, tomorrow my plans include Clapotis knitting and cleaning out my closet and Sunday, I want to veg!

Good Friday? It Was So-So.

Decent day. Nothing majorly stressful happened. A Co-Worker brought in his 5-year old nephew, Kendall. What a doll! He visited me in my cubicle and we read Dr. Suess together. Hanging with him was a nice break from the monotomy of my day. I then got an email from my Supervisor, informing me that we were closing at 2pm. Yippee!! I came home and worked on my very 1st Clapotis. It's going to be for my older Sister, Jayne's upcoming birthday. April 10th, do you think it's possible? She wants a grey shawl/pashmina type garment so I knew Clapotis would be perfect. I'm desperately poor right now so I bought 5 skeins of Lion Brand Microspun in Sterling and so far, even though slightly splitty, I quite like it. It's superdeeee duper soft and my Sister will love it. Yea! (I hope)

Friday Night Fill In - My first

1. I'm looking forward to Blocking Wicked so I can wear it to work on Monday.
2. Greece is a place I always wanted to visit and haven't made it there yet.
3. I've fallen in love with the song "Soon We'll Be Found by Sia.
4. Six of one, 1/2 a dozen whoozywhatsits.
5. Addiction to yarn has created an expensive lifestyle.
6. The jokes on Family Guy crack me up!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finding a way to get rid of my headache, tomorrow my plans include whatever the day may bring us and Sunday, I want to relax!

Be Gone With You Sleeve

Damn you sleeve!! I abhor you. You are making my life miserable. You let me go round and round and round. Knowing full well I've made a mistake, but not letting on until five rows later. It's just cruel. You should be ashamed of yourself.

My Middle Name is Willpower

Not only have I not cast on for any new projects today, but I have made extremely good progress on the Gathered Pullover. Now I'm on the sleeves. YEA!!! It's too warm now in Phoenix to wear a sweater so I may make the sleeves to just above elbow-length instead of loooong sleeves. We'll see. Not much else to post...just wanted to pat myself on the back for having such discipline.

Knitty Knack Paddy Whack

I gasped a little when I got the email that the new Knitty was up. I'm obviously very low maintenance if this is all it takes to make me so excited I hold my breath! I do NOT need to be starting any new projects. Especially since my knitting ego has been bruised lately by all my screw ups. What's a girl to do though, when she sees this?

Or this...... Or these babies....

The sheer amount of willpower it will take me to resist casting on one of these projects is enormous. The one in the middle is my favourite. I could go for a different name though. It's called "Nob Hill". Yes, I know that's actually a neighborhood or something in San Francisco. However, being that I'm British (and apparantely forever immature), it's hard for me to say "Nob" without bursting into a fit of giggles. Colin in "Love Actually" makes me p*ss myself when he sings (about himself), "And he's got a big knob". If you haven't seen that movie, you really must. It's one of my favourites. So, now, is "Death At a Funeral". That's the funniest movie I've seen in a looong time. Actually, Kris Marshall, who plays Colin in Love Actually, is also in Death At a Funeral. He's fantastic. Anyway, got a bit off track there. Please, give me the strength to NOT order yarn for ANY of the above 3 knitted beauties pictured above. My Gathered Pullover is laying on the table beside me pleading with me to finish her. I did work on her quite a bit last night. The back is almost to the neck and shoulder shaping. I've been using a pair of Brittany Sz. 7 straight needles on the back. This is my first pair (other than a set of dpns) and I must say they are fantastic for my creaky arms & shoulders. I'm pretty sure they're made out of air, because they are so incredibly light! I always thought my heart belonged to my dear Addi Turbos but there may be a contender to win my love with these needles. Okay, I'm going now. I'm going to work on Gathered Pullover and I will NOT, under any circumstances, cast on for any new projects. BTW, have you seen the Hexacomb cardi from the Spring Interweave Knits? Dreamy. (Slaps self in face)....no Claire...be strong.

I Made You a New Friend

Since the Stockinette Saviour Hat got me through such a rough patch, I decided it deserved a friend. A pair of friends actually. These are the Maine Morning Mitts and were my first experience with a thumb gusset. I've discovered that thumb gussets aren't hard, just awkward. I'm addicted to this pattern and now want to make a gajillion pairs. These are also totally helping me to get over my fear of dpn's. This is bad news for the poor little projects in the graveyard. It may be a little while longer before they see the light of day. I pulled Orangina out of the closet this evening to try to help me get over the guilt of abandonment. It didn't last long. 2 pattern repeats and she's back in the graveyard. Sorry dear....I tried.
Yarn: Universal Yarn Worsted Tapestry
Waaaaay less than 1 skein. Not bad when you can make a hat AND a pair of gloves for less than $6.

Stockinette is my Self-Esteem Saviour

I screwed up on 2 of my WIP's the other day. First in line was Cece. Never having made a 3-stitch buttonhole before, I googled the instructions and off I went. Of course I didn't need to read the instructions more than once. I'm such a good knitter that I can partially scan the instructions and execute a buttonhole so perfect it will bring envy to all who see it. Ha Bloody Ha. I must have been in a deep dream state when I told myself that. I now having nothing that resembles a buttonhole. Instead I have what appears to be a section of my cardi that is ruined beyond repair. I'm sure there is a way to fix it, but I just don't have the heart to face it just yet. Next up for the mistake-a-minute fest is the short sleeved cardigan (Ravelry link) by Shiri Mor. All was going well in the lace pattern until I reached the end of a row and had one extra stitch. Blast! I tinked back and counted the stitches. Positive I would now complete the problem row to perfection, I motored on. Got to the end of the row and *BAM* one extra stitch. Fancy a lob across the room you stupid cardigan? With a thud it landed on the kitchen table while I saluted it with my middle finger. At this point, with my head hung low, I decided I was obviously incapable of knitting anything. Not one to bow out completely, I picked up a sassy skein of Universal Yarn Worsted Tapestry and in 3 hours produced this....

There's nothing like miles of stockinette to make a dejected knitter feel competent again.