Last Day of March

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…

Birthdays Happen

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

February project… almost, but not quite

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…

Baby Cardigan Progress

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…

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

Knitting, but not…

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’

Punk Rock Backpack- Picture Update

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

January Project- Punk Rock Backpack

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.

Hello, New Year…

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

Mystery Afghan

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