Warped Hookers....Secrets Revealed!

Okay, now that I have your attention. Hee hee. The title to this post is accurate - just not in the most obvious way.

WARPING BOARD

Construction of a warping board for me is now underway. It is being made so that I can wind up some skeins of yarn to dye in many colors. For more information on hand dyeing using this process click here . If you would like directions on how to make your own warping board click here. Pics will be posted of the uber awesome warping board when it is completed. Hopefully, this will *cough cough* be soon.

I'M A HOOKER

djMars has taught me how to do basic crochet - almost against my will. I want to learn it so that I can do a proper provisional cast-on and so that I can make hairpin lace. I might give up on my dream of hairpin lace but I have enough skill now to do the cast-on. I get a mean case of "crocheting tourette's" though. I don't think I will ever participate in this craft for fun but it is good to know.

SECRET PROJECTS REVEALED

The gifts have been given so now I can post.

I made some beer cozies. The pattern for which can be found here. Both of these were knit with yarn that I had previously hand dyed and couldn't figure out a project for. They were happily received and I should have taken some pics of them "in action." I have the feeling that I will be making many many more of these in the near future. They keep condensation away, the cables make nice "grips", and they really do keep the beer cold. Nifty.

While I was making these djMars was eyeing the "limeade" yarn so I knew I had to make her something out of it too. And since a beer cozy would not be her thing...I made her a Calorimetry head wrap. I don't have a picture of that "in action" either and I know the pic below isn't a great one. But if you click here you can see what one looks like while being worn AND get the handy dandy free pattern. Ooooh. Also, I know in this pic it is not "finished". I didn't weave in the stringy ends or put the button on. djMars has some extra buttons lying about from a sweater she made a I figured that she could use one of those on it. Okay, so it's a half-assed gift that she had to finish herself....I admit it. But she loved it anyway.

OPINIONS NEEDED

I recently added a music player to my blog. I need to know if I should leave it or not because I'm undecided. I have the same player on my myspace but I think it's normal to have that stuff there. I'm unsure as to whether or not it is annoying in this type of forum. Please leave comments on this matter and help me decide.

YARN SCHOOL

It's only a few weeks away!! SQUEEEE!!!!!

THE TRUE YARN DIET

THE TRUE YARN DIET

One of my coworkers/enabler, Ms. M., is also an avid knitter and wishes to lose weight. I myself have some extra fluff to lose. So her and I are going to do a TRUE YARN DIET.

Rules:
#1) Stop buying yarn *gasp* and find a buddy

#2) Do an inital weigh in and set your final goal

#3) Set a gift $$$$ limit with your buddy

#4) Make a wish list of yummy yarns (including color and amount of skeins/balls needed) or knitting books/patterns.

#5) Every time your buddy loses a certain amount of weight (5 lbs in our case) you buy her/him a gift from a "wish list" up to the set $$ amount....and your buddy does the same for you.

#6) If weight is gained...you then have to go 5 lbs below your lowest weight to get another gift. (Example: Drop to 145...go up to 148..no gift until 140).

Why this will work: I know a lot of people say that they're going to reward themselves...but we all know that we just end up buying whatever for ourselves anyway. Getting gifts from someone else, however, makes it feel super special. AND feeling like someone is in it with you helps tons too. I know many knitters go on "yarn diets" to quit buying yarn. Well why not combine the two and get healthy along the way?

Ravelry and clapotis (hey, I rhyme)

RAVELRY

Oh Ravelry, how I am becoming addicted to you. First it was the forums...now I have sworn to friend everyone with a cat avatar (not really a long story...but not an interesting one so I'll spare you.) It is such a joy to look not only at other people's wonderful triumphs but to feel the camaraderie of the knitting disasters that everyone shares.

CLAPOTIS

Oh Clapotis, how I am bored to tears by your repetitive pattern. Luckily I am using malabrigo so the softness of the fabric makes up for the constant k1, ktbl, k3, ktbl. However, dropping stitches with malabrigo is a time consuming business. I'm almost 1/4 of the way done with it...so it shouldn't be too much longer. I know it will be beautiful when it's done.

KNIT IT PUBLIC DAY

Tomorrow is World Wide Knit In Public Day and apparently all of the other local knitters took this to mean "let's meet up super early in the morning and knit." So, I may not make it to any of the "planned" events but I will be knitting in public at some time within that 24 hour period. I hope to see others out there knitting too.

YARN SCHOOL

It's a possibility that I will be attending "Yarn School" in September. Supercool! I'm crossing my fingers that Ms. M says "let book it." WOOT.

Project COMPLETE and German Yarn Haul

It has been done since last Thursday, 5/31, but I have been busy doing other stuff.....so finally - I'm here to announce....

THE PROJECT IS DONE!!!

Woo hoo!

And, because my camera battery was dying I only have ONE picture to prove that both sleeves were completed and attached. And it's only of the front. However, the back doesn't change with the second sleeve attached so....there are pics of that in my previous post.



German Yarn Haul

My sister is back from her travels in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. WOOT! I am now the very happy owner of lots of Wollmeise, some Trekking, some Addi Lace Needles and two balls of purple yarn my sis picked out for me. The camera battery is charging.... I will take pictures and post later tonight.

Ravelry

Like I needed another online addiction. I am now on Ravelry - user name Herzeleid, if anyone wants to "friend" me. It's like mySpace for knitters and crocheters. Totally addictive.

WWKIP Day

This Saturday is World Wide Knit in Public Day. I believe there is a group meeting up in the Tampa area at Citrus Park Mall. Ms M. and I will be there....showing our knits in public.

Stitch N Pitch

The tickets have arrived. Looking forward to meeting other local stitchers and the goodie bag.

lolCats

My other new online addiction is ICanHasCheezburger. I didn't know there was a whole collection of hilarious cat pics out there but now that I do...I have to check for updates daily.

Goodbye Kurt and Forgotten Wool

Kurt Vonnegut, one of my favorite writers, has passed away. You can find more info here :(

Okay, back to knitting....

A few weeks ago I had one of those "pick crap up from the post office" postcards in my mailbox. This ticked me off because my mailman usually puts packages and such in the convenient locked parcel boxes located directly next to the mailboxes. I couldn't think of anything I had ordered and was looking to be delivered so I kept finding reasons for not picking up the mystery package. Finally, I got off my lazy butt two days ago and picked up this:


Extremely beautiful wool from Uruguay that I totally forgot about ordering. This is two skeins of super bulky hand dyed woolly wonder that was only $6.99 per skein from Southwool. I cannot wait to get this on some needles!! Of course, it has to wait until "the project" is done.

Speaking of which.....the "project" keeps on keepin on. I spent ALL of last Saturday working on it until my hands were sore. I have completed one portion of it and have started the next. I'm hoping to have this new section done by next Tuesday (which is probably an impossible goal.) I would have a pic of the completed section but, apparently, it is a cat magnet. The second pic is of the beginning of the second section.







Oooh....super exciting!

I guess that is all for now. I really should be at the needles instead of at the computer right now or refereeing the kitty wars currently taking place in my abode.

The Project UFO

People that have talked to me over the last month have heard about "the project". There are even times when I do the air quotes when talking about "the project". It is my obsession and nemesis and shall be (probably) named "Caffeine" in reference to the substance that has made it possible.

Here it is in all of it's UFO glory. Looking at it in pictures makes me realize I have a LONG way to go.

And a close up...oooooh

And Queue's version of helping take pictures

BTW for the uninitiated....UFO = unfinished object

Greetings and blau blau blau

I have decided to jump into the blogspot fray. I guess I am one of those Internet bandwagon people. I have had a livejournal and myspace and now that I'm done with those...well I guess it's time to "grow up" and be a blogger. Not that I'm truly narcissistic enough to believe that anyone would want to read my dribble BUT it is a wacky world we live in and you never now. Better safe than sorry.

This blog will probably be rambling about the sheepy goodness that is wool and the (mis)adventures in knitting that come from the sheepy goodness. There will most likely be a smattering of odd references to things Icelandic (give me skyr or die), German (Heino), or whatever strange thing happened to come out of my cats butt that day. Exciting, eh?!

So I guess that's all for now - but before I go I have one very important announcement:

Dear Phil Stacey, please do NOT try to shake your bon bon!

I know this seems quite random but if you are an American Idol voyeur I hope you concur. That man should not try to dance - especially if it involves hip shaking. It is quite disturbing and I'm pretty sure that my next therapist visit will be comprised of me explaining all of the nightmares this image has given me.