Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Knitting Stuff

Ok, I am finally posting my completed Butterfly Shrug which is being modeled my my lovely daughter. (Pardon the hearts) I have worn the shrug a couple of times and love how it wears. I am in the process of making a second shrug. I'll take a photo of it once it's completed.

Here she is posing so we can get a view on how it drapes on the side. She doesn't like the shrug herself, so this one will be all mine. If shrugs ever become the style at school, I have a feeling that I will lose this. So let's hope that it still stays "uncool".

To the right you see the "My So-Called Scarf.

This scarf was actually started numerous times. As evidenced by the frogged items shown to the left Just some of my failed attempts. Sorry I didn't take a picture of all the failed attempts either. I had to take the scarf to the Lake County Knit Together and Erica saved my scarf. I was prepared to take it off the needles and start all over. At the moment the scarf measures over 5ft. I just hold the scarf up and it's taller than me so I know it's 5ft at the moment. I am debating if I want to make it any longer. The lucky recipient of this scarf is my receptionist at my Weight Watchers meeting.

Here's a close up of the stitch pattern. This is knitted in with Cascade 220 Quatro. I absolutely love working with this yarn and this was the perfect yarn for this scarf in my opinion.

Last night I attempted to cast-on and start knitting a gorgeous Midwest Moonlight by Ivy Bigelow from the book Scarf Style. I have chosen to knit it in a gorgeous Cashmerino Aran from Debbie Bliss in a plum or wine color. I had gotten several rows done and dropped a stitch or two and proceeded to frog it. I really should have the camera handy and start taking photos of my work before I proceed to frog it. I figure this will take me several attempts before I finally get it right.

During lunch, I attempted to start a sock using the Magic Loop tecnique book. That didn't go too well. I frogged what I had done then too. I just couldn't get the stitches right and it didn't help that I was losing them off of the needles also.

OTH (On the hook) Butterfly Shrug

OTN (On the Needles) Nothing - tomorrow I cast-on again for the Midwest Moonlight Scarf. (Another Christmas present.)

Non-Knitting Stuff

I really need to start posting more often. I had one post that I had saved in a draft and finally posted it today. It's been over two weeks since I have added anything. No excuses other than being absolutely lazy. Now to get you all caught up to date on everything. On the weight-loss front: Things are going good. I had lost almost 4 pounds one week only to gain .2 back. I was so happy that I didn't gain anymore. I had a bad week but kept to program and it paid off. I need to talk to my members about that. I ended up picking up two more meetings during the week both as receptionists one is in Paddock Lake and the other in Union Grove. My boss came and evaluated the group on Sunday. We got a really good review. She really didn't have anything to talk to us about that we were doing wrong. She loved how I brought my laptop to the meeting and featured the Weight Watchers Walking Kit. The members enjoyed watching it. I had brought my computer in to talk about music and play them my theme song for my weight-loss journey. I had picked "New Attitude" by Patti LaBelle. It was a very good meeting. Deb had complemented me on my facilitation skills. She said that there is a huge improvement since she last coached me. I am doing my meetings now with no notes. I find that if I use notes I rely on them too much. It's much more fun just to wing it. I have a few questions under my belt and then just let the meeting take on wings and see where we go with it. Interesting developements on the job search front. I met with a recruiter on September 11th. She agreed to take me on as a client. Today is the first day that she actually sent me something to consider. She sent a posting for a Fund Administration and Compliance Department Compliance Administrator. If I were to pursue this opportunity it would be a lateral move for me. I read the job description and I'm not buying into it. I just can't see myself doing this job. It has a lot to do with banking, in my opinion, and the SEC. I don't have a very high opinion of the banking sector (they buy each other way too much for my liking). So, I will be sending her a very polite "no thank you" and state my reasons. I am in the middle of interviewing for a position within my company right now. I was talking to my girlfriend Pam who works in the International division. We somehow got on the topic of my job search and that I am getting frustrated about not getting any interviews for a promotion. I had mentioned about something that is going on in the department, which is kind of making me think about going a different way to get the promotion. I'll explain about that in a little bit. Well Pam had mentioned something about a grade 9 that had just closed. I had asked her to talk to the manager for me to see if they had found anyone yet. Well I got a call from her and an email telling me to send the hiring manager my resume as soon as possible. I did that on Thursday morning. Within ten minutes of sending it, I got an email from the manager asking me when I am free to set up an interview because they would like to interview me as soon as possible. I replied and the interview was set up for Friday morning. Later that night when I got home I stayed up and prepared for the interview. Usually the managers around here do targeted selection interviewing, on this interview I got the typical questions: "What are your strengths, What are your weakenesses and where do you see yourself five years from now?" Those are the exact questions that I prepared for. This was one of the best interviews that I had in a very long time. I also found out that the department that I would be going to I know and have worked with both of the girls that are there. Later that day, two of my co-workers came rushing in my cube to tell me that they had over heard my boss saying to someone "yeah she's good" they assumed that the hiring manager was talking about me. Yesterday, I got another invite for yet another interview. This is what I believe to be the final stage, I am meeting with the Vice President of International. I think that I got the job! but I still have to be offered the position. It would be a lateral move and one that I believe would help me further my career. On other news, last week I attended a mentoring session that my company has. I had identified someone that I actually know in the finance area and asked her to be my mentor and she accepted. I have my first meeting with her tomorrow. I am going to have to do some prep work before we meet tomorrow. I had the second interview this afternoon. I think that it went well. I basically interviewed him. He gave me some good career advice. So time will tell if I get the job or not.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Butterfly Shrug Completed

Well I completed my Butterfly Shrug a couple of days ago. It is very pretty. But somehow I remember the one at the Loop Yarn being bigger. I should have added one more row of triple crochets and that probably would have worked. The color is absolutely gorgeous. I bought some more Bamboo yarn in the Sahara colorway. I've all ready started the second shrug. I had debated about making the shrug in the size medium but decided against it. I am just going to add either one or two more rows of the triple crochets at the bottom to see if that does the trick. I had a hard time deciding on the color. If the yarn shop would have had tequila which is the color that I used for the first shrug I would have gotten that. I do have over half of skein left of the tequila and Mindy (the shop owner) said that she has some tequila coming in. When she gets the Tequila colorway in, I am going to buy one more skein and make another one. I really like the color but want to make one that I am going to be happy with. I am getting addicted to that new yarn shop in town. I went back there on Saturday. I bought some Opal sock yarn, some Rowan Tapestry, which I am going to cast-on a scarf. I am going to make Sally my receptionist a scarf for Christmas. I also bought the two skeins of Bamboo. The store in Kenosha pretty much carries the yarns that I like. She doesn't have a lot of Noro in stock but that's ok. At the moment I have enough Kureyon to make 3 Booga bags.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Butterfly Shrug

I almost had a mishap last night. I tried to see if the ball of bamboo that I was working with would complete the very last row. I almost made it too. I ended up a couple of inches short. This is where the fun started. I tried to see if I could join the new ball of bamboo in the middle of a row. Well that did work out and somehow, I ended up with a knot. I couldn't take it out. So it was time to do some surgery. I did a little snip and somehow a row three down started to unravel right in the middle of the work, I had rows of stitching on each side. There is good news in all of this! I was able to add the new ball of bamboo without any further problem! I continued on. I got one sleeve sewed last night. I still need to bury some ends but it shouldn't be that big of a problem. Today during lunch, I got the other sleeve sewn and started working on the flared bottom of the shrug. I am on the second to last row of triple crochets. Then I just have to attach the side edges of the flared bottom to the sleeves and bury the ends then voila I am done! I just may be able to get this finished tonight. This Crocheted Butterfly Shrug has been very easy to crochet. I just love the yarn that I am using and the color. Stay tuned for the picture of the completed shrug. I have a Weight Watcher meeting in Union Grove tonight. I'm receptioning again. I sure hope that I do okay.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

New Yarn, Butterfly, and Needles

I was so excited yesterday about Fiddlehead Yarns opening. I took off of work early before my meeting in Paddock Lake to go check the store out! It is such an awesome store and the owner Mindy was very friendly. The hours are not the greatest but that should help me out quite a bit. She had a nice selection of yarns and I was in seventh heaven to see several different kinds of sock yarn. She had two socks on display, I forgot the types of yarns that she had used. I had a hard time deciding which sock yarn I had wanted to purchase. She had some Austerman Step, Opal, Regia, Sisu, and Lorna's Lace. I couldn't make up my mind between the Opal or the Lorna's Laces. I ended up with two hanks of the Lorna's Laces in Sherbert. I wasn't too interested in Regia because I all ready have a skein in one of the colors. I think I am going to go back and get skein of the Opal and the Austerman. She's also offering to toe-up sock class that I am thinking about signing up for. The prices for her classes are very reasonable. I need to rescue the needles off of my so-called sock and find the appropriate place for the sock. I am going to wait for my Magic Loop book from Knit Picks before I start another sock.

OTN right now, well actually it's on my crochet hook is the beginning of what I hope to be a gorgeous Butterfly shrug. I am crocheting it with 100% Bamboo yarn. The pattern came from The Loop Yarn Shop in Milwaukee. Here is a close-up of the Butterfly Shrug that I have stitched so far. I am loving the feel of the Bamboo yarn. I also love the colorway. I can't wait to finish this. My thoughts are to wear a dark brown shirt underneath the shrug. So far this is a good easy pattern to crochet. I decided to clean up my dresser tonight. These are all the knitting needles I found on top of the dresser. My daughter thought that the glass was retro. At least now I'm not going to have knitting needles all over the place. These needles have pretty much been retired since, I got a set of Knit Pick Option needles. I fell in love with knitting with circulars. I should go hunt down the other needles that are in the basement and add them to the collection.

Monday, September 04, 2006

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

This is my So-Called Sock. I believe that I had gotten as far as turning the heel, but I am not sure how to continue from there. I was using Stephanie Pearl-McPhees directions from Knitting Rules but to do the gusset the instructions are written for three needles. I ordered the Magic Loop Technique book from Knit Picks. I decided that my So-Called Sock will never be completed. There are several mistakes in the sock. Not bad for my first attempt at Magic Loop, if I do say so myself. Once I recieve the Magic Loop technique book, I am going to cast-on for my next sock using this yarn. I bought only one skein because that is all the LYS had. I like the colorway and want to see how it will knit up. If I like this, and don't make a lot of mistakes (that are real noticeable then maybe I will find an online store to order this from.) I just ordered the book today and I figure that I should have it by the end of the week. I can't wait to cast-on and complete one sock! Decisions, decisions, decisions. I am trying to decide what do I want to knit or crochet next. To the left you see a hank of Noro Sakura in colorway #3. It's sister skein had turned into that blob from one of my earlier posts. I am going to knit this into the My So-Called Scarf. I know that the scarf is going to be a thin one and more decorative than anything. Or do I break out the crochet hook and use this lovely Bamboo to knit a Butterfly shrug that I got the pattern from the Loop Yarn Shop in Milwaukee. I had seen this shrug in this same colorway and it was simply gorgeous. I purchased two skeins and the owner gave the pattern free. The shrug looks very simple to make. I just need a brush up course on crocheting. The pattern calls for single, double, and triple crochet. I did manage to buy the correct size crochet hook. Here it is my Booga Bag before going for a swim! It is done in Noro Kureyon colorway #40. I knitted this on Addi Turbo's size 10 1/2. The handles are waiting for the swim too. I have enough Noro Kureyon in colorways, #88, 128, and 165 to make three more bags. So what am I going to knit or crochet next? Tune in tomorrow to find out. I also am pretty excited about tomorrow. Fiddlehead Yarns is opening tomorrow! I am going to see if they will still be open when I get done with my Weight Watchers meeting in Paddock Lake tomorrow. I am working as a receptionist for that meeting. Sally's the leader and maybe she can give me some ideas for my meetings!

Dishcloth Madness Photos

The above was my first attempt at the Mason-Dixon ballband warshrage. I absolutely love how it turned out. I made a second one reversing the colors, but that one is in the wash. I knitted this using Sugar 'N Creme. I absolutely love the Mason-Dixon book and plan on making a lot more of these ballband warshrags The dishcloth above was knitted in Peaches 'N Creme color peppermint. the pattern is Grandmother's favorite. The dishcloths above are done in Sugar 'N Creme, the top one is Swimming Pool. I loved how it knitted up in a zig zag. The one to the left is done in Key Lime Pie. I can't remember the color name of the pink one. They turned out real good.

Friday, September 01, 2006

Almost did it again!

Yesterday, I subbed for the first time as a receptionist for WW. I had a really good time. I got there early and wouldn't you know, they were having a used clothing sale at the church where the meeting was held. I ended up getting some clothes, the leader that I was helping last night, Judy, she even picked some clothes out for me. Although, when I got home later there was only a pant suit and a blouse that my husband and daughter liked. It was hilarious, I was modelling the clothes, my daughter was on the computer headset on and she would make funny faces if she didn't like the outfit. I think that I did fairly well last night, I balanced but I forgot to tear the top portion off the 10 week pre-pay that I had sold. Judy said that she was going to stop by the person's house on the way home and see if she can get it from her to enclose in the tally. I am going to sub for this meeting next week. They were a real good group of people and I had a great time and laughed a lot. Who knows maybe watching Judy will give me ideas for making my Saturday morning meetings even better! I got some great ideas for my meeting on Saturday all ready. I didn't get too much knitting done last night. I only knitted for an hour. I'm still working on my so-called sock. At the moment it has one inch of 2x2 ribbing, and one more inch to go before I start working in stockingnette stitch. I almost had a mishap with it this morning. I somehow drop a stitch and was thinking oh no here we go again. I'm not sure how it looks, I'm waiting to knit a few more rows before I take a peek to see how bad it looks. I'm telling myself this is your practice sock so don't worry too much about it. Who knows maybe there's no damage at all and I did a good job of repairing it. I won't be knitting during lunch today, my husband and daughter are coming in to take me out to lunch. Hubby took the day off of work. He's 41 today. Happy Birthday Scott. He mentioned something to me yesterday about my daughter complaining about the amount of time that it takes to drive to see me for lunch. His opinion is then don't go, good opinion in my thoughts. So the sock survived the mishap this morning and is not a candidate for the frog pond. My Noro arrived this morning, I was informed of this by my daughter. I can't wait to see the colorways. I ordered colorways #88 and #128 in Kureyon. Webs had an overstock sale $5.79 a skein, I couldn't pass that up. So now I have enough Noro Kureyon to make 3 Booga Bags. (I still have to felt the first bag. I think it's going for a swim this weekend). Next, I have my eye on some Wool of the Andes from Knit Pick for some buttonhole bags. I found out the most wonderful news yesterday, there is a yarn shop opening up on Tuesday in town! The place is called Fiddleyards. I am so excited, I can't wait to go check it out! I am going to go drive by the place to see if she has her hours posted on the door. I have to do a meeting on Tuesday, so I am hoping that I can go there after I get done with the meeting. If not, I'll be making a trip on Wednesday when I am done with work. I do hope that she carries some good sock yarns and of course Noro!