I am positively giddy today

And I don't even fully know why. Sure it's been a decent week but nothing to be really giddy about.

Where should I start with the recounting...

Last week in my Creative Writing class, the teacher said to have a copy of our stories printed out so we can edit each other's work. I had previously lost my usb key with just about everything I've ever written and actually wanted to keep. So when I was supposed to be listening to the teacher as she went on and on about the unworthiness of the Giller Prize winner's wor, I began writing out my woes called "17 Years Missing".  I ended up turning that into my story. I still wasn't finished by the point of printing but I didn't have access to a printer other than on Tuesday. So I printed it out.and hoped for the best. I refused to look at it because I get very judgemental of my work and somehow it turns from black and white to black, white and red, well before anyone got a chance to look at it. Mo, my reading buddy, read over the story and I loved the fact that she read into the subtle hints that I wrote into it.

These characters have been in my head for the past couple of years, coming from different sources; some off the top of my head, some yanked over from my Sims 2 neighbourhood like Dingo and Sedar who's names along made me love them. They have developed personality traits and quirks that are ingrained in them and when I write about them, it comes through, sometimes without me even realizing it until later.

Mo said the anti-social behaviour of the main character was evident despite the fact that she spends majority of the story surrounded by people. Mo even stopped at the end of a paragraph, turned to me and said "Is her best friend gay?" I had a huge grin on my face that she got that even though I never explicitly said so. She even gave me a great way to end the story. It started in a journal entry and it will end in a journal entry. I really like the points that she gave although I'm almost afraid that it will be longer than the 2500 word limit the teacher gave. That alone tells me that short stories are just not my thing.  I already feel like I have to leave out a lot as it is...for a story about a missing usb key. So that's giddy point #1.

I have also been bouncing in my chair since last night since I got an email earlier in the afternoon regarding my package from ACME Fibres (looking at the package suspiciously beside me and hoping there isn't a bomb of some sort attached a la Wylie Coyote) with the Canada Post tracking number. I have been refreshing the update in the app on my phone to see if it was getting any closer. It got sent out of delivery at 11:45ish this morning and it was litterally at my doorstep when I checked for the mail 15 minutes ago. I know it's got my new Hiya Hiya Needles and my skein of undyed Merino/Nylon yarn. I promised myself that I wouldn't open it until I finished this entry since that is what I started doing first. Now I have something to look. Giddy point #2!

Now the non-giddy issue. My education is going to have to be put on hold again! I went to a seminar about the Second Career Program at my mother's Alma Matter (is that even the proper spelling for that) and as I listened to the information provided for me, I knew there was no way I could get into the Winter term like I wanted it. The program at the first school I wanted to get into which is almost around the corner from my house, is already full and there's a waiting list. There was nothing that I could do to do anything earlier as there was another limit as to what I could do before I was even eligible for the program to begin with. At my mother's AM, there is still space available but even after going through the necessary testing and such to get into the program and then waiting for the SCP to provide the tuition costs, it would be well past the time. So, here is to still doing everything I can from my side to get everything in so I can get into the Computer Networking program for the fall, with a good chance of changing the school I had originally wanted to go to. Seems to me that schooling on the verge of downtown is immensely cooler than schooling in the West end. No interesting places to visit.

The a'fore mentioned non-giddy part also means I really need to get a part time job or else there will be no income come March and that will be immensely sad.

15 mins later...
I finished writing this entry and skipped to my room to open the package. I really had to fight to open the box. I think that took the most time. While attacking the stubborn box, I noticed that I have a heathered black yarn from Knitpicks and 2 balls of Felici and a stroll hand painted skein of yarn that has barely been used. I can use them for the Surfer's Sock! No need to tempt myself with by looking at more sock yarn online :)

I finally got the box opened and this was its final state. I WON THE BATTLE!

These were the goodies that I were hidden inside! I can't wait to go a-dyeing :D

So the yarn hiatus is over!

I promised I wouldn't buy anymore yarn until the end of November. The official cut off was Cyber Monday.

This morning I made my first purchase! This time I made the purchase from ACME Fibers. I ordered 2 sets of Hiya Hiya circular needles in sizes 0 and 1 US, and an undyed skein of Superwash Merino/Nylon wool. I still got my packets of Kool-Aid ready to try it out :)

Another week's progress

Not much has happened this week. I did a few rows on the Bex socks and I started a quickie project.

I have wanted to knit fingerless gloves for as long as I've seen someone make it. I found a simple pattern on Ravelry and went about it. I was shocked with how quickly I finished I finished one hand. I showed it off with pride at church on Saturday and was immediately asked by people when they can get one.

I started on the second hand on Saturday night and only did a couple of pattern repeats. I thought I had packed it up in my things before I came back home only to realize this morning that I forgot either at my bestfriend's house, the trunk of her car or in the coat room at my church, which is not exactly local. Sigh...I guess it won't be finished as quickly as I liked. I was thinking of making matching sets of hats and scarves though.

On another note, at 2:48am, ridiculously early on Monday morning (or really late on Sunday night depending on your perspective), I finally got the opportunity to sign up for Cookie's Sock Club 2013. I can't wait until I get my first package in February next year!

I have been getting all of these amazing emails of wonderful Cyber Monday sales.  I even have a cart sitting at Webs waiting to be my first transaction.  Unfortunately, it's going to have to wait.  My desktop computer has been out of commission for the past 3 weeks.  I have one of my friends looking it over and I was informed that my motherboard has gone kaput! So my Cyber Monday sales won't be so Cyber when I have the money again.  The good news is that the stuff I wanted to purchase are for future projects so I can wait for them and try to finish my remaining project before the end of January.

Annisette Cardi - The Bex - wait a minute, that's it for on the needle projects not including the Blankie? Yes!

Casting on again

I have been wanting to do fingerless gloves for as long as I started knitting again in January 2011. I don't know if it was the niggling of reading the Yarn Harlot's blog and her showing off the fingerless gloves or if it was feeling the weather getting nippy, but I was searching through the Ravelry database for a simple pair of fingerless gloves in worsted weight. Up popped the Juniper Mitts. I don't have the buttons yet for decorating but I think that can wait until after I finish the gloves.

I'm almost half way through the left glove and these are a surprisingly quick knit. I just started it in the afternoon and left it for hours as I did have my class to go to. I think I may be able to get this hand done by tomorrow :)

4 in 2012

As I was perusing the Ravelry forums, I came across a group that I joined but sadly did not keep up with; 12 in 2012. I was supposed to knit 12 pairs of socks for the year of 2012.

I only finished 4 pairs so far for this year; Anklet in a Day, BFF, Wanida and Lissajous. I'm still knitting the Bex and I may be able to finish them before the end of the year.

I do want to continue with this idea if having a goal for next year, but maybe I'll be a bit more realistic with my goal. Instead of 12 pairs of socks, maybe I can revamp it to 12 individual socks. With the Cookie sock club for 2013, I'll have the patterns and sock yarn to do it. I also have a growing list of other socks that I do want to try plus at least one sweater.

One week's progress

I said last week that this was going to be a Bex./Blankie week.  I did finish the heel flap in record time  I tried it on the intended recipient and she loves it so far..

By the time I went to my knitting circle on Tuesday, my ears were cold and I decided I needed a hat.  That worked out well for the day since on of the ladies from my circle finally finished her 4x4 rib scarf that she had been working on for months and was looking for a simple hat to do.  She found a 1x1 ribbed hat pattern.  I wrote down the basic information and as soon as I got home, I pulled out my needles, pulled out a skein of Brava Acrylic yarn and casted on (you can now read about my love affair with Brava yarn).  By Saturday night, I had myself a simple hat that covered my ears.  I just wished I made it a little bit longer but it's okay for fall.

Once I finished the hat, I pulled out my Blankie and set to work.  I added on 5 squares from Saturday to Sunday,  I hesitantly added a square of Chroma.  I don't know if it will felt when this blanket will eventually gets washed but I do like the very long colour transition.  The colour only changed from a medium purple to a very slightly darker purple.  It's hard to tell the difference.  I just wish this yarn came in superwash.  I don't even mind that it's single ply, at least not for the Blankie.  I tried using 3 different colours in a single square and I like the finished result, however, I  need to start re-evaluating my colour choices and get some more pastels and lighter tone colours.  You can't see the full Blankie in the picture but it's only a bit longer on either side.  I am really loving my Blankie.  I'm also looking forward to the Cookie Sock Club 2013, especially because of the practically guaranteed left over sock yarn that will go into this Blankie.

On another note, I have been listening to "Fall of Giants" by Ken Follett and read by John Lee as I have been knitting.  Number one, the story is great.  Number two, time really flies that you don't even realize how much progress you've made as you listen to it. I think I'm going to try to listen to more books this way.  I really do like to read but reading a book, knitting projects and writing are all time consuming activities for me.  By doing the knitting and listening to a book, I can get more done.

On another-nother note, I saw a sweater that I want to make.  If anyone has any suggestions as to how to deal with the lace designed front panels, please let me know!

Casting On

As per the previous post, I finally started using a skein of Brava Worsted by Knitpicks. I'm just making a simple 1x1 rib hat and its turning out well. I'm using a 7US needle and since my ChiaoGoo 7US are being used for my Annisette Cardi, I pulled out my Knitpicks Options with the nickel tips. At least this set doesn't bend in my hand however the needles unscrew as I knit, unlike the ChiaoGoo Twist Interchangeable. I do want to try the Knitpicks Harmony Options though. I like the DPNs and haven't heard anything negative regarding interchangeable ones.

And now it is late and time to go to bed.

But before I go to bed, fundage is now set aside for Cookie A's 2013 Sock Club and I plan to be ready to go for next Friday, November 26th to make my purchase :)

OMG! I love this yarn!

Knitpicks Brava is awesome (mind you I'm still just casting). Ever since I tried wool, I never wanted to go back to Acrylic again. This Brava is totally different from the acrylic yarn available at my local Walmart. It's squishy soft, softer than the Bernat Satin that I've had sitting around in a bin for ages. I'm going to make a basic knitted ribbed winter hat. If I still have the "this is awesome" feeling by the time I'm finished then it will be in the next Knitpicks order

This apparently a day of self reflection

Or re-evaluation. Woke up this morning with a call from my mom to check her laundry. I was not ready to get up bit I was surprised with how late it was. I then proceeded to do what I do first thing every other Tuesday; check my account for money. I was confused at first as to why there was no increase only to remember that Remembrance Day, which was on Sunday which also meant the next business day was a bank holiday. Delays...so that set all my financial to-dos back by a day.

I watched The View (there's really not much to watch at 11a during the wee). They had Rachel Ray who's perkiness I find almost disturbing but I want to get her book. Her and her husband did this cookbook with a different meal for everyday of the year. Kinda reminded me of the movie Julie & Julia. Let it be known, I really don't cook much in my house. You'd be lucky if I make a family meal once a month. It's not that I don't know how but I am lazy about some things (my family would probably say most things). Also my house is kinda weird in the fact that everyone buys their own food. I'm generally unsure as to what works for communal food and what is not. Anywho, I want to start cooking more; at least once week. We'll see how well the follow through goes. Wednesdays will eventually be the cooking day.

On another note, I was watching E!Talk again and they showed this Banana Republic Sweater with a lace design, absolutely gorgeous. I wish I could buy it. Unfortunately, I am not making Banana Republic money and I saw the cost of $110. So of course my mind starts asking 'Is it possible to knit a similar cardigan?' It definitely contains colour work and lace work but I haven't quite figure out how and I don't want it to be a double layer cardigan. I definitely want to try it out.

One Week's Progress

I only worked on one project this week, the Annisette Cardi.  I finally finished the the left panel and I started on the right (or vice versa, I really can never keep them straight).  I couldn't even wait for all the pieces to be put together before I started seaming the back to the newly finished right/left panel.  I think it shouldn't make a difference as to what order the sweater gets seamed in so I'm hoping for the best.  I already messed up on the neckline, in addition to my other errors.

My wonderful seaming work

All the pieces together so far.

I still have to do the sleeves, collar and button panels.  I am actually really looking forward to it.

I'm already planning my next sweater, the Shapely Boyfriend.  I already already selected the yarn I wanted for the project.  It's sitting in the Webs cart, waiting for me to just hit the checkout (which will be done after the US Thanksgiving passes; seriously hoping that there's some kind of cyber monday sale going on).

This is the main colour that I wanted, Cascades 220 Superwash in Grey.

I wanted to add in a bit more colour, with a colour transition yarn.  I was hoping for something closer to Knitpicks Worsted Chroma but it doesn't come in superwash and it's single ply.  I don't think I'd like it for the sweater.  Instead, I picked Lorna's Laces Shephard Worsted in Black Purl.

I also want to add a skein of black to perhaps frame to second skein.  I'll see how everything will work once I do a swatch.

The other thing I'm planning on doing (I really like to plan, can't you tell?) is joining Cookie A's Sock Club 2013.  I am looking forward to it as well.

Other current projects still on the needles, The Bex socks (which hasn't been touched in a week), the Monkey Socks (which will probably not be touched for quite sometime) and the on-going Sock Blankie (this is like a 2 to 3 year project)

It's only half as wide as I want it to be so I've got a long way to go.  I think this week will be a Bex and Blankie week so hopefully a great amount of progress will be posted for these projects next week :D

Seventeen Years Missing

Seventeen years of writing is missing.  Seventeen years of written backstories, family drama and saga.  Seventeen years of sitting at any computer I could get to just to type out a small portion of what was in my head has gone missing.  Seventeen years of mediocre at best stories about a family I loved to write about, my friends liked to read and the precedent of one of my major writing loves has all but disappeared.

How does one recouperate that kind of work?  Some could take it as a sign that this would be an excellent time to rewrite everything in your new style of writing, showing off you much improved writing skills.  However, nostalgia is hard to beat.  Reading of badly written stories brings back the memory of the joy of writing.

It'll be hard to say good-bye but when there isn't any choice, you can either take the loss with dignity or wallow at the loss.  Either way, it's not coming back.  Good-bye to seventeen years and hello to whatever comes next.

This seems so coincidental to me

I'm sitting in my room watching E!Talk while I knit a cardigan. I actually started paying attention when they were talking about President Obama and Michelle's daughters just to see how much they've changed in the past 4 years. Of course the show goes off in some stupid tangent as to who should be the first date of the oldest daughter and I started to tune out again. My attention was recaptured when they started talking about a book series for teens about a boarding school in Washington of politician children and other children of influential people.

Funny thing, I have a setup just like that in a story; a private boarding school with well-off/gifted children. This actually makes me want to really work on this story again, which in my mind would be a series of books anyways. I just don't know how to deal with the cast I characters. There are so many of them and none that I want to get rid of. Some have been set back to secondary or tertiary characters at least. Maybe I will jump in Nanowrimo this year, late though.

Design Element!

I've determined that this week is the week of the Anisette Cardi. The back of the sweater went so well, almost no errors, or at least nothing noticeable unless you know where to look. So why am I making so many mistakes on the front panel? I for got to cable 2 times. I also managed to knit when I was supposed to purl and I didn't notice until I was working the right side. Guess what? I'm going to repeat these errors on the other panel and call it a design element.

They'll have a new home

As previously established, the Bex socks don't fit the way I want them to. I let my best friend try on the WIP's. They actually fit her well. I took down the rest of her foot measurements an she'll be the proud owner of a pair of Bex socks in pistachio green. That also means I'll have to buy myself a supplemental skein of yarn to make up for my loss, and perhaps dry my tears.

I'm also making some progress on my Anisette Cardi, while watching Fiddler on the Roof. The back of the cardigan has been done for months now and I'm working on the front left panel. I'm excited to see this project done so I can wear it!

On another knitting topic, I purchased 2 skeins of Knitpicks Gloss fingering weight in Coast Grey. The intention was to knit a pair of socks, specifically, Cookie's Cubist Socks. And since I have looking into yarn to dye and was wanting to dye the same gloss yarn. Unfortunately, it doesn't work well for for socks. I had to come up with another project for it. In thinking of making a shawlette with it but I still have to decide what pattern to do.

WIP Wednesday, Thursday and probably Friday?

I finally washed the Lissajous stockings. I was worried how the yarn would turn out, especially after reading non-fan commentary regarding the Wollmeise yarn I had used. I was pleased that the yarn became much softer after washing. I did have to stitch up the seam in 2 places due to not weaving the ends in properly. But they do look pur-tee!

On to the Bex - I tried a sock on as I always do and it doesn't fit the way I want it to. The bottom of my calf seems to be to wide (darn stumpy legs). So the plan so far is to gift them to my best friend. Hopefully they can fit her better. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to try it on her first so no surprise for her.

I decided tonight to pick up the Anisette Cardi last night. I'm starting to enjoy the process again. Especially since the needles are not unscrewing :) I was so excited when I found the buttons. I got them off of Etsy from Shop4Craft in Singapore. I knew from the time I saw the pattern that I wanted wooden buttons with some kind of design on it and I'm pleased with my choice.

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