KNITTING FROM DELRAY BEACH

TOP SECRET

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:42:00 +0000

Ok, I was keeping this under wraps but I'm bursting already. Cara's family (my son Stephen's girlfriend) are coming to me for Thanksgiving. This is the immediate family (Cara's parents, aunts, uncles, grandma, siblings). I hired help & this is part of the reason we're thinking of switching our Middle Eastern/Southern Med. cruise of 11/8-11/22 to a Nile River Cruise from 12/25-1/6/10. First I have to plan Rosh Hashanah with 11 people coming (Stephen & Cara & a couple from the neighborhood are included).

I got to get in shape in order to squeeze in & out of those pyramids - so a friend of my husband told him. I'm trying to exercise 2-3x a day (different activities) & watching my food intake.

I do intend to get back to my Pompon Scarf after one more exercise & a phone call to a friend. Then, tonight is Mah Jongg!

POMPON SCARF 3/4 DONE! AND I'M INTO ETSY!

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:27:00 +0000

3/4 OF THE WAY THERE! Since Stephen & Cara are coming for Rosh Hashanah, I'll package it up for her for then. Truthfully, it is moving along swimmingly.

I went onto the ETSY website, as I was frustrating looking for the right pin for my Feather & Fan Scarf. Since Monday night & getting buttons with Bev at Jo-Ann Fabrics, I went on a hunt, Internet wise for 2 hours(!) for novelty buttons & this pin. Some sites had neat buttons but no pin & the shipping was pricey or you had to spent over $50/$75 for free shipping. In the end, ETSY was the place to satisfy my every need! Plus you are supporting handmade items & some are quite unique & beautifully made. What talent there is out there!

If the day should ever come, I'm going to try my luck at selling on ETSY like some fellow knitters of mine from my night-time knit club.

Meanwhile, looks like the remnants of Tropical Storm Ana is going to cut into my swimming time today. Back to the Wii Fit!

My Review of J.G. Hook® Stretch Poplin Cropped Pants

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:18:00 +0000

OneStopPlus

Set-in waistband with back elastic for comfort. Front zip and button closure. Cotton/spandex. Machine wash. Imported. 23" inseam.

MATERIAL TOO THIN

faye FL 8/19/2009

Waist: Feels too big

Length: Feels true to length

Pros: Stylish, Great Color, Not good quality material, Wrinkle-Free

Cons: Material Too Thin, Low Quality

Best Uses: Casual Wear

Describe Yourself: Trendy/Stylish Dresser

Yes, I ordered the wrong size but instantly I knew, taking it out of the package, that the quality of the material was too thin.

()

KNITATHON YESTERDAY

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:04:00 +0000

I really went to town on the Pompon Scarf & it is now 1/2 done. I'll be glad as it takes concentration. Can't wait to just hand it over to Cara at Rosh Hashanah. I haven't touched the Feather & Fan Scarf in a week. That will be after the Pompon is done.

Yesterday Bev & I left the In Stitches WPB group early to go shopping at Jo-Ann Fabrics. I got cheated on some stitch holders - apparently the package was opened. So I got 10 instead of the 20 supposed to be in the plastic baggie. It's not worth the trip/gas back to Jo-Ann's to complain. Stupid me, I opened the baggie to count how many stitch holders there were, so how can I prove 10 are missing! I did buy some neat stuff, however, including a little something for my Secret Santa.

Michael may switch the cruise in Nov. for a Xmas River cruise in Dec. Awaiting prices.

I'm going to try to get the Pompon Scarf finished tonight!

POMPON YARN UNRAVELED ITSELF?

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:05:00 +0000

It's a mystery but I went to go knit Saturday night & the Pompon Scarf had unraveled itself in my knitting bag! I tried to restart it twice that night & I didn't like how it looked. Yesterday, while Michael drove to a craft show, I restarted it. I also knitted last night while watching MATCHPOINT, a pretty good romance/mystery. It is going along swimmingly, though I'm still not sure if I like how it looks. Time will tell.

The craft show had little knitting but I bought earrings, a pendant, a wallet, pecan muffin mix & cookware - lots of that. It is Americraft cookware, made in America & you cook without water or oil - very healthy. I won't get the cookware for another week. Since I was inspired, we went to go see JULIE & JULIE & what a good movie that was. Julia Child really had a zest for life & cooking. And her husband adored her.

Today my two knit clubs!

HURRICANE SEASON - HATE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:59:00 +0000

Tropical Depression Ana has formed & supposedly there will be a Tropical Depression Bill right behind it. Forecasts for Ana put us right in the path by Thurs. I am not a happy camper. Past experience with Hurricanes Frances, Jean & Wilma was no day in the park - or better said, no DAYS in the park. We do have a small generator (never used) that would have to be tested. The generator cannot run the A/C but I purchased a large floor fan years back. We would have to buy gasoline for our cans. Money & bulk up on prescriptions drugs is always a must. After Jean I tried to renew my Rxs & CVS was on a generator & only could accept cash - plus there was a long line. You also have to gas up the car, though today's gas stations are on generators. I will not be buying any frozen foods...I was smart enough to buy a digital TV & battery-operated candles a couple of months back. Got plenty of batteries, left over from Wilma days, but I hope they are still good.

Of course, we now have accordian shutters (automatic except for 2 windows). And there's Stephen's condo, ready and waiting for us. Thank G-d.

Picture of my Cousin Carolyn & My Mom

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:34:00 +0000

This is a rather moving picture of my first cousin Carolyn with my mom (her aunt). They hadn't seen each other since 1978. This picture sums up our reunion together to a T. My cousin works for the UN in Chad.

Pictures of Tivoli Isles Needlecrafts Club Members

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:39:00 +0000

Pictures!

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:35:00 +0000

Pompon Scarf, Feather & Fan Scarf

THE CITY OF EMBER

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:23:00 +0000

Pretty cool movie/concept, though it was originally written as a children's book. Still have to watch the end & no, I didn't knit a stitch last night!

Went to pick up the new contac lens - I went down 50 on the right eye, 25 on the left. Still need to put them in. I suffer from dull headaches due to my old lens (too strong). Went for the mammogram & it's not so bad since I past menopause - see, there's something good to be said for menopause!

Tonight is mah jongg at my house. Michael will just have to contain Biscotti!

Pictures coming from our Needlecrafts Club!

TIME TO KNIT X2

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:16:00 +0000

Okay, Michael is playing poker in the development tonight. Perfect time to get on my Pompon Scarf & Feather & Fan Scarf. I haven't touch them since knitting day Monday.

I discovered at the eye dr. that my vision actually GOT BETTER, not worse. So, I pick up new contac lens tomorrow. I also got new Rx glasses (frame) & magnetic clip-on sunglasses. I believe I hadn't bought new glasses or changed the lenses in my own pair since 1994!

Tomorrow is also a mammogram day (no comment). I'm also hosting mah jongg tomorrow night.

Off to watch "Defying Gravity", a really neat sci-fi space series!

POMPON YARN FINALLY CASTED ON/STARTED

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:05:00 +0000

So my neighbor Bev started to cast it on for me, as I was waiting for Wendy to arrive. She casted on in 2 seconds & made me feel like an idiot. I think I screwed up the first row, until I could "understand" how the knitting was to go. Wendy came by & said it was going fine. She said it works up fast. Thank G-d, as I'm still not thrilled with it but at least it's on the needles. The first row doesn't look right until you start/keep on knitting (so says Wendy). This kind of pattern is not for me. I like flat-appearing garments. So why would I want this project? Because I saw Wendy's finished garments (blanket, bag) & fell in love with it. What it does have going for it is that is "baby soft". I am going to write this pattern out myself, in case, G-d forbid, someone wants it made for them one day. I'm not going to invest oversea charges again. The yarn has to be offered in the States before I will ever, if ever, touch it again.

My Feather & Fan Scarf was going along super (striping the Vanna Choices' Eggplant & Powder Blue) until I saw I had skipped a row in the Rows 1-4 repeat pattern. I pulled out a few rows & still couldn't get it right. Had to take it off the needles to get it right. In the process, one of my plastic number 8 needles broke! Good thing I had a spare at home & it was the end of the meeting. Having a lot of knitting troubles lately...

I took pictures of our Needlecrafts Club & will post them on Facebook for our club there.

Off to the eye dr. for a much needed eye exam.

BAD KNITTING DAY :-(

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:45:00 +0000

The "textured mobius" looked like a big lump of yarn on my neck. Out it came. I then proceeded to work on the Pompon yarn, which apparently hated me also. It is soft like a baby's bottom but casting on, well, not so easy with those pompons in the way! It seems many others on the Internet discovered this as well, including binding off problems. A few people were kind enough to write me with advice. I tried the backwards loop cast on method (which is a great method for casting on anytime, I learned) but I was apparently too tired & screwed this up. By 10PM I just threw the needles & the yarn down & watched the rest of a very depressed movie BY THE TIME THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD. That did not help my mood.

Wendy (from my knit group) wrote me with advice & has offered to help me Monday night with it. Thank you, Wendy! She already made a scarf & a bag with it. I am going to try it again after doing some errands.

Tonight is dinner at Brio's with some neighbors. Stephen has 2 of these restaurants near him. Our closest one (& only one) is 45-1 hr. north of here. I love that place.

Walked at 8am & it was horribly hot. Can't go any later than 7am!

CHANGE OF KNIT PLANS

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:55:00 +0000

My Size 5 short needles arrived with the cutey Knit Kit. Ok, so after I'm done with "Textured Mobius" I'm going to work on the Pompon Scarf next.

Meanwhile, I made a frozen "chocolate" concoction yesterday from Weight Watchers that was just a waste of $. Now I'm baking a "cheesecake". If this doesn't work, I'm done with their recipes.

If the "Textured Mobius" works out I'll place a photo here & on Ravelry. Yes, at the In Stitches WPB site too!

DAMN THOSE COMPUTER HACKERS!

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:40:00 +0000

Can't computer hackers get a life? To shut down "Facebook" & "Twitter", what idiots. They're really cowards, as they do so anonymously. On a similar vein, check out the movie RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR. It's an Indie flick that shows how people would/will react to a major CATASTROPHE & very true-to-life.

On to things I "can control" - my knitting. I took it with me to Mah Jongg, but I was never "out" so I didn't get to work on it but I did get to show it off to my friends! I am binding off on the "Textured Mobius" scarf, which in reality is now now shawl length, instead of scarf length (hey, I wanted to use up the yarn!). Just minutes away from finding out if it turned out "mobius" or not! Then I going to go start my black & white Feather & Fan scarf with my leftover Suri Merino yarn until the Berry Pompon yarn gets here.

Ok, got errands to run before I can get to the knitting...

SAY GOODBYE TO CARA'S EYELET SHELL

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:44:00 +0000

That darn sweater didn't want to be made! I had to pull it out again & I'm done. Such an easy pattern, but if you screw up a yarnover & try to frog to it & put it back on the needle, it's difficult to recreate that "hole". I guess the Pompon Scarf is going to go to Cara, instead. Meanwhile, I went back to the "Textured Mobius" & am almost done with it. Let's see how that turns out.

Thanks to a fellow knitter in my In Stitches WPB group, I discovered a feather & fan scarf that she made. She used Noro yarn (lovely!) but I am going to use my stash Suri Merino black/white mix instead.

Here's something neat I discovered on a fellow knitter's blog. How to separate balls of yarn you are knitting with. This is necessary if you are working can't use bobbins, because you need too much yarn for each colorwork. You use sandwich Ziplog bags & punch a hole in the size of the bag. Of course you need a table to rest all these balls on, but you also need a table for the chart work. Smart!

CARA'S EYELET SHELL, CARA'S EYELET SHELL

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:12:00 +0000

I worked on it during the movie "Made of Honor" which was a pretty cute movie. Today I will work on it again - gosh darn it, when I get one side done (there are only 2 sides!) I will be finally thrilled - 1/2 way done. It is such an easy sweater but it has a mind of its own! It doesn't want to be made!

I woke up all achy at 4:30am & thought I had the swine flu. Even a sore throat. At 8:30am I awoke still achy but I realized it is because of the exercise I did yesterday. I was going to swim again, but it rained already & looks like it is ready again to spill from the skies.

I'm going to weatherproof the stepping stones Michael & I made in VA. Had to wait a month, so it's been a month since VA. Tomorrow I can place them outside in the yard. Yes, I will take a picture of them both!

KNITAHOLIC, DON'T I WISH!

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:41:00 +0000

Last night's knit club was fab-u-lous, as usual. I finally opened my "Secret Santa" envelope & I'm thrilled to pieces it's someone I have been conversing with at this club. I've got till 12/14 (our party night) to buy something up to at least $25 that can be knit-related or not. Hmmn, I'm going to try to be creative about this!

Meanwhile, exercised early today & food shopped. I ordered online Size 5 short needles & a Knit Kit from Yarnmarket. Marla from the club had one last night & I had been eying it online for awhile now. I need the Size 5 needles for the Pompon yarn. I got the Pompon off of Ebay, since it isn't sold here in the US. You can read more about Pompon on this neat new site I just found calling Knitting Help. I'm registered there under lindagoncher

Ok, a few more house errands, then it's knitting time on Cara's eyelet shell. I want this done, I want this done, I want this done ALREADY!

DARN OUR BLASTED SUMMER!

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:42:00 +0000

The weather cooperated but it was sweltering. No one brought their swimsuits, though the option had been open for a pool party. In the end, my friend Ken thought the "Malibu Pop" was too sweet & too strong. Well, it was a gorgeous blue ocean blue & potent. You can't win for losing.

We moved dessert into the house (the flies were having a field day with our dinner, as it was), though the mosquito lantern (made by OFF!) worked well. Again, can't win for losing.

I thought my fresh fruit cobbler didn't taste as good as the version from Michie's Tavern. Maybe they don't use fresh fruit but instead the option on the recipe of canned fruit filling. My brownies (from a Ghirardelli Mix) were outstanding. Neighbor brought brownie & cream cheese mini muffins - always a hit. My other friends brought Harry & David's cheesecake petit fours - those I going to hold onto.

I thought I was going to knit last night while watching the TV movie "The Storm" but the movie was dreadful & we shut it off. Today I have 2 knit clubs to knit at. Determined to finish this "textured mobius scarf" to see if it is mobius or not!

BBQ Day

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:38:00 +0000

All set except for setting up the outside table. Michael will be grilled 'sliders', something new that Publix now offers, along with "slider" buns. Also hot dogs & marinated chicken in wine. Shoot, he used up the only bottle of Rapidan Rivers Semi-Dry Riesling that I have & don't think I can get down here. I created the "Malibu Pop" & it's deep ocean blue in coloring & pretty potent. I made it especially for my neighbor Ken, who loves blue drinks, but unfortunately he won't be here till 6pm & I can't swear any of it will be left! Michael got Corona beers (a first) & cut up lime quarters for that.

Time to shower. I'm going to both our community's Needlecraft Club (during the day) & In Stitches WPB tomorrow night. Got to get my knitting done!

OK, SOME MORE COOKING & BAKING!

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:12:00 +0000

Today I made the doctored baked beans, homemade cole slaw with mandarian oranges, Fresh Vegetable Loaf (w/Bisquick), Fruit Cobbler (using the same ingredients as I did for last week's Baked French Toast topping - fresh blueberries & raspberries & Brownies. Ok, so the powdered sugar stencil idea didn't work out, but I still sprinkled the chocolate Brownie frosting with blue confectioner's sugar. I need to run out tonight (today's shopping was, of course, not enough) for vanilla ice cream to go with the cobbler.

We're serving Corona beer (a first here), diet soda & iced tea cans. I'll throw in some water bottles into the ice bucket & tomorrow I'm making that tropical Malibu Pop - with Malibu Rum & Blue Curacao.

Hope to continue on to my next color (Vanna's Choice "Eggplant") for the "Textured Mobius" tonight. DVD movie night tonight!

COOKING & BAKING

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 13:33:00 +0000

I'm having a small BBQ tomorrow for neighborhood friends. Hope the rain holds off, as the pool is available for those who want it. I have to start preparing soon & going to the market. It will be hot dogs, hamburgers & chicken. I'm making "Impossible Garden Pie" with fresh vegs using a Bisquick mix. Also doctoring up a baked beans recipe & homemade cole slaw with mandarian oranges. For dessert, fresh food is being using for a cobbler recipe I got while away in VA. I using box mix for brownies but adding a stencil made of powdered blue sugar. As a surprise to one friend I'm making the tropical drink "Malibu Pop" that I got online here - it uses Blue Curacaeo liquor, as this particular friend (& me) are fascinated by blue drinks. The drink also uses Malibu Rum (coconut rum, yum yum).

Off to start here...tomorrow is cleaning up the house & setting up. I'm having 7 people in total. Hope to get some knitting in too, tonight!

7 Inch Knitting Needles!

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:59:00 +0000

Check out this site at Beffie's Boutique for 7 inch knitting needles - perfect for that teeny weeny width scarf you are interested in making!

So it was "knit away" yesterday & more today. I even knitted in bed to help me fall asleep, though my little Biscotti wanted to play with the yarn ball! I've decided to only use the Lion Brand "Vanna Choice" yarns for this "Textured Mobius" (which are powdered blue & eggplant). I don't think the Plymouth "Suri Merino" in combination of black & white, go with it. Hope it turns out long enough. I'm interested in seeing if it is, in any shape or form, mobius or just a circle. Can't tell yet.

SAD DAY

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:13:00 +0000

My mom called me this morning to tell me my 1st cousin Marilyn passed away yesterday. She was in her late 60's & died of liver cancer. She had it for a couple of years & really suffered. My mom is taking it badly. She lived in NYS & my sister will go to the funeral for all of us.

Michael's first cousin emailed me today that her son, who was dating a girl for 4-1/2 yrs. have broken up. She broke up with him. They were to leave next week on a family cruise that my aunt & uncle (cousin's parents) were paying for. Now the girl wants her 'space'. It is doubtful if money can be refunded. She was to stay in the cabin with my male cousin. He is distraught over the news.

I knitted a little today on the "Textured Mobius" that in reality isn't mobius at all. I cannot get out of the funk of all of today's news. I'm going to go knit some more & watch a movie.

POMPON YARN/"TEXTURED MOBIUS"

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Faye) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:23:00 +0000

I am obsessed with the Pompon Yarn that Wendy (from my In Stitches WPB Group) showed us last week. She got it in England & you can't get it here. The local knit store GREAT BALLS OF YARN (in Boca Raton) has something similar to it, but it still isn't it. So Wendy suggested I go on Ebay. I couldn't get it out of my system so yesterday I ordered 1 ball of Rico's "Pompon" from an English supplier. I think my total bill (with shipping) is 16 pounds & I don't even want to think about how much that is in American Dollars! Here is a picture of the yarn. Wendy made a bag with it (that needs 2 skeins) & a scarf (1 ball). I'm going for the scarf:

In the meantime, I am working on Cara's Eyelet Shell. However, I am kind of frustrated with the fact it has taken me this long to work/finish it. I got distracted by "Knit Simple" magazine's Fall 2009 & decided to make a "Textured Mobius" with yarn I had leftover. The joke is years ago (before I knew what a moebius was) I was working on circular needles, trying to knit a scarf (not a moebius, btw). The stitches ended up twisted & I had no idea why. I pulled it out & threw away the pattern. Why this new project has become a "joke" is that this scarf is suppose to be a moebius & try as I might, I couldn't twist the stitches for beans! So I have no idea how it is going to look in the end but I'm still plowing on. The yarns I am using are Lion Brand Vanna's Choice "Powder Blue" & "Berry". I am also using Plymouth's Suri Merino (this is soooo soft) in "Black" & "White".