For real! I finished a quick project (actually two).

The first completed project is my Nolita Cowl. It’s massive:

The second project is a smaller cowl made with yarn from Kitty Grrlz, but I need to get a picture of the finished object. Coming soon.

Tomorrow or tonight I’ll cast on for one of the two shawls I’m attempting to knit as Christmas presents. Wish me luck!

ps. Did I mention I finally finished knitting my Clapotis? No pictures of that yet either as it is a gift.

Yesterday I spent probably 90 minutes knitting on a shawl that I’ve been working forever, which is the most time I’ve spent in consecutively knitting in quite some time. The downside is that I ran out of yarn. I have 6 decrease repeats left and I am out of yarn. Normally not a big deal except i bought the yarn in 2005 and it is no longer available. I ordered online what I thought might be a close colorway, but it is very brown where the prior yarn was not. I’ll likely have to just make it work (clearly channeling Tim Gunn).

I’d really like to wrap up this shawl this week so I can move on to the next two that I need to knit. I want all three to be holiday presents, which is overly ambitious if you ask me, but I will try anyway. And if I weren’t concerned that the people I’m knitting for we’re reading this blog I would provide more details, but since they may be, I cannot

From there I’m not sure what the next projects are. I think I may default back to the afghan that I started so many years ago as well (I had it listed as part of my WIP Wrestling and never got to it). I have a panel and a half completed, which means 2.5 to go. If I recall it knits quick, but is just rather monotonous. However I may need just that as my pregnancy progresses and I find I’m too exhausted to do much but sit on the couch.

And that’s about all I’ve got. I wish I had something more exciting to share, but I’ve just not been knitting much and been really caught up in family, work and life. Maybe the next post will actually include pictures of a completed project of WIPs…

xo,
~L

I’ve landed in a knitting slump. As of late nothing has been inspiring and there are no real projects I feel like starting/completing. It makes me sad, but maybe it was/is time for a break.

I did get quite far on my Clapotis for WIP Wrestling, but alas did not finish. I am in the decrease section and out of the main body which is very exciting, however I’m also concerned I may run out of yarn. That is likely contributing to my slump.

I also mostly finished the nordic handbag. It is full knitted and partially seamed, but the hand felting was not working well to my liking and I’m not confident in trying to felt in my front loader. So now that project is also sitting on the sidelines.

As the weather starts to cool off over the course of the next month I really hope my mojo sneaks back in. I really kind of miss it.

Call me crazy, because we all know I constantly bitch about lack of time, but I’ve joined in on the WIP Wrestling KAL for July. It’s all about finishing as many WIPs as possible. I currently have 4 tagged, 2 that I think are perfectly reasonable and will get two and two that will be a stretch at best. I couldn’t join and then not challenge myself. Go team Knit Girls!!!

The projects:

Round 1: The Nordic Handbag. This is a fairly recent project that is already mostly knit up. I knew I’d lag on the finishing: embroidery, seaming, felting. Lag no more! This is the first project I’ll try and complete.

Round 2: BYOB bag form last year that I’ve still not finished because I didn’t want to deal with the handles. I’m going to improvise on the handles and work out my own version so I can finish this up. This was supposed to be a birthday present for my BFF last year in October. I guess it won’t have been quite a year by the time she gets it.

Round 3: That damn clapotis that I’ve been working on since 2006. Or at least I think it was 2006. I believe I started it just after moving to Ohio. Regardless, it is long past time to finish it. I think it’s about 50% done and I need to get it 100% done. It has so much potential as a Christmas present this year if I do. This project is a stretch, but not nearly as much as the next one…

The final round, round 4: The fantasy throw. This blanket is made up of four long knitted strips that eventually are crocheted together. I finish one strip and half of another before setting this down. I know where the completed strip is, but the pattern book and half strip is oddly missing. So beyond the challenge of trying to also finish up a full size afghan, I have to find it Certifiably crazy? Yes.

So there you have it. Ready? Fight!

I’m off to work on the Nordic Handbag and groove to some Stellastarr*

XO,
~L

This post is long overdue and I certainly apologize for the delay. Work is in the forefront right now (along with my daughter) so the rest of life seems to sit and wait until I have time.

About 18 days ago Carrie (craftypuppylover on Ravelry) posted a yarn that was inspired by me and some recent happenings in my life. It is the most thoughtful thing ever that someone I only know via the internet has ever done for me. I really can’t wait to meet her in person in August.

Before I post the story she wrote and the pictures, I should explain that Carrie spins yarns that are inspired by many of the girls in the Knit Girls group on Ravelry. I think that she’s created something like 14 or 15 amazing yarns to date. I’m incredibly honored to be amongst those other ladies.

Here is her post:

Alright peeps! Behold! New yarn!!

Ok that was the fun part. This yarn was inspired by Miss Liz and I would like to just add a disclaimer right now that we talked about this in part (no details of course…it’s a total visual surprise for her too!) because my idea is extremely personal and I got her permission to do this and share it with her and the rest of the world.
As most of you know, Liz had a miscarriage a few months ago. We were all so pumped (of course she was too!!) to hear the news and then equally as heartbroken to hear what happened on her vacation. Liz is no stranger to tragedy, I’m not sure how many of you know this, but she got shot through both of her legs in a freak accident in high school and managed to fully recover! Yipes! One night it all just popped into my head…I looking for inspiration for what to create with my My Little Pony spin-a-long batts from jazzturtle…and I emailed Liz. I asked her if they knew the sex of the baby and she said no, but had a strong feeling it was going to be a little girl. I knew then and there I had to do the batts for her! See pre spun:

I wanted a few things from this yarn. To provide Liz with a tangible thing for the memory of her baby. To create something beautiful and terribly girly. And also give it a bit of an unfinished look, as to remind us of this unfinished chapter in her life. I spun it up with a ton of locks from hollyeqq and even some sparkly bits from dena1975. It’s mainly pink, purple, and green, thick and thin, sparkly, soft, and in a few places a little harsh -due to sequin strands and easter grass- to remind us of the hardships we all face in life. In total, both skeins are 305 yards. It’s beautiful and unique, just like Liz. And whether or not you believe in reincarnation, heaven, karma, or that our precious time on this earth is short, I think we all can agree that the little halo effect created around the yarn from the locks is a powerful symbol for Liz’s little angel. We love you Liz!! I hope this brings you lots of joy, as I was spinning all the love I could into this one just for you.

(sorry it took me so long, pictures fixed!)

Yeah, Carrie rocks. ‘nuff said. Trying to determine just the right project for this. I will knit it up!

I’ll post another blog in the next week or so updating on my continued quest for a good bar/knitting night venue. I feel like this one should stand on it’s own.

Until then! XO

I previously mentioned that I have a directive from my husband to get out and knit more. Preferably in a bar or lounge type environment. So of course on the first Thursday following Mother’s Day I did just that… sort of.

The first venue I ventured to was Surly Girl Saloon in the Short North district of Columbus. I’d been there twice in the past, enjoyed the atmosphere and figured it would be a worthwhile first attempt. How can you go wrong when the décor is cowgirl pinups and other oddities? BFF in tow, we gathered our knitting and headed into the bar for food, drinks and not much knitting. Or rather no knitting at all.

We ended up at a tall table with high stools that likely had just enough light for knitting. However it was 6:30pm and we were both starving. Drinks and appetizers first, please! I started off with a Shady Lady and artichoke/spinach dip, Kerry started with the Sucker Punch and quesadillas (or maybe that was her dinner). Yummy! We hadn’t seen each other in awhile so being caught up in chatter was easy. Before we knew it our drinks were gone, the apps were devoured and no knitting was done. Time for round two!

Round two consisted of another Shady lady for me and Kerry moved on to a drink I cannot recall (maybe Lindeman’s Pomme?) Being mothers that rarely get to sit down and eat, we were clearly still hungry and ordered dinner; tomato, bacon & avocado pizza and something else I can’t remember (this is what I get for waiting to write my blog). On with the catching up we went and next thing we knew they were dimming the lights. Uh oh! It was almost too dark to knit.

At this point we gave up on the idea of knitting altogether. We were busy catching up, chatting with our waiter/bartender and people watching (note the creepy guy at the bar nursing his beer for an hour checking us out). Had I known there were benches in the back room I likely would’ve mentioned moving so we could knit and talk, but I had no idea they were there. Instead we ordered dessert! One maple bacon cupcake (it was like breakfast and dessert all at once!) and one chocolate cayenne (spicy!) Kerry threw caution to the wind and also ordered a Cucumber-infused Peach Vodka which tasted like spiked spa water.

After nursing the spiked spa water for a bit we decided it was time to call it a night and head back to the ‘burbs.

All in all an enjoyable evening, this was the ultimate goal, but no knitting accomplished. While Surly Girl has potential to be a place we can go and knit, the back room sounds like it would be the ideal location. Next stop, Grandview. I’m thinking King Ave 5 or Brazenhead.

Surly Girl inspired knits- Cowgirl vest and skirt TBD (to be designed)

Finally! Seamed and blocked, I present to you the baby cardigan I started in February.

I started to embroider it, but ripped it out as I did not like how it looked. I’m thinking a little felt something for one side or a patch. Something to spice it up for my little Bug, but not the embroidery.

Anyway, had to show off that I did actually finish it. Longer post next time…

Life over the past 15 months has left me with little free time, especially time to do simple things such as knit, read, learn to use my sewing machine… you know, all those little things I may have taken for granted before. That said, I wouldn’t change a thing as Caitlin means more to me than just about anything in the world, the exception being my husband. Yet burnout is inevitable when you work full time and are a full time mommy outside of that. Thankfully my husband recognized this and I wasn’t afraid to vocalize my imminent burn out.

So what does this have to do with knitting and why am I writing about it here vs. my baby blog? Well, Jack gave me a directive of sorts for Mother’s Day. My gifts started with some very cool t-shirts that fit my excessively large bosom, but are not overly large at the waist (common problem for me). This was followed by a gift certificate good for a day at the spa. Hello, awesome! Essentially 4 hours of services and lunch on a Saturday of my choice. Doesn’t suck. Then the last gift was a book and a directive. That directive being that I MUST start a local knitting group, it should be in a bar type environment (aka, place that serves alcohol) and it needs to be twice a month on a night of my choice, but he pushing for Saturdays. You read that right, my husband gave me a twice a month hall pass to go out on a Saturday night, knit and gossip with the girls and drink. Who am I to say no? The catch, he told me I HAD TO FOLLOW THROUGH. Ok

The book he gave me is Pints & Purls. Pretty awesome book, made even cooler since it was coauthored by someone local to Columbus. He wants me to use it as my inspiration to get a group started. Sure, why not? Even better, she owns a newish LYS that I’ve yet to check out. You bet it’s on my to-do list now.

Starting tomorrow I’ll be scoping venues for my knit night and then selecting an appropriate night. My concern is that Saturdays are likely too crowded most places unless I can find a cool, off the beaten path, type place. Suggestions are welcome I already have a line-up of people to invite (5 – 6) and once I get this going will likely start on online group and post a bit on Ravelry to draw in a few more people.

More updates later, this is the new exciting project I have going now and I was dying to find time to post. I hope to get it off the ground by the end of the month or early June.

xo,
~L

NP: Doves- Kingdom of Rust

Yes, I actually finished projects! They’re all small, but it’s something!

First up, a cute little clutch. I do still need to line it and add magnetic closures, but I’m happy with the current results.

And then there is the little scarflette I was working on in March. I finished knitting it early on in the month, but never wove in the ends or added the button. I finally finished it off today.

And last (currently) is a little hand towel from one of the Mason Dixon books. I was trying to use up some of my stash and thought this might be a fun quick project. I also wanted to try a miter pattern, so why not?

Working on seaming up the tattoo heart next, maybe I’ll have 4 projects done in April. Now that would be unheard of!

NP: Portishead- Numb

Back from Hawaii, the trip was so-so. I know, who comes back from a trip to Hawaii feeling that way, but given the medical complications that reared their ugly head it couldn’t be helped. The trip was bittersweet to say the least.

Finding knitting inspiration in Hawaii is a funny thought given the constant temperature over 60 degrees, but I had a few ideas, one of which I am working on now. If it turns out as planned I will work on a few variations and likely post them for sale in my etsy shop (which is ever so empty and lonesome). More on that in the next blog.

I really want to dye yarn, I think that may be my project for April. On the Big Island there were so many varying landscapes to find inspiration. Between the volcano, rain forest, desert terrain and ocean there were so many differing color palettes. I think a yarn purchase and Kool-Aid will be in order soon. My assumption is that Kool-Aid and food coloring are likely the easiest places to start. I’ll use this week to organize what other supplies I need and see if I can get this under way!

I also started up again on Twitter. I’m using it specifically related to Reckless Knitting, but the name was too long for a username so Voxless it is. It will be mostly knitting and yarn related with the occasional random off topic comment. Check out the link in the side bar

Dinner time!

~L

NP: Nothing actually, but I have the Hot Dog dance song from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse stuck in my head!

And I don’t have much to show for it.

~ I’m still seaming up the baby cardigan. It’s almost done… almost. I’m home on Thursday, if I find a moment I may try to finally get it done.

~ I did knit a “Hug” for my husband based on the one in the MasterCard commercials. He kept saying he wanted one, so I improvised. It still needs arms, and I wish the edges laid flatter, but not a bad first attempt.

~ I also knit a puffy tattoo heart for my little Bug; still seaming that up too. Knit it in over the course of two days as I found time, such a quick knit. I hope to embroider it, stuff it and finish sewing up on Thursday also.

Early Friday morning I leave for Hawaii with hubby until the 9th. Bug is staying with grandma (which is breaking my heart, but made the most sense) so it will truly mean catching up on sleep. Except for when I have to attend company events (yes, they are covering the trip). I’m really looking forward to a little sun and sand.

Maybe I will find inspiration too. That was the problem in March; I wasn’t inspired enough by any projects to throw myself into them. Maybe I’ll give the cowl a try again… assuming the cat doesn’t try to destroy it once more.

~L

NP: My phone ringing…

Year older and likely wiser. I think having a baby does that too you. Or at least helps you view life in a very different way. Some of my birthday goodies that I’m exceptionally excited about:

I see many Softies/plushies in my future. I can’t wait. I also want to try making a few aprons. Also on the list of exciting gifts: rock n’ roll leather watch (to balance out my nice girl watch), Zoolander themed t-shirt (!!!), Sephora gift certificate (spent yesterday), and a mix tape that is really a USB drive with some fabulous music on it. And how could I forget the cute diary, with a girl playing guitar on the front, where the first two pages contain the first poem my hubby ever wrote about me? Yeah, pretty fantastic gifts.

While my birthday was Thursday, Jack and I went out last night. Dinner at Hyde Park was tops, excellent food, wine and company. The surprise after dinner was seeing a local band’s (Jakob Freely and the Mix Tape Bandits) final performance (at least for awhile since the singer is relocating). The clincher there is that the singer is a good friend of Jack’s so mid show they stopped, pointed me out, and sang happy birthday. Awwwww!

Anyway, knitting stuff!

Status of the baby cardigan I am still knitting:

Second sleeve still in progress. Hoping to wrap it up at Tuesday night’s knit night. I want it done so badly.

I did start working on the cowl mentioned in the last post, but am likely ripping it out and starting again. While having bath time with Bug the other night a cat decided to play with the WIP and displace a few of my stitch markers. As a result the pattern is slightly off on the third round and it’s too irritating to me to ignore. Do over!

I’m also working on another quick project which is a surprise for Jack:

This is one of three main pieces. No pattern on this puppy, making it up as I go along. I ran out of cream yarn, thought I had 2 skeins, only had one in the stash, ordered a second and am on hold until it gets here. Hoping that is sooner than later this week.

And from my 365 Day Project, in one of my two awesome knitting shirts:

And that’s all I’ve got…

NP: Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Zero

I tried, I really did, to complete the baby cardigan in the month of February, but no such luck. The back and two front sides are done as is one of the two sleeves. Valiant effort if I do say so myself, given my lack of time. The second sleeve is cast on and I suspect I’ll finish it, the seaming and the collar by the end of this coming week. I guess running a week over is not so bad, right?

I think my March project will be a cowl. I know, I said no scarves and a cowl is essentially that, but this one is a lace pattern and uses sock yarn, two things I never do. So I think it’s fair to include it in my monthly project list Given that the last project is running over I need to throw in something slightly smaller to keep me on track. So which cowl you ask? The New New Shale Cowl. I’ll likely cast on tomorrow while still closing out my February project.

And if I’m really good with my spare time, which is very little, maybe I’ll wrap up both the aforementioned projects mid month and start the February Lady Sweater as my April project. That surely will take me more than a month, or so I’m thinking.

Have I mentioned yet that I’m vacationing in Hawaii the first week of April? Oh yes, warmth, sun and sand, I can’t wait. We’ll see if any knitting makes the trip.

Off to continue on the second sleeve of this darn baby cardigan!

~L

NP: College basketball in the background…

The baby cardigan is moving right along. I’ve completed the back and am well into the left side, probably about half done with it. The decrease for the raglan sleeves is cake, but I’m not looking forward to the collar decrease and figuring out the seed stitch border at the same time. I’m off tomorrow, and so is Bug, but I’m hoping for a long nap so I can complete the left and move on to the right side. No pictures yet…

However I do have a picture of me in my new Natalie Dee shirt from my hubby (part of my Valentine’s Day gift). So awesome, that is the cardigan that is strewn across the couch:

I’ve also had a bit of a dare from a co-worker to make him hot pink/green leg warmers. He doesn’t think I’ll do it. He believes this to the extent that he said he would wear them in office everyday if I made them. Then he asked that I make multiple pairs in multiple colors so he could mix it up. He truly thinks I won’t which is exactly why I will. Off to Joann’s or Michael’s tomorrow for cheapo yarn!

And since I mentioned Valentine’s Day previously, hubby also bought me to skeins of Tilli Tomas yarn! Scrumptious! I need to pick up a few more skeins and I have the perfect project to get started on… probably for April.

Going to take advantage of everyone else in the house napping right now and go wind up my Malabrigo yarn for next months project. Until next time…

xo,
~L

NP:My Morning Jacket- Touch Me I’m Going To Scream, Pt. 2

Birthday season has begun for me. My daughter’s first birthday is officially the 11th, we had the party yesterday

Next is my future SIL’s birthday (19th) followed by my husband’s (26th), mine (5th) and them my MIL’s (10th). That’s a whole lot of birthday cake.

I did finish the backpack for my daughter in the month of January. Yay! Here it is unlined and without a zipper, Domo Kun thought it was his:

My February project is the “My First Tattoo” sweater out of the ‘Stitch n’ Bitch Nation’ book. I just completed the back and have begun the left front piece. No pictures yet. Hoping I can knock this one out before the month is over given it is a short month.

Fun picture from my 365 days project… me in my Diamond Scarf (Twinkle pattern) for my winter theme photo:

In other news I may be in Amsterdam for my birthday if work can swing it. I haven’t been there since I was 17, I’m beyond excited at the prospect to go back even if it is for work.

That’s about it for now. Need to take advantage of hubby and the baby napping to get some other stuff done!

xo,
~L

ps. updating my blogroll to add blogs I frequently read. If you want me to peek at yours, post a link! I’m a total blog addict.

NP: The Airborne Toxic Event- Sometime Around Midnight

The not knitting part…

I’m taking three days off this week. Yesterday was the first of the three. Of course I found myself snowed in for the most part, but given what I was working on that really didn’t matter. And why is that, you ask? because I was painting our living room which I knew would be an all day task:

Wall near the kitchen before:

After first coat:

And completed (looks more blue than it is, it’s actually more green):

I worked on it from 7:30am until 3pm yesterday and then for another 1.5 hours this morning since I had the wall with the windows left to finish. It only took so long because I had to move all the furniture, tape, do 2 coats of paint, wait for it to dry and push everything back. Soreness and beyond today!

In knitting, I finished the gusset for the backpack yesterday. This is what it looked like as I was preparing to bind off:

And this is where I’m at so far (gusset, upper front, front, back). Just the straps left:

I’ll work on the straps tomorrow and over the weekend. Hopefully it’s off to the fabric store tomorrow for the lining and a zipper. Putting this altogether should be interesting!

Off to soak my soreness in the tub.

~L

NP: Talking Heads ‘And She Was’

Progress as of Monday, I have since finished the back and cast off.

The yarn selection:

And the progress:

I’m thinking a bright green fabric with white polka dots for the lining, but still trying to decide. Any thoughts/advice?

xo,
Liz

NP: Stellastarr*- My Coco

This project has taken off quickly! I cast on the front panel and the intarsia heart was done in no time, but the bunny face is a little more time consuming due to more than two colors in a given row (I’ve not done intarsia in some time). I’ve currently knit up through the bottom of the eyes.

I also cast on the back panel as sometimes I find time to knit, but need to be able to drop it at a moments notice (like when the baby is playing and has no interest in involving me, until she changes her mind 5 minutes later of course). Since the back panel is all stockinette stitch with no variation for 13″ I figured this was a good choice for such times. As it turns out I am now only about 2 or 3 rows from having it complete. Obviously I cruised through the back quicker than expected.

It’s likely I won’t have time to knit tonight or tomorrow due to other evening obligations, but I imagine by Sunday evening the back will be done, the intarsia bunny will be completed and I’ll be 3/4 or more done with the front panel. I’d bet money that I cast on the side piece by then also

I’ll try to post pictures of the progress soon. I could use help with ideas for fabric lining. I’ve not lined many projects in the past and am rather lost when it comes to fabric stores.

Knitting in 2008 was uneventful and sparse due to Caitlin being born February 11th. However I would have had it no other way. The projects I did manage to complete:

I know there were probably 3 or 4 neck warmers completed, as well as a few knitted bracelets, but no pictures to be found.

The only major project left on the table is the market bag for Kerry. It is truly 90% done, just need to finish out the handles (which may be painful).

On to 2009. My plan this year is to complete a project per month that is not a scarf. No more scarves unless requested. The first project of the year is the Punk Rock Backpack from the first Stitch n’ Bitch book. I made a quick trip to Temptations this morning for the yarn and the trip proved to be excessively successful. Not only did they have any color I could desire for the backpack, they had the yarn I needed for the little tattoo cardigan I want to make for her also. Rock on!

I cast on moments ago and the backpack is officially in process. I’ll track the progress on Ravelry and on here. Be sure to check back

2009 knitting related goals:

1. Complete at least 1 project per month
2. Update blog at least every other week, preferably weekly
3. Start a monthly knitting group. I already have 3 lovely ladies lined up, just need a venue and date. I’ll likely post details here and on Ravelry if others would like to join us.

And that’s about it. Easy, right?

Hope your year is off to a kick-ass start!

~L

NP: The The- This is the Day

I recently contributed squares to a “mystery” afghan. I think it’s only a mystery to the person that will be receiving it Anyway, I really like how my contribution turned out. It’s inspired me to work more with felt:

NP: the latest album by Snow Patrol