September 5, 2007

Scared of Sweaters No More!

I've finally done it...I ventured into the land of sweater knitting. I've always been a bit scared to make a sweater because all of the patterns I've looked at seem confusing and intimidating. My good friends over at KnittingHelp.com though gave me the encouragement and push to finally just suck it up and go full force into knitting a sweater. This is the pattern that I decided to make, so I guess its really not full force since its a baby sweater. I figured it would be better to knit on a smaller scale until I got the hang of it. Its been going pretty well so far. I had problems seaming the shoulders together because I couldn't find a good technique so I just made it up. Yes, I winged it. It obviously doesn't look seamless at the shoulders but it does look decorative there and I figure the hood will cover it anyway...and I promise to seam the rest correctly. I'm working on the arms right now, I didn't like how the pattern had the garter stitch sleeves, so I'm knitting them in stockinette and putting a little garter border at the end. I just hope that the sweater fits Cammie, I'm going to give it to her for her birthday when I go out to visit in October! Here's a few pictures of my progress:




In other knitting related news, I am finally able to take some pictures of my swap goodies that I got from the KnittingHelp.com summer swap. I got such nice goodies and the prettiest pink socks! And I absolutely love the Romantic Knits book, I really can't wait to make something.


I've resolved myself to being a better blogger and making more frequent updates. Things have been crazy all summer with the move and everything, but now that I'm pretty much settled I should be better. I hope!

August 22, 2007

Back to Knitting and Such

I finally got back to work on My-so-called Scarf. Boy, its about time. I had a pretty long hiatus from knitting while I was getting everything together to move. I'm still in transition now from my old place to the new one since I can't move in until Sept. 1, so I'm staying at a friend;s place who is away until the end of the month. But at least I've been knitting again. I made a few dishcloths for my secret pal for the KH secret summer swap. They all reflected things that has to do with her. One had the British Isles on it (where she lives), one had a sewing machine (she loves to sew), and the third had a cat for her little kitty she loves so much. I hope she'll be happy with the package I sent. I had wanted to knit her socks but I was having trouble with the pattern, and had to keep frogging them. It just wasn't working out the way I wanted, so I decided to go for something more simple. My package was a bit late going out, since I was so distracted with moving and such, but it should get there by Monday, and I can't wait for her to know who I am. Very exciting.

In non-knitting related news, have I ever said how much I love being an aunt??? Well I do. You get to shop for all cute outfits and spoil her without all of the dirty work that mommy and daddy have to do (changing diapers, etc.). I only wish 10 month old Cammie was closer so I could see her more but the web-cam will have to do until I go out to Lake Tahoe to visit her for her first birthday. I just found out that she took her first steps this past weekend! Of course I think she's a baby genius! I only wish I could have been there to see it. When I'm out there in October she'll be walking all over the place! Here's a few of her most recent pictures to share:

Cammie spending the day at the lake

Walking along the shoreline with my brother

August 14, 2007

Ravelry

Yea!! After what seemed like waiting forever, I finally got my Ravelry invite. My name on it is Kaydee if any of you out there have it and want to look me up. I can't wait to set it up! I just have to make a Flickr account so I can upload pictures but the only problem is that Flickr is blocked at work, and I won't have a computer at home until I move into my new apt. on Sept. 1. I guess no pictures until then, oh well.

August 13, 2007

Its Been a Crazy Few Weeks

Whoa, its been almost a month! Too long. I've been in the midst of moving, well sort of. My lease was up Aug. 15th and I can't move into my new apt. until Sept. 1, so I temporarily moved into my friend's apt (who is in NYC for the next 2 weeks) until I can move into me new apt. I'm so glad to get away from my crazy roommate finally, but with all the stress of getting things together it hasn't left me too much time to knit. I've been working on socks for my secret pal (I really want to tell who she is, but not just yet!) and haven't been doing too well. I promise to get my package out to get this week since its going international, so I'm going to Windsor Buttons this afternoon to get a few odds and ends for her. Hopefully once everything is settled I'll get back to more knitting.

And in other news I have a small (okay, kind of long) rant. Sorry for the rant but I’m so annoyed right now. I have DirectTV at my apartment, and let me tell you I’ve had nothing but problems (it goes out every time it rains) and horrible customer service with them.

When my roommate had moved back to South Carolina in Jan. it was changed from her name to my name. Come to find out we were put into a 2 year contract because they gave us a DVR box. This is a problem because my roommates and I knew all along that we were only going to be living in the apt. for a year (for various reasons, one was only in school for a year, I was planning on moving in with a friend, etc.). My lease is up on Aug. 15th, and the new people are moving into our apt. Sept. 1. I called DirectTV to see if I could somehow get out of the two year contract but they said there was nothing they could do and that I’d have to pay $12.50 for every month early that I’d want to cancel it which comes out to $162.50. Ok fine. The girl did say though that if I wanted to change the account into the person’s name that is moving into the apt. that I could do that (just like how my roommate changed it to my name when she left).

I talked to more than one person and they all told me that all we have to do is have both of us on the phone together to give our info and verify that the account is being changed over. So I call up while I’m at work today so I can do a conference call with the girl who will be moving into my apt. I get to someone and she says, no we can’t do this for you. So I ask to speak to her supervisor and she says “fine I’ll transfer you to her but she’s gonna tell you the same thing”. Whatever. I get to the supervisor and she tells me that in to way are they supposed to do this. I proceed to tell her that it was changed over into my name back in Jan. and she tells me that whoever did it wasn’t supposed to. “So then I shouldn’t be held to a contract if you illegally changed it into my name then should I?” I ask her. She says “but you are responsible”. How can I be responsible for something that was changed illegally against your company’s rules and procedures?!?! She keeps going in circles and repeating herself that I’m responsible and that she won’t change the account. I finally asked her to speak to her supervisor and she says he’s not there. So I ask his name and she tells me Leonard, but says she can’t give me his last name. Fine. I ask her for Leonard’s phone number and she won’t give it to me!! Arrgggg!!! Then she says “have I answered all your questions today ma’am?” I tell her, no you didn’t and she says “thank you for calling DirectTV, have a good day”.

I’m beyond pissed right now simply because I was told by at least two people when I was on the phone with DirectTV that this could be changed over. And if it can’t, they never should’ve put it in my name!!!!!!! I just have to tell you all if anyone is ever thinking about getting DirectTV, DON'T!! They have been nothing but trouble for me for the past year.

Ok, thanks for being patient through all of that. I must get back to some projects so I can post some knitting news and pictures.

July 17, 2007

ISE4: Officially Completed

Well I must admit that when my group leader for ISE4 emailed me to let me know that my pal had dropped out I was kinda bummed. I tried to put on a brave face because I knew that I'd have an angel coming to my rescue and soon enough I was contacted by my angel. From what I could tell my angel was great, she was sending me some very funny emails joking that she was going to send me some little critters along with my scarf:) I came home last Thursday to a wonderful package from Brenda (aka brendajos from KH) waiting for me! She really went above and beyond her duties as an angel in my opinion, I was only expecting a scarf from her!

Here's a look at my goodies; two skeins of Lorna's Laces in a pretty green and purple colorway. I've got to say that Brenda really did her homework because everything was in my favorite colors! Along with it was a great yarn holder and a yummy gingerbread candle which I can't wait to burn! Next she sent a set of bamboo DPNs so I can keep working on socks, a yarn cutter (I don't have one), and some cute little bug charms that I'm going to attempt to make some stitch markers from. A great sock pattern I can use the Lorna's Laces for, some blocking pins, a great bag that folds up into this small pouch (I can use it for grocery shopping!), and this cute little sheep that I've just last night realized that it is a tape measure. Its so cool, you pull its arm out to measure and it has a little button on its back that you press to retract it! How clever is that?! Oh and I forgot about the yummy gummy worms that I had to eat right away :)


And now for the best part, my scarf! She did a beautiful job knitting me this fabulous blue/green lacy scarf! I was sitting in front of the a/c with it on; I can't wait until I'm able to wear it!


Thank you so much Brenda, you really are my angel!

July 3, 2007

My So Called Scarf

After many failed attempts I cast on for My So Called Scarf last night and finally got it going alright. I was really confused by the pattern when it said: " psso but before dropping the slipped stitch from the left needle, knit into the back of it" so I ventured over to KH for some help with it. After searching there and seeing other's questions about the scarf I found there is a variation to do this. The only problem was that when I did the variation it didn't look anything like it was supposed to. I must have been doing it wrong or something, who knows. Well I did some more digging and got clarification on the original pattern so I cast on (for about the fifth time) and it finally started to look like its supposed to!

I'm knitting the scarf for my dad out of beautiful Malabrigo in a blue and lime colorway. This is my first time ever with Malabrigo and I love it! Its even softer when its knitted up, I have to resist from rubbing it against my face. I think I'm going to be tempted to keep this scarf for myself. Must. give. scarf. away.

Pictures of the WIP coming soon...