valorie-knitter-with-an-o

yes, still knitting

2009-10-27T09:55:00.000-04:00

It's been over a year since I updated this blog -- much has been going on. I did keep knitting, at times much less than usual, but never completely quit. I have finished several hats, the Opulent Raglan (which I LOVE), a vest for Alex, several cowl/smoke rings, Alix's Prayer Shawl(from Debbie Macomber); Marguerite by Elsebeth Lavold, Loppem by Norah Gaughan; Slinky Ribs -- okay wow, I guess I have actually completed quite a lot!!

Well, I feel better.

Hope you do too! :-)

Recent FO

2008-04-06T19:47:00.003-04:00

I actually finished something! I managed to finish and wear a few times the I-Cord vest -- done in Misti Hand-dyed worsted alpaca. Pictures to come, I promise!

But on the other hand, the recently started objects include -- the Sideways cardigan from the Spring Vogue, a pair of Gansey style socks, a nearly completed fair isle baby sweater from a Rowan book (which was given to the mother yesterday in typical knitter style -- you know "look at this sweet thing I'm making for you and the baby, but you don't get it just yet -- give it back so I can finish it for you!")

Still working on the Bristow -- that too will have pics to come soon!

On the weather front - spring day today!

quick (and scarce) update!

2008-02-16T19:23:00.004-05:00

New year, same bad, bad blogger! Love reading everyone else's, just never seem to be able to get into the habit of updating my own.

Finished Nat's Kenobi jacket today -- all that is left is weaving in a few ends -- really not too many of them, so I will get that done tomorrow!

Even though I finished and have worn my Clapotis several times, I never blocked it. I decided it really did need to be blocked and so it is on the table drying right now. I think it will be much nicer that way.

Other updates -- the craft room is 97% decluttered, organized and ready for action! It looks great -- I have cubbies for the yarn, another set for other stuff -- all the drawers in the rolling drawers have been culled and organized -- everything has a place and everything in its place! It is FAB-YOU-LOOSE!!!!!

Well, Jeopardy is on -- gotta run!

cough, cough, sniff, sniff...

2007-11-06T17:00:00.000-05:00

So, I guess a cold will make you realize you need to post -- never mind that lots of thangs have been goin' on -- but this stinking cold has me laid back and pitiful and sorry for myself (it is after all, the SECOND stinking one I have had in the last 3 months, #!&*()*!!!, thank you very much!)

But, anyway -- was it just weekend before last that I was in the glorious mountains of NC, enjoying the colors and spending wAAAy too much money at SAFF? Yes, yes it was just weekend before last that I was doing that very thing. Let's see, it would appear (please say with soft southern drawl- you know -- "aah peer") that I will be knitting some sportweight knitwear in the coming months, seeing as how I now have over 3000 yards of it. And some silk and cashmere fingering weight (aren't they pretty much the same -- you would think that someone who works (albeit just part time) in a yarn store would know these things, wouldn't you?)

I also came home with the most wonderful alpaca cardigan -- I know, I know, buying already knit items is cheating, but it looks FAB-U-LOUS on me, and let me tell you, as a big girl, things that make us big girls look good, are never cheating!

Let's see -- what else is on the needles and active? Nat's Kenobi Jacket, the MS5, face cloths for Christmas gifts, and the newest, an aran weight cardi for ME -- in Rowan's Natural Silk Aran -- I am using the Knitty pattern Bristow with a little modification possible - more later. Those are the projects I am focusing on for now. (But, that can change at a moments notice -- baraahhaahhaaa)

ahh, I feel better already.

p.s. have a grammar question 0r conundrum -- is the word "crew" singular or plural -- you know, as in "The space shuttle crew have/has several tasks remaining." I maintain that it is singular -- since you can make it plural: "crews". No one else seems as upset by this as I am. Hmm.

Woo-hoo!

2007-09-21T23:28:00.000-04:00

Finished! Yeeh ha! A FO! that actually fits! Carol's Clever Little Shawl pattern -- in mahogany Malabrigo -- luscious, luscious, luscious!

a brief flurry of activity

2007-08-24T19:06:00.000-04:00

Well, it was sort, weed and categorize time today -- the WIP's that I relegated to the UFO bucket, the AFI's (almost finished items -- you know, they only need to be blocked and seamed -- ba harr harharhar) culled and separated to their own knitting bag -- and then I have the current 5 (I think) projects in two separate bags -- and one other bag with the next- in-line projects. New yarn was put into the proper container (sock yarn, bulky yarn and other weight); yarn that had somehow managed to escape its container, but yet wasn't needed for any current or impending project were likewise returned as well.

Loose patterns were placed into sleeves and put in the book (alas, the book is no longer organized -- but hey -- at least there is a book w/page sleeves and there are patterns in it -- that's a biggie!)

Not a huge undertaking, but it felt good.

happy sigh.

2007-07-03T19:19:00.000-04:00

Back from Augusta, GA, where we visited family and sweltered -- I honestly do not know how I managed to live there for nearly 10 years! It was good to see my brother -- I really do miss him -- but there were a couple of incidents that got my goad up. But I am trying to be a "better person" and tried not let them get me into a foul mood.

I did get a lot of knitting done -- I managed to knit nearly the entire back of the "Singles and Doubles" tank from last years Knitters. I am using Top Soft in a rosy, dusky purple color.

(I don't want to hear it -- I know it is yet another project, and that there are several UFO's that I should be working on -- but didn't you hear? Not only did I manage to nearly finish the back in only 2 1/2 days, but as of right this second, the back is finished and I am about to start the front. That counts for something, right?)

Tomorrow is the 4th of July -- we really don't have any plans, and I'm kinda liking that -- may take in a movie, do some more knitting (you never know, I may actually complete this project -- have to wait and see about that cowl-type neck).

I'm a process knitter -- that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Procrastination

2007-06-19T08:11:00.001-04:00

Well, the laundry room is finished (mostly), all the tools are back in the garage (mostly), just like the other home diy stuff last year is complete (mostly) and I am (mostly) caught back up on my housework.

As far as my knitting UFO's -- well, I am (mostly) finished with the chevron shell, the wrap cardigan was (mostly) finished and I discovered it was WAYYYY too big, so I decided to reknit the back in a smaller size, and I have (mostly) ripped it out, Joshua's sweater is al(most) finished, and I have (mostly) been knitting on the Clapotis more than anything else.

Well, I have a grocery list that is (mostly) done.

...hmmm. I wonder if there is a pattern here.

I'm so sore &....

2007-06-02T21:59:00.000-04:00

oow, uuugh, I am soooo out of shape...we have been laying tile all weekend and I am absolutely poooopped!

Naturally, very little knitting done.

....sigh....

at least the laundry room will look decent now.

One of the crowd

2007-05-18T21:41:00.000-04:00

Well, I've always known that I was a bit slow, but....I had no idea......

http://www.gusset.net/kip/archives/000509.html

I am waaaay behind the craze, but I cast on for Clapotis today using Briar Rose "Wistful" in the raspberry/green/blue/gold colorway (I got two different colorways and am alternating the skeins -- there are 500 yards on each, so I hope to make mine a little larger, since I am a little larger.....sigh)

I will post pics as soon as I can get the camera from the teenager....

One note about the Mother's day banquet at church -- after lugging my china, crystal, depression glass pieces, arranging flowers, I had a beautiful table. For me and Natalie. A table for eight -- and just the two of us. We both said it would have been more fun to do it at home. Frustrating you say? I'll say.

Back from Katrina ravaged land

2007-05-11T21:01:00.000-04:00

I returned Wednesday from Gulfport, Mississippi, where I was part of the church's mission team. We spent five days working, helping homeowners make repairs to their Katrina damaged homes. It was amazing how much work is still needed even after 2 years.

I took knitting with me, but really didn't have much time to work on it. I have started the Charlotte's web shawl, and the Koigu is simply amazing to knit with -- the colors are simply fab-u-lous!

Boo missed me while I was gone (the dd and dh did as well) -- it was really sweet! Here's the pic I got while down there.

Tomorrow is the Mother's day banquet/luncheon at the church -- with fancy table settings and all. Should be nice.

A terrible affliction has come over me.

2007-04-19T19:59:00.000-04:00

there simply must be a cure for it...

so many have suffered from it...

many never recover....

I am suffering from a terribly severe case of it and I am......

afraid,

very, very afraid.......

castonitis. shudder.

three in one week......and another lurking, calling,

arrrrgghhh...aahhhh! HELP!

Life as a yarn addict

2007-04-14T10:13:00.000-04:00

Saturday...a day for...what? Cleaning? Watching bad TV? Napping? Knitting? All of the above, perhaps? Who knows?

Well, most likely a trip to my LYS (where I work part-time, but haven't been in all week due to the aforementioned unpleasant ob procedure) for yet another set of needles. I swear, if I ever counted all the needles I have purchased, it would be embarrassing. I haven't yet bought a set of Denise or Knit Picks Options, because I would just be like a couple of the other gals at the shop -- they have two sets of empty Denise needles.

sigh.

The life of a yarn addict.

pics

2007-04-12T17:06:00.000-04:00

just a few pics of WPI's....

Chevron Shell (with Bella Boo)

Chevron shell progress

Close-up of pattern on Dragon Fin vest

Dragon Fin vest progress

My life is the weather

2007-04-12T12:40:00.000-04:00

Well, I guess it simply must be admitted -- I decide how I feel to a fair degree based on what the weather is like -- if it is sunny and nice, I generally feel pretty good; if it is grey and dreary -- I feel like crap. Today is sunny -- a little cool and quite breezy, and even though I am still having some not so light cramps, I think I feel pretty good. I wonder sometimes if people who live in big cities are so afflicted by natures caprices?

Haven't picked up the pointy sticks as yet, but I have been reading the new issue of Knitters; did the crossword (well, some of it anyway); and played a few games of Freecell. I really want to go and mess around down at the Southside, but I just don't know if I am up to that, especially since I will be taking Mother shopping tomorrow. I'll give it another 1/2 hour or so and then decide.....

toodles.

Instant gratification!

2007-04-11T20:30:00.000-04:00

While I am a through and through believer that if you knit you should knit with the best yarn you can afford (I do work at the LYS, you know), I did not start out that way. Once upon a time I bought (shudder) acrylic yarn from the local Hobby Lobby. Well, there was a ball of boucle and a ball of ribbon yarn in the same color families (bright, springy colors) and I thought, what the hey -- and I cast on 30 stitches and knit up the cutest little shawlette in one afternoon! Woo hoo! A complete knitted garment in one afternoon -- it don't get any better than that!

I would have worked on my other wpi's except that I had a LEEP done on Monday, and I think I overdid it yesterday, because today I have been cramping something terrible -- so much so that I broke into the horded prescription pain pills that I like to have on hand for such occasions -- and while they worked wonders on the pain, they do make me, ah, well, stupid. No pattern stitches for me -- simple garter was the best I could hope for.

I really hope the LEEP took care of all the dsyplasia -- and if it didn't, I'm ready to simply have the hysterectomy -- no more chillen for me! I'll wait on more grandbabies -- and while I dearly dearly love the one I have, I'm happy to wait a while on more -- although knitted baby things are sooo adorable!

Well, it's Lost night -- and tomorrow is Grey's. Life is good.

Spring has sprung?

2007-04-10T20:32:00.000-04:00

Well, we just survived an Easter that began with a 27 degree morning -- and a high of, oh, all of 45! And today the high was nearly 70 -- only two days and a 25 degree difference!!! My azaelas were ruined, and my Japanese threadleaf maple got zapped as well. I hope the strawberries make it -- I was sooo looking forward to having fresh strawberries!

As for what's on the needles (and finished items):

Almost completed the cover wrap sweater from Spring 2007 Interweave Knits
I used Rowan Summer Tweed, color Cape, color 511 . It turned out beautiful, except for the fact that I made it too big for me -- but it should fit my daughter if she will just but wear it! It is not a pattern for the newbie -- there is a LOT going on with this pattern -- side shaping at the same time as front edge/neck shaping -- and all the while you're supposed to keep the pattern (which, btw, the pattern DOES NOT tell you how). But a fun knit nonetheless.

Also on the needles -- a chevron pattern shell from the June 2007 (arent they just a wee bit ahead?) Knit-n-Style . I'm using "Tropicana" in pinks and greens -- it is coming along well!

Also, I'm attempting to design my very first garment -- a vest that I am knitting out of Mountain Colors -- with the dragon fin pattern from BW 2nd Treasury -- with a small cable twist on the front edges -- we'll see how the neck and armhole shaping goes before making any judgment.

Also started this week a simple cotton top, knit in the round up the armhole, using K1C2 "TyDye" gorgeous stuff!!

Well, that's it for today!

New year, new blahda, blahda, blah....

2007-01-09T20:59:00.000-05:00

New year, new starts, resolutions and all that, right? Well, I guess -- it's really not doing it for me -- seems like more of the same old, same old to me. Sorry to be such a gloomy guss, but that's the way I've been feeling for a while now -- I became extremely anemic right before Thanksgiving and haven't really recovered since. Christmas was nice and I enjoyed it, but there was a definite lackluster in my step and attitude. I'm hoping that a medical procedure that the doctor is supposed to be scheduling for me will take care of a lot of it, but honestly, I don't know...

Maybe it's just the season of blahs.

sigh.

it's beginning to look a lot like.....

2006-11-16T17:51:00.000-05:00

Two days of cold, rainy, windy, cloudy -- nasty, nasty weather! I seldom enjoy these kind of days, and I have really disliked these last two. I need a regular dose of sunshine -- it doesn't have to be warm, just sun!

So, October flew by -- don't know where it got to, but it's outtahere! And Thanksgiving is next week?!? I swear, it must be early this year! (I know that Thanksgiving can't officially be early, but it sure feels like it!) And have I finished any of my Christmas knitting yet? Noooo, of course not. The sweater for my mom is almost done; the vest for my hubby is almost done, the scarf for Nat is almost done. The socks for my d-i-l are not even on the needles, and neither are her hat and fingerless gloves. Oh yeah! the sweater for my DS is finished!! Woo hoo! (but, that doesn't really count, since I started it last year in some sort of sick, deluded belief that he would get it for Christmas last year). I have one, that's right - one - fingerless glove finished for one s-i-l; the other 3 or 4 pair are still in the planned stage. And have I bought any other X-mas gifts as yet? (you know the answer to that one).

And to boot, I'm in charge of the Advent team at church -- a devotional booklet to put together; a live nativity to finish organizing, of which I am specifically responsible for writing the script to be broadcast, as well as getting the guy over to record it; an Advent Sunday school lesson to finish writing (as I will be teaching it) -- and all of this is supposed to reflect the theme of preparing, remembering, and celebrating Christ's birth -- you know, not to overdo, to remember that Christmas season starts on Christmas day

I will not panic; I will not panic; I will not panic......

AHHHAAAAHHHAAAA!!!

ahhh...fall at last

2006-10-07T23:28:00.000-04:00

It has been the nicest day! Low 70's, no humidity -- absolutely perfect weather! Finally -- because just two short days ago it was 88 degrees!!!! I know the South is hot most of the time, but you would think that living in Tennessee it would not be quite as blessed hot as living in, say, Mississippi, would you? But no we have to have the funky-assed weather here -- it's even been more erratic than the weather in Atlanta -- which is about 150 miles south of here!!!

But, breathe, today has been lovely, just lovely. And I feel like I was productive -- did all the obligatory houseworky things -- even mopped the kitchen floor -- and still had time for some serious knitting.

I'm telling you people -- this working part-time in a yarn store is not good for someone suffering from castonitis. Every freaking time I turn around, there's another good pattern, and the most simply lusicous yarn to knit it out of.....

...calling my name,

.....whispering sweet nothings in my ear....

I'll be the best knit you ever had, darhling...

Well, I couldn't just ignore it, now could I? sigh.

But I only started two new things in the last week....that's not that many, right? And, and I'm almost finished with the Brea bag from Berroco -- I will have it finished this weekend, and I cast on on Thursday evening --- woo hoo!

And my mother's sweater? Finished the back, about 8" up the front -- so it's really coming right along. Other WPI's: Falling leaves scarf -- 2 1/2 repeats of 5 total finished; my nephew's sweater -- I'm not loving the yarn -- I think I will keep the pattern stitch, but the yarn is simply not doing it for me, so what do you call that -- a work in progress of being ditched and restarted? The Charlotte scarf -- starting on the third color repeat, and I'm being sure to add the Koigu ruffles every now and then, so that I don't have 40 eleven rapid increase ruffles to do at the end!

and the other new cast on baby? Well, it's absolutely stunning....and it's all for ME! One hank of Prism's Wild Stuff, two skeins of Tilli Tomas silk and one of some unknown varigated mohair from the stash -- cast on longwise -- six or so rows alternating -- using a double wrap drop stitch on the mohair -- I'll post a pic when I get a couple more repeats finished -- but no drooling allowed!

Well, it's about time for bed -- so until later!

I yam what I yam

2006-10-04T18:18:00.000-04:00

Well, I'm as inconsistent as I feared I would be. I really do mean to post more often, but I simply have not gotten into the habit of it. Oh well. sigh.

I'm working part time at the LYS, and so far, I haven't spent more than I have made -- but just barely. There are just simply too many luscious yarns to tempt me -- what can I say?

Well, I only had a sec to post -- off to my bible study (which lasts around 2 1/2 hours -- talk about seriously cutting into my prime knitting time!)

ta ta

the crime scene...

2006-09-11T13:15:00.000-04:00

the evidence.....

the culprit......

the victim....

my Koigu that I had just had rolled into a ball. It would have been bad enough (and it was) that she gommed up my precious yarn, but she chewed through the *#%& Ziploc bag to get to it!!!!

Needless to say, there hasn't been playtime this morning.

tricky proposition

2006-09-10T20:30:00.000-04:00

Well, it's been over a week since I last posted; I'm not being as consistent with the posting as I had hoped I would/could be, but, oh well! It wasn't a particularly busy week, but it just seemed like I was never still long enough to post. I suppose I will need to get into the "habit" -- you know, develop a mind set that makes posting almost second nature.

I did get a microphone/headset so that I can record audio -- I've briefly considered the podcasting thing, but not too seriously yet. But I certainly do want to leave some audio comments on some of my favorite podcasts -- and I have an idea for an essay for the "Cast-on" podcast that I'm working on (which I would submit in audio format).

Didn't get as much knitting done this week as I would have liked; I'm working on a couple of chemo caps for a friend of mine (well, I'm actually working on just one at the moment -- the plan is to knit her two). I began the decrease too soon, so I had to frog it back about 3 inches -- blah!

My nephew's birthday was this week -- he was one year old! He is too cute for words!

I had knit him a sweater that was supposed to be for Christmas, but he's growing so fast, I went ahead and gave it to him for his birthday -- so he'll get to wear it as least a few times! Knitting for growing babies is a tricky proposition at best!

Well, the evening waxes late -- until next time.

That annoying teenager ;]

2006-09-02T18:27:00.000-04:00

My mother has no idea im updating her blog but i am :] hehe, sneaky little teenager I am. I just wanted to drop by and say hello to my most favortiest(she's really taught me well on spelling huh?) mommy ever :]. Have a lovely day & keep smiling<3

love,
the teenager!&*

..in the most loving way possible

2006-09-02T16:01:00.000-04:00

Howdy! It has been a good week (well, up until now when the most annoying teenage daughter decided to be, well, persnickety and annoying and even though she means it in "the most loving way possible"....)

It has been a very good week. I was productive, both at home and at work and at church! I finally got my Advent team stuff finished -- not only that, but I actually did the follow up stuff the very next day! (that, like, never happens!)

I finished the first of my Lorna's laces sock -- I am doing one of the patterns from Socks Socks Socks: 70 Winning Patterns From Knitter's Magazine Sock Contest - I don't remember right off hand which one, it's one of the lace patterns. I'm also almost finished with the "Singles & Pairs" from the Spring Knitters.

I also cast-on the sweater that I wanted to knit for my mother for Christmas -- it's a Plymouth Yarn pattern with a curvey lace rib at the bottom that I really liked -- well, I hate it now! I cast-on (116 stitches) and worked about 5 rows -- it was off - badly. So I frogged it and started over. Same thing. Frogged it again. Started yet again. Same thing. I ripped that freaking thing 5 times before I released that there was an error in the 3 row of the four row repeat. ARGHHH!

So, I figured out how make it work -- and I still couldn't get the &%#@ thing to work! So, I frogged (yet AGAIN) and went to my Barbara Walker treasury and found a pattern that was fairly similar and used it. It works. But now I don't even want work on it!

So, I did what any self-respecting knitter does -- I cast on something else. A sweater for my nephew -- and it's going GREAT!

And today? Today I have done enough housework to make a difference, really done laundry (including the folding and putting away), been to the grocery store, fixed lunch for the church luncheon tomorrow (including one of Paula Deens "Gooey Butter Cakes") and gotten dinner started for tonight! Woo hoo!

So, now I can knit with a completely clear conscious.

Oh, and that annoying daughter? She's really the sweetest thing ever!

Phew...

2006-08-27T19:02:00.000-04:00

Did you know that if you don't eat and instead of dinner you have a significant share of two bottles of pretty good red zinfandel you will be unable to knit? Well, you will pretty much be unable to do much of anything, including knitting. (well, I've heard that that's the case, anyway.....)

I did manage to get much of the sweater I'm knitting from the summer issue of Knitters completed (before the aforementioned lack of dinner). All that I have left is to block the pieces, and then you join the shoulders and then knit the cowl neck, then finish joining and do a quick armhole edging. This has been a really fast knit, and since I have only done two other sweaters, one being a baby sweater, this has set my field on fire for knitting sweaters.

We had a really good service in church this morning. We received our first female minister recently, and she has been exceptionally good. She set up the worship area in the round and we had a hymn sing and dramatic reading of the scripture and all and all I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Well, dh is in need of the computer and I am working a cabled scarf for a Christmas gift at the moment.

a day well spent?

2006-08-26T14:56:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I didn't get up first thing this morning and start knitting. So there. Although that might be construed as a good thing, I'm not sure. Of course knitting is always a Good Thing -- it's just that knitting sometimes leads one to the not-getting-all-your-other-stuff-done--stage, and well, that's not always a good thing.

So, did I get ~~all~~ any of those other things done (including the aforementioned Advent team planning)? Well, duh, of course not. What I did manage to do was to spend several hours attempting to learn how to edit my blog template -- to learn what the heck Html formatting is all about.

Well, I did change a couple of things, but I have a l-l0000-ng way to go before I know what the dickens I am doing.

So, I'm thinking that I might just go knit now.

The day that was

2006-08-25T22:28:00.000-04:00

Well, I've joined the multitudes of others who are in cyberspace, gleefully sharing their joys and sorrows with who knows who all else. I don't know how consistent I will be in posting, but journaling is something that I have done (sporacically) most of my life, so....

So, today was a fairly uneventful one. Didn't go to work, didn't do much housework, didn't do the Advent Team planning that I needed to do, didn't finish the grout work on the tile. I did do two loads of laundry (well, if you consider that two loads of laundry got washed, that is. I'm not saying I washed, dried, folded and put up two loads of laundry).

But, I did finish the hat that I started knitting on Wednesday for my daughter's friend's birthday (which was yesterday, btw). It was going great, until I started the decreasing and somehow I dropped a stitch. No big deal, right? Well, this was the first time I had knitted anything in Plymouth's Royal Bamboo -- it feels fabulous-- both in the skein and in a completed object. But, it is somewhat of a *itch to knit with. It shreds/splits if you look at it wrong, and is slipperly as a greased eel. So, a dropped stitch ran like a snagged pantyhose. So, I frogged it nearly halfway back and started over. But I finished it!!!

Tomorrow the grandson is coming over, so I don't know how much I will get done tomorrow. I simply have to get my Advent team stuff done -- I will not start knitting first thing in the a.m., I will not start knitting first thing in the a.m., I will not start.....

sigh. I probably will.