What's That?!

Now that the days are getting shorter, and the weather cooler, She-Who-Does-Not-Photograph-Well - aka Miss Mae, graces me with her presence in the evenings. Usually, when settling in for her evening snooze (not to be confused with the night snooze, of course), she plops down in the kitty condo, which is in another part of apartment. Now, she settles in on the old quilt bed I have down for them, which sits next to the couch.


The other night, while sitting and knitting and watching TV, I noticed a funny rumbling/buzzing kind of sound. I thought it was the neighbours? No. They're always quiet. Is it the fridge? No. The furnace kicking in? Nope. Gandalf snoring on the couch next to me? Uh uh. Something on the TV (and I got up to listen up close)? No.


When I finally muted the TV to try to figure out what was rattling, I realized that the oh so dainty and sweet Mae had fallen asleep on her back, mouth open a la Gandalf, and was snoring away. Loudly. Enough that I couldn't figure out what the sound was!


My little girl.

"Hmmmph. Well, undignified that may be but at least I don't announce it to the world after I've used the litterbox like some little black cat I know!"

Look what I finished!

"Notice if you will the attention to detail and the different patterns on the front and palm sides of these Norwegian mittens. The detailing continues on the thumb, incorporating different patterns on either side. I believe Mom mentioned something about these being so warm she will probably pass out regularly if she doesn't take them off. Wha' the?? Enough of being cheesy - eeeeeeee!!! Mittens with lots of lanolin! Hee hee hee heeee!"

Of course, after this picture was taken Gandalf reverted to his true self by flipping himself over onto the mitts and rolling around on them.

On Thursday night, I'm going to check out a new yarn shop opening up here in Toronto, conveniently located half way between work, and home. On the streetcar line. Cool, thanks! And Chris - you'll love this name! (Marina, not so much.) It's called The Purple Purl, and it's part cafe, part yarn shop. It's all good to me!

Gandalf flashes Mayhem!

" *sigh* I can't believe Mae told everyone that I like a good rawwwwr after I go to the box."

Ode To My Chullo

Oh Chullo!
You are so soft.
I just may never,
Take you off.

I'll wear you by day,
I'll wear you by night.
(Am I just weird,
Or is that alright?)

You're knit from Polwarth,
And cashmere too.
50/50 the label says,
20 sts=10cm, or 4" to you.

Um, but there's just one thing!
(Don't worry, you were never a hassle!)
Can someone please tell me,
How I attach these damn tassles?

Right. I'll continue with my day job, I'm a much better Technical Integrator than I am a poet...

While I was under the weather earlier last week, I decided I wanted something small to work on that wouldn't 1. impale me (so ixnay on socks), or 2. confuse my fuddled mind (ditto for Mermaid, Grace and um, pretty much everything else I have on the go). The chullo was the perfect choice - worked on a 16" circular, there was no risk of an unfortunate accident. And oh my stars that yarn is soft. Unreal. I mean it - I may never remove it from my head. Ever. OK, maybe to shower, but that's IT.

I love my chullo.

"I love your chullo too, seeing how I slept on it every chance I got..."

And thanks to everyone for your kinds words - I feel much better now! Apart from chullo knitting, I worked on Grace. I'm half way through the second sleeve, and will be wet blocking the front and back this afternoon so that I can start on the collar as soon as I'm done.

No, I did not block Kiri. Yes, I keep forgetting.

And - for Marina:

My lovely Laleli... Oh, speaking of love... The not-so-great picture above shows the 12 rounds of ribbing, and around 15 rounds of pattern. You can see the beginning of the developing flower pattern. The greens and blues together are incredibly vibrant, as I get further up the pattern, you'll see more of the purple shades mix in with the greens. Beautiful combinations...
*sigh*

Isn't knitting just the bestest?

(Oh, and I meant it - I really don't know how I'm supposed to attach the tassles, so if anyone can pass along a tip or two...I'd appreciate it.)

Lordy Lordy Look Who's...100...

(Hey cool! Just noticed this is my 100th post!)


OK. So hey! Guess what I did this weekend?!

I finished Kiri. OK, so I didn't block it yet, one thing at a time. I have a sinking feeling blocking the shawl will be HELL, so I'm in no rush. I'm really surprised at how big it is! And, the instructions indicate it'll block out to 6 feet?? Ugh, so where am I going to block it then? I suppose my bed, with the blocking wires I bought, and a gajillion straight pins!

Oh yay! *clapping hands*

See, there is a reason I stick to wool.

I will say, I really did enjoy this. But, I'm not going to rush out and do all lace from now on, but I do feel more confident working it. And - I know, it's soft and fuzzy and cushy, but I don't know if I like working with KSH though. I just never felt too secure working with it, you know? I need to be able to feel what I'm working with, and the KSH was a bit flimsy on a 4.5mm. And besides, KSH made Gandalf more nutso than usual.

"Hee hee hee! Hee hee hee! Look at me! Hee hee hee! Wheeeeeeeee!"

"Weirdo..."

Thanks to everyone who offered advice on what to do with my ivory Scottish Fleet ::cough::Anne & Lorraine::cough::, but rest assured that there is no way - none! - I am going to unravel yarn already wound into convenient balls and use it for my very first dye job. Because with my luck... It's why the Yarn Fairy invented Visa. Although I'm contemplating doing Sand Dollar with it... who knows? I don't know what I'm going to do with it. And I may use some Jamieson's DK to do Fulmar. Or not.

The beauty of knitting...you just never know.

OK. Off to peruse Ravelry (which I swore I wouldn't go near) and spend more time NOT knitting! Cool!

Speaking of cool - once the weather cools off a bit, I'll post a modelled shot of Amphora (which fits perfectly!). Now that I've sewn the facings, I also want to re-block her.

Oh, and I should probably go and feed the Little Dudes seeing how they're giving me funky looks, and Mae is sniffing at dust balls on the floor...

Presenting...

... Amphora.

And a closeup of the motif, and bottom edging. You can't see the whole of the edging, as the facing, which I'll tack down once she's dry, is rolling up a bit.

Phew! She's done! I loved this knit. Nowhere near as difficult as it looks, I look at it and am amazed that it's worked with only 4 colours.

What: "Amphora" tunic, by Jade Starmore from her book "A Collector's Item", size Small.

I Used: 2-ply Hebridean 100% wool, purchased from Virtual Yarns.

Using: 3.25mm and 3mm needles

PITA factor: None. If you're a fan of stranded knitting (and this is NOT a Fair Isle), you'll love this one. The repeats are very easy to remember, as are the colour sequences.

Once I've sewn down the facings, I will post a modelled shot.

Hee hee! So happy!

And now... on to something else! No, not Cicely of York just yet... Another one, which I'll post a picture of next time around.



How Things Go Around Here

So, every evening, the Little Dudes get their dinner in their own bowls. And they line up the same way every time - Gandalf, Mae and then Atticus. I have to place their bowls in exactly that position, or they won't eat out of them. They'll just stand there, and stare at me until I place it in the usual order.

However. Within, oh, 5 seconds of me placing the bowls down in the order above, this happens.

Atticus muscles in on Gandalf, who in turn eats out of Mae's bowl, who has already moved over to Atticus' bowl.

Every. Time.

And, if I were to place the bowls in the order they end up in, they wouldn't touch them.

The bowls must be served to them - Gandalf, Mae, Atticus - in that order. They'll nibble for a second or two, then comes the switcheroo above.

Atticus. Gandalf. Mae.

Every. Time.

They are so funny!

Everything Old Is New Again

Phew! Here she is - Dalarna!

She's been sewn together and blocked, and awaits her crocheted border and buttons before she can make her debut. In my mind, she's done! DONE!

What: "Red and White" cardigan from page 164 of "Poetry in Stitches". Christened "Dalarna" by Wendy of Wendyknits!

Yarn: Hifa 2 yarn - yarn for this project was purchased from Nordic Fibre Arts, who supply all the yarn packs specifically for "Poetry In Stitches" and "Norsk Strikkedesign". I have A LOT of yarn left over, I'll probably be able to make a matching pair of mittens with what I have left over. I have teeny hands...

Needles: 2.5mm for the red upper portion, and 3.5mm for the stranded design.

How I Blocked Her (Finally): Eucalan, 1/4 cup of sea salt, and a sink full of hypothermia inducing ice cold water. I could barely stand to plunge my hands in the water! Instead, I used an old wooden spoon. A friend at work recommended the ice cold water - a non-knitter at that too! And not a DROP of the dye came out of place.

PITA Factor: Very low. I specifically chose this design as my first Norwegian design as it had everything I wanted to try out - specifically a new way of steeking. I did not find the knitting part difficult (let's not speak of the numerous attempts starting up the second sleeve, 'k?), however I did find that there was a lot more finishing involved than I'm used to with Fair Isle. The front bands alone took me a weekend to complete - probably 8 hours total. Not bad when you're picking up and knitting 150 stitches per side on 2.5mm needles, and knitting for 18 rows per side! The facings on the front bands and the upper sleeves were stitched down in place as well. This is something that I don't do with Fair Isle.

The steeks did not prove to be a problem, thanks to Lorraine and her sewing machine. She had come by awhile back and stitched them up for me.

I've never been one to swoon and faint at the cutting of steeks - it's never rattled me. Just cut. And trust that a few thousand + knitters can't be wrong! So - no issues there, and they worked out just fine. No unraveling at all. I did add a few more stitches to the front steek, probably the Fair Isle knitter in me thinking it would make a difference. But, it was completely unnecessary.

So, I'm very pleased! I was thinking as I was blocking it that it would have made a great pullover. But, I wanted the experience of Norwegian steeks.

What do you think!?!? I will post a modelled shot later in the week, once it's dry! Yay me!!!

"Guys, really - it's done! I saw it for myself. Are you as pooped as I am from the whole process?" - Little Miss Mae

I Did It. Again.

"What? I don't see it Brigitte!"


What did I do? OK. Maybe I'm being anal. I've been accussed of that once or twice in my time. When working colourwork, you're told to strand your MC on top, and the secondary colour on the bottom. Always. And there's a reason why - IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. (Why, yes I am shouting. At myself. Again.) See the sleeve on the left? The zigzag at the bottom? That's done the proper way. Red, my main colour, stranded in the back ON TOP of the white yarn. The sleeve on the right? That's the crappy sleeve. Where I stranded the WHITE yarn on top of the red yarn. And, it shows. I don't understand the dynamics behind this - but it does. The white yarn shows up less.


Now, I consciously made the decision at the very beginning to strand red over white, but I don't know what made me do it differently. I know! I'll blame Russell Crowe! I was watching "Gladiator" when I started working on it. Oh, I feel better now that I can blame it on something other than, well, me. Heh heh.

I am retiring Dalarna until I finish something else. Big. Not like socks or anything (although at the speed I knit socks on 2mm needles...could be a candidate).

Look at these though!

These are my heavy Peace Fleece socks. I made them using some leftover yarn, on 3.5mm needles (and not the 4mm I mentioned in an earlier post). Adam (who didn't leave me an address!) complimented me on my short row heel - aw shucks, thanks Adam! I always use Wendy's method for doing short row heels, it works for me everytime. Oh, I'm so pleased with them! Nice and warm, I made them to wear with my Garamond hiking boots. Because it's been cold this week here in Toronto - the coldest morning was on Tuesday, where it was -31C with the wind. Nothing compared with Winnipeg - our Head Office is there, and I was talking with some of the guys out there who told me that on Thursday morning it was -50C with the wind, with a base temperature of -40C. I love Winnipeg. Luckily, everytime I've been the temperature was much more "reasonable".

And no, I haven't abandoned Delores, not at all! I just need to sit down with no distractions to finish the back and forth rows, and set up the centre steek. Like the weekend.

I really want to thank everyone for your kind words! Considering what a spaz I am, I'm really comforted! I'm much better now, just bruised. Funny how as time goes on, the bruising on my right arm seems to be getting more pronounced (although I've been given the all clear by my doctor - no breaks). Uh, I'm sitting much more comfortably as well.

So - guess what I have been working on? Knitting blanket squares! For a great cause as well. Rebekah is asking knitters to work a square or two, so that she can put them all together for a blanket for a friend who's been recently diagnosed with lymphoma. What a wonderful, sweet gesture on her part! I've pulled out my massive stash of Mission Falls 100% wool, and have put together a couple of squares. Check out her entry for today (February 8th), she has more details, including how you can send them to her.

And how's this for exciting! Lorraine, our wonderful Sheriff of Knittingham, is going to be selling her Twisted Traditions Fair Isle patterns by PDF from her site! Go and check them out - they're all fantastic. I've knitted Ophelia, I have Windsor Waistcoat in my stash, and am seriously coveting Fair Rosemund. Oh, and hello! Who's that modelling Delphine?!! Heh, you'll just have to go and have a look. I would have mugged Lorraine for Delphine that day, only it was 32C and humid, and I was in flip-flops. She would have caught up to me. And of course, you can purchase the yarn for Lorraine's designs from Anne at She Ewe Knits.

"Look, don't do that again, OK? Promise?"

"OK Atticus, I promise. But it was kinda fun you know, sailing down the steps in the litter box like that."

"Dude. That's just stupid. You worried Mom, and then she fell. Stop being a doofus."

"Oh, all right. But only because Mom hurt herself coming to check up on me. And not because you were worried about me. You do care! I love you too Atticus! You're the best big brother ever!"

"Geez..."

First FO of 2007!

Yay me!

Yikes! I look WIPED. OUT. (As opposed to WIP'ed out, hee hee).

What It Is: Central Park Hoodie, from "Knitscene" - Fall 2006

The Details: I used some "Kilcarra" Donegal Tweed from my stash, on 5mm needles, and obtained the specified tension. If I had to do it again, I'd have either gone down a size (I made the 40"), or used a smaller needle. It's a tad big, but then again, it's a cardigan! And I love it! It has rope cables along the seams, and up the middle of the back, and up the front next to the buttonband that continue along the hood border.

PITA Factor: None really. It knit up quickly, it took me about 3 weeks to complete comfortably.

I've been mainly concentrating on Amphora, and I'm just a few rows away from the neckline. But, I'm feeling like I may start up the last Dalarna sleeve soon! Soon! And Marina - I've even resurrected Western Seas, and have done around 12 rows. I'm still on the back section, above the arms. It is tough going, the VY Scottish Fleet gansey yarn is not the easiest to work with. But, I will try my best to work on it at least one night a week. Thanks everyone for your encouraging words re. my messed up Dalarna sleeve (still can't reply to e-mails - so if you're newish to the blog, leave me your e-mail address!). It's definitely NOT something I can get away with "ignoring"... *sigh*

And I've been tagged by Marji - 5 things about me that I've not mentioned on my blog!

OK.

1. I make my own yogourt. Always. Using 2% organic milk, a good quality starter, the light in my oven, and 20 - 24 hours. Once you try it - you'll never go back!

2. I have a tattoo on my right arm. One day I'll show it (and it's not knitting related either). Oh, and I have another one. OK, maybe 2 others... Moving on.

3. I lived for 2 years in Vienna, Austria in the late '80's. It still has a very special place in my heart, and I do plan on going back for a visit one day. I've travelled quite a bit - most of Europe, Israel, Egypt, and my favourite place in the entire world - Morocco. I would go back in a heartbeat. It has all the history I love, the Atlantic ocean on one side, the mountains to another, the Sahara desert, Roman ruins, and the kindest, most generous people.

4. I have no allergies. Not to dust, pollen, animal dander, flowers, bees, or anything of the like. Only to food, but even those have been classified as "sensitivites". I got a wee bit hammered at work once because I took the specified dose of Benadryl (as indicated on the box!) for some mosquito bites. I had NEVER taken Benadryl before in my life, and it hit me like a ton of bricks! Oooo, that was a dandy day... Oh, and I've also never had the flu before in my life. Ever. (Knock wood.)

5. I'm a complete geek when it comes to history and natural history. Complete. Nerd. The only magazine I subscribe to is National Geographic, and I read it cover to cover, and I always learn so much. In high school, I excelled in geography and history, because I just thought it was so fascinating and, well, cool. And of course, the history of the people behind it.

You know, there's probably more, but that's it! For now anyway.

"Hee hee, Mom doesn't know I rolled all over the Hoodie when she wasn't looking! And if she did suspect something, I'd have blamed it on my little brother Gandalf."