Next!

I finished the wristwarmers. I have to find my camera because a blog post without pictures is kinda boring. I like how they turned out.

I'm still working on my aunt's little purse. I'm using this pattern: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter08/PATTlittlebird.php. I'm knitting with Paton's Classic Wool in brown. Because I hate seaming I've adjusted it a little and knit it round, with an i-cord for the handle.

I don't think I'll have the pumpkin ready for tomorrow. That's okay. I'll keep it for next year.

When I find that piece of technology that's hidden in my car somewhere, I'll post with pictures.

Procastination

I should probably update more often than once a week.

I haven't yet heard back from the interview I had two weeks ago, but I'll give them until Thursday. The lady did say that she wouldn't finish interviewing for a couple of weeks.

I definitely have to get out of the food industry. My fingers are going numb from the hot-to-cold, freezer-to-oven environment. Not good for knitting (or playing oboe, my other hobby).

I finally finished all those wristwarmers and hats for my co-workers (I almost called them colleagues) but I neglected to photograph them. Good riddance. I also finished my first order (breast cancer bag, two cabled wristwarmers, one newborn hat).

Now I'm working on a small felted bag for my aunt, a pair of lacy wristwarmers for a friend who shares my birthday, a pumpkin, and a scarf for another friend. Not to mention the three pairs of socks, winter hats, and baby clothes that are being put on hold for now.

Maybe it's frostnip. Still, not good. I can't afford to lose any fingertips.

My Wrists Hurt

Nothing new on the job front. Whatever. I've got something in the meantime that'll keep me until something better comes along.

I finished the wristwarmers for my co-workers. They loved them and actually paid me for them. Bonus. Now I'm focusing on my next order: newborn hat, two cabled wristwarmers, and a breast cancer bag.

I've finished the knitting end of the bag, but now I have to felt it. This isn't the first time I've felted a project, but I always seem to underfelt. I don't use a machine (I live in an apartment and it costs two dollars a load). In the past I've used the kitchen sink filled with really hot water. Any suggestions on a better way to hand-felt a knitted project? I'd appreciate any feedback.

Short post, I guess. Still working on the brown sweater and the baby layette. I'm thinking of knitting a giant pumpkin out of some orange sport-weight yarn I have. Time to go felt that bag.

Patience Is A Virtue

I did get all of Wednesday off. They didn't do much in the way of renovation; it actually looks worse than it did before! I keep telling them all they need to do is push out the back wall about four feet and bring the freezer indoors. Let's not go there.

On Wednesday I got another call for an interview for Thursday at 2pm. I decided to cancel the 8am interview because the job would've been in Mississauga and this new one would be in Hamilton. Problem? I couldn't call my manager and tell her, because the store was closed. So, I called her the next morning at 8am. She asked why I didn't call her yesterday (the store was closed). She asked why I didn't call her at home (I don't have her home number!). She told me that everyone should have her home number (well, that isn't going to help anyone now, is it?) and told me to come in at 11am. When I got there, she refused to speak to me. I left work at 1pm and came back at 4pm. Nothing's been said yet, so whatever.

I've started selling my knitted items on Facebook. Already I've gotten orders for the Breast Cancer Bag, the Cabled Wristwarmers, and a newborn hat. I've also started my winter knitting (I started and finished two hats yesterday). Oh, yeah, yesterday was Thanksgiving and I had to work but they kicked me out three hours into my shift.

Last Wednesday I went with my mom to the Needle Emporium in Ancaster. Yarn heaven. I finally got her to pick out some sock yarn so I could knit a personalized pair for her. She picked Mini Mochi, in a green colourway.

On the needles right now:

Black wristwarmers for two co-workers;

Mom's basic socks, toe-up;

Brown hooded sweater for either me or my sister;

Baby layette in pink;

Breast Cancer Bag;

and those two pairs of socks I started but which are not important right now.

Far out.

I Give Up

It's Wednesday. Last Friday, we were told we had today off because of renovations. On Monday, we were told that we had to work because the renovations were being done at night. Yesterday there was a sign on the door telling the customers that the store will be closed between 10am Wednesday and 6am Thursday. That's right. The powers-that-be changed their minds again. I am going yarn shopping now, even if they call me up and tell me that the store isn't closing.

Remember those cabled wristwarmers I knit for my mom? That pattern was based on this pattern:

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/60053.html?noImages=

(I knit the scarf, too.)

Therefore, I bring you Cabled Wristwarmers:

Yarn: Bernat Soft Bouclé (or any chunky to bulky yarn)
Needles: Set of four dpns, size 4.5 mm.

LEFT HAND

CO 30 sts. Arrange 12 sts. on first needle and 9 sts. on second and third needles each.

Cable Pattern (Left Hand)

Row 1: K3, P3, K6, P3, K15.
Rows 2, 3, 4: rep row 1.
Row 5: K3, P3, C6F, P3, K15.
Rows 6, 7, 8: rep row 1.

Wristwarmers Pattern (Left Hand)

K2, P2 K1, P1 for four rows.
Commence cable pattern, repeat three times. On second repeat, knit rows 1-5.
Make thumbhole (rows 6, 7, 8, and rows 1, 2, 3 on third repeat): continue pattern, but knit back and forth; do not knit round.
Row 4 (of third cable repeat): knit round, continue pattern.
K2, P2 K1, P1 for three rows. Bind off in pattern. Weave in ends.

RIGHT HAND

CO 30 sts. Arrange 9 sts. on first and second needles each and 12 sts. on third needle.

Cable Pattern (Right Hand)

Row 1: K15, P3, K6, P3, K3.
Rows 2, 3, 4: rep row 1.
Row 5: K15, P3, C6F, P3, K3.
Rows 6, 7, 8: rep row 1.

Wristwarmers Pattern (Right Hand)

K2, P2 K1, P1 for four rows.
Commence cable pattern, repeat three times. On second repeat, knit rows 1-5.
Make thumbhole (rows 6, 7, 8, and rows 1, 2, 3 on third repeat): continue pattern, but knit back and forth; do not knit round.
Row 4 (of third cable repeat): knit round, continue pattern.
K2, P2 K1, P1 for three rows. Bind off in pattern. Weave in ends.

Enjoy!

Dude, That Sucks

Yeah, no more mini-renovation at work. They changed their collective minds. Some of us are really pissed off because we made plans! That's right, when given a day off in the middle of the week, some people actually do something with their lives! That's okay, because I have another interview on Thursday.

On a completely different note, I've decided to post the pattern for the Little Spider Scarf. It's not difficult.

Yarn: Any colour of worsted weight yarn.
Needles: Pair of 5.5 straight needles (or another size of your choice – experiment!)

Pattern (multiples of 5 plus 6):

Rows 1, 3, 5, 7: K3, *move yarn forward, slip 5, move yarn back, k5*. Repeat * to * until 3 sts. remain. K3.
Rows 2, 4, 6: K3, purl across to last 3 sts., K3.
Row 8: K3. *P7, Pick up loose strands on RS with right needle and slip onto left needle. Purl these strands with next st. P2.* Repeat * to * until 3 sts. remain. K3.

Rows 9, 11, 13, 15: K3, *K5, move yarn forward, slip 5, move yarn back.* Repeat * to * until 3 sts. remain. K3.
Rows 10, 12, 14: K3, purl across to last 3 sts., K3.
Row 16: K3. *P2, Pick up loose strands on RS with right needle and slip onto left needle. Purl these strands with next st. P7.* Repeat * to * until 3 sts. remain. K3.

These 16 rows make up the pattern.

Scarf:

CO 36 sts. Knit garter st for 6 rows.
Knit pattern until scarf is 58 inches long.Knit garter st. for 6 rows. Bind off. Weave in loose ends.

I'd appreciate any feedback, if anyone decides to try this.

Will This Never End?

So, after my dad's interview on Wednesday, he got a call for another interview for Friday. And then another for Tuesday. And again, for yesterday. Whoa. So far, he's gotten the typical "we've decided on another candidate" response from Wednesday's and Friday's jobs. We also went driving around today and dropped off resumes at several potential workplaces.

I, on the other hand, was called for an interview for this past Monday through a placement agency. I've already ranted about them. I'm no longer applying through them. The lady I spoke with who set up the interview said that she would be e-mailing me some forms to fill out right away, with the interview being on Monday. Well, she never sent the forms, and I never went to no interview! I figured that if they couldn't follow through with sending a simple e-mail, how could I possibly trust them to find me a job?!

I also got a call today for a Monday interview ... right when I'm supposed to be at work. Now, I don't see any sense in jeopardizing my current job for one that I probably won't get, so I asked if the interview could be held on Wednesday (which we all get off -- mini renovation at work). She said she'd call me back.

Yeah, right. They all say that.

I'm going to take this opportunity of a day off in the middle of the week and visit my old co-workers in Brampton. And maybe I'll talk to the HR manager, just in case they're looking for someone. I love Hamilton, but I need a job.

I finished my mom's poncho and her wristwarmers. I had a lot of trouble finding a good pattern for them because of the yarn I was using (Bernat Boucle). Most other patterns were for worsted weights and I had chunky.

I'm halfway through one of the sweaters I'm knitting for me and my sister. I've run out of yarn for the green-blue one, so I'm working on the brown one until I run out of yarn for it. I like the yarn, even though it takes a while to get used to.

I wore my snowboarder's hat to work last week because the freezer is really cold. Now I have four orders for them from co-workers and one for wristwarmers. Add to that the socks I have to finish for October 17 (for my grandpa), the two toe-up pairs I'm knitting casually, and the baby clothes. I think I might have startitis. Maybe.