Two Hearts as One Kitchen Set+

Wow...over a month since I last posted. I swear I've knitted things since then...so what if they are just sitting there on my desk needing their ends to be woven in, or even bound off...here's something I finally finished. This is designed by Cathy (a link to her blog is on the side). She has lots of wonderful designs. As I was making the towel, people asked what was I knitting and I said a towel and they looked surprised that I would take the time to make something so beautiful for a kitchen towel...then I explained it was part of wedding gift set for my friend and then it was a little better. The gift isn't done though. Check back and I'll post pics of the final gift.

Tonight I made bread pudding...for the first time. I tried to make it healthy, its wheat bread, splenda, earth balance, soy milk, dried cranberries and almonds. Then my roommate wanted to add chocolate chips, instead of the cranberries, and cinnamon. In the end, we compromised: there are chocolate chips, cranberries, and almonds, no cinnamon. However, I had milk chocolate chips and they melted as soon as I put them in the milk lol. Nevertheless, its yummy.

Still on the Herbalife plan. I have lost 6 pounds since I started in February. I forget how many inches, but that is more representative, as I have put on a lot of muscle. I am in a size 8-10, depending on the store. Before Herbalife, I had been working out for 1 year, eating healthier for about 6 months, and had lost 18 pounds, do not know the inches. I definitely have a lot more energy, stamina, and strength. The images below are two of the variations on the Herbalife shakes that I make regularly. One are protein balls and the other is yes, vanilla pie. I love these two dishes.

Knitting catchup

I finally finished the "other mitten" to go with my Lovers mittens. I had to frog these at least 3 times having to work the thumb. I'm sure its due to my own inexperience with making mittens (my first pair) and not the designer's instructions. Not to mention I had to use a different number of stitches to begin with, then adjust my gauge since it was off, etc...all because I wanted it to match perfectly with the Lovers mittens...who's going to notice? NO ONE! But I will :)

I also finally finished Jan 2008 KAL from Rachel's Knitting Room, which was Lattice Hearts. Now this is funny...I did this cloth using size 3 needles hoping I'd have enough (I wasn't sure what I knit with this yarn before so I wasn't sure how much was left, but it looked like enough to do a cloth and its pretty and appropriate for these hearts. This picture is where I ran out of yarn. As you can see, it almost made it. Rachel did say in the pattern using smaller needles helps make the design pop out--which has been a problem of mine--so since this worked out (look how lovely) I will use size 3 for my next cloth. But I had this dilemma...do I bind off an unfinished cloth? Or do I dare attempt to knit with 2 colors, my first time ever? And would this make my cloth look ugly? Maybe I should frog a few rows before adding color? What to do?? This is why this project sat unfinished for so long. In the end, I made the decision: learn 2 colors. And since Monthly KAL's March project called for white, I decided to use white. And look! It's a beautiful cloth design, but the white at the top really does bother me. I'll make this one again.
So my best friend from my childhood is getting married. I'm going to knit them a kitchen set (towel, dishcloth, and tribble) designed by my friend Cathy. She is one of those super-knitters. I would love to just sit and watch her knit. Maybe some day.
I've also made progress--no going to the yarn store to buy supplies...I have too many already. All these beautiful colors and material and specific patterns in mind and I just don't have the time. But I had to keep telling myself not to go to the yarn store, at least until I finish some of these current projects.
Also, as an aside, I have lost 23 pounds in 13 months :) In the last month, I've lost 5 of those pounds...check out this website run by some friends of mine. They recently became distributors of these products to help with weight loss, muscle gain, overall health and I got a free sample, then decided to try a starter pack and recently ordered another pack. I like a lot of the meal options and I have been getting results. Plus, she's been my coach/sponsor for when I get those chocolate ice cream cravings. Talk to Chris or her husband Jack about these wonderful products.

I'm still here...no time for knitting...

Due to unforeseen circumstances this month, I am very behind in my knitting and hope to start again this weekend.
I finished the 2nd pair of Lovers Mittens...only they are too small...child size maybe. Do I attempt them again?
I'm still working on my matching mitten for my bf's Lovers Mittens (which he loved but we haven't worn them yet).
I have not knit this mid-month Monthly KAL...I intend to.
I gave my roommate Alina my ponytail hat as it turns out the wool itches me (I had a rash ring on my forehead). I will knit this again in baby alpaca.

Ponytail Hat

So I finally finished my ponytail hat (although I think I will have to cut the buttons and sew them on again as they are crooked).  And of course it's too warm out tomorrow to wear my nice warm hat.  I started the crown decreases too early as I like hats to cover my earlobes and I didn't CO enough (I wanted to wrap it more around my head so the buttons wouldn't be hidden by long hair).  I found these buttons and don't the colors match perfectly?

I was working on the matching mittens for the Lovers Mittens, but I just had to finish this hat.  Then I also started another

 Lovers Mittens for this awesome woman to thank her (and her boyfriend)    for being such great hosts.  I hope to finish it this weekend.

I also finished my Feb Monthly KAL (I need to weave in the ends so I don't have a picture yet).  The design was ok, but once again I don't feel like it pops out.  I must be doing something wrong.  When I have some time, I'll ask someone.

My Lovers Mittens :)

So I started these Lovers Mittens yesterday since I realized it's now February and it is supposed to be a Valentine's present for my boyfriend and I.  He won't hold my hands in the winter since it's too cold and he refuses to wear gloves normally.  But now, maybe he will :)  I'll take another photo with both our hands in it.

I also finished my Shamrock dishcloth.  I love how this one just pops out.

Going to start Monthly KAL's Feb dishcloth tonight.  Also have Lattice Hearts dishcloth in progress.

Look at all the needles...

You want to know the great thing about having so many needles? You can have that many wips. Looks kind of cool on my strange leopard-print comforter. I had been waiting for these needles all week so I could start knitting my hat. Got everything together and realized I haven't wound my skeins and I don't own a winder. Sigh. I have this really pretty hand-spun and hand-dyed wool to use. I've been patiently waiting and now...oh well.

I have also made progress on my socks. And I think I kind of like it. I can see how people become addicted. It takes me awhile as I can really only knit these at home and I'm not home very much. Only for about an h

our or two before I need to sleep, but first need to eat dinner and shower.

I also got a new laptop, my first Mac! I'm loving it! Had an argument with my roommate about whether it was cute or sexy. I voted sexy...c'mon it's skinny, shiny, and light...SEXY. Cute would be something with polka dots...maybe not. Anyway, I am enjoying it (although it took me 10 min to figure out how to add these photos to my blog).

My Custom Case (and Love's Many Cloths)

I wanted to show off my beautiful custom case made by brileyknits. I took several photos so you could see all the intricate work he did, but left them posted on my flickr. I cannot express enough gratitude to Brian. This is perfect. He put up with all my insane, if disordered, ideas. If you're looking for a personalized case for yourself or anyone, contact him. I know my friends will be jealous! Thank you Brian!!!

I also finished Love's Many Cloths, but I think I did something wrong since the curve part on the hands doesn't pop outward, but inward...makes the pattern not stand out. And maybe I missed 2 rows on top since the heart isn't really heart-shaped...I didn't want to frog it though as I've frogged this yarn 3 times already (was trying it for something else that didn't work).


I started a poncho with the chenille...176 stitches in the round...it will take me a long time as I have zero patience.

I also started a Shamrock Dishcloth from Monthly Dishcloth's KAL in March 2006. I printed out all these patterns I wanted to do and stocked up on cotton so just picked a random color (emerald green) and searched through the patterns for something that this would be good for and voila.

I have other things in my ravelry queue...waiting for my yarn to arrive and a quick trip to the store tomorrow...