It's To-Do List Day!

Spent the entire day running about trying to cross items off of my to-do list.

Did my taxes. First year I'm filling out the forms with a spouse in mind. This is good as this means hubby can not leave it until August. I still do my taxes by hand because I am dinosaur.

Am currently on load three of laundry and am wondering why I let it accumulate. Side note, anybody else a little bit weary of almost climbing into the washer and dryer to pull things out every week? Laundry, laundry, laundry. Am seriously contemplating paper clothes.

The morning started off nicely as I met up with some of the other students from my yoga class for dim sum. Then I ended up at Ikea for two hours with the hubby as we scrutinize every display and had long discussions about colours, design and furniture. I ended up buying a red cushion for one of my future knit projects, a bath mat, and a new pillow.

The pillow is made for side sleepers. Because I sleep in fetal position, this seems appropriate. AND... the fellow on the package looks peaceful doesn't he? I want to be that peaceful while sleeping...although don't want to be bald, or handless.

Then I ended up at a Walmart and found some curtain rods that the hubby and I both liked. Hopefully going up soon!

My project from last week is currently being blocked. I actually block sweaters on foam mats that parents typically use for their kids. I pinned down the sweater with some blocking pins.

I'm glad this sweater turned out. When I can't find my running groove, and when my hip flexors are frustratingly tight in yoga, I can look at this sweater and say, "At least I can do simple algebra, design a baby sweater, and knit it up!"

I haven't sewn on the buttons yet as the sweater is still drying; however, this is what I'm thinking...

This is what happens when you buy a large bag of random buttons. You aren't able to find any that match exactly.

This is the next project...

 

 ... just a simple crocheted baby blanket.

Happy Saturday!

blublu

Why my husband has no where to sit...

I am currently in the midst of designing and knitting a baby vest. I do this on the living room couch. As a result, the hubby really doesn't have anywhere to sit. Typically, when I'm knitting, the couch will house all my tools. (See below).

If he asks nicely (or if he gives me that look), I'll shove everything to the right a little. I kid. Sorta. Not really. He's nice though. Right, hubby? (<- clearly a public display of sucking up so that he won't be mad when I make him sit on the floor). Knitting tools get preferential treatment around here, apparently.  (Aww, hubby! I will knit you another pair of socks!)

Today the couch is housing my project, stitch counter, knitting journal (compliments of my sister-in-law), measuring tape (compliments of my friend, M -- which surprisingly I haven't lost yet; it's been 5 years maybe?), and two animal Clover containers containing more knitting tools.  Sidenote: Boy, do I have enablers in my life or what?

Anyways, that up there is part of the vest I've designed. I started about it in a frenzy in the dead of night after a JellyBelly-induced sugar rush. Costco has my money for that 1.1kg bag of Jelly Belly! When I was ready to implement, I tore through my stash and was unsatisfied with my choices. I did end up choosing some Fisherman's wool. No baby is going to get cold or wet (while fishing? whaling?) under my watch!

I don't feel any anxiety about screwing up the knitting aspect of this vest. I'm more anxious about the sizing. "What if everything fits but the neckline? What good will it be?!" -- these are the sorts of thoughts that rush through my head.

In other news, as I knit, the hubby renovates. So far, we've painted, put trim around the doors, popped in new doors (that the hubby did semi-from scratch), got the baseboards, and crown molding up. See below for before and after pics. (Excuse the mess! All furniture is still 6 inches from the wall!)

 Before: White walls, old baseboards, no crown molding, ghetto door frames, old doors.

After: In all its glory!

I love color! You should see that dark chocolate wall in the dining room.

Happy Weekend!
Blublu

Lazy Sunday Knits and some Yarn Pron

DRESSEW - Yarn Pron
Last week during lunch, my coworker and I ventured out to Dressew as it was pertinent that he have a  leprechaun hat to wear whilst drinking green beer for St. Patrick's Day. So off we walked into historical Gastown from Yaletown. Actually, more like I skipped and sang...then I deemed this slow, and perhaps ran...because I was THAT excited.

If you're not a craftster in Vancouver, you may not know that Dressew is where you can find all types of treasures like yarn, knitting tools, fabric, buttons, sewing tools, cross stitch tools, and apparently, leprechaun hats amongst other costumes, and more! To top it all off, their items are all more than reasonably priced. For example, each skein of yarn I purchased was $1.99 (CAD) and no, it wasn't novelty yarn (although, they have some of that too). This is what I got...

Two balls of Regia sock yarn, Nashua Cilantro (cotton-acrylic blend yarn) in a yellow-green, and Nashua Velvet Wool (wool-nylon blend) in a turquoise-cyan.

I initially only wanted to get the sock yarn, but my coworker kept egging me on with, "Dooooo EEEET!" as I cradled the Nashua yarn in my arms like a baby. If I had a basket, I'd be in even bigger trouble. When I succumbed to the seduction of yarn, my coworker exclaimed, "Hells to the ya!" which made me feel instantly better.

Now, I actually want to go back for more yarn and most likely will again at lunch. Then I will most likely go again with my mother on the weekend because we are a family of knitters and are typical knitter-enablers.

Dressew is two floors of awesome AND a bag of chips (AND a set of crochet hooks). Now I did not take any pics of this Dressew, but some other bloggers have....like this blogger. If you're ever in the Vancouver area, it is a place worth checking out even if you don't craft much...because it may inspire you to be creative.

Lazy Meditative Sunday Knitting
Today, I woke up, sat on the couch and knitted. Other than steaming dumplings, baking chicken, and going out for dinner, knitting was all I did today. I finished up the baby kimono sweater.

I opted out of knitting ties for it and went with ribbon instead. I have a thing for the green and brown colour combo.

As well, I finally finished up that beret that I made for my mom. When I say finish up, I mean sew in the ends. If you know me, seaming and weaving in tails is my least favourite thing to do. I'd rather try to do a handstand and then lose control and crash my knee into the mirror at the gym -- wait, this has already happened. Nevertheless, here's the beret. I only have this one photo, perhaps will post alternate views when I update my website.

When my mom had tried it on for size, she asked me whether I knit it from a pattern. Then she interrupted herself and said, "Of course you didn't, you're smart. Like your mom." Sassy. Indeed no pattern, matter of knowing how to knit a circle.

I'm currently knitting a batch of fish hats (see Knitty for the pattern).  The one at the bottom left is for my brother who spends his weekends snowboarding at Whistler. He asked me, "Can you man it up a bit by adding teeth?" I am taking his request into consideration. Clearly, it's a WIP. Poor eyeless fishes.

You may also notice the little pink hippo. It's a Clover container holding my mini-Swiss army knife (for cutting yarn), stitch markers, seaming pins, darning needle, and other notions. I also have an alligator one that holds my double-pointed needles. Handy and CUTE! If you're looking to get one, try KnitPicks.

That's it for now!

Signing off,
blublu

Tools: Boye Interchangeable Knitting Needles

Before my hubby became my hubby, I knew he was a keeper. How? One Christmas, he gave me interchangeable knitting needles. The romance does not die there. Now that we're married, he willingly drives me to the crafts store and comes up with yarn-stash storage ideas. haha.

Back to the needles. Specifically, he purchased Boye Needlemaster Interchangeable Needles. See below.

 As you can see, there's a pair missing. They are currently in use for a hat I'm making. The set comes with needles in Size US2 to US15. They are aluminum, and colorful. I am shallow and am loving the colours.

There are many interchangeable needles on the market: Denise, Addi Turbo, KnitPicks, etc. For my non-knitting readers and those who do not use interchangeables, this is a breakdown of how the needles are assembled. I am explaining it, because I think it's nifty!

The set comes with cords in varying length. Each cord has a screw at each ends. Taking one of the cords, and one of the needles, screw the needle onto the end of the cord.

Although it is screwed on, there's no guarantee that it will not become undone while you're knitting. Which actually really sucks when it happens. So to discourage such a situation, you should tighten. The set provides tools for tightening.

Slide the pin-key into the hole at the end of the cord, and wrap the rubber grip around the needle. Turn the pin-key towards you, and the needle away from you. This will tighten the connection. See below.

Use both hands for tightening. I just had problems holding a camera, holding the pin-key, and the rubber grip. 

When you repeat these instructions for the other end of the cord, you are presented with circular knitting needles! 

I never knit on straight needles. However, if you do, don't count these needles out as an option.  One of my gf's have steered clear of interchangeables because she knits on straights. You can actually assemble them so they act like straight needles as well. The set comes with these end pieces that you can screw onto the cord. See below.

If you make two, you've got yourself a pair of straights.

Now these end pieces are also handy for other things. For example, if you are the type of knitter that knits multiple projects at a time, you may find that you need the same pair of needles for multiple projects. You can unscrew the needles from your existing project, screw end pieces to the cord to hold the project, and then screw the needles onto another cord to start another project. It's an ADD-knitter's dream.

One may also steer clear of interchangeables because they knit large items like throws. Again, not a problem as the set comes with connector pieces that allows you to connect cords together to make one longer one.

I love my interchangeables. It sure beats never having the right size of needles.

YAY!
blublu