| Tonight I learned the joy of ripping out a complicated stitch pattern. I have been working on the scarf to the right for the past couple days and realized tonight I messed up a row while I was on the phone with that same young man who has somehow succeeded in getting me to chat while knitting. Now I realize why I don't do that. | |  |
I've spent the last 35 minutes undoing each stitch all the way down to the row were I forgot to slip a stitch over the previous two, therefore messing up 1.5 inches of the scarf. Sigh. I know that I took up knitting to help with my 'patience' problem, but that was HELL.
Currently, I am intermixing the scarf, my brothers IHS, and the plush legwarmers. The IHS scarf in the in home stretch, and you can see the other scarfs progress above. I've finished the ribbing at the top of the legwarmers as well as the seaming, now I just need to work a ribbon in along the top. Oh yeah, and knit the whole second legwarmer. Here is a photo of the first legwarmer a few nights ago:
 
I also took it upon myself to organize my stash tonight, and realized that I need to start buying more strategically if I ever plan on actually knitting one of the sweaters in my 'on deck' circle.
Finally for tonight, an open letter to my cat:
Dear Viva:
I am somewhat convinced that you were raised by dogs. When I picked you up at the SPCA, you had alluded the staff with your shady past, allowing them only to know that you were pregnant and living on the street prior to your booking in their facilities. My suspicions are backed up by the following pieces of evidence: - I caught you drinking out of the toliet for the umpteenth time today, despite the fact that you have a bowl of bottled water 2 feet away.
- You chew on my Takumi needles like they are dog bones, as opposed to chasing yarn like the other kitties do.
- You practically jump all over strangers the minute they enter
my our home.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with these activities, but I would just like to let you know that if there is something you need to tell me, I am still going to love you because you will always be my little puppy kitten. However, I will leave you with this final thought: Always smile, because you never know when your owner roommate is going to snap a compromising photo of you and post it on her blog.
Sincerely, The Hand That Feeds You
If that entire post didn't sincerely freak you out, I'm really not sure what will. Blogging at night may be very dangerous..........
Is it sad that I am jealous of the fact that my roommate:
gets to drive across the country to West Virginia for the holidays, and that she gets all that time in the car to knit?
[BTW, she isn't really 'my bitch', she came into my room on Sunday morning with this bad boy taped to her shirt as an offering of assistance before the brunch.]
The Annual Bad Girl Holiday Brunch Don't want to blow my own horn but DAMN it turned out well:
 
I went with the exact menu that I posted yesterday, although I had a hell of a time pounding the life out of chicken breasts and rolling them up into neat little rolls while covered in goat cheese paste. They tasted AWESOME, but looked a bit like a breaded blob on the edge of everyone's plates. A little history about the Brunch: When my mom and dad got married (mom @ age 22), she started having yearly Holiday brunches with all her friends [this year marked 31 years of brunches!] So when I turned 22 (but was definitely NOT MARRIED), I started having my own with a 'single girl' twist to it. So now my mom and I have our brunches on the same Sunday every year - hers involves turtlenecks and sherbert punch while mine has cigarettes and champagne cocktails. Of course, everything looks all pretty and elegant there, but we can't forget that this is "Delia's Bad Girl Holiday Brunch", so I will leave to your imagination exactly what is going on here: 
After all the insanity from the par-tay, I spent Sunday and Monday evening catching up on all the knitting I didn't get accomplished this weekend. I still haven't finished my brothers scarf, nor have I gotten around to re-starting the GT Thong-Tha-Thong. However the Kureyon bag is up to 6 squares, one plush leg warmer is done, and I officially put the Farmers Market Bag on hold (hello, no farmers markets for AT LEAST 3 monthes). I DID cast on a new scarf for my sister (in the same stitch pattern as the skull cap). I also got Stitch n' Bitch Nation on Friday night (why I waited until now to mention it I don't know), and I am dying to make the wrap sweater in Rowan 4ply. Maybe that can be my project when I am imprisoned by enjoying my families company for 2 weeks over the holidays.
In related news, I have this old wing chair that used to be my grandmas which I LOVE. It is super comfy to curl up in, but has the most hideous covering that doesn't match the living room AT ALL. It's been living in the corner anyway, but did have to hide the thing in my room before my friends came over. Once it was in there, positioned between my bed and the stast, I thought to myself: hmm, this could make a nice little knitting nook:  
Quite cozy, No? Viva can even sit on the back of the chair, and my stash boxes make a perfect ledge for a glass of wine. Yes, I am very excitied about my new little nook.
PS - Still no word on the recruiting job. I think I am going to have to pull out the resume and walking shoes again :(
I am spending a night in knitting and watching Saturday Night Live... Tom Petty was the guest perfomer and I just have to say... 
I just love him ;).
I've felt fairly productive tonight, I made my menu and shopping list for my brunch on Sunday. I think it's pretty good for the VERY last minute!
Brie and Crostini Marinated Olives Marinated Tomatoes ==================== Butter Lettuce Salad with Shrimp and Dill Dressing ==================== Chicken Roll stuffed with Goat Cheese and Sun-Dried Tomato Asparagus with Lemon Clos Du Bois Chardonnay ===================== Strawberry and Chocolate Mochi Fresh Berries
Goal for tonight: Finish the Irish Hiking Scarf for brother Matt.
1) Knitting
The finished skull cap:
 
I swear, I am always this happy when I am on the phone.
Next, the Noro Bag. Seriously, after 4 squares I now understand the Noro addiction. I LOVE THIS STUFF. This is also the project that is going to get me fired (see yesterday's entry)
 
The Bag thus far. I have 8 more squares, the gusset, and 2 handles to go. Then on to the felting. Yay for felting!
2) Gourmet
I made some kick-ass clams for dinner last night. I thought I was cooking for 2 but it turned out to be a solo dining experience.
I was supposed to have my friend Mike over for dinner, but the plans fell through and instead of him enjoying the clams (ok, I realize that sounds VERY sexual but it's NOT), we ate chips and salsa and drank beer at Chili's tonight. How posh!
3) The Kitty
Viva is so damn adorable sometimes:
 
She had an 'accident' on my comforter this weekend, and I still can't be mad at her. I am such a sappy cat owner!
I usually don't impose news commentary on blogs, but this was WAY too easy to pass up.
" All I want is some frickin' sharks with lasers on their heads"
~Dr. Evil
I was all over this site about a year ago, and recently re-discovered it.
Prepare to be afraid. VERY afraid.
I am officially a commitment-phoebe.
Exhibit A:
As my list of WIP's on the sidebar grows ever longer, what ever can I do? Cast on a new project!
I decided yesterday that I desperately needed a knitting bag, because right now I jam everything into a ziplock bag and usually end up impaling myself with a needle that has busted through the plastic. And I had a bag of Kureyon #88 that was calling to me. So I designed a pretty felted knitting bag that I hope to finish by Christmas for ME.
Exhibit B:
I took a bunch of photos of the skull cap and Kureyon bag pieces last night with intentions of cropping and uploading them, but alas, my commitment to the project diminished and you are left with an all-text post once again. Instead I poured the wine, flopped on the couch, and actually called a boy to talk on the phone which I NEVER do. Not that I don't like talking to boys, but I hate talking on the phone. This one was worth it though ;).
Exhibit C:
I started the previous entry talking about knitting and ended it talking about boys.
I am going to get fired for knitting at work. Seriously, it's like crack. After my break I put my needles down and start to focus on some other project, only to have my fingers start twitching and eyes start wandering 20 minutes later. Just.......One........More........Row..........
I was here until 8pm finishing a project last night because of the knitting crack. So I told myself this morning, ok Delia, just leave the knitting in the car so you can focus to day... but like a true addict I couldn't stand the thought of my yummy yarn being so far away from me.
Hello, my name is Delia, and I am addicted to Knitting Crack.
Finally, I leave you with this thought: I love James Taylor.
If he were still in his mid-twenties... oh yeah. Him and Tom Petty. Dear LORD!
Anyhow, I am listening to one of his albums right now and I reminded of his concert that my friend Kaci and I went to last year. There were these fabulous ladies sitting next to us who were soccer moms by day and completely toasted off margaritas. They kept buying us rounds because they thought it was so awesome that we were in our mid-twenties and enjoying the same music they were. Rock on!
OK admit it, at some point we have all entered our name into that little Google search box 'just to see' what comes up. Well, I did it today and look where I came up:
Marley & Beck Press
I wrote a book review when I was in Grad. school for this book, and now the publishers are quoting me in the promotional materials. Ironically, it wasn't the most glorious review of the book which I thought was a bit overwhelming for a college frosh (he gives the advice to meet with a lawyer before signing an apartment lease - what college student has the time/money to seek legal council unless absolutely necessary?!?)
Still, Pretty cool, huh?
Bay Area Knitters:
Did anyone else hear this morning when they plugged Stitch and Bitch Nation on the KFOG Morning Show?
I am sure most knitters out there have already seen that the Winter '04 Knitty is up [it took me looking at Lori's blog to see the light]. What a GREAT issue!
Added to the on-deck circle for winter knitting:
Back to work... it's been a busy day!
Please take note of that subject: You will never hear me mutter those words, in that order, EVER again! I think this week is flying by because of this damn job thing. I know my final interview was only two days ago, but it is totally freaking me out.
[edit: Um, I got home and looked at how freakin' ridiculous that picture looked. Had to take it off before I couldn't stand to look at my own blog!]
"Why haven't they called? Does this mean I didn't get it? But there 5 finalists for 3 positions.... how did I beat the odds? Would they rather wait until the beginning of the week to call? It's 4:10pm, that means there are still 50 working minutes today. WHY HAVEN'T I HEARD ANYTHING!!!!"
Someone needs to smack me in the face with a shoe and tell me to chill the f*ck out. I refuse to stress out like this all weekend. Although I will say that I am in a bit of a giddy mood because I received an unexpected phone call from a certain someone last night to make plans for a date casual dinner next week.
Knitting has been calming me down a little bit, but even it can't soothe me completely right now. I think I need yoga, scented candles, massage, hand-drumming, a double-shot of tequila and a bottle of wine extreme measures in the next 2 hours to get this weekend off on the right foot.
I worked on the GT Thong-Tha-Thong last night, but I don't like the way it is turning out so I frogged it. I think I am going to abandon the pattern and just wing it as I go, knitting a front panel in a v-like shape and then adding I-cord for the waistband and [ahem] unspeakable parts. There is no way in hell Keith would ever wear this, I need it for shock value only.
After the frogging, I whipped through the rest of my first leg warmer only to realize that I am going to run out of Plush before they are the length I want them. I think I am going to finish them off with some basic black acrylic/wool yarn that I have in my stash. I will do a tight 1x1 rib to ensure that they will stay up, and then run some ribbon around the top to jazz them up a bit and give them cinching power. SOUNDS like a good idea, but then again so did the mock-lace skull cap and every time I look at that I like it less and less.
Dear Santa: Please bring me the gift of foresight along with my Coach bag for Christmas this year.
OK, this is bordering on senseless rambling. And next time I promise less drama [and definitely no more 'woa is me' photos], but this is what happens when I have no knitting with me at work.
Hmm.... if I cut these post-it notes into strips and smooth down these chopsticks from lunch........
LOVE I am not, nor have I ever been, a label whore but I L-O-V-E this bag. I mean, if I get my big-girl job as a recruiter I need to look sharp, right? Anyhow... My dad emailed today to ask if there was anything in particular that I wanted for Christmas, so I had to throw this in just to see his reaction. I haven't heard back from him, which means that either: He plans on scouring eBay and other auctions to truely surprise his daugher and make up for the fact that he forget her birthday two years in a row or He has fainted from shock and is laying on the floor of his office, unable to reach his email to send me a prompt "NICE TRY" email.
Knitting things I am hoping for this season:
Today I finished the Mock-Lace Skull Cap at lunch, then proceeded to f*ck up the final decrease row. Did I frog back and fix it? of course not. I just did some creative seaming and finished her off. It turned out ok - I love the styling of the hat, but some of the measurements are a bit off - I should have started with 6 less stitches when I cast on, made smoother edges (i.e. 2 stitches of st st at the each end) for easier seaming, and the decreases should have started sooner so the hat would fit closer. I will model the hat when I get home tonight. I forgot the Geogia Tech Thong at home this morning, so I started a pair of simple black legwarmers in Berreco Plush. It's been so fricken' cold in the Bay Area this week, I LIVE in leg warmers. For the record, I am making it my personal mission to bring back the high heels and leg warmers look from the 80s: 
I wore this look with pride to Happy Hour on Tuesday. I got some weird looks but I will tell you, I was toasty warm and dammit, I thought I looked good ;).
As I alluded to above, I am a finalist for the Recruiter position at San Jose State. I had my final one-on-one interview the the Director of Recruitment yesterday and I think it went pretty good - [Crossing Fingers] This suspense is KILLING me!
This is not Knitting... nor wine... nor cat related, but I would just like to say that the British have answered my prayers:
The Newcastle University business students have designed disposable shoes for women, called Soulmates.
The disposable shoes are made from two pieces of synthetic foam. The idea is that women buy the £2 shoes from a bar at the end of the night and carry their uncomfortable heels home with them, preventing painful feet.
Why the HELL did I not think of something like this?!? I would totally stash a pair of these puppies in my purse. I can't tell you how many times I have fearlessly cast off my shoes and stumbled walked home barefeet. I know, disgusting. But sometimes the pain is seriously unbearable, and now I may have another option as opposed to crying and making threatening demands asking my roommates to splurge on a cab!
From the Irish Hiking Scarf Knit Along: Ok, here is the pattern modification for the wrist warmers
EDITED TO ADD:
I used Cascade 220 (Worsted Weight) and size 8 (US) needles.
Note on gauge: I didn't do a swatch so I have no idea what it came out to, but I tend to knit a bit tighter than your average knitter.
PATTERN
Worked flat, then seamed up at the end.
Cast on 40 stitches.
Row 1. (WS) K1, P2, K2, P6, K2, P2, K2, P6, K2, P2, K2, P6, K2, P2, K1
Row 2. (RS) K3, P2, K6, P2, K2, P2, K6, P2, K2, P2, K6, P2, K3
Row 3. (WS) REPEAT ROW 1.
Row 4. (RS) REPEAT ROW 2.
Row 5. (WS) REPEAT ROW 1.
Row 6. (RS) REPEAT ROW 2.
Row 7. (WS) REPEAT ROW 1.
Row 8. (RS) K3, P2, C6F, P2, K2, P2, C6F, P2, K2, P2, C6F, P2, K3
Do 4 Repeats. On the 5th Repeat, work rows 1-5 (finish WS row)
Next row, begin ribbing
Work 8 rows of 1x1 Ribbing
Cast Off
EDITED TO ADD: Since I have gotten a lot a questions about what 'C6F' is, here is a bit of a clarification: Put the first 3 stitches on the cable needle and let it drop in front of the work. Knit the next 3 on the kntting needle. Finally, knit the 3 you had on the cable needle starting with the stitch on the far right. I will try and take a few photos to clarify and post them when I can.
Begin seaming from the top. Seam the ribbed area, then leave a 1 1/2 inch hole for your thumb. Resume seaming using the mattress stitch to create the illusion of the double rib pattern (See photo).
Hope that makes sense. I am new at writing up patterns :)
Have a Great Night!
Guess what I did a couple nights ago?
and I rewarded myself with:
Onto the knitting.... Here are the Irish Hiking Wrist Warmers, done in Cascade 220.
These went REAL quick. About 6 hours total to make the set.
Here is the mock-lace skull cap, which is turning out to be my favorite project to date:
And I will leave you with this image, of a frustrated man finding out that his sister knits and that he is getting a Georgia Tech thong for Christmas:
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