All it needs is a zipper, again

I know you all have been wating to see the finished Ribby Cardi, and I don't blame you. I have been done since before Christmas, but I am not happy with the zipper!! This is about the 5th or 6th time I am sewing it in. This time I am doing it all by hand first and then going back with the machine. The by hand sewing it taking forever, so I am not sure when I will be 100% complete with it. I'm hoping soon...

A short holiday tale

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the wild and wacky life of Amanda and her little pug Yoda. This Christmas was filled with tons of dog toys?!

While little Yoda looks like she was bad, she really was very good at putting the toys everywhere!! But that's not all folks! Yoda, who is styling in her new coat, also is one of the best dressed pugs in her new muscle tee:

But who could forget how happy she looked in her Santa hat:

Now, Amanda was also very good this year. In addition to underware and pjs, she recived the gift of books:

Let's not forget the gift of time:

Best of all was the bag of Noro Silk Garden in color 201 (blacks, purples, greys) for a long anticipated Klaralund. Only she now needs to buy the pattern...

So as you can see, the holidays were kind to the wild Amanda and her little pug, too!

A Ribby Cardi, soon...

Here is Yoda in her sweater trying to help with Mommy's sweater. I sewed in all the ends of the yarn that was used to knit the pieces....now it is time to sew it up.

Here is a picture of the pieces ready for seaming without Yoda!

Almost there!!

Here is sleeve one of the ribby cardi. I guess my knitting became a little looser so at the top, my cap was enormously long...I ripped and reknit *tighter*.

Here is sleeve two. I am almost to the cap shaping. You know what that means...I'm almost done!!

Mariah yarn has arrived!!

Mariah yarn has arrived!! Here are the nine balls of russett I ordered from Joann.com. I think this color is going to look awesome with the cables. Speaking of cables...

I also received this pattern book. I really like the cardi on the front. Yes, I am obsessed with cabled cardigans. Gotta problem with that?! Cables keep it interesting!

So yesterday was my first day of vacation. Ever notice how vacation turns into "Stuff I am going to get done while I am off since I couldn't get it done while I was working"? Well, yesterday I was up early and got my car serviced (3000 mile maintenance), took Yoda to the groomer, when 'grocery shopping' at Costso, bought some gifts at the mall, picked up Yoda, wrapped the presents, fell on the couch exhausted. I was going to go to knit night last night, but I was more tired running around than when I work!! Jeremy said he gets the same way. At least I know he might understand when we have kids...

Tomorrow I am helping my sister in her classroom. They are making gingerbread houses. One mom baked all the pieces for every kid!! That is one over achieving mom!! I would take picks, but I think there is some rule against posting the kids pictures on the internet--I can understand why. Maybe I'll get some picks of the yummy houses!

Last night I put off the fingers again. But for a good cause--Christmas knitting. I have one more project that I must finish by Christmas: a Sophie Bag. I am knitting the body at this point. Quick and pretty easy.

Speaking of the Sohpie bag, Julie, the designer, is from the Joliet/Plainfield area! How cool is that?! Anyway, she is now the Organizer for the Joliet Knitting Meetup Group. I signed up because the possible meeting spots are very close to my house. There are a couple of groups that meet in Naperville, but I can't always get out there--it can be an hour drive each way. Gotta love Suburban Chicago traffic! Though I am thinking about going Wednesday night....today is my last work day of the year! I had so much vacation that I didn't use, and it is a use it or loose it sort of thing. So, happy end of the year to me!

Happy knitting!

Still Glorious?

Remember these gloves? Well, I am still working on them. I am already on the fingers--my favorite part. I will just take my time and get it done. Then I will forever done with the Glorious Gloves. And from then on, I will only knit mittens. Though, I am not sure if I should try the type Stephanie is doing...

Here is a back of the hand shot. The cables look surprisingly even. I can tell that my knitting became a little looser, but that's ok. It'll still fit.

I just want to mention that I have officially joined the Mariah along and the Ribby Cardi along. I'm glad about the Ribby Cardi since I have a few questions about the sleeves. It always helps when you have others that are in the same place you are!

I want to say sorry to everyone who has been reading lately. My posts have been kind of paltry. I've just become very busy with the holidays. That and leaving when it is dark for work and coming home from work when it is dark has not inspired me to take pictures.

Here is the right panel of the Ribby Cardi. It is curling a bit, but that will be fixed when I add the seed stitch band.

Here is the left panel. Now I just need to work the sleeves...

It's already beginning....

The Knitty knit-a-longs, that is. Eklektica! has already put out a call for Mariah knit-a-longers. What did I do? Well, I signed up of course! I even hopped on over to Joann.com and ordered my yarn. It was only $3.99 a ball--good deal. I ordered the Russet color. It sounds like a potato, but it looks like a rusty brown:

I wanted something neutral, but not my normal black or grey. The brown will work.

I also wanted to thank Monica that I met at a knit night a while back. She offered to pick up that Japanese knitting magazine for me from a Japanese bookstore in Arlington Heights. Monica, I sent you an email--if you didn't get it, let me know.


In other news, I am to the decreasing on the left right panel of the Ribby Cardy. I know I said I would have pictures, but I watched The Terminal with the husband last night and didn't get a chance to take the pictures I wanted. I think I might rip that sleeve I already did. I don't like the way it turned out. Since I have to do another one anyway...

What is the exchange rate in Yen?

Ei was gifted with the Japanese magazine with this pattern:

How beautiful!! So, I found the magazine on Amazon.co.jp. It costs 1050 yen. I think that comes out to be $9...hmmmm. Not sure about shipping though. I think some of these yarn stores need to start carrying the Japanese magazines, too. They have French, German, British... Just my thought. If anyone knows of a store that carries them, let me know!!

BTW, I am still working on a couple last Christmas gifts, the Ribby Cardi, and the Glorious Gloves. Yes, those are still around. I need to get through the second one so I can finish my Cherry Tree Hill Socks! Pictures of progress tomorrow.

Yoda says, "Hi!" to everyone. She is licking my hand as I type, so I think that means I am done...

I picked this up with something in mind--labels. I know it is a little late for Christmas gifts, but for future use. You just design what you want, print it, and it works like fabric. There are 3 sheets in this fabric for about $5 at Walmart. I know you can also get it at places like Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's, and quilt stores. This way I can try out different looks before I decide if I want to order woven labels.

Is she a cat?

I wonder sometimes. This is what happens when a Pug Princess gets a hold of some red chenille yarn. Chaos!

The Winter Knitty is up! There are a couple of patterns that I really like: Leftovers, Mariah, Tempting, and Pasha. Now, I do have to mention this--I am all for women's power, but I think Womb is a little much. Yes, it is what you think it is. Why would anyone want a knitted...Anyway, I can't wait to read the articles. The technical articles are very good. I learned to kitchener from one of those articles. Happy knitting!

Happy Friday!

I worked a bit more on the left front panel of the Ribby Cardi last night. It's moving along pretty quickly. I thought it would be like the sleeve anticipation, but it really isn't that bad.

I'm really boring today, and don't have much to say. I'm tired and work is crazy as per (recent) usual.

Good Luck to the Romeoville High School Spartan Cheerleaders tomorrow. They are in competition and trying to qualify for State. (My sister is the coach of the JV and we are both RHS cheer alumni)

What is it about December?

Did you notice that as soon as December 1 rolled around, your life became much more hectic? I don't think we can really blame it on Christmas. I mean we've known for twelve months when it is--you'd think we would all start our shopping, crafting, knitting a little earlier to avoid the stress.

Now, I'm not saying I'm stressed, but I noticed that all of a sudden I had quite a bit more to do at work and it is all supposed to be done by the end of the year. Considering I am taking the last two and a half weeks off, my end of the year is a little closer than most. (BTW, we all know when the end of the year is too--um, spead out the work?)

I am very close to finishing all my Christmas knitting. Only a Yoda sweater (Howel from SnB) and a Sofie Bag for a friend left. From now on, unless I really have an urge to make gifts for someone else, I doubt I am going to put myself through gift knitting any more... I'm selfish, what can I say? I have too many projects that I want to get done--not have to get done.

Sorry for my bit of craziness today. I woke up and realized that I really don't have any significant knitting progress to share from yesterday and that there is just tons to do overall.

It's Ribby Craziness!

The back of the Ribby Cardi in Antique Blue. I am doing the plain pannel version. Next will be the ribbed...

I decided to do a sleeve before I began the rest of the body. Kind of trying to beat the sleeve blues. But I am not sure I am happy with it, so it may be frogged and reknit--after I do the rest of the body!