Tag: Rambling

Posted in Knit Ramblings

Delusional

Posted on by mslindz

For those that live in the area, you know it’s been insanely hot and today has been the worst day of the summer, in my opinion.  It was 105 degrees F outside!  As a result of this horrid heat, our house doesn’t keep as cool as we’d like.  I don’t know if it’s because it’s older and doesn’t have enough insulation or what the deal is, but we are running our air conditioner 24/7 and it doesn’t get below 80 degrees F inside. UGH! Too darn hot for me.  It’s been difficult to get some sleep because it doesn’t get much better at night.

Anyhow, it’s late (getting close to midnight) and I’m sitting here knitting on The Shawl (which is almost done, btw – two more rows and the bind off left!) and I’m thinking about needles that I don’t really want an interchangeable set, which is great because I have a sizeable needle collection right now.  I was trying to remember the last time I bought some needles and at first I couldn’t. Then I remembered that not long ago, I bought some US size 3 DPN’s because the set I had got lost somewhere.  Then I was thinking about the i-cord bind off that I’ll be using on The Shawl and how I don’t think I have US size 11 DPN’s and I am NOT going to buy any, but I don’t like the method that’s described in the pattern by constantly slipping the stitches back to the left needle, knitting them off, then slipping them back.  Yeah… no.  I’m totally not wanting to do it like that.  So I’m trying to think of a plan to avoid it, thinking about how I cast on stitches for a sock holding two DPN’s together to get a stretchier cast-on…

… and that’s when it happened.  Delusional knittin brain kicked in.

I thought to myself, "You know, you could have avoided buying those US size 3 DPN’s.  Since you have more than one set of each needle size, you could have just used a US 1 and US 2 held together while you knit because 1 + 2 = 3!"  As soon as I thought it, I realized this would totally not work and would be a huge pain in the butt to even attempt. 

But I had to post this.  I mean, how could I not?  It’s funny the things knitting does to a person on occasion.  Just makes all reason jump out the window (or maybe that’s just me… haha).

Posted in Current Projects, Sewing

The Weekend

Posted on by mslindz

My WIP list has dwindled a little bit. I’ve frogged some things because they weren’t working out, or I just did not want to finish them. The Noro Log Cabin blanket was frogged because I didn’t really want to make it into a blanket and now I have a different idea of what I will do with it. I swapped the Lana Gatto Summer yarn which I attempted to make T-Twist Tee with, but that didn’t work out (and I didn’t much care for the colors for me). The Big Bad Baby Blanket was frogged because I finally decided that there was no way I’d ever finish it and if I were to finish it, it would just sit in the stash waiting to have a purpose. The cabled bag I was working on is on hold right now because I don’t know if I want to frogg it or not and MS3 is currently in the same category. I’m not sure I’m really liking what the finished shape will be for MS3, so I’m going to wait and see how other people’s turn out first.

I’m nearly done with the shawl. This is what it currently is looking like, without giving too much away:

HPIM3679

I started another pair of socks with some Socks That Rock yarn I had in my stash. So far I like how they’re coming out. I’m working on Erin’s blanket occasionally. I’m trying to get the shawl done, though, so that’s taking up most of my knitting time. It takes a while to do one row now, but I’m pretty close to the end, so I’ll be able to work on it more soon.

Yesterday Crafty Mands and her hubby invited me over for dinner and after we saw the new Harry Potter movie. I had a good time and dinner was really good. Thanks for having me over! We will have to get together again soon :o)

I’ve been looking for fabric to make the shirt pattern I bought a while back and I haven’t found anything at JoAnns, Hobby Lobby, or Super Wal-mart. I was starting to get a little frustrated and thinking that I would have to result to ordering online somewhere. I had heard of a store that I might be able to find something at so today I made a trip up to St. Theresa Textile Trove. They have a lot of very unique fabric and they also carry quite a selection of beads. I had really hoped to find something for a shirt and there were a few fabrics I wouldn’t mind using, but they are kind of expensive. If I’m going to pay $20 for fabric, why don’t I just buy the shirt? I don’t feel the same about yarn, but for things that are sewn… I guess I just don’t have the same feelings. It’s probably because I don’t sew nearly as much as I knit. At any rate, I bought two fat quarters to make a Leetle Bag, enough fabric for another grocery bag (all fabric was 25% off), and some neat beads (which were 50% off):

Hpim3800_2

On my way home I remembered that there’s a Hancock Fabrics in Newport. I stopped on the way home and found some very nice fabric for only $1.97 a yard. I also bought two more fat quarters for a Leetle Bag and some cording for closing it up:

Hpim3801

Hpim3803

After that I was pretty tired, so I headed home. I was going to try out the pattern, but I’m just too tired. Hopefully soon I’ll be able to try it out and also make a few more grocery bags and Leetle Bags.

Well, I’m going to get off the computer for a while and work on the shawl. Hope you had a good weekend!

Posted in Knit Ramblings

This and that

Posted on by mslindz

I’ll warn you now that this post has little knitting content and no photos.  If you’re here for the knitting and not the chatting about my life I do now and then, read the first and last paragraphs for the knitting stuff.

No photos of the hat yet.  Well, none that I really like anyhow.  I forgot about getting some pictures of it outside yesterday and it was my dad’s birthday, so I spent time at my family’s house doing some low-key celebration.  By the time I got back home, the daylight was gone.  I did manage to make some veggie bars yesterday for the monthly pot luck knitting night (which is tonight).  Really, it needs to sit overnight to make it good.  It’s not one of those things you make and serve right away.  (You could, but I don’t think it’s as good.)  I was going to be lazy and do it today after I got home from work, but I knew it wouldn’t be as good, so I made it yesterday and I’m glad I did.

Next week, Nick’s parents are coming out to visit and bring Nathaniel back before school starts.  I’m a little mixed about the visit.  I feel like I haven’t done enough to unpack and though the house is clean, there’s spots of clutter that I’d like to clean up.  I’ve been wanting to do this anyhow, regardless if they’re coming out or not, but I’m usually so tired that I just want to sit and knit when I get home from work or on the weekends.  Work can be stressful and it really wears me down most days.  I have little energy as it is, so clearing the clutter is one of those things I’ve been saving for a day when I feel more into it.  Looks like I’ll be trying to get that done this weekend!

While I’m on the note of stress, my doctor and I had a small chat about it yesterday.  I see a chiropractor three times a week right now because of my back problems.  This is my third week.  Yesterday I was pretty stressed out and worked up over my day.  Mondays and Tuesdays are my busiest days at work.  On those days I process early payroll and it’s no small task to get done.  Sometimes, if I don’t get everything done on Monday, I need to complete it Tuesday which can put me far behind where I need to be.  This past Monday I was feeling horrible (that once a month girl thing), worse than I have for years on that sort of day.  I couldn’t think straight, I felt like I just wanted to lay down, I had horrible cramping pains, aching pains, and back pains.  I didn’t get near as much done as I really needed to which made my Tuesday morning really, really busy with all the work that I didn’t finish on Monday.  I completed payroll later than I usually do and I always feel crappy when that happens.  By the time I went to the doctor, I was pretty spun up and stressed.  I hadn’t relaxed from my day.  He started me doing some stretching, which is good for overall physical well being, but also very good for my back.  After I was done, he asked me about my day because he could really tell that I was stressed out.  We talked a little about different things that can really relax you when you’re stressed and stretching is one of those things.  I really like my doctor and I’m so glad that Nick happened to talk to him that day at work.  He’s changed my life.  I have less pain now then I’ve had in two years.  I can walk and I hardly limp any more.  I know more about my condition then I have in all this time with pain.  This was my last chance before surgery and I’m glad I decided to give it a try.  Surgery is scary and nothing I want done to my back and now I have been able to feel better without it. 

Anyhow… I just wanted to throw that out there as a tip for those that get stressed about things.  Knitting is a great stress relief, but after stretching yesterday, I felt relaxed and calm by the time I got home.  Good stuff!

The prayer shawl is coming right along.  I’m about half way done now and using up yarn more quickly it seems.  I know it’s because it’s bigger now, but I’m a little worried I may run out of yarn!  I have 6 skeins left, though, so I think I’ll be okay.  It’s big enough now that I need a bigger project bag for it.  My MS3 is coming along okay.  I haven’t done much work on it, but easy knitting has been my thing lately.  I did get some of Erin’s blanket done this week, though.  I’m almost at the half-way done mark, which means it’s nearly time to change colors.  I’ll post a photo of it soon since I can’t really describe it well.  If you’re on Ravelry, there’s a good picture of it on my project page.  It’s tan and dark brown.  With my Sockapalooza 4 socks done, I’ve cast on another pair of socks, but I haven’t worked on them much since I’m trying to get the shawl done.  This weekend I think I will be sending off some yarn that I don’t think I will ever use.  It’s going to go to a good cause and if you have yarn in your stash you aren’t using and don’t think you will use, this is a great place to donate it: Interim House.  There’s also the Community Healthlink Gateway Program.  So, if you’re looking for a place to give some yarn, there’s two for you!

Well, it’s back to work with me.  Have a good day :o)

Posted in Completed Projects

Ravelry, The Weekend, and Mention of an FO

Posted on by mslindz

There’s so much that I like about Ravelry.  I have seen more patterns than I have since I started knitting.  I try and keep up with what’s out there, but it’s difficult since there isn’t any real resource out there to find all these things.  Now that Ravelry is here, I’ve found a lot more patterns I want to make.  This is, of course, good and bad.  Bad because there’s a ton more stuff I want to make now, good because I probably wouldn’t have found most of these otherwise.  For me, I could see a pattern in a book a hundred time and it just won’t do it for me… I won’t want to make it.  Put it in a different yarn or color and suddenly I have to have it!  I love how I can look up a pattern and see different people who have completed it.  It can totally change my mind about a pattern I didn’t like before.  I looked up "lace" today and came up with all kinds of good stuff.  I have more patterns that I want to make now, but it’s okay.  I’m still looking for the right scarf pattern for the lovely Evolution yarn I purchased at Knitter’s Connection, but I think a stitch dictionary should take care of that.  What I was looking for is a good use for the Kid Silk Haze I have left over from the Mrs. Beaton’s I made last year.  I may end up coming up with something on my own, but we’ll see.

This weekend was good.  Dinner was great on Friday and I had a lot of fun.  The yarn shop hop on Saturday was fun.  I got to visit a shop I hadn’t been to before and I really would love to go to again sometime.  Plus now I know about more shops that I haven’t been to yet.  Must plan another yarn shop hop again, soon.  I was so good and didn’t even buy anything.  I almost came home with a pattern for a Noni bag, but decided to wait on it for now.  I knew if I got the pattern, the yarn would have to come home with me, too, and right now I don’t even have a washing machine at home to felt anything, so holding off is a much better idea at the moment.  I’d be bummed if I knit the whole thing then had to wait a long time to felt it.  After the shop hop, I went to The Beach waterpark with my mom and sister.  Despite the earlier not-so-great weather (it was very overcast and looking like it would rain), it was sunny by the time we got there.  I went on some water rides and had fun floating in the Lazy River.  The first ride I flipped over backwards on and swear I thought I would die, but I didn’t.  I did get a headache for a while because I think water went up my nose when I flipped over.  The movie they played after the park closed was "Flushed Away" which I thought was both cute and funny.  While it was playing, I knit some on the Prayer Shawl I’m working on.  I’ve used up 4 of the 10 skeins of yarn I purchased.  I think I’m nearly half way done now.  It’s taking no time at all!

Today, I completed the Shedir hat I was working on.  As of right now it’s not going to anyone, but there’s a small chance it might.  We’ll see.  I have more than enough yarn for a second one and I’m really thinking about making another just to use up the rest of the yarn.  I may be able to get some photos up of it today if it’s still light enough when I get home tonight.  It’ll be about 8:30, though, so I doubt it.  Tomorrow, then, if it’s sunny.  This really does need some natural light to really get the right photo of the color.

Well, I really must be getting back to working.  I just needed a little break for a bit!  This day has been dragging by and I’m ready to go home and knit a while.

Posted in Current Projects

Clue One is DONE

Posted on by mslindz

I’ll start with the exciting news: I’ve completed Clue 1 of Mystery Stole 3!  YAY!!  I completed it last night and I’m now a few rows in to Clue 2.  Of course this means that photos of what it’s looking like so far should be shown, so here they are:

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HPIM3659

Tonight I’m going over to Crafty Mands house for dinner and I will be bring it with me and we will have our own little knit-along going.

Yesterday, along with making it past Clue 1 of MS3, I went to Jo Ann’s to use my 50% off coupon.  I managed to get some US 3 DPN’s (mine went missing – completely GONE) for $4 with use of the coupon.  They had Simplicity patterns on sale for $1.99, so I got one that I had my eye on.  It’s a simple shirt pattern.  Now I just need some fabric.  I haven’t decided what I want to use yet, but I do know that I want to make at least one white shirt with the pattern.

The DPN’s are for another Shedir hat that I’m working on.  I could be DONE already, but without DPN’s that won’t happen.  Now I have no excuse but to finish it up.  Here’s what it currently looks like:

HPIM3586

Don’t worry, it’s not really that bright in real life.  I’m still going to have yarn left over and I’m not sure what I’ll do with it.  Maybe a lace scarf?  I’m sure I’ll have enough for something.  We’ll see once I’m done.  One thing that is certain is that I’ll be glad to be able to get one thing off my WIP list!  It still needs a recipient, though.  I’m not really a hat person and I doubt I’ll ever wear it.

This weekend should be fun.  Tomorrow some gals from my knitting group and I are going to do a yarn shop hop.  I’m looking forward to seeing some shops that I haven’t been to before.  After, I’m going to The Beach Waterpark with my mom and youngest sister to their Saturday night Dive-In Movie.  They’re playing "Flushed Away" which none of us have seen before.  Should be fun and it’s only $10 admission after 4 pm instead of their regular $35 admission.  Sunday I don’t have any plans and Nick is working, as per the usual.  I’ll probably do laundry and work on MS3.

Well, that’s all for now.  Have a good weekend!

Posted in Life

Non-knitting Content (aka Shopping Deals)

Posted on by mslindz

I mostly write about knitting here, but I’ll change it up a bit because I want to talk about the great deals I got today.

I shop at the Gap Outlet from time to time and usually get some pretty good deals.  Target is another place I like to get clothing on clearance.  Today I went to both and managed to only spend $10, but I got 2 pairs of pants, 4 tank tops, and a skirt.  The pants and tank tops were purchased at the Gap Outlet and the skirt from Target.

Hpim3634

I’m not big on these sort of tank tops, but the were 25 cents each, how could I pass that up?  They’re great for wearing to bed or around the house and good for layering in the winter, too.  The pants are great for weekend/non-work wearing.  They’re cargo type pants, which I rarely buy, but they fit great and only $1.99 each, so I bought 2 pairs.  The skirt fits great, I can wear it to work, AND it only comes to my knees!  I know it sounds silly, but it’s so hard for me to find skirts that only come to my knees.  When they’re longer, they tend to make me look like I’m even shorter than I already am.

I went to The Village Discount Outlet hoping to find some things, but came up empty.  Things were either too big or too small, but that’s the way thrift shopping usually goes for me.  No worries.  I have enough nice stuff to wear to work and though it’d be nice to have more for variety, I’m not going to break the bank for it!  I think I’m going to be going through my clothes soon and getting rid of things that I either don’t wear or don’t like the way they fit (I don’t like tight clothing at all).  I am finally going to give up a lot of my shoes, too.  Mostly the shoes that I can’t really wear (anything that’s not flat or a low heel).

Anyhow, I just wanted to share the good deals I got today because it made my day a little better.  It’s been quite a while since I bought clothes, especially at such a great deal :o)

Posted in Knit Ramblings

Work-in-progress Found and Photo Hosting

Posted on by mslindz

I was going through my stash and I found something:

Hpim3511_2

It’s the Icarus Shawl that I started sometime last year. I forgot all about it! I even found the pattern, noting where I left of (well, sort of – still have a little figuring out to do). I’ve got a lot of WIPs right now. Only one is on a deadline and the rest will be done whenever they get done. I’m done with the first chart of the Mystery Stole, but not with the first clue. Looks like I’m a little behind, but I’m not too concerned – I’d much rather enjoy it, than rush through it.

On another note….

Anyone use Flickr much? I have a basic account so I can use it in conjunction to Ravelry and I’ve thought about using it over Photobucket, just so everything is in one place. A long time ago, I went with Photobucket’s upgrade option and I have been using it ever since. I still don’t care much for Flickr and since I compose all my posts in html, I like to have the direct link to the photo I’m using. Photobucket provides this, so there is very little work on my part. With Flickr, it’s more difficult or I am lame and can’t figure it out – I will never claim to be a pro at computer and internet type things, I know what I need to know to do what I want to do. I know I can upload them directly to TypePad (my current blog host) or even with Blogger, but I’ve never liked to do that. It’s been my experience that it’s more pain than it’s worth.

At any rate, Flickr only allows you to see the 200 most recent photos that you’ve uploaded. While it still lets you keep the ones you’ve linked visible, you don’t have access to them any longer. At first this made me really mad because I’d have to pay $25 for an upgrade to Pro to access those photos in my album. I think for now, I’ll skip it since Ravelry still lets the photos show even though I can’t link to them any longer if I create a new project or anything like that. If there comes a time where I need to do anything like that, then I’ll consider it, but I’m kind of miffed that they don’t allow you to see more than 200 photos that you’ve uploaded. Kind of a small amount, if you ask me. I have let my upgraded Photobucket account expire and I still have access to EVERY photo I’ve uploaded, which is well over 200… I’d even guess well over 1,000 (maybe even 2,000?).

Does anyone use Flickr Pro? Is it worth the money?

Posted in Knit Ramblings

Back

Posted on by mslindz

I’m back and things went okay. Not as good as they could have, but certainly not as bad as they could have either.

I knit a lot. I nearly completed an entire bag that I’m not sure I’m thrilled with and may be completely pulled out and re-knit tighter. I have a good chunk of another Shedir done. I didn’t get to do any of the knitting for the personal swap I’m doing, which I feel kind of bad about. Fetching just required too much thinking for me (the other two are simple, and Shedir I’ve done twice already so I don’t even have to look at the charts). I also needed scrap yarn and DPN’s and the yarn I’m using is black… well the whole combination wasn’t working for me since I was pretty darn stressed out already. Now that things have calmed some, I’ll be working on them this weekend.

Because of all this stress thrust upon me, I was rewarded with a trip to a very nice yarn shop in Yorktown, Virginia – Coordinated Colors. We were actually on our way out of town yesterday and I was rather disappointed that all the yarn shops I knew of because of my yarn-store book were closed Wednesday or were already closed for the day on Thursday, and I spotted it. Big letters that said "YARN SHOP" and a neon Open sign. We stopped, of course. I found some absolutely beautiful lace weight yarn I could NOT live without: Ornaghi Filati Merino Oro in color 060, teal. The color is deep and rich and the price very reasonable. Plus it will make an entire shawl. I already have a plan for it. I’d been scouting out yarn online for the Shetland Garden Faroese Shawl pattern I was sent in the Lace swap, but hadn’t found the right yarn yet. Now I need to get my hands on some Addi Lace needles. The shop was very nice, the people were very friendly, and the selection was excellent. One of those unique yarn shops that has something for every knitter or crocheter. I also got a new book to read – What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman. It’s pretty interesting so far.

I’ve started MS3, but haven’t gotten very far. I’m still working on the first clue. I need to get some projects off the needles so I can work on it more! So many projects, so little time ;o)

Posted in Knit Ramblings

Hmmm…..

Posted on by mslindz

I’ve added all completed projects and current WIPs to Ravelry.  I have SEVEN WIPs!!  Yikes.

The socks should be completed soon.  Maybe this week.  The sweater and THREE blankets are going to take quite a bit longer and I wanted something a little more portable that wasn’t socks, so I cast on for another Shedir hat today.  Then there’s the MS3 project.  I also have two more small projects that I need to work on (and hopefully finish) this week.  I suppose it’s really okay that I have so many WIPs but it just seems a little scary to see them all in front of you like that. 

Anyhow…

Yesterday was fun at the Boot Camp for Socks event at Knit-On.  I finally got my sister, Caitlin, to knit.  I taught her while we were there!  So far she’s been doing really well.  I started her with a simple garter stitch scarf and she hasn’t made any mistakes so far!  She must take after me ;o)

~~~~~

This week should be…. interesting.  We have to go to Virginia for Nick for some matters I won’t discuss here for various reasons and it will be a pretty stress filled week.  I will be bringing knitting with me and hopefully that will help a little bit until it’s all over with.  The only nice thing is that I have a week off from work after Monday, which is always a welcome thing!

I don’t know if I’ll have internet access while I’m away (we’re leaving very, very early on Tuesday, July 3rd), so if not, I’ll see you all when I get back.  Have a fun and safe 4th of July!