tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102649312024-03-14T10:35:17.962-04:00KatyaflutesKatyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-89312550031469925392009-01-01T13:52:00.004-05:002009-01-01T14:07:23.044-05:00Holiday<span style="font-family:arial;">Despite getting home at 3am this morning – I feel like a champ. The highlight of New Years Eve 2008 was my first experience with Rockband at chez <a href="http://coleslawblog.blogspot.com/">Crimenotes</a>. I admit to being a mic hog – and perhaps the fact that I was reliving my childhood dream of being a singer contributed to not having a hangover, as I was more focused on belting out songs than finishing my drink. For the low points of the evening – there is a tie between seeing a young guy in handcuffs, face down on the side walk during our walk home (the worst being that it was like 10 degrees out which made his predicament that much worse) and the fact that roughly 50% of the women out last night were wearing skirts, high heels and had bare legs. I mean, again with the 10 degree weather – is it really worth it?<br /><br />Before we pull everything down – I did want to take some pictures of our 2008 Holiday. Two firsts for us – our first Christmas tree and the first year we sent out holiday cards.<br /><br />Our tree is in a sad, sad state at this point – I was probably less than perfect about watering it and since I rallied to get the tree 2 days after Thanksgiving (for full season enjoyment) it’s getting a bit old.<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 375px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 500px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3233/3156245097_7342a21dc4.jpg?v=0" border="0" /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 375px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 500px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/3156254269_95ec605382.jpg?v=0" border="0" /><br />I refused to buy any ornaments – only lights because I didn’t want to buy a bunch of crap ornaments out of desperations to get it decorated. I really wish I had the foresight to buy ornaments in all the different countries Hart and I have visited over the years but we’ll start that going forward. I asked my mom and aunt for nice ornaments for Christmas and got some beauties that I will treasure and hold onto forever.<br /><br />As for holiday cards- this was more fun and less stressful than expected. Again, this took a bit of convincing to get Hart on board but by the end we had to buy an extra box as our list grew longer. We got some great cards this year and I think the craziest part is the downfall of the traditional folded card – we had to employ the help of my Kurt Vonnegut screen print and Persian print (which features my name in Farsi – big props to anyone who can figure it out) to hold up all the photo cards. </p><p><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3125/3157082682_c97e5a6d25_o.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 375px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3125/3157082682_ca5c03c066.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br />Finally, a shot of our New Years dinner. A big favorite – home made pizza, recipes courtesey of Alton Brown. See <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/pizza-pizzas-recipe4/index.html">here for the pizza dough recipe </a>and <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/pantry-friendly-tomato-sauce-recipe/index.html">here for the tomato sauce</a>. Only wish we had leftovers for all the college bowl games we’re watching today.</p><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 375px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/3156263655_8411844bb2.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></span></p>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-44577853982083237512008-12-31T17:57:00.004-05:002008-12-31T18:07:39.200-05:00Au Revoir 2008<span style="font-family:arial;">2008 proved to be a less than exciting knitting year, however, it is nice to reflect on what one accomplished – and the biggest headline for me would be cooking.<br /><br />For Christmas in 2007, Hart bought me a Kitchenaid mixer and after 3 solid years of obsessing over Good Eats it was time to roll up my sleeves and start cooking.<br /><br />2008 was a year of major cooking accomplishments for me. Up until then, Hart and I ordered in take out literally 5 days a week – the other two were reserved for eating out. It was not only a waste of money, it was totally not healthy. I didn’t grow up with a lot of home cooking so despite being able to boil water, that was kind of it. Three things really helped me to start cooking well. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><p></span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286092579175756306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 172px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0Zr0Y7K7Tg0rhaaEjrHHmM6oyKL5gk8nNi2gwSom9niHpZ3_7l8-9yd14-pfqKs0ZBx1rxU_dxN0HRq8zve7DCOjhucHDZAw75yXTbAOt2kVlmTlfn3TaRnY43-wWCb9fsi_xA/s400/Picture2.jpg" border="0" /><br />For beginner cooks, I can’t recommend these two magazines enough – they include basic yet delicious recipes that are really quick and easy. Whole Foods opened 2 blocks from my house about 2 years ago and if it wasn’t there, I wouldn’t feel nearly as inspired to get cooking.<br /><br />Here are some of my highlights – unfortunately, food photography is not my strong suit, particularly when looking at <a href="http://sixoneseven.blogspot.com/search/label/cooking">this</a>, however, this is a sampling of my accomplishments.. </span><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/3154108974_fe3c6b20a5_o.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 251px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/3154108974_bab6b80347.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br />I’m excited about 2009. Hart bought me a pasta maker for Christmas this year, and we just got our first Dutch Oven – which apart from its function – is just beautiful.<br /><br />Happy New Year! </span></p>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-20783202558005549762008-11-25T13:20:00.003-05:002008-11-25T13:25:20.584-05:00November Check In<span style="font-family:arial;">Hart’s mom (herself, a serious knitter) has convinced me that it’s okay to have really long periods of knitters-block and that’s what I’ve been having. And same with posting. It’s the posting I’ve been having an issue with. I used to be fine blabbing about any old random thing but now every time I sit down, I think “is this worth really posting about?” Even though I don’t have anything major – part of why I do this blog is to have a long lasting diary of what was happening at certain times – even if it’s insignificant.<br /><br />Last week I buckled down and “endured” the <a href="http://www.blueprintcleanse.com/">Blue Print Cleanse </a>for 3 days, which isn’t as crazy as it sounds. Before I did it I scoured for blogposts to get some insight beyond the wonderful marketing focused praises on their website, so I’m doing this for the next person who is googling away.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><p><a href="http://www.blueprintcleanse.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272662311201875186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 159px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhR5Vyn7Zy1JM8FLILGlBzv8Jg2GPerRoCfgu0t3E7hyKx5TFIYr3vmg4VQAgNIDtkxXZr_5M_AgZpA3r1ya6ZFyVJ9nQpHS2OD9QDFrQg-hmVLv4rlx6KJpyK9sVUl-14OlxdIA/s400/blueprint_cleanse.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />So what is this Blue Print Cleanse? Basically it’s a juice “cleanse” which you can do for 1, 3 or 5 days. It isn’t a recipe you follow – it’s an actual company - a small independent one based in NYC, run by a couple of woman. You pick your level (I did Renovation), your duration (I did 3), and they deliver your juices right to your door. They provide you with cooler bags – each filled with 6 numbered juices that you drink each day. They are numbered, which is great.<br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272662310137015698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UDem9o7odz0-ULlVVBvgDNY-mi_Su_oljrGKmtMELhEsVyBlJJR-UGkjM8Xsbu4y_J-Huijdus0iAjEsAP-ALPWpsYAHVViQK8JxqoRFDUQP0g02LDJEKgjeB5midB3wWPtvsw/s400/bluebag.bmp" border="0" /><br />People do these things for many reasons and what I liked about Blue Print is that is not a psycho hard core thing like the Master Cleanse - instead it’s more health focused. I did this to give my system a break and also to re-set my eating patterns. I’m not really great with discipline and eating. I’m a vegetarian and frankly, I eat pretty well – I don’t eat typical junk food (chips, cookies) but Hart and I are terrible about ordering in food. Also, I’m bad about portion control and after awhile I just feel heavy and overcarbed and sluggish.<br /><br />How did it go? The great part was that for me, it was actually pretty easy, relatively speaking. You drink a lot of water along with the juices and I really wasn’t all that hungry. I lost 7 pounds over 3 days (which as I expected, has come back – but that wasn’t my objective). Mind you, I have a few (or 10) pounds to lose so that was kind of nice. I felt like I did cleanse my system, however I didn’t feel like a new person after it was over. I have a few other friends who have done this and they have actually felt amazing afterwards. All of them are meat eaters and I’m guessing this had a lot to do with it. I was only 14 when I went vegetarian so I can’t remember exactly – but I do know many folks who went veg as adults and they feel like a million bucks by cutting out meat – so I’m guessing that’s why it worked better for them.<br /><br />I guess my key takeaway is that I just eat too much normally and this was a great “reset”. I felt like a million bucks because I didn’t feel weighed down with so much food. I was getting all of my nutrition on a small amount of intake and that felt amazing. The problem is the discipline, which I’m terrible about. And also my love of food – which gets the better of me. I am going to actually try and hit a better balance. Real fresh juices (like the ones that are green, not Jamba Juice) honestly never occurred to me before. And I think it would be great, AND healthy to have those for breakfast or lunch once and awhile. My only concern had been drinking juice in that way that was for crazy dieters who were trying to starve themselves, and I no longer feel that way because they are actually filling, along with being far more nutritious than my cheese sandwich.<br /><br />And with that, I head off to stuff my face for Thanksgiving. Happy Holidays!</span></p>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-19521241449469551492008-09-11T22:10:00.002-04:002008-09-11T22:11:10.885-04:00<p class="flickr-frame" align="center"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/katyaflutes/2849185371/"><img class="flickr-photo" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/2849185371_5233f71736.jpg" /></a></p><div class="flickr-frame"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Tribute in Light Memorial from apartment window</span></div>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-88849243547558277322008-08-27T20:54:00.004-04:002008-08-27T22:37:23.426-04:00A New Beginning - Tomten Stash<span style="font-family:arial;">I was so excited to receive a package from <a href="http://yarn.com/">Webs</a> today which opened to reveal 6 thick, squishy skeins of Cascade Eco +. Five in navy blue and one in maroon. </span><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2804535832_900e3d7ff2_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2804535832_900e3d7ff2.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Last holiday my mom requested a sweater for the following year’s main gift and after stressing for a second about picking the right pattern, I immediately thought of the Adult Tomten by EZ. Actually, specifically I thought of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/annroberts54/modular-tomten-jacket">Ann’s on Ravelry.</a><br /><br />I’m headed to SF tomorrow and I’m itching to start but this puppy requires swatching, measuring and planning and despite Demi not being travel friendly – I would rather bring her as at least I know what I’m doing.<br /><br />Hopefully I’ll have some great Demi status shots when I return and I’m so excited to start this new project!</span></p>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-82247809206803788582008-08-17T20:35:00.005-04:002008-08-25T08:11:39.138-04:00Minimalist Cardigan - FO<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I</span>’m excited to present My Minimalist Cardigan, which has to be one of my favorite sweaters so far.</span><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2772993730_dc1b340fd9_o.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2772993730_6a35cf424f.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3192/2772154767_424e485933_o.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3192/2772154767_ea29aa801b.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><p><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></p><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/2772997096_7f44f5d54e_o.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/2772997096_b1c7fdd66b.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">I really loved knitting this sweater – it is the perfect combination of easy knit with an interesting pattern – which is very satisfying. It’s also incredibly classic – which is why I decided to knit it in black. I envision this as the sweater that either stays on the back of my chair at work for cold days or the one I throw on over a top with jeans or a dress.<br /><br />Mini was also the sad recipient of my knitting downslide. I actually finished this in January but between my ordeal with Dollar and a Half, my downright hate of finishing and my unfortunate downward spiral into apathy towards knitting, this just didn’t get done until now.<br /><br /><strong>Recipe:</strong><br /><u>Pattern:</u> Minimalist Cardigan, Interweave Knits Fall 2007<br /><u>Size</u>: 35 ½<br /><u>Duration:<br /></u>Start: October 2007<br />Finished: Knitting: January 2008, Seamed, blocked and finished: July 27,2008<br /><u>Yarn:</u> Rowan RYC Cashsoft Aran in black, 10-11 skeins. Love this yarn and highly recommend it.<br /><u>Needles:</u> size 7<br /><u>Modifications:</u> Not much, as usual, I lengthened the sweater. I find most patterns walk dangerously close to being “cropped” and therefore ususally add a few inches. In this case, only 1 inch, and only to the back (knit moss to 14 ½ ” instead of 13 ½</span> </p><div></div></div></div>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-42206757440469695372008-08-10T18:13:00.004-04:002008-08-10T18:29:12.749-04:00Alton Brown Cinnamon Rolls<span style="font-family:arial;">As you may know, I love Alton Brown. If you aren't familiar with Alton, I highly recommend DVR/Tivo-ing Good Eats on Food Network.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The first time we saw the "House of the Rising Bun" episode we knew we would eventually make the star of the show, the Cinnamon Buns, but at the time, we didn't have a stand mixer. Hart gave me a Kitchenaid this past Christmas. The sad part of the story is that it went unused (due to my intimidation) for 8 months, the good part of the story is that it was christened with this recipe.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159/2750576517_aff870dd7c_o.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159/2750576517_bb916d68ef.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">This actually isn't really hard at all - the only non-traditional ingredients that weren't in of our pantry were yeast, buttermilk and powdered sugar - but those are pretty easy to buy. I'm also a non-baker and for a first attempt at using my mixer and for a relative beginner - this couldn't have been easier.<br /></span><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Below is the ingredient list and </span><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/overnight-cinnamon-rolls-recipe/index.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">click here</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> for the full recipe.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">main ingredients</span></strong></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">eggs</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">sugar</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">butter</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">buttermilk</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">AP flour</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Instant yeast</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Kosher salt</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">brown sugar</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">cinnamon</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">Icing</span></strong></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Cream Cheese</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">milk</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">butter</span></div>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-42953917260052006012008-07-20T20:09:00.003-04:002008-07-20T20:21:34.572-04:00Winter Knits in 100 degree weather<span style="font-family:arial;">There’s nothing like the combination of getting over a chest cold, having the apt to yourself bc your b-friend is out of town, and it being 100 degrees outside to get you focused on a project. Today (and a good chunk of yesterday) was knitting extravaganza in my household.<br /><br />I had two things on the agenda: to knit Demi and to weave in ends/ block my Minimalist Cardigan. This whole thing started at 1pm and I had a very specific plan. With the aid of NPR, I would knit Demi until 4pm and then start the Mini Cardigan work.<br /><br />I tell you, Demi is a bear, but a really sweet one. I really am excited about this project, but I wouldn’t call it the most joyous of knit experiences. I’m actually a moderately fast knitter but as mentioned before, at least for me, this requires full attention. It’s getting SO much easier than when I started, but I’m still clocking a 10 -15 minute row depending on it being a WS (10) or RS (15). I know, that’s weird – anyone else ever do that? So if you saw my last pictures (I haven’t knit since), this is what I accomplished in 4 hours. Not much but progress nonetheless. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3041/2686552193_6784c6162c_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3041/2686552193_6784c6162c_b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I have a very specific vision for Demi. When I saw the picture in Vintage Knits – and then all the glorious <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/demi/people?status=finished&group=&photoless=0&search=">FOs on Ravelry </a>- I immediately thought that this would be a classic pullover that I could keep and wear forever. It would be for cold winter nights and ski trips and I don’t know, it’s no EZ classic but I kind of have visions of handing her down. It’s this vision that is my motivation.<br /><br />Anyway, I stopped at 4pm. Again, being weird, I’m very specific like that – but I think only with projects that are a) hard and b) are in the end weaving/blocking process. Both of which I was dealing with.<br /><br />Anyway – I am SO excited with Mini Cardigan’s blocking status!<br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/2687363338_fbf7bfde19_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/2687363338_fbf7bfde19_b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I looked back and I think I finished this 6 months ago. I don’t know what it is but I just stall at the finishing stage, at least lately. I loathe this part. It’s a process, right? At least for me it is but I’m starting to think I make things harder on myself than necessary. I always seam it up pre-block, using some contrast color. And then I inspect it for a few days – determining if things need to be lengthened during blocking, or seeing which areas need to be smoothed out. And then I get all mathematical and draw diagrams about blocking dimensions. Maybe if I just chilled I would not have sweaters sitting in WIP piles.<br /><br />I wished that I loved summer knits because I think I need another project to switch off with Demi. Have you seen <a href="http://brooklyntweed.net/">Jared’s squishy blanket</a>? Love…..</span>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-37135217888207596162008-06-28T21:19:00.009-04:002008-06-30T19:07:18.061-04:00Demi Part 1<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/2626395776_78243fe2b2_b.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/2626395776_78243fe2b2.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />My knitting drop out status has really wreaked havoc on this blog. Knitting was the driving force of this blog and given that I have yet to get fully back into the swing we’ll see how it goes.<br /><br />I got a little pre-occupied to say the least.<br /><br />Hart and I got obsessed with buying a house in Brooklyn, which 100% consumed our lives for a bit, well – a long while actually. In fact, a few of you may have seen a short lived (like 1 day) post in which I described my obsession with said house in Ditmas Park. Needless to say, we fell for a great neighborhood – the local DP blogs got a hold of my post and it became quite the rage on a neighborhood blog. As a result I immediately pulled it down because I was a little fearful that since I put everything out there - the sellers or the realtor would some how see it and our bidding position would be ruined.<br /><br />And then there was Turkey – we just got back and it was an amazing trip. I have to say, one of the best things I love about Hart (and vice versa) is that we put traveling pretty much above everything. While I definitely am known to shell out some cash on shoes, outside of being diligent savers for the future – we save for big trips – both financially and in vacation time. We spent 2 ½ glorious weeks – Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus – then a gorgeous drive down the coast to Bodrum, Olundeniz (Blue Lagoon!) and Kas. I hope to post a little more on this later.<br /><br />Back to the knitting. The thing that sparked my return? <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/demi">Demi.</a> My progress is above.<br /><br />This whole project started off dramatically back in January. I actually ripped out my <a href="http://katyaflutes.blogspot.com/search/label/Central%20Park%20Hoodie">Central Park Hoodie</a> with the intention of using the yarn – Tahki Donnegal Tweed. Ripping it out? It didn’t even really hurt. It was my first true true sweater with seaming, cables, neckbands, etc. But honestly, it never fit me properly and I really didn’t love the yarn – it’s pretty – but it just didn’t work. Anyway – I was staring at it for awhile – everytime I looked it was screaming Demi. So I pulled it out, wound it back up, cast on for Demi, and frankly, I just really hate this yarn!<br /><br />So I gave up on that I bought new bonafide Demi yarn back in February (that is 4 months ago, yikes). The Point had a crazy sale and I immediately ran down to find the perfect yarn. It is Naturally Harmony 10Ply 100% merino. <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2619098807_48d42f21ea_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2619098807_48d42f21ea.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a>So I got home, I cast on and…didn’t I promise not to get into another <a href="http://katyaflutes.blogspot.com/search/label/dollar%20and%20a%20half%20cardigan">Dollar and a Half </a>frustrating mess? Anyway – it stalled. It’s hard – it’s not like the Minimalist Cardigan (which I pretty much finished 9 months ago and just can’t muster the strength to block and seam) which is pretty calming, mindless, rewarding. Actually – it’s not hard but it requires full attention – there is no tv watching, no subway knitting – full focus.<br /><br />So it did stall but then last weekend I did a massive clean up – got a stash box all readied and swore I would pick it up. At about the same time I saw what <a href="http://sixoneseven.blogspot.com/2008/06/lest-you-think-ive-been-spending-all-my.html">Parikha did in like a minute </a>(okay I'm exaggerating)!! That kind of pushed me to get going. So there we have it.<br /><br />This puppy is going to take a long time. I am giving myself a 3 month deadline – by October 1, 2008 I will be showing this as a FO.<br /></span><div></div>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-58184744103684877682008-01-13T20:12:00.001-05:002008-01-13T20:52:22.985-05:00Dollar and a Half Cardigan - Finished!<div align="center"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2416/2190330775_570d40a7aa_b.jpg"><img class="flickr-photo" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2416/2190330775_570d40a7aa.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="flickr-frame"><span style="font-family:arial;">She’s finally done! This was the hardest project I’ve ever taken on but after pulling on the sleeves and buttoning up the front, it was 100% worth it.<br /></span></div><div class="flickr-frame"><span style="font-family:arial;">This is the first sweater that I know I’m going to put into a frequent rotation. </span></div><div class="flickr-frame"></div><div class="flickr-frame"><span style="font-family:arial;">I give you, Dollar and a Half Cardigan, by Veronik Avery for Interweave Knits, Spring 2007 </div><p><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2085/2190338933_8075cc0017_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2146/2190333675_12ea9ec055.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2085/2190338933_8075cc0017.jpg?v=0" border="0" /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2103/2190336225_1a74eeb3f2_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2103/2190336225_1a74eeb3f2.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a></span></p><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Recipe:<br /></strong><u>Pattern:</u> Dollar and a Half Cardigan by Veronik Avery – Interweave Knits – Spring 2007<br /><u>Duration:</u></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Started: July 2007<br />Break: September – November<br />Finished: Knitting was finished October 17- all blocked and sewn up – Jan 1st 2007<br /><u>Yarn:</u> Misti Alpaca </span><a href="http://www.mistialpaca.com/catalog.php?collection=8&page=0"><span style="font-family:arial;">Misti International Alpaca Worsted </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">in 4388 – about 9 skeins. I love this yarn – it is incredibly soft yet incredibly warm. The drape is amazing.<br /><u>Needles:</u> Used US 5 for the stockinette and size 7 for the lace pattern.<br /><u>Size:</u> I knitted the smallest size and blocked to a 36 – I wanted this to be tight fitting and after reading so much about how this ran slightly big and knowing I could block it slightly larger – it was the best bet.<br /><u>Modifications:</u> Not much. The only major change I made was to make the arm length shorter. To do so, I knit 1 ½” of rib (vs 2”) – and started decreasing after a total of 4” (vs 6 ½”)<br /><br /><strong>Tips:</strong><br /><br /><em>First,</em> this is definitely a project you want to swatch for. Trust me. </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><em>Second,</em> one of the things I covet about knitting blogs and Ravelry – is that you get blow by blow details – telling you what to watch out for, how to approach a stitch or row that only when you get to it do you realize how unbelievable helpful those notes were. This has always been incredibly helpful to me, and I always try and return the favor.</span><span style="font-family:arial;">To this end, check out my <a href="http://katyaflutes.blogspot.com/2007/07/turning-lemons-into-lemonade.html">checklist </a>for a lot of details I have since blocked out. Also, <a href="http://katyaflutes.blogspot.com/search/label/dollar%20and%20a%20half%20cardigan">click here </a>if you want the blow by blow on my progress.<br /><br />This project took its toll on me – no matter how much I love the end product. I will say that without a doubt, the part that threw me over the edge was decreasing in the lace pattern. I invested hours upon hours in trying to get it to work for me but after getting nowhere, I actually had to take a 2 month break from the sweater all together. When I came back, I didn’t nail it the first time – but it started falling into place after about the 5th try. I would recommend checking out details in Ravelry, and there were some helpful tips on the <a href="http://dollarandahalf.blogspot.com/">Knit Along</a>.<br /><br />I will also say that that thing that helped me the most is my notebook. Here is a picture of the two things that I found comfort in, throughout the process: </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></p><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2113/2191291934_f53a3859a3_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2113/2191291934_f53a3859a3.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br />Every time I start a project I take copious notes – whether it’s the needle size, when I switch balls (so that on the second sleeve, I know how much I’ll need after writing it down through the first). I never remember any of these details so I write it down. With this project I literally wrote down almost every row and what to expect. This is particularly important when doing the lace decreases. Forgetting about decreases, in the lace pattern each row you do ends up with a different number of stitches. When decreasing comes into play – it was CRITICAL for me to know how many stitches I should end up with. Again, there are a lot of tips on how to deal with the decreases in patterns but frankly none of them gave me what I needed. I think I just needed to try, walk away, and come back. Finally it worked.<br /><br />Finally, I love my mom to death for getting me a blocking board for Christmas. If you don’t have one – I highly recommend it.<br /><br />Viva La Veronik!<br /></span>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-44681094592304200002008-01-12T11:14:00.001-05:002008-01-12T11:23:56.219-05:00Sometimes the Best Solutions are the Easiest<div align="center"> <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2326/2187764712_7faf7b66e0_b.jpg"><img class="flickr-photo" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2326/2187764712_7faf7b66e0.jpg" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><div class="flickr-frame"><span style="font-family:arial;">I’m a bit of a hopeful, but lost cause when it comes to decorating. Most of those close to me can attest to my passion for all things decorating – I consume design magazines all the time, I’m a dedicated reader of some of the popular design blogs (mainly <a href="http://www.designspongeonline.com/">Design Sponge</a> and <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/">Apartment Therapy</a>) and it’s hard for me to walk by a furniture store without going in.<br /><br />The break down is that I have a hard time taking what I love, and bringing it into my home. There is some wiring missing. I am a right brain woman. I love math, I love analysis, and I love talking about strategy. I embrace this and it has done me well so far, but I also love design, creativity. But I am an onlooker – I know what I love and I know why I love it but creating it myself is less than intuitive.<br /><br />Hart and I have lived in this apartment for the past 3 years and the spot above our couch has remained empty. It has been a source of angst for me. About 6 or 7 years ago I fell in love with a painting at a friend’s house and spent the last 3 years, off and on, trying to get one. Fortunately the artist is a friend of my friends, but unfortunately he is taking a “break” from painting. Up until about a month ago, this gaping hole was without a solution.<br /><br />I’m not sure how or why it took us so long – but we finally decided to fill it ourselves. I am not a modernist, by any means, but if I look hard and what I like, a lot of it is color. So finally, we took action.<br /><br />With all of the pain and suffering I went through with this empty piece of wall real estate, I can’t overstate how easy this was – once the ball was in motion. We measured, went to the art supply store and ordered a canvas. We had an idea in our head of what we wanted it to look like, which you now see on the wall, but to make sure, we bought a couple of red paints (@$2.00 a tube), a stack of mini canvases (@$5 for 5), a paint brush, and practiced. Once we were satisfied, from white canvas to mounting on the wall took about 24 hours. </span></div><div class="flickr-frame"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </div><p align="center"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2232/2187766556_e8cd3cfd6f_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2232/2187766556_e8cd3cfd6f.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;">getting ready to paint</span></em></p><p>And hence, sometimes the best solutions are the easiest ones.</span></p>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-26293648724842461262007-12-31T11:27:00.001-05:002007-12-31T12:43:42.779-05:00Last 2007 FO: Noro Iro Scarf<span style="font-family:arial;"><span class="flickr-caption">Last FO of 2007, at least officially. I am so close to finishing Dollar and a Half that I can taste it but unless I abandon all plans to get my house in gear and the food in the oven for the New Years party we're throwing tonight, it's not going to happen. </span><br /></span><p class="flickr-yourcomment" align="center"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2373/2143773093_4aa2f096e5_b.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img class="flickr-photo" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2373/2143773093_4aa2f096e5.jpg" /></span></a></p><p class="flickr-yourcomment" align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">I fell in love with this scarf the first time I saw it, when <a href="http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/">Jared Brooklyntweed</a> introduced it to the world, aptly naming it </span><a href="http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2007/06/youre-my-iro.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">“You’re My Iro”, </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">based on the material and presumably his reverence for what it turned into. It’s little more than 1 part common stitch and 1 part perfect yarn but mix it together and it delivers a beautiful scarf that to me, looked perfect.<br /><br />I was, at the time, paralyzed by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweater_curse">sweater myth</a>, but I wanted to knit Hart something and a scarf seemed low risk but meaningful. When we first started dating over 5 years ago, one of my first gifts to him was a beautiful deep orange scarf. He fell in love with it when he saw it at the store, thought about it often and once he owned it he has been wearing ever since. I knew that the scarf I would make him had to compete, almost trump his beloved orange faithful. I showed him Jared’s scarf to make sure he would be on board and he was.<br /><br />For both men and women, I see this as the perfect neutral yet colorful, warm colorway, largely driven by it being contained to a scarf. It is rich and unique, yet classic and timeless – something that looked finished but also home made. </span></p><p class="flickr-yourcomment" align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2125/2143772549_7f345a1490_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2125/2143772549_7f345a1490.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br />In terms of recipe, here it is:<br /><br /><strong><u>Pattern:</u></strong> garter stitch - 19 stitches (jared did 17 stitches wide, I opted for 19 to make it wider)<br /><u><strong>Hardware:</strong></u> US 10 (jared used 11 but after swatching, I opted for size 10)<br /><strong><u>Software:</u></strong> <a href="http://www.yarndex.com/yarn.cfm?yarn_id=1174">Noro Iro</a> in shade #47. I used about 1 and 3/4 hanks and it got me to<br /><strong><u>Time lapse:</u></strong> Finished in October and this took about 2 weeks –could have been done in a couple of days but I was switching back and forth between projects </span></p><p class="flickr-yourcomment" align="left"><br /></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2328/2144567138_d8c60877a9_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2328/2144567138_d8c60877a9.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br />In terms of how it looks, I personally love it. My photography doesn’t do it nearly as much justice as Jared’s, so if you’re considering knitting something similar, <a href="http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2007/06/youre-my-iro.html">look to his</a> for potential greatness.<br /><br />In terms of the finished product, I finally blocked this about a month ago and Hart has been wearing it since. He thinks it’s a bit scratchy – and I can understand. Most scarfs, or ones you love to wear, if not made from cashmere are made from a beautiful soft wool that is so soft that you love to pull it around your cold neck.<br /><br />I also perhaps would have considered reducing the needle size a bit for a tighter stitch. It’s not as warm as his faithful orange, and I wonder if doing a tighter stitch (and compensating by adding a few more stitches per row, to maintain the width) would have done the trick.<br /><br />Finally, at least so far in its wearing history, the scarf isn’t as pliable/flexible as I would have wished. When you fold it, and then release the fold, there is a fold mark.<br /><br />At this point I’m just nitpicking. Net net, I give this a thumbs up and I think Hart does too.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Happy New Year!</span>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-44561004326273937972007-12-26T19:33:00.001-05:002007-12-26T19:49:33.162-05:00Alton RealizedOur Alton Brown fantasy is about to begin….for Chistmas my BF Hart gave me a beautiful shiny Kitchen Aid stand mixer along with a shopping spree on Bowery, a street/mecca, steps from our apartment.<br /><br /><br /><p class="flickr-frame" align="center"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/katyaflutes/2139849186/"><img class="flickr-photo" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2362/2139849186_188c152126.jpg" /></a></p><div class="flickr-frame">Apparently this plan has been in the making since May, when the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/dining/09mini.html?_r=1&oref=slogin">New York Times printed this article </a>on outfitting your entire kitchen for under $300 at one of the many professional kitchen/restaurant supply stores on Bowery. We found that we could do it in much less – so after buying tons of pots, pans, baking accessories, and such, we headed to Bed Bath and Beyond and picked up some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Eats">W</a> favorites – including a mandolin, a food scale and a probe thermometer. </div><br /><div class="flickr-frame"></div><div class="flickr-frame">I am very much looking forward to upping the amateur anti of our kitchen in 2008 and to kick it all off, I just cracked open the spine of my new <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Barefoot-Contessa-Cookbook-Ina-Garten/dp/0609602195/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198716022&sr=8-2">Barefoot Contessa cookbook</a>, another Christmas gift, this time from my Mom, and started making a heart clogging masterpiece. I should count, but it appears as though most of her recipes call for 1 lb of butter.</div><div class="flickr-frame"></div><br /><div class="flickr-frame">As my poor Hart is stuck in Detroit after his flight was cancelled and could be reading this on his blackberry, I’ll keep mum for now on what I made. In the meantime, here are some updated blocking pictures. As soon as I got home today, I blocked the front panels of Dollar and a Half. Just seaming (groan) and knitting up the neck band, and this will be a FO! </div><br /><p class="flickr-yourcomment"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/katyaflutes/2139070365/in/photostream/"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2150/2139070365_7ca9f84d99_b.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/katyaflutes/2139854846/in/photostream/"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2245/2139854846_36d393df3b_b.jpg" border="0" /></a>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-19878510108903528252007-12-24T15:10:00.000-05:002007-12-26T20:05:50.810-05:00Feliz Navidad!<span style="font-family:arial;">That sure was a long nap!<br /><br />No better time to get back to this than when you’re stuck in the Massachusetts suburbs, bored out of your mind, watching a marathon of Everest on the Discovery Channel while breaking every 30 minutes for yet another slice of banana bread.<br /><br />Knitting spirit still under repair, yet I do have some progress. I have been slowwwwwly working away at Minimalist Cardigan – one more sleeve to go. As promised, I would not finish Dollar and a Half Cardigan until I had a blocking board – and now I do! Christmas came early – my mom felt it was best to have the blocking board sent direct instead of forcing me to lug it home after opening it on Christmas morning.<br /><br />And I also leave you with this link to <a href="http://finnyknits.blogspot.com/">Finnyknits.</a> This lady is a freaking riot.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2354/2130325509_446c3276d8_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2354/2130325509_446c3276d8_b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/2131101542_ffec3dff04_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/2131101542_ffec3dff04_b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2310/2131103634_7e6f852c8f_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2310/2131103634_7e6f852c8f_b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">.</span> </div></div>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-59509291978597940732007-10-23T19:32:00.000-04:002007-10-23T19:58:37.850-04:00Status<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I</span> got nothing major to say except for:<br /><br /><strong>Michigan’s</strong> doing much better than they were 2 months ago and it makes Saturdays a bit more enjoyable now.<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.fridaynightlightsonline.com/">Friday Nights Lights</a></strong> is getting better (if you haven’t seen it, you’re wasting your life away)<br /><br /><strong>I’m cooking more</strong> – thanks to <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/homepage/flash/0,23022,,00.shtml">Real Simple</a>'s Five Easy Dinners (in every issue) and their accommodation of at least 1 out of 5 recipes being vegetarian. That’s 20%!, which is high given that only 1-2.8% of those in the US are veg (thanks <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarian">Wikipedia). </a>Here are two (<a href="http://food.realsimple.com/realsimple/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1583602">one</a>, <a href="http://food.realsimple.com/realsimple/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1639533">two</a>) of my favorites.<br /><br /><strong>I’m thinking a lot about running but not actually doing it.</strong> And Hart would agree, as he has to deal with the 6am “faux” wake up call that I subject us both to every morning. Why do I think he’ll believe me when I say “oh- I made a mistake when setting my alarm” as I fall back asleep. Especially as I do it every day. More importantly, when am I going to learn that my positive thinking at 11pm does not overpower my laziness the next morning? If you live in NYC, esp in my hood, you know that running outside at night is not an option as it’s too crowded. So mornings it is! (or in my case, <em>isn’t</em> right now)<br /><br /><strong>There are crazy re-orgs going on in my dept and I took the plunge and moved into a new job</strong> – I’m still not sure if I’m 100% excited about it even though it is technically a bigger job.<br /><br /><strong>I haven’t blocked Dollar and a Half and I don’t care</strong>. Thanks so much for the comments of encouragement – it reinvigorated my excitement. I think it’s time for me to invest in a blocking board and well, that’s another excuse for procrastination.<br /><br /><strong>But I have been working on my new BFF Minimalist Cardigan</strong> – I call her Mini and here she is:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2234/1717075075_2b4659bfec_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2234/1717075075_2b4659bfec.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-59378196502196955962007-10-17T19:08:00.000-04:002007-10-18T08:13:12.973-04:00Hibernation<span style="font-family:arial;">It’s been another long hiatus here at Katyaflutes - there’s been work, weddings, travel, a really miserable start to the Michigan football season, but none of these things would matter if I was actually inspired.<br /><br />I’ll cut to the chase. The Dollar and a Half Cardigan has nearly killed me. Okay that may be a bit dramatic but it nearly killed my knitting spirit, which I think is much worse. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Here’s a picture of the seductiveness.<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2297/1605494119_4b77f33d04_o.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2297/1605494119_b31504438f.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br />No matter how much I tried, how seriously I took it, and how focused I remained, I could not get past the front decreases. This is meaningless to most of you, but for those who knit this sweater, you know EXACTLY what I’m talking about. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I spent every day and night on that decreasing business for 2 weeks straight and it just wasn't working. And I just couldn’t take it anymore. And so I walked away. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Knitting is supposed to be relaxing, exciting and fun. And this wasn't any of those things. And to add insult to injury I am a monogamous knitter – I can’t start projects until I finish the last one so I was being punished even more because I had to stick it out. PLUS my previous project was the <a href="http://katyaflutes.blogspot.com/search/label/Twinkle%20Shopping%20Tunic">Twinkle Sausage Shopping Tunic</a>. It was easy but it early threw me over the edge when I actually tried it on at the end (and looked like, well, a sausage). I know there is a lot of love out there for Miss Wenlan Chia, and I agree- the designs are amazing. But like I know very well that I have no business wearing hot pants, I need to face the fact that I have no business wearing Twinkle designs either.<br /><br />Back to the story... So I don’t know what happened but I guess about 3 weeks ago, after month break, I decided to give it a go again. And while it wasn’t easy – it sort of fell together much more easily this time and now I’m almost done with the sweater. And I honestly have blocked out all the badness of those weeks of pain. Probably like Lindsay Lohan wants to forget that she binged on alcohol and cocaine while wearing an alcohol ankle monitor and basically became a total disaster, I just want to forget those painful nights of frogging and trying again. And kind of like how she’s not 100% past it because she had to go to rehab for 6 months – I’m not entirely over it as I still need to block and seam it.<br /><br />Here she is almost done (mind you, after all this angst, I refuse for this to end badly, and hence I loosely seamed this up in advance such that I know exactly how much I need to blocking)<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2133/1604477333_8a4a5fca43_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2133/1604477333_8a4a5fca43.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br />But, to me “seaming” is like slow motion falling over the finish line. To me it’s practically a FO.<br /><br />Which brings me to this:<br /><a href="http://www.interweaveknits.com/galleries/bonus/fall2007/nussbaum.asp"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2264/1605494295_72d9608338.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br />Above is the greatness that is the Minimalist Cardigan from Interweave Knits Fall 2007. I found this on<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/minimalist-cardigan"> Ravelry</a> as pretty much 50% of knitters are either knitting it or have it in their queue. It’s fairly clear why – it’s cute, it’s simple, it’s classic and it’s a plain cardigan with a little bit of style.<br /><br />This belongs on the back of my chair at work. My office goes from hot to cold and back all the time and this is perfect for that.<br /><br />I will be knitting it in <a href="http://www.ryclassic.com/Cashsoft_aran_1.htm">Rowan Cashsoft Aran</a> in black. <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/1605356024_8de20a6897_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/1605356024_8de20a6897.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a>It’s kind of weird to knit a black cardigan (isn’t that a “staple”?) but shut up – I want to do it. I found this yarn at <a href="http://purlsoho.com/purl">Purl</a> (where I also finally saw <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Last-Minute-Knitted-Gifts-Joelle-Hoverson/dp/1584793678/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-7167144-3804942?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192665883&sr=8-1">Joelle</a>!) and what’s great about Purl is that they swatch every yarn they sell so you can actually feel and see what you’re buying. I fell in love immediately. Similar to the Misti Alpaca it’s warm but totally flexible (hangs well vs being stiff) and is super soft. Plus – er, it’s machine washable. Craziness. I bought it at <a href="http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/">Jimmy Beans Wool </a>(sorry purl but with a $3 savings per ball, how can you blame me?) and got it today after ordering on Sunday night. Heart that.<br /><br />Enough already! Am I trying to make up for lost time? I have knitting to do!</span>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-14468382839748684622007-08-06T11:45:00.000-04:002007-08-06T12:01:42.624-04:00And the season begins<span style="font-family:arial;">Wedding season began this past weekend with a trip to SF. My god it is cold there! In NY I’m used to sweating 5 minutes after getting out of the shower, and there we were, turning on the heat and layering whatever we could grab.<br /><br />We got in on Friday and while I had big plans for Saturday before the wedding started- a nice SF run, lots of walking and shopping – that whole thing was thrown out the window. Unexpectadly seeing tons of old friends on Friday night led to a 2:30am bedtime after way too many cocktails. Running those hills + hangover = bad scene. Wasn't about to try it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />What I did manage to accomplish was hitting two yarn shops – <a href="http://noeknit.com/">Noe Knit</a> and <a href="http://imagiknit.com/">Imagiknit.</a> At Noe Knit I picked up 2 skeins of Noro Iro in colorway 47. I have been excited about <a href="http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2007/06/youre-my-iro.html">Jared’s “You’re my Iro”</a> scarf since he posted it and as I couldn’t leave SF empty handed – I picked some up. I can’t wait to get started.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1373/1028881831_eb92624e8f_b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095614613690933346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoSR7cG4FJuVthbJaM3JIMWslREmiaeRvep-eaQRqJU93tJFDduS9dX5iblompw9ffNPliQZMFFfzdimhU58MxE0SJGBwK9-h0asFTSUBHPsLemriAP_9raDcaObbI4ZRhh2umQ/s400/noro+iro+47.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Feeling major progress to come on Dollar and a Half this week. I did lots of knitting on the plane while watching Spiderman 3 (boo!) and two netflix hits – Zodiac and the Wire. Hart’s investment in a portable dvd player was a savior. Anyway- I stalled on the fronts as I needed to decrease in the pattern. This always requires careful planning, a glass of wine, and at least 3 reference books or websites to refer to. Not something I’m willing to try on a foldout tray while sitting in the middle seat of an airplane.<br /></span>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-55357265579782920522007-08-01T20:18:00.000-04:002007-08-01T20:36:27.729-04:00Iced Tea<span style="font-family:arial;">I have just finished the back and I love this sweater. I had a healthy start last weekend when I was on a gorgeous lake at my friend’s house in CT. It was me, Hart and 2 of our other friends visiting and it was a weekend of relaxation. It was gorgeous out and we usually spend all day swimming and tubing on his boat, drinking and eating – yet with all the Harry Potter mania (we actually seriously could not find our host nor his parents as they were in hiding with their books), it was a full day of knitting – plus a great run.</span> <div><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Here is the back of my <a href="http://www.veronikavery.com/blog/?p=5">Dollar and a Half Cardigan</a>.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1168/978924523_c9f53e053e_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1168/978924523_c9f53e053e.jpg?v=1186014084" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Other than that there has been a whole lot of busyness – not much of which is worth blogging about but is unbearably time consuming. Work, for one, which I’m starting to hate. Actually that’s kind of it outside of admin stuff of buying plane tickets and making hotel reservations for the FIVE weddings we have in the next couple of months. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I am excited for all equally but am super psyched for the two Indian weddings (I’ve never been to one! I need *outfits*) and sigh in bliss- the one in Ibiza that Hart and I (and 3 other couples) have turned into a villa rental for one week. The only, but pretty severe, downside is that many of these weddings fall on weekends of Michigan football games. I wasn’t a heavy blogger during last season but may want to prepare yourself as this may be discussed heavily starting September. Hart and I plan around these games and with Ibiza, we are leaving way later (and perhaps paying more for airfare) so we can see the Penn State game. We have scoured websites for bars at JFK and may literally check in and drive to a close by sportsbar in Queens. Of all things, I can’t imagine anyone would have a recommendation, but if you do, I need it.<br /><br />One of the cooler things I have seen, and was gifted just today is this:<br /><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1405/978924741_00be02f9b7_o.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1405/978924741_0d462593f2.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br />My friend Elf-friend (her name is almost that phonetically – and was created by her dad using a random letter program – how cool) has the angel one and I cried in jealousy when I saw it but she got it in Japan. She just went again last week and I got both the devil and the angel! Love!<br /><br />Regarding the sweater, I’m glad I did my homework in advance but of course there were some hiccups – nothing major thank god. The lace pattern, while easy once you’ve got the rhythm, is not something htat can be worked on mindlessly while having deep conversations with your friends. Therefore, there was a bit of minor ripping – but minor.<br /><br />My only mistake that I discovered only just a bit ago, when shaping for the arm holes, is that selvedge stiches are maintained in the reverse stockinette. So when you start a row of purls, you need to start and end with a knit. While it would probably be easier on me had I done that when seaming time occurs, it’s not worth ripping out for. Finally, one thing that keeps happening is that when I start the lace pattern, I have 87 stiches, yet I end with 86. I have been diligently following the work to see if I missed something but it keeps happening. Fortunately it has no impact on my lace work so I end up adding a stich during stockinette. God, I hope that doesn’t come back to bit me.<br /><br />One final thing. My very VERY best friend BP is having a baby. Holy cripes I can’t believe it – it makes me want to cry every time I think about it. I made a Big Bad Baby Blanket (my 4th, actually) and I have been just saving it. It’s been so long that I actually considered just holding onto it for whenever it is I have a kid. It’s hers now and I am so happy about that. BUT – that was created awhile ago and I am so into finding new little things I can knit for him/her. I just need to find things suitable for a hot baby with hot hipster parents who live in LA.</span> </div></div></div>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-15819117353704756992007-07-20T14:30:00.000-04:002007-08-01T20:31:53.878-04:00Turning Lemons into Lemonade.<span style="font-family:arial;">It's been a slightly rough past few days. Have you heard about </span><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/19/new.york.explosion/index.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">this thing that happened</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> in New York on Wednesday? It happened at 41st and Lexington. Guess where my office is – 41st and Lexington. I wasn’t there when it happened fortunately. Why? Because I woke up that morning to the sound of water gushing, through my AC and into my apartment. The wonderful news is that all of my colleagues are totally fine (yet shaken up) and while the building is a mess, our office is okay. Our office is closed indefinitely.<br /><br />When I learned on Wed night that the office would be closed on Thursday, I decided that the following day would be all about </span><a href="http://www.veronikavery.com/blog/?p=5"><span style="font-family:arial;">Dollar and A Half Cardigan</span></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">from Interweave Spring. I have been staring at this pattern since it hit the stands, but searching for the called for yarn exhausted</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> me so I shelved it. Until now. <a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1053/855152094_8a7397f838_b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089365854716359026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCcsdFbm7L9EXV4Qh73I-3VMcRkaMYidJ_lYkQRdX17XioJ35YEg3sGgUCLU7UG9Xkw1Vaoa65U-_dfZ9lfApjOez16t6aaYBKfkre63R5iQaxQ1d4buu1YvhcSt8kBe2kF3omQ/s400/IMG_1043.JPG" border="0" /></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br />What you see above is a swatch. A really big swatch, that is sectioned into groups of lace by the needle size I used while trying to get the right gauge.<br /><br />The immediate roadblock of this pattern (and there appear to be many) is that you need to swatch in the lace pattern. This is a bit annoying. The other thing that happened to me, and sounds like has happened to almost everyone else, is that while it lists a size 5 needle, you really needed a larger one. I swatched on a 5, a 6, a 7 and finally an 8. Even with an 8 I’m not making 4” but the lace pattern is starting to look a little too loose for me. I am going to knit with an 8.<br /><br />Under normal circumstances I am never afforded the time to spend so much time on swatching but the reality is that it took only 1 day. I will spend many days and perhaps months knitting this sweater and I would rather deal with this up front. I’ve seen a lot of frogging out there. Seeing that I ended up several needles up, it was clearly a good idea.<br /><br />The yarn I’m using is <a href="http://www.mistialpaca.com/catalog.php?collection=8&page=0">Misti International Alpaca Worsted </a>in 4388. When I was at <a href="http://downtownyarns.com/">Downtown Yarns </a>last weekend to get help on my Shopping Tunic, we spent a lot of time finding some substitutes for the Reynolds Soft Linen, called for in the pattern, and I fell in love with the feel (soft) and color (super deep brown/purple).<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Getting Started:<br /></strong>This pattern has received a lot of bad press, yet there are so many wonderful examples of FOs that I know it’s going to be great. While there are a lot of problems, there are also some great solutions out there. For you and me, as a reference point and a time saver, here is what I have learned so far.<br /><br /><u>Doing the gauge.</u> As you’ll see, the lace pattern has 7 rows. If you look in the directions for the body there are two call outs that you must include in your swatch: 1 selvege stitches, and 2) the order of doing the lace pattern. Make sure when you are swatching to knit the first and last stitch.. The swatch requires 21 stitches and this incorporates the selvege stitches. The pattern itself. When I first did the swatch I knitted 1-7, which is the pattern for lace. Row 7 is the tricky row and doing it after row 6 was confusing. When you actually do the pattern for real, you will do row 7 after row 3, not 6. Basically when you swatch, follow what you’ll do in the body. I did the pattern twice plus 2 rows of stockinette in between, and got 26 rows.<br /><br /><u>Michelin Arms</u><strong>.</strong> If you're starting this pattern, you MUST check out the </span><a href="http://dollarandahalf.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Knit-Along</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">. You will see very quickly that when you switch from the reverse stockinette stitch to the lace pattern, the stockinette buckles and looks, well, terrible. A solution that is getting a lot of converts, and which seems to be working, is knitting the lace in one size needle, and doing the stockinette in a needle 2 sizes smaller. I just went back to buy the rest of my yarn (I wanted to swatch first) and was advised to do everything but the lace pattern in the smaller needle (doesn’t include cable). So for me, I’m going to pretty much knit everything using an 6 except for the lace pattern, which I’ll do in an 8<br /><br /><u>Row 7 of the pattern.</u> Not easy, but once you see </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hotcoalsonly/413861886/in/set-72157594575731792/"><span style="font-family:arial;">this</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">, it’ll all make sense.<br /><br /><u>Decreases.</u> I haven’t really looked at this closely but have heard it’s a nightmare. </span><a href="http://www.veronikavery.com/blog/?page_id=9"><span style="font-family:arial;">Veronik Avery</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> has a tutorial and the </span><a href="http://dollarandahalf.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">knitalong</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> has plenty of posts<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><u>Size/length.</u> At this point all I know is that the sleeves are long.<br /><br />I am really still excited about Magic Shawl, yet I simply can’t handle bulky wool with huge needles. I’ve been itching all week to knit but I need something slightly more mindless than Clementine, which is literally all lace. So now I’m happy. Heading to a friend’s lake house this weekend and will hopefully get some knitting in while I </span><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/books/07/20/potter/index.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">wait in line for the new Harry Potter book</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">. That’s the price I pay for staying at said friends house – must accompany him on line.</span>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-90261511176193461992007-07-16T21:22:00.000-04:002007-10-17T20:21:51.840-04:00Sneak Preview<span style="font-family:arial;">Well I finished her up tonight and she’s resting in her blocking stage. Given Hart left today for a business trip, I won’t have pictures until later in the week but here is a bit of her. A very small bit.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087970754849337698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EzyWn9KEklePF4zyCp-SpJsUIRnkYWK4CGf0zs4sSZ0C1UHuX9_ulSVlteM3ekS7jN8xdXVDfjHd3St17GSnnwiZnn32hSsvdhTSPOtxdvGmMU7_x-AZ-t_j4Oajmg23cF6VuA/s400/st+neck.JPG" border="0" /><br />I will do my usual debrief when I post the final work but I’m not going to lie to you. While I am upset that I didn’t get knitting done on my “sick day” last week, I think being sick and dealing with where I was in the pattern would have been bad. Where I left off was a procrastination point. Short rows. I am, or was, a short row virgin.<br /><br />So at like 8pm on Thursday, still sick, I gave it a go. Mistake. The Twinkle book has some instructions but in true Katyaflutes form, I whipped out my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vogue-Knitting-Ultimate-Book/dp/193154316X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-7232321-4903045?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184636470&sr=8-1">Vogue Knitting manual</a> and starting doing it, but it was dreadful. It totally didn’t make sense to me and I’ve learned that “winging” it in these situations never ends well. And it didn’t. Long story short, on Saturday I hit <a href="http://downtownyarns.com/">Downtown Yarns</a> in the hopes of getting some help. This is my first time doing this (asking for help at a store) and I was afraid of the reaction I would get given that I didn’t buy any of the materials (book, yarn, needles) at the store. But they were fantastic. Not only did they help me walk through it, I got to see a just finished <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=baby+surprise+jacket">Baby Surprise</a> and I was just so excited to be there that we spent a lot of time picking out yarn for another queued project, <a href="http://www.veronikavery.com/blog/?p=5">Dollar and a Half Sweater</a>.<br /><br />Alas, another thing I’m not going to lie about is my diminishing love for this sweater. My frame is not bone thin - and I tried it on and it’s big, bulky, and makes my body look at least 3 inches bigger in girth. Plus the sleeves are a bit cappy which make my arms look like sausages. Actually it’s not just my arms. I tried the timer on my camera to get a full shot and after seeing the picture I felt, well, aside from immediately deleting the picture I just look like a sausage in general with this sweater – you’re just seeing my least sausage-y part – my neck. I'm thinking that this one isn't going to end well.<br /><br />We’ll see, perhaps I like it more when she’s freshly blocked.<br /><br />I am really itching to do something with small stitches but I do love the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=twinkle+magic+shawl&m=text">Magic Shawl </a>and I’m a glutton for punishment – perhaps I should listen hard to my complaints about the bulkiness but even as I write this, my love for the shawl is bigger than my knowledge that it will be BIG.<br /><br />I’m thinking of, wow, modifying it. If anyone has this book and can act either as a helper or a sounding board on what I’m thinking about doing – please let me know.</span>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-28286521297495741212007-07-12T17:39:00.000-04:002007-07-12T18:12:51.211-04:00"sick day" ?<span style="font-family:arial;">I have a boss who doesn’t understand the definition of a “sick day”. I have had a somewhat crazy week, at least for me, that resulted in falling asleep only to cough all night. then i woke up this morning feeling terrible. I guess my boss believes, in a passive aggressive sort of way, that if you have your computer and you're not in the hospital, a “sick day” = “working at home”.<br /><br />I had great intentions to sit on the couch all day and watch tv and knit, but that just didn’t happen. I instead just sat at my computer all day and I literally just finished what she considered a “quick” project about an hour ago. So while I didn’t knit, I do have reporting still in me.<br /><br />There have been several minor yet gratifying things OUTSIDE of work that have happened in the last month or so which have been keeping me busy or pre-occupied.<br /><br />In knitting news, I started Shopping Tunic with a bang. It’s freaking hot out right now which is lowering my motivation but I am on the cowl part and it took me about 3 days to get there. While I’d hoped to finish her today, she’s close. I don’t have it in me right now to take pictures, and while not a good knitting photo, the background is great. This is the deck of friend’s house where we spent July 4th. And Shopping Tunic as an accessory.<br /></span><div><div><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1357/792158630_1abef0aa2f_b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086429381281116450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8RnEbp5bYfNznGoxMB7EBfL2KPy7VPaiiaVKtV5p6pdrJ4V3Etlj9myyjMuFa3IDW0lhIhV33fR6SWr8zYclDAIj_JOCmDtzcAGW2THBHiqHUT4uZv6swjdPIGX9wzHwvw3LNg/s400/Shopping+Tunic+July+4th.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Speaking of July 4th, that’s my birthday and Hart took me, as a surprise, to <a href="http://www.babbonyc.com/">Babbo</a>, on the Saturday before.This is my (and his) ultimate favorite restaurant and needless to say, reservation getting isn’t exactly easy. It's almost annoying but the upside is that it can actually happen. If you want a specific date you need to call at 10am exactly 1 month to the day before and hope for the best. Such a great guy that Hart is– this required him calling the day before we left for Eastern Europe in the middle of some crazy work situation. Not only that, he enlisted his entire team to sit in a conference room and have Babbo’s number on redial in the hopes of getting through. I will say that all the pain and annoyance is worth it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">The best part about the whole experience is that he tricked me into thinking we were going to another restaurant and as we were walking by Babbo for a *stroll* next to the park, he stopped me, told me to put on my heels (I was walking in flip flops, with the Manolos in my bag) and we were going in. Nice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://www.babbonyc.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086429742058369330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbv1xMx8KcB91srlo1xS9xDuFVRc7dLm5SNpMLUr_PFGDQbJLeL75CWl3F9xK75hDnKrfNBoGe9Yi59pUcmqshFPjkC8AOUtvOOemkn4fI5XnsfOYLrplx2dNFRIgU99obUN6NvA/s400/babbo.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />As usual, Babbo was unbelievable. No it's not cheap, but it's not out of control - it's a special occasion type of place. The food, for both meat-eating foodies (Hart) and vegetarian foodie-in trainings (me) is perfect. </span><p><span style="font-family:arial;">On to one of my next goals, learning Spanish, Hart got me for my birthday Spanish lessons! Unfortunately right now most classes are mid-semester so this will be in the fall but one thing I am really excited about in the meantime is a great Spanish podcast, Coffee Break Spanish, which I’m trying to listen to and practice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://www.radiolingua.com/cbs/home.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086430476497776962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7B9LYofO3ekISYYmO47gKJBXhMQdjq6v6y0rC0CYEVm_ws3I_2dsCFEwLhu6gj5wn_tGZDoWmWGWPA_Ty6M-NBZh-pJoQ01J0LLFQtnhlAvkZB3Z-EMw3BXbsvG6V4HGaYrfTQ/s400/cbs.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:arial;">For any one interested, you can go to their website and download <a href="http://coffeebreakspanish.typepad.com/coffee_break_spanish/podcast/index.html">previous podcasts</a>. For anyone interested in another language (Crimenotes: Hindi) I found the Spanish one via searching the store at Itunes. They list a bunch of podcasts and most are free.<br /><br />Speaking of I-tunes, many months ago I saw <a href="http://www.figandplum.com/">Fig and Plum</a> post <a href="http://www.figandplum.com/archives/2007_05.html">this</a> and it introduced me to this new and exciting <a href="http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/#tutorials">Nike+</a> gadget. It’s a souped up podometer. It’s $30 and comes with a connector that fits on a nano (only) and a sensor you throw in your shoe. It tracks your running and with the push of a button tells you (in your earbuds) how long you’ve been running, how fast, distance, etc. You then sync it to your itunes and voila – it keeps track. I combined many generous gifting for my b-day and bought a new nano, an armband and the Nike-id and it’s great. </span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/#tutorials"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086430686951174482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAypoOthrBC3BpMUU6RmQALO-hUxO7ub0gxw9ZHCXrp1mhN1h5H_saqWCrMc3nOL-8olEIQeeyPsX91-0r_0NXWpZLb_pssOUB4mHfawISUJdS3cx0pD8ByMrC9Huo18ouN4Lx-g/s400/Nike+plus.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">One other really cool thing is that on the Nike website you can use their map to determine the distance of routes you may already, or may think of running.<br /><br />So many goals that are exciting. I wish I could convince my motivation to get on board. </span></p></div></div>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-53430449694410102342007-07-01T21:41:00.000-04:002007-07-02T08:24:41.855-04:00Rusted Root - FO<span style="font-family:arial;">Here she is, Rusted Root. It was a long time coming. She was finished back mid-May but it took a bit longer (with the trip, and all) to weave her ends in and block her.<a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1129/663136961_4261b898ed_b.jpg"></a> </span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082573550595989010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vPKXWC2CKrvckT0b4QM860OLJv0bZ_Y-_POtgLUu4W5zcUIn4wYXADLqNXu3RCtOmJk8cEtNjoASYs8wFHuGYqi9HOlEalsnOqZpUG53FdKGY2V_BpyvQdtWiDvd_HJppqG9Eg/s400/Rusted+Root+Final+06.29.07+1.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div><br /><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1050/663137093_e509c16877_b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082412635351277026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOCvJ-WUT0mYDXKIne-jShGvUas7-SM5ef7G8vZBqosY4ngtxJjgmpECk1iMW89pvJAjAOaolMOwI-0E7H3X2qNV0xpLDv2aIL1neCuIZBVBksPxRYnPXb19u_YLoSddb4uDfBA/s320/Rusted+Root+Final+Detail.JPG" border="0" /></a></span><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">Details:</span></strong><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><u>Start:</u> March 25, 2007</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><u>Finish:</u> May 15-ish, 2007 (knitting finished in early May but blocking only June)</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><u>Pattern:</u> <a href="http://www.zephyrstyle.com/catalog/item.cfm/2367447/3289215">Rusted Root</a> by the Zephyre Style ladies</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><u>Size:</u> Medium</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><u>Software:</u> <a href="http://brownsheep.com/cf.htm">Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece</a> in Buttercream - 3 skeins</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><u>Harware:</u> size 6 Circulars<br /></span></div><br /><div><strong><u><span style="font-family:arial;">Note and Modifications:</span></u></strong><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">The key note is that this lace requires practice. Seriously. This was my first lace work and the lace pattern takes awhile to get used to and get in the rhythm of. Like, specifically row 3 (I think that's the one, as I have tried to block it out). I frogged, painfully, 7 times. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">A good resource is the </span><a href="http://www.zephyrstyle.com/board/board_topic/3278548/179291.htm"><span style="font-family:arial;">Zephyr Rusted Root Message Board</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">, which was really helpful in getting me through this. Especially that lace pattern.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I know it's totally anti-instant gratification but it's worth it to swatch this and practice on the lace pattern. Hopefully it'll prevent you from the frogland I entered.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Also, as always, I added a bit of length.</span><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Finally, I love this yarn BUT, see below. </span></div><br /><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1008/663137235_86f4677dde_b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082414641101004274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTXGwGEgsbPfnryH_7121yqyobcfC6ykOPw9O4IOOCShsbqhNgnaOBwtcnuOkuPu1NWAkP5VVJu-r0lzeDy2gcypPBGYRKgXxdgSKxG1mhe3Ccxz0sJMAl99_1JwHMhYjvA96XQ/s320/Rusted+Root+Side+Show.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Can you see the difference in color in the front and back ?(click for close-up) I wet-blocked this and it dried on it's back. I blocked it on a dark green towel so I couldn't tell but I'm thinking the dye sort of bled. I need to reblock. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Whatevs, I'm wearing it tomorrow to work.</span></p></div>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-70774934050115279962007-06-29T12:39:00.000-04:002007-06-29T15:59:05.589-04:00Super Bulky Yarn + 100 Degree Weather<span style="font-family:arial;">Yesterday I received my Twinkle yarn and wow. It’s great - it’s incredibly soft and luscious but well, it just seemed a bit wrong holding it in my hands with the type of heat wave we had going on. You wouldn't exactly call this summer yarn.<br /></span><div><div><div><div><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">After I left work I headed over to <a href="http://www.theyarnconnection.com/">Yarn Connection </a>on Madison and I think about 36th street to buy some new needles. I need a 19 and a 17 for my two projects and not only were they godly expensive, take a look at that thing!</span></p><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1313/662504278_f55f3949b6_b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081537471340207554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sl1xjBu4UmejvxuIznNXgonk9KBZ-AL4FNI2HgPgHCR7yTCCZiOT9rBYqvDwwHg8jyYFiYjiWLp2fCsm3f_z0rL6kGXHVAUI5wDPUd4RP3s2bEtqevpJJUvrmMvJCIsPYFsx0g/s400/Twinkle+in+Eggplant+and+size+19+needles.JPG" border="0" /></a> <p><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">During the NBA draft (snore), I got a chance to spend some quality time with Hart and this pattern/yarn. I didn’t bother swatching. The reason why is because I checked out the other 6-7 FOs for this project on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a> and every knitter used a 19 when using this yarn.<br /><br />Knitting with a size 19 is hard. While projects do take longer with a smaller needle, I really like knitting with small needles – the smaller the better. And I’m a tight knitter. For me, knitting with an 11 is hard and awkward but size 19 is next level. I knew I was getting myself into this, it is just a major adjustment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Anyway, I casted on and knit about 5 rows and it all just felt and looked sloppy so I pulled it out. At this point I was tired and with a plan to swatch on both the 19s and the 17s, I gave up for the evening.<br /><br />This morning I got up at my normal time which left me enough time to shower and get to work on time. Instead I made coffee and hit the couch for a little swatching. I was on a mission and work could wait. With the 19s I was doing a tad bit over 10 stiches per 6 inch and the called gauge is 9.5. So I was pretty close. I then swatched wit the 17 and while the gauge was too high – 12 stitches per inch- my god the knitting was so much easier and smoother looking.<br /><br />I did spend a lot of today trying to figure out how I could make this tunic using the 17. Figuring this out is very easy for some, but I'm a novice. I was planning to make the small and figured out that if I followed the pattern for the large the width/circum would work. But now I will likely run out of yarn as I’ll need to make more rows to get the length.<br /><br />As of right now I am going to shut up and use the 19s. More pictures to come.</span></p></div></div></div></div>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-40837133926652871942007-06-23T20:10:00.000-04:002007-06-29T13:28:20.266-04:00Twinkle Twinkle<span style="font-family:arial;">Nothing like a little <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a> to get you full force back into knitting.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a>. It’s like My Space for knitters but better. I don’t have my head fully around the powers of ravelry but in the small corner of what I’ve discovered, I am obsessed.<br /><br />Cutting to the immediate chase, I found this <a href="http://www.anothershopgirl.blogspot.com/">knitter</a>, I can’t remember how, and her FOs were amazing. Why? Well, she’s great but she chooses patterns wisely, or at least I just love what she’s done. A large portion came from Twinkle’s Big City Knits. Click <a href="http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/pattern_detail.php?patternID=36">here for pictures </a>of most patterns.</span><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></div></span><a href="http://amazon.com/o/ASIN/0307346110/ref=s9_asin_image_1-serq_g1/002-1063629-9538408?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&amp;pf_rd_r=0MN1V22RQPPWTDJGNQ44&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=288448501&pf_rd_i=507846"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1173/605119735_acea7eab12.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br />So on ravelry, if you find a person who did a (for example) sweater, you can click on that pattern (say, “Ms. Marigold” or “Jaywalkers”) and see every single FO or WIP – pictures, what yarn they used, their modifications, the needles, etc. Basically, this eliminates the annoying protocol of the past. You used to find a patter you loved, want to see if others did it or what yarn they used, and you googled the pattern name or yarn in hopes of finding blogs, pictures, yarn websites, etc. This is all about centralization.<br /><br />But I digress (again).<br /><br />From said great knitter, I clicked on Twinkle and I spent a monumental amount of time looking at different knitters Twinkle knits, and then looking at what yarn they used or substituted with, how much they bought/used, problems they had. In Twinkle case, patterns a) appear to overstate how many skeins and b) Twinkle yarn isn’t like Cascade – it’s hard to find. As you know, learning this is critical.<br /><br />Here is what is next up:<br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Shopping Tunic</strong> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=shopping%20tunic&w=all">(click here for FOs on flickr)</a></span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1302/604966557_83a9758fd4_o.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1302/604966557_fcfa4c7d29.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Magic Shawl:</strong> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=magic+shawl&m=text">(click here for FOs on Flickr)<br /></a></span><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1398/604610325_a5f01de3fe_o.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1398/604610325_59651bf016.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a>And today was all about fulfilling that dream but the scandals of immediate gratification were not met. Today, I got up, went to the local bookstore, bought said book, and perused while getting a pedicure (you know how gnarly feet get while on a trip, walking around everywhere…wait, do I need to justify pedicures?)<br /><br />I then went to Downtown Knits, Purl and The Point. I was hoping for Cascade Magnum (a suggested substitution) and while the first two had a skein or two of each color, they didn’t have what I needed. I mean, did I really think any knit store in their right mind would carry a super bulky in the summer. Anyway, I came back home, planning to buy the Cascade online, and from a random google search found the <a href="http://www.twinklebywenlan.com/">Twinkle site</a> (no, I didn’t find it easily before), where I bought enough yarn to make the tunic in eggplant and the shawl in white. So there we have it.<br /><br />Hart always tells me I’m a very bad story teller. I’m longwinded, I know, but this took a whole to get through! Anyway, I can’t WAIT to start.<br /><br />Finally, while I do feel like I am not paying attention to current projects but only looking for the next, I will say that I wove in ends and blocked Rusted Root yesterday and if Hart isn’t too jetlagged when he returns from Milan tomorrow, pictures will be taken. So since he will be jetlagged and annoyed by my pressing for a photoshoot, they will come this week.</span> </div>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10264931.post-28830415491288772722007-06-21T19:56:00.000-04:002007-06-21T20:30:10.732-04:00Caffy McFaFa<span style="font-family:arial;">Holy hiatus batman.<br /><br />It’s been 2 whopping months since my last post and this is due to 3 reasons – the first two legit, the third fairly sloppy.<br /><br /><strong>Reason #1:</strong> Late April came with, well, a tear in the retina that needed repairing. This came with stressing, plus busyness at work, and finally surgery. Horrific eyes runs in the family and my mom (who had eye surgery twice, the first when there was no laser surgery only the old knife *ugh, vomit, scream* and only after all that grief, she developed glacouma), my aunt (hole in retina) and my uncle (hole in the retina) all said, “laser surgery? no sweat”. I’ll tell you there was plenty of sweat and while not horrifying pain, there was pain.<br /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078671396014986402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbo6LHwJ4JwPf5nvufbxFqw-hvUGPgXZzuDLJ6Xq7GJEsko00xjw_mwbSfW3Z1s65w_WmhVGKiO1egDjCQCXHrYmIDtp0AIDojBvHabenWQLi6GsKgMs8fVaGr6VIm0IVDSYetw/s400/Eye_2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><strong>Reason #2:</strong> Into May and we had trip planning. Hart had a business trip in Prague and I learned mid-month that I was due in Switzerland for work (the exact same week, mind you) and so we turned it into a long and great trip to Eastern Europe. Planning a 3 week trip to 5 countries in 2 weeks was no easy task. Hart and I flew to Prague late May for a few days, Hart stayed and I flew to gorgeous Switzerland, and then we met up in Budapest, went on to Slovenia and finished up in Croatia.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078671696662697138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ylZm0ZAXlovNuS3iTUC1Wdqpp4rd1tU9mQs3gFqOlHm38qaRvEoDcc_Xc_9NAcn029y7BFCzSmb5mYpjIXkPDtgiLPzGpUCTyhBjoYY_eIT4nfkLw6db4s0RaQT-ge86D5RFBw/s400/revised-eastern-europe-map.jpg" border="0" /><br />I am back, jet lagged, but not afraid to discuss reason number 3.<br /><br /><strong>Reason 3</strong> is that I am not feeling the knitting lately and it’s really bumming me out. I think it’s the summer but I’m not sure. Perhaps it was the full excessiveness of knitting that occurred between November-ish and April. I think, and hope, that it's due to the summer. For the summer, knitting to me = a) I’m not into summer knit looks and b) god, it’s freaking too hot to have a lap full of wool. Also, I do keep reading in blog land about community and, with the exception of Hart’s mom, who is in Michigan, I don’t have any knitting friends. Wah. I just kind of wish I had someone to knit with (wow that sounded really weird)<br /><br />In terms of the agenda, I have my lovely <a href="http://katyaflutes.blogspot.com/search/label/IN%20Shawl">shawl</a> – see last post for reminder. But this piece requires full attention and focus (not what I’m yearning for at this moment) and I have to finish and block my <a href="http://katyaflutes.blogspot.com/search/label/Rusted%20Root">Rusted Root </a>(which is actually pretty great and deserves an outing).<br /></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong></strong></span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Other:<br /></strong>Onto other things, I need to figure out how to create a To Do list on this blog-thing. I said back in January that I have much self-improvement to be doing but I’d like a way to track it.<br /><br />The first thing that is coming to mind as of now is that when Hart and I were in Europe I realized yet again that it’s gross that I can only speak one language. I didn’t speak a lick of any language other than English. In Hungary and Czech Republic, the term for “thank you” was actually pretty hard to even attempt to pronounce. More so, in all places we visited people were too excited to speak English that I felt it would be a disservice not to let them practice. This issue of a second language is not (and shouldn't be) a big deal for many and it’s perfectly fine, but it’s not okay for me.<br /><br />For me the language that makes most sense is Spanish for fairly obvious reasons. Hart is muy supportive but he always is and does not push my laziness. I think this is why I love him but our combined laziness makes for, well, procrastination. Hart and I went to an uber crazy grad school and we always joke that we are the two most unmotivated people from our class and while our b-school friends are off making millions, running marathons, speaking 15 languages and starting charities, we’d prefer drinking beer and watching Michigan games. It only figure we found each other.<br /><br />SPEAKING of Michigan games. We just bought our plane tickets for the Notre Dame game for September 15th.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Finally, I got invited to <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a>. Tres Excited.</span></div>Katyafluteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00590493044390523916noreply@blogger.com2