Ravelympics Update - No medals

I tried very hard to work a miracle, but there was just too much to do yesterday. I had lunch with Tawana and KJ, and we knit in Starbucks for a while. (Check out the cute Sit N Knit onesie!) KJ kept trying to bite the yarn. Hehe! She has two teeth starting to show themselves. I think we have a superstar knitter in the works.

I also had to help set up for a friend's surprise birthday party at around 6:00 pm. That totally cut into my knitting. I am a night owl, and my most productive hours are in the evenings. So, I am home today, all partied out, hungry, tired, and with an unfinished sweater and sock. :-(

I woke up this morning at 9:00 and tried to finish my sock since it was straight stockinette. I thought at least I could get 1 medal. But, I was averaging 1 inch every hour at that small gauge at 64 stitches 2 at a time. I figured that if I worked on the sweater, I would be working even more stitches, considering the pocket, sleeves, and rest of the body. I could have rushed it and made a short sleeved sweater with no pocket. But, that is not what I really wanted, so I will graciously bow out of the competition.

In the next 4 years, I will plan it better. During the course of these past 2.5 weeks, I have been sidetracked by gigs, rehearsals, stitch-marker and jewelry making, work, and promoting a party. Serious killing of my knitting time. Oh, the mixed blessing of being multi-talented. Knitters are always hopelessly overcommitted.

So, what's next for me? Tomorrow is Flatbush SNB. I will go there and work on my sweater as long as the swelling on my knitting needle jabbed finger goes down. The sock will remain my commuter knitting project. I can still enter it into Summer of Socks. Oh, did I mention I have a gig tonight too? It starts at 6 PM. I guess I should get going. I have to wash and restyle the hair so that it can be stage ready. More updates tomorrow!!

Marathon knitting!!!

With a little less than 26 hours left before closing ceremonies, I am putting in all my effort. My pointer finger is sore from the jabbing of my left knitting needle. However, I think Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson may have been sore a few times, and that didn't stop them from winning medals!!

Here is my progress so far.

Sweater Sprint - Wicked Sweater

In Trinidad, we have a saying that goes "No rest for the wicked". I stayed up until about 4 AM working on this. The only reason I stopped was because I fell asleep with it in my hands. Yesterday morning, I was still working on the yoke, and now I am up to the waist shaping decreases. I have to continue down until the body reaches 11 inches from the underarm before I work the edging. I am already past the 4 inch mark, so I really feel good about this one. I still have faith that I can do it.

Sock Put - Toe Up Socks

I have about 5 inches left before I get to the cuff. This yarn is not as soft as the yarn that I am using on the sweater, so it is not as nice to knit with. I will save this for last. I should have known better and used some prettier yarn. However, I bought this Lion Brand Magic Stripe yarn in my early days of knitting, and I am stashbusting before Rhinebeck.

So I am planning to meet Tawana and KJ for lunch and knitting in the park. We will see how that plays out.

OK, enough of this typing. My sweater needs me. Happy Knitting everyone!!!

Wicked Mistakes

Here is my Wicked sweater progress as of yesterday.

I have been trying to make progress on my Wicked sweater, but I keep running into dumb mistakes. I guess the whole idea of trying to rush it through makes me forget to properly read directions, and have common sense. The first incident occured on a day I set out to go to the hair salon to get some knitting done whilw I was waiting for my hair to dry. I was on the raglan increase portion, and all I had to do was kfb in the stitch before and after the 4 markers that were positioned at the arms. So why the heck did I do the increases at the marker that marked off the round? I didn't even have a darning needle to help create a lifeline, so I got fed up and ended up ripping out the whole thing. So, as I casted on again, I made it back to the raglan increase and thought it was smooth sailing. That is when I saw this...... (my apologies.. the picture just rotates , even when I don't want it to)

An increase at the row count marker again, only this time it was 7 rows below my current row. I guess that's what I get for trying to watch a movie in the dark, and knit at the same time. So, I had to do a little surgery....

So, I figured I would try to complete my sock since the wicked sweater was giving me so much trouble. Then I ran into this problem........

It turns out that there was an unwanted yarnover that must have sneaked in when I was wrapping and turning the short row heel. But, I was able to fix it. Here is my current progress as of today. Hopefully I can finish the sock this evening. Good thing it is all stockinette. Whew!

All in all there are 3 days to go, and I still have to complete the yoke, body, waist shaping, pocket and sleeves of my sweater. Well, good thing I don't have to seam anything. Sheesh!!! I really want that medal for finishing in 17 days... well it will really be a medal for finishing in 3 days, if I can get it. I still have faith and hope. That never dies!!!

My knitting Weekend/early week

This past Saturday was the SisterFriends Harlem Knittaque in St. Nicholas park. We had a blast. However, I don't remember getting much knitting done, because I was STUFFING MY FACE SO MUCH!!! Ian, those ribs were soooooo delicious.

Honestly, I did try to knit... for real. See?? This is where I left off Saturday Night.
Then the unthinkable happened. I found two sections of the crossed rib that were not crossed. I got so upset that I ripped it out. After casting on again about 3 times later, I finally got it crossed perfectly. Then, I felt the fabric, and figured that it felt way too loose. So I ripped it again....to cast on with a size 7 needle. This is totally not good. This is like the US gymnast whose only event was the uneven bars because of her ankle injury, and she fell off. How am I supposed to finish this sweater???

The next day, I went to the Flatbush SNB, and I made progress. Maybe it happened because I didn't have that grill tempting me every 2 seconds, or the fact that I had a nice Chocolate Chai latte, or the fact that KJ was sitting across from me and just smiling with her sweet face. Who knows, but in either case.... I made some progress, and have progressed to the Raglan shaping portion of the pattern.

Here are some more pics from the weekend.

Chante showing off her shrug.
I get some sweetface time.

Happy Mommy (Tawana) gets in some knitting time.KJ getting some Pinkberry time. Yes, we are getting her addicted from an early age. 6 months and already a pinkberry fiend.

Here is my Ravelympics Progress as of today.

Sweater Sprint - and yes, I did make myself a pair of Ravelympics 2008 Stitch Markers

Sock Put
I know, I know. I've got a long way to go.

Ravelympics 2008 Training - Round 2

No training can be productive without the right equipment.

My favorite piece of equipment for the games are these Ravelympics 2008 Stitch Markers.

You can find them over at the MekaMika ETSY site. I have been neglecting knitting all weekend, just so I can make these stitch markers available to you. They will be sent priority mail ASAP, in hope of the post office doing their job right, and getting them to you by the time of the opening ceremonies.

I will be making updates to the shop daily, to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to get their hands on some. You can also send me a comment over on the Etsy site if you want to request a specific size. The stitch marker rings come in 3 different sizes to fit worsted, chunky, and bulky projects.

3 days are left until opening ceremonies. Go for the gold!!!

Gearing up for Ravelympic Training!!!

The Summer Olympics begin in 11 days, and my Ravelympic training started tonight when I went to the Flatbush SNB meeting. I like this group because it is in Brooklyn, there is ample parking near the location (Connecticut Muffin), the people are friendly, it's 20 minutes away from my house, there is a bus that takes me straight there if I don't feel like driving, and a very good friend of mine lives around the corner. Lately, my weekends have gotten very busy, so it has been difficult to squeeze in knitting time. Then, you have to drag yourself to work on Monday morning. This monday evening knitting meeting is a great way to have something to look forward to as I am dragging myself to work.

For Ravelympics I have decided to knit the Gathered Pullover as my Sweater Sprint project. Originally, the pattern uses Brown Sheep Top of The Lamb Sport, but I decided to use Berroco Ultra Alpaca. The original gauge is 19sts/24 rnds on size 7 needles. My yarn's gauge is 20sts/26rows. We will see what circular knitting does to that number. I will begin my magic loop swatch tonight. I have both size 7 and 6 needles, just in case.Aside from that, I have to finished my Nutkins. Finally, a Finished Object that belongs to me me me !!!! This is entry #1 for Summer of Socks 08

This is my Camera Sock. All that is left to be done is the kitchener stitch, but I keep messing it up. AARRRRRGGH!!!!

Happy Knitting everyone!!!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Today is my birthday, and I am so excited!!!

Last year, at this time I was recovering from a visit to the Emergency Room, and on pain medicine. I was on bedrest for 1 week, and I managed to make some really good progress on my Central Park Hoodie.

This year, I am still working on the second Central Park Hoodie that was supposed to be finished by Thanksgiving, but you know how life gets in the way. LOL!!!

I have much to celebrate, and have accomplished many of my goals during the past year. Some of them being - establishing myself as a businesswoman, creating my own logo/banner, becoming the female lead singer in a band, creating my own knitting pattern, and spending more quality time with family and friends.

I have managed to go over 100 days without buying yarn. Gasp!! I didn't think it was possible. Although my FO count is still low, but hey that is a work in progress. However, I am still stashbusting.

I have given myself some new goals. I am going to finish my Nutkins this week. There I have said it!! I also joined Ravelympics as part of the Sit N Knit NYC team. I will be doing the "Sweater Sprint" and the"Sock Put". Hey, if I can get at least one "medal" for the competition I will be happy. My socks will also simultaneously count for Summer of Socks 08. I will be working on the Gathered Pullover from Interweave. So, opening ceremonies takes place in 17 days, and then I have 17 days to make a sweater and a sock. Whoo!!! Pressure!!! LOL!! So, I will try my best to knock out some UFO's in the next 17 days.

Speaking of UFO's..... here is my pair of Nutkins-in-progress.

Just a few more inches on the foot to go, before I get to the toe shaping.

As far as more birthday celebration plans go, I will be going to a Thai restaurant for dinner with some friends. The food at this place is awesome, so I will definately be providing pictures later on.

Also, I want to send some love out to my twin Jeanine whose birthday is also today. Happy Birthday!!! I haven't seen her since our Christmas gift exchange. Shame on me!! We need to link up girl!!