pokingmyeyesout

Yesterday, I was reading Real Simple while I patiently wait for my hair cut. It had an article about "What to do when you friend started dressing like you?" Well, I had a friend who did that in college . She and I were good friends and we were very different. She basically started dressing like me, hanging out at the same places, listening to the same music, playing with the same boys, etc. Er. Yeah.

Oh, so to make a story short, the article say these things basically happen when there is positive something something social behavior going on. But I was young trying desparetely to create my own identity. What she did wasnt so hot. So back to more recent memory.J and I independently picked up fiber crafty hobby. J was crocheting, and I was knitting.Oh, what's my point?

I picked up MANY 'issues' from her. Oh Let me list a few: crew neck collars vs other fun necklines, want to pick up crochet, want to pick up sewing, want to find the same yarn she got .. We occasionally make the same sweater.

It makes me very happy that we share similar interests. We have also identify how not-alike we are when it comes to color, patterns, etc. All of this cause I want to post a pic of Mandalay from Spring '03 IK that has crochet and knit. (You guessed it, J told me that old IK has patterns that are knit and crochet.)

OH, and the kicker is ... .While I am positing, she posted J. :)

Posted by E at 8:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Allow me to procrastinate for a moment and post some progress. It is going very slowly due to lack of knitting time. This is a close up view of the pattern - half diamond w/bobble, braid cable, and berry stitches. I like Cascade Sierra mostly. The 20% wool makes a good cable, but you can see all my uneven tension thanks to the 80% cotton. A full view of work to date. I am about half way through the 8" of the armhole. Slooooowly making my way....

Posted by E at 10:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

An awful camera phone picture of the Felted Bag GD and I were drooling over. It is from The Knitting Experience : Book 3: Color from Sally Melville. The sample used Jo Sharp Tweed and Noro Kureyon. It is a fun tote and I am wondering if I can pair leftover Cascade Pastaza with "something something"..hrmph, that would be a nice prez.

Posted by E at 8:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

No progress on knitting this weekend. However, I did dig up some possible trade candidates: two hanks of CTH possum lace or four skeins of Manos in Lava colorway.with J.

In the process of digging, I realize I need to update my inventory. Perhaps I will find more candidates.

Posted by E at 8:22 PM | Permalink

There is this island nearby, Bainbridge, that has a very cute yarn store Churchmouse Yarns and Teas. I havent made it there. ( Called me lazy, but finding time, taking a ferry, blahblahblah ... name any ol'excuse). GD suggested we make a date and just do it.

We made it there yesterday. Just happened that this weekend is the Pugent Sound Shop Hop. The progressive pattern is a ... er. Afghan. (mmm.. sqs!) Oh I digress.

So Churchmouse. It is a very cute shop with lots and lots and lots- STR, Mountain Colors, Louet Sales (GD bought two hanks of Gems), Hemp for Knitting (that took a lot of restraint), Manos, LL, Regia, Lambs Pride, obligatory Rowan and Jo Sharp, Addi Turbos, Susannas circulars (they look wonderful, almost bought some), Inox circulars (very pointy tips! questionable joints), buttons, super fancy crochet hooks hand craft out of Rosewood, binders and binders of patterns, book cases full of books, orange chibi (whoo! for me!), etcetc. I tried to approached it systematcially. But everytime I turn around, I found I missed something.

I (and GD) was disappointed at the tea portion of the shop. While there was lots of tea and accessories for tea serving, there is no comfortable seating area.

While I was waiting at the checkout, I flipped through Interweave Crochet. I offhandedly asked whether they had the first issue. (I need another hobby ya know). They did and well, I came home with a sum total of a magazine, a chibi, two sheeps ( a little black one and a bigger one as ornament & gift). Thats it. Restrait I tell ya.

The trip inspired me to try felting. So thats added to the long list of knit projects, crochet, colorwork and and and ... just what I need ya know. Not to mention J is enabling more stash. Hrmph, I have a few items in mind that she may like.

Posted by E at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I am procastinating ... I may as well do something non-productively valuable. J made a stash to garment list the other day. Which made me realize I havent update my project list in a while. So here it is:

WIP:
Michael Kors short sleeve aran top VK Winter 2005 in Cascade Sierra
Jaywalker socks with yarn from J

Stash - > project list:

*Trellis from Knitty with Zar One
* Fruit hat with yarn from J

* Rowan Audrey in Rowan #35 with Rowan Calmer
* Saffron from Rowan #25 in Rowan 4-ply cotton
* Sundae from Rowan Holiday in Rowan 4-ply cotton
* Drops #88 lace cardi in DB Cotton Cash
* Dale Gerbera in Dale Sisik
* Butterfly from Rowan #36 in Rowan KSH
* Debbie Bliss Cable Jacket from WIsh You were Here with Mano bing cherry
* Debbie Bliss Calbe Jacket from Cashmere Collection with Araucania Chunky cotton
* Cable & bobble hoodie jacket from Patons Street Smart with Peace Fleece

* Rainforest Ladybug gloves
* Mittens with Dale Heilo

And of course ...
* Bulky cardi for mom

Phew. What did I forget?

On the wishlist:
Three corner and long shawl book
AV 2003 Cabled Toad
Lots of sock yarn to make stockings

Posted by E at 10:43 PM | Permalink

Yesterday, GD visited our home (for the first time) for lunch. I gave her a quick house tour (note the lack of door trims, baseboards, empty living rooms, beige blinds ... eek). That took five seconds and we moved on to more important things ...

Oh look at my finished garment that I never wear ... Rogue, which is like ten pounds of llama and wool.. Big Wool that is fit for an artic winter, and look, Corset that has sleeve/shoulder issues. I am so embarrassed. Not to mention the mohair that's fit for a blanket.

Oh, you want to see the stash?! I pulled out one clear 5 gallon tub on top of a stack of four. .. "oh, I have TEN of these..." She put out her hand to steady herself and I quote: "You seem more real to me now". You already BOUGHT all the yarn you need.

Ahem.

Posted by E at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Mom (and some family) were visiting over last weekend. I left her with the fuzzies (and Jacket book and some patterns) while my uncle and I went to the airport to return their rental car. Later during dinner, I asked Mom if she found something she likes ... "oh yes, it is pink and grey..."

[insert exclamation]

Er. Yes Mom. I know exactly which one you are talking about (minus silly pockets).

She also likes the green tweedy one GD pointed out, and a plain St st one in the Jacket book. Oh ... [agony]

Posted by E at 2:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Me: Ring Ring. Cultured Purls (LYS) is having a sale on ALL yarn
GD: Don't buy all the black yarn.

Hrmph. No fun.

I got 4 balls of Filatura De Crosa Zar One in denim. Thick and soft and squishy yarn in a grown up color (I hope!?) for one of the Jaeger pattern in their Children book.

No Soho or Donegal Tweed in black. Phew.
No Cascade Sierra in black. :(

I did make some progress in the MK ss aran sweater ... just a little. Busy week.

Posted by E at 2:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Row 12. Progress has been slow. Knitting aggravates my wrist and forearm.

Plus I've had to step down and fix one of the cables four times. I think I finally got it last night. I havent even finish the first 'diamond' repeat yet. I did a size check by laying it on top of a cotton tee that I wear all the time. So far I am happy with it. I am afraid I will be short on yarn. Ah well, that just means a trip to LYS!

Posted by E at 10:35 AM | Permalink

Long time ago, I was talking to DH over IM.... "ackets" came across the screen and I was scratching my head. It must be some secret something or rather that I dont understand.

Duh.

Oh. So back to my original content: During my last visit home, mom asked for a wool cardi. I have been on the lookout for something classic for her - classic colors in navy or brown, classic shaped jacket...

I saw Chardon in Knit Pick's catalog and bought a copy of Jean Frost's Jackets from Amazon.

Even thought I was tired and exhausted when I got home, it didnt stop me from procrastinating on urgent matter at hand (so I can crash for the night earlier). I flipped through the book and looked at each jacket carefully.

Wow. These are serious classic knits. They are great baselines and inspirations! They werent kidding when they said "These jackets are real-life knitting for women with real lives."

Serious classic knits for serious women with real serious lives :) Oh oh, I almost forgot. It contains a linen + mohair jacket. Whoo. I do not really need more motivation to buy linen.

Posted by E at 10:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)