It is not perfect, but still awesome!!

I dyed some wool with Kool Aid last night and it was SO fun. I used pink lemonade, black cherry and grape and it looked SO dark while I was actually putting the dye on, but when I steamed the wool to set the dye it lightened up and turned out so pretty. As of this morning it was still not completely dry so I can’t wait to check it when I get home. I know I’m going to immediately want to start knitting something with it. I’m also definitely going out today to get more Kool Aid since I still have two skeins of wool left!!

See more progress on: Try dyeing yarn with Koolaid

Lots of Time to Think

Well, it's been a while since I've written anything on here ... mainly due to Hurricane Wilma. I finally got power November 6th. Two weeks without electric made me realize that I can be pretty happy with very little. I did have a generator which provided light and allowed me to hook up my TV and DVD player and finish watching the 4th season Six Feet Under DVD's. The main thing the generator did was allow me to make coffee in the morning ... most important of all. Anyway, while I had no power I wasn't seeing my boyfriend because the hurricane pretty much did us in. The first few nights after the hurricane he came over to my house in a bad mood. He was mad about everything and I just couldn't deal with it. So, while he wasn't here I knitted, read, or did crossword puzzles either with one light on, or by candlelight and I was fine ... and I felt content. More content than if he had been here and had been a pain in my ass.

I did finish a pretty drop stitch scarf and my Stitch Diva poncho. And I got a lot done on all my other knitting projects. I'm trying to finish up the things I already have on the needles and not start any more projects until those are pretty much done. I did start a scarf to give my mom for Christmas though. And I'd like to make something for my sister, but we'll see how it goes.

Anyway, I went to my first therapy appt. last night at 7pm. Robbie went at 3pm. The therapist's recommendation is for us to take a week off from talking or seeing each other so we can both think. I think this is a great thing even though tonight, for the first time, I felt a little lonely. I think one night this week I have to go out with a friend and do something. I have spent so much time in the house since the hurricane. I would like to go to Stitch N' Bitch this Saturday morning and finally make it to the one on Monday night that I've been talking about going to for months. I'm also going to yoga tomorrow night.

I'm trying to really think about if I want to stay with Robbie or not. That's pretty much going to be determined in therapy where I can safely speak my mind without worrying that he's going to get so mad. I guess our appt. together next Wednesday night will shed some light on where this relationship is or isn't going. I sure hope so anyway ...

Saying this at age 42 !! ??

I have been thinking that I need to make some friends for a LONG time, but I have enough guts to come out and say it on here after reading how many other people feel the same way. The sad thing for me though is that the majority of people seem to be very young and I’m 42!! Seems like I should have become better at making friends by this time. I have someone that I’ve considered my best friend since 1978, however she’s gotten very involved in things I’m not into anymore so I don’t really hang out with her anymore, plus my boyfriend basically told me if I hang out with her at all he’ll break up with me. Anyway, other than her I have one friend that moved to Mississippi so I never see her anymore although we do email each other. Other than that I have my mom and my sister but really no other friends. I find it to be very disheartening and sad and I’m going to change it and learn how to make some friends!!

See more progress on: Make new friends

43 Things?

Unpack This!!

I almost forgot ... I have something I need to bitch about. It seems that this blog winds up being not only about knitting, but an outlet for things I need to vent about also.

I mentioned previously that I went to Disney this past weekend ... I went with my boyfriend and his two kids, one girl and one boy, aged 9 and 10. Anyway, things were going great and we were getting along and then all of the sudden when we checked into the hotel my boyfriend got mad at me because I unpacked all of my own stuff, but didn't unpack for him and his kids. He was sitting at a table reading, the kids were hanging out in the bed watching TV and somehow I wind up being faulted because I didn't unpack for them. I fail to see why a grown man of 40 and the two kids who packed their own stuff are all of the sudden unable to UNPACK!! I can only attribute his attitude to the fact that he was married for 14 years and obviously his wife waited on him. He said that never in his life has he been expected to unpack for himself!! And he doesn't believe that the kids should have to unpack for themselves either. He says this is something he expects the woman to do. By the way, he is a very old-school thinking Italian man!!

Other than that I found out Tuesday night that since he can't fix his own food (he's started a new diet to lose weight) he is paying his ex-wife to fix his food for him. Not only that she drops it off to his office for him every morning. How sweet ...

Also he is in the process of selling his house so he is not able to have a dog there because apparently when you are selling a million dollar home, people frown upon it if they come into the house and there's any sign of you owning any sort of animal!! So he is on the hunt for a dog and guess where he wants to keep it? At my house!! I have a very small house and already have 3 dogs inside and 3 cats outside. He owns a 6 bedroom, 5 bathroom house on 3 acres but wants to keep the dog at my house!! Wouldn't it make sense to just wait until the house sells and THEN get a dog? I mean that's what I think, but he doesn't agree. It's easier to keep it at your girlfriend's house so she can feed it, walk it, etc. Oh also, one more thing, he CANNOT pick up poop. If any dog goes to the bathroom, he cannot pick up the poop because it will make him throw up. So, let's see, he wants to get a new dog and keep it at my house. I would imagine that if the dog is young, it will probably have some potty accidents. Who do we think is going to end up having to clean up all the poop? Me, I bet, right? I need to put my foot down about this.

When I read all the things I write about him I realize that all the things he expects from me are just ridiculous. Or is it just me? If anyone reads this, please let me know what you think. Thanks.

Not Alotta Knittin' Time

I hate it when I have a really strong urge to knit, but I can't. Like right now ... I'm at my job ... I lit my "indigo spice" candle and I have music playing to help get me into the mood to work but all I can really think of doing right now is knitting. I would be SO into it right now. I can't knit during lunch time today because my son's car got towed last night and we have to get it out. And sometimes it's hard for me to knit at home because it seems there's always something else to be done. I'm going to try really hard tonight to sit and get some knitting done. Last night I could have knit but I was watching "Six Feet Under" and when I watch that I don't like to do anything but get under the covers and give it my complete attention. It's probably the only show I watch that I truly, truly, truly enjoy ... like when one episode ends, I can hardly wait to watch the next one.

Anyway, I was in Disney last weekend and I managed to get my boyfriend to take me to the town of Celebration because I heard they have a yarn shop. The shop is called "Hopskotch" and it's really a clothes store with a little bit of yarn in the back. I was actually sort of disappointed because it wasn't very inspiring, but I did buy some Ironstone yarn ... I think it's called "Pizzazz" that I started making a really cool shawl with. The lady at the shop didn't know how to use the yarn winder so I ended up winding it myself in the hotel room. Funny but my ball of yarn looks nothing like the nice compact little squarish balls that the winder makes. It seems to be working though ... so no big deal.

Other than that I really want to make the shrug that is on the Yarn Tree website. It is made with Ironstone Island Cotton and I've seen a few of them made and they are really, really cute. I'm trying to make myself wait though because I have SO many other projects on the needles right now. Monday I finished a drop stitch scarf (it is 82" long ... very dramatic) that I made out of Rowan Polar. I love it ... now I just hope it gets chilly at some point in the future so I can actually wear it.

Also I went to see Phantom of the Opera Tuesday night. Wow ... the costumes and the stage sets were unbelievable. There was a little too much singing in it for me though. I'm glad I went and saw it, but would never choose to sit through it again.

Alright, that's it ... I really need to get busy here.

LYS's mean good times!!

Well, after getting home and finding my house sparkling clean on Friday (my new cleaning lady did an AWESOME job!), I decided that I would take my Saturday (the day I usually spend cleaning the entire house) and go up to the yarn store at the Festival Flea Market. I went there and had so much fun!! I bought over $100 of bamboo yarn and Zen ribbon to make a couple really pretty drop stitch scarves for my mom and sister for Christmas ... and I bought some extra yarn to use in a surprise triangle shawl for moi. I sat and knitted with Tina and Roz for a little while. They are just so nice and I had such a good time. Tina inspired me to make a long sleeve shrug that's going to be next on my list. Other than that I did get a lot of knitting done this weekend on my Stitch Diva poncho and one of my ponchettes (pattern from The Yarn Tree website). I'm on such a roll right now because I have two projects that are SO CLOSE to being done ... too bad I have a real job and can't knit right now ... I would SO get both projects finished today!!

I Live for Cafe Con Leche - Grande y Ozcuro, Por Supuesto!

I'm at work right now and all I can think about is a big, strong cup of cafe con leche. I may have to take a drive to Sedano's at lunch time. Sedano's is one of the few places where you can still get a large, strong cup of coffee for almost nothing. Even the Barney's that is in the local Publix has upped it's price for a large cup of cafe con leche to over $3.50!!

Anyway, I haven't been doing as much knitting as I would like to. Tuesday night after work I went to the Yoga Warehouse in downtown Ft. Lauderdale for a class, and it was awesome. I immediately bought a card for 10 more classes!! I love how the place is open and airy and warm and right by the railroad tracks so you can hear the trains! From there I went straight to Wild Oats to stock up on some healthy food and drinks. By the time I got home that night, talked to Robbie on the phone for a while and showered, it was pretty much time to go to bed.

Wednesday after work I came home, went running and then proceeded to entirely redo my spare bedroom. I moved all the furniture, cleaned everything, got rid of a bunch of stuff (well, packed it up to be donated) and then rearranged everything. It was fun because now it's super clean and looks like a new room, but it was pretty exhausting and again, I showered and then pretty much went to bed.

Last night I had to get my house ready because I have a new cleaning lady starting today. I had to make lists of what I need her to do, and where everything is, etc. and as silly as it sounds, I sort of straightened up the house for her!! I don't want my new cleaning lady to think I'm a slob!! After that Robbie came over and proceeded to sit on the sofa and channel surf. It's very frustrating that when he comes over and we sit together and start watching something on TV he randomly changes the channel without asking. So we're watching Diane Sawyer interview Barbra Streisand and all of the sudden we're watching Criminal Minds ... then I start to get into that and all of the sudden we're watching Hurricane Rita coverage ... all of the sudden back to Diane and Barbra ... wait, back to Criminal Minds ... Hurricane Rita ... finally I just give up on trying to spend time with him and interact with him ... I go get my knitting and stop trying to watch TV.

We did get along good last night though ... he surprised me by even inviting my little pitbull "Weezy" to come up on the bed and sleep with us. Usually it seems that he doesn't like her AT ALL, but last night for some reason he seemed pretty sweet and in a good mood. Hopefully this will last because it's so nice when we're getting along.

I'm a Wannabe ... I Wanna Be Happy

I find it sad that often times the first thoughts I want to write here are negative ones. Maybe that's not such a bad thing if I can get them out of the way and then move onto positive thoughts afterwards.

I continue to have constant problems getting along with my boyfriend. We fought all last week and didn't see each other, and then ended up going to the Poker Run in the Keys over the weekend and having a really good time. He wasn't at my house 5 minutes last night and already he was having a problem with something I did ... a look that I gave him because he peeled a cucumber in the sink that I had just cleaned and left all the peels there. I didn't SAY anything, I just gave him a look ... he said, "I'll clean it up" ... I said "Okay, good" and then he got all bent and said that if I was crazy about him and really loved him I would have just picked up the cucumber peels and thrown them in the garbage without giving him a look. With us it's just that the minute the stage is set by a look or a comment, the whole evening winds up going downhill, and sure enough it did.

Okay enough about that. Presently I'm working on a Stitch Diva poncho made from California yarn that is beautiful. I'm also working on 2 ponchettes and a couple of scarves, a washcloth ... I've always got quite a few things going ... in fact if I listed everything I have on needles right now, I would appear to be out of control with my knitting. Tee hee ... I am, so what? I also bought a digital camera and as soon as I figure out how to get the pictures into my blog, I will be adding those to make this a little more exciting.

I haven't been to yoga in quite a few months and I think I'm going tonight. Hurricane Rita is here and I don't think it's going to be a good night to go running. Plus I feel like I need to do something positive for myself.

How Do They Do It?

I'm constantly amazed when I look on other people's blogs and see the volumes of knitting these people manage to complete. On one blog in particular it seems that almost everyday "the girl" has a new sweater finished. I have been working on my little ponchette for almost three weeks now. It has to be 45 inches long and I measured it yesterday and it's ALMOST 20!! So I'm not even halfway done!! I don't get it. Okay, so obviously I can't knit at work unless it's during my lunch hour. I knit at home but only when I can after taking care of the dogs and the house and doing laundry and all that typical day to day stuff. Then if my boyfriend is there I knit but only for a little while because I wind up feeling guilty ... like I'm ignoring him or something even though he is totally engrossed in channel surfing. So can someone out there let me in on the secret?

My boyfriend and I went to Nick's on Hollywood Beach Tuesday night with my sister and her new girlfriend, Christine. The new girlfriend is from Minnesota and is a Dakota Indian. She's in a band and plays guitar. My sister is 50 and I'm guessing this girl is in her 30's ... they are crazy about each other which is good, but I just don't get how you make a relationship work when one person lives in Ft. Lauderdale and the other lives in Minneapolis. Of course, I have a hard enough time making my relationship work when he lives in Parkland and I live in Dania Beach ... so I guess proximity isn't what makes or breaks it. What does make or break it? That's what I want to know. I'm really in a dilemma at this point with my boyfriend. We have some really good laughs and alot of fun, but we also fight alot ... and there's alot of stress and tension. Blah blah blah ...

Anyway, I ordered some stitch markers from Zephyr and they arrived yesterday. They are SO cute but don't fit onto the needles I'm using for my poncho, so I'm a little disappointed. I purposely knit as fast as I could last night to get to the point where I could take out the old stitch marker and insert the new one, and alas, it wouldn't fit. I may just have to start a new project on the right sized needles just so I can use them!!

As usual, gotta get to work!

Two Accomplishments!!

I am always so impressed when I read other people's blogs and see how they are so faithful about getting on and writing almost every day or so. Sometimes weeks go by before I get on and update!!

Anyway, I finally made it to my first Stitch N' Bitch. I wasn't too impressed, but it was basically my fault. I got there at 7pm when it starts at 6:30pm, so all the chairs were taken and I had to sit in the back room (by myself) which wasn't too great. I quickly got over that and began wandering around the yarn shop. I ended up buying a "Knitting Queen" t-shirt. So next time, if there is a next time, I will make sure and get there early enough to get a chair. There is another Stitch N' Bitch on Monday nights at a different location that I'm still trying to make it to. I have a feeling that one is probably a bit friendlier and more fun.

I also completed my first knitting class. It was an advanced beginner class and I learned alot. There were six women in the class, they were all super nice and I really enjoyed it. I'm waiting for them to offer a sock knitting class because I really want to go to that.

Other than that I am very inspired every time I go to the yarn shop. They have SO many cute projects sitting out!! I am presently working on two ponchettes and a shawl (my first project on circular needles). I am using a yarn that is called "California" and I love it!! It is hand dyed and beautiful to work with. I can't wait until I'm done with these projects so I can wear them!! I actually (no lie) have about 20 different projects going. I work ALOT on the above mentioned three and then pick up the other ones and work on them little by little. I also just got some linen in the mail yesterday to make a couple of dishcloths with. I've also realized that I probably will never work with cheap yarn again. I get so much joy out of the quality of the yarns from the yarn store. I figure if I'm going to take the time to make something, it might as well be made out of the best, most beautiful yarn I can afford to buy.

Back to work ...

Feeling Blah ...

Although I started this blog to talk about knitting, today I have other things on my mind. I do want to say though that I need to get with it with this blog. All the other blogs I visit have pictures and all kinds of cool little things and mine sucks. Little by little I'll get it going ...

Anyway, today I woke up feeling so frustrated with my life. There are so many things I want to do ... finish more knitting projects, read more books, fix all the little things that are broken around my house, take some classes, start going to yoga again, ... on top of that I have a boyfriend that needs a lot of attention. He's what he calls a "high maintenance" boyfriend and NEVER in my life did I think I would end up with one of those!! When he comes to my house he says it's too hot, he complains because I don't have cable, the tags on my dogs' collars bother him when they clang together and the latest thing is that my bed is totally uncomfortable and "we" have to do something about it. He doesn't even live with me!! We've been going out for almost a year and honestly I don't know if I could ever live with him. He's SO difficult!! Everything bothers him ... how I answer him, how I greet him when he gets there, etc.

I wish I could vent somewhere other than here but my mom and my sister have basically said he is how he is and he's not going to change and it's up to me to deal with it or not. Sometimes I just wonder if it's me or what? I mean I think he's selfish, demanding, ... what am I really getting out of this relationship?

Okay, I have to move on to another topic ... knitting. The only thing I finished recently was a red and white dishcloth for my kitchen. I'm almost done with my polar wool dropped stitch scarf and have started some new projects ... a scarf to give my mom for Christmas, another couple of dishcloths, nothing too hard. I want to attack something more challenging. I REALLY want to learn to make socks. I'm going to a knitting class this Saturday that I'm very excited about.

Gotta get back to work ...

New Knit Addict

New Knit Addict

Have finished the Koigu wool hat and it is very cute, although I should have made it just a tad larger. I want to make another one to wear when we go riding, although I've been trying to be good and wear a helmet. I feel a lot safer wearing my helmet, but I also feel like I look like a dork. I have an internal struggle back and forth over safety versus looks. I think anyone with a brain would realize that the safety factor is so much more important. So why do I have such a hard time with this?

Anyway, also finished a purple Fun Fur scarf and have since heard that there is a recall on Fun Fur due to the fact that it goes up in flames if you get a lighter near it. I am a smoker so that could be dangerous if I were wearing it while out having a couple drinks!! Yikes!

WIPs are: Pink rayon shrug, Polar wool dropped stitch scarf, antique red shawl, a few dishcloths, ... probably have (no lie) about 15 different projects going right now. That's the way I have to do it though to avoid getting bored!!

Okay, have to end this ... I'm at work and need to be doing work.

List of Projects

I've decided that I need to limit my website visits and my pattern search. I have SO many WIPs right now that I'm becoming overwhelmed. Last night I bound off a grey and white scarf I was making and made it into a beverage cozy. I decided that I didn't really want to spend more time on that scarf. It was sort of ugly and boring.

Anyway, the projects I have going now are:

Black boa scarf
Black hairy yarn scarf
Candy colored fun fur scarf
Seafoam green dishcloth for my sister
Red and white dishcloth for me
Antique red shawl
Grey and white scarf on giant needles for ... mom?
Variegated acrylic yard scarf for ... me?

I ordered some Koigu wool in a beautiful color to make a hat with. I'll start that when the yarn arrives. I'm also waiting for some really pretty colored needles that I ordered to arrive.

Anyway, this is what I've decided.

I DEFINITELY prefer working with natural fibers as opposed to acrylics.
I want to dye some wool with Koolaid.
I don't really like knitting with size 35 needles although it sure does go fast!!
I wish I had someone to go to a Stitch N' Bitch with. As a new knitter I'm intimidated to go alone.

Stupid, stupid stuff ... that's about it for now.

My First Time

Since I became interested in knitting, I'm always ardently searching for new easy patterns, new colorful yarns, etc. which has led me to visit MANY, MANY knitting websites. I started to notice that almost every website had a blog on it and I started reading them. Then I found that there is a website for people who knit to hook up with secret pals. I thought this would be awesome so I went to the site and in order to take part, you had to create a weblog ... thus the beginnings of New Knit Addict.

Secret Pal 5

Secret Pal 5

Questionnaire
This is the Secret Pal questionnaire that has been used in past events.You can fill out this set of questions, post it to your blog so that your SP buddy can know what you're all about and get helpful ideas to spoil you. Feel free to add questions - anything your pal might need to know about you!Please wait until the end of May to post this on your blog. That way your buddy will see it and not have to go searching through archives.

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

**** It depends on what color it is and how it feels, etc. If it's pretty and feels good I don't care what it is.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

**** No, neither but would like to learn how to crochet.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

**** No

4. How long have you been knitting?

**** Since March 12th of this year.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

**** No, but may in the future.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

**** I like patchouli, lavender, ... anything sort of earthy and hippy-ish. And I LOVE good incense.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

**** Sometimes, but not really.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

**** All my life I've been doing other crafts hoping to find something that "stuck", something creative that I really enjoyed, but have never found it. I do like to play computer Mah Jongg and love doing crossword puzzles.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

**** I like ALL types of music other than jazz, country and that pop stuff they play on the radio like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, etc. HATE THAT!! And no, I can't play MP3's.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

**** I like all colors ... really like purples, pinks, blues

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

**** I live in my own home with my 19 year old son. My boyfriend doesn't officially live there but he might as well ... he's there every night. I have 3 dogs (a beagle named Ellie Mae, a greyhound named Vern and a pitbull named Sugar Bean). I have 2 iguanas - Phineas and Ramona.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

**** To own a Harley and a Airstream trailer ... travel throughout the United States, park the Airstream, jump on the bike and go!! Also to create lots of beautiful knitted things, live the simple life, read a lot and be happy!!

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

**** So far, cotton.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

**** I don't mind the acrylic fun yarns, but don't really like a yarn that looks like cotton, but isn't. Hope that makes sense.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

**** My dream right now is to knit a shawl and a cute little poncho thing. Also want to make hats and socks.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

**** So far washcloths because I love being able to use something I made.

17. What are you knitting right now?

**** 5 different scarves and 2 washcloths.

18. What do you think about ponchos?

**** Like 'em as long as they're sort of lacy looking.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

**** Have never used circular yet, so don't know.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

**** So far aluminum.

21. Are you a sock knitter?

**** Not yet, but want to be.

22. How did you learn to knit?

**** From reading Stitch N' Bitch Nation and old books that were my mom's in the 60's.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

**** Only about a month.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

**** Pit bull or iguana.

25. What is your favorite holiday?

**** Not really crazy about any of them. I like all days and any day.

26. Is there anything that you collect?

**** YARN!! NEEDLES!! Also some iguana stuff.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

**** None yet.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?

**** Would like to get Blankets and Throws to Knit and a bunch of good knitting magazines.

posted by The Fearless Knitter @ 6:29 PM 2 comments