Is it Time to Knit Yet?

Getting over myself

I only have a couple of Works in Progress to show you today.  I am still, yes still distracted from my EZ percentage sweater.  Okay not completely, I have been giving it a little time here and there, and I am about 2 increases away from being done with the second sleeve.  I took my colors to SnB last night where Margene and Cheryl helped me pick out the ones I should use, thanks girls!!  I had a great time sitting and knitting and adding to a few conversations and I need to do it more.  See, I am socially inept, really.  I usually feel incredibly uncomfortable around strangers and even people I know.  I have a hard time interacting and I've always been very very shy, so it is a big deal for me just to get out and about without feeling like I've done or said something incredibly stupid.  Is that too much information?!  Oh well.  I'm trying to 'get over myself' and just relax and be myself, and if I say something stupid then it is okay right?  Life as I know it will not end!

Anyway, back to the knitting content.  I picked up some crazy colored Aracuania Limari which arrived the day before yesterday, and I needed some easy knitting to take with me to The Baby's gymnastics adventure yesterday so I grabbed said yarn and some size 15 straight needles.  I whipped up half a scarf from one skein in about two hours!  I'm doing another seed stitch scarf and I'll be using two skeins.  So far I really love it.

I took the Hemlock Ring Blanket with me last night and it got a few good long rows in.  Last time I counted it was 312 stitches.  It's starting to get a little crowded on the needle I'm using and I'm hoping I don't have to go get a longer one (it's not in the budget!).  The end result will be great and I will love it, so I will persevere even though the knitting of this thing is starting to become a pain being so crowded.  That said, the pattern is really easy while still very pretty, and very good for TV knitting or reading knitting.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Feeling good

Over the weekend I finished some stuff, started something new, watch many movies and did a budget.  First the stuff that I finished.  Okay, I finished the seed stitch scarf last week and just didn't take a picture until about 5 minutes ago, regardless here it is.  I used two skeins of Mirasol Miski in the Coral colorway and size 9 needles.  Casted on 19 stitches and just went to town with k,p,k,p...until I ran out of yarn!  It is a short scarf and I have maybe 3 options for wearing, but I love it.  This yarn is super soft, super pretty, and just overall yummy! 

Next I have a pair of socks for my niece.  She helped me pick out the yarn so I thought it would be nice to make her something from it.  The yarn is Fat Sock in the Soft Serve colorway from Hello Yarn.  I used a basic formula from the New Pathways for Sock Knitters book and they were very quick to knit being small and also on size 3 needles.  Aren't they just too cute?!  Good thing I bought plenty of this yarn and I can still do something for me.  I hope she likes them!

I also had to start something new, the Hemlock Ring Blanket in some Cascade EcoWool that I got from WEBS.  It is really fun, and it is nice to be knitting some lacy type stuff again.  I think I've stayed away from lace for too long, and I need to do more of it.  Time to cast on a big old stole or something, yes?

Well in other stuff, I mentioned I did my budget.  I talked about it last year in January, stuck to it for a couple of months and then just blew it.  I'm getting back on the wagon again, finally.  I'm still in about the same amount of debt, and how I've figured it out it should take me just under 5 years to get out of it.  IF I stick to the budget.  So I gave The Boyfriend my two credit cards to lock away for me since that is the only way I won't use them!  I'm doing the envelope with cash system besides what I do with my online bill pay.  I'm actually pretty excited about the whole thing, and I don't think I've left out anything so it should be fairly easy to stick to it.  Now just to stay focused and on top of it!  I know I can do it though.  I'm tired of feeling tied down and never getting anywhere.  Enough of that though - I just wanted to get it out in public for some reason! 

I'm so planning on making it to SnB tomorrow night so you girls can help me with my color dilemma.  I'm all better from being sick and other than being tired from a drive to and from the Provo-ish area tomorrow, I shouldn't have anything getting in my way of making a measly 15 minute drive to SnB.  I had a great time on my birthday and feel pretty good for being so old all of a sudden ;)  Have a great day!  I'm going to :)

Happy Birthday to Me!

Well it is official, I am now 31 years old!  It's hard for me to believe that I was even 30 and now 31?  All of a sudden I'm starting to feel old ;)  We'll probably just be going out to dinner at my favorite place to celebrate.  I've bought enough yarn this month and I can't justify any more right now, so I guess I got my own present(s) early.

With that out of the way, I need help.  I cannot decide what color combo I want to use for my EPS yoke.  I'm doing mine like the one pictured, and I want it to look pretty similar, but with some variation on the color.  But I can't decide!  The main color is a cream, pretty much like the one in the picture.  For the contrast colors I had originally picked two blues, a green, and two  tans/beiges.  I'm not sure if I like the bright blue though.  So I thought maybe I could switch it for purple and take out the darker tan.  I still wasn't sure though.  I think that since most of the colors are so similar, maybe I don't have enough contrast?  I don't know.  The last one shows all of the colors I have right now that I could use.  What do you think?  I guess I ended up with so much blue because I just love it and had a hard time picking anything else!  The sweater pictured also uses mostly blues and greys.  If you had to choose, which ones would you pick?  Or would you add another color that doesn't have to do with blue? ;)  Any input will be greatly appreciated, not that I'm even close to starting the yoke - I still have another sleeve to knit!

In other stuff, I've finished the seed stitch scarf and it just needs a picture.  I am also knitting what could possibly be the world's fugliest sock ever, but you'll have to wait for that one.  I'm finally feeling a little better from that crappy cold thing I had, so I'm planning on having a good weekend and I hope you have one too!

Unexpected pleasures

I've had the wool pulled over my eyes.  A while ago I put some of my stash up on my sell/trade page on Ravelry.  So my friend Eva PM'd me expressing interest for a few items.  We sealed the deal, and I sent off a little something extra for my PIF gift and I waited.  I'm still waiting to hear from her and last night I get this package that I wasn't expecting, along with one I was!  So I open it and it is all of this great fiber from this etsy shop that I'd never heard of, so I'm like what is going on?  The note included said - "I hope you enjoy this present from Eva, etc. etc. Happy Birthday".  Now Eva is the only Eva I know, but just to be sure I email her and ask about it first.  She replies and says, yes it is from me, did I surprise you?!!  Well she sure did.  She bought my stash yarn, in part just to get my address so she could have this present sent to me.  How sweet is that?!  I was totally not expecting it, but wow, is it a wonderful surprise!  It will be an extra special treat to spin up this fiber, you can bet on that!  Make sure you go and check out the scarf she made from this handspun!!

In other knitting news, I have finished one more pair of socks.  I'm still stuck in the New Pathways sock book, and this pair is called Woven Ridge.  Mine are made from Socks that Rock in the Mesa colorway, on size 1 needles instead of size 2 the pattern called for.  I should have taken into consideration that my ridge would be skinnier being on smaller needles, and maybe I could have made it a little wider but oh well.  I also think I got the measurements wrong when doing the toe section as they are a bit snug on the foot.  Oh well again!  That's the thing about trying toe-up when you are a cuff-down kind of girl, it takes some getting used to.  Anyhow I like them a lot, but I'm kind of thinking maybe I should find someone with a little bit shorter foot than mine.  We'll see.  I'm plotting yet another sock from this book, I'm actually enjoying the toe-up in the new sockitecture.  It's kind of cool that when you get done with all of the increases for the arch expansion (vs. gussets or short row heels) and the heel flap, you are more than halfway done with the sock!  And I also think I like the cuffs bound off with EZ's stretchy sewn bind off more than my standard who-cares-just-cast-on edge when doing socks from the cuff down.  I hope that made sense, it would if you had the book.  I think ;)  Anyway, I'm enjoying my sock distractions for now, and I'm glad I have the book to re-ignite my interest in socks.

I've also started a new project with some yarn I picked up at the latest Three Wishes sale.  It is Mirasol Miski in this pretty Coral color.  I only have two skeins and I thought I could do a little scarf.  I didn't know what stitch to use, so I just started with some seed stitch.  A little turned to more and now I am half don e, and I really like how it is turning out!  This yarn is unbelievably soft, pretty, and luxurious too.  It is quite a treat knitting with it and I'll almost be sad when the scarf is all done.  It's been a nice change when knitting socks gets too be a bit much. 

That's all I've got for today.  I can't decide if I still feel crappy or if I'm finally recovered from the nasty cold/sinus thing I've had for almost a week.  Cross your fingers for me that The Baby or The Boyfriend won't get it now.  Have a great day!

Yarn Winner

 I drew with the random number generator this morning and picked Carolyn as the winner! I'm new to your blog Carolyn, so I hope you like to knit socks!  If not I'm sure you can find something special to do with it :)

Unfortunately I've had a really crappy cold since the early weekend, (I thought I was just feeling crappy due to not a lot of sleep, but no) so I'm probably not venturing out anymore until I'm better.  I always try to do too much when I'm sick so it drags out, this time I'm determined to just rest.  I'm really bummed because I want to go to SnB this week - we'll see if I'm better by tomorrow or not.

The only good things about being sick are not having to clean or cook dinner.  Thankfully The Boyfriend has been helping out a lot with that.  The other thing is lots of knitting time.  I've finished two pair of socks since Friday!  The first is from some Trekking yarn that I got in a trade on Ravelry.  I'm still not so sure about the c olorway.  And when I was knitting on them all I could think was this was the fugliest yarn I've had to date.  But they are knitted socks, and I do still like them though they are not my all-time favorite.  The second are my first pair using Fleece Artist Merino.  I started out not impressed, as there were 4 different spots where the yarn was just messed up.  Not knots, more like frayed.  But I kept on and I really like the end result.  The pattern I used is Jeweled Steps from Cat Bordhi's New Pathways book.  I think they turned out pretty neat! 

That's all I've got today, send your healing vibes this way please, and have a great day!

Last Giveaway

So here we are once again, but this is the last one!  My birthday is next week and I'll be spoiling myself for a change ;)  I didn't really know what to give away, I've pretty much done a little of everything here at one point, haven't I?  I finally decided on something I picked up recently, a little Posh Yarn.  It is Emily, a 4-ply sock weight Wool/Angora/Cashmere blend.  I haven't knit with any yet, but it sure seems like it will make a lovely pair of socks!  So you know the drill, leave me a comment by Sunday night and then I'll pick a winner on Monday morning. 

Have a great weekend!

Another Hat Parade

I have some more finished hats to show, I should have more but I decided I better keep working on my EPS if I ever want it to be done.  These hats were all quick and fun to make, and I love all of the m.  They are also all from my handspun yarn, even better!  I had some leftover yarn from The Baby's Darling Coat so I made one out of that.  I used up some of my first spun yarns to make twinner hats for me and The Baby!  Hers looks so much better than mine, but they are still fun.  I also did this pretty blue one top down with a hem.  I used the same needle size for the hem lining so it kind of flares out a little bit.  I like it.

That's about it for today, I'm not feeling great due to not sleeping great the last two nights.  I'm trying to get my daily spinning in but I've been missing a few days and trying to make up for it doing longer sessions.  I've been knitting away on the EPS and have almost one sleeve completed!  I really better get to picking out the contrast colors soon or I think I may find myself unprepared with a yoke ready for colorwork. 

Stay tuned tomorrow for my last giveaway!  It's not a book this time either ;)

Book winner and Thank you!

Thanks to everyone for playing along and entering the contest!  I love to have new vistitors to the blog!  So the winner is...

Mouse!

Congratulations!  Don't forget, I still have one more giveaway to go.  So stay tuned for that on Friday.

Also, thank you all so much for the congrats on the quitting smoking thing.  I wanted to reply to all of you but I just got busy this weekend, so sorry, but THANK YOU!!  I honestly was just ready to do it and I didn't look back once.  I've been tempted, slightly, a few times but have hung in there and at this point it is easy as pie.  And if you're trying or want to, you can do it too!  We are all a lot stronger than we think sometimes :)

I made some good progress on the EPS last week.  I am now done with the body, and am moving on to the sleeves - woot!  Speaking of the EPS, (since I mentioned before that it is good knitting for reading) I read an awesome book last week, The Kite Runner.  Wow.  This book is absolutely amazing.  It was so good, but heartbreaking too.  I finished it up on Sunday and pretty much bawled the whole time I was reading it.  I'm holding off on starting a new book yet, mostly because I just want to savor this story.  I remembered there is a movie of it out now, and so of course I asked my mom to babysit for us tomorrow so we can go see it.  I also have A Thousand Splendid Suns and now I can't wait to read it as well.

That's all I've got for now, have a good Monday!

Psst

It's my anniversary!  Three years ago tonight I quit smoking.  One of the best choices I ever made.  These are the details from my counter and Quitnet.com:

1094 days smoke free. 27346 cigarettes not smoked. $5,401.63 and 6 months, 28 days, 21 hours of your life saved. Your quit date: 1/12/2005 9:10:00 PM

It'd be nice if I had actually saved that money they say I did, but no, I have nothing to show for it except that I'm not stinky anymore.  I do still like the occasional smell of someone smoking, but I'm glad that someone is not me! 

P.S. The contest is still open if you haven't entered yet :)

Another Book Giveaway

Here we go again.  I'm giving away another book in celebration of my birthday in two weeks.  I've told you already how I'm knitting an EZ Percentage sweater along with some local grrls and others (the Ravelry group is here).  Wouldn't you like to knit one too?  Or maybe a Tomten Jacket?  How about the ever popular Baby Surprise Jacket?   Okay, somehow I did the same thing as with the last book, and I ended up with two copies of The Opinionated Knitter.  I know, EZ's books are also incredibly popular - but I didn't get my copy until recently and so maybe so of you have been holding off too?  I hope?!  Want it?  Leave me a comment and I'll randomly draw a name for a winner.  You have until Sunday night and then I'll pick a winner on Monday morning.  Good luck!

Speaking of my EPS, I'm making some good progress while reading.  I've finished what little shaping I did, and I'm about 12 inches into the body.  I need to figure out just how long I want it, get there, and then move on to the sleeves.  I still haven't decided on other colors, maybe you all will have to help me out. 

I've also been knitting more hats, but I think I'll wait until next week to show you the new batch.  What is it about bulky knit hats?  I don't know.  I'm just in love with the stitches and how big and pretty they are.  They are especially great in handspun - I dug through my bag of personal handspun and have been trying to use some up with the hats.  Well, off for more hat knitting!  Have a great weekend.