Just one more

Ukraine has talent, 2009 winner. A spectacular piece of art and theater; the story of a romance and family and war (at least that is what I see).



I am thrilled to announce that the Tinkmeister frogged my Miralda back a dozen rows or so to discover that I had knitted an extra stitch into the back of a dreaded nupp, thereby throwing half of the shawl off wack. I haven't picked it up again, but I will soon. I've got so many Orenburg shawls in my head that I'm a bit frozen.

This morning I finished knitting a knee warmer.. loads of ribbing, but I thought it would be great. Turns out I hate the damned thing, and I'm sure it'll hit the frog pond. Don't know if it was the yarn, the pattern, the leg it was supposed to fit, or the knitter; but it was a fail.

I've got two pairs of socks happening.. Both have one finished, both are roundy rounds. One pair is nearly finished; the problem being that I keep losing the project bag (that would be the one containing Signature Needle Arts DPNs).. and it is, in fact, lost again. The other is a pair that I'm knitting for myself from yarn that Mandie dyed. Love.them. I've been knitting them on the train, to and from work.



Just a quick note to say that if you're looking for a copy of Gossamer Webs, Shuttleworks still has some at a very reasonable price. When I realized that I absolutely had to have one but it was out of print, I sent Cal a quick email... victory! I knitted the little test shawl and learned so many new things within that tiny little project; it was amazing.



I've been spinning like crazy.. finished the Qiviut (but sadly there are some plying issues with it, and I'm quite sure I'm going to have to do some repair work before I knit with it). I bought some silk from Hedgehog Fibers, and I was really disappointed with the dyeing, so that's sitting in a bag waiting for a re-think (the exterior was spectacular.. utterly spectacular; but the inside wasn't dyed at all)... Also got some SW BFL from Pigeonroof Studios. I've never used SW BFL before, so I was looking forward to giving it a whirl. The fiber had loads of kemp in it, so it was slightly disappointing. The good news is that the vendor had temporarily switched distributors and didn't realize the fiber was of lesser quality, and she offered to refund my money. I like the customer service! Right now I'm spinning Sweet Georgia BFL (sorry Jacinda, my girl, I promise I'll mail you yours soon), and it's a nice as ever.

I was in a brief but fierce race to knit the Knitting Pure and Simple Summer Open Cardigan before Aunty Tink or Munchie finished theirs. Again with the victory. I still haven't wet finished it, but I will.

Loads of stuff on the needles, including a fuschia version of the Camelot coat, some Noro Retro fingerless gloves, and the Wollemeise Glows gloves (I have 4" Knitpicks dpns now, so the fingers are a little less excruciating).

I've been feeling really awful since the I had the hinie in the fall; finally went to the doctor and he's put me on some fierce antibiotics for the respiratory system, and Tamiflu as well. I'm so sick and tired of being sick and tired...

It was a dark and stormy night.

Well, actually it wasn't, but it seems like everyone should get to type that sentence once in their life.

This weekend turned out to be especially productive; I can barely remember all the things that I accomplished. Roxy (the pup) kept me up most of Friday night; I was totally and completely exhausted by her whining and crying. She would have liked to sleep on the bed, and I would have liked her to sleep in another city. Neither of us got our way. Eventually I got a few hours sleep, and was about to get up to take Mug to soccer, when BFML offered to do the deed for me AND take both dogs as well. I slept from 9 to 12.. it was like absolute heaven.

Once they returned home I packed up Mug and headed for Make One to talk to Bess about dyeing and to spin for a while. The store was pretty darned busy. AnneK brought in a warm coffee cake, studded with chunks of apple. Did I say heaven?

I don't know what possessed me, but afterwards I started bringing all of my yarn and allll of my fiber downstairs to organize and.. well, spring clean. I've been thinking it needed to be done, but dreading it. Man, what a job. I got to a point with the yarn that I'd think I was done, and sure as crap yet another bag of it would be hiding behind something. In the end my entire upstairs area was sorted out and organized, and all of my yarn/fiber is contained, labelled and, shockingly, findable. It was kind of fun being reminded of frogged projects, successes, failures, plans... I got rid of very little, and realized that I'm missing one skein of yarn.

Silk. Koigu. From our New York Trip. DAMN.

Anyway, we won't discuss mileage, or Rubbermaid totes, or green garbage bags. None of that.

I knitted, I spun... the Cormo basket is completely and absolutely empty. To be honest I never thought I'd see the day, but now that I have combs, the fiber is under my control. The Cormo is about 50% plied.... I wish now that I'd Navajo plied it, because it's thinner than I would have liked, but still soft, still gorgeous. (Yesterday the 2009 hoggetts were sheared. I so want one).

I dyed and dyed and dyed; the kitchen is absolutely resplendent in a rainbow of fiber. Tonight I'll bag that up and get it off to it's new home. I felt inspired, for the first time in an age.

Ahhhh and it was Mother's day. Dida and Ike (and Nini, in a stroller) ran the 5k, so BFML and I walked downtown to cheer them over the finish line. It was such a great thing for Dida.. her first race ever. Later we went to their car and Dida gave me a framed picture of Nini in a red raincoat. It's the best ever.. honestly.

BFML treated me like a queen all day on Sunday, and gave me a reconditioned mailbox that he and the kids had worked on. We so needed it! I can hardly wait for it to be installed.

Seems like this is about enough information.. but honestly there's more! Mug and I watched The Colour Purple together, we had poached eggs, drank Lambic Framboise - not Mug; BFML, I did washing/carding experiments, BFML freecycled and I landed up with a copy of Eat, Pray, Love... the only book I've wanted to review by the time I was reading page 9. It's that good.

etc. It was an etc. kind of weekend.

I'll tell you some stuff...

Then, you then tell me some stuff.

Tomorrow morning at 9am Mug is getting another award at school. I don't know what for, and neither does she, but I'm super excited and very, very proud of her. This time last year she got two, and last semester she was on the honour roll. Her hard work is acknowledged, and I am.. well.. the happy/proud thing (x1,000,000).

This time next month I'll be in Mexico. I'll be finding out what bunk I'm sleeping in, and sure as heck something will be making me nervous as hell... but it will be great once the tools flash up and I'm back in my comfort zone. I miss sawdust.. I really do.

My Lady Eleanor of the Targello is 70% complete. I really love it, and part of me would like to keep it, but I probably won't. I might save it for a back-up Stampede submission, but it isn't perfect so it wouldn't win anything.

I finally found the pattern/yarn that I'm going to use for Stampede this year. I ordered everything this weekend, but I'm not telling anything about it. If it works out, it's going to be great. If it doesn't.. I'm in a big, fat jam.

I have another big secret, and I am not going to tell it.. but I really want to.

I am so sick of winter I could scream. I feel like this every February.. spring feels so close, and then sure as heck it snows.

I have fallen on ice 3 times this year. Next winter I am getting rid of the Emu boots. They don't have tread. I don't think people in Oz need ice-tread; but we sure do.

Nini called tonight, but she didn't want to talk to me, she wanted to talk to Mug (aka: anz). So she did. I have a telephone message that she left me last week, and it's pretty darned cute. She's all about the zoo right now.

I'm very happy, and when all the yarn is put away at the shop, I will be happier still.

There is a super-adorable dog at the pound, and I would love to find a way to have him.. but it is totally impossible. Also, I don't want to become a dog collector (2 dogs, 2 cats, 6 people.. that's enough in this little house).

Spike thinks that if he goes outside to pee that somehow we will go to bed. He must be about peed out, because this is his 3rd or 4th try.

I drank most of a Framboise tonight. I didn't do as well at sharing as your average 5 year old (if 5 year olds shared beer, which they don't). I drank 1/2, then split the second 1/2 with BFML. Frankly, he is lucky he got that. ;) Gale, you are correct.. the peach is darned good. Most of you who know me also know that I don't really drink. Lately I have found 2 kinds of beer that I don't seem to react to, so it's been great!

Got the Debbie Bliss mag today.. and almost bought French Girl Knits, but decided to hold off because I have too many other projects on the go. I owe BFML one Valentine sock too.

I did all the laundry today, and also had a shower (sorry goils... HAD to go home and have one.. couldn't be seen in public - by people I know - with hair like that). I love the combo of freshly showered me and clean sheets.

I also hand washed 25 socks today. It wasn't that hard, and I really like how they looked all hung up. I would have washed 26, but I had one hand knit sock on (and one black sports sock). That's how I roll.

Jacinda, meet Jocelyn. Joce, meet Jacinda.

IK, I was wondering if the gunk in the lint trap of my washer is anything close to as gross as the stuff in the gunk trap of your dishwasher.

If you'd like to 'button' your eyes, a la Coraline, go here.

Eckhart Tolle rocks the free world. You should read his books, you really should.

Three times on friday someone talked to me about EMDR. I think that the universe is telling me that Gigi should come here. Ok.. it's possible that I manipulated the message somewhat and the universe thinks that I ought to try EMDR.

Have you heard about Tellington Touch? It makes me feel faint it's so wonderful. I wish I was a horse.

Someone recently found my blog by googling: crochet crap

Now.. its your turn. Go!

Eclectic sole

I preordered mine from Janel, and I love the book to pieces. Almost invisible pieces it seems, because I cannot find my copy anywhere. Did I lend it to you? If so, could you please give me a V8 bonk on the head and remind me? I thank you in advance.

I am the eggplant. I am the walnut.

Ok, I've been dyeing. I could be a little punchy. I might even be high on acid (I admit it, the acid in acid dyeing is vinegar). I was doing really well there, being all predictable and reproducible, when all of a sudden I became me for a little while and just dyed stuff. I dyed 600 grams of the softest 'Super Top Alpaca'. I dyed piece after piece after piece of BFL.

(Tell me.. how come these rovings are so filthy? The wetting water was so dirty that I actually missed a roving in the bottom of a bucket.. totally couldn't see it)

Anyway, back on topic; I think I'll do the same tomorrow. I have some mohair locks. I have all kinds of weird bits of silk. I've got some gray alpaca... what could happen?

So the eggplant thing.. what it's all about is this: A while ago the Yarn Harlot was knitting the Rivendell socks (or, was that Rivendale?... I don't have the Eclectic Sole yet, so I'm not 100% sure) in a yarn called 'I am the eggplant'. I was thinking that 'I am the walnut' would be the next logical colourway.. Don't you agree? I haven't actually dyed it yet, but it's in my head, so it'll happen soon.

Another eggplant story for your entertainment. Two nights ago Jim BBQ'ed some Chicken Apple Sausage from Spolumbo's, and he threw a few slices of eggplant on the grill as well. He seasoned them with salt only. I took one bite of the eggplant, and knew instantly that I had a problem... scary allergic reaction kind of problem. My lips and mouth burned, prickled and stung. Eventually I gave up waiting for it to go away, so I took a couple Benedryls... the next morning my mouth was still stinging, I'd developed a rash on my stomach and the side of my chin. Very bizarre. How the heck does something like this happen out of the blue? Anyway, I'm a thing of beauty if I say so myself.

Ya, and I dyed my hands black. How cool is that? The goddess factor is high.

Ooops, we did it again

Another blizzard; endless it seems.

Following is a link to a photo gallery of pics that BF took yesterday, along with a few of Aidan at his birthday dinner, and Spike. You'll also see a really super fab skein of Optim that Mandie sent to me.. well, she sent fiber, and I spun it. Anyway, it's great, and I'm so happy.

http://gallery.mac.com/lcritter#100051

These last few days I've been reading Intertwined and getting a feel for what I need to get and what I need to do in order to spin Art Yarn. Here is an album showing my first attempts at carding and spinning. I call the result: Fireworks and Clowns. Later I knit it into the grooviest little stuff bag for my Lendrum.

http://gallery.mac.com/lcritter#100046

I knit a pair of socks this weekend... yes, you heard it right. A PAIR of socks, for Jim. I am crazy in love with Noro Silk Garden Lite, and these socks are a strange pair for sure, but definately of the same colourway. I think the fact that they only partially match adds to their charm.



There's just too much to talk about.. too much going on. Except for the taxes. They are going nowhere. Nowhere fast.

Happy Easter to you and yours...

I hope that it is a wonderful weekend and that you are able to spend it with your loved ones.

I've been doing that so far. Dida and I have been working on this:



They are her mittens, but I have been showing her how to knit continental and english methods at the same time in order to simplify (and speed up) stranded knitting. It's going well I think, and I love those mittens so much that I'm going to buy the pattern myself.

Nini is so darned cute that it's hard to get much knitting done, even if you TRY very hard.



I made Mug a hat:



It's Norah Gaughn's Sunflower Tam from Knitting Nature. I LOVE this hat, and this pattern. I've knit it once for myself, and this time I made it small for Mug. It fits her more like a pillbox toque than a tam, but it's so great, and she loves it. What more can you ask for a few hours' work and less than one ball of yarn?

I have started a very special lace project; that being the initial Year of Lace kit. It is amazing in every way, and the knitting is going very well for me so far (well.. until I dropped a number of stitches right off the needles). I have decided not to post much on Ravelry or my blog until the kit has arrived in the hands of members outside of Calgary. If I come up with any hints or suggestions, I'll post them, but I'll try to avoid spoilers and details. I can say that when one member picked up her kit she was reduced to tears of joy, and another ... well, she suggested that she might become sexually involved with the lace sample because of it's intoxicating beauty. Believe me, I thought long and hard in order to find suitable phrasing; that's not an exact quote!

So.. hint one: If you're going to put your knitting down, push it down the needles somewhat before picking it back up. D'oh.

Tonight is the second Formula One race, and we'll be watching that (if we can stay awake, that is) only to be woken up early for Aidan's easter egg hunt. There's enough sugar stashed at eye level or lower to ramp him up for at least the day. Phew...

Pray for us.

Family Day at the zoo

And, man, it was one. Phew. There were so many people at the zoo today that it was a challenge to see much of anything. We did happen to be outside when the baby elephant came out, and we also saw the baby tiger (one of my colourways are named after Vitali). It was Nini's first zoo visit, and as you can see, it was just too exciting for words.

So.. talking about exciting; I didn't realize that mail is delivered on Family Day. When we got home there was a parcel here for me from Interweave. My order of back issues! There is one copy of Spin Off with a great dyeing article, and three IW Knits. The reason I ordered those specific magazines was to get a steeking article, the pattern for Swallowtail, and the Paisley Shawl pattern (both by Evelyn Clark). Last week I got Wrap Style (for the Shetland Triangle), and bought a copy of the Flower Basket shawl. I'm basically drunk with Evelyn Clark shawl patterns. All I have to do is knit them, right?

Spring 2008. Come ON!

Errata on the blocking wires and a bit on Barbara Walker

Oops. There are, in fact, 36" wires in the kit. For some reason they weren't in the main bundle, and left behind in the mailing tube. Needed to clarify that.

Tonight I've been looking online for a set of BW's Treasuries. An affordable set... and I stumbled upon The Walker Treasury Project, in which people swatch the black and white patterns and you can see stitch patterns in RL. If you have some time to spare, I recommend you have a look. It's enough to to entice one to charge a set of the books (I haven't... I won't).

Years ago, when my first marriage hit the skids, I spent months knitting an amazing afghan. I'm positive I was flat broke at the time, so I promise you there isn't a natural fiber within 5 miles of it. It was so heavy and so big that I wrecked my shoulder in the process of knitting it (all the while, letting my heart mend). Today, for the first time, I realized that it was a combination of a whole lot of BW's stitch patterns.

Imagine that. I love it even more.

Tell me; why would you wear a shawl? If anybody comments, I'll tell you why I would, and do.

Last night I made '100 cloves of garlic chicken'

HPIM0338.JPG
Originally uploaded by spinknit

It was 100 cloves of garlic gross. Alright, I admit it, I only used 50. 60 tops. The chicken was so darned dry that I couldn't even eat mine, so there we were with a whole pan full of chicken breasts, garlic cloves, and 1/2 cooked potatoes. All floating in white wine. Tonight I'm trying to turn it into chicken pot pie, so we'll see how that goes. Sans about 75% of the garlic cloves you understand.

A super great thing happened yesterday. Amy (of Make One fame, ... not to mention, the creator of my Mr. Greenjeans addiction) called to say that most of the fiber I took to the store had sold. She said I rocked. (I'll admit it.. that was the best part!) Imagine, being told you rock by the rockingest chick you know. Anyway, that good news means that tonight I dye again. I've been wanting to; there's a 'reflection of embers', and a 'bridgeland arch of fall leaves' colourway floating around in my head. I picked up a few pounds of Merino to play with.. tho it's BFL that I dream of.

Might I give you a book review? My understanding is that Careena shared her copy of The Knitter's Book of Yarn during M-1's last retreat. Amy (and others I'm sure) knit a pair of the Maine Morning Mitts found in the book. Because they looked so grand, and because I have quite a few single skeins floating around, I also knit some (in self-spun, navajo plied Wensleydale - colourway: Monarch). Cool... I love 'em, and fell in love with the idea of the book. Did some research on what it might contain (I'm not big on ordering books until I've seen them myself and I'm convinced it's not a waste of perfectly good sock wool money), and decided to order from Amazon. It's possible that I also ordered Lace Style and Arctic Lace too (it's all about free shipping, am I right?), but I'm not copping to it.

I have to tell you that i totally LOVE this book. Kudos to Clara Parkes for providing so much yarn related information, and a great big bunch of patterns as well. This is going to be one of my favorite books, and I'm really glad I spent the money on it.

Lastly... I found a really awesome blog. She's fab, and I think you should hear what she has to say. A knitter, of course.

A day without Cal is like a day without sunshine

I have been wanting a copy of 'Gathering of Lace'; honestly, it's about all I think of lately. I have lace-itis in the worst way. Anyway, today I was forced to wait for a customer to drive to the outskirts of Calgary from downtown, and I was thinking that I had just enough time to drive to Shuttleworks. So I added 30 minutes to my schedule because if you know Cal, you will know that it is totally impossible to forego an opportunity to chat with him. He has some interesting stories, that's for sure.

I have my book, safe and sound and in BF's hands. He's going to give it to me for Christmas. Yeah baby. Oh, and I also got 3 new dye colours in the orange family. I have a new colourway percolating in my imagination.

This evening I had the pleasure of going to Make One to celebrate SANDRA and AMY'S marriage (please note pecking order). There was much laughter, food and drink, and plenty of knitting as well. If I understand correctly, Marilynn and Amy are competing to finish their versions of the Tulip Baby Cardigan (please note that I'm on the waiting list for this pattern/yarn, and that my Nini will be wearing it soon) - anyway, Marilynn was working on the Tulip. That darned sweater is so yummy.

Hey... I went to a yarn shop and I didn't spend a dime. Holy smokes.

ps: BF took the attached picture 2 summers ago, and I'm posting it because I think it's fab and because the stall is inhabited by 'Annie'.