k1f&b

No, that's not some sort of code, the title of this post. It's a knitting increase. And a nice one at that: 'Knit one in the front and back loop.' Trouble is, when you do it this way, it leaves this trail of bumps all the way up the sleeve:

Now, while it doesn't look that bad and it's on the underside of the arm, and this sweater is going to a Rappling who is going to out grow the dang thing in five minutes, I still feel the need for perfection. I'm a perfectionist. It's true. Hard to believe, I know but I am. Knitting has tried to teach me to relax in this area but sometimes I just can't.

After expressing my disgruntled-ness (hey, if Cami can say subsitutiary, I can say disgruntled-ness) to muh nittahs I got a little tip and I just like this so much better:

No little bumps. Just nice, neat, increased rows all the way up. The trick is, don't knit in the back loop, just slip the stitch off purlwise after knitting in the front. It's lovely! It's perfection! Looks like I'll be knitting that first sleeve over (again). Damnit. I just remembered I already put it on the circulars and knit it to the 59 front stitches and the 60 back stitches. Looks like I'll be doing a little tinking tomorrow. That's knitting backwards for you muggles knit = tink. Aren't we knitters a clever bunch?

Yes, we are. But Rhonda? Why couldn't you have shared this little tip two days ago? You like to torture me, don't you? It's ok. I can take it. I learned some more new stuff. That's how this wondrous craft works. Every time I knit something new, I learn something new. My brain is near bursting with all the fun, new things I'm learning. It almost hurts. Almost.

new sweater update

wook at the widdle sweeve:

paper coordinates nicely, wouldn't you say?

I may never knit another sweater out of the round again.
Can't talk now. Must. Go. Knit.

recipes and ramblings

You know my mom was a down-home, simple kind of cook. This was a favorite dish of mine when I was a kid. You can also do this to pork chops.

Dip chicken parts in seasoned flour. I happened to have thighs in the freezer. Fry in shortening till golden. Place in baking dish:

You know I sampled a smackerel of skin. mmmmm

Drain off most of the fat from the frying pan. Sprinkle a few hearty tablespoons of the left over seasoned flour into the drippings and stir till all the grease is sopped up.

Over medium heat, add milk, a little at a time, whisking and getting all the crusty bits off the bottom of the pan till you have a good looking gravy. Add a can of cream of chicken soup. Mom always used cream of mushroom and to be honest, it tastes better but there's only one thing I can sneak cream of mushroom soup into and that's my meatloaf.

Stir till the soup is fully incorporated and the gravy is nicely thickened:

Pour over chicken parts, cover and bake at 375° till chicken is fall-off-the-bone tender.

This is man-pleasin' food to be sure. On to the ramblings. . .

The new sweater is coming along nicely. I'm preparing to join the second skein of yarn tonight. I did have to stop knitting to prepare food. Fuel for more knitting, ya know. I found a great finishing technique on ravelry. The link only works if you're a member of Ravelry. If you're not a member, shame on you. It's still a super-secret club, not open to the public so you'll have to wait till you're a member. You are on the waiting list right? I love how she finished her sweater and I think I'll copy.

And this is love, let me tell you: Ken is going to the fabric store to pick up some needles for me! I had 5's, I had 8's through 11's but no size 7. Of course, I've called ahead and they're holding them at the cutting counter but still - he has to go into a fabric store and say, "You're holding some needles for me?" -lol- I wish I could be there to see it. Just imagining it makes me giggle. Maybe you have to know my husband. Nope. Think of yours doing the same thing. Still funny. Next time I whine about him, remind me of this, okay?

I had a rant but I think I'll save it for another day. To get you thinking though, I'm forming a new society: cruelty against hand-knit wool. Or maybe a hand-knit wool protection agency. Like CPS? HKWPS. Get your picket signs ready.

a melly sweater for Sydney

I'm knitting another sweater! In the round this time. I hate to say it, but Cami was right! This circular sweater knitting is rocking my world!



It's for my little friend Sydney. The fruit of Susan's unsavory loins. ;) She loves green and since all her sisters have a melly sweater, it's time for hers.
Pattern from Last Minute Hand-Knit Gifts yarn is Berroco Comfort.

more card craftiness

If you're one of the recipients of these cards, act surprised when you find them in your mailbox, 'k? :)

Copied from two peas again.

done!

I finished the lovely Lorna's Laces Tuscany socks just now. They're beautiful. The picture may not show the difference in the two skeins. I guess it's that slight. That's the good news. The bad news is, they're too small for me. I thought the first one was a little small and when I measured the second one before beginning the toe decreases I thought I measured correctly but I'm thinking the first sock was really stretched out from trying it on repeatedly because the second sock really is too small.

I thought the difference in the colorway between the two skeins would make them ungiftable but now looking at them together, I think not. So, someone lucky enough to have smaller feet than me will find a lovely package waiting for them when they get home. She'll be so proud. Her first hand-knit gift from me (other than a crappy washrag when I first learned how to knit).

Love you, mom.

sock update

So I can't ever be accused of not updating my blog:


the entryway of Clementine's

Here's the progress on my second Tuscany sock. The skeins don't match at all and I stubbornly refused to knit half the sock with one skein and switch to the other so they matched. So, when wearing these socks, don't ask to see both of them at once, ok?

H is for

Harley Davidson

Once upon a time I was a Harley rider. It was some of the best times of my life. The freedom. The independence. The strength. The power. The thrill. The danger.

I learned to ride at a time in my life where I felt weak and insignificant. Fragile and small. Learning to control a huge scary bike was so big for me. The feelings carried over into my personal life and were my salvation at the time.

I got my permit the summer of '02. I took a motorcycle class on a little 250 or something ridiculous. I went home the first day after class and got on Ken's Fatboy (no comments from the peanut gallery!). I rode it around our neighborhood. Then I went around the block. Then I took it out on a main street. I'll never forget how vulnerable I felt stopped at an intersection. I was literally standing in the middle of the road! But I'll also never forget the sense of accomplishment I felt. I conquered a huge fear. I was riding a motorcycle.

Ken bought me a Lowrider the following week and I proceeded to put 3000 miles on my bike before putting it up for the winter. I rode every where - the bank, weight watchers, the grocery store. I refused to put bags on my bike - it looked so sleek. There were plenty of times I'd come home with a loaf of bread down my shirt or some other creative means of getting it home. I didn't care. I was riding.

In 2004 Ken bought a new bike so he handed the Fatboy down to me. What a bike it was - totally chromed out, Vance & Hines straight pipes, Kuryakyn Hyper Charger, chubbie bars, skull accessories - it was B.A.D. It was LOUD and that bike MOVED. So much fun.

I made some great friends during that chapter in my life. People who taught me so much that had little to do with motorcycling. Lessons I've been able to pass down and share:

• yes, you can.
• do things before you think you're ready
• fear is nothing but not knowing how. learn.
• it's easier to share a bed than a motorcycle seat with someone if you're mad at them
• the wind is therapy
• life is short. really short. enjoy the ride.

enjoy the ride.

bah humbug

I'm a Valentine's Day scrooge.

Ken woke me up this morning and said, "Happy Valentine's Day!"
I grouchily said, "Oh we're celebrating Valentine's Day this year?"
To which he replied with a scowl, "Well, you told me the other day I had to."
"No thanks." said I and snuggled back into my warm bed.

I swear, my husband. . .

He did gift me with a wonderful box of mixed chocolates from Schakolad, a local chocolaterie. So he did slightly redeem himself.

The best part of the day was spending it with Cami down at Clementine's. What a hoot! I swear, she and I talk about everything! I think we have to cram a whole weeks worth of visiting in one day. That ain't easy. We talked music and movies, religion and politics, children, husbands, things we've done, things we haven't done, things we wished we'd done. And of course, lots of yarn talk. I think I have girl-child's next sweater picked out. Maybe. Knitting must be like childbirth - not soon after you're done you're ready to have another go at it, forgetting all the pain and agony.

I did finish the leg of my second sock today. Maybe by the end of the weekend I'll have a brand-new pair of socks to warm my tootsies. Now that's a good Valentine's Day gift.

card kits

I knew with some simple written instructions anyone could help put these cards together.

So I assembled the cards a little more (less for the assistants to do) and packaged them all together like this:

I hate that I missed working with the old folks today. Even walking in to deliver the kit this morning - I saw some smiling, eager faces. Seeing the folks there reaffirmed that I want to be that someone who says, "Hello! I'm here to see YOU."

That Cami, she's a smart one. And not just cause she told me to take a shot of whiskey and go to bed. :)