Pigskin Heaven

Rutgers season opener is on right now.

The Giants last pre-season game is on at 7:30.

My first Fantasy Football draft is at 9:00.

What a great way to start the football season!

It's a Knitting MIRACLE!

-or-
As Trillian42 said , "It was brilliant!"

She is right. Look at the definition...

Main Entry: 1bril·liant
Pronunciation: 'bril-y&nt
Function: adjective Etymology: French brillant, present participle of briller to shine, from Italian brillare
1 : very bright : GLITTERING
2 a : STRIKING, DISTINCTIVE b : distinguished by unusual mental keenness or alertness

There was a lot of brilliance all day. From the brilliant (adj) sunlight that made the humidity too much to bear to the unusual mental keenness/alertness (noun b) of the comments and quips heard from every Knitty. Not to mention the brilliant yarns (noun a or adj or both, depending on the yarn) at Rosie's and Loop.

It was a day full of meeting new friends that you've known for ages. Knittys introducing themselves "I'm Chris. Buttercup in the Coffeeshop" and seeing instant recognition. So totally awesome.

Here is the link to the photos I took. No descriptions are necessary. Any comments I could come up with couldn't do them justice.

Oh yeah - I almost forgot that it's WIP Wednesday!

The Rock and Weave socks are in the frog pond. The idea was great. The yarn, yummy, the end product - blech. I even bought some cute buttons for them at Rosie's. I'll use some STR (maybe Downpour will work with the buttons) and hopefully get a sock that isn't too huge.

The Boteh scarf is still sitting waiting to be picked up. So is the Tomato sweater. But the big news is that I started the Charlotte's Web Shawl. I'm using these colors of Koigu. I'm in a mini-KAL with Trillian42, Turtlegirl and Shannon. These are my colors, not at all in the order I'm using them tho.

We all started our shawls on Saturday. I was lucky enough to start mine with Trillian42, but with all the chat and excitement of hanging out at Loop, I messed it up and had to cast on again. I messed it up again and we brainstormed a way to get me back on track, which was working till I messed up again the other night at home. I had 10 stitches between markers, which should have been 8 stitches, not in one area, but in two. I don't know what the heck I did. When I was trying figure it out and fix it, I dropped a stitch and it went right down to the center YO. ARRRRGGGGG! So I frogged and started again and promptly messed up and frogged and started again.

I think I'm back on track. I've knit back to the row where I join in the second color and alternate between colors 1 and 2 for 16 rows. Working with the Koigu is a treat. I've used it before but wasn't really happy with the socks I made so I wasn't all that thrilled with the yarn. But I'm really happy with the feel and the spring and the colors for the shawl.

I've knitted lace successfully before. I know what I'm doing, or rather what I'm supposed to be doing. But I've been kind of preoccupied the past few days.

Oh, the quote. Erica (KiddoSSK) lost one of her DPNs and thought it fell out in the Pam Van. She pulled everything out of her Go Knit pouch and nothing. Then she had the thought to look in her tote and it was right there on the top, waiting for her to find it.

A true Kintting Miracle!

I've got it!

I have possession of the fug! Why I'm so excited about it, I really don't know. I think I was caught up in the moment. But it is really awful.

More tales from the Philly Knitty Fest when I have time to write a proper post. I need to try to do such a wonderful fun day justice.

WIP Wednesday: brought to you by the letter O

O as in OWWWW!!!

I don’t know what I did to my left wrist and hand. They hurt. Since no owie is complete without me thinking it’s weird, the palm of my hand hurts. And not the whole palm, the joint of the pointer finger (not weird) and the cushiony part below my pinky, closest to the wrist. Then it’s my left hand when I’m a righty.

Ok – I do hold my yarn in my left hand which I’m sure has something to do with it. So I didn’t knit at all yesterday. I figured my poor little hand needed a rest. I was thinking about knitting and I picked up my Tomato Sweater and put in on my lap intending to work on it. I spread it out over my legs a little (it’s been cold enough lately) and not two seconds later was Katie up in my sweater, kneading herself a soft spot. Maybe I should start putting her Kitty Pi on my lap. Maybe she’ll use it then. Sheesh!

I did knit a lot on Tomato this past Sunday. See! Only the neckline and sleeves to do and then I can cast on for my second Retro Cardi and alter the first one for my Mom.

Then Monday Knit Night I power knit on my Socktopia sock. I switched back to DPNs because I knit faster on them than on 2 circs.

I only have 10 days to finish both socks. I’ll get them done, but I think the next pair will be plain SS in one of my STR colors so I can just get them done and not have to worry as the end of September closes in.

The Boteh Scarf hasn’t been worked on since last week. Maybe that’s what I should have worked on last night. Hummm. I hardly use my left hand when crocheting, unless you count holding the piece steady while the right hand does all the work. There may be some progress on that scarf for next week!

Finished!

I finished my set for Cubs for Kids, the charity pre-season knitting event for my Football-a-long.

As you can see, I finished the hat last night during the Giants game. Katie was a willing model. I was a little shocked that she stayed still.

"I love you even tho you put this thing on my head."

My second Pr0n

It's not the most lush and yummy of yarns. It's the sock knitters work horse. It's faithful, warm and knits up quickly with nice stitch definition.

Opal 6 ply self striping.

I know, it's not the most exciting yarn to ever grace a YPF, but it really excites me. The first real socks I knit was with this yarn (different color tho). I'd kind of forgot about it, with all the other yarns out there. The overdyed, fingering weight, hand dyed, sea wool, tencel, merino, etc, etc, etc choices online and in the LYS.



Then last week I ran into a 50% off sale at my LYS. I wandered around and when I got to the sock room my jaw dropped. Why was the Opal 6 ply 1/2 off? "My customers just don't seem to want it." said crabby owner. I picked up 2 skeins, 2 different colors. $10 for a 100gm skein?!? I couldn't leave it there. That's way more yarn than Koigu for less.

I think I'm making the nephews Halloween socks out of this. Their feet are still small-ish.

It's Wednesday Again

Another Wednesday and more new WIPs! I hit a sale at my LYS (50% off some really great stuff) and I couldn't help but start the Boteh scarf from Interweave Crochet.

I'm using Lousia Harding Fauve in a color that reminds me of hot chocolate with lots of cream. The picture doesn't do it justice, but it has a small bit of sparkle to it.


I finished Dad's socks! Now I need to start another pair for him, and I'll be using Wick.


Here are the front and back of my Cubs for Kids sweater. Tonight I'll finish the sleeves and neck and then onto a hat. Then I'll start one in Rutger's colors.


My Socktopia socks are still in progress. The Louet yarn is really lovely to work with. The cuffs are finished, so it's just a matter of knitting the sock part. So far it's going pretty quick. I turned the heel and started to pick up the gussett stitches on the white/black sock at lunch.

The Tomato sweater is still in the WIP pile, but I haven't touched it since last week, so there is no sense in posting a picture with no progress.

Katie is so impressed by all my projects. Can't you tell?

My first Yarn PR0N Friday

Last week I got a message from Turtlegirl over on Ravelry, inviting me to join a group she set up. “This group is for fiber lovers that like to ogle great pictures of yarn, and aspiring yarnographers”

I don’t have the best camera and it usually suits my purposes. I just can’t take extreme close ups so those really awesome photos you see on Turtlegirl and Trillian’s blogs won’t be happening here. Unless I break down and get a new camera. But I think these came out pretty good.

It’s Schaefer Lola; color: Tiptoe Through The Tulips

Tiptoe through the window

By the window, that is where I'll be

Come tiptoe through the tulips with me

Oh, tiptoe from the garden
By the garden of the willow tree
And tiptoe through the tulips with me

Knee deep in flowers we'll stray
We'll keep the showers away
And if I kiss you in the garden, in the moonlight
Will you pardon me?
And tiptoe through the tulips with me

A classic song by a very weird yet strangely loveable man.

I FOUND IT!

I knew you were worried.

Off to cast on Dad's second sock!

Random Wednesday

What a crazy week I’ve had so far. I’m being pulled in a hundred directions at the office, which is OK, but I’d really like a chance to breathe. On the other hand, I like being busy and having a lot to do so the days go by fast. Then again, we have approval to hire a p/t receptionist and I’m thrilled.

I had to change my mani and pedi appointment last Saturday since my brother was visiting. I moved it to last night. I went to the salon and the woman who I had my appointment with wasn’t in. I didn’t want anyone else to do my nails. It took me a long time to find my regular nail tech and I don’t want to switch. So I’ve been trying to call all day to see if I can go this evening after work. She always answers the phone, but today she isn’t. I’ve been told “she’ll be back in 10 or 15 minutes” three different times today. I don’t think she’s in again today. I wish they would just say that she isn’t there. So frustrating.

Anyway, this is what I’ve been up to since I can’t find the Fixation for my Dad’s other sock.

This is my Socktopia sock for August. My theme is Ebony and Ivory and I’m using Louet yarn.

I actually wanted the socks to be a surprise, but since there aren’t too many people who actually read my blog, I think I’m safe disclosing what they look like so far.

I also started my Football-a-long Pre-Season charity project. We’re making Sweaters/Hats/Scarves in our team’s colors for Cubs for Kids. Last night I finished the scarf. I used a basket weave stitch so the scarf wouldn’t roll. All it needs is some fringe. I’ll be making 2 sets, one for my pro team and one for my college team.

I have a funny feeling my nephews are going to want some sweaters for their bears (or whatever animals they have). Only those I’ll have to duplicate stitch the team logo on the front.

LOST

I was ready to cast on Dad’s second sock. I pulled my sock knitting tote out of my messenger bag for the single lonely sock photo shoot the other day so I’d have everything I needed right by my chair. Or so I thought.

The second ball of Fixation is missing. I can’t find the damn thing anywhere. I pulled everything apart and still can’t find it. The only thing I didn’t do was move the furniture, which I’ll do when I get home tonight. I was really hoping to get at least the cuff part done last night so I could work on the gusset today and hopefully stitch like the wind and get the sock finished last Sunday.

My brother was visiting from NC this past weekend. I could have sent the completed pair back with him (he lives 10 miles from Mom and Dad), but no. Now I have to find the 2nd skein. This never happens to me. It’s all I can think about. Where is that damn ball of yarn?

You know when I’m going to find that skein of Fixation? When I buy a replacement skein. Then it will miraculously teleport to the top of some yarn pile somewhere in the house.

I have to admit to ulterior motives with that second sock. I’ve had a particularly brilliant idea for my August Socktopia socks and I wanted to get started on them as soon as possible. The problem came when I was swatching the other day and realized that the two yarns I had on hand wouldn’t work since they are really different in gauge. Trying to finagle the math to get the sock to work was making my brain hurt. Other than those 2 skeins, I don’t have any solid color sock yarn, which I need for my theme sock. Odd isn’t it? So I ordered from The Loopy Ewe again. Twice in as many weeks.

You saw that coming didn’t you?

And what’s the point of ordering on line and not taking advantage of the free shipping when you order? So there’s more sock yarn than I needed coming my way. Why do I think that spending $30 extra to save on shipping is better than just spending the $5 on shipping?

At least I have some yarn to photo for Yarn Porn Friday which I kind of signed up for before I really knew what I was doing. But hey – it’s fun to play along and we all know I’m a joiner.

I had nothing to do with the disappearance of that yarn. I’m just guarding the property like a good watch cat.

CUTE!

Look what my Mom sent me. Not the best picture, but how cute is this knitting gnome thimble!

WiP'n It!

Before I can talk about my WIPs, I need to show you my finished Soleil. I'll be blocking it tonight so I can wear it tomorrow. I'm very happy with it. It'll be a wardrobe standard I'm sure.

Look what I've picked up again. Finishing Soleil really gave me the push I needed to get past the color work on my Tomato sweater. I should get past the shaping in the next couple of evenings and then onto the neck and sleeves.

I'm still working on the socks for my Dad. I finished one of the socks in Cascade Fixation and have yet to cast on the second one. I usually cast on the second sock right away to avoid SSS, but I'll cut myself a little slack since I finished it last night and then picked up Tomato instead of casting on sock 2. I'll start sock 2 tonight. I also decided that his second pair will be in the Panda Cotton I got from the Loopy Ewe a couple of weeks ago. I have the first sock on the needles too.
To close the chapter on Kidney Stone 2, I saw the doctor. They can't use the sonic blasty thing to break it up and so it will either stay in my kidney forever or travel at which point we'll have to address the situation. No fucking kidding! The good out of all of this is that I have officially "fired" my urologist. I'll go to someone else when and if the need arises. And that's all I'm going to say about that.

Gratuitous Kitty Photo!

Do I get a treat now?