YAYYYY Joel! :cheering:
Im headed over there right now…
And, for the record, I DID enjoy reading your new, improved and expanded “THINGS”!
Decisions… decisions… decisions…
Trying to figure out the next project, what yarn im going to use, and how i can fit in exercise, computer stuff, knitting, time with my wife, and time with my kids all into my day after work.
My kids will be back tomorrow for about 1 month (yea!) before heading back out to California to go with Grammy and Poppo to Disneyland, etc.
I added more stuff to the expanding post…
Just DONT do your next project with that kitchen cotton yarn…we ALL want you to experience the EASE of something STRETCHY!
Well hello everyone and welcome to another installment of my Blog. 
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to add a significant number of posts to this forum, knitting has been on the back burner for a little while. I still have yet to start my next project. I did pick out a couple of patterns and Denise (foldedbird) is designing a pattern for me as well. But I haven’t had a chance to start any yet.
In other news… (I did manage to post this first news on the “Fit Knitters” thread.) We just bought a membership to one of our local rec centers. So, I’m working up the motivation to start getting up again at 5 am so that I can go work out before I go to work each day. I’m eating better and drinking A LOT more water. I’m slowly gaining my weight back.
My oldest daughter (age 7) is in swimming lessons and has been steadily improving. I’m proud of her. We’ve been going to the (above mentioned) rec center pool alot to give her practice putting her face in the water and it gives both of our kids playtime. Plus, it’s been good exercise for my wife and I too. Not to mention, much needed family time.
My wife is on her summer break this week from school. (She only gets one week between terms, which is more than most of her breaks.) When she starts back next week… she will go 2 days during the week, (during the day) and she will be working on her actual program classes. She has finished all of her general education stuff. I’m very proud of her. She will be required to wear her scrubs for every class she takes from now on until she graduates.
Let’s see, my parents will be here this Saturday and stay in the area for a little over a week. Not this weekend but next weekend is a family reunion (in Breckenridge) for my dad’s side of the family (not sure when my younger sister gets in). So they will stay a little beyond that and then my daughters will be picked up by my (step)Mother-In-Law and fly back out to California for another 3 weeks.
As for work, well I’m still at the same contract. I have a side job I’m bidding on for some development work, so we’ll see what comes of that.
And somewhere in there I’m trying to find time for music, more (desperately needed and overdue) quality time with my wife, and of course, knitting. I’ve been thinking about Christmas gifts. If everything comes together for Christmas that is potentially being planned, we will have A LOT of gifts to make.
Well, that’s all for now…
WOW that’s ALOT on your plate, Joel! But, all sounds good.
Oy! It’s been another week of no knitting. However, I have been pattern looking. I currently suspect that when I get a chance, I will be doing multiple projects at once. I’m looking at several possibilities. Dishcloth, scarf, and this really neat pattern for a “Ponchette” I found in wallyworld (or Michaels, I can’t remember which), that I’d like to make for my wife for Christmas.
In the meantime, I created my first knitting ball. (Yay!) I came across some really tangled up black, yarn and figured I could use it for something. But the yarn was so tangled it would have been impossible to knit from it. I watched Amy’s winding video a couple of months ago and decided I’d modify the technique. So anyway, basically when I wound the ball (while waiting for my parents to arrive on Saturday) it ended up being a little bit smaller than a tennis ball. I don’t remember who’s idea it was, but a suggestion was made to throw the ball into a ziplock, seal it and then cut a hole in a corner and feed it through. I thought that was an excellent idea so i did it and it seems to work really well. I’m looking forward to seeing how well I can knit from it that way.
In other news… my oldest daughter finished her swimming lessons and we’re using the Rec Center more (but I still havent motivated myself to get up at 5 am to go work out). We will be housing about 15 people at our house Thursday night. (My cousin and his family will drive in, my younger sister will fly in, my parents - who are already here, and of course my family.)
I had a positive interview last night, so we’ll see what comes of that.
I’m waiting on a subcontractor bid so that I can complete a bid for a software development project I want to do. I’m working on another software project (basically an electronic phone book and database).
Last night, my father and I installed a new electrical box, ceiling fan (with this really cool after-market remote control) in my bedroom. That will make my bedroom significantly cooler.
I got a chance to test drive my dad’s new Ford Escape Hybrid. Personally, I like his Honda Civic Hybrid better, but I can’t really figure out why. The Escape has some nice features to it.
My wife started her program classes on Monday. She’s studying to be a a Surgical Technologist. Her books for this semester were $500. The stack of books, etc for her classes this term is 2 feet high. Plus her program requires her to wear scrubs/shoes to class. I think she’s both excited and nervous.
As for my weight gain progress, I seem to have hit a plateau. So, we’ll see if I can break past this.
Until next time…
You just always have SO much going on, Joel!
I cant wait to see you make something besides a dishcloth or earthworm blanket!!! :cheering:
Hello and welcome to another episode of Joel’s insane life. 
My name is Joel and I’ll be your host this evening.
Our story today comes to you from mountainous Colorado…
:roflhard:
Well, I got to do a little practice knitting this week… just a small swatch to at least do something. It’s about 10 sts and maybe 10 rows of straight up knit in black yarn. Slippery as hell, had to keep putting the yarn back on the needles because it kept slipping off.
In the meantime, I’ve come up with a couple of different projects that I think i will be starting (hopefully soon). My neighbor gave me a dishcloth pattern that I’m going to try… its got both knit and purl so good practice there. Denise (Foldedbird) wrote my practice pattern and gave that to me last night on IM. When I get a chance I’ll post both of these patterns here in this blog.
As for other news, we did the fam reunion over the weekend. It was ok, but I’m glad its over. My subcontractor came through with his bid to me so now I’m putting together a bid proposal for a side project. Friday I had a 2 hour interview, should hear results about that within the next couple of days, and I have an interview for a different position tomorrow morning at 8.
I havent gained much weight… I’m somewhere around 150 pounds right now… maybe up a half pound since i last weighed myself several days ago. Anywho… I’ll post the patterns in a little while for the two projects I’m going to take on.
I don’t like the look of the Escape much - next car I get, I’m DefINITLY getting a hybrid, and since I’m a Civic fan, I think I’ll test the Civic first! Thanks Joel! (though I hear the Toyota hybrid is pretty rad, too)
[color=blue]This is the pattern I got from Denise (over IM)… I’ve edited out the extra unrelated chat stuff.[/color]
Denise says:
on size 6 needles, cast on 36 sts
do the long tail caston
row 2, purl, and every even row throw 3 knit… and knit every odd row… etc. this makes stockinette, you alreayd know that, rightere after
OR
start with 7 rows of garter, row 8 purl and then contintue in stockinette.
when you’ve got what measures to a square (should be bout 8.5 inches) go back into garter st until you get to about 9 inches
then, do this over again on size 7 needles and size 8 needles.
yeah. lots of work. gauge is important, yo.
Denise says:
that’ll keep you busy for a while… lol
Denise says:
it’ll be big enough that you can measure the gauge without it
but you can’t rip it out until you’re done with all 3 and measure your gauges.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[color=blue]And then here is the basic dishcloth pattern my neighbor gave me to do. She got it from a knitting class she took a long time ago. There is a picture on the paper but I havent had time to scan this in.[/color]
Size: Approximately 9"x9"
Materials: 1 skein Sugar and Cream Cotton, worsted weight
Size 7 knitting needles.
Cast on 37 stitches.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit 1, *Purl 1, Knit 1; repeat from * across.
Row 4: Purl
Repeat these 4 rows until piece measures 9" (or desired length), ending with Row 4. Bind off. Weave in ends.
:XY:
Well… its time once again to add this this little weird trip from my life called blog.
News this week:
-
I started two projects.
- Both will require me to do knitting, purling.
- One will teach me guage.
- One will become a dishcloth.
- Both require me to follow patterns.
-
I found a local knitting group (totally by accident).
- So barring time constraint I will be checking that out on Wed night.
- My father has been admitted to the hospital twice this week… for a blod clot that started in his leg. Part of it broke off and made it as far as his lungs. If it makes it to his heart it could kill him. So they have him on an IV and they wont be releasing him for a minimum of 3-5 days. The first time he was admitted they only kept him for 24 hours.
- My wife is still kicking butt in school. Yea!
-
My kids are at Disneyland with their other grandparents.
- They are having an absolute blast which I’m happy about.
- And with any luck, tonight I will be working out for the first time in a long time. So we’ll see how sore I am tomorrow after a workout and some relaxing pool and spa time.
Edited for additional comment: (a few hours later) we did go to the rec center… see fit knitters blog for that story. And i have confirmed with my boss (my wife) for Wednesday going to the knitting group. She and my neighbor will be coming too i think.
Hey Everyone!
Last night my wife and I went to our local knitting group for the first time. Very Cool! We actually got there about an hour late… really bad weather made traffic getting home horrendous. So, anyway we got there and there were about a dozen women there, ranging from a young college girl to a couple of older women (and not surprisingly, I was the only male knitter in the group.)
So, I was working the dishcloth pattern and ended up frogging it and starting it over… it was way too tight. When starting it the second time, I decided to do it on straight needles instead of circular. So, for now, I won’t be practicing circular needles but I am still working on the Purling for that project. (Which I found out last night that I was doing Purl wrong.)
Long story short. After the “session”, my wife and I talked. I’ve told her I’d like to continue going. It meets once a week on Wed nights. It’s a good way to block off some knitting time during the week and it does give me a social activity. She agreed!
So I’ll be back there next Wed. And yes, I’ve already started telling them about this website/forum.
FUN! Oh…aren’t YOU going to be the novelty?? :rofling:
Hi Joel, :waving:
I’ve been on this site for about 2 months now. I just read your whole blog, and I think you’re doing wonderfully! I learned to knit over 40 yrs ago, and have taught several people including my two daughters to knit and I STILL find new things to learn :rollseyes: , and Amy’s videos are great. I’m currently working on a sweater and my first double knit project - lots of knitting and purling - which will be a potholder. It’s Amy’s heart double knit project. I ended up 
before it started to click and now it’s going more smoothly (started last night.)
Your new knitting group sounds great, and I bet you’ll learn A LOT from your new friends. BTW KellyK’s right about the cotton! It’s great for kitchen stuff, but wool or a good wool/acrylic blend is much easier to use.
You said you were born and raised in MI and I’ve been a Michigander all my life. I graduated from U of M and still have season tickets for football in The Big House. I’m much more of a college fan than pro fan but I have been to one Lions game at the new Ford Field and it was lots of fun - Lions even won!
Where in Michigan did you grow up?
My first degree was in Medical Technology and I worked in that field at Children’s Hospital in Detroit for nineteen years, then I became allergic to latex and switched careers. I went back to school and got a Master’s degree in accounting and now I’m a CPA in Troy. I know all the hard work your wife is putting in on her Surgical program. How much longer does she have to go?
I also know how hard it is to find time to knit when you have small children, a spouse, and a job! I wish I’d had a knitting group like yours when my children were little. Mine are 22, 18, and 16 now so I often have an empty house in the evenings now to knit in. When that happens you find you miss the noise! Aren’t people strange sometimes?
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK :cheering: :cheering:
Mary
Most days I just say all over… lol. I was born in Mt Pleasant (my parents got their Master’s degrees from CMU). From there we moved to your rival area i[/i] where my father got his Specialist Degree from MSU. Next we moved to the SW corner, about 15 miles north of the Indiana border and within minutes of Lake Michigan. (I lived in 2 locations over there). Then, the summer before my senior year of high school, we moved to Sterling Hts. My parents still live in SH.
Post HighSchool: Spent a year in Iowa at a private college and then back to SH before moving on to Kalamazoo and WMU where I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree. Back to SH and finally out of state for good, when I moved to Chicago, which is where I got married before moving my family out here to CO.
Including her clinical rotation, we’re estimating about a year left after this term. I’m very proud of what she’s accomplished.
I too have seen the Lions play… but it was years ago in the Silverdome (which also is where my highschool graduation was held) for a Thanksgiving Day game against the Bears (my other favorite football team). They won that game too. (This was back when Barry S was still on the team.) I’d like to see a game in the new stadium… I know they’re doing the Superbowl there in a year or two but I don’t think I’ll be able to afford that game quite yet. I’ve told my wife that I do want to take her for a T-Day game though. Those are a blast!
Good morning everyone.
I’ve had plenty to add to this blog this week. It’s been a good knitting week I think. Yesterday, my wife and I decided to spend basically the day enjoying each other.
We started out the day with breakfast, followed by a trip to the Rec Center for working out and swimming time. Now initially, we had planned on going to the Denver Zoo, but by the time we left the rec center, with an hour drive to get to the zoo, we would have basically gotten there only within an hour of it’s closing time, so we decided to skip it and go to the movies. (We went and saw Dukes of Hazzard - matinee show.) Following the movie, we decided to go to our local Border’s bookstore, sit down in the cafe area, so that Rebekah could study for a while, we’d get a couple of cheap drinks, and I could look at books, mags, and do some knitting (we brought her crochet too).
The first hour or two was pretty uneventful. I looked at a few programming books and looked for some knitting (only found a few magazines). So after browsing, I put the stuff back and started working on one of my projects. At some point, my wife decided she was done with her stuff and needed a break. She had not yet put her books away but was sitting back and relaxing for a moment when a lady approached us and invited us to join their knitting group, also seated in the cafe (Surprise #1). Apparently, they meet at the bookstore once a week (on Friday evenings) and had come in while we were at our table. So after putting my wife’s books in the car and bringing her crochet stuff in, we joined them.
As we were joining them, we discovered surprise #2. In their group, they have male knitter. So anywho, not sure if we will join their weekly group as well but it’s good to know about it. In the meantime, I got several more rows done on my project. I’m slowly getting better at PURL but it’s taking time because my tension is off and this project is really tight.
That’s excellent Joel, finding a knitting group with another guy there. Seems like more and more men are picking it up. don’t have much like that down here, though, once I get back to Boise, think I may look one up, if nothing else than to get out of the house.
That’s VERY cool! And, what a nice day you spent together!
Joel, I was thinking of you today. Tony and I got into one of our discussions about how strange some folks can be about not doing something they enjoy just because what other people think about it. I brought you up (about your knitting) and the Marine that I showed you from knitty.com who knits.
And my million dollar idea was born…I ought to make t-shirts that say:
FRONT
"I Knit
BACK
…and in my spare time I’m a U.S. Marine".
Of course, we could also change the rank patches (the red ones with the yellow chevrons and two rifles crossing) to replace the rifles with knitting needles…muwhahahaha.
hehe, foldedbird, you should run with that idea, could do that for other occupations as well.