My Musings

I Moved.

2010-11-15T15:13:00.000-08:00

Sorry blogspot. I'm breaking up with you. It was fun while it lasted, but I think I found something to better suit my needs. Farewell.

http://andiecandie.tumblr.com/

Knitting; Re-Update on the Leg Warmers

2010-11-09T14:53:00.000-08:00

So I made my sister a pair of mock Betsey Johnson leg warmers last winter. She finally wore them again so here is a better picture sans jeans underneath.

So that's three, yes three posts dedicated all to my sister's leg warmers.

Original post.

Second post.

975/559

Knitting; Hand Warmers

2010-11-08T13:41:00.000-08:00

I finished the hand warmers. It took me a while b/c it was quite the indecisive project. After pulling one off of my circular needles, I thought I would knit fingers. Upon completion of one warmer, I didn't like the look. So I unraveled & just made them open; with much contemplation of course because they almost became mittens.

Both warmers on one set of circulars.

Making progress

After pulling one off on to a set of DPNs; thumb gusset.

Completed. [Yes, those are zebra nails.]

Started another hat. Same pattern as the one I made for G.Mei. He still has not pictured me. *ahem-ahem* After this hat I may make another Baroness Beret. We shall see!

Found this. It's not so nice, but I thought it was funny.

920/528

Knitting; Michael Kors Hand Warmers

2010-10-14T12:34:00.000-07:00

So for a while I was in the works of a gray [grey; do not know the difference] hat for a friend of mine. [plug] Gary Mei. He's an amazing guy who makes films. He's done a various range of short films & is currently working on bigger & greater things, all while attending pharmacy school![/plug] Will update w/ a picture when the hat is delivered to it's new owner.

Oh, so I started continental knitting method as opposed to the english method. [Continental: yarn help in left hand & English: yard held in right hand.] I would make my own videos, but there are already so many great recourses for you out there. I said I would never switch over b/c I had gotten so used to the English method, but it really is a much fast way to knit, granted I was just doing basic knits, purls, & k tbl [knit through back loop].

In the works: I'm going to make myself fingerless gloves so I can knit on my commute in the wintertime. I have made arm warmers that are rolling around the house somewhere, but they are long & super tight. Found these shorter MK arm warmers on Bluefly. Sorry, not going to pay $23 for arm warmers. I'm gonna make them! It's a really simple pattern. Looks like just 2x2, k1,p1,k1,p1,k1,p5, repeat, & 2x2 at the end. Just need to put in a "button hole" big enough to fit my thumb & voila... I will have me a pair of warmers.

[this picture does not belong to me.]

I am going to be using the magic loop method & attempting to knit both arm warmers at once! COOL!!! I'm so excited for that. I just need to find a way to have them not get tangled in my purse! So many things in there to keep track of.

I really love knitting. I mean certain patterns can get monotonous, but that's life. At the cusp of a new project, the research you do for one piece or work can be pretty extensive. You need to ask yourself; What do I want to make? What materials do I need? Where can I find a pattern? Just so many. I'm not one to pay for a pattern b/c there's no guarantee that I'm gonna understand how to execute it.

I try not to be so personal in my blog b/c who wants to hear about someone's life when they come to a knitting blog [yes I've given up on the wine, haha], but sometimes I guess it makes sense to include it for my own sake. kthxbye.

775/444

Knitting; Petal Dish Cloth

2010-09-03T10:19:00.001-07:00

So I lied, but I'm working longer than planned. Thus, not as much time to stop & take pictures. I haven't been able to knit that much either & I feel like knitting isn't a big summer hobby. It's more so for the chillier months & trust me, these particular summer months have been extremely hot, hot, hot!

The other day I went to a bar & while shuffling through my purse pulled a string of yarn out. I was trying to put it back in, but it was unraveling from the ball so I pulled it out & rolled it back up. I thought I was being sneaky & quick, but some of the guys saw & the comments ensued. I hastily stuff my work back in my purse & blushed a bit. HAHA! I am NOT a closet knitter.

So although I haven't been knitting so much, I have been slowly progressing on my knitting glossary. Trying to figure out what to put in it aside from the typical k - knit, p - purl, & etc. Will put it in it's own separate post... later.

So here's what I've been working on; Petal Dishcloth w/ Sugar'n Creme in Barnboard Twists & size 5 needles. I initially used size 8, but I wanted a dishcloth, not a potholder so I downsized b/c I never gauge. (bad girl!) Like I said, just boring little dishcloths that are quick & simple. However, I don't like when I'm seaming up the end & it gets lumpy. I'm wondering if you can make it so that there's no discrepancy as to where the beginning & end is b/c it is a round dishcloth.

Sorry, the best I could do was a shoddy camera phone picture.

So of course I had to add my twosense to the pattern b/c I have the tendency to stop in the middle, lose count, & get frustrated & unravel a ton of work! So here I go...

So when you are about to turn your work to knit back on the WS, you will always have multiples of two.

NOTE: Rows 1-6 start on the RS then turn work to WS, but row 7 is just the WS. Additional note are in (parentheses) & italicized!

Instructions: Cast on 16 stitches

(16 st) Row 1: Slip 1 stitch, K 3, yarn over (YO), K 10 (2 st left), turn and Knit back (15 st).

(17 st) Row 2: Slip 1 stitch, K 3, YO, K 9 (4 st left), turn and Knit back (14 st).

(18 st) Row 3: Slip 1 stitch, K 3, YO, K 8 (6 st left), turn and Knit back (13 st).

(19 st) Row 4: Slip 1 stitch, K 3, YO, K 7 (8 st left), turn and Knit back (12 st).

(20 st) Row 5: Slip 1 stitch, K 3, YO, K 6 (10 st left), turn and Knit back (11 st).

(21 st) Row 6: Bind off 5 stitches, Knit (15 st) to end of row (16 st).

(16 st) Row 7: Knit across row.

Repeat these 7 rows until there are 12 points.

Bind off next row, leaving 12 inch end. Stitch around center, pull together and join 2 sides.

Also, you can make the "petals" in different colors by changing yarns every 7 rows.

I use "so" a lot. :|

623/356

Working

2010-07-30T11:19:00.000-07:00

So I've been working. I guess a real job. I am still commuting via train, but my train ride is too short to pull out my knitting & go at it. especially b/c I get nervous about missing my stop. The SEPTA is too confusing for me & then they up & go change the schedule on me & my 15 min direct train ride turns into a 25-40 mins one-transfer train ride.

I've been knitting dish rags/clothes. They're quick & easy. You can use them at dish washing clothes or as pot holders (the larger ones).

Promise I will update before the end of August w/ a good post... w/ pictures!

Knitting; Cowl Scarf

2010-04-26T13:36:00.000-07:00

I want to make a cowl scarf.

I feel like i need something tangible before I just go & start casting on stitches. But alas... the season for scarves is over & I haven't finished a scarf I started in February. I mean the garter stitch guys... booooooring! It proves to be a nice scarf tho. I have one of my own, the cream colored one that I knotted at both ends.

OH... tip of the day. When I start some projects and I want a nice tight looking yet stretchy start ("cast on") to my work, I cast on double the number of original stitches & then K2tog for the first row & then proceed w/ the pattern. I do this b/c i tend to cast on WAY too tightly & I almost always use the long tail cast on.

I think I'm going to create a glossary of terms. Why not, right... yeah. Eventually I will.

Knitting; Button Up Leg Warmers

2010-02-21T19:06:00.001-08:00

Leg warmers [original post] for my sister are done! Oh, buttons are expensive, more so that I thought. 18 plain black buttons + shipping = $15.50. They had ones that I wanted at Jo-Ann Fabrics, but when I asked for 18 they said that their stock of buttons were limited (only 8 available in the whole store!) & suggested I look online for the brand. Anyways they're done; here are the pictures.

I have to say they look much better sans jeans, but what can ya do... we were short on time.

Knitting; Ribbed Lace Bolero

2010-01-28T17:08:00.001-08:00

So I'm currently working on a ribbed lace bolero. This will be my third time making this. The first time I made it WAY too small for myself. So I made it again & it was still too small. So I gave it to my oldest sister, who is smaller than me; btw she's a mother of three children. [yeah...]

So I'm using the same color as pictured. I don't consider myself a large framed person & my measurements were similar to the sample. I eventually realized my gauge was WAYYYY smaller than the creator of this lovely pattern.

So i decided to go much bigger. Lesson learned:

test your gauge before proceeding to make the

whole garment b/c recasting is WAY better than

unraveling a whole garment upon completion. [and I did unravel the first one I made b/c there's no one that I know who is THAT small.

I suggest that your cast on about 22 [multiple of 4+2] & jump straight into the pattern:

row 1: k1 (k2together, yo, yo, ssk) repeat lace pattern until 1 stitch left, k1

row 2: p1 (p1, p1 into first yo, p1 into the back of the second yo, p1) repeat lace pattern until 1 stitch left, p1

for a few rows & measure. Did you waste some time? NO! You are knitting smart.

I am what I like to call a "conservative knitter" which is opposite of what it sounds like if you're thinking yarn. I knit tight. I end up using more yarn so I'm not conservative in that aspect, but yeah... I think you get it.

Anyways... here's video of how to do these confuzzling "yo, yo" & "p1 into first yo, p1 into the back of the second yo" that I had oh so much trouble figuring out. Here you go,

don't mind my stuffy nose!!!

Here is the cable knitting portion of the Ribbed Lace Bolero.

Here's the bind/cast off for this pattern; Elizabeth Zimmerman's sewn bind off.

...your welcome.

Wine

2010-01-08T14:17:00.000-08:00

Black Box
Vintage: 2007
Product of California
Appellation: "Finest growing regions"
Grape Veriety: Merlot
Average price: $20 for 3 liters (4 bottles) wow!

Appearance:
Color : dark purple, similar to two buck chuck
Thickness : viscous

Nose:
Aromas : dark berries; cherries, raspberries, strawberries
Length : short finish

Taste:
far from dry, light bodied, not intense at all, very soft tannins, very light finish

Other Comments:

It's easy to drink. Apparently it's all the rage to drink wine out of a box in Europe, at least that's what the box tries to convince you of doing. Their catch phrase; "Think inside the box." Yeah, cute. I'm not saying the wine is bad, but I doubt that wine connoisseurs (myself being far from one) will ever get over the stigma of drinking wine out of a box. When i poured myself a glass, I way over poured. If it comes out of a box, you're usually drinking as much as you can. Okay... maybe only in college. Well, I'm getting buzzed b/c it's so easy to drink. I put some in my pasta bake... gotta go check on that!!

Comes with directions on how to open the box. Just incase kiddos! Located on the bottom on the box! I'm proud to say that I opened the box w/out the instructions & found them conveniently when I took pictures.

Haha, forgive me, I've had almost the whole glass now. OH, my pasta.

Commercials

2009-12-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

This commercial was from last year & I'm pretty sure most people don't know what Tesco is b/c I sure don't. Well, okay now I do, thank you wikipedia. I <3 V. Becks... well now you know!

And to further prove it...

yeah, I got my hair cut like hers too.

Knitting; Elizabeth Zimmerman Sewn Bind Off

2009-12-18T07:52:00.000-08:00

I got my first unofficial request to replicate and item, or sort of make it my own via one of my sisters. Betsey Johnson's Buttons Up! Legwarmers in black, but they also come in white.

Okay so I def forgot to keep the small ribs going up the line of buttons. Oops! Otherwise, I've completed one & started the second. I should have used the Elizabeth Zimmerman sewn bind off, but I was sans sewing needle at the time, so yeah. I casted off way too tightly & didn't realize until I had chopped the tail from it's ball. *sadface* so i had to unravel and recast off w/ some added yarn. We'll see how it looks later w/ buttons and all.

More to come...

proceed to finished product.

Pie

2009-12-07T18:50:00.001-08:00

So I haven't baked b/c I don't think I'm good at it. Well moreso with "baked goods" (i.e. cakes, breads, ... k you get it). I was invited to the bf's aunt's for Thanksgiving. They buy a smoked turkey and ham from N. Carolina! Last year I remember thinking why the turkey was red, but I was told that it was smoked. This year it came out too salty for my liking but hey, what can you do, it's a hit or miss. The ham was great tho! I missed mashed potatoes, but turnips sort of made up for it! They're delicious btw! There was various other things too.

So now that I've wasted some of your time w/ that banter, all I really wanted to say was: I made a pie, an apple pie. Here it is.

Lattice pattern on top w/ some leaves for fall... well I think of leaves during Thanksgiving. I used Granny Smith apples, should've used one or two more, I forgot that food tends to shrink when you cook it. Oh well, it was gone before any of the other pies, store bought ones I might add! [Thank you, thank you!]

I miss cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Okay, okay, so I've only done it twice. I don't stray from the traditional, but you can't go wrong with classic flavors! I vow to make my own Thanksgiving feast next year! Maybe I'll just throw a middle of the spring Thanksgiving dinner. Actually, that sounds like a plan! [You can tell I'm really exited b/c I've used about 75 exclamations points.]

Knitting; Danica Scarf

2009-12-07T18:25:00.000-08:00

So it took me a while but I did finish my Danica Scarf. (via YarnBoy)

It's a gorgeous knit pattern & fairly straight forward. Took me a little while to figure out how & where to pick up stitches, but i managed. I'm pretty sure I did the end wrong b/c no matter how many times i knit, unraveled, counted, knit unraveled, counted... I couldn't figure it out, so I made it up. Anyways, thank you Yarn Boy for the amazing pattern that many have duplicated. Here are my pictures, enjoy!

Wine

2009-10-13T15:40:00.000-07:00

Chateau Andrea
Vintage: 2006
Product of Groton, California
Appelation: Paso Robles
Grape Veriety: Cabernet Savignon
Average price: $15

Appearance:
Color : Very deep purple in color, very, very dark.
Thickness : viscous

Nose:
Aromas : dark berries; cherries, blackberries, black currents; plum, oak, and hints of chocolate and coffee
Length : long finish that lingers lightly

Taste:
dry, full bodied, bold with lots of intensity, light on the tannins, very well balanced

Other Comments:
I really enjoyed this wine and no not just because it has my name in it's title. Aside from being absolutely delectable, I had it with thinly sliced ribeye steak dipped in seasame oil, salt, and pepper (it's a Korean thing; roast 구이). YUM! But any meat dish, especially off the grill, or even chocolates (preferably dark) would be really good.

Wine

2009-08-27T17:06:00.000-07:00

Charles Shaw
Vintage : 2006
Product of Napa, California
Grape Variety : Merlot
Average price : $2-3
Found at Trader Joe's

Appearance:
Color : dark burgundy
Thickness : viscous

Nose:
Aromas : hints of berries; blackberries, cherries, and tart strawberries.
Length : a short finish

Taste:
not very dry, tart with a light finish, light bodied with not very much intensity.

Other Comments:
I have to say I really enjoy this wine. It has been nick named "Two Buck Chuck" for obvious reasons. I turned to it b/c my parents drink it religiously, no they literally buy it by the box! No not wine out of a box, but boxes of bottles at Trader Joe's, and yes my dad went out and bought 3-4 boxes the day before they implemented the alcohol tax in MA. *shakes fist* Yeah, for a $2-3 wine it's awesome, but hey maybe I'm biased b/c I've been drinking it so long now with my parents. So I can't really pair it with anything b/c I've enjoyed it with so many unthinkable things. Tonight it was fish, but I've had it with steak, pasta, yeah... you name it! It's a good cheap wine. All in all I would say, you can't go wrong with "two buck chuck."

Knitting; My Works Thus Far

2009-08-25T17:24:00.000-07:00

Some of my work thus far.

My first piece; scarf.

My first hat, well the second attempt, which mind you came out perfect. i fell in love with the chevron eyelet pattern. it's a gorgeous hat, kudos to susan powers who made the pattern.

titled the baroness beret found here. <-- that is a pdf i made it again but with a lighter weight yarn and smaller needles & poof, it's for kids now.
isn't she cute. it's my neice zoë. [yes she has one of those cool sideways colon things over her 'e']

then there was my take on the hudson hat. a pattern my sister gave to me.

i have the pattern but it was paid for so i can't share it b/c that is illegal. k thanx.

arm warmers from... somewhere. i have the link and stuff & i'll say this is not my pattern but i really cannot remember where i got it. apologies to the maker.

but they're cool b/c i made them just to wear with this vintage [bright] purple coat i got from my mom. i'll post pictures later.

i'm currently working on the danica scarf [thank you yarnboy you are amazing!] & it's a lot easier than i thought. when i'm through i'll update with video on my most troubled areas & such. maybe it'll help someone get over that... i don't wanna do it b/c i might get stuck at this part & have to figure it out b/c that is exactly the kind of knitter that i am. i always try it out and then i'm like wth is a PthflBthbl or w/e they say. you know what i mean, and if not, oh well. k bye.

Wine

2009-08-25T16:17:00.000-07:00

Red Bicylette
Vintage : 2005
Product of France Vin de Pays d'Oc
Grape Variety : Merlot
Average price : $10

Appearance:
Color : Deep burgundy in color, almost purple.
Thickness : fairly viscous

Nose:
Aromas : hint of strawberries and blackberries, more so strawberry jam with oak. almost get a hint of flowers.
Length : a decently long finish

Taste:
very dry, a little bitter, medium bodied, a little spicy with medium intensity.

Other Comments:
It was a pretty good wine. I would probably not get it again just to try something new or get something I've previously liked in the past. I'd pair it with grilled red meat; beef, veal, or lamb. I'd also eat it with a burger.

Testing 123

2009-06-20T12:42:00.000-07:00

Testing testing, 123.

Hello.

Goodbye.