Bad Habits

I promised several times to be more frequent in my postings, but this time i mean it...i swear.. taking pics this weekend.. promise.

Weaving's AhhhHaaa momment

You know that real bummer part of dressing your loom (Ashford, ridgid heddle), when you've got your yarn all squared away and it's time to wrap it up on the beam...and you need someone to hold the ends while you wind it up?? Sometimes spouse is not around, or its like 11 at night and neighbors are not too keen about your knock on the door, "say, can you help me out with my loom?" Not a very good idea.... and then - as I watch the video for putting together my new Julia loom.... I see the nice lady wrapping up ALL BY HERSELF!! How is that possible you ask?? By doing this:

How stinking brilliant is that?? A simple weight at the end of your warp yarn!! This weight was taken off my antique circular sock knitting machine... but you could run over to your handy dandy Ace Hardware, buy yourself a big ole "S" hook and some big ole bolts and/or washers and spiffy just like that - you can dress your loom 24/7 with no help!! Whhhoo Hooo. This little bit of stuff (50/50 cotton/linen) will be a set of 3 wash clothes - using a cool technique to put little nubby loops in it, just like your run of the mill store type wash clothes and towels..

Lace Dress is DONE

Well, it has taken at least one year.. I found a picture taken Feb. 9, 2009 of just the skirt part being done...if nothing else, I am persistant.....I am happy with out it turned out...it fit, thank G*d...after ripping and decreasing needle sizes.. the recipient is a widget in size, can't tell from the pictures, but (and The Girl, if she reads this, don't be mad) but seriously, there are some 7th graders bigger than this 25 year old. If I were to dunk her in water, she'd maybe be 99lbs.. so, see, its a small dress and smaller than the original patttern's smallest size.. hence a year in the making... It's done and now on to other things.. Like that horrid Tree of Life afgan from Lion Brand, who they say has no errors in the pattern, so, I guess it's just vague and ambiguous then.... rat bastards...

Military Mail

OK, not sure who is in charge of processing military mail coming from overseas.... but last week I got a card from a military person, postmarked Jan 4th - well, that's reasonable... but today, January 25th.. I get a Christmas card from the same person, dated 12/15/09 and post marked December 24th...hmmmmmm.. governmental efficiency?? oxymoron?? you decide.

Stuff...

First, to avoid confusion to a family member whose blog i just posted to... I am not really crazy. This blog was created for the purpose of knitting exchanges, etc. Hence the rather one subject posting bits....I had to out myself to post on your blog...it's cute..

Second: To my friend who thought that weaving would be a good hobby - thinking a loom would not take up too much room, nearly causing me to pee my pants... I have pictures to post... stay tuned.. emailing them now from cell phone to email.....check back in a few min.

Yes, I am still here

Wow.. last post was in November? Seriously?? So, yes I've been knitting, but not making progress on too much of anything....still working on dress for The Girl. Should be done by Christmas....(ya right). Had to have Healtherly unknit one of my Socks for Soldiers helmet liners.. I did some Vicodin knitting last month and dropped stitches, added stitches and otherwise screwed up the last few rounds of the hat... it's back on the needles all proper like now. I've also made two beanie caps from a kit I got at a WINERY in Napa.. They use sheep in the vineyard to eat the weeds, sheer them, send the fleese to Yolo Mill Works and sell about 100 kits.. Whoo Hoo.. The first hat is on it's way to Iraq and the second, after our mailman tries it on for size, will soon follow. The real purpose of this post is to say "what amazing friends I have" In the last 7 - 10 days, I've taken about 8 or 9 boxes to the post office - all headed to Iraq.. Between me, my friend, debbie, and her neighbor, we've sent home made cookies, top ramen, etc and put a smile on over 30 soldiers faces... I am not tooting my own horn here.. it just amazes me that in such short order 3 people can get so much done! I'll take pictures of the "winerey hat" before it gets sent off.. promise.

A Real Miss America

Now this is what I'm talkin' about!! It's been ages, but here I am....leaving in a few hours for a confernece..but I promise to post when I get back.