Green Gable

Wow it's been so long since I have updated. Blame it on the moving and enjoying a single room and enjoying a single room with open windows and enjoying a single room with open windows and a TV. I have never had a TV in a bedroom before so nowadays I tend to come home and flip on the CW (only good channel I receive). Two and a Half Men, Family Guy, and Gossip Girl take up my time. Yes, you heard me right. Gossip Girl. I watched 2 episodes and I'm ashamed to say I'm slightly intrigued. At the very least, the girls on that show have such stylish clothes. I wonder if they will wear beautiful knits come winter. (Ah, the mind of a knitter/crocheter.)

Case in point: This dress from Anthropologie made my jaws drop.

Also, I have recently decided to start cooking real food again. When I say real food, I mean making dinners that involve ingredients and mixing. I've been living off of Trader Joe's frozen food for a while to accommodate maximizing my knitting time after work. But I'm going to try to spread it around a bit so I can cook, watch TV, AND knit/crochet. To inspire me, I bought a new set of plates, a French bohemian design, at Ralph's. They were on sale and I had always coveted that design ever since I bought a matching ramekin two years ago when I tried my hand at making corn chowder.

Last week, I learned how to make a classic French dish of sauteed chicken with cream-mustard sauce and last night I made chicken alfredo for the first time in my life. Yes, it's sad I have never cooked pasta in my life before. My pasta came out a bit watery and I accidentally made too much so I'll be eating pasta for lunch and dinner for at least 2 days. But practice makes perfect, right? I also discovered a new type of cookie at Trader Joe's. Oatmeal and cranberry. They are so delicious! I love the fact that they come in a package of precut dough, and all I have to do is take them out and bake them for 12 minutes or so. :-)

Hello. I am the front side of the bowl.

And I am the other side. Can you spot the difference?

Dinner is served, mademoiselle.

Please put some corn chowder in me.

In knitting news, I finished Juliet a while back but recently just got around to blocking her. She is drying as I type, and hopefully I'll be able to put up pictures by next week. To get me out of my knitting hiatus, I casted on for Green Gable last night. I'm a bit afraid that I'm not doing it correctly for the Part A, Row 1 part. It says that I need to YO, K2tog during the lace section and then K1f&b 1 stitch before the marker. However, I always get an even number and don't end up with 1 stitch left before the marker. Sigh. I'm going to fudge it and see how it goes.

Busy bee

I haven't updated in a while due to being quite busy and stressed out. Last week, I caught the cold that was going around my office and on top of it was somehow extra busy when I had a 102 degree fever. But luckily, I have recovered. Knock on wood! Lately, I have been stressed out over finding a new apartment, packing, and finding the perfect desk, but that will be over soon. :-) Last night, I finally bought a desk that I managed to get delivered to me. Maybe one day I'll find a matching hutch for it, but it will do for now. It is beautiful and in very good condition and I am excited because there will be enough room to throw my WIPs on it.

Tonight I'm going to begin moving my stuff over to my new apartment. I am very excited and haven't been sleeping well lately due to that. I haven't had my own room for six years. Yay to being able to sleep peacefully without hearing my roommate's snores! Yay for being able to control the ability to open my windows wide! (I love fresh air.) Although for 2 years in college, I did have a really good roomie who subsequently became my best friend. Thank god Maryann loved air too! :-D

In knitting news, Juliet was finished last Sunday when I was feverish, bored, and trying to relax. I wove in all her ends as I knitted her because I know I would never be able to finish a project if I had a million ends to weave in after alll the knitting was done. Now all she needs is to be blocked and then I will post some pictures!

Here's a picture of my new desk!

Juliet: Progress Report

If it wasn't for the fact that I keep messing up on my stitch counts and the lace section, Juliet should have been finished by now. However, bf did take some progress pictures over the weekend with his new camera. The first pictures ever taken with the camera too! He even offered for me to bring my FO's and UFO's to be photographed. :-)

Juliet front

Juliet back

Juliet flat

I'm not sure why, but the last picture came out looking very pink. In reality, Juliet is actually a deep burgundy red. Anyway, these pictures were taken two frogs ago. :-( I made many mistakes in the lace section and I kept coming up with the wrong numbers for the stitch count. It really pained me because I hate frogging (especially in knitting), but I tore it out. I was very happy because I finally learned how to frog "safely" this weekend thanks to my friend rchrispy on Ravelry. What I mean is using smaller knitting needles to pick up stitches back to where I want to start over again, and then pulling out my work with wild abandon. This may sound strange, but it made me feel like a liberated woman. Ever since I was 8, I have been scared of knitting because I didn't know how to frog and my remedy for it was to simply knit without mistakes (which is nearly impossible!) Now I finally discovered I don't need to be scared of making mistakes or live with the knowledge of doing something incorrectly, but stubbornly forging on due to not knowing how to go back.

Yarn Stash

I bought these yarns a while back when WEBS was having their anniversary sale, but never got around to photographing them. Here they are!

7 hanks - Classic Elite Premiere in peach color

1 hank - Classic Elite Premiere in natural color

For: Tall Latte in Everyday Crochet

7 balls of Ella Rae Silkience in a bright red color

(I couldn't resist the Cat-Envious-of-Yarn shot, even if Tony isn't my cat.)

Interweave Crochet Summer 2008

My issue of Interweave Crochet Summer 2008 arrived in the mail on Wednesday! I love staring at all the gorgeous pictures of the projects probably as much I would enjoy making them. Here are some of my personal favorites...

Gladiolus Vest by Robyn Chachula: Man, I am majorly tempted by this pattern, and there is a high probability that I will make it. The yarn suggested is too expensive, so I will have to find a more economical 70% bamboo, 30% silk substitute. Do you guys have any suggestions? When I looked at the full page photos in the magazine, I was completely blown away. These sneak previews do not do it justice. I think this designer makes really beautiful patterns and I can't wait to see her upcoming book that will be released in September. I even put it on my Amazon.com wish list. Hehe.

Midsummer's Dream Camisole: Looks lovely, but I think the yarn suggested is probably way too expensive. Also, it appears to flare out too much for my taste in the back.

Ocean Pearls Cardigan: Another lovely cardigan that I'm half tempted to make. It reminds me a similar pattern in Everyday Crochet by Doris Chan, except her version is lacier. Btw, what does "bed jacket" mean? Whenever I look at this pattern, I think "bed jacket" and it conjures up images of sick people in bed. (Strange, I know.)

Sir Stephen, the Bunny: Isn't he adorable? Awww...

Summer Knitting Goals

Well I've decided to enter Skeins Her Way blog contest. Details here http://www.skeinsherway.com/2008/06/2008-summer-knitting-goals-contest.html .

Currently, this is my summer knitting goals list...

1. Finish Juliet
2. Finish Rusted Root
3. Knit Green Gable
4. Knit other lacy, summer tees/tops perhaps Delicious Stitches's Lillian top

Wonder if I can actually meet all of my goals? :-)

In other news, I began actually knitting Juliet yesterday and managed to get about 18 rows done in one night. I love the way the doubled yarn and chunky needles are making it work it up relatively quickly.

Casting on for Juliet...

I told myself that I wouldn't cast on for Juliet until I finished Rusted Root. But I couldn't resist, and besides Rusted Root isn't really going anywhere until I can get some DPNs, right?

I am using Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in the very elusive Candy Apple Red. I found it on sale online, and now I regret not buying more since this shade appears to be out of stock.

Look at what I discovered today!

I am especially lusting after that grayish jumper on the cover. Wish I had paid more attention when I was at both Michael's AND Joann's this weekend to see if they were selling it.

Here are some of the patterns that I like...

Lacy, empire waist top and bag

Scallop pattern empire top

Twin set cardigan

Bolero cardigan

Rusted Root

This is my first knitted shirt and it really should have taken me only 2 weeks to complete. However, due to the sleeves, it will probably hibernate for a while. The pattern states that you are supposed to use 2 size 4 circular needles to do the sleeves, but I'm not sure what that means. (I am still an advanced beginner in knitting.) So I think I will try using size 4 DPNs (which will also be a new experience for me)! After trekking out to Michaels and Joann's today, I realized that neither store carried size 4 DPNs! This means I'll have to order them from Joann.com and possibly throw in some yarn to get free shipping. I spotted a beautiful shade of Patons Classic Wool at both of the stores today. Paprika. It's a terracotta orange color. Now I am tempted to get some once Joann's has a Patons sale...

Progress pictures of Rusted Root so far...