the curse of the knitted gift

I was chatting with a co-worker about knitting the other day (as I tend to do too often!) and she brought up the "curse of the knitted gift", reminding me not to knit anything for the boyfriend (which I don't have, but she doesn't know that, I think she was kinda fishing for some gossip). I told her about my history of knitted gifts.
In university (which was the first time I got the knitting bug), I did make a sweater for a guy I had been dating for almost two years. It was meant to be a Christmas gift. The bugger broke up with me a few days before Christmas... I didn't want to look at the sweater anymore, so I gave it to him anyway. I always wondered if he ever wore it.
Before him, I had made a pair of socks for another guy I had dated. He wore Birkenstocks all the time (oh how I loved a guy in Birks!), so I thought these green flecked socks would look great with them (socks with Birks were cool then!). We too, broke up before gift exchanges, but I kept these ones. They're a little big, but make great house socks, and they look hardly worn after 10 years!

His name is Rich Skippon- so if anyone knows him, feel free to tell him what he missed out on!

The gloves for Isla are coming along well. The one light green finger looks pretty funny, doesn't it! I kinda like it. BUT......

It's way too big! Isla has little hands like me (but longer fingers), so this size won't do. So, I've redone the size for adult x-small, and am going to pull it all out and start again. Ugh.

As for Mariah- I haven't touched her. I've read other people's posts about the yolk/neckline being too big, and I can't figure out the hood thing, so I've out her down for a while. I think I'll pick her up again after the Cuba trip. Jodi, the designer has suggested we just try the hood without the shaping. But, it will wait until April. Considering the weather here in TO, I'm guessing I'll still need a sweater in May.

And just for fun- look what I found! This pattern in one of my grandmothers old knitting books. This hat is so funky looking- I think I need to make it! The original pattern has a pom-pom on the top- I think I'll leave that out!

I'm going to be house/cat sitting for the rest of the week, then off to Cuba on Monday the 28th, so I may not be posting until after that!

Hood anxiety

I've got these strange bumps where the lower hood shaping is. They seem to be created by the short rows. I have no clue what's going on!

In this close up, you can see the last few decreases before removing the markers on the left of the lump.

maybe it has something to do with how I picked up the stitches after the short rows?

I'm feeling a little lost, I've never done a hood before, so can't even picture what the shaping is supposed to look like!

Resolutions

My renewed obsession with knitting seems to be getting in the way if the rest of my life!

let me explain: First of all- I never do anything half assed. So in November I decided to pick up my knitting needles again. Now it's March, and I've finished two baby sweaters, numerous scarves and other small projects, have a sweater on the go as well as some other gifts, my stash has grown, I obsessively read blogs and news groups and search for new patterns, and I have my own blog. I couldn't just knit a scarf, could I?

The other part of this is my work week. I work what is called a compressed work week. I work 10 hour days, for four days. My travel time is approximately an hour each way. So that means that on work days, that's pretty much all I do. I certainly don't count on getting anything done on those days.

So I have three days off. I should be getting things done on those days, but instead I knit, or I post on my blog, or I surf the net, or I read other blogs, or I go to the yarn store, or plan future projects.......

So, this is my "St. Patrick's Day" Resolution:
On my days off (except Sunday, because that's my "I can sit on the couch all day and watch t.v. if I want" day), I will NOT knit, web/blog surf, catch up on news groups or post to my blog, until I have done at least THREE of the following things:

1. do some cleaning
2. do something fitness or exercise related
3. catch up on homework
4. work on family reunion stuff
5. go outdoors for some reason
6. do something social
7. cook/prepare some meals for the week
8. do some laundry
9. get groceries

There- hopefully that should help keep some order in my life!

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

Check me out....

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting
and do it all the time. While finishing a piece
is the plan, you still love the process, and
can't imagine a day going by without giving
some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation
involves leaving ample space for the stash and
supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn
ends and you begin.
http://marniemaclean.com


What Kind of Knitter Are You?
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Works in Progress

Thought I would post some pics of what I've been working on....

"hat for sheena"
in Lamb's Pride worsted with mohair. It's knitting up really fast- I've only been working on it on the streetcar! I'll hopefully get it finished and felted next week.

Noro Silk Garden- glove # 1. I'm thinking it's going to turn out a little bulky- my friend Isla has long slim hands. We'll see how it goes when the fingers start.

And, last but not least...... Mariah!

I'm at the end of the yolk, and will start the hood tonight. Too bad there's' nothing interesting on TV. I'll just have to get in to season 3 of Alias!

The close up shows the join of the sleeve, and at the left you can see the bulge that happened when I finished the big cable, and started the ribbing/cable. I'm hoping it will go away with blocking/wearing.

Lucky Me!

Did I mention I'm going to Cuba?

my hairdresser is an enabler

I went to get my hair done on Tuesday (with Heather). Heather knits, and is actually a friend of the owner of my LYS. So, since I had been making so many stitch markers, I thought I would bring some for her. She loved them, but then we ended up spending my entire time there talking about knitting. Which gets me thinking... and craving....

markers for heather

Instead of going home after I leave the salon... I go a few stops further to the yarn store. Broke girl, who is supposed to be saving to go to Cuba, ends up with 4 balls of Noro Silk Garden and a new book. Bad bad!

new stuff

I spent like an hour wandering around, looking for some yarn to make a new scarf for myself. I had to keep walking away from all the rusts and oranges! I have too much of those, I need to expand my colour palette. So I picked this greeny purply. It's really quite yummy.
But not me. The more I look at - it's not me.
Luckily- it is an Isla colour though... and her birthday is in a month! She had requested gloves and a scarf. So here I go!
I've never made gloves before, so did some searching on the web and found this pattern. Nice. I don't have to get the right gauge, the pattern adjusts to may gauge. I don't even know what size my needles are (they were from a bunch of old ones my grandma had)! Ha! Love it!

So, now I have three projects on the go at once..... Mariah, a hat for Sheena, and Isla's gloves. I'll never leave the house!

Lunch With Kim

I had the pleasure of having lunch with my friend Kim yesterday. She came in from Hamilton for the day. She is very pregnant- due in three weeks! She and her husband Justin are two of the kindest people I know. Kim is always able to see the good in everyone, and being the negative person that I am, it is always nice to talk things out with her.
I cannot wait to meet their baby, because I am sure he or she will be a great person, just like Kim and Justin.
Here's a pic of the soon to be baby.


kim's baby 

I think I need to knit something. She said she did the baby's room in bright yellow, with green accents. I'm thinking a baby blanket. Maybe in Mission Falls cotton. Some bright colours. Oh, maybe not. I just looked at the website and they aren't currently making it. Hmmm.... I'll have to find something else.

I'm Yoking in it......

Well, here's mariah "yoked up". She's REALLY heavy! But the decreases happen quickly, so hopefully it won't be bad for too long. But I certainly won't be taking her on the streetcar any more.
I didn't get through all the increases on the sleeves, so I have less stitches on my needle than the instructions call for. I'll just make sure I stop decreasing the sleeves a little early to make sure I have the right stitch count for starting the hood.

all yoked up

Here's a close up of the join. It comes out pretty neatly. Note my lovely stitch markers (a la CJ)


close up

Here are some more of them. It could become a new obsession......


Thanks CJ!

Felting

As I mentioned before, I got the book "Felted Knits" by Beverly Galeskas for Christmas, and have tried a few projects. My first attempt was a hat. I used Patons Classic Merino, and didn't check the gauge at all. It really should be a thicker yarn. I have a little head, but it's still a little small for me, so it slides up on my head. It was really neat to do. I did it by hand, on the stove, so got to see it "all of a sudden" felt up.


before & after

Then I tried a few more projects. I knit up some baby booties in Patons Classic, and a small bag in Naturally Colourworks. I first tried to felt the bag. After over an hour of "kneading" it, and some burnt finger tips, all I had was a bag in a different colour. It was really frustrating. Although, now that I look at the label again, I see it's "machine washable". Likely a good hint that it's not going to felt well (or at all!).
I still haven't felted the booties.

before & during

So what next? A friend at work has put an order in for a hat, so I'll do one for her. It didn't take long to knit up at all. But this time I'll make sure I get the correct yarn!

Adventures in Babysitting

I got to sit with Henry while his mom went to school on Thursday night. He is adorable! But a little boring. After his mom left, he threw up green peas all over me, and then promptly fell asleep...... for the entire night!


sleepy head

Today I am off to an "all day crop" at the scrapbooking store, tonight I'm having some friends over for some sushi and beverages, and then tomorrow I think I'm ready to start the yoke on Mariah.... I'll let you know how that goes.

back fat and amazing race

I'm still sick..... so rather than doing anything productive on Sunday night (like homework or cleaning), I sat my butt on the couch and watched the oscars - including the pre-show, and knit.

The reason I title this post "back fat" is because I still have the horrible memory of seeing it on Star Jones as she did annoying interviews with people as they arrived. Ugh.
If you're going to spend all that money to lose weight, and look fancy for the oscars, don't you think you would try to find a dress that fit properly? I've been procrastinating looking for a pic to post, but no luck so far. I'm sure my quest will continue....

As for Mariah.... she's coming along quite nicely, I have the back and left front finished, and am about 10" up on the right front. I'm sure she'll be yoked in no time! I've been reading all the posts about the width at the lower ribbing section, and it does look really small.... but I'm gonna keep going anyhow!

On a fun note, Tracey and I decided to enter the "Bell City Chase" on June 25. It's like a one day Amazing Race- I am so excited! We have named our team the "Scrabble Queens". I'll have to come up with some fun swag using Scrabble pieces- what fun, what fun!

I have the pictures developed from my brunch with the boyfriends, so if I have time tonight, I'll try to get them posted.

Well, back to homework