Stella Knits

Stella Knits

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Feb 01 - Feb 14, 03
Feb 15 - Feb 28, 03
Mar 01 - Mar 15, 03
Mar 16 - Mar 31, 03
Apr 01 - Apr 15, 03
Apr 15 - Apr 30, 03

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finished projects

Regia Paris Socks

Double Flower Dishcloth

Lorna's Laces Sherbet Straight Laced Socks

Sunset Socks

Fuzzy Feet

Julia's Sweater

Oak Leaves & Acorns Lace Scarf

Julia's Strawberry Hat

contact...Stella
Tell her how much you like her blog. Be kind... she doesn't take rejection well.

Friday, May16, 2003

My best bud Jeannie is finally done with her finals, and we get to do cool girlfriend type stuff again! Here are the plans: First, we need dressforms. I do NOT remember where I found that link, it was in the comments on an excellent knitblog, however. I wish I could remember. Second, we need beauty in the form of papaya enzyme baths... aaah If massages and buying yourself something pretty doesn't solve women's problems, what does? Pills? Piercings?
***
I got a little carried away last night and knitted without counting on Cheesy, no ClassyLove, then had to rip back. Not fun, but ok, I didn't drop any stitches. Now I'm back increasing again, above the waist. I really, really want to get to the hearts! I was so sad to read that Kate said she might be done with blogging. I sure hope you'll keep designing for Knitty.
Speaking of Knitty, and Indigirl's Janda, and the totally popular Ribby Cardie, AND the fact that the Lacy Cardie is almost done and I'll need a new project soon, I was thinking about cross-breeding Janda & Ribby. Like, make Ribby, but do it in 2 colors like those retro 70's t-shirts. See the little Stellas below, they are wearing them, too! Would that be cool? And then I could pick my own yarn, and it would be very unique, and "almost" a creative new design.
***
BONUS
If you tell me who the "three little dots" are a tribute to, you win the devil hat! (Hint: Think SF Chronicle).

Yes, it has the other tail, but no horns.
posted by Stella 2:58 PM

Thursday, May15, 2003

So last week was the week of stress from hell, this week the universe is making up for it with bizarre coincidences. Yesterday, at lunch time, I find a hemp seed in my udon soup. Honest. It was just floating on top. I picked it out because I couldn't believe my eyes, but once it dried it was unmistakable. (Japanese hippies?!)
Today, I get on the muni and once again, can't believe my eyes, and didn't think anybody would believe this without proof:

***
And now, back to knitting content:

Cheesylove is growing! I think this sweater is going to be cool. Not cheesy. Jeannie's Mom said it best, "that's not cheesy, that's a classic design!"
And... good old Lacy Cardie decided she wanted her picture taken, too:

***
Why do people read & write knitblogs? Duh. To make new friends who share the same interest.
posted by Stella 2:58 PM

Wednesday, May14, 2003

I'm hooked on these little dolls. Here is coy, yet slutty Stella (this is how she opens the door for her "boyfriend"):
Anyway. I think I'm getting repetitive.
Knitting News:
The Lacy Cardie is soooo close. I'm ready to shape the shoulder on the second sleeve, and that will be it! I'm waiting for the weekend to do it so I can knit those decreases in one focused and concentrated session. Then block, weave in ends, sew together and do buttonband. I guess 2 or 3 more weeks and it'll be wearable. Unless I get distracted and sew the other sweater first (see 05/09/03).
Cheesy Love is up to 6". I'm doing the waist decreases and I'm so glad for my little stitch markers. Its main pattern is K2 P1 and I really like how those ribs merge when I do the decreases. Yes, I love mindless knitting.
In Other News, my old friend G dropped by yesterday to hug & squeeze me (but I stopped him b/c I hadn't seen him in like almost a year, and you know...). He does have a cool Porsche but I'm looking for meaningful relationships right now. Really. Besides, Mr K and Mr S are both already pretty meaningful. Am I making sense?
Oh, Caroline suggested I go on vacation! The question is where? I decided not to go Italy to my cousins's wedding. I went last year with my Mom. But if I go somewhere by myself, I'm thinking Hawaii. I just don't know which island. And I want to make sure I don't end up anywhere family oriented (I'm a single girl, after all).
posted by Stella 12:40 PM

Tuesday, May13, 2003

Ooooooooooooooooooooohhhh, (imagine impossibly high-pitched squeal here) they are soooo cuuuuuuuuuute:

Meet my little Stellas!
Thanks Bonne for discovering them and thanks Denise & Thea for inventing them. I want more! I want to make myself as a little anime doll! And I need one that knits!!!
posted by Stella 8:06 AM

Monday, May12, 2003

I worked some more on CL last night, and I have say, I really like it! It grows so fast, and its #7 feels soooo different in my hands from the #2.5's for the Lacy Cardie. And I get to use my stitch markers, too! Just in case you are wondering, LC is not being neglected, I'm close to shaping the armhole on the second sleeve. Here is a goofy picture of CL:

And here is the sweater I made on Saturday - I'm so proud, I'm even wearing it at work:

Yeah.. my Photoshop skills need improvement, don't they?
posted by Stella 5:12 PM

Sunday, May11, 2003

Dear Blog, I'm feeling annoyingly emotional this weekend, no crying, just icky anxiety, can't sleep well, worry, etc. I know that's how I always feel after a period of stress, and last week was indeed stressful. So I'm not fighting it, just trying to ride with it. I can't make simple decisions, anything I have to decide just turns into endless what-ifs. The Nanny Diaries is making me anxious - why? It will be ok, I know. I'm getting another massage tomorrow. Something to look forward to. Taking deep breath here.
I also casted on for Cheesylove during last week. Hard to believe in retrospect. Today I had a brief moment of panic when I had to join the two ruffles. No WAY was I going to twist it. But my 26" needle was just too short to see anything. The ruffle just wanted to curl around it. So I jumped up and raced down to Urban Knitting Studio where Helen, the owner, and three other nice ladies were knitting. I felt much better once I was among people, I got a longer needle & pink fluffy yarn and joined it. Helen also invited me to a Knit & Wine which are 2 great things that go great together! Another nice girl invited us to the 10th anniversary of the Suppenküche German restaurant this week. So there, Ms. Inner Critic.
Yesterday I made the first one of the sweaters - it came out very cute (and wearable!). This is a sleeveless turtleneck sweater made from knit fabric. I had never sewn that before. I found a stitch on my machine that worked well though. I even made darts!
posted by Stella 6:56 PM

Friday, May 9, 2003

What a relief. Boss is gone today, we get to eat cake & my Mother'd Day present is here. So I can sneak out early and mail it. I started to feel better yesterday thanks to Fetzer. I know all I need is a couple days off, but then I keep busy doing all the fun stuff I love, and I still don't get any rest!
On top of everything else yesterday, I had misplaced my cell phone, and as soon as I found it, it rang. Was S. He came by and made me laugh. I really needed that. I just couldn't relax. I mean, the teeth cleaning yesterday had been the least stressful event of the week so far. He also shed some light on the Boyfriend Sweater Curse - he thinks men are reminded of their mother when a girl knits them a sweater, and they don't want to marry someone like her. Of couse, that is in direct opposition to the Oedipus complex, so that theory deserves further research, I think.
I found some more cute fabric on sale ($1.49/yard) so, just to torture myself some more I'm going to sew it even though it is stretch knit. I promise I'll stop when I get frustrated! And, I will lighten up this blog with some pictures tonight. (Does sewing knit fabric qualify for a knit blog?)

posted by Stella 2:30 PM

Thursday, May 8, 2003

Didn't I say it never ends? So I went to Pilates on Monday & Tuesday and my headache came back. It must be straining my neck. Yesterday I got sick with something else and I'm taking antibiotics to kill it and those, in turn, are kicking my butt. I wish I could stay home but our sick policy is so confusing it's better to be sick at work. Then my Dad calls from Germany and wants me to send him some Indol-3-Carbinol, a weird cancer curing supplement which I can get at Rainbow Grocery (the local socialist haunt). Took me 3 days to research & find it, and of couse, he needs it asap. So I need to take a bus at lunchtime and hunt it down, then stand in line at the post office to mail it. My boss is tripping and made my friend cry yesterday. The elevator is getting stuck repeatedly and the building refuses to replace the thing so we have to climb 5 stories. I'm getting my teeth cleaned at 4 pm. And I'm supposed to be thinking about my relationships with S & K. I'm stressed. Help.
Good things: I managed to cast on for Cheesy Love last night before I passed out. And continued a little on the Lacy Cardie sleeve. And got 2 library books and got my clothes back from wash & fold this morning before work, whcih made me 30 minutes late but boss was out. Please, God, I want to collapse.
posted by Stella 11:12 AM

Monday, May 5, 2003

Hey, I got the pants dropped off at the taylor, bought a Fast Pass, and ordered a Mother's Day present. It'll be late, but hey, it's beautiful. I mean, I'd be happy if I got these:

posted by Stella 4:03 PM

I won't moan about the fact that it's Monday. I'm at work and that's cool, and I don't have a headache. I actually feel well enough to do my Pilates tonight.
Yesterday, I sewed the second pair of PJ's - I am now blessed with sleepwear. Then I got radical and cleaned out my closets. No more dressing dysfunction for me. Now I really don't have anything to wear! I do have a trunk full of clothes for Goodwill. I also found some cute bargains at Gap. But it felt stressful to clean out my closets, now that I have to spend a lot of money to buy some clothes.
I also planted some flowers outside my building, and now Ihave new respect for urban gardeners. It's really not that pleasant to dig in dirt where people walk their dogs and throw their trash. But now it looks nicer than before.

Despite the self-imposed knitting hiatus, I sneaked in a few rows on the lacy cardie sleeve as well. I think I'm going to finish it. And today, I'm going to mail off my socks for my Dad. And buy a Mother's Day present. And get new pants hemmed. And buy a Fast Pass. And vaccum when I get home. It just never ends...
posted by Stella 10:26 AM

Saturday, May 3, 2003

Saturday, and it's raining - perfect. I'm gong to start sewing those pants while I watch cooking shows on PBS, have French Toast for breakfast and make chili-cheese cornbread later on. Hmmmmmm. I'm still sleepy as hell but I noticed that going to the gym and doing my cardio seems to wake me up - of course then I'm tired from working out later. Head & neck feels like it is at a 1 out of 10, painwise. :)))
I've been sneaking around ebay looking for roving. mmmm I wonder how much I'm going to ruin once I start learning to use the spinning wheel, and when I can buy some nice stuff to actually make something nice from. I'm a little nervous that I bought the wheel on ebay and from NZ. But the seller seems sincere and is staying in contact with me, and he has told me he has shipped it.
Another cool thing happened yesterday, I was very happy & excited. There is a girl at the gym whose body is just perfect - I mean, not like a skinny starvation supermodel but perfect in the way my own body could be if I were totally dedicated. And she has a very cool tattoo on her shoulder. A while ago I was in this "experimental" stage where I was wondering if I was gay/bi/straight, and I have since decided that it was all way too complicated and have focused my attention back to the boys. But, yesterday, this girl talked to me. And I was extremely happy about it. :) Keep in mind I also suffer from being shy and I hardly ever talk to anyone there. So just making human contact is pretty nice, amidst the urban anonymity... Stella is not going to questions this any further, just going to enjoy.
posted by Stella 9:18 AM

Friday, May 2, 2003

The 11 hours have been explained. Of course there is a chemical reason - at first I thought it was just pure exhaustion but after walking around kinda dopey for 2 days, I thought it must be this new prescription I'm taking. I've mentioned this anxiety problem I have before. I thought I was fine with work slowing down and generally having less stress in my life. But as soon as I told my doc that I had taken all the samples he had given me, and that I now felt fine, thank you very much, he wrote me a new prescription. Damn. Will I ever be healed? And just to be a good girl who does what her doctor says, I've been taking it even though I did not feel particularly anxious. I don't want to take it really, but I do feel calm and that's kind of pleasant.
...la de da...
I made huge progress on the pajama pants last night - I pinned the inseams! Then I compared them to some that I got from Victoria's Secret a long time ago and they are much bigger & wider. Should I adjust the pattern now or with the next pair I'm making? Hmmm. I think I'll make them by the instructions, but if they don't fit right, then I'll adjust them according to the VS pair.
My neck is still hurting a little and I'm determined to let it heal completely so I'm still not knitting. I have another massage scheduled Monday after next. The first one helped a lot so this must be the way to go.
This weekend, I'm going to clean out my closets and get rid of all the clothes I hate/that don't fit me/are out of style. Everyday day, I feel like I don't have anything to wear so it's time. And then, I'll go shopping. :) (Loehman's, Nordstrom Rack, Anne Taylor, Banana, Gap, Old Navy.) Oh yeah, baby.
posted by Stella 10:13 PM