No seriously, I wish everyone a wonderful day tomorrow, no matter what you’re doing. I haven’t been blogging very long, but I’m enjoying it immensely, thanks in no small part to the great people I’ve met. I can’t wait until next year! I’m closing down for the day to migrate over to the new server, so I’ll leave you all with this – our holiday card this year:
Love, Cara
that I’m insane.
Yesterday I decided that I didn’t like the secret gift I’m making for Georgie – the needle size was giving me a headache because it seemed to be too slow going, the size of the gift was off and I was having a hard time convincing myself that it would work, and I was increasingly anxious about the yarn. It was leaving too many fuzzies around for G’s taste.
Therefore, because I’m C-R-A-Z-Y I decided I needed NEW yarn for a NEW secret project RIGHT THIS MINUTE. I threw on some pants appropriate for the outdoors and booked over to A.C. Moore. I had some stuff to return and I remembered that they now have some fake Cashmerino Aran – I’m pretty sure it’s distributed by KFI too. Georgie won’t know the difference between “real” yarn and “fake” yarn and I was desperate. Besides, this stuff is really soft.
I picked some up for a very cheap price, ran home, and got started. Things are going MUCH better now. I feel good and so far I’ve managed to keep the gift a secret (Of course this did include throwing my body on it and having a ten minute conversation with said gift recipient when he surprised me with how fast he got home. I was contorted in an odd position and G didnt say anything – either he’s oblivous to me, or he’s in on the surprise.)
Even though I jumped three needle sizes, it still seems to be slow going. It’s rainy and icky here today so that’s ALL I’m doing.
Some things that have impressed me in the last couple of days:
Apparently I really fucked up! I didn’t realize I wasn’t supposed to shop here – well at least they only gave 61% to Republicans. Not 100% like those Nazis Coors. Can I help it if I’m a sucker for good customer service? I’ll try to do better. I promise. (Thank you Cursing Mama for setting me straight! Oh and I feel your pain!)
I think I might be closing down for Xmas – I need to migrate over to a new host and from what I’ve read, it seems very complicated. (If anyone’s done this and can reassure me, I’d appreciate it.) In the meantime, I’ll be closing down comments on Xmas Eve and Xmas so I can migrate without losing stuff (fingers crossed!) I’ll put a sign up when it starts.
Thanks.
Thanks everyone, for your comments on Georgie’s Vest. He’s feeling like quite the popular guy. When I told him everyone said he should smile more, he scowled and turned away. I think I heard something about crazy and knitters. Hmm. Wonder what he’s talking about.
Yesterday I had a very lovely meet up with Cassie, in the big city. We met at Purl, right when it opened, but it quickly became overrun. What was everyone doing there? I mean, Christmas is only four days away! You’d have to be crazy* to start a new project for the holiday, right?
Anyway, Cassie was essential in helping me choose some new yarns. I bought some beautiful Koigu for a pair of socks for my sister. I decided it was time to try socks. And some blue sky alpaca – man that stuff is soft – and some Cascade 220.
After buying our purchases we went next door for some tea and Lemonade and talked about religion, politics, you know – all of those getting to know you kind of topics. It was like meeting an old friend (actually – it was kind of weird, because Cassie totally reminded me of an old friend. They look very similar – are about the same size – and even more freaky had the same exact voice!) I had a lovely time and I hope to meet up with her again soon. Thanks Cassie!
Reason #5,489 why I love my husband:
Last night while I was sitting on the couch, ALONE, dutifully* knitting, he called me about 11:30, out with an old friend, all excited. “Listen, listen, can you hear it?” I listened closer to the background music. “I can’t believe they’re playing this and you’re not here!” What were they playing? Why it’s our favorite stalker song, from our favorite movie:
I’ve Seen That Face Before/Libertango
by Grace JonesStrange, I’ve seen that face before,
Seen him hanging ’round my door,
Like a hawk stealing for the pray,
Like the night waiting for the day,Strange, he shadows me back home,
Footsteps echo on the stones,
Rainy nights, an hustling boulevard,
Parisian music, drifting from the bars,Tu cherches quoi, rencontrer la mort,
Tu te prends pour qui, toi aussi tu detestes la vie,Dance in bars and restaurants,
Home with anyone who wants,
Strange he’s standing there alone,
Staring eyes chill me to the bone.Dans sa chambre, joel et sa valise,
Un regard sur ses fringues,
Sur les murs, des photos,
Sans regret, sans mélo,
La porte est claquée, joel est barré.
(I’m thinking we need this. Maybe to hang in the bedroom.)
In looking for some links to the movie, I found this review by Roger Ebert. In it he says “‘Frantic’ would have benefitted from the coldhearted cutting of some scenes and the trimming of others (such as a dance sequence in a nightclub that continues until it is inexplicable).” OH MY GOD! This is the scene where Grace does her thing! It’s ESSENTIAL to the movie. Oh Roger. I liked you better when you were fat.
* Okay. So I’m one of the crazy ones that started a holiday gift four days before Xmas. But it’s for Georgie Mou and I don’t want him to know about it – so no details. And it’s not working out as I planned either – even though it couldn’t be simpler. Pics to come later.
Check out my foxy man in his manly vest:
Here are some close-ups of the vest by itself, with no foxy man inside:
Needless to say, we’re both pretty happy with it. Although I did tell him he wasn’t allowed to play tennis in it. He’s definitely wearing it Christmas Day. I’m so glad he likes, and even more glad it fits! I will never again make a sweater (or any other garment for that matter) without measuring it against something I know fits. He has two vests that he plays tennis in – one fits great but is a little short, the other is perfect in the body length, but not so much the rest. I melded the measurements together and perfection! (Not the debilitating kind, I might add.)
For those of you interested in the background, he’s sitting/standing by our dining room table. Yes, my entire dining room is lined with bookcases, as is the living room (well, two in there – but that’s the only empty wall space) and the office. As of right now, books still outnumber yarn. (The bookcases are Ikea Billy – I can build one in like five minutes, no lie.)
Speaking of storage, I was putting away my yarn last night, trying to clean up the house a little, when I realized the underbed plastic boxes I bought at the Container Store do not fit under my bed. So now I’m thinking about this. Please tell me I’m crazy (although I’m pretty sure it will fit in my closet).
Question: Michelle was kind enough to let me know that the links in my entries weren’t working for her – she’s using Netscape 7.1. I’d love to hear about anybody else having problems. I want my blog to work for everyone!
It’s freaking freezing here!
I was possibly going to knit with Jen, but I’m not leaving my house. It’s just too cold. Besides, why break our streak of trying to get together a million times to knit and NEVER KNITTING!
I couched it again last night. I’m feeling much better, but Georgie’s got it now and he was snoring. It didn’t seem like it was going to end anytime soon and I just can’t fall asleep when he snores. If I fall asleep first, and then he snores, I’m okay. So off to the couch I went, which was actually okay. I didn’t sleep too badly.
Yesterday I knit to about 11″ on the back of my Ribby Cardi . It’s looking good. And I ripped out the Brie gloves about a half a dozen times. Thanks for the tips on decreasing and the rib – especially Toni. I’m going to try again today. Maybe.
I also think I’ve figured out some stuff about the Jo Sharp Cedar project. I think, instead of a cardigan, I’m going to do a v-neck sweater. But not just any v-neck. I was reading through my Ann Budd Sweater book last night and I’m going to do a v-neck with saddle shoulders so I can do a large cable on the sleeve and work it all the way up to the neckline. I think I might also do an all-over rib – maybe with baby cables I found in one of my Barbara Walker stitch books. I’m thinking this will be really elegant for the yarn. I decided against a cardigan because after finishing Georgie’s Vest and seeing how soft the yarn is, I want to wear it next to my skin. So now I go to the drawing board. I never actually designed anything on my own and I’m not really sure this can be called designing – I’m taking a pattern for a v-neck from Ann Budd, adding a stitch pattern from Barbara Walker and throwing in a cable pattern I pull from my Harmony Knitting Books. I’m pulling together, instead of designing. But I’m excited.
The main task of the day is to do my holiday cards. They must go out tomorrow! I think I can do it. I hope I can do it.
PS – Do you like my holiday lights? It’s my one nod to Xmas in our house (I’m Jewish – Georgie’s Greek Orthodox). I always put up holiday lights. They’re not quite up in my house (yet) – I’m thinking Wednesday will be the day for that – but at least they’re up in my blog!
when someone googles the phrase debilitating perfectionism and your blog is on the first page?
It can’t be good, right?
Okay, so the pattern says to decrease at the beginning and end of the third row and every 8th row after. It’s a 2×2 rib. I decreased in the knit stitches – p2, k2 (this is where I decreased) p2 pat to end.
What do I do on the next row – start over with k2, p2 and keep going regardless of what the ribs were before? What about the 8th row?
I don’t know why this is confusing me. But it is. Thanks so much for your help.
ca·sein ( P ) Pronunciation Key (ksn, -s-n) n.
A white, tasteless, odorless protein precipitated from milk by rennin. It is the basis of cheese and is used to make plastics, adhesives, paints, and foods. From Dictionary.com
Does anybody else find it a little strange that the plastic your cheese is wrapped may actually also be cheese? I’m not quite sure how milk can turn into plastic, and frankly, I don’t want to know. But god damn I like these Swallows!
I cast on last night (after I finished the Vest) for the Brie gloves. Things were going along swimmingly with the beguiling hairy dental floss until I realized I was on row 6 or 7 or something (how can I be expected to know what row I’m on with this blasted yarn! I can’t even count the stitches!) and that I was supposed to start decreasing on row 3. I was so excited that I was actually knitting with this imposter yarn that I forgot to re-read the pattern.
Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!
Have you ever tried ripping this stuff out? I hope there supposed to be a lot left over after making these gloves because with all the cutting of destroyed ends I’m doing I’ll be lucky if I can make it to the thumb. I WILL PREVAIL! KSH WILL NOT BRING ME DOWN!
I think I’ll work on my Ribby Cardi today since I finished the Vest. I sent an email to Carole last night to join the Ribby Cardi KAL. It will be my second ever knit-along. The first, of course, being the Man-Along. But now that I’ve finished the Vest, it’s time to move on.
And you people are killing me! After seeing Cari’s and Froggy’s, I’m totally convinced I HAVE to make a Clapotis. It’s a good excuse to try out some new yarn, right? I’ve never tried Lorna’s Laces and I hear good things.
I’m also trying to find a project for my Jo Sharp DK Tweed in Cedar. I want to make some kind of Cabled Hoodie Cardigan. All the patterns I’ve found that seem remotely interesting are for Aran weight yarn. I’m not sure I’m good enough to do the math to convert the piece to DK weight. I like Mariah from the new Knitty because the intricate cables are really on the arms. I’ve had that idea in my mind for a while. Will it be really hard to convert it? Or should I give up and look for something in the same yarn weight? I like this Debbie Bliss pattern, but again, it’s calling for Aran weight. I probably don’t have enough yarn to do it anyway. I have 20 balls of the Cedar. I know I don’t have enough to do this, also a Debbie Bliss pattern. (Great job Shannon!) Of course, this one’s in the right yarn weight. I guess I could try to find some more yarn. I’d probably only need about five or so. It’s times like these I wish I was a designer extraordinare so I could make myself a Shazam or Lovie like Bonne Marie.
If anyone has any other ideas, I’d love to hear them. I really want to start knitting with this yarn – especially since I finished the Vest.
Sick. Sick. I’m sick. I hate being sick. Medical scientists the world over have yet to identify (forget about a cure – there aren’t enough Hollywood spokespeople in the universe to cure what I have!) the copious amounts of ~STUFF~ leaking from my body. It’s really, really gross.
But even in my infinite misery, I manage to struggle on. The neckband (sorry, Kerstin, definitely not as revolutionary as the armband – but there’s still one to come!) is done on Georgie’s Vest. I took some pictures but they came out crappy and I don’t feel like taking them over. Maybe later, if I’m inspired. But I doubt it. I’m thinking if I can stop the gook running out of my nose FOR FIVE FREAKING MINUTES I will do the last armhole and seam up the sides. I was feeling a little funny about the neckline – it’s a little goofy at the bottom – but when Georgie tried it on, he declared I was a genius. I didn’t have the energy to argue.
Oh and speaking of my beloved, the decree has been issued:
“I’m telling everyone, if they don’t love it, I can’t be friends with them.”
What’s this “it”? School of Rock of course. Better than Vitamin Fucking C.
Yep. That’s me! Well, besides the sick thing.
Want to hear a sappy, romantic story? Too bad. I’m gonna tell you anyway!
I had to go to Staples today to get some more photo mailers for client work. I really didn’t feel like doing it, but I threw on some clothes, my baseball cap and my favorite cozy clogs. After I got the car warmed up a little bit, I noticed that there was a CD in the 6-CD player. We don’t always have CDs in there. Sometimes the same six will languish because we’re too lazy to change them. Sometimes I get in and find that Georgie’s put in the most surprising, eclectic mix. He does have the most crazy taste in music. But I digress.
So I turn on the CD, anticipating my surprise and the first song is Waitin’ On A Sunny Day, by Bruce, of course. Now this is significant because WOASD doesn’t start any albums. So immediately I know this is a homemade CD. And homemade it was! Such love, such tenderness, such in-depth knowledge of my heart and soul. My honey left me the equivalent of the sappiest, most sentimental love letter. I had a smile from ear to ear! I am the luckiest girl! I reciprocated by leaving him an equally sappy voicemail message thanking him for being the best lover, friend, and husband a girl could ever want. I am, truly, a lucky girl. (Okay, before you want to kill me, we do have our moments. Like, for instance, the CD was in there the night before when he picked me up at the train, but I bitched him out so bad he didn’t even turn on the radio. I’m sorry honey!)
Enough about our crazy love – look what I got!
Some beautiful, beautiful needles:
Straight Needles
Double Pointed Needles
Aren’t they fantastic? I bought them specifically for the Kid Silk Haze and Brie Gloves I’m going to make for my sister. I can’t wait to knit with them. Although, now I wish I had gotten some of the Pearl ones as well!
But here’s really why I’m lucky. Look at my sweet niece in her Chanukah hat!
My god – couldn’t you just eat her up? I’m dying!
Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. While I was in Philly I stopped at a few LYSs – The Tangled Web, The Knit With and Rosie’s Yarn Cellar. The Tangled Web was disappointing. I bought a couple of patterns and a pair of Addis at The Knit With and at Rosie’s I bought four more skeins of Manos in the camel/pink color. Now I’m thinking I need more to make a garment. Or maybe not. I do have some great ideas for expanding on the Sophie.
My nose is running again. Thanks, by the way, for the get well wishes!
