Head Games

Since I started the Camp Loopy KAL this summer, I’ve been thinking about KALs (and prizes!) so I decided to join along with the Ravellenic Games this year. (You may remember that way back when I taught myself how to knit socks on 2 circular needles during the first? Knitting Olympics, and I haven’t followed the Olympics or its associated KALs since then.)

First I looked at the list of teams, and found the group “12 Shawls in 2012”. I figured since I had already finished 8 shawls this year (!) that I would join the group. Little did I know that you had to start and complete the shawls this year, and at least 2 of mine I had started in December 2011, just over the line. And I only had 5 completed photos, so somehow I need to complete 7 *more* shawls this year to be eligible for all the prizes.

I tried really hard to understand the Ravellenic Games’ rules, but they got more and more convoluted as I went on. I was going to compete in the “WIP Wrestling” game and try to finish the Summit shawl I started for my MIL earlier this year. But then I started getting worried that I wouldn’t finish it in time. So it was suggested to me that I compete in the “Cast On Trap Shoot” game. I thought that was fine at first since I have to cast on and knit my Camp Loopy final project during this time too, but then as I started reading the rules again I got even more confused! Ultimately as I’ve understood it, the goal is to start as many projects as you can in the 20 day time period (?), and complete them to 1/3 before you move on to the next one. So far I’ve “finished” 3 shawls, and started 2 more since July 27th!

The first one is also my first intarsia project ever (and isn’t the Knitting Olympics goal to challenge yourself? 🙂 ), Two Face, where you use two different yarns and knit them together into a shawl. So far so good …

Next, my second intarsia project ever, and I’m loving that one too! It’s called the Universal Kite Shawlette and I can’t wait to finish and make another even!

And finally (the other two are only a few rows done, so you’ll have to wait to see them!), my Camp Loopy #3 project. I bought a Zauberball and some solid black yarn from The Loopy Ewe and went through many project ideas, all failing miserably. (Mostly because they ALL were only charted and I hate charts!!!) I tried Multnomah, 22.5, and Revontuli and Lazy Katy, but to no avail. I finally settled on Autumn in Vincennes, a lacy shawl that has two colors but is not entirely charted (and is free), and so far, so good. I “finished” it for the games, but of course need to get back to it to finish it by the August 27th Camp Loopy deadline.

Summer Sunshine

Well, believe it or not, my summer is already over.

Last year my kids started in our local schools and our neighborhood school is in the year round program.  Personally, I’m not a fan of the year round schedule, but I don’t really want to change their schools since they’re doing pretty well.  Anyway, we got out of school on June 22 and started again on August 1st!  Back when we had a summer I hated summer because we couldn’t afford to send them to camp all summer. Now we could afford to to that, but we don’t have summer! 😦

The 5 weeks the kids had off was pretty fun, though.  We went to San Diego to celebrate my mom and aunt (father’s sister)’s 70th birthdays, and my sister and husband’s 40th birthdays.  I got a lot of knitting time during our long drive (normally about 9 hours but it took us 12 to get back 😦 )  Then the weekend afterwards we went up to Fort Bragg, CA to go on the Skunk Train (and of course Mendocino Yarn Shop!).  That meant another 4 hour drive (each way) and a 4 hour total train ride to knit!

Needless to say, I finished my second Camp Loopy project.  It’s a really fun one, and I would seriously consider making it again.  It’s Elfe, and I used 2 skeins of Cascade Heritage sock yarn, in 2 different reds.

One

Well, I am happy to say that I have finally finished my Camp Loopy project one.  It was such a hassle. I got the wrong yarn. I started a new project. That project failed (the Peasy pattern was horrific to follow).  I got the right yarn (after escalation).  I started my Zauber Shawl. I decided I hated the yarn and how it knit up, and the pattern was boring!

 

I started my Boneyard shawl.  This was also boring, and I hated the way the yarn knit up. 

I had pictured it having longer color repeats, so it looks very muddled.  

 

So, a month later, I have projects to donate to EEROP, Camp Loopy project one done, and still have the one skein of Mountain Colors yarn to use (love that colorway), and the Peasy pattern (any takers?)

Two Years, Two Days

Camp Loopy started today. I agonized for 4 straight days over which pattern to use, and I’m still not fully on board, but I figure I’ll give it one out of the four weeks I have to complete the project and then reevaluate.

I’m trying out the Peasy pattern.

With Mountain Colors yarn in the colorway Mountain Tango. I love this colorway. I hope it works out great on whatever project I end up with in a month!

Whatever You Like

It’s that time, another

Camping

It’s official!  My friend Laura convinced me to try out Camp Loopy this year!  She did it last year, and I thought, why not!

Camp Loopy is a project set created by The Loopy Ewe yarn store, where you make 3 projects over 3 months using yarn purchased at The Loopy Ewe (I’m also hoping that spending that money will get me all the cute The Loopy Ewe bags that Laura has sported over the year!).

Project 1 is something that is at least 450 yards, knitted within the period of 5/27-6/27 and designed by a crafter not from your country. 

So I’ve spent all day trying to figure out what project is relatively quick, has a non-American designer, and will work with this gorgeous yarn:

Here are my ideas:

Pintuck T-shirt

Harlequin Learns Japanese

and/or any suggestions you have … fingering/DK weight yarn, t-shirt or shrug, not too many yards (under 1000 – I’ve got less than 800 on the way), non-American designer …

Walking on Sunshine

I missed the Ten on Tuesday for a few weeks ago (no good excuse) but now I’ve decided I just have to do it!  The theme was “10 Songs that Put You into a Great Mood” and I’ve got quite a few of those! It’s hard to put them into ranked order, so I’m going to do just a general 10 list, in no particular order:

1) Anything by “Weird Al” Yankovic, but I’m going to say our favorites are “Virus Alert” and “Trash Day”

2) My Little Red Book – by Love, but I prefer the Mel Torme version

3) Pennsylvania Polka by Frankie Yankovic (no relation to Al!) I loved this in the movie “Groundhog Day” and since have been listening to every version I can get my hands on.

4) Safety Dance by Men Without Hats, but I also love the version by the Glee cast.

5) Baroque Hoedown by Perrey-Kingsley.  This is the theme from Disneyland’s Electric Light Parade.

6) Godzilla by Blue Oyster Cult. I just love the campy-ness of this song!

7) Surfin’ Bird by The Ramones.  It’s pretty similar to the original, but it’s by The Ramones!

8) Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep – I love the version by Lush, but pretty much all of them are very fun.

9) Yummy Yummy Yummy by the 1910 Fruitgum Company  How can’t you sing along with such a fun song!

10) Classical Gas by Mason Williams. My son is learning something called Classical something on the viola and I was so disappointed to hear it wasn’t Classical Gas! Check out Glen Campbell’s version too!

Joking

I’ve been at the computer all day, meaning to get to tomorrow’s (oops!) Ten on Tuesday! This week it’s “10 favorite comedy movies” and do I have favorite comedy movies?!  In fact, I just went to the movies last week to see “American Wedding” and brought my knitting with me! I’m working on a Creekbed scarf which is all stockinette so lots of knitting to do.  I’ve seen all the “American … ” movies but I think I still like the first one best.

 

But as for my favorites, here goes:

 

1) Bottle Rocket: the first and best Wes Anderson movie.  Hilarious, cute, romantic and just wonderful!

2) Clerks: the first and best Kevin Smith movie. “I’m not even supposed to be here today.” 😉

3) Office Space: The best homage to work since Dilbert. “I wouldn’t say I’ve been missing it, Bob.”

4) Better Off Dead: John Cusack, enough said.

5) Pee Wee’s Big Adventure: Pee Wee, Tim Burton and Elizabeth Daily!

6) Valley Girl: A great view of Hollywood in the ’80s as well as some great characters and stars. “Well f*** you, for sure, like totally.”

7) Monty Python and the Meaning of Life: All of their movies are great, but this one takes the cake, or salmon mousse.

8) Rushmore: One of Bill Murray’s greatest, and he wasn’t even the star of the movie!

9) Mallrats: This was not as well received as other Kevin Smith movies, but it’s my second favorite of his. I use the “Do it, Doug” line whenever someone is doing something really slow in front of me, mostly while driving.

10) Morgan Stewart’s Coming Home: One of the movies that introduced me to my second favorite Jon, Jon Cryer.

Holiday

Happy early Valentine’s Day! I just happen to be working on a very nicely themed project, so here it is:

This is my second Wingspan shawl. I just finished one (in 7 days) for my MIL’s 60th birthday last week, and I love this pattern so I decided to make myself one too.

I’m not as much a fan of the yarn I’m using for this one, though.  The Karaoke did a surprisingly good job of blending light and dark reds and black, but the Lazy Perry Ranch (etsy.com) yarn I’m using for mine is much lighter than I would like and not dyed all that well, IMHO.  But I wanted something that had gradual color changes and I already had this yarn, so that’s what I chose.

Valentine’s Day on a Tuesday is a bit difficult.  I don’t plan on doing anything special, maybe because my husband is working extra hard these days and maybe because I’ve already got a busy day every Tuesday.  But suffice it to say it will be unmemorable.  Tuesday tends to be good TV, so maybe I’ll get to some of my favorites.

I’ve been watching Glee since the beginning.  I used to “enjoy” the very soapy storylines but since the first year it seems to be trying to be more serious and is failing miserably. I now scan through to the songs, and only watch if my favorite characters are on or I like the show. I’ll continue watching, but it’s not nearly as good as it used to be (and that’s saying a lot).

Also on Tuesdays is the competing Storage Wars and Storage Hunters.  I used to only watch Storage Wars, but I discovered that I really enjoy Storage Hunters too, mostly because the auctioneer on Storage Hunters always thinks the bidders look like someone famous, and it’s funny to see who he’ll call out next.  Both shows include some regulars bidding on storage lockers and then their own guess on what something is worth (which seems lame to me).  They try to make money selling the stuff they buy sight unseen.  For reality shows, they’re pretty entertaining.

I hope you get to have a more festive Valentine’s Day than I do! I know at least I’ll be knitting something festive!

Back for More

I’ve been thinking about this blog for a long time. On some level, since we knitters have Ravelry, I’m surprised people still blog, but apparently they do 😉

At first I didn’t use Bloglines to read my blogs, then I got addicted to doing it that way, and then Bloglines got sold, and it didn’t work the way it used to so I totally got out of the habit of even reading the blogs I used to read.

However, I am still knitting up a storm and watching a lot of TV and so I want to keep posting if and when I can get myself up to do it.

So my plan is to get caught up, and then start blogging again! Sound good?