The week has been flying by hasn’t it? Well at least for me. I went through most of yesterday convinced that it was Tuesday. (Yeah, I’m good, it takes a special talent to be like me)  First things first, I received my second Summer Of Love Yarn swap. from the best partner ever. This person actually went through my queue and picked out, printed (In color no less!) some patters that I had in there, bought me one I’ve been dieing to knit & then comforted me on my alarmingly large queue Here be the spoils.

Click the picture for all the details! There are MANY!!! But can we just focus on the fish for a minute? Yeah, it’s completely fabulous.  I wouldn’t call it quite an “ugly” fish compared to some of my others, but upon inspection I noticed that the pupils are pointing completely different directions which gave me the biggest giggle fit. The yarn is Classic Elite Alpaca and is calling out to be a cowl sometime in the near future. Swap Partner you are AWESOMELY FANTASTIC Thank you SO MUCH!

Ah yes, berry season in California. If you think you have good berries, well you need to spend the summer in CA.  It is unparalleled.

Heaven forbid if you think we only have blueberries though.

This tart lasted only 2 days. Which was 2 days more than the strawberry rhubarb pie I made. (Which was excellent and was devoured before pictures could be taken!)

Other things that have been going on is the complete demo of any sort of vine plant living in our yard. The previous occupent had morning glories, she planted them 10 years ago. I think that’s when she stopped gardening or mowing, or um, anything at all.

That’s the MR there. I would like to say that he is almost done, but honestly, this is about 15 feet worth of work. Just for reference, the Mr is 6′5″ and is standing in the pile. I would also like to say that this pile is not any bigger, but it’s now honestly about 7′ tall.

What’s that? You’d like some UFO’s? Well I think I can do that!

I’m cooking right along on Lady Eleanor. I thought this project was going to take a whole lot more time than it really is.  Guess that’s always the case isn’t it? I would have picked a much guadier color of noro (as is my reputation) but was told by my knitting sisters that this was beautiful. It IS beautiful. I just wish that there was more green & blue. The darkest colors here aren’t actually blue, they are black, but it was just about sunset when I took this picture.

My garter lover sweater is coming along. Finished the body up to the underarms & now have almost finished one sleeve.

Do all knitters come full circle like this? You learn garter stitch, then you hate garter stitch and do anything BUT garter stitch. Then you come and realize the simple beautiful elegance of garter stitch again? This is about where I’m at. Plus Beaverslide calls and prays and begs to be knit in garter stitch all the time, who am I to deny it?  This sweater has designed itself. I don’t know if there is a design to tell you the truth. All of the sudden something will pop in my head & then appear on the needles. This will most likely end up one of my most wearable sweaters too because of it.  I know I’ve knit a lot of beaverslide lately, and this will not be the last, but for now, this is the end of my stashed (except for another skien of star  gazer that will be a cowl I think?)

IK preview is up. There are a few things I see.

I think the blue sweater up top will be the next on the needles sweater for me.  This might actually be flattering!

This vest is a maybe. The measurements only go up to 49.5″ which irratates me beyond belief. So I may boycot it just on principle. Designers need to get it already.
& this one? I’m not sure. It could be fabulous. But something isn’t working. I think it’s the length & the fact that this sweater is obviously to big on the model. Does it look to anyone else that she has a shelf ass going on?  Also red on a redhead? IK? really? We need to learn our colorwheel a little better I think.  

First off I have to say a huge THANK YOU! to the knitting community.  You guys sure know how to make a girl blush.  I received quite a few comments & even more emails & PM’s through ravelry about my February Lady Sweater.  It did make me quite happy that I have inspired a few of us bigger busted girls to jump on the band wagon, come on, there’s room, I’ll scootch over.

They, as I did, had obvious fit and style concerns reguarding this pattern.  Though brilliant and beautiful, when you have a bust line in the double letters you are naturally wary of any flair cardigan or top lacking in stucture.  I have to admit it, but some of us larger chicks have moved off to KWOM (knits with out measurements).  You know the kind, the ones where the measurement that really matters is length (more so than width). Socks, hats, scarves, shawls, mittens, arm warmers.  Anything and everything that does not stretch across the vastness of our bossom. 

The sucess of this sweater is really about coming to terms with myself.  Who I am, what I look like and being ok with both.  I can tell you openly that I have a 50 inch bust. I don’t play games on ravelry in the size category by placing “me size”. I think that’s a cop out. No one’s going to judge you in a knitting community, when I click on certain sweaters and see that it makes me really sad truth be told.  I clicked on you because I think your garment is beautiful, and that it fits you perfectly, why hide? Putting in your real size allows other knitters to see how it would look on them. You are not the only one out there with that measurement, and instead of being embaressed by it we all need to embrace it. So thus, my number is 50. (sometimes 48, but only if my gage is off).  When putting in your number think of it more as a way to enable other knitters to go as confidently as you have, show off what you have with no shame.

I have another thing to admit (while I’m in the admitting mood).  I was not always truthful with myself about that number.  I would search around the internet and blogs I had found and even on flickr for sweaters that somehow would make me look like the people modeling them.  Before Ravelry I can tell you I had never seen another woman in a cute, modern sweater (with waist shaping! Oh the humanity! Big girls can have waists too!) that had a bust above 36″.  This, as some others may know, is quite depressing.  There were a few failed sweaters in the begining days of my knitting that reflected my deep denial of my true measurements.  I thought “Oh what a stupid pattern, it doesn’t fit” not that I was trying to squeeze myself into a sweater 2 sizes to small because I wouldn’t admit to myself that the measuring tape was correct.

I have to tell you though, I was quite surprised that Pam extended her sizes as far as she did.  Beyond surprised, I was impressed.  Impressed more so than I’ve ever been by any designer to date.  Usually the 48-50 is the last measurement (but I have to tell you, the finished object rarely looks like the schematics, if you want an idea of this, look at the CPH for normal women & then at the large women one. It’s not pretty.), now admittedly she only went one size above that, but with a stitch repeat of 7 stitches you can easily up it.  What I was impressed by is that Pam is no large woman in any sense of the word.  That means that she put more thought into a pattern that became surprisingly popular and allowed for a vast majority  of knitters to enjoy it with ease.

So I want to thank the knitters out there for showing a big girl some love, and I want to thank people for all their questions.  I hope you all go on to knit fearlessly and honestly.  May all your knits be sucessful.

Crazy how this works out isn’t it? Two finished knits, one being February Lady Sweater & the other Gentleman’s Fancy Socks.  I’m extremely happy with both too so it was quite a good weekend. 

Pattern: February Lady Sweater (pattern originally by Elizabeth Zimmermann, adapted by Pamela Wayne)
Yarn: Beaverslide Worsted Merino in colorway “Star Gazer”
Needles: US 8 Circs
Verdict: I love this sweater. LOVE LOVE LOVE. I had a few moments of doubt though, I have to admit that. Doubt that this style was ok for my body type & frame. Doubt that the where the garter stitch & lace meet would fall unflatteringly across the girls, doubt that the yarn was anywhere close to being right. Doubts are gone though.
I am so happy that I choose this heavy of a yarn for this pattern. It’s not as refined as some of the sweaters I’ve seen, but I have to be honest with you for a minute here.  I’m no small chick. (Obviously right? lol) And  I have spent quite a long time figuring out what I can and can not wear. (I can not wear tank tops in any form, & usually not swing coats but it depends on the length). 

I have to tell you, the weightier & more rustic nature of this yarn proved this sweaters salvation. I thought of buying a lot of Dream in Color (like EVERYONE ELSE) but decided to shop from the stash. I got roughly the right gage with this yarn & set forth.  The heavier yarn adds structure to the lace, and you can’t beat garter stitch in Beaverslide.  This is no wimpy lace sweater, but neither is it ridiculously hot either. The open nature of the design & the short sleeves are quite perfect for California winters or nights.

I made the sleeves a bit shorter because that’s my prefrence. With more fitted sleeves I like them longer but with open coat sleeves like this, just below the elbow is key, I won’t mess with them & they will provide just the right coverage.
Please excuse the no make up, crazy poof of hair & scenery.  I seem to never wear makeup when I take pictures of my knits (mainly because I’m so excited they are done).  The buttons are made by a local artist. They are polished Abalone & actually are quite perfect. I added a little detail when sewing them on that you can’t see. I choose a emerald green thread for a little accent of color.
NEXT!
Pattern: Gentleman’s Fancy Sock from Vintage Knits by Nancy Bush
Yarn: Regia Silk Sock 2 skeins
Needles: US 1 DPN throughout
Verdict. These are lovely. Just lovely. I wouldn’t have thought that this yarn would be so delish, but people, though the color is not inspiring, the feel of these puppies. Smooshy, swishy, & silky. The pattern wasn’t interesting, but it was a good knit none the less. Nancy Bush is as always, a complete genius with her patterns. So easy any knitter could follow it and the results are always so beautiful.
Sorry about some of the images quality, I had a root canal before I took these & was a little drugged up.

So there you have it. Now I am working steadily on my Beaverslide Hybrid sweater, I’ve finished the body & now need the arms & yoke to complete. I also started the Honey Comb shawl which is totally fun NO PURLING! I ALSO (lol starteritius!) have cast on for Lady Eleanor and am going to be planning out a cabled camp coat for the Mr.  Can I just tell you how fun entrelac is? I had some major frustrations at first because the set up row looked wrong. Thankfully I found someone on flickr who had posted their starter row & I knew I was doing it right. Expect many more projects coming at you!

Today I had my root canal done. All I can say is that my new dentist is probably the most fabulous man on the face of the earth and I actually did laugh during a root canal. My crown is schedualed the 29th and then we can move on from this disastrous dental drama (say that 3 times fast!).

After the dentist since it was only 9:30 I told Matt I need McDonald’s breakfast burritos & Iced Coffee (Breakfast burritos & I go back a long time & remain my biggest favorite at McDonald’s).  For some reason he forgot about the Micky D’s in Camarillo & headed to Ventura. 1rst this MD is small, dirty & really slow. 2nd the kind of people in there? Yeah. Anywho.

We get in line. Everyone has figured out that there is really only one register being worked & have formed ONE LINE. So Mr “I’m so cool with my tattoos & upscale skater gear” (which will now be referred to as The Dick) jumped line & stood at the 2nd register. Can I tell you how much this pisses me off? I can’t stand rudeness. From me or anyone else. I might be a loud mouth but in public I am as polite and civilized as I can be. We are all people, we all deserve a certain amount of respect. 

I decide to leave it and focus on my tasty burrito experience awaiting me. Then The Dick realizes that he’s not being helped (Because people, there is only one register open) so he loudly & RUDELY asks “Is ANYONE going to SERVE me today?” Which threw me over the line. I (still feeling the effects of the nitrous gas) reply “Well there IS a line, maybe if you were in it they would help you”. This people, was wrong. There are only two correct and appropriator responses when you are called out for line cutting. 1. Ignore it like it never happened, or 2. face your accuser, apologize & get in line. What did The Dick do?

Apparently  option 3. In option 3. You turn around & say “Listen CUNT, I AM in my own line”.  This is where I would have dropped it, someone this angry in a McDonald’s needs his coffee more than me. But unfortunately I had the Mr there.  The Mr switched into “Man Mode” (You ladies all know the one where you can smell the testosterone flowing) and started toward this guy saying along the lines of “I would appreciate it if you didn’t call my wife a cunt” to which The Dick replies “Man you DO NOT want to throw down with me, you dont’ even KNOW who your messing with”. Ok, um, this is Ventura, it’s not like it’s LA, no one around here knows anyone great, I mean in Camarillo they do have a Hells Angeles run tattoo shop (my husband has actually met the founder) but this guy was not a HA. The whole time I was in the process of putting myself in front of him because, people, this is breakfast. Not even a great breakfast, but I did want my tasty breakfast burritos. The Mr ended up stepping back in line (because he is awesome and is a grown up).

The Dick ordered, & moved to the left side of the restaurant, we ordered & moved to the right side and no one looked at each other. I mean, who is really going to get in a fight about cutting in line at a McDonalds? Seriously? Over the dollar menu?

So we all get our food & leave. The Mr & I let The Dick out first & watch as he gets into his car before we leave. We are too old to fight in the parking lot at a McDonald’s, and frankly, we aren’t white trash so it’s not like this is on our list of “100 things to do before we die”.

As the Mr pops the locks to our car I hear a horn honking. I know what this is, the Mr knows what this is. The Dick is trying to get the Mr to look at him to start something. The Mr won’t look. We have our hot tasty burritos & are going home to watch the re-run of Wednesday’s Project Runway (that I missed! DOH!). Then The Dick YELLS across the parking lot, “Such a big man now aren’t you?!! Let’s GO!” Um yeah. Ok this guy wasn’t small but he wasn’t big either. On the other hand he had just called out a very large man (whom I have seen pick up the fridge & move it instead of just sliding it) and who, when he played football, was a human brick wall, this man can still leg press 400LBS. Really? You want to mess with this man?

We obviously ignored him because, really, who does this? We did make it home with no further confrontation. We did make sure he left the parking lot in the opposite direction of us & before us so he couldn’t follow. Someone who gets this angry about being called out for cutting in line is most likely on something. It’s just not a normal human reaction.

I did apologize profusely to the Mr for my big Finnish mouth. It comes with the territory of a Scandinavian woman. We are loud mouths & opinionated (at least all that I have met!). I have called out tons of people for line cutting, and this is the first time I was threatened with bodily harm. Sheesh, someone needs a Valium.

Friday again.  Tomorrow I have (FINALLY) my root canal. I know most people wouldn’t be excited about this, but the fact is that the first dentist mutilated my front tooth & I’ve been walking around with a stupid ugly patch on it. I am extremely self conscious about it too so I’m ready to get this sucker capped like the rest of my teeth. Called my old dentist in Ohio to fax over my records so they would be sure & use the exact same color on the new cap. My only two concerns are 1. IT HAS TO MATCH PERFECTLY! & 2. It can’t hurt. So I think I’m pretty set to tell you the truth.

On of my fellow knittin’ kittens, Laura has knit up the most amazing arm warmers, out of noro sock yarn. They are probably the most beautiful things I have seen in forever. Next week I’m bringing my camera so I can document her amazing awesomeness.  Seriously, beyond awesome.  There are very few knitting projects that I freak out over (especially other peoples) but man, these things are gorgeous. We all begged her to write up a pattern, so *hopefully* (crossing fingers) that’s what she will do. Then I can own a pair of the awesomeness too. I have to say that last night was one of the best knit nights in forever.

It just seemed that everyone was in a great mood and there was so much laughing going on.  *there always is, but it seemed like more last night*. Driving home last night with the windows open (it was 65* god I love ventura, It’s JULY people!!!) my ipod flipped to System of a Down and I was instantly brought back to cruising in high school my senior year, I felt so happy and so alive that drive home. Must have been the fresh air and the full moon.   You know those moments, where you just sit there, completely sated with your life and are flooded with complete happiness. That was last night. Maybe if the mr is feeling better (he’s plague victim #2) I will take him for a drive tonight with the windows open and go sit at the beach, in the dark like we used to do when we were first married and so broke.

I bought some noro silk garden last night for a Lady Elenore. I’ve wanted to make this forever and now I am finally just going to take the plunge. BUT! I must finish my FLS first. I’m almost done with the body & the sleeves should fly right by. I’m hoping by the end of the weekend it will be done. Since I’m having said root canal my husband has given me the “Free To Sit On Your Butt & Do Nothing” pass. God I love that man.

I also have to finish this

I put the underarms on holders and have started the sleeves. This sweater is very smoosh & has lots of garter stitch.  I thought I was being so cleaver by adding this detail under the arms but then realized that I thought I had seen this before.  Guess a knitter way more awesome than I am was already cleaver.

                         Ed wishes you a Happy Friday, well, he would, if he would wake up for it.

Not a great shot, but an elusive UFO picture none the less.
It’s actually longer than it’s showing but since my needles aren’t as long as I am wide it’s bunched up. Maybe another 4 inches?  Beaverslide is so smooshy, though it won’t show the lace like some of the other more refined FO’s out there already I think it will get quite a bit of wear from me.

This hummingbird is always at our Hiacynth bush in front of my kitchen window. He’s not very pretty and he’s quite agressive towards other birds but he still makes me happy. One day I will get a better shot of him. (From outside the kitchen!)

And this is Sneeky, our banded cornsnake. He doens’t get much camera time because, well, he’s a long skinny animal that never poses in intresting positions. Well, except for last night. I know snakes aren’t a lot of people’s cup of tea and he won’t be a regular visitor to this blog, but I was quite happy in how my depth of field came out. Exactly how I wanted it. And if you have ever tried to focus on a head the size of a nickle you will appreciate this even more. Especially if that nickle keeps moving.

I know there are a lot of people afraid or haters of snakes, and I get that. I’m irrationally afraid of getting my leg ripped off by a shark in the ocean.  I never gave them much thought till my husband had to have one. And honestly? Easiest pet EVER.

I’ve been kind of a bad swap partner. I received this packge from my secret pal last week, but it was the day I started getting sick and forgot it at work. Last night I brought it home and took a brag picture

That yarn is Maizy & it’s made from CORN. Corn, seriously, how freaking neat is that? Corn Yarn. Corn. Ok I’m getting over it, but still CORN! There’s enough to make socks, but I think I’m going to end up making a lace scarf. The colors are awesome and I can’t really think of a pattern to do them justice right now.

Also she got me paper. And anyone who knows me knows I have a paper addiction so of course I was all sorts of excited over this :D  The lotion was seriously needed. There were three bottles oringally but I left one at work where it was dearly needed. They are my favorite scent too, grapefruit All in all I was really spoiled for June. Thanks secret pal!!!

I’m still recovering from the plague. Mobile, but not 100% yet.  Two days at home was more than enough for me to see that even if I won the lottery I would need to do something and lots of it because it’s not in my genes to ever stay at home, inside, all day.  By Sunday I was starting to think that I was really bored at my current job, telling the Mr this he was smart enough to remind me that it was not boredom with my job, but rather with staying home for two days. Being back at work I realize he was totally right.

This weekend I was well enough for us to attend the Toby Keith/ Montgomery Gentry Concert. It was quite excellent. Montgomery Gentry puts on quite the show. Toby looked tired & sunburned & isn’t as much as the showman.   Sunday the Mr and I cleaned. And cleaned. And CLEANED. It will take quite a while for this house to really feel clean after how the previous occupant lived. I was on the floor with Resolve stain remover and I can honestly say “I kick stain ASS, stain is totally my biznatch”.  I removed most of the stains that Stanley Steamer couldn’t and it looks so much better. But, I need another can cause I used it all! LOL

Also? The Mr removed plants from inside the sliding glass door frames. That means that plants were close if not already, growing INTO the house at one point. I will never understand how a person can live like this. Never. The more we clean this house the more I am disgusted by her. I used a grout brush & soft scrub on the kitchen counter tops & um, I thought the grout was dark brown? Yeah, it’s off white. I think I still have another bleaching round to go. Maybe this is why the ants are still coming?

(Because I have no knitting to show you here’s a cat, under a rug)
I finished knitting the Mr’s saddle shoulder sweater from EZ. He tried it on and it fits. Now it just needs a good wash & blocking & it’s time for pictures. I feel like I’ve been working on this thing for ever, mostly because I have been. Since January to be exact. I had so many problems with first trying the Durrow pattern & then the Mr’s sense of taste & “fussiness” so there were many false starts.  Thankfully it’s done. Actually he’s completely happy with the result and I will soon be casting on for a camp jacket for him.

The Mr and I have decided to stay in state for our 5th anniversary vacation (due to the price of gas, $4.53 per gallon). We have gone back to our roots and are camping up in Moro Bay. (I find this a little funny because the knit sisters are having a retreat, one that I couldn’t go to because of this anniversary trip, up in Moro Bay, at the same time).  Being that we are going at the end of September, and that it’s going to be really cold already, he asked for a camp coat. So that’s what he’s getting. This is completely designed by him so it should be interesting.

I do have two sweaters on the needles. The February Lady Sweater is plugging along, but the rows are so long I have been stalling out on it.  I did cast on for a hybrid sweater of my own though.  A very rusticy one, in a very bright color.  The top color is February Lady Sweater & bottom is Hybrid.  They are both beaverslide worsted & these are HUGE cakes. About the size of a soft ball I would say.

Quite blurry & quite bright. Sorry about that!  But live & learn.   Tomorrow I will finally be a good yarn swap partner & post pictures of my goodies. Happy Monday everyone!

These have been finished for over a week, but I’m not too excited about them.

Pattern: None really, just a 72st cast on & then the basic sock formula
Yarn: Noro Sock
Needle: US 1 DPN
Verdit: Wearable thats about it.

I’m really not to pumped about these socks and it’s probably because of the yarn. I am not a variated yarn person in the first place, but I loved the colors (visable) on this skien of noro. Didn’t know that they were hiding puke colors on the inside. Does magenta go with salmon puke?

More socks coming up. Because ya know, it’s summer & it’s hot & even though I have two heavy wool sweaters on the needles right now I can’t work on them past cool mornings & late nights. So I need something inbetween that time.