I have just emailed a mass knitters secret pal email. If you have NOT received an email from me, please email me with your info today or tomorrow. Today would be better. sanhurl*at*comcast.net I know that I don't have a couple of you in. The people that I am missing are the people that I am blogfriendly with. Isn't that always the way? The friends get the shaft?? :) So, Leigh, Mary and Alison. Please email me your schtuff. Even if you already believe I should know it. Just email it to me. Thank you....
Last call for everyone else. I will be choosing pals tomorrow.
As of today, there are 45 women signed up for the secret pal program! There are 3 countries represented! Wow! There is room for more! Email me to sign up, if you are interested!
Flowers for me??
Sometimes, you just can't wait for hubby to bring them home for you.
Brigitte: Sandy, It's getting to that time in my life when we have to start thinking seriously about some things. Sandy: wha?? You talking to me?? Brigitte: Of course, who else would I be talking to?? Sandy: er, okay. What is it? Brigitte: There comes a time in every cardigan's life when some serious issues come up. Sandy: Like what? I'm new at this. Brigitte: Buttons, silly. I need buttons! Sandy: Oh! You don't come with buttons? Brigitte: Man! You really are not paying attention! I need 7-1 inch buttons. Not just any buttons. The Perfect buttons!! Sandy: hmmmm..
Buttons??!!! Do you have any idea where I can buy buttons for this bossy cardigan? Not just any buttons. The perfect buttons!
Bethany and Andy went to a Bruins game last night where they won in overtime. Yah, Bruins! I had a date with the couch. YOU know what I did while there, don't you? Yes, knit. Tough question. Bethany came home with lots of pictures like this one..
"I'm good enough, I"m smart enough, and doggonit! People like me!" stuart smalley
February seems like such a long month, even though it's the shortest, doesn't it? Despite a bit more sunshine and warmer temperatures, I feel in a slump. I have no doubt that I am not alone! Temperatures have been soaring into the 40's! And Man! does it feel good! After having a long stretch of sub zero temps, 40's feels warm!
And knitting. I am trying to steam ahead on the Lopi Brigitte and Peace Fleece. Both of which have nothing new to show you. I love them both. Equally. I do not love one more than the other. A mother's love.
And now, perculating in the corner of my brain is a baby sweater. For a little boy baby soon to be born! What to do?what to do?? I feel a visit from my LYS coming on. I have been perusing. I need to make it washable. And soft. And not typically baby like. It will come to me.
AND...I think I may just have an attention deficit kind of thing going on. I can't read more than 2 sentences before nodding off to sleep. I seriously need more hours in a day. But I need to find a way to stay awake for them. Do you know how long it takes to read a book 2 sentences at a time? Longer than my attention span, I'll tell ya.
My goals for today? Knit something. Read my 2 sentences. Be happy. It's all good!
Inishmaan from Alice Starmore Fisherman Knits done in Candide yarn, natural sheep color. Started February 2003, finished February 2004. This is my first sweater project! I love it!
It occured to me that I did not follow my own cardinal rule for fair isle knitting. That rule is, "Understand your knitting!" Don't just follow the pattern blindly, understand the pattern. Become one with it. I did not do this and remember what came out of it? Let me tell you, it got worse before it got better. I knit another 3 rows onto the mess and it got messier. Stitches were willy nilly all over the place, making no rhyme nor reason. It was knitting mayhem, I tell ya! Here to remind you..
UGH! PU! IT's history, now, folks!
Brigitte is on the right track again. My stitches are all in a row. Life is good. I also realize that when I know that something is wrong in a project and some frogging is imminent, I stall. I get severe ennui. Procrastination baby! I must be spurred on to action or the project will start to languish. Some day, I'll have to introduce you to my languishing pile. Each of those projects have something wrong with it. Do I set myself and fix them? no. Do I decide to live with it and knit on? no. They sit. And sit. Some have sat for a good long time and may even be dust covered!! Someday, my knitters, someday!!
The Postman rung twice. Actually, he didn't ring at all. The package was just left in there. I am truly a yarnaholic. But you already know that. I'm also a startaholic. Especially a new yarn that came in the mail today from Threadbear and it's heavenly indeedaholic. Lorna's Laces Angel.
Never mind Charlie's Angels. These are Lorna's Angels, and they are prettier. Can't fight crime, though.
Size is deceiving though, isn't it?
Hey, Little guy! Come here often?
They say that good things come in small packages. Believe me, knitters, this one is true. I wish you could reach into your computer and feel this yarn. It is truly the softest yarn you will ever feel in your ENTIRE life. Or your money back! Made of 70% Angora and 30% Lambswool! It's a nose tickler. As I knit, little fuzzies fly past my nose and tickle it. I love it!
You've got to feel me to believe me!
This particular colorway is called Seaside. An appropriate name, no? Another scarf for me. Can a girl have too many scarves? Geez...what is going on in the right bottom corner?? Let me check. Loosy goosy cast on, I believe.
Now, back to my regularly scheduled knitting of Brigitte and the Fog sweater!
Oh, and quick note to Mary Beth.....order some peace fleece, baby! ;)
Here's an extreme closeup of the yoke of brigitte as it stands today. I can't help but feel that there is a mistake at the top. See the dark blue stitches being put into the light blue? they are supposed to line up and make a V shape like the light blue and off white ones below it. They don't seem to be co-operating, do they? I think some ripping may be in brigitte's future. Drats.
Thanks to Ingrid, who reminded me of These cute movie shorts! And don't forget about Muffin Films! These take the seriousness away from the day!
Knit on, my friends! And don't forget about signing up for the Knitters Secret Pal! We now have 3 buttons to choose from!
Java. It is my nemesis. Not the coffee. The computer snafu, er...program. I don't have it. I can't get it. That means that in the place of pretty pictures, there is a gaping hole. Oh, for a computer nerd right about now. Derek is my hardware nerd. Now I need a software nerd.
In between fiddling with the java, I have made a little bit of progress on brigitte.
Freaky looking, I know, but everyone's gotta start somewhere!
And after I'm done for the evening on Brigitte, I need some decompressing time, so I knit on this..
This is the best looking fog I've ever spyed!
The Zarya Fogeveryday cardigan! It is a joy and mindless, which is just what I need after the tangled knitting on brigitte.
I am getting lots of emails for the secret pal program! Keep them coming. Spread the word! Adopt a button! I am trying to email you as I get your request so you will know that you are in! Like flynn! I am very excited about this. Thanks for being excited too!
It has been a while since I showed you Brigitte. She's coming along nicely, with the exception of one glaring dropped stitch that I noticed last night. Unfortunately, it is at the part where the underarm is bound off, so I can't figure out how to reach down and fix it. I am pondering a fix as I don't feel like ripping more than half of it out. ~sigh~ ouch. Hurts my knitting ego a tad.
Look, Ma! I've got arms!!
Other than a gaping hole, she's looking good! I'm ready to start the colorwork on the yoke. This sweater is so amazingly fast! I"m loving it!
Knitting Secret Pal Program
Come one, come all. I've heard from many, and I am thrilled. So.....here's the scoop. Please email me your name, snail mail address*, blog address, email address (pretty much every address you can find....) along with your birth date and anything else buddy related:). My email address is to the left of the page. I'm thinking that I will keep it open for a couple of weeks to let the word spread. So, spread the word. Then I will put all names into a hat of some sort and pick pals randomly, trying to keep the pals within their own country, if possible. Any idea of how long you want this to last? A full year might be fun, that way you can include holiday and b-day surprises. Also, I'm thinking that this shouldn't be a major investment. It just takes a little something to make someone feel special. And it doesn't have to be knitting related, or a knitted item, although of course, it could be. It might be fun to culminate with a personal knitted something, though that will be up to you. One thing though. Please be serious. It's lousy to sign up and have a buddy that won't send anything!! So, what do you think? Anything to add? Subtract? Thoughts, please!!
Spread the word...ooooh, this is exciting. And of course, I send a button call out again! Anyone? *note.....Don't worry about leaving your address with me. I am much too busy to be a stalker. Note to stalkers.....Do not contact me. I will not sell you these names and addresses. No, I won't. Don't bother stalking me! I won't!!
Paczi. It's a Polish pastry that is a pre-lent tradition. No, I'm not Polish. But I was at a bakery that sold these. I have eaten more than one of these. Let's just leave it at that. Bring on the carrot sticks!
I am having some kind of trouble loading things into the side part of my blog. This, specifically is where I wanted to place the lovely button for the knitters secret pals. Some mysterious thing is preventing me from doing this, so I'll just put it here. Everyday. Rats. much thanks to Tiffany for helping a button challenged girl out. Email me to join.
I started the color work on Brigitte last night. I got about 4 rows done. With 255 stitches in each row, well, you do the math. 4 rows is plenty!
Again, the call goes out for the Knitting Secret Pal Program. Let me know if you are interested. Read yesterday's post for the birth of the plan. Oh, and spread the word. The more the merrier, sir!
I'm feeling kinda blah. The mid winter blues have taken over. I don't want to get out of my jammies and slippers. But I have to and that is making me grumpy! Hrmph! As I was cruising the blogs today, I saw mention of a gift exchange. I believe it was Valentine's related. Wish I could remember where. You know who you are and are welcomed to set me straight. I love the idea of a secret pal. Anyone else up for a secret pal? If you are interested, let me know. Wouldn't a small token showing up in your mailbox from a knitting bud cheer up your day? I"m talking small tokens, nothing to break the bank with. I guess some rules could be set up in case anyone else is interested.
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with my everyday cardigan!
The name Zarya Fog has intrigued me. What does it mean? I had to find out. Zarya is the Russian word for Sunrise and is the name given to a Russian Space Module to symbolize the new dawn in the Space Era. It is owned by the U.S. and built in Russia. The sister mission of Zarya is a U.S. module named Unity. They met in space to begin construction on the biggest space station in history. The ill fated Endeavor mission docked at Zarya and began it's co-operative work in 1999, fullfilling the destiny of the Apollo mission who left a plaque on the moon in 1972 saying, "We came in peace for all mankind".
Well, excuse my unexpected day off from blogging. You'd expect I'd have some wild stories of how my day was spent, wouldn't you? Well, you'd think! Just imagine, working, mothering, wife-ing....I lead such a glamorous life! :)
The lopi sweater is making me feel like I am a warp speed knitter. And we all know otherwise.
I have about 6 more rows to go on sleeve number one. Because I attend the Alpha class on Wednesday nights, where I spend at least an hour knitting, I had to come up with something else to knit. Lopi sleeve was nearing completion, I knew it wouldn't last the hour. Then it's on to sleeve number 2, but I have to concentrate to do the colorwork. So....what's a girl to do? START something!!! (rubbing my knitting needles together in glee) So, the Everyday Cardigan in Zarya Fog Peacefleece is born.
It's a girl!
After much raging debate within about Zarya fog vs. Buffalo Brownski, I ended up using a very scientific method of choice. Maybe you've heard of it? Eeney, meeny, miney, mo?? Works everytime!
My first dream was that I was reading Kerstin's blog. That was the dream. Reading the blog. I wish I remember what it said.
The second dream was a little more elaborate. This one had Lisa, Paul and Kerstin arriving at my house to go to knitsmiths together. (Kerstin got double dream duty last night!) But I was sitting in my nightgown and sweatpants when they arrived. I apologized to them and went to get ready. Then I proceeded to take a shower, while they are waiting for me. Then I couldn't find my purse so I went out looking for it. Leaving them waiting at my home. I arrived back home about an hour later and they were still waiting. It was 4:30 at this point and we still had a 35-40 minute drive. I was frantic that I had made everyone sit around for so long. AND they saw my nightgown with the rip down the seam. How embarrassing!
I woke up with that feeling like I had let them down. How inconsiderate of the dreamstate me to keep those lovely knitters waiting. Wonder what that was all about??
I decided to zoom through the color knitting on the first Brigitte sleeve when arriving home from knitsmiths last night. My goal was to get the concentration part over with and then have clear saliing knitting for tonight. Monday night is often tough to keep the eyelids propped open, you know!
And a close up of the wonderful yarn...
Just so you can appreciate the full depth of color. It is stunningly beautiful! And you can also see that the yarn is quite hairy. So, to answer Melanie's question, Yes, I do find it quite hairy. But I love that about the yarn. She also asked if the hair was annoying me by shedding. Okay, well, I paraphrase. I have noticed it shedding while working on it. And I hadn't given any thought about when I wear it. Being a jeans and turtleneck kind of gal, though, I don't anticipate that bothering me. I may be wrong. Any thoughts on this experienced Lopi users? And to answer her final question, I believe that Alafoss Lopi and Reynolds Lopi are the same product but marketed under different names in different countries! The color names are different though. Here's the link if you want to check out the names.
Besides the rowan polar that I showed you yesterday, these have made their way to my home..
No suggestive pose here!
The top one is Jo Sharp silkroad aran tweed color number5, tartan, and is it soft and wonderful! The bottom 2 are peace fleece! YUM! What wonderful colors! What wonderful yarn! Color number 38 which is called Zarya Fog and on the bottom color number 39, whose name is Buffalo Brownski! What a great name! I think I have to use this yarn just to have the name! The colors are rich and speckled with surprise colors. It would be a fair question to wonder what are my plans for these yarns. Dunno. I have them sitting in plain view and am waiting for the inspiration to hit me. Will the inspiration hit? Will I be able to knit a garment that actually fits? Stay tuned.....:)
A noreaster is beginning to hit us. Snow, ice and sleet are forcasted. Unfortunately it did not start early enough to cancel the day. It is just beginning now as we begin our day. I'd much rather be snowed in at home than at work, or school or wherever is not home.
THANK YOU! SO MUCH! for all your wonderful comments on Inishmaan! I am blushing with joy and pride! I will wear it for a while with the long sleeves. Until it bothers me and then I'll decide whether I will change it or not. For now, it stays, baby!
What am I working on now?
It's the Lopi Brigitte! I'm loving Lopi more than I thought I would! It is a pleasure and very fast, as you can see! I have about 3 more inches to go before starting the sleeves! Unless I get knitting attention deficit syndrome again, this one should be a fast knit!
This is a ball of Rowan Polar that came in the mail yesterday. I thought I would love it. But I like it! Love is not in the stars for this Polar. Is it the color? Maybe. A tad bright. It is really soft, but I just don't love it as much as it's sister, Rowan Plaid. Sad to compare siblings as such, isn't it? I evisioned Polar mittens and that is what is started. But they do not have long. This will be heading to frog heaven soon.
My computer has been acting screwy louie lately. My virus scan picked up a virus last night and said it could not contain it. This morning I am doing a virus scan and it does not show up! Where did it go? And Lycos! Man! They are getting on my one last nerve! They have hijacked our browser (even though I have a program to prevent that, thank you very much) and whatever site we type in, we get redirected to their darned search page! ARGHHHH! I wish I was a computer nerd and knew what to do.....What to do???
Okay, so. Inishmaan. It is a beautiful sweater! I loved working on it! Every minute of it was pure joy. I lie. The second sleeve was not joy! And I thank all of you for the wonderful comments on it's beauty! But it is inner beauty. It's time to get real. Can we talk??
Inishmaan is not the most flattering sweater I could wear. Honest. Judge for yourself!
warning: crappy picture alert! Shrinking digital pictures=poor quality. Lesson learned
If there is something I don't need is anything to make me look....um....wider. But this serves the purpose. The sleeves are about 5 inches too long. Okay, so I'm stylish! And oddly enough it makes my boobs look like they are splayed to the side. All of that said! I LOVE IT!!! It fills me with joy to wear it! Even though I end up looking like a frumpy old grandmother wearing it. Ah! The price of fashion! Heehee! NOW!!! No fair taking back all of the nice things you said yesterday! I won't allow it! What is said, is said. No undos!
The specifics.....
This Inishmaan sweater was brought to you by Reynolds Candide yarn. It is wonderful, old fashioned feeling yarn, if you know what I mean. If you don't know what I mean, come on over and feel for yourself. The pattern is from Fishermans Sweaters by Alice Starmore. This is my first big project. Previous to starting this, I had knit a scarf and some socks. I figured if I could knit this, then I could knit anything. The jury is still out! I actually yearn to complete another Starmore, although I have not narrowed it down. Perhaps I will knit shorter sleeves next time!
So, there you have it. A behind the scenes look at my Inishmaan! If you see me on the street wearing it, please don't mention how long the sleeves are. Or the other things.
Two important things to talk about today! First, today is the official one year blog-iversary of Sandysknitting!
Never did I imagine as I timidly entered the blogging world how many friends I would meet along the way! Thanks to you all!
And secondly. The secret! Drum Roll Please...
Inishmaan back
Inishmaan front
INISHMAAN IS FINISHED!!! I worked like a knitting/seaming dog to finish this weekend! My family went hungry, laundry went undone, dishes are piled in the sink, but I'd say it's worth it, don't you agree? It is fitting that the one year blogiversary and the finishing of Inishmaan go hand in hand, because this sweater is the reason that I wanted to try out blogging. I knew that I didn't have the skills that would make it possible so I thought if I blogged about it, I could get help if needed! I'll talk more about Inishmaan tomorrow and tell you my thoughts on it. For now, I'll enjoy the finishing high!
Yes, it's that time of year when the Super Bowl is played. An event so filled with hype that everyone must make believe to be into it. Sure, I want the New England Patriots to win! It would be blasphemous not to! However, this evening, I will be sitting in the Charles Playhouse in Boston watching the Blue Man Group! Hey! Hubby bought the tickets, not me! So I will not feel guilty one iota watching blue men during football time!
In the meantime, it seams I have a secret I'll be sharing with you. Maybe tomorrow. Possibly Tuesday! Soon, my blogging friends. Soon. I can't tell you yet, but Maan! Is it a good one!
I'm finished the color work on the bottom of Brigitte. Now it's just 14 inches of stockinette! That I can handle! It's looking good, although I really need to get a longer needle. This one drives me bonkers. I'm using a 24 inch and I really need longer! Thanks to all who gave me great advice on handling 3 color knitting. Last night I followed none of it. I had only 2 rows of colorwork left and I just plunged through it, tangles and all! I will employ better knitting practices when I reach the top of the sweater!
Look what is hanging around my house. Mr. Hawk. This is strange because I live near the downtown area of Beverly. Not much forest around here! Tell me something, does this Hurley Hawk here like to eat cats? I'm a tad nervous lately with him hanging out. He can help himself to all the mice and little birds he wants, but talons off the kitty!
As I cruise through the scarfalong list, I see some snazzy scarves! Keep up the great scarf work! Join in if you want! And if you've already joined, make sure I have your blog address listed. Let me know if I've missed it!
Happy Mothers Day to all you mothers out there. You know who you are! Being a mother is by far the most rewarding, yet, most challenging job I have ever had. It is the most happy, angry, sad, frustrating, wonderful, proud, achingly horrible, worrisome, joyful experience of my life. If you have children, I'm sure that you could agree.
Here it is..... The Secret Suki! In all it's glory. I am almost done the body of the bag. I am using cascade 220. The real color stretch is the fuzz. It is purple. Does it go well? I think so. I'm not sure. I'll make my final decision when it's felted. I am obsessed with getting it done.
Here is an interesting thing taken from the Knit flame list that I thought you'd like to read. I found it amusing. And I quote,
"...."Why do you idiots read blogs? I can understand the egotistical writers who think their words are good enough to entertain the masses, but why do you stupid sheep read them? Don't you have thoughts of your own that you want to go peek in other people's minds? Sheesh! What a bunch of losers."
Interesting, isn't it, sheep? I say this as one sheep to another sheep. I joined the knitflame list at yahoo groups out of curiosity. And I have regretted it. It is like a train wreck. You don't want to look, but you find yourself fascinated and can't tear your eyes away from it. I will have to force myself to unsubscribe soon, as my blood pressure rises every time I "tune in".
I have finished the book, The Secret Life of Bees. It is one of the best books I have read in a while. Very touching, very enlightening. Would anyone care to read it? I can send it off. A book swap? And speaking of sending things.....I am involved in the "Great International Candy Exchange" with two bloggers from Canada. How exciting it that? I can tell you it was fun shopping for some candy that they "may or may not" have in Canada. The day came to mail off the packages, and, not having any boxes or packaging material, I went to Mailboxes Etc. BIG MISTAKE. I tell you this story, not to make the 2 recipients of the candy boxes feel bad, but to enlighten the masses, so to speak. Learn from my mistake! They packaged it up, weighed it, I filled out more forms than I ever thought necessary and then charged me $62.00!!!!!!! (Which, for you Canadians is 86 CAD, according to the exchange rate.) YIKES! I paid it in stunned silence (hard to believe) and walked out. I stewed on it for a day, and then checked into the postal rates. It should have cost me about $30 for both packages! Hey! I've been robbed! So, I call the good people at Mailboxes, Etc, just to see what's up. I explain to them the situation, and they proceed to tell me that being a private business, they can charge whatever rates they want to!!!! Oh my! You are KIDDING???!! Nope they are not kidding. Please do NOT go to Mailboxes , Etc to mail packages. Go to USPS! thank you for listening. And send money to.......OH, I"M ONLY KIDDING! My family can still eat this week and everything. NO big deal. Just the frugal Yankee in me is cringing!
Happy Mothers Day! Happy sunday! I must finish Suki!
I wonder if people are offended by the thought that I set June 1st as the start date for Suki and here I am working gangbusters on it on May 9th. Hmmmm....I hope not. I am tempted to say, "hey, MY blog, MY knitting!" but I say that here only joking because I think there will be some readers who were not around during the great blog rule debate and would not understand that I was only joking. Then I would start some big controversy, people would send me some money, and overall I would not be liked anymore. So, instead, I say, "GEEZ, I just can't stop myself!" Suki is singing it's siren call and I am weak and cannot resist! But BOY! Am I enjoying it! Of course I love how quickly it works up. I did take a picture so you could see the colors, but since it is a rainy, dreary morning, the picture came out horrible. So, I'll try later today.
I am reading the Secret Life of Bees. To those of you who highly recommended it to me, THANK YOU! I am torn now between reading and knitting. My hats off to those of you who can do both!
You are a talented bunch! I, however, must choose one or the other. Last Sunday I read in the book about Lyndon Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act. So happens that evening, I watch the show American Dreams and I see President Johnson signing the civil rights act. Two times in one day it is brought to my attention. I figure this is a smack up side of the head from Father/Mother History that I need to be giving this some thought. That was the year 1964. I was 3 years old. Too young to know what was going on, but yet here it is in my lifetime. Not so long ago, although my kids would beg to differ. I have always butted heads with my Mother on the issue of bigotry. She is a very prejudiced woman. I did not learn what I was taught in that respect. I value people for WHO they are on the inside. Black, white, red or purple! I like people on WHO they are. Spritually, emotionally and intellectually. Oh, sometimes just on emotion. Never on color. My Mom and I differ on this entirely. But maybe now I can see where she is coming from. Not that I condone or understand her thoughts, but seeing and reading on this time, I see the struggle that went on. The mindset was so different. And change comes hard in life. To some, it is harder than others. So, I bring another part of my being to understanding WHO my mother is. It is a process. A long one at that.
much thanks to
Happy Mothers Day to all you mothers out there. You know who you are! Being a mother is by far the most rewarding, yet, most challenging job I have ever had. It is the most happy, angry, sad, frustrating, wonderful, proud, achingly horrible, worrisome, joyful experience of my life. If you have children, I'm sure that you could agree.
In all it's glory. I am almost done the body of the bag. I am using cascade 220. The real color stretch is the fuzz. It is purple. Does it go well? I think so. I'm not sure. I'll make my final decision when it's felted. I am obsessed with getting it done. 
You are a talented bunch! I, however, must choose one or the other. Last Sunday I read in the book about Lyndon Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act. So happens that evening, I watch the show American Dreams and I see President Johnson signing the civil rights act. Two times in one day it is brought to my attention. I figure this is a smack up side of the head from Father/Mother History that I need to be giving this some thought. That was the year 1964. I was 3 years old. Too young to know what was going on, but yet here it is in my lifetime. Not so long ago, although my kids would beg to differ. I have always butted heads with my Mother on the issue of bigotry. She is a very prejudiced woman. I did not learn what I was taught in that respect. I value people for WHO they are on the inside. Black, white, red or purple! I like people on WHO they are. Spritually, emotionally and intellectually. Oh, sometimes just on emotion. Never on color. My Mom and I differ on this entirely. But maybe now I can see where she is coming from. Not that I condone or understand her thoughts, but seeing and reading on this time, I see the struggle that went on. The mindset was so different. And change comes hard in life. To some, it is harder than others. So, I bring another part of my being to understanding WHO my mother is. It is a process. A long one at that.