Knerdy

Blog Change

2010-03-25T17:53:00.003-05:00

Over the past few weeks I've begun to realize that I have a desire to share my training plans, my diet, and my crafting with the world. I've decided to open this blog up into the various realms of my life: knitting, running, yoga, and eating!!!

Please follow me over at Eat, Run, Knit from now on!

I look forward to seeing you all over there.

Nesting

2010-03-24T21:12:00.006-05:00

'His' Socks were carefully placed on his bedside table before he left and I can't bear to move them. How precious is this?

I also finished off the February Tot Sweater tonight with some lovely glitzy buttons. I think the salesman who was helping me must think I am crazy! After looking through countless wooden and mother of pearl buttons, I picked 3 made of plastic and glitter. But for a glitzy momma and Pinxit's first birthday, I think they are quite fitting!!!

Spring Cleaning (and knitting again!)

2010-03-24T01:25:00.004-05:00

Body, mind, and house.

[The Kitchen]

[Making the Meals]

[Homemades]

[Breakfasts]

The sailor man is somewhere approaching Alaska by now, where he will be up until Thursday, April 1st. Where does this leave me? A lonely girl who finally has time to clean, knit, re-organize the house and spend some serious ME time! Needless to say, while I miss him, I am rather grateful for his temporary absence at this time of year, especially since I've begun teaching more yoga classes and my final RYC-300 exam (for yoga) is quickly approaching!

[Febraruary Tot Sweater, still in need of buttons]

Excitement

2010-03-19T13:35:00.003-05:00

It's official, I am bringing Ryan home to my parents for the Easter holiday. The plane tickets are booked and paid for, and while it seems like a lot of hassle for a measly two days in Ottawa, I could not be looking forward to it more.

There's something so relaxing about travel. It's a sense of peace and stillness that I find hard to find while moving about my daily life - but seven hours on a place equals a lot of serene knitting time. Time that doesn't require excuses or distractions, it's time to just be.

On the needles lately has been a February Tot Jacket for my little Pinxit's one year birthday. Can you believe it's already been one year since Pixie hats were on the needles and I was darting off to other cities for baby showers, baby planning, and more importantly, birthdays!? Her birthday is on April 9th and I think it's rather important that she is able to ring in her first year of life on a similar note as her first breath - swaddled in hand knits from her 'crazy gypsy aunt Manus'.

[April 9, 2009]

Diet Detox

2010-03-17T13:30:00.004-05:00

Day 10 of 14 and all I can think of is cookies... oh... my... god... I guess an apple will have to do.

(I have lost 2 lbs. though, so really can't complain too much)

My first sewing machine and distractions of the yarn variety

2010-03-14T20:53:00.004-05:00

Ryan and I recently inherited his mother's first sewing machine due to my increasing interest in sewing and quilting and her eagerness to teach me. The problem is that it needs a tune-up before being fully functional (the old Brother has been sitting unused for quite a few years), which means we had to take a trip into 'Cloth Castle', which means a lot of gorgeously oh so tempting fabrics... and yarn... I wasn't aware of their small selection of yarn until I started nosing around the back and found 50% off Mission Falls 1824 Wool in a plethora of colors.

How can a knitter resist $3.40/ball superwash merino!!! YOU JUST CAN'T!!!

And so I am now the proud owner of 41 balls of Mission Falls 1824 Superwash Merino. I chose four different colorways I could foresee myself using and even combining if necessary and bought them all out.

It's a good thing that Ryan has stopped questioning my addictions and smiled and responded with "Nice!" when I checked out with a shopping basket piled full of yarn.

Oh right, sewing! I'll have my first sewing machine by next weekend and Ryan's mom has promised to teach me how to thread it and clean it and all that nifty stuff (she sewed her wedding dress on it, so she knows her way around the machine!). I am super excited to start quenching my log cabin obsession and desire to create a million sewn home wares.

Not even close to knitting...

2010-03-10T16:13:00.003-05:00

What have I been doing instead? Training for a marathon, continuing with my yoga teacher training, and now, on top of it all, a cutting phase to my diet. The long and short of it is that Ryan and I have plunged into a 14 day diet detox, which is basically a bodybuilders cutting diet.

It looks a little bit like this:
Breakfast: Quinoa with flaxseed, wheat germ and bee pollen; egg whites; black coffee.
Midmorning: Grilled chicken breast; 1/2 sweet potato; water.
Lunch: Water-packed tuna with lettuce and cucumbers; 1 apple; water.
Midafternoon: Scrambled egg whites with a tomato; water.
Dinner: Lean turkey breast with green beans and 1/2 sweet potato; water.

Did I mention I am drinking 4L of water a day!?!

My rationale for this: see if I can lose that extra bit of tummy pudge and to kick the sugar/carb. addiction I have!

So far it's been awesome and I really enjoy the time spent with Ryan in the kitchen every night preparing our meals for the next day. It's now day 3 of 14 and my cravings are receding into a general looking forward to a strawberry or a piece of homemade bread ^_^

A day in the life of me...

2010-02-25T19:10:00.001-05:00

Wake up next to Ryan at 5:45am, laugh and wrestle each other awake.

Drive in to work together, stop at Ralph's to get our morning coffee from Ralph, who always remembers our orders: Large Medium Mocca Java Blend for me, Medium Strong Kodiak for Ryan.

Get to the barracks and throw uniform in the dryer to get the wrinkles out (so I look presentable of course).

Spend the morning snacking on fruit, knitting (when I can!) and learning about computer networks.

Take lunch in my barracks room, watched the beginning of "10 Questions for the Dalai Lama".

Read morse code after lunch, continue to knit, snack, and learn about computer networks.

Went for 7km run with McAuley, my running buddy.

Eating hemp granola with organic yogurt!

Yoga teacher training until 8:30pm.

Find out where my man is, drive out to the house (or to pick his 'on leave' drunk bum up somewhere).

Life just doesn't get much sweeter than this. We are the epitome of non-stereotypical sailors. He has spent the day so far working on his Austin Mini ('79), making shoes out of old tires and canvas, and now he's roaming around the forest looking for an old mine shaft...

Sometimes I just feel like the luckiest woman alive!

6,589

2010-02-16T02:41:00.003-05:00

The number of yards in my Victoria stash that are not currently attached to needles (and yes, that does account for the two other skeins I have to use up for my Icarus Shawl and the 12 balls of Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK about to be used up in my Ravelympics Lily Cardigan). In lieu of my attempt at saving as much money as possible these days, I shall be knitting solely from the stash for the next few months, at least until I get down to a mere one or two skeins of yarn.

Currently I am finding myself torn between Ravelympics and my knitterly duties! For the Ravelympics I joined the lace luge event, turning out half a Swallowtail Shawl for the BCSPCA silent auction in March (so it has to be done by the end of February), as well as the sweater board, which I plan on at least starting to knit the Lily Cardigan I've had queued for so long now. Where is the problem you ask? Ryan's birthday socks are the problem! His birthday is the 21st of February and I have one sock completed already, the second has commenced as well now, but I find myself completely torn between my projects! I want to be knitting them all!!!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately but I have been so incredibly busy with work and yoga these days and with Ryan protecting the Vancouver coastline for the Olympics I have been curling up in bed early with my knitting as often as humanly possible!

Valentine's Day was hard without him, but I managed to get out for a long hike around Matheson Lake and then went for some self-lovin' yoga. I did get a phone call from him right before class though, which was lovely - as well as the first time I heard his voice that week.

Distance is difficult, but there is something so... beautiful about having the time apart to realize everything you love about your other. I miss the sound of his guitar, the way he reaches over and touches my knee while driving, the smile he always puts on my face, wrestling and laughing in our pajamas as I try to steal all the dehydrating fruit out of the machine prematurely, how he always shows up with a different organic/fair trade coffee for me (made just the way I like it too), and how he really listens when I talk... even about yarn.

Day by day

2010-02-08T01:00:00.004-05:00

I have been so incredibly busy between working and my yoga teacher training that I have barely knit this past two weeks. A few stitches here, a few stitches there... and I've agreed to knit a shoulder shawl for the BCSPCA auction by the end of the month! What is a girl to do? Anything but knit of course...

Meet the first thing I've ever sewn (and Ryan's mother even let me use her fancy quilting sewing machine!). The breadbag, with added cross-stitch... so much knitting could have been done during the time it took to make these, but how cute are they?!

If you can't already tell, Ryan and I purchased a used bread machine on Saturday morning and have been baking up a breaded storm. This lead to the realization that the bread needed a home, and then that linen bags were great ways to store homemade bread. An excuse to craft of course!

Our weekend list:

Went to the Victoria Film Festival's screening of "Wild Hunt", rather good until the end, which was so violent I cried into Ryan's shoulder. I, apparently, am not desensitized to violence.

Purchasing the aformentioned bread maker.

Sewing and adorning the aformentioned bread bags.

Ryan's first attempt to sew himself shoes... out of old tire, thick canvas, and hemp string.

Ryan's first attempt at pickled eggs.

More Pad Thai in my fridge for the week (this is such a good vegan recipe).

Attended Ryan's dad's choir concert (The Starlight Pops)

Got out to the BCSPCA for some dog walking.

A lot of yoga!

Wishing you all a wonderful upcoming week!

Finished Vivian!!!

2010-02-01T20:54:00.004-05:00

I just couldn't wait to run home after work, hop into my car and pick up a zipper to finish Vivian!!!

She is done and wonderful, all there is left to do is get a good daylight photoshoot in!!!

Until then, here is an iPhoto.

Blocking Vivian

2010-01-30T19:28:00.004-05:00

This photograph doesn't quite capture the pure beauty of Vivian or the wonderful pesto green Cascade 220 Heathered yarn, but once I learn how to install a zipper (and purchase said zipper) I will ensure there are 82937362 photos of me and Vivian.

We'll be the best of friends, I can tell.

Also, as promised, here is my 10 for 2010 "resolutions" list! This year is going to be a full of fiber and fun, I can tell.

1. ~~Finish Vivian~~
2. A giant shawl of doom (Icarus in progress)
3. Knit 6 sweaters
- MUST INCLUDE: Lily in DB Alpaca Silk DK
- MUST INCLUDE Featherweight in Malabrigo Lace
4. Get rid of at least five skeins of sock yarn.
5. Learn to knit socks from the toe up.
6. Master Fair Isle knitting.
7. Knit Cobblestone for Ryan.
8. Finish the Afghan of Doom (has been a WIP for six years now).
9. Learn how to use the Magic Loop.
10. Learn to sew (not really knitting related... but fibery none the less)

Vivian, the final push!

2010-01-28T10:55:00.004-05:00

Alright. It's on Vivian. You. Me. Outside. Now.

Okay... maybe not outside... but it's time to finally push myself through knitting the hood. I love knitting Vivian. I really do, and yet the idea of not quite understanding what I'm doing... as I do it... freaks me out and makes me not pick her up. I'm a measly 80 rows away from being done too. That's nothing!

So it's on. Vivian: The Final Countdown.

However, I start my yoga teacher training tonight, so will now have far less knitting and blogging time on my hands! I will keep you all updated as much as I can, and will let you in on my 10 for 2010 list shortly ^_^

Update: After sitting down with Vivian and Julie and Julia (which was such a wonderful film!) and working away at the hood, I hereby love Vivian and will yell it from the top of a mountain (once I get to put her on, I just might do it!). No more hiding away my friendship with this sweater! The hood is roughly 1/3 done, and I dare say, it's working. It's working! I predict an all-night of hood knitting and loose end sewing! I will have to ask Ryan's mother tonight whether she would be able to help me sew in a zipper once Viv is all blocked. Oh, I am so excited!

Sunday morning rain is falling

2010-01-25T01:11:00.005-05:00

And since rain was indeed falling, we decided to nuzzle up together for an extra hour, go start the paperwork for a mortgage, grab breakfast at our favorite local, organic cafe (Demitasse), and head to the natural foods store to prepare for an afternoon of cooking, baking, and creating.

So what did come out of our Sunday?

Green Soup with Sweet Potatoes (a great soup using kale, chard, sweet potatoes, onions, sage, garlic, and vegetable broth).

Apple Spice Muffins (this included my first experience with Sucanat, non-refined cane sugar).

Elderflower cough syrup (Elderflowers, honey, lemon and water!).

Ryan's quest to make homemade butter (which was successful and provided wonderful butter for aforementioned muffins).

Fruit leather using organic baby food (this was also created by Ryan).

And lastly, a ton of dehydrated bananas, apples, and cantaloupe slices, since Ryan invested in a dehydrator today.

Quite a successful Sunday, although I haven't gotten around to picking up my knitting yet... although my plans for the rest of the evening do indeed include just that.

I leave you, with Ryan posing quite proudly with his butter; he wanted me to take a photo of him and post it to my blog for all to see. Silly boy.

Yet another post about Vivian

2010-01-22T19:00:00.002-05:00

She is going to fit!!!

A matter of minutes ago I finished the saddle shoulders and begun knitting the hood; I could not resist trying her on to see if she fit better with the shoulders completed! I am completely and utterly pleased to report that she does!!!

I'm going to run back into her warm cabley arms now and knit the hood in a frenzy so that I can block her and take her to someone who will be able to sew in a zipper. I am SO excited to see how she works out!

Vivian...

2010-01-20T20:01:00.003-05:00

Vivian and I are not on speaking terms right now. She is being worked on and I am enjoying the knit, but I am refusing to acknowledge that I know her in public anymore. This is primarily because I am starting to get a little bit nervous that she just isn't going to fit at all, after three months of being on the back burner and knit and loved and now she looks small... the only thing to do is to finish her and block as large as possible.

I'm currently working on the saddle shoulders before the hood... I want her to be done and fit so badly, but I am terrified that she just isn't going to fit me at all...

And so it begins...

2010-01-17T13:51:00.004-05:00

Since it's often difficult to refresh a blog without feeling completely lost in the writers life I have decided to make this first (well, second) post to the point with facts on where I am, as well as a nice little mosaic of my FOs of 2009.

Mae is:

Now living in Victoria, BC.

Full-time Canadian Forces Naval Communicator. I'm a sailor by profession!

In love with the man of her dreams, who is currently out in the garage carving things out of wood and working on his Austin Mini.

Said love is also in the Navy, however is not currently on course like I am, which means that this year alone he will be at sea for roughly 187 days total (give or take as his sailing schedule changes).

Still a complete and utter knitting addict.

A University of Western Ontario graduate with two university degrees: A Bachelor of Music with Honors in Music Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature.

About to begin Yoga Teacher Training with Ajna Yoga on January 28th!

Still longing for the domestic and living the life of a wanderer (Ryan and I get ourselves into many random adventures along the West Coast, from Alaska to California).

2009 Finished Objects!

2010

2010-01-17T03:28:00.002-05:00

I will blog more this year. I will blog more this year. I will blog more this year.

Starting tomorrow...

AHOY!!!

2009-10-08T12:31:00.001-05:00

After months of course work, sailing with the HMCS Algonquin, and various seamanly duties, I am back!

In fact, not only am I alive and well, I'm also posted to Victoria BC where I am attending a weekly knit night with the Bitchy Bees, and spending far too much time knitting sweaters, scarves, and socks!

I'm back with a knitting vengeance and promise I will update with image and stories in the near future!

Pre-Birthday Gifts

2009-06-13T15:13:00.002-05:00

From myself of course!

A flat of strawberries and two sets of napkins from the farmer's market today.

Seeing as how my friends and loved ones are nowhere near me this year for my birthday (a new trend? Last year I was at basic training for my birthday!), I have a long sleep in and strawberry jam planned for my birthday day-off.

Boy do I love the smell of fresh, local, organic strawberries!!!

Almost 22...

2009-06-12T14:14:00.004-05:00

Wednesday, June 17th 2009 I will be turning 22. Where has my youth gone?! While I fully embrace the body I have, still free of wrinkles, aches, stretch marks, and full of the youth, 22 just seems... old. I have moved from teenager to young adult, and now... adult? How much can I still get away with now that I'm out in the big bad world supporting myself and leaving my parents free from my financial burdens?

In an effort to pare down my personal belongings before heading out to Halifax on June 28th, I have been working solely from my stash for the past... six months?! Here is what remains!

And this is where it lives

This happened!

2009-06-09T16:27:00.001-05:00

Lilac Trellis

2009-06-07T19:50:00.002-05:00

Before the photo, I feel the need to make a couple of comments.
1) Do not ever buy SWTC Oasis, there are 5-6 knots and breaks in the yarn, requiring copious amounts of sewn in ends. Also, due to the slippery nature of this soy yarn, I'm concerned my sewn in ends are going to slip their way out (a fear I always have, but more so with this project).
2) These photos are taken pre-blocking. I've heard this yarn grows a ton with blocking, so I'm hoping that my incorrect gauge (way too tight) will help this. We shall see though!

So with much ado...

Lilac Trellis
Pattern: Green Gable by Sarah & Rachel
Needle: US 6 / 4.0 mm
Yarn: South West Trading Company Oasis Solid in 502 Purple
Size: Medium, with smaller gauge obtained.

Non-Knitting, Local Eating!

2009-05-30T12:51:00.001-05:00

Today begins my journey into TRULY local eating, that is to say, as much as the military will allow me to eat locally once I live on base. However, today Garret and I hit up Trail's End Flea & Farmer's Market on the outskirts of London.

Asking, repeatedly, "Is this local?" or "Where was this grown?" can be slightly frustrating when the answers keep coming back "Mexico" or "...*insert blank stare here*...". However, sometimes you get a gem like "IS THIS LOCAL?! What do you mean IS THIS LOCAL?! I picked this from my garden at 8:30pm last night, and drove it here at 4am this morning! Drive takes me 45 minutes. Now you tell me if that's local!".

For under $45 we proudly drove home with:

3 huge tomatoes

3 very bendy cukes

5 GINORMOUS carrots (I'm talking over 10" long and 5" diameter)

1lb. of tiny little potatoes

2 bunches of asparagus

1 bunch of radishes

10 Golden Delicious apples

1 little withered head of lettuce (it's early in the season, so the farmer told me it was an experiment to see how long it would last... he gave it to me for $1)

2 bunches of rhubarb

2 bags of mushrooms (crimi and shitake)

1 dozen eggs (still warm and covered in chicken feathers)

1 bag of beans, dried for soup mix

We also bought some local meats, but those were slightly more expensive:

A summer sausage ($10)

A big ass bag of beef jerky ($20)

Smoked bacon ($12)

We got home and I prepared the veggies for proper storage and cut up the rhubarb to freeze (it's shelf live isn't very long). We will be eating very well this week!

I love the sense of community you get from eating local. While Garret was standing in line for a (local) sausage from a vendor, I was mentioning how I was really wishing we had found spinach. Of course, the two men standing behind us in line instantly started talking to me about how they too were on the hunt for local spinach, but we must be late in the season, in the morning (the market opens at 6am and we were there at 1030am!), or something might have gone wrong. It was quite nice to not to be in a place where people pretend to not be eves-dropping!

For your viewing pleasure...

2009-05-24T14:24:00.008-05:00

I finally got around to taking pictures of my recent FO's and WIP's.

Pinxit's Vine Lace Hat
Pattern: Vine Lace Baby Hat by Sandi Wiseheart
Needle: US 3/3.25mm
Yarn: Fleece Artist Nova Socks
Size: 3

Spring Whisper Cardigan
Pattern: Whisper Cardigan by Hannah Fettig
Needles: US 2 / 2.75 mm, US 4 / 3.5 mm, US 7 / 4.5 mm
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Lace in Cadmium 7

Peach Ring Socks
Pattern: 8 Stitches per Inch Socks by Ann Budd
Needles: US 1½ / 2.5 mm
Yarn: Regia Cotton Java Color in 1187

Lilac Trellis
Pattern: Green Gable by Sarah & Rachel
Needles: US 4 / 3.5 mm, US 6 / 4.0 mm
Yarn: South West Trading Company Oasis Solid in 502-Purple
Size: Small (32-35")

Stormy Sea Socks
Pattern: Spring Forward by Linda Welch
Needle: US 1 / 2.25 mm DPN
Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts Blue Label Fingering Weight in Stormy

Knit the Stash

2009-05-14T11:43:00.004-05:00

My recent endeavor has been to knit from the stash and try to refocus on the yarn that I already have for projects, and not the yarn I need to buy/order/trade/whatever. This is partly out of lack of income and partly because after moving all my yarn from house to house and packing it up I have realized I have more than enough of it.

After finishing up my Spring Whisper Cardigan I am still on a mini-sock bender (I say mini because I'm already planning my next sweater). So I have delved into my stash and so far have knit up a pair of "Peach Ring Socks" using some Regia Cotton Java Color in pretty self-striping peach, yellow, brown and green tones and am currently working on a pair of "Stormy Waves" Spring Forward Socks in some Tanis Fiber Arts yarn that i picked up last year in Victoria, BC.

I will update later with all the photos as I'm currently in Ottawa visiting family, and it's quite rainy outside! Perfect knitting weather, not perfect spring photography weather!

Mi Familia

Spring has Sprung

2009-05-05T14:45:00.002-05:00

And Mae is here (hehe, get it?)!

My father drove down from Ottawa last week to pack up the contents of my last University home and return it to Ottawa, as I am now military property and waiting around for my next posting. Therefore, I have nothing on me in London except for the essentials: clothing, makeup, purses/bags, shoes, and all my KNITTING.
With him, came a "care package", included within this package was a brand new Canon PowerShot SD890 IS. As you may recall, I was robbed at gunpoint while in Guatemala in February, and what did they take off with? My camera. So as a graduation/"early birthday present" my parents splurged and bought me a new one. Knowing full well that I likely wouldn't have replaced it for several more months anyways.

So what have I been up to? I'm officially the holder of two undergraduate university degree's now, and have some time off before being posted with the Navy. Therefore, a lot of parties, hanging out, moving, and knitting.

My most recent FO is the Whisper Cardigan by Hannah Fettig, from the Spring 2009 IK, in a lovely Malabrigo Lace that was gifted to me by a friend in Toronto who decided she really does not appreciate knitting with lace weight yarn (whereas I am a huge fan).

I hope to get a photoshoot in with my boyfriend, or one of my new roommates, once its done blocking!

Exam season

2009-04-12T18:31:00.005-05:00

Generally leads to less knitting.

My single skein "Last Lecture" Tempest cardigan is just about done, I need to block and seam it all together, but the knitting is done.
I'm planning on starting a Whisper in a gorgeous cadmium Malabrigo Lace weight yarn a fellow knitter sent me. I was able to buy the IK with a gift card too, so this whole gorgeous Whisper will be gifted and given to me. It's rather nice!!!

(before the addition of icord)

I did knit a Pixie hat for the wonderful little Pinxit Leigh Lynn Trouble White, who was born on April 9, 2009 at 9:44pm. I was the "birthing coach" for my best friend and managed to knit most of this adorable hat up while Tiffany (the mommy) was in labour, and the rest of it the next day while rocking patiently in the chair beside her bed, socializing with mommy and daddy and playing with baby as needed.

Pattern: Pixie Hat by Diana Chan Taylor
Needle: US 3 / 3.25 mm Susan Bates DPN
Yarn: Fleece Artist Nova Socks

Procrastination...

2009-03-25T02:22:00.007-05:00

and spring sweater fever lead to the casting on of a single skein Tempest.

I'm using Blue Face Leicester 2/8, however I only own one skein and am on a serious yarn diet since I'm moving in a mere five weeks. I would like to say this is a quick knit, but I can't tell if It's just because I've furiously procrastinating on essays or if this is actually knitting up rather quickly!

Spring has Sprung

2009-03-22T18:42:00.004-05:00

So I've made the knitterly switch over, but not completely.

I finally got around to knitting up Gretel in a wonderful Berroco Peruvia color I adore. It reminds me very much of the colorway I used to knit my first scarf back in grade 10. Wonderfully berry-licious!

Of course the pattern called for more yarn then I required, so having bought two skeins to complete the project, I ended up having a whole extra skein! So I knit up a pair of fingerless mittens the next day to match. I certainly don't mind having too MUCH yarn! ha.

Gretel took two days for me to knit and the mitts only took one.

Due to my lack of digital camera (see below), you will all have to deal with MacBook photos for a while...

Pattern: Gretel by Ysolda Teague
Needle: US 5 / 3.75 mm bamboo DPN; US 7 / 4.5 mm 16" circular needles and bamboo DNP.
Yarn: Berroco Peruvia in 7140

Pattern: Cabled Fingerless Mitts by Carissa Browning
Needle: US 6 / 4.0 mm Pony Pearl DPN
Yarn: Berroco Peruvia in 7140

Long Story Short...

2009-02-26T09:43:00.005-05:00

I was mugged at gunpoint on the last day in Guatemala so there will not be many photos for you all to see. I am fine and dandy, it just sucks that it happened!

Everything is fine in life, and I managed to knit a whole strip of my afghan in a week (and I only knit in the evenings and while traveling!).

I leave you with a couple of characteristic photos I was tagged in on Facebook, some with the children of the dump in Guatemala City, some around Antigua on our night out.

2009-02-13T18:40:00.002-05:00

My afghan and I are off to Guatemala for a week of volunteering in a health foundation supporting mainly the soup kitchen and the children who go there, redecorating the soup kitchen each day, as well as having my own designated group of children to teach important information about hygiene and nutrition.

I'll also be volunteering at Casa Tio Juan, an orphanage for girls, just spending time getting to know the girls, playing games, and doing art projects!

I'll see you all when I get back (and with plenty of photos!!!)

A week of FOs!

2009-02-03T17:48:00.002-05:00

I will keep the writing brief because I haven't much to report on. A lot of knitting, a lot of Moksha Yoga, and a lot of school and work. But I've been finding time to sit and knit and do a little bit of baking every now and then too.

I leave for Guatemala in 10 days, and I'm becoming rather excited!

Now... on to the photos!

Pattern: Ice Queen by Rosemary Hill
Needle: US 5 / 3.75 mm; US 8 / 5.0 mm 16" circular needles.
Yarn: Rowan Kidsilk Night, 618 "Metallic Blue"

Yesterday I brought the nearly completed cowl to Melissa to show her, I had bound off the one end with picot and was going to go back and remove my white acrylic crochet cast-on... but... she loves it… including the white acrylic crochet cast on… ha. She honestly didn’t want me to remove it and make a picot edge, and after my hatred for an hour long bind-off was confirmed, I wasn’t about to argue if that’s what she likes best!

I also managed to complete my Winter Sunset Socks and will take photos later on!

With these two projects it means I have no WIPs!!! I have one UFO (afghan), but I can pick up a new project now that the things I had to get off the needles are done!

Lastly, here is a picture of the whole wheat, all fair trade/organic, dark chocolate chip and walnut cookies that I baked for my trombone section rehearsal tonight!

A month of chaotic stillness

2009-01-23T08:16:00.004-05:00

I'm sitting on my floor, waiting for the water for my coffee to boil and shower me with the goodness of freshly ground coffee first thing in the morning. So I figured I would take this moment of quiet and still write out a quick update.

Due to sheer class load and time commitments between work and extra curricular activities, my knitting has slowed down a fair amount. However, I have found a couple classes this year that I feel comfortable knitting through the whole lecture; as it takes a couple of weeks to feel out the professor/t.a. and the content. For example, "Music, Education, and Cultures" where we sit in a large circle and talk about culture and watch videos is an okay class to knit in. "Children's Literature" lectures where I sit in the balcony and the professor can't see me is an even better class to knit in. "Working Class Literature" seminar is not, sitting in a group of eight people in a circle having close discussion does not warrant holding a piece of fiber between us.

Regardless, I've managed to make some serious headway on my Winter Sunset Socks after a holiday hiatus, and they will most definitely be off the needles and ready for photos by the end of the weekend.

I also knit up a pair of Voodoo Wrist Warmers by Bonne Marie Burns for a friend who asked me last year if I could knit her fingerless gloves and who provided me with the yarn before Christmas. They're not my favorite, but she chose the yarn and I decided it didn't warrant a fancy pattern due to the busy colorway. That and it's Mary Maxim acrylic... something I've avoided quite easily for the past 7 years of knitting! Regardless:

Katie's Voodoo Magic Wrist Warmers

Pattern: Voodoo Wrist Warmers by Bonne Marie Burns
Yarn: Mary Maxim Ragg
Needle: 3.75mm DPN (Pony Pearl)

Knerdy header

2009-01-16T21:23:00.003-05:00

I realized this evening that I don't think I've ever explained my header image to any of you. It's not really a long story at all. Essentially, I'm in my fourth and final year of both a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Arts and Humanities in English at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario.

The above image is the UWO symbolic University College tower, and it sits happily at the very top of a hill that you can see from the moment you pull into campus.

Here! I'll show you the inside of Conron Hall, where most of my English lectures take place. The beauty amazes me on a daily basis.

From the balcony:

From the side of the hall:

From the professor's point of view:

Knitting posts to follow! I'm currently in the depths of deep cleaning my apartment after two weeks unattended due to an incredibly chaotic schedule!

Quick hat FO!

2009-01-08T10:22:00.002-05:00

Upon getting in from work late last night I discovered I was not tired... was not in the mood to turn the heel on my current sock project, or in the mood for the finicky lace of the Ice Queen Cowl. So naturally, I cast on a quick project for myself (to go with my new mittens) and was finished four hours later. It definitely needs a nice big wooden button though!!!

Pattern: Robin's Egg Blue Hat by Rachel Iufer
Needle: US 10 / 6.0 mm DPN and straight
Yarn: Fleece Artist Scotian Silk

Holiday 2008 FOs

2009-01-05T23:41:00.003-05:00

Knitting is consuming my blogging... who woulda thought?!

Here are the knits I completed in the past month. I am so glad I got them all done and gifted just in time.

And now on to things for myself and baby gifts for the little blob that's growing in my best friends stomach. It's a girl too!

2008-12-29T14:17:00.003-05:00

Holiday knitting has in fact consumed my life. I will post shortly with a ton of FO's, but for now I leave you with new yarn acquisitions... and all of this yarn is going into gloves and hats for me me me for once! ha.

Radio show

2008-12-05T13:15:00.000-05:00

What a way to wrap up the school year and essay season, hosting my bi-weekly environmental radio show focusing on ECO-FRIENDLY HOLIDAYS!!! I also shamelessly mention my knitting a few times... quite a few.

Here's the link to the archived mp3, if you listen, let me know!

Hell week!

2008-11-22T13:44:00.003-05:00

I apologize for the lack of blogging lately! It's because there hasn't been much knitting going on around here lately, I am in the midst of hell week. "Hell week" being the next week and a half, the last two weeks of my first semester of my last year of University. In other words, the week that five essays are due and I have to drive to and from Toronto for concerts with the UWO Wind Ensemble...

Hopefully said concerts will allow me to progress on my Christmas knitting, because it's been at a rather large standstill since I completed a couple of pairs of fingerless gloves for friends back home in Ottawa. I would love to post all the Christmas knitting I'm working on at the moment, but the two projects consuming my time are for two lovely ladies (my best friend and my mother) who I know stop in and read this blog every now and then!!!

However, I have been working on a pair of "Winter Sunset" socks.

These are done using a skein of Araucania Ranco Multy that I picked up while working in Victoria, BC this summer. The yarn was just too beautiful to resist, so I wanted to showcase the gorgeous yarn without a pattern to distract from it. They're absolutely flying off the needles, and the yarn is a dream to work with. My only worry is that having completed the first sock, I may not have enough yarn to finish sock number two! But, having done my math I will put that fear aside and pray that it works out!

2008-11-21T01:10:00.001-05:00

My favorite place in the world to knit. My couch on a sunny morning.

Remembrance Poppy

2008-11-09T16:22:00.003-05:00

Yarn: Scraps of old acrylic
Needle: 2.25mm bamboo DPN
Pattern: A Poppy for Remembrance by CosmicPluto!

After the first of several Remembrance Day Parades, I decided to knit up a couple little poppies, I couldn't resist. Just look how cute it is!!! It makes me want to wear it year round!
The only downside is having to knit aran weight yarn on such small needles, it hurt my knitting finger a bit while I attempted to pull the yarn through, as well as fearing I would break my bamboo needles! I'm going to try a second one now on 2.5mm aluminum needles instead.

War Knitting

2008-11-09T02:47:00.005-05:00

I feel like updating, although I'm not sure how coherent this will be after eight hours of "war knitting" and with it being almost three in the morning.

So, to begin... "war knitting". While it was a huge movement during WWI and WWII, it has faded away for mass-produced military issued knits. Now, from a knitter who is in fact a member of the Canadian Forces Navy, military issued woolens feel like garbage. I also have a lot of my boys overseas right now who mention in their letters how cold they are during their night watches and in the mornings:
"Its really cold in the mornings here. And by cold I mean 15-20 degrees. I still freeze, its weird to think that in canada that’s warm."
"Watching the gate, listening to the wind and freezing my ass off… seriously, it gets pretty darn cold out here. We're all wearing fleeces, shmags, poly pro, and touques. And that’s without the wind to worry about lol."
"Its actually really cold out today comparatively. Like 4 degrees this morning. That’s kind of cold."

So, today I headed to my LYS, and picked up four balls of yarn that are slowly turning into toques for my soldiers. One for John, one for Justin, and a final one that I will not designate to, but will let John give it to someone he feels needs it, perhaps someone who hasn't received any care packages, or simply needs a warm hat.

I finished John's hat tonight, although I slaved over it for over eight hours straight. And the other two will hop onto the needles shortly. Although they do take about 8 hours a piece, I'm hoping to have all three + some extra goodies for John on their way to Afghanistan by Thursday, as it does take 9 weeks for packages to make the trip.

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Rialto in Black
Needle: 4mm and 4.5mm
Pattern: A modified Noro Designer Mini Knits Design 2

Also, with Remembrance Day approaching rapidly I'm finding myself on a lot of parades in and around London. I adore the pipes, the tradition, as well as the veterans and sense of pride that accompany parades. There is also a deep sense of loss and mourning though, and I often find myself tearing up thinking about my friends overseas while I'm stuck here in civi. life, as well as my friends and family who have served our country.

I will update more later on, but it's 3am now and we step off the parade square at 10:30am, so I have to get a nap in before I wake up to spit shine my boots.

Snow in October

2008-10-31T15:10:00.006-05:00

Well, Ontario was hit with an "October Storm" earlier this week... leaving the ground covered in snow and tree shrapnel here in London, Ontario as the poor trees simply couldn't handle the weight of their own leaves and 10cm+ of wet snow.

This brought on the stark realization that winter is cold... and despite being an avid knitter, I don't really have any super warm mittens, a nice scarf, or even a knit hat for myself this winter! It seems as though all my mittens are fingerless, and every scarf/hat/mitten I've knit in the past year or two has been given away as a gift. Where's my winter warmth!? I have a lovely new coat for the winter, but nothing deserving of this beautiful jacket. So now the plans are in the works. I have a feeling I will head over to an LYS (tomorrow) and see if they still have any of The Fibre Company Terra in African Violet. It's such an absolutely gorgeous colorway and the yarn is extra luscious.

Last night I decided to explore my camera. I've owned it for over a year, but have yet to figure out how to take macro (?) photos or change the manual settings in order to take some truly artistic/beautiful photographs. Since the Dainty Sushi Socks are finally underway again, talk about second sock syndrome - it's been 8 months, I decided to take the finished sock outdoors and play with my camera a little bit.

While I love these socks, they are such a pain in the butt. I cannot wait for my KnitPicks Harmony DPN set to arrive, I have had quite enough of these Pony Pearl blunt DPNs!!!

2008-10-14T23:38:00.001-05:00

So the right glove of my Evangeline pair is 'done'... all that had to be done was knit the thumb... and then I realized it's one repeat shorter than the left.

BAH!
Thank goodness these are CHRISTMAS gifts... but what the hell! ha! Where did I go wrong in my counting?! Sigh. So now I have to figure out if I'm going to laugh it off as a wonderfully handknit/mis-matched pair... or curse the day I was born and rip back 20 rounds of cable work. I know it will be the later, but I think they're going to be banished to time out for a little while! Thank goodness I have two months to laugh this one off ^_^

Evangeline

2008-10-13T15:26:00.002-05:00

This year Thanksgiving was the kick-start to my Christmas knitting.

It started with a trip to my favorite LYS Wool 'n Things. I picked up some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in a 'dusty rose' colorway for the dashing replacements (Evangeline).

Well, I was so excited to start... that they're just about done!!! God I love the feeling of cashmere/wool and bamboo needles!!!

I am impressed that I was able to start my knitting so early this year. One gift down, three or four more to!

Time to start Christmas knitting

2008-10-07T18:59:00.002-05:00

It's the beginning of October and the air is starting to become crisp and nippy.
This can only mean one thing... Christmas Knitting Season!

I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year, with months left until Christmas I feel like I can knit everyone in my life gifts, and yet the challenge that awaits seems immense.

I do in fact have a couple of gifts planned though, and now I will tell you about them! ^_^

As some of you may remember last year I knit my childhood best friend a pair of Dashing fingerless gloves in Jo Sharp Silk Road DK Tweed. Being my most appreciative knit-reciever she managed to wear straight through them already... and so I plan on knitting her Evangeline in a baby pink. Although I will definitely have to use a yarn that is a little bit more... durable, as she seems to love my knits just a little bit too much!

Also, her younger sister "borrowed" her gloves from her several times last year without letting her know. So I will also be knitting either Dashing or Evangeline for her so she doesn't have to "borrow" any longer!

As far as my current best friend, she has expressed desire for a cowl/hat combination. Being the fashionista that she is, I think she will love the Ice Queen cowl I will be knitting for her for in Rowan Kid Silk Night.

Yep, that is what is planned so far.
But at this very moment I have a pair of Dashing (apparently I like this pattern...) for myself! Since I don't own any hand-knit gloves aside from my incredibly colorful Koigu Gauntlets.
Which do get quite a bit of use!!!

2008-10-05T19:12:00.000-05:00

I think I may be back!

Does anyone still read this blog?

I've knit a pair of socks for a fellow sailor with size 13 feet, and am finally working on the second Dainty Sushi sock. I've also continued to increase my yarn stash despite not being actively able to knit for the past little while.

But I'm starting to miss it horribly!

So post if you still read this so I can be motivated to continue blogging!

2008-04-05T00:40:00.001-05:00

I apologize for the lack of posts as well as the future lack of posts!
School and life are crazy hectic so I have no touched the needles since I finished my Eskimo Jacket.

That and I joined the Navy... off to basic training in 3 weeks!

2008-03-09T00:30:00.001-05:00

Done and done! Photo of me wearing it is not the greatest thanks to crappy bathroom lighting and lack of friend to take photos, but a good outside picture will come sometime early next week!

Pattern: 103-1 Jacket in Eskimo or Silke-Alpaca with A-shape by DROPS design
Size: Small with 3/4 sleeves.
Yarn: Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Chunky (5.5 balls)
Needles: 8.0mm Bamboo Straight.

2008-03-08T00:31:00.003-05:00

The Eskimo Sweater is done!
Although I blocked all the pieces separately, I felt the need to block it as a whole as well. Primarily because it was incredibly a-line... I think I stretched my pieces a little bit too wide initially. Therefore, a good soak down, so strategic folds while it dries, and it appears I've solved the problem!

Of course since my sink was already full of Eucalan, I threw my socks in for a wash as well. So now the back corner of my room is a designated drying area!

Photos of myself wearing the Eskimo Sweater will come later this weekend when I can get some good photos in natural light!

2008-03-03T19:20:00.003-05:00

The Eskimo Jacket is turning out to be quite the quick knit indeed! I started this on February 29th (ie. four days ago), and here it is all stitched up into a snazzy vest!!!

Truth is, after reading some fellow knitter's blogs regarding this jacket it appears there are some issues with the way the sleeve is knit up. I have also heard there is nothing wrong with it though, and so, I've decided to play it safe and stitch up all the parts minus sleeve, so that as I knit the sleeves I can compare it to the sexy vest'ness I have going on right now.

It blocked really well and i had virtually no problems stitching it up (besides when I pulled to hard and my wool fizzled apart... F*@&!!). This surprised me, because this is my first adult size sweater! I've knit up a cardigan in the past, but it was... baby sized!

I think I may cast on for a sleeve tonight and see how much the pattern hates me.

2008-03-02T13:08:00.002-05:00

I didn't work out the tension issues with the Lopi, so out of sheer angst to knit the Eskimo Sweater, I ran out and bought a different yarn that people on Ravelry had worked with. It's Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Chunky, in a lovely grey color.

This is such a fast knit, I knit the back and left panel in less than 10 hours of knitting, and I'm sure this will be a F.O. in less than a month!

The yarn is lovely too, I feel like this will become a favorite piece I can't live without!

2008-02-28T16:49:00.002-05:00

I have been a horribly naughty blogger, I know. Where did I escape too for a MONTH?!
Well, school got crazy, but my knitting was never put TOO far on the back-burner, thank goodness.

Many a dishcloth was knit while I devoted my time to my mother's cross-stitch angel (which is about 70% done now...) but on the road trip back to Ottawa for my reading week I caved and pulled out a new knitting project. A pair of lovely Kaibashira Socks in the same color way of Tofutsies.

I've only completed one sock, but I felt it was necessary to take a photo of it anyway.

I will get better at my blogging, I will work at it!!!

Something else on the go is the Drops Eskimo Jacket that seems to be a must have this season. I bought 8 skeins of Alafoss Lopi in a deep grey to knit it up, but I'm having some gauge issues... it's way too aran than it's supposed to be. Maybe I am a REALLY tight knitter all of a sudden? I've never had gauge issues before. I shall try out some 8mm needles tomorrow and see if that works.

Jaywalker update

2008-02-02T12:24:00.000-05:00

I started these on Sunday, January 24th... and they're 30 rounds + toe from being completed. I predict these will definitely be completed by Monday night so I can approach the knitting group with a toe-up to conquer! I am quite pleased with these socks and how fast the pattern works up - as I mentioned, I can see why 3224 people are/have knit them on Ravelry alone!

I have been spending many mornings and evenings sitting in the living room working on these, either in the silence of my own mind, or while talking with my roommate about our days and life. It's nice to escape technology, school, and work for an hour or two everyday.

2008-01-28T19:43:00.000-05:00

My how quickly this sock addiction takes grasp. It's like crack!!!

So after a brief foray into trying to knit toe-up socks, I decided to put the Anastasia socks on the backburner until next Monday when I go to the knitting monthly meet-up and can get someone to explain it to me a little bit better.

Instead, I cast on for a pair of Jaywalkers using some Trekking I bought over the summer. I really like how they are turning out so far. These are my first Jaywalkers, and I can see why so many people knit them! It's super fast and easy, and this yarn works up with a lot of pooling in stockinette stitch (according to Ravelry photos), and yet it's looking fabulous with this pattern.

Also... I cannot get back into my old Flickr account. I don't know why, but apparently my password won't work, and I know for a fact that I am typing the correct password. So I just started up a new account until I can get the situation figured out.

My first socks

2008-01-21T15:38:00.001-05:00

Well, here they are. I am very pleased with how wonderfully they turned out, and keep getting complaints from the masses that their first socks didn't turn out quite so nicely (I say their, because I'm sure your first socks were lovely). Strike one New Years resolution off the list of to-do's.

Delicious Socks
Pattern: Charlene Schurch's Garter Rib
Yarn: Fleece Artist Sea Wool (unknown colorway)
Needles: 3mm
Size: 8 1/2 foot circ.
Since these were such a huge success, and because I have already fallen into the addictive sock knitting trap (and I own enough sock yarn in my stash to make another 6 pairs of socks... I am casting on tonight for a pair of Friendship Bracelet Socks (Anastasia by Pepperknit Patterns), because they really do remind me of those chinese ladder friendship bracelets I spent my childhood constructing out of DMC floss!!! I'm also thrilled about the Zwerger Garn Opal Hagebutte / Rosehip I'm using. I picked it up over the Christmas holiday at Wool 'n Things because the rainbow screamed my name from across the store!

I love being able to sit and knit on a project whenever I have a short wait, like the 30 minutes I generally have to kill between class and work, or between class and waiting for the bus home. Socks are most definitely the perfect waiting project.

First sock ever!

2008-01-09T22:09:00.000-05:00

Not even two weeks later and I've already completed one of my new year's resolutions!

The heel turn and gusset look amazing for my first try ever, but my kitchener stitch could use a little bit of work. Oh well! Who will be looking at my toes anyway!? Now to get started on sock #2! I can't wait to get these bad boys on my feet and take a stroll around town! I'm incredibly excited for Birkenstock season now!

I also borrowed Victorian Lace Today from a fellow knitter friend, so I'm going to start scoping out yarns for my "Shoulder Shawl in Cherry Leaf Pattern" now! That will make two new years resolutions in progress!!!

2008-01-08T00:42:00.000-05:00

NOT ONLY DID I CONQUER THE HEEL TURN! BUT I ALSO DEMOLISHED THE GUSSET AND GUSSET DECREASES TONIGHT!!!

Seriously, I am walking on a cloud right now. That's how lame I am.

Thanks to the wonderful London Ravelry ladies for helping me out at the monthly meet up!!!

I will have a sock completed by Wednesday night. Promise!

2008-01-06T13:44:00.000-05:00

I am sick as a dog, so the socks went on hiatus as of Friday night. However, I have turned the heel and am going to start working the gusset... the part that scares me most! However, tomorrow I am going to my first ever stitch and bitch (and I am mighty excited to meet all the London Ravelry ladies) and they expect to see a sock! haha. I can't argue... so I think I will settle in front of the television and get over my gusset fears today.

(Photo taken early Friday afternoon, before another inch or two was added, and the heel and heel turn)

Goals of the week:

Finish Delicious Sock #1

Cast on for Delicious Sock #2

Complete Ramon's Jamaican Scarf

New look for the new year!

2008-01-02T17:13:00.000-05:00

Ran back to Wool 'N Things for the last time today. I left with 3mm bamboo DPN's and Sensational Knitted Socks for my New Years resolution. Tomorrow I shall cast on and try my damnedest to knit a pair of socks.

I wound my Fleece Artist Sea Wool into a ball in preparation tonight, unable to find the colorway name anywhere, I have named it "Chocolate Caramel Raspberry" and it shall be knit up into a pair of "Delicious Socks". I am so excited, the yarn and pattern I have chosen is so damn beautiful!

I really need to finish the Jamaican Scarf and fuzzy leggings though too. Just so I can be done with them!

2007-12-29T23:36:00.000-05:00

While on a mini-shopping trip with my mother, we decided to take a second trip (this week!) to Wool 'N Things (which is only about 10 minutes from my parent's house). This is by far one of my favorite yarn stores, they carry so many of the old faithfuls, like Debbie Bliss, Noro, Rowan, Jo Sharp, Fleece Artist, Hand Maiden, and SWTC, while still carrying a lot of fun finds (Drops Alpaca, and random companies I've never head of before...) and the more affordable yarns (Patons for example).

My main goal was to buy Victorian Lace Style so I could begin planning for my first lace shawl (as per my New Years Resolutions), but they sold the last copy since the last time I had visited. Oh well, Amazon it is!

Of course I couldn't stand around the yarn store without picking up SOMETHING (since I've already knit up the Jo Sharp Silkroad Tweed, that I purchased last week)... and so I left with the new Interweave Knits, and this lovely skein of wool:

It is Fleece Artist Sea Wool, colorway... I'm not sure but it sure is pretty! I decided that since I couldn't get something towards my first resolution, I may as well get started on learning how to knit a damn pair of socks. And why not start with something SUPER luscious and beautiful!?

I'm going to print off a mean tutorial and start these bad boys on my way back to London on Wednesday!

Goals for Sunday:

Finish toddler legwarmers

Complete at least 25% of the "Jamaican Scarf"

Cross-stitch at least a little bit...

2007-12-27T13:35:00.000-05:00

So, my younger brother (18) found that the black Dashing mitts i knit him were too "feminine" (because of the length), so they are being shipped to a friend who wanted them anyway. haha. Instead, my brother chose the Knucks pattern from Knitty Summer 2006. Should be a rather quick knit, and I want him to have something he'll actually use!

Evan being Dashing. Now on their way to Alberta!

In other news, I did finish the black Bernat Dashing mitts, and ~~am about 75% completed~~ just completed the Jo Sharp pair about 15 minutes ago!

Now, time for some Knitting New Years Resolutions!!!

Knit a lace shawl (I'm thinking I will knit the Cherry Leaf Pattern from Victorian Lace Today)

Learn to knit socks!!! I have too much sock yarn to not knit socks!

Finish mom's surprise sweater.

Start Christmas knitting in September!

2007-12-25T10:37:00.001-05:00

Merry Christ'mass everyone ^_^

This year was good to me, I received a digital camera (PowerShot A570 IS) as well as a new Japanese tea set. Several little goodies like a Starbucks gift card and The Jungle Book on DVD also came my way.

Of course, like any knit blogger, my first thought upon receiving the camera (besides gratitude of course) was "I CAN GO TAKE PICTURE'S OF MY WIP'S" and I did.

On Sunday I was with my best friend in the recording studio for 'a couple of hours' - which turned into four hours very quickly. However, I was lucky enough to have my knitting on me and completed the Jo Sharp Tweed Dashing mitt in that time. Since I didn't have my knitting kit on me (I wasn't expecting to be knitting) I ended up using a hair clip (one of the butterfly clips) as a cable needle! The funniest things pop into a crazed and desperate knitter's head while ruffling through your purse!!!

Dashing by Cheryl Niamath
Needle: US 6 / 4.0 mm
Yarn: Jo Sharp Silk Road DK Tweed

(still working out the bugs)
Another dashing by Cheryl Niamath
Needle: US 6/ 4.0 mm
Yarn: Black Bernat Satin Solids

I'm sure there are more photos I could have put here, but these have been my projects recently. I am in love with the Dashing pattern (Knitty), it takes me about 3-4 hours per mitt and is a one skein project. And it impresses everyone because it looks "so complicated!".

8 days until Christmas...

2007-12-17T00:43:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness. Where does the time go every year? Luckily I finished the projects I had my heart set on and am quickly whipping together the last couple, but there are always so many plans that never even get started, let alone completed!!!

In the past week I've managed to knit this set of Gauntlets for a girlfriend of mine, and I'm very pleased with how they have turned out. The picture isn't great because it's so snowy out today and I was anxious to take a picture (pre-blocking).

Thankewe Gauntlets
Pattern: Sally Melville's "Elegant Gauntlets"
Yarn: Thankewe Superwash Merino in "Blue Lagoon"

2007-12-08T14:38:00.001-05:00

As none of you would know, roughly a month and a half ago, I broke off my relationship with my common-law husband, and have been desperately looking for a new apartment of my own ever since. On Tuesday this week, I moved into my new home - the ever so spacious 1000 square foot apartment in a lovely building near campus. This new apartment has also provided me with rather large windows, which provide optimum iSight photo capability (seeing as how I do not own a camera). So look forward to many photos of my knitting from now on!

I spent a better part of this morning photographing the knits I have completed over the past few months, as well as all my WIP's! So for your viewing pleasure:

... photobucket won't use all my photos, it was only including the photos I had of my Coachella... so go look at the photos on flickr.

2007-12-02T11:38:00.000-05:00

I sure do need a camera. I feel as though a camera would make me blog a lot more, because then I could post all sorts of gorgeous pictures of my progress and finished objects. There are still some FO's I don't even have pictures of because my macbook isight just made them look weird!

However, I have been knitting a fair amount lately, I'm about 25% done another pair of "Koigu Gauntlets", although these are being done in my Thankewe etsy yarn. Its so yummy!!!

Christmas. Come Christmas I will be able to take pictures galore!!!

2007-11-14T18:20:00.000-05:00

I recieved my yarn today from Thankewe on Etsy. This is the first yarn I've ever ordered online and I am floored. It is 5231723x more beautiful than the picture showed, it feels like heaven, and it was a fraction of the price I would have paid for something this wonderful in an LYS. I have 540 yds. of the stuff too!!!

I am swamped with school for the next several days, but hopefully I'll have a chance to sit down and start knitting this up for my girlfriends birthday "Koigu" Gauntlets. I need a set of 3.25mm DPN's though... I have 3mm... I have 3.5mm... ugh. Oh well! I'm so glad the yarn is wonderful. Her favorite color is lime green, and her dreads are often a shade of turquoise, so this is absolutely phenomenal!

2007-11-07T13:39:00.000-05:00

I jumped into the world of Ravelry yesterday. I now have most of my stash, and all my needles, books, and projects I've completed (and WIP's) from the past year posted. Unfortunately, I do not own a camera... although I will own my first camera ever this Christmas thanks to my parents!

Last night I also worked on the Patons Afghan of Doom, it goes rather quickly, but it's not the most fun to work on. My hands hurt by the end of it. Patons Decor from 5 years ago is nothing compared to the softness of now. Sigh. Oh well. I completed two repeats of the feather and fan pattern - 17 repeats per strip, 4 strips + cable sections to attatch strips of f&f together. Woo... hahaha. So far, 1 strip and 14 repeats are completed. Not even 50% in 5 years... sad really. I have resolved to complete it this year no matter what. Hopefully before January 1st, giving me 2 months to work on it.

I want to go home and curl up by my fireplace... not be sitting in the music faculty lobby waiting for French Horn class in 45 minutes.... sigh!

2007-11-06T10:21:00.000-05:00

Update: I'm also on Ravely, and have been for a couple months... but I haven't touched it yet... I fail. hahaha. I will get started on it tonight though, promise. Ravelry = Knerdy.

Winter is coming, and my knitting and cross-stitch are on the upswing again!!! (If anyone still even reads this anymore)

On Friday I was at the mall with my best friend, and she was on the hunt for a pair of fingerless mittens. Everything she found was either poorly made and looked like it was about to fall apart, or way expensive and still not well made. Naturally, I told her if we walked across the street to Micheals, she could pick out some yarn and I would knit anything she wanted, to exact specifications...
I usually tell people I'll make them things, but they never follow through. However, we promptly walked over to Micheals, and by Saturday afternoon I presented her with her new mittens. She paid me with DPNS (buying them for me for the project of course).
This is the first pattern I've made up on the fly, and I am very proud of myself. I have it jotted down in short form, but I think it's pointless to write it all out seeing as how my girlfriend has ridiculously large hands.

The Hipsters
Yarn: Patons Nuance (acrylic/wool/mohair blend)
Needles: 5.5mm Takumi Bamboo DPNs.
Pattern: My own!

I also completed another small cross-stitch. It's called He Spoke, and it's the last stanza of the Footprints poem with a beach scene (click on title for picture).
I've also bought my first big cross-stitch, Frederick the Literate... it will take me at least four months to complete, heh.

Anyways...this is the most I've posted in a while... but I have great plans for this winter. I am going to start knitting a pair of full length gauntlets using some yarn I've bought from Thankewe on Etsy. I am excited to recieve it, it's neon green and turqouise!!!

That's all folks, post!

Not really knitting related...

2007-10-18T11:23:00.000-05:00

Today I finished my cross-stitch, framed it (in a much nicer frame than the one below), and hung it on my wall. Step one of becoming an old lady = complete. It's even CATS!!!

The coming of winter signifies the time to drag my bloody Patons afghan. It's awful. I love it... but it's awful. This is the first thing non-scarf I decided to create, and that was at least 5 years ago... which means that not only is it Patons Decor, it's not new-and-nice acrylic Patons Decor. Sigh. But I'm not even half done it yet, so it NEEDS to be finished and forgotten. I have a compulsion to finish it this winter.

2007-10-09T06:20:00.001-05:00

I'm alive!

I finished knitting my Coachella on the train home for Thanksgiving on Saturday. No photos yet though, soon, I promise!!!

I have also picked up cross-stitching. Not as fantastic as knitting, but an equally good stress-unwinder. I'm making an awfully matronly pattern now with cats and it says "You're among friends". Hahaha. This is just in preperation for the day I wear all hand knit garments, my couches are covered with afghans and quilts, I have nothing but cross-stitch on my walls, and have 8 cats named things like Duke, Little Princess, and Pickles.

2007-09-27T17:33:00.000-05:00

I have been so busy that knitting doesn't exist lately!!! AH!!!

However, I should be recieving my Ravelry invite within the next few days... I'm #837 in line, so few people left to be invited infront of me!!! WEE!!!

COACHELLA FITS!!!

2007-09-15T22:44:00.000-05:00

After changing yarn size, needles, and doing tons of math, thank God everything fits! The cowl isn't quite big enough to REALLY cowl, but who cares. The bamboo will loosen up and my boobs aren't as big as they appear when I'm not wearing the padded bra I tried the shirt on in, so we'll be fine.

Now to just get it DONE!

I have decided it needs to be done by Wednesday, as Thursday and Friday (the 20th and 21st of Sept) are the last of the days it will be warm enough to wear a Coachella this year - or so it seems by the weather network! And I need to wear it out at least once or twice before having to save it only for special occassions, and next summer of course.

2007-09-14T06:29:00.001-05:00

School + work = not knitting quite so much.

And by not so much, I actually mean that I am only knitting now at my weekly stitch and bitch... sigh.

2007-09-08T13:15:00.000-05:00

I am loving the Coachella I am knitting in the Sirdar Just Bamboo. It has a beautiful sheen and feel. However, it is proving to be a minor headache.

After swatching in up I realized it was now 19 sts/4" unless knit VERY loosely; the ballband does say that the yarn has an uneven tension or something along those lines, but I didn't think too much of it... until realizing that it knits up (on 4.5mm) to about 22sts/4". Obviously, I love the yarn and the way it looks too much to NOT do a Coachella in it, so now I've been dealing with a ton of modifications. I knit the next size up so far and have added a few more decreases to the arm holes... and it requires a lot more rows, but it seems to be turning out okay.

But now I'm wondering if it will fit - I can try it on once I connect the back strap to the body - and if I will have enough yarn... we shall see! I just need to keep going on it!

2007-09-05T17:26:00.000-05:00

Sorry for my lack of posting recently... after the Mommy Surprise disaster I didn't knit for a day or two. I then cast on for my own Coachella, and have been knitting away at that.

Classes start on Monday, but I have ensemble auditions tommorow night, so have been devoting a lot of my knitting time to the trombone.

Today I left work with Rowan 35, Debbie Bliss Donegal Tweed (I am going to use my thrifted purple tweed to do the Biker Jacket), a bottle of Soak in 'A Scent for Celebration', as well as Stitch Diva Studios Goddess and Sahara. I had to buy the things I've been oogling for months before my last day (and discount is over) on Thursday!

Mommy Suprise nightmare...

2007-08-29T17:52:00.000-05:00

Frog frog frog. Oh well... hopefully I'll get over it once it's been in time out for a day or two!!!

Today I knit this up rather quickly before heading off to work. It's an iPod Nano cozy I created on the fly to keep my headphones wrapped around my iPod when its thrown into my bag, instead of getting tangled up with everything else. Worked quite nicely today!!! This is done using some of the remaining Koigu KPPPM from my Koigu Gauntlets. I am so clever ^_^ hahaha.

2007-08-28T22:49:00.000-05:00

I dislike Debbie Bliss patterns sometimes... they can just be too vague for my liking. Here I was thinking I was following it EXACTLY as written... when suddenly I have too many stitches (10 too many to be exact) by 21 1/4".... sigh. I don't understand where I could have possible gone wrong... so I may have to frog all I've done so far and start again. GAH!

2007-08-26T19:35:00.000-05:00

I still have not cast on anything new. Instead I have pseudo-organized my stash. I need a better way to organize it rather than a bankers box stuffed into our TV cabinet cupboard for all my multi-ball yarns, and singles/doubles/leftovers throw into a big basket with a lid. My books are stacked in the TV cabinet as well... and my needles are all stuffed in a footstool. I want something PRETTTTTTTTY!

Anyways, here are my FO pictures for the Koigu Gauntlets. This proves I REALLY need a digital camera! Also, below the Gauntlets, you will find a long over-do FO picture of the lace scarf of doomy doom (taken with a real digital camera!).

Pattern: Sally Melville's The Purl Stitch
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM, P136
Needles: 2.75mm Pony Pearl DPN

Pattern: Debbie Bliss Pure Silk
Yarn: Fiesta La Luz Multi, Cosmopolitian
Needles: 4mm Addi Turbo Straights

Completed Koigu Gauntlets!

2007-08-24T22:20:00.000-05:00

It was far too hot and muggy here tonight to work on the Mommy Suprise (whose progress, as you may have noticed, has been concealed because mommy reads this blog. And we can't have her heckling me about it now can we?!) therefore, I finished off the hand and thumb of the 2nd Koigu Gauntlet... formal FO photos and info to come!

The problem with this is that it leaves me with only ONE PROJECT on the needles! I am not one of those focused knitters without a stash or a billion WIPs!

I am unsure about what to start now? The Coachella for myself? Begin the Socktopia Mystery Socks? Any old pair of socks? EEP! I don't know what to do! Help me to decide!!!!

2007-08-21T00:04:00.000-05:00

Well well well! Coachella is complete!!! Here are photos of me wearing her before the last six rows (the knit tbl rows) were completed. This is a size small, and I will be knitting mine a size xs. I do like the length though! I haven't measured it length wise, but I made sure it was more of a tunic length.

Tomorrow morning I shall block her and hope she loosens up a little bit and becmes a tad more drapey, and then tomorrow afternoon she will be mailed to a good friend for her birthday... only 6 days late too!!!

(click to show larger images!)

2007-08-20T00:15:00.001-05:00

I didn't get much of a weekend... having to work today made me feel like it's a Thursday. In fact, I even asked Dan today if we could go to Solutions (a store) "this weekend"... full on thinking that "this weekend" was in a couple days.

Dan and I also painted the bedroom robin's egg blue today. We moved the furniture, he taped it off, and then he did the first coat while I was at work and I did the second when I got home. We're sleeping in the guest bed tonight to avoid the smell of paint tonight, and I will put the furniture back to normal tomorrow. I am so glad the bedroom is no longer ALL BEIGE!!!

Despite my lack of weekend, I am almost done Coachella. I am making it more of a tunic length because I know the recipient perfers longer shirts, so I only have about 3-4 inches left to go before doing the ktbl rows and binding off. I will probably end up with an extra ball of yarn leftover... ah well, pretty sparkly mint green cotton/acrylic for my stash!

I will post pictures (most likely tomorrow night) of Coachella once she is bound off and thrown in the wash (superwash... bonus!).

2007-08-18T14:32:00.001-05:00

Find of the day!!!

I went to the thrift store today to buy a couple sheets to put down while Dan and I paint the bedroom. Whilst I was there I poked around a bit, and not only did I find a beautiful Pyrex bowl ($5), but I also found 1,050yds of 100% wool in a beautiful purple tweed for $10!!! It's al in a bag still although one skein has been wound - I'm assuming for a project that was never created. I don't know what I'm going to do with it, but I just couldn't resist the purple, tweedy goodness for $10! I am so impressed, all I usually find amongst the bags and bags of thrifted yarn is super ghetto old Bernat and Patons that I would only use to insulate my walls.

Wee!

2007-08-17T08:21:00.000-05:00

The Coachella is almost done! I'm at the waist shaping now, so I predict by tomorrow evening it should/could be done! I am super excited to get this lady off the needles. My only concern with this Coachella is the drapiness of it. I've used a cotton/acrylic mix (it's mint green and hella sparkly!) and so far the drape is a little bit stiff, I'm really hoping it eases up once washed. I should have washed my swatch... GAH!

Unfortunately It's not for me... mine will probably be my next project after completing the Mommy Suprise. I even have some 'Just Bamboo' in my stash waiting for it. Mmm... bamboo shineiness.

2007-08-15T20:28:00.000-05:00

I haven't dropped off the face of knitterly earth! I finished up a few small gift projects that I won't post about until I have recieved photos back from the recipient.

Tonight I also plugged in some time on the Coachella. Being my first project on circular needles it took some getting going, but it's starting to progress quite quickly now, so I'm hoping to have it done by next week to send off to my friend for her birthday... which was today... I told her I was knitting something up for her though in a card I sent her today, so she now understands why I am much slower at sending out gifts than most people!!!

Besides that, I have not been doing a whole lot. The koigu gauntlets are now my "in-the-purse" projects, so I take them out and get several rounds done on the way to campus and back. They are progressing, but obviously not as quickly as if I was knitting them during my tv time. They are WOOL gauntlets though... and who needs wool or gauntlets in the middle of the summer!? They can live happily in my purse until they are finished ^_^

Mommy Suprise has not progressed. I ran into a huge tangled knot in the middle of the ball of Alpaca Silk and quit... and have not picked it up since... GAH! After Coachella it will be my main priority though!

2007-08-11T20:41:00.000-05:00

A day off without knitting?!?!

I began my day with a lot of reading (I'm reading She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb), and then the random appearance of a kitten... strays always seem to find me! Achilles was in the bathroom window meowing at something in our lockup. So I went out and found a kitten (about 3-5 months old) meowing amongst a pile of bricks and ladders. So naturally I checked for identification and carried her up to our apartment... hahaha.

She is one tough little monster. Achilles is twice her size, but if he lifts a paw to play with her, she will lift her's too, and he will promptly run away! hahaha. She does have a little cut beside her nose too, but it doesn't seem to cause her any pain, and it looks to be semi-healed already, so I will wait to see if she needs medical treatment at all.

2007-08-09T20:38:00.000-05:00

Today I bought myself two little knit-a-licious goodies.

The new Interweave Knits was my first goodie! There are so many beautiful patterns in here. Unfortunately it will probably be Fall 2008 before I get through everything I already want to knit and can move onto this one!!! My favorite patterns from this issue has got to be Tangled Yoke Cardigan and the Sweet Heart Vest. So darn cute. Man... if only new patterns/books would be illegal for the next year... then maybe I would be able to knit what I want to as I think of them! hahaha... that's such a lie... I have enough to knit for the next 5 years as is!!!

My second goodie is HandKnit Holidays! I love love love this book. There are about 340324702834 patterns I want to make from it. Everyone's talk about Christmas gifts (already?! It's only August! EEP! Maybe I should get started?!) got me thinking about Christmas gifts, and there are several people I know would greatly appreciate gifts from this book. Plus I want to decorate my apartment all knitted like for Christmas. I want stockings hanging from my fireplace mantle!!!

Also. I have finished a Koigu Gauntlet. Photos to come!!!

Back to iSight photos...

2007-08-08T11:58:00.000-05:00

On the train ride home I knit up a good chunk of the Mommy Suprise (which I cannot post here about until it has arrived to her, seeing as how I know she reads this blog!).

I also cast on and knit a good chunk of my Koigu Gauntlets from the Purl Stitch by Sally Melville. I haven't been knitting this for long and my is it going quickly!!! It's my bus stop/on the bus knitting and I can get about 4-5 rounds done on it on the way to school alone! I predict friends recieving these as gifts!!!

I am so in love with this colorway though (it's the one I used for my title image)! It reminds me of delicious carnival/amusmant park lollipops. Those huge spirally round ones. Especially since my Koigu is striping!!!... well it's more of a spiraling... but STILL!!! No pooling here, I've got me some yellow/orange spirals. It is soooo neat! I am addicted to watching these take shape.

I seriously look about 14 in these photos... I'm 20 I swear... tear!!!

I need to cast on for my friend's birthday Coachella as well as start the decrease rows on these gauntlets!!! ADDICTED!!!

STASH INCREASING!!!

2007-08-05T15:46:00.001-05:00

Mmm... fiber!!! After five yarn stores (and about four hours of driving/poking/lusting around) I left with these little goodies!!!

Clockwise from the top: Recycled sari silk, Apple Laine Apple Pie, Addi Turbos, sale bin MicroFino sock yarn, SWTC OASIS 100% SOY SILK!!!, Just Bamboo (for a Coachella), Tofutsies, and some Korallo (for a friend's Coachella).

The SWTC Oasis is like heaven. Oh. My. Goodness. I LOVE IT!!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE! I need to figure out the perfect thing to knit with it now. I have 1440yd's of it. Mmm.

Then when we got home, I promptly went through my mothers (very old) stash and found THESE goodies.

I am also taking this mohair and silk sweater from her that fits me like a dream. The ends are too tightly bound off (she laughed about it), so I am going to unravel the ends and re-do the ribbing. The sleeves fit me at an odd length too, so I will do them in a 3/4 length sleeve. Oh, not to mention she has a whole skein of SILK left over!!! Mmmm... turquoise beautiful "Mandarin Silk". It's a shame everything else she has is really old acrylic (the kind that feels like insulation)

Oh, and I'm knitting a little garter stitch scarf for my Jenny babe (best friend's other daughter) out of a yarn she chose herself... ie... Patons bobbly acrylic in an awfully bright color. Three year olds... haha.

The photos you have been waiting for!

2007-08-03T22:22:00.000-05:00

My bestest with her new Debbie Bliss Matinee Jacket. She is ready to pop (and is now officially overdue) and we are praying that little Meghan Rain comes while I am still here!!! I was present for Jenny's birth and I damn well better be present for Meghan's too!!!

Matinee Jacket
Pattern: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (Bk.1)
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in 'Lilac'
Needles: 2.75mm and 3.25mm Addi Straights
Notions: Hand-dyed silk ribbon

I loved knitting this! It was my first sweater (gasp!!!) and it turned out FANTASTICALLY!!! My Flickr isn't working right now, but I will upload the full size photos there once I return to London on Tuesday.

I finished the picot edging this morning on the train ride from London to Toronto. I dislike slip-stitch bind-offs, so found that Debbie's pattern (requiring 6 bound-off stitches, followed by two cast on) was not... picotey enough for me. So I did a regular knit bind-off with four cast on stitches. I liked this much better.

In Toronto I trekked over to Romni Wools (from Union Station...) and have to say I agree with everyone about this place. While it would be fantastic to have SO much selection every time I decide to knit something, it was completely overwhelming I literally spent 15 minutes in there are rushed out quickly (with no purchases) thankful I only packed two projects... finding security in my lack of choice, haha.

The five hours from Toronto to Ottawa were spent knitting on the Mommy Suprise. I wish I could divuldge information with you all, but alas... she reads this blog!!!

I spent all evening with my bestest and her first daughter Jenny. We swam.

Tomorrow = YARN SHOPS OF OTTAWA!!!

2007-08-02T20:05:00.000-05:00

MY EXAMS ARE DONE!!! DONE DONE DONE!!! The rest of the summer working and knitting are my only priorities ^_^

The Matinee Jacket is done, except for the picot edge! I am going to attempt it shortly, as I have packing to do for my Ottawa trip (which commences in 11 hours ^_^)

AHOIDSAONSOADN! EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Sorry for lack of posting on all y'alls pages, I have been keeping up with you all I swear!!!)

12152 people are ahead of you in line.

2007-07-28T23:56:00.000-05:00

I should have signed up for Ravelry when I found out about it... instead of a month later. Sigh! Oh well, the wait will just make recieving the invitation that much better!

Tonight the Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino Matinee Jacket is off the needles. Let me repeat that. It's off the needles. Done knitting. Pieces complete. I am so sick of moss stitch!!!
Tommorow morning I will block it (along with my silk scarf from a month ago...) and hopefully by tommorow night I can start the seaming. And then comes the picot... bah!

I babysat tonight (hence why the jacket is finished). I love babysitting, I used to part-time nanny for this family and they are so awesome. They're emergency foster parents, so when kids in emergency situations need somewhere to go, it's their house. So I always end up babysitting new children everytime, and they are always so damn amazing. I babysat for a 2 year old and 7 month old tonight... so in other words, I was paid to knit and study in someone's air conditioned house tonight. hahaha.

No more knitting until after my exams though (Wednesday and Thursday) and then I leave for Ottawa on Friday morning, so there will probably not be any posts until Saturday with photos of my luscious yarn finds from Ottawa as well as the completed Matinee Jacket (because my parents have a digital camera, and ours is broken)!!!

Ravelry: 12303 people are ahead of you in line.

2007-07-26T22:19:00.000-05:00

I have decided to start tracking my position in line for Ravelry. I am so anxious for my invite!!! Especially after hearing Nicole and Jenny of Stash and Burn talk about it so much of their podcast!!!

In the words of the great Cyn:
"I did not just buy more yarn.
Except, I totally did"

Buy 2 get 1 free on the Debbie Bliss 'winter' yarns (Merino's, Cashmerino's, and my favorite, Alpaca Silk). 12 balls of Alpaca SIlk DK in 'Chocolate' later... hahaha. It's okay though, because it has an intended project.

I have coveted the cover sweater from Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk Two for quite some time now, so once my mother's Alpaca Silk sweater is off the needles, I will cast on for this one. Mmmmmmm. So beautiful! Lace, cables, alpaca silk, dk weight yarn, drapey, empire-waisted GOODNESS!!! I think this is my absolute favorite garment I have ever seen in my life.

I finished one sleeve for the Matinee Jacket tonight. One left and then I get to block, seam, and picot it and it's DONE! On time too! Holy geeze!!!

I am very glad Dan supports my hobby, but he has a funny way sometimes. I admitted to buying yarn today and the first thing he said is "That's great, but shouldn't you cast off a couple of your projects before starting a new one?". Hah, he said cast off and project... but he's right. I'm glad he didn't get angry about me purchasing yarn though, because it was a wicked deal and I loooove alpaca silk and have been squirrling away enough money to induldge a little on some luscious fibre... mmm.

Thrift stores

2007-07-25T13:15:00.000-05:00

Today after work I ventured to my local thrift store to search for hand knits to tear up that weren't acylic. No finds there. HOWEVER, I did score about 30 Stitchcraft magazines from the 60s, along with some leaflets and such (also super retro). I am going to frame some of them for my bare walls, keep some for the patterns (some are really cute!) and chop some up to make gift cards/postcards/stationary/etc.

I also found a "Red Cross Knitting Instructions for War Work". Missing it's cover and rather ratty, so I'm not sure it's worth anything.

The #1 find though was this:

Donkey. Spandex. Crazy fair isle sweater. Cross-eyed. The letter C is really strangely placed too, so it looks like it's sticking out of her hair. TOTALLY does not beat this cover photo! Thank you Stitchcraft No. 341 (I cannot find the date on this one anywhere).

Next Friday I am heading to my hometown Ottawa to visit my best friend who should have popped out her new baby by then (the recipient of the Matinee Jacket), as well as the family. I have found five yarn shops I would like to visit by then and they all seem to stock very different yarns than those I work with daily, so I am looking forward to it a lot!!!

PLEASE HELP!!!

2007-07-21T22:52:00.001-05:00

UGH! My right front for the Matinee Jacket is perfect now, the K2tog form the most beautiful decrease neckline that blends effortlessly into the cast off stitches. But now my left slanting decrease is just not working, it looks like junk! I've tried everything I can think of!!!

I'm doing the left decrease over moss stitch. So if you know something that works well (ie. best match for k2tog right dec.) please specify which side to work it on (moving towards the neck or away from it).

EDIT: A tight SSP seemed to do the trick, not exactly quite as nice as the K2tog, but close enough!

This means, the body of the Matinee Jacket is now complete. Two little baby sleeves to do and I can block it all. I am excited to have it off the needles, but not excited for the seaming or picot edging... shudder...

Name change!!!

2007-07-21T19:19:00.000-05:00

What had originally been intended as a blog for all things domestic turned into a strictly knitting blog. And therefore, the long name just had to go ("Tales of a Wannabe Domestic Goddess") and has been replaced by the quick and easy blog title "Knerdy".

I am ripping back the left front panel of the matinee jacket (but only about an inch or so thank goodness) because after knitting the right panel, I have decided I am not satisfied with my first attempt at the left side!

I have also been addicted to the Stash and Burn Podcast lately. Definitely lots of fun to listen to on the walk to work, and when there's nothing on TV to listen to while I'm knitting.

Today after working at the LYS I headed over to my local library, where I signed up for a library card and borrowed Sally Melville's The Purl Stitch so I could do up the Koigu Gauntlets (I am a student, and at the moment I cannot afford $30 book and the yarn!) as well as Vickie Howell's New Knits on the Block which is a super cute "guide to knitting what kids really want". I am going to try to find something in this book to knit for the recipient of the Debbie Bliss Matinee Jacket's big sister (age 3).

Off to frog!!!

Quick update for a quick knit!

2007-07-19T09:07:00.000-05:00

Cast on last night at 8pm, cast off at 11:30pm (mind you I wasn't just SITTING there knitting, I ate and such!)

Calorimetry
Pattern: Knitty's Calorimetry
Yarn: Koigu Kersti K323
Needles: 4mm

I have heard that this knits up very large, perhaps it's because I used yarn that is 22sts/4" rather than 20sts/4" and used 4mm needles instead of 5mm, but mine knit up exactly as the pattern said!

I love it! I cant' wait until it's cold enough to wear out!

2007-07-18T17:51:00.000-05:00

I am taking a Matinee Jacket break, I love it and it's wonderful, I'm just getting a little antsy for new projects!
So tonight I will cast on (and hopefully cast off as well) for a beautiful Calorimetry in Koigu Kersti.

My coworker at Needles and Pins is a beginner knitter and wanted to make a headband, so I sent her the link to the Calorimetry and she liked it just as much as I do. But being a beginner she was frightened by the pattern, giving me the little shove I needed to make one myself so I can help her out. I am excited to knit this up finally!

Off to knit a headband in merino wool in the middle of the summer... hahaha...

2007-07-17T13:07:00.001-05:00

Up until 2am... damn Debbie Bliss! I was having a bit of a hard time trying to figure out what she meant by "with the right side", so when I thought I was right having my right side facing me (knit row) I was wrong... ANYWAY. After having cast off and continued on with my pattern I realized that I cast off the 8 sts. on the wrong side... so I had to tear back and restart. An hour later and all is well though. Left front panel and back are complete. Right front panel is on the needles and will be a much quicker knit now that I know which side to cast off 8 sts. on!!!

Ignore the little issue with my moss stitch on the front panel. It really does look right when not being photographed... I think it's because that's where I sewed in loose ends and it disrupted my moss stitch a little bit. It looks fine in real life and will look even better apres-blocking!