KnittnFool

It is a good thing I ventured out in my jammies in the wee smalls because, as it is wont to do here, it rained after the dump of snow we got.

Now all that is left is a slushy mess. Not to be gross but...it reminds me of the state of my lungs these days (the slushy mess that is - sorry - morbid sense of humour). Yep. Still coughing. Or as it was previously known: breathing.

Labels: Stashalong

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Poetry Thursday

Labels: Poetry Thursday

I can Blog again!

Now if only I didn't have to breathe through my mouth...

I hope to post some progress pics tomorrow from my night of television knitting. Thank goodness I got that knit-a-thon in while I could - I haven't been able to knit, read, or watch tv for 3 days. Stunning isn't it? A head cold the beautiful doctor informed me. Ah, yes. Of course. Not humiliating enough to look as haggard as possible, I must also appear to be an imbecile who doesn't recognize the symptoms of the common cold. Seriously though - I could have sworn it was something much worse. I have been sleeping for 3 days and you should see the bags under my eyes - why is that? (Also - this used to be a 3 doctor kind of town and this is about the 4th time I have caved into going to the Walk In Clinic only to be seen by a young, incredibly handsome doctor I have never met before. What the??! The cruelty of it.)

If we are lucky, the recipient of the Anemoi Mittens will be here for a fitting tomorrow. Right now it is snowing and she does live at the top of a rather treacherous hill...so we might have to wait a day or two.

Until then here are some more things my Mother has made - one day I will break down and help her set up her own Blog! But isn't this just easier?

She created a bank for our Preschool's Coin Drive to help Restore Stanley Park - cleverly using some of our own downed tree bits from the windstorm and windswept lettering.

And somehow I failed to post a pic of the Cookie Monster Style Tea Cozy she made over the holidays. I have really appreciated how long it keeps the tea hot these last few days. It is amazing how restorative a diet of tea and popsicles can be!


And here you have this incredible yarn from Yarn Rescue, ordered mere days before the start of Stashalong.

As I opened the package my fever addled brain said "Oh no! I ordered Roving." and I nearly teared up. Fortunately logic is making a return and I thought, wait. look again. before dissolving in tears. The things exhaustion can do to you! Exhaustion after 3 days of sleep yet?!

Had it been roving I would have had to send it off as a reward. Sadly, it is yarn and I will be forced to knit something gorgeous and utterly selfish from it. It will be difficult I am sure. Somehow I will have to do it. I will not be able to wait until it is appropriate for Project Spectrum 2 however - that is too much willpower.

Labels: Books, Project Spectrum 2

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Television Knitting

It is another crisp, clear day here on the West Coast. Took Kira for a run at the track. We also played a bit of fetch with a humongous stick of her choice.




Her version of fetch is to bring the stick 2-3 ft away from me and flop down to chew it for a few minutes. If I don't go retrieve the stick from her soon enough she loses interest. Fetch generally lasts 3-4 tosses with this one! She has the same attention span I bring to my knitting projects!

But tonight, tonight will be different. I plan to get a lot of knitting done.
24 begins with a 2hr premiere - as much as I mock it, and as often as I complete the lines before the actors - it can be good. There is something comforting about that ticking clock - but I do wish all the Palmers were dead! I'll give it a chance. Though I do hate when television shows dominate more than one evening in a row - seriously, 2 2hr premieres in 2 days?! FOX - could you be feeling a little desperate?

Then the 2nd Season of ROME premieres tonight!! This series is incredible, I can hardly wait to see Pullo and Lucius again. It is an odd experience seeing history as drama - knowing the ultimate end of the main players does detract on some level. This was the 1st time I ever felt truly badly for Caesar as he was murdered in the Senate - {boy was I glad they did not script in "Et tu Brute?". I even felt a little badly for Brutus - his mother is a hag!} His death was unexpectedly moving. Possibly influenced for my feelings for Ciaran Hinds as an actor? No, couldn't be. :-P

And then - the old standby - Desperate Housewives. So here we have it - a minimum of 4 hrs of knitting time today. Thank goodness I joined Runagogo - who knows what all this knitting and viewing could do to me otherwise!

Labels: Movies

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Two of the cutest things on the Internet!

That is my little Po from TADworks! You have got to visit this adorable Etsy shop. Honestly, could it get any cuter? Maybe...



The darling things! A Mama and baby taddie. They have little chains so you can dangle them from your knitting bag. Mine are siting atop my computer desk so I can see them all the time.

If you look over their left shoulder you can see Po's true size - and his incredible detail. 100%handcrafted people!

Labels: Etsy

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Sampler

I have won my 1st contest! Over at KnitPastis there was a contest and I am the lucky winner of 2, 2 skeins of gorgeous personally hand-dyed sock yarn. Thank you KnitPastis!

Here is the little bib my Mom crocheted to go with her latest baby blanket.{I know - she's a machine.}

Have you read this yet? I cannot even believe it. It makes me crazy. What, I ask you, WHAT were these people thinking of? No one would want to be in a sock club, indeed! I find it odd that they are accusing these women of defrauding people without involving the police or a police investigation. I wonder if the instigator is divorced from a Knittress and has some misplaced anger! Just when you think you have heard it all...

As you can see by my sidebar I have recently joined a number of blogging projects. I decided against joining Poetry Thursday for fear of not being able to do it each week. I would however like to share some of my favourite poems/poets here.

This is the 1st poem I remember reading in school (Grade 5). The imagery has always stayed with me. I spent a lot of time in the forest as a child and so this poem resonated with me.

The Road Not Taken


Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost (1874–1963). Mountain Interval. 1920.

What would a post be without a pic of my beloved knitting companion! I swear she is going to figure out a way to use those paws...


at the very least to free her from her perpetual yarn tangle!

Labels: Poetry Thursday, Socks

Monday, January 08, 2007

Check this out!

No. I am not running - but I do hope to walk/cycle my way to as close to 100 miles as I can get.

I just started back to the gym and am feeling ready to commit myself to being more active.

If you're looking for a healthy break from your knitting - Runagogo could be the blog for you!

(For any of you noticing this post is made at 4 AM - yep. 10th day in a row I have woken up at 3. Ahhhh. The glory of insomnia. And I get to go back to work in less than 4 hrs. Yay for me!)

Sunday, January 07, 2007

So this is why I should swatch...

I had a feeling this was too big for blocking to fix but, I gave it a try anyways. Apparently I just had to learn the hard way. I will say that I am relieved it doesn't fit. I know I have some sizes to drop but when I was working on the back it was killing me to see the sheer blanket-ness of the piece. Phew!

Before I tried it on I was sort of wondering if deeper seams would help. Clearly that is not the case! Moving right along...

I have much higher hopes for this little number below.



In fact, if it is comfy, I might just share the pattern. A total 1st for this knitter.

I think I am going to stick to accessories and a few projects on the sidebar before beginning Wicked - recycling Sizzle's yarn and carefully knitting a SWATCH. Wicked is a top down, in the round pattern that will be easier for me to track how the sizing progresses.

Ah well. You win some, you lose some.

Labels: Socks

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Wintry Weather

Finally! This is what I woke up to this morning:




Here is how I spent the other afternoon:



Those are the beads that I am now not sure of. If I get a little more knitting done I will post a progress picture and get your opinion. I am so disappointed I took a break from Bejewelled and now am working on my sock. It's a good diversion.

Looking for a little Eye Candy? Check out this little gem.

I am off to take a 2nd fitting/trying on of Sizzle. I'll let you know how it goes.

Labels: Garden

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Hodge Podge

Prepare yourself for a disjointed post tonight. So much is going on. Like this:

I am really excited to take part this time around. I am going to have to think of some ways to extend myself. I had started thinking of a few projects but they weren't very expansive so...3.5 weeks to contemplate...

Yesterday I went shopping and passed my first Stashalong test. Michael's is suddenly selling things like 100% wool and soy yarn. They also had some clearance yarn I could have found a use for but...I held out! And bought beads instead. Ha!

I had this vision of my Bejewelled Scarf aglitter with beads. The reality is not turning out as I would like so...back to the drawing board. Which is extra disappointing because it was some work figuring out how to get those lovely beads onto my thick and thin homespun. Ah well.

I came home to the nicest surprise yesterday - (talk about a knit geek) I had an e-mail reply from a comment I left the Yarn Harlot! Honest to goodness - I don't think I would fawn over her in person - but here I am blogging about this, all agog. My point was, I went back to her blog and what do I read? Who else was shopping for beads and then struggling to get them strung on her yarn? It is a small community, this.

Here is a pic of my baby racing to me just 'cause!

I do not recall ever reading this before and I found it quite moving, so I thought I would share it with you.

To me, fair friend, you never can be old,
For as you were when first your eye I eyed,
Such seems your beauty still. Three winters cold
Have from the forests shook three summers' pride,
Three beauteous springs to yellow autumn turn'd
In process of the seasons have I seen,
Three April perfumes in three hot Junes burn'd,
Since first I saw you fresh, which yet are green.
Sonnet 104 - William Shakespeare
Borrowed from A Mingled Yarn

And to end on a light note:

Overheard on the News: "We weren't expecting this level of comprehension." Park Official regarding the downed trees in Stanley Park. (Oh it feels mean to mock this poor man)

Labels: Poetry Thursday, Project Spectrum 2, Stashalong

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Talk about new!

That's a macro shot baby!

I shudder to recall the haphazard no-rules approach I took to seams before tonight. Debbie Stoller! What would I do without you? Honestly, Stitch 'N Bitch is like a Bible for me. The explanations are so clear - the language so casual it is immediately obvious what you should do. I also find that you glean from it what you can take in at the time, and later readings, with more experience under your belt reveal more complex ideas.

Granted, the Mattress Stitch is not complex, but it was new to me and I no longer fear making a mistake. I have frogged enough now that taking those loops off the needles doesn't drain the blood from my upper body. Previously when I had looked at trying some seaming I panicked at the description and handed the project off to my Mom for finishing.

This is probably the long way to go about letting you know that I have very nearly finished Sizzle. From 5:30 pm to 11 pm I finished the knitting, the seaming and the blocking. This is also the 1st time I have ever blocked something. Wish me luck - 'cause that baby was loose on me!

After the blocking I will see if there are any further adjustments that need to be made for a better fit. Boy I hope not! Then I just have to do the Seed Stitch borders on the underarms and the neckline and voila: an FO.

This is how exciting the evening was for Not Me.

This is what Blocking Sizzle would look like if you were a Mermaid from The 'Bove.

This is what you would look like if you were a Mermaid floating in our dining room. (don't ask - there is no explanation)

Here is the 2nd baby blanket my Mom has made over the holidays.

Hee hee! You know this means 2 things:

1) Already making measurable progress on my Stashalong promise!
2) I get to do something elllllllse now!
( at least until the blocking is finished)

Whoa. Almost forgot to tell you: I found the most delicious tea today. Pomegranate Green Tea. We already had 2 pots of this nectar. You should really try it.

Labels: Books

Monday, January 01, 2007

I promise...

I don't really understand the need for resolutions on the 1st of the year - it is not something I have really ever done. Mostly I find that when I make a resolution I feel nearly compelled to NOT live up to it. What is that about?

The conveniency (is that a word?) factor is there for me though. I mean Stashalong is beginning again and I certainly need an outside curb for my wayward yarn purchasing ways. I have been shopping up a storm online in the last few months. My purchases far overtake my knitting progress and something has got to give. I mean, I need to be a little more rational about my spending habits. Seriously.

So...I have joined Stashalong again. Since I have so many projects on the go, waiting, or wishing (I have an entire shelf of knitting books - nevermind online patterns held in queue) to begin I thought I would take Option #3.

"Choice 3: The WIP/UFO Numbers Game

This one will really put you to the "get it done" test. Here's how it works:**choose how many WIP/UFOs you want to finish in an increment of 5(5, 10, 15, 20, etc.)--your minimum choice for this is 5.

**You can list specific projects if you like OR if you are like most of us you can leave a couple slots open for the "screaming stash" projects. (Example: You choose to finish 5 things. You have a sweater, a hat, a scarf on the needles, BUT while working on those you get bored so you "stash dive" and you find you have a enough stash for another sweater and a pair of socks--those are your "screaming stash" projects and they round out your required minimum for this choice. Does that make sense?)"

So here goes:

1) Sizzle - so close to finished it almost doesn't count

2) Anemoi Mitts

3) Baby Blanket

4) Shae's Darling coat

5) My stinkin' Noro hat already

6) Severus Snape Socks

7) Mary Janes - I have had the yarn since when? Oh. August/September

8) Absorba the Great (if only I can find it)

9) The felted Oregon Tote that kickstarted my knitting frenzy 4 (I think) years ago

10) The project that started the Blog: The Ravenclaw Raglan. I mean, I only have to complete the sleeves for goodness sake! Oh, well. And the neck/collar as well. I am just so intimidated by the thing for some reason.

11) I did join the Bejewelled KAL so: Bejewelled.

12-15) This is for wiggle room. Likely projects to make from my stash: Endpaper Mitts, dishcloths, socks - maybe even Lucy Lu.

Good god. Even as I write this lengthy and intimidating list I am remembering other projects I want to make NOW. What is this? Crafty ADD? I guess I'm just a knitter who Cain't Say No.

Here is how I spent the 1st of January.

Welllll...use your imagination since Blogger won't upload photos AGAIN.

That is what chatting until 12:30 will do to you when you are a tired little knitter.

Labels: Stashalong