S-s-s-socks

I need socks.

I need to knit a pair of socks.

My life could possibly end if I don't knit a pair of socks soon.

But...the yarn embargo hasn't ended. Thank god I'm broke, or else I'd be up to my ears in sock yarn and dpn's.

(sigh)

Jenn

A Few Small Minutes

...to post a bit.

I finished HP 7. It was glorious. Truly amazing. JK Rowling did so much with those 7 books, put in so many little hints, tied them all up in a neat little bow. Well, not so neat. I'm still wondering about the epilogue. It didn't explain as much as I had hoped. But, it's okay. The epic tale of Harry Potter is complete. I feel a little sad. I think I'd like to reread the whole thing, from beginning to end. Just to grasp the scope of it all.

Also, finally back to knitting. The sweater came with me to Savannah this weekend. (I was there for business). I checked the bag it was in at the airport though. I just couldn't handle TSA telling me to leave my needles behind...Grr. The sweater didn't care of Savannah. Said it was too hot to be knit there. So I worked on it while I enjoyed some television (which I hardly ever do) with myself propped up in the comfiest of beds at the hotel.

Savannah was quite lovely though. Bloody hot. But pretty. The river was gorgeous. And food was good. The picture up there, by the way, is me in front of the Lady and Sons, Paula Deen's restaurant. I swear to you, it was the best food I have ever eaten. Miss Deen is amazing. She's my favorite on the Food Network.

That's all for now. As soon as I finish the first part of the sweater, I mean to try it on and take a few pics. Then back to knitting. Ya know, like always.

Jenn

So Little Time

I haven't really been knitting this week. For several reasons:

1) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is currently occupying my time.

2) I love my boyfriend and so I spend time with him instead of with the knitting.

I think the lack of attention my current project, the Glee sweater from zephyr, is receiving caused it to be very mad at me. I was increasing and knitting during my Monday night knitting group and paused to count the sides, and one side was off by one. I doubt I forgot to increase on just one side. I'm rather sure the sweater did it by itself. It's own personal payback.

But I'm still going to ignore the sweater, especially after this bad behavior, to finish the book. I'm more than halfway through. Then back to knitting. And back to posting.

Oh, I got a caricature of myself done at King's Dominion last Sunday. I need to put it up since I'm knitting in it. It's just too big for my scanner. I'll have to play around with it.

Oh well.

Jenn

Y is for Yarn, T is for Talk

As I type this I am surrounded by new yarn and eating PB&J. (No worries. I am keeping those two apart. No peanutty yarn for me!)

My shipment from WEBS came in. And I possibly need more Classic Elite Alaska. I had bought it for another project, a gift project. But I seriously need it for myself now. I have to have it. It must be made into the Twinkle hoodie. It wants to made into the Twinkle hoodie. The yarn has spoken and I am merely obeying.

Also, the Jaeger extra fine merino in the lovely plum color wants to be made into a delish sweater or hoodie. It speaks too. In fact, all my new yarn is very, very vocal.

The Alaska is the creamiest color with the perfect 50/50 blend of wool and alpaca. It says it will keep me warm in the fall and winter. I believe it.

I definitely believe it.

Jenn

Well, I lied.

On two matters.

First, no finished object pic of Harry Potter scarf. I finished in before I left but only had the crappy digi camera at home. I thought maybe I'd get one with Carrie's camera but just forgot. It's okay though. She loved the scarf and her mother gave me the best compliment: "It looks so professional!"

Second, the yarn embargo ended this morning for a brief period. And now will be reinstated until September. There was some yarn on discount that I just couldn't pass up... I bought Classic Elite Alaska in a yummy color called Latte. And some Jaeger merino wool in baby blue (for a baby cardigan) and pretty purple for a yet-to-determined project.

In the meanwhile, I'm getting antsy. I started my Glee sweater. And I'd like a smaller project to carry about with me, like a sock or mittens. As soon as some of the yarn I ordered before the first embargo gets here (hopefully tomorrow, please oh knitting gods?) I will begin on Le Slouch and the Fetching gloves.

By the way, I just attempted to get to knitty.com but apparently the government web browser has labeled it a "Malicious Web Site." No lie.

I'm going to confess right now my growing obsession with knitting a sock. I have discussed with my knitting group how I don't believe sock knitting is the best use of yarn. This is based solely on the idea that socks wear out. Sweater, scarves, hats, mittens, etc. can last for years. Socks have a lifespan. And I have never been one to spend money on that which will not last.

But I am tempted to knit myself a pair of cozy socks for the fall. Maybe a few pairs of long socks for the blistery winter days. I keep seeing these sock yarns in such beautiful colors. I walked by some at a yarn store a few weeks ago and it whispered to me! "Come make me into a sock. You know you want to." So one day soon (or Sept.), I'll buy some sock yarn and try it out.

Seeking socks but still on embargo,
Jenn

Accio Scarf!

Here I am modeling the scarf right after getting it off the needles.

The scarf is currently pinned to my floor (with towel and garbage bag underneath) blocking away.

It was a good length when finished, but I wanted it less wide and more length. The ones on the movies are still wide but very long. So, in that picture it must be 65 inches long, without fringe. And 9-10 inches wide.

As it blocks, I've stretched it to 80 inches (so it will be approx. 95 with fringe) and 7.5 inches wide. It looks quite smashing. I'll be sure to take a picture of it before I leave for Boston tomorrow or hopefully get one of Carrie wearing it.

Ah, good day. :)

Jenn

Ps. I look like a cross between Harry and Hermione in that photo. Just realized.

Stripes, stripes, and more stripes.

Well, I haven't bought a single skein of yarn. Nor purchased a pattern. Or needles. Or anything. And while I know the embargo has only been going for 2 or so days, I'm dying over here. I wanted so badly to purchase Hermione's cable and bobble hat and mittens. But...(sigh) I refrained.

But things are okay, even with my impulse yarn buying chomping at the bit. I have yarn on its way (bought BEFORE said embargo) and yarn books (ditto) coming to me as well. Why, just today I received the Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques by Nancie M. Wiseman. I love it. No more searching the internet for finishing tips. It's al(most) in one tiny book with pretty color photos.

Also being mailed to me at this moment are:
Domiknitrix, Fitted Knits, and Knitting Without Tears. Sweeet.

As well at yarn...new yarn...some lovely yarrrrnnn.

In other news: I'M ALMOST DONE WITH THE HARRY POTTER SCARF! Yes! I have forsaken sleep and work, and now I am on my 17th stripe! Which, by the way, I believe I will be knitting 19 stripes and then running to the LYS during lunch tomorrow for extra dark yarn for the fringe. I'm hoping to get all the stripes done by tomorrow morning, block it before work and fringe it afterwards. Hopefully, I can get a picture of the intended recepient wearing it this weekend.

Ah, good stuff.

Jenn

It's Magical!

Well, it's a crappy photo. But the scarf looks nice! It hasn't even been a week since I frogged the first version of the scarf and already I'm on my 8th stripe. I think I'll only have 17 stripes. The pattern says 19 but I'm not sure I can get it done in time for my visit to Boston. I have to, afterall, block it and then add the fringe. Tonight, I hope to get three more stripes done. Then I just need 6 more to finish, which is 2 per day until Friday. Then I can block it and add fringe either before my flight or while I'm at the airport. Sounds good? Let's hope I can manage it!

By the way, from this day forth I cannot buy any more knitting supplies unless they are desperately needed for a project. That means, no more yarn books, needles, notions, and certainly no more yarn. I've got everything I need (except for some dpn's in certain sizes) to begin enough projects to keep me happy for the next year. I think I'll end this embargo in September to buy myself a birthday present. Then back to the embargo until I've finished all the projects I've bought yarn for so far.

Speaking of what I've bought yarn for...I've got 6 skeins of Laines du Nord Dolly Maxi at $4.20 coming to me for three projects: Le Slouch (from http://www.knitandtonic.typepad.com/), Fetching gloves (from http://www.knitty.com/), and maybe a simple hat to go with the gloves.

Then I've got all I need for the Wicked and Glee sweaters (Zephyr) and the Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds cardigan (cosmicpluto.com). And if that's not enough, I've still got items from the first list that I need to get to work on.

So, I'm set. And should stop spending money. Because I'll be poor in September. (sigh).

Jenn

It croaked.

Well, I had to rip back the Harry Potter scarf. I was on my third stripe and realized that the scarf was too wide. It was 13 inches wide, which is one damn wide scarf. I can't believe I didn't realize it till the 3rd stripe. Those circular needles can be so deceiving!

Anyways, I frogged it yesterday then began anew. Now it's only 9 inches wide and I'm on my third stripe again. Yay!

Also...the booties are finished!!! I'll post pictures on Monday.

Jenn

And so it begins...

Well, the baby booties are still unfinished. I was too busy this weekend but I've been slowly getting them done during lunch breaks. I just need to seam one and then weave in all the strands. Then, I'll have my first finished object!

Until then though, I've cast on my Harry Potter scarf (in Gryffindor colors, of course). I knit a little of it during my "knitting breaks" at work. Normally, I pull out my knitting when I'm staring at the newsletter layout and trying to rearrange it in my head. Somehow, knitting gives my mind just enough time off to figure things out subconsciously.

Oh, and check out my sheep point protectors...Cute! (Baaaahhhh....)

Jenn