I'm back...kind of

I'm back...tired, but here, in the US. My trip was amazing and I very carefully kept a log of what I did so that I wouldn't forget.

If you want to see pictures from my trip, please see this gallery: Germany
Not all of the photos will interest you, but some of them are really cool. You just can't see stuff like that here in the US.

I have some more yarny things to show as well.

Arm warmers made in one evening...they were very simple to do. It was from the 2009 Pattern A Day Calendar. I used this yarn b/c I just have so much of it lying around.

This is my 2009 12" Square for January. I completed this while I was in Germany. I plan to make all the different squares in this same color and attach them as I go along. I seem to always hit a stumbling block when I have to connect things together..I'm lazy and I hate to sew.

My Layering Cardi is almost done, now I just need to finish the yoke, add the buttons, weave in my ends and wash it. I'm not sure how happy I am with it. It seems too large, but after I was it, that may change a little. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I have in progress pictures on my Ravelry page, I will include a completed photo when this is finally done.

Ciao!

Fuerstenberg....

Okay, so I was going to write about porcelain, and I will get to that, but first.....I recently discovered that I can watch MST3K online (google it). Bad movies plus comedians = hilarity. Check it out if you have some time.

Now, on to grown up type things....
I went to Fuerstenberg to look around and maybe pick up something to bring back to the US with me. I did decide to get two things. I'm very excited. One of them is a small vase and the other is a Christmas ball ornament. I will photograph and upload the photos once I get back....(remember, no camera cord).

I finished making arm warmers from my 2009 Crochet Pattern a Day Calendar. They took me about 3 hours total, including weaving in ends and gauge swatching. So easy to make....the pattern, I think is free from Crochet to Go.

I am very very close to finishing my layering cardi, the only problem seems to be that it is huge. If I finish exactly as the pattern states and the picture looks, the sleeves come below the underarm in an uncomfortable manner. My gauge is fine, so maybe I will do some reading about this pattern. Unfortunately, I'm about half way through the yoke, but maybe there are a few tricks that I can do to make this cardigan fit better. If someone reads this and has advice....leave me a comment....please....

Last thing, tomorrow I leave for Bavaria and I am not sure if I will internet access again until Monday evening, so have a wonderful weekend!

Germany Day 3

Guten Morgen. Wie gehts Ihnen?

So, it's morning over in the US. I still feel a little off.

I learned to make gum today...that was interesting and rather difficult, as you can imagine.

I've been working on my Layering Cardi in Red Heart Designer Sport yarn, colorway, Pool 3825. It's coming along well, I'm almost complete with the right front portion. What's left after that is: sleeves (short...thankfully, I might make them slightly longer), yoke (I'm not making the very top part....I don't like shirts on my neck like that), and assembly. I don't have any buttons here, but I think I will wear it anyway. I'm so excited, and I shouldn't have to block it at all.

I have a confession to make....I don't like the food much. They put creamy crap on everything...it's gross. And they love mayoniase, also gross. I try to order things without mushrooms or creamy crap...forget it. Even if the menu doesn't specify it, it's in there. Makes me a little nauseous. Phew, I'm glad that that is out, b/c I've been very politely fibbing to everybody here....(er...in Germany I mean).

Okay, time to go. More yarny updates, hopefully tomorrow. Ciao!

Sorry to post twice, but now I finally have internet access and I would like to post my blog for today......
It’s now Tuesday, and I did not sleep very well yesterday. Sleeping well on Sunday evening had made me over-confident that I would sleep well last night also. I was wrong about that. So now I’m rather sleepy and my brain is fuzzier than usual.

I have finished with my first assignment here and I’m happy about that. Makes me feel a little relieved that I accomplished something and have not disappointed anyone, including me. Later today, I will be getting a tour of one of the production sites here. I’m excited about that as well. I will write more about that later, after the fact, that is.

Last evening I completed the left front of the Layering Cardi and started on the right front. I hope to complete that very soon. I’d like to wear and maybe get some pictures of it in Germany for you. It’s such a beautiful color, and I’m excited to have it.

I went to a supermarket last night. Many things are similar, set up and pricing. Products are very different. They also sell alcohol and beer together with food. There was such a large selection of meats, cheeses, breads…it was amazing. Just a regular supermarket, but so many specialty (in the US) items.

Today, we get a new president. I’m excited for change. I hope Obama can do the job, and like he says, do the best job you can at the job you have. No matter what you set your mind to, make sure to do the best you can. I hope that this holds true for him and that his best job is better than Bush. Although, I think, the only way that he could do worse than Bush, would be to burn down everything in the country and kill all the people, while making a profit from it. Obama has quite the mess to clean up. My best wishes are with him.

The production site was amazing. Sometimes, you forget the size necessary to complete things that will be used on a international, consumer product level. Always an enjoyable thing to be reminded of. Brings to mind thoughts about conserving and making less waste. So much waste is produced already.

Flying....to Germany

I am planning to write a skirt pattern. I’ve only just begun to make some plans in my head and I’m still very much debating on whether or not to make it aline, or more form fitting. A line I think will be difficult with increases. I think there will be a lot of frogging and redoing. I have ideas for a waistband that you can use a drawstring, but will hopefully not look like a casual skirt. It’s going to be in a fingering weight to add some swing to the fabric (again, hopefully). That’s all the details on that for now.

Onto Germany and flying business class. So, there are two kinds of business class. There is the kind that is like coach, but with slightly more room, and there is the kind that is basically first class and I’m not sure what the differences would be.
On my flight across the Atlantic I had the flight attendant take my coat and put it into the closet (?!). Everything that was served was served on some type of glass with metal utensils and with fancy glasses for beverages. Alcohol was free. A full dinner meal was served, including appetizer, entrée and dessert. After sleeping (your chair reclines fully) they served breakfast about 1.5 hours before landing. My only complaint…..heheheh….is that it was godawful hot on that plane. I was sweating for the entire flight and did not get any sleep. The problem with not getting sleep is that your jet lag is almost unbearable. After my second flight (story about that to follow), I kept dozing in the taxi on my way to the hotel. I had to fight to stay awake until it was actually bed time. Then I slept like a baby.
No internet at the hotel, so I will not be able to post, unless I’m at work. I will try to do so, except, as of now, the first day, they cannot got get the internet working on my computer. Wish me luck!
You may wind up reading a few days of my experience all crammed into one.
One more thing that I would like to mention about my time so far is…breakfast! The table settings at the hotel are so fancy. I think it’s wonderful. Formal, but not all at once.

FO type stuff....kinda

Well, I'll be leaving for Germany soon (er....tomorrow evening) and so I'm not sure if I will be blogging while there.
I will be on a business trip, not so much of the fun for me....(insert pouty face)

I will post a few photos and maybe include some knit/crochet glamor shots; I am super excited to be traveling to Europe though.
I have to remember to dress appropriately so that I am not immediately identifiable as "American".
I have actually googled this and found more than a few websites with lots and lots of advice; snippet to follow:

1.  Do not wear running/tennis shoes unless they are of the "grown-up" variety - brown, tan, black type sneaks
2.  Do not wear khakis or cargo pants (nothing baggy for those Deustchlanders)
3.  No white socks (ahem....unless you are wearing them with sandals = hotness)
4.  No jeans unless they are super tight (applies to both genders)

So, the list goes on, but I think that gives a pretty clear idea.  I think I will sneak photos of "these" people....I also hear that they cannot match all that well.
I hope there is some truth to do that...make me feel better about my color combo choices.

Okay, an FO (do not have completed photo yet)

A few things about this giant underwear looking object.  Er, firstly, it's not undies....although that would be awesome.
This is a shirt and has little lace straps connecting the top (the bottom in the photo) to the back (wear the "wings" start).
I have complete finished the button sewing and the strap sewing (if you can call that sewing, really).  I need to sew the lining in.
I sort of, fear and hate to do it, so this almost FO has been waiting patiently for me to sew in the lining and wash it.  As the shape is completely off from my trying it on so many times.

Pattern : Bamboo Deep V Top (by Bernat free pattern)
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver
Hook Size: I and J (different than in pattern)
Made for:  my sister....woot!

In this photo, I'm wearing the top, but I'm much taller than my sis, so it definitely fits her.
I wish that it had been just a tad longer though, it would give a little more drape, but I like this pattern and it was fairly simple to make.
If I make it again I will use a larger hook (when I checked my gauge it was way larger than the pattern called for, so I dropped a hook size and I think that then it was too small).

That's everything for now, folks!

Untitled

Nothing too much to update here.  I added a few rows to my garter/st st
blanket.  I do want to correct the typo in regards to the colorway.
It's discontinued and it's red/gray.  It's a red, purple, gray, black
combo.  It pools slightly as it's quite stripey and I think it looks
really cool...but that might be the beginner knitter in me (also it
just makes me feel better).

Now, onto other things.  This post will be quite picture laden.  I
finally made myself take the pictures off of my camera and my fiance's
camera, edited them, and uploaded them to flikr.

Let's start with my kitties, as they are cuter even than my yarny products.


This is Ms. Mieze....she's sporting a lovely dinosaur costume...unhappily as you can see.



Next we have little Tovie, she's sleeping....ahem.

Now I will add some crochet elements; to keep in line with my goals for this blog (snoozes...)
That is my body pillow (window seat pillow) FO.  Finally, pictures of it.....

Here are some more:

Front (colors are a little off)

Back

Next up, some of the stuff that I made for family members for Christmas this year.
The sweater on the top right is a plum color, but my camera sucks.....so, just wait for the next pic and you'll be ok.

Project:  Lush Lace Pullover by Lion Brand Yarns (free)
Yarn: Mill Ends worsted acyrlic in a deep, rich plum

Okay, last but not least, here's an image for you......

Hotness right there...me crocheting my sister's vest/top for Xmas.
I will have more pictures of my projects soon, along with the details of the vest that I made for my sis.

Obsessions....

Sorry, no pics again......
Let's start with my stash and I mean, my stash of yarn...it has grown to rather ridiculous proportions.
I think that the worst part of it is, that I want to continue to make it grow. It's almost as though I'm afraid that I will...uhm....run out of yarn?!? I'm just crazy...the worst part is that I've trolling on eBay looking for stash enhancement. I think that Mr. Davananerd is going to kill me; he doesn't really understand my stash/crochet/knit obssesion.
I have good news. Since I've last spoken with you, I've gotten engaged, so Mr. Davananerd will soon officially, have earned that title. I'm happy....
Onto more yarnified subjects. I'm also in love with Herrschner's. They always have really great deals on a lot of yarn. It’s even good for yarn snobs, as they have natural fibers as well. Currently, they their mystery 32 oz. bag of yarn sale. It’s really great for stash building and just seeing what you get and having a nice surprise waiting for you at the end of the day.
I have many UFOs, but the active ones are a stockinette stitch blanket with a garter stitch border. I’m really working hard on practicing the basic stitches so that when I do a really project with nice yarn, nothing will be twisted, no stitches will be dropped, and it will just look generally good. The yarn is Joann’s Sensations Rainbow Classics in red/turq; it’s soft and fuzzy and works up quick.
My other UFO is the Layering Cardi from the current issue of Crochet Today! (jan/feb ’09). I’m using Red Heart Soft Yarn in Pool. I like the design, but I’m going to leave off the top above the yoke and the directions aren’t as clear as I’d like.
I am, of course, lusting after starting another project because, obviously the ones I’ve already started aren’t enough…..(insert ironic eyebrow raise here). I recently got the Crochet Pattern-a-Day Calendar. I want to whip up one of those projects so bad….ugh.
One more quick thing before I sign out of here. I’m anxiously awaiting a little spindle that I ordered from eBay; it comes with directions and some fiber to spin. I’m very excited…