size matters

that mitten i made was too small for the intended recipient! that's what i get for not checking gauge LOL i'm going back to the same pattern i made for my little cousin (stop and go mittens in the the Knit Mittens! book). i think i liked that pattern better anyway. not that i won't try lillemor's mitten pattern again, but i'm kinda in a frenzy, so to speak, to get christmas knitting done before christmas eve so i gotta stick with what works LOL i'll do my best but i ain't a factory, so what gets knit, gets knit. what doesn't, doesn't.

finished first mitten

...but i don't like it. part of the problem, methinks, is that i neglected to check my gauge before i started the pattern. i went ahead and finished but started another one; this time i went up one needle size. gauge is supposed to be 5-1/2 sts/in...i had 5. so i'll use the bigger needle and see. i might have to go up still another size. i think i will go to a bigger size when i get to the mitten tip. anyway, i will post a pic tonight so you can see what i'm talkign about. the little girl who these mittens are for may be visiting with her parents this evening so i'll have her try it on anyway, just to see how it fits. i'll tell her they're for someone else and i need her to try them on...hopefully she won't get suspicious :-)

i'm red. what color are you?

get your free ipod

no kidding.
click this link to find out more.

it's so very true.

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting
and do it all the time. While finishing a piece
is the plan, you still love the process, and
can't imagine a day going by without giving
some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation
involves leaving ample space for the stash and
supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn
ends and you begin.
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mittens, schmittens

this...

will soon become this:

[click pic to go to pattern]

if i'm sittin, i'm knittin

[ mood meter -- happy ]

i know it looks like i don't have much on my stick these days, but i promise i have been knitting! i made a baby bib (still needs a button...see pattern link below) and washcloth set for the woman who works at the bakery near where i work. i will give it to her next time i see her. she is due on oct. 8 so i assume she is on maternity leave.

i've also been whipping up afghan squares -- good for practicing knitting continental and for using up extra yarn. i like to do easy stuff that i can knit in near darkness when JWJ and i are watching tv. if we have the lights out, it's almost like being at the movies...whaddya expect with a 70" screen? haha i'm also working on a dishcloth for my "sista" from Dishcloths R US (DRU). it's been knitted and frogged about 4 times since yesterday. right now i'm just purling every row. i hate purling so the only reason i'm doing it is for practice practice practice (how else does one get to carnegie hall?). those dang-on regia socks...who knows when i'll get back to them. i see the yarn sitting on the table every morning...looking lonely and sad. but i have more christmas presents to get started and done...time's a-wasting!

speaking of christmas, i have started the newsletter already. didn't do one last year cuz i was completely NOT in the christmas spirit and nearly didn't even put up the tree. i kinda forced myself to do it, and i felt better afterward, but all the drama from last summer really had me down. but enough of that. mzundercover is feeling all warm and fuzzy just thinking about christmas! i will give hand knitted gifts and homemade baked goods this year (cookies, breads, etc). JWJ will get something from his wishlist (probably DVDs or something). he doesn't usually wear hats...maybe i'll make him one of those seamen's scarves. and maybe i'll make it in black red and green to go with that wristband i whipped up for him over the summer. (he doesn't read this so the surprise won't be ruined!)

well, friends, that's it for now. i will write again soon!

my first intarsia attempt

check this out, y'all:

monday musings

[ mood meter -- not quite awake ]

JWJ's birthday party on saturday was a lot of fun. we had about 9 people over (including us). the raspberry cheesecake that i bought from DN make was gooooooood. it got rave reviews from everyone right after they had their first bite. haha i put "trick" candles on the cake, mixed in with regular ones so he had a hard time blowing them all out. what a riot!

i'm learning to knit "continental" -- which makes sense because when i crochet i have the yarn in my left hand. may as well keep it in my left when i knit, too, right? i just learned intarsia too. next is fair isle so i can make JWJ a dale of norway sweater that he likes. it's 6003 kameleon:

i tell him it might be about 2 years before he gets it, but if he wants it, i'll make it :-) i'm a damn good girlfriend LOL