I think I may have lost the battle. Yes folks, that's right - I think I have been beaten by that *&%$! shawl. Ok, maybe not, but I'm so completely frustrated with it right now that it is just living in a basket. We are not speaking to eachother, and won't until it decided to play nicely again. Hmmm... this is really not helping my whole "I'm not crazy" argument, is it?

It's been a busy time here in Hapless-Knitter land. Baby Sister got married today, which means my house has been taken over by bridesmaids for the last few days, and wedding craziness for WAY longer! This means I haven't been able to post recently - but can now get back to some semblance of a normal life (I'm doing a happy dance right now). Anyway, the brain is fried - just got home a little bit ago & took the 50+ pins out of my hair. I will post again when I can think again. Oh, but on a knitting side note - Blue Sky Cotton is to DIE for. It makes a great scarf!

It's been a crazy few weeks, with no internet access. Baby sister came home, promptly hijacked the primary computer. Dad's been around more, taking over the office computer - and when he's not, then mom is. Plus I've been in & out of town dealing with family stuff, then just got back from a family reunion. Long story short, no 'puter time for Cris. Should be better now, though - I think things are calming down.

I'll post more when I get settled in - I literally got home 15 minutes ago.

Hi All,

I know, it's been too long since I posted. I will try to fix that, but life's been hectic. Yup, I know, no more cop-outs. Anyway, here's a quick run-down of the last week or two. Got a tattoo, did more work on that infuriating blue shawl, planned a bridal shower for my sister, worked, worked, worked, babysat Miss Shy, briefly saw B1, tried to squeeze in sleep.

However, one excellent thing -


Yup! That's right - My first package.




Knit Kitten - you rock! 3 cd's, yummy chocolate, gorgeous stitch markers (handmade, no less), a Yarn Harlot book - I love her!, Beautiful beautiful beautiful Rosewood needles, and then some! I'm one SPOILED little girl!

My weekend plans SO fell through. I only got to go to two stores on the LYS tour AND didn't get to see B1. The LYS tour thing, those plans fell through because first I couldn't find anywhere at ALL to park at the ones I tried to hit up, then Sin & I had to take little Miss with us on Saturday - 2 year old & yarn store does NOT equal happy moments. Sunday I was going to go to some after I got done helping the Amazon (she likes that nickname for some reason) with her bridal registries, but wound up having to go down & see B2 - and he really really didn't want to go to any. So that really sucked. Oh well, such is life. Best get back to work - breaktime's over.

The last few weeks have been CRAZY! The new job is going great, I absolutely love it - my days fly by. The downside of that is that I feel like I never have enough time for everything I want to accomplish. Here in HaplessKnitter-ville the motto has become "I'll get to it when I find some time." I've developed a terrible habit of triple-booking myself, which really kinda bites, but I'm never bored - that's for sure!

On the knitting end of things, It's time for another Blue Shawl moment.
This time, we see the shawl lounging on the couch in my basement. It is now a little over halfway done, with about 6 weeks left before I hope to wear it. I think I'm gonna make it!



Well, off to do some schoolwork. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Ok, first of all - Everyone stop fainting & gasping for air. I'm back, it's been a while, I get it! So, by popular demand, it's time for a Blue Shawl update!

I finally took a picture, albeit a crappy cell-phone picture, of the Blue Shawl. I decided that on my last day at my Insanely Boring Job I would have a Blue Shawl Moment. So, in order to show you all how far I've gotten on it (still not nearly far enough) here it is hanging off the ticket rack in the back of the cleaners. And yes, you read that right - I'm starting a new much-more-exciting job on Monday. Yay for me! You can expect another Blue Shawl moment once I get settled in. Hope you all enjoyed this posting, brought to you by the Blue Shawl (aka the big lump of yarn that likes to kick my ass).

Ok, it's 1:15 in the morning, and I'm drained. So why am I posting and not in bed, you may be asking yourself - I'm asking myself the same thing. Just wanted to give a quick update. I am officially 1/3 of the way through the blue shawl - YAY!! I'm also making great progress on Branching Out - I'm loving loving LOVING seasilk! The drop spindle class is Sunday, which means I will soon be spinning my own yarn - how cool is that?! Anyway, more detail will come as soon as I can form coherent thought lines again.

Ok all, time for yet another fun-filled update. I caved. Yup, that's right - I decided to start an additional lace project (which I swore up & down I wouldn't do until I finished the infamous Blue Shawl) but I couldn't help it. The seasilk was taunting me. In any event, I am now about 1/4 of the way through Branching Out. It's turning out so good, I can't help showing it off to all the knitters I know - and a few other people who probably think I'm flat-out nuts. Oh, wait, that's right, I am nuts. Hmmm....I think I've blown my cover.

Speaking of the Blue Shawl, the battle wages on. I'm now into my 5th repeat of the pattern, and it looks like once I finish that repeat I'll be 1/3 of the way done. I really hope I get it done in time to wear it to my sister's wedding.

Now, on to non-lace stuff. I signed up for a drop spindle class at my LYS. I think it will be better to learn that way, vs. trying to learn from the internet. I'm so excited, I really want to spin up the roving I got from Emily (aka omly) my secret pal. I pet it every night, but it just looks so sad, sitting in the basket waiting to become yarn! I also have decided it is time for me to learn to make socks, so am searching the net for a good pattern - wish me luck, guys!

Ok folks - I jumped on the Meme bandwagon, so tell me a little about yourselves! Yes, I do realize there was an intro, but I forgot to copy it - so sue me! In any event, fill it out if you want - I don't usually do these, but this one seemed amusing.

1. Can you cook?

2. What was your dream growing up?

3. What talent do you wish you had?

4. Favorite place?

5. Favorite vegetable?

6. What was the last book you read?

7. What zodiac sign are you?

8. Any Tattoos and/or Piercings?

9. Worst Habit?

10. Do we know each other outside of lj?

11. What is your favorite sport?

12. Negative or Optimistic attitude?

13. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?

14. Worst thing to ever happen to you?

15. Tell me one weird fact about you:

16. Do u have any pets?

17. Do u know how to do the macerana?

18. What time is it where u are now?

19. Do you think clowns are cute or scary?

20. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?

21. Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?

22. What color eyes do you have?

23. Ever been arrested?

24. Bottle or Draft?

25. If you won $10,000 dollars today, what would you do with it?

26. What kind of bubble gum do you prefer to chew?

27. What 's your favorite bar to hang at?

28. Do you believe in ghosts?

29. Favorite thing to do in your spare time?

30. Do you swear a lot?

31. Biggest pet peeve?

32. In one word, how would you describe yourself?

33. Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?

That's right - I am really back. Nope, your eyes are not deceiving you. The computer is fixed and I'm able to get online more than just once in a while for 5 minutes at a time! So, ok, here's what's new here in Seattle. At least, in Cris-ville that is. The blue shawl is still coming along - slowly, but it is happening. I have also made a cute little felted bag and am now making lacy bags for a friend's wedding. She wants to fill them with goodies to give to the bridesmaids. I'm trying to figure out how to use my new drop spindle (thanks again Queen Sparkles - I love it) and hope I can figure it out without having to go pay the money at my LYS to take a class, as I'm kinda broke at the moment. Aside from that, not much new I don't think - just keeping moving, trying not to think too much (that way I won't have a breakdown - life kinda sucks lately, but oh well - it will get better, always does). Now that I'm back, I'll try to post more often, that way you all (if I have readers, that is) can get your regular updates on things like the battle of the blue shawl and other odd situations I get myself into!

I realize that it has been a LOOOONG time since I last posted (although I'm not exactly sure how long). The reason for this is that my computer went kaput. I have been able to hijack my dad's laptop occasionally in order to check email, but that's really been about it. Today, however, I have barricaded myself in his office with said laptop in order to make contact with the knitting world (at least, the online portion of it). So, to update. I am now about 4 repeats in on the blue shawl. It is slowly being forced into submission, and progress is happening faster now. I've also bought my first ever skein of seasilk (lace yarn) with a giftcard to my LYS that my sister-in-law gave me for Christmas. To top off my recent good things run, I received a birthday package in the mail from my secret pal. In it was a skein of really yummy cotton yarn in a great "earthy" kind of color, a sweet little origami crane (for luck this coming year) and a tape measure (with which I have been told to measure my feet) I am feeling so spoiled!

The battle wages on. I am now almost 2 pattern repeats in. Well, sorta. What do I mean by sorta, you may be asking? The pattern is still not coming out exact, but I'm starting to like the way it seems to be going. Not that I can tell all that easily, since lace seems to look like a big tangled mess of nothingness while it's being worked on, but from what I can tell it actually looks pretty good. Now, this is not to say that I won't get pissed off & frog the whole thing & restart (again) but as of now, I think the blue shawl & I have reached a tentative truce. Well, that's what I'm telling the shawl, anyway - the truth is that I have every intention of forcing it into submission (even if that means modifying my original game plan) - like I said once before, I am NOT gonna get a beat down by a shawl!

Ok everyone - here are a few pics, now that I got my film back. Enjoy!

	Mom's Scarf This is the Alpaca scarf I made for my mom's birthday. It's in the Cape Cod Shell pattern from Frog Tree.
	Mom's Scarf (Detail) An attempt at a detail shot of the scarf - stupid disposable camera didn't really like that idea!
	The Blue Shawl (from the Battle of the Blue Shawl) The beginning of the infamous Blue Shawl
	My new knitting bag Yay! My new bag!
	My pathetically small stash This is before I got my new goodies from my SP - now I have more pretty yarn!

Yes, that's right. Seattle has gotten snow in NOVEMBER. This is a very rare occurrence, particularly since it is more than just a dusting & it stuck around. It wouldn't be an issue (it isn't like it's a foot or anything) except that it all froze over last night & now the streets are solid ice - an I don't have my studded tires on yet! The bad part is I have film (with knitting pics) at the store waiting to be picked up. The good part is that my boss called & I don't have to go in to my insanely boring job today - yay for snow! The REALLY good part is that I now have time to work on my shawl or any of my other WIP's. I think Seattle needs to get snowed in more often!

Although I would have liked to be Alpaca (or laceweight) since those are two of my obsessions recently... But I do love Merino, too. Just glad I wasn't some bizarre acrylic!

Poll #872370 Battle of the Blue Shawl
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 3

What should I do about the Blue Shawl?

I have begun a fight with the blue shawl. It started innocently enough, some gorgeous JaegerSpun Zephyr (mohair & silk) lace weight. Beautiful color - Aegean Blue - absolutely perfect for me. Pattern I liked (knit picks Candle Flame Shawl). Cast on went well, 18 rows of garter stitch border a success, started to knit the pattern. That's where it all went wrong. I couldn't make the rows come out even for the life of me. I've now frogged a couple times & started over, always with the same outcome. I've stooped so low as to actually wear my glasses, thinking they might help (did I mention I loathe my glasses?), no luck. This shawl is, to put it bluntly, kicking my ass. However, I flat out refuse to get a beat down by a shawl. I will win this war, you have my word on it. All there is left to say is this: Blue Shawl - you're goin' down.

I am SO incredibly excited right now. The red scarf for Mom is blocking as I type this. Yes, that's right, I have actually completed it. As soon as I get my film developed I'll post a pic for everyone to see, I'm really very proud of it. So, now I think I deserve a trip to the LYS to pick up some new yarn - I'd really like to start a lace scarf or shawl for myself, as well as something for my sister. She's getting married in June & I want to give her something REALLY special as a gift. Wish me luck!

**Update** Mom absolutely LOVED the scarf. She couldn't believe I did it by hand, she thought it looked too professional - she said she didn't know I could do that. I told her that I didn't know that either until I did! So, this is definitely a success.