Cable-Ready

I love sweaters! I always have. I love cardigans, turtlenecks, sweater-vests, hoodies. You name the sweater type, and I'm all over it. My very favorite, though, has always been "cabley" type sweaters. All sorts of twisty turny patterns that look so complicated, and really make a sweater stand out.

So, with that in mind, I decided that my new January knitting thing would be learning how to knit cables. I went to the library and checked out "Cables Untangled" by Melissa Leapman (one of my totally fave designers), and after reading the pattern directions over and over, realized that cables are really quite simple - just basically knitting out of order (which I sometimes do by accident anyways).

After a few minutes, I was off and running with my new found skill, and I must say, these lovely "beginner" cables really look quite fancy and complicated, which, of course, makes me look like I actually know what I'm doing. Yay to that!

A few rows into my new cabled item, and I realized I was really fighting against the cable needle I had. It was so thin, and fiddly (not to mention slippery due to it being a metal needle). My stitches kept threatening to fall of the dang thing, or were getting pulled too tightly. It was making my cable knitting experience a B- at best.

Oh darn - a reason to hit the yarn store (hee-hee). I found a fabulous set of hardwood cable needles at my LYS, and am so much happier!! Hooray - now I completely love knitting cables - a total A++ experience.

Old Fiddly Cable Needle: BOOO!!

New Rock Star Cable Needle: Hip-hip-hooray!!

And the set had 3 different sizes to boot!! Can't beat that with a US7 stick!

Off Topic Tuesday

Science is amazing - chemistry in particular! In high school, I hated chemistry, but now that I'm older, I can see it at work all around me!

For example, how rad is it that you can take a bunch of random ingredients from your kitchen, and come up with a gooey mess that turns into something so lovely?

From this gloppy mess

To this:

To sweet success!!

Who knew chemistry could be so scrumptious???

Now I'm off to enjoy a nice cold glass of milk with my science!

Things to Learn from Boomer (part 1)

So often I find myself wishing I had more hours in the day. I'm sure I'm not alone here, as it seems like everyone is in a hurry these days. Everyone, that is, except for Boomer. He takes each day as it comes, and no matter what his daily commitments may entail, he never skimps on his favorite things. He really prefers a slow pace to a hectic and hurried schedule. And still, he manages to get it all squeezed in.

A little nappie break here.

A little chewy break there.

And always time for his favorite sqeakables.

He always takes time to smell the roses and gives out the love where ever he goes. He really is a model of efficiency.

Or maybe it's because his days are like his years--7 times longer than mine!

Cheap 'n Easy

When I first started knitting, I was hesitant to purchase really expensive yarns, due to the many boo-boos that I created. (I'm still not sure how I managed to knit a fuzzy and frayed donut that one time, but, somehow, I did.)

It was in these early weeks of knitting that I discovered the very inexpensive, oh-so-easy-to-knit-with, Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn. Let me just say, I love this stuff! Let me count the ways:

1. Cheap, cheap, cheap!
2. Nice soft cotton
3. Machine washable
4. Many many colors to suit almost any taste
5. Did I mention: CHEAP?

Now when I say cheap, I mean in price, not in quality!! The only problem was, one-color knitting can be B-O-R-I-N-G. They do have a few variegated colorways, but I still felt limited. Since I wasn't quite ready to invest in some "gourmet" (and pricey) hand painted yarn, I felt the need to learn how to do stripes with my "sack-lunch" yarn. I whipped up a handful of Bibs and Burpee Cloths in the oh-so forgiving cotton yarn, and was quite pleased with the results of my stripes and two-color slip stitch patterns. I've given Bib & Burpee sets to a few different friends (and friends of my sisters), and the color combos seem to be a hit!

Now, my taste in yarn has definitely changed! I could spend hours in my LYS, petting all the yummy yarns, so overwhelmed that all I can get out is an audible "Pretty.." with perhaps a spot of drool on my chin. I will, however, remain faithful to my trusty starter yarn, Sugar 'n Cream! I often reach for a ball of the stuff when I need a super quick project, or just to remind me of how far I've come (or because I have a ton of the stuff lying around - did I mention it was cheap??)!

And now for the BoomBoom...

Meet the BoomBoom of KnittyBoomBoom:

Boomer is a 2 1/2 year old Maltese. I've had him for a little over 18 months. When Boomer first came to me, he was almost 7 months old, and I was already his third home! He was very poorly treated in his first home, and was only in his second home for a few weeks. When I first got him, he was under 4 pounds, but full of love! He now weighs a healthy 7 pounds, and is still full of love, but definitely much happier! Because of the neglect in his first home, he has some issues with his liver, and has been on a very strict low protein diet for over a year now. His vet says he's the healthiest sick doggie she's ever seen.

Boomer thinks he's a big dog - probably because he has such a big personality. He has had quite the fan club going since I first brought him home, and is never without a new toy or outfit from one of his many admirers.

His official name is quite long (Boomer Frankfurter Doodle-Bug Sassafras Tater-Tot Boomba Fancy-Pants Be-Bop Speed-Racer Pea-Pod Stinky Boomerang Mushy-Mush Spazzo Boomerella Paquito Stink-bug Monkey-boy Murphy-Greenberg I, Limited Edition, Esq. Int'l.), but he answers to just plain old Boomie.

So that's it. Knitting and Boomer. The two things that give me the most happiness and the most peace. KnittyBoomBoom.

Here we go....

Early last year, I decided I needed to be more "crafty". I had been doing cross stitch and needlepoint for years. Kinda got into painting, and even purchased a sewing maching sometime in 2005 (heck, it's even been used a time or two). But I really wanted to learn to knit. My Nana was a knitter, but, as a kid, I was never interested in learning how. I could kick myself for not taking her up on her offers to teach me, but what can ya' do?

I found a great little booklet on how to teach yourself knitting, bought some needles and some VERY cheap acryllic yarn, and off I went. Oh, how impressed I was with myself! Casting on? Easy peasy! Knit stitch? Puh-lease! Purl stitch? .... Um, Purl stitch??? Yeah, that's where my progress came to a screeching halt, and I put away my needles for a couple of months. Yes, I'll admit it, I'm an "Instant Gratification Girl"! And proud of it! Special shout out here to all my "IG Home Girls" out there!!

Anyhoo, I finally decided that it was time to pick up the needles and "yarn" again and give it another whirl. I gave myself a pep talk, took a deep breath, and......what was my problem? I love the purl stitch! Not really sure why I couldn't get it before, but boy o boy, I sure get it now!

And off I went, knitting AND purling to my little heart's content.


So that is how it began. And now, here I am, sharing my (many, many, many, many) mistakes and random few sucesses on my way to being a better knitter.