Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Advice please

So, as noted by the never ending project (that soon should be 3/4 put together) afghans take a LONG time for me. When you work 40 hrs a week, like to get a full nights rest, and have to make time for boyfriend/roommates there is little time left for knitting. I had a thought of getting a second job (leaving even less time for knitting) to help out with bills, especially during summer since thats the slow time at work. Then I had an epiphany! I should apply to work at ThreadBear! I could knit at work! Though I didn't know if they were hiring, it sounded fun.

So I got on google, and searched a little to find their site, and got caught up looking at the classes they were offering... now I want to go! (and spend money) but one class in particular sounded great, and would be perfect for Xmas presents that wouldn't take as long as an afghan. So I looked a little deeper... I can go to the class for $25 plus yarn, or I can buy the pattern off etsy for $7.50. I need to decide soon if I'm going to the class!! (the first of two sessions is Saturday)

Comments needed!

Monday, April 19, 2010

warm fuzzies

Well I spoke too soon about not knowing anyone expecting. As soon as I went to knitting club (Delta Township District Library) Lisa tells us she's expecting! Congrats to her :-)

This past weekend I traveled back to my college town of Defiance, OH to see the sorority girls. It was wonderful, I miss those girls so much and seeing how they have grown and changed since I graduated is always fun. When I was involved 13 girls was about the biggest we got. They are at 21 and still inviting more girls into the sisterhood! It also gave me a new craft project for them. I had to make 20 or so "warm fuzzies". Just little balls of yarn really. There was a whole story to go along with it, but the greek storage room flooded a few years back :-\ and we lost it.

One of the older sisters also offered me a job this summer!! wooo! Its not forensic chemistry, but it could be a little forensic anthropology. Mostly it will be archaeology which will still be fun, and it'll be a good month away from the restaurant business. Final details still to come, but its always good to add something new to your resume.

My room needs some desperate cleaning, but my knitting is calling to me, so I think television with needles in hand this morning will happen. Light work schedule this week, (until I pick up extra shifts) so I'll find time later... perhaps

Monday, April 5, 2010

So this was the start of Mom and Dad's Christmas afghan. (Its a partridge in a pear tree). I found the charts at another blog. but I used a different technique than her patterns show. Its called double knitting. The pieces are reversible, but exact opposites (green tree on red background, bird facing right).

All 12 have been finished in various mixing of red, green, and white. They are still being put together, I had nearly 8 blocks together before I decided I hated it and ripped out the "sashing". Sashing is a quilting term, but I guess it fits here too.

Some of the patterns are "sideways" when knitted, but they will all be facing the same direction in the afghan. Had to decide if I wanted to block these to help with the square-ness, but I decided they are close enough, that a little stretch in the inbetween would make everything look right.

Two turtle doves is one of the "sideways" ones.

These boxes were not knitted in number order. I did the first one first then skipped to the last one. Since my father played tenor in the Spartan Marching Band, it only made seemed right that the "12" drummers drumming should be in green and white.

As can be noted from the fact that I'm still unfinished, Christmas morning only 3 1/2 blocks were wrapped up. I had two boxes, one for Mom and one for Dad, and told them to open together. Dad had a note that said something along the lines of "Twelve drummers drumming from your nine ladies dancing... kinda..."

I danced from first grade until college, I still try to dance as often as possible. It was a quirky note, but it fit.

Mom's box was bigger. It had the first block and the half done block, with the yarn underneath (I used one pound-ers so there was a lot of yarn under)
Her note said something about "started with a partridge, and well... never got finished"

My mother taught me to knit, but she's a quilter at heart. She doesn't always have the time she wants for her projects though. So I added a "like mother like daughter" sentence. She understands projects being unfinished on the date of the shower, birthday, Christmas, etc. The half finished square was the 5 "Golden" Rings. (with my color choice they looked more like wreaths, hehe).

After they opened presents I started knitting right away, I knew I'd bitten off more than I could chew. I think Mom liked watching me make the project more than the idea of having another afghan. The never-ending project is drawing to an end though (Thank goodness says the boyfriend). After tomorrow I will hopefully have the first six blocks connected in reverse order.

In addition to the fun double knit blocks I have cast on in a reversible way, found a reversible pattern for the sashing, and discovered mitre squares. These will all fit together somehow... we shall find out how tomorrow!

First Knitted Blog!

Hooray! I've created a blog to focus my creative energy. Too many ideas and not enough time to knit I needed somewhere to let it all out. Also I'll probably vent a little about my job search. Any one know of a crime lab hiring a forensic chemist?? Give them my name! I'm very willing to move!!

I'm still completing a Christmas present from four months ago, pictures to come soon. And I've begun planning for next Christmas, probably a lot of afghans under the tree this year. Started planning in February, but haven't started knitting yet. Luckily no friends (that I know of) are pregnant (yet) so I have nothing in my way to get these done!

You shall be hearing from me soon, and pictures too!