Can I say Stalker!!!

I spent the better part of my vacation crafting up a storm, and totally enjoyed every bit of it, which brings me to trying to revamp my bathroom in 2 days!!! So the plan was I would clean and paint the bathroom and my bob-the-builders would install the vanity, cabinet and make a radiator cover and with that I decided that the freestyle knit project would become a UFO and left it at that. Well I got my mind set to clean and paint the bathroom walls... tell me... why in the world did I decide to start my revamp on a hot day....? In the process of removing a fixture from the wall I ended up pulling a layer of sheetrock up... oh boy... more work... *sigh*

Pulled out my MH spackle, tape and tool to repair my blunder... Well everything was going smoothly, but at the same time... I felt I was being watched.... then again it could've been the heat getting to me... geez... so early in the project... oh boy.

I managed to get the wall cleaned and scrapped and managed to repair my blunder... perfect time for a break would you say.... *giggling*... I returned to the project at hand and while adding another layer of spackle... guess who appears... whining... please... please... I don't want to be a UFO... oh-boy... what now!!!! well I managed to finish spackling although Ms. UFO refused to budge... so what does a gal do... work around her....lol

I had to speed up the prep work because it was getting too hot in the bathroom and moved on to finishing up my prep work... again.... Ms. UFO... was making herself seen... but being a diligent one I refused to let her stop me... Whew!!! I finished my prep... can I say break time.

.. and left Ms. UFO hanging... if that's what she wants to do... fine by me.... and had a tasty lunch. Finally I can move all my cleaning gadgets and begin painting.... LEAVE ME ALONE!!!! she kept getting in my darn way... when I moved she moved......Dayummmm!!! can't you see I'm busy... listen Ms. UFO... I meant well, I thought you could become my dream project... but its not happening... so please vacate......

After all was said and done.... I

caved in..... but I was able to get most of the bathroom done... now where in the world are my bob-the-builders....

Ouch!!!

I decided to cast on doing a freestyle knit project. I couldn't help myself.... *giggle* (I need not laugh... this may come back to bite me... :{ ) Well I have the Hip to Knit book and decided I'd use a schematic from there. I selected the Ribbed Ribbon Tank, which is all about ribbing and subtle shaping. So I substituted the yarn for LB cotton ease and started tinkering with the rib technique. Here is the first 5", in which I cast on for 156 sts on circular needles, instead of the suggested 78 (large) for the front panel and the pattern require you to work 2x2 rib for 3". Instead I did 4x4 rib (k4, p4) for 5". So far all is working well... (and in the process learned how to use the lifeline technique.. so I can try on as I go.)

After the 5" I decided I wanted to break the rib look and knitted for several rows and then resumed the 4x4 rib and sort of off-set the alignment of the rib row below... (please stop me this is getting convoluted...)

After playing around with the rib technique... I was like uhmmmm.. I don't want to do that anymore... let's see.... so I decided to the change the yarn color... and proceeded to do some funky rib jiggamaboo in the center of it and began decreasing for waist shaping to a size medium (I'm learning that cotton/acrylic is too giving)... I tried it on and I'm like mmmmmmmm.... sorta, kinda, ok... As for the life expectancy of this project... it remains unknown... OUCH!!!...did something just bite me....

After fugging this project... I literally have a blister... I need to find some finger protectors.... OUCH!!


Well can I at least give my review of Hip to Knit since I've totally fugged my project:

Its a great book to use my new-found skill and the patterns are presented in an easy format. It also addresses many questions and provide detail explanations on techniques that can be confusing for a new knitter. There are some good projects that I would love to make, like the Ribbed Ribbon Tank, Must-Have Cardigan and a Stepping-Out Coat.

With my fugged project I say adieu.

Day out with Mom & Sewing

All I wanted to do was finish a skirt to wear out with my mom on our shopping excursion yesterday. This is what I should've been wearing... but unable to because of malfunctions....urghh!... So Ms. Mannequin had the pleasure of wearing it.. she better hope it doesn't fall off her *smirking*. Anyways... I ended up settling for a tank and jeans and had a fabulous day with my mom, shopping, eating, and just enjoying the day. She is a small version of Madea, funny as all get out and will cuss you out if you piss her off. I actually had to break-up an almost beat down between my mom and an elderly man.

Scenario: I'm standing on line preparing to purchase my items @ RiteAid... when an elderly man behind me goes...

Elderly man: Loudly...you should pay attention... Miss your next...

Me: Uhhh... excuse me you need to be patient... the cashier is having problems with the cash register.. so he's not ready for me...

Elderly man: Grumbling...

Me: I turned around and gave him that don't start no sh*t look....

Elderly man: Heyyyyyy You.... (he's shuffling over to the second cashier shaking and pointing his cane) your jumping the line lady... you can't do that get off the line... I'm next...

Me: In that nano-second I realized my mom had went to the second cashier... and I immediately noticed that look on her face as she's looking at the guy like what *!@*!#!!!...

I did a Jackie Joyner Kersee move to get to the second cashier as my mom raises her cane and

Mom: loudly said bring your Azz on over here and I'll give you Southern Azz Wupping!!

...mind you the customer behind the two are doing a duck & move manuever....lol

Me: I actually had to stand between two samurai wielding canes... to keep my mom from giving the ol' man an Azz Wupping ...

I rushed to pay for our stuff (mind you she had 2 cans of sardines...lol) and got the dickens out of there before the security guard could get into it mix.

I laughed darn near the rest of the day after that... my mom just kept saying if he only knew... I had 5 dayummm kids... and I can wup some azz.... he don't know who he !@*%! with....lol

On another note, I can't figure out for the life of me whats wrong with my sewing machine. I've had the sewing machine for 6 years, which is a standard Kenmore model.. no bells or whistles. Everything was going fine as I sewed the side seams...and then the needle broke, only to realize my presser foot was off kilter... I had to move the needle postion selector between settings 1 and 2 to keep it from hitting the edge of the presser foot. Ok, got past that... continued sewing in the zipper of my skirt... next the machine locks... had to remove the needle in order to get the shuttle hook and bobbin case out... what the *!#$* is going on!!! 5 minutes later the needle brakes... I ended up braking 3 needles and the machine locked again. I gave up. Now wondering could the malfunctioning machine be telling something.... *eyebrows are twitching*(new machine... new machine....lol). I will give the machine one more try and if the problem persist send it for servicing.... urggh!, which means I will be without a machine.... see where I going with this...*giggling*. Any suggestions on purchasing a back-up machine...?

Something Tunic 'Finale'

I love... can I say it again... love this project, perfect for a new knitter. Although I started off rocky... the 3rd time was a charm with my designer touches. I love the ribbon and opted out of the bead embellishment.. but may try it on the next go round. I chose LB Baby Soft yarn since I worked with it before and its perfect for washing and even drying if you like. For a minute it was touch and go when I had to work with 2 sets of needles... but got past that and moved on and finished off the edges with single crochet.

Had to emulate del ... loved the window pic.....lol

Yarn: Lion Brand Baby Soft

Color: Spring Green

Pattern: Summertime Tunic, by Katie Himmelberg (Interweave Knit 2007)

Needles: US sizes 4 & 6

Knitting Cables

Feeling a tad bit more comfortable with knitting, I would love to do a garment with cables. It's something about the serpentine like cables that make them a coveted design element. But the scary part is working with a third needle, which I'm sure for all new knitters would likely keep us from tackling a challenging endeavor. In my search on how to tackle cables, I came across Lori Knits. She has a Knitting DVD that teaches a knitter how to cable without the cable needle.... CN... (heyyy, I'm learning already...lol). Well I ordered the DVD and can't wait to get it. I am envisioning something like this or this

or this...

or something simple....

Has anyone tried knitting cables... and if so, do tell.

Love My Blogger Buddies

With all the assurances and compliments on my new knitting venture from my Blogger Buddies... it has allowed me to forge ahead with my Something Tunic.... not Summertime Tunic...lol. There are still some kinks I need to figure out, but at the same time I am subsconsciously following Pajnstl's mantra.... "Mistakes a/k/a Designer Touches"... Lov It!!! The Summertime Tunic is definitely a perfect pattern for a new knitter. I'm sure the next time around... I will get it right. Christie suggested I heat block it and she was right, it flattened the puckering. Lov it!!! But for right now... here's a looksy at what I've done so far... and note the Designer Touches...lol

Front:


Back:

I would like to give a Sunday Shout-0ut to my Blogger Buddies for giving me the confidence to keep it going!!!
Kamika
gold
Pajnstl
Christie
Madelyn
anna
Adrienne
Valerie
Knitaholictoo
Andrea
Liz
Cas...
Deneen
Virtuous
April
NikkiJ
Judy
Lily
del
kimberlys korner
Yarn It
toya