Wednesday, February 27, 2008

First Knit Washcloth - in progress

Okay, so my first real knit project is about a third of the way done. The scarf I tried to knit a couple of years ago doesn't count since I never got past the first few rows (due to frustration).

I'm making a washcloth from the Annie's Attic Cheery Dishcloths to Knit, using the Pistachio Nut Surprise pattern with Peaches and Cream Lemon-Lime cotton yarn. I got the downloadable version of the booklet from e-patternscentral.com and was using a different pattern from there but I had to keep frogging it and got a bit frustrated. This pattern is a bit less complicated and going quite well.



Shorah Y'all!

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Aha! Mild Success ...

Here's my first attempt using Continental knitting ... the edges are wonky but I think I did admirably for a first try.



Shorah Y'all!

I shall overcome ... knitting

So far, knitting, other than basic knit and purl has eluded me ... and even that much makes me throw what little I've accomplished across the room.

However, I'd heard about Continental knitting and did a few searches on Google, found a few nice videos and illustrations, and I like it much better than English knitting. I never got throwing the yarn and with Continental knitting, I can hold the yarn much like I do when crocheting which comes more naturally to me (and is easier on my carpal tunnel syndrome). So far, I've just done a few rows of knit stitch, which I keep dropping stitches on and having to frog, but this just might be what I need to get my head around knitting.

Not that I'll ever give up crochet, far from it as it is my first love, but I see so many knitted items that I would love to make and always have to pass them by ...

We'll just have to see how it goes from here ....

Oh, and Ravelry is evil ... totally addicting but with wonderful people, and I'm learning tons. You can find me there as "fignations."

Shorah Y'all!

Saturday, February 09, 2008

Grateful for choices

With the first anniversary coming up of the Trolley Square shooting here in Salt Lake City, I was reading an article on one of the survivors (Surviving a day at a time) and it makes me even more grateful for the choices I made that day.

I rarely talk on the phone while driving but on February 12, 2007, I had called my father on my cell phone. I was paying particular attention to where the cars were around me so I didn't do something more stupid than I already was. By the time I got off the phone, I realized that I was several miles past my exit so took the next exit I could. I headed east and came upon a span over the road that said "Trolley Square" and looked to my left and saw the shopping center. "That looks like a cool place," I thought, "maybe I should go in and see what's there." I was about to get into the turn lane when I looked at the clock and remembered that my dog would be frantic by the time I got home, so I changed my mind and continued driving. Time: 6:32 pm

Shooter begins rampage killing five and wounding four. Time: 6:44 pm

I arrived home, took the dog for her walk, fed her and the cat, and settled down to do some work on the computer. Time: 7:00 pm

Turned the TV on to watch the news and heard what had happened. If I had turned instead of going home, I would have just entered the square when the shooting started. Thank God for choices, dogs, and watching over me. Time: 7:30 pm

Friday, February 08, 2008

Turquoise Socks Photo

And finally a photo of the finished Turquoise Socks.

Shorah Y'all!

I hate being sick

This is the third time this winter I've had bronchitis and I'm tired of it. I need to find some ginseng tea.

Shorah Y'all!

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Im in!!!!!

Woohoo! My invite to Ravelry finally came at 1:42pm MST and I've been madly joining groups since and even started a group for crocheters in Utah. The site is totally addicting and boy am I in trouble now......

Shorah Y'all!

Anxiously awaiting Ravelry invite

As of yesterday evening, I was #94568 on the Ravelry invite list, signed up on 1/25/08, and only 190 potential Ravelers were in front of me.

I finally had to close the antsy page for the site since I kept refreshing the page and seeing the numbers of those behind me creep higher ....

Fortunately, Trillian notifies me whenever I get new mail ....

I feel like the lady in the commercial standing in front of the locked store and muttering "Open Open Open!"

Shorah Y'all!

Monday, February 04, 2008

Turquoise Socks Finished

Finally finished the turqoise socks yesterday!!!! Britney is going to have her husband take a photo of her wearing them and I'll upload it once I have it ...

Now I get to finish the socks I started for myself. I'm finishing up the toe on the first sock and then will need to weave in the ends and sew up the back seam.

Shorah Y'all!

Saturday, February 02, 2008

Arm Warmers in progress

This morning I sent off the afghan to my aunt and a pair of blue wrist warmers to my mother. I also went to Michaels to pick up some yarn for a pair of arm warmers for a friend. She wanted a variegated yarn in cool colors and I found the Patons SWS yarn which is a wool/soy blend. The Natural Navy color was perfect so go several skeins of it.

I started the arm warmers with an I/9 crochet hook and am crocheting single crochets in the back loops so I get a nice ribbing. As I went along, I noticed that the yarn made nice stripes as I went. Since the wrist part will be done in the round, I'm eager to see how it looks.

I also found that I really don't care for the Boye crochet hooks. The hook end is too rounded for my taste. I usually use Susan Bates hooks but didn't have one in the correct size.

The turquoise socks are still in progress and I have about 5" left to go before I start on the toe section.

Shorah Y'all!

Friday, February 01, 2008

Back to the Turquoise Socks

I'm making progress on the second sock of the Turquoise sock pair. I'm currently down to the ankle area with another 1.5" to go before starting the heel. If I'm lucky and don't get distracted with Second Life or Uru or Sudoku, then I just might get it done this weekend.

Shorah Y'all!