On My Needles & Between My Pages

On my needles

Two projects have been the focus of my attention this week.  First is my BFF’s Christmas gift.  I unfortunately can’t go into great details here, but I will give you this little sneak peek.

The yarn is “Hammer Meet Thumb” by IndigoDragonFly and I have to admit that when I purchased it, I knew that it would ultimately end up being something that I gave to my friend.  It has so many pluses going for it.  It’s her favourite colour and it’s from our favourite Indy dyer.  At this point, there’s not much more I can say except that there will be a big reveal after Christmas.  (I have a month worth of reveals happening after Christmas. At least I know what my Friday posts are going to be about!)

The second is the Blue Whale Shawl.

It’s a replacement gift for the ill fated Asterik shawl.  I am exceedingly pleased with how this shawl is turning out.  And I am very proud of myself for shopping in my own stash! When I realized that I was not going to be giving my Mother in Law the first shawl the thought of going to the yarn store didn’t even cross my mind.  I found something to match the pattern from my closet in a matter of minutes.  I’m pretty sure this counts as personal growth on a exemplary level 🙂  I can’t say that I’m thrilled with the idea of having to make a whole new shawl this close to Christmas with other knitting still to be done, but I couldn’t give my MIL  something that made me cringe when I looked at it, so there was really no choice.

Between my Pages

Much like my lack of blogging in the last couple of weeks there has also been a lack of reading time until this past weekend.  I did manage to steal whatever fleeting moments that I could, but I really haven’t gotten very far into the Stone Diaries.  I am enjoying it, but finishing  that book will be put on hold so I can read The Hunger Games.

One of my former students turned classroom volunteer has loaned me the trilogy.  She spent the last two years in my program wanting to lend me the books and now that she is technically no longer a student I could take her up on the offer.  (I still find it amazing that after 6 years in my program that she wanted to come back to us for her community hours.  I guess I didn’t traumatize her enough.  I will have to be better at that with my other students 😉

So far, I have to admit that I am surprised and pleased with  how well the first book is written, especially after my student asked me if I liked Twilight (a world of no to that one, though I didn’t say that to her), and then followed it up with “these are way better.”  Well, she was not wrong about that.  This is way better.  If you are looking for a fast, simple, engaging read then pick up a copy.

For more great Wednesday stuff check out WIP Wednesday and the Yarnalong.

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Temptation Tuesday or Really Mr. West? Right Before Christmas!

So Mr. Stephen West is apparently determined to hinder my ability to finish my Christmas knitting to the best of his abilities.  This past week he announced the creation of his first ever shawl club.  The sort of good news for me is that the temptation can only go so far as there is no international shipping available.  So I don’t have to try to resist the whole package including the yarn.  PDF’s, however, are wonderful thing and I will be receiving five patterns over the next five months for five brand new shawls.  (It’s going to be great stash busting).  But the kicker is that the first pattern arrives on December 14th and I am somehow going to have to find the will power to ignore casting it on.  I can also see this interfering with my already overwhelming Year of Projects list, but that’s a whole other kettle of fish that needs not be discussed at the moment.  Or ever, if I can help it.

It’s no secret that I am in love with this man’s designs.  Just to make it clear, I have never even read an interview with him.  Aside from what he puts up on Twitter I have no knowledge about the man.  I don’t even know what country he’s from, though I’m pretty sure it’s not North America.  And the bottom line is, I really don’t care as long as he keeps designing pretty things for me to knit.  It’s pretty clear that his design style resonates well with me, as I knit his stuff all the time.

But I must say that having the first pattern come out right before Christmas does fall into the category of cruel and unusual punishment for me.  So now, I want to have all my Christmas knitting finished by the 14th instead of the 25th.  I figure if I only sleep four hours a night and find a way to take a few days (all of them), off work, and have my husband blend up all my meals so I can drink them through straws (thus leaving my hands free to knit), and hire a maid so the apartment doesn’t become a seething pit of filth that would scare even cockroaches away (no we do not have cockroaches), then it should be completely doable.  Really, it’s all about having a plan.  And I have one.  Wish me luck.

YOP Update November 27 or My Poor Little Neglected Blog

After a couple of very busy weeks, I finally can spend time with my blog again (and with everyone else’s)!  When I’m finished this post, I’m going to start catching up on all the reading I’ve missed out on.  I’ve got my coffee and I’m ready to go!  My knitting has been faring sightly better, as I have been squeezing in whatever time I can including my lunch breaks, work commute, and really any spare moment I can find.  This week has been filled with great success and stunning defeat.

Technically the Astrick shawl is complete.  So that’s a big YAY!!!!!  Unfortunately, to say that it’s not gift giving quality would be a little bit of an understatement.  That little shawl was cursed from the start, and stayed cursed the whole time I worked on it.

On the good news front, I have a second shawl cast on for my MIL, Blue Whale by Stephen West (I know , I’m predictable) and it’s going very well.  I have also had continued success  with my BFF’s Christmas present.  I was really hoping to be almost finished it by the end of the this weekend, but the addition of the Blue Whale into my knitting schedule has caused a little hiccup of sorts.  But I will get back to it soon.

So here’s the list.

WIPS:

• Clockwork (cast on June  &  part of the Knit-a-long of Doom) (Finished July 2011)
• Wallis Cardi (cast on August of last year)
• Rattlesnake Creek socks (cast on about 1 1/2 years ago)
• Noro Log Cabin Blanket (cast on in June & it’s Christmas Knitting)
• Toe Up Socks

Christmas:

• Super secret BFF gift (I know you read this.  No peeking, but you’ll like it.) (Finished Sept  2011)
• Super Secret Husband gift (He reads it too.) (In Progress)
• Urbana  (Finished July 2011) (Dad)
• Podsters
• Saturday morning slippers x2 (FIL, mom)
• Minion (Teiff) (Finished October 2011)
• Gargoyle (Sean) (Finished October 2011))
• Strangling Vines scarf (Christine) (In Progress)
• Windcheif hat (dad) (Finished November 2011)
• Cherie socks  (mom)(In Progress)
• AStericks (MIL) (Finished November 2011)
• Dog Chewie (Maggie) (Finished October 2011)
• Super Secret Little J gift (See first super secret gift.  That’s her mum.) (Finished Oct 2011)
• Kleenex covers x6 (Finished October)
• Sachets x6
• Algonquin
• Washcloth x2 ( I really thought I was finished with those!)  (Finished Sept 2011)

 

Shawls

• Herbivore
• Flamboyan
• Reunion Cowl

Cardis

• Roam

Socks

• Lenore (The third) (In Progress)
• Flaming Desire 
• Staked  
• Fishbone Gansey  (Part of the Knit-a-long of Doom) (Finished October 2011)
• Cut & Paste
• My Vampire Boyfriend (Part of Nerd Wars) (In Progress)
• Matrimony Socks
• Masonic Lodge
• Flutter-by
• Aragorn
• Duckies  (Finished Aug 2011)

Newly added

• West Knits Mystery KAL (Finished Sept 2011)
• Julia
• Minion Army (Finished October 2011)
• Blue Whale shawl – replacement MIL Gift (In Progress)

 

The running totals so far are:

15/43 complete

11/28  in progress

A Chance Meeting with Lucy Neatby

So just over a week ago, I arrived at my LYS for the Knitty Roundtable and realized that Amy had that look on her face.  You know the look.  You’ve seen it on other people a thousand times.  It’s that look that says something has just gone horribly wrong and there may be some panic happening.  So I asked Amy what was going on and she looked at me and said “Oh God.  You don’t know.”  Now, I don’t know about you, but to me that phrase is generally not followed by good news.  It’s the kind of phrase that is usually followed with “your favourite yarn company just burned to the ground” or “knitting has been made illegal and the police will be here in a short period of time to arrest all us fibre loving folks and you’ve been volunteered to lead a merry band of knitter through the winding dark alleys to the knitters safe house up the street where if you arrive safely there will be spinning wheels and booze and no one breaking down the door to ship you into a fibre free pit of despair.”  (I have a very active imagination.) What I was not expecting was “Lucy Neatby is arriving in half and hour.  She a surprise special guest.  Try not to sh*t yourself.”

At this point I feel the need to point out something about Amy Singer, the creative force behind Knitty Magazine.  She is one of the most down to earth people who you will ever meet and she has no comprehension that she does in fact have a fair bit of celebrity status in the knitting community.  It never occurs to her that people want to meet her and think that it’s cool when they do.  I’ve even witnessed the exasperated panic that crosses her face when people say “oh, you’re that Amy Singer!”  She really has no idea and what makes her even more endearing is that she wears her fan girl squee like a badge of honour and is never afraid to show it to anyone.  And she  was, at that moment, oozing squee all over me, the yarn on the shelves, the carpet and the owners of the yarn store.  It was literally everywhere.  And why not?  I’ve been working the roundtable events with Amy for going on two years and even though we often have had local knitting celebs pop in, this is was the first time (since I’ve been working the events), that a bigger celebrity has graced out little event.

So within half and hour a woman walked in and there was no doubt that it had to be Lucy.  The shocking pink hair does make her stand out a little.  It took me a good chunk of the evening, but at one point I was finally able to sit down at a table with her and start talking.  And we talked about reversible knitting patterns that she is working on, and how to best engage in reversible knitting – something that I’ve never tried to do.  The idea of a pattern appearing on both sides of a piece of work is both wondrous and slightly beyond me.  But you now what, I didn’t care.  The woman is brilliant! And by then end of the twenty minutes or so that I spent talking to her about it I found myself thinking that I could do it and asking why I haven’t done it yet.  She is a ball of creative energy that is addictive and contagious and I have to admit, I may have tampered with the timing of things just so I could spend a few extra minutes chatting with her.  She sees things differently and I wanted her to keep talking on and on.  But alas  things did have to move forward.  But as the event was winding down I did get a few more minutes in with her and found out about her family and her trip and she let me snap the cute little picture of her.

(Yes, that is a chicken bag.) And then she had to leave and I had to meet my husband and our friends at the pub.  But it was a wonderful evening and if you ever get the chance to take a class with Lucy, do it.  you won’t regret it.  And if you bump into Amy don’t ever say “oh, you’re that Amy.”

Year of Projects Update – November 20th

First I ‘d like to say a big “thank you” to everyone who’s taken the time to pop over to my blog in the last week.  I’ve barely had time to put posts together and I haven’t been able to visit anyone’s blog  in days!  I really appreciate all the comments.  The good news is  my writing obligations for the new issue of Knitty magazine are almost finished and by the end of the day I will have submitted the last of my reviews and (thankfully) I finished all the data entry last weekend.  So my regular “sit with my coffee and read other people’s blog time” will no longer be  “sit with my coffee and read and write book reviews time”.  It’s not really a complaint. I enjoy writing for Knitty.  I’ve just missed your blogs!!!! I promise to come back this week.

One the knitting front, the Astricks shawl is in the very final stages with only a little bit of the bind off left.  I did in fact knit the wing in the correct direction so that was a huge relief.  I did  however have to deal with one more huge disaster that involved steeking to fix it.  I really can’t get further into it at this point as it’s all still too traumatic and the thought of explaining why I had to take a pair of scissors to the shawl still sort of makes my blood run a little cold.  But, there actually is the real possibility of finishing the shawl sometime soon!

Also, my BFF’s Christmas gift is well under way and working out far better than the above mentioned nightmare shawl.  I know at least her gift will be finished on  time.  (Beginning to wonder about some of the other ones, but it’s too early in the morning to fret about it.)  Overall it’s not been a bad knitting week.

I hope that everyone had a great knitting week!!

So here’s the list and the Mr. Linky

WIPS:

• Clockwork (cast on June  &  part of the Knit-a-long of Doom) (Finished July 2011)
• Wallis Cardi (cast on August of last year)
• Rattlesnake Creek socks (cast on about 1 1/2 years ago)
• Noro Log Cabin Blanket (cast on in June & it’s Christmas Knitting)
• Toe Up Socks

Christmas:

• Super secret BFF gift (I know you read this.  No peeking, but you’ll like it.) (Finished Sept  2011)
• Super Secret Husband gift (He reads it too.) (In Progress)
• Urbana  (Finished July 2011) (Dad)
• Podsters
• Saturday morning slippers x2 (FIL, mom)
• Minion (Teiff) (Finished October 2011)
• Gargoyle (Sean) (Finished October 2011))
• Strangling Vines scarf (Christine) (In Progress)
• Windcheif hat (dad) (Finished November 2011)
• Cherie socks  (mom)(In Progress)
• AStericks (MIL) (In Progress)
• Dog Chewie (Maggie) (Finished October 2011)
• Super Secret Little J gift (See first super secret gift.  That’s her mum.)(Finished Oct 2011)
• Kleenex covers x6 (Finished October)
• Sachets x6
• Algonquin
• Washcloth x2 ( I really thought I was finished with those!)  (Finished Sept 2011)

 

Shawls

• Herbivore
• Flamboyan
• Reunion Cowl

Cardis

• Roam

Socks

• Lenore (The third) (In Progress)
• Flaming Desire 
• Staked  
• Fishbone Gansey  (Part of the Knit-a-long of Doom) (Finished October 2011)
• Cut & Paste
• My Vampire Boyfriend (Part of Nerd Wars) (In Progress)
• Matrimony Socks
• Masonic Lodge
• Flutter-by
• Aragorn
• Duckies  (Finished Aug 2011)

Newly added

• West Knits Mystery KAL (Finished Sept 2011)
• Julia
• Minion Army (Finished October 2011)
• Elf Earwarmers (In Progress)

 

The running totals so far are:

14/43 complete

12/29  in progress

FO Friday – A Very Addictive Little Knit

My knitting projects take on different meanings for me at different times.  Some I choose for their complexity when I need a challenge.  Some are for their simplicity when I just want to lose myself in the stitches.  Some are to showcase a yarn or a pattern.  And some are just because they are really cute.  These little cases fall into the last category, they were just too cute not to knit.

The pattern is Sweaters for purse size tissue packages and the yarn is whatever sock yarn scraps and one odd ball that I had lying around in my stash.  I warn you that these little sweaters are highly addictive and you won’t be able to knit just one.  They are also super fast and highly portable making them great lunch break or transit knitting.  And they each use very little yarn.  I was able to make four packages with a standard ball of sock yarn and still had a little bit left over.

I intend to toss these into Christmas packages for my family members and I think that they will bring a smile to the faces of the people who receive them.  One is living in my purse (I took the first one that was a little wonky), and I have to admit, I did consider making a few more.

I love projects that use up ends so these were really the perfect little Christmas knit.

For more great Friday knits be sure to check out FO Friday, Creative Friday, Fibre Arts Friday, and Fibres on Friday.

Holiday Knitting Tip check in – How’s that Family Training Going?

Checking in on the family training.

So last Thursday I posted some helpful tips to get your family more involved in your holiday knitting and to help you gain some perspective on what is actually important at this stressful exciting time of year.  I thought this week we should check in with how it’s going and add a few new ideas to the mix.

1. How are the Zoodles working out for you? Are the kids still eating it?  If they seem to be getting bored switch it up a little.  Get something that has the little faux meatballs in it.  Tell them it’s  a game and that the kid who can stack as many meatballs as possible in the middle of the bowl gets all the meatballs!! But only after they’ve eaten the rest of the food in the dish.  Keep in mind that this only works if you have someone else willing to be the judge of the meatball tower height.  The goal here is to keep them busy and give you free time.  If they children get too whiney about the towers or the zoodles in general, put the plate down on the ground and let your newly acquired Husky pup lick the bowl clean.  This kills  three birds with one stone, the kids are amused (sort of), there’s no garbage to worry about, and the dog is fed.  It’s really a win – win situation.

2.  Send the whole family out for dinner across town, preferably at an all you can eat place.   Explain to them that they further they have to drive, the better the food is likely to be because it’s out-of-the-way and not as many people will go there.  Encourage them to eat some greens as the diet of Zoodles  is probably not too healthy for their digestive tracts.  Then send them out the door with the orders that they are to eat enough to keep themselves full until the following night’s dinner.

If you’re really creative and have a little bit of spare time you can fashion a food receptacle jacket for your spouse (they are most likely bigger than your children and far more discreet), by lining the inside of the coat with black garbage bags.  Slice a couple of holes in the bags to create pockets and tell your spouse to smuggle out as much food in the coat as possible.  At least two or three meals worth.  Pizza slices work great in this scenario.  (You’d probably sleep much better if you thought I was making this last bit up.  But I’m not.  I’m the woman who survived the last 72 hours of my University career on 1/2 can of Zoodles and boiled water with sugar. I am not creative enough to make this up. My DH used to know the two guys, nicknamed Gnome and Troll, who did this all the time.  They liked their coat pizza very much.)

3. While you have the house to yourself, consider packing a bag and checking into a hotel or friend’s house or the empty house up the street.  I am not advocating deserting your family on a permanent basis, just maybe for a couple of nights especially since they’re all probably a little cranky from the “food in a can diet”.  Plus it’s easier to leave then to change the locks and since you have by now hopefully removed everyone else from the house you’ll get stuck supervising the locksmith and you’ve just defeated the entire purpose of alone time.

4.  Consider moving into your favourite yarn store.  I have on more than one occasion asked the owners of my favourite LYS if I could just set up a cot in the basement and spend the night.  The other knitters in the room usually agree, but they have yet to let us do it.  My store has the added bonus of serving coffee and tea and having a full size fridge.  Right next door is a local organic butcher who has been there for years and always has a ready supply of meat, cheese, eggs, and breads.  It really is perfect.  But be sure to pick your location to maximize your strategic benefits.  An undercaffienated hungry knitter is an angry knitter.

5.  Try to remember to laugh from time to time.  It will keep you sane and get you through this.

Still no clue how to work out and knit at the same time.  If you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them.

The Fine Print

The tips revealed in this blog are for entertainment value only, and do not represent the views or opinions of the blogger, the blog host, or indeed of any known living being. Certainly not any sane ones. The use of these tips indicates your acceptance that there is no warranty, express or implied, that following these tips will have any effect whatsoever on your level of holiday stress. This will all end in tears.

Between my Needles & On My Pages – November 16th

On My Needles

I feel like it’s not been much of an update kind of week.  But there is some good news! I am almost positive that I am doing the second wing of the Asteick correctly.  This is a huge relief.  I can even almost see how the construction is coming together!  This is great for me as I am a very visual knitter and when I can see what is happening it increases my confidence level.  Now I’m just concerned that I won’t have enough yarn.  But as my husband says, “only fret about one thing at time with this shawl.”  It’s good advice.  No picture yet, cause it’s looking a  little odd on the needles right now and will be very difficult to get a proper photo.

I did also manage to knit my dad a hat to match his Urbana.  It’s another Stephen West pattern called Windchief and I’ll be showing that off next Friday.

My Bff”s Christmas gift is finally on the needles.  I’ve changed the pattern three times.  But as they say, third time’s the charm and I think I have found what I’m going to stick with.  I know she’ll like it.

Sorry for the repeat photo. It's been that kind of week.

Between my Pages

It’s been one of those weeks when life has gotten in the way and I haven’t had much time to read much of anything, (including other people’s blogs.  I miss you all!!!!!)  The few pages that I have been able to steal for reading have been on The Stone Diaries and I am thoroughly enjoying it.  It’s a very interesting story of one woman’s life.  It’s well written and worth the time to read.  I hope next week to have a more in depth review for you.

I hope everyone has had a great reading and knitting week and I look forward to catching up with all of you very soon.

For more great WIPS and reading check out WIP Wednesday and the Yarn Along.

Never Say Never When it Comes to Knitting

Over my years as a knitter I have learned to never say never.  First I said I would never knit a Clapotis ’cause I just didn’t get it.  Then I knit one and ended up knitting three more for gifts that same year.  But that time the Clapotis band wagon was long gone and I was left standing in the gently settling dust with my very pretty knitting.

Then I said I would never be  a sock knitter.  Um, well, I have a small sock yarn addiction and own about 7 pairs of handknit socks.  I’ve also joined  the 26 pair plunge challenge and have at least four pairs on the needles.  Then, once I accepted that I was in fact a sock knitter, I said to my husband that I didn’t understand why people would knit complicated cables and lace for socks.  It just didn’t make sense.  At this point I need to consider just how much energy you as the reader would be willing to spend on this blog post.  Lets just say I’ve had to eat a lot of crow on that last point.

Now I have something else to add to that list.  I can never say I will not knit earwarmers in the shape of elf ears.  Yes, you read that correctly, I am knitting elf ears.  These certainly weren’t on the Year of Project list when I made it in June and really the thought of knitting elf ears never really entered my brain.  But, now I’m doing my second Nerd Wars and one of the challenges is to learn something about a different team.  And as it turns out, my partner for a different challenge is from Team Epic, (I’m on Team Hellmouth.)  And she designed and knit a pair of elf ear-warmers and she was kind enough to pass the pattern on to me.

I’ll let you know how they turn out.  I’m told they will be a very fast knit and everyone needs warm ears.  Warm, slightly pointy ears.

YOP Update November 13th

Hope everyone had a great week  filled with lots of fibre arts!  I managed to finish all of the little Kleenex cases.  They are super cute and highly addictive.  Check back on Friday for their big debut.  I am close to the halfway point of my Dad’s Windchief.  I’m really hoping to squeeze in enough knitting time to get that finished over the next couple of days.  I have one project that has nothing to do with the Year of Projects but is for Nerd Wars.  It’s fun and silly and more about that in tomorrow’s post!

I also had the wonderful opportunity to meet and chat with Lucy Neatby.  I snapped a great photo which I will share you later in the week.  But take my advice, if you ever have the chance to talk knitting with this woman or take one of her classes do it.  She’s brilliant.

Can’t wait to catch up with everyone.  This week has been crazy and I haven’t been able to visit other blog as much as I like too!!!

Without further delay, my updated list and Mr. Linky

WIPS:

• Clockwork (cast on June  &  part of the Knit-a-long of Doom) (Finished July 2011)
• Wallis Cardi (cast on August of last year)
• Rattlesnake Creek socks (cast on about 1 1/2 years ago)
• Noro Log Cabin Blanket (cast on in June & it’s Christmas Knitting)
• Toe Up Socks

Christmas:

• Super secret BFF gift (I know you read this.  No peeking, but you’ll like it.) (Finished Sept  2011)
• Super Secret Husband gift (He reads it too.) (In Progress)
• Urbana  (Finished July 2011) (Dad)
• Podsters
• Saturday morning slippers x2 (FIL, mom)
• Minion (Teiff) (Finished October 2011)
• Gargoyle (Sean) (Finished October 2011))
• Strangling Vines scarf (Christine) (In Progress)
• Windcheif hat (dad) (In Progress)
• Cherie socks  (mom)(In Progress)
• AStericks (MIL) (In Progress)
• Dog Chewie (Maggie) (Finished October 2011)
• Super Secret Little J gift (See first super secret gift.  That’s her mum.) (Finished Oct 2011)
• Kleenex covers x6 (Finished October)
• Sachets x6
• Algonquin
• Washcloth x2 ( I really thought I was finished with those!)  (Finished Sept 2011)

 

Shawls

• Herbivore
• Flamboyan
• Reunion Cowl

Cardis

• Roam

Socks

• Lenore (The third)
• Flaming Desire 
• Staked  
• Fishbone Gansey  (Part of the Knit-a-long of Doom) (Finished October 2011)
• Cut & Paste
• My Vampire Boyfriend (Part of Nerd Wars) (In Progress)
• Matrimony Socks
• Masonic Lodge
• Flutter-by
• Aragorn
• Duckies  (Finished Aug 2011)

Newly added

• West Knits Mystery KAL (Finished Sept 2011)
• Julia
• Minion Army (Finished October 2011)
• The running totals so far are:

13/42 complete

11/27  in progress