Knit Addictions

slowing down, loosening up.

I bought Elizabeth Zimmerman's book "Knitting without Tears". Wow. Very eye-opening stuff. I've already loosened up my knitting. I've also mellowed my attitude and realized it's not a race. I tend to get so competitive and want to finish everything yesterday. It brought me back to why I like this habit in the first place!

So there I was, reading my new book in my old teenage bedroom at my parents house in Minnesota. For some reason, the bedrooms are quite cold so anything that is exposed, is pretty cold. Being a nifty knitter, I grabbed my scarf and wrapped my head in it so I could keep reading! Lovely! I actually fell asleep like that. Knitting book in hand, knitted scarf on head. Hilarious.

The snow on the ground and windchill in the air are seriously preventing me from exploring the LYS. Plus, my work load doubled. Even when I'm here I still use my mom's computer and my cell phone and sell travel. So, alas. I am thinking I won't make it to Zandy's. :-(

My mom is doing very well from her cataract surgery. Her eyesight has improved tremendously in that eye. Meanwhile, my dad is taking the heavy pain pills for his pain so he sort of fades in and out of conversations. He still chirps up with a wry comment once in a while to keep all of us on our toes.

ON THE NEEDLES: I unraveled my scarf and restarted it with Vogue Magazine's pattern for a cool scarf using a ribbed border that you finish and then turn sideways and knit into with a seed stitch. It's the first piece I knitted into and it was a breeze. I am loving it so much more now. I'm glad I restarted it!

The dreams of other projects sometimes overwhelm me. Yarns fade in and out like butter and sugary confections. I want to gobble them all up at once! The new book is definitely helping me to realize it will all get knitted.....ONE STITCH AT A TIME.

Mood: happy but overworked, hungry......no STARVING! and desperate for a cappuccino.

oh. speaking of which. Bam told me our beloved cap machine is leaking like crazy. this is very bad news. very bad news indeed. life without cappuccino is no life at all!!!!!!

I won the lottery!

Well, the knitting lottery anyway! My wonderful mother in law has a neighbor that was moving out and she was going through all of her stuff and apparently, this neighbor did not want her stash of yarn anymore. So my mom-in-law sent it to me. Not only is it 100% mohair.......but loads of it is PINK! I cannot believe my good fortune. Now, I haven't actually seen it yet myself. Bam opened it up while I was on the phone with him. He said there was loads of pink mohair, some bright turqoise mohair and some other stuff in white he didn't know how to describe just that it was all beautiful! wow!

In the meantime, I took my mom to the surgery this morning for cataract surgery. Windchill is -25 F and it's damn cold. I was so glad to have my scarf!!!!! I sat in the waiting room and knitted the whole 3 hours wait. Yawn. I am working on yet another scarf. Some yarn called "Denim" by Sirdar. I saw it in San Fran and just fell in love with it. Off white with bits of dark blue and tan ....will look lovely with tshirt and jeans.

I'm trying to work as little miss travel agent but it's so hard here. it just doesn't feel right. I have to go shop for some food for dinner and feed the family tonight and I'm dreading the drive in the cooooolld!

Well, I must go dream about my new yarn stash awaiting my arrival.

Maybe some cappuccino at Caribou .........yawn.

Knitting at 35,000 feet

I'm gettin' on a jet plane in 4 hours. I know I know, I have to finish packing and make like a tree and LEAVE! Or as the Irish bartender with Turrets in Boondock Saints says, "Make like a tree and get the F*** outta here!" He is always mixing up his metaphors and combined with his Turrets....well, it's damn funny.

So, I'll be working away on my dad's scarf yet again. Good place for it as it requires uninterrupted knitting.

Finished Bam's black roll brim hat last night. Made it from Onyx Lambs Pride Bulky. It looks cool but here's the deal. That stuff is a little too itchy for hats. I was going to build up a stock of Lambs Pride basic colors but after reading some fellow yarn floozie's blogs, I may switch to Plymouth. I'll do some more research for softer wool blends. Anyway, the bulky stuff was TOO bulky for this hat but I got it on ebay for dirt dirt cheap so it was good practice!

Knitted to "How To Steal a Million" last night. We were in a Peter O'Toole mood. So much in fact, that we broke down and rented it on VHS. (I've become a DVD snob!) Audrey Hepburn is her cosmopolitan gorgeous self in this one!!!!

Bam stayed up and watched the second flick in the O'Toole festival: My Favorite Year. A Truly Awesome Comedy!

Right then. I'm off to pack!
Mood: dreading airport security. (they always rip me apart!) But looking forward to knitting on the plane.

Confession: I've packed two bags for the sole purpose of bringing along waaaaaaaaay too much yarn and every needle I own. I just couldn't decide!

deep breathing cures habits

Well, I survived the worst headache. I guess it was a migraine? Anyway, I've since given up sugar yet again. Ah well. It's worth it to not feel that intense pain.

On an addictive note.....my yarn floozie addiction was put to the test. I went to not one, but two yarn shops yesterday. First, I visited the Happy Hookers Too in North Hollywood. They were very sweet and I found some nice "denim" yarn that I saw up in San Fran. I figure if I keep dreaming of a yarn, then it's okay for me to get it. I also picked up some really cute sock shaped point protectors. Looks adorable on the end of the needle! very funny.

The amazing part was when I went to La Knitterie Parisienne for my third (or fourth?) time. I perused the unbelievable stock and deep breathed my way back out without spending a single cent. I think it was probably due to my headache but I'm still proud of myself and my bank account is very happy with me. After all, I've got loads of yarn just sitting here now.

I'm off tomorrow to Minnesota. Checked the weather - looks like snow and a windchill of -20F! holy cow! Good thing I finished my scarf!!!!! I'll be knitting on the plane. Not sure just what yet but something.

Of course, I'll have to visit the LYS out there: Zandy's. Went there once before and memory tells me they have a very nice selection of Lamb's Pride. One can never have too much of those nice solid wool blends, can one?

Mood: relieved my headache is gone.

Hat Therapy

Excuse #1: I had a really really bad headache and just couldn't concentrate on my work.
Excuse #2: I am leaving for Minnesota next week anyway so why bother working really hard today.
Excuse #3: Knitting is therapy for my soul.
Excuse #4: Hey.....I DON'T NEED AN EXCUSE.............I'M SELF-EMPLOYED!!!!

Of course, that doesn't help if I don't make any sales therefore, not making any money! ha!

But enough of reality.

The unfinished hat was calling me. Share.........come and knit me done.

So I responded and finished it.

Okay, all you pros out there will probably think it's bloody crap. But it's my first black knit cap. So I love it. Bam helped a lot of course, and because I was chicken of dpns, I did it on straight needles which left a long seam and a long tail. He took all the ends and braided them together and then I added some beads that a friend had used for a bracelet which had recently fallen apart. The beads are the symbols we used to use for our band:
HEART
SKULL
LIPS
STAR

So now, I am wearing the official Bubble hat.

One other flaw.........hmmmmmmm.........it feels a bit tight. My headachy condition isn't helping and after 4 advil today (I'm totally against that stuff but at times, it's that or cry all day)....well, I still feel like my head is 300 pounds heavy and my eyes are super puffy. For someone who eats as healthy as I do, it's pretty annoying. Maybe I"m just worn out? anyway, the hat is a little tight. I followed the pattern for a large adult head but I'm sure my gauge was off. (it always is!)

Picture coming up shortly.

hats and cappuccino and travel clients!

The day thus far:
phone started ringing with travel client's assistant to make arrangements right away.
This is on behalf of a client of my friend, Ric who is in Thailand right now. So all his calls forward to my phone. Problem is.......he works from 5 in the morning until midnight EVERY DAY! I am a normal person who likes to spend time with her hubby, has a band, and I have this knitting addiction, so my hours are very very different!

anyway.........

I dove in to this guy's files online and found the necessary info and booked everything within an hour. whew.
Then the assistant phoned back.
please add the wife and daughter.

Phoned the airlines and hotel which now all put me on endless hold.

Kept getting call waiting beeps from other clients. Some of Rics, some of mine. All with weird questions....do I need a passport to go to St Lucia? Can I credit my credit card and send a check instead? What is my confirmation number again? oy vay.

Meanwhile, I've had two cappuccinos. Had to run to the loo after finally hanging up with the hotel in New York.
Bam made us a gorgeous omelette with Spanish bacon and olive tapenade. Can you say SPOILED?

And still, my almost done knit hat plagues me and prevents total concentration on these bookings.

The pattern said to end with K2 tog. Well that's just fine. But I still have like 8 stitches left over just sitting there? I think I will K1, K2 tog until I just have the two stitches.

Anyway, I've got calls to make and trips to book.

Oh. Did I leave out the lovely hang in the backyard dreaming about our new album being huge? yah. See, this way, we can travel the planet again. Only this time around, I will knit on all those airplanes instead of just reading books! Imagine all the knitting I could've done on those loooooooooong bus journeys across Europe! OH MY GAWD!

Bam has mixed 7 of the 10 tracks for the new record. It is making my ears bleed. Everytime I hear a mix I think, damn? is that me? But then we rehearse and it is really us. The band sounds the best it's ever sounded. Shit hot and a bit evil. The two Les Pauls are screamin now as Luke and I are getting more comfortable with each other's playing.

Dreaming of knitting during the day, playing my Les Paul every night.
I.......want to rock n roll all night.
And knit and purl all day.

Eat that Gene and Paul. LOL!!!!!

Last night's film: some weird foreign flick: Everybody's Famous. Started off being just downright weird. But actually got pretty funny.
But the downfall happened at 11:45 pm. We decided one flick just wasn't enuf and hopped in the van to Blockbuster and rented that ole laugher: There's Something About Mary. Good physical gags ..a bit weak in some ways....but still kinda funny.

Pics of stuff! Plus a tip for a needle bag!

Hidden tip in the pictures........if you are desperate for a cool bag for your knitting needles, go to a Music Store and get yourself a drumstick bag! Totally works and they come in all types of cool materials etc.

Here is the picture story of my knitting life!

The yarn floozie's corner!

Here's my fave piece so far, Bam's punk scarf.

A close up of the skull beads in each corner.

Bam modeling the scarf for me.

The yarn used for Bam's scarf is the one on the left - Zebra colorway. Combined with black Sirdar Snowflake. Very messy cool look.

Every rock n roller's dream knitting needle bag (an old drumstick bag I made for Bam 7 years ago).

The scarf I am finishing for my trip to Minnesota next week.....brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

The needles Bam MADE for me!

The scarf for my mom that was a disaster at first because I didn't know you had to carefully open a hank and then wind it into a ball! Ha! It was a GIANT knot at first but I persevered and eventually got it all untangled. I think it was worth it as it's quite lovely for a lovely mum!

The lovely lamp mannequin wearing my mom's scarf! Does anyone else love this corner as much as I do?

Well, back to my cappuccino. The question at hand now is.........which movie will we watch tonight while I knit on the couch? Last night was a superb little indie gem - Maybe Baby! Excellent stuff. Very funny and with Joanne Lumley in it, too! (Ab Fab fame)

right or left or wrong or inside out!

Well, I've gone back to knitting correctly! I guess my transgression was merely lack of attention and not having any real life in person lessons. The right way does feel better to me and I'm flying along now even with a ribbed stitch! K2, P2.

Scarves in progress:
mine - 80% done. nice white/tan/brown speckly yarn. skinny scarf with the ribbed thing goin on.

dad's scarf - this thing never gets done! the yarn is so pretty but i bought it before i understood GAUGE! lesson being.....a bazillion stitches to the inch takes a long time to knit a scarf up. egads. little miss impatient here. but it is about 70% done depending on how long i decide it should be.

the BAM other scarf - .......hmmmmmmmm........this one has been unraveled like 5 times. I started with a ribbed stitch and was doin' it wrong. Got that together and hated it with this gorgeous cashmere yarn. So then switched to standard big ole needles and garter all the way. still don't really like it. ????!!! should I unravel yet again? I'm on the last skein so it would be a lot of unraveling. But darn it. I'm just not happy with it.

scarf that has fallen away...........the pink one. Blossom yarn by Trendsetter. Super super soft yummy stuff. I guess it looks too kidlike for me and I've kinda lost interest. I'll get into it again.

Scarves to make:
Step son: MAX. red/black stripey. 11 years old so not too long.
Step daughter: CHARLOTTE. pink/black stripey. 19 years old. English and oh so cool. Not sure on length but whatever is cool and trendy and she deserves the hippest.
Step daughter: SAMANTHA. she hasn't said what color yet. 17 years old. English and stunningly pretty. Should lean towards gentle colors has her skin is so pale.
Step daughters sister: EMMA. she is 8 or 9 years old and very fun. wants rainbow colored scarf. Should I do stripes or find rainbow yarn? bright or pastel? these are the questions that plague me at night.
Band mate: LUKE. fellow guitarist in the band. wants red/black stripey. skinny and not too long.
Hubby: BAM. wants another scarf. But this one to be thin and skinny. Black, of course.

ALSO.......have to find simple pattern for baby hat. For fellow rockers Nigel and Angie's daughter: CHARLY. in baby colors. I got dpn needles but totally gripped with fear as to starting the darn thing.

work is taking up a lot of energy. Band is rehearsing in one hour. So I gotta split and go rock it out on my Les Paul. Bam has been mixing the album and he's really got it now. He is actually remixing it as he didn't like the first set of mixes. After much debate, he's actually moved his computer into the studio so he has everything he needs in there.

MOOD: tired but hopeful.
CONFESSION: the stitch n bitch book is next to my bed! Everynight I gaze at it to fall asleep.

Skullalacious!

I have officially finished Bam's scarf! It looks killer! He wore it to our gig in Anaheim yesterday and got loads of comments on it. I added fringe today and strung four skull beads on to the corners. Fait accompli! It truly is a 'piece'. My first real one where I started with a vision and ended with something that actually resembled what I had in my head.

Super close up of the skullalacious scarf!

Very cool!

My mother-in-law told me today that she is sending down some mohair yarn that a neighbor didn't want anymore. Can't wait to check that out!

In the meantime, Bam mailed up her scarf and the one for my dad-in-law, too. Of course, I was lame and didn't take any pics. But the important thing is simply that they like them. :-)

I've ordered some onyx lambs pride bulky from ebay as I have a lot of requests for stripy scarves. Luke and Max both want red/black stripes. Charlotte wants pink and black and so do I. And well, really, the black will not go to waste with the rock n rollers that I know.

I do have one entire hank of the stuff I used for Bam plus another color way of the same ribbon tape yarn. I did some research on getting a winder and swift. I'm not looking forward to putting it all into balls. yuk.

On a music note.........the gig was good. We drew a big crowd and overall we played pretty well. It felt awkward on stage because the dude working the desk had no clue as to how to crank up the monitors, so for us, it was basically instrumental! But we saw loads of video footage of the show and we were acting like we could hear okay and I sang pretty well considering the no monitor situation.

I am a yarn floozie.
I am a yarn floozie.
I am a yarn floozie.

There. I've admitted it now.

rock n roll!

I am sooooooooo excited. Bam and I were further discussing his scarf. We both decided it just was 'too nice' for him. He just doesn't look right in things bought from shops like Nordstroms or Macy's. He is so pirate like. So we were talking about making a scarf that looks like it's made from rags.

Well, after yet another trip to La Knitterie Parisienne where I scored this awesome hand-dyed ribbon tape by Colinette. Then I thought if I mixed it with a furry black yarn....Yes! So I showed it to the owner, french owner, Edith and she was a little shocked that I wanted to mix these two yarns together for a scarf. I had to explain that it was for a rock n roll punky scarf. She peered down at me over her pince nez and said I would need size 36 needles! I found the huge suckers and voila! The coolest scarf in the world is almost complete after a mere 3 hours knitting. There was the time spent winding the hank into a ball but hey, "what's eating gilbert grape" made the time fly for that.

Knitted the thing during Blowup. (60's film) very mad!

I know I simply must take photos of it. I plan on it this week.

gotta run!