Slowly Making Some Progress

Work is still keeping me busy these days and on top of that (and getting ready for the holidays) I just applied for a grant to take an online class. The class total costs about 2 grand and there's no way I'm paying for any of that. If I get the grant, then I'll take it. The class is 3 sections that at the end I'll have an Associates Degree for preschool. Just something else to add to my resume that will hopefully help me get a real job for next school year.

As for my knitting, I've started the Menswear Striped Scarf for Chris' Christmas gift, although if it's done early enough I'll just give it to him for his birthday. Not that he really needs it in NC but maybe for when he and Mom come up here for visits or his trip to Mt. Everest, if that ever actually happens.

I've also finished a simple blue crochet scarf that I work on in the mornings. Some of the traffic lights take so long that I work on it mostly when I'm sitting at them. It only took about two weeks of mostly working on it only then.

I frogged the almost finished fingerless glove I was working on. I totally screwed up one of the cables and since it wasn't going to fit my hands anyway, I just took the whole thing apart. I have to re-work the pattern to fit my hand. I actually checked the gauge on this and everything so I'm not sure why it came out too tight. I think it's because the yarn is thinner than was used on the glove I was copying.

Last week I went to the Village Knitter for some yarn for a pair of socks that will eventually be for Nicole. They're going to be argyle in pink, purple and an off-white. I actually already have her Christmas gift for this year so I'll probably save them for a post-holidays project for next year's birthday.

I feel like I've got so many projects to get done for the holidays and so little time to work on them. I stayed at work late Wednesday for a meeting (2 and a half hours!) and I worked on Chris' scarf through the whole thing. I need to stop reading so many knitting blogs so I have more time for my own knitting!

la di dah

I still haven't been able to take a picture of the finished poncho yet :o(. Daylight Savings is killing me. I can't remember the last time I got home from work when it was light out. And the 1986 lamp in our living room just isn't going to cut it for taking pictures of my FOs. Also because I've been getting home so late, I haven't had time to work on pretty much ANYTHING. I started the cabled baby blanket just as something to do during my breaks at work but then switched to a Harry Potter scarf for a lady who left work for another center. Needless to say, with 2 days notice to her leaving, I did not finish. Now in the mornings when I get to work a little early I started a double crocheted and shells scarf. I made a bunch of these last year as Christmas gifts and figured that I could just make it for a backup gift. They work up really quick (it's 3 rows of dc and then a shell border).

And speaking of gifts, I still have not finished Nicole's birthday gift or started any other Christmas gifts. I think I'm going to the Village Knitter for some new yarn for one project (it's their first birthday and I got a 25% off coupon in the mail for my whole order!!!). I don't think the yarn I originally bought will work for the pattern.

Part of the reason I haven't started any gifts is my needles. The situation with them is disasterous. I don't know where pretty much all of them are. Some are in a decorative box at my mom's (or maybe I brought it here....I don't really know anymore). Some are in the living room with my current projects. And some are in the screen house packed away with all my things from college. AAAHHHH! I have to start moving things out of my mom's house so they can put it on the market so hopefully soon my life will be somewhat more organized.

Not knitting related, but I'm telling you anyway. So far I've lost 6 pounds! Woot. And that's without exercising. I know I should exercise more but I just don't have the time or energy after chasing my kids at work all day. I do my best to get a nice 20 minute walk in while the kids are on the playground...they love to hold my hand and just circulate the playground. It's not much but it's the best I can do right now.

It's been a while

My life has been so utterly hectic lately. Work is going pretty good, but it's keeping me busy. I don't get home some nights until 6 or 7 and by that point I just want to veg. I've been doing Weight Watchers again though and I've lost 4 pounds. Woot!

As for my knitting...
I finished the cabled poncho last week. I have to try to get home while there's still some light to take some pictures of it. I started a pair of fingerless gloves with the leftover yarn but frogged them because I just didn't like how they were coming out. I'm trying a new pattern for Nicole's Harry Potter ornaments (even though her birthday was last weekend). I hated trying to sew up those little sweaters so I'm trying another sweater ornament pattern that's knit in the round...so much easier. They're coming out a little bigger it looks like though so I might have to adjust.

At my hometown's country fair today the public library was having a book sale and I bought Kids Knitting for only $1. It's got some cute patterns in it and will be helpful if I ever do some knitting classes or teach my cousin Courtney to knit. (I tried once...she sorta got it. I cast on 10 stitches for her and somehow within a half hour she had about 50 stitches on her needle)

Also at the craft fair, I priced out how much it is to rent a booth there. $75. I'm thinking of stock-piling some of the things I make and rent a space next year. I'm just afraid I won't make it back. I looked at some of the other knit/crocheted goods that people were selling to get an idea on pricing. Some people's things I thought were underpriced while some I thought were overpriced. The secret to it is, though, is to have a little of everything: blankets, baby clothes, doll clothes, dog clothes (there were like 5 booths devoted to pets), baby blankets, scarves and hats. I'll have to expand my patterns a bit and venture to some new projects.

That's really the only knitting updates I have. It doesn't sound like much but I was so happy to see the poncho finished. It was starting to really drag working on it.

LAKSDJ;OBUIA

My life is utter CHAOS right now. I really need to get to sleep. I finished Mom's hat and have made my way through most of Grandma Marie's poncho (thanks to 2 straight days of doing nothing but watching Heroes DVDs). I start the new job tomorrow. Updates on that and maybe some project pictures to come.

I'm beginning to hate this poncho...

Now that there are so many stitches on it, it's taking FOREVER to do just one round. I haven't stopped to count in a while how many stitches I have (it's doesn't hurt the pattern if it's not exact) but man there's a lot. It's coming out pretty good though. I joined a new ball of yarn yesterday. I was surprise how much that little ball got me through. But now that it's so wide I'm sure this ball will go a lot faster. I'll have to try to get some pictures the next time I put it on scrap yarn to try it on and make sure it looks right.

What I really should be working on is the ornament set for Nicole's birthday (Sept. 15). It's right around the corner and I have pretty much nothing done. I found some more sweater ornament patterns that are done in the round so I might try making one of those instead. I'm really not a fan of the sewing together part, which given my sewing history should be a surprise. But I've never been a big fan of hand-sewing. Nicole tonight asked me to help her make her kitchen curtains. I've never made them but I can't imagine rectangular curtains being all that hard. I need to make some for our living room window because there's always a glare on the TV from the sunlight.

Who's got a job?

I've got a job. That's right, I'm FINALLY no longer unemployed! Which means I can finally go to the doctor's because I'll have insurance. I got a job at a Kiddie Academy as an assistant teacher full time. I'm sooo celebrating tonight!

Car Troubles with No Time for Knitting

A week ago me and Art drove out to look at houses and we took a side trip to the Hamptons. Sitting in traffic on Montauk Highway my car seriously started to overheat when I tried to turn the AC on. Yesterday while trying to do errands of course it starts to overheat again. I turned on the heat to cool the engine and it wasn't even spitting out hot air. I started to freak out because I was on a road with no room to pull over and the temp gauge was literally almost at the red line. Luckily I was close to my mom's house and my stepdad was home. He looked at it with me and apparently I have an antifreeze leak and there was pretty much no coolant in my car. Kinda explains a lot. We refilled the tank and Dad said he'd take a look at it on Saturday. It's been running normal since so that's good.

Stupid me this morning decided to step on that pretty clean white scale this morning before jumping in the shower. Baaaaad idea. I am officially at the heaviest I've been EVER at a good 25 pounds overweight for my height. So I stole my mom's Weight Watchers stuff and I'm gonna restart it next week (and I'm not paying for the program...I'm not paying that much to go talk to other fat people). I think I'm going to take an aerobics class at the high school and I really need to start doing yoga again.

Phew. That's my vent for the day. It's been crazy. I have not had any time to work on anything lately. I guess that's a good thing considering I've been working at the card store a bit which means money. Tomorrow morning I have my interview at Kiddie Academy. Woot. Hopefully I'll get that job. I really want it although working with 3 year olds would be really interesting...

SOCKS!

Does anyone know of any quick/easy more on the masculine side patterns for socks? I'm thinking of making some for the stepdad for Christmas since he doesn't really need any other knitted objects. Thanks!

No knitting news for today yet

I've just been working on Marie's poncho all day. In the process of switching needles I tried it on and it's looser than the picture shows but that's okay. It just covers my shoulders so I have a ways to go still.

I had another job interview this morning. I don't really want the job. I just wanted the interviewing practice. Chris came with me for some reason. He said he wanted to go for the ride. It was nice having someone to talk to on the ride at least. And then he took me out to lunch and bought me some vegetarian supplement pills when he went to the health food store.

As soon as I came home I started looking at the real estate websites to look up houses in the Moriches area. That's where were're thinking of moving eventually. I found a great house in the village of Center Moriches that was built in 1890. Desperately needs some landscaping though.

The yard looks pretty crappy but the house is the age and style that I want. Art's not so thrilled with the age though. It doesn't matter that much because we're no where near being able to afford a house yet, especially on one income. It's listed at $337,000 and seeing as how combined we have $5,000 (half of which is my bonds from childhood that go towards my college loans) we're no where near ready for a house. I love it though, maybe even more with a new paint color :o).

P.S.: I'm #11155 on Ravelry. Only 1682 people in front of me!

I figured I should update since I've done a bit of knitting. I frogged Mom's hat to the ribbing but haven't restarted it yet. I just got the new needles I needed for it yesterday. Hopefully it'll be quicker this time around since I've already done the whole thing. Grrr...


I also started Art's Grandma's Christmas gift. It's a pretty simple poncho from Vogue Knitting: Ponchos. I couldn't find a picture of the poncho finished but here's what I have so far:

what I have done...it's hard to tell because the whole project is squished onto my circulars

detail of the cable pattern.

It's hard to see in the pictures. I have to get better at taking pictures of my work, especially for when I'm trying to sell it online.

I haven't worked much on Nicole's birthday gifts (Harry Potter sweater ornaments). I only have one done (knitting part at least...I have to make the hanger parts but those will all be done at once). They're so annoying to make and I'm only on my second one. The knitting isn't that bad...it's the sewing together, neck, and sleeve stitch pick-ups that are driving me crazy. And it's bad because these have to be done soon. I'll have to get working on them again.

I apparently have a job interview tomorrow in Brooklyn again. I really don't want to go. MapQuest said it's a 40 minute drive (without traffic of course which never happens around here) and HopStop said it's a 2 hour 40 minute public commute. Not quite what I really want to be doing every morning on my way to work. I'm also supposed to have an interview with a developmental institute for students with disabilities but the lady never returned my call. I'd much rather work here (with a substansial pay cut) since it's on Long Island and sooo much closer. It's for a teacher's assitant position but would give me a lot of special ed experience. I'm calling them in the morning again and hopefully this lady will be at her desk this time.

Part one of an xmas gift done...I think

I finished Mom's hat for Christmas. It just looks like crap though. It's waaaaay too tall. I don't know if I should frog it or just save it for someone else. I spent literally all day yesterday working on it and this morning finishing it up. I'm wondering whether I should adjust the pattern or try a different size needle. My gauge was fine for the stitches across and I've never had a problem with the height of my stitches but they're a little bigger than what the pattern calls for. If I redo it, I'm definately buying circulars though. DPNs are such a pain in my ass. They're good for small things but a hat is just too big to be dealing with them. I might just take the hat apart down to the ribbing. I'm not going to bother redoing that part I think. That wouldn't make that much of a difference.

In other news, I've started my first full week of Fly Lady. It's a plan to help clean and organize the home, working on one Zone (room combinations) each week. I didn't bother much with last week's Zone because I started it so late in the week, but I did shine my sink! It's helping out big time. Only problem is that most of what I'm supposed to do this week I already did on Saturday in my cleaning frenzy. If you're having trouble keeping your place clean, I definately recommend it. I only wish I could get Dad and Art to help out a bit more.

Done with my first sweater...sorta

It's been sooo hot here lately. Luckily today wasn't so bad...I could knit a little bit. I knit my first sweater. For some reason (I'm on Dad's computer since mine is still broke) I can't load pictures to the blog. Check it out here: PhotoBucket . The pattern is for Christmas ornaments that will be Nicole's birthday gift (hopefully...). They are from the Charmed Knits by Alison Hansel (blog here). So it's sorta my first sweater. A good intro to sweaters at least. I started a golden snitch one too but it's only halfway done. Last week I also finished a St. Balderick's hat...a little too big though. I guess my knitting has changed in the past few months. It'll just be for a bigger kid (it fits my head).

You'll also see Dude and Squirt in my new pictures. They're my two new baby turtles, named after the turtles in Finding Nemo, that I got from Chinatown last week. They're now happily in a tank swimming everywhere. If only I could knit something for them it'd be perfect.

I need to knit something...

I've finished Harry Potter!!! I'm so sad it's over though...tear. I'm trying to convince Nicole and Kimi to go see the movie in the IMAX theater though...my roomie here said good things.

Tomorrow I'm thinking of going to a LYS that was listed in Stitch N Bitch. I've picked out a bunch of knitting patterns for Christmas gifts...trying to get a head start. Speaking of...I got 4 new knitting books this weekend. I got Charmed Knits (don't remember the author's last name offhand...Alison something...she has a blog out there somewhere too) which is all Harry Potter inspired knits. Amazing. I also got 3 Vogue Knitting books...Ponchos, Felting, and Scarves Two...all for $2 each at Barnes and Noble. Those are my few updates as for now...all of my free time has been spent on Harry Potter. I don't know what to do with myself now!

Updates :o)

Well it's been a while. I've been living in Brooklyn for 2 weeks...without internet. Hence the lack of updates. There was a thunderstorm while I was at work a few days before I left for the city and I didn't unplug the computer that morning. Sooo, the internet doesn't work but everything else does, which I guess is a good thing. The neighbors around us lost TVs and other appliances too, which made Dad think that there's no grounding wires in any of our houses (illegal). He's looking into fixing it soon.

As for my knitting, I finsihed the front and back panels of the Little Black (Teal) Top. Now I just have to sew them together and block, but I'll wait until I'm back from the city to do all that. Too much for my little dorm room to handle. I'm going to work on some hat kits from Three Black Sheep for St. Baldrick's. I bought a bunch of kits to sell to Stitches at Geneseo and no one ever brought money for them so they're all mine. I figured they're easy enough to work on while I'm in the city. I also have a simple scarf I'm working on during my 45 minute subway commute each way to school.

Speaking of, summer school isn't going too bad. The teacher I'm working with, Mr. E, is a nice guy, though quite disorganized which really throws me off. I never really know what's going on. The school isn't too bad. It's in East Harlem. The kids aren't that bad...they're not great but they could be a lot worse. I only work Tuesday through Thursday (there's no summer school on Friday's except for high school students and Monday's we miss for professional development bull crap). Thursday Mr. E was absent so I taught the whole day. My first and second period classes weren't that good but the third was...but then again there's only 7 or so students.

My friend Megan from school came to visit for the weekend and we had a lot of fun. Friday night we went out with my next-door neighbor Melissa and her friends from the area. We didn't get home until 6:30 in the morning. We watched it get light (the closest thing you can get to watching the sun rise in the middle of the city) at Union Square Park while rats scampered around near-by. They're not as scary as they look once you're around them for a while. They didn't come all that close to us either. I'm still scared of them though.

Yesterday the only somewhat productive thing me and Megan did was go see Harry Potter. EEEEK. I wasn't crazy about the movie but it wasn't the worst one yet either. I agree with Kimi that it just didn't have enough depth to it, but can you blame them when they're trying to fit a 3 inch book into a 2 hour movie? I still think they should have made some of the books into more than one movie to do them justice. But then again, you know what's going on when you're a real fan who has read the books and I guess that means they're not trying to cater to the people who don't read the books, which makes me happy.

I head back to the city tonight. Hopefully I can get my computer fixed soon because it's really driving me crazy to not have internet. HP said that I'll probably have to wipe out my computer and reinstall everything. I've backed up my computer already just in case they say to do it tomorrow when I call. Hopefully then I'll have the internet again.

Mets vs. Cards

Last night we went to the Mets game for Chris's (stepdad) father's day gift. Bro got the tickets and they were pretty good seats for the nosebleeds. Mr. Met made a brief appearance for the T-shirt contest...he's my favorite :o). I started a new baby blanket specifically for this...easy needles to sneak in and an easy pattern to work on. Only problem is it has cables and I forgot to bring my cable needle so I opened up a paperclip I had been using as a placemarker. The game was pretty good...some slow points. But the bottom of the 9th was amazing. Everyone was on their feet yelling and clapping. The Mets tied the game but never got that extra run. In the 11th inning the Cards got two runs and the game was over. Good game overall.

As for today, it's 11:45 and it's already 82 degrees out...which really sucks when we don't have AC here. I'm going to the movies to see Knocked Up for a matinee to kick the midday heat. I can't take sitting down and sweating when I'm not moving.

My sweater is coming along nicely. I've gotten up to the separation for the neck hole. It's making it's way towards being done and it's getting easier. I think I'm going to go back to those kids socks I made...meaning the one sock I made and never made a match for. What I really should be doing is cleaning and organizing before the in-laws come this weekend...but I'll just put that off until Friday. I can't wait for Friday night when fiance comes home from Jersey! We're apparently going to the movies to see License to Wed...my request. Now I'm off to eat and shower to cool myself down.

New Sweater and Craigslist

I decided to put up some pictures of my new sweater. I'm getting pretty far for only having a few days behind of working on it. I got the yarn with a gift certificate (from Christmas...eek) at The Village Knitter in Babylon (http://villageknitter.com/). They have so much awesome yarn, it took me forever to pick. Unfortunately they didn't seem to have anything cotton...just wool, cashmere, merino...aka the best of the best stuff. I chose a wool one but if it's too hot for the summer I'm sure I'd still wear it in the winter. I just hope it's school appropriate (that's if I get a job).

I also took pictures of a lot of my crocheted baby blankets and the knit one I just finished and posted them on Craigslist. Hopefully someone will like them and buy them all...ha! That'd be great. I could use the money. I have to get the other two blanket sets from my mom's house so I can take pictures and put them up there too.

It's been a boring day. I don't like fiance being in New Jersey for the week because then I'm stuck here with no one to talk to all day. It won't be a problem for long though because in one week I'll be in Brooklyn training for my summer school job. Woo hoo! Until then, I'll just keep cleaning/organizing the house for fiance's parents' visit this weekend.

First Post...First Sweater

Yay my very own knitting blog! I'm sure this will turn into my life/venting/teaching/wedding blog too eventually, but right now I'm thoroughly addicted to my needle work (seeing as I don't have a real job and no money to go out with my friends).

About me...I'm just out of college, living on Long Island with my wonderful fiance and daddy and hamster...and occasionally my brother and cousin. My uncle (aka the one legged ninja) lives in the camper in the backyard with us...yea. I'm in the process of looking for/finding a teaching job. If you know of openings...let me know!!! They're pretty scarce around here.

In a week I leave for the city...a whole month living in Brooklyn and teaching little kids to read in New York. I'm sure I'll be spending all my free time in the parks knitting or crocheting and using all my pay at the fancy knitting stores. Maybe I'll even run into Debbie Stoller ::gasp::. That'd actually be pretty cool. I think I'd be starstruck. That's kinda sad.

OTN: My first sweater!! It's the Little Black Top pattern from Stitch N Bitch but mine is going to be teal. Also crocheting my seat belt baby blankets all the time (Stitch N Bitch Happy Hooker...yes I'm addicted to these books).