The Lopi Brigette sweater is happily growing! But I'm not going to show you pictures of it today. Today, I digress!
My favorite author, Anne Tyler, has a new book out. The Amatuer Marraige. The next time I go to the grocery store, I must pick it up. Yes, I know the grocery store is an unusual place to buy books, but it's convienient! Have you read her? The Accidental Tourist is one of my favorite books!
It has been so cold here lately, that I wanted to see how it affected the beach. Here it is..
There are big chunks of ice all along the waters edge with a sheet of ice extending into the water about 5 feet. It is very impressive! Makes me cold. I must have some tea!
And just for a bit of fun, check out the penguin smackdown! It's not a terribly complicated game. Just for one or two laughs. *
Happy Friday!
*remember, no actual penguins were harmed in the playing of the penguin smackdown!
Finally, I own a handknit scarf! Finished it last night and wore it right out! It is made out of 5 balls of Katia Reno plus yarn, which is a yummy blend of wool and mohair! It has a wonderful feel to it! How are the rest of the scarfalongers coming along??
Yesterday I had the day off from work as I waited for the delivery of our new furniture. The first part of the day was spent in a cleaning frenzy. Furniture arrived around noon and then I have to admit to hours and hours of selfish knitting time. I haven't done that in so long, it was heavenly! I was determined to finish the scarf.
My new knitting chair! It is so comfy, cozy. Just the perfect spot to settle in for a long winters knit! See the afghan resting on the arm? That was my first foray into fiber crafting. I taught myself to crochet and that is the result. It is made out of Plymouth encore, a yarn that doesn't get enough good press, in my humble opinion! But I digress. See the wonderful Bartlett wool sitting on the chair? Yes, I'm swatching it! YES! You read right! ME!!! Swatching! My plan was to work on the Inishmaan sweater, but I ran out of yarn. I thought I had another ball stashed, but I was wrong! (don't quote me on that!) I visited my LYS and they were out but more is ordered. I have to check back late next week. So.....a girl has to knit, doesn't she?? So, I swatch with the Quest yarn!
Thanks for sharing all your first ticket stories yesterday. It's good to remember what it was like to be a teen every now and then. Then we can appreciate the fine art of being an adult even more!
3 color knitting or how to wipe that smug look off my face!
I was smugly knitting along on the Lopi Brigette sweater (which, by the way, in my opiniated opinion, is Nothing like an Sos Pad! ), thinking, "Damn, I'm good at two color knitting!" Yup. Conceited and all. You know that just because I had that single thought, the universe tips on its side, making sure that I eat my words! So, I contentedly knit along. Then I reach the row. The fated row that changes my thoughts on myself! This row has 3 colors. Okay, I think, I'm so good at two, what's one more??? I relish the thought. I begin and it doesn't take long to hear the POP. Yes, that's my bubble breaking. All of a sudden I have a huge pile of knots in my lap. What used to be 2 well organized balls of yarn are now 3 heaping piles of strings. So, the rest of the evening went something like this.....
Knit 1 1/2 stitches. Spend 10 minutes untangling 3 balls of yarn. Knit 3 more stitches. Untangle, 20 minutes.
Yes, yes, I exaggerate. But that's what it felt like. OY! I am done 7 rows and dang if it doesn't look pretty good. Should a person actually sweat while knitting? It's not right? Any advice for the formerly smug newbie at knitting 3 colors in the same row? Please? Just make some up if you don't have legitimate advice!!
I started the Lopi sweater, which will forevermore remind me of my fiber trip to Maine with some of the best people I know! Talk about meaning behind the knitting! This color is rich and vibrant! I love how many other colors make their subtle debut! This sweater calls for seed stitch ribbing. It threw me for a loop until I was set straight by fellow knitsmith Tanya. Never heard of seed stitch ribbing, but....learn something new every day! I have also learned 2 other things from this fledgling cardigan....
1. 159 stitches in a row is a lot of danged knitting. It takes a long time to do one row! "Just one more row, honey" takes on new meaning!
2. Purling across 159 stitches makes my left hand ache. This one, I'm going to have to work on. I do not want Lopi injuries. I guess I"ll have to work on bulking up my hand. I'll treat it like it is a boxers hand. I'll give it special treatment. "come on, hand, you can do it!" I"ll wrap it in warm cloths and give it stretching exercises. I'll even feed it chocolate, if that's what it wants. But it must learn to love the purl!
Another beautiful scarf is finished over at Ginn Fizz. Check it out! Our necks are being warmed! Join in, it's not too late!!
I get to wear my mittens for the first time today. Well, the other day, I wore the one that was finished and oddly enough no one said anything about my mismatched mittens! Funny that! These are from Rowan Plaid. Get some. Beg, borrow or dare I even say it?? Steal some! :) You will love it! I used a variation of this pattern.
I"m thrilled that there are still joiners to the scarf along. Join in if you dare. The more the merrier. Check out some of the finished scarves! They are great! Melanie and Beate finished! May your necks be warm!!
I had the pleasure of meeting fellow blogger, Lisa and her wonderfully, charming, knitting fiance yesterday! Lisa is such a sweetie and she is wonderfully charming, herself! :) It astounds me that through this medium, I have met so many great people who really have changed my life. Who could ask for more than that??
I am the proud owner of a couple of dozen more gray hairs for my collection! Last night, around 9:30 pm, Derek came in sobbing. Crying his eyes out. Those of you with 17 year old young men, know that tears do not come easy. He was hysterical. My heart jumped to my throat. I could barely speak. I looked him up and down thinking he must have been in a car accident. I was looking for blood, bumps, bruises, limbs askew. All I could focus on was the sobbing. When he finally was able to blurt out that he had gotten a speeding ticket, I was mildly relieved! He handed me the ticket.....80 mph in a 55 mph zone. Yipes. He is leaning against the wall, tears streaming down his face, making such heartwrenching noises. "Oh, Derek" is all I could say. Then I saw it. What he was upset about. $250! And oddly enough, I don't care! He is safe. No one is hurt. It's just money. Of course, It's HIS money! :) Hey, he has to learn a lesson somehow, doesn't he?? I stand on the belief that we all make mistakes. We 'fess up. Pay the consequence and most of all, learn from the mistake. However.....don't make the mistake again. I have sharp, knitting implements that could be used against him!!!
Well, okay, there IS one more thing that I bought at Halcyon.
Yup. A black sheepie. Sure! They had your garden variety white sheep, but how can one resist a black one? The black sheep is my idol, after all. I smuggled this guy home and he resides on my computer to remind me of the great fun had that day!
The inadvertant rip along. I did not intend to join in. I did not plan any ripping. But all of a sudden, I was a club member of Alison's rip along! Just so you know, this it the Fourth time that I ripped. But, HEY! Who's counting??!! I could not get the pattern to do what I wanted. So, when all else fails, tweak the pattern! Yesterday morning, I'm at a meeting at work. Boss is saying business type things. Boss: blahblahblah end of the quarter Me (in my mind of course) Okay, 22 stitches was perfect. Boss: blahblahblah.....new owners..... me (mind): I think I need to knit 4 rows after the 2 rows of ribbing. I like them longer.... Boss: blahblahblah......This is important!..... Me: Oh! Oh! I know.....I'll do the decreases from the mitten pattern that I used with the Mountain Colors mittens. I loved those decreases. I can't wait to start them. I'm going to love them like that. Goodness, I hated those decreases at the top of the mittens..... Boss: Okay, that's important to remember. Me: hmmmmm....I thought about knitting all during this meeting.
I've got it bad!
Here is the mitten I dreamed of. The reality of this mitten is better than the meeting place fantasy mitten. This took me about 2 hours from start to finish. Rowan plaid. Get some! Go ahead.....I'll wait! :)
I have been a tad obsessed with getting this done, so NO...I did not start or swatch the Lopi Sweater.
And a big welcome back to Kim! I've missed ya, girl!!!
Well, let's just say that button making is not my strong point! good thing I'm better at knitting! It will do for now. I added the names of people that expressed willingness to scarf with me. I even added a couple who didn't agree! (heehee!) I'll work on begging someone with more computer skills to make another!
Excuse the pause in the Quest talk,my computer was subjected to some major construction. Better now! It's wonderful having a computer geek in the home!
After our wonderful trip to Halcyon, after our refueling session at the Sea Dog Restaurant, the Questers headed to Freeport, Maine where a little unassuming shop resides.
Grace Robinson and Co. or more aptly named, Yarn Heaven. This store proved more yarn existed that us Questers could only previously dream. Rowan?? They've got it? Jaegger? Yup. Every color, every hue, red and yellow, purple, blue! They had it! But we could not linger as we had only a half hour to power shop through this amazing array! And power shop we did! This was my purchase du jour ala Gracey Robinson..
(sigh with me, please) Rowan plaid! YUM!! It is superiorly soft! Well, okay, not as soft as the tennis ball sized $27.50 skein of cashmere. I have successfully blocked out of my memory the name of this heaven on earth yarn. I can't afford it! Probably about 2 yards in each skein! (for more on this cashmere thought, please turn to Kerstin's blog! )
What are my plans for this rowan plaid? Take a look.
Yes sirs and madams. A chunky mitten. This is instant gratification on wooden sticks. Thumbless, yes, for now. It only took me about an hour and a half to come up with this. Of course, this IS the third time I make this same mitten. Started with the 16 stitches the pattern called for. Too small. 20 stitches. Too small. 26 stitches. Too big. 23 stitches.......Just right. 1 1/2 hours for one mitten? You do the math!!
Here's a peek at the view from outside the Sea Dog.
Bridge over Frozen water. Beautiful sight. Sorry, can't answer what river it is. Melissa might be able to help us, wonderful tour guide that she is.
And what else?
Yes! Lopi! Wonderful, colorful Lopi! And last but not least.....
Bartlett Yarn. The color of which is wonderous! I don't know yet what I will do with it. So far, I've just fondled and gazed lovingly!
That's about all about the Quest! Let's wave goodbye, Alison!
The Fiber Quest, 2004 was a rousing success! Yarn was bought, laughs were had, friendships were forged, the best darned chocolate chip cookies were eaten! (thanks for those, Melissa! ) How could you ask more from a day than that?
Kerstin, Leigh, Alison, Claudia, Me and Melissa in front of the Lopi wall. (note to blog reader......this is considered FORESHADOWING!) But Wait! Holy Halcyon, Batman! Where's Mary?? Don't worry, I got Mary covered!
There's something about Mary! She sure is mysterious!
However, in case you are wondering, the phrase, "You Can't get there from here" is not a myth. That was proved by the frustrating disappearance of exits 15-22 on the Maine TollBooth Palooza highway! Go figure! Lots of deep breathing was performed to get us out of panic stricken mode. We were FINE!
Sure, I bought yarn. Alas, you will have to wait to see. Can't be showing you everything today. What will I talk about tomorrow?
A great big wish for safe, happy flights home for Leigh and Mary! May you not hit snow, delays or turbulence!
It is so cold that school has been cancelled today! I don't ever remember that happening. Wat's worse is when they talk about the wind chill factor. Sure, it's minus 12 degrees F, but it FEELS like it's 35 below! Um, that's okay. The minus 12 was enough to warn me not to go out without my gloves and a coat!!
Don't I wish this were done.....
Not quite enough to wrap around my neck yet!!
Thanks to all who are scarfing along! Let's see, so far I've heard from Ginnny, who is knitting a scarf out of Noro Blossom, Karen, the new knitter, Uli, who hasn't decided on a pattern or yarn yet, Nancy, who is making a hooded scarf out of 80%wool and 20% mohair (yum!), Mary Beth who is dreaming of lacy alpaca, and leya. Oh, Leya, of course you don't have to make a scarf. As is usually the case, a knitalong starts with a certain idea and then spawns more. Knit something warm for yourself. There is plenty more of you too busy right now. That's okay. Go ahead and knit for the loved ones~I don't mind! :) If you are on this list and have a blog, be sure to send it to me so I can post it!
Someday we will have an official ScarfAlong button! (It's Friday, I think I'll have some time tonight to fiddle!!)
We have knit for our kids, our husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends, our mothers, our fathers, sisters, brothers! Now it's time OUR necks are warm! Let's scarfalong!! Reach into your stash! Visit your Local Yarn Shop! Order online! Fix a pattern in your brain and let's make scarves for OURSELVES!! We deserve warm necks! We deserve fashionable statements! Join me, I'd love the company!
Here's the beginning of mine! I would make a button, but alas! I cannot! Feel free to dabble!
My scarf is being made out of Katia Reno Plus, color number 613. I fear this picture isn't showing you the real beauty of the yarn. I will try to take a picture of it in the daylight. If there is ever such a thing!
I have been spoiled by the "mild" weather pattern with temperatures reaching way into the 20's. One afternoon, it actually hit 32 degrees F! Back to the arctic reality this morning as the temperature sits at MINUS 8! Yes, -8 degrees F! (that's -22 C, according to my trusty converter!) The extreme cold is singing it's siren song to me. You see, I am scarfless. Yes, it's true. Sad, but true. How can a knitter be scarfless? Beats me! My needles want to knit the simple yet warm scarf my mind has been dreaming up. Alas.....I want to finish the Inishmaan. Soon. I can't do both. If only I didn't have to work. Or cook dinner. Or clean house. Or do laundry. I will remain scarfless~sob~ for awhile more.
Isn't this kitty cute? He was a Christmas gift. No, he's not knitting, but I love him anyway. He is quilting. My former love. Well, maybe love is too strong a word for piecing together tops of quilts. I have the pile of quilt top shame languishing in my home. Forever to remain. I have no...NO ambition to quilt them with a backing. They will remain My Unfinished Symphony! Kitty better get busy. I've got lots for him to do!
See my new poll? If you've used Lopi yarn, please check it out. I WONDER Who could have answered the Pope question.....I wonder.....
The Best of Lopi has me dreaming. The Inishmaan sleeve is approaching half done and I'm daydreaming of....What's next? I'm specifically dreaming of Brigitte....
(insert OOOOOHS and AHHHHHHHS) As luck would have it, I am embarking on a fiber Quest this weekend, with none other than Kerstin, Claudia, Alison, Leigh and Mary! We are making our way to the lovely state of Maine, where we will meet up with Melissa, who will lead our fiber caravan to the mecca known as HALCYON! When I stop my drooling and bowing to the Halcyon, I will shop up a storm. I hope the family understands why the menu includes a lot of macaroni and cheese lately! I have my priorities, you know!
As I (finally) take down the dried out, disheveled Christmas tree, I want to show you this Christmas gift before it gets stored for the year!
The Season of Eating is over. The leftovers have all left the building. The last of the cookies, chocolate, fudge, nuts, more chocolate, lasagne, chips and dips, nachos have been finished off and in it's place is some of the most gorgeous apples, oranges and pears. Not a chocolate in sight. It has been a while since my stomach has actually growled in hunger. That is my goal today. Feel the hunger. It's not a bad thing!
All I can think about is how nice it would be to wear a nice warm sweater. Oh, I don't know, LIKE THIS ONE??!!!
Nothing up my sleeve, except this, sleeve number 2. Finally dug it out and am knitting happily on it. I am going to finish this sleeve from Hell, if it does me in. Why??!! WHY???!!! (said in the Nancy Kerrigan whine) do sleeves seem to take do danged long? I'm sure it's an illusion. One that I do not enjoy! I am going to devote my knitting time to this baby until it is done. Finis. Caput.
If ever a full Kahlua bottle falls off a tall shelf, DO NOT catch it! Don't!
I did! OUCH! Middle finger too! It is an interesting shade of blue though. Hurts a lot more than it looks.
And as a side note, when you buy Kahlua for Christmas, don't forget to serve it. The danged bottle wouldn't have weighed so much if I had just drank it. Shoulda, woulda, coulda!
I'm not convinced that I see houndtooth designs in there. I think it's still an abstract. I'm going to keep plugging away at it though. I WILL knit Elle. If it kills me! :) Can you imagine those headlines?? "Woman killed by Elle. Manhunt ensues. Elle captured and put into prison. Elle will be the first hanging in recent Massachusetts history. " Poor Elle. Shoulda gave more thought before acting so rashly!
Imagine my surprise, when I answered the phone last night and the person on the other end said, "It's Kim, in Idaho!" What?? It just about made my head spin! She called to share some special news with me. Let's just say that there will be a new addition to her family. BUT, it's not my news to spread. You could have blown me over with a feather when I heard her voice! Thank you, Kim, for making my night. Heck! My week! Go on over and bug her to blog about it! go ahead!
I was given a Borders books gift certificate by the ever so thoughtful husband (Borders, by the way, is an affiliate of Amazon! go figure!). I visited the store 2 times, searching for a book or two but then remembered my ever growing pile of fiction books on my nightstand. See the list on the bottom left. Lots of books, no time to read. So, what's a girl with a gift certificate to do?
It's January 4th and things are going right on schedule. I go back to work tomorrow! And I'm more tired than when I left! I need to get back to work so I can rest up! Today is Christmas, part 4. The last one, hurrah for that! The Christmas tree is still up, no surprise there. It's dry and leaving it's needles as new gifts. There are still presents piled up around the room. Where will I find the space for them? I find tinsel in the weirdest places! And.....Elle is on the third try. By George, I think she's got it! I do not mind the struggle somehow. It is a learning process and "I think I can". Of course, as Brooksy has nagged, er....told me, if I would swatch it would be a good thing. I know this, but I remain swatchless. Go figure!
I hope everyone's new year was wonderful! Sure, I've got big plans for the coming year. Oh, they probably sound familiar to you....
Knit more.....Eat less
Read more....Complain less
Exercise more......Spend less......
Blah, blah, blah!
My immediate goal includes finishing Inishmaan. Remember him? And of course, when I set any goals, I get sidetracked. Elle is the object of my affections right now.....
Elle is not going so well. These little darlings do not look like this. They look more like pac mans! I think I see some ripping in my near future.
Oh, ya! One more new year goal....
Less RIPPING! Guess I'll have to start that one tomorrow!
