I haven't been knitting that much this week and I have enjoyed the break. I have been neglecting my household duties and things have been piling up. So it was nice to take a break and get things in order. I had a surprise visit this weekend from my most favorite readers, Kenny and Laura. I love them even though they never leave me comments. They live in a far away land, Oregon. It was so great to see them. They are the kind of friends you can sit down and chat with for hours, and its later that you realize its 3 AM. Anyway, it was great to see them and hopefully we will be chartering a sailboat in the British Isles together soon.

I started a new project this weekend, a baby sweater for one of my pregnant friends. I am planning a very cute set so I thought that maybe I get started. It was only after I started this project that I realize that #3 needles are pretty freakin small. So small in fact that I am starting to fear that by the time I finish this sweater the baby will have out grown it. As usually I am being a bit over dramatic and I am too determined to not finish this sweater.

This is the sweater I am making from Debbie Bliss Quick Baby Knits:


Here is my progress, try to contain you excitement:


I am using Rowan Cotton Glace. The set I am planning will also have booties and a hat, hopefully with skulls on it. Because everything looks better with skulls. This yarn was on sale at my yarn store for 50% off so this is one of the few times I am using the yarn that the pattern calls for.

Well my relaxing weekend is almost over, so I will leave you with my usually Sunday night Vito picture.

It looks like Arrested Development might be leaving me for good. I can't believe this, I love that show. How am I supposed to survive with only 2 seasons, even if I own them on DVD thats not enough to get me through a long weekend. This show helps me get through my Sunday night remorse. Now what will I look forward too?

Apple has release more new iPods. The goodies include a 6GB mini and a 30GB iPod photo. I have also heard that the release of a camera attachment is not far off. But my question is how many iPods is excessive for a 2 person family? I have kind of had my eye on the iPod Shuffle, shhh don't tell Daniel, because it is tiny and cute. And I need tiny and cute things. I often use my iPod when I am sewing, but it hard to stick my 40GB on in my pocket. The iPod shuffle could become my crafting iPod; just think how cute it would look in my knitting bag and all the knitted cozy it can have. Maybe the shuffle can hold me off until I can have a Powerbook... hint hint.

I think I have been bitten by the Rouge bug. The more I see this sweater online the more I think I want to knit it. The skills needed for this sweater as listed from the designer’s website are experienced knitter with advanced cables skills. Now I don't think I fit into any of those categories but I can wing it right? Can't I just figure it out as I go? If I have faith I am sure it will work out, can hope replace my skills? Over at Knit Pixie they sell kits for this sweater, out of Bartlett Yarn. It would only be $48 for me to whip up this gorgeous sweater. I think that is quite a deal for a sweater that I am not sure if I CAN knit. Plus this color is fabulous. Look here are some action shot. This sweater isn't really what I would call my style, as I am not really an aran kind of girl, but I love this sweater. I think it is going on the "saving to make" list. And let’s hope I can pick up the skills by then.

Friday: I started knitting the spiderweb Caplet from S&B Nation for myself, because I needed a break from my Ribbi Cardi. Every thing was going good until I realize that my dog decided to "play" with the ball of yarn, tangling it into a large mess.

Saturday: Spend 2 hours trying to untangle the ball of yarn. Finally decide to "cut" my losses. Get a call from my husband that my friend is having a birthday party on Wednesday, decided that the Caplet will look great on her, so this project in no longer for me, but her birthday present. Continue knitting until I run out of yarn.

Sunday: Drive to the yarn store and pick up the last ball of Crystal Place Merino Frappa in purple. Drive back home and continue knitting. Around 11 p.m. I was about 2 rows from finishing and I realize that it is totally screwed up. I take a break to check craftster and confirm yes I am totally screwed up, not because of my own mistake but because the pattern is written wrong. I start frogging all the while I am totally pissed off that the pattern was wrong and that I didn't check to see if there was an errata before I started. Around midnight I cast on again and continued knitting until I can no longer keep my eyes open. I did in fact stay awake long enough to watch Home Movie on Adult Swim though.

Monday: I am determined to finish this freakin project so I can block the caplet and it will have time to dry before Wednesday, so I continue knitting, fancy that. Around 3 in the afternoon I finally finished the caplet, which will forever be known as the stupid caplet! And here it is, sorry picture quality isn't that great as I am not going to expend anymore energy on this project.

The Flat View:


Hanging View:


The color is closer to the top one, a very pretty purple blue. I am happy with the finished project and I am glad that this isn't for me, because it doesn't look that great on my wide shoulders. I used a little over one skein of yarn and I haven't decided if this project need pom-poms.

Overall though I had a great weekend. The weather here has been crazy, some of the heaviest rain fall I have ever heard. So it was the perfect time to stay in bed and watch TV. I am so rested in fact that I almost forgot to wakeup today and go to work, opps.

Back of the sweater that is:
She is finished and she needs some serious blocking, but I think I better wait until all the pieces are done. I think I might have used 2 & 3/4 balls of yarn for the back piece, so I should have plenty of yarn left over. I am still a bit under gauge getting 21 stitches instead of 19, but I am not too worried. Now I am off to start the fronts.

I live in a small town that is located in a valley. During the winter when it is raining the hills that surround my town are very green. I took the above picture out my car window this morning because I wanted to post how green everything is. It is not a very good picture. I complain a lot about this small town, but it really is beautiful especially when the fog is rolling in over the green hills. This weekend I am going to try to take more pictures of this because the hills are right out my front door. Maybe I could get on the roof to take the pictures. I can just imagine falling of the roof breaking my leg and trying to explain to Daniel why I am in a heap on the front lawn with a broken leg. On second thought maybe I shouldn't get on the roof.

It is supposed to rain all weekend until next Wednesday, so I should get a lot of knitting done this 3 day weekend. I took Monday off because my office isn't closed and I could bear the thought of Daniel having a fun day off without me. Yes, in my family no one can have fun unless I am there. So now I have a 3 day weekend too! Right now I am most looking forward to sleeping in and eating lots of breakfast foods. I love breakfast foods, especially dip eggs* and toast. Sometimes it is the best part of my weekend.

I only have about 2 more inches on the back of my sweater to finish before I can bind off. Then I can start on the fronts, hopefully those will move faster. The back piece has taken me about a week, but for some reason that is not fast enough. Sometimes I let myself get stress about my knitting, like I am not working fast enough. I need to remember that it is my stress relieving hobby and should not be a cause of frustration. I am always rushing to finish and not enjoying the process.

*By dip eggs I mean fried eggs cooked over easy. Yes, I like my eggs runny:)