Dainty Kitty

Campus Scarf for Matt

Matt's Scarf
Originally uploaded by Dainty Kitty

I finally finished the last few repeats of this last night, sewed in my ends - yuck - and packaged it up to send out today in hopes that it gets there before he leaves. Sure, I could just hold on to it and save myself ten bucks because he'll be here in ten days anyway (yaay!) but it's so fun to actually get packages in the mail and it's already been crazy cold.

Matt's Scarf Full View
Originally uploaded by Dainty Kitty

This was a nice, mindless but interesting to look at pattern from Scarf Style by Pam Allen. I'm tempted to make one for myself in maybe a red or orange Malabrigo. 1.) I love Malabrigo and 2.) it's so long and warm and cozy. The only down side is that other end was already starting to fuzz by the time I got a few feet into it which is the problem with Malabrigo. My Holding Hands, Feeding Marsupials scarf does the same thing. Time to invest in a sweater shaver.

Low res photos on my new camera make black look kinda crazy and taking a photo of a black scarf on a black sweater isn't the most brilliant idea but...it was late.

P.S. I kinda like blogging from Flickr - it's pretty. :)

Christmas Toys

Little kids aren't the only ones enjoying their Christmas toys on the day after Christmas. 

I hope everyone had an absolutely wonderful holiday!

How Did I Miss This?

I’m woefully behind on unpacking and putting things away.  Mostly the putting things away part – I’m pretty good at pulling things out of boxes and putting them on tables and shelves until I find a place for them.  It gives me a false sense of settling in because I get to throw boxes away.

 

Anyway, I didn’t hang my calendar up until this afternoon but even then I didn’t realize what I’d missed earlier this week.  It took mention of it in a couple of blogs before it dawned on me that I missed the first day of fall on Monday.  No wonder I’ve been wandering the grocery stores looking for pints of cider (so far only gallons and as much as I love cider, I know a lot of it would go to waste so I’m waiting patiently) to heat up and top off with spiced rum. 

 

That also explains my desire to do absolutely nothing but knit.  Yesterday I cast on A Scarf Askew with the blue fibranatura yarn that I’ve cast on, oh, about three, four or maybe even five different scarf patterns for Matt.  I spotted this one when Ginny queued it recently and I think it’s going to stick – especially since I’m about a foot into it. 

 

Speaking of Matt – it’s time for the All Matt, All the Time portion of my blog.  I point this out so that uninterested parties can change the channel, root around in the fridge for a snack or whatever. 

 

I spoke to his family this afternoon.   I can’t wait to meet them.  He keeps pointing out that I should be there with them now which is really comforting.  If I squint my eyes I can almost feel like I’ve met them all before and that I really should be there building sandcastles and relaxing.

 

Not that I really want the month of October to disappear or anything because it’s my favorite month of the year but…November 7^th can’t get here fast enough.  Even with the previously mentioned body issues the excitement is pretty amazing.

 

 

WIPs & Some Insecurity

The wrap is coming along so beautifully - I've never been more happy (or deliriously in love) with a knitting project.  Thanks so much, Delly, for recommending the pattern.

I think I have about six more repeats to go which seems like a lot but it goes so amazingly fast.  I hope to have it finished by next weekend - at a repeat per night that should be pretty doable. 

   

Matt leaves for a week vacation in Cornwall tomorrow morning and, for some reason, I keep thinking this is going to mean I'm going to just have scads of extra time to do things like finish the wrap.  If he actually lived here that would probably be true but seeing as how there are those pesky four thousand miles....  

I actually will have a little extra time because we talk about an hour or two each night and even though I'm sure we'll - hopefully - talk daily, it won't be for hours.  But it's not like I'm going to be able to finish unpacking my apartment, finish three knitting projects and make a list of things I'd like to do on our Adventure for our Wine, Browsing & Making Plans date when he gets back just because I'm going to have a few extra hours.  These are all just things I'd really like to get done, though, I guess. 

 

I've never Really Blocked anything so, thank goodness, Ginny has agreed to help me out.  I can't wait to see what it looks like when it's blocked.  Thinking about using the wool wash I bought at the Wool gathering last weekend kind of makes me sad, though, because I keep encountering this tiny bits of hay that I just find really sweet considering that the yarn came from his mom's farm. 

I took a little break from the wrap last night though and cast on the Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks (Ravelry link) pattern with the Malabrigo Ginny gave me for my birthday.   I took a picture with it upside down because - at least at this time of day - I think the star stitch shows up much better.  I tried actually flipping the photo but...it looked kind of weird. 

I wasn't familiar with the song by The Brunettes that the pattern is based on but watched the video last night and loved it.  There's even a hippo! 

Last night Matt and I also made plans to feed the ducks while I'm there.  Ducks are kind of special to us, I guess, not only because they're one of his favorite animals but also because I've called him from at least three different duck ponds in the area (nice places to escape when I couldn't stand being anywhere near The Asshole any more). 

I hope we're holding hands while we're feeding the ducks.  Last night I brought up my complete and utter fear of a lack of physical attraction between us.  Well, I sort of brought it up.  It's really hard to talk about without talking about it but I didn't feel like I could come right out and say, "I'm afraid I'm not skinny enough.  I'm afraid I'm not pretty enough."  He can say I'm a kind, beautiful person that he loves spending time with me as much as he wants - I'm still going to stress over what I look like.  And it's not like he could say anything to make me feel better other than the fact that what worries him is my safety and that I have a good time which means he isn't worrying about the physical attraction.  I wish I could do that.

Even though I've lost a couple of pounds recently and normally feel pretty good about myself, these circumstances are so incredibly different.  We know each other really well - moreso, I think, than if we lived in the same city - but until you're in the same room with someone it's really hard to say how you're going to feel.   It's funny, though, that this feeling is completely one sided - as in I'm not worried at all about not being attracted to him.  That should tell me something and that something is not to worry about it.  It's not like I can do anything about it - losing a few more pounds isn't going to make a difference because I am who I am.  I just need to step off that plane with complete and utter confidence (who looks good after an eight hour fight anyway) in myself because that's the best I can do and that's pretty good. 

I Should Be Packing

At the very least I should be drying my hair.  This has been the laziest day of not getting out of my kimono until one in the afternoon and only getting out of it then because Matt called.  Poor guy, I made him give me ten minutes while I dressed and made myself presentable...to talk on the phone.  My phone doesn't get reception inside, though, so in my defense I couldn't really sit out on the back porch in my robe.  Well, not comfortably at least.

I have packed a few boxes this weekend and really plan on spending a lot of time with cardboard and newspaper tomorrow because Asshole will be gone most of the day and Matt's away so I won't be obsessively checking my email.  I'll just obsessively be carrying my phone after five waiting for his call.

Things have changed drastically with Matt over that past few days.  Gone are the times when I bash myself over the head after hanging up because I have feelings for him that I'm afraid to bring up in case he doesn't feel the same way because the idea of a relationship between us is asinine.  After a sweet gesture on his part, though, I declared that he was the "best guy I never dated" and his reply made me feel a little bit bolder so (after consulting with Ginny, of course) I stuck myself out a little bit more and told him I was smitten with him...and found out he was head over heels about me.  Ack, the mushy emails after that and the first nervous phone call were just like junior high - but in a good way.

It's totally stupid and impractical but it's really, really great.  We're loads more comfortable with each other now because it's not hanging over our heads.  Although, he's already brought up how sad it is that we can't just get together for coffee or a glass of wine...and yes, that's heartbreaking and yes it brought tears to my eyes.  But so do all of the nice things he says to me.  I know this is all really, really crazy on my part but I do feel that everything happens for a reason.  I think everyone we meet plays some part in making us who we are.  How else could I make anything out of my current living situation?If nothing else, Matt will, hopefully, always be a wonderful friend who helped me bear a kind of really crappy time in my life.

I've started calling our phone calls "dates."  We were on for over two hours last night and he felt bad that he was taking up my evening but I pointed out that if I lived there we'd be spending this time together - it was a Saturday night after all - so why not spend it together as best we can.  It's kind of cute.  And kind of sad.  

And, on a lighter note, at least I know I'm going to see him in a few weeks - from then on, who knows, right?

Okay, enough of that - I could go on for hours and hours, trust me....

I ripped out the Morning Surf Scarf and stared the Woodlands pattern earlier this week and I'm so glad I did.  This is much quicker and a little more fun...except that I dropped a yarn over today and spent an hour and a half fixing it this morning.  I've learned my lesson and am going to put in a lifeline.  

I think I'll be able to finish it for the trip without a problem.  It'll be a nice memento - not only because I'll be wearing it over there and he sent the yarn and all but also because every stitch is made thinking about how great this trip is going to be.  

Off to pack...yuck.

Yarn Roundup

It's been awhile since I've actaully finished anything that's made with yarn but I took a few minutes this morning to photograph the things I've started recently. 

 

A friend of mine, Catherine, brought a really great finshed wrap to our knitting group a few weeks ago and I loved it so much that I started one of my own.  It's just a really pretty but simple seed stitch edging with miles and miles of double seed stitch - perfect for knitting on during knit night or when I've only got a few minutes to spare.  I originally cast on in a pretty lime green Lion Brand Cotton but quickly realized lime green really isn't very fall-like so I put it aside for the spring.  I had some leftover taupe from Dad's guitar and started another with that - not realizing until a couple of weeks ago that that was the exact color Catherine used.  Imitation really is flattery in some cases, right?

I decided to go with the Morning Surf Scarf for the Matt Yarn.  I just cast on half again the stitches to make it shawl width - a total of 116.   It's a pretty simple pattern because all but two of the rows of each repeat at knit or purl but those two are just enough to make it so that it's nearly impossible to knit during knit night.  I spent quite a bit of time going back over one row last Sunday. 

I like it but it's really hard to tell what it's going to look like since it's all so bunched up and (wonderfully) fuzzy.  I know blocing will eventually make it spectacular but my friend Delly just threw a wrench in by suggesting another pattern - the Woodlands Shawl.  It's stunning but I'm not sure it's in my league.  But I'm going to put my two pattern repeats of the Morning Surf aside for a few days and see what I think.  Every time I click over to the Woodlands to look at it, I like it a little bit more.  Although I love the little name I came up for the Morning Surf over on Ravelry: The English Seaside in February Shawl.  :-)

This is what I'll be working on while the shawl takes a little break.  A cute mushroom diorama by Pepperberry that's available for a steal over on etsy.  I'm making it for my granny's birthday this weekend because grannies still like to get handmade gifts even if they're from their 34 year old granddaughter, right?  

I'm also working on the Antlers Scarf (Ravlink) for Matt in a beautiful blue.  No photo, though, because last night I frogged the six repeats I had finished so far.  It just looked too loose so I'm starting over with sevens now rather than eights.  I hope it doesn't make it too skinny. 

Seeking Shawl Help

It's, inadvertently, Post a Lot Day. 

So, my thought is to make a shawl with the alpaca yarn Matt sent.  I have absolutely no idea what the yardage is but I'm pretty sure I could make a really nice onw with three skeins at 100 grams, regardless of yardage.

I've narrowed it down to two (that I think I could pull off) but would love any suggestions -

The Shoalwater Shawl by Fiber Trends    

I like this but when I look at the projects on Ravelry I'm not fond of the size...I'm not sure I could pull this off.

So maybe I'm really think of something more like a wrap.  I really like the Morning Surf Scarf from HeartStrings FiberArts and thought it might look nice if I were to add more width to make it more wrap-like (plus it's pretty simple pattern). 

 

What do you guys think?

Endnote: I get to talk to Matt in a little over three hours - yaay! :-)

2005: A Retrospective

I spent a little bit of time organzing some files on my office computer this morning and came across a slew of photos I'd kind of forgotten about.  They're from when I was digital camera-less and borrowing a co-worker's to sneak (really lousy) shots.  I had my hands in all kinds of crafts then.  I was sewing more and had just learned to knit.  I can't believe I've only been knitting for three years.

I'll start my little retrospective with my very first scarf.  I must have picked up a dozen extra stitches by the time I got to the end of it!  I think I wore it twice but, even though it's pretty hideous, I'll never get rid of it.

A couple of scarves later I made this for Debbie's dog Roxanne for Valentine's Day.  She couldn't wear it until it lost the scent of me because I, for some reason, really excited her. 

For the same Valentine's Day I made a bunch of little Sculpey devils named Boris and sold them to a coworker.  My first real sale!  I hated making the same thing over and over so I really haven't made anything to sell since (except for some bunnies for the same coworker).

2005 was the only time I participated in A Month of Softies (that's the old school, non-Flickr link).  It was a Self Portrait of the Artist as a Child theme.  The tiny fingers were a bitch to turn.

I'm quite a bit happier with this doll I made for Mom that same year.  I think this is one of my very favorite projects and I've been meaning to make one for myself ever since. 

Before I get into more sewing, here's a matchbox shrine I made to, ahem, Elvis Costello.  Can't you see I could be, I could be your spooky girlfriend?

That lyric still stands true for me!

Here are a couple of bags I made.  I still carry both of them once in awhile.  I made a few of the Dainty Kitty ones to sell at a jewelry show at a friend's house.  I didn't sell even one at the show but she bought all three after.  I had big aspirations for that show - I even bought a display trunk - and was going to make several sized bags as well as some embroidered buttons (because I was into that craft,too) but...I got bored. 

I especially love the Strawberry Bag but it got snagged on something last year and I'm going to need to do some repair work before I can use it again.  That's the business card Big gave me when we very first met peeking out of the pocket.  It showed off the pockets of several projects around that time even though moving to Columbus was partially to get away from memories of him.  Believe it or not, I still have that freaking card.  It's in the drawer of a little spice cabinet which was packed up last night.  Kind of sad but...the memory of the night he gave me the card is still a very sweet one. 

And I'm a sentimental pack rat. 

2005 was also the very first round of Back Tack.  It looks like it's been a defunt project for a little over a year now but it was a lot of fun and I'm glad I got to play the first time around.  It's particularly special to me because it's how I met my friend Delly.  You sent fabric and other notions to one partipant who then made a sewing case (at least) for another participant.  Delly sent me the goodies I used to make these as well as the sewing case that I never really got a good photo of. 

So anyway, that's a little glimpse of Dainty Kitty three years ago.  It was kind of fun to recall some of those projects.  :-)

Magic Loop Marigolds

 

This isn't the best photo because it was taken on the fly with the office camera but here's my progress on the Marigold socks.  I am 100% in love with the magic loop method and I could actually see myself finishing these.  And now I understand why people actually like to knit socks!  Forget the fiddly dpns - this is the way to go. 

Upper Valley Fiber Festival

Today Ginny and I went to the Upper Valley Fiber Festival which, despite a little mishap with some spilled tea and an allergy pill I forgot to take, was a great time.  I went to the Wool Gathering last year with a boyfriend and, man oh man, is going to this type of thing SO much more fun with actual knitters!  We met up with a few other Ravelers who go to the Sunday knit night, too (which makes me think there needs to be a term for a group of knitters - you know, like "pod" but more yarny).  Yeah, it's much better to go with people who understand (en, in some cases, encourage - ha ha).   

There was the obligatory duck herding.... 

That photo was taken right after the ducks passed/around between us which was kind of cute.

And baby angora goats....

A handful of (very loud) sheep...unlike his pen-mates, this little Rastafarian was still unshorn when we left....

And of course, fiber.  This photo doesn't really do this skein justice - the purple is really more pinkish.

And some merino sock yarn because we know how I'm an avid sock knitter - ha ha.  I'm determined to finish a pair, though, and actually spent a lot of time this afternoon on the toe of a Marigold sock I'm making with the Panda Cotton I bought a couple of weeks ago.  I had to start over a couple of times but am happy with it now and get to start the actual lace pattern (gasp) whenever I get to pick it back up.  Oh, and I'm using the magic loop method for them - hooray for learning a new technique!  I didn't pack at all today, though, and am feeling kind of guilty so, around Mother's Day activities tomorrow, I need to get quite a bit done which means trying to stay away from the needles.

Back to the sock yarn....

And I bought more fiber to spin even though I've yet to learn to spin!  I bought a drop spindle last year along with some nice fiber and some practice stuff but...I never put enough time in it to really learn.  Unfortunately, when I got home I realized there was no tag whatsoever for this.  I know that I bought it from the really nice lady with the angora bunnies but there was no information on her shop or anything in the bag.   I think it's a mix of sheep and goat with a little bunny mixed in but we'll never know.  It's very pettable, though, and I'm sure it'll make something nice some day.

Chris - who inspired me to go ahead and write this post tonight before heading off to bed - has some other photos including a a cute one of her with one of the angora bunnies as well as a photo of all us enjoying French fries whilst dreaming of what we'll make with our purchases.