A new KAL, some knitting stuff and a general lack of interest in halloween.

Why am I blogging at 1:24 on Saturday night of Halloween weekend, you ask? Well, I guess the simple answer is that I didn't want to go into the city with Furry and all the boys. The long answer is that I'm broke, sick, don't feel like getting dressed up, and definitely don't feel like drinking again. So, I'm catching up on my knitting, blogging, etc.

I was so proud - Furry wore the Manly Sweater again today (that's twice this fall so far - do you think he likes it?) This time I was able to snap a pic of him before he got away! Isn't my hubby cute?

Today was a banner day for Phildar Tendances - I started a a new KAL blog for the new brown sweater with crocheted flower. Click on the button if you're interested in joining! It'll be fun to translate with some bloggerbuddies! Here is some yarn porn French style...

I've also gotten up to 95% with Blackberry from Knitty...I used 10 1/2 needles, and knit the entire thing inside out (st st, instead of reverse). So, it's a bit off, and I had to make up some extra inches in the ribbing. I hope I'm done soon. I love the Debbie Bliss cashmerino superchunky, but it PILLS like there's no tomorrow! Rather disappointing, since ths sleeves look a bit ratty, and the damn thing's never even been worn...

Here is the pre-seaming pic...
On that note...enjoy your extra hour of sleep tonight!

Words that are the kiss of death

"Is that a SHRUG?" - not so bad.
"It's really cute - I like the color" - great compliment
"It looks homemade" - AAAAHHH!!!!

I know people at work know I knit, and the whole circular shrug phenomenon (dare I call it a phenomenon?) is hitting NJ hard...BUT one of my coworkers (who's leaving here to go to a competitor next week BTW) told me my circular shrug looks homemade...then she added..."but in a good way". Like that helps.

I must be PMSing, because normally this wouldn't bug me enough to post about it.

I haven't posted in a while, because work has not been fun, but in knitting knews (see, I've been working too much - everything's in outline form):

1. I am putting the finishing ribbing on Blackberry tonight, so there should be pics tomorrow or Thursday.

2. MNSS is still on the slow - the straight stockinette is really boring...

3. Colchique is on hold until the rest of my yarn comes in. I got about 4 inches (10 cm to you French knitters) from the 1 ball I had left of the Goddess. Thank goodness for the Goddess - I was dying to start this, and the gauge matched perfectly! Now...a waiting game...

4. Lastly (for now), this sweater! Who is in on a knitalong? It's another wonderful Phildar pattern. I bought the book (in French), but it's really easy translation! I also got the EXACT yarn, Phildar Quiteude in Kraft 101 on ebay for $19.99! Check out all the auctions that knit-n-tyme has. They sell a lot of yarn that's hard to find in the US on ebay, and the bids start really low.

Is it lunchtime yet?????

Sorry I missed you all yesterday :(

Ok, So I DID get to the NYS sheep and wool, but not till 2:30! Friday night was crazy, and I woke up just a wee bit tipsy yesterday...Then I had to FIND my cat...Buster hides and doesn't come when he's called, so I couldn't leave until he was in sight. Then, I picked up my mom, and off we went! Although she's not a knitter, she had a blast picking out colors of the hand dyed and natural colored mohair/silk blend called "Harmony" from Brooks Farm Yarn.

Sorry no pics yet - Furry has the digital camera...But I was able to take a phone shot of this cutey llama in the stables! LTL, knotties and nesties, LTL! Isn't he cute?

EDIT: while on the subject of llamas, here is a catchy tune you must listen to!

So, I give into the meme craze. This one's fun. do a google search for "(your name) needs". I was not aware I needed most of this stuff (PS, most of these are specifically for Julia Roberts!)

Julia needs to learn to let go.
Julia needs to find something to sell, give away, throw out or burn.
Julia needs a bad boy, not a saint.
Julia needs an adoptive family who will love her unconditionally and commit to her.
Julia needs to worry about leaving a legacy.
Julia needs a soy cappuccino and a mocha.
Julia needs those notes, but they're not a crutch.
Julia needs You.
Julia needs a devoted stud who’ll make her feel desirable again.
Julia needs the promotion and then we will all be happy to sit back and get on with talking about things that REALLY matter.
Julia needs an eye shade to get a good night's sleep.

I totally agree about that last one! Ha. Enjoy :)

Lookie what came in today!!!

Thanks to the suggestion of my blogging buddy yahaira, I was able to snag the last skein of Vesper from etsy.com. Here it is in the Midnight Knitter colorway. I'm gonna have to learn me some socks now...Maybe I'll actually use one of the patterns from my pattern-a-day knitting calendar! For those of you who've seen that thing, there are a multitude of photos of a woman who must have been knitting scarves with her actual hair (pure white or grey), and has gotten herself one of those black 60's beehive wigs for her head. It's a trip!

Here's the Vesper up close.
On another note, have you ever had one of those days where whatever you do, nothing but nothing goes right? First I wake up to find out the Yankees are out of the playoffs, then I found out that I only got 3 picks (out of 15) on the football pool this week - which knocks me down to 4th place (I was winning, dammit!), last, I get yelled at by my boss...which kept me in the office till 7:15. Luckily, Furry got us pizza and Milano cookies. And we ate in bed (again!).

I'll end on this note...at least I'm not trapped in a box like our furry friend Niblet (aka nibbies).

U2 at MSG!!

Hi kooky kids! There would be NO KNITTING today - I actually had my first *good* experience with ebay, and scored tickets to tonight's U2 show at MSG...There was a special guest star...Mary J. Blige...To be honest, I'm not really sure why she was there, she sang with Bono on "One", but it took her almost half the song to get on key...Here are some really quality pics from my phone:










The setlist, as I was able to capture (feel free to correct me!)

City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
I Will Follow
All I Want is You
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday (with one of Bono's political rants - this one entitled "Coexist" )
Bullet the Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo
Pride: In the Name of Love
Where the Streets Have No Name
One - with Mary J. Blige (with a request to join one.org)

Encore:
For the First Time (Bono/Edge - acoustic)
Wild Horses (acoustic)
With or Without You (2 girls and a guy pulled on stage!)

Double Encore:
All Because of You
Fast Car
Original of the Species
"40"...trail off the stage...

Overall, I thought this was a 180 from a typical U2 show...They started with all the hits and crazy effects, and ended with the new stuff. Honest - it was a great show, but I felt that the end lacked the energy of the beginning. We had a blast though! I'm going to bed now :)

NYS Sheep and Wool is Coming!!!

It's a crazy day in the knitblogsphere! Everyone's abuzz about Rheinbeck! January One has started a meetup on 10/15, so if you're planning on going, here's the link. I'm dragging my poor mom, since Furry's doing something with his car and a track and high speeds...I don't want to know any more!

So, I've never been to NYSS&W, but I'm very excited to go to the spinning demonstrations. I've never spun nor have I been around anyone who spins, so this ought to be a blast. Plus (I hope) there will be some yummy yarns and roving to drool over...

MMM alpaca...

Oh Vesper, Vesper, Wherefore Art Thou Vesper?

Ok, so I logged in last night to KnitPixie to check out their stash of "one of a kind yarns", and they had a multitude of colors of that crazy Vesper Self-striping sock yarn...And, as you all know, I'm NOT a sock knitter. But, I've never wanted to try a yarn so badly, so I put a skein in my cart. 400 yards per skein! That's unbelievable. I went on to try and find other yarn options for Colchique, and got sidetracked, never to return to the Vesper until today, when this is what I got when I tried! They're all out! How can they sell out of all this wonderful yarn overnite? I'm so sad. If anyone knows any other website or LYS that sells Vesper, I'm on a mission, and I MUST have it!

Buttons, we've got buttons...

See sidebar...Maybe it's wishful thinking, but all the cool kids are doing it, and I had to have a button too!!! Actually, the background for the second button is from Mary Stebbins, used with permission of course. Check out her photo blog, it's really awesome!

A new kid on the block...

I just have to say, with much glee, that my town has opened a new LYS called Modern Yarn!!!How giddy I am like a little school girl! They are open late on Tues and Thurs, and have Sunday hours...Today is the grand opening, but they let us in to browse last night. They have all the stuff I wanted to try - the new DK weight DB alpaca/silk, Frog Tree Alpacas, and some really funky metallic Diaketo merino. Luckily, Furry was wearing his Manly Sweater, so I could gloat about my work in front of newbie-in-town store owners! Yay! NJ girls, see you there!