Knitting for Boozehags

The planets are misaligned I think. I ripped out the scarf, it was too wide and not vintage looking enough for my style. I started the camisole, I ALWAYS knit to gauge for some reason, NOT THIS TIME! It calls for #3 needles, 24 st=4". So I try 4's. Nope. 5's.....uh-uh.. Pain in my proverbial ASSSSSSS-UH!
So we're back to square one. I AM going to make a short sleeved lacy pullover with that brilliant, just not yet. I want to do a prototype so to speak with a scarf first. But I LOVE this yarn so much!
I also started a feather and fan capelet using the felted merino from elite.. And I'm not digging on that either.. I wanted to use 13's but they are just too big. YARN, BEND TO MY WILL!!! and my yarn is like f*** YOU Christine! F*** Yoooooooooou! We will NOT conform!" So it's a battle and apparantly my yarn is winning.
So I'm just doodling around waiting for a brainstorm to brew me up some inspiration.
There is nothing worse than having new yarn and no plans for it! I feel like a slighted semi retarded A-team episode, where the plan doesn't come together!

So today I went over to portsmouth to pick up one of my oldest and bestest pals, Mel so we could go yarn shopping. And so we went to Sakonnet Purls. This place ROCKS! They had every type of Rowan yarn in every color!!!! And it was cheaper than anywhere else I've seen it! The ladies there are so friendly, helpful and chatty! We were there hanging out for over an hour! I picked up Vintage knits which said 18 but I only paid 12.95 (YES!) plus 7 skeins of Rowan cotton for 6.25/skein PLUS they have a "bargain barn" where I coveted another 4 skeins of classic elite waterspun merino, $3/skein!!!!!! And then we had to go to A.C. Moore, where we ran into one of Mel's students who I swear to god was the spitting image of NICK CAVE!!! Hunka hunka. And he was like 18! Does that make me a pedophile for thinking he was hot? So I bought 2 skeins of patons's brilliant in green glitter. It's so sparkly late 50's I love it! I've been eyeing it for a while now but finally caved in today.
I can't stop listening to Suplecs' new album! Holy mother lovin ROCK! BRILLIANT! I can't wait for them to come around again, although we always end up getting way too sauced! This album is soooo great, the songs stick in your head hours after listening to it!
On a side note, I can't sign into craftster for some reason! Which sucks. So anyone who needs help or advice on Lelah- if you are reading this- you can email me @ Cchristine16@yahoo.com. And a side note to all the on-line gambling sites, stop spamming ME and MY BLOG!
Here's what I'm doing and what I got.
I started a scarf with the brilliant in feather and fan, but I don't think I like it.

And here is the bargain yarn

And I'm doing a tank top from vintage knits with this rowan cotton



More later, I've got a hot date with my new yarn!

So I had to make a new album and can't transfer the old album unless I take new pics? Pain in my ass! Anyways, more to come later. I just finished my Exene belt, I need to go out and buy some old school brass rings later! I'm off to the yarn store, although I have no idea what I'm GOING TO GET OR DO YET!

I just finished her up! Here she is. Sorry about the pics, but my camera battery was pretty dead.

I've got to gather my notes and post the how to on craftster still. This pattern was a beeeeeeeyotch to fit right! I'm almost scared to post them, but I fudged my way through them too! Anyways, I might make *ONE* more, third times a charm!
I also have to do the elastic in the lelah skirt, so after my batteries chaerge, I'll put up pics of that too!
As promised, knobby assed knees and all (now y'all know why I like the just below the knee length, tee hee!)

Yup, it's thursday! I'm going to start referring to Anthony as "the man" becuase, well, he is, but otherwise, I just like the sounds of it! Anyways, it's payday which means the man always indulges my outrageously expensive tastes in fine spirits..
This weeks super-elixer HAS to be an espresso martini, because I've been kicking out the Lelah top and need some fuel to finish..

Espresso cocktail
Iced espresso (to taste)
1 jigger kahlua
1 jigger bailey's
1 jigger vodkasan
Shake with ice, strain and serve!

Aside from that I am totally floored with the responses to the Lelah skirt! They like it! They really, really like it!
But I must get back to my other love, the Lelah top! Don't cry, I'll be back!

Well, I guess you can call it a happy accident........ The top I designed is sooo big that it's going to be a SKIRT now, with the help of some elastic.. I really need to get one of them software cd's that do the math for you because my math SUCKS! Not to worry, when all fails, I'll try, try again! I'm going to re-work the pattern and IT WILL BE A TOP!!!!!!!!!!!! But I think Andre 2000 would approve of this design! HEY-YA!!!!!!!! OH-OH! Work it like a polaroid, baby!
Here she is in all her grandiose and mammoth glory! (double clicky on the pics to see better)

First off, CHECK THIS OUT! hahahaha, it's called gizoogle, do a search on yourself or blog! I almost peed myself! "For those who like ta rock, kizzle n drink! `bout Me with the gangsta shit that keeps ya hangin." Shanghied from Knitizen!
You say "christine! I'm just dying to know more about you, but I'm too afraid to ask!" Ohhh, it's okay, I'll fill out this questionaire thingy and all will be revealed!
P.S. - I expect y'all to fill this out and post on your respective bloggities!
1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high- a nd/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
A- I'm a total yarn snob, but since we have been broke lately, I have been exploring cheap yarn and actually liking it!
2. Do you spin?
A- I have a wheel! I have yet to experiment but am planning on making my own yarn soon!
3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.
A-NO!
4. How long have you been knitting?
A- Since I was about 14, off and on.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
A- just the ones in my head.
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
A- Freesia by crabtree and evelyn, peony, sandalwood, lily of the valley, honeysuckle... I love flowery aromas!
7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
A- Not really. But I like sweet tea. Oh and sweet leaf. I LOVE YOU!
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
A- I don't have the time for all of them anymore, but sewing, making jewelry, leathercrafting, I'll craft anything!
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
A- I like METAAAAAAAAAAAL!! Old hardcore and punk, prog rock, pyschedelic garage bands from the 60's and 70's, old, old country, and yes, it's true.. I like outkast!
10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer?
A- They say it isn't a color, but I love me some blacker than blacker than black y'all! Scarlet red, orange, bright moss green, ice blue and turquoise, lilac, nature colors I suppose.. BUT I'M NOT A HIPPIE!
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
A- I am married. I have 3 pets... my baby helena, my husband Anthony and my cat baby cat.
12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know) Life dream?
A- Oh, those silly things.. Owning a home eventually and having Helena be very very happy. I had other dreams, but they weren't kid friendly ones.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Mohair, thick and thin, novelty yarns that I can't afford to make a sweater out of, If it's a yarn, I like it and knit with it for the most part. Anything that's different from the standard issues. My main gripe is I can never find the yarn I want in a color I truly like, or a color in a yarn I like!
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
A- Yarns that don't work on the needles well. Mercerized cotton is not my best friend.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
A- Ponchos, shawls, shrugs, purses... accessories lately! Laces, especially. I think I am a crocheter hiding in a knitter.
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
See above.
17. What are you knitting right now?
A- This really cute orange top I designed, I actually really love how it's coming out, a few more rows and I'm done!
18. What do you think about ponchos?
A- Easy to knit, very 70's. I'm kind of more into capelets as they aren't as tent-like. I like that whole stevie nicks era of ponchos.
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
A- Both!
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
A- I have all, I knit slower with the wood, I used to hate metal, but have been using them more lately and kinda liking them but my favourites are from new zealand, BRYSPUN! Pointy and flexible, easy on the paws!
21. Are you a sock knitter?
A- One day I might be, I've been meaning to give it a go but the desire isn't strong enough yet, besides I NEVER wear them.
22. How did you learn to knit?
A- My lovely mommy, so patient, taught me and is still my main reference source. She's a crafty fox.
23. How old is your oldest UFO?
A- Ummm, I just unearthed some enigmas from high school, dating back about 15 years!
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
A-I love Ravens, Hawks and eagles.. Predatory birds. I like all animals though. I'm an animal looov-ah!
25. What is your favorite holiday?
A-Halloween!
26. Is there anything that you collect?
I collect so much stuff, fiestaware, old linens, day of the dead, clothes, oh, and dust! Alot of dust!
Quiz hijacked from Melissa

Well, I made 2 neckwarmers, added them to the pile of things I need to block! I got a great idea knitting these up. A tube top! But kind of a-line, eyelets under the boobage area with a tie and stockinette 'round the breastesses area, bind off and then go back and pick it up to do a repeat of the fish tail lace for some trim........... Hmmmm. I think I'm going to rip out that orange cardigan and try this on circulars! A.D.D.!!!!!!!! BRILLIANT!
Here's some various photo's. Including a tweaked spiderweb capelet for Candy, the orange sweater to be ripped out, the 2 neckwarmers and that stupid sweatshirt sweater I haven't woven the ends in or attatched the hood still...

I've been playing around with some ideas for lace

And then I got bored of the repeats so I was like "what do I do with all that mercerized cotton I bought but can't return because the receipt was in my wallet that I lost????"
Then came up with a great idea (IMO!) inspired by one of my all time favorite bands, X!!!!!!!! It's a BELT!!!!! I got to go out and get some brassy rings! I'll put up instructions for everything later this week on the free patterns page. I also think I am going to concoct up a purse to match the belt!
I haven't decided on a title yet. Exene? Cervenka? Hmmmmm. Anyways here is-

But amidst my mindless knitting, I fucked up on a row and proceeded to knit 5" reversed, so I have to frog back! So, being a.d.d. and seeming how I just can't possibly tolerate that at the moment, I am going to attempt this neckwarmer of love!
See it, Knit it, HERE!
That's all for now. I feel sick, I almost puked 3x today and I am about to go and eat a buncha turnips! But first I have to print out my neckwarmer of LOOOOOOOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! instructions~
P.S. Check out the rest of woolgathered, it's GREAT!!!
OOOOOOPS, I just checked my page and it appears I put the same photo in 2x. That's 2 bad because I am not gonna change it cuz I don't feel good!

I just found out that gin was referred to back in the day as "mother's ruin", cuckold's delight and "opiate of the masses" HA! That's great! Funny as I don't feel ruined and gin always had the tendency of getting me all hopped up rather than sedated, I'm married to the greatest guy in the world, no cuckolding 'round these parts!
Anyways, it's Thursday and you all know what that means! Hooch day! Time for the weekly drink recipe. This weekend I plan on imbibing either this lemongrassy gin elixer-
I shall dub it "LEMONGRASS, ASS OR CASH (nobody drinks for free!) or alternately; "the same drink I always drink only with lemongrass"
Ingredients
1 thick stalk lemongrass
1 ounce lime juice
1⁄2 ounce simple syrup (see note)
1 1⁄2 ounces gin
1⁄2 ounce Grand Marnier
1⁄2 ounce Cointreau
1 ounce soda water
Remove the outer leaves of the lemongrass, and slice approximately 20 dime-size circles from the bottom of the stalk. Place the circles into the bottom of a large mojito glass. Mix the lime juice and simple syrup together, add to the lemongrass, and muddle with a thick wooden spoon. Pour in the gin, Grand Marnier, and Cointreau, and stir. Add ice, top off with soda water, and garnish with the remaining lemongrass stalk.
NOTE: To make simple syrup, boil 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan a few seconds till dissolved; let cool.
As I have yet decided as to whether or not I want to *ahem* mix it up (bad pun), here's my other option:
MAL OJO MOJITO MARTINI:
2 jiggers sauza or tequila of your choice
1 to 1 1/2 jiggers cointreau (it's a taste thing, I add more)
juice of 1/2 to one whole lime (depending on if you get good limes or not)
and maybe a dash of some simple syrup if it's too much of a tart for your tongue.
And some mint!, minced up
Put all but the mint in a glass with ice, shake it up, strain it into a chilled glass and then add a little (or in my case ALOT) of the mint leaves atop and be amazed at how quickly you can suck these babies down.

Okay, plus my old pal Jason (amazing crowns) fixed my vodkasan tobbaci tao atavar thingamajig so it WINKS!!!!!!! (just not on my computer, apparantly) See?!!!

Thanks Jason!!

And thank you to my lovely daughter and the institution of a thing called marriage! We are getting a ridiculous amount of money back this year! And my husband's going to buy a rice burner so I can have my gas guzzling 1/4 tank to newport s.u.v. back! YES! I love that car!!!!!! I MISS MY CAR!! seeming as how I only get to see and drive it on the weekends, it's like I'm getting back full custody! Life is GOOD!

Sandra tagged me again so here's more or less about ME (enough about ME, more about ME!)
1. How much space is left on your TIVO or Comcast box?
None, I am terribly archaic and have yet to get one of these lil' doodads!

2. Have you ever bought a DVD of a tv series and if so which one?
Nooooooooo.

3. What was the last tv show you watched before reading this message ?
Project Runway, oh the drama. That Karen is a bitch!

4. List five shows you won't miss:
Carnivale
Soprano's
Crafters Coast to Coast
Battlestar Galactica
Night gallery

5. Three peeps to pass this on to?
Hmmmm... Jess, Kirsten and Kitten, respectively!