Picture post

I've finally taken some pictures of my recent knits of the dish cloth and the wash cloth. Both are destine to go to my friend, Linds. She likes orange and that is what inspired the use of orange in these two pieces. Behold the Mason-Dixon Ballband Dishcloth!

And behold the Back to School wash cloth!


I was going to leave out the stockinette stitch in the middle, but at the last time decided to leave it in even though I really have no desire to stitch anything in the empty space. I think it looks find without anything there and besides, it's a wash cloth after all!

Now I must do some chores as my apartment is a pig sty and I haven't cleaned in too long of awhile (though it doesn't help that I dislike much of this apartment including the furniture and can't wait to move and throw it all out!).

No Sheep for you Swap

Today I received my 2nd and last package from my secret pal, Michele. First and foremost, the yarn is gorgeous! I haven't had any exposure to blue sky alpaca yarn and I have to say that it is delicious - though maybe I should leave the final verdict up for when it gets knit - but for now it is delicious! I love the color which I would describe as a pale yellow and is just really lovely. She was also kinda enough to include hand lotion (which happens to be in one of my favorite scents - cherries in bloom) and some lip balm by Burt's Beeswax, which I haven't used before but and in need of some lip balm!!
Thank you, Michele! I have really enjoyed being apart of this swap and thank you for doing a wonderful job on the yarn choices/packages!

Now, I must run over raverly and see what people have knit up using this particular yarn!

Knit Picks

I finally did it. Did what, you ask? Well, I ordered one pair of knit picks options needles. I ordered a size 9 with the 24 inch cord. Why you ask (or more importantly, why did it take you this long)??? See, I love me some Addi Turbos. L-O-V-E! I never imagined really needed something else. Then I started to work on the retro Redux Shrug. Which has lace albeit not terribly difficult lace, but lace nonetheless (though I called not difficult, I know that there is no face I could rip back if I had a mistake, I'd have to start all over). I started this product with the ribbing, which was easy enough using the addis; HOWEVER, the lace part for the body of the shrug was making me want to poke the addi needles right into my eyes (not that the BLUNT tip would do any damage). So I thought I would buy the size needle I needed and give it a whirl. I think I found a new love. The tip is sooo much sharper and it is sooo much easier to do the lace work. I'm in love. I must order the knit picks option set (though I will wait just a bit more on that, I know, I know, that doesn't make sense BUT I will have it soon enough).

Oh, I finished a wash cloth this week from the Back to School wash cloths in knitty. I did the Lace Mesh cloth on this time (it is the one pictured in red at the top). I'll take pictures and post soon.

Mason-Dixon Ballband Dishcloth

I should mention before I tell this story that I have two upcoming interviews for jobs as I believe I have not mentioned this here before. One is at Pfizer in Groton, CT and the other is at a smaller company Inctye in Wilmington, DE. I am *suppose* to have the Pfizer one this coming week, on the 26th, however I have not heard back yet officially from the secretary - she was on vacation this past week. I hope that I get an email from her on Monday.

It has been a rather eventful past few days. Yesterday morning I did a practice of the talk I will given when I go to my interviews. The practice went fairly well and I got some really good suggestions. We didn't do too many questions, but I plan on going around on Monday and talking to people to see if they have any additional questions/suggestions and see if they are willing to go over some stuff with me. I then spent the rest of the day doing some errands; I picked up clothes from the dry cleaner, dropped another pair of pants off there, and also picked up lunch for myself and Stephen. After Lunch I spent the rest of the day incorporating the suggestions into the presentation. I think that I might have a few others to put in, though I will check on that tomorrow. I am also going to probably give another practice run to myself tomorrow. I need to work on using the word "I" more instead of "we".

In knitting news: Today I cast on and off for a Mason-Dixon Ballband Dishcloth. That is right, I was able to finish this in one day over the course of a couple of hours I would say. I worked on it some this morning and then before my hair appointment and then again after dinner. The one that I did was orange and blue. I will take a picture soon and post.

Cast off!

I've cast off for two projects this weekend! I cast off clapotis and Wicked. Yes, you read that correctly - even for Wicked!

I was happy and sad to cast off for clapotis. Overall I have loved knitting clapotis. But, I have to say that the straight sections did start to feel long and never ending - though I could have done less, however I decided not to. I really liked the decrease section because it went faster, which of course was due to going to less and less stitches. I have to say that I also didn't realize that clapotis is a somewhat big project. I mean, it's not difficult, but it does get fairly large and gets hard to transport and subsequently harder to cram into the bag that was holding it.

Wicked is another story. Lee-Ann at Knitting Today was kind enough to get this project back going for me by fixing my stitches so that I could do the pattern from the neckline on the bottom of the sweater. Yes, I did decide to do the pattern at the bottom. While I do like the sweater and absolutely love the color I picked for it, I don't know if it is very flattering on me. You can see in the photo that it kinda bunches in the middle, which is due to the decrease I did and the fact that I did no increases for the hips. It also looks like it is bunching a bit at the top, at least in the photo.



Now, this piece has yet to be blocked (also, I need to weave in ends on both this and clapotis), so blocking might work some wonders - though I can't say I'm too optimistic about that.

Overall I would say that I don't think I did too terrible of a job with this being my first sweater and all. I think I have some things to learn about fit including trying the piece on more, taking accurate measurements, and trusting myself to make the right decisions.

Now I have to figure out what to start next....I'm thinking the Retro Redux Shrug.

Video of Arthur eating!

He's one crazy guy!

11 of the 13 repeats

I'm on the 11th of the 13 repeats for the straight section of clapotis. I've take some updated pictures to show my progress.

Here is a close up:

I also received my new laptop bag today which I ordered from Cristina's shop on etsy. I love it!!!! It is absolutely fabulous and while I hate going into school, I can't wait to go in on Monday and use my new (awesome) bag. I'm tempted to order another bag from her shop (a purse), but I'm going to attempt some self control. I'm developing a bag obsession....

Here are some photos of my new purchase!

Here is the inside!

I love it!!

Ravelry!

I finally got my invite to Ravelry yesterday! I have been eagerly awaiting this invite for quite some time now....I've been soo crazy looking for the invite that I've ben gone so far as to scan my junk mail from time to time to see if it accidentally wound up there. It was kinda funny because it came shortly after I had spent some time looking in my junk mail. And yes, it did arrive in my regular inbox. go figure! Since then I've been slowly adding yarn and projects to it. It has also additionally motivated me work on Clapotis (which I might add is coming along quite nicely and I'm on 9 of the 13 sets of the increase rows). It is getting big, awesome, and heavy. In fact, the stitch I just dropped went all the way down to where I first cast on that lonely stitch!


In other news, I just took some photos of the Einstein coat I started awhile ago. I want to work on it more because it will give me a break from Clapotis. My wrist is hurting from clapotis (or maybe it is really from all the knitting and typing I've been doing). Oh and by took some photos I mean that really I took one photo.

I've also been spending too much time on Etsy. I've been on etsy before, but I think the site has recently been revamped or something because I find it much easier to navigate and/or find things than I did before (or maybe I'm just crazy). I recently purchased a bag on there from String's shop. One day I would like use hand made crafts (from etsy) to put in my home. I'd also like to make some myself....thus the need to learn to sew.

Okay, I gotta go because Stephen is touching my yarn stash! ahhhhhhh!

A meme - 7 random things

I was tagged by Kate quite some time again (I think back in May) to write 7 random things about myself. In typical fashion I am just getting to do this now. Better late then never! Well, here we go!

1. I don't drink milk. I drink soymilk and while this isn't weird in itself, what is weird is that when I cook and the recipe calls for milk instead of using milk, I will use soymilk. I find this particularly funny when I make mac 'n cheese from the box and use soymilk instead of milk. I know, it doesn't make sense.

2. I love tennis. I love watching it. I love watching it soo much that instead of going to library to do work, I am going to the student union to "do work" and watch tennis.

3. I love getting up early, but I also love being up late. I think I just want to get the most out of the day. However, since the two don't compliment each other, I usually crash by the end of the week and end up going to bed around 9pm on Saturday and sleep until 10am the next day.

4. I like to rearrange rooms. I get restless with a room if it's been in one arrangement for too long. When I was a teenage, I rearranged my room all the time. Probably every 6-9 months. The funny thing is that I've only just realized this tendency. I think it's brought on by discontent or boredom or trying to avoid doing some other form of work. Since I've moved into my current apartment (which was Sept 2006), the living room has seen 3 different arrangements.

5. I hardly ever send out birthday cards or gifts to people on time. Even if I already have the card and all I have to do is fill it out, address it, and send it out, then I still can't seem to do it on time. This is something that I'm working on.

6. I LOVE ANIMALS. I want to have one of every kind of animal. Everytime I go to any pet store or see any animal for adoption I immediately want to take the animal(s) home. If I had it my way I would have dogs, birds, bunnies, hamsters, and fish. (I already have cats).

7. I don't have a very good memory. For the longest time I didn't have any memories before being 9 years old. Only recently have I started to figure out some other memories before 9.

8. I grew up in multiple places (dad was in the Air Force) and the only way I can name the places is to name them all in order. If I try to start in the middle, then I mess it up and have to start from the beginning anyway.

Okay, I guess that is 8 things.

Clapotis is back!

I'm back working on clapotis slowly...slowly but surely. I've got some pics, which are a little old now since I've been working this week. And by old I mean that I've already dropped the next stitch. Clapotis is getting bigger! Though it is hard to tell b/c of all the curling it does from the dropped stitches (even though it is gorgeous!). But enough about clapotis and now to the pictures!



and a picture of my work station that night!


See that high tech post-it note? Yeah, that is where I write down the rows and then cross them off as I do them. I might have mentioned this before. Since this photo I have updated to using a small journal (it's a moleskin little booklet but not made out of the leather but with a cardboard covering, why I am writing this I don't know because it probably doesn't matter). I like using it so far and feel more organized about the knitting. I hope that in the future that I can use it more and even use it for taking notes on the knitting and etc.

20 days since my last post

Things have been hectic around here. I'm going crazy working on my thesis and applying for jobs. The thesis is going alright, that is until I get unmotivated and spend the day looking up apartment prices in potential employment areas. I've also pulled the classic "Kate move" and stopped doing any hobbies during this stressful time (probably not a good idea). Apparently I think it's better to sit doing nothing when I'm not working on my thesis....what a waste! I should be knitting or journaling or something. I'm going to work on letting myself do the things that I like to do even when stressed or when other things should be the priority...moderation. must. work. on.

Earlier this week I received my first package from my secret pal! I love the yarn and the color. I think it's going to inspire me to knit a tank top. Perhaps the one that I have Tahki cotton classic for and add in a strip with the color that I've been sent. This is also the infamous tank top that I could get gauge for even on a size 8 needle (the pattern called for a size 6).

The yarn that I have for the tank top is a turquoise color and this yarn is near tangerine.

I also must post of a lovely package that Kate sent me. She sent me back the pattern that she made a copy of for me (which I need to knit) and also sent some paper to matte photos with and not only is it cool because of that but it is Amy Butler photo matte paper!!! It's really cute. She also included the cutest lamb magnet that will soon be stuck to my fridge.

I miss you, Kate!

More photos to come....update on clapotis....

Memorial Day weekend and then some

This week has been hectic, crazy and wonderful all rolled into one. To explain: I (along with Stephen) flew in last Friday (May 25th) to visit home with the main purpose of attending my dad's retirement ceremony. I should have known from the start that this was going to not so much be a vacation (you know the kind, where you lounge around doing various activities and being generally categorized as a restful time). I should have know this because in order to make our connection for the flight to Regan National WE HAD TO RUN THROUGH THE DETROIT AIRPORT. I have never run through an airport in order to make a flight. I have also never sincerely thought that I wouldn't make a flight. Luckily I wasn't wearing sneakers and instead had opted for these stupid adidas adilette sandals (note sarcasm here). Here I am with purse, backpack (which doesn't quite fit and is swaying all over my back), and sandals running through the airport like a crazy person. Stephen had sneakers on and was able to run much faster, so he ran ahead. Also, we had to run from one end to the complete other end. At one point I sprinted up the escalator and thought that it was a good thing I've been doing the stairmaster lately. ha! Needless to say, we made the flight. Sweaty and breathing hard.

I don't really remember the weekend all that much. Saturday I think we went to Tysons mall out at Tysons corners. I think that on Sunday we got set up for Monday's BBQ (my brother also arrived on Sunday). Either way, the weekend was good.

Monday to Wednesday was crazy. Actually Sunday night to Wednesday was crazy. I made 4 banana bread loaves Sunday night. I didn't start making them until close to 11pm. These loaves take at least 1 hour to bake. Yes, it was a late night. Stephen spent the night playing the Wii with my brother. I think we finally went to bed around 230am. I have no idea. Then I had to get up and be showered in order to leave by like 9 or something. I was on airport duty. I was on airport duty because I met the one requirement of being 25 (or older) so that meant I was qualified to drive one of the two vans my dad was renting to pick people up from the airport (people being relatives). Stephen also qualified, but it would be cruel to send him to pick up my relatives that he hasn't even met yet. Picking up the relatives, driving them to the house and partaking in the BBQ sums up Monday.

Tuesday involved getting up early again to be a driver (the relatives stayed on base, closer to the ceremony). The retirement ceremony went from 9:30 to some time (honestly, I couldn't even tell you when it ended, I wasn't paying attention). I think we got out of there around noon. Stephen and I then spent some time at Pentagon City mall in between activities that the relatives did. The evening was capped off with the retirement dinner at 630pm.

Wednesday I was finally off of van detail (not sure how that happened), however I had to get up at 420am to get Stephen to the airport. He had a 630am flight. My mom drove with me. Actually she drove. I was just a passenger. I think since I had to get up early for that I was allowed to sleep and off of van detail.

I have more to update. Especially about my yarn tour! I'll work on that later.

I hate Deer

Last night at 1230am a deer ran into my car on the driver's side at approx. where the side view mirror is located. I no longer have a side view mirror. Also, there is damage all along the driver's side of the car. It was really scary. It came out of nowhere. I was driving. I screamed. I saw the deer's head like a half second before it hit, but at that point it was too late. It was like blink there is a deer and done blinking there was no deer. I didn't lose control, so that was good. I thought that there was going to be blood all over the car, that is how hard it seemed to hit. But there wasn't.

I have Geico and I have to say that they are great. It is going to be classified as a non-fault comprehensive loss. I have a $500 deductible. Geico will pay all costs after that. I just have to bring it to the Geico adjuster, who will give me an estimate and then I can bring it anywhere I want to get it fixed. Anyway, I have taken some photos today. You can see a little bit of the hair in the car. Gross.

Below - no more side mirror; the first of the damage that I saw when still driving.

The door doesn't open from the outside. It can only be opened from the inside. The handle mechanism and stuff must be all messed up.

That is all for now. I hate deer.

New post coming soon as I was tagged by Kate to listed 7 random things about myself.....

Clapotis

I'm slowly growing to "luve" clapotis. I find that the pattern is easily memorized even if it is a 12 row repeat - all the rows are the same (or following the same patterning) with only the last row being different. I could tell that my love and appreciation for the pattern was growing when knitting today I wonder how in the world this pattern was developed. I mean you have to knit a lot before you even see what it is actually going to look like.

Below you can see my knitting progress - I have 3.5 of the 7 sets of 1-12 repeats done. It's a little hard to see in the photo, but I'm using my high tech post-it note to keep track of rows. I have a row counter, but for some reason this seemed like a better method.


I tried to get a close up, but I'm not sure I did such a good job. I tried one without the flash, but I'm not good enough to get a shot that isn't blurry.


The yarn I'm using is by Classic Elite Yarns Wool Bam Boo: 50% wool, 50% bamboo, color 1649 (it's like a navy blue and it is gorgeous). So far I am really loving the yarn. I find it really soft and just lovely. :o)

Where have I been?

I wanted to update that I need to do an update. I have decided to not rip out Wicked and I hope to be finishing that up shortly. I'm going to be switching it to smaller needles for the bottom. I also started working on the Einstein coat! I'm pretty excited about that plus the yarn that I am using is really nice to knit with.

I also started working on clapotis. Yes, I have caught the clap. Though I can't say that I am wholly in love just yet. I think I'm just in luv right now. I have an appreciation for the pattern and am starting to see the genius in it and I am on my way to luve and then love, but I'm just not quite there yet. (I know, I sound crazy right now).

I will do a picture update soon. Maybe tomorrow night. If I'm not too tired from my biking!