Not much going on

I haven't been knitting much this week. I turned the heel on my sock and tried it on....it's doesn't fit very well and I don't like the feeling of the fabric. It's ok when I'm holding it, but on me? Not so much. So that was a bit discouraging. Later today I'll work on it a bit, after I block my cardigan (yes you read that right, I'm blocking it as soon as I'm finished blogging!).

Another reason I've not been knitting is I've been sewing! This summer I've lost quite a bit of weight* so a lot of my cloths are way too big. I've learned to resize Tshirts and am slowly making my way through my stash of them.

I figured out what to give Sister for her birthday! She was complaining that we're almost out of black and yellow paint (she and her friends paint their faces for football games) so I'll be giving her some of that, and I figured why not throw in some wash out hair dye as well. And I know she wants nail polish so I'll give her some of that in the same colors. So I guess it'll kinda be like a "show your school spirit in a box" type thing :o) It needs something else though...hmmm

Oh yes, I'll be able to attend S'n'B this coming Tuesday!! Yay!! I've missed two weeks in a row now (boo!) and I can't wait to come back! I'll bring my shawl to show off as you guys haven't yet had the opportunity to fondle it :o)


*I don't usually keep track of my weight because I don't really care as long as I feel healthy. But this summer I suddenly dropped about 30 lbs! Before you all think I've got an eating disorder, let me explain: I've been off gluten for almost a year and my body is finally starting to heal (the damage sometimes takes years to heal and in some cases never completely reverses itself). I am finally able to absorb the nutrients from my food so my body is no longer in starvation mode and holding onto whatever it can (I've never really been fat but I have been above the "optimum"). I've also been eating healthier aka pure/unprocessed foods. And I've been eating less, not on purpose, my stomach has shrunk. I was glutened pretty badly a few months ago and during that time I subconsciously started associating food with pain, I had to literally force myself to eat and usually couldn't manage much, I lived off protein shakes. Thankfully, once the gluten left my system (it took a few weeks) eating became easier.

Birthday Panic!!

I just realized Sister's Birthday is only 9 days away!!

So what do you give someone who likes to fit in yet not be the same as everybody else?? She's very into the latest trends but still likes to express a bit of individuality. Our tastes are so different I never know what she will and won't like....

Sometimes she'll try to find a meaning behind the gift as well. Like if I gave her some yummy smelling lotion or soap she might take that to mean I think she smells bad; but she only does that sometimes. *sigh* A gift card seems too impersonal, she doesn't do any type of crafting (and doesn't want to learn), she plays the violin and various other instruments (but mainly the violin), she's into the whole school spirit thing and loves stuff with her schools name/colors, she loves "girly" things (you know, hair stuff, make up, nail polish, etc.), and she's on the preppy side.

Hmmm.....I don't dare try to give her anything related to cloths (tried that last year). Or jewelry (that didn't work either). She mentioned in a rather direct way that she'd like a car, a new cell phone, and some nail polish. I can't just give her nail polish though, it needs something to go with it. A joke about giving her a matchbox car was already made so I can't do that either. And I can't afford the phone she wants....

Any ideas??

Fetching

I meant to post this a few days ago but my insomnia got really bad all of a sudden I didn't really feel like it (yeah I know, lame excuse, too bad it's all I've got :oP)




I used leftover yarn from my cardigan (no I still haven't blocked it, I promise I will this week!). I like that they help keep my hands warm but I can still knit with them on. I BO a bit too lose for the left one, it's starting to bug me so I'm going to fix it.

And I've fallen in love with another shawl pattern (check it out here)

**Edit**
Oh yeah, forgot to mention I've started a new project. These socks from the current issue of Vogue Knitting. I'm using some wildfoote sock yarn (the red stuff in this picture) but I only have enough for one sock so I might end up with a pair that doesn't match...oh well :o)

Mittens!!

Front/Back



In action!


I used Lion Wool and the pattern is from Folk Mittens. This was my first color stranding project! I want to string them together but I'm not sure how long I should make it. I would guess that it should measure about wrist to wrist but that seems kinda long. I also don't know what to make it out of. I-cord? A crocheted chain? Finger knit cord (this was used to attach the tassels in the original pattern, I'm not a tassel person so I omitted them)? But then all of these stretch so that would affect how long I should make it too. Hmmm.....

Grown-up Blankie

It's done!! I am soo pleased to tell you all that my shawl is complete!! I finished with the knitting on Tuesday (12th), finished grafting and weaving in all the ends on Wednesday (13th), and blocked really late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning. It was killing me not to post but I wanted to wait till I had some pictures to show off. So Friday (15th) Aunt Vintage* and I were finally able to get together for a photo shoot:

Sort of folded in half -


And unfolded -


I love how this picture really brings out the lace pattern -


And another picture for good measure :o) -


The final measurements of my finished shawl (ok, estimates cause I'm too lazy to really measure) are 6' x 3 1/2'. I used yarn from knit picks (shimmer) and the pattern is from this book.

Bother loves this thing and calls it my "grown-up blankie" :oD


*I chose the name Aunt Vintage because that's one of her favorite things....she loves vintage everything :o)


**Edit**
We also took pictures of my finished mittens, pictures coming tomorrow!!

Finished Objects

I've finished my Lapland mittens; both of them :o) I've also located a relative with a digital camera who is willing and able to take pictures for me. However, we're having a hard time getting together to take dirty pictures of said mittens and other knitting projects. Hopefully I'll be able to snag some this week.


I've also started and finished a pair of Fetching fingerless gloves/mittens. I decided to make these because:

a) I needed something to do with a skein of leftover yarn from my cardigan (which I still need to block btw).
b) I've wanted to try my hand at cabling for awhile. I've understood the concept well enough but was having a hard time finding a project to start with (yeah I know, I could've just made a cable swatch; but really, where's the fun in that).
c) I was avoiding working on my shawl. I was using these as a reward for myself (you know, finish 8 rows of the shawl and then you can CO for the other one). I am soo tired of my shawl, I wish I was finished. I'm close...kind of; I'd say I'm just over 2/3 finished with the knitting. But then there's the weaving in of ends, grafting the two pieces together, and finally blocking the whole thing (which I have no idea where I'll be able to accomplish, this thing is going to be HUGE)


I've worked it out that I can attend S'n'B tonight (yay!), I'll bring my mittens (fingerless and otherwise) with me if anyone wants to see. Hopefully I'll be able to get at least a few rows done on my shawl :oP

Cute Picture

Sorry this is a bit random.

Knitty had a photo contest for their 2007 calendar; I wanted to enter this photo but as it was on a disk somewhere and I'm not a very organized person, I couldn't find it in time for the deadline. Oh well, I'll just have to enter it next year.



This is Baby Sister and Brother, aren't they just so cute!?! :o) This picture is from round about last Christmas. I made them both fuzzy feet slippers (thank goodness they were to be felted, soo many mistakes :oP) and when they saw them pre-fulled they immediately put one on their heads and begged me to take a picture. This is my favorite picture of them; not only are they adorable but they're both smiling, their eyes are open, and Brother is actually looking at the camera (he usually looks off to the side)!

So sorry for the random showing off of family. I was just glad to have found the photo disk it was on. And it's been awhile since I put a picture up, so I thought I might as well :o)