Okay, Garret, he's like the son I never had, has nominated/given me a Kreative Blogger award. As soon as I find out what that is, I'll let you know. I am apparently supposed to blog 7 random things about myself. I usually don't take direction so loosely but I'm trying to be more flexible.

Let's see...

One: I'm allergic to apples but I love them and eat one every afternoon. I don't go into anaphylactic shock from them but my throat sometimes gets dang itchy.

Two: Once in Barbados, I was bit by an iguana. They took me to a witch doctor for first aid.

Three: I have a black thumb when it comes to plants. They rarely stay alive in my presence.

Four: I have rubbed people for money.

Five: In 1976, I painted the fire hydrant in front of our house red, white and blue with the boy down the block. What the hell was his name?

Six: I have two bathrooms and for some unknown reason, one is for one and one is for two. How's that for sharing?

Seven: Contrary to what you may think, one through six are true.

Oh, oh and apparently, I am also supposed to nominate a couple of bloggers to keep the "kreative blogger" thing going!

Let's see...

Kerry, he's a pal of mine from the Men's Fall & UK Knitting Retreats and an all around good guy! He's a bad blogger like me so we have to stick together. He travels a lot for his job and just recently returned from Jakarta and actually blogged about it. He's also a freakin' amazing knitter!

And Knitting Knoobie, I don't really know her but I really like her blog. I read her regularly. She lives in NYC (my hometown). She's a great knitter and has an amazing sense of humor about her family, her knitting and her life. And she just finished the project I posted yesterday! It was meant to be!

Edit: Click on their names and visit their blogs. There's some cool stuff going on out there in the knitting universe!

This one is on the fly but i came across this Madeline Tosh pattern that I really like. I'm apparently in a cowl mode! ;-) I've got this amazing alpaca in a sport weight that I bought at the spring retreat a few years ago that would be heavenly against the neck. I only know the weight not the yardage so how do you figure out if you have enough?

Also, do you think the halo of the alpaca will denigrate the stitch definition?

And don't tell me to swatch, I know that but importantly, know how lazy I am!

Any ideas are appreciated!

Edit: Am I the only one loving this blogger app! And now with photos!

Hey all! I finally got a photo of the cowl. It's unblocked and probably never will be so I figured I'd post it before 3 months elapse. I actually love the off-centered buttonband because when I wear it, the bottom edge flares out and it doesn't creep up - bonus! I tried to get a photo of it on my neck but we're au naturale at hookedontheneedle today -- off from work, pj's, sans shave and pool/hat hair. Not a good look for blog photos!

In the comments...

Garret, I am not easily offended, be yourself! And Krystal, everyone should knit with Madeline Tosh yarn. We are going to have to get you to a fiber festival so you can fondle some amazing yarns. In the meantime, I hope you like the green skein because it's my gift to you! Let's call it ... Random Acts of Generosity day at casa IamKnitGuy! PM me your snail mail (over on Rav) and I'll send it to you but you have to promise to make something grand and post plenty of pictures!

Next up...Koolhaus in the red Cascade posted earlier! I know how to cable but I've never done a project with them. Let's see how that goes.

Question: What's your favorite baby blanket pattern? I'm looking for recommendations.

Well, I had to frog the lace section of the Stephen West shawl AGAIN! I can't seem to figure out what I'm doing wrong. I needed something easy peasy to rest my weary mind, so I found a simple cowl to knit today. A perfect,lazy Saturday afternoon project. All that's left is the button row and a few garter rows and this project is done. Just what I needed. I knit it a little smaller than the pattern called for so it would stay up on my neck. It's knit in Cascade 220; one of their best colors. There's all sorts of flecks and bits that are hard to see in the photo but in person, it's quite lovely.

Stash has also been enhanced and as they say, pictures or it didn't happen. Two skeins of Madeline Tosh sock yarn and one super wash Cascade for my next project, Jared Flood's Koolhaus in red. I don't wear hats, and for those who know me, I look terrible in hats but it's too cool not to knit. It's been in the queue for years. I'll keep you posted.

Buttonhole row to commence! If I screw it up now, I may have a breakdown!

Edit: Well, I screwed it up. It was supposed to be a 2 stitch buttonhole but I did a 3 stitch (having never done a buttonhole row I just followed the first youtube instructions I found) so it's off centered across the edge. I've decided it's a design element and I'm not going to change it. Time to sew!

Lots of stuff is going on at hooked on the needle these days but there's so little time to post. I've got a new project nearly completed, an old project that's been improved and some new yarn has been added to the stash! For now, you'll have to settle for my newest knitting toy! It's Buffy Anne Designs Stitch Light (photo from her website) and for those who know me, I am blind! I'm always struggling for more light but I think this is going to finally solve that problem. You wear it around your neck and the light can be directed right at your project. The light beam can be adjusted so if you're knitting in the car, you can decrease the circumference of the beam. It's an LED bulb and stays cool - bonus! Even in a brightly lit room, it gives you just that extra punch. There's even a little pouch to hold stitch markers and the like. And for fun, it flashes which could really come in handy if you're knitting in the car and you break down. Actually if you're knitting in the car and driving, you're likely to encounter bigger problems than breaking down. ;-) It's a little pricey but search the web, there's a coupon out there! Thumbs up on this little light!

If you're interested, here's everything you ever wanted to know about the Stitch Light!



Photo Credit: Buffy Anne Designs.

If you're not a Doctor Who fan, then you may not get this but if you are, you'll laugh out loud!!! I needed a good laugh and this surely fit the bill. As a massage therapist, I often used guided meditation with my clients. I wonder how this would have fared? Happy Sunday!



Now I need to watch a few episodes of DW. Hmmm? David Tennent or Matt Smith? Decisions? Decisions?

You know, Doctor Who was filmed in Cardiff, which reminds me of my trip to Wales, which reminds me of the UK Men's Knitting Retreat..... and that's knitting content! I'm all done here. ;-)

Testing 123

I'm trying out a new app to let me post from my phone. Theoretically, it could make me a better blogger but I'm not completely sold on the likelihood of that actually happening!

For now, let's see if it works.

PS. Typos will be plentiful!

Sunday with Granny

So I always see patterns that have lovely crochet borders and I think, I wish I could crochet. Then I pause and think, I don't want to freakin' crochet. Yesterday, while I was surfing the web for yarn porn and the like, I came across a new blogger, Matt. He's a phenomenal, crocheter and his latest post of a granny square blanket is breathtaking in its simplicity! It's multi-colored granny squares, bordered in white. Follow the link on his name, it's worth the look!

I thought, I wish I could crochet. Then I paused and said, I'm going to teach myself how to crochet a granny square!

Well, it's been 24 hours and I wouldn't actually say I've master the granny square but after many failed attempts, I have a square-ish, crocheted piece of fabric. That's the best I can say about it. You be the judge.

This is what I don't get about crochet.

Video bloggers explain how to crochet in step by step directions. The problem ... my swatch doesn't even remotely resemble their swatch so who can really follow step by step directions.

They say things like, insert the hook into the 3rd double crochet. The problem ... I wouldn't recognize the 3rd double crochet if it had a red, neon arrow pointing at it. Damn, I can barely recognize a PSSO when I'm tinking and I've been knitting for years!

Then they say things like, simply continue double crocheting into the same space/hole until you have 3 shells separated by 2 chain stitches for each corner. The problem ... who the hell can tell where the hole is from one double crochet to the next and for that matter, who can find any of these holes on command (the damn thing looks like swiss cheese)!

Then they say things like, pause the video if you need to catch up. Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it. You've been warned. The problem ... who can tell where you left off and then where to queue the video so it's in the same place. The whole thing is so repetitive and it looks exactly the same (but it's not) so it's impossible to match the video to your swatch. Just try to keep up and pray they'll get distracted by the dog barking or a screaming child in the background so you can catch up!

In the end, this little square was fun to crochet! Don't expect any major crochet projects but if I can master a color change or two, a pillow like Matt's blanket would be cool.

Edit: I realized that I didn't give credit to the one YouTuber who finally helped me figure it out! Bethintx1! She said all the things everyone else said but somehow, she made sense!

Fine, yes, I'm a bad blogger. My name is Joe and I'm a bad blogger. I need a 12-Step Program for bad bloggers (maybe I should start a blog about bad blogging but I'd probably let that one fall defunct as well. ;-)

Today, I opened the ottoman and a plethora of unfinished projects were still there! It's amazing how that happens. In no specific order...I have the Stephen West shawl, the teddy bear (that one's at least 3 years in the making), the scarf for me (that one's not my fault, I don't think I'm going to have enough yarn so what's the point), 8 pairs of CSM socks that need kitchener stitch, the cowl and a baby blanket.

I've decided to begin with the Stephen West shawl.

I've reached Section 2 of the Column Lace and the k1/p1's into the double yarn-overs. I know it's easy but I always end up losing or gaining a stitch with that, Kerry had to undo several rows for me when we were in Wales and I didn't want to spoil all his hard work. Here's a random shot from Wales since it came up. Build the house right here and I'll meet ya there.



Back to the matter at hand. I don't know why I end up with extra stitches but hell, what's the worst thing that could happen, I can't wear it with the Addis sticking out of it. I never could pull off punk.

So I begin again and miraculously, I left myself excellent notes as to where I should start. Section 2, Row 2!

So I should stop typing and knit, right? Okay, I'm gonna go now. As soon as the commercial starts. Oooh, Star Trek the movie is on. I love that guy. I wonder if I bought apples yesterday. What was a I talking about?

Oh yeah, that guy from Star Trek!

Catch Up of Sorts...

yes, lots has happened over the last few months.

I attended the Men's Fall Knitting Retreat back in September. It was great and this year I didn't have the plague. I was well and had more fun than imaginable! WonderMike puts on quite a show and the weather was amazing! I've been to Seattle several years in a row now, where did they get this reputation for rain and gloom? It's sunny and tepid every year! All the boys were there except Joe but I'll hopefully catch up with him in May!

I moved but still in Florida. Yes, I can not get out of Florida. It's my cross to bear. ;-) The new location is wonderful. Practically on the beach with water views from my 8th floor vantage!

I love my new place, it's new and no one has ever lived in my condo. It's got more bathrooms than any condo should have and I've got a sock studio dedicated to making Beauregard's Boxed Socks.

I can't get Beau working perfectly to save my life so Beauregard's Boxed Socks is currently on hold/in production (depending on how you look at it). I'm 1 week into "The Weekend Novelist writes a Mystery" so my gay, science fiction epic has begun and the protagonist resembles me in many ways but with better abs.

I'm suffering from a cold and haven't left the house since Friday. I've spent my time with Sam Tyler. Have you seen Life on Mars, it was a short-lived series in 2009 and I loved it. Jason O'Mara plays Sam and he's the current hunk occupying my desktop. 'nuf said. He kinda reminds me of what's his name from PS I love you. Gerard Butler!

I've already queued the BBC version because the story is great and the crazy guy from Doctor Who plays O'Mara's character and he's a hoot if not as equally handsome.

Let's see, I'm supposed to put knitting content in here somewhere, aren't I? I organized the stash. Does that count? It's going to have to, dropped stitch socks aren't really content worthy. What can I tell ya?

Did you see the photos of Jason O'Mara?