Building a Better Me

Well 2009 has been a year of new beginnings. After loosing my job, I decided to go back to school full time. I will be going into Nursing and so far so good.

When I decided to go back to school I realized that my new job was not going to involve hours of sitting on my hiney. I was going to be up and around, lifting and moving, walking and bending, and basically stretching the strength of my body to it's limits.

Those of you who love me know that I might be 5-10 pounds over weight. Because you love me, you are also not going to comment on the gross underestimate of my weight loss needs.

So the idea is to loose some weight. I am writing this down as a self motivation technique. I am going to announce my goals and achieve them.

There are so many reasons to loose weight...

1. My Ankles and Knees -- I love them. They have always been there for me. They have been reliable and I am going to reward them by trying to lighten their load. They deserve it.

2. I Wanna Knit for ME -- I really do want to knit for me but there are just soooo many stitches in a garment for me. Baby sweaters till I am a me size I want to stay. Okay maybe a shrug or a kimono.

3. I love Me the way I am -- Emotionally, I am okay with me fat or skinny. I am okay with me just the way I am. Seriously, I think I am pretty cool. I should keep me around this great spinning rock as long as possible.

4. I want to play with all the other kids -- If I am going to be living as long as possible, I am going to live well. To me, living well does not include getting winded working a vending machine!

And so I go... Merrily along and hopefully soon to be shrinking in front of your eyes!

Let the Fun Begin

So I decided to make This Blankie for my niece's high school graduation. She doesn't graduate till May of 2010 but, let's face it, blankets take a super long time. I wanted to make this out of worsted wool that was washable. The original pattern calls for sock yarn leftovers but, hmmmmmm no, I won't be going that way. I would like to finish this before her 60th birthday!!

The best part of making this blanket... The swaps!!! I was able to call on my fellow Ravelry members who were super nice in sending me tons of superwash goodness. This will allow me to have an explosion of colors in my blanket!! Yeah, that is exactly what I was looking for!!! So tomorrow I start in earnest. I already have several squares done but as the boxes of yarn that I swaped for, bought cheap and even was gifted I find that I have tons of great colors to choose from. Katie dear, you are going to LOVE this!!!

Here is a small basket of goodies that I am starting with. Name a color. It's probably in there!

Don't you hate it when...

So this winter I finished the Moderne Baby Blanket for a friend. It was a little smaller then I originally planned. I ran out of yarn. Hey, we're knitters. These things happen. Well, last night, I was going through my stash to find any leftover micro skeins of worsted wool for an upcoming Sock yarn blanket. I am doing the sock yarn blanket in worsted washable wool instead cause I am simply not brave enough to try it in sock yarn!!!

So, I go diggin' through the stash and I see a bit of blue. Ohhh, blue works... I dig in and pull out a full skein. Further diggin', three more skeins. So I cast off the blanket early and had 4 more skeins! Crazy! Now off to find out what to do with 800 yards of coordinating (not matching, that would be too easy!) yarn.

Happy Mothers Day!!!

Happy Mother's day to all the wonderful women who give of their bodies, hearts and souls to raise their children. You are loved and appreciated.

Five (okay maybe six) Day Sweater

After making a steal of a deal on a set of vintage Denise Interchangeable needles I had to cast something on them. I had been waiting to get some interchangeable prior to casting on a baby sweater. Well at about 9pm Friday I sat down with a margarita and cast on
Ribbed Baby Jacket by Debbie Bliss.

I am not a quick knitter. I have only been knit obsessed for a mere 18 months so it is understandable that it is slow going but this sweater is fast. I mean, ladies, seriously Fast!!! Who knew that I, a relatively newbie knitter, could pound out a gift in FIVE (okay maybe six) DAYS!!

Five (again, closer to six) days may not be a struggle for some. But sometimes life gets in the way of my knitting. How RUDE! Over the weekend there was studying for finals, working in the garden, cleaning up the lawn, a charity banquet on Saturday and a fishing expedition on Sunday. Here is the Five (six) Day Picture, evidence of a sweater growing faster then a baby!! Apparently it can happen!

I counted this done after five because only the seeming and button holes were left and those can hardly count right!??!?!

Day One





Day Two

Day Three

Day Four was finishing knitting. Day Five I was done.... okay except for the seeming and buttons.

Day Six (yeah I admit it... the calender doesn't lie!)

Needles Galore and the wonders of Denise Interchangables!

My birthday is coming up. I really love my birthday. It is the one day that I can be completely self important and self involved! Seriously, there is a huge thrill in being asked, "What do you want, honey?" It is great to be able to give my opinion and not feel bad at all that it might not be what others want.

The reason for my self-important tirade about it being my birthday is that I asked for knitting needles. Specifically, I asked for Knit Picks Harmony Wood Circular Interchangeable Needles.

Well, money is tight since we are both in school but I really wanted them so my husband decided he could go in with his parents and grandma for a combined gift. Bless their hearts!!! I was going to have 'em!

Well, I was shopping on craigslist.org looking at their for sale section of arts and craft supplies and I found the greatest deal ever!!! I found a posting for "Knitting Needles $10." There were 19 sets of metal needles, several circular needles, one set of size one DPN's, several wooden crochet hooks, two hair pin lace looms, and most importantly a set of interchangeable circulars!While it wasn't on the set I had originally wanted I actually got a beautiful set of vintage
Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needles.

Gasp!!! I jumped on it! The interchangeable set is perfect. All the parts are their except for one short little cable that is used as a stitch keeper. The needles look like they have never been used! The instructions were even in there (dated 1977!).

After making my bargain buy, I had to cast on a little baby sweater right away. I LOVE THESE NEEDLES!!! The resin needles are not as catchy as the wooden needles but they are quick like metal without making that annoying clickity click click click sound. They glide over the yarn and the cables are nice and flexible once you get some weight on them.

Now the real problem.... what should I ask for for my birthday!?!?!?!