Thursday, October 26, 2006

I really need to find that camera software, don't I? Well, I have no plans for Friday night, so ripping apart the closets might be in order (Pumpkin and PC, consider yourself warned). :)

So, what am I knitting? Well, that GORGEOUS Norweigan sweater I was making for my mom? It will get done, but not for Christmas. I did another row gauge check (I had done one after the ribbing and that's all) and it's WAY.TOO.BIG. for my mom. So, it will be for me! :) Thus, it will be put on hold for my post-Christmas holiday week.

On the needles:
1) hat for PC- learned how to make a hat from the top down (love you Danielle Miller!)
it's Baby Cashmerino in Black on US2... i'm almost to the ears. It was a commuter project, but I need to get some 16 inch or 20 inch US2 circs to finish it... it's too much for magic loop now.
2) socks for me. I had some Lisa Souza Sock! in the Sky Dreams colorway just lying around begging for a simple textured-lacy combo, so I cast on--- I am almost ready to do the heel flap on Sock #1 (this is the commuter project now)

3) Sienna Cardigan from Interweave Knits Fall 2006 -- in Cashmerino Aran (shopped the stash) in a buttery yellow color. for my mom. Back and one front is done. Hopefully a complete sweater by Sunday night!






















4) Fountain Lace sweater for PC's mom... back is almost done...
5) Sand River (need a few more repeats)

What's OFF THE NEEDLES?
1) the green mohair hat
2) two odessa hats (2 more planned)
3) scarves (2)
4) mittens (2)

So, what's up next? Finish up some more holiday knitting:
2 pair of Newfoundland Mittens from Maggistitches pattern.
1 more scarf
3 more hats
1 more BIG sweater project (thanksgiving weekend, I am hoping)

Lots of "stuff" going on besides knitting, so we'll see what I can accomplish.

:) Mini
PS_ I am going to SPA in Maine with NETA this February. Anyone else? Normally I would say " i'll share a room!" but I have been told in the past (by several people) that I am bad at that...I snore very loudly, take long showers... so, i am sucking it up and keeping my own room... but perhaps that means the party is in mine??? :)

Thursday, October 19, 2006

I need this sweater

I have NEVER said that about something I want to knit. ME. THIS SWEATER. MUST HAVE. I think I have THE perfect yarn for it to: a peachy alpaca-silk-wool blend... or a Very yummy rich purple. Oh. I need to make this sweater!






















the up close of the smocking stitch (ignore goofy woman in the photo, i am sure she is nice lady, but she looks goofy in the photo)














Must.Finish.One.Christmas.Knit.This.Weekend.

Then I can cast on for this!

:)Mini

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

OhmygodIcan'tbelieveIkeptthesecretsowellforsolong

So, it's official...I kept a secret, but now I don't have to:


GO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO MONICA AND SCOTT!!!

(they're ...well, no... Monica is having a baby. Scott helped.)

I have some super-secret-baby-projects that may or may not involve knitting that will only be posted once Monica has them in hand.

Oh and by the way... IS EVERYONE PREGNANT??? We keep getting announcements of friends and family with "buns in the oven".... I am so not sharing a soda with any of these people. :)

:) Mini

Thursday, October 12, 2006

what happened to Mini?

Oh, where to begin...

Apologies to everyone... it's been quite the troublesome past few weeks. If I owe you an email, a package, something... please forgive me and send me another reminder.

1. Birthday: MINE. I turned 29 on Monday. Yup. Got lots of stuff from PC: pewter candlesticks (how wonderful!) from the Boston Pewter Company (truly gorgeous... we have had several candlelit dinners...), the CD & DVD & leather-bound book of "hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy" ( I keep singing "so long and thanks for all the fish... so sad it had to come to this!"), a Swarovski crystal giraffe magnet for my fridge ( I heart giraffes!) and the "piece d'resistance!":

A DYE KIT FROM HELLO YARN.

Yup, complete with sock yarn. Funny, b/c at the Knit Out in Boston, I saw Adrian (one of my all time favorite people... she's truly wonderful) and told her "I asked for your dye kit for my birthday". And voila! I have one! I need to hit a Michaels' or JoAnn's to get some cheap-o wool to "practice on". :)
2. new job. Now, most of you know, I left my job to move to a more "favorable" position that involves a commute into Boston. I've been here about a month. I hate it. I tried to go back to my old job, but no good... I am now interviewing like a crazy woman trying to get out of here. Not wanting to get into specifics, but I am doing something I am not supposed to do. So, that being said, I am trying to get out of here. I don't *really* want to get fired (we need the money) but it would make it easier. I have interviewed once already and tomorrow, I do it again.

3. Family stuff: my dad's back in the hospital with some complications (home soon!) and it was sort of another "thing" to deal with this week... he's going to be fine, but it always throws me off b/c I think he's doing really well... and them WHAMMO. Reality kicks me in the ass.

4. Knitting... oh, I have a few hats, a few scarves, some mittens, have finished sweaters to show you. But, I have to find the software for my camera and install it on PC's computer. it was installed on my work laptop,but I don't have one of those anymore!

5. the MBTA. How can I begin to describe how much I hate this system? I was 45 minutes late for work today b/c the Green Line decided to be "picky" about what stops they were going to stop at. Example : I get on the train at Newton Highlands. I watched 4 trains go past Newton Highlands, and NOT STOP before one let us on. Then, we get to Newton Center. "this train will be direct to Kenmore". Huh? I went one stop? I get off. Wait. Next train-- doesn't stop. Third train stops, no room... I get on anyway. Two more stops, and "this train will be direct to Kenmore"... NOOOOO!!! I get off, wait. And wait. And wait. Finally, a train comes, it's packed. I get on and it takes me to my destination... I try to get off. No luck. I say "excuse me"... I am polite. Finally, I just start pushing past people. People standing on the stairs (trolley riders, you know what i mean) REFUSE TO STEP DOWN TO LET YOU OUT. So, I finally push past someone. Who throws a Metro at my head (and it hits). I am off to work. Late.

So, soon... there will be knitting photos. I can say that I am 1/2 way through a "sand river" done in a alpaca/wool blend from an Etsy dealer who I am totally doing business with again. I also started a hat from the top down (FYI: if you are local and see a class offered by Danielle Miller... RUN TO SIGN UP. She is part of my knitting guild and she gave us a lesson last night.. Oh. My. She should run a knitting school!) .

Wish me luck tomorrow... I will need it.

:) Mini