WIP-Wednesday-Still moving along.

I'm still making progress on my Parabola and Sommer Sleevless Top (SST). Saturday's road trip allowed me to make good progress on the inner layer of the Parabola, and all the knitting is completed, and it needs to be blocked. The photo shows my second swatch-I went up a needle size and after reading the instructions again [which I'm glad I did] I need to get 18 sts over 4 inches instead of 16.  So far this swatch is real close.  I'm going to work some more rows then block it to be sure.  However, I'm thinking, I'll probably stick with the size 7 needles used in this swatch as I like the fabric, and I don't want the outer piece to be scraggly looking.  I think the fact that it's made out of silk cloud and will be very billowy I could get away with this needle size provided I don't hold the yarn too tight.  I'm really pleased with the way the inner piece-Shibui staccato=true love.

My SST is coming along-I've done 4 of the 7 decreases and you can start to see the chevron pattern.  It's a pretty intuitive pattern, and is good for social knitting provided you can count to 8, which I thought I could do, but sometimes I get only to 7!   I do have to give my hands a break with this project as the yarn doesn't have a lot of give, but I am still loving it.

I have a lot of things to catch up to on over the next few days, so I don't know how much knitting I'll get done.  I will be working on the Falcons socks tomorrow night at the game, and I wouldn't be surprised if I get a sock completed-we'll see.  Right now I'm thinking about fall/winter and baby knits.  In my mind I want to be in a certain place with my knitting and quilting projects before the holidays arrive, so I'm trying not to get too far ahead of myself.  I'd love to work on hats and other small projects during November and December.  It's predicted that we'll have another winter similar to last year, and if that's the case I'd love to have some new things ready to go on the needles when I'm "stuck" inside.  What's got you "moving" along?

wardrobe enhancement and other ramblings.

take a moment to admire my new dress, then I'll explain why I'm excited enough about it to do a blog post.

(upclose and a little blurry)

so here's the thing.  I'm 5'1" and have odd proportions.  I'm basically shaped like a triangle which makes buying clothes, especially dresses, extremely difficult.  Also, if I hear one more comment about how easy it must be to find clothes in my size, or how i'm one of those people [who likes to exercise], or you can eat whatever you want-I'ma gonna scream!  On all points, no, no, no!  About 9 years ago I lost about 15 pounds that made me an unhappy girl for many years, and I have kept that off, and then added another 5 off recently.  So, no I' don't need more meat on my bones, I got small bones anyway.  So, end of that rant.  For my niece Katie's wedding (and other wedding festivities) last year I lucked up on some really cute dresses and tops to add to my work-church-dress up wardrobe.  This helped build my spring/summer wardrobe for those purposes, but limited my resources for casual/ultra-casual wear-also I didn't find what I wanted.  In the fall I knit about 3 pullovers to help with the fall/winter wardrobe [more knitting I need to photograph].  I've made plenty of cardigans, but needed some tops that I didn't have to hunt for something to wear underneath.  Fast forward to this year, early spring I was finally able to add some shoes, another thing that is difficult for me to find for other reasons.  So this spring/summer i was on a mission, I wanted a couple skirts that I could wear on the weekends-after work that were machine washable-casual/comfy, but not too casual.  I also didn't want to spend a lot of money on them, and I didn't want shorts [another fitting issue].  As an aside, I have work/church/dress up clothes, clothes that I wear around the house [hello yoga pants when it's cold!], clothes I clean in, and those I wear to work out.  I thought about making my own skirts, but really didn't want to spend the time required to make it happen.  So, this leads me to awesome bargain #1 these 3 Lily Pulitzer skirts I got on ebay for . . . .

$65 for ALL three.  [there are alligators on the blue and green skirt] There would have been a fourth, but it got snatched up before I could complete my deal with the seller.  They are so cute, and they fit perfect and are exactly what I was looking for, but of course I didn't want to wear a white t-shirt with all three.  I just finished knitting a drapey tank that will go with all three, and i have plans to wear it this weekend.  Crazy, I know, I won't sew a skirt, but I'll knit a top.  I've enhanced my summer wardrobe with 2 additional tanks, of which I have not taken pictures, but hope to fix that in the next couple weeks.  After attending the Shibui Knits trunk show at Cast on Cottage a couple months ago, I've become hooked on summer knitting.  So many awesome yarns out there that are light weight and just the thing for summers in Georgia, and the patterns!  So anyway, let me get back to the dress.  Since I've been spending more time on the deck with Sophie, I decided I needed a casual [house dress-esque] dress or a very very casual skirt I could put on after work.  It could even be ugly for all I cared.  Yesterday, I dropped off some donations at Second Life Thrift store in Decatur.  Here's my plug for them, they use their profits to help local homeless cats and dogs, so they get all my good stuff that I donate, really love their mission.  I did a quick once over [they actually have my size!], and didn't find a skirt, but I found the dress above- a J. Crew dress, and it was only $5, now how awesome is that, AND.IT.FITS [touchdown!]  I didn't have time to try it on since I had to get back to the office, but I am soooooo excited to get something that works on the cheap.  So I ask you since I saved a gazillion dollars on my summer wardrobe, does that mean I can buy more yarn for more wardrobe enhancing?!!!!!  What's go you excited.

Songs that make me want to dance.

I haven't played along with a 10 on Tuesday in a while, and there are plenty of songs that make me want to dance. Now whether I can actually dance or not is subject to interpretation!

10. Under the Boardwalk by the Drifters-reminds me of summer fun-great for couple dancing.
 9.  Jungle Love by the Time-reminds me of senior year of high school.
 8.  Good Morning by Mandesa and Toby Mac-just a happy song.
 7.  My Maria by Books and Dunn-makes me wish I was in a honky tonk like in Urban Cowboy.
 6. Love Shack by the B-52s- reminds me of Friday afternoon happy hours with co-workers.
 5. Nos Racines-by Mundial Corrida-Faudel-makes me wish I could do the tango.
 4. I still haven't found what i'm looking for-by Celtic Thunder-makes me wish I could do ballet or some kind of  "interpretive" dancing.
 3. Footloose-Kenny Loggins-so upbeat and from one of my favorite movies (the original).
 2. Dancing in the Sheets-by Shalamar, also from Footloose-okay it's the 80s and I LOVE that music.
 1. This is our House- by Bon Jovi- heard this at a Falcon's play off game-i play it loud and proud!

There are really many more that I have in my i-tunes collection, I love music that makes me want to tap my foot and bop my head!