All Things Knit and Crochet

Fond Farewell

2006-11-06T13:04:00.000-08:00

I have decided that I am going to move over to my new wordpress site permanently. I will no longer be posting to this site, so if you are looking for me, come on over!

Secret Pal

2006-11-03T19:35:00.000-08:00

New post over at my "tester" blog. Still trying to decide if I want to make the switch, so in the meantime go over and see what my secret pal sent to me!!! :-)

Thinking about Moving

2006-11-02T09:30:00.000-08:00

I am thinking about moving this blog over to wordpress b/c lately I have been having a lot of trouble uploading pictures, etc. I don't really know how to go about changing everything from this url to that one, like rings, etc. but surely I can figure that out! Anyway, go over to my new blog and tell me what you think!

I Think I Might

2006-10-27T06:59:00.000-07:00

I have been doing the Secret Pal 9 Swap which so far has been a lot of fun because I get to buy a lot of fun things to give to my pal. At times I actually forget that there is someone out there who is buying fun stuff for me! My secret pal, the one that is buying for me, seems to be very nice and she has asked me lots of questions that have made me stop and think. Especially about the scary and before uncharted topic of socks! I think that I might have given the impression on my blog here that I don't want to knit socks more than I may have meant to.

I will admit that before she asked me about socks I really didn't care much to make them because I don't really wear "decorative" socks all that much. (Yesterday was an example of when I should have as my feet were cold and I had to wear stupid white socks that really didn't look all that cute with my shoes.) But now that I have pondered the question for a while I think that I might actually want to make them. It doesn't hurt that I have found all kinds of fun things with which to make socks.

Exhibit A:
Stretchycirculars.com
Obviously DPNs are intimidating, even though I feel I have become somewhat of a master after my successful baby hat earlier this month. I thought that I would try 2 circulars b/c that is what Ann uses, and if it's good enough for Ann then it is certainly good enough for me. I also looked up the magic loop method which seemed like something that I might want to try. Then I got the Knit Simple magazine and inside was an ad for 10'' size 2 Stretchy Circular needles which they proclaim to be useful in the knitting of socks. I believe that this will be my poison of choice.

Exhibit B:
Sock YarnStacie has informed me that sock yarn does not count as stash, so all the more reason that I should learn to make them. I don't really have a huge stash anyway, but I would be more than happy to have some fun yarns that don't count toward it!

I bought some.

Exhibit C:
Patterns
Really, the patterns for sock knitting are almost endless when you pair them with the wide array of sock yarns out there. I found several yesterday in my brief search that I liked, these, these, these (sort of) and these for Jason. These are also fun, but I am thinking that they might be a little too ambitious for one just starting out.

Exhibit D:
Gifts
I think that many of my very grateful family and friends would be more than happy to get a pair of socks from me for an important gift giving/receiving occassion. Maybe next Christmas everyone will get socks. Who knows. (If this is to be the case, then I think that I shall have to start on the first pair on Dec. 26, 2006 just to get them out in time. I think that we all know that this isn't going to happen.)

I believe that all of these exhibits are just cause for me to learn to knit the elusive sock. I will do it...one day.

On a side note, I have been knitting this week. (Although I knit nary a stitch yesterday! Nor did I crochet.) However, all of what I have been doing is going to be a gift to my secret pal, and really, I can't be posting that on here. Once I am revealed to her, I will be more than happy to slap a few pictures up for your viewing pleasure.

Picture Time!

2006-10-18T06:32:00.000-07:00

Ann Shayne Day

2006-10-17T13:22:00.000-07:00

As I alluded to yesterday, and if you've been to either Ann and Kay's or to Maria's, you know that this past Saturday ANN SHAYNE came to Memphis, TN as part of the Southern Festival of Books. Maria and I were indeed not only lucky enough to go, but to get to meet and hang out with ANN! It was a thrilling experience to say the least. (I won't go into the pick-up lines that we encountered along the way to and from the festival as they are best saved for another time.)

Ann gave a very cute talk about their fabulous book complete with profound truths, and as you might can imagine, she is just as funny and cute in person as she is on the blog and in the book. After the talk, she signed books outside and thought that it possibly couldn't get any better than just meeting her and talking for a brief moment. WE WERE WRONG. We were told of a kitting trip at Sleep Out Louie's. Of course we then proceeded to go to Sleep Out Louie's and sit and knit with Ann for about 3 hours with a group of about 20 knitters. It was so much fun!

Bless Maria's heart, she just could not separate herself from the love of the Rebels long enough to really let loose and give Ann all of her attention, but she had a grand time too. Fortunately, Ann is a really relaxed and fun person and found all of our antics to be humorous and I hope not too over the top. (Maria and I can really be a force to be reckoned with at times.) She thought that Maria was funny with all of her running back and forth to check the score. (Really, Maria loves those Rebels.) And I am sure that she thought I was crazy because I kept saying, "I can't believe that Maria is going in there to watch the game!"

We are going to try and convince her and Kay to come to Oxford and visit our LYS because we need to meet Kay too! We can only imagine that the Ann and Kay duo would be twice as nice, and we are having a hard time imagining how we would be able to hold up to the excitement of seeing them both! Somehow, I think that we could manage!

(I am sorry to inform that blogger is being a pain in the hiney and won't let me upload any pictures. I will try and rectify this situation and get some fun pictures posted ASAP!)

I think that Ann gave 10 profound truths during her talk, so I am going to be so bold as to add #11.
PROFOUND TRUTH #11: If you have the opportunity to go and see/visit/knit with/talk to ANN SHAYNE, by all means GO!

Kerchiefy Fun

2006-10-16T14:34:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine and Maria's is going to be doing the 3-Day Walk for Breast Cancer this weekend in Atlanta and since I am such a thoughty person I made her a kerchief like she has been wanting. She is a part-time knitter (ha) and had tried to make herself a more complicated one but since I was under a time constraint and didn't have said pattern on hand I used the Kerchief pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts (can you tell that I just got a copy?) and some Sugar n Cream cotton that I had on hand. (Of course!)

Obviously I had to make some modifications due to the differing guages of the called for yarn and the SnC yarn otherwise it would have been more shawlish. It is really too small for her to wear around her head (made to the measurements given in the book) unless she wants to pin it into place, but she thinks that it will be extra handy for any sweating emergencies that are sure to come up during her 3-day, 60 mile walk.

I am only too glad that I could help. :-)

And because I am nothing but a shameless tease, here is one pic from this past Saturday that was spent with the lovely and adorable ANN SHAYNE in Memphis, TN. I promise that I will give a very detailed account of the fun time that ensued tomorrow. You will all surely hate me once I tell it because it was so fab. :-) :-)

Alert: Adorable Baby Hat!!!

2006-10-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

This is the Children's Cotton Hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts and is going to Ella, the brand new baby of a friend of Jason's. Seeing as this is only my second attempt to make an item using dpns I would say that it is spectacular! Of course there are a few imperfections, but laddering was kept to a minimum. Hooray!

I used size 8 dpns (b/c I unlike some people can admit that I knit tightly) and 1 skein of Mission Falls 1824 Cotton in 805 Lemongrass. This yarn just happens to be the featured yarn this month at my fabulous LYS, Hanging By a Thread, so I got a very cute baby gift for $4!!! I am definitely going to go back and get some more of this while they are running the sale! It is so soft, comes in about 20 different colors, and 1 skein will make a baby, toddler, or child sized hat in this pattern.

Some Exciting News & Some Not So Exciting News

2006-10-10T07:21:00.001-07:00

Exciting News: Maria and I are excited and happy to be travelling to her favorite city this Saturday to see our favorite dishcloth knitter, none other than ANN SHAYNE! (Oh I really can't express to you how excited we are.) I am in fact so excited that no words spring forth in order for me to express just how excited I feel.

Not So Exciting News: I made myself a very detailed timeline so that I would feel confident that I could get everything completed for Christmas in time. I then decided that I didn't want to have to work under those conditions so I am just going to get what I can completed. If you are expecting a present from me, don't fret, I will get to it eventually. (I am not thinking of it as giving presents late, more like making the holidays last a little bit longer.)

I have also had to choose some different items to give to some individuals (three!) due to the fact that 3 x 75 does not equal 256. I don't know how I ever thought that it did, but due to this error I am somewhat short on yarn yardage. One situation has been rectified by choosing another project and already completing it*. One will be ok because I had a little more than 3 skeins, so it will just be a little smaller. One I am going to have to start all over from scratch. Ugh. This is very disheartening b/c the receiver really would have liked what I was going to make.

I guess I am off to search for patterns and see what I can make with 225 yards of worsted weight yarn that is not a dishcloth.

*Pictures to come soon as my camera took a vacation to New Orleans and has not yet come back home.

SP 9 Questionnaire

2006-10-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I am not really picky in the sense that I won't use acrylic yarn b/c I will, but I have a hard time seeing with fun fur and really frou frou novelty yarns. I'd really like to try Koigu since everybody raves about it so!

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a quilted little roll up case for my straight needles, I have a Denise circular kit so those are in the case that they came in, and my crochet hooks are in an Ashland Sky Hook Sac.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting for a little less than a year by my best estimate. I taught myself from a "I Taught Myself Knitting" kit. (Same goes for Crochet) I think that my skill level is advanced beginner to almost intermediate! :-)

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes, I have an amazon wish list.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
I love just about everything except coconut and pear. My favorites are vanilla , raspberry, and oriental florals.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
YES! I love chocolate. ANY KIND.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I don't spin, and I keep a scrapbook on and off. I am trying to learn to hand sew, but just for small projects like seaming, etc.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like pop, country, and rock. I don't really like rap and R&B. I imagine that my computer will play MP3's but I've never tried it.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love PINK! Orange doesn't really look good on me, but if it's not something that I will be wearing, then I like it too. I don't really have a color that I don't like.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am single, without pets.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes, all of the above.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I have really only knit a limited number of items (dishcloths, scarves), but I am looking forward to branching out soon to sweaters/tops and felted purses.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Lots of things! I am working on Christmas presents mostly.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Of course!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Straight, and I don't have a preference between bamboo, aluminum and plastic. I use aluminum the most, but I like them all.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I have a yarn winder, but no swift. I don't really know if I need a swift to be honest.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Baby poncho with some terrible novelty yarn that is hard to work with and makes my hands feel yucky so it has been sitting around for about 8 or 9 months now.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I love stuffed Lambs!

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
There are tons of books that i want but mostly I have been coveting "Sexy Little Knits." I have subscriptions to Creative Knitting, Crochet!, and Knit Simple.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Even though I don't really WANT to, I need to learn how to do intarsia. eek.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
No socks yet, therefore I have no idea what my foot measurements are.

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
03/21

Blocking Practice

2006-09-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

Since I want to one day knit myself a garment I decided that I'd better learn to block. I joined the Dishcloth Knit Along (b/c I am knitting them anyway!) so I thought that dishcloths would be the logical place to start. Different patterns can look pretty wadded up when they are completed.

I knit the Valentine Heart Cloth and made a makeshift 'blocking board' out of a craft project gone awry, a corkboard tile that I covered in some chenille fabric. I layed a paper towel over the fabric so that if any dye wanted to be exchanged in the process it would not get onto the dishcloth or the corkboard (who knows, I might find a use for it one day).

This is not a perfect attempt as I did not even attempt to use a ruler, but you gotta start somewhere. My goal is to get one of those little boards with the lines on it that people use to cut out sewing patterns. Maybe I'd better learn what they are called before I go looking for one, as cardboard board with the lines on it is not exactly the correct terminology. :-)

Getting Started

2006-09-25T12:03:00.000-07:00

I love to go home and see packages of yarn on my doorstep. You can surely imagine my delight when I went home today and this was waiting on me.

This is Noro Silk Garden and the color is pink/brown 251. I hope that it will one day be my Clapotis.

I also ordered some Noro Kureyon for the Booga J Bag and some Nature Cotton in lavendar for a tank that I saw in the Spring/Summer issue of Knit Simple but that was all on backorder. It's not really like it matters all that much since I have so much Christmas knitting to do. I really don't need to be knitting myself anything at the moment!

I am well on my way to completing two Christmas presents. I thought that Twitterpated would be cute for my two 17 year old cousins.

I still have a little work to do on them and once I get my courage up I will "sew" up the lining and add that along with the handles. The green one is made out of almost 2 skeins of Knitpicks Shine in Green Apple, and the lilac one is made of 1 skein of Cotton Classic. The lilac one is much smaller than intended since I ran out of yarn making it. I had to sew it up using some Lion Brand cotton in a similar color, but that is too dark to use to add the handles. I don't know yet what I am going to do about that!

I found some really cute fabric over the weekend so I got enough to line the purses and anything else for Christmas that might need lining. (I don't want to give too much away. :-) )

I don't really know how to sew so this should be an experience. I found something called "stitch witchery" and I am hoping that I will only have to sew the pocket into the purse instead of having to sew the pocket and sew it into the purse.

I got a camera!

2006-09-21T05:59:00.000-07:00

I finally bought a digital camera of my own, so now I don't have to haul all of my things over to Jason's house to photograph them. I think that this will be great for blogging! Of course there were some stray dishtowels laying around that I'd not yet photographed.

The one on the right is the mid-August KAL from the Yahoo Group, Monthly Dishcloths. I liked the color combo so much that I made a ballband dishcloth to match. (I like to make them with the varigated yarn in the background.)

I also made Jason some dishtowels since he doesn't really use dishcloths. I got a new dishcloth pattern book, Kitchen Kolors, and I LOVE IT. The dishtowel on the left is from that book and then the dishcloth on the right is a modification from the ballband dishcloth.

I got the idea from a woman on the Mason Dixon KAL, but I varied this one up a bit. She did 3 bands on each side but I liked the idea of a definite front and back, so I did 5 bands for the front and then 2 for the back. Best of all, they look cute folded up!

New Knitty = Trouble for my list

2006-09-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

I am probably the last one to discover this but the new Knitty is up. Hooray! Bad news for me though, as it just causes me to discover more and more things that I want to knit. I think that I need to join a 12 step program for people who plan but never actually get anything accomplished. I like a lot of the patterns from this issue...drumroll please...

1. Viveka
2. Lucie
3. Cactus Flower
4. Ivy
5. Serrano
6. Twiggy Tweed
7. Back to School (My heart did a little backflip when I saw those)
8. Ayla

I like the sock patterns as well, but I am not even considering adding them to my list, b/c I am kidding no one, least of all myself. :-)

I know that some knitting patterns have been circulating around on the web for forever, but I haven't been knitting forever so a lot of them are new to me. Therefore I am geeked up to knit Clapotis and Booga Bag. At first I didn't really love Clapotis, but the more I looked at it and the more I convinced myself that I would be able to drop a YO stitch, I realized that I love it. Coupled with the fact that I work in a basement where it is about 65 degrees year round, I am going to make it. Seriously. I have the yarn picked out. (I hope that this is a suitable substitution...those of you in the know, please let me know!)

Because I was so good on my trip and didn't spend all of my trip money I was able to come back home and order yarn! I purchased all of the remaining yarn that I need in order to make the Christmas gifts for my family and friends. I am excited about this and I am hoping that it will make for some more exciting blogging. I so want to have some FOs to dazzle you with!

Niagara Falls, Part Two

2006-09-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

More pictures!

American Falls (photographed from Canada):

American Falls (photographed from America):

Bottom of the American Falls:

American Falls and Canadian Falls (taken on the bridge between USA and Canada):

Canadian Falls:

Cave of the Winds (American side):

Fancy footwear they make you wear at the Cave of the Winds:

Yep, we took a picture of the barrel (not sure if this is the actual barrel that Annie went over in or just a replica):

Jason and me at Journey Behind the Falls:

Niagara Falls, Part One

2006-09-07T06:50:00.000-07:00

We got back from our vacation to Niagara Falls on Tuesday. Yesterday I was not up to blogging as I was feeling barely alive, but today I am back and ready! Due to the overwhelming amount of pictures that were taken by my male companion I will be telling you of my trip in installments.

Here is Part One...

My mother (making her blog debut) and me on the Maid of the Mist boat ride, sporting some fancy ponchos:

Jason and me posing for a postcard picture at Souvenir City (Mother took this one and I guess she wasn't feeling comfortable with the zoom capabilities :-) ):

Here I am hanging with some celebrities (Brad Pitt and Prince William, in case you can't tell) that I met along the way :-)

Jason and me in front of Lake Ontario at Niagara-on-the-Lake:

They illuminate the Falls every night (I am pretty sure that these are the American Falls but I can't tell for sure):

American Falls (left) and Bridal Veil Falls (right):

Canadian Horseshoe Falls:

More pictures tomorrow!

Add it to the List

2006-08-24T08:13:00.000-07:00

I have been looking through knitting patterns online. You know that this means that I am adding more patterns to my ever-growing list, aptly titled, "Things that I would like to make if I would ever stop making dishcloths."

I am behind on the times and therefore I must play catch-up and knit the following:
1. Panta
2. Mini Sweater (aka Boobholder)
3. Very Cherry (Seen at both Carrieoke and Knit, Anne Marie, Knit!)
4. Tubey (check out the KAL for lots of cute variations, including no stripes, which is what I would definitely be doing)

Through some of my blog stalking I have seen the following patterns that I really like. These are ones that are for purchase and they are arranged by website...b/c I am considerate like that:

GlampyreKnits
1. One Skein Wonder
2. Tubular Camisole3. Orangina
4. Bulky Mini Sweater (b/c I saw it on Knit and Tonic)

Zephyr Style
1. Glee

Thanks to Knit and Tonic (again) I found the following patterns:
1. Tulip
2. Back in Black

And last but certainly not least:
Simple Knitted Bodice

I am so ambitious! I am so ready to make something that I can wear, other than a scarf, or if I were to get creative, a dishcloth. I am probably really crazy to be this ambitious and it is likely to be my knitting and crochet downfall, but, alas, I must try.

5 Things

2006-08-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

I found this fun meme on another blog so I thought that I'd play along too! Pictures of knitting coming soon I promise!!!

5 Things in my freezer:
1. ice cream------i am a weak woman
2. chicken
3. broccoli
4. ice trays
5. ground beef

5 Things in my closet:
1. clothes
2. shoes
3. lots of bags and purses
4. my dresser
5. plastic storage totes

5 Things in my car:
1. CDs
2. umbrella
3. dumbbells
4. my black jacket that sort of doubles as a rain jacket when it is cold
5. magazines

5 Things in my purse:
1. wallet
2. keys
3. eyedrops
4. lipsticks---about 5
5. makeup bag

5 Things in my wallet:
1. debit card
2. check book
3. insurance cards
4. drivers license
5. old receipts

I am tagging:
1. Basement Queen
2. Stacie
and anybody else that reads this and wants to play along!!!

At Long Last!

2006-08-10T07:29:00.000-07:00

I am happy to report that the Moderne Log Cabin Baby Blanket has been finished and presented as a gift to my co-worker. It received quite a gathering and all were impressed! Yea!! I am very excited to be finished with it!

I made some obvious modifications from the layout in the Mason Dixon Knitting Book. I did not add Block 10 and shortened Block 9 significantly because it was getting to be so big! (And because I was ready to be finished with it!) Since I am such a "rule follower" this was really hard for me to do, but I consulted with Maria and she felt that it was big enough as well. I forgot to measure it but I think that it is probably close to 36"x24". (I used Caron Simply Soft and size 8 needles.)

I have enough yarn left over from this blanket to perhaps make a traditonal log cabin blanket if I add another color to go along with it. What luck! I also happen to have a random skein of Simply Soft in blue! Of course I need to get to working on some Christmas projects and since I finished this "big" project I am free to start another.

My boss happened upon a yarn sale and brought me and Maria some yarn. I don't know what she is going to make with hers but I am considering this and this. The first I am going to keep for myself as I think that it is tres cute and the second I may give as a gift.

Maria is going to Memphis to pick up a co-worker of ours today and she is freaking out...Needless to say, she is not excited about this trip. Too bad she won't get to drive the van, that would probably make her feel better...

Who Could Resist?

2006-08-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said 'I love you' and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights!
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly could
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking -this doesn't happen very often
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day- not really, but I have been known to make my own accent more pronounced when the need arises...as there is nothing quite like a distressed Southern Belle
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country-I was kissed by an 80 year old WWII vet in Normandy? Doesn't that count for something???
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your cds
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken-we’ll see how this one turns out!
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Gone white water rafting
82. Been on television news programs as an "expert"
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Had a one-night stand
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents-step
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror.
96. Raised children.
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Created and named your own constellation of stars
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours-jetlag is a terrible thing
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone's life

wow~i'm pretty boring...

Happy August!

2006-08-01T06:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spoke of the round dishcloth that Stacie sent to me. So without further ado, here she is in all of her pink and purple glory:

I think that it is exceptionally lovely and when I get brave I am going to try the pattern out myself.

Stacie also sent me a lovely skein of Sugar & Cream in Strawberry:

Thanks again Stacie!!!

For your viewing pleasure...another dishcloth!

2006-07-31T06:39:00.001-07:00

I wish that I had a wonderful picture of a completed Moderne Baby Blanket to share with you today. However, that is not the case as that would have required me to spend many many hours this weekend slaving over it. I slaved over nothing! I didn't want to have a pictureless post, so I knit up another dishcloth to give to my grandmother when her birthday rolls around in October. At the rate I am going, she is going to get like 20----but then she will have to use them. All part of my sinister plan to get back at her for stealing my cat, I will bury her house in dishcloths!

Once again, this pattern is from "The Best of Lily Dishcloths" as you know I love it so. I have a cone of this yarn that I won on ebay, I believe that it is Sugar n Cream Fairy Tale, and I am just going to make my dear Meme dishcloths until it runs out. I am almost out of patterns to try in "The Best of Lily Dishcloths" but I won't fret as I have many many many other dishcloth books. (Meanwhile, I just googled "The Best of Lily Dishcloths and my site comes in third!!!!)

Stacie sent me a beautiful round dishcloth that she made for me along with a skein of Sugar n Cream Strawberry! I was tres excited when I received it on Friday. I will get my act together and prepare it for a photo shoot, perhaps this evening.

Confession time: I have resolved myself to making a mitered square blanket and when the yarn store opens back up on Wednesday I will beging the hoarding of the Cotton Classic at the rate of two at a time. The thought of sewing together 80 squares is a little intimidating, so I am going to study up on the no sew method that Ann and Kay talk about.

I am about to revise and update my LIST. Should be a fun time...I'll let you know if any major changes arise. :-)

I've Been Tagged!!!

2006-07-28T13:21:00.000-07:00

Stacie has tagged me to play along, so here goes:

Six Interesting Things About Me:

1. As of today, I have read 41 books this year.

2. I work in drug discovery where I run a liquid handling robot and maintain a repository of plant extract samples.

3. I am double jointed in all of my fingers and my right hip.

4. My natural hair color is brown (I was a blonde child) but I've highlighted it for so long that I don't remember what it looks like.

5. I can tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue.

6. Without glasses or contacts I am legally blind.

I am supposed to tag six bloggers but I don't know six bloggers, so if you are reading this then consider yourself tagged!!!

I hope to have a FO to post on Monday!!!

3 Dishcloths

2006-07-24T06:38:00.000-07:00

I finally finished Block 8 on my baby blanket last night. I haven't been working on it as diligently as I should be as I've been distracted by the dishcloth. I don't know what their allure is, but I want to make them all the time. Could it be that my calling is to populate the world with cotton dishcloths???

The Nine Patch from Mason Dixon Knitting:

This is a fabulous way to use up scraps of cotton from other projects. FABULOUS!

Dishcloth for the Cat Stealer (I love her anyway):

This is from the Best of Lily Dishcloths and I am happy to say it is INTERMEDIATE! Whoo Hoo!!! Now it did take me quite a while to finish it but that is only because I was a chicken and would only do 2 rows at a time. I am fearless now!!

Finally, the Mid-Month KAL for the yahoo group, Monthly Dishcloths:

Stacie helped me on the yarn over's for this one so they finally show up half way though. Maria says that is a dishcloth that I will likely use now that it isn't perfect! She is probably right, and I like it anyway. You can find the pattern here. I find it to be a very delightful pattern and it looks much more complicated than it actually is. Did you cable that dishcloth?? Why, yes I did!

Wednesday is Knit Wit's birthday, the BIG 3-0. I think I'll make her a dishcloth. (The shawl is on hold until Christmas, for anybody that is wondering.)

And the List Goes On

2006-07-21T05:49:00.000-07:00

As if 27 projects weren't enough I have been looking through the archives of Knitty and found even more wonderfully fun projects that I desire to make my own!

1. Tempting
2. Tempting II
3. Shocking Pink Coif
4. Latifa
5. Party Apron

I so love the party apron, and think that every aspiring domestic diva should definitely have one. When I get around to making it in 4 or 5 years I will SO wear it!

And as for this, all I can say is Why???

Not much going on here except it is HOT HOT HOT. It is so hard to throw my blanket up in my lap and knit a few rows because I almost go into heat exhaustion. Will somebody please remind me why I got the bright idea to knit a blanket in July??? Please???

I did force myself to knit on the afore mentioned blanket last night while I was watching the tangled mess that is the Tour de France this year. Since they wouldn't let my man play this year, I am basically watching for the sheer entertainment value. Oh yeah, and to root against him...

Two more dishcloths are almost completed and once they have had their photo shoot I will post them here for your viewing pleasure.

A Beauty Modeling a Scarf

2006-07-17T10:20:00.000-07:00

Modeling a scarf in July is not recommended, but here I am doing it anyway, for the good of the readers of my blog! This is another scarf that I have produced for The Think Pink Challenge. I have been crocheting them so that they will be finished quicker and I won't spend too much time away from my Moderne Baby Blanket. It is coming along nicely, as I am on Block 8. It is getting so big, so I don't really like to travel so much with it. Therefore, I didn't take it over to Jason's for a photo shoot last night. I am thinking that I will let the suspense build up and will post the next photo of it when it is finished. Hopefully, that won't be too much longer...

So, I broke down and placed an order with Elann.com on Friday. I am tres excited and can't wait until it arrives!!! I ordered the latest object of my affection, the Denise Interchangeable Needle Kit. I also ordered enough yarn to make two items for Christmas, 3 Birch crochet hooks, and a crochet hook sack.

Here is my scarf trying out to be the Breast Cancer Spokes-scarf:

I have another skein of this same yarn that I am going to use to make another scarf for Think Pink Challenge. I really like the way that this one turned out. I got the basic idea for the scarf from the book, Hooked On Crochet, but I didn't add the fringe or make it 72 inches long.

I'm Good at Planning...

2006-07-12T06:21:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true. I am a planner extraordinaire! So far I have PLANS to make 27 projects! EEK! A lot of these projects are Christmas related, but a lot of them aren't. I am ready to branch out in my skills and really want to make the following items:

1. Ballet Camisole
2. Picovoli
3. Twitterpated
4. Green Gables
5. Ms. Marigold

Aren't I ambitious!!! I have gone so far as to pick out my yarns and colors. Planning can be quite fun!!

I have not ever made a piece of clothing and I think that I might can handle a pattern labeled "intermediate" as I am feeling quite intermediate after my successful picking up of the stitches for my Modern Baby Blanket. Any encouragement would be welcomed!!!

As promised, here is a picture of the ongoing project also known as Mary Heather's version of the Moderne Baby Blanket:

I finished up Block 5 last night, so this evening I will pick up stitches for Block 6 and get going with that one. I am really happy with the way that it is turning out! HOORAY.

I am not sure who the recipient is going to be yet. I thought that I would give it to a girl in my book club who is due in September, but Jason's cycling buddy's wife is expecting so I may give it to them instead. There are many patterns that I have found for baby blankets lately that I want to try, so book clubber's baby most likely won't get left out!

On an aside, I have been lusting after this bag now for longer than I can remember. I love it! While I was yarn shopping online I also came across these and since my circular needles leave MUCH to be desired, I am now lusting after them as well.

I finished up my first scarf for The Think Pink Challenge yesterday when I went home for lunch. I think that it turned out very pretty and cozy, even if it is acrylic! I am going to make some more progress on my blanket and then I am going to get some more pink yarn and make another scarf. I'd like to make 3 all totaled. I think that I can handle that. I mean, what is another project or two when you are talking about 27...

Progress! and an Evening with Knit Wit

2006-07-10T08:26:00.000-07:00

Mostly this weekend I worked on the Moderne Baby Blanket from the Mason Dixon Knitting book that I alluded to last time I posted. I have overcome my fear of picking up stitches and I am now on Block 5!!! I was afraid that the Simply Soft would not hold it's shape, and for the most part, that is true, but I have found that I am able to correct the irregularities when I am picking up stitches. I hope to have it ready for a WIP photo shoot this evening, with a picture to post tomorrow!

Between not working on Brinn's poncho and working on my modern baby blanket I was also able to complete the monthly dishcloth KAL dishcloth:

I went over to Knit Wit's house yesterday evening and watched Prime. The urge to slit my wrists was overwhelming, but luckily I was working with a plastic crochet hook, so no damage to my veins was done. Maria found The Think Pink Challenge and we have both pledged to make some scarves for this worthy cause. I took the scarf I was working on (using Simply Soft Quick in Watermelon) over to Knit Wit's house even though she has an aversion to pink.

She made it through the night unscathed by all of the pink in her domain, but it must have gone to her head because when we went to Wal-Mart so that I could buy another skein of yarn for the scarf, she bought herself a maternity top. (FYI-Knit Wit is not with child.) Said maternity top is cute, I have been forced to admit, but when you get right down to it, it is still a maternity top on a non-maternal girl! For a good laugh you should check out her new blog Deep Thoughts by Knit Wit. It has a very catchy poem about none other than yours truly.

I would show you a picture of the progress that is coming along on Knit Wit's shawl, but so far all I've done is take the yarn out of the bag...

2006-07-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

You may recall from about a month and a half ago the dishcloth set that I started making for my grandmother and my aunt for Mother's Day/Birthday. I finally finished one of the dishtowels, and it is looking highly unlikely that I will do another one due to the fact that it was incredibly boring. I would post a picture of the finished towel, but as it progressed my gauge got looser and looser and the finished product looks more like a trapezoid than a rectangle. *sigh*

I joined up with Project Finish Knit about 2 weeks ago. I usually don't have a problem finishing what I start, as mostly it is dishcloths! But for some reason I couldn't bring myself to work on that stupid towel or the poncho that I am making for Brinn. I hate the yarn that I am using for the poncho as it is novelty from Hobby Lobby and makes my fingers feel very yucky after I've knit about 4 rows. (I am very particular about the way my hands feel.) Therefore, I have been MAKING myself work on the poncho. 5 rows per day, that is all that I am willing to give.

Last Tuesday I drug Knit Wit along to Tupelo for the Hobby Lobby sale. I wanted to get some of the (yarn snobs look away now) $.99 Simply Soft for a Modern Baby Blanket from Mason Dixon Knitting. I started it when we got home that night because I am really excited to make one, but I am still on the first square! I am nervous about picking up stitches, but I have convinced myself that this should be no different than crochet, so I am planning to tackle it this evening.

Knit Wit also finagled a HELLO KITTY dishcloth pattern for me. Euphoria quickly ensued and once I get something finished I am going to cast that lovely on! WOO HOO! I even went out and bought some $6 cotton yarn especially for it. (Maria thinks that I have a problem!) I have also attempted to convert this dishcloth pattern into baby blanket size. We will see how this goes, but my engineer boss says that it should work. If not, it's all on his head. Lucky for him there is plenty of room up there as he seems to have misplaced the better part of his hair.

I have had some questions about whether I have gotten my cat yet. Well, as it turns out, my grandmother is a cat stealer. I always suspected this about her, and I was right on the money. Wave a Himalayan cat or a baby around in front of her and she can't be held responsible for her actions.

Monday, Monday

2006-06-26T12:56:00.000-07:00

Maria was so covetous of all of the dishcloths that I posted pictures of last week that she went out and bought some Peaches & Creme and forced me to make her these fine examples of dishcloth perfection:

They are just in time for July 4th, and I know that she will get lots of good use out of them when football season rolls around.

Knit Wit has requested this item for her birthday in a month, so maybe I have time to get the yarn and get it finished. I have never made a shawl before so it will be an adventure. I can make no guarantees.

I have begun to get a little freaked out thinking about all of the projects that I want to make for my family and friends for Christmas. I've got to get some yarn ordered and get to knitting and crocheting, otherwise everybody is going to be getting a wrapped up IOU. And let's be honest, that's not fun for anybody.

A Bit About Me

2006-06-23T12:55:00.000-07:00

I know that this is hard to believe but there is another knit-blogger out there named Mary-Heather (I must say however, she is much more talented than I). She actually found me, how I don't know, but one day while I was visiting her blog, Rainy Day, she had this fun little questionnaire on there so I thought that I'd play along too!

4 Jobs I've Had
1. Clausel's Jewelry
2. UM Office of Research
3. Oxford Family Vision Clinic
4. National Center for Natural Products Research

4 Movies I Could Watch Over & Over
1. The Count of Monte Cristo
2. Bridget Jones' Diary
3. When Harry Met Sally...
4. Legally Blonde

4 Places I've Lived
1. Chattanooga, TN
2. New Orleans, LA
3. Corinth, MS
4. Oxford, MS

4 Shows I Love
1. The Golden Girls
2. Days of our Lives
3. Good Eats
4. House, M.D.

4 Highly Regarded TV Shows I've Never Watched
1. The Sopranos
2. Boston Legal
3. Entourage
4. Survivor

4 Places I've Vacationed
1. Key West, FL
2. New York, NY
3. Paris, France
4. Rome, Italy

4 of My Favorite Dishes
1. Macaroni & Cheese
2. Tacos
3. Salmon
4. My Grandmother's Spaghetti

4 Sites I Visit Daily
1. CNN.com
2. Soap Opera Fan
3. Yahoo Mail
4. Mason Dixon KAL

4 Places I Would Rather Be Right Now
1. Home
2. Vacationing
3. The Yarn Store
4. Anywhere really as it is Friday afternoon and I am at work!

4 Bloggers I'm Tagging
Anybody that wants to play!!! Although I definitely think that the Basement Queen should!

Have a Happy Weekend everybody!!!

Dishcloth Update

2006-06-22T07:28:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to post photos of some more of the dishcloths that I made, but I don't have a camera and very often I forget to take them over to Jason's so that I can photograph them there. I made it a point of it yesterday though, so here they are in all of their glory:

I wish that I could remember where I got the pattern for the tea towel, but the granny square and the purple crochet are from "The Best of Lily Dishcloths" and the little crochet one at the top is from the inside of a Peaches & Creme label. It is a little bit smaller than the pattern called for it to be, so that just proves to me that I need to work on my gauge.

Here is a larger picture of Granny:

I had been wanting to make this dishcloth for a while but I was a chicken because I wasn't sure if I would be able to read the pattern correctly. I am proud of myself for getting it finished even if I did make a few mistakes. I will probably make a few more of them to give as gifts, maybe to my grandmother, because I really like the way that it turned out and it was a very quick little project.

Maria (of van driving glory) and I went to the yarn store yesterday and the lady working there said to give them a plug, so Hello to our LYS, Hanging By a Thread!!! While I was in there I got some hunter green 100% Highland Peruvian Wool by Cascade Yarns to make Jason a hat to go along with his scarf. I found a pattern on the internet but then when I got home I was looking through Stitch N Bitch and found a pattern in there for a ribbed hat, so I think that I will just go with that. I've never made a hat before so it should be exciting!

Last, but certainly not least, BIG THANKS to Jason for my cute button that he made me that says "Knitting in the Lab." I love it!!! While I have not ever knit in the lab I am thinking that now is as good a time to start as any!

Scarf Picture

2006-06-21T06:32:00.000-07:00

I finished Jason's scarf last night and gave it to him. I think that it turned out very nice and I think that he likes it as well. Hooray!

I showed this picture to my new boss and he liked it, so I guess that it passes the "man test." He, a self proclaimed Scarf Hater, said that it looked like a scarf that he would definitely wear. The handknit has successfully converted another.

I know that it is June in Mississippi and that a scarf might not seem like the most appropriate seasonal item to give. However I am excited that I finally made him one, and I hope that when we get our 2 week cold spell 6 months from now that Jason will enjoy it.

A Scarf and a Cat

2006-06-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

I bought some of the most luxurious Cascade Baby Alpaca yarn at our new yarn store here in town one day last week. I had been in there a few times before and didn't really *need* anything, but recently I decided that I wanted to make Jason a scarf. I never got around to making him one when I was knitting scarves for everyone I knew last year. Fortunately for him, I can knit better now and the yarn that I bought for his scarf is far and away better than all of the other yarns I used. I am knitting it in this K3, P3 pattern. I think that I may never have made him anything before because I couldn't find a style that I was happy with, but really, this is pretty basic! Nevertheless, I am about 3/4 of the way finished with it and hope to get a photo posted soon!

On another note, I am getting a cat! I am both excited and nervous about this because I have never had a pet that I have had to completely care for before. A friend of my aunt got it from a lady that had to go into the nursing home and she really isn't up for taking care of it either. This is really not typical behavior for me, but I am thinking that I will enjoy having him around. Will post his photo when I take posession. Right now he is being spoiled at my grandmother's house until I can go and pick him up!

More Talk of Dishcloths

2006-06-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

I had to go out of town for a few days to take my mother to her oral surgery appointment. For some reason they didn't want her to drive herself home afterward...I can't imagine why.

I joined the Monthly Dishcloth KAL this month and the first cloth that we made turned out to be a fish...I thought that this would make a fine gift for either Jason's sister (to go along with her other dishcloths that I made for her) because the men in her life like to fish or for my uncle who has been known to hang dead fish on his wall. Decisions, decisions.

I have given up on knitting for a while after a particularly bad episode with some uncooperative yarn overs and therefore I have turned to crochet. I made my first granny square on Saturday, and I will try and get a picture taken to post on here. I went a little wild at the Hobby Lobby while my mother was at her appointment and bought about 10 balls of dishcloth cotton. (At $1.27 each it's not like I broke the bank.) I am really enjoying making the granny square dishcloth out of the Best of Lily Dishcloths. It goes so much faster than knitting and as I am easily bored with a project that takes forever, this is very good for me. I haven't really done much crochet as I just taught myself the basics about 2 months ago and for some reason reading the patterns doesn't come to me as easily as knitting patterns. I am getting in some good practice though with my dishcloths.

Eventually I am going to move away from the dishcloth...I have started on the 2nd half of a pancho for Brinn that I started about 4 or 5 months ago. I laid it down for a while and just picked it up at the beginning of this week. I am cheating because it is knitted but I really do want to finish it before the child is a teenager. I also bought some very cute yarn to make a pancho for a coworker who is expecting and due in September.

On my agenda is the granny square afghan in "The Happy Hooker." I've bought the yarn and now all I have to do is crank out about 150 squares and sew them up! Hooray.

Maria got the drive the van again on Thursday, so the world is in balance once again.

AC ON!!! (And Other Ramblings)

2006-06-03T20:08:00.000-07:00

My AC was finally repaired on Tuesday, thank heavens!!! Unfortunately, on Wednesday afternoon I became incredibly stuffed up and achy and had to stay home from work for the most part of the day on Thursday. Wednesday and Thursday I didn't feel like knitting at all...it was awful! But I have regained some of my strength and have started working on the Baby Genius Burpcloth from the Mason Dixon Knitting book for a lady that I work and bookclub with who is expecting a baby in September. Will post pictures soon as I should be finishing it up before too long however slow it might seem I am going...

Today in the mail I received some beautiful Euroflax Linen in French Blue for the Moss Grid handtowel that is also in the Mason Dixon Knitting book. Everything that I have made from the book so far I have either given as a gift or plan to, but I have a feeling that I am going to be keeping this for myself! I would like to make a whole set, but am going to have to find a more economical substitution for the Euroflax first...although this yarn definitely does go hand in hand with the glamour girl image I try so hard to maintain. :-)

On another note, I am thinking of doing away with all of the throw pillows I have around my house (did I just hear my mother pass out???) and replacing them with pounds of love...any thoughts?

I am not sure that you can tell just how large this skein of yarn is, but let me assure you, it's gigantic.

Memorial Day Weekend

2006-05-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

This is not turning out to be the weekend that I had in mind...

I thought that we were going to be going to Jason's sister Laura's house in Mt. Pleasant, TN but some unforseeable events occured and therefore the party has been moved...which is fine with me of course, but I just want it to be on the record that I had my dishcloths finished on time!!!

Now, I can live with not getting to party this weekend...what I can't live with is NO AIR CONDITIONER. That is right. When I got home from work on Friday I walked into my not so cooled home only to find out that my air conditioner was running, but not doing the all important task of cooling. In Mississippi in May this is not a good thing. Not a good thing at all. Needless to say I've not been spending a grand amount of time there, mainly sleeping (which is managable due to some high powered ceiling fans). However, thanks to my landlord and the lovely folks at Franklin Heating & Cooling I should be all set up tomorrow. If not, this may be my last blog due to heat exhaustion...if you don't hear back from me soon, check the obits.

The Great Outdoors

2006-05-23T06:34:00.000-07:00

No, this is not a mirage you are seeing. This is me sitting out in front of a tent! Believe it or not! I am not the outdoorsy type at all, but my fella is, so one makes compromises...he goes shopping with me, I camp with him. You can't tell from the photograph I am busily working on a crochet dishcloth for Jason's oldest sister, Laura. She is having a birthday party on Saturday and I am going to be equipped with all of my gift this time...there will be no promises of things to come like I did on Mother's Day. I was actually able to finish said dishcloth ( I will post photos later, when they are ALL complete) but I didn't start another because I didn't think that Laura would appreciate opening her lovely handmade gift and it being slightly reminiscent of bug spray. What can I say, I am a buffet for the insect population. :-(

Now, you may be asking yourself, WHY? Why was Mary Heather out camping? This is why:
Jason was taking part in a mountain bike race. He is quite outdoorsy, I must say...But all in all, a fun time was had by all. Thankfully it wasn't too hot and other than a round with a flying beetle and some disconcerting noises by some turkeys in the middle of the night, everything went A-OK. Yes, I may have a biology degree, but I still don't want a beetle as big as my hand landing on my shoulder, OK!!! I mean, there is a reason I studied PLANTS!!!

I hope to have my dishcloths finished on Friday, a whole day early! I will post their school pictures when they are complete.

Baby Bib for Brinn

2006-05-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

My friend, Liz, had a baby back in December and while I gave her some adorable items for said baby, I had made no handknit for this child. UNTIL NOW. I think that this might be the cutest baby bib in the entire world, and I am not just saying that because I sprained my index finger while knitting the first row.

This bib pattern is from the Mason Dixon knitting book. However, a very talented, and obviously forward thinking gal on the MasonDixonKAL thought of adding the ruffle. Nice idea! She posted how to achieve the ruffle and I quickly took to it. The cast on was an obscene amount of stitches (to me). Since I am very slow at that, it took me about 30 mintes. Due to the fact that I also cast on INCREDIBLY tight, the result was the afore mentioned sprained index finger. Being ever so brave, I was able to push through the pain and accomplish the magnificent handknit. (It's a good thing this kid is cute.)

On a more charitable note, Maria, the demon possessed van driver, is a new knitter and has been inspired to knit blankets for the tots at St. Jude's after our sojourn there last week. She recruited me and then sent her hubby to Tupelo to pick up 2 pounds of love. I don't want her to get too excited when she reads this, but maybe we can borrow the van to deliver the blankets!

Driving in Memphis (Revisited)

2006-05-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

I have been informed that I didn't wax poetic enough about the FANTASTIC Memphis driving abilites in a 12 passenger van by one Maria. So let me just say, Maria, you did a FANTASTIC job driving a 12 passenger van in downtown Memphis and on the interstate highways that got us there. I only had to yell at you about 5 times! HOORAY!!!

After our first trip to St. Jude's we parked the big U of M van in downtown Memphis over by the Opheum and trod the street of Beale. We were lusted after by one street vendor (Ha ha ha) before taking our lunch at Rum Boogie where they have fine mac & cheese and not so great corn bread muffins. In the south no less! This is sin. Maria says too much muffin not enough corn...but it is a cool place (with many guitars hanging from the ceiling) and their lunch menu is not to be missed.

After our luncheon, we made the journey back to St. Jude's so that Maria could practice more of her van driving in case she ever decides to take up competitive van racing. The nice man at the gate, obviously knowing that 2 girls in a huge van is just as close to a disaster waiting to happen as you can get, let us park right inside the gate. I ushered us into the gift shop POST HASTE where we touched just about everything in the store before making our final selections...very nice gift shop, people! After this shopping frenzy, we went over to the "Gold Domed Building", saw the tomb of Danny and Rose Marie Thomas, and toured their facilites (being the important scientific people that we are).

Now, no road trip can be complete without the stop for empty calories and our story is no different. Southaven has a Cold Stone Creamery and it was calling our names. I think that it called my name first, as most establishments of that sort seem to know my FULL NAME, but Maria's must be second on the list as she had no qualms about pulling that van into their very small parking lot. (There might be a side story about the Starbucks, but I've been sworn to secrecy.) We had a very tasty concoction and I am happy to report that mine was labeled 'sinless' while being tasty at the same time. Maria had a fine strawberry shortcake ice cream thingy. The ice cream server boy knows how to sell ice cream to two road tripping girls such as ourselves...he talked me into adding strawberries to mine when I am not even sure I wanted strawberries...hmmm.

Field Trip (We Made it Back Alive)

2006-05-12T19:25:00.000-07:00

Today was mine and Maria's field trip to St. Jude's and I am proud to report that we made it to and from our destination unscathed. I have to say that St. Jude's is really a wonderful and inspirational place. If you are ever provided with an opportunity to tour their facilities it is really an opportunity that you should take. They also have a very nice gift shop. :-)

I set out on our travels with the best of intentions of finishing one of the two dishtowels I need for the remainder of my mother's day/birthday presents...As you can see, that didn't last very long:

Yes, that is about 1 inch of a dish towel that should be about 20 inches long when complete. Seeing as how today is Friday and I have to make 2 of these by Sunday it looks like my grandmother and my aunt will be receiving 2 cloths a piece along with the promise of a matching dishtowel to follow.
This is the sand stitch pattern that I posted about in my last blog. I really like the way that it turns out and for the most part it is a mindless pattern. These cloths are relatively small...they are about the perfect size to fit in the palm of your hand, so they knit up very quickly.

On another note, I have really enjoyed going to this Mason Dixon Knit-a-long site! You should check out all of the great items that these ladies are knitting from this Mason Dixon Knitting book. If you are a knitter and you don't have it by now, you really should RUN out and get it. The collection of ballband dishcloths on this site are making my one feel lonely. Once I get finished with my current dishtowels I am going to be purchasing many skeins of Sugar n' Cream. MANY.

I Really Should Be Knitting...

2006-05-09T19:04:00.000-07:00

Since I have already given my mother her Mother's Day present, I am not really planning on knitting her anything, but I am in the process of making something for my grandmother, Mimi, and my aunt, Tracy (She is going to be having her birthday on Mother's Day this year and as my favorite aunt, I didn't want to leave her out). I like this sand stitch kitchen set, so I am making one set for each of them. So far I have two and a half of the cloths made. I am averaging about one per day during my tv watching in the evenings, but at this pace I am not sure that I will be ready by Sunday!

Excitingly enough, on Friday, my boss is actually letting a co-worker and myself travel outside of the building! (Our destination: St. Jude's to deliver some assay plates) While she is driving us I may just bring my knitting, so all hope for finishing my project in time is not lost. (She has vowed not to let me do any driving because she doesn't think that I will transition very well from a VW Beetle to a 12 passenger van. She routinely drives an Expedition, who am I to argue??) We will also be dropping off some traveling scholars at the airport on this our maiden jaunt of official business. She keeps saying that she can't believe they are letting us out of the building with the van key and the gas card...I say we are completely reliable girls!!!

Not a Whole Lot of Knitting Going On

2006-05-03T18:36:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a while since my last post as I have been a fairly busy girl. There was a day of taking my mother to the dentist and then I was in Sunny Florida. I was however able to produce these lovely pieces of dishcloth art for my bf.

I must give credit for the alien cloth to Nicole at purpleduckie.com (where there are some oh-so-cute dishcloth patterns-i see the dragonfly dishcloth and butterfly dishcloth in my future) while the other two patterns are from "The Best of Lily Dishcloths."

I can't say that I have been producing much else as far as knitwear goes. I did make myself a potholder/hotpad during my 4 hour stay at my mother's dental appointment and later a tea towel (which I quite like). I will try and get my act together and post a photo of both of these, but that will require me to weave in the ends. FYI: I hate to weave in ends...probably I am not the only one. Maybe with some fancy camera action I can avoid this. :-)

Recommendations From Me!

2006-04-13T09:57:00.000-07:00

In my quest to own all fabulous knitting and crochet books I have added the following 2 to my collection: "Simple Crochet" by Erika Knight, and "Hooked on Crochet" by Candi Jensen. They are both very good instructional-wise and pattern-wise.

I have been neglecting my lab work duties momentarily to look through "Simple Crochet" and I am so excited to get to work on something from this great book! It has so many amazing items for the home including sections on pillows, throws, and containers. (Not the categories that you usually find in a pattern book.) Yes, my friends, you won't find one scarf pattern try as you might.

I might just pass this book around to my friends and family and let them choose their this year's Christmas present.

Erika Knight has been calling for Rowan yarns (despite the occassional pattern using leather or string!!) throughout the book, and while I am all for great, high quality yarns, I am going to have to make some substitutions in that department for some more economical yarn choices when I start in on some of these beautiful blankets. Since Mississippi doesn't have a lottery I can't put my faith in striking it rich any time soon! :-)

I have also (re)discovered the yarn supply website knitting-warehouse.com. I had been using Joann.com when I can't get to a yarn store, but I will be adding a link on the side of my blog for this site because not only do they have great prices, but they have $5.99 shipping for every order.

Finally, for my non-knitting readers, I have a recommendation for you! Yes, I've not forgotten you...go and check out the new Bath & Body Works website. They have added some wonderful new product lines and I am confident that you won't be disappointed!!!

Dishcloth Mania

2006-04-10T06:43:00.000-07:00

Most of the weekend I worked on this fine dishcloth from the Mason Dixon Knitting book. It is a very easy pattern however I just don't know if I will ever be able to bring myself to soil it on a dish. But as the girls say in the book, "It ain't a dishcloth until it's been used on a dish." Not sure what that makes mine then. :-)

Many thanks to my fine boyfriend for acting as photographer!

Place your orders now! :-)

I think that it is very reminiscent of a brick wall, but it could be due to the fact that it is pink. I am thinking that it would be a cute set done in many different colors with the same background (in this case khaki). So beware, a brickwall dishcloth may be in your future!!!

I know that dishcloths are an easy beginner project, but for some reason I am just discovering them. I like them because they don't take very long to finish so I don't get too bored looking at it before I am finally finished with it. I am currently working on one for the afore mentioned boyfriend, however it is in a nice manly khaki in a basketweave pattern. He says that he won't be able to use his either, but hopefully we will both get over that! More pictures to come!

Many projects on the horizon

2006-04-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

Since both of my loyal readers have enquired about me not having a new post up yet, HERE IT IS!!! :-) I wish that I had a picture of my current project, which is a rediculously simple crocheted tote bag. Maybe I can get one of those posted when it is finished.

I have received my copy of "Mason Dixon Knitting" and I must say that all of the reviews I've read have been correct. It is really great! I am going to peruse some more and then I will be back with my own 5 star review. It truly looks like a must have!

As the title says, I have many projects that I am wanting to start! I have yarn all over my apartment. The poor boyfriend couldn't even sit on the couch yesterday. It is truly a sight to behold. And more is on the way! After looking through the new book I am really wanting a Log Cabin Blanket all my very own, so I am sure that I will be searching out some yarn for that soon. It is never ending I'm afraid!

Also, the boyfriend's sister, one of my avid readers, has commissioned me to make her a shawl. I'll think about it if she behaves. :-) As 50% of my readership, how can I say no???

Welcome to my Knitting and Crochet Blog!!!

2006-04-05T12:10:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!!! Welcome to my blog about knitting and crochet. It is my desire to discuss projects, new books and whatever else is new in the world of yarn!! I am what some might consider an Advanced Beginner in knitting (meaning that I have made somewhere close to 3 million scarves) and only recently have I taken to crochet.

I hope that you will enjoy this blog, share with me your opinions, and let me know what you are working on as well. Hopefully we can all learn and improve together!!!

Mary Heather