Stuff

I'm wondering why there is a woman asleep on Jann Arden's kitchen island. I know it's true, because I saw the picture on twitter. Apparently she' a diva, so maybe diva's get to do that sort of thing. Also, did you know that Jann dresses her dog in outfits? Very cute dog, I must say.

I have a giant magnet on my hip. Opera is hoping that it helps my sciatica. I am hoping the same damned thing, exactly. I made an empty threat regarding bodily functions and said magnet, and she told me that i WOULD be purchasing it.

I watched 'Whip It' tonight, by accident. Real roller derby is way better, but more dangerous. Just ask Mug. Also, check out the bruise on Jaime's elbow. Biggest.bruise.ever.

I had a spicy chicken sandwich at Wendy's earlier, and somehow they forgot the spicy.

Today I completed the minimum fundraising for the 2010 Ride to Conquer Cancer. I'm really, really, really excited.

I've been a bit worried about my friend Linda, because I haven't heard from her in a long while.

I have two hand carved knitting needles in my possession that are so cool you'll want to pee your pants. A complete stranger came in and asked me to create a silent auction for them, and to donate the money to charity. I was gob smacked. Pictures and info to follow.

I wanted to tell somebody something, but I can't remember the something, so I'm going to forget the entire scenario.

I've been knitting a new Jared Flood pattern, Wool Leaves, for the last day or so, and I must say... doubled Cascade Eco is the way to go with every project on the planet. It's giant lace. Do purchase this pattern if you'd like to create a real quick lace blanket; baby sized.

BFML's movie is on... The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. I haven't seen it (or BFML) on TV before, so I'll leave the rest of the stuff for another day.

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...

Helmet liner

The helmet liner pattern can be found here. I knit mine without the ear flaps, but otherwise it was unaltered.

Click through all of the patterns if you have the time. They really are great.

Glows

Tonight I bought the pattern AND the Wollmeise necessary to knit these gloves (in Clementine). I'm really excited about them; haven't felt like this over a project in a long time. I think they are going to be gorgeous.

Its very very good to know someone who collects Wollmeise, and is willing to part with some of it now and then.

Swatching

Tonight I am feeling still within myself, in response to a very stressful and long day. I fell onto the couch when I came home, and slept. Today is over; I've dreaded it for days and days, and finally it's done.

Just now I wound a skein of Cormo into a ball, and I'm swatching it on the red 4.5mm Stiletto Signature Needle Arts needles. I thought that the Cormo might turn into a Dianna shawl, but maybe it'll be Hey Teach? We'll see how the swatch turns out.

I want to tell you about Friday. It was time to ride home, and I was watching the sky close in and become black. I could hear thunder... and suddenly there were huge splashing raindrops. The option was to leave my bike at work and take the train home, then pick up the bike again when I next drove the truck. Instead, I strapped on the helmet and hit the road. It was the best decision I've made in ages.

Instead of bugs and lunging black dogs and all the other normal hazards of a ride home, it was cool, peaceful and beautiful. Yes, I was pretty wet, but I don't think I've ever felt better. The pathway smelled of leaves and rain and fresh cut grass. I'm not sure when you last felt like this, but honestly, it's priceless.

If you looked at your queue

I mean really, really looked at it; and ignoring the patterns that you've already purchased, and the yarn that you already have on-hand.. what would you actually knit?

My hair stands on end when I see a few patterns, and so I'm going to call those 'the ones'.. and honestly, I ought to delete the rest of the queue. But I won't.

So here's my must-knit list, as of today.


Tulip Cardi (that just has to be Dream in Colour, don't you think?)


Glows (maybe Claire will take pity on me, and get that colour of WM)


Kingscot (I have the pattern, and the problem is that I can't decide on the perfect yarn. And what can I say? I love a bobble. Me and Denny. We're for the bobble)


Cosima (because I'm just.that.tall.and.thin. or not)


Dianna (Nice name, huh? I want to spin/dye for this shawl.. I think I'm going to make two; a DK and a laceweight)

So there you have it. The list.

Now can someone tell me why I have 4 complete pages of other stuff on my queue? Clearly they are never going to see the light of day.

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!

Super bulky felted mittens

A customer came into the store the other day wearing Malabrigo Aquarella mittens that she had designed with a stripe (to utilize excess Aquarella that she had in her stash). I loved the mittens, and the yarn.. and since there were a few skeins available at the store, I created my version of the pattern. I've been knitting so many Christmas mittens that I can do them in my sleep.

Just in case you have cold hands, or you need a movie length project... following is my attempt at instructions (sans stripe, because I don't have any extra super bulky yarn to use up).




Needles: US 13 DPNS
Gauge: Not that important
Yarn: Approximately 145 yards of a super bulky yarn, suitable for needles you'll work with - approx 2.5 stitches per inch would be fine. Shown is Malabrigo Aquarella.

Right Mitten:
Cast on 16 stitches and join in the round on 4 needles, being careful not to twist.
Knit 8 rows
M1 at the 1st stitch on needles 1, 2, 3 and 4 (20 stitches).
Knit 6 rounds
N1: K1, PM, K2, PM, Knit to end of round.
N1: K1, SM, (K1,M1) (twice), SM, knit to end of round
Knit 3 rounds
Knit to marker, SM, M1, K4, M1, SM, knit to end of round
N1: K1, RM, place 6 stitches on waste yarn, RM, cast on 2 stitches using the backwards loop method, and knit to end of round.
Knit rounds until mitten extends past the tip of your pinky finger.
*K1, SSK, knit to end of N1. K to 3 stitches before end of N2; K2tog, K1**
Repeat from * to ** on N3 and N4
Knit 2 rounds
Repeat from * to ** on N1, N2 & N3, N4
Knit 2 rounds
Cast off, using 3 needle bind off.


Left Mitten
Cast on 16 stitches and join in the round on 4 needles, being careful not to twist.
Knit 8 rows
M1 at the 1st stitch on needles 1, 2, 3 and 4 (20 stitches).
Knit 6 rounds
Knit until 3 stitches before the end of N2. PM, K2, PM, K1. Knit until end of round.
Knit to marker, SM, (K1,M1) (twice), SM, knit to end of round
Knit 3 rounds
Knit to marker, SM, M1, K4, M1, SM, knit to end of round.
Knit to marker, RM, Place 6 stitches on waste yarn, RM, cast on 2 stitches using the backwards loop method, and knit to end of round.
Knit rounds until mitten extends just past the tip of your pinky finger.
*K1, SSK, knit to end of N1. K to 3 stitches before end of N2; K2tog, K1**
Repeat from * to ** on N3 and N4
Knit 2 rounds
Repeat from * to ** on N1, N2 & N3, N4
Knit 2 rounds
Cast off, using 3 needle bind off.

Thumbs
Remove 6 stitches from waste yarn and put stitches on 2 DPNS.
Join yarn, and knit N1 & N2.
Pick up and knit 2 stitches on N3. (This will leave a gap which can be sewn tight when you are weaving in ends)
Knit in the round until thumb is the long enough to cover your thumb.
K2tog, 4 times
Weave yarn through last 4 stitches and pull tight.

Weave in ends on both mittens.

Try on mittens and determine how much felting they will need. If they are very large, put the mittens and some laundry detergent in the washing machine, and run a short load. Hot wash, cold rinse. Remove mittens, and adjust them to fit. Lie flat to dry.

If the mittens seem to need a small amount of felting, then immerse them in a sink full of hot water with a little dish soap, and (wearing rubber gloves to protect your hands from hot water), agitate, wring and generally thrash mittens until they seem to be about the right size. Remove excess water, lie flat to dry.


DPNS: Double pointed needles
K: Knit
K2tog: Knit 2 together
M1: Make one stitch
N1 through N4: Needles 1 through 4
PM: Place marker
RM: Remove marker
SM: Slip marker
SSK: Slip one stitch as if to knit, slip a second stitch as if to
knit. Replace both stitches on the left needle. K2tog.


Note: Because I'm a brain surgeon in my spare time, I just thought to check Make One's free patterns. You will find a very similar pattern, nicely written, here: Link