Whats the password?

I haven't posted to the blog in so long because I forgot my password...seriously. I've been doing some cool stuff that I've wanted to post but I couldn't remember my stupid password. So I had it sent to my email account associated with it...but I haven't checked it in so long that they disabled it and took my password with it. Lucky me, today I decided to just sign in with random passwords that I've used in the past and thankfully one of them worked.

So back to the regularly (un)scheduled programming. I've decided to learn how to spin, very badly, and practice doesn't seem to be helping a lot right now. The purple dress is at the area for the steeks but the directions for the decreases have me totally stumped...so I started an afghan.

The Moderne Log Cabin by Mason Dixon Knitting, it was going beautifully...until it got hot. Stupid kind of hot, the kind where despite having air conditioning the thought of making a large wool afghan was just insane to even think about (I'm talking serious heat here, it was too hot to go to Disney).

Then came a small(ish) parade of ufo's that I'm not sure I'm willing to admit to. Mostly because I don't remember most of what I've started anymore. I know there was a fuzzy yellow sock that doesn't yet have a mate (Christmas) and about 6 hanging dishtowels from Mason Dixon Knitting the 2nd book. Mom's February Lady came back out of storage just a couple of days ago and already has most of a sleeve. And I may have had a small falling down in JoAnn fabrics the other day and may have bought enough wool to make a sweater for one of my favorite (and teeny) aunts on my dads side.

The wedding continues to come along, though planning it may drive me to drink. Thank goodness for the ravelry thread with it's excellent suggestions and tips, as well as stories of others to let me know that it's not just me. We now have invitations to hopefully mail out soon and a list of people to mail them to.

I'm going on a cruise in a little over a week, and Brian has a huuuge inspection (around the same time) for work. We're going to be attending the Not so Scary Halloween party at Disney with mom and dad as the Rubbles and the Flintstones, so that'll be fun

Oh, and we're buying our first house. Like we didn't have enough stress.... It's been a very interesting month or so since the last post, and lots of knitting has been initiated, just for stress relief. Unfortunatly my living room is trashed with UFO's, feels like Men in Black over here.

Irony

I don't know why it has taken this long for the irony of the blogging situation here to catch up with me. I am an avid blog reader, and am often crushed when my favorites don't update frequently. I understand that they have lives (and many of them are writing books that are keeping them busy) but I still want them to post. So of course I haven't posted anything since April. Even though I'm sure nobody reads my posts, I still haven't tried. And I have very little in the way of excuses to offer. I'm not writing a book, not gestating or caring for an infant, don't have a social life. So what are my excuses? I helped renovate and moved into a real house, I've been trying to work as much as earthly possible, and I've been knitting. Notice I don't say I've been finishing. So onto the knitting content I actually have photos of:

This is my take on the moderne log cabin from Mason Dixon Knitting (the first book). The yarn harlot is knitting one too, and that sparked my desire to have a new afghan for the living room. Enter a great sale on Ebay and a project is born. It is further along than this, but I haven't taken a photo with my real camera (phone pictures tend to suck) to post it anywhere yet. The little purple dress is much larger, but sadly has been neglected since it has been my work knitting, and work has been slammed, or nonexsistant. Poor little kid is going to outgrow it before it's even close to being finished (that would be a motivator for most normal people, me, I find myself wondering if I know another little girl that will fit it).

New Toy

My dream of having a digital SLR camera has finally come true! I haven't been able to take many pictures with it yet, what with having no children and the cat being unwilling to play along. But my knitting always cooperates, and here is the christening gown after what feels like a month of knitting.

Not bad eh? Thats about 5 maybe 6 inches, only 10-15 more to go (I can't believe I just had to type only 10-15 more inches...seems like a nightmare) So far so good, the pattern has been easy enough to memorize, and at this rate will probably be forever burned into my brain. Surprisingly this ease of memorization has made this a very portable project, you wouldn't think so to look at it, but it actually travels very well.

Speaking of pattern, here's a closeup of the lace, formerly impossible without creative editing, but thanks to Nikon, here it is. And this much has been knit from 1 skein of Knit Picks sock yarn, I joined the new ball right after this little photo shoot was finished. I just hope my friend loves this thing, I'm trying to keep it a surprise until it's finished.

I'm also working on the Spring 09 Mystery Shawl by Goddess Knits, no pictures of that yet though, haven't finished the first clue yet. This is the pattern that will hopefully keep me from going postal from knitting the same lace repeats over and over and over for 15-20 inches. So far so good, I'm still enchanted with both projects. Renee does such a fantastic job with these mystery projects that this is my 4th! Granted, I haven't finished my Halloween one yet, but thats only because my crochet hook for the beads is MIA and I haven't had time to make it to the store to get another one small enough. Pictures of the current MS in progress to come soon hopefully.

Treading Water

Folks, I find myself in a hole. One that I just keep trying to dig out of, and I keep giving myself bigger, and bigger shovels. It all started with an idea, my friend was searching for the perfect christening gown at the mall and was shocked by the outrageous prices. I casually mentioned that I could make her one for less than they wanted for even the simplest of dresses....which would be where I started digging. I half heartedly looked up some patterns, didn't find any that really did anything for me, so I grabbed a big ol shovel full of dirt and cast on a prototype of my very own.

And here it is, in all of its acrylic glory...not. The reaction was lukewarm, despite assurances that the "real" version won't look like this one. For example, the "real" version would be made of cotton or wool (or blend) and would be longer....and actually have a relationship with the size of the baby (unlike the prototype, which is smaller than newborn). The idea was abandoned for quite a while before crunch time started setting in.

Now the next time we went over, she hands me a bigger shovel and says "can you still make that christening gown?" To which I reply that of course I can, lets look for a pattern. And she falls in love with a Dale of Norway pattern that is very delicate lace. But she doesn't want long sleeves, and she doesn't want it the full length (thank goodness, 30" of skirt is Alot). But she does need it by May 24, which leaves me little under a month to get it done.

Fast forward a bit to yesterday, when the yarn finally arrives (and is perfect, thank you knit picks) and I cast on 480 stitches and....wait for it, join them to work in the round....without twisting. That was an experience that I think turned some of my hairs gray. Couple that with pet sitting and a very curious german shepard that has become my bff, and it really gets interesting. But so far so good, we have success and have almost 6 rounds done so far. But because it really can't go this smoothly, the join on my lovely knit picks interchangable circ is coming loose from the needle. So I need to transfer 480 stitches to another one before this one falls apart and takes my sanity with it (so help me, I am not re casting on for this). I think I need to stop digging...

The Curse of the Pink Sweater

Ok, so while we were in Key West my mother and I stumbled on a little yarn store (fine, I looked for one online before we got off the ship, no judging, lol) and since my mother had fallen in love with my sweater she decided to buy some yarn for one of her own. I was thrilled that the owner even printed out a copy of the pattern for me so I could start right away. We got back on the ship and I immediatly cast on a gauge swatch so this thing would fit my mother. I had carefully measured her chest circumference and noted that it was the size small. Which, no offense mom, seemed a bit odd. My mother is not a large woman by any chance, but I was thinking more of the medium route for her. Anyway, I decide to let the gauge swatch decide and so began on size 8 needles. Swatch was odd, nothing seemed to match up, but I figured whats life without a little risk and cast on the size small on size 8 needles. Knit all the way through all of the increases with no issues, but did happen to note that maybe the buttonholes weren't going to work out the way they had with mine. There wasn't going to be enough garter stitch top to have 3 buttonholes (which really should have been my first clue). Ignored it, and decided to try it on mom anyway....lets just say that the sweater hit the frog pond going 100 mph. It wasn't even close, heck, it wasn't even close to being close. I decided medium size on an upsized needles would work. Cast on for 2nd attempt, misread 3 rows for 3 ridges (actually 6 rows)...frog again. Cast on for 3rd attempt, knit along perfectly happy for about 3 inches. Begin thinking about button colors....realize that button holes are kind of important to the presence of buttons, frog again. Cast on for 4th (and hopefully final) attempt. So far so good, we're clipping along at a good pace, am getting to the point now where I need to measure the progress against mom to make sure it'll fit. Fingers crossed all, I don't think I can take another disappointment.

Another Year Older

Today is my 23rd birthday and has been one of the best birthdays I can remember. My good friend kidnapped me for the day and took me to the local science musuem to see the Bodies exhibit (which I would show you, but cameras are a HUGE no no). It was interesting and fun, but we had her infant daughter with us (the recepient of most of the latest knitwear produced over here) and she wasn't as impressed with the display and decided to voice a complaint very loudly about halfway through. So we took turns soothing and trying to get the most out of the thing while trying not to make eye contact with the many older citizens. Many of whom just moments before had commented on how beautiful she is and now looked about ready to kill us both. Oh well, was still fun. Went out to lunch afterwards and then I trekked home. No knitting accomplished today unfortunately, but boy do I have a story about moms pink sweater (I think its cursed) but that will have to wait for tomorrow.

Flaming out on Re entry

Ahhh, nothing like leaving on vacation and knowing that you don't have to do anything but relax for a whole week, except coming home and sleeping in your own bed...

And there is where we were all of last week, the Disney Magic. Gorgeous ship, great food, great people, great time....glad to be home anyway.

And here we both are with the ship, the color of the water still amazes me, looks fake doesn't it?

We did the Western Caribbean, Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Castaway Cay (Disney's private island). I managed to finish my sweater in time and actually wore it on the first day on board. Its kind of a crappy picture, but its the best I've got with the sweater actually on. And I was right, my mom loves it so much that she decided that she just has to have one of her own. I enjoyed knitting it so much that I told her if she bought the yarn I'll make the sweater. Guess I better watch what I promise because I found the yarn store of Key West (and some great sock yarn) and she found some Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece for a February Lady of her very own. She wants it with the sleeves though, so that will make it different and interesting.

Here is the fledgling sweater with the blanket lobster provided by the awesome gentleman in charge of keeping the room tidy. Had some gauge issues at first, knit a swatch with size 9 needles like mine was and gauge was waaaay off, like into outer space off, this wasn't going to be a sweater, it was going to be a house cozy. So I switched to 8's, still way off, but in the other direction, now it was going to be a sweater fit for an infant... Blocking the swatches seemed to help the smaller one expand, but not enough, so I decided to remember that gauge swatches often lie and go with the smaller of the 2 needles (swatch? What swatch? I don't see a swatch anywhere...) Here it is reaxing on deck in one of the comfy old school loungers. This is one spoiled sweater folks, in its young life its traveled to all of the islands we visited, seen 3 broadway style theater shows and been to 2 movies, one of which is still in theaters on land. Its gotten to relax on deck and at the beach at Castaway Cay...its going to be disappointed when it realizes I don't always live that way.
Speaking of Castaway Cay here are some cool pictures we took with the underwater camera:
Here we are getting ready to take the plunge to go snorkeling in the shockingly cold water.

And here we are under the sea with Mickey in the Castaway Cay lagoon. It was Brian's first time really diving like this so he had to experiment a bit before he got it, but it finally clicked.

Taking a quick rest with the ship in the background. Snorkeling is seriously good leg exercise, but I got a really bad muscle spasm halfway back to shore and ended up taking off my left flipper. Ever try to swim with only one flipper? It makes you feel so lopsided, so I ended up ditching both and trying to swim in without them...which didn't go well. Thankfully the water isn't deep once you get past a certain point, and also thankfully I was past it. Unfortunately most of the ocean floor on the way in is covered in thick, slimey sea grass, and I seriously hate sea grass. So in a moment of serious personal growth I ended up walking back through this virtual forest of sea grass in my bare feet! Only losing my cool for about half of the time, not bad considering.

To make a long story short, we had a ball, but are glad to be back home. Where you can flush the toilet in the middle of the night and not worry about waking the planet (it seems stupid, but the on board toilets sound like jet engines taking off) and having a real shower that isn't the size of a postage stamp. Now if only the room would stop rocking.....

Bon Voyage

Tomorrow is the day, we leave for our very first cruise together (and his first time out of the US). I have packed more yarn than I think I will need and have been browsing the free patterns on Ravelry for patterns. Is it pitiful that I have chosen all baby patterns to bring with me (except for socks) considering that I have no children yet? But I have 2 little girlys to spoil with knitwear that aren't mine and I consider it an honour to make them cute little outfits and accessories. And one lives up north where knitwear is more nessecary than cute like here in FL. Hopefully I will be able to relax on board with my ipod, books and knitting and just enjoy myself. Here goes nothing!

Victory

Is finally mine! I have finished the February Lady Sweater last night, with an entire 2 days to spare. I am so happy to have it finished (and it fits) that I can hardly stand it. This is my very first adult sweater, and I was so nervous about it. Especially sewing on the buttons, which I have no experience with except for on Sarah's sweater, and she's a baby and doesn't care. But I had to search for the perfect buttons and I wanted them to be sewn on right. Not too sure I did a good job, but I'm bringing extra yarn to sew them on again just in case. My mom can help me, she's the sewing queen.

Speaking of Sarah's sweater, here is a full body shot of little miss in her sweater, its got some room to grow in there (by accident) and because of this room to grow I'm thinking of making one for a good friend of mine who has a petite little girl that it might fit. I really need to find the book that has the various sizing options. Sorry if the picture is blurry, I was trying to get a smile inbetween her screaming and might have moved the camera in the process (its so much easier with a tripod and remote, must consider getting one). Also please forgive the pajama pants in the picture, I figured if I had to babysit then I was going to be comfy damn it. Especially if it was going to be at my own place.

Also pictured with Sarah (by accident actually) is one of the blankets I made for her. As you can see it has the opposite problem of the sweater and is quickly becoming too small. This is happening to both of the blankets I've made her, and thankfully can be remedied. So both are going to come on the cruise with me and I will knit on them while lounging around the boat tanning and relaxing. Thank goodness I have extra of the exact same dye lot, and think I might be able to get even more if I need it. And I may have started another pair of socks, and am contemplating starting another Feb lady with the extra yarn I have left over from mine, I have 2 whole skeins left and half of a third.

The More Nervous I Get...

The more I knit on my sweater. Which is good and bad, my hands are starting to hurt but I think I'm going to make my deadline for the cruise though.
Here it is, ever expanding, keeping my hands busy and my mind occupied. I even have buttons picked out for it now.

I'm reluctant to admit to how long it took me to pick these out, and I'm pretty sure Brian found them, or at least the area they were in.

And here's a preview shot of what they'll look like when they're sewn on (which they're not yet). I'm excited to finish, but seriously hope it fits. I don't know what I'll do if it doesn't, I've tried it on while its still on the needle, but its so bunched up at the bottom that its hard to spread out and see how it will really fit. I really should put it on a strand of waste yarn and try it on properly, but its such a pain to get back on the needles that I'm hesitant to do it. Maybe I'll work a few more rows of lace and then do it, make sure it's getting closer in length and fits ok. Granted, I don't know what I'm going to do if it doesn't, sit in a corner and sob I suppose.
My interview is tomorrow, fingers crossed it goes well, I would really like a job with this hospital and I would love the opportunity to learn something new. Oh well, back to knitting madly to keep me busy until tomorrow.

New Beginnings

Yesterday I graduated from nursing school with my Associates Degree in Nursing. It has been what feels like a long journey, even though the whole process has taken about 4 years...which is average. I have met extraordinary people and have made 2 wonderful best friends who had better keep in touch.

Here we are in cap and gown, 3 out of 4 from the 2008 LPN class graduating together. Its been a lesson in friendship for me, who has never really had girlfriends outside of elementary school. And I am honored to know these 2.

It was a day of mixed emotions. I was given the award for compassion (which shocked the hell out of me, we weren't told in advance) and had to get up on stage twice. I was just happy I didn't fall on my face, my heels were sooo high. Later while taking pictures with the diploma and award my future FIL noticed that they had misspelled my name on the award. It was to Ashley Crew...sigh. Oh well, they should be able to print me up another one.

On the knitting front I have pictures of the Baby Suprise Jacket before I sewed it up and gave it away

Here it is before, looking like some bizarre knitters version of a sea creature. I knew it would look funky, but was skeptical just the same that this would turn into a sweater.

Yet when I folded it like the diagram indicated, voila! It transformed from odd shaped thingy to totally sweet baby jacket. I was totally impressed and have had to restrain myself from knitting 30 of the things for everyone I know with babies. Makes me want to get the book with all of the sizing options.

And here is February Lady, finally made it through what felt like the endless garter stitch part onto the fun lace part. While doing the final increases across the back and seperating out the sleeves I had an interesting knit experience. I don't know what happened, but I'm going to document it here, maybe someone else will know.
I was instructed to increase x across the whole work (basically), I was to end up with 349 stitches...with me so far? I increased the prescribed number, carefully triple counting to make sure I had done enough. When I counted I had 350 stitches. Easy enough to fix later, just decrease one somewhere and we'll be good. I went on to put the stitches for the sleeves on hold as instructed and was doing fine, they were where they're supposed to be, but when counting stitches after the second sleeve I noticed that I was going to be short. Keep in mind, I started with one extra stitch, now I only have 37 left for the front, and theres supposed to be 40 something.... So now I'm having to increase the stitches that I thought I would have too many of. Did the stitch fairy come and take some away? I am perplexed, but the lace pattern is working out well so I'm not complaining, just confused.
Now I just have to hope that I can finish this beast by next Saturday, we leave for a cruise and I want to be wearing this the first day on board. Fingers crossed, is 6 days enough?

February Lady

Ok, I've been trying to resist the charms of this sweater, but the pull is just too strong. I was using the rationalization that I didn't have the yarn for it, but a gift card to Michaels totally killed that excuse. So here we are, at attempt number 1.
Looks ok right? It Lies! It is a full stitch per inch short of getting gauge, no matter how loose I try to knit. This must be the knitter denial I've heard so much about. Because I actually want this to fit, I knit swatches, measured carefully and was dismayed. Yet I cast on anyway and allowed myself to knit this far before finally accepting that it was going to be too small. I know its an easy fix, just go get a larger needle and start again. But the start again part just kind of stung, so I kept on knitting, the gauge monster looming over my head cackling with glee.
So I finally accepted the truth and this hit the frog pond at alarming speed, a few tears may have been shed since this bit represents half a day of knitting. Now that I've cast on I'm afraid that it will still be too small despite getting gauge. My chest measures 45" and the size I've cast on is the 44" size. But the next size up is 49.5" and I don't want it to be that big. 5.5 " is a lot extra, so I'm afraid. It'll work itself out though, I am waiting for the knitting goddess to smack me upside the head for continuing to knit. Remind me of this later when I have to frog because I took a risk and its way too small.

Finished!

With something anyway, even if it isn't the shawl I want to finish before the cruise, or the baby sweater I started a few days ago, or the socks I have to have finished before this Sunday for my future MIL's birthday. Yesterday was my last official day of nursing school. Some of my classmates have clinical hours to complete yet, but I am free and clear. Just have to go in for my final evaluation with my clinical instructor and go to graduation next Friday! Next on the agenda would be getting a new job. There is a local hospital that I am really interested in, I'm going to try and talk to their head of personnel today to see what we can work out. Needless to say I'm nervous. I am extremely shy (about some things, stop that laughing mom) and am terrified to go talk to this woman. But since the job I want isn't posted on their site, its not a choice really. Its the same hospital that I've had amazing experiences at this past 5 weeks as a student. So I am really excited to get the opportunity to work there for real. Anyway...time to get dressed for success!

ETA: Sarah's mommy sent me a picture of her modeling her new sweater. Doesn't she look adorable?

Christmas

Omg, its been so hectic around here that I actually forgot about the blog (that nobody really reads, so does it matter, but I digress). Which means that the blog didn't hear about what really awesome present I got for Christmas.
And there it is, I got a future husband for Christmas! My mom gave us her ring, and I planned to use her setting, but the jeweler told us that it was worn a little thin to be enlarging. So we just said forget it and got it reset. Took a little while to get used to having a ring on that finger, but now it's right at home.
Mom liked her Christmas shawl. I took a picture of her wearing it, but the picture is so horrendus that she would Kill me for posting it here. I took a better one with her camera, but she hasn't sent it to me yet (mom, if you're out there, hint hint). I also used her as guinea pig and made the Fiber Trends Felted Clogs in shades of pink for her enjoyment. But there was a slight problem in the felting process. They felted beautifully....they just kind of fell apart while doing it. Note to self; sew them up really, really well next time. But they were fun to knit and I hope she wears them at least occasionally. I have a feeling people will be getting lots of them for various celebrations next year.
School is racing along, who would have thought last Feb that I would say that? Now we only have 2 + weeks to go and I have 110 hours and 20 minutes of the 144 clinical hours that the state requires! Gonna be down to the wire, but it's gonna happen. My preceptor is amazing, she's been a nurse forever, but doesn't believe in taking shortcuts that aren't safe. She actually reminds me of my mom as a nurse, I hope to be as good as they are someday.
Oh well, back to HH (homework hell).