Uli's Creative Corner

It's Thursday.  I'm glad it's Friday tomorrow.

Very little going on here.  Just work and trying to get back to the normal routine of life.  The last 10 days or so have really been frustrating.  I love sticking to my normal routines.  Makes me a much happier girl.

I didn't get much time to knit anything last night.  I worked on the Phildar Poncho a bit.  It's going to be pretty but I'm doing a bit of colour work on it right now and whoever thought up the pattern and decided to have 4 different colours in the same row really must not have been thinking too much.  So right now, it's very slow going.

I swatched some handpainted wool last night that's in the stash for a poncho for Erika and I'm getting gauge so I'm ready to roll on that one when I get some of the other things off my needles.  I did that while Erika was playing in the bath.

WW is going to be a real bummer tonight.  I missed last week and I was doing okay.  I was keeping fairly steady.... not losing in leaps and bounds or anything like that but keeping steady is okay for me when I'm fighting with not having my normal routine.  But then I had some sushi the other day and the soy sauce helps me retain water every time........ so I know I'll be up, once again, today.  Hitting that 10 lb mark seems to be very elusive.

Have a good Thursday.  What's good about today is that it's almost Friday and that means the weekend is almost here.

Wow......... after a long, long, long and tiring day at work and then at the car dealership, I came home around 8:30 pm to find a lovely package from my Secret Pal.  I'll apologize up front because I absolutely did not have the time or energy to document the lovely gifts with pictures.  I will do so soon and post them then.  I love every little package in my parcel.  There were some awesome beads and some memory wire to make some really neat stitch markers.  S.P. even made a test stitch marker and attached it for me to see what they would look like.  There was some pretty stationary with some cards and envelopes with my initial printed on them.  Then there were some awesome hand sewn needle cases.  Those are just the best.  And last but not least, S.P. even remembered Erika's birthday and put in a Bob the Builder colouring book with some crayons.  Erika was so thrilled.  She loves Bob.  I hope I didn't miss anything.  Thanks so much Secret Pal.  I loved everything and I feel pretty special.  I love it when you stop by to comment, too!!!

After some confusion I got my car.  Wow.  It's awesome. I am so happy with it.  It took 2 1/2 hours at the dealership before we finally drove off but it was time well spent....... well, maybe not the time that we spent signing our life away for car payments for the next 4 years but the rest of it was pretty exciting.

As a result, I have absolutely nothing knitting related to talk about today.  I'm just looking forward to letting life settle into a bit more normal routine again.

Have a good Wednesday.

I get my car tonight at 6:30.  They couldn't find me a red one - I would have wait for one to come out of the factory and that would have been at least a month.  Too long of a wait since I don't have any transportation.  But they found me a blue one and I was wavering between those two colours anyways.  So I'm happy.  Last week I was just upset by the whole situation, this week, now that we made a decision, I'm starting to get really excited.

Today is picture day at Ulis Needlework World.

Here's the birthday cake:

The butterfly was a nice sized cake.  Just enough for 9 of us.  It would have probably served 12.  It was fairly quick to decorate.  Only 5 colours in it so there wasn't tons of icing to tint.  It's still a hard job on the hands but I like how nice they look when they are done.

And here's the birthday girl:

happy with her Daddy................

And here is one quick FO:

This is the awesome multi-directional scarf pattern.  I used some Bernat yarn that's very similar to the Sirdar Snowflake.  I can't think of the name of the yarn right now.  This scarf has been made for charity.  It will go to the Senior's group at the church that operates Erika's daycare.  They are making scarves for elementary school kids in the neighbourhood who might otherwise not have any scarves to keep them warm this winter.  I thought this was an awesome idea and I wanted to make a few scarves.  I only managed to get one finished and I don't know what their deadline for the finished products is.  So I will drop that off tomorrow and go from there to see if I have time to make another scarf.  I saw a neat little knitted scarf in a Sears catalogue yesterday.  It was done in a basketweave type stitch - Knit 4, purl 4, Knit 4 - do that for 4 rows - and then reverse purls and knits.  It looked like a fun kid's scarf.  I think I have some yarn that might work with this so I might try and make up another quick scarf.

Not only am I doing something for a good cause (which I never set enough time aside for even though I have grandious plans), I am also using some of my stash.

Oh yes, I was using the stash word as  lead in to show off my new Lorna's Laces colours I got from California.  Not a cheap thrill for me but oh so beautiful:

I'm so in love.  My MIL phoned the day before they were leaving to ask if I wanted them to take the yarn back to the store to have it wound into balls but I said "No thank you".  I just want to see those beautiful colours on the hank and I want to just put them away for a special occasion.  That special occasion would be "just the right" sock pattern screaming my name.  I have now enough Lorna's Laces to make 4 pairs of socks (I already had two skeins before this adventure that I sent my MIL on).  She chose well for me.  Now I have to write her a cheque......

I'm tired today.  It was a late night last night.

In Knitting News: I finished the scarf last night as you saw earlier.  I also got started on a sock in an awesome Opal colourway called Creme.  I got it off e-bay from a really great seller.  The pattern generates a tiny little striping effect in shades of off-white and lots of shades of purple. 

I also worked on the Fleece Artist soft socks.  They work up incredibly quickly on 5 mm DPNs and 26 stitches for a cast on.  But here is where my problems with the pattern start.  I really don't like doing socks with a number not divisible by 4.  But I kept working on it as the pattern said.  I had almost finished the foot (I said they go fast) and they looked really narrow to me.  Those are socks that you throw on over another pair of socks to keep your feet warm on a cold winter night.  They would never fit into a pair of shoes.  They were really tight when I slipped them on.  So then I thought I'd give them away to someone with narrower legs and feet but I still wasn't comfortable that they'd comfortably fit someone with narrow legs and feet.  So this morning I ripped the whole sock.  The dilemma was to go for 28 stitches but I don't thing 2 stitches would make enough of a difference so now I'm trying again with 32 stitches.  Now they might get way too big.  But I'll be wearing this pair as slippers around the house so it's mine to experiment with.  I hope I can figure it out because I want to use these as Christmas gifts this year.

And then I was so not in a finishing mood - I've got the pink Phildar sweater and the car sweater in the finishing basket - that I started on Madeline's poncho.  I have a bit of a gauge problem but (shame on me) I dove right in without a gauge swatch figuring it wouldn't be serious on a poncho.  It's not serious.... but my row gauge is off so I think I may need to knit the pattern sequence for the largest size to make the size of my rectangle come out correctly.  I think it will work out okay.  I love the colours.  Will have to show you as I get a bit more done.

Signing off for now.............

I tried to post early this morning but then something happened and I couldn't update.  So here I am now.......... fortunately, I had the chance to copy and paste the post into Word before losing it all:

Well, it's another Monday.  I'm here early.  Well, we made a decision........ the Honda Civic won.  I just don't have the car yet.  They didn't have the colour on the lot so they're searching one out for me.  Hopefully I'll hear today and I really, really hope that by tomorrow evening I'll be able to be my own independent person again and not dependent on others for rides etc.  Unfortunately, the transit system is poor.  There is no bus stop close enough to my house where I could make a useful bus connection to get myself to work.  That could send me into a bit of a rage about our transit system and how they try and get everyone out of their cars and onto public transit............. I'm a great supporter of transit - used to take it on a daily basis......... but when a 20 min ride in the car takes you an hour or even longer on a bus and you can't even easily get to that bus.... it just does not work out.  Whine over.....

I have no pictures today.  I was too tired last night to download any of them.  Erika had an awesome birthday party.  We all had fun.  I'll show you some pictures of her cake tomorrow.  I made a butterfly.  It turned out very nice.  It really was a fun time.  I always get very, very stressed because of a few family dynamics and it wasn't any different yesterday but I got through it okay.  Now that I think about it............ yikes.  The two Moms don't really talk to each other.  Neither one of them makes the effort and they feel very competitive towards each other, especially when it comes down to talking about Erika.  Who gets to see her more?  Who gets to babysit her more?  My Mom easily feels left out because her English isn't that great.  She sometimes doesn't understand everything and sometimes she has a bit harder of a time expressing herself.  And my MIL doesn't do anything to make it easy on my Mom to even have a conversation.  It didn't used to be this way.  It's getting worse over the years and I much prefer keeping the two seperated now.  But at least they tolerate each other for our sakes.  They would never be friends if it wasn't for us.  They are so completely different and have such different attitudes about life and money (money especially).  Blah, blah, blah.......... I could go on.  I shall not do that.  It bothers me greatly.  I'm the type of person who wants the world to be happy and everyone in it to get along beautifully.

Evan bought this great self-inflating, light-up Halloween pumpkin for our front yard yesterday.  It's a cute decoration.  Erika picked it at the store and she was so excited.

Knitting........... what's that?  I finished one sock this weekend but I still have #2 to cast on.  I started on the Fiber Artist Soft Socks that have been begging me to try them out.  I finished all the pieces for the pink Phildar cable sweater for Erika.  I started trying to embroider the first car on Erika's car sweater.  I stopped again.....  I'm almost finished one of the charity scarves I was working on.  So just little bits and pieces here and there whenever I had a moment.

Off to my meeting this morning.

Good Morning............ I was away yesterday.  We took the day off and went looking at new cars.  Looks like we might be going for it.  We've narrowed it down to 2 vehicles at dealerships right next to each other owned by the same guys.  I guess we can use it to try and get the best deal when we do decide to go for one of the cars.  Evan is going to do some phone calls this morning while Erika and I are at music class - he has to come with us because I don't drive his car (it's a standard transmission and I've never learned how to drive it properly - so without him I'm stuck).  Then we'll probably go back there and he has to drive one of the cars.  I drove both cars yesterday but he didn't get a chance to drive the first one.  So we're going back and forth between a 2005 Nissan Sentra in a real "arrest-me" red and a 2004 or 2005 Honda Civic in yet a undetermined colour.  I think I'm leaning toward the Honda but it's a bit more money.  So, we're going to have to try and work this all through.  I really wouldn't mind either of the cars.  Either of them are maybe not what I might have bought 3 years down the road given time to save some money etc. but they are good basic cars and that's what I really need.  So we'll see how it goes.  We're so busy this weekend with the birthday party preparations that all of this is a bit much but I do need a vehicle.  Even just flew in here hyper as anything about "making a deal" so unless something weird happens I'll probably end up with a brand new car.  I love my old little car but I guess it's time to move on and up..........

Have a good one!!!!

Another new pair of socks is born:

This time we have a some Regia Multi Colour.  When I first looked at that skein I thought the yarn was all blues, greens and blacks and I thought it a "boy sock" yarn.  Well, when I looked again, I noticed that the little fair isle colour parts had pinks and purples mixed in so I cast on and knit a pair of socks for me.  I've started making the leg a little shorter.  I have tree stumps for legs so the shorter leg of the sock fits my leg better.  When I make the legt too long, the fit isn't as good.  I'm pleased with this pair.

That means I had to start another pair of socks and I started one for my SIL for Christmas with some purple/grey/cream mix of DGB Confetti.

The car is still at the shop.  We haven't made up our mind yet as to what to do.  We're tentatively planning on taking tomorrow off and just cruising the car dealerships to see what's out there.  Who knows what will happen.  In the mean time, I'm stuck without my own ride.  I hate that.  This means no trip to the LYS nor to WW for me tonight.

But just to cheer me up, here is a cute little shot of my little sweetie with her mini birthday cake.  Don't worry, there will be a real sized birthday cake on the weekend.

I'm in for another minimum $1300 repair bill.  It's never good news with my car when they find out what's wrong.....  Last year, on November 28th (that's what blogs are good for.......... you can look back at the events of the year......) I had a $1600 repair bill. I guess I'll have to start taking that yarn diet button on my left side bar there really seriously again.  Evan told them to "park" the car until we figure out what to do about it.  I think he's leaning towards biting the bullett and getting me something new.  I'm not so sure.....  Not ready for that kind of expense right now.  Not a good day.

Oh, it's been a morning............ I think I have to come to realize the fact that time didn't stand still after I graduated from grad school.  The day of my graduation, I also went to the car dealership and left with my first ever brand new vehicle.  In my mind, that car is still brand new........... time stood still, didn't it?  Well, almost 10 years have passed and my "brand new" car is almost 10 years old and it's starting to get some owies.  On my way home yesterday, I noticed one quick flash of the "low coolant" light on the dash.  It just flashed on and off when I turned a corner.  I had some problems with that light last year so although it registered I didn't worry too much.  I watched it and it didn't come back home.  Just at bed time, I remembered to tell hubby about it.  He told me to watch it and that he would check out the car on the weekend.  Well, I didn't make it to the weekend.  I got in the car this morning to pull it out of the garage and the light came on and stayed on.  Then we noticed a big puddle of anti freeze in the garage.  Oops.... So Evan checked it out and then we just moved the car enough so that it wasn't in the way of Evan's car and so that the tow truck could easily tow it.  It was getting late and Evan took me to work so that made him even later.  While driving to work, I phoned our roadside assistance to come and have the car towed to the dealership and at my office Evan called the dealer to tell them that my poor sick car was coming in.  So far I haven't heard a word from anyone.  Evan thinks it might be the water pump.  So for now, I'm stuck at work until someone comes and gets me - either Evan after work or the dealer when my car is fixed.

So now I have a headache. 

I started re-knitting the second car sweater sleeve but I didn't much feel like it.  I didn't get very far.  It was a busy evening.  Eventually, I gave in because why knit on a project that I don't feel like working on at all.  I felt like the nice, mindless feel of a sock in my hands so I finished another pair of socks.  I'll get a picture of them tonight.  And today, at some point, I'll be casting on for a Christmas gift pair of socks.  And then there will be new patterns coming out for the Six Sox KAL and the German pattern sock KAL.  Could I be more excited or what?  I just don't have a good selection of plain sock yarns.  Patterns get lost easily in the patterning sock yarns that I have grown so fond of.

Back to work and waiting for some news about the poor little car.

Okay, no offense to anyone blonde.  I love making blonde jokes about myself.  So what did I do?  Well, my intention was to knit Erika's car sweater with 3 mm needles for the ribbing and 4 mm needles for the body.  I was using my Addi Turbos for both.  I swatched.  Who knows what needle I swatched with?  And since this sweater has been going on for a while, I can't remember that far back.  So when I went to start sleeve #2, I was looking at my needles.  There seemed to be two sets of Addi Turbo 3 mm needles hanging around the general storage area of that sweater and I couldn't find the 4 mm Addi Turbos I thought I was using anywhere.  My mind started worrying a little but I cast the worry aside and just used one of my other 4 mm needles after I finished the ribbing.  Those 4 mm needles felt like stumps and I couldn't remember having that feeling when I knit the first sleeve or the body for that matter.  The stitches looked a tad loose.  Hmmm, I had the sinking feeling already but I needed to get proof.  So I did the first 20 rows.  While I was doing that and doubting myself, I got the first sleeve out and the body and laid out all the pieces.  They all seemed the same width and height and the stripes lined up.  So when I laid the 2nd sleeve on top, 20 rows made it taller and 50 stitches made it wider than the first sleeve.  Oops.  I guess what happened is that I knit the entire sweate ron 3 mm needles and I switched from the ribbing with a 3 mm needle to the body of another 3 mm needle.  How would I not notice the difference (or the non difference) in needle size going from ribbing to stocking stitch?  But it's the only way I can explain this one.  I measured the back and the front and they are 1 cm smaller in width and that won't do any harm.  So I guess I'll finish knitting sleeve #2 with the 3 mm needles as well.  I've already ripped back.

That's all my knitting news for last night.

Erika was so wired when she came home and she had a lot of fun.  We had dinner and she got her mini cake at home.  She blew out her 3 candles all by herself and she got a couple of her gifts.  She's not getting her big Thomas play table until the weekend when we have her party.

Thanks for all the well wishes for her birthday, my blog birthday and my cardigan.  I quite like it.  I'm wearing it again this morning until it warms up a little.

This morning I have to call the yarn store to see if they can put another pink ball of that Phildar yarn away for me so I can pick it up on the weekend and finish that sweater.  Other than that.......... it's just another Tuesday!!!

Our internet was down all morning so I didn't get a chance to do my first thing in the morning blogging routine.  But we seem to be back up now so I'll use my lunch hour to show you what I've been up to.

I just realized that I forgot my blog 1 year birthday.  It was on Saturday.  I've enjoyed doing this and I don't see an end in sight.  I have met some neat and interesting people and when nobody listens at home to me going on about all my wonderful knitting adventures and dreams, I've been able to come here and just write it all down.  Here's to another year.....

And............ Erika, my little baby, is 3 years old today.  The excitement around our house.... just crazy.  Happy Birthday, Sweetiepie.... I hope she's having a good day at daycare today.  She will be getting cake there today and then there will be a tiny little baby cake at home tonight.  Her party is on Sunday so that's when I'll be doing the full meal deal.... cake, presents, dinner.  She's growing up - look at her at her swimming lessons on Friday:

and painting with some new water colours from Evan's Auntie Brenda and Uncle Mark

Onward and upward we go......... maybe some day soon, she won't be an only child any more........

And then there's the sweater that was nothing on Friday and almost became a FO by Sunday morning - that's when I ran out of yarn. 

All I did was swatch a little on Friday after work.  And then I cast on - just a little - and before I knew it I was at the arm shaping for the back.  You get the picture.  This sweater is for Erika.  It's from the fall/winter 2004 Phildar Pitchoun book.  I'm using Phildar Albi (I might have the name of the yarn a bit wrong).  It's worked on 7 mm needles in a 3X2 ribbing with a big cable running up the front.  As you can see, I'm almost at the point of shaping the sleeve cap for sleeve #2.  I'll have to wait to the weekend to pick up that extra ball of yarn I need to finish.

That took up a lot of my weekend.  I do have a FO to present though.  The neckdown jacket from Knitting Pure and Simple.  I finally put the zipper in last night.

And the obligatory model shot with way too much sunshine in my face:

I love this jacekt.  It fits well.  I'm happy with the amount of easy.  The yarn, Schöller Stahl Winter Cotton, is soft and really nice to wear.  For once, I got the sleeve length just right and I love the collar.  This one was a succesful project and I would recommend the KP&S patterns to anyone who would like to try knitting a top down raglan.  I love doing them. 

I cast on for sleeve #2 of the car sweater but only got the ribbing done.  Won a couple of auctions on e-bay for some more Opal sock yarn.  And.......... I'm contemplating all my Christmas gift giving.  I also have to start the baby blanket for a baby to be born in November and the poncho for my niece for her birthday in November.  Lots and lots to do.  But first, the car sweater will be finished and I'll try to keep focussed on the MIL sweater.  I also need to get back to the Phil Onde shirt I'm making.

Now a few more minutes of knitting and then it's back to work.