Saturday Night Fever (literally!)

I don't have any FOs this week. Thursday morning I woke up feeling like warmed over poo. Friday morning rolled over on me. I was so run down I could barely stay up on my crutches. So I'm curled up in bed doing a Blogger Mobile posting experiment from my Blackberry. *fingers crossed folks!* Hubster was kind enough to procure me Alka-Seltzer Cold along with a slew of various cold remedies!

Anyhoo, I did manage a few projects this week. For the Escargot hat I did gauge swatches for the Dragonfly BFL yarns in Espresso Roast and Poseidon. I made stitch gauge on the size 7 KP nickel needles (I like them a lot.)

The other thing I'm working on is the Ribbed for Her Pleasure scarf that I started last month. I did a modification on it. I am using Premier Merit yarn and I HATE it. The yarn just doesn't feel soft...it's rough like a cheap acrylic and it's 100% wool. So I decided to blow out the skein by adding a keyhole like S 'N B's "windy city scarf." I then joined Lamb's Pride Worsted in "Turkish Olive" after the keyhole. I like how this yarn feels. So hopefully that will mitigate the yuck factor of the other one!

So I can type via the old blogger dashboard but Blogger is not playong nice with my Blackberry. My Gmail has gone into the drink ever since Google r with the verification mess. Plus Blackberry has a bug with email on their end as well so really annoyed!

Now my nightime cold meds are kicking in so signin off before I ramble in my sleep :/

Sick sick knits

O.K. my poor foot has been subjected to a lot of trauma this week. Monday night, I stubbed my toe and cracked my cast.  I saw the podiatrist the next day in a panic.  Luckily, he said my toe was fine and reinforced the cast (only the tip cracked.)  I'm telling you I got skills!

Here's some random sick ish I ran across:

Toilet Yoga - because sometimes sh*t doesn't happen!  Very funny

This on the other hand is SO not funny but still full of sh*t:

Yes, some fools are putting this on their cars!

Now that I got that out of the way, let's talk some knit.

Spring, is almost here and I'm feeling a bit of dread.  I'm finding warmer weather to be a conflict of interest.  So this month, I'm going finish off the rest of my winter projects and start looking ahead to Spring cardigans, shawls, and sweaters.

On The Needles
Pattern: Escargot (Knitty Winter 2011), an asymmetrical cloche that I named Cordelia

Needles: Knit Picks 24" US size 7 nickel interchangeable circular needles

Yarn: Dragonfly Blue Faced Worsted in:

 Espresso Roast

Poseidon

 

What attracted me to this pattern is that I can make two hats out of both skeins of yarn. This pattern called for a cable cast-on which made me a bit nervous; CO 240 was tedious to say the least! For this hat, the main color will be Poseidon and the contrast color will be the Espresso Roast.  So far, I'm liking how the KP metal tips feel; it slips between the yarn very easily and the tips are super pointy (but not so pointy to poke my fingers.)  The metal may too slick for me.  I will have to see what I think once the knit progresses.

Pattern: Ribbed For Her Pleasure, from Stitch 'N Bitch
Needles: US size 8
Yarn: Premier Yarns Merit in Kelly Green

I haven't made any progress on it since the last post.

Hibernating
I also started a pair of socks for the HPKHC Sock KAL but I'm not feeling them at the moment so they are hibernating.

The pair of mittens I started are also languishing.  I don't even have one-sockits; I got nil-sockitis.  I figure on finishing the scarf and tackling the socks before I mess with the cloche.  I need to catch a case of finish-upitis right quick!

Better hop on the knit...

Saturday Night Finishing

After Shabbos, I'm usually too tired to cast on new projects.  Sometimes, I'm not even motivated to tackle works in progress. So I decided I will devote motzei Shabbos to finish projects that are off the needles.  That way, I start the week off with a clean slate and empty needles!

My first finished object is Hubster's Yankees inspired scarf:

Hubster modeling his new  Yankees scarf

Hubster said that it reminds him of a tallis and the Israeli flag colors.  I'm glad he loves it.  It feels so soft and warm too!

The second finished object is Penelope - The Official Kittyville Hat.  I'm so happy I finally finished it.  Didn't finish it in time for Purim but it's ready for next Purim :D 

Friday morning, I decided to do a combination of spray and steam blocking with my Rowenta Effective iron.  I sprayed the i-cording and the kitty ears to crisp them up.  

Then I went over the whole hat using the steam blast button; holding the iron a 1/2" above the hat. I used my Knit Picks blocking mats and my blocking wires (1 flexible for the curvature of the hat, 2 rigid ones for the i-cords.) The project was a bit difficult for me but it came out so cute:

Penelope with my pink wig - so punky!

This is how it looks on a human:

I'm the cat's meow!

Now I'm going to relax and read.

Ribbit!

Well last night before I went to bed, I ripped back the Official Kittyville Hat I was making for Purim.  My hat was becoming mangy, grr...

I casted on just fine...I mucked up the seed stitch by starting the next round with a k instead of a p.  I ended up doing a 1x1 rib.

Then I saw yarn over (?) holes.

Then I forgot that stockinette stitch in the round is just knit stitches.

The dropped stitch that disappeared was the last straw for me *grumbles* 

I figure a fresh start would give me perspective and enough caffeine to get me through.  Since knitting on the Clover circ needles is so nice I figure I could watch a bit of Sherlock once I get to the stockinette stitch part of the pattern and then some music when I (finally) get to the decreasing part of the pattern.

What going on in my (new) knitting bag?

Today my foot is really bothering me.  After Hubster's EPIC Lion Brand haul on Friday, my yarn has officially exceed my storage box's capacity.  So Hubster is going to get me two more boxes.


So here's what's going on in my (new) Knitting Bag:

On The Needles
Official Kittyville Hat from Stitch 'N Bitch.  I cast this on Friday afternoon with Black Wool-Ease.  So far, so good.  I want to get this done by Wednesday in time for Purim.  I will wear it with my pink wig. Gotta be festive!

Daddy Yankee Scarf - using a free pattern from Lion Brand.  Hubster is a huge Yankees fan so it's in navy and white.  I'm a Mets fan.  I really love him, that's all I gotta say :D

Hubster's Scarf now it's MINE - Hubster seemed more interested in the Yankee's scarf than this one so I guess I have to claim it.


No finished objects yet.  Hopefully I will be able to post some finished objects before Purim begins.
Gotta get my knit on!

10 Favorite Knitting Things This Week!

I've been out of it for a few days.  So you get back to back posts!  I had bunion surgery on Thursday:

Yikes! Isn't the wall such an ugly green?

I tried every conservative therapy for my bunions. My insurance won't cover orthopedic shoes but they cover surgery.  Which is really crazy when you think about it.  Orthopedic shoes are pricey at $400+ for a pair.  However, surgery is at least 10 times that amount.  The insurance company is clueless about cost effectiveness.

When I still felt pain wearing New Balance sneakers and Aerosoles w/ inserts, I knew I had no choice.    I knitted some exercises from Stitch 'N Bitch to keep busy in pre-op.  Post-op I was too loopy to knit.  I really tried - anesthesia and knitting don't mix, LOL!

I will be on crutches for about 6 months (I'm getting the right foot done in 6 weeks.)  While I was practicing using crutches last week, I discovered my normal knitting tote is NOT compatible with crutches.   The bag suddenly swung and I almost went flying. If had needed them I would've been hurt.  So I decided to get a knitting bag that is crutch-safe.

10 Favorite Knitting Things This Week after the jump