Okay, this week's knitting night was one of our biggest ever! We had ten people (and for our little stitch n bitch, that's lotsa people. Yahoo!) We usually sit outside but it was rainy so we crammed four or five tiny coffee tables together and all sat inside at Hot Corner. (My apologies to anyone who was actually trying to study at the coffee shop on Tuesday night. We'll make you a scarf or something.)

So, because I am the luckiest girl ever, I got to meet yet another one of my knitblogging friends! Jenny from High Energy Knits was in town doing job stuff and house hunting, and she just happened to come into town on knitting night! Jenny is just as wonderful and enthusiastic and interesting in person as she is on her blog, and we had so much fun talking and knitting away. And the best part is that soon enough, she'll be moving down to these parts and we'll get to knit more often!

Here we are:

We really did knit some, in between all the talking.

And here's knitting night roll call:

Anne Marie, Sarah, Mary Katherine

Anne Marie is working on the most perfect ribbed scarf I've ever seen. Sarah and Mary Katherine both came for the first time ... Sarah is a brand new knitter, and Mary Katherine is a seasoned knitting veteran. We like that. We like a little variety.

MJ and Jenna

Mary Jessica is finished her beautiful red ribbed scarf and started (and nearly finished!) her purple one on Tuesday. Umm, she is a super speedy knitter and she just started. And her stitches look excellent too. No fair.

Jenna WAS working on the Much-Longer-Than-Seven-Day Afghan, but I think she commandeered Jenny's sock for this photo op....

Kristy and Leslie

I taught Kristy (and I'm sorry if I spelled it wrong!) how to knit during knitting night. She knitted with some big needles and dishcloth cotton all through the night and seemed to be getting the hang of it. She can crochet so she knows her way around some yarn. And Leslie is working on a cute little bowtie scarf in the softest, prettiest merino wool...love that color. (Sarah B was there too, but she left before we could get a pic.) Yay knitting group.

We just had such a good time. It just seems like so many knitters are kindred spirits. Everyone I've met or even talked to that I have met through my blog just feels like a friend right away. YAY. I can't stop saying YAY.

I'm working hard on a redesign for my blog, including an absolutely FABULOUS drawing that Mary Jessica did for me. I'm going crazy because I can't show ya, but I want it to be a surprise. I'm so excited.

Countdown to American Idol New Orleans Road Trip-a-thon: 3 days
Number of American Idol hopefuls at this year's auditions: 10,000+ per city

ACCCCKKKKK!!!

Posted by Carrieoke at 2:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (25)

So I reworked the Top Secret Knitting Project this weekend. I was about 5 inches into the No-Shaping version of the Chickami when I decided that I really needed shaping. So, I started the shaping as instructed in the pattern. Then I realized that you're supposed to start the shaping after about 1 or 2 inches and that my tank was going to be more of a tunic.

So, I ripped.

I undid the cast-on edge, undid 5 rows of ribbing (have you ever un-knit ribbing? umm, don't if you can avoid it), and ripped back probably 7 or 8 more inches of stockinette stitch. Then, I put my trusty Denise needles back in and knitted downward. I added four rows of a simple lace pattern right before where I wanted the tank to end, and I ended with two rows of seed stitch.

And I LOVE it! Yay!

I took a picture, but I'm trying not to reveal too much since the V. Lucky Recipient of this tank top might read my blog....

Lace can be fun!

Ooh, it's so stretchy and sheeny. The yarn, for all those who asked, is Paton's Katrina, on sale for $4.50 or so at Hobby Lobby right now. I believe I am using the Ocean colorway. Yum.

The mail was also very good to me yesterday. I got this:

Her name was Lola...she was a showgirl...

Oh, and I had a gift certificate from a monkey friend of mine for a fabulous online yarn store and check out what I got with that:

Shiny pinky purply goodness.
Click for closer.

This yarn is destined to become a shawl or poncho, I can feel it. It's a thick and thin yarn, so maybe Paris Loop? Or maybe the Rowan Martini Poncho?** Oh, the choices are endless.

I'm a lucky yarn girl this week, I must say. Yahoo.
Knitting night tonight, with possibly FOUR new people! Oh my goodness!
It's my dear friend Valerie's birthday. Go wish her a happy happy!

**On a different note, FreckleGirl was trying to assist me in understanding how the Martini Poncho is assembled. Needless to say, we both had ...ahem....too much free time at work, and I was trying to fold paper to simulate poncho pieces, and this is what happened. Yes, that's a water bottle wearing a poncho. Do not try this at home. Giggle. Or, to quote Jess, gah!

Posted by Carrieoke at 2:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)

Ooh! So many fun things happened this week.

1. I talked to FreckleGirl on the phone this week! We were discussing a Vogue strappy tank that Jess is working on, but of course we just start gabbing about lots of things. It is so, so fun to actually hear the voices of bloggers that I read every day. And I never know what to expect! But Jess is totally awesome and funny and just as enjoyable on the phone as on her blog, and so is her fabulous fiance, Casey. Funny excerpt from our conversation:

Jess: "Hello, is this Carrieoke?"
Me: "Yes..."
Jess: "This is FreckleGirl..."

(As Jess pointed out to me, it's like we're using our secret agent names. Yay for knitting blogs. :)

2. Anne Marie and I finished our joint secret project ... it was a Very Harlot Poncho for our friend JoAnna who graduated from the Atlanta School of Massage last night! Anne Marie Since Anne Marie posted a v. silly picture of me at the grad ceremony, I am returning the favor:

Massage School Graduations are Fun!

And here is the graduate herself, modeling the poncho that we finished in the car on the way to Atlanta:

isn't she lovely?

We all had a late dinner afterwards and enjoyed the wine sampler (3 small glasses for the price of one! Dang!) and LOTS of food. Click to see us toasting our waitress....

And JoAnna has decided to join us in New Orleans for some American Idol fun. (Okay, JoAnna, it's published now...you can't change your mind..... )New Orleans, here we come!!

3. I've been knitting my little hands off on my other secret project, which I still can't tell you too much about. I'll tell you it's a tank top, and I'm using Bonne Marie's fabulous Chickami pattern, but I want to add a little something to the neckline. Oh, before I keep going, here's my progress. I tried to take a picture during lunch at the coffeeshop today, but it didn't show the progress clearly enough. Here's the picture with the office lights glaring:

I'm stretchy and sheeny.

I'm a little over five inches into the body. Goal: Finish body this weekend.

Anyways, I noticed that Rachael added some lace to the top of her Chickami, and I figured that I might try the same. Now, if I can just find a lace pattern that I like that I also think Secret Gift Recipient would like......hmmm. I think I'd better go peruse my knitting stitch bible. Any lace suggestions? Something subtle and pretty, but a little hip and edgy too. Lace can be hip and edgy, right?

This is Secret Agent Carrieoke signing off. 10-4.

Posted by Carrieoke at 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

Well, we had another fun-filled knitting group last night. We met at our new favorite place - Hot Corner Coffee - and sat outside on the sidewalk, which was ideal for fresh air, people watching, and tiny schmoos who came to knitting group. L'il Frankie was hyper for about five minutes and then she decided to relax:

what a good little schmoo. (Frankie, not Leslie)

We had another new member join us for the first time. This is Mary Jessica:

Hi, Mary Jessica!

Anne Marie and I were working on Ultimate Top Secret And Dangerous Knitting Projects last night. I guess I'll show them to you anyways.

Shh! It's a secret!

Nothing to see here...just top secret knitting....

Okay, so maybe I'm being a bit dramatic about the secrets. But I am knitting a gift for a faraway friend, and Anne Marie and I are working together on a gift for a nearby friend. They are both very worthy recipients indeed! More on that when the gifts have been dispersed.

I tried to take a close up of my project with my new macro lenses for my camera and if you want to see the result, click
here. This yarn, Paton's Katrina, is stretchy and has a little sheen to it, and the knitted fabric is lovely. I'm so excited! It was also on sale at Hobby Lobby, so hooray for affordable yarn.

I gotta go work now.

Posted by Carrieoke at 3:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)

Ah, the weekend. I was so lazy lazy this weekend. I worked at the coffee shop Saturday morning and my Jacob came by on his way to a meeting with his camera:

Want some coffee?

I found out this week that my one shift is the ever-relaxing Saturday, 7am-noon, yahoo! we were S-L-O-W this Saturday, so I took that opportunity to knit on my first real sock:

Hi, I'm Carrie's first real sock. Aren't I cute?

I used Bernat Denim Style and size 8s because I'm scared of tiny DPNs. I'm working on that fear, I promise. But this was my first one, so I had to ease into it.

So, the final result looked like this:

Hi, I'm done now. My cuff is a little wonky, but overall I fit very well. Woot!

I used Wendy's Generic Toe Up Sock Pattern: (pattern found here) and it was very clear and easy to follow. I made a few beginner mistakes, including some slight laddering between my dpns and some holiness at the short row wraps. I also had some problems casting off too tightly and NOT being able to fit the sock over my foot (Jacob thought it was hilarious when I was announcing, dramatically, My Very First Finished Sock! and then I couldn't get it on ...grr....he laughed so much.)

But I started sock #2 last night, and after completing the toe I noticed NO holes and NO ladders...yay, practice makes perfect. I *heart* socks. (That is, I *heart* socks that knit up really fast using size 8 dpns and kinda chunky yarn. I'll let you know after I knit one using size 1 dpns and sock yarn if I still *heart* socks.)

I'm glad you liked the boob holder! I wore it to play the piano on Sunday and it was so comfy and cute. YAY.

I haven't been even looking at Polka Purl Dots after the sad realization (graciously pointed out by Laura at Cosmic Pluto Knits before I got too far, thank you) that I have been doing the side seams wrong and I will need to rework them before going on. I think I'm going to attempt to fix it with a crochet hook because I REFUSE to pull out that much knitting in silky Svale. Nope, can't do it. I'd been putting that off, until a lovely reader named Emily posted a link to her own PPD in her photo gallery. Man, it's beautiful. I really want to finish mine now! Thanks to Emily for the inspiration. (and if you want to check it out, her link is in the comments to the August 13 entry...)

So, deep breath, crochet hook in hand, and I will repair my little side seams. *sigh*. Such is the life of a not-so-experienced and impatient knitter.

So many things I want to knit right now...I picked up the last two issues of Interweave Knits at Borders last night, mostly for some pretty pretty tanks in the Summer issue and the flower basket shawl in the Fall issue. I've been wanting to do a shawl for awhile, and my aforementioned fear** of tiny dpns has prevented me from doing some lace. But the flower basket shawl uses size 7s, I believe, and that's okay with me. Sharlyn finished an absolutely gorgeous shawl and I'm hoping mine will turn out just as well.

Have a great day!

**(Look, I know this whole needle fear is irrational, and I'm working on it. Okay? I promise. I'm going to do some intensive exposure-response therapy once I get some sock yarn. And I can talk about exposure response therapy because I've done it before for anxiety in other realms of my life!!)

Posted by Carrieoke at 3:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (25)

Okay, I really tried to wait until tonight, until Jacob got home and could take a real pretty picture of me in my newly completed boob holder, but I just got so excited and couldn't wait. After all, my car port is the ultimate location for a modeling session, right? (edited to add: Jacob took some pictures this evening in the sunlight and you can see them here)

I'm tilting my head 'cause I'm happy.

me likey.

Stefanie mentioned that she's working on a cotton one, which seems like a great idea for summer into fall ... although my TLC Amore (80% acrylic, 20% nylon, and yes, made by the same company that makes Red Heart) is quite comfortable and not too warm for a breezy day. I didn't even use the whole skein of yarn! That's less than four bucks for this cute little thing.

I did ribbing at the bottom border and at the end of the sleeves because I wanted it to be a little stretchy around those areas. The cool thing about Stef's pattern is that it's easy to add your own kind of edging in if you want. I don't think I'm going to add the border to this one, but definitely in a future version.

What a great pattern, Glammy Stef....

Hmm. next on the knitting agenda: making a pair of socks. I've never made a pair before and I really want to try because I know I can do it. I read on Rachael's blog that Bernat Denim Style makes great thick, quick socks, so I figured I'd try that, since I have like 50 million balls of Bernat Denim Style (it was on sale one time and I went nuts.) I am armed with that yarn, Wendy's tips on toes, and also Wendy's toe up sock pattern. (Thanks, Wendy!) So I gotta make a swatch and knit away. I hope I can do it.

Ooh, I wanna make this too: a very harlot poncho....too cute. In something summery. Any suggestions for a good, affordable summery poncho yarn?

Bella says:

Now that I am flea-free**, I will use my superpowers to hypnotize you!! Muah-ha-ha-ha!

Thanks for all the good luck wishes on New Orleans*. I'll keep you posted about what goes on...and to make the trip even more exciting, I think a good knitblogging friend is going to meet us for a while. Watch out, New Orleans....

*I really want to create a graphic for my blog that has a little knitting girl with a microphone in one hand and knitting needles in the other. (get it? carrieoke? karaoke? didja get it? ) However, my attempts have been painful. if anyone knows how to do that kind of stuff and wants to arrange some kind of trade, email me at cncokerATugaDOTedu.

**ooh, and thanks to reader Amy who suggested calling my vet for the flea pill. I did, and we got it for both dogs, and they are the happiest little schmoos in the world now. so, while they are flea free, we're going to spray down our yard and the house and hopefully eliminate the rest of them. Yay!

Posted by Carrieoke at 2:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (31)

Thanks for all the condolences about the boob holder. I already re-started and am almost up to (down to) the armpits of Boobholder V 2.0. Here is my desk chair modeling it for you:

Really, I'm working hard. I am.

At lunch today Anne Marie decided that she wanted to sit at Hot Corner and knit for a spell. She invited me along, and Joanna and Leslie came too, and look here! It was an impromptu lunchtime KIP!

Don't we look excited?

Leslie is working on the fabulous orange dog smoking jacket for Ms. Frankie Tiny Pants Schmoo-McGee. JoAnna, who is returning to knitting after a brief hiatus, is working on a lovely white dishcloth (and her stitches are, like, majorly even and pretty. I'm so impressed.)
And Anne Marie is making a London Beanie, with a smashing pink and gray color combo. Apparently she is worried about fit, but I think it's going to work out. (Click on all the links to see the girls in action. Oh dear. With phrases like "boobholder" and "girls in action", I may get some strange search requests on for my blog today.)

So, it was fun. and relaxing. And Anne Marie and I got to discuss something very exciting that is coming up at the end of August...our trip to New Orleans. And do you know why we are going to New Orleans?

American Idol, baby.

That's right. American Idol increased their age limit to 28 this year. I was so sad last year because the age cut-off was 24 and as a 26 year old, I had missed my opportunity. I then discovered that this year the age limit is new and improved, and I am eligible! Yahoo!

So, me and Anne Marie and maybe JoAnna and hopefully Jacob and whoever else are going to take a little road trip down to New Orleans so I can camp out in line and audition for American Idol. Yay.

Don't worry. I'm not pinning all my hopes and dreams on one may-not-even-get-to-audition audition in New Orleans, and I fully understand that I may not even get to sing for anyone, even if I camp out for two days and wear my cutest outfit. But damnit, we're going to try. And if I don't get to audition, at least we'll get lots of knitting time. And probably meet some interesting folks. It's fun for the whole family.

So I may be asking you for some song advice in the near future...

Carrieoke out.

Har.

Posted by Carrieoke at 2:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (29)

It's Monday.

I updated my finished gallery if you want to check it out.

I had to frog the boob holder as it was because I went way too many rows and the sleeves were giganti-normous. Just huge. *Pout*. Here's what's left of it. And yes, I could have just frogged back a few rows, but I got really mad at my knitted item and did some awful things to it involving a pair of scissors.

But since this pattern is so good, I couldn't resist casting on my stitches and starting again, as you can see here:

Begin again.

Oh, and if you need some additional encouragement to make one of these cute little mini-sweaters, go look at Stefanie's beautiful pics that she posted. Umm, how beautiful is she? Acck! And the sweater looks fabulous too. So she designed it AND looks great in it. Go, Stef.

I had a really fun weekend...it was the fifth anniversary of the church where I play the piano, and we had lots of festivities, including a big old potluck (where I noted that potlucks are the only time you can eat fried chicken and lasagna in the same meal and no one bats an eye. Yum.) and a drag show on Saturday night. (I know church function doesn't usually equal drag show, but this church is a Metropolitan Community Church, which is an outreach to the GLBT community.) The drag show included Morticia Deville and her back-up singers the Gospel Echoes, who perform Southern Gospel songs in drag. Really.

It was all a bit surreal as I have never seen praise and worship songs performed by drag queens (and it is very different to see a drag show outside of the the bar - drinking context) but it was really entertaining.

Cathy and Wes (her fiance) and Wes' parents came up for the show and the church service the next morning. Wes' brother is gay and his parents are super involved in PFLAG and they were really interested in seeing what the church was about. I think a good time was had by all.

Ooh, and look what Jacob brought back from Powder Springs, courtesy of his Nana?

Tomatoes from her garden:

Delicious.

and a stepping machine! This ain't no Stairmaster, people. This is a stepper, brought back to increase the chances that I might actually exercise at home. We shall see.

Oh, and Polka Purl Dots Progress Check:

Are we there yet?
Click to zoom in on the faux seed stitch side seams.

Okay, enough rambling for today. I was also going to show you pictures of my bonsai trees and talk to you about American Idol, but that's going to have to be for another post, seeing as how it's time to go back to work.

Mwah!

Oh, go see Freckle Girl! She has some big news....

Posted by Carrieoke at 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)

Oh. I feel like crap. My allergies and a little upper respiratory infection have finally knocked me on my butt. I'm still working today, but I'm just barely functioning...you know that feeling when you can't pop your ears? Yeah. Ew.

But, regardless of my current yuckiness, last night was knitting night and we had so much fun. We had a new girl join us for the first time, and here she is with Anne Marie:

Anne Marie and Sarah!

Smashing, don't you think?

I *heart* this pattern!

My mommy knits me things.

Anyways, we had a blast. And we knitted at my new place of part-time employment, Hot Corner Coffee! Yahoo! I just got hired yesterday to work on the weekends, and I think it's going to be a lot less stressful than waiting tables at Molly's. Thank God. So, if you're in the area, come! Have a cup o' joe! Sit a while!

That is, if I can drag my sorry sick ass in tomorrow morning. I have so much more to tell you but no energy to type or look at a computer screen anymore. I'm going home to pass out. Have a great weekend, and I hope you get to knit a lot.

Posted by Carrieoke at 2:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)

I figured I owed you some knitting pictures since you looked at my family pics for so many days..and thank you for all your kind comments about them! I like my sisters and my mom...I guess I'll keep em. :)

Here's the latest Polka Purl Dots Picture, taken on my couch side table** by lamplight:

Is that all I've done? Yep.
Click to see a close up of a polka dot.

I adjusted the color on the close up pic a little to try and give you a better feel for the hot pinkness that is PPD. This Svale yarn is so soft and lovely, and even though I'm still moving at a snail's pace, I'm loving this pattern. It's interesting enough to be fun and easy enough to do while watching Law and Order SVU. What a great combination! I have two more sets of 14 rows before I'm done with my waist shaping. That'll be done in...oh, three years? Just kidding. Hopefully in a week or so. If I knit every night.

I have something else fun to show you...I got something absolutely adorable in the mail from a Brainy Lady...

What a fun mail surprise!

If you can't read the words, it says "May Happiness Fill Every Day" right above the dog wrapped in yarn, and then up the side it says, "Wooldog Diary". Umm, how CUTE is that?!?!? And how thoughtful of Alison to think of me...I also got two adorable buttons, which made a happy girl. Yay for happy mail surprises. And wooldog diaries. Thanks Alison!

Okay. here's my workout update or, what I've done this week.
Monday: strength training and cardio.
Tuesday: Cardio, in which I discovered that "I've Got That Boom Boom" by Britney Spears and "Double Dutch Bus" by some funky old R and B band both have great beats for jumping rope. (or is it jump roping?)
Wednesday: Umm. I'm tired. My arms hurt. Do I have to keep working out?
Thursday: TBA, when I get up tomorrow. My goal is to actually go to the gym, and do leg stuff and cardio, but 5:45 comes really early and my poor little body is hating me right now. Everyone's saying, work through it, it's only bad the first week, but ew. I felt better when I was an inactive slob.

I know, wrong attitude. But I'm working on it. Gimme a second to think positively.

Okay. GOOOOO EXERCISING! YAY!!!!!! (spirit fingers!!!!!!)

I'll see ya after the first cup of coffee tomorrow.

**Do you see the Ross Dress For Less Price Tag on the table behind the knitting? Dude, do you have Ross in your town? Go there. That place has great deals.

Posted by Carrieoke at 11:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

I got up at 6:30 this morning and went to the gym. Aren't you proud of me? Inspired by my twin sister Cathy looking totally buff and fit, I decided it was time to start moving the old muscles. I haven't had a cigarette in many days (trying not to count) , so I figured I'd take advantage of my newly healthier lungs and exercise. It wasn't horrible. I get really self conscious at the gym, because I joined the UGA gym (only 11.00 a month for staff!) and it's all really skinny cheerleadery types. I am not above type. I am slightly dorky computer girl type. But I decided that I didn't want to be friends with those girls anyways and went to the gym with my greasy spiky morning hair and my newly acquired five dollar Target (pronounced Tar-jhay) shorts. So I did it! I worked out my arms and chest and did cardio. Tomorrow is just cardio. We shall see how long this lasts, but I did feel very energetic and refreshed at work this morning.

(Pause - I am giggling because Jacob made a CD mix to clean the house too, and Mr. Roboto by Styx just started blaring in my den.)

This weekend was busy busy busy. On Saturday morning I went to a wedding shower for Cat. There were lots of ladies that I didn't know there, but my mom and older sister Michelle came, and the food was really good. There were these really cute old twins named Louise and Eloise (can you believe it?) and they were so funny. Here's a pic of Michelle, Cathy, me and Mom at the party:

the fam. well, the girls anyway.

It was fun in a strange way. I still can't believe my twin sister is getting married in November....So after the shower, I had to drive to way South Georgia to play the piano at a wedding. (My first job at a wedding. Aww.) It went well, but dang, Newnan is really far...and I got super freakin' lost on the way home. So I left in the morning at 9AM for Cat's shower and got home about 11:00 PM Sat night...I was a tired schmoo.

No knitting knews really. I've just been working on the mini sweater and I'm nearing the end...YAY! Can't wait to show you guys. I think it's going to be super cute.

Okay, enough for me. I'm going to go nap. Or eat. Or maybe knit.

Posted by Carrieoke at 5:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (20)