Big Catch Up

A lot has transpired since my last blog. First off, I've finished Sloppy Joe. I think that I've done a pretty good job. The only mod I made was to the sleeve increases. For my size I began to to increase every 5th row after 68 stitches. The other way would have produced sleeves way to long. I have to also give a hand slap to the designer, Louisa Harding that the width of the sweater be 44 inches. What a typo!

The design does include these split sides, but looking at the picture I don't think this suits me. I may consider sewing them up.

I mean, I like the way the sweater fits and all. It's very comfy and I love the yarn, but it's not as sloppy looking as it was on the model. I studied the picture of her and noticed that she wasn't very blessed in the boobs area. Although the sweater does not fit me tightly at all, I definitely think that it's not as loose as it was supposed to be. However, going up one size would have been a mistake. I guess I'm just not that into sloppy. The rib pattern is very cool.

I am also performing a major experiment. I mean, after the post before last you probably new this was coming. So, here's the beginning of my journal on Locking Tots. Hmmm, is this a good idea? Well, here are some pics on how it started out. Here's HP sitting on the couch. She felt very cute on this day and asked me to take a picture with her rocking the fro.

About a week later, she's sitting in the chair of my stylist, Shannon. Every day debris was stored up in the fro.

Here's HP Getting her neck and head massage,

Please take note of the glamorous-ness of Shannon. These perfectly groomed back length locs are exactly what we're going for, so HP is in good hands.

She's just been shampooed.

She didn't fidget or anything the entire time (about 1 1/2 hours).

Here she is half way clipped.

And now almost completely clipped (the reason I pay to have my hair maintained, Shannon is very meticulous and never neglects a single hair.)

Getting her under the dryer was a different thing, we eventually got the 4 pillows to stop slipping.

And, voila. HP loves it, and so do I. She's feeling it.

I must admit though, that after one week, she looks quite scruffy. But she's still just a beautiful.

She started pre-school. Where we live, pre-school is not free. You have to shop around for it like a daycare. She flipped out when I didn't let her out at the same school her brother went to. He-he-he.


Here she is with her new principal. You can tell the locs have shrunken back and stuck to her head a little. I tried to dress them up with barrettes.

She's already made a friend.And, believe it or not, she's sitting in circle time (in this case square time). She asks me everyday, if she's going to school. I'm so happy she loves it!

This is what I hate most about using the best, hand washing. Oh well, these are only small items that will dry quickly.

Whew, for some reason I'm bushed. Could it be my 45 min commute, or staring at the computer all day without success. My MsgBox macro keeps halting the macro group, I can't quite figure out how to maximize help features in my database, and, I've hit writers block (in a techie way) when it comes to this database tutorial I'm writing. But low and behold something has got this look on my face. The credit goes to one good ass song after another (sorry for cussin') on Yahoo! Music Adult R & B station.

I'm working on the first sleeve for Sloppy Joe. It keeps going on and on. I suspect I'll be finished by oh say, Sunday. Ciao!

My Hair, Her Hair

To anyone who cares or who has ever wondered (I'm talking about by family and friends or those who know me personally ya'll), this is why I locked my hair. You've undoubtedly seen me in every hairstyle known to black woman. Because of this, I made a pledge to my unborn daughter to never straighten her hair. When she was born, I new that I couldn't put the responsibility on her alone to keep my pledge. I remember when I was about, oh 6, 7, or 8, Laverne (our beautician) burned me so severely with her shaky hands that I had to go to the doctor to get prescription antibiotics. After I healed up, we went right back to her, or someone else, I can't remember. I can't be mad at my mom, because we (black women) have all struggled with what is beautiful for so long. I don't want to struggle anymore. I promise to stay nappy like God made ME, and to always, when I look in the mirror, see the beauty he did when he created me. If I have one ounce of low self esteem, how will my baby girl ever realize how strong she has to be. This post is dedicated to her and to every girlfriend and cousin who've been programed to believe that their natural hair is ugly. I love you.

Please click HERE, please.

Sloppy Joe

I finally got a chance stop my this new yarn store in Davis. Knitter's Playground. I love it. When I get another chance, I'm going to go there and knit or crochet. The place was so inviting and very friendly to HP (they have a kids play area that comes with kids). I just wanted to look, maybe get some eyelash yarn for a school project D is working on. I came across so many great selections that I just decided to focus on one upcoming project. That'll keep me safe. So, I decided on some Brown Sheep Cotton fleece. I remember this yarn! I just finished a project from the authors of Barefoot Knitting. They use this yarn exclusively. The pattern from Modern Classics called for Louisa Harding's Nautical Cotton. Well, I just found a very good substitution and I think it's turning out wonderfully. I started on Saturday, and I'm about 3/4 way finished with the front. How exciting.





Oh yeah, a new addition to the family. Isn't Keisha just fabulous.

Crochet Me Magazine

Ok, ok! The page can not be found. I get it. It's probably because too many people are tyring to get onto the website at the same time. I mean, we've waited longer than the whole winter for the new Spring issue. A very long wait. And, even though I check the site every day to see if spring patterns are here, there's nothing people, nothing. And now I've gotten an email saying the issue is out and I can't even log on to the website. Grrrrrr. Just had to vent.

Kimono Done!

Well, here she is. Seen here with a cute Nartjie skirt.

The fabric glue recommended to secure the weaved in end worked so well that I became inspired. The brand I chose yields a strong hold without leaking through to the other side of the fabric (I guess it's supposed to work like that). I reinforced the edges (excluding the neck) with some 3/8" textured ribon. This should prevent this very stretchy fabric from stretching out of shape when worn.

I also took this opportunity to make a button band, made out of a strand of the actual yan.

The buttons couldn't have been more perfect.

So, that's the finished product, all ready for Resurrection Sunday. Seen Ahhh, this reminds me of the day they told me, "It's a girl."

Kimono

I'm almost done with this one. The Tess pattern calls for a ribbon closure almost at the neck line. I didn't like that one. The markers are where some hook and eye closures are going to be. I hope that I can find some cute ones and I know that this means a trip to several stores. Oh well, a labor of love. The ends are still hanging out because this yarn calls for some fabric glue to secure the ends. I still have plenty yarn left over for ruffled cuffs that I hadn't intended to install. I wanted to use the left over for the ruffle on another Monica Tank (see last post). HP has tried the kimono on and even though the fabric is cute it still doesn't seem girly enough. I torn right now. Any suggestions?

So, hopefully the main problem with the pics is just that I needed new batteries. Hopefully. And hopefully today you'll be able to appreciate the beauty of my yarns the way I do. I've completed the quick project with that reddish-gray stuff. My mom laughed at me because I took the socks and hat back after I finished with them. I told you what happened with the hat. I just want to keep an eye on them while they're being worn. Ahhh, making hats and socks are so satisfying to me cause your kids need this stuff.

Have you checked out the latest knitty.com? I've already devoured this cute Monica tank that was supposed to be a party gift for a party today. I'm sorry, but I don't feel like making the 1.5 hour drive. And now the top belongs to HP. They probably wouldn't have appreciated it anyway. And yes, we are going to be wearing it with a tutu. I'm going to make a denim and chocolate one to wear with jeans. I was just using what's left over from some Bernart Softee Baby from those blankee making days.

Also to be worn with a tutu is this soon-to-be kimono. This will be made with Tess yarn that I got from the Stitches convention. This is my first project with yarn that I got from that convention. I got myself a ball winder and had a lot of fun with it. You CAN NOT use it with this yarn. The yarn lable says that you need a "real live person or a swift." I didn't try either of the kids, and it took me about a week to untangle the mess. I'm already impressed with working up what looks like yards and yards of ribbon. So, I'm over the tangle. The worked up fabric feels great, but sliding the yarn between my fingers is uncomfortable.

That silk that I bragged about kept breaking on the ball winder. Grrrrrrr. I'm going to complain to the maker. If they don't compensate me some how there will be hell to pay.

When my boy was tiny, whenever we were about to leave my parent's house my dad would whisper something in his ear. I would demand that he tell me what he said and would even threaten him with capital punishment. But, he would still say with that cute smile, "I'm not telling." Well, take a look at these colors. Clue: Almost every primary color in 100% Peruvian wool, HP will be starting pre-school soon.

I'm not telling!

I'm sorry because I know that this picture is unacceptably blurry. But, I had to show you. I've lost the label to this yarn. So, I don't know who makes it. All that I know is that I like it. And, since I know exactly where to get it from, I'm sure there will be more. It knits so beautifully. It's texture soothes you. The strand is so perfectly tubular. There is however, this one stripe of grey that torments me. I love it so, and there's just not enough of it. When I hold it between my fingers, as soon as it appears, it disappears. I don't think I've ever seen a gray this beautiful. Could it be like the clouds disappearing right after a rain storm at dusk? Grey so satisfying. I got this yarn to make my son a pair of red socks. He loves red. And I don't love it so much. So, this was my compromise. Then I decided that he needed a hat more. He likes it but wishes that it was a little longer. A simple 2 x 2 rib with spiral decreases at the crown. I wanted to make it longer but...

...as soon as I finished it he wore it to school and left it there. It's been there for two days now in that cluttered desk and I'm starting to loose my patience. We'll be lucky if somehow it's protected from sharp pencil edges and uncapped pens. Grrrrr. After the hat, there still seems to be plenty left for socks. Could this be the ball of yarn that I dreamed about that never runs out? Here's a better picture of the yarn with me at work. And this is after the hat.
My yarns go everywhere I go all the time. Do yours?

I've finally finished HP's sweater. I was so determined for it to turn out exactly as the models that it almost did. What do you mean, you say? It fits exact, and this is not necessarily desirable when making clothes for toddlers. We wore it the very day that it came off the needles. I get so tired of trying to make this girl be still for pics. Here's a shot of the back anyway.

Oh yes, I turned another year older last week. I thought it would be amusing to the kids to see the appropriate number of candles on my cake. Oh my God, it almost set on fire. The caramelized part was still tasty.


This is the top for my lucky silk. I don't have quite enough, but I'm sure I can find a blend able hank for part of the bottom band. Don't hate non knitters/non crocheters. Maybe you'll be able to find one of these hanging on rack somewhere. Peace.

Whew. What a lovely weekend. Look what I found.


This was one of my first major projects many years ago before my kids were even thought of. I guess I was crocheting for some imaginary baby somewhere. I knew how to select the right size yarn, with the help of the then Straw Into Gold store associate. But didn't know how much yarn to get. It wasn't a big deal since no one was scheduled to wear it anyway. But nevertheless, a shame it's never been, never will be worn. By the time I went back to get more yarn, still before the kids, the store had closed. It later evolved into what's now known as Crystal Palace Yarns.

This weekend I went to Stitches West. It was so much fun. You were not allowed to bring your camera into the event, but here's my post card to prove I was there. I have a girlfriend who makes fun of me because of my yarn fetish. I'm telling her that I know she wishes she could knit/crochet.


My goal, as usual was to score some major deals. Many vendors had what they called a deal, but not enough for me. Here's how I made out anyway.

I got these skeins of sock yarn from the Bay Area Knit Co-op for $7.95 each. I call this a bargain cause it feels the same as those $12 sock skeins. These will be my first conservatively colored pair of hand knit socks.



I couldn't resist this ribbon yarn. From a maker called Tess. The Baby Kimono that it's designated for is simply delicious. This was my impulse buy. I couldn't resist.



I wore my new socks to the event. They came from this free toe-up pattern on Knitty.com, but shame on the designer for not including a stretchy bind off. I used this one with a one by one ribbing. She also advised that I use a needle size one size smaller than what the yarn called for. I can see why. Comfy socks, but a little to baggy for shoes. However, when I took this advise on my next sock, it fit much too tight. Not "the tighter the better", but still a good pattern that I'll continue to use.



Remember this yarn? It used to be a hat. A had that wasn't worn much at all.

On the Stitch and Ride to San Jose (the Capital Corridor). We were given very cool goodie bags that included some tools, a nice pattern book, and even some bamboo/cotton yarn. Just one skein that I have no idea what I'm going to do with.

And finally, my find of the day that made all of the walking around worth it. ..

What amounts to about 800 yards of luxurious silk made from The Village Spinning and Weaving Shop for a mere $24. I've never used any of their yarns before, but this beauty is going to be the sexy tank that makes everyone jealous. Those people even had the nerve to be selling buffalo yarn. I guess that can't be any worse than the vendors there that turned dog fir into yarn.

I also made some pretty cool friends on the train up there, which was great cause I was planning to spend the whole day by myself. Thanks you guys.

I'm still, as my son would say, "Yarning." I just had to incorporate a little bit of living life into my yarn experience. Me and HP had to make a quick stop by the surgery center. Nothing major, and she was a champ. Note about HP: She wouldnt' have been a good first baby. She's always been too independent and is pretty much down for whatever (that's anything that something that doesn't have to do with animals). So, I guess the whole process went down as smoothly as it possibly could have. They kicked us out immediately after she woke from anesthesia. And I mean immediately!

Although I was working on it in the hospital, I paused on the sweater to make myself an office scarf. I started a new job, and although most offices tend to be on the chilly side, these folks like it hot, which is alright with me. It's quite comfy in there, but I still like to keep my decolletage covered. This is the Ruffles scarf from the Scarf style book in Ella rae, Amity.

And, although it doesn't look like it in the book, the coils are quite "grabby." So, I thought that it would be a good idea to make a smaller version for HP. Just twist the ends and it stays snug. I did hers in Paton's SWP. It's a 70/30 soy-wool blend. I've wanted to try this yarn for some time. I think it worked out nicely. It feels pretty soft to me but she complains sometimes that it's "ouwee". I think that means itchy. But she likes it cause the style makes her feel a little grown up. He-he-he.

Ok, what the heck am I doing? Why am I torturing myself? See, I started this sweater for HP. It calls for a yarn that I think has been discontinued. I mean, I got the pattern directly from the yarn manufacturer, and I can't even find details about the yarn on their website. This is why I've made the assumption. So, I looked the yarn up on other online yarn retailers and found what I think Rowan is calling for. They call it Handknit Cotton. And from what I can find it's about 90 yards per 50 g ball, also at about $5-6 per ball. Nope too expensive. So, I have the nerve to try this stuff I got at the local yarn store. Only $2.75 per 50 grams, but also only 70 yards. Can you say chunky. But I was determined this time to get the correct gauge of 20 stiches per 10 cm and 28 rows. How come, with yarn this chunky, I could only achieve this gauge with some size US 4 needles?! OMG. And I think I'm going to keep going too. At least until somebody stops me.

The results so far...

Also, a note. I know that the pictures that I post are of very poor quality, and I'm working on providing better ones. I'm studying my camera's manual today.

I think it's soooo cute. I wore it out of the house to Walmart as soon as I pulled it off of the needles. I can definately visualize this little ditty in other colors.

My new project...

The Turtleneck Shrug from the book Scarf Style.

I've had to learn this magic loop knitting method. It was tricky at first cause I was concerned about a gap my work seemed to have developed. And this is all after I figured out how to join in the round withouth twisting the stitch.

Anyway, I kept at it and the gap seems to have disappeared. I guess that's where the magic lies. I have a long way to go, but I'll keep you posted.

Happy New Year! I hope that in 2007 finally realize some of the desires in your hearts. Whatever those may be. Whew! I can't believe I've let a whole month get by without any new posts. Well, that doesn't mean that the yarn hasn't been between my fingers. I've finished that cable sweater for DJ.

It's interesting though. The kid in this picture from The Yarn Girl's Guide to Knits for Older Kids has a sweater on with boxy shoulders. But on DJ, the shoulders look way too broad. I think that I oversize him too much. Let's wait and see how it look on him in a couple of months. For now, I'd probably have to beat him to get him to wear it.

I made HP another cardigan to wear on Xmas. It came together really quickly. I swear, as soon as we locate the other 3 dragonflies, we're going to put them to work keeping this sweater closed. It still looked cute with just 3 buttons, and she enjoyed choosing them herself.

And for me, this is my adaptation of the Bell Sleeve Tunic featureed in the December issue of Better Home's and Garden's Simply Creative Crochet. I added length and width (in a maternity like way - I'm NOT pregnant). Also, I added the trim to the bottom to make this sweater, which on the model is loose fitting, hug me the way it does. I hate to admit when I don't get a pattern, but after a while, I just started doing my own thing. I have a lot of yarn left over. This picture is of the unblocked version. I'll be calling upon the magic of immersion blocking to lenghthen, flatten, and straigten.