First Week of the Year......

......And I got absolutely, positively, NO knitting done.  I truly meant to do it, but I have been in "Clean Sweep" mode since the first.  I have managed to get rid of 2 shopping bags full of yarn.  The first bag went to the "Care To Knit" organization, that collects yarn and makes gifts for people who are less fortunate.  The second bag went to a family friend who is using knitting as a way to cope with here mother's death.  Isn't knitting so wonderful, how a skein of yarn can solve many ails. 

So, I have been waiting patiently for my Knitpicks order to arrive.  The postal worker did NOT ring my doorbell, and just left a slip that he came and noone was home.  My mother was at home the entire day.  Then I asked them to redeliver it on Friday, and that didn't happen.  There was also the threat of 3-6 inches of snow on Friday, but we ended up getting a light dusting.  No excuse!  So, I went to the Post Office on Saturday morning and picked up my friggin' package.  What is is with government run entities in New York this winter?  First the Department of Sanitation, and now the Post Office.  Come on! 

Well, luckily I didn't have anything wrong with my Knitpicks order.  The only fluke was that I ordered 2 "Into the Woods" kits by accident.  So, hmmmmm.... is anyone interested in taking it off my hands?  PM me on Ravelry, or email me.  We can discuss payment and shipping. 

I also got Stroll in Golden Glow Tonal, and Ash as well as Chroma Worsted in Midwinter.

I am excited to use my new yarn.  Stay tuned.  Casting on something as we speak. 

Welcome 2011! Happy New Year!

I wouldn't say that I have any resolutions to make.  But, I will say that I have a few goals.
1. Knit More  - Last year I embarked on a 10 in 2010 mission, and didn't complete it.  I partied the summer away, and turned my nose up at my needles.  I tried to knit with full steam at the end of the year, only to become engrossed in some serious holiday cooking and baking that didn't allow for my hands to get tangled in yarn.  I am still happy though, and you have seen the rum cake that proved it.  My family is happy, and well fed.  Now, if my head can just be happy with me finishing that incomplete hat.  Sigh....

2. Study More for my GRE.  I need to ace this test in order to go to the school that I want to go to.  So, basically I have to re-learn middle school math.  (What do you mean they are not testing us on indefinate integrals... awww man!) Well, it's a good thing that knitting actually enables your mind to take in more information.  I am going to need it.  They changed the GRE to a new format that actually allows for more analytical thinking.  Hmmm that is right up my alley.

3.  Replace store bought sweaters with knitted sweaters. I have a bunch that have lived past their lifetime.  It is time to get the things that I am not using out of the closet, so that I can make room for nicer things.  Now, let's refer to #1 for again.  I have a ton of yarn that is all skeined up, and I would like to move it from the yarn cabinet to the actual clothing cabinet.  Most of the time, people ask if I made what I am wearing.  I want to say "Yes" all of the time. 

4.  Knit for 11 in 2011.  I know I didn't finish the 2010 challenge, but I can still strive for the 2011 one with a new strategy. 

OK, that's about it for now.

I leave you with the current progress of Vaila, that I casted on January 2, 2010.  Let's see if I can finish it by January 2, 2011.  Haha!  I'm so close. 

Merry Christmas

I decided to bake a cake for the holiday season.  This one is a rum raisin cake, covered with walnuts, and drizzled in a rum sauce.  It is sooooo good.  Caution!  Smelling it ALONE might cause you to feel tipsy.

Where is the knitting you may ask?

Hmmm.. I kinda got busy in the kitchen.  We don't want any rum sauce spilling on the Malabrigo, do we? 

Well, since my plast post, I owe you a picture of my finished Thermis for the recipient in the KTog holiday party.  Here is Suzanne in her pretty Thermis.  She told me that this is her favorite color.  I am so happy that she liked it. 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Floppy Silk

I had joined the earflaps of my snowboarder hat, and completed 1 round of the pattern.  But to me, it looked kind of floppy. The pattern initially called for chunky yarn on size 10.5 needles.  I used Paton's SWS yarn, because I saw a few other people on Ravelry use it successfully.  However, the material reminded me of....... GASP!  ..... Lace!    Not sturdy as a cabled hat should be.  I could see some semblence of space between my stitches. The truth was, it really should have been knit on size 9 needles, which in my mind is optimal for this yarn.  I was too lazy to do test swatches, and math to see if it would fit an adult head if it was knitted on a smaller needle.  Let's just assume that the answer is "NO" and that the hat would be perfect for my little 2 year old cousin.  Seriously, a hat doesn't need to be so much work.  So, off to the frog pond this piece of silky flop goes.  Farewell my dear friend. 

Immediately after the frog, I casted on THIS!

I decided to make a Thermis for the gift exchange instead of the hat.  Who doesn't love a Neckwarmer?  I am using Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Iris Heather.  The color really looks beautiful if you take a picture of it with no flash.  I am about 65% complete.  This has been my subway knitting for the past 2 days.  I love the way people look at how fast my hands are moving, like I am some kind of alien or something.  When I feel them watching me, I quickly glance up at them, sometimes staring intently, while I just keep on knitting.  I am sure that confuses them even more.  How can she knit and not look at her knitting???  LOL!  Then they embarassingly look away as if to say "Damn, she caught me staring".

I haven't neglected my Vaila.  I knit on it last night while watching Vampire Diaries that I had taped on my DVR.  Currently, the sleeve is 7 inches long.  I still have 100 more rounds to go before I can start the edging pattern.  Ugh!  This purling is driving me crazy.  I have tried the Norwegian Purl method, but I am still very slow with it.  So, back to regular purling I go. 



More Deep V Argyle Pictures

I decided to take some pictures of my Deep V Argyle Vest that were a little bit lighter.  Overall, I loved this pattern.  I sewed the steeks before cutting, and that part wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  The fit is great, and I am very proud of my work.  I am even more proud of the fact that I finished a serious garment in less than a month.  Wow! 







Here is the next project that I am trying to complete.  It is part of my 10 in 2010 projects that I started last January.  It has been hibernating waaaaaay too long.  This was supposed to be a project that I finished in less than 1 month.  Somehow I got sidetracked...sigh.  Well, it was 36 degrees outside last night, so if that isn't a reason to hurry up and finish a knit sweater, I don't know what is. When I read the directions, I realized that I have to purl 148 rows, then do the bottom edge pattern on the ends of the sleeves.  No shaping at all.  So, why didn't I just finish this before?  This is mindless purling.  Hopefully I can knock this out in a few nights watching some Netflix movies. Once the sleeves are complete, I will use the remainding yarn to add a little length to the bottom border of the sweater. 

We Do Not Have A Knitting Problem

I used to belong to a Meetup Group called Sit N' Knit, and I absolutely adored it.  Then, Sit N'Knit took a seat in the Ravelry car, and a new driver gassed up the Meetup car and changed the name to KTog.  Sadly, I haven't been able to make it to much of the meetings, because of the countless hours that I am at work.  The fact that I work across the street from the World Financial Center (where they have hosted some meetings) doesn't help either, because they usually host it on a Wednesday when I have my time with the members of The Fort Greene/Clinton Hill Knit and Crochet Group.  So, FINALLY an opportunity to go to a meeting has presented itself.  I am so excited that they are having a Holiday party on the 11th of this month. 

So, the most exciting part of this Holiday party is the gift exchange.  The rules are, I must make it myself, and the yarn must be from stash.  So, I have been searching through my stash, and found some Patons SWS that I like.  I have always loved the softness that this yarn knits up with.  I am using the Natural colorway to make the "Snowboarder Hat that Rocks" from Irishgirlknits.  I love the name of her blog - We Do Not Have A Knitting Problem!  No it isn't a problem at all.  It's a solution!  To boredome and insanity!!!  Praise the high heavens for knitting!

So, truthfully I feel that I can talk about this gift openly on the blog for three reasons.

1. I haven't been to the meetings in so long, that I am sure very few members know me enough to be perusing my blog every day.
2. If by some small chance someone who will be at the party does see it, they will see the pretty hat that is in the works, instantly fall in love with it, and get excited about the shear chance in winning the said hat.
3. In the end, everyone will be very happy! 

Since I hate to post without pictures . . .   Here is a picture of what I bought today. 

Starbucks had a buy 1 get 1 free deal for a pound of the Christmas blend coffee.  I also though the mugs were so cute.  Does anyone wanna help me drink all of this ??? 

NaKniSweMo Finished!

NaKniSweMo Finished!
Originally uploaded by shamekaknits

I'm so happy that it's done. I still need to weave in some ends, and it really needs a good blocking. But, for the most part, It's done and I am super excited to get this off the needles.

I kind of like having this pressure/structure with my knitting. It keeps me accountable. So, to honor that, I have decided to join the Ravelry group "11 Sweaters in 2011". The best part of the group is, you can finish WIPs and it will count towards the 11 sweater projects. This is a great way for me to finally finish those projects that are hibernating, as well as start some new and exciting ones.

But....... before that, I must finish 10 in 2010. This sweater counts as one of my entries. Next on the list of things to complete will be my Through the Loops Mystery Sock, a Chullo hat, and my Interlocking Cables Sweater. More details on that later.

Time for bed. I need the well deserved rest.