Take me out to the ball game

Hello Everyone ! I tried doing this post yesterday but my computer was not having it all, I think its giving me the hint...time for a new one.

Eventhough I have been working on many projects this week, I do not have any pictures yet to show anyone. So I decided to show these wonderful pictures of my outing to Yankee Stadium on Friday night. My nephew Abraham is visiting from Orlando and he wanted to go see a game. He grew up here in NYC but then his dad moved to Florida. So being the great titi I am, I got last minute seats for him, my mami and me.


Its not like I have to travel miles and miles to get to the Stadium, I go by it everyday on the subway. I grew up three blocks from the Stadium and some of my most cherished childhood memeories are playing around the stadium and once in awhile catching a glimpse of a player before they headed in.
I was able to get this shot of Derek Jeter just before he hit his 2000th hit and then his 2001 hit. It was great that he was able to do it at home and of course he got a standing ovation.
I am a diehard Yankees fan ... good or bad

Here is my hunky nephew Abraham. He's 19 now, a hard working college student...ladies you should see his eyes. It gave my mami some time with her grandson...of course as she munched on Cracker Jacks and watched the game.

Eventhough it stayed sunny most of the day, the skies opened up at the bottom of the 8th inning and there was no way we could stay. The umbrellas were no use at all. I was soaked and it was hilarious seeing my mom running in the rain like a young 50 year old (she's 76).

All in all a great time.

Solo in the City

Today was a beautiful day in NYC. One of those Spring days that we yearn for after all the snow and cold weather. Not even having to deal with waiting for buses or slow local train could make it bad.
But the one dangerous thing about being single in the city is not having someone to say
"Back away from the yarn Maribel, put it back ... for Heaven's sake have some self control!"

I decided to go check out the new store KnittyCity on the Upper West Side today. The store has become very popular in a short amount of time, and the word of mouth has been good. It is a lovely place and when I walked in there was a class going on in the back room, and a mother and daughter taking lessons at one of the tables.
What pleased me the most was that they do have a large variety of yarns, they even carry some Lion Brand and a large selection of Cascade 220 in some great colors.
I ended up walking out with some Freedom cotton denim for a messenger tote bag I want to make from the Greetings from the Knitting Cafe book.
And for those of you who have to sneak your yarn into your homes, you might want to bring a bag with you, KnittyCity has clear bags ... so everyone can see your haul.


I finally finished the Baby Cardigan and goodies that I started a few months ago. The baby for who this gift is meant was born almost two months ago, but since I made this set in a 24 months size, it will be some time before she wears it.
The sweater was made from the Special Knits for Baby by Debbie Bliss and the booties are also from Ms. Bliss but from her Quick Baby Knits book. I love some of her patterns and nothing could be better against your hands but her baby cashmerino yarn.

The beret was from the Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns.
I totally fell in love with the beret when I finished it, not a mistake or twisted stitch anywhere.
Damn I'm good!

For my OneSkein secret pal

HEY THERE SECRET BUDDY !

Here are the answers to your questions.

I am required to send you these questions.....however I have one of my own....are you really allergic to wool? the thought of that makes me tear up.....
I am not allergic to wool ( I really don’t think I am ) but I have noticed that some of the chemicals they put on the superwash wools bother me. I really haven't made too much for myself in wool, and the item I did does make me itch a little but I still wear the scarf....heck its Lorna's Laces yarn .. wouldn’t you !

1. Which yarn is most like your personality (you can be specific or general with your answer- brand, type, color, fiber, whatever)?

There are so many yarns I love, how can I answer this question. I prefer soft yarns, the kind that you want to molest in the yarn store. Silky but not shiny( those metallic ones..yuk) One of my favorites for baby stuff is Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino .. I love the feel of it. Karabella yarns are lovely, things like that ... cushy and mushy I call them...LOL

2. What is your favorite color yarn to knit/crochet with?
I try to match the colors with the person I am knitting for. I don’t do too bright day glow colors, but for kids knitting I try to go for brighter colors. For myself I am a major earth tone kind of girl and deep purples and reds.

3. Have you ever used variegated, or magic, yarns?
I have used variegated yarns, magic yarns for socks, and variegated yarns for a few scarves.

4. Do you tend to favor certain fibers when choosing yarns?
I am not against some softer acrylics for machine wash items, there are some better quality blends these days. I use wools, cotton and some alpaca. It all depends on the project, but my mom has learned not to buy me any cheap yarns at flea markets unless I am there.

5. Do you prefer to work with center-pull or traditionally wound balls of yarn?
Doesn’t make a difference to me but if I buy a hank of anything then I like it to be center pull when it gets balled up.

6. Have you ever worked with organic yarns or are you interested in trying them?
I would not mind using them at all.

7. How many and what projects have you made in the last year?
In the past 12 months I have made countless socks ( slipper socks for gifts) scarves, shrugs, a doll, too many hats, and some baby dresses.

8. Will you be knitting any gifts this year?
Of course, I am hoping to get some some guilt off my back and use a lot of the yarn I have spent my money on to make a lot of holiday gifts this year. Also some baby shower and birthday gifts.

9. What is your favorite one skein project?
I like the cable scarf and the felted items.

10. How much yarn do you have in your stash and how do you store it?
I am too scared to count how many pieces I have, but it has too be at least over 200+ skeins, there goes that yarn budget.

11. Do you have a yarn in your stash that you love so much you can never use it or part with it?
Not at the moment. I have to stop being so co-dependant with my stash.

12. Do you knit less or differently in the summer?
No, I do a lot of knitting at work on break or before my shift, in the lovely air conditioned space. I sit in parks after work to relax. I try not too to too much in white outside as to not to get it dirty, I am a walking klutz and I will drop it in the first puddle I come across.

13. Do you belong to any knitting groups (online or offline)?
I do belong to one knitting group that meets monthly but I am not adverse to joining another one but my schedule is tough sometimes.

14. Pal, please confirm for me your mailing address (some East Coast zip codes may have lost the beginning Zero value and appear as four digits).
This I will send in the email

Hopefully these will help you .. if you have any other questions ...ask away.

Hey Abbott......I've been a BAD girl !!!

I have no self control. No will power what so ever and this time is not over a big piece of chocolate cake. Its yarn!

The Lion and the Lamb in NYC has lost their lease and they started a 50 - 70% off sale yesterday. I got there around 5 after work and before my knitting group at my store. The crowd wasn't too bad but it got bad quickly. So many customers were coming in that they had to stop them from entering since the place is too big. Besides the high end yarns and goodies they also carry an amazing collection of needlepoint goodies. Heck I spent nothing compared to the woman who spent $800+ in needlework canvases and yarns. I heard that there was a fight today, women yelling at each other. Okay people .. knitting is a civil hobby.

Here is my haul ...
Just some Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino ( my favorite for baby stuff ), Tahki - Baby, some Dale of Norway Baby Ull and some Regia sock yarn.
Oh and some Addi Turbos at 50% off too. I had only on Addi needle and I won't tell how much that one cost me at full price.

I finally finished the Baby Sweater and now I have to redo the booties. I found another pattern I love. So the gift giving will have to wait for a few days now. The baby is still a newborn, so I have some time.

The exciting news is that I got my ONE SKEIN KNITALONG buddy today. I am so excited to start this exchange. I am not sure if I am supposed to say her name on my blog as of yet. But she lives across the country, in a state that I have not been to yet. This is going to be so much fun.

HELLO THERE SECRET BUDDY !!!

GREETINGS FROM NEW YORK CITY

Finally ... some pics

So..I went to Iceland and it is amazing to see the reactions of people when you tell them that you have gone to this land far far away. Heck it was only 5 hours away. But it was beautiful and amazing. Here are some of the pictures that I took over there, some of my favorites for your viewing pleasure. Nancy was with me of course, since it was her family we went to see. Here we are on our last visit for some last minute shopping of yarn goodies. The Alafoss store is a dangerous place. We were in nirvana !!!



I loved the open road ...

This creator was amazing.. no chance of this old volcano blowing again..anyone want to go for a swim ?

Iceland's most beautiful baby ... Asthilda Emma

And her parents and our amazing hostesses...Ingleif and Linda. They were fantastic and so loving to all of us. ( I am still waiting for a certain recipe ..hint hint)

Even though this is a man made geyser.. I love the picture and the sun shining in the background.

I am still munching on the most amazing chocolate covered raisins that I got over there as I type this blog entry, trying to make them last.

The beauty of this country, the generousity of the people and its peacefulness are overwhelming.

Presents from the Philippines

Today at work I got some presents ... and all girls like getting presents. One of the lovely booksellers at my store, Marvelyn just returned from a month long trip to visit her mom in the Phillippines. Knowing that I am a knitter she bought me a bag full of this lovely yarn. It is called Carmencita and it is distributed by Coats (jp coats) in Manila Bay. It is an acrylic yarn but oh so soft and cushy. There are about 12 small skeins of blue, pink, red and lilac and white variated yarn. Each is only about 35 meters, so I dont think I can make a big project with them but they will make some nice and warm booties for the winter season.

I have been so frustrated lately by a washcloth...a stinking washcloth. It is one of the pretty ones from the new Mason Dixon Knitting book. I have been planning on a set of these dishcloths as a house warming gift for a friend and it is getting the best of me. I am so pissed about it, so I put it down, so I will start the towel for now and then I will get back to them again

Has anyone made them yet ?

I have just learned that the Lion and the Lamb in NYC has lost their lease and is going out of business, this means major sale !!! I believe it starts on 5/9 and last only for days, 50-70% off of everything in their store. HOT DAMN !