Friday, January 25, 2013

Friday Mishmash

The winner of the HooRag giveaway is:

Alicia Ryan-Wynn!!!

Congratulations!  Please send me an email (40somethingsjourney@gmail.com) with your mailing info AND your choice of HooRag pattern so I can give it to my contact.  If I don't hear from you within a week, I'll have to choose another winner.

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What does it mean when I receive these two items within days of each other:
Book courtesy of my BFF Barbara; laser lotion courtesy of the nice lady at the Clinique counter.

It means I'm heading toward a major milestone this year.  And honestly, I couldn't be more excited!  I was driving on the highway on Wednesday, radio blasting some good old rock and/or roll (the preacher from the Simpsons referred to it as that and it's stuck with me ever since), and loving life.  So what if I can't remember much?  If Nora couldn't, then it's normal.  NORMAL, I'm telling ya!

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I had to laugh at this comment from last week's FMM, courtesy of EmDub:
I really love how you love knitting, but sometimes when you explain stuff it sounds like Charlie Brown's teacher/adult :) But don't stop doing what you love!
I appreciate that y'all indulge me with all of my knitting recaps.  I DO love it, and I think I've found my creative calling.  That said, here's what I've been doing this week, knit-wise:

I've been trying to figure out what to knit with the yarn I received from my Secret Santa - the yarn is a  gorgeous Malabrigo Twist, and I wanted to do it justice.  I finally decided to make myself a cowl and hat, specifically so I could wear them next month while spectating Jeff as he runs the Austin Half Marathon.  Of course, the day I started knitting the cowl, our weather turned unseasonably warm (our high yesterday was 80 degrees...seriously!), but I'm working with the assumption that there are still some cold days ahead.  The pattern for is the Hunt's Lane Cowl; the pattern is just complicated enough that I end up chanting it as I knit (and this will make no sense to anyone who isn't a knitter): yo, sl1, k1, yo, psso (yarn over, slip one, knit one, yarn over, pass slipped stitch over).  It's the secret language of knitters!

Here's the beginnings of the cowl:
This is a fun one to see develop!

Remember the hat I was making with the yarn that my mom gave me for Christmas?  I loved the yarn, especially the purple - it's Rowan Lima, and incredibly soft.  I was close to finishing it (in fact I had started on the decreases) but I wasn't loving it.  I tried it on, and felt "meh" about it, so I ended up frogging it (knitter term for ripping it out).  I'll find something else to make with the yarn - it's too pretty to not be used for something that I love.
RIP purple hat.  You'll be reincarnated into something spectacular, I promise!

My most fun knitting project to date has been my Sarah Jessica Parker hat.  I saw a picture of her wearing a chunky hat with a giant pompom, and loved it.  I couldn't find a pattern like it on Ravelry, so I decided to make my own - it took me two tries, and I think I came pretty close.  I'm pretty thrilled with it, and I love that I was able to actually do this on my own!
SJP and me - hat buddies!

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Have a great weekend!

31 comments:

  1. Love the hat, Shelley. "Stick with Exercise" arrived on my desk yesterday lunchtime - thanks again for organising the giveaway. I look forward to digging into the contents this weekend.
    Hope you have a great weekend too.

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  2. Love your hat! Last winter I bought myself a Pom Pom for running outside. My family thought it was funny but I love it. That book sounds interesting.

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    1. I can't imagine running in this hat, but I do have a crazy Elmer Fudd-type hat that I wear to run in when it's really cold, so I totally get wearing what works! :)

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  3. You are an amazing knitter...inspiring.

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  4. I LOVE ME SOME NORA.
    I need to go back and reread I feel bad about my neck :-)

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    1. I was thinking that, too - going to pull out my copy when I'm finished with this book.

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  5. I just got I Feel Bad About My Neck for Christmas and I've been reading it slowly. Nora has a way with words, doesn't she?

    You ought to copyright your pom pom hat pattern and put it out there for other knitters to enjoy. You did a great job!

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    1. I put the hat pattern on Ravelry. :)

      I also read I Feel Bad About My Neck slowly, and I'm doing the same thing with this book...savoring it. Nora was wonderful.

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  6. good job on the sjp-hut! it looks really cool on you!

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  7. That hat is just TOO much fun!!!! I love it!!!

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  8. You and SJP look like long-lost twins!! So fun to see you having fun creating.

    The new cowl does look intriguing. (Secret language of knitters--tee hee!)

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  9. Thanks, Shelley! I'm so excited! I just emailed you my info!

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  10. Look at you so stylish!! Love the pom pom hat! Hope your weather is good for your run tomorrow! Happy Friday!

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  11. I like the color of your hat more than SJP's!! No offense to her. :) Cheers to Normal!

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  12. As someone who knits scarves (because that's all the ability I have), I am super impressed with all your knittingness. And coming up with your own pattern? You gots mad skillz!! :)

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  13. So cute!! Maybe I'll take up knitting in my spare time! lol

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  14. I love the hat :)

    1stepclosereveryday.blogspot.com

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  15. Congrats Alecia!!! AND I LOVE That purple hat!!!

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  16. The hat looks better on you and on SJP. You should sell it to here and make a big profit. I bet she paid lots of money for it.

    I love to see your knitting projects. I decided today I'm putting away the winter sweater and get back to the Spring sweater I started last year. Now all I have to do is start :)

    It's been extremely cold here for what we normally get, it will all be over tomorrow and I can't wait till it's a bit warmer. Didn't help I was sick all week but that's getting better too.

    Have a great weekend my friend.

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  17. That cowl could almost be a necklace just like that. Stitch in a few pearls and a clasp and there you go!

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  18. I love your hat!! Great design! And it looks so much cooler on you! Keep on Knitting!

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  20. 80 degrees? You lucky duck!!! Love the SFP hat - great job!

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  21. Just found your blog. (Actually found it a couple of weeks and bookmarked it! Just made it back.) I'm just starting on the journey. Your before picture looks about like me. You inspire me. I CAN do this!

    Julie
    http://halfajulie.blogspot.com

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  22. Wait - which is Shelley and which is SJP??? Love it!

    Just to show you how much I admire you knitting skills, I will tell you a little secret. I bought a couple knitting books before my neice was born (soon to be 5 y/o) and couldn't figure out knitting from that. Then I took a knitting class and JoAnn Fabrics. I did okay, but then was never satisfied with what I had done and kept undoing it. :) I'm a knitting failure!!! I guess I will just "ooh" and "ahh" at what you do!

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  23. I will be looking forward to your review of the Ephron book!

    LOVE that pom pom hat. My 45th birthday is in March if you wanted to make one of your fun hats for an online friend... :)

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