Wicked Crazy

Pardon the crummy photo (there are more), but Mr. S is away and it seems that my camera isn't so good at focusing while using the self-timer while balanced on a makeshift tripod made of piled up plastic bins. There's also the matter of my not-so-best Sunday look. That said, here's the first look at my finished Ridged Cowl neck sweater.

As you can see, I finally got the neck right. When I started this, I really had my doubts about the Manos because the needle size (8) seemed awfully small for the yarn. As it turns out, the first skein I started with was very heavy on the thick end of thick and thin. Unfortunately it also hell on my hands. As the sweater grew, so did the pains in my left hand from clutching the bulk. The claw! I think I pinched a nerve in my shoulder! Anyway, after blocking, the yarn softened up quite well and has a surprising amount of drape considering that it looked like a wrinkled elephant before. It was so bad that I referred to it as the "Michelin Man" sweater!

I really wanted this to be a winner because I was so in love with how it looked it the magazine photo. It did come out pretty much as pictured, but what you can barely see in my first photo above, but not in the magazine, is that there is a fair amount of fabric that likes to hang out it the back (Note to self: 4 inches of positive ease is not a good thing). If I were to make this again (which I probably wont), I would add side shaping, only because I can't quite figure out how I would change the number of cast-on stitches and increases to make the upper body work. I first wore it to work with black dress slacks and a scoop neck T, but as the day wore on, it felt frumpy and a little too hot; and I swear that when this yarn warms up it gives off a faint aroma of vinegar. Yesterday, I wore it with jeans and felt much better about it, because for a while, I started having those crazy thoughts. You know the ones: "Why the hell do I knit anyway? I never wear anything I make! All that time and money!" blah blah blah.

The other sweater I was working on didn't do much to bolster my knitting enthusiasm. I used Debbie Bliss Merino Aran to start Wicked and found the yarn to be crapola from the start. Stiff as Red Heart! What the hey? I won't even rant about the knots (@#$!). This wasn't cheap yarn but it sure knit up to look like it. Since purchasing it, I've felt skeins in other colors and they feel completely different. What's up with that? Here's what it looked like before I blocked it. See how the hem stands up and the bumpy stitches?

Here's a another look in color. I wish you could reach out and touch the yarn so you'd know how yucky it feels!

The good thing is that I love color and the fit is perfect.

So I thought that rinsing it would help soften it up...

Nope, still stiff. After 2 days of drying, it looks exactly the same. So I did the only other think I could think of. I steam blocked the hell out of it with my iron!

Voila! It still has that handmade look about it, but it kinda works with the geek chic thing.

I feel so uber cool!

When I first saw this pattern at Zephyr Style, I thought it was too "young" for me (being that I'm now considered "middle aged"), but I was surfing around Ravelry (deep dark hole) using the tag "sweaters" (you should try it if you don't want to look at any more fingerless mitts), and showing Mr. S all of the gorgeous work and he pointed out a finished Wicked and said "Why don't you make that?". I replied "Don't you think it's a little to young for me?", and he said (bless his heart), "I like it a lot better than some of that so-called fashion stuff you knit".

Since I knew from the start that I didn't like the yarn but loved the sweater, I started another one. I know. Yes, I do sleep. I'm not going to tell you what the yarn is, and if you already know, don't tell. But let's just say I'm doing a little experiment with bargain fibers. I will tell you that this is a dream to knit with and is super soft (no, that's not a hint).

Since I'm still Wicked Crazy, I bought some Lambs Pride Worsted in Cafe Au Lait to make a 3/4 length version because I love the way the variegated versions look.

You may have noticed that I changed my profile picture. I was tired of looking like a pin-up girl, so I photographed my little sheep in her Spring outfit (she came with many - you'll see). Does Sheep looked scared that the big cat is walking by? That's Mr. Mr. whose M.O. is to lurk around in the background and hope that someone will notice him.


Missymoo (don't you just love how pet names evolve?), on the other hand, just plops herself in my lap and demands immediate attention, no matter what I may be doing.

Speaking of things lurking around in the background, while I finish Aamu (before you say another word, I started it in the Fall and am only now getting around to finishing), I am just itching to start my next project with this Noro Big Kureyon.


It's going to be the garter stitch cowl neck sweater from the March 2008 issue of Creative Knitting (page 22). I think I'll make bell sleeves instead of the fitted and may do mostly stockinette for the sleeves and body - maybe some garter at the wrist.

There's just something about Noro that keeps me coming back to it.

I'll leave you for now with my little trio of sheep. The best thing about Easter is that you can find cheap sheepy things! I picked these up at Christmas Tree Shop for $2.99! Dontcha just love a bargain?

Baaaaaaaah

Smitten, bitten.

To celebrate Martin Luther King Day, I decided to take a break from knitting and do a little sewing. As it turns out, the kitties had other ideas. Mr. B held down my fabric squares so they wouldn't blow away in the non-existent wind.

Missy Miss brought her new fur ball upstairs and said "Play with me!"

After some time (and lots of petting), I managed to finish this little ditty:


The pattern is "Abby's Treasure Box" by Little Scraps from This & That, purchased a few weeks ago at Cotton Weeds in Freeport. The fabric is part of Anna Maria Horner's Chocolate Lolipop collection, bought online at Fat Quarter Shop last spring.

It was a quick and easy project, and is so cute!

I was so happy with how it came out that I decided to make another one with the rest of my squares. By this time, however, the Kitties had enough of all my sewing and no playing.



How could I resist such attention?

Eventually, I did finish the second one. This time using the "warm" colors from the same collection.

It's the perfect size for carrying a sock in progress!

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been jonesing to knit sweaters again. Did I start with one of those I already had yarn for? Heck no! I went out craft store trolling on Saturday and found that A.C. Moore was having a sale: 25% off all yarn!! Yes, I bought yarn (6 skeins of Cotton Ease in Taupe at $3.73 a skein), buy I also bought the new issue of Knit Simple. I'd rejected it when it first came out, but this time, I fell in love....

You know how it happens. That "OhmygodImustknitthatrightNOW" feeling. I left the store and wolfed down a naughty meal at Wendy's (just to make sure that it wasn't low blood sugar talking) and headed straight for my LYS that carries Manos. Yep, came home with 8 skeins in the exact same color as the one in the magazine. I almost never do that, but I can so see myself wearing this sweater!!!

The love grew a little cold after a while, as I grumbled to myself that size 8 needles were too small for the yarn and that there was no way it was going drape like it does in the photo, and

"Hey! How many times am I supposed to repeat the rib before I remove the sleeve stitches?"

In the photo, it looked like the sleeves were separated in the middle of the reverse stockinette rows in the second repeat of rib rows.

"IMPOSSIBLE!!"

I took out my magnifying glass and looked for the tell-tale bumps indicating "kfb" increases.

"IMPOSSIBLE!!"

According the pattern, the sleeves aren't separated until after the third repeat!

"Aren't my armholes going to be GIGANTIC?"

I obsessed over this for hours, but kept on knitting. I checked the magazine website, thinking that there MUST be a correction. Although convinced that there were clothes pins holding that sweater in place (unless that woman is an amazon, I can't believe that a size 38 inch chest fits her like that), I kept knitting.

This photo was taken at the height of my obsessive conspiracy fit. Shortly before going to bed last night I finally removed my sleeve stitches (4 rows earlier than it says to in the pattern), knit a few rows, and tried it on. So far so good. At this point, my theory is that the person who wrote the pattern is not the designer, and that the one on the model was not knit using the pattern (impossible I say!). Stay tuned to see if this is going to be a winner or a loser. (I really really really want it to be a winner!)

I finished something else today, but it was supposed to be a Christmas gift for someone. Oops! Maybe I'll keep it. Heh heh. Here's a tiny peek:

Meet Mr. Boots and Sandy

After several months of silence, I finally have something to say...

Yesterday, for my 40th Birthday, Mr. S and I went to the H.A.R.T. Animal Shelter and adopted 2 kitties!!! This is Mr. Boots (he will be 6 years old next month):

And this is Sandy, who will be 4 in March:

They arrived at the shelter together, surrendered because their person had died (see more on their bio at the shelter's website - they are on the 5th row on the page). Sandy, who is now affectionately called Miss Sunshine (and Missy Miss), is full of personality and loves being the center of attention, but is a bit skittish right now when she hears loud noises. She is very playful and already allowed me to clip her front claws; very necessary since she loves to kneed!


Mr. Boots, on the other hand, has had it quite rough. Shortly after arriving at the shelter, he became ill and then depressed and stopped eating. Due to the love and medical attention of the volunteers at the shelter, he's been slowly coming back to health. When we first saw him yesterday, he was very despondent and wouldn't make eye contact. Despite that, and even after seeing nearly a hundred lovely cats, Mr. S and I felt in our hearts that we needed to take them home. We were given all of his medications, including an IV and fluids, hoping that a new home was all he would need to be happy again. After a brief and noisy ride in the car (Missy Miss cried the whole way) they arrived at their "forever home" only to immediately dive under the couch. I fully expected it to be hours before I saw either of them, but within 15 minutes, it was Mr. Boots who decided to investigate. Well! He wanted see, smell and rub on everything!! He was intensely curious about the house (especially doors and the stairs), and less than an hour after arriving ate a few treats. Since then, he's been eating and drinking like there's no tomorrow. In fact, when I told the person at the shelter how well he was doing, she said that we didn't need to give him any of the medications (mostly anti-depressants and appetite stimulants). He is such a sweet and gentle guy and loves individual attention. Despite the fact that he and Missy Miss came from the same home, so far, they are not the best of friends.While she was taking a long snooze in the bedroom today, he and I had some fun with catnip and a peacock feather. Doesn't look like a depressed kitty, does he? Even so, he's so thin that I can't wait to see him gain weight and hold my breath every time he eats or drinks.

Oddly, he doesn't purr, but maybe he will eventually. He loves to play with water, which is good because our kitchen faucet is drippy. I've never allowed my kitties on the counters or tables, but I don't think I'll have much say in the matter! His favorite place is my sewing room, where he is only allowed with supervision.

Missy Miss has quickly discovered her favorite spot on the quilt I made this summer. Her fur is like velvet, and despite the smug look on her face in this picture, she is extremely sweet. So far, she hasn't figured out how to open the door that leads upstairs, but she has learned that if she grabs the bottom it will go "bang bang", and that this sound, coupled with incessant crying will lead someone to open the door for her. A behavior that is so much like Chloe that it gives me a chill and chuckle at the same time.

So far, neither of them has shown any interest in my knitting, other than to plop themselves in my lap to divert my attention.

Sigh. I've missed this.

It's been a long couple of months. The short story is that my mom was diagnosed at the end of September with a recurrence of renal cancer after 15 clean years. She had surgery on December 4th to remove the new tumor, and so far (fingers crossed), everything looks good. She is doing well, and we'll just have to wait and see about everything else. That said, I'm trying to get back to my own routine, and that includes blogging. I'll try and post photos of knitting soon - I've been doing plenty of that.

Now I've got to get to my blog reading to see what everyone else has been up to!!

Thanks for reading!

XXOO Kitties and Me