Just doing my part

I saw a blurb on Good Morning America's ticker this morning stating consumer spending is up .8%. I would personally like to take responsibility for that increase since going back to work. Don't worry, I already informed my husband. I had *just* enough yarn to complete 2 small mittens. Aren't they sweet? Can you believe there are hands that small? I also did one repeat on the Chevron Lace Pullover. I have to be a knitting camel on the weekends since I'm more tired during the week. Happy Monday!

In Good Company

If it's wrong to love Dennis Quaid and Topher Grace, I don't want to be right. *sigh* Just mere hours after I posted the picture of the Lionbrand Cottage Socks yesterday (made with South American wool), doggie found them and pulled 2 very long strands out. I don't know where they belong, but I'll fix it as soon as the drool dries. Queen of the Damned So I'm in Hoodie Hell. This is the longest thing I swear *%$@& I've ever knit, this hood. Longer than all other projects combined. It is never ending. I have a minimum of 50 rows left, Kill me now. In order to jump to purgatory, I swatched for the Classic Elite Venue Chevron Lace Pullover (could I add anymore nouns?!). It's a rare departure from my beloved wool. The yarn is kind of hard and scratchy. But I think the recipient will love the drape and the lightness of the fabric when it's done. You may also notice 2 balls of Brown Sheep Co's Nature Spun in the most recent picture. Being as I diligently swatched for the CLP, I had to add some excitement to my life. I'm hoping those two smallish balls will equal one pair of mittens for my adorable nephew. I'm living on the edge. Ain't he cute?! I almost forgot to add my coolest non-knitting-related purchase of the week! Domestigirl told me about the wonders of Cooking Light magazine. You scoff. This magazine is the best invention ever (aside from the wonderous BCP). I was giddy when I stumbled upon Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2005. I am one happy eater!

Hoodie Hell 

Warm Tootsies 

Hit the Road Jack

I'm through the back and front shaping save two rows! I admit I did a frustrating amount of little ripping to get the throat cabling to look right. Next is the hood, and then sleeve island! But my little pretties, I'll be knitting you both at the same time. After I finish with Rogue I have to crank out a sweater for a March Birthday. I'm using Classic Elite Venue, with a pattern called a Chevron Lace Pullover. The Venue is a light purple, and it's made from cotton, linen, and nylon - perfect for Southern California weather. Now that I'm back to work making money, I'm planning to go to Stitches West with Domestigirl. And I've decided to jump on the Klaralund bandwagon, albeit a few months late. One day I'll get back to that sock....

My Favorite Movies

Inspired by FX's showing of Alien today. In no particular order Alien Aliens Alien Cubed Dune (with Kyle MacLachlan) Amedeus The Princess Bride Godfather Godfather Part II Excalibur The Shining (Stanley Kubrick) Das Boot (German version from '81) Seven Samurai Movies you should watch Vampire's Kiss (with Nick Cage) The Wicker Man La Femme Nikita (French Version only please) Ray Bend it like Beckham My Big Fat Greek Wedding Merlin (The Hallmark version from 7 years ago) Pirates of the Caribbean Conan the Barbarian

Secret Pal package No. 1 

Walking on Sunshine

{Rave} Look at the fabulous gifts my Knitty Secret Pal sent my way! I love it, the sheep soap, the Belgian Chocolate (A rare indulgence), and the French Tin, perfect for stashing notions, scissors, etc. And I was worried I didn't come across well in my Secret Pal Questionaire. Either I expressed myself properly, or my Secret Pal has ESP and a direct line to the things I like. {/Rave} I've made great progress on Rogue. Partly due to Newbie-Sweater enthusiasm, and partly to doing nothing but knitting. Sadly I went back to work this week, so my progress will slow down. But I admit at work, when I'm feeling uninspired, I calculate how much yarn I can buy per hour based on my wages. It helps the doldrums. If only I could knit and work at the same time.... If anyone has any ideas on how to get myself and my good buddy Roberta into the Long Beach TNNA Tradeshow, please let me know! It seems they don't allow "Civilians" into the show. I have one day to figure it out. Any suggestions are welcome! I'm not above parachuting in ;).

Rogue Progress. Do you see the Kangaroo pockets? And the invisible cast on to avoid tough hem questions? 

Button, Button, Who's got the Button

Ok, modifying the Rogue Pullover was a wee bit more complicated than I thought. It involved drawrings, excel spreadsheets, and nail picking. The modification instructions state: Divide pocket in half, and knit each side. Sounds simple, right? That ended up being 39 lines in excel for each pocket. But don't be fooled, I loved every moment of it. The brain teaser aspect is part of the reason I'm attracted to knitting. I bought goodies for my Knitty Secret Pal. It was an enjoyable trip to a LYS I don't normally frequent. AND I can't wait to get my first package in the mail. I can barely contain my excitement. I'll just sit here and drink my fat free sugar free Hot Chocolate, topped with full fat and full sugar mini marshmellows. Have a great weekend!

Secret Pals are the best kinds of Pal. They give you cool stuff. Which is good to have. 

Rogue Knit-a-long. 'Cause life isn't complete unless you're in a Knit-a-long! 

This little bit of fabric represents newly-learned chart reading, pattern modification, and lots of anxiety. All on my first real sweater! 

Staging Area 

The Blue Mile

My lovely Husband repaired my computer. However the faulty hinge is spitting out screws once again. *sigh* I finished my second Irish Hiking Scarf yesterday during the 7 hour long power outage. I've discovered I need electricity. I need the background noise, either the tv or music in order to knit. In a weak moment, I bought the pattern to make Rogue. I carefully swatched for Rogue in the round, as suggested. And then I decided to make the modified Rogue Cardigan. And I started knitting, using an invisible cast-on to avoid the hem issue that was giving me heartburn. But I was knitting for the pullover version. So I frogged it, and restarted. Only to realize about an inch in that I'd swatched in the round and was knitting back and forth. Luckily my gauge is about the same. The chart reading took a bit to catch on to, but I got it! And I got to use my tiny cable needle. Life is good.

The Blue Mile -or- My Second Irish Hiking Scarf. 

Hey Ho, Let's Go

Live from the Fickle house (wearing a Naked Tofu shirt, accompanyed by my rubber chicken pj pants no less), I present my new blog on cuisine food and torture dieting: FickleFoodFiend I've been off and on miserable with this cold. I've had 2 days of actual knitting in the past week. It's on those days that I know I am feeling better. I finished the Fiber Trends Felted Clogs, except for seaming, end weaving, and felting. They are a very fast knit, on big needles, with chunky yarn. And fun. I really enjoyed knitting them, and I learned a few things during the process, such as wrap and turn, and how to make the roll brim cuff. I was puzzled by the instructions for the cuff, but I got it eventually. Roll Brim 3 Needle Bind off in progress. I admit the clogs made for my Husbands size 13 feet fit over my head. I may or may not have paraded around the house with a clog on my head calling myself Bubcha. Thankfully there is no photographic evidence. Now that I'm done with the clogs I'm going to push to finish the Hiking Scarf. What will I do with myself after I finish these projects? I'm thinking about making a sweater with the Filatura I got at the Yarnlady sale, and perhaps a sweater with the Cascade 220 I'm awaiting in the mail.

Embarrassing Admission Time

In Honor of being doped up on cold medicine, I figured today would be a good day to air it all out. (I have fluid behind my eardrums, plus an upper respiratory infection going on.) I think I'll be able to leave the house when my ears get back to normal ~I read in Folk Socks, that the pattern called for one ball of each color. I neglected to realize that meant 100g balls, not 50g balls. So, I have enough for one sock. ~I didn't swatch for the socks since I don't have circs smaller than US size 1 ~I took said socks to the Dr's office to help pass the time. I flaked and forgot to do a decrease row, which I did 2 rows too late ~And I'm a stitch short, with no dropped stitches ~I don't know if these socks are mens or womens socks. Which leads to the last of todays embarrassing admissions. My Dear, Loving, Kind Husband thought the Welsh Country Stockings were for his size 13 feet.

**Hack Hack Cough Cough**

There's nothing quite like being sick over the holidays. Also in a moment of weakness I joined Weight Watchers online. Don't get me wrong. It's a great program. It just gives me knitters rage. Or more factually, being hungry gets me cranky. What makes me happy on the other hand, are beautiful handcrafted Christmas gifts. These two lovelies were made by a good friend. She's very talented as you can see. I finally got started on the Nancy Bush Welsh Country Stocking from "Folk Socks." I'm pleased with my progress, especially that I managed Fair Isle. I can't wait to do the next Fair Isle project whatever it may be. And I'm waiting on my Fiber Trends Felted Clog pattern in the mail. Other than that I have the Doctor's appointment for tomorrow to look forward to. Anyone want to place bets on either an ear infection or bronchitis?