Wrapping it up.

I have two FO's for you today. My Monkey Socks by Cookie A., and the Princess Wrap from Classic Elite Yarns. Both of which are free patterns.

I really like my new socks, but I am a little unhappy about the yarn. As you can see the left sock has way more blue in it, and less pink/red than the right sock. The yarn is Jitterbug, and although it is nice, I probably won't buy it agian because of the poor dye job.

The blocked, finished Princess Wrap. I wan't sure it was going to turn out very well, but I am very happy with it. I think I am going to use it a lot this spring. I have a wooden shawl pin that looks great with it. You can sort of see it in the second pictures.

I still have a sleeve left to knit on the Cinnabar Pullover, but since it's already getting warm here in OK, it may take a while for me to finish it. I will probably cast on for the Holly Jacket this week. I'm really excited about that!

Pictures

FO: Princess Wrap - soaking

Princess Wrap - blocking

WIP: Monkey Socks

WIP: Cinnabar Pullover

What to do when you...

don't want to go to class because you are bummed about not getting an interview for a job that you really wanted:

1.) Soak & block your Princess Wrap that you finished this weekend, and take pictures.

2.) Take pictures of your nearly completed Monkey Socks.

3.) Take pictures of yourself wearing your almost completed Cinnabar Pullover.

4.) Post on your blog.

5.) Upload imaged on Flickr.

That's what I'm doing this afternoon before going to a lecture on campus about healing spaces. I will be recieving extra credit for my socio-cultural foundations class. As per the email sent by Dr. H; there is a 15 point max: 7 for attendance and 7 for writing a paper/essay about it....somehow that just doesn't add up.....no matter how you add those two numbers together.

I was trying to post pictures, however, for some reason blogger doesn't want me to right now. I will try again later.

Peace Out Knitters.

My WIP's grew and are still growing!

Oops! I started a new project and have yarn for another that I will probably only be able to resist the urge not to start only so much longer.

I have continuted progress on Princess..7 repeats down..who knows how many more?! I really am beginning to like her more and more, and have been told that she'll block out wide than she is now. She's being born out of Knit Picks Glimmer which is 100% merino wool. My socks are still slow growing, but I'm getting more scared as the rows grow that they will not fit my foot even though my gauge is still spot on. Nicole hasn't been worked on in a few weeks now (man that's hard to admit). I was working on her a while back and set her down because of a missed (dropped or lost [MIA]) stich, and just haven't had the patients to try and work it out....too many other things that are coming along well I guess.

This takes us to this past weekend. I had a long one because my mostly full time job at the university gave me last Thursday and Friday off because of having to turn off the water/ac. I did have to teach on Thursday afternoon, and then had the rest of the weekend off! My step-grandmother is an avid knitter and who, like my other grandma, loves that I'm knitting so much, bought me yarn for my bithday. I got it this weekend even though my bday isn't for another week and a half because I don't see her much. My step-mom and I drove to see her Friday. We had lunch, shopped a wee bit, and then hit the LYS. My grandma can be spotted there often, and knows the owner well. Aparently the owner, Fran, just knew how to knit when she was young and has been knitting even since ( I have no clue how long that is). She was amazing, fun, and oh-so knowledgable about knitting, yarn, patterns, etc. The yarn my grandma gave me is Classic Elite Yarns Dazzle in the colorway Kaleidoscope, and a pattern for a shrug/shawl pattern. It was desinged by a local, so it can't be found other than at Ewe and Me. Also, while we were there I picked out yarn for the Interweave Knits Summer 2007 Sleeveless Tuxedo Shirt. The yarn is Filati Bamboo in the colorway Pink. I'm about 3 1/2 inches into it, and I'm LOVING it! The yarn is amazing. I'll try to get some pictures up soon.

I'm not too young to knit!

Here are a few picture updates of Nicole and the Princess Wrap. I've done more work on the Princess Wrap since this picture was taken, but not any on Nicole. I've also been working on my Slip Up Socks. I have turned the heel and I'm now working on the gusset. It's going well, but slow.



Oklahoma has passed its previous record of days in a row with rain = today makes it 15 or 16. I can honestly say that I am sick of rain not to mention the 15+ bad hair days. My hair does not like the humitdity....because it is still in the uppper 70's to lower 80's. I want it to be summer weather...HOT!









I went to the eye dr. today and since I know I will always be in one waiting room or another I took my sock with me to work on while I was waiting for the dr. I was sitting there happily knitting away (it's a good thing I'm near sighted since I had already had to take my contacts out) and one of the ladies who runs the front desk walks by and say's "you are much to young to be knitting". I didn't take offense or say anything. I just smiled as she walked on by. I love knitting. I know a lot of people still think that knitting is for grandma's and such, but she looked to be in the age group that could have grandchild, and I would think she would like to see a young woman knitting. Well, I have to go back in a week so the dr. can check these new contacts on me, and I'll be happily sitting in the waiting room again with my knitting.

Ribbit, Ribbit

Was that a frog that just hopped across my screen? Oh wait, no. It was all that frogging I did on my sock. I got about 3/4 of the way done (past the heel flap), and decided to try it on.....it didn't fit...by any means possible. It was my first sock, and I didn't really buy sock yarn.... I do want to try my hand at socks again..soon, because I really enjoyed it! I just need to buy some actual sock yarn for SOCKS. ;0)

Question: Does anyone have any sock yarn that they just absolutely love?

I have been knitting away on Nicole. She is coming along beautifully, but somewhat slow. I don't mind though. I am really enjoying the pure simple act of knitting...the yarn and needles working ever so gracefully between my fingers. It's love. I'm also making slow progress on the Princess Wrap. I have 4 repeats + 2 rows. Hopefully I can get some pic's up soon.

I won't be posting for a bit because I'm leaving Friday to go to my parents house and then bright and early (I'm not sure how bright I'll be) Sunday morning we are leaving, along with a group from my dad's church, to go to Rio Bravo, Mexico. We are going on a mission to build 2 houses. They will be 12' x 12' concrete block homes for at lease 2 families. Along with building 2 houses, my father and I will be our group's translators. I hold a bachelor's degree in Spanish, and my dad has been self-teaching as well as attending classes at a local community college for a few years. We have both been to Mexico several times, but I've had a bit more practice. E is from Mexico, and not all of his family speaks English, so when we visit I'm trying my hardest to keep up, and try not to look too confused. About 2 summers ago I spent 1 month in Mexico studying. It was the best thing I could have ever done, and would LOVE to do it again. Needless to say, I should get lots of knitting done on the plane along with practicing Spanish with my dad.

If I don't post before I leave; have a great weekend, week, and weekend. If where you live is still somewhat tolerable weather-wise, enjoy it because I'll be HOT, but loving it!

Chau

Memorial Day WIP's

Happy Memorial Day!

I am making progress on three projects; 1 new one and 2 old.

Here are a few pictures of my WIP's.

Purl Barred Shevron Socks. From I can't Believe I'm Knitting Socks.

Princess Wrap w/ 3.3 pattern repeats done. In the background is the latest issues of KnitSimple.

Nicole.

FO: Darted Tanks from Knit Picks.

I'm really happy with how my first tank (or any other thing that closely related) turned out and fits. It's a little wider than I wished, but it still fits nicely.

Knitting lace

I've started a new lace project. Nicole from Chic Knits. It is really challenging, but I like that. I'm a little frustrated at it right now, but I'll get back to working on it soon. I didn't do much work on the Princess Wrap because of Nicole, but I'll work on her later today.

I bought a good knitting related book yesterday at target. It can be purchased here on Amazon. It is titled "Knitting Under the Influence". It is a very easy read, but entertaining. I read more than half of it yesterday.

Pictures of FO's and WIP soon!

Lace knitting = love

and hate! I had a good weekend. It was spent in McKinney/Sherman TX. It was Mother's Day, so I was with my mom and grandma. It was also my cousin's graduation from Austin College. He now has the summer to save/raise money to move to Kenya for one year to do mission work. I am so proud of him! Also during the weekend I finished my darted tank (pictures soon). My grandma was so impressed and proud of me since she's the one who taught me how to knit. It made me feel good to be able to make her so proud (not that she isn't proud of me and all of her grandchildren). I also started my Princess Wrap which is coming along nicely. Since starting it I have learned the following:

Lace knitting is.......
1) fun
2) challenging
3) slippery
4) curse worthy (at times)
5) not easy to do in the car
6) a good way to pass time while you are sitting at an outside graduation in TX at 9 AM while knowing that you are getting a sun burn.
7) something that takes a great deal of concentration and time
8) very beautiful to watch come together

Finally...

I found a lace stole/wrap pattern that I really like. I have been looking forever (at least it seems that long). I wanted a stole that wasn't too hard, free, and a stole not a shawl. I also wanted it to be feminine, but didn't look like I borrowed it from my great-grandma. It always happens to me..I get in my head what I want, and NOTHING else will do. But, I finally found it at Classic Elite Yarns, and the name, Princess Wrap just fits perfectly with what I felt like being so pickey about it. The reason I had so many standards was because (1) I've never knitted lace before (2) I'm a broke college students and (3) I like the look of a stole over a shawl (but I'm not opposed to knitting shawl). I already have the laceweight yarn at home (from Knit Picks), and I'm stoked to get started on it.

No progress from last night to now on the darted tank (also from Knit Picks). I probably won't have time this evening because I have an Alpha Chi Omega alumni meeting.

Update on my step-uncle who had cancer: He actually passed away the same day I posted about him. I just didn't feel like posting after that. His death was painless; he went in his sleep. My heart is heavy just to think about how much I HATE cancer. I don't normally use the word hate, but in the case of cancer I will use it. He is in a better place now. It is us here on earth who will have to deal with the pain of loss.