Summertime And The Living Is.... Wet

Haven't much felt like blogging lately which is unusual for me. I think it's a combination of the weather being bad, for weeks now, and getting into the groove of summer having the boys home. Also probably anticipation of vacation next week. Or laziness.
I watched Weeds last week and Nancy was wearing this really cool hat. It looked knitted and looked almost like part beret and part elf hat. It fit around the forehead then was long and droopy in the back. I tried to find something like it and the closest I came was this Sockhead Hat on Ravelry. It's a cute easy knit although now looking at my hat and the one on the blog, mine looks a lot smaller so it may be for Patrick. I think that's the reason I never swatch. With four of us in this family, something I make will always fit someone.
Going to Al's today for some outdoor knitting if the rain stays away long enough. Al has something that not many New Yorkers have. A backyard. Right in the middle of Manhattan. It's a lovely size and beautifully set up. If it rains, we'll just hang at her house and knit. I'll bring the BSJ with me to work on with Al's guidance and will, hopefully, get a bunch of it done.
Tomorrow will be packing up yarn and cleaning house before VACATION! Can't wait.
Oh and I found something on Ravelry. Something dangerous and addictive. The ISO and Destashing forum. It's great! I can go there and get some yarns, at a discount, that I normally wouldn't buy because they're a little too expensive for my abilities. I was initially surprised that the yarns weren't cheaper, to be honest, but I've found that a lot of people selling their yarns are trying to raise money for bills or necessities. I purchased four hanks of yarn from three sellers so far. I'm gonna have to be careful though. I could be on that forum all day and spend oodles of dough without thinking twice.
By the way can someone tell me why sock yarn is so expensive?

School's Out For Summer!

That's what Patrick was singing as he came through the door yesterday. Believe it or not he's just now getting out of school although he has to go in on Friday to get his report card. Oh sorry, his progress report as it's being called now. No school today so, if there's no rain (yah right), we'll be hitting Tompkins Square Park for some S'mac, some skateboarding, them not me, and some park knitting.
I have three projects on the needles now. I think when I have more than one thing going at a time, I feel like a real knitter. Don't ask me why. Ulterior Motive Pedi Socks is the first thing I'm working on. I thought they were really cute and a great way to show off both your pedicure and a great looking pair of socks. The second thing I'm working on is a cap for my husband for winter. I made him a few of the Dublin Beanies but he likes them and it's easy mindless knitting for when we watch Deadliest Catch, my current favorite program.
The third thing I'm working on, or trying to work on, is a Baby Surprise Jacket. No no not for me. One of my friends is expecting a little boy and I thought this would be a great easy knit. Haha shame on me. Garter stitch does not equal easy! That's this weeks lesson. Because I'm a new knitter, or maybe because I'm not the sharpest tool leaning against the outhouse door, I have realized I do need a line by line pattern or I get frustrated. When I get frustrated I whine and cry. It ain't pretty. Flying by the seat of my pants doesn't work for me. I don't mind that the project is unusual or oddly shaped, it's that I need specifics. Apparently I'm not the only one because there is at least one group, on Ravelry, dedicated to the BSJ both their love of it and help for it. There are also websites for it. There's even an explanation of the pattern for sale. Thanks to some lovely Twitterers and Ravelry members I think I may get through this without any emotional scars. People say you have to just read the pattern and discard the rules. It's hard to discard the rules when you don't know them! Ok enough kvetching.
I don't want to end on a bad note so I'll leave you with this:


Lunch at S'mac. Killah mac & cheese and my two boys for a day out. Who could ask for more?

'Ello 'Ermione!

Here are photos of the Hermione Hat. It's a cable eyelet hat that Jackie wrote from seeing a photo of a hat that the Harry Potter character, Hermione, is wearing in a still shot for the yet to be released movie Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince. Being the HP geek that I am, I couldn't resist making this hat. What a fun & easy knit! Jackie did a great job writing the pattern. I replaced the yarn she used and used Cascade 220 Superwash and didn't have the fit issue that she seemed to have. Maybe I just knit bigger? Could be.
I love the color of this yarn. There are bits of green in it that you would be able to see if the sun ever came out in Manhattan but that's not the case so you'll just have to take my word for it. The link above will take you to her blog to see the photo of the original and a photo of the one she made. When I tried it on and showed it to Glenn he said "Oh honey there's a big hole in it!" We than had a lesson on eyelet and patterns. Thank goodness he's a quick learner.

I'm So Happy She's Back!

The other day I was on Facebook and saw a status update from one of my friends there. All it said was "New job!". I look and see it's Alyssa, the manager of The Point! I was really excited and asked where and she told me she's currently at Annie & Company on the upper east side. I called Al and told her the wonderful news and we decided we'd just have to go visit our friend Alyssa.
Al and I had visited there before and loved the store. When we had gone, it had just opened and they were setting up so we didn't stay long. Just long enough to oooo and ahhh over the lovely yarns they have.
We showed up yesterday and surprised Alyssa. It was so great to see her! She's just the sweetest person really and a great knitter. She was happy to see us and invited us to sit and knit a while which was exactly what we wanted to hear! We sat with some women who were already there and chatted. Everyone was so nice and fun. The women who work there are extremely knowledgeable and talented. It was almost like being back at The Point! The yarns there are gorgeous. Everything from Noro to Katia to cashmere to ArtYarns, which I must admit a weakness for. They have gorgeous needles too and loads of supplies and books. It was so comfortable and the people were so nice. I think we may have found a new home! The only disadvantage is that it's a bit of a schlep but it's something I can get over in exchange for a few hours of bliss per week.
I'm so happy to see Alyssa back doing something she does amazingly well. I don't think she realizes what an impact she has on people like me who learned so much from her. She really is so beautiful and sweet and helpful and there's always a smile on her face. I think we'll be going back to see her once a week. Even if it IS all the way on the upper east side.

And The Winner Is...........

Sharon Rose! She told a great joke and here it is:

A man goes to New York City on business. He wants to have a real Big City night on the town, so the concierge at his hotel sends him to a bar at the top of the Empire State Building.

He walks in and orders his usual. He’s getting chatty with the bartender, telling him about the conference, etc. Another patron at the bar overhears that he’s from out of town and comes and sits next to him. “Hey, welcome to our little place. This is the best bar in the whole city!”

“Really? What’s so great about it?”

“Oh, it’s amazing! See that picture on the wall? That’s a genuine Picasso.”

The tourist raises an eyebrow. “Hmm.”

The local guy stands up. “Yeah! And that stool there? At the end of the bar? That’s from a real pirate ship!”

“Okaaay.” At this point the businessman is pretty skeptical. He realizes the local has had more than a little to drink.

“But this! This is the best part! Check out this window. Because of the drafts up the side of this building, if you jump out, you fall about twenty feet. Then the wind catches you and brings you right back up!”

“Ah… right.”

“No, really, I’ll show you!” And the man runs over to the window, throws it open, and leaps out. Sure enough, he falls for a few seconds, then stops in mid-air and comes back up. He pulls himself through the window, stands up, and takes a bow. “You gotta do it!”

The traveler is impressed but nervous, so the man says “Look, dude, I’ll do it again.” Sure enough, he jumps out again. Falls about 20 feet, then the wind catches him and he returns to the level of the window. The businessman grabs his arm and pulls him in.

“Holy cow! I gotta try that!” He leaps out… and falls… and falls….

The bartender just shakes his head. “Superman, you’re a real jerk when you’re drunk.”

Patrick and I had a great time reading all the entries together and I want to thank you all for participating. He had a hard time picking a winner but couldn't resist a joke about Superman and NYC.
Sharon please contact me with your information so I can send you your prize! Write to me at KnittingKnoobie@gmail.com
Thanks again to all of you making us laugh!

Cash Cab!

My brother in law, Noam, and his dad, Nate will be appearing on Cash Cab tonight! It was filmed a while ago and we've been waiting and waiting and now it's finally here. It will be on this evening's show. I don't know how they did because they had to sign a contract saying something along the lines of they won't tell what happened or they'll be sued blah blah blah. I've known Noam for over thirty years and he knows I'm a big mouth so even if he COULD tell me, he probably wouldn't. I'm sure they're gonna rock it and I can't wait to see!
Oh in knitting news, I'm working on a new hat. It's called Hermione's Cable & Eyelet hat and it's very cute! The hat is taken from the yet to be released movie Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince. Jackie, who wrote the pattern, saw a still shot for the movie and wrote the pattern from a photo! How cool is that??? Can't wait to see how it comes out. I'm using Cascade Superwash in a lovely dark teal color.
In sorta knitting news, I had Glenny help me clean out my yarn cupboard. He sat down to empty the bottom drawer, squealed, jumped up and had a dpn sticking out of his bum! He yanked it out quickly and looked at me. I must have looked like death because he started laughing. I almost had a friggin heart attack seeing that sticking out of his left butt cheek! He hardly bled and he's fine. I think he actually thinks it was worth the injury to see the look on my face. Damn kids.

Socks For Me

Here they are! My Laizy Maizy socks made for me. These were a lot of fun to make. Easy and adorable. Comfortable too. Al had to kitchener close them for me because I just cannot get that stitch down. I think I'll be practicing that stitch when we go away on vacation in July. I love how the yarn striped and how lovely it felt while knitting.
I'm working on a beret now, using Cascade Superwash, and a project I find funny. Pedi socks. I think it's so cute to wear socks with no toes! I'm using Artyarns Ultramerino 6 color 130. I love the color! It reminds me of Neopolitan ice cream - vanilla, strawberry & chocolate. It's really cute:
Isn't it lovely? It's so soft and looks adorable knitted up. I'm only on the cuff of the sock but I'm really enjoying it already.
Today is WWKIP day so I think I'll find a bench to go knit on for a bit. If the rain ever stops.