Knitting on the Rocks

Work In Progress Notebook

2010-02-01T09:10:00.002-05:00

This appeared in the latest "knitting daily" email. Why I happened to read this one out of the zillion that seem to hit my inbox, I have no idea. However, it's kind of an interesting idea.

I have notebooks that I've purchased at Staples for a number of years. About a year and a half ago I realized they were being discontinued. So of course I purchased every last one in NYC! I have exactly 2 left. They are spiral bound. About 8.5" tall by probably 5" wide (about half the size of a normal sheet of paper). And I use them for all of my knitting projects. I save them all so if someone says - hey, remember that such and such that you made for so and so, I can hopefully grab one of my old notebooks and find the skeleton of a pattern in there. I also use the notebooks for ideas that never hit the needles. They are all neatly stored on my bookshelf and look might impressive (to me at least) when I think about what gems are hidden inside each book.

Anyway, I saw this notebook (pictured). It has knitting graph paper on one side and I believe plain paper on the other. This lets you think, sketch and map out your project all at the same time! Nice! However, I use my notebooks like paper towels. I go through so many sheets of paper for each project...doodling, sketching, calculating, etc. I believe these notebooks only have about 120+ pages in each. I might go through a ton of these notebooks.

Anyway, food for thought!

Back Home and Lots to do!

2010-01-31T18:55:00.002-05:00

First up, my sister-in-law FINALLY finished Juno (Rowan # ?) with some obvious modifications. It's been a long time coming but here it is. I'm really proud of her. This sweater looks awesome on her. Seriously great job!

I spent last week with my mom. It has apparently been FIVE years since I've been to her house. I don't really believe that but that's what I'm told! It was really great to get away from the city and get some sleep, spend quality time with mom and her dogs, and visit some sites that were as of last week new to me! I tried to convince her to get some Easy Tones but I actually think she came up with a better idea...a visit to the podiatrist! Then....Easy Tones.

Speaking of Easy Tones. They were the only shoes I wore while I was away. Which means I have worn them every single day since I got them! I know, crazy, right? so the results???

I'm pretty psyched! My butt is for sure "lifted" a little. I thought my pants were getting tight (i.e. I was gaining weight) but instead my butt has scooted up slightly....weird yet oddly ok. My heals hurt like crazy when I get up in the morning but they always do. The great news is that the balls of my feet don't hurt - at. all. Major accomplishment! I'm a little worried that they will break down faster than other shoes but I have to say I don't really care. I'm happy with the results. I'd buy them again in a second. oh they sell them at the Reebok Outlet!

The opening of the second location of the Tapas Bar that I manage opened with a fun party right before I went to visit my mom. It was a bit stressful but now we are off and running. I'll be back at it tomorrow planning Sherry tastings and getting the Flamenco performances up and clapping...

I am NOT knitting. This is a problem. I didn't want to chance taking all my stuff on the plane. I'm not working on a deadline so I didn't have to take the risk. I figured I'd come up with something when I got home. Well, I'm home. Hello creative inspiration. I'm ready! I actually wrote up a pattern last night for my sister-in-law. She's got the fever and needs to be knitting! I hope it works out for her!

I'm about to go stash diving. There is a pretty heather grey cashmere in one of my giant boxes. It's calling. I can hear it. I'm hoping it has something to say when I find it!!

I spent the day cleaning out my bookshelves, organizing all of the patterns I've written and submitted over the past year and a half, put my knitting magazines in chronological order, got rid of TONs of books and then attacked my desk! phwew! I still have to go through all of my receipts and file all of my paperwork, paid bills, etc. But I can see my way through it at this point! The end is near! Yee-ha!!

Next up........TAXES!

Blanket's Finished

2010-01-17T19:09:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure about this. I was going for a little 70's action. Which I think I accomplished. But now I'm wondering if anyone would really want a giant granny square baby blanket in these colors. I'll probably add some tassels to the ends? or maybe pom poms? But really, who wants this? If I was sending this off to a magazine I wouldn't question it at all. But that it's for a friend...hmmmm.

I've been super busy working on opening a new or rather rebranded restaurant/lounge. So I haven't had much time to do anything other than that. However, this was finished so fast! It's amazing how much faster crochet is than knitting. I still am not the biggest fan but I do (for some strange reason) like the granny square. It must have something to do with my childhood?

On a sadder note, I lost one of my thrummed mittens that I made a few years ago. It is now somewhere between Soho and DUMBO. But really, who's the dumbo? The good news is that I have another set of thrummed mitts ready to be knit up. These will be in the blue family. The old ones were in the green family. Boy those mittens were warm :(

By the way, I bought a pair of Easy Tone sneakers by Reebok. I've worn them for two days (three if you count today, but I didn't do anything all day). I haven't slept this well in years! Could it possibly be the shoes? They are supposed to work the muscles in your butt, hamstrings and calved. Hello butt, I feel you! But if a side effect of my new sneaks is better sleep. Count me as a fan!

Don't know what the next project will be. I might make a little sweater to go with the blanket. Or I might not? Not sure....I'll be sure to let you know.

Crappy Crochet

2010-01-10T19:43:00.002-05:00

I'm a pretty crappy crochet-er. Seriously. I don't get the whole ch 5 = 3 dc, 2 ch...blah, blah...But I do sometimes like the idea of crochet. Like today for instance.

I need to knit a little something for an acquaintance that is having a baby. It's the kind of acquaintance that I really don't have to knit something for. I mean we are friendly but I never see her. But since I'm a knitter and I NEVER get to knit for babies, I thought I'd do something. This is NOT what I had in mind! However, I'm enjoying it.

I had some Araucania nature cotton in my stash. Probably not enough for a blanket. I also have that Nature cotton stuff by (I can't remember who makes it) but it's everywhere in natural colors. Between the two I think I'll have enough. I have no idea why I started with the granny square. The girl is pretty retro. Very Susie Homemaker. Kind of 50's ish. So I guess I thought the granny square might be nice. Plus for some other unknown reason...I like granny squares!

I opted for one giant granny square instead of a bunch of little ones. This way I'll know how much yarn I have and when I should switch color. I have this color which is actually not orange but more of a salmon. I have a very sweet light green and the off white. So round and round I go with the salmon. Then I guess I'll switch to the off white and finish off with the green. I hope it turns out ok!

A few pieces from the past year

2010-01-03T20:22:00.002-05:00

I can't remember the VK issue that this was in. I was knitting it over the summer. So maybe it was in the fall issue? I don't know. It was super fun to knit. NO SLEEVES! Every little bit there would be a change. Cast on, ribbing. Change to pockets. Change to intarsia. Change to shaping. change to....you get the idea. They had me add the fur trim around the hood. I personally would not want fur around my hood but either way. It was a really easy knit.

Again, not sure what issue this showed up in. And again, really fun to knit. Obviously it's a bit more complicated than the one above but equally fun and interesting. As I recall this knit up really quickly.

And here is a photo of my sister -in- law's sweater. Currently it has a GIANT collar on it that I haven't figured out exactly how to secure it to the rest of the sweater. I also had the button bands on but then took them off. Wasn't crazy about how they looked.

I'm hoping to get this thing F I N I S H E D before her birthday in March!

Back to the City

2010-01-03T14:01:00.001-05:00

I forgot my phone and my knitting.

It's been snowing.

I could have used both.

I'll be home in a few hours.

A new kind of thinking

2009-12-30T18:59:00.003-05:00

Now that the sweater is finished I have nothing to do.

I thought I was going to be SUPER busy working on some fashion week stuff but I - for the first time ever - said no to the project! I feel so relieved. The project was doomed from the start. The timing was bad. The direction was unclear at best. And I just didn't want to deal with designer angst (hers not mine). So I said no.

I feel so liberated! I feel so guilty! I feel so liberated! I feel so guilty!

I'm going to give this new thinking a try. Maybe if I say no to a few projects along the way I won't be so insane all of the time. I'm getting really tired of juggling!

So, now that I have some free time I think I'll graft the underarms of a sweater I made last year. And maybe, just maybe I'll actually knit the button band onto a gorgeous sweater that I made a year ago for my sister in law for her birthday (obviously I missed it!) I'll post a few pics when I finish them!

I also need to make a couple of hats for a friend. Some really AWESOME hats. Innovative, cleaver, gorgeous, unique, hats. Pics to come.

On a sad note, I'm shocked by how many yarn stores have closed. So many stores opened in the early 00's. It was alarming then. I couldn't believe that NYC could sustain so many shops. But now the reality of rent, inventory and a crappy economy have settled in, people just don't have the kind of discretionary income needed to buy really expensive yarn. I don't buy yarn that often. When I do it's usually Jade Sapphire cashmere (because I can't get enough of it in my life). So I don't frequent local yarn stores often. But I like knowing that they are there in case I need something. The other day when my son was having his teeth put back together I wanted to grab a couple of dpns. and I remembered a little yarn store around the corner from the dentist's office. I got there and it was GONE. It had been there since the late 80's. Now it's a dutch book store. Really?

Anyway, happy New Year. I'm going to Montauk where eating, drinking and knitting are on the agenda!

A Minor Alteration

2009-12-29T08:51:00.003-05:00

The drama is over. The teeth are restored (bonded for a couple of years).

Christmas came and went.

Soho has been a mad house for 2 days. Honestly I've never seen it so crowded on broadway between Houston and Broome. I guess everyone is determined to bring up those retail sales!!

The down and dirty quickie sweater is finished! Well, I actually just need to graft the underarms. I'm also adding two inches to the bottom. I'm accomplishing this by snipping the rolled bottom edge, knitting backwards and now knitting down for the intended distance. I'll be done within the hour. It fits perfectly! So though it wasn't done in time for Christmas, it is finished and it is being received with a smile!

Get this...

2009-12-24T08:32:00.001-05:00

I'm working with Irina, the winner of Project Runway on her knitwear for fashion week. Pretty crazy!

More to come...

All I want for Christmas!

2009-12-23T08:00:00.002-05:00

Well, I hit a road bump yesterday with the sweater!

My son knocked his 2 front teeth out at school. So I had to deal with all of "that"! Emergency dental work, worrying about a concussion, etc, etc. He's a little sore today but oh to be a kid. Boy, they just bounce back.

Anyway, so I'm back on the sweater this morning. I have 2" to go until the underarm. I've mapped out the sleeves (sort of) and then the raglan. So basically, I'm where I left off yesterday! waaaaa!

Maybe I WILL be able to finish this sweater!

2009-12-22T12:08:00.002-05:00

Here we have 3 balls completed. It's measuring in at just over 12". If I knit up one more ball that will make the body just over 16" to the underarm. That sounds good to me. I'll then start on the sleeves. Once they are knit up I'll just join all the pieces and work on the raglan decreases. Then I think I'll do a mock turtleneck. and bam, I'm finished!

The only problem is that I'm working tonight and tomorrow night which means NO KNITTING! I'm feeling pretty good about this though. I'm staying positive (for now).

Not much to see

2009-12-21T12:47:00.003-05:00

Well, instead of writing the pattern last night I decided to stay up and watch Mission Impossible 2. Don't ask me why!

So this morning I grabbed my size 6 circulars and cast on the guesstimated # of stitches. I didn't want to waste my time with a gauge swatch so I listened to the ball band did a simple multiplication task and came up with the hypothetical # of stitches to cast on.

An inch or so into the knitting I grabbed my gauge reader and realized I was about 3.75" too narrow in my circumference. Hmmmm. I got out the 8 circs and continued on. I'm now at gauge (I think). I've decided that if the bottom inch is too snug I'll just snip those stitches off and knit down from where the 8's started. SIMPLE! FAST! If the recipient loves that the bottom goes in a little and keeps the sweater down then that's awesome too.

I'm thinking that I don't have enough yarn. I'm almost finished with one ball and I think I'll have about 3.5" (maybe 4") per ball. I'm guessing I'll need about a ball and a half per arm which will leave me with 7 balls for the body... 7 x 3.5 = 24.5". If I could get closer to 4" per ball then I should have just enough. For now I think I'll keep knitting.

I hate ribbed cuffs and ribbed sweater bottoms. I hate that the sweater goes in under the belly and creates this weird shape. I much prefer a jersey roll where it's that same circumference as the rest of the sweater body. This sweater will definitely go in at the bottom. I'm kind of interested to see what it looks like. I'll probably hate it though!

Off to work.

I'm Starting a Sweater

2009-12-21T00:28:00.002-05:00

that I plan on finishing by Christmas!! It's 12:28am Monday morning....I wonder if I can do it....

I'll be knitting it in the round (obviously). It will be B A S I C ... No frills, No cables, No big, crazy collars, nothing. Just some delicious cashmere, merino, silk blend in a nice oatmealy tweed on about a size 6 needle.

The two VK pieces are being delivered tomorrow. All the parties at work have happened. I just have to work during the day tomorrow and then Tuesday and Wednesday night. We'll see just how far I get with this sweater. I'm off to design it now. Then bed. I'll start knitting in the morning.

Stay tuned.

And wouldn't you know

2009-12-18T09:40:00.002-05:00

As soon as I get back on the blog a VK preview comes out!

This is a fun knit because it's made using tons and tons of short rows. It's actually a nice pattern to practice them on. Plus there is a fun little thing that you do where you take the yarn over the needle and spread the stitches and create a nice detail. Easy + simple.

381 Days Later...

2009-12-17T10:14:00.007-05:00

About this time last year I left my old job because my employer couldn't seem to pay me with real checks. They preferred ones made out of rubber! I fortunately had a few connections and a decent reputation in the industry and seamlessly ended up at my new residence! I agreed, finally, to becoming the boss and it's been a rough year getting things in order but I'm sailing in calmer waters now! And since the waters are calm I decided to take on another bail out situation. This one is more recent and it's not so rocky. Same employer, two locations, one gal. Oy!

As for the knitting, I have to be honest, it's been spotty. I've continued to do a piece in each of the Vogue issues since I was last here. Or most of them anyway. Sometimes it's super stressful but at the end of the day I love it! I'm currently working on 2 little things that are due on Monday. Of course I "lost" one of them yesterday somewhere between Dumbo (in Brooklyn) and Soho (in manhattan). But crisis averted, the bag was found!

But here's the real reason I'm back on the blog....I was riding uptown on the 1 train the other day. I looked up and saw the cutest beret on a girl standing in the doorway. (To be honest, I didn't love the color but the hat was SUPER cute). So I'm sort of staring at her in that creepy trance-like way. The train pulls into the Houston St. stop and as she's exiting I realize.....That's my pattern from the Knit.1 cover last year!!!!! So cute! It looked great (well, again to be honest, she could have used a bulkier yarn but really, who cares besides me?). It was pretty cool. So that got me thinking and I headed over to Ravelry (another 381 day lapse) to check out things...interesting what's happened over there in 381 days! phwew!

So here I am on the interweb. I'll upload some photos as soon as blackberry fixes their nationwide problem.

The photo up top is a wreath that I made. The nice man at the Christmas Tree pop up sidewalk store wanted 250.00 for a real wreath that would get all dried out and become a fire hazard. So for 10.00 he sold me the frame. I wrapped it up in some lights and voila! an awesome wreath!

I know, I know

2008-12-02T11:57:00.002-05:00

I've been a little M.I.A. lately.

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. I worked but then headed out of the city to the beach for a couple of days (a day and a half, really). It was nice to get away and spend a little time with friends. I haven't really had any time off to speak of in a while so I tried to enjoy it.

My job is in turmoil. Although since I'm writing on this blog it must be pretty much worked out. I've been insane for a couple of months. Yes, MONTHS. crazy, right? But now I think I've sorted everything out.

OK, the photo above is THE COVER of Knit.1 magazine. How cool is that? It's a gorgeous pink Malabrigo beret. It's a SUPER EASY knit. I'm not kidding. I knit it up on the downtown train. I swear. SUPER EASY! The magazine comes out next week (maybe Dec. 16?). So be sure to get one. From the website it looks like there are some really cute patterns. Check it out.

I'm also working on a couple of sweaters that are due in a week or two. I've been seriously neglecting them because of my work drama. But I'm back. I have a sleeve to go on one and then the whole sweater of the other. It should be fine. I'm pretty fast.

I'd kind of like to be knitting some simple hats and scarves but I'll wait until the sweaters are finished. I don't really like working on multiple projects at a time. I forget to write down what I did and then I can't write up a pattern or repeat whatever it was on the other side...

Anyway, hope all is well. Spend wisely this holiday season. Don't get into debt. Keep your head up. And a smile on your face!

Hemlock Finished!

2008-10-21T10:07:00.002-04:00

Hemlock Ring is finished blocking. It's dry. It's folded up and ready to be delivered to Tanis.

In the meantime, I can't get the collar right on this sweater. Grrrrr. I'm on my 3rd version. I'm kind of stumped at this point. I'm about to rip out a few rows of this current version to see if that will help things. I tried doubling it and seaming it on the inside but it looked like a ruff. I undid the seam and folded it out like a normal collar and it looked B A D. Just kind of girlie. Then this one. But it's still not right. So I'll try it a few rows shorter....

It's a man's argyle sweater, duh. It doesn't exactly fit on my dress form. The color is correct in the photo above. So once I figure out the collar. I just have to add the button bands and the skinny little triangles that connect the larger triangle. I should be finished in about an hour. If the collar works.

But even with the collar problems, I love this sweater. It's a nice oversized man's sweater. I was going to put in a zipper but I've changed my mind. It's going to have buttons. I'll be making a trip down to M & J to get some awesome ones.

Blocking Hemlock Ring

2008-10-19T14:50:00.004-04:00

I finished Hemlock Ring. Yikes!! What a bind off. Buckle in for that one. It takes FOR E VER! But It's finished. And it looks just like it's supposed to!

It's lovely. I would personally prefer something twice as big. I was using a 40" needle at the end and it still could have been longer. Those stitches really add up. I went to the end of the charted pattern. And then did the curly bind off.

Sorry for the picnic effect. I needed something to put between the yarn and the rug while blocking.

I'll take another photo when it's dry. All in all I'm happy. Like I said it's really very easy and quick. I used 2 full skeins of eco wool and knit it up on size 10's. Fast. Easy. Warm. Perfect.

I Can See the Finish Line!

2008-10-17T12:59:00.002-04:00

I'm still knitting away on Hemlock Ring. Yesterday I was on round 97...

Today I'm on round 110. I'm only knitting to round 115. Seems like such a small number of rounds left. But I think at this point each round has about 500 stitches. YIKES! I've actually COMPLETED 110 rounds. I'm getting ready to leave for work so the ride downtown will give me another round and a half (maybe). 112 is an increase round. So the last three will be even longer! Then the fancy bind off. I think that's going to have to wait until sunday or monday. I only skimmed the directions but it's kind of like bind off one, knit 7 into 1 stitch, bind off 7....or something like that. It's not just bind off all (gagillion) stitches. What evs.

All in all this is a SUPER EASY knit. I would recommend anyone who wants to take a stab at "lace" to try it out. E A S Y!! And it only really takes a few days to complete.

Tanis knows that I making this for her. I had to ask her how many rounds she knit. So the sooner I get it finished. The sooner she gets it!

On a sad note, I won't be attending Rhinebeck AGAIN this year....It's going to be an absolutely gorgeous weekend. I have to work Saturday night and then host a birthday dinner on Sunday night. So I cancelled. Waaaaaaaa. I REALLY wanted to go this year. Oh well. It's probably better to save my money given the state of the economy right now.

Have a nice weekend. Hopefully I'll have a finished Hemlock Ring next time!

Hemlock Ring

2008-10-14T09:45:00.002-04:00

I started Hemlock Ring two days ago. Yesterday I realized that I'd made a mistake and ripped the whole thing. I was on row 72. I then cast on again and now I'm on row 77. Obviously it's zipping right along. It's a very easy pattern particularly if you switch it around and follow Brooklyntweed's revised pattern. He basically has it laid out so that each repeat is between markers. The original pattern has the repeats straddling markers. Very odd.

This is the first time that I'm actually using my Stitch Minder. It's pretty cool. As long as I remember to click the round # after each round. It's awesome. But clearly there is a LOT of room for human error. Like, uh, did I mark that round? hmmm.

I'll take a pic of the blanket when I'm finished.

Phwew, that's was a busy few weeks....

2008-10-06T13:48:00.002-04:00

I never showed a finished photo of this. It's a little wonky because it's been worn - a few times.

Here's the back. I used seed st. for the collar and button bands. I used short rows to round the collar after about 3" of straing kntting.

It was a total breeze to knit. I made it up as I went along. It was inspired by a cute Marc Jacobs sweater that I saw on someone at work.

I knit this one based on a little shrug someone had on. It opens on the side. I'm waiting on some more yarn (Berroco Pure Merino Heathers) so that I can finish the collar. I'll be ripping out the existing button band and knitting it to include the collar. Therefore I have to knit the collar first and then the bands.

It's going to be an oversized 1x1 ribbed collar. Then the button bands. Then the buttons.

I've been totally insane the past few weeks. With work - the other one. It's KILLING me. But I feel like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I seriously hope it's not a train!

Uh, I think I might have to knit something called Hemlock. Tanis at VK knit one over the past month during her lunch breaks....I told her that I block everything by washing it in my washer (on delicate in cold water)....and she should try it. Well, you guessed it. She did it over the weekend and now her Hemlock is a doilie. It felted. I can't believe it...I feel horrible! So maybe I should just crank one out.

Hey, that's cute!

2008-09-27T14:58:00.003-04:00

The Vogue Knitting Preview is up on their website....

I have this cute design in it!

Trimming Decided

2008-09-15T08:33:00.001-04:00

I've decided on a trim for the Marc Jacobs inspired sweater. Simple. Easy. Moss st. For the collar I'm going to turn and NOT wrap. Blasphemy, I know. But I like it. I think it will be a wide peter pan collar.

I'm just waiting for the body and sleeves to dry. I'll sew it together and then get kickin on the finishing.

In the meantime, I have been studying new drinks for work. We are implementing a whole new Beverage Program at work. What a nightmare!! We are moving to Classic Cocktails. Jiggering. Glacier Ice. Kold Draft ice machine. Yee ha.

Tidying Up

2008-09-09T09:37:00.003-04:00

I finished up the green seamless sweater. No excitement there. It grew after blocking which explains my gauge issues. (Which I secretly thought would happen, yay!) It's fine. It's ugly but not soooo ugly. Enough said...

I'm adding an edging to a project for knit.1. Easy peasy. I have half of it finished. I'll finish that up this morning before I go to work.

I'll knit up the the other sleeve to the Marc Jacobs inspired cardi on the train. I'll redo the other sleeve. Then I'll concoct a collar. I have some ideas.

Then what should I do. Oh yes, the male sweater. eh. maybe. I don't know that I feel like knitting with tweed right now. Or maybe I just REALLY want to knit those Vinterblomster Mittens. I have to find the proper yarn. I know that one of my colors is a metallic pink that Tanis at VK gave me. I think it might do a chocolate brown and a green. But I'm not sure. Everytime that I'm in a yarn store I don't have the pattern or the notes giving me suggested gauge.

There is a new beverage program going into effect at work so I'm supposed to be studying up on that. I may be distracted for a few days! but ususally that just makes me knit more!

Have a nice day.

Grafting, Weaving and Blocking

2008-09-06T11:55:00.002-04:00

Well, the ugly sweater is finished. Except for grafting the underarms, weaving in ends and blocking. And believe it or not it's not that ugly! Snap! It fits a much smaller person that I intended. Did I mention I had gauge issues?

I'll take a better photo when it really is totally finished. But I have to say this couldn't have been easier. I enjoy seaming my garments but in this case, eh. I can do without. I definitely understand why people only knit seamless pieces. I'll have to explore this further. Maybe I'll try a seamless sweater with set in sleeves. It can be done, right?

So, a box of yarn showed up at my door...

2008-09-04T10:33:00.004-04:00

I received a box of yarn in the mail. It had this relatively UGLY yarn in it. 16 balls of it to be exact. 87 yards each. Instead of swatching for the man sweater like I intended, I brought my size 13 needles and this is what I ended up with after my commute....A sweater? Really?

I'm slightly confused as to the gauge but I'm just going to make a bottom up seamless sweater. It will fit someone. (Although It's kind of ugly.) It's actually a little better in person but not much!

Stay tuned.

I actually did swatch a little. Though you can't really see it here. I was just messing around with an 18 stitch braid. I wasn't really counting rows so it's slightly haphazard.

but whatev...I've figured out the design already so when I finish the swamp surprise sweater above, I'll start in on it!

Not so much

2008-09-02T13:48:00.002-04:00

Well, I didn't finish this sweater like I thought I would over the weekend. I thought for sure on the train out to the Hamptons I'd get most of it finished. I had to stand all of the way to Bridgehampton. So no knitting!

Once I arrived it just didn't work out like I planned. I was only able to knit on my way home last night. Which was totally fine.

I'm a knucklehead, I forgot to switch to larger needles after the ribbing on the sleeve. So, I think I'll do the second sleeve the correct way and then compare.

Also, I feel like the collar bind off is too high in front. and perhaps the shoulders are too high.

But the back is lovely. Unless I lower the shoulders in which case I'd have to redo a couple of rows on the back. No biggie.

The larger question looming is what to do on the collar. And what to do on the button band. I'm thinking stockinette. But again....not sure.

I'm actually thinking about a rounded collar that uses short rows and I wouldn't hide the turns. So it would create a line of small holes???? Might be nice against the stitch pattern of the body...?????

and the button band...it needs to be sturdy that's all I know right now. I don't want a flimsy button band or collar. Both need to support the body.

In the meantime, while I'm thinking about that, I'm going to swatch two yarns today for a sweater for a man. It's going to be done in the round. Very straightforward. It will have a relatively large center cable that works it's way all the way up to the the bind off of the mock turtleneck. I'll show you what I mean next time.

And More Progress!

2008-08-29T11:27:00.002-04:00

Such a fun knit! I could knit the body of this sweater for days!

But it looks like I'm at the armholes

I have to decide on a closure treatment...I was thinking of a 1x1 button band but now I'm not sure. Maybe I'll do some kind of a stockinette version - maybe with a facing?

And the collar? stockinette too?

I'll be heading out to the beach for the weekend. This is of course coming with me. I'm sure I'll be making some headway.

Have a nice, long weekend.

Progress!

2008-08-28T11:44:00.001-04:00

Progress on my sweater!

I'm knitting it in one piece. Kind of designing on the fly. I have a very good idea of what I'm doing but just in case it wants to be something different....I'm open!

However, I love it so far. It's exactly what I imagined. (Which is always a bonus!)

I love the yarn too. Bamboo/Silk. The feel, the drape, the color. WINNER!

I just watched all of the DNC speeches back to back. Great job!

New Projects

2008-08-26T12:18:00.003-04:00

I finished the Garter Stitch Blanket...I haven't taken a photo of it yet. Let me just say that it's HUGE and it's HEAVY! But it's done!!

I showed the red swatch the other day of the openwork leaf pattern. I liked it. I didn't love it. So I went stash diving and found some Ella Rae Bamboo Silk. I have a bag of it. Which means I have 900 meters. Again, I hope I have enough yarn.

I'm thinking of something like this....This is VERY rough. Basically it will be a openwork leaf pattern body with ribbing around it.

Here's the swatch of the new yarn....

I like it better. The drape is amazing....

It's heavier than the other swatch I did but I think that will just open up the stitches better.

My quick project for Knit Simple is currently in the washer getting a soak. It was a lot of garter st. But it's also finished! I'm going to block it today and work on the finishing tomorrow.

In the meantime, I'll be starting this sweater today on my way to work. I can't wait!

Blocking and Swatching

2008-08-22T11:57:00.003-04:00

The knitting is finished. It looks great. I'm just waiting for all of the pieces to dry so that I can seam this baby together.

It's roughly 64" x 94".... That's big!

I ran out of one of the colors so I had to improvise at a corner. I think it's fine. I'm actually going to switch one of the segments around so that the colors work a little better. But all in all, it's great. And it's finished.....It's a really boring knit at this size. I think as a baby blanket it could be super cute.

So just the seaming and the i-cord edging are left. It will probably take up a lot of time but I'm happy about no more garter stitch for a while.

While it's drying, I've swatched for my Marc Jacobs inspired cardi....

I'm using a silk/merino blend from my stash!!!! Hopefully I'll have enough yarn. I have a bag of 10 balls but each ball is only 85 meters. However, it's going to have short sleeves and it's a lace pattern....Plus it's going to be a size small. I think it should be fine. I'm trying to use up every scrap of each yarn that I pull out of the stash. So this should be good for that!

I'll be sketching on my way to work tonight. But the swatch is exactly as I planned. It's just a basic Openwork Leaf Pattern from A Treasury of Knitting...(the blue one). This photo stinks. I'm really happy with the way the swatch looks!

I also pickd up a quick knit for Knit Simple. GARTER STITCH! ugh. Oh well. The yarn they gave me smells like perfume. Weird.

Going for Gold!

2008-08-15T12:47:00.002-04:00

Sheer Determination is pushing me along.

I've complete the first of two Section B's.

I can't fit all of the pieces in this photo. This thing is BIG!!

I'm looking forward to blocking and seaming. Well I'm looking forward to starting and finishing the last piece but after that I can't wait to do the finishing. Seaming Garter stitch is like a dream come true. I'm thinking I'll just do mattress st. like Elizabeth Zimmerman suggests but I may play around with some other options. But most likely I'll put on a good movie (or the olympics), get out my trusty needle and start sewing away. Good times. SOON.

Keep on Knitting, Baby!

2008-08-13T12:01:00.002-04:00

I'm over half way through the first of two Piece B's.

I'm pretty sure I'll NEVER make this again!

I mean, I would really, really have to like someone A LOT to knit all of this garter stitch again!

My fellow subway riders clearly think I've LOST MY MIND.

B O R I N G

2008-08-12T12:52:00.003-04:00

OK, so maybe this wouldn't have been a good knitting olympics project. I'll be done in a couple of days. However, I could pass out from boredom before I get to the end....

I'm on the 1st piece of Section B....It forms half of the outside section. UGH! (and it never ends!)

I'm not a huge fan of garter stitch. And though I don't have a photo, I switched to stockinette at some point last night and had to rip back about 20 rows. D'uh! I guess I knit on autopilot. I'm shocked that I'm actually purling the last st and slipping the first st on every row - without watching or thinking. CrAzY, that mind of mine...

Anyway, these crappy photos show a matching corner - section A on the inside and B on the outside.

The color difference between Section A and Section B

And another random shot

Yes, the pattern is easy. And yes, the pattern is genius. But NO I DON'T LOVE IT! (Blasphemy, I know!)

I'll be VERY happy when I'm finished. If I had it in me, I'd stop now and move on to my Marc Jacobs inspired cardi. But it's OLYMPIC time and there will be no quitting! I'm not even pulling that pretty red cashmere out of its hiding place...

How about this beauty...

It's from the Fall 08 collection of Chanel. Pretty lovely...Loving the pintucks....hmmmmm.

EZ's Knitted Garter Stitch Blanket

2008-08-11T10:15:00.002-04:00

I finally went through my stash last week due to inquiries on Ravelry about some stashed yarn. And I have to say it was well worth the time. While I was looking for the yarns in question I was also looking for any unfinished projects that I had buried. I found the yarn and surprisingly I only found 1 unfinished project! Snap! The bad news is that I've used up the yarn for the project. It's a beautiful blanket using Aurora 8. The good news it that I can get the yarn anywhere! And I'm pretty far along. Maybe 1/2 way??

While I was in the boxes I found a ton of EcoWool remnants. Enough actually for the Knitted Garter Stitch Blanket from the Opinionated Knitter(I think I have enough??!). A blanket I've been wanting to make for a long time. I just haven't had the time in the past few....years?

I cast on the other day. Maybe the day the Olympics started. And I've completed both Piece A's. The smaller of the two sections. They form the inside of the blanket.

When turning the corner the options were to just knit and turn the piece around and work back, leaving the holes that are created or wrapping and turning. I got the impression that EZ just turned in a very no muss no fuss sort of way. So that's what I did.

Creating a little design feature at the corners. Giving a little definition. Oddly refreshing to knit. Boring garter stitch and then suddenly some action at the corners! lovely!

The yarn has created a super squishy, gorgeous, warm, BIG piece of knitting.

Because I have all of these remnants I was able to find colors that are one shade different. So the center pieces (A) will be the lightest. While the outer pieces (B) will be one shade darker and then the border will be one, maybe two shades darker than that. I think it will be really pretty. Plus because of the garter stitch-ness there will be natural shading happening. I have no idea what I'm making this blanket for. I don't need it. I don't have anyone to give it to. I think I'm just making room in my stash!

I guess I could have signed on to one of the knitting olympic sites. Because I did start this on opening ceremony day. eh, whatever.....

Oh, I've increased my stitches from the designated 24 to 36. My gauge was different than EZ's due to my yarn choice. (Actually, I'm assuming my gauge was different but I didn't do a swatch) So I upped the stitches. Thus knitting 36 ridges instead of the 24. It's very simple, this pattern. Anyone could knit it. I mean why knit a scarf when you can get a beautiful blanket?

I was at work the other night and someone came in with a very pretty sweater on. It turned out to be a Marc Jacobs cashmere beauty from a few seasons ago. I've sketched my own little version of it and will be swatching in a few days (after I finish the blanket, of course.) I have some red cashmere in my stash (found it the other day) that I'd really like to unload. Seems like the perfect pattern. It's a lace -y -ish sweater with some solid ribbing to hold it's shape....More to come on that.

Photos on the dress form...

2008-08-06T10:03:00.001-04:00

I just took a couple of photos of the blocked dress.

This is the back:

The side:

And the front:

"I'm Taking The Train" dress

2008-08-06T09:05:00.002-04:00

I started taking the train home at night after work. I decided that since I get out of work so much earlier now than in the past that I would try it out. Well, guess what? it's super easy and it only takes about an extra 20 minutes. AND I save 30.00! Since I started saving 30.00 I decided to start my own matched savings program. I now add another 30.00 to my tin can whenever I take the train. So, that's $60 every night that I take the train. If I work 5 nights. Yes, I save 300.00....Cash!! Sweet!!

I decided to knit a dress. And I decided that I would only knit it on my way home on the train. It's a very rough version of a Rebecca pattern. I used my bag of black Rowan Calmer. I never got near gauge so I just winged it. Here's the bottom. A pretty simple stitch pattern.

And here it is finished. I thought I had some pictures of it on my dress form. Hmmm.

I'm now working on a REALLY CUTE hat for knit.1. I'm using a gorgeous pink/light raspberry color of Manos. I can't wait to show pictures of that.

I'm also about to start working on a blanket that I started a year or two ago. I have a bunch of squares completed. I'll take some pictures and post them.

I'm Still here!

2008-07-20T10:24:00.003-04:00

The Master Cleanse has literally wiped me out. I haven't had the energy nor the inclination to do ANYTHING. All I want to do is sleep. I'm on day 11. I actually feel ok today. But it's been a seriously rough 10 days! I worked 8 of them and that was horrible.

The only good news is that I started knitting a dress that coincides with starting the cleanse. I'll try to get some photos. I'm using Calmer in black so I'm not sure if I'll get anything that shows detail. I think it's going to be cute but am a little concerned about gauge. I was too tired to do anything about it. I've started at the bottom so if there is too much fabric when I get to the empire waist area, I'll just figure it out....I'll probably run out of yarn before I get there though. I had a bag of 10 but my stitch pattern is eating up the yarn....

I'm FINALLY handing off the cardigan for VK tomorrow. I should be writing the pattern right now but I don't want to! I just wrote up most of it but there are some problems. When I graded it up for the larger sizes I messed up the back neck measurement so everything is off. I have to rework the shoulder BO. Easy but yet I don't want to do it.

This just came to my inbox yesterday. A Fall Preview for VK. This is a Rebecca Taylor cardi/shrug that I reinterpreted for VK. I was given the actual Rebecca Taylor sample and was asked to recreate it for handknitting. Here it is. I'll look and see if I have photos of the actual sample. I think I do. It's knit in Lacey Lamb. A delightful (yet pilly) laceweight yarn.

I'll try to be back more often. I feel some knitting coming on. So I'll have lots to show....

Already?

2008-06-21T12:30:00.002-04:00

A Sleeve and a Cap

2008-06-11T08:06:00.002-04:00

Well, it worked! I have a sleeve cap. That's the good news.

I think the sleeve is actually the right length too! (although the whole thing looks squished in this photo)

The bad new is that now I have to replicate it on the other side.

There might be some width issues in the cap but I think I've prevented any major problems by adding a teeny bit of length to the overall cap. So We'll see. I'm cool with redoing the whole sleeve. Well, obviously since it's worked top to bottom I'd have to redo the entire sleeve. But it's a relatively quick knit. I'm pretty stoked that it worked on my first try.

Another neon indicator that swatching works...

Finally!

2008-06-09T11:09:00.002-04:00

I finally started knitting today. I have totally been playing hooky from the project that's due in less than a week. I don't know what happened but I totally fell off the wagon! It's not that I haven't been thinking about it. Oh, I have! I just couldn't get the mojo going. I'm feeling pretty motivated. I've done all of the math. I've made all of the swatches...Now if the knitting gods are kind to me I can whip this sweater out in a few days and make the deadline! Once I finish this I have a couple of personal pieces to knit...which I'm seriously looking forward to. I feel like I haven't done my own stuff in so long. (plus, Vinterbloms with metallic pink yarn???!!!)

The weirdest thing happened to me last week. I received two fed ex packages with yarn in them. I didn't order any yarn -- I'm almost off yarn consumption because I have about a barnful of yarn in my apartment that I probably will never get to the bottom of in my lifetime!! I don't know who sent them. I don't recognize the companies. One of the boxes was full of some new prototypes for some new company (I'm guessing). And since I don't know who sent it I feel like I can say it is total crap. Acrylic blends? Faux organic labelling? I mean can anything acrylic really be organic? It's slightly offensive to jump on the "green" bandwagon for crapp acrylic blen yarn sales. That box will be headed off to a school for the kids to knit with. I try to supply them with really great yarn but I'll give it to the youngest knitters who are super rough on the yarn. They will love the colors and I've found that color over content wins every time with them!

The other box was filled with cashmere! soy/silk blend! the softest baby blue merino! and I'm forgetting the 4th. But a BAG of each yarn. 10 BALLS! A SWEATER PER BAG! WHO SENT THIS TO ME? all I can say is...Thanks. really. thank you. I seriously don't need any yarn but hooo-ya it's nice to get it! While I'm knitting for the next 3 days I'll think of how to use this new yarn. Maybe the sender will come calling and want to see samples? And maybe I'll be ready??

In other news, I went to the Joffrey Ballet's Spring Workshop last night. It was held at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU. It was pretty amazing. Everyone from the tiniest little ballerinas to professional dancers were there dancing. It was seriously impressive. They danced to Mendelsohn, Tchaikovsky, Prince, the Fray, Schubert, and a bunch of others that I can't remember. I can't really equate this to a normal ballet recital because it was so much more. And the dancing was...well, so much more. What does a ballet recital look like from a suburban ballet school? Would it be this impressive?? I know mine weren't! I overheard some of the girls talking about the Nutcracker - as in they had been in THE Nutcracker. I guess they were about 10ish. Can you imagine? Can professional dancing ever live up to that?

I forgot these...

2008-06-04T11:18:00.002-04:00

I think I need to make this...

Hoods are a total pain in the neck. but this one looks good. I know a machine did it but still...

Definitely out of cashmere

And there was something about this that I sort of liked...

except, ewww...

Got it!

2008-06-04T11:04:00.002-04:00

During the "pre-service" meeting yesterday at work I figured out my sleeve issues. I always seem to figure out my knitting problems while I'm sitting around the communal table before we open for dinner. hmmmm.

Anyway, here it is...I'm going to work my sleeve below the sleeve cap for an inch. Then I'll increase 3 sts every other row for 4". I'll work 2" even. Then decrease 3 sts for 4". Then an inch even. Voila! I should have a normal looking sleeve and be able to set it into the body.

This is a dinky sample of a couple of the sleeve cables and the 3st inc every other row.

Hopefully my math isn't fuzzy and my knitting will actually look like my numbers?

But it looks like the beginning of a sleeve cap, right?

THE SHOES CAME!
The Dansko's were delivered on Monday during service. I was off. When I got to work yesterday the kitchen staff that was working had already dug into the box and claimed theirs. Pretty funny. I have to get a photo of everyone before the shoes look like....well, shoes that are worn in a commercial kitchen.

Dansko is totally awesome for doing this. Everyone in the kitchen is totally appreciative and happy with their new shoes! Thank you, LeAnne!!

What do you think?

2008-06-02T22:05:00.003-04:00

Can I make a sleeve cap when working a sleeve shoulder to wrist? by increasing each rs shoulder edge? until I get to the center - work even and then decrease back down the other side?

That should work, right. If my row gauge can equal my rate of sleeve cap shaping, yes?

What am I not getting? Will it really work that easily? a simple increase and decrease?

hmmmmmmm........

anyone?

No New News

2008-05-30T12:04:00.003-04:00

I dropped off the yellow cropped pullover the other day. (Can't show photos) It sure turned out cute! When I was at the VK offices I saw the (not sure which issue) photo of the Rebecca Taylor lace cardi that I knit. The photo looks pretty great! I can't wait to see the actual printed issue. It's always so fun to see how they style it!

I've ripped out the new cardigan that I'm working on. I mindlessly knit about 14" too many. Huh? Well, actually, I forgot to do some shaping and it totally wasn't going to work. So I ripped (for the 2nd time) the thing. I've reknit back to where I was - almost. It's a really EASY knit. I'm slightly concerned about the sleeves. But I'll write about that when I get to them! I haven't figured them out quite yet. They will be knit cuff to shoulder - vertically - the length of the sleeve instead of the normal horizontal method. ???????

In other non-news, I went hiking in Montauk on Sunday. I found a deer tick on me yesterday..full of blood... GROOOOOOOSSSSSS! I got it out of me but now I'm a little freaked about getting sick. Of course I have a sore throat, headache, stuffy nose and I'm completely exhausted.....It was an awesome hike and there is NO WAY I'll ever do it again. I was covered up head to toe. Almost no skin exposed. And the ticks are really, really, really tiny. I can't handle the creep factor so better to stick to the beach hikes.

Oh, no update on the Dansko situation. I think they are probably just gathering all the different shoes up and will send them out to the kitchen soon??? I can't wait. I wore mine to work 2 nights ago with a pair of slightly thick socks. NO BUENO! So I can't wait for mine either!! hahaha. (The other day, Tanis at Vogue had the same patent leather clogs on as me! wow!)

That's all. Off to my meeting....

Wow!

2008-05-24T13:23:00.002-04:00

Here's the latest in my ongoing Shoe Issues:

I wrote about my Dansko issue a week or two ago. That I LOVE my patent leather Dansko clogs but that they absolutely were killing my feet at work. WELL.......

LeAnne from Dansko left a comment suggesting that perhaps I'd been put in the wrong size. And that I should send her an email to discuss. I KNOW, CRAZY, RIGHT? Why is LeAnne reading my silly little blog?

Well, I did get in touch. I explained where I worked, what the "personality" was and how the entire kitchen staff kept seriously encouraging me to "break" in my shoes. Because they loved theirs and wanted me to love mine. Seriously. They took an interest!

Because LeAnne is like the sweetest, most amazing person ever, she thought it might be nice to send the entire kitchen staff a new pair of Dansko Shoes!!! Can you imagine how completely STOKED those crazy cooks were to here that??

She also is sending me a new pair - in the correct size! Huzzah!!!

We love LeAnne!!!!!

Happy Memorial Day! I'll be checking out the new Surf Lodge in Montauk. I have to work tonight but I'll be going out east after work! So, yeeeha, I'll be at the beach in the morning!!!!!! And having cocktails at the latest place to hit Montauk in like 30 years tomorrow night!

F/W '08

2008-05-22T13:26:00.002-04:00

A few of the handknits for fall:

Scarf:

Sweater using vinyl and satin tape:

Crazy satin tape skirt:

Giant square with huge horizontal cable across the back:

Strange hat with hanging yarn, vinyl, satin:

Cashmere/mohair turtleneck w/sleeves:

So,

2008-05-18T09:11:00.002-04:00

My swatch is perfect! It grew 1.5" in width once it was dry and it shrunk an inch in height. But I'm very happy with the total fabric. I'm going to get started on the front today and see where I end up. I'm working for someone tonight so I only have a few hours to knit. It's a pretty simple pattern so hopefully I'll make some headway. There are 2 garter sts in the middle of it and I seem to have a problem remembering to knit on the rs/ws... D'uh!!

My Dansko clogs are breaking in. I've been wearing them to work and I've totally been HATING them. But I've tried to have an open mind. And lo and behold there is some forward motion. They still kill the balls of my feet at the end of the night but everywhere else seems to be ok. Also, my Kork-ease (eaze?) are awesome for work. The only problem is that the toes are open and sometimes when I'm not being a neat freak, I get "stuff" on my toes - bartending stuff (alcohol, juices, whatever....grosssssssss). but I kind of love wearing them! I've tossed the crocs. They were absolutely HORRIBLE. Super Ugly, Super uncomfortable and too low to the ground!
And the ballet flats are well ballet flats. Nothing to write home about. They're fine. I never seem to wear them though.

Ok, off to knit a Left Front!

Take 2

2008-05-16T12:35:00.003-04:00

Ok, as promised, yesterday I went to Knitty City, Purl, and Kinokuniya. Oh, I also went to Knit New York. I had a feeling that I would be on my own in charting my cable. But I was interested in seeing any new books/yarn, whatever. Clearly the energy it took to get to all of these stores was way more than sitting down for 10 minutes and charting but whatev...

It was interesting. I was slightly disappointed in the Japanese books. They were kind of a reprint of the other books out there....They only had about 3 or 4 stitch books...one had 500, another 300 and one with 100 patterns. Nothing new in the cable sections. When I went to the yarn stores I was given the obvious books...Barbara Walker's, the Harmony Guides. I looked through some of the recent "cable" design books. Nothing new. But that was ok. I had fun.

When I got home I sat down and charted my sweet little 1x1 cable. It literally took about 5 minutes. I knit it up. Ripped it out. Knit it again. And ripped it out again. It wasn't going to work. I didn't take a photo but trust me. It didn't work. It was still too fat. Soooooo......

I knit this up this morning. Another swatch with your basic Oval Cable. I think the size is what is should be. It's not super huge or super small. But just right.

This is it pre-soak.....

And after, it's wet in this photo. Curiously it shrunk in height by 1"!!! Isn't that crazy? It gained about 1.5" in width. I'll see what happens after it's dry. Maybe it will pull in.

I also realized after I said that I had a month to knit this that I really only have 2 weeks. Yikes! But it knits up pretty fast. I have to work for the next 3 nights and it's raining so maybe I'll just hang out inside and knit????

Does Your Brain Get Tired?

2008-05-15T11:41:00.002-04:00

I need to replicate this beautiful twisted cable pattern. Easy, right?

I've been putting it off because I thought I would be able to just open up any one of my many stitch pattern books, find the pattern and get on with it.....

WRONG!!! No such luck....

UGH!

Obviously my yarn is waaaaaay thicker than the sample. But this cable is a 2x2 rib instead of the 1x1 in the other photo. This is soooooooo UGLY. The other one is pretty and dainty. This is like a bulldozer. It's gross.

A simple solution to my problem would be to just write out the pattern for the pretty, dainty cable.

I DON'T WANT TO. MY BRAIN IS TIRED........I'd rather look through the nice picture books in the yarn store!

So, I'm off to kinokuniya book store. I've been meaning to go there for ages. I am totally in love with the Japanese stitch books. When I was working on the Rebecca Taylor piece for VK, Adina loaned me her Japanese books. I wanted to keep them all!!! There is just something so right about their books....

I'll let you know what I find. I have 1 month to make this sweater. If in one month I'm sweating it out, this is the reason why. I just didn't want to write out the simple directions for a couple of twisted stitches. Sometimes I'm such a disappointment!! hahaha.

Finished! (almost)

2008-05-10T12:00:00.002-04:00

I've pretty much finished this cute-as-a-button cropped top. I just need to graft one underarm, give it a bath and block it. What a fun and easy knit! It took me a little longer than I anticipated because I absolutely refused to crunch numbers. So I would knit a little, put it on the dress form, knit a little more, try it on me, knit a little...rip a little...and so on. But I've got it all worked out. I'm going to write up the pattern and then hand it off to Vogue Knitting! I hope it looks great in photography.

I'm about to start on an interesting cashmere cardigan (for VK). It's a self-belting cardigan. The interesting part is that the arms are worked lengthwise. So it will be tricky to get them to actually fit and fit into the body without looking like a total sack. It has some fun cables and some architectural stitches that enhance the overall fit/look of the sweater. Hard to explain. I'll try as I go along.

First things first, I have to make a pretty large swatch that includes all of the cables....I'm using a new as of yet unnamed Stacy Charles yarn. I'll show photos when I have something to show!

I'm loving the NO PRODUCTION knitting law that I've laid down for myself. I feel so much more relaxed about my knitting. I feel like I'm procrastinating a bit for some reason but my day to day stress level has been greatly reduced. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Knitting and loving it again!

Happy Mothers Day!

I bought this...

2008-05-07T10:36:00.003-04:00

The ipod touch

I will be getting a new phone at the end of the month. I absolutely despise my phone. It's a Treo 700p. Whenever I talk on it all of the buttons start pressing for no reason. The person on the other end of the line only hears beeps and buzzes.

My phone service is with Verizon. It is hands down the best service in Manahattan and that is where I spend most of my time. I've had every other service in town and it's no joke, Verizon blows them all away. Therefore AT&T will never be an option. (no iphone for me).

My ipod was swiped a few months ago. And at the same time my computer crashed. So I lost all access to my vast library of music. I've been looking around at different options. But I seemed t0 always end up back at Apple.

I need text messaging. I need music. I REALLY need email. I need contacts. I need a calendar. I need photos of projects I'm working on...Good ones.

I was obviously thinking blackberry but had serious reservations about it. But after my crappy time with the Treo I was feeling like low tech was where I wanted to be.

So that meant I would have text messaging and phone service from the phone. I needed something else for music, internet, photo storage, etc. The ipod touch fit the bill.

That said, I don't think it's for everyone. Internet service is only available when you are in a wireless situation. Like your home, or wherever free wi-fi is. In NYC it's pretty much everywhere. If I lived in a more rural location I don't know if it would be so fantastic.

Also, there isn't a camera. But I love my dinky little Olympus Verve. I prefer photos on it than on a phone. So I just take pictures like normal and they automatically download to my ipod touch. I can pick and choose.

The greatest thing for me about this is that I got it on ebay. New in the box. Never opened for about 100.00 less than the cheapest going rate. I bid on a few and lost each time by like 5.00. It made me crazy. So I sniped and voila. My ipod touch.

Regarding my phone...ugh. I think I'll get the new env (2). low tech but with a qwerty....I'm still looking into phones.

I'm almost done with the cropped pullover. I managed to get a bunch of knitting in yesterday at the salon. Yay!

My Next Project

2008-05-06T09:48:00.003-04:00

First of all, I'm not sure if I mentioned the yarn that I used for the buckled pullover. It was Classic Elite Bam Boo. Really a great yarn to work with. It has fantastic drape but can hold up under the pressure of cables. It has a lovely hand and a nice sheen. It makes a very sophisticated fabric.

OK, next up is this cute cropped pullover. ( I won't be showing any more pix though because it's another VK project) This is the yarn that flew onto the subway tracks! At least it's 100% machine washable! I'm using Dalegarn Falk. Not the softest yarn in the store but it certainly holds it's own in the stitch definition department. I never use machine washable yarn so this is new to me.

This top is going to be SUPER cute. Really fast. Really easy. Excellent payoff. This top would look really awesome with a pair of high waisted pants that are totally in fashion right now...Perhaps in a different color - white? Like maybe using that Bam boo yarn? Cute.

I'm off to the new Eva Scrivo Salon. I can't wait to see the place. I've only gotten emails and post cards. My usual location coincidentally burned down the weekend her new location opened. Fishy, right? Anyway, I can't wait to see it.

I'm Finished!

2008-05-05T00:12:00.003-04:00

After much belly aching I decided to rip the sleeves. I reknit them both. Finished up the sweater and wrote out the pattern. I've emailed the pattern to vk and will drop off the sweater tomorrow.

Next...

Sometimes I need 4 hands

2008-05-04T09:12:00.002-04:00

I've been very busy. Sorry for the disappearing act...

I've been finishing up a pullover for VK. It was due on the 1st but I took the weekend to work on the pattern. Since I had a few extra days I decided to give the sweater a nice soak so that the cables would all relax and look beautiful. Well, they did and they do. HOWEVER, my sleeves grew.... a lot! So, my dilemma is this...do I take both sleeves out and rip back...way back to before the sleeve cap? or do I leave it and hope they can fix it in photography? I HAVE to deliver this tomorrow. And I HAVE to write the pattern. But I also want the sweater to be received well. Not like - oh, here we go again with this knitter.... WHY DID I BLOCK THIS SWEATER?

I'll let you know what I decide. I'm heavily leaning toward ripping back. It would take me a bunch of hours but I feel pretty strongly about delivering a totally gorgeous sweater.

A few nondescript shots:

While waiting for the train yesterday on my way to work I was knitting on the next sweater that's due. My yarn was in my purse and I was zipping along listening to music totally in my own world. Suddenly, I pulled a little too hard and my yarn flew out of my bag and onto the subway tracks!! It was pretty funny. I tried to yank on it to pull it back up but it just kept unwinding. A nice guy that was standing next to me said he would get it. I was like NO WAY Don't go on the tracks. I mean was he CRAZY?? He got down on his hands and knees and started yanking on the yarn...He had a backpack on and as he yanked it pushed him forward (I guess it was heavy) and he almost fell onto the tracks. It was totally freaky!!! I told him that it was no big deal, REALLY. STOP!! I kept winding it back up but was getting really grossed out thinking about rats and funk on the tracks so I decided to just break the yarn and move on....

I'm totally sad that for the 2nd year in a row I'm missing the MDSW Festival. I have absolutely no reason to go but I really love going. Maybe next year.

I am going to a county fair this year in August. I was thinking about entering something??? But I don't think I'll have time. Wouldn't that be fun?

As an update, my shoe issues are still not worked out.

Off to fix my sweater.....

Shoe Dilemna

2008-04-18T11:30:00.002-04:00

I work in a pretty fancy restaurant. Fancy in a relatively casual way. It is after all located on the lower east side of manhattan...

I am required to wear a uniform. It looks something like this:

It's basically a black wrap dress with 3/4 length sleeves. Depending on the size (I have xs, s, and m) the length varies between high mid thigh to knee. And the wrap varies between barely wrapping to super wrapping. I therefore wear my jeans (dark) underneath the dress most of the time because at any given moment I can be found in a not so girly position behind the bar...leaning, stretching, leaping, bending, etc. Sometimes I'll wear tights or leggings but I always feel kind of exposed due to the body moves required.

Up until last week I've been wearing my Ed Hardy sneakers. I was totally aware that I wasn't supposed to be wearing them. Black non sneakers shoes were the required uniform. I just hated wearing my boots or flats or whatever. They were uncomfortable. I don't sleep well and my shoes make a huge difference in how I sleep. So I took a chance.

Unfortunately, it came down the other day that I couldn't wear my sneaks anymore. Yesterday I went to one of those feet healthy shoe stores and bought a few hundred dollars worth of shoe options.

First, the obvious restaurant shoe. But in patent leather!

Wow! cute, huh? The only problem is that they are a size too small. I mean they fit but are snug. I'm going to wear them tonight and see how they work out. I mean, they are good for my feat, right? Ugly but healthy!

Second:

Ballet flats. Of course I've tried ballet flats before. I probably have 5 pairs of black ballet flats. They are a funny thing. They feel good up until you accidentally drip simple syrup on your bare feet and down into the shoe. Then they start sticking to your skin causing all kinds of discomfort! These are French Soles. They feel really great. Absolutely no support whatsoever. We'll see.

Third:

Some seriously ugly! Crocs! UGH. But hear me out. They are light. Sort of supportive. Probably good for the summer and I can just hose my feet off if that annoying simple syrup gets anywhere near them, right?

ok, finally #4:

Check these babies out! I'm thinking these will work ONLY when I work with another bartender. A time when I don't have to run around so much. I sort of stay at one end of the bar and do my work from there. Surprisingly, these are VERY comfortable. Plus I get a little height. Obviously the simple syrup issue remains. But I was feeling slightly nostalgic and bought them.

One of these options BETTER work. I'm really sad about the sneakers. They were PERFECT. But I'm willing to adhere to the rules and give all of these a try.

YES I'VE BEEN KNITTING!! no i can't show you.

Knit.1 Spring/Summer 2008

2008-04-11T09:36:00.002-04:00

I finally saw the spring/summer 08 issue of Knit.1. I stopped by Soho Publishing the other day to pick up some yarn for a future! project. (2 actually!) And the always lovely Tanis gave me a copy. My pattern (s) look the same in print as on the preview so no need to show them here. But it's always nice to have the publication in my hands.

Have you seen the Vinterblomster mittens? I feel like maybe I'm the only person that hadn't seen them! They are super cute. I was thinking they might be really, really cute with a little bling. So while at Soho Pub. Tanis gave me a ball of New Smoking in colorway 8 - which is basically a super shiney pink. I think the little flowers would be so awesome sparkle-y. I might go stash diving to see if I have some brown fingering weight cashmere and maybe a pink/red ?? contrasting color and swatch a little. ??? !!! You know, I think I have some of the Jade Cashmere left over......

But for now, back to the cabled cardi.....

Happy Friday.

No Knitting but Other Useless Stuff!

2008-04-09T08:57:00.006-04:00

I've been knitting steadily on the V.K. cabled pullover. I better not show any pics of it. I'll just say that so far it's looking nice. I'm using Classic Elite Yarns Wool Bam Boo. It's 50% Wool and 50% Bamboo...118 yds per ball and 5.5 sts on size 6's.

I was at Banana Republic yesterday and bought a knit dress!! How funny is that? I tried it on and I really liked it. I just tried to find a good photo but this is all I could find. It's wool and silk - 70/30. It's light. Very fine gauge. Nice. Nothing I would normally buy!

I also bought 2 skirts. I could only find photos of one...

and another view -

I know, pretty basic. But it was all on sale. I can always use a black cotton skirt, right? And a black wool/silk dress, yes?

I've been a little busy working the sample sales lately. Sometimes when I get home from work I'll do a little online shopping. Then I totally forget about it until ups comes knocking....

Yesterday brought my new Hayden-Harnett Havana Hobo in Goldrush. I LOVE my black Havana Hobo. And lately I love all things gold/silver so of course when I saw this bag on their online sample sale I HAD TO HAVE IT. Plus it was only 214.00 not the listed 428.00. How could I pass it up?

One more thing:

When I read through my NY Magazine yesterday I came across this article....
http://nymag.com/news/politics/45786/
It's hilarious. Check it out. It's written by one of the writer/producers of the West Wing. It's titled: Four Days In Denver and it's written in treatment form. Really funny!

My Aching Elbow!

2008-04-06T11:41:00.002-04:00

I've been trying to rest my elbow. It's still KILLING me! It's the craziest thing. How can I be in this much pain from opening prosecco bottles? In an effort to rest it, I tried not knitting for a few days so I finished my book. It was pretty excellent.

I picked up the needles yesterday and started having the deepest aching in my arm. It really hurt! I'm a little nervous about knitting today but I'd like to get a move on the sweater for VK. I've finished about 3/4 of the back. It looks pretty good.

I'm spending my morning doing my taxes! yippee! I can't believe I've waited this long. Oh well, I'm actually finished. I keep it pretty organized throughout the year so I just have to add it all up and print out the spreadsheet. It looks pretty much the same as last year except for food/entertainment - it doubled. hmmmm? I'm not sure if that's a big deal or not. I guess the accountant will let me know.

I had some great interviews this week. 3 to be exact. I'm not sure if any of them will call me but the actual interview part went well. I feel like it's so subjective. I can't really get too attached to the outcome. I just take the action and let go of the results. Right? At least that's what I'm trying to do. I'll just keep looking until I get exactly what I want. Hopefully sooner than later. I think I'm doing the smartest thing! (patting myself on the back!) Spreading out my jobs so that in this economy I'm not too effected by the downturn. We'll see if it works out as I'm planning!

It's kind of a crappy overcast day outside but since I don't work tonight it's pretty sunny for me! Maybe I'll just go for a walk. I have to buy a new pair of shoes to work in. I got caught wearing my Ed Hardy sneakers (they are sooo cute)- a big no no! I'm supposed to be wearing all black! Can anyone really see my feet behind the bar? or rather...if a bartender wears colorful sneakers behind the bar but no one can see her feet, is she really wearing colorful sneakers? Whatever, I'll wear black. A nice reason to go shoe shopping.

Have a nice day.

I can take a hint!

2008-04-02T09:17:00.003-04:00

I was talking to a friend the other day and she was raving about the book Eat Pray Love. Of course I've seen it and heard about it but have been busy knitting. And therefore couldn't read anything! I was telling her that I was searching high and low for an Italian teacher because I wanted to go to Italy and speak fluent Italian. She was like omg you HAVE to read this book. Yes it's on the lighter side. I tend to read super high brow literature. But she said I should get on the bandwagon and read it. I was out having drinks with 2 old friends and one of them was RAVING about a book Yup Eat Pray Love. OMG you have to read it!!

So I bought it. I'm into the second leg of it. They were right. I love it. I recommend it. It's fun, easy, thought provoking. Just what I needed!

Now I just need to get that Italian teacher.

Oh, guess what? George Clooney and Cindy Crawford came in for dinner last night. Cindy Crawford looked Ah-mazing! Gorgeous! G.C. - maybe he'd had a long day!

Quick update

2008-04-01T10:50:00.006-04:00

This is something that I'm working on. I've knit a bit more than this but I don't have anything else to show today...

I've been seriously resting my elbow/arm and it's feeling much better. I've had to work left handed which is pretty strange. I mean opening wine bottles and pouring drinks left handed...odd. But it's working so for the next few nights I'll continue as a leftie.

I have a few interviews lined up for some supplemental bartending work. I met with someone last week that's opening a super groovy lounge in mid april in Nolita. That would be fun! I'm meeting with a 3-star restaurant today. They are looking for someone to work Saturday nights only. But I think they are relatively slow on Sats. due to their mid-town location. So they are probably a NO. Later in the week I have an interview at a hopping uber-hip hotel lounge/restaurant/bar. I'm not too sure about that one. They might want UBER model types. But they might also want someone like me. We'll see. That would be really awesome for the summer.

Anyway, I heard that the domestic diva might be shooting a segment at my current place of biz. How cool would that be? I LOVE her!! I heard that rumor on sunday night from her....oh, I better not say. I hope it's true!

Questions of the day: iphone or not to iphone? ipod touch or not to ipod touch? I can't decide. My phone service is with verizon. I don't want to change that so...I can unlock an iphone or I could just buy the ipod touch. My ipod was swiped and my phone (a treo that i hate) can be changed next month. So I could have a more traditional phone and use the email from the ipod touch. plus better internet, music, etc. what to do, what to do....

I'm Dumb!

2008-03-28T22:13:00.003-04:00

I figured out my screen shots on my computer. DUUUUUHHHHHH. At times I think I was dropped on my head as a baby.....

So here are the two tops I tried to show the other day from the new Knit.1

Uptown:

Downtown:

I was escorted out of Target!

2008-03-28T20:28:00.002-04:00

This is a funny story, really! long, but funny.

I went to Target a few weeks ago. It was a Sunday. The day that the Jovovich-Hawk collection went on sale. I usually make it a point NOT to go to Target on Sundays. I prefer to go on a Tuesday around 10:30. Nobody is ever there. But I had a deal with someone in California regarding the new collection so I headed out. It was a beautiful day. I was feeling up to the Target on Sunday challenge.

Of course when I got there it was packed. It was so crowded that there weren't any carts available. Ok, whatever. I made my way through the entire women's section including shoes and lingerie and sleepwear. I must have had about 20 things to try on. So, off I went to the dressing room. The Target that I go to has the nicest fitting room attendant. She's always there. Unfortunately for me but fortunately for her it must have been her day off. However, in her place was a nice young guy manning the rooms. I knew the rules. 6 items at a time. Leave the rest outside. Ok. In I went with the first 6. My standard operation in the dressing room is to put everything back on the hangers so that the attendant doesn't have to deal. I'm slightly OCD about it. This trip was no differnt. I came out with the old and traded it for new. I did this a few times. Each time I showed the guy what I was doing - not that he was interested. Whatever. OK. The last time I came out I only had 5 pieces so I switched my little plastic number from a 6 to a 5 and went back into the room.

WELL, when I came out my nice boy had been replaced by another guy. This one seemed slightly agitated. A little sweaty and was that a sunburn? anyway, I gave him my garments (beautifully hung on the hangers) and my ticket. He looked at me. Looked through the hangers and spit out that I had FIVE hangers. To which I explained (realizing my mistake) that I had mistakenly put the bikini top and bottom on one hanger. It was supposed to be on two. Hence the extra hanger. MA'AM you have FIVE hangers. "I know, I just explained it to you." MA'AM YOU HAVE 5 HANGERS! D'uh. I know. I've just explained to you why that is. I started to chuckle. I mean DDDDDUUUUUUHHHHH!!!!! This went on for a couple of more rounds when I said "Had I known that I would be dealing with the HANGER NAZI I would have been more careful.....In my defense, I was tired. I had been working a number of nights in row.

He wasn't having it. He told me that that was a derogatory comment and that he could have me kicked out. uh, ok. But you'll have to deal with Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld because they are the ones that put Nazi into our pop culture vernacular with Soup Nazi. Are you kidding???? I collected my things without saying another word and moved on. He in turn got on his walkie talkie and started basically sending out all kinds of signals.

I figured it was over. He was sunburned from a tanning bed and had too much oil clogging his pores and it was a crowded sunday at Target. Let's just leave it at that. I moved on through the mens dept., books, electronics, cut through the kids section and finally made my way to the cosmetics. Because I needed tampons and I'd almost forgotten them. Phwew!

OK, so now I'm loaded down with probably $350 or $400 worth of crap WITHOUT a cart. I mean I am LOADED down! It's been about 15 or 20 minutes since the Hanger Nazi incident. When suddenly, while standing in front of the Bio Silk hair products deciding which ones I want, a security guard comes up to me and first apologizes then says that he has to ask me to leave. WHAT?????? ARE YOU KIDDING? Then I see my sweaty dressing room attendant hiding behind the guard. I said, can I at least pay for this stuff (It was practically up to my chin). He said well it's up to him and points to the red shirted attendant who paused and said NO. I said fine and hoisted my crap on top of him.

Can you believe it? How funny and crazy. I should have reported the guy. He was so out of line. I let him know that I was in the service industry too and if I ever treated someone the way he treated me that I'd probably get fired! He said, have a nice day ma'am. ok. have a nice day ma'am. UGH.

Knit.1 Preview

2008-03-27T23:41:00.004-04:00

Well my "Screen Shots" isn't working. Where are they going? Since my computer crashed I can't figure it out. Stuff just disappears. One day I'm going to find a ton of useless things...

Anyway, I was going to show the preview from the new Knit.1. but I can't find where the shots are on my computer???? Check it out. It's the Uptown Downtown section. I think it's the middle shot. Basically the goal was to create the exact same piece i.e. exact same pattern using two different yarns. It's the purple sleeveless top and then after you refresh your screen, it's the mustard top. Cute, right?

Prosecco Elbow aka Tennis Elbow!

2008-03-27T01:22:00.002-04:00

There hasn't been much about the night job lately so here's the news:

I have Prosecco Elbow! Crazy, I know. One of our house cocktails contains Prosecco. I open A LOT of bottles throughout the course of a night. And if I work a few nights in a row they really add up. Well, we recently changed to a different winery. The corks in these bottles just won't budge. And since I'm pretty much the only one that deals with making this drink, everyone thought I was just being a baby. Well, I wasn't and now I'm wearing a tennis elbow thing around my forearm. Tennis Elbow is nothing to sneeze at. It REALLY hurts. I have that feeling that you get after you run a marathon and you need to go down a flight of stairs. Your legs feel like they have the flu. It is so painful and uncomfortable. That's how my arm feels...from my elbow on down. OUCH!!!! I iced it non stop until I had to go to work today. I'm hoping to keep icing it while I sleep.

Anyway, I have one full repeat finished on the VK project. It's kind of fun. I was getting my hair cut today and forgot my cable needle so I borrowed some hair salon doo-dad that worked just fine. I have to measure gauge and all in the morning...just to be sure I'm on track.

I need to go to sleep now.

Stitch Books & Swatches

2008-03-24T20:45:00.002-04:00

So, I ordered those books last week. Guess what...they didn't have the cables/stitches that I was looking for.

So I got serious today about this project and went out to look for what I needed. I ended up at Knitty City. I bought the Stitchionary from Vogue - Volume Two Cables.

It had exactly what I needed for one of the panels of the sweater that I'm charting out. Yay! It's hard to see my swatch but it does in fact look like the picture...always a good thing!

Next up is this simple pattern. I found it in a number of books but I ended up buying The Harmony Guides 250 stitches Cables & Arans. It's the newer books from Interweave. I love this book. I've never even looked at it because I have all of the harmony guides. I'm not sure if there are new cables in it or just the same ones photographed in color and charted out. Anyway, I found 4 different cables that I need in this one book. Sweet!

Simple. Hard to see.

Believe it or not I couldn't find this pretty obvious cable. I was really having a tough time but there it was in the Harmony book. I should look more closely in my old Harmony Guides. hmm.

The yarn that I'm using for this project is Wool BamBoo from Classic Elite. I like it. I'm using size 6 needles. So once I get all the gauges worked out I should be able to whip this out in no time. Oh I also bought Bryspun straights today just because they were there and I've never used them before. I like them too.

All in all a very productive, successful knitting day.

The fire smell if officially out of my apartment. I didn't get insurance today but it's on the top of my to do list.

FIRE!!

2008-03-23T09:18:00.002-04:00

I got home from work pretty early last night. I was just chit chatting and watching a little tv. Around 2am there was a loud knock on the door. And I started hearing loud sirens. Usually, and maybe this is a post 9/11 thing, I wait to hear the sirens pass by - which always happens. But not last night.

I went to the front door to see what was going on and all of my neighbors were making their way down the stairs. The smoke was just beginning to fill the hallways. I ran back inside. Threw on my clothes. Woke everybody up. And tried to go back into the hallway to get out. It felt like it had been no more than 3 minutes but the hallways were black. I couldn't even see my hands. And I couldn't breathe. So I went back inside and headed for the fire escape. Opened up the window and started to go down. I realized that I should probably grab one of my "cans of cash". So I hopped back through the window and got the tin can. On my way back out I saw a bunch of yarn that COULD NOT SMELL LIKE SMOKE. So in an instant of clarity I covered the bags with some towels and flew out the window!

We all got to the end of the fire escape only to find that the brilliant landlord/super had painted it one too many times and we couldn't get down from the second story. It was stuck. Can you imagine? It was impossible to pass. Below us were about 6 or 7 fire trucks, a few ambulances, our neighbors, firemen, police officers, camera crews and onlookers. It was crazy and loud and unnerving. Luckily, the fire was on the other side of the building so we were ultimately safe but holy crap! We never had to get out of the building.

We came back up stairs to find our apartment pretty stinky from the smoke. We quickly sealed ourselves in and tried desperately to air it out - using the post 9/11 hepa filters, fans etc. GROSS. It smells like there was a bonfire in here!

I finally got to bed around 5. Only to be up again at 7:30. I have all of my Jo Malone candles burning - I hope they don't start a fire! I have yet to investigate the damage to the building. The fire dept. smashed so many windows to get at it. Already I can see plywood covering some of the broken windows.

But we are all safe and sound. And my yarn doesn't stink!

Maybe for the last 10- years I have thought about apartment insurance like once every month or so. I have quotes in a file. It's super cheap. But for some reason I've never signed up. I guess I shouldn't play with fire and tempt the fates....I'll be getting it tomorrow. The thought of losing all of my stuff for absolutely no good reason is horrifying. Lesson Learned....

Happy Easter.

Rebecca No. 2 Special Edition

2008-03-22T09:30:00.002-04:00

I made this top a year or two ago as a gift for someone. It is pretty cute and very simple. Back then I used Soft Kid as the pattern calls for.

I've been asked to make it again. But this time she would like it to be a dress. The entire piece is made in Fisherman's Rib or Brioche st. Very easy. Very pretty. I'm concerned that it will look gross over the butt. But I'm not sure. Her body is very up and down. Not too many curves. Very slim. It could look great.

I'm using Calmer. This yarn is great because it has some spring to it but still gives the feeling of cotton. It's not too heavy. It's not too thick. So I'm going to give it a try.

I have to get a move on the Vogue Knitting project. I'll be laying out the cables this morning and then I'll start swatching. All of my books have arrived and I think I have what I need to figure this out!!

Happy Easter!

3x2 sweater finished...

2008-03-18T11:06:00.004-04:00

All of the pieces had a lovely wash in Tocca's gentle cleanser...my favorite! Then I sewed it all together. Actually I only had to set in the sleeves and sew the sleeves closed. The body was knit in one piece and the collar was picked up....

Ok my thoughts:

So it's the Loro Piano cashmere/mohair blend that you can only get wholesale. It's the most amazing yarn ever but totally not available to the lowly handknitter. At least I've never been able to find it. This sweater is light and soft and warm.

Once it was blocked the ribbing was a little uh loose. So I shored up the bottom ribbing by adding a ribbon around the row where the stitch pattern changed to stockinette. It's a cute Burberry ribbon that I bought at M&J Trimmings around Christmas. I used it to wrap presents. It's a little hard to see and it's a temporary solution. I think I'll make 2 icords with a little something on the ends. Cuter than the ribbon - I think.

Sleeve length is perfect. Body length is perfect. What's not so perfect is the collar. Why oh why do I alway second guess my collars? I always pick up stitches with ws facing so that the seam faces out and is covered by the collar. Not this time. I can see the seam/picked up stitches. I HATE THAT. I'm sure it's not the end of the world but DON'T DO IT!

All in all it's a cute sweater. I would totally check out the wearer of it if I saw it walk by. I'll wear it a time or two then probably pack it away or use it for a magazine submission - fixing the problems of course!

Oh and I kind of like the split collar in the back....

Off to work....

My Revised Cabled Beret

2008-03-17T01:46:00.002-04:00

I think these pictures are a little better than the one a few days ago. I pretty much love this hat. I haven't had the chance to actually wear it outside yet but inside it's been lovely!

back:

Side:

Other side:

I have 10 or so inches finished on sleeve number one of the 3 x 2 ribbed sweater. It's moving pretty fast. I swatched a little for the VK project. I'm having some issues with one of the sections. I think I just need to find the stitch pattern that's going to work. I'll do that tomorrow.

I don't know

2008-03-14T20:58:00.003-04:00

Obviously there are some problems here...But it's a whole lot better than ribbing on the hips. I guess I'll work up some sleeves and see where it's coming out.....

I missed the book delivery today so I have another day to work on this then it's kaput for a while. Can I make two sleeves in one day? I'm guessing NO WAY!

I was supposed to be at a wedding tonight so I took the night off but a small medical situation came up and now I'm just home enjoying my free night. All is well. I'm sorry to be missing the wedding but I'm watching There Will Be Blood and knitting.

Have a nice weekend.

Let's try it again

2008-03-14T11:35:00.002-04:00

I'm not going to show you my "button band" attempt. A very lame attempt to fix the reconstituted sweater. However, my lame attempt has prompted another brilliant idea (hahaha). I think I'm going to have a closure at the top end of the ribbing then pick up and knit a very wide collar. I'm going to make a split in the collar at the center back...for 2 reasons....1 - I think it will look great and 2 - in case it looks like dog doo I've only wasted 1/2 as much time. But I'm feeling good about this. I really want to get this finished so that when my books arrive I can get crackin' on the VK project.

Speaking of VK, I read on someone's blog last night how much they HATED one of my designs. It was really kind of mean. I don't think that everyone understands the process of magazine or editorial knitting. Sometimes a publisher will pick a submitted design as is. They will provide the yarn. It may or may not be the yarn that you sampled it in due to their commitment to advertisers or others. There might be changes to the design either on the publishers part or on your part due to the revised yarn being used. Or that they simply want a modified version of your submission. Other times the publisher will provide you with a swatch and yarn and you interpret that swatch as best you can. You knit a sample and write the pattern. Sometimes the swatches are gorgeous and sometimes they aren't. It your choice as a designer to take the job or not. I'm obviously speaking for yarn companies, magazines, books, etc. The process is all pretty similar. Once you complete the sample and write the pattern for the sample you have to grade that pattern to fit a very large range of sizes (possibly a bust measurement size ranging from 32 through possibly 50 or 52) while keeping the integrity of the design. Not always an easy task. I've spoken about this in the past so I won't here. Most of the time it works. However there are times when it doesn't. As knitters we have to understand our bodies and our experience and pick appropriate projects.

I think it is extremely unnecessary to hack away at another designers work, publicly. Of course there are plenty of times where I think a design is shit. It's my job to read through a pattern and decide my course. Knit as is or make changes. I think it's important to take responsibility for my work. If I'm not so confident I'll pick easier projects. If I want a challenge I'll pick a challenging one. But that's my choice and if I don't like the results it's my fault.

Anyway, it just sort of sucked the way this person was talking about my work. I'm pretty thick skinned but in general I think everyone should think before they "speak" on the internet. I've seen it happen so many times where the snarky comments snowball and someone's work is completely trashed for no good reason. It's just mean spirited behavior.

Well, I'm off to rip out some useless knitting!

Reconstituted!

2008-03-12T13:12:00.002-04:00

I still had that wide ribbed sweater on my mind. I ripped it out down to the beginning of the stockinette section. I shortened it considerably. There is about 4" of st. st. after the ribbing. Which means there is NO RIBBING ON THE HIPS!! Then I separated for the armholes. Worked each section and here I am. Now what should I do? I could make a placket for the top stockinette section. That would work. And then finish off with my long collar??? right? Whip up some sleeves and done.

Back...

My Anthropologie Inspired Capelet

2008-03-12T01:55:00.003-04:00

Shouldn't this be a shrug? Anyway....

It looks better in real life. This photo stinks.

Clearly it's not in the yarn that I made the beret out of. Instead I used exactly 2 skeins of Malabrigo lace in Applewood. I quadrupled it! I used size 11's. Followed the pattern pretty closely. I worked a bunch more rows of the body because it seemed kind of short. But other than that I don't think I changed anything else. Super fast and simple.

This is exactly what I needed. I cannot believe how light it is. It seems like it should be much much heavier - 4 strands held together? Come on! But it's super light. Crazy.

I also fixed my beret. I'm not sure you can see any difference but believe me there is. I did the creepy thing of cutting off the ribbing, grabbing all of the loose stitches and knitting down. It's not a great feeling when you're trying to get all of those stitches on the needle but holy cow it's nice when it works. I shortened the ribbing by about an inch. It was close to 3 or 3.5" but now it's about 1.5". I love this thing! I might have to make another one!

I can't start the Vogue project because I'm waiting on some stitch books to be delivered. I can't find my Barbara Walker books. Plus I ordered one of the Harmony guides. So, while I'm waiting I think I'm going to knit something else....But what should it be? There's a dress in the latest Rebecca that I'm going to make. I told Taryn at Downtown Yarns that I would. She's making it too. I have a bag of Calmer (which is what she's making hers out of) just ready to go so maybe I'll start that tomorrow... or maybe I'll make a sweater based on the one from a few days ago. I'm not quite finished with the long ribbing idea. Maybe the sweater will be way shorter so no butt/hips are involved...

More to come...

EEk, I don't have anything to wear!

2008-03-10T12:01:00.002-04:00

I'm so lame. I'm resorting to jumping on the band wagon. I am going to a wedding on Friday and it's freezing. I'm worried that I'll be cold. So I guess it's the Anthropologie Inspired Capelet for me. I'm definitely not in love with this but it will work just fine. I can probably whip it up tonight and be done with it. Hmmm, I wonder if I can use the yarn that I made that beret out of.

I might borrow the pattern from here... http://peonyknits.blogspot.com/2005/11/anthropologie-inspired-capelet-fo-and.html

Why reinvent the wheel, right?

Maybe I should try this again!

2008-03-10T00:05:00.004-04:00

There's nothing quite like having a k3, p2 fabric hugging your hips for oh about 9 inches. Though I whipped this out in no time. It blows. I've already ripped it out.

Next up....I'm going to snip the ribbing off of the beret I made the other day and tighten it up. My crochet "quick fix" just isn't really very nice. I love the over sized top. So I'm going to fix it. I'll show you then.

Fashion Show on You Tube

2008-03-08T12:02:00.002-05:00

Hopefully you can click on the link below and check out the f/w 08 fashion show of Tom Scott. I did all of the hand knits. They are hard to see but as a whole you can see the direction!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM-Ra73Mt9s

Getting Back In The Saddle

2008-03-08T08:56:00.005-05:00

I'm trying to get back into the blogging mind set. Photos. Ideas. It's been so hard to do anything because every free moment seemed to be needed for knitting.

The other day I dropped off all of the extra yarn I had sitting in my apartment to Tom Scott. What a nice way to get rid of a giant, messy, yarn filled corner! I picked up a check !! and then made my way down to Vogue Knitting. Picked up 30 balls of yarn and a contract. Then somehow I ended up at Downtown Yarns...I literally had not been in that store for over a year. Anyway, I made up for it. I bought some amazing local yarn. It's called Jefferson Valley. Gorgeous. Solar Spun. Natural colors. And the sheep's name was MOOSE. He was old and is apparently not with us any longer. Yesterday I got up and made this cute cabled beret. It's blocking at the moment. It was a little big around the ribbed bottom so I crocheted it a bit tighter. SUPER CUTE. And I love this yarn. I hope they make more of it. The beret took 2 skeins (I double it) so I have 6 brown/black left and then 4 grey/black skeins.

I started swatching some cashmere/mohair yarn for a sweater. I think I'm going to knit a long rib on the sleeves, collar and bottom of the cardigan. It will be long. Maybe have a belt. I'm thinking of a 3 x 2 rib. There's something about it that I like???

I'm kind of thinking about this. Sorry it's so blurry. I drew it on a receipt at work last night. So I had to blow it up. The collar would be super big, high, dramatic.

And this is more the color of the yarn. It's so soft and gorgeous. When it's washed it blooms up so beautifully!

That's about it. I went to a couple of yarn stores yesterday in search of some cable stitch patterns for the Vogue project. I can't find my stitch books anywhere. I've swatched a little for this and the yarn is pretty fantastic. More to come on that.

Have a nice weekend.

Hello, is this on?

2008-03-06T10:02:00.003-05:00

Where did I go????

It looks like I've been MIA since October????

I can't come up with any reasonable explanation for my absence. I've been knitting every day (almost) since I was last here. And I've been Bartending most of those days too. So not too much has changed. I've just been super busy.

My new job (from last aug/sept) keeps me busy. I don't make as much money as I did before so I have to work more days. Plus there is definitely NO KNITTING at this job. Which means my actual knitting hours have been dramatically reduced. Which blows.

I finished all of the fall production pieces for Tom Scott. It was nightmarish but I finished it all with all body parts intact!! And a firm understanding that I despise production knitting. Then came the spreadsheet for spring production. I thought I would be really smart and farm it out with knitters that wanted to make a little (very little) extra money. What is it with people (except my sister). I mean, people just totally flaked. A couple people needed like 3 months to knit a simple little cardigan... I'm not judging but when I put out a call for production knitters don't respond if you really can't do it. That's all. Some got the yarn and then didn't complete the piece...I could go on. I ended up with more of a mess than when I started. While all of this was going on Fashion Week was looming in the near distance. I had to design a ton of hand knits for Tom Scott's collection. Of course the new pieces were infinitely more interesting than the production stuff. AND I had those supposed helpful production knitters.....Anyway, it all got done (Fashion Week). I hurt my hands really badly and was ultimately unable to work on the spring pieces. I felt horrible about it but I had to lay off the needles. Weird. It made me feel like I was the flake!

While laying off the needles I finished up a piece for VK Fall, I think. I dropped it off the other day. I was officially finished with all of my deadline knitting. It was the first time in a while. But of course while I was at the VK offices I agreed to a new sweater. I'm picking up the yarn later today! Obviously my hands are feeling better.

This is one of the tank tops for Spring....I finally got a realistic photo of it.

I didn't get many photos of the new Fall pieces. I basically just forgot to photograph them. But here is one of the scarves. It's about 80" long and maybe 12 or 13" wide. It's 4 strands of EcoWool using size 35 needles!!

This is a coat that's worked side to side. It's a square. There is a giant cable on the back between the armholes. It looked amazing on the models.

Oh and this is another storyline from the collection. This is a crazy scarf but there was a hat and sweater that went with it. There are 3 different yarns being used...wook, silk bias tape and a patent leather tape...crazy.

This is the Twinkle Dress from the last VK magazine. A sweet 12 year old girl made it with a little modification help from me. She shortened the sleeves and the length. And she used different yarn than was suggested. And she added the ribbons. Super cute on. Better than it looks here!

Hopefully I'll be back more often.

Gruesa

2007-10-11T09:51:00.000-04:00

The Malabrigo yarn that I used for the two hats that I recently made was called GRUESA. I couldn't remember it yesterday but just found the label.

Gruesa
Plata 124
Super Bulky Thick & Thin
Approx. 3.5 oz.
Yards: 65, 2.25 st. per "
Needle size: 13
Hand wash, dry flat

Hola!

2007-10-10T17:45:00.001-04:00

I THOUGHT I was back. Guess not. I won't be saying that again! I just received my copy of VK Holiday. I have 3 pieces in it. I only get credit for one.

This is one of the sweaters that I've been knitting all summer long. Now you can knit it too! It's super easy and looks great....(and that's Tom!)

Here's another one...I'm not completely excited with the styling of this but I made it and that's nice.

And finally, the third piece I do get credit for is in a section called Nutcracker Sweet.

There are some really nice pieces in this section. Tanis has a great sweater and Shiri made a super sweet dress... Check it out.

Anyway, there has been knitting but nothing to show. Same old, same old. I'm slightly burned out. I've made a couple of hats out of a bulky thick and thin Malabrigo. The yarn is awesome. Maybe I'll photograph the hats. One is 1/2 st. st and 1/2 garter. Kind of cool.

I've been working at the new place. I'm probably going to quit as soon as I find something else. It's completely stressing me out. I'm working 5 nights a week and making no money. (NO BUENO) I met with a club owner today and he is calling a guy that I've wanted to work with for 2 years. I HOPE HE MAKES THE CALL!!! I don't want to say anymore. MAKE THE CALL!!!

I'm hoping there is some knitting in my future that is fun. Oh, the hats were fun but I'm talking sweaters. I've sketched a little but seem to have misplaced the sketches. My brain is not functioning properly. TOOO MUUUCH STRESSSSS.

There is some Jade Cashmere resting a few feet away from me. I swatched a little but didn't like the fabric that it was creating. I'd love a sweater out of it. But it totally needs to be special....hmmmmm. I also need to finish sewing my coat. Now that I'm on my own (I had to quit my sewing lessons due to lack of time) I'll have to work extra hard on it! Maybe tonight....

That's it for now. Maybe I'm back this time??

I'm Back!

2007-09-28T08:29:00.000-04:00

What a crazy few weeks I've had!!!

I've finished all of the production knitting except for 3 sweaters that are personal orders. I'll work on those over the next week or two. No stress.

I have literally been knitting every available hour of my day. I've been sleeping about 4 hours a night for 2 weeks. Getting up and knitting all the way up until I had to go to work then if possible knitting at work and then knitting some more when I got home.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHhh!!!!

I've also started working at my new job. It's lovely. I got home at 1:00 last night instead of say 3:00! It's been a lot of work learning the menu and the new digs but I think it's going to be great. Last night was a VERY soft opening for friends of the owner and chef. It went very smoothly. It was nice and civilized. I'm working again tonight. So it should hopefully be more of the same. Someone has already been fired!!!

Double Happiness closes tomorrow night. I worked it out so that I could work the last shift there. It's going to be crazy, I'm sure. It's very strange but I feel no sadness whatsoever. I actually happy to be moving on.

I also had to stop my sewing classes for now. I kept having to cancel and I didn't think it was fair. I'm kind of sad about that but I think I'm ready to go forward and start learning from my mistakes. Now that this insane knitting schedule is finished I can get back to working on my coat.

Well, that's it for now. I have to go downtown and deliver all of the pieces I've knit over the past few weeks. Then off to work.

I'm so happy to be back. There will be photos to come. I promise! I swore off knitting forever about 5 days ago. But now I'm actually thinking about what I want to knit. I'm officially insane. I should go and check myself into the loony bin!

Organic Cotton Cardigan Photo

2007-09-20T08:57:00.001-04:00

I love the way this sweater turned out!!!

I'm still really busy. I don't have time to post. I'll hopefully be back next week. I'm spending my days knitting and watching marathon TV and at night I'm working. This is crazy!!

Follow up

2007-09-15T10:25:00.000-04:00

I haven't had too much time to work on this but I did manage to go to M&J and pick up some hardware. I'm still deciding on 2 or 3 closures... I'll probably go with 3.

I added some very small buttons on each of the gathered point.

I'm hopefully going to be finished with this insanely busy knitting schedule in the next 2 weeks. I have to be, actually. So I'll be working at night and knitting all day. If I'm absent from here that's why!

A sleeve

2007-09-12T00:27:00.000-04:00

The first sleeve is finished. I like it. I didn't write anything down so I hope I can recreate it. It's short so I shouldn't have too much of a problem. I did some very unconventional techniques but I think it worked. I'm kind of loving how this sweater is transforming.

I also sewed down the collar.

And I cinched in the ribbing. Obviously there hasn't been any blocking.

I think I need to add some kind of a button band because it's pulling in so much at the center. I'd be ok with some pull but I think this is too much. I'm not sure I'll have time to work on this for a few days but gggrrrrr i want to!

Sewing Class

2007-09-11T12:40:00.000-04:00

I have my sewing class today. I haven't had one in about 3 weeks. Maybe longer. Holidays, schedules, etc. I'm looking forward to it only because I want to see what this coat will look like! I'm not sure if you start with the lining or the outside. I bought this gorgeous pink silk shantung at Mood a few weeks back. Maybe I blogged about it. It was $35/yard. I bought 3. Ouch! But it's beautiful. I hope it will look as good as a lining! And you've seen the outside. So hopefully photos to come!

I've started the sleeves for the Givenchy Inspired Cardi. I'm also going to construct some kind of a belt-ish thing around it. Not sure what it will be but I'm thinking about it. I should be making 4 sweaters but am playing a little hooky from that stuff for a few hours. I'll start those later.

That's it for now. It's POURING! It hasn't rained like this in a while. Better not take the subway!!!

From This...

2007-09-10T14:17:00.000-04:00

To this

Not too long ago (before I became completely insane with production knitting) I had a mild obsession with this a-line/swing sweater. Well clearly it was just infatuation because it was thown into the not-so-nice corner and left there without another thought. Well not another nice thought. That is until I saw the recent ad for Givenchy. See post from a few days ago. I saw it at night and when I woke up I had to rush over to the not-so-nice corner and rescue the poor ugly duckling sweater. I've pinned it into some sort of shape that I'm loving. In it's next incarnation I would not do any shaping of the ribbing (I was trying to be cute and shape the body only using decreases in the purl sts. Though I succeeded. It's ugly.) Obviously arms are needed and I can't get to them right now but know that I'm thinking about them! Short, long, ribbed, st.st. HMMMMMMMM?

Weekly Recap

2007-09-10T07:35:00.001-04:00

I don't think I ever posted a photo of the asymmetrical cardigan...Here it is. I can't wait to get the print from the photo shoot.

I know the ends are not woven in. They aren't supposed to be!

I've been knitting some hats. None of these are "finished" but the bulk of the knitting is done on them. I just have to weave in ends. I have 16 and half of 2 others to go. Not bad. I can make a hat in a pretty short amount of time. These don't seem to kill me like the sweaters did. Speaking of sweaters I have 6 cowls and 1 garter sweater to go.

I picked up a copy of Knit.1...I know I swiped the photos from the knit.1 site before but here they are for real...

This is what it looked like when I had it on my dress form...

And the hoodie from the magazine...

On my dress form...

Last Friday I had training at my new job. It was so much fun! We were learning wines so we ended up tasting about 6 wines....SO good! I didn't realize I was supposed to spit it out after each taste! hahahaha. I had to go to work and I was a little tipsy. Fun stuff!

I bought 3 skeins of jade Sapphire Cashmere Silk (2 ply) in Silver Pearl. It is gorgeous. I know that I haven't been buying any yarn lately. I've been trying to work through my stash but this is a show stopper. I sketeched a couple of things the other night and am looking forward to working them up in the very near future..... stay tuned.

Have you seen this?

2007-09-07T08:18:00.001-04:00

This is a sweater by Givenchy for Fall/Winter 2007. I don't know if you can get a good look at it but it's AMAZING. I'd leave the epaulets at home but other than that it is really awesome.

I believe it's created by draping a piece of ribbed fabric over a dress form and then sewn in place. Funny thing is that I just happened to have a "sweater" that's been sitting dormant for a few months that was ribbed exactly like this one. I've draped and pinned and now all I need to do is sew and add sleeves. Mine is different in that I decreased to create a tighter fit because it was to be a "swing" sweater. It looked like barf so it was in the reject pile. Now I'm in love all over again. I love it when I'm inspired like this!

I'm in hat mode. I've made about 8 so far. They are great because they go so fast. I think the whole lot is about 28. So I'm on my way. After that I just have 4 more cowls and a garter sweater to make. And then production is complete. Phwew!

I'm off to learn how to bartend.! hahaha. I have training from 11:00 until 5 or 6. I have to go to real work at 5 so...I sure hope I can fit this new place into my schedule without exhausting myself....

Why is it...

2007-09-05T09:31:00.000-04:00

That I'm so insanely insecure about knitting for people that I know? Is anyone else like that? I mean my sweater sells for $1, 370.00 at Barneys. Obviously I can knit. Knitting magazines hire me to knit. Hello. I can knit.

So why then do I make myself nuts when someone asks me to knit a simple little hat with a simple little brim? What on earth is wrong with me? I think the yarn choice will be all wrong. The brim won't be what he wants. Will it fit? Will it just get tossed aside? uuuuggghhhhh. I would hate to knit something for someone and have them (behind my back) be like eww this hat blows. I hate it. What should I do? You know what, I'm not going to make it. I have to make about 20 hats for Tom Scott's fall orders. I picked up my original samples yesterday and I'm going to get down to business with those. End of discussion.

While I was at Tom's I saw a polaroid of the Asymmetrical Cardigan for spring. GORGEOUS. AWESOME. I LOVE IT SO MUCH!! I can't wait to show pictures of it. I guess Barney's came by yesterday and really dug the handknits!!! Yay! Although next time around I might be finding a knitter to help me out. Production Sucks!

My training for the new job was pushed back to friday. I'm super happy about that. I had to work last night and now someone wants me to cover thursday also. Which means I'll be working 5 nights in a row. Plus training. Yikes. I got a good night sleep last night so I'm feeling pretty rested. Some of the knitting pressure has been lifted so that helps too.

I've been doing some mad shopping with my niece for the past 3 days. High end/low end and everything in between. We've had so much fun! I bought an awesome bag yesterday. I've been eyeing the Chloe bags but they are super expensive. And since I'm losing my job I was having some thoughts that maybe I should wait on it. Well I ended up buying a bag that I absolutely love:

The Havana. It's made in Brooklyn by a company named Hayden - Harnett and apparently this bag is THE bag in NY right now. It's in In Style, Vogue, Daily Candy....It is so soft. I just love it. Plus it was about 1/3 of the price of the Chloe bag. So Yippee. I can't wait to use it.

More of the Same

2007-09-03T08:16:00.000-04:00

I haven't been very bloggy lately. I guess it has come down to crunch time and all waking moments have been spent knitting or working...Both are work...I can see a faint outline of light at the end of the tunnel. I know I should be finished with all of this production stuff but some obstacles appeared late in the game....Fashion Week took priority so I'm back at it this morning - I'm looking for a good movie to distract me from the monotony and to speed it along....

In other news, I've had a house guest for a week. It's been great and not too distracting to my work. I'm the one walking around NYC with the knitting flying off my needles! It's pretty funny. At this point I don't care what I look like as long as I keep knitting!!

I start training on Wednesday at the new work place. I hope I like it. I feel like it's a safety job. If I decide to keep looking at least I have it to fall back on. I like the people so far. I have a good attitude. I get to wear a black wrap dress as a uniform. Nice. (I hope it fits!!)

The current workplace is staying open until the 23rd of Sept. Once we reach that date I guess we'll have better news as to a closing date? A bartender where I currently work applied for a job at the new spot before I did. He didn't get hired. He's mad at me for taking the job. Isn't that a little lame? I couldn't believe he was talking about me behind my back about it. LAME. We had a little pow wow and I set him straight....I hope. I mean I don't want to have any bad feelings after we close. I love everybody that I work with. Bar Drama!

And that is all that's been happening. One of the DJ's asked me to make a super groovy hat for his brother's birthday. I know it would take me exactly one hour to make it but I don't have the time. I hate to say No. But I think I have to. He wants a normal winter hat but with a slopey over the eye brim. Kind of cute. In grey cashmere. I can't. Vogue is going to call me this week with 2 projects....and, and, and....Oh maybe I'll just make it. If I do I'll take a picture.

That's it. I have to find a movie.

Knit.1 Fall Issue

2007-08-27T08:07:00.001-04:00

I just saw these two pieces in a preview on the Knit.1 website. This means that I should be getting my copy in the mail any day now. I can't wait to see the actual magazine.

This is a jacket - ish cardigan made with Lion Brand Organic Cotton.

And this is the mini jumper with cables made using Wool-ease. The front and the back have the cable pattern.

I can't even begin to tell you what I've done to the asymmetrical cardigan. I've messed up each section in ways that just don't seem possible. I'm finishing up one sleeve and the collar this morning. Blocking it. Then getting it out of here. The best news though is that it's really cool looking. So it sort of makes all of this sturm und drang worth it. I was in N.J. all day yesterday at a barbecue and I felt really silly and anti-social knitting so I basically lost an entire day. AAARRRGGGHHHHH.

I have a house guest coming for a week later today and I need to clean and get it together around here but I also need to knit. I can't wait until this is over....

Better posts in the future. I apologize.

Quickie

2007-08-24T15:41:00.000-04:00

I can only write for 2 minutes because I'm changing balls of yarn and taking a potty break.

I'm re-knitting the asymmetrical eyelet cardi - as I knew I would. I have to make it 8" bigger all around. It wasn't anything that I did incorrectly just a change of plan. I started it yesterday at 4pm. I knit all the way up until I went to bed. I was at the armholes. This morning I got up early and started knitting. After about 5 minutes I somehow realized that my gauge was wrong. I whipped out my handy dandy needle measurer and found that I had knit the whole freakin sweater on the wrong needles. OMG!!! This sweater is due on Sunday. Not the best mistake to have made. So I've been frantically knitting away today. I have to leave for work in 15 minutes. I've passed where I was last night but only by about 6 rows. I'll knit on the subway. Hopefully during happy hour and then maybe force myself to take the train home so I can knit a little more.

The handpainted pullover was a total winner. He loved it. It will look so pretty hanging on a hanger in a fancy boutique. So I don't have to worry about a reknit on this one.

In the meantime, I have to finish 1/2 of a Cowl that I started on wednesday and a scarf for delivery on Monday. And then by friday I have to knit another sweater from the fall collection and 2 more scarves...... O M G. I'm feeling slightly stressed!

The good news is that on wednesday before I went to work I stopped into a restaurant that's opening in the near future and had a little interview. They called today to hire me. Yay. I have to train next week and then ? not sure when the opening is.... I'll know more next week.

Also, the place that I'm working right now is having some problems with the sale so I think it will be open for a few more weeks. Though I'm not at all sure about it.

That's it. Must get back to knitting!

It's been a week?

2007-08-22T07:52:00.000-04:00

Where have I been?

Let's see, I worked everyday from Wednesday until Saturday. And it was REALLY busy so I was basically useless during the day. Just some knitting and then off to work again.

1. I finished the Eyelet Cardigan. Here's a really crappy photo of it. You can't really get the drape of the sweater from the photo...I'm delivering it today. I should say that I'm presenting it today. There will definitely be some changes....

2. This is a complete redo of the Handpainted Pullover. It is super stretchy and quite pretty. It's being presented today also.

3. & 4. Some fun production pieces have been knit in the last week also... (sorry about the feet!) I'm so over these pieces...can you tell?

5. And another Cowl Sweater...

So let's see, I knit 3 sweaters and 2 scarves in a week. I guess I've been busy knitting. I can't even tell anymore!!

Yesterday was SEWING DAY!! I'm a little excited because I'm on to a new project. YAY.

This is what I'm making. It's a Burda Pattern.

I'm using the custom fabric made for Diane Von Furstenberg fabric that I snatched up at Beckensteins when they were having their $5.00/yard sale. It ended up in the the wrong section!! The sales guy got into trouble but I made off with 3+ yards of super yummy fabric. It's the black/cream fabric in the photo. I have to go to Mood and buy some silk lining today. (Plus I need to buy buttons for my dress that I finished....I need to put up a photo.) I bought this pattern because I didn't want to have side front and back panels. I wanted to keep the print in as few pieces as possible. When I cut it out yesterday I cut the back on the fold so it's one piece - instead of putting in some slight waist shaping and having a seam....smart, huh? I love the coat. I love the grommets and the ribbon.

I had an interview yesterday for a restaurant manager position. It was an awesome place. But, uh, 5 days a week and $40,000.....are you kidding me? Plus A LOT of work and stress. The restaurant seats over 500 people! I went on the interview because they called but I don't think that's what I'm into. I'll stick to the bartending! The money is WAYYYYYYYY better. I have a few interviews today. What I'm finding is that I can certainly find a job but I'm going to have to be selective as to where I go....So, I guess that's good news.

I also got a call from VK for Spring/Summer. So that's good news too.

So why am I feeling so blah? Must be the weather or perhaps all of the knitting. I still have 8 sweaters, 28 hats and 11 scarves to make. OY!

Progress

2007-08-15T09:16:00.000-04:00

I finished the body of the Organic Cotton Asymmetrical Eyelet cardigan. It's blocking and is still damp. When it's dry I'll take a photo of it. I have a 4" collar to knit and 2 6" sleeves. Yes, it will be done today! Wooo-hoooo. I'll then tackle the redo of the handpainted pullover. I have to rip back to the first armhole and just knit it back up. I wonder if I could bring it to work with me...Maybe some production piece will come to work instead?

Yesterday during my sewing class I couldn't find the manual to my fabulous new sewing machine. Therefore I couldn't figure out how to do the 8 buttonholes on my dress. So instead I just did some finishing around the neck and fronts. Added the cuffs to the sleeves, blah, blah, blah....

After class I searched for the manual and lo and behold I found it in my files filed under Janome. Go figure. ANYWAY....my machine has a 1-step buttonholer. SWEET. I knocked my buttonholes out in about 11 minutes. On my own. Never having made a buttonhole before. Perfectly straight, even, spaced.....I'll take a photo of that too! Super exciting. I'm off to buy buttons and some lining for my next project which will be a coat!!!! A Fall coat - not a winter coat! It's really cute. I'll take a photo of that too! The lining has to be something really special. So I might go to Mood to find just the right silk/satin.

Did anyone happen to see the NY Magazine article about Why New Yorkers Live Longer? Really interesting. The faster you walk, the longer you live. I think my mom has that one covered! She walks and walks and walks. I'm a slow walker. I think I need to pick up the pace a little. Well I should say that I like to walk slowly - when I can. I'm probably a faster than normal walker though. I'm always skirting around tourists, getting annoyed that they've just stopped in the middle of the sidewalk for no apparent reason! Anyway, check it out. Definitely food for thought.

That's it for now. Photos later, I hope!

Forward, ho

2007-08-14T09:08:00.001-04:00

I quit my belly aching and got down to business. Right after my post on Sunday I started knitting this thing. It's the Organic Cotton Asymmetrical Eyelet Cardigan. I've knit 15". I'm going to knit another 1/2" before the underarm bind off. The right front is only about 5" wide while the left front is about 11.5 (hopefully.) I hope my numbers are correct. It's kind of why I'm adding an extra 1/2 or 3/4" to the body. In case I need to block it wider I won't lose the length. A little long is ok. A little short is Not ok.

Most likely this will be worn inside out (reverse st. st public).

We ended up switching the tank around so now it's worn backwards and inside out. Although when I delivered it yesterday we decided it could be worn 4 ways. Any way it gets put on looks great. Cool! Finished.

I have to frog down to the armholes on the handpainted piece. ( I knew it. That's why I didn't add the sleeves.) maybe I'll work on that tomorrow. It's a pretty straight forward fix. I can get it done in one session. Maybe I'll take it to work with me tomorrow night. Cardi today, handpainted tomorrow.

Speaking of work, the Community Board meets tonight. On the agenda is the transfer of the Double Happiness liquor licenses to Fem Fatale inc. - the new owner. I'm sure it will be unanimously approved and I'll officially be out of work. Once I finish up all of this knitting I'll start looking for a job. A few of my co-workers have already been hired by other bars. I hope I'm not going to have a problem finding a job. I shouldn't (right?)

I have my sewing class today. I think maybe I'm up to the buttonholes. There are 7. I never went to buy buttons for this dress but I'm thinking I can make buttonholes without the actual buttons. I probably just have to decide on button size, right? And the pattern will probably tell me that, right? My dress looks like a really ugly house coat. No kidding. It's super ugly. But for some reason I'm ok with it. I've learned some new and interesting techniques with this so I don't really care what the finished piece looks like. I'll wear it around the house - just like all of the other pieces I've sewn!!

That's it for now. I have to get on with the cardigan....

Stalled

2007-08-12T10:33:00.000-04:00

What do you do when you have a long To Do list but can't get anything done? How do you motivate yourself?

I've always considered myself highly motivated but this month is making me question that. I know that I have an enormous amount of work to do but I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed. Not in an OMG I can't do this but more in an OMG I don't want to do this....Even when I KNOW that I have a real deadline. Is it just a classic case of don't tell me what to do rebellion? Or is it more that my life is in turmoil and I can't concentrate or DO I JUST HATE KNITTING THE SAME THINGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

The reality is that I agreed to do this and I need to just do it. I need to stop bellyaching. I need to get on with the knitting.

I feel better now. Thanks.

I'm now going to graft my shoulder seams and do some number crunching on a cardigan.

Presto Chango!

2007-08-11T13:19:00.001-04:00

In it's original form:

My revised form.....

I can't seem to bring myself to pick up the needles today. So I read a little of "Heat" by Bill Buford. But got bored. Grabbed my new tie dye and made this. Easy Peasy, quick and easy. So So sorry about the body photo. Please, no nightmares! My gut seems particularly poufy! I don't think I look like that!! haha!

Do I Have To Go Downtown?

2007-08-11T10:14:00.000-04:00

There was so much police activity last night. I haven't seen that many police and emergency vehicles since 9/11. Super Freaky...

This is what Reuters had to say today:

It just makes me want to stay home and knit.

Quick Update

2007-08-10T14:19:00.000-04:00

Here's a rough photo of the Habu Handpainted Pullover....The bind off is too tight. But I'm going to wait to fix it until after I present it to T.S. I also haven't knit the sleeves yet....

Front:

Back:

Some revisions to the Organic Cotton Tank. I've lowered the back. I'll be grafting the shoulders and it appears that I've slightly altered the front neckline. Oh and it's now inside out. The ends will be seen. And the front is the back and the back is the front. Go figure!

New Front: (pre-grafting and pre-weaving in ends.)

and New Back:

I'll be grafting, weaving and blocking tomorrow. Then I think it's finished??