baby hat

Whew...Finally the holiday season is over! Althought this year was better than most, I was still so zapped by the festivities. I have been knitting (of course) but have been to tired to post. Here is a look at my latest FO

Just a cutesy baby hat, and in my opinion, the only way fun fur should ever be used. No pattern, Lion brand jiffy yarn, size 10.5 needles. Lazy daisy embroidered on each side and center back. I just braided yarn for the ties. This was a gift for one of the Gaming One's pregnant coworkers. Started and finished in one evening.

I also knit a loose version of Antifreeze for the Boy Wonder, but managed to misplace the pics, and he managed to misplace the hat less than a week after I made it (I have a suspicion it is at his great-grandparents house). Since the Boy wonder is all about anything ARMY I have been on the lookout for a varigated yarn that looked like camouflage. When I spied Bernat Camouflage I knew right away it was just what I needed. I do hate that it is acrylic, but it does serve its purpose and he loves it(well, he loved it before he lost it, anyway). I bought the yarn about two days before the Knitty came out, and after the boy saw the yarn and was asked what he wanted it to be knit into he specifically requested a "camouflage hat that covers my face so only the eyes show." I started with fewer stitches to fit his little pea head, but used the same construction. I liked the pattern not to mention that it took the guesswork out of coming up with a pattern myself and it was a quick and fairly easy knit! He wore it all day the day I finished it and insisted taking it with him where ever he went- nevermind the fact that it was over 65 degrees! Now that is some knitting love right there... and I must admit I smiled a little smile when he came inside all redfaced and sweaty after wearing his army hat. I would gladly knit that boy 100 hats for that kind of appreciation!

I have been working on Twinkletoes for The Girl Wonder but I can't get gauge so I am tweeking the pattern. My first one ended up being big enough to fit a ladies size 10. Although my girl has big feet (already a size 8 and she is only 10yo!) they were a bit too floppy.

My Icarus Shawl is progressing rather slowly, but it is getting longer and longer.

That is all for now, sorry for any typos, as my brain is still on the mushy side and my fingers feel as if I am trying to type with big thick winter gloves.

oh yeah, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

No more angst!

remember this post all about how the holidays fill me with dread and despair? Well, I decided about a week later that I was going to make things better...We pared down our holiday gift giving and declined a few party invites. These two things alone reduced my stress level. Then, I decided that the kids and I would make all our Christmas tree decorations. We spent a week making a few ornaments each day all the while blaring the Christmas carols and singing along. We decided to stay home Christmas morning and let the kids enjoy their gifts. Best of all, my Dad is coming over on Christmas to have breakfast and the Girl Wonder will be here! My Dad and I had a long talk and I realized he was feeling the same way about the holiday season. But this year it will be better, the lines of communication have been opened. The tree is up and decorated (even though the cat has taken every ornament off the tree that he can reach-it just gives us a chance to change the look of the tree everyday). The presents have been purchased and are mostly wrapped. I can honestly say that I am happy and not just pretending. I am also the proud owner of a this new cell phone that my Santa baby gave me as an early Christmas present. Happy Holidays indeed! and it is about damn time!

Miss Dashwood

The Gaming One came home from work a few nights ago and asked
if I minded knitting something for one of his pregnant co-workers. I was more than happy to, of course.

Him:Maybe you can knit her a blanket or something?
Me: That would be fine. When is she due?
Him: Any day now, you better get to knitting.
Me(inner voice): and you are just now realizing this?! You should have mentioned this months ago if you wanted her to have a blanket!
Me: I know a hat that would be perfect!

Info...
Pattern: Miss Dashwood, Knitty
yarn: Knit Picks Shine, color: Cloud- hat worked 2 strands held together throughout. Earflaps, crochet edging and i-cords are worked with a single strand.
needles: size6 circs to top of bobble band, size5 dpn's for crown, earflaps, i-cord.
mods: worked a single crochet trim on earflaps, worked i-cord for straps. no buttons inside the hat.

The Picot cast-on seemed to take forever, as did the bobble band! They were both new techniques for me, I guess that could contribute to the slow going. I am really happy with this little hat and have been waiting for an excuse to knit it!

four things

1. My first skein is almost dry!

2. Busted!

3. The Girl Wonder's reproduction of The Birth of Venus (Botticelli) hanging in out bathroom.
4. Hmmm...this looks kinda familiar.

Bravely facing addiction

of the fiber variety....last week I could fight it no longer. After months of comparison shopping and longing, I suffered a weak moment and finally ordered a learn to spin kit from the nice peeps at Webs. I knew it would be arriving in the mail yesterday because I had been tracking it's progress to my house daily. I also knew it would be at my house around 6pm 'cause that is when Big Brown rolls through the 'hood. So ya'll know time seemed to stand still from the hours of 3 and 6, but finally it arrived! I am hooked already! After about 15 minutes I had it figured out. The Boy Wonder even had a go at it. Although he thought it looked like fun, he was bored with it after a minute. Not me! I spun all night and by midnight I had this...
It is so satisfying, so calming...and I thought I loved knitting! I feel as though I must have done this in a past life because it really seems to just flow from my fingers.

Necia asked yesterday to explain my twisting stitches technique. (girl, I know you want to finish Starsky!) So here goes my best attempt.

2-st RC: Slip the two sts to be twisted off your left hand needle. Holding first stitch to the back, slip it onto the left hand needle. Now slip the second stitch onto the left hand needle (it should have crossed in front of the other stitch). Knit both stitches.

2-st LC: Slip the two sts to be twisted off your left hand needle. Holding first stitch to the front, slip it onto the left hand needle. Now slip the second stitch onto the left hand needle (it should have crossed behind the other stitch). Knit both stitches.

2-st RPC: Slip the two sts to be twisted off your left hand needle. Holding first stitch to the back, slip it onto the left hand needle. Now slip the second stitch onto the left hand needle (it should have crossed in front of the other stitch). Purl both stitches.

2-st LPC: Slip the two sts to be twisted off your left hand needle. Holding first stitch to the front, slip it onto the left hand needle. Now slip the second stitch onto the left hand needle (it should have crossed behind the other stitch). Purl both stitches.

1/1 RPC: Slip the two sts to be twisted off your left hand needle. Holding first stitch to the back, slip it onto the left hand needle. Now slip the second stitch onto the left hand needle (it should have crossed in front of the other stitch). K1, P1.

1/1 LPC: Slip the two sts to be twisted off your left hand needle. Holding first stitch to the front, slip it onto the left hand needle. Now slip the second stitch onto the left hand needle (it should have crossed behind the other stitch). P1, K1.

Thanks so much for all the kind comments about Starsky! Ya'll really made my day!

FO's: Starsky & Nephew's Raglan

Info: Starsky
Needles: Size US 10.5
Yarn:Knitpicks Merino Style
Color: Moss (color truest in top pic), 9 skeins
Mods: Buttons instead of belted
Favorite.Knit.Ever!
Info: Little raglan for newest nephew (now 3 mo. old!)
Pattern:None
Needles:Sz US4 dpn
Yarn:KnitPicks Shine
Color:Cloud (I am not exactly sure how many skeins it took, because the yarn was from a failed attempt at a Somewhat Cowl.)

I started and finished both of these during the month of November.

On blocking and seaming

So ya'll know I blocked Starsky yesterday. I gently gave the pieces a handwashing... smooshed out the water, all the while being very careful not to stretch the pieces out of shape while moving to a thirsty towel. I rolled everything up and and pressed to get the extra water out. I then moved to the bedroom to block it undisturbed on my bed. When I unrolled the towel and laid out the sleeves I almost vomited. Ya'll, my sleeves went from being about 26" to 37". I looked in disbelief at those long, long sleeves and really wanted to cry. I may have even uttered a fuck or two. I looked again at the pattern to see how short they should be...I wa snot to happy to see the 21" measurement. So I smushed the stitches and patted, and smushed and patted and still they were long enough to fit monkey arms. Then I went a bit crazy and got my hair dryer. I planned to shrink those bitches. So I blew and smushed and patted and still they were nowhere near 21"-much closer to 26". I looked at my pattern again to see if somehow I misread my pattern, that is when I realized the 21" measurement was only to the armpit...it did not include the sleeve cap. DOH. So I pinned everything down and left it to dry. A few hours later my whole room reeked of wet sheep. I had to spray Oust before I could even go in there to sleep, it was that bad.
Today all the pieces were dry and I settled in to seam. I want this sweater to be perfect and all my attempts at attaching the sleeve left them looking homemade-and not in a good way. I finally decided I needed bright light, quiet and a stiff drink. So I sat on my front steps and enjoyed the beautiful day while seaming my sweater. Mattress stitch never ceases to amaze me! The stitches came together as if pulled by an invisible zipper. After about two hours all I had to show for my efforts was one sleeve attached and one side seam sewn, but boy, oh boy, those seams are beautiful (if I do say so myself). I do think I will have this sweater finished by the end of the month, which was my original goal. I think it just might be my favorite knitted garment yet!

Thanks for the perspective

I have to start by saying a big THANK YOU to each of you for your kind words and advice in response to my last post. Reading your comments really helped lift me from my funk before it got the best of me! I am amazed how much better I feel just getting it out and having just a few people tell me that it is ok and even normal to feel the way I do. Ya'll are great!

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming....
I finished knitting Starsky last night! Woo hoo! Now on to the blocking and sewing of the seams. I cannot wait to try it on and show it off! Off to block!

Thus begins the holiday angst...

Warning: If you are one of those "let's shop til we drop the day after Thanksgiving, then go home and decorate the entire house for Christmas" types, you may not want to read this....but I gotta get it out.

I admit it, I HATE the holiday season. From Thanksgiving until the New Year I am stressed, in a horrible mood and filled with guilt. The pressure to smile and sing christmas carols and shop for everyone, and their cousin, I could really do without. This goes back to my childhood I suspect. My parents divorced when I was 8 so I was ferried around to see all the relatives, a little time with dad, a little time with mom, not enough time with either, oh yeah, don't forget about all the aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and other extended family we only see twice a year. The guilt I felt having to tell my dad goodbye on Christmas eve, knowing he would spend christmas morning without his kids. I spent a lot of time pretending to smile and be happy all the while wondering what the other parent was doing without me. Never really embracing the true holiday spirit.

Now I am grown, and have a family of my own, I still feel the crushing pressure to see everyone, but only for an hour, cause we have other places to be. I hate that christmas is a big gimmie gimmie holiday- a contest to see who can go the deepest in debt. I resent the fact that I can't just stay home with my little ones and drink hot chocolate by the fire. I resent the fact that I still feel the need to do everything everyone expects, all the while ignoring my own needs and wishes.

Now that I am older, and share custody of my daughter with her dad, I realize how miserable my own dad must have been christmas after christmas away from his babies. But he never complained, he never let us know how much he missed us, never let on how sad he was, how lonely. It has only been since I have had my own babies that my step-mom told me how depressed he would be during the holidays. How he really missed me and my brother. To this day he is distant, only lives 15 minutes away, but we never see eachother. I don't know what to do. I have no idea how to mend our relationship. I did not even talk to him or see him yesterday. Part of me just wants to let it go, but most of me can't. I love him despite it all. Last year, right around Christmas, he and my step-mom seperated and it kills me to think how lonely he must be. But still he does not call. I would love for him to come over on Christmas morning and have breakfast, watch the kiddos open presents, but then reality sets in. More than likely, one of my kiddos will be with her dad and his family, and her absence will be a blaring reminder of christmas past.

Since I left her dad, I have always let the Girl Wonder decide where she wants to go for the holidays. I have told her to spend time with who she wants and not feel guilty about her decision. I refuse to let extended family lay a guilt trip on her when she is not where they want her to be. She usually spends more of the holidays with her dad, he is still single and The Girl Wonder knows he needs her, she knows how lonely the holidays can be and she does all she can to fill his with joy. For this I am truly proud. I want to protect her from the guilt, the back and forth, the too-many-holiday-feasts-in-one-day that I had to endure. I want to let her enjoy the season that is meant to be filled with joy.

I feel like the grinch, and then feel guilty. My kids deserve a happy momma during the holidays... they love the decorations, the songs, presents, all the family and yummy deserts. I wish I could just see christmas through their eyes, and feel the joy they feel, instead of the dread and disgust with it all. It seems like such hypocracy- celebrating a holiday for a religion I do not even believe in. Simply because it is a tradition. I realize I am very fortunate to have such a large and loving extended family, fortunate to have so much to eat, so much of everything. I appreciate it, don't get me wrong, but sometimes it is just too much for me. Too much noise, so many expectations and I constantly feel like I am failing miserably. I don't get joy from shopping for things that are expected. Last year, I asked my family to donate to a charity instead of shopping for me...no one did. How can I ask for what I really want?- a quiet day at home, no hustle, no bustle, no one expecting me to be cheery and eat yet another holiday feast. I can't ask for that, it would be too selfish, and I realize that, so I just put on my fake holiday cheer, and pour myself another martini. Bah humbug.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here is wishing ya'll a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!



This has to be the best cake ever! I should know since I have made three this week. It is as tasty as it looks, and the family has requested I make it for every family gathering.

Just a few thing I am thankful for...
love of friends and family, health, a warm home, great food, refreshing beverages of the adult variety, and of course, knitting.

knitting content to come soon!

Starsky is coming along quite nicely. I stopped using a cable needle after the first pattern repeat on the back. Instead I am just slipping the stitches to be cabled off the needle, twisting them, then knitting or purling (based on where I am in the pattern). I was going crazy picking up the cable needle every few stitches and it was really slowing me down. Now the stitches are flying off the needles, pleasing me to no end! Back is finished, front right has two inches to go! At this rate I will be casting on for the sleeves by this weekend! I plan on working both sleeves at the same time. I am also entertaining the idea of putting buttons on this instead of knitting the belt. I will have to see how it looks after the front is finished to see if it will be possible. Any Ideas?
After seeing my adorable newest nephew in a snuggly cotton sweater last weekend I decided to use the Shine I had on hand from the frogged Somewhat Cowl to make him a little raglan. He has a giant head for such a little young'un (41cm) so I decided to put a few buttons at the neckline so it will be a little easier to put on. I am not using a pattern for this, nor did I measure him, so I am just kinda hoping it fits. I am going to babysit him tomorrow while his mama goes for a job interview so I can try it on him then. I have to admit it is a bit fun knitting this little sweater on dpn's...
I have abandoned all hope of knitting a complex blanket for this same little guy, and he is going to have to be content snuggling this boring garter stitch blankey instead. At least there is love in the stitches.

On a non-knitting related note I watched Click last night with The Gaming One. I love Adam Sandler movies and this was no exception. Some parts were quite touching and I had to reach for the tissues more than once. Mr. Sandler is all grown up (ok well, almost all grown up-he retains his childish sense of humor) and shows a bit of his range as an actor. It led to some snuggling and a sweet exchange of words between The Gaming One and I. Do yourself a favor and watch it with your sweetie (especially if you have kids).

Thank you Socktoberfest!

Without you, Socktoberfest, I may have never gained the motivation to finish these socks!
Pattern: Universal toe-up sock formula from Knitty.
Needles: us size 1 dpn
Yarn: KnitPicks Essential sock yarn colors Grass and Cocoa
Thoughts: I was consumed with Second Sock Syndrome, as the first sock took about a month to knit. However, since I am a joiner, I figured the last week of Socktoberfest would be the perfect time for me to crank out the second sock and it was! I finished binding off when I woke on Nov 1 (Halloween seriously cut into my knitting time!) Although The Gaming One would not have picked these colors for himself-I think he referred to them as either Dr. Seuss Socks or Willy Wonka Socks because of the colors- he really does love them! The yarn did soften considerably after washing (machine wash and dry-I will hand knit socks for him, but there is no way I am handwashing them!) and did not shrink a bit. I knit them a bit short, since he always pushes his socks down, in plain stockinette stitch. I finished with a 1" 3k1p rib cuff and a sewn bind-off for an extra-stretchy opening for his giant feet!

I cast on for Starsky this past week and am loving it so far! After knitting solid for a week on Sz 1 needles, the 10.5 I am using for this makes it seem like the stitches are flying off the needles! It is a nice change to knit 10 rows and add two and a half inches to my work instead of the measly inch I was getting with the sz.1. I am using KnitPicks Merino Style color Moss and it is heavenly! So soft, so cuddly I can't wait to wear this one! My only gripe about this pattern is that the leaf pattern does not grow from the ribbed section beautifully. It seems that there is no "flow" from one to the other, but the chart is easy to follow, mistakes are easy to see and fix. I am really getting the hang of finding a mistake in my knitting and instead of frogging back to the mistake, I knit to the mistake, unravel the ladder of stitches until I get to the problem, then pick the stitches back up with a crochet hook. Easy peasy! I hope to have this finished by the end of November...

Better late than never

In honor of "Socktoberfest" I have decided to finish The Gaming One's socks. I had the dreaded SSS (second sock syndrome) since the first was finished. I guess the planets aligned or something and I finally sat down and cast on for the second two days ago. I am half finished with the sole and hubby is amazed how quickly they are "coming to life". He lends encouragement when I put them down, saying things like "Woman, those socks aren't going to knit themselves!" and "My poor feet are so cold, and since I only have one sock, I guess I will have to decide which one gets to be warm!" all the while looking pitiful! I told him there will be no more hand knit socks in his future until he wears holes in this pair!
In other knitting news, I frogged my entire Somewhat Cowl. I had the body and both sleeves finished, but just could not knit a neckline I liked. I was trying to modify the pattern, since I am not too fond of what would have been a heavy cotton cowl. It was actually easier (emotionally) to frog all the progress than I thought it would be. Besides, with winter quickly approaching here in NC I would not have been able to wear it anyway. A warm, wooly cardigan for myself will replace the Somewhat Cowl in my knitting basket and keep my Lovely Lacy Shawl company. I am thinking I will buy the pattern book the shawl was published in so I can knit from a chart instead of those long line by line instructions. Oh yeah, and some size 2 circs. I am hoping then it will fly off my needles! That is all the time I have for now, as The Boy Wonder really needs someone to play army with! Is it bad that a 5yo talks about snipers, flame throwers, grenades, securing the area, holding back enemy forces and the ins and outs of winning a war? I am hoping it is just a boy thing, although he assures me he is practicing for when he is in the army so he will be really good and be able to defeat the enemy. I guess I need to prepare my pacifist heart!

My celebrity look-alikes

I have been seeing this everywhere and thought I would give it a go...

Swallowtail Shawl from IK fall '06

Yarn: Knit Picks Memories (100% Merino Wool; color Redwood Forest), 2 Skeins.
Needles: size 4 circs
This was a super simple knit, and my first complete lace project! I did not use lifelines for this as the pattern was very easy to memorize and mistakes were easy to see. I did forget a few yarnovers, but could easily pick them up on the next row with a crochet hook making this a fun, stress-free knit! I probably could have stretched this a bit more while blocking if I had blocking wires, but alas I have none and had to use pins. All told it took 2 and a half weeks to knit, and an hour to pin for blocking!
The nupps did not present a problem, although they did slow me down a bit (purl 5 together is quite a fiddley stitch!)This is actually a gift for a very understanding secret pal. I hope she likes it along with her other gifts.

I don't want to jinx it, but...

I finally knit a section of the Lovely Lacy Shawl without having to rip back to my lifeline! Since my last post I finished the third and fourth sections of the pattern...I also realized there are actually 8 sections to the pattern, but since one section is only 2 rows, it really does not make much of a difference. I am FINALLY able to look at a previous row and realize at that moment if the next stitch is the one that fits....I am no longer blindly following the pattern, stitch by stitch, preying that I won't look down five rows and notice a mistake. That being said, I will probably have a screaming fit after making a stupid mistake the next time I pick it up. I really hope it stretches a lot during blocking 'cause it is really looking small. I mean, I am petite (realized yesterday my 10yo Girl Wonder only weighs about 15lbs less than I do) but now it looks like it might fit a child much to young to be gifted a hand-knit lace shawl...

My Somewhat Cowl is also rapidly growing. I am now half finished with the optional waist decreases. I am beginning to think I should try this one on before moving along just to make sure it is gonna fit. This is the official tv watching project, easy-peasy lemon squeesy.

I am finally to the cuff of The Gaming One's first sock. It has become the official traveling project to ensure I finish it. Since I do not drive and all my family realizes I am knitting obsessed and no longer takes offense when I knit in their company, this can be quite a chunk of time. While at my Momma's house (knitting) I realized a few things...
1. I could have realistically knit The Gaming One the cardigan that he asked for in the time it is going to take me to knit these socks. I honestly thought they would be finished by now. I mean, come on, a month!?
2. He will never wear them outside the house because well, they are green...and wool.
3. If all else fails he can use them as christmas stockings. They honestly look that big. Fr reference sake, I have almost used the entire skein (231 yds.) of KnitPicks Essential (minus the heel and toe) for the first sock on sz 1 dpn's.

Here's what's happening in the greenhouse. Angracum is finally blooming after 4-5 years of thinking it would never bloom again. Darwin made a a really astute prediction about butterflies when he first laid eyes on Angracum. (You have to scroll down the page to the pictures of the flowers to see what what he thought.)

This oncidium smells like chocolate.

and since I love haiku...

the stanhopea

hovers bird-like in hopes of

sweet pollination

It is always a treat when this blooms because besides the fact that it's pollinator in the wild are birds, (hence the bird like shape-see the little eye?) they bloom from the bottom of the basket and the flower only lasts a day.

no blogging does not mean no knitting!

I have been knitting up a storm since I last blogged. The past month has been crazy around here. We spent one week in the mountains for the Gaming One's annual family reunion. The Girl Wonder explored her thrill seeking side by jumping off a bridge into one of the local rivers! She was at least 15 feet above the water. I told her that if she jumped I would...however, I lied! That water was so cold I did not even put my toes in. She jumped with her uncle instead, twice! She was so proud of herself and immediatly wanted to do it again!
Our return home marked the official start of our school year! The kiddos are homeschooled and this year the Boy Wonder started kindergarten, so that means a bit more on my plate, teaching wise. I do not know how those ladies that have large homeschooling families do it! my hat is off to y'all. Just two weeks into our school year the in-laws invited me and the kids to spend a week with them at their beach house! One of the many perks of homeschooling...the flexibility!
The water was nice and warm, I got lots of knitting time in and the kids were well behaved! We survived the first hurricane of the season while there...it was very exciting as there was no damage just lost of wind and rain...PawPaw took the kids to the beach as the storm was approaching to check out the waves in the pouring rain, of course they thought it was cool to say they were on the beach during the hurricane! So now that we are all caught up on to the knitting!
First the FO's! First off is the Silk Corset Top. This has to be my favorite knit EVER! It is everything I hoped it would be and more! Pattern: Silk Corset Top
Size: medium-I could have knit a smaller size, I think the top lace section would be a bit more snug, but it is very comfy!
needles: size 4 circs
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Worsted-mc= bachelor's button, cc=cloud

Pattern:Razor cami Needles:size 4 circs Yarn:Knit Picks Shine-mc=orchid, cc=cloud

mods:I wanted a more bra-friendly option, so I knit the front of the top section in stockinette stitch starting with a yo, k2tog round just below the boobline and ending with the same ribbing pattern from the bottom. On the back I continued the ribbing for the bottom. I crocheted around the arm and neck holes for a more finished look. I also crocheted a chain to thread throught the eyelets created by the yo, k2togs. However, I ran out of yarn so it is not bra-friendly at all. Now I have a sexy cami to wear around the house for The Gaming One. The straps could be a bit shorter, but there is no way in hell I am taking out all the crochet edging to fix it. All told I really like it.

Now for the UFO's
Fetching in alpaca laceweight held double.












I finished another section of the Lovely Lacy Shawl. 2 sections down, 5 to go!












Last night I cast on the Shelia Capelet...I am using much smaller needles than the pattern calls for (sz 8 instead of sz11) and did not check my gauge, so this may be frogged or I may have to add a few pattern repeats...I really just wanted to see how this yarn knit up... I knit this pattern before with a white mohair-like acrylic over a year ago. Looking at it now I can see all the mistakes I made then and how far my knitting has progressed...that was also before I realized that there was such a thing as wool that was not itchy...mmmm merino

Socks for The Gaming One using this Knitty pattern. My foot is there for reference...If these were for me they would be finished by now. Not to mention it took at least 6 hours (and three attempts) to successfully turn the heel. By the second attempt I was seriously doubting my knitting ability, then I picked up an Interweave Knits and followed their directions for short rows and all was well with the world! I am not a moron after all, I just could not wrap my brain around the knitty directions. Does anyone know if Knit Picks Essential softens up a bit in the wash?


I also started a Somewhat Cowl for myself...I plan on knitting it with shorter sleeves than the pattern calls for and less of a cowl.










I am also making another attempt in knitting a fabulous baby blanket for my newest nephew! The blanket is five months in the making and I have had many false starts, as of today I am about 15 rows into it...could it be that I just hate it because it is knit with acrylic?

knitting? what knitting?

It is too hot to knit, please send cold beer.

Seriously, I have hardly knit a stitch. I did manage to completely finish (ok ok I did not block it yet) the silk corset top. but of course, the camera batteries are dead. The Razor Cami is coming along slowly. I am trying to make the top a little more bra friendly, but my first attempt was not quite to my liking so I frogged back about 4 inches to try again. I am also dealing with the fact that I am quickly running out of the color I started it in and may not have enough to finish. Fuckety fuck fuck.
I am feeling the urge to start something new...I think it just may be socks for The Gaming One. After much thought, I have decided I am not going to knit him a cardigan although he says he wants one. Why not? 1. He never wears sweaters- not even in winter. 2. He wants a plain stockinette stitch cardigan (boring) 3. He is 6'7 so it would take me months to finish it.
I broke the news to him gently, and offered to make him socks instead. I should be able to finish them in about the same time it would take me to knit a top for myself. He has the biggest feet I have ever seen...10.5" around the ball of foot, 11.5" from heel to toe. And ladies what you hear about big feet is true! *wink* they need the big socks! tee hee!
Only 3 days until our 5 day family reunion in the mountains! I cannot wait! I hope to have lots of time for knitting, much red wine and lots of togetherness!

I am the luckiest woman alive....

I love blogs, but even more I love the links on other people's blogs. So far, I have only really ventured into the blogs of other knitters, but today I stumbled onto this site. After reading a few of the posts there I realized I have a confession of my own. I am indeed the luckiest woman alive. While my husband is not perfect, neither am I. But he loves me anyway and I love him back.
He...
holds me when I cry-even if it is about something silly
tickles me just to hear my laugh
gets up early with the kids and lets me sleep til noon-even though he stays up much later than I
tell me I am the standard by which he measures all other hot chicks
lets me be me
never berates me
stands up for me-even to his parents
cooks me dinner even though he has worked all day and I have been home
is a loving, caring father
lets me have the last beer
tells me he is a success because of me
takes the kids grocery shopping so I can have time to myself
then brings me home a treat
doesn't say anything if the house is a mess
is fantastic in bed and makes sure I always get mine first (and second and third)
is always honest with me
encourages me to knit because it makes me happy
calls me at 12:34 just to tell me he loves me
tucks me into bed
kisses me in public
is nice to my family
never complains that I don't drive
really listens to me when I talk
calms my fears
rids me of my insecurities
gives great advice
lists me as "Sweetie" on his cell phone
is my best friend

really the list could go on and on and on...
I love this man so much sometimes I think my heart will burst.

7 days and still no FO...

Has it been a week? Really? Y'all, time is really flying! the Gaming One, Boy Wonder and I took a trip to Charleston, SC over the weekend to celebrate the Wild Cousin's 4th birthday. Although I was really kinda dreading this trip we ended up having a great time! It is a 4 hour trip one way, so I managed to make major progress on my Razor Cami. I am about 12 inches into it, and have made/am going to try to make a few changes to it. First of all I am knitting it flat because my circs are a bit too long for it to fit all the way around the needles, but a bit too short to magic loop it. I am planning to turn it into more of a tank than a cami, especially since I saw Jae's altered Lelah. Cause as cute as the original razor cami is, I am willing to bet a boob job, that the designer is 1-Not 28, and most important 2-has not nursed two babies. Although my gals are small, going braless is no longer an option. So my cami has to be a bit more bra friendly. Now, I have to decide between darts and short rows....decisions, decisions...

The LLS continues to kick my ass, and after my last attempt at lace surgery I decided to frog back to the lifeline and just reknit the entire section. It is in timeout until I finish the Cami.

The Corset top is patiently awaiting delivery of yarn for finishing. I decided to go with Cloud for all the edging, and also ordered enough so I can Sizzle! I just love Wendy's patterns, they are so simple, yet stylish with a bit of sexiness.

The last knit causing me much grief these days is the Yankees baby blanket for my sister. After realizing I suck at intarsia...that fabric was more puckered than a baby's face after her first taste of lemon, I frogged the entire thing. I plan on taking the easy way out and knitting a big square, then duplicate stitching the NY on. She thinks she just might deliver next Tuesday since it is the Full Moon! I hope so, because I am going to be out of town the entire week of her actual due date and she and hubby wants me to attend the birth! I am sooooo honored! I actually cried when they asked me! Sis keeps telling me I seem even more excited about the baby than they are, I told her I am just more excited because I know I will be sleeping through the night after the baby is born!