I met Dude last night

Hey, there is a nice guy! What else can I say? He is funny, serious, talented and oh, so nice.

We went yarn shopping, and after for Sushi, which Dude likes.
I had Chicken Teriyaki, how inspirational. But, hey, I liked it.

Oh, I forgot to mention that Dude came to visit Sherri, and they went to Kingston. Sherri was teaching Tunisian crochet and Dude was learning.

There were 6 of us with Dude the night he arrived here.

Blue Paisley

Maybe a jeans bag would be nice. Maybe.

But later, much later.

Empty thoughts

I was looking for little motifs for my jacket. I found a half finished doll, which I forgot I had started, I found two granny squares that I can use in our next crochet meeting for charity.
I also found some scrumbles I had made, that I forgot I had made. What I didn't find was a pair of purse handles that I had bought at Len's Mill store in December. Sherri and I went there, my hubby was driving, because there was a blizzard coming up, and sure it came. One blizzard in the winter, and it had to come when Sherri and I went yarn shopping.

I am so scared to go to my "stash" room that I hardly ever go there, I just go to the store and buy new stuff. Well, to be honest with you, I didn't actually go there today and take out some containers from the top of the shelf. I asked hubby do it. He did. I gasped, when I saw what was in the first contained. Nice, beautiful yarn that I could use on almost anything. I don't even know what the yarn is, it's so beautiful.

I must get back to reality. I must work on my jacket. I was going to make a purse with my scrumbles that I found, but since I couldn't find the handles, the purse stays as scrumbles.

There are no traffic whining to report, I've been quite relaxed lately, and didn't even get upset this morning when one driver in front of me and a few other cars decided to stop at the green light and then proceed on the red. I think we all had a little chuckle, instead of angry screams.

I wasn't late from work, I still had a full five minutes when I reached the door. Three staff members were waiting outside. Well, who am I? I am one of five who has the key to open the doors. One person, who is always early, was late, and I knew it, and the little devil told me not to rush to work this morning. I didn't. I stopped at the bank, and took some cash for lotto tickets, I also stopped at MacD to get a coffee and bacon and egg mcmuffin, and I also got a free newspaper. Don't think I go to MacD for the free paper, nah, it's just a bonus.

I wonder, if going slowly and relaxingly to work had anything to do with not getting upset with the dingaling who stopped at the green light. There must be something wrong with me.

It is amazing, how someone who constantly brings up the title, the boss has given, and uses it to sprinkle power sparkles over staff, does not worry about opening the doors in the morning. Oh, well, there is me, and that other person, who truly are loyal, and who really aren't responsible for the door opening ceremony. tsk tsk.

I think I will go to WalMart in the morning (the doors open at 7 a.m., can you believe it!), I wonder who opens the doors there. I might buy handles for the purse, that is not done, and is never going to be done, since I have too many purses. I just got inspired, because there are so many pictures of different purses everywhere. I am talking about funny purses and pretty purses, just like I would like to make. One of these days, yes. Maybe I could make a purse tonight, maybe....why not? No, I will not, not tonight.

Jacket on the go

I've been busy.
Started oodles of new projects. All of them, except one, forgotten, in bags, somewhere.

The one that is on-the-go is a jacket for an upcoming wedding in May. I have a full month and
then some, which should be enough time.

Here is the start of a beautiful relationship with a hook and thread

Wedding Shower Gift

Holy smokes (I had a dream the other night that I smoked a cigarette, I "woke" up in my dream, and was happy it was just a dream) it's been a while, since I talked to myself.

I've been busy making wedding shower gifts. I finished tonight, made two pillowcases.
The pattern is "monet pineapple", I had it saved on a cd. I don't think it's available in the web any more. but there are similar patterns, so I am going to use the similar pattern to make a throw for the wedding gift.

Clappy is done!

Finally, after a short break on the project. Well, I had to do other things, too. Have you ever seen me work on one project at a time. I don't think so.

Well, there were no interruptions tonight; and I got the Clappy finished. It's not blocked, or anything, but it's DONE!!!!!

It's 64" long and 18"wide. Yarn: Bernat Sox, 175 gr. (almost 200 gr.)
oh, for petsake, three and half of the fourth skein.

Knitting Olympics Challenge done

Here is the finished Knitting Olympics Challenge

Felted Laptop bag.

Another restless evening

I would love to sit on that mini couch with my gd.

The Knitting Olympics project washed onece. I doesn't look felted yet.

Coffee Anyone?

You are a Black Coffee

At your best, you are: low maintenance, friendly, and adaptable At your worst, you are: cheap and angsty You drink coffee when: you can get your hands on it Your caffeine addiction level: high

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofcoffeeareyouquiz/">What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Knitting Olympics project update

Coming along nicely. I have to finish the yarn ends, figure out how I am going to carry it. Then I need to felt the thing.

Here is the front and the back, and the back and the front.

Haven't decided yet. It all depends on the carrying method. The bag looks funny, doesn't it.

Continuing saga on Clapotis and other stuff

I decided to make my Clapotis longer than it is now (41"). I am using thinner yarn than the pattern calls. Too bad. I just have to make more rows. I really like my Clapotis.

Last night was not very productive. I made a few paisleys, knitted a few rows, watched Ice Dancing, and that's about it. It was a LAZY night.

Today is a different story. My two tote bags (yes, two) are full of projects, again. I have the Clapotis, I have my Olympic Knitting project, and yarn for a new project (stop shaking your head), plus paisleys and thread for new paisleys.

Guess what, I have no idea how I can work on all those at my lunch time, when I have to eat and play cards with others. I drive them nuts, when I knit or crochet while we play. But, they never have to wait for me, because of my other interest. One person said I was being rude knitting and crocheting while we play. Ok, so I am rude, deal the damn cards, will ya.

The picture, in the corner is showing another new project. It's going to be (hahah) a dragonfly, done in cro-tat technique. I am stuck at that point, and waiting for the designer Ferosa to tell me how to do the other Celtic Knot on this one. I truly am stuck. Man, can you believe it?

I'm sorry, nobody irritated me this morning on the road, so no whining about other drivers available for today.

Paisleys in my mind

I did nothing else yesterday, just paisleys.

I have not done one stitch for my Clapotis since Thursday. I am really scared that it's going to be one of my PWIPs, as in UFO. I have it with me today, and perhaps will make a few rows at
lunch. I also have my Knitting Olympics project with me. I must decide which is most important.

The thread for paisleys, though, looks very inviting. How can I decide which WIP is going to
be my lunch hour companion?

Here are some paisleys I made yesterday. Oh, some of them I made before yesterday.
I just remembered that I want to make a sweater for my trip to Montreal. I don't have the yarn with me, but I have turquoise thread with me, I can make a turquoise paisley for the sweater. It's so good to have inspiration from simple yarn or thread.

While I was knitting

my Clapotis, the rows just kept appearing and here we are, finished the straight row, I think, unless I make one more set of 12 rows.

Freezing rain, snow, it's winter

Some pictures from this morning:
First is from my window to the street side,
middle one is a bush beside the side door, and the third one is my morning traffic view.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Clappy is growing

Now that I have the link-thingy out of the way, I can come back to my normal life.
That is telling you about my Clapotis scarf development. I have dropped 8 stitches already.

I have also been working (read: bringing my stuff to work) for the Knitting Olympics project.

I think I have a moment of brain cramp right now, so I just post a picture of my scarf and continue on my job work.

Testing my skills

this is strictly testing, so bear (hug) with me.

Sherri was kind enough to tell me what to do

and I never expected it to be this easy.

thanks Sherri!

Magic Ball project

I was looking for some yarn in the mess room (I call it a mess room, because it's in such a mess)

and found the magic ball start. I am afraid to look for anything, since I always find something
else to work on. Well, I will promise myself that I will not knit too many rows for this magic
ball project, today. I am busy.

Knitting Olympics and Clapotis

Between Knitting the bag and knitting the Clapotis, and having granddaughter over, I had a busy day yesterday. I managed to get the bag to a near finish, but Clapotis will take some time more.
The bag came fast because I was knitting all previous night and then Saturday morning.

I have to get a few things for the "now-not-at-all-like-in-the-book" laptop case. It's not even close. I think I got off the pattern after the first few rows. I just can't easily follow a pattern, I
have to make my own little paths. No wonder I get lost so easily.

That's another thing. I hubby and I go anywhere that is a new place for us, and I am navigating,
guess what, we get lost. OH, NO, we don't, we take a detour. I insist taking another route than
is in the map. Maps are similar to knitting/crocheting patterns, aren't they?

You want to see a picture of the bag? Not yet.

I have to go to WallyMart first and then do something and then take a picture and then post it.
So, you just have to wait.

Unless I show you a little bit. Ok, here is one side.

Start of the Olympics Challenge

Here is the beginning of the laptop case I am going to make.
It's now 5:49 pm EST.

Olympic Project

Today is the day. The yarns and needles are waiting for me to get home from work, so I can start the laptop case for the Olympic project. I am surprised that I was able to wait until today, and not cheating. (I would only cheat myself, really)

Hubby is babysitting our granddaughter today. I would like to teach her to knit and crochet, but perhaps she is a bit too young. she is just 16 plus months.

I have knitting withdrawal right now, my eyes keep going to my Clapotis knitting, which is neatly resting on my side desk, here at work. Maybe I should hide it, so I would get some work done.

Later I will post a picture of my Olympic project start.

the time here is now 10:12 a.m. (I took a break from work)

Clap Clap Clapotis - again

First,
I was off sick yesterday.
I managed to knit a few rows. I also managed to go to the nearby mall to get some
medicine, and my lotto 6/49 tickets.
I switched the ponytail holders to small hair elastic rings, which I bought at Dollarama,
some time ago. They are great, but sometimes tricky, because they don't slide easily on
the needle. Maybe they would slide better on bamboo needles, who knows, but I am not
going to change the circ, unless I find my 3 mm turbo circ. All my circular needles are in two
places=containers, so it's just a matter of getting the needle, but I'm too busy knitting.

There was a nice surprise on my desk, when I came to work this morning. Three packages
of Yarn Bobbins. This means that someone is thinking of me, when they see knitting thingies
while shopping. I have a feeling the person was my boss. She is the only one in this office
who knits, other than I.

In the picture you can see the little hair elastics. I paid one dollar plus tax for trillions of them. I didn't count. I am using yellow ones, because being such tiny rings, the blue and green ones I had before didn't show too well, and I sometimes passed the little ring without proper stitching.

The scarf is processing, I have already dropped one stitch, yohoooo!

I am aiming to get it done for our work trip to Montreal in March. Wish me luck.
And tomorrow I will start the laptop bag!

Clapotis continues

Can you believe this: I really started this project, and here it is so far:

The yarn is Bernat Sox, Acrylic and Nylon. The yarn is very soft and it does not give my skin any problem. Thank you for acrylic yarns.

Oh, and there is my coffee and some other stuff, and the markers are ponytail holder thingies. I hate the plastic rings, they are so annoying, for me, that is.

Back to knitting. It's 7:36 pm.

I think I need to post the link for the scarf:

http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTclapotis.html

Clapotis

Some time ago, I saw this in the knitty.com and fell in love with it. Sometimes it's not the right time to find these things, though. It wasn't for me, and still isn't, but I am determined to, at least, see how it goes.

I was staring at my Angora (Goat Hair) mohair yarn, touching it on my skin and trying to determine, if it was a good choice for me. Looking at the pattern I realized I didn't have enough
of the said angora yarn, pity.

I bravely started with Patons Grace cotton, and then decided that it was too heavy. My real problem now appeared. Where do I find a yarn that would be suitable for this beautiful scarf/shawl creation?

Then the light went on, and I remembered that I had oodles of Bernat Sox yarn, in variegated
turquoise. Ooh, I love that yarn, and it does NOT itch.

So far I have managed to make four rows, before I started working this morning. I cannot wait for my lunch time, so I can continue and see how this project develops.

Please don't pay any attention to this WIP, it might not continue tomorrow, since I am also determined to finish Ella's Aran cardigan, and my sweater, and jacket, and a baby blanket, and another bag, and...........AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH.

PalmPal case

Finished, unless I'll wash it one more time. I washed the case twice, and the keyboard fits nicely inside. I hope the case will be completely dry by tomorrow, so that I would be able to use it.

I like it, it's only 5¼" by 6½", a little bit larger than in the book (AlterKnits), but I need the extra room for the little keyboard.

I cannot wait for the Olympics to begin so I can start the laptop case.

Here is the picture of the finished PalmPal case. Oh, and I used Patons Classic Merino Wool.

Simple thoughts

Doesn't anybody use any simple yarns any more to make simple knits? All I see these days are "exciting" new yarns that cost a small fortune. Or, better yet, they make my skin itch. Some of the more fancy yarns give me hives just staring at them. It is hard life to have a super sensitive skin. No nice wools for me. Makes me cry (NOT). I think very carefully before I buy any of the beautiful new yarns, because they will sit in the box, bag, or plastic container for ever, unused.

It's easier to have wasted money on non-expensive, not so exciting yarn. I can always go and buy the fancy stuff when I have won the jackpot in 6/49 or super 7.

I sometimes look at the nice new yarns, and want to buy. However, when I start thinking for what I would use it, my brain freezes, and there goes the moment, and I then stop at "regular" yarn section, and make my selection for what I truly need.

Pre Olympic challenge stuff

I have promised myself to take part on Yarn Harlot's Olympic program. I will make a laptop case.

I made some paisleys first. That was yesterday.

I found the pattern for the laptop case in "Alterknits" book. on page 63, I think. Right after that is a pattern for a PDA case. I believe it's the same as my PalmPilot, if not, no biggie.

Today was the day for the PDA case. I have been sitting on my skinny behind (hey, a girl can lie, can she not?) (I hate to write here "on my fat ass" because then everyone knows that I have a big behind)

Here is a picture of the paisleys I made yesterday, and a picture of the PDA Case before felting.

Imagination running with high heel sandals

Versus UFO. Got a new name again, Perpetual WIP, as in PWIP.
I like TWIT better, but then I must think of the origin for those letters.

T would be Timeless (how boring)
W for work, we all know that
I for in, as well known
T ...another T? Do I really have to think about this? Tow
Timeless Work In Tow, wait, in Tote.
It's been a long day, and it's just past six thirty at night.

Went for lunch today, to Swiss Chalet. Unfortunately our groupwas in a hurry to get back to work, and our dahrling waitress wasthe same one another group I was with had about a month ago.

A month ago, after waiting and waiting for our food, one of us got upand went to ask where would our food be.She came to our table and sarcastically blurted:"if you had told methat you were in a rush, I would have come sooner". This was like anout later. HELLOOOO.Then when she brought the food, much later, she apologized, sort of,but spoiled it by saying that the kitchen was very busy and if we hadtold her blah blah blaaah.So, today, our group had her.We tried to tell her from the beginning that we were in a rush.
She was not.
After telling her two million times that we would like to pay, she finallycame with the bills. We were late about 25 minutes. Yup.
If I ever see that waitress nearing my table again, I will leave.
I love the cream of chicken soup at Swiss Chalet.

What's on the needles? I found yarn, I feel funny calling cotton "yarn", what else could it be. This is Patons Grace. I am planning to take part in the Olympic Challenge, but can't make up my mind what I want to make. I want to make a spring top, but knowing myself it's not going to happen, so I might make a laptop tote bag. I saw a pattern somewhere. It might have been in one of my books. It was felted. Really neat.
I am not going to take my laptop to Montreal, but I can put my business papers in it. Yes, I am going to Montreal in March for a business trip, for two days.
I hope I have time to go to a yarn store there, if they are near the hotel. Right in the middle of downtown.
I love Montreal.
I must ask someone who knows what's in there. I am sure I will not have too much time, but if I was lucky then there was a yarn store right beside the hotel.

I need more coffee.

WIP VS.UFO

I have come up with a new name for UFO, I will now call that TWIP.
Terminal WIP.

Just posting it here, so I won't forget it.

One of those days

My favorite subject is to complain about other drivers.
What are those people thinking when they dreamily drive on the
passing lane, under the speed limit? Even the ones who are not
in the passing lane, but going steadily way under the limit, no rush. It's a rush hour FPS.

My thumb still hurts. Today, while doing some dishes at lunch time, I hit it, once again, and boy, did it hurt, and then the stupid thumb started bleeding.

One of my co-workers put a bandage on it, when I had whined a minute or
so. Just to make my suffering a little bit more dramatic, I had to have some
proper attention.

The picture here is a piece called "Winter by the Pond" . I made it for a challenge program in one of the yahoo groups of which I am a member.

I had to have some wintry stuff here. The time now is 15:07

Spider Web

I am building a spider web with my UFOs. I started...what, you have a problem with this?

I really don't know what has possessed me with these starts. Yesterday I started, or was it day before? an Aran cardigan for me. Last night I knitted a few rows, but was busy looking for some yarn for a baby blanket, that I wanted to finish. It was a UFO, or to make me feel better, a WIP. I finished all the yarn I had at home, for that blanket. I wanted to go to the office to get some more. I keep some yarns at work, just in case I want to do something different at lunch time, something other than what I have in my knitting/crocheting bag.

Where was I? I was looking for some yarn last night. I found some WIPs: Desert poncho start with Lion Brand Suede, FreeForm summer top, FreeForm spring top, FreeForm tote bag, FreeForm something, ziplog bags full of scrumbles, ziplog bags full of magic ball material. Oh, and my other eye glasses that I need to keep in my purse, in case the ones I am now wearing fall apart, because they are frameless and kept together with special screws. I already have been twice to get them tightened, because you need a special tool for special screws.

I got distracted there for a second. I found some other stuff, but I don't want to sit here all day listing things that are either UFOs or WIPs. What's the difference? UFO is something that could be frogged, or could bring tears, or is going to be forgotten for ever, for the next or the next generation to think "what the heck is this?". WIP is an item that is sitting on the dining table, or stuck in the tote bag that goes everywhere with you, or is in the round hat box in the corner of the dining room. I work best at the dining table. WIP is also an item that can be taken for trips, or is in the handbag when you go to a party, and the party is unbelievably boring, so you go and sit in the bathroom, on the ledge of the bathtub (not on the toilet, unless the seat is closed, which isn't always the case, because some persons never close the lid. So, that is one WIP, one other could be a small project, that fits in your jacket pocket. Since I don't smoke any more, I still want to go for a five minute break. SOMETIMES I put the small project in my pocket, sit in the car and crochet for five or ten minutes.

The pocket system is a must, because I have to walk by several people in the office, to go out, and I don't need any necessary comments about knitting/crocheting at work time, so I hide my stuff. When I was smoking, it was clearly known that I go for a smoke, I didn't have to hide anything. It wasn't ok to go, but I did it, and nobody stopped me. I stopped on May 1st, 2005.

I still don't know what I was going to say about my projects for today. I have, in my bag, a blanket start, another blanket start, a baby sweater start, an Aran cardigan start, some unfinished paisleys, and unfinished knitted squares for the next knitting meeting.

I think I do some work now. I came early to work this morning.

What's missing? Dolls!

I just realized a horrible thing. I have not made dolls for eons. Even the purple little monster-looking doll is still nekkid.

I need to return to my normal routine. Make dolls, knit a little, crochet a little, and never mind this unbelievable urge to do things that take too much time.

Don't make me make a list what I have in my UFO box, please. And don't make me make a list of the WIPs I have. I am feeling down as it is already. I read Auntpurl's story about doorknobs, and now I have one more thing to worry about. DOORKNOBS. Sheesh. Oh, btw, even my cat (in the pic) is astonished about the doll thing.

Aran Knitting

Yes, I am now totally flipped over Aran patterns.

Like I told you many times already, I am knitting a cardigan for Ella. That's very good.
However, while I was looking for some other WIP (or UFO, if you insist), I found a beautiful
yarn in my stash, it's Sirdar: Wash'n Wear DK Double Crepe, in tweedy creamy color. It's beautiful to knit.

I have a huge collection of books and magazines, and spent a few dear hours looking for a pattern, suitable for the wonderful yarn. Guess, where I found the one I want to make!
In the web.

Here is the link (I am sorry, I have not figured out how to do the link like everyone else does, just write a word, which is highlighted and then you click on it, and voila! The simple word takes you there...It has to be simple, but I am just too lazy to find out, it's easier for me to paste the link, ohkay!)

http://www.knitting-crochet.com/womiriknicar.html

oh, btw, hubby showed me how to do that "html" thingy. Looks easy.........Not, my programming abilities go way back when we were using business basic. I don't think windows existed for general public then.

General public? Well, let me make a quick comment here: There are so-called "Sunday Drivers". Why aren't they driving only on Sundays, why do they have to drive in the morning, in the rush hour? Just asking.

So, now I have my 44 stitches for both sleeves, a girl has to make sleeves together, otherwise the sweater/cardigan will never be done, by me. I have a problem making sleeves after front and back pieces. BUT, if I make the sleeves first, there is no problem. Funny.

If there is a SSS (single sock syndrome), I insist that there should be USS (UGH SLEEVES - SYNDROME), or some other witty name, just like the SSS, which I love and give a full credit to the person who came up with that expression. YEAH!

YAYAY one WIP done

I finished the snowflake pullover.
It has some finetuning left to do, but that is for later.
Here is the picture, and now I go to sleep.
It's 12:46 a.m. (Wednesday morning)

I got help in knitting

My good friend, Sarah, helped me with my problem in reading a knitting chart.
It was just a little thing, but with her help I got it.

Sometimes I get stuck with the simplest things, and can't continue.

I am almost finished with the orange pullover, and was going to put a picture here, but
no, I'll show you when the pullover is done.

However, I am putting the picture of the back part of the Aran sweater. Just to show myself how nice it looks.
the time is now 9:35 a.m.

Monday before Tuesday

Not in a very pleasant mood today.

I have read some of the e-mails, but not all.
I am trying to do two things at the same time. One Aran sweater, and one
pullover, which I have already mentioned some days ago.

I am truly proud of myself for one thing. The scanner didn't work, and I made it work.
It took me way too long in the eyes of an expert, but for me it was a great accomplishment.
It took about an hour to figure out why it was not working. The printer was working.

After uninstalling everything I re-installed the dang all-in-one thingy, and now it works.

The Aran sweater is the middle one in the picture here from the Patons Aran Knits for the Family-booklet, no. 713. I am making it for our granddaughter.

The pullover for our other granddaughter is now waiting for me to figure out where the beginning of the row is, so I can count where the first design begins. I am not sure what happened when I attached the sleeves. I have never knitted the rounded upper part for a sweater. I have always done the front and the back and the sleeves separately. Not this time. It's so exciting to try new things.

The Aran Sweater is looking pretty smashingly good, if I may say so myself, but I don't have a picture of the back piece which is done to where the decreases begin. I did take a picture this morning, but the camera was running low on battery, so I needed to charge it.

Oh, I almost forgot
the time
is now
14:38

Charity stuff

Knitted a scarf, The Red one, and crocheted a spiral to decorate. The scarf is on its way to VA, for a charity program for Valentine's Day.
I made another one today, but it's not red. It is also knitted. I took a picture of it at work, with a coworker as a model. So, that's not me in the picture, OK!
The red yarn is Joann's Rainbow Boucle, and the other is Eye Lash in Wild. It sure looks wild, doesn't it!

The real time now is 18:32

Friday non-blahs

I've heard rumors that Lewiscraft is in trouble, again. I had ordered some Berella 4" afghan yarn from my Lewiscraft. Mine, yes, I keep them going, LOL, anyhoo, they called that they cannot get the yarn at the moment, and they are very sorry. Me? What is me going to do?
Nothing else than start calling the stores around me, or near me, that's better. Nobody has the color she wants. "DING" the light goes on and this smart person calls the store where she bought
some of the yarn before. It's also Lewiscraft. "Yes, we have Denim Ombre". I have a feeling
I have been the only one who bought it, because they had lots of it.

Lewiscraft at Weston and 401 isn't exactly my idea of a store near me, but I thought I could drive there on Saturday morning and be there when they open and then floor it to get to the crochet group meeting at 11, and somewhere in the back of the car, the food for lunch would
cook by itself.

However, my darling hubby said that he could go on Friday, which, of course is today. Then we found out that the baby that is due in June, is going to be a boy, so I ordered hubby to get ten more skeins of that same yarn. After all, Berella is perfect for blankets, and Denim Ombre is variegated blue. I am all set for my Chanel jacket and am able to make a baby blanket with the remaining yarn.

The joke here is that hubby has told me not to buy more yarn, after he spent a week clearing my stash last spring, while I was lazily spending my time in the hospital after a burst appendix.
He organized, and put my yarns neatly in plastic containers, etc. whatever. So, after that he promised not to see me bring more yarn to our home.

Well, I told him about Lewiscraft dilemma, and he was ok with getting my yarn. When I came home from work, he pointed at two huge plastic bags on the floor, full of Denim Ombre yarn.

It was a nice sight.

I still have to tell the real time, because blogspot people have not read my messages about the time difference with them and me. Where are they anyway? Somewhere where the time is procrastinating and doesn't keep up with me?

It's now 18:02 my time.

Tuesday Blahs

I am supposed to think what we need from the grocery store.
It's hard to picture my open fridge in front of my eyes, here at work.
All I can see is the spilled beet juice that I forgot to clean last night.
Who in their right mind drops a dish with beets in the juice, without
a lid. It would be bad enough to drop it with the lid, because the lid
probably come out anyway. Nevertheless, there is red juice on the
shelf and I need to imagine what we need, beyond that spill.

There might be an empty peach jam jar somewhere, in the back,
so we'll need that.

Have you noticed that when You check the eggs in the store and they
are all in good shape, by the time you come home, there is at least one
cracked.

Once again, it's bloooody hot in this office. I have a knitted jacket, with
polyester (whose bright idea is to line a jacket with polyester) lining.
It was somewhat hard to take off, because the sleeves were sticking to
my somewhat damp arms. SHEEEESSSHH. TMI

I am now wearing a 100% wool sweater, which is equally warm, but my
tee is tight, and I really don't need to show off my michelins. Someone
might think that I have loads of money, to buy expensive tires.

oooohkay. I am going, this is starting to sound insane.

I still don't know what we need from the grocery store.

It's 11:44 real time a.m., unlike the blogspot tries to tell otherwise.
I need to know how to put the right time, like I used to be able, when I started
this blogging thing.

Dulce de Leche

http://www.farawayfoods.com/dulcedeleche.html

Made some crepes today. I have a special frying pan for making small ones. The cast iron pan has seven little slots, where the crepes are done. I made quite a few of them this morning, ate most of them, and what ever was left I layered them with Dulce de Leche and canned peaches.

The dish does not look pretty, but trust me, this dessert is good. and we are going to top it with whipped cream.

And if anyone has a problem with calories or rolls in the waist, don't bother asking for recipe, because this is one dessert that is definitely (not) good for you.

Knitting a pullover

First of all, I am ever grateful for my friend, Sherri, she told me about the row-counter clickety thingy. I bought one at Michaels. It's one of the best things I have bought recently for my "tool" box. The thing is sitting on top of my knitting stuff on this picture.
The pattern is from the book "Kids.Kids.Kids" . You can see the picture of the book in Amazon, if you want.
I started the pullover yesterday. I knitted one sleeve three times, because I was too arrogant reading the chart. Sometimes I think I know too much. I skipped the part where it said, follow chart B for the sleeve. I followed chart A. and couldn't understand where the pattern added the stitches. I was missing 12 stitches. Helloooo. Dang. then when I finally realized that I was supposed to be a good girl and FOLLOW the instructions (I have a very hard time doing that, hence I am so good at Free Form knitting and crocheting, AHEM). So, I tried to frog some fancy lace pattern, and ended up frogging the whole thing, twice, and then knitted until 1 am this morning to finish ONE sleeve. I did it. The other sleeve is going well. I have also done some of the body part, and I am very pleased how this pullover looks.

The time now is 1:38 pm, on Sunday, I have knitted a total of 27 rows of the second sleeve.

Any further development on this field will be updated some day.

Parts missing

It's 1:43 a.m. right now. I am not sure what the bloggers's clock is, but it has disappeared. Someone doesn't want me to change the time to my liking. I would love to add a few hours to a day, maybe that is the broblem with the clock here.

I bought 30 skeins of red yarn yesterday (wrong! the other day, it's already Sunday, I bought the dang yarn on Friday). My plan is to go back in time and re-create a red dress. Of course the yarn isn't the same.

I own a knitting machine. Hey, I am not going to knit a dress in a weekend by hand, hellloooo. I am not that good. My whims don't last too long, so I need to make this dress fast, before I lose interest. I already lost interest in making a Chanel type jacket by crocheting it. I had made one of those when I was very young, 15 I would say. What was I thinking at the age of 15, Chanel Jacket. Huh. I must have been insane, or really weird already at that age.

What happened with my red dress making? The Friday night was spent searching for my knitting machine. I started sweating in pain, because I could not find it just like that, where I had left it, umpteen months ago. Well, finally I found it, in between my dresser and hubby's armoire in our bedroom. I swear, I didn't put it there. Yeah, I found the needle bed board. The carriage and yarn holding thingy were missing. Another frantic search, but no luck. I spent the rest of the evening searching for places here that I could easily get the missing parts. Holy shaat, the carriage replacement would cost me half the price of a new machine. I stopped searching there. I slept badly the night, dreaming of a red dress and missing knitting machine carriage and other thingy. Forgive me, I still don't know, yes I do, the other part was the mast.

ok. The dear granddaughter came for visit on Saturday, and I had to get ready for her, like clean the apartment and check that I had stuff for her dinner. Then I got a bright idea to look in the bench chest in the dining room, what the heck was in there. The carriage was sitting on top of everything else. I also found some missing boxes with crochet hooks, and beads and some other important things to do crocheting and knitting. I was way too happy. so happy that I phoned the store, nearby, that carries knitting machine parts. Sure enough, they had the mast and it cost peanuts. Not the kind you eat, but the kind that klickety clacks in the bottom of your purse.

I arrived in the store, got the mast and another part that goes with it, which I didn't remember belonging to this stick. I also bought a clamp that holds the machine to the table, it needs two of them, and I only found one, this morning. So many things missing, but I am determined to get this dress done, if not today (Sunday) then one day this week, or next. I have all the other necessary tools nicely organized in a box, which I know exactly where it is, because I saw it, when looking for the machine. I was smart and put the box in a safe place, just like the machine itself. My definition of a safe place means that NOBODY can find it again.

Ok, now, we are all set. I think I can go to sleep. It's 2 a.m. I have already drawn the design in to my brain. I really have to stop, the spy progam just kicked in, and doesn't like me to do this, it keeps me slowing down. bye for now.

January WIPs

This is the month when I start new projects the most. It will take me all year to finish them all, if they get finished. I still have WIPs from the 90's, so one year all will be done.
Have you ever heard anything so funny before? Finishing all UFOs.

I decided that I felt nostalgic yesterday, therefore I started crocheting a Chanel type jacket. I just have to sort of remember what I did when I made the first one (when I was 15 years old).

The yarn is Bernat's Berella, the afghan yarn. It's easy to use, not expensive and I will not feel bad if I don't finish the jacket, because I can use the yarn for charity squares.

I am also knitting a "magic ball" sweater, and another sweater with browns and oranges. Hubby's vest with llama yarn is not doing well, because I had to start over again, because the work decided to gain weight, and became to a size 50 xxxx, instead of Large. Go figure.

Happy New Year

It's been a while. I've been busy making Christmas stuff, and nowhere in my stash I could find somtheing to write about. Who wants to know about my UFOs that are never done. Like a scarf for a friend, with a Toronto Maple Leaf logo. I had it charted and planned, but it always came out too big, or too small. I bought the yarn, RH Super Saver (or is it Bernat's?) you know, those big skeins. I now have lots of navy blue and white yarn that I am not going to use for a while.

Let's see, I managed to finish a poncho for Sarah, and socks for hubby (oh, the socks I finished on Boxing Day). I think I finished something else, too, oh, yeah, mittens and a hat for gd.

The scarf was done for the New Year's party that we were going to attend, but didn't. Stupid tummy flu.

Have to go to work tomorrow. The whole building is closed, nobody else is there but us. Nice.

I wish our office was closed, too.

I've been lazy

There is nothing exciting to report.

I am starting new projects every day, and nothing gets finished. My latest is a lacy patterned sock (I don't put socks, because I might only make one). I also, thanks to Sherri, started fiddling with my cro-tat hook. Made a few rings, all separate. I might imagine that they are for something important.

I started a cabbage soup diet on Monday, last week, have lost 10 lbs. I like the diet so much, that I am on my second week, although improvised a little bit. This is supposed to be a "normal" week, in eating, that is, so I decided that playing around with the cabbage soup menu, I will make this week close to "normal". Then nobody can say that "you are not supposed to do two weeks in a row" Well, I'm not...really. For instance, this day would be veggies and soup, I am having veggies, fruits and soup, tomorrow the same.

I am so glad that our Thanksgiving Day is way past, so I don't have to make excuses not to eat something like mashed potatoes on Thursday. I can eat cabbage soup.

What is on my list for Christmas to do? I don't want to think about it. A poncho, a pair (notice: pair) of socks, scarf, and a vest. Poncho is crocheted, all the rest knitted. I have started all but socks and the scarf. The socks are not lacy, they are NORMAL.

Of course I have trillion little things in between to do, you know, like snowflakes, scrumbles, paisleys, and whatnots. I refuse to make washcloths, although that might not be such a bad idea. They are fast to make. Hmmm. I might make one or two, just to make extra packages under the tree. I am so clever.

Have you ever noticed that the more expensive cars don't have the luxury of signals working.

Shawl for sis done

Finally! How long did it take? and this is not even the original pattern.

I started with a crochet pattern, did something else in between, and finally knitted it.

I've used Red Heart Symphony as main color (think twice before using it, it's nice, but a murder to frog) and the stripes and tassels are Lion Brand Homespun.

The pattern came from here:

http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/party_stolette.html

I am not going to frog the crocheted shawl I started, I am going to use it as stuffing for a pillow, if I ever make one.

It is such a relief to have this done that I think I go and knit some legwarmers for our grand daughter.

Another paisley

Here is the one I made last night.

It is Thursday, and I am ready to go home, but have until 4 thirty until that happens.

Tonight is a telly night for me. There is a CSI, Without a Trace, and then at midnight Everwood. I might even get some knitting done. Tomorrow is a day off from work, it's our Remembrance Day. I have already lost one Poppy flower. I will get another one on the way home tonight.

I started to knit the sweater from Melville's book, Colors, from page 188. I had 7 different balls of yarn on the table, most of the time tangled up, although I should know, as an experienced knitter, that you are supposed to make sure the yarns stay in order. HAHAH, if anything ever is in order in my life it would be a miracle.

I had knitted six rows of this pattern, including the hem garter stitches. Then I decided that it would be way easier to make the panels separately and then just sew them together. None of this seven balls of yarn floating around everywhere. I don't remember the trick how to keep them in order. I know how to handle the bobbins easily, but the whole skeins, com'n. Too much trying to be organized. Not my cup of coffee.

You guessed it, I frogged the whole thing, and feel a lot better now. I might even do something else with the yarn. I made too many swatches already for that sweater, I am kind of tired of the pattern now. Maybe I should just invent something and be happy.

I decided, once again, that I will finish the shawl for my sister, and get done with it. Please, let me do it tonight. I need to get rid of the stooopid shawl. If someone EVER wants me to make something with RH Symphony, slap me silly.

Knitting away - but what?

In the picture: Sally Melville's Einstein Coat.

Someone has to tell me to get organized.
After I finished the socks, BOTH of them,
I have not been able to work on one item only.
Oh, well, I made a few paisleys for exchange
program in one of my crochet groups. They
actually are quite nice. I believe I made about
nine of them in a short time. So, does that count?

Coming to work this morning took half longer than
normally. At one point, being frustrated on the heavy
traffic, I decided to be brave and drive on the diamond
lane, like so many others. After all, the police is still
on their whatever. I am waiting patiently for the light
to change, so I can floor it to the next intersection.
Instead, I started feeling guilty, and I turned to a side
street and felt like a good traffic citizen. Sure enough,
after getting back on the main street, there was a police
cruiser with lights flashing. One woman was stopped.
I don't know what she did, but I vaguely recall her being
on the diamond lane in front of me earlier. Not really
sure, but to make myself feel like a good girl I think she
was stopped for being on the diamond lane, and I wasn't,
because I was a good girl.

Are you totally bored yet? My aim is to do just that.

I have nothing intelligent stored for this morning. Ok,
don't say IT!!!

Knitting? I bought Sally Melville's book "Colors". and now
I have a problem deciding if I want to make the pullover from
page 188, orIF I want to make the Einstein Coat from another
book of Melville's.

I still have my sister's shawl to make (third attempt), and it
just doesn't interest me one bit. I am truly fortunate that I
made some Christmas gifts in the summer. If I didn't, I would
be panicking.

That's another thing, Christmas. Can't we put a rule to everyone:
no gifts for anyone else but kids, under 13, actually, these days
10 would be my max. Anyone older than that is not a kid any more.

Well, take a look around you.

Then the families and friends would get together for a meal, and for a good
time, none of this "what did you get? how much was it, where did you
buy it" bulllllss...you know what I mean. But my world does not have
those rules, so I must either buy stuff, or make stuff. I hate it (buying). I don't
personally want to receive anything. Ok, if someone wants to give me
a gift certificate to Michaels or Lewiscraft, or JoAnns (in the state of
New York...I go there sometimes) I will accept that. But, please, do not
give me useless stuff. I want YARN, can't people understand that?
Just because I have one room full of yarn, doesn't mean that I don't need
more. Right? Say yes.

WOW, I got the paisleys posted

Here are some of the paisleys I have made recently. I made more, but isn't this enough for now?

Slow time, no?

It's been a while, again, that I haven't been talking to myself. It would be easier to write from my car, because I talk constantly there. when I am alone. I am very nice to other drivers. I tell
them how to drive and ask often where they did their driver's test.

I have been knitting a lot lately. Started an Aran cardigan for the granddaughter. Did about 6 inches, and put it aside to start knitting a scarf for my sister, since I totally screwedup the stole I was crocheting for her. I have no idea who's been messing with my crocheting, but somehow I got a wrong size hook, after weeks of the work sitting in another bag. I made about 5-7 inches with the wrong size hook, and boy, was it ever noticeable. Have you ever tried to frog Symphony yarn (made by RH). Good luck. Fortunately I have lots of it, don't know why, so I started KNITTING the dang shawl I am now so fed up with the shawl/stole, whatever, that I dream of throwing it in the garbage. Who wants to finish it for me. Actually, the knitting one is looking pretty snazzy. I started with 3 sts, add one in the beg. of every row. Make tw rounds with Homespun after 20 rows of Symphony. Nice music. Looks good. I am not going to post a picture here.

My fingers are aching, but I am not whining. I'm not a drinker.

Socks socks

done, if you remember, I had a pattern from "Creative Knitting", this was in September,

anyhoo, the socks are now done.

What else is going on the hooks

While I am knitting, and messing up with the stitches, I have also been crocheting.

I have done a few Paisleys. These are for exchange in one of my crochet group.

They work up nicely and fast. I still want to make one more black and white, for my friend.

These are the ones I have done and sent out already.

I also bought some wool yarn at the Creative Sewing and Needlecraft Festival, last weekend, and plan to make a felted bag. But that is another story for later.

Ok, where are the pictures? going to try later.

Aaaaah, there they are. Took three tries.

Bye for now, gotta go to work

Poncho is coming nicely

Although I had a little mishap there after the 18th row. Me and my pattern reading! Sheesh.

I ignored the line where it said, increase on every even row.

I was happily knitting and reached the 24th row and wondered when in the heck I have to increase for the sides. I kept reading and checking for M1's, but there were none. Only then I noticed the little line about removing the markers, and increasing.

Oh, shooot, I had to increase quickly, was in a hurry, so that I wouldn't lose anything, and increased in the next few rows to cath up.

I am now on the 30th row, and with the correct amount of stitches. Total amount of rows is 185 and 480 stitches. I should have not checked, now I feel totally overwhelmed.

I have never been good at following patterns. Perhaps that is why I have slipped my stitches to freeform.

Now I have done it

I spent a small fortune on yarn to make this poncho:

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/klsu-desertPoncho.html

I just need to pray that I will make it, eventually. So far I've knitted four rows, which is a good
sign considering that I started after 10 pm.

This morning I ran to another WalMart to get more of the darker yarn, since yesterday's WalMart didn't have enough.

I hope I can justify this whim. Well, what can I say? Nada.

The coat is finished

except the sleeves are too long, and I want to put buttons on it. There are no buttonholes, so I guess it's either the frog closing or snaps.
I have been bying yarn left and right. Got some wool for a tote bag, which is going to be felted.
Bought some Lion Suede, to make the poncho that is a new pattern for Lion Brand.

Making socks for Christmas, for some people, and hats, and some other stuff.

Here is a picture of the coat, back and front or front and back.

Ouch! Middle of October

What happened?

Well, first of all, I want to say that I don't know any people who I could use to boost my image. I was just reading a message, in one of my crochet groups, where this one person was boasting how she hangs around with "these people, and they all have some common way of talking" and then se talks to us, and we are supposed to understand what she means.

I must snicker a bit. When someone blasts about something and completely critisizes something, and then someone else, innocently, puts their own opinion, which isn't even remotely close to the critic's opinion, and the the first person has to explain why she said it. Why explain, if that was her honest opinion, why explain? Who cares, if someone doesn't get it. But don't come and explain how important your friends are and what they are, who cares, again, it was YOUR opinion, not theirs. or was it? Did you get together with your important buddies, and their important spouses and laughed at the item you thought nothing of.

ok, this is it, I got it out of my system, and now I can get back to my simple little life. Without any High Society Friends, who are, IMHO no better than anyone else.

shuddup