Grrr, argh, and proof that I have no sense.

Okay, so first the grrr, argh part of things. You see, my birthday is coming up on Tuesday, and I want to treat myself to... something. The problem is, I can't decide on what to get. Unless it's a super yummy scrumptious yarn I absolutely cannot get at Spin a Yarn, yarn isn't going to cut it. (And since I work in trade for yarn there, really, what's the point? Besides, the only thing really tempting me at this point is the Coral Reef Sampler at KnitPicks.) I thought about a pattern book, but same problem, and I never seem to use my vastly growing collection anyhow. Tee shirts are cool, but I couldn't find one that really screamed "BUY ME!" anywhere. So, I'm at a loss as to what I want. I hate being so danged indecisive.

And why do I have no sense? Because I agreed to knit this:

Yes. Knitted candy underwear. Nancy asked me to knit this for her to give to a friend as a gag gift for a bridal shower. It didn't take a lot of time, but man... Let's put it this way. Nancy asked me what she owed me for knitting it, and I said "Never ask me to knit with candy again and we’re square." Red Laces are no substitute for good yarn. (If you'd like to make this thong for yourself for some unknown reason, you can find it here at knitty.com.)

Yee-ikes!

First, I just wanted to say thank you for the kind welcome backs and kudos on my hat. I've missed my little blog quite a bit, and it's good to be back in the saddle.
As for the yee-ikes... Last night I realized that I've been knitting wrong. I've been working through the back loop, and that explains so many things. It's why I couldn't visually tell the difference between a ssk and a k2tog increase, why my attempts at lace were failing, and why the pictures were confusing me. (I figured it out when I'd forgotten how to do a m1 increase and had to go back into my books to find the instructions, and when that looked funny I looked up the knit stitch instructions.) I feel like the world's biggest doofus. Ah, well. I'm frogging the Jaden sweater again anyhow, and I'll finish off my three pairs of GIP (gloves in progress) as started as I've come too far with them all to stop now.
One day I'll get it all figured out. :D
By the way, have you seen Regretsy yet? It's definitely NSFW, but one heck of a laugh. Trust me. ;)

Oooo, felty!

Mom's Booga Bag is FINALLY done.

More details, along with other awesome news, tomorrow night. ;)

Oh, and Michelle... Slytherin's got the early lead... ;)

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I finished these tonight as a birthday gift for my mom. (Her birthday was Friday, and while I had the first one done, I didn't get the second finished until tonight.)



She saw the glove I'd made for myself, and wanted a pair, too. So, I gave up on mine and made hers. :) (I'm weird like that. It's always more interesting for me to craft for someone else.) She loved the final results (as well as her card and dinner at her favorite restaurant last night), so I'd say her birthday was a success this year.

I'm starting to like these pointy sticks. Of course, I still love my hooks best, but I like not being tied to one kind of pattern. I've even started a new project, which is a purse to give Mom for Mother's Day. Let's hope I actually get it finished on time. Ha!

Holy crap!

I actually knitted something. Crazy, huh? But, I started and finished a knit fingerless glove, with cables no less, and I've started the second one. Mind you, I still love my hooks best, but I may just be getting the hang of these sticks.

Speaking of getting the hang of things, I'm sort of getting the hang of spinning, too. The corn fiber I bought to spin up and ply with my merino isn't cooperating as nicely as the merino did, but I shall conquer it.

Oh, and I promised to show you my rockin' PVC niddy-noddy. Here it is.


And, here's the merino blend with a penny for size reference.


I don't know if I'm getting the hang of it, or if that was sheer luck. But, let's hope I can figure out how to make the corn behave as well. (And, man, it smells SO good! Like Karo light syrup or candy. Yummy!)

Boleros are my new addiction.

So, I've made quite a bit of progress on the Knot Ugly Shrug (which, in truth, is a bolero), and I'm in love with it so far. I'm finished with the back and back halves of both sleeves, the top and front of one sleeve, and one of the front bits. I've even started seaming it (even though, in my eyes, seaming after crocheting is like the hangover after the party).



Sorry for the crappy picture quality. Bad lighting+cell phone camera=yeck. But, hopefully I'll finish either tomorrow or Tuesday and have a good picture of it by Wednesday.

Successfully finishing my babydoll tank and almost finishing my bolero (which will be finished within the next two days, dagnabbit!) has given me the confidence to try more clothing items. Just as soon as I can get ahold of enough yarn, the Violet Beauregard skirt will be mine! (Seriously. ;) ) Just be on the lookout for more clothing pieces to be popping up around here.

Now, as we all know, I'm half-arsed trying to learn to use pointy sticks. But, if I can get my hands on more patterns like these, well... maybe I might be more inspired. (Unless someone can point me in the direction of similar crochet patterns, hint hint.) Yes, I'm an underwear addict. Can't get enough. ;)

Becoming even more poly-craftual.

First, a new block for my BAMCAL2009 afghan:


Done in my good ol' Red Heart Super Saver in Real Teal and Linen. As always, I had to upsize my hook, but my trusty J didn't let me down.

Second, I've decided to learn to knit. Well, re-learn. I actually could at one point in time, but those damned pointy sticks and I just didn't get along. They were slow, and felt clumsy to my eighteen-year-old hands. Ten years later, I've decided to give it another go, mostly because I get so tired of seeing these awesome projects on Ravelry that i want to make...just to learn they're knitted. Trust me, I'm not putting my beloved hooks away. Far from it. I just want a few more options of patterns to choose from. But I doubt I'll ever make those silly sticks move the way I can make my hooks dance.

Wish me luck.