Booga Booga

I finished the Booga bag! Yea!!



My first finish object of the year! Yippy!!! I ended up just using the rest of the yarn on the icord straps, so instead of the recommended 6 foot I have a 13 foot. My first thought was that I don't want a small ball of leftover yarn and that I do like long handles, and it will felt smaller. My thought after measuring it? The leftover will make a great cat toy. hehe. I have yet to felt it, reason being I have to use a laundry mat, and me being a new felter *this will be my first felted project* I plan on commendering my parents washer when they arrive back for the summer. Since I'm in an apartment I have no qualms still using my parents washer and dryer occasionally, it's not just for college students.


My first FO for the year. Yippy! I've only done two more rows on the baby blanket and haven't even dug my clapotis out of the travel bag I had it in. Ahh the life of UFO's. As if my insomnia isn't enough, I hear these little muffled sounds coming from the bag at night, apparently it's not happy to just be sitting here, apparently it feels it needs to be finished for my birthday so it can be shown off this summer. I don't know if the little one will gets it wish, though I have till the middle/end of May.



My main goal is to finish the blanket, but boy this is dragging on. I'm only at 145 stitches and need to get to 180 with one yarn over increase every row. Every other stitch is knit. I'm going through the ARGGG! part. I'm trying to fend off the "make something" vibe, or as Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee puts it "startitis." Spring has hit me with the nice weather the past couple days,and the rain today *Yeah rain! My favorite type of weather EVER.*

This book that is sitting on my desk has been whispering to me all week. The book in question is Sensational Knitted Socks. I refuse to bow down to the peer pressure of my books. I rule my books they don't rule me. *This works right? I can win this battle right?* I refuse to cast on a sock until I AT LEAST reach the 180 point on the blanket and start the decreases. I figure by then I'll be able to actually purchase sock yarn. I only have one ball, and I'm also toying with the idea of learning knitting socks on circular needles, I have found out with my two possessive cats (apparently all yarn and needles are their property and I'm only borrowing them when they deem fit) that projects in the round lose less stitches on circulars then DPN's. Though I still love using DPN's I don't have a favorite of the two yet.

I need to add to my sock yarn stash. Unfortunately with only one part-time job that doesn't even pay my rent I don't have cash for yarn. Also the upcoming concert I'm going to is going to take up some cash as well. Luckily the ticket is paid for, and I'm staying at a friends who is only 10 blocks away from the venue. I'm staying there for a week and plan on hitting yarn stores. *I will visit an actually real yarn store GASP* I also plan on trying to convert her to the knitted masses. Since she is recently single and will have a whole free summer of no work *She is currently attending Law School* I feel her time would be best spend knitting, Plus deal with the frustration of being single after 2 years. *If you are reading this D be forewarned just knitting in front of you isn't enough*

I do have my gift certificate from Blue Moon Fiber Arts, but I am planning on buying medium weight and they are out.

That's about all the updates for today, I plan on catching up on some podcasts on my NEW IPOD. Sigh life is great I own an iPod. Why didn't I get one sooner? I have loaded it with my podcats and music, plus my nice collection of eye candy music videos, because hey, we all need a break to watch good videos. I don't recommend for anybody to subscribe to about 20 podcasts when they have this obsessive compulsive need to listen to them from episode one on in order. I have over 400 files to listen to and about 5-6 more podcasts I want to subscribe to. Oiy Vey. Have I mentioned I'm weird? The 5 knitting podcasts I listened to weren't enough, I needed more. Now I have to many. *Ok, so they aren't all knitting.*

Ok, here is the part I'm asking for help, if anybody that reads this is in the Minneapolis-St Paul, MN area and know of yarn stores that I should visit, let me know. I'm not planing to visit them till after the concert, so any cash left afterwards is probably going to yarn. Sigh, I need to find a job.



On the needles: Baby Blanket
New to the stash: I wish
In The Player: various podcasts.

Learning to Knit

In the Sticks and Strings Podcast David talked about how he learned to knit, so I figured I'd add my story to here, even though it's not to interesting.

When I was about 8 my grandma tried to teach my how to crochet, I made a Barbie skirt and promptly forgot, age 11/12 brought me to plastic canvas, then at 13/14 I learned cross-stitch, and tried to relearn crochet to no avail. At 18 I wanted to learn to sew, so at age 22(2002) my mother bought me a very nice sewing machine of my own.

In 2003/2004 I started a new job, and met a girl there I got along great with, instant best friend, we shared a lot in common. She knew how to knit, I remember in elementary school watching my then-best friend's mother knit and thinking it weird.*hey I grew up with crochet* She showed me her stitch n bitch books and I was hooked, She then showed me the basic knit and purl stitch, and I bought the SnB books and the Visually Teach yourself to Knit and Crochet book. It took me about a month to figure it out. She only showed me once, and from then on it was me and the books. Once I switched to a different yarn, BAMN I got it. I also taught myself to purl without hearing all the "it's hard" talk, so consequently I have no problem purling and find it as easy as the knit stitch. I started to make a scarf, then life hit and I put away the half finished scarf and forgot about it.

Then the happy hooker book came out, I bought it right away. Because Crochet is a family craft I really wanted to learn it. Also my mother inherited all my grandmothers patterns, and since no one in our family crochets and I'm the crafty one, I will inherit these patterns as well, so It would be nice to use them. So using that book, with minor help from my mother. *she is not a teacher and refused to teach me, but would help if i had a question* I was a little sad I was at my parents house because I had no access to my crochet needles *from when I was about 13* My mother disappeared for a few minutes and came back with a bag for me. She gave me a complete set of needles, all my grandmothers. That meant a lot to me, They were her mothers and the only grandparent I was close to.

My grandfather died 13 years before I was born, and I never was close to my dads parents, his father died when I was 11, and his mother still is alive but like I said, I'm not close to her and with her having 25+ grandkids and 10+ great grandkids, she doesn't know much about me either, those being the parents that raised my dad, his birth father died when he was 8, and the kids taken away from the mother when he was 10, her dying about a year or two after my parents were married, so about 13 years before I was born.

So with these special needles I learned to Crochet. That night when I got home, I drug out my knitting. I loved crochet, but it wasn't the same. So as I sat down and remembered how to knit, I was looking on iTunes for a podcast my brother told me about, on a whim I typed in Knitting.

WOW. There was a knitting podcast, how cool, so I downloaded a couple. I fell in love with Lime & Violet and Cast-on, then on to It's a Purl Man, and Sticks and Stings, and The Knitting Cook... and so on and so on. I can honestly say if It weren't for Lime & Violet, I would not be as hooked as I am. They also gave me the courage to try something other then scarves. Even though I've known how to knit for a couple years, I haven't been serious about it for that long.

Also as an after story I'm no longer friends with that girl who taught me, It's a long drawn out story to reminiscent of stupid high school politics that I really don't want to be a part of, I'm 26 damnit, not 16. I still have to work with her, we play nice and pretend to be friends, but I only see her about once a month. I do thank her for first showing me how to knit and teaching me. I also thank her for showing me what I don't want to be.

And that's how I learned, in probably more detail then any of you wanted to know.

Pictures

I noticed that when I switched over to the new blogger, all my pictures disapeared from my posts. I am going to work on adding them back into the posts, but this did come at a good time, if there is a good time for all the pictures to disappear.

I've decided to switch all my pictures over to a flickr account, that way I will be able to be a bit more organized. *Me organized? huh* So with an internet connection going in and out every 5 minutes, this is no easy deal, but I'm going to switch from my Photobucket account to flickr, then setup and organize then slowly add them back to the posts. gee it's a good thing I'm only working about 2 days a week lately... though you'd think i'd get more stuff done. It's all Sims 2, that game is a time wasting machine! But my loading times are long and I can get one row done on my bag during loads, hehe.

I do have a couple pics for you today though! Just taken with my horrible camera phone. *I decided to buy an iPod before a digital camera.* So here are my current WIPs



My Clapotis I'm working on, has not been touched in about 2 months... I guess that makes it a UFO huh?



This is the baby blanket for a friend of mine, she is due in June, I have 134 stitches on the needles, need to increase 1 every row till 190 stitches, then start the decreasing. I have a LONG way to go.





This is my Booga Bag I'm working on, I know interesting yarn, but beggars can't be choosers. LOL


If you noticed the Black Cat posing for the pictures that is one of my babies. His name is Salem, he is about 3-4 years old. He use to be a friends cat, but she was unable to keep him. I do have another cat Akasha, she is all mine, but she was camera shy today.

Here is a new stitchholder. I don't recommend using these if not in the room. In fact, even if you are in the room I don't recommend them.



In Progress: See Above
New to the Stash: Nothing
In the Player: Sticks & Sting Podcast *Need to catch up, I'm so behind on all my podcasts... hance the iPod, my old mp3 player ain't cutting it.

Daria

Ok so this knitting blog really doesn't have much knitting content lately, but that is mainly due to slow projects and no money.

The other night in boredom, waiting for something to finish cooking I spotted some rubbermade containers that I have in my living room. I packed these containers about 4-5 years ago and haven't open them since, just moved them from place to place. I went through them. Whoa boy, memory lane.

I spotted some old vhs tapes I had made, two were of 2 tv shows that were on The 'N back in about 2000-01. Yea, I was a bit old for the shows, but hey who cares. 24Seven and Being Eve. The former a British show the latter from New Zealand. So I spend last night and today watching the shows. I did manage to get some knitting done.

The best thing I found, was 3 tapes full of Daria episodes. That show is probably one of my all time favorite tv shows ever. The most interesting part is the episodes are from the original airings on MTV, with commercials and all that. It was interesting watching the movie commercials and remembering how I either wanted to see them or hated them, and thinking back on it now. For instance the commercials for "Titanic" and "Rounders" "54." Commercials for the original Playstation and the MTV VJ's. Remembering that they were not as cool as Bill Bellemy and the ones from the 80's that are completely slipping my mind at the moment. And commercials with actors that have tv shows now.

The has been a week for old tv shows. With my non-existent money *read a gift card from Christmas for walmart* I bought the first two seasons of Forever Knight, at $20 each. I use to LOVE that show. Oh commercial for A Night at the Roxbury. My ex-best friend and I went to that in the theater. Sadly, I enjoyed that way more then Titanic. Of course being drug to Titanic 4 times probably didn't help.

One thing I discovered tonight, watching 4 hours of Daria is not a good idea if you are going to a retail job where you already don't like the customers.

In knitting news, I have done no new work on either the clapotis or the baby blanket. But I am over half way done with a Booga Bag. I also bought some wool yarn from Ben Franklin, the only store in town that carries something other than red heart. I bought 4 balls of Lopi Reynolds. 100% Icelandic wool, hoping to do some type of felt bag. I spent the last of my spending *Read: food* money on yarn. Looks like I'm enjoying some tasty ramen until I can find myself another job, or until April 10 when my parents get back from their summer down south. I have no problems with going over there and raiding their food, and inviting myself to dinner. Their my parents that is what they are for. Besides I fix their computer problems for free, that saves them a lot of money. What with my dad's complete non-understanding of what a computer virus is, I'm usually cleaning one off a week.

On The Needles: Booga Bag
New to the Stash: Lopi Reynolds
In the Player: Daria

Vacation

I'm on vacation visiting my parents. (stressfull sigh)

It's actually going ok, though I've had an eventlful month. My internet is on and off at my apartment, but that is to be expected. I connected to a wireless intetnet connection of a neighbor, if he isn't smart enough to protect it, not my problem. So hopefully I'll be able to update this more often. Goddess knows I have the time.

I quit my full time job. I will only take so much sh*t before I lose it. I quit before my german temper came out. I worked for a retail store in a local mall. Our store's numbers were decreasing (meaning we were making less money this year then we were making last year) and due to corporate stupidity they tend to blame it on the employees. Now my manager is best friends with the district manager, so she is safe, which means the pressure goes on me. So I kept getting "in trouble" (meaning 15 minute speeches) for stupid things. For example the speech on how I'm not cabable of doing my assistant managment duties, and I need to start acting with the responsibility of my job. Want to know the reason for this speech? I didn't lable 3 boxes and put them in the wrong corner of the store after close. Not once did she mention how I had the highest increase in $$ in the district, the highest avarage doller sale in the district, or that I recieved 3 positive customer comment cards *We recieve on avarage 1 a YEAR* Nope, that didn't matter, I fogot to lable a box, so I'm a bad asst. manager. After putting up with stupid stuff along those lines I had it. The humorus part of this is the decrease has been going on for 3 years, she has been manager for 3 years. Also, I was part of the 2nd brand new staff she hired, still decreasing, the 2 employees she has now are leaving becasue I'm gone, they both started to cry on my last day, and admited the only reason they put up with our manager was becasue of me. Hmmm, Maybe she wants me gone becasue I'm a threat.

At anyrate I now only have a part time job. about 10-15 hours a week, close to minimum wage. I get all the stress of how the hell am I going to pay all of my rent, let alone electrctric bills or food. The down side. I CAN'T BUY NEW YARN. Sigh, that is the hardest part, also due to the fact i'm such a new knitter, I have almost NO stash. I only have 2 skeins of sock yarn. The plus side is I have a $40 gift certificate to Blue Moon Fibers. So that will add another skein.

I have huge amounts of stuff to post, but i'm going to try to keep it to a managable level. As I said earlier I'm on vacation visiting my parents. I live in North Dakota, they live in ND from april to october, then from october to april they live in Arizona. They live in a type of retirement community. It resembles a trailer court or campground. It's a small area with a small general store, a post office, and a community center. Each resident gets a spot with water and electric hook up, It's all 5th wheels and driving campers. I'm the youngest person here by about 30 years. I'm the only one who knits. Yup, I have yet to seek out one knitter. I brought my knitting to the craft fair today, just got weird looks, not one peek. I even said loudly a couple times "I wonder how this would knit on DPN's instead of a circular needle." *Anyone who was even a bit of a knitter would have HAD to speak up and say "Are you crazy?"* *i'm knitting a baby afgan.* but who boy are there crocheters. I crochet myself, being taught from my grandma and proud of keeping up the family tradition, even if it's only about one item every couple years.

Then yesterday my parents have their regular friday night beer and pizza night at a pizza bar in a town about 10 minutes from here. *another small nothing there town* I was in an argument with my mother about taking my knitting in. She said "But this is a bar!" I replied "So?" We would be at a table, I see no problem. She refused to go in with my knitting. So I put it away, then took it out when they were all talking and I *being 36 years younger then the rest of the table* was just staring at the room bored. Then came the end of the night, after 4 beers *and still knitting straight thank you* I needed to use the bathroom. Only a picture can explain the joy one feels walking into the bathroom.



Yes, that is the toilet, yes, that is a shower curtain. No it doesn't reach the end. Yes, you have to hold it shut. Yes, I am standing IN THE DOORWAY. If some idiot opens the door and your not holding the curtain, the whole world can see your buisiness.

So I mentioned a baby blanket i'm working on. Yup, I am going to have knitting conntent. When I arrived here I had my clapotis with me, but I kinda wanted a change, so when we were in Wal-Mart in Phoenix, where I flew in to, 3 hours from here. I bought some Bernat Baby Cordnates Sweet Stripes in Blue and Green. I don't really like working with acrylic but the couple i'm making it for would never be able to care for wool, they need something they can just throw in the wash and not think about, plus this yarn isn't to bad, I don't think I'd never knit baby hats or booties in it, but It's a good blanket. I took a picture a couple days ago and will put it on. I'm a bit further now but you'll get the idea. It is garter stich hell. A very easy pattern though with a yarn over after the first 2 stitches, creating the increase and a border.




Yes it is actually blue and green. but with the bad camera phone and lighting it looks purple. I also have no image editing software here so i can't crop or edit the images either. I miss my computer. And fast internet connection. This is Dial-up. It took 6 hours to download Lime and Violet!!!

On The Needles: Baby Blanket, with Bernat Baby Cordinates. Clapotis, with Violet's Pink Ribbon.
New To The Stash: Nothing yet. *sniff sniff*
In The Player: Fall Out Boys new CD Infinity on High

Please Miss Me

My internet isn't working *Since I don't pay, I don't complain to much*. I'm quickly posting this from a friends. Hopefully I'll have a internet connection again soon. Geez, I never thought I'd miss the internet so much, but I miss everyone! Going into blog/podcast withdrawel.

EEEEP!!

I open my e-mail and I am greeted with a e-mail from Borders. My Waldenbooks is closing, as in the place I just decided to order sensational knitted socks from. There goes that idea, Sigh, that is the only bookstore in the mall. Now I'll only have Barnes and Noble to shop at, this isn't cool. I'm really not liking our mall. The owners are sitting there letting it crumble. First the good music store, then the video store, then my favorite clothing, now the book store. oiy vey, not cool.

Books, Books, Books.

I got my books today, squeee, happy dance, happy dance!!! lo and behold, I'm sitting on my bed all comfy watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer *Since I own the complete series, I've decided to do a watch through and remember what I loved about the show* and I hear "Knock Knock" on my door. That can only mean one thing, MAILMAN!! *It's winter, I only have 1 friend in town and she doesn't visit me*

My brother gave a gift card to Borders/Waldenbooks. Since We don't have Borders here, and Waldenbooks only carries 3 knitting books *SnB and Yarn Harlot* which I own, I went online and bought Domiknitrix and Naughty Needles. Of course they messed up and didn't take the money off the gift card, and billed my bank account, but hey, more cash for more books right? I think I'm going to purchase Sensational Knitted Socks next, but I'll order it through the bookstore so I actually use the gift card.

I love the straight jacket pattern in Naughty Needles and they yarn they use. I can't wait till I'm confident enough in my knitting to knit a sweater, though I also really love the Topsecret sweater in Knitty. Though neither are probably great first sweater patterns, but alas I'm not at the level yet, I still have to learn how to knit socks.

Needless to say I frogged the 2 rows I had done with the socks, my yarn really wanted to be made into Clapotis instead, and who am I to argue with my yarn? Yea, I know, if I keep frogging I'll never finish a pair, but I have yet to find a pattern that works. Hence me wanting to buy Sensational Knitted Socks. Well I'm off to knit, hopefully finishing more then the whole 2 rows I got done yesterday.

On The Needles: Clapotis, with Violet's Pink Ribbon.
New To The Stash: Nothing yet.
In The Player: Buffy Season 2: Episode School Hard, Go Spike!, in my buffy marathon

High Priestess

Update comming soon, as soon as I get some sleep from my 10 day straight work week.

You are The High Priestess

Science, Wisdom, Knowledge, Education.

The High Priestess is the card of knowledge, instinctual, supernatural, secret knowledge. She holds scrolls of arcane information that she might, or might not reveal to you. The moon crown on her head as well as the crescent by her foot indicates her willingness to illuminate what you otherwise might not see, reveal the secrets you need to know. The High Priestess is also associated with the moon however and can also indicate change or fluxuation, particularily when it comes to your moods.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Package!

I got my Yarn today. I'm so excited. We had a small winter storm today, a lot of snow!! Because I work retail I went in later to work, there was no sense having 4 e-employees when there were no customers. We had les then 9 customers an hour, it was really slow. So I'm sitting at home waiting to go into work, when I hear the screen door slam, I know it isn't my upstairs neighbor, I can hear his music and him yelling, so I know it must be the mailman. I was right, there sitting on the porch was a lovely box from Lisa Souza.

I'm almost done winding the first ball when I have to go into work, so I m excited state I brought the yarn to work. I don't work with any crafters, so I know they won't be too excited, but I had to tell someone! They give me the normal "that's pretty, your so weird" They don't understand how exciting yarn can really be. Only one girl was close to understanding, I'm slowly wearing her down to learn to knit.

Work went by slow, but it was only 4 1/2 hours so not that bad. I managed to get stuck only once driving home, our very lovely city did not do any snow plowing today, why, when we only got at least 6 inches of snow, and nobody can drive. Reminding me why I’m moving Texas. Luckily I don't work tomorrow, so plans are to finish winding my yarn, and knit up a couple gauge swatches.

I finished my baby sock, was so proud of myself. I'm going to try a toe up sock now. I'm going to do both at the same time and toe-up so I can just make it as long as I can until I run out of yarn. This aught to be interesting, I’m using the universal toe-up pattern from knitty. The reason is my feet are size 11, just a little big, and with this pattern I can make socks that big! At least until I can become better at patterns and knitting to adjust the other fun patterns to my size. Mandy at work (The one I'm trying to talk into learning) Says that if the socks are too small she'll take them. She actually really wanted hand knit socks, and I think she would appreciate them. She is pregnant, and when she finds out what sex the baby is going to be, I want to make a matching pair of socks. I have until she is due in June that might be enough time for me.

Well another long post, I'll cut this one off now. Hope it finds you well. Take care


On the needles: Gauge swatches
New to the Stash: My Lisa Souza came!!
In The Player: The Chronicles of Riddick, directors cut.

Violet's Pink Ribbon

Wow, it's been a busy month. Unfortunately that busy has not included knitting.

I did manage to finish the "Ribbed for his pleasure" but haven't done a thing since. I froged my sock I was working on, thanks to my cat deciding it was a play toy. I started a baby sock, as I have little free time, I decided that a small sock was a great way for me to learn socks. I only have 4 rows done.

I've also joined my first Knit-A-Long. Violets Pink Ribbon. I've yet to find a pattern that I'm going to use, but as I just ordered the yarn, I have a while to decided. I joined this for my first Knit-a-long, due to the greatness of the community and the relaxation of using whatever pattern you like. I also have a huge history with Cancer in my family, my favorite aunt from my dads side that raised him just had her own Breast cancer scare, but she is doing great, then a couple aunts from my dad's birth side had bouts of cancer. This is definitely a Knit A Long I want to be a part of. Besides one look at the colorway Lisa Souza designed and I was hooked. I highly recommend everybody check out the yarn it is a gorgeous colorway and you also help with Violets "my insurance sucks" fund. I purchased the Supersport yarn, but it is also available in Sock! and Sock Merino. That ends this commercial break.

I have yet to open my sushi wallet kit, it is sitting pretty on my desk. No reason other then the fact I have been sick, still am, and no time for knitting. Well that's all for now, I'll try not to take a month off between posts again.


On the needles: Baby Socks
New to the Stash: Lisa Souza's Violets Pink Ribbon, Lisa Souza's Emerald City, Both Sport Weight.
In the Player: The Devil Wears Prada, then Boondock Saints.

New Stuff

Destined to be the type of person who doesn't not just work on one project I cast on a new project last night. I wanted a break from my sock, something easier. So I went through my binder of patterns I have printed from various internet sites, and I settled on the "Ribbed for his pleasure" Condom cozy. It was a shorter faster project and I could use some leftover yarn.

While knitting on my break, one of my girls asked me what i was making, I told her. To which she replys "I thought you dropped that one guy" I told her it was a wishfull thinking cozy. Inwardly I was thinking "thank you for reminding me of my complete lack of males in my life. So i'm happily knitting on my cozy thinking It would be great to hold my advil in. Then I unhappily go back to work.

Driving home I'm excited to get back to my knitting when there in my mailbox, a package! for me! From Scouts Swag. My sushi kit has arrived. *and of course my new tape measure to get lost with all the others my cats have hide.* As I write I'm staring at it, wanting to start it. No, i'm going to wait. really, I am. I'm going to finish my new pill cozy. See you all later.

Stash

As I listen to various podcasters, Lime & Violet, Brenda Dayne, I can help but feel jealous as I hear then wax poetic *nice phrase huh?* about there large stashes. I want a stash. When it's to cold for me to go out I want to be able to have a stash of yarn that I can grab from.

Now I know I'm a new knitter, and a good stash takes time to build up. My nonstash problems do not stem from the length of time I have been knitting, but it's stems from lack of good yarn.

Where I live *In a capital city no less* I have 3 stores to choose from when buying yarn. Wal-Mart *Hello Red Heart* Hobby Lobby *Hello Red Heart and Yarn Bee* and Ben Franklin. I had forgotten about Ben Franklin until last week, I was driving down 3rd street and thought BF, Maybe they have some decent yarn. I walked up and down and finely found the yarn area, two ailes. One with of course, Red Heart, and another with other yarn, I got a little excited, "Hey I might find decent yarn"

I spotted a yarn ban that said Alpaca, I got really excited, after hearing everyone talk about alpaca yarn. I looked at it. 85% alpaca 15% acrylic. Hmmm, even our specialty yarn here has acrylic in it. I know I will go back and buy some, it's the closest I'll come before I order online. but it's $9 and I would need 3 balls to just make a decent sized scarf (they are very small balls). Unfortunatly my bank account doesn't like that. I did spot 100% wool yarn, and I know I will buy that, just for the chance to knit something that's not acrylic.

Why don't I buy on-line you ask? With wonderful places like BlueMoon Fiber Arts, and Esty, and Lisa Souza, and many many more. I don't know. I guess it's because I am a new knitter, and therefore are not as confident in my skills. I don't want to buy this great yarn and having nothing to make with it, other then scarves.

Which brings me to my newest project. I started on a pair of jaywalkers. It has been interesting. I have never used DPN's or even needles that small. Since I have huge size 11 feet, I'm sure that these won't fit. But I'm doing the larger size with size 2 needles. The only fingering yarn I could find in this town is 100% cotton, so that would shrink anyway in the wash. But this is a good learning project, I'm on my 3rd row and seem to be getting a hang of using the needles. The cast on was hell, I had to cast and recast on about 6 times before I was able to actually knit, then I kept dropping the cast on stitches. But I will not be denied. I preregisered for the Socks that Rock club. So I have a deadline, I have to be able to knit a sock by then.

Since I couldn't talk myself into buying some yarn, I did purchase one of those sushi wallet kits. That is going to be my first foray into felting. If I can borrow my friends washer that is.



On the needles: Jaywalkers.
New to the Stash: Nothing *sniff sniff*
In the Player: Pixar's CARS

Finishing and Teaching

Edit: Added pictures.

I started knitting about 2 years ago. Never seriously, I have started 2 scarves and a bag in the round but never finished. My first finished scarf was last week. I made one of those funfur type scarves. I bought 2 skeins of yarn, one silver and one black. I started the scarf on Oct 25th the day I got my tongue pierced. My friend drove me to the piercing, then after to Hobby Lobby. Because I wanted to try some bamboo needles. After having tried to talk my friend into learning for months, she finely agreed to let me teach her. So I picked up some yarn with my my needles (It was either fun fur or Red Heart... I went with fun fur) We then went to my place to pick up my Stitch 'n Bitch books then on to her place.

With a new tongue piercing, unable to talk real good, I started to teach my friend how to knit. How presumptuous of me, someone who has never even finished a project is teaching, I started on the scarf, using both colors together as one strand.

Halfway into the movie SAW II she asks me how to change colors. I told her to look in the book, using the excuse I couldn't talk. After a small bout of jealousy, about 10 seconds long, I was proud of my friend, even though after 2 hours she was father along then I was, changed colors and all.

I had taught my first knitter, I was so proud. I had taught my friend over the years a few crafts, now we can add one more to the list. She already warned me that I'm teaching her crochet next.

Back to my scarf, last tuesday, during an extremely good NCIS I finished my scarf, I was so proud, so happy. My first finished object, life is good. So what's next on the needles? Who knows, but I can't wait to find out.

On the needles: Nothing
New to the Stash: 100% Cotton Sinfonia
In the Player: What a Girl Wants, staring Amanda Bynes and Colin Firth.

My first completed scarf.