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. ;)

Hats off to ya.

I present my latest FO, the Campus Field Cap from the latest Interweave Crochet (and designed by the lovely Jennifer of Jaybird Designs).

I love love love it. (And I just noticed, any hat I make for myself comes from one of her designs. Odd, but neat.) It was fairly easy, although working BPsc when one is using black yarn is a whole new kind of torture. I contemplated making the crocheted buttons called for in the pattern, but in the end laziness won out and I just grabbed some out of the button box.
I'm also working on a new knitting pattern (what, me?), and finishing up my first pair of knitted socks. Still have much to do for the holidays, but hopefully I'll get most of it done. Cross your fingers on that one for me.

The Slave isn't dead.

Pretty close, but not quite. Between moving, moving back, life, work, and everything else, I've let my little blog slide quite a bit. But, dear little blog, Mommy is back and better than ever.
Updates:
1. Moved to Greensboro. Things went to s***. Moved back.
2. Knitting skills are growing, hook skills still rock socks.
3. New job at Spin a Yarn, and I get paid in yarn/patterns/tools. You know you're jealous. ;)
4. New patterns coming soon!

25 Things I Love About Crochet and more exciting stuffs

First, as started by the lovely Fearless Leader of the CLF, a list of twenty five things I love about the grand art of crochet:

1. First and foremost, stress relief. No matter what sort of insane stuff happens to me, I can crochet it all away.

2. Although I like knitting, it's limited in the directions it can go, and with crochet I can go up, down, sideways. I can stack single stitches onto each other, make so many different shapes, turn circles into squares and vice versa. (Not to mention when I'm done, I'm done. No tedious casting off business.)

3. Along the same lines as crochet compared to knitting, I like the fact that I can finish something twice as fast with half as many tools.

4. Crochet is something my mother and I can do together, and I love working on projects with her. I also love teaching her new things that I've learned.

5. I've made so many new friends since I took up the craft again, both here and online, and while most are knitters, we all share a passion for our craft.

6. I like calling myself a hooker without cracking a smile, then watching other people's reactions. ;)

7. I love that I can follow a pattern to make something, or that I can just make it up in my head as I go and still love what I come up with. (I can't do that with knitting at all.)

8. It's a bit superficial, but I love my pretty hook collection. So many colors!

9. I love that I can get really into a project, completely focus on it, and lose myself for hours.

10. I love how the hooks feel in my hand, so natural, almost like an extension of myself.

11. I love that even when I'm using my pointy sticks, my darling Haytham still calls it crocheting.

12. And yes, I love the tacky and wonderful things people associate with crochet, like gaudily colored granny squares and hippy clothes.

13. I love that I'm carrying on a family tradition of needlework of some kind. (Although Mom and I are the only hookers, her mother embroidered and quilted, while my Grannie Georgia made things with plastic canvas and yarn, and my dad's youngest sister cross stitches.0

14. If we ever have a baby, I'll be able to clothe it and give it toys that I've made with my own hands.

15. I like writing patterns, even if I'm not very good at it yet.

16. I love the look on the faces of my family when I give them whatever I've made for them.

17. If it hadn't been for crochet, no one in my family would've gotten a Christmas gift last year (I was flat broke, but luckily Mom had a bunch of RHSS and some hooks stashed away in a closet, so I was able to craft Christmas after all).

18. I love playing with yarn.

19. Every time I get out my hooks, I'm stealing a little time for myself, and I love being that self-indulgent.

20. I love crocheting at my LYS, mostly because I think it still dumbfounds them that while I've learned to knit, I still love my hooks best. ;) (You know it's true, Deborah.)

21. I love making myself beautiful things to wear and have, and know that no one else has something exactly like them.

22. I love having fun being silly and making freeform nonsense. I mean crocheted big chain bling? that's just awesome.

23. All the different kinds of crochet fascinate me. Crochet, broomstick lace, hairpin lace, thread... So many possibilities!

24. I love when my friends who are learning crochet ask *my* opinion of how they're doing. (A tad ego-centric, but I can't help feeling proud of my own skills in those moments.)

25. An aluminum hook, a skein of yarn, and I'm entertained for hours.


And now, the exciting stuff!
First, I'm so totally psyched about how well the Booga Bag turned out. Mom is actually using it, and i'm in love with the idea of felting now. (Luckily, I have a lot of yarn left over from her bag, and I'm thinking about making myself one, too.) It took me nearly a month to knit, but it was seriously worth it in the end.
Second, I've been commissioned by local musician Holden Bare to make hats, scarves, and whatever else I can think of for him to wear onstage at the Chetola Resort Headwaters Pub. I am so severely stoked over that! I finished my first creation for him this past Thursday.

Custom made one of a kind beanie, cotton-silk blend in a natural taupe colorway. (I know it looks pink, but that's due to the cell cam's craptastic quality.) He bought the yarn for me, which is awesome because the stuff was nearly $15 for a 98 yard ball. I've got another ball of fingering weight superwash merino he bought, which is going to be a hat by next week's gig, and I'm also making covered buttons for his vests. This is teh awesome, I'm tellin' ya.
Third, and most important of all, yesterday was Haytham's 28th birthday! I wish we could have spent it together, but I'm going to make up for that when he gets home. (Thanks to Holden, I'm getting to take him to Chetola for dinner and a show for free. Schweet!) He's coming home soon, and I can't wait!

Okay, enough for today. I'm getting to the point of random babble.

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... ;)

Another attempt to pay it forward, since the last one bombed...

The first 5 people to respond to this post will get something made by me.
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. (No refunds... no exchanges!!!!)

2. What I create will be just for you, with love from me.

3. It'll be done this calendar year (2009).

4. I will not give you any clue what it's going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. I may even create something totally unbelievable and surprise you!! It will be handmade and may be any medium I choose. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange...or awesome...or lovely!

6. In return, all you need to do is post this text into a note/post of your own and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to it.

7. Send your mailing address if you don't live close to me!