Life, what Universe? And something.

Life is running away from me, but, luckily, I have yarn and needles with me.

We're currently on a field trip to Denver, but, because of the weather - snow, snow and snow disguised as rain, going out and about is a royal pain. I've only managed to hit one thrift shop so far (Arc), but have plans for another (Goodwill) tomorrow. No great buys yet. Also, haven't run into any LYS's yet. I'm not heading for any in particular, but if I see one, I'll stop in.

I've been knitting. Yah, I know, not posting anything, and all my pics are on my other computer. This is the traveling laptop. I did finish my first Jayne hat, though. I love it. It's a bit big because I didn't have the exact right size circs called for, so I guessed. It still fits fabulously and looks maaaarvelous! I also made a bitty one that someone (info at home) came up with for a pin. Right now it's sitting on my McD's Stitch Elvis bobble doll. It sooo fits. Stitch is now cunning.

Washcloths are now my friend. Up to the point that I'm trying to design my own designs for them. Messed up the first one, royally, but, that's okay. It's a washcloth. Soap doesn't really care what it looks like. And, like everything, it's a learning experience.

Okay, I'm going back to knitting now. I currently only have one project on needles - besides my "I'm going to knit a square with every type of scrap acrylic I have and make them into a blanket, eventually" project. It's a . . . cozy for . . . ummm . . . a part of a male's anatomy. It's so soft and fuzzy! The cozy, not the body part, lol

Laters!

How much do I love YouTube?

I just taught myself a new stitch - thanks to YouTube! Yay! I'm really bad about following written instructions - I just can't see what they're talking about. So, I toodle myself over to YouTube and search for 'knit increase stitch' and find an easy to understand video from expertvillage. Quicker than I can knit a row I've learned two ways to increase my stitches.

I love teh intartubes!

Silly happiness

I just got out of the tub (TMI?) and got to use my first ever homemade washcloth. OMG! I may never not have one going on a set of needles! It scrubs! It soaps up! It rinses out instantly! I just totally love it! Them, even! I'm currently using Lily Sugar and Cream Stripes and I'm gonna go crazy when I buy more, lol.

Pictures next time! I promise!

Curses! Foiled, again!

I don't know if the curse of the internet surfer is the finding of all the new patterns, or the fact that I can't knit them yet.

I know I'm a slow learner, and stitcher, for that matter. It really does take awhile for me to catch on to something without making any mistakes - I still can't just knit a row without either dropping a stitch, adding three stitches, or something else. I am very patient with myself with this - something that very rarely happens to me. I want to know it and I want to know it NOW is my usual chant - just ask the hubby. But knitting is different. It's calming. It's knowing that even if all I do is knit a square - or a round! - it will be useful in some way - even if it's just to teach me how to do it.

In that vein, I finished my first round . . . thing! It could be an earwarmer, but when I bound off (binded off?), I made it too tight so the only one it fits is the dog, as a collar, lol. It was a learning experience and I'm proud of it. There will be more round things in my future when I can actually learn all the stitches needed to follow a pattern.

Also, I finished my first square for what will eventually become a block knit blanket. It really is relaxing to know that eventually all these knots I'm tying will be something warm and useful and hopefully not so ugly as to have to hide it under the comforter.

Ta for now.

Note to self: don't knit when you're sleepy. You will add stitches. Somehow. No matter how simple the row you're doing is, you will add stitches. Then, after your nap you will have to pull out at least a row and count, and re-count, and count again as you put stitches back on your needles. Then, if you're not completely awake, you'll add stitches. Again.

The lesson here: be awake when you knit.

So, there I am, knitting along, and I realize I have not one, but two gaping holes (well, one st missed each) in lower levels. Shit. One I can weave up via picking up a dropped stitch, but the other one looks like there was never yarn there to begin with. Put it down, walk away.

This is why, although I love to knit alone, I should knit with adult supervision nearby.

::sigh::

Just as a reminder:

Find a pattern for a balaclava. Silk would be nice. Any blend I can work with will be better. Might want to research knitting in the round beforehand.