Purls and Pugs

I've been thinking

So I have been working on the Ribby Pulli for a while. It kind of went on the back burner due to the immediate nature of needing a Gucci knockoff sweater. But I haven't been very happy with the way the sleeves are going. I just don't like the ribbing in the round and the increases and all that...just not looking as pretty as decreases. So, I have decided that I am going to work them from the top down.

The game plan is to cast on with waste yarn and start knitting backwards from the 'top' of the sleeve and do decreases instead of increases. Then I can go back and remove the waste yarn to finish the sweater in the round. Anyone think I am off my rocker? Maybe I am not doing something right on the sleeves? I don't know...any advice would be great! Bonne Marie, you there?!

Gucci Update: I have one side of the sweater totally sewn up/on. I just need to do the other side and then the collar. I was so tired yesterday that I was really having a hard time doing anything other than sitting, so that's why it is not done. This weekend the weather is not looking to be that great, so I have a feeling there will be a new sweater for me on Monday!

Everyone stay dry and warm this weekend!

Pieces

Here are all the pieces of the Gucci sweater waiting to be seamed and finished. Tonight I have class (only 3 more this semester!), so no seaming will happen tonight. I plan on getting cuddly with Yoda and a darning needle on Thursday. So I should have most of the garment finished by Friday, and hopefully I'll have a new sweater to wear to work on Monday. Yippee!

I also started putting together the pattern. I still have some math to do on the other sizes, but I think that should be done fairly soon.

In other crafty news, I hit the after Thanksgiving sale at JoAnn's and brought some nice scissors at 50% off.  One of the things that most good sewing books tell you is that a nice pair of scissors is a must, and they will last a lifetime. Here are a pair of 8" Gingher dressmaker scissors that cost me only 17ish dollars. I don't think that's too bad for a pair of scissors that will last a lifetime. I also picked up a larger self healing cutting mat, a second rotary cutter, and a pinking blade for the cutter. And all I went there for was thread!

Squinting makes it look more in focus....

Last night I played around with my SLR's auto picture setting. I thought everything was in focus and clicked away at some pics of Yodster and me. Some of them actually looked good on the small viewer, but they are a mess big. I wish a couple were in focus because they would have been cute!

My cousin is collecting pictures of everyone with their dogs for a secret Christmas gift, so I guess I'll have to find someone to take a new picture or just use an older one.

In the background you can see my practice quilt hanging out. I started quilting it, but I was not happy with how it was turning out. I might try a new approach, but I am so new to this that I have no idea what the 'rules' are. I guess I'll just have to make them up as I go along.

Back to School....er....work....

Yes, I am back to work today. Damn. I really needed more time away. I sooo did not have enough time away to say, "yeah, I'm bored...let's go to work!"

So, I did get TONS done. I changed my name. Fun stuff there...and I'm still not done. I just did the big things like Social Security and the DMV. Now on to everything else!

I did all that stuff that had been taking a back seat around the house - cutting the grass, picking up leaves (and I still have to do it again!), changing light bulbs, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, putting up the Christmas Tree, organizing, steaming carpets, laundry, and more cleaning. I did some knitting...the Gucci sweater is sooo close to being done. And I did some quilting/sewing. I was very productive, but not overly stressed about getting stuff done.

I'll have updates on all the creative stuff I did soon! Get back to work!

Happy Thanksgiving!

34 Days 'till Christmas!

Holy smokes! I better get going on some Christmas gifts! I am not really going to be making that many, just a few that have been added to the list recently. My grandmother mentioned that she bought a scarf from her craft show last year and it is scratchy. So, my mom so graciously told her that I would knit her one that is not scratchy. I have the yarn, I just need to figure out what pattern I am going to do.

I am going to make Yoda and maybe Lillie new blankies. Wendy has a pattern on her site on how to make a rag quilt, and I think it's a great idea. Here is the first round of fabric. I need one more solid or stripe or dot or something, and then I can get going cutting and sewing away. Though I must finish my other quilt first. Ahhhh! Too much to get done!  ;-)

And I can't leave you without a picture of Yoda. I was steam cleaning the carpets (one of the things on my to do vacation list), and she disappeared. I found her on the couch in the spare bedroom on her bed that had been picked up so I could get to the floor. How cute!

Japanese Crafting

I took a trek up to Mitsuwa Marketplace to check out the Japanese crafting books. I had a list of four that I was wanted to get, but only found two on my list. Don't be upset though, I was able to find some others to make up for it.

These were the ones on my list:

ISBN978-4-579-10961-6	ISBN4-415-09942-4

Here are the others that I picked up:

ISBN978-4-579-11139-8	ISBN978-4-391-13146-8	ISBN978-4-277-13333-3

Some of the books have some English, but others, like the skirt book, has none what so ever. But what I am hoping is that the patterns will be self explanatory, so I can still make them. There are some cute styles! Why can't English/American craft books be like the Japanese ones? I love the layouts and the fact that you get patterns with them.

Done!

I love being on vacation! I have been so productive. I am crossing things off my list, which is huge, and getting to do things I want to do. And it's only the second day.

So one of those things I wanted to finish was this sweater. And then I immediately cast on for the 'real' one. I also hope to get the pattern written up for a range of sizes while I am being so productive. But in the mean time, here are the details. By the way, pay no attention to the bulging shirt you can see under the sweater. It's not my fat or the sweater, I swear.

Pattern: My own based on a Gucci design
Yarn: Jaeger Chamonix
Needles: Denise circulars in size 9 & 11
Notes: A quick knit that really is very stylish and warm. On to the real sweater...

Yoda is very happy to have her mom home on vacation, too! She likes to use me as a pillow or a bed to sleep on. She even slept in longer than me today!! I think she thinks the sweater is nice, but I can't tell...what do you think?

Happy 4th Birthday, Yoda!

Yes, today Yoda is 4! She is such a big girl compared to when I got her. She was 4 pounds when I brought her home! I can't believe she has grown so much and is already getting a grey beard...

We are going to be celebrating this weekend with a doggie birthday cake and gifts. I know she is excited.

She has several friends in her gallery, but I think she is getting greedy and wants more. She knows there are more pets or pet parents that read this blog...

In other news, I have been working on the sleeve of Gucci and the pattern. That should be done shortly. I  also have been working on a 'practice' quilt. I found this kit at Jo Ann Fabrics and loved the fabric so decided to try it. I am a little unsure of the acutal quilting and binding process, so this gives me step by step directions.

Only 2 more days of work this week! Can't you tell I'm excited?

Riiip...

I had great intentions of working on the second sleeve of Gucci. I really did. But then I got so excited about how I am going to do my sorority t-shirt quilt that I started ripping that apart.  I have some of the backs of the bazillion shirts already freed from the original design. Yoda was a little tired when I was taking pictures this morning....can't you tell she just wants to lay on the quilt?

I also made a swatch from the Andean Silk I bought from Knit Picks. I washed it and am sending it to my friend so she can wear it against her skin and see how scratchy it feels. She has very sensitive skin, so I figured this would be the best way to see if it is ok or if we need to go back to the drawing board. As a side note, I have never had a problem with yarn color running, but this Cranberry really turned the water red. Just wanted to throw that out there for anyone who might want to know.

Class tonight, so probably not much to report tomorrow....and I start vacation in 8 days!!! Yippee!!!

Hey! Bay-Bay!

Well, I survived a day back at  college...barely, but I did it. The started out on a rocky foot when we were pulled over for doing 5 over the speed limit on a country road! huh? I think the police officer was bored and a bit suspicious of 4 girls in an SUV with a radar detector. No tickets were issued, so it's all good. I think he was even playing with my sister a bit...toying with her...

So the KD Anniversary lunch was very nice. There were quite a few people I haven't seen in a while, and it was nice to see everyone. When we got there, we pulled together three round tables so us alumnae could all sit together. Gotta love sisterhood!

The campus has not changed AT ALL! Well, maybe a few new things, but basically the same. And it all came back to me about how to get places...I thought I was going to be totally lost, but that was not a problem.

The chapter room was recently redecorated, and looks very nice. And someone brought their t-shirt quilt. I am taking mine apart and doing it in a similar way....I think there is going to be a list of people wanting it done!

We hit some of the old bars: Marty's, Stu's, and Stix. The only one that has the same name is Marty's...I think Stu's is AJ's and Stix is the Panther Paw. But don't worry EIU Alums, Stix still makes Baltimore Zoos! Don't ask how I know... And of course, we all had to ride the panther at Marty's. It's just not a trip to Charleston without a ride on the panther! And Stu's has changed!!! It's more like a martini bar (but I don't recommend the martinis) than the old Stu's-Stu's-Stu's of my day.

Needless to say, I did not get too much done on the second sleeve of the Gucci Sweater...this week. I promise. Then I will start writing the pattern and doing the actual sweater.

TGIF!

This weekend I will be heading to beautiful Charleston, IL to visit my undergrad alma mater. There is a big celebration for the Delta Beta Chapter of Kappa Delta being on campus for 10 years, and I was in the *tiny* second pledge class. You could almost call it pledge class 1b, there were that few of us.

So there are a bunch of us driving down and planning to go out to the old haunts. I think it's going to be a blast!

Also, keep those Friends of Yoda pictures coming! She is loving meeting all her new friends online. Also be sure to check out who is already in there!

Have a great weekend!