knitting olympics

So, I started off with a bang. I knitted the whole body of my Feb Lady Cardigan in a flash. Then I got to the sleeves. And in 3 days of knitting I have done ummm 1.5 inches. UGH, I hate raglan sleeves. Once I get past the first 3 inches I am okay. But I have to magic loop and I HATE magic loop. Hate it hate it hate it. But eh, it works.



So I finished my hemlock ring blanket for my friend Troy's 40th birthday. It came out sooo good. I was soo proud of myself, but I forgot to take better pictures of it! But here are some pictures anyway.

That is such a crappy picture. I normally take better pictures, I swear! Maybe I will write more later, stuff about the tropical storm coming. But my asthma is just kicking my ass right now.

Culture..

It's funny, living in America, because with all our stuff we have no culture. I know I don't have any culture to speak of. My husband, on the other hand, has lots. I am soo incredibly jealous of him. When we had Madeleine, Husband and I said that we would make culture with her. Make traditions and all that. Have we? Hahaha, not really. Husband is lucky, being Puerto Rican and all. He has lots of culture. His parents taught him the language, food, who they are and that gives him great pride.

But what am I? I'm Irish/French Canadian and well my father never taught my brother and I French. What a waste. Seriously! To know a language and not teach your children, I really think that is a great disservice to the kids. My grandparents speak French and not once have I ever been able to carry a conversation on with them. Sure, they speak English well, but that's not the point. I would like to at least once have a conversation with them in French. So I am thinking about learning French and teaching it to Madeleine. Madeleine is already speak Spanish.

Also, we really want to get into holidays. not so much Christmas for presents and all that. But more Halloween for decorating and Thanksgiving for cooking and all that. We exchange presents for Yule, but I want to make traditions. Cooking, decorating and all that. It should be fun.

I have been knitting up a storm. But unfortunately my camera is out of batteries. We are going to get some batteries so that I can take some pictures tomorrow. I finished my hemlock ring blanket, I started a horseshoe lace cardigan, did about 5 baby hats for my store and I restarted my February Lady Cardigan for my Ravelolympics project. I am almost to the armholes of the cardigan, but I am altering the pattern so I don't have those stupid eyelet increases and I want the yoke to come down farther. The boob curtain it creates on some larger busted ladies. I don't need anymore help on making my bust look bigger and more unseemly than it already is.

Slowing returning to the adult world

Adult world, where have you been?

It's funny how when you have children, sometimes your world because extremely small. Almost like a fishbowl. You can see everything going on, see everyone's lives going on, but your little bowl stays the same. Well today, I went out and was Kristen!!! Yay!! My friend Jenny Monster (most awesomist person in the world)and I hung out today. I have been teaching Jenny Monster to knit, and she has been doing wonderfully. She is an excellent student.

So, she picked me up, and we set out on an adventure. We fist stopped off at our old hang out, St Pete Diner. Ohh my. The magical people you see in there. Wow. So after breakfast we headed to the health food store for some nuts. Mmmmm, salty nuts. Delicious. Then off downtown to Hooker Tea. I love that place. Such neat place. I had this blended mint tea/chocolate chip cookie blended thing. It was fabulous.

So Jenny Monster was praciting. How proud am I of her?

Here she is, knitting, smoking and talking on the phone at one time.











sexy, isn't he?


I'll update with actual knitting content tomorrow.

So, where am I?

I have been in a knitting blur lately. I finished my vest, and after that I have been tryin to knit something. But my attention span is kind of lost. I did manage to finish a project (although I have cast on about 5 things). First up is a baby shrug for a friends little girl due in November.





Pattern Confection Baby Shrug by Tonya Wagner
from The Shizknit
Needle US 8 / 5.0 mm
Yarn Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted
How much? 0.75 skeins = 161.3 yards (147.4m)
Colorway Blue/grey
Purchased at Needles & Knobs in Saint Petersburg, Florida

I started this on the 14th of June and finished it on the 30th of June. It was an easy knit. Don't let the start/finish date fool you, it only took me around 6 hours to knit. I just cast it on, knitted a few rows, then put it down for a week and a half. It was such an easy knit. I really enjoyed it. The Malabrigo is a joy to knit with. The stitch defition is beautiful and the colours are just lovely. Madeleine modeled for me and I had to wrestle it away from her. She loved the little shrug and the 3 month size fit her as a 3/4 lenght sleeve shrug. I am going to stash bust and make her one.


So i started some Jaywalkers. I am not really a sock person. I always find that they never turn out how I think they should. I find that they never stay up, sag and are to thick. But whatever, I will master this. So a while ago I was in the LYS and bought some Prizm Saki in the colourway Fresia. It is gorgeous, kinda like jelly beans. So I started some Jaywalkers. I do have to admit, that this yarn really does look nice with this pattern. I struggled with a pattern for this yarn, because of how busy and bright the yarn is. I really dislike busy yarns and busy pattens. I find it highly offensive to the eye. There is nothing worse than seeing a beautiful pair of Monkey socks in a highly toxic shade of neon green/yellow/red. I am sorry, it is horrendous. YUCK. So I chose the Jaywalkers. But I must say, I am terribly disappointed in the ribbing. I should have done it in a size smaller needle. I am a lot farther on than the photo lets on. I have turned the heel and I am almost to the toe decreases. I might reverse frog the ribbing and do it on US1's.




And last but not least I am working the Lady February Surprise jacket based off of the baby jacket by EZ. Yea, and I am doin it out of Malabrigo. Yes, it is decedent and gorgeous. I am using the HollyHock colourway and man, is it yummy. I am waiting for Audrey at the LYS to get me in some longer US8 needles. My 24in's are not cutting it! I have a picture, but I am much farther than it suggests to



Does it notice? I kinda like the Malabrigo, just a little bit. hahaha.

Ohhh and before I forget, I am working on Rusted Root for a friend's birthday. I would post pictures of it in progress but she reads my blog on syndication and I do not want to ruin the surprise! Maybe I will just post some artsy close ups, just for a taste!

Okay, I have more to write, but it is 3am, and I am tired. I will update later, probably no pictures. For some reason I feel that if a post doesn't have pictures it somehow does not constitute a real blog. I know its not true, but posts are more entertaining with pictures!

My first finished garment for MYSELF

Who says that ever happens? I actually finished something for me, that fits, that I will wear. What the hell!
Mind my horrid pictures. I have had the hives for a week straight and my camera has crappy batteries. So I was trying to take photo's in between it dying!

Pattern : A Mingled Yarns Ophelia
yarn: Classic Elite 4 Seasons
Needles: US8 on the bottom, US 6 on the top

This only took me like a week to knit I think. I really liked it. I started knittin the 44 size (cause if you can't tell I have huge tits) and then started knitting it. Then I measured my chest and since I have lost weight, my boobs or my back fat have gone. I was only a 40.5!!! So instead of ripping back, I went down two needle sizes and it is a perfect fit and I really like the drape of the fabric better. I really enjoy this yarn. It is cooler because of the cotton and still has sping and spong because of the bit of wool content on it. It feels amazing. Everyone should knit this stuff. I have 10 more skeins of this in the varigated apple green in which I am going to knit this
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/february-lady-sweater
I really love that sweater.


Ohh and the other week, I started teaching my friend Jenny Monster how to knit. She is a freakin natual. A bit tight on the tension, but hey! She is still learning. I gave her some size 10.5 bamboo needles and a hank of handpaintedyarns Elijado. It's great. She is great. I <3 Jenny Monster.

17 June 2008

So, I am still plugging away at Ophelia I am a bit farther than this photo suggests. I took it yesterday and now I am to the ribbing and almost going to start the begining. I really like this pattern, it is quick, EASY, and very entertaining. I can sit and knit it while watching tv, but I was bored by the 9 inches of ribbing.

Post Birthday Hoopla,

Well yesterday was my birthday and it was nice and uneventful. But itchy! Man, I am tired of these allergies. I had to take my antihistamine, which I am not hating on in the least bit (thank god for Xyzal) it does make me a bit tired. But I will take tired over OMG SCRATCH MY FACE OFF. I have no clue what has made me itch. I had an allergist appointment this morning, but my ride (we only have one car and my mother is my ride) was not up in time. Well neither was I. GAH! So I made the appointment for next Tuesday. I might call up and plead with them to get me in tomorrow. I have one more dose of my allergy meds and that is it. If I take it today I am OUT! And I can't itch. I can't. *scratch scratch*

On the knitting front, I have started Ophelia for myself out of Classic Elite All Seasons. So far it is going well, a fast knit. But I have found one problem. I started knitting the 44in bust (thanks milk jugs) because I normally have a 43.5 in bust. Well I get like 4 inches in and then wonder "ohh, I have lost like 14 pounds, maybe I should re measure?" Yeah, my bust is 40.5. I looked back at the sizing and it is 40in then 44in. So I think if I just go down a needle size on the top it will give more structure to the top and the bottom will be looser and lacier. I think it will be alright. I am doing the bottom on size 8's, so if I do a size 7 on the top it will be a nicer fabric. The four seasons on size 8 (with my loose knitting) is a bit lacier. I think it will work. Pictures to follow later on today. It is coming out nicely.