Wednesday, July 11, 2007

A few numbers

Went to the 10:30 am showing of the 5th Harry Potter this morning. My favorite! But I say that about each one. I was so "into" the movie that at one point I realized I had stopped knitting.

Highland Triangle Shawl has 2 of the 3 borders completed.

I have 2 new tires on my car. The front tires to be exact.

Bailey had a 4 paw manicure.

There were 2 big storm clouds this afternoon and neither one released it's rain.

I watch 467439 reality tv shows!

7-11 Stores gave away Slurpees today to celebrate my birthday! and their anniversary.

Edie Eckman is teaching 4 classes for the Tidewater Knitting Guild of Va. Check out the site for information.

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Update....

So last night I put away the Highland Shawl, pulled out a mohair/silk scarf and put in "Capote". I just couldn't get into the movie. One, because he won the Oscar and I really believe Heath should have and Two, I kept trying to figure out how they were making him look short. The movie also brought back a high school memory of a girl that had a major crush on Perry, the killer. She gave me the book and told me I too would fall in love with him. I don't remember finishing it. And no, Perry did nothing for me.

This morning I pulled out all of the skeins and the labels used. And I put on my glasses. All but 1 of the skeins have the same dye lot! So last night I was wrong. Note to self: reading glasses do have a purpose.

And the one with the wrong dye lot has not been used.

Sooooo, I have a feeling, since I pulled skeins off the shelf that were disheveled, ball bands were not returned to the correct skein.

I could go into a rant about customers sampling yarn but I won't.

And no, kemtee, I'm not tinking. Besides, sometimes I can't see the difference.

Saturday, June 30, 2007

What does a picture say?

That the naked eye can't see everything!

I pulled a skein of Lane Borgosesia Merino Otto Shadow in Rose Blossom a pretty tan with redish highlights off the shelf last week at Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn to swatch for the Highland Triangle Shawl from Cheryl Oberle's Folk Shawls. I liked the swatch (which became the beginning of the shawl) so pulled more off the shelf on Tuesday. I looked at the dye lot numbers and pulled the ones ending in a 9 or so I thought. Seems when you blur a 3 it sorta looks like a 9.

But I didn't notice the difference until I downloaded this picture just now

Highland Triangle Shawl  before pickupinitial triangle

So I thought it was the camera/light because what is that yellow around the closet door? But no, the second picture taken on the kitchen floor shows the same.

Highland Triangle Shawl after pickup and several rowsstitches pickedup and 2nd edging begun

Now I'm afraid to go and look. That's 2 days work. 2 days sitting watching tv while Case Handyman Darin did this

Kitchen ceilingI can reach the chains flatfooted!!!!!

Okay I looked. I can see it in some light. What to do what to do?????

I'm going to think about it. I'll let you know. Moral of the story: double check dye lots!



Monday, June 25, 2007

Thank You!

A big thank you to the knitters who purchased my patterns from The Knitting Vault.

My Favorite Shawl 1My Favorite Shawl

Mary onlineMary


"Mary" and "My Favorite Shawl" are also available at Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn along with
georgeGeorge

ClarineClarine

End of sales pitch!

Saturday, June 09, 2007

My life since May 31

It's been a while since I've posted. Here are the reasons.

1. I lost my secure access so wasn't taking any chances. After trying to figure out on my own I called Geek Squad. After almost 2 hours with Gallagher he cried "uncle" and ordered a home visit. Special Agent John shows up, looks at my pc, looks at the modem, mumbles something about the telephone guys and fixes the problem in 2 minutes. Seems the modem went haywire and kicked my pc off. (I have no idea if I'm explaining the exact problem. I just know my secure network was gone and I wasn't taking any chances)

2. My kitchen ceiling 2:00 am Tuesday

6:00amBefore Jack the Plumber

My kitchen ceiling 9:30 am Tuesday

after the plumberAfter Jack the Plumber

Seems that when the refill line in the upstairs bathroom, you know, the one I NEVER use, breaks, it gives no warning. Two BIG BOX Plumbing Companies couldn't come out. Jack the Plumber came within an hour. I heart Jack the Plumber. Of course my deductable is more than what it will cost to fix. So after considering hanging a picture of the sky over the hole and telling everyone it's a skylight....I hired Case Handyman to fix the hole, move the light fixture over so they can install a ceiling fan, and paint the kitchen. (I'll be shopping from my stash)

3. Finishing while holding my breath that they wouldn't change his name the baby blanket for my soon to be new great nephen Evan.

cdldgdA close up of his name

full blanketThe entire blanket

Sorry about picture quality. Hard to get a clear picture.

4. Arlyn

tripe?aka Tripe

This is my newest Pi. It is named after the woman who gave me the yarn. Lace weight. The other night at Guild meeting there was a discussion amongst several ladies. One finally asked if I was knitting tripe. Meh!

5. World Wide Knit In Public Day

We organized some fun sales and drawings for everyone. Do you think we had fun? (click on the picture to enlarge)


Terry & Trink
Terry & Trink
Andrea & Dona
Andrea & Dona
Allison
Allison

Debbie& Annette
Debbie & Annette

5:00 the sun had made it's way around to the front of the building
Knitting

Bobbie & Kiki inside Bobbie & Kiki
Ewe Knit Kits


6. Douceur et Soie

Notice a theme to my color choices lately?

silk and wool

Bobbie just got back from TNNA. We're going to be swamped with deliveries over the next few months. Already arrived are the new Noni patterns. Coming soon are the HiyaHiya needles. And sock yarn from everywhere!

Next on my knitting list is to finish the D&S scarf, test 2 patterns for
The Purled Llama, and continue work on Arlyn. Of course I signed up for the latest Mystery knit-a-longs.

Oh, and I've been invited to speak to a group of Girl Scouts on "Making your hobby your job". Hahahahaha! I'll open with "work 35 years and contribute to a retirement fund....."

Thursday, May 31, 2007

My afghan needs to cuddle someone. ...a request from Bobbie

Right after the shootings on the Va Tech campus, Bobbie Reich, owner of Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn order 100 skeins of Cascade 220 Superwash in Va Tech colors with the intention of knitting "something". Her something is complete. Here's her request and her pattern:

VT afghan_edited from Bobbie

If you know a Virginia Tech student who lives in the Hampton Roads area and who you think needs to be cuddled, please write a paragraph explaining why and we will be happy to present the afghan to the needy sophomore, junior or senior.

All entries need to be in on or before June 15, 2007. A selection committee will be
appointed to choose one of the students.


We strongly suggest that you consider knitting or crocheting an afghan so that ALL
Virginia Tech students can be cuddled and we can show our support for the harrowing
experience they have had to endure.



Virginia Tech Afghan


Approximately 48”X60”

Yarn: Double strand worsted weight yarn. I used Cascade Superwash in both the VT colors.. 7 skeins each.
Needles: Any size from 10.5 to 13 (40" or higher circular needle). I used 10.75 (because they were handy. The blanket is very dense).

Bottom border: With both colors of yarn (double stranded), cast on 160 stitches. Knit 8 ridges (16 rows).

Row 1 of pattern: Knit 10, *(Purl 20, Knit 20), repeat from *2 more times, Purl 20, Knit 10.
Row 2 of pattern: Knit 10, *(Knit 20, Purl 20), repeat from * 2 more times, Knit 20, Knit 10. Repeat rows 1 and 2 for a total of 20 rows.

Row 21 of pattern: Repeat row 2 of pattern.
Row 22 of pattern, Repeat row 1 of pattern.

Repeat rows 21 and 22 for a total of 20 rows.
Repeat both sets of blocks for a total of 13 blocks.

Top Border: Knit 8 ridges (16 rows). Bind off on the 16th row.

If desiring to change the size of the afghan, increase or decrease by 40 stitches, to retain exact pattern as written.

If using another weight yarn, please do a gauge and figure a good size: For example: If you get 4 stitches to the inch and you want 50 inches wide, that would be 200 stitches.








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Sunday, May 20, 2007

10 or so things....

1. This is Nixon. Nixon Nixon stayed with us while his parents were on vacation. I guess you could say he was on vacation too.

2. Nixon and Bailey after walking 1.5 miles and then chasing each other around the sofa sleeping They were like this for almost 3 hours.

3. I bought an MP3 player. A cheap one. Lots of memory. 200 songs loaded and just 1/2 full. It's expandable too.

4. Just put a hold on 3 of the 6 Harry Potter books on CD at the Library. I'd like to reread them but need to get some knitting done for a November show.

5. 3/4 of the way finished with the blanket for my soon to be born great nephew. Pictures will come when it's complete. Right now it's a big white thing.

6. A small white thing is my summer Pi...aka Arlyn. Pictures would show a small white thing. People ask if it's a hat. I'm on the 48 rows 244 stitches section.

7. I love free breakfast. These came in the newspaper yesterday. cereal

8. Need to purchase more memory for my MP3 player. See #4.

9. Overheard at the B&N Cafe: Mother of a 4ish year old to her friend with a toddler and infant. "He's getting a chocolate cookie and hot chocolate. I'm getting him hopped up for story time."

10. Chesapeake Jubilee is winding down. Think mini state fair. Held in the city park about a mile or so from my house. Country bands all weekend, fireworks last night.

11. Blogger auto saves now...cool!

12. Somewhere in the back of my mind I had saved the fact that senior discount at Regal Theaters was 55. I was wrong. (Pout) I could've saved some money this summer.

13. Where is the senior discount age at 55?

14. I have to renew my drivers license by this July. New picture after 10 years. How should I fix my hair? What should I wear? I mean it's gotta look undated for another 10 years!

15. This is one cool needlework book.

16. Bought Charmed Knits. Have knit both house hats from stash yarns.