Yarngirls Unite

Oh my

I hope everyone has seen the 5 gorgeous Rowan books that will be out soon!

oh, the good life

Front of the men's raglan took shape last night. It's always good just to get it on the needles and get the first few rows going. Then it's smooth sailing...it will be a nice quick knit.

I got a little knitting group going! Woo hoo. I sent out an e-vite today, and I have about 7 or so ladies that will be attending. I can't wait...We're meeting 2 Sundays from now.

Also, I've spent some time over the last few days organizing my calendar and address book. It's a great feeling to have all that stuff in check. I have been needing to just buckle down and do it. When it comes time to do all the wedding invitations, the addresses will be a breeze. We have lots o' people coming from out of town, so it will be a jolly ol' time indeed.

Honeymoon is all set. Fly to Rome. 3 days. Train to Naples. 3 days (with cousins and great aunt). Ferry to Salina. 6 days on the beach with room overlooking the Mediterranean. Back to Naples. Back home. What a lucky girl I am (by the way, I will be searching for yarn during all of those days)!

Is anyone knitting a peace arm band?

Books and things

Hello everyone. I'm finishing up the back of the men's raglan sweater. It's a fun knit that is moving quickly on US 9s. I hope to start the front tomorrow.

I'm planning a stash bash to empty out the closet o' yarn. Really it's only two little shopping bags. I've never allowed myself to accumulate too much fiber. But I am determined to get rid of what I have in there. I have about 6 balls of linen drape to make this one-shouldered number. Also a little summer tweed and some 4 ply cotton. That's about it. The rest is odd balls and leftovers.

Average Joe 2 is on in the background right now. Ladies and gentlemen, why has America's collective viewing taste stooped so extremely low? I am hating this show so much. I really cannot get into reality television. Please hand everyone a book. Everyone -- go read a book or do something else creative or productive. This month my book club chose "Reading Lolita in Tehran" by Azar Nafisi. I'm just starting, but it seems to be a keeper. It's non-fiction about a university professor who hand picked her best female students to meet in a secret book club/class at her house every Thursday to read and study banned literature.

Promiscuous knitting

I'm finally catching on to this whole "more than one project at time" thing. Monogamy is purely for relationships and has absolutely no place in knitting whatsoever. Bring on the threesomes and foursomes (or more)!

I'm currently working on:
1. raglan for Paul
2. wedding yarmulke (with silk yarn -- ooh la la)
3. ribbed pullover for myself

But I'm dying to start a few more things. I have two more baby sets to make. Weekend Knitting is screaming at me to try a few things. I love that rustic cashmere sweater by Teva Durham. I don't think I'll spend $300 on that awesome yarn, but instead I'll find a suitable, sensible substitute that will capture the whole tunic/Stonehenge/chic thing.

goals

So I'm looking ahead and have decided on a few things I want to work on this year, knitwise, that is.

1. Improve my finishing techniques
2. Try fair isle and intarsia
3. Make some felted clogs and a bag
4. Make something for my brother

That should keep me busy for a while.
I'm back at work today, typing and knitting away.
I've found about 4 girls that want to be in a knitting group. All I need to do now is pick a place. I've already decided on Sunday afternoon for the time and day. This will be fun! Maybe I'll work on a name for the group.

Busy weekend

Okay, you asked for it, so here it is. A photo of the matching hat and booties that I made last week. I haven't blocked any of this yet, so it's a little lumpy, but you get the idea. So cute.

On Saturday I went to a local knitter's guild meeting. It was great! I won two raffle prizes, and met tons of nice knitterly women. They planned out their calendar for the year, which will include a field trip to an alpaca farm in Ojai, knitting backwards, knitting with wire, felting stuff, and other cool things. It looks like a friendly group.

I'm working on the men's raglan for Paul, and I finally started his silk wedding kippah.

I saw Cold Mountain and had my heart ripped to shreds at the end. What a compelling tragedy. Also, we helped entertain and babysit Paul's two nieces. This included putting on a puppet show, arts and crafts time, and tons of dancing to kid's bop tunes.

Finished pic

Here's the finished product! It's so soft. I used Rowan All-Season's Cotton, which is just divine. I also made a little hat and a pair of booties to go with it. Tres chic for this baby...(the mom is a woman I work with).

Have you found that it's hard to get a group of knitting women together? I can't seem to get it going. I need the girl power right now...

More Phildar

Baby sweater was a huge success. I finally got a clue on finishing techniques by referring to a few books. This was my first attempt at really seaming things up correctly. It was fabulous! (pix soon)

I have begun another Phildar project. I know I haven't finished the sleeves on my other one, but I was simply gasping for air. You know that feeling. I generally don't have more than one project going on at once, and I realize now that it's just too stifling! Hoorah for more-than-one-ness.

This new project is for Paul. It should be fun. I picked blue with charcoal grey sleeves. It looks great in my mind, but we'll see what happens as it comes together.

Baby stuff

I blocked the pieces for a cutesy baby sweater I'm making. Blocking is magic! They look great, and I'm going to start seaming them together tonight while I watch Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Also I hit some sales today and bought some new clothes. My wardrobe has been needing some help. It's a good start for the new year I suppose.

I don't have much else going on right now. My book club meets Tuesday night, and once again, I haven't finished the book! Argh. Maybe I can still make it in time. The second half of Cold Mountain in 2 days. Mmmm. Don't think so.

Happy Friday

Hello out there. Time for the weekend. Woo hoo! Baby knitting is great. As you all know, SMALL = GOES QUICKLY! Instant results. I will hopefully post pictures tomorrow.

Kimberly and I will be co-hosting a cardi-raye knit-along in late March. I have been drooling over this sweater for a while now. It's time to take action.

Mmmmm. In other life news, the honeymoon plans are coming together. I am booking our hotels in various romantic places around Italy. Maybe I won't return to L.A. I just have to check around for knitting shops and make sure they can feed my habit adequately.

Psychic powers

Ha ha...A lady I work with announced today that she is pregnant. Woah! (See yesterday's entry). Maybe I will call myself Madame Angela and set up shop on Hollywood Boulevard. Now I have a specific baby to knit for. Big sigh of relief.

Things are great. Work is good. It feels like I never had 2 1/2 weeks off. After about 2 hours, I was totally bored and ready to go home and crawl in bed. I caught up on tons of emailing today and wrote holiday thank you notes.

Knitting rocks.

The Grind

I uploaded the New Year's countdown with the Polyphonic Spree! Click here to see it. Please be patient...it will take a few shakes of a lamb's tail to load.

Also, here's the mittens that I finished last night! I love these, and I love the color of the yarn. Next I will make a pair for Paul and maybe some for my dad. He seemed mildly interested when I was working on them during my visit.

I'm back at work on Monday. Boo hoo. But it's probably a good thing. I'll be back to some consistent knitting and reading time...not to mention that actually earning a paycheck would be nice.

I have this urge to knit some baby stuff. Usually I know someone with a baby or with one on the way, but right now...nada. I think I'll start something anyway and see who pops up next with some news.

Talk to you soon.

Holiday recap

Hello out there. I guess everyone's been out and about this holiday season. I'm just gettling back to my usual routine.

Paul and I visited my family in Houston for a few days. He celebrated a birthday too! We took off in our white Mustang rent-a-car and blazed a trail to Austin. Ladies, for those of you passing through there, you have to stop at Hill Country Weavers on South Congress. An amazing knitting shop. I wish I lived there (well, not just in Austin, but in the yarn shop itself). I picked up a little book of more baby patterns just because. Also, it was the first time I had ever seen Habu yarn in person. Very cool.

We got back to L.A. on New Year's Eve, crashed on our own squishy pillows, and proceeded to ring in 2004 with the Polyphonic Spree. This band will blow you away. They sing the happiest music you will ever hear. It's a group of about 20 people or so...and they wear long robes. The lead singer looks like a hobbit. He is so happy...

I've been knitting some mittens for the first time. I'm loving them. My first time ever using Manos. Mmmmm. Also, I got some cool knitting gifts from fireballhead Kimberly. Thanks again! The Phildar sweater is still hanging around. Currently working on the sleeves. I have to keep reminding myself that knitting on fours just takes a while sometimes.

More soon...just trying to catch my breath. Adios!

Hello!

Happy New Year everyone! Pics coming soon...