2011

Happy New Year!

I would have to read the archives to remember most of 2011.  If I'm correct, it was a lot of smooth sailing - not much craziness.  If my resolution last New Years was to live more simply, I think I'm getting closer.  I was steered towards soccer by friends, and I am grateful to those peeps.  I made myself a promise that I would knit twelve Elizabeth Zimmerman patterns, and I did cast on twelve; however, three have yet to be finished.  I'd say that wasn't horribly bad.  I didn't add too much yarn to the stash.  I was somewhat controlled.   I learned a lot about photography.   I got more involved with my community at public discussions, and I consider myself a heck of a lot more engaged.  I renegotiated our mortgage.   I connected with friends and family.  I started volunteering again after a bit of a hiatus.  I put my foot down and stood by my opinions.  I picked up my tennis racket again after two decades.   I went to some rockin' concerts.  I did not see any rattlesnakes or bears.  And it was all good.  I'm happy.  My family is healthy.  They have clothes, food and shelter.  They are loved.  I have everything I need and, more importantly, want.

I made my resolution back in November, and it's not really something I can conquer in one year, maybe never.  I'm going to be part of building a caring community.  I think Starship said it best.   They also built this city on rock and roll.  They were so ahead of their time.

And thanks, Kat, for reminding us that we didn't have to take our clothes off to have a good time!  Oh no.

N

Pi Shawl Progress

Popping in to say hello!  I'm still very much consumed by this shawl.  I'm two-thirds through the third part, and I'm eager to double my stitches and start in on Part 4.  At this time, I'm ignoring housework, cooking dinner and the children.  The children are surprisingly happy to be doing their own thing - the littlest is cutting up empty cereal boxes and constructing what seems to be a hamster mansion with a wild disco theme.   I bet you wish I had taken pictues of that in place of this cream blob.  I promise it gets better. :)

Cheers!
N

Pi Shawl

Last spring my parents went on a Baltic cruise, and they brought me back the most wonderful gift.  A giant skein of undyed sheeps wool from Estonia.  This was the best gift I've ever been given besides the three snow days in a row that Mother Nature just presented us AND the Mike Milbury autograph my dad brought me back from a baseball trip when I was in high school.  Don't ask.

I have spent months researching Estonian patterns -  borrowing books from the library and browsing the patterns on ravelry.  I just knew that the project had to be very special and worthy of the wool.  And then December came, and I was gettting anxious about my EZ project.   I need to finish a few last Elizabeth Zimmerman patterns in order to pull it off.  And then I found Wendy Johnson's Shetland Pi Shawl that she had designed to celebrate Elizabeth Zimmerman's 100th year.  It is more than worthy of my precious wool, and it is written in 5 easy-to-follow parts.  I finished part 1 yesterday before heading to bed, and I finished part 2 shortly after lunch today, and now I am into part 3. 

Of course, I should really be knitting Christmas gifts, but I can not stop knitting this shawl for the life of me.  I am loving it.  It's highly addictive.

And that was Snow Day #3.

N

My EYES!!!

What does one do when her projects in progress are blinding her?  Cast on another florescent number of course.  On the top we have a new pair of stripey socks for the Bumblebee that I hope to have finished in time for her birthday early September, and on the bottom is a featherweight cardigan for myself.  I hope to have the cardigan completed by the end of my life.  Knitting a cardigan out of lace is insanity, but so soft.   What you don't see pictured here is a fair isle vest that I am about to start.   I still need to accomplish steeking this year, so I have chosen EZ's fair isle vest from her Knitting Workshop.  The Bumblebee loves vests, and I am too lazy to knit an adult-sized vest.  That's the truth of it.  I found some old Quebecoise 2-ply wool in the stash in bright raspberry pink, bright orange, bright green and bright turquoise.  Are you seeing a pattern?  This may be a good time to get my eyes checked.

N

EZ #9

I started this spiral hat on what would have been EZ's 100th birthday  (8.9.10), went to work, and finished it by bedtime.  The next day I started another, and again, I finished it before bedtime.  Then I did it all over on the third day.  Now I have three, and I'm still itching to cast on another 10.   The best part is that the girls love them.  Success!   I think I have my go-to for gift knitting this winter.  Thanks again, EZ.

Cheers!
N

EZ #8

Tomorrow is what would have been Elizabeth Zimmermann's 100th birthday, and I find it fitting that I just finished one of her most classic designs - the Baby Surprise Jacket.   I used a few cheater row count sheets I found online to keep track of what I was doing, and I doubt I would have done as well without them.  However, next time I knit this pattern (and I definitely will make more!), I think I'd be okay without the spreadsheets.  I get it.  It's genius.  I did get a lot of weird looks while knitting this floppy piece of garter stitch.  I also want to make a crazy wild stripey jacket next time.  This one is a bit boring knit mainly with Patons Classic Merino Wool in paprika and a grey stripe of Cascade 220 - all leftovers from past projects.  Now on to find some sweet wooden buttons

Happy Sunday!

N

Pretty Peninsula

The Bumblebee's stripey socks are so worn out that she has holes in the toes.  So the EZ project was paused once again for a new pair of stripey socks.  I started the socks on the first day at the cottage, and I finished them the first day back at home.  They've been met with approval.  Sweet!

It's back to work tomorrow and some much needed soccer practice! 

N

In Progress - EZ #7

I'm slowly chugging away at my 7th EZ knit - her Norwegian Mittens with an alpine motif on the back of the hand and snowflakes around the cuff.  It's taking some concentration, so it never sits too far away from me for a couple of rows here and couple of rows there.  As shown in the second picture, I still have the rest of the thumb to knit.  My goal is to finish them by the end of June.  We'll see.  It's hard when I have a big tub of challah starter dough in the fridge begging to be rolled out and made into caramel walnut sticky buns.  Mmmmm . . .

Happy Friday!

N

EZ #6

A friend of mine told me she was pregnant a couple of weeks ago, so it only made sense that my next EZ knit be a February Baby Sweater.   I love this pattern to infinity and beyond.   I could knit 100 of these and never tire of it.  Seriously.  Black *.  I'm thinking it will fit a newborn perfectly.

I used about two-thirds of a hank of Misti Alpaca Pima Cotton Silk DK in a straw colour.  I picked this up at Shall We Knit in February, and it was sitting in the stash ready to be a February Baby Sweater since.  It feels so warm and buttery and soft all at the same time.  Like petting the belly of a well-brushed kitten.  Yes.  That's what it feels like.

So that brings me up to six out of twelve Elizabeth Zimmermann patterns so far.  I think I'm pacing myself quite nicely.  I still have to steek something as it's on my list of to-do's, but I'm confident that I can finish another six projects before year-end.  Absolutely

N. 

* When someone is caught saying 'seriously' in my immediate family, it is ALWAYS followed by another person saying 'black'.   It was funny once, and oddly enough, still sends us into uncontrollable fits of giggles.  I think it's a Harry Potter thing.

EZ #5

It's another ganomy!  This time I pulled from my stash, my very first skein of real wool.  Do you remember your very first skein of real wool?  I remember the day I bought it clearly.  It was on the clearance shelf at London Yarns, and I fell in love with the harvest gold refrigerator colour in addition to the bulky weight that I knew would knit up quick and easy.  I'm not quite sure what took me so long to actually knit with it.  We're talking five years ago here!  And this pattern is brilliant 'cause it's simple and I LOVE that it keeps my favourite ears cozy and heated throughout the winter.   Hats don't get better than this. 

N

Slide Bump is Only the Best Game on the Playground

Followed the Bumblebee to the park after dinner, and I knit a handful of repeats on the lacy baktus, and when I got home, I switched up my knitting gears and started on a pair of EZ's Norwegian Mittens using some leftover Briggs & Little from J's Cobblestone and some leftover cream merino wool from my most recent sweater.  This shall be my May project.   Who says rowlets???   EZ, of course.  Ooh, and the lilacs in my backyard are in bloom, and the sweet fragrance makes me want to dance in circles.   If only I was not crippled from Friday night's soccer practice!   I'm hoping to recover in time for tomorrow night's practice, but the enormous bowls of raspberry bugaboo ice cream are not helping at all.   Oh dear.

N

At My Kitchen Window

Sometimes when you are scrubbing a cheddar omelette off the skillet and the spatula, and the smell of cooked egg and cheese is making you gag a little, it's nice to look up and see some pretty flowers.

I finished the sweater on Saturday, and I put phoney seams down the sides and weaved 3/4 of the bajillion ends in.  When I get the other 1/4 of the bajillion ends weaved in and the sweater blocked, I will proudly show it off to you.   It fits!  And I am so happy that I could seriously marry it.  Just saying.

N

Behind the Scenes

The Bumblebee is modelling (unreluctantly once again) our newest craft table project.  My sister and I whipped up a dozen of these head scarves last weekend in multiple sizes.  We really do have something for everyone.  Funny thing is we only asked her to try it on, and we never got it back.  I insisted that we needed it for our craft table, and she threw us a fiver and told us it was SOLD.   Our first sale!!  The pattern can be found in Heather Ross's Weekend Sewing book.  I LOVE this book.

And I've delved into the fair-isle yoke!  I found the two shades of purple in my underbed stash.  They are Noro Cash Iroha, and I am not sure that I should have used them.  Maybe I should have stuck with a similar ply as the Patons Classic Merino Wool as the cream, green and paprika.  Regardless, there will be no frogging - just knitting full steam ahead.  I wouldn't be surprised if I am finished this sweater in the next week.  Just in time for the summer. :)

N

Progress Report on Fair Isle Yoke Sweater

Marvelous Grasp of the Obvious

Sometimes my eye lids swell up while I sleep, and by the end of the day, my eye lids look normal again.  I use cold cloths to reduce the swelling with some non-drowsy allergy meds.  Very important that the meds are non-drowsy.  I thought I was resistant a couple of times, and well, I'm not.   Today I made it to the doctor.  She said my eye lid is definitely swollen.  I asked why.  She said it could be a number of things, but she'd just be guessing.  And with that she exited the room.  I mumbled my gratitude and let myself out.   I suppose some things are just meant to be.

The Bumblebee would like to show you that her mum has a sleeve in addition to the body.  The second sleeve has been cast on, and is being knit up 'rapidement'.   Nice tat, kid.

Now to figure out the colours for the fair isle yoke.   Of course all of the pencil crayons require a good sharpening . . .

N

Happy Easter

The littlest has hunted down all the chocolate-filled Easter eggs (she's shaking down her big sister for 25 dollars for finding her share), and the eldest is already dressed for Easter dinner at her boyfriend's house.   I guess it'll just be the Bumblebee and I for the rest of the day as J is heading to bed after working all night.  It's looking to be a nice day, so I think we'll head to the lake.  I'll take my knitting and camera.  The Bee can bring along her super secret ninja pet and a bag of chocolate to stave off any hunger.   Oh dear, skipping rope in the living room makes a lot of noise.

I'm trying to decide on a colour scheme for the fairisle yoke.  I'm doing my best to avoid going yarn shopping.  The pale pink is already out of the running although I still like it.  And the tan has been replaced by a truer cream wool.  The peacock-y teal, and the chocolate brown are definite choices.  Any suggestions out there?   The body of the seamless sweater is coming along swimmingly.  I've even managed a few short rows across the back with only one little noticeable snag.   That counts as success.  Once I have the body and the sleeves done and before the yoke is knit, I plan on dropping a stitch under each pit down to the garter-stitch hem and then picking them up with a crochet hook for phoney seams.  I'm going to learn so much with this project!  I'm so excited. :)

Happy Easter!

N

Monday Funday

We were making more gnomes to add to our collection when I soon realized that the glue was not adhering properly.  So gnome-making stalled, and the outdoors beckoned to us to strip off our jammies and get dressed.   A walk to the park was in order.  And when we were finished with that park, we headed to another park.  We're park hoppers.  I think this would make a sweet rapping ditty.  Later.

Let's get this over.  Here is my February Square Blanket  - the third project in the EZ throwdown.  I used Bernat Cashmere (which is a blend of a teensy bit cashmere and mega acrylic).  I started with 8 stitches, then I doubled those stitches, and then I did 8 increases every two rows.  This was great tv knitting, and when I thought it was big enough, I did about an inch of seed stitch while continuing to increase, and then I cast off.  It's soft and cuddly and perfect for a doll blanket.  If I did this pattern again, I would use wool and a bigger needle.  It'd make a great car seat blanket for a baby too.  That crazy dimple-y pucker going on in the middle is driving me batty.  Must.  Look.  Away. 

N

PS.  I thought it was cute this morning when I looked in the Bee's knapsack and saw four giant scrolls with her name written very large and our phone number tied with ribbons.  I no longer thought it was cute after thirteen four hundred giggly random phone calls.

Another Week Bites the Dust

We've been busy.  I guess no more than usual, but I'm still grateful that it's the end of yet another work week and the last day of school before March Break.   I have finished an EZ blanket that will suffice as a baby bear blanket for the Bumblebee.  I should know this well by now that knitting with acrylic will disappoint me in the worst way because after knitting on this blanket nonstop like a fiend and with plenty of excitement, I cast off the hundreds of stitches to find myself with a tiny puckered diamond-shaped blanket.  I can't block it because of the acrylic.  I will take some pictures of it wrapped around a doll as evidence of another completed pattern eventually.  It's not a complete loss.  I re-learned the reason I prefer to use natural fibres, and it's definitely not because I am a yarn snob.  And the Bumblebee likes to spoil her bears with gifts, so we'll wrap it up, make a cake, and have a party for maybe Flower Bear or Erica Bear.

One of the highlights of our week was attending a free doll-making workshop at the library.  We made the Waldorf gnomes pictured above.   So much fun!  If you are from these parts, you should check out all of the other free workshops that are happening over March and April.  They are being offered through the Handmade Festival project.  We've already signed up again for the upcoming embroidery class.  I'm also interested in the salve-making.  Then in May I've rented a table at the Handmade Festival, so I really should be concentrating on making like crazy in order to have crafts to display!  I may need to put the EZ project on hold for a month.  Eek!

And because I should really be concentrating on the craft table and the EZ project, I am working quite steadily on a pair of purple cashmerino legwarmers for the Bumblebee.  They're mindless and almost done.  Really.  Then I'll get to work.  Promise.

N

March Onward

Just so you know that she eventually got dressed and brushed her hair.

N

PS.  T, just so you know, I have had a tiramisu blog post in the works for some time.  I must have taken 30 gazillion pictures to document the five minutes it takes me to whip one of those puppies up.  I promised my peeps!  I didn't make up no stinkin' cheese, and I used some old coffee that we didn't get around to drinking, and my ladyfinger cookies were from the flippin' store.  And then you go and document that sweet extravaganza yesterday, and I nearly fell off my chair.   How does one compete with that?  But maybe we're like those style mags where they show one "High" design, and then they show the "Low" design.  Both are always stunning.  I'll be the "Low" (for effort and skill), and you can be the "High" (again for effort and skill).  What do you think? 

EZ #2

The Tomten is finished, and it looks like the Bee is not wearing pants.   I assure you that she is wearing a dress.  Albeit a short dress.  The hair is indicative of just waking up which is definitely the case here.  She likes it.  The Tomten that is.  And me too.  It was a fun knit.   It ate up five very big balls of wool and some scraps along the way.  The construction is ingenius.  The wool and garter stitch makes this extremely warm and cushy and cozy.  I want to make 300 more.  Honest.

What pattern shall I tackle next?  The Baby Surprise Jacket?  A blanket/shawl?  Some fair-isle?  Hmmm.

Happy Sunday!

N