Post #2 from the wayback machine

As we continue the Costumechick catch-up-o-rama, I bring you my next FO, and non-blogged project.
The Mittens of Browness!

Name: Mittens of Browness
Pattern: Fleeced Stuffed Mittens from Favorite Mittens
Yarn: Valley Yarns Berkshire in Brown
Needles: US size 4 and 5 dpns
Notes: This is pair #5 of these mittens. This pair was supposed to be knit after the other three I have on my Holiday list, but they moved up due to a knitting emergency. (Namely, I ran out of other project while in a traffic jam, and had this yarn and free needles with me)
These are for Evad, and I hope he likes them. He said he did, but he might be lying. Evad is sneaky.

Why Costumechick Sucks

I try not to suck too hard, as a general rule. We all know how I feel about rules though. SO, I often find myself sucking, even if I don't want to. This last week (and a little), I have sucked really damn hard - at least at blogging.
I have finished two projects, started one more, finished another two clues of my Pangea Shawl, and went to the yarn mecca of Rhinebeck. And you, my dear readers got to hear nothing of it. I kind of feel as though I should just start from right now, and skip the last week and a half of events, as if they didn't even happen.
Instead, I will be belated blogging. Just pretend that the wayback machine is in charge of your blog reading destiny.

I finished the Cable Trim Pullover!

Name:Cable Trim Pullover
Pattern: #26 Cable Trim Pullover, from Vogue Knitting Winter 2007/08
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca, color #6283
Needles: Knitpick Classic Circs in size 2 &3
Notes: First of all, this pattern was really well written, easy to follow, and usually pretty obvious in it's construction. That said, the pattern also expects you to just sew the neck band in with out any form of guidance. It says something like, "sew cable trim on as shown in photo". Not so helpful, really.

I love, love, love the yarn. I love the color, I love the softness, I love the halo. I will be using this again. I didn't need all 8 skeins though. I ended up only using 6. I think the pattern called for 7, but I always get an extra, cause if I don't, I run out. So now I have two more that need to be something....

Overall, I am very happy with this sweater, and it was finished just in time for RHINEBECK!! So I will be (did) participate with the cool kids and wear a brand new sweater for RHINEBECK!! The only thing I'd change, other than actually making it fit my mom, whom it was originally intended for, is to lengthen it. I could use another inch in the body of the sweater. It's fine the way it is though, since I always wear a shirt under my sweater anyway.

Normally, I would include a full modeled pic, but I am not for this sweater. It fits great, but I can't seem to take a pic of it where I don't look bad, or wide, or muffin top. This boob-a-lish-ish pic is the best I could do. There is one on Ravelry, should you feel the need to see me at my worst.

Things I love today

We can marry who we want
I am proud to live in Connecticut. A little over half of my friends and coworkers are gay, and I am proud that we all now have equal marriage rights. It is one step closer to everybody being respected equally in our nation.
On a side note, I expect to be invited to all of your weddings. I will bring fabulous gifts!

Things that pissed me off today.

1. Drivers. Specifically other idiot drivers that don't understand how turn signals work. No worries, none of the chodes ran into me, but boy did they try! It seems that it is "jerks that are unable to pilot a car and use turn signals go for a drive in Connecticut" day. I missed the memo, and tried to drive on the highway.
2. Work. It's really busy at work. But, it is that irritating "lots to do, but waiting for information" kind of busy. Hurry up and wait. These type of days drive me bat shit crazy.
3. people changing their minds. - see 1. and 2. Stay in your lane! You picked it. Stay there. Don't fucking change your mind and cut me off! Also, if you don't want a haircut, and I cancel the appointment, don't call me back two days later and say that you do want a haircut, and expect me to be able to reschedule it. This kind of jackassery just pisses everybody off.
4. Knitting. I am not getting to work on my Mittens of Browness. I am not really doing anything, yet I cannot not knit. I find this frustrating.

5. Republicans. I feel I don't need to go into detail. I will say that the Ayers thing is bullshit. I will also say that I feel like I want to slap a few people if I meet them. Those people better hope they don't run into me today, lest I carry out my slapping plan. I'm just in the mood.
Ahh. Feels good to vent a little.
Robot voice: "Stress level returning to med-high. Crisis diverted."

This and that.

No FO's, yet, but I do have some updaterly things to show you! A little this and a little that, all for you, my blog reader's. I just want you to feel special, and involved in my life. (You see, if I get you involved enough, I might be able to convince you that you like me enough to help me move. My whole life revolves around building up enough Friends to make moving easy. Even when I don't have plans to move anytime soon. I'm tricksy.)
The aforementioned Pangea Shawl:

See! It's cute! I'm peer pressuring you some more. Sign up... it's only one little clue....
OH! I am totally punk as fuck! I did what I said I was going to do, which is completely crazy and weird, therefore punk. I finished my sleeves...

AND blocked them. Be afraid. This WILL be done in time for RHINEBECK!
That's it, from the land of Costumechick, for today. Tomorrow you might get to see something brown! woo! Brown!
ps. please note the lack of McCain commentary. I'm saving it for the Bitches. You are forewarned.

How about some knitting content?

I know! Knitting content on a knitting blog? How conformist of me. But, according to LSG, "Fucking butter is punk as fuck."
I actually have been doing some knitting, in between tech, drinking, throwing my shoes at the TV when political stuff is on, and doing the other assorted things one must do to stay alive as a human. Oh yeah, I'm in tech again. This time it is for "Hughie", starring Brian Denehy. He is a really nice guy, and funny too. Anybody that calls me "doll face" is cool in my books though. It hasn't been a tough tech, but it is still not the most fun one can have on a weekend. I spent the time working on my Cable Trim Pullover sleeves.

Oh yeah? remember that? I'm making a sweater. I am 22 rows from being finished with the knitting on this sweater. I am in love with it. Really, I am, but I am not looking forward to the sewing up part. I will persevere, as I want to wear it for RHINEBECK! (RHINEBECK must always be said in capitol letters. That's just how it is.) I was going to finish it last night, but I realized that I would be sitting with nothing to do during tech today if I finished it. I could work on the socks that I started last week, but I'm feeling a little blase' about them. The pattern and color combo is not making me happy. I'm thinking on it. Anyway, I plan to cast off the damn sleeves tonight, block tomorrow, and maybe be sewing up at SnB! We'll see.... I rarely do what I should, or what I say I'm going to do. You realize, that makes me punk. Then when I do what I say I am going to do, it is unexpected - out of character even - and I am therefore Punk as Fuck.
Y'all should be proud to know me.
SO, what did I work on last night, as I was not finishing the sleeves on purpose? I cast on another project. Don't roll your eyes at me! Save it for the Presidential Debate. Over on Ravelry, "Whatifknits" wrote a shawl pattern and wanted to know if people wanted to knit it. I pmed her that I did. Now I am in a KAL on her blog: Pangea The shawl is awesome so far. I'll post pics of that eventually. For now you have to look at the yarn.

Pretty, lacy goodness. She is inviting anyone that wants to KAL to join.... we are only one clue in, and it is an easy one. You know you want to. Come on.
That is called peer pressure. I should be on an After School Special.
I'm wiped out. I'll leave the tales of shoe throwing, drinking, and other assorted crap for another time. Till then, remember, "From an early age, I've always loved Jews and Cuban food." Tina Fey is my secret girlfriend.

Vodka And Latex

I lieu of an actual post about knitting, I'm going to wax on about my friends, and work and shit. Cause, you know, I can.
Every week at SnB I think, "I should write down the stuff we say. It'd make a great blog post." do I ever? Hell no. That would require forethought and planning. Costumechick doesn't roll that way. She barely remembers to bring all the stuff she needs to SnB to actually knit, let alone do something additional. What the hell am I talking about? I barely remember to wear all the appropriate pieces of clothing in the morning. I could be called, with out much reservation, a mess.
Anyway, This week the bitches were quite excitable, and loud. A serious amount of quips and digs were laid out for all of Panera Bread - including the nuns - to hear. For your reading, and for the bitches, a review, of what I remember we talked about at Snb this Thursday. Well, at least what the alcohol didn't kill off...
1.Sarah "Caribou Barbie" Palin - she is an endless source of humor. Really. Between complaining about her lack of knowledge on anything, discussing her unbelievable small wardrobe, and being enraged about the assumption that women will vote for her because she allegedly has a vagina... well, you get the point. Since we were bitching and stitching, we didn't manage to watch the debate, live. It's probably better that way, as a few of us would now have broken TVs from throwing shoes at the "Alaskan Airhead". I can say, since I watched it later, she did a good job a memorizing the republican crapola that they asked her too. Yay for her! However, she was totally laughable, for reasons I will not go into here, but at least someone went to the Kasper outlet and bought her a new damn suit! Shit, if I had to see that ugly Walmart suit with the funnel neck one more time, I was going to take my measly salary - provided, in part my the NEA (that she and the other republidiots want to get rid of), and go down to the Burlington Coat factory and spend 50 bucks on a new fucking suit for her! It was embarrassing. Seriously.
ahem. Palin wailin' was a big part of the evenings festivities.
2.Getting smells out of stuff. In theatre, we have been using a spray on smell remover- ala' Febreeze - for, well, ever. It's called Vodka. The cheap shit that you can only drink if you are an underage college student or desperate. If they made a 5 gallon jug with big black "government cheese" lettering on the side that said "VODKA", it'd be perfect. We mix it half and half with water, and spray liberally on clothing. It works. Seriously! I promise, you don't smell like a martini, and it doesn't stain. This whole tangent started when we were talking about banned websites and watching porn at work. I said I can get away with almost anything, as my job requires me to look at a lot of 'questionable' web sites. Like what? Oh, you know... thigh highs, corsets, fake breasts... the list goes on. I regularly accidentally find myself on a porn site while looking for garter belts. That convo morphed into cleaning costumes that can't be dry cleaned - like latex. Then the vodka thing. Well, by the end, Knelley decided that my name was an acronym for Vodka And Latex. V.A.L. I'm fine with that. It could also be Vodka And Leather. that is even better. (smile)
PS. True to form, I got a shot of Smirnoff later at the bar. Just sayin'.
3.Balls. every week. You don't have to even be there to know we talked about balls.
4.Office gossip. Also, every week. It's the best soap opera around. Granted, I don't want any of it any where near where I work, but I am happy to listen to it from others. especially how Knelley's third graders are plotting a coupe.
5. The Youtube. Yankee bought a Youtube this weekend at the Best Buy. I'm sending her 8-tracks and video tapes to put on the youtube. That way, when she does the google, it'll show me them on the interweb. This is how I am going to learn about McCain and his progressive understanding of those damn kids, er... I mean, youth vote.
6.Libertarians. Is it just me, or are these guys balls to the walls crazy? OMG. get out the tin foil hats! The governments are reading our minds! The Us Government is conspiring with Canada and Mexico to make one giant country with a single currency - the Amero. The dude in the bandanna and nasty jeans is going to save us all by running for a seat in the house as a libertarian. Oh thank the gods. I might have voted for someone not crazy if he hadn't accosted us in the parking lot.
**Public service announcement**
when a crazy - be they Libertarian, Fundy, Mormon, Scientologist, or plain whackjob - confronts you, turn and walk away. Do not engage! If this doesn't work, and they follow you to continue the conversation, say "no thank you", and continue walling. be prepared, this may not work, as some crazies are very committed to their crazy. In this case, your only recourse is to "out crazy" them. I recommend screaming even crazier things at the top of your lungs, while making a wild eyed glare. Feel free to channel Sarah Palin to make this easier. I will give an example:
Crazy guy: "The Federal reserve is a private bank! America really has no money!"
You: "Oh, I knew it. Another person that knows the truth. Did you have your brain wave deflector implanted, cause I see you aren't wearing the tin foil hat. Mine was implanted by aliens during the last eclipse. Did you know that blueberries are a secret government plot to make the people automatons?! It's true! Blueberries and yogurt are causing the downfall of mankind. The sponges are in on it too! All hail the purple mist alien overlords!"
Feel free to chase the crazy person, as they will hopefully be running away. The true whackjobs, will not. You will now have a new best friend. Yay!
I can't wait until next week, when we will undoubtedly discuss balls, office gossip, what insipid thing Palin said, and whatever dirty things pop into our heads again. Hopefully, there won't be Nuns to keep us from really letting go this time....

Babies

There seems to be an exploding baby vortex swirling around me lately. I know of at least 5 people having kidlettes in the next 6 months. It's craziness! But, it gives me an excuse to knit wee adorable things, so it's all good.
On Tuesday, I ran out of balled yarn to knit my sweater sleeves. My winder was at work, and I wasn't. I should have worked on my Mittens of Brownness, but eh, I wasn't feeling it. I also knew that I had a baby deadline looming, so a little bitty kiddy thingy popped on the needles.

Name: bibsy
Pattern: Baby Bib O' Love, from Mason Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Sugar and Cream Ombre (stashbusting!)
Needles: Susan Bates US6
Notes: Quick little things these bibs are. Literally, it only took about 2 hrs to knit this. Picking a button was harder than the knitting.

If I were to make another one, which I most likely will, I would not knit it in garter stitch. I would do a pattern of some sort. The garter is fine, but tres' boring.
I made this little piece of cuteness for WifeMomknitter's Sister's new baby. (whew. that's a lot of explanation.) I hope she likes it as much as I do. I kind of want to make one for me. I'm a slop most of the time.

You know, with a brim...

In my life as a knitter I have made plenty of objects with a smattering of oddness, or less than usual special requirements. (the socks "with you know, holes" spring to mind) So, I was only slightly befuddled when my friend Darren wanted a hat, you know, with a brim.

"A brim?" I said, "Like a part that folds up?"
"Well sure, that would be fine."
"Is that what you meant?"
"well, no." he said, "I meant a brim. Like a baseball cap."
"Oh. So you want a knit base ball cap?"
"No. like a knit hat, you know, with a brim."
"Oh." I said."Ok. I've seen hats like that before."
"Can it have a cool graphic on it?"
"Sure. You want a knit hat, with a brim, and cool graphics."
"In guy colors. I don't wear bright colors."
"Ok.... a black and "something else manly" hat, with a brim, and with cool graphics."
"Yes." he said, "but not wool. It's hot in Florida."
One would think at this point I would say "forget it." Instead, I accepted the challenge. The results are pretty good!

Name: Darren's Hat
Pattern: my own, with a smattering of inspiration from other places
Yarn: Berroco Comfort DK in 2734 and 2747, 1 ball each
Needles: HiyaHiya circs, size 5
Notes: Ummm... this is one giant cluster fuck of a hat. I tried to find a pattern to make a ski cap with a brim. Evidently, even thought these are in stores all over, no knitters have made a pattern for one yet. SO I was flying blind. How hard can it be? My original idea was to cast on at the brim, do some stripes, then work in short rows for the brim, leaving it open to insert a "stiffener", knit up the hat - inserting "cool graphic" before closing up the top, inserting brim thing, and sewing up the brim hole. Yeah. I made it to "do some stripes". I tried three times to knit a short row brim effectively. It looked like a giant toe off the front of the hat.
Instead, I left a giant button hole and decided to figure it out later.

Hat knitting commenced, and I stole this color work graphic from "Son of Stitch 'n Bitch".

The brim was another story. In addition to the three short row brims, I also knit two other brims before just saying "fuck it" and going with this one. Its kind of a smattering of three directions from different knit baseball cap patterns. Then I had to sew that damn thing up. This took as long as knitting the whole freakin' hat! I crocheted, I sewed, I seamed, I almost stapled. I finally went back to crocheting.
I guess it looks ok. The brim "stiffener" is literally a brim. Dollar stores rock. I ripped that sucker off another hat and inserted it into my hat. I like shortcuts. The only down side was that when I went to sew the brim into the hat, it became obvious that I was going to have a very floppy brim unless I stitched the fabric brim into the seam as well. Sigh. One sewing machine and 10 minutes later, I was finally brimmed. I would not say this technique is easy. In fact, I would not recommend it to anyone. Maybe someone I don't like, but that's another story.
Anywho... I like the yarn. It was a challenge to find an easy care - cause its for a guy- yarn, in "manly colors". Oh, and that I wanted to knit with. Life is too short for squeaky yarn. The Comfort DK was nice. It almost feels like it has some soy silk, or bamboo in it. I would use it again. If I were to make this hat again, I'd use wool. Because I like wool better.
I'm shipping the hat off today to Florida. Hopefully he'll like it, or at least have the decency to lie to me and say he likes it. If he doesn't, he can send it right back, 'cause I have a dozen people here who want it!