Wow...

Knifty Red -- [noun]: A person of questionable sanity who starts their own cult 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Anyone want to join a knitting cult?

It's June Already???

Can you believe that it's June tomorrow and my son will be 12 in approx 27 days...I'm so old. I swear I'm not going out without a fight!! In my desperate need to feel young again...I went after my hair. Do you remember this before photo:



Yeah, the salon did nothing to improve it and with Eight Bucks down, I'm not spending yarn budget for another stylist..at least not for a while. Gotta love the head messages. Anywho...took scissors and did some cutting. Looking back at that before photo...I think I took a lot off. I don't even know if I like it all that much, but there are moments where I see my self in the mirror and go 'Cool'.

Here is my latest look...



Loving the layers. Loving the shape. Nice and light for the hot days that are already here. Hey, if anything, hair grows.


THERMAL UPDATE

I'm really starting to fall in love with this project. I like how it drapes in my lap when I'm knitting it and can tell it will be a Smashing Hit to my wardrobe..at least this coming fall;)





There are some tricky parts in the pattern, but when you actually think about it, the designer did it smart. The armholes have stockinette built into the pattern. Perfect for when I'm picking up and seeming the arms on. I'm on the fast track part now and before you know it, I'll be working the sleeves. Which, I'm totally thinking of knitting together on two circ's, just like I do with my socks. I'll have to read through the pattern to see if there could possibly be any hang ups, but why would there be?

Post-Memorial

Body aches, head pounding, bbq eaten, and some knitting photos means I have a status report for you to see...my full weekend of festivities. First off, here is the Thermalwith much progress made. Between scraping, sanding, dusting, vacuuming, laundry, painting, neck rubs and moans and groans...I knitted.



Most of the painting is complete...like I said...Most. I'll show off proper home improvement photos once there is something worth showing. I do love the color and I can't wait to have my house back to normal.

I love taking pictures outside in the sun...really helps show off this color well. Here is a closer look at the neck and soon I'll be creating armholes too;)



For all of you who haven't seen these little critters yet....Cicadas.



Oddly enough, I live near a forest preserve and don't have a single one. But yet a mile down the road, where I take the train to work they have tons...check out this tree.



The sounds of them squealing can be heard from far away and the most odd thing of all is the birds. Seagulls and other feathered bodies where swarming the areas skies...talk about a fest.

The Power of Knitters

So, it looks like I'm to blame for a frogged sock. Sorry Knitterary, but you must admit...the sock is going to be a great Jaywalker. I didn't realize how much power I had, need to be careful and use my powers for good;)

With this being Memorial Weekend, a home improvement project is on its way. A Home Depot run, ended with 6 gallons of paint...yeah, it's a big project and I'm not even sure it will be completed this weekend.



My white wall will be no more. Dinning room, living room entrance way and hall way will all get a fresh coat. Warm gray is the main color and a deep cranberry and stone clay are the other accent walls. The roughest section will be the very tall wall in the entrance stairway, but it'll get done one way or another.

Now speaking of Powerful Knitters....Shot out to Guido from the Boston It's a Purlman Podcast. I received a package in the mail and I'm just completely stunned. I don't know even where to start...your one cool cat and you have left me speechless.



Seriously speechless...I mean look...a knitters unite pin, a blogosphere tote bag from Stitchy McYarn Pants, Destiny Rosewood needles, green and blue hand dyied sock yarn and red orange merino roving...Thank You. Thank You. We knitters are powerful, now go and do good;)

Oh, and some Thermal has been worked on...but no post until more then just body images can be shown.

Knit-On.

8 Knitters + Wine + Goodies = Good Times

It’s hard to imagine that over a year ago, the South Suburban Chicago, Tinley Park Stitch ‘n Bitch group would grow to what it is today. I’m sure Becca would agree with me, that the group has come along way. Thank you Becca for starting the group and loyally attending each meeting in hopes for new members.

When I joined, we would meet twice a month and usually it was just the three of us. Happily knitting away, not aware of what was to come the following year. Knitters would come and go, and most have stuck around. We extended our meetings to every week and I am happy to say my life is so much better because of them.

Last night I was proud to host the Anniversary Party, where we all gathered to knit, eat, drink and be merry. Or at least hear love tales from Merrygentlemen –hehehehe.

Promptly at 6:50 knitters were at my door. I’m going to apologies now for the lack of photos...several bloggers where present, yet no photos where taken. Bum.

I do have after shots of what was left...



We also had a secret swatch, where random swatches were created and everyone got to guess what the fiber content was. It’s interesting to see that everyone had a different take and what was what...and I think we all knew right away what was crap acrylic.



Tons of food was spread out on the dinning table and many ummms could be heard from everywhere. I think I went into a diabetic-sugar-salsa-brownie-cookie-dips-and-chips over load. We knitters know how to throw a mean party! I indulged in two glasses of wine and I’m paying for it today...that’s okay, I’ve got brownies for breakfast – yeah, okay...maybe I shouldn’t have posted that. I AM suppose to be WATCHING what I eat. Ha!

We were lucky to have had some moments alone before being invaded by children large and small. I think the best was seeing Mac’s face when she didn’t see her mommy sitting on the couch...but the living room busting with knitters.

Just a quick note...Thermal was released from jail pending a full investigation into last nights pattern upset. It looks like a lot right? Well, it's going along great. I know I complain to much about it, but the larger it grows, the more in love I fall.



The last bit I want to say, is thank you ladies. Thank you for being knitters, for being my friends, for supporting my addiction and making a once lonely closet knitter happy once again.

Can't wait till next year. Cheers!

Yet Another Meme

It seems I've been tagged...again. This time by bassclefs ...Does this cycle ever stop? I'll play nice and list 7 random things...but wont tag anyone else...for fear of being put on another Blog Header;) and I can't handle more green goo my way.

1. my first memory is of me climbing to the top of a staircase, turning around and wondering how I was to get down. I don't know how old I was, but I remember being in diapers.

2. the only day I ever ditched school was on senior ditch day.

3. I can't go on roller coasters anymore and I'm sad about that.

4. I was born in a small Michigan farm town and have fond childhood memories...and I know why my parent moved there, but I don't think I could ever live in a small town again.

5. I love to buy shoes and have tons, but when I'm home...I've got to go barefoot.

6. (extension of 5) I love the feeling of grass under my barefeet;)

7. I once got asked to play spin the bottle in 8th grade...I was to shy and backed out. I now wish I would have played, just to see if Kevin was a good kisser;)

Is that random enough?

I will blog later on about the Stitch 'n Bitch Anniversary Party ... trying to heal a hangover...more on that later.

A Little 2ply Shetland

My first attempt on plying yarn from my lazy kate was a botch. No worries, yarn was only a test and I'm okay with that. I then pulled out my last batch of Shetland Wool and have been spinning it off and on. With two bobbins filled up I plied them together, did a quick soak and looky here. I've got an official fully plied Shetland Wool Skein.



I know I want to die it, but haven't yet picked a color. I still have sooooo much roving yet to go through, so no dying will be set till I spin it all up. I think I'll do a scarf and hat set with this yarn. It has turned out very soft and lofty.



What I've done so far is varied from thick to thin. I'm hoping that I'll get good enough to spin sock yarn. Just need to practice keeping my tension and working the roving consistently.

Sweet Waffle

Around and around I go...nothing but waffle.





I'm liking the color, yarn, and even the waffle pattern is very easy. It's the US size 3 needles that are killing me. I'm on my second ball and I feel that I've gotten a lot done, but there is so much more to do. hummmm. Maybe doing both sleeves at the same time will help in the completion process.

House is on it's way to being clean, in preparation for this Wednesday's Stitch 'n Bitch Anniversary Knit-Nite party. How is it possible for a toddler to make such a mess? I pick up, she dumps where I was just at.



She is super cute...right? Oh, she knows it too.

Also, note to any trespassers... we have ninja children to protect us.

Mothers Day

Mom finally received her Mother's Day gift in the mail. I know you said you liked them, but you wont hurt my feelings if you don't. Now, that I think about it...I'm sure I bought fabric paint to put on the bottoms so they don't slip. opps!

After finishing these and trying them on, I don't think I will make my self a pair...if I did then I will surly change things. It might just be the mistakes I made along the way, but the SnB gals told me "Felting Fixes Every Mistake"...

Not sure if you remember this picture from a couple of weeks ago:



That's my little Mac with the secret project on her head. Yep, she thought it was a hat. Go ahead and say it....awwwwwww.

Here is the finished and dried slippers. That whole drying process takes a long time. These suckers took 3 days. So, even though it's a quick knit (2 work day commutes - easily a weekend project) just take in mind a 3 day dry and you'll be okay.



One quick little rant...it's not knitting related. Has anyone sent out packages since the price increase? My goodness..Ouch! I sent my Gram a book for her birthday and it cost 5.65 to mail...a book, think heavy. Now, I send slippers and it's 8.65. How is that possible. They are super light. There slippers for Gods-sake!!

Go Figure...

What kind of yarn are you?

You are Shetland Wool. You are a traditional sort who can sometimes be a little on the harsh side. Though you look delicate you are tough as nails and prone to intricacies. Despite your acerbic ways you are widely respected and even revered.
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My Story

How I become known as Red.

The nickname Red goes all the way back to the High School days - Graduating Class of ‘92 thank you very much! Everyone pretty much had a nickname and most of my gal pals used each other’s last names until your true nickname would present it’s self. It was the summer of 1990 and me and some chicks decided to suntan one hot July afternoon. My best friend at the time had that perfect skin that is the instant tan. With in minutes she would be screaming to get into the shade as to not over brown herself. I know a bit dramatic, but when your 15 going on 16...it’s all dramatic. Well, needless to say we were out in the sunlight for perhaps 10 minutes and I noticed my skin was super warm. I went into the shade along with my pal to discover that I had turned into a lobster. My pasty white ass (not ass literally) did not have any sunblock on. Yep, red as a stop sign. And to top it all off, I was wearing a very stylish (at least for the ‘90’s) off the shoulder stretchy button in the crotch kinda shirts. I know you remember those!!! So you can imagine the red shoulders and white bans going across my biceps...hahaha...go ahead and laugh.

Our main form of entertainment that summer and for summers to come was the walk up tothe local 7-11. We lived in a apartment/condo/townhouse community, and anyone who was anyone would be out walking around with the main destination being the local strip mall. You were bound to run into someone and hopefully it was a cute boy...or two...or three;) Every single person (and cute boys) for the next week was saying “Your RED”...well it stuck. What adds to the charm of this nickname...not only am I red in the summer, but during the winter I get the red nose as well. Oh, yeah lets not forget the red hair...I like the nickname, it suites me.

The Knifty part was a fluke and a very random thought off the top of my head. I liked the idea of having the word 'Knit' be apart of the name, yet Knit Red sounded bad. An adjective was what I was looking for...something to describe me, not point out what I was doing. Nifty Red...Play up the K...Knit turns into Knifty...I have more of a design eye, so when I see these letters I think of knitting.

It might be completely WRONG and I’m sure there are some people out there biting their lips at how I just butchered the English language...oh well. I like how it sets me apart from the crowd of growing knit blogs out there.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. I hope you enjoyed my tale...till next time. Knit-On!

The Evil Meme is Back!

I've been tagged. oy.

Okay...I Like Yarn I'll play...I don't think I have 7 bloggers I know who would like me after tagging them, but I'll give in this one time.

Here are the rules... 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 seven 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.

1. I like the smell of fresh cut grass. It reminds me of my Dad cutting grass on Saturday mornings...the sound of the mower would wake me up. At the time, I didn't care for the early wake up call, but look back on it fondly.

2. Ate sushi for the first time 2 years ago and fell in love with it.

3. My first vehicle was a Suzuki Samurai stick shift, no heat, busted radio...loved every minute of it;)

4. Had dreams of one day owning my own art gallery...still do.

5. After my 30th bday, I stopped counting the years...now days if someone asks how old I am, I actually have to think about it. My random answer is 29.

6. I confess to wearing MC Hammer pants in High School. --Hey in all honesty...I was going to dances...and really dancing the moves.

7. one...last...one...hummmm. Okay totally random. I don't like M&M's ...perhaps the peanut ones...but no plain.

phew.

ok. who. do I tag....

Becca
Aleta’s
MB
Knitterary

Sorry guys.

Once I Start, I Just Can't Stop

Arriving home from work, I ran into the bathroom to discover my yarn still drying in the same spot I left it. phew. Looky-Looky...I got a hanky.



It's not plied right, but if you like the hooky handmade look of it...it's not bad. Hell, I didn't expect much from my first go but I love it anyway.

Well, you know once I saw that hank, I couldn't resist spinning some more. Especially since I've had roving stuck in the back of my closet for, oh lets say 4 months...and look a full bobbin and a start of another. This took me, roughly an hour and a half...the hang up was little Mac. She didn't care for me spinning away...she would tell me "Stop Mommy! Stop Mommy!" - not sure why, but every time she said it, I would stop. "Do you want to snuggle?" "Yes Mommy!" - and so we would snuggle on the couch watching Thomas the Train on the (COMPLETELY AWESOME - SAVE MY LIFE) On Demand.



I still have tons of roving to go through...



This Shetland Wool is a dream to spin and slips through my fingers easily. My only issue now is figuring out the yardage of my handspuns. I know they have gadgets out there...Any suggestions?

I'm a Bad Daughter

Sorry Mom! Seriously...I've been getting this package ready for you for about a week now and just plain ran out of time. But, no worries...it's in the mail ~ for real. I wont post pictures until you've gotten the package. If you don't like them, no sweat. By the end I didn't like them either, full story to come. Promise.

SPINNING UPDATE

Guess what?



Yep, went home last night and used my Lazy Kate to ply some yarn together. I thought I was doing it wrong...way do I double guess myself? Restarted and ended up plying it the wrong way. Oh, Hell...it's all a learning experience right? Any-who, wrapped the yarn on my niddy-noddy and I'm just loving it.

Little hank went for a dip and is now drying in my bathroom. I just hope little Mac hasn't discovered it and making a mess. I just envision PB&J fingers all over my new yarn...ick!

THERMAL UPDATE

Oh, please...you know that Comcast commercial, where they pull some High Speed out of the cable line and are able to clean an entire party's worth of dishes in 2 seconds...well, lets just say, I wish it were true so I can knit faster. I know I should just sit back and enjoy the process of knitting, and most of the time that is exactly what I do. But, right now I'm a project knitter and I want this done. off the needles. Hell, I don't even know what for? It's only like 95 degrees outside. I know...I'm trying to play catch up with all the projects I haven't knitted yet. I truly hope I have this same passion 10, 15 or even 20 years from now.



Gotten two inches of the twisted rib done but I'm adding more. I like the idea of a thick bottom band. I'm not sure if I'll make any more adjustments of this pattern, but I don't think I would be me if I didn't.

Go check out Alyssa's Thermal ...gorgeous.

Happy Feet

Happy Post-Mother's Day to you all...what a beautiful weekend it was. First off, I have some finished socks. Oh, yes...my last post on these was Friday and lone behold...I have socks.



Pattern: standard toe up on two circular needles
Yarn: TOFUties
Colorway: Stand on Your Own Two Feet
Needles: US 2 for main and size 0 for ribbed cuff
Start Date: May 7, 2007
End Date: May 13, 2007
Jail Time: yarn was tossed aside until larger needles where available
Comments: Lets just say, size US 2's go very quickly. I will also have to apologies to the bit of slander I did on the TOFUties yarn back when I first swatched. I highly recommend you don't and I repeat don't knit them on size ZERO. They fit reasonable well. When my toe sections was complete, I noticed a very stretchy fit and decreased evenly by 4 stitches on each foot. That totals only 56 stitches per sock...very quick.


THERMAL UPDATE
Okay...socks done in a week, easy. Thermal body contains 296 cast-on stitches on size US 3 needles...not so much. The yarn is lovely to knit will and haven't gotten sick of it yet. I don't think this will be a fast knit and that's alright by me.




SPINNING UPDATE
When I purchased my wheel, I was sent home with a batch of roving to test and play. Both bobbins filled and ready to ply...oh, joy. When, the lightbulb went on and remembered I needed a third bobbin to ply the yarn together - doop. No worries, a quick call to Toni and everything is right with the world. UPS just dropped off the lovely bobbins and now I'm off to play with future yarn;)

Mother Earth Has A New Toy

It took them 5 years to knit, but they did it and it's pretty cool. I can't wait to see what this Big Ass Pink Bunny will look like in 25 years. Go check it out and enjoy your Friday.

And just to keep things extra cute...Mac wearing my Central Park Hoodie. I think she likes it just as much as I do;)

What’s New

What’s a better way to get past the Finished Object Blues ... Start a New Project!!!!

My Knit Picks order arrived and I started to swatch for Thermal. I know several bloggers (Check out Claudia's and Words & Wool) finishing up their lovely Thermals and couldn't help but fall in love.



The Thermal is a Knitty pattern which call for the Knit Picks Gloss yarn...and lone behold, I’m also knitting it in the same color as the one in pattern. I was looking for a blue and didn’t fancy the Dusk colorway that much...way not Woodland Sage?



My order also included size 2 US circ’s for my TOFUtsies yarn and look, I’ve got toe-tips.



I truly hope you appreciate the acrobatic feats I go through to provide you with sock-in-progress shots...I swear any second, someone is going to burst into my office. What do you say to that said person...who is a non-knitter, who doesn’t have a clue as to blogs, or even knitting blogs....and questions the very idea of knitting socks. I say I’m a knitting-geek and they just shake their heads. Umph...you can’t convert everyone.

These socks are coming out way better on size US 2 then the %$#*-ing size ZEROs I had started with. The only downside is there is a lot of negative ease. Super stretchy would be more like it. I did my usual math and gauge measurements, but my goodness...instead of decreasing the amount of stitches by 10 percent, it should be more like 20 percent. I'm going to eliminate about 4 stitches over a length of foot body to make up for this, but just don't have the heart to rip it out.

Me and My Best Friend

I'm going through a little Central Park Hoodie withdrawal. Knitting, seeming, swatching, gauge doubts, yarn choices...it all boils down to one of my favorite projects of all time. (Just in time for summer;)



Shout out to LH for helping with my photo shoot. I love my husband, but he sinks when it comes to this kind of stuff. Look at those cables...the sweater is fantastically soft, unbelievably warm and I can't get enough. I just want to snuggle with it all day long.



I loved the cable on the back so much, that I continued it up the hood as well.



The only thing left to do is find buttons. This yarn as a lot of give and elasticity in it, and I'm not sure if I would have been happier with a zipper or not, but for now I'm loving my new best friend.



Pattern: Central Park Hoodie from the KnitScene Fall 2006 Magazine

Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca (7 skeins)

Needles: US 7 and 9

Start Date: March 29, 2007

End Date: May 7, 2007

Comments: sizes run small. I measure at a 40 inch bust and knitted the size 44. Some adjustments that I altered would be: increasing the ribbing all along each edge by about an inch. Plus, my stitch gauge was dead-on but the row gauge was very long, so I eliminated 2 rows from the pattern. It worked out great and the cables look perfect - not elongated like my swatch. I will definitely knit this pattern again and recommend it to anyone first starting a sweater or new to cables.

Look @ Dat

Even through moments of deep sleep, my body had dreams of spindle wonder-ness. Hubbies birthday was perfect for him and for me;) After getting my full of fiber ecstasy, I have this to show.

Before:


After:


I'm so happy with my purchase, and in the back of my mind I'm saving knitting time because the wheel is so much faster then the drop spindle. Hey, let me live in my own world of denial;)

Oh, yeah...other purchase made out at The Fold..Socks That Rock in the Harlotty colorway...hehehe, it's named after the Harlot. How cool is that?



And a quick update on the Central Park Hoodie. I think I don't want this project to end. I mean, yeah, I totally want to wear it, but geesh...I loved knitting it and I'll miss having it in my bag.

The Day I Fell In Love

Earlier this week I had emailed Toni Neil, owner of The Fold. I wanted to pre-warn her that Naughty Knitters were planning on descending on to her property.

"No problem, Mark will be able to handle everything."

Okay, if you say so.

Me and the SnB gals pilled into Becca's Monster Truck and hauled our knitting selves out to Merango, Illinois. Aren't they just so cute in the back seat?



and of course, here is a great up the nose shot.



Mark was fabulous and was very helpful in showing me how a Lendrum spinning wheel works and functions. I think by the end he was getting a bit flustered...it's not easy having all these fiber lovers all wanting to check-out at the same time. And of course that's always the perfect time to get phone orders too;)

I even got to test this baby out. MB has a great shot of me falling in love. I was a little nervous going into this investment. It's not some little item you can say, oh that was fun, now I'm moving on. No, I wanted this to be something that touched me deeper then its "cool" factor. But, while I was sitting there, letting the fiber flow through my fingers...it's hard to explain, I just know that I didn't want to stop. I was hooked. I stopped, walked away...and searched among the stacks of yarn to see if there was anything popping out at me. There are great finds at The Fold and it seems every time you turn around there's a new discovery. Every now and again I would circle back to gaze at the spinning wheel and the urge to sit and spin was growing stronger. Oh, Yeah...this baby was coming home with me.





and on the way home, we all had to jump out and take pictures of the little sheep-ezz, awwwww so cute.



We were reduced to pre-school behavior when we saw these little guys. The leader of the pack did his warning calls and they all scattered. That's our clue to head home...gotta spin!!