Why does it have to look so good?

Yarn that is. Impulse buys are going to kill me. Help! I've drowned in my own stash. That is what my tombstone will read. So, we won't go into that especially since I didn't have to sit on the box lid to close the stash box. :)

D pointed out to me yesterday that I don't have to crochet all the pieces in one night. Hmm...I guess that might be why my shoulder is a bit sore. It's not close to being done and I have not idea how I'll piece this together, but the sewing is something I'm not looking forward to. The crocheting is easy.

I'm going to A Knitted Peace this Friday. If you're bored you should go to. $12 yarn tasting party. Why the heck not. If my link didn't work Google their website and look at their newsletter. I'm going to be about an hour late because of the drop of thang, so hopefully I won't end up with the ickiest color ever, but it'll be cool yarn and new people. Should be grand.

Devastated!

I've lost J's blanket. The one I made him. The one I made in pastel colors because I was convinced he was going to be a girl. The one I bordered in blue shortly after he was born. Damn.

Updated 03/24/08, someone finally turned it into the lost and found. :)

Maddening

A few weeks ago I went to Hobby Lobby looking for some more skeins for the blanket I was crocheting since I had a gift card. I found one but I didn't find the other. I thought that the other may be exclusive toWal-Mart. Rats.

Today I went to Wal-Mart and I couldn't find the Bernet self striping yarn at all. So, being my wonderfully stubborn self, I went to Michaels. No luck there either. The bad news is that the blanket I was working on for my son I had put down and then picked up again...with the wrong crochet hook size. As a matter of fact, I have no idea what size I was using. So I finished the second skein of the blanket only to realize that it seemed as though it was shrinking in size. Damn, I think it was a J or K I was using and not an I.

Last night I proceeded to frog that part of the blanket. Well, it didn't go well. Can I reiterate my loathing for boucle style yarn? I just *knew* I should have knit this thing. 1 ball of yarn turned into 4 balls of yarn with no end in site yet. I thought I'd just throw awaywhat I did thus far and just start over. That, of course isn't going to happen if I can't find the yarn.

*grumble*

Update

I found some of the yarn at another Wal-Mart. I have 5 skeins. I bet I'm going to be short anyway. Oh well, at least I found some to do something with.

I was trying to get a few things in order...or at least try and find out what plastic bag I stowed them in...for girl child's birthday party coming up soon.

What I realized was I had a small disaster in my "craft" closet. So I organized.

Only to discover that I'm not satisfied with my organization and that my quilting/sewing items are in my garage. Also, I really do have enough stuff to start a small craft store. If I don't start letting the kids into the craft items that I've gotten for them over the years, I will be run over by them.

If you don't hear from me, I have been buried from the stuff in my closet, please send help.

Too Tired To Think Of A Title

...I want to take a bath. It's cold.

However, I've spent the last hour looking at amigurumi. Ah...just what I need...another to add to my crafting. I could open a craft store.


Now, instead of taking a bath, I'm writing to you, my non-existant fan base. I do appreciate you. Leave comments if you are out there. ^-^

A few weeks ago, I got to go here. I think I need to go back. I love hot springs. This place was wonderful. It was like skipping around in 15-20 different hot tubs. I could have stayed there a long time. The hardest part was that I don't think we took enough water...and by water I mean frozen bottles of water. Also, there wasn't a super selection of lunch items there. Next time I want to stay at the resort itself and nose in and out of the pools as I wish all day. On my trip I did happen to take one crochet project. I've been trying to finish it for what feels like forever.


And, I didn't that weekend, but I did this weekend...still with me? I'm not convinced that the recipient loved it too much though. Oh well, he's only 3, with a fondness of fleece. His dad liked it though and I know he was touched by the thought.


Now, back to Pagosa Springs...I found a LYS. What a good idea. I had to buy something...anything...well, not really, but it seemed the touristy thing for me to do.


I found some Noro, one of my favorites. This is destined to be a scarf, 1x1 rib, 2 rows 1 skein, 2 rows other skein. I love how Noro knits.


I also found sock yarn. Interlacements. Now mind you, I can find any of this stuff at home, but for some reason I felt the need to acquire more to my stash. I wonder if I can fit another plastic bin in my closet...


Lastly, to add to my new found spinning wheel addiction, not to be confused with my drop spindles, which are a little dusty, I had to buy this. I'm not super crazy about the colors, but the store had 3 of these and one just wanted to come home with me.


I think part of my issue was that the man I was with was so very supportive of my hobby. Encouraging even, see the sock yarn...that one was his idea...I was fondling them...he said, "Oh, this is a nice color." Sold. I'm not sure if I can take him shopping with me anymore.


That was my trip in a nutshell.


Speeding up to last weekend, again...I finished my girl child's pick of fleece from...3 years ago?


Navajo ply. 2 skeins. There was one full bobbin, and a tiny bit left over. The reason why I didn't 2 ply. Also I kind of just like the colors staying together. It's probably in between laceweight and sport weight. Either way it's pretty, I'm proud. Not too bad for my second try.

Open! Open! Open!

Actually posted on 09/13/07

Remember those commercials of once upon a time? I think it was a Mervyn's commercial where a woman stood eagerly at the locked door waiting for the store to open and the sale to begin. That's me right now, although the store is not Mervyns. Ever since Imbrium introduced me this glorious item, I have been obsessing ever since. I haven't hand spun in months. In fact my poor little drop spindle has been decorating my basket of remembering, where I keep my keys and other items I shouldn't lose, for months now. So last Saturday she brought her spinning wheel that we had joked about at Estes 2 years ago. The jist of the conversation was that we should get them and the controversy was that we didn't really have the funds nor the room in our respective homes.

I must acquire a wheel I have decided. I've spun on a spinning wheel exacty 2 times. I think I'll do okay without lessons. I'm brave. Besides the place where I would like to go is about an hour or more away from me and to be there by 6:00 pm I'd have to leave work by 4:30 pm and find a sitter for the kids. Oh well, I can learn from the internet right? Haha. It's more the aintenance stuff about spinning wheels that I am unsure of.

The store I want to go to will be having a sale soon...but not as in this weekend soon...rats. So I have to wait. Well, not really, but I should wait. So in order to keep my excitement to a mere crawl, which isn't working all that well, but I'm trying, I'm hand spinning. Like I mentioned before I haven't spun for a few months now. Since last Saturday I've been trying to spin every day. So much so, that I noticed that I haven't been putting enough spin in some of the yarn I've been spinning. So today at lunch I wound it off of the spindle onto my niddy noddy and I am respinning it...if that is possible...I guess the better term is that I am adding more twist to what I have spun. Kind of OCD of me dontcha think? I mean I could have left it alone and just plyied it when the time came, but something kept bugging me that perhaps it would pull apart or something. Want to guess the percentage that I most likely place the yarn on the drop spindle on to a bobbin when I get a spinning wheel?

Sadly, I must admit that my UFOs are greatly suffering due to my interest obsession with spinning. After finishing the baby blanket for M and C, I started a blanket for my friend's kid E. I had this yarn in my stash, I had originally purchased it for a co-worker who had purchased socks from me for his new nephew. I thought he might be interested in a blanket, after all he had mentioned it in passing, and really who am I to give up a chance to buy some yarn? However, my co-worker was recruited and I didn't hear from him again. So, I thought this yarn would look nifty using a wave crochet stitch...and it does! I was so excited about this stitch I had to make another one. This time for my son because the only blanket he has made by me is the one I made before he was born. I was convinced he was going to be a girl so it's white and pastel with a baby blue border.

Now I swore I would never crochet with a boucle type yarn again, but here I am...and this time oddly enough...it's not turning out nearly as horrible as I thought.

Why do I blog?

Well, that's a good fucking question. If anyone has ideas please let me know. It's a weird little exhibitionism quirk in my brain I suppose. It's not as though I really want people to know what I'm thinking. It would be truly fun to be completely anonymous and let it all fly. Just one of those moods after getting off a phone call with my favorite person, because it's always my fault.

On to other items though. Here is the scarf I finished for my friend. He loved it and wears it all the time now. He says it's warm. It matches his jacket too. I wasn't too sure about the orange and black combo, but it seemed to work okay. It may be the last time I ever knit a scarf lengthwise though. First time I ever knitted anything for a man who was not related to me. Not even the X got anything out of me. But then again, I never thought he'd truly appreciate something from one's heart and hands.

I finally finished the blanket I started 2 years ago. It will be sent in a package to my sister. How odd it is as an adult to know now that I have a sister. Especially after being raised an only child.

A closer view of the Korean and English. The variegated yarn made interesting patterns once you stand back.

Hehe...I must work on my photography skills. I tend to get in a hurry and suddenly you notice a baby buggy wheel in the corner or extremely clashing colors or background texture.

I must remember that single crochet on a G hook takes a long time. But I admit I am not the world's fastest knitter or crocheter...I just enjoy the process.

A picture of the edging. She had a baby girl, if I understand correctly. When I designed it, it was going to be for a woman I hardly knew who was going to have a boy. However, this seems a much more appropriate present for my sister than for this woman who I have now lost touch with. I thought the lacy edge would be a good touch.

Going forward onto projects that I'm working on now...well, this blanket is taking the lead right now. I love self striping yarn. Have a mentioned this before? Haha. It's turning out well, now that I've figured out how many stitches to pick up on the side roughly...since I'm making this up as I go along. Fun stuff! Should be more interesting as I progress.

I finished one of two socks. Is it just me or is it always harder to knit the second sock...motivation wise really. I'll take a picture when the second one is done...heck, he's waited 4 years so far, what's 4 more?

Sometimes things just don't work out the way you think they should

So, last night I really was going to update my blog, but then my friend stopped by. I'd give the real people in my life names but, then it would be weirdly personal, and I'm oddly private online since I don't want to be blatent about my ramblings with my ex wandering around on cyberspace too. I'm weird. I accept this fact. Wish I could just plaster pictures of myself online. Oh well...I can plaster my knitting...yay. Oh and my friend ended up wandering on the internet himself and blah blah...I just quickly saved my post.

Okay, so my weekend was lovely. I'm sorry I missed you Imbrium. I heard from C & M that you stopped by Dave and Buster's with an entourage. :( Perhaps next time, besides then you could meet my friend.

So one of my co-workers lives on a farm. She brought in about 3 boxes...like the type offices order large quantites of paper in...of tomatoes. They are lovely. I had one with some balsamic vinegar and salt tonight. Yum. Kids are not as impressed.

The blanket is perking along...well, slowly...about 40 more rows to go and then a border. From what I can tell my sister is due sometime in November. My sister and I don't speak the same language...literally. So it makes email communication more challenging. I always have to find translators and vice verse.

Oh and this here is a picture of a dog, not my dog, for my friend M.

And...

I'm back!

And all because of this little black box. Aww...hugs to the little black box. Thank you little black box.

And this is the progress on my blanket. Fifty more rows on the bottom and then a border and I'll call it done.

The concert was good. It was indeed cold but my friend brought a blanket, which was awesome. We got there at about 5:30pm and we amazingly got 16th row. I was surprised, but I also hadn't been to a concert at Red Rocks Ampitheatre in years. I can remember a time when people would get there at about 2:00pm to stand in line until the gates opened since it's general admission from rows 1-20 usually.

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

I spent my afternoon with my family today. I took the kids to the local farmer's market. They had sno-cones and got to nose around at the vendor's goods...speaking of...I wonder what happened to my beef jerky.

I spun a little bit of wool. Not much. Just a tiny tiny bit. I think I may invest in another spindle so i can finish out this bag of wool. My friend pointed out to me that I ought to take off what I had thus far and then spin the rest. To which, I disagreed, and swore I could do it all on the one spindle. right... being...she was right. So I will look at more spindles when I go to the Estes Fiber Festival next weekend.

The only other thing that I worked on this weekend was this...


This is a blanket single crochet with the symbols in the center, hopefully, saying "love" in Korean. I think I will give this to my sister. Now looking at this picture...I didn't realize the funky pattern the yarn is making. Huh.

Happy soupy brain

Being yappy again...so if you want please skip to the pictures.

So, I've entered into this new phase in my life. When I started the knit, purl, and hurl group once upon a time years ago, it was because I wanted to connect with the women in my circle of friends. I had noticed for years that many of the women came and went but the men had this sort of brotherhood that the women just did not.

It worked out well to go with my new hobby with yarn. Over time, I have not hosted one of these events in years now due to my...well...life. But others have taken the task upon themselves to invite the correct mixture of chatty women to enjoy of crafts and such.

I'm glad that we're able to meet up at times. I am glad that we've grown up. wink

How life changes...sigh...when they started...I was the only married woman in the group, now I'm the only single woman in the group. No problem. Still fun. Glad we can do it.

I don't know if this is true for all craft circles, but I have noticed that some women blend well and some just don't. Period. Don't try it again, there will be fur flying.

Anywho. This story has no real point. The title however of this blog...yes...I think the bottom line...I'd really like men to make sense. I think I'll leave it at that for now.


This is my spindle full of the never ending bag of fluff. However, the mission over the weekend to teach Imbrium how to spin was accomplished. She did fantastic! I have now given many reasons to justify a purchase of a spinning wheel. haha

Next time, it will be on to crochet! She too can have toilet paper covers! giggle


In all of the years doing things with yarn now I never knew I could actually out knit/crochet myself...but after getting this much done...which now doesn't look like all that much...I never wanted to see another crochet hook. But now that it's been 24 hours I think I'm ready to continue. Maybe...

To crochet or not to...that is the question...

But let's talk socks first. This is how far I got yesterday before I got the overwhelming car sick feeling. That was fun. Started on the heel flap. Yay!

I was going to start on a blanket for my son with the black and blue yarn, but I got side tracked with a baby shower I have been invited to in two weeks. It was going to be pink and white, but Wal-Mart only had 2 skeins. I buy cheap yarn...don't hate me. So now it's purple and white. I figure when it's about 10 times this size I'll call it done.

It took me so long to figure out if I wanted to crochet or knit this. I decided on crochet because I think I crochet faster and I didn't have a circular pair of needles and the LYS weren't open. I do have to admit that I hate to crochet with bumpy yarn though because I lose stitches. See...if I had had this blog two years ago I would have remembered this.

Ah well. Wish me luck.