ravelympics medalist

I would like to proudly show off my finished projects that I entered into the Ravelympics 2010.  I am a medalist for two of my projects (which means I completed them!)


Medal for my Tiny Turtle and for my Rubber Duckie Baby Hoodie!

Here is my completed baby hoodie.

The buttons are little duckies. I started this hoodie March 31, 2009 and finished it February 28, 2010.  There was no excuse except for my laziness.  This was my second baby sweater and I admit I hated doing it.  I got sick of the pattern and I really got bored with the finishing.  I'm glad it is over with!

One thing I would like to share is the creation of the buttonhole band.  See, the original pattern was a misprint and so only 3 buttonholes were made on the top half, even though the pattern photo featured buttons all the way down.  So after the sweater was knitted, I picked up stitches with a needle 1 size larger.  I just knitted two rows then spaced yarnovers for the buttonholes. I knitted one more row then bound off.  The buttons fit perfectly. =)

I never got the lining sewn in to my purse.  Oh well I think the baby sweater was a good enough accomplishment, and at least I got 2 out of 3.  Now I guess it's back to work on my FLS and my crocheted squares. (rav links)

Thanks for checking out my progress!

knitting with my fave tv shows

I wanted to post about my favorite TV shows.  I have been so into watching so many different series lately it's bad.  It is also really ironic because we don't get TV! I watch TV on DVD, Netflix instant viewing, and network web sites.  TV and knitting go together hand in hand!

Here are my current watches:

Gilmore Girls Season 6.
Borrowed the set from my mom, she has all 7.  Started with 1 and went right on through.  I have already watched each episode at least 3 times. LOVE IT!

Life Unexpected Season 1.
Couldn't wait for this to air and now I log on each week to CWTV site to watch.  The only bad thing is that sometimes they take 4-5 days to upload the episode.  But I wait. Patiently!

Seinfeld Season 5.
I slowly borrow the DVDs season by season to watch these (perfect knitting material because you don't always have to stare at the screen to get the jokes and very lighthearted material during those crazy frogging sessions!)  My brother-in-law owns the whole series.  He started me on seasons 3&4 before I became a fan.  I know, I have great hook-ups!

That 70's Show Season 1.
I've seen the seasons in bits and pieces, but my bro-in-law owns the whole series so I am going to start all over again.

Heroes Season 3.
I am "instantly viewing" this season on Netflix.com and I don't even have to pay for it! I use a friend's log-in.  I watched the first two seasons when I borrowed them from the bro-in-law (I know like I said, hook-up, and he has even more series!)

Now I am super excited for Parenthood with Lauren Graham.  Well just add it to the list!

So tell me, what TV series do you like to watch in order? If you don't do the DVD thing, or religious weekly viewing thing, what do you do? Add a comment!

rockin the ravelympics

The Ravelympics began on the day of the Olympics opening ceremonies and continues until closing cermonies...which is 5 days from now.  During this time, all Ravelry projects that are entered into an event must be completed!  I entered 3 projects into WIPs (Work in Progress) Dancing event.

The 1st project I entered was Tiny Turtle which I started in September.  Now he is finished and on his way to my desk at work to hide from my cat who loves to bite him and has already ruined him but I fixed him back up. (Oh my.)

The 2nd project I am still in the process of finishing (help me Lord) is Adorable Baby Hoodie which I started waaaaay back in March 2009.  I just had to buy 1 more skein of yarn today to seam the sleeves on, and hopefully I will get it done before the deadline.

The 3rd project is a felted tote called Diagonal Stripes Bag that I completed in June 2009 but I have yet to sew in a liner which is keeping me from putting this purse to use!  My goal is to finish this, along with the first two projects, before the deadline.  This is good because my WIPs will be knocked down to half as much and then I can get going on my FLS which I am in LOVE with knitting.

Wish me luck!

finished a purple project, started a purple project

So for an update of what's happening on my needles: I FINALLY finished those purple mittens for my friend Kristen on Jan 27.  I think they turned out fantastic!  They were really worth all of that work, because she loves them dearly, and the hat to match looks so adorable on her with her dark hair and big brown eyes. =) What do you think?

After that weight disappeared from my shoulders, I embarked on the
February Lady Sweater. I am so excited about this sweater and I can't wait to post pictures. I completely recommend using this pattern as a guide for your first sweater!  I started it last Wednesday night. I am making the size 37.5" bust and I am already almost to the part where I separate the sleeves.

It is the most fun thing I have ever knit, oh and it's purple. I guess Kristen put me into a purple phaze!  The yarn I used is Lanaloft by Brown Sheep Company in Violet Shimmer.  It's worsted and 100% Wool, though it does turn my hands purple when I knit with it for a while...weird that has never happened to me before, and not with Lamb's Pride or anything.  Could be the dye.

I have so much going on right now with my husband having finals so I really have to let him have the computer and help edit his final projects.  He doesn't deserve me...so thanks for reading.

i love photoshop

So I just got done playing around and this is what I ended up with:

I am pretty impressed with it.  I love this picture even though it is from Christmas 2008.  It was taken at my parents' house.  I heart pasting layer styles once I have found one that I like.

Better help the hubby with his homework now.

snowboarding

This past weekend my husband and I traveled to Mankato, MN where we hit the slopes with our boards.  We stayed at the AmericInn which was very nice (we got a king suite with a whirlpool for the first time) and it was the closest hotel to the Mount Kato Ski Area.  We actually left pretty early, in search for a good coffee break for hubby, and ended up calling it quits in the early afternoon.

I am glad though, because I am SO SORE today!  It's better to be sore afterwards and not during the snowboarding like I was last year.  When I would fall down last year, I wouldn't be able to get back up.  At least this time I was having a lot of fun, and hope I was improving.  I did lots of the "blue" hills, which are called "more difficult".  Seemed to me like they were mostly easy but there was one blue hill that was frighteningly steep. I mostly fell down that one.

So knitting! Yesterday I visited the yarn shop Mary Lou's Yarn & Ewe in Mankato.  It is a very large shop and contains every kind of yarn or pattern you may be looking for.  There are a ton of knitted garments on display all around the store for inspiration and example.  I would definitely go back.  They have Noro, Plymouth, Aracania, Debbie Bliss, Poems and more.

I purchased some Galway worsted by Plymouth to make my husband a hat and some Poems by Wisdom Yarns to make something miscellaneous...lol.

Well I am going to research Army posts now so thanks for reading.

syd's first post

My name is Syd and I started this blog today.

SO I guess I'll start with me. I am a self-taught knitter and this whole exciting hobby began for me in March 2008. It all started with a Victoria's secret bra--maybe I will tell the story later--and now I have conquered knitting challenges I would have never imagined. Cables. Magic loop. Fair Isle. Double knitting!!!

Besides my job as a teller, I participate in two knitting groups. The Knit Wits meet at the downtown Borealis coffee shop in Mason City, IA--where I live--every Thursday night. The Chix with Stix is the group for members of my church that meet once a month and I have been teaching a lot of beginners how to knit in that group.

I wanted to write this blog because I was inspired by the movie Julie & Julia when Amy Adam's character decided to write a blog about cooking. I was never interested in blogging before, but the movie showed me that it can give satisfaction of accomplishment. It seems like it is journaling in a way that it is personal and I hope it will give me that ahh-the-weight-has-been-lifted feeling.

I decided to write a blog about my love of knitting. I want to be able to funnel my abilities by helping others. Maybe someone could use a few pointers on a technique or maybe just inspiration for their own projects. This is also going to be a place I can write about my goals, dreams, aspirations and a place to celebrate my life. I am just saying...God gave me this life to do good with and I am going to celebrate that! Hopefully I will have a lot to write about and a lot to celebrate.

I definitely look forward to your comments, suggestions, and feedback. I am on Ravelry as sydOsyd so friend me if you'd like and take a gander at my projects. I'd love to see yours!

Here is yarn that I got in the mail today!

Thanks for reading~Syd