A little off the wall...

I was surfing the web today and saw this:

(Click the photo for a link)

I'm thinking it will make the perfect accessory for my new desk on Monday morning.

This will make you think...

I saw this video today and it made me think. I'm thankful that I have a job and feel secure in. We recently did a re-org and I realize how quickly anyone could be gone. I like that the people in this video took a situation that many would see as terrible and made it into one of the defining (positive) moments in their life.

A List of My Favorite Things

...well for this week anyway...

A new bag from the Gap

Flower Shaped Post Its 

Pancakes that make themselves, well sort of.

Diabolical Cuteness

That's what Karen calls then and I have to agree. After seeing her little alien at Knit Knite last night I had to have one (or two) myself. I knit the first one up last night and started the second before work this morning. Excuse the not so hot pictures - I was in too big a hurry to get the pics up to do more than a quick snapshot. 

Original pattern here. I knit mine flat on a size 7 circ. The yarn is Lion Brand Ultra Suede that was given to me by a friend. I've had it in my stash since the end of January but wasn't sure what to do with it. I only had about two skeins (of which I only used about 1/2 of one for both of these little guys). The yarn is nice and soft - very cuddly. I think I'm going to make a few more. I'll add catnip to a couple and I was thinking some lavender to others. How cute would these by as sachets in your drawers! 

 I'd probably go down a size or two on the needles. There's a little bit of

 gap between the stitches at the top but nothing I can't live with. That's saying a lot because I'm definitely type A. These were so much fun to knit though and took absolutely no time at all!

Another day...

On a frustration level today wasn't much better. However, today's frustration wasn't related to projects which is the bright side of things.

After a good yoga session (I always feel so much better after all that stretching!) I came home and reheated leftover whole wheat couscous with feta, green onions, lemon and garlic and then got to work. Since my wood needles I'm using for my new scarf project are out of commission I tried another pair of needles I bought several months ago but hadn't used yet. They're a couple sizes bigger and are actually working much better for the scarf. I frogged last night's progress and began again.

Last night before I went to bed I emailed the manufacturer of the wooden needles asking how best to repair them. Wood does sometimes split and I like the idea of using sustainable products so I didn't think it was a big deal. When I checked my email this morning I had an email from the company asking me to send them back so they can send me a new set. I never expected that but was pleasantly surprised! I was just hoping for some tips on what type of sandpaper to buy. :-)

Trying...

The last few months haven't been very good for projects. I've started many, trashed many, put several on hold and just plain haven't finished a few others.

I have a bag from Weekend Sewing 95% done. I just need to finish the handles. However, it sits abandoned by the sewing machine. I just can't get the energy to finish it.

Tonight I started a scarf with some chunky yarn I found the other day in this great color way. I was into the third repeat when I noticed a mistake. No big deal. I ripped back and when I went to re-insert the wooden needle there was a huge splinter in it! I have an email in to the manufacture to see how to deal with it. I'm assuming some sanding will be required but this is a fairly large splinter (already 1 inch long) and fairly deep. I'm concerned that it may require too much sanding so we'll see.

I keep making silly mistakes in all of my projects and it's very annoying. I think I'm paying very close attention only to notice later on that I've made fairly large mistakes. Or like last week I went to knit knite and forgot my pattern! I just need to successfully finish one thing and then I think I'll be back on track.

Here's hoping! :-)

Check it out!

I'm on Laurel Hill Online: http://laurelhillknitting.wordpress.com/

We've finally gotten a taste of spring here in Ohio! While it's been typical of our spring weather (overcast and a little gloomy) it's very welcomed! I haven't been getting much done by way of my stacks of fabric or the things in my knitting queue and unfortunately that's sure to get worse as the weather gets better. I hope everyone is enjoying the taste of spring!

A Knitting Update...

My digital camera batteries died so I haven't been able to photograph my recent progress. I have been knitting although not as much as I'd like. Things have been busy the last couple of weeks and I haven't had the energy I usually do.

I completed my fingerless mittens. I received the book "Weekend Knitting" by Melanie Falick (http://www.amazon.com/Weekend-Knitting-Unique-Projects-Ideas/dp/1584792914/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236132720&sr=1-1) as a Christmas gift. This is the first project I've completed from it. I knitted half of a mitten before I realized that I should have followed my instincts and knitted a small even though my measurements pointed to a large. I have tiny hands and by the time I got to the thumb hole (roughly halfway done) it was obvious that it was way to big. I frogged it and began knitting a small one. After battling "second sock syndrome" for two weeks I started and finished the second mitten this weekend. They're a little larger around the fingers than I'd like but nothing that keeps me from wearing them. I think I'll wash them in some warm water. I'm thinking that will slightly felt them (the yarn is only about 30% wool) and make them slightly smaller.

I also cast on for my first afghan. This will be a gift for next Christmas. It's a rather ambitious project for me because of its size. 204 stitches in one row! The pattern is an easy repeat though so I'm hoping it won't be as bad as I'm anticipating. I've chosen a soft varigated yarn in blues and browns.

I casted on today for my first garment. I'm making "Boogie" which can be found on knitty.com. It's a sweater vest with a cable up the front and around the neckline. I'm using Cotton Ease in violet for this. I've got about 1 1/2 inches done of the ribbing for the back. I'm hoping this won't be a long project. I haven't done any cables yet so this will be a learning project.

I'll post pics as soon as I can get my camera up and running again.

Side Projects

It wasn't all that long ago that I learned to knit. I've always wanted to know how to knit and when I was little I would often convince my Grandma to teach me. That never went over very well because Grandma was right handed I am left handed. I ended up doing some sort of odd backward stitch. I confuse Grandma so much that she didn't know what was what. Last summer the local library offered a knitting and crochet class. I finally learned to knit and crochet!

While the library ladies taught me a lot there was a lot more that I wanted to try out. In the class several of the women talked about these great wash clothes they make out of cotton yarn. I decided to give it a try. This is a pattern that a friend gave me. I always have at least one of them going. They make great gifts and I'm shocked at how well they work for scrubbing dirty dishes (something I hate to do!).

This one is knitted on size 8 dpns although you don't need dpns. I do like them though because they are shorter and easier to stash in my purse or whatever. I've tried the same pattern on 10s and it worked well but was obviously looser and took more yarn. One other nice thing about size 8 needles is that you can get two wash clothes out of one ball of Peaches and Cream.

On this particular wash cloth I did a three needle bind off. I wouldn't recommend it though because it creates an odd bump and actually takes more time that seaming.

Scarves

I made my two uncles each a scarf for Christmas. They loved them. Then my Mom wanted one. Then my Dad wanted one. Then my Mom's friend wanted one. Them my friend wanted one. So between the week before Christmas and the end of January I made 6 scarves. All were knitted on size 13 needles from Laurel Hill (www.laurelhillonline.com). With the exception of the orange and winter while scarf which was knit in garter stitch, all were knitted in a seed stitch. I used a think and quick yarn from Joanns.