I always new I had superhero tendencies

You Are Catwoman

"Life's a bitch. Now so am I."

What Superheroine Are You?

...but never new I was catwoman. Now that it has been revealed to me I kinda like it. Given I like the Michelle Pfeiffer version better than the Haley Berry version but I could definitely live with Haley's body.


Hey...Catwoman...just thought about it. My side kicks Kira and Keegan who are my cats. Hmmm...their powers. Kira had superkittie laziness but is quite intelligent, choosing to act only when absolutely necessary in her best interest.


Keegan has superkittie litter poo and can drop a bomb that would make you clear the room. He also tends to bite a little and disappear into the weirdest places.



This is my superhero team! Now if I just had superspeed I could turn back time and have more of it to finish by Olympics knit. No news on that front because it is sooooooooo pitiful.

KO Day 4: Must Remember the Pledge

Total Hours Knitting: 0 hours
Total Rows Completed: 0


Sorry there has been no knitting content as of late, since there has been no knitting at all. I have been too exhausted to pick up needles every night. I just have way too much to do. But I have resolved that today I will get right back into the swing and get by knitting booty in gear...I still have 9 days plus some hours. However, I shall also remember the pledge that I committed too before the start of the games. Below was directly from the Yarn Harlot:


The Knitting Olympics Athletes Pledge

I, a knitter of able hands and quick wits, to hereby swear that over the course of these Olympics I will uphold the highest standard of knitterly excellence.

I will be deft of hand and sure of pattern, I will overcome troubles of yarn overs and misplaced decreases. I will use the gifts of intelligence and persistence (as well as caffeine and chocolate) and I will execute my art to the highest form, carrying with me the hope for excellence known to every knitter.

I strive to win. To do my best, and to approach the needles with my own best effort in mind, without comparing myself to my fellow knitters, for they have challenges unique to them.

While I engage in this pursuit of excellence and my own personal, individual best, I also swear that I will continue to engage with my family in conversation, care for my pets, speak kindly with those who would ask me to do something other than knit, and above all, above every stitch thrown or picked, above every cable, every heel stitch, every change of colour, I swear this:

That I will remember that this is not the real Olympics, that I'm supposed to be having fun and that my happiness and self-worth ride not on my success....

but on my trying.

KO DayThree and Four: Knitting Hokie Pokie

Total Hours Knitting: 6 hours
Rows Completed: -6 (I knit 6 and ripped them out)


So the past two days I have been playing the knitting hokie pokie with my Olympics project.


You knit four rows in...
You frog four rows out...
You knit two rows in...
Then you purl it all around...
You drop a stitch a few row
and you cry and then you shout
That's what it's all about!


So I knit 6 rows of the Chart 1A and came up with 54 stitches on one side and 58 stitches on the other. This was bad since they are supposed to be the same, but even worse because I was supposed to have 59 stiches on both sides. ARRRRRRRRRGH!!! But if you want to check where I am in the pattern see KO DAY TWO


So basically I have lost a day of knitting AND I have quite a bit to do in my non-knitting life so I am falling behind more and more. Must remember....this is just for fun....

KO Day Two: Still not enough knitting

Total hours knitting: 5
Rows completed: 23 rows (Finished chart One)

So I was exhausted this morning as I stayed up until 3am on Friday and work up at 8am this morning for a haircut appointment. It was good though because it got me started with my errands and chores. Cleaning house, grocery shopping....but sadly no knitting. It kept looking at me, taunting me, but I had to have clean clothes and a clean house to feel good about the knitting that was to come.


I also did some volunteer work at a transitional home for homeless people and their kids. My friend started a volunteer group where we do crafts with them, mainly knitting. I arrived a little late but it was fun once we got the hang of it. It was only an hour, but it was great. Everyone was excited and wondering when we will return. I did other knitting but still no peacock knitting.


I finally started back on the shawl around 7pm. I got the bright idea to color code my pattern which has helped immensely with following the various slash sections of the pattern. It was another late night though so I have to sleep in tomorrow.

KO Day One: The Olympic Beginnings, Peacock is calling

Total hours knitting: 4
Rows completed: 28 (if you count the frogging 45)


I symbolically casted on 2 stitches exactly at 2pm. I then, with pattern in hand took a lap around my workplace first floor showing my knitting coworkers my finally KO project. During the processional, I was told my my fellow knitter that they too were joining for the good of the country. One is doing a baby sweather top down. She is an excellent knitter but has limited time to participate. The other is conquering her own challenge with a drop stitch scarf.


Then life got in the way. Normally, I am an unengaged homebody with oodles and oodles of time to knit. Then life snuck up on me.


I didn't leave early as I thought I would, I then went to Salsa class which was very fun and didn't get home until 10pm. 8 hours of knitting lost to a wonderful night out.


I then began knitting, making excellent progress when (1) my kitty tripped on my yarn, snapping it it two pieces, which meant mending it back and (2)I wasn't using lifelines at the time and on row 17 I had to frog back due to a mistake. Needless to say, leason learned and lifeline inserted.

The countdown is here...1 Day, 6hrs and counting

I don't think I could be as nervous or in as much anticipation if I was a real US Olympian. I feel as though I am on the starter blocks of the 400yrd race - Not quite as fast as the 100yrd but still goes by pretty quick.


My pattern is staring at me daring me to start...just daring me. I keep debating on whether to take half the day off tomorrow. I just got my pattern and yarn a few days ago as I decided to change my mind again and go back to my original idea of the Peacock Feathers Shawl. I was all ready to do the sweater when I saw that I had actually signed up with Yarn Harlot to do the Shawl. Once I saw that I was committed, no turning back.


The pattern is a little daunting as I have never had to read a chart before, let alone backwards. I will be using lots of lifelines and calling on the goodness of (1) my local knitting shop - Alamitos Bay Yarn Co. and (2) my local SNB Long Beach for both advice and moral support.


I also found some kindred spirits as we are not only on the same team (Team Lace USA) but running the same race (Peacock Feathers Shawl)
Allison - Peacock Feathers Shawl
Felicia at sweetgeorgia - Peacock feathers shawl
Jeanne - Peacock feathers shawl
Lisa A. - Peacock feathers shawl

In order to finish this, I will have to knit 17 rows a day. This might not sound hard but in the end the shawl is 88" in with and has 240+ rows which means those last few days are going to be a bitch to knit my quota. I can do this....I can do this....just breathe!!

Yarn Brings a Family Together

So a lot has happened over the week that I have not had time to blog about.


First great thing, I met the Long Beach Stitch and Bitch Group on Wednesday. I found out about them from a fellow blogger and had to meet some local knitsters. It was absolutely wonderful. It was nice just getting together with some other people in the area to discuss everything knit and much much more. Can't wait for next Wednesday or the Wednesday after that or....


Second,I finished my Clapotis scarf/shawl. I will post pictures soon.


Third, Tall Mouse is having a Super Bowl sale. Today was 20% off your purchase and tomorrow is 40% off one item. This is where my family comes in. I have enlisted everyone, including my 10 year old niece to buy me yarn tomorrow as the 40% off coupon is for one person, one visit, one receipt. I may be late to the game, but I just discovered the Tall Mouse, which is in between a yarn shop and a Michaels. They have Noro and Louisa Harding Angora yarn so I must break my stashbusting and increase the stash. I already did by buying more yarn at $1.99.





I am so bad...


Lastly, I got my Peacock Shawl yarn today in the mail and am just waiting for the pattern to land in my mailbox. The color was not really what I expected, a little more plain blue than I thought, but it will do.


So that is the weekly update of all things knit..

Boys and Knitting

So I was knitting during lunch today...preparing for the Olympics by testing my lunchtime knitting strategy. Bring Lunch, bring laptop to conference room, save a Netflix movie only to be watched at work, and knit for an hour. I figure this will give the edge when the time comes. While enjoying my knitting, the boys (my team at work) decided to visit.


It started with the word "Knitty" which you can only imagine what that rhymes with. Then the amazement with how I was knitting with just two sticks, and then what was that thing in the middle (the wire from the circulars), and why did I need that. It was absolutely hilarious listening to talk about yarn. Here you can see what happens when the average boy tries to knit....