Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Child or Yarn - which is more important

Friday, I took off for a ME day and it was wonderful. Everyone should take one. The kids left for school and the bf went to work. It was awesome, it was the first time I got to enjoy the new home.

I watched plenty of t.v. when I was not sleep. A lot of court shows and paternity test's. Maury Povich is the new Jerry Springer. One girl on the show was testing her 10th possible baby daddy and guess what....he was NOT the father. What the hell!!!!! How do you not know who you slept with, in that span of time, she slept with over ten men evidentally because she still can't find that childs father. DAMN!! Also, what makes them come on the show and than start calling all the guys ugly and all this crap, but yet you laid down with the guy and you had his kid (maybe). The best part is when they say I am 100% no 1000% sure that he is the father and there have never been no one else. And than it comes out he is not the father and they go running off the stage crying.... Why, Man the Fuck UP!!! You knew, women know. I also watched Knitty Gritty, love Vickie Howell.

After all the drama on the t.v., I turned the music on and laid in front of the fireplace. Knitting - I thought I was going to have time to knit, but didn't get a chance. Finally, I got dressed and decided to leave the house early to pick up my youngest son. I figured I could go to the lys on the way to pick up the son and stop at Eastern Market and get some fresh fruit and cheese (smoked gouda is too die for).

Well the best laid plans are some time NOT. I arrived at Stitch DC and did not have a lot of time, but I figured I will not go to Eastern Market, I will do that on the weekend like we normally do. Stitch DC is so welcoming and the people are nice, so I chatted with the Yarn Pimp and we had pleasant conversation about my clapotis and other things and than I bought some new yarn(will show picks later) I bought some new yarn for the Forbes Forest and I bought some new sock yarn. I wanted the Knitters Almanac and the new Interweave Knits, but of course they were sold out. After spending too much money (more needles and notions), I looked at my watch and realized it was 3:15 and guess what time the little one gets out of school. Yup, you guessed it at the same damn time. Thank goodness, I could just hop on the subway and take one stop and walk to get him. So, I got there at 3:25 with apologies I got the little one.

I made it up to him though. We had family night later on and we went to Arrundel Mills and we ate and bought books from Books-A-Million (I got the new Interweave, but they did not have the Knitter's Almanac). It will be ordered.

Who says my priorties aren't correct?

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Rewind

Here's a picture of the left panel of Starsky yesterday morning.



Well here is a picture of Starsky now.


I decided it would be much quicker if I just started over, or I will be forever trying to figure out this crap. I knew I would not be happy with the cables lined up incorrectly and that is what was happening at the top, which seems to be an issue with other knitters as well.

Am I upset you ask? Nope, I will be off tomorrow and I will have all day to knit if I want.


Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Yarn winding and rewinding

Hey take a look at this:



This is the color I am using for Ene's scarf in Scarf Style, once I am finished winding it up. I do not have an "official winder" except for the little arms of a eight year old. I think I am going to buy him some needles and teach him how to knit. He has asked before and what I have seen on the net, men are rocking knitters. Can it be said, a family who knits together, stay together? You never know.

My new knitting mantra. I will never stop in the middle of a project without taking proper notes, so that I know where to begin once I pick it up again. I am almost finished the left side of the Starsky and I had to rip out two rows three times yesterday because the cable is not lining up correctly. My notes only say start here! I am so crazy, I am hoping to try and work it out at lunch time. This should not be that hard, but it is when you are old and can't remember because you put it down in September or October.

Rewinding. This weekend I took out the yarn of some old socks of mine. My first socks I ever knitted. I am rewinding the sock yarn as well and I think I will make Jaywalkers or some other cool socks.

Wish me luck!!!

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Grape-o-licious - is a FO

Thanks to the crazy weather in Washington, DC I have been able to complete my second clapotis - grape-o-licious. She was a little defiant in the beginning, but in the end, she became buttery soft.



Here she is in her folded glory




Again, wrapped around my son - his father was not proud of this picture



Nor this one, but what the hell - WORK it Stefon!! -

I knitted her with Karabella Margarite, I think that is right. I will look for the label when I get home and make a correction if needed. She is so uberly, buttery soft and I just love her. Guess what, it's for me. I don't think it is long enough for the grandma, therefore, I think it will be best for me to keep it. Plus, the kids said that BLUE is her favorite color. Can you believe that sh@# after spending 60 dollars. Anyway, if's for me and it will go well with my white winter coat.

Will enter the other details later, until then. Oh, I almost forgot my thank yous. I would like to thank Knitty once again and also T.I. and Biggie Small's their CDs helped a lot at the end - oh and a little of Games CD as well. And last but not least mother nature - good looking out with the snow, ice and rain.

Peace!!

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Spit is your friend

Hey, guess what new technique I just learned???? Splicing, except I used water. I just couldn't do it with the spit. I am in total awe of this technique, I will use this for now on. No more weaving in loose threads for me. I couldn't use this technique on the last clappy I made because it was 100% supermerino, but I can (and have) used it on this clappy except for the beginning (I was scared or as the rappers say scurred!!).

Grape Clapotis - is going well, I have found time to knit on the metro this past couple of days. The end of the road is nearing and I was suppose to buy more yarn to make me one, but I think that will not be necessary. Why do you say? I just might be keeping it for myself and buying the bf mom, pots and pans for her birthday. Selfish - you say. I say your 1,000% correct. It just feels so good against my skin, I put it on last night and the cashmere is so buttery soft.

Forbes Forest - I have worked on it at home, I can see a little of the work, but it is definitely too black. A few more rows and than I will quit. Did I tell you, I am going to make a pumpkin one for a birthday gift. Will it be bad to make one for him and than someone else too?

Friday, February 09, 2007

Parent Teacher Conference/Forbes Forest

Yeah, for parent, teacher conferences!!! I got a day off to do nothing, except go to the conference that is and enjoy the company of a eight year old who act like he was walking off a plank. Me and Dad went to the youngest conference today and we were told that he is progressing much better since he has been attending Saturday school. He still needs to work on his handwriting and math. So, that means I will be in Borders buying more books and test prep so that he can become the President of the United States. I felt sorry for some of the kids, because some parents were threatening to kill the kids, I don't know what they were doing in school, but I believe those kids are going to REALLY get it.

I WUV the book Scarfstyle, I believe I purchased it in July/August (previous pics on blog). Anywho, the reason I bought the book is because of Forest Forbes and Ene's Scarf. Hell, I love almost all the patterns in the book. Okay, back to Forbes. I was ecstatic when I showed by bf the picture and he loved the pattern. So, I said what color do you want it in and he said BLACK and my heart dropped. Why, do you say? All the bobbles, cables and other goodies are not going to show well in black.

Well, guess what? I started knitting it and IT DOES NOT SHOW WELL!!! What is a girl to do???? I tried to convince him to change colors and he said no. NO! Have I ever taken no for an answer....Hell to the naw!!! (Well yeah).

So what is my plan? Knitting the damn thing a couple more rows to show him that it does not look right, that it will look better in a different color. And if THAT doesn't work - temporary insanity - screaming, holler, crying and no Rick James funky stuff (you know what)!!! He'll cave.

I'll tell you about a new color soon - wish me luck - I mean him luck.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

When will smoking be banned outside?

I understand that people can do what they want. I don't have a problem with people slowly killing themselves (unless their family). Do you!!! But at the same time have some consideration for others. THAT is my only problem with smokers. It is cold as heck in Washington, D.C. right now and smoking at the bus terminal is not cool, especially when you are trying to get some air after being covered head to toe, because your freezing. Anyway, I think it should be banned outdoors or anywhere else if you ask me except for their own homes. It's not that I don't know smokers, hell, my mom, dad, sister and brother smoke (not in my house) and yes, I have to put up with it during holidays sometimes (than I have a choking attack and they quit).

I always said if I was a smoker I would be seasonal, only when it was warm. Okay, one more rant about smoking that I can't understand. My sister, smokes and have children. With each pregnancy she quit smoking and took it back up once she had the babies - if you can do it then, why can't you do it the rest of the time. Maybe, I am not suppose to understand.

Until the next rant.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

HSN - Bravetti Pro

Okay folks, I am an avid HSN purchaser. I just love Wolfgang Pucks cookware and other stuff as well. However, I decided to venture to Bravatti Pro rice cooker, slow cooker, baker and paster maker. Can you believe all of that in one machine? Well, you shouldn't. I tried to boil pasta in it (oh yeah, pasta cooker as well) and it boiled over. Water went every where!!! So, I blamed myself and said maybe I put too much water in it. Well, I decided to make beef stew for the Super Bowl, I put it on slow cooker and than for 4 hours. PERFECT. Than, I went upstairs to do a little housecleaning and came back and the damn thing was turned on warm - 30 minutes not 1 hour. What the fuck (sorry, needs to be said)?!? So, I turned it on soup setting and it cooked for 21/2 hours and than did the same shit. So guess what's getting returned to HSN. Yup! you betcha.

That is one thing I really love about HSN, you can return anything back for any reason as long as it is within 30 days. I went and looked at reviews for the damn thing and some people love it despite it's faults. Some just put it on another setting and I don't think I should have to do that. It should just work and since that is not the case - see you later bravetti gator.

Don't purchase at all!!

Friday, February 02, 2007

Grape Clapotis Update

I know, I know, it's been a long time coming. Here is the claptois. I like it, but it is pilling a lot. It might has something to do with me carrying it around all over the place and not in a case/plastic bag. I also, got something on it and I need to find out how to get it off of a cashmere mix.