the occasional knitter

Update!

2009-01-25T05:10:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's been a long time.

I thought I would update this thing, I haven't really been posting because, to be honest, I don't really like putting in pictures and links, I feel like noone really wants to just READ a blog about me. But, too bad that's all I'm doing today.

I've been knitting a lot, I'm assuming most people have ravelry so you can go on there and see all the things I've been making. Right now I have 5 things on the needles and only one is for me! and that one hasn't been touched since long before Christmas!

Also running. I did the half marathon in Philly, and did 5 minutes better than my first, this one was 2:25, I would have liked to do better but I'm really happy with it, a 5 minute improvement in 6 months time is a huge deal! I've also signed up to do the Long Island half marathon again this year. My friend that runs is doing it too, and we know some people who are doing the 10k on the same day, it should be a nice day.
I'm gonna aim for another 5 minute improvement!

so that's about it for now, not much of an update but it's better than nothing!

Oh, one more thing. I've totally jumped on the Twilight bandwagon. I'm reading the first book, and plan on borrowing the second from my sister, but I may have to go out and buy it if I can't get out to pick it up by the time I'm done with the first. I also plan on making the Bella mittens, they're so cute!

Stitch and Pitch

2008-09-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

So I went to the Stitch and Pitch game at Shea Stadium on Sept. 25th.

It was kinda cold and rainy, but we didn't get wet because we were high enough up to be under the overhang. I've kinda been seeing a guy for a couple weeks and he came with me. Val didn't wanna come because it was her anniversary (10 years, big deal!), and my friend Liz was supposed to come, but she had Back to School night for her kids and actually fell that morning while running, and was in pretty bad shape. So Jay came with me, he really didn't mind the knitting.

see, no one around me is knitting....

I brought my Circular Shrug with me to work on.

I was a little disappointed with the whole thing, not to say I wouldn't do it again. We didn't get there early because I really was unsure of what would be going on and it was not really clear if goodie bags were gonna be given out so I didn't feel the need to go early, but then I thought that once we sat down we would be surrounded by people knitting.... not the case. There were a few people around me knitting but I thought I would be able to meet people and talk about knitting and stuff, but our seats were kinda far away from the large group of people I saw knitting. Maybe it's because I bought the tickets on my own, if they were purchased a group I might have been closer to other knitters.... but it was still fun to be able to pull out my knitting at a baseball game!

Running again

2008-08-24T05:16:00.000-07:00

So it's really crunch time now, my next half marathon is Nov. 23rd, so it's really time to start training again.
I do my long runs on Sat. mornings, so I went out yesterday morning and I wasn't really feeling good, I had a sore throat and was kinda stuffy so I didn't really have great expectations of how the run was gonna go. plus the week before I was supposed to do 6 1/2 miles and didn't quite get there, only did 4 1/4....
I get to the 2 mile mark (I had to do 7 that day) and I look at my watch and my time was 19:44!!! less than 20 minutes, that's less than 10 minutes per mile! so I was psyched about it so far. I kept checking my watch and I wasn't really staying at a 10 minute mile but definitely less that 11 minutes per mile. When I got to what I consider 5 1/2 miles my time was 58:30, still doing good, better than my 5 1/2 mile run on Weds. so I'm still excited about it, but I still have a mile and a half to go.
So, at the end of my 7 mile run my time was 1 hour 19 minutes, which makes me think my run was more than 7 miles, I know I slowed down the last 1 1/2 miles but could it really have taken me 21 minutes to go 1 1/2 miles!?!?
the course that I run on is marked every quarter mile, but it's only 2.4 miles long, so it gets a little confusing for me what to do about that last little bit.... and then there's another part that only the first 1/2 mile is marked and then it's a little bit longer, so I don't really know how long that is..... so I just kinda estimate....
but for the most part I'm very happy with my running right now, I have been complaining about how slow I've been running lately, but the last two runs I had were very good pace, I just hope I can keep it up, and that my body doesn't rebel against me!!! but I seem to be right on track to get my mileage up by race time, and hopefully my time will be much improved over the last one!

Wish me luck!

Hello Stranger

2008-06-26T16:07:00.000-07:00

ok, ok, I know.... I figured it was time to use this thing again!

I've been really busy since the last time I blogged

I finished my Talia vest, I really like the way it came out. My first garment! it's even been favorited on Ravelry, by complete strangers!

and the blanket for Juli's baby, so I was able to give it to her at the shower. it was really simple to make!

I finished hand warmers for my friend Lisa, she's gonna really like them and I plan on making her leg warmers too, which are bright red to go with the bright blue wrist warmers! It's just her style! and yes, she is a grown adult... the pattern is Hand Like a Hole by Vickie Howell, probably the quickest a simplest project ever, just the seaming was a little tricky, that's what older sisters are for!

I've started some new projects too:

the Razor Cami by Katie Marcus

the Hanami Stole by Melanie Gibbons

and a bunch of washcloths for a house warming gift for a friend

and I just found out another friend just bought a house, should be moving in in August so I definitely have to make her something!

I also signed up for another half marathon, since the first one went so well! but it's not till November so I have some time to get my miles back up, I want to try to get a better time on the one.

Things are starting to pick with the Long Island Dietetic Association, I have officially taken over as Treasurer, but I don't know what happened last year so I'm kinda lost with everything, but the people are really nice a willing to help me with whatever I need. we'll see how it goes...

and I have officially been commissioned to make a project for someone, well one of the girls I work wanted me to teach her how to knit so she could make a blanket for a baby shower, so I said ok, then it turned into, "well, do you want me to just make it for you?", to which she quickly responded yes. I'm not sure if she's gonna try to pass it off as her own handy work, but I'm pretty sure people will know. she's not really the knitting type.

Juli came up to visit, she was a little cranky because she's all pregnant a such, and when she was here was the hottest days we've had so far up here. but it was a good visit. I wanted to podcast while she was here but we didn't get a chance to.... maybe Val and Juli can record when Val goes to visit....

Ok, Val, I hope your happy I blogged again!

Offical Time!

2008-05-07T17:13:00.000-07:00

So I checked the website again for the Long Island Half Marathon and my real offical time is 2:30:24! even better than before!
Because it takes so much time to actually get to the Start line after the clock starts, you wear a computerized chip that gets your actual time. Now I'm really happy with it!
Still no pics to link to....

13.1

2008-05-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

I did it! I finished the Long Island Half Marathon!
my time was 2:33:28, that's a long time to be running, well it was really more of a jog! I'm happy with it though, I think I did good for my first time.
I don't have link to photos yet.....

White Wine Spritzer......

2008-04-24T16:45:00.000-07:00

KUI
That's Knitting Under the Influence, for those of you who didn't figure it out.
My thoughts on that, since I'm doing it right now, yes people, I am a little drunk right now.
I think it's really not such a bad thing, I'm binding off my Hemlock ring blanket, and not messing up at all..... shocking I know, because I tend to mess things up while I'm sober.... just listening to podcasts, knitting, gonna watch my thursday night shows in a little while. all around a very enjoyable evening!

another note: i know this blog is called the "occasional" knitter, yea, really not occasional anymore, I've become completely obsessive!

Oh yea, one more thing:
so I had a "I'm totally blog about this" moment. I'm surprised Val hasn't blogged about it yet.
so I had a friday off from work, cause I had to work on Sunday (boo), and I took Val to the doctor, and we decided to go out to lunch after, we went to IHOP, cause it was right next to the doctor's office, and we had a waitress that was a little too excited to be working at IHOP (I really wanted to take her out for a drink, just to see what she was like in public!), and Val pulls out her socks and starts knitting in IHOP!!!! I didn't have my camera so I only got to take a pic on my phone....

Just Keep Running...

2008-04-01T19:25:00.000-07:00

That's what I had to tell myself this weekend. I was out house-sitting, and cat-sitting and I had to do my long run on Saturday. I wasn't feeling good on Thursday so I didn't do anything on Thursday or Friday.
So, Friday afternoon I sit down at the computer with g-maps and start planning out an 8 mile route......I managed to plan out a route that was exactly 8 miles back to the front door, so I had to stick to it very closely, and there were lots of twists and turns because I was trying to avoid busy roads, the one thing I didn't take into account...... ELEVATION! Wow, was this route hilly! I just kept thinking "if I make it up it will be down hill on the way back!"
But I survived, a little woosy when I got back, and took a 2 hour nap afterwards, but I survived. I just have to do that, plus 5 MORE miles, in about a month. I'm hopeing adeneline plays a big role here!
But I pretty much fell in love with running outside this weekend, it's so much better than the treadmill!

On the knitting front.
I finished my lace scarf, yes, I really did! It's blocking right now so I'll post pic when it's done. But I pretty much think blocking sucks, I'm not sure I did it right...

and I'm almost done with my socks, I turned the heel so it's smooth sailing from here, I just need to hold out starting something new so that I'll actually finish it.

Speaking of starting something new.....
so my cousin's wife found out she's having a girl and I decided I'm not ready to make a baby sweater so I went out and got some new, girly yarn and I'm thinking about making the spiral baby blanket. But I like this yarn and pattern more than the one I started for Juli, so if Juli has a girl too (I'm thinking she is!) I'll give her this banket and give the other one to my cousin's baby. But I'm still thinking about making a sweater anyway and giving it to whoever, depending on how good it comes out!
and I can't wait to start the Talia vest! I really wanna make it but I'm nervous about making a garment... I don't know what size to make, and how all the shaping is gonna work...... this is scarey stuff!

and on a personal note:
I'm running for the Treasurer position of the Long Island Dietetic Association, I might be a shoe-in cause I'm pretty sure I'm running un-opposed but I'm getting kinda excited about it. I'm looking foward to being invloved in that kind of organization, networking, opening doors for other things...... I feel like a real grown-up now.

Vacations Over!

2008-03-25T15:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, it's been a while since I posted.

I'm back from my visit with Juli, we really didn't do much which was exactly what I needed, and when I got back to work everyone said how much *better* I looked.... did I look that bad before! guess I needed a break even more than I noticed!

We accomplished everything I had on my list so I was happy about that.

I worked on a very special project while I was there:

My Jaywalkers!

I've already started working on the next one, I just want it be done so I can wear it!

We found a bead store right in town, so I made a purchase there. Juli wants a beaded bookmark, and I thought I would try to make some earings.

And we checked out the local yarn stores. I got the yarn to make Talia from the new Knitty. Juli helped me pick out the color, it wasn't until we got home that we realized Juli is very biased to green! But I decided I have to finish something before I can start this, even more motivation to finish my socks!

and the weekend after I got back I did a race, it's the same 4 mile run I did in November. In November my time was 46:25, in March my time was 40:58, huge improvement, I was so happy!

If anyone is interested to see what I looked like while crossing the finish line, it's pretty embarrassing!

Vacation!

2008-03-02T06:42:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I still have a week before I go on vacation but I probably won't have time to blog before then so I figured I'd do it now.

I'm going to visit Juli on Ohio, I'm so excited, I've never been to Ohio, and I want to see Juli pregnant!

I have some plans of things we should do when I'm there and I'm pretty sure she will agree with me on these:
1. Knit
2. yarn shopping
3. make sweet bread
4. podcast
5. do absolutely nothing!

I'm looking foward to a relaxing vacation, I havn't taken any time off from work since October, and it's been so busy there, we've been short-staffed since October, and now we finally have a new person but we're training her, and we have a new intern who started the same time as our new employee, it's just been really busy, and everyone else has taken time off I think it's my turn!
I told Juli I wanted to come visit and she said "you know there's not really much to do in Ohio", I said "yea, that's kinda the point!".

It will be nice also to take a week off of running, I really needed to take a break last week but I told myself if I could get through two more weeks then I'll take the whole week off, because with the weather and stuff in Ohio I don't know if I'll be able to run outside and I don't have a gym membership there. I could pay to use a gym for a day if I wanted to go use the treadmill, but I'm on vacation! that's too much effort.
I've been running 3 times per week, one long run and two shorter ones, and I increase by 1/2 a mile on my long run every week. so now I'm up to 7 1/2 miles! a big accomplishment! I didn't increase my distance this week, I kept it at 7 1/2 cause I really struggled with it last week, so this week I'll try 8 for my long run, and then take some time off, maybe do a couple short runs in Ohio if the weather is ok, but if not, I won't stress.....
the half-marathon is in May so I should be ok getting distance up by then, my friend says I just need to get a couple good 10 mile runs in and I'll be ok, the thought of running 10 miles is just so mind boggling right now!

I haven't started anything new, I haven't gotten my sock needles yet, so I guess I'll have to wait till I get to Ohio to start those. and I think I want to finish something before I start any other new projects. (I know what your thinking "that doesn't matter, cast on anyway", but remember people I'm the "occasional" knitter, I'm trying, quite unsuccessfully, to not become obssesive!)
The Hemlock ring blanket should be finished soon (if I can figure out the bind off!), and I've been working alot of the lace scarf (that thing is never ending, I think I started it in November!), but since I finished the fingerless gloves I want to finish the scarf while it's still cold enough to wear the two together.

I think I may become one of those people who wear scarfs in all knids of weather just because I have so many of them!

Independent Knitter!

2008-02-24T04:24:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling quite accomplished these days!

My latest finished project:

I did it all on my own! I cabeled without having to franitically call Juli, although I did mess one up and it's going in the wrong direction, but I dare you to find it!

and I placed the thumb hole and did the thumb all by myself too, I did ask Val to help but we never got a chance for some knitting time, so I did it myself!

I've got skills I never knew about!

I haven't stared any socks yet. Juli heard about my new desire to knit socks and insisted she send me some sock yarn. How could I refuse!

I still have to get needles and I think I'll start them soon so that I have a nice small project I can bring with me when I go visit her, I don't think the Hemlock Ring Blanket would travel so well.....Two weeks till my trip!!!! (and so she can help me with it, I've only got a few skills!)

Oh, and here is a pic of my friend with the scarf I made her, she loves it so much!

she got teary eyed when I gave it to her and said noone had ever made anything for her, I guess she doesn't come from a crafty family!

I'm considering starting a sweater I got a kit for, but I think I can kinda put that off for a while, it really is a year-round sweater so it doesn't matter when I finish it.

Other than that, running, I'm up to 7 1/2 miles! a big accomplishment for me, the race is in May so I'm right on track.

I'm gonna try to do a run in March, it's a St.Patrick's day run but it's on the 22nd..... but it's the same course as the one I did on Thanksgiving, so I can compare time, that's pretty cool!

Confession

2008-02-14T15:04:00.000-08:00

ok, so I have a confession to make.

I wasn't gonna say anything because I wanted to just do it, and surprise everyone with it. but here goes....

I'm really..... seriously..... considering knitting....socks.
that's right, you heard me, I'm really thinking about it. I think I've finally been bitten by the sock bug!

Alright Alright

2008-02-11T19:20:00.000-08:00

So, I've gotten into my knitting groove!

On the Dashing, I cabeled for the first time and did it correctly! no frantic phone call to my sister. I have to figure out how to do the thumb, but I'm confident I can do it.

I'm working away on my lace scarf. it's moving along.

I finally figured out what the hell I'm doing on the Hemlock ring blanket, it's moving along too.

things are going quite well if I do say so myself!

I'm procrastinating a little on the baby blanket, I still have 7 months! I know, I know it will be here before I know it!

New Projects!

2008-01-24T16:46:00.000-08:00

Well, it seems like its been a long time since I blogged...

not much new going on here, I have some new projects I'm working on, I'll put links on the side in my works in progress and finished projects. I find it kind of annoying to put pictures in the actual text of the blog, it always seems to mess everything up.... if anyone has some tips on an easy way to do it I'd love to know.

I haven't done any cabling yet. I think I'm gonna do the dashing pattern. After the fiasco that is gauge swatching I think I finally have the right size needle, just need to find the time now....
Little story about gauge swatching:
I decided to try on size 7 and 6 needles, but I went to the store and couldn't find any size 6, only size 7. So I get the 7, get home and start swatching, it's too big.... Then that weekend I was at the mall and there was a craft store in the area, and after driving up and down Woodhaven Blvd. I finally found the store, looked at the needles, and NO size 6, every other size but no 6. So I find size 5, bye them, get home and swatch... it's too small....
so I decided I'm just gonna cast on with the size 6 and see what happens, no more gauge swatches! (my mom and sister found the size 6 for me!)

I'm still working on my lace scarf. I messed up at one point and after a frantic phone call to my sister, ended up ripping out a few repeats and was able to save it!

I started a My So-called Scarf for one of my friends. it's coming out really well, I will be really sad to give it away. I bought 3 skeins of the yarn, and will probably only use 2, so I can still make something with it.

I started a Baby Blanket!
For who, you ask? My sister is pregnant!!!!
She's not due till September so I'll have plenty of time to work on it, I'm doing a garter and rib pattern, so it will look like a basket weave, I've always wanted to do that pattern.

And I joined the Hemlock ring Blanket Knit-a-long.
My sisters are also doing it so when I call Juli frantically she will actually know what I'm talking about! it's going good so far, I think I messed up the very beginning, but I don't feel like doing it over, so it will just add to the "hand made charm"!

That's about it as far as projects, I'm keeping myself busy!

I have a knitting in public story too!
So, I had a day off from work last week, I decide I'll go to the book store or Starbucks or something and get hot chocolate and knit, and see who I pick up..... so I go to Barnes and Noble and get myself all set up, and this girl comes and sits at the table next to me, and I can tell she's looking at me knitting, I soon realize that she is looking at knitting books. So I'm contemplating starting a conversation, not really who I wanted to meet, but Hey! if I can't find a man it might as well be another knitter. I soon realize again that she is copying patterns out of the book!!!!
I got very insulted by this and I'm not even a knitting designer...... so I decided to not strike up conversation because they didn't seem like the kind of knitters I wanted to meet anyway, I mean really, how hard is it to buy the book!

I'm still training for the half-marathon, it's in May so I still have a lot of time and I got up to 6 miles last week! I still run really slow but 6 miles is quite an accomplishment.
I also found out I've been "training" all wrong..... this stuff is complicated!
I just want to stay injury-free until race day.

New Years Resolutions

2008-01-05T05:54:00.000-08:00

ok, so for my new years resolution I decided I'm gonna try to be a better person. But mostly I want to make sure that I show the people in my life who are important to me how much I appreciate them, like friends who go out their way to do things for me.
But it seems that I've already managed to get one one of my friends mad at me...... hopefully it will blow over but it seems like she's been a little weird with me since my birthday...

other than that I really need to find a man in my life (one who's not gay), I was told by one of the attending doctors at the hospital that it's now a matter "of national concern" that I find a boyfriend!! no pressure or anything!!

and this year I would like to stay catastrophe-free, I had too much happen in 2007 that I would really be ok with a completely uneventful 2008!
I'm trying to have a more positive outlook on life and not let little things stress me out so much, although that may require intesive therapy, I'm pretty sure I have some kind of anxiety disorder...

As for knitting goals:

knit more lace
learn to cable
knit on public (this actually goes with my personal goal of find a man, one of my friends meets men all the time when she brings her knitting places, maybe it will work for me too!)

so Happy New Year, hope its a good one!

Christmas Knitting

2007-12-29T13:04:00.000-08:00

Well, more things have been finished for Christmas:

First was my secret santa present, I don't think she actually realized that I MADE the things I gave her, because I few hours later she was asking me if I really made the necklace, but I think she appreciated it, the girl I had actually had me too, she got be serving platters...
because I entertain so much.....

But I finally get to reveal what Juli's present is!
I made her a clapotis!

I think it came out really well, the colors look good with the way they striped, and I really enjoyed making it, I learned some new things, I had to go to knittinghelp.com for tips, it was a great site!

It's not quite as long as I wanted it because I wanted to make it wide so I didn't have enough yarn to make it long, but Juli said she doesn't mind she doesn't like her scarfs that long anyway.

But while I was knitting I thought I could do another repeat, so I did the first row of the repeat, then decided I wouldn't have enough yarn to do another repeat, so I took that row out, but I don't really take out rows all that often and with all the twisted stitches, I thought I messed the whole thing up! but you can't tell where I messed up and it all worked out fine!

And Juli made me socks!

They are Monkey socks, I'm wearing them right now! they are so comfy!!!

but I can't say if it has at all inspired me to knit socks yet....

Val made us hand dyed yarn, I haven't downloaded the pictures of it yet, but it came out really good in purple and blue with a little bit of white, it sock weight yarn, but I don't know yet what I'm gonna make with it, I was thinking of making myself a Clapotis but I don't know if I'll have enough of it, I like long scarfs...

I just finished the ribbed hat I was making for my friend, it was my first hat and the decreasing part confused me a little bit so I improvised (it's got raisins in it, you like raisins) but it's not too bad. I really like the color and it's Debbie Bliss alpaca silk, how can you go wrong!

I gave the braided scarf to my friend, I was so sad to see it go, I told her it was coveted by many so she's very lucky to be getting it! but it really was made just for her, I saw the pattern and wanted to make it, then I picked up the yarns and the colors were just so her I had to make it for her. But now that I know it will come out good I can easily make another one (or five!).

She said she's been getting lots of compliments on it!

So now I can work on something for myself! I want to finish the lace scarf, and my friend got me some alpaca silk in a color that is very similar to the lace scarf that I'm making, so maybe I'll make myself fingerless gloves or a hat to go with it. I was given strict orders to make something for myself with the yarn she gave me!

I also got yarn from my mom for christmas from the Harrisville studio, and Juli got me some authentic Ohio wool! they are both a cream color, so I have to find something to do with those too! so much yarn now!

DONE!!!

2007-12-15T13:30:00.000-08:00

Ok, I was gonna wait to post this till had both projects I wanted to finish for the weekend done, but I'm so excited I can't wait!!!

I finally finished the braided scarf!!

I think it came out good, I've been working on this thing since August!!!
I wish I had a big red DONE stamp, I can't wait to give it my friend I think she's really gonna like it!

Wow, I use alot of exclamation points, I'll have to cut back on that....

I might actually finish something!

2007-12-15T05:12:00.000-08:00

So, this weekend it's supposed snow here in NY. so I decided I would get all my errands done Saturday morning and then I would just stay in my apartment for the rest of the weekend and actually finish projects!
I think I can finish the braided scarf this weekend, all I have to do is sew it together (but who knows how long that will take!!). and I think I can finish my secret santa present, the scarf is more than half way done (I worked on it in Border's the other day waiting for my doctor's appointment!) and then the necklace should be pretty easy..
then all I have left is Juli's present, which is about half way done. And I started another present! it's a ribbed hat out of Debbie Bliss alpaca silk, I bought the yarn in August and I've been waiting to finish the braided scarf becuse I had to use the same needles!! But if that ones not done by Christmas I'm sure she won't mind, I mean, she didn't give me my birthday present unitl a week later!!
and I just remembered I promised row-counter bracelets to a couple people....

Also I was walking around Target the other day, I took the day off of work cause I had a doctor's appointment, so I decded to do some christmas shopping, cause I really hadn't done any yet, and I pretty much got it all done!!
I also came across a couple things I would have liked to buy myself but didn't:
a sporty watch- for when I'm running, hopefully I'll be able to do more outside running
an alarm clock - mine is getting old, I keep setting the time on the clock and then a day later it's 7 minutes fast!!! which is good in the morning cause I know I can snooze! but not good for knowing what time it is...

I did buy myself some yarn (artful yarns broadway) and a book (eat, pray, love) in the course of my shopping travels!

Ok, I'm gonna go do my errands before it starts snowing. And then tomorrow it's knitting, movies, and hot chocolate all day long!!
I'll be sure to post pictures of the things I finish this weekend!!

Weekend

2007-12-09T14:46:00.000-08:00

I had a very busy weeekend!

On saturday I went out to my parents house

We went to agility with the dog:

And went out to dinner for my birthday

And then on Sunday I took a beading class at a local craft store!

The carft store that I took the class at was Lady Jane Craft Center, I got a gift certificate there for my birthday from the girls at work. It was a good class and I enjoyed it, I was just surprised that the cost of the beads wasn't included in the cost of the class.... but no big deal at least I didn't have to pay for both!

the store as a whole wasn't that great, I much prefer AC Moore or even Michael's, but I must say they did have a great bead section, very nice beads, precious stones, crytals....very nice. They're yarn scetion was lacking though, Red Heart and novelty yarns, left much to be desired!At least I know now, go there for beads, not yarn!

Not much more going on here, I'm building my friend base on Ravelry, and me and Val recorded a podcast the other day, we're very entertaining on this one!

Ravelry!

2007-12-06T14:47:00.001-08:00

Ok guys, so I finally got my invite to ravelry! I'm officially on!
My usermane is occasionally
so if anyone other than my sisters actually reads this that's where you can find me!

Stash Box

2007-12-04T15:52:00.000-08:00

So, as you will soon see, all of my birthday wishes have come true! I got a camera! so I can now post pictures of the things I've been talking about!

I thought I would Flash my Stash in this post. Well, not really flashing the stash because I didn't really take pictures of the actual yarn, but I'm flashing my crafty station.

I hear people talking about their craft "rooms" and I get so jealous because all I have is a craft "end table"! it's cool because I inherited the table from my grandfather, actually my sister talked me into taking it, but it's a really unique piece.

My craft table:

Juli's present was on here too but I had to hide it for the photo!

But it's also a Stash box!

isn't that a cool little table! and it really comes in handy in my teeny-tiny NYC apartment to have something that is multi-functional!

Other than that, nothing new going on here, still working on 4 projects at one time. I still have a project that I want to make as an x-mas present that I haven't even started yet! I don't know if she'll get it for x-mas, maybe we'll call it a wintery time present!

I've still been running, I'm doing 4 miles on the treadmill now, it's just too cold to run outside! and my friend that is inspiering me to run has been quite obsessed with her knitting, she talks about it all the time. We tried to go to a yarn shop over the weekend but it was closed :(

Ok, I'll post more pictures later!

Happy Birthday

2007-12-01T05:34:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to me!!

yesterday was my birthday, I had the day off so I did alot of knitting and running, two of my favorite things!
i ran 4 miles on the treadmill, the whole time I was thinking, I should be running outside, because it was so nice! and it's supposed to snow this weekend so I don't know when I'll be able to run outside again....
and I did alot of knitting, I woke up and knit for a couple hours, and then again in the afternoon after I did all my errands (went grocerie shopping for the first time in weeks!). I just feel like I'm working on so many projects at the same time that I'm not really getting much done on anything! I did get to work on Juli's present a little bit which I haven't worked on in a long time.

So I decided that for my 27th birthday I would try to take public transportation by myself for the first time! and I got a free bus ride, not cause it was my birthday, because I didn't have proper change, who knew you had to have coins to ride the bus! I couldn't get a metro-card before I got on the bus, and I thought I could use dollar bills, Oh no! you have to use coins, so the bus driver made me ask the other passengers if they had coins, no one did. so I said well what do you want me to do now? He just said, next time you ride the bus make sure you have proper change. I didn't even have to play the birthday card!

but for my birthday I went out to dinner with my friend, her husband, and her husbands parents, we went for Thai food (so good!!), I think it was a pitty invite cause my parents abandoned me!
then we went out to a Karaoke bar, I LOVE karaoke, I didn't get to sing as much as I wanted to but it was a good time, I haven't done karaoke in so long! but alot of my friends showed up, it was nice!

Ah well, another year older....

Knitting Class

2007-11-27T18:11:00.000-08:00

No, no..... I didn't take a knitting class, I gave a knitting class!
I know what your thinking, "how could such a novice knitter have anything to teach anyone?" But believe it or not there are people out there who are even more inexperienced than me!

It was my friend that I work with, she's actually the one who has been inspiring me to run, she did the NYC marathon this year! She keeps telling me about this study that she read that says when you knit it stimulates a different part of your brain that you wouldn't normally use. (interpretation: knitters are smarter!) But I believe it, the whole fine motor skills thing and all.... so she wanted to learn how to knit, and I taught her! she did really well, I'm very happy for her! I think she's just gonna make a scarf with it. But she was so excited about being in the yarn isle at Michael's, and she was telling about a yarn shop that she wants to go to.... she may become obsessive very quickly!
Maybe we can start a knitting group!

All I could think while I was teaching her was "I'm so gonna blog about this!"

Works in Progress

2007-11-25T15:00:00.000-08:00

Ok, I know this is called works in progress but first I want to start with a recent accomplishment of mine that has nothing to do with knitting.

On Thanksgiving morning I did a Turkey Trot of 4 miles!!! I was so proud of myself that I actually finished it and did have to stop and walk. I just started running in August and Thanksgiving was the first time I did 4 miles.My time was 46 minutes 25 seconds, so I run REALLY slow..... and I was passed by the speed walker..... but that doesn't matter I finished! Horay for me!

Ok, on to the knitting:

WORKS IN PROGRESS:
I have 4 projects going at the same time.... I've never done that before.
I think it's just because most of it is Holiday knitting that I need to get done by a certain time.

#1: Braided Scarf
I'm making this for one of the girls I work with, I'm making it in pink, brown, and a varigated pink and grey color. I'm making it in an acrylic/wool blend. I hope it comes out as good as I think it will look cause I've been working on it forever!! I'm finally on the third color so it should be done soon...

#2: Juli's Christmas Present
so I can't post a link to it cause then she'll know what it is. She already knows that I'm knitting something for her cause val spilled the beans!
all I can say is I'm really enjoying knitting it and I'm learning some new techniques too!

#3: Secret Santa Present
I can't post a link to this one either cause I'm just doing a yarn-over knit 2 together pattern. we're doing a secret santa on one of the floors that I work on at the Hospital so I'm making a scarf, it's an acrylic and alpaca blend in dark blue, and then I'm gonna make a beaded necklace to go with it, I got beads in blues and golds, I think I'm gonna do a multi-strand thing...

#4: Morehouse Farm Scarf
This one I'm making for myself! I felt with all this Hoilday knitting I wanted to make something I could enjoy too! Plus I really want to be able to use it this year too! it's a lace weight yarn, which I didn't realize when I bought it and then got a little scared when I opened the directions and it said size 3 needles! But i've been working on it and I really like it, it's very small and delicate but I'm not scared. Lace my be my "thing", I don't know, I guess I'll wait and see how this turns out before I make any promises!
I don't know if the kit for the one I'm making is on the wesite, it's called "les petits riens", I got it in a maroon-ish color, and I have a green jacket so I think they'll go nicely together.
I also really like the Pink Ribbon scarf that they have, but I was being conservative with my purchases at Rhinebeck!

That's about it right now, I was also working on a blanket but that project got put on the back burner cause I needed the needles to make Juli's present! so I'll tell you guys about that one when I start working on it again.

and hopefully pictures will be able to be posted soon!

I just want to make one note about yarn in gereral: I am not a yarn snob, I don't need to have the best quality stuff cause honestly, the good stuff is expensive!! but I've come to the realization that I don't really like wool, it's too scratchy to actually make anything out of, I think I would only really do a bag out of real 100% wool, although the merino wool I'm working with now is ok..... I don't know, maybe I just need to experiment with it a little more, try different brands..... that's just the way I feel right now

My First Post!

2007-11-24T05:17:00.000-08:00

I decided it was time to make a blog, being that I'm now on a podcast (www.knitsibs.blogspot.com) maybe I'm interseting enough to have a blog too! Plus I may have gone from occasional knitter to obessive knitter in a matter of weeks.... I may have to change the name of this blog!

I don't have a camera so I can't really post pictures of the things I've made, but my birthday is coming up soon so if my family has been getting the hints I've been dropping I may be in business soon!

Ok, I just wanted to see how this thing worked, I'll post more later when I actually have something to say...

I haven't really figured out how to edit this properly either...