It's Times Like This

The last few days have been mentally draining on me. Too much going on for me to really handle. To the outside world it may seem like nothing at all. To me though, I'm left wondering when the next thing is going to shatter my world or make me question life altogether.

I started working on a new project to work on when my head is too cluttered to be able to sit down and write anything out. I started a blanket using a lace skull and crossbones pattern that can be used in nearly anything. I'm doing the blanket out of black and white.

No pictures yet as I just started and I'm only really working on it when I'm in a bad state.

Can it please be March 26th already? I don't have therapy until then unless I just happen to get an earlier appointment because someone else canceled...

*sigh* Eventually things are going to look up. Somehow, someway. They always do.

Project February: Upstairs Shawl

Month: February

Project: Upstairs Shawl

Status: Completed on the 2nd; sent out on the 27th

Finished so early, sent out so late. Basically, I just sat and knitted the rest of this shawl in one day. I wanted to get it completed, I wanted to get it sent out, and I wanted to move onto something new. Completed. Check. Sent out. Check. Started something new before it was sent out. Check. I really do hope that the recipient likes it, as it is a comfort shawl. Only time will tell.

I did enjoy knitting the Upstairs Shawl pattern and I do plan on knitting it again in a lace weight yarn. I do think this pattern could be adapted for nearly any weight of yarn and come out beautifully.

For this shawl I used Hobby Lobby's house brand, Baby Bee, in Sweet Delight Pomp Crayon. For a yarn that is mostly acrylic, it's got a soft hand to it. The small silver thread wrapped around it caught on the needles a lot though, so that was a pain. I believe that I used two full skeins and just a bit of a third. I'm not exactly sure. The shawl was knitted on size 8, 24" circular needles.

Overall, I do like how the shawl turned out and would easily make it again with this yarn as a gift.


I feel safe posting pictures, so here they are. The pooling doesn't seem as noticeable when you're looking at the shawl as it does when you're looking at the pictures.

February's Completed Project

Movie Knitting: Burn After Reading

Movie of Choice: Burn After Reading

Project of Choice: Fluff Scarf

Stars (out of five): *****

The Coen Brothers present to you another great movie, Burn After Reading. What do you get when you mix a group of people together that somehow have ties to each other, yet aren't aware of it? You have a movie of demise, longing, cheating, hilarity, and down right stupidity (only in the best way of course). This movie held my attention for the entire 96 minutes. There's nothing like watching what one person's actions do to another and how that affects someone they are linked to and what one person can think of another's involvement with an organization they aren't linked to in the slightest. Smart acting, with most parts being written for the actor or actress portraing that character. For a lot going on at once, it's easy enough to follow along if you're paying attention. The story wraps and weaves it's way around, coming to an ending when you're just trying to figure out the start.

Choosing the Fluff Scarf to work on was probably a wise choice as I didn't have to pay attention to what I was doing. It was much easier to focus on the movie...Otherwise, something might have been missed.
*The opinions posted above are that of the author.

Movie Knitting: The Dark Knight

Movie of Choice: The Dark Knight

Project of Choice: Lace Stole

Stars (out of five): *****

I haven't seen many of the movies that make up the Batman franchise, and I'm not much of an action movie type of girl, but I didn't want to miss this film. I should also state that I wanted to see Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker (which was amazing). This movie goes beyond my expectations. There is no shortage of suspense as the story weaves it way around. The story also has some unexpected events happen, events that make you questions the integrity of the characters (well, unless you're a huge Batman fan I suppose!). Who's on what side? What does the villain really want? Who's going to be the one that is saved? Or better yet, what's going to be blown up, flipped over, or torn apart next? The acting is superb from all cast members, the special effects top notch, the set design spectacular.

Knitting did not come easy during this film as I was glued to the screen, especially during the last half hour. If you haven't seen this film, I recommend checking it out.

*The opinions posted above are that of the author.

What Have You Done?

Stole this from another blog. :) She knows who she is.

Bold what you've done, mark in another way what you plan to do, and leave anything else alone!

Afghan
American/English knitting
Baby items
Bobbles
Buttonholes
Cable stitch patterns
Cardigan
Charity Knitting
Combination knitting
Continental knitting (does trying count?)
Cuffs/fingerless mits/arm-warmers
Darning
Designing knitted garments
Domino knitting
Drop Stitch Patterns
Dyeing Spinning Fibre
Dyeing with plant colors
Dyeing Yarn
Entrelac
Fair Isle knitting
Free-form knitting (If by this is meant I made it up as I went)
Fulling/felting
Garter stitch
Gloves
Graffiti knitting
Hair accessories
Hats: Cuff-up
Hats: Top down
Holiday related knitting
Household Items
I-Cord
Intarsia
Jewelry
Kitchener stitch
Knitted flowers
Knitting a gift
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
Knitting and purling backwards
Knitting art
Knitting for a living
Knitting for pets
Knitting for Preemies
Knitting in public
Knitting Items for Weddings
Knitting on a loom
Knitting smocking
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting to make money
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Knitting with alpaca
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Knitting with beads
Knitting with Camel Yarn
Knitting with cashmere
Knitting with circular needles
Knitting with cotton
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Knitting with dpns
Knitting with Linen
Knitting with metal Wire (disliked it but was interesting)
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Knitting with silk
Knitting with someone else's hand-spun yarn
Knitting with soy yarn
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Knitting with wool
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
Lace patterns
Long Tail CO
Machine knitting
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Moebius band knitting
Norweigan knitting
Participate in an exchange
Participating in a KAL
Pillows
Publishing a knitting book
Purses/bags
Rug
Scarf
Shawl
Short rows
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Slip stitch patterns
Slippers
Socks: toe-up
Socks: top-down
Steeks
Stockinette stitch
Stuffed toys
Swatching
Sweater
Tassels
Teaching a child to knit
Teaching a Male how to knit
Textured knitting
Thrummed knitting
Toy/doll clothing
Tubular CO
Twisted stitch patterns
Two end knitting
Writing a pattern

Steal this and post it on your knitting blog!

Movie Knitting: Step Brothers

Movie of Choice: Step Brothers

Project of Choice: Lace Stole

Stars (out of five): **

Tonight I rented Step Brothers from RedBox (gotta love free rental Monday!). Normally, I love Will Ferrell, but this movie did nothing for me. Sure, it had it's funny moments, as his movies do, but it didn't seem that anything really carried this movie. There were more F-Bombs dropped than I think I've ever heard in a single movie before. I've heard every word in the book, and it seems like every word was used in this movie. The storyline was unique and different, but it just did not play out well. The writing was horrible and repetitive. The acting seemed off, even forced at times. This movie will not be one of my recommendations to see. With this being all that I can say about this movie, that should be considered a good thing, as there's nothing good about it.


*The opinions posted above are that of the author.

Oscar Winning Moment 2009

I feel totally compelled to post this here.




Yes, I know it's not completely knitting related, but she has been known to pick up the needles. I just love her speech!

Oscar Night! Part Two

I greatly enjoyed the Oscars this year. I love how they presented some of the major awards with winners gracing the stage, each one addressing a nominee. Loved the musical numbers, too! Watching the "In Memoriam"...It makes you realize how many great people were lost in the past year.

Slumdog Millionaire, a movie that was supposed to go straight to DVD, doing so well! Penelope Cruz winning Supporting Actress. Heath Ledger winning for Supporting Actor, his family taking the stage to accept his award. Kate Winslet, who I love, winning Best Actress! And I'm not afraid to admit that I did cry. I loved her speech! Sean Penn and Dustin Lance Black winning for Milk. Now, for Best Picture...The winner is...Slumdog Millionaire! A fantastic night for this movie!!!!!!

So many great movies and the people that made them possible were nominated this year, and I have yet to see any of them! It's time to start watching. This year's Oscars has to be one of the most amazing!

I managed to get a few rows completed on the stole, enough to finish another pattern repeat. I was too entranced to knit on it much...

And so many good movies coming up later on in 2009!!!

Oscar Night!

I love watching the Academy Awards! I love seeing what dresses are hitting the red carpet and who wins what awards. And for a toned down Oscars, I have to say I'm enjoying it. Also, I realized that I seriously need to do some movie watching!

So, what am I knitting during the Oscars? I just finished a beret, the Star Crossed Slouchy Beret with some Caron Simply Soft from my stash, in black.

Now it's onto the lace stole I feel like I've been working on forever. I am finding it very difficult to just sit and work on it. I don't know what it is about it that's making this project turn into one that I just don't enjoy working on. So, here goes to working on that and hopefully making some progress.

Updated Sidebar Widgets

I've updated my sidebar widgets with the projects I've completed this year. Five so far! And the year isn't even a quarter of the way over.

Anything with a star in front of it's name means the project is completed. I'm getting down my list. I've noted the projects that have already been started. I feel like I'm doing a lot of the little projects right now. There's a shawl that I can't wait to start though.

I'm having a huge case of startitis because I so badly want to make all of those projects listed. I also want to finish the projects so that I can put them to use before it starts to get warm here.

I started a new scarf today and, while it is knitting up quickly, I don't know if I can get it knit up quickly enough to wear it before it gets warm.

I have too many projects started again. I'll never get anything finished...

Is This A Bad Thing?

I'm going to admit something. My bedroom is a mess. Like, you'd never believe I was a Virgo if you saw my room and how disorganized it was mess.

I am thoroughly scared by the amount of yarn I am finding as I start to clean my room. Scared as in, "I forgot I bought this" as I find a bag with yarn in it. As in, where am I going to put all of this yarn and how am I ever going to use it all scared.

Anyone know of a yarnaholic anonymous? I think I need one...

Knitting Update

With the sun breaking through the clouds of a really rainy day, I figured I'd do a quick update.

I've got some projects completed that I need to blog about. I've got some frogged projects to update. I've received some gifts from friends that I need to post. Oh, and one very humorous situation that just wasn't all that funny at the time - and one I wish I had pictures of.

So, there will be new blog posts in the near future. In the meantime, get lost in a game. Boomshine can become addictive, as I've found out.

Springing Forward In Completed Socks

I've completed my first pair of hand knit socks! Yes, there are mistakes, one of which I didn't catch until the one sock had been completed for a few days. It's just in the decrease area for the toe, so it won't be noticeable to anyone except myself, unless another knitter notices it.

I was sucked in the moment that I turned the heel. There's just something so magical, wonderful about that step.

I love how the socks fit, I love how hand knit socks feel on my feet. I may not knit another pair anytime in the near future, but this won't be the last pair that I knit!

Springing Forward Socks

These socks make the second project of January that I've completed, and second on the list for 2009.

Super Bowl Knitting

Was that not an exciting Super Bowl? It would have been much better had the Arizona Cardinals won the Lombardi, but I guess you can't have everything go your way (story of my life actually). I love an underdog team and wanted to see them win so badly!

During the game I worked on the shawl that I want to complete by the end of the month. I've completed almost two full pattern repeats today, working on it during my knitting group that meets on Sundays and during the game. It knits up so quickly once you get into the rhythm of the pattern.

I have to say that the ads this year were pretty good. This though, is my top favorite!




I want to thank everyone for the comments! I'm thinking about doing a weekly post on Saturday responding to some comments that have been left. I don't know why I didn't think of that idea sooner! So, look for that to be coming your way.

Project February: Upstairs Shawl

Month: February

Project: Upstairs Shawl

Status: Half Way Completed

I've picked my project for February. Pictures and info will have to wait though, as it's a gift for a friend, and I don't want to ruin it by posting pictures of the yarn and how the project is looking.

I've picked this project because it's something that I need to get done, as I've been working on it on and off since late October, early November.

Here's to February!