Knit Once, Purl Forever

Little Red Scarf

Actually, it's not so little. It's perfect. It's the perfect length and width according to the Red Scarf project specs.

Scarf for the Red Scarf Project

Yarn: Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande in red, of course.

Pattern: Seed stitch pattern with 20 stitches cast on.

Needles: US 10 1/2

Finished Scarf Size: 5" x 60." Norma will be happy.

Time: One week. This was a very quick knit.

My next red scarf is going to be this pattern from the new Fiona Ellis book.

Now I'm off to bed. The time change thing has made me very sleepy for some reason. Maybe something to do with the getting dark earlier in the day thing or something. Who knows.

Getting Inspired

Remember when Kramer came up with the idea to create a coffee table book about coffee tables? Certain knitting books remind me  of that episode of Seinfeld because they are what I consider coffee table books. Actually, my favorite knitting books are just that: beautiful books that you can proudly display on your own coffee table because even a non-knitter wouldn't mind flipping through them. Knitter's Stash and Last Minute Knitted Gifts are two such coffee table knitting books that come to mind and now I can add another to my list: Inspired Cable Knits by Fiona Ellis.

Thing is, as beautiful as this book is, it really doesn't do her cabled sweaters justice as they are even more beautiful and exquisite in person. I know this because I had the opportunity to attend two of her cable knitting classes in a workshop yesterday.  We were able to see and touch many of the items that are featured in the book. It was actually an eye-opening experience for me in that I wonder how many perfectly wonderful projects I pass up because the photo is less than wonderful or the project just doesn't jump out at me for whatever reason.

Both cable classes were great, but I have to say that I preferred the Twisting with the Cable Girl class, in which we went over the basics of cables and beyond to more advanced cable designs, over the Morphing Cables class, in which we knit free-form to create whatever pattern we wanted. I'm not very creative on demand like that as I think it falls under my whole not knitting well with others thing. However, many of the other knitters came up with some very creative cable designs. It was nice to learn from Fiona as she was super-nice, as well as a very talented designer, and it was inspiring to see what the creative knitters could accomplish in such a short amount of time.

One of those more creative knitters was also a fellow knit blogger, Calamknitty, whom I had the pleasure to meet. Not only was she creative with her cable creation, but she also makes beautiful stitch markers (you can see some of them on her site). She gave me a lovely blue/green stitch marker, which I would show here if only Typepad would allow me to post more pictures. After many attempts, it has decided that I have a reached my one-photo posting limit in this post tonight, so I'll just have to post the other photos later.

Added Later: Due to all the Typepad/computer issues I had with trying to post my photos, I think this entry doesn't reflect what I really wanted to say about the workshop or the Inspiration. Sometimes technology just beats a knit blogger into submission and silence, you know!

In Fitness News: I've been stalled out on the diet plateau for the last month or so. I've followed the plan carefully, logged every bite, and exercised several times a week with no real results. About mid-week last week I realized that I needed to abandon the plan a little as I had several work lunches, family dinners, and lunch and dinner meetings with old friends and colleagues planned for the rest of the week. And I knew that I couldn't control the menu or what is available, but I could make the best choices possible and start over on Monday. So, I made the best choices and I mostly stuck to the plan, but I sometimes strayed from the plan such as with the chocolate chip cook I had on Saturday at the workshop (best cookie I've ever tasted, but that could be because I haven't tasted a cookie in six months or longer). And I didn't write anything down, but I tried to only eat when I was actually hungry.

Today is that day, Monday, so I stepped on the scale for a little reckoning as I may as well know what the damage will be when I visit the diet center later today. The "damage"? I'm DOWN three pounds. THREE. POUNDS. What the????

Added Even Later:

My uninspired class creation. It may not be all that creative, but it was the first cable work I ever knit without a pattern.

Ms. Calamknitty's very beautiful stitch marker. 

Dizzy Day

Wanna get dizzy?

If so, take a gander at these bad boys. The bigger you click, the dizzier you get:

What lessons have I learned? Seed stitch is not very photogenic. So much for its modeling career, I guess. Good thing the red scarf has brains warmth and softness going for it, that's all I have to say.

Answers in Red

The answer to my dilemma in the last post is clear today. I will do both, of course. I divided the length of the Lacey Throw by the number of weeks until X-mas. Once I get my alloted knitting complete for the week, I'm free to knit for the finished object gallery. Works for me.

And while practically everyone in Blogland was at Rhinebeck, I was off to the local yarn store to buy red yarn for the Red Scarf Project. I used all the red yarn from my stash on this project last year, so I had to get more. And I have to say, I think this scarf is turning out even better than the last one.

I'm using Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande, which kind of sounds like coffee but isn't, and knitting the scarf up in seed stitch on size US 10 1/2 needles. I couldn't get a decent shot of this project tonight, but the seed stitch is working up nicely in this yarn. I'll try to capture a better shot later. I've never used this yarn before, but I will definitely use it again. Soooo soft.

Knitting Confessions

Forgive me, Yarn Father, for I have sinned. It's been forever since my last knitting confession. My sin is that I haven't knit a stitch in four days.

Four. Days. No. Knitting.

That's practically unheard of around these parts. I'm not sure what my major malfunction is, but I'm just not into the crafting thing. I really can't explain it. I don't have the flu. I don't have the broken arm/finger/wrist/anything. I certainly have plenty of the yarn. And I have the same amount of the knitting time as always.

Well, I might have slightly less of the time as I've been pouring over the Oldest Son's Senior pictures trying to decide which shots to turn into proofs. I really don't consider this a factor as I always have other things to do and still manage to knit anyway.

I actually think the problem is that I'm torn over what to knit next. And, since I'm confessing knitting things here, I should probably admit that some of my indecisiveness is due in part to my knitting competition with myself. I would like to knit a lacey throw for a family member who is confined to a wheelchair and always cold. I want to knit the throw and I feel that I should make the throw, but I realize that it will be a long, time-consuming project that will likely take the rest of the calendar year to complete. And the selfish competitive knitter in me would like to crank out several more FOs so that I can match or exceed the number of completed projects posted in last year's project gallery.

(Last year, I completed about 30 projects. Currently, I'm sitting at 17 as two FOs haven't been added to the gallery yet.)

Now, trust me, I know this is stupid. You don't need to tell me because I'm well aware that I'm being selfish. And I know that quality and complexity of a project should trump quantity as it takes a lot longer to knit a sweater or blanket than it takes to knit a hat or scarf. I know this.

Of course, knowing this hasn't helped me in deciding what to knit next. I'm still the frozen knitter staring into the what to knit headlights. I'm sure I'll do the right thing in the end. And I'm sure the knitting will recommence.

Eventually.

Predictable

Remember this post about the lost yarn? I searched high and low for that yarn and I really thought it would turn up once I bought the replacement yarn. When it didn't turn up, I even spent a little more time looking for it because I wasn't so sure about the new yellow colored yarn. I looked everywhere, but that yarn was nowhere to be found.

That was the case until this morning, that is. I was getting dressed when something caught my eye from under the bed. I stooped down to check it out and low and behold there beneath the bed, with the unused exercise equipment and countless dust bunnies, was the missing yarn. This was probably the only place I didn't look!

The yarn looks a little worse for wear as though it was ran over by a car or The Hubby's big feet.

But I think it's still usable. I love this yarn so much that I'm thinking about making another Skinny Scarf as these colors were my original choice. Of course, I knew the yarn would turn up eventually since I bought new. Buying a replacement anything pretty much seals the deal for the original to turn up, you know. Life's so predictable sometimes.

Speaking of being predictable, my brain is so yellow! I have to agree with everything except for the being on time part. I'm not always prompt, but I am reliable and dependable. (As seen at Lorette's.)

What Color is Your Brain?

GOLD:

At work or in school: I like set routines and organized ways of doing things. Rules and directions are a great help to me. I prefer to stay on one topic at a time. I need to know what is expected of me, and I always want to know if I am on the right track. I like subjects that are useful and traditional, such as business, accounting, history and government.
With friends: I prefer people who are careful with their money and who make plans ahead of time. I like my friends to be loyal, dependable and on time. I am serious about love and show it in many practical ways.
With family: I like stability and security and enjoy traditions and frequent celebrations. I like to spend holidays with family members, and I plan ahead for such gatherings.
Take this quiz!

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The "S" Word

And not "S" word as in these finally finished Jaywalker Socks. The "S" word to which I refer is swatch. Swatch:  The knitting term I avoid like no other. I don't know what exactly it is about it, but I generally avoid knitting the swatch at all cost.

Thing is, my aversion to the "S" word, Swatch, really doesn't make a lot of sense. I mean, really, what's so bad about knitting an extra four-inch square of fabric? What harm is there in that? It can't really take all that long. It's not like it will add weeks or months to the completion of any given project. And yet, I still avoid it. I can count on one hand the number of swatches I have knit. I might even be able to count it on one finger, I swatch so infrequently.

This might have to change for my most recent project, a lacey throw I'm making for a family member for Christmas. I've now cast on twice with two different sized needles, knit several inches each time, and I still don't like the look of the work in progress. Then I started realizing the inevitable: I might just have to swatch. I don't know why that realization pains me so as knitting a swatch or two would surely be quicker than casting on for the length of the blanket several more times. I know one would think so, but I can't promise one will do so.

Here's for the "S" word that doesn't suck!

Jaywalker Socks

Pattern: The oft-seen Jaywalker Sock. (Do I really need to link this pattern???)

Yarn: Trekking XXL in colorway 134

Needles: US 1s

Time: Too long to mention. I started this project in June, knit the first sock once, ripped the first sock once, finally finished the first sock, and then slowly knit the second sock over the course of three months. I'm happy to have these babies off my needles!

On the Agenda

During these troubled times of too much going on at the office and in life, I find that I do best if I just focus on one thing at a time. If I focus on the here and now then I won't be too freaked out by all the later and upcoming. And there is a lot coming up. So much that just thinking about it might make my head explode. For reals. Must not think about it.

So, here's the agenda for today:

Yarn Crawling. Must stop by at least two of my favorite three yarn stores to show the Mystery Baby Blanket at the store the yarn came from and to browse for yarn at all stores. For some reason, I haven't been big on the stash enhancement front lately. I don't know why exactly, but it might stem from the fact that it seems that I already have "everything" or at least everything that appeals to me.

Body Weighing. Must stop in at the diet center and weigh in. At the last count, I'm down 15 pounds so far. Twenty more to go.

Senior Picture Taking.  Must take the OS to get the senior photos taken. We picked out the outfits and had his hair cut last week, so we're all set for today. We're opting for fall shots outside by our favorite photographer who is also our long-time friend.

Sock Knitting. Must knit socks. Not socks as in Soctoberfest socks, socks as in finishing those Jaywalkers I started in June socks. They're almost complete--I'm finally to the toe of the second sock. Just don't ask about that Noah's Ark cross stitch project cause I think there's something really wrong with me in that I keep doing the opposite of what I say I will do where my knitting/crafting stands. Not sure what's up with that either.

Couch cuddling. Must cuddle with the Hubby and watch some movies or something. We don't have many plans this weekend and that's fine by me.

Technology Challenged

I think I am being tested. If so, I am failing miserably. I've been having problems with my blog for the last week or so and now I'm unable to login to my e-mail. My apologies if I owe you a response. I'm not being a punk (much) this time, I really can't help it.

I think my problem is caused by the new wireless card I purchased a while back as that's when my troubles began. But it could be a more serious problem as well. There's really no telling.

If I'm silent around here, this explains it this week.

Weird Day

Yep. That's the kind of day today is shaping up to be: weird. I haven't been into the office yet because I had to take the YS to the doctor's. He's been complaining that his stomach hurts and I thought we should check it out since we were involved in a minor car accident over the weekend. They took x-rays and it turns out he's okay. We gave him ginger ale to settle his stomach and he's feeling much better now.

I'm waiting for the hubby to get home so he can stay with the YS so I can work this afternoon, but I thought I would check my e-mail and stop in at the blog for a quick second.... Not that anything is quick if Typepad is involved.... Anyway, I was rather shocked to see that the draft entry I began last night posted this morning, especially after I deleted it last night. At least I thought I deleted it. I deleted it AGAIN and it is really gone now. Or should I say that it's gone for now? It might come back from the dead again for all I know.

And I wonder  --  is anyone else is having problems with Typepad since the latest upgrade? It takes me forever to login and navigate through the normal functions for adding photos and entries to the blog. It takes forever and a day to upload a photo. And in surfing blogs through Bloglines, I noticed that the Typepad blogs take a very long time to load on the screen. Any of you have any troubles viewing my site or any other Typepad blogs? Any Typepad users experiencing the same problems as I am?

These things would be good to know as I plan to report my issues to Typepad.