103.

Did I get my mojo back?

On my way out the door now to get a crochet lesson, bathmat's a plenty!!

In knitting news:

More next time.

xx

grnern

93.

As promised, a quick update with my finished socks!

Dragonfly socks

Yarn: Koigu KPPPM
Needles: US 2
Notes: LOVE my new socks, I had a problem finishing them because I decided it was ok for me to knit 5 things at the same time and got a little overwhelmed.




Annnnd - I got my hair trimmed, bangs are shorter than usual. Still feeling it out. Today my boss told me I looked 10 years younger. Early teens? I'm alright with that.


And lastly, Frank was curious while I was photographing my socks. I thought he looked cute, but then again - I always think he looks cute.


Fin.
x
-erngrn.

90.

Today I think was maybe my 3rd or 4th day off this month. I slept till 2, I ate as much greasy food as I could fit in my body, I laid in bed for hours on end and I walked my dog around the block. I feel unproductive and its hard for me to be ok with it. I realize I'm supposed to get some R&R every now and then but today, I really went for it. I wrote yelp reviews, I looked up vegas swimsuit models who's husbands killed themselves in Canada, I read blogs and I chatted. No knitting (yet), no working (until tomorrow at 7am -eep)... I didn't even have a shower yet today. This I think, might have been the laziest day in I can't even remember how long.

So, in lieu of being as lazy as possible, I'm just going to stop typing and post some pictures of my recent sock knits WIP's & FO's.

x
erngrn.

80.

Loook what I finisheeeeeed!!!!!

swallowtail shawl in all its glory. FO update later.

*yesssssssssssssssssss*.

x
-erngrn.

63.

My trip to LA photos are finally edited and posted up in my flickr. Right after I got back my answer to all the "how was it?" questions was something along the lines of - I love my friends, shopping is awesome but I will never, ever live there again. This is still true but I would like to say - I had fun. It was awesome. My friends in L.A are great. Many thanks to those of you who saved me from my early rising mornings and took me on adventures. Being at the mercy of others with no car is a bit of a pain in the ass but, I sorted it out.

I also bought a million things for my shop that I have been slowly adding day by day. Also - I am going to be making jewlery!! Yay!

A couple photos of course : 1. Dance party at The Bar on Bronson. 2. My best friend Katie has never loved anything more than she loves this cat (well maybe she has but, she really loves her cat Prince). 3. Obligatory "I'm on the beach with palm tree's" shot of myself. 4. The littlest jellybean entertaining herself in the sand in Venice.




I have a couple FO's as well! Just full of photos today -

Lady Arms:
Yarn : 2 balls Frog Tree Merino Worsted in black
Needles : US 5 dpns
Pattern : Improvised - I actually kept track of how I made this pattern - I think I may get some better photos and write it out - post it up on the ole' Rav.

Next up is Missoni Inspired Cowl :
Yarn: 3 balls RY Classic yarns - Bamboo Soft in taupe
Needles : US 6 cic 36" needle

It was a nightmare to knit with such small needles. Same thing, over and over and over and over... I was glad to be finished. I was hoping it would be a little wider but, it's good enough. I like it. I still need to weave in the ends.

I am trying to use the yarn in my stash before I go buying new yarn so I have no sweaters/tops in my near future but, can someone reccomend me something cool to make with 215-240 yds of cotton yarn?? I am stumped.

x.
-erin.

My best friend started her own etsy shop!! Hand made awesome jewlery!!

48.

1. sockettes0217, 2. woomansocks3, 3. rudythehat, 4. and I will make a men's version of it, 5. finished yarn tote, 6. mediacaseblu1, 7. mansocks1, 8. blorangina4, 9. laurenFO2, 10. anniehat1, 11. yoscarf3, 12. sold on etsy, 13. 4 sale on etsy, , 15. purpleker4, 16. caplet - right shoulder, 17. MNxmas0162, 18. orangeker3, 19. tote4, 20. wristlet2, 21. for emmalamalamaaaM, 22. collar - grey, 23. kerchiff blue, 24. handribbed2

2008 knitting summed up by a mosaic maker.

resolutions in my knitting :
1.) knit more things that aren't worn around your neck
2.) finish scarfy cardy (still waiting on the yarn)
3.) gift a sweater
4.) knit more lace (damn that lace)
5.) use up as much of my stash as i can in the next 6 months before buying new yarn to add to my stash.

Happy 2009 everyone! I got a good feeling about this one. Its going to be great.

x
-erin.

46.

Today was a big day in the world of the internet for me folks... I re-vamped my blog as I'm sure you have already noticed and I posted 2 new things in my etsy shop.

Eye-Lets Love cowl :
Knit with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino - suuuuper soft and lovely. I finished this on my way to Miami and immediately started a secret christmas present so I've been so engulfed in said secret christmas presents that I haven't had time to get this posted up on ye' old etsy.

Second - Nauti-Cowl :

I knitted this with some left over yarn I had from 'secret christmas presents', I figured why not bang out another cowl and post it up. Its been a while since I updated my etsy because i've been doing this and that and work and sleep -etc... Its tighter than most of the cowl's I make but, I kind of like how tight it is. I thought about keeping it for myself for a minute but I have so many and I'm running out of room!

Thank you new roomate Nick for photographing me.

I'm getting ready to go to Minnesota for christmas, this will be my second year in the past 4 years that I will be with a family that I'm not firmiliar with. The first year, I was in Livermore, CA with my friend Paul who so sweetly invited me to his family's place for christmas after finding out that I was most likely going to be alone. I hate not going to my family for christmas - so many ritual's that I haven't been able to partake in in over 3 years... My mom came down the past 2 years which was lovely but this year, its back to the misc. christmas. It will be fun but, I miss my family.

Here's another blog refferal, I was sent over here today by my best friend io. This girl is 12 years old and incredibly advanced for her age! Cute little fashion blurbs, interviews, shopping refferals... Check it out.

This is a week of dinners for me. Tonight with Tippy, tomorrow is Miss Molly's birthday pot luck... I don't have anymore planned yet but we'll see as the week goes on.

fin.
x
-granny.

42.

My friend Nima said something the other day about how he likes that my blog posts are titled by number. It makes it easier for following if you don't have one of those "I read it already" markers. I agree with him. 42 does come after 41.

I have all these ideas about things that I'd like to write about almost always (oh so conveniently) while I'm walking down the street. I sometimes wish that I had a mechanism that would read my thoughts as I think them and put them in a storage bank that I can later re-visit so I can write about whatever weird and (almost) dillusional thing I am thinking about at the time. I being an aquarius, am incredibly loose minded? Scatter brained? Something like that - therefor I almost ALWAYS forget the "brilliant" idea I had to write about.

My roomates parents are currently staying with us. They are kind of adorable. The father does magic as a proffession, he keeps showing me little tricks. They're kind of awesome. I am tempted to ask how they're done but 1. I don't think he'll tell me and 2. It will probably kill the mystery. I came home to find a bible on the table today which is a not so common thing to find around my apartment. I'm not going to lie, it threw me off a little bit... I am definitely not used to censoring myself in leui of parents. I never grew up with christian, wholesome parents so I am infact finding that I have to bite my toung quite a bit. Example - My roomates mother has sleep apnea (I have never encoutered until yesterday) which I wasn't aware of. Upon entering the bathroom last night to have a shower - I came out yelling "who's damn scuba gear is in the sink??" = I am an asshole. Another instance, "If you're around on thanksgiving day, I'll show you my whole magic show", says Naomis' dad to which I promptly reply "HELL YEAH!". I suppose it was better than "F*&* yeah".

Anyway, onto knitting things... I have made some serious progress on Scarfy Cardy. I love Scarfy Cardy so far but I'm already thinking of some alterations I might like to work on after I finish the 2nd sleeve. It isn't quite wide enough for me to close so I was wondering, should I add on some front panels by picking up stiches and knitting out in stockinette? Or should I knit pannels and sew them on after so the stockinette stitches go in the same direction (up & down)?

I also knit some semi-ribbed random stitches around the wrist cuff so it wouldn't curl but, when i turn it up, I really like the way it looks so I'm glad I did it.

The little "woo-man" socks are coming along nicely too. I am just about at the heel of the 2nd sock now. I cannot wait to get them on my feet because it has been coooold the last few days!

My friend Vanessa had a surprise birthday party for her boyfriend Wade on friday night last weekend - I was 'documenting the night'. This is one of the photos that Trav took for me :

These were essentially the only two people I knew when I first moved to New York. I lived with them for 2 months as soon as I got here. I had known Vanessa (middle) for about 15 minutes before she dragged me out of the apartment with my sunglasses to avoid getting flipped out on my ios (left) mother for moving into her aparmtent on 3rd street without being informed. "This is not a HOTEL io" is the last thing I heard before I ran out the door to Tomkins Sq park with vanessa. Its been 2 years now (on Dec 5th) since I moved to NY. I love them very much. Thank you vanessa for saving me from Rebecca (who now loves me for the record).

I should go, I am geting magic tricks done to me by Naomi's dad.

x
-granny.

39. Pattern : Rudy short for Rudolph

Rudy short for Rudolph :

Materials :

Needles : size 10 US circular 16" needles / Size 10US DPNS - for finishing.
Yarn : 1 skein Catalina Baby Alpaca Chunky
One stitch marker.


Cast on : 76 sts, PM

-Join round, Rib 2x2 for 2 inches.

-Knit in round for 2.5 inches

Pattern RND (1 round only) : *yo, sl1, k2, psso (repeat * until end of round)

-Knit for 2 inches

DECREASE :

Rnd 1: *k17, k2tog (repeat * until end of round)
Rnd 2: *k10, k2tog (repeat * until end of round)
Rnd 3: *k9, k2tog (repeat * until end of round)
Rnd 4: *k8, k2tog (repeat * until end of round)
Rnd 5: *k7, k2tog (repeat * until end of round)
Rnd 6: *k6, k2tog (repeat * until end of round)
Rnd 7: *k5, k2tog (repeat * until end of round)
Rnd 8: *k4, k2tog (repeat * until end of round)
Rnd 9: *k3, k2tog (repeat * until end of round)
Rnd 10: *k2, k2tgo (repeat * until end of round)

Weave working yarn through all remaining stitches, pull tight & weave in ends.


x
-granny.

38. the first day of a new america.

So here is the canadian girl being incredibly happy and releived about what is about to happen to america. I don't think anything drastic is going to happen in the next 4 years but at least its a start, at least this is a beggining of something that desperately needed to happen and thank fucking god it is this man who is going to start the ball rolling.

So much of america is so naive to how their government really effects the rest of the world, how america is tried in to so many other countries on so many other levels. Somewhere near 10 people in ONE department of my moms work IN canada lost their jobs because the US executives of the company decided they needed to cut costs... i'm sure its happened with other north american companies as well... it is so important (especially to north america) that the US gets back on its feet and that it has someone with their head on their shoulders with the best intentions set forward leading it back to a state of normalacy (as we know it). Anyway, the change is going to happen, I am SO glad everyone figured it out. I wasn't sure I was ready to move back to canada ;)

In tribute of this historic day/year/election - i photographed 3 new balls of yarn in patriotic form :




top: the softest of handspun, undied, merino from chile (to make other appearances in this blog post)
bottom left: rudy (the sequel - still to be knit) blue sky alpacas, dyed cotton 100% organically grown
bottom right : flossy (the seuqel - still to be knit) blue sky alpacas, dyed cotton 100% organically grown

I am quite excited about the merino yarn, it feels so soft and squishy and lovely I want to rub it all over my face. It will be face rub-able after I knit my neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew....................



.




.



.



.
CARDIGAN!

I haven't knit anything for myself in what feels like months... I did the Orangina but, I don't ever wear it (christmas present?) so it doesn't really feel like mine. I've been wanting to make myself a very simple stockinette stitch cardigan that hugs my waist, goes past my butt and doesn't need to close in a soft lady like color so what better to do it in than an off-white. I bought this yarn at Downtown Yarns on Ave A with intentions of making myself a cape but, I figured I don't want to wear a coat over a cape and this yarn isn't thick enough to knit in the same gauge of the pattern I have so sweater it is. I am not knitting from a pattern so I hope it works out - I had to start it over twice and rip back once so far. I'm knitting on US 8's and its about 5.5 sts to 1 inch. I started with 80 sts and ribbed for an inch and a half then devided like this :

k8, PM, k14, PM, k36, PM, k14, PM, k8

I figure thats about 6 inches across the back, 2.5 inches over the shoulders and i'm increasing by kfb on both sides of every marker so, 8 increases every other row. If anyone knows that its not going to work, speak now or forever hold your peace. i was thinking about doing 5 decreases on both inner seams (when I get there) and 5 increases to hopefully get the hourglass type shape. Might only do 4 because I don't want it to be too tight.

End on something kind of funny? Sure.

So, I had a makeup job yesterday for Hashett (the french publishing company) to do makeup on a couple of their head editors for some interviews and whatnot. The job was at noon and so waking up at 730am I had some time to kill. I took my time checking my morning internets and drinking my 3 coffees. Finally I realize I have to kick it into high speed because I've diddled around too long. I am running around, clothes, makeup, hair. At about 10:45 I walk to my desk with my camera cable in hand to replace in the shelf where it lives and promptly go into my roomates bedroom to show him some halloween pictures I had posted up on my flickr. For some reason my brain seems to think its okay to tell me I can do both of these things at the same time - I go full force into multitasking and whack my face off his door frame. Yes, I walked into a door.

Good thing I had enough makeup on to cover it at the job yesterday but here's where its at today


At least its only a tiny cut and not a huge black eye like I was expecting. Should be gone in a couple of days but it hurts to sleep on my left side. I am, have been and always will be the clumsiest woman alive. Thanks for that mom.

x
-erin

p.s - in her defense, she isn't really that clumsy. its just me - i just have to blame someone.

p.s.s - i started a photoblog with my best friend and i posted my first post

34.

So, I was emailed a really interesting article from a British newspaper today... I'll put the article in italics so if you're not interested in reading it skim past the italics and get onto the FO's and pictures down below :

Subject: An article from The British Newspaper The Guardian

An interesting view from overseas.


Subject: A succinct editorial from Jonathan Freedland of the British newspaper The Guardian on the upcoming US election.

'If Sarah Palin defies the conventional wisdom that says elections are determined by the top of the ticket, and somehow wins this for McCain, what will be the reaction? Yes, blue - state America will go into mourning once again, feeling estranged in its own country. A generation of young Americans - who back Obama in big numbers - will turn cynical, concluding that politics doesn't work after all. And, most depressing, many African - Americans will decide that if even Barack Obama - with all his conspicuous gifts - could not win, then no black man can ever be elected president.

But what of the rest of the world? This is the reaction I fear most. For Obama has stirred an excitement around the globe unmatched by any American politician in living memory. Polling in Germany , France , Britain and Russia shows that Obama would win by whopping majorities, with the pattern repeated in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America . If November 4 were a global ballot, Obama would win it handsomely. If the free world could choose its leader, it would be Barack Obama.The crowd of 200,000 that rallied to hear him in Berlin in July did so not only because of his charisma, but also because they know he, like the majority of the world's population, opposed the Iraq war.. McCain supported it, peddling the lie that Saddam was linked to 9/11. Non - Americans sense that Obama will not ride roughshod over the international system but will treat alliances and global institutions seriously: McCain wants to bypass the United Nations in favour of a US - friendly League of Democracies. McCain might talk a good game on climate change, but a repeated floor chant at the Republican convention was 'Drill, baby, drill!', as if the solution to global warming were not a radical rethink of the US's entire energy system but more offshore oil rigs.

If Americans choose McCain, they will be turning their back on the rest of the world, choosing to show us four more years of the Bush - Cheney finger. And I predict a deeply unpleasant shift.Until now, anti - Americanism has been exaggerated and much misunderstood: outside a leftist hardcore, it has mostly been anti - Bushism, opposition to this specific administration. But if McCain wins in November, that might well change. Suddenly Europeans and others will conclude that their dispute is with not only one ruling clique, but Americans themselves. For it will have been the American people, not the politicians, who will have passed up a once - in - a - generation chance for a fresh start - a fresh start the world is yearning for.And the manner of that decision will matter, too. If it is deemed to have been about race - that Obama was rejected because of his colour - the world's verdict will be harsh. In that circumstance, Slate's Jacob Weisberg wrote
recently, international opinion would conclude that 'the United States had its day, but in the end couldn't put its own self - interest ahead of its crazy irrationality over race'.

Even if it's not ethnic prejudice, but some other aspect of the culture wars, that proves decisive, the point still holds. For America to make a decision as grave as this one - while the planet boils and with the US fighting two wars - on the trivial basis that a hockey mom is likable and seems down to earth, would be to convey a lack of seriousness, a fleeing from reality, that does indeed suggest a nation in, to quote Weisberg, 'historical decline'. Let's not forget, McCain's campaign manager boasts that this election is 'not about the issues.'

Of course I know that even to mention Obama's support around the world is to hurt him. Incredibly, that large Berlin crowd damaged Obama at home, branding him the 'candidate of Europe ' and making him seem less of a patriotic American. But what does that say about today's America , that the world's esteem is now unwanted? If Americans reject Obama, they will be sending the clearest possible message to the rest of us - and, make no mistake, we shall hear it.'


Onto the knitting -

I've been working away at the knitting the last few days, trying to get some things up on the etsy store, use up some old yarn I have leftover from other projects and I took it upon myself to make a hat pattern. I don't know if you could technically call it a hat pattern because I did use a basic stitch but, I am pretty excited about it none the less. Let me introduce to you :

Flossy short for Florence



Needles : 10 circular 16"
Yarn : Catalina Baby Alpaca Chunky



I am pretty excited about my new hat... Once I figure out how to write the pattern I'm sure I'll post it here...

I named it after my boyfriends grandmother - her name was Florence but they called her Flossy... SO, in leui of that - I am going to be making a mens version and naming it "Rudy short for Rudolph", Flossy's husband.

Another couple of things I've worked on in the past few days :

little media case


soft squishy cowl guy


and on that note, I am exhausted and need a nap.
x
love, granny

and frank

33.

Just thought I'd share something a friend of mine (who is making her first movie for school) shared with me. There was a 40 year retrospective on Yves St. Laurent in Montreal that is now being packed up and shipped over to San Francisco. Only making 2 stops (which i think is ridiculous because - NYC... NEGLECTED?!) It will be opening in San Francisco on November 1st. I highly suggest going.

I have here, the first ever wedding dress designed by YSL :



Knit! My friend thinks this is a statement on how marriage is an imprisonment for women... Its possible, but then again - the imagination can be a wonderful thing. haha.

She almost got kicked out for taking these pictures but, good thing she is charming. She talked her way out of getting kicked out.

Another sample of things YSL designs : A tribute to Van Gogh :



Here is a Q & A that might be interesting...

In other news, my man socks are finished, I will have to get photos - I am working on a hat pattern that will be listed somewhere sometime soon - Sock yarn at the yarn tree on Bedford Ave is on sale and I'll be going back to get some more today.

2nd time fresh direct order arrives tomorrow. Hopefully this time the potatoes wont go bad.

Also, Frank - is incredibly adorable yes, I love him very much yes, I appreciate his irritating little chewy teeth yes... but, I am reaaaaally not into him peeing on my bed :/

Today is laundry day now.

x.
-love, granny.


P.S - Kim convinced her husband to drive us up to Rhinebeck! Yay!

31. - FO - Bl-orangina

So, I finally got it together and took a couple photos of my finished Orangina. I realize that a couple of them are in polaroid form but, i think they still count as FO pictures.

Here we go:

Pattern by : Stefanie Japel - Orangina

Available on Ravelry as a download for $6.00

Yarn : Tahki Cotton Classic in colorway : 3873

Needles : size US 5 circular

Notes : I really love the idea of this shirt, very much so. I fell in love with it when I first layed eyes on it but, let me tell you about the tedious never-going-to-end-want-to-pull-your-hair-out lace. This shirt is knit in 2 stages... you do the front, then the back and join them together around the bottom. The satisfaction you get from finishing the huge chunk of lace is amazing - until you have to start the exact same thing for the other side. I wanted to cry inside a little but, I pressed on.

Modifications : Me thinking I'm being clever, decides to knit this shirt in a 38" bust when I am actually a 34". I think "well, it will be kind of droopy which I like - the draped clothing look is good so i'll just make it a little too big for me". Not very smart Erin. Why I didn't think that not only would the body be too big but, the ribbing at the bottom as well? I have no idea. But, this was the case so I ran some elastic through the ribbing at the bottom to pull it tighter.

I think the only thing I would say about this shirt is, don't try to knit on the subway. Its just a bad idea to try and remember the lace pattern while stuffed in between two (much bigger than you are) people or at 630am when the train is just PACKED up with people that don't want to catch you if you fall over because you're knitting on a full train with no seat.

Oh, orangina... I love you but i will NEVER knit you again. At least not until I get some more patience for never ending lace.

And now, I'll try to teach my psychopath dog how to "sit". Maybe work on my 2nd man sock.

Speaking of sock...


x
-granny.

28.

so, this is my boy frank. my mother was asking me why i didn't have more pictures of him floating around. they are around for sure, i have about 50 on my cell phone. frank is a huge fan of sleeping, eating, peeing and pooping (all over the house). he is 11 weeks old and a little hellion but definitely in the top 3 cutest things i've ever seen in my entire life. it is actually very likely that he is THE cutest thing i've ever seen but, I've seen alot of things so i'm going to place him in the top 3 just incase.

the best friends birthday was last week which bought our friend the mahonster into town from tropical paradise. I've actually been holding her hostage. she has changed her flight 3 times... picnics in the park are wonderful.



I figured out my cowl issue, I had to tear back but, I'm glad I did because i really liked the way this looked simple and small. I also really like the stitch on both sides! I generally only like one side.



I used freshdirect.com today for the first time... I should be getting my deliver between 4-6pm. I will report back with my likes and dislikes. now, I must go and do laundry to the sounds of Foreigner, Aaron Neville, Rod Steward and last but not least... Phil Collins. thank's to my sister in law for helping me compile one of the greatest playlists of all time.

x
-erin.
love, granny.

25.

my internet is out. verizon. GAH.

i am going to MN in 3 days for a much needed vacation from new york city.

i will work on orangina and start a new pair of socks that will a.) be my first pair of socks and b.) may be a potential gift for my boyfriend but, i don't think he will like the mustard yellow color i chose for them...

in the meantime... i drool for these :



pretty soon, this blog will be full of puppy pictures.

x
-erin.
love, granny.

ps - my 25th entry on aug 25th which is my moms birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!
(its my champagne blog entry)