Lady Nea Knitsalot

Goodbye Blogger!

2008-02-08T00:28:00.000-08:00

You can now find me at Redeemed Rose over on Wordpress. See you there!

A few reasons I may not blog this weekend...

2008-02-07T23:18:00.000-08:00

1) Nothing much going on knitting-wise
2) After fighting with blogger and google, I'm now exploring the possibility of moving to wordpress.
3) Spring semester starts monday, so I may not even be home this weekend.
4) I've been looking around, and finding really cool beads and materials for stitch markers. I've been very tempted to keep them for myself so I'm keeping them in a special jar that I won't allow myself to get into until I take the pictues to post them up on etsy.
5) Blogger is still not letting me spell check which was the last straw. Hopefully I will be using wordpress soon!

What Can I Say?

2008-02-05T21:22:00.000-08:00

It's rhetorical, but how is it that I only seem to be able to meet guys online? The guys I meet around here either don't like me in that way or never pluck up the courage to tell me. So I meet guys online where never seeing my face actually boosts my confidence that it isn't just my looks the guy is after. Then again, they can also turn out to be the guys I'll just suddenly stop hearing from.

Anyway, no knitting today because Starsky is still drying. The extra moisture that has been hanging around with all this unusual rain is putting a damper on my knitting getting closer to the comfortable state I call dry.
On the positive side, this means that I'll block the sleeves as soon as the other pieces are dry so they'll be ready as soon as I finish the collar. In the meantime, I've been restocking my stitch marker supplies and I'm trying to put together a few sets to rebuild the shop since I let it close over the holidays.

And now to try to wind down and fall asleep to reset my clock as I haven slept at all for the past 33 hours. Good night.

I Love Wool

2008-02-05T03:07:00.000-08:00

I've been knitting along on Starsky, and a back, two fronts and two sleeves later I realised that my gauge was off. I knew my row gauge had been off but I dismissed it because I knew I could work with that. Except now I found that for every four inches I had 1.5 extra sts between the markers defining 4 inches across. If I had knit this sweater in anything else in my stash, I would have been forced to rip it all out. And then I realized I could just block it. And viola! I now have perfectly sized sweater pieces drying on my floor.

Now, I'm going to sign of and decide whether to go to sleep or be the first person at my polling place tomorrow morning.

Starsky, a project that may finish before it gets warm.

2008-01-28T22:32:00.001-08:00

Starsky3
Originally uploaded by Lady Nea Knitsalot

Okay well so far, I can't blog every night. There's just no way for me to do it right now. However, I will try to post when progess is made.
Here's the left front which was really quick to knit up. The Right front is coming a little slower, just because things have been popping up and I'm trying to stay focused on this last week of school.
That's all for now, I've got to go running tomorrow at 5am and I was hoping to whip up a Calorimetry before then.
(This is the first winter in a few years that has actually gotten cold enough to wear wool. I hope it gets this way the next few years or all this wool I've been using is going to get gifted to my family on the East coast.

Starsky close-up

2008-01-25T17:54:00.001-08:00

Starsky2
Originally uploaded by Lady Nea Knitsalot

As promised. The colors are a bit off, but then again they seem to change in every room of this house. I'll take the FO picture outside to see if that helps.

Starsky has been taking over my life

2008-01-25T17:52:00.001-08:00

Starsky1
Originally uploaded by Lady Nea Knitsalot

Or at least my knitting time. I'm going to start trying to blog at least every night, but we'll see how that goes. But for now here's the proof that I have been knitting.
There is something to be said about a sweater made with bulky yarn and big needles. Except I think the weight of it started to give me a headache as I was wroking the last few rows of the back.
I actually have to run right now but to make up for it I'll post the picture of the close-up.

Diagnosis...

2008-01-23T23:02:00.000-08:00

...Dysmenorrhea. After 8 years of telling several Kaiser OB/GYN's that something is wrong with me and that a normal person doesn't stay home several days a month because I can't be too far from painkillers or something to throw up in. This is what they tell me. This still doesn't explain why my heart will stop and skip a couple beats and then try to catch up, but I guess the cardiologist that keeps shrugging me off saying I'm fine will pay attention when I pass out or something. Let me get something straight, my GP is a wonderful doctor who listens and makes referrals to specialists when he gets stumped and realizes that something isn't right. However, the specialists don't seem to know much about what they are specializing in.

(Deep Breath and end rant)

So basically I can keep taking birth control pills to keep the pain level down. At least they finally realised that this wasn't just in my head.

Beginning Serrano

2008-01-10T21:50:00.001-08:00

Serrano1
Originally uploaded by Lady Nea Knitsalot

This is my new project to recover from all of that cotton. I wasn't planning on discussing it until I finished but I felt that the blog was a little lonely. I promise I'll post better shots of it after it's done but until then I give no guarantees, especially after a couple months of not taking any pictures.

I'm knitting again!

2007-12-28T16:07:00.000-08:00

I've finished all the wash cloths (that last one came pretty darn close to missing the deadline since I was knitting the last few row AS we were opening gifts) so I didn't get a chance to take a picture of them but the main thing I was focused on was reaching the deadline. They were well appreciated and my little 4-year-old cousin took his parents and siblings washcloths and put them with his toys along with his own washcloth.

I've picked up the Mystery Stole 3 (Swan Lake as it is now called) to go ahead and finish it and I am now working on the last 20 rows. At the end of this, I now realize that I will be needing to block this. Except I don't have any blocking wires and the idea of pinning this all out is extremely daunting.
So, what do you use for blocking wires? I've heard that I can use stainless steel TIG welding rods and I had located a hardware store in the area (via Internet) that had them but I lost the page and I don't remember which store it was, so anyone know what I'm talking about?

Have a great weekend everyone, I'm going to bed.

Say Thank You

2007-12-20T23:36:00.000-08:00

Watch this video and tell them thank you whenever you see them.

No matter if you are pro or not they are sacrificing themselves and their families and everything they have to serve. So God Bless Them.

Deep Breath...

2007-12-20T00:30:00.000-08:00

...and relax. I know think it's safe to say that the Christmas knitting is not going to cause me to have a mental break. (The fact that the top of my left index finger where the yarn goes over is now raw from all of the kitchen cotton I've been using is a whole different ball of wax.) Anyway, all I need to finish is the 3.5 washcloths and then to fix up my soap molds to make soaps unique to the recipient (here's where my Dad questioned my sanity while I was trying to explain this).

I will show the stacks of washcloths and soap before I wrap them all so that should be posted Sunday night or Monday morning.

Also, in the spirit of Christianly giving, I've measured my hair and I think I have a length that will be tolerable to donate to Locks of Love and not walk around looking like a brunette dandelion. I'll miss it, but I think that adds to the gesture. But in any case, the headaches might subside or if it does become a big frizz ball I could always straighten it if it's that short.
I think I'll stop by my hairdresser's tomorrow morning to get her input on it. And now I'm babbling to myself from the lack of sleep, so I'll say good night.

Merry Christmas everyone!

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the planet

2007-12-08T23:26:00.000-08:00

Or at least I don't think I have.

Anyway this is just a post to say that I still won't be resuming my regular-ish blogging schedule until January because first I have finals, then jury duty, then Christmas with my family (spanning from the 23rd to at least the 25th). And believe it or not, I'm looking forward to jury duty the most.

Happy Holidays everyone!

(p.s. Aunt E, if you have been reading this... please ignore the last posting.)

And the dash begins

2007-11-23T16:42:00.000-08:00

After telling myself that I would not give in and knit Christmas gifts this year, I've broken down again.
Now I've got 14 people to knit for and my clock is ticking, excuse me while I go off to Ravelry and find a stock of quick knits to give to my family. And this year there is no way I'm breaking down and just giving chocolate to the diabetics that are hard to shop for.

Grun ist die Hoffnung first sock

2007-11-10T23:40:00.001-08:00

Grun ist die Hoffnung first sock
Originally uploaded by Lady Nea Knitsalot

...then the current sock is done and I'm casting on tyhe second as I break between pictures.

Speed blogging is now complete. I hope I didn't break anyone's blog watching system ;-)

Have a great Veteran's Day weekend folks I'll be getting ready for clinicals that start on monday.

2007-11-10T23:36:00.001-08:00

Grun ist die Hoffnung1
Originally uploaded by Lady Nea Knitsalot

...my newest pair of socks on the needles, I love the way you knit these, I'm going to try to design a pair using roughly a similar construction...

2007-11-10T23:34:00.001-08:00

Monkey anklets sideview
Originally uploaded by Lady Nea Knitsalot

...and a sideview which shows that I also swapped heels and did my favorite heel a short row heel...

And drive by blogging via Flickr starts:

2007-11-10T23:32:00.001-08:00

Monkey anklets
Originally uploaded by Lady Nea Knitsalot

Now!

First up, a pair of monkey socks for myself. Anklets of course as I can't stand having stuff right against my legs (seriously I can't even stand bootcut jeans!).

Before I go 'splody...

2007-11-01T23:47:00.000-07:00

I won't be at the blog for at least the next 3 weeks so I'm signing off now as a leave of absence. Basically I have 2 regular exams, 1 national exam for my Phlebotomy license, and 1 article to write for the first two weeks including double time studying for school before clinicals start, followed by the third week in which I am in clinical, after which I plan on collapsing and treating myself to something as of yet undetermined.

Of course I may pop in should I have time and decide to use this as stress relief.

So everyone else, go ahead and enjoy November I think I should regain consciousness a bit before Thanksgiving.

SotS clue 2 done

2007-10-24T17:40:00.001-07:00

SotS clue 2 done
Originally uploaded by Lady Nea Knitsalot

So now as soon as I finish clue 3 I'll be caught up, until friday that is.

I keep seeing snowflakes and rain, what about you?

And the fire? Yeah it got to about a mile and a half away from my professor's house this morning and we still had class. I have a few pics that I'll post later tonight with the smoke approaching my house.

Monday Mail

2007-10-22T23:48:00.001-07:00

Abacus Bracelet
Originally uploaded by Lady Nea Knitsalot

Look what I found in the mail box this afternoon. It's an abacus bracelet from HIDEandSHEEP on etsy.com. It is already proving itself useful with all of the lace and decreasing I do in my 'relaxing' knits.

The bracelet really is beautiful and they have much better pictures in the shop since I am photographically disinclined and believe it or not this was the best I could do right now.

The customer service I had was terrific and they sized down the bracelet for my tiny wrists and they ran a problem (of needing to remove a black bead so it would fit) by me before doing anything.

Overall they are a great shop and I'd buy from them again for secret pal gifts or as gifts for fellow knitters.

Blurry Sock

2007-10-19T02:04:00.001-07:00

Blurry Sock
Originally uploaded by Lady Nea Knitsalot

Okay so I almost forgot to post about this sock.

Thing is this sock isn't for me (big surprise huh?) so I'm wondering if said sock recipient will like the pooling that's going on. I like it, but that's cause I like swirly pooling but I know it bugs a lot of people so I'd like some input.

Should I rip and start over with a different yarn or keep the pooling?

(I know the pic is blurry, but hey it's 2am my time so there's no way I'm getting a decent picture tonight.)

Good night and enjoy your weekend, I'll be helping my mother with gardening tomorrow morning so I should probably get some sleep.

Squee!!!

2007-10-18T19:04:00.000-07:00

Check this out.

I grew up on Star Trek (all versions at the same time cause I'm not even 20 yet) and hearing that Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto will be playing Kirk and Spock respectively has totally made the rest of my day.

Oh, and I should have some knitting/spinning related pictures up after dinner (I promise this time).

(And yes, I know that I'm a geek.)

The Knitting Post Will Be Tomorrow

2007-10-12T22:52:00.000-07:00

But for now I'm talking Phlebotomy. We're practicing venipunctures tomorrow. Not on the plastic arms anymore, on each other. Somehow this is making me freak out a little. Not that I'm scared to practice on someone, I'm scared of the other person who will be practicing. on. ME.

And now I will go and read that chapter over a couple times before I go to sleep.

I think the best thing this blog does is let me air out a few things, maybe I should get a separate one for the personal stuff and keep this one strictly knitting related, what do you think?

Secret of the Stole - clue 1

2007-10-07T23:09:00.001-07:00

Secret of the Stole - clue 1
Originally uploaded by Lady Nea Knitsalot

Okay so I've been trying out the wrist and so far this is what I got.

The cyst seems to have sealed itself but whether it will come back or not will take some time to tell.

Anyway I've started the Secret of the Stole since I apperantly can't knit anything that I know what it will look like before I knit it. This is fun especially since I'm now caught up with the one clue which gives me time to knit other things without feeling like I'm behind in clues.

Now if I could just focus on school a little more, I could bring that Mircobiology grade up a little. Anatomy though, THAT I understand.

Still Waiting on the Wrist

2007-10-04T21:48:00.000-07:00

I tried giving it a day out of the brace to see how it would hold up but towards the end of the day I noticed that the fluid started building up again so I pressed it back out and replaced the splint along with a cotton ball to hold it down. I can you are interested in what it was it was a Ganglion cyst that burst and the picture there on Wikipedia is fairly close to how it looked on my wrist except mine was a bit smaller, more the size of a penny.

And since I can't knit with the splint on all I can do is write (thank God that he made me right handed) and read. But since the typing is a little slow since I have only one hand to work with I'll leave off here.

Happy Knitting everyone and I hope I can join you again in another week or so.

I Can't Believe I Missed My Own Blog Anniversary

2007-09-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

Yup, I missed September 2nd so technically this blog is a year old now and oh how I've changed. I won't be doing any giveaways since I missed it but I will next year, just someone please remind me.
And since I've even forgotten my own birthday once or twice I'm really hoping that I'll remember my own wedding anniversary when I have to do that but it's a ways off so no one get you're hopes up (my family knows about this blog and they do pop in every once in a while).

Oh and by the way, I burst a cyst in my wrist tonight so the knitting stuff may be on pause for a week or two (I really hope not that long) while my wrist recuperates and typing with one hand kind of sucks.

Clapotis scarf

2007-09-24T23:07:00.001-07:00

Clapotis scarf
Originally uploaded by Lady Nea Knitsalot

Well, I could only hold out on the Clapotis for so long. But the malabrigo was in my stash and perfect for somthing that would be worn right on my neck.

I have now realized how good it feels to knit with malabigo and I was totally excited when my mom asked for on in this yarn for Christmas, and with taking me a grand total of 3 days to knit (during school days) this is an okay exception to my whole no holiday knitting plan.

Finished WECY

2007-09-21T21:10:00.001-07:00

Finished WECY
Originally uploaded by Lady Nea Knitsalot

There it is finished and beautiful.
Specs:
Pattern: Wheat Ear Cable Yoke from Summer IK 2007
Designer: Pam Allen
Mods: already been mentioned and listed on Ravelry

Now I must go and e-mail this pic to a friend who wanted to see how it turned out.

Hmm, I should probably also be reading some of my Phlebotomy text but I'll get to that after the e-mail.

2007-09-21T18:09:00.000-07:00

I had a very unique dream last night that I still can't get out of my head but it's a good thing. I won't say what is is right now but I'll be going up to Big Bear on Sunday and I may post about it then, if not I'll post about it once I get it from a certain online shop and talk about it when it comes.

Ahh September

2007-09-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

Let's see Wednesday I was disputing if I should change into a tank.

Thursday I was kicking myself for being (probably) the only knitter who didn't have a hand knit scarf to wear when the temperature dropped and felt like it could snow.

And today I'm laughing at the weather forecaster who said we should expect snow. May I as that person when was the last time it snowed when there was a cloudless sky, and the temperature was at a cool 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

I hope your September weather is much nicer. I should have an update later today, but that depends on on a certain sibling photographer who would be willing to take the picture for me.

Kids are funny

2007-09-19T21:03:00.000-07:00

Tonight I was volunteering in AWANA and I was wearing a knee brace because an old cheer injury was bothering me in this wacky weather and up comes one little boy. He hits the brace twice then looks up at me and says "What's wrong with your leg?" If I could have felt through the brace I would have been wincing but since it was thick enough to dull out the pain I just laughed and told him that I hurt it earlier.
I don't know if that's funny to you but it was funny while it happened so I thought I'd post it. Anyway now that my brain has been thoroughly fried I'm going to go help my mother bake some cookies.

(oh and p.s. I've picked up the old MS3 again!)

Wheat-Ear Cable Yoke

2007-09-17T23:00:00.001-07:00

Wheat-Ear Cable Yoke
Originally uploaded by Lady Nea Knitsalot

I'm done. The modifications were many and time consuming, but totally worth it as they make the sweater more wearable for me.

I've finally ripped out Lelah, I may try again next summer but just not now.

And I've also started a new scarf with the malabrigo I got from the Santa Monica Fiber Festival but that will be in next week's update.

(also this is sort of a test post from Flickr so we'll just see how this goes)

Remembering

2007-09-11T17:29:00.000-07:00

I'd just like to spend some time today saying thank you to all, past, present and future members of the United States Armed Forces.

Thank you for everything you've sacrificed to protect the people of this country.
There is no way to truly repay everything you've given and I am truly grateful.

Sunday Night Knitting Update

2007-09-09T20:19:00.000-07:00

And here it is:

I wanted to get more of it done but I am clearly not going to finish this tonight as I realized I don't have the proper circular needle for the ribbing and cast off edge, and the LYS isn't open until 10am Tuesday morning so I can pick it up on my way to class and switch needles when I get home Tuesday evening.

I'm really liking this pattern/yarn combo, I just hope the color looks as good on me as I thought when I was picking it out.

I'll post the finished picture later this week (before my weekend update). I need to go now since I have dinner waiting for me and then a little more studying before class tomorrow morning.

Look what came today!

2007-09-08T20:15:00.000-07:00

Socks that Rock lightweight 'Love in Idleness'. It's gorgeous and I love just squishing it. (Actually it came while I was in class so my sister spent 2 hours squishing it through the package until I came home.)

And knitting content tomorrow as I will now go and watch a movie and knit and hopefully have a finished sweater to show you tomorrow.

You'd think I could find something better to do...

2007-09-06T23:56:00.000-07:00

While working the St st part for my Wheat-Ear Cable Yoke. But no. What have I been doing might you ask? Just sitting and looking around when I just look down at the side view of the sweater and immediately I can see where Pam Allen placed the decrease right after the cuff.

So tell me, has anyone else noticed this or am I just getting weirder every time I get a study/school break?

Or can anyone else see it and I'm not losing the few neurons I have left after staring into a microscope at a direct light for the past 3 days.

At least I have tomorrow off (and it's full of errands already).

Have a great (albeit early) weekend everyone! And the progress post will be up either Friday or Sunday.

Good thoughts will be much appreciated

2007-09-03T23:35:00.000-07:00

My parents will b leaving my sister and me at home until Friday. And uh, well. Just please send good thoughts. I'm sort of nervous about this since she thinks she's older than she really is and I don't always react well to pressure when she's around.

Wheat Ear Cable Yoke update

2007-09-02T22:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, since apparently this next semester is going to involve more time than I had expected I'll start weekly posts at least with pictures of what knitting progress I've done. I'm not saying that ALL of my time is being sucked up, just that it isn't very predictable and I'm not willing to give guarantees.

So this week:

I got the body done. The mods so far were casting on 6 fewer sts for the CO edge (4 for seam sts and 2 for the sts that would have been deceased after the rib), and BO 4 at the arm shaping instead of 5.

And since I can't leave out some close ups:

The Wheat-Ear Cable, I really like this stitch pattern and it really moves along faster cabling without a cable needle.

And my sides without the seam. I think it looks good, plus it won't add bulk under the arm which I can be very picky about in sweaters.

And a note: I already know that making it in the round will complicate things once I need to join everything, but I'm willing to take the risk and I know I can figure out a way to get around it.

What on earth was I supposed to say?

2007-09-01T17:57:00.000-07:00

I was knitting along earlier today during a break in Phlebotomy and this woman comes up to me.

"Oh, how cute. Is that a sock?"

I nod, I'm beginning to be impressed by the sheer number of non-knitters that can identify a sock as the heel is being turned.

"Are you making it for one of your kids?"

I hesitate, "Nope, it's for me." She sits down and immediately I start wondering. Kids? As in plural, more than one? Do I look that old, or am I just being very revolutionary by not having kids before I turn twenty.

After that I started wondering why didn't I say that I don't have kids in the first place instead of just saying the sock is for me.

I need to get out of this town. Thank goodness I'm half finished with my prerequisites for the Nursing program.

Better now

2007-08-29T14:17:00.001-07:00

After crying for about an hour I fell asleep and woke up after about 4-5 hours of sleep and headed off to school.

The weight has mostly gone and I'm feeling better, I think it just helped to talk about it somewhere.

Now if I can sneak in a nap, study, go to a meeting, and then study for an hour more before bed I'll be doing well. I may just knit at said meeting if I have the chance, otherwise lace is going to have to wait until Friday afternoon's when I can knit while getting my allergy shots.

The Best Part of Cleaning

2007-08-25T23:53:00.000-07:00

Is this...

Can you see that? I was ready to head out to the LYS to celebrate when I saw that. I have room for more yarn and even though I've saved up enough for another sweater's worth of yarn I think I'll save the trip for a bad day or when I finish another project that is currently in the works (not something I can cast on and finish in one day).

Then I got a little something at the Santa Monica Fiber Festival that I just couldn't resist because even though I'll have to hand wash it, it will be a scarf so it won't be too much of a problem.

And this is the Tank I am now referring to as the soul sucking tank. I love the finished results but the yarn and I are not mixing right now. So it's sitting in the closet and I'm just working on other things.

Ta da! I've been working on my Wheat-Ear Cable Yoke in the round, so far I cut out the 4 sts on that would be folded under in the seam and I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping it will be alright.

The current purse sock, not much to tell. I've just been woring on it in cars and in waiting lines and it has no deadline because for once this sock is for ME!!! Yay!!! Okay I'm done.

Also I thought Belle was cute trying to fit under the bed after I moved it across the room so I snapped a picture, I didn't want to use flash because I didn't want to scare her. She approves the move across the room by finally choosing to sleep on my bed and not in the very center so that I don't have to push her over to fit in my own bed.

That's all for now and I hope to not get so behind with photos next time. I will guarantee nothing for when you'll next hear me since I start Fall Semester on Monday and I just hope the extra classes don't drain out my extra time completely.

Shop updated

2007-08-22T17:38:00.000-07:00

I just updated my shop just now with my new "Summer Drink" stitch markers. I love them all and I'd keep them if my stitch marker box is already bursting. And crocheters I can adapt them for crochet just leave a message at the checkout.

2007-08-22T16:09:00.000-07:00

First of all, Blogger cannot be described with words I'm willing to use and that isn't good. So if any Blogger people who are monitoring the Blogs see this, you know it would be nice to get feedback after searching for an hour to find a way to contact y'all in the first place.

Okay now to the reason I was going to post in the first place. I finished the wheelie, but now my sister is waiting for me to teach her to make socks so I'll post more when I take a picture of it.

Back to knitting

2007-08-20T17:19:00.000-07:00

See I have been knitting. We won't talk about how this is actually only the past 2 days worth of knitting but at least it's progress. I'll mention the pattern when I finish it, because this needs to be done by next Monday at the latest.

Other than that the purse sock has been neglected as has everything else because of this needing to be done, oh and I just remembered that I need to make another washcloth for my Grandmother's birthday this weekend. There are just not enough hours in a day.

Black Dog:1, Me:0

2007-08-19T22:48:00.000-07:00

I wanted to have a better prepared Fighting the Black Dog post this time but it caught me off guard a week early this time and right now I don't feel up to doing much.

I'll be dropping my psychology class as soon as I get the chance because I just can't handle taking so many units. So this will add another semester or two in order to finish the extra classes.

I haven't even been able to knit much mostly because of being whacked with this and having to keep up with all of the classes. I finally got a chance to knit today but it was just a couple rounds on a sweater so I didn't even have to deal with turing the work or shaping.

I feel so pathetic this time because I finally got over the few things that I usually feel sad about when the depression hits. I realized that my bust fits me and I don't want to change it, and that God has a reason for me to be single right now and that's okay because he has someone for me when the time is right and he will be the right one.
But this week it's different, there's a weight in my chest that won't go away and even though I feel like crying would make me feel better I try to start crying but the tears won't come. I feel sick, the past few mornings I feel dizzy and like throwing up (and there is no possibility that I could be pregnant) but I push myself up and out the door and get to school. I try focusing but the insomnia that keeps me awake at night leaves me with only 4-5 hours of sleep at night and I start to see things that aren't there. The one good thing is that I don't feel like life isn't worth living, I just can't seem to feel happy or concentrate on a memory to make myself feel anything at all.

I guess all I'm trying to say is that I'd like to ask anyone who reads this to pray if you are a fellow believer because I need some help right now and...I just got a few tears so I'm going to go and shed a few more and hopefully I can fall asleep.

Organization mode

2007-08-18T14:54:00.000-07:00

Okay now that I have a clearer, albeit happier mind, I've realized that the reason I keep freaking out when I look at my knitting projects is that I have too much on the needles. So I'm going to hide/store all but the one I will work on until it is done (except the purse sock but that will remain ONLY in the purse since carrying around the Mystery Stole and the beads and everything would not be a good idea unless I want to mess up.

I've also been clearing out the closet just making it look less crammed which is a good thing since I don't really want to make the choice between shoes and fiber (that choice is simply not fair).

Now I need to go and get a new air filter for my car.

2007-08-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Anonymous commenter. Thanks for pointing out my spelling error (I'm a 2nd generation Trekkie so phase seemed correct.) So thanks for letting me know.

To anyone else who thinks I may have gone off the deep end since I would usually take it as an offence, I'm just in too good a mood to care. And I can't keep from smiling.

No pictures since my camera is on vacation until proper batteries can be procured. (But you know if this keeps up, I'll be smiling all while I get my allergy shots tomorrow, but I DON'T CARE!

I think I'll go spin now since I'm not too sure about how well I can follow a pattern in my current state.

When a rejection notice doesn't phase you a bit

2007-08-14T15:43:00.000-07:00

That's what I just got. By the county library after I had applied for a part-time Library Paige position. Yet even though it was a rejection noice, I'm too happy for it to matter all that much.
See last night I got an e-mail from this guy that I had been corresponing with but it had stopped about a month and a half ago and I thought he didn't want to keep up the correspondence. Well in the e-mail he was asking if the reason they had stopped was because I didn't want to continue. I promptly responded that I had thought the same thing of him and this morning he replied again almost as if we hadn't lost a beat. Now, I just feel like a fool because I keep smiling and even the "no you didn't get the job" doesn't matter (as a plus I wasn't counting on it as a job, I'd rather finish my Phlebotomy course and work with a license).

Ok enough of that, especially now that I found out my sister reads my blog and I can already tell that she's going to tease me about this.

On to the knitting content. Well I didn't get too much done in the last few days, I did get a bit ill (I'm using ill because it wasn't the typical sick feeling) so I took 4-hour naps in the middle of the day and now I'm feeling much better. But as for stuff that has been worked on, do you really just want to see another log that was added to the Log Cabin memory blanket (aka the only project I can work on while I'm sick.
Other than that I'm about to finish the first 2 oz of merino tencel that I purchased in Oregon so I'll post a picture when it's all on the cop before I wind it into a cernter pull ball to store it until it's ready to be plied.

The Podcast is live

2007-08-10T19:31:00.000-07:00

Yup, we recorded last night, my sister edited it (I apologize for anything wrong with the sound, we're still learning but we should get better. Also my sister is much more lax with her version of editing). So if you want to check it out it is here and we call ourselves Yarn Gnomes. If you do want to subscribe use the subscribe link because I'm still trying to figure out why iTunes isn't catching it.

Now back to my Wheat-Ear Cable Sweater because I'm reading and I can't read while working on my MS3.

Oh shoot, I just realized I have a final to study for tomorrow. Never mind, I'll be studying.

I can do this, right?

2007-08-09T20:56:00.000-07:00

Okay so when I went to put away my new fiber I realized that it won't fit in it's prearranged space (this means that my fiber stash is larger than my yarn stash and I didn't realize this had happened until just now). So now I'm trying to clean up my closet, this means if it isn't in storage for my future children and I haven't cared to look for it in the past year, it is out of the closet and either in the trash or it will be donated.

I'll show pictures when I'm done but this may take a couple more days unless I stop getting cross eyed from my headache. Oh well, at least Clue 6 for the Mystery Stole comes out tomorrow morning.

Sockapalooza 4 Package

2007-08-09T15:26:00.000-07:00

Yup, it came today. And wow. She pegged my current color favorites perfectly and I'm loving the socks especially since she noted that I have a particular fondness for socks with shorter legs.

The big puff of fiber is some more ingeo (which is my favorite thing to spin second to wool for climate reasons) and some caramels hand made in Iowa (I'll have to hide these or they won't make it to Sunday).

The socks are my new favorites, especially with the colors and how the pattern looks. Now if only the weather would get colder, I could really enjoy them instead of feeling the incompatibility of wool and 100+ degree (F) heat. But squee! I can hardly wait for winter now.

Thanks Christina! I love it.

Edit: I just realized that I forgot to mention that they fit, which they do and thanks again.

Mystery Stole 3 progress

2007-08-09T00:30:00.000-07:00

Well since I've been knitting along and trying to catch up after the big rip out from the disillusioned gauge And here's how far I've gotten.

Clue 1 finished, fun but at least all of the increases are done.

Clue 2 finished and you couldn't imagine how much faster the upside down 'V' made the clue go.

And then there's my current progress, I'm now into the space without beads except for the sides so the fun of that is gone but I'm still having a ball.

Now as long as I catch up then knock out all of the extra projects that I've got I can get back to my relaxed knitting state with only 1 at home project, 1 purse portable project, and 1 just in case of illness blanket.

Now back to the Mystery Stole! (actually since I already know the theme should I refer to it as such?)

Sockapalooza 4 Socks

2007-08-09T00:24:00.000-07:00

Are done and have been. I'll be mailing them tomorrow but here's a link to some of their photos should you be so inclined to take a peek. You can find one here and an even better picture here.

Yes I'm feeling better after a 4 hour nap. But if it happens again tomorrow I might be getting sick. (Well at least it's not during the school semester because then I'd be in trouble, cause I mentioned I'm taking 18 units this upcoming semester right? Eep.

Headaches

2007-08-08T17:04:00.000-07:00

That's why I've been quiet for a while. They aren't really terrible compared to some I've had just a dull ache that makes me want to take a nap with the occasional sharp quick pain that is over in less than a second.

Sadly I have actually been in bed with the lights out by midnight for the past three days so the extra sleep I've been getting isn't helping either. So this also leave me with very little mental ability to knit. Although I've slowly gotten to the middle of Clue 3 for my Mystery Stole. I'll post some pictures if I'm feeling better later tonight.

So if you don't hear from me for a couple days, I'll be resting.

Thud.

2007-08-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

I *think* I'm done getting all of the files and hosting stuff done and ready to record on Friday. Plus, I think I've scraped by without this costing a thing so far. Now I'm tired and want to go to sleep but I know I have a test that I need to study for tomorrow (yes, I know I could have waited on the podcast stuff in favor of schoolwork but I didn't want to).

On the other hand, (cookies to anyone who knows what movie that is from) if I fall asleep early tonight I can just do all the work tomorrow since I'll be awake and refreshed. Hmm, that sounds so much nicer.

My Sister has a Blog

2007-08-02T00:27:00.000-07:00

He he, I'm so excited. (And glad that I've never gone into detail about her on here) Anyway she's the Crochet Maiden but her blog is only about 2 posts long so there isn't much but there will be 'cause if my sister can do anything is joke, talk, and be a funny person to listen to (she got all the humor that was given to us both, I have enough trouble with getting through to punch-lines)

So hello Little Sis, I'll be linking to you on my sidebar.

(By the way the name I'll be using in the podcast is my regular abbriviated name so I'll just stay that way. (Andrea -> Nea (Ney-a) simple enough but my sister doesn't wnat to use her own name because it's so common)

Notice

2007-08-01T00:42:00.000-07:00

Just so you all know I may be signing my name differently at the end of my blog posts. Because my sister and I *might* be starting a podcast, in the event we do my signed name will change but I'll be signing the individual posts myself.

Spread the word!

2007-07-29T22:02:00.000-07:00

Everyone read this. I know the greater percentage of knitters are women so this does apply, and p.s. to any guys, you can get breast cancer too.

That's it for today because I've been in a really mean and snarky mood today for some reason. Oops, never mind I just looked at what day it is.

Have a great week everyone, and you'll know why I may be silent for a few days.

Happy 50th Birthday Dad!

2007-07-28T06:03:00.000-07:00

Well Happy Birthday to the guy who has really put up with a lot from me over the years.

And since he will see his present in just a couple hours anyway (let's ignore the fact that he watched as I was knocking out rows left to knit last night just to finish in time).

Ta Da! I'm very happy with these. P.S. to anyone complaining too much about second sock syndrome, try 6th sock syndrome. Yes, I've knit the same exact pattern for 3 pairs because this is exactly how he want's the socks and no changes. I've adapted it by starting with black, then brown, and this time deep olive. But what's a girl to do. It was either this or bending and getting a gift card that just doesn't feel the same.

However, I will beat the Christmas rush by ordering the yarn for the next 3-5 pairs now and starting them when I've gotten through my WIP's to get to monogamous knitting.

Specs:
Pattern: Mine located on the sidebar ->
Mods: None here, I made them all to the pattern itself.

Now if you excuse me, I'll be getting ready for a family filled day with the theme Hawaii 5-0 (credit to my Mom on the idea for the theme).

Something to laugh about

2007-07-26T17:42:00.000-07:00

Okay first of all, the Police department here can just leave the best set-ups for something to laugh about. I'm not trying to offend any of them, cause I love you guys, keep up the good work. I'm just thinking you don't do so well with committees.

So my Mom and I were cooking dinner (well, I was trying, she was fixing and cooking) when the phone rings, it's the police department calling for donations for an organization and it went a little like this:

"Hello, I'm from the _____ county police department, and we are calling to get donations for the _____ organization. Are your parents home?"

My Mom paused (mind you she is on the latter part of her 40's and her parents stopped living with her a while back), and with all the honesty there is in the response she said,
"No, they're not."

"Okay, we'll call back later then." And they hung up.

My mother hung up and burst out laughing, and told my sister and me. I'm on the side that she sounds young enough to be in her 20's.

I'm loving Ravelry

2007-07-26T03:35:00.000-07:00

So you all know about Ravelry right?
Well I'm just loving how easy it is to search for new patterns. Say your looking for gloves in a DK/Sport weight yarn. Two clicks away (three if you only want to see the ones with pictures, and four if you only want to see free patterns) and there you are.

So far my queue has gone far off the 30+ list so a far bit of it is more like a smoke dream queue rather than an actual "I will knit this" queue.

And since I've had the progress on the Mystery Stole 3 here is my progress at the end of Clue 1 Chart A.

I really should get back to that last un-casted on sock that needs to be done for my Dad's 50th birthday on Saturday. There is a way that has made me get a move on with them though.
Me to Myself: "But they are boring! Nothing but plain ribbing and I've got that lovely stole sitting at my desk."
Myself to Me: "Ahem, who is paying for you to go to college? And books? As well as a car that you only have to pay insurance on?"
Me to Myself: "Okay, that makes sense." (This is the point at which I get a burst of knitting speed and knock out an inch or two before I start the conversation again.)

Note: I am completely mentally present, and I do not really have conversations with myself, that is just what runs through my head. And if you think about it a whole lot runs through our heads at any given moment it's quite interesting how we can focus on one thing without being completely distracted by a memory or an emotion.

Grafting a Toe without a Darning needle.

2007-07-26T02:26:00.000-07:00

Darn, you've finished a toe on the bus, an a white sandy beach on vacation, or anywhere else where you don't have access to a darning needle.
Well in my case it was while I was dogsitting and I didn't want to drive 30 minutes just to get a darning needle.

All you need is your sock on two needles and one more needle from the set that you were making your socks on.

First thing you need to know, the pictures here are small but if you click on them, you'll be directed to the Flickr site where you can see them much larger (to the point where you can become well aquainted with my left index finger.)

Second, there are 21 pictures here so if you have dial-up or any other slower connection this will take some time to load, but I thought it best to have it this detailed with the instructions.

First, cut your working yarn, leaving a 12 inch tail with which to work with.

Set up front needle: Knit the first stitch...

...pull the strand through, leave worked stitch on left-hand needle.

Set up back needle: purl...

...pull strand through, leave worked stitch on left-hand needle.

Step 1 (front needle): purl...

...pull strand through...

...slip off worked stitch.

Step 2 (front needle): knit...

...pull strand through, leave worked stitch on left-hand needle.

Step 3 (back needle): knit...

...pull strand through...

...slip off worked stitch.

Step 4 (back needle): purl...

...pull strand through, leave worked stitch on left-handed needle.

Repeat Steps 1-4 across toe.

On the last front stitch: purl...

...pull strand through...

...slip off worked stitch.

Last stitch on back needle: knit...

...pull strand through, slip needle off stitch.

Tighten any loose stitches and finish by weaving in ends as usual.

I've made this as clear as I've seen possible so if you have any questions or if this is confusing, or even if you've found an error please feel free to contact me at ladyneaknitsalot AT yahoo DOT com and I'll get back to you and/or fix it as soon as possible.

Hope this helps someday!

Ideas Please!

2007-07-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

I just realized that the distraction of knitting has left me without ideas of what to send my Sockapalooza pal along with her socks.

I will send her some stitch markers since I always do. But I was wondering what else? She spins but I doubt that an order could come in before August 2nd-7th which is the mailing date.

So help, because I'm so stuck right now.

HP7

2007-07-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

And I'm back!

I started the book last night at 5pm and after only about an hour and a half worth of breaks I finished it this morning at 9:20am. More later right now I need to leave for church.

Here's to not falling asleep in the middle of the service.

In case you wanted to know...

2007-07-21T03:42:00.000-07:00

I updated my shop with magnetic hematite stitch markers and one crochet/row marker set. Check out my sidebar for the pictures and a link to the shop.

Yes, I am an insomniac. Plus I have podcasts to catch up on.

Cranberries

2007-07-20T20:12:00.000-07:00

I just checked my MS3 and realized (as much as I've been trying to avoid) that my gauge is simply too small and since I'd like an adult woman to be the one wearing it and not a 4 year old, I'll be ripping it out and starting over.

The plus side is that I know I can knit it properly since I've gotten thus far and never once needed to rip back and re-knit to fix a mistake. So I'll start over, and since there are two weeks until the next clue I should have some time to catch up again.

edit: No, if you were going to ask. I did not start by making a gauge swatch at first, I thought I would make up my mind by row 50 but I kept going thinking it would be alright. Will this teach me to swatch? NO! Am I really that stupidly stubborn? YES! Okay back to MS3, it's ripped and the 3.5mm needles are waiting, will I swatch this time? NO and I will live with it no matter what this time, because seriously, this is a stole precise gauge isn't going to matter all that much to me.

Mystery Stole 3

2007-07-19T00:48:00.000-07:00

I know, I'm a joiner. I really wasn't going to join and then I saw how the first clue looked all swirly and pretty but I held strong. Then I listened to the Lime and Violet Podcast and Alcariel was talking about how she joined at the last minute and I signed up immediately because I didn't want to feel left out. Never mind that I have other projects that really need to be finished first but I casted on as soon as the beads came.

So I blew past Clue 1 Chart A:

And then I finished Clue 1 Chart B:

And I'm currently sitting around the middle of Clue 2 Chart C because I realized two things.

1) My Sockapalooooza socks are sitting with one finished and one only 12 leg repeats and a cuff away from being done.

2) My Dad's Birthday socks for the 28th of this month are sitting (cuff down) 12 rows into the foot past the gusset decreases on the first sock and I need them done in less than 10 days.

I'm going to go try and finish at least one sock now. Maybe it was a mistake to go buy the one needle that I needed to cast on for a sweater this morning, hmm, oh well.

Finished: Ribs and Lace Tank

2007-07-14T19:42:00.000-07:00

I know what you're thinking, three posts in one day? Well I didn't want to lump them together and I have been procrastinating on writing these up for some time.

So within the week of coming home from the vacation I finished the tank (the pictures were taken at night so I'm sorry that they're so bad.

It looked done right? Not too bad for only 3 days of knitting time.

Wait what it that bunched up piece I feel?

Oh sugar (expression borrowed from my knitting Grandmother), I twisted the strap before I KITCHENERED it together. Okay, not too big of a deal, but let me just tell you how much fun undoing kitchener stitch is, just about as wonderful as having a cavity filled.

Ahh, that's better. More of a fuss than I wanted but it looks great.

Pattern: Ribs and Lace Tank from Interweave Knits Spring 2007
Designer: Jodi Green
Size: 33 1/2 bust
Yarn: Cascade Pima Tencel 4 skeins (109 yds/50g per skein), I used every last bit of that 4th skein including swatches.
Needles: US 4 (3.5mm) and US 10 (6mm) 24 inch circulars (dpns for straps)
Mods: Much shorter straps and omitted rows 11 and 12 and one knit row in Crest of the Wave stitch.

Summer 07 Killer Vacation part 3

2007-07-14T17:22:00.000-07:00

Okay it's finally here, the last part of the vacation. And now enjoy our return trip through Northern California...enjoy!

First we stopped at the Capitol Building, it's impressive. I missed out on the trip here with my fifth grade class when I was 11 so I thought it great to finally see it when I could really admire the details.

This is the old 1906 refurbished Governors office. There was a bar at the entrance so this was the only shot I could get. And is it just me or is it just funny to see the spittoons next to the desks?

We also went to Old Sacramento with the original buildings which I wish I had taken better pictures of but I didn't think of it until we left. Very interesting layout and the tallest building was three floors tall with a basement, and right down the center was a big open area where the staircase would curve around.

The haul from the trip (sorry about the lighting, we got home at 10pm and I wanted to get a pic before going to bed. I got fiber, yarn, 2.5mm needles (which you can't get around here), and some Kookaburra wool wash that I wanted to try out.

So there you have it. The trip in photos. Next up some finished objects and catching up with my knitting. Did I mention I joined the Mystery Stole 3?

Fighting the Black Dog

2007-07-14T17:01:00.000-07:00

Fight the Black Dog

To be honest, I am a little nervous about actually posting this because first, I have a fear that if I dwell on it too much I'll relapse and then that throws me into panic.

What is the "Black Dog"? Well, it's depression.

I have struggled with Depression from the time I was 12 (I'm 19 now for reference). I've had my really low points and my almost completely better parts, thankfully I am now resting in the latter and I usually am until certain times of the month since my depression is caused by a hormonal imbalance that doctors always said "Just give it some time, you'll grow out of it." May I now take a moment to throw my chart in their face.

A huge help to me in this fight has been my knitting. And more accurately the fact that I can finish projects and see them turn into beautiful works of art that are appreciated. Which is why I've taken to listing what I've finished on the sidebar. It helps me see all that I've done. So even when I feel depressed and like I've wasted a year of my life since High School (I've finished almost 34 out of the 74 needed units to apply to nursing school) I can look and see what I've done.

So if you have your own story and you want to share it, go to the link above and check it out. I know my own story is pretty short and vacant but I'll be posting about this on a monthly basis and eventually I'll get it all out, I'm just not completely ready right now but I did want to bring awareness to this disease.

Summer 07 Killer Vacation part 2

2007-07-06T21:55:00.000-07:00

Now living for the past 16 years in a place where everything is tinged slightly peachy pink, green is a huge deal. Also seeing as how the temerature went down (yes I said down) to 114 F (45.5 C), just looking at snow seems to make things better.

Okay now this one I just loved because it looked so picturesque and so pretty, almost like you'd want to drive anywhere for as long as it takes as long as the whole drive would be like this. Now that I'm back I'm stressing the almost because there is only so much car time a person can spend before you want to fight someone for extra space.

Ahh, Crater lake, 'twas beautiful. Let's pause and enjoy the veiw.

Why yes it was cold, and just a little proof I was there. I even knit there when my sister took her time getting her special angle photos.

Then here was Wizard's Peak, which is still active and building up from the inside. (The crater was formed when the initial Volcano collapsed into itself.) And oh yeah, remember how I said it was cold? That stuff at the bottom of the photo 2 feet deep? Yeah that's SNOW in JUNE! (I know if it's winter where you live that isn't a big deal but as I said earlier 114 F here.)

And how much snow? That's an 8-foot wall there covering up a path to the watchtower and keeping tourists from visiting the other 3/4 ths of the crater.

But of course when the above snow melts, it turns into a beautiful this:

And back in Jacksonville, OR is the Llamas and Llambs Boutique.

Beautiful place, I got a pound of plain white wool that feels buttery soft and some really gorgeous merino-tencel that I started to spin as soon as I got home.

And then we left Oregon but first we stopped at the Human Bean, a drive through coffee shop.

And a shot of the menu (click on it to see the larger Flickr version)

I got the Snowy Mt. Ashland which was goooood! And that's a white chocolate covered espresso bean on top.

Part 3 still to come.

Dear Knitting Projects,

2007-07-06T00:55:00.000-07:00

I think we need to take a break. It isn't you or me, it's the weather. I just can't knit when the temperature is 118 degrees Farenheit ( 48 C), first you become slimy when you're wool and then sticky when you're cotton. And on top of that, my head starts swimming and I feel the need to go lie down.

I'll try to work on you after the sun sets and the temp goes down to 90 (32 C) for the night but that does leave us very little time. Maybe you won't mind if I spin since I'll knit with that yarn later in the year. Anyway, I hope you understand. - Nea

(P. S. to all other Knitter's, What's the weather like where you are?)

Happy 231st America!

2007-07-04T20:46:00.000-07:00

Yes our young Nation is now 231.

Well in truth it was voted on unanimously (with only New York not voting) 231 years ago. All of the signatures were gathered until August 2nd 1776 because not all members of congress were present at the time of voting, (Caesar Rodney had Cancer and had left congress to die at home instead of in Philadelphia).

So Happy Birthday America.
Thank you to all of our troops who still work to keep us safe and free. God Bless you all.

Summer 07 Straw Family Killer Vacation part 1

2007-07-01T23:09:00.000-07:00

Okay thanks to my Uncle who always calls out family vacations 'Killer Vacations' because that is how I got the name for this series.

On to the pictures and the narrative:

This first one was from before we left and Indy was still in the house. This happens to be her "But I don't want to wear clothes!" face. Unfortunately she needed the shirt because she still had the drains in and well we didn't want it to drain on the carpet. Fortunately she is doing great now and the scar is very faint and she acts like it never happened.

Again before we left there was WWKIP day and I went to Knott's Berry Farm with my Dad, sister (not pictured she was in another line for a roller coaster, we chose the stagecoach), My Dad's Aunt and Cousin. They were visiting CA so we took them to Knott's and visited.

Of course like any good knitter, I snuck in my dpn's and worked on my sock. The funniest part about working on a sock in public where many people have never seen someone knit is that before I took out the sock all of the kids around me were screaming and yelling then slowly you realize that they have all gone quiet and that they are watching you transfixed by the sticks and string that are working together and becoming a fabric.
In this picture I came across a knot and looped around it because I forgot to sneak in a pair of scissors.

On to the vacation! Here is the sun when we left. Before 6am mind you, which is why I didn't take pictures of myself except for when my mother forced me to.

Well, once we got to Reno, we visited Deluxe Yarns. Let me tell ya, I love this YS (no L unless you call 400+ miles away local). The owner Florrie was so nice, (mind you my sister and I are 19 and 17 and there was no age discrimination) and helpful but not overly attentive. There were lots of general worsted yarn varieties, and a whole wall of sock yarns including Claudia Hand Paint which of course just HAD to come with me. If you are ever in Reno you have got to check out this shop. It's off of the alley way so getting to the parking area was a little confusing but easily accessible if you are coming at it going north towards Vassar instead of south from Vassar.

Okay still in Reno, but at every intersection for about 5 blocks there were these cool windcatchers and they were all different so I just had to grab a pic of one.

Honestly, I have no idea why I took this picture, I vaguely remember that the building had to do with something but all I can say now is "Look at the pretty building with the gold roof" But will this teach me to record what I photograph, I think not.

Okay here is a simple picture because I live in the Mojave Desert and that means no vegetation whatsoever unless it is Russian Thistle or Joshua Trees and those are all very prickly and not too green either. But indulge me for a moment while I just enjoy the fact that every inch of earth is covered in GREEN. Ahh, it's the simple things in life.

And now that part one is closing, I leave you with the Claudia Handpaint that I purchased from Florrie in the colorway "Plumicious". I found this same colorway at another YS but I much prefer how this dyelot turned out in comparison to the others, I keep having to slap my hand every time I want to start winding it into a ball and just cast on, since I'm trying to just finish all of these projects that I've already cast on and should just finish first.

Dear Knitted Tops

2007-07-01T00:45:00.000-07:00

You suck. You are not like skirts that fit me very well, or like socks that need no shaping other than to fit my heel, and even shawls which never blend well with the rest of my wardrobe always fit. Yet you, oh despised tanks and sweaters always require bust shaping to be removed or tinkered with so that something always goes wrong. This leaves this knitter completely depressed that even though she is a knitter, she cannot even knit a well-fitted sweater for herself. You mock me with your lace and cables and bustlines that read 33 1/2 but never 31 or 32.

One day dear sweater I will defeat you, I WILL find a way to make you fit perfectly and appear flattering as much as you resist it. You will submit to my will and the tears I have spent ripping out or settling on a top that doesn't quite seem perfect will all be over, and you will get yours.

Consider yourself warned,
Andrea

p.s. To all the non-tops out there, this does mean I have a new finished item but don't expect a great work of art.

And the winner is...

2007-06-29T23:32:00.000-07:00

Bullwinkle! Thanks to everyone who entered and gave a congratulatory comment. And the next post should hopefully be of the vacation, but I'm still editing it and adding pictures (my apologies to anyone on dial up).

Have a great weekend!

I Blame Sleep Deprevation!

2007-06-23T20:49:00.000-07:00

The e-mail I gave you all was wrong, sorry! so I'm extending the date to this Wednesday the 27th as an apology.

The real address is ladyneaknitsalot AT yahoo DOT com.

P.S. Thank you Bullwinkle for pointing this out!

Now back to unpacking because I'm home!!! (I never thought I'd be this happy to see the desert and the volcano again.)

If it can bite...

2007-06-22T21:21:00.000-07:00

And a bug, it WILL bite me. Let me say two things first Oww. Also, I saw the Oregon Shakespeare Festival producting of "The Taming of the Shrew" and seriously it is hilarious. I mean it was great just reading through but the physical comedy in action just makes it all the better.

I'm off to put more antiseptic lotion and eat Yogurt covered pretzels, yum!

P.S. I'll be home tomorrow and YAY!!! No more being kicked out of bed by my sister.

100!!!

2007-06-19T22:39:00.000-07:00

It's true, I have now reached my 100th post. I am actually a bit surprised that I've even had that much to say in the first place as I am usually a very quiet and shy girl around other people.

Anyway, about that 100th post thing, I've decided to reward you. If you e-mail me by 11:59pm PST Saturday the 23rd. I will put your name into a hat and draw for a free set of custom made stitch markers or something from my Etsy shop (link in the sidebar). I'll contact you to tell you you've won on Sunday afternoon (again in PST). Everyone's eligible but please only send one e-mail to ladyneaknitsalot AT msn DOT com. And thanks for sticking around.

As for knitting content, I wish there were pics but I left the cord at home so they are stuck on my camera until I get home. I will say that I have gotten lots of sock knitting in around here (that is when I'm not driving because driving and knitting = not good).

We've been to yarn stores and we'll be visiting 3 more tomorrow so I'm excited. I'll have reviews when I get back but so far they have been really nice an great places.

So I'll see you all when I get back probably since I prefer to use pictures and I tend to ramble unconstructively without them.

Have a great week everyone!

Umm, Oops?

2007-06-12T21:51:00.000-07:00

Well I left my camera at my Grandmother's house on Saturday so there won't be any pictures for the next week or two. Unfortunately that means that since I finished my shawl this morning you won't see it until I can get the camera back. So this may be the last post until I get back (the night of the 22nd). So see you all later, because I really need to finish at least ONE sock for Father's Day.

Tomorrow...

2007-06-08T16:31:00.000-07:00

Is World Wide Knit In Public Day! Yay!!!
Anyway I'll be Knitting at Knott's Berry Farm that is if they let me through with the DPN's (I mean they should, I was let up into the Stratosphere with them) so basically I'll be there with my Dad's Aunt and cousin since they've come to the West Coast (they live on the East Coast) so we're showing them around California.

So I'll post pictures on Monday since I'll just come back and sleep. Now, off to get ready for my friend's Graduation ceremony and Grad party later tonight.

Nothing today

2007-06-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

Since I'm nursing the dog. (Actually it's more like trying to keep her from trying to run all over the place). So the surgery went fine and the stitches are in place, and apparently the pain meds are doing their job.
I should have some knitting content tomorrow. But until then, have any of you every knit with JaggerSpun Zephyr lace weight? Seriously I thought I could zip through 630 yards of it with my size 7 needles but so far it feels like I knit and knit and I haven't used up any yarn.
Actually I think I'll go to bed early tonight, something about waking up at 4:45 am and having to walk the dog outside before she'd fall back to sleep really takes it out of me after falling asleep at about 3am when we got her home. Yes, I know we're crazy.

Oh and before I forget, thanks for all the complements on the shrug. Goodnight.

Posting to stay calm

2007-06-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

Sorry this is a bit later in the day than I'd usually post, but right after dinner we heard our dogs get into a little scuffle and then a yelp. Since they are about one year old I figured that one of them just pulled too hard on the other's ear. A few minutes later Lucca (the male) started barking just randomly at the house. I looked out the window and saw Indy (the girl) laying at the door and him just barking his head off so I just ignored it and went on.

***If you get queasy with blood and details skip down to the bottom where the yarn stuff is***

A few minutes after that my sister peered out the window and shouted to the rest of the house, "Mom, Indy's bleeding!" Something about how she said it just made me feel that this was not just a scrape that they usually get when they get very rowdy. Then I saw Indy, and the large area right where her right foreleg comes up to her torso was bloody. Immediately my sister and I get her to the garage to get a better look at her without her brother (who had not one drop of blood on him) getting in the way.
We thought maybe at the most we would have to do is bandage her up and keep her separate from her brother for a couple days. Well she had a 3 to 4 inch flap of skin hanging off of her, and thankfully there were no cut veins or arteries or she could have bled out. So off we whisk her to the Animal Emergency vet because she was so going to need stitches. So there we were for about an hour while they processed her and examined her in order to figure out what they were going to do. We left her there and she should be ready by around 11pm to bring home. So tonight she'll be in my room.

***It's all Knitting related from here on so you can look***

Okay so I made a slight purchase, but it wasn't for yarn! Any way it is BFL (because there is no way I can really spell that out correctly) in Berrystain from Pigeon Roof Studios and the color is gorgeous, there are 3.8 oz so I have enough for socks or even a shawl.

And in knitting progress, I've actually been somewhat monogamous (as in only one knit and one spinning project at a time) so this has been working up quickly. Now the question is whether or not I can get this knit by Thursday night so it can be blocked and ready for my friend's graduation party Friday night.

And the Rosehip has been spun and here were all 50g of it. I love spinning merino, it just always drafts beautifully for me and spins up very well.

And for the close-up. I probably should have thrown a dime in there for scale but I forgot, so I'll do that when it's been plied.

Now I'll go knit some more on that shawl while I wait to get the okay to pick up Indy.

Update @ 11:47pm, we called and Indy was still under anesthesia, we are going to call again at 12:30 to see if she is ready then, if not we'll pick her up in the morning. So far it seems like she's doing well.
Also, since I didn't mention it earlier. The injury was not fight related, she seemed to have fallen on something sharp and the force of it caused the whole thing.

Ta Da!

2007-06-04T17:30:00.000-07:00

The Anthropologie Caplet is done.
Well so to speak, I cast on saturday afternoon and finished it saturday night. A quick and easy knit and now on to the gratuitous bathroom mirror pics.

That's all for today folks! And tomorrow (I think) finished singles and maybe even plied if I have a chance later tonight.

When you start to panic about how many WIPs you have...

2007-06-03T23:31:00.000-07:00

Cast something on. I had good reason for this, and I also finished it within hours of casting it on yesterday, then I washed, blocked, and wore it to Church today. No one saw it of course because I was teaching Sunday school for the 3 to 4 year olds. (*sniff* all my five-year-olds were *promoted* today)
Anyway, I don't have pictures right now because they are all still in my camera and every time I upload them to my computer, the computer automatically wants to be reset or else (and that *or else* is usually it freezing up).

So hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with pics!

Project Spectrum?

2007-06-01T15:41:00.000-07:00

So not working out. First I need to finish my sockapalooza socks which don't make the current colors, then I need to finish my Father's birthday socks(eep!), plus I have a very green bikini I'd like to finish in the next two weeks that again is not in the current colors. So I am now giving up PS and just going to focus on finishing these things without strangling myself with yarn that is clamoring to be knit. Also, I cast on another shawl, so apparently project monogammy is not my best quality (just to be clear this is in no way a problem in relationships, just yarn.)
So now I'm going to go back to knitting wool socks in the land of 100 degrees Farenheit IN THE SHADE. Thank God for wind, or the humidity would make this lethal. Welcome to a regular Spring day in the High Desert.

Seven Things About Me

2007-05-26T21:26:00.000-07:00

True I have kept avoiding memes but when your tagged, your tagged.
I was tagged by YarnGeek and the rukes are as follows:

The rules: Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those who are tagged need to write on their own blog those 7 facts as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven other people and list their names on your blog. Then you leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.

1) I have never knit a Jaywalker and no offense against it, I have no desire to ever knit one, I just happen to like lacy and complex socks.

2) I just realized a couple months ago that I had a small mole on my right heel, I asked my parents about it and apparently it has been there from the day I was born.

3) I'm a Voyager fan and my favorite line is in the episode when Q leaves his teenage son with the crew becouse he is out of control and he pops back in and yells at his son saying "If the continuum has told you once, they've told you twice. DO NOT PROVOKE THE BORG!" somehow I just find this line hilarious.

4) I first went to an orthodontist when I was 8 years old, wore pre-braces things for a couple years until my baby teeth all came out, then I wore braces for 4 years, I wore a removeable and permanent reatainer for another four years and I now have one removable retainer that I still wear at night, ALL TO FIX AN OVERBITE, because the orthodontist decided to retire a year after putting the retainer and never mentioning the switch.

5) I don't have my wisdom teeth or my bicuspits because I have large teeth in a small mouth and they didn't fit. (Hence the overbite in #4)

6) I'm allergic to goats. This doesn't bother me so much about mohair but I always wondered why people said cashmere was so soft when I find it a bit scratchy, but still not enough to keep me from wearing it, just not as a bottom layer.

7) I woke up one morning when I was twelve asked my mother to take me to Michael's (the only place then that sold yarn that I knew of). I bought size US4 needles and some worsted varigated blue acrylic and knit a swatch from a book when I came home.
After I did that I ripped out the swatch and it is still in my stash 7 years later. As a result of teaching myself I knit and purl throwing the yarn over counter clock-wise which results with my stitches not sitting right on the needles when I knit in the round so all my ssk and k2tog's are reversed.

I'm tagging:
http://longrunknitter.blogspot.com/
http://theatreknitter.blogspot.com/
http://bullwinkle.typepad.com/outofyarn/
http://nadsknittingblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.midgeling.com/blog/
http://allicat236.livejournal.com/
http://www.sheepofadifferentcolor.blogspot.com/

If you read the blog but haven't been tagged consider yourself tagged as well.

Have fun!

Pasha is done!

2007-05-25T22:22:00.000-07:00

See, although I had serious doubts this morning when I was seaming up everything and kept having visions of stabbing myself with the needle that kept getting stuck and I would then have to force through.

In Sockapalooza news, I still can't decide on a pattern. I've debated over three different skeins and I did decide on a nice burgundy one but now I can't figure out what to make (I've already pulled out 4 differnt patterns, so Cherry Tree Hill makes great yarn since it has put up with this and doesn't seem any worse for wear.)

Yarn wise, well lets just say my wallet took another hit this week with getting the new IK summer issue and I already want to make three different things as well as the wedding canopy but oh the yarn requirements, it will have to wait until I do plan on getting married and in my current boyfriend-less state I doubt that will be happening anytime soon.
Then I also got some roving but I'll post about it when it gets here.
And I'm imposing a new yarn-diet rule here, no more purchases until June 17th because I need to save up the money for vacation yarn and that is the day my vacation begins.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend and remember not only our fallen but their families as well.

edited to say: the pattern info is in the previous post and off of Knitty.com

Look there's knitting content!

2007-05-24T18:17:00.000-07:00

And we now resume our previously programmed blogging.
Well I realized about two days ago that my little cousin will be turning 4 on June 12th and thought to myself. Ahhhh! What's a knitter to do. Then I thought of Pasha, and I already have a bunch of acrylic from my pre-LYS knowledge years and what a perfect thing to make a toy out of other than a practically indestructible yarn. So I cast on last night and here it is right now.

I still need a wing and another foot. After reading through the finishing instructions that the author made I think I'll be seaming this a bit differently from how she did. First I'll sew him up along the sides and below the beak so I can stuff him from the bottom and stick my hand in to sew on the wings and feet before stuffing him. I really like this pattern and I'm contemplating it for another cousin who has a birthday on the 14th. A stuffed animal is okay for a guy who is turning 22 right?
Then I cast on (again) for Tessa's Shawl and I've nick-named it my Patience shawl. For many other reasons than the fact that it will take some patience to knit this up.

As you can see I have quite a way to go.
In other news Ravelry if you are on there yet I'm Nea so look me up or leave your name in the comments and I'll look you up cause I'd love to see what you are up to.
And now I leave you with a piture of (in my completely un-biased opinion) the cutest cat in the world.

2007-05-23T21:24:00.000-07:00

Okay so I joined another -along that I found through the Lime and Violet Message Board and the gist of it is that we hand spin our own laceweight yarn and knit a shawl from it. So I went digging in the fiber bin and came up with this:

It first appeared here from the wonderful Michelle and immediately when I saw it I wanted to make a shawl with it since there are 50g of merino and 25g of tussah silk and I think I can do it.

So here it is all predrafted and ready and what I've spun so far seems to be turning out well. My fear of it being a bit too orange when I predrafted it seems to blend in more once it spins up and should go away once I ply it up. (I'll show a picture of this later).

I tried some pastels for the first time in two years and I realized why I gave it up for knitting. Oh well, probably mostly since I'm so out of practice.

Gifts from Mother's Day for my grandmothers which were great and quick in a pinch.

Then I got my order from Elann, Did you know that for every $500 dollars you spend they'll give you a $50 store credit? Well only $400+ for me left.

And then after the yarn arrived I realized that my little stash wasn't quite as little as I remembered it so I put everything on my bed and reorganized it, plus I gave some acrylic away to my little sis who I just introduced to crochet and she seems to have gotten the obsessive bug. Well that's all for now I'll be back tomorrow with more conherent thoughts as I just took a test and turned in an 8 page paper this morning and my hand is beginning to tense up again from all of this typing.

Notice

2007-05-10T23:03:00.000-07:00

As I have just realized that there are about three weeks left in this semester I will probably not have all that much time to post since I have a research paper and a few finals to prepare for. Just thought I'd drop a line since it really just hit me today and it's come to my attention that some people actually read this blog.
See ya later!

Whan you have nothing else to post...

2007-05-05T22:34:00.000-07:00

Post about your cat.

That done, I'll only speak about my knitting.
I've ripped out the Bayerische socks because as stretch as they are, they don't shrink down very well, and I didn't enjoy the loose feeling around my ankle. I've acquired the yarn for my Sockapalooza pal's socks, now I just have to decide on a pattern (it could still end up as one of my own creations) but I guess it will hit me when I find it, since that's usually how I decide on things.
I cast on another sock, which I'll link and tell you about when I'm in the mood for linking. And I've even made another pattern for knitted candle holders, now before you laugh, they are made with a metal wire that I string beads onto. I think I'll be listing a few in my shop when I can get some good pictures of them so they may show up soon.

Good night all, I'll see you later.

Hello Again

2007-05-05T09:55:00.000-07:00

I cannot fully explain the joy and wonderfulness that is sleeping in your own bed in a place you know.
That said this is what I came home to:

Yup, the phone company has been updating their system to fiber optics so we get their huge digging machine sitting on our front lawn (it sank in a couple inches so now we have a nice brown gap there.)

This is the infamous Toffee, a Besengi/Chihuahua mix (I don't know if that is the correct spelling of Besengi but feel free to tell me if you do know). He is the reason for my absence since I needed to let him out every 4 to 6 hours and the Chihuahua part of him can't stand being alone for very long.

This is the dormant volcano here in Apple Valley. I've always been enchanted with it and I'd love to go climb up the side but I've never had the time. (If you are going from LA to Las Vegas you are sure to see it once you pass Victorville and start right into the stretch of road that has nothing else to see.)

Again another shot, but if you are looking for the freeway it will be on the other side.

Click on the picture to get it's description on Flickr since I find it very depressing and I've already written about it once. Anyway it is about two miles or less away from my house so I couldn't give you the backyard shot which would have been much clearer, but I would have needed to make it into a mosaic.

We will now resume or regularly scheduled knitting updates. But you'll have to wait for the tutorial, I accidentally mixed up the photos and I'm now working on organizing them into their correct order.

Mother's Day?

2007-05-01T17:12:00.000-07:00

Covered.
See...

Yup, the Monkey Socks from Knitty

These are super fast and easy to take everywhere. (Like math class when you need to stay awake)

I knit them on 2.75mm needles and I really liked the feel of the yarn.
Tofutsies is a great sock yarn but one problem I had with this skein is that there were a lot of tied off breaks in the skein and I was constantly joining so that was a little deterring.

So great pattern and I am most likely going to repeat this pattern for myself.
Also, the dogsitting is almost over so I should be back with my little tutorial next, but it should take a little time since there were 23 pictures in the set (sorry about how big this is if you are still on dial-up).

My Tale of Woe

2007-04-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

Okay the reason I can't be a waitress, I'm allergic to the sanitzer that they use on the dishes.
Basically they wash the dishes rinse dunk them in a tub of sanitizer and rinse them one last time before resuing the dishes, but when it gets really busy you have to dunk your hand into the sanitizer to grab a spare bowl rinse it and give the patron their dish. Well, the first day wasn't too bad. My hand got a little numb but it went away, well yesterday it got a whole lot worse and my whole palm was red and burning and I couldn't wash it off with any of the soaps I could find and when I left I was having a harder time breathing. Well today my breathing is almost completely back to normal but my hand still has a dull burning sensation.
So even though I didn't have to go to the hospital or anything serious, I got this feeling that it would get worse as I did this more often. (Plus the fact that I touched the side of my eyelid (tearduct side) AFTER I had washed my hands 20 different times and it swelled up within 5 minutes.) So I'll just add waitressing as a job I can't do for health reasons (this would be the first) because I liked it, I just didn't like the way my body felt after I was done. Which was similar to how I felt after I took a bath with a soap that had a dye additive that I was allergic to.

Oh and in positive news: I finished a pair of socks. I'll post about them tomorrow hopefully.

I Quit

2007-04-27T22:46:00.000-07:00

Okay there is a list of reasons for this and I'll list them later, but I was just sooo not cut out to be a waitress. At least I tried it, but I'll be applying to the Library tomorrow.

I apologize if this doesn't make much sense, I'm writing this without my glasses and I just got off of work so my head is numb.

Next up: Kitchenering a toe without a darning needle.

In an attempt to Blog daily-ish

2007-04-24T23:51:00.000-07:00

I figured that it means I'll have to post some non-knitting related stuff.

So first things first. I got a job. Totally wasn't expecting to be hired on the spot but I'm guessing they were desperate. I start this Thursday, oh and the dress code? Entirely black, which meant I had to go shopping for shirts and pants not to mention shoes that I'll get tomorrow.

Then as a result of my inability to say no. I'm house and dog sitting. When you may ask? Starting yet again this Thursday. So I'll be all alone in a house with one small little Chihuahua/Besengi mix (so the dog doesn't play he only stares at you shaking with his big brown eyes). I think I'll pack a radio this time so I can dance a little during some down time.

Anyway this is my little informal notice that I may not be back until next Thursday, since my time may have very well been sucked up and away from existence. Gulp. And now to get ready for tomorrow.

Finished! The Ice Princess Necklace

2007-04-23T16:22:00.000-07:00

Ta Da!

Yes sir-ee it is done (as if it even took a long time to make). This project took approximately one evening to finish (not counting blocking time). The pattern was very clear to read and I had fun making it.

Pattern:Ice Princess form Crochet Me
Yarn: size 10 crochet cotton in Ecru
Hook: size 8 (1.5mm)

Hmm, this means it is technically my first finished crochet pattern. So I guess it is okay for beginners too.

Yarn Blackout

2007-04-22T17:55:00.000-07:00

I was just going though some of the labels I've kept from my stash and discovered three Cherry Tree Hill labels. At first I was shocked, I never bought three I've only ever purchased two. Then I read the colorways on each of the labels. Uh, yeah. I did buy three.

I'll be organizing my stash now, since apparently I do need to find out what exactly I have.

And Gloria I used some of the crochet cotton to make a necklace last night. I'll post pictures once I finish it completely (when it finished drying up from being blocked)