FOs - A Follow Up to The First Installment of WIPs

I have finished objects to show you! I think posting about them really worked. It made me feel accountable to my knitting friends out there. Thanks for all of your encouragement!

I've been waiting to blog until I had a better picture of Josephine (maybe of me actually wearing her) but I can't seem to get that done. That's my perfectionism showing its ugly face. Perfectionism leads to procrastination, so I've been told (and so I've always proven.) So, enough procrastinating! Oh, and I gave the Jaywalker socks to my sister already. When she found out they were done, she had to have them! Guess I'll have to think about what else to knit her for Christmas...

Pattern: Josephine Top, Interweave Knits, Summer 2007

Time to Knit: April 21-July 29, 2008

Yarn: Elann Callista, Desert Rose, 7 skeins

Needle: US Size 3

Pattern: Jaywalker, by Grumperina

Time to Knit: April 14, 2007 - August 9, 2008

Yarn: Scout's Swag Superwash Fingering in Hot Fudge Sundae

Needle: US Size 1

Now I'm working feverishly on the Voyager Lace Stole for Mindy's wedding on October 19. I am exactly halfway done; just started my third of 4 balls today. I have estimated that I need to knit one pattern repeat (10 rows) each day in order to finish by October 3 and have time to block it. Unfortunately, I am already behind; I'm knitting Thursday's repeat, and today is Saturday. Oh so typical of me...

Real Knitting Content & Some Other Stuff

The Knitting Content

Pattern: Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts

Yarn: 1 skein Socks That Rock Medium Weight in Farmhouse &

1 skein Socks That Rock Medium Weight in Watermelon Tourmaline

Needles: Size 5 Knit Picks Options Circular

Started: 3/31/07
Finished: 5/13/07

And here is the first of hopefully 2 Jaywalkers, on my beautiful new sock blocker from The Loopy Ewe.

The Other Stuff

Of course, I've been tagged! Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag 7 others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog. I’ve been tagged by Sarah.

1. Sometimes I think I care more about animals than I do people. I have such strong compassion for animals, I think because they are innocent, vulnerable, and offer unconditional love. This is why I became a social worker instead of a vet. I could never have handled being a vet - too much emotion.

2. I love to make lists. I make a "Things to Do" list every Friday, that carries me through the weekend. I have 2 pages worth of my "Knitting Projects" list that I keep in a binder with all of my patterns from the Internet.

3. I have an obsession with sheet protectors. As mentioned above, my "Knitting Projects" binder is one of 12 binders on my bookshelves. They house everything from my bank statements, knitting how-to's, and beading ideas, to name a few.

4. I am addicted to the Internet. I can't decide if this is a good or bad thing. I check my email, read blogs, shop, blog, and just about everything else. I've been trying to curb my online shopping here lately, which feels super hard.

5. I used to be a dancer, back in grade school and high school. Ballet was my passion, and I often dreamt about becoming a prima ballerina. I was also on the Pom Squad in high school. I still have a desire to buy a leotard and some soft pink ballet shoes, although I can't imagine I would look too good in a leotard anymore!

6. I have naturally curly hair, just like that little girl in Charlie Brown.

7. I hate to cook. This is ok right now, since I am still single. I eat a lot of cereal. But I worry what will happen if I get married - guess I need to fall in love with someone who is much better in the kitchen than I!

I tag Robyn, Mindy, Hope, Rachel, Kim, Knit Diva, and Jennifer.

Finally!

I am breathing a sigh of relief. The Jaywalker is back on the needles, and I'm back in the knitting groove. Phew! Thanks for all of your moral support during my trying time. I still ended up with an extra stitch, but as I told Romi, I just knit two together and all is well! Notice she also experienced a knitting crisis yesterday. Here's my proof that everything is ok.


Now for the yarn porn. Remember my visit to see Sheri at The Loopy Ewe last Saturday? (I have to admit, she posted yesterday that she has gotten in even more yarn, and I was tempted to visit again!) Anyway, Sheri is wonderful; super sweet, very kind, and has the best yarn ever! I drooled as I walked down her basement steps and began to see all of the gorgeous yarn in her shop. She actually said she feels she's lucky because whenever she needs a yarn fix, she just goes to her basement. How cool is that? So, here's what I was able to obtain:


From the left: 1 skein Seacoast Handpainted in Kelp, 2 skeins Apple Laine in Strawberry Jam, 2 skeins Claudia Handpainted in Butter Pecan, and a 150g skein of Handmaiden Sea Silk. I will definitely be visiting her again!

OH NO!

So I'm knitting this morning before work, meticulously working on my sister's Jaywalker, and something awful happens. Keep in mind I'm working on the toe decreases, making me almost done with the first sock. I decide to count my stitches on each needle, making sure they match up with the pattern, and I have an extra stitch on one of the needles. Being a total perfectionist, I decided to rip a few rows to try to correct the problem. Big mistake. I've been trying to put the stitches back on the needles, and I keep losing stitches! So I rip some more, lose a few more stitches, rip some more, etc. See what's going on here? Now I'm at a point where I can't figure out how to get the stitches back on the needles in the appropriate pattern! I'm absolutely sick about this! I hate the fact that I have to go to work now, and have to just leave this poor sock (still off the needles) to slowly die in my sock knitting back. I need help!!!

Ho Hum

I am feeling so "ho hum" this week for some reason! I have some really great things to blog about, like my gorgeous Jaywalker on the needles with Scout's Swag, and my dreamy trip to see Sheri at The Loopy Ewe this past Saturday, and the beautiful stitch markers Elspeth sent me last week. But, I'm feeling lazy, and have not taken any pics lately. No good excuse, just haven't felt like it - how awful is that? Well, and I also had my niece with me for most of the weekend, so free time was not really available. But she and I had a blast - she is the absolute light of my life. Hard to believe she will be a year old in less than a month. How did we ever live without her?!

I will take pics in the next day or so, and provide a much better post, I promise!

Frustrated

Wouldn't you know, the night I want to blog, Blogger won't let me upload my pictures! But I want to post a thank you to 2 ladies that sent me some great stitch markers for the Stitch Marker Exchange. Sulah sent me a beautiful pink set, and Brenda sent me a kind of purple set, including matching earrings! How sweet are these two knitters?! I can't wait to use them. Makes me want to cast on another project!

I seem to be getting bored with each project I start. So of course, the remedy is to cast on a new one, right? I started my first pair of Jaywalkers Saturday night, using some gorgeous Scout's Swag in Hot Fudge Sundae that my sister had picked out a while back. So now that's 2 items on the needles for her: Rusted Root and Jaywalkers. I love knitting for others!

Check Me Out!

Here is the article on Webster Bloggers for which Christina and I were interviewed. That pic is of me knitting Heelless Sleeping Sock #1, from Knitting Vintage Socks. You have not seen any pics of these socks yet, as I am only through the cuff on Sock #2 at this point. I keep getting distracted by other projects. I have so much to knit!

I started a Cable Down Raglan KAL on Craftster. Looks like I'm going to have some company knitting this one - how cool is that?! I need to hurry up and swatch. Plus, have you seen the new Interweave Knits KAL? Of course, I have already asked to join because yes, I'm a joiner. I can't help myself!

Look at the fantastic prize I received today for being nominated as one of the best Secret Pals of Secret Pal 9. (My spoilee and spoiler were awesome, by the way.) Gorgeous sock yarn and a pattern from Gardiner Yarn Works. Mine is the Indian Corn Sock Kit. I love it! I am so looking forward to Secret Pal 10!

I'm working on a couple of Scallop Brim Instant Hats I think I'll take to the Cancer Center at work next week. I finished the first last night and seemed to have enough yarn for a second, which is now on the needles. I'm using Tahki Yarns Baby Print. I've never knit with yarn this thick before. I love how quickly it knits up. My hats aren't really scallop-brimmed though, since my yarn isn't thick and thin. But they are cute anyway!

First Pair of Socks

Finally, I have a pair!

Pattern: Garter Rib, Sensational Knitted Socks

Yarn: Trekking XXL, Color 109

Needles: Size 2 20 inch Addi Turbos

Started: 9/24/06

Finished: 1/30/07

So yes, I started these socks in honor of Socktoberfest, and then obviously drug them out a little longer. But, I'm completely excited that I can finally put them on as a pair. Can't wait to wear them to SNB on Saturday. Heck, I think I might even have to wear them right away tomorrow. Of course, I'm already looking through my books to see which socks to start next!