To alter or not to alter

Before I went to bed last night, I tried in the Shapely Boyfriend cardigan. I think I already want to do an alteration.

I am short; only 5'1 1/2", if I stretch it. As the cardigan stands now, with only 4 rows past the hip shaping and without the ribbing, is just at my hips. Imagine if I go the next 21 rows as recommend in the pattern and still do the 10 rows of ribbing...that would be almost past my thighs and I don't think I should rock that look. I know the concept is supposed to be like your boyfriend's sweater but I don't think I want it that long on me.

I was going to ask for suggestions but it couldn't even wait until I posted (I originally typed this up just after midnight on Wednesday) before I made up my mind. I'll just add a few more rows and go into the ribbing and do the 3/4 sleeves. I'll end up pushing the sleeves to my forearms anyways.

I got my yarn for August/September months! It's by MissBabs in an exclusive colourway called Inkwell. It is beautiful and it would have been a perfect colour for the Spocks. 

(This picture doesn't do the yarn justice. It's much bluer in real life)

While this is all fine and good, I still have not finished Spock Socks and haven't even made it past the cuff for the Tiberius. I think I'm at the very least, I'm going to finish the Spock Socks before I even consider starting any other socks.

Project of the week

Again! I picked up the Shapely Boyfriend cardigan and I am not regretting it :)

It is coming along quite nicely. I just finished the hip shaping and I got 35 more rows to go. At the rate that I'm going, I might just finish it tomorrow. Then onto the sleeves! I am so excited! I want to make another in a shorter version or a 3/4 sleeve or maybe even a slightly slimmer fit. Ah the possibilities!

There really should have been a warning

My bestfriend and I went out to a new place to lunch. It's like a restaurant-wide buffet table. I decided on perogies, vegetables and couscous. I sat down to eat and went straight for the perogies, ate some vegetables and dug into the couscous. As I was eating, the back of my throat felt weird but I didn't think anything of it. When I was down to my last perogies, I looked at the half eaten couscous, and wondered what kind of vegetable they had put in it. Once I had examined it closely, I realized it was pecans.

I am allergic to walnuts and pecans. It's nothing to serious, I just may break out into a rash but it's nothing deadly. I even went back to the station and checked for  any kind of nut warning and there was sign. I just kindly informed them about the nuts and that there should be a sign of some sort.

I wasn't expecting any kind of recompense, especially since I had eaten over half of the nut infused couscous. But they took out a new container and asked me what 2 sides I wanted. I was surprised but decided on the vegetables again and mashed potatoes. 

Day ended well.

Year of Projects: Week 5

117! Woot-woot! That's how many squares I have in total on my Blankie! Plus a few triangles for the sides :)

(Thank you to cousin Khadija for standing on a table to get the Blankie in its entirety)

My-! Look at how the right side has grown! I think at this point, I'm going to join the parts I have (which will make the total 119) and that will begin making this project no longer portable.

I picked up another WIP, the Shapely boyfriend. I still have a ways to go but the fact that I picked it up after almost 3 months of inactivity is good. There is no picture of it for this week since I am not at home and haven't taken a recent picture. This will definitely be travelling with me when I go to my best friend's house this week.

No additional work has been done on any socks so those are in the same state they were in last week. I will be taking the Spock Socks with me.

 I think I will be limiting myself to 2 projects a week to work in.

Just some thinking I have been thinking on the construction of the Petal Blanket that I am going to be donating to my church in a couple of years. I believe I have narrowed down my yarn choices to Knit Picks Brava in Acrylic, due to already having some unused in my stash and not having to really worry about dye lots (or at least I hope that's the case). The colour I have is Tidepool in worsted, I think (and after checking my order email from last year, yes that is the colour). Brava is soft enough and should be durable (due to it being acrylic). Whenever I can get around to making another order, it will be for that and Black Stroll sock yarn for the Blankie.

Back to the Basics

My cousin Akilah has gone vegetarian for the summer. Because of this, she has been experimenting further in the kitchen, making me jealous of her creations and me not being close enough to try any.

Luckily, today I'm at her house and she decided she wanted a broth-like soup. However like a true Jamaican household, there was goat head soup and no vegetarian option. That didn't stop Akilah. She rummaged through the 2 fridges in the house, pulling out garlic, onion, green onion, celery, tomato, ginger and olive oil. She stuck everything in the blender, seasoned the water and set it to boil. Quite quickly, she had a bowl of soup.

I SO want to try this!

This was somewhat surprising

Last night, after my somewhat depressing entry, I went back to watching Charmed and pulled out my Shapely Boyfriend Cardigan. I am by no means anywhere close to being done but I am on the last third of the waist shaping. After that it's hip shaping and after that, I should really refer back to the pattern and write it out. I think it's the ribbing and sleeves, then finishing touches like collar and butting paneling and such. I still haven't purchased or discovered any buttons to finish it off with. I do have the 5 wooden buttons that I purchased for the Annisette Cardi but the Shapely Boyfriend requires 7. I'll have to see what I can do about it.

Personal diatribe

I guess it's safe-ish to put my rambling here where it's somewhat annonymous as opposed to Facebook, where I know my friends and family can see it. I just really need to get this out somewhere.

I am aware that I am socially inept (self-diagnosis). That would likely explain why I have very few close friends who are not family and it's not often I feel the need to be close to anyone. To me, I've always been like 10 years behind my peers socially. Heck even until this day, I don't get or understand how people get into a romantic relationship. I'm 32 and have never been anywhere close to gettin in one and as time goes on, I'm starting to care less and less whether or not it happens.

I am past the point where I cry every few months for not being in a relationship. All that got me was bags under my eyes an a massive headache. I've come to the conclusion that if it happens, it happens but it most likely will not happen. You really can't fully miss what you never had.

I don't really think I'm good at being a good friend either. I have these moments where I just want to be by myself. So people call, I don't answer the phone. They send a text, they are lucky if I even read it. I scan any email I see. I'll read it but I won't respond. I know this bothers people but half of the time, but I feel as if I do respond, it will not be genuine. I very much prefer genuineness over just doing a duty. I'm not sure if I want to change that from my character. I don't like fake and I don't want people telling me to do something fake because I'm supposed to do some kind of social nicety.

Someone close to me got into a car accident. They are fine. There are no broken bones, no fracture, no brain damage. Just a sore neck and back that will heal and probably turn then into a human barometer as time goes on. I was at the house when it happens. I left the next morning to do something that was prearranged. I went home afterwards. Apparently, it was expected that I was to stay with them. They have their family to stay with them. As far as I could see, I was not needed and there was nothing further i could do. The next day I called and there was no response nor was there the opportunity to leave a message. I sent a text the next day. They said they were fine and a few messages were exchanged. Now 2 days later, my mom is upset because I have not called or contacted since. She's fine and I'll be seeing her on the weekend.

I don't know if this makes me seem cold but there is nothing I can do, whether I am there or not. It seems kinda stupid to me to call and report back that she's find like the past few days. We don't really have anything to talk about and I don't really do small talk so what's the point? 

I have never been one of those people who spends hours on the phone. I'm lucky if I even make it to 20 minutes for the month in my phone. I don't talk much and when I do have something to say and I don't get a chance to say a word about it, it makes me feel even less inclined to talk to the person.

The only thing I'm starting to worry about is if this is the first step to becoming a hermit.

It's happened twice!

And it's annoying! I was working on another square for the Blankie and then put it down to so something else. Now I come back to do it and I see the red cord of my ChiaoGoo circular needles. I follow the cord and find the tip with no knitting on it. "Okay," I think to myself. "Must be on the other side." That needle is bare too. "Maybe it was on another set of needles? Please, not likely, be on another set of needles!"

It was not :( I'm not good at picking up stitches, especially when there are decreases and increases. So I just frogged the square and I'm getting ready to start it again.

For me personally, it seems as if the plans I had for myself will have to be readjusted. As far as I can see, it (meaning my schooling) will still finish the same time. I guess this will also give me an opportunity to get some more money for my living expenses. 

Year of Projects: Week 4

This was a Spock sock/Blankie week.

I believe I made a lot of progress on the Spock sock until an incident occurred over the weekend which made me stop. I knew I wouldn't be able to concentrate enough to do the socks so I moved onto the Blankie.  Good thing I travelled with 2 projects.

I added 3.5 squares and it's coming along nicely. I actually received many compliments from people at my church when they saw me working on it yesterday. 

It still feels like a Blankie type of week so I can't say if the Spock socks will be done by this time next week. I do think I can manage to put in some work on it during the knitting circles this week.

Not quite off topic but isn't this a beautiful shade of blue?

I guess this week will be a short update.

No time

I was hoping that at some point today, I'd be able to post a "Year of Projects" updates but alas, there has been no time.

My bestfriend got into a car accident which threw everything off course. The knitting projects were dropped and I went to man the phones and field phone calls. Today I had to take over her job at the Food Bank plus it was Free Market day at church as well.

I came home and napped because I was tired and then talked with my family which lasted much longer than anticipated. Last thing was to prepare for my appointment tomorrow morning. I think I have everything organized.

But still no time for the YOP update. Tomorrow it is.

Blankie away the stress

I really didn't want to work on anything else but the Spock socks until they were done. Unfortunately, I need some kind of mindless knitting to de-stress and the only other project I travelled with was the Blankie. I feel as if I should get a good amount of work done. Onto Charmed on Netflix.

Moving right along...

It may not look like a lot to some people but I feel like I've done significant work in the Spock socks. I have under one pattern repeat before I start the heel flap and then not much further to go (turn heel, gusset, foot and toe - all of which can go pretty quickly). It's also amazing how much the colour changes depending on where I take the picture.

Off to continue watching Charmed on Netflix :)

I hope I can keep this up

I think I had a productive day. Did some school stuff, listened to a podcast and then downloaded Netflix in my phone and spent a good part of the evening watching Green Lantern (would have preferred Ryan Reynolds as the Flash) and Charmed (I love that show!).

I was actually knitting while watching these programs. That is progress! Now it's on to catching up on soaps while knitting.

What it was supposed to be

Today was supposed to be a very productive day. Didn't quite work out like that. I woke up this morning, not feeling too well and wanted nothing better than to rub my belly and not leave the bed. But alas, I had a 2nd interview today at 1:30 so slacking off for the entire day couldn't happen.

Before I even reached my appointment, my feet were hurting. I didn't travel with flip flops for this week in Hamilton and the shoes I wore we're not really made for much walking; plus, running shoes are not really appropriate for job interviews. What wouldn't I give for a pair of black ballet flats...

I believe the interview went well. I finally got to meet the manager. By the end of this week, I should find out if I'm to be employed so that will either be a "Yay!" day or a "Boo!" day in Friday, depending on what I hear.

I came back to the house, lay on the bed and thanked God for air conditioning. I had planned to listen to a podcast or two, while knitting but promptly fell asleep, resetting the alarm on my phone twice to get more sleep.

Even up until now, my stomach still doesn't feel too right but at least there is no violent throwing up or anything.

To make myself feel better, I read some of the forum topics on Ravelry and discovered this pic of the store in Germany that sells Wollmeise.

Talk about yarn heaven. I would at the very least like to have a 2x2 Expedite Bookcase full of yarn.

Funny thing, while looking for a picture of the 2x2 Expedit, I found a site called Ikea Hackers. So much I want to try out!

The danger of seeing a movie too late

I have just left the theatre from watching Man of Steel.

Awesome movie and I can't wait until it comes out on DVD. Too tired to say more. Good night!

Positively overwhelmed

It's always nice when you find out people like the things you do. Yesterday morning I wine up to find some comments on my entry. Of course I was smiling with everything one I read. 

I went to church for a Women's Prayer Brunch. I was late but I still made it time to sing a few songs with 3 other women from our praise and worship team, all in a Capella. By the end if the prayer brunch, all four of us were receiving compliments on how wonderful we sounded. I was grinning on the inside.

I later went to a garden party for a family friend's birthday (had a vegan and gluten free 'chocolate' cake - delish!). I had a wonderful picture taken:

It was an 11 year old who took this. I doubt he'll see this but "Thank you E.B.!"

I was later talking to his mother who was admiring my knitted projects. By this time, my cheeks were in the verge of hurting from smiling so much. 

Keep in mind, I was still intermittently getting notifications in my email that people were commenting on my blog. Yesterday was a good day.

Year of Projects: Week 3

The "photo-shoot" is finally done. What did I learn from this experience? Check out my bags of WIPs. I really need to finish some more projects before I start with anything else.

(Neatly put together)

(The hidden explosion of projects)

The Bex

Started October 1, 2012.  I had to battle with this yarn; not while knitting but when trying to wind the skein into a cake.  I ended up with so much yarn barf that I looked at it in disgust and left for New Jersey to visit family.  Those 2 balls you see is what I have remaining.  I hope it's enough to finish the 2nd sock.

The Stitch Surfer:

Started on November 30, 2012.  The only reason I stopped was because I had never finished a toe up sock before and was not grasping how to bind off.  Suffice it to say, it's doesn't make it past my foot, much less my leg.  T suggested that I just unpick the bind off and redo it...talk about a "duh" moment.

The Dark Isle:

Started March 17, 2013.  I specifically dyed the yarn for these socks...well not all of it, just the gradient yarn.  I think it turned out pretty good.  I just have to find the time (and get my 2US needles free again) to finish them.  I don't think it will take too long.

Forget Hermione! These are for me

Started April 12, 2013.  I started these as a dye challenge.  It was supposed to be dye and knit a project in a month.  I was doing so well! And then I broke not 1 but 2 of my DPNs.  I started going on the circular needles and I was not enjoying the process.  I lovingly bagged up the project and said "forget it" until I could get some DPNs.  Now I have them (as seen in the above picture) and I don't have the time right now.  I want them done by the fall so I can wear them.

Basically Perfect Baby Socks

Started May 21, 2013.  This should have been a quick project.  I finished the first sock within a couple days and the other one is still on the needles (the 2US needles that I need to get free to do the Dark Isle socks).  I can get it done but I think it's the boredom of stockinette (and laziness) that keeps me from doing it.

Shapely Boyfriend Cardigan

Started April 2, 2013.  I had been making good progress on this cardigan.  I am at the waist shaping and I want to continue however the call of the Cookie Socks is a bit stronger. I was hoping to have this done in for the fall but I think I'm going to have to be a bit more realistic on the time constraints.

Anklet #1

Started May 30, 2013.  I'm pretty certain these will be cute when finished.  I already started decreasing for the toe.  I'll like to have the mismatched pair finished soon mostly due to the fact that I don't like the yarn that is being used for the cuff, heel and toe.

Tiberius

Started June 18, 2013. Love the look of these socks but there's not rush on these ones.  That's pretty much it for now.  How much writing is expected for ribbing?

...fascinating

Started June 10, 2013.  Yes!  I finished the first sock and I'm just past the ribbing on the second sock.  I want these done ASAP.  I want a new pair to wear, despite the fact I have barely worn the Pirouette and Tulip socks that I finished less than 2 months ago.  They are so squishy and soft and pretty :D  By the way, I am a convert to Tanis yarn now that I've finally knitted with 1 of my 3 skeins.

Blankie

Started July 13, 2012.  Wow! It's been just over a year and look at how big it's gotten! As of the time of typing this update, there is 107.5 squares and by the time I finish this knitting year, I want to be at 250 squares.  Note: I am so short that even when standing on a chair, I still couldn't get the entire thing in one picture.

Now onto the forgotten projects.

Slide Socks

You can already see that one of the socks is off the needles.  I was trying to do these socks 2 at a time and I was not successful.  I will make these socks out of this yarn but I think I'm going to try winding them into balls and working on each sock seperately.

Anisette Cardigan

As I have mentioned before, the back is utter perfection...but I just don't think I really want the cardigan out of this yarn and it would be nice if the sleeves were the correct size.  I'd rather just toss out the whole thing and make it again from a different kind of yarn.  Nothing wrong with the pattern.  It's lovely but I'm just not liking this project.  I just want to know what I can do with this yarn.

That was the plan

I had a plan as to how my evening was going to go after I got home from church. I was going to change my clothes, pull out my Spock Socks, load up a podcast and knit. So why is it that at 11pm, I only managed to change my clothes and nap. Getting back to the program except I'll be watching a documentary on Food :)

The Gathering (<--read ominously)

Since I compiled my list of WIPs for the Year of Project, I determined I needed pictures of my all of my WIPs. I swear I have projects coming out of the wazoo.

I found 3 more pairs of socks that I thought I had already unravelled...sorry, no. 4. At least I know where my needles have disappeared to.  At the very least its a good reason to get my circular needles back, especially a small circular one that I wanted to abduct for my anklet project.

The socks I pulled out of their hidden spots is (are), a knitted partial leg of the Blackrose Sock, a half way unravelled quarter of leg from the Slide Socks, A partial leg of the Monkey socks and...I can't remember...maybe I did only have 3. I think I do want to finish the Blackrose socks. It's a pretty simple pattern and I still have enough to finish the pair...who knows.

I pulled out my half way finished Anisette Cardigan. I'm not even sure that I want to finish it. The back is gorgeous and perfection, if I do say so myself however, I messed up in the tops of the front panels, I did the wrong size for the sleeves and nothing lines up correctly AND I don't like the feel of the Wool of he Andes yarn. It feels too scratchy. Maybe at another time, I'll actually attempt it in a softer feeling yarn like Cascade 220, which I am still loving from the Shapely Boyfriend Cardigan.

The shoot went relatively well (listen to me trying to sound all professional and all).  I went out to the sun room (generously called so), located just outside of my bedroom.  This is what I get instead of a window in my room.  The Anisette Cardigan was dust covered.  I still don't know if I want to continue with it,.  The wonderful thing about pulling out WIP is that I found an undyed skein of sock yarn from Knit Picks :)  (I'm not going to dye yet...I'm not going to dye yet...)

I also learned I am too short to get a full picture of the width of my Blankie but I was so happy to see it all together.  I even tried standing on the chair beside it and I still couldn't get it all in one shot.  This is what you get when you want it to fit a queen sized bed.  It's now in 2 pieces (as opposed to the 3 it was before) and probably won't be joined together for quite some time.  I'm pretty certain once it is, it will not be as transportable and there are also too many left over threads that need to be woven in and excess cut off.

Yes I stayed up late to finish!

I finished a sock! One foot of the Spock Socks is complete and I'm going to cast on for the second sock as soon as I finish this update just because I really want a completed pair.

I could have one foot of the anklet done as I did start the toe 3 days ago. Maybe tomorrow...most likely not. The enthusiasm of finishing the Spock Socks will probably overrule it.

Quick notation for the usage of the 26 Pair Plunge tags will only be for completed pairs.

Great inspiration

I took today as my laundry day. It's 2 weeks worth of clothing for 2 week long trips. This means I was finally able to wash the Tulips and the Pirouette socks.

By washing the socks and hanging them out to dry on the line, I finally got to really feel them. They feel so nice! I was more worried about the Tulips more than anything. This was the first time I have ever washed any yarn that I have dyed.  From what I can see, I didn't loose any colour. This gives me great hope that I was doing it right :)

This whole "washing of the socks" also is a great way to nudge me back to finishing my socks.

The Spock socks have been picked back up. I may just finish the pair before going on to the Tiberius socks.

Finally Back Home

I have finally made it home from the church conference in Omaha, Nebraska.  The people in Omaha are some of the friendliest people I have ever met and I very much enjoyed my time there.  I would definitely plan to go back there someday.

I'm kinda out of the daily blogging mode and I do have to sort of catch up with everything that has been happening.  There have been a lot of personal changes for me that will affect my upcoming future.  I'm sure I'll write more about it as it comes closer.  Just know I will be moving, my mother is all for it (that was kind of up in the air) and I will be going to school as well.  No final responses on job prospects but I am not giving up.

I am now off to respond to all the comments I have received for my first Year of Projects entry for year 3.  I have never had so much commentary before on a single entry, even when I was blogging for the Sims 2.  I feels good to know that people are actually reading what you're writing and responding to it as well.  It also gives such a positive reason to keeping up with blogging.

Here's to getting back into the daily blogging mode.  I hope I haven't forgotten how.

Year of Projects: Week 2

(Because Week 1 was last week, not this week like I thought.  Anywho, on with the show)

It's a knitting new year! And with a new knitting year comes new projects to do and new skills to learn (and while I'm at it, WIPs to finish - must finish pairs).

Sock WIPs
Dark Isle Socks
Cast on: March 17, 2013 | Bind off:

Stitch Surfer Socks
Cast on: November 30, 2012 | Bind off:

Bex Socks
Cast on: October 1, 2012 | Bind off:

Baby Socks
Cast on: May 21, 2013 | Bind off:

Anklet #1
Cast on: May 30, 2013| Bind off:

...fascinating (Spock Socks)
Cast on: June 10, 2013 | Bind off:

Tiberius
Cast on: June 18, 2013 |

Socks to be cast on:

Cookie Sock Club 2013 (August #1)
Cookie Sock Club 2013 (August #2)
Cookie Sock Club 2013 (October #1)
Cookie Sock Club 2013 (October #2)
Cookie Sock Club 2013 (December #1)
Cookie Sock Club 2013 (December #2)

Cookie Sock Club 2014 (February #1)
Cookie Sock Club 2014 (February #2)
Cookie Sock Club 2014 (April #1)
Cookie Sock Club 2014 (April #2)
Cookie Sock Club 2014 (June #1)
Cookie Sock Club 2014 (June #2)

Anklet #2
Anklet #3
Anklet #4
Anklet #5
Anklet #6
Anklet #7   

Tree of Life/Fire Bird by Janel Laidman

Sweaters/Cardigans

Shapely Boyfriend

Cast on: April 2, 2013 | Bind off:

Mittens/Gloves

Hermione's Fingerless Gloves

Cast on: April 12, 2013 | Bind off:

Hat

Hermione Hearts Ron

Other

Blankie reach to 250 squares

Starting at 103 squares as of July 7, 2013

Petal Blanket by Norah Gaughan

Sounds like a lot right?  It's also heavily dependent on joining the Cookie A. Sock Club 2014.

I also wanted to add a list of skills I'd like to learn as well by the time this knitting year ends:
-learn a new casting on technique (I already know the backwards thumb loop one, the long tail cast on and Judy's Magic cast on for toe up socks)
-learn the basics of crochet enough so I can make something simple like a dishcloth for a simple hat.

Since I'm not actually home (still on vacation), I will have progress shots for all of my WIPs next Sunday and hopefully I will still know where to find the pattern notes and such.

Omaha Day #2

This morning started out with jumping on the shuttle bus and going to The Diner (yes that is the name of the place, The Diner).

So cost effective! And the food is quite good. And there was good company.

Went to a seminar, which was quite enlightening. Another group of us went to lunch at Spaghetti Works, down the street from Zio last night.

I am still stuffed a couple hours later. Company was good as well but no pictures :(

I saw a sign about a quilt being auctioned off with the proceeds going to Spring Vale Academy. I just volunteered my services to make a knitted blanket for 2 years from now. One of my first knitting books was a book on afghans and I have never made anything in it. This seems like it would be a worthy cause to crack open the book. Also, this a worthwhile charity that I've known about since I was a child. I this goes well, maybe I'll make afghans more often for them. I can't wait to go flipping through the book when I get home and start the pre-planning.

I got to get a hug from my little sister. I swear she's hit a growth spurt since I saw her last on Saturday. She's turning 5 in September.

At some point or another, I will track down each and everyone of my siblings and get a picture with them. Come-on, we're all here.

We later went shopping at Oakview Mall. Nice place, definitely cheaper than in Canada and open tomorrow on the 4th of July.  Suffice it to say, we'll be back tomorrow.

I am now going to eat some dinner and be off for the night!

Omaha Day #1

I do have wifi! Yay for the Hilton!

I am loving it here. I haven't even been here a full 12 hours but it is beautiful.

We passed a Trucking Lot, which usually doesn't sound interesting to me, but my brother loved it being the car nut that he is. They had some funny stuff and a native hand painted vases. I really wanted to leave with a specific vase but the funds are not there to my woe.

Beautiful, isn't it?

We stopped at Wendy's to eat and were shocked by the size medium drink. It would be an extra large drink in Canada.

My brother and Cooper the bear were happy to arrive.

We went to an evening church service, caught up with some people and declared that we were so hungry that we had to get something to eat. The shuttle bus for the hotel is 24hrs a day.  The area is quaint and beautiful. We went to a pizza place on Howard called "Zio". It was soooo good. We've already made plans to back again.

I am now off to bed.

Hiatus

I am leaving for Omaha tonight. That means a chance of US roaming. That's more money than I want to spend. So with my data off, I can't make any guarantees about doing an update a day. We'll see how the wifi works at the hotel.