Calorimetry FO!

I'm really loving vacation for the amount of time it allows me to knit! Well, there is that and there is also that I have deliberately chosen quick projects. In the time it took to not really watch Miami Vice (what an awful movie. lots of staring. not lots of action.) I was able to whip up Calorimetry and I've even worn it out in public too!

My dog is such a good sport.


Seriously though, I got the button on there and here it is on an actual person:


I used yarn that I had received in a swap / secret pal package. It's a great purple / green mix of "Handspun handpainted pure wool yarn" from handpaintedyarn.com Color HH01 Uno. I could make another one too, it really does not use much yarn, and in two hours - voila! done!

It's almost hard to believe that it is New Year's Eve! I think I'll do my resolutions / to-do in '07 list tomorrow.
This weekend I met up with my brothers in New York and we had Ethiopian food! - really interesting and delicious! We also went to see an improv show at Upright Citizens Brigade". Always a good time with them.

Tonight we're staying in (actually my favorite type of get together!) and having friends over - enjoy and stay safe!!

Fetching!

Fetching!
Originally uploaded by nutmegknitter.

Pattern: Fetching from knitty.com
Yarn: GGH Cashmere (1 + maybe 1/3 of a second ball?)
Time: 2 days - had I kept better track I could estimate the hours - quick knit!
Recipient: Me!!!

Me Me Me

I love the fact that vacation allows me more time to knit, but I want to count these items as the first FOs of 2007! I've completed a pair of Fetching, from knitty with some of the cashmere yarn from Dan. I've also made up Calorimetry, also from knitty - it just needs a button! Photos to come.

Make Me's Pledge
I promise to knit for myself in 2007. I promise to make at least two items for myself for every one item I make for a friend. I promise to use more luxury yarns on myself than on others. I promise to laugh wildly every time someone says, "oh that's nice! Can you knit one for me?" I promise to feign illness whenever I see someone coming toward me with a sweater pattern and 20 pounds of Red Heart yarn. When Christmas time comes I will not panic and will give those who clamor for handknit gifts, yarn, needles, pattern and a coupon for free knitting lessons. In the year 2007 I promise to model more handknitted items than ever before. I will be glad to be known as "That Crazy Knit Chick."

Santa Dachshund

Santa 3
Originally uploaded by nutmegknitter.

Merry Christmas!

Jackson & Tree

Jackson & Tree
Originally uploaded by nutmegknitter.

We looked over and noticed the pup sat himself under the Christmas tree quite nicely... Good Boy!

It's a good day for yarn

I got to open a gift early from Dan...

Dude! That's cashmere!! I am so so so excited!! And, there's a gift certificate to my favorite yarn store, Yarns Down Under. I'm thinking that I want to make a scarf and fingerless gloves for me.
I had been looking at Dee-Luxe or the Woven Cable Scarf or maybe even the irish hiking scarf.... ideas?? Help!

I finished up the knitting project gifts for those who (I hope) will appreciate it:

A scarf for my brother (Harlot's pattern), a scarf for my cousin, and flower facecloths for my cousin and aunt. I had planned to make a few more items, but they didn't pan out and / or I changed my mind about the recipient actually liking getting something handmade...

The mail came and brought goodies from The Loopy Ewe:
Carbon Dioxide - Interlacements Tiny Toes sock yarn.

Berry Sweet Georgia Yarn & Rainforest Fleece Artist Yarn

She also included a little sample card and a DPN inventory card - excellent. Everything was packed so lovely - will use them again!

And, Scout's Indie Swag Club arrived too!
Glampyre "Rock the Stars" sock pattern, gorgeous yarn:

And the cutest snowmen stitchmarkers from Goodtobegirl.com


We went out with my folks last night to see The Santaland Diaries - excellent! It's going to be a busy weekend - party tonight, working then going to RI on Sunday, going to Long Island on Monday - but that is part of the fun!

Planning Ahead

On my computer I have a folder for bookmarked sites titled "2006ideas" - it's stuff I marked as a reminder of things that I wanted to knit. With Christmas vacation here (YAY!!) I have the best of intentions to work my way through the stash - get it organized / matched up with patterns / maybe even get it into that Excel spreadsheet - so I'm ready for the "Knit Through Your Stash" and the "Lime & Violet Sock Marathon"... Maybe when I get the spreadsheet together I'll print out the patterns and attach them... I don't know. This also doesn't include much of the archives of knitty or magknits
In no particular order - I'd like to knit (online patterns):


Scarves & Shawls
Argosy
Lace Scarf
Grape Hyacinth
Skinny Scarf (This is an UFO)
Lacy V Scarf
Cinnabar
Party Lace
Uniscarfity
My So Called Scarf
Vegan Fox (Sub. yarns)
Candle Flame
Crazy Aunt Purl's Magic Scarf
Kiri (pdf)
trellis
Snowflake Illusion
Liesel
Seaweed & Shells

Socks
Socks of Doom
Brigid
Sell Your Sole
Lacy Scallop Socks
Cable Twist Socks
Sock Tips
Hourglass
Lombard Street
Aran Socks
Alhambra (pdf)
Dublin Bay (pdf)
Jaywalker(I tried this twice and had to rip both times... still like them though)
Diamond Fixation
2CircularsPattern - these I will make again - they work up so fast!
Boogie's Mega Sock Link List


Sweaters
Lucy in the Sky
Custom Fit Raglan
Bulky Green Cables
Green Gable (actually, this is an UFO...)
Alexi Cardigan / Scarf

Hats
Malagaiter
Fake Isle
Odessa

Decorations
Halloween Bag
Mitered Square Bag (this is an UFO)
1201 (pumpkin bastket)
Dog Cloth (shorter legs / longer body so it's more dachshund like)
Felted Fortune Cookies
Fish (blanket?)
Tilting Afghan / wall hanging
Garterlac Dishcloth
Stars
Tape Tote
People & Places
Log Cabin Baby Blanket Love the blues!

Accessories
Whitewater Fingerless Gloves
Newfoundland Mittens
Noro Mittens
Calorimetry

Good ideas

Chunkster Challenge (Maybe it's time I read "Harry Potter")

TBR Challenge (to be read) I will be able to do this one, I'm sure! Gotta get a list together - 12 + extra credit.

New Blogger (and Retail therapy)

Wow, so blogger has changed itself a bit. First IE gives me an update that totally changes the webpage (I miss the toolbar File, View, Edit, etc) but I'm getting used to it. Now, this. I think I like it so far. I find the font much more appealing.

Be good to yourself this holiday. I did (after being good to others via Yarn Harlot asked us to. By the way, I would totally wear a tee shirt that said "Be nice, I'm a knitter, we're a big team" sort of thing.)
Support another good cause: Violet's Pink Ribbon.
There's a new sock club: Knitting Sunshine
Shopping with benefits (Sock yarn doesn't count for the knit your stash!) Loopy Ewe.

**Edited to add - Must, must, must go to Crafty Alien (on etsy) and buy the patterns!!!! Or kits!!! Or notecards!!! So cute!!!!!
**I also bought a copy of "Knitting" magazine that had a mouse pattern - was thinking of making that for my mom. Now these. And over the summer I won a kit off ebay to knit a dachshund. Perhaps the beginning of 2007 will be about animals and socks.

*Edited: Crap - I just posted a bunch of knitted amigurumi links then hit something and now they're gone. Reminder to self: Knitted Garden Gnomes (etsy), Panda Pirate (etsy), crochet me online magazing, roxycraft.com

Cool Stuff

First, I received gift tags today from ShopDoxie.com - I love all dogs, but the dachshunds have a special place in my heart. The tags are so cool - funny and sturdy!! Good quality - they came all nicely packaged and a "Dog Says Hi" button too! I will be shopping there again soon!!

Second, I'm in love with this video:

here's the wiki info
U2 band members are in there - I spotted the Edge and Bono in the crowd scenes.

Elf Yourself

My mom sent me this and I totally copied... well, I used Jackson as a model - spread some elfish cheer!
Here!

It's Coming on Christmas...*

Life is busy, as expected. It's a crowded month - birthdays and holidays and knitting projects to finish. School is a zoo. I'm behind on the grading and there's knitting that needs to be done...

Last night, Dan & I met up with friends from high school - our Christmas gift to each other was to meet up in New York and go see Company - which was pretty good! It was fun to be in New York again, if only for a short time. We're actually going back on the 29th to visit my brother.

There was a package waiting for me when I came home last night - Kimberly of wovenspun.com sent me a great package for the Swap-bot Coffee & Yarn Swap. She sent two Kona coffees (yummy! We do miss this since our honeymoon!) and some of her hand-dyed yarn - a fingering weight in a "Summer Haze" colorway - so cheery - I can't wait to make some socks with this in the upcoming dreary New England January / February months!

I think I consider this sort of idea every year (Knit from your stash 2007) - but I like the sock exclusion rule. Still considering.

Timet to do something, but I'm pooped. Blog reading is something, right?

*Lyric from "River" by Joni Mitchell - I'm really digging Sarah McLachlan's version of it - great album!

Long Weekend

Happy belated thanksgiving to all in the States. We hosted again (2nd year running!) and it went pretty flawlessly. We had both sets of parents, brothers, my grandmother, uncle & partner for a total of 12 - I think that's just right. Everyone brings stuff, and we took care of the turkey / potatoes (my brother mashed 'em perfectly) / stuffing / gravy - and even a lot of that is shortcuts. :) It's all good. I am in much favor (worship?) of Omaha Steaks turkey and Alton Brown's method. Juicy, perfect and delicious combination!

Week before last, Betsy and I went to a sale at Farmhouse Yarns (read more here) - we each stuffed a bag - I got 19 skeins! I'm thinking they'll be good for mittens (I'm in the knit mitt kit swap), scarves, and flower facecloths for holiday gifts with some fun soap (like these Biggs and Featherbelle - I love them!). You can also see in the picture 2 skeins of malabrigo (little lovely) that I couldn't stop touching...


And how excited was I to come home on Wednesday and find an installment from Scout's Indie Swag Club - love the colorway and the notecards from Glamscience.
There's a really great picture here.

And I thought I was successful in my LimeNViolet KAL - I got through the second sock:



Only to find out that I don't know where I lost track of paying attention, because sock #2 is too short for my foot!! It's only good as a dachshund nose warmer. Groan. I don't want to undo it to try and fix it. I'm tossing my hands up on this one.

Break Time

Here's what you do:

1. Open your music library
2. Set settings to "Shuffle"
3. Press play
4. For each entry, type the song that's playing
5. For new entry, press the next/forward button

opening credits: "Stupid Girls" Pink ~ ok, sets the tone

waking up: "I wanna be sedated" The Ramones ~ again, true to life

first day at school: "Your Eyes" (RENT, Broadway cast) ~it's one of those movies

falling in love: "In a big country" Big Country ~this one creeps me out a bit

breaking up: "Skullcrusher Mountain" Jonathan Coulton ~excellent

prom: "Down to Earth" Barenaked Ladies ~proms don't have to make sense, that's why they are fun

life's okay: "Being for the Benefit of Mr.Kite" Beatles ~suitable

mental breakdown: "Some Fantastic" Barenaked Ladies ~mellow breakdown, eh?

driving: "Can't Help Falling in love" UB40 ~good singalong

flashback: "Piece of my heart" Janis Joplin ~it works

getting back together: "Send me on my way" Rusted Root ~not really a "together" song now is it?

wedding: "Rollin' (Urban Assault Vehicle)" Limp Bizkit ~I love it. My bridal party walked in to "Big Pimpin". We walked in to "Rock the Casbah". First song was "Let's get it started" - it fits. one of my favorites.

birth of child: "Goodbye my lover" James Blunt ~so so sad....

final battle: "Another Spin" Barenaked Ladies ~ok

funeral song: "Peace on Earth" U2 ~appropriate

end credits: "If You're Gonna" Natasha Bedingfield ~meh

Groan.

Photos to come tomorrow, along with links.
Went to a kick-ass yarn sale this weekend with Betsy. I think I ended up with 19 or 21 skeins in my stuff-a-bag. Went to my favorite yarn shop and treated myself to malabrigo that I couldn't stop touching - planning a "my so called scarf". Got a button.
Today dragged. It's report card time. I'm stressed. It's a short week so the kids will be bonkers. I cast off tonight for my LimeNViolet KAL socks. Double groan. You'll just have to wait for the pictures to see what a doofus I am.

WIPs Photos

So, for norovember here's how that felted bag is coming along:


I've been working on these two scarves:






The top one is for a guy (possibly cousin, dad or brother) using Misti Alpaca bulky - it's so wonderfully squishy and warm. The botton is Ellyn Cooper Caribe Isle yarn, in a herringbone lace-ish pattern that came with the yarn purchase.

Here's what I've got on the skinny scarf so far:










I think perhaps that I may have missed part of the pattern, or just knit too tight? As it's a little wonky in the middle as the two bottom photos show - I may just plod on and keep this for me, as I don't relish the idea of ripping out and redoing the 400 stitch cast-on. I'm using the Classic Elite Premiere yarn and it's a little tough on my hands to cast on.

Here's a great picture of Jackson that sums up how I feel today (Rar, it's monday)

Proud

Last summer, when we got Jackson, we got a lot of toys and puppy things. We especially liked the Petstages brand. Well, I took photos and wrote them a letter and now, over a year later, he's their featured pet! I'm so proud :)

And fedex pulled up today - they also sent us two little toys :)

So, writing a letter brings good things - Fat cat toys will be hearing from me next!

Knit Mitt Kit Swap Questions / Answers

What are your favorite colors? blue, green, purple
Are you a new mitt knitter? Sorta - I've made fingerless gloves, wrist warmers, and broad street (convertable mittens, from knitty.com) - but haven't made mittens yet.

How long have you been knitting mittens? About 4 years now

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? I like both - I used to be big with the multicolored, but my tastes seem to be swinging back towards solids

What fibers do you prefer in mitten yarn? Something warm and soft - keep the wind+wet out!

Where do you usually knit mittens? At home

How do you usually carry/store small projects? I have a series of bags / pouches

What are your favorite mitten patterns? I don't know yet...

What are your favorite mitten knitting techniques? I suppose if I could do it in the round on two circulars, that would win!

What new techniques would you like to try? Fair Isle (I'm scared of it!) Thrummed.

What are your favorite needles for knitting mittens? Bamboo, it's good for the planet!

What are some of your favorite yarns? Blue Sky Alpaca, alpaca alpaca alpaca

What yarn do you totally covet? Lobster Pot yarn

Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object? The "Touch Me" scarf

Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)? circular, bamboo

If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be? Fun, traditional with a twist

Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack? jelly beans / mike & Ikes

What’s your favorite animal? Dog (I have a dachshund) and rainforest frogs and owls

Would you prefer super warm mittens or something more like fingerless mitts?
That's a hard question. I am all for the warmth, but probably would use fingerless mitts more often

If you were a color what color would you be? a shade of blue-purple-green-grey

What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature? A sunflower close up - I love the repeating pattern

Do you have a wishlist? Yes, on amazon

Anything else you’d like to share with the group today? I am intrigued and challenged by this and look forward to playing along!!

Recent Swaps

As part of the Boo-ty Swap, I sent to Christine and received from Ananga - lookie here:

There's veggie booty snacks (which I've been wanting to try!!), a gorgeous photo album (perfect for the new photos I've been taking with my new camera!), a needlecase (I so so so needed one of these - it's gorgeous!) and seasonally orange yarn (I'm thinking I'll make Jackson a sweater!). So much fun!!


And I also played in Knitty's Spooky SP. I sent to Jessica and received from Ceallach, check it out:




There's Solar Dyed Yarn in "Irish Eyes" (stunning, now I'm pouring over possible patterns!), stamps, halloween doodahs, soaps and a needle case (which I so so so needed - I've got a lot of needles that need homes!) Thank you very much!!

November Calendar

This is for Deb - you know, it's funny - I had just received 2 calendars in the mail for 2007 - one from Kraft Food & Family Magazine and the other from US Holocaust Memorial Museum... but we'll save those for next year, ok? Here's the November page that hangs in Jackson's room. Yes, his room. He stays in there during the day when we're both at work.