My Early Valentine's Gift From Rob

Is this gorgeous or what?! Rob totally surprised me with it today, and I actually cried! It's genuine blue topaz, and tiny diamonds on a gold band. He did good didn't he?!

Free Cabled Cup Cozy Pattern

I just thought I'd post this little cutesie project. It took all of about 2 hours to make. It may have gone faster, but I wanted a nice tight gauge, so I knitted it in the round with worsted weight wool, on 4 size 2 DPN's.

Cast on 42 stitches, and the pattern is as such:

P2, K4, P2, K4, P4, K4, P2, K4, P4, K4, P2, K4, P2. Following that stitch count, I just twisted the cables after every 4 rounds. You could go every 6 rounds, or whatever you like, and it doesn't matter which direction you twist, just have fun with it. Mine is about 2 1/2 inches tall. When it was done, I lightly felted it by smooshing it around in my hands, in alternating baths of hot soapy water, and icy cold water. until it was slightly firmer than the finished knit fabric. Rinse well, roll in 3 paper towels and squeeze! Immediately put it on a 16 oz cup like the one in the picture, (available at the grocery store) fill it with boiling hot water, and let it sit until the water had cooled, and the cozy is dry.

What have I been working on?

Okay... I've had a few emails asking me where I've been and what I've been doing. No I haven't become a hermit. I've just been busy with the kids, school, and crocheting this afghan for... drumroll please... ME! Yes I finally made something for myself! I bought the yarn with the JoAnn's gift card my mom gave me for my birthday. It's made from Lion Brand WoolEase yarn, so it's soft, warm, and (very important) machine washable!! YEAY! Thanks mom! The specs are: 42 - 10 inch basic granny squares (14 squares per color) The squares are joined with black single crochet and the border, (which is also black and hard to see in this picture) is done in the granny stitch all the way around. That's my queen size bed it's laying on! After one trip through the washer & dryer, it's nice and cozy!

My 2008 Resolutions

1. I resolve to be more patient with my kids, and yell less.
2. I resolve to be less argumentative with Rob.
3. I resolve to take things less personally, and stop letting PMS get in the way of an otherwise good day.
4. I resolve to eat more salad and less fried crap.
5. I resolve to finish my studies and graduate. (So far, I've been really good at this goal, so it shouldn't be too difficult to finish since I'm almost done.)
6. I resolve to become better at Chess.
7. I resolve to finish reading all the Harry Potter books since I'm half done anyway.
8. I resolve to keep my house cleaner. (God help me!)
9. I resolve to work on my book for at least 30 minutes a day, even if that means I stare at the screen with writers block!
10. I resolve to FINISH knitting a sweater for myself!
11. I resolve to save some money.