returning to "normal"

   I think the funk might be over, for the most part. YAY! I finished the Gamer Gloves, and delivered them today. As I spoke to daughter this evening, via facebook, she told me her hubs was wearing them. Good! I hope they keep his hands nice and warm. I was wondering of perhaps he might be able to drum in them? Maybe he'll try. We shall see.


    This means that I could finally start my sweater. I must confess, I had already started it. When I went to Stitch n Bitch yesterday, I took the box of yarn with me, so I could honestly say the yarn was still in the box. My mama didn't raise no liars.


    My mama was very creative! I remember a few times when I was a teenager, and there was a boy calling me on the phone. If I didn't want to talk to him, mom told me to go get in the bathtub. I did, very reluctantly, but I could hear her telling the boy that I couldn't come to the phone, because I was in the tub. She was big on honesty.


    Then there was the time she told me to stand behind her, and as she twisted around, looking for me, I moved with her. Then she tells the caller that she doesn't see me, I must not be around. Or the time she told me to go stand out on the stoop. She told the caller, that time, that I wasn't in the house... Yup, I learned a lot from my mama. She was, and still is, a devious woman that you don't want to cross.

the yarn goddess'll getcha

    That's right, she will get you, if you have negative feelings whilst crafting. Those negative feelings go through your hands and into your project. I've seen it time and time again, but I was still guilty of it while working on those darn Gamer Gloves.


    You see, I didn't want to make them in the first place. But I had promised my daughter that I would make them for her hubs, and I couldn't put it off any longer. I was going to have to make them. Unfortunately, it was with unwillingness that I started them, and they have given me nothing but trouble ever since.


    So after the whole frogging incident, my friend Kim mentioned that perhaps the mistake was made because of my negative attitude towards the gloves. I realized she was right, so when I re-started them yesterday morning, I concentrated on how much son-in-law will love them, and how they would keep his hands nice and warm while playing his video games.


    Positive attitude creates a positive experience. I'm still in my funk, but I think things are starting to get better. Every day that passes gets me more finished with the gloves, and closer to my sweater! Happy dance!


   Update: To my surprise, I actually finished the gamer gloves last night! I even sewed/crocheted the seams. (I crocheted one and sewed one)  The whole "having to redo" thing went by really quickly once my attitude changed!


    Also, I'd like to thank Jenn J. for her comment on the other day's "funkytown" post. It really gave me a chuckle, and at that moment, I started leaving funkytown behind. Thanks Jenn!!

crochet disaster!

    I am, right now, very near tears of frustration. I had to frog nearly half of the nearly finished 2nd Gamer Glove. I had lost stitches somewhere.


    At first I thought the rows were shorter just because I was crocheting tightly. But I broke down and counted the stitches. It was difficult because of the small size, but I lost 2 or 3 stitches somewhere just before the thumbhole row. No matter how I stretched it, it wouldn't go. So I frogged it.


    I found the mistake, and am having to redo the stupid glove. Looks like I'll be in funkytown for a while. I wonder if casting on my sweater would make me feel a bit better? I hardly ever make promises to myself, just because I know I would probably not keep them. I like to think of myself as being flexible that way. Circumstances change, I should be able to change also. It's just so frustrating. These will be my last pair of the gloves, and I'm not enjoying making them. I just want it over with. It's a good thing I like my son-in-law!

my trip to funkytown

   After careful reflection, I do believe that's been my problem lately. I seem to be in a funk. When I open up my laptop, and think it's time to write my blog post for the day, there's nothing there. Nothing comes out. I get frustrated, and shut the thing down.


    I have been writing darn near every day for about a year and a half. At some points, I had so much to say that I would have posts pre-written, sometimes by three days! But now, I got nothing. I know I haven't run out of stories, I just can't think of anything right now.


    So, if I don't post for a while, I am still in funkytown. I hope you will all hang in there with me. Those of you who know me personally, know that this is very unusual for me. I'm usually upbeat and cheerful, some have likened me to Mary Poppins. It's just that right now, I'm having trouble keeping my beat up.


    I am working on those Gamer gloves, as often as I can. I actually just compared the second to the first, and it's almost done!! Maybe three more rows to go. I think I see light at the end of the Gamer Glove tunnel! Methinks it's almost sweater time!!

no updates at this time

    There are no updates at this time. The Gamer Gloves are still kicking my ass, I can only do a few rows at a time. Other than that, nothing. is . going. on. It's been too cold to go outside. There's nothing good on television. Hubs is home from work, it's a two day off stretch, and even though we (said with clenched teeth) "enjoy spending time together", at this point, we are spending it in separate rooms. He's watching TV in the bedroom, myself in the living room.


    Although yesterday, I did get to help out a friend who had sick baby guinea pigs. I was honored to drive them to the hospital, where they were checked by the Vet. They will both be okay. I am relieved. I can't wait until next week, when I will get to meet them properly.

in which I make a decision

    You have to know by now that these Gamer Gloves are kicking my ass. In days gone by, I could whip out a pair in no time at all. These days, however, it's getting harder and harder.

  
   It could be because I don't crochet all that much these days. It could be that I'm having to use my absolutely least favorite size hook in the whole fracking world, a G. I have always hated that size hook for some unknown reason. Well, that size and anything smaller than that.


   I feel I must state for the record that the fault is not with the recipient of the gloves, my son-in-law. I adore him, he makes my daughter very happy. And for that reason alone, he is still breathing. And he likes cats.


    Let me get to the point here. I do hereby vow and affirm, in this public forum, that I shall never again even think about making anyone, at all, for any reason, fingerless / gamer gloves, hand warmers, or any variation of this item.


    Now I just have to finish the last glove, crochet the seams up, then wash and deliver them. And that will be the end. Finito.   > sigh< of relief....

Gamer Glove report / still being good

     I am still working on the Gamer Gloves. I went to Sara's today after work, to fit one to her hubs' hand. I think two more rows will do. Then I can work more on the second one, until it's the same size as the first. Then I will crochet them up, wash them, and deliver them.  Then I can move on to my SWEATER!


    It's been so hard keeping my promise not to cast on the sweater before the Gamer Gloves are done. But they are almost done now, so things are good! I still can't post a photo, but you have my word all the yarn is still in it's delivery box.


     I'm sorry I haven't had much to say lately. I'm sure things will turn around at some point. I hate funerals, I hate death. Why is it that even at the advanced age of 93, we think they will just keep on going? We are surprised to hear they are gone? R.I.P Grandma Doris. You will be greatly missed.


   


  

crocheting while waiting for yarn

    That's what I'm doing today, waiting. Yesterday, I ordered the yarn for my real sweater. I've decided not to continue on the practice one, If I can get through the top of the pattern on the practice sweater, then I am sure I can finish the real one. I had received as a Festivus gift, from a really good friend, a gift certificate from KnitPicks. And that's where I went yesterday to peruse through their yarn selection.


    I kind of knew that I wanted to do the real sweater in cotton. The first cotton yarn I found didn't have a great range of colors, so I moved on. The second one had tons of colors! So many that it was difficult to make a choice. I ended up with a really nice, mid-tone bluish purple. Now I just have to wait for it to come.


    While I'm waiting, I have picked up the Gamer Gloves again. I hope to get them done, as I have promised myself that I won't cast on the real sweater until the gloves are finished. I think I better get a move on.....

Knitting Progress Report

    A lot has been accomplished in the five days since I took the last photos of my sweater! Here is how it looks right now:

    I am pretty darn proud of how it's turning out! Like I said, I used two full skeins of the cream color, and started the denim blue. I'm saving the rest of the cream for the collar and the tops of the sleeves. Then I'll finish the sleeves in the denim.


   But first, I have to finish the body of the sweater. I'm making it longer than the pattern says, I like 'em tunic length.


    With all that said, I have a confession to make. I am finding that I'm not enjoying crocheting any more. I'm having to force myself to work on the gamer gloves. And that's not a good thing. I will still do the crocheted baby blankets, they are too freaking awesome to not make them. Here is what they look like:

I Think I Got It.....

    I don't want to jinx myself (too late!), but, I think I got it. The sweater pattern, that is. I managed to create a little chart for myself that indicates how many rows of each kind of increase there are to be done, and I just tick off with a pencil when each is done.


    I bet that sounds simple to you, but for me it was monumental. That I could figure it out at all is amazing to me. As my good knitting friend said, "You must really want that sweater very badly!" She says that's how she got most of her knitting skills, by wanting something badly enough to learn the new skill. I'm sure I drove her nuts last night at Karate, as well as this morning at Stitch n Bitch, by how excited I was. And I still am!


    I am now confident enough to forgo the whole "make one of cheap acrylic first" thing, and go right for the good wool. Unless I've annoyed the Knitting Goddess with my boastfulness. Which is entirely possible.


    I'm going to continue to knit the yoke of the sweater for practice, just to make absolutely certain. I am not going to take photos of the practice yoke. It would entail me pinning it to the carpet, because it's all rolled up. BUT it is awesome, and you can easily make out where the V-neck is, as well as the sleeves. Who kows - if I can find enough of the practice yarn, I may very well continue on it, just to see what it looks like. There must be someone in my life that it would fit. I made it a smaller size than the one I would make for myself.


    And YES, Sara, I am still working on the Gamer Gloves! One is almost ready for a progress fitting.


   I know, I know, I screwed myself with this post. Now I will have pissed off the Knitting Goddess for sure, and she will punish me for my boastfulness. But I GOT IT!!


   

  

And So It Begins

     First, I feel I must assure you all that I am still working away on the Gamer Gloves, but I've begun the yarn selection process for my sweater.  I had thought that perhaps I could begin the sweater, with yarn from my stash, just to make sure I could do it. It doesn't even have to be in gauge, or anything. I desire to make sure it's doable for me, before I invest money in any amount of yarn.


     So I got out some Lion Brand Cotton Ease, in purple, and began to swatch. I know I said I wasn't going to, but to me this yarn is a contender. It's so soft, I imagine it would make a sweet sweater. Unfortunately, the gauge was off. I would really like to use Size 9 needles, as I have these circulars in many sizes from a past cardigan. I ended up putting aside the Cotton Ease.


     Then I picked up my latest copy of the Patternworks catalog. I flipped to the back page where they have the chart for the different yarn gauges. I need a heavy worsted/aran weight yarn, so I went through all the yarns of that weight in the chart, one by one, and picked out two that I really liked. One is called Elements, and it's gorgeous. It comes in heathered colors, and I can't decide which one I like best. The other is N.Y. Cotton.


     After all that, I went to the KnitPicks website, and looked at their heavy worsted/aran weight yarns. I found one there that's perfect, and it's not even horribly expensive! I can't remember the name of the yarn right now, but I did put it on my wish list on the site. I think I picked out a purple. I put in that I want 10 balls, because I want extra to make the sweater longer.


    Now I just need to inherit some money, or win the lottery or something. Then I could afford to get the yarn for my sweater.

Gamer Glove Progress and More!

    I am very pleased to have today's post ready so early. Sometimes I can't think of a subject until late in the evening! But today, I have a photo of my Gamer Gloves, as well as a couple other things!


    Here are the Gloves, you can see one has his thumb hole already!

    Last night, I set out a trap, scientifically designed to capture cats. Being a life long cat caretaker, I know how much they love boxes. Now I have photographic proof. And my poor Ozzy was clearly embarrassed at being caught. He wouldn't look at the camera, and, in the second photo, you can see he was already on his way out.

    A few days ago, a good friend gave me a slice of pumpkin cheesecake that she and her daughter made. I finally got around to trying it this morning. It's really good! I also took a photo of the cheesecake, as I was on a roll. You can even see where I took the first fork full!

 
    So there it is, my early day post! I am very relieved I was able to pull it together, I must tell you! Now I can get on with the rest of my day. Enjoy!

P.S. As I type this, Ozzy has gotten back in the box. Very slowly and carefully, making sure I didn't see him. But I can hear the paper rustling as he moves....

Saturday, Sweet Saturday

    Today, I took the day off from my weekends-only part time job. You see, I had convinced my daughter to have a 31 purse party, so I could check out one of their purses that I really liked.


   Her Pampered Chef friend also sells the 31 products, so she knows all of us, and has been to Sara's house more than once. That party was today. I went, and had a good time. I must say I was pleasantly surprised that the bag I liked was actually much bigger than I thought it would be. So, of course, I ordered one!


    It also just so happened to be Sara's birthday today. My oldest child, my heart. It makes me so happy to see her settled and married to a great man. But don't tell him I said that... I wouldn't want him to get a bigger head.


    I hung around after the others had left; I wanted to see his hands, for Gamer glove thumb hole placement. Once that had been decided, I beat feet, and let the kids decide where he would be taking her out to dinner to celebrate.


   But tomorrow, it's back to work. I am still hoping some local friends will stop by the Hudson Valley Market Place to see me. There are a lot of vendors there, selling all kinds of things, from mattresses to purses, and clothes to jewelry. I hope to see some of you there! Remember, it's that gift giving season again!

Gamer Glove Progress / Snow Photos

   I have made progress on the gamer gloves, I started the second one. I was at the point in the first one where I will put the thumb hole, and I want to actually see the thumb, so I started the second. I may have that one ready for thumb hole measuring by the time I see him on Saturday!

    The snow we had the other day was my favorite kind, it melted quickly. I did manage to get some photos before the battery died in my camera.

    This light coating of snow on the leaves my mom used to say was like sugar on Wheaties, the cereal. I still think of that when I see light snow. These photos are of the wooded lot next door to us.