Quirky Knit Girl!

Moving on Out

2008-01-13T16:46:00.000-05:00

So...after a run with blogger, I've decided I want something a little different from my blogging software. So I've moved over to wordpress.

Find me at quirkyknitgirl.wordpress.com.

Swatch!

2008-01-07T10:30:00.000-05:00

I've finished my swatch for Secret of the Stole II. No picture, as I haven't blocked it yet.

I think I may end up going down a size to US1s. I tried on US3s, but this yarn is so freakin' fine. It's more cobweb weight than laceweight, really. It's beautiful, but so very very fine. The swatch on 3s is just so lacey.

Unfortunately, if I need to use US1s, that means another trip to the LYS to pick up some more Addi Lace needles. And, despite the yarn diet, I am incapable of walking out of there without buying something.

I'm sticking to sock yarn--everyone knows sock yarn doesn't count--but still! This weekend I bought a skein of the new Noro sock yarn. It's gorgeous, but I'm amazed at how wide the stripes are. I'm used to self-striping yarns having a much narrower repeat-it'll be interesting to see how the socks turn out.

WIP: Clapotis

2008-01-03T01:12:00.000-05:00

Yes, I swore I'd never make one. But this yarn? Refused to be anything else.

Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
Yarn: Knit Picks Shimmer in Deep Woods, held double
Needles: US8
Knit For: Me, probably. Unless I wind up giving it to someone else> I haven't really decided.
Status: Am on the 2nd of 13 straight row repeats. I really do want to get to the finished project, and I do find myself enjoying purposefully dropping stitches, but something about the monotony of this section tends to drive me to drink.

I really didn't intend to knit this. It's all the yarn's fault. I swear.

WIP: Brilliant Retro

2008-01-02T00:50:00.001-05:00

Pattern: Brilliant Retro by Teva Durham, Interweave Knits Winter 2005
Yarn: Patons Brilliant in Lilac Luster
Needles: US4
Knit for: Me. Yes, I am a shamelessly selfish knitter. Also, single and living far enough away from my friends and family that I can't subtly measure them.
Status: Cast on Christmas Day with my new yarn, am just starting the armholes on the back piece.

New Year, New Resolutions

2008-01-01T17:43:00.000-05:00

New Year's is a time for resolutions. In the case of knitting, my goal for 2008 is to limit the amount of projects on the needles at one time, and knit my way through my stash.

Well, part of my stash at least.

As a first step towards this goal, I figured I'd take a look at what's already on the needles. I was going to blog it all at once, but quickly realized that would be silly. Also, embarrassing.

Which brings me to today's UFO:

My So-Called Scarf
Pattern: My So-Called Scarf from Sheep in the City
Yarn: Araucania Aysen
Needles: US11
Knit For: Myself
Status: Nearly finished with the first skein; probably won't need all of the 2nd.

Knitting Ambitions

2007-12-28T11:27:00.000-05:00

Something about the New Year always sets off knitting ambitions for me. I'm already thinking about Christmas 2008, since I didn't do holiday knits this year, and of course I have a lot of just-because things I want to make.

I am trying to be good and not stash-enhance for a few months, unless it's for a gift. So I have to get all my yarn-buying for me in before Jan 1!

I've got a bunch of things going right now--two of my co-workers are heading to New Hampshire for the primary next week, and I'm hoping to finish some quick hats for at least one of them, though hopefully I can get two done.

I've also caved and signed up for Secret of the Stole II, which means I need to go buy some laceweight on Saturday, as all mine is in 800-1100 yard batches, and I need 1500 yards.

There are a lot of shifting priorities on the needles, but hopefully I'll get the knitting--and the rest of my life--organized in the new year.

Gift Knitting

2007-12-24T10:48:00.000-05:00

It doesn't really feel like Christmas Eve to me--I'm 3,000 miles away from my family and I'm not frantically knitting up a gift to get it wrapped by tomorrow.

This is the first year I haven't done knitted gifts--I might do a few for friends, but they'll be given after the holidays are over.

I have, however, started a new project for myself.

Looking at my list of WIPs on Ravelry is quite a wake-up call. I think this is the year for some Knitting Resolutions. Start finishing all the WIPs and start doing some serious stash-busting.

Rip It

2007-12-22T01:13:00.000-05:00

Nothing says happy Friday like unraveling slightly less than half a Clapotis knit with double-stranded laceweight yarn.

(In the future I will remember that lifelines are not for losers with no sense of adventure. I will also remember not to leave my knitting in places where it will get knocked on the floor/sat on/shoved under a couch, thus causing a dozen stitches to drop so far down as to be irretrievable.)

Sexy Knitting?

2007-12-16T16:27:00.000-05:00

Let's face it. Knitting? Often gets a bad rap.

When you say knitter, the image that springs most frequently to mind is a kindly grandmother, sitting in her rocking chair making booties for her grandbabies.

It's difficult to find a knitter who hasn't been subjected to the grandma jokes that people so love to make (generally right before they ask you to make them a hat....and then wonder why you say no.) or been teased for being dull.

So that's why I was amused to find Kinky Knitnacks, an article on sexy knitting, which linked me to the blog Knit Porn. Knit Porn is exactly what it sounds like, with lots of nudity and knittng--and very NSFW--and I was most entertained by the concept.

I have to say--it does make me feel a little bad about my FO photos. While I'm not planning on taking a picture of myself wearing nothing but armwarmers and undies just yet (or, ever, most likely) I should probably try to do a little better than blurry pics taken using my bedroom mirror.

I LIVE

2007-12-03T11:24:00.000-05:00

But apparently I do not knit. At least, not well.

I've been having one of those runs where everything I pick up seems to not work. The gauge is off, I'm uninspired, the yarn doesn't fit the pattern...

I've been picking things up and putting them down in a fit of frustration for the past week or so, hence the lack of knitting goodness.

Instead, I set up a winter sprarkly* tree--all on my own, which I consider to be a relatively large accomplishment, considering the tree is taller than I am.

*Winter sparkly tree--I am between religions at the moment, so it's not really a Christmas tree, but an excuse for me to make my apartment look and smell like the holidays. Also, who doesn't love sparkly lights and pretty decorations?

Last Night

2007-11-15T10:42:00.000-05:00

Last night I met someone who had no idea that knitting was popular again.

I tried to explain it to him, but I really don't think he got it.

Sleeve Island

2007-11-14T10:37:00.005-05:00

I've made it to sleeve island, and am currently stranded there.

No pictures because frankly it's not that interesting yet.

Flash Your Stash Pt. 1

2007-11-13T10:40:00.000-05:00

I'm finally scraping together the courage to join others in the blogosphere and flash my stash.

Turns out? I have a lot of yarn.

That's just 1/3 (or less!) of my yarn. It all lives in the footlocker--I also have 2 large plastic boxes that I haven't sorted and photographed for Ravelry yet, and the various bits and pieces floating around my apartment that I am collecting.

On the upside, I found some pretty good yarn I'd forgotten about. Some gorgeous sock yarn and laceweight, a couple of colors where I have enough to make a sweater. So much yarn--maybe 2008 should be my year of stash busting.

Butterfly Fronts

2007-11-12T09:49:00.000-05:00

I've finished both front pieces for Butterfly.

I can't get over how impossibly small it looks in photos though I know once it's blocked and seamed up it will all work out fine (I hope).

Clearly I did not worry too much about matching stripes. I briefly considered it, but it turns out I'm not that obsessive compulsive.

All over the place

2007-11-11T13:16:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I wish I could just shut my mind of and stop thinking so damn much.

In the meantime, I think I'll go play with some wool until I calm down.

Lovely, lovely wool.

Sometimes you wonder

2007-11-10T11:26:00.000-05:00

If it's really better not to know.

I'm thinking that I might start my next big organizational project this weekend--namely, photographing and documenting my stash on Ravelry.

On the one hand, it would keep me more organized and hopefully lend itself to stash-busting. On the other...that feature that lets you export to excel so you can find out exactly how many miles of yarn you have? I'm not sure I want to know.

Filler Post

2007-11-09T10:34:00.000-05:00

Check out the new Knitty surprises. I like the shawl.

Quick Thoughts

2007-11-08T14:28:00.000-05:00

As someone who finds herself torn between two seemingly opposite interests, I find myself pondering whether or not they can coincide.

On the one hand, I am a bit of a technophile, and becoming more of one as time goes on. I think technological innovation is not only good but imperative.

On the other hand, I am also drawn to traditions of the past. Knitting, sewing, quilting, cooking--I'd garden, too, if I weren't in an apartment. There's something about that connectedness that I think is on the rise. One thing about technology is that it is often, by nature, ephemeral. And a file on a disk can't compare to the feeling of holding something that you created in your hands.

I think--wonder--if maybe we shouldn't be pondering a new model for society. Techno-agrarianism, for lack of a better term (agrarianism 2.0?). I'll write more later, as I sort through this, but I wonder if this wouldn't be a way to create a productive, yet also sustainable, future.

Not Much To Say

2007-11-07T10:33:00.000-05:00

I've barely had time to knit, but I am plugging away at the NaKniSweMo sweater.

Of course, the commitment is hitting me hard right now--as soon as I realized I was going to be knitting nothing but Butterfly for November, at least until I finished, I was suddenly gripped by the desire to cast on for other things. Yes, Butterfly is beautiful, and I'm happy with it--but there are other patterns out there. There are shawls! Socks! Hats! Other sweaters! Armwarmers that aren't so long that I can't type in my refrigerator-like new office!

But I will stick with Butterfly. For now anyway.

And hope that the knitting commitment issues aren't reflective of commitment issues in other areas of my life.

Real Men Who Knit

2007-11-06T11:12:00.000-05:00

I haven't really posted much about work here, being that it isn't generally related. However, Current's Drew Broderick recently filmed a great pod about a men's knitting circle in London that I just had to share.

Because boys knitting? Just makes you go awww.

NaKniSweMo Progress

2007-11-05T10:49:00.001-05:00

I'm making great progress so far.

I've finished the back of Butterfly already, and cast on for the left front.

Hopefully I can keep up this pace.

Stash Enhancement

2007-11-04T11:51:00.000-05:00

It was on clearance, how could I resist?

Three skeins each of Knit Picks Shimmer in Happy Dance, Maple Leaf, and Deep Woods, and 3 skeins of Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud in Sunlight.

Geekery

2007-11-03T01:09:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about knitting and geekery and knitting geekery (expect more on that in future posts) lately, and one of the things I've noticed once again is the propensity for knitters and gamers or computer geeks to couple up.

Which is making me ponder one question (Okay, two questions, but how I can find myself a geek probably isn't something this blog can answer.) and that is--why? What is it about knitters and geeks that goes together like peanut butter and jelly?

I've seen some theories floating around--both are indoor hobbies, both tend to be slightly obsessive, and it's possible for two people to sit around engaged in their respective hobbies, and still have a conversation. All good things.

But I think, it's actually because craftiness and geekiness are more similar than one might think. As I've begun trying to figure out more of the technical side of computers (as opposed to the ooh--internet! SHINY! side), I've noticed similarities.

It's about creating things, and deconstructing--or unventing, per Elizabeth Zimmerman, for the knitters--them. Taking something, looking at it, figuring out the logic behind it and how to improve it. And it's not perfect. You try new things, they fail, you try something else, you make changes to suit your needs. And in the end you have something that may be similar--or very nearly identical--to something else, but that is still uniquely your own.

And that? Is pretty damn cool.

Viral Knitting

2007-11-02T09:53:00.000-05:00

Knitting patterns, like anything else, can go viral. When I think of viral knitting, I immediately think of Clapotis and Calorimetry, but I know there are others.

So I ask--which knitting patterns do you think have gone viral?

NaKniSweMo!

2007-11-01T09:43:00.000-05:00

It's November again (already?!?), which apparently means its time for the Internets to go all crazy.

I've tried NaNoWriMo twice and failed both times--so this year I'm going for something new. This year, I'm doing NaKniSweMo!

I'll be knitting Butterfly, in Noro Kureyon in colroway 148. I've been longing to make this sweater for years, and now that I can afford the yarn (Kinda. Sorta. Maybe. If I don't look too closely at my bank balance.) I'm finally going to.

I'm also thinking of doing NaBloPoMo, and attempting to blog every day--I've been more consistent about blogging, but it can't hurt.

Must go--time to cast on!

FO: Cherie Amour

2007-10-31T10:04:00.000-05:00

It's done!!!!

My Cherie Amour is finished, and I really like it. I was concerned with the armholes being too tight, but after I wore it for an hour, they loosened up and felt fine.

It fits great, and I got a ton of compliments on it at work. There were a few pattern issues I wish I had known about, but I guess that's what I get for being one of the early group of knitters.

It's a great fit, great sweater, and I'll definitely be making it again in different colors.

Cherie Amour

2007-10-29T09:13:00.000-05:00

This weekend I seamed Cherie Amour.

While a beautiful sweater, this didn't go as well as I would have hoped. The shoulder seams are tight--really tight. They have to hit at my upper arms, because they're too small to go around my shoulders.

The sleeves themselves are also too long,and bunch unflatteringly if pushed up to my wrists.

I might try to wear it like this--it looks fine, but doesn't feel great--because I really don't want to rip the sleeves and do them again, but I may have to.

Thoughts. And Socks.

2007-10-25T09:31:00.000-05:00

Behold the first finished commuter sock. I've already cast on for sock number 2, in an attempt to avoid second sock syndrome.

Not much knitting news--I've mostly been sleeping off a cold.

I did notice something as I've been browsing knitting blogs--what's with all the couples consisting of a computer geek (I mean that in a loving way, people, y'all should know that by now) and a knitter? I just suddenly seem to be seeing a ton of adorable couples like that, and it seems like a strange coincidence. Maybe it's some sort of weird cosmic compatibility thing?

Also, I kinda want to know how to become one of those knitters....

Fake Rhinebeck

2007-10-24T09:39:00.000-05:00

Since I was not able to make the trek to Rhinebeck (next year, I promise) I've decided to participate in Girl on the Rocks' Fake Rhinebeck contest! I dug through part of my stash and unearthed some fun yarn.

Four skeins of Knitpicks Wool of the Andes Bulky in Emerald, destined to become Glampyre's Bulky Cabled Sweater.

Also, a gorgeous skein of Miss Babs Superwash Sock yarn in bright pinks and purple. Perhaps the next commuter sock? Or Jaywalkers?

Just Keep Knitting (Project Update)

2007-10-23T09:34:00.000-05:00

Some days I feel like Dory--just keep knitting, just keep knitting.

I've been teased (slightly) for the sock which is always at the ready in my bag, but some days knitting on the commute is the only way I hang on to my sanity. It's a very zen-like thing for me, and I could use that, especially with my parents getting into town on Friday, and my apartment not anything near what they consider habitable.

I finished the sleeves for Cherie Amour and blocked it, but completely forgot to take pictures. The next step is sewing the sleeves in--my least favorite part, though at least I've already woven in all my ends.

I also ordered the yarn for Butterfly online. The LYS I went to only has 10 balls of any color of Noro, and I need 11. Since I wasn't interested in a substitution--I waited until I could afford Kureyon to make this sweater, damn it, I'm making it with Kureyon--and they didn't seem interested in working with me to get the right number of skeins in one dyelot, I went online.

Tubey is inching along, but looks super cute so far.

The commuter sock is already past the gusset increases, and I'm working on the foot. Hooray!

Baudelaire has been woefully ignored since I cast on. I just haven't had the time to really focus on it, and it's my first toe-up sock, so I really need to focus.

I'm not casting on for anything else until these are finished. I swear.

File This One Under Steph is Smrt

2007-10-20T20:14:00.000-05:00

So, I've had a pretty bad week. I'm not going to go into it here, but let's just say it sucked. A lot.

Fortunately for me, a new yarn store just opened up near me. So I decided to check it out and buy myself some yarn.

I'm still committed to de-stashing (No, really, I am) but I thought maybe some nice sock yarn would help cheer me up.

Sadly, they don't have much in the way of sock yarn, and it's in the muted plain color variety rather than the bright and pretty kind. So..no sock yarn.

But they have Noro.

I've avoided Noro up until now. I made a pair of wristwarmers from Kureyon, but that's it. Kureyon? Pretty, but not in a college student budget. So, since I am now someone with a Real Job, I figured I would splurge on a book and yarn.

I've been eyeing Butterfly for sometime now, and that happened to be the Noro book she had in stock. So I merrily bought the book and some yarn in the new 214 colorway, which on the outside was full of lovely rust, Autumn colors (Since I have been accused of--or at least questioned about--only knitting sweaters in one color family.) and trotted home.

As I was working up the first skein, I quickly realized two things. 1) I had misread and underestimated my yarn by half, and 2) there was a bit of green, pink, and blue hidden in the middle of the skein that I didn't particularly love.

After much debating, I think I'm going to return the remaining skeins and exchange them for another colorway I had been considering (if she has enough in stock) or just return them and order online, if I need to. I can't return the half knitted skein, naturally, so I think I'll make the Kureyon Kozy from Knitty.

So, not a complete disaster, but I do feel kind of dumb.

this is not a life of leisure

2007-10-19T09:50:00.000-05:00

The other day I came across the article Domestic Hiss, where Jeanne Jackson discusses some criticism of domestic blogs.

The entire thing just irks me, particularly the bit where domestic blogs are dismissed as the province of those with "money and leisure."

Now, clearly, I write a knitting/crafting blog. Which is generally classified as a domestic blog and let me tell you, this is not a life of leisure. Or money.

Like any number of craft bloggers out there, I am not a stay at home wife or mom. In fact, if you were to profile what you'd expect from the stereotype of a craft blogger, I am very likely none of those things. I am young (24). I am single. I work--I work a lot, actually, and most of the knitting you see on here is done on the weekends or my commute because that's all the time I have. I am a pop culture junkie and kind of a geek.

I don't know where people get the idea that crafting is the province of those with time and money. Or those with kids. Or who are married. Or older. Whichever stereotype you'd like to pick, fill in the blank here. I, like many people, do this because it's fun. It's fun, and it's relaxing, and it feels good to have something finished, something physical that I can hold in my hands in a world where most work consists of more and more ephemeral chunks of information and tasks (like answering email) that repeat themselves in an endless cycle.

Personally, I think the world would be a better place if we all took some time to sit down, relax, and knit our own pair of socks.

Like the commuter sock. It's zipping along on the needles. I even tried an eye of partridge heel this time, for variety.

I like it, and can't wait for it to be finished.

I Have Sleeves!

2007-10-17T09:57:00.000-05:00

This weekend I also finished the sleeves for Tubey.

They seemed to go on forever, and I was half convinced they would be miles too long, but they weren't.

I like the colors, and so far it fits well. Now on to 17" of 3x1 ribbing!

(Yes, the 2nd shot is blurry. I have no idea why. It's the only one I have of the sleeves from the side so...deal.)

Cherie Amour Body

2007-10-16T09:23:00.000-05:00

I've finished the body of Cherie Amour!

I mostly like the way it looks, but I'd make a few changes. Namely, I think I'd go up a size (or 2) through the ribbing, then drop back to the smallest size through the chest. I'd also rechart the neck decreases, as I found that really counterintuitive, and probably make it a little longer.

That said, I'm really happy with how it's turning out. It's a super quick knit, and very cute!

Eco-Knitting

2007-10-15T09:29:00.000-05:00

Today is Blog Action Day. Originally, I had planned to have a pattern for an eco-friendly knitted (or crocheted) grocery bag.

But, time escaped from me, as it often does, so you get this instead.

The thing about craftiness is that it can be pretty environmentally friendly, if you think about it.

First of all, there's the things you can make. Don't use plastic bags--carry your groceries in something you've made instead! Try Knitty's French Market Bag for knitters, or the Sugar and Cream String Bag for crochet.

So, then, what to do with those plastic bags you have leftover? Knit them into a bag of their own, of course! Try the DIY Network tutorial.

You can use eco-friendly yarns as well: Try 2nd Time Cotton (recycled cotton), Recycled Sari Silk, Cornucopia (made of, you guessed it, corn--yes, corn), or Bamboo, just to name a few.

See? Now you have an excuse to go out and buy some more yarn. It's not for you, it's for the environment!

The Gauge Gnomes

2007-10-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

No matter how long I've been knitting, I can't always resist the temptation to play fast and loose with gauge swatches.

Needless to say, this isn't always a good thing.

I discovered, upon further contemplation of the traveling sock, that it looked....well it looked a little large, honestly. So I measured.

Yeah.

I so don't have 9" ankles.

I spent the better part of my evening commute on Wednesday ripping out the sock and casting on again, this time with 48 stitches and a 2x2 cuff. I had somewhat of an epiphany regarding ribbing. While I understood intellectually that the number of total stitches played a role in the type of ribbing used, as well as how to divide up the rib between knit and purl, something about it clicked and it all started making perfect sense.

I love it when math does that.

Now, I could blame this error on my impatience, and the fact that I was measuring gauge in a hurry.

Or...I could blame gnomes.

I caught this one at my desk the other day...sure, he looks all innocent, but I suspect gauge interference.

Happy Socktoberfest!

2007-10-10T09:52:00.000-05:00

Lest you think my recent bout of startitis is causing me to abandon my previous project, let me assure you I am still working on the sleeves for Tubey.

All 5'3" inches of them. (Thank God I'm short, that's all I'm saying.)

But, I hit a snag. While I love all my projects--Cherie Amour, Tubey, Sizzle, the long-abandoned Rogue--none of them are very portable.

Especially since I just bought a new purse as part of the slightly disturbing girlification that has occurred since I moved here.

It's a very cute purse,but there's not whole lot of room in there. What I needed was something small. Something portable. Something that didn't require a lot of complicated measuring or counting or switching of yarns.

What I needed was a commuter sock.

I cast on for this sock using Knitpicks Memories in Rocky Mountain Dusk (I think--it was stashed and they don't seem to carry it any more). It's a basic, plain sock that requires very little thinking on my part.

I used the Yarn Harlot's sock recipe from Knitting Rules as a guide and cast on 70 sts on US3s, and knit about an inch in 3x2 rib for the cuff, and now it's just plain knitting for the leg. It couldn't be simpler, which is just what I need on my commute.

Plus, it's the perfect way to celebrate Socktoberfest!

Tubey Construction

2007-10-08T09:20:00.000-05:00

First of all, let me say, you never realize how long arms are until you knit Tubey. Intellectually, I may have recognized that wingspan is roughly equal to height, but it took being in the midst of 5'3" of stockinette stitch to truly drive that point home for me.

I'm having a lot of fun with Tubey though--I really like the construction of the sweater. It's so easy to get caught up in doing things the same way (Hmm, shall this sweater be a traditional bottom up sweater or a top down raglan?) all the time and never take a step back to look at things in a different way.

It's very inspiring--I want to explore new ways of constructing things, seeing what I can come up with. Because if this rectangle:

Can turn into sleeves!

Well, a sleeve at this point.

What else is possible if you try something new?

Slow Progress

2007-10-05T09:42:00.000-05:00

Tubey is still a small swatch of black stockinette. I was going to take a picture, but it's not very interesting right now.

I think I'm going to sign up for Netflix again. I am woefully deficient in my movie knowledge, and that needs to change. Starting with Bladerunner.

Also, I need to get caught up for Battlestar Galactica. (Or so I've been told.)

Don't ask me when I'm going to have time to do this. I don't know.

This weekend? Is going to be all about catching up on TV shows and crafting.

I Think I Have Startitis

2007-10-02T10:12:00.000-05:00

Sizzle? Is still on the needles, just inches, mere inches, away from being bound off. Then all I have to do is finish it.

Cherie Amour? Again, inches away from finishing the body, then I will only have sleeves and finishing.

So what do I do?

I cast on for Tubey, of course!

See the thing is--lest you think I am just a fickle knitter--the thing is that Sizzle and Cherie Amour are not, at this point, public transit friendly. They require charts, measuring, counting repeats.

Tubey? Is 19" of stockinette on size US8s. No danger of running out of project. No danger of needing to measure (for a while) or count or remember how many repeats I've done.

Besides, it's a really cute sweater.

Quick Cherie Amour Post

2007-10-01T10:04:00.001-05:00

Last night I worked on Cherie Amour:

I was so distracted by Cold Case and the re-living of my high school years through the music in the episode (Semi-Sonic! Dishwalla! Goo Goo Dolls! Everclear!) that I completely spaced on the part where it said, continue in pattern until armhole measures 6" so I'll need to go back and do that on the left front.

Looking at the picture, it's looking really small. I'm hoping the ribbing stretches...a lot. I think it will, though.

I also watched part of Jurassic Park last night. It was a very nostalgia filled night for me. Jurassic Park, I have to say, played a pretty defining role in who I am.

I was, surprisingly enough, an excessively girly child. I had long hair and wore dresses and was quiet and sweet and all of those things that girls are told to be. Everyone told me that I would hate this movie. It was too bloody and scary and gross. I wouldn't make it through.

When I finally saw it? Best. Thing. EVAR.

It was fantastic. This was COOL. And there was Sattler, who was kick-ass and smart and a girl and who had great lines like "Dinosaurs...eat man, woman inherits the Earth." And Malcolm, who I maybe had a little bit of a crush on, because did I mention I like geeky? I couldn't have told you which one of those characters I was more in love with, but that movie was probably the start of my slide into becoming a massively geeky feminist.

Also? There were velociraptors. And who doesn't love raptors?

Perhaps I Am a Tad Obsessive

2007-09-30T14:52:00.000-05:00

Admittedly, I seem to have a bit of an obsessive personality. This can be good and it can be bad.

Things to remember:

iTunes is not going anywhere. It is not necessary to download every single song that has ever appeared on Grey's Anatomy in one day. They will still be there later, and I will not have a heart attack from the bill.

Just because the book says it will teach you beginning programming in 24 hours, that does not mean those hours must be consecutive.

If you're stalled on Cherie Amour because you can't find your size 9 Denise tips, perhaps the solution is not to go to the store and buy more needles, but instead to clean your apartment until you locate them.

On that note, it's time for me to head to out to run errands (yes, that includes buying the aforementioned needles). Just as soon as I finish this chapter....

Another Boring Post

2007-09-26T09:23:00.000-05:00

No pictures yet again. I think I'm coming down with something, I'm so tired. I drag myself home from work and collapse. I managed to do a little more cross stitch, which is good.

Of course, I also managed to watch some more TV! Because that requires absolutely no energy. Hooray!

NCIS--I was less than impressed by the premiere. Not enough Ziva, and frankly the whole Director and the arms dealer storyline bored me. Plus, the fact that Jean was the guy's daughter and Tony was undercover? Not exactly a shocking twist.

The Unit--Interesting storyline, and I'm still not sure who's on what side, but I actually much prefer the show when they are all together as a team. Also, I feel like the wives storylines are getting dropped.

And now it's time for me to drag myself off to work, and hopefully I'll start to feel better. Yesterday I felt so lightheaded I almost fell out of my chair, and I could barely make it up the 2 flights of the stairs from the basement. I just have to stay awake long enough to make it through the day, and then to knitting night!

More Cross Stitch

2007-09-25T09:01:00.000-05:00

Last night, I worked on yet another WTF. Not entirely sure who this one is going to (mystery last name guy?) but I have faith someone will want it. I also started the first custom design.

More exciting however, is the fact that it's Premiere Week!

I watch way too much TV, so I'm super excited. So what am I watching?

How I Met Your Mother--love that show, but not sure how I feel about Alyson Hannigan's hair lately. But, yay, I'm so glad to see the show back.

The Big Bang Theory--I thought I'd give this one a shot, but I'm still on the fence. It hits two of my major pet peeves. The first is that being smart or nerdy or geeky automatically means being socially awkward and having bad taste and being generally clueless. Now, I'm a nerd. My friends are nerds. A significant number of my co-workers are nerds (understand, y'all, that I mean nerd in the best way possible). Yet somehow we are all able to be, y'know, relatively normal human beings who function just fine in society.

Which brings me to pet peeve number two. WHY IS IT ALWAYS THE GORGEOUS BLOND GIRL???? What's with this smart guy/stupid but beautiful girl bit? See, here's the thing. I like nerdy people. I'd like to date other slightly weird, sarcastic, nerdy people. So, why, Hollywood, why do you never show the geeky guy meeting the nice geeky girl? Hmm? Why is always the gorgeous blond? Memo to guys: there are girls out here, we are geeky. And we may not be blond, or tall, or gorgeous, but we are fun and independent and snarky and less likely to do all those annoying clingy things that you bitch about and probably have more in common with you, if you would just stop chasing after the model and give us the time of day or something. Some of us are even kind of cute.

And yes, I know, comedy. But that rant's been marinating for a while now (clearly) and I just needed get that off my chest. Moving on...

Heroes--Is this show always so confusing? I haven't seen season one yet, though I'm going to borrow the DVDs from someone and catch up, but I'm not entirely convinced it's going to help. So many characters. So many subtitles. Damn you, TV, for making me put down my crafts to read the screen.

CSI: Miami--Yes, I know. It's horrible. It's cheesy. David Caruso couldn't act his way out of a paper bag. But it's got Emily Proctor! And of course, the magical Sunglasses of Justice! I actually wasn't paying that much attention--I recorded it--and fell asleep part way through because my neighbors keep waking me up in the middle of the night so I'm exhausted, but I was excited for some Calleigh/Delko shipper-ness. He was awfully jealous about that Antigua trip, I'm just saying.

WTF Madness

2007-09-24T00:28:00.000-05:00

I'm almost ready to start Cherie Amour, so I've decided the world needs a Cherie Amour KAL. So, I started one. If you're thinking of knitting Cherie Amour, or you've already started, please join! It's a no-pressure, non-deadline sort of knitalong, so don't feel like you have to be at any specific point in your knitting to join.

Aside from that, I haven't gotten too much knitting done. I did get some done on Friday, as I took my lunch break at a temporary park set up in a parking spot outside my office. They had mini golf!

I then proceeded to crash early on Friday, waking up at my desk after doing a faceplant into a not-so thrilling chapter on using CSS (I caved and bought a better book that lays things out in a way that makes sense to me after that.) and creating drop-down menus.

Saturday was the worst Saturday in the history of Saturdays, and I'm not going to speak of it. Suffice to say, I was afraid to pick up my knitting, for fear I'd accidentally strangle myself or one of the cats, or perhaps take an eye out with a needle.

Today was WTF madness. I finished two WTF cross stitch pieces for co-workers, while watching Remember the Titans for probably, oh, the 5th or 6th time because I cannot turn that movie off, and the season premiere of Cold Case (Please! Bring back the messy up-do for Lilly...) which was rather anti-climactic given the season finale cliff hanger.

I still need to make at least one more, probably more. I also finished the chart for the first customized design that I'm working on. Lots of cross stitch. It's fun, though, and I'm getting faster. Soon I'll be able to do the WTF design in my sleep.

Nearly Complete Sizzle

2007-09-21T00:30:00.000-05:00

After doing some knitting on BART and Muni today, I've nearly finished the front of Sizzle.

I started the neckline at 13" instead of 12" because only in my wildest dreams do I have the cleavage necessary for a V-neck that plunging.

Of course, now I'm at that awkward stage where I'm close enough to being done that I can't really take it on public transit (I'm not going to try to measure, graft, or seam on a train) but it's still not quite done.

In my world, of course, that means I have permission to start a new project. So I took a break tonight to wind the first hank of my handpainted yarn into a ball.

The yarn's definitely quite a bit different than it seemed on the site--I almost wish I had gone with something pinker, but I need more brown sweaters too, so is is good. Even if it doesn't kill the urge to knit something in an insanely girly pink.

Treasure Ahoy!

2007-09-19T22:50:00.001-05:00

Avast, ye mateys! There be treasure in these parts.

This be the yarn for me Cherie Amour!

O' course, what be treasure without rum?

So drink up, me hearties, yo ho, it's a pirate's life for me!

Tonight I feel ambitious and so does my foot as it sinks on the pedal

2007-09-18T17:29:00.001-05:00

(Internet cookies to the first person to name the title and artist that go with the song lyric title.)

The thing about project monogamy? It makes for kind of a boring blog. Today? I worked on Sizzle some more.

Y'all don't really want to see another picture of the ever so slightly longer tank top, do you?

Tonight, I had one of those moments where I just didn't want to stop driving. It was that perfect time of day--not too bright, not yet dark, and I was listening to "Car Crash" on the radio, and I just wanted to keep driving and see where I ended up.

I did hear from Handpainted Yarn--the yarn for Cherie Amour was shipped today! I'm not sure how soon it will get here--I think they're based out of California, so it shouldn't take too long. That, actually, gives me a lot of incentive to finish up Sizzle. That, and I'd like to wear it once before it gets too cold.

I should be working on Sizzle, or the several cross stitch projects I need to be doing tonight, but I'm playing on the computer instead. I will conquer you Internet, mark my words.

How Long Does It Take?

2007-09-18T00:18:00.000-05:00

As fall continues, and we approach mid-September (Already? How did that happen?) I was excited to see Lolly announce Socktoberfest 2007! I'm ridiculously excited. I took part in Socktoberfest last year, but I was so busy with school that it quickly fell by the wayside.

I'm already thinking about things I could knit. I NEED to finish my father's socks (they were, um, last year's Christmas gift) but I seem to have lost one of my needles. They're Knitpicks US1, but I can't remember which Knitpicks US1, so I can't just order another set.

Plus, I still have the yummy fall shades of Knitpicks Gloss that I bought last October, and I'm thinking either Widdershins or Monkey would look great.

I'm still plugging away on Sizzle. The fact that people are now apparently reading this blog (or at least clicking over to it once or twice) is really motivating me to knit so that I have something to write about.

As you can see, not a ton of progress, but today was a long day. I ran into coworker R as we were leaving work, and I was knitting on MUNI while I talked to him, and he asked me how long it would take to knit this top, if I just started and didn' t stop at all.

After I finished contemplating the concept with a mixture of awe (Knitting? Without stopping? Really?) and horror (Cotton? Without stopping? Are you serious?) I realized, I'm not really sure. How do you figure how fast you knit?

It's really hard for me to guess, because as we all know, I am NOT project monogamous. I tried, once, to count up all my unfinished objects, but once I was amidst the sea of half-knitted projects I found myself so demoralized that I shoved the whole lot of them in a box under the bed.

Perhaps I'll try sticking to a project for a while and seeing what happens.

Hey, stop laughing. It could happen.

Cozy Fall

2007-09-17T00:27:00.000-05:00

It's fall, and even though it doesn't really feel like it outside, I still feel the urge to curl up in my apartment and craft and bake. Something about fall just makes me want to be inside, all cozy and warm and relaxed.

Of course, the state my apartment is in means that I actually spent most of the weekend cleaning (Someday it will be suitable to, y'know, let people see. Not that I know many people here to invite over, but still.)

I did break out the new sewing machine. I found a tutorial on making tote bats, so I decided to try it. I cut out two, but I couldn't figure out the suggested way to do the handles, and wrecked the first one trying, so I went to plan B for attaching the handles on mine. It works just as well.

The lamp was most helpful in modeling the bag.

I went on a bit of a baking binge, so I'm going to be taking some treats into work Monday.

The abundance of pumpkin flavors is one of my favorite things about fall (I'm a pumpkin spice latte junkie) so I made pumpkin bread.

I also made pecan bars, because the idea intrigued me.

I also tried a recipe for chocolate chip cookies. I'm not sure how they'll turn out; I made some substitutions, and they didn't turn out quite like I wanted. But I think they're okay.

I also kept knitting away on Sizzle. I'm starting the front now, and it's going pretty fast.

It's All About the Sizzle

2007-09-15T00:21:00.001-05:00

Today I finally finished the back of Sizzle. It's a little out of season, but I've heard that San Francisco gets summer sometime around October.

I'm really hoping that's true, because if so, I might actually finish this in time to wear it.

There wasn't much knitting today--only a little on Muni and BART, since I decided to do a minor blog redesign tonight and work on some other super secret project.

I did, however, get a mani/pedi during lunch. I've been uncharacteristically girly lately, and I have to say, it's kinda fun.

I've been staring at my nails all afternoon. It's so weird to see them all pink and pretty.

And, yes, my coworkers have mocked me for it. But then, I would expect nothing less.

I'm In Love...

2007-09-13T22:50:00.000-05:00

With Cherie Amour.

Seriously, this is the best sweater pattern I've seen in ages. It's gorgeous. I want to start knitting it immediately.

The only problem becomes, what color? The recommended yarn (for once, actually affordable!) comes in so many gorgeous colorways.

I can't resist. I'm going to order the yarn tonight.

FO: Under the Hoodie

2007-09-12T09:49:00.000-05:00

I present to you: Under the Hoodie!

Much thanks to coworker Julie for playing photographer.

Overall, I'm very happy with the way this turned out. If I make it again, I'll add a couple of inches before the pocket--between the cropped sweater and the style of jeans I wear, it rode up a bit, leaving the small of my back cold all day. Also, the hem keeps flipping up in front, despite blocking. I think a few inches of plain stockinette before the pocket might help with that (since it doesn't flip in the back I'm guessing it's the added pull from the pocket that's causing the flip in front.)

I love the way the colors turned out, and it was super comfortable. Yay Under the Hoodie!

Visits and Sweaters (Finally)

2007-09-09T22:43:00.001-05:00

I did not knit much at all last weekend. Why? Because Elizabeth came to visit!

We wandered past (and briefly considered) the Harry Potter marathon in the Castro.

Ate sushi.

Looked at awesomely kitschy mugs at Holy Gelato (I sorta want to go back and buy this one.)

And discovered that, yes, there may be such a thing as TOO crafty.

Tonight, after lolling around all weekend and accomplishing nothing (oops) I finally decided to finish weaving in the ends on Under the Hoodie. After all, I only started it, what, two years ago? So I wove them in, and steam blocked it, scaring the crap out of Fred.

It looks great, and I can't wait to wear it tomorrow. I have no idea what the weather is supposed to be like, but my cube is freezing, so it doesn't really matter. Mm, sweater.

Sewing Machines and Road Trips

2007-08-28T22:39:00.001-05:00

So, I had a random plan this weekend to make a laptop sleeve for my laptop. I worked on version one for most of the weekend. It's not the greatest--I was kind of figuring things out as I went, plus I don't have a sewing machine at the moment--but it's a good starting point.

Thankfully I got material to make two versions.
That inspired me, though, to start looking for a sewing machine. I think I've found a lead on one from Craig's List, but it will require driving down to Cupertino. Which wouldn't be a big deal, except Elizabeth is coming to visit for a few days, and I'm not really sure that's how she wants to spend her Sunday....

It'll be an adventure? I'm a big fan of road trips....even if they are short ones.

Other than that, I haven't done much crafting. I've been on a cleaning spree yesterday and today, which is good. Hopefully I'll finish unpacking (4 months after the fact) and get organized so I can actually craft when I get off work without feeling guilty about it.

In lieu of crafting, I leave you with a picture of Cherry blossoms from last spring:

DSCN0074, originally uploaded by Quirky Knit Girl.

So Much To Update

2007-08-21T09:06:00.001-05:00

Because I got so behind.

First, the secret project I was working on:

It's right across from the elevator as you walk into the basement at work. They mentioned needing something homey and what's more homey than a nice cross-stitched WTF?

From what I've heard, people like it, so I'm happy.

Then, my co-workers and I have started knitting night! I taught co-worker J how to knit:

She's totally on her way to becoming a yarn junkie.

Finally, I came up with a super easy, yummy pasta dinner last night and had to share:

Shrimp and scallop pasta with sundried tomato pesto. Super quick and easy for a weeknight, and really yummy with a glass of red wine. If you're really energetic, some garlic bread and a salad would go perfectly.

Mystery

2007-08-05T14:45:00.000-05:00

I'm now on take 2 of a mystery project. No pictures--yet--but I'm feeling really annoyed with myself right now.

It's a cross stitch project, not knitting, and it's for someone at work. It's a fun, easy project, and I'm super happy to make it.

But naturally I screwed up.

I finished the project last night, and I was really happy with it, and rinsed it out and laid it on a towel to dry. My mother had given me some old towels to use for crafty stuff, and I figured she'd used and washed them before.

Well, you know what they say about assuming.

I woke up this morning to find that the towel had leached yellow dye all over the project. I tried rinsing it out again--nothing. So now I'm starting it over again. Thankfully the kit came with enough thread to make 2 projects, and I had some extra material lying around.

I think I'm going to try and salvage the original for myself, by dying it with tea so that it looks antique. That way at least it won't be a waste.

It just comes at a really bad time. I'm a bit of a perfectionist. When I try for something and make a mistake, no matter how minor, I feel like the world is going to come crashing down. It's frustrating, because I try to tell myself to let it go, but I can't. Even though I know it's not the end of the world.

It's also frustrating because of the time. There's another side to perfectionism, and that's when it becomes paralyzing. I've usually been able to avoid that aspect of it with work and school, but when it comes to my life at home, it's a disaster. I know that my house will never look or be perfect, so I give up. It's a disaster. I was planning on working on it today, but now I'm re-doing this project.

Annoying.

Can I get an extra day or 3 of weekend, please?

Other Crafters!

2007-07-24T09:53:00.000-05:00

My job is awesome for many reasons, but one of those is--other crafters!!

Co-worker Alex performed some awesome t-shirt surgery:

Isn't it great? I am envious of her crafty skills.

FO: Orangina

2007-07-14T17:31:00.001-05:00

Finished! One Orangina, knit using Knitpicks Shine Sport.

orangina modeled, originally uploaded by Quirky Knit Girl.

The photo is taken on the roof of my building at work, by one of co-workers, who is a fantastic photographer.

Long Time No Post

2007-06-29T11:15:00.001-05:00

So, I have a been a bad, bad blogger.

I'm blaming this on the fact that I have social networking sites and blogs coming out of my ears, and haven't yet figured out a good way to organize them, plus I've been working a lot.

That being said, I've made excellent progress on Orangina, I'm now to the ribbing. No pictures for this post--later, I promise--and hopefully I'll be able to finish it this weekend.

If I'm really ambitious, I'll also try to finish weaving the ends and blocking Under the Hoodie so that I can take it to work and be all, look what I made.

Even though it's July. But as it turns out, July in San Francisco? Not all that warm. And any time of year in my office? Definitely not all that warm. I don't know who is controlling the thermostat, but they are most certainly more hot-natured than I.

KIP!

2007-06-07T09:34:00.000-05:00

I've been plugging along on Orangina, but no pictures because my camera ran out of batteries and I haven't gotten more yet.

In more exciting news--June 9th is Worldwide Knit in Public Day! So everyone get your knitting out!

I hear there's a Knit-Out in Berkeley, so I might head over and see if I can meet some new knit buddies.

Oh--and I got the color I'm using for Orangina. It's Knitpicks Shine Sport in crocus. It's gorgeous.

Knitting! For Real!

2007-06-02T14:00:00.000-05:00

Guess what this is a picture of:

What, you didn't think I was going to tell you that quickly, did you?

I'm finally over the sleep deprivation caused by flying back East for a weekend to go to my graduation.

My school isn't officially one of the schools at the University, but we like to pretend we are, so some awesome Professors made us a sign.

If you can't read it, it says "SMPA Grads Rock" because, of course, the School of Media and Public Affairs is totally awesome like that.

I actually managed to find Mary and Gina in the crowd--don't we look thrilled to be graduating?

I also got to hang out with Mary and Elizabeth some more. Yay! There was much alcohol, and I'm sure people on the plane thought I was very strange, as I was drinking tons of coffee and eating advil like candy, while mumbling about tequila sunrises and redheaded sluts.

The drink, people, the drink.

But I did get some knitting done in the hotel (since my parents picked a hotel in the middle of NOWHERE (aka Centreville) which meant I barely got to see my friends) and I've completed this:

Still lost? It's the back of Orangina. I'm knitting it in Knitpicks Shine Sport in a color I don't remember at the moment. I've altered it of course, making it longer and smaller. I'm afraid I've made it too small--it stretches, but maybe I should get off my butt and start going to the gym.

It's Been a While

2007-05-28T00:02:00.000-05:00

Hasn't it? Sorry about the lack of updating. I planned to have this entry be about my progress on my new project and graduation, but I have so much to catch up on, I think I'll do that next time.

I vanished into the depths of a cross-country move. It's all kind of a blur to me, but I'll try to hit the highlights.

Before I left I managed to spend some more time with my friends:

And squeeze in one more Grey's Anatomy marathon.

I ended up packing at the last minute, confusing both cats.

Who were less than happy about being shoved into a carrier for six days in a row.

Wyoming was much prettier than I remembered.

And we didn't get quite as lost in Salt Lake City this time.

Beyond that--I lost money in Reno, was so exhausted that I fell into bed each night without knitting a stitch, and my apartment is still nothing but a pile of unpacked boxes.

I'm Alive!

2007-04-12T21:58:00.000-05:00

I bet y'all have forgotten about me, haven't you?

Long story short, I've been away from the internet because of the move.

My Mom came with me to help me move--and because she likes road trips--and we drove cross-country from Virginia to California in six days! I could say a lot about the trip, but for now I'll just say that Nebraska was rainy, Wyoming was pretty, Nevada was empty, and I-80 from Tahoe to Sacramento was terrifying.

I arrived only to find out that my new building--NOT wired for cable!! So I have DSL, which takes a while to get turned on, apparently, and I'm getting satellite set up on Monday. I've never had either before, so we'll see how it goes.

I've also started work, and I only my furniture the day before I started, so I haven't had any time to knit at all. But my co-workers are discussing instituing a knitting night, so I'm super excited.

Right now, it's off to the unpacking for me, so that I can stop living out of boxes and suitcase.

A New Challenge

2007-03-27T07:26:00.000-05:00

Can one girl pack her apartment in just 2 days?

Will she be ready for the movers when they show up on Thursday?

Will the cats accidentally get packed in a box?

Only time will tell.

Idea Frustration

2007-03-25T08:45:00.000-05:00

I've been in a crafting rut for a few weeks.

So why is it that all of a sudden I have all of these ideas? Right when I have to be packing my entire life into boxes and hauling it 3,000 miles cross-country?

Thanks, universe.

Packing

2007-03-24T13:49:00.001-05:00

My life consists of nothing but packing boxes.

Endless packing of boxes.

More updates later.

Flashback to SNOW DAYS

2007-03-06T12:24:00.000-05:00

I'm already missing the lovely, spring-like weather of last week. But it's still better than the weather we had before that!

The snow outside was very pretty.

And of course I took the opportunity to wear my lovely knitted items! This is the finished version of the Patons Scarf:

My Mom was visiting, too, and she wore her new scarf and an easy hat I crocheted out of Patons SWS. Mary created the pattern, and the hats are super cute!

I admit--I have a very Lorelai Gilmore reaction to the first snow (she is my role model, after all) and I had to go outside to catch a snowflake or two.

But, as pretty as it is, snow has the unfortunate property of being COLD.

I'm ready for spring.

Redneck Woman

2007-03-04T13:26:00.000-05:00

The weather here can't make up it's mind. Last week it was snowing, then a few days ago it was so hot I was wearing this:

Living proof that you can take the girl out of the south, but you can't take the south out of the girl.

What was I doing in my redneck gear?

PACKING!

Because I am moving to....

San Francisco!!!

I'm really excited, and more than a little bit nervous.

The worst part is the packing--I hate packing all of my stuff up. Here's the first box:

Doesn't it look so sad and lonely, getting ready to move 3,000 miles away?

Needless to say, this doesn't leave a whole lot of time for knitting, but I promise I'll have things to show you soon.

Thoughts on Travel

2007-02-13T21:39:00.000-05:00

Airplane seats were designed by sadists. Or midgets. Or maybe sadistic midgets.

It's a bad idea to throw a new knitting project in your travel bag without carefully considering it first. Otherwise you end up a half hour into your eleven hour day realizing that the yarn and project you have are complete incompatible.

Someone should start a chain of yarn stores in airports to address that very situation.

However, it does give me an excuse to find a yarn store here and buy more yarn. Which totally doesn't count as breaking my yarn diet because this is an emergency!

Oh, and time zones? Dumbest idea ever.

Attack of the Scarves

2007-02-11T18:11:00.000-05:00

I've been doing a lot of knitting lately, so I thought I'd share some finished objects!

First up is a Loopy Scarf made out of Patons Bohemian:

It's not quite finished in the photo--I still had to fringe it, but I haven't taken a picture of the fringed version yet. It's lovely and soft, and just in time for the cold spell we're having. The yarn was a (year late) birthday present from my best friend, Kelly. She certainly picked the perfect gift!

Next up is a scarf knit for my Mom, while she was helping me clean my apartment:

It's knit from Brooks Farm Yarn Four Play. The pattern is one she picked up with the yarn at the fiber festival (Yes, my non-knitting mother goes to fiber festivals and buys me yarn. Isn't she the best mommy ever?) because she liked the sample they had. It's extremely simple and looks fantastic.

Here's a close up, so you can see the colors and pattern better:

Once I finished with the scarves, I began hunkering down to work on Rogue--but that's another post.

Happy knitting!

Confessions of a Fiber Junkie Pt. 1

2007-01-28T19:52:00.000-05:00

I've been MIA for a bit, and I apologize.

The reason for my absence?

I have been eaten by the yarn.

I know we all joke about stash control, but my yarn is eating me alive.

I didn't realize how much I had until I started cleaning my apartment. I knew I had the foot locker. And the cardboard box. And the plastic bin. Oh, and the box my printer came in...

Then I starte cleaning.

I found piles of yarn, people. PILES. And not only was it yarn, it was tangled yarn. Massive knots, knots that my mother and I have been working on for the past THREE DAYS.

I think I have about 8 boxes full of yarn.

I think maybe I should start destashing.

Channeling My Inner Hippie

2007-01-17T12:11:00.000-05:00

After a spending a couple of weeks at my parents house relaxing, it's been tough getting back into the swing of things. Especially since I'm not a student anymore.

I did enjoy the break--and I even coaxed Fred onto my lap once or twice:
But now that I'm back in DC, reality is intruding.

Most of my time has been spent job hunting. I'm looking for jobs all over, but I'm mainly interested in staying here or moving to San Francisco. I'm spending a lot of time looking at job ads on Craigslist and in newspapers, and writing cover letters. Also, studiously avoiding looking at any statistics which suggests that it can take up to TWO YEARS after graduation to find a job.
In addition to the job hunt, I have resolved to clean my apartment. First of all because I am embarrassed to have anyone over, which makes for a very sad social life, and second of all because if I do move it would be nice to be able to pack relatively quickly.

Yesterday, I channeled my inner hippie, and embarked on my first foray into natural cleaning products by attempting to use baking soda and vinegar to unclog my bathtub drain. See, last time my drain clogged I tried Draino, but it was still clogged and I had to call maitenance, and my building manager told me not to use Draino or try to unclog my own drain.

Now, while this is good in theory, I don't want to have to call maitenance all the freaking time. But I'd feel bad if I did use Draino, didn't tell them and ended up having to call them anyway and it splashed in someone's eye or something. So baking soda and vinegar it is.

It did work, at least somewhat, but I think I'll have to do it three or four more times to really get at the clog. I did have fun watching it foam up--and felt very sad that I never got the opportunity to make baking soda and vinegar volcanos for science class as a child (my school sucked like that).

Well, I'm off for a job interview (fingers crossed) and then my mother is visiting. Even though I just saw her.

Ciao!

Desserts for Desperation

2007-01-15T15:03:00.000-05:00

I got the idea for the following dessert from Dooce and tweaked it a little. Rather than making the Oh My God Our Plumbing's Fucked Cookie, I went for the Holy Shit I've Graduated and I'm Unemployed Cookie.

Yeah, reality's hitting me in the butt right about now.

So, Friday night, as I was contemplating going out with friends before I realized, oh yeah, I HAVE NO MONEY, I made this instead.

Step One: Bake cookies. If you're ambitious you'll do this from scratch. If you're me, you'll get some of the refrigerated dough where you can break off and bake as many cookies as you like.

Step 2: Find and locate Chocolate Peanut Butter. Yes. It's peanut butter and chocolate and it's all mixed together for you! It's the height of laziness.

It tastes really good, too.

Step 3: Find caramel sauce. Wonder how long caramel has been in the refrigerator. Ah well. Caramel sauce doesn't go bad, right? RIGHT?

Step 4: Spread cookie with chocolate peanut butter. And maybe take a spoonful for yourself too. It's that good.

Step Five: Drizzle caramel on top. Try to prevent caramel from dripping over already disasterous kitchen. Fail miserably.

Step Six: Top with second cookie.

For those of you who keep ice cream or whipped cream in the house, that would make an excellen topping for this. My can of soy whip was looking awfully sketchy, though, so I settled for this instead.

Step Seven: Lie on couch, groaning about how that was entirely too rich and you shouldn't have eaten it. Then get up and make another.

New Crafts!

2007-01-07T11:23:00.000-05:00

Well, not new exactly, but re-discovered.

While I've been at home, my mother has been making me go through a lot of stuff from my old bedroom. While I was doing that, I came across some old cross stitch supplies. I picked it up to finish the Tigger one I was working on, and I realized I'd forgotten how much I enjoy it.

I'm definitely going to be picking it up again, especially since there has been a lot of new interest in crafting and the charts and patterns available are getting better. My problem with cross stitch was always the fact that I really don't like cutesy or country patterns.

My aunt also gave me some of her old cross stitch patterns--most weren't really my style, but there were a few I liked. And I've looked online and found some interesting stuff. Maybe I'll even branch out into designing!

I just have to make sure my knitting isn't neglected. :)

It's Alive

2006-12-31T22:25:00.000-05:00

I realize it has been way too long since I've updated. I like to think I have valid excuses, but mostly I've been kind of lazy.

My current excuse for the lack of blogging is the fact that I've been visiting my parents, who are among the tiny part of the population that still uses AOL and dial-up. Which means I'm vastly behind on everything Internet related, since a photo-heavy blog takes twenty or more minutes to load.

Yet they still insist that their Internet is just fine. If only they would get dial-up, then they would see the light.

I'm writing this from my friend Kelly's, where we are ringing in the New Year by watching the ball drop on TV. Because it's pouring down rain outside, and who really wants to go out in that? She's back from walking her dog now, so I should go and be sociable, but I wanted to update the blog!

Oh, and for anyone who is wondering, I almost finished the Christmas knitting. My Dad ended up receiving one sock instead of a pair--I have to finish sock number two, and I'm a bit afraid we'll run out of yarn.

More later (with pictures from my shiny new digital camera! I have entered the digital age!) and a Happy New Year to you all!

Filler Post

2006-12-04T09:21:00.000-05:00

Pretend there has been knitting content!

I have been doing some holiday knitting, in my spare time, but there hasn't been much of that. Only 3 more days! Wednesday at 3:45 I turn in my senior project....then one last day of classes after....and all I have to do is take one final! After that I am DONE!

Since I don't have any knitting photos to amuse with, I thought I'd share a picture from way back on Halloween.

Proof that Mary is freakishly tall.

For context: a group of us went to Rocky Horror. Mary dressed up as a sexy librarian and I decided to go as Shane from The L Word.

Fun times.

She Lives!

2006-11-26T10:18:00.000-05:00

Not much knitting to post--and even if there was, I haven't been able to borrow a camera to take pictures of it!

(I swear, I think I'm getting a digital camera for Christmas/Channukah/Solstice and I promise the blog will get a lot more interesting then).

So, in lieu of knitting, I give you a really interesting video. Regardless of your political persuasion, I think it's something everyone should watch.

Current TV did a piece on waterboarding, and I'm not going to go into all the political back and forth now (because I have an essay and a paper to write), I'm just going to say watch the video. It's pretty tough, and really makes you think. One of their reporters was filmed getting waterboarded and, well...just watch it. That's all I can say.

Rock the Vote

2006-11-07T09:28:00.000-05:00

I know, I know, not another non-knitting post.

This one is important, though.

Today is Election Day in the US, and I want to encourage everyone to get out there and VOTE!

It doesn't matter who you vote for, just that you vote.

I know it's difficult, unlike a lot of countries, the US doesn't make Election Day a national holiday, so people have to deal with trying to vote before or after work or taking time off, not to mention long lines at polling places and new voting systems in many places.

But it's worth it. This is your chance to impact the future of the country. So, please, please vote.

In addition, a bit more for Virginia voters:

1) There have been reports of voter suppression and intimidation in Virginia--people in heavily Democratic areas getting phone calls telling them they are registered in another state and will be arrested if they show up to vote, or that their polling place has moved to a new, inconvenient location. THESE ARE NOT TRUE!

You know if you live in Virginia or not, and even if there were some mistake and you weren't registered, you would NOT be prosecuted for showing up to vote! As for voting location, check with the State Board of Elections for your polling place.

2) I'll engage in a bit of partisanship here and encourage everyone to vote No to the Virginia Marriage Amendment. Even if you don't support gay-marriage, this amendment is worded in such a way that it could nullify agreements between ALL unmarried couples--gay or straight. Same-sex marriage is already illegal in Virginia--voting for this amendment will only add languge to the state constitution that deprives people of their rights and could have a much wider impact than most people realize.

Hey, Jealousy

2006-10-25T15:54:00.000-05:00

So, I've been seeing everyone's posts about Rhinebeck in the blogosphere, and can I just say how jealous I am?

I keep saying I'll get to Rhinebeck, but somehow I never make it. It's not even that expensive--I have relatives in upstate NY that I could stay with, so I wouldn't even have to pay for a hotel (I think they're close enough to stay with, anyway, I'm not exactly sure where Rhinebeck is in relation to, well, anything.) and it's not that far.

But, once again, I am here, doing homework and working instead of fondling fiber and staring at sheep and famous bloggers.

I've been trying to rationalize it. I'm broke, I don't have a job lined up for after graduation, and I have enough yarn for 3 people.

Seriously. It's obscene, the amount of yarn I own.

Next year? I'm totally going to Rhinebeck.

TV Post

2006-10-22T12:01:00.000-05:00

So this is a non-knitting post. Because there has been very little knitting.

Mostly, there has been the three Ps: procrastinating, panicking, and (senior) project.

Not to mention, more job applications than I want to think about it (memo to intelligence community: Please hire me) and my non-school classes, currently just spanish, but arabic starts this week. I'm ridiculously excited for it.

Side note: It's very weird to switch dialects when learning a language. My elementary school had a program where you took spanish classes from kindergarten through fifth grade. Our teachers were Senora Martinez and Senora Martinez--they were sisters-in-law and although I don't believe either were actually from there, they had learned spanish in Mexico. I also took one year of spanish in 6th grade, but my teacher was creepy (Really creepy, I'm actually pretty sure he was a pedophile) so I quit.

Anyway, I'm taking spanish again, through Global Languages at GWU (which is a GREAT program, with free and low cost language classes taught by native speakers, and everyone should check it out) and the girl who's teaching the class is (I think) from Spain, and so some of the pronunciations are different. The big thing is pronouncing a soft c. I'd always pronounced as somewhere between and s and a z, but she sort of lisps it, so it sounds like a cross between a th and a z. I'm getting used to it, but it's definitely hard at first.

Ok. Language note over.

The purpose of this post, actually, was how dismayed I was at this past week's Criminal Minds! I taped it, because it's on against Lost, and so I was watching it yesterday as I procrastinated and sewed together lots of catnip cigars for the various cats in my life.

I couldn't believe the ending--Elle! How could you?--and I was very sad to find out that Lola Glaudini is indeed leaving the show. Elle and JJ are, predictably, my favorite characters and it will be so sad to have no more Elle.

I don't know anything about the actress replacing her, I do know that Portia di Rossi and Jamie Luner were considered for the role. I'm sad Portia turned it down, but glad Luner didn't get it--I didn't like her at all on Profiler, but that could just be because the show fell apart without Ally Walker. I mean, pretty much the entire show was based on Sam and Jack stalking her, since the Profiling was about as unrealistic as it gets (and yet was one of the things that got me started reading about actual profiling).

Anyhow, apparently Paget Brewster is taking the role. I haven't seen her in anything--and I'm actually wondering if that info is correct. I figured they were setting up the Detective from this last ep to take the spot--I don't remember who played her, but it wasn't Paget Brewster. So maybe I'm wrong? Anyone know?

Now that I've bored you all with that, I'm off to knitting group, where actual knitting will commence, and then I can come back and do more senior project work. Bah.

Vote for Fred and Padma!

2006-10-20T08:09:00.000-05:00

Ok, no knitting content, because real life ate me.

BUT..I do have a teeny, tiny favor to ask you, my blog readers.

Vote for Fred and Padma!

WJLA is having a contest for cute pets--and I could win a trip to Seattle!

So please, vote, and tell your friends to vote too!

Chain Post!

2006-10-16T07:22:00.000-05:00

Crazy Aunt Purl posted this and because I'm bored, and forgot to take pictures of my knitting, I am too!

Four jobs I’ve had:

* Student (ok, technically not a job...but there sure is a lot of work!)
* Knitting Instructor
* Editor
* Intern at CNN

Four movies I can watch over and over:

* Harry Potter (any of them)
* Silence of the Lambs
* The American President
* Jurassic Park

Four places I have lived:

* Asheville, NC
* Washington, DC
* Arlington, VA
* New York City, NY (ok, so it was only for a couple of months...what can I say, I haven't moved much)

Four television shows I love to watch:

* CSI (all of them, but especially the original. Because Jorja Fox? Is the world's most perfect woman and I will watch any and everything she does. Also, Miami because Calleigh Duquense kicks ass!)
* NCIS (because if Sara Sidle is my favorite TV character, Ziva David is a close second. So close she's maybe even tied)
* Grey's Anatomy
* Criminal Minds

Four places I have been on vacation:

* San Francisco, CA (my first solo vacation!)
* Nassau, Bahamas (on a cruise....mmmm, cruise)
* Ocracoke Island, NC
* Roswell, NM (as part of a month long cross-country drive with my mother, from NC to CA and back)

Four of my favorite dishes:

* Roast chicken. Luckily, it's also one of the things I can cook.
* Pasta
* Burgers. Preferably with bacon. And fries.
* Gyros

Four websites I visit daily:

* www.livejournal.com because otherwise, I wouldn't know what my friends are doing :)
* Facebook. Becaus I'm in college.
* crazyauntpurl.com because knitting blogs rock
* yarnagogo, again, because knitting blogs rock

Four places I would rather be right now:

* Hanging out in a coffee shop, knitting and drinking coffee
* On a beach. Any beach.
* Hanging out with my friends, watching horror movies (because it's almost Halloween!) and drinking and dressing my cat up in a costume and filming him for You Tube...
* In bed. Asleep would be good. Asleep with someone else woud be better.

Four bloggers I am tagging:

* You.
* And you.
* And you, too!
* All ya'll are so tagged it is not even funny. But hey, it's better than that one chain mail where you have to send a dollar to five people on the list.

OUTKnit Group

2006-10-10T08:27:00.000-05:00

I realized that I forgot to post this announcement before. Bad blogger, no cookie.

So, here is the official blog announcement about OUTKnit, the DC Metro area's GLBT (and friends!) knitting and crochet group.

We meet every Sunday at Murky Coffee in Arlington, from 1-4. Don't let the VA location scare you--it's just 2 blocks from the Clarendon Metro stop, and there's plenty of parking if you prefer to drive.

It's a really friendly group of people, and since I've been asked, no you don't have to be gay to join. Allies are encouraged to come as well.

If you want more information, why don't you check out our Yahoo group?

Click to join outknit

Since I've been asked, I'll talk a little bit about why I started this group.

The first reason is because people asked for it--once they found out I was a knitter, I had several people ask me if I knew of any gay knitting groups. The DC Radical Faeries do have a knitting circle, but it meets at people's houses and I know that I (and a lot of other people) wouldn't really feel comfortable just e-mailing someone you don't know and then heading off to their place.

I also think it's important. A lot of the knitting groups I've been to have been dominated by a more conservative group of people. As I'm sure most of you know, stitch'n'bitch discussions can turn rather....interesting. A lot of times I ended up not speaking up, because I wasn't sure how comfortable anyone would be with a lesbian in their midst. I wanted a knitting group where people wouldn't have to worry about that.

So, if you're in the DC/VA/MD area and you'd like to check us out, come on by! There are some awesome knitters and amazing coffee--what's not to love?

Socktoberfest Goodies

2006-10-09T20:58:00.000-05:00

In honor of Socktoberfest, I decided to do some stash enhancement. I got some Gloss from Knitpicks, in Serengeti, Pumpkin, and Cocoa.

It's amazingly soft and delicious to work with. I also decided to check out the Knitpicks DPNs. I like them. They're very sharp, which is nice. Even if I do end up with sore thumbs and fingers.

I cast on for the Snowflake Socks from Magknits with the Serengeti.

My first attempt:

On US3 needles. It was looking a bit too loose, though, and the lace wasn't stretching enough, so I frogged it and cast on again using US2s.

I also cast on for some basic socks for my Dad's Christmas present. I'm using Lana Grossa in a grey stripe colorway. On US1s. It's very very tiny and fine.

It's also kind of boring--gloomy colors, plain pattern. But my Dad wouldn't wear bright colors or fussy socks, so there ya go.

Off to knit while watching the Sunglasses of Justice (CSI: Miami).

Cables and Socks!

2006-10-08T19:41:00.000-05:00

It's fall, so it's time for all sorts of yummy knitting.

Cables!

For the Fall Cables KAL, I started Boogie. I didn't have any bulky yarn in my stash, and I'm trying very hard to be good, so I'm using 2 strands of Lion Brand Wool-Ease held together, on US 10.5 needles.

Here's the front so far:

It's a really quick knit. I finished the back (I have no pictures, it's plain stockinette and gray, very boring) in 2 days. Two days with a lot of knitting, but still!

I doubt it will take me much longer to finish, which is good--sweater vests will probably remain in style just long enough for the fashion world to blink, and I want a chance to wear mine before they go geeky again. :)

Socks!

It's also Socktoberfest, so I'm knitting away on my socks. I finished the 2nd half of my plain vanilla sock class socks.

They're not very fall looking--but they will look great on Valentine's Day:

They were knit using Moda Dea Sassy Stripes in the Crush colorway, on US3 needles. I didn't follow a pattern really, just the basic sock formula. And since I don't pay any attention to what part of the colorway I start on, they're fraternal twins.

I think it adds character.

There is much more knitting goodness to come.

Happy knitting!

Socktoberfest Questions!

2006-10-05T09:57:00.000-05:00

I was planning on posting lots of pictures, including my sock in progress and the yummy roast chicken I made for dinner last night, but my palm (with camera!) won't hotsync all of a sudden, so...not so much.

I really need to break down and buy a digital camera at some point.

So instead of pictures I give you--Lolly's Socktoberfest Questions!

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?

I started making socks on a whim about a year ago. I'd always wanted to make them, but my Nanna, who taught me to knit, insisted they were too hard. I started with Fuzzy Feet, then finally took the plunge and made a single sock from an online pattern. Mostly, I just looked stuff up online and occassionally asked someone at my LYS for help.

What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?

My first complete pair were gifts, for my aunt. I gave her 2 pairs, and I assume they've held up ok.

What would you have done differently?

I would have made the first pair for me! Honestly, though, I would have picked a different yarn. I made the first pair out of Lion Brand Microspun, to be slipper socks in horrendously bright colors (they were christened the Jimmy Buffett Socks) which splits a lot. I would have chosen a better yarn.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

I haven't tried that many different yarns. I like Knitpicks sock yarn, and I made a really cool pair of fuzzy warm sleep/slipper socks for my Mom out of Moda Dea Dream.

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?

DPNS all the way! I can't imagine crocheting socks (crochet often confuses me) and I hate Magic Loop. As for 2 circs....I can't imagine the odds of me finding 2 circs in the same size with nothing on them. Probably about the same as Isreal and Palestine all of a sudden deciding this feud is awful silly and, hey, let's forget about the whole thing and have some tea instead.

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)

I've always done a heel flap. If I ever run across a pattern with a short-row heel, I'll let you know what I think. :)

How many pairs have you made?

Let's see...2 for my aunt, 1 for my Mom, 1 pair for myself, and I'm halfway done with another pair. And I have very lofty goals for Socktoberfest!

Happy Knitting!

Fall Knitting

2006-09-29T11:01:00.000-05:00

I love fall knitting. It makes me think of cozy sweaters, warm blankets, and soft socks. All in beautiful autumn colors.

There are alos some great things going on for fall:

Socktoberfest kicks off on Sunday! Who doesn't love socks? Go to Lolly Knitting Around to sign up and join the Socktoberfest fun!

Also starting soon is Fall Cable Knit Along. It seems that knitted items and cables are very hot this season, and what a better excuse to knit them?

I've got lots of ideas for both of these--I just ordered some knitpicks yarn to make Glampyre's cabled cardigan. I love it! And I've got the aran sweater I started, plus I'm thinking maybe a cute cabled sweater vest?

Oh, and let's not forget socks. So many sock patterns they deserve their own post! Stay tuned!

Yarrrr, Avast!

2006-09-19T21:22:00.000-05:00

It be international Talk Like a Pirate Day!

I have no actual knitting content to post at the moment. I've been playing around with the layout, so I'm going to have some things added soon.

So, keep watching, I hope to get things more organized and updated in the next few days.

In the mean time...

Drink up, me hearties, yo ho.

Just don't touch me rum. Savvy?

Sleep Knitting

2006-08-27T20:19:00.000-05:00

I've heard of sleep-walking and sleep-eating. But I think I've discovered a new nocturnal phenomenon--sleep knitting.

I'm working on the Swallowtail Shawl from the latest Interweave, and I've been knitting along for a while now. I've even memorized the chart--which turned out to be very useful last night, when I got stranded on the side of the road, patternless, with no other knitting, waiting for a tow truck.

(I will never go without an extra knitting project again. I realize, now, that I was tempting the Knitting Gods to smite me.)

I then took the shawl with me to OUTKnit, the new knitting group I've started. I remember sitting in the coffeeshop and getting through the end of the 13th repeat before I left.

Then I left, stopping to talk to a knitter friend I haven't seen in a while who happened to be there (weird coincidence).

I came home, cleaned because my mother is visiting (because my father is too cheap to pay for a rental car, so she is driving up here so I can use hers to get to work), and then took a nap.

Afterwards, I sat down to watch Three Moons Over Milford and The 4400.

I picked up the shawl and began to knit. Then I stopped. I looked at my knitting. I looked at the chart. I looked at my knitting.

I am now on the 3rd row of the 14th repeat.

Yes. Somehow, without realizing or having any memory of it, I managed to KNIT TWO ROWS.

Sleep knitting.

It's the only explanation.

Blogger Beta

2006-08-25T14:25:00.000-05:00

So, I've decided to make the switch to Blogger Beta. I like a lot of the features, but I'm disappointed that the ability to edit templates using HTML isn't up.

I like the point and click editing for things like color--I do better if I can see it right away.

But, I want to do my own header, with some graphics and such, so I really need to be able to edit in HTMl.

Oh well, that will come soon.

No knitting news to report. My job has crushed my soul and as such I have been spending my evenings passed out on the sofa, staring blankly at the TV instead of knitting.

I did, however, start re-reading one of the Yarn Harlot's books, which hopefully will inspire me. Because if the Yarn Harlot isn't inspiring--who is?

Pictureless Update

2006-08-23T14:40:00.000-05:00

So, my jobs (both of them) have been totally kicking my ass, which really reduces knitting time. I pretty much work all day, then come home and either a) go to do more work or b) pass out on the couch staring blankly at the wall.

I did make an incredibly girly ball band washcloth on Sunday. It's sugar and cream cotton in purple and varigated pink, and I promise I'll give you pictures soon. All I have left to do is weave in ends and decide if I want to crochet an edging on.

I'm plodding along on the Quidditch sweater and other projects, but nothing is super exciting right now.

Oh, and I cast on for the Swallowtail Shawl from Fall Interweave in Paton's Lacette. It's a pretty cream color. I really like it.

More pictures (and knitting!) soon.

Castonitis

2006-08-13T10:11:00.000-05:00

I am once again suffering from Castonitis.

Partly this is due to teaching--I like to be working on the same project as my class, so I can demonstrate on mine and let them do theirs, plus I like the see one, do one, teach one philosophy, so I generally knit a version ahead of time as well. It's also great advertising.

Then, I have design projects for something big coming in Sept (I hope!) and of course other projects.

I just keep casting on!

Here's a list of what I have to knit:

Semi-Abandoned Projects
Under the Hoodie (weaving in ends, sewing together)
Grecian Plait (sleeves, finishing)
Ribbon X-Back (take 3!)
Calleigh (must find notes first)

Current Projects
Log Cabin Stash Busting Blanket
Plain Vanilla Class Socks
Mystery Project 1
Hedera Socks
Quidditch Sweater

Crochet Projects
Mystery Croche Project
Mesh Grocery Bag (weave in ends)

Planned Projects
Mystery Project 2
Dad's Socks
Widdershins
Mom's Scarf
Joanne's Cat Pillow
Gryffindor Scarf

I really need to start knittng faster!

This afternoon, I'm meeting Mary and Kasey and going to scout out a coffee shop for a Queer/Queer Friendly knitting circle. I'm crossing my fingers that this will work out--I've felt a little uncomfortable at some of the other knitting groups I've been to, because they've often been full of women knitting for husbands/boyfriends/kids or lots of church groups, and I've found myself censoring what I say. A lot. Plus, I've noticed a lot of people I've met at queer oriented events have said they knit, and they'd love a queer knitting group.

So...let's hope this place has good coffee, lots of room, and is friendly to crafters (and queers).

Secret Projects and TV

2006-08-06T21:24:00.000-05:00

So, I don't have that much to say or show, as I'm working on some secret projects right now. I got some knitting done on secret project #1 yesterday, as I did a demo for my classes, then today I got some stuff done on the secret crochet project while I watched TV.

I decided to check out ABC Family's new show, Three Moons Over Milford. I wasn't sure what to expect, but so far I think it's pretty cute. It's got that quirky Gilmore Girls vibe going on. The premise of the show is that the moon was hit by an asteroid, broke into three pieces and they are in a degrading orbit and will, at some unspecified point in the future, crash into Earth causing the end of the world. They're also causing people to behave in some strange ways.

With only one episode, it's too early to tell if the show's going to be good or not, but I'm tuning in for more. It's not ground-breaking television, but it's cute and fun.

I also watched The 4400. I haven't seen this show in ages, so I'm very confused. Of course, I was watching it every week for a while and I was still confused then, so maybe it's just me. When did Diana and the geeky guy break up? They were cute together! I get the feeling the writers are going for a Mulder/Scully vibe with Tom and Diana, but it's not really there.

Besides, the whole partners falling in love thing is so over now. Honestly? I'd be impressed if a show came on and the partners didn't fall in love.

Speaking of love, what happend to Alanna? I was very disappointed to see Karina Lombard wasn't in the episode, and from the lack of references to her character, it seems she's gone for good. Does anyone know? The only thing that makes her leaving not as bad is that I've heard a rumor that Marina will be returning to The L-Word next season.

Ok, I have a confession to make. I hate Marina. I love Karina Lombard, she's gorgeous, but Marina's character was just very manipulative. She reminded me of some people I used to know, and that is definitely not a good thing.

Oh well, I can always just mute the TV and stare at the hotness. That always works.

Kind of like watching any scenes with Grissom and Sara fliting in an incredibly forced way on CSI.

Wow, that got way off topic.

More updates later--and maybe some photos, too!

Icarus Photos

2006-07-30T09:48:00.000-05:00

I finally have photos of Icarus!

I know, I finished it a while ago, but I had to get someone to take pictures of me. It turned out beautifully--I just have to find a place to wear it!

I love this pattern, and I loved the yarn. I used Dragon Tale yarn rayon slub in royal purple, knit on US4 needles. It's got a nice shine to it, and it was fun to knit with.

Here it is spread out on a table for size:

Being modeled (ignore the fact that I look like death on a triscuit, please):

And a close up of the lace edge:

I think it turned out well.

Domestic Diva

2006-07-25T15:13:00.000-05:00

I'm feeling very domestic today. It's kind of odd, because if there was one word I never would've associated with myself, "domestic" would be it. But here I am, all crafty and cooking and all of that.

Oh well.

I've spent most of today swatching for a secret design for a very big, very exciting super secret project that Mary and I have coming up. No details yet--but keep watching!

What? Just a few details?

Well, if you insisist...I spent most of today swatching a bunch of cables. And that's all I'm telling you, so there!

Now I'm doing another cable swatch for work. I'm teaching an Intro to Cables class, and I want to have it on display. Hopefully I'll have it done by tonight.

I'm also cooking dinner--I checked Nigella Lawson's book "How to Eat" out from the library, and it was very inspiring. I'm making roast chicken, made with garlic basil butter, and roast potatoes that I got from Trader Joe's this morning.

I love Trader Joes.

I also got a wireless internet card for my old laptop (the one without the burnt out motherboard) that is very old and very slow but will still allow me to go and blog from other places. I even found out that Arlington county has a wifi hotspot at Courthouse Plaza! I think that calls for a trip this Saturday, to sit and blog and visit the farmer's market.

Well, I'm off to put my potatoes in the oven and get ready for tonight--it's Sit and Knit at Michaels, and the last day of my summer shrug class (rescheduled from Saturday).

Layout Issues

2006-07-17T05:58:00.000-05:00

So, I was all proud of my new layout. Very subtle-y Harry Potter related, very nice.

Then I switched browswers from IE to Firefox and realized I can no longer see the images.

Grr. Arg.

So...stay tuned for a new layout coming soon! I have one in mind, that I've found. It's very cute, very British (featuring tea! and scones!) which is ok, because I'm a huge anglophile. And frantically trying to find ways to move to England. Or Canada. Not here, basically.

I also promise pictures soon, as I've charged my palm pilot with the cheap digital camera in it, and I'll be kidnapping Mary and her digital camera.

Oh. And today is a heat emergency--99 degrees. Lovely.

And it's combined with DC's crime emergency. Even better.

It's Summer

2006-07-14T22:34:00.000-05:00

And I have ennui.

I can't seem to work up the energy for much besides work and lying on my couch having increasingly odd dreams.

This is one of the reasons I've never liked summer. I much prefer the other seasons--fall, especially. Fall to me feels like beginnings. It's crisp, but not cold. The air is invigorating and there is this sense of excitement in the air. I love the smells of fall--pumpkin, apples, leaves, wood smoke, hot coffee and wool sweaters.

Summer, though, is lazy. It's too hot and humid outside to do much except lay around. I just want to sit and stare into space. I pick up books to read and put them down again, and the same goes for knitting projects.

I've got quite a bit on the needles, because I keep starting things but I don't seem to have the willpower to get anywhere.

I've started Perdita, from the latest Knitty, but I can only get a few rows in before my hands cramp up. That's what I get for making anything that uses embroidery floss and seed beads on size US1 needles, I suppose.

I've also got a shrug, that I'm making progress on. It's for a class I'm teaching, though, so it doesn't really count. I have to make progress on it.

There's also a Red Heart afghan, Grecian Plait from Knitty (which I started 2 years ago? 3? and am now reclaiming from the UFO pile), Ribbon X-Back from Knitty, the Calleigh tank, and a pair of socks.

Not to mention things which need finishing--Mainly Under the Hoodie from Stitch n Bitch, and Icarus.

Yet, what do I do? I lay on the couch, drifting off to sleep and daydreaming of moving somewhere, preferably England (or maybe Canada), anywhere but this country. I read Harry Potter and dream of Hogwarts and owls and magic and all it comes back to is wanting to be anywhere but here.

I'm DONE

2006-07-05T05:44:00.000-05:00

Yes, I've finished Icarus!

*dances*

I think that's a record--it's the first time I've ever knit a project pretty much straight through without switching to something else (techinical difficulties notwithstanding).

It's off the needles--I still have to weave in the ends and block it.

It looks really good. I'm so proud.

Unfortunately, in a haze of finished object euphoria, I did a bad thing.

I bought more yarn.

It's not my fault, though. Really, it isn't.

You see, I'm taking the Wilton cake decorating class at Michaels. Because they're short something like 4 instructors in my district. So, I go to class with my little student kit, all cheerful. Then I get the REST of the supply list. So as I'm schlepping about town, buying something like $150 worth of supplies, I go to Wal-Mart.

There in the craft department, tempting me, was the yarn. It's Red Heart, yes, I know. But Red Heart has its place, and afghans are definitely that place. I abuse my afghans. I spill tea and wine on them, and drop half a plate of spaghetti marinara on them. The cats knead them and suck on them and occassionally puke on them. They get thrown in the washer and dryer with no regard for proper wool care. Red Heart is my afghan yarn of choice.

It's varigated yarn, turquoise and fuschia and several shades of purple. It's so pretty and last night I swatched and cast on for an afghan, blatantly ignoring the many half-finished objects littering my apartment, begging to be finished.

Oops.

Pretty Pictures

2006-06-27T21:15:00.000-05:00

I got the yarn for Icarus in the mail, and just in time. I'm approaching the end of chart four. I'm barely going to use any of the new yarn, so I'll still have most of a cone...maybe I'll make some lacey scarves with the rest?

Anyhow, not much to say...so I give you more pictures.

They are not, sadly, of my knitting. But they are cute!

Mary stayed with me for a while, and while she was here she finished knitting Orangina.

So, what did we do? We drank mojitos and took pictures!

Here are some of her and her pretty top:

The fashion model pose!

Isn't she cute? And so is the top!

Ok, I'm off to watch Pirates of the Carribean now.