FIL is home safe and sound, and the snow has stopped. Moon is getting better (she was sick and missed school Thursday and Friday). The weekend with Matthew Fox (theologian, not actor) is a memory – Pete was a major part of the planning, so preparations had occupied us in one way or another for months.
I haven’t neglected my knitting. Here are a few quick snapshots of recent finished projects:
I’m surprisingly calm, considering I’m about to head into the fray of convention management for a week. (A 5-day work week, that is.) Today was Packing Day, which involved various lists and containers. (I’m bringing Bammo ingredients, Bammo being my daily lemon-maple-cayenne water beverage. Pete renamed it because he thought I might like it better with a catchier name. It worked, because I actually do look forward to it.)
I also ended up buying a few outfits, because I have so little that (a) fits, (b) is businesslike, and (c) was purchased in this century. But I caught some awesome deals, so it wasn’t as expensive a proposition as it may sound.
In knitting news, I made a set of handwarmers for Moon, from a pattern in Last Minute Knitted Gifts. They were very quick, actually.
A few weeks ago, I finally made myself some socks out of the yarn Sis#4 gave me for my birthday in 2005. (Or was it Christmas a year ago? Either way, it was a while back.) I had made a water bottle caddy out of the skein earlier, but had more than enough for socks as well. Gotta love gift yarn!
I’m going to bring yarn and needles for my second Jaywalker sock with me this week. I made the first sock eons ago, and never got around to casting on for the second one. Mostly because it was knit on size 1 needles, and I much prefer doing socks on size 2 or 3.
Of course knitting stuff had a prominent place on my What to Bring list. I’d go through withdrawal without it.
Yes, I’ve been knitting (and crocheting), but mostly just little projects that I can finish quickly. Well … this water bottle caddy wasn’t super-quick since it was knit on US2 needles. But it’s cute and useful. One change I made to the original pattern was to put the pocket on the inside of the strap — seems more secure that way. I also made a bib for my 1-year-old niece and cute cabled footies (sucky photo, though). I’m still making felted bowls and coffee cozies with my bits and pieces of yarn.
In other news, I’m having new lenses put into my old glasses frames. I get bored wearing the same pair all the time. Apparently there’s some funky new technology for old people glasses (i.e. ‘progressive lenses’ — which sounds like they’re in favor of socialized medicine or something), and I’ll love the results so much I’ll want to switch up my other glasses, too. Yahoo.
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Geez, I’ve been busy. I’m working on my probono stuff, I have a few clients … and I have a new part-time job. It’s very cool. I’m a virtual employee, using my laptop and phone to connect with the virtual “office.” After only a few days, I’ve learned quite a bit about the tools that are available for this kind of thing. The bonus for me is that I get to keep my flexible hours and independence, while making some predictable income. The kitchen table is my desk. And I can work in my PJs if I feel like it.
In other news, I’ve been knitting and crocheting. Did you have any doubt?
Check out my Mason-Dixon Knitting-inspired Nine Patch washrag. Man, I’ve been making a lot of washrags. We have a whole collection now.
I’ve also been making stuff like this to sell in my Etsy shop. I was commissioned to make moebius basket, and it was fun to create something special for someone I’d never met. (If you want to catch up on the full year’s knitting, just check out this page.)
We’ve been spending some time at the Farmer’s Market (at least when it’s not scorching hot outside). It’s always fun to see the genuine produce, and now the sweet corn is here.
Yesterday we saw a few casualties of the midweek storm, including this sorry appendage. Sleep has been a bit rough to come by this week, since the kids are staying up later and later, I’ve been afflicted with a nighttime cough, and thunder is loud.
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This will get me by until I have something fancier. I finished it in less than a week, and the price was right.
The before picture. I used four colors of Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride, one skein of each. The finished bag was so huge, I didn’t think it would possibly shrink enough. I’ve felted knits before, but it still seemed like too much fabric. I started out making a medium bag, but switched to small in progress.
After the wash. Not bad! The bag is a little oversized, but it’ll definitely work. And it’s fuzzy. I like that.
I had enough yarn left over to make a little felted pouch for my mouse or adapter. I can either make a drawstring for it, or fasten it with a button. (I’m leaning toward the button.)
Now I’m working on my blue ponchette and a Mason-Dixon Knitting inspired rag rug.
I quit my job last week.
I’m finally going to give self-employment an honest-to-goodness try. My last day as an employee will be June 22. Everybody is being great, and of course I’m sad to leave my co-workers. But this has been a loooooong time coming. (Well, maybe not that long. Just looong.)
Anyway, I’m nervous about not having a regular paycheck, but I’m getting more and more used to the idea. The great thing (I think) is being more available to my kids over the summer. Of course, I might have to escape to a coffeeshop with internet access every now and then.
Which leads to … my new toy. I realized that my old-school G3 clamshell was not going to be adequate anymore. I did some eBay browsing and was considering a MacBook, but I couldn’t make up my mind. Pete told me that if I was going to manifest my laptop, I needed to really visualize what I wanted. So I did: a 15″ G4 Powerbook with at least 1GB RAM and a 60-80GB hard drive. For $800 or less.
The next time I jumped on eBay, a new listing popped up. All of the above, with a buy-it-now of $799. And the seller was in Madison. I dashed off an email asking about local pickup, and by the time I heard back from the seller, someone else had clicked the buy-it-now. But the potential buyer had no feedback, so the seller and I reached an agreement. It all happened pretty darned quickly. Power of intention, all right!
In other news, I continue to knit like a maniac. I finished my Mason-Dixon absorba bathmat and made a crocheted washrag out of some of the leftover yarn. I’m now working on a baby kimono, a crocheted one-skein scarf, and my aforementioned June Project Spectrum ponchette. As you can see, I also made a knitted headband from a pattern in Interweave Knits.
I’m thinking that a knitted laptop sleeve is in my near future.
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I’ve finally finished my fourth-ever pair of socks! There’s a mistake, but it’s pretty minor and I was too far along to rip. So I’m living with it. If you want to see the socks on my feet, look here.
‘Twas a busy weekend, but I still had time to knit. I’m working on a bathmat (a few rows at a time, because it’s slightly unwieldy) and I started a headband. The weather was absolutely lovely, so I took my knitting outside to the swing. Even though our backyard isn’t exactly a showpiece, I like sitting out there. Sometimes a squirrel will even mosey through.
On Saturday, I was up early to walk in Race for the Cure with Patti, her sister Jeannie, and two other women (including an ex-coworker). As always, it was an inspiring event. We had brunch afterwards, and an older women spotted our t-shirts and came over to our booth to thank us. She was a 14-year survivor.
Oh, I finished another project last week:
It’s the Lacey Poncho from green to help me celebrate the end of May.
Right now, I’m sitting with my laptap, listening to Peter play videogames. Moon is working on a group project at a classmate’s house, and Pete is practicing for a concert that’s happening on Tuesday. The sun is shining, all is well.
This afternoon the kids and I are planning to see the X-Men movie (X-Men Reunited? I can’t seem to remember what it’s called) and we might end up walking home because Pete has to play for a church service at the Catholic church. (The church that asked him to stay on as a music director after he “came out” as a newly-former Catholic.)
In knitting news, I am digging the book my kids gave me for Mother’s Day, Mason-Dixon Knitting. I’ve made two of these washrags already, and I picked up three cones of Peaches ‘n Cream so I can make a bath mat. Total fun. I’ve also been doing some crochet — and figured out how to make an otama so I could do a birthday greeting for my crafty buddy Rakka.
Okay, our family has been incredibly busy. And I’ve been knitting/crocheting more than this little credit card holder (which I’m using for the various punch cards and things that I use). Cute, though, isn’t it? I made it on Wednesday, when Pete and I were at Sundara Spa celebrating our 20th (!) anniversary by being thoroughly pampered. We spent pretty much the whole day wearing robes and relaxing, with intermittant foot rituals, massages, etc.
My mom is doing really well, by the way. There wasn’t any more cancer, and she’ll be starting radiation soon. Her prognosis is very good — yay!
In other news, it’s movie season. The Friday opening-day theater viewings have begun! We saw The DaVinci Code yesterday (which was okay … Moon really was into Silas), and we’re planning to see X3 next week.
And the weather today is unbelieveably awesome. We’re spending the afternoon at Good ‘n Loud for Moon’s master class. I’m excited because she’ll be doing some stuff on drums as well as bass. And I’m bringing my yarn.
One.
My family long-ago dubbed me Queen of All Purses, so it’s no surprise that I can’t stop thinking about this:
I know I already have two awesome knitting bags, but that doesn’t mean I’ve given up the search for the PERFECT bag. When I saw the Namaste collection, the most difficult decision was which one to order. Truth be told, a messenger bag seems to be the best fit. I love the way traditional purse/bags look, but I keep going back to the diagonal-over-the-shoulder thing.
If I like the new bag as much I think I will, the Lady B will be going back — or on eBay.
Two.
I thought I was addicted to American Idol last season, but that was when I only loved one or two of the top 10, and not nearly all of them. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are nail-bitingly nervewracking at our house. Moon has lost two of her favorites in a row (the aforementioned Bucky, and now Ace), and she’s crossing her fingers and toes that Elliott won’t be next.
We’re Yaminions. (Although I’ve been pulling for Taylor Hicks from the start, and not just because he looks like he could be my age. He’s entertaining enough to be parodied on SNL, ya know.)
Moon’s already bugging me about buying tour tickets. And in case you didn’t think I was geeky enough, I’ve crocheted a beanie for Ace.
Just a quick update. First, the Everyday Goddess Conference was a fabulous way to spend a weekend. I met some awesome new friends (hi Jodie!) and my two teen roomies (Moon and Nicole) seemed to have a great time.
Second, I now have a shop at Etsy. It’s http://aine.etsy.com. Rakka was my inspiration … her shop is here. Now I can make stuff without having to worry about where to put it all!
Third, guess who Moon’s pulling for in this year’s American Idol? None other than Bucky Covington. Yep, my speed metal girl now appreciates (gasp) country.
You heard it here first: I crochet.
Behold:
I bought the Happy Hooker book, but the whole technique thing escaped me until Patti showed me double and triple crochet in person. (I had already managed to do a single crochet edge, so that wasn’t as tough.) Best of all, she made me understand the elusive chain-and-turn thing. Before I knew it, I was well on the way to finishing a “washcloth.”
My confidence boosted, I tackled the instructions for making a crocheted circle. Then I decided to try a shell stitch, courtesy of the aforementioned book:
I’ve decided I love me some crochet, and you’ll soon be able to feast your eyes on more of my creations. Not that I’m neglecting my knits, mind you. I still have Tubey and Jaywalkers on the needles, and I promise they’re getting attention.
Absolutely! (Oh, and by the way, my name is official. I went to court first thing this morning, then the Social Security office, then the DMV and the credit union. Wahoo!)
First, a project that has been on hold for months.
It’s Sitcom Chic from knitty.com. Fun pattern, with one of my favorite yarns — the discontinued Cotton-Ease by Lion Brand. Most of the Cotton-Ease I’ve knitted with has been a dream, but the red had knots and split like crazy. I stuck it out, but I kept putting the sweater aside for other projects. It feels good to be finished.
Here’s the detail of the front. It’s not blocked (how do you block cotton blends, anyway?). I picked out the chunky wood button when I was shopping at Sow’s Ear a few weeks ago. I was actually after a set of size 1 DPNs, which is another story. Currently on those needles is a Jaywalker sock, and I’ve discovered that knitting on size 1 needles goes a heck of a lot slower than it does on size 2s. I’m hanging in there, but don’t expect to see a finished pair of socks any time soon. Good thing I didn’t attempt this during the Knitting Olympics, or I’d have never won my gold medal.
My other recent FO is this hooded capelet from Teva Durham’s Loop-d-Loop book. Moon and Peter’s reaction when I first tried it on: “No.”
Apparently I’m not enough of a wood nymph to pull this off, so I thought I’d better at least go outdoors for the picture.
Much of the knitting for this piece took place at the IRS office. Did I mention that we received a letter from them last week? Just days before the fender bender? Our friends at the IRS think that we owe an additional $23,000 from our 2004 taxes, a notion which made me laugh heartily. It’s a mistake. (Duh.) I didn’t even bother calling; I just showed up Tuesday morning and took my place in line. Naturally, the computers were down because of a power outage in the building the night before. The good news is that I had plenty of time to knit before my turn at the one service window. The helpful rep took my information and asked me to fax last year’s W-2s. Which I totally planned on doing, except the IRS fax machines were down, too. (I went back the next day and begged the 12 people in line for a chance to just hand the paper to someone on the other side.)
Anyway, back to the knits. I’m looking toward the future here, and I want to make a Cotton-Ease Tubey in the worst way. Thing is, I need 3-4 skeins of black, or rather, “Licorice.” I might have to come up with something else in the meantime.
Definitely my personal best! I love these socks. I can’t believe it only took me two weeks to make them, start to finish.
Here’s the pattern. I’m so pleased with them that I want to keep making more socks and trying other patterns, but I think I need a rest from the tiny needles. Time to go back to Sitcom Chic for a while. (Almost time to start the sleeves.)
Now for a close-up of the toes. I just so dig my own toes.
It’ll be strange watching the closing ceremonies without my DPNs in hand.
I finished my goal! Never did I think I could finish a sock in five days, and now I have my eyes on the gold medal — a pair of socks! Yep, I’m casting on sock #2 today, and I’ve got my eyes on the winner’s stand.
This is the same pattern I used for the orange Koigu socks I posted earlier. This time, I kept the ribbing over the front and started with 50 rounds of ribbing instead of 35.
In other news, there’s a blizzard outside. I’m supposed to be at a trade show today, but right now I’m wondering if I can even get out of my driveway. Oh, and there’s lightning.
I finished a set of moebius baskets for Moon. She selected the colors to match the decor in her room. There’s still Cascade 220 left over from the two skeins I bought for these!
Here’s the “before” shot. Pretty floppy!
And here’s the “after.” I like how the fair isle pattern pulled the center of the baskets in a bit, so that they ended up more cylindrical. I still have yarn leftovers from the two skeins I started with. I might be able to dig up enough green yarn to make a basket for Peter. (He wants the blue one, but Moon said no.)
I’ve cast on my Knitting Olympics project, and I’m on my way to having a new pair of socks by the end of the games.
So here are my shout-outs to my teammates!
(…if they’ll have me! I was a little late finding my homestate-ies)
Now, off to knit!
Fo’ sure.
First off, a long-overdue photo of the bag I finished right before my feng shui week. It started off as a moebius scarf knitted from Noro Kureyon, but after making the overly-shrunken swirl bag I really wanted to do one for myself — and having a pre-finished strap was a huge shortcut.
I pulled out some Lamb’s Pride leftovers, and followed Cat Bordhi’s directions for doing an afterthought pouch. I had enough yarn to make a small pocket, too. I love this bag. It’s very pettable. It was perfect for carrying my notes, pencils and lip balm up and down the stairs at the bed-and-breakfast.
After I returned from my week away, I was eager to do another moebius project. So I made a felted basket to give to my mom as kind of a belated birthday present. It was a super fast and easy knit, but of course I forgot to actually tell my mom about it while she and my dad were visiting last week. I’ll have to fill it with something good and bring it with me next time we’re near their house.
There are definitely more baskets in my future. Moon went with me to Lakeside Fibers and picked out several colors of Cascade 220 that went with her new room decor. She’s pretty good at color selection … too bad she’s not interested in learning to knit.
Finally, my most recent finished object: my second-ever pair of socks. They’re far from perfect, but I couldn’t wait to get them on my feet! This is the first time I’ve made something with Koigu, and wow, all the stuff I’ve heard about that yarn is true. It’s so pretty, and feels so nice, and is pleasant to work with.
I have two more balls of Koigu that will be transforming into another pair of socks soon. I’ve joined the Knitting Olympics and I’ll be knitting with Team DPN. My goal is to finish one sock … that will be challenging enough for me during that time period. Moon, however, thinks I should go for the pair. I don’t know, I may not be able to do that without steroids.
I’m supposed to be on a media break this week, but I don’t think this counts. My teacher knows I have my laptop (although the wireless connection is a bit of a surprise — what would the original tenants of this Victorian mansion think?). Anyway, I’m in intensive training for feng shui certification. Day Two has flown by, and now the information is whirling around in my brain. I’m processing.
It’s strange being away from my family all week. When I left, Peter dashed outside and ran alongside the car, waving to me until the car turned the corner. I’m thankful for the cell phone, because at least I’ve been able to fulfill my motherly role of nagging about homework.
As for the accommodations, can you say, “delicious, aesthetically pleasing vegetarian meals, prepared by someone other than me”? And “in-room whirlpool bath”? I could definitely get used to this sort of thing.
About my perfect feng shui bag. I swear I followed the adult-sized pattern in the Second Treasury of Magical Knitting book. It looked suitably huge and seemed to have plenty of leeway for felting. So I didn’t pay attention to the felting time. I just threw the bag in the washer with a towel (dumb idea, BTW) in hot water, and let it rip.
Check out what happened. (The pen is there for comparison.) Worn diagonally across my chest, the bag now barely clears my boob, which definitely isn’t feng shui. My niece Ambria is going to be 5 this month, and I think this is going to become an auxiliary birthday present. Hope she doesn’t mind the green and blue, because she’s more of a pink and purple kind of gal. Pete says the bag is very girly and ought to suit her, though. It’ll be interesting to see if the bag actually fits. I don’t have any five-year-olds around here to test it.
This was an amazingly fun knit, though. There were directions in the book for adding a pouch to a moebius strip after the fact, and now I’m eyeing the moebius scarf I made last fall and wondering what it would look like as a felted strap. It’s even longer than the swirl purse strap was, and if I’m careful with the felting it might actually fit me.
In other knitting-and-fitting news, I finally photographed my Banff sweater which I had finished a while back. Although I was very proud about the completion of my first long-sleeved sweater, I wasn’t so happy about how it looked on me. It’s pretty huge, which would be cute if I was my previous dainty self, but not so cute now. I do like its warmth and color, so I’m thinking about frogging it and re-knitting it into a poncho/wrap that I saw in Weekend Knitting (the twist stitch it uses was one of the first things I learned when I taught myself to knit).
