Unfelted

Here is a picture of the Buttonhole Bag unfelted. I came straight home from school and finished it. It's in the washer right now felting. I can hardly wait!

This is what Lily Cat and Leon (he's the one on the left) look like when they have thier picture taken. I keep telling them to open their eyes but they get mad when I don't use natural light. So picky!

Knitting and Irritants

Thanks to Sarah for the feedback on the Buttonhole bag project. She also used the Cascade 220. I am almost finished with the bag (totally amazing considering I started it night before last) and am planning on making this my gift to all my family and friends since, as Sarah pointed out, it knits up quick! I am in the process of figuring out how to cast on. I only know the way with two strands of yarn, not the one strand method. Woe is me.

On to other matters...

I did NOT want to get out of bed this morning. I've been going to therapy starting last week. I think it's taking its toll. Anyways, I was feeling lazy (nothing new about that) and then Lily Cat came up and laid down. She was very busy cleaning herself last night so she was that super soft that cats get when they are freshly licked. Lily is the best, she gives these sweet little kisses on the tip of your nose. However, she is a little trickster because if I don't pay attention she gives a love bite that hurts worse than some of the piercings I used to have.

I was sitting in my Geographic Information Science class this morning happily (riiiiight) listening to the lecture about data sources and entry (I know, you're jealous) when this dude came in LATE. Not only did the bastard come in LATE, he also bounced his leg the whole F-ING HOUR OF CLASS! The class is in one of those auditorium style lecture halls and all of the seats are attached to one another by a single steel bar. So not only was I distracted by the movement of his leg, I was also distracted by the fact that my seat was vibrating the whole time I was in class. Like it isn't hard enough for me to pay attention.

Picures of the bag will be up shortly. I know you'll all be waiting with baited breath.

Ciao

Time Is Sweet

I love this picture of Lily Cat and Lupine. They are usually so sweet with one another. Lily always gives Lupine little kisses and then Lupine tries to give Lily a big kiss; Lily won't have any of that.

So, since the decrease in the number of classes I am taking I have had more time to think about...can you guess what it might be? Yes, knitting! Sooooo happy. In honor of my newfound knitting opportunities I went and picked up some yarn for an old project and a couple of new ones.

Awhile back, when I bought the yarn for the "Hippest Beenie Ever", I also got this Lion Brand "Jiffy" yarn because I liked the green color. Night before last I pulled it out and started a hat (I know, big shocker) with it. I was hoping to find some black "Jiffy" yarn to make diamonds but when I went to the local yarn store, she didn't have too big of a selection. There was however, this pretty reddish/fuscia color that looked great next to the green. What wasn't readily apparent to me in the store is that together, the green with the reddish/fuscia is looking alot like Christmas. SHIT. I mean seriously, how long can one wear a green and red hat. Certainly not after January 1. I'm debating about whether or not to rip it out. What to do, what to do.

On a happier note, I did pick up some yarn for the ubiquitous Buttonhole Purse from Mason Dixon Knitting. I had a really tough time deciding on pinks or reds.
Here you can see I went out on a limb (HA!) and picked red. Cascade Yarns is the maker of this 100% Peruvian Highland Wool yarn. I'm feeling a little unsettled having purchased something other than acrylic. What will become of me? Am I now on the road to becoming a yarn snob? "Fiddle dee dee. I'll worry about that tomorrow."

And, everyone knows this stuff, eyelash/fun fur. "A rose by any other name...." This yarn is for the collar of the Chenille Sweater. I bought it for motivation. Right....

Guess what I want to do now instead of going to my Geographic Information Systems lab? (What did I do with that Joann's coupon?)

Ciao

Woofstock 2005

This past Saturday was the first day of Woofstock. It was held at the waterfront park in Eureka, CA. Fortunately it was a sunny day, although it was still a bit chilly being right on the bay and all. The day consisted of several bands and beer (hurray beer!). This is Q with Lupine, aren't they cute?

It was sooo absolutely hilarious when I sent Q to get the beer. I said, "Hey, why don't you take Lupine with you. She loves to sniff around, take her to the beer stand." The hilarious part was, he did and then tried to make it the 100 feet or so back to the blanket with the dog and two beers. What happened? The grass got watered a little. Here is what he looked like when he got fed up with trying to chew gum and ride a bike. I went over to help him only after I took this picture.

Here I am, trying to get the dog to calm down enough so that I can get my knit on. I had 3 projects with me. I was only able to get 3 rows on the "Ugly Yarn Scarf" completed. Oh well. Asi va la vida.

I Am Needles

Typical. When it comes to knitting, as mention previously, I'm cheap. This also translates to needles, rather, if I were born as a set of needles. I took this quiz and here are the results:

You are pink aluminum.
Retro, straightforward and fun, you love classic
things. If they're 99
cents at Goodwill all the
better! You are moved by striking colors
and
tasty morsels, and you like a stitch-n-bitch
session in the sun.
Just remember, while
you're being kitschy cool, don't get too
cold.
Ice cubes are best kept in your cocktails,
baby!

What kind of knitting needles are you?
brought to
you by Quizilla

Try it out for yourself. Check out your reincarnation potential.

No! Not Really! (Oh yes Grasshopper, yes.)

This sweater (my very first sweater, can you believe it isn't a scarf?) got started way back in July. It is all Garter Stitch or Stockinette (I forget which is which) and so I got bored with it. Knit 1 row, purl 1 row, knit 1row, purl 1 row. Oh the monotany of it all! I even considered ripping it all out and starting a different pattern because this one was so boring and I thought maybe when I finished it, that it wouldn't fit. My Mom has convinced me that it will fit, it will look cute, and NO, do not unravel all that hard work. And thus, I pulled it out of the garage this week and started anew.

I had already completed the back and the front side with the button holes. I am almost to the arm shaping portion on the second front side. Then the arms, and then I'll make the collar. This pattern is from the Lion Brand website. I'm pretty cheap about certain things so I have thus far only knitted from free patterns available online. Anyways, when it is all finished I'll put it on and we'll hope for the best.

This is my Mom working on the ribbed scarf on my Dad's birthday (yes, back in August). They were relaxing on the couch after a very yummy leg of lamb dinner. My Gram bought cake at the Freeport Bakery. It was tiramisu. Man do I loooooooove the Freeport Bakery. If you ever make it to Sacramento you have got to go have dessert there.

Fairy-Knit-Mother

It seems that my scarves will never end. I have been knitting the "Ugly Yarn Scarf" for what seems like forever. I recently brought it into the house from the garage though and even found my cable needle so I should have it finished and ready to wear, soon.

Part of the whole, taking forever thing is that 1. I haven't been knitting due to excessive amounts of school, and 2. Scarves are cooler when they are longer because you can do the "loop" thingy with them.

Here is a picture (whee I found the camera) of the ribbed scarf that I was going to give to my Dad for his birthday (it was August 21, maybe by Christmas). You can see I'm implementing the use of bobbins. I tried to use just the skiens but finally gave in to having to sew in a bunch of ends for the convenience of the bobbins. Oh, when I first started this scarf, a woman happened to walk by right as I was trying to figure out how to change colors without making holes or making it look ugly by knitting two threads into one knit. Just as this happened a woman, who I am convinced is my "Fairy-Knit-Mother", stopped and asked what I was working on. She then took a few minutes and showed me how to incorporate the two colors. Thank you Fairy-Knit-Mother. You can see pictures of the bobbins in the "On The Needles Section".

Now, I would like to take a moment to bitch and moan about the stupid, STUPID circular needles. Ugh. That was Mom's great idea. I guess it works for her but I'm telling you I almost knit slower with circular needles than when I'm not knitting at all. I am still waiting for the eBay order of Clover bamboo needles but after emailing the seller, they said it was in the mail.

Finished Project (At Last)

This hat and scarf combo has actually been finished for about a month now. I finished it right before the madness of school started and never got the picture up. The pattern for the scarf is here. For the hat I used the same pattern just repeated it 2 1/2 times so that it would fit my head. Since it is sort of a lace pattern (according to my Mom, my knitting mentor if you will) so it is pretty stretchy. I did it on size 13 needles. It went quick and looks pretty cute. I did the hat on straight needles. The picture of what it looked like finished and unsewn is here.

Anyways, must be going now. School calls, as usual.

I Want To Be A School Bus Driver

I'm giving up my "pot-smoking-hippie-slacker-'traditional' Humboldt County lifestyle" (I was soooo into that to begin with, ha!) in order to get my class B license and drive a bus.

Here at school they have student drivers and the pay is about $10.50/hour depending on the department(Forestry field trips here I come!) That type of wage is practically unheard of up here on the North Coast. Plus, big plus, I get to pick the field trips that I want to drive. That means, no required work. I can literally pick my hours. However, after talking with some of the current bus drivers, who will soon be graduating, they claim it can take upwards of 1 month to get paid.

Anyways, overall, a good deal. Look out California drivers! I'm going to be in a BIG machine.

Help Me! I'm Drowning!

So did I forget to mention I'm in school? GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

I think about knitting everyday but my life is soooo over consumed with school I can't even pick it up without feeling guilty. The 19 units I am taking is absolutely insane. It is the third week and I'm beginning to feel the pack pulling away. I go to class just like everyone else. I try to keep up with assignments that are due and yet, I see it all getting way out of hand. Like today for example. I show up to class. I'm pretty sure there is a quiz this week but not necessarily on Tuesday. Doesn't matter that I wrote it down in my planner for Tuesday; I am so friggin busy trying to keep track and go to class that even when I write it down I don't trust myself. Anyways, soil quiz, I got 10 out of 12 correct (that is an 83 percent for anyone who cares, a LOW FRIGGIN B). I'm so disgusted with myself.

I bought this huge lot of bamboo needles on eBay with the pathetic dream that may knit again someday. Hopefully I don't get jacked for the money. LAME-O. Have you been jacked by an eBay seller? I have, it friggin sucks.

Must go now. I have to find out (not for fun, for school, see how I used clue words "have to") how the government is picking on people of color by placing a disproportionate number of toxic waste dumps and incinerators in their neighborhoods. Ha, like anyone is shocked, just look at the Commander in Chief's (read Jackass) response to those poor people (predominantly African American) down in Louisiana. Say it after me everyone, "I HATE George (The JackASS) Bush!" You can email him a nastygram just like I did by emailing him at president@whitehouse.gov. It only takes a minute or two to drop a couple of choice comments.