Kat Knits!

Adopt a Bun!

2011-12-10T23:40:00.001-05:00

Disapproving Rabbits: Dougal

Clicky the link above to check out an absolutely adorable rabbit who has a forever home! And remember folks: If you can, ~~become a bunny's slave~~ adopt a shelter bun. they'd love the attention and carrotinis!

Tata for now!
Kat

Gift ideas for the obsessed knitter in your life

2011-12-08T00:29:00.001-05:00

Over the last 7 days, the Yarn Harlot has been posting gift ideas for the nonknitters in a knitter's life to give said knitter. That spurred me to thinking: Why not give you readers an idea or several for gifts for your knitter? So, here it is! Hope this helps you kids!

· Knit bags (Can never have enough, if only to keepprojects going outside of the house neat and tidy, also to keep yarn and thingsfor future projects in order. Just make sure it’s roomy and doesn’t have any Velcro.)

· A swift and ball winder (Y’know, for when thehuman equivalent isn’t available!)

· Yarn (Duh. Just because I already have a stashdoesn’t mean I don’t mind additions to it. And preferably wool, bamboo,bamboo/wool, angora/wool… You should get the point.)

· A subscription to a knitting magazine or several.(For inspiration. And the yarn porn.)

· Bamboo needles. (Achy joints love these needles!)

· No interruptions when you see the knitter isworking on something and watching a DVD to keep her hands moving. Especially ifshe develops a twitch and mutters about deadlines and/or needing to finishbirthday/Christmas/anniversary/whatever knitting.

· Knitting books (See Knit magazine reasoning. Plus,you never know if your knitter will knit you something out of themagazine/book!)

· Things to store yarn/finished projects in.(Preferably something that will keep moths out/away from anythingcontaining/made of wool.

· Cedar sheeting/boxes for wool knits/yarn (Cedarrepels moths, which are a knitter’s worst fear, especially since the littlebuggers eat precious wool, thus killing hours of work and the knitters lifespent on the handknits.)

· Stitch Markers. (Trust me, they will get lost. Itnever hurts to have too many!)

· Tape measures (See above)

· Point protectors (Will keep the knitting on theneedles and the knitter from cursing when the needle inevitably pulls out ofthe knit in progress. Will also keep unsuspecting folks from getting poked inthe ass with said needles.)

· Blocking wires (Help so much when it comes toblocking up the knitting!)

Ciao for now, and remember to support a local knitter!
Kat

PS. This could be used for birthday gifts for a knitter too. Just sayin'.

Knitting as a profession

2011-12-07T00:01:00.001-05:00

I read something fairlyinteresting on the Yarn Harlot blog after work, and it got me to thinking.

Most folks don’t take handknitting very seriously, and don’t really want to pay what it’s worth, both forthe knitter to buy the amount of yarn that went into the finished product, andfor the knitter’s time. I don’t know about other knitters out there in theworld, but it takes me awhile to get even a simple project done because I workfull-time. Granted, most nights I do get the chance to sit down for the last 45-50minutes of my shift and knit at the very least a couple rows before I go home,but anymore, most of my knitting is done late at night on the weekends when Ican get several uninterrupted hours to sit, knit and watch a DVD, or in the carif the parents and I are driving to one of the two semi-decent malls in thearea. For me, it’s a hobby to help relax when the work week is over or to try to save a buck or two on scarves I'll actually wear. But thereare a few who test knit patterns to supplement their income. Steph brought upseveral good points in her post, though. I’ll let you go read it, though.

Yarn Harlot: Unexpectedly controversial

Now, why wouldn't folks want topay for what someone's time is worth? Especially in a handcraft that, while itcan be produced much more efficiently and quickly on machines, can show in woolform how much you treasure/love/care for someone? And don’t you think the knitter’s time andyears of experience are worth paying them a livable amount for?

Let me know what you folks think ina comment! Thanks!

Ciao,

Kat

Stuff

2011-12-03T23:09:00.001-05:00

Well... Yesterday was mom's birthday. She's now 62 years young! Gave her a handknit hat and scarf, both of which she's been wearing the last couple days, and got her a Queen cd when we went to the Capital City Mall.
Other than that... Got more done on a shawl I've been workin on on and off for the last... 5 or 6 months. Honestly? Can't wait to get it finished! Just gotta find my dang camera to get a pic of it...

Ciao for now, kids!
Kat

Happy ThanksGiving!

2011-11-24T21:58:00.001-05:00

Hope all you readers (GVers included if y'all're still popping over!) had a good one with family, friends and loved ones! And if you're going out to any of the Black Friday sales... Good Luck. I was just over at WalMart *All hail the allmighty WalMart!* and there was already a crowd, and EMS and the local cops standing by.

And for those of you sane enough to stay home, More power to us! Just remember to support a small business on Saturday!

Snow

2011-10-29T22:09:00.000-04:00

Okay, seriously?!? Snow before freakin' Halloween?!? How much crazier can Mama Nature be?!?

Just kidding up there... Don't send any more snow this way. Please? Pretty please?

And obviously, the kid at Mom's work returned my camera. Yay!
Although.... In knitnews, got some knitting done on the baby blankie I'm knitting for Jo's granddaughter. (Yeah... Not niece, like I'd thought last post... Oh well.)

It's about 9 cm of moss stitch and several rows of stocking stitch right now, but it's better than nothing. ~~Especially since I'd rather be working on the wrap.~~

In other news, I've also had to start seriously making inroads on cleaning out some of the carp in my bedroom. ~~If only to keep myself sane and keep from tripping over stuff...~~

Yes, that's a bit of knitting on the bedframe...

Hm... Mucho need to clean, eh?
And yes, there's WWE action figures on the desk.
Y'all caught me.

Oh lookie, more plants! And the other half of the bedframe!
And no, tis not I who's the plant freak.
Tis my mom who is. Thank her.

Oh well. I'm off for now to grab a rather latish dinner of Mac'n'cheese with tuna and sweet corn with a side of manderin oranges and Dr Pepper to wash it all down. Then back off to clean some more. Yippee!

Toodles!

KatKnits

Hm...

2011-10-24T02:05:00.000-04:00

Well... Couple updates since I posted last.
Update the first:
Opened up the seller half of the Kat Knits blog. http://katknitsandjewelrytoo.blogspot.com/ Click there and favorite it 'cause I'll be adding stuff to it as I make it. That is, provided Mom's coworker returns my freakin' camera like she said she would. Story on that is that she and her mom went to NYC for a day or two, took pics and said they could transfer them to my camera if mom took it in and lent it to them. Well, since then, we've been getting the run around on her returning it to mom so I could download the pics to our computer. Yeah... I'm none too thrilled to be cameraless right now when I'm trying to get a craft business off the ground some.

Update the second:
Finished off both scarves for work. Sadly, no pics, since I didn't think to take any before I took them in. *smacks self* Oh well, teaches me, huh?

That.. Is my wrap as of... A few weeks ago. It's bigger now, and on the second skein of Patons Lace right now. Not that far into it, mainly thanks to another project on the needles, which leads me to...

Update the third:
I started a baby blankie for Jo's niece (if I remember correctly) A bit agao. I've been working on and off on it for the last several weeks as both my wrap knitting and job will allow. But since the munchkin it's destined for is due in January and my knitting is... Kinda slow, I'm goning to be making the blankie my go-to knitproject for awhile. Probably gonna drive me batty, but I'm usually about halfway there anyway, thanks to my job.

Update the fourth:
Finally got dsl!

Well, that's about it for now. Talk to y'all later!
KatKnits!

Blog abandonment...

2011-09-01T00:40:00.000-04:00

Hm... Been posting more over on Pack's tale. Sorry I didn't post for so long on either though. Was having computer problems. Namely an old ass operating system and not enough ram or something to upgrade... Still on dial up net, though. *insert banging head on wall here* Oh well. Long as I've got a net connection, I'm good.

Knitting projects

Have two on the needles that are semi-commisioned. Both are just a basic 2x2x2 Rib and mesh stitch scarves in Patons Lace. One's in Bonfire for one of the teachers at work because she happened to see a shawl out of it I'm knitting and loved the colourway, and the other's for a coworker to knitgift to one of her daughters, and that's in Woodrose. It's gorgeous yarn, with a nice soft halo from the 10% mohair content. And it's so soft... Probably why Jo's tomboy daughter grabbed the first woodrose meshy scarf I sold her... Don't blame her. That shawl I'm knitting is so mine!

Have some Patons Lace in Vintage *read: white* that just may be destined for a baby blankie. Jo knows someone who'd due in mid January, so she just may wind up passing along a lil knitgifted blankie for the little one. Though, I'll have to pick up a few more balls for it. Hm... Now to pick out a pattern/stitch for it and pick up needles for it too... *insert evil laughter here*

Wrestling

Haven't really watched any wrestling all summer... Not since Smackdown moved back to SyFy. And work... Is a no go since Comcast requires a converterthingy for channels over 15. *sigh* Oh well... Least I can get updates off Sam!! And the WWE website, too.

Well, I'll talk atchall later! And remember, clicky the ads! They help support knitters!

Tchuss!

KitKat

Blog neglect

2011-04-05T01:03:00.000-04:00

Hm. I need to stop neglecting the blog and ranting about the muses on here when I do post. Meh.

Started a blog to track a diet I'm starting tomorrow. Please, go read it and support the effort. Here's the link: My weightloss blog! Visit often!

Umemployment idea

2011-01-13T23:38:00.001-05:00

Heard a story about unemployment awhile back on my local NPR (National Public Radio. Love them. And yes, I'm a bit of a geek at heart.*) station, and it got me to thinking about how we could possibly solve the problem. Being a knitter/crafty person, my mind turned to possibly teaching jobless persons how to knit, quilt, or something else just as crafty and in some cases, just as much of a dying art. We could then sell said finished items through a consignment system, and pay them for their time and materials, thus giving them an income until they could find other employment.
I know it doesn't sound like much, but this idea's been bobbing around the back of my head for awhile now, and I figured I'd at least throw it out there into the blogosphere, and see who bites.

UFO into FO, part Duex

2011-01-13T01:02:00.000-05:00

Well, finished off Sam's birthday pressie at work. All that really remains is washing, wrapping, and mailing. Should be able to at least wash and wrap this weekend, and mail out sometime next week. That's one more overdue project down, thankfully.

UFO into FO

2011-01-11T22:33:00.002-05:00

Finished off the scarf I was making myself on Sunday, just in time to wear to work on Monday and today. Came in handy today thanks to the snow that's falling. And I've already cast on for one for a coworker since she said she loves the yarn color.

depression

2011-01-03T01:16:00.000-05:00

Depression's been tugging at me more and more since Sam talked about how much it hurts her to have me bring up Dave in conversation. She also said that she and Shi can see that he's happier since we've mated, but still...

I know they weren't happy towards the end of their relationship, and considering how quickly he and I came together after they split, it probably seems like he was cheating on her with me. But he wasn't, that much I can vouch for.

We've had our share of ups and downs since we mated, but I know I love him. But all day Sunday... It felt like our bond was slipping away from both of us, and there ain't a damn thing we can do to stop it. And he wasn't in bed with me when I went to sleep, or when Sam woke me up by calling me... It feels like our bond's died down to the bare minimum, and it doesn't bode well to me...

Resolution update

2011-01-02T00:32:00.001-05:00

Well... Some progress has been made on NY's resolutions 1 & 2. Number three is a work in progress. I've got a bit of a plan worked out where I'll give myself a cheat day on Saturdays, so I'm not freaking out completely over it, and start out slow.

Have some of the crud on the main part of the floor semi sorted out. Actually have a bagging system going on that. One (largish) bag for books, a (smaller) one for candles, a borough trash back for the obvious trash, and a plastic shopping bag for stuff that migrated to my room from my parents' room, and a hamper for my dirty laundry. So far today, didn't make much progress, mainly because I was more than a little tired from staying up til about 6:30ish am, IMing with Sam and getting woken up at about 10:30ish by my mom pestering me. Right now, my main focus is the main part of the floor (the area that isn't covered by my bed, chest of drawers, plastic chest of drawers, bedside table, bookcases, and antique sewing table). That way, when I pull the crud out from under those areas, it won't be as overwhelming. Well, the main area is, but that, I'm taking day by day. Little bit easier that way.

Did make some progress on one of the scarves I'm knitting. Got about 10 rows done while I was watching Sorcerer's Apprentice on DVD with Mom. So, that's a little towards that goal. Also, got all my UFOs sorted into one basket, finally.

That's about all I have to post about for now. Ciao for now.

Happy new year!

2011-01-01T02:03:00.000-05:00

Well, it's January 1st, 2011. Made it through another year fairly intact.

Didn't make all that many resolutions for this upcoming year, just some stuff that will hopefully cut down on stress.

Here's what I plan on doing in the new year to accomplish that:

Finish the knitting I have on the needles. As of last count I have the first socks of two pairs on the needles, both of them for myself. I'm hoping that I can hopefully get them finished by the end of the month. I also have a blanket/wrap bit I need to finish for a friend's birthday in early February. That... I'd better get my butt busting on... Also have the wrist warmers I started knitting for me and Mom. I have half finished for me, and about... three quarters left for mom. Also have two scarves on the needles... Lord, I need to get my UFOs turned into FOs!
Clean and rearrange my room. This... Has actually been an ongoing battle since we moved in a few years ago. While my room may not make an episode of Hoarders, I still need to go through the crud and sort out what I need to throw away, donate/sell and keep. *sigh* Well, I do know my jewelry supplies, knitting supplies and stash are definite keepers, so that at least is a little less that I have to worry about, but I still need to get a containment system for them.
Lose about fifty pounds. As it stands, I'm five foot two and last I checked, I weighed about 196 pounds. I'm going to try to lose the excess weight through eating healthier, eating smaller meals, and walking/biking where I need to go, when it's feasible. Walking or biking home from work isn't that feasible during the winter months, considering the fact I get off work at 11 at night during the school year, but I can still walk in. Fortunately, I'm on my feet for most of the eight hours I'm there, so that'll be calories burned by walking around there.

So, those are mine. Did you make yours? What are they?

Sam

2011-01-01T01:42:00.000-05:00

Sam,

However long our days are, I'm sure we'll find a way to fill them with excitement every step of the way. And to be completely honest, I know I don't say I love you nearly enough, even when you're giving me a hard time. Especially then.

I love your wildness, your brashness, your bluntness and your honesty. I love you wold and weird. I don't care that you have a cursing problem, 'cause it only makes life more interesting. I'd sooner see you fight to the end than as some wimpy, preppy daddy's girl. I wouldn't ask you to sacrifice your honor or your pride, and I don't care how big your ego is, I'll still love you. I love when you're just hanging out with the guys and they completely forget you're the lone female in the room, and I love your sarcastic edge.

I want you to rock my world, Darlin'. I'll follow you wherever you want to lead. And
I think this old dog will surprise you with some of the shit that will turn him on.

Let the games begin, I've chosen my partner and it's you, Sam.

Mark

Love letter

2010-12-15T23:30:00.000-05:00

(*This is from Mark to Samwise.*)

Sam, where do I start on how much I love you? You're so much a part of me now...

Before you came into my life, I never gave serious thought to having a younger lover, let alone actually want one. Yes, I've had a few one night stands with younger women before we met, but they never captured my interest and heart as effortlessly as you did, and still do each day we're together.

I cherish all the time we have together, all the laughter, the tears, and the arguments. Why? Because it's time I get to spend with the woman I love with all of my heart, the woman who has enough of me to tear me apart if she left.

It hurts me that should I get called up first, I'll be breaking your heart irreparably. I hope that when that time comes you trust Randy and Hunter enough to help you through. I know they aren't me, and will never be me, but I trust them with your happiness completely.

But that time is a long way off, thankfully. You don't need to worry about it now, and won't for many years to come.

Love you,
Mark

2010-11-30T00:03:00.000-05:00

Is it just me or has customer service in some stores gone down the drain?

Mom had to return a shirt at the local Kmart today, and had a really bad experience with the person at the customer service desk. Mom was at the head of the line, and a guy came over to the lottery area, and instead of waiting on Mom (the person who'd been there first), the salesperson went to help this arrogant jerkface for a good 10-15 minutes. The kicker is that when mom and I commented on this to her, she said that we should have said something and that it wasn't her job to keep an eye on who was first. Um, hel-lo, you jackwagon, you're in a service oriented business, you're expected to pay attention to who's standing in front of you, not ignore people and be rude to them! *sigh* We used to like that store, but it's been going downhill for the past 6-7 years now, and this... This was the icing on the cake for us not patronizing that store anymore. Our main reason is that we have better, much friendlier stores much closer to home (~10-15 minutes for Target, Kohl's, Micheal's and WalMart, compared to half an hour to 45 minutes for them).

To Jane in the Carlisle KMart: Your attitude towards us sucked. I'm not judging you outside of the store, just on how you treated us on this occasion. Please, don't expect your customers to speak up, just keep a freakin' eye on who's before whom. Thank you.

Belated happy thanksgiving!

2010-11-27T00:25:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Okay, so I'm a day late, but oh well. Life happens, y'know?

My Thanksgiving was okay. Watched the Macy's Thanksgiving day Parade on CBS... I swear, they showed more bleeping commercials and had more damn jawjacking than parade!!! Even when I was younger, maybe 10-12, they didn't have as much talking or as many commercials interupting the paradey goodness! What in God's name is this country coming to when we hear more about the Black Friday sales and which actor/actress is doing which show where than see the actual parade?!? Ugh! Just peeves me off...

Was crazy enough to brave the crowds at the Capital City Mall today... Never. Again. I don't like crowds to begin with, but this was freakin' NUTS!!! The few stores I went into *FYE, Spencer's, and Hot Topic* were fairly crowded, and nuts making. I don't handle crowds that well anyway, but Black Friday crowds... Ick.

Knitwise, I'm okay... Still working on the blankie for Sa5mwise, and I cast on for mom's shawlette yesterday. Doing a grain stitch with a moss stitch border with Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Deep Rose Heather. Gorgeous yarn, and it suits the project I'm using it in perfectly. The other projects I'm working on are pretty much on hiatus for the time being till I have those two done. *Or at least the blankie. Then I'll probably pick one of the UFO's up. I hope.*

Anyway, tata for now, kids. Knit safe.

Why?

2010-11-20T00:27:00.000-05:00

Why? Why do I bother to keep living? I look out at the world and see people laughing, emjoying being around each other... And I just sit back and observe while I knit... When anyone notices that my mask has slipped, they start asking questions when all I want is to be left alone. But do they care? No. Do I speak up? Nope. Too much of a damn coward like that.
Sometimes, I think the world would be better off without me around. It's not like anyone would notice that one more stupid fatass is gone, anyway...

FOs, UFOs, and projects in the plotting

2010-11-17T00:05:00.001-05:00

Well... Finished the shawl I was knitting for Peggy Weakland on Sunday around 3pm. It's washed and already been given on Monday. Good news is that she loves it, and espescially the colour. She doesn't mind that it's wool, thankfully. And she can appreciate the hours that went into it, since she crocheted. Okay, so it was 25 years ago, and she admitted that she's forgotten how (Watch out, Peggy. That spurred the missionary crocheter to want to gift you yarn and a teach yourself to crochet book and hooks!*), but still. Crocheter.

Still have a ~~couple~~ several UFOs on the needles... A couple of socks, and a blankie for Sa5mwise... The blankie's the one I've been lugging to work to knit on when I have a chance to... Though, the poor thing did get a couple rows done at home before work today. Just trying to make it long enough to at least wrap around me ~~or mom~~... with plenty of overlap. Preferably about a foot... If my sanity can hold out that long...
Still need to finish/work on the mate to my mom's sock... Poor things been languishing in knitting basket hell since I started the shawl... And the sock for me... Which I need to finish and knit up the mate to. *sigh*

Plotting a buttoned shawl bit for mom for work. Since she's a cashier in the commissary on the Army War College (aka Post), she tends to be stuck by the doors, which can be dang miserable in wintertime. *sigh* Fun, fun, fun. Oh well.

*Edited to correct name. *sigh* Happens, y'know...*

Knee pain and knitting

2010-11-09T23:33:00.003-05:00

46 more days til Christmas!

Have most of the shawl I've been working on done, thankfully. Bound off the one side I was adding to at work before shift got really going, and Judy was watching me weave in the end. Now, to find a crochet hook to pick up stitches on the other side! *bangs head on table* Worked a bit on the Grain Stitch sock I'm knitting up for myself. Lovely sock, and love the yarn I'm using. Pattern's by Edie Eckman.

And it's official: The weather in my neck of the woods is nuts. It's cold one week, warm the next. It's enough to make my right knee hurt like a pain in the arse. *sigh* Oh well. I'll live.

Countdown has begun

2010-11-08T23:41:00.003-05:00

47 days til Christmas.

Yay. 47 days for me to finish the shawl in. 47 days to also finish mom's sock, find some more things for Sa5mwise and my folks... And my coworkers... In the immortal words of Cathy: ACK!
Though... Sitting in front of the computer waiting for pages to load or Sa5m to reply would be a good time to work on the handknits. Same goes for the car... Parents dragging me along into a store? Find a place to sit if I don't have money/my own shopping to do and knit. Should hopefully be managable. Now, to start doing Christmas Knitting through the year...

Blagh

2010-10-30T17:30:00.003-04:00

Not much going on right now... Finished the main section on the prayer shawl I'm knitting, and working on the edging. Still have one of mom's socks to finish knitting. Cast on the first of a pair of socks for me. Though, with my luck, it'll fit mom. Again. Eh. Least she'll have a couple of pairs of hand knit socks. She'll like that. Still need to work on Sammi's blanket bit. That's been on the back burner since I started the shawl. (Thanks, Judy!) Eh. Happens.

Ciao for now, kids.

Angst

2010-10-24T00:49:00.005-04:00

Blegh. Hate feeling like I'm losing touch with the people I care about the most and feeling like noone even gives a schiesse about it... My bond with Dave died... Sometime last week, really only came back on Friday, and feels like it's starting to fizzle out again. I'm trying to keep it from unravelling, but... Ugh. I know he's fighting to keep it up on his end. I just hope that we don't lose this. I don't know what I'd do without him... And I keep having snippets of Darryl Worley's I Miss My Friend float through my head... I don't know if that's good or bad, but it's unnerving as heck...