Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Let's not jynx it







I am on a roll folks. Not only have I frogged the stuff that I wasn't going to finish this year that had been idling forever, but I have finished a lot of stuff that was sitting around for at least a year or more.

See previous post - monkey socks almost done - idling for 2 years.
See sewn pajama bottoms for Eric - idling for 3 years.

And my major accomplishment, finished today is the bag in the pic above. It's the bag that had the idled for over a year, spent a weekend working on until the handles were sewn on the inside, and today, I ripped and re did the handles, and all is good. I love this bag. This bag rocks as hard as it was to make, which is good, because it feels like a big accomplishment that way. The inside lining is of a different fabric, but only 3/4 of the way. the rest is the main fabric. And there is a pocket on the inside. And the darting of the side corners? Well, you can't see it but they rock. (this was the main ornery area of the pattern. It usually is for me)

Also, finished another felted bag today, it got needle felting for the bottom and will get the metal clasps sewn on for the buttons in a few minutes.

As soon as Itchy decides it's not his bed.

Oh. And Mulder needs a bath. Again. He got one around this time last year too. But he has stopped being able to reach the top of his butt and it is seriously matted and greasy and dandruffy. He's kinda smelly and gross right now. And no, he won't let me brush it.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Progress




I am posting to show that I am making progress on the 2nd monkey sock. I am at the gusset, and would've been further if I hadn't read ssk as ss. Couldn't figure out why the heel wasn't decreasing the same. Didn't figure out until heel done. But I ripped back, which wasn't nearly as traumatic as it used to be, and am moving along nicely. I hate the gusset personally, but once through it the rest is a breeze.


Eric actually said they look like the most intricate socks I've ever made, and they are, and I think they are turning out quite nicely.


Fyi.. If you think you want to buy these nice socks or another such nice sock pair from a hand knitter, let me tell you, if you offer anything less than $500 be prepared to either get a look of death or have said knitter lose your phone number. Knitting socks is no easy matter. It is done on 4, or 5 small, pointy, double pointed needles, or sometimes 2 small circulars. it is done with small teeny yarn, and requires an infinite amount of stitches. One round on a sock? about 45-60 stitches. I estimate 150 to 300 rounds per sock, depending on size and length of leg. That's a lot of stitches. That's a lot of time. Depending on how fast you knit? If you have to rip back? Cables? 50 hours easy. So if you are planning to ask a knitter for socks, either offer a trip to Bermuda for exchange or hope that your knitter loves you enough to knit them for you as a gift. And you better love the crap out of them if you get them. If you don't and it were me? I would break into your house and steal those suckers right back.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Better today


Much better today. In fact I woke up and watched my usual tv (Grey's and ER) and got a bug to do some declutter and cleaning. Walked around the house with the swiffer duster, put away in a box lots of stuff I was sick of looking at. Threw out old dusty candles, took down a picture I didn't like anymore, Threw out old potpourri (I don't even like potpourri) put away cookbooks (I don't cook) except for the 2 books I do use for baking, put away lots of odds and ends in the box that just didn't go anymore and were just collecting dust. And I dusted. And I swept, vacuumed, litter boxed, etc. Now I'm kinda tired.

I did finish a new felted bag yesterday. And just for kicks I did a bit of needle felting on the flap to try it out. I kinda like it!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Plauge stricken

That would be me. Plague stricken. My eyes are burning and watering. my throat not only hurts, but it's kinda gooey. I coughed so hard this morning I saw stars. And to top it all off when I went to get in my car today to go home to make sweet love to a nap and some tea, my car didn't want to get out of park. Confused, fever ridden brain didn't understand this for a good 5 min and I just sat there trying to ram it and swear at it and then sat there foggy until I went and called the car guys up the road. There's a thing you can pull up from the stick part and jam a thin long thing in it and it makes the car get out of park. Did that and it worked. Drove car to car guy and he thinks theres a short between the park shifter and my brake lights because one brake light was shorted. The way he said it it made sense at the time. I'm sure it makes sense to him, and that's all that matters. (this is the guy that did overtime to put in my remote starter. We like him) He said to see if the brake light shorts again and bring it back. Which I will do.
I took my nap and feel worse, so I made some tea and I'm off to watch Lost (ha! irony) and knit in garter stitch until my head explodes.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Damn you Tracie!


Everyone now go read Tracie's blog. ............. Did you read the part about the sick, the hospital, the antibiotics??? Yea, well, damn you Tracie! I am now sick and I blame you to hell! My throat is killing me and I have a fever. Yes a damn fever.

( I really love you and don't blame you, well... kinda....just knit some more for Acrylic blankets and I'll forgive you :))

Aside from that we've had some kids around 14 or 15 running around between a few of our houses here on the block trying to break in. They almost kicked in the door of my neighbors, ran across another very large man neighbor and ran away, got the cops called on them a bunch of times, and last night Eric ran them off from lurking between ours and our neighbors house. It's a bit on edge around here lately. We have good security, nice high fences and sturdy doors, but it's still pretty freaky. Us and the neighbors are in constant contact lately, we know when each other are home and when one is home alone. Last night I heard a noise and found myself standing straight up in the middle of the room. I hope this passes soon, cuz it's making me tired.

A tv/movie update:

We watched Zach and Miri make a Porno, awesomely funny movie if you don't mind a bit of porn. Has hilarious references to early 90's high school.

Watched the movie 21, movie about kids in college that go to vegas and get lots of money. Good enough for entertainment, no revelations. Kevin Spacey is still awesome though.

Also saw the movie Saw V, very much like all the others. Gore, a bit of a twist, and still good if you liked all the other ones.

Not a lot on Tv other than Medium, Lost and Nip/Tuck. Medium is a bit slow for me this season, not a lot of grit to it, but it is regular tv.

Lost rocks. The last few shows have really had me because they reference a lot to the first few seasons. So if you are a die hard that has watched them all, this is the season for you. If you haven't, don't watch this season. Go back and start from the start and then watch this season. The part where Locke shows Richard the compass and asks Richard to come visit, well, awesome.

Nip/Tuck is a bit sour for me this year too. The plot is sincerely lacking in everything. Not sure why I'm even watching.

Ending with Itchy figuring out a way to get into the blanket and be wrapped up all at once:

Saturday, February 14, 2009




Sorry no bloggie for a while. Not a whole lot going on. I did get to finish my part of the oddball pet blanket, "whiskers wooby" and will be donating that shortly. I also picked up a few pet toys at the dollar store to go with. If you're curious on what the blankets look like, I've included a pic.

Also at the dollar store was a huge amount of yarn that's being discontinued by Patons, Pooch yarn. I tend to kinda like this yarn, even though it's a novelty yarn. It's nice for scarves. It's warm and thick, though a pain to knit with. I picked up 20 skeins. C'mon! It's the dollar store! That stuff was going for $7 at Michael's!

No, I still haven't finished the purse straps. maybe sunday. Maybe not. I'm actually working on a few things, finishing those darn Monkey socks, I cast on for a nice lace shawl that will take about 3 years to make (being made with Blue Heron 1000 yards, mercerized cotton color walnut) This yarn is so out of control gorgeous. I've included a pic, but it does no justice. You really need to see this stuff wound into the cake and then on the needles in the lace pattern. It has hits of blue and pink along with the "walnuty" color. Love.
I also have cast on twice for an afghan, but can't seem to get the pattern right. I'll try again. It goes fast, knit on size 17 needles and double stranded worsted weight yarn.
That's it for now, nothing exciting. Having steak and watching a movie tonight.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Oopsies

I accidentally got a virus on my computer at work. Not even close to having any idea how it happened. I type a lot without looking a the screen, so I think I hit enter without looking and downloaded some crap. It's called "antivirus 2009". funny. the antivirus is a virus. DO NOT DOWNLOAD! If you do, you will stump the crap out of the IT guy that is only there to get a paycheck and no one actually knows why, and then the actual people that know what they are doing will show up and spend 2.5 hours getting rid of said virus. Crap I say. Crap.
Another Oopsie is that I walked into the yarn store today to get 2 things. Walked out 60$+ later. And the retro clothing store is right next door, oopsies. $40 later, I have an absolutely awesome dress. Almost freaking made for me. If it was made for me it would be a bit longer, but oh well.
There's my week of oopsies. Did you make an oopsie?

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

In case you were wondering

I am almost halfway done with the leg of my Monkey socks. Over a year ago I finished the first sock. I have already done more in 3 days than I did in one year on these socks. Just sayin'.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Finished











The baby set is finished. See photos.

I had an exciting time at an estate sale today. I like to find estate sales that are open on Sundays and go about 2 hrs before the end, which I did today. Bag sale for 10$ a bag. I got about 50 skeins of yarn and some odds and ends for 15$. I also nabbed a few blanket pieces the woman had been working on and am planning to donate those along with some other things when it's my turn for the pet donation.