I have started knitting again. Since the wedding is basically all planned I have had more time on my hands than I knew what to do with....and the mountain kept staring at me. I finished the current square I had been working on and decided to finish one quilt. My new goal is to finish a quilt at a time. Oh and the quilts are not nearly as big. I have revamped it so that they are perfect for watching a movie/football game on the couch.
My first quilt is done except for weaving the extra strands in. The quilt is okay. It is definitely a quilt but I figured things out on how to put it together as I went so the second, third, etc will be much better. As of right now I am planning on gifting this one as I am not sure how noticeable the imperfections are but I may decide to keep this one for myself and make an extra one for someone.
So the two most important things I learned through trial and error that I wish was in the book I had?
1) Tighter is not always better. I had had a lot easier of a time assembling the quilt with the pieces that I thought were too lose, and it actually looks better with those pieces as well, then with the pieces that were tighter like I thought they should be. I had to pull on the tight ones so much that in some spots the quilt doesn't lie as flat as it should. The tight/lose factor also made it difficult for all the squares to match up correctly. This is the part where I can't tell if it is noticeable and I should keep it for myself or if I am looking too closely and it is fine for a gift.
2) Remember how you stitch the squares together. Some I did a more invisible stitch and the others I did a more visible stitch. Either stitch would be fine if I kept it consistent...it just doesn't look like how I expected it. It isn't something that I would decide to keep or give over, just something to keep in mind for the others.
So exciting! Brian thinks it is cute :) Maybe I will have the 4/5 ready by the wedding ;)
Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Friday, September 2, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
A weekend with nothing to do...
This is the first weekend where I haven't had much to do for the wedding. Sure we have the photo shoot tomorrow but we don't really have to do much for that other then going shopping for Brian today. I haven't known what to do with myself.
I have finished watching The Kennedys with Greg Kinnear and Katie Holmes among other famous people. I enjoyed it very much. It was 8 episodes but, to me who did not grow up within the Kennedy decade(s), it seemed to cover the big things very well. I was impressed with what I had already known. Maybe I did learn something in High School :)
Brian has been playing his game. He has been playing them a lot. I can't really complain as there really isn't anything else for him or us to do. I have gone in today about 5 times asking if he wants to do something and we can't decide what we can do.
I think I am going to pick knitting up again. I don't really have any excuse not to now that the wedding is basically planned. Plus my mini mountain of squares is looking at me.
You know your weight loss program is working when you can wash and dry jeans and not have to jump into them :) They are even a little loose :)
I already have September's meal plan organized. I have decided that we are going to go shopping once a week. That will hopefully solve the issue of forgetting items at the store which has been plaguing me this August and hopefully make it so that I can pay for some of the trips myself. Brian still has to do Costco because he knows his pin number on his debit card but I should be able to help with the actual grocery store. Before I would never have the money at the moment we needed to go for the month as 90% of the bills come out of my bank account. While that is still true, if we do it it weekly the amounts needed will be smaller and I should be able to help share that burden. It will also give us something to do on Saturday.
I like Septembers menu but it will be more expensive then normal I am afraid. We normally don't have red meat. We love red meat but it is expensive and not so great for you in the portions we wish we could eat it in. September has more red meat in it in normal. I could split the red meat menu's up between September and October but that doesn't really change anything as the meat comes from Costco and the Costco trip will be for September and October. October will be a cheaper month so it will even itself out. A lot of the meals on the menu are Brian's favorites and recipes we have been wanting to try for a while. We will also have more left overs. So far in August we have had JUST enough left overs to get us through. September will definitely fix that. I am excited for the menu in September but still not sure if I am going to try and spread it out or if that will make much of a difference.
I have finished watching The Kennedys with Greg Kinnear and Katie Holmes among other famous people. I enjoyed it very much. It was 8 episodes but, to me who did not grow up within the Kennedy decade(s), it seemed to cover the big things very well. I was impressed with what I had already known. Maybe I did learn something in High School :)
Brian has been playing his game. He has been playing them a lot. I can't really complain as there really isn't anything else for him or us to do. I have gone in today about 5 times asking if he wants to do something and we can't decide what we can do.
I think I am going to pick knitting up again. I don't really have any excuse not to now that the wedding is basically planned. Plus my mini mountain of squares is looking at me.
You know your weight loss program is working when you can wash and dry jeans and not have to jump into them :) They are even a little loose :)
I already have September's meal plan organized. I have decided that we are going to go shopping once a week. That will hopefully solve the issue of forgetting items at the store which has been plaguing me this August and hopefully make it so that I can pay for some of the trips myself. Brian still has to do Costco because he knows his pin number on his debit card but I should be able to help with the actual grocery store. Before I would never have the money at the moment we needed to go for the month as 90% of the bills come out of my bank account. While that is still true, if we do it it weekly the amounts needed will be smaller and I should be able to help share that burden. It will also give us something to do on Saturday.
I like Septembers menu but it will be more expensive then normal I am afraid. We normally don't have red meat. We love red meat but it is expensive and not so great for you in the portions we wish we could eat it in. September has more red meat in it in normal. I could split the red meat menu's up between September and October but that doesn't really change anything as the meat comes from Costco and the Costco trip will be for September and October. October will be a cheaper month so it will even itself out. A lot of the meals on the menu are Brian's favorites and recipes we have been wanting to try for a while. We will also have more left overs. So far in August we have had JUST enough left overs to get us through. September will definitely fix that. I am excited for the menu in September but still not sure if I am going to try and spread it out or if that will make much of a difference.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
I am sorry I have been absent....
Knitting is going okay. My schedule has completely changed and I have been having trouble finding a new routine.
I have been doing a lot of cooking lately. If Brian is ever in charge (maybe once a week if that) we end up eating out or ordering in. So far I have made Chicken Carbanara, Spaghetti, Chicken with Capers and Artichokes, Cheese Souffle, a neat twist on Tuna Melts and that was last weeks schedule. This week we are having Alton Brown's Ham recipe, Gnocchi and Acorn squash, a lamb recipe, a Greek chicken skillet meal and last night we had a cheesy chicken recipe from the back of a stove top box (good, easy, and quick). I like cooking I just hate the dishes. Also we are having trouble with leftovers. We have SO many. Most meals last a long time...longer than I will admit because my mom will fall off her chair. We can of course halve some but not all. :-\. I guess it is better to have too much then too little. I haven't decided if we are saving a ton of money doing this. We are eating out a lot less but we are also having to buy more food. I am probably not saving anything. Brian probably is saving more. Who knows since our bills are separate and we haven't done it long enough to actually track.
Brian and I need a break. We have had Saturdays off together for the past 3 weeks or so and that has been wonderful but we need an actual escape. We have some farms apparently in the area where we can pick berries. I have to work this Saturday but hopefully, if I get next Saturday off we can do that. After that maybe I can get Sat/Sun off and we can go to Atlanta which is on my list of things to do. Brian is in trouble though...because after Atlanta we only have one more place in GA I want to see and we are going to do that next time we go to FL to see the in-laws. After GA guess what has gone on the list? Tennessee! Can you say Dollywood :)
Knitting is going okay. My schedule has completely changed and I have been having trouble finding a new routine.
I have been doing a lot of cooking lately. If Brian is ever in charge (maybe once a week if that) we end up eating out or ordering in. So far I have made Chicken Carbanara, Spaghetti, Chicken with Capers and Artichokes, Cheese Souffle, a neat twist on Tuna Melts and that was last weeks schedule. This week we are having Alton Brown's Ham recipe, Gnocchi and Acorn squash, a lamb recipe, a Greek chicken skillet meal and last night we had a cheesy chicken recipe from the back of a stove top box (good, easy, and quick). I like cooking I just hate the dishes. Also we are having trouble with leftovers. We have SO many. Most meals last a long time...longer than I will admit because my mom will fall off her chair. We can of course halve some but not all. :-\. I guess it is better to have too much then too little. I haven't decided if we are saving a ton of money doing this. We are eating out a lot less but we are also having to buy more food. I am probably not saving anything. Brian probably is saving more. Who knows since our bills are separate and we haven't done it long enough to actually track.
Brian and I need a break. We have had Saturdays off together for the past 3 weeks or so and that has been wonderful but we need an actual escape. We have some farms apparently in the area where we can pick berries. I have to work this Saturday but hopefully, if I get next Saturday off we can do that. After that maybe I can get Sat/Sun off and we can go to Atlanta which is on my list of things to do. Brian is in trouble though...because after Atlanta we only have one more place in GA I want to see and we are going to do that next time we go to FL to see the in-laws. After GA guess what has gone on the list? Tennessee! Can you say Dollywood :)
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
I have figured it out!
Knitting has been driving me nuts. Before I realized the pattern, some squares would go so quickly and others would take FOREVER! And then some squares would be looser or tighter then others. And I swear I haven't done it any differently!
Don't get me wrong, I am still enjoying it. Heck Right now I have 18 squares done. I just could not figure out why some were so different then others. But I have figured it out!
It is the color! Keep in mind...the color should not make a difference. Both are made by the same company. There is no dye lot, both worsted weight...they should both knit the same. But color A takes long and is alot tighter then color b. I start feeling good and even ahead in my project when I am on color B but as soon as I hit color A I slow down and start feeling behind and rushed and anxious about how long it is taking. Color B also does not last as long. With color A I can get 3 squares and then some. With color B I can BARELY get 3 squares. Again, each color is the exact same...
Who knows but I feel better knowing the pattern
Don't get me wrong, I am still enjoying it. Heck Right now I have 18 squares done. I just could not figure out why some were so different then others. But I have figured it out!
It is the color! Keep in mind...the color should not make a difference. Both are made by the same company. There is no dye lot, both worsted weight...they should both knit the same. But color A takes long and is alot tighter then color b. I start feeling good and even ahead in my project when I am on color B but as soon as I hit color A I slow down and start feeling behind and rushed and anxious about how long it is taking. Color B also does not last as long. With color A I can get 3 squares and then some. With color B I can BARELY get 3 squares. Again, each color is the exact same...
Who knows but I feel better knowing the pattern
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Ugh
I am in a bit of a funk today :-\. Yesterday did not go as planned, my knitting schedule is still off kilter and there just doesnt seem to be enough hours in the day.
Yesterday was my day off that I don't have to do anything. I have been getting Saturdays off and Brian and I spend those together. My other day off I don't do anything except knit which is how I like it. My plan for yesterday was to finish the current square I was working on. If I could have done that I would have been back on schedule.
Yesterday Brian invited me out to lunch which was nice. I enjoyed seeing him but I drove 45 +/- each way to spend 30 minutes eating lunch so a big chunk of my day was gone and spent in a car driving in the rain.
Then Brian came home and we were planning on spending 5 minutes before his game night on my Mom's website to freshen it up before her huge mailer goes out. That turns into an hour long project because wordpress isn't cooperating with our "blog" idea for the website. We will get it to work somehow but I wasn't planning on taking so long with it.
Then we had dinner. Brian was a sweetie and stayed with me and helped me cook but it still took longer then I thought. We were having pork paprikash and it wasn't as good as we had hoped. It used Pork tenderloin which we get at Costco and use to make Pork Wellington. We thought it would be good to get another recipe using Pork tenderloin so we dont get sick of the wellington but this recipe definitely is not a keeper.
All in all, I did not finish my square. I stayed up until 11pm so I could get it to a point where I could finish it today and start a new one and hopefully play catch up and still finish on time. I am 2 inches away from being done. Nothing really bad happaned but I was so hoping yesterday would go by schedule and it didnt.
I am a very schedule oriented person so when my schedule changes or is in limbo, I tend to get anxious. Between me requesting Saturdays off so I can be with Brian, my allergies acting up so bad last week that I could barely function and just little stuff I feel like everything is up in the air and I hate that. The last time I felt this way I made a To Do list that I had to get done that day and it made me feel better.
So this is today's To Do:
Finish the square
Post about Charleston*
Post about Starfishes*
Start another square
Make dinner (Chicken Pot Pie...hopefully this recipe will be good)
Continue square
*These will be written tonight but will be scheduled to post Thursday/Friday.
Yesterday was my day off that I don't have to do anything. I have been getting Saturdays off and Brian and I spend those together. My other day off I don't do anything except knit which is how I like it. My plan for yesterday was to finish the current square I was working on. If I could have done that I would have been back on schedule.
Yesterday Brian invited me out to lunch which was nice. I enjoyed seeing him but I drove 45 +/- each way to spend 30 minutes eating lunch so a big chunk of my day was gone and spent in a car driving in the rain.
Then Brian came home and we were planning on spending 5 minutes before his game night on my Mom's website to freshen it up before her huge mailer goes out. That turns into an hour long project because wordpress isn't cooperating with our "blog" idea for the website. We will get it to work somehow but I wasn't planning on taking so long with it.
Then we had dinner. Brian was a sweetie and stayed with me and helped me cook but it still took longer then I thought. We were having pork paprikash and it wasn't as good as we had hoped. It used Pork tenderloin which we get at Costco and use to make Pork Wellington. We thought it would be good to get another recipe using Pork tenderloin so we dont get sick of the wellington but this recipe definitely is not a keeper.
All in all, I did not finish my square. I stayed up until 11pm so I could get it to a point where I could finish it today and start a new one and hopefully play catch up and still finish on time. I am 2 inches away from being done. Nothing really bad happaned but I was so hoping yesterday would go by schedule and it didnt.
I am a very schedule oriented person so when my schedule changes or is in limbo, I tend to get anxious. Between me requesting Saturdays off so I can be with Brian, my allergies acting up so bad last week that I could barely function and just little stuff I feel like everything is up in the air and I hate that. The last time I felt this way I made a To Do list that I had to get done that day and it made me feel better.
So this is today's To Do:
Finish the square
Post about Charleston*
Post about Starfishes*
Start another square
Make dinner (Chicken Pot Pie...hopefully this recipe will be good)
Continue square
*These will be written tonight but will be scheduled to post Thursday/Friday.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Randomness
Sorry I haven't blogged in awhile...things have been going on but I just haven't had time to fully sort things out. My parents are coming on Friday (YAYAYAYYAYAYAYAY) so I am working a very long week to get Sat/Sun off. We are also very busy getting the house clean.
Knitting: Going well, I am getting faster but I think that might be causing me to get fewer squares out of my skeins. The last skein I finished had BARELY enough to finish...literally. This skein is looking like it is going to be the same way. I am not sure which is better....more squares out of a skein or faster making squares. I have about 12 squares right now?? I haven't counted yet. After this skein I think I should have enough for two rows..maybe being 1 or two squares short.
Brian's work: He is going well. He is excited for the weekend. Not only are my parents coming but it will be his first day off in 21 days. He will have officially ended his two week notice (but may work a few more Saturdays to help out and for the extra money) and will finally get to have a true weekend. As of right now...that means we will never have a weekend off together anymore. Unless something changes, my days off are Weds/thurs and his are Sat/Sun. He does get home at 6pm M-F but by the time dinner is made it is almost time to go to bed. Fortunately I get home 4ish on Sat/Sun so we will have the afternoons together at least.
Car/House: We are busy crunching numbers, coming up with a game plan. I would love to get both a year from now, give or take but I definitely want to do at least one of them. Brian's Chevy Aveo is a death trap and needs replacing sooner then later. And I want a house. We are deciding which we can afford and which to get first. He has wanted a Ford Fusion for several years now. This would be the first car he has ever picked out and bought and the idea is that this car would last 10+ years. The Fusion he wants is going to run 33k with the options he wants. We are trying to figure out when we can buy it. He has worked so hard to get where he is and while neither of us want to make a stupid. irresponsible financial mistake we both really want him to get the car he wants with the options he wants. It's not like he is trying to buy a Nissan GTS (His DREAM DREAM DREAM car). We are now trying to figure out how to afford it and actually enjoy life at the same time.
Knitting: Going well, I am getting faster but I think that might be causing me to get fewer squares out of my skeins. The last skein I finished had BARELY enough to finish...literally. This skein is looking like it is going to be the same way. I am not sure which is better....more squares out of a skein or faster making squares. I have about 12 squares right now?? I haven't counted yet. After this skein I think I should have enough for two rows..maybe being 1 or two squares short.
Brian's work: He is going well. He is excited for the weekend. Not only are my parents coming but it will be his first day off in 21 days. He will have officially ended his two week notice (but may work a few more Saturdays to help out and for the extra money) and will finally get to have a true weekend. As of right now...that means we will never have a weekend off together anymore. Unless something changes, my days off are Weds/thurs and his are Sat/Sun. He does get home at 6pm M-F but by the time dinner is made it is almost time to go to bed. Fortunately I get home 4ish on Sat/Sun so we will have the afternoons together at least.
Car/House: We are busy crunching numbers, coming up with a game plan. I would love to get both a year from now, give or take but I definitely want to do at least one of them. Brian's Chevy Aveo is a death trap and needs replacing sooner then later. And I want a house. We are deciding which we can afford and which to get first. He has wanted a Ford Fusion for several years now. This would be the first car he has ever picked out and bought and the idea is that this car would last 10+ years. The Fusion he wants is going to run 33k with the options he wants. We are trying to figure out when we can buy it. He has worked so hard to get where he is and while neither of us want to make a stupid. irresponsible financial mistake we both really want him to get the car he wants with the options he wants. It's not like he is trying to buy a Nissan GTS (His DREAM DREAM DREAM car). We are now trying to figure out how to afford it and actually enjoy life at the same time.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Weekends are fun
Wednesdays and Thursdays are my weekends. I always look forward to them and especially this one as last weekend I was up early running errands both days. I am a home body by nature. If I do not get a chance to stay at home and do nothing....life becomes hard. I do feel the need to be social and active so it is always a fight within myself about when to do something and when not to. I always have fun doing an activity but is it worth the energy needed to do it and how exhausted I will feel afterwards.
Today we both woke up late and went out to lunch at a nearby Mexican restaurant with a few friends. After lunch we both went home. Wednesdays are Brian's game days and has turned into my heavy(ier) knitting days. I finished a square last night so I was starting my 5th today and have knitted 4 inches since 1pm. I am not the fastest knitter. I do not think I am the slowest but I am not the fastest by far. If I stop working, I can do one every two days but with working I think a more accurate time-line is one every 3 days. I am still enjoying it...I can sit doing nothing in front of the TV and not feel so completely unproductive. I am also starting to see an actual glimpse of what my gifts will turn out like.
I do not know if I have mentioned this but my Gamma, my mom's mom, taught me how to knit when I was about 10 or so. I remember her needles and what I thought was a really not so fun color blue. (I really didn't like that shade of blue or at least didn't which is odd as there isn't usually a color blue that I don't enjoy. It is my favorite color.) I think I was making a scarf. I got bored with the scarf so I stopped. While I intellectually know that making scarves are not boring or unimpressive, I still feel that way hence why my gifts are not scarves. My fear, I guess, is that people (not my friends per say...) would think "oh a scarf? that's it, anyone could do that" so I have come up with something more complicated. My logical side realizes that, while a scarf is one of the easiest things to knit, knitting itself is not easy and not a lot of people can knit. I am grateful that my Gamma taught me and my mom how....even if I didn't actually pick it up in my late 20s. I remember the times I attempted to knit with her and helps me keep her close. I loved the fact that she didn't really care if I knitted or not and was happy to teach/re-teach me when I decided to learn or give it up when I deemed it boring. I think I tried to start up knitting at least three times and she never grumbled or did anything but give support each time I started and never got upset with me each time I stopped. I am grateful that my mom knows how as well since I still have someone to go to for questions since the real expert is no longer with us.
I have also always wanted to be crafty. I watch everyone else make so many cool things...and while I can make things they do not end up looking anything like I would like them too. What I see in my head never comes out in reality. I have a hard time pairing things together that would look cute. It just doesn't work for me like it does with everyone I am with. Knitting has become my craft. I can knit, I can make nice things with knitting. My idea's work and look good. I can create something that not a lot of people can which also gives me a boost.
I am not sure what we are doing tomorrow. I am going to continue knitting but other then that I am not sure. It is about 9pm and I am ending early tonight with the knitting. While I don't have to worry about finishing and not having anything to do, I do want to continue to enjoy it. At this point I am fighting the urge to do nothing else and knit just so I can get to the final product faster. I wish I could post pictures but the recipients read this blog :)
Today we both woke up late and went out to lunch at a nearby Mexican restaurant with a few friends. After lunch we both went home. Wednesdays are Brian's game days and has turned into my heavy(ier) knitting days. I finished a square last night so I was starting my 5th today and have knitted 4 inches since 1pm. I am not the fastest knitter. I do not think I am the slowest but I am not the fastest by far. If I stop working, I can do one every two days but with working I think a more accurate time-line is one every 3 days. I am still enjoying it...I can sit doing nothing in front of the TV and not feel so completely unproductive. I am also starting to see an actual glimpse of what my gifts will turn out like.
I do not know if I have mentioned this but my Gamma, my mom's mom, taught me how to knit when I was about 10 or so. I remember her needles and what I thought was a really not so fun color blue. (I really didn't like that shade of blue or at least didn't which is odd as there isn't usually a color blue that I don't enjoy. It is my favorite color.) I think I was making a scarf. I got bored with the scarf so I stopped. While I intellectually know that making scarves are not boring or unimpressive, I still feel that way hence why my gifts are not scarves. My fear, I guess, is that people (not my friends per say...) would think "oh a scarf? that's it, anyone could do that" so I have come up with something more complicated. My logical side realizes that, while a scarf is one of the easiest things to knit, knitting itself is not easy and not a lot of people can knit. I am grateful that my Gamma taught me and my mom how....even if I didn't actually pick it up in my late 20s. I remember the times I attempted to knit with her and helps me keep her close. I loved the fact that she didn't really care if I knitted or not and was happy to teach/re-teach me when I decided to learn or give it up when I deemed it boring. I think I tried to start up knitting at least three times and she never grumbled or did anything but give support each time I started and never got upset with me each time I stopped. I am grateful that my mom knows how as well since I still have someone to go to for questions since the real expert is no longer with us.
I have also always wanted to be crafty. I watch everyone else make so many cool things...and while I can make things they do not end up looking anything like I would like them too. What I see in my head never comes out in reality. I have a hard time pairing things together that would look cute. It just doesn't work for me like it does with everyone I am with. Knitting has become my craft. I can knit, I can make nice things with knitting. My idea's work and look good. I can create something that not a lot of people can which also gives me a boost.
I am not sure what we are doing tomorrow. I am going to continue knitting but other then that I am not sure. It is about 9pm and I am ending early tonight with the knitting. While I don't have to worry about finishing and not having anything to do, I do want to continue to enjoy it. At this point I am fighting the urge to do nothing else and knit just so I can get to the final product faster. I wish I could post pictures but the recipients read this blog :)
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Random part 2 :)
*Knitting is going really well. Still really enjoying it. I am getting faster and my hands have stopped hurting. Today I should finish my fourth square. I have placed my other three squares around my fourth and think it will turn out really nice. I think I am going to change up my game plan. I think I am going to finish the skein and then sew all the squares I do have already together rather then waiting till November.
*Work is picking up which has been fun. So far the guests have been really nice which is new. We have increased our rates and I was expecting some fight about it but mostly everyone has been fine.
*It has been a warm 70 degree's here. Starting to seriously think about turning the AC on. This makes me happy that they weather is so pretty but sad that I can't wear my feetie pajamas :(
*Parents coming in less then a month. When they are here, we are taking my SC family out to dinner. I can't wait for my parents to meet, officially, my SC family. I think my mom and Caroline met once while I was at VS but I can't remember for sure.
*Things may be happening in the next week or so that will help us settle and get into a routine. I am really hoping everything works out because being in limbo is not fun.
*I think I may be quiting my "30 Day" project. I lost the paper telling me what each day is. So there is that but I have also not done a very good job in keeping up with it. I have fortunately had more things, more fun things, to post then that. I started the project in January and it is almost March and I am only 12 days in? Go me! haha
That is about it, for now...
*Work is picking up which has been fun. So far the guests have been really nice which is new. We have increased our rates and I was expecting some fight about it but mostly everyone has been fine.
*It has been a warm 70 degree's here. Starting to seriously think about turning the AC on. This makes me happy that they weather is so pretty but sad that I can't wear my feetie pajamas :(
*Parents coming in less then a month. When they are here, we are taking my SC family out to dinner. I can't wait for my parents to meet, officially, my SC family. I think my mom and Caroline met once while I was at VS but I can't remember for sure.
*Things may be happening in the next week or so that will help us settle and get into a routine. I am really hoping everything works out because being in limbo is not fun.
*I think I may be quiting my "30 Day" project. I lost the paper telling me what each day is. So there is that but I have also not done a very good job in keeping up with it. I have fortunately had more things, more fun things, to post then that. I started the project in January and it is almost March and I am only 12 days in? Go me! haha
That is about it, for now...
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Random
- Knitting: I still love it. I took Friday night off to let my thumb rest and I was hanging out with our friend Al and his knew gf Nina. I think I have gotten fast enough that one square can be done in 2 days so that would be 3 1/2 squares a week if I do nothing else. I am impressed with how fast I have gotten. If I do 3 1/2 squares in a week that would be great but I think that might be a bit much to shoot for. Basically, I want to come home and knit and go from there. By the time this posts I will have 2 squares total leaving 318 to do..though my Mom would before 62 left :) The numbers make sense if you knew a more about the project.
- Brian's new nickname for me: Knitwit due to my obsessive knitting
- Work is picking up! I am always on the phone fortunately the people are nice so far and are booking. January's commission was awful I blame that on too many monthlies and switching systems :). Have not yet figured out what December's commission was. Yes I know December comes before January but we switched computer system's Dec 1st and that has made things wonky
- My parents are coming over my Dad's birthday in March and I am so excited!
- I am in the midst of reading another Nora Roberts book. This is the first book in the Irish Trilogy and I am loving it so far. I have decided to read at work when phones/guests allow. One of my monthlies came down and saw I was reading a Nora Roberts book and gave me another one! This one has two books in one! SO excited! I have a big list of books to get through now :)
- Brian is going nuts being at home M-F with nothing to do. His DDO (Dungeons and Dragons Online for the none geeks hehe) account is getting a LOT of attention
That is about it...not much going on here
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Knitting Part 2
I have finished one square and started the other. I started the second a bit late due to the loss of a knitting needle but I think I have caught up.
The hardest part is trying to figure out how to make sure my squares are the same size. I tried counting the stitches but that looked WAY too small so I did as many stitches needed to get the right length. That looked right but as I continued knitting it became very clear that was wrong as well. So at 8pm last night I had to start over. I should still be able to finish this square by Sunday.
My hands still hurt. My left thumb is still the main culprit. My other knuckles don't hurt as much as they did in the beginning of the first sqaure. I can bend it but it hurts. It will be almost back to normal by the time I pick up the knitting again. My fingers have started to crack more (yes I know awful habit but if I don't crack them they will hurt and won't move as easily) and as long as I crack them everything is fine.
I am really enjoying the knitting. I am finding it very relaxing and it is my favorite part of the day. I can't wait to get home and back to my knitting. It doesn't matter that I am doing the same thing over and over...I think that is what I like about it...I don't have to focus on it yet I get something done. I am glad my projects are going to take awhile so I don't have to come up with a new one :)
The hardest part is trying to figure out how to make sure my squares are the same size. I tried counting the stitches but that looked WAY too small so I did as many stitches needed to get the right length. That looked right but as I continued knitting it became very clear that was wrong as well. So at 8pm last night I had to start over. I should still be able to finish this square by Sunday.
My hands still hurt. My left thumb is still the main culprit. My other knuckles don't hurt as much as they did in the beginning of the first sqaure. I can bend it but it hurts. It will be almost back to normal by the time I pick up the knitting again. My fingers have started to crack more (yes I know awful habit but if I don't crack them they will hurt and won't move as easily) and as long as I crack them everything is fine.
I am really enjoying the knitting. I am finding it very relaxing and it is my favorite part of the day. I can't wait to get home and back to my knitting. It doesn't matter that I am doing the same thing over and over...I think that is what I like about it...I don't have to focus on it yet I get something done. I am glad my projects are going to take awhile so I don't have to come up with a new one :)
Monday, February 7, 2011
Ugh
It's Super Bowl Sunday and I am just about to finish my first square. I finish the row, lay out my square measure and decide it is close enough. I grab my book to figure out how to get my square off my needles so this square can be officially done and I can start (read: cast on stitches so tomorrow is simpler) the next square. Find the instruction page turn to grab my needles. I find the one with the square still attached, the other is completely gone. Brian and I moved the couch, dove into the couch, moved the coffee table, it is no where. I didn't move! I didnt even leave the seated position.
So now I can't finish the square until tomorrow evening when I get to buy another one. So tomorrow at work I can't knit in between calls to get ahead. I cant knit while I wait for my taxes to be done to help me get ahead. I have to wait until tomorrow evening to even finish the square to start the new one!
*head desk* so much for being on time. I was so excited to say 1 down 319 to go. Oh well. Maybe Brian will find it tomorrow while I am at work. I still wont be able to start it until I got home but I wouldnt have to buy another set of knitting needles and I will be home earlier.
So now I can't finish the square until tomorrow evening when I get to buy another one. So tomorrow at work I can't knit in between calls to get ahead. I cant knit while I wait for my taxes to be done to help me get ahead. I have to wait until tomorrow evening to even finish the square to start the new one!
*head desk* so much for being on time. I was so excited to say 1 down 319 to go. Oh well. Maybe Brian will find it tomorrow while I am at work. I still wont be able to start it until I got home but I wouldnt have to buy another set of knitting needles and I will be home earlier.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Knitting
So I got this book:
and yes I did get it from Amazon. I like this book a lot. It is funny! I read it while at work before I got my supplies as a once over. I figured it might make knitting easier if I wasn't trying to do it and figure out what is going on in the book. I like to know what is coming up next and if I don't know I will start to freak out. Anyway, this book had me laughing! I so far love her way of explaining how to do things and has a great way of admitting that something is hard and will take a couple of tries without making it seem impossible. Plus you can't beat the title :). The first part of the book is "how to". It goes through yarn types, needle types, how to knit, how to end it, how to add another colored yarn, etc. The second half is full of patterns. I have not looked at the patterns yet but I expect good things for them.
I have also found some great sites for free patterns. The hardest part right now is following the instructions. Yes it sounds easy and usually I am AMAZING at following directions except for maybe with recipes :-\, but this is all in code. Some of the patterns are going to be hard only because the instructions will be so hard to follow.
I started knitting this week. The book suggested US size 8 needles and worsted yarn. I am thinking the book is wrong on this. I think it would be much better for a beginner knitter to start out with bigger needles (10/12) and a thicker weighted yarn. That way they move much quicker and have a sense of accomplishment that will get them to keep coming back. I have found that knitting hurts my knuckles. I would say my hands but it really is mainly my knuckles. I can only knit 3-4 rows at a time before I have to stop and wrest my hands. My fingers have trouble working after wards as well....I imagine this is what Arthritis is like.
Brian thinks it is hilarious that I am knitting and is calling me old daily. He also doesn't like me doing it while we are watching tv. I was thinking this was a hobby I could do while watching tv and other activities like that. I think he thinks it is an activity to do while he is at work or playing his game since when we do have time together I shouldnt be 100% focused on other things and hang out with him. It does take me a LONG time to knit a row....like 30 minutes and I am only doing 54 stitches! I have a feeling as I get better I will be quicker and wont have to focus so much on it and therefore can watch tv, knit and pay attention to Brian.
This is how far I have gotten so far:
I have decided that I am knitting 4 of my friends something for Christmas this year. I have even designed all the projects. I am going to have to step it up if I keep going at this rate! Oh this will probably be the only picture I show as I do not want to ruin their presents :). The beginning was a bit rough, dropped some stitches here and there so it is a bit bumpy at the bottom but everything I have been doing is going smoothly. One thing I think I do do wrong: I hold the yarn to tight. I am so afraid of having a stitch slip that a pull too tightly on the yarn which makes the loops too tight and hard to get the other needle through. I have to get better on that aspect, maybe my hands wouldn't hurt if I fixed that...
and yes I did get it from Amazon. I like this book a lot. It is funny! I read it while at work before I got my supplies as a once over. I figured it might make knitting easier if I wasn't trying to do it and figure out what is going on in the book. I like to know what is coming up next and if I don't know I will start to freak out. Anyway, this book had me laughing! I so far love her way of explaining how to do things and has a great way of admitting that something is hard and will take a couple of tries without making it seem impossible. Plus you can't beat the title :). The first part of the book is "how to". It goes through yarn types, needle types, how to knit, how to end it, how to add another colored yarn, etc. The second half is full of patterns. I have not looked at the patterns yet but I expect good things for them.
I have also found some great sites for free patterns. The hardest part right now is following the instructions. Yes it sounds easy and usually I am AMAZING at following directions except for maybe with recipes :-\, but this is all in code. Some of the patterns are going to be hard only because the instructions will be so hard to follow.
I started knitting this week. The book suggested US size 8 needles and worsted yarn. I am thinking the book is wrong on this. I think it would be much better for a beginner knitter to start out with bigger needles (10/12) and a thicker weighted yarn. That way they move much quicker and have a sense of accomplishment that will get them to keep coming back. I have found that knitting hurts my knuckles. I would say my hands but it really is mainly my knuckles. I can only knit 3-4 rows at a time before I have to stop and wrest my hands. My fingers have trouble working after wards as well....I imagine this is what Arthritis is like.
Brian thinks it is hilarious that I am knitting and is calling me old daily. He also doesn't like me doing it while we are watching tv. I was thinking this was a hobby I could do while watching tv and other activities like that. I think he thinks it is an activity to do while he is at work or playing his game since when we do have time together I shouldnt be 100% focused on other things and hang out with him. It does take me a LONG time to knit a row....like 30 minutes and I am only doing 54 stitches! I have a feeling as I get better I will be quicker and wont have to focus so much on it and therefore can watch tv, knit and pay attention to Brian.
This is how far I have gotten so far:
I have decided that I am knitting 4 of my friends something for Christmas this year. I have even designed all the projects. I am going to have to step it up if I keep going at this rate! Oh this will probably be the only picture I show as I do not want to ruin their presents :). The beginning was a bit rough, dropped some stitches here and there so it is a bit bumpy at the bottom but everything I have been doing is going smoothly. One thing I think I do do wrong: I hold the yarn to tight. I am so afraid of having a stitch slip that a pull too tightly on the yarn which makes the loops too tight and hard to get the other needle through. I have to get better on that aspect, maybe my hands wouldn't hurt if I fixed that...
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