I'll use this against them

Once upon a time there was a knitter who knit with blatent disregard for things such as "gauge" or "swatches". Merrily she knit her way through piles of bibs, washcloths, scarves, with nary a troubling thought to such things as "appeasing the knitting gods" in the form of a swatch.


Then along came this sweater pattern and said knitter was plunged into the world of "getting gauge". The knitter pulled out a skein of yarn and some circulars and set to work.
First she tried the size 11 needles, but they were much too big.
Then she tried the size 10.5 needles, but they were much too small.
Then she tried finding some 10.75 needles and discovered there weren't too many of such a size made.
Reading over an article, the knitter decided that perhaps she was really knitting much too tightly to begin with.
She tried swatching the sweater again, this time with 10.5 needles and holding tension on the yarn with only one loop, not two.
This time the gauge was just right.

The best way the knitter could prove to herself she wasn't imagining things was by going back and picking up a washcloth already on needles and partially knitted.

She continued on with new, improved relaxed tension.

Hard to tell exactly, but...

There was a difference.

A difference big enough to keep this guy from getting gifted to someone else.


There's another in progress already.

wishful thinking

I have flowers.They are neat.

Continuing the theme. New twist on an old favorite.


Flower petals!


Believe them when they say it should be blocked.
Do not question the authority of large groups of knitters.

summer has come and past

I'm so freakin worn out. I'm going to take a nap. Wake me up when september ends.
Which isn't all that far away, you know. One more week and then it's time to start planning holiday things for holiday events with holiday cheer. The rest of the year will sweep by too, what with days off of work and such. My coworker tells me to wait till I'm older. He says Christmas was just yesterday to him. Christmas, 2004.
I decided that Hubs and I are making a turkey on Thanksgiving. I can't wait.
Anyway, away I was this weekend attending the final wedding to ever be held at scenic Stonewall Manor in NC.
It was a beautiful place, even if there were swarms of mosquitos eagerly awaiting us victims guests to sit down and present a meal for them. Some members of the wedding party got bored, particularly during the two points where some American Idol reject sang for us.

Others were too enthralled with each other to acknowledge that there were tiny creatures attempting to drain them of their precious lifegiving blood.

As they should be, right?
The cake was yum. All seven of them.

I entertained myself by photographing the structure after the people started threatening me with bodily harm. These walls? Hand painted.

I'm just sayin.
Even if that was a hobby of mine. I'd be insane when I was done. Try doing this on four walls of a fifty square foot room.

Anyhow, the clapotis was finished in time to come with me. I know the world needs another blogger showing off a clappy like it needs to fall into a black hole and implode, but you're a captive audience and damn it, I made it.



So there. I'm hungry for lace now.
I've learned blocking is an amazing art I have no control over. This thing turned out to be five feet long from the wadded up piece of india shaped land it was. Amazing.
Oh, here's a torrent for you.
And we came home to find one of the cats being uncontrollably adorable, as per usual.
Not much else going on, I've been mostly treadling while watching old reruns of horrible television shows when I have ten minutes to sit down and relax. I did get to talking with a nice lady about weaving at the wedding. Such an interesting hobby that is. I learned I can use handspun in it. I should have Hubs measure the back room for a loom.
No, just kidding. Although if Haz ever comes back from the desert, we might be in trouble.

Another weekend down, and this upcoming one isn't shaping up to be less entertaining. Lots to do to prepare for this, but most importantly, much to get done before friday, because this day of days is earmarked for doing absofrickinlutely nothing but writing.
I'll fit sleep in there somewhere.

when asked to leave it begs to stay

I am some kind of stupid.
I'm not sure where I got the idea that there are seven weekends in September. Clearly, this is what I believe, as I have signed myself up for seven weekends worth of activity in September. Gonna have to cut this shit right the hell out, dontcha think?

For the record: Having a small house guest is the best thing evers. I must somehow conspire to achieve my real ultimate goal in life, which essentially means stealing the small one for nefarious purposes. You know, like knitting and watching Firefly. Oh such Firefly that was watched.
Other things were watched as well, things pertaining to thing > all, and since the ride home and the long discussion of i/p, my head has been filthy with plot. Just filthy.
Lucky, I have some aid for cleaning.
Haldo, strata:
What's shakin, halo:

Nearing the end of the set I can complete, and this means I need to place another order. Can't tell hubs. I mean, he did just set up the spinning wheel and all.
Oh yes, the spinning wheel. You know what I do on it? I spin.
Amazing, I know.
Going back to being stupid now. Other projects to be discussed at a later date. Time to find some zen and regain some sorts.

Also, to be added for future reference: Carbon Leaf and Better Than Ezra, live, together, in concert (even if we did miss some of CL)? BEST. SHOW. EVER.
the end.

once had a thought but then I gave it away

This is what four hours of furious knitting gets you:

Discussion of Orlando Bloom and sex education is optional.

I just placed an insanely sick yarn order. Gods I hope the Hubs doesn't see it before I have a chance to hide it all.
The word of the day is love. All is full of love.

the mystery continues to grow

Is it August already? And not only has it been August for 12 days, but I haven't yet made some remark about how it was "just yesterday" I was sitting here, thinking of the New Year and what it entails.
They always say time flies.

1. This shit rules, the end.

2. This morning, hubs informed me we had a visitor in the yard.
Pooosssuuuuumms!
As cute as I thought he was, Hubs isn't a big fan of possibly rabid creatures living in the yard. Go figure.

3. Carbon Leaf is my current band obsession. It has been determined that all albums must be aquired.

4. Windy days? Are the best. Yay for lack of swealtering heatzor.

5. After finding a link to this at MDK, the brain started working. I'm too impatient to wait for patterns, so I took matters into my own hands.


It sweeps (swifs?) like a dream. No, you can't see my cat hair. Thanks for the inspriation.

6. I have heartache, but it's in the best way possible. I have the best friends known to man.

7. Warshrags? Hell yes. I'm considering renaming the blog to Cotton Addicts Anonymous.

For a cousin's wedding gift, the Christie variety:
Fear my instarsia prowess.

And for thanks of awesomeness, the Jenny variety:
8. Did I mention I heart Carbon Leaf right now? They're here on Monday. Free show. Same night as the Stitch and Bitch I've skipped the last three weeks while they were renovating our meeting place. Would probably also be the same night I'd be rolling along in fictional matters. Guh, the decisions.

9. I said I'd be learning something new every month this year. I shall compile the list. Know that neither July nor August has not been spent lightly. And September is hesitantly planned.

10. For the record, just because every radio station around here has been bought out or transformed into a country music station, it does in no way mean that everyone listens to country. It will take more than ten years of this onslaught to break this cookie.

to the rachface

It's me, your kiri shawl, or rather, lack thereof. I still sit here as three balls of kid silk haze, simply waiting for the day that you will put down the dishcloth cotton and break yourself of the horrible addiction that are variegated bibs for small people.

I’m scheduling an intervention with the rest of the stash. Your actions of late have us all worried. The bibs are everywhere. Oh, you try to hide them, but you’re only kidding yourself. I’ve seen them around, blending in with the décor. Your excuses are wearing thin.

The cats do not need blankets

Nor can they successfuly pose as cat toys

Acting as very large bookmarks? Or disguising the midnight knitting?


Decorating the wall?


even as a coaster


And don't think you can hide them in the dirty laundry.


And for the sake of us, I'm going to pretend like I don't see the other one on the needles.

Look, I know you’ve never knit something like me before. I have charts, my fiber is tiny (there’s a reason they call me haze, you know?) and everything you read states I am a nightmare to rip out in the event of mistakes. Just stop worrying about what other people have to say about us. We’ll take it nice and slow, I promise.

Put down the cotton. I’ll meet you at the knitting basket when you’re ready.

better late...

Boy do I suck or what? I'm trying to get better at this blog thing. I've fallen out of practice. Here, be distracted by an adorable cat in pants.

This weekend I started a bag for use in carrying various most likely smallish knitting projects. Sure, a namaste would be great but that's not in the budget right now. Not when the current plan is to hide a flock of sheep in the house, or at least enough roving to make your husband think you have sheep in the house. You got to love a craft where you can use the craft to make something for the craft. Er... yeah.


Forgive all these washed out pictures, it decided to literally rain on my parade today and I'm much to lazy right now to do the indoor thing right. I haven't gotten as far on this as I'd like to by now, but to be fair I had to rip it back once already and lots of attention was given to it while waiting at the doctor's office today.

Also, finished two bibs.
And buttonized all the others (hope I'm not the only one that caught the 40% off buttons sale at Hancocks this past weekend).


This shot's going on the Mason Dixon KAL - finally got into the club. Squeee. Going to take a break on them and work on matching burp clothes. I've still got lots of time. I've also been informed my boss will be a grandfather again soonish, so that's the fourth baby I have to knit for. Glad this came into the library the other day. Look forward to tiny shoes. Tiny shoes are the future. We loves tiny shoes.

Things may have been a little crazy lately, but I still had time to relax and have the hubs whip up a cheesecake.



And that's all I know, besides the new Knitty is here thought it doesn't seem too exciting (except the new? section, Knittyspin) and I've decided that I'm going to become a sock knitter when I grow up.

Ciao!

some are special

Today the rain finally went away, and the sun was out. It was gweat. And offered a great opportunity for photo shoots.


Yes, I finished, and already started another.


Somebody help me.
I also read a great article about weaving in ends. I learned a ton. And I enjoy it. Yes, I enjoy weaving in ends. I know you've been seeing items the last few days with ends hanging out. But that's about to change. Cus tonight is weaving in ends night. That's just how much fun I think it is.
Oh, I've lost it alright.

encore - is this ever going to end?

Despite my best efforts, and my best interests, I have made a purchase of yarn. Don't look if you are as easily enabled as I am.




Why all this cotton, you might ask. That's a damn good question, I might say. If you haven't picked up Mason Dixon Knitting then you wouln't understand. And you would be missing a book that you need to go buy. Right now. Rilly. No worries, I'll be here when you get back.

...
All set? Alright, now that we have aforementioned Tome of Knowledge, I can start to enable.
I'm not sure what kind of subliminal messaging is in this book, but I have the urges to knit two of most things and hundreds of others. You'll love it, trust me. Go peruse it at the bookstore sometime if you don't believe me and didn't really just run out to buy it. And when you do take the plunge, I won't even say I told you so.

Anyway.
Ballband Warshclothes, Baby Bibs O Love, and Baby Genius Burp Cloth abound. Let's just say I know some people that will be putting these to good use in the near future.







Being a novice at best, the red bib you see above was a challenge for me. I decided to do a basketweave pattern to liven up the solid color and the result was great. Until I realized I had to continue the pattern up the straps. I was nearly done with the first one when I realized that I was doing the pattern backwards. The wrong side was on the right side of the pattern, and vice versa.
It only took a few curses to get it all straightened out.
I just hope it doesn't rub bad juju off on the kid.