What did I do?!

Remember that fuzzy picture of the Glorious Glove? Well, it isn't looking too Glorious. The other night I fell asleep while knitting, and so I wasn't sure what row I was on of the pattern. I have yet to learn how to 'read' cables, so I used my power of deduction based on the palm of the glove. Everything was going well until I noticed that I had made the cable too large. So, I thought I could rip it out and start from the last cable. Um, I started ripping and couldn't stop!! I ripped it back to the beginning. So using your knitting imagination, please imagine the first two rows of the glove as being finished. Oops!

After all the excitement of Monday...

..Yesterday was pretty uneventful. Yoda had to go to the vet--that is always a fun experience. Have you ever heard a dog scream? I have for about an hour each way...

I did a couple more rows on my gloves. Then I fell asleep. I was exhausted over all the excitement. I know that I should be working on gifts, but let me tell you, knitting for myself is just more fun. I like to give my knitting as gifts, but at least I know how much I appreciate it...you never know with some people.

I hope everyone is having a great 'hump day'. No, I don't mean it that way! Stop it, you pervs! Wednesday is the 'hump' of the week and we are going to 'get over the hump'. Anyway, happy knitting!

And the surprise is...

Yoda and her Bobushka (I know that is really spelled wrong)! No not really! My sister, Becky wanted to see a pick of the Polish puppy. Keep going to see my surprises...

A new Jo-Ann's opened by my parent's house and they were having 40% off all knitting needles....I picked some 2 each of sizes 2, 3, & 4--at 40% off they'll do for now....still not at the surprise...

Here is the first surprise: My craft room!! As you can see it is not 100% done, but the big stuff is complete!! I am so excited!! But wait! There's more...

Yes, I bought a new car!! We traded my Ford Escape for the Land Rover Freelander. We got a great deal and this will work out better for us in the long run...

Here is a side view of my car. Sorry the pictures are so crappy. I didn't get home until after dark, so the garage lights will have to do for now!

So I used the dirty little trick that was posted on Knitter's Review for using Hello and multiple pictures. It worked great--only thing is when you would use Hello before each post was considered the newest...with the "||" trick you put everything in the order you want.

I guess I should talk about some knitting since this is a knitting blog--Here is where I am on the Glorious Gloves:



Sorry the picture is so blurry--I'll try to remedy that today. I need to get working on these gloves since I know it is going to be cold in my office--it's cold in the summer and cold in the winter. Does that make sense?

Happy Knitting!!

Surprises to come later!!

It's Homecoming...

Tonight is the Homecoming game for the high school I graduated from. My sister is the JV Cheerleading Coach, so I think we are going to the JV game to check it out. I guess the football teams are really bad, so we are not going to put ourselves through a high scoring game on the other side.

I worked on the Glorious Gloves last night. I started the cabled pattern, but somewhere I became messed up, so I ended up frogging. Right now I have one pattern section done, and it is difficult to see the pattern. I think it is because it is so small in comparison to everything else I have done. I think after a few more repeats, it'll start looking like the picture on the pattern--then the pics will come.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Back to work...

...that sounds funny on a Thursday!

I received my secret pal assignment last night and have emailed her already!! I still haven't heard from my old secret pal, but I think I may give her another day before I have Tanya tell me. BTW--THANK YOU, Tanya for setting this all up!!

Last night I finished the knitting of the cabled (aka Irish Hiking Scarf) scarf. I need to wash and block it. Then I need to decide if fringe should be added...hmmm. I'll have to think about that one. I am ready to begin Jeff's (see side bar) gift, but I decided to start trying to do the Glorious Gloves. I was able to cast on last night and that was about it. Hopefully, I'll be able to get started knitting that today!! The yarn is sooo yummy, but very delicate! I'll have to be very careful. As soon as I get something substantial, I will take some pics.

Hope everyone has a great day--Happy Knitting!!

Secret Pal? You there?

I was supposed to find out who my secret pal was today...but I didn't. You there? I'm really nice....
The person I have been sending stuff to is Kate. She does really beautiful knitting, so go and visit her!!

Soon I will be finding out who my second secret pal is...I already have some ideas!!

The first part of my training is over. Here is a website if you are interested in finding out more about it. It is actually pretty interesting and I can relate to a lot of it. I guess that is the point!

As far as knitting goes I have the first part of the cute Pick Up Sticks hat done. I am ready to begin the second color and the tassles. Then it's felting time!! This is such a cute hat!!

Life should be back to normal tomorrow....but what is normal?

What a day!!

Sorry this post is so late for all of you early readers, but I am in training the next two days. The training is from The Pacific Institute and is called Imagine 21. It is all about how we think about ourselves and how we got to thinking that way. Some of the stuff is pretty interesting...

Then I got home and there were some packages. You'll have to scroll down to see...

A finished sock!! This really didn't get fun until I got to the heal turn. Then it was all fun!! I mae a few mistakes here and there--but I learned the process, which was the point. I need to work on the Kitchner...any pointers?

Here it is on my foot. I was surprised at how comfortable it is. Can't wait to make a full pair...

Obligatory cute Yoda picture!!

While I was at Michael's the other day, they had a 50% off coupon, so I picked this little guy up. I love that it is so small--easy to take with!

Can you guess what came today....

My new ball winder!! This was a 50% off purchase from JoAnn Fabirc's online store. I think it was like $30 after shipping and tax!

My new Swift!! This was also a 50% off item at JoAnn Fabric's!! It came out to $39.00 with tax and shipping--not bad!!
Yes, that is the shelving that I bought on Sunday for the craft room. Now, I just need my dad to help with the desk, and it will be moving along...

Thanks to everyone that wished me luck on my exam...It is over!! I did ok for not really studying as much as I should. I guess we'll see if it was good enough.

Enough test talk--I get to go back to knitting!! So many gifts I need to get going on. Though I really didn't knit too much this weekend, I did work on the craft room. I headed over to The Container Store and bought some shelving parts. It was so cool--I brought in the drawing of the room I had and they put all the numbers into a computer. Then I had my design, and they pulled all the parts!! Also, Jo-Ann Fabrics was having a 50% off coupon for online purchases. I noticed a while back they started selling ball winders and yarn swifts...So I ordered them. I was a bad girl and used a different email address on one of the purchases so I could get 50% off (they only allow one coupon per customer). Well, it worked because both items have been shipped at the discounted price!! Wooo hoo! Those will clamp on the new desk my dad and I will be building...

Wish me luck?

Ok, Saturday is it--test day. I know after I am done I am going to hit the knitting hard. It has been really difficult to study since I am so distracted by knitting!! The way I look at it is if I don't do well and can't get into an MB program right now, it was not meant to be. Something else must be in the plans...

Have a great weekend--I hope everyone is doing ok after Ivan--stay dry!!

On the lighter side

Yoda was groomed on Saturday--Look how pretty and *clean* she is!! I made that bandana from one I bought for $.50 at Hobby Lobby. Funny thing is, she goes and gets it for us to put on her...Is she a princess or what?!


Who pays for a dog to get her nails painted? Me....it was only $4, and she is a princess, so I decided to try it. I probably won't ever do it again since it was chipping off only a couple of days later.

I'm so bad...

I did a couple of rows on my practice sock last night and that was it...Then it was quantitative analysis time!! What fun.

I really am sorry that I am so boring this week...I'll make up for it next week. I promise!!

Boring life, Boring post

I warned you I would be studying this week. I did some of the verbal questions--has anyone noticed how boring the standardized tests make the reading passages? I've been doing ok, but tonight is the real test--the math part. I was a math major in college, so I know a lot of upper level math. I needed to remove some of the old stuff in my brain for the new stuff...this will be interesting!

I signed up for the Secret Pals 2. And I wanted to thank whoever it was for the idea on how to reveal to my current secret pal who I am. I might be taking that route. I guess I need to decide soon...

Hope everyone is knitting a lot this week. Next week I'll be back full force!!

Welcome back!! I didn't get a whole lot of knitting done this weekend. My parent's 35th Anniversary is today, so they decided to celebrate by taking my sister, Jeremy, and me out to dinner on Saturday. We went to The Clubhouse in Oakbrook, IL. It is a relly nice place with really great food...My sister, who is now coaching the JV Cheer Team at Romeoville HS, had a really bad day at the football game and drowned her sorrows in beer. She was really happy by the end of the night...and I think we were all very happy after finishing off the creme brulee. Yum!!

I am going to warn you all--I may not have tons of interesting knitting stuff to talk about this week. All my procrastinating has gotten me to a week before the GMAT without studying...I will be hooked up to a laptop all week doing practice tests. Fun--ok, I'm lying. But I was trying to convince myself...

TGIF

Thank Goodness it's Friday!! Damn short weeks...

So I worked a little bit more on the sock. I noticed that I did one side right and the other side is kind of wonky...I am thinking about ripping it out, but then I said I may never do the mate to this one...I just wanted a practice sock. The other option is to continue on to see how the toe works and then start a new sock (or a new pair).

I also worked quite a bit more on part of my sister's birthday gift. I don't want to mention what it is since I know she pops in on here sometimes. We'll just say it is a popular design and item....

I have been trying to think of fun and exciting ways to let my secret pal know who I am....any ideas?

I hope everyone has a great weekend....Lots of knitting fun!

It's just one of those mornings...

Went to bed early last night and now I can barely keep my eyes open. Guess it's time for coke...

I knit a couple more rounds on my sock last night. I didn't really do anything except clean up the house and relax. I just don't get the grogginess and the sleepiness--blame it on the weather!! That's what I always say...

I have been working on some birthday gifts and some Christmas gifts. But the whole time I am knitting, I keep reminding myself that the GMAT is about a week a way and I need to study. So then I feel guilty, but I still don't study!! I think that I will have to start that and put away the knitting for a bit.

I hope everyone's 4 day week is going faster than mine is. Isn't that weird? Those shorter weeks always seem to take longer. I guess it is all that built up anticipation for the weekend.

Everyone keep knitting while I study...

With baited breath...

...You all wait for the finished Marilyn!! But before I put her on display, I wanted to show off the sock I have been practice making:

I was skeptical at first, but it is easy! I am using the 2 circulars technique since dpns scare me to death! I have read posts by others saying to just follow the directions and the sock will happen, and it did!! I can't wait to finish this one. I doubt I will make its mate since this is just a trial--but I do have some yummy Cherry Tree Hill yarn from my secret pal....

Obligatory Cute Yoda Picture (first of many)

Presenting Marilyn!

You can click on the pictures to see a bigger version.

Here she is in all her glory. I was kind of intimidated by her before I started, but she was easy as pie!! I think cables give people this feeling of being very complicated when they really aren't.

Here she is with the collar folded down.

Even Yoda thinks Marilyn is soft and cuddly. She didn't want to move for me to take the pictures.

Here is Marilyn on the body. Please forgive the hair--it was 10pm!

Another cute Yoda picture...Can she get any cuter?!

Final Thoughts on Marilyn...

Ok, so not only did I learn some new knitting techniques, I learned some other interesting things:

• First, no matter how difficult a pattern looks, if you do it piece by piece, it'll be easy


• DB Super Chunky Cashmerenio is very soft and nice, but there are TONS of knots!! For as much as this yarn cost, I should not have had to cut out about a balls worth of knots.


• I need another set of Denise Needles. While I was using the 10 and 10.5 needles, I couldn't use them to start another project. Another set would fix this problem...


• Cable cast-on is pretty easy once you get the hang of it.


• I shold probably take a finishing class...

Hope everyone had a great weekend!! Now go knit!

Ok, so here is Marilyn. I am still working on her collar, but I think that will move rather quickly. I spent my time last night weaving in ends and partially sewing her together. Once the collar is done, I will seam the sides and the sleeves. Then, Viola! She's done!! I can't wait for cooler weather...

Tonight I am going to meet some people from KR at the new knitting store in Aurora. I think it will be fun, but I am kind of nervous. I don't know why! I am sure once I see the yarn, that will all change...I should get my Secret Pal her last gift. hmmmm.

I hope everyone has a great three day weekend. I hope you all get a three day weekend....

Yoda wanted to match Marilyn--so she got a cute bow!!

Here is Marilyn! She still needs her neck to be done and to have her sides seemed, but I can see her beginning to come to life!!

Half day....

I will have a longer more illustrated (read: pictures) post later. I am only working a half day today, so I should have plenty of time to take pics of Marilyn....

Last night we rented the movie Passion of the Christ. We are so behind when it comes to seeing movies in the theater. So this was one of those, let's watch it and decide if we want to buy it sort of things. I will be really surprised if the video sales do well...It was one of those 'I need to see it once, but I doubt I will ever just pop it in the dvd player for fun' movies....Good, so I am sure it will soon replace most of the regular Easter programming at some point....

I did manage to get the front of Marilyn and one sleeve together. It actually looks nice, which surprises me. Tonight I hope to get it all done and have pictures of her. Thanks to Heather for a little more info on raglan seeming.

I am so tired for some reason, so I am looking forward to the longer weekend!! Gotta love those holidays--too bad we are not like Europe where everyone gets a month or so of vacation...How nice would that be?

Hope everyone can stay clear of the hurricane and your weather is not affected too much!!

Sorry I didn't have the post up as early as I usually do, but I think I did more damage to myself by falling down the stairs than I want to admit. This may be a little too much info--but I think I know what it feels like when guys get kicked in the crotch. That's how I feel right now.

Which brings me to a rant...

What is up with health insurance? We have the insurance from my work and from Jeremy's, yet we are unable to find a place that we are allowed to go...ahem, I mean 'in-network'. Why is it so damn difficult to find an urgent care center or a doctor where you will not have to foot the entire bill? I am in pain, but I want to say forget going to the doctor--it's not worth the insurance hassle!!!

Stepping off the Soap Box to talk about Knitting...

So I finished knitting Marilyn last night. I also iron blocked her. Now, I need to do some seaming and the collar. I have never done raglan seems...is there a trick? I think I'll have to pull my finishng book out, but if anyone has any suggestions or hints, I am certainly open. Please, flood me with Raglan help!!

Hope everyone has a great day!