Knitaholics R Us

To Tie You Over

Just a few random bits so I can distract you while I feverishly finish up my razor cami...

• I am an official participant in Socktoberfest 2006!  I love the concept of working on socks while a bunch of other knitters are working on socks, except that there really is no pressure or deadline to worry about.  If I have learned one thing about myself through knitting, it is that me no likey deadlines.  During this time, I plan on finishing up my Jaywalkers and working on a pair of anklets using two circulars for the first time (instead of pointy sticks of death dpns).  I have some leftover Knitterly Things Vesper self-striping yarn in Aqua Melon I'd like to use, me thinks.
• I have also joined the Fall Cable KAL.  This join was sort of coincidental, as I had already made up my silly little mind that I MUST HAVE a cabled cardi this fall/winter.  And I knew it had to be made using yarn from the stash (aka 1200 yards of this) that I bought last year, in a fit of depression about Mr Wonderful's head troubles, with no pattern in mind.  When I saw that there would be a KAL for cables, I thought it was perfect timing.  And thanks to Carrie, I fell headoverheels in love with this Cabled Yoke Cardi from Karabella Yarns.

I got the pattern for it on Saturday and after reading over it, I am glad I will have a KAL group for a resource, as the pattern is a lot more complicated that I bargained for.  And, my little little decorator crab friend is going to make it too.  I mean, how could anyone resist this gorgeousness?

• And since I am in the spirit of joining things, I am SERIOUSLY considering joining all those Zimmermaniacs, and working up a baby suprise jacket.  I am simply in love with the construction and I think it's about time that my knitting grow a little "depth."  But I also don't want/need any more self-imposed stress to work on things, that's still up in the air.
• My work team and I went to Catalina Island for some fun and antics on Friday.  We had a blast doing pretty much nothing (except drinking).  Antics can be seen here, here, here and here.

Oky doky, that's it for now.  Next time, which will definitely be in a couple of days, I will have an FO to show you, so stay tuned.  Also, I'd love to know what you've been watching/listening to lately while you knit.  I am planning on doing a little "review" of some of the programs/podcasts that I've been listening to and watching and I'd love to know what you all do.

Ciao for now!

In Search of...

...the perfect cabled cardi.  With a bit of waist shaping.  That doesn't call for more than 1200 yards of worsted weight yarn.

Any suggestions?

Currently

Oy, my mom has always insisted that I should knit dishcloths for stitch practice and mastery.  But Lordy, the couple I have made in the past have been complete torture.  Let's face it, knitting w/ 100% cotton (not mercerized or gassed or blended) just doesn't evoke the knitting euphoria that so many of us get when knitting with truly amazing fibers.  I mean, it's sort of blah.  And don't even get me started on the lack of ease that cotton has and thus, its creation of hand cramps when using it.

But...

...this was muy fun-o!  That sneaky Ballband pattern from those crafty ladies of Mason Dixon Knitting is seriously addictive, fun, and super easy to memorize.  The absolute perfect pattern for a night or two of catching up with the old DVR or Tivo.

Pattern: Mason Dixon's Ballband Dishrag Pattern

Yarn:  Lily's Sugar n' Cream Cotton Worsted in Summer Splash (A) and Hot Blue (B).

Notes: As I said before, fun knit.  I can definitely see myself knitting up a few more of these for hostess gifts, etc.  I wasn't sure how exactly the yarn was going to knit up throughout each section, especially with one yarn being striped.  I'd love to make a reverse version of this one.  Of course, knitting with cotton just isn't that great on the hands, but the excitment of its progression was worth the couple of aches and pains.

In other news, I have a bit of a progress shot for you too...

This here is the beginnings of a Razor Shell Cami.  I am using yarn from the stash, again (Woo hoo for stashbusting).  It's some Berocco Cotton Twist in Sea Goddess Blue (Gawd, I love that name) I picked up last year during a sale at the LYS.  I've been waiting for a great camisole project for this yarn, and so far, so good...

Finally, I know I might be the last gal on the Internets to get a pair, but...

...I love these!

Code of the Road

Just a quick little post to check in with you all...

Last week I was in AZ for some HotelChain "training."  I would say there were more good times being girls than training, but just in case the boss asks, we learned A LOT, ok?

1. Ketel One Cosmos, 2. Dancing Machine, 3. Clean Baby, 4. Sunny & Sky, 5. Sleepy Panda, 6. Panda & Sky

We arrived in AZ on Tuesday night, ordered room service and passed out! 

Wednesday, Panda (not her real name, duh) and I worked out (yea for us), ate breakfast and drank at the side of the Lazy River pool at our hotel.  That night, general conference boring-ness, until the dinner/cocktail reception.  Commence wine drinking, completely inappropriate and irresponsible conversation, and lots of giggling. 

Thursday, a half a day of training and more Lazy Rivering.  That night (where most of the above pictures are taken) was spent at  Barcelona's Ladies Night, where a few $3 Ketel One Cosmos where drank and much more silliness ensued.  Let me just say that pole dancing could definitely be a "back up" career for some of us, if we don't make it here at HotelChain.

Friday...um, yeah...I don't have much more to say, except that the torture was made worse because we had an all day class on...wait for it...Group Contracts.  And a HotelChain paralegal was there talking all sorts of legal stuff while I was dealing with a fit of cold sweats and extreme sleepiness.  Yea.  I know you can only imagine...But later that day I saw my close pal, E, and her baby, affectionately called Bubba.  So.Cute.  I spent the rest of the weekend with them, shopping and enjoying their company.  Good times...

I have a small FO to show you next time and a couple of progress shots!  Check back...