o..... m...... g.......

I am *this* close to dropping F-bombs all over the place, but for my dear loyal readers, I will refrain. However, if you are as fond as F-bombs as I (and I am REALLY fond of them right now,) please feel free to scatter them through the post as you're reading and please be assured they will fit in just about anywhere.

may I please bring your attention to my.... personal interpretation of the Lizard Ridge that I posted about ever so proudly a couple days ago.


if you haven't read that post and don't feel like it now, let me point out the currently pertinent part, which is that I babbled gleefully about how I had just mastered short rows and defeated Lizard Ridge, using words like "knitter mojo," "seamlessly," "trance-like," "feeling pretty good about it," and "no tinking or frogging." How about that...

What I failed to mention in that post is that someone at Men Who Knit mentioned it, which is what inspired me to try it again, and I had proudly posted my accomplishment there, as well. Oh, did I mention that I also shared it with the designer, since I had whined to her in October and she was so nice, and asked if she would take a peek and tell me if it was okay since I was concerned about my short-row wraps? Did I say that? I think I skipped that.... So yeah.

So first I realized, thanks to some inspiration and an awesome tutorial shared by dear Marce that the designer's recommended method of short rows does indeed matter. However, I was so thrilled with my block, I was okay with it, chalk it up to learning, fix the rest of them! So unlike me! Allowing a mistake! NEVER! But I figured with some good blocking, everything would be chill in afghanville and HEY, I learned another new thing, hurray! Knitter MOJO! YEAH BABY!

But then.... (sighhhhhhh) then, (and really, I am very grateful for this, don't get me wrong, I am SERIOUSLY appreciative this happened....) I was checking my Inbox at MWK and found a kind and astute message from a fellow knitter suggesting that I might have missed a row.... the eggs are supposed to ALTERNATE. My first response in my head, How dare he?! This is utter PERFECTION! The nerve! Then I stop myself and snapped back to the kind and friendly KB I am and thought, hey, it was nice of him to e-mail me, he complimented my work, and he's trying to help! YAY for knitters! I start to write him back: Hey, thanks for writing! I'm looking and I really don't think I missed a row..... and then I decide to really double check the pattern before telling him just how correct I was.... Off to knitty....

If you think he was right and I was wrong, turn to page 73. If you think I was right and he was wrong, please turn to page 96. If you'd like to follow the dragon down the corridor, turn to page 123.

So really now, was he right? Did I miss a row? No, no, no, don't be silly! This is me we're talking about! Miss a row? Heck no! That would be far TOO SMALL of a mistake for me. I missed the WHOLE FREAKIN PATTERN. I had this pattern so memorized... trance... mojo.... but I just completely and utterly missed the whole second half of the pattern somehow where the short rows alternate.... She says right in it that it will look like an egg crate, I thought my lumps meant I was doing it right.... I would look at it though and think there was something wrong with my arches and ridges, but figured it must've been an incorrect choice in short-row methods....

how ashamed should i be about this? I'm feeling like I've really humiliated myself in a big way and not only that, I can't come up with the most proper cliche to apply here, I'm drawing a blank... something about a pedestal... something about pride... maybe some yet unknown one about how you should knit in priority order and not compulsively start things... ignorance... bliss... oblivion... lying in a bed i've made.... rolling stone... moss... don't go near the water until you learn how to swim? he that knows nothing doubts nothing? no, wait! two wrongs don't make a right! i really don't know, but i am quite certain it contains the word 'buffoon.'

today was SUCH a very, very bad day in so many ways.... financial troubles, health issues, all around everyday stressors, just miserable, miserable... technically it's tomorrow, but really, my day ends with this....

deep down, i am okay with this.... i've learned lots of new things, albeit with much time lost and a hard fall.... it will all be okay... right now, though, i am mainly just feeling like an idiot and pondering, once again, why oh WHY do i insist upon having a hobby that involves STRING?!!! alack, the shame....

before i let this horrendous day end, let me leave you with one of my favorite cliches that I can remember....

"But wait, there's more!"


..... more? it gets worse????



..... why, yes, it does... again, it's ME, c'mon now.



...... wait for it....



.... are you just loving the suspense as much as I am?


... hope so. your reward:



you didn't really think i screwed up the block ONLY ONCE, did you? alack, alack, the shame, the sorrow, alack, alack, i suck. "meh" just isn't ample enough here....

-kb out, tail between legs

Wee Tiny Sock Swap!

Don't have much time, but wanted to post some pics quick because days have passed already. First, Jan took far better pictures than I did of the Wee Tiny Sock I made her, she took some lovely shots and I'm stealing borrowing them from her. I got to chat with her a bit and I love that I got another animal lover to swap with! I'm expecting some more wonderful sock deliciousness to come on her blog I still suck at hole-free heels, as you can see, but all in all, I think I did okay! She had really lovely things to say about it and it really boosted my knitter mojo. Thanks, Jan!!!! :)




and now, without further ado, is my fabulous sock from Aimee, a fellow KH'er, another bonus!





It is in Parade, Forest, and I just adore Parade! I almost used it for my wee tiny sock but was afraid I wouldn't have enough left to make my pair of socks out of it! (It's been discontinued, those stinkers!) Aimee also made that adorable card and sent me the cutest personalized stitch marker that I love!!! I also got to chat with Aimee a bit, another animal lover, who is nursing some kittens right now, so sweet!

I'm really glad I did this swap! It was quick and fairly stressless, and I got to meet 2 really awesome animal loving knitters and got the most precious wee little sock!!! Love it!!! :)

And a quicky kinda FO (speaking of knitter mojo,) someone merely mentioned the Lizard Ridge from Knitty and I was compelled to try it AGAIN. Audrey threw me 3 balls of Kureyon she didn't want that the rep gave her and told me to make something, but I didn't know what to do with 3 different skeins except maybe a few hats or something, but then this Knitty pattern came out shortly thereafter and I tried it immediately. To my great dismay, I sucked at it.... bad.... I whined at Knitting Help about it, even contacted the pattern designer, who was very kind and tried to help, but alas, still sucked. I really had no W&T/short-row experience prior to that point aside from the umpteen pairs of clogs, but no knitting wraps together in that pattern, so I really had a hard time finding the wraps (Kureyon colorways were a HUGE help in that department (sigh)) and just generally messed up a lot and never finished a square after many, many attempts. However, I have since made several toes and heels from the Universal Sock Pattern, my wee tiny sock included, and said, what the hell and I am proud to say it went absolutely seamlessly, knit in 1 focused and trance-like sitting with no frogging or tinking. (could be the prednisone, I did it last night instead of sleeping ;-)) The only problem I had is with the instructions for knitting and purling the wraps together.... they just didn't make sense to me, couldn't get how to use the right needle to stab the stitch and the wrap from the opposite side, so I went ahead and used the techniques in the Universal Sock with the SSK and P2tog... I think it worked out okay. She wasn't lying about the "egg crate" effect, this is going to be a bloody nightmare wonderful challenge to block. (I couldn't find my iron and need more pins, this is just dry blocked for photo op)



I think I did ok!!! When not stretched, the left and right slants from the wraps are pretty visible, but I suspect that will look a bit like a design when it's blocked and flattened... I hope so anyway. I think I'm going to do it! I've already got 2 more balls of Kureyon in waiting. Now that the wraps and turns actually made sense to me, it really is a super fun pattern and mesmerizing, 1 sitting, seriously, just knit and knit and knit and knit and knit and knit and knit. I don't do that, so prednisone or fun pattern, who knows, but I was feeling pretty good about it. ;) Which is that online shop that blows out Kureyon for crazy prices? Hook me up!

and lastly, I freakin love this commercial.... I am beginning to suspect I hooked cable back up again after a year without because I missed commercials as tv is still largely shite. (finally a halfway decent episode of Lost, though, about freakin time!) I giggle uncontrollably EVERY TIME i watch this. Don't forget you can pause/stop my blog song over at the left under my picture a bit so you can fully enjoy it. ;)

-KB out

I finished a sock! and some yarn p0rn

BFF's b-day is a mere 8 days away and I have only one sock finished. :( what is sad about this is on size 5 needles with worsted weight yarn, I should be able to finish a sock in a day, but it's me we're talking about here... anyway, here it is, i'm really pleased with it (there i said it)




I used things from lots of patterns, starting with the universal toe-up pattern at Knitty and then the rib pattern from Thuja also at knitty, with a splash of Silver's New Sock Tutorial Let me tell you I will NEVER use another cast-off in the round, it's freakin awesome. I used the Knitty toe and her heel, and I do notice a difference between the wraps and double wraps... I like the both for different reasons, hard to decide really. Wish me luck finishing the 2nd in time!

I have been working on the Ann Norling baby sweater when I tire of the sock, I'm around 60% done with the back of the cardie, I would guess. I'm really enjoying the Swish Superwash Swish from Knit Picks and enjoying the color way more than I suspected I would, but I've seen some frightening posts about it's washability and wear, which has me a little freaked out since I bought 10 balls to make the set and I'm enjoying knitting with it...I'm going to keep going and hope for the best, I guess, and definitely provide good care instructions to the recipient.




As for p0rn, it's actually old p0rn, my Mountain Colors Bearfoot that Annie Modesitt picked out.



I was fondling it a lot today, picked out some Dale of Norway Baby Ull in Cranberry for the toes and heels, as I fear I am not going to have enough yarn for my big fat feet and refuse to buy a second $22 hank. I'm not really sure how much yardage that will give me, but I've got 350 yards in the Mountain Colors and Becka has posted yet another totally freakin awesome men's sock pattern that uses 1 ball of Opal (462 yards) to make a pair of size 11s using the same size needles and gauge I will be using, so I think with the alternating color in the heels and toes, it should be just right, plus the Bearfoot is a bit heavier, I think.... I'm not sure if that's good or bad though.



So now the big problem is deciding what my Bearfoot will be. I have a ball of the same Opal Crocodile Becka used in that pattern, just a different colorway from darling Sara Jayne, who I am missing fiercely, by the way, and I think it has those socks written all over it.... Jaywalkers? I think maybe... I love that pattern, and I have already conceded to putting the Flower Power ones aside to work with my Bearfoot.... either that or just a twin rib possibly... we'll see, but I can't wait. I have about 10 things I need to finish before I can start them. ;) Speaking of which, I'm going to knit for a bit before I start job #2 (woohoo!) Hugs to all!

-KB out

ETA: since you all were so sweet about my yucky hair above the neck, here's a pic of my new hair. however, my forehead is all broken out and i haven't shaven so it's edited. ;) my hair is curly, but gets flat in spots, and so she went in and did a crapload of bricking to it, taking off more length than i realized, but it looks a lot fuller and curlier, so i dig it. hacking it all off when it's long enough to donate to Locks of Love is still a strong possibility, though. this still isn't GOOD hair, but it's better than the other pic, i think. :) oh, and candace, for GOOD hair, I use Alterna's texturizing glaze, the stuff is freakin awesome, even in the florida humidity. this was Tigi's Curls Rock, I don't love it as much as I did before discovering the Alterna, but still like it.



and a warm thanks to KnitPicking for making my day complimenting my round sock toe. :)

i did an online swap correctly!!!!

hurray for me!!!! i guess the 3rd time is the charm. i mailed out the wee tiny sock friday. i forgot my camera, though, so only have a camera pic from beth's phone:i made it in Knit Picks Dancing in Two Step, which has been discontinued and is gone now... i really loved Dancing, too... only two colors left, hurry if you want it! It's a cotton/wool blend, reminds me of Sockotta.

And then here, finally, is a pic of my dear Beth and I at the shop. She'd probably kill me if she knew I allowed anyone to see this, she felt she looked goofy, I think she looks precious.
Thank heavens my beard will be gone in a few hours... more on that another time maybe. and, no, that is not a good hair day.

Gotta get to sleep!

-kb out

unexpected gifts!

so i go to my mailbox today (it's always bills, but like a child, I still get insanely excited when the postman comes) and lo and behold, there is a package addressed to Knitting with KB and I am puzzled and tickled to death. I am just starting to recovery from yet another flare of my colitis AND a yucky, yucky 2-week cold, been horribly miserable, so I was instantly cheered before even opening it. and THEN, I found this inside:

from KnitPicking. Her birthday was earlier in the month (and I failed to post about it no less) and as a birthday wish, she asked her DH to take her to an alpaca farm and that he did! You must check out her site for some FABULOUS photos of her birthday adventures!

I asked her to hug an alpaca for me and since she was unable to do so, she was kind enough to share a some of their furry bits from her birthday trip! I was just reading over at earthchick's how she recently experienced some wonderful yarn karma from some kind and sweet bloggers out there and I was yet again touched and amazed by how freakin awesome fiber artists are. Now it is I who has again been filled with glee by gifts from someone sweet far away. I don't know if KnitPicking even knows this, but out of all the fibers I have ever laid my hands on, including cashmere, silk, all of them, alpaca is my very most favorite, and I am fascinated by the animals and dream to one day have a few of my own, so this gift is super duper special and touching to me, AND I have yet to spin with alpaca! (The only place local that sells roving doesn't even have alpaca!) My novice spinner hands tell me this is going to be a dream to spin, requiring zero prep work because it is beautifully combed into just the right caliber for drafting and I can't freakin WAIT. I want to start like NOW but I have exercised restraint because I am FINALLY taking my spinning class the 24th. I did spindling and did well (eventually) and so I am able to sit down at my wheel and pretend I can spin, but I really still feel I need a class and definitely don't want to waste such gorgeous roving.

I couldn't stop touching it when I was taking pics of it. Here's my favorite. I wish this blog was scratch and touch because the stuff is to die for, I wish I could make pillows out of it or go swimming in it.

I forgot to photograph the precious post-it pad she sent me too that I adore. It's funny because I took on a commissioned knit from Beth and she had post-it'ed the pattern repeats all over it and at first I was like, is she kidding me? but then I realized how very handy it is and plotted to purchase post-it notes and now I have special adorable ones! :)

My guts aren't allowing me to sit for long, so I must go, but a huge thanks once again to knitpicking for her sweet and wonderful gift!!!! it really made me feel special and made my week! On a Monday even! BIG HUGS!!!!!!!!!

-kb out

ETA: OMG guess what!!! I was just whipping out the post-its for my first affixing to pattern use and I noticed the label is in English and FRENCH!!!! TEEHEEEEE! I just downloaded a learn french audiobook like 2 nights ago. Vos messages ne passeront pas inapercus, car les feuillets sper collants Post-It adherent bien a la plupart des surfaces!!! (giggling uncontrollably)

Wee Tiny Sock Swap

I'm not 100% sure I'm doing this yet, but it is too precious not to share!

Check it out!

swatches, yarn review, and i need some opinions

i gauge swatched last night for the Dana Bag, but not in one of my free colors, sorry folks. I don't have a swift/winder and have't had the time/inclination to start winding. I had bought 1 hank of the Ultra Alpaca from the LYS to swatch it for the Kenobi Jacket and check things out before I ordered 20 hanks of Pea Soup in it, but never got around to doing it until I got the bag pattern really. I started to and it got lost. It happens in my house. ANYWAY. Here's the swatch, yarn review to follow. Does anyone want/need this review? I don't know, but I'm having fun already. ;)


Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca
Color: Blueberry Mix 6288
Stitch Pattern: Stockinette with 3 row/3 st garter border.
Needles: Size 8 Susanne's Ebony
Gauge: 20 st/26 rows = 4"
Ends: I'm a lazy bastard, there they are dangling.

SUBJECTIVE: On the hank, I was not super impressed with this yarn tactilely. I expected something a bit softer with the 50% alpaca content. The colors immediately are a draw, though, a wide pallette, richly dyed.

OBJECTIVE: After the first row, I was very much in love with this yarn. This is one of those yarns that you truly appreciate after knitting with it. The swatch is soft, lofty, and light, while still maintaining excellent stitch definition. The stitches glided off the needles effortlessly with absolutely no splitting. The pattern swatched for will be felted. I would choose a smaller needle if making say a sweater with the yarn, probably 7s, doubt as small as 6 unless there was good reason, although the 5 st/per could definitely work in a garment, depending on your preference.

what i REALLY love about it is this:

two things i'm referring to in that picture, the heathering being 1, but the biggie is the FUZZ!!!! I have a thing for yarn with hairiness about it and this yarn TOTALLY does it for me. the color depicted here is not what you would see upon looking from afar, as you can tell from the first pic. it looks like a very deep teal blue at first glance, but upon close look (and super macro lens,) there is this gorgeous heathering effect. this is from their "mix" yarns, from what i can understand, any of them that have "mix" in it should have this heathering effect.

ASSESSMENT: Overall, I really enjoy this yarn and think it is quite suitable for garments, accessories, etc. Someone who is very sensitive to the itchiness of wool (I am not really) *might* not want this rubbing against their skin, but I personally find it to be sufficiently soft and supple. At well under $10 a hank for 215 yards and an unbelieveable shade assortment, this is definitely one I will go back to again and again. For that price and with those colors, I might just consider this my new Cascade 220 (for projects that WOTA doesn't work for, of course.)

PLAN: Buy lots of it and knit lots of it. Recommend to others.


now for the opinions. i'm working on my first swatch for the walker treasury project (link to the left) in Roman Rib Stitch. I was supposed to swatch this yarn for Needles and Knobs back in August and ummm haven't gotten around to it yet. I figured I would kill 2 birds with one stone and do the swatch in that yarn. HOWEVER, they ask for lightly colored smooth yarn for ease of viewing. This is a bright royal blue...





The question is, can you readily see the Roman Rib Stitch or shall I re-do that in a lighter yarn? I can still use this for the store, of course, so no biggie, but wanted to get the opinion of fellow knitters before I submitted. I kinda have mixed feelings and am leaning towards re-knit in a cream colored yarn. What are your thoughts and thanks! :)

free yarn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i know in a prior post i said i wasn't going to give details, but i've decided to make a liar out of myself. i decided to share the whole story at Knitting Help in this post if you care to read it (don't have time to recap at the moment,) and now since i've made a puddle in my living room, I had to share it here too. :)




I HEART BERROCO 4EVA!!!!!!!

stuff stuff blah blah stuff stuff blah and we have a winner!

t's true! I had intended to post a new question for the contest, since I had not a single guess on either quote, but someone did it! Congrats go to Darlene, who correctly guessed the first quote, which was borrowed from Upside Down by Tori Amos, which is my new now playing for your listening pleasure and has always been a particularly meaningful track for me. Hope you all enjoy its visit to the the blog.

Speaking of the Goddess... you know, I've been a hardcore fan for almost 15 years now... (you ask, does that make me feel old, being able to say I've consciously and deliberately done *anything* for 15 years? the answer: damn yes.) I've followed her from Little Earthquakes and then even backtracked to Y Kant Tori Read.... I've gone from a girl and her piano to a girl and her harpsichord to a woman and her korg from a recording studio in mexico to a compilation to slow jams to all kinds of stuff, stuck by her, and loved every moment of it. She's coming out with a new CD and I got to hear the first track, which is called "I'm a MILF." You can listen to it Here at Perez Hilton if you wish. Yeah, Perez, guilty pleasure, but I hate him and the only comment I have ever posted was to tell him some info he had regarding tori a while back was the only worthwhile thing i'd ever seen him post, does that make it okay? And will someone PLEASE alert the world that Tyra Banks is NOT FAT DAMMIT TO HELL! That irritates the piss out of me and what kind of message is that sending to all the girls of the world? Huh? HUH?!?!?! If she's fat, they might as well just take me out back and shoot me. The girl is gorgeous and even if she's not eating disorder/cokehead thin like some other supermodels, (I myself would still DEFINITELY use the word "thin" to describe her) she's a beautiful woman with a great figure and, like all human beings, is unique and not without flaws. I am not even a fan of Tyra particularly, never watch the model show, don't follow her career, but I know enough to be able to say the girl is NOT NOT NOT NOT FAT! It's times like this I abhor our media and large numbers of our superficial society. (le sigh. rant over, forgive me.)

But I digress.... Twice. I will surely purchase the new CD and will do my damndest to get to her show, who knows how long she'll be touring, but I'm a MILF?!?! I do hope I'll read a wonderful explanation in Rolling Stone or elsewhere.

As for our contest winner, as promised, a Tori-B-side-recognizing medal will be awarded in the form of a special gift from me, but I shan't post details of it until she has it in her hot little hands. The second stolen quote was taken from one of my most favorite movies ever, Drop Dead Gorgeous. The amazing and talented Allison Janney is visiting equally fabulous and lovely Ellen Barkin's mobile home (up until being told to leave) and asks the mock/documentary crew for a ride home (she's a bit... friendly with the boys.) It goes like this:

Allison: One-a you boys wanna gimme a ride home?

Ellen: Don't fall for it, she lives 2 trailers down!

Allison (unflinching): C'mon, it'll be real easy! C'mon!

Now, I happened to find a copy of the screenplay, which says the line is "So, it'll be real easy" and I wholeheartedly disagree and will now have to re-watch it for the 40th time. I'll get back to you. If I find I am incorrect, I will post yet another insanely obscure contest opportunity. Congratulations to Darlene!

Darlene also shared this HYSTERICAL toon from Franklin aka the panopticon. I nearly wet myself.

I've only discovered his blog recently, so didn't see it until she brought it to my attention, YAY! I totally e-mailed it to the Walker Treasury Project Staff I hope they don't get offended. I'm working on the Roman Rib Stitch for the project now, I only have like 10 rows left, but it's been cast aside for more pressing projects. Good thing I have 3 months. Cast aside should be officially made a knitting abbreviation, I think, since BO (blown off) is already taken. oh crap, is CA cable? ech, whatev.

Ok, some knitting pics, and then I must depart. First, I am working on a toe-up jobbie out of some ArtYarns Supermerino that I bought to make an afghan square with and didn't like it.... for that. For this sock, though, I'm totally digging it. I was just working on it as a side thing, but BFF expressed love for them when she saw me working on them and since her birthday is coming up and all and she never asks me to knit her anything or says yes to anything I offer to knit her, and I am not saying that in a bad way, I heart BFF more than I could ever put into words, but who else would I want to knit for but those I love the mostest, right, so I'm all what about this? how about this? this? and you know, it's probably ugly shit a lot of the time, but I have to ask, right? (giggle) Anyway, it tickles me that she wants something. (Note to BFF: I heart you SO SO SO SO MUCH and I *SO LOVE* that I'm making socks for you!!!!!) I am using the moss rib from Thuja but didn't like it when I started it as the pattern was written. I had the full cuff and half the foot done and ripped ripped ripped. No offense at all, I think it's an awesome pattern, but the 6's didn't work for me and I realized it too late and came to the realization that I really want to do toe-up socks. I've got everyone at the LYS working on them and there I was working on some cuff-down Jaywalkers (which I still freakin LOVE regardless of cast-on orientation, but they're on 2s and I wish they were magic loop now (they're not) and sometimes I just need bigger needles, you know?) The 5s are working way better for me, and I'm using the Universal Toe-Up Formula and hey, I've finally mastered magic loop!!!! HURRAH! I call the color Hot Air Balloon, but I think it's actually called #146. I like mine name way better.


something else I really dig is how cool this rib looks on the inside. i love that.

i've got about an inch to go to the heel, should go pretty quick from there.

in other knitting news, there's another baby on the way! audrey had Ann Norling's Infant Set II made up as a store sample and I really loved it, so I'm going with that. With 6 months to go, I scooped up 10 balls of KP's Superwash in Aloe hoping that I will break the late knit gifts habit I have (hoping to break it this month actually ;-)) if given enough notice. I LOVE this stuff. I read some reviews about it at KnittingHelp and went with it based on that. I actually find the hand of it to be quite similar to the luscious Art Yarns Supermerino. It knits up beautifully.

Here is my pattern swatch, first on 6s for the sweater then 8s for the blanket.



and look i even started the sweater! (giggle)



I think I'm going to go up to 9s for the blankie, as the pattern calls for a loose knit with DK weight on 8s and Swish is WW.... I like the look of the 8s, though, we'll see, but I need some more KP tips as the P2togs already drive me bonkers, need pointier needles bad. That might be the combined knitting making it tight though, who knows.

Ok, all this talk of knitting has me itching to.... you guessed it, play some baseball.

KB out.