TAKING BACK [THE KNIT]

i don't know if you know this, but YahooPhotos is closing Spetember 20th (Also my cousin's 21st birthday.), so they can concentrate on flickr.  When you log in, they have to option of transferring your photos to flickr, photobucket and some other services. I was kind of wary about doing it, but decided, hey, now is the time. So I did. And they are giving me (and I'm assuming everyone so go DO IT!) 3 more free months of pro service on my account! whee! Also, they say that your titles, descriptions, and even albums will be in tact. Albums will even "magically" be turned into a set. This kind of stuff is why I love flickr. So friendly! So convinient! Anyway, if things are a bit wonky around my flickr for a while, this is why. I uploaded every. single. picture. onto YahooPhotos for a while, and was a little more slective about flickr. Also, I'm sure there are duplicates, etc. But I am excited.

I'm talking about this stuff because in Sacramento right now, it is officially too hot to knit. Shit, it's even too hot to swim. All the plants in the yard look suicidal. Except for the sunflowers and tomato, of course. They are loving it!

However, as it cools down to a frigid 99° this weekend, I'm going camping in Fort Bragg. Where it will be 65°, max! Our lows in Sacramento are hotter than the highs in Fort Bragg. craziness!

 Perfect weather for knitting, and for weather handknits. Including the newly finished, not even photographed, ends not yet woven, Cherry Tree Hill supersock socks! Hopefully I get those ends woven in before I leave tomorrow. I am always cold, so I'm sure I will use them. I'm actually thinking about bring a hat to wear, which is something I never do. I get super cold very easily. And for a knitter, I really haven't knit myself any good warm, winter clothing. Especially not in the sweater department. Anyway, I'm just hoping it's not super windy. Windy + tent = not a fun time! I'm just excited that this will be the first place we have gone camping this year that does not have bears! Giant raccoons, maybe, but not bears.

[remeber how I went camping in Lake Tahoe a couple of weeks ago? yeah, that was right where the huge forest fire was. The Governor was in the little place we stayed, Camp Richardson. i wonder if we were bad luck.]

ETA: In going through bloglines, I found this! Such a cool idea. I'm picturing a camo chair. I just don't think I have one of those old lawn chairs lying around anywhere. Garage sales, here I come!

i am one of those people for whom it takes things a bit to sink in. most of the time things just seem unreal when they're happening, then there will be that one little thing that really makes it sink in. hit home, if you will. my uncle thom died a week ago today. he had cancer and i knew it was going to happen. i didn't think it would be quite so soon. anyway, i opened up the newspaper to and found this.
and it happened.

i googled him, and found a blog someone else (one of his friends) wrote about him. http://people.tribe.net/67336945-52b3-404c-8c29-1bbb4b007...

also, i heard i get his little mermaid watch. claire gets tinkerbell. 

 I'm definitely doing the "fuck cancer" pattern from subversive cross stitch. i'm thinking it needs "homo sweet homo" to go with it, because (you'll know if you read that blog) he was gay.

add me as a friend on ravelry! my name is JessSacto, or you can use my blog url to find me. i just haven't been that good at finding the people i know already. i'm loving it, though. being able to see every version of a project is great. i can see what everyone chose to embroider on their knucks, and things like that. it's fantastic.

if you are my ravelry friend, you'll know i'm working on a molly ringwald top. from knitscene, fall 2006. it's great so far. i really can't wait to wear it, and that's motivating me! it is not, however, aptly named. it maybe pretty but it's not pink. there are some things redheads just can't do. and one is to wear pink. i'm actually not sure how molly ringwald got away with it. it just doesn't "work" with this skintone!

i'm thinking about doing some dyeing tomorrow. i got a bunch of stuff for dyeing a while ago, and haven't used it. i've got some kool-aid and a bunch of white wool, of various sorts. i thinking about maybe dip-dyeing something, because i love that look. i also love the knitty article explaining how to do it! (Amazing job, SamuraiKnitter! I printed that shit out.) I really want to start making some generic scarves to give away at Christmas. I figure the earlier I start, the better off I will be. And if i really like them, i'll keep 'em!

Camping last weekend was all right. A bear walked through the campsite right next to ours, but I was at the store on a booze and duct tape run at the time. (hey, it's camping. what else do you need?) supposedly they also got into people's stuff like ice chests during the night, but i slept right through it. i'm a heavy sleeper. i'm really not that into lake tahoe. it's the place where all the yuppies with cabins go to lie out in the sun during the summer and ski during the winter. and i'm just not that kind of broad. i like a lake you can swim in, for one! also, my allergies went nuts! there was pollen on everything. i left my duffel in the garage, because my stuff needs to go straight into the washer before it is worn/used again. it was bad! overall, not a great trip. pictures soon on flickr. maybe some here.

I am in an amazing mood. One of those post-excercise endorphin-caused good moods. And I must tell you, it's great. The frozen yogurt helped, too.

 I danced at a middle school this afternoon, and that was interesting. Middle schoolers + bagpipes = quite the combination! There were quite a few more "punk" or "rocker" kids than I expected. Kids with local band shirts, albeit crappy ones. I ever saw a girl with her septum pierced. Kind of weird for middle school, don'tcha think? There was also an amazing mariachi band. They played a cover of "Livin' La Vida Loca" and the Macarena. They were great! Definitely got a better response than we did, but that's no shock. I didn't take any pictures because I suck. At life.

I'm really happy that it's finally starting to really be spring 'round these parts. I can spend endless hours in the yard gardening and not be cold! I bought some new violas, and I'm stoked about them. They're so cute! I love little, petite flowers. Pansies just aren't as cute, to me.

Everything is blooming and growing! I've started a bunch of seeds, and there have been a few surprises. Let's just say come Halloween, I might be prepared.

I also did a little more dyeing. I found some neon and some black food coloring, and had to test them out. The black always came out brown, but the neons were perfect! Look:

I was planning on buying some dye your own sock yarn, but knitpicks only lets you pay with a credit card. no paypal! so none for me. (unless i'm mistaken, in which case feel free to set me straight.) I am envisioning blue and green striped socks.Something like this maybe, but just the blue and green.

Kind off off-topic, but I saw the Street Dogs last month and they were amazing. I definitely reccomend them if you're into that kind of thing. I was just listening to them, and I remembered.

Okay, in an effort to blog more often I am going to try to not put up massive posts. So here's where this ends! (I should have some real knitting content soon!)

when I was not planning on awakening until 9. Insomnia RULES! Especially when I know I have a rather grueling day ahead of me. Also, my scalp itches.

If, like me, you've ever wanted to knit some argyle knee socks to match your kilt, there are kits here. But they don't have my tartan! (I'm sure they have something that matches, or is similar, but I didn't feel like asking. Ane the colors on my monitor are fucked, so it's hard to tell. Not that I don't know what these tartans look like in real life, but still.)

I dyed some more yarn last night. And managed to burn myself in the process. It went well, although food dye seems a lot crazier than Kool-Aid. Things ended up a lot darker than I expected sometimes, and not as dark others.

I feel like I am going crazy because of the sleep I didn't get. My reaction times are slow, but I am kind of jumpy. Similar to what happens when I take a bunch of benadryl. I think I need to eat breakfast.  

I'm going to be gone all weekend, 'til Tuesday, for (suffice to say) a convention. And, I won't be able to use the phone, except at night, and my ipod ever. A weekend without an ipod for me is hell! Especially when travelling. I know it's so the group can "bond" and stuff, but geez! No one is going to want to bond with the superBitch I'm going to be sans music and contact with buddies. Thank god I will have knitting with me to keep me sane. Sane-ish at least!

 I'm off to do things like straighten my hair, listen to the new fluffalicious podcast, finish packing and do some swatching.

Kool-Aid was 4/$1 at the grocery store, so I couldn't resist! (I think it's always 4/$1 but I don't often go to the grocery store.) Long story short, I've now got some lovely Kool-Aid dyed yarn.

I used grape, strawberry, black cherry, and lemonade plus some yellow McCormack food dye. There are some more pictures on flickr. I love all the colors, especially the grape. I just don't know yet what I am going to make with all this. Maybe a Calorimetry or Panta, with the grape. I'm just not sure yet, but I really can't wait to use it. And to dye some more! I wish I had a ball winder and a swift because things would be a lot easier, but I can get by the old-fashinoed way.

Now I've got the Misfits in my head! I apologize if you do too.

I ordered earrings from Pam a while ago, got them, and then was too lazy to take pictures of them. So with no further adieu:

 I love them. And I loved the flip-flop/beachy stationary, Pam! I was totally expecting something black or something subculture-ish in some way. I actually laughed when I saw it.

I was planning on going to the zoo this afternoon, and then I found out it costs $8.50! Too expensive for me right now, even as much as I love the zoo.

i am sitting at school using the computer. the girl to my left is posting on an anime board on a topic called "polygamy". the girl on my right is sitting in front of the computer reading. i'm sure the people waiting to get on the computer appreciate that great use of space.

 i finished the "Raiders" socks and they've already been worn by the boyfriend. he went fishing with his dad, and at the beginning he got teased with "Did your mommy make you socks?" and then he told everyone they were wool. jealousy ensued. his family has been really into me knitting and asking me to make them stuff. they've also been really appreciative of what i've made them.

FINISHED: "Raiders socks".

pattern: plain stockinette toe-up sock. short-row toe and heel. 1x1 ribbed leg/cuff.

yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts' Socks that Rock medium weight in Stormy Weather

I love them! If that had fit my feet I would have kept them. I must make myself some socks in this yarn. I wish I could afford it!

I also finished my knucks! they're awesome, and i'm actually wearing them as i type this. i have not taken them off much since i've finished them. and i realized my dad's birthday is coming up, so he's getting some camo knucks that say "DUCK HUNT"! (he's a hunter.) two nights of knitting and i'm already to the cuff of the first one. also, boyfriend picked out yarn for some of his own. i'm glad i like this pattern!

FINISHED!

pattern: Knucks from knitty.com

yarn: LB Lion Wool in Sage. a little thick but super warm. i love this color! the photo on the left is closer to the actual color. this yarn comes in some great colors. i am pining for the grey.

needles: US #3s

mods: i have man hands, and the fingers didn't fit in the ladies' size. so i did men' fingers and the ladies' thumb, i think.

I will get around to taking a picture that really does them justice. I've wanted to, but it would require makeup and styled hair which has been too much for me lately. Tonight I think I will have to do both, so I'll try to get some pictures done, too.

In other crafting news, I actually played with my knitting machine the other day. (oh MAN! i was just looking at the LB site, meaning to close it, and i found myself on the new Cotton Ease page. my god I love these colors! taupe and stone especially.) anyway, i actually got something done with the knitting machine. even if it is roughly a 4"x4" piece of cotton. i really dislike this thing. however, it occured to me that Clapotis would be perfect for knitting on the machine. so if i can ever really figure out how to work this thing, i'll get the clap too.

Meme time! like Pam said, if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged.  

Directions: If your life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be?

1. Open your mp3 library
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press Play.
4. For every question, type the song that’s playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the Next button.
6. Don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool.
7. Don’t skip songs.

My Movie:

1. Opening credits: Catharsis - All Bets Off
2. Waking up: Lover's Rock - the Clash
3. First day of school: Live the Lie - Blood For Blood
4. Fight song: Ramallah - Ramallah
5. Breaking up: Jailhouse Rock - the Cramps
6. Happiness: Brain Error - Nekromantix
7. Life’s okay: Hammer House - Folsom
8. Mental breakdown: Crowbar Massacre - Steel Trap (too accurate.)
9. Driving: Strength Through Oi! - Pressure Point
10. Flashback: Stay Gold - the Unseen
11. Getting back together: Rip Her To Shreds - Blondie
12. Wedding song: Hollaback Girl - Gwen Stefani
13. Birth of first child: In Love With a Whore - Hoods
14. Final battle scene: Do Anything - Angelic Upstarts
15. Death scene: Lyin' Eyes - the Eagles
16. Funeral song: Fuck Hollywood - Anti-Heroes
17. End credits: Which Side Are You On? - Dropkick Murphys

it's time for me to be off to class!