No Exploration for Me!

Well, I didn't even make it out of the harbor and the queen called the expedition back...see previous post if you're in the dark!

Good Side Bad Side

The more I looked at it the more I realized I would have the collar of the sweater in my mouth based on how high up it was going to be without the neck shaping!! So I ripped them both out....^&*(%$. How many times have I been told....trust the pattern!!!

But I must find a positive in this scrapped expedition......I really only had to rip out about 20 rows or so. It REALLY could have been ALOT worse. So I am really thrilled about that. The sleeves and the right and left fronts are drying after blocking so I should be able to start putting it together tomorrow after work.

I plan on studying the pattern VERY well to make sure I don't put the sleeves on the front part of the sweater!!!!! Don't laugh, it could happen!!!

Good Night Good Knitters!

Holy Moly! Nina, Pinta and Santa &^%$!!

So last night I weave in the ends and lay the back and two front pieces out to block and what do I find but a mess up!!! On one of the front panels I had shaped the neck all wrong!! So I blocked the back and one side then waited till this AM to fix the one side. Now that I read the directions I think the one I blocked was the wrong one, not the one I just fixed!!!!!!! &^%$#@(*&!!!!!!!

Soooooooo I think I can make it work! At least now they both match and I will be able to continue with the ribbing and I really don't think it's going to make that big a difference. I will find out when it's done whether or not directions are important! HA! I have a feeling I will be proven wrong, but I'm in the mood for an experiment....and aren't the best knitters the ones who have made mistakes and either found they needed to do it the right way OR they indeed are Christopher Columbus and have charted a new world!!!

This is the back, not the mess up!!!

The other thing I was thinking as I was dragging out all the gear for the blocking..............."I probably could have bought this sweater in five minutes flat for a whole lot less money!" What is it about spending hours and money on making a sweater????? Is it because I can't find exactly what I'm looking for? Is it because I like to be able to tell people that I made it and have them look at me with shock and awe? Is it just because I am stupid? Time will tell, huh?? When I'm off to the next crafting obession, maybe I will find the answer......or maybe it's in the 'New World'.
Off to EXLORE!!!

Happy Knitting from Christopher Columbus!

One Down, One to Go!

Here's one completed sleeve!! I can't believe how far I have gotten! I know now, I can actually finish an adult sweater!!!!

Once the second sleeve is complete then I have to block all the pieces and sew together then cast on for the ribbing for the buttons and collar.

Not too many adult responsibilities this week in the evening so I might be able to get the sleeve done in a couple nights and will be able to start the ribbing by Friday!!

Happy Knitting!

It's NOT about winning he says.....

Meet Lego Driver - Car 51

We survived the Pinewood Derby! Despite many attempts, 'Lego Driver' came in second to last in the Bobcat standings. He looked tuff and he hung in there to the end but just didn't quite have the goods to compete with the big dogs! In the words of the 'designer/manager' of the Lego Driver crew.......'this is a building year'. So car 51 will be retired and an entirely new design will make it's debut in a year. We think we have a 'ringer' in the family.....Papa, the mechanical engineer! It will probably cost us big to bring in an expert, but money is no object when you're trying to win a race. Maybe we can get some sponsors....

The funny thing about it all was that I was trying to instill a little competitive spirit in the kid and all he keeps talking about is that he got a trophy even if he placed second to last. I say 'wouldn't it have been nice to win?' And he replies,' but I got a trophy, it's not about winning.' HMMMMM......after all these years in the work world I'm not so sure that's how it really goes........

Rock on Car 51, Lego Driver!

PS....yeah, the knitting hasn't gotten much farther.....I'm not even to the arm hole on the right side yet. Too much adult responsibility!!!!!

I'm Consumed!!!

Day Eight!

I am now on the right front and moving quickly.............BUT nothing else is getting done! I have worked my job on Sat nite, gone to church Sunday morning and downloaded a trail version of Adobe Photoshop Elements to try but THAT'S IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is consuming me! I am so bent on seeing how fast I can get this done I can barely think of anything else! Watch me come to a big screeching halt when I probably do something like run out of yarn!! AND I got this yarn at my LYS at the lake so it's not like I can just run there and get more!

ANYWAY.....

This is really fun and it's a blast seeing how quickly it's coming together! As I have said before, I have yet to finish an adult sweater so I am feeling like I'm accomplishing something here!

The only road block is I have to work for the next 5 days straight and have things going on at night, Tues, Wed and Thur!! Serious blips in the knitting time. Oh the tribulations of being an adult!

I'll keep you posted!

Happy Day!

Oops!

Sorry it was Day Six!!!!

Sweater Progress Update

End of Day Five

Well, I didn't do so bad and I didn't work on it non-stop. After making my day-off run to Wally World and the library I got started knitting around 10am. Worked pretty solid with a few breaks till about 5pm. Made dinner then worked on it till 10pm. I'm already thinking about how quickly something similar to this would go on larger needles. I have a picture of a sweater I would like to try to mock up and this is giving me ideas on how to make that happen!

Don't have to work till late tomorrow so will have time to knit some tomorrow too.....AFTER the Pine Wood Derby competition in the morning! Go car 51!

For now it's time to go read!

Happy Evening!

Sweater Progress

Day Six

I don't work today so I am going to see how much I can get done by devoting a large amount of the day to knitting this sweater!!!! I'm hoping by the end of the day when I post again, I will have the back done and part of one of the front sides!!!! Wish me luck!

Happy Day!

Sweater Progress

Day Two

Only got a few hours to work on it because of work and a evening meeting.

New Project!

Today I began a new project. It's a sweater for me! I bought the yarn to make it at the end of last summer but never got around to it.

Day One

I know I'm supposed to be watching less TV but I can't wait to watch the premeire of Cashmere Mafia! I can probably get several more rows knitted while watching!

Happy Day!

Ker Plunk!

Everytime I use double points I think of that game I used to have when I was a kid....

KerPlunk

Two Days in a Row!

I finished an unfinished project today!

I started this purse in the summer and ran out of yarn. Had to buy it at the LYS at the Lake so had to wait a while till I was back there...of course that meant I had to start a new project. Picked this up again in the last couple days and finished today. It was from a free pattern at my Michaels store created by Paton Yarns. The pattern shows a ribbon around the body of the purse so I will add that as soon as I find one worthy. I'm pleased with the color choice and how it turned out. It did take some time with the cables and I just couldn't get the rows memorized so I was constantly looking at the pattern. I also had a couple minor mistakes that I had to troubleshoot. All in all, it's cute!!!

Here's my new 'reading/knitting nook'! We have a sitting room at the top of the stairs which was under utilized so decided a couple chairs would make it nice and cozy. LOVE IT!

Love those Kids Meal toys!!!!

Stay tuned, I might just post again tomorrow!!!

Happy Day!

Let The New Year Begin!

I have no excuses for not posting EXCEPT for the fact that I work in retail and that's all I need to say about the holiday season!

Wrapping up the past year....here's some stats:

Books read: 65.....4 more than last year.
Books not finished: 1....'Inglorious', just couldn't get into it.
Knitting novels read: 5....all were good but my favorite was The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood. It's a tear jerker that challenged my thinking about making assumptions about people.

Favorites:
Most chilling: Skin by Ted Dekker
Most intense: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hossein
Best Memoir: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Most disappointing: Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides

I love reading 'Chick-lit' and couldn't pick my favorite so here are a few that I gave 5 stars to:
Good Things by Mia King
Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter
The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand
Julia's Chocolates by Cathy Lamb
Elements of Style by Wendy Wasserstein
Little Pink Slips by Sally Koslow
Because She Can by Bridie Clark

Read and enjoy! They are all fabulous!

Knitting projects:

8 scarfs, most successful, a few not.
9 felted bags completed, several not.
3 childrens sweaters, all completed.
2 left socks.....I having a feeling the right ones won't be completed in 2008
10 socking caps.
1 adult sweater vest...remember the red vest diaries?
1 baby blanket
1 adult short jacket
Countless in the process projects!
As I look at this run down, I have to say I am pretty impressed. My goal this next year is to actually make myself a sweater. I usually do small projects because of my crafting ADD but I want to challenge myself to complete an entire sweater.

Why do I continue to make resolutions each year?

For the last several years it was all about being on the magical diet that would make me look like the slim, sleek model body I am not!!! My genetic inheritance from one of my grandmothers, thank you Grandma, was the pear shape body! So it seems no matter how much I starve myself, I will never have thighs that don't touch!!! Cordoroy is a no no! Sparks will be flying!

This year is more about being realistic about things!
So hence.....
A little more of this A little less of that

A little more of this A little less of that

A little more finishing projects A little less - 20 things going at once

A little more spreading JOY A little less passing judgment

A little more liking myself A little less hating myself

Here's to a great 2008.

I am looking forward to it being a fabulous year filled with love, laughter, family, friends, knitting projects, art projects and lots of books!!!!