Miserable sinuses
December 26, 2008 
I hate head colds. HATE. The pressure is horrid and only getting worse despite using Sinus Rinse. I’ve rinsed out my sinuses twice already today and will probably do so again after writing this. I’m getting some pain too and starting to wonder if I might have a sinus infection. I can only seem to take Dayquill or I can’t sleep, but I took the Equate version of Psuedafed tonight out of desperation. I’m also almost tempted to go and get some Zicam decongestant spray but I get easily addicted to that and when I try to go off of it the congestion is worse. Add to all that a sore throat and dizziness from some happy pills and it makes for one miserable mama.
Yet, thanks to said happy pills I am indeed, much happier. Calmer, more patient and more loving to the kids. I won’t go into details but things were pretty bad for awhile. I went to a temporary doctor to get a one month supply, and after New Year or even this Monday possibly, I’ll be making a call to the Mental Health Clinic.
I bound off on my Star Struck wristwarmers from the previous post, but I still need to get the thumb done and weave in the tails. However, I made myself a cute little hat and it didn’t match the wristwarmers so I needed to make some matchy matchy, so I started a new pair of wristwarmers. After these are done I will make a hat to match the Star Struck gloves.
Christmas was good, the kids had a blast. Matthew’s Santa gift is a hit, he walked around the corner of the sofa, saw it (it wasn’t wrapped) stopped, stared, pointed and went WOW! So cute. Abby tore through all her presents and was just looking for the next one – while Matthew had to be cajoled into opening more since he was happy playing with what he had. Abby got a nice big dollhouse and she loves it, she wants to play Barbies all the time now. Her other big hit was a Go Fish game and we’ve been playing it at least twice a day.
I recieved a necklace from the kids (who didn’t even know they got me anything lol) that says mom we heart you. Very nice — but the chain is too short for my fat neck so we have to exchange it.
What’s new
In a few words – books: Twilight seris (have not been able to see the movie yet); Eragon (Inheritance Cycle) Seris; spinning; knitting.
Right now I’m spinning angora, like literally, right now. Well right before posting this anyway. I’m not liking 100% pure angora so much – it falls apart way easily. This is raw angora as well as far as I know, not processed, straight from the bunnies at Handspun Harvest after having the fiber carded for me. I love it, it is sooo soft but really a pita to spin. I can not get a good consistency at all. I’ve tried drafting inchworm, from the fold, and my usual worsted. I”m afraid to try long-draw that it will just fall apart! It’s only 2 oz – I think next time I want to buy some I will see if Jenni can blend it with something else for me to make it easier to spin.
The spinning is actually a break from cutting out fabric. I really am not that into sewing and would much rather spin or knit. Cutting out is the worst though. I have 4 skirts to cut (1 down) and 3 shirts. Then I have to get it all sewn before Saturday. Way to go waiting on the last minute, eh? My back kills when I cut out.
Oh yes, one other thing is new, I started seeing a chiropracter. My neck is always bothering me, he says it’s basically bad posture. It has helped so far, but not 100% yet. He wants me to get to 50% better and then wear this strange contraption on my head to correct my posture – the bones in my neck are actually forward and no amount of trying to correct it myself will work, or so he says. All I know is I do feel better so I’m pretty sure I will keep it up. It got so bad, esp when I knit, I thought I was going to have to give it up.
I leave you with my current WIP:
And my most recent FO
Queen of Procrastinating
January 10, 2008 
So tonight I’m supposed to be working on testing Krista’s diaper pattern. Well, Abby wanted to come in with me, and wanted to ‘help’. So I set her up with the crafts scissors my mom got her for Christmas, and a marker. Then it escalated to me getting my star & moon punches. Well then, she tells me ‘Zoe’s gonna like this!’ Zoe’s birthday was a couple of days ago, and her party is this Saturday. So it then turned into a birthday card. I got her the birthday stickers, and the candle stamp (6), and then had her pick out a scrap of fabric to embroider Zoe’s name onto. I’m really proud of the effort she put into it, but I’m not much further on Krista’s pattern. Whoops.
My new binder for my overflow of PDF knitting patterns:
Options
One of my Christmas presents was the Knit Picks Options set (nikel-plated). While I love the set, I’ve had several problems with it.
The tips are wonderfully smooth and pointy, the cables are nice and flexible and have a very smooth join. BUT. There’s always a but. First, I was knitting with one of my 24″ cables. I was doing a gauge swatch, and when I pulled it off of my needles (I normally don’t bind off my swatches so that I can re-use the yarn on my project) the metal pieces on the ends of the cables (that you screw into the tips) had come off. I thought I could just push them back in, but no such luck. Then, I tried to use my size 4 tip. I tried to screw them in, but one of the tips wouldn’t go on. I looked and there was something stuck in there. When I finally got it out, I tried to screw it back onto the cable. I couldn’t. And the final problem, my other 24″ cable had the same problem the first one did.
Now, with all of these problems I’m pretty pissed. So of course I called customer service about it, and I’ve got to say it’s excellent. I told them the problems, they apologized and sent replacements immediatly. I haven’t recieved them yet. Hopefully the replacements will be ok and I won’t have anymore problems.
Even with all the problems, I would still reccomend the set. It’s a really great interchangeable set, and their customer service is stellar. I’m very frustrated at this point, but I still am happy that I have it.
Busier than I thought
December 30, 2007
Filed under diapers, fini, knitting, wip
Tags: knitting longies diapers shirt sweater cape soaker
For anyone wondering, I no longer sell on Hyena Cart, for now at least. It just got to be too much. I did set up an Etsy store for the times I want to make something I have no use for, as I still do want to sell, I just don’t have enough time to devote to it as I’d like. Maybe next year, Abby *might* be in school and Matthew will hopefully be able to entertain himself.
I finished up the diaper and longies set, I love how it came out. I ran out of yarn on the second leg and had to use my other skein which didn’t match perfectly. Next time I need to dye up more than 1 skein of yarn, I will felt the ends together and have it all in one hank. Lesson learned. I’m so proud of this set and my colorway.
Specs:
Size medium Fattycake diapers – Micheal Miller Retro Rocket Rascals woven cotton print outer: Hidden flannel layer, inner layer of 80/20 velour, hidden internal soaker of 3 layers terrycloth and 2 layers microfiber toweling. Ooga Booga poly knit outer: constructed as the RRR diaper.
Size medium Belladonna Designs longies. I grafted the crotch before starting the legs, this was awesome and I’ll never go back! It gave me an extra 1.25 inches per leg and no holes! I’m so pleased with how it turned out. Wool is 3ply 100pure wool dyed in my Rainforest colorway of turquoise, browns, greens and golden yellows.
Next up, the superhero capes! Based on the pattern in New Knits on the Block by Vicki Howell I made two. I was supposed to make three but ran out of time. So, one for Abby and one for Corb. I only have the picture of Abby’s right now, Corb’s is on my mom’s camera. Abby’s is made of Paton’s Classic Merino with Caron Perfect Match trim. I used a grosgrain ribbon for the necktie with sewn-on velcro. Corb’s is made of Red Heart Soft (I believe). Both used 2 balls each of the main color. I used a sheet of acrylic felt for the logos. My mom did most of the hand stitching on them, though I did a bit on Abby’s.
After that, I was finally able to work on a soaker for Matthew which was sorely needed. I wish I had added an extra inch of rise though.
Pattern: Snapdragon Soaker
Yarn: 100purewool single ply for the body, malabrigo for trim
Size: Large. Cast on for 2 inches less for waistband to allow for stretching.
And last, what I’m working on now. A Knitting Pure and Simple pattern that I am loving for … ME! Can you believe it? I think this is the first item I actually knit for myself. I hope I’ll like it. It is pattern 257 Split Neck T Shirt for Women. Using the XXL size, I am going to have short sleeves (Louisiana weather demands it) and lengthen the body to 30 inches – that is, if I have enough yarn. It calls for 1395 yards with a 3/4 sleeve length and 22 inch body. I have 1650 yards so with shortened sleeves and the extra yarn, I’m hopeful it should be plenty. Yarn is Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton (oh so soft) in Willow
Tonight I’ve started a gauge swatch on a pair of longies as a gift for a deserving mama. Why is this noteworthy? Because I’ve finally tried Magic Loop! And it is so easy. So much better than using DPNs, you are only using 2 needles! So glad I learned it b/c it will come in handy when I finally use my sock yarn.
