I am definitely on "Take II" with ALL my current WIPs right now...sigh

So I "attempted" Ravelympics but knew it was going to be a long shot getting to the finish line b/c life got busy on both fronts (work & personal) for me. It really became apparent that I wouldn't even get off the runway once I realized something was very wrong with my cabling.....can you see it??Yep not all of them are "crossing" lol.....after further inspection of my interpretation of the pattern repeat...I was doing too many plain stitches before the cable stitch on one of the rows.

And after further consultation with some knit buddies over a "lunch & knit" session they convinced me that I would need to frog and just do it right from the beginning.....I have yet to still do that....blah

Then there is the other project I was working on

This was for a KAL in my knitting group on slippers. These will some day be the prairie boots ;op

I thought I would be clever and not only knit them 2AAT but also double yarn them for extra cushion on the soles....big mistake

Gauge ended up waaaay off! They practically cover my entire foot already and I am nowhere near the point of decreasing to round out the toe on the pattern......another one to the pond!

So in my state of "Take II" I thought I would just pull out an older WIP that is pretty much on easy street as I am strictly on sleeve island now.While working on the second sleeve I realized 2 inches in that I was still working on the smaller needle used for ribbing....Doh! Could I just play it off and hope that blocking would loosen those rows up and go back to the bigger needle size? Or stay on the small needle while the other sleeve was knitted with the bigger needle?? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip

Who knows when I will finally finish a freakin project!!

But I will say it was great sitting & knitting this past weekend in my fav LYS like I used to do back in the day, because a wonderful surprise visitor came thru the door!

Jane! I had not seen her in 4-eva! And she was just looking fabulous sporting her Ravelympic sweater - it truly honored the games. Thanks for making a pit stop to see me as it was great just chit chatting with you. I always appreciate your kind words and support!

In the meantime, hopefully I will be able to show an F.O. around here soon!! ;op Happy Knitting!

Now to grow some sleeves!! :)

I pray everyone has a blessed 2010 filled with prosperity & love!!

Yep getting a little bit of puuuuuuuure & simple garter stitch in

Just a little bit of knitting going on *gasp AND on straight needles* (not by choice Haha)...really not much (a simple scarf)...but it's something!! :)

It should come to you as no surprise if you have peeped in on my blog wall every now and then....that you will notice that I just LUV food!! :oD

And one of my favorite items to nourish myself on is SUSHI!

What is that you say?? That middle tray doesn't look quite like Sushi?!? Haha! ;op

I saw this cute little kit awhile back and just HAD to have it!!

Mmmmmh not exactly my colors but really want to knit it up, and then I plan to give it to one of my girlfriends who is in a sorority with those colors. She will really like it! Plus I was the one who hooked her onto sushi so it will be perfect!! :o)

As you take a closer look
this package has all the ball colors and zipper enclosed in a cute sushi tray!! :o) Luv that detail!

I purchased this package with my 50% retail coupon of course! You can also order it full price HERE if interested.

And I like to frequent my other fav store (Tar.jay) to sit & knit from time to time in the onsite Starbuck's where they always give out samples when I am there!! Gotta luv that too!! :o)

Those are my Anastasia socks that are growing very slowly on my needles; as I really have not given them that much attention (or any of my other projects). Hopefully I can get up to the gusset this weekend.

Trying to carve out time to knit this month has been challenging and not good for my WIPs in the wrestling ring!! Crimson Warrior needs to catch a second wind to get some slams in ASAP! ;op

In the meantime, I figured another sample wouldn't hurt Haha!

Until next blog time...

Yesterday morning I was able to take a sock class in person with WendyKnits herself! And got the chance to fondle all of her socks that are featured in her book too!Then I happened to look up from my needles and seated right across from me was a blogger pal that I had yet to meet IRL!
Zonda!! :o) We drop each other little blog comment presents from time to time (giggle), but I never really expected to meet her in the flesh Haha!

So I had to get the proper blog photo for the occasion! :o)Told you this has been a great year of no travel and still getting to meet soooo many people!

And not to mention seeing some of my Purl friends again that I had not seen in such a long time!!

Of course with Wendy J. too!! :oD

The sock class was just the push I needed to get back started again in cranking up those teeny tiny needles.

I joined the Ravelry Socks from the Toe Up KAL where each month the group will knit a pattern out of the book! This month is Lacey Rib and it is going very well!! I am excited about it b/c I am loving the colors of this yarn and the easy pattern, not to mention this will be my first "long" pair of socks (I always get antsy and stop at anklets or quarter length socks).

I would recommend this book as there are explicit directions on how to do various toe-up COs with easy to understand directions. I've always been that gurl who loves doing 2AAT toe-up socks as I don't like the mystery not knowing if this sock is going to fit me. More patterns are now considering toe-up in their directions but most are in the traditional top-down approach. So the book is great in providing lots of easy to do options for toe-up patterns along with different heel options too!

The only thing I would say is because it is so cookie cut it doesn't break down how you could adjust the patterns specific to your unique size (i.e. skinny ankles/narrow feet, etc.) and expects you to intuitively understand how socks are designed so the training wheels of the step by step instructions are necessary. Which is exactly what I need right now until I get more comfortable in my sock making skin ;o)

Here is to a great Sunday Sock knitting for me!!

And in the words of WendyKnits SOCK ON!!

knitting occurred this M.emorial D.ay weekend!

I decided to do a quick and cute purse since I've been sitting on this cute purse handle from last year

So I eagerly started knitting again since I've been hooking so much,
with some of my fav yarn of couse! :o)

and even tried a new technique

Double Knitting!!!! I really enjoy it!! Even though I am still fumbling thru on how to exactly do the increases and decreases...suggestions/help anyone??

Well as fun and challenging as this project has been..it has not been going well :o(

I first wasted 2 hours of my knitting life to discover what was frogged I really was doing correctly...sigh. So I started again.

And then realized my purse handle was NOT going to match up with my knitting

DOH!!!! Too big (and too thick to fit b/c of the double knitting)! Ugh!

.....Soooooo I will have to order a new handle, which completely defeats the purpose of having a free handle *rolls eyes* As you can see I refuse to start over, but also refuse to keep knitting right now....back to crocheting!!!

That darn baby blanket which I am sick of working on now....it is big enough so gonna end it soon. Besides the baby shower is this upcoming Saturday, so that will be a wrap either way!

Despite the start of my knitting coming back and the start of my crochet fever now wearing off...

It is the unofficial start of summer! You really can't kick off a M.emorial D.ay right unless you have some of this
I have waaaaay too much of it
the lid won't even fit on top of this bowl...whew!

Hope everyone is having a nice holiday. And I definitely want to take a moment to honor all the soldiers who have put their life on the line for our country protection and my freedom!!!

It UP over here!!

Well I started out with the traditional granny square in crocheting, so why not continue with the Ripple!! :o) However this is not the traditional ripple, but a round one!That is what attracted me to this pattern. Didn't want to do the back and forth, but was interested enough to want to ripple!

This project is not going as fast as I would like since I am using a smaller hook, and really have to pay attention to which hole I need to be in But figured it would be faster to crochet, rather than knit, this baby blanket up for a shower at the end of this month. I hope they like it!!

I wonder if I will remember how to knit after all of this hookin' ;op Haha!

It has been a cool minute since I've shared what is going on while "in progress" and flash some yarn p0rn your way too! :o)

My latest knit "in production" is the Buttony Sweater (btw - I love my new stitchmarkers)

this project actually kept me busy and made an experience much less excruciating during my wonderful f.o.u.r. hour P.rayer for J.udgement driving class *tight grin* (yes I got a ticket..and it wasn't even for speeding!!) Ugh!

I had a bumpy start with the vague raglan directions on the left panel, and really not sure how this thing will "fit" as I left it as a 'design element' (yeah I was lazy) Haha! So.......we will see LOL

But in the meantime, it is growing and ready for me to divide for the sleeves, where I will find out the "real" truth on if it will workout!! *cross your fingers for me*

This morning I swatched for a very long awaited project

...like I coveted on my knit pal Turtlegirl spring of last year
...like I bought the book only for this pattern
...like I purchased all 8 hanks of the yarn just for this project way back in May of this year (yes, 7 months ago)

THAT is how long awaited this project has been!!!

And it is this

Since I have overloaded you all with Noro figured it was time to switch off with my 2nd love Malabrigo!! LOLI just LURVE Stonechat!!! As you all already know crimson and chocolate is one of my favorite color combos!!

Originally I really wanted this shrug to be in Velvet Grape (my other fav malabrigo color), but once I discovered Stonechat some time ago, it was then I knew it had to be in this colorway instead!

Speaking about projects (and yummy malabrigo)! On my buttony sweater I am going to need....well buttons! :oD (gotta love w.al-m.art)Tell me which ones do you favor with this color? The silver ones on the left or gold ones on the right?? Remember there will be 12 of these running down my chest! Haha!

Drop your 2 cents in my comment box ! :o)

Well I am really eager to get some good knitting mileage in during my time off (I luv these candies!!)In the meantime, hope your holiday is on & poppin'!!! :oD

TO STAY WARM!!!

right now on this lovely sunny mid-day it is 42 degrees here, but feels like 35 degrees...according to weather.com (especially with that whippin' wind whistlin outside my window !)...for us here in the south that is cold! Haha! :oD

So I've been peepin out my favorite place (tar.jay) and all of their latest "knit/crochet" items to keep folks warmThose are definitely cute! But will they really keep me warm? Ha!

And y'all know I got a thang for fingerless gloves and spotted these hanging aroundI swear it almost looks like someone hand knitted them!! *pfft* Acrylic! I need 100% wool on my hands for warmth please!

This time of the year always makes me wonder if it is just easier, cheaper, and much faster just to buy this stuff straight off the racks......and the answer typically is yes for me!

Unless you want something unique...one of a kind...just for you! Then it's all worth it baby!!I had not forgotten (okay...almost tee hee) that this is the season for NOROvember!!!!!

I cranked those puppies out pretty quickly (2 at a time of course!) and will do it F.O. justice soon, as I plan to knit up another pair for me this time!
Love those colors!! And I am not even a pink gurl! I believe the chocolate and black help influence me! ;o)

Figured since I am jazzin' things up around my way with colors and all I would try black on my fingernails too! ;op Very different for me as I normally stick to light colors or french. Me likey! I received more compliments about my nails the last 2 days then I ever have before! Haha!

And what I am holding is my newest perfume scent that I finally settled on (it takes me forever to commit to a smell on my body) Diamonds by Armani...I luv Armani and the men scent version of this is even better!! Gotta get me a man of mine (A.S.A.P.) to wear that so I can smell it all the time on him ;op

*clears throat*

Back to the regular scheduled blog post! Haha!

Since there is 9 more days left in the month and some holiday vacay time thrown in there too, I am hoping I can crank out a few more NORO projects since I have the yarn/patterns all lined up and waiting for me...we will see

Have a wonderful weekend!!

And if I don't speak to you in time for the big Turkey Day then enjoy!

Some of you have asked me how was I coming along on my Ravelympics skirt. Thanks so much for caring or just being curious! ;o)

Well yesterday during my lunch hour I had a hiccup/trip on the race track!

I was plugging away on Row 8 of my lace section which is supposed to look like this:

But then noticed this one very weird spot: WITW is this?!?! A HOLE!!!!

Apparently I dropped some stitches along the way...I am thinking maybe where my needles were being held together while traveling in my knit bag??? Or possibly dropped a YO and didn't realize it....

Here was my attempt in fixing it, but those K3togs and YO made it hard to patch things up:Ur uh um yeah...it looks like crap!! I can't go out like that! Haha!

I had to RIP back!!! Thank goodness for lifelines!!! Don't ever hate on the dental floss! ;opSo I wasn't too upset as I wasn't that far along......but still!

Weeeeeeell after the emergency fix this treat was DEFINITELY in order!!! Venti!! (I never get that size)Back to sprinting to the finish line frantically!! huff puff huff

So forgive me if I get ghost on ya!! :o) I gotta get my gold!