Thinking of Spring

Even though Calgary is still firmly in the grasp of Old Man Winter, I'm dreaming about spring. Specifically, knitting for spring. This pattern was in the last shipment from Blue Sky Alpaca




And then there was this yarn, (Skinny Dyed Cotton in Zinc)

And well, the temptation was just too great. So, even though I should be working on something useful like my bulky sweater or thrummed mitts or the like, I'm busy trying to figure out how to shorten the skirt portion of that top and looking on-line for pretty ribbon.

Liza {who's planning to close all the blinds, turn up the heat and pretend it's close enough to spring to make knitting this reasonable}

What I didn't talk about

I had a whole long post ready to go in which I whined a whole lot about sleep or rather not sleeping, but I decided that was something I wasn't going to bore folks (including myself) about. Instead I'm gonna show you what happens when you go to Tuesday Knit Nite after a new shipment arrives.

It seems you see yummy yarn like this:
(Dream in Color's Smooshy)

And you decide you must make this:
(Jeanie from Knitty Winter 2007)


So, you buy said yarn and thus break your determination that you were not going to buy anymore yarn. Or at least, not buy anymore yarn that day. I am soooo weak. However, it must be noted that I did not buy this:

(Jordana Paige's Bella in Purl)

.

.

.

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Yet, anyway.

In other news, our weather has greatly improved as a chinook has blown in. Yay!

Liza {who's sure she'll break down on that bag sooner or later, it's perfect!}

Progress Report

In an effort to keep on track, I thought I'd give a progress report on my Mission Possible 2008 goals at the begining of each month. Or that's the plan, we'll see how that goes.

1) Give away, sell, whatever, but get rid of the 2 bags of random “what was I thinking” yarn (seems if you put a sale sign on it, I’ll buy anything). Done
2) Offspring # 2’s Blue Sky Alpacas’ Hooded Pullover in Dyed Cotton (the one that was supposed to be for Christmas). Finished first sleeve, working on the second.
3) Jumbo cat blanket (aka an afghan for the living room, but I might as well be honest about it’s eventual fate). A couple more inches done~man this is a slog.

4) KP&S’s Weekend Neck Down Jacket in Blue Sky Alpacas’ bulky. Not touched this for a couple of weeks. Really could have used it this week though, it's been cold!
5) All the little kid items (charity knitting) that have been languishing about. I’m counting this as one item even though there are, oh, 2 vests, 3 cardi’s, 2 pullovers and a baby sweater in the bunch . Mostly because they all just need a little bit of finishing work. Nada.
6) At least 2 pairs of socks of the ½ dozen or so on the needles. One pair finished, of course I also started another pair since making this list, but we won't talk about that.
7) The Blue Sky Alpacas’ Eyelet Cardigan in Dyed Cotton (it just needs finishing work). Haven't even pulled it out of it's bag yet. However, it is a summer sweater and well, summer feels a long way off yet.
8) 2 new items for charity (deadline of Feb. 8th for charity knit night @ Make One Yarn Studio). Nothing here, better hurry with this as that's this Friday. Someone please explain how it got to be FEBRUARY already?
9) My version of Mr. Greenjeans in Dream in Color’s Cocoakiss. If moving it from one knitting bag to another counts as progress, then there's been some. Otherwise, not so much.
10) KP&S’s Neckdown Wrap Cardigan in Malabrigo (same pattern as the one in the previous post). Ditto.
11) Blue Sky Alpacas’ Scoop Neck Vest in Classic Elite’s Renaissance. I found the final ball of yarn for this that I'd misplaced, that counts as progress, doesn't it?
12) Fleece Artist’s Lady of the Lake in Curlylocks and Fleece Artist Aran Yarn. Not even sure where this one's gotten too. Probably in the pile of project bags beside my knitting spot.

As an aside, living in Calgary can provide some interesting suprises. For example, I opened my kitchen blinds this morning in time to see this whip by. And I do mean whip, it was going fast!

Liza {who wonders about these folks sanity, it was flippin' cold this morning and they're out there in a balloon? }

New Year, New Post.

Nothing like starting the year off right. If by "right" you mean as usual, even though you kinda, sorta decided to change your usual MO as part of a New Year's resolution. I had decided to stop putting off the things I want to do, like blogging more and finishing up projects and trying out new techniques etc. Yeah, going well, that. Sigh, procrastination is my second (and third and fourth) name.


However, I am determined to fight that tendency and as part of that effort, I've joined Mission Possible 2008 over on Ravelry. I thought I'd share my list here as well, as sort of a back-up reminder system. So here it is:

1) Give away, sell, whatever, but get rid of the 2 bags of random “what was I thinking” yarn (seems if you put a sale sign on it, I’ll buy anything).

2) Offspring # 2’s Blue Sky Alpacas’ Hooded Pullover in Dyed Cotton (the one that was supposed to be for Christmas).

3) Jumbo cat blanket (aka an afghan for the living room, but I might as well be honest about it’s eventual fate).

4) KP&S’s Weekend Neck Down Jacket in Blue Sky Alpacas’ bulky.

5) All the little kid items (charity knitting) that have been languishing about. I’m counting this as one item even though there are, oh, 2 vests, 3 cardi’s, 2 pullovers and a baby sweater in the bunch . Mostly because they all just need a little bit of finishing work.

6) At least 2 pairs of socks of the ½ dozen or so on the needles.

7) The Blue Sky Alpacas’ Eyelet Cardigan in Dyed Cotton (it just needs finishing work).

8) 2 new items for charity (deadline of Feb. 8th for charity knit night @ Make One Yarn Studio).

9) My version of Mr. Greenjeans in Dream in Color’s Cocoakiss.

10) KP&S’s Neckdown Wrap Cardigan in Malabrigo (same pattern as the one in the previous post).

11) Blue Sky Alpacas’ Scoop Neck Vest in Classic Elite’s Renaissance.

12) Fleece Artist’s Lady of the Lake in Curlylocks and Fleece Artist Aran Yarn.

Well, that all took an inordinate amount of time, so I think I'll leave it at that for now.



Liza {who still retains her title of technodolt}

Bowing to pressure

So, yeah not so much with the updating here, eh? It's not that there's been no knitting, in fact there's been quite a lot. It's the lack of pictures that's the problem. Someday I'll figure out the techmologies enough that I can take my own pictures, however, today is not that day. So, you'll have to settle for what I can yank off the interwebs.

The most recent thing off the needles is a Knitting Pure and Simple's wrap cardigan.I used Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Black Purl and it's looking pretty good if I do say so myself.

Also off the needles (finally) is the Rectangular Shawl. It still needs the crochet edging, I think I might need to get some help with that though.

Another FO is a Chevron Scarf, the pattern's from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts, by Joelle Hoverson. It's a nice pattern and a fairly easy knit but, I'd have to say, waiting to the actual last minute to knit this one would be a mistake. Four balls of fingering-weight yarn on 3.75mm needles does not, IMNSHO, a quick knit make. I don't have any pictures of my version, but here are a lot of wonderful ones.

There are more FOs, but I think I've pushed my luck w/the whole techmology thing today (only managed to delete something unintentionally once this time). So, I think I'll leave the rest for another day. Who knows, maybe by the next time I update I'll actually have figured out the picture thing.

Liza {who adds, but don't count on that}

Summer Knitting

I have been getting nothing but grief for not posting for almost 2 months...yes, I know. I am a bad blogger. I promise I will attempt to get better at it. However, on to the reason for the post. I have been busy knitting this summer and have finally taken a couple of pictures of the items to post.

First off...2 new pair of socks. Both of these socks are made out of Tofutsies in the great pattern that KnittingGrammy started me out on. Indy decided he also needed to be in on the photo.

Next project is a Chevron Scarf made out of Koigu. I still haven't blocked it so you don't get a full picture, just a shot to give you an idea of it.

The next pair of socks a simple version of the 2 socks made out of Tofutsies. I made this pair out of Drops Alpaca. These are going to be going to a very good friend of mine as a little thank you for her support this summer. Hopefully she will like them.

And last but not least, I made a kitten bed for my little fuzzies. I of course had to deviate from the pattern and it did not turn out to be what I wanted at all!! However, from the pictures, both Dega and Indy don't seem to mind that it didn't really turn out. I am going to have to try this pattern again and actually, follow the pattern completely.

I promise I will post in the next couple of days on what is currently on my needles. Until then...peace....out!

Sock Bandwagon

It was a couple of years ago that Liza told me she was going to take a knitting sock class. My reaction, why would you do that? What purpose is there to knit socks? I mean...you can get 4 pair for $5.00 at any Walmart or Zellers...why knit them?

Over the last couple of years I have watched Liza and many others knit socks. At M1 SnB I have listened to many talk about the sock yarn they have just gotten, the pattern that they were going to knit on their next pair, the pattern they were designing for knitting socks. Let me tell you, it was overwhelming and frankly, I felt totally out of the loop. I decided I was going to take a class....no classes available at M1 for at least a month. To understand this issue, you need to understand that when I get an idea in my head, it has to happen now....not in a month, not in a week....NOW!! I couldn't wait that long! So, over to the patterns I go to see if there is a pattern that will walk me through the process of knitting socks. Of course this is rather funny considering I suck at reading patterns...why do I think I will be able to actually accomplish this? Because I am desperate....remember I must do it NOW!! Obviously Knitting Grammy heard the desperation in my voice as she offered to meet me at M1 that Friday afternoon to teach me the miracle knitting of socks. So, over the next couple of Friday afternoons Knitting Grammy and I met at M1 and went through the process of knitting a sock....the final outcome....

My first sock made out of Opal Sock yarn. Dega, my oldest cat, checking it out. Yes, I did make the second sock. So I now have a matching pair and I am now hooked on knitting socks. And yes, I now know why people knit socks rather than just buying all at Walmart or Zellers.

My second pair is made out of Tofutsies (picture to come at a later date). My third pair which I casted on last night are again out of Tofutsies. Yes, I know...boring doing it out of the same type of yarn but I was desperate last night to start something new and all my other sock yarn needs to be wound.......hmmm... LIZA!!