A guy with stick and string

Taboo tuesday...

2011-07-05T13:38:00.000-07:00

I know I have not posted a while, I've been busy with work and finishing school. Now that it was over, I thought I had time to be able to catch up....Nope! Work consumed everything, even knitting time, but no fear I'm back knitting more and more.

Look...do you see the octopus, spider, and praying mantis? I knit those for a display for a local library. My mom asked me to make them for her work, so I agreed and there they are, I feel famous....

Other then that I have a finished Pagona, working on socks, Rock Island Shawl, cardigan design, a tank for me (I need something cool). And... the book... is still a go. I'm still working on it slowly, I just need to go through my stash and see what designs that I need to work on or finish for it.

All for now. Till next time, knit and stay hydrated

Ticklish Tuesdays

2011-03-08T14:05:00.000-08:00

Ok ok I know it's been a while but I've been doing a lot. And I'm sure you're wondering what is so ticklish about tuesdays, well.... It's the day before wednesdays known as hump day so it's as if you're so giddy and ticklish that you can't wait for wednesday. But I digress.

I finished the February hat right in time for stitches, I actually finished it at 2am that day. Speaking of stitches... I did some stash enhancing. And even though I said no fiber, no fiber, I had to when I saw Abstract Fiber's Roving, it's AMAZING.

So pretty, the lefts is Rockstar in a Optum fiber (so soft) and the right is a Yak merino bamboo blend I believe. Then I bought some more yarn from Lisa Souza, and I was spinning the other day and went "hmm this color looks familiar....well....

That's because it is the same color, just bought about 1-2 years apart.

That right one is cashmere from MissBabs. I think it's going to be a cowl for myself, I couldn't pass it up.

The solar dyers are almost done and hopefully it will start to be sunnier here so I can do it.

Fiber festival hopefully this summer....

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Tired Tuesday

2011-02-15T10:41:00.001-08:00

Ok that doesn't sounds like the most exciting title for a blog post but I am really tired. I don't sleep well but I knew it was time to post another post here so here we go. (If this is a little weirder or boring more then usual I do apologize in advance).

I am working on the february hat, which is going very slowly. It is another Steven West pattern. Don't get me wrong I love the hat it's just doing double knitting on needles I'm not sure if I like yet and with fingering weight yarn and slip knit slip knit till my eyes fall out will drive and is driving me nuts. But I digress... I am using Frog Tree Pediboo and I love the yarn, so soft and warm and lovely. I need to finish this hat in the next 4 or so days so when I go to Stitches West it can be my yarn money holder, kind of a way of keeping myself in check when I am there. I'm not sure what I want to get there, but I know I see more Lisa Souza Yarn coming home with me, like it tends to do every year. I got another knitter to go "OOOOOOOO EVIL YOU ARE!" which is true.

I am an enabler. Pure and simple I am the dyeabolical, supreme enabler. Everyone who knows me knows this is true. So I am going to announce that Macek Designs is coming out of a hibernation and will be putting up the new new new website, since the first kinda got erased when my old laptop had to be whipped and I stupidly didn't back up the file. But I have a better one now and I will let you all know when it goes live. Be prepared for sock made on Robert (sock knitting machine from 1870) and sun dyed yarn. I know that sounds crazy but doing it that way will be better for me and everyone I live with and not to mention the environment. And the electricity bill that will help too.

Finally, guess what I am going to be knitting now that I said I would never knit again? That's right socks, socks. The things that I had a pair of my argyle hand dyed socks eaten, and vowed that it would never happen again. But now I am back, but I will not ignore Robert, he will be used in conjunction with hand knit socks. Kinda like having the production and the artsy ones. Best of both worlds. That's what I'm telling myself.

Things on my needles:
Rick from Cookie A's Sock Innovations
Skinny Skid from Stephen West's First Book
Crochet Scarf I'm replicating from a picture for my boss

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Wacky wednesdays

2011-01-26T15:55:00.001-08:00

I'm thinking that any day I post anything there should be a theme to it, like a random day, or a day where I have to use a specific word in every sentence, while still making some sense. Today is wednesday and I thought it would be appropriate for me to make it a wacky wednesday. Why wacky you say? Here's why:
1: They both start with W

2: Wednesday that day in the middle of the week, it's not really the beginning or the end it's just there

3: Wednesdays are the day known as hump day, so that's just wacky enough

4: Cause I think I'm clever for thinking of those 3 things listed above, but that's besides the point

Ok lets start with the wacky, unless I've already started....here we go

1. I finished my hat for the month, took all of two day...I'm thinking I might have to add more to this 12 hats in the year thing....

2. I added a button on it, it's a pirate button, makes me feel all clever and pirate like

3. " 'ey matty where's me yyyyyyaaarrrrnnnnn"

4. I am going to making the pretty thing for my mom's birthday next month, going to be out of a yak, bamboo mix 75/25

5. I'm going to be dyeing and spinning a lot more yarn

6. I still need to get that 15 lbs of fleece processed

7. Stephanie Pearl McPhee is funny by telling us that in "American it's a size 4" and it's true, we can't do metric, or we just don't wanna

8. I know I don't wanna, I like my inches, and feet, and pints, and cups, and US 4, watts, all of that....maybe I should learn more metric....

9. I'm rebuilding https://macekdesigns.com it's going to be awesome. You gotta love iWeb

10. This is a random post....distract with a picture

I will post a picture with me wearing it and a button when I get a chance, and when I'm not so camera shy.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

its been year

2011-01-03T16:09:00.001-08:00

A year has come and gone, lets take a minute to reflect on it...ok I'm done. Now onto the first monday of the first full week of the new year. The self imposed hat knitting is finally taking shape now that I've decided on a pattern, I will be doing the Piece Out by Steven West (Westknits). I think I'm going to use brown, red and for the accent color orange. Not sure, I just need to dig out the size 6 or 7 needles, I don't know where they are. But once I find them, some cables for them and then I'm in business. I still need to finish the top for my mom. I'm working on the shaping on the neck edging and then have her try it on and see how it fits. She says it looks too short, but I'm hoping it's right. I don't want to knit more garter on the bottom.... Anyways lots to do, like the design for Twist Collective I'm going to submit. Pics of the swatch to follow soon, it's probably going to be a cardigan in a slip stitch pattern. More to follow...

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3 hat patterns, which to start first

2011-01-01T15:11:00.001-08:00

On the self imposed 10 hats in 2011 I have three options, the botanic hat, the collision, and one of my own design. I'm still not sure, I have to dive into the stash to see if I have yarn to knit one.

Thoughts?

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Its going to be that time of year

2010-12-31T20:02:00.001-08:00

Well hello to all, it's been a while and i've been a bad blogger. I know, but I have been busy with finishing my semester at school, working almost full time or more, and having jury duty (which I never got called in thankfully). But I'm here now, which is what counts. I come bearing good news, I did finish my cabled shawl collar cardigan, and I love it. Its soft,
warm, cozy, has the perfect buttons at the same shop which the buttons are made from nuts, needs a little blocking, and to top it off I made it while going to school and working full time, in 1.5 months. Which I think is impressive. And no I did pretty well in school thank you. I don't slack, I just knit quickly, from what I've heard.

Also, I designed a new hat pattern called the bounce back hat. I'm selling it on revelry (it needs test knitting which I have details on a deal I have with that on ravelry), but I'm thinking as a special thing for a month I'll make it a free pattern, which might be forever. Who knows for sure, depends how many people actually download and knit it.

I have been reading the Yarn Harlots blog with her self imposed sock club and I thought to myself, "wouldn't that be cool to do something like that." But I don't knit socks by hand anymore (ever since I got the antique sock machine), well then maybe I will knit hats. You might be thinking, hats? But those take no time at all. That is true, however, for someone as busy as I am, it is the perfect solution to this little dilemma I had. So this year in 2011 I will be making 12 hats, which some might be kept, others as gifts.

For the yarn dyeing I will be back, after I redo my new website. I will be doing solar dyeing, to see if that is a good option for me, because I need to be able to dye and dry quickly and without disrupting the house. More to come on that topic.

Well for now, Happy New Year, hope your holidays were good, stay safe tonight and happy knitting.

P.S. I am testing a new app for my iPad to see how this blogging on the go works, I think I like it so far.

Long time no talk to

2010-11-02T09:35:00.000-07:00

I know i know it's been a while, but i have excuses. I started a new job, started school again, and general life has been crazy and all time consuming. So i think a random tuesday blog post will be in order.

1. I no longer work for Jamba Juice, my assistant manger days there are well done. I did learn a lot from that job and I'm grateful for the opportunities I had there. It gave me a lot of great experience and I really think that It helped me get the new job. That new job, i will not say what it is. All i will say is that I'm in retail and a company that is amazing to work for.

2. My car is fixed. Its still running and kicking. Looks a little ghetto, because I had to replace one of my wheels. Its a after market one, which fits on it just fine, but just looks funny, but I don't care, it runs well and thats what matters.

3. I'm finishing up my last semester at the community college I'm attending. I can finally go to a state or university school and start my degree. I cant wait, i miss taking my French classes and i need to find a place locally that offers a ASL as a degree.

4. I got another knitting injury on saturday. I have been trying to get this cabled cardigan done, which i have pics, but Im not using a computer to write this so I will upload pictures when I have a computer to use that doesn't like to kill itself, more on that later. I'm a combination left handed and right handed knitter. I knit by throwing with my left hand. So my entire shoulder and arm just went into pain on Saturday so i had to slow down, which is ok, it's getting warmer here? Thats really weird its november last time I checked.....

Verizon rant....... with some knitting

2010-08-08T22:43:00.000-07:00

OK so I have been dealing with my cell phone company since I got the plan back in February 2009, I am at ends and I am tired of dealing with them. I want to get out of my contract, but I would have to pay $310 to do that. I want to get the iPhone cause I get a discount on my service with at and t if I am with them.

I recently started a new 2-year contract with Verizon Wireless in February of 2009. My service worked well until it hit June, that's when I began having service related issues. It began with my service cutting out for around 6 hours. During this time my messaging didn’t work at all, I had few to no service bars, and my voice calls became unreliable. After that point I have repeatedly called Verizon Tech Support at least once or twice a month. I really had questions about why I was having these issues since I never had an issue with service when I was on my Mother's Family Plan. First I went to a Verizon Wireless Store and the representative told me that it was my phone, that the internal antenna was broken and that it would need replacing. I promptly did this and I got a new phone from Verizon. This phone was the LQ Voyager VX1000, and I had an issue because the touch screen did not work. The next day I went into the same store and talked to a representative, he asked if I calibrated it and I told him that I had done so on multiple occasions. As a result, he called over the LG representative that was present in store that day. He took a look, asked me the same question. I explained to him that I just got the phone the day prior and that I already calibrated it. He finally admitted a while later (in his exact words), "Yeah it's broken." I had already told them this and they proceeded to send me a "new" voyager. In the meantime I requested my old EnV be activated until I receieved the replacement (this is the phone I used prior, on my Mother's account previously). The replacement phone I received also had the same issues that the other two voyagers had and so I went back into Verizon. Once there, they told me that it was my phone because it was so old, however I had already called Tech Support and updated my software. I finally negotiated a new phone, the EnV Touch as a replacement and for the trouble I was experiencing. Once I replaced my phone, my service began to work again until a week later my service was acting up yet again. I had maybe 2 calls dropped my whole time with Verizon, I do not get a reliable signal anywhere, calling quality on all of my phones were terrible, I loose service randomly, when I send a text message sometimes it never sends, delays them for up to an hour, I get "send failed would you like to retry?" on a daily basis, and I also get "Cannot send, no signal. Would you like to resend in digital?" I have called probably 50 times since June, with everyone having me update my roaming, my phone software, or saying that they have no idea. In July 2009 I had a trouble ticket opened for the signal and it came back as "the towers are perfect in your area, so it's not that." As a result, I went into the Verizon wireless store on Prospect Rd and was told by the representative in store that it's my service. I questioned how can 4 phones (1 that worked perfectly on another account) all could not work and was told that it was a problem with the various phones. Soon after, I had another trouble ticket opened for picture and text message issues, they traced the text saying that once it got to the other provider that they couldn't track it anymore. I feel that this is a poor response because it has occurred with not just other carriers but within their own Verizon network. Finally I talked to a friend of mine and he took me to a different Verizon Wireless store. There I spoke to the Manager and he has appeared to try and rectify the situation. At the store, we opened a 3rd trouble ticket, which was escalated to a higher level. I got a call much like the first one a few days after calling in the trouble ticket, saying that they don't know yet and that they would get back to me. I called a week later and the phone representative told me she had no info on it, wanted me to try to update my roaming and told me it was my phone. Two days later to give them more information about it and they were just dumfounded just like all of the calls I made so far, she told me I needed to buy a new phone. One solution that was recommended by the representative was to wipe my account clean and get rid of my number and give me a new number. They said that someone with the same problem came in and they did that and her service was fine. I really don't want to do this because it’s a huge inconvenience, my number is associated with a myriad of places, my job and all other locations have my number, my bank, all of my friends, my school, etc. and to change all of them seems ridiculous.
On 12-1-09 I finally received a call from Verizon, I couldn't answer because I was working The message said that they checked my service area and that it's perfect and that it's my device and have a store update it's software. No direct call back number was left to discuss the issue and when I went to the store to follow their directions it did not rectify the problem.
After all of this I decided in March to upgrade to the Droid, which I was told incorrectly by the Target representative that it would not extend my contract. It in fact did and when I talked to them about it they told me that I was told incorrectly and that there was nothing that they could do to help me. I then contacted Verizon and they told me the same thing in store. I called later that day to ask about canceling and if I could get the fee waved because nothing was done about all of the problems that I’ve had beforehand. The supervisor I talked to said that he couldn’t/wouldn’t do anything for me. I called back multiple times the next few days, with people contradicting the other, but they all said no they can’t/won’t help me.

So I'm going to try again tomorrow and get to the highest manager I can speak to and make them do something. I already contacted the Better Business Bureau and I will drop it if Verizon fixes this.

Knitting wise I got new yarn, for my birthday coming up on the 13th, thanks to Green Planet Yarn and their birthday discount. I got 2 sweaters worth. Knitting is going along slowly, but I'm at least getting out of the slump.

Stuff finally stopped happening....

2010-07-29T16:09:00.000-07:00

Alright I know it's been a while since I last posted anything, as you may recall I had a car accident last month. I had to deal with everything myself and I must say I did a pretty damn good job. The car is back with me and looks just like it did before the accident, or maybe a bit better. I am more careful with it now, I don't wanna have that happen ever again.

On the knitting front, there isn't too much. I'm slowly working on my designs, one which is a fair isle vest/sweater (depends on how much yarn I will have, might cheat though and get just a different color and bring it in.) I am also going to hopefully design something for Twist Collective, I sent them an email, so now I just wait to hear when their submission dates are.

Finally, after months and months contemplating this, I have decided to finally go for the Knitting Masters Program. I know that I am at least skilled enough to make and design things for this. That and I want to expand my knowledge and skill as a knitter, so I figure this is a great way to do it. I will start once I have enough money to start the first level. I will definitely blog about it, but I have to make sure I pay off all bills for the car fist.

I will make sure to blog more, now that I am done with my assistant manager job at Jamba Juice. I am a Specialist at the Apple Store now, so I'm hoping I don't have to work as much as I did at J.J. But we will have to see how things go, hours aren't bad, just wanna have a life too.

Back to the knitting and all of the other stuff.

Ok, this day is just crap....

2010-06-11T17:51:00.001-07:00

Sorry I haven't blogged at all, I have been so busy, and as of today things are pretty bad. I got into a car accident, I rear ended someone on the freeway, my brakes locked and skidded. We were both ok, I'm still shaken, my nerves shot and I just need something to do to keep my mind off of it. I really cant believe it happened, but at least no one was hurt, and I've avoided so many accidents it was bound to happen I suppose. I've already called my insurance provider, I need to take it into the body shop and I do not have pictures of it. It's just bad, giving me the look of "WTF HAPPENED!?! OWWWW." Though where I took it to see if the damage was bad, they said it looks worse then it is, but it still looks bad. Mostly body damage.

Time to knit something complicated so I don't have to think about the accident.

And it's been a while, but I have my reasons

2010-04-21T23:55:00.001-07:00

I kinda had some work accidents and stress that just wiped me out. Don't worry I'm fine and the nice weather made working more stressful.

On another note I bought a Droid, I know I know what I've said about Verizon, hear me out. I was mad that my service was bad, my phone, no matter how indestructible (even dropped, unintentionally, in a floor drain at work), I wanted out. However, my service was not as glitchy and I figured, hey what if I switched and that service was even more horrid. So I broke down and got the Droid, added the unlimited data, and I love the thing. It's like when an iPhone user first gets their iPhone they have that moment, that moment I had, "how did I live without this smart phone." This thing is so amazing, I am sold on android phones, love mine, and I hope to see many more coming out.

Knitting wise, I've been super lazy to not post these, may I unveil the Olympic Sweater.

I love this sweater, I love the yarn, I love everything about it. It was fast, it is warm and soft, and I want to make everything out of this yarn, not really but I was rolling with it. 2 weeks made this sweater, so I'm impressed with working and going to school full time that's pretty impressive.

Knitting wise I caved and started the gams from knitty and I ran out of the first yarn, so I had to stripe in some contrast. I love these things, mindless and fun.

Not going well....

2010-04-07T23:03:00.000-07:00

I know I know, I have not posted for a while now, I have my reasons.

1. I got a new phone. I decided after much battle with Verizon and the phone I had, that I would just stay with Verizon and I broke down and bout the Droid. I love it so far, it's a great phone and I can not imagine not having this smart of a device.

2. I have had some health stuff I had to go deal with, still am dealing with, gotta go back in to deal with. Will post about that more when I know.

3. I have not been knitting a whole lot. I mean here and there, but nothing to blog about. Besides the 348 sts sweater for me I'm contemplating casting on.

Pics of the Olympic Sweater are here, but I just need to get them and upload. Too tired.

Just writting

2010-03-23T22:23:00.000-07:00

I have not forgotten about the blog, it's more the blog has forgotten me. Well that and my creativity to knit is not here right now, please leave a message and it'll get it when it decides to come back.

Randomness and breaking stuff...

2010-03-11T14:56:00.000-08:00

1. My flatbed Brother KH 910 knitting machine's computer is acting funny lately, it seems like it likes lace more then it does fair isle. But patterns are not really working on it. I busted my first needle on that machine and so I need to get some new ones. I really hope I can get the computer at least working properly for a bit longer. I have barely had the machine less then a year.

2. The sock machine is living now, user error. The yarn carrier was too high and caused it to drop so many ribber stitches. Now it makes socks like no other and it's loving life. I sure hope so, cause about 100+ years and counting for it.

3. When life throws you lemons you make lemonade. That's all fine and dandy as long as it's not lemonade from my work, cause that stuff is STRONG! But really, so much personal stuff going on right now that I need to sort out.

4. Knitting......what's that? I really have not picked up my needles for a while, and I probably should do that soon. I don't know what else is in line for me to make. I already have 2 projects done for the book, 18 to go. Is it silly that I'm doing this? It's not like we need another knitting book out there, when there are so many good ones already. Though I guess we could use more men's books. And I have the perfect title for the book! Thanks to a fellow knitter :)

5. Is it normal to be so tired all of the time? That and I don't know if I'm just having allergies or I'm getting sick, but I'm sneezing, sniffling, blowing my nose, etc a lot right now. Eh.

6. I really need to figure out how to get rid of the sleep thing. I mean yeah it's nice and all, but I could do way much more everyday if I didn't need to sleep. I could get this book done so fast! I could have so much knitted things and lots of these projects done that I want to do, that are non knitting related. Which I know is a scary thing to think about, things that are not knitting related, gasp! What crazy talk! I better go do my hail Elizabeth Zimmermans again. Or just jump into stash, swim in the wool, or just smell some of that alpaca yarn, dyeing to be knit.

Maybe I should scheme with that yarn. Who knows, it might need to be a machine project, if the thing would work properly.

Gold Metal

2010-03-06T22:55:00.000-08:00

As of February 28th at 5:46am I am finished with my olympic project, earning me a Gold Metal. I did fiddle with some of the stuff I wanted on it, after the knitting was complete. However, I couldn't keep the integrity of what I wanted, so I left it off. I've shown off my finished item and it looks great and everyone loves it and can't believe it took me 14 days to make. However, it's not as impressive as some, but still for me, working and going to school, I think it's impressive.

Pictures to come.

Knitting not much lately. I did buy a big skein of sock yarn at Stitches West and I'm contemplating making a sweater with it.

I must apologize....

2010-02-24T23:45:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry for taking Elizabeth Zimmerman's name in vain, calling her a beeyotch, saying she didn't know what she was talking about, and wanting to resurrect her from her grave slap her, ask her what she meant and put her back in her grave. I should not have doubted her infinite wisdom and talent, I must now do Hail Elizabeths on circular needles with beaded knitting on them, or probably more appropriately fair isle, and then I must stockinette on 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 sts until I have learned my lesson.

Enough of that, well a cup of tea, many hours (going what the $&^@) and 2 ibuprofen later the olympic design sweater is coming along. The sleeves are joined onto the body and I just ripped back 4 round deciding to do something differently. I feel so close to finishing I can taste it, well that or I tried to eat a skein of yarn with the colorway called berries....either or, both are made of wool. Lets go with the first one...

I'm not posting pictures because I want it to be a surprise when it's done, though I'm soooo not going to enjoy the last part of this project. Well it's among a myriad of things I don't like to do in knitting, which isn't that many, but still I digress. I only have a few days left, I can do it? I hope.

Race to finish and steeking good cutting BAD!!!

2010-02-20T22:39:00.000-08:00

So I'm working on my Olympic Challenge Project and it's going, well? I'm on the sleeves right now, I want to get them joined by wednesday so I can finish it all by friday, cause that would be nice to get it done early but who knows. I hope I have enough yarn to do what I want to do with this sweater.

In other news, don't I repeat DON'T cut what you "think" is a seam yarn when you're altering previous knits. My Hardangervida sweater I knit about 2-4 years ago I decided to take out the collar and reknit it, snipping the back in the process. I had the local Knit doctor fix it and it's as good as new. I just need to reknit the collar with shaping, and do the zipper plackets again. I'm very glad I kept the yarn for this. I won't post pics of the holes, but when it's done I'll post new pics.

Knitting Olympics and the 2010 Project

2010-02-11T23:45:00.000-08:00

So it's that time again and the Knitting Olympics are here and I have decided I want to participate. It's a fun event and it gives me an opportunity to knit on something for the book that I can just whip out. I won't tell you what it is, just that it will be really cool.

Another thing is I'm working on something I'm calling the 2010 blanket. What this is, is very simple, a log cabin blanket of sorts. However what I'm doing is, all of the projects I make in 2010, whatever is left from it will be knit into this blanket. It will be like a memoir of the knitting year. I'm hoping that it will be really cool looking once it's done, and it will give me an idea of the colors I use a lot of, the kinds of yarn etc. So I'm hoping by the end of the year and when the book is almost done (or at least he designing and knitting) I will have a decently sized blanket. I have the center square done and I'm working on the next part. It's really mindless, but I like the idea of it.

If anyone is interested in this as a Group on Ravelry let me know, I wouldn't mind making one.

As for the book, I'm still working on the one project, it's just going to take a while with all of the shaping and the small yarn and needles I'm using. But I will post pics soon.

Wind my arm off

2010-02-07T11:28:00.000-08:00

So I was getting ready to wind all of the yarn for the project, measuring, calculating and doing a winding by hand till all numbers were all complete, which I didn't mind. I was thinking, I can't wait to put the motor on my skein winder, and it will go so much faster. Well not so much, the yarn I was winding was too much for my motor and it couldn't do it. So I had to wind about 5 pounds of dyed yarn by hand. Though it did turn out very well I think. Excuse the messy desk, it's my creative chaos.

The orange is a red in this picture, but I like how they turned out. The purple was a little bit of a challenging child, but apparently the knitters who saw it loved it. I'm please with the bright intense colors I got, the yarn is a BFL and I liked it so much I might make it a permanent edition to the Macek Designs line. I know I might want to order more for a sweater I have in mind.

Speaking of knitting the knitting olympics is coming up very very very soon and I'm not sure what I am going to knit for it. I have an idea for it, it's a possible project for the book, a slightly plain sweater with intarsia in it and maybe some other textures. I'm not sure yet, still playing with the idea.

And so it begins....

2010-02-02T22:22:00.000-08:00

I am now looking for a new job. I didn't get fired or quit, yet... I just figured it's time for me to do something different and that I will be forever grateful to my work for taking a chance on me, it's time to move on. 2 years at that place is way longer then I ever expected.

Knitting, not much going on really, I started school on monday and it's going well, I just hope I can get one more unit in to make it a full 12.

Does anyone actually read this?

Of finished objects and ideas

2010-01-28T16:11:00.000-08:00

So late tuesday night and early wednesday morning I finished the Thinking of You scarf, sewed in the ends and blocked it overnight. I think it turned out splendidly and the recipient was so ecstatic and thanking me. I'm glad that she liked it.

I'm still working on the book, slowly but surely. The project I'm working on right now is slowish.

I think I had a sign from whatever today. Next month would be 2 years with the company I work for, and I have spilled and hurt myself more in the past month then I have in the other about 2 years. I think it's a sign to move on to a different job, what do you think?

Lots of dye and stuff to do

2010-01-25T22:06:00.000-08:00

So this is my last week of freedom before I have to go back to school next week. It's going to be a really busy semester for me, 14 units, working, and keeping that all in balance.

This is 6 pounds of undyed yarn, 4 will be dyed by me for a special project I am involved in, I'm not going to say what that is but all I know it's going to be pretty epic. I was going to dye tonight, but alas I don't have enough vinegar. Wednesday will be the day I think, I'll get vinegar and the weather should be better.

Knitting wise the Thinking of You scarf is almost to the chart, I so don't like making scarves at all. But this one is really well deserved by the recipient. The book projects I havent' touched for a while, I need some inspiration for me to get them going again.

Of hospital visits and fraud charges

2010-01-22T14:59:00.000-08:00

So yesterday was not a good day. I woke up at around 1:30pm, I have difficulties getting tired and falling asleep. So I had work at 5pm-close, which my Jamba closes at 8 and we have to get out of there by 9pm. So I get there, it's slow, we have new info for us upper level employees, and things are running smoothly until around 7pm. I was filling a large plastic container with hot water (we use the container for our drain baskets) and I put bleach in after. Well the bleach went in the water, and some bounced into my right eye, I wasn't even close to the container. My eye began to burn and turn red. I immediately went to the front, grabbed some paper towels and got the moisture coming out of my eye. Then I had to flush my eye with water for 5 minutes, which was so not enjoyable. Then I thought oh crap I have to fill out paperwork. Being the assistant manager, if an employee gets hurt I fill out their paperwork for workers comp but I had to fill out my own paperwork. So I filled it out, called a hospital, and called the other upper levels to see if they would help out. The 2 that were available couldn't come in, and the manager was in class so I couldn't reach her. So i closed, drove myself to one hospital and they were jam packed. Then i had to go to kaiser hospital, all without a GPS cause my car was fixed and I took it out when they were fixing it. So I had to rely on a map and my own brain to get me there, which I did. They got me situated in the waiting room, took temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and asked a few questions. I was admitted after about 30-45 minutes of waiting. They checked the pH of my eyes, checked for burns, did a vision test, and flushed it out with saline solution. Then I filled out some of their paperwork and then went home.

Then to make things worse, I checked my checking account online and it turns out I'm being charged multiple overdraft charges when I have the money. I called today and they said it was from website I have no idea what it is, I've never heard of it. So another fraud charge, I canceled my card which is my 4th with this credit union. Yippe.

Knitting wise the mitten patterns are in the test knitting stage, so that's always good. The projects for the book are doing well, the one I'm working on is just slow.

Hopefully today will get better.

Car repairs and storms and knitting oh my

2010-01-20T15:01:00.000-08:00

Well I had to get up at 8am this morning to bring my car into the repair shop to get the steering rack and pinion replace because mine were leaking. So right now I'm carless and stuck at home because of the weather. It's been very grey, wet, windy, thunder and lightningy here for the past like day or two.

On a health related note, I am always exhausted. When I wake up from a full nights rest I'm exhausted. I am only up because of caffeine, monsters, coffee, etc. I don't know why this is, but I'm hoping it will just fade in a while.

Knitting related news, I'm working on patterns from the book (obviously) I'm just procrastinating because I don't want to figure out how to do some of the shaping. I know that's lazy but it's going to take a bit of thinking to get these right. I'm also working on the Thinking of You scarf for my previous boss. She had to break up with her boyfriend, who she found out was cheating on her, on her birthday this year. So I decided this scarf would be appropriate for her and make her feel better. Otherwise I'm not really knitting too much these days, I'm still coming out of my slump, but this book might help. I just hope I can find someone to publish it. I'll make sure to post pics as I have them.

Otherwise no spinning is going on, but I do have a big dyeing project coming up. The yarn is on it's way and I am just waiting to get it, dye it, and get the project going.

But the car is back, I don't have to worry about the leak anymore, now it just needs new front tires, and an alignment.

Anyone there?

I'm back and with the ZOMBIE MAC!!!

2010-01-14T14:11:00.000-08:00

Ok I'm going to have to explain that one, about a year and a half ago I bought a new computer for college, a MacBook Pro 15" running I believe leopard. It ran very well for a while and a couple of months ago I noticed a weird buzzing noise under the keyboard and that it was getting extremely hot. I ignored it and thought it was normal till my mom commented on it and I checked a dashboard application I had and it said my fans were running at almost 6,000rpm and the internal temperature was at 180-190 degrees f. I looked around and couldn't find anything that told me what was wrong with it, then about a month ago once I turned on my computer it would boot up with the fans running at 4,000 then 5,000rpm. I took it in and they were a little baffled. They booted it up from an external drive and it ran normally, they ran DiskWarrior and it errored out on every test and warned to back up all data asap in case of a predicted hard drive failure. They replaced the hard drive, migrated my data, updated the operating system and replaced the left fan and that did it. My hard drive was failing indeed, the left fan was making the noise and the temperature and fans were due to the hard drive with a corrupted operating system. I'm typing on it and let me tell you I missed this thing so much! If anyone else has the same issues I had I hope this helps.

Knitting, what am I knitting? I am working on a project for the book, inspired by a fellow raveler, he made a pair and I wanted to make my own, but with modifications to the pattern. No he doesn't have a patter, and is going to write one up for his pair, mine will be different, and I'll see if I can make up new ways to construct it.

The book list is as follows (it's a mens knitting book):
3 hats, 3 scarves, 4 sweaters, 3 mittens/gloves, 4 miscellaneous, and 3 vests all of varying difficulty. What are you your thoughts on this? Does this seem like too many projects? Not varied enough?

I'm not dead, life just threw a crappy year at me....

2010-01-11T22:31:00.001-08:00

Wow things in life really do need to settle. It's been such a long time since I posted anything on the blog. Lets see if I can update everything.

Knitting wise I made the Cobblestone sweater,a pair of mittens, fingerless gloves, and socks on my sock knitting machine. It wasn't a very productive year for me, I had a lot of slumps. The sock machine is good, runs like a charm and has a brother, literally, I purchases a Brother KH-910 Computerized Knitting Machine and it's so much fun!

I haven't updated my etsy for a long time because I just haven't had time to make anything to sell, but hopefully soon.

THings that are broken still/broke last year were including my computer, my car, my phone service, my heart, and lots of other things (no nothing broken cause of fights or anything just cause I have bad luck). Which reminds me, if anyone can help me get out of my Verizon contract early without termination fees let me know, I've had the worst of luck with my cell phone. I had to send a letter into the local paper's Action line and there was no action, if you're interested this is what happened.

"I recently started a new 2-year contract with Verizon Wireless in February of 2009. My service was functional until it hit June, that's when all of this trouble started. My service cut out for around 6 hours where my messaging wouldn't work at all, I had very low bars, and phone calls weren't working all that well. After that I have been calling Verizon Tech Support every month, maybe even everyweek. All of the problems I have been having were odd, since I had wonderful service when I was on my Mother's Family Plan. I went into a store first and they told me that it was my phone, that the internal antenna was broken and that it would need replacing. I promptly did this and I got a phone which the touch screen on it (my model was the LG Voyager VX1000) did not work at all. I took the phone in the next day and I talked to a representative, he asked if I calibrated it and I told him that I did multiple times. Then he called over the LG representative that was there that day and he took a look at it. He asked me the same thing and I explained to him that I just got the phone the day before and that I already calibrated it. He finally said (in his exact words), "Yeah it's broken." I had already told them this and they proceeded to send me a "new" voyager. In the meantime I asked for my old EnV to be activated until I got the replacement (I used this phone on my Mother's account previously). That phone also had the same issues that the other two voyagers had and so I went back into Verizon. They told me that it was my phone because it was so old, however I had already called Tech Support and updated my software. I finally negotiated a new phone, the EnV Touch as a replacement and for the trouble I was experiencing. My service was working alright after that, but a mere week later my service was acting up yet again. I had maybe 2 calls dropped my whole time with Verizon, I do not get a reliable signal anywhere, calling quality on all of my phones were terrible, I loose service randomly, when I send a text message sometimes it never sends, delays them for up to an hour, I get "send failed would you like to retry?" on a daily basis, and I also get "Cannot send, no signal. Would you like to resend in digital?" I have called probably 50 times since June, with everyone having me update my roaming, my phone software, or saying that they have no idea. Finally I got a trouble ticket opened for the signal and it came back as "the towers are perfect in your area, so it's not that." I was told by representatives in store that it's my service and I agree, for how can 4 phones (1 that worked perfectly on another account) all not work, all in succession. Then I opened one for the texting problems, they traced the text saying that once it got to the other provider that they couldn't track it anymore. However it does this with Verizon customers too and my picture messaging doesn't always work either. Finally I talked to a friend of mine and he took me to a different store, talked to the Manager at the store I was going to and has been helping me along the way. The store that I currently go to opened a 3rd trouble ticket, which was escalated to a high level. I got a call much like the first one a few days after calling in the trouble ticket, saying that they don't know yet and that they would get back to me. I called a week later and the phone representative told me she had no info on it, wanted me to try to update my roaming and told me it was my phone. I called two days later to give them more information about it and they were just dumfounded just like all of the calls I made so far. One solution that was recommended by the new store representative was to wipe my account clean and get rid of my number and give me a new number. They said that someone with the same problem came in and they did that and her service was fine. I really don't want to do this because my number is associated at a myriad of places, my job and all other locations have my number, my bank, all of my friends, my school, etc. I also had a problem with the EnV touch turning itself off randomly, when I close it from the open position, resetting settings, not wanting to turn on, etc. They sent me a "like new certified replacement" and I backed up my contacts with back up assistant. I activated the "new" phone myself and then got back up assistant on it and then proceeded to download my contacts. My online myverizon said I had none and when I tried to even access my empty contact list on the new phone it wouldn't let me, I had the wrong password and when I asked for the right one that one was incorrect as well. I turned on the old device and tried back up assistant again and it was back up assistant is not working right now. I just left the old phone powered on, about 10 minutes later it went off with multiple text messages, that were delayed 30 minutes. The "new" device should have gotten them, but never did. I activated it just like it told me to in the instructions that were sent to me. Finally on 12-1-09 I got a phone call from Verizon, I couldn't answer because I was working. I recorded the message on my digital voice recorder. They said that they checked my service area and that it's perfect and that it's my device and have a store update it's software. I did this already which did nothing.

I have been paying my bill every month since I started and for a full time student who works at Jamba Juice it can be hard sometimes. I have gotten nothing out of them besides a phone that barely works and $5 in credit once. My plan is $59.99 without taxes or surcharges. Everytime I talk to someone on the phone at Tech Support or in store I'm not treated fairly, when my older friend came with me they started to treat me better. I do not feel like a valued customer, I am treated like the unwanted jelly beans you get in the variety pack. I'm past my point of patience with them, I would like to cancel with no fees and get reimbursement for the months I paid and the service wasn't working, not full, but at least half. I want to switch over to at and t, everytime I go into a store (sometimes with another at and t customer) they treat me the exact opposite of Verizon, even though they know I have a different provider."

Anything new you should expect from me? More posts of course haha!

And I'm in the works of writting a knitting book!!!!! I'll keep everyone updated (all like 1 people who read this).

Monday....

2009-01-18T23:32:00.000-08:00

On another note I get my wisdom teeth, all four pulled tomorrow/today. So not looking forward to it.

Catchup

2009-01-18T23:16:00.000-08:00

The shawl was finished December 24th 2008 at 5pm. I blocked it right before we had to go to my grandparent's house for Christmas Eve Dinner. A tradition in my family for a long time. I wrapped up the shawl in the morning when my parents were asleep and before I made this really special oatmeal.

I finished the socks when the oatmeal was baking and they were finished December 25th 2008 at 9am. I sewed in the ends and then wrapped it in some ribbon and stuck it into her stocking.

And may I introduce Robert my new old vintage sock knitting machine.

This is doing ribbing on the top of the foot, before I cleaned him up.

This is making a heel, or toe, before cleaning.

His tension adjuster, also known as the V-Cam. Basically lower the pointer and the tension is looser and up it's tighter.

This is him all nice and clean, showing the new needles and some accessories.

He's a great machine, when he wants to be haha. He is around 100-130 years old and still works.

I'll probably be making socks to order soon.

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

2008-12-24T22:46:00.000-08:00

I FINISHED IT!!!!!!!! It took me about a week to knit through charts 2 through 6 but I did it! I came home from working at Jamba Juice, knit the freaking 6 last rows and bound off. I finished at 5pm and then had to block it. While it was soaking I showered, sine I did have to go to my grandparents house for christmas eve dinner. There was a gift exchange and my uncle, who gave me 15 lbs of romney cheep for my birthday, he gave me a 3 day pass to stitches west and some money! I'm excited.

The picture of the shawl isn't the greatest, but this is it blocking. I don't have a blocking board so I had to improvise with an old thick blanket and blocking wires and pins. I'll put up a better picture after it's unwrapped tomorrow morning. And my mom has no idea that she is getting it either. She's been hinting about wanting one and so I decided the Mystic Ice would be perfect for her.

The pair of socks only needs 3 more repeats to get to the toe and then toe and sew that bad boy up. I can't really knit that while I'm sitting here with my mom, while we enjoy the fire. I guess I'll just have to knit them in a little while. Probably tonight when I'm supposed to be sleeping. Or tomorrow morning when I am cooking the "traditional" baked oatmeal. Oh well.

I have decided that I don't like lace shawls, love the look, but don't like making them.

I am now again on a fair isle kick, and I want to make a beret. And fair isle sweater, and ..... you get the picture.

"IT" stage 4

2008-12-21T15:17:00.000-08:00

If you have read the Yarn Harlot's The Secret Life of a Knitter then you will know what that means. If not let me break that down for you. I was going to make a few things for my mom this year for Christmas.

Stage one is when I plan for what to make this year. I wanted to make a few things for my mom only since I already made stuff for my cousins the year before and there wasn't anyone else I could think of that would like hand knitted items. Well there is one, but that wasn't until about a month ago.

Stage two I started buying yarn and patterns. Planning what to do. I decided when I saw the Mystic Ice shawl was available for a little knit along I decided to go for it. I also wanted to make a sweater for her, I found a great pattern she loved. Though I didn't have enough money for the yarn and I couldn't find a yarn that I liked (that and was warm/machine washable). I think I know of some now though. I blame my boss at Green Planet Yarn, there are so many great things there, but I digress.

I cast on for the shawl right when chart one came out. I knit it in less then a week and I thought that this would be easy and I could finish it in time. So then I put it down for a little bit.

Stage 3 is when I started to panic a little. I cast on for a pair of socks for myself and knit one of them in about 4 days of reading and knitting at the same time. I loved them so much, the pattern was perfect for reading. The shawl lamented while college winded down, which I had to study too. Then I thought oh crap, chart 4 (then 5) are out now, I want this done by when? (insert appropriate swearing here %^&(*&(*%& %&^(&*&&@^%(@&#(*%^&*#()$&Q%&*!*$%*^@(*&*%^@()_*&^&$*^&#@)^*).

I am in stage 4 which is when I am figuring out how many rows I need to complete daily to get back on track, even though I have no idea how many rows are on the last chart that is being released TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I ignore my chores and cleaning. I take away as much sleep as I can without needing energy drinks (trust me I really don't want to be spending money on that). Now my dad knows about the shawl and the socks. He is now understanding that I am nuts. Oh the socks, attempt number 5. One sock is done and I am on the foot of the other. I should get those done quickly. They are really simple. But the %^*#()&$@*() SHAWL!!!!! Grrrrr

Its pretty eh?

The first is the first four charts and the next is of the actual shawl. Only half of it, but it's pretty. The green is a life line, this is the second I've used on this shawl. I know I'm nuts, but tis the season.

I will now knit the billion stitches on the needles now.

If you don't hear from me I might be recovering

I AM SOOOO DONE..

2008-12-15T20:41:00.000-08:00

With this semester of college! Some of it was a lot harder then anticipated, others was a snore.

Ok, I didn't really explain the moth thing. I was cleaning my room one day, which it needs a little spritz again. And I grabbed three pairs of my hand knit socks. I decided that I would clean them and then I would have toasty feet for the cold winter (well California coldish) that lay ahead for me. After I washed them I found holes. This is one sock, if you are knitting, drinking anything non alcoholic, or anything that involves your hands, stop. Take a drink of something strong (if you are of age) and then look. Ok? This is what happened to my toe up STR sock.

8 holes, yes you read that right. Please breathe I know I wigged out when I saw this. Then 2 other pairs were affected. Just one hole in the ribbing of one and my own hand dye argyle socks has a small hole.

Needless to say everything was in quarantine and still is. I am not going to let this happen again.

Happier(?) note, Christmas knitting. After last years evil little (not) knitting spell I decided that I would not knit a lot of gifts. Even though last year was a sweater and an afghan, I didn't knit with blue for 6 months after. This year I decided to knit some socks for my mom and the Mystic Ice Shawl. So behind on the shawl, probably will be a Ireallywantedtohavethisfinishedbutineedsleeptooandthisiscompliatedsothisisapromisethatitwillbefinishedsoon. The socks were a quick knit though, I'm on the leg of the second one. I knit a sock from the New Pathways for Sock Knitters and I did that while reading. Such a great sock.

Then I got suckered into knitting a Noro scarf.

This is two skeins Noro Silk Garden, color no idea. Then 3 skeins of Misky from Mirasol. It's a gorgeous 100% baby llama yarn. I love it so much.

Ok, now I have been debating for a while if I should make a beret. I want to know if you think I would look good in one?

I had a case of schoolissuchatimesucker and mothitis

2008-12-11T00:40:00.000-08:00

Yes it has been a while since I posted, I blame school. This semester is over soon.

That and I had a little moth scare. I got it all under control.

:)

I won't scare you with the sock with 8 holes, or my argyles with a hole.

I will post more, when I'm not holiday knitting.

I swear I'm not dead

2008-10-09T14:57:00.000-07:00

For all of you who might have thought I died, I didn't, I've been extremely busy lately. I go to school, work, eat a little, and sleep sometimes. Repeat everyday, and you'll see why I'm not posting as much as I did before. I haven't had a lot of time for anything really.

I have been knitting a little bit, when I can or have time. I've knit this:

it's the new Habitat Hat by Brooklyntweed, and it's a wonderful, and fast knit. I knit mine in Misky a 100% baby llama yarn. It's so soft and warm!

I've still been knitting on The vest. Yes, that evil argyle vest, which may not be a vest. I might just make it a sweater, depending on how much yarn is left over after. I have plenty of all of the colors, except the brown I don't know about yet.

That little white piece of yarn is holding one stitch, and I've modified the pattern so I'm going to steek open the neck opening.

In other news, have you heard of the Color Co-Op? Macek Designs (me) is participating, and we are going to start dyeing up the yarn for the november shipment soon. If you want to sign up, you'll just have to wait until either November, or December, check the blog . If you need more convincing, then wait until November to see all 6 of us dyers revealing to everyone our colorway based on the choosen artwork by all participating.

Also, Macek Designs is a little back logged, I just finished a yarn order for my LYS, and it's gorgeous, but I have much yarn to dye to catch up. But after I am thinking of doing some new colorways, maybe a famous writter's stories yarn club?

Also, I've given in and knit the baby surprise jacket, knit in corntastic. You can see it at Green Planet Yarn, my local LYS that I work at.

Until next time. Hopefully this fair isle knitting bug will pass, I really want to make a fair isle sweater, or sweaters in general. Maybe it's the cold weather coming up? Who knows.

Knitting Olympics and look coffee!!!

2008-08-10T18:01:00.000-07:00

Well I gave in when I said I wasn't going to do the knitting olympics. I wasn't going to because I didn't want to start anything else, because I am running out of needle cables. But then I saw on ravelry that you can work on your WIPs so they get done, and lessen the amount of them. After I saw that I knew I was doomed, since I have like 10 WIPs (not all in ravlery, I don't need to be reminded every time I look at my projects, which right now isn't much, stupid internet).

So, I am going to be doing my Hybrid Sweater, Wing-of-Moth shawl, and my vineland socks. I figured that the places they are all in that it would be enough for me to work on. Well, maybe not. I have 2 weeks to finish a sweater that is just about done, I just started the other shoulder, and so all I have to do on that is knit the rest of the shoulder, then the collar, then cast off and sew in all of the ends.

The shawl has more then half of the first chart done, and then I think I have maybe 2 charts left, and the pattern isn't super complicated. And then the socks just need a heel each (I do my socks 2 at a time, toe up, on magic loop, well when I can) and then a leg and cast off, and weave in ends.

And ok, this internet thing is really killing me. I want to look at ravelry and talk to all of my knitting and non knitting friends on skype and all of those aim and internet sites. However, out internet is still down, and I have another maybe 3 days of having to find free wifi. And so sitting here in Orchard Valley with my laptop out, headphones in, cell phone, sunglasses, coffee and knitting out, I get many looks. But they just don't get it. And I use my phone for pictures because I don't want to bring my big camera with me, and besides I have bluetooth on both the phone and m computer, so I might as well use it.

I have to get back to my olympic knitting, but what happens if I finish all of my projects (yeah right)?

Where the internet sucks!

2008-08-07T17:28:00.000-07:00

The Internet is so screwed up at my house we don't know what to do. I'm in a local cafe, and thankfully they have free wifi. And so I will be here for a few days, since there really is no other option, since like I said I have no Internet. And so i sit here with my coffee and my knitting.

I was in my local yarn shop earlier, talking to the knitters I work with. They are such a great shop to visit, so warm and inviting, not to mention their yarns are to dye for!

My hybrid sweater is going very well! I finished the sleeves and they are attached to the body right now, and so now all i have to do is finish the decreasing, the saddles (I think that is what they are called) and then knit the neck and sew in the ends!

I really want to cast on these socks that I'm designing but I am being good, and being monogamous knitter, and want to get this knit up. Then I have to finish my pair of socks on the needles.

Good luck to all in the Knitting Olympics!!!

Until next time, when I have internet connection again!

Moths!

2008-07-31T00:53:00.000-07:00

Not real moths, you can put the pesticide down, or lavender if you're like me and don't like or can't stand strong chemicals.

No I meant this moth

This is the beginning, well about 10 repeats in the Wing-of-Moth shawl, which I have not worked on for a long time. I decided I wanted something complicated to get me distracted from things in life. It did help, though starting this a while ago, I remember it was at least 2 attempts. However, I do like the pattern, it's a beautiful pattern, and I really like how it's turning out. Those lines are life lines, and will be taken out when I'm done with the shawl. I have not needed to rip out to a life line, but I don't want to take any chances.

The Hybrid Sweater is going well, I am getting a little tired of the monotonous stockinette in the round. I want to make a sweater from Elizabeth Zimmerman, and so I will make one even if I end up in a straight jacket babbling about knitting all of those infernal stitches.

Now I want to start another project, or design another sock pattern to be available for sale in my etsy shop, once it's knit, and test knit of course. Hmmm........well back to my knitting.

What have I done?

2008-07-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

Bold for stuff you've done, italics for stuff you plan to do one day, and normal for stuff you're not planning on doing.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up)
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino/modular knitting
Shadow/illusion knitting
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Knitting with your own hand-dyed yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable/aran stitch patterns
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit/crochet
American/English style knitting (throwing)
Continental style knitting
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dyeing with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea coziesâ€¦)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dyeing yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Felting/fulling
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/armwarmers
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public
Met knitterati/famous knitters

Actual content to blog about!

2008-07-25T02:25:00.000-07:00

It's amazing that I actually have stuff to blog about, I suppose I will be blogging more, especially when I'm should be doing something else. *Undyed yarn gives me a look*

I went to visit a LYS called Purlescense, here and they are fabulous! They are the only spinning store in the area, besides the one in san francisco, which takes to long to get to. I had a question on how to spin cotton top, and so a fellow spinner there showed me how and now I love it! I also bought a sheep to shoe kit (yes they carry blue moon) and a hand dyed silk hankie.

The infernal Urban Aran Cardigan is DONE!!!!!! The button band works, and the buttons are amazing, below are some shots of it. The photographer said the one taken from the back looks really good, what do you all think of the cardigan, and the pic for that matter?

Here's a front picture. Believe me getting the fronts to the right number of stitches was a little more tricky then i thought it would be. Though the slip stitches helped for the button band pick up.

And here's the infamous back picture (which the photographer said that people would flock here to see). I don't know about that but it does look good I suppose.

And then, here is the Elisabeth ZImmerman Hybrid Sweater in progress. Which is made in Brown Sheep Lambs Pride Worsted.

Is anyone interested in learning how to spin cotton or spin in general? Let me know, I might just make a video hehe.

Till next time, when the cotton isn't pulling me into spin hehe.

When Sleep is over-rated

2008-07-17T04:25:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in a long time, and there is really really good reason for this. ............or is there a reason more then being lazy? No, I had to finish High School, get good grades, pass my American Citizens Knowledge Test (which I promptly forgot a lot of things), graduate, and let my brain reform after turning into a pile of goo, which was stored in a bottle on my self. It's back in my head and now I am back and ready to blog.

I have had a lot of new projects, finished objects and lots of new yarn.

I finished my plain STR socks, in colorway.....no idea since I lost the ball band. Maybe that's what I'll call the ones I don't know, NISILTBB!!!! Anyways, they are pretty, comfy and I can't wait for the cold weather again.

I also finished my Urban Aran Cardigan, well the knitting portion. I originally wanted to do the zippered version that Brooklyn Tweed did. However, the sewing machine we have is quite old and set in it's ways. I didn't want to sew in a zipper on a sweater knit in bulky yarn on size 10 needles. So to thwart me it made a tangle and mess, which I promptly swore at and ripped the mess apart, and got everything back in order.

After this I decided to knit a button band, after I already knit the collar with shaping, which Elizabeth Zimmerman would be proud of, (I have been on a EZ fix lately but more of that later). So now all i need is 7, yes that's right 7 buttons.

In Macek Designs news, business is now picking up quite a bit. I have now, count them, 4 distributers of my yarn, my etsy shop , The Knitting Room in San Jose , Wool Girl and finally Green Planet Yarns . Which btw is an amazing store, great people, great yarn, and they rock. I am currently on a waiting list for dying, which is strange cause that rarely happens, only if I'm super busy, lots of orders, or I have a huge one to complete, or a combination of the three.

After watching EZ's DVDs I just had to make something she designed. I knew I wanted a sweater but wasn't sure, so I decided on the Hybrid Sweater knit in Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted on size 8s. So far it's going well and the math is correct, I hope. I have never knit with this yarn before but I like it, and it's strange since normally I don't like single ply yarns.

Spinning wise, my wheel hasn't seen much action but will be, especially with what I'm spinning up for my LYS.

Sorry about the long post, just wanted to catch up whoever reads this, (or it could be the expresso, my guess is that is more likely). And there will be pics following.

Socks, Sock yarn, and cutting hats!

2008-03-17T16:58:00.000-07:00

Originally I was going to show pictures of these two pairs of gorgeous socks I'm knitting, but I'm being lazy and not taking pictures of them. I didn't want to pull out all of the equipment I use to take pictures for just 2 pictures. I'll post pictures of them when I have more things to photograph.

I am spinning sock yarn for my etsy store. Not like I don't have enough stuff to do. This is some roving I bought recently at Stitches West, and this was just a test spin. There is a little more color then the picture shows. It's really nice stuff, 384 yards total of 100% wool, in a heavy fingering weight. Available here if you're interested http://www.macekdesigns.etsy.com. I'm hoping to finish up this large dyed order, so I can dye some more sock yarn for the site. *fingers crossed*

I also knitted the Half-Pipe Hat from the book Son of Stitch and Bitch. I knit it with 2 strands of Hill Country Yarns Merino 280 held together. It knit up pretty quickly, but I knit it to the patterns recommended length. Unfortunately, it didn't go far enough over my head. It came to just above my ears, and I was kinda pissed at this thing. So I decided I needed to add some length to this thing. I threaded my darning needle with some contrasting wool, and put in 2 life lines, and cut the hat. Yes you read that right cut the hat. I then picked up the stitches on the bottom portion of the hat, and knit until there was 2.5" of plain stockinette stitch, then kitchenered the top and bottom together. Sounds scary, but after steeking my sweater, nothing is scary. If you want me to show you how to add length to a already finished knit item, let me know.

My wheel is now being worked, I'm finishing up the 4 out of 16 ounces of CMF roving for them. It's really pretty, a dream to spin, and the dye job is just wonderful.

Hopefully I will have pictures of the hat (when I can get up the nerve to take a pic of me with it on), the two socks, and a new sock pattern that I will be working on shortly.

Till next time.

I hear....I hear......Pomp and Circumstance?!?

2008-03-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

School has been really.....well......interesting. Did I mention I'm graduating in less then 3 months?!? Gaaahhh!!!!!

I got back last week from a band trip where we competed in Fresno, and then went down to Hollywood to see the musical Wicked!
The show was amazing, and I had to have the music. I'm actually listening to it right now. If you have not seen it already, whenever you get the chance to, go see it! It gives you a whole new perspective to the story, I know that I will never look at the "Wicked Witch" and G(a)linda the same ever again. I saw the production at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The cast was phenomenal and Caissie Levy who played Elphaba (Wicked Witch of the West) has the most amazing voice.

In the news of knitting I finished my argyle socks! I finished them the day of Stitches west!

I wore them the whole day at stitches west, and Lisa Souza liked them. I still want to be in the Stitches West next year, but I am only one person. I don't know if I can come up with that fee, and I'm not sure I can get all of that yarn. Oh well, I guess that's just a goal I am going to have to work up to.

I was suprised that I didn't get swarmed with people asking about the Hardangervidda, but I'm kinda glad since I wanted to shop, which believe me, I did plenty of.

That would be my new Lendrum Folding Wheel. I love it so much, a nicer wheel then the Joy I had. Don't get me wrong I loved the Joy, but it just didn't fit my needs anymore.

Anyone interested in a Bond Ultimate Sweater Machine? I have one and I'm putting it up for sale, it has a new heavy duty hem and a short hem. The original hem is well, dead. Let me know through email if you are interested.

Last bit of news, I ordered the pattern book for this sweater (picture borrowed from brooklyntweed).
I don't know what it is about this pattern, I just think that it would be a fun knit and a nice cozy sweater. I just need to decide what yarn and color to make it in.

Till next time.
P.S. Does anyone actually read this?

I'm not dead, I just caught the bug!

2008-02-19T14:24:00.000-08:00

I mean the Argyle Sock Bug, not like the flu but it kinda spreads and infects you like the flu. So after I saw the Yarn Harlots argyles I knew I had to make them. Though I didn't have any solid colored fingering weight, but then I got an order from Wool Girl, and so more undyed yarn came in. And I just had to test out the new base yarn, so I dyed it up, and started knitting.

But the yarn didn't dry fast enough, so I put it on the heating vent so that I could knit with it sooner.

I finished one of the two, and the other is in the charted section.

Then I finally sewed in the ends of the Convertibles and sewed in the buttons. They're knit in my own Deathly Hallows: Revival Stone. They are now off to another part of the country.

I also got hooked into lace. My Wing of Moth Shawl so far.

Then I got hooked (literally) into the bath puffs of doom!!! I swear these things are addictive, and really easy.

And on a sadder note, I sold something....

I'm sad to see it go, but it just wasn't fitting my needs anymore. Still it will be missed, and it was such a wonderful wheel to work with.

But on a happier note Stitches West is coming up this week!!!!!!!!! I will be there saturday right when they open, and probably leave when they close. I just can't get enough of this yarny goodness I guess. I will be buying at wheel there to replace the lack of one here. If you see a boy sitting at the Carolina Homespun booth spinning, you know it's me. Or if you see the Hardangervidda walking around, then you've found me too.

Curse you sock knitting machines!!! I want one now. Anyone have one they're willing to part with that works well and has many accessories? Let me know! I would love to do a cash and item trade for one.

I will try to post more!

P.S. Christmas was hit. The sweater and afghan were loved by the recipients.

Wow, I'm either extrememly lazy, or overworked

2007-12-11T20:03:00.000-08:00

I'm going to go with both. I have not blogged for a long time. School is trying to kill me, but I've got it under control now. I have other reasons for not blogging, but I won't get into those.

Must disrtract you with knitting pics of the FINISHED!! Hardangervidda Sweater!

Front:

Back:

And now I'm off to do more Holiday Knitting. Gasp!

School is trying to kill me......and ooo! sock club

2007-10-16T16:12:00.000-07:00

I haven't bloged for a while, it's not that I did want to. Ok, that's a lie, I sorta didn't want to, but I didn't have much time either. This post will be more word oriented today.

I have finished both sleeves of my hardangervidda sweater *does happy dance*. Now all that's left is the steeking *gasp* sewing in the sleeves, the thing to cover the steeks, knit the collar and plackets, sew on a zipper, sew in the ends. It may seem like a lot to do, but it's going to be a hell of a lot faster than knitting the body's chart.

I have also been dyeing up a storm, well, not as much as Yarn Pirate (her shipment for the sock club shipped today, I'm soooo freaking excited!), but I do try to keep a good stock. This is a big order for me, the recipient won't be announced untill they announce it.

But after that, I will be posting a sock yarn club on my etsy store, www.macekdesigns.etsy.com . There will be some 75% superwash wool, 25% nylon, and some merino tencel. I'm not sure on what the 3rd skein will be though. Any ideas? I have some soft alpaca, merino, and silk sock yarn, but I might just sell that individually.

Oh, and I've been making some beaded Christmas Ornament covers. Those take forever....but they're gorgeous, I'll post pics later, when I have more than 1 finished.

I've been spinning some baby camel for CMF, it's sooo pretty, soft and warm!

And now, the Christmas knitting list, you knew this was comming....

1. The wicked sweater for my cousin, knit out of swish superwash (finished except for the ends that need to be sewn in)
2. Perpendicular squares afghan from Cables Untangled, for my other cousin
3. Gauntlets for my mom
4. A sweater for my mom
5. Socks for my mom
Non knitting stuff
6. Embroidered picture for my dad (he bought the kit with intentions to make it, but he decided that I should do it)
7. Christmas ornaments, the beaded ones, for my grandparents, aunts and uncles, 4 ornaments total

It's ambiotus, it's daring, it's kinda nuts, but that's ok.

Finally, if you are in CA near San Jose, there is a craft show at the campbell heritage theatre, it's in another part of the complex. I will be participating in that on November 10th, if you have that day open, and live close enough please stop by and visit me!

Thanks for enduring all of the text, I promise I will post the next one with pics!

P.S. I really don't want to steek my sweater, even though that's why I wanted and started it. But maybe I'll either have someone else help me, or just suck it up and do it myself. Any suggestions if i do it myself?

Yay! Yarn Stuff, and my sweater dilema....and sock clubs oh my!

2007-09-25T17:25:00.000-07:00

Ok I finally got a title, and now for pics......

This is a recent order for a local yarn shop. The owners are such nice people! I really like being there, the men's knitting group meets every wensday, and you can usually always find me there. Unless school is trying to kill me.

Hardangervidda update:

I'm on the first sleeve and I noticed that I'm running out of yarn. I had 5 balls left of the main color when I finished the body. I though that would be plenty for 2 sleeves and the collor and such. WRONG!!!! I had to buy 3 more skeins of the main color, and one more of the CC 1. Makes me mad! Here's the body, showing off my amazing skill, and you can even see my hands, and one of my arms. LOL... but I digress.

And I knit during my classes. Of course, if the teacher doesn't mind. Most don't apparently, as long as you pay attention.

It's made of Crystal Palace Panda Cotton. I'm too freaking lazy to go and find out the colorway name/#.

And then I added a few things to my etsy shop. www.macekdesigns.etsy.com

Go! Look! Drool!

I'm also now in the yarn pirate booty club. Sigh, as if I need more yarn!

Oh and I have some new ideas for my shop. Comming soon. Maybe even a sock club?

2007-09-11T16:20:00.000-07:00

First off I need to get this out of the way. I can't believe that people actually read my non existant blog. Now that said, I have a lot to catch up on.

Now, I entered the Hill Country Yarns Sock Pattern Contest, and I can't believe I won the either. I wonder if they were suprised that a guy was entering such a lacey pattern. But I did get the yarn, and I think I might make the rougue sweater, or maybe something else who knows. And then some falkes socks. I haven't decided yet.

Next order of business, I have been dying up yarn for a little while and while I don't think this is official yet, well not to the public at least, I'm going to be dying up some yarn for www.woolgirl.com and it's freaking awsome. Though I'm waiting for my crack dealer, I mean yarn supplier hasn't replied to my application. I need that yarn really soon! Jeez......I might just call them just to find out what the heck is going on.

Next, I'm knitting hardangervidda. Yeah. That sweater right now is a freaking awsome, insane piece of work. But I love how it looks so far, I'll post pics here later. The one on my Ravelry isn't recent.

I've been bad, and not posting here, (stupid attention span) and I've been beading a lot. For my job is now gone, since my employer had to close, it just wasn't working at her location, so I had to get some stuff that I have been coveting for like literally months. I'll post pics of the stuff, and I'll let you all know when it goes up for sale.

More news, my sock yarn is going to be in a local shop! If you go to The Knitting Room, then my sock yarn is going to be there sometime soon (I've been a lazy skeiner and labeler....). Oh well. But best of luck to Ed, one of the owners, for he is going in for some laser sugery in his eye, for he can't see. But if you haven't been to their store, definetly go, they are such nice people. Men's Knitting Group every Wensday (not this week though), pop in and see us all, I'll be there when school isn't trying to kill me, (which I think they're trying really hard, but my knitting is my defense).

Just to let you all know, I do accept custom orders for yarn, and jewelry, and knit stuff, and spun stuff. Let me know..... just thought I'd let you all know.

Till next time! Whenever that is! Back to the sweater!

2007-06-28T16:46:00.000-07:00

Phew, after countless months of designing, I have finally finished my Hill Country Yarns Sock contest pattern. But I found that someone else has deisgned a sock with the same exact pattern as mine, and I don't think I can enter my sock which I stared designing way before the other design was made.....I am in a knitting angst! GRRR.......

2007-06-02T23:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, so today was bad. I had to take the S.A.T. and it was evil! But I just finished dying some superwash sock yarn! It'll be up soon, when it finishes cooling and drying. So yeah.....

2007-05-26T03:11:00.000-07:00

Okay, so far today is not very good, for one the really really pretty Jaywalker socks I was working on don't fit! I was all of the way to the heel and ready to do the little "lets wait to do the heel last" thing, and I though I'd try it on to see if it would fit, and it didn't. It's going to the frogging pile. Then the pack of my chair broke off....haha....yeah....that's really random. Though, I got some really nice 2 ply, I finished spinning. It'll be on my website, which, evidently, I'll be putting up a lot of roving soon, once I get more dye.

Wish me luck! I have a little Macek Designs meeting tommorow. A salon owner wants to cary my jewelry, and so I might be able to get some of my inventory out! And that means more roving and yes, SOCK YARN!!! But it all depends.

www.macekdesigns.etsy.com

2007-05-20T15:23:00.000-07:00

Wow, I haven't posted for a while! I even forgot my password and user name! I've been so busy with school, and the musical (I was in the pit orchestra). But now I think I'm going to try to post more regularly. Also I probably will start posting links to some good yarn places, some common, others not so common.

2007-02-07T20:53:00.000-08:00

Now that the holiday crazyness is over and my finals are done (which they were done 2 weeks ago, but that is must me being lazy, and brain dead) I will now post a pattern for men's socks! But not tonight though, since I really need to knit stuff for the lime and Violet sock marathon! If you haven't listened to them, then what the heck is wrong with you (unless you don't knit, then your excused).

2006-10-29T20:46:00.000-08:00

Ok, I work at this bead store, and my boss recomended that I go to this yarn store (since she knows that I'm a knitter). The store is called Commuknity, and for those of you who haven't heard of it or been there, you are truely missing out. I went there today, just to see what they have. The store is 4000 sq. feet! Not all yarn, but there is a nice selection of yarn that I have never seen before. The employies there are nice and friendly. The yarn, some to die for. I was planning on just looking, but came out spending 100 $. I mean, seriously, I should have known better. Anyway, in the store there is a little nook, (and when I say little I mean like a good sized area) there is a sofa, about 2 chairs and a beautiful fireplace, when you can go knit! I mean, I've never seen a place with this kind of "feature." One of the yarns I purchesed is from a company called Louisa Harding Yarns, Impression. And this stuff is soft, and the colors are beautiful!! I give this store a 5/5 star review! If anyone who works/owns that store, keep up the good work!!!!

2006-10-14T22:52:00.000-07:00

I've recently discovered the joys of two up toe up socks. They are really neat! I usually make socks from the cuff down, and get dissapointed about 3/4th the way done, when it doesn't fit! It makes me really sad! But with the two up toe up method, you can try it on as you go, unlike the cuff down method. I'm working on a free pattern with pics, so I'll get those up A.S.A.P.

2006-10-07T00:17:00.000-07:00

Ok, I finally have gotten something off my needles. It's an afghan from the book Big Needle Afghans & Throws, it's a good book with some nice afghans. The one I just almost finished is the Quick Openwork Throw on page 4. I'm almost done, since I still have to attatch the fringe of death!!! But I think that it will be completely awsome once it's finished. And once it's finished, then it's going up for sale. If you all (who actually read this) I own a little company that makes hand knit, crocheted, and beaded items and sell them locally at craft shows. It's a lot of fun, and if you want to do it, I totally recomend it.

2006-10-02T16:33:00.000-07:00

Ok, now for those in the California State, there are some fabulous yarn stores. One of them being The Knitting Room. That store is very nice! The people there are friendly, helpful and they actually know what they're talking about. Another little yarn store is Yarn Dogs. All I have to say is, wonderful! A must go to! Even though I said bad things about the Rug and Yarn Hut, I just had a bad experience with them once, and I just went back there yestarday (5-19-07) and were very nice and curtious.

2006-10-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

This is my first post so there really isn't anything interesting on it. However, I will put some really interesting things and helpful things on here soon. It just depends when I'm not busy. Which is almost everyday.