I Was Knit Together In My Mother's Womb

Okay, I'll play....(however, I am normally horrible at this kind of random, impromptu thing).

I love music...I LOVE MUSIC! But I must confess, I am not a "progressive" listener...no hot new artists or exciting new genre's in my collection. What I listen to probably pretty much defines me ....as ....as....boring????

Since Jean tagged me so that she could learn a little more about me (there's not a lot under the surface here, Jean), here goes:

1) Total amount of music files on your computer: I didn't know I had music files on my computer...if I ask my son, would he know? Now, ask me how many cassettes are in my collection or records in our home...

2. The last CD you bought was: It's been awhile, but I'm sure it was a jazz cd for my husband or Travis Cottrell Worship

3. What is the song you last listened to before reading this message? Since yesterday was Sunday, it was definately some worship music...

4.)  What are your five favorite songs and why they mean the most to you (now here comes the good stuff!)

1. "Do you Wanna Dance" sung by Bette Midler  ... I could dance anywhere, anytime with my husband when I hear this song...the ultimate in romance!
2. "Oh Holy Night"  sung by Jewel, or by any of my children with their A'capella Choirs...this has always been my favorite Christmas song...music and message do it for me (of course, speaking of Christmas...there's always "Jingle Bells" by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters!)
3. "In a Little Cafe" (or whatever the name is) by Jay and the Americans...I have a Latin beat running through my veins.
4. "Love Walked In" by Diane Shur....the first live music in a club that JR and I saw together and I fell in love with her music.
5. And, anything by the Andrews Sisters, Ray Charles, CSN, James Taylor, Van Morrison...how can I choose? Sountracks from Evita, West Side Story and Sound of Music and the classic Disney stuff.    

5). What 3 people are you going to pass this baton to and why? Lisa, because I love her, and she is sure to have some interesting  things to say, Stacey, because she was my first blog ring neighbor, and Vicki because, well, because I just think she's a cool mama.

What is softer than a baby's bottom, softer than my dog Moses' ear, softer than that sweet place at the base of JR's neck?

Why, the Annie Blatt scarf kit in a wonderful Angora blend! I lost the YNBA Friday night, as we passed by one of my favorite yarn stores.  With a pattern by Lily Chinn, the fastest crocheter in the world!  Haven't decided whether I will knit or crochet this little gem....

I know the wait is killing you...

What fun it's been to read your comments and emails about your yarn disasters! As compassionate and understanding as I am, I love a blunder. I'm the kind of girl that likes TV bloopers, word mix-ups like perry-chitter, raundry loom, and wilky may bar. I do laugh when someone falls (all right, all right....only if they are not hurt)! You know why? I can relate...how many times do we hear that we learn from our mistakes...check your guage, read the pattern....blah, blah, blah...

Yet, we've had our BIG mishaps...like Joni's wedding day disaster, or when my Mom set aside an afghan for about a year and when she got back to it, it had become a pile of fuzz that was home to some mice...

We are guage-retarded, as Angi refers to herself, our felting has fizzled ...one case in point, Stacey's "cat-mat" story. Many of us can understand having to frog entire projects, like Lisa, Meghan, and Sarah...or being twisted stitchers like Gaylene and Lauren.  Stitchy Mcyarnpants learned that you shouldn't crochet for two months and not check your work as you go!  And, the classic disaster of what happens when you knit and drink at the same time...LiB...at least the wine color should match the yarn color, dontcha think?

I guess the most poignant were the tales of sad little girls, trying so hard to learn, who didn't understand the process yet and it kept them from knitting for many years....

Anyway, too many too choose the best, so I put them all in a box

and before church this morning, my husband, who is known as "Mr Integrity" in these parts, drew three papers....

Jean, 3-olives, and Heidi....your Elann gift certificates are on the way!

This was so much fun...and I have so much to tell you about our weekend, but it's time to put a movie in and knit my night away!

I never thought I'd be able to knit, either.

This too, was intimidating. I was sure I couldn't do it. Actually, I had no interest, until I saw the Floral Trellis Scarf in the Pam Allen Scarf Style book...you know what one I mean...the one that says...CROCHET!

Three crocheters in our Knit Nite group were among us last month at our first meet of the year. Three crocheters tried to demonstrate the art of the hook. Three crocheters failed. I was confused, overwhelmed... I was defeated on my first three attempts..Then Tracey, one of the last to leave, said,

"Do you want me to take it home with me and do it for you?"

"I'll pay you," I said. (and no one would be the wiser...most everyone else had left)

Wednesday night, another Knit Nite... I must confess, deep in my heart, I was hoping Tracey would be there with my completed Trellis, ends neatly woven in, ready for me to apply the knitted roses. She came alright, informing me that this pattern was so easy, I could do it myself!

(aside:  that's what you guys said two weeks ago...I'm paying you to get this thing done)

But under the gentle tutelage of Tracey's patient hands,

I chained, I single-crocheted, I slip-stitched! I DID IT!

I learned to crochet, and it didn't cost me a dime! I did it! I did it!

Then, late last night, as I crocheted in bed to keep warm, I learned a valuable lesson. That we crocheters, too, mess up, make mistakes and muck-up. I had to pull out one entire half of that *$#&^$&!! scarf!

As Margene says,  "It's all part of the process."  So, kids, share your knitting OR crocheting disasters so we can all learn from them...and I can send out a gift to the winner!

An intriguing little package arrived yesterday...with a great stitch marker and magnet from Carolyn. You really should check out her cool stuff for sale. And, Carolyn...I am a huge Scrabble fan!  Thank you again!

A few months ago,  someone emailed me about my site, and some of the projects I was doing...I feel so badly, but somehow I didn't get back to her because of the "misplaced" email.  She was particularly interested in a self-fringing shawl (which is yet to be completed)and how to make it.  I used a free pattern, which a store-owner shared with  me on my travels through Maryland and Virginia. I can't even remember which store it was! I have  googled  and yahoo'ed and alta-vista'ed and I've even asked Jeeves, and I could not find that pattern. So, I am sharing...in hopes that if anyone else does a search for a SELF FRINGING SHAWL they will link to this blog and get the pattern. I've taught several people how to do this , and it is such a great beginner project.

This is what I did:

Use oddball yarn of about the same weight...I bought a skein of Outback Mohair to work in the rows to pull the colors together and to add some  inexpensive filler rows.

Needles are your choice, depending on weight of yarn... you'll want a drapey shawl, so choose your needles  wisely!

Leave a 6" Tail of yarn, CO 3 st.

INCREASE SECTION

*Row 1: knit. cut yarn, leaving a 6" tail. Pull the tail ends to tighten edge stitches if needed, and tie both ends together in an overhand knot, close to the edge of the knitting.

Row 2: Start a new ball of yarn (it can be the same yarn or a contrasting yarn). Leave a 6" tail. Knit 1, inc 1 in the next stitch. Knit to end.*

Repeat ** until the knitting is 28" wide or desired length to point of shawl. End with Row 1.

DECREASE SECTION

*Row 1: Leave a 6" tail, k1, k2tog, k to end.

Row 2: Knit. Leave a 6" tail, cut and tie.*

Repeat ** until you have 3 stitches, end with Row 1. Bind off 2 stitches, cut the yarn, leave a 6" tail. Run that tail through the last stitch and tie the last 2 yarn ends together.

Trim the fringe.

CONTEST CONTEST CONTEST CONTEST CONTEST CONTEST CONTEST

Don't forget your knitting catastrophe stories... we all learn from our own mistakes, maybe we can learn from each other's!  I'll choose the funniest, most disastrous, or "duh" blunder and send a surprise along to you!

Since we're having a full-ish moon tonight, I figured I'd put my full-ish moon in the hot tub before "24." 

Back on track with Salina, and I am knitting a noose for Carlos....a little something from the leftover sock yarns, perhaps?

It's a sad day at the homestead. JR got info in the mail from AARP...the day after he got proofed at the local grocery store when buying Killean!

What has been your biggest knitting blunder? I'm thinking of a TOP TEN with the #1 spot getting a little surprise from me...let me know your best knitting goof before Sunday...THIS IS A CONTEST!

This is what happens when Carlos the Cat won't go outside in a snowstorm

He must have released his energy sometime last night...The yarn was criss-crossed all over the family room! Stinking Cat! Many rows of Salina gone!

Of course, you must all know we are having a great snowstorm here in the Northeast...So, just as things were getting going yesterday, I decided I had to have #8 circulars to work on the sleeve of the wedding shrug. My incredible husband (whom Jon says makes men look bad by doing this) took me out to the local yarn store. We braved sub-zero wind chills, blowing and drifting, a gas tank on empty . On our way back, as JR was filling the tank, I took the needles out and lo and behold... the wrong length needles were in the #8 16" package! He was willing to drive me back, but they did not have any others in stock. SO I  made do with #7's.

My favorite auction acquisitions this week

 

A beautiful vintage Linguard teapot and a very cool, giant sized English mug and plate that both say"I'm not greedy but I want enough."  I haven't decided yet if I want to keep them or E-bay them, since I can be greedy and want more for myself.

After waking this morning, I took the dogs out to assess the snow situation . I shoveled.

(check out the sideways ice cycles)

... then watched for JR to come home from plowing,

So we could uncover the hot tub

  (where is the hot tub?)

and then enjoy a good soak...after all of that shoveling.

a new project on the needles...

The wedding shrug has begun. I was at first very intimidated by the pattern, a top down version, until I remembered my mother's admonishment..."Don't read ahead!"  And you know, it's going very well. I have to admit I did peek ahead again and noticed there are short rows....have I ever done these? will I be able to?

The shrug is quite lovely and soft...I keep rubbing it on my cheek.

With the back of Salina blocked, I think I'll get started on the front this weekend.

We are in a deep freeze, so after work every day, I am fighting the urge to get into my flannels and sweats...But even when it's not cold, I find the older I get, the more urgent is the desire to be comfortable...to shed the waistband, the body slimmer, the bra, the fitted shirts... I don't know, maybe has something to do with the fact that my clothes aren't fitting the way they used to and flannels and sweats are so much more forgiving! My husband commented this morning that we must be getting more "mature." This, as he was standing at the back door mesmerized by the birds...yup, we find bird-watching a thrill. Oh, what is happening to me?

This week's mail brought the new Vogue Knitting, and a new catalog , Knitpicks. Has anyone tried their yarn? It's almost too reasonable priced...like it's too good to be true!  I'd love to know of any experiences with them.

I see cupcakes.

The dinner was pizza.

The movie was "Open Water."

You cannot knit while watching "Open Water."

You can knit while watching "American Idol." So, I finished the back of Salina.  And then went to bed, and dreamed of sharks.

Tonight, I'm into "SCTV"...takes me right back to my college days....anyone out there a fan?

For the benefit of my family that is away from this winter wonderland...

  Relax, I wasn't moving when I took this picture!  Cars were actually stopped in the road to clear their wipers! I had to get the assistance of a man who was already stopped so he could help me with mine....I haven't driven in weather like this in  a decade. By the time I arrived home from an afternoon with Lisa, we had accumulated about 18 " of snow.

(my husband plows our driveway last!)

 

 

All said and done, all snowing and blowing aside...it was a beautiful dump of snow for our area....and my husband has been plowing for hours, which is a good thing.

LOOK! LOOK! LOOK!

I've started my armhole decreases on Salina!

 

And, if you want to see some pretty cool knitting, check out the ScarfStyle site and the gorgeous Lady Eleanor Entrelac Stole done by Verlit ...the January 11th entry.  It is an impressive work, I think.

Plumber.... Candygram... landshark.... SNOWCAT!!!!!

It sometimes takes a weekend like this one to remind me that even though I have been knitting a whole year, I am not ready to be a Master Knitter.  Frogging. Salina. Frogging. Tea Cozy. One whole side. Twice.  Okay. I got the point. Read the directions carefully.

It was a nice weekend, after all. Friday night we snagged a few goodies at the auction and Saturday spent a relaxing day knitting.  I was able to spend a few hours of knitting and brain picking and dreaming with Jen at our LYS. Thanks to Erin, who helped me out with one row of yarn-overs in the tea cozy. I seem to always goof on the purlwise YO for some reason.

That tea cozy is pretty cute, I might add.

I used Noro Kujaku instead of Kureyon (the Karma folks had their store sample done in Kujaku) Those Noro people are really something else. This yarn is not only self-striping, it is also wrapped with a self-striping thread AND has these little lengths of cord here and there! Very cool yarn.

I also made some other adjustments to the pattern. I did the large size and was able to use just one skein by knitting the bottom in a solid complimentary wool. I added beads to the ends of the cords, also. What a fun little project...go on....knit one up for Valentine's day over a cute little red teapot filled with cinnamon hearts!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Isn't it the best thing to be around a two year old?  Today is Augie's birthday.

 

And, isn't he lucky to have a big brother for the very important candle-blowing part of the celebration?

It was a good day. We visited with the kids in Syracuse yesterday. Meghan has been very sick for many days with this rare thing, which has flu-type symptoms, but much worse..She's on the second type of anti-biotic and hadn't been out of the house for 10 days. So, being the mom-type, I had to check it out for myself...yup, she's pretty sick. But, the good news is the second med is having a good effect...Lesson? See your doctor if the symptoms persist for more than a few days. It may not be "just a virus."  Anyway, I wish I could have gone sooner to help out, but I did have a virus thing.  No matter how old you are, you just want your mom when you're feeling so badly....I hope our visit helped a little.

Clear driving all the way back, until we were about five miles from home. Lake Effect Snow. No kidding...a wall of snow

and this is the result in a matter of overnight hours:

Many inches of lake-enhanced snow. And it keeps coming. Jean, you will also be on the receiving end of this Lake Effect weather when you re-locate!

With a blog name like mine, I can see why someone may come across me when they Google

"large womb pictures"

Sorry....not here...don't have one anymore. But you might want to try here.