And the Knitting Gods Said, "HA!!!!" Pt. 2

Actually, 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!



Yes, it's THE SUN (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!

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.

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.

What can I say about Espresso Yourself Music Cafe? 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.

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.


Is she EVER coming home?


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 Tangled Tale is a GREAT 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.

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 (Yarn Patch in Crossville, TN). They even had a lot of the same yarns - yarns my FFLYS does not carry.

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, BE SURE TO BRING THEM BACK" 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!

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.

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.



Thanks for dropping by my little corner of this big, wide world! How are the knitting gods treating you these days???

Wilbur says, "I'm ready for my closeup!"

And 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.

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...

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...

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.

I bought a few skeins of sock yarn which I think will make pretty spring/summer shawls.






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!!

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.

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.

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.

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 not being perfect little angels. However, I did NOT 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 really did not love her mother for paying absolutely NO 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...

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.

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.

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,



started the matching scarf,



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!!!



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.

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...

Chomp...gulp...

Wow...thanks everyone! I had so many messages/comments advising me what to do with the 14.5 yards of Cento - and not one person scolded me for creating a terminal earworm. Guess what song was going through my head the entire weekend. I think I'm going to try Dee's idea and make tassles for the ends of the Edgar scarf. I also really liked nona's idea of the strap for my camera condom but, like all good condoms, it fits my camera so tightly that I can carry it by its own strap (not that condoms have straps - least not last time I checked - but they are supposed to fit tightly). Lastly, Zina's link to the Threads article on pin weaving stash yarn blew me away. I'm thinking wall-hanging with my future odds and ends...

Friday afternoon, I finished my second Pretty Thing. I'm much happier with this one than the first, though not particularly thrilled with my technique in a few areas. I've decided to make the stitch detail for this lovely green creation my wallpaper for a little while - till I make something else big enough to qualify. Here are a couple pictures:





I also whipped out a hat to go with my MLB Playoff Jacket. It looks a lot better on my head than on the kitchen table.



I'm also messing around with some Lion Brand Jiffy yarn, making a hat and scarf from the "Handknit Holidays" book



It's going really well, and I love the color of the yarn, a tan blend which for some unfathomable reason Lion decided to name "Camel Spray". Um...do they know anything about the mental image that conjures up? Camel spray, indeed...ugh... Gorgeous yarn, though. Pics later this week!

Now...what's with "Chomp...gulp..."? Well, Your Everyday Garden-Variety Renaissance Woman has very well bitten off a bit more than she can chew. In my throes of knitting passion, I signed up for Susan Pandorf's Evenstar Mystery Shawl Knitalong. I've done a little lace knitting in my time but, folks, I'm knitting with freakin' THREAD here (albeit, lovely thread). See....lovely!



Oh, and it will have beads on the edging. This will be yet another new challenge, and I'll be blogging my progress or lack thereof. But my first challenge, before I can begin, is to find myself some good sharp needles for lace knitting. Nothing in my arsenal comes close to what I need. So, my question for today is: Knitting needles for lace, discuss pro and con. What do y'all recommend?

The Six Balls of Cento

My knitting goal for 2010 is to not add anything to my stash. That does NOT mean that I'm not going to buy any yarn! It means that any yarn I buy or use, I must use up completely. I must add NOTHING to my stash bins this year. In that spirit, I present you with...

The Six Balls of Cento (With my deepest and most sincere apologies to Frederic Austin...)

With the first ball and a quarter of Cento, I knit myself for me...
The Knit Picks Sideways Hat!



With half of the second ball of Cento, I knit myself for me...
a wristwarmer that is now a pencilholder cover
and the Knit Picks Sideways Hat!



With the third ball of Cento, I knit myself for me...
The knitty Edgar Scarf (first half!)
a wristwarmer that is now a pencilholder cover
and the Knit Picks Sideways Hat!



With the fourth ball and a couple yards of Cento, I knit myself for me...
The knitty Edgar Scarf (second half!)
The knitty Edgar Scarf (first half!)
a wristwarmer that is now a pencilholder cover
and the Knit Picks Sideways Hat!



With the fifth ball of Cento, I knit myself for me..
THE TWO-ONE COWL!
The knitty Edgar Scarf (second half!)
The knitty Edgar Scarf (first half!)
a wristwarmer that is now a pencilholder cover
and the Knit Picks Sideways Hat!





With three-quarters of the sixth ball of Cento, I knit myself for me...
a pair of Earthy Wristwarmers
THE TWO-ONE COWL!!
The knitty Edgar Scarf (second half!)
The knitty Edgar Scaraf (first half!)
a wristwarmer that is now a pencilholder cover
and the Knit Picks Sideways Hat!



With about a quarter of the sixth ball of Cento, I knit myself for me...
a condom for my digital camera
a pair of Earthy Wristwarmers
THE TWO-ONE COWL!!
The knitty Edgar Scarf (second half!)
The knitty Edgar Scarf (first half!)
a wristwarmer that is now a pencilholder cover
and the Knit Picks Sideways Hat!



and this is what I have left (14.5 yards - I measured it). I think I should burn it before it starts multiplying again! Unless...anyone know what I could do with 14 yards of Cento???



My photographer's assistant says, "Are we done with this yet? I want lunch and a bellyrub!"



More later...recovering from Cento overload (I really do love this yarn, but I swear it breeds in knitting bag!)...

Ravelympics: Day WOOOOO-HOOOOOO!!!!

At 12:30am Sunday, while watching a fabulous documentary on Mahalia Jackson, I finished the Long Forgotten Yarn Scarf. My medals are duly posted, and no, I don't expect anyone to kiss them (VBEG!!) It was a lot of fun making this scarf, and I feel downright diva-ish wearing it. It is one substantial scarf, even though it looks more like a pair of bizarre bell-bottom pants in this pic... Ruffles, folks, think ruffles...



I still have about four balls of the mystery cotton left and am trying to figure out what to do with them...some kind of little shawlette, I think.

You'll notice I changed the background pattern. I decided it would be a cool, fun thing to have the background of my blog reflect the stitch pattern of whatever project I'm working on. However...this is NOT the project I'm currently working on, it's a scarf I designed and made for P back in 2007. More info on the Don't You Dare Lose This Scarf can be found on my Ravelry page by clicking the link. Since I wasn't able to get a good closeup of the stitch pattern for my new project, I decided to use this one as a placeholder. Love the scarf. Love the fact that Mr. Loses Every Scarf He's Ever Owned still has this one three years later! Is he a great guy or what?

Last night, I joined the small but welcoming group of Knorthside Knitters. We had a lovely time knitting and chatting. My newest project is the Edgar scarf from the Fall 2005 Knitty. I'm using the Cento I had left over from the Sideways Hat and calling it "Edgar Cento". Has a nice ring to it, don't you think? Here's a picture, but it really doesn't do the colors justice. It's a dark, gloomy, rainy day here, so natural light is pretty dim.



I am also making another attempt at the Pretty Thing Cowl using the Serenity yarn I picked up a JoAnn last week. Only two rows in, it is already going better. I may end up loving this pattern after all. I think me and Mini Mochi just aren't meant for each other, sad to say.



We are experiencing our "spring thaw" here in Ohio...PRE-spring thaw is probably more accurate since we can get ice and snow all the way into April. P and I took Wilbur to a park near our house to try out his snazzy new harness and get some fresh air for all of us. Here are some pics (The hat and cowl I'm wearing are knit from some Jaspe Wool I had left over from a shawl. You can click on the links for more info on my Ravelry page). Oh, and thanks to P for taking the pics of Wilbur and me. You rock, Dude!







And a couple pics of the creek running along the path:





There is also good news on Wilbur's tummy! I am cautiously optimistic that we have finally solved the problem of the acid reflux - and without giving him a lot of medicine! I spent all day Friday researching home cooked diets and the problems he has been having and got the great idea to give him a small meal right before he goes to bed and immediately when he wakes up in the morning. We are on the third day of this regime, and my pupster is happy, energetic, and non-urpy again! WOO-HOOOO!!!!

This will be a busy week for me. I am planning to get together with two knitting groups this week, plus my Tuesday night choir rehearsal.

And...if I didn't need any other reason to want spring to arrive, I want to show off my Aerosmith toenails!



"Aerosmith toenails?", you say...well...what would YOU call them? The name of the color is..."Jaded"!

Ravelympics Day Whoknowswhat: Raindrops On Roses...

HA!!! There were a few raindrops when Wilbur and I were out today, but the roses are deeply buried in snow. After my massive post-a-thon yesterday, I'm a little short on material today, so I thought I'd give you a list of my Top 20 Favorite Things (in no particular order...)

1. Knitting and all things knitting related (yarn, rosewood needles, patterns...)
2. Gordon Lightfoot
3. Pizza
4. John Hartford
5. Lilacs
6. Mavis Staples
7. Genealogy (tying ancestral holes together...)
8. Gothic architecture
9. Old time fiddle tunes
10. Yoga (tying myself in knots...)
11. Border collies
12. Connie Smith
13. Snow (but not 30" of it all at one time!!!)
14. Sam Adams Cherry Wheat Ale
15. Singing
16. Anne Tyler novels
17. Gene Kelly movies
18. Blues harmonica
19. my Scion XB
20. Coffee (this should probably be #1 on my list...)

Yesterday, I ventured out for the first time since the latest snowstorm hit. It was a challenge getting out of my neighborhood (snow removal is notoriously spotty around here), but once I did get out, the main roads were clear.

My first stop was JoAnn where I went on a small yarn-buying binge.




-


I went with the purpose of buying 3 skeins of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick to make the Knitted Scarf and Hat that was on the labels of the yarn I used to make the 3-Season Sweater Jacket. I love how the jacket turned out, and decided I wanted a scarf and hat to match.

I found my Thick & Quick...then I saw the Lion Brand Jiffy and fell in love with the color. I bought the last four balls they had. Luckily it should be enough for what I plan to make, the Snowy Triangle Scarf and Hat from Handknit Holidays . I might even have enough for a pair of wristwarmers to match!

The Serenity Garden Yarn was a true impulse purchase. It was on sale, there was one skein of green left, and I loved it. Believe it or not, I may make another attempt at the Pretty Thing. The one I made with the Mini Mochi is just a wee bit scratchy on my neck. I'd like to give this gorgeous pattern one more chance, sizing it down a bit to fit me better. We'll see how that goes!

Today, Wilbur and I headed out to Pet People, the world's coolest pet supply store. Since he still is having issues with the reflux, I decided to buy him a harness. I figure anything that takes stress off of his trachea and esophagus is a good, good thing. He enjoyed being made over (we're regulars there, so they know him well), and adapted to the new harness very well. We took a little walk in his favorite park before heading back home. All in all, a nice couple of days.

The Ravelympics scarf is almost 75% done.



I'm pleased with the way it's turning out, though I do have to keep a close eye on the pattern. I've frogged sections of it several times for stupid careless mistakes. Must count every stitch, even though the patten is very easy. I'm hoping to be done by tomorrow night...and might launch into that Pretty Thing as a second event. Who knows?

What are a few of your favorite things???

Ravelympics Day 3: She Knits!!!!

It's a brand new day, and what a difference one day can make!! Woke up this morning to a hungry, happy, NON-burpy Wilbur who snarfed up some rice and chicken breast then went off to play happily with his toys.

We got about a foot of new snow from yesterday's storm, and snow showers are still passing through. Could get another couple inches before morning. How much snow do we have? Here's a picture of the crummy old junk table that we should throw away but I keep hanging onto because it makes a fairly good potting bench. Check out the snow depth!



We also have some serious ice damming in our gutters, as evidenced by the view out the side window in the living room. YIKES!!!



P worked from home today because of the weather. Wilbur spent the afternoon snoozing in his chair in P's room while he worked, happy and burp-free (Wilbur, that is. I can't vouch for P's happiness or burp level.).



And me? I got some serious knitting done today on the Long Forgotten Yarn Scarf that I'm working on for the Ravelympics. I think I got about 40 rows done this afternoon between loads of laundry. I'm really enjoying this pattern now, and my yarn is doing a Sally Field routine as I knit: "You LIKE me!!! After 25 years crammed in a plastic bag in the basement, you REALLY, REALLY LIKE ME!!!!" Yes, blue slubby cotton yarn, we've had our issues to work out, but I DO like you!



Here's a closeup of the stitch detail:



The beef stew is simmering on the stove, and I'm headed out to do a little shoveling while I mull over tomorrow's post - How I Became A Knitter.