A Toe Up Sock – The Documentary May 16, 2009

I’ve been reading the Yarn Harlot’s blog, as well as Wendy Knits and watching them knit all of these wonderful socks made me want to try it again.  If you have been a follower of this blog, you may recall my first attempt at knitting  a sock.  That ended in horrible failure.  Not because I did it badly, but I wasn’t ready to knit in that small of a gauge yet.  Also, I hated the yarn I chose and the pattern (cuff down with a heel with a gussett).

This time around, I wanted to try toe up socks.  I downloaded this free pattern from Ravelry and decided to give it a try.  Well, the wrap and turns for the short rows were throwing me.  I watched more than one YouTube video and just could not wrap my simple head around it.  I then stumbled upon a great demo for doing short rows with no yarn overs or wrap and turns.  It is FANTASTIC!  So I embarked on improving my first toe up socks.  I cast on 24 stitches using a crocheted provisional cast on and set about knitting the toe of my sock.

(Just after I finished the short rows and began undoing my prov. cast on)

So the toe was a resounding success for not using a pattern and literally just guessing.  I also decided that around the 1″ mark (after the toe) that I would switch to magic loop – so cool!  I never tried it before and I loved it!  So much easier than all those DPNs.   After continuing to knit, I decided that I hate this yarn.  I bought it from Hobby Lobby and it’s just nasty.  Believe it or not, though, prettiest sock yarn in the whole damn store.  Go figure.  Anyway, I also came to the realization that because I did not like this yarn, kntting a large sock (I have big feet) to actually wear was useless.  So, I took it to work and made my boss with size 5 feet try it on so I could gauge where to start the heel turn.

(As you can see, NOWHERE near the heel on my big feet)

So after a tad more knitting on the body of the sock, I began the heel turn.   Using the same strategy/method I used for the toe, I began knitting back and forth on half the stiches for the heel.  I like the look and feel of a mitered heel (while I do also recognize that different types of heels are good for different things), so this method really appealed to me.  Unfortunately, I began knitting the heel while commiserating with my father and brother.  This meant my attention was divided and I went a bit too far with the mitering.

(Too many things wrong to list)

So, not only is the heel only good if  you have a square foot, some how I managed to leave some odd holes (probably from not paying attention, again, go figure).  I got a little carried away with the mitering.  It’s just a lot of bad in this photo.  However, I managed to get past the nasty heel and finish the sock:

Did some 2×2 ribbing to finish the cuff and there ya go!  A finished, horrible sock!  I will knit socks again, but next time they will definitely be on 2 circulars, and 2 at a time.  I want to get Cat Bordhi’s book to learn how to do it.

I hope this post gives some great resources for people wanting to try toe up socks.

A non-sensical update for the hell of it…. May 8, 2009

TEN random things you might not know about me.
1: I have always wanted to be a dancer or gymnast.
2: I like to ride horses, but I am terrified to go faster than a trot.
3: I don’t really drink…to the point I am considered the boring one.
4: I am extremely controlling about how my house is cleaned.
5: The only other person I allow to clean it is my wonderful mother.
6: I love to run, but I am scared to outside for fear of being abducted – therefore I do not run regularly.
7: I am very old fashioned in all things.
8: I would LOVE to be able to play piano so I could play Ben Folds’ music.
9: I am extremely stubborn, sometimes to my detriment.
10: I am Christian, but think I was Jewish in another life.

NINE places I’ve visited
1: Virginia
2: Illinois
3: Massachusetts
4: Florida
5: Tennesee
6: New York
7: Wisconsin
8: Michigan
9: Ohio

EIGHT ways to win my heart
1: Be honest and accept honesty
2: Have a high degree of integrity
3: Strive to be better than your previous self
4: Love animals
5: be self-reliant
6: be spontaneous
7: enjoy the outdoors
8. love

SEVEN things I want to do before I die
1: become a mommy
2: move to a farm
3: start an organization that helps the homeless become educated/find jobs/become self relient
4: finally learn to play the piano
5: become fluent in Spanish by visiting a Spanish speaking country
6: visit Europe/Australia
7: Spend the rest of my time with my hubby

SIX things I’m afraid of
1: someone breaking into my home while I sleep
2: drowning
3: dying in a car accident
4: losing someone close to me
5: falling
6: not being the best

FIVE things I don’t like
1: anything other than bananas that is banana flavored
2: people without integrity
3: people who take advantage of others
4: change
5: cherry ice cream

FOUR ways to turn me off
1: lie to me
2: talking more than doing (this is a biggie)
3: bad breath
4: make dumb choices (and yes, I can turn myself off…lol)

THREE things I do everyday
1: tell my husband I love him
2: love on/care for my furbabies
3: smile

TWO things that make me happy
1: feeling the love
2: taking care of others

ONE thing on my mind right now
1: there are other things to do, but this is more fun.

Just a little update… May 4, 2009

Okay, so I really will update soon. I have been crazy busy with stuff and blogging is the thing that has fallen to the wayside.

I have some great pics of my MacGyver’d ball of yarn, my fat loot from Knit Picks, the beginnings of my Debbie Bliss Bolero, and much more.

Stay tuned as I have a to do list this week and a proper blog post is on it!

Protected: Introspective… April 29, 2009

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Site and Knitting News April 15, 2009

So, hopefully over the next few weeks (possibly sooner) I plan to redesign the site.  In addition to redesigning the site, my plan is to make a foray into podcasting.  That’s right folks, you can listen to me speak on whatever topics I deem interesting relating to knitting, sewing, crafting, or finance.

In other news, I’m working on designing a logo.  It’s something that has been going on passively for quite a while, but I’ve recently felt a new urgency for it.  If anyone has any ideas for designing logos, please comment and share.  I’m pretty stumped with the whole process.  I’ve done lots of research, but perhaps that has made the cloudy mind worse….ugh!

I cannot wait to get my yarn!  Russell got it on the right track, but unfortunately it was too late for the shoes.  I emailed the company about his error (I cannot believe he did it with BOTH shipments), but they said I have to return the shoes to get a refund.  How am I supposed to track down shoes that got delivered to whoever lives in our old apartment?  Someone got some free $70 shoes out of this…but it wasn’t me!

My birthday was fun.  I got some neat stuff…mainly Barbies.  My mom and dad decided it was a good year to enhance my collection…and who am I to complain.  If I have a daughter, I plan to take my dear friend Holly’s advice and pass one on to her every year for special holidays.

Here are some cute pics of the baby playing around on my birthday.

He’s so cute.  He’s turning into such a great little boy.

Anyways, that’s all for today.

Poopy Internet Merchants – UPDATE April 11, 2009

Since my last post, we have uncovered the mystery of the missing yarn/Sperry’s – clerical error.  My DH (bless his heart) put in our old address as the shipping address (quite frankly I’m schocked his debit card was approved).  Knit Picks, being all wonderful, contacted him by email to let him know that the package was returned.

So far, he’s managed to get them on the right track.   Can’t wait to get my yarn!!!

Poopy online merchants!! April 6, 2009

So, right now Knit Picks and another online merchant are on my poop list.  Two WEEKS ago, DH ordered some yarn for me for our anniversary…about $100 worth for two different projects (major score, I know!).  Well, I was notified it was shipped about a week and a half ago.  WHERE IS MY YARN???

DH also ordered some new Sperry TopSiders for me (my old ones looked like crap after three winters and tons of rain).  Those also shipped over a week and a half ago – NO SHOES!!  I’m sending those back pronto…if they ever arrive…because I found some for much cheaper than those I originally thought were a bargain.

Other than that, DH’s birthday was yesterday and I got him a new spinner wedding band – he’s wanted one for quite some time.  This one is awesome and engraved inside.

I’ll post picks of my loot if it ever arrives….UGH!

Houston, we have armholes! March 27, 2009

So, I was plugging along on Sahara and made some nice progress once the epic fails ceased.  I have made it about an inch and a half below the armholes.  Unfortunately, I haven’t touched it much since then.

In other knitting news, I have been diligently searching everywhere for a “case” of sorts to hold DPNs.  I really wanted a zippered pencil case so that they didn’t fall out in my knitting bag.  I am an uber organization freak, so having them float aimlessly around in my bag was driving me bonkers!  I found the cutest one (along with others who were not so fortunate to be chosen) at Borders.  Even the inside is way cute!

In personal news, I joined this group that was all about being debt free.  I was one of those weirdos who grew up really poor and thought that my ability to get and use plastic was a sign I was “somebody”.  Turns out I was – someone really stupid!!  On two occasions, I let CC debt get so bad that I couldn’t even make all of the minimums.  One would think you would learn your lesson by now – not so.  In this group, the members discuss following Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover.

I have read a lot of financial books recently – I mean A LOT – and none of them have ever made me want to modify the behavior that led to the CC debt in the first place.  This book is different.  It’s simple ( you know, K.I.S.S., right?).  It’s not a scheme or some weird and random plan to pay off your debt – it’s common sense.  I LOVE IT!  It’s things DH has been saying for a while, but not in a way I would hear it. It’s very much like 12-step program for debtors – those who live to work to make payments.  I have always in some way loathed debt, but I loved the idea of buying things more – the desire to buy won every time.  Right now we are in the phase of coming up with a budget.  It’s a rather daunting prospect, but the reward of being completely debt-free is so worth it.  I will keep everyone updated in general terms as to our progress.

This weekend is camping – in the rain.  DH has never been before, so I am super excited to take him!  The first weekend in May we are taking my bro and his fiance with us.  To honor this new era of cheap vacations and getaways (once you have the stuff, camping is sooo cheap!), I decided to save up and buy a new tent (the old one had a hole in it – boo!).  It sleeps 12 (I say maybe 6 comfortably) and was a steal!  Best deal I could find and a brand I have actually heard of.

I cannot wait to take DH.  When I return, there will be loads of pics posted.  I really need to get better about posting things on Flickr – especially since I made a big deal about buying a Pro account.

Sahara – Thou art my nemesis! March 13, 2009

Following in the Yarn Harlot’s footsteps, this pattern is beating me down!  I have had to frog not ONE, but BOTH fronts of this stupid thing!  First, I miscounted the # of stitches I needed for the size I was making – knit the 3″ of stockinette, realized it at the end (of course), then had to frog it all out.  Normally I am not this anal (I’m pretty good at fudging stuff), but I love this pattern so much it had to be right.  So, once that mess was frogged out, I proceeded to start the other front (double checked my # of stitches), got about 2″ done and noticed that somehow 3 stitches had fallen off about .5″ back.  Frogged again.

I WILL beat this.

At last….SOME KNITTING!! March 11, 2009

For those of you who read regularly, I acknowledge and apologize for the lack on knitting/craft related content on here.  I admit, I lost my knitting mojo.   I simply wasn’t inspired to finish anything (’cept DH’s hat) and didn’t have the cash to buy yarn to start anything, either.  In any case, my mojo is BACK!

FO – Russell’s New (and FINAL) Hat

He’s a cutie.  Anyways, I love how pretty my decreases look.  The first hat I ever made was a disaster in this department.  Instead of smaller DPNs (*ahem* knitting manufacturers out there – this would still be AWESOME), more patience and time is key.  This one finally fits his big ole head and is a color he will actually wear.

Now on to the more exciting stuff!  I was in a frenzy digging through magazines, books and the like to find a new knitting project.  Something that would capture and hold my attention, as well as teach me something new.  I always crave to learn.  I stumbled across an old UFO, the Cropped Raglan and thought I would finish it.  Well, something sticky got on one side of my circular and I could not get it off.  In a fit of frustration and desperation, I decided that it needed to go – frogged the whole thing.  In an effort to salvage the yarn, I went on the hunt for a new project – something for summer…in the process, I made quite a mess:

So, yeah, something had to come of it.  When all was said and done, I ended up purchasing and downloading Wendy Bernard’s Sahara – so happy!!!  I actually made some progress on it this evening – despite the mess.  The interesting thing about the pattern is it requires you to do a provisional/invisible cast-on.  All the methods for this I have seen in the past have involved using two yarns and some Harry Potter magic -something I do not possess.  However, Stitch Diva Studios gives excellent instructions for using a crochet hook to create sort of a “top of a bag of dog food” effect with the cast-on stitches (by this I mean, you undo the loop at the end, pull the string, and the hole thing unravels neatly).  I managed to do it with minimal effort – so excellent!  Here is what I accomplished this evening:

This project will certainly keep me entertained as I have coveted the pattern for a while.  My only wish is that I had the pretty Tilli Tomas yarn the pattern suggests.  I would definitely knit another one if someone was so kind as to donate the Disco Lights and Pure and Simple in a pretty deep turquoise colorway , but that is merely a dream!