tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172557722941041062024-02-18T21:00:23.588-05:00The Art of Tying Holes TogetherThoughts and observations about knitting, music, and life...but mostly knitting...Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-54910455427072355362010-04-28T22:06:00.001-04:002010-04-28T22:08:06.525-04:00Days 2 and 3 - Knit and Crochet Blog WeekI am nothing if not disorganized and distracted...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFATN7htuNddEokevF5v3O5Yjn-fBG4OZkUh8Og9EIRoBJ9-_SPEYXZgSmIus6CL7GqjL5Jcn2cjAwlOXisIgeeyVkGaLkjPZPDF211DSOE0EK1xmdQwJl5xsXURPKrWXA1qwbdyjhrzU/s1600/4542612801_e774eb37af_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFATN7htuNddEokevF5v3O5Yjn-fBG4OZkUh8Og9EIRoBJ9-_SPEYXZgSmIus6CL7GqjL5Jcn2cjAwlOXisIgeeyVkGaLkjPZPDF211DSOE0EK1xmdQwJl5xsXURPKrWXA1qwbdyjhrzU/s320/4542612801_e774eb37af_m.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>For those of you who read my blog regularly, you know I have a sweet senior dog who has been having some health issues. I skipped out on Day 2 yesterday to do some extensive research on these issues. He's doing well, we're doing well, and I'm feeling relieved and heartened at the things I learned. Now, to catch up!!!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>An Inspirational Pattern</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hmmm...the quick and easy answer to this one is every pattern is an inspiration to me. If it weren't, I wouldn't take the time to knit it. However, the deeper answer is that I am living my inspirational patterns right now. I have always wanted to knit lace. When I started knitting in the late 70s, it was hard, if not impossible to find laceweight yarn or small needles. I remember trying to knit lace with crochet cotton...it was pitiful. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Fast forward to today - laceweight yarn and lovely patterns are everywhere!!! A couple months ago, I took the plunge and signed up for the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/evenstar-mystery-shawl-kal">Evenstar Mystery Shawl</a> KAL on Ravelry. Yeah...not only am I knitting a major lace shawl...I'm doing this sucker sight unseen. It is a 50% chance of inspiration and a 50% chance of crash and burn on my shiny new blog. Well...I'm a little behind the group on this one (they're all on Clue #6, I'm halfway through Clue #4), but that's because I'm working on several other projects at the same time. Here's my progress:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbqqXmGQP8REzjXRltR0X5fbEw7xgzazwAS0kh8oTvE-EPSFlmPnSYhYu5yts9rU95At1jdKt7P1zCwrahVyVho16R1iJdEZaLEpHxGWMob4yP-4H66Q7meo8d71dk8lWkZnsy7vsqB8/s1600/IMG_0768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbqqXmGQP8REzjXRltR0X5fbEw7xgzazwAS0kh8oTvE-EPSFlmPnSYhYu5yts9rU95At1jdKt7P1zCwrahVyVho16R1iJdEZaLEpHxGWMob4yP-4H66Q7meo8d71dk8lWkZnsy7vsqB8/s400/IMG_0768.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is my "Woo-HOOOO!!! I can do it!!!!" project. I am working on two other lace shawls, but this is the "big scary one"...and the inspirational one.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Future inspirations? I aspire to learning to spin and to dye yarn. I want to knit every project in the world (fat chance...). Most of all, I want to knit Eugen Beugler's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/frost-flowers--leaves">Frost Flowers and Leaves Shawl</a>. It goes along with my lifelong love of the frost flowers pattern which is what inspired me to learn to knit. I'm scouting out the yarn...it's only a matter of time...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">One Great Knitter</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>There are so many great knitters today. I'm inspired by virtually every pattern I see. I love Elizabeth Zimmerman, though I only own one of her books and haven't read it yet. I remember seeing a picture of her sitting on the back of her husband's motorcycle knitting happily, and I knew this was my kind of woman.<br />
<br />
I think, however, the woman who had the greatest influence on me as a knitter and crafter in general was a woman named Pearl Rowe. Mrs. Rowe was born in 1897 in West Virginia, however, when I knew her she was in her sixties, and I was a very young girl. We moved into the house next to Mrs. Rowe's, the little bungalow in the alley of a blue-collar neighborhood, when I was two and moved out shortly before my seventh birthday.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Rowe's house was smaller than ours and dark in color...brown?...green?...I never was sure what color it was. She had beautiful flower beds all around the house growing peonies and huge Shasta daisies. I remember her showing me how the ants would crawl over the peony buds and tell me that the buds couldn't open without help from the ants.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Rowe had a boyfriend named Barney. Barney always had bags of candy, and all the kids in the neighborhood knew his car and would flock to the alley when they saw him coming. He would throw huge handfuls of candy in the air for us to catch.<br />
<br />
The best part, though, was when I was invited inside Mrs. Rowe's house. For as dark and nondescript as the outside was, the inside was a wonderland. There were china cupboards with lovely dishes, cup and saucer sets and the salt and pepper shakers she collected. There were crocheted doilies and tablecloths, beautiful embroidered pictures on the walls and, best of all, bed dolls. These weren't the crocheted bed dolls I'd seen patterns for. They were real dolls with plastic faces and huge taffeta dresses in pastel shades. One doll would cover the entire pillow of a twin bed.<br />
<br />
I loved to go to Mrs. Rowe's house. I would sit on her sofa, not moving, and try to memorize every detail: doily, check...tablecloth, check...china cupboard, check. Lace, flowers, ruffles, gotta have 'em... Even though my mother and grandmothers knitted and crocheted, I don't think I would have caught the bug if it had not been for Mrs. Rowe and how much I wanted my house to look like hers.<br />
<br />
Today? No doilies in my house...fifty or so packed carefully away in the basement, but none on display. About an equal number of needlepoint and cross-stitched pictures packed away. It's no longer my goal to live like Mrs. Rowe, but her influence pops up whenever I see a lovely lace shawl or coverlet I want to knit.<br />
<br />
And that little house? After my mother died, I was sifting through old photos and found a picture taken in our front yard with Mrs. Rowe's house in the background...it was little more than a tarpaper shack.</div>Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-69266116807065801982010-04-26T10:00:00.001-04:002010-04-26T10:00:12.902-04:00Day 1 - Knit and Crochet Blog Week!! Woo-hoo!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaiYX0_tZ83MXOukz0G9ueyu6UwO39WrU4vBoFbj4HEbx2pG56Ex6RqDsY2dCnETtXJ8fC75REATJYtj8dUWCs-_B-xwR2gz83AXHxvA9hyCj9-DX8mS79D-kyDYKJbFls5PiHPpTVkY/s1600/4542612801_e774eb37af_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaiYX0_tZ83MXOukz0G9ueyu6UwO39WrU4vBoFbj4HEbx2pG56Ex6RqDsY2dCnETtXJ8fC75REATJYtj8dUWCs-_B-xwR2gz83AXHxvA9hyCj9-DX8mS79D-kyDYKJbFls5PiHPpTVkY/s320/4542612801_e774eb37af_m.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b><b>Starting Out</b></b><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>How and when did you begin knitting/crocheting? was it a skill passed down through generations of your family, or something you learned from Knitting For Dummies? What or who made you pick up the needles/hook for the first time? </b></span><br />
<br />
Welcome to Knit and Crochet Blog Week, and for those of you who are reading for the first time, Welcome to my (usually) happy little corner of the blogosphere! For those of you who have been with me thus far on my short adventure into blogland, you'll recognize this post from back on February 17 (with some minor editing) and don't need to read further unless you want a recap (or you want to look at all those funny old pictures of me...). I promise my future posts for Knit and Crochet Blog Week will be more original and not a repost.<br />
<br />
Although I don't know the exact date, I know it was just around Valentine's Day 1979 that I locked myself in my apartment for the weekend, vowing never to emerge until I had learned to knit.<br />
<br />
My path to knitting actually started when I was in elementary school. <br />
<br />
<img height="250" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/1960spic.jpg" width="200" /><br />
<br />
I come from a long line of knitters, crocheters, and seamstresses, so it was naturally assumed I would fall in line. I'm not a good line faller-inner... I was a tomboy. My best friends were Rick and Daniel, and we roamed the fields around our houses, catching bugs and snakes and not doing anything even remotely domestic. Okay, there was that one time when I was about ten and told Rick I would teach him to cook Swiss Steak from my mother's recipe. I can still see him lying on my garage floor, laughing helplessly with tears pouring down his cheeks after I held up a big pink sponge and said, "Step One - pretend this is a piece of steak!" So much for domesticity... I did get better at the cooking part.<br />
<br />
Although my childhood summers were fairly idyllic by 1960s standards, I waited in dread each summer for my mother to spring one of the Four Nightmares on me. Not content to allow her only child to run wild in the fields, skinning her knees and bringing home whatever wildlife she could catch, my mother had goals for me. Every summer, my mother set out to teach me to knit, to crochet, to sew, and to read "Gone With the Wind" with her. Hell hath no fury like a mother on a mission.<br />
<br />
<img height="200" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/BarbaraMcLaughlin1952.jpg" width="350" /><br />
<br />
That's my mom. She was about 21 in that picture, five years before I came along. It is one of my favorite pictures of her because it captures her spirit. Mom was a creative tour de force. There was nothing she couldn't do. She was a professional steamstress who could sew anything, even wedding gowns. She could knit and crochet beautiful sweaters and afghans. She could draw and paint. She could play guitar and organ. She should have been on the road with some R&B band instead of living in a small town raising a daughter. Whenever I hear Booker T or Jimmy Smith, I hear my mother playing her B3 in the dining room. She was that good. And she wanted her only daughter to be that good, too. Here's a pic of an afghan my mother crocheted behind a sewing table that my father made for her (he was a pretty talented guy, too!):<br />
<br />
<img height="250" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/MomsAfghan.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<br />
Sewing lessons were the worst. I was good at pinning and cutting out the patterns, but after that, I was lost. What? I have to put these pieces TOGETHER????? I'm good at jigsaws, but I could never figure out pattern pieces. I'm the same way with knitted sweaters. I'll stare at a front, back and two sleeves for hours trying to figure out how they go together. I've probably made fifty sweaters in my life and I go through the same routine every time...stare...pin...stare...repin...stare...stare...stare... Sewing lessons usually ended with me in tears, throwing fabric and thread and stomping off to my room.<br />
<br />
Knitting lessons were much the same. Like all beginners, my work was tight...and that throwing the yarn thing...it just did not work. More than once I considered committing harikari on the needles...but they were weird flexible plastic, and they just bent.<br />
<br />
Crocheting was easier, though I never worked on it past that one day each summer, so it was always like starting from scratch. The crochet bug finally bit me the summer I turned 12, and I decided I liked it enough to stick with it.<br />
<br />
Oh...as for GWTW...I still haven't made it past the first chapter...or the first 30 minutes of the movie either.<br />
<br />
So, I began crocheting little potholders and doily-ish things. True confession: I LOVE to crochet doilies! A couple years later, I found a needlepoint book in the library written by former NFL-player, Rosie Greer. The tomboy in me rejoiced - if HE could do needlepoint, surely I could too! Dad took me to Woolworth's and bought me a needlepoint kit which I finished in about two canvas-obsessed days. Now I could crochet AND do needlepoint! Stamped cross stitch was next on my list of crafts. I started looking at the drug stores for McCall's Needlework and Crafts magazine. Sometimes they had a crochet pattern or two, sometimes (though rarely) needlepoint. Mostly all they had were those lovely knitting patterns...patterns I couldn't make to save my soul. I will toss in here that the summer lessons ceased when I began crocheting obsessively. That was also about the time adolescence kicked in, and I figure my mother knew she had enough problems without trying to push the sewing, knitting, and GWTW on me anymore. <br />
<br />
My mother and I survived (barely...) my teen years, and I moved an hour away to the "big city" and began working. One of the things she gave me when I left was a crochet hook holder with a nice little double-crocheted cover and many of her duplicate crochet hooks. I cherished this - it was something that had been around the house my entire life - a family heirloom!!! It was my ex-husband who finally one day asked why I kept my crochet hooks in an old Carling Black Label beer bottle with a fancy cover...<br />
<br />
On and on I went, needlepointing, crocheting mass quantities of doilies...until that one day in 1978 when I went to a bookstore during my lunch hour and saw it: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Treasury-Knitting-Patterns-Barbara-Walker/dp/0942018168?ie=UTF8&tag=thear-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="A Treasury of Knitting Patterns" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0942018168&tag=thear-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thear-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0942018168" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> I pored over the book, anguished over the price and my inability to make one darn thing in it. But for months, every payday I would go to that bookstore, buy a few magazines, and lust over Barbara Walker's Treasury of Knitting Patterns. I was particularly in love with the Frost Flowers pattern - it's on the cover of the reprinted edition above, but I stumbled across it on page 204 and was (still am!) totally enamored. I wanted to learn to knit if for no other reason than to knit the Frost Flowers pattern.<br />
<br />
It took an ugly breakup right before Christmas, a horrific blind date shortly thereafter, and being alone on Valentine's Day to spur me into knitting action. One Friday, I bit the bullet and bought that Treasury of Knitting Patterns. It cost over $30 in 1978 - a lot of moola for yer average secretarial-type gal!!! On the way home from work, I stopped at a department store and bought some yarn (Red Heart, no doubt...) and a pair of #8 needles, then went to the grocery and bought the ingredients for a big pot of chili. Yup, I was locking myself in and not coming out till I could knit!!! I also knew I'd be eating chili for a long time since I'd spent a goodly chunk of my grocery money on that pattern book...<br />
<br />
<br />
<img height="350" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/HNY1980.jpg" width="250" /><br />
Me, about two months before knitting entered my life...really...I am a VERY unhappy woman at this point.<br />
<br />
Amazingly, it went well. I could remember how to do the knitted cast-on that my mother showed me so many years before. Then I was stumped...what to do next? I knew there was something about throwing the yarn around the needle with my right hand, but no matter how I tried, I could not do it right. I took a break and ate some chili, then spent the rest of the evening drooling over the patterns that I dreamed I would one day be able to make. The disco music was blaring from the club across the street, where I was usually a Friday night regular...but I had bigger fish to fry - I was learning to knit!!!<br />
<br />
The next morning, after a breakfast of chili (I was 22, remember...), I sat down with my supplies and began to cast on again. This time, for some reason I will never know (Intuition? My Inner Knitter?), I held the yarn in my left hand, the way I did when crocheting. My cast-on was even, and...holy guacamole!!...I WAS KNITTING!!!!! Purling took a few more hours to figure out and, truth be told, I twisted my purl stitches for several years before I figured out what I was doing wrong and corrected it. I made tons of twisted-purl stitch little baby sweaters for all my friends. Six years later, I designed and knit a gorgeous Aran sweater for my ex-husband...and all the purl stitches were twisted. <br />
<br />
Fast forward thirty years, and knitting is as natural to me as breathing. I've taken on other craft challenges, such as bobbin lace and while I love a lot of different crafts, I always come back to knitting. It's my home base, my heart in knit and purl. <br />
<br />
<img height="350" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/FairIsleSweater1992.jpg" width="250" /><br />
My first (and so far only Fair Isle Sweater, knit in 1992. You can tell from the hair, right?).Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-80150746547949468762010-04-22T16:07:00.001-04:002010-04-22T16:09:12.414-04:00Wanna see a butterfly???<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAS2rFcXHo5-uCn8MBdSU4FcXhF7o5pYgPm7ORME4973WqHriai5m2krgVYc4IwhvqxgMIMxg-1W5ovut_8ELEGjhq38r7DUiAfZBzdDTPhSbBbukRqONPxGGG41qL9G8lFx6E-j7OAzA/s1600/IMG_0801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAS2rFcXHo5-uCn8MBdSU4FcXhF7o5pYgPm7ORME4973WqHriai5m2krgVYc4IwhvqxgMIMxg-1W5ovut_8ELEGjhq38r7DUiAfZBzdDTPhSbBbukRqONPxGGG41qL9G8lFx6E-j7OAzA/s400/IMG_0801.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Wanna see another butterfly???<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPBJea51uyt2JMMwgBOSUFJwSH6dBx6b5n2VRzkMWIy52cfNVNXUuisbrKEY2WLqH0epPVj-Ug_gLPitfyhxa4vs0-ZCO9qkPLu5FMeX_9siBejq_zhZkVMZLd35DnG_4w_kxPUeFEbI/s1600/IMG_0802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPBJea51uyt2JMMwgBOSUFJwSH6dBx6b5n2VRzkMWIy52cfNVNXUuisbrKEY2WLqH0epPVj-Ug_gLPitfyhxa4vs0-ZCO9qkPLu5FMeX_9siBejq_zhZkVMZLd35DnG_4w_kxPUeFEbI/s400/IMG_0802.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>So what's up with the butterflies? Well...they're part of...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozMSNJLRF1967zXcfQNrfoCGLNWSBNGvNbFI0kxeOyF3Ig0zTwqaaTVu1BEnJReJA_kc0vndlgrm1J83zr2mypLb2-PwlQkcGVrNXQ0m_whqp-R8EOwVI2JJBPZLAFozoM0wI4i828iA/s1600/IMG_0804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozMSNJLRF1967zXcfQNrfoCGLNWSBNGvNbFI0kxeOyF3Ig0zTwqaaTVu1BEnJReJA_kc0vndlgrm1J83zr2mypLb2-PwlQkcGVrNXQ0m_whqp-R8EOwVI2JJBPZLAFozoM0wI4i828iA/s400/IMG_0804.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Drum roll, trumpet fanfare and confetti...MY FIRST SOCK IS FINISHED!!!! Wooooo-hooooo!!!!!<br />
Here are a couple more pics...I'm so proud!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7cJ6dxz6jRyFpBJNTd1WTNfqLHJ4DL7KCm1LqXZ51GFVk00xmMOpAu8j1P1sV0PbxTptB-xRFRQZOWrhV_zMtPXqwy8VCIN7yCVe9SLc6861QxWo38e8YAzTzd4C8pXDJissYD048GA/s1600/IMG_0805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7cJ6dxz6jRyFpBJNTd1WTNfqLHJ4DL7KCm1LqXZ51GFVk00xmMOpAu8j1P1sV0PbxTptB-xRFRQZOWrhV_zMtPXqwy8VCIN7yCVe9SLc6861QxWo38e8YAzTzd4C8pXDJissYD048GA/s640/IMG_0805.JPG" width="220" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyufrJ-aKkDicNy15WEbllA9geDZ18bif8gbb8K3IVD2mhYJ_rVhIdTL14nlcqonYAcxHCGPaymYkqHEZcK3gpEKJHeg2V9xTBWWoIeWtioLVE8YEC6YBKDlzEzI4XM44axhRk1urJJk/s1600/IMG_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyufrJ-aKkDicNy15WEbllA9geDZ18bif8gbb8K3IVD2mhYJ_rVhIdTL14nlcqonYAcxHCGPaymYkqHEZcK3gpEKJHeg2V9xTBWWoIeWtioLVE8YEC6YBKDlzEzI4XM44axhRk1urJJk/s640/IMG_0806.JPG" width="234" /></a></div>Oh, and here's my favorite part!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYg6XEb4htLUdxNFfqzHddzpT1KoPZklPOh0NYExoApd6zttZ00CrSA4EuPTRu6a1g4Aj1iVVzXvDCIa6dnbgYtJ_y1vjauwooqBzmiOH7SK73q_9k09TRjIiI4F2plsh5Isdd-E9p2U/s1600/IMG_0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="77" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYg6XEb4htLUdxNFfqzHddzpT1KoPZklPOh0NYExoApd6zttZ00CrSA4EuPTRu6a1g4Aj1iVVzXvDCIa6dnbgYtJ_y1vjauwooqBzmiOH7SK73q_9k09TRjIiI4F2plsh5Isdd-E9p2U/s400/IMG_0803.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I love that cute little edging!<br />
<br />
In the end, I gave up on that 9" HiyaHiya circ and went back to the dpns. There just wasn't enough room to maneuver, especially when I was using the cable needle, too. I have an 11" circ on order and will try it with the second sock (the toe of which is finished - trying to finish the "April" sock in...well...April).<br />
<br />
It fits great and feels so comfy...can't wait to have an actual pair. LOL!!! Oh...and in the two pics above...um, the sock is on my hand. I am a yogi, and I am pretty flexible, but even I couldn't get into whatever position would be necessary to accomplish what it looks like I'm doing in the bottom picture.<br />
<br />
Now, off to knock off a bunch of rows on the Evenstar Shawl...I'm dreadfully behind on it, and Clue #6 comes out tomorrow. Yikes!!!<br />
<br />
Happy Earth Day - get yerself out there and give the planet a big sloppy smooch!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iflDxad1WXxjNyoOCFrlW9n-_eFVmZCCRDGS2TkK4NylOShRsHsUuj2kqtUOIwHphnxPai3zlVZIVD8L69qN1tpSdCwlm6t1FMv1dW1x8xhHdr0XD8fkjQrHXjVQs9qD5ITJulEasOE/s1600/IMG_0718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iflDxad1WXxjNyoOCFrlW9n-_eFVmZCCRDGS2TkK4NylOShRsHsUuj2kqtUOIwHphnxPai3zlVZIVD8L69qN1tpSdCwlm6t1FMv1dW1x8xhHdr0XD8fkjQrHXjVQs9qD5ITJulEasOE/s400/IMG_0718.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-89550277709351957282010-04-19T11:10:00.000-04:002010-04-19T11:10:06.598-04:00What could be more random than a Monday?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bear with me as a I bounce around a bit here. It was an eventful weekend (except for yesterday, when it was nothing more than a Slugfest...as in "I am moving at roughly the velocity of your average garden slug"). But let's hop back to the beginning of the weekend and...yummy food!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPIxVGKwoGu5vjQlL_d87HN2EiS8FBPy-lQPIghVXxUAxR65Bo0u6kMURbYutBfdo3MDZgsOSfQosVPgJWQKvk8bjd0TqiKzXHTwxzBantojdRHSQ9-JI6GVBq486WDjfDFc1KFkSm6I/s1600/IMG_0782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPIxVGKwoGu5vjQlL_d87HN2EiS8FBPy-lQPIghVXxUAxR65Bo0u6kMURbYutBfdo3MDZgsOSfQosVPgJWQKvk8bjd0TqiKzXHTwxzBantojdRHSQ9-JI6GVBq486WDjfDFc1KFkSm6I/s400/IMG_0782.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>This is Spicy Chicken Fried Rice from Cooking Light magazine. I couldn't find the recipe on their website, but I found it on Laine's cool blog, <a href="http://lainesrecipebox.blogspot.com/2010/03/spicy-chicken-fried-rice-with-peanuts.html#comment-form">here</a>. I actually made it Thursday, but this is what was left over for Friday dinner. Yes, those little round, beany-looking things are peanuts. My mouth is watering just looking at this picture and remembering, so I'd better move on to the next random topic...<br />
<br />
I....um...er...started a new project Friday afternoon. Yup, that makes...what...an even dozen now? I've lost count. But you must understand, it was one of those things that just jumped out at me and I had to do it. I was trying to dejunk the living room, see, and I noticed this ball of sock yarn lying on my little TV table/supply table - it's the yarn I used to practice my toe-up knitting a month or so back. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNtGiecDHapWfhLqX_AwU3jIiRSRZ0qdMqwzjWbawDnA2KmcxbwsRTh4nhM5q0oPcWQPWPb1qj6sTchK8nnT45Dmd4nIIglUDhpP7YjABPE-sv2Ei0iphs85X4UNy1TRkjRWyvGHtNBo/s1600/IMG_0604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNtGiecDHapWfhLqX_AwU3jIiRSRZ0qdMqwzjWbawDnA2KmcxbwsRTh4nhM5q0oPcWQPWPb1qj6sTchK8nnT45Dmd4nIIglUDhpP7YjABPE-sv2Ei0iphs85X4UNy1TRkjRWyvGHtNBo/s400/IMG_0604.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I also noticed a set of #1 dpns lying there that needed to be filed away, so I picked them up and headed into my room to put them both away. Once there, I noticed a couple books sticking out of yarn bags...and I knew I wasn't going to use the yarn in those bags for any of the patterns in those books, so I decided to put them away, too. When I picked up one of the books, a loose pattern that I'd printed off the internet fluttered out. I picked it up. It was the <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer09/PATTsunday.php">Sunday Swing</a> sock pattern from the Summer 2009 Knitty. So...I have the pattern...I look at it and realize it calls for #1 needles, which I have in my hand...and sock yarn...which I have in my other hand...I'm thinkin' this is a sign from the universe that I need to knit these socks, right? So...I cast on. They're top down, I'm about 2" into them (ribbing and one pattern repeat). So far, so good. Will post pics later in the week when I've hopefully made more progress.<br />
<br />
We went to Cincinnati on Saturday to attend the wedding of a friend's son. I shall evermore be known as the Glitter Queen. Think PigPen from Charlie brown, only with glitter...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrCLYPIrSC9Z18TnOdN_wa3TSXDT6SZByi2Q-Khk3WoXnB-B1x8rJIWyynBtmHZGH-x8OVG6NHR510LURcfQObfcH8mnOG7FptKltxfDhPgTAi6KPOv71xxy21XcMrh0CZQHJ7tabUs8/s1600/pigpen-720048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrCLYPIrSC9Z18TnOdN_wa3TSXDT6SZByi2Q-Khk3WoXnB-B1x8rJIWyynBtmHZGH-x8OVG6NHR510LURcfQObfcH8mnOG7FptKltxfDhPgTAi6KPOv71xxy21XcMrh0CZQHJ7tabUs8/s200/pigpen-720048.jpg" width="185" /></a></div>You must understand, I don't dress up often. There are few occasions in my life that call for formality. I wore suede cowboy boots at my own wedding. However, Ukranian Jewish evening weddings are occasions that require bling. The last time I needed formal clothes was when my stepdaughter got married in 2005...and I had to borrow a beaded jacket from a friend (she threw in some diamond jewelry, bless her heart!). After that occasion, I knew I needed ONE formal outfit. I had "concert wear", plenty of long, black velvet skirts and such, but nothing sparkly. So, about a month after that wedding, I spent $17 and got a big dose of sparkle off the clearance rack at Kohl's. It looks like this...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozZqOtrRICgf8e0AAYqJQT5dQqZRqA0jCrXJWXySdrzK9Buejdy0stTqVCnC3v5v3scoc3cAtfNj_gGFMxsALf6Wb0tnXMKV7l6Mn0m994NJzlqBG50UcGtEQdqvKnvBa3KlO8lu_lU8/s1600/IMG_0794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozZqOtrRICgf8e0AAYqJQT5dQqZRqA0jCrXJWXySdrzK9Buejdy0stTqVCnC3v5v3scoc3cAtfNj_gGFMxsALf6Wb0tnXMKV7l6Mn0m994NJzlqBG50UcGtEQdqvKnvBa3KlO8lu_lU8/s400/IMG_0794.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>I love it, and I don't feel too much like a little girl playing dress up when I wear it. I wore it for the first time this weekend...and I shed glitter wherever I went. I hugged the groom's brother before the ceremony and noticed my glitter on his shoulder as he walked down the aisle. I coated the car seat with glitter. I coated the seat of my chair at the reception dinner with glitter. Sunday morning, when I went to my friend's house to pick up Wilbur, they laughed at the glitter still on my face...I am the Glitter Queen, the Great Goddess of Glitter...<br />
<br />
So...we went to the wedding. I worked on the Boneyard Shawl during the drive down, mingling little brown tweedies with my glitter and velvet. I am so excited about this shawl - only a few pattern repeats in and I'm already rubbing the soft fabric against my cheek and sighing blissfully...<br />
<br />
The wedding was equally blissful. It was held at <a href="http://www.thephx.com/">The Phoenix</a> in downtown Cincy and was very elaborate, yet very simple and tasteful. Since the groom is not Jewish, they had a modified Jewish ceremony, topped off by both the bride and groom breaking the wine glass (equality - gotta love it!).<br />
<br />
After the ceremony, there was a cocktail hour, followed by a huge dinner. OMG...we ate from 8pm till after 11:30pm!!! Appetizers...then dancing (work off all that food!)...entree...MORE dancing...wedding cake and other yummy desserts...STILL more dancing... The wedding band was the best I've ever heard (they did a version of "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGLZqDXau98">It's Raining Men</a>" that rivaled the original - and I don't take lightly to people who think they can outsing Martha Wash), and they alternated with a deejay who played what must be the Ukranian Top 40 - lots of Russian pop and dance music. Lovely, fun evening...but the best part was the overall tone of love and respect between the bridal couple, their friends and families. There were no bawdy toasts, no cheesy garter antics, no smooshing in the face with wedding cake, and the wine, champagne, vodka and cognac were flowing freely, but no rowdy drunkenness. We paced ourselves carefully, with only a cocktail before dinner and some wine and a few sips of champagne with dinner...and lots of black coffee afterward. If ever there were a perfect wedding, I think this must have been it.<br />
<br />
And then, road warriors that we are, at the end of the evening, we hopped into our car and drove the two hours back to Columbus, getting home at around 2:00am. Silly, people..we were both tired, cranky, irritable zombies all day yesterday. Nothing got done, and we alternated napping and snarking at each other the entire day. I tried to knit a little on the Brandywine shawl, but found I wasn't able to even minimally concentrate, so not much knitting got done. <br />
<br />
And that was my weekend...whew!<br />
<br />
But since this is a knitting blog and not a wedding blog, let's get back on topic. There's something very cool going in in the knitting blog world next week! <a href="http://eskimimiknits.com/">Eskimimi</a> has organized Knitting and Crochet Blog Week starting next Monday, April 26. She has picked out some very cool blogging topics for each day of the week. I've peeked at them - they're way cool! This also goes along with <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/the-blog-hub">The Blog Hub</a> group on Ravelry. Check it out and join in on the fun!!! <br />
<br />
And in one last jolt of randomness, here's my first attempt at a "stocking", knit about five years ago. Romeo bought me a pattern booklet which I think were stockings for each month of the year. I can't find the booklet and can't remember the name right now. This one was a Halloweeny theme in black and orange, however, I had dark green and ecru sock yarn on hand, so this is what I came up with. The heel and toe are really loose and floppy, but I really was pleased with the colorwork. And it's big...how big? I have a 17" laptop...that's how big!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYlOYC3wyVG88vi83h5loqajs7opufUW5Iq7CE-Uf9Y_0MvPnqqnOIP31SM6gIDxqsUBN4G6uMQIpp_NjMGKOqZPs-sZ8nOr1n7v-IjnaS07TmeDJdkUj9E-vHNsMpK9GGjzysLkZfXc/s1600/IMG_0783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYlOYC3wyVG88vi83h5loqajs7opufUW5Iq7CE-Uf9Y_0MvPnqqnOIP31SM6gIDxqsUBN4G6uMQIpp_NjMGKOqZPs-sZ8nOr1n7v-IjnaS07TmeDJdkUj9E-vHNsMpK9GGjzysLkZfXc/s400/IMG_0783.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMI49UI4VR5At2S7IicL9fZNqmpdl8V5PKT0V0hQNJH28ZcS-QiDOtHigEyxXlVYKnICg3ItoRn-SjuMHt6ctt22fGYBqmRvuvUx7kWi7RTAwCOnPqMmoc29HxsALtdr5CqO40AYnSnY/s1600/IMG_0785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMI49UI4VR5At2S7IicL9fZNqmpdl8V5PKT0V0hQNJH28ZcS-QiDOtHigEyxXlVYKnICg3ItoRn-SjuMHt6ctt22fGYBqmRvuvUx7kWi7RTAwCOnPqMmoc29HxsALtdr5CqO40AYnSnY/s400/IMG_0785.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivRtWrCl2VCn_X_6u_KCOxxB5gNKjyxVgdcC6bw0BFiVromwK_WPj3fuLMaq7iEi8V-B9N-zToURRSmSf418u7N59U6QTiEeYW7FX2fjyoGwAuoclu2O5ssHxsaA310was-B1-yB34a8/s1600/IMG_0790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivRtWrCl2VCn_X_6u_KCOxxB5gNKjyxVgdcC6bw0BFiVromwK_WPj3fuLMaq7iEi8V-B9N-zToURRSmSf418u7N59U6QTiEeYW7FX2fjyoGwAuoclu2O5ssHxsaA310was-B1-yB34a8/s400/IMG_0790.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKlcgy9MQ4l6_X9mb51d-R7VdLNlGqP9Q5xhyphenhyphen4hCpHfsLUjPkThf-QpjjpWcS-ICM32BhYZJihNOUws12LgtFKWzFap2Pdfq6XCYziTfPYeSNpF3WDwvbNo34P-L00IYXf75S8IIwh9M/s1600/IMG_0787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKlcgy9MQ4l6_X9mb51d-R7VdLNlGqP9Q5xhyphenhyphen4hCpHfsLUjPkThf-QpjjpWcS-ICM32BhYZJihNOUws12LgtFKWzFap2Pdfq6XCYziTfPYeSNpF3WDwvbNo34P-L00IYXf75S8IIwh9M/s400/IMG_0787.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Got this great pic of Wilbur, my little furry soulmate, this morning. He'd just finished breakfast and was contemplating dessert. He's wishing y'all a great Monday...and so am I!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircJrrbUMi85avPExLsPMFpnVPwVjv6sR_-1PbWp8B2N-NYy1TEzdcmwbbr26dKCWOS1ltB1pUg19CUHOOI54g1eE757uAIlHNlUJnoPHzaup_ywmfQgTm5AaWVgJrv98Z4DLOjdNm610/s1600/IMG_0795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircJrrbUMi85avPExLsPMFpnVPwVjv6sR_-1PbWp8B2N-NYy1TEzdcmwbbr26dKCWOS1ltB1pUg19CUHOOI54g1eE757uAIlHNlUJnoPHzaup_ywmfQgTm5AaWVgJrv98Z4DLOjdNm610/s400/IMG_0795.JPG" width="316" /></a></div>Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-30859120157366134992010-04-16T10:47:00.001-04:002010-04-16T10:49:19.952-04:00What's in your knitting basket?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggREjomO6Kqo4bu0KCE_vKF_9ulYqydafhnsJ5r9jJcSjyqU0dj_laiffwcmt5Y9lOmYAqmDycwOwZUzzdA0haV7KEDnWY-ve9ChX08G56_Coe1fJ1T5zXVLiis4FyegGEHVjMKz-AXJc/s1600/IMG_0780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggREjomO6Kqo4bu0KCE_vKF_9ulYqydafhnsJ5r9jJcSjyqU0dj_laiffwcmt5Y9lOmYAqmDycwOwZUzzdA0haV7KEDnWY-ve9ChX08G56_Coe1fJ1T5zXVLiis4FyegGEHVjMKz-AXJc/s400/IMG_0780.JPG" width="400" /></a>Mega-post here...you might want to grab a sammich and a cold drink, pour another cup of coffee, or whatever. If you're popping open a beer...um...isn't it a little early for that? <br />
<br />
It's been one of those weeks around here...muffler and tailpipe on the old car decided to separate ("irreconcilable differences?"), which led to a day-long fiasco with the muffler place down the street. A place that must be in a different time dimension since and hour and a half of "Laurie time" equals four hours of "Midas time". Had to cancel my voice lesson and ended up with a migraine.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, I started the day with a dental exam. My philosophy is if you go to the dentist first thing in the morning, nothing worse can happen to you the rest of the day. I am cavity-free for another six months (YAY!), but was more than a little grogged out after being in the chair at 7:30am, foodless and (more importantly) coffeeless.<br />
<br />
After that start to the day, I was ready to treat myself a bit, so I took myself out to lunch. No big deal...Bob Evans...it's right down the street. My original plan was to have breakfast, but I like their pot roast sandwich, and yesterday I had the Pot Roast Sandwich of the Gods. That roast must have been right out of the oven...omg...delicious...moist, lean, tender...<br />
<br />
With my tummy full and happy, I went on a (short) road trip to Dublin to check out <a href="http://www.knit2temptations.com/index.html">Temptations</a>. I don't drive out to the 'burbs much, especially in the middle of the day, when the traffic is the most congested, and I'd put off going to this shop for a long time for that reason. But it was worth it...it was so, so, SO worth it. If you're ever anywhere near Ohio, you need to visit Temptations! I was given a quick tour of the shop by Karen, the awesome owner, then left to my own devices. They have four rooms of yarn, a room of books/magazines, and a small room of...Are you ready for this?...a room of KNITTING NEEDLES!!! If you remember my <a href="http://tyingholestogether.blogspot.com/2010/03/and-knitting-gods-said-ha.html">knitting needle fiasco</a> of a month or so back, you know I was ready to fall on my knees and start chanting when I saw this. I've never seen so many knitting needles in one place in my life. It is the motherlode...<br />
<br />
Yes...I shopped. I bought a cute little petite cable needle, a 40" Addi Turbo Lace for the Luna Moth shawl...and some yarn...sock yarn...lovely sock yarn. I can't show it to you because it's the beginning of my holiday knitting. And some of the recipients of the projects to be made with this yarn are readers of this blog. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. Please know it is killing me not to show off this yarn.<br />
<br />
Then I went to <a href="http://wonderknit.com/">WonderKnit</a>. I saw a Facebook post the other week that said they had the really super-short Hiya Hiya circular needles and thought that might be just the thing to help me with the Butterfly Garden Socks. The socks were coming along quite nicely until I started working on the leg which has a purl background. I'm very good at avoiding ladders with knit stitches...not so good (not anywhere NEAR good!) when I'm purling. I also wanted to pick up another skein of the green Cascade Rustic.<br />
<br />
As always WonderKnit had beautiful, tempting yarns, but I limited myself to the green Rustic and a 9" Hiya Hiya circ. I may be back soon to pick up a few skeins of the red Cascade Rustic, though...it's seriously calling to me.<br />
<br />
I'll tell you this about that 9" circ...it's okay, but that's all. It would help if it was a little pointier. And I think I'll get a 12" when she gets them in. The stitches are just a little jammed up. But it does work, and I'm considerably less laddery now.<br />
<br />
Oh, and I got a huge order from <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/knitting.cfm">Knit Picks</a> yesterday, including six balls of beloved City Tweed DK and a bunch of notions. I love Knit Picks. They're pretty close to perfect. My only frustration is their shipping. I live about 20 minutes from their warehouse (Mapquest says 22.9 miles, 28 minutes), and it usually takes about five days to get an order. I also order a lot from Paradise Fibers. Yes, I am in their affiliate program - I'm <b>not</b> saying this because I'm in their affiliate program, I'm in their affiliate program <b>because</b> of this. They are in Spokane, Washington - according to Mapquest, 2,132.18 miles and 31 hours away. Last Thursday afternoon, LATE in the afternoon, I placed an order with them. My order arrived on Saturday!!!<br />
<br />
So...while I love, love, LOVE Knit Picks...if something can ship from 2,000 miles away and arrive in two days, something can certainly ship from 23 miles away and arrive in less then five, wouldn't ya think?<br />
<br />
And now it's Show & Tell Time! My title is "What's in Your Knitting Basket?", so I thought I'd give you an update on what's in mine. This doesn't include the Triangle Scarf, the Ten-Stitch Blanket, or the Christmas Tree Skirt, since they're all repetitive, long-term things. I'll show them off when they're done. These are the "sexy projects".<br />
<br />
Here's the Luna Moth - I'm well into the green now and out of "mac & cheese territory". Stouffer's will be sad to see their sales go down, but my jeans and my scale will be much happier now. Somewhere in the midst of that orange-yellow, I was doubting my fondness for this pattern. I'm doubting no longer - this pattern rocks! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvcTTCQqbX9OjM8P4fk8n8pX_AjW5QyJLwvLN7LHO23slEpE4Ii4DGau1mhE9wdHTP7iFG-UOc-zvpCdsZh9gxj8o8G9xkZdNOu4wtCpsfZ4l5AvIucIQJhCZhFooIg8FMHvOfZePkyE/s1600/IMG_0765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvcTTCQqbX9OjM8P4fk8n8pX_AjW5QyJLwvLN7LHO23slEpE4Ii4DGau1mhE9wdHTP7iFG-UOc-zvpCdsZh9gxj8o8G9xkZdNOu4wtCpsfZ4l5AvIucIQJhCZhFooIg8FMHvOfZePkyE/s400/IMG_0765.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Here's the Evenstar Shawl, halfway through Clue #4. When I got my 60" circ and was able to spread this out a little more and see what I'd done, I almost hyperventilated. This is my first attempt at serious lace. I would have been happy if it looked somewhat similar to what it was supposed to look like...I can't believe I knit this. I can't believe it so much that I'm giving you TWO pictures to ooh and aah over. I also can't believe that Shimmer striped up so much with this pattern. I seriously don't like those brown stripes..<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQWdew-22p4wO0AerIwQeUZ8BVEvCry6h_GpPno1soXZ1KxvoMLMx-xpUlkOiGMYLW7yc-ggq_KgZ3ztcAncxxpegs_IDUDgQrYr373cmqQGwIUjy1Y98C6lHDMpLb7ppIOq8sfFhRbk/s1600/IMG_0767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQWdew-22p4wO0AerIwQeUZ8BVEvCry6h_GpPno1soXZ1KxvoMLMx-xpUlkOiGMYLW7yc-ggq_KgZ3ztcAncxxpegs_IDUDgQrYr373cmqQGwIUjy1Y98C6lHDMpLb7ppIOq8sfFhRbk/s400/IMG_0767.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgic8HiXQCX9KuYPhG8ZnNv_maHItfCcRzF5V-DJHRSMQ7FABGevXLY5hMMB9qXAVPNuYmXK0sgqhOgFdueQKiAQZ7rz8Xy2_XL1si9m5l-8OhPFFUkn_wWomNsPwfa9BDdSuPs8z6yWyQ/s1600/IMG_0768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgic8HiXQCX9KuYPhG8ZnNv_maHItfCcRzF5V-DJHRSMQ7FABGevXLY5hMMB9qXAVPNuYmXK0sgqhOgFdueQKiAQZ7rz8Xy2_XL1si9m5l-8OhPFFUkn_wWomNsPwfa9BDdSuPs8z6yWyQ/s400/IMG_0768.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Now for the Butterfly Garden sock. I'm about 1/3 of the way done with the leg with the butterfly pattern. You can also check out that little 9" circ...and my ugly, floppy, laddery purl stitches from using the dpns...sigh...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakm6Od2jGNl9JTfGy7-JlB8J-sZHj4KQMt0KTvLeGCkmDwNuUNyR1OOD49icJ9u81_2HcwKQ24ONWJOTDreQ9Dmq95JMfo2QMaEPjTLBwG_TxAgqbyfosy6mYRbOpcc6GFDM7uO20NBs/s1600/IMG_0769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakm6Od2jGNl9JTfGy7-JlB8J-sZHj4KQMt0KTvLeGCkmDwNuUNyR1OOD49icJ9u81_2HcwKQ24ONWJOTDreQ9Dmq95JMfo2QMaEPjTLBwG_TxAgqbyfosy6mYRbOpcc6GFDM7uO20NBs/s400/IMG_0769.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSUigNllBchvMqJULztOiXKtJ36RrSvrN9x3geptAQXFYo-HMb_TRaP82wLnqnH_1zoDWjdkRfo1gAVMpwZqW7nkJYmRFraWYE_c-jBqw54CuiUSkF0OJSqrFcsm5_nnF5KROfkLj2Oo/s1600/IMG_0773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSUigNllBchvMqJULztOiXKtJ36RrSvrN9x3geptAQXFYo-HMb_TRaP82wLnqnH_1zoDWjdkRfo1gAVMpwZqW7nkJYmRFraWYE_c-jBqw54CuiUSkF0OJSqrFcsm5_nnF5KROfkLj2Oo/s400/IMG_0773.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Next is the Pine and Ivy Shawl. I'm only five rows into this, but hope to make some major progress on it today.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGZnzroTc2IYjH-Wtn66s1cZu0DE4H3BFY634r_NcFXxNCyZCTd1QKpgi9KzYySAjASv9aRnO3i4UKGCM1bFqEinmP6C47k5l2O_dd9EViNFe36lj3p4r4DhHHnlGYj_sz8jqnB-fOqE/s1600/IMG_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGZnzroTc2IYjH-Wtn66s1cZu0DE4H3BFY634r_NcFXxNCyZCTd1QKpgi9KzYySAjASv9aRnO3i4UKGCM1bFqEinmP6C47k5l2O_dd9EViNFe36lj3p4r4DhHHnlGYj_sz8jqnB-fOqE/s400/IMG_0774.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And the Brandywine. According to the pattern, I'm a little over halfway finished with this one, but according to my yarn supply, I'm not that far along. This is such a nice little easy pattern...and so beautiful. I didn't pin out the edges for the picture because I was afraid of the stitches coming off the needle. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PdbtTPmxZaRrP14NlmmeZ0T531Z1_3SOkpO7JFHQ_SuvT5aGG1yymu_YpLCQccbvIEKvePKt7olXBH-8O_pCKH_I-gkjkcVCEt9yDzBVleX0AgrmH4mCqo1BGvnKExpDXmLJREIQmWk/s1600/IMG_0775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PdbtTPmxZaRrP14NlmmeZ0T531Z1_3SOkpO7JFHQ_SuvT5aGG1yymu_YpLCQccbvIEKvePKt7olXBH-8O_pCKH_I-gkjkcVCEt9yDzBVleX0AgrmH4mCqo1BGvnKExpDXmLJREIQmWk/s400/IMG_0775.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Here's the Citron Shawl. I love this pattern so much, and it's perfect for the Mini Mochi yarn that I hated. I'll need to get another ball or two to finish this one, and I have plans to make several more in other colors. Some of these may end up being Christmas gifts...ya never know! I had hoped to have this one finished today to wear to a wedding tomorrow night, but no such luck...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizF-C18sA7PIJDmeVaSlJEObQajMowar56TnHobdOdAnodzYGDKb2tXY0qmns5OpOt8Q-IUV_Xwz-NLybW0AqRZT7jmEEvfJXSQXYqhfaevWTMhdZ2F4aMTdsg-UQrHtVZw-vuZ71mGzg/s1600/IMG_0779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizF-C18sA7PIJDmeVaSlJEObQajMowar56TnHobdOdAnodzYGDKb2tXY0qmns5OpOt8Q-IUV_Xwz-NLybW0AqRZT7jmEEvfJXSQXYqhfaevWTMhdZ2F4aMTdsg-UQrHtVZw-vuZ71mGzg/s400/IMG_0779.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Lastly, is my newest project, the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/boneyard-shawl">Boneyard Shawl</a>, knit in that brand new City Tweed DK in Tabby. Oh, I'm only 24 rows into this one, and I know I'm gonna love it when it's done!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY6EcEN-cvzXA7xwqnfV1P7yHxqTjtXNOrnisyVFOg_aCF5jDwqukHGNDBV7qBTXgjEfUecgd7urligeG1hiOh-LlHgamTlOSuQ-9sx59bbG-oXJAvY66NMpL2Q4bcKfRPDGEJfu_0QM/s1600/IMG_0776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY6EcEN-cvzXA7xwqnfV1P7yHxqTjtXNOrnisyVFOg_aCF5jDwqukHGNDBV7qBTXgjEfUecgd7urligeG1hiOh-LlHgamTlOSuQ-9sx59bbG-oXJAvY66NMpL2Q4bcKfRPDGEJfu_0QM/s400/IMG_0776.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We're heading to Cincinnati for a wedding tomorrow. Can't decide which project to take, so I'll probably just take them all - after all, this is what's in my knitting basket right now.<br />
<br />
What's in yours??????Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-23353879066178795972010-04-13T11:50:00.001-04:002010-04-13T11:51:54.063-04:00Here's something I haven't seen in a long time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZ3oQRHqZ15lXsHzZcB9DmJa1O7_6oq19MvjlR7TME5vkc5g2jDdPFeIFaDJ3M73KX8v11Peue_57bL20IKAe3KZXjEMempv7Rxi0vgKGOTE6oiO2_D9deSoXlGeDoibDeAv_16Dxh5A/s1600/IMG_0714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZ3oQRHqZ15lXsHzZcB9DmJa1O7_6oq19MvjlR7TME5vkc5g2jDdPFeIFaDJ3M73KX8v11Peue_57bL20IKAe3KZXjEMempv7Rxi0vgKGOTE6oiO2_D9deSoXlGeDoibDeAv_16Dxh5A/s400/IMG_0714.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Yup...Wilbur's butt-end when we're out on our walks. For months now, as we've fought through his tummy problems, his walks were usually short, and he was usually at my side or lagging along behind me. So nice to see him trotting out ahead again. You can't see it from the picture, but he has that border collie bounce in his step again!<br />
<br />
Saturday was a glorious day, and there were many lovely things to be seen in our little neighborhood.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJTz_gBZpa93pH_2vgvwNDbXoKAw4BkzL78JekOfgu0NyM9hsaRXo38DVKr-AYFrPwKpNDG9EfZXsQJYE0KegJx0FSMpfjM6Lxlh5ZI8sqvHrBXNeTXF8doWfgRQYONGay2MxiGT8_as/s1600/IMG_0717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJTz_gBZpa93pH_2vgvwNDbXoKAw4BkzL78JekOfgu0NyM9hsaRXo38DVKr-AYFrPwKpNDG9EfZXsQJYE0KegJx0FSMpfjM6Lxlh5ZI8sqvHrBXNeTXF8doWfgRQYONGay2MxiGT8_as/s320/IMG_0717.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlnuDfwgWXHx-0LYDqBXTUUoaHZDfc59hhcXXWybmBmipQJZnDqXTlFrkAYcywzmkRoTyLV_GqMIVIHIYBFjvnJKxc-NpexpzcHlaoD43LeraGVn85Q8Vm1aCgSWl6PSlxbJU5muDFoQ/s1600/IMG_0719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlnuDfwgWXHx-0LYDqBXTUUoaHZDfc59hhcXXWybmBmipQJZnDqXTlFrkAYcywzmkRoTyLV_GqMIVIHIYBFjvnJKxc-NpexpzcHlaoD43LeraGVn85Q8Vm1aCgSWl6PSlxbJU5muDFoQ/s320/IMG_0719.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUh807CGMqO3Bqi4sCbOZxFkPw-ds6y6IKMhLf-tt-WEsjgofTKFSzR9TF0o3XcIUde3b4vEEVz12c78rp3oL8Lg_PfaRRDFw-gFqPEjCDTRkCuBEpbLwcS2_d0d1Av6Zk_V7JOnyyC1I/s1600/IMG_0724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUh807CGMqO3Bqi4sCbOZxFkPw-ds6y6IKMhLf-tt-WEsjgofTKFSzR9TF0o3XcIUde3b4vEEVz12c78rp3oL8Lg_PfaRRDFw-gFqPEjCDTRkCuBEpbLwcS2_d0d1Av6Zk_V7JOnyyC1I/s320/IMG_0724.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuiwTelU42ajYGgm7PDqMGQ2jc1NEhJHYCtgzmHcrXjkZgGXLU7OzzVEq_Ga3BIf9x5lLNkk7j1RcEwIi-rzA9iD8WKeiHlkbX2pyii-wkLZg8-9n_n8_jwz6RKyF-dVByY1X4ZbhfgE/s1600/IMG_0732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuiwTelU42ajYGgm7PDqMGQ2jc1NEhJHYCtgzmHcrXjkZgGXLU7OzzVEq_Ga3BIf9x5lLNkk7j1RcEwIi-rzA9iD8WKeiHlkbX2pyii-wkLZg8-9n_n8_jwz6RKyF-dVByY1X4ZbhfgE/s320/IMG_0732.jpg" /></a></div>Sadly, the only thing that is found in our yard is that lonely little red tulip. Oh, we once had lilacs, but the city came through last year and dug them out when they replaced the sewer lines. So, I have to walk about a block to bury my face in gorgeous, intoxicating lilacs. Our yard is a major reclamation project. Not a pretty sight...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh, here's something else we saw a lot of:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XJ1Qk19FsILT8wXUXBpAwAYPWe4RRRQ2U-3_B8FDsgcJ9iw5V1IhHN8L4mwvJu3vQ76-njXr3FqfjPFBE33rl62vQHNjh0C6Hbk1GtqBvRq3kYBSvjOYh8LplZ2ZulWxexwK2TXH8Gw/s1600/IMG_0727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XJ1Qk19FsILT8wXUXBpAwAYPWe4RRRQ2U-3_B8FDsgcJ9iw5V1IhHN8L4mwvJu3vQ76-njXr3FqfjPFBE33rl62vQHNjh0C6Hbk1GtqBvRq3kYBSvjOYh8LplZ2ZulWxexwK2TXH8Gw/s400/IMG_0727.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Yup...Wilbur checking his pee-mail.<br />
<br />
Happy day - so glad it's spring!!!Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-17651068144900153282010-04-12T15:28:00.000-04:002010-04-12T15:28:10.567-04:00They're laughing at me, you know...My mother and my grandmothers, those goddesses of all things involving fabric, thread or fiber...they're having a good long chuckle right now. Can't you hear them???? Listen!!! <br />
<br />
Ok...maybe not, but it wouldn't surprise me. I think they're playing a colossal cosmic trick on me from beyond the grave. Why else would every button I choose from the family button box - chosen to honor all of them, mind you - have exactly ONE less button than I need for whatever project I'm working on??? Just look at this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHFNULc5TEPfE7lEv1mnl6M3Ull7A9xWcg8ZPmDp40myycweFo9OjceHetggIYTpTrmKp8M53I7zeqaZENJZtFFSBnJEvqEmFCZ9rGYBrHaC7CiOrAtVYeDhycTBPKyIKM0CB93wWN9Q/s1600/IMG_0756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHFNULc5TEPfE7lEv1mnl6M3Ull7A9xWcg8ZPmDp40myycweFo9OjceHetggIYTpTrmKp8M53I7zeqaZENJZtFFSBnJEvqEmFCZ9rGYBrHaC7CiOrAtVYeDhycTBPKyIKM0CB93wWN9Q/s400/IMG_0756.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This is payback for all those years I spent playing army with the guys, chasing down birds and frogs and snakes and bringing them home instead of sitting quietly by the sides of the needlewomen in my life and learning my craft from them. I am cursed to always have one less button than what I need! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I could just go out and buy buttons, it's true...but I really like to use the buttons handed down to me as much as I can. And I really had some great button ideas for this project, Mavis Adams' <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/button-up-neck-warmer">Button-Up Neck Warmer</a>. In the end, though I couldn't use any of the cool green buttons I wanted, I was able to settle on these...and my quickie Grapevine neck warmer was a success</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKo9I4rpZmLP5zLpUediFGA3dbEyTLWUQNxt2mB0zXbLnVsV1jw8NPOhRE-9Pvh_uO0N2P3fhCvl2jU194l5_553xSe3zuCVxNCfAVUxA1EmnANVtRk5lLlD32n7f5rLRYWgsYOkZkOFg/s1600/IMG_0760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKo9I4rpZmLP5zLpUediFGA3dbEyTLWUQNxt2mB0zXbLnVsV1jw8NPOhRE-9Pvh_uO0N2P3fhCvl2jU194l5_553xSe3zuCVxNCfAVUxA1EmnANVtRk5lLlD32n7f5rLRYWgsYOkZkOFg/s400/IMG_0760.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>In other knitterly news, I spent some time on the Luna Moth Shawl and finally got out of that "make me constantly crave mac & cheese orange" shade and into true yellow, soon to be green. It's hard to see the color change right now, but once I get a little ways into the green, I'll post a pic of my progress.<br />
<br />
I also started knitting on the <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTcitron.php">Citron Shawl</a>, and I'm lovin' it!! I decided to use that Crystal Palace Mini Mochi I had lying around. Yes...that yarn I hated so much after knitting the Pretty Thing cowl with it. May I change my mind??? On #7 needles and using the Citron Shawl pattern, the Mini Mochi is an absolute dream!! I'm already planning two other Citrons using some other colorways of Mini Mochi - I am in love!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggirDMWjfJjMXpPSjQeN7i40xa3uer0jCCHsHrgMK60mnzuKMx224NCR0JGem3mFhjFU71YH7fR_3de9SMB1qHs-2YUp8t1qTrMdNQYmmwDSpHqJtOA8pJotS99-bDOMOkD5sQv-4xnLs/s1600/IMG_0758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggirDMWjfJjMXpPSjQeN7i40xa3uer0jCCHsHrgMK60mnzuKMx224NCR0JGem3mFhjFU71YH7fR_3de9SMB1qHs-2YUp8t1qTrMdNQYmmwDSpHqJtOA8pJotS99-bDOMOkD5sQv-4xnLs/s400/IMG_0758.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Tomorrow...or if I have time today...I'll work a little more on Brandywine and try to get my first sock finished. Now it's off to eat an early dinner, take Wilbur for a walk, then Harmony Project rehearsal (and I really need to tell you about THAT!). Happy knitting, happy spring!Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-48453202179893526432010-04-09T11:20:00.002-04:002010-04-09T11:23:09.473-04:00Visual Aids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELkwHl2bk8h7I8eXdfSlfceoUFXdRpjmb9MbfDvilX5T2XCyt2A4BlwFf_7nxsKAdkJVNsDMNRuJe-vGp7HpxvutzpoZ5LKiU7IbvkKAt16QNGv34pditWyIkwPR7hAIfdRkrQX38s1E/s1600/Ten+Stitch+Blanket+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELkwHl2bk8h7I8eXdfSlfceoUFXdRpjmb9MbfDvilX5T2XCyt2A4BlwFf_7nxsKAdkJVNsDMNRuJe-vGp7HpxvutzpoZ5LKiU7IbvkKAt16QNGv34pditWyIkwPR7hAIfdRkrQX38s1E/s400/Ten+Stitch+Blanket+4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Last week, I got together with my FB friend, Cindy, and attempted to show her how to knit Frankie Brown's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ten-stitch-blanket">Ten Stitch Blanket</a>. This is a really easy, straightforward pattern once you understand what you're doing. It took me a whole afternoon to understand what I was doing, and I've been zipping slowly along ever since (slowly because I decided to double the size of the blanket - I actually think I'm knitting a tent...or a cover for the house).<br />
<br />
The most confusing thing about this pattern for me was wrapping the stitches. And when I started to show Cindy how to do this, it was also the most confusing thing for her. There's something just inherently intimidating about all those "wyifs" and "ybs" until you realize that - DOH! - all you're doing is wrapping the yarn around a stitch, turning your work and going back. Let me tell you, when that dawned on me, it was a headslapping revelation! This is a step that's really easy to do...and really hard to explain. I know...I tried to re-explain for Cindy.<br />
<br />
After we had a good laugh and decided to schedule another lesson, I went home and tried to figure out the best way to make this easier. I figured it would help to break down the instructions into individual rows. And then I got the nifty idea of creating visual aids - little swatches to show Cindy what her work should look like. Whaddya think?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Vqcg3M7m6LmPUE8IfO6ZI-KtyYUa_0K46G1cHsa-ILotuMfXRHMr2DFFa5tTnmC1yf-lTaFQ11GXyC4ptekBa47y-qv0td6tvkhXwajEfjAh6J8fuFSpFluCZyGjEC3RseHaKlEXHsE/s1600/IMG_0685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Vqcg3M7m6LmPUE8IfO6ZI-KtyYUa_0K46G1cHsa-ILotuMfXRHMr2DFFa5tTnmC1yf-lTaFQ11GXyC4ptekBa47y-qv0td6tvkhXwajEfjAh6J8fuFSpFluCZyGjEC3RseHaKlEXHsE/s400/IMG_0685.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YZRyxamzpyrpgVIn1OlHQHkl9BmDUl4KgWh2neiWMHQ3nsqRbgp2X8BxZBaIsPSlZ_Ea-tjGGDrHaK0J_UFO6I8iVFtMHGk9oKbwT_jS1tDlDpEe29uu2yuseoXkioCU3qcQnw2gPfI/s1600/IMG_0686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YZRyxamzpyrpgVIn1OlHQHkl9BmDUl4KgWh2neiWMHQ3nsqRbgp2X8BxZBaIsPSlZ_Ea-tjGGDrHaK0J_UFO6I8iVFtMHGk9oKbwT_jS1tDlDpEe29uu2yuseoXkioCU3qcQnw2gPfI/s400/IMG_0686.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSoRHGDFJ3TRfwIjAN3bgyyopzKthyEaN-V0QBvJBd0dIVFu02jeFmTrd35rps0DRpPUVc5LbwMFVYMN487az4Skbd5DJZqQa0KojxMhxUFhW8WwHMMkmP89Vks2a5u_h-na65IYpHVc/s1600/IMG_0688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSoRHGDFJ3TRfwIjAN3bgyyopzKthyEaN-V0QBvJBd0dIVFu02jeFmTrd35rps0DRpPUVc5LbwMFVYMN487az4Skbd5DJZqQa0KojxMhxUFhW8WwHMMkmP89Vks2a5u_h-na65IYpHVc/s400/IMG_0688.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFa74M3g2e_H-Wiph4LhjAEK_OWOy-SiEEn1t1uiWQK1siejVCAL7CQxRFukhOD2bBvMKJGnlp2h9KlGvEIzYSVj5VN0nfLeyfweR_Q79IXLlMcRlsL9dnZoLnN0z6o0-25JDW8Qb8P4/s1600/IMG_0689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFa74M3g2e_H-Wiph4LhjAEK_OWOy-SiEEn1t1uiWQK1siejVCAL7CQxRFukhOD2bBvMKJGnlp2h9KlGvEIzYSVj5VN0nfLeyfweR_Q79IXLlMcRlsL9dnZoLnN0z6o0-25JDW8Qb8P4/s400/IMG_0689.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I used the peach yarn to represent work that had already been done, and the green to show the next step. The little stitch marker is to show where she should pick up the stitches when she starts working around . All in all, a fun way to spend a Wednesday afternoon.<br />
<br />
And since Wednesday was also WIP/UFO Day, I will report in that I've completed another triangle on the Jiffy Scarf (now 50% complete) and 3/4 of another wedge of the Christmas Tree Skirt (about 60% complete).<br />
<br />
It's cold again here in Ohio. I'm glad I finished Shalom so quickly, since I'll have several days of chances to enjoy it. However, knitting Shalom gave me the "dreaded wool thumb" syndrome. Ugh... How to describe this politely (and NO...I'm NOT posting a picture!)...when I knit with worsted weight or heavier wool, regardless of how soft it is...the skin peels off the top of my right thumb. Ick...ouch... I've been limping along with my knitting while wearing a bandaid, which is fine for that Jiffy scarf and tree skirt, but lace knitting is pretty much out of the question. I did four rows of Evenstar yesterday and stopped because the yarn kept getting snagged.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'll also continue to brag about my success in getting Wilbur's tummy troubles under control. Limiting his availability of water to 100-150ml every couple hours has eliminated the urps and, as a result of that, his energy level has returned. See? Is this a dynamo of doggieboy energy or what?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP_cLav5QZDayKQtsVS_SACz2Di5MozttI2UpJc-0WVKyy14Akx5digG3wa-6iMiF7hAOFWwH3yOSU_N4vzJ77-UaEdDsKNH8Z1i1tOTOQfNA2GMamGpqU4aLYDA-bI8vsvuAmxnnwmA/s1600/IMG_0690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP_cLav5QZDayKQtsVS_SACz2Di5MozttI2UpJc-0WVKyy14Akx5digG3wa-6iMiF7hAOFWwH3yOSU_N4vzJ77-UaEdDsKNH8Z1i1tOTOQfNA2GMamGpqU4aLYDA-bI8vsvuAmxnnwmA/s400/IMG_0690.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Just kidding...he's having his "after breakfast nap" right now. Should perk up in, oh, about an hour...<br />
<br />
The weekend is shaping up to be fun! I'm volunteering at the <a href="http://www.midohiofoodbank.org/">Mid-Ohio Food Bank</a> in the morning, then we're meeting a friend (Hi, Mark!) tomorrow night to take in a <a href="http://columbus.clippers.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t445">Columbus Clippers</a> game. Woo-hooooo! Baseball! Life is good!<br />
<br />
What are your plans for the weekend?Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-23440015462253468392010-04-07T11:31:00.000-04:002010-04-07T11:31:52.162-04:00So I can't come up with a catchy title today...that doesn't mean I don't have anything to write about, right? I should be upstairs, deep cleaning the bedroom...but I'm procrastinating. I do have a couple things to share, after all.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, I did some serious sock knitting on the <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Butterfly_Garden_Sock_Pattern__D50669220.html">Butterfly Garden socks</a>. A couple years back, <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/knitting.cfm">Knit Picks</a> offered these awesome kits - six months worth of yarn and sock patterns, so you could do a sock a month. They also had a KAL on their site. I got all excited...I ordered both kits - a whole freakin' <b>year</b> of cool socks!...I joined the KAL. I even did all this in January, so I was on track to knit right through the year. Then I got my kits and dug out the yarn and the pattern for January. And I was stopped cold in my tracks. Toe-up socks? What the SamHill are toe-up socks? What's a "backward loop CO"??? The instructions I found on the internet just didn't make sense, and I was too embarrassed to post on the KAL I'd just joined and say, "I've got no frickin' idea how to do any of this. HELP!!!!!!" So, I tossed it all in the closet and tried to forget I ever thought I'd be able to knit socks. <br />
<br />
If you've been reading my blog even semi-regularly, you know that what that really meant was the idea was simply marinating in my brain, among all the other ideas that ferment up there till one day they pop to the forefront of my consciousness like a big bubble of determination. I WILL figure out a backward loop CO!!! I SHALL KNIT SOCKS!!!! You can insert a video of Mel Gibson in "Braveheart" here...or John Belushi in "Animal House"...yer pick...I'll sit here and scritch Wilbur's belly till you get the mental image you prefer. Got it? Okay...<br />
<br />
Just like that old adage about the teacher appearing when the student is ready, or perhaps the knitter having developed a certain level of concentration that just wasn't there a couple years ago (I'm betting on this one!), when I got the pattern out a couple weeks ago and looked at it again...it just wasn't nearly so intimidating. I perused a couple books on sock knitting and of course checked the internet for that pesky backward loop CO...and it all made sense! I grabbed my needles, cast on a toe, knit for about 2", then tried on the sock...it was too big. Frogged it, went down to #1 needles and started over again..and the results (so far) are below. I am a proud sockmamabear! Yes...there are a few holes...it's my first, remember...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9O5raIgaqkKkS_pLEo7Hf-OJjL7Wzxz_NnaUj7SL5_l-wN6LPNQHAQc-GudZKcRzeZhH9CCBsLefmmXKUXa_JW19NxKCPjxcIjXmfW2lsFtmBVjQXByslLioF6aAQypxrZbU6V7pyYmc/s1600-h/IMG_0668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9O5raIgaqkKkS_pLEo7Hf-OJjL7Wzxz_NnaUj7SL5_l-wN6LPNQHAQc-GudZKcRzeZhH9CCBsLefmmXKUXa_JW19NxKCPjxcIjXmfW2lsFtmBVjQXByslLioF6aAQypxrZbU6V7pyYmc/s320/IMG_0668.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this an awesome toe, or what?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyTFHxcmFVXPzcYsPig5dtQpJmgcvJCMxsvG48TYq1vBxf0J2jCQ-t9qI-cxtiAjrfe7lvbE-Mx3hyphenhyphenlBoWowfL_ewxZ53JDeGm1SMQJxW6ByZEEaixPW59j1VkhiWcXzwpRymhPjOy40/s1600-h/IMG_0674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyTFHxcmFVXPzcYsPig5dtQpJmgcvJCMxsvG48TYq1vBxf0J2jCQ-t9qI-cxtiAjrfe7lvbE-Mx3hyphenhyphenlBoWowfL_ewxZ53JDeGm1SMQJxW6ByZEEaixPW59j1VkhiWcXzwpRymhPjOy40/s320/IMG_0674.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes...there's a little hole where the heel meets the instep...sigh...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FTNI-X2yZDYmaTK9GdMZ7JiXXWPev8Bjjl3Es42vztuz2My9WKUKX7eNR4nYWgPfxB1WQfR5zRFoKvq2vI3QQMZg3Ul2xHY0DxErnjLzR3lS9i3xcG42opW6B9liUf5VXLz0TWtpmB8/s1600-h/IMG_0675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FTNI-X2yZDYmaTK9GdMZ7JiXXWPev8Bjjl3Es42vztuz2My9WKUKX7eNR4nYWgPfxB1WQfR5zRFoKvq2vI3QQMZg3Ul2xHY0DxErnjLzR3lS9i3xcG42opW6B9liUf5VXLz0TWtpmB8/s320/IMG_0675.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice heel...even if the instructions were a little confusing...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzbdDaAtH_Bx5SdJJ1J9_lCCDJqwAz4dnoskgap51LYEwtkdVQwVIbnCc_S5NuFG-rPZNzTg2WV2XSZzYzxD1gUvr7L1NhJhnhNfw6QmzzvM0F_yuoYm0alQMnbOw9PSUD5j9llhbe7k/s1600-h/IMG_0673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzbdDaAtH_Bx5SdJJ1J9_lCCDJqwAz4dnoskgap51LYEwtkdVQwVIbnCc_S5NuFG-rPZNzTg2WV2XSZzYzxD1gUvr7L1NhJhnhNfw6QmzzvM0F_yuoYm0alQMnbOw9PSUD5j9llhbe7k/s320/IMG_0673.jpg" width="162" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Instep with lace pattern</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So...all I need to do is finish the leg, and my first sock will be done!!! And you <b>KNOW</b> you'll be seeing lots of pictures of it.<br />
<br />
Last week, <a href="http://www.discontinuedbrandnameyarn.com/">Discontinued Brand Name Yarn</a> was offering the chance to win an Easter basket full of delicious (and not nearly as fattening as candy!) yarn with every order. Who could pass that up, right? Sad to say, I didn't win the basket, but the yarn arrived yesterday, and I love it as much as if it were a whole basket of yarn. It is, after all 996 yards of <a href="http://indiedyer.blogspot.com/">Indie Dyer</a> Supersock Lace in the most amazing Emerald City colorway.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjezednbI-4aAKlOR67sFl1YNB3qr9x0lymmq7Hqi1yVs6ajkkiYzWEUXMqStAdeYouAA1qncsOCk0Uw-oh_n_L9JpF_TWeCPwiZcumjPqGb52adEDzUtcfcC41FtOqjPKIi_XZxgo6k/s1600-h/IMG_0678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjezednbI-4aAKlOR67sFl1YNB3qr9x0lymmq7Hqi1yVs6ajkkiYzWEUXMqStAdeYouAA1qncsOCk0Uw-oh_n_L9JpF_TWeCPwiZcumjPqGb52adEDzUtcfcC41FtOqjPKIi_XZxgo6k/s320/IMG_0678.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHt3Uwn3RtHY_RLu9fKggR_lSovUe3OHApIvy4suyXThZdvrFJ4PXPUqeZpiOyRzt1rzDysfpE6Ll9ux7Xe6IhksqA1kra8FUw30T87_XMT0SKF8mAiGK-OMDB0CQKyoAbM_2O2TUjQ5s/s1600-h/IMG_0679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHt3Uwn3RtHY_RLu9fKggR_lSovUe3OHApIvy4suyXThZdvrFJ4PXPUqeZpiOyRzt1rzDysfpE6Ll9ux7Xe6IhksqA1kra8FUw30T87_XMT0SKF8mAiGK-OMDB0CQKyoAbM_2O2TUjQ5s/s320/IMG_0679.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0fjyEHSSd4fStFg4YkEv8-uQISyskA3pC80fm_bZB3Fr9hoL8GSjIep5K2L08eGDq-4av8k53A3r8QVKDFjsV1S_CJd72Hy-eN35FgoEe4BCPc9mcJgM7SOOBK9nVzJs8Vx4YGaQpKw/s1600-h/IMG_0682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0fjyEHSSd4fStFg4YkEv8-uQISyskA3pC80fm_bZB3Fr9hoL8GSjIep5K2L08eGDq-4av8k53A3r8QVKDFjsV1S_CJd72Hy-eN35FgoEe4BCPc9mcJgM7SOOBK9nVzJs8Vx4YGaQpKw/s320/IMG_0682.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This yarn is so soft!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3a9OdOmjhB2l4UOnScAbXvncMCyV7mCWv2IxqPEhlXSkJgV7RDvYyxkTEZHFXKXOXLnfEx3f-tCl2HQ3bL-r4UUDGV2TIB09RTeF1jvy9kcI2ZwAiBiVJDkmgQ3TKZ9CZATalnOZ7728/s1600-h/IMG_0683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3a9OdOmjhB2l4UOnScAbXvncMCyV7mCWv2IxqPEhlXSkJgV7RDvYyxkTEZHFXKXOXLnfEx3f-tCl2HQ3bL-r4UUDGV2TIB09RTeF1jvy9kcI2ZwAiBiVJDkmgQ3TKZ9CZATalnOZ7728/s320/IMG_0683.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Auntie Em!!! Auntie Em!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHOVasHzrCY608_bLv1t8QXGNsyU2crymMhFyF0hBQGbWQo6K73k8G_o8vxWN5C8ZEYgjgfm-FrO9RM_lBnyOeCe3OpYXZAkl4WI0s4-ITmNt2Dd7GrUh1IO1jcFE4p73TuTs_agJixk/s1600-h/IMG_0684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHOVasHzrCY608_bLv1t8QXGNsyU2crymMhFyF0hBQGbWQo6K73k8G_o8vxWN5C8ZEYgjgfm-FrO9RM_lBnyOeCe3OpYXZAkl4WI0s4-ITmNt2Dd7GrUh1IO1jcFE4p73TuTs_agJixk/s320/IMG_0684.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pay no attention to that woman behind the yarn skein...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Yarn porn at its finest...Happy knitting!Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-12417211152691582162010-04-05T11:02:00.000-04:002010-04-05T11:02:16.498-04:00Large and In Charge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW834xIaxzwQ_P-fGRSOPJ_WB5NWMFRC805c2rurQ2dBhFtww3xxrVFWqnbMQlCwMhuGKEAdetlvhTqc9o4vf0p9tx1bGfWL5eU4NzmEI-y1D0MMsDE4p7vXp7fVSmktv65akcz7yrWNc/s1600-h/690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW834xIaxzwQ_P-fGRSOPJ_WB5NWMFRC805c2rurQ2dBhFtww3xxrVFWqnbMQlCwMhuGKEAdetlvhTqc9o4vf0p9tx1bGfWL5eU4NzmEI-y1D0MMsDE4p7vXp7fVSmktv65akcz7yrWNc/s400/690.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>So, last night, <a href="http://machastitches.blogspot.com/">Laurie</a> commented on my last blog post and talked a bit about the difficulties of managing a beloved older pet - in her case, an older cat. That reminded me it was a year ago yesterday that we lost The Big Guy...Lester. The 22-pound SumoKitty. The HunkaHunka Burnin' Purr. The Behemoth.<br />
<br />
He was a big cat. Just a big, big cat. We rationed his food his entire life. He stayed a big, big cat. A big cat with a big attitude and a big personality. His mother was a stray who was adopted by a friend, and I adopted Lester at the moment he was born, "I want that one." Three months later, he came home to live with Tittums, Gaspe, and me (Romeo was still just that nice guy who worked in IT who I had lunch with every few weeks).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEjmgcBUnKAtq9bauK5lohLhErpcv_oS5B8UX2IUSrut6bzA6Al64jGJs4GoWJO9zY8oX1tFZCQS-Ml-5j2cnmagfRC5ut8Ivn8mOkpY6xF-q50qe3Q8BG9p1-G8eoCgH1JB_axwFiXY/s1600-h/scan0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEjmgcBUnKAtq9bauK5lohLhErpcv_oS5B8UX2IUSrut6bzA6Al64jGJs4GoWJO9zY8oX1tFZCQS-Ml-5j2cnmagfRC5ut8Ivn8mOkpY6xF-q50qe3Q8BG9p1-G8eoCgH1JB_axwFiXY/s400/scan0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZkZfH1FWB6LQn4LllwBHLivpg2M7Gc0V_qDIoQhj_W2ZcQYvAR0huin0XB4px2lDQq4Ji6Gz4UNg9BO66CHXZ5U1yIM5hL5vYVeXv73caOKMbSM6jCq7O8cHXV7SzkaPz3idQa_CRL0/s1600-h/scan0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZkZfH1FWB6LQn4LllwBHLivpg2M7Gc0V_qDIoQhj_W2ZcQYvAR0huin0XB4px2lDQq4Ji6Gz4UNg9BO66CHXZ5U1yIM5hL5vYVeXv73caOKMbSM6jCq7O8cHXV7SzkaPz3idQa_CRL0/s400/scan0001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKtfZLKmKXlYWSfiU2Lup_FN5blz2FZEZdQz3d5sXyqeXuF88D1GkArSaMuSWutzgUzs8hmo5hlacqivAZ3qC07X1WrbWwY3JVVl34yaEsNW-Hmo5T7xjp-t6U_xbqu6VndqQ96RP74I/s1600-h/scan0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKtfZLKmKXlYWSfiU2Lup_FN5blz2FZEZdQz3d5sXyqeXuF88D1GkArSaMuSWutzgUzs8hmo5hlacqivAZ3qC07X1WrbWwY3JVVl34yaEsNW-Hmo5T7xjp-t6U_xbqu6VndqQ96RP74I/s400/scan0003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjd-InCMI0Z7fEfqbbl2_TxUsgIvjo70vBurtyo7H9LsKftMqZNXaXnYaKtwJOtXXjjNrSszzcMrOSC5cYD9l41hgA66FV4nYZw4G3tdH1-mfnw97xfcVnj6XMakadBhotrJEOIyzJKs/s1600-h/scan0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjd-InCMI0Z7fEfqbbl2_TxUsgIvjo70vBurtyo7H9LsKftMqZNXaXnYaKtwJOtXXjjNrSszzcMrOSC5cYD9l41hgA66FV4nYZw4G3tdH1-mfnw97xfcVnj6XMakadBhotrJEOIyzJKs/s400/scan0004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOyQ4R9JeXRxQA1y0Yp0zeXEkAVZHYotgcsc8T8500w2zVTQx2HeOwDna1nmsGhrL4oBJHoWRqDJiwxprkXCU4D6ZbbBK4eM9tEA0vIZd9FaOqNhGOnlwBh-tGkLeGFifat1BubWQmaM/s1600-h/484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOyQ4R9JeXRxQA1y0Yp0zeXEkAVZHYotgcsc8T8500w2zVTQx2HeOwDna1nmsGhrL4oBJHoWRqDJiwxprkXCU4D6ZbbBK4eM9tEA0vIZd9FaOqNhGOnlwBh-tGkLeGFifat1BubWQmaM/s400/484.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">-The bathroom sink...his favorite place on the entire planet...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
He had a good life. He could be the most affectionate cat in the world or the biggest gangsta, depending on what suited his needs. The most traumatic thing that ever happened to him was when Romeo and I moved into The Cottage. Lester was three and had never seen steps before - we had to teach him how to go up and down steps. He had a great buddy in Gaspe, my tuxedo kitty, and even Tittums, the PsychoBitch, tolerated him as much as she was able. When we got Wilbur, Lester adjusted quickly to the "big new strange cat" in the house, and it wasn't long before they were playing herding games. <br />
<br />
Lester went into kidney failure when he was nine, and I had to give him sub-Q fluids for a few weeks. Unlike a lot of cats, he was always a good patient, and as long as he had a spoonful of yogurt in front of him, he cared not that I was behind him, pumping him full of water. We pulled him through, and he thrived for six more years. Then his thyroid went haywire. We put him on meds, and he rallied for a couple more month, but he also developed painful digestive problems that threw both his kidneys and thyroid out of whack. So...a year ago yesterday, four days shy of his 16th birthday, we said a loving goodbye to Lester, proud member of CA (Catnip Anonymous), Chicago bears linebacker wannabe, and just all around marvelous MegaCat. <br />
<br />
We miss you, Les. Even Wilbur misses you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrmmBJ6giaId4NuoIb0zejmrHADyPQwjUt1uF_hsVXAFeVITDv0gsMVlBNMjkJqFC7yL2ESfZ_PPDRR7fWYlR0DeaWNkcvBBGn1kpwoQkI_UUfPAM_Z4BuFQqL2_32IkFSl0mCMEWR8I/s1600-h/503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrmmBJ6giaId4NuoIb0zejmrHADyPQwjUt1uF_hsVXAFeVITDv0gsMVlBNMjkJqFC7yL2ESfZ_PPDRR7fWYlR0DeaWNkcvBBGn1kpwoQkI_UUfPAM_Z4BuFQqL2_32IkFSl0mCMEWR8I/s400/503.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
A P.S. to Laurie...we've had Wilbur checked twice for Cushing's in the past year. Will probably have him checked again in a week or so when he has his exam. He has several symptoms, but his bloodwork always tests negative. Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-23546967069251599102010-04-04T20:17:00.000-04:002010-04-04T20:17:34.298-04:00See these?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBd40CWBVY4VrAfIOMutpJYXSwQ1joL0Icgvu7Pm8jd_Gix-PbFV9elYo8JXd0i4xGSD8errOJrWDKZ1GsofJhszyEfExlpVixpxxq2viaD1PhT2OuXX6n2oVa-N80KZWOesWLCeSN8Ko/s1600/IMG_0657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBd40CWBVY4VrAfIOMutpJYXSwQ1joL0Icgvu7Pm8jd_Gix-PbFV9elYo8JXd0i4xGSD8errOJrWDKZ1GsofJhszyEfExlpVixpxxq2viaD1PhT2OuXX6n2oVa-N80KZWOesWLCeSN8Ko/s320/IMG_0657.jpg" /></a></div>Yup...those be my fingers. Why are they crossed? Because...and I'm almost afraid to jinx things by bragging (heaven knows I've thought I was at this place before...)...but...I think I may have finally found the cause of this boy's awful tummy problems.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5LK02f8-D2QghkaFFUA0p5BLgWRzJnIS533LPdyx9_RoeB0nzQ-W9lrOTcK6N0Y6QhM6-sxfIwEBAL8yXG2_2rxoPRFELobkbUGcE_TbUOu5XzLWy9IrSmoipUhY5BaHws7xey1Ukt4/s1600/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5LK02f8-D2QghkaFFUA0p5BLgWRzJnIS533LPdyx9_RoeB0nzQ-W9lrOTcK6N0Y6QhM6-sxfIwEBAL8yXG2_2rxoPRFELobkbUGcE_TbUOu5XzLWy9IrSmoipUhY5BaHws7xey1Ukt4/s320/003.jpg" /></a></div>For the past three months, we (meaning mostly me...) have been working like crazy and losing LOTS of sleep trying to get to the bottom of the acid reflux/IBD/bilious vomiting syndrome that has cursed sweet Wilbur and our family. I have rarely slept longer than six hours a night and, even then, have kept one ear open, listening for restlessness, lip smacking, whimpering...any sign that disaster may be near. I am one tired chicky.<br />
<br />
But...we have had two very good days in a row, and I think I may have found the last piece to the puzzle - water! As in way too much of it at one time. Wilbur is on the shady side of 12, and he has been having some cognitive issues recently. He's also a border collie who has had weird obsessive behaviors throughout his life. When his tummy troubles began, we noticed his water intake doubled. After all his bloodwork came back normal, the vet decided he was drinking water to try to settle the acid in his tummy - kind of like when we drink something trying to rid ourselves of heartburn. Drinking became a sign that his tum was upset.<br />
<br />
Last week was a bad week for Wilbur and me. He was doing a lot of urping, his energy level was very low...he seemed pretty out of it a lot of the time. It was a bad week for me because I was sleeping even less, and I was wracking my sleep-deprived brain trying to come up with a solution. Call it an Easter Miracle...I think I found the solution!<br />
<br />
Friday night, sitting at the kitchen table watching him drink more and more water, it came to me...what if he's not drinking because he's nauseous...what if he's nauseous because he's drinking so freakin' much water??? What is he's overloading his system and the drinking is an obsessive behavior? Suddenly, I had a plan! And as if to confirm my hypothesis, after I put his water bowl up, gave him his evening Pepcid and went to bed, he slept (which means I slept!) <b>eight whole hours</b>!!!! Saturday morning, I calculated how much water he needed for the day and how to ration that out in small servings. And I started giving him 150ml in his water bowl every 2-3 hours. We have had two whole days of no urps and great energy for Wilbur, and two very restful nights of sleep for Romeo and me. Yes, fingers are crossed...toes, too...in fact, any appendage which will cross...next, I'll take on the farts (Wilbur's, you understand...). <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1Qh8NIZcFt__bxpOO6M-6s6elBAWTn9qli0G_QBIpY_8IVvbluJ_UYPFtFg4E7muT_4dl21d91i-oWk7r8gnGcZby9JJGzSxBay0BiXYPMzjZ-rqFk57_B5t1nSTr8Puqhm_Jvg38ms/s1600/IMG_0649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1Qh8NIZcFt__bxpOO6M-6s6elBAWTn9qli0G_QBIpY_8IVvbluJ_UYPFtFg4E7muT_4dl21d91i-oWk7r8gnGcZby9JJGzSxBay0BiXYPMzjZ-rqFk57_B5t1nSTr8Puqhm_Jvg38ms/s320/IMG_0649.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>In between my veterinary experimentation, I have been knitting. In fact, I reknit and finished the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/shalom-cardigan">Shalom Cardigan</a>. In retrospect, I wish I'd made it about 3" longer, but I'm still pleased with it. I'm also on the fence about the buttons. I wanted to use some vintage buttons from the combined Mom/Grandma McLaughlin button box, but could only find one of the two I liked best, so I decided to do mismatched buttons. Both buttons look great with the yarn. However, in retrospect, I may lose the pink button and just have a one-button cardigan. Opinions??? Other than "Dear god, woman...you really need to get in shape..." <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtti3j6LmtfUySRaz7kGCBmpskEHnaRsWq2ae4CywnvF1_9QixwQ_F41azM1MYMh6ecgO43kFlf3kIVRgg1_WYD8GoaUxpvvxFmVObNW4e90exR7VBmh-zyM7_Cl-GS6C9nRpvNYPjuU/s1600/IMG_0651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtti3j6LmtfUySRaz7kGCBmpskEHnaRsWq2ae4CywnvF1_9QixwQ_F41azM1MYMh6ecgO43kFlf3kIVRgg1_WYD8GoaUxpvvxFmVObNW4e90exR7VBmh-zyM7_Cl-GS6C9nRpvNYPjuU/s320/IMG_0651.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSpsPqRFc4l5bRdUpR4eDj9IN4GZIHBiig0xgdW4xclePLsyg5qnQugEJXmf4SKL9PeaVz00G0g7HCN-rLeKikR-eYSsg1lKRbh7YwhDP_C-OFMeiHm6RlATEcajfJEzaLixA0wxLtdc/s1600/IMG_0652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSpsPqRFc4l5bRdUpR4eDj9IN4GZIHBiig0xgdW4xclePLsyg5qnQugEJXmf4SKL9PeaVz00G0g7HCN-rLeKikR-eYSsg1lKRbh7YwhDP_C-OFMeiHm6RlATEcajfJEzaLixA0wxLtdc/s320/IMG_0652.jpg" /></a></div>Or maybe I just shouldn't attempt horizontal stripes...look up "big as a barn" in the dictionary, and you'll see the above photo. Yikes!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I'll leave you all with a great little idea I got <a href="http://lifehacker.com/5499838/binder-clips-as-cable-catchers-redux?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lifehacker%2Ffull+%28Lifehacker%29&utm_content=Bloglines">here</a> from Lifehacker (one of my favorite sites). Whodathunk you could have such fun with binder clips! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DDzTXhygS5Q3IAWEzg3RzKlzuAKbeHnDMcyGuzc3fMaCKI3wN_TPIP_vSS-5ikvNg6FxLg5jMgEGslQ31VFFEciqq47wInDWc3ScutVV6oKiVtkA1bYe83NjpnTdivvUszpEwVDga9o/s1600/IMG_0658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span id="main" style="visibility: visible;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"></span></span><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DDzTXhygS5Q3IAWEzg3RzKlzuAKbeHnDMcyGuzc3fMaCKI3wN_TPIP_vSS-5ikvNg6FxLg5jMgEGslQ31VFFEciqq47wInDWc3ScutVV6oKiVtkA1bYe83NjpnTdivvUszpEwVDga9o/s320/IMG_0658.jpg" /></a></div><span id="main" style="visibility: visible;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;">Chag Pesach Sameach, Happy Easter and...if there's another holiday being celebrated that I'm not aware of, fill me in - we'll celebrate anything that isn't nailed down! Woooo-hooooooooo...</span></span>Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-74721590512521424822010-04-01T16:24:00.001-04:002010-04-01T16:27:50.876-04:00In the end, all you can do is your best...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BzfqF_gtS7byQpJgsc8fUHwe6uhAxvq0upcfWsV7e-G6kzgVU72ASSHENRoCaJY3XaDQshcZnDbmU_zQByNNMij9ziGiroPNu1pmWWL4CmUzzNUicbuuIyq6fQsG3J3du7lkQ1hMpKo/s1600-h/IMG_0630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BzfqF_gtS7byQpJgsc8fUHwe6uhAxvq0upcfWsV7e-G6kzgVU72ASSHENRoCaJY3XaDQshcZnDbmU_zQByNNMij9ziGiroPNu1pmWWL4CmUzzNUicbuuIyq6fQsG3J3du7lkQ1hMpKo/s320/IMG_0630.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's true in knitting, and it's true in life. I was not given the opportunity to say a formal goodbye to my friend, Val. Lis never let me know the arrangements. I was not surprised by this. In fact, I would have been more surprised if she had included me. For as "close" a friendship as we had all those years ago, there was always a wall and a competitiveness. A person could only get so close, could only have so many good things happen or be so happy before she would become uncomfortable and withdraw or lash out. I hoped that time and especially the passing of a man who was like a brother to me back then...and much more to her, someone I brought into her life, would have resolved those issues. Sadly, I guess not. I have a lot of pictures and a lot of happy memories, and they are a great comfort. And I am here if she needs me. As I said, all any of us can do is our best. I did...and I'm sure she did, too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been doing a lot of knitting, but it's pretty random. I started the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/shalom-cardigan">Shalom Cardigan</a> from Megan McFarlane's blog, <a href="http://involvingthesenses.blogspot.com/">Involving the Senses</a>. This is such a cool cardi, and I've seen the finished product on several blogs and just drooled over it. So...my turn! I decided to knit in my most all-time ultimate favorite yarn, Universal Yarn Classic Shades in the Grapevine colorway. Is this not the most gorgeous yarn you've ever seen??? I swear I want to knit wallpaper for my house out of this yarn. I <b>cannot </b>get enough of it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwvGCUOzCKBfGA_g6UBtk8CBEpNoVdhmLXRuaxSUrj5JiofIY9J79LX-pSv7sC8VNwKPVnsQt2DICfQURUOIzi1_vh5w-5D83QIm1x5CdpG5qhB_ASo5TUSQyQxSjadGwSCUWDdW9aco/s1600-h/IMG_0623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwvGCUOzCKBfGA_g6UBtk8CBEpNoVdhmLXRuaxSUrj5JiofIY9J79LX-pSv7sC8VNwKPVnsQt2DICfQURUOIzi1_vh5w-5D83QIm1x5CdpG5qhB_ASo5TUSQyQxSjadGwSCUWDdW9aco/s320/IMG_0623.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis69CoCgvDvZw16oWNIasS706XRyCmRIw5wPeRtavqHpszjZitJSex2MYldQi8zZBBx0HWldccCWkn74erlueEhUfEZEAFn4YVk0InifxpBKgripNgN91CU5T6WvVESGPye_4tUsCYk50/s1600-h/IMG_0622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis69CoCgvDvZw16oWNIasS706XRyCmRIw5wPeRtavqHpszjZitJSex2MYldQi8zZBBx0HWldccCWkn74erlueEhUfEZEAFn4YVk0InifxpBKgripNgN91CU5T6WvVESGPye_4tUsCYk50/s320/IMG_0622.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This cardigan is a real instant gratification project! I started it on Tuesday<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuW1Gqa2iT1GthLPm9Z2iHy1TyCFnr6NaN-h4mALVK6Oj1NZxV1tqrq70lPylKXGzZmSTfMYFb2BMcUmaZ3w0yeDnN5_4VSdHrS-K2LrWLWJUmdB7EB28GD9mi9coT4Y5lD-19cn57as/s1600-h/IMG_0626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuW1Gqa2iT1GthLPm9Z2iHy1TyCFnr6NaN-h4mALVK6Oj1NZxV1tqrq70lPylKXGzZmSTfMYFb2BMcUmaZ3w0yeDnN5_4VSdHrS-K2LrWLWJUmdB7EB28GD9mi9coT4Y5lD-19cn57as/s320/IMG_0626.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>and by Wednesday afternoon, I was here<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirR_j6ij1jwWJB9kO2fb4kSm8omPRGX49ol_CRFA8OkiHzZhXygmNRo__EfsLZzvQaF5lSgmY07WQW5w64Wh7Xm4vfdEK4IFZkVmbXADLibYR8m_tFDkhlbvN3PAByeJny4AjYjgP7RiA/s1600-h/IMG_0624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirR_j6ij1jwWJB9kO2fb4kSm8omPRGX49ol_CRFA8OkiHzZhXygmNRo__EfsLZzvQaF5lSgmY07WQW5w64Wh7Xm4vfdEK4IFZkVmbXADLibYR8m_tFDkhlbvN3PAByeJny4AjYjgP7RiA/s320/IMG_0624.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
actually, I was a lot farther...I was about 30 rows from being finished. That's when I tried it on...and didn't like it. I don't like clothes that "hug". I'm far beyond the age where it's attractive for this body to wear huggy clothes and, even when I was younger, I didn't want to highlight every curve or lack thereof. Lovely cardigan...fit like a second skin. So...I frogged it. Then I went out on Ravelry and read a bazillion project pages with different notes for adjusting the size and fit. I decided to tackle the project again, using Hummingmoonbeam's alterations. I'm on row 21, and I think this will be a better fit. I love this cardi and am determined to make it fit me well (skim, NOT hug!).<br />
<br />
Monday was an exciting day - my lace yarn from <a href="http://www.mynameisyarn.etsy.com/">My Name Is Yarn</a> arrived from Greece! Wooo-hoooo!!!! This is the yarn I'm using to make Anne Hanson's <a href="http://www.knitspot.com/knitting_pattern/pine-and-ivy-p-356.html?zenid=t2eee0tnot3gbhgpa2artdm2h2">Pine and Ivy Shawl.</a> I was specifically looking for something very "foresty" but more than just "green", and I thought the Moss 'N Berries colorway was perfect. What do you think?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0smlhCnD6mQ9TsmW3M84TNx3ra7kK7-SYRIXD-M4LqXSOOYr16ct4ZPj6FKQl4UpB1rwwAB_bCh1Affdw3MeduNlUTbVNuWEpmEtg_JWEgekbJEwP5MZPYpdKz2K6g2MpJjM7mopUhLg/s1600-h/IMG_0616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0smlhCnD6mQ9TsmW3M84TNx3ra7kK7-SYRIXD-M4LqXSOOYr16ct4ZPj6FKQl4UpB1rwwAB_bCh1Affdw3MeduNlUTbVNuWEpmEtg_JWEgekbJEwP5MZPYpdKz2K6g2MpJjM7mopUhLg/s320/IMG_0616.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gcW8ne-y2QQIOJz940H8jiBcuiyFlAWtpeBcs1ZzKHVOaBBQdnh4Ld50VBKd0zlShzW4WGMWmnZTGFgtluzXn65DmQHpGYhHCW67XtPLJqCNhiHPNNdYOuQePgjcf74OT_WlC584LNE/s1600-h/IMG_0621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gcW8ne-y2QQIOJz940H8jiBcuiyFlAWtpeBcs1ZzKHVOaBBQdnh4Ld50VBKd0zlShzW4WGMWmnZTGFgtluzXn65DmQHpGYhHCW67XtPLJqCNhiHPNNdYOuQePgjcf74OT_WlC584LNE/s320/IMG_0621.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I started the shawl Tuesday, and immediately ran into a big scary thang - the pattern is 13 pages long!!! Luckily, I'm participating in the KAL on Ravelry, and the fine folks there pointed out that this is because Anne does complete instructions for both charts and written instructions. A-ha! Yes, she does! And these charts are quite wonderful!<br />
<br />
The next big scary thang - casting on 503 stitches! I hate to cast on. You get me past about 20 stitches and I start twitching. I also tend to cast on very tightly, no matter how hard I try not to. So, I took a deeeeeep breath, grabbed some #7 needles...and I cast on 503 freakin' stitches. I knit the three garter stitch rows for the setup...and then I collapsed in a heap.<br />
<br />
No...I really didn't collapse in a heap. I did a little happy dance, snapped Wilbur's harness on him, and we went for a victory walk. While we were out, I did some collecting, and when we got home, I composed this little still life with yarn in honor of my Pine and Ivy Shawl.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr451o82SQm2vvbC71FMh7D0GLdE37BVAoXsueKdomc8z8yQcVa5M6a49xD1gz6Ha81CaRrMR4T9i044q1DVBXm9jOc-UTG3_yWYywqVah9SrMkKUAa8mjrR-cZWUd6C3OG4OQTYO5KaY/s1600-h/IMG_0635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr451o82SQm2vvbC71FMh7D0GLdE37BVAoXsueKdomc8z8yQcVa5M6a49xD1gz6Ha81CaRrMR4T9i044q1DVBXm9jOc-UTG3_yWYywqVah9SrMkKUAa8mjrR-cZWUd6C3OG4OQTYO5KaY/s320/IMG_0635.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Wilbur really wasn't impressed, as you can tell...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXpJkB5G2zWtRAOcxYtVOSpIwFULqdJsPUJb4RfOfsPJELDS5O2wf-CIdZ2ya6j0wpaQ6Kl7YnRTpuhoXuesaf8BMZKTMmnXRQbkrtslc9gvFrMVohyayhzsJ-Arv4Qj1y-P0FVLGAos/s1600-h/IMG_0628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXpJkB5G2zWtRAOcxYtVOSpIwFULqdJsPUJb4RfOfsPJELDS5O2wf-CIdZ2ya6j0wpaQ6Kl7YnRTpuhoXuesaf8BMZKTMmnXRQbkrtslc9gvFrMVohyayhzsJ-Arv4Qj1y-P0FVLGAos/s320/IMG_0628.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Sigh...why is Mom always dragging that flashing, beeping, clicking awful thing around with her all the time?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipizPBL7vnC2PB5yqprL2ZfxS0wkA-pcf_h-qVAFESGOtpJvyL_64_qDy4XJl7OP87d-eFAbDn6PfsYFOcplOfsvUxCMLvhd-LXGw_1Ml7BYoOM67LST7J4rY_dHfoK56V4jthB_XWtQo/s1600-h/IMG_0633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipizPBL7vnC2PB5yqprL2ZfxS0wkA-pcf_h-qVAFESGOtpJvyL_64_qDy4XJl7OP87d-eFAbDn6PfsYFOcplOfsvUxCMLvhd-LXGw_1Ml7BYoOM67LST7J4rY_dHfoK56V4jthB_XWtQo/s320/IMG_0633.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My newest challenge is to teach my friend, Cindy, how to make the Ten Stitch Blanket. We had our first lesson last night, and it was a comedy of errors (mostly mine...). She asked me at the offset, "Do you pitch or catch?" Well...I catch...she pitches. Different dialects of the same language. It made teaching...difficult to say the least. But we had some good laughs and will schedule another lesson soon. In the meantime, I'm trying to learn to "pitch" for instructional purposes. I am Victor Martinez...trying to become Cliff Lee. God help me...<br />
<br />
The fun never stops!Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-34266073134656022102010-03-28T20:18:00.000-04:002010-03-28T20:18:41.637-04:00Coming Up for AirThe funeral is Tuesday. Between Lis and I, I think all of Val's friends have been notified. I made the calls she couldn't bring herself to make. So...if you knew Val and you get a weird message on your answering machine that sounds like a sheep bleating, "V-v-a-a-a-a-l-l-l's d-d-ea-ea-ea-ea-d-d...", it was me. It was the best I could do. My voice has never shook (shaken?) so much in my entire life. <br />
<br />
Thank you for your kind comments and emails. They mean so much to me. I am still trying to make sense of how someone so healthy and fit can just drop dead at age 51. I am still trying to make sense of why Lisa, who has endured more terrible losses than anyone I have ever known in my life, has to endure even one more. She is extremely fragile, both physically and emotionally, and I am very afraid for her.<br />
<br />
My knitting has been scattershot over the last few days. A new clue came out for Evenstar, and I've worked on it a little bit. I've plugged away a little on Luna Moth, but not enough to get a complete color change. I've been quite the restless knitter, but I have picked up one new technique:<br />
<br />
<object style="height: 344px; width: 425px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RCp8Edp4pfo" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RCp8Edp4pfo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Yes, thanks to <a href="http://tangledupinsticksandstring.blogspot.com/2010/03/blog-post.html">Dee</a> who told me she taught herself to knit socks on a road trip (or something like that), I decided to take my mind off of my grief by learning a few techniques for toe-up socks! I grabbed some of this yarn that I've had lying around for a few years now (bought it the first time I thought I'd learn to knit socks: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquEZDAycziwmX65lIuzzQmwA3LglwsuxQy7ZTJiQmo783WKM450iPAL7HJDsmaSoQ_e5AM_ud2qlnT-sW0c5u0IJsfwYR8ihN8dSD2RiESg06ii5DKQnvOfxZJe8u6EIm1BN_Kecyk0o/s1600/IMG_0604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquEZDAycziwmX65lIuzzQmwA3LglwsuxQy7ZTJiQmo783WKM450iPAL7HJDsmaSoQ_e5AM_ud2qlnT-sW0c5u0IJsfwYR8ihN8dSD2RiESg06ii5DKQnvOfxZJe8u6EIm1BN_Kecyk0o/s320/IMG_0604.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I tried this a few years ago, and it was a hissyfit on needles, so I've always thought I'd need to take a class to learn how to knit socks. I still may find out that would help, but I think I did really well on my first toe!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZS6thmSSJKS2PzjYuVB9cVfA1Dd-dHxZzhQAB22oL02GGI8UUIAcJmK8PiKpuvXQbd1vl8RmGZNZ8QNgDq1A_G5j39I5PDQDXLpYQUx8MgETWgdXHFdJJLnnWBVVHtP6nISAwvIOE4c/s1600/IMG_0601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZS6thmSSJKS2PzjYuVB9cVfA1Dd-dHxZzhQAB22oL02GGI8UUIAcJmK8PiKpuvXQbd1vl8RmGZNZ8QNgDq1A_G5j39I5PDQDXLpYQUx8MgETWgdXHFdJJLnnWBVVHtP6nISAwvIOE4c/s320/IMG_0601.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEZfX-ZA_mgg-mGeCZ3702nbb3ESrzwAP3KR765gQ2H1QPHd3i9m-sGr48-1RAPoBDcuwXoKmZXk8IYb-izjjA_Xin5GlbB-32945tEzHfifLoUpbSt6x5OMf3fHQBhXN2t0Rpjrkh60/s1600/IMG_0603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEZfX-ZA_mgg-mGeCZ3702nbb3ESrzwAP3KR765gQ2H1QPHd3i9m-sGr48-1RAPoBDcuwXoKmZXk8IYb-izjjA_Xin5GlbB-32945tEzHfifLoUpbSt6x5OMf3fHQBhXN2t0Rpjrkh60/s320/IMG_0603.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_zQ8UjpNkergfb0jC3qucljLC1PTstpT98qmt2FjjDqLq96ooRSzUlm9FaV8uhP1aDhfNXCbxYLHFCB28fNh9WHUhTmuEh7icP8eE-7c8UkXs6MrBjQps4uGbl45esqgCx9W0Emlhho/s1600/IMG_0607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_zQ8UjpNkergfb0jC3qucljLC1PTstpT98qmt2FjjDqLq96ooRSzUlm9FaV8uhP1aDhfNXCbxYLHFCB28fNh9WHUhTmuEh7icP8eE-7c8UkXs6MrBjQps4uGbl45esqgCx9W0Emlhho/s320/IMG_0607.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2DxZ6rMpSS4wVMkhPDY49FQL-viKSEhVmMWZ3L-ntDOPRJrGbybZX65Pz3p6SOcAgMhkuCalsnezPfp91HcAbk33khT7UMf5E43vIx1GCmhhuptyV5PTw5w6BQT6HlpbfwRExVN36Rw/s1600/IMG_0606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2DxZ6rMpSS4wVMkhPDY49FQL-viKSEhVmMWZ3L-ntDOPRJrGbybZX65Pz3p6SOcAgMhkuCalsnezPfp91HcAbk33khT7UMf5E43vIx1GCmhhuptyV5PTw5w6BQT6HlpbfwRExVN36Rw/s320/IMG_0606.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This might be a nice sock for Romeo. I think it would fit him (not that he would actually touch his toes to a patterned sock but...). However, I wanted a pair of socks for me...and I really don't care a lot for this colorway - it was in the clearance bin and was going to be my "learning" yarn, not my "wearing" yarn.<br />
<br />
I just happened to have some <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/cfyarns/yarn_display.cfm?ID=5420188http://www.knitpicks.com/cfyarns/yarn_display.cfm?ID=5420188">Knit Picks Stroll</a> kettle dyed sock yarn and a pattern, so I grabbed my #2 dpns and put my newfound sock knitting skills to the test. My first toe turned out like this (please ignore Romeo's feet):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0xa-sze4Pv6dIb0hN0nB3I51H03NeKKUNQavBTuCiFGitnSRjgc9ac0vYBrw-fO79No_lWG7dag_vHGn9qrn9l27pqtRRwJqMflnRrc5bOE9myqCdkJ5NjOnxKj6T1aDvcCrtQPAWR0/s1600/IMG_0614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0xa-sze4Pv6dIb0hN0nB3I51H03NeKKUNQavBTuCiFGitnSRjgc9ac0vYBrw-fO79No_lWG7dag_vHGn9qrn9l27pqtRRwJqMflnRrc5bOE9myqCdkJ5NjOnxKj6T1aDvcCrtQPAWR0/s320/IMG_0614.jpg" /></a></div>I was zipping along nicely, did a couple of the instep pattern repeats, then tried it on. It was...um...big. I think socks are supposed to fit snugly, yes? This one was quite roomy. I felt like I was knitting so tightly that the needles would break, but when I checked my gauge, I was off by both 1 stitch and 1 row. Curses!!! I frogged it, put away the #2s and got out the #1s, fed Wilbur and went to bed for the night. The cute little socks in springy grasshopper green will have to wait till another day. But now, at least I have confidence that they will be done!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Oh! I also wanted to show off my new case for circs and dpns! I bought this nifty suede covered file case at Barnes Noble several years ago and never did anything with it. It sat sadly in the basement and, every time I cleared out stuff to donate to charity, it would go into a box...then at the last minute be rescued and put back in the basement. The green case clearly had a purpose.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZtJTE7DfAQmcC4hCxmOaXlg0boDBodoULg2ozq5ERfOTtM4qjVxB2DCzo6B12WNh5JOYGsPL1qugcegeIAwvgDP2B1TKEFqn9cBxbS6yixO8_No4sDaTdvfFFtk3CRocmAa3VjfLjfY/s1600/IMG_0609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZtJTE7DfAQmcC4hCxmOaXlg0boDBodoULg2ozq5ERfOTtM4qjVxB2DCzo6B12WNh5JOYGsPL1qugcegeIAwvgDP2B1TKEFqn9cBxbS6yixO8_No4sDaTdvfFFtk3CRocmAa3VjfLjfY/s320/IMG_0609.jpg" /></a></div> I decided this would be the perfect case for my circs and dpns - and it is! The problem was labeling the individual pockets. First I tried these Post-It type folder tags:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZlaLZwwK6_pDh7iF2ON8RKpVFhqxmelhZfp5iFC6ox87kyjirGSidhiUESI3sLF1npgBnEFguOa5tyjzX5yA1p3s0WUej7TYEcwvvJNOOwBwTpNPTUoGYEqfWVZcDaNlnZAqApWARlw/s1600/IMG_0608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZlaLZwwK6_pDh7iF2ON8RKpVFhqxmelhZfp5iFC6ox87kyjirGSidhiUESI3sLF1npgBnEFguOa5tyjzX5yA1p3s0WUej7TYEcwvvJNOOwBwTpNPTUoGYEqfWVZcDaNlnZAqApWARlw/s320/IMG_0608.jpg" /></a></div>They really didn't work. Every time I opened the case, they'd go flipping everywhere. Some of them I never found. One, I found on the bottom of Wilbur's left front paw! <br />
<br />
I spent a good half hour at Office Max last week researching tabs, and I found the perfect set. Voila!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaexkU7znNaRXnv0GVHmVyrMWrRfovN1Z1zQo1N72UqwzUPJ8yZoik4BgmhQZgvueCuANQvdUsn5cgaz5XMJSdelcNS66v8yyfkjEJZMxOkV8bficmFbSg-3PXTVr8uWuYg8KyNg624Q/s1600/IMG_0610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaexkU7znNaRXnv0GVHmVyrMWrRfovN1Z1zQo1N72UqwzUPJ8yZoik4BgmhQZgvueCuANQvdUsn5cgaz5XMJSdelcNS66v8yyfkjEJZMxOkV8bficmFbSg-3PXTVr8uWuYg8KyNg624Q/s320/IMG_0610.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBkX7FmT1yaVorceJjKqosguebh3KNkqrp1D1lfw2PaBqVzRFrhMGx08sfXtwqVcTevjcDIM_Ot9bbxAW3zc8vozgzF7u9JndpaMV5Oh4Tvx3ThXBQihWDSKbIfi1BH3JCRxKvZiZBzc/s1600/IMG_0611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBkX7FmT1yaVorceJjKqosguebh3KNkqrp1D1lfw2PaBqVzRFrhMGx08sfXtwqVcTevjcDIM_Ot9bbxAW3zc8vozgzF7u9JndpaMV5Oh4Tvx3ThXBQihWDSKbIfi1BH3JCRxKvZiZBzc/s320/IMG_0611.jpg" /></a></div>My needles are organized, and I am a happy woman! Wilbur is happy, too, now that he is no longer branded "#10 1/2". Say "Hi" to my fiddles. They get pretty lonely these days when all I have time to do is knit and sing. Poor babies...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>And it is officially spring here in Ohio, so you know what that means...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-Gq7lCrcI-ICStMwL7giAK5J3-NJijRXLKqSHLL4fkUHu68ciqwFj61sfXEzLRC-TRDoHIQtQCIjuh8WNbxmmtsHC5rjZJPnL7YeIFmg9QY585QAF4c27BbzbTMpp7g4mPmLW90bo2I/s1600/IMG_0593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-Gq7lCrcI-ICStMwL7giAK5J3-NJijRXLKqSHLL4fkUHu68ciqwFj61sfXEzLRC-TRDoHIQtQCIjuh8WNbxmmtsHC5rjZJPnL7YeIFmg9QY585QAF4c27BbzbTMpp7g4mPmLW90bo2I/s320/IMG_0593.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNYvvNbdHPSO69COh0nVSLttHbxr_fEDhXbmIKdXCz1mFmog6lS2c4_N-kbxhQRB130WsaodSJpvQYSsJMA1G6c_GzQ-PJGYhEKHsiApIqzzicf2qnxQRTwZ0CAN23lcOoinUlKpP66w/s1600/IMG_0599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNYvvNbdHPSO69COh0nVSLttHbxr_fEDhXbmIKdXCz1mFmog6lS2c4_N-kbxhQRB130WsaodSJpvQYSsJMA1G6c_GzQ-PJGYhEKHsiApIqzzicf2qnxQRTwZ0CAN23lcOoinUlKpP66w/s320/IMG_0599.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvim5fLYsWOm4vceGU602tnO0nKux6xZrnQRWCBhqL17EPwPhyphenhyphenB-8G4ld9RjsZQG_gn6dUOiFK87nMxZBkNp-lJOAcoQ5Hzop7RfxiNnJO2lv8F9F4h1egJkl1PPXx-SrmqJBe2C94pw/s1600/IMG_0597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvim5fLYsWOm4vceGU602tnO0nKux6xZrnQRWCBhqL17EPwPhyphenhyphenB-8G4ld9RjsZQG_gn6dUOiFK87nMxZBkNp-lJOAcoQ5Hzop7RfxiNnJO2lv8F9F4h1egJkl1PPXx-SrmqJBe2C94pw/s320/IMG_0597.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrL9TGNXoZ1b6Xp-R6D0xSDpb5-Z_zpWjENDmOfSA62cOFk_inSY9rFh33QHGCwEeSqCZzwp3Ma6BEgEzBy1_4vl_ZeCu7a6_sixfu1v77qmP5xqgOGmtqiOVwySfTGyE66Ra6_nvYc_4/s1600/IMG_0594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrL9TGNXoZ1b6Xp-R6D0xSDpb5-Z_zpWjENDmOfSA62cOFk_inSY9rFh33QHGCwEeSqCZzwp3Ma6BEgEzBy1_4vl_ZeCu7a6_sixfu1v77qmP5xqgOGmtqiOVwySfTGyE66Ra6_nvYc_4/s320/IMG_0594.jpg" /></a></div>This is what I woke up to Friday morning. See that footprint just to the left of the skidmark left by the morning paper? That's where my sandaled-but-otherwise-barefoot foot met three inches of "spring". The neighbors have yet to recover...<br />
<br />
I hope to get some serious knitting done tomorrow (maybe a little blogging, too). Thanks for reading, commenting, and being part of my tying together the holes (both literal and figurative) of my life.Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-61882845261119037972010-03-25T15:18:00.001-04:002010-03-25T15:21:22.439-04:00Mama Said...Remember that old song...I've had Sam Cooke's voice in my head all week..."Mama said there'd be days like this..." She didn't mention a whole week of "days like this".<br />
<br />
Quick knitting update: I completed one more triangle of the Jiffy Triangle Scarf for my WIP Wednesday project. It was too warm to drape myself in the Ten-Stitch Blanket. <br />
<br />
I also zipped through another pattern repeat of the Luna Moth Shawl which made it possible for me to enjoy a full color change...and develop a mad craving for Stouffer's mac & cheese - just look at that shade of orange! Does it not scream "MAC & CHEESE!!!!!"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjQp9undM0lTWWvV3_zgXeC1Pvtvd7OEhyphenhyphenBPWieptmaZZ1Y8PaVR3lcJTkZrGD5Gma-n5_S7gn3m3jCKq6UUXy89v1Dbn2a6-HQI6-mg2vpXNCidaUDb76Do7wKLIB5GZzyhx-va8Evw/s1600-h/IMG_0591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjQp9undM0lTWWvV3_zgXeC1Pvtvd7OEhyphenhyphenBPWieptmaZZ1Y8PaVR3lcJTkZrGD5Gma-n5_S7gn3m3jCKq6UUXy89v1Dbn2a6-HQI6-mg2vpXNCidaUDb76Do7wKLIB5GZzyhx-va8Evw/s320/IMG_0591.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Last night, I tried to figure out how to knit a toe-up sock...silly me, I should know learning new techniques can only be accomplished during the day when I have the house to myself. Even if I tell Romeo not to talk to me when I'm working on a particularly tricky task, he'll talk anyway...he "forgot"...it's "important"...he doesn't want to "forget"... Trust me, when I'm trying to figure out how to knit a sock, the only important thing would be "I'm having a heart attack", "the dog is dying", or "the house is on fire". <br />
<br />
After two nights (Saturday and Sunday) of Wilbur sleeping straight through the night, thus ME sleeping straight through the night, he woke me at 3:45am Tuesday morning with an urpy tummy. Ugh... This resulted in a migraine most of Tuesday and yesterday. At least he slept better last night, and I got a full 7 hours sleep - not quite enough, but enough for me to be functional.<br />
<br />
I'm still waiting for the yarn to arrive for the Pine and Ivy Shawl. Last night, I had an anxiety dream about it. I got the package, and there were all kinds of cool little tchotchkes and doilies in it...but no yarn. That's okay...I won't have a lot of time to knit in the next few days.<br />
<br />
Days like this? Oh yeah...this morning, I was drinking coffee, planning my day, reading blogs, getting ready to clean the house cuz the kids are coming over for dinner tonight when my phone rang. I love caller ID...most of the time I don't even answer after I see who it's from...all those 866 telemarketers, ya know. This time, I saw the name of a dear friend, Lisa...we'd fallen out of touch over the years for no good reason. I'd introduced her to another dear friend, Val, and they have been together for over twenty years now. When I answered, all I heard were sobs..."Val's dead. I just had to hear your voice."<br />
<br />
I am in shock, and my heart is broken. I know Val's dad died of a heart attack at a young age, but...dammit...Val was barely 50. He was fit and active. He tried to take good care of himself. He was family - we were "cousins" - his great grandaunt, Flossie, was married to my great granduncle, Earl. It didn't matter that we met at a bar on the Ohio State campus and only later discovered our genealogical connection...we were kin. I've lost a part of my family...I'm an unashamed emotional mess.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow, I will be spending the day with Lisa, then there will be all the funereal rituals. This may involve some travel to the ancestral homelands of southeastern Ohio. I will probably not be knitting and will definitely not be blogging for the next several days. I know you all understand.<br />
<br />
Hug those you love - right now! Tell them you love them...Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-11850247183735298432010-03-22T21:57:00.002-04:002010-03-22T22:00:13.128-04:00It's like Wrestlemania...(minus the fat guys in spandex)<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">SHAWLMANIA!!!!!!</span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Don't even ask me how this happened...I don't know. Here's the rundown:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06PeIC4OiecrhKd7fEcyK_Ee_P6rPGLeRa-qq5RakeGhvNfe5H4Y9SjXsX6BMVKJIaQXFdKywOiYNBUSq7WQzDZmx_1rK0MoixWfIYz79juTRCjcjnLTAmvJV_yBSyzcqhU5DCtgwELc/s1600-h/IMG_0585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06PeIC4OiecrhKd7fEcyK_Ee_P6rPGLeRa-qq5RakeGhvNfe5H4Y9SjXsX6BMVKJIaQXFdKywOiYNBUSq7WQzDZmx_1rK0MoixWfIYz79juTRCjcjnLTAmvJV_yBSyzcqhU5DCtgwELc/s320/IMG_0585.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Brandywine Shawl</b> </div>Not really a lot to show on this one except the garter stitch center panel is widening. It's going well,and I'm enjoying it. Took this one to Knorthside Knitters last night and got two pattern repeats done.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOGOBWcdMS2vDSloLGy3ync_kq7iRNytG6pwkdKoHxgdyz9GXvTm_aJm0leshZRRJIYw_sD3hyphenhyphenyoicAhNmFBtowoZFVMqLb3FXMqmcLytZM0psCbEnhGYdoxB3qljeifFYb8fJQFv-7c/s1600-h/IMG_0576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOGOBWcdMS2vDSloLGy3ync_kq7iRNytG6pwkdKoHxgdyz9GXvTm_aJm0leshZRRJIYw_sD3hyphenhyphenyoicAhNmFBtowoZFVMqLb3FXMqmcLytZM0psCbEnhGYdoxB3qljeifFYb8fJQFv-7c/s320/IMG_0576.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Evenstar Shawl KAL</b> <br />
Clue #4 comes out on Friday, and I'm ready!!! Got caught up yesterday afternoon. I didn't really enjoy knitting the mesh in Clue #3, but I love the way it looks now it's done. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg74Be5DYP0PMdYGkRakZ7sCy8CtuUZbJHVrnR9f8NQo2tM-pYNoesPG9jddMt9N3BRRVSosruGWVvirpGrtWTaabg1zfa-ijvMmi60x7OMFAGnTqWqAnjqWZ0IUEAQm-N43GOZezy5no/s1600-h/IMG_0547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg74Be5DYP0PMdYGkRakZ7sCy8CtuUZbJHVrnR9f8NQo2tM-pYNoesPG9jddMt9N3BRRVSosruGWVvirpGrtWTaabg1zfa-ijvMmi60x7OMFAGnTqWqAnjqWZ0IUEAQm-N43GOZezy5no/s320/IMG_0547.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Last week, I ordered this: <br />
<br />
And what do you do with yarn like this? You make a shawl!!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsl4f9UW0cZF48h94ySjPoagTQfk_Vrzumnx5xHejJZO5oJUGm67bTFcp02Wsy850MR9oSmoQQXETLxFbsIKVmwMHiXFcZ1TU9iQgQ0ZCoSJmFdWLny7_lfIUbWa3rCsSV_Qx04O7Q8E/s1600-h/IMG_0584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsl4f9UW0cZF48h94ySjPoagTQfk_Vrzumnx5xHejJZO5oJUGm67bTFcp02Wsy850MR9oSmoQQXETLxFbsIKVmwMHiXFcZ1TU9iQgQ0ZCoSJmFdWLny7_lfIUbWa3rCsSV_Qx04O7Q8E/s320/IMG_0584.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My pick? <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/luna-moth-shawl">Shui Kuen Kozinski's Luna Moth Shawl</a>! This shawl starts at the neckline, and I wanted to start with red, so I rewound the ball. Silly me...was too anxious to start knitting to take a picture before I started, but here's how the ball looks now: <br />
<br />
I don't know why...I just thought that was really cool.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3S1SxpHLWDVVJTEeECAaVg4b6NSx6s51TaE2nICNdzj5dcCxiuzzAyFWNOk538WDVvYZAHFJaSyE0oUQ7Zxcch79HPlI3Tymch6cREOil-HE1n-bgtkUpoiXz7H728oq6BooT20VOT88/s1600-h/IMG_0583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3S1SxpHLWDVVJTEeECAaVg4b6NSx6s51TaE2nICNdzj5dcCxiuzzAyFWNOk538WDVvYZAHFJaSyE0oUQ7Zxcch79HPlI3Tymch6cREOil-HE1n-bgtkUpoiXz7H728oq6BooT20VOT88/s320/IMG_0583.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I worked on this shawl most of the day today, finished chart A and the first repeat of chart B. I think it will be really spectacular when it's finished! <br />
<br />
And if that's not enough, I've ordered some gorgeous green lace yarn from Greece of all places, and I'm planning to start <a href="http://www.knitspot.com/knitting_pattern/pine-and-ivy-p-356.html">Anne Hanson's Pine and Ivy Shawl</a>!<br />
<br />
That makes..four...shawls...yikes... Oh and there's a fifth one I have my eye on...it's going to be a HUGE undertaking, so I'm restraining myself until I get at least two of these completed. I won't even tell you which one right now. It'll only urge me on...<br />
<br />
It was a beautiful weekend here in Ohio. Wilbur and I spent a lot of time outside enjoying the sunshine. Today...cold and rain...had to (temporarily!) put the sandals away and break out the wooly socks for a few days. Still, spring is officially here, so the cold can't last too long... can it?????Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-22974117136736805992010-03-19T01:00:00.154-04:002010-03-19T01:00:03.163-04:00The Evenstar ShawlThere is one thing you will learn about me by reading my blog - I tend to cannonball into a project. I don't spend a lot of time sitting around thinking, "Hmmmmm...can I do that? Am I ready for that? Would I fall flat on my face if I tried that?" No...I go charging in, full of confidence and enthusiasm and probably more than a little stupidity. It makes for a fun life and fewer face-fallings than you would expect.<br />
<br />
Maybe I just have a natural instinct for picking things I have a good chance of doing well. After all, it would never cross my mind to wake up one morning and say, "Hey! I think I'm going to go out and teach myself to do brain surgery today!" Nah, I know that even if I do have the requisite eye-hand coordination (which is a possibility), I'd throw right up at the first sight of blood and my neurosurgery hobby/career would be toast. So I pick safe...easy...goals...like knitting my first serious lace shawl ("serious" meaning using cobwebby-fine lace yarn and itty-bitty needles) as part of a <b>mystery </b>KAL. <b>"Mystery"</b> meaning "got no clue what this puppy's supposed to look like or if I'm anywhere close to following this pattern". And there is that little issue of the...what...4,000 beads to be knitted into it at some point... <br />
<br />
I had some nice lace yarn, Knit Picks <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/Shimmer_Hand_Dyed_Lace_Yarn__D5420112.html">Shimmer</a>, on hand.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MZzGMtFpb9xe6CEWMf3MjrFt5KWs95ELhOwhpspDyAlB0YWRNxhAKD5v2XYkn7tbti4r_eDFetI59iqsajpWA0UvB6NSKUqEHsk-kbX0L-EQgzX8GJXVZnF_HrTR9O108XTvQxGQG24/s1600-h/Shimmer+Bayou+Closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MZzGMtFpb9xe6CEWMf3MjrFt5KWs95ELhOwhpspDyAlB0YWRNxhAKD5v2XYkn7tbti4r_eDFetI59iqsajpWA0UvB6NSKUqEHsk-kbX0L-EQgzX8GJXVZnF_HrTR9O108XTvQxGQG24/s320/Shimmer+Bayou+Closeup.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Lace knitting was in my "someday" plans...in private...with a clearly photographed pattern. But, I stumbled upon Susan Pandorf's awesome blog <a href="http://afewstitchesshort.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=24">"A Few Stitches Short of a Full Row"</a> and fell in love with her patterns. Then I read that she was doing this mystery KAL to benefit earthquake victims in Haiti, and I was totally sucked in. Heck, I didn't even have to go out and buy yarn!<br />
<br />
As you know, however, I <b>did </b>have to purchase needles, and that turned into a major fiasco about which I posted <a href="http://tyingholestogether.blogspot.com/2010/03/and-knitting-gods-said-ha.html">here</a> and <a href="http://tyingholestogether.blogspot.com/2010/03/and-knitting-gods-said-ha-pt-2.html">here</a>. But I persevered and ended up with a truly impressive array of #3 circs and dpns. And...a couple weeks or so behind my fellow KALers, I cast on. I figured knitting the shawl couldn't be half as difficult as buying the needles had been, right?<br />
<br />
I started using these cute little 5" Hiya Hiya dpns, and they were a dream to work with. I'd really rather chew tinfoil than knit the first few rows of a circular project on dpns...9 stitches of pure hell. I know you all understand. The slippage is more than maddening. But the stitches really hung in on those Hiya Hiyas - I didn't drop one! I didn't even have a problem with the circular cast on (which looked really intimidating until I did it). Before long, I had this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-rmnd7VdDoBHO5ddIpEmXiNkhM3zE1hLsMhYJMTruBuLzpzVwj4hDxi7_Jimw_xptob7XNXuUgSmYrmY8Ks6TzvOdk0Av3vDFyoPNv34aGxvaWpb0wOjV9bqhTDpUncYNWARYRxxe_c/s1600-h/Evenstar+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-rmnd7VdDoBHO5ddIpEmXiNkhM3zE1hLsMhYJMTruBuLzpzVwj4hDxi7_Jimw_xptob7XNXuUgSmYrmY8Ks6TzvOdk0Av3vDFyoPNv34aGxvaWpb0wOjV9bqhTDpUncYNWARYRxxe_c/s320/Evenstar+1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
At about 72 stitches, I switched up to the 8" Crystal Palace dpns. They were just as dreamy to knit with.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1v5k3pQRKQKP5_aHP-QO91XrxepEZXDt3g4I5JtwbXfsgTHlq5KhUwdIbO9WTm-Gpcpl8AdhNcwO6i0MSOgCNVRWhNTos0iyuhP1i-V9R0vulP6x27Uc_RPhg0tw-fPjouECqRRTLeOU/s1600-h/Evenstar+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1v5k3pQRKQKP5_aHP-QO91XrxepEZXDt3g4I5JtwbXfsgTHlq5KhUwdIbO9WTm-Gpcpl8AdhNcwO6i0MSOgCNVRWhNTos0iyuhP1i-V9R0vulP6x27Uc_RPhg0tw-fPjouECqRRTLeOU/s320/Evenstar+2.jpg" /></a></div>All continued to go well. When I started working on the pattern, I switched to my 16" Addi Turbo Lace circs and really took off. By the end of the evening, I had this, and I was feeling cocky:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sR7G1I6uzvPLkGSMF8jcDZ9Tmfe_1YJcbXG5l41OWBXCXSX1W3w3sCVmvgSXSjQxSiWsZX5iTkCZtPPrhK2nr0IZX1bHIevVNV5PLhgroM8LejXFYI3kfr1F3npbI1YdzMDswzeLUTE/s1600-h/Evenstar+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sR7G1I6uzvPLkGSMF8jcDZ9Tmfe_1YJcbXG5l41OWBXCXSX1W3w3sCVmvgSXSjQxSiWsZX5iTkCZtPPrhK2nr0IZX1bHIevVNV5PLhgroM8LejXFYI3kfr1F3npbI1YdzMDswzeLUTE/s320/Evenstar+3.jpg" /></a></div>The next night, I was determined to get caught up. I knit feverishly, but silly girl...I didn't use lifelines, and I wasn't marking my pattern repeats. I'd think I was confused, then think I wasn't. I counted my stitches on each even row, and they all came out even, so I thought I was doing well. I finished Clue #1 late in the evening and went to bed a happy woman.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Next morning, I was excited to take pictures of my masterpiece-in-progress. When I pinned out the shawl, this is what I saw:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/EvenstarClue1-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/EvenstarClue1-1-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Even though my stitch count had been right, those triangles were a travesty! And since I had no lifelines nor patience for tinking all the way back to row whoknowswhat, I frogged the whole thing and started over.<br />
<br />
This ended up being a blessing, believe it or not. As I'd been reading the posts on Ravelry, one of the little tricks I'd learned but not practiced (kind of like those lifelines...) was not using the pull center with lace yarn. Since one of the minuses of Shimmer, IMO, is its fondness to knot up whenever it touches itself (that isn't nearly as dirty as it sounds, believe me), I knew I'd have a knotty (but not naughty...) mess when the center eventually collapsed. So...having to start again allowed me to do three very smart things:<br />
<ol><li>Start the new ball from the outside so it doesn't knot.</li>
<li>Use stitch markers for each pattern repeat.</li>
<li>Use lifelines!!!</li>
</ol>I grabbed another ball of Shimmer and my cute little Hiya Hiyas and cast on again. All went wonderfully, and I was about a quarter of the way through Clue #1 when...I fell asleep while knitting. I can't believe I did this. More embarrassing...it was about 2pm on a Saturday - not late, not early...just a typical afternoon. Luckily, I was on an even (knit every stitch) row, so I was able to figure it out pretty quickly, finish the row...and put the needles down, Laurie...step away from the needles...you need a nap!<br />
<br />
There were a few days when no work was done on the Evenstar because I felt too crappy to concentrate. Then Clue #3 came out, and I was still only slightly through Clue #1. So last week, after the antibiotics kicked in, I went into Evenstar Overdrive and finished Clue #1. You'll notice the <b>very </b>liberal use of lifelines in the picture below. I decided to put in a lifeline every sixth row <b>and</b> the row before a pattern row that I think is particularly dicey. In Clue #1 there were a bunch of kfb7-k3togs that caused me no end of misery. I ran a lifeline through the row before every row that had those boogers. It truly did save me on more than one occasion.<br />
<br />
When I finished Clue #1, I figured I had enough stitches to switch up to 24" circs. It was then I discovered that, in my hypoglycemic hysterical needle buying misadventure, I had accidentally bought two pair of 32" Addi Turbo Lace needles and <b>zero </b>pair of 24". Curses! Where is that 24-hour LYS when you need it? I had a some Pryms in #3, but the points looked downright thick as a brick. And I had an old OLD Susan Bates plastic #3 24" circ. How old? I'd wager at least 20 years...it cost $4.25...one piece, translucent molded plastic. Who'd try to knit lace with that, right? The points looked pointy enough for lace, so I decided to give them a try...and they were a dream to knit with. Whodathunkit? I don't think I lost a single stitch in Clue #2, not even those pesky SSKs that were killing me in Clue #1, literally jumping off the needles. When I got to the end of Clue #2 and switched up to 32" Addi Turbo Laces, I sighed wistfully, not wanting to give up the ease of those old Susan Bates needles. <br />
<br />
Here's my work through Clue #2 with the lifelines still in place (there are ten of them, though they're hard to see in this pic):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOuh2k6s5fsdq7QSUnuNrM9pHUFLbrZvfmiTOdrdq08RPDRvVGfH-xER_OZWNi_dKdEmjCox8B_lwEpr8INc_wE4-zsWjLW_mH-ZusvrQQFLZzM3pytoey53t-IFaSzZBQvh6IreHxI8/s1600-h/IMG_0531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOuh2k6s5fsdq7QSUnuNrM9pHUFLbrZvfmiTOdrdq08RPDRvVGfH-xER_OZWNi_dKdEmjCox8B_lwEpr8INc_wE4-zsWjLW_mH-ZusvrQQFLZzM3pytoey53t-IFaSzZBQvh6IreHxI8/s320/IMG_0531.jpg" /></a></div>Here it is pinned out, with the multitude of lifelines removed:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61OO1WwpyThKpCiUESlSYaFtUhopTuYKhwqlQauNoytcn0cW9yWJiZiV3_FeOFTzhFTOTmfTF689HTLoZhVdatOaF2RfhK3FiP02_thxjiEj-iV1tItSngCGwTS1DJnTy0ttnS0-ky8g/s1600-h/IMG_0566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61OO1WwpyThKpCiUESlSYaFtUhopTuYKhwqlQauNoytcn0cW9yWJiZiV3_FeOFTzhFTOTmfTF689HTLoZhVdatOaF2RfhK3FiP02_thxjiEj-iV1tItSngCGwTS1DJnTy0ttnS0-ky8g/s320/IMG_0566.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEimT5p9QFuWJg8QYdve7QH-3eO1ksNUcESpkLXv6MpATWAc6mRL2rpJ5-87IrAhoRJkSPBvE46-urnozJftAtRnrtPshOOYgjbh0xyY99v5YTVIONc9zPaWq4dKODSHh3oDi5wb-T3k/s1600-h/IMG_0563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEimT5p9QFuWJg8QYdve7QH-3eO1ksNUcESpkLXv6MpATWAc6mRL2rpJ5-87IrAhoRJkSPBvE46-urnozJftAtRnrtPshOOYgjbh0xyY99v5YTVIONc9zPaWq4dKODSHh3oDi5wb-T3k/s320/IMG_0563.jpg" /></a></div>I'll probably start Clue #3 this evening...more lifelines, I'm sure. Wish me luck! This is fun!Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-17667228261015800772010-03-18T16:15:00.000-04:002010-03-18T16:15:36.734-04:00Oh, what's this? Consciousness!!!Folks, it has been a rough week. I am not usually bothered by the time change every spring and fall, but this year...OY! Maybe it's because I'm just recovered from that nasty bout of strep throat, and maybe also because of some (Avert yer eyes, male readers!) "womanly issues" (I'll say no more...). Cause bedamned, exhaustion has been my friend this week. <br />
<br />
Chores have piled up pitifully as I've alternated black coffee with three-hour naps, all to no avail. The one thing I have managed to do is get Wilbur out for his daily DoggieBoy Adventure. It's been fairly easy to do, as Tuesday was (drum roll!!) the beginning of...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: yellow; color: #660000;">SANDAL SEASON!!!!!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0A4nFP-y3KaXmxuY9SjHmMa2WVdYMQM036UnBrODstYG1SxH1L13JrTKB6CUC-gEpPlBExJT1RZ6ZjLT2Uo195E7XkvxIp3f4i-1QHodyoA5QxmIGeBWIzTAi476fFfo0VymD0c44PQ/s1600-h/IMG_0545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0A4nFP-y3KaXmxuY9SjHmMa2WVdYMQM036UnBrODstYG1SxH1L13JrTKB6CUC-gEpPlBExJT1RZ6ZjLT2Uo195E7XkvxIp3f4i-1QHodyoA5QxmIGeBWIzTAi476fFfo0VymD0c44PQ/s320/IMG_0545.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I could go on about a few trips to the park with Wilbur and all the napping, which has been pretty much my whole life so far this week, but I know you <b>really</b> want to know about...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>WIP WEDNESDAY!</b></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1xFhu7i0xFbALX82Wsd1JgiUKV9_j8urp6CzXXm7VCtH2q1VNgCLAQA4ebMZeRKTyjFkZWJfK2ruzAFkgAFkBS-X8YqQLyOeGNEtsQ0W25Qbs3CRCmAi7AqyiAjSol5YDz9hGZwD1SM/s1600-h/IMG_0562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1xFhu7i0xFbALX82Wsd1JgiUKV9_j8urp6CzXXm7VCtH2q1VNgCLAQA4ebMZeRKTyjFkZWJfK2ruzAFkgAFkBS-X8YqQLyOeGNEtsQ0W25Qbs3CRCmAi7AqyiAjSol5YDz9hGZwD1SM/s320/IMG_0562.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Fear not! I worked on my UFOs as promised. I completed one more triangle on the Jiffy Scarf, and I completed almost half a strip on the Ten-Stitch Blanket. That was my priority, since Cindy has asked me to show her how to do this, and I needed to see if I could remember! This project goes so fast, but it <b>is </b>a blanket, so I stopped short of my goal of completing one whole strip because I got a little too warm knitting underneath it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I frogged the Thick & Quick Scarf. Didn't care much for the pattern, and that yarn is just too darn heavy for a scarf, IMO. It wasn't an "official" project anyway. I'm thinking of using the yarn for some hot pads...later.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I haven't made any progress on the Brandywine Shawl since Sunday. My priority is getting caught up on the clues in the Evenstar KAL, and I'm happy to say, I got to Clue #3 last night, so now I'll be working on Brandywine between clues. Here are a couple pics. I'm just a couple repeats into Section B. LOVE this pattern, and am even getting a little kick out of the yarn.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZn3760zPKRyStWFPTnNuLhhJPAgKRisBnsMgeciZvZECgKdBIfd1h15SWzYrqgsml0YAvTLhXIw9FRYYt8sByQdjp_Yz7JHt8BZuzh3nTgrKWn5CnI7fuBklE0jeQXRteQLXmv4-PZw/s1600-h/IMG_0567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZn3760zPKRyStWFPTnNuLhhJPAgKRisBnsMgeciZvZECgKdBIfd1h15SWzYrqgsml0YAvTLhXIw9FRYYt8sByQdjp_Yz7JHt8BZuzh3nTgrKWn5CnI7fuBklE0jeQXRteQLXmv4-PZw/s320/IMG_0567.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxUySyHnZPGHwc5EM4x2Dwf_nQr7Ommak_f2XC5Z39b2HUbzQ3MwfdhpUyh6uMb5huttY4cndbVLBMoR3C3-Oc-4JPY_iqcn9YLFa8QOokYErV5rcrIdKlG3ZaK7ZkYM5szHMVncFTCs/s1600-h/IMG_0570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxUySyHnZPGHwc5EM4x2Dwf_nQr7Ommak_f2XC5Z39b2HUbzQ3MwfdhpUyh6uMb5huttY4cndbVLBMoR3C3-Oc-4JPY_iqcn9YLFa8QOokYErV5rcrIdKlG3ZaK7ZkYM5szHMVncFTCs/s320/IMG_0570.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I have a few more things to share later but, till then...Happy Thursday! <br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-34176926457439257472010-03-16T11:00:00.000-04:002010-03-16T11:00:32.353-04:00Jumping on the Bandwagon...<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm not a person who forwards chain emails or answers questionnaires and forwards them on...but I'm still a brain-dead zombie from the time change and am about three days behind on my household chores. This one is fun and a whole lot of other bloggers who I really like are doing it so...forgive me...</span><br />
<br />
<b>1.Explain what ended your last relationship? </b><br />
<blockquote>I realized the ONLY (and I DO mean ONLY!) thing we had in common was the fact that we liked each other. Oh, that and the fact that he didn't like music - had only ONE CD in his whole house!</blockquote><b>2. </b><b>When was the last time you shaved? </b><br />
<blockquote>I think about a week ago...<br />
<br />
</blockquote><b>3. What were you doing <span style="text-decoration: line-through;"></span>this morning at 8 a.m. </b><br />
<blockquote>Sitting on the couch, gulping strong, black coffee, reading email, trying to achieve consciousness, if not total functionality</blockquote><b>4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago? </b><br />
<blockquote>Putting towels in the washer.</blockquote><b>5. Some things you are excited about? </b><br />
<blockquote>The arrival of spring. The Evenstar Shawl, which is really starting to look like something (pics soon, I promise!). Oh, and this Saturday, I get to do something I've always wanted to do (at least since a few years ago, when I overcame my phobia) - ride a horse!!!<br />
<br />
</blockquote><b>6. What is your favorite flavor of JELL-O? </b><br />
<blockquote>Eeeeeewwwwwww...</blockquote><b>7. Your prom night, what do you remember about it? </b><br />
<blockquote>Being chased by a goose (LONG story...)<br />
<br />
</blockquote><b>8. Do you have any famous ancestors? </b><br />
<blockquote>My husband says I'm related to everyone. He's not far off. Let's see...Turner Ashby (Confederate General from Virginia), Ernie Carpenter (WV old-time fiddler), John Ashby (VA old-time fiddler), um...there are a few baseball players here and there, the person who founded Dallas, Texas..and the book "True Women" by Janice Windle is about some distant cousins (again, those famous Ashbys). </blockquote><b>9. Last thing received in the mail? </b><br />
<blockquote>The Gail Callahan book on dyeing that I won. But I have some cool things on the way!!! ;-) </blockquote><b>10. How many different beverages have you had today? </b><br />
<blockquote>Coffee...coffee...more coffee...some orange-tangerine juice...more coffee...a little water. Is there any coffee left?</blockquote><b>11. Do you ever leave messages on people’s answering machine? </b><br />
<blockquote>Sure, why not? </blockquote><b>12. Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach? </b><br />
<blockquote>Have not been to the beach in more years than I can count. Don't remember what I did when I was there.<br />
<br />
</blockquote><b>13. Any plans for Friday night? </b><br />
<blockquote>A friend has invited me to a gospel-bluegrass jam session at her church. I'm thinking it sounds like fun!<br />
<br />
</blockquote><b>14. Do you like what the ocean does to your hair? </b><br />
<blockquote>See #12. The last time my hair touched ocean was 1974. </blockquote><b>15. Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different popcorns? </b><br />
<blockquote>Yeah, once...everyone in my department got one as a gift for hitting a big deadline. The hubband and I were in the midst of moving in together, I couldn't get any time off work to make this process easier...we were desperate...I think we actually ate the stuff while we were moving one night.</blockquote><b>16. Do you re-use towels after you shower? </b><br />
<blockquote>Yes.</blockquote><b>17. Describe your keychain(s)? </b><br />
<blockquote>Keys...loyalty tags out the wazoo...one of those little squeezy light-up things for nights when I get home from choir and the hubband has forgotten to turn on the porch light (grrrr......)<br />
<br />
</blockquote><b>18. Where do you keep your change?</b><br />
<blockquote>In a cute little turquoise piggy bank I got at TarZHAY for a couple bucks.<br />
<br />
</blockquote><b>19. When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group of people?</b> <br />
<blockquote>Don't remember... </blockquote><b>20. What kind of winter coat do you own? </b><br />
<br />
<blockquote>Several...a nice London Fog full-length coat, a "Michelen Man" car coat, and a bunch of great fleece jackets (again, cheap at TarZHAY)that are my everyday, go-to coats for all but the coldest, dressiest of occasions. </blockquote>Laundry awaits...more tomorrow...Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-57797474203597306272010-03-15T13:34:00.002-04:002010-03-15T13:43:39.867-04:00Boo!As you can see, I'm playing around a little with my blog design. I'm not far enough into either of my shawls to take a great closeup for my background and, frankly, I couldn't stand looking at that wintery yarn (lovely as it may be...) one more second. This just felt fresh and hopeful and...springy! I still need to do some more housekeeping, such as adding all the cool blogs I've become hooked on. But this feels good to me - what do you think? <br />
<br />
I'm moving terribly slow today. The time change has kicked my butt in a big way. Spent most of the weekend knitting. Made major progress on the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/evenstar-mystery-shawl">Evenstar Shawl KAL</a> - Clue #3 came out Friday and I'm over halfway through Clue #2, thanks to the (very!) liberal use of lifelines. I'm through section A of the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/brandywine-shawl">Brandywine Shawl</a> and a little bit into section B. This shawl is a blast to knit, and I'm liking the pastel-y yarn more and more with every row. It's very gray and gloomy here today, but tomorrow is supposed to be sunny. I'll try to get some pics then!<br />
<br />
My agenda for the rest of the afternoon consists of working on all the choral music I have to learn. More about that in another post...a few more tidbits to add, too. My list of things to post about is getting ridiculously long!<br />
<br />
Wilbur sez, "So tell me...what did YOU do this weekend?"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9p8T975ijL2BOF-UjcQx5fSUyJfHazprxzf-2WZ2LFV_HOa9bvp8DSkOm7peVBHRlM1myBncnbJcyHH7emnPTTNiJINx9fKPcjb73WEFaRzADc46hke4bkiyp3sVvpjwYZnq1JFgDIBo/s1600-h/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9p8T975ijL2BOF-UjcQx5fSUyJfHazprxzf-2WZ2LFV_HOa9bvp8DSkOm7peVBHRlM1myBncnbJcyHH7emnPTTNiJINx9fKPcjb73WEFaRzADc46hke4bkiyp3sVvpjwYZnq1JFgDIBo/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-83042567498073376792010-03-13T13:53:00.000-05:002010-03-13T13:53:37.824-05:00I frogged it...(collective gasp of breath here...)only because I saw an error when I looked at the picture...oh, and I thought some of my ssks looked a little sloppy. So, I frogged...<b>and restarted</b> the bunnybarf yarn shawl, (collective exhale of relief here...). I have to admit, when I looked at the pictures, especially the closeups, it started to grow on me. And yesterday, lovely day that it was, I spent some time working on it outside, and it really grew on me. In the end, it may become a gift to someone since I don't think there is thing one in my wardrobe that will go with it, but I'm happily committed to the (newly named!) Springtime Brandywine Shawl (no more bunnybarf!). Thanks for setting me straight on the beauty of pastels.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mczIL3q8IObnjuiXoHCB63cvWCILXufwShC9AEwQTNdud_n8Gf9NjVSt3FdQkOEixTrsIzVqs1AIt9E2ZcynUu8w6nig23-0lrdilOlqgsl9T_BwdHF0A_C8y6Lnj_awNyUXURdhWaI/s1600-h/Brandywine+Shawl+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mczIL3q8IObnjuiXoHCB63cvWCILXufwShC9AEwQTNdud_n8Gf9NjVSt3FdQkOEixTrsIzVqs1AIt9E2ZcynUu8w6nig23-0lrdilOlqgsl9T_BwdHF0A_C8y6Lnj_awNyUXURdhWaI/s320/Brandywine+Shawl+1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I've decided to designate Wednesdays as "WIP Day". Right now, I have four projects I'm struggling to complete:<br />
<br />
The Ten-Stitch Blanket<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrZcpiXVvTC9QVs1mv_zP_WiLDhc61soWWVHUqywzt_3S2VsFcq6Fi1UM7F108Etp837tNil2iIu_TUrrkI-qb_mwK7gPq4Ks4ZEMtc7NwSF32Lc1a3yWWF3ZW0MFWKuj0hT7mUOyXhs/s1600-h/Ten+Stitch+Blanket+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrZcpiXVvTC9QVs1mv_zP_WiLDhc61soWWVHUqywzt_3S2VsFcq6Fi1UM7F108Etp837tNil2iIu_TUrrkI-qb_mwK7gPq4Ks4ZEMtc7NwSF32Lc1a3yWWF3ZW0MFWKuj0hT7mUOyXhs/s320/Ten+Stitch+Blanket+4.JPG" /></a></div><br />
The Christmas Tree Skirt (which I'm committed to only doing one wedge per month)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53s6wCWT-yWNUZJknHYmyJlTUREGA_z1_VnTT-Di1PGTKxskWtd1fXEGG4kxiIEkWAh2dcdopKRH2DBn51EVqXyaiMCY8n0m9PwjZ6VDpqbas1T0UTmoi4oInklNlRofxxLelAHszwQ4/s1600-h/IMG_0518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53s6wCWT-yWNUZJknHYmyJlTUREGA_z1_VnTT-Di1PGTKxskWtd1fXEGG4kxiIEkWAh2dcdopKRH2DBn51EVqXyaiMCY8n0m9PwjZ6VDpqbas1T0UTmoi4oInklNlRofxxLelAHszwQ4/s320/IMG_0518.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The Jiffy Scarf which goes with the cool triangle hat I knocked off a week or so back<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhay3_aBIsV_-dhZiTzPJFrcIFS0_aEzQn3H8VvJ4ForgDmfftofvRSFj7y81wbx6-HK0_7cD6jM-mbV7n0Vh9IG127kqn3sahhHBNRP5HR02SI5SAFG0sjVI4jUp3KFHwGC3hNEWe8ku8/s1600-h/Camel+Spray+Scarf+IP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhay3_aBIsV_-dhZiTzPJFrcIFS0_aEzQn3H8VvJ4ForgDmfftofvRSFj7y81wbx6-HK0_7cD6jM-mbV7n0Vh9IG127kqn3sahhHBNRP5HR02SI5SAFG0sjVI4jUp3KFHwGC3hNEWe8ku8/s320/Camel+Spray+Scarf+IP.jpg" /></a></div>and a Thick & Quick scarf that goes with another hat I recently made. I'm only about four rows into it so haven't bothered with taking a picture yet. Truth be told, I'm sick of all the wintery hats and scarves, and since I won't be using them (hopefully!) again till next year, my motivation is seriously flagging. However, I am hereby pledging that these projects will get my full attention every Wednesday, and I'll report back on my progress. Feel free to hold my colorfully-toenailed feet to the fire on this.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhcFNwyJ9o6dD3sE6bHeqoWcBsxXTe1HgQcmq2NYPbzD_VYHO55sv1hdcEQBHFvTP9jJ8JR0-pxuV_Rr2U96pDzYwrzhnELpeKSpBGo4-Ukml4X7fwl5rQSaDyj2gUShhroVLiWQH6c8/s1600-h/IMG_0520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhcFNwyJ9o6dD3sE6bHeqoWcBsxXTe1HgQcmq2NYPbzD_VYHO55sv1hdcEQBHFvTP9jJ8JR0-pxuV_Rr2U96pDzYwrzhnELpeKSpBGo4-Ukml4X7fwl5rQSaDyj2gUShhroVLiWQH6c8/s320/IMG_0520.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Yes, look at that!!! It was so balmy yesterday, I was able to set bare feet onto the porch for the first time in 2010! Sandal season cannot be far away! It was a beautiful barefoot day to sit on the porch and knit. Wilbur thought it was a good day for porchsitting, too. Happy weekend, all!!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZaRvF2p7Oj-JeQ2mY-WQNFUQMbr3pXm_XTte1DZbCQ8-YjCOOclUXD04bhnPk1NF9FVwh7Hn-7E0MQT8U-XT-Z17m9gvPGjG1xtCJAvgwpzErSfQFChgLpg9TGL8eP0Fmd_xsfJwlpI/s1600-h/IMG_0523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZaRvF2p7Oj-JeQ2mY-WQNFUQMbr3pXm_XTte1DZbCQ8-YjCOOclUXD04bhnPk1NF9FVwh7Hn-7E0MQT8U-XT-Z17m9gvPGjG1xtCJAvgwpzErSfQFChgLpg9TGL8eP0Fmd_xsfJwlpI/s320/IMG_0523.jpg" /></a></div>Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-64296596628264109272010-03-10T11:34:00.001-05:002010-03-10T17:21:22.787-05:00Back among the living...Yes, I am back among the (relatively...) living today after my week-long battle with what turned out to be strep throat. My body kept fighting it off, it kept coming back, wearing my immune system down a bit more each time till the REAL sore throat and ice-pick-in-the-ear pain started late Monday night. Thank goodness for antibiotics and ibuprofen...I'm pretty comfortable and a lot more energetic (read - LESS brain dead!) today!<br />
<br />
Before I launch into my promised tale of how the Easter Bunny barfed in my knitting basket, I want to announce that I received my autographed (YAY!) copy of "Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece" yesterday. Thanks again, <a href="http://gailthekangaroodyer.blogspot.com/">Gail</a> and <a href="http://getting-stitched-on-the-farm.blogspot.com/2010/03/waiting-for-spring-and-anticipating.html">Kristin</a>!!! And stay tuned for my dyeing (mis)adventures in weeks to come!<br />
<br />
A little background: I don't like pastels. I don't even usually knit baby clothes in pastels. Every year about this time I look at the new spring clothes in the store and think "WTF???? I don't want to look like I fell face-down in a vat of rainbow sherbet!!!" I'm an earthtone, jeweltone, primary colors kind of gal. And I'm pale...really pale...put me in some lovely pastel outfit and I'll become completely invisible. I need bright colors so you know I'm there!<br />
<br />
So...remember this lovely Inca Sport yarn I picked up at Tuesday Morning last week?<br />
<img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/TMYarn1.jpg" /><br />
<br />
Whoda thunk (c'mon, really, could you have predicted this???) that when I got the skeins wound, they would look like a psychedelic orgy of Jordan almonds? It still looked relatively normal, nice mid-tone, clear colors, when I put the first skein on my office chair/swift (Am I handy, or what?):<br />
<br />
Yes, this really does a good job...most of the time...<br />
<img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/RelativelyEffectiveSwift.jpg" /><br />
<br />
As I started winding, chaos ensued. I think the yarn realized I was going to hate it as soon as it was wound into balls, so it resisted. It didn't knot but it...stuck together in some strange way...and it didn't wind neatly. I'm used to winding very neat little balls of yarn...like this:<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/KnitpicksShimmerBayou.jpg" /><br />
<br />
or this...<br />
<img height="300" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/YarnforRavelympicsEvent4.jpg" width="350" /><br />
<br />
The Inca Sport wound into loose floppy balls, it wound itself under and around my yarnwinder in maddening patterns...but it never, ever knotted. Amazing...naughty, but not knotty, if you will.<br />
<br />
It took an hour to wind the first skein, and it looked like this:<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/IncaSportBunnyBarf.jpg" /><br />
<br />
And that's when I said to myself, "This will look like the Easter Bunny threw up in my knitting basket."<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/Bunnybarf1.jpg" /><br />
<br />
For some reason, the second skein wound much more easily than the first, though the yarn still liked to stick together and before long, I had a whole basket of psychedelic, Jordan-almond bunnybarf. And I sat there and stared at it and pondered...<br />
<br />
I had plans for this yarn. I wanted to make the gorgeous <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/brandywine-shawl">Brandywine Shawl</a>. I purchased it almost a month ago, and that pdf is sitting on my desktop teasing me every time I turn on my computer, "C'mon...knit me...knit me...you know you wanna..." Now I had to decide...would I be doing this shawl a grave disservice by knitting it in the bunnybarf yarn? I still can't decide, but here are some pics of my progress thus far:<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/BrandywineShawl2.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/BrandywineShawl2.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/Brandywinecloseup1-1.jpg" /><br />
<br />
What do you think? It's still not too late for me to frog it and use a more dignified yarn. I'm more than happy to do it.<br />
<br />
As you ponder. I'll leave you with a picture of Wilbur, enjoying his after breakfast nap. Please don't notice the filthy carpet - remember, I've been sick!<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/MorningNap031010.jpg" />Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-35838595500451311692010-03-09T10:42:00.000-05:002010-03-09T10:42:08.943-05:00And then she just fell off the face of the earth...Well, no I didn't...not really...<br />
<br />
LSS, this "cold" that I've been fussing with off and on for the last week is kicking me hard. One minute I think it's gone, the next minute...I just gotta go lay down.. Last night, after having a great time at choir rehearsal (more about that in another post), I developed what has to be the worst sore throat of my life. It's still here, and I'm off to see the doc in about an hour. I'm sure there are antibiotics in my future, and I'll be back on top of my game in a day or so.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, here are a few pics to tide y'all over...we took Wilbur to Whetstone on Saturday and let him run around in a full-fledged doggie scrum (had to be 20+ dogs, but who could tell, they were moving so fast and all were black with red collars and harnesses). Enjoy!!!<br />
<br />
A walking advertisement for Cento! Notice how the cowl also makes a nifty headband for those days when it just isn't quite warm enough to go hatless.<br />
<IMG SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/TasslesandHeadbandCowl.jpg"><br />
<br />
Wilbur: "Woooo-hooooo! Buddies!"<br />
<IMG SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/Whetstone0306102.jpg"><br />
<br />
My dog is in here somewhere, honest!<br />
<IMG SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/PuppyPartyatWhetstone030610.jpg"><br />
<br />
Wilbur met a new four-legged friend...<br />
<IMG SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/Whetstone030610.jpg"><br />
<br />
And a new two-legged friend...<br />
<IMG SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/Whetstone0306103.jpg"><br />
<br />
I'm plugging away on the Evenstar Shawl and frogging on a regular basis. More about THAT in another post...<br />
<IMG SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/Evenstar2.jpg"><br />
<br />
And...stay tuned for how the Easter Bunny threw up in my knitting basket (and I didn't even know he was sick...).Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-71071289403377569232010-03-06T19:32:00.000-05:002010-03-06T19:37:17.171-05:00I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Dye(with deepest apologies to Country Joe McDonald...I just couldn't resist...)<br />
<br />
Much to share, so I'll just jump right in and probably break this down into more than one post. The cold is hanging on...one minute my throat is sore and I feel completely braindead, the next minute not...a little cough...nothing to write home (or in my blog) about, so I won't. <br />
<br />
Last night, I made <a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/lentil_stew_with_sausage/">Lentil Stew with Sausage from Simply Recipes</a>. It was simply out of this world. I doubled the recipe, because a stew just isn't a stew if you can't eat it for a couple days and then freeze some, right? I'm not a big fan of sausage, but I do love Bob Evans, especially their hot sausage in the red and white package. It's really spicy and almost NO fat when you brown it. So I browned up a pound of that, crumbled it, and added it to the stew. Oh, and because I doubled the recipe, I needed 12 cups of liquid. Wow... When I added all that liquid to the pot, it looked like a thin, watery, disgusting soup. Yikes...nervous time... While the stew simmered, I started reading the recipe's comments, and no one complained about the consistency of the stew, so I felt encouraged. I read and read and twenty minutes later, when I went back to check on the stew, it looked like this:<br />
<br />
<img SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/SausageandLentilStew.jpg"><br />
<br />
Yeah...perfect!!! Those little lentils really suck up the juice, don't they? My husband loved it, raving about every bite. Life was pretty darn good. But guess what? Life got even pretty darn better after dinner! The Knitting Gods have taken me into their favor once more!<br />
<br />
After dinner, I headed off to check email and found a message from <a href="http://getting-stitched-on-the-farm.blogspot.com/">Kristin Nicholas at Getting Stitched On the Farm</a> telling me I won her blog giveaway and would be receiving a copy of <a href="http://www.kangaroodyer.com/">Gail Callahan</a>'s new book "Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece"!!!<br />
<br />
<a imageanchor="1" target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/Hand-Dyeing-Yarn-Fleece-Hand-Painting/dp/1603424687?ie=UTF8&tag=thear-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969"><img alt="Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece: Custom-Color Your Favorite Fibers with Dip-Dyeing, Hand-Painting, Tie-Dyeing, and Other Creative Techniques" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1603424687&tag=thear-20" /></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thear-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1603424687" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important; padding: 0px !important" /><br />
<br />
I got way goofy and gushed all over my reply, and she probably thinks I'm about a half stitch off gauge. I <b>KNOW</b> my husband thinks as much, especially after he heard me hollering from my room, "Woooo-hooooooo! I'm gonna dye!!! I'm gonna dye!!!" Which comes out entirely differently when you <b>HEAR</b> it than when you <b>READ</b> it...but I can explain!<br />
<br />
A couple months ago, I was at the library, one of my favorite places on this entire planet. We in Columbus are blessed with the one of the best library systems in the nation, as determined by folks who rate these things, and I'm a devoted fan. I was browsing through the knitting books when I spotted a book on dyeing yarn, and little light bulbs started going off in my head. Yeah! I could dye yarn!!! How cool would that be??? I grabbed three or four books on the topic, came home and started reading. I was immediately intimidated and deflated.<br />
<br />
Ok...I will need a separate room dedicated <b>solely</b> to the practice of dyeing. Um...maybe the basement? Look, this is a small house, we don't have a "separate room" for anything except necessary bodily functions. We multitask everywhere! I guess I could use a corner of the basement...ok...but wait...I need a separate stove, too. Um...there's not room for a stove in the basement. We don't even have a sink in the basement! And what's this? I need a respirator and goggles? How's about a welding mask? Would that work? You get the picture...I had brief fantasies of turning the falling-down thing we call a garage into a chem lab...but then I just sighed and put the books back in my library bag and toted them back a day or two later. No dyeing in my future...<br />
<br />
A couple weeks ago, after one of Wilbur's doggie adventures, I popped into the library to pick up a few reserves. I was in a hurry because Wilbur was waiting somewhat less than patiently in the car - I knew I had about five minutes before he'd figure out how to get the car door open and come in after me. Don't laugh - he's a border collie - he can <b>DO </b>things like this! My library has this area right inside the front door that is, for me, like that irresistable candy bar display at all the grocery checkout counters - the featured books area! I cannot walk into the library without stopping there, and I have found some of the best reads of my life in this wonderfully serendipitous way. On this particular day, "Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece" was one of the featured books. I tossed it into my book bag without a thought and hurried off to the reserve section. Time was a-wastin'...<br />
<br />
Once home, I started looking through Gail's book with no small amount of apprehension. But wait...she was saying this was do-able...in a house...in a kitchen...no need for a "dye lab"! I got more excited and optimistic with every page I turned and...there are cool patterns in the back of the book! Suddenly dyeing became possible again! I read more and more and then...because I knew I'd start dyeing and ruin a library book, I took it back to the library and decided I'd better get my own copy right away. <br />
<br />
Last Monday, I read Kristin's blog, entered the giveaway and, last night, I won the book!!! I have plans for this, and you'll get to see the whole escapade in all it's glory. I need to start collecting jars and pots and pans (these things <b>DO</b> need to be kept separate from any cooking use). I need to get some yarn to dye and some dye. I need to schedule some time when my photographer/DH can chronicle the process. And then I'll dye. And I'll come back from the "dyed" to blog about it! And...yes, you'll probably have to suffer through more "dye" puns. It's just the way I am.<br />
<br />
More later, but for now I'll leave you with a very secure and content Wilbur - life IS good! And if this isn't cute enough for you, hop on over to <a href="http://getting-stitched-on-the-farm.blogspot.com/2010/02/dog-in-sheeps-clothing-new-kristin.html">Kristin's blog</a> and check out the little lambies in sweaters...it'll melt your heart faster than the sun is melting the snow on this gorgeous almost spring day.<br />
<br />
<img SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/PuppyBelly030510.jpg">Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-36128567547176298572010-03-04T15:34:00.000-05:002010-03-04T15:34:39.061-05:00And the Knitting Gods Said, "HA!!!!" Pt. 2Actually, they're still chuckling a bit, throwing little monkey wrenches in my plans here and there. I woke up yesterday morning with a raging sore throat. Today is much better, but I don't want to infect anyone with this minor but irritating crud, so my plan to blog "on location" has been scrapped for today. On the bright (and I DO mean bright!) side, look at this!<br />
<br />
<IMG SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/TheSun030410.jpg"><br />
<br />
Yes, it's <b>THE SUN</b> (as seen through my very dirty living room window)!!!! I think it has been....oh, probably an entire month since I have seen "Old Sol", as Grandma Young used to call him. Welcome, dude! Stick around a while!<br />
<br />
When I left you yesterday, I was standing in the middle of my former favorite LYS (which will forevermore be known as FFLYS) in a pre-migranic, hypoglycemic haze. Had I been thinking clearly, I would have demanded to talk to the owner, and would have more than stood my ground and one way or another, I would have gotten a refund on those needles. As it was...I left. Got in my car, angry and starving, and started driving. I headed north, to that yarn shop I had originally planned to visit. I tried to remember the map I'd seen online...thought I had it right...couldn't find the shop. Drove through town a few times. Got dizzier from lack of food.<br />
<br />
At this point, probably the most rational thought I'd had all day popped into my head. DOH! Girl, go get lunch at that coffee shop you've been wanting to visit - and get directions to the yarn shop while you're there!!! Things immediately began to look brighter.<br />
<br />
What can I say about <a href="http://www.espressoyourselfmusiccafe.com/home08.asp">Espresso Yourself Music Cafe</a>? It's an awesome place! I'll be visiting more often, bringing my knitting and doing some blogging there in days to come - I had hoped to do so today. The owner is a great guy, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere...homey and welcoming. I ordered a sandwich (turkey, cheddar cheese, mustard and...sliced apple - OMG, you can't believe how good this is!) and a cup of coffee and sat down for a quiet, relaxing lunch. I was wearing my Jaspe wool shawl and, after I asked directions to the yarn shop, the owner complimented my shawl and told me of a friend who lives near me and is a knitter. As I was finishing my sandwich, he gave me a hand-drawn map to the yarn shop and the name and number of his knitter friend, encouraging me to call her. <br />
<br />
I honestly could have stayed at Espresso Yourself all day, but I still needed to get those needles and get home. My trip, which I thought would only take about an hour, had stretched into over two at this point, and I knew Wilbur was waiting at home patiently for his daily doggie adventure. <br />
<br />
<br />
Is she EVER coming home?<br />
<IMG SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/Wilbur030410.jpg"><br />
<br />
It took me two or three tries to find the yarn shop. I'd been told it was kind of tucked away and hard to find if you hadn't been there before, and that was true. The confusion was worth it. <a href="http://www.atangledtale.com/home/">A Tangled Tale</a> is a <b>GREAT</b> little yarn shop! I was cheerfully greeted by Linda as soon as I walked in and asked if I needed help finding anything. When I said I was looking for Addi Turbo Lace needles, Linda brought me over to a small but complete display. She had everything I needed, and I mentally kicked myself for not going there in the first place, right after I left Tuesday Morning. I looked around the shop and was impressed with the yarn - she has Universal Yarn Classic Shades, one of my favorites! I didn't see the to-die-for Grapevine colorway, but that was a minor point. I wanted to buy yarn, yes, I really did, but since I'd jacked my credit card balance up enough for one day, I restrained myself. <br />
<br />
There were two other women knitting in a cozy little area. We all chatted. The shop was light and airy and welcoming. It reminded me of a fabulous little shop my husband and I found while driving through Tennessee last October that I think is the Greatest Yarn Shop On Earth (<a href="http://www.yarnpatch.com/">Yarn Patch</a> in Crossville, TN). They even had a lot of the same yarns - yarns my FFLYS does not carry.<br />
<br />
Here is the kicker: After I'd paid for my purchases and was starting to leave, Linda asked me to bring my shawl in for show and tell then said, "And if you don't get gauge with those needles, <b>BE SURE TO BRING THEM BACK</b>" I wanted to fall at her feet and kiss them...I will shop at this store forever and ever, even if I do have to drive for 20 minutes instead of 5. A Tangled Tale has a new customer for life!<br />
<br />
I drove home, with a happy fully tummy and a car full of yarn and knitting needles (only size #3!). It had been three hours since I left, I still had a headache...and Wilbur still needed his daily adventure. <br />
<br />
Yesterday...no knitting occurred, not even the so-easy-I-could-knit-it-in-my-sleep scarf. I just felt too crappy. I did, however, wind four skeins of Knit Picks Shimmer into balls for the Evenstar Shawl. Had planned to wind all the Shimmer in my collection, but ran out of steam. Thus, the shawl will be knit in Bayou, and not in Spice, as originally planned.<br />
<br />
<IMG SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/KnitpicksShimmerBayou.jpg"><br />
<br />
Thanks for dropping by my little corner of this big, wide world! How are the knitting gods treating you these days???<br />
<br />
Wilbur says, "I'm ready for my closeup!"<br />
<IMG SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/Wilbur0304102.jpg">Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917255772294104106.post-27773470504243259532010-03-03T15:23:00.000-05:002010-03-03T15:23:30.334-05:00And the knitting gods said, "HA!!!!"Ever have one of those days when you feel like the Great Spirit of Knitting is just messing with your mind, conspiring to make all your grand stitchery plans go horribly awry? Yesterday was one of those days in my knitting world.<br />
<br />
It started out all grand and glorious. I saw a sale flyer from Tuesday Morning that advertised Knitting Fever yarns at 50% off. Who can resist that, right? I also needed to purchase the needles for the Evenstar Shawl Mystery Knitalong...oh, and there is this wonderful coffee shop up north of town that I've been receiving tempting emails from for quite a while but just never quite got around to visiting. And I know there is a yarn shop nearby that I've heard is quite wonderful. All the makings for a great knitting adventure, right? Um...for the most part, not so much...<br />
<br />
I remembered there was a Tuesday Morning in a strip mall about ten minutes from my house. While driving there, I changed my plans. I decided to postpone the trip "up north" and pick up those needles from my LYS, which is a mile from my house. That way, I could also whip through the grocery, pick up a few items and be home in, oh...probably about an hour. Ha...ha...ha...<br />
<br />
When I got to the strip mall, I could not find Tuesday Morning. I even googled it and confirmed there was one in that shopping center...but it was not to be found. Luckily, I remembered the location of the second closest one, about 15 minutes north. I hit the road and found it easily. They had two very small boxes of yarn, and none of it was Knitting Fever, however, it was 50% off. <br />
<br />
I bought a few skeins of sock yarn which I think will make pretty spring/summer shawls. <br />
<IMG SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/TMYarn1.jpg"><br />
<br />
<IMG SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/TMYarn2.jpg"><br />
<br />
<IMG SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/TMYarn3.jpg"><br />
<br />
I was impressed with the friendly, helpful staff at this store. It has a real "hometown" feel, not a "suburban strip mall" feel, which was very pleasant. I could tell I'd drop serious bucks on things other than yarn if I spent too much time there, so I hopped in the car with my new stash and headed back south. Oh...there for a moment I considered that I was really only a few miles from that coffee shop and yarn store now and could just zip across Powell Road and be there in...naw...not in the mood to deal with Powell Road traffic. I'll hit my LYS and the grocery and get on home. Knitting awaits!!<br />
<br />
This is when things turned seriously funky. The knitting gods are probably still laughing, rolling on the floor of knitting heaven in breathless, silent laughter. I am not laughing. When I pulled into the parking lot of my LYS, I had to slam on the brakes to keep from hitting a woman dragging a reluctant toddler across the parking lot and paying no attention to traffic. She walked right out in front of me, never looking right nor left...and as I parked, I watched them go into my LYS. I took a deep breath of understanding...yes...woman on a mission to buy yarn...and how nice to be indoctrinating her little girl into the world of knitting, even if her traffic safety lesson was a little lax. Why, I'll bet that little girl will be a mighty fine knitter someday...if she doesn't get mowed down by traffic first. My understanding was short-lived.<br />
<br />
Now...I will say this about my LYS. They have fabulous yarn and great sales. I was always thrilled with this store. They know me and know I've dropped a good chunk of change in their store over the years. They're usually friendly and helpful. I've talked this store up a bazillion times. I even remained a loyal customer after a friend had a terrible employment experience there. Here's the thing: they are almost always out of knitting needles. At first I really didn't notice the empty display pegs too much, after all, they usually had the ones I needed. Then I went in a few days after Christmas, and they had maybe a dozen knitting needles for sale in the whole store. The racks were empty. When I asked about it, they told me it had been a really good Christmas season, and they were out of just about everything. I understood, and I was really happy for them. But I began noticing that they never have much of a selection of needles at any time, despite having a really large display area. It always looks badly in need of restocking.<br />
<br />
So, I'm standing at the knitting needle wall and realizing, as usual, it's pretty picked over. I'm wondering if every knitter in town is doing the Evenstar Shawl Mystery Knitalong. I want the Addi Turbo Lace needles, but they only have #3 in the 32" length. That will help me when I get to that point, but not for a while. As I'm pawing through the display looking for more #3's in any size...toddler hell strikes. <br />
<br />
I'll go on record right now and admit I do not have children. I love children, but I chose not to have any of my own. It's a long story, having a lot do with spending a lot of my own childhood taking care of ill older relatives. But I love children and don't ever expect them to be quiet, perfect little angels. In fact, I usually enjoy kids the most when they're <b>not</b> being perfect little angels. However, I did <b>NOT</b> love the cute little girl who was suddenly running through the small shop screaming that she wanted to leave while her mother ignored her, chatted with the yarn store employee and looked at yarn. I especially did not love her when she got in between me and the knitting needle display, still screaming, and started taking the needles off the pegs. And I <b>really</b> did not love her mother for paying absolutely <b>NO</b> attention to any of this. Oh, and then someone's cell phone began ringing loudly in probably the most obnoxious ringtone I've ever heard in my life...and no one bothered to answer, so it rang...and rang...and rang...<br />
<br />
By this time, I had developed a raging, on-the-verge-of-migraine headache. I was not thinking clearly by any means. I started grabbing #3 circulars and dpns...one of this brand in a dpn...one of that brand in a 16"...the Addi in 32"...another brand in 24"...you get the picture. I'll also point out here that I stood at that knitting needle display for probably close to 20 minutes, trying to figure out what to do, and the yarn shop employee walked by me half a dozen times and never once asked if I needed help. <br />
<br />
Finally, irritated, frustrated, feeling more than a little sick, I brought my handful of mismatched needles to the checkout counter and, believe it or not, I'm still trying to be cheerful and pleasant. I make a little joke about how this yarn shop must be the #1 shop in the entire state for knitting needle sales...and Ms. Yarn Shop Employee launches into a vent about what a problem this is and how embarrassing it is that they are always short on their stock of knitting needles. My head is pounding louder now, and it has been over four hours since I had breakfast, so my blood sugar is beginning to plummet. I'm dizzy and thinking even less clearly. Then Ms. YSE starts talking about how using all these different brands of needles will probably throw my gauge off and cause all kinds of problems with my project...and all this time, she's ringing up my (not cheap!) purchases, I'm handing her my credit card, the sale is finalized. And then a thought worked it's way through...can I return these...and she tells me they don't take returns on knitting needles. I'm standing right there in front of her. She can see that I didn't take them home, knit seventeen shawls with them and then try to return them. She won't take them back. <br />
<br />
I'll tell you the rest of the adventure tomorrow, possibly "on location". Suffice to say, since I'm writing this from my living room, I didn't commit any felonies (or even misdemeanors). And, just so you know my day wasn't a total knitting bust, after I got home, grabbed a handful of ibuprofen, walked Wilbur and took a long nap, I finished the Camel Spray (erk...) Hat,<br />
<br />
<IMG SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/CamelSprayHat.jpg"><br />
<br />
started the matching scarf, <br />
<br />
<IMG SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/CamelSprayScarfIP.jpg"><br />
<br />
and put the really cool and groovy tassles on the Edgar Scarf. I'm not usually a tassle kind of gal, but I adore the Edgar Scarf with tassles!!! I even wore it to choir rehearsal last night. I'll get a better picture this weekend - when it is actually supposed to be SUNNY! YAY!!!<br />
<br />
<IMG SRC="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee100/Lremenyi/Knitting%20and%20Blog/EdgarsTassles.jpg"><br />
<br />
Oh, and the approximately 7.83 yards of Cento that remain will join a small glob of leftover worsted yarn that was too pretty to part with in my pin weaving "2010 wall hanging project" basket. <br />
<br />
Today, I hope to get the yarn wound for the Evenstar Shawl - maybe even start knitting. I do hope the knitting gods are appeased after yesterday's smackdown. I'd hate to have to sacrifice a chicken before I could start knitting again...oh, wait...knitting gods...maybe I could just burn a skein or two of cheap worsted and click all these #3 needles together a few times...Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338983050389000985noreply@blogger.com3