Knitting bloggers of the free world….i have an illness – I discovered a name for this illness on the Mason Dixon blog. It’s called starteritis….. Does you have this affliction as well? I swear off all trips to the local yarn store – this only makes the illness worse. Why you ask – because I can’t keep my hands off all of the yarn there intent on seducing it’s way into my stash. Being broke can help this and so can not going to the yarn store. But what is a knitfloozy to do when she finds herself on this side of town to get some calm away from the storm?
I started counting the amount of unfinished projects and projects that I bought yarn for and have yet to start and yes my feelings are hurt and I too have starteritis. I right now have about 13 projects on various sets of needles. I keep telling myself that I will not start another new project until I finish them all. Has this worked? Absolutely not!!!! I seem to keep knitting myself into a deeper hole. I mean - how can one not be excited by all of the cool patterns to knit and since we only have two hands to knit with we must try to knit all of them at once. The good thing is – I’m not alone in my starteritis. I know there are many of you who have this same disease. Hopefully one day I will catch finishingitis so that I can get all rid of this starteritis guilt. *insert big sigh here* Does anyone have the cure in a bottle so I can take two and finish in the morning?
Jul 31, 2007
Jul 18, 2007
Knitting at the Beach
This past weekend - I spent some time knitting at the beach. The day was so unbelieveably beautiful! I love the beach! I would live there if it weren't so fiduciary irresponsible to my curre
nt status. tee hee.. I made two flower dishcloths and one that says yarn girl. I'm working on another one with the words yarn ho on it - but I don't want to give it to someone who would be offended. But those who are yarn ho's (and you know who you are) may just find one in your mail box in the near future... I found these patterns here.I met some really nice ladies and tried to save a jellyfish that just wouldn't stop washing up on the beach. So I left it alone and let it finish its life. I even left my knitting needles for about an hour and walked down the beach with my new friends. I should've taken more photos - but I was so enthralled with all of the nature at the beach and just happy that the weather was balmy and I even got a little bit of a tan....
Jul 17, 2007
Book Covers...
How many times have you come across the unexpected in your knitting? Well last week when I was out and about – I came a across a man who was crocheting. Yes a man. He was sitting outside the McArthur Bart Station in Oakland and I saw him and thought hmmm….a homeless guy who crochet’s for money. Ok that’s a good idea. I smiled – and said hello and told him that I knit and he said he – if you’re a knitter you should have your needles with you! But of course I did – what other reason is there to carry a big purse. He then explained that he 
can’t knit but would be happy to teach me anytime how to crochet.
I started to walk away and get back to my travels and then decided – I want to learn something new today. I wasn’t hesitant to sit and crochet with a stranger because of the smile he had on his face and the people he spoke to while he was making a hat.
The truth of the matter is – he like everyone else has had some tough times. He had a period in his life where he wanted to jump out of the rat race and just be anonymous. He said that his grandmother had given him a Bible and told him he needed to go to church. Well – he ignored her plea – but kept the Bible. He dropped out of sight for about three to four months and his family was crazy with worry about him. As it happens on Bart sometimes – there are incidents on the train that news crews happen to show up. His sister’s saw him on the news and were thrilled that he was alive.
Anyway – he said his life started to turn around because he picked up the Bible his granny had given to him and read it cover to cover (thank God for praying grandmothers). He also said three to four months ago – he could not have cared less about his Bible - nor could you have spoken to him about religion in any shape form or fashion. He now has folks coming to pray with him, have Bible study with him and just give him a kind word.
There was a bus driver there when I met him and after he walked away to finish his route, Rick told me that the bus driver walked up to him one day and said – you will make 200 hats this week…don’t worry about where the yarn is going to come from. He said Nicol – do you know that I made 500 hats that week and the yarn just kept pouring in from all kinds of people.
Turns out – he’s not homeless (didn’t Mom tell you not to judge a book by its cover?). He decided this is what he wants to do. Crochet hats for a living. He is self taught and has in the last three years created over 5,000 hats. He’s donated some to the Oakland’s Children’s Hospital to the kids in the cancer ward. He’s given to mothers who have lots of children but need warm hats for the winter. A kind hearted soul.
During the time I spent learning how to crochet – about 10 or so people got off the train and said hello, said I will be back for my hats, or placed an order with him. The longer I sat there – the more I knew I’d made a good judgment call stopping to get a free crochet lesson. By the way – he crochet’s one hat every hour. He’s there everyday and would be happy to teach you how to crochet if you ask. By the way - if you stop by there – tell my new friend Rick I said hello. (Oh yeah – I had my son take two boxes of yarn to him in exchange for my free lesson)
can’t knit but would be happy to teach me anytime how to crochet.I started to walk away and get back to my travels and then decided – I want to learn something new today. I wasn’t hesitant to sit and crochet with a stranger because of the smile he had on his face and the people he spoke to while he was making a hat.
The truth of the matter is – he like everyone else has had some tough times. He had a period in his life where he wanted to jump out of the rat race and just be anonymous. He said that his grandmother had given him a Bible and told him he needed to go to church. Well – he ignored her plea – but kept the Bible. He dropped out of sight for about three to four months and his family was crazy with worry about him. As it happens on Bart sometimes – there are incidents on the train that news crews happen to show up. His sister’s saw him on the news and were thrilled that he was alive.
Anyway – he said his life started to turn around because he picked up the Bible his granny had given to him and read it cover to cover (thank God for praying grandmothers). He also said three to four months ago – he could not have cared less about his Bible - nor could you have spoken to him about religion in any shape form or fashion. He now has folks coming to pray with him, have Bible study with him and just give him a kind word.
There was a bus driver there when I met him and after he walked away to finish his route, Rick told me that the bus driver walked up to him one day and said – you will make 200 hats this week…don’t worry about where the yarn is going to come from. He said Nicol – do you know that I made 500 hats that week and the yarn just kept pouring in from all kinds of people.
Turns out – he’s not homeless (didn’t Mom tell you not to judge a book by its cover?). He decided this is what he wants to do. Crochet hats for a living. He is self taught and has in the last three years created over 5,000 hats. He’s donated some to the Oakland’s Children’s Hospital to the kids in the cancer ward. He’s given to mothers who have lots of children but need warm hats for the winter. A kind hearted soul.
During the time I spent learning how to crochet – about 10 or so people got off the train and said hello, said I will be back for my hats, or placed an order with him. The longer I sat there – the more I knew I’d made a good judgment call stopping to get a free crochet lesson. By the way – he crochet’s one hat every hour. He’s there everyday and would be happy to teach you how to crochet if you ask. By the way - if you stop by there – tell my new friend Rick I said hello. (Oh yeah – I had my son take two boxes of yarn to him in exchange for my free lesson)
Jul 12, 2007
Glutton for Punishment
Am I a glutton for punishment or what? I was perusing my local yarn store on Sunday to learn a stitch I’d not done before. Nothing wrong with that – people do it all the time. I saw this beautiful lace shawl and decided – I can do that. The yarn is so sumptuous and soft and I know I should have kept my hands to myself – but how does one go into a yarn shop and not fondle all the pretty yarn?
So I read the pattern and thought hmm this looks fairly easy – the instructions are clear. I mean really – how hard can it really be? I’m an intelligent person who can read patterns. This can’t possibly be that hard. I was more wrong than two left shoes. It makes the Lady Eleanor shawl look like knitting 101. How come nobody told me that the silk yarn will slide back and forth over the needles causing you to drop stitches that you can’t really see because the yarn is so fine? How come nobody told me that you need peace and quiet to do lace? And how come nobody told my I would stab my fingers way more than I do when I check my blood sugar? I guess I’m just a glutton for punishment.
And to make matters worse – I stumbled on to a blog that has the tessellating fish afghan on it. I know the colors that I want to use – of course none of them are already in my stash…that would be way to easy right? In order for me to create the fish blanket – I gotta de-stash what I have now. I have decided to only buy yarn for projects that I am currently working on. Yeah I know every knitter goes through this – but I will do my best to make it happen. Am I laughing while typing this? Absolutely!!! I mean it! No more random yarn buying! OK now I’m laughing so hard I'm crying! I managed to tickle myself with that one. Seriously…stop laughing! It’s not funny…ok I’m still giggling…
So I read the pattern and thought hmm this looks fairly easy – the instructions are clear. I mean really – how hard can it really be? I’m an intelligent person who can read patterns. This can’t possibly be that hard. I was more wrong than two left shoes. It makes the Lady Eleanor shawl look like knitting 101. How come nobody told me that the silk yarn will slide back and forth over the needles causing you to drop stitches that you can’t really see because the yarn is so fine? How come nobody told me that you need peace and quiet to do lace? And how come nobody told my I would stab my fingers way more than I do when I check my blood sugar? I guess I’m just a glutton for punishment.
And to make matters worse – I stumbled on to a blog that has the tessellating fish afghan on it. I know the colors that I want to use – of course none of them are already in my stash…that would be way to easy right? In order for me to create the fish blanket – I gotta de-stash what I have now. I have decided to only buy yarn for projects that I am currently working on. Yeah I know every knitter goes through this – but I will do my best to make it happen. Am I laughing while typing this? Absolutely!!! I mean it! No more random yarn buying! OK now I’m laughing so hard I'm crying! I managed to tickle myself with that one. Seriously…stop laughing! It’s not funny…ok I’m still giggling…
Jul 6, 2007
SANDAL PLEDGE
Please raise your BIG TOE and repeat after me: As a member of the Faux Paux Sisterhood, I pledge to follow the rules when I wear sandals and other open-toe shoes:
1. I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps
2. I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh,intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe
3. I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow
4. I will shave the hairs off my big toe
5. I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend,coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stayunder my toes if I tuck it there
6. If a strap breaks, I won’t duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck itback in to place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoefixed or toss it. No matter how much it hurts
7. I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl's if my feet need him
8. I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enoughto fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety,and the safety of others. No one can walk properly whenstanding in a pool of sweat, and I would hate totake someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle
9. I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.
10. I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworkerwhen she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals.Someone has to tell her that her toes look like they've beendragged behind her car on the way to work and no sandal in the world is going to make her feet look good
11. I will promise if I wear flip flops, that I will ensure theyactually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walkingand I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearingthem
12. I will promise to go to my local beauty school at leastonce per season and have a real pedicure (they are about $15and worth EVERY penny) I say spend another $15.00 and get a even better one.And finally...
13. I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandalsthat show signs of wear...nothing is tackier than dirty whitesandals...
1. I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps
2. I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh,intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe
3. I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow
4. I will shave the hairs off my big toe
5. I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend,coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stayunder my toes if I tuck it there
6. If a strap breaks, I won’t duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck itback in to place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoefixed or toss it. No matter how much it hurts
7. I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl's if my feet need him
8. I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enoughto fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety,and the safety of others. No one can walk properly whenstanding in a pool of sweat, and I would hate totake someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle
9. I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.
10. I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworkerwhen she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals.Someone has to tell her that her toes look like they've beendragged behind her car on the way to work and no sandal in the world is going to make her feet look good
11. I will promise if I wear flip flops, that I will ensure theyactually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walkingand I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearingthem
12. I will promise to go to my local beauty school at leastonce per season and have a real pedicure (they are about $15and worth EVERY penny) I say spend another $15.00 and get a even better one.And finally...
13. I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandalsthat show signs of wear...nothing is tackier than dirty whitesandals...
Jul 5, 2007
Dog Days of Summer
Do you knit, or crochet, or do both? How long have you been knitting\crocheting? I am currently a knitter…would love to learn how to crochet
Have you knit dishcloths or dishtowels before? I have only knit a set for myself
What are your favorite cotton yarns? Is there a cotton or linen you’ve been dying to try but have not? My favorite is Lion Brand’s Cottonease but would love to dry the CotLin that Knitpicks sell
Are there any cotton yarns you don’t enjoy knitting with? I haven’t met a cotton I don’t like
What type of needle do you prefer using? (Metal/Wood/Plastic) Metal – addiTurbos all the way
What other projects do you enjoy knitting or crocheting? I am learning to like socks.
Do you have other hobbies or enjoy other kinds of crafting? I make jewelry as well
What kind of treats do you like? Chocolate? Candies? Nuts? I love Lorna Doones and Pecan Sandies and those pink Peanut Patties I can only find in Texas
What colors are your kitchen and bath decorated in, if any? Black & White
What are your favorite colors and what colors do you dislike? I love all colors!
Do you drink coffee? Tea? Other beverages? I drink Might Leafy Tea (mightleaf.com) my favorite flavor is the Mint Tea
Do you have any kids (human or pet variety!)? I have two boys
Do you have any allergies? Allergic to smoke
Please share 3 tidbits about yourself that you think your pal and other swappers might find odd or interesting. I absolutely love to eat peanut butter and cheese sandwiches. I refuse to ever eat sushi/shashimi again (it ain’t natural). I love to buy shoes – but you will find me barefoot most of the time.
Have you knit dishcloths or dishtowels before? I have only knit a set for myself
What are your favorite cotton yarns? Is there a cotton or linen you’ve been dying to try but have not? My favorite is Lion Brand’s Cottonease but would love to dry the CotLin that Knitpicks sell
Are there any cotton yarns you don’t enjoy knitting with? I haven’t met a cotton I don’t like
What type of needle do you prefer using? (Metal/Wood/Plastic) Metal – addiTurbos all the way
What other projects do you enjoy knitting or crocheting? I am learning to like socks.
Do you have other hobbies or enjoy other kinds of crafting? I make jewelry as well
What kind of treats do you like? Chocolate? Candies? Nuts? I love Lorna Doones and Pecan Sandies and those pink Peanut Patties I can only find in Texas
What colors are your kitchen and bath decorated in, if any? Black & White
What are your favorite colors and what colors do you dislike? I love all colors!
Do you drink coffee? Tea? Other beverages? I drink Might Leafy Tea (mightleaf.com) my favorite flavor is the Mint Tea
Do you have any kids (human or pet variety!)? I have two boys
Do you have any allergies? Allergic to smoke
Please share 3 tidbits about yourself that you think your pal and other swappers might find odd or interesting. I absolutely love to eat peanut butter and cheese sandwiches. I refuse to ever eat sushi/shashimi again (it ain’t natural). I love to buy shoes – but you will find me barefoot most of the time.
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