Lick My Sticks

I heard about this on Cast On (Brenda’s Podcast, see sidebar for link) and thought it was a great cause, and I’m inspired to use up some scrap yarn over the next couple weeks to try and balance out my karma…cause well, I can be a real asshole. Here’s the info:

(Copied basically from Cast On’s website, except I am hosting the button on my own server!)

Dulaan Project Info:

In North America mail your items to:

The Dulaan Project

107 N San Fransisco St

Studio 4

Flagstaff, Arizona 86001

Keep track of what’s happening on Ryan’s Blog
Need a pattern? Look here

All the specs are also on this flyer (pdf): here

Need a button? Take this one:

THE DEADLINE FOR THIS IS FAST APPROACHING!!! I believe Breda said you must have your hat, sweater, scarf, or whatever to Arizona by July 1st!! Get knitting!! I’m going to try and get two, but at least one item done this month for the project.
In other news: I have until midnight tomorrow to finish Orangina for the Sexy Knitter’s KAL!! The chances of this happening are slim to none, but I’m TRYING ANYWAY.

Ready…go!

I am so sick. Of course because I have no insurance right now. However, I’ve actually accomplished some things! It does happen occasionally!!

I didn’t make it to the NH Sheep & Wool. The rain was horrible and I can’t imagine wet sheep smell very good. I was going to go, but it was Mother’s Day, and I thought since the weather was so horrible, I should just wait for the MA Sheep and Wool…which is THIS WEEKEND. I hope Christine or someone yarn-interested goes, my husband is a good sport and all, but I’d hate to drag him through that! I’m having a hard time justifying going, we’re back to being pretty damn broke so I need to be careful…especially because…

Our “landlords” (or sad excuses for) have given us THREE weeks to move out. Assholes. For those who have yet to suffer through my complaining, these people are Jon’s distant relatives. They were nice enough to let us rent out this house, which sat vacant for three years since their mom died. All was well at first, however when we couldn’t get the kitchen sink unclogged, they were nowhere to be found. We offered to pay to fix it, just so long as we had their permission…nothing. When winter hit, we qualified for fuel assistance for oil heat, all they had to do was sign a paper…nothing. Then the hot water vanished from the clogged kitchen sink. Then the tub started leaking hot water constantly (rocketing said fuel bill sky-high), THEN the bathroom sink went dry. We can’t figure out where the water keeps going. This is the worst heap of a house on Earth, and they refuse to answer calls, letters, and emails. SO- we stopped paying rent. Four months later, they send a letter giving us three weeks to move out because “the rental situation isn’t working” for them. Idiots. So now we’re pretty panicked. We’ve been looking for an apartment for months now with no luck. It’s either the pets or the kids, or my colored hair and nosering…people make excuses and turn us away. It sucks.

BUT on to better things.
Last night while listening to Cast On (thanks a lot, Jacey!) episodes, I finished the front of Orangina and put it on some scrap yarn. I couldn’t bear to cast on for the back right away, so I’ll probably do that later. I hate casting on because I’m terrible at counting. I will count something 10 times and get a different number everytime. It’s horribly inconveinent.

Zoe’s Ballet Top made it’s triumphant leap off the needles over a week ago. I knit an extra 10 rounds and it’s still REALLY cropped. So much so, that Zoe can’t wear it to school because it’s “inappropriate”. Inappropriate to who? Those horny 6 year old boys? Whatever, though. I will be a good, upstanding adult and play nice. I think it looks really cute on her.

I also finally got around to knitting something with Jacey’s Rockstar yarn she sent me as a SP gift. If you’ve never gotten your hands on this yarn, I highly reccommend it for a fun project. She spins little worry dolls, buttons, beads, easter grass, and lace into the yarn, which comes in a center pull ball. So as you knit, little surprises pop out of the center hole. It really awesome. I squeeled a lot. My husband gave me that look. You married knit-fiends know what look I mean. I made a shawl-type thing, just something neat to go over a camisol. I love it.

Since my new roommate (my best lady friend, really) moved in we’ve been thrifting. I picked up this raggety old tray last time (along with some REALLY nice jeans I can’t believe were ever worn!) and turned it pretty:

I used acrylic paint and sealer, and modge-podge. I may use resin to further smooth and seal over the pictures. We’ll see!

I’m making good progress on the flower petal shawl. I love this pattern, it’s repetitive, but not boring at all because it changes as the shawl grows. I’ve killed one ball of yarn as of last night:

I got my grades in for school, three A’s and a B+ (which I am not happy about, I don’t think I deserved that, I got A’s on every paper he assigned, participated and did extra credit.) so that’s not too shabby. I signed up for US History to 1877, A women’s history class, US Government, and a shitty but necessary math class, and a night course on Photoshop for fun. I’ll be buried in work come fall, but I’m looking forward to the classes.

I think that’s about all for now. I have to go do some dishes in the bathtub (what a glamorous life I lead). HOPEFULLY I’ll make the MA Sheep and Wool and have some lovely pictures for you next time!!

I leave you with two laughable things, one funny, one just pathetic.

Fun Fact: It’s been 1,710 days…and still no Osama BinLaden.

Quick update before the monster update I’m sure you can expect after this weekend’s trip to New Hampshire for the sheep and wool fest.

Progress on my WIP’s

Orangina:

Now I assume you see the screw up. Four or five rows where I temporarily went insane and ended up with this different pattern. I decided at first that I’d end up frogging for the SIXTH time…but I’ve grown to accept it, and the bullshit story I am officially sticking to from here on out: it’s decorative and I did it on purpose. I thought about sewing in some little beads there or something to further encourage this lie.

Damn Sock:

I bet you thought I gave this one up! Actually I had a needle run away in my WIP bag (downfall of quicksilver needles!) and couldn’t save the heel flap and had to frog back…no biggie. I’ll finish this someday.

Zoe’s(?) Ballet Top:

So I don’t normally swatch. I know, I know. This time I guessed and now its about 1/2-1 st off gague. It may still fit Zoe, it’s VERY stretchy, but if not, it WILL fit Alexis, my roommates daughter. So either way, someone’s getting a shirt. This will be done by the end of the weekend.

And finally: The Flower Petal Shawl

I finally cast on for this, finally figured out the increase! (What a pain!) At first I thought “wow, this looks like stir-fried shit” but it’s actually working up pretty nice now. It’s a pretty entertaining knit, too. I’m hoping I’ll finish this for fall! I’ve been dilligently using a lifeline to prevent an orangina-esque disasters. So far so good.

So there you go, I’ve been knitting and spinning like crazy the last few days. My last official class was Wednesday, I only have one final next week…I am feeling totally relieved. School was starting to fucking kill me, I am READY for summer!

Congrats to Kaitlyn too, she had her baby a little while back, and she was super-tiny!! aww. Yay babies (that aren’t mine).

Also: Lilacs are blooming! I plan to steal them off all my neighbors bushes until they are in every room in my house!

Alright, that’s it for now, more in a few days!

I’ve been contemplating posting for about 2 weeks. However with my constant frogging I’ve been enduring lately, I didn’t have much to say!

I’ve finally found my groove for Orangina. I haven’t messed up, and I’m finding that I’m not counting and recounting out of paranoia so much anymore. It’s looking great and I’m thinking it’s going to fit well. I was concerned about the size because of all the KAL’s and threads I’ve read saying it runs big. I’m knitting size large, and it looks about right so far. I did a small swatch but I’ve never measured over lace and didn’t really understand what I was looking for. I’m really starting to enjoy this pattern though, now that it’s less stressful. The yarn I’m using (which I will eventually track down info on…I believe it’s discontinued) is really nice to knit with. It’s 2-ply and I think a cotton blend. Here’s the MISTAKE-FREE progress. (That is SO not the right color. It’s like fire-engine red)

I’ve also finally jumped into spinning. I’ve had my Ashford drop-spindle for quite a while, I ordered 6 balls of roving from Etsy (www.greatwool.com) plus one I got at a swap. I’ve spun four thus far undyed. I plan to dye the four I’ve spun this weekend. I might dye the roving on the others then spin them. Is either way better? What do you guys prefer? I’d love to know what you other spinners like to use for dye and method!

I LOVE spinning. The drop spindle isn’t as cumbersome as I’d imagined and it’s brainless enough that I can watch TV while I do it, but challenging enough to totally annihilate boredom. I am totally hooked. I was going to drag Allison (sister-in-law…my knitting buddy) to Maryland for the Sheep and Wool fest this weekend, but I’m feeling guilty even thinking of the cost of the trip and a place to sleep, gas, etc. SO I’m going to the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool AND the Massachusetts Sheep and Wool the next few weeks!! Not the number ONE fests, but that’s ok. I’ll fill up on roving and other goodies either way!

Speaking of Allison…You may remember that she score and repaired my badass sewing machine…well she continues to spoil me with this:

It’s a sweet felted skully bag. You’d never know I taught her to knit less than six months ago. I haven’t even tried intarsia yet, and she mastered it!! I LOVE my bag. It will become my new portable project bag…yesss. I love it, had to show it off!

Next week is finals week! EEEK! I can’t wait to be over and done with school, more time to knit and relax!!

I dyed my hair again, cut some bangs. I’m bored, and I was tired of the orange. Here’s my hair looking crappy, but you get the idea. That’s Dio sleeping in my knitting back there, too. The jerk. I found my beautiful knit picks Cloud yarn under the futon in a big knotted mess today…fucker.

I sent Christine’s new arrival Nia a present today…yay. Hope she likes it! Still waiting on baby Sassy!!