Presh-ious Knitting

Here I yam!

2007-06-06T06:59:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know, you forgot I even blogged anymore! You forgot I even HAD a blog. I get it. Stop it with the guilt trip, okay? :-)

I've been kinda busy finding myself a new way to pay da bills. Now that I'm all graduated (yippy!) I've been looking for a new job (because hey, everything else in my life has changed this year). And I've finally found one! I start next week, and I'm super-duper excited.

Back to da knitting - frankly I haven't had much time for it. And I don't have any new pictures because my camera is on the fritz. I can, however, tell you a little secret:

shhh.... come closer....I bought the yarn for this:

It's Eunny Jang's Print o' the Wave Shawl. On it's way to my apartment are 3 balls of KnitPick's Bare which is a fingering weight merino/silk. As the name implies, it comes undyed, so yes I'm even going to dye my own dang yarn!

I'm also working on writing up the pattern for a tank/tee shirt (I'm not 100% sure which it's gonna be yet) that I've been working on for the past couple weeks. After I finish that, and to give myself a little repireve from lace knitting, I'm gonna try to make up a pattern for a low v-neck sweater vest.

PS - Is anyone else in LOVE with Michael Buble? The song "Everything" off his CD Call Me Irresponsible makes me feel all girlie inside! Check it out!

To the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings:

2007-04-18T19:37:00.000-07:00

I feel the need to explain why I’m not more upset about your deaths. Please trust that it’s not because I don’t deeply regret that your lives were cut short and your brilliant futures were snatched from your hands by a madman. It’s not because I don’t appreciate how sincerely terrified you must have been, staring down the barrel of a gun with your classmates lying dead around you, the shots that took their lives still ringing in your ears. I really am sad; I just don’t have the emotional strength to get overwrought about it.

I think you would agree our generation has had to deal with some pretty tragic stuff in recent years: the Columbine massacre in 1999, September 11^th, 2001 and the military strikes that followed; the Iraq war, Hurricane Katrina and a plethora of other senseless murders, tragedies, scandals, and natural disasters. Not to mention the fact that the Cubs haven’t played a decent season in years.

And so now I’m tired. My heart has been rung out like a wet rag over the last eight years, while you and I were trying to make the difficult passage from teenager to adult. We were coming of age in an increasingly cruel world, and no matter how nice we were, how much time or money we donated, no matter how we voted or campaigned, how much we educated ourselves on the issues and discussed them, there was simply nothing we could do to make any bit of difference. That’s how it seemed, huh?

I imagine most of you were a lot like me. You were going to school not because your parents told you to, but because you had dreams of doing something significant with your lives. You wanted everyone to be proud of you, so you worked hard, smiled through a lot of tough times, tried to treat everyone with equal friendship and courtesy. You wanted to prove wrong those who called you the “boomerang generation”. And you did. Those who knew you closely have been singing your praises to the newspapers, as well they should. You were remarkable. You loved and were loved. You were everything that is good and decent in this world.

After Columbine, they put two police officers at the entrance to my high school and made us get id badges. For weeks after September 11^th, I dreams of smoky buildings and I couldn’t get onto an elevator. I was glued to my TV when we bombed Afghanistan and I made CNN my homepage when we went to Iraq. I sent money to the Red Cross and the Humane Society after Katrina and raged against the mismanagement of my country. And Monday morning, I cried in my car when I heard of your deaths on the radio.

But now I’m just numb. It doesn’t even register with me. The media has turned your school into a high school drama stage, your friends the actors and your death the climatic scene. And I can't watch one more minute or listen to one more analysis or read one more article about the details. He was sick and there was nothing to do to stop him, and that's all there is to it. They say the debate about gun controls has been reopened by your deaths, they’re arguing about whether we need more guns or fewer. I’m curious what you would have said. But I just don’t have any passion left in me right now, but someday I will again. I promise. Someday I will care again to live out the dreams I have, because I know that's all you wanted to do, and I am blessed to still have the chance. Rest in peace, you will be with us always.

Heard it through the grapevine

2007-02-22T08:43:00.000-08:00

I've got some big news...

Haha, just kidding. The real news is that Lion Brand is bringing back the much-coveted Cotton Ease Yarn in a spiffy new package:

As you may know, I have quite a collection of the "old" Cotton Ease, or at least I did until I finished ze honking blue swirl blanket. That's right folks, it's DONE. Proud mama pictures to follow...

The Slanket

2007-02-01T06:22:00.000-08:00

Karen mentioned this last night at Stitch n' Bitch, so this morning I had to look it up -

The Slanket looks like pure genius. It's basically a blanket with sleeves. See?

Brillant! Now, do you suppose could I knit one???? (evil laugh)

Now that I have time...

2006-12-28T05:33:00.000-08:00

I am going to read for myself more! I'm finally going to go pay my library fines and check out some non-required reading material. Here is my tenative list:

(update - ones bolded I have finished)

The Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Annie Dillard

What If I had Never Tried It, Valentino Rossi

The Undomestic Goddess, Sophie Kinsella

In the Company of the Courtesan, Sarah Dunant

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell, Susanna Clarke

Leap of Faith, Queen Noor of Jordan

Lucrezia Borgia, Sarah Bradford

Lipstick Jihad: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America and American in Iran, Azadeh Moaveni

The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini

The Memory Keeper's Daughter, Kim Edwards

The Intellectual Devotional by David Kidder, Noah Oppenheim

People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present by Howard Zinn

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

A Wrinkle in time by Madeleine L’Engle

The Screw-tape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Edith Grossman

We Tell Ourselves Stories in Order to Live: Collected Nonfiction by Joan Didion

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

The Master Butcher's Singing Club, Louise Erdrich

The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde

My Antonia by Willa Cather

There are 25 books here, some classics and some new ones, hopefully I can get them all done this year.

My Buddy and Me!

2006-12-26T12:07:00.000-08:00

Look who I met last week!! We're BFF now. Excuse the slightly greasy hair on both of us - it was hot in that room! Go Team Vilsack!

Call Mrs Livings, Darcy is using math outside of class

2006-11-22T13:02:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't my math teacher be proud? I'm writing a pattern for a x-mas tree skirt out of my favorite stitch pattern and lots of math, math, math. I hate math. I'll probably not get started on this until January, but it's fun to dream, no??

Gobble, Gobble

2006-11-18T05:34:00.000-08:00

I'm back in my hometown for the week - it's Thanksgiving break, ya'll! I keep forgetting that next year around this time, I will not be getting a vacation, so I am trying to make the most of this one. Overall, I am pretty pumped about joining the rest of the adult workforce (mainly due to the fact that I know I have a job when I graduate). Here's why working is better than going to school:

1) The pay is better.

2) Better pay means better yarn I can afford

3) No homework

4) No homework means more time for knitting

5) I'm going to travel a lot for my job, which means lots of airplane rides which means even MORE knitting time!

The Blue Swirl Blanket is coming along, lots of ends to weave in even though I've already done a million. I'm a-working on a pink/pink sweater for myself at the moment, but I'm feeling pretty guilty about not getting any progress on hats for Ben and my little sister. The blanket for my friend who is getting married in December has been scratched - there's just way too much going on in my life! I'm also considering this:

in a dark grey color. I don't like the belt. I would probably put some kind of knit belt on it, with loops around. Pretty boring? Or way cool and I should definatley do it?

Dear Universe:

2006-11-15T06:10:00.000-08:00

Listen, I'm always really appreciative when you throw things my way, a five dollar bill in my coat pocket or a nice pen in the parking lot or even that parakeet we found in the backyard when I was little. I just tend to get pissed off when you take things from me. Like that cream sweater, remember? Or that heart pendant necklace? Those were nice things! And they were mine!

So I've got this small request, and I'm sure if you have any thing in that cold heart of yours, you'll let me have it back. It's a rather fabulous bamboo Clover needle size 8. I think I dropped it outside the Journalism building sometime last week. I'm not sure when. But listen, I really don't want to go find a new pair, cuz then I'll have one needle that can't do anything but I'll feel too guilty so I'll never throw it out thinking that one day I might stumble across it's mate.

Please, please, Universe, return my needle so I can finish my scarf!

Sincerely,

Darcy

Hello Stranger

2006-10-30T09:58:00.000-08:00

The Blue Swirl Blanket is almost big enough to wrap around two lovebirds snuggled up on the couch (apologies, I'll pause as you gag. Done? Okay.) Miss Blanket is getting a not-so-matching border of white cotton acrylic yarn found at Wal-Mart. Owell, it kinda gives it some depth, I guess. There is just not enough white Cotton Ease in the world to go around. Ho-hum.

In other news, I applied for graduation!! Yup, apparently paying an ever-increasing tuition for 4.5 years is not enough, they have get ya for an extra $50 before you leave. Did you know that in my 4.5 years since I started college, tuition in this state has DOUBLED!! But that's done and over with, so soon I will be holding my second well earned diploma (first was high school). I wonder if I can knit a cap and gown? :)

WIP Trifecta

2006-10-13T05:37:00.000-07:00

NOTE: this post was posted long after it was written because I"m a dork and I write posts put don't post them.

I've been giving the Blue Swirl blanket lots of sun and regular feedings from my precious stash of Cotton Ease. She sits in a basket by the denim slip-covered couch. I've discovered that I don't have enough C.E. to make the blanket nearly as large as I wanted, so I'm going to give her a big white trim. Expected completion date: Thanksgiving?

I've been working on and have almost finished a baby blanket for my high school friend who is about to have her first child. I had begun the baby version of the moderne log cabin blanket from the Mason Dixon book, but my 5 year old niece said she wanted it, so I started a new one. I'm having a little trouble with the cast off edge, but the rest of the blanket only took me about 3 weeks to finish (or about 14 car rides to and from school). Seriously, a record. Pictures will come as soon as it's gifted

To wrap of the trifrecta of WIP, I have a blue purse knit in a yarn that I've been stashing for like two years. The pattern is from the first Stitch n' Bitch book by Debbie Stoller, called the Chinese Charm bag. Have to sew the lining and attach the handles and I'm all done! :) Plenty of yarn left over though, what should I do with it?? Scarf? Matching mittens? Hat?

Am I crazy, or is this cute?

I see it in an purplish-grey Cascade 220 tweed. What do ya think? Please leave a vote in the comments.

Two Month Hiatus

2006-10-06T08:59:00.000-07:00

Did you miss me? Of course you did, my poor readers. I'm back at least sporatically. School and work and a needy boyfriend and a house of my own to clean have been keeping me very occupied. Also, my poor little camera is out of batteries. So no pictures. I'm sorry.

To keep you all happy while I get my shit together, here's a funny little youtube thingy that made me giggle. Later!

Fins to the Left, Fins to the Right...

2006-08-07T13:58:00.000-07:00

Oh wow, I've been partying a little too hard. I've been drinking too much beer. I've been singing too many songs. I've been standing in front of too many speakers.

My brain. She is throbbing. So Thursday we were at the nasty gross-o-mundo fair rubbing elbows with the hillbillies of Eastern Iowa screaming our hearts out for Brooks and Dunn. Saturday night we were in Chicago to see Jimmy Buffett (go parrot-heads!). If you ain't never been to a Buffett concert before, let me caution you: do not expect to find anyone dressed as a normal human being. The guys look like girls, the girls look like mermaids, the little kids look like cheeseburgers. Oh, and watch out for sharks. See below:

And then LAST night we were back at the fair for Billy-I'm-Too-Sexy-For-My-Own-Good-Currington and Miranda-my-idol-Lambert. That girl has an awesome voice. Seriously. She's way cool, too, embrassased the crap out of some girl who lifted up her shirt while on her boyfriend's shoulders. Awesome.

The good news is that I've been knitting, too. Well, a little and it's going to have to come out because I don't like it, but I HAVE BEEN KNITTING! I'm trying to decide whether I have enough Rowan Cotton Glace to start this sexy little number:

It's Organzia from Glampyre. That girl's got talent. Mad Talent. Anyway, like I was saying about not being sure if I have enough cotton glace. I have 7 balls with 125 yards ea. The pattern calls for 5 balls of Rowan Cotton 4 ply which has 182 yards ea, but is knit on smaller stitches (yeah I'm gonna be sneaky and just knit a smaller size on the big needles because I'm a big baby English major who hates math). Will there be enough???

Must. Finish. Unpacking. First!

2006-08-03T05:35:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Something special happens on Saturday, but knowing that I won't be able to post that day, I'm gonna go ahead and talk about it today. So here goes:

It's my blog-o-versary, ya'll!!!!

That's right, kids, I've been doing this for one year now. Don't have a whole lot to show for it, but then again I haven't had a whole lot of time to spare. Actually I've kinda been feeling like a bad mother, they won't take my blog away for my neglence will they?

Speaking of feeling neglected, my knitting must be wondering why it's been stuck in a dark box for the last week. It was like the last box into the car, so of course now it's at the bottom of the pile in our "office". But I'm getting there, last night I cleared almost all the boxes out of the kitchen and living room. There's still a box of books and things that go on shelves that have yet to be hung. Tomorrow night I might actually put my clothes in my closet.

But tonight, I'm going to put on my turquoise earrings, cowgirl hat, bandana and see these guys:

old, but still kinda hot

at the fair. Don't usually visit the fair (it being full of greasy, so-over-tatooed-you-can't-see-their-actual-skin-tone boys who want to win you a sleezy teddy bear) but I'm making an exception to hear "You can't take the honkey-tonk out of the girl" live. And because Brooks has a huge crush on me. Can't help it, I just attract the contry boys like flies. Joe Don proposed last week, did I mention that??

He can melt me anyday.

Please wipe the drool from your keyboard and have a good weekend! :)

Today's post is brought to you by the letter "N"

2006-08-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

- As in No air conditioning in my new apartment. Actually, it has central air, but it's Not working. Of course we had to move in on the day it reached 101 degrees. I think I lost like 5 lbs in sweat alone.

- As in No way I can find a darn thing. The boxes, oh the boxes, they are everywhere. There is No end. Someone please come dig me out.

- As in Not cooking inside a Non-AC apartment. We are gonna check out all the cute little resturants in our area. First on the menu - The Beaver Den. It's a giant, green building that boasts "the best Dam pizza". Get it? Dam? Har, har.

-As in Not fair that the BF gets to sit at home all day while I have to be at work.

-As in No knitting. Sorry! Try back in a month, I might have time to finish a project by then.

Get Out There

2006-07-25T06:24:00.000-07:00

In the area of "If you haven't already, you should":

The Daily Knitter

Not quite sure how to take this news...

2006-07-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

In a Past Life...

You Were: An Evil Assassin.

Where You Lived: Thailand.

How You Died: Hung for treason.

Who Were You In a Past Life?

Pictures to verify that I do still knit...

2006-07-17T08:29:00.000-07:00

It's that time again, for a Guilt Trip*!

UFO** 1 - baby blanket for a friend who is expecting in October
Yarn: Bernat Cotton Tots Stats: 98% done, just need to finish border.
3 weeks to deadline.

UFO 2 - wedding afghan for a friend who is wed-ing in December
Yarn: ??? Stats: negative 10% done. Decided it needs to be done on #8s, so it's gonna get ripped and restarted.
5 months to deadline.

UFO 3 - Babette shurg for moi
Yarn: ??? and ??? Stats: 20% done, severly lacking ambition to start sleeves or fronts.
Time in drawer: 4 months, has a likely chance of becoming something else...

UFO 4 - Sunrise Circle Jacket from Interweave Knits Spring '05 issue
Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers Stats: 15 % done, almost finished back
Time in drawer: yarn's been around since Janurary, made significant progress over vacation, I needed to find another ball in same colorway before I devoted more time to it

UFO 5 - Blue Swirl Blanket for new apartment
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease

UFO 6 - pink baby dress for Hannah Mae
Yarn: Bernat Cotton Tots (seriously, good stuff) Stats: 75% done, need to finish right side and sew on ribbon.

Of course I've always got a few rebellious quickie projects going, like my mitered squares, warsh cloths, and a scarf that I whipped up this weekend. They don't acutally count aganist me, though, since they're so small. Speaking of small, here's my niece sticking her fingers in the nose of my Ben.... aren't they just the cutest??

* - I need a kick in the butt every now and then to hold myself accountable for
those larger projects that I start, abandon, and let pile up in my room. Since I'm moving soon, I want to get them done and out of the way before someone else (cough, Ben, cough) notices my schizophrenic knitting habits.

** - How many people came here looking for UFOs?

And then I was found

2006-07-13T05:43:00.000-07:00

I'm back from The Knitting Frenzy vacation, however, I didn't get to work on the afghan I posted about last time. My mom decided to wait until her friend decorates her new house. I hope she waits until Christmas vacation to redecorate, because I'm not sure if I'll get another week to myself until then. My summer "break" is almost over, thus begins the downward spiral to the first day of school. Here's some stuff that is keeping me from my knitting:

1) New apartment. I have to live with a boy! We have no furinture!! Seriously, if it hadn't been for a very generous friend of my mom's, we'd be sitting indian style in front of the TV this fall. Donations to the Ben and Darcy Poor College Student Apartment Foundation are still being accepted.

2) Class. I know. I'm supposed to be on break from school. People, I just can't stay away. It's like a disease. Like if I don't write a paper every two weeks, I get hives. Anyway, I drive a long long ways two days a week to sit in a very boring business class that does not welcome back-row knitters (or soft-hearted English majors either). Reason number one (and two) why business classes suck.

3)Work. Don't wanna, but I hafta.

4)Sleep.

5)Exercise. Really cuts into the sitting-like-a-log knitting time. But hey! I've lost nine pounds so I guess it's kinda worth it?

I got a ton of work done on my blue spiral log cabin blanket done, however, the giant-knock-your-socks-off picture is coming soon. For now - chuckle at a terrible picture of my sister and I, all sweaty and cold after "running" (more like sauntering) the Race for the Cure.

Notice the pink scarves on our domes - these things were everywhere and now one of my favorite hair accessories.

Afghan

2006-06-22T05:56:00.000-07:00

So tomorrow I'm heading off for a vacation destination unknown (well unknown to you at least) to decompress for a little while. I've been comissioned by my mom to knit an afghan for a dear friend whose house recently burned to the ground (like literally to the ground, there are no walls left). This is my vacation knitting project: a neutral color afghan knit in a LARGE gauge so that it might be completed in one week.

This is Artic from Berroco.com. The colors do need to be neutral, since we don't know how my mom's friend will decorate her new abode. The pattern calls for #13s, so I might get this done, right?? Anyone with me?

Here's a close up of the stitch pattern. Maybe you remember I knit this pattern into a scarf with some ice blue Cascade 220 wool. Once you get the hang of it, the pattern is super-duper easy but interesting enough to keep my mind occupied though EIGHT HOURS of car-riding.

See ya'll in a week!

I'm an idiot

2006-06-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

Because I can't figure out how to put buttons in my sidebar. Someone please help me!

I know, I know

2006-06-13T18:32:00.000-07:00

It's been so long, I know. My parent's computer is a dinosaur, so I've had to find alternative means of connection. This is a quick post, so here are some projects I'm working on right now:

Everyone loves a mitered square! I've got more than this, but they were unavaliable for photos.

Warshcloths! From The Bible aka Mason Dixon Knitting Book, same as the mitered squares. These will match my sunflower-themed kitchen - I'm also working on a swiffer cover which I'll post the pattern to later.

And finally, again from the Mason Dixon Book of Wonders - a log cabin blanket for my living room. I'm trying to place the three blues in a spiral pattern that I saw somewhere online (can you see the sprial?) Also I'm making the "logs" one row larger every time, so that's why it looks a little wonky.

Sorry for the delayed post and the crappy pictures!

There's a stirring...

2006-05-24T12:52:00.000-07:00

So I cleaned out my closets/room/under the bed clusterfuck last weekend and found this:

Don't worry, there's more where that came from!

Opps, I forgot to take a before picture, but trust me that this purple yarn was once a sweater that my sister and I fought over back when I was an 'S' (oh those days gone by). I was about to toss said sweater into the consignment box when I noticed the softness of yarn, the non-pileing under arms, the thickness, the color OH MY! And I had a revelation: I'm gonna rip out this lovely, expensive yarn and turn it into this:

Cutaway Sweater from ChicKnits.com

only with 3/4 sleeves. And a pretty pink button. In a slightly larger size. My one concern: WILL THERE BE ENOUGH YARN??? I guess we'll see.

B-day Update

2006-05-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

So last Tuesday was my b-day! I'm old. Or at least I'm feeling old.

Here's what I got from my parents:

I'm a pretty lucky girl. It's a camera phone PLUS internet. I had no idea I needed this feature. But apparently I never lived until now. I am reminded of my English prof who says soon we won't interact with actual people anymore - it'll just be you and your computer screen/cellphone/tv. I think my prof needs some friends.

The BF got me an amazing white gold necklace. He was all worried about picking out something I would like, but he knows me well enough to know what I'd never be caught dead in. The necklace has a blue stone that matches my eyes. ISN'T THAT CUTE??

I finally dug myself out of my room and was able to start (oh don't look at me like that) another project, actually it's a revision of an earlier project. I'm going to give an update of "what's been done/what needs to be done" in my stash of UFOs. Stick around for all the gorey details.

Project Start-itis

2006-04-24T11:39:00.000-07:00

While I was supposed to be writing a paper this afternoon I whipped out my #7s and cast on the first square for this:

It's the Moderne Baby Blanket from the Mason Dixon Book of Wonders. It's for my highschool gal-pal who is expecting a new little one in October. I'm so excited! I'm using the Bernat Cotton Tots leftovers from my niece Hannah's baby blanket, it's the nicest cotton baby yarn you can get for $3 a skien. That dark blue you see is actually a deep purple, what can I say my camera sucks. Add that to my b-day list!!

I promised myself I would stop after the second square and write another page of my paper. Two more weeks, two more weeks, two more weeks of school....

Ikea furniture and birthday ideas

2006-04-22T07:20:00.000-07:00

The little blue shrug I was working on went to the frog pond earlier this week (oh, how I need to learn to swatch!) so I don't have any knitting news - but allow me to distract you from whatever it is you do when you're not reading about my life with some funky/fun furniture from Ikea:

Light green sofa.

Fun chair to match sofa.
Coffee table I hope Ben will let me have!

Yarn Storage.

If you're wondering what to buy me for May 9th (otherwise known as my b-day) here is a big hint:

Fiestaware, Ole!

Also acceptable b-day present:

It came this close...

2006-04-17T18:17:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry I just don't know what to say

It's pretty hard to think about school

or knitting

When your neighborhood looks like this.

Please send your prayers to those effected by Thursday night's torandos. These pictures were all taken less than a block away from my apartment in Iowa City.

St. Patrick's Church on Court St., Iowa City

Lots of Pictures

2006-04-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

Today was a busy busy day. Wednesdays are usually for cleaning here around the apartment, but I started early this morning because there has been a persistant, strengthening smell coming from my room. I found the culprit behind my printer - a rotting apple core that must have fallen out of the garbage can, or missed it completely. Anyway, here are some pictures to make up for my month of silence:

The first is a springy wrap dress for Hannah. Love the yarn, love the pattern, love everything. It should be done by Easter - but it's turning out a little bigger than I thought so maybe it'll have to wait until se gets a little bigger

By request, this is a picture of where I usually knit. Acutally this is where I sit to do just about everything. My friend Lisa gave me that awesome chair you see, it is tres comfy. The arm rests are perfect. I could care less about the desk (I hate the roll out keyboard thingy. And today that left side of my workspace got a little uplift.

OH! So organized and clean. I estimate it will look like that until the next time I need anything. So my room is all tidy and pretty and I'm burning a candle to get rid of the apple rotting smell, but wait....

Please look the other way before you notice that there are more shoes on the floor than there are in the shoe organizer.

Here's a sleepy puppy to distract you:

Oh who's a cute fluffy? You are!

The Mitered Square

2006-03-31T07:10:00.000-08:00

I bought two knitting books this week. The first was The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller, the same knitting goddess who brought us Stitch N' Bitch and Stitch N' Bitch Nation. Really I bought it for the crocheted necklaces (I know!) and the string (haha, get it?) bikini (just kidding). I'm really getting into this crocheting thing, but shhhhh, don't spread it around too much.

Oh, and I bought Mason Dixon Knitting. Quite possibly the best book I have ever, ever read. You should go get it right now. Don't read any further, just go buy it now and come finish reading this later. Already have a copy? You need another.

The pictures are simple and colorful, the projects are practical and pretty, the writing is witty and inspired. The book is, in short, yet another confirmation of what we already knew, these ladies are astonishingly talented. I can't wait until they go on tour.

After drooling over the blanket section for a little bit, I was totally reengergized about my mitered square blanket, which is still in my stash box in the form of yarn. I whipped another square up while talking the the BF on Wednesday night.

There are somethings you need to know about The Mitered Square:

1) They are the fast food of knitting. Like a little snack between bigger projects. You cast on 72 sts and the next time you look down, its done. You can literally gobble up a half dozen of them in one sitting.

2) They are self-generating. Just when you think you're done with one, another is starting to cast itself onto your needles.

3) You need about 80 squares to make a decent-sized blanket. And in the beginning that will not sound very bad. Then you will have to remind yourself that eventually they all have to be sewn together.

zee mitered square (not my picture)

I've got some delicious colors to work with, too, but I don't want the blanket to look too structured. I hope to have it done by the end of the summer. The little squares will be perfect traveling knitting. More pictures next time on other summer projects and what I've been knitting now. Anywho, now that March is over there are only 5 weeks of school left and I couldn't possibly be more excited!!!

Personal Victory

2006-03-08T13:49:00.000-08:00

What a great week I had! First I found my camera in (where else) my yarn stash box while cleaning my room. Of course the batteries are dead, so you'll have to wait at least another day for pictures. Then I finished the right front of my ballet wrap from Interweave Knits winter issue (its the one on the cover) which means I only have the left front to do before I get to sew it up and wear it proudly. THEN I went shopping for new jeans - found some that actually fit which is a miracle in itself - then they rang up for $6.95 I know, right! Amazing!

I'm officially on Spring Break this week, so here's my list of things to do:

1) drive to Omaha to visit best girl friend and drink a lot of booze (not while driving of course)

2) spend an entire morning in bed (sleeping off the booze) without annoying alarm clock/cell phone, then get up and go shopping

3) spend an entire afternoon outside in good weather/sunshine

4) get my nails and toes done, deep condition hair and go tanning (or fake n' bake as my friend calls it), basically pamper myself silly

5) do not check my school email the entire week - or actually just don't touch a computer for one whole day (already know I'm gonna break that one)

Basically I'm just going to spend a whole week in 'I-dont-have-t0-turn-in-another-damn-paper' mode. Which of course will end on Sunday morning, when I'll have to spend eight hours in the library to make up for not doing anything for a week.

Here amuse yourselves until I get back. :0)

New Beginings

2006-02-25T06:16:00.000-08:00

Kim Hargreaves, girl if you're listening, you've got some mad talent. I am so glad you are still making stuff after leaving Rowan. We loved you there and we love you now. Keep up the good work.

(Check out her new spring line, it's amazing. See that green sweater? That's gonna be MINE.)

BACK!

2006-02-23T09:40:00.000-08:00

I'm off the bench and back into my Olympic Knitting:

Yeah, I know it doesn't look like much but HEY that's a SLEEVE you're seeing there, meaning the project is about 60% done! That's what I call progress!

The sweater is going along quite smoothly but of course I've jinxed myself by saying that and my stitches are probably unraveling as I type. The pink didn't show up very well in these pictures. It's more of a bubble gum pink than the pale pink you're seeing above. Very Hannah-ish.

I started the sweater from the front cover of the winter Interweave Knits. I can't believe how fast it goes with 10.5 needles. Already I've got the back and one sleeve done. Amazing. I hope to be wearing by spring break. Here's the begining of sleeve #2:

In real life this is purpleish verigated wool. Very plush. Sorry for the horrid pictures, my camera is missing so I'm using a webcam. It's hard to take pictures! Try it!

Oh man I love my stash box. This is the stuff that can't fit into my two organizers (one at home, one at school), but I think it's the most colorful little stash I have. The first pic is the top layer, scraps from Hannah's baby blanket. The bottom pic is my hoarding of Cotton Ease that I statched up last summer. I've got at least 20 skiens. DON'T tell my mom.

That's all for me now, must get back to making up homework and such.

Sitting on the Bench

2006-02-16T07:58:00.000-08:00

I've bean thick... berry berry thick. I'm pretty sure this cold has disqualified me from the Olympics. I came back home from school Monday night and went to the doctor on Tuesday. I was planning on going back today, but an ice storm has kept me here. I didn't expect to be gone so long so I didn't bring all my knitting. Being sick has given me a chance to make a birthday bag for my mom, which is felting in the washer as we speak. I think that if I get back up to school and to my knitting on Sunday I can make the deadline with the baby sweater, but we'll just have to cross our fingers, huh?

Is it just me or is anyone else sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for the MasonDixon Perfect Sweater pattern?? I keep checking their site to make sure it's not up yet. I bought my Cascade 220 in a pretty heather green the same time I got the yarn for my once-Olympic sweater.

So now I'm stuck here all weekend with nothing to knit. I think I'm going to start up my version of the mitered square blanket. The link to the pattern is on my sidebar. I've got a whole box full of Lion Brand Cotton Ease saved up from this summer when they were discontinued and totally on sale. Since my parent's computer is next to ancient, I'll have to get ya'll some pictures tomorrow. For now I'm going to take some more cough medicine and curl up with some Adam Sandler movies.

Ta-ta!

Chic-koooo-ooon...

2006-02-11T08:48:00.000-08:00

Here's the thing: I am home for the weekend and I forgot my Olympic knitting an hour away at school.

DUH! (smacks head aganist wall)

This is a dreadful setback, since I have already "trained" (aka bought yarn, read pattern over and swatched) for the Babette shurg. I'm not sure I can still make that deadline, now that I've basically lost three key days of knitting! So I have come to the conclusion that I must start something else, from the stash I have at home. So I've started something for this little cutie who you may remember from her debut back in September:

Pictured here in a log cabin blanket I made!

Hannah is sadly lacking in Auntie-Knits (her baby sweater has been sitting in my "to-sew-up" bag since her birth) so I'm going to downsize my sweater project and make her the placket neck sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. This book is such a treasure and I reccomend it for everyone! But of course, like any pattern book there are corrections, which can be found here.

I'm using some leftover Bernat Cotton Tots which I used to make her blanket, in strawberry, so she'll be all matchy-matchy! To make this all "a challenge" I'm knitting with my toes. Just kidding. I'm going to make a matching hat, in stripes like her blanket. It's about time this kid had some knits in her wardrobe!

So yeah, I'm a big fat chicken for giving up my first project, but seriously guys there's no way I'd get it done AND sleep everynight. I'll put up some pics when there's enough to show!

Shoutout!

2006-01-27T14:23:00.000-08:00

Hi to all my buddies at QC Stitch n'Bitch! The nicest bunch of ladies you ever saw, who took in the ophran who was me over winter break and let me join them for a few nights. I saw ya'll put a link to my blog on your website, so I'm returning the favor! Hope to see you soon.

Zap that Yarn

2006-01-25T07:50:00.000-08:00

I've been promising pictures of my adventures in hand dying wool, so here are my tips to other first time hand dyers:

There's a great article on Kool Aid dyeing on Knitty.com here.

Make sure you have plenty of space, covered by plently of newspaper. And buy yourself some rubber gloves. Kool Aid mixed with water and vinegar stains nearly everything it touches.

Put your yarn down on some seran wrap, enough to be able to cover it up later.

Put each color in a seperate disposable bowl.

Since I wanted lots of colors, I divided my skeins into "pies" and put the colors in "slices". See?

Looks good enough to eat!

Next the recipe calls for you to microwave your yarn. WHAT? Remember the plastic you put down earlier? Wrap it around your yarn so the colors won't run so much. A little runnage is good, since you want the colors to blend a little.

Zap that yarn for a couple minutes.

If you don't have enough counter space or newspaper-covered floors, you can dry your yarn on the back porch. Those colors are there to stay, most of the liquid will be clear (cool, huh??)

It's steamy!

And then after a bath in the washing machine, you get this!

Aw, so pretty!

WOW! A whole afternoon produced my 5 skeins of yarn, dye and washed (drying took over night). I just can't wait to finish a few current projects and get to working with this stuff!

30 new patterns at Berroco

2006-01-20T05:15:00.000-08:00

Lookie what I found at Berroco:

Halt all other knitting progress: we MUST knit this cute little shurg/sweater! It's called Babette, isn't that just a perfect name? I LOVE Berroco.

And the in the accessories department, we have this little handbag! It's called "Mars". AH! I'm going crazy with all the adorable-ness. I'm so excited I just might order the actual yarn Berroco is trying to sell me with these patterns...nah! I'm not really crazy about the Ultra Silk used in the sweater, but I MUST have that accent yarn, it's called Lazer FX (how's that for a yarn name?) I'll probably use a cotton-y white yarn for that sweater and who knows for the bag. I really just like the pink stars. Swirly yarn and pink stars. Very very presh.

Have I told you guys about "presh"? "Presh" is my word for anything cute, not like puppy dog cute, but like I-wanna-own-that cute. I've been using it since like junior high and I'm sure I got it from a movie or something, but it's mine now. My boyfriend makes fun of me when I use it, usually when we're out shopping in an intoxicating store like Bloomingdales. Kate Spade bags? So presh! Tiffany's initial pendants? SO SO presh!

Fugg-er-riffic!

2006-01-12T06:57:00.000-08:00

Found a few goodies, thought I'd share:

Okay, this is actually kind of cute. And I would probably make one if I had some time I wanted to waste. What really irks me is the red. Yes, the TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT shades of red used in the little hat. Color blind designer? The model looks pissed off just to be wearing it. SHE knows it's mis-matched.

Cheryl only knew one way to keep that damn racoon from messing with her garbage cans again. The look on this guy's face is just a warning to other rodents: you'll never see this lady sneeking up behind you with the shovel until it's too late. Next week, those garden-eating rabbits are going to find themselves as matching socks.

Ladies, cover up your husband's unsightly leg hair (which he just refuses to shave) with these pratical felted sock/leg warmers/boots. Also makes a great gift for the leprechaun in your life.

Behind that pretty smile, knit model Jenna is trying to tell us something... "See the crappy acrylic junk they made this sweater out of? See the giant bullseye on my chest? Please put me out of my misery."

Koolaid yarn pictures coming soon!!!

Lookie What I made:

2006-01-05T07:40:00.000-08:00

For JenLa's avatar meme/post, I had a cute one that actually kinda looked like me, but this is the one I'm submitting for your viewing displeasure:

The Uber-Patriotic Pyscho Cheerleader. Gag me with a spoon.

Does that wide-eyed-ohmygosh look suggest there's a 100 foot bear threatening to steal (and ingest) her pompoms?

2005-12-29T06:23:00.000-08:00

End of year wrap-up
1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
Bought alcohol legally.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?
The only one I made was to spend more time with Ben, which was easier once he moved back home. My resolutions are to lose weight, get some stuff published for my portfolio and go to church more often.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister Lorrie gave birth to her second daughter, Hannah Mae on September 28th

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My sister Lorrie’s childhood friend Elizabeth lost her mother in January

5. What countries did you visit?
None.

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
Motivation.

7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 21st, when Ben graduated from college.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing a beautiful baby blanket for my new niece (I set my standards low!)

9. What was your biggest failure?
Getting the lowest grade I’ve ever received in college.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Colds and stuff, nothing serious.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My car!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
All the wonderful people I met through Soliya (check it out on soliya.net)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My bitchy former roommate, who cheated me out of money.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Car, rent, gas, school, food, yarn, clothes, alcohol.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Hannah Mae! Since Lorrie announced she was pregnant in January we’ve all been trying to guess the sex of the baby. What a wonderful surprise!

16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
All You Need Is Love by The Beatles

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
More mature, more confident, and just plain happier!

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Hanging out with my girlfriends, exercising, enjoying the outdoors.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being a bum, sitting inside, fighting with Ben, worrying about money.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
At home with family.

21. Did you fall in love in 2005?
Umm… yes with Hannah and stayed in love with my Ben.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Grey’s Anatomy

23. Do you dislike anyone now that you liked this time last year?
Tom Cruise, seriously what is his deal??

24. What was the best book you read?
It’s a tie: The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck and Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Old country songs I used to love as a kid and the old Michael Jackson stuff (before he got weird).

26. What did you want and get?
I wanted to live in a better house with nice people and I got WAY more than I expected!

27. What did you want and not get?
I wanted an ipod for Christmas…kind of a pipe dream, though.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
ummm… maybe Sin City, but I can't remember any others...

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Got really REALLY drunk with my best girlfriend and a few others for my 21st!!

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not having to live with my old roommate and/or winning the lottery.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
Same as last year: clean, classic, mostly modest and lots of sweatshirts for school days.

32. What kept you sane?
KNITTING and my wonderful boyfriend.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
umm….

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The fact that our president is an idiot.

35. Who did you miss?
Jennifer, my best girlfriend and old roommate, who I never get to see as often as I’d like!

36. Who was the best new person you met?
I’ve got two: Austen, who has become my best house buddy and George, my Soliya partner from Egypt.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
George taught me that different doesn’t mean wrong.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy.
There's nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be in time
It's easy.All you need is love, all you need is love

Five things that 2005 taught me:
1. Acceptance is a bigger issue than I had previously thought.
2. School is harder than I thought.
3. Managing money is harder than I thought.
4. I need my girlfriends for more than just future bridesmaids.
5. Treating others as you would be treated does not guarantee they will treat you the same way.

Five personally significant events of 2005:
1. March 24th, our 1 year anniversary
2. May 9th, my 21st birthday
3. May 21st, Ben’s graduation
4. July 23rd, the day I got my new car!
5. September 28th, Hannah’s arrival

Five things I want to do in 2006:
1. Lose some weight.
2. Balance my checkbook.
3. Graduate!!
4. See more of my friends.
5. Get a “real” job after graduation!

Five things I don't want to do in 2006:
1. Gain weight.
2. Balance my checkbook.
3. Say goodbye to more friends.
4. Play it safe.
5. Have regrets

Night Out with the Girls

2005-12-29T06:14:00.000-08:00

Spent last night chatting and knitting with the lovely ladies of the Quad Cities SnB at the Bettendorf Library coffee shop. If you don't already attend their weekly meetings, you should! They had me giggling so much the two hours simply flew by (and so did 34 rows on the sleeve of my Peppermint Sweater). They're meeting again on Monday, Jan 2nd at the new Yarn Shoppe so check it out!

Speaking of sweaters, I recieved my Christmas sweater still in yarn form. It's lovely chunky undyed wool that longs to be dipped in KoolAid, microwaved, and knit into this sweater

So comfy!

Next weekend I'll be testing my KoolAid dyeing skills out and document the process for ya'll.

Holiday Knit pictures as soon as humanly possible!

Soap Box

2005-12-21T06:49:00.000-08:00

Warning, no real knitting content:

The bright and delightful Stephanie said something amazing the other day about Christmas which felt like she stole the words right out of my mouth (you have to scroll down a little past the pictures).

Now Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, even though it comes right after finals, I never get all my cards out on time, I never have enough time/money to get the ones I love the things they deserve, and I'm usually stressed to the max the week before. I love the snow and presents and cookies and the music and all the little twinkle lights. It's all tacky and wonderful. And most of all, love going to church at midnight and symbolically* celebrating the birth of my Savior...

BUT...

I do NOT like people who use this celebration as a chance to parade their piety. I DO not like it when Christmas starts the day after Thanksgiving and lasts until New Year's. I do not like all the commercialization and insincerity. I DO NOT like people who think that Christmas is the only holiday that should be celebrated in December.

I will respect any way anyone else choses to mark this holiday, but you MAY NOT expect me to do the same. We live in a plural society. The best way to fight for freedom is to accept and respect other ideas. NO ONE is totally right, but just because your neighbor is different from you does not mean he is wrong. There is a lot of grey area in which we can all live in peace.

Stephanie recieved some hate mail about her comments (see the next post), but really I'm not suprised. There will always be the fundamentalists who believe that violence is the only way to get their way. She's right, you are not entitled to your opinion if that opinion is a hate crime.

And yeah, I'm okay with being accused to being intolerant of bigots and racists, too. You go, girl.

*No, I don't believe that December 25th is literally when Jesus was born. Sorry.

Manic Monday

2005-12-12T08:41:00.000-08:00

Here I am, finals week. Where did the semester go?

Just a quick pic of the Manly Scarf for my friend who is graduating:

yes yes, it is manly.

Must get back to writing papers, studying and generally having a blast (NOT!) More on my x-mas projects on Wednesdy (aka: when all this school crap is over!).

That's what ya get

2005-12-08T08:18:00.000-08:00

for being the only knitter in the family. My projects are starting to become overwhelming. I've decided to scratch the tote from my list and make mom a pretty scarf instead. The tote can wait until her birthday in Feburary.

So along with that addition, I've decided to make my "I've-Got-Everything" friend a manly scarf for his graduation next week. Here's the yarn:

Manly, no?

I'm working hard to finish up a scarf and earmuff for myself because baby, it's COLD outside!

We're supposed to get 3-5 more inches today.

But here's proof that I've acutally been doing my homework:

And that's not the half of it...

Finals count: 1 test, 1 paper done; 2 tests, 2 papers to go!

Wish me luck!

2005-12-08T08:15:00.000-08:00

KAL update

2005-12-05T11:48:00.000-08:00

PICTURES! Here's what I've been doing for the Holiday Knit-Along:

A ribbed scarf in Cascade Wool for my friend Jennifer (I hope she's not reading this!) Needs blocking.

A drop-stitch scarf for my sister Lorrie, new to the list as of five minutes ago. I made this for myself, but Lorrie liked it so much I decided to give it to her (does that count?) Anyway, I'll make another for myself and let her have this one. Also needs blocking

This is not on my Holiday knitting list, but it's the bag I made for my mom's friend Jan. It turned out ALOT smaller than I imagined, but it's cute and felty and I know she'll love it. Still wants a button, however.

Did you see that in the corner of the last shot? This is what I'm supposed to be working on, my papers for finals week. I'm up to my elbows in this stuff....

2005-12-03T07:13:00.000-08:00

TEN random things you might not know about me.
1. I have a small family, and almost every member lives in Iowa.
2. I learned to knit two years ago this January. I still have yet to finish a sweater.
3. My favorite books of all time are the Laura Ingalls Wilder series.
4. I re-read books a lot. Especially the ones I grew up reading.
5. I prefer Pepsi over Coke and here-abouts we call it “pop”.
6. I’ve attended 3 colleges, but one doesn’t count because I was still in high school.
7. I fainted the last time I had to get a shot at the doctor's office.
8. I LOVE GARTH BROOKS. Can’t wait until he comes back to us.
9. I have a weird obsession with office supplies.
10. I waited until I was 16 to get my ears pierced. And I did it so I could wear earrings to my boyfriend’s prom.

NINE places I’ve visited
1. Virginia Beach, VA
2. Disneyland (only time in a plane)
3. Washington D.C.
4. Galveston Island, TX
5. Chicago, IL
6. Door County, WI
7. St. Paul, MN
8. Rocky Mt. Natl Park
9. Yellowstone Natl Park

EIGHT ways to win my heart
1. Read and enjoy books.
2. Begin your sentences with capitol letters and end them with a punctuation mark.
3. Give me hugs for no reason.
4. Read the newspaper and know what’s going on in the world.
5. Fight with me, but let me win the argument.
6. Greet dogs with a “puppy” voice and talk to them like they can respond.
7. Fly me out of the country. I don’t care where.
8. Know how to “sickle” (scratching + tickling) .

SEVEN things I want to do before I die
1. Travel to Europe.
2. Write a book.
3. Watch the Chicago Cubs win the World Series (not just on TV, like, I wanna BE there).
4. Have a library in my house, not just bookshelves, a whole room of books.
5. Have a baby and watch it grow.
6. Fly a plane.
7. Marry my best friend.

SIX things I’m afraid of
1. Needles and blood and anything that has to do with doctor’s offices.
2. Swimming in dark, open water (aka: the ocean or big lakes).
3. Disappointing my parents.
4. Passing semi-trucks on the highway.
5. Walking alone in the dark. Even inside.
6. Choking on my food.

FIVE things I don't like
1. People who don’t know why they believe what they believe or “can’t explain it”.
2. Cotton balls.
3. Cheap BIC pens.
4. Bad grammar.
5. Red meat.

FOUR ways to turn me off
1. Interrupt me or say something rude and inappropriate.
2. Subscribe to small-minded stereotypes.
3. Be stubborn or try to control me.
4. Use the word “ain’t”.

THREE Things I do everyday
1. Daydream.
2. Sing.
3. Brush my teeth twice and floss (okay, not every SINGLE day, but almost).

TWO things that make me happy
1. Laughing.
2. Being with people I love.

ONE thing on my mind right now
1. The fact that I didn't floss yet today.

Thanksgiving projects

2005-11-29T22:50:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving week was supposed to be a time of catching up on homework and researching papers for me. Do you think any of that actually got done? NOPE! Well I did start off with good intentions and went to that library on Sunday night. THIS is what I really did over break:

A cowl scarf in a pattern from Knitty.

And a scarf from Berroco.com's monthly newsletter.

Yup, both are for me to cover up aganist the mean Iowa winds. We've been pretty spoiled here with a nice long Indian summer.

Here is further evidence that it is winter: christmas cards and candy canes!! I am determined to actually send them out this year and not just write the cards, address them and let them sit on my desk until Feburary.

I finished knitting Jan's purse, too, now I can't wait to get back home to felt it!! I'm a little worried about the straps being too short, but I guess time will tell. I'll make sure to post before and after pics for your viewing pleasure!

Why it's a FO!

2005-11-18T05:49:00.000-08:00

A puppy sweater for my friend Sara's chihuahua, Chloe. For her birthday Sara's mom commissioned me to make her a bag in these colors so I used the leftovers to make this for her puppy! The verigated yarn is hand dyed Lamb's Pride from the LYS (Crazy Girl Yarn Shop) and and the trim is Cascade 220 in brown. ISN'T SHE CUTE???

Next on the menu is a felted bag for Sara's mom, Jan, who is my mom's best friend. I'm doing Booga J's Sophie Bag from Magknits with a few minor alterations of strap and a button thingy. Hopefully pictures will follow in a week or so - I want to get it done before school starts up again. Oh? I didnt mention I was on Thanksgiving Break?? Whoop Whoop! A whole week to myself! No homework! I get to sleep in everyday and do nothing but knit!

LOL - who are we kidding? I'll be at work every morning at 7am and at night I'll be taking up residence in the library.

OOOOOOO BABY!

2005-11-14T16:29:00.000-08:00

(warning: cute and adorable content only, if you're looking for knitting, come back another day)

Today I bring you Hannah, the cutest baby in the whole wide world! Look at that hair?? We Hamptons are usually blonde or brunette or bald, so Hannah's black hair is splendidly unusual.

Here she is in the log cabin blanket I made for her over the summer.

Two sisters! My sister has two babies! I can hardly believe it. Isabel was the first to call her "Hannah-Banana", so if Hannah doesn't like it when she gets old, we can blame it on Isabel. I don't think any sister could be more excited than my little Izzi....

And the final "proud auntie" picture. This is just a few days after she was born, with open eyes and everything! Doesn't she look smart?? I'm sure she'lll be reciting Chaucer in a month or two...

The List

2005-11-12T06:59:00.000-08:00

The reason I haven't written in so long is I can't get my camera/computer to cooperate and I feel bad about not having any pictures to show you. I will try harder this weekend, maybe from my parent's computer.

Without pictures to illustrate, it's kinda hard to tell ya what I've been working on but I'll try:

1) Baby sweater for Hannah Mae - this project is like 99.9% finished, all I have to do is sew it up and weave in a few ends. That's it. Why is the last part so HARD??

2) Cutaway Sweater from Chicknits.com - Ever since Bonne Marie put up a picture of herself in this sweater, I've wanted, no, longed, no, CRAVED to have one in my own closet. I love black sweaters!

3) Blue scarf - just a plain ribbed blue wool scarf, it's sooooo pretty though! (I wear a lot of blue b/c I have blue eyes) I'm hoping to find another skien of it for mittens, but that's highly unlikely.

4) Pink Doggie Sweater - one of my first projects was a pink acrylic sweater for my puppy Lillie Ann from Stitch n' Bitch. But of course, since it was one of my first projects the gauge is wrong, seaming is crap and it's way too big for her. So I've ripped it all out and started again modeling it after a pet store sweater which fits her nicely.

5) The Blue Sweater - striped sweater from a free Berrco pattern. This one was supposed to be done this summer, and has migrated back into my drawer for the winter. The front and back are done, but sleeves?? I'm not too good at sleeves.

6) The Never-Gonna-Get-Done Sweater - a while back I bought some Rowan Cotton Glace from Becky of skinnyrabbit.com and suddenly realized that it was the same yarn used to make her Pepermint Sweater from Stitch n' Bitch. Now there wasn't enough to make the sweater as the pattern says, but I've just swapped the colors, bought some more white and a sparkly red and I've started a sleeve. However, knitting on #3's when I'm used to #8's is a hard bridge to cross.

7) Psychedelic Square Blanket - I stole this idea from Kay of masondixonknitting.com and started knitting up mitered squares for a huge blanket. I'm hoping I'll have the whole thing done by the time I'm thirty (aka nine years from now). LOL! I'm using this pattern and Lion Brand Cotton Ease (which I snatched up and horded away before it was discontinuned this summer) in every color that is pretty and springy and beautiful.

8) geez, do I really have this many things going on at once?? The Green Baby Sweater - I started making this when my sister was pregnant and we didn't know the sex of her baby but I stopped because some said it was too girlie and we were all hoping for a boy (we're not sexist, there's just A LOT of girls in my family). So now that Hannah is here, I want to finish up this thing before spring so she can wear it for Easter. It's the exact same pattern as #1 on this list, but in a bigger size.

Anyway, I have good news!! There is a new knitting store opening in my hometown, Davenport Iowa. It's called The Knitting Shoppe and its in the cutest little shopping mall! It opens officially on Tuesday, but I've heard little bird whispering that the owner will let people in to look around this afternoon!! I.AM.SO.THERE.

2005-10-30T22:06:00.000-08:00

Yeah, okay whatever, I haven't written anything here for a month, I know okay??? Leave me along about it. Thing is I've been really busy/lazy. That is, when I'm not busy, I've been lazy. Why?? Well, let's start with that horrid period known as "Midterms", which is like the Wednesday of the semester, Hump Day. They'd like you to think of this terrible week(s) as a little bump that, once you make it though, the rest of the semester is smooth sailing until finals.

They are wrong. Don't believe them. Plug your ears and run away screaming.

The truth about Midterms is that they are the begining of a downward spiral. The edge of a black hole. The point of no return. Midterms are the little bump that gets you to the top of the hill only to find a valley full of more little bumps.

Allow me to demonstrate my point. I made it through finals. I stayed up all night, I wrote my papers in my bullshit, 3 am coffee haze with title page, page numbers and bibliography. I thought I was finished, over, done, I could finally relax and watch some good TV, knit and clean up my room which is exactally what I did last week. However, I check my email tonight and there are four messages from the group that I was supposed to be working with this afternoon which I had totally forgotten about. The first bump. There are more to come, surely.

At any rate, you will not find me a dedicated diarist. I'm no Anne Frank. When I've got something to say, I'll put it down, trust me. In the meantime I'll spare y'all the boring bits and see ya on the flipside.

New Arrival:

2005-09-28T16:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the light, Baby Hannah Mae!!

My favorite older sister and her husband just had a little girl!! Little being a relative term, since she is 8 pounds and 13 ounces!! Can't wait to get home and snuggle and kiss our newest family member. There isn't a prouder auntie in the whole world tonight!!

Pictures as soon as humanly possible.

Lookie, Lookie

2005-09-26T15:57:00.000-07:00

Everybody's favorite bi-regional knit bloggers Ann and Kay are coming out with a book!!! Simply a must have for any knit-blogger. I pre-ordered my copy today. Can't wait until it comes in March.

Did you see Constance? Did you see how much she costs???
Now take a look at Sesame:

Basically the same thing, right?? Same open collar, same big wooden buttons, same garters stitch buttonband? Chic, no?? Only this lovely pattern is from MagKnits and it's free.

Ooooooo, we college students love FREE.

I've been promising you pictures of my own, but now that I've got my camera working, I don't have any good pictures. Coming soon, cross my heart.

Feast your eyes on this:

2005-09-10T06:45:00.000-07:00

Take a peek at the awesome new knits for fall at

On my "To Knit" list:

Constance from Kim
Arisaig from Knitty
Bloom from Knitty

Give, give, give...

2005-09-09T12:57:00.000-07:00

Please give a little piece of your comfort to those who have lost theirs in the wake of Hurricane Katrina:

American Red Cross

Feed the Children

Mercy Corps - focuses on finding long-term solutions for families living in poverty

The Humane Society of America - don't tell me you didn't cry when you saw those poor animals who got left behind on CNN

North Shore Animal League America - another organization rescuing abandoned pets

Project Backpack - giving school supplies to kids displaced by Hurricane Katrina

No donation is too small. Please give what you can and help our brothers and sisters recover from this horrific tragedy. Thanks.

Where was I??

2005-09-03T07:58:00.000-07:00

Twenty years ago: Hard for me to say, since I was one year old. Probably sitting around, looking adorable.

Ten years ago: I was 11, making the big jump from elementary school to junior high school. This is the year I suddenly decided that I needed to wear jeans everyday and I didn't take my lunch to school anymore. I had glasses, frizzy hair, a new best friend named Nicole and (eek!) my first "boyfriend", Ian.

Five years ago: I was starting my sophomore year of high school. All my friends where getting driver's liscences and cars, but since my birthday is in May, I had to bum rides off them ALOT! I think I had a record number of boyfriends this year, like six or seven. My sister was a senior, getting ready to graduate and go on to either pharmacy school or cosmotology school. She went to neither, but I am glad she's happy today.

One year ago: I was starting my junior year of college at a new school, the University of Iowa, after deciding that I just wasn't cut out to be an English teacher. I was about to embark on one of the toughest years thus far but thank God I had a wonderful family and a loving boyfriend to see me through it.

One month ago: I think I was moving into my new house/apartment with my four roommates. It was SOOOO hot that day. I thought I was going to pass out before we got all my junk upstairs!

Yesterday: I went to work early, got off early, got a couple inches trimmed off my mane, rushed around looking for a nice outfit to wear to dinner, and fell in love with my boyfriend all over again.

Today: Back at work. Then lunch with the family and back to school for after-football game party with the roommates.

Tomorrow: SUNDAY!!! Sleep in, knit while drinking coffee and watching news, and hanging out with my man.

Mornin' ya'll!

2005-08-15T06:45:00.000-07:00

C'est le jour de tarte!

2005-08-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

Bonjour!

Once upon a time when I was in junior high, the teachers used to have Pie Day during the spring semester. The otherwise cold and lifeless women who were in charge of my early education would find enough happiness to survive one more week by making pies every Friday (which I would like to mention, they did NOT share with the rest of the class). One such day, Madame Knutson (the uber-posh and utterly loveable teacher everyone loved), gave her "étudiants préférés" some pie (yes, it was french silk pie) and taught us to sing "Oh Champs E'lysse" with one of those ancient tape players. So now whenever I have pie, I think of Madame, the Champs E'lysse song, and how badly I want to go to Europe.

Prepare yourself for some really bad French in her honor (I apologize to anyone who really speaks French):

Je souhaite que j'étais à Paris. J'aimerais voir la Tour Eiffel. J'aime le français. Mon petite-ami l'aime quand je parle français. Ne pas dire Madame Knutson.

Acclamations!

Yup, I'm a nerd...

2005-08-09T11:14:00.000-07:00

While Mom and I were playing beauty shop last night, I spread the unending baby blanket on the floor to measure and photograph but the photos were pretty bad, so I've got nothing to show ya today. Plus I had a hard time figuring out mom's camera, so ya'll have to wait until school starts again to get pictures. Just hold on, okay?

Anyway, the blanket is growing under my blistered little fingers and is approaching maturity. It weighs a ton. I've decided to scrap the second layer and just concentrate on weaving in the ends nicely. I'm also planning a white border so I need to go pick up a copy of Knitting on the Edge because well, I know nothing about edges since this is my first blanket (and hopefully my last).

Speaking of school, we are at T-minus 12 days until that wonderful First Day Back. I love all the new notebooks and pencils and mini staplers and new backpacks and whatever else we students get to buy this time of year. LOVE IT. And the awesome thing about being a college student is that you get your books ahead of time (especially crucial for an English major) and you can read them before you read them for class. BONUS! Saves lots of time during the school year. Makes much more time for knitting. I'm ordered mine online used (soooo much cheaper than the *#%*#@ bookstores) so hopefuly they should be arriving soon.

I'm suddenly aware of how dorkly that last paragraph sounds. Yes, I really do read my books during the summer, but usually not the textbooks (save my Classical Languages text) only the novels for my English classes. It's nice to absorb them twice because you pick up things the second time through that the rest of the class doesn't.

Oh god, I'm such a teacher's pet I'm just gonna shut up now before the cool girls kick my butt.

Ciao! Au revior! Adiós! Tschüs! And all those goodbye things baby...

Weekend Knitting

2005-08-08T08:48:00.000-07:00

Friday night I accomplished 2 rows on my baby blanket (each row has turned into a 20 mintue project at over 100 stitches) and started (eek!) a blue striped sweater for myself (what? I can't make something for ME once in a while?) The blue sweater is kind of an experiment meaning I'm taking a pattern that I got free online and "tweaking" it to do what I want. For instance, I want a white edging around the wrists, waist and collar, then blue stripes (starting dark and getting lighter) up the whole thing and a little row of button across the left shoulder (cutest buttons ever found at Hancock Fabrics on sale half price! Bonus!) I'm using CottonEase by Lion Brand which has been woefully discontinued, so of course I just HAD to invest in a pile of it before it was all gone (I've got around 20 skeins now). Most of that will be for this sweater, but I'm not sure what to do with the rest. It'll probably end up as a scarf for my friend Jen.

Anyway, I got lots of knitting done last night while watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition with my little sis (Ty could come to my house any day! That boy is hot!) so I'm about two inches in on the back of the blue sweater(must find a different name for it) and dreading going back to work on the baby blanket. I just get used to the garter stitch and I have to cast off (my least favorite thing to do) and then pick up stitches (my second least favorite thing to do) for the next row. The next baby blanket (let's hope I don't have to make one for a while) will be a pattern that includes ONE cast on row and ONE cast off row. End of discussion.

In other news: I spent the weekend with my friend/former roommate Jen who has TWO new kitties. So cute. We spent a lot of time planning a trip to Lake Havasu, AZ for SPRING BREAK BABY! I'm excited. She's excited. Our parents are nervous and our boyfriends more so.

Will try to post pictures later today.

Okay fine....

2005-08-05T05:34:00.000-07:00

I'll tell you a little about me. I'm a twenty-something college student living in Iowa studying Journalism and English at the esteemed University of Iowa, hoping to become the next Diane Sawyer or Adrienne Rich. Like lots of young women of my generation, I am fascinated with the plight of women, present, past and future. But I AM NOT one of "those" feminists. (You know what I mean, you have that picture in your mind and I'm telling you I'm not like that.) Okay, moving on...

I've created this blog with the intentions of immitating some of my much envied idols of the knitting blogs. Their daily posts have really inspired me to take my measly experience (almost two years now) and challenge myself with loads of new projects. I hear my own thoughts echoed in their blogs (stashing, dreading sewing and juggling several projects at once) that I have long thought that I am no longer and outsider, but a member of this community. (If all that sounds a little deep, please blame the English department at UIowa.)

So okay, you're going to see a lot of knitting on this blog as well as a lot of my personal thoughts about whatever. I have a crazy family who is always getting into some kind of halarious situation (subject of my first book, by the way) and over the years I have become very good at "observing", so I always have lots to tell. My boyfriend, B, is also a source of entertainment (as well as love) for me. I hope I can portray these people in a good light and make you understand that, yes they are crazy, but yes they are also awesome.

Okay knitting:
I am currently working on a baby blanket for my sister's baby, due in October a day before her first wedding anniversary (insert joke about it not taking them long to have kids!). My sister and her husband already have an adorable little girl who is the light of every family get together. The baby blanket is a log cabin pattern I kind of adopted from one I saw over at Mason-Dixon Knitting. (Those girls sure know how to knit, I'm not worthy to stand in their presence!) I'm using six colors of Bernat Cottontots yarn (purple, blue, green, yellow, pink and white) for two reasons 1) they all look really good together and 2) we don't yet know the sex of the baby. I am undecided as to wether I should make a back for the blanket because the wrong side is rather untidy and I would like to cover up my horrid woven ends. We shall see, I guess, how ambitious I'm feeling closer to the end.

Anyway, pictures soon. For now, thanks again for stopping by!

Welcome All!

2005-08-04T09:29:00.000-07:00

Oh wow I've been telling myself I'd do this for months now, and now that I've set this thing up I have nothing to say but welcome and thanks for stopping by.

More later! I promise!