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friday, march 31, 2006
Colors
I broke down and placed an order with KnitPicks. Well, the truth is I ran out of Eucalan and really needed to order a replacement so this time I'm trying out the Kookaburra Woolwash with it's handy measuring cup.
I also ordered some Alpaca Cloud yarn to make the Trellis Scarf in the Spring 2006 Interweave Knits. I couldn't decide on a color so I ordered both the Stream and Iris colorways and
will decide when they get here.
I had fun at work today (well, more fun than usual...). I got to color in a concept plan I've been working on.
We don't get to color that often, so I was excited:
And since I know you're wondering how many colors there are in the drawing:
I was greated with this, this morning: the first Nasturtium bloom in the garden
tuesday, march 28, 2006
yarn flowers
Check out these cute yarn flowers on the Martha Stewart Living web site.
monday, march 27, 2006
socks, stars and stashes
My plan is to finish the cuff of Sock 1, move it to one of the two circulars that I'm using and use the Magic Loop for
the cuff of the second. Then I will attempt to put both socks on the two circulars so I can do the more complicated parts
of the socks at the same time. I have no idea if this will work, but I don't want them to end up uneven, so....
I spent yesterday removing part of my stash from the plastic bins that are covered up in our dining room in preparation
for the April 1st Flash Your Stash day. It looks like I need to sell more stuff. Check it out here.
Has anyone else been watching the Next Food Network Star? Can't-stop-watching-show. I feel bad for Elizabeth. I could totally relate to her concern about her personality
not coming through, but that acting over-the-top just didn't feel right for her. I find at times, that my shyness still
bothers me.
9:49 am pst
thursday, march 23, 2006
happy spring!
I picked up a couple of plants at the garden center in the Solana Beach design district on Tuesday:
If you aren't familiar with Lemon Verbena, you should consider planting some in a pot. My grandmother used to make
tea from it, and the smell is heavenly. I also bought some Lime Thyme. I love lime colored plants as a contrast
in pots, especially with darker burgandies (like fountain grass) and blacks (like Black Mondo Grass). I have a lime and black theme going on in my back yard (black pots, lime green chairs) for a contemporary tropical
look.
A bunch of my seeds have come up including some Lemon Basil, Juliet Tomato (grape), scallions, and some grey zucchini.
I can't wait to plant them outside :) If you are interested in growing veggies, check out the Cooks Garden catalog for great seeds.
And speaking of cooking, I turned this pretty bowl of turnips, potatoes and parsnips....
...into some delicious Corned Beef and Cabbage on St. Patrick's day.
I also kicked butt in Monopoly and by the end owned half the board, the railroads and had 6 hotels. Ok...gloating
over ;)
friday, march 17, 2006
New books and patterns: thoughts
Happy St. Patricks Day!
I was also, dissapointed by One Skein, there just wasn't a "must knit" in it. I do want to knit the multi-yarn cardigan in her AlterKnits book though: I picked up a copy of Knit Simple mostly because I love the cover. It looks like a knitted version of Martha Stewart
Weddings:
I think it has some possibilities. I like the delicate details on this top but don't know if I could deal with
all that stockinette:
The same stockinette issue applies here...
...oh, and I guess here too....
Where is that elusive pattern with a good mix of interesting knitting without being challenging to the point of irritation?
wednesday, march 15, 2006
I have started several new projects....
...but I'm not good about taking pictures and actually getting them onto the computer. I finally decided on a pattern
for Peter's SD scarf. It's not really looking like the picture, but in the pattern author's defense, she does say that
it has not been test knitted. It is reversible cables and it looks like a heavy welded chain link. Which is good.
It is a man's scarf after all.
I'm still on the South Beach Diet, now on Phase 2. You can eat good carbs (whole grains, fruit)
but you still want to limit the bad stuff (sugar, refined flour). I've actually lost 4 lbs., which isn't as much as
I would have liked but it's almost a third of what I want to lose. It's gotten a lot easier (really!).
In the past I would always have whatever was brought into the office (right now that's is a lemon cake and mini blueberry
muffins) and now, I have become really good, at just walking by them. Just because they are there, does not
mean I have to have one. Ok, I had a cookie today.
I tried a fun recipe this week that was just on 30-Minute Meals: Thai Lettuce Wraps and Sesame Noodles. And it was made with stuff we already had at home. Gotta like that. Rachael Ray has a new magazine out. I bought the last issue and I'm debating over subscribing. These days you can get so much from the web site
though. Check out this pre-designed menu and shopping list.
I broke down and got some new Linen Print yarn from Elann because I just love this color. The plan is to make a short sleeved version of the sweater below from Rowan.
friday, march 10, 2006
wacky looking sleeve
I finally got around to taking a pick of the dropped stitches on the sleeve of the Drop Stitch Cardigan. This first
pick is of what it looks like from the back:
Here's the front which for now, looks almost as strange. Freaky frilly. I'm guessing when the seams are sewn
up and it gets blocked, it will look more like the pic in the magazine.
Meanwhile, did anyone else get hail? In Southern California? Doh.
Meanwhile, did anyone else get hail this afternoon? In Southern California? Doh.
monday, march 6, 2006
mini movie quiz
If you like quizzes, here's a short one from NPR. I only missed the second one, but to be fair, I've never seen the movie.... Let me know how you do.
sunday, march 5, 2006
I'm taking an Oscar break....
...to list the ladies that showed up at Buster's at Long Beach for and L.A./San Diego meet up.
I had a really good Lobster Quesadilla (we're talking big chunks of lobster here) and a bunch of desserts were shared including
some crazy looking Banana Fritters and a chocolate cake that included both a white chocolate wave and a surfer.
From San Diego, there was Wendy, who was sewing up her Bi-Color Cables Cardigan, Nancy who is working on Lady Eleanor Shawl, Hilari and Heidi who were taking a break, Jessica who was working on socks for her mom. Kris was wearing her knitting olympics cardigan, Marisa and Erica (who's blog I can't locate, but is called Two Shakes). And from the L.A. contingent we had, Susan who was working on a sweater, Jillian who looked like she was knitting with handspun, Jen & La, Monica who was knitting super fast on neapolitan colored Jaywalker Socks and Michelle who was also knitting socks. Andrea, Kathy, Roberta, Lori, Michelle were at the other end of the table and I didn't have a chance to see what they were up to. Lauren, the organizer, was in town from Connecticut.
It was fun to meet everyone, and hopefully next time we'll all get to chat more, which can be a challenge in such
a big group. I hope to snag a pic from someone who was there to add to this post tomorrow. We hopped over to the
Alamitos Bay Yarn Co. where I think everyone bought something but me. I'm sticking only to items that will not make me feel more guilty
about my stash. I caught a peek of The Happy Hooker the new Debbie Stoller book, which did have a couple of cute items. Still, until I make something from the crochet
book I already have, it's not something I'll buy.
Meanwhile, here's a pic of my Drop Stitch Cardigan. I've started the sleeves and have a cool pic of the dropped stitches to post.
saturday, march 4, 2006
to clapotis or not to clapotis
I made this swatch last weekend with some yarn that I bought on sale from Purl Soho. I really love the yarn, and in particular this colorway, so when I saw it for sale I had to break my yarn
fast and get some (just for the record, I did meet my new year's goal of no new yarn for 1 month).
So I'm trying to figure out if this Classic Elite Inca Marl will work well for Clapotis. The yarn that the pattern calls for ( Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb) is a merino/silk mix and may have a different type of drape than this 100% alpaca yarn. So, I just can't decide if
this is the right yarn for this project or not....
thursday, march 2, 2006
I'm still laughing about this:
6:01 pm pst
I do finish something....
once in a while. Here's the birthday scarf I knit for my friend Michelle. She's been wanting one for a while.
And it was a stash buster! I wish I could of made it a bit longer, but with only one ball....
MICHELLE'S BIRTHDAY SCARF
Pattern/Source: standard drop stitch scarf
Yarn: Skacel Favola & Caron Jewel Box
Colors: Summer, Emerald
Needles: US 17
Started: February, 12 2006
Finished: February 17, 2006
Notes: Left over yarn for fringe helped add to the
length
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