Day Seven: Your knitting and crochet time

My knitting time is generally at home. When you have to drive yourself to/from work, the commute can't really be knitting time.

I've been known to bring a travel knitting project with me in the car to knit some stitches before I head into my office building. I know if I have a tough day ahead it will help to break up a traffic filled commute and the office as knitting truly is calming for me.


Most of my knitting projects are TV knits. I can easily continue knitting with the drama shows I tend to watch at night. I do love my lace projects however, the complicated rows are saved for weekends or for TV shows I have no interest in watching.

My place of knitting is on my sofa. Surrounded by my laptop - need to be only an arms length from Ravelry!

I also always bring knitting with me on vacation. There is so much time in airports, planes, hotel rooms, etc. I will also plan ahead with my vacation knitting to have always CO first and try to get through one repeat of the pattern if it allows before I leave home.

WOW! I did it! I blogged for 7 days in a row. Amazing.

Day Six: Something to aspire to

Hands down a long sleeve sweater for moi!

This is the one my Gramma made for me so many many years ago. Ideally I would like to mimic the pattern.

I need to learn a few techniques first, like get better at seaming, top down sweater knitting and button holes. Steeking just scares me so...I mean you spend all that time knitting then cut it with scissors...YIKES!

Day Five: And now for something completely different

Wordless post.

Day Four: Where are they now?

I just can't believed I've just blogged 4 days in a row! I'll have to check to see if that is a record.

Ok - so to answer the question(s) Where are they now? or Whatever happened to ______?

Well, we talk about this topic a lot in the Selfish Knitters group on Ravelry since the question where are they now indicates that you have gifted a handknit away. As in what deems a person knit worthy. Interestingly enough I started knitting for me. Yet, my second knit project was for my sister, clearly a knit worthy person!

To date I've made 3 items for people outside of family. One was a dishcloth for Dish Rag Tag. I did a hat for a friend's little girl. The final was for my nephew's longtime girlfriend...technically, when you've been around that long you are family right?! So maybe I have only knit two items for outside family members.

All of which have been talked about on the blog.

However, back to the question at hand here, Where are they now?

I'm choosing to go way back.

Back to 2007.

My first & second completed knitting project:

Fun Fur Scarves.

One for me, one for my sister.

Yes, I'm publicly posting a picture of two scarves made out of Fun Fur. Come on it was 2007, give a woman a break.

So - where are these scarves now? I haven't worn mine in years, however I still have it. The one on the left was given to my sister, I'm not sure where her scarf is. Maybe I do not want to know!

How far I've come from $1 yarn at a hobby store, to official yarn snob!

Day Two: Skill + 1UP

I really like this topic today. Each project I do I look to expand my knitting techniques. I try to learn a new pattern, new stitch, technique or just try something different.

My first couple of projects I was working with basic knit & purl to show different patterns. I then learned to knit in the round for my socks. The next few projects were lace and I needed to learn YO's, Inc, KFB etc. Overall, I've feel I've progressed nicely in my learning of new techniques.

This past year I was determined to learn cables as I'm determined to knit myself an Irish Knit sweater this decade. I started learning cable with simply 2 stitches held to the back or front in this scarf;

This was the project I took on vacation with us last year. Unfortunately, it is still a WIP, as I realized when our winter began and my sister's wedding rapidly approaching, I needed to get a couple of other projects finished up.

As you may have read in my blog post from early March that I recently finished my Winter Wonder. This for my was a bit more complicated cable design. I'm so pleased with how it came out!

I feel much more confident in my cable knitting after this project. So, that means I'm on track for that Irish Knit Sweater I promised myself!

Day One: A Tale of Two Yarns

If you've read this blog through the years you already know my love of Handmaiden Sea Silk. I'm allergic to many fibers so I've found this is my favorite in which to knit my many lace projects with. I love the stitch definition it provides, and I find blocking my projects really make them shine. The yarn is just overall a delight to work with!

This is my Handmaiden Sea Silk in the Blackberry colorway.


However, I decided to try the Handmaiden Sea Three. I figure I loved the Sea Silk so much, I would really like this one...it's thicker cousin!

These are two skeins in the Twilight colorway.

It is comprised of the same material, however just spun to a different weight (Aran). I'm not as big a fan of this weight.

I knit my Saroyan Shawl from this and just find it too heavy. While the yarn is lovely to work with and just sails over the needles I'm going to save the rest of my Sea Three for scarves.

There lies my Tale of Two Yarns.

Stay tuned for our topic of the day tomorrow...

2nd Annual Knitting & Crochet Blog Week

Please feel free to join us this week:

 

http://eskimimiknits.com/knitting-and-crochet-blog-week-2011/

5 more sleeps until Stitches

and I'm so excited!! I've been making a list, checking it twice...

Actually you can find a fabulous market map with vendor names here.


Will I see you there?

Enough rain already!

It has been raining here all week. I was hoping it would be a better weather day today, since I received my latest yarn stash 'enhancements'!

I'll have to take photos and show you tomorrow.

Until then, here are some hints:

Hand Painted
Cotton/Elite
400 yards

???

Just to keep this a blog with photos, here is what the DH and I have been eating this week. YUM!

Where did August go?

I've been so busy this past month. So, what have I been up to:

DH and I took a vacation.
We went to Maine.
Ate out every meal (except breakfast).
Saw a half blue lobster and a 45lb lobster.
Celebrated my 17th Wedding Anniversary!
I've been knitting like crazy.
Work has been stressful - see above for my relaxation.
I signed up for Dish Rag Tag.
I have two finished objects to share.
However, the camera is on the other end of the house.

Pictures next time.

Amy Singer and I...

are basically going to have lunch together on my birthday! How exciting is that?

WOO HOO!!

Amy is coming to my LYS. My DH, being the wonderful man he is, bought me a ticket for a class she is giving on a Shawl Design Starter Class!! Since the class is 10-1 lunch is included.

Just peel me off the ceiling!

Do you think I would be a dork if I had her autograph the book I have with "Happy Birthday! -Amy Singer"?

Her book No Sheep for You was the first knitting book I ever bought. You see both Amy and I can not knit with wool. I also found out she has house rabbits, much like my household.

Well I'm sure I'm going to bore you with going on about how thrilled I am...so topic switch.

DH and I are having some down time, a part stay-vacation and part travel vacation. So, you may not hear from me for a few days. I've had quite a hard time at work these past few months, compiled with my DH's health and unemployment status I need to get refreshed.

So, until next time...

A little me time

via way of a Q & A...

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:50AM
   
2. How do you like your steak? Medium-well
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Coraline
4. What is your favorite TV show? Royal Pains (at the moment)
   
5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Bermuda
6. What did you have for breakfast? yogurt and animal crackers
   
7. What is your favorite cuisine? American
8. What foods do you dislike? The list would be WAY too long! I'm a very picky eater.
   
9. Favorite Place to Eat? Chuck's
   
10. Favorite dressing? None
    
11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Honda CRV
    
12. What are your favorite clothes? lounge pants with oversize shirt
    
13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Alaska
14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? This depends on my day.
    
15. Where would you want to retire? Bermuda
16. Favorite time of day? It starts when I walk through the front door after a long day
    
17. Where were you born? Northampton
18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Nascar
19. Bird watcher? Absolutely! I LOVE my feeders!
    
20. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night
21. Do you have any pets? A very spoiled rabbit
    
22. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share? I'm going on vacation this year when I thought I wouldn't be able to go anywhere this year.
    
23. What is your favorite childhood memory? I have so many of these too!
    
24. Always wear your seat belt? Yes
25. Been in a car accident? Yes.
26. Any pet peeves? People who take what you do and claim they did it.
    
27. Favorite pizza toppings? Ham & Pineapple
    
28. Favorite Flower? Three way split - daisy, pansy & petunia
    
29. Favorite ice cream? Peppermint Stick
    
30. Favorite fast food restaurant? KFC I really like the new grilled chicken.
    
31. How many times did you fail your driver’s test? I didn't
    
32. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Either LL Bean or Kohls
    
33. Do anything spontaneous lately? Invited the DH's family over, spur of moment without prior consultation. Oops!
    
34. Broccoli? I'll eat it, but it isn't in the top 3
    
35. What was your favorite vacation? I always say our last one. So, that would be Niagara Falls, Canada side.
    
36. Last person you went out to dinner with? DH
37. What are you listening to right now? Iron Chef America... go Cat Cora!!
    
38. What is your favorite color? Blue
39. How many tattoos do you have? None
40. Coffee Drinker? Yuck...even the smell makes my stomach turn.

Did you learn anything new?

I haven't been knitting the past few days. My work has been insanely busy. I've had one employee out for a family emergency, one is sick, one is on vacation...so when I get home I do not dare start knitting for fear of messing up.

36 Thank You's To You

If you are my dentist, please ignore this post.

I LOVE THESE....So, a huge thank you to the couple who picked these up for me at their warehouse club store. Unfortunately, my club store does not stock these (or fortunately depending on if you are my dentist and continued reading when I said not to).

I spent the weekend working from home. So, there really isn't much to share for knitting. I did take a break and take some stash photos. You could check them out at Ravelry.

Well I have a couple of reports to get to my boss by tomorrow, so I'm wrapping this one up.

Happy Halloween!

Yes the eyes actually 'glow'!
Love them!!

(sending special thank you to you-know-who!!)

Wheeee, Oui, We, W!!

Ok, there is a really good reason I haven't had time to blog this week. We bought a W!!!

Needless to say there hasn't been knitting going on either.

We have been spending our nights playing bowling (DH is at pro level already!), boxing (of which I'm really good at!), tennis, baseball and golf.

Now we have to find a W!! F!t!

*edited to remove pictures of W!! and W!! F!T.

Dentist

Ugh. It was time today for the dreaded dentist visit. I had worked myself into such a lather by the time I arrived there I'm sure steam was rising from moi. I can't stand going to the dentist.

Which coming from someone who has had braces, 4 sets of retainers and mouth guards this shouldn't be the case. However, it is. Just thinking about the dentist makes me feel like I could throw up and I start sweating like crazy.

I got 18 x-rays. Did you know this is considered a full set of them? My insurance plan will pay for a full set every 5 years. Well...here is to not having to get another set for 4 years and 364 days.

Then, I came home to check out the blogs that I normally read and found this on Carole's. Too funny!!

Well, with that visit over today, tomorrow should be smooth sailing.

10 on Tuesday

10 Favorite Vacation Moments:

1. No alarm clock allowed
   
2. The feeling of just being able to sit and do nothing and not feel guilty about it
3. Seeing, feeling and smelling the ocean
4. Walking on the beach
   
5. Eating whatever you wish, whenever you want it...just because you are on vacation (clam strips for breakfast - perfectly acceptable!)
6. Housekeeping!
   
7. Sightseeing
   
8. Quality time with DH
9. Buying trinkets, under the disguise of souvenirs
10. Being able to wear relaxing clothes (no heels, hose or hairspray!)

The sun will come out tomorrow

Bet your bottom dollar
that tomorrow
There'll be sun!

Just thinkin' about tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs,
And the sorrow
'Til there's none!

When I'm stuck with a day
That's gray,
And lonely,
I just stick out my chin
And Grin,
And Say,
Oh!

The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
So ya gotta hang on
'Til tomorrow
Come what may
Tomorrow! Tomorrow!
I love ya Tomorrow!
You're always
A day
A way!

So, here is to a best friend that always seems to know when I need a pick me up phone call, email or piece of cake.

Thank you!

Ahhh

a mental health day. This day for myself could not have come at a better time. I needed a decompress day.

I chilled out, however I did head to the local store at mid-day and bought myself a pair of these. I really wanted orange (coral) color, however they didn't have any of my pick-me-up-color. So, I came home with navy.

I then lost myself in the afternoon to Ravelry. Are you surprised? I'm not.

I am off to finish the rest of my relation day.

So much for being unique

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 184 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

I think I liked having my maiden name, as that brought up only 2 other individuals not 184!!!