March recap and April goals

Here are the goals I had for March, now to let you know how I did on them

1) FINISH Michael's blanket and get it sent off. He graduated 9 months ago, lord I'm slow. Would have happened if not for the tendinitis. I'm starting to feel better enough that I could try picking it up again for short periods at a time, but I'm probably not going to have it done for another couple weeks.
2) Finish all current WIPs. Everything I'd started before the beginning of the month is finished, except for that damn Afghan of DOOM.
3) Continue stash pruning. (HINT *grin*--I'm actually taking a bunch to Goodwill, stuff that was given to me that I will probably not use) Going well. Posted some more yarn yesterday, but should start putting some on eBay and going through my current stash AGAIN.
4) Spoil the hell out of my poor Secret Pal, who, due to an Amazon issue, hasn't actually gotten anything from me yet. (Mailing a really good package tomorrow though.) Yep. Got another package-worth of stuff to send out soon, but I'm still trying to find just that perfect accent for it.
5) At least start a spring sweater of some sort, possibly Oat Couture's Bistro Top. Yep. Did that, that exact sweater as a matter of fact.
6) Figure out what I'm going to do with all the random FOs I have that I knit because I wanted to knit them and not because I actually wanted to *have* them. (Yep, I'm definitely a process knitter.) Yep. Ended up donating a lot of them to charity.

So, not bad. I'm happy with this. Now for the April goals:
1) Finish Afghan of DOOM. Should be doable as long as I don't try to do it all at once like I did this month.
2) Finish all current WIPs.
3) Find my poor lost pearl beaded scarf and work on it.
4) Continue the destash project.
5) Find a pattern for my laceweight linen.
6) Finish up SP4 with a bang for my recipient *ponders Knitpicks yarns*

Pictures! Just what you've been waiting for! (All, what, 4 of you, including the people I know? *grin*)

So like I said, I got a package from my secret pal! I opened the package to find...


Which was filled with...


Which revealed...


Clockwise from bottom right:
Hello Kitty notecards
Luv 2 blog post-it notes
Plastic measuring tape
Louet laceweight linen with matching beads
Altoids tangerine
Magnetic photo frame
(There was a cat toy shaped like a fortune cookie as well, but that was long gone by the time this picture was taken. At least I hope it was a cat toy, because my cat and my roommates' cat certainly thought it was and went to great lengths to find it and play with it.)

Thank you Secret Pal!

And one more picture:


After felting. On the same laptop it was photographed on before felting, for size comparison.

Another interview

I know I already did this interview thing, but when Lauren offered to interview people, I had to jump on!

1 What are you studying in graduate school? what are you researching?

Short answer: Computer science. Long geeky answer: I'm getting my masters degree (possibly going to switch into the PhD program, still contemplating) in computer science, with an emphasis in artificial intelligence/natural language processing. My research is in problem solving dialogues, specifically in deciding what information to volunteer and what questions to ask during a problem solving dialogue.

2 What is the most challenging thing that you have ever knitted?

Honestly, nothing I've knit is all that challenging. Probably the most challenging would be the sweater I knit for Kelly, Pinup Queen from Stitch N Bitch, simply due to the seaming. I've never been good at sewing in any way, shape, or form. I need a challenge soon, anyone have any thoughts?

3 Do you like any other crafts besides knitting?

I haven't found anything else I'm really into. Probably the closest I get is trying to make my own beaded stitch markers, but I may start making jewelry too if I decide I like that.

4 Where is your dream vacation destination?

I could cop out and say an around the world cruise...but nah. I'd love to go to Stitches (East or West, doesn't matter!) but I'd never find anyone to go with me (I'm the only obsessive knitter that I know). Barring that, somewhere warm and sunny, somewhere on the Gulf of Mexico maybe?

5 What is your favorite TV show?

Current or past? Past I'd have to say the Muppet Show and Sex and the City. Dawson's Creek is becoming an addiction as well. Currently, I tend to watch "domestical TV"...stuff on HGTV and TLC like Clean Sweep and Design on a Dime, and Food Network shows like Good Eats and Emeril. I'm also being sucked into Nashville Star.

quick post

Happy Easter, y'all!

I got a gift from my SP4 on Friday, thank you! Took pictures and will post them soon.

Wrist is okay. I've been able to do some knitting on small things with the wrist brace.

Heading to Boy's parents' for dinner, see you soon.

*sigh*

Blogging's going to be sporadic for the next week or so....because knitting's going to be sporadic to nonexistent for the next week or so. Yep, I marathon-knitted myself into a case of tendinitis in my thumb/wrist area. Granted, the doctor said I could knit for short periods of time if I could do it with the wrist brace on, but I can barely hold my hand in the proper position for typing with this thing, so it's doubtful. I'll just have to occupy my time by posting more yarn and all that, and possibly attempting to work on a nice light sock, rather than the big heavy Afghan of DOOM. (Does anyone else name their projects like this? I tend to name only the ones that irritate me, otherwise I just call it the name of the pattern, or maybe add on the recipient's name to that if it's not for me.) It may be on a circular, but it's still bloody heavy.

Any suggestions on what I do while watching TV without my needles?

Crap.

There's good news and there's bad news.

Good news: Only 95 rows left on the Afghan of DOOM...watched a lot of TV and sat through a lot of code compiling between last entry and this one.

Bad news: My left hand is NOT happy with me right now.

Ok, you'd think that because I'm right handed, because I knit English style, because my right hand does all the moving, that maybe my right hand would freak out? Nope, apparently the way I hold my knitting with my left hand is the problem. Taking a break for the rest of the night, which is SO ANNOYING because I want this afghan done, and hopefully it'll be better by tomorrow. Should stay away from the computer too, I suppose.

The end is in sight....

I did some math tonight, and I have 140 rows left on the Afghan Of DOOM. Yes, sounds like a lot, but I'm in the decrease section, so these 140 rows will keep getting smaller and smaller....now, what to do for the edging? I'll most likely just single-crochet around it (ugh) unless I can come up with something better. Which most likely won't happen, as I hate both seaming and picking up stitches. Crochet just seems like a better idea. Remember, it's for a teenage boy, so simple is better.

I'm going to have probably 4 skeins of Homespun left. Might be good for charity scarves and hats and such.

Speaking of charity, I think that's what I'm going to do with a number of my hats and things that I've made that I don't particularly like. I've been told that homeless people need warm clothing even when it gets warmer, so off they go. They'll be more useful there than in a plastic drawer under my bed.

Back to the never ending afghan...

Friday, Friday! (rambling)

The Celebrity Scarf has been frogged and sent back to sit in the stash due to its extreme ugliness. I intend to regroup and start again soon.

I've realized that I'm insane. It's taken me 3 months to halfway finish Michael's blanket, and I want to have it done in less than two weeks???!!! What is wrong with me? In a perfect world, I'd finish the Bistro Top by Easter because the colors are perfect to wear that day. Yeah. Right.

Secret Pal? Are you out there anywhere?

I've got to go to the LYS and pick up some more stuff for my Secret Pal. Let's see if I can talk Boy into it tomorrow. Otherwise, I suppose I could stash shop, it's not like I don't have anything nice.

If you're a geek and you know it, clap your hands!

*clap, clap*

This destashing thing is working out quite well. Honestly, having grown up in the days of suspicion about doing ANYTHING online (meeting people, buying stuff, whatever), I'm surprised at how much interest I get. Thanks, everyone!

Before I forget, Kris, I did receive the CD, but I've been so freaked out by life and school that I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet. Thank you!

Anyway, on to the geeky part. Natalie was kind enough to send me the spreadsheet she uses for her yarn inventory for me to use as an example, and I spent some insomniac time last night beginning to catalog what I have (only what I'm going to keep, however, I'll make a separate sheet for the destash pile). Kelly said that if I have to catalog my yarn, I must have too much. Nah, I just like to geekify everything I do. (Though I've got so many rows in the sheet already, and I'm not even halfway done with my cedar chest, maybe she's right. Nah.) With any luck I'll be able to finish that tomorrow. Then I'll reward myself by working on Michael's blanket during the hockey game tomorrow night. (Woo. The reward will be getting that damn thing done.)

Started a new summer scarf today. I get sick of seeing single balls of yarn sitting around, so I figured I'd knit it up so I didn't have to look at it in skein form anymore.

Madalyn's interview

Here you go, Madalyn!

1) What is your favorite completed project so far?
2) Imagine money is no object, but you can only knit with one type of wool and one type of cotton for the rest of your life. What would you pick?
3) What technique do you plan to learn next?
4) Do you ever multitask while knitting? If so, what else do you do?
5) What do you think I should knit next?

Interview time!

Thanks, Natalie!

1. Leave me a comment saying “interview me.”

2. I will respond by asking you five questions here. They will be different questions than the ones below.

3. You will update YOUR blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

1. Did you ever figure out what to do with the odd balls of Cascade Fixation? How many do you have and in what colors?
Sort of. I had someone e-mail me with possible interest in them, and I told her when I dig them out I’d let her know exactly what colors I have. (I ordered a couple of grab bags from One Fine Yarn, and once I got them and realized I need just OVER one ball for a pair of socks, decided I couldn’t think of anything to do with them.) Of course, now is a good time to dig them out...and rather than listing them out, it’s easier to just post a picture.

The single ball on the right is actually the Elann.com version.

2. Which of my projects (finished or unfinished) is your favorite & why?
It’s a tie between the Microspun sweater you made for Em and the first Booga bag you made for Katie. I love bright stripes.

3. What’s your favorite carbonated beverage?
C2. I drink entirely too much of it. In fact, I’m drinking a can now.

4. Will you ever finish the Kidsilk Haze beaded scarf you started in April 2004?
I’d like to say yes, but in my organizing/cleaning craze, I seem to have misplaced it! I suppose when and if I find it, I’ll definitely finish it.

5. Which knitting blog is your absolute favorite (Never miss reading it every day, checking frequently to see if it’s been updated, etc.)?
I don’t really have a single favorite...my favorite knitting blogs tend to be either (1) ones where I feel a connection with the blogger and e-mail or IM back and forth with her (or him, I’m not picky) or (2) ones where the blogger has a lot in common with me (i.e. students or other younger knitters). If I had to pick a single favorite, I think I’d go with Margene’s blog. I love her peaceful outlook, the projects she works on, and of course the beautiful Rocky Mountain pictures.

Post without an interesting title

This blanket is never going to end. I'm at least at the point where I'm knitting even rather than increasing every row. But *yawn* so boring.

And so this post isn't boring, here are some pictures:


The dishcloths I made on my trip to San Francisco. Whee.


Multidirectional scarf in Plymouth Encore Colorspun. It's darker than the picture came out.


Cabled newsboy hat from SnBN, rose Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. I could not get a good picture of this hat on my head for anything. This is the best there is.

Still need to felt the marsupial tote. Maybe I'll throw it in with my laundry tomorrow.

March goals...

Following the example set by Kris...

Goals for March:
1) FINISH Michael's blanket and get it sent off. He graduated 9 months ago, lord I'm slow.
2) Finish all current WIPs.
3) Continue stash pruning. (HINT *grin*--I'm actually taking a bunch to Goodwill, stuff that was given to me that I will probably not use)
4) Spoil the hell out of my poor Secret Pal, who, due to an Amazon issue, hasn't actually gotten anything from me yet. (Mailing a really good package tomorrow though.)
5) At least start a spring sweater of some sort, possibly Oat Couture's Bistro Top.
6) Figure out what I'm going to do with all the random FOs I have that I knit because I wanted to knit them and not because I actually wanted to *have* them. (Yep, I'm definitely a process knitter.)

Artfibers was terrific. Overwhelming actually, like Atropos said. I bought two spools of Sherlock, which is a wool/silk blend knitted ribbon yarn. Between a DK and a worsted weight (I swatched it there...I love that they provide the yarn for you to do that before you buy). Everything felt wonderful.

I knit a bunch of dishcloths on the plane. Needed something small yet relatively mindless, and socks just held too much potential for needle loss. Besides, we needed dishcloths. Pictures later, if I make my overhead light work (the switch sticks). Also finished the multi-directional scarf the night before I left.