Broad Street Mittens

Ok, so currently I am working on two pairs of Broad Street Mittens (knitty.com), one pair for each of my brothers. I made one pair last year, for me, following the pattern exactly. They were a little big, but for me they were fine. My concern is that I'm knitting these for guys with big hands. I am wondering if I were to cast on 52, then increase to 64 if that would increase the size just enough so that they would still be snug on my brothers hands... I don't know if anyone really reads this blog, but I could use some input if you've made these for guys... I have one brother's handprint traced out, thinking that would help...

I have been knitting the first left hand on my 2 circulars and I love how fast it has gone!!

Lucky Duck

To my secret pal ~ thank you so much for the goodies! Wouldn't you know that the next thing I am supposed to knit for my guy is a pair of socks? Perfect! And I adore the Burt's Bees (I'm trying to move from here to his place, so the little samples are great!). And the Maude Asbury photo album is beautiful - "she" makes such pretty things - the small store I work at in the summer has had some of her scrapbooks - thank you - I already have some photos to put inside!

Secret Pal Goodies!
Posted by Hello

My Green Monster.

I really would like to love this hat a little more... it's practice I suppose. maybe Kermit can wear it in class.

My Summer Bottoms Up Hat
Posted by Hello

Wrapping Up to Start Anew

Last night I finished my bottom's-up-along-piece. I'm affectionately calling it the big green monster. It's not Incredible-Hulk-green, rather "Lily Pad" which I really liked when I started (I have a fondness for all things froggy, especially those poison-dart-frogs) But now I'm sort of just fed up with this project - it's a great pattern, a quick knit, and it looks cute, but I had to cast on numerous times before I got the right number of strands and the right number of stitches. Also, I'm just not as thrilled with how this one came out. This was knit with Classic Elite cotton, the other was with Debbie Bliss Cotton Denim (I think... I don't have the labels right here to check). I feel like I can see all sorts of bumps and loose bits from the decreases. Maybe I just need to block it? I don't know. Still thinking about it. Pictures are coming - I know I keep promising that. I forgot to do it today with my palm, and I didn't bring the hat here so I can't ask my fiance to use his camera phone to try it... Patience, Becca...

How excited am I that I get to set up my classroom next week? Very.
The week after that is professional development meetings. okay.
Then the kids return. Yay for the start of school and new office supplies!!

Psst - my talking of big green monster reminded me about this site: monsters.net - I love the drawings and things she does with the monsters - too cute! Especially the one with the sock!

This is for my secret pal

*waves hello* This post is more of an "about me" sort of thing, until I figure out how to add that sort of page to this blog. I sent my pal the link to my other online journal, but figured it would be okay to add something here.

Becca - a lefty, self taught knitter. Currently has the following works in progress (yarn is bought / on the needles): 2 pairs of Broad Street Mittens, Multidirectional scarf, DNA scarf, bottoms up hat, 2 pairs of socks, purple cardigan sweater, light blue summer cardigan sweater, toy lamb, honeymoon cami.

I like to think I'm not a yarn snob, as I do use lion brand (it's not all bad!) and red heart, but I have seen what else is out there. It's like going candy shopping at CVS and then candy shopping at Dylan's Candy Bar in NYcity.

My allergies are seasonal, to pollen, but *knock wood* they haven't been bad this year.

I have a wish list on amazon.com.

I have a massive sweet tooth. Jelly beans / mike-and-ikes are my favorites.

I adore the blue-green-purple range of colors.

I currently live at home with my parents but am planning to move in with my fiance in the upcoming weeks before school starts. I teach science to students in grades 5 - 8; I actually started out planning to be an environmental chemist, but got burnt out in grad school. I worked retail for a year (at a fabulous stationery shop, i've been there on and off for 6 years) and went through an alternative route program to get my teaching certification (done!). I love being a teacher - it's the hardest thing I have done yet, and I can't see myself doing anything else!

I am getting married the day after thanksgiving this year to my boyfriend of 8 years - we went to high school together and just kept up our relationship. He is wonderful beyond words. So, while I am on summer vacation for the next few weeks, I am busy planning the wedding (we finally got the bridesmaids their dresses), planning for school and relaxing.

Quickie Favorites:
Movies: The Princess Bride, Singin'in the Rain, Rebel without a Cause, Say Anthing, the Muppet Movies
Music: Barenaked Ladies, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Dave Matthews Band, Alanis Morrisette, Tori Amos, Ani Difranco, 80's music - I listen to pretty much everything except country
Actors John Cusack, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman, Renee Zelwieger
Misc. Hello Kitty, Paper, stickers, Becky Kelly, Kate Spade, Origins, Bath-and-Body Works, Bamboo Needles, Chad Pennington, basketball, environmentally friendly stuff, Burts Bees

I hope this helps give you a better picture of me!

VH1 Commercial

I just saw the greatest commercial on VH1 - all you see are women on stairmasters, and they are knitting! You hear "Knit... and purl... C'mon ladies keep on knitting!" Then at the last woman, she is sort of struggling, and you hear "You want to look like Madonna, you're going to have to knit like Madonna... Those sweaters won't knit themselves!" (or something similar) - then it shows the tagline - Celebrity hobbies are getting harder each year. Sounds like VH1.

That's just silly. But there have been good commercials lately - have you seen the one with the guy who licks the blender and it accidentaly goes on? He's off brownies for a while, but gets the fix at Dairy Queen. When I was little I wanted to make silly advertisements like that...

Settling on Projects?

Today I went to fabric place with the intent of finding some sort of lab coat pattern and possibly the fabric to make the coat. My fiancee won me a huge Kermit doll a few years ago and I have decided that Kermit would be an excellent "teacher's assistant" in my science class, so I wanted to dress him up. This will be an adventure - an excellent adventure if I am successful :)

I found the pattern, and the fabric, and even a discount from the lovely lady at the counter when she found out I was a teacher. But that was after I also found 2 circular needles I'll use to make the Broad Street knitty.com mittens for my brothers, and yarn I want to use for my dad's DNA scarf, and Hello Kitty fat quarters.

$70 later I think I can finally get started.

And I still need to post pictures, I know.