Blog of the Knittinator

2005-10-03T19:30:00.000-07:00

I WILL UPDATE SOON I SWEAR!

2004-05-30T14:31:00.000-07:00

Ok, I've been a BAD BAD Blogger!!!! Life has been crazy and I will soon have fun knitting and non-knitting news. In the meantime enjoy some pictures of my making weird faces while knitting arm warmers:

2004-05-11T16:41:00.000-07:00

I am so almost there!!!!

Where is there? Why to the blocking portion of my Boatneck shell of course. The front is done and I've gotten to the increase part of the back. So far all is going well. Better not say that or I will jinx myself....

This forced creativity thing was just what I needed because after a LONG designing drought I have all KINDS of ideas floating around in my little blondish head. I have a ton of scrap yarn not really usable for things one might wear (scratchy acrylics and the like) but which I think could be turned into a very cool bag (or several) of some sort.

This is totally not knitting related but can I just say the video for Muse's song Time is Running Out confuses me. I just saw it a few days ago and..... what? Maybe I'm just shallow and close-minded but I thought the song was about a relationship. Apparently I was mistaken. Not that music videos often have anything at all to do with the song for which they're made. Actually more often than not they seem to have nothing to do with anything, but th way in which they have nothing to do with anything kind of makes sense, you know? Like, there will be a song about death and the video features a girl running around in a field of bunnies. And you think "Bunnies? That has nothing to do with anything. *Shrug* Hand me another nacho would you?" The video makes no sense, but it doesnt seem to be trying to get anything across to you either. Except maybe that the director really likes bunnies.

However, in the video I felt like I was missing some sort of important message. But what? Is it a video about how corrupt the government can be? Why is the band standing on that big military conference table? What exactly is this conference all about? Is it concerning the relationship I thought the song was referring to? Are those black bras standard military issue? Are those girls over there Russian? Should I get out more? Really though, great video. I just wish it had been made for a song that goes along with it more.

Whatever, if I were so smart I’d be directing videos right?

My small-brained confusion aside I consider Muse to be great knitting music (Time is Running Out makes you knit at a pretty fevered pitch while Butterflies and Hurricanes is good for getting on a more meditative, yet still loud, knit). And even though I may not be exactly clear on what is going on in it, the video is really good. You should watch it, and pass me another nacho while youre at it.

2004-05-06T06:27:00.000-07:00

Since life is stressful these days I've been knitting like a fiend. The shell was deconstructed and is being reconstructed on size 6 needles instead of the original 7s. The guage is slightly tighter, the fabric is hanging more nicely and it looks like it's going to fit! Yay! I'm almost to the armhole shaping. If all goes smoothly (which it never does) I should have the thing done in a couple weeks.

In more knitting news, lets all welcome my friend Lauren into our ranks. She's just completed her first project. Behold! In all it's glory!

Congrats Lauren! I expect to see a knitting section added to your blog soon!

2004-05-03T06:14:00.000-07:00

So even though our last craft meeting was officially all about felt flowers there was a whole lot of knitting going on...

Mary was working on a Noro Shawl.

That yarn is SO pretty, Im really jealous of it.

She also brought a finished felted purse:

Im in love with that stripe pattern! Apparently she came up with it herself using
a mathematical formula. Maybe if I'm really nice she'll write it down for me....

Jenny (who is a proud new mommy!) is working on the Fireworks Scarf from Stitch
and Bitch.

The Knittinator hard at work on her Boatneck
Shell!!!

This was about two hours before I decided to dismantle it completely.

I had a picture of Melissa hard at work on a lacey type skull cap but for some reason it wouldn't upload. Grrr......

Don't we look like we're having fun? You know you want to join up too!

2004-04-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

Im officially losing my mind.....
As the lovely Melissa pointed out my knitting pin up IS indeed wearing thigh highs. The stuff pulled up under her boobs are her sexy sexy underpants. Well, that brings a whole new dimension to it. Its even better now than before!!

The shell is driving me crazy. As you know the gauge is correct but the shirt is going to end up being too big. On top of that Ive decided that I dont really care for the way the fabric drapes. So Ive decided on a new course of action; take the damn thing apart and start over on needles a size or two smaller. This should take care of the drapage issue as well as the size issue. Yeah yeah I know this goes against every knitting rule ever but Im a rebel man! You cant hold me down! Two sticks and a string! Punk rock! Oi oi oi!

Oh... right... sorry...

On another crafty note, The Atlanta Craft Group met yesterday evening. We had a good time socializing and making felt flowers. It was also the debut of my second novel; Stephie is Swell. See, Steph was having a bad day a few days ago so in order to cheer her up I made a book composed completely of stolen office supplies and a Creative Loafing. Very Macgyver. Its probably one of the ugliest things Ive ever made but she sure seems to like it as evidenced by this LJ post. I feel so happy and famous now!!

Crafty pics coming soon!

2004-04-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

I am officially losing my mind....
As the lovely Melissa pointed out my knitting pinup IS wearing thigh highs! The things up under her boobs are her ever so sexy undies. So maybe blogging at work is a BAD idea...........

The shell is driving me nuts. As you know its coming out too big, but now I've also decided I dont like the way the fabric is hanging. I think Ill take the thing apart and knit it on needles a size or two smaller. That should take care of the tension issue and the size issue all in one swoop. I know youre not supposed to do things such as this but man, I am a knitting rebel!!! Look out! You cant hold me down!! Two sticks and a string!! Punk rock! Oi oi oi!

Oh, right... anyway...

On a craftier note; A few days ago my friend Steph was going through a rough time so I made her a nice little book out of stolen office supplies and a Creative Loafing. Its seriously like the crappiest thing Ive ever made but she seems to enjoy it a lot because look! Awwww! Im famous for all the world to see! Steph also read the book to everyone at craft group last night. Photos coming soon!

2004-04-28T11:02:00.000-07:00

This is why people should not do early morning sneaky posts at work. Could I be any dumber? I'm glad I chose a simple pattern for my first project in a while or who knows where I'd be right now? Probably in a padded room somewhere with my head covered in big bald spots from pulling out my hair in frustration

Anyway, now that Im back on track the shell is going quite well thank you. Even though it's going to be too big for me to wear the color makes me exceedingly happy to look at.

Speaking of looking at things, check this out:

Isn't that cute in a very weird way? Why are her hos up over her stomach? That used to happen to me before I switched to thigh highs for all my leg coverage needs. I didnt pull them up that high on purpse though, it just happened just because Im not all that tall. I would never have had my picture taken in them. I found these via Glitter via Bitter Girl. WARNING: NOT WORK SAFE!!!!!

Enjoy!

2004-04-27T14:53:00.000-07:00

Heres a question for the ages....
WHO THE HELL STEALS THE RADIO FROM AN '86 VOLVO??? I understand that there are people out there who will steal anything, but cut me some slack, its a station wagon.

You must understand that I adore my car. It’s an '86 Volvo 740 station wagon, light blue with black interior. Fantastic! Her name is Bridgette and I love her in a way usually reserved for pets and children. I think it's because she's a very "me" car (I have been described as the quintessential Volvo Chick, and it's a badge I wear proudly). However, no relationship, regardless of how pure and true, is without fault. My biggest issue with Bridgett is the fact that her locks don't always lock properly. I never really saw this as an enormous problem but I guess I should have taken more notice of it because now I'm driving around with no radio. The run down: Some jerk got into the car, dumped out my dance bag, my glove box, the pockets behind the seats my knitting bag and then attempted to steal my radio. Attempted you say? I thought you said you were driving around with no radio? Well, I am because while they destroyed the console trying to get the radio out they weren’t able to. However, the radio had a removable face so they apparently contented themselves with that. Can you get any crueler???? So now I have a perfectly good radio that can't be used because the thing has no face. *sigh*. And to add insult to injury they took my disc man. Not the newer one that was sitting on the back seat but the 11 year old one covered in Starbucks Stickers that I got when I was 11. It has outlasted 3 new Sony ones and was still going strong. Oh Disc Man! I pine for you!

Fortunately no knitting was seriously harmed in the robbery. Just a little yarn tangleage. Had more damage been done I would have had to hunt the culprit down. He would have been fairly easy to spot I think, some person loping through Piedmont Park trailing yarn.

The boatneck shell is coming along decently. I've gotten to the armhole shaping and finally got around to checking my gauge just out of curiosity and it's spot on! I still think the shirt is going to be too big but I’m not really caring at this point.

Craft meeting tomorrow!! If you're in the Atlanta area make sure to join us!!! It's going to be mega fun as always!

2004-04-21T07:56:00.000-07:00

The Knittinator is back on track! I am actually KNITTING SOMETHING!!
I know you're probably thinking something along the lines of "Well, you ARE the Knittinator so why is this surprising?" Well, I have to say that I've been in a total personal, financial and (most sadly) creative slump lately. So this weekend I decided that life would look much better if I made something, anything. I chose the boatneck shell from Chicknits. Cute enough to keep my interest but simple enough not to overwhelm. The chosen yarn is Sirdar Snuggly in a FABULOUSLY bright pink (when one has been in a knitting slump one must ONLY knit in happy colors). I'm about halfway through the front and since I threw caution and gauge to the wind it looks like it will probably be too big.

Currently that doesnt bother me though. The yarn is bright and soft. Even if the shell turns out too big for myself or anyone else I know to wear it just feels good to be creating again.

2004-04-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

HOLY CRAP!!!! Why am I just now finding out about this?????????? The Complete 1st and and Seasons of Jem on DVD!!!!! WOW!!!! I can't wait to own it! Just think of the hours of knitting fun I will have while watching that!!!

To add to the fevered pitch I am in I just checked out the new Knitty! Some really cute patterns this issue! I haven't read the articles yet but I'm sure they'll be good as per usual.

Since I'm always trying to delve deeper into my psyche I have taken another quiz. This time to find out what fiber I am. Below are the breath taking results:

You are Mohair.
You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with
others, doing your share without being too
weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely
refuse to change your position once it is set,
but that's okay since you are good at covering
up your mistakes.

What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

AWWWWWW!!!!!!!! Go me!!!!!!!

2004-03-30T07:27:00.000-08:00

The Knittinator has always loved Crocheted food. I mean really, its food made of yarn, what more could you want? However the lack of knitted food has always been sort of saddened me. While the Feline Dim Sum from Knitty is quite cute, it isn’t really what I’ve been looking for. What I really wanted was a knitted hamburger, or possibly a knit grilled cheese. I've tried to come up with my own knitted hamburger, and I know that in theory it should be really simple but apparently the food knitting muse has not been with me. So I sank into a deep no knitted food related depression.

But then along came Naturallysteph from getcrafty. She has shown me the light at the end of the tunnel and here now, I pass the good word on to you curtesy of Boing Boing:

Its no knitted hamburger, it’s BETTER!!! It's an entire knitted breakfast platter, in hat and purse form!!! A knitted EGG!!! How great is that! Complete with crispy bacon and phallic looking sausage! Oh yeah, I will have some happy vegetarian friends real soon.....

"My preeeeecioooous...."

2004-03-27T13:29:00.000-08:00

Ok so can I PLEASE move to London now????
Apparently the British knitting group Cast Off hosted a knitting party at the Victoria and Albert Mueseum on Friday night!

"At the V&A there will be a talk about the history of wool and knitting accompanied by music performed on the knitting needles." Could we get a recording of that somehow??
Read the article here.

I dont know who this person is, but apparantly they have something to do with the knitting group. Can we be friends?

Ok, Im sooo envious!!!! I think we need to have a knitting group foreign exchenge program. it will be like foreign exchange programs in high school except we'll switch places with other knitters from around the world.... oooo...... Any takers?

2004-03-18T07:36:00.000-08:00

Yay!!!! Quizzes! I just took the "What color sock yarn do you prefer?" quiz. I think, that in true quiz spirit, it should have been modified to be "What color sock yarn ARE YOU?" but whatever. So here we go. Apparently....

What color of sock yarn do you prefer?
brought to you by Quizilla

Wow thats true! Amazing! I am all about the fruity colored sock yarn. Oh Quizilla! You know me so well it's uncanny! And "being childish is inspiring me.." A more true and deep statement has never been uttered. Engrish anyone?

2004-03-16T07:45:00.000-08:00

YAAAY!!! Could my template BE any cuter? I think not! My wonderous fabulous friend Lauren made it for me for my birthday! She is the epitome of woot!

Well, now that I've got a new template I guess Ive gotta add some new stuff!

You can never have too many pictures of you and your friends touching a dead man's bulge...

There really is a reason for this seemingly degrading activity. Read about it here. But even more important than that; see that pretty purple scarf Robins wearing? Yeah, I made that. And the pretty cabled dealie around my neck? Made that one too.

I have sold TWO of the scarves I've made from the yarn I got in Paris. Yay! I'm going to get pictures of them up as soon as possible.

2004-03-15T06:23:00.000-08:00

I should have a new template soon!!! Waiting till then to post more stuff!

2004-03-12T09:35:00.000-08:00

As promised I got some pictures!!!!

I don't have time to put many up now because Im at work (silly work, gets in the way of everything). However since this IS a knitting blog I figured the first pic I put up had better be a knitting one!

This is me (pre haircut) knitting in the Louvre next to Winged Victory. We were waiting for a friend to come from the bathroom so I just broke out the needles. Knitting in the Louvre is the ultimate in knitting dorkiness, and yet, how cool is that?

Let me just say those big needles made the security guard on duty REALLY nervous...

More to come!

2004-03-08T08:35:00.000-08:00

I have returned! All in one piece even! I bet you didn’t even know I was gone! You thought I was just slacking off again didn't you? Well I WASNT!

Ok well I kind of was, but I was slacking in a different country so it’s ok. In the days to come I will post a lot of pics of people you neither know nor care about as a means of chronicling my journey through Paris.

Even though I've been gone there is still knitting news to report! I found some really cool sort of lumpy yarn on my trip. I made a fabulous thin springy type scarf. Im going to make a bunch more and sell them to people. That’s right, FOR MONEY. They’re just THAT COOL. Pictures to come

2004-02-26T17:33:00.000-08:00

Can I just say I find it amazing what a creative genius I suddenly become when I have a ton of important things to do? Im leaving for Paris tomorrow. I need to pack, email a bunch of people, clean the house, clean out the car etc and what have I been doing all evening? Glueing fabric on a scientific notebook to make it into a travel journal. I mean, I NEED a travel journal if Im traveling dont I? And it really NEEDS to be covered in black t-shirt and camel fabrics. What does it matter that theres no possible way its actually going to be dry enough to take with me? Thats right, it doesnt! Because inspiration struck and when that happens you HAVE to follow through right that very instant even if the dishes are piled a story and a half high in the sink!

I got said scientific notebook on my obligiotry before-I-go-on-a-trip Wal Mart visit. I know, a lot of people who read this blog (ok, well, a LOT of people dont read this blog) have deep feelings of hate towards Wal Mart, and I can understand that. I know that I should despise the Wal Monster with all my crafty heart but theres just something about it. I get sucked in. Especially today! There were all these weird things on clearance. Like this little makeup pouch I bought. It has to be one of the most random hideously ugly things I've ever seen and I just HAD to have it. Its got a Venitian scene on it with these two guys that look like they came from the Amadeus poster who are COVERED in tacky sequins!!! Doesnt that sound great! And it was only $3.00! Im sorry, even a die hard Wal Mart hater couldnt have passed this baby up. Im taking a picture of it the SECOND I find the camera!

And in closing; has anyone else been attacked by Mary Kay representatives while shopping? What the hells going on? If you know please tell me!

2004-02-26T08:23:00.000-08:00

Yaaay! I changed the colors on the template! Added a picture too! How talented am I? It's hardly as good as something Steph could do but Im happy with its weird ugliness!

More fun! The pictures from last night have been posted!

Lookie its me!

I was not aware that pictures were going to be taken, so if you do look at the others, please ignore my state of rankness.

2004-02-25T18:45:00.000-08:00

Nevermind, back to the other template! One day i'm going to figure out how all this HTML crap works and actually make my OWN template!

It might not be knitting news specifically but I do have crafting news! Tonight I met with the Atlanta Area Crafting Group/Craft Goddesses (is that our official name?) for the first time! I'd wanted to go to the last meeting but was held up with dance obligations. This weeks craft was embroidery with patterns curtesy of Sublime Stitching. Good news; Aside from stabbing myself numerous times I don't suck half as bad as I thought I would! My project was a pillow case with a skull and cross bones (purple of course) embroidered on the hem. I had a great time and after they kicked us out of the Michaels I immediately came home to call/IM everyone I know to make them aware of my fantastic accomplishment. They werent half as excited as I was. Losers!

As soon as the pictures get uploaded Ill post the link so you can see all the embroidery flossiness!

2004-02-25T14:50:00.000-08:00

Hmmm... Seem to be having issues with the new template. Why is my tag board brown?? Not understanding!!!!!!!

2004-02-24T07:54:00.001-08:00

Dia dhuit!!! I'm trying to get things up and running again! I really don't care for this template but oh well, it'll do for now!

Sadly there isn't much knitting news to report. One of my coworkers wants me to make them a blanket and it's turning into a HUGE production. The yarn he wants doesnt come in the color he wants. Therefore I'm going to have to get creative and resourceful! Sadly (well, not really) there isn't much time to do so because Im going to France on Friday! Hurrah for me! That being said don't expect a lot of knitting content on here for the next few weeks, but soon I will return with all kinds of knitting goodness!!!

Until then lets take a peek at my newest obsession; RUGBY!!!!
Gaze deeply deeeeeeeeeply into the eyes of my future husband Carlos Spencer (or Speeen-sah if you're from his native land) of the New Zealand All Blacks and the Super 12 team The Blues (haha! Black and blue! I just realized that! Oh Carlos, you are too clever for words!)

Look at that kick! Wouldn't he make a fab Irish Dancer?

Contrary to popular belief I don't just like Rugby bc theres a lot of attractive men running around in shorts. I mean, the team I root for most is the Irish national team and theres not a whole lot attractive there. I love them anyway! I will stand by Ireland even when they get whupped by France! Sinne Fianna Fáil, Atá Fá gheall ag Éirinn, oh, sorry, got carried away there......

Damn it's good to be back!

2004-02-06T08:51:00.000-08:00

Stuff coming soon. Until then, go here.