FOs, yarn, and Dulcinea

Woo hoo! I actually completed something! Take a look-see.

You probably recognize this as My So Called Scarf. I used two skeins of Araucania Nature Wool that I bought on sale about a year ago at A.C. Moore. The color is really lovely, muted, not too loud. This scarf also turned out to be softer than I thought it would be - what a plus! I like this stitch a lot, but my edges looked like crapola, which is why I edged it with one round of single crochet. I finished this at Stitch n Bitch last night. Can I tell you how good it was to see all of my friends? I missed them so these last 4 months.

Here we have the Tiramisu Baby Blanket, pattern by Alicia Paulson. This took a little over 3 skeins of Red Heart Soft Yarn in Off White. This truly is soft yarn. It's nice and squishy. I really enjoyed this pattern - it's mindless crocheting, but the result doesn't look mindless at all.

Here's how I broke my yarn diet. This is the Classic Elite Four Seasons Cotton to make Cathy Carron's Cabana Tee.
And here is the Casco Bay Sport from Halcyon Yarns. Can I tell you how dang nice the ladies are at this place? I had to call them up, and they were just as pleasant as could be. I will definitely be shopping from them again. I will be using this yarn to make Regina Rioux Gonazalez's Singular Tee.

Yum. Hempathy. I'll combine this with some Cool Blue Hempathy in my stash to make Edna Hart's Marly Boatneck. Can't wait! I think the blue and green will look really nice together.

Who can resist this face?

I know some of you probably think I've gone off the deep end, but there is something about playing with dolls that I guess I just never got out of my system when I was a kid. And I can knit clothes for Dulcinea too. And crochet them. It's all good. ;o)

I met Doris Chan!

Oh, today was so much darn fun. I went to Loop, one of my favorite stores of all time, and I got to meet crochet guru Doris Chan! Look! There we are together!

She is a totally cool lady, and I bought her latest book, Everyday Crochet, and she autographed it for me. I also met and talked to three really neat ladies, Yvette, Kate, and Mary, and I saw Craig, the owner of Loop, and Elizabeth, one of his esteemed employees who also happens to dye some gorgeous yarn. Doris showed me how to do foundation single crochet, which is when you create your foundation chain and your first row of single crochet at the same time. It is efficient, easy, and it pretty much ensures that your inital chain isn't too tight. I also discovered (or rather, Doris discovered), that I wrap my yarn differently than everyone else. Who knew?

Here's Doris's magic hands showing Craig how to do something (I think it had to do with joining motifs). You can see Craig's Babette there on the table, and yes, it is made out of Kersti. These pictures don't do the colors justice, it is gorgeous.

This here would be Koigu. Lots and lots of Koigu. Be still, my beating heart.

I love Loop, and I love the fiber arts community in our area, and I love Philadelphia, unlike some people I know (Sahfi!).

***

After my fabulous afternoon at Loop, my friend Sahfi met me there and we went and had lunch, then went to a French meet-up. I spent some time in Paris about 10 years ago, and Sahfi lived in Montreal for several years, and we are trying to improve our rusty French. I think it would really help if we had our French meet-up in a bar. My French improves drastically when I'm drunk (at least I think it does). The group is organized by this nice guy named Pascal. He is Quebecois, and I'll be damned if I can understand half of what he says. But he is patient with all of us, and it's a great opportunity to get together with like-minded people and just have a lovely time downtown.

***

So what are you all doing for Halloween? I'm playing hooky from my night classes and taking the Banana trick-or-treating with a friend we met at the pool this summer. It will be fun. She is going to be, in her words, a 'pretty pink princess'. I swear, I don't know where this child came from. When I was a kid, for Halloween, I was (in no particular order) a clown, a firefighter, Wonder Woman (one of those horrid plastic costumes with a mask that didn't allow you to breathe that cost $5 at Woolworth's [remember Woolworth's?]) a ladybug, a black cat, a witch, a fairy, and a Catholic school girl (that last one was post-college when I lived downtown and was single). I haven't dressed up in quite some time. Probably because I generally feel pretty freakish most of the time these days.

***

Have a good week!

Will Blogger cooperate today?

Yes it will! I actually have real, honest-to-God photos of things I'm making right now! Who woulda thunk it.

Below we have my eight bajillionth B.A.G.S. Okay, actually it's my fourth, but there will be many more to come. I have a LOT of acrylic yarn in my stash, and my goal is to turn it all into afghans. Good thing I really like to make afghans. This one will probably either go to the Banana's teacher or principal for Christmas. They are both awesome ladies.

Can I tell you how much I love Maie Landra? I mean honestly, get a load of the colors in that scarf below. One of these days, I'm going to save up a couple thousand dollars and buy enough Koigu to make myself a sweater. This is a slow knit, but it's nice and portable, so I can take it to Banana's ballet lessons, which is nice.

And then we have... Frank. I can't really pronounce Calorimetry, so I just call it Frank. Can I be frank with you? This is fugly. I knew that one strand of Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed would be too drapy to use, so I held two strands together. Now it's too bulky. And it's weird, because separately the blue and green are really pretty, but together they bore the living daylights out of me. I also should have read how everybody who made this modified it from the original pattern - I would have been far more successful. I'll probably frog this because I can't stand to see good yarn like this go to waste (I love this yarn). On the flip side, I did learn how short rows work, so that is useful info, even if they didn't do the wraps to prevent holes. I will be less afraid to try short rows in the future. Thanks, Frank!

So I got my latest issue of my yoga magazine, with a hot young thing on the front twisting her body into ridiculous poses that open the hips and massage the gut and allow your qi to flow and balance your chakras and release ama from your liver and all that good stuff. But of course the first thing I noticed was her outfit.



Get a load of those awesome leg warmers! And they're crocheted! I immediately emailed the mag, and they were kind enough to get back to me and let me know that the pattern comes from Diana Designs. I googled it, but I'll be damned if I can find it. If you happen to come across it in your travels, would you send me the link? You guys are the best.

Time to go help the Banana get on her leotard and tights and tiara and tutu and bracelets and rings and necklaces. Ballet attire is certainly different from when I took ballet coughhackthirtycoughhack years ago.

Turning Japanese

So one of the biggest buzzes in crafts right now is Japanese craft magazines, as all of you probably know. I was looking at Helene's blog (Des aiguilles et du fil, link in the side bar), and she had a link to a blog called Craftlover, and on THAT blog there was a link to Clover, which has beaucoup free, really cool patterns. Although it is written in Japanese, if you just start clicking on pictures, you will eventually find your way to the Adobe files that are the patterns. The crochet patterns are generally fairly easy to follow, as they are mostly charted instead of written. For some reason, the computers at my fair place of employment decided that they would no longer be reading websites in Japanese, so I only got so far, but I did manage to print out two patterns: one for a cute handbag and one for a drawstring bag to carry a water bottle in. How fun! I'll be including this link in my sidebar for easy reference, as I see myself visiting this site quite often.

On the knitting and crocheting front - I am about one-third done the Green Gable, and I really like the way it is shaping up. I am using the Cestari cotton/wool/silk blend yarn, and I'm still loving it. My darling neighbor Regina let me raid her monumental stash (I watched her kitty cats for her), so I now have enough yarn to start a ripple afghan. Work has stalled on a knitted afghan I started about a month ago; I guess I just got too wrapped up (Ha! Wrapped up! It's an afghan!) in the Green Gable to keep going great guns on that. I also intend to start test crocheting the ever-adorable Crocheted Cropped Cardigan designed by Monica Brown at the Create-Along (link in the sidebar). Can't wait.

Waiting in the wings, we have Picovoli by Grumperina, Rusted Root, and myriad other summery tops. I need to have some dressier things to wear to work, but things that are COOL, because the *&^%$#@! high school that I work at is not air-conditioned. Crimey. And I need to wear short sleeves because I can't have my tattoos hanging out all over the place, even though half the girls in this school walk around with their boobs and butt cheeks hanging out. But that's another story.

My father is home safely from his trip across the South Pacific, and I am very glad. He had a good time, but said he would never do it again. It was one of the longest passages this particular ship ever had, and it was rainy and cold much of the time. But he still got to see some really cool things (albatrosses, whales, Easter Island moai, etc) and I think overall it was certainly worth it for him. He needed it.

The kittens are doing well. I like to refer to Joey as my solid gold kitten because last week we ended up at the emergency room twice to the tune of $400. Yep. He had the runs all over the place. It was really terrific. But he is better, and Carlos is insane as he ever was, and all's right with the world.

Happy Mother's Day to all of my friends who are moms!!

Amazingly enough, I have finished...

... three projects! I know, it's truly amazing. But that's how I roll - nothing for months and then BAM! FOs all over the place. So here's the first one.

As you can see this a crocheted bag of my own design, made of Sugar 'n' Creme. This is for my Knitter's Treat Exchange treatee. I bought her some nice smell-good stuff, and it all came in this horrendous, cheap-looking plastic bag, so I made this instead. I hope she likes it. It took one afternoon to complete. I am a much faster crocheter than knitter.

This is a kerchief, from a pattern in Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson of PurlSoho. I used Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed from my stash, one skein. I love everything about this yarn except that it is kind of splitty. But it is drappy and soft and speckled and lovely, and I just can't say enough good things about it!

Don't ask my why I am frowning; I don't know.

I like this little kerchief. I needed something easy and (relatively) quick after completing the project you see below.

And finally, the FO you've all been waiting for, I present to you:

Interweave Knits Spring 2007 Green Tea Raglan by Cathy Payson

How do I feel about this sweater? Meh. It is too short, and the sleeves are too tight. I am happy with my knitting and unhappy with my finishing (which is why you see no extreme close-ups of the seams). It's definitely wearable, and the yarn was nice to work with. I used about 5 skeins of Cascade 220 Heathers, and I would use it again, but not for a pullover because it's very warm. I do intend to make a cardigan with it though.

I won't be making the belt that is in the pattern as it is too short and I really don't need to attract any attention to my waist (or lack thereof). As I said in a previous post, I had to rip out about 10 rows at the top of the front and back to ensure that the raglan decreases on the body matched the raglan decreases on the sleeves. Overall, I guess I am not too disappointed with this. I tend to be a perfectionist, and I get tremedously irritated when things don't turn out as I think they should, especially when I've followed the directions and not just winged it. However, I will continue to knit, and continue to crochet, and continue to learn and get better. I still love these crafts, and I have to keep reminding myself that I'm not going to be a Norah Gaughan or Mari Lynn Patrick or Eunny Jang right out of the starting gates.

Even though I want to be. :o)

Almost done!!

Here it is - the four pieces (minus the belt) of the Green Tea Raglan from the Spring 2007 Interweave Knits. I'm using Cascade 220 Heathers, and I'm rather pleased with the outcome thus far. We'll have to see how my finishing skills are.

So close to being done!

Holy moly, just get a load of that seed stitch!

Sacre bleu, quel stockinette!




Here's a ripple afghan I'm making for a friend of mine. My first ripple afghan - the middle looks good, but the ends look terrible. I didn't know how many stitches to chain, so I just guessed. Oh well. It looks not so bad. I think she'll be happy with it anyways. I like the colors, and I think she will too.



Hopefully my next post will be nothing but FOs, baby!

Yay, my computer and my camera are on speaking terms again!

So these first two pictures are of the granny square scrapghan that I blogged about two posts ago. See, the colors aren't too atrocious are they? Are they? I like them.

Following are some pictures of our MontCo Sit n Knit in wonderful Ocean City, NJ. We had such a good time. I arrived on Saturday afternoon when several of my co-knitters were at a knit-out in Ventnor. Bev and I met them at the Knitting Niche LYS in OC, and we cleaned out the back sale room, ridding the store of many back issues of Vogue Knitting and Knitter's Magazine. For 50 cents each, 3 for $1! We can't resist a sale. Here are pictures of us knitting and perusing the aforementioned magazines.

Sharon reading up.

Bev making a cute denim hat.

Robin working on a kick-ass sweater with lovely colors.

MJ knitting away.

Maria working on a blankie strip for charity.

Everybody brought enough food to feed their entire extended family. There were five of us. I, for one, was not complaining at all.

Fermented libations to get us through.

Delicious snacky-wackies.

One can never consume to many Entenmann's products.

Here are two pictures of the condo. Right on the boardwalk at St. Charles Place, it was heaven. We could walk right out of the condo and straight onto the boardwalk. Woo hoo!

The sun room.

Sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean, shining happily right into our dining room.

The rest of the pictures are just ones I took for the heck of it, because I just love Ocean City so much. You can see a bazillion more on my flickr site (link in the side bar).

Looking south.

Itty bitty shell.

It's funny, the things people leave behind...

This weekend was so restorative. I took two long walks, one on Saturday with Robin and MJ, and one on Sunday, all by myself. Each was about 5 miles long, meditative, with only the sound of the gulls and the waves and the wind. I don't think I could ask for anything more. Thanks to Robin and MJ for arranging this weekend; it did this body good!!

Musings on life in general

Parenthood

I work at a high school, and so I had off to honor two great American presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The Banana had off today too, so I decided that we should go into downtown Philadelphia and visit the Academy of Natural Sciences, one of my favorite museums. Banana has always had a fascination with butterflies, and as of late she has also been into dinosaurs, and the Academy has both! I myself am also partial to the butterflies and the dioramas which were created in the 1930s, so off we went.

Apparently, every other parent of a school-age child in the Delaware Valley had the same brilliant idea. I also failed to remember that the King Tut exhibit had just opened at the Franklin Institute, which is a stone's throw (literally) from the Academy. So issue #1: parking. I found a garage that wasn't full about 5 blocks away, and proceeded to march through sub-freezing temperatures and gale-force winds to the museum. Thankfully, my dad was waiting for us inside and managed to entertain Banana for the half hour that I stood in line to buy tickets.

Yay! We're in! Off to the dinosaurs we go. We were in the dinosaur room for about 2 minutes when I said, "Hey Banana, let me and Grandpop take your picture!" Now normally, this would not be an issue, but today it was. Tears ensued. After a 5 minute tantrum, off to the dioramas. This was fun for about 10 minutes, then I tried to get Banana to pee, since it was approaching noon and she hadn't peed yet. This child has a bladder of steel and an abject horror of public toilets. Tantrum #2, in the restroom, which involved Banana climbing my leg to avoid being sucked down the toilet. Back out to Dad/Grandpa.

Downstairs to the Tropical Butterfly Garden, which Banana had been asking about for the past 3 days. Slight whining at having to wait in line. Finally, entry was ours. The temperature inside the butterfly garden is about 85 degrees with 100% humidity and extremely bright lights. After approximately 30 seconds, Banana began to chant, "I'm hungry I'm hungry I'm hungry." When I tried to get her to look at the goddamn butterflies and cute little frogs, Tantrum #3 began. Banana and I go back out to lobby for snack and to wait for Grandpa, who is having a grand old time playing with and photographing the butterflies. Food calms the Banana. Then an employee of the museum tells us we can't eat there. Fine. Down to the cafe we go.

The cafe is packed with parents, grandparents, strollers, and 800 bajillion tykes of various sizes. We decide that the cafe is not the peaceful respite we have been searching for and decide to leave.

Enter MegaTantrum.

This involves LimpLegs, NoShoulders, Screaming with RedFace, Inability to Breathe in a Normal Fashion, Kicking, TwoAdult ToddlerCoat Application, AngryMother Hat Application, Grandparent HeadShaking and Cursing, etc. Grandpa walks us back to garage via unplowed/unshoveled Philadelphia sidewalks, Banana screaming at the top of her lungs, "I DON'T WANNA GO HOME! I WANNA STAY HERE! I PROMISE I'LL BE GOOD!" Too late now, my sweet.

We get in the car, start to head home. Banana is placated with bagel.

No TV, no snacks, no lovin' from Mommy upon arrival home. Banana is surprisingly well-behaved. No further arguments, no tears. After about 2 hours at home, I take her on my lap and ask her, "Honey, what went wrong today?"

Ready?

"I was hungry."

Wow.

A hug, a kiss, and back to my crocheting.


Crocheting and Knitting

I currently have eight projects in the works. Eight. I can't even finish a freakin' Sugar n Cream beach bag. I keep starting, starting, starting projects, and finishing none. What the hell. I did get a lot of work done on yet another scrapghan for a dear friend who is going to teach me to sew. I have also made one slipper, one leg warmer, half of a Noro stole, one quarter of a sweater, one row of another sweater, a hat and half of a scarf for a friend's kid, and the aforementioned beach bag. I've been having major motivation issues lately. I've always had problems getting things done in a timely fashion, but I've been really bad lately. I don't know what's wrong with me. Ugh.


My Five Gratefuls

Enough bitching and moaning. My life is not bad. It's good, in fact. And here are 5 things that I am grateful for today (in no particular order):

1. My warm house.

2. My daughter, even in the midst of MegaTantrum.

3. My husband.

4. My dad.

5. My brother.

And last, but not least, some photos that make me happy. Thanks for stopping by.

Poison dart frogs - I love frogs.

Butterflies and flowers - beauty and delicacy.

Pepe, Banana, and Rosebud on Superbowl Sunday with sundry objects serving as hats. Life doesn't get any better than this.