Thursday, January 31, 2008

Logic Is Just Not Me...Today

All right now. I'm back. First, I've got this little tidbit for you: Go check out the contest on Tami's blog. 100 posts, way to go.

Second, I have freed myself of having to read all blogs I come across. (Knitting of course, not ALL of them.) What this means to all of you is that I can blog again. Never you mind that it doesn't make sense because filling in the blanks requires more of my "logic."

This weekend is an off weekend - racing not knitting. Last weekend he finally got his bike back from the shop (blew the motor back in Dec.) It rained ALL day Sunday and he got out on the track anyway. Partly because he was instructing, partly because he got to ride his bike finally. Despite the rain I stayed warm and dry thanks to my Eddie Bauer down-lined rain jacket. Impervious! Come to think of it, the weather was exactly like Seattle. Ahhh. It was a beautiful day :) Except in Seattle at that time it was snowing.

My LYS is having a Super Sale in honor of the Super Bowl. Which BTW is being held here in Phx. That blows. Football is fine as long as I don't have to watch much or at all. It's not football it's traffic. Ugh. Also at the same time is the FBR Open (You may have known it as the Phoenix Open until the sponsor stepped in and confused everyone.) I head west I run into football traffic, east for golf traffic. Both events are week-long ordeals in case you didn't know. Tomorrow's evening commute will be... Soooo the LYS has up to 50% off a bunch of awesome yarn. I checked out all the Noro but none I had to have right now (and none for 50% off). Lots of goodies but I only picked up two balls of Noro SGL for the Lizard Ridge blanket I started. LOTS of fun! Not even on sale darnit!

I'm frogging a pair of anklets I started on the wrong yarn. Just thought you'd like to know.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Pics Upon Pics

It seems that I am WAAAAY behind on posting pics! 2 months maybe? Wow - well here you go :)

Starting with my first Ravelry swap, from the Cup Of Tea group. A nice selection of teas, a purple cup (yay!) and yarn I'll probably double with something for a scarf, all courtesy of Marlyn.


Here's my November Colorswap package from Heather. The yarn is her own handspun and it's just to-die-for soft. Never felt anything like it. I think the chocolate was gone in minutes. Hehehe

Heather also sent these awesome stitch markers of varying sizes ;) that need a close-up:

The first of my three man hats, the Basic Cable Hat (Ravelry link) from Stitch N Bitch Nation in Patons Classic Wool Merino. Trouble but not difficult. I'll explain. I was apparently so excited remembering how to cable that I forgot how to count to 3. Does this hat look a little short? Why yes! It's missing one cable repeat. (That's my mom's frog, BTW. How perfect that it was sitting on her counter when I gave in to frogging.)

Post-frogging. Hmm. I must mention that this is the first ever project that was completed and then frogged. (And just the second I've frogged to any considerable degree. I'm kind of stubborn.) All that said, I'm not sure that I remembered ALL the details to creating cables. A few places look a little weird. And then there's the ribbing that somehow looks funky. What's going on there, Urs?

G modeled both the too-small version and the final version. No pics of the pre-frogged piece - it just was not right. I'm happy I frogged otherwise it wouldn't have been wearable by an adult. Mods on subsequent versions 1. More rows of ribbing 7-10, 2. Change ribbing to 2x2 so it "melts" into the body of the pattern better, 3. Add an extra cable repeat so it covers the ears, 4. Make one for me before the other 2 guys :)


My final FO of 2007, a ballband swiffer cover (Ravelry link with my project :)) in lime green and purple. Free pattern is here.


First FO of 2008, Calorimetry using Patons Wool Merino on 8s, should have used 7s. Will be doing another with the remaining skein. It's a bit big and for my big head that actually means huge. FH tonight likened it to a retro (80's?) ski "hat." Oooh! I like that! (Excuse my morning hair and glasses that don't leave the house - I was determined to get pics no matter what.)

Lastly, I started the Lizard Ridge Afghan today, block version. I'm using Noro Silk Garden Lite on 7s instead of regular SG as my LYS only stocks Lite and Bulky. Going okay, just trying to perfect the wrap and turn of the short row. (It's not hard, I'm just tired.)

And that's it until my family sends pics of the gifts I made them for Christmas. Yes, shame on me for not taking pics beforehand. Apparently I was waaaay behind as mentioned waaaay above.

Friday, January 4, 2008

OMG I've Steeked!!

The word's come up once or twice before in blogs and patterns but I had no idea what steeking was. I was over at Claudine's blog Knitting Box where she had a link to knitty's how-to for steeking. (She's has a couple really cute kid's sweaters and a nice gallery of projects so take a quick look if you have a moment.)

The fairisle sweater I knit for my mom years ago was steeked! (This link here will give you an idea for now.) My mom and I figured out how to do it all on our own. It was a very odd experience to be sewing over my knitting. The cutting was kinda fun :) I wasn't thinking of it as destroying my work but rather watching the cardigan emerge. I recommend it to any knitter.

I should have taken pics when I was in Seattle right before Christmas - the location of the sweater and the rest of my family. I had not finished my Christmas knitting by December 13th. (About 50% and I'm still working on the rest today.) In true Ursula fashion I planned out which gift I could knit on the plane as the recipient was arriving after I was to leave but instead I yapped and drank Bailey's and decaf. After what I went through at the counter, who wouldn't :)

Ticket counter story? My now fiancee and I were flying on different airlines which in Phoenix means we were also flying out of different terminals. No biggie. Said goodbyes on the shuttle. I had picked flights that would arrive at relatively close to each other, but me first so that I could locate the parents. So I get to the counter and.... they can't find my reservation. Okaaaaay. "Honey, hold off on checking in. ... Oh, you're already through security. Ok, um I'll call you back." I called Continental but was in the queue. The agent also suggested to try the Continental counter (thankfully in the same terminal) because I purchased my ticket through their partner. I walked over there while on hold. BIG lines at Continental - a couple flights to NY had been canceled. The agent I finally talked to at the counter got really snippy, "I can't help you!" Yikes! I'll let you get back to your job of helping people. (Still on hold with Continental, but somehow not panicking yet.) Back to the Alaska counter to talk with the 3rd agent of the day. Click, click cuh click. "Don't worry, it'll be okay." *tears* (finally sets in I guess.) Click. Click, click. "Oh, here you are." *exhale* Hundreds of thank yous and I was off to security. All was well.

So why the confusion? The agent I talked to on the phone swapped my first and last names. You know when you get that feeling that something might be wrong? Well I had that feeling. I asked her a few times to confirm the dates and times of the flights, even the spelling of my name! Didn't even cross my mind to see if she understood that Ursula was my first name, not my last name. Oh please! You've got to be kidding!!!

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

And the Winner Is...

Lesley!

And here's her winnings...

I guess I should have posted this earlier but I've been very slow with pics and posting to begin with so....... Well anyway, Congrats Lesley! Thanks for sharing your engagement story and thanks to everyone else for sharing. I loved reading them all - and I'll admit to a few happy tears and LOLs. Thanks everybody!

Happy New Year!