Alright, it's time.

I feel very bad that I've been neglecting this blog. I keep knitting things and thinking about how I would write about them for the blog, but never actually DOING it. I keep thinking that I'll get to it later, but as you can see that isn't happening.

And the last project I blogged about? That scarf? Yeah, it hasn't been touched since then. I should just frog it, but that yarn is so sticky.... I'll get around to figuring out my mistakes on it some day!

I've started another one of those evil courses... this one goes until March. I think knitting and blogging will be what I use to keep my sanity in check until then.

I know this post isn't much, but I wanted to start with SOMETHING... at least now I know I have to come back and post more. Hehe. Yup. Self motivation. Knitting pics to come soon!

My So-Called Shrinking Scarf

I was inspired by a fellow knitter to start the "My So-Called Scarf". It was going along swimmingly until one fateful day. I was knitting along, minding my own business. Perhaps letting my mind wander as I thought about how easily this pattern was knitting up and how fast it was going when then unthinkable happened. I dropped a stitch. Usually this isn't the end of the world, but this pattern has a funny twist to it, and I couldn't seem to pick it up.

So, I thought I would rip back a row or two and pick up the stitches so that I could knit along my merry way. It was not to be so. One row turned into two... then three... I can't seem to be able to pick up the stitches. At the rate I'm going I will be starting the whole thing over soon! Help!

I'm frogging one more row... and if that doesn't do it, this project is going to have to go on hold until the next time I can get down to a knit night and find a more experienced knitter to help me out.

Huatulco here I come!

I'm a little behind in my blogging, but I have a good excuse! I've been getting ready to head off to Huatulco, Mexico with my mom! We are leaving on Friday, and I can't wait. I'm having a little trouble getting my packing done. I can't decide what to take with me. I've had to buy a fair bit of new clothes to take with me as I've turned into the incredible shrinking woman since leaving bear country.

I did have the most fantastic bathing suit shopping experience ever. How many women can say that? I went into the shop thinking I'd have to spend $100 just to get one suit, as that seemed to be the going price in my travels. I found a great little outlet store and managed to pick up not one but TWO suits for a total of $55 including taxes... and the best part... they were FOUR sizes smaller than I originally started trying on. Who knew? I guess this new routine of hitting the gym after work is starting to show!

So where is Huatulco, you ask? I know, I've never heard of it before either. It's on the Pacific coast of Mexico, and doesn't seem to be quite as popular as other Mexican destinations yet. The hotel is called Las Brisas and located on one of the nine bays in that area. I'm really looking forward to learning how to snorkel! Apparently it's whale and dolphin season... so I hope I have some great pictures when I get back!

Stash n' Stuff

I thought I'd show off a bit of my stash! I wanted a pretty way to store my yarn, because I figure for the amount of money I've spent on it, it should be on display, not shoved in a box in a closet.

I picked up these antique copper pots from an ex-coworker. I love them! I've got them filled to overflowing with my sock yarn in the smaller pot and some Noro and Manos del Uruguay in the big one. I haven't figured out where they are going to go, but for now they are sitting next to my rainstick.




I finally have my mirror up too! I think it looks fantastic! The wall it's on is basically concrete so Alby had to get a drill out in order to get it on there. I decided to put it over the loveseat becasue I didn't think the wall behind the couch would support the weight of the mirror. The glass table beside it is new too, but I don't think it's going to stay there. I'm still working on placement.



That's all I've got for now. I think my new place is finally starting to look like a home!

Finished Object!

Okay, here it is! My first offical finished object post! This hat is from Candy Babies, and I totally fell in love with it. It is crochet and took me only 2 evenings to get it finished. I think it turned out great!



I took it to work last week and gave it to the mom to be, and she was SO happy with it. The day was filled with, "Oh my god, that is the cutest thing I've ever seen!" Very good for the knitter's ego... :P



I need to make a couple more, as my cousin is having a baby and a friend just told me Friday night she's having a baby. She's also ordered a baby blanket. I crocheted one for her when she had her daughter, and she says baby #2 needs one too! I will have to look for something unique!



I've also started another pair of socks. These are being knit with the Hacho I purchased from Wolsley Wardrobe on my yarn crawl a few weeks ago. I'm making the Embossed Leaves socks from Interweave's Favorite Socks.



So far I'm really enjoying the pattern! It's going quickly and I think it looks great. I'm not sure if these socks are going to be for me or maybe my mom or sister. I guess they will tell me when they decide. I need to learn to take better knitting pictures, but here's a close up anyways. I was hoping to get a clear shot of the details, but this will have to do.



Misstea has given me some advice about the sweater, so hopefully I can get going on that again soon. I'd like to wear it while it's still cold out! Maybe tonight I will pull it out again. I think I said that yesterday, but this time I really mean it... No, really... I do...

The Promised Pics

Well, I've got a few projects on the go! And finally, I have some pics. I've been working on the Pomatomus sock (notice not plural) for a long time now. This pattern has really been kicking my butt. I'm actually taking a break from it right now.





Up next is my Wicked sweater. I started this in May around the time I had my tonsils out. I just have to finish the sleeves and the pocket, but it's been neglected lately as well. I tried it on the other day, and it looks like i will have to taper the sleeves a bit. I need to rip back a few rows and start the decreases, but I've never done sleeves before, so I don't know how often to add the decreases in. As soon as I have some time to figure it all out, I will get right on it and finish right up!




I've also been having pocket issues. You see, the pocket is just too small. On my bigger body it will just look tiny (even though I made the bigger sized pocket), not to mention the fact that my hand wouldn't even fit into it! So I will frog the pocket and either try to resize it, or just finish up without it. Maybe I'll look at it this afternoon.

If I do this again I would also go down a needle size for the cables around the neck. I think they could be a little tighter. But all in all, not bad so far for my first sweater!

Knit Night

Tonight was knit night at Wolsley Wardrobe. I had a great time... what a great bunch of people! I decided to start knitting up some of the Hacho I piced up on the weekend, and decided to go with the embossed leaves socks from Interweave's Favorite Socks. I'm quite happy with the start. I think they will be my work socks, so I will have something to work on during my lunch breaks. Pictures will come as soon as there is something worth looking at.

I was planning on writing a longer post and putting up pictures of my other WIP's, but it's a little later than I thought, and I need to get to bed... so next time, I promise... pics of Wicked and Pomatomus.

Purler Bear's Yarn Emporium

Well, here it is, my first official blog entry. I thought I'd start with some knitting content, as the purpose of this blog is to have a record of my knitting progress.

I went on a bit of a yarn crawl this past weekend with Misstea. It was wonderful! I was in search of some laceweight yarn to make Juno. I love a nice deep red, and this is what I have in mind for Juno, but, alas, no red for me. I was hoping something would jump off a shelf and inspire me. Misstea has challenged me to knit this with her, and it will be my first try at lace knitting. I think it will be a lot of fun! I can't wait!

While I didn't find what I set out for on our little yarn crawl, I didn't come home empty handed. I really loaded up on the sock yarn! I took pictures of what I bought, so let's see if I can post them!

I picked this up at Wolsley Wardrobe. It's Hacho Colour #306, 100% Merino Wool from Peru. I see socks for mom. I hope she doesn't mind handwashing....



I also picked up some with myself in mind. This is Hacho Colour #308. I love it!

Next up are a couple of sock yarns I picked up from Ram Wool. These are both by Arequipa. These are superwash, so maybe a little better for gift giving... But I love the colours so much, they may just be more socks for me!

And last but not least (for the sock yarn, that is) I have a ball of Opal in a nice chocolate brown. Have I mentioned how much I love brown?

That concludes the sock yarn portion of my purchases! I also managed to pick up 5 skeins of Noro Silk Garden that has told me it would like to be a Clapotis. I look forward to starting that as soon as I finish my Wicked sweater!

Not bad for one afternoon and two little yarn shops? I think so. Our little yarn crawl ended at this wonderful little coffee shop in Wolsley where Misstea and I were able to knit and visit while surrounded by books! It was a great visit, and I'm looking forward to many more!

Whew... how's that for a first post?