One Crazy Fiber Lady

Even Newer Home

2009-02-03T14:58:00.003-05:00

I've moved the blog again to my own domain since the post before this one. It is here. Please edit your links to "http://crazyfiberlady.com"

Thanks!

New Home

2004-12-06T22:52:00.000-05:00

I'm in the process of moving to typepad. Please update your links to http://crazyfiberlady.typepad.com

I've got a link in the sidebar to "My Current Blog" which will take you there as well.

Content here will eventually be migrated to Typepad.

Thank you.

Little progress

2004-12-06T16:31:00.000-05:00

While I had high hopes for the weekend and grand dreams of finishing the glovens (my new name for those funky hunter's gloves wannabee mittens), I barely managed to finish off the fingers of the first one. I was stricken with a stomach virus yesterday that had me napping while the monkeys napped and not knitting. I feel much better today, thank goodness. I felt horrid yesterday. A plus note, I managed to lose the remaining pregnancy weight AND the weight I gained thanks to the fertility drugs. As a weight loss method, I would not recommend it. The twins had it starting Friday and I consider myself fortunate that I seem to have gotten only a 24 hour version.

I also had to cancel out of a get together on Saturday with a very, very long term friend. Erin and I met in summer camp when we were 8. We were best buddies from Junior High onwards. College had us drifting apart though we did attend each other's weddings. We've been in contact with each other on and off, mostly off, since then. Well two summers ago, I did a spinning demonstration at the Putnam County fair. There was a photographer from a local paper taking pictures and he got one of me. I didn't think much of it other than to smile and look cute in my monstrous maternity jumper and continue spinning. I was 24 weeks with the twins at that point and already huge. I'm not a large person to begin with and normally weigh in at @100lbs and 5'0". So my twin pregnancy made me rather big, rather fast. Any I digress. Two weeks later, I get a phone call from Erin. He hubby had been reading the newspaper and there was an article about the fair. They recognized my picture, even though I had last seen her in '97 when we had lunch at the WTC. Long story short, she too had had twins, two girls, after years of fertility issues as well. Amazing. Unfortunately, further contact was limited as the next day I entered the hospital for my 8.5 weeks of bedrest. We did get together last February and her girls are beautiful, friendly and wonderful girls. They are going to be 3 this January I believe. We'll reschedule for after the holidays. But I'm disappointed that we had to cancel for this weekend. I had been looking forward to seeing them.

So there you have my weekend in a nutshell. A little knitting on Saturday while taking care of two little cranky soon-to-be-toddlers, followed by a very long day yesterday. To further add to my misery, because of my highly upset stomach, I didn't have any coffee. So add a wicked caffeine withdrawal headache to the list of discomforts.

As I have no pictures of any progress, being as there was none, I'll leave you with the "family" group shot of my booga bags.

I'm toying with moving this blog to typepad. I've even started my free 30 days there. I'm just not sure if its worth it. Any opinions?

Warm feelings

2004-12-03T15:46:00.000-05:00

I want to thank all those who commented about my post regarding Bill. I'm very glad that I was able to convey a bit of his essence to you. He was indeed a fine man and he will be missed. A memorial service will be held next week and I shall be attending. Thank you again for all your kind words.

On the knitting front, I've started yet again another project. This time it is the hunter's gloves that I pined about a couple of days ago. I started with the pattern from Knitty Wednesday night in some alpaca that came out of stash (purchase in '99 at a flea market in Manhattan, Green Flea if I remember correctly, pretty dirt cheap too IIRC). YEA Stash Reduction! I plunked myself down on the couch Wednesday night for some yarn therapy and dutifully followed the pattern. I got managed to make it to a few rows short of the end of the thumb gusset. At lunch on Thursday, I put the glove on and it was Shrek sized compared to my wee little hand. I'm a whopping 5'0" with tiny little hands. My ring finger is a size 3, which the jeweler did not believe when I asked to have my engagement ring cut to that size oh so many years ago. As such, standard adult gloves are massive on me. This thing was never going to fit and I pulled the needles out right then and there. While I've seen quite a few hunter's mitten patterns on the 'net, none were small. I figured that I might just be forced to figure them out myself. How hard could they be. I would need a standard glove pattern, just didn't need to knit the fingers all the way to the top and add a couple of rows of ribbing to keep the fingers put. Easy. Peasy. The flip top part is nothing more than a mitten half either sewn to or picked up from the back of the glove and lose in the front. Easy too. I could use a standard mitten top half pattern. Okay. Now to find the patterns. Conveniently Bridget had Ann Budd's book at lunch and she saved me hours of anticipation before I could make it home to my copy! I started working on the modified mitt on the train home. Thanks Bridget! I've now completed the ring finger section on the first one. I can't believe it, but I had the forethought to make notes as I go so I can match the second one to the first. I guess vitamins are a good thing ;) The glove fits, well, like a glove for a change. I have a 7" hand. Budd's book puts that with the Child 8 size. Nice.

The irish hiking scarf has made some progress. No pictures of it yet and its been tossed aside since the 'paca gloves entered the picture. I need the gloves far more than I need another scarf. It did get some attention Wednesday on my way home. I left the office early as I could not concentrate after the bad news was relayed. Unfortunately, the train schedule was not friendly to me and I wound up with a 45 min layover in Secaucus. Ordinary mortals might consider this unfortunate. I, a knitter, always carry something to keep me entertained. I have at least one knitting project and most often a drop spindle with me for those occasions when I have to wait. I hate waiting. I hate it much less when I have something to do. I love waiting when I have knitting. I got a cup of hideously overpriced coffee and parked myself with my knitting for the long wait.
If the scarf hasn't seen much light of day, the koigu socks haven't even come out of their zip-loc baggy. Its a nice clear baggy so I can look at the pretty colors. Someday they'll get done.

I wonder how many of us get through those hard times in life by turning to our hobbies. I know knitting played an integral role in my dealing with Bill's death. I also know that I spent a great deal of time during September 2001 spinning while watching endless tv news reports. I also did an amazing amount of spinning and knitting during those hard times each month during my attempts to conceive. It seems that when things are at their bleakest the feeling or the yarn in my hands and the motion of the needles, or the turn of the wheel while feeling the fiber flow through is greatly comforting. Is it because these are all muscle memory activities and no thought is really required? Is it just the repetitious nature of the two activities? I'm not sure, but whatever it is, it works and works very well for me. I know some of the reasons why I spin/knit, and it is related to what I do for a living. Programming computers, while very rewarding doesn't leave me much to point at when I'm done. There's nothing to hold, to smell, to touch. It's ephemeral. The fiber crafts give me some outlet to the creative urge that allows me to hold something at the end of the task. This was also extremely important to me while I was battling infertility, this need to be able to create something, anything. I'm interested to see what others feel this way too.

A sad loss

2004-12-01T20:00:00.000-05:00

My boss died today.

His name was Bill.

While I didn't always like him as a manager, I always respected him and more importantly, I called him friend. He was a good man. Prior to a career in computer programming he had a full career as a professional musician playing the french horn in the Philharmonic. He was kind and giving with a warm smile and a twinkle in his eyes.

Unfortunately he had health issues that I never fully understood but serious enough that he was on the transplant list for new lungs. He had a portable oxygen tank at all times. One Monday morning last month, our director came to tell me that Bill was on the table right then. We all tried to work, keeping Bill in our thoughts and prayers while we waited for word. It came that afternoon, he was off the table, in recovery, the double lung transplant surgery having gone well. Within a few days he was resting comfortably out of Surgical Intensive Care and in his own room. While several co-workers went to visit one afternoon, I unfortunately could not as I had a cold. I know he was on many drugs and that hospitals are very germy places, but I thought it best to keep my germs to myself. Within two weeks of the surgery, he was home. I even got an email from him no more than two weeks after his surgery as he commented on my status report for the week. The man enjoyed his work. Last week came more emails from Bill. He was feeling good, walking without breathing issues for the first time in a very long time and just feeling very good. He had much to be thankful for this year.

While his death was not entirely unexpected, I know I had high hopes considering how very well he had been doing, it is very sad. I'll miss his stories at lunch. I'll miss his cheerful wave down the cubicle aisle as he spotted me in the morning. I'll miss the twinkle in his eye as he told a particularly goofy joke. He was a good man and a kind man. I'll miss him.

Goodbye Bill.

Spinning wheel got to go 'round

2004-12-01T11:33:00.000-05:00

Tuesday is spinning day at my house, as well as a few others. While I did manage to get the monkeys and myself home at a decent hour last night, we did watch Ken Jennings final appearance on Jeopardy (hadn't missed one), I didn't get the spinning time I really wanted. I opted for the more responsible task of balancing my much neglected checkbook before I bounced something like the monthly tuition for the daycare center <ouch>. Soooo. An hour and a half of manually entering each check, automatic withdrawal/account transfer, online payment, paypal and far fewer deposits into Microsoft Money, I no longer live in fear of envelopes from Commerce Bank. Tonight I get the even yuckier task of paying bills. Blech.

Anyway, I got my spinning time. I pulled out the CVM* roving from Little Barn, who btw is having a sale on bamboo Knitting Needles that I'm trying to ignore, that I picked up at Rhinebeck. It is the dark roving in this picture. It wants to spin fine but then puffs nicely when plied. There is some VM in the roving, but it is spinning out. The single has shades of variegation as the breed does and ranges from almost white to the darker brown that is evident in the picture of the roving. CVM is an interesting breed and the fiber is so soft. I have a lb of roving so I'm not quite sure what I'll be making. I'm initially leaning towards the much popular in blogdom, mittens! I don't have a pair currently and as I grip the getting colder steering wheel in the morning, I think again about gloves.

What I would really like be those hunter gloves with the half finger things and the flip top mitten part. I'm seriously considering thrumming the fliptop bit as I really want to do the thrummed mittens. But should I deprive myself of all the mittenly fun that others are having and switch from socks to mittens and make scores of them? I do have a history of losing a couple of gloves every year... I wonder if I can get mitts on the monkeys. Kat might be seriously resistant to the concept of mittens as she's a thumbsucker and their hands disappear in their coat sleeves on a regular basis. Anyone have or can direct to a pattern for mittens for a 18mos size? Maybe I should put all the other projects on hold and do some mitts before the weather gets really cold and my fingers freeze rendering me incapable of knitting!

*CVM is California Variegated Mutant. A funny name for a very nice sheep with a lovely fleece! I bought a CVM fleece off eBay earlier this year and ashamedly haven't done a single thing with it yet. It is beautiful:

If you're curious about the breed, here's a link for more information. The fleece is wonderful as I expect the resulting yarn to be. It is on the fine side and I'm seriously thinking about putting aside about a pound of the softest part of the fleece for spinning laceweight. A very longterm project. The newest issue of SpinOff inspired me to try again at the long term lace project. A feature woman spent a year spinning, designing and knitting a shetland shawl. I would love to give it a try myself. I might have to start with something smaller and quicker, especially with my attention span.

Off to find some mitten patterns.....

Knit today....

2004-11-30T11:39:00.000-05:00

... done tomorrow. First the good news, the final two booga bags are done and ready for presentation. So without further ado here they are:

Booga Bag - Teacher 3
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted in Lotus Pink and Victorian Pink
Pattern: Booga J's
Started: 11/22/04
Finished: 11/29/04
Felted Size: 7"L x 5"W x 8"H

Booga Bag - Teacher 4
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted in Lemon Drop, Clematis and Blue Boy
Pattern: Booga J's
Started: 11/25/04
Finished: 11/29/04
Felted Size: 7"L x 5"W x 8"H

Also on the completed front is the Rose Garden roving. I finally skeined it up and with my primitive kitchen scale, weighed the two skeins. It came out to be somewhere around 7oz with a length of 475 yds. Definitely enough for a couple pairs of socks. I still need to wash it and let dry. I'm pleased with the appearance currently:

Astute readers may have noticed that the Hatmione has been moved from the On the Needles to the In the Queue section of my sidebar. There's a very good reason for that. Here's a picture of Hatmione when I finished working on it on Sunday...

Now this is what Hatmione looks like now :(

Sad isn't it. I came to realize that there was no way that little remaining yarn would finish her. I bit the bullet and recovered the yarn. This partial skein, which I should have realized wouldn't have been enough to start with, has been now added to the Kitty Bed yarn pile that contains all the booga bag lamb's pride leftovers. One skein of lamb's pride that worked the last stripe and the fringe of the Hogwarts' scarf is not sufficient for Hatmione, especially when said pattern calls for one skein of Cascade 220. The next go 'round on Hatmione will be knit of said yarn. I don't consider it a break in my diet that I bought 1 skein, repeat ONE skein, of Cascade off eBay yesterday. It was the yarn called for by the pattern and I didn't have any in stash, nor did I have anything else that was the right color. The black Patons classic merino wasn't sufficient. So having to get the right yarn for a current project isn't a diet breaking binge. There. I said it. Makes me feel better. Leave me in my delusions. I'm still staying strong and plan on avoiding the Smiley's Manhattan Yarn riot this week. Nothing said about the booksellers' appreciation days at B&N this weekend ;) Rikki and I are going Friday night and I'm planning on getting Stitch & Bitch, probably Nation too, as well as the 365 Knit Patterns calendar, EZ's Knitter's Almanac and probably Weekend Knitting. Hmm, I don't remember adding books to the list of verbotten items on the diet. Yeah!

Tonight is spinning night and I'm not entirely sure what I want to spin. I finished the rose garden as noted above. That 6lbs of cormo hasn't arrived from Wooly Knob yet, though I'm not sure if I'm ready to jump into that large an order. I do have about 6 oz of a romney/mohair roving in shades of blue that I got from the same folk as Rose Garden.. though I think I want a break from that blend. I'm sure I can dig up something from the amazing stash of fibers. I might just have to give that CVM from Little Barn a whirl.

I had the quietest night last night. The twins stayed at their grandparents' house. I finally learned to take them up on their offer to keep them overnight. I used to hem and haw, consider it and then wind up bringing the monkeys home. Not last night. After dinner we took them down to the den to play. While I had intended to get them home early and get a bath in before Trading Spouses came on, it didn't quite work out that way. We all wound up watching Trading Spouses together, even Dad who poo-pooed the idea of it when the show initially started. He got sucked into it. Just as the show ended and I started to round up the little people's stuff, Dad told the twins it was time to go home, they needed their sleep as the next day was a school day. Ah, but he was wrong. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Mom watches them so I pick her up in the morning and we all ride to the station together. There she drops me for the train, takes my car and the kids home and Dad picks me up at the station at night. When corrected about their destination Dad suggested that they just stay there. Works for me.

Though I have to admit, the house was strangely quiet. I was saddened this morning not seeing their smiling little faces when I entered their bedroom to get them up. I went it and saw empty cribs. I missed Kat's excited squeal that accompanies her freedom from crib. It was also strange to be able to get into the car in one trip and just leave. No multiple trips for kids and stuff. On a good day it's two trips, but can be as much as 4. There was no Sesame Street on in the kitchen while I got dressed so no "Journey to Ernie" to indicate that I really gotta get moving nor "Elmo's World" to say it was time to migrate to the car. I actually could leave a bit later as I didn't need the first stop at the daycare center (with it's two trips into the building for each monster) nor a stop to pick up mom. I had an empty car and two empty carseats in my rearview mirror. It was an empty feeling. I miss my monsters. I called mom a little while ago to check how all had gone. They slept through the night and didn't get up until 8am. I heard giggling and babbling in the background. I miss them more now.

After a LONG weekend

2004-11-29T13:25:00.000-05:00

It's amazing how very fast time flies. It seems like yesterday I was getting ready for the long holiday weekend and here it is over already. But then again, it seems like yesterday that the twins were newborns. Alas, time is indeed fleeting.

I hope everyone had a great holiday. Mine was a bit of a mix. Wednesday evening Alexander whacked me on the head with a block giving me a minor concussion. I woke up Thursday with a heck of a headache and a bit dizzy. Not too dizzy to knit mind you, so I finished Booga 3 and cast on Booga 4. Around 11, I packed up the twins and headed over to my parents' house for the holiday. The holiday gathering was great. My family was together, the twins were in good spirits and all had fun. The food was yummy as always. It was so nice being there that we stayed until Saturday. Well okay the dizziness had me staying there until Saturday. Not to mention the head cold that the twins came down with that had them coughing through the night starting Wednesday. A little benadryl and pediacare and they are spiffing up nicely. Good news by Friday night, concussion healed. Bad news, I got the head cold. Sunday was a crafting day. My Voyager Season 5 dvd's did arrive in time for the holiday and I broke them out Sunday and finished knitting Booga 4 and got it in the machine along with #3. I blocked them last night before going to bed. They're currently drying on my stove. I'll have them finished tonight and get pictures uploaded.

Bag 4 I did something a little different with. I'm quite pleased with these little bags. I will indeed have to make one for myself, and definitely with the Noro I bought originally for it. I just need a break from the things. I need to knit something else. I picked up the Hatmione, only to fight with the circular needle. I don't like short circs and I didn't enjoy cabling with the dpns. I even tried two circs, but only 8's that I have are short ones. Sigh. Might have to break my diet and buy some needles. I'm also not too terribly sure about the yarn. The lamb's pride is a bit of a pain to cable with and I'm not sure if I'm going to have enough to complete the thing. I also finally started the Koigu socks on Sunday. I've got about 1/2" of 2x2 ribbing done for the cuff. 60 sts on size 1 needles is quite the change from the Booga bags.

Speaking of the diet, I've been very good. I haven't bought a single thing, but I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out. I just got the notice for this in my email: Smiley's Yarn Manhattan Riot. That is always a good shopping trip and their featured yarns list has some definitely appealing items. I need more yarn like I need a hole in the head. My eBay super buy arrived on Friday and it is wonderful. I'm definitely knitting Banff with it and will probably cast that on tonight. Saturday that nifty worsted merino/cashmere that I traded for arrived. It's pretty. I cast on the Irish Hiking Scarf using it this morning while waiting for the train. I've made it through the first 3 repeats and have long since memorized the pattern. Once you get past the setup, it is so easy. It should be an elegant, but quick project, while also serving as good cabling practice for the Wensleydale cables sweater.

Veni, Vidi, Knitty

2004-11-24T11:22:00.000-05:00

Well booga #3 is getting very close to completion. I bound off the bag last night at my folks' house after dinner while the twins played with their Pop-pop. I started the I-cord this morning on the train. One observation, DPNS don't like when you wear a stiff pea coat. The ends of the needles kept getting caught in the ends of my sleeves. Needless to say my speed had decreased considerably. Speaking of knitting speed, there's the fastest knitter contest. I'm curious as to how fast I knit when i get into the groove. I might just have to try it. I-cord is slow though. I don't like it and I'll be happy when its over. I do have a foot done already so there's 5 left ;)

I've come to the decision that there's no way on earth I'm going to finish the Fairy Tale scarf by Hannukah. I took a gander at the calendar yesterday and got a reality check. Uh huh. I might be fast and can whip out a booga bag in 4 days from cast on to done, but lace scarf? Nope. Not even if I were the fastest knitter. Now maybe if I didn't have to work I might be able to do it. I am taking a week off, but that is a week too late. I do have a short repreive from the two weeks from today being the first day of Hannukah because the family is getting together to exchange gifts on Dec. 18th. That said, the scarf could be Feb birthday material, May anniversary gift or Hannukah '05. We'll see how quickly it goes once it gets going. I'll make some socks instead. Hopefully I have some decent machine washable sock yarn in stash so I can actually make it more than two days on my yarn diet. Does it count if I HAVE to buy it for a gift? I didn't think so :)

Tuesday was spinning night so that is what I did afte the twins went to sleep. I finished spinning the remaining Rose Garden roving like I wanted to. I finished it earlier enough that I was able to ply it as well last night. It is resting on the bobbin now and I'll probably skein it up tonight. I want to get these things washed and drying before the weekend is out. I did have to make my own lazy kate for the WW's bobbins. They really didn't fit on any of my existing kates. The closest was the lendrum with the 3 rods standing up, which I think is his standard new style. I got it with my Saxony. I have a different one with the upright wheel. Anyway, the WW bobbins were a shade too long for the kate and didn't turn well. I wound up taking a shoe box, poking knitting needles through it and using that. It worked perfectly. I'm now storing those needles and the empty bobbins in the box. Have to love multipurpose tools.

In this holiday season, I want to thank everyone who has left kind comments and with or without knowing it, encouraged me to continue knitting and blogging. I've enjoyed this venture far more than I ever expected to and I thank you all for that. I hope you all have a truly happy and healthy holiday season.

Holy Knit, Batman!

2004-11-23T10:55:00.000-05:00

Well I won the eBay auction yesterday and got an excellent buy on some Takhi Soho Bulky Tweed. THE yarn called for in the Banff sweater pattern. I don't think I've ever used THE yarn before. Well I did buy the Noro for the booga bag, I just haven't knit that version of it yet. I've always used an alternate commercial yarn, or even a homespun yarn, so I'm looking forward to this:

Soho Bulky Tweed in Oatmeal

And yes, I'm still on the yarn diet, at least technically. I placed the bid prior to my declaration of the diet so it doesn't count as breaking. Works for me :) And I'm also exchanging yarns with someone so that doesn't count as breaking the diet either. As a matter of fact, that was an explicit option I listed yesterday. Anyway, I'm swapping some pink laceweight mohair for a worsted cashmerino that will become the Irish Hiking Scarf.

80/20 Merino/Cashmere worsted

Last night was one of those happy happy nights when I return home to find that a box has been placed behind my storm door. This time it was the USPS that earns my gratitude for delivering my very first Elann.com order. My yummy Peruvian Highland wool arrived and it is gorgeous. I'm starting to really look forward to working the Wensleydale Cables sweater. Here's a couple of skeins along with the picture from the mag:

Peruvian Highland Wool & Wensleydale Cables from IK Winter '99/'00

While I was at it, I took a picture of the Fairy Tale Scarf and it's yarn:

Nandia Silk/Cashmere & Fairy Tale Scarf from IK Summer '00

Booga bag #3 is coming along swimmingly now that I finally settled on which bag and what color pattern to use. I changed the striping on this one. The bottom and the first 11 rounds of the sides are in the Lotus Pink and the remainder will be the Victorian Pink. I'm not sure if I like how they look together, but then again, bold colors really aren't my bag. I'm more of a black/white/brown person. Even the antique rose of the Peruvian Highland yarn is "colorful" though I am trying to expand. I've asked far more fashionably correct folk and they like the color scheme of the bag, so I'm content with that.

I had a very lovely night with the crazy duo last night. Mom called me at the office yesterday that she had the sinus headache from hell and wouldn't be able to pick up the twins from daycare. She's feeling better today, a bit of a hangover, but better. Anyway, it got me out of the office and hour early and I got to pick them up. I enjoy picking them up as they come crawling over to the door when they see me and Kat will squeal. I love that squeal. I also had to make dinner unexpectedly. I hit the freezer and found some of those mini beef raviolis, frozen meatballs and I had just bought jarred sauce this weekend. Add a few veggies and we had dinner. Then they had a bath. Always a good idea after Italian food for toddlers to go straight to the tub. They enjoyed it and much splashing ensued. Kat even helped me wash Alex's hair, well maybe not wash it, but she did pat his head a couple of times after I had lathered him up. Here's they are on the couch ready for bed with Yeti, post crewcut.

I finally gave spinning on the Womack while the twins were about a try. Lo and behold it worked as I hoped. I was able to spin without fear that little curious fingers would work their way somewhere that they were not supposed to go. I did have to fight the boy off the roving. I gave him a short length of it to play with and that kept him happy for a while. That's my boy. Today is spinning day so I'm hoping to finish up the Rose Garden singles so I can ply them before the holiday weekend is through. I want to measure up how much I have so I can part with it more easily.

My Kris Kringle gift is now taken care of, which makes me very relieved. I had had an idea, dawdled about it, thought I'd lost my chance and then got special dispensation this weekend to get it. So it's now gotten and handled. Whew. A backup plan was not really gelling and I was starting to panic.

I've successfully made it through the first day of the yarn & fiber diet. I still wish there was a patch for this. Maybe there is, I think its called TRADING rather than buying. It's a net zero for the stash right? AND I get new stuff for the stash. I like it.

Atkins, South Beach or Weight Watchers...

2004-11-22T13:32:00.000-05:00

Which one do you think would work as a YARN DIET?!?!? Or is there Yarnaholics Anonymous?? If there isn't, there should be! Hello, my name is Risa and I'm a yarnaholic. Hello Risa (crowd intones). Oy.

I haven't yet received my order from Elann, though by my reckoning, it should be imminent (another distraction for the long weekend - tis a shame my Voyager Season 5 DVD set won't arrive in time), I've been bidding on more yarn on eBay. Sick sick sick I say. This is the Takhi Soho Bulky Tweed for the Knitty Banff sweater. Oooh that one looks soooooo comfortable. I HAVE to have one. I need more yarn like I need a new hold in my head. BTW, got a call from the nice men at Wooly Knob Fiber Mill that my 6 lbs of cormo are done and will be shipped out Tuesday. Woo, more for the spinning stash. At least it's no longer cluttering up the "to be processed dirty fleece stash". We won't discuss how much is sitting there! Now I just need TIME. Stupid job just gets in the way of the fun stuff.

Oh and wait, there was chatter this morning on the NJFIberFanatics list about Joanns. Well, not having one near me I decided to search and see where the closest one is. No need for that in this wonderful world of ecommerce, they have a large online presence. I hit their site and was greeted with a 50% off one item coupon. Naturally I couldn't turn that down and bought the Artbin Yarn Tote. Yup, need another tote bag. Can never have too many of those.

Now I'm serious, I'm instituting a moratorium on ALL craft stuff. No more yarn. No more needles. No more fabric. No more spinning stuff of any form. No more accessories. Nothing new unless I trade for it getting something I already have the hell out of my home. That's it. A new era of austerity has begun. Hmm, is cold turkey such a good thing? Shouldn't there be a patch for this? I quit smoking with the patch. Sigh.

BTW, I'm back to making booga bags for the kids' teachers. For the life of me, I can't remember why I ripped out Sophie and started the booga on the train this morning.

Battle for midway

2004-11-21T21:32:00.000-05:00

.. has been been won. The second felted bag is now complete. While I was terribly tired last night, the drive to finish the damn thing and get it in the wash today was overwhelming. Here's the info on it:

Booga Bag - Teacher 1
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted in M-38 Lotus Pink and M-56 Clematis
Pattern: Booga J's
Started: 11/18/04
Finished: 11/21/04
Felted Size: 7"L x 5"W x 8"H

Before felting

Bag done

So now I'm halfway done with the teacher gifts. I started the third bag this morning while the twins napped, and bag two swished around with a load of jeans. The third bag is going to be more of the lotus pink, but this one's companion color is M-34 Victorian Pink. I'm going to do the bottom in the lotus pink, like #2, but the whole side will be in the Victorian Pink. The handles on Sophie are twisted double icord. I'm planning on doing one ply in each color. Fulling can't be all that bad if it got me to do laundry, actually made me look forward to doing laundry. Now that is something that I never expected to happen! I have so many clean clothes, I haven't a clue where to put them now. Which reminds me, there is a gentle load chock full of handknit socks and other stuff still in the machine.

My friend Chris came for a visit today. She's the breeder I got Yeti from and we've become friends since. I made a baked mac&cheese casserole and a tossed salad for lunch. While the twins napped, I fixed a lace afghan square Chris had knit and missed on stitch in the middle of it. It was easy enough to repair with some duplicate stitching. Chris then gave Yeti his much overdue haircut. He's now sporting a crewcut, with the exception of the fuzzies on his ears and his topknot. Poor dude was matted and his coat came off in huge chunks. When I get the chance, I'll see if I can reclaim some of the prime stuff for spinning. If not, it will make wonderful felting material. I've got to learn wet felting. Heck that would be a great way to quickly get rid of a huge amount of fiber from this place. I got quite the lesson while Chris groomed Yeti. I didn't know that grooming made a buck um amorous and he got very friendly with Chris. I'll leave it there.

I thank everyone for all their nice comments regarding my booga bags. I like Nancy's use of the bag as a purse, rather than a tote bag. I might give that a try for myself, but make a much longer strap so I could put it over my shoulder.

As for my freaky looking left-handed eastern uncrossed knitting, I hold the working needle in my left hand and the yarn in my right. The eastern uncrossed is from what I can tell a variation on the continental except the direction the yarn is wrapped around the needle. I seem to wrap in the opposite direction and my stitches wind up "backwards". The leading edge of the stitches on subsequent rows varies depending on what the row before was. Instead of always having the leading edge in front, I have it in back after a purl row and in front after a knit row. Always made it easy to tell which stitch to do in a ribbing situation as I could tell by which edge was presenting itself. It sure made a SSK moot in a stockinette situation. I never had to slip, slip to get the stitches in the right direction as they already were. The only time my knit stitches wind up as someone else would expect them would be when I worked in the round, but then again, purled stitches are "backwards" so their leading edges have traded. I hold the yarn wrapped around my right index finger and use my right middle finger to wrap the yarn around the working needle. In the end it all works for me and I can get projects completed... in record time these days too! Thank you all!

Much ado about knitting

2004-11-20T21:49:00.000-05:00

Not much knitting going on here today. It was one of those days where yes, both of the monkeys took naps, but they were not at the same time, other than one short hour this morning. Alex was a cranky mess most of the day which surprised me as he took a 3 hour nap starting in the late morning and another hour and a half late afternoon. He was a bit of a pest. Kat at least was very pleasant when she was up. She even played by herself for a half hour while I made dinner and folded some laundry. I heard my first non-whining 'Mama' from Kat today. I figured I jinxed myself when I mentioned in Friday's blog entry that neither of them said it. She also walked unencouraged for 5 feet without holding onto anything other that what she could carry.

I did get the rest of booga 2's body knit and am just binding it off now. While I'd really love to finish it today and get it in the washer tomorrow, my eyes are drooping already. I still have another load to fold and put away, plus the sheets that need to be transferred to the dryer. No rest for the wicked.

I just had to post this picture of Kathryn and Yeti. Kat loves animals and instead of petting them, she lays the side of her head down on them. So she's "making nice" to Yeti in her own style. So here's my little girl snuggling up to the rather large angora rabbit.

I don't have any pictures yet of the Fairy Tale Shawl from the IK Summer 2000. The scanner just mangled the picture, along with the sweater I want to make. I'll take a picture along with started lace shortly. The sweater is the "Wensleydale Cables" aran from the IK Winter '99/'00 issue. I'm still intimidated by all those cables. I'll take a picture of the shot in the magazine along with the pile of yarn when it arrives.

Parting is such sweet sorrow..

Ooga booga

2004-11-19T23:05:00.000-05:00

Booga bag for the first teacher is now done. It was fully dry when I got home from my folks house tonight, so after the twins went to sleep, I set about finishing the bag. Here's the info on it:

Booga Bag - Teacher 1

Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted in M-183 Rosado Rose and M-82 Blue Flannel
Pattern: Booga J's
Started: 11/15/04
Finished: 11/19/04
Felted Size: 7"L x 5"W x 8"H

Duchess of aRat gives the bag her seal of approval

It is a little smaller than I expected. For me, I'd probably go for the Big Booga pattern. There's also another pattern, Sophie that I found while reading other blogs today. I'm probably going to make the other two bags in that style. Variety is the spice of life, or so they say. Personally, I like a good routine. Must be the cat person in me.

As a note, Lamb's Pride felts like a dream. One trip through the washing machine with a couple of pairs of jeans and the thing was done. I'd highly recommend it for felting/fulling projects. I do have a minor issue knitting with it. It is a singles yarn. Not an energized one normally so you don't have to worry about biasing in the finished knit. Notice I said normally. I find that while I'm knitting with it, twist is added to the single and winds up much tighter spun. It's probably due to the fact that I knit lefty eastern uncrossed, yeah I know interesting mix, and I tend to believe that the way I hold the yarn and wrap around my index finger adds quite a bit of twist. I should really try this but spinning a single in the opposite direction and see if I have the same problems.

Read my lips. No new knitting projects.

2004-11-19T13:08:00.000-05:00

Just when I thought I had tamped down on my natural multiple projects disorder (MPD hereinafter) and was working really sequentially, I had to go and start more. The beginning of the end was last week when I finished the Hogwarts scarf early Friday night and wouldn't be able to get to Majestic Yarns until Saturday afternoon. I couldn't go without something on the needles for that long. Shudder at the thought. So that is when the Hermione Hat was started with the remaining Lamb's Pride from the scarf, decent project, existing yarn, win-win scenario.

I then went to the store and bought all the skeins necessary for the booga bags and started those. Now one is done, went in the wash last night and is drying nicely near the stove on a the box from my stick blender, I've started the next one. Bag 2 was commenced yesterday during the excellent company meeting. By the time the meeting ended, the whole bottom and about 20 rows of the side were done. The commute to and fro bring me up to the point where I'm now at the halfway point on the side. Cool.

After tossing booga 1 in the machine with a couple of pairs of jeans, I sat down and spun up some more of the Rose Garden roving. I'm convinced it will make a lovely sock yarn. Since I have a lb of the roving, I'll probably make a couple of skeins available for other people's stashes as I have no real need for tons of socks in the same yarn, not to mention the benefit of adding funds for further stash enhancement.

For the last two days or so since I saw the advertisement for the Peruvian Highland Yarn at Elann.com on someone's site, I've been eyeing it and trying to decide which color and for what project. I'm proud of myself that I managed to hold out for so long. But I'm only human. So after an ~~exhausting~~ exhaustive search through my back issues of IK, I found the pattern I wanted to knit and then settled on the color of yarn.

I ordered this color, Dusty Rose. 18 Skeins of it for a unisex cabled sweater that was originally in a latte color in the magazine. I don't have the magazine with me and I can't find it in the back issues at Interweave, otherwise I'd post which it was. I'll do a scan this weekend. This will be my big project for after the holidays. I can't get over how cheap the yarn was and I'm not too confident in my ability to finish a cabled sweater, but I do so like a challenge and I've been wanting a sweater like this for a while.

Not satisfied with having sort of added one more project to the list, I found the pattern for a beautiful scarf/shawl in the IK Spring 2000 Issue - Fairy Tale. (Again, no pictures yet). It calls for Zephyr, which I don't have, but I found that the Nandia Cashmere Laceweight silk/cashmere yarn that I bought off eBay in this color blue is an alternate.

Finally I have a pattern that I like for this yarn. I bought it this past spring with the hopes of knitting something for Mom for the holidays. While I doubt I will have it done by Hanukkah, I finally have a good start. I cast on for this last night and was able to get one repeat of the border points done before I really had to go to sleep.

So now I have 3 projects on the needles, and quite a few in the wings, so I'm back to contending with MPD. I should probably add the knitting queue to the sidebar so I don't distract myself with oodles of other projects. Perhaps I should quit reading others blogs. Nah, not going to happen! They motivate me to continue knitting, to finish projects and to expand my knitting horizons and try something new. Thank you all for this!

And now for the regularly scheduled child picture. Feast your eyes on my 13.5 month old boy feeding himself applesauce with a spoon. Yea Alexander! It wasn't a fluke as he did it again last night with ice cream. Kat got in the act and can do it as well! Yea Kathryn! Neither say Mama yet, but I hear twins talk late and it prolongs the time I have before I threaten to change my name :)

One down, three to go

2004-11-18T10:16:00.000-05:00

The knitting for my first booga bag is now done. I finished it last night while watching Nanny 911 (kind of giving me lessons of how NOT todo things). I'll give the final project info after I felt it. That should probably be tonight as I really need to wash some clothes. In the meantime, here's a picture of the pre-felted bag.

The colors have been selected for bag 2, which I'll start today at the "All Hands Company Meeting". Normally I would be kvetching about having to go to one of these, but the re-found love of knitting has me all excited for the bonus knitting time today. The colors are: M-38 Lotus Pink and M-56 Clematis.

I plan on a different arrangement of colors for this go around. The bottom will be in one color, probably the lotus pink. The sides will be split into three alternating stripes, starting with the clematis. The icord handle will then be in the pink.

My babies are advancing at a scary pace. Having only walked in my presence two days ago, Alexander took anoter leap forward yesterday when he fed himself applesauce with a spoon. WOW. Dad held the little cup while Alex carefully dipped the spoon in, picked up a bit and then ate it. Holy crud. Should he be doing this yet? I don't think so. Kat wasn't the least bit interested in trying it, but was more content with picking things off the table and putting them in a bowl. My babies aren't such babies anymore.

I spin therefore I am

2004-11-17T15:38:00.000-05:00

Having two fiber passions in ones life can be both a blessing and a curse. I have a hard time deciding which I want to do at any given time. I love spinning. I love knitting. I love them both with a passion. I tend to be a bit streaky with them and will do one to the complete exclusion of the other. For a while, I had declared home for spinning and everywhere else for knitting. That worked. Sort of. Then came the children. I could no longer really spin when the kids were awake, so I would have to wait until they were in bed. But then I found I could knit while they were out and about while I sat on the couch supervising their activity. Wow. Fibery activity with awake babies. Cool. The wheels continued to be neglected as I would get thoroughly involved in whatever knitting project I was working on. Well now that the woolee winder has arrived, wonderful tool that I would HIGHLY recommend to all spinners no matter what wheel you are using, I can now spin when the monkeys are around. This still left the decision of what to do when and where. I found that the Yarn Harlot has a really workable solution to this. Tuesday is spinning day. I instituted that last night.

I plied the llamney singles that I spun on the womack Sunday:

The fiber was a wonderful 70/30 blend of llama and romney wool. The finished skein is 100yds at @50 grams. The remainder of the 8oz of the original roving are still sitting on the lendrum bobbin and I'll wind them off into a skein tonight. I do think this skein is a might more consistent that the other one will be. I can now take 8oz of roving out of the spinning stash and add yarn to the yarn stash :) Now to reduce the yarn stash.

I also managed to spin about 1/2 a bobbin of wonderful roving that I got from Linden Lane Farms in their Rose Garden colorway. It does speak garden to me in a wonderful combination of light and dark rose colors mixed with two shades of green. It is coming out beautifully and on the womack with the WW, it is so consistently spun. I kicked back and spun until my eyes started to close. I love it. Only had to stop once when the length of roving ended and I had to fish another end out of the bag. This is spinning up very fine and will make excellent sock yarn. Its a 80/20 blend of romney and mohair.

While yesterday may have been spinning day at home, I still had a commute (from hell) and lunchtime to knit. I progressed pretty darn far on the booga bag and as of the end of lunch today, I'm ready to bind off. I'm debating between and i-cord bindoff or a standard one. Not sure yet, but will figure it out by 5 when it is time to leave :) Here's a picture as of it last night before spinning hour:

On the child front, the twins are ever close to walking. Ms. Kat can take quite a number of steps before giggling and falling over. Alex finally took a few steps while I was watching him so it really happened this time. Kat actually started walking when she wanted something without encouragement for the first time. I was also able to walk with her holding one hand while I carried her brother. Yee haw.

Yesterday picked up after lunch. Thanks to Nancy for her commiseration on yesterday's less that wonderful morning. I try to maintain my sense of humor, especially when there's little choice left but to laugh or cry. I much prefer to laugh. Its easier that way and my nose doesn't turn an embarrassing beet red then that I have to explain. Thanks also go to Bridget for the much needed chocolate! Lunch was when the day started to turn around. There's something about getting together with a great group of people, breaking bread and sharing, not to mention knitting after food. Thanks ladies.

To finally warm my heart last night, I was lying on the den floor at my parents' house last night watching the twins play with their grandfather. Alexander turned, crawled over to me and planted 4 juicy baby kisses on my face. Awwwwwww.

One of those days..

2004-11-16T12:31:00.000-05:00

I am having one of those days where I wished I had stayed in bed. It started out innocently enough, I actually got up somewhat on time this morning and was able to get a shower in before the lil monsters woke up. That's a good thing. It was all downhill from there.

As I was getting dressed, listening to Kat starting to stir, Casanova, the senior cat in the household, threw breakfast up in my bedroom doorway. Ewww. I clean it up with a handy tissue (which are now on the dresser rather than the nighttable since Kat found them and rather easily pulled out at least a dozen) and went back to the task at hand.

As I was getting out the nifty new finished Happy Trails socks, Duchess started making those distinct cat-gonna-puke noises on my bed. I tried to scoop her up and dump her on the floor, but alas the tightly wound little diamond maker wouldn't have it, clawed my hand and took off for the farthest side of the bed. Before I could get to her, she puked on my duvet, which by the way, the once-every-two-weeks housekeeper changed yesterday. Sigh.

By now, Kat is really awake and Alex is making noises. He's like his mom and not quite a morning person and didn't exactly wake up happy. I pick out his clothes and pick him out of his crib. He wants to cuddle and isn't happy that I moved him to the changing pad. He cries/whines/kvetch's through the entire diaper changing getting dressed routine. He continued this while I prepped Kat for the day. At least he liked the cinnamon french toast sticks that were on the menu for breakfast.

The rest of the early morning routine ran rather smoothly and the twins went into the car happy and giggly so off to mom's house as today is her day to watch them. She dropped me at the train and I was able to scrounge enough change together to get a cup of coffee from the catering truck. A train shows up, damn thing is packed like a sardine can. Feh. I opted to get off the bugger and take the next one. Okay, now on the local rather than the express and arrive at Secaucus Transfer only to find the platform for the trains to Penn hip deep in folks from prior trains. Definitely not a good sign. I can't get on the first train that pulls into the station as it is already crowded and with the mass of humanity trying to get on it from Secaucus, I opt again to take the next one. The next one arrives and it is one of the shorter trains and insists on pulling all the way up the platform so I got to play chase the train. Double feh. At least I got a seat. Made it to Penn and off to the subway. I've recently given up taking the A train and opted for the locals as the A was always so crowded. Well guess what, the C was sardine city this morning too. What the hell is going on? Anyway, while I was trying to get through the nasty full body turnstile at 14th str, my ipod earphone cable got hooked on one of the bars and nearly choked me. Lovely.

Having run Lavasoft's Ad-Ware on my home machine this weekend to find a host of nasties living there, I opted to do the same on my office desktop. Not a smart move. As it was running and turning up a bunch of nasties, Norton flashed a virus warning. What followed was much like the scene in Monsters, Inc. where the sock shows up on the scare floor. Operations called and told me to either power down my machine NOW and/or remove the network cable from the back of it. Someone would be there to get it. Helpdesk personnel swooped over, disconnected all peripherals, scooped it up and took off with it. Sweet. Hard to be a computer programmer WITHOUT A COMPUTER! I knit a row on booga bag#1 (29 rows more to go and its i-cord time) and remembered that I had my laptop locked in my desk drawer. That's a v. good thing. Now you know it doesn't end there. I've misplaced the key for said desk drawer. Not such a good thing. I got the feller with the master keys to unlock my drawer. Wee, good thing. Stupid laptop has nothing installed on it beyond the operating system. It was never really designed to be a "desktop" computer and has only enough that lets me access my DESKTOP machine and use that remotely. v bad right now as that thing is off in the super secret computer closet being cleaned and all the stuff I installed on it (ugh) inspected and deemed against policy. Oh well.

I did spend an enjoyable half hour in Bob's office searching through the box of MSDN disks looking for the install disks for MS Studio so I can actually get some work done. It ain't there, shitload of copies of beta releases of studio .net are, but as I return to my lousy laptop, it becomes moot anyway as I remember that this hobbled machine has no CD drive. Sweet huh?! So now I have a computer, but can't do a heck of alot with it. My knitting bag is calling me.

I need copious amounts of chocolate RIGHT NOW. Speaking of chocolate, I introduced the twins to oreo's this weekend. They loved them and needless to say, got a bit of the yummy chocolate cookie about their faces.

Knitting Progress

Hatmione is coming along nicely. Thanks to Amy, I've decided to try the cabling without a needle. I gave it a go last night. While it was tricking juggling with the dpns, when I switched the project to a circ, it flew. I love it. Made for a much quicker way to cable, and resulted in more even, less tight stitches. Thanks Amy! I'm now on row 12 of 51 pattern rows. Much much faster than futzing with the dopey cable needle. As the usual lament of a knitter, I just hope I have enough yarn to finish it.

The first booga bag is coming along very nicely. I had the bottom done and sides picked up by the end of lunch yesterday. Last night on the train home, I decided how I wanted to break up the two colors. The bottom and the first 30 rows of the side are in the blue (Blue Flannel). I would then have two rows of the pink (Rosado Rose), two more rows of the blue, the rest of the side would be the pink. I plan on a 6ft i-cord handle, so I'm going to split the colors and do one half in each. I'm past the transition and into the pink section of the side. Looks pretty nice if I do say so myself. I'll probably take pictures of it tonight. What a wonderful fast project this is and I should have no trouble finishing all 4 in time for the holidays. Hmm, I don't think i should be tempted the knitting goddess with such a bold statement on a day such as this.

Will this day end without too much more bad happening....

Busy weekends

2004-11-15T11:02:00.000-05:00

Life with 13 month of twins is never dull. This weekend was one of those LONG weekends that doesn't seem to end, but then ends all too fast. Saturday wasn't bad, they both took both morning and afternoon naps, each 2 hours. Wonderful. After lunch we did make it out of the house for a trip to Majestic Yarns where I bought 7 more skeins of Lamb's Pride worsted for booga bags for the nice teachers. The Lamb's Pride is a bit more economical than the Noro and I just couldn't afford Noro for 4 teachers. I got a combination of bright colors and each bag will be 2 colors. The 8th skein is the leftover yellow skein I bought for my scarf and didn't even touch. Needless to say, I didn't make it through the evening with NO projects on the needles. I went off to Atypically Knit and bought the Hermione Hat pattern, grabbed my remaining skein of burgundy Lamb's Pride and started it.

Saturday night, I was able to get to the end of the ribbing an started the exciting portion while I tried to get a lot of adware and spyware off my computer. I got a lot of knitting done while I waited for Norton to do a full system scan on my 80 GIG hard drive. I still have something nasty living on my machine as everytime I open IE, I get a popup advertising window. I'll have to give ad-ware another go around. It is better and I found lots of nasties hanging around, including a trojan horse and a key recorder.

Geek stuff aside, I also started the first of the booga bags this morning on the train. I have two more rows to do and the bottom will be done. I'm trying to decide the color patterning on it. For this bag, I'm using a navy blue and rose colored yarns. The bottom is in blue and I figured I'd start the sides with it. At some point, I'll switch to the rose and do the i-cord in the rose as well. I'm considering a few transitional stripes in the middle, possibly the fibonacci sequence. I'll figure it out as I go.

Saturday morning, during the twins nap, I finally opened the box from Mr. Womack with my Woolee Winder in it. WHOOPEE! Bummer man, the darn thing needs to have a bearing epoxied to one end and then sit overnight. Major bummer. No playing with it. I did get it measured, glued and setting during naptime and then tried to forget about it. Sunday I was able to spin in the morning while the twins played! No more having to spin during sleepingtime. I put the spinner up on top of the computer (which Mr. Alex has discovered how to turn on/off - big old piece of cardboard now blocking the button), sat in my desk chair and spun uninterrupted for 30 minutes! I did a fine singles of the remainder of the llama/romney I got from Julie. Here's a picture of the spinner with the WW:

What a great invention that WW is. I didn't have to stop spinning for a second and was able to get a super even single with consistent twist and only had to stop when I ran out of fiber. Amazing. Contrast the even winding on the bobbin with the plied version of the same fiber on my Lendrum Saxony:

Notice how uneven it is wound on? Generally I do a more even job, but not so much while plying. I do a less even job when I discover that I don't have to cram a considerable amount of yarn on the bobbin and can afford to waste the space, as is the case above. I spun those singles on the Journey Wheel, filling both of its bobbins and plied on the much larger Lendrum Saxony bobbins. The joy of having multiple wheels. I'll now let the singles sit for a little bit on the Womack and ply with itself.

One more finished object

2004-11-12T20:58:00.000-05:00

My very productive month of November continues. In record time for a pair done in sock yarn, I have finished the Happy Trails socks. Here are the project details:

Pattern: Own
Style: Cuff down-2x2 rib
Yarn: Happy Trails Sock Yarn - Superwash Merino
Started: 11/04/04
Finished: 11/12/04

I don't think I've ever completed so many projects in such a short time. The world of blogging has continued to motivate me, as well as inspire me to try some new things. The above socks are an example of that spirit. Until this pair, all socks, and I've knit quite a number of them, have been very plain, ribbed cuff, straight knit remainder socks. This is the first modification of that. The next pair I make, I'd really like to add some cabling to the cuff part, maybe the twisted rib that I saw somewhere. I have to dig out the 365 knitting stitches perpetual calendar which lives near the spinning wheels and see what speaks to me.

As for the socks, I think I'm keeping them. I've changed my mind on gifts for the ladies at Beth Am nursery and Daycare. Instead of making them all socks, they are going to get booga bags. Thanks to the Knitting Wench for the assistance on this decision. It was with her help that I decided the socks were for me and they get booga bags.. well so will I. She actually dared me to make them and not keep one for myself. Provided it hasn't snowed too badly tonight, I'll head over to Majestic Yarns and pick up a couple skeins of Lamb's Pride in fun colors and make them with that. Whoa, that leaves me without a project on the needles now?!???!?! I can't remember the last time I've had absolutely NO projects in the works. I'm getting all twitchy now with thoughts of completely empty needles. Oh the horror..

Big old happy dance time tonight. I have three favorite people in this world, really favorite. The postman, the UPS man and Mr. Epidural-man :) The first two are serious faves because they leave packages by my door. Since I'm a bit of a senile dork, I have a tendency to forget that something has been ordered and get a huge surprise when I get home. Tonight was one of those wonderful nights. My WOOLEE WINDER for my electric spinner arrived! WHOOPEE. I'm hoping that this will allow me to get some spinning time whilst the twins are out of their cages. I haven't been using any of the wheels since the boy is too curious for his own good. I'm afraid those little fingers will poke through a moving drive wheel before I can stop it. He already has a thing for poking the orifice on the Lendrum castle wheel. I'd like it if I could put my Womack electric spinner on the end table or someplace equally out of little person reach and be able to spin. With the woolee winder I can just spin and spin without having to stop and move hooks. From what I hear, the WW on an electric makes the worlds best plyer. I can't wait to try it out. Maybe tomorrow's post will have a picture of the electric with a bobbin full of freshly spun singles.

Photoless progress

2004-11-11T16:05:00.000-05:00

Just a quick update today. I've been sick recently, not sure exactly what is going on, but feeling pretty darn cruddy nonetheless. Today is my first day back at the office since Monday. The plus side of feeling cruddy and having the twins off in daycare is that I got some knittin' time.

I finished the first of the Happy Trails socks, pictures tomorrow, and hit the heel on the second one. I'm doing a 2x2 rib to the ankle, PG-R short row heel, followed by a 2x2 rib on the top half of the foot. For a size 5US foot, this makes for a pretty quick sock. This first pair is for Miss Ronni, one of the twins' daycare teachers. Miss Lilly will get a similar pair. The skein of HT yarn is 8 oz so I have A LOT of it. On the 56 st that make up the sock, the yarn is self striping. It's pretty and I wouldn't mind a pair of them myself.

I'm still trying to decide which hat I want to make to go with my Hogwarts scarf. The Hermione hat over at knit.atypically.net looks really nice, but I'm not sure. I'll probably wind up doing it anyway. My new pea coat arrived yesterday and it is super nice. I didn't realize how stiff the wool is! I was having trouble bending my arms when I tried it on last night. Comparing notes with someone, this is typical. Good thing too as I started googling last night "pea coat stiff arms". Seems this isn't abnormal. It's softened up a it already today and I can't wait till the thing is broken in. The scarf looks marvelous with it. Maybe I'll get a picture with both the scarf and coat tonight:)

I'm looking forward to having all the holiday knitting done and get back to the real enjoyable stuff. I have to add some cable-y goodness to the list of projects, as well as one of those kitty beds. I can even use the yarn IN STASH to make that. My goal is to actually work down the stash. This includes transforming some of the fleeces to yarn to finished object. Lofty goal, I'll admit, but not unattainable. Certainly not with the daily knitting that I get now. And the highlight of the week is tomorrow.. KNIT CLUB! Which reminds me, Kris Kringle. Make mental note. Can't write here.. victim might read :)

I subscribed to Interweave Knits today. My first issue will be sent out on Nov 25. I'm looking forward to it. I've been disappointed with the other knitting mags of late. I quite buying Vogue a while ago and Knit 'NStyle, I actually put back on the shelf the other day. I have this huge collection of knit mags and either have never made anything from them or they are just uninspiring. However, I've always been happy with the IK so I figured I'd get a subscription to it. I already get Spin-Off by them, my favorite mag.

On the work front, I've decided to "enjoy" my period of inactivity around here. I rode in this morning with a fellow who is about to lose his programming job due to a merger. I listened to him talk about the employment seminars and the classes on how to write a good techie resume and I'm just happy to have a job that hopefully isn't going to disappear at the end of next month like his is. I should just sit back and consider this the nice rest from the harder job at home, catch up on my reading/writing/relaxing, maybe even work towards learning a new language. I should be thankful for lack of crunchtime rather than bemoan it. So I'm turning over a new leaf and will sweat what I can control and go with the flow.

Got my oar all ready..

Productive November!

2004-11-08T20:46:00.000-05:00

Two more projects move from WIP to Completed! First is the cardigan for Kathryn that the knitting has been done for ages but just needed buttons. Well I finally had the sweater, the thread, buttons and sewing needle all in one place at lunch today and did it. I used 5 butterfly buttons in different colors to add a nice feminine touch to the straight stitched sweater. So here is Ms. Kat herself modelling it:

Project Info

Pattern: Basic Cardigan - Jacqueline Fee's Sweater Workshop
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Baby
Started: 10/??/04
Finished: 11/08/04

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Ms. Kat had a bonanza of new things today. That hat I finally started yesterday was finished tonight while they played before bed. It was quite a challenge to get her to model it.

Project Info

Pattern: Ann Budd's Knitters Handy Book of Patterns
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft
Started: 11/07/04
Finished: 11/08/04

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While I was at it, I got Mr. Alex to "pose" in his hat that I finished some time ago. Here's my little man:

Project Info

Pattern: Ann Budd's Knitters Handy Book of Patterns
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft
Started: 10/26/04
Finished: 10/27/04

Well I feel kind of icky so I'm going to call it an early night. I'm coming down with something.

Finished Object

2004-11-07T20:48:00.000-05:00

The Hogwarts scarf is DONE! Slightly ahead of schedule too. Its fabulous. Alexander is rather partial to the fringe. I umm skipped the blocking step. By my read of the pattern, this was to straighten it out and make it easier to get the color changes to one side. I was able to line everything up without the need to lay it out wet. I think the only things I've ever blocked are the lace shawls.

Project Info

Pattern: Atypically Knit
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride - Spice & Lemon Drop
Started: 10/27/04
Finished: 11/07/04

My next project is well underway. I finally started Kat's hat and am more than halfway through it. I've had a hideous headache today and really didn't have the energy to do much. Thankfully the twins were pretty content to play by together and let me sit quietly. They didn't always play nicely together. Alexander is sporting a nice bitemark on his left arm as Kat bit him in a fit of pique. Time to finish the laundry and get to bed early.

Stash Enhancement eXpedition

2004-11-06T22:27:00.000-05:00

Excellent SEX today. I finally have a LYS again. I haven't had one since Auntie Knits in Glen Rock closed down. I can't even remember how long ago it was.. though I do have a bag of yarn I got in their Going out of Business sale. It even made it through the purges of last year to get the nursery done.

Anyway, Majestic Yarns had their grand opening today in Ridgewood! Beautiful shop. Not one of those typical yarn stores where it is so cramped and only the owner has any clue where a particular yarn might possibly exist. Nope, not this place. This is a gorgeous shop with nice cubbyhole type shelves well marked and organized. Its owned by the people behind School Products, a favorite lunch fieldtrip destination (witness my two trips in less than a week). The Ridgewood store is nice an convenient to home and has the bonus of NJ's lower tax rate and NO tax on yarn, only patterns and notions. EXCELLENT. As part of the grand opening, there's a 10% discount on all yarns. Do I need more yarn? Does anyone really need more yarn? Could I pass up a discount on gorgeous yarn? The answer to all is a resounding no. Here's a picture of what has been added to the yarn stash (the spinning stash still goes untouched..)

What you see are six balls of Aurora Bulky in a navy destined to be a sweater for Mr. Alex. I got three skeins of Nuro Kureyon to make a booga bag - maybe that will make a good commuter bag, or at the least a good knitting bag where I can also tuck lunch. Two skeins of Koigu for socks, probably for mom. I think I'm pretty well set for a while yarnwise. Oh an hiding under the Aurora and the Koigu is a set of bambo size 10 dpns. I'm slowly replacing all my dopey aluminum dpns with either a bamboo, casein or bryspun. I dislike the alum ones, they are far too slick, unyielding and just unpleasant to work with.

I made some significant progress on the Hogwarts scarf. I finished the last yellow band and have started the last burgundy one. I'll have it done tomorrow and more than likely blocked. I'd really like to have it done done by the end of the weekend. The navy pea coat that I ordered is shipping Tuesday so I should have it later in the week, just in time with both of them for the cold weather that is approaching.

Happy days...

2004-11-05T14:55:00.000-05:00

Yeti is staying!!! Whoooppeeee. As really the only thing I don't have the energy/time to do with him is groom him, I asked Chris if she would. Could I perhaps lure her to NJ with the promise of lunch, spinning and playing with the twins in exchange? She's willing to arrange something. YEA! I can't express how happy this makes me. I was so upset with the thought of Yeti's leaving... and not because it meant that I failed at something. I really do like the little guy. I love the fur therapy I get from him. I absolutely adore his binkies. I love when he pulls a carrot from my hands and jumps on back to the rear of his cage. He seriously digs brussel sprouts too. Maybe I can even learn the quicker clip method from Chris and even that won't be the chore that it has turned into.

I'm sure Earl Grey will be happy that his white, fuzzy buddy is staying with us. The two of them can continue to romp around.

Knittin' News

More celebrations to be had... I'm now a member of the Knitting Blogs ring. YEA!! I also volunteered to be a ring checker. What the heck, I haven't much to do at work, and I'm surfing the ring anyway. Waiting to hear on that.

Progress has been made on the Hogwarts scarf. I'm halfway done on the 7th yellow stripe. There will be a total of 9 yellows and 10 burgundies. I'm oh so close to finishing this puppy. If not this weekend, early next week. I've found I can do 1.5 to 2 stripes a day and that is nothing more than commuting time and lunch.

I had to rip out the sock last night. It was huge around the foot and the heel was too long and pointy. I know its not for me and while I haven't quite decided who it really is for, either intended victim has feet not much bigger than me. I restarted it, but this time it is cuff down and I'm doing a 2x2 rib that I'll continue through the top half of the foot. I've got about 2" done already. I love socks, they go so fast.

I've given serious thought to the Kris Kringle gift the knit club at work is doing. We drew names today and I think the gift idea I had yesterday will work beautifully for my intended victim .. er beneficiary. Nothing more mentioned in case said victim is a reader. :)

I just wish I had more time. I have so many projects that I want to do without even going into the fact that the wheels are sitting around ignored. In my blogsurfing, I've seen such wonderful projects that just inspire me to try my hand at new things. I really want to knit the thrummed mittens. I want to try two-color work again. I want to do something with texture like the cables that I saw over on ChicKnits. Need more time. Or less sleep. Hmm.. I used to do so much with less sleep. Getting spoiled by the babies sleeping 10 hour straight. Must be getting soft.

What kind of sheep...

2004-11-04T15:16:00.000-05:00

We haven't had a quiz in a little bit so here's a good one...

You are a -
Hippy Sheep!
Peace dude, flower power, ban the bomb... more grass please.

Which flock do you follow?

this quiz was made by alanna

Knitting progresses

2004-11-04T12:01:00.000-05:00

I've actually been making progress on two fronts so far this week. I turned the heel on the first sock I'm knitting out of the Happy Trails Sock yarn in the Blueberries colorway. Here's a picture of that yummy yarn.

I bought this shortly before I found myself lying in the hospital in 2003. I remember getting my mother to hold her hands out so I could wind it into a ball :) Its a wonderful superwash merino wool and it is patterning nicely. IIRC, I started a baby cardigan out of it before I decided that knitting was far too difficult to do while lying on your side in a hospital bed. Saturday I started the first sock while the twins played on the floor. It's been sitting in the basket next to the couch which my every-other-week housekeeper really doesn't want sitting next to the couch. Oh well, tis better to have to replace the basket than scrub the bathroom :) Anyway, these socks are most likely for the twins' daycare teacher. I'm giving the ladies knit items and probably a giftcard to good old b&n for the holidays. I should have plenty of time.

I've also made progress on the Hogwarts scarf. I'm past the halfway point on it. No recent pictures of it, but close your eyes and imagine 6 red stripes with 5 yellow ones :) It has been my commuting buddy. I've actually discovered that I can walk and knit at the same time.. and NOT fall on my face. Probably not quite as alert as NJTransit would like me to be as to my surroundings. Nevertheless, it is still a great project for working on while standing on the platform. I just tuck the end of the scarf in my pocket, or wrap it over my shoulder. Hell, I was tempted to wear it this morning!

Abominable snow rabbits

While I haven't yet had the time and/or energy to tackle Yeti's much overdue grooming, he has been getting a little out of the cage time and a better selection of foodstuff. Last night he had his first taste of brussel sprouts and a yummy stalk of celery. Looked pretty odd lying together in the cage, but I'm slightly twisted. I don't think there is anything on the schedule for this weekend, so I might be able to clip him then. It's just so difficult... well the clip isn't difficult. Its the psyching myself up to do it that is. The last one was three nights of wrestling with him after the twins went to sleep. I know, I know it wouldn't be so bad if I didn't let it get so out of hand. I tell myself that every single time I clip him. Actually Maria surprised the hell out of me and cleaned his cage this week. Holy bunny droppings Batman. Hmmm, now if I could get her to clip him....

Trick or Treat

2004-11-01T21:34:00.000-05:00

The twins had their first real Halloween. Last year they were all of 3 weeks old and I put them in "costume" bibs. Kat was a cheerleader and Alex a pumpkin. I'll have to dig up the picture of that, its on a CD around here someplace. This year we went to Randi's house and they played with their cousins, Danny and Mitchell. At around 4:30, we put on costumes and posed for this picture, followed by Trick-Or-Treating.

Mitchell was Captain Hook, Danny was Peter Pan, Kat was a lady bug and Alexander was a bumble bee (stinger included :) The boys did the doorbell thing while the twins napped in the stroller, first Kat, then Alex. After dinner and a bath, we piled back in the car for the ride home. The monkeys slept the whole way and went from the car to the crib without stirring.

Knit Club

Friday was Knit Club at the office. Once upon a time we called ourselves YARN (Yarnaholics Anonymous Rehabilitation Network :), but we really don't want to be rehabilitated.

Witness my having to go back to School Products today and get more yarn for the Hogwarts scarf. I picked up two more skeins of each color, if I don't use the second one, I can always return them for credit (snicker snicker), though I don't think it will be necessary. I'm sure I'm going to need that extra skein as I hit the middle mark on the burgundy stripes and have 1 yd of yarn from the first skein left. If the second 1/2 of burgundy stripes uses the same amount, and I believe it will, then I wouldn't have any yarn for the fringe. This way, I can complete the thing and make a matching hat. Here's where I was at the end of KNITclub:

Bad at math

2004-10-28T15:35:00.000-04:00

First: WAY TO GO RED SOX! Okay, I know I live in the New York area, but I can't help rooting for the Red Sox. Partly it's because I live in the NY Area and not NY itself that I have this love/hate relationship with NY. Short story, I root for the Boston teams whenever possible, even if it means rooting against someone local. Sort of like Randi adopted the Philly teams, well Mike helped there, I picked up Bos. Makes hockey season, when there is one, very interesting. Randi/Mike = Flyers, Rikki = Rangers, Mom= Devils, Me = Bruins. Baseball is slightly better as mom will root for any NY team and doesn't really pick between the Yankees and the Mets. I don't think she likes the Sox though and nearly threw me out last week when I made it obvious I had picked the Sox over the Yanks. Oh well.

Well the good news is I decided on which project I wanted to start after Alex's hat. The Hogwart's Scarf won the contest. Partly because I didn't have to wind any balls of yarn from skeins. The Lamb's Pride makes it really easy to use. I'll give them that!

Okay, what is it with casting on? CO 70 st. Sounds simple enough. I are a college graduate and should reasonably be able to count to 70, especially if I have a running count as I proceed. Sigh. I finished what the running count said was 70 and counted again. 71sts? Okay, so I took one off and counted again. This time it was 69. Oy. I cast on another stitch. 70! I counted again to make sure. And again.

I managed to knit the first stripe of burgundy and half of the yellow before the game ended and it was time for bed. On the train this morning, I knit more so by the time I got to the office, I had two rows to go on the second stripe. With a total of 19 stripes, not such bad progress.

Now the downside. For a math/science programmer type, math isn't always my friend. I have a bit of trouble with the grams to ounce conversions. I blame it on my age. Not that I'm old, I'm just of that generation where they did a half-assed, if any assed, job of teaching us the metric system after they had drilled the imperial system into my head. So while the pattern said that two 100gm/200yd skeins of EACH color were sufficient, I struggled with the grams to ounces, blah blah blah and only picked up one of each. I kind of missed the fact that the gram weight was in parens on the ball band. Blah.

This isn't such a terrible thing as I was finding the knitup stuff a bit scritchy from around my neck area. I have no problems with it on the inside of my wrists, but on my neck, yowsa. I'm pretty sure it is the mohair content in this yarn that is giving me problems. I think I'm going to use the two colors to make a coordinating hat for the scarf. I have the gauge and can start it up on the train tonight. Doh. I ordered some Brown Sheep Nature Spun in bordeaux and sunburst gold. Hmm.. Maybe I should hold off on the hat until I see how the colors blend when the yarn arrives. I guess I'm making Kat's hat tonight... or Koigu socks....

I think I found the pattern for the angora/silk yarn that I want to use. It is Wendy Knits Japanese Lantern Scarf. It should be quick and easy to knit and yet yield a beautiful scarfy thing.

No crafty pictures to post, so I wanted to put up one of my favorite pictures of my father with Alexander.

Another FO...

2004-10-27T21:29:00.000-04:00

Last night during the Red Sox game, I ripped out the hat I had started for Alexander out of the angora/silk yarn. I opted for a more kid friendly yarn and found acrylic yarn in a wedgewood blue, Caron's Simply Soft, that for acrylic yarn isn't bad. It's a worsted weight so the hat would take far less time. I found in last year's knitting bag a hat I had started for him out of the same yarn and got my stitch count from that :) Off to Ann Budd's book again with the 5st/in count. I cast on and had the 1x1 rib done by the time the game ended. I started the straight stitching this morning on the train in. It was then that I decided that I needed a field trip to School Products for new dpns. The 8's that I was using were super slick aluminum. Erickka came with me and we went at lunch. I got some very nice bamboo Crystal Palace double pointers. I switched the hat over to them (btw I can knit under my desk ) and had 60% of the knitting done before I got home tonight. I just finished the remainder of it while watching the beginning of the game. Since the boy is already asleep, I couldn't get him to model it. The cabbage patch kid wouldn't cooperate either. Maybe tomorrow.

I couldn't just come back with a set of needles now, could I? Nope. I was good the last time I made the trip there with Priya and got NOTHING. I couldn't believe it. I had to make up for that trip, which is just so easy considering how much really nice yarn they have there. What did my little fiber feeling fingers find there for the first time? KOIGU! I've never seen Koigu up close and personal. Being the avid sock knitter that I am, I've wanted to try it for oh so long. Now I have my chance. I picked up two skeins, which with my little feet should be more than enough. I could probably make a pair for Kat out of the remainder. I also decided that I wanted to knit myself a Hogwarts Scarf, so I got myself Lamb's Pride yarn in Gryffindor colors. I also grabbed a size 8 16" circ from Crystal Palace as well to knit the scarf.

Now the tough decision that I always hate, what do I knit next? The koigu socks? The scarf? A hat for Kat? Decisions, decisions, decisions. I find finishing a knitting project much like finishing a book. I excitedly finish it and then I flounder a bit looking for the next project. This is where I usually get into serious trouble and start far more than one. I'll fiddle with one thing, pick up the next, until either I force myself to finish one or it just grabs my attention. I find that it happens more so when I have the yarn, pattern and inspiration for more than one project and they are all equally calling for me. That's the case right now. I'll figure it out. I'd also like to add a scarf/shawl in a lace out of the angora/silk yarn to the list. I also have to consider something that would be super easy to knit under my desk ;)

Even harder decisions

While I made my decision regarding Yeti, and a new home is being search for, I find myself waffling on the decision to get rid of him. After the twins went to bed last night, I left the baby gate up in the kitchen and took him out to play. Instead of torturing him with a clip (yes I know it is time for one), I figured we'd be best off just playing a bit. Letting him romp around somewhere larger than his cage. He played for an hour, while I restored order to the domicile. Now of course, I'm thinking, 'hell I can do this every night'. 'He's not that much work', and 'geez, clipping him isn't all that terrible'. While his new home is more than a week away, I'm very tempted to see if I can restore his former enjoyable life in that week without exhausting myself. At the very least, I would like to give him his grooming. I just don't know what to do anymore...

Hard decisions

2004-10-26T10:23:00.000-04:00

It is with a heavy heart that I've come to a decision. I can no longer keep my very sweet abominable snow bunny, Yeti. It isn't fair to him. Before the twins, well before I was confined to the hospital for extended bedrest, Yeti could be seen romping around the living room or kitchen at least 3 times a week, if not every night. He was a happy bunny that would do binkies and turn figure eights around my legs. He would pop up on the couch, do his binkies and then come over to me for a scritchin'. While his cage wasn't always as clean as it should have been, he was fed regularly and a great variety of fresh veggies and some fruits. Unfortunately, with the complications of my pregnancy and now with twins in the house, he's borderline neglected. He does have food and water, the scritch on the nose when I fill his bowl, but his romping days have ended. His feedings aren't scheduled like they used to be and I can be heard asking him, "Have I fed you yet?" Sadly he comes out of the cage solely to be groomed and I'm ashamed to admit that his current grooming is way overdue. While I'm loathe to admit that I am not superwoman and can't do it all, I really am not and this stubbornness only serves to hurt Yeti. He's suffering and its just not fair to him to put him through this. I see him cringe in the corner of his cage almost nightly as one the kids cries for a bottle or has a tantrum because they can't play with something. He had a better life and through no fault of his own, he lost the good times. I just can't continue to subject him to this. He does deserve better and I want that for him. Tears brim my eyes even as I type this.

Beginning hats

2004-10-25T12:30:00.000-04:00

While I started Alexander's knit hat late last week, think it was Thursday night with a top down pattern, I wasn't happy with it. I ripped it out Friday night, after determining my 7.5 st/in gauge. I pulled out the Ann Budd book, Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns.

There's a nice hat pattern with multiple gauges and sizes. I'm doing a pretty simple one for the boy, with a 1x1 rib for 1.5" and then will straight knit to the reduction for the crown. It's so nice and soft in the angora/silk blend yarn. Hopefully the kid will actually wear it. I should have it done pretty soon as it is pretty simple, but at 7.5 st/in, it will take me longer than I initially expected.

Still no spinning time this weekend, but that's all right. I'll get some shortly. Not like this stage of life will continue forever. Nothing ever does. When I can get back to it, I'll have plenty to keep me busy. I'm hoping that when the woolee winder flyer for the electric spinner arrives that I can switch to using that on the end table and get some spinning done without injuring curious little fingers. That's the primary reason I haven't spun recently. Alex is far too curious as it is with the wheels sitting in various corners of the living room. He's been known to go over and turn the drive wheel and watch the flyer go round. He got especially curious about the Lendrum Upright this weekend when the flyer didn't turn (the driveband had slipped and was tucked behind the wheel). He found the orifice and stuck his little soggy finger in it. He has a thing for orifice hooks as well. I had to pry the one from the Saxony out of his hands last night. I'm going to have to remember where I stashed the things when I need them. Right now, none of the wheels have their hooks with them. I guess that's why I've been using the Journey Wheel recently :)

I was hoping to get a little craft time last night after I cleaned the kitchen and recovered the living room from the little monkey tornados that spent the day there. No such luck. All of a sudden my super sleeping baby girl is not such the super sleeping tot. She goes to bed pretty well, but has been waking up screaming and won't go back to sleep without a little cuddling from mama. Early Sunday morning she woke at @12:30 a.m. I took her to bed with me and she slept until 7:30. Last night, they went down at 8 and she was up screaming at 8:40. She went back to sleep while cuddling with me and then was up almost as soon as she hit the crib mattress. The two of us fell asleep on the couch watching the end of the baseball game. Go Soxs! As an aside, I'm seriously moved by the performance of Schilling. Those bloody socks are an inspiration as to what a real pro-athletes will do for the team. His is above and beyond the call of duty that is much appreciated by the fans and really awe inspiring. Side track over, I'm not sure what to do about Kat's sleep issue. I'm temporarily writing it off to her separation anxiety (she cried and reached out for me as I put her in Miss Donna's hands this morning at daycare) and teething (I feel a nifty lump in her gums as this first year molars are working their way in) issues. I really hope the problem resolves soon. I'm tired and the living room is a mess ;)

I did get to port all my junk into the messenger bag last night and managed to make it so heavy that I really didn't enjoy carrying it this morning. I found it heavy and bulky. When I get the Budd book out of it tonight, I'm hoping it will be better. Instead of wearing across my body, I found it more comfortable on one shoulder with the strap shortened a bit. I'll give it a week.

What Kind of Yarn...

2004-10-23T22:02:00.000-04:00

Here's another quiz I found...

You are Shetland Wool.
You are a traditional sort who can sometimes be a
little on the harsh side. Though you look
delicate you are tough as nails and prone to
intricacies. Despite your acerbic ways you are
widely respected and even revered.

What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I never realized that quizzes could be so accurate :)

I bought a messenger bag at Target today. I haven't had a chance to transfer everything to it yet. This afternoon has been sooo busy. The twins stayed at their grandparents' house last night so I could get a good nights sleep. My folks are downright nifty. I had 8 uninterrupted, glorious hours of sleep! Earl Grey woke me this morning nibbling on my fingers at 7am. Had to get up anyway ;) I was at Target at 8:30, at the mall at 10, supermarket at 12 and then getting my hair cut at 1. Whew. 3:30 we (mom, dad, kat & I) took Alex to Dad's barber for his first big boy haircut! He was such a good little man, sat very nicely in my lap and now he looks like less of a baby. Sigh. They grow up so quickly. Got home and made some Tuna Noodle Casserole. It was pretty yummy and there's plenty left for lunches next week. I just straightened up the house and am ready for a nap myself.

I haven't had any time to knit or spin today, though I did order more fleece :) I saw an email this morning advertising some seriously fine Saxon Merino fleece from New Zealand. I'm getting a 2.82 # fleece. According to the post, their fleeces tend to run 13-15 microns. Now that is superfine! Think of the laceweight I can get out of that! I'm going to have to get the Lendrum Saxony ready for that.

Well, need to clean the litterbox and then off to watch the Sox ..

Musings

2004-10-22T11:33:00.000-04:00

I have to re-examine my use of that recently acquired knitting bag as my current commuter tote bag. While it has done a stupendous job of holding the junk I want/need to carry to the office, as well as my current knitting project, supplies and a book for when knitting isn't convenient. The shoulder straps are too short for fall/winter coat commuting. I'm having a hard time getting it on my shoulder over my 3 season coat. Phooey. I'll have to take a look at some messenger bags this weekend to see if I can get something that will do the job.

Call me the queen of the commuter bag. I have quite the collection. I need something that isn't too big, but not too small at the same time. I want to be able to carry my knitting (decent sized project, doesn't have to carry an afghan), the pattern, accessories, lunch, a book, palm pilot, iPod, cell phone, id's, and a wallet. The current wallet has space for the checkbook, a lipstick, keys and has a nice long should strap. As long as I've been commuting, I've been on the quest for the perfect commuter bag. While reading some other blogs, I discovered that I'm not the only one with this problem. Warms my heart to know I'm not alone. I've got to hit the stores this weekend anyway. Xander needs a new pair of shoes, we're running low on diapers and there's just enough food to get through a pb&j sandwich for lunch.

Expanding Boundaries

I've been reading Autobiography of a One-Year-Old by Rohan Candappa. Quite the amusing book it is. I read this paragraph on the train home last night:

The first steps in any endeavor are always the most important. For without the first steps, no journey can ever be made. I take my first steps in joy, in trepidation and in hope. And I will try to make my journey an exploration of the possible, an exhortation of delight and an example for those yet to come. Success or failure in my endeavors are outcomes that lie far over the misty horizon that is the road ahead. For now I am just grateful that in the journey that is my life, I have taken my first steps.

While this text was placed in the chapter about a child's first beginning to walk, it made me think about all the different first steps in our lives. My mind wandered to some recent comments made by fellow knitters/spinners regarding some of the things I've accomplished. Most often I hear from other knitters that while they admire my lace work, they doubt their skills would ever enable them to knit a lace shawl. I say go for it. If you have mastered the knit and purl stitches, and have a basic understanding of how to read a pattern, there is no reason why you cannot knit lace. Yes I've been knitting for a long time, far longer than I care to ponder. But I wasn't born knitting lace. I had to venture out and try it. My first items weren't spectacular, but they were indeed first steps on a journey. A journey that I took in fear and hope, but has led me to lace. You don't know what you can't do until you've tried it. Sure all those blocks in the charted design can be intimidating, but isn't mastery over the intimidating so fulfilling? 'Nuff said. Go try lace :)

Knitting time

While I did start knitting up a hat for one of the kids last night in the train station, I didn't get much further than that. I'm doing a simple hat, from the top down. Probably for Xander. I was too interested in the book, or too tired, can't remember why I didn't knit on the train. Maybe I did, I'm just too tired to remember. Last night wasn't the restful night that I was planning on. I had to clean the rabbit's cage (eeew stinky bunny) and the twins just wouldn't stay asleep. Xander really didn't want to sleep so he cried for a while. I spent some time rocking him to sleep. Though he would keep waking up crying. Must be the shots from the day before... or teething (always a handy dandy blame-it-all). At one point he woke Kat so I had them both crying. She usually sleeps right through his noise, but go figure, not last night. I got him finally to sleep at 10:15. I then was faced with an unhappy and very awake Kat. I gave her the rest of her bedtime bottle, rocked her and she finally went to bed at 11pm. So much for going to sleep early. Maybe tonight.

At least today is Knit Club at work. Woo hoo. I love getting together with the girls in Conference Room F (F for fibery fun) for an hour's worth of stitchin' & bitchin'. Deb, my designer commuting bud, suggested I mix the pink and white pearl buttons on Kat's sweater so I'm going to sew those on today. If there's still time, I'll go back to working the hat.

Series over, Sweater Knitting Done

2004-10-21T13:36:00.000-04:00

Well the Yankees/Red Socks series is done, as is the knitting on Kat's Cardigan. I finished knitting the collar in the Secaucus Transfer Station yesterday while waiting for my train. Watching the game I worked in all the ends and kitchenered the armpits. I've never successfully used the kitchener stitch before but I finally got it! Jacqueline Fee does an excellent job of explaining it as does this website (which also has super pictures).

I went digging through the button collection and sadly don't have enough of either pink pearl buttons or white ones. I have 3 of each and 5 button holes. I'm debating alternating them on the cardigan front or just giving in and buying more this weekend.

Here's a picture of the buttonless, but now 99% complete cardigan:

I balled up the silk/angora yarn I bought from Chris and have it in my bag now. During lunch I'm going to swatch it. I'm probably going to make a simple hat, working from the crown down, or maybe another one like last year's for Kat. I had knitted what reminded me of a elf hat with about an inch of i-cord at the top of it. Looked awfully cute on her. Xander had a more simple hat. I need to work with this yarn before I really am sure what to do with it.

Baby Update

Well yesterday was the monkeys one year check up! Dr. Rona pronounced them fine. They are developmentally on-track and healthy. Xander took the checkup like a pro. Didn't flinch when they poked his finger for the hemoglobin test. Kat wasn't quite the trooper she normally is. Hated having her finger held to get the blood into the little doohickey. Didn't want to get her ears checked. Seriously hated the shot. My little miss sunshine cried through most of her checkup. She was tired and dealing with a poop-burn diaper rash. Poor thing. With a bit of the new cream Dr. Rona prescribed and the Triple Paste on her bum, she's much much better today. Xander and Kat both measure in the 75th percentile for both height and weight.

Xander is a child easily distracted by shiny pebbles on his way. This morning I had him crawl from their bedroom to the kitchen for breakfast, while I carried his sister. Unfortunately the litter box is across the hall from the door to his room. That's as far as he made it. I should have known better. While the box is a covered box, it still has a door. Silly I know. Well, for the first time instead of just beating on the top of it and playing with the handle, the boy ventured into that door. Not all of him, just that disobedient hand that just wants to get him into trouble. We use that scoopable clumping litter, does anyone not use this stuff these days? I really don't have to go much further, do I? Icky story short, I wiped his mouth out with a bunch of napkins and asked Mom to see if she could brush his teeth. Eeewwwww.

Pictureless progress...

2004-10-20T13:59:00.000-04:00

No pictures today. I stayed up way too late last night watching the Yankees and Red Socks go at it once again. While I'm excited that there's going to be another game, I'm still tired. At least I know tomorrow night I can get some sleep.

I sat on the couch, all tingly with excitement over the game, knitting my little heart out on Kat's Cardigan. I got through all the raglan shoulder shaping and even past the collar. I'm now in the middle of the 1" neckband. After that, I just have to work in the ends, kitchener the armpits, put some buttons on it and block it. I have to check the button stash, but I'm pretty sure I have those little pearl buttons. Yarn usage has been 4 skeins of the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Baby. I got a super buy on it via eBay. IIRC, it cost me $44 for ten skeins, including shipping. I couldn't pass that up. I'm going to use my new noste tonight and wind the angora/silk yarn into a ball so I can swatch it for their hats.

Single Project v. Multiples

I'm surprised to find recently that I've become pretty much a single knitting project person recently. I've always had more projects on the needles than you could shake a stick at. Now, just Kat's sweater. I think it's because my craft time has been so greatly reduced to just about the commute time (couch knitting is a recent re-addition) that I've kept the task list small. I did have two projects going for a bit, but this year, if I do have more than one, it's generally two very different kinds of projects. One is usually a big one that gets consigned to couch knitting. The other is usually something small/easy that I can do on the train or standing on the subway platform.

On the other hand, the MPD has been picked up significantly by the spinning projects. With 6 wheels and probably a ton, well maybe not quite that much, of fiber, I have a hard time keeping the spinning projects to a handful. Each wheel has a bobbin of something different on it. Some wheels, like the lendrum upright, where I have 9 bobbins, have several different fibers on bobbins (1 cormo, 1 cheingora, 1 romney). That's not even getting into the spindles. I must have 6 different spinning projects going there as well! I'm trying hard to fight the MPD and actually clean out some of the fiber stash. I get soooo close to finishing a roving and then something new shows up and I get distracted. I have one more bobbin's worth of the llamney. Think I've finished it? Nope. Haven't even started spinning it. The rest has been plied and is sitting on the large bobbin waiting. Not that it really matters, I have baskets of yarn that I just can't keep up with. I don't have enough knitting time to use it all, nor do I want to use some of it. I find I spin for the shear joy of spinning. Most often there isn't a project in mind when I sit with a fiber. Sometimes there is, but it usually is an amorphous one, oh this roving wants to be a sweater, or heck, that would make a nice hat. Generally it's socks, but who the heck needs that many socks from a 1lb roving spun sockweight? Not me. I guess I could start giving gifts ;) But then there's the limited knitting time. Hell right now, I'm enjoying my time with the twins. There will be plenty of time ahead for knitting and spinning. The babies are what are really important.

What kind of knitter...

2004-10-19T11:26:00.000-04:00

While I generally don't like taking quizzes, I had to take this one and share it!

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting and do it all the time. While finishing a piece is the plan, you still love the process, and can't imagine a day going by without giving some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation involves leaving ample space for the stash and supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn ends and you begin. http://marniemaclean.com What Kind of Knitter Are You? brought to you by Quizilla

I think that pretty much sums me up nicely. I actually got some serious knitting time last night. I parked myself on the couch at 8:30 after the twins went to bed, turned on the Yankees/Red Sox game and watched/knitted until the end. I made it well into the raglan reduction area and actually enjoyed watching baseball. How I thought baseball was boring before is beyond me. I can't wait to enjoy the game tonight :)

Yesterday on the train home I was mentally complaining about having to turn the cardigan around as I hit the end of each row. It was then that I remember that I had learned to knit with my other hand and starting knitting back rather than purling. Sweet. I love options. I struggled through this so I could actually follow the complete pattern for that icelandic shawl rather than having to mentally reverse everything. While it isn't quite as fast as my "regular" knitting, it is serviceable and gets the job done.

While knitting away on this cardigan, I'm trying to decide what the next project is going to be. While I should, in fairness, start a cardigan for Alexander, I think the needs for hats for the twins is more pressing. I'll have to start swatching the yarn from Chris. Wednesday they are getting their one-year check ups so the Doctor's office will be giving me head measurements. Convenient!

Rhinebeck

I love the festivals. This past festival was no different. Having seen weather reports that predicted a 30% chance of rain, I was very pleased to wake up to a clear blue skies. For a change I didn't need the 45min snooze factor on the alarm clock and bounded out of bed. I was showered and dressed before 6:30! I woke the twins, dressed them around their socks, and we had breakfast. We were on the road by 8am. We picked up Kathy in Paramus at about 8:20 and were heading up north. I had such a nice time chatting with Kathy that I pretty much got into that driving zone and nearly missed the exit. My mind had it that we hadn't been on the road long enough! I was being directed to a parking space at the festival grounds at 9:30am. And I swear, I wasn't driving all that fast! It was a beautiful drive, the sky was clear, the road was pretty empty and the fall foliage was gorgeous.

I met old friends and new friends. I saw copious amounts of fibers, yarn and equipment of all kinds. I tried spinning on a three flyer Golding spinning wheel and fell in love! The treadling was effortless. It was so smooth. There were no bumps, no jerks, nothing. Wonderful wheel. Just needs some serious $$$ to add it to the collection. Vicki suggested that I quickly trade the Goldings one of the twins for the wheel. Hmm, not a bad idea. Since Alex was up at 3:30 this morning, I think I'll trade him :) We won't go into the wonderful $2k+ chair that I sat on to test the wheel. Heaven.

I also tried spinning on a Quebec Canadian Production Wheel by the Merlin Tree. A very very nice wheel. I initially had issues getting the single treadle going but that was a result of the wheel sitting directly on the concrete floor. I changed positions a bit and finally got it going nicely. Now I just need $$$ and space and I can add more wheels to the fold.

I think having the stroller had a positive effect on the checkbook. There were quite a number of places I couldn't take it and contented myself to peek into booths from the main aisle. I met up with friends from various mailing lists that I'm on, as well as from the spinning guild. It was a nice time and I'm sad to see it end. I think I'll bring the twins to Maryland in May!

Rhinebeck!!!

2004-10-18T13:51:00.000-04:00

Woo Hoo! Saturday the twins and I went to NY Sheep and Wool Festival!!! Love the festival!!! I'd been going through some SERIOUS fiber fair withdrawal. Thanks to the pregnancy and due date, the last fair I went to was Maryland in 2003. Okay, whine over :) For not having gone in a while, I'll have to say that I was pretty darn well behaved and kept my purchases to a minimum = hehehe.

While I went with a moratorium on new fleeces (I do this for every festival - NY2002 came home with 5 ;), I bought a beautiful fleece. Only one. This is 7 lbs of cormo/corriedale cross in beautiful shades of gray. It is so soft and the colors are so beautiful. They called to me and I had to make the fleece mine. I think either a sweater and/or a shawl is called for.

I got a wonderful spindle from some of my favorite people, the Bosworths. It is a featherweight in Red Cedar, weighing in at a super scary lightweight 9 grams. I was spinning a frog hair out of a lock of Laurie's shetland and as the picture shows, there is still more from this ONE lock.

I got three pounds of roving from Little Barn. Love their pre-order system! Instead of waiting forever in line for them, I browsed from the comfort of my desk, sent an email, paid with paypal and walked to the table, picked up my bag. Easy as pie. I got a lb each of Rambo, CVM and Polwarth. I just love those fine wools.

While I've started an Orenburg shawl using an Australian merino fleece and my Lendrum Saxony wheel, I was intrigued by the spindles the ladies use. I've been toying with the idea of buying one or two when faced with a website that sold them. Well, there was a booth at the festival that sold the shawls, laceweight yarn and a spindle kit. In the box is: one spindle, one plying spindle, a support bowl, 3 circles of cardboard for use as bobbins, a book, a hank of silk, baggies of fine fiber (cormo, merino, cashmere, etc). I'm really looking forward to trying my hand with this spindle.

Just so you don't think that the knitting hobby was overlooked (we won't mention that most of this yarn gets knitted after being spun up :) I bought some knitting stuff as well. 2 skeins of supremely yummy angora/silk yarn from Chris! (Hi Chris :) Evil being she is. She was wandering around the fair with a scarf around her neck that she knitted up from this yarn (in a different color). I had to fondle it. I also had to get some for myself when she mentioned that she had skeins of it in colors perfect for baby stuff :) Thanks Chris! :) I also got a nice knitting carryall/totebag which I'm now using. It's really nice and so far so good works well for commuting. Sneaking into this picture is the noste that I got from Janet Lynn of The Wheel Thing. Last but not least is an 8oz skein of sportweight 100% alpaca yarn from A Touch of Twist. It is soooo soft. I think it wants to be a vest for me, but we'll see.

I even managed to get some work done on Kat's sweater this weekend. I finished the second sleeve to the armpit and am working up to the decrease area for the raglan. Another row or two and I'll be there. I have to start thinking about buttons for it.

More about the festival tomorrow!

Socks done

2004-10-13T13:31:00.000-04:00

Well I finished the socks for the twins last night!

I like how the color patterns are random. One pair is closer in color layout than the other. This picture is a better represenation of the colors, but it is still a bit washed out. You get the general idea though. I spun the roving in random lengths, generally between repeats. I plied the single on itself so the yarn is a mix of solids (blue, green, lilac) and mixes of the three. I worked the ends in after I took the picture so the socks are completely done. The twins will be able to wear them Saturday to the festival.

Speaking of the festival, I asked their daycare teacher this morning if one of her daughters would like to come to the festival with me as a mother's helper. I really hope she can. I don't even want to think what it would be like without some help.

I went back to Kat's cardigan and finished the cuff on the second sleeve and started the "body" of it. The rest of the sleeve should take no time at all. I'm using the percentage sweater cardigan from Jacqueline Fee's Sweater Workshop. (I have an extra copy of this book if someone is looking for one :)

I actually had some work to do this morning! Wooooo. Done though. I just got something else, but its cruddy busy work and I'd rather do anything but cruddy busy work. I hope this situation changes for the better soon. Idle is a baaaad thing for me.

On another happy note, Kathryn Rachel took her very first step last night! I'm so proud of my little girl.

Socks progress

2004-10-12T14:07:00.000-04:00

I've made some progress on the socks for the twins. I started the heel on the train home last night and finished it on the couch after they went to bed (and before my eyes started to close). I'm just south of the ribbing now. I should have it done tonight. After that, it is back to Kat's cardigan. I still need to make one for Alex, not to mention a couple of hats for them. If this morning is any indication, cold weather is indeed a comin'. I hate winter. I sorta hate fall too, if only that it is a precursor to winter.

I'll take another picture in better lighting when the socks are all done. The colors are completely lost here. They are soooo soft though. I'm hoping that there is enough yarn left over that I can get a pair out of the remainder. It's a yummy blue-faced leicester, one of my favorite breeds.

Major stash acquisition this weekend. I can't wait for Rhinebeck! I haven't been to a fiber festival since Maryland 2003. The twins were too small to take to Rhinebeck last year and it was just a logistical nightmare to bring them to Maryland. I've been in festival withdrawal. I haven't missed a NYSW festival since I started spinning in '99 was it? I've already pre-ordered a couple of things. I'm getting a featherweight spindle from the Bosworths and a couple of different rovings (Polwarth, Rambo and CVM) from Little Barn. Yeah yeah, like I need more stuff. I've actually been spinning recently. I've put a huge dent into the luscious cream llamney (70/30 llama/romney) that I got from Julie at Foxcross Farm. I've got one more bobbin's worth to spin on the journey wheel and then I'm off to ply on the Lendrum Saxony.

Wish today was over already. Bored at work and sleepy from lunch. Need some coffee. I think a trip to Starbucks is called for.

Twins win

2004-10-11T15:37:00.000-04:00

I haven't had a heck of alot of time for crafting recently as the fulltime job and the now 1-year old twins conspire against my having much time. I can't believe they are a year old already! Where in heck did time go. They had their birthday on Saturday and the family had the party yesterday. Kathryn lived up to her princess nickname and had to be fork fed her birthday cake. Alexander got more into the spirit of the event! Unbelievable where icing can get to :)

I was able to do a little on the final sock that I'm knitting out of this yummy BFL that I bought off ebay last year from Dyeing For Fiber in their Everglades colorway. I'm working in a toe-up, short row yarn over heel that I can't currently remember where I got the pattern from. Oh wait, it was the Twisted Sisters Sock Workshop. I have to get a picture of them as soon as I can remember to get my camera back from mom's. I left it in my camera bag when I left the video camera there at her request yesterday after the party.

Friday I finished the first sleeve to the armpit on the cardigan I'm knitting for Kat out of that yummy Debbie Bliss Cashmerino baby that I got from ebay. I started the second sleeve and hopefully that sweater will be done soon too.

Bored at work. Have nothing to do, I think I'm going to knit under my desk.