Twenty Eight

I did it. Yeah me. It wasn't always pretty. It certainly wasn't always verbose. I learned how to use Blogger. I set up a Flickr account. I finally figured out how to insert different sized photos. This blogging thing is not so bad. I might just continue... but not every day.

Like I need more excuses to wear pajamas

I finished my seriously Wide Leg-ed Pajama Pants from Amy Butler's In Stitches that I started on my day off. As you can see below, the legs are really wide (you may also see that I need a pedicure- good thing it's winter). All the better to slather pink rick rack on (the pj's, not my feet). I mostly followed the pattern, but cut the waist a little lower and hemmed the bottoms more than suggested to fit my average height. I also skipped the make-your-own drawstring exercise in favor of a time saving grosgrain ribbon.

The fabric is from the fitted sheet half of the set of flannel sheets also used for the robe. The flannel is cozy and soft. Both patterns were straightforward and super easy to sew. I'm thinking I may have to make another pair of the bottoms in a lightweight cotton for summer sleeping.

I didn't get anyhting else done, but...

Done knitting on Rogue. Raining. All I have to say.

The Goods

The future Clapotis: Brooks Farm Yarn's Four Play, wool and silk blend.

My first sock yarn: Ellen's Half Pint Farm merino and nylon.

My frivolous purchase: Debbie Bliss SoHo (I've been eyeing this stuff for about a year- it was $3.99 a ball at WEBS!)

Evidence of my crochet prowess.

I've Grown as a Person

I finally learned to crochet. Finally. (My mom and my sister both crochet, although my mom also knows how to knit and taught me to knit because I could never get the hang of crochet.) I've tried a couple of times in the past few years to learn from books, but I just didn't get it. I think today was different because someone actually wrapped the yarn around my fingers and showed me how to hold it and I got it. Finally. Now that I've learned, I soooo want to make a blanket like Alicia's, but I don't know if I like crochet that much.

Highlights of my day at Stitches include the aforementioned crocheting, watching lots of other people knit, watching people spin (I really want to learn to spin, but no time for that at this point in my life), ogling everyone's knit wearables, and, of course, the purchases (more on those tomorrow). Lowlights were the not-worth-it second market class I attended, the hordes of jostling people everywhere, going back for some Socks that Rock only to find them largely sold out, and the inner struggle over whether or not to buy a couple of bags of Cash Iroha.

Lastly, I saw the most amazingly gorgeous fair isle sweater on a white-haired woman today. It was intricate, the colors were beautiful, and the execution looked perfect. Best of all, it reminded me that I have my whole life ahead of me to continue to knit, to get to all the projects that I don't have time for, to learn all the skills that I don't possess. Maybe by the time my hair is white, I'll be able to knit a beautiful fair isle sweater too. (Cue end-of-episode, touching Doogie Howser music.)

#2

I'm a little farther than this now on the second rogue arm, but in any case, I won't be finished with it before Stitches tomorrow.

Maybe if I had a workspace as lovely as Heather's I could finish all my projects in a timely fashion... maybe.

Scheming

I'm very much looking forward to the Stitches West Market this weekend. I have not actually bought yarn since November, so I actually have some cash to be exchanged for yarn. So as to not buy random skeins (all three hanks of yarn bought last year at Stitches are still in the stash) I have a shopping list:

800 yards of worsted for a clapotis (since I appear to be the last knitter to have not knit one yet)

Sock yarn (for my first foray into socks) Amy Swenson's Sock formula suggests these yardages:
-Sock-weight yarn: Approx. 350yd/320m, knit at 7-8 sts/inch
-Sport-weight yarn: Approx. 300yd/275m, knit at 6.5-7 sts/inch
-DK-weight yarn: Approx. 250yd/229m, knit at 5.5-6.5 sts/inch
-Worsted-weight yarn: Approx. 200yd/183m, knit at 5-6 sts/inch

Needles for aforementioned socks

Of course, I can always use a new book and there's the usual accessory suspects (row counters, stitch markers, etc.)

Although Rogue is sooo close to being done, I don't have another sweater on deck yet. I think it's time to take a break and work on some non-sweater projects for a change, so no sweater yarn... unless I find a deal...

Trying to Be a Girl

After a not-totally-undeserved disparaging comment about my shoes from Mr. Beagle last December, I declared 2007 the year that I start to dress like a grown up girl. Today's effort was wearing cutesie avocado green drop earrings (made over the weekend) with my genderless sweater and chinos. Unfortunately, I think my work was undone by the grease smudged on said chinos when I was called upon to leave my (clean) office and fix something. Sigh.

My Day Off

A little of this:

Followed by some quality time on this:

Almost done with my wide-leg pajama pants from Amy Butler's In Stitches:

Oh, how I love rick-rack. Particularly when said rick-rack necessitates a trip to the fabric store, with accompanying loot:

Follow all that with chicken soup (complete with dumplings a la Mr. Beagle) and The Science of Sleep (wierd, funny, fantastic, and really, really crafty).

Hmm. Only ten minutes until the soup is on and Flikr is down. I'll have to post about my day off tomorrow, for now:

Rebecca's Chicken Soup

Saute a couple of coarsley chopped onions in the stockpot. Add a whole, rinsed chicken. Let the chicken brown in place for a bit while adding some chopped carrots and parsley stems. Add enough water to just cover the chicken. Add a couple of whole peppercorns and three bay leaves. Bring the mess just to a simmer and simmer for 20 minutes. Take off heat, cover and let sit for 45 minutes. Remove the chicken and bring the liquid back to a simmer. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, pick it apart, shredding the meat. Add the carcass back to the simmering stock. Simmer up to an hour, or as long as you want to wait.

Strain the stock into a bowl. Chop another onion and saute in the now empty stock pot. When soft and beginning to brown, add the strained stock. Add a couple of chopped carrots and potatoes. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add the shredded chicken and some chopped parsley. Season to taste. Cajole your husband into making dumplings.

Enjoy.

Pretty is Expensive

I trust my hairstylist. She's consistant. Her own hair is very nice. When she asked what shampoo I use, I told her the truth: cheap stuff. Three dollar-ish cheap. She suggested that I try some fancy (read: expensive) shampoo and conditioner. She said my hair would be softer and shinier. The shinier got me. I figured I'd give it a try. Most likely there would be no difference and I could go back to cheap.

I tried the shampoo and conditioner this morning. My hair is softer. My hair is shinier. So soft. So shiny. This is not good for the cash flow.

In the past 24 hours I've:

Finished the hood cables on Rogue

Seamed the cables with the 3 needle bind off

Ripped out the seam

Grafted the cables with Kitchener stitch

Realized I totally screwed up the Kitchener stitch and ripped out the graft

Regrafted the cables correctly

Grafted the rest of the hood stitches to the cable panel

Ripped the grafting out

Added some additional hood shaping

Knit the second sleeve hem with the wrong needles

I think it's time to back away from the needles for a bit. Ugh.

Daffodils in February

Taken in the last minutes of daylight today. Sometimes living in California is just surreal.

Zoe

I just accidentally typed in the wrong address on my way to this blog and got a generic page with ads for beagle puppies. Um, just to be clear, I don't condone the purchase of puppies, beagle or otherwise. In fact, I once "caught" a coworker on the phone with a dog breeder. I redirected him to petfinder.com. The family ended up adopting the french bulldog/boxer mix of their dreams and naming her Zoe. I was a little miffed that she was not named Rebecca*.

*Not really. Petfinder is an outstanding resource if you are torn between adopting a dog and purchasing a purebred pup.

Happy Valentines Day

These are my succubae, I mean, succulents. They live on my windowsill in my office in their cheerful colored pots. They are pretty. They are prickly. They thrive on neglect. What more could a girl want from a potted plant?

Well, if you are me, you might want this:

Mr. Beagle got me the homeliest, spiniest, poisonest, plant he could: a little crown of thorns (one that I can only guess did not like the recent cold weather). I’m delighted. The perfect Valentine for a girl who isn’t all that in to Valentine’s Day. I can’t wait to get it potted up and introduce it to the other succubae.

Nice Things On My Mind

I just today realized that I have Monday off. It’s like finding a $20 bill in a coat you haven’t worn since last winter.

I’m looking forward to Stitches West. I’m still wavering over whether or not to take a class- there’s still a sock class open. I’ll make a decision over my long weekend.

There’s a new Veronica Mars on tonight.

Mr. Beagle is making pizza tonight- Italian sausage, olive, and arugula. (And it’s his night to do dishes.)

Rainy Day

A couple of skirts I bought last weekend at Target (I’m currently in the love part of my love-hate cycle with Target). Springy skirts on a rainy wintery day.

Prepping for the Craftiness

I ordered some beads from Artbeads, the lovely online store (free shipping, you don’t have to buy findings by the bag). I’m planning on making a couple of necklaces and a pair of earrings. I’m also going to rework this:

I love the beads, but am not so crazy about the necklace as a whole. I threw it together quickly to wear to a wedding. I’m going to lose the flexwire and crimp beads and put it back together with chain. Results to come…

I’ve also been jonesing for a little sewing lately, but have no projects in the works. I love to browse fabric online, but I seem to have problems linking it to projects I want to make. I sat down and thought about projects today and here’s what I came up with:

Tufted or quilted pillow for Mr. Beagle’s chair
Pajama pants (from Amy Butler’s In Stitches)
Fabric boxes (also from In Stitches)
Lap quilt (my first quilt)
I actually do have the supplies for the pajama pants. A couple of months ago I bought a flannel sheet set that I used to make the kimono robe from In Stitches:

I still have enough left over for the pants. Perhaps they should come first then.

It's Almost Still Saturday...

Finished watching season three of Deadwood tonight. Seth Bullock is dreamy.

400 Miles a Week

I commute. I spend two hours in the car every weekday*. Two hours a day in the car is not ideal, but I do it. The fact that I drive counter-commute helps (there is something undeniably satisfying at cruising along while the oncoming traffic is at a dead stop), but my real savior is books on tape and CD. I actually prefer books on tape, since the car has a cassette player, but sometimes CDs are unavoidable, so on to the iPod they go.

(That’s a wee marsupial bag that the iPod lives in- what kind of knitter would I be if I kept my iPod in something that wasn’t hand-knitted?)

I find it interesting that I prefer to read nonfiction, but I like to listen to fiction while I drive. Most of it is stuff I would never have read on paper (say, Harry Potter). The best example, and one of my favorites is Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. A paperback copy sat unread on my bookshelf for years (I inherited it when from an old roommate). It is masterfully narrated by George Guidall (I’ve started to pay attention, and find I prefer people who are British, good at voices or both- again see the Harry Potter books). Sometimes it seems a little odd to be passing my time listening to stories, but it gets me through. Sometimes, every once in a while, I actually, just a little, look forward to my drive… so I can get back to my book.

*Yes, this means lots of fill ups at the gas station, but I try not to feel too bad about this since my car gets good gas mileage, well over 30 mpg, and it allows Mr. Beagle to get to work in 10 minutes… on a bike- we only own one car.

I've Got Color

I often find myself making pleasing stripe patterns in my Excel spreadsheets at work. Who needs a random stripe generator when you can base your next sweater on a color-coded task list?

At least I’m not doing this. (Which is actually kinda cool.)

Tonight: Wallowing

After a rough days at our respective places of employ, Mr. Beagle and I are coping by blowing off our yoga class, ordering pizza, and settling in for an evening of DVDs and maybe Lost.

It’s okay to stay home and wallow every now and then. Besides, there was a new posting on yogabeans!, so that practically counts as a class, right?

Commute Math

Book on tape + cassette player in car = good.

Book on CD * ripping / uploading to iPod + cassette adapter + cassette player in car = pain in the butt.

Pillows

Pillows. So easy and still so satisfying. I recover my living room throw pillows about once a year. I did these a couple of months ago. Nothing at all fancy, square corners and envelope backs- not because they are easier to remove to clean or replace, but because I don’t have to sew them shut by hand. The center one is the only exception to the simple squares formula. It’s pieced log cabin-ish with a super comfy velour back (and a poor imitation of the real thing). I may do another in reds if I ever sit back down at the sewing machine.

I Should Probably Go To Bed

So. Tired. So. Much. Cooking. Punctuation. Everywhere.

Getting to the Crafts

Yup. Tipsy girl was right. Tipsy from just 2.5 drinks, mind you. Tipsy girl cannot drink like she used to, but that’s kind of okay.

Yesterday was a doozy. My geeky-funny-brilliant and all-around nice guy of an ex-boss left the company. He’s leaving to take up the post of CEO of another company, which is fantastic for him… but I’m going to miss him terribly. I fear that we will be lost without him. Yesterday was also the day that I got some bad news about the project that I’ve been consumed by for the past year. Ugh. There was good news, though, too. A good friend finally gave in and is going to get married next weekend. And of course, Brett will be back.

Enough with the therapy and on to the crafts: after the many hats of Christmas, I finally got started on Rogue. I’m doing it in Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Chocolate. Nice color, very detailed pattern, but I’m not absolutely loving it yet. I think part of my problem is that I’m working on relaxing my tension which makes my knitting more uneven. I’m hoping that once I get used to knitting looser, it will improve and not look quite so… rustic. I’m almost done with the body and I finished the first arm, mostly knit while traveling. (I did knit the sleeve in the round instead of flat, as instructed. I really hate seaming.) That leaves the hood and one more arm. I hope to finish before Stitches West.

Tomorrow is all about cooking.

Blogging as Therapy, Part II

Sometimes a girl comes home from a long day of w--k with her spirit crushed. In which case the girl should put on her new boots, go out for a couple of drinks and pasta with clam sauce, and retire with a mint chocolate bar and a DVD. At least, that's what the still tipsy from aforementioned drinks girl thinks. We'll see if she's right tomorrow...

Blogging as Therapy?

I neglected to post at all in January. Sheesh. To make up for my lack of posting I’m going to attempt to post once a day all February. Yup. All. February. (Note that I picked a short month.)

Why will I attempt such a thing? Well, for one thing, I’m pretty unhappy with and have a lot of anxiety about w-o-r-k right now. I’m hoping that doing a little writing on a daily basis will be cathartic. I also really want to jump start this little blog. I want to get into the habit. There are so many fantastic blogs out there that I really admire, and I want to be part of that community of creative people.

I suppose you could consider this every day thing a new year’s resolution, if I formalized that sort of thing. Also on the list of very informal resolutions is to begin to de-lurk and (gasp!) join in. My crafty non-resolution? Socks. As in, to begin knitting socks. Mr. Beagle and I agreed to cook more this year, which will begin this weekend with a freezer-filling extravaganza (bolognaise, meat loaf, and meatballs).

Hmm. I think I’m feeling better already.