be kool.
About to start in on the first pattern repeat for Koolhaas. Palms sweaty. Fingers shaky. (Well, the shakiness could just be caffeine jitters…) Here goes!
sockdown!
As a treat to myself for finishing the Kid Silk Scarf, I decided to join the Sock Knitter’s Anonymous ‘Sockdown! January’ challenge. I was going to wait until February’s challenge, but when I realized there were still a few days left to get in on the current one I thought “why not!” Especially since the January challenge included knitting from a pattern published on a online magazine – like Knitty. (Hey speaking of Knitty, did you check out the Winter Surprises yet?)
So I’ve cast on for a pair of Pomatomus’ (or is it Pomatomi? Pomatomuses?) using some stashed Noro Silk Garden Sock. It’s a lovely mix of greens, blues & black.
I’ve run into a slight problem: the pattern says to co 72 sts which I did, however after a couple of rounds of the ribbing the cuff looks ginormous! I’m already using the smallest size of dpns I own -3mm- and my gauge is tighter than the average knitter, but I have a feeling that these babies are going to keep falling down while I’m wearing them. I’m not quite sure what to do. Do I trust the pattern and keep going? Should I frog, then co a smaller number of sts then increase back to 72 sts right before starting Chart A? Or maybe I should try decreasing by 12 sts altogether, throughout the whole pattern?
I’m trying to logically think through the ramifications of each scenario. My gut instinct is to go with the 3rd option – decrease by 12 sts throughout.
I’d love to hear what your thoughts are…aka HELP!
five times five.
25 Random Things About Me
RULES: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note/post with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you.
1. Learned how to knit in 2005, intending to make my Dad slippers just like his ma used to. And still haven’t succeeded.
2. I don’t give up easily.
3. Can you say “true Gemini”?
4. My doors are always locked.
5. Loooove the show America’s Best Dance Crew, yo!
6. Sometimes I go to see movies just for the popcorn.
7. Bad habit: too much fast food – bleuch! Need to stop being so lazy.
8. I’d like to knit (and finish) a sweater this year.
9. Sewing is the bane of my existence.
10. I like cuddling up with my man on the couch and falling asleep in his arms.
11. Starbucks addict. Bigtime.
12. My native tongue is Sexton-ese. It’s quite a difficult language to learn & understand.
13. Brussel sprouts = yum!
14. I’d love to go back to school and just take random courses for the fun of it.
15. My right thumb is slightly longer than my left because I sucked on it too much when I was a young’un.
16. One day I’d love to live in England or Wales.
17. Every time I drive past Prince Rupert Street I say “Gum tree!”. Most people think I’m nuts…
18. I get tucked in like a baby, every night.
19. Being alone sucks. Biggest fear ever.
20. Still heights freak me right out. But take me on a super high roller coaster – I’m all over that.
21. Used to “manage” the boys high school basketball team – it was all about the boys 
22. For years I could not listen to the song “All By Myself” by Celine Dion without involuntarily bursting into tears because of an e-trip — lol. Thank god that spell is over!
23. I’m so glad I didn’t move to Calgary in the late 90s like I was going to (had an apartment and everything!). Wouldn’t be wearing this ring of happiness on my left hand… <3
24. Cats. I want to live in a house filled with kitties someday.
25. I am a pessimistic optimist. (See? Total Gemini.)
scattergories.
Rules: It’s harder than it looks! Copy to your own note/post, erase my answers, enter yours, and tag 10 people. Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real. . .nothing made up! If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You cannot use any word twice and you can’t use your name for the boy/girl name question.
Have Fun!!
1. What is your name: Melanie
2. A four Letter Word: mail
3. A boy’s Name: Melvin
4. A girl’s Name: Melinda
5. An occupation: mailman
6. A color: mauve
7. Something you wear: moccasins
8. A food: meatballs 
(whoops, thanks ND!!)
9. Something found in the bathroom: mould (ew! but some people do…)
10. A place: Melbourne
11. A reason for being late: missed the bus
12. Something you shout: Mazal tov!
13. A movie title: Monsters Inc
14. Something you drink: milk
15. A musical group: Moist
16. An animal: monkey
17. A street name: Marion
18. A type of car: Malibu
19. A song title: Mouthwash (by Kate Nash)
20. A verb: motivate
non-knitting.
Sunday tea and toast was ruined today when I discovered we were out of honey. I love toast & honey! And I used up the last bag of tea too, *sob*. I fear this is a sign of the week to come. Also, much to my dismay, the boots I had hoped would last me through the rest of winter have a crack in the heel.
(This secretly makes me happy though as I’ve been craving a new pair of shoes for a few months now & this gives me a valid reason to spend the money.)
Plan on hitting up the shoe store when it opens today at noon; spent a little time last night on the interweb searching for prospects. Found 4 pairs that struck my fancy – just hope they’re available in-store too…
Knitting was pretty much non-existent this week. Seem to have hit a wall where everything I’m working on feels like just that – ‘work’.
I think I need a holiday. Sleep would be helpful too.
slowly…
Into the 3rd repeat of chart B for my Seascape Stole. That’s oh so very close to being halfway done! The pattern is fairly easy, however I’ve found it to be such a slow going project. Numerous mistakes have been made along the way, but I’m not looking back. I’ll just keep on keepin’ on.
But I still have the urge to cast on something new… Socks, a cowl, mittens, anything. Ack! What’s a girl to do? I think I simply need to finish something. Time to whip out the Kid Silk Scarf — big needles, easy 10 row pattern repeat — might be just what it takes to cure this bout of knitter’s block.
(PS: Docs confirmed Dad’s illness yesterday. Now we wait for one more test/scan, then hopefully on to remedying the problem. ”The waiting is the hardest part” – Tom Petty)
“never gonna give you up…”
Feeling down about the lack of productivity I’ve made on my Seascape stole, I had been contemplating sending her on a trip to Frogstown. Then while I was looking for an alternate use for the Fiddlesticks Zephyr Lace, I came across this gem. Pretty sure I know what I’ll be working on tonight.
And even though there’s no chance in H-E-double-hockey-sticks that Seascape will be finished in time for Wednesday’s LOST season 5 premiere, you can bet your bottom dollar that it’ll be done in time for the finale – at least it better be!
Ma, how’d you like to try your hand(s) at lace knitting?!!!?
teamwork.
It’s been quite a week in my little world. Dad is in the hospital undergoing tests and days have been spent, along with Mom, by his side. To pass time, while Dad drifts in and out of sleep (or watches the telly), I’ve been knitting. Actually maybe I should correct myself before Mom leaves a nasty comment… We’ve been knitting. Yeppers, the Kid Silk Scarf I’ve been working on has felt the effects of teamwork. Mom can knit. And purl. And increase. And decrease. She claims she only knows the basics. Well Mom, if you can knit and purl and increase and decrease, then you can knit anything! It’s those basics that are the basis for all knit projects. One of these days I’ll have you knitting your own socks – just you wait and see
So Mom’s knit 2 full pattern repeats on the scarf (that’s 20 rows!) and I promised her that her work would be posted on the world wide web for all to see.
Here you go, Ma…
I also started a knit cap for Dad. Up until yesterday he’s been unable to bath or shower. As you can imagine he’s acquired quite a case of bedhead. I had wanted to finish it yesterday but ended up spending the day in darkness, trying to fend off an evil migraine (the migraine won, btw). Anyway, the hat is really cute. I call it “pasta head” as the pattern it’s knit from is titled Fusilli Beanie. It’s about 75% done – just need to finish one more of the 4 row pattern repeat and then it’s on to crown decreasing.
This is what it looks like so far:
On a completely different topic, I have to express my sheer joy that my “guilty pleasure” tv shows premiers today — ABDC3 baby! So excited !!! And now, I back away slightly embarrassed… I don’t know anyone else who geeks out for that show. LOL.
Alright, it’s Sunday and my cuppa tea is juuuuust about done. Time to get moving on those weekly chores. Then it’s back up to the hospital for an afternoon visit with my Pa.
Life is precious people, and sometimes it takes something like the endangerment of one’s health to really put things back into perspective.
