Thanks for your ideas

You all have made very good points about the new cardi options. I am not sure how this yarn will hold up to the stretch factor. It doesn't seem to be like other cotton yarns that I have worked with, but that doesn't mean that it will not lose it's shape. As for shaping the fern and moss to be a little more fitted, the stitch pattern would be a little tricky to figure out the shaping of it, unless I do something like a couple of panels of the fern and the sides all moss... There goes my brain in yet one more direction. I originally thought about doing a little bit of a peplum to it, so it would need shaping. But the fern and moss made that a bit awkward. I guess I need to start a little sketching and figuring... And just because I have this much done on either doesn't mean I won't tear them all out and start over. After all, I still have an entire skein that was done as a "swatch" in different stitch patterns.

So, I put down the cardigan for a little bit while I'm figuring out what to do with it and went back to the poncho idea. The version of the poncho that I already finished is not a good thing. I don't think it worked well with the yarn/pattern combination. So, I came across the pattern I got from ChicKnits, the MiniChic Poncho. So I tried my hand at that pattern with the same yarn. So far, it is turning out pretty nice. I think this version will be the winner. But I don't think I want to have the same collar for this particular yarn. It's acrylic bloucle and not exactly what I want up so tight with my face. I think I will try more of a scoopy thing. (Pictures to come...)

If you have more thoughts on the cardigan situation, please let me know!

Cardigan Questions

So, for the past...well, quite a while, I have been not really feeling as creative as I wanted. Actually, I have been very uncreative as a whole. So, I have really ignored my whole knitting persona in a lot of ways. If I felt like I needed to get some knitting time in, it was to work on the chenille blanket (straight Stockingette Stitch for miles!). It didn't take a whole lot of thought an could be worked on indefinitely.

Anyway, last night, I was looking at the Fern and Moss Cardigan that I had started. Although I love the idea, I really wasn't in love with this design. There is something that is a bit too boxy than I really wanted.

So, as I walked to work over the past week or so, I noticed a cute cardigan in the window of the new Louis Vuitton store on Fifth Avnue. It has a deep v-neck with chunky ribs and a fitted waistband. So, I started to ponder that type of cardi for my organic cotton. Now I am going to let you guys help me decide:

Choice Number One:


Fern and Moss
a square cut cardigan with pretty lacework

Choice Number Two:


Ribbed Cardigan
A more fitted style with a deep v-neck

What do you think?

NOT HAPPY

As I walked into the office this morning, I was attacked by messages to call my boss. So before I even got my coat off, I called him. He needed me to take some materials down to the board meeting that he was going to be late for. Fine. I wasn't really happy with that idea, but I grabbed the materials, headed to the subway and dropped of the binder within 15 minutes.

I started to walk back, thinking about getting something special for breakfast since I was forced out of the office. My phone started to ring. Now, who would call me at 9AM on a Wednesday? Low and behold, it's my boss. He asked me if I was still on Third Avenue and could I come back to the building? Fine, I walked back the two blocks I had just come to find him standing on the corner. He hands the keysto his car to me saying he has to run in and I have to park the car.

Now I don't know if any of you have tried to drive in Midtown Manhattan at 9AM, but it took me about a half hour to drive 15 blocks, find an empty lot and get back to the office. If you are keeping track, that would be twice the time of taking the subway.

Needless to say, I'm thinking there are a few lines that are being crossed these days.... We will see if these little things start to push me over the edge. I am not finding much happiness at the moment.

Hey Big Spender

Not only did I get my bookcases on Saturday, but I made another big purchase over the weekend. I put in an order for a new computer. I am very excited about that. A friend of mine hooked me up with her discount at Apple. So for what I figured I would pay for a new PowerBook G4, I was able to throw in a shiny new iPod. I am sooooo digging that. I should get it this week!

In bookcase news, the new additions fit in nicely with the Ikea shelves. I spent a good part of Saturday assembling the furniture and trying to load it all up. Of course, that didn't quite get finished this weekend, but I hope to have my apartment in some sort of semblance by the end of the week.

While I was taking a break from that, I did get a lot finished on my no-sweat pants. I have only to finish one row and bind off. I was working on them on Friday night at the theatre. One of the girls there told me that a pair just like this goes for about $70 at Capezio and wouldn't she love to have some.... Subtlety is not her strong suit. I don't have pictures today, but hopefully tomorrow - maybe. I will be going to the opening night party for Bare: a pop opera tonight. So, I may not be up for a whole lot tomorrow morning. We'll see....

Buying Binge

So as I was leaving work yesterday, I had a bit of an urge to do a little binge shopping. It was somewhat premeditated, I admit, but I acted on the impulse and bought bookcases. Well really, a bookcase and a media storage shelf. You may recall the Ikea shelf I purchased earlier this year and the matching bookcase that was discontinued and therefore unavailable to me. Well, when I saw the pair at Crate and Barrel, on sale no less, I had to stop in and finish my bookshelf shopping. I should get them delivered on Saturday. That means I will finally have the space to put my stuff and I can get more organized.

Not much else to talk about. Work is keeping me VERY busy, so I don't have a whole lot of time to do anything, let alone report on it. Maybe sometime in the near future I will be able to be more chatty. But, the slave driver beacons...

Best Knitting Buddy Ever

After a thoroughly grumpy day on Thursday...no, grumpy week, I went to the post office to pick up my mystery package. When I got home, I discovered that my Secret Knitting Buddy must have telepathy. Because this is just what I needed...



More over, this is what I truly needed


keep in mind that there are 3 layers just like this one below.

THANK YOU SECRET KNITTING BUDDY!!!! You have helped to heal a very cookie hungy soul.

So I spent some of the weekend working on the no-sweat pants. I am now in the home stretch, or should I say the bootie stretch and I am working up to the waistband. I think they should be very comfy when I finish them.

And the helper that I had for this weekend was....(drumroll)
GEORGE!!!



Believe it or not, but he stayed like that for quite a while. I think he likes to be confined in strange ways. He's a bit of a bondage kitty.

Project Reassessment

So I was browsing through the new issue of knitty.com only to find so many fabulous patterns. I have to say, the submissions for knitty have never been anything but fabulous in their creativity and fashion sense.

So my short list include (Not in any particular order):
Variation on a Frill
Honeymoon Cami
T3
Grace
Bad Penny
Jewelled Shell

Okay, so I'm a little enamoured of this issue. I am ready for some fun Spring knitting.

I came home last night to find out that I have a package waiting for me at the Post Office. I don't recall ordering anything, so I wonder what it could be. Hopefully, I will be able to stop by tonight to pick it up, or else, i'll do it tomorrow with the rest of my errands. (I love having Good Friday off - it's a Market holiday but everything else is open for business as usual.)

I also have to get a package out to my Knitting Buddy. After misplacing her address, I really need to get moving on it. I promise it will go out either today or tomorrow...

In other news, the weather is finally nice enough to start my walks around Central Park again. I made the first walk of the season yesterday after work, and before the Book Club. It wasn't a full "Loop", but it was most of one. I am planning on making another go tonight after work. One of my co-workers has decided to join me. Yea!!!

Monday Blues

I had truly grown to hate Mondays more than the average bear. Each week, I am required to come into the office an hour earlier on Monday in order to accommodate a meeting that I am not even a part of. Then I have to bury myself in the research that should (if you ask me) have been submitted for editing and publication on Friday, but rarely makes it before Monday morning. Daylight Saving Time is not helping me this morning either.

So, I think I am going to take a nap under my desk, a la George Costanza... Wake me when it's Tuesday.

Thank you

Thanks for all of the kind words about Audrey. I was so proud to show her off yesterday, especially at the theatre where I was finishing the edging only the night before.

Well, not much has happened in my knitting life since yesterday. So I am going to ramble on other topics this morning.

I am very excited about the new talk radio station out there, Air America Radio. Although I didn't get a chance to listen yesterday on it's debut broadcast, but I bought a little radio for the office today so I could tune in at work. Now, it's only available in a few cities, but you can check all that out on their website. I think there is also streaming available for those who can't get it locally.

So, today and in the upcoming weeks, I am going to dedicate a bunch of my time to learning SQL. This is something that I started getting into a couple of years ago for a big project that fizzled out. I am now in that position again. Also, I think JSP, ASP and e-commerce are in my future. Well, at least I can add it to my resume....