Wednesday, December 1, 2010

A Wasseling We'll Go

Hello all my lovely readers. I apologize for having been away so long. Life seems to keep getting in the way. While work has been very very busy it has kept me very occupied. And I am now happy to say that the holiday season is now upon us.

Time to freak out about all the things we were planning to have finished for the holidays (cough my tree skirt cough). Oh well, there is always next year. The tree skirt has turned out to be the project from down below! It is killing me and so of course I keep picking up other more fun projects.

I am happy to say that today I finished the last of my office's Christmas presents only to find out that we are not an office that exchanges gifts. Well, people are getting the little ornaments anyways whether they like it or not!

I have started on a new top secret project to be revealed upon opening on Christmas morning. Needless to say, I think somebody is going to be surprised.

Is anyone else working on good holiday projects? I would love to see and hear your inspiration! Thanks!

Until Next Time,
Broke (Super Super Broke) Knitter

Friday, October 29, 2010

Down Elf

My lovely Christmas tree skirt that so lifted my spirits yesterday morning has crushed me yet again. I have gotten most of the way through the first panel and have now realized that this pattern cannot be right. It looks awful. I am sad.

Ravelry has let me down for the first time. Time for a froggin' sesh!

Until Next Time...
Broke Knitter

Thursday, October 28, 2010

The Christmas Elf Disgraced

So the Christmas Elf had a very hard morning. I was SO happy to be knitting my Christmas Tree Skirt this morning on the subway. I was filled with happiness at my accomplishments and I CANNOT WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS!

So I am on the subway quietly knitting, not bothering anybody when a woman sits down next to me. She asked me what I was making, and I kindly responded that it was going to be a Christmas Tree Skirt (BIG MISTAKE)! Well, you would have thought I just threw the Bible and Holy Water in this woman's face. She got all angry at me, telling me that not everybody here celebrates Christmas and that I should be mindful of other people's religions. She just berated me for several of the most awkward moments of my life. Needless to say, I got off at the next subway stop even though it wasn't my stop just to avoid her.

Lesson #2 of NYC - Always tell people it's a tree skirt - leave out the Christmas.

Until Next Time...
Broke Knitter

Friday, October 22, 2010

Sicky Sick

Sorry I haven't had a whole lot of time this past week to blog. Work has been CRAZY! But mostly, I have been battling an awful cold! NO FUN!

Anyways, I have found that the only cure for my perpetual headache and sad disposition is a hot cup of tea and working on my Christmas Tree Skirt. I have found that nothing brings you out of the blues than the thoughts of the holidays and warm and happy times.

I cannot wait for Thanksgiving to get here. As soon as Black Friday hits I get to put up the Christmas tree, start pumping the tunes (Oh, like father like daughter) and I can get ready to blow everybody away with the Holiday Spirit.

Until Next Time..
Broke and Sniffly Knitter

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Missing.....

My grandmother passed away last November. After losing a very long battle with cancer, I was happy to know she was no longer in pain. However, I find myself thinking of her every time I pick up a pair of knitting needles.

My grandmother was an amazing knitter. Not only that, she was an amazing teacher. My mother was lucky enough to pick up many of these great traits - something I hope that someone will say about me someday.

Anyways, lately every time I pick up a pair of knitting needles I find myself calmed and relieved. I feel supported. While she may be gone, I know that she is still with me.

In her honor, I am today wearing my Green Irish Jacket along with knitted wool scarf and wool socks. My grandmother would have celebrated another birthday this week had she been alive. She may not be able to be here with my physically, but Gram would be happy to know I have shared a bit of her with the Big City...

Until Next Time...
Broke Knitter

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

A Partridge in A Fake Tree

It's almost the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! Somebody here loves playing the Christmas Elf, and I personally am so filled with the Christmas spirit already I can feel it all the way down to my jingle bells!

When the holiday time comes, so too does my holiday craziness. I can never stop shopping, spending, or decorating. My favorite time of the year comes but once, and I must take advantage of it.

To celebrate this year, I have decided to add a nice addition to my boyfriend and my holiday tradition - a Christmas Tree Skirt. Last year was our first Christmas living together, and I must say, going from an 18-20 foot beautiful real Christmas tree in my parent's cathedral ceiling living room to a 5 foot fake tree in your basement apartment can be a bit sad. This year, however, I am destined to spruce up the tree with a beautiful handmade Christmas tree skirt. To learn more, visit my Ravelry page
http://www.ravelry.com/people/YoungPadawan
to see the status updates. I can promise it will be an exciting adventure!

Until Next Time,
A Starting Ho Ho Ho
Broke Knitter

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Vogue Knitting Live

So, I have the best Mama in the world! I just signed up for the January "Vogue Knitting Live" event. Who is excited?! I AM!

I am so excited to learn from some of these amazing master knitters! It's my first ever knitting conference. Just a Mom and Me Weekend!

Any advice for someone who is about to be overwhelmed by their first conference?

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Parting the Flowing Sea

So, I feel like Moses holding back the waters of the Red Sea these days. Since the flood, I have managed to completely rip my apartment apart. Luckily our new carpet will be here Saturday and I can start putting my life back in order again.

I must say I have found new solace and serenity in my knitting. When all the world around you is chaos, and you feel like you cannot possibly make anything work out right, you must find peace in some sort of order and control. For me, picking up my knitting last night saved me from a total meltdown.

Everything in my home is a mess, things are being discovered in tatters every which way I look and I cannot seem to find anything. Abby, the puppy, makes such a mess in an already huge hoarder like environment (I'm not usually this disorganized I swear), but last night picking up my stitches brought me peace.

When everything is rocky and crazy and I don't know what to do, I now know one thing I can turn to to keep my mind at ease. I may not be a master knitter by any means, but just the fluidity and rhythm of stitching sets my mind at ease. Thank God for small comforts!

Until next time...
Broke Knitter

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

The Flood Gates Have Opened

The flood gates have opened at my house people. And I don't mean that in the, "I just bought a few things at the yarn store" kind of way - I mean it LITERALLY!

On Sunday night, a pipe in my landlord's house burst, and thus proceeded to FLOOD MY APARTMENT! I was just sitting enjoying a cup of tea and working on the beginnings of a Christmas knitting present (aren't you proud I am getting started now? I am!) when I heard a rushing sound.

Needless to say, the bedroom carpet and many of our "nice" things are ruined. When I was looking ahead to a weekend with fibers, it did not entail ripping up carpet and putting down some hopefully not stinky new carpet.

O well, I guess I will be buying some new items now out of necessity rather than spending time at the Rhinebeck Wool Festival.

Until next time...
Broke Knitter

Monday, September 27, 2010

The Little Guy!

I took a much needed trip upstate this past weekend. It was a wonderful change of pace and the fresh air made my head very very happy.

I did, of course, stop by the local knittery during my trip. I had visited this store in the past during trips with my mother, and I was shocked to hear how poorly the shop was doing. One would think in a very cold but also very Eco-friendly environment that knitting would be on the rise. Apparently, the shop keeper expressed fear that she would not be able to remain open in such a high-rent neighborhood.

Please support your local yarn store!

Friday, September 24, 2010

Subway Etiquette

I have noticed something about human nature that seems to exist only in the realm of public transportation. When shoved into a NYC bus or subway its common to be jostled, pushed, bumped and maybe even inappropriately winked at or hassled. It seems that during this time we, as people, seem to lose all sense of common decency and courtesy. Now I am not saying I'm above all this. You have to push and shove a bit or you will never get where you are going. However, it is quite bothersome.

The strange phenomenon I am talking about, however, is the loss of normal boundaries. Whether it is the invasion of my "bubble," or people inappropriately sticking their head into my conversation, the crossing of normal social boundaries is evident on the subway cars, platforms and even on the escalators.

My knitting story of the morning - I was working on a project this morning on the subway - something I normally avoid doing at all costs because, lets face it, the city is gross, when the woman next to me leans over and just starts touching all over my knitting. I looked at her and said "Excuse me," as "politely" as I possibly could.

The woman looked at me and just kept playing with my yarn. She did not say a single word, just kept eye contact with me and touched my stuff. I shifted my body weight so as to dislodge the knitting and then she just harrumphed and looked at me like I was the crazy person.

Can we have a knitting etiquette policy for public transportation that you must at first ask what the knitter is making and act interested before you put your grubby hands on my goods? You don't see me walking up to pregnant woman and rubbing all over their bellies. Okay, so maybe it's not the same, but what can you do?

After a year and a half living in NYC the subway still seems to amaze me. You meet every kind of person you could imagine on the subway. I love living in such an interesting and diverse place and I love getting to see first hand all that the world has to offer. I don't, however, like when it offers my pale yellow yarn a dingy patch from the creeper rubbing up on me on the subway.

Until next time....
Broke Knitter

Thursday, September 23, 2010

The Hunt for the Perfect Chibi

Welcome to NYC. The fabulous and luxurious world of the rich and famous. Well, that's not really me at all. As much as I would like to think myself the typical Disney princess I am actually pretty far off.

Living in Queens and working on the UES means a constant change of scenery, bustle and, of course, people. But what does this mean to me? It means that my love for knitting has become extremely expensive.

Fancy stores here on the UES cater to a different clientele than myself. I recently entered a "luxury yarn store" here on the UES and asked for a Chibi or darning needle. The woman at the counter regally straightened her posture and responded "I am sorry, we do not carry those. We do, however, offer a very nice finishing service at a low cost."

Now do I pay $50 to have my little Coffee Sleeve (http://www.ravelry.com/projects/YoungPadawan/knit-coffee-sleeve) dinky project sewn together in a straight line or do I keep on trekking? Survey says, keep on trekking!

Needless to say I trudged around NYC and Queens and after my 3rd store and lots of sweat and frustration, I finally FOUND THE CHIBI!

I almost did the sacred Chibi dance (inset celebration dance here) in the middle of a store full of women who stared at my flip-flops as though I had dragged in doggy-doo.

In the end, I was quite happy and satisfied. I was able to complete my masterpiece of the cabled knitted coffee sleeve. Going green here I come.

Check back up for more funny tales of this below average knitter trying to maneuver the landscape that is the NYC Knitting Elite.