Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Whatever happened to...
Final Christmas gift tally: Four hats, one bear, 3 scarves, one bag. Two scarves and the bear came from stash yarn. Ok, not complete cold turkey with the yarn thing, but I think it worked out sufficiently.
Now that the Christmas gift rush is behind us, the question becomes "What do I do with myself now??" To make matters worse, yesterday we had Dish Network installed. When the guys showed up, I think I started drooling. Cable is not something I need. There are times when it's not even something that I want. But I do love movies, lots of movies, and the idea of having 6 channels of HBO at my fingertips...well, it's a guilty pleasure. A VERY guilty pleasure. In my defense, the local PBS station plays nothing but kids stuff all morning. There's no computer upstairs for me to access my favorite NPR shows, and I cleared the local library of its recorded books this summer.
In short, this day is looking like the ideal vacation day for me. UNLIMITED movies to watch, no deadlines on knitting, and several projects to choose from. Which brings me to the "Where are they now" segment of the program.
Today's entry is dedicated to displaying those projects which have been a bit neglected since the middle of October. Consider this an act of taking out the knitting yearbook, so to speak, to reminisce about past projects, to reconnect, to reestablish contact now that I'm back at home.
Remember Samwise the Sweater?
He was relegated to the Basket after I finished the first half. I just needed a break for awhile. I intended to keep him on the back burner for only a week, but I got interested in other things. I cast on for the front a week ago or so. He will be my Weddell Christmas knitting the weekend after Christmas.
I don't know if this guy even made it on to the site before.
I think I was so ashamed of starting her right after October break. She's for me and is nameless right now. I'm working on it. The pattern was meant to be a challenge but is turning out to be a pain in the butt. She is only for knitting during "repeat" movies, ones I've seen before and therefore don't need to focus on, unlike any of the Bourne movies. Too much action. Repeat Movie just sounds lame. Any other suggestions? Joan Sharp Silk Road Tweedy Goodness? Nah. No rhythm to it.
Finally, the one I'm looking forward to bonding with the most: The Farmer's Market Bag. You remember this one?
I was so excited to start this guy. I wanted him done by Christmas so that I could felt it (yeah, see how that worked out?) while at home. I got TONS done on him on the plane ride out here, 5 hours sitting in the airport and on a plane. The color change is intentional. It's supposed to look like the color changes that you sometimes find in Turkish rugs. Yeah. Beats me, but that's what the pattern says. I'm hoping the striping won't be so dramatic when it felts. Yeah.
Oh yeah, one more thing, I'm emailing Alison of the Blue Blog today to officially join the HP Sweater-along. Maybe accountability will keep me motivated. That and unlimited HBO.
I'm almost ready to start the giant M in the middle. :-) This project makes for great new movie knitting, great for learning knitting by feel. I actually got about an inch done on the way to Phildelphia IN THE DARK (first time for me for doing that!). It may become my pet project.
Good luck getting everything done. I'm off to don some slippers and snuggle up with my remote.
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
As promised, here are some of the gorgeous pictures of my gorgeous family from the gorgeous weekend. We really had a fun time. For the first time, I'm going to use the "extended" part of the entry. I'll put the knitting related pictures up here, then if you're a glutton for adorability, click on the title of the article in the right hand sidebar and see the extended stuff.
When I did my "mock baptism" (yes, they do those, how else do you think we learn??) a few weeks ago, one of the comments was that I looked nervous holding the baby doll. No more. I held more precious bundles this weekend than I think I ever have. Cause when the parents are out numbered more than two to one, you hold a lot of babies. Geana has even developed this skill, which I didn't even want to attempt with a kid that was not my own.
Because I'm not a mom, my mind boggles. But for those of you who are more experienced with the whole kid thing, maybe you've done this. I've never seen it. Considering I helped Geana get started with the knitting thing, I was impressed.
Presents were well received, which is all a giver really hopes for. I'm giving a gift certificate to someone this year, and I can't stand it. I hate it. I like giving gifts that match the person. The problem is, I lost my name slip. I don't know who I'm supposed to be matching. I hope they like Barnes and Nobles. Who doesn't, right? :-)
Anyway, My Constant Headache continued to be aptly named. I attempted to dry it in the car on the way up and it made everything smell like wet sheep. Nothing doing. I tried drying it in Kurt and Geana's basement that night. Again, nothing doing. The next morning, it still had that damp feeling that I think it might have forever. I gave up, took an hour to sew on the pocket, then found a little fan. Eureka! I cobbled together a set up that would make the A-Team proud so that the fan was directly blowing on the wet base of the bag. Yet when "Christmas" came, it was still damp. It was yesterday too, but less so.
Nevertheless, Geana loved it. Her dad said, "Wow! you can't even tell it was handmade!" Sniff Sniff. Makes me so proud.
Kurt also loved the Broscarf.
Always the thespian. He loved it, then almost lost it when he and Geana went out that night to dinner and to see Rent (a night off...my parents gift to them, they called 3 times).
I got no pictures of Sammy's bear. I don't really consider it that big of a loss, in all honesty. Never knit chenille. Say it with me now. Never knit chenille. He'll appreciate it when he goes to college...maybe. Next year, store bought all the way...maybe.
I'm not sure the babies can love their gifts. They love the contrast of black, white and red. They love formula (well, all but Ella). They love the Christmas lights and sleeping. But they sure do look cute in the hats, and they're not screaming, and they're all awake. I think they're enjoying themselves. These pictures were fun to take. It was like the paparazzi, three different cameras snapping multiple pictures from every possible angle, everyone making goofy faces and noises, hoping to coax a smile.
Good weekend. All the Christmas knitting is done, wrapped and most given away already. What to work on now? That's tomorrow's problem.
08:11 AM CST
Friday, December 17, 2004
Shabbat
And on the seventh day, the LORD rested.
I like to imagine God knitting the world into being. Now, I'm not one of those creationists. I staunchly support Darwin and have done so in class. But I can truly appreciate the Lord's handywork today.
I spent the past 5 days frantically working on the Geana bag. That's why there were no posts. Can you blame me? I mean really. Look at the size of this thing!
Felting commenced at about 10 AM this morning.
My Constant Companion/Headache from Knitter's Stash by Interweave Press is the pattern. It wasn't the easiest pattern to follow. Sometimes the syntax is a little bit weird and you often have to wonder, "now, when they say 'the three stitches' do they mean the three I just knit, or the three that I had going for the I-cord bind off?" Dangling modifiers, people!
I would say that the I-cord bind off is what drove this project from a "challenge" to a frantic worry. I had to do it not once, not twice, but thrice. Three times! To get the cool stripey effect at the top of the bag. Wouldn't it have been easier, I wonder, just to knit three rows around? There's also a published typo that you can find at IP's website. You don't PULL the knit stitches from the previous row, you PURL them! Can I tell you how long I PURLED my hair out over that one? Sorry, I got 3 hours of sleep last night. You'll have to excuse the puns.
This was also my first foray into felting/fulling. I have to tell you, I'm hooked. While I scorched my hands pretty good on the hot water, checking the bag, I have to say, felting is knitter's alchemy at its finest.
Mission Accomplished
Thank you, Mr. Phelps.
It's still drying and will make the whole car smell like wet sheep, but that will be fitting going through central PA this afternoon.
I'll finish Samwise's bear on the way over. The legs are hopelessly different lengths, but it's a homemade gift that will not be truly appreciated until college at the very earliest (if it makes it that far). I'm not sweating it. Nor am I pulling out twelve inches of Lion Brand Chenille Chunky, the only yarn that SQUEAKS when you knit it.
After that, I'm resting for at least a day. I'm taking a book with me, and maybe a project that is only for ME ME ME.
I hearby declare the Christmas Knitting of '04 COMPLETE.
See you all Monday/Tuesday with pictures of the weekend trip.
Almost There
Doing the incredibly complicated bind off...been doing it for the past three hours. Still gotta felt. We leave at 12:30. Pics to come.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Count...Down
First, the color-coded results from Friday's quiz. Thank you all for playing. I was totally burnt out over the weekend. At one point, I had to stop talking to Justin on IM so that I didn't have to look at the screen. It was making me nauseous.
Red circles: 2 jars of Vaselline
Yellow circle: Yarn related stuff. The purple ball is the leftover cotton-ease from the Hats of Quad. The yarn wrapper is from Samwise the Nephew's bear.
Green: My inspiration. Not that you can see it, but this is a picture of Emily and Andrew on Andrew's graduation. I had to keep reminding myself that my paper was about two people I cared deeply about. That's the trick of ministry, remembering that it's about people, not about doctrine.
Blue: My will to live. See, I tricked you! While the caffeine wasn't inspiring me, it was the only thing that kept me going.
Turquoise: My checkbook is hidden in the red box. Now if you feel like going to jack my apartment, you'll know where to look. And you're welcome to all $30 in there. Last night's final was still in the printer tray, having been finished a brief 2 hours before I started on this final paper. Yes, that is the actual paper on the computer screen. How a pastor to be actually writes. Yeah, if you look real close, you can see God's divine hand like on the ceiling of that Italian chapel whose name I can't spell.
Mission Impossible Music Here
Seminarian, in one week you will travel to the City of Brotherly Love and rendezvous with this family.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to contstruct this bag
in one short week.
Be on the lookout for these items which may try to stop you.
While they may appear innocent, we believe that they were sent by someone nefarious. Be on the watch for tangles. Be sure to use them as assets, but conservatively, as we they are limited in their use.
You will not be alone, however, Seminarian. Contact the following agent as soon as possible:
She is a German contact named Addi T. Bo Use her wisely. She will be of tremendous help.
Should you choose to accept this mission, you will be on the clock starting immediately. Should you exceed your deadline. We will disavow all knowledge of your mission.
This message will destruct in 10 seconds. Good Luck, Seminarian.
Friday, December 10, 2004
That time of year.
Can't blog, gotta write. Gotta write 12 pages of Intro. to Christian Worship by 4. Gotta comtemplate Emily and Andrew's wedding for a final. Gotta cut down on the diet vanilla pepsi. Gotta switch to Fresca. Less caffiene. Less caffiene. Twitch. Twitch. Flop.
If YOU have nothing to do, see if can spot the following items in the picture: The Lion Brand Yarn sleeve. The Lion Brand Yarn, my inspiration (it does not contain caffiene), my will to live, not one, but two jars of vaseline (I have very dry lips), my check book, and last night's final. Answers given tomorrow (or Monday if I've lost all coherence.)
Wednesday, December 8, 2004
Mission: Geana's Yarn
Ok, I really hope that Geana and Kurt don't read this website on a regular basis. I don't think they do, so I'm gonna take this time to spill some majoar beans.
Geana's intended Christmas Present is...the My Constant Companion knitter's bag from The Knitters Stash. Hold your tea in, Mouse. I'm renaming the bag: My Constant FRIGGIN HEADACHE!
It's made from six skeins of Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted and one of Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky. It's not that I'm uncreative with colors, but the colors of the bag in the pattern are perfect for Geana. She wears a lot of tan, taupe. Well, it's AWFULLY difficult to find 6 skeins of the same Nature Spun Worsted in Chicago, let alone in the colors I want. Because the bag is felted, and I've never felted before, I don't want to replace the yarn. I just don't know what felts and what doesn't.
So I searched online. I found it, or so I thought. I was going to not mention the name of the company, but I just took a psych test that says I hide from confrontation and tend to not want to offend the other party. I think that saying that I've had a piss poor time with Yarnware.com is the first step to recovery. They had both the colors online, whereas other websites don't have the colors online if they're not in stock. So I assumed they had them in stock.
I ordered on November 18th. November 19th, I receive an email that they apologize, they're temporarily out of stock of both of those colors, but they plan on receiving them shortly. Hmm. Ok. I have a certain level of commitment to things like this, I understand the stress of working in retail and dependence on distributors, things being out of your control, etc., it was more than a month before Christmas, what the heck, I'll wait, cause I can't find that color of Nature Spun ANYWHERE else in person or online. I'll give it a few days for them to get the yarn and confirm shipping.
Tuesday, November 23rd, I call Yarnware and speak with someone (if I knew this was going to be a saga the likes of dealing with the cable company, I would have asked for a name). She calls Brown Sheep Co. (I think, wow! That's impressive service!) and calls me back with the following quote. (Did I mention I should have written down her name??) "I called Brown Sheep and they said they've just finished winding the Nature Spun into skeins so they'll be sending that out to us tomorow, but they haven't started winding the Lamb's Pride yet. Do you want them to just send it to us in a hank? You'll have to wind it into a ball at your end." HELL YES! By all means, SEND IT ON IN HANK FORM! Hallelujah! I did some quick thinking, if things get sent out by Brown Sheep on Wednesday, even with the holiday, I should get a shipping confirmation from Yarnware within like a week, by Wednesday the 30th. Still getting dangerously close, but I'll risk it. I've got until December 11th to receive it in the mail, I'll be fine.
I go home for Thanksgiving November 24th. That evening, I check my email to see another communication from The Company which made it sound like the one who emails has no conversation with the one who answers the phone. It asks if I would consider changing colors. Hmm...give up my perfect colors. Ugh. I was just not prepared to do that yet, PLUS, I had had a conversation with someone THE DAY BEFORE on the phone about this. So, I replied the email saying, "Well, I had this conversation yesterday...yada yada yada, hanks vs. skeins. Is that still the situation?" Speedy reply back, "Yes, that's still the situation. We'll let you know when we get it."
That was the day before Thanksgiving. Over Thanksgiving, I visited two of Pittsburgh's knitting stores. One didn't have Brown Sheep at all, one didn't have Nature Spun. (Bain my existance.)
I'm too trusting, I know. I should have called the day I got back, should have called every friggin day there wasn't an email in my box saying "we're sending you're stuff, and due to the delay, we're upgrading you to Star Trek Shipping in which we will beam the order to your dorm room directly...for free." Alas, it's been a hellish two weeks which I won't go into again.
This means that December 6th, in a procrastinatory fit, I emailed Yarnware again and gave in. YES, I will change my colors, what do you have in the quantities I need, IN STOCK, RIGHT NOW that you can pack up and ship RIGHT NOW? That was Tuesday morning, TUESDAY NIGHT at 11 o'clock comes the reply: in my main color, no neutrals, no drabs, a bright blue, a brick red, a deep dark purple. That's it. My poor sister-in-law is surrounded by Blues Clues, Grover and Cookie Monster. She's getting a bag in an adult color. The closest I can do is the deep dark purple and pray the skeins (or will they be hanks?) don't look like eggs laid by Grimace or my early adventures in cooking cherry chicken this September.
So they're supposedly shipping out my yarn today. Ah, but here's the clincher, when I said, "When can I expect it?" They said, "Well, we could send it UPS, but that'll be an extra $5 (and UPS doesn't like shipping to this building for some reason) and you'll get it Friday, or we could send it Priority mail and it SHOULD come in on Saturday, but we can't guarantee it." RAH!!! No Star Trek Shipping???? Sigh. Man, I am so passive. Ugh. "Send to my Pittsburgh address." So I won't even get to work on it on the plane ride home.
Think I can do this bag in a week? I'm gonna need to take some videos home to watch.
Tuesday, December 7, 2004
Awh...
WE WANT OUR HATS!!!!
No, the quads aren't a myth. Here they are. www.morrisquads.com for more pictures.
They boys are all blonde and Morris-looking. The girls definitely have Geana's Mediterranean genetics.
Opposite ends of the womb.
ALL HAIL THE NEW CARD READER!
Alternate post title: Glut O' Pics
So my baby came home today, my brand new Sandisk multi-card reader. It'll read ANYTHING. I figured that it would make sense to get one that could read multiple cards so that if I ever got a new digital camera, I could easily use the cardreader. Not to mention that as more people in my world are getting digital cameras, I can read all of their cards too! She (my baby) is just so much faster than plugging in the camera! It's amazing! I love her.
So, PICTURES!
Knitting
The Scarf of the Refined Belch was washed and blocked last night.
I feel like it's sufficiently long and skinny enough to be considered "trendy", but what do I know? I'm 24 years old and have been out of the style loop since I was 17. The yarn, once again, is Colinette Tagliatelli in colorway "Fire." For those of you who have been following the blog since its inception, you'll remember that this yarn was originally for Justin's Momscarf, but every time I would knit it in front of Justin, he would stare at it and mutter quietly to himself, "I dunno, I just don't know." I would look up and say, "WHAT?" "Nothing." "You don't think she's gonna like it?" "I dunno." Luckily this constant barrage of muttering finally got to me guilty conscience which KNEW that I had picked the wrong yarn for her. This yarn was destined for the nether-regions of the stash til I got Amanda's name for Christmas and had the epiphany of remembering it. THANK GOD.
Momscarf has also been completed, but it's still drying and is too long to get a decent picture. I'll let you know that the problem shown here has been sorted out, the fringe kinda shrank when it got wet, so I don't have as "fanning action" going on as I once did.
More adorable baby hat pics. Four done. But I don't think I like the one with the earflaps. It just doesn't seem to go well and I didn't particularly enjoy making it. So one more to go, purple with pink stripes. It'll look like all the others, y'know, cause they're two sets of twins and must have a minimum of individuality.
I am in love with these Koigu gloves. I have conquered the pooling, puddling effect that most people lament from using varigated yarns by doubling the yarn. I'm really looking forward to these being done. I have two winter coats, a nylon Columbia one which I got my junior year of college (when I was about at my heaviest) and is now huge since I've lost my 25 lbs. (I know, I have trouble accepting it too!) I wear the Morehouse Merino Super Mittens . But those just aren't refined enough to go with the $5 Bethesda Rummage Sale Find of the Century: my wool overcoat that fits me perfectly (well, almost..a little tight) and looks GREAT with scarves!
Thanksgiving
I realize that it may be the "uncouth" thing to mention Thanksgiving after November 26th. We should all be in consumer Christmas mode by now. But I just had to share these incredibly Norman Rockwell images of my family.
Aunt Wendy on left, Mom on right. Martha Stewart, eat your heart out.
The Men of the family. Notice a resemblance? This was right before I was told I was blocking the football game on TV.
Of course, we have our share of dysfunction.
I used to beg my mother not to make me invite these two to my birthday party every year. On the right, Eric is pretending to be drunk. His girlfriend's getting The Scarf of the Refined Belch.
Finally, I leave you with dear, sweet, Eli, completely hopped up on sugar. I don't know if you can tell, but he sculpted his hair into horns that morning and ran around the house all evening butting people with his head and calling himself "The Bull." The next generation is in good hands.
Saturday, December 4, 2004
Knittin Mah-sheen
Thursday night, neighbor Bea came over to procrastinate with me. We watched Annie Hall and Sneakers. Woody Allen and Robert Redford. Could you get more different? Bea lamented not having any yarn to knit. Being the great knitting hostess, having tons of projects, and being unable to see a fellow knitter in need, I figured I had something Bea could work on! Bea, having just learned to knit a few months ago (she was the one who started going Continental all on her own), only knows the knit stitch. I just don't know how to purl Continental, so she hasn't learned yet. That may be remedied soon, though. The only thing I've been working on that's garter stitch is the Amanda/Cousin's Girlfriend/Refined Belch Scarf. So, she can have fun with size 13 needles and double the Christmas knitting can get done in one night! Is this a breach of knitting etiquette? The Seminarian cares not! She appeals to a HIGHER law!
The Fireball scarf is a stroke of pure luck. I originally bought the Colinette Taglietelli yarn in colorway "Fire" for Justin's Momscarf. Wow, what a mistake that was! There was no way that she was going to like a yarn THAT trendy! But what twenty-something, future grad school student who wears Audrey Hepburn sunglasses wouldn't LOVE (as Mr. Allen would say, LURVE) a really long, skinny scarf made of merino tape yarn?
Thursday night I had it about half way finished. It had taken me about 4 hours to get to about 2, 2 and a half feet done. Then Bea sat down with it. Bea, who has been knitting Continental since right before Halloween. Within 3 hours, Bea had added another 5 feet and had practically finished the ball.
Well, that was enough proof right there, I gotta learn this Continental style. I will devote myself to it after the Christmas rush. Right now, there's too much to do to learn a new way of knitting. I spent the morning trying, and my left index finger cramped beyond belief. Damn tension.
Friday morning, I finished the Scarf of the Refined Belch with some fringing. It looks GORGEOUS. I'd like to think it's trendy, but then again, I'm not trendy at all, so how would I know? Bea assures me it is, and man is SHE trendy. Why the name? Well, it's a bit embarrassing, actually. My cousin's girlfriend appears to be a very refined person. I mentioned the sunglasses and she always wears very tailored clothes, very Gap, lots of turtlenecks. But rumor has it, she can belch better than any Stiller fan out there. Apparently, a bunch of folks were eating at my aunt and uncle's house, and someone lets out an unbelievable belch. My aunt thinks it was said cousin, and thumps 'im a good'un in the chest. He protests, mouth full, "Moooom, it wasn't meeee! Blame her!" pointing to Audrey Hepburn.
Back to Thursday night, MY knitting activity consisted of tying up a lot of loose ends...literally. I fringed Momscarf to finish it off, attached the ear flaps to one of the Adorable Quad Hats, and started another Ribbed Adorable Quad Hat (for James).
To do just a quick recap on the Christmas front:
Momscarf: Done, waiting to be washed and blocked
Justin's Momscarf: Done and home
Broscarf: Done and home
Scarf of the Refined Belch: Done and waiting to be washed and blocked
Quad Hats: 3.5 of potential 8. We'll see how it goes.
Sammy Bear: Haven't touched it...still half done (I hate chenille!)
Geana Surprise: STILL awaiting yarn. Although I haven't checked today. Worth a look.
Yeah, finals are going well too. HA!
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