progress, progress, progress! i'm down to 3 skeins left (including the one i'm working on) out of 11 for the scarf!

finally looked through all those knitting books i got from the library. i'm a little disappointed - i was expecting more from these books, guess i'm just picky. well, here's what got added to my 'maybe to knit one day list':

from KnitKnit, i love the Missing Piece Hobo Bag, Bridie and who doesn't want a Car Antenna Cozy?


from Runway Knits, i'm into the Vintage Shawl but more as a small blanket on the couch.



from Romantic Hand Knits, i love the look of Vertigo and i've been wanting a light-weight scarf.

although i have to admit, i'll probably add more from each book after i start seeing others' FO's - sometimes i fall in love with a pattern after i see all the possibilities.

i've never been too into crochet. there have been a few items i've seen that made me think, "ok, i'll just learn enough to make that". here are two more items to add to that list, from Crochet Me:

do you love to read?

so....a while ago i found LibraryThing and thought it was pretty neato and now i keep track of all my books there. but the best thing about it is that i found BookMooch through it. in LibraryThing you can click on one of your books that you want to get rid of and on the right column it says "swap this book (x/y)" and x is the number of books out there that people are giving away and y is the number of people that want the book. it's completely free but you do have to pay postage to send them off - but you get free books too! so if you love books and have books that you wouldn't mind giving away, you really should check out BookMooch. here's what i've got (not much i know). i just received my first book, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting by Milan Kundera and i've got 5 more coming and 5 to send off. it's pretty cool man.

i finally took a look at Knit 2 Together by Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark. at first, i thought it looked lame - the silly cover and all. but it's actually really great - patterns i actually like, funny tidbits from Tracey and great little stories throughout. i think it may have actually inspired me. especially since Mel's parting words are, "Don't stop knitting, even in summer." how appropriate.

here are my pics from the book:

linen kilt - a beautiful skirt that hopefully works (none of that baggy-ass thing)


house slippers - finally some slippers i would actually wear


luxe neck warmer - still undecided on this, but interested


butterfly pullover - i can't tell if it's the top, or the way the model makes the top look, that i like


pimlico shrug - i've been looking for something just like this!


table skirt - i can't help it, i like it


novella socks - more legwarmers! but i can't do ruffles



grownup bonnet - cute and functional


rowena cardigan - i'm not 100% sure about this one yet



and ya, they have a pattern for that darn sweater on the cover, but it's not making it on my list.


so, i've been thinking i maybe i should ease back into it...i really need some dishcloths!

well, after finding that Weaving Works only had 2 colors of Filatura di Crosa Zarina i came home with the intention of just ordering it online. then i started having my doubts about paying about $50 for the yarn plus i still need to get the needles. so i think i found a good substitute for those Leg Cozies - Laines Du Nord Giunco - which i've never heard of before but it's a good price and the right color (#608). so i posted on livejournal to see if i could get some advice cuz substituting yarn gets me kinda itchy.

have i told you before that i love Miranda July? ya she's great. we got to see her do a reading & interview at Neumo's last thursday. she's so real and so talented - i can't wait to start her book - i just bought it yesterday. from what i've heard it's amazing and i love the website for it. i'm not too into Lavender Diamond but Becky Stark was great - she's really funny. Sarah Rudinoff has an amazing voice and her original song was very Fiona Apple-esque.

argh...there has been no knitting for way too long! i'm enrolled in the UW's Certificate Program in Web Technology Solutions and haven't had much time for anything else. although i am super happy about this class i'm in (and becoming even more of a geek) i really do miss knitting. lucky for me, tomorrow is my birthday. i took off today and tomorrow because i knew i would just hate myself if i had to work on my birthday. so i have big plans to knit and do anything else i desire all day tomorrow. today is going to be dedicated to school.

don't worry i did get a bit of a knitting (-related) fix this weekend. finally got Stephanie Japel's (aka Glampyre) Fitted Knits from the library. ohhhhhhhhhhhhh...now i have at least 6 more items i want to knit.


if i ever feel comfortable in tube tops i'd make the Coquette Lace Tube Top


i LOVE this Textured Tunic with Side Buttons, mainly because of CanopyFairy's version in blue.


the Airy Wrap-Around Lace Sweater is on the maybe someday list


and just because i love boatneck's - the Boatneck Bluebell Sweater. although i'm not so much for the bluebell sleeves - i'd probably modify that.



the Drop-Stitch Lace Tank is really cute although i think i'd leave out the ribbing towards the bottom.


another fav is the Split-Neckline Cap-Sleeved Tee. probably one of the first i'll make from her book.

my head is buzzing. today was filled with scanning patterns from the knitting books i got from the library: Scarf Style, Nicky Epstein's Knitted Flowers, Vintage Knits and Loop-d-Loop. to be honest, i'm really not sure if this is ethical but really what else would you do with a knitting book from the library (i mean use the pattern for free). i don't plan on giving the patterns to anyone else so i guess it's ok. i only do this with books that i'd never buy because there just aren't enough patterns to justify the cost.

anyway, the majority of the morning was spent researching the kind of yarn to use for my sis's scarf. it's a pain since she's allergic to most animal fibers and i really want it to be warm. i think i'm going with KnitPicks Shine Worsted in Terra Cotta. it's 60% Pima Cotton, 40% Modal - supposedly super soft and great for cables. i'm making Here and There Cables from Scarf Style.