Alpaca Envy

Waiting...

2012-01-18T15:28:00.000-05:00

Last November we put a bid on a house. We are still waiting for a closing date. In the meantime, we starting boxing up stuff we aren't using--cycling gear, books, craft supplies, more books, etc. Since one of my missions this year is to use up or donate some acrylic yarn I have in the stash, I thought I would try my hand at a mobius cat bed. The cats won't mind if it doesn't turn out right & it gives me a chance to try something new.

The Cat Bordi instructions are quite good. I'm liking this project alot so far....even the tricky spots. skIt's just small enough to go quick & challenging without making me nuts (I think I typed something like this in my last post....there must me an underlying theme here).

I have finished the mobius part & have started on the bowl. Then I discovered that if I want to finish this project & we still haven't moved, I'm need to unpack my size 9 DPNs. Thankfully I remember which box they were in.

I haven't been working on the cable sweater much. Too many distractions with cats & boxes. Plus I have been trolling the web trying to get ideas for a craft room in the new house.

Time to go. I have a pesky cat doing all kinds of naughty right now. Apex says "Meow"

New Year = new project

2012-01-01T16:16:00.000-05:00

I was a very good knitter over the past couple weeks. I finished some projects that had be languishing on needles, in a bag waiting for a final detail, or just plain ignored. I finished Jason's socks. I started & finished a watch cap for him to make up for the 'made it too big' hat that I also finished. I added a crochet edge to Salta's pirate sweater so she stops shaking it off on a walk (unfortunately, I think I should have made it one size smaller so it is still a little loose & good for neighborhood walks only.)

Jason learned how much a sweater costs during my last trip to Webs. I went primarily to look at the square knitting needle sets & was disappointed to find that all of Santa's elves had already made selections for the holidays. As a result, we looked at yarn instead...for a sweater that he picked out. He decided on the cabled sweater from Erika Knit's book "Men's Knits". Yes, I'm aware of the sweater curse & all, but we are in the process buying our first house so I think we will be ok. He picked out a bulky sweater with just enough cables to not make me crazy from boredom (from non-stop stocking stitch) or from trying to concentrate on my counting of rows or stitches. We found the yarn the pattern specified (Debbie Bliss Donegal Chunky Tweed) and counted the number of balls needed (11) and discovered the sweater would cost $220! Needless to say, we made a substitution.

Today is the day I'm casting on using Valley Yarn's Berkshire Bulky in a Heather Gray colorway. Goal is to have it finished for February.

Men's socks take a long time

2011-12-11T20:20:00.001-05:00

Men's socks, a photo by AlpacaEnvy on Flickr.

It took me nearly a year, but I finally finished the socks that were jason's valentine's present for Feb 2011.

We used my Groupon at Webs to get another ball of sock yarn for him. The next pair will have a more simple pattern so I can knit & still watch TV.

Hemlock Rings takes blue ribbon at Goshen Fair

2011-09-06T11:27:00.001-05:00

Hemlock ring blankie stretched out & pretty

2011-06-03T15:13:00.000-05:00

Blocking the octopus

2011-06-02T14:40:00.000-05:00

Freezing cold, non stop rain, and then 85 degrees with 90% humidity has been what mother nature gave New England this spring. So the hemlock ring blankie has laid in a lump waiting for today...clear, breezy, 65 degrees and much lower humidity. The blankie was soaked in the washer with 2 handknit sweaters & all are drying now. Check back later for the finished pic of the HR blankie.

How I spent my holiday weekend

2011-05-30T14:02:00.000-05:00

I've been considering getting a kindle for a long time & I picked one up this past Friday. I had started listening to The Hunger Games earlier in the day & by Sunday I had it finished & started the next book.

I like the kindle because I can listen & knit (if the publisher enabled the speech to text feature) and then I can pick up where I left off if I prefer to just read. The automated voice is strange --the female one less so than the male--and takes some getting used to, but now its easier for me to finish a book.

I spent the majority of the weekend in the hammock. I read. Napped. Knit. Read. Well, you get the idea.

I've made excellent progress on my project for the Sexy Knitter KAL--vests/sleeveless tops. I have another month before the cast off deadline & I think I'll make it. Probably would have been done by now if I hadn't knit & tinker the same inch 5x earlier in the month. Stitch markers saved my sanity.

May your Memorial Day be a day to give thanks, to celebrate/play & recharge.

Orchid repotting complete (with a new addition)

2011-05-30T13:48:00.001-05:00

Holiday weekend project before

2011-05-30T13:47:00.001-05:00

Hemlock Ring Cat Bed??

2011-03-13T16:03:00.000-05:00

Apex imposed knitting break

2011-03-13T14:58:00.001-05:00

Hemlock Ring Progress

2011-01-25T17:23:00.001-05:00

736 knit stitches in an hour. Time for a yoga break :)

Startitis

2011-01-23T15:35:00.001-05:00

I recently noticed that each winter I have similar behaviors...shopping for furniture, planning to paint something in the house, and overcommitting to knitting projects. I spent yesterday afternoon shopping for an end table for my living room & found nothing. I would really like to paint the bathroom a fresh shade of white so it looks cleaner. I recently cast on for my 3rd knitting project this month. First is the socks pictured on the left. I'm actually beyond the heel at this point, but haven't worked on these for a week because I started Brooklyn Tweed's Hemlock Ring Blanket last week.

The photo below (I've been experiencing problems linking my photos from Flickr lately..anyone have any tips?) is Salta & the Hemlock Ring blanket just 3 days after casting on & the result of being home in the evening due to severe winter weather cancelling yoga class. I've had the yarn for about 3 years & I always plan on starting this in the fall for an xmas gift. So why now? I saw that Spincerelyours was planning on starting this project as part of a knit along, I figured that I would join in & be more motivated to finish due to peer pressure. I couldn't go to the knit group last Sunday due to not returning from snowshoeing in time. And this week, I just plain forgot. However, I do plan on spending the afternoon working on the hemlock ring blanket to todays football playoffs.

Salta & Hemlock Ring

2011-01-23T15:32:00.001-05:00

2011 has to be better

2011-01-15T14:38:00.000-05:00

2010 was a re-building year...I moved to a new town and have started over. Yes, I hit the RESTART button on my life.

Not much knitting transpired in 2010. I'm hopeful that 2011 is better so that I have something to blog about.

So far I have the usual case of startitis...started a doily for a table top (now hibernating due to the addition of a psycho kitten), started & frogged & re-started my February Lady Sweater, started a pair of socks for a man with size 12 feet!! I'm trying desperately NOT to start a mobius cowl, another sweater that I bought yarn for at stitches, a dog bowl placemat (to use up stashed 'trailer trash' acrylic yarn), a sock blankie, a pair of fingerless mitts, and countless other random projects that catch my eye.

Midnight & vest not done

2010-03-01T00:04:00.001-05:00

Finished back today. Seamed shoulders and sides during closing
ceremonies & managed to pick up for one "sleeve". Too tired to finish
binding off, so I going to make like my dogs & crawl under the covers.

It's going to be close!

2010-02-28T07:04:00.000-05:00

I may need Omega timing for this one. Knit from latice stitch in just
one evening! Sqeezing in a row before spinning, exercise spinning,
class. Only other plans today is to knit & bake oatmeal cinnamon chip
cookies (recipie courtesy of current issue of knit circus magazine www.knitcircus.com
).

EEK--only 3 days left!

2010-02-25T16:24:00.000-05:00

Squeezing in knitting on Ravelympics project while drinking my plain
drive thru coffee (wishing DD could just once get my order right--it
was supposed to be cinnamon hazelnut, they re-made my order because
they tried to give me vanilla with cream & sugar). I guess I should be
glad I got a coffee at all.

2/23 ravelympics progress

2010-02-24T14:05:00.000-05:00

2/20 ravelympics progress

2010-02-21T17:00:00.001-05:00

Knitting & Olympics update

2010-02-14T18:10:00.000-05:00

It is very difficult to knit & watch the Olympics. I have knit, tinked, knit, & tinked the first 3 inches enough that I feel as though I'm designing this sweater. It's all the decreases with a pattern that I've never done before--I thought I was doing great, but then noticed that my project wasn't looking like the picture. So after about 8 hours of knitting this is how far I am:

Ravelympics 2010

2010-02-10T21:09:00.000-05:00

I finally picked my project for Ravelympics. I haven't swatched or finished the 2009 xmas gift sweater for my SIL and the openning ceremony is in just 2 days! Hopefully, I can squeeze in a swatch & post a pic.

The past couple months have been wild....crazy holiday knitting--which has continued beyond the holiday, newly diagnosed food allergy(more about that another day), and a wacky economy has bumped the blog to the bottom of my To Do list. This year, I plan to post more regularly....even if that means with less content.

Finish by Fall Project(s)

2009-08-29T13:17:00.004-05:00

Busy doesn't even begin to summarize the past couple of months. As you must have noticed, blogging has been low on my 'to do' list. I finally posted my Lake Sacandaga pictures to my flickr page & I got some knitting finished!

Sure the views were great (I thought it was super cool that the locals had a hammock at the top)

But like most good things the getting there part can be a little rough...

On the knitting front...I was cleaning the house & got really frustrated with myself that I had let several projects languish since casting them on last fall or earlier this spring. I suppose I had a case of start-itis. Now, I'm feeling the weight of things left incomplete & are directly blocking the flow of forward momentum & positive energy in my life. Thus began the Finish before Fall Project.

So far I finished Zappa's Pirate sweater -- complete with glow in the dark skull & crossbones. Salta's Pink & black sweater has been started.

The Eastlake sweater is finished. It took me nearly 2 weeks to get in the mood to sew up the ends. Yesterday I finally had the inspiration I needed....wear it out to dinner (the 20 degree drop in temp in just 2 days made wearing a sweater a possibility). I finished sewing in the last end 10 minutes before heading out the door to the try the new Mexican restaurant in town (great drinks--service is sluggish & dis-organized, especially since this is the 3rd restaurant these people have openned. Hopefully they will get the staffing kinks worked out soon). This sweater is photographed without being blocked first. It will be getting washed this weekend to set all those sewn in ends.

So what is left to finish?

Rick socks (1.5 socks to go)

Lace bamboo wrap skirt (one pattern repeat & edgings)

Modern quilt wrap (much knitting to go....my goal is to do another row of boxes by Fall & another row of boxes by the end of the year.)

Don't forget only 118 days until Christmas--Get knitting!!

blogging on vacation

2009-07-23T13:25:00.002-05:00

Am I pathetic? I haven't completed really any of my goals for this year. I'm still working on the first sock of a pair--who says carrying socks with you, working a row here & there, turns into completed socks??? They lie!!! I'm trying to focus on finishing a pair of "Rick" by Cookie A. before the merino turns into a felt ball in my bag.

I'm still working on the Eastlake sweater--front & back are done, just need to be seamed & then to knit the sleeves.

I've also nearly completed Zappa's pirate sweater. I will seam up the front & finish the leg openings this weekend.

No pictures yet...the desktop is being cleared of negative energy at the computer guru's workshop. That would be the computer that all the pics get loaded onto. Hopefully, it's not dead.

Enough computer for now....back to vacation. I'm going to listen to free jazz & hopefully knit in Kent this evening. Tomorrow is cique de la symphony in Simsbury....I got lawn seats!!! Please pray for sun!

Feels like summer

2009-04-25T21:28:00.002-05:00

It was in the 80's, some said 90's, today & I was taking a colorwork class at Webs. Good class. I cut my first steek!!!!

Pictures will come eventually.

For now you'll have to settle for Lorretta, the knit chicken who went for a ride in the car:

Is it spring yet?

2009-03-01T20:51:00.003-05:00

I have spring fever. I'm tired of the freezing cold. My dogs are in desperate need of walks longer than the 20 feet to the shoveled out lawn so they can do 'business' without freezing their feet on snow/ice.

The birds are ready for spring too. I've had two people tell me they saw robins, although I haven't been blessed by their presence yet. I did see a crow fly over my parked car with a sandwich in it's mouth last week. Surely, that must count for something.

The good thing about long winters is that there is much knitting to be done. I will run through the projects & in keeping with the weeks events (the State of the Union address), I expect applause after every sentence...stand up only if you think you need the exercise.

I finished Matt's hat!! ***applause***

I have started the Eastlake sweater by Nora Gaughan. ***applause*** There is not enough knitting to photograph yet.

I'm on the instep of the second carribean sock. ****applause****

In the spirit of spring, I'm knitting a chicken with the Ready, Set Knit Knit-a-long. ***applause*** I'm using cheap cotton/acrylic yarn instead of the $10/ball yarn specified. If I'm going to spend $30 on a chicken, then I think I should be able to eat it!

That said, I'm off to paint my toenails bright pink!

Expectation

2009-01-21T11:01:00.002-05:00

I've been thinking about expectations a lot lately. Expectations at work, at home, of our fellow man &, of course, of my knitting. When my expectations are met, I usually carry on with the usual business. It is only when I'm running into roadblocks that I pause to reflect on what I'm doing/trying to do & what is stopping me. Sometimes the roadblock is other people. Sometimes the roadblock is me. Sometimes it seems as if the "powers that be" are preventing me from moving forward.

When the "powers that be/the universe/God/etc" intervene with my plans, I find it difficult to take. I've been getting a lot of messages lately. Hawk sightings are reminding me that change is coming. My massage office neighbor stopped playing is electric bass when I thought I found a new office space that would reduce my overhead. On the day that I learned that the potential office would cost the same or more than what I'm paying now, my neighbor started practicing at 5:40pm & continued for the duration of my clients massage. ....Sigh....

I sit here feeling stuck, both physically & spiritually. At least with knitting, when the project is just awful, I can rip it out & start fresh. So while I wait for flow to return, I will carry on.

Sweater Pergatory

2008-11-30T10:38:00.003-05:00

I was digging through my sweater trunk the other day & found a store bought sweater that I've had since high school, really. It's fairly pilly & somewhat grubby looking. I'm never gonna wear it again--so now it is in sweater pergatory. Sweater pergatory is between still being worn & donated to charity. I'm trying to determine....can this sweater be something else? Maybe a cool cat/dog bed, a throw pillow, a cushion for my spinning chair, a tote bag, a basket...? (for some reason I just recalled a scene from the movie Airplane when 2 characters are in the airport playing with a piece of paper...: Steve McCroskey: Johnny, what can you make out of this? [Hands him the weather briefing] Johnny: This? Why, I can make a hat or a brooch or a pterodactyl...source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080339/quotes)

Thus I have begun to wonder about sweater shavers. I checked out Ravelry & learned that most people use disposable razors (now I know what to use all the razors my MIL puts in my hubby's christmas stocking every year--that he doesn't ever use); lots of people use electric shavers (I actually have one of these); and some people use scissors. I also learned to never use an electric razor (unless I want my sweater to look like its holey from being worn in The Matrix).

On the needles: I have frogged & completed the neck gaitor for an xmas gift. I couldn't stand the two colors blended. I used the Yak Neck Cuff pattern on pg 237 of Luxury Yarn One Skein Wonders(this is the only one skein book I have in my library--I Love I!).
I also started a lace cashmere scarf. This is a kit purchased from one of my LYS. Since this scarf is a gift for the holidays, I have put the Modern Quilt Wrap on hold.

My social project is a pair of socks from the sock yarn that I dyed at the last spinning guild weekend. Sorry, no picture--they're only 3" long anyway, so your not missing much.

Now that it has become cold & dreary her in southern New England, I have time to "read". I cannot knit without looking. So I'm actually listening to audiobooks. I'm currently listening to "Autobiography of a Yogi" and "Twilight". I'm surprised at how interesting both books are! I will probably get a paper copy of "Autobiography...." so that I can study it further & possibly apply some principles to my yoga practice.

Jazzy had her teeth cleaned last week & had one tooth pulled. She is friskier that ever (swatting at my knitting needle last night--while I was using it. Yes, I dropped & found the stitches). We are hoping her upper respiratory infection will improve now that the nasty tooth is out.

On a non-knitting note: I have entered the modern world & joined Facebook. I have spend lots of time there & still somehow managed to neglect my farm enough that my virtual horse was eating the dried on the stalk corn or wheat instead of the grass. Which reminds me I better harvest my strawberries...

New family member

2008-10-07T15:30:00.008-05:00

My 14 year old cat, Nutmeg, died in early September, due to kidney failure. She was the most friendly cat you would have ever met. Exactly a week after Nutty was put down, a small black & white kitty came out of the bushes to greet me when I came home from work. It was a very busy time--I think I was on a 11 day stretch without any day off from any work commitments. I gave kitty a scratch & went in.

The next day, kitty said Hi again. I gave kitty a scratch & offered her some of Nutmeg's food that hadn't been dropped off at Little Guild or returned to the vet yet. Of course, I put out fresh water & a box with an old sweatshirt.

I asked everyone I knew & ran into that week, if anyone would like a friendly kitty. She's so friendly that the neighborhood kids could pick her up by the scruff & she wouldn't struggle. She played with the kids every day after school.

When talking to the neighbors about the cat, someone reported a car driving into our parking area late Saturday night, turning the lights off, then driving away. (The next day there was kitty). Kitty went to visit my hubby while he worked on his bike in the garage. He claims she jumped up on the workbench & curled up like she belonged there (he put food & water in the garage & we sheltered kitty for a night). I put kitty in the garage a second night. I later found out that everyone in the neighborhood was worried about kitty with the rain coming. Several people put out pet taxi's for kitty to hide in.

After a week outside, we allowed the kitty in with the intention of fostering the kitty (now called katkat) until a new home could be found. I made arrangements to take the katkat to the vet the following Friday. At the vet I learned that katkat is negative for leukemia, free of fleas & mites, is 4 years old or more, and has horrible teeth--so bad that they need to be cleaned & one possibly pulled.

We have decided to keep katkat. We are saving money to have her teeth cleaned & tooth pulled. During the saving period, we hope that she doesn't go into heat as that indicates that she is already spayed (no scar is felt on her belly). I guess this means that I'm on a yarn diet---just after Rhinebeck (we won't discuss those acquisitions yet).

"Jazzy" is doing much better after a week on antibiotics for her cold & it probably helps her tooth. She has become even more frisky. She is scheduled for her teeth to be taken care of within the next couple of weeks.

On a botanical note: MY ORCHID BLOOMED!!!!!!! It took 2 years, but isn't it pretty?

The photo on the left is Salta, my hubby, & Zappa taking a break on Bear Mt in Salisbury, CT in October. The leaves were at peak--sorry no pictures of those--we were hurrying to get away from all the tourists at the top of the mountain.

On the needles: I just finished my last pair of sock wars detonator socks, destined for WI. My socks from my assassin are on their way from Norway. There are only 3 of us left in the war--the postal service will determine the winner I suppose.

I'm working on a smoke ring scarf for a Christmas gift. I'm not sure if I like it.....I didn't buy enough yarn (I was planning on making 2 separate regular scarves) so using my knitterly genius......I changed colors after each pattern repeat (see picture below). I'll either give to it's intended recipient or keep for myself & get the appropriate amount of yarn for the smoke ring. It's make from E. Lavold Silky Cashmere. Your comments are appreciated.

Surviving September

2008-10-07T14:53:00.007-05:00

September is a busy month for me normally--bike riding, birthdays, my anniversary, last chance to squeeze in vacations, and special events for my business. Then add to that the unexpected--someone resigned at my "day" job (this would be the job where I get my insurance benefit) & I've been filling in to cover, my practice has been busy, I was invited to be a guest speaker to talk about yoga, and my 14 year old cat, Nutmeg, went into kidney failure & had to be put down. After all that, this past weekend I finally got some "me" time playing with fiber.

This past Saturday Kris from The Painted Sheep spoke at my spinning guild meeting about dying fiber. I've been wanting to do this all year! To prepare for my own dye pot trials, I purchased a few books, some basic dyes, some bare yarn & fiber, cheap stock pots, etc. I was so glad that I had asked for the weekend off 'cause then I found out that there was a follow-up workshop on Sunday--I signed up right away. Below are my results:

BFL roving (candy corn colorway)

Alpaca/Merino/Silk blended roving (sherbert colorway)

Tencel Merino roving (try to match Kris's socks colorway)

Superwash Sock yarn (caribbean colorway)

The following are pictures of my hubby sewing!!! Now before you think how lucky I am...the material he prefers to use for this task is fishing line. He agreed to give sewing thread a shot in this photo op.

For knitting: I finished my 7th pair of sock wars socks. USPS confirmed delivery yesterday10/6. I'm not dead yet--then again, I haven't visited the mailbox yet either. I'll post my death socks as soon as I get them.

I cast on for the modern quilt wrap & a skull & cross bones dog sweater. Ogee lace skirt needs to be frogged to rescue line & work out the error in the last pattern repeat--will need some wine for that. All of this is being tempered by the strong urge to spin my freshly dyed rovings---Thanks Kris for the great workshop!

Sock Wars Summer

2008-09-08T16:05:00.003-05:00

I've been thinking about my blog alot since my last post....about what I should be working on, I should post about this activity, if I only brought my camera, I need to work less so I can play more, etc. But all of this thinking didn't bring me any closer to posting. What have I been doing all this time? Oh, I've been knitting, cycling, & of course working. I, like most people, don't like to talk about work any more than necessary. So that leaves knitting & cycling.

I completed enough training to do the 75 mile Tour of Litchfield Hills in August & this past weekend I completed 100mile Flattest Century in the East (the tropical storm left just in time, so we only had to contend with wind). Yes, both rides are completed in a single day. Both rides took me approximately 6 1/2 hours to complete (the century took me about 10-15 min longer)--amazing the difference that the terrain can have over many miles. Maybe online driving directions should offer "flattest route" options to conserve gas milage in addition to "shortest", "fastest", etc.

What about my knitting you ask? If you remember, I signed up for SockWars III which began in May with about 1200 knitters. There are now less that 50 warriors. I have completed 6 pairs of socks since this war began! Two pair from scratch & the rest were completing works in progress. I am very tired of the pattern & was greatful to learn that I have been assigned a new assassin--my original assassin dropped out last week. I was hoping that the fluffy envelope in my mailbox today was a completed pair of socks, but it really was my prize for winning the 1000th kill contest--a nice ball of Tofutsies. Thank you Helen!

In anticipation of receipt of a completed pair of socks prior to yet another SIP (socks in progress), I cast on for the pirate dog sweater over the weekend. This will be my first shot at intarsia.

Vacationing close to home

2008-07-08T18:32:00.004-05:00

Like most people this year, my vacation is a little different than year's past. No long trips in the car. No evenings studying maps to prepare for days upon days spent in the wild. No stressing about something that I may have forgotten (like my passport). I'm spending 5 days getting back to nature in my own back yard. Well, not just the back yard.

It has been so damn hot & humid that the only place to be is near water. Since I live in a condo & I don't want to test the condo rules for use of sprinklers for summer refreshment, I broke out the long neglected kayak & went paddling. I went out yesterday afternoon & all day today. Today I remembered to bring knitting, food, & fishing gear (notice which is listed first).

Thankfully I got minimal sunburn (how is it that even though I thought I thoroughly put on sunscreen, it is now very apparent every spot that I missed), got several rows done on my latest sock for SockWars (yes, it is still going, & yes I'm still alive), caught many fish (the largemouth bass, rock bass, pickerel, & pumpkin seeds were all returned quickly & without me even having to lip or touch one fish). The whole day ended with a well needed, heavy shower that lasted just long enough to cause a traffic jam at the boat launch, arguments among spouses regarding getting wet while husbands loaded their power boats(it's important to note that the same spouses were wearing swim suits & just moments before were seen wading in the lake), and cleared out the entire lake for two women to swim in peace & quiet.

I also took lots of pictures of lily pads & their beautiful flowers...one of which now greets you at the top of the blog.

Plans for tomorrow? Yoga, then maybe the beach.....

Mercury in retrograde

2008-06-14T16:52:00.008-05:00

It's been so long since my last post.....for those astrology buffs out there who are aware of the whole 'mercury in retrograde' thing(sorry, you'll just have to google it, I'm not explaining it here)...my knitting also reflects this:

So, what is this really? It is the practice for a skull & cross bone dog sweater. I've never done intarsia before & I thought I should practice with large acrylic yarn (it's taking up valuable realestate in the stash---it's like the slum yarn that is one block away from the mansion snobbery) before embarking on the actual project.

I learned not to try to have less sewing in by carrying yarn across the back (diagonally no less), because it causes puckering. I also learned that I should not try to make up my own knitting techniques yet.

On the spinning forefront, I went to the latest guild meeting & left with lots of new learning about how to spin handpainted rovings. Here are my swatches:

The one to the left is a "softly spun" single that allows long bands of color. It's not my photography skills...it slants horribly to the right.

This one is the result of a center pull ball plied from both ends. I must admit that I really need to practice winding a center pull ball using the nostepinne, so that it doesn't collapse. I won't tell you how long it took me to untangle the single so that I could ply it properly.

This swatch is the result of the 3 bobbins method. "Identical" singles are plied together from 2 seperate bobbins. Needless to say that my singles weren't identical.

The last swatch is an example of my attempt at navajo plying. I'm using the remainder of my practice roving to "get" how to navajo ply without ending up with rope or a dreadlock.

Finally here is the picture of the 2ply "Pudge"the alpaca yarn. Sent to me earlier this year. I still have to spin the other lovely alpaca roving that came with Pudge from Michigan. but I need to wrap up the stuff currently on my bobbins (which also includes my homespun w/angelina snowflake coaster---more reason to learn how to navajo ply something finer than rope).

Sock Wars Update

2008-05-27T10:09:00.006-05:00

I received my SIPs (socks in progress) on Saturday 5/24. One sock was entirely completed. The second sock was completed to the heel flap. So I really didn't have much knitting to do & the new target had even smaller feet that my original target.

I finished the socks yesterday & aired them out overnight (the socks & I somehow were always down wind of the campfire that was cooking our chicken at a picnic).

I just got back from the shipping place--it will take 7 days to get to Saskatoon Canada. I checked out the location on Google Earth 'cause the package place people kept saying "it's up there" when I asked how far Saskatoon is. Well, first of all, it's in Saskatchewan, which is north of Montana in the US. It's 2192 miles away from Torrington, CT.

I think the coolest thing about sock wars is that I would have never checked out the things to do in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Maybe the next time I'm out that way I'll try curling or lawn bowling or even the Cankerworm Festival that's held in the end of May.

Sock Wars III status: I'm still alive

2008-05-19T15:52:00.003-05:00

Sock wars diary:
5/9 received pattern 2pm. Cast on. Finish cuff.
5/10 work to heel & gussett
5/11 finish foot & kitchener toe. Cast on for 2nd sock
5/12 finish to heel.
5/13 Gusset
5/14 foot
5/15 finish off. Package up for mailing.

At this very moment I'm still alive in sock wars (meaning I haven't received a completed pair of socks in the mail). I mailed my socks off Friday afternoon to my target in Washington state. I expect that fightingpixie should be suffering her last breath with nice over sized socks. Why oversized? Well, the pattern was a bit loose. I hope that she can use them for bed socks in the very least. Although my "too loose" handknit socks that were given to me as a gift seem to fall off while I twist around in bed.

So here I sit waiting. I'm kinda impressed that I finished a pair of socks in a week--thank goodness for small feet!

In the meantime, I went for a 60 mile road ride yesterday in Norwalk, CT. Nice ride. Got 2 flats both in rear tire. Got lectured about tire pressure by the volunteer shop wrenches (even though this wasn't my issue) the second flat was from a nail.

I casted on for a market bag 2 days ago. I have been enjoying slowly knitting & the ability to do other things like laundry, sleep, cook, & update blog/ravelry. I'm still working on the updating ravelry. Maybe I'll use this brief spot of sun I see right now to take a photo of the completed toe up lace socks for an xmas gift.

Trimming cat nails

2008-04-27T16:05:00.003-05:00

I have an old cat. She's 13 & she has kidney problems. The prescription cat food has done wonders for her accidents however, she has gained a significant amount of weight. Nutmeg was curled up on my lap the other day & dug her rear claws into my leg & put a pull in my linen pants. As she walked away from me (apparently appalled at my lack of interest in her company), I became aware of her claws sticking to the berber carpet. The only thing left to do was trim the cats claws.

I enlisted the assistance of my hubby, got out an old towel & proceeded to clip one set of claws with minimal struggle. Then things got interesting.....

I finished 2 nails, & Nutmeg started kicking, wiggling & growling. I kept trying to trim another nail, but couldn't due to more kicking & wiggling. Hubby held Nutmeg tighter. Sensing that the cat was done with this foolishness, I told hubby to let her go. Nutmeg wiggled more, he squeezed more & then the unthinkable happened--the cat shot urine in a super soaker like stream, just missing my head. He eventually let her go, she walked away & nervously began licking her disheveled fur. We got changed & I cleaned up the floor.

I think Nutmeg has forgiven me for my stupidity in thinking that I would be able to complete this task. I wonder if she'll let me finish those last two nails while curled up on my lap. Don't worry, I'll make sure the knitting is well out of the way.

Procrastination

2008-04-06T16:52:00.006-05:00

Much time has past since my last post, but you don't really need me to tell you that. I'll admit, I thought about blogging, but elected to sleep, eat, exercise, pet dog, worry about paying taxes, thought about asking the mortgage gods to pre-approve us, worry about the lump on my dog, clean bathroom, do laundry, & work....all instead of blogging.

I did accomplish some knitting & even some spinning in the past few weeks. I completed the red sweater & I even wore it a couple times. I've discovered that when I wear a sweater that I have knit I feel superhuman--like I'm wearing special armor that's even more impenetrable than "I"m rubber & your glue.....". I'm a little worried how I'll feel when I wear a sweater made from my handspun. Since it will be many months/years before I'm gutsy enough to knit with my own handspun, those of you who know me in person have enough time to prepare your own armor.

I'm nearly 3/4 finished with the baby surprise jacket and I'm pushing for a finish this week.

I finished the blue merino yarn (plied & set the twist). Since I had spinning guild this past Saturday, I took some of the alpaca(his name is Pudge) sent to me by North Star Alpacas. This stuff is dreamy!!!! I've never spun alpaca & I'm worried that I won't be able to go back to wool.

Took the dog to the vet this week for a lump that mysteriously appeared on her ribcage. Xrays showed nothing (good sign) so now we are just monitoring the lump & it appears to be shrinking (yet another good sign). Here is picture of Salta pretending to be good (she was probably looking for dirty underwear).

I have revisited my New Year's Resolutions & decided to add my progress to the sidebar--it makes me feel more productive. The number on the left of the slash is actual completed items, the number on the right is my goal. I hope to spin 2 hours per week, but would be happy with just one. Now that spring is around the corner & the pressure of spending more time in the bike saddle is getting stronger, I think it is more reasonable for me to blog bi-weekly or even monthly. I'll have to see how busy work is and how the cycling season unfolds.

Taming the March lion

2008-03-10T16:14:00.004-05:00

The weather here has been typical New England...snow that allowed for 2 days of cross country skiing (I got lost in the woods & nearly had to back track to return to the car--now I know of even more really good XC skiing areas), crazy wind (was that your lawn chair in my front yard), front yard is super saturated with water (even the chihuahua makes squishy noises when he walks on the grass), and flooding (had to go to annual road trip to Falls Village to check out the shear power of the water pounding the rocks below the dam).

I made a great deal of progress on fiber projects. Finished the 2nd pair of baby booties for their 1st b-day (new knitting rule: don't promise to knit for twins). Discovered the cat doesn't like to wear boots...

Finished the deep breath sweater!!!!!! May need to re-knit one sleeve, it may be a little longer than the other arm (must have been those painkillers from January).

Finished spinning the singles of the blue merino roving. In process for plying....

I started to finish the red sweater (seaming the sleeves) but I've been so busy working that I haven't had enough time to focus on this very important part of the project. As it is right now, one sleeve is 3/4 of the way in. Sorry no picture.

This week I hope to finish the seaming & work on the baby suprise jacket & the lacey toe up socks. I will have my evenings free while I attend a craniosacral therapy workshop near Portland, ME. I hope that some of the knitters in Portland respond to my post on Ravelry inquiring about SnB gatherings. Either way, I get to relax and knit in peace (no dogs having to potty while I work my short row heel).

Happy VD!

2008-02-14T17:37:00.002-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

I got a Nostipinne from my hubby--a gift only a knitter could love or even know what to do with it. I'm posting in a rush--testing the new modem & waiting for hubby to show so we can get to our dinner reservation on time. We're having sushi!!!!!!

Why do I have a new modem???? Well, the phone in was so staticy over the past few weeks I couldn't use our land line at all. I got a new cordless phone & still had static. Swapped to a different phone jack & still had static. Burned sage & still had static (ok, I realy didn't burn sage but I though about it when I heard how much it would cost if the phone guys diagnosed the problem was in our house). So today was buy & install a new modem....still had static. Re-plugged the phone line filter into the new phone....static gone.

Pictures next post...I promise. And maybe even a finished sweater!

Tainted yarn, sparkly wool, & much knitting

2008-02-06T18:49:00.000-05:00

So much has happened since my last post, I hope that I can remember it all.

Two Saturdays ago, I went to a toe up sock class. This process has been on my list of things to tackle & so far things are fairly straighforward. There is always the unfounded FEAR followed by the realization that "it's just knitting & I can rip it out". As a matter of fact the yarn that I'm using for the toe-up sock was originally for a cable sock that wasn't working. I'm sure the yarn is thankful it has a new destiny besides the stash trunk. The yarn has been dubbed "tainted yarn" (yes, I want you to have the one hit wonder "Tainted Love" recycling in your head...if I must suffer than so must you) by the girls at the Wed night knitting group at the local Barnes & Noble.

This past weekend I went to a Nutmeg Spinners meeting. I nearly finished the blue merino (the wonderful apaca that arrived in the mail is in the que next, but more on that later....). I only bought $20 of purple & sparkly white wool batts. Yes, the white has sparkles in it. After the people next to me saw what I got there was a buying frenzy.

Now for the true confession....I GOT HEMP IN THE MAIL (ok, ok, it was really hemp yarn) for my hubby's sweater. Hemp is the only material that he probably can't destroy by "forgetting" the care instructions. I have a really nice boiled wool sweater destined for a tote bag 'cause it doesn't fit DH, me or any of the dogs after improper laundering.

As of this date I have completed 3 of 4 booties needed for 1 year old twins. Their birthday party was on Sunday. Only one bootie was presented as a gift (while the grandparents were still awake) the second bootie was completed by the end of the "stupidbowl". I completed a 3rd today & cast on for the final bootie today as well.

I bound off the shoulder of the red sweater (this picture is from Jan 26th & resulted in the name "Calamari sweater") & tormented the brown sweater by working a few rounds at SnB last Wed. Oh, I'm up to the instep of the lace toe-up sock.

Dear Brown Sweater,

2008-01-23T14:59:00.000-05:00

As much as I adore the fact that you are my first top down sweater, our relationship isn't progressing as quickly as I thought. I need to put you down for a few weeks. I think we should be free to play with other yarn & needles for awhile. If you truly must know, there is this fluffy thick red & black yarn that has been calling me. It's flirtatious overtures can no longer be ignored. It's 3sts/inch gauge is just too appealing.

I hope that you can forgive me & trust that I will return. Trust that there will be a time when you can return to my lap with the dog(s) & cat on cold, windy, and/or rainy days.

Sincerely,
Your Knitter

Don't Knit on Painkillers

2008-01-14T15:10:00.000-05:00

The second sleeve of the Deep Breath Sweater is done. Both cuffs match (one had a picot edge, but it curled in a ugly, not design element, sort of way) and are in 2x2 rib.

Knitting on painkillers is a bad idea for a number of reasons.

Poor posture/bad position not noticable due to blocked pain receptors (ie knitting over a small dog, while other small dog is under elbow)
Can't update Ravelry due to nausea experienced from reading and/or screen refresh rate
Can't read pattern (see above reason)
Gauge is looser than normal (10% due to now using metal circs & not Denise needles, 90% due to meds)
One doesn't care about gauge (100% meds)
Over estimation of knitting powers--I can thread a long circ along just one entire row of many (apprx 100) stitches in a variegated yarn & not jump to another row). This is of course to frog the 2 inches of loose gauge knitting while on prescription. It took me an hour to frog, pick up all the "frogged by accident" stitches, and start again.

Last week I discovered that I had to rip back 3 inches of a half-dome hat 'cause I forgot to change to larger needles. I was successful in that ripping event--then again it was before the prescription.

I'm trying to assemble a group of knitters to go to the Hartford Wolf Pack game on 1/19. Interested? Please comment so we can coordinate the meetup.

Typing on painkillers

2008-01-09T16:35:00.001-05:00

After hearing most other knitters resolutions, I have put together my own list.

Complete 8 major knitting projects (1 sweater = major project)

Complete 3-4 pairs of socks (in addition to major knitting projects)

Complete 1 charity knitting project

Knit for above from stash as much as possible. If yarn is purchased, project needs to be completed prior to year end.

Post to blog weekly

Spin 2 hours minimum per week

Attempt dying

Note:In the event of buying house/selling condo, only 6 major knitting projects is acceptable.

I've had a great start to the year thus far. I'm hoping to complete the second sleeve on the Deep Breath Sweater today. I completed 2 sewing projects this past weekend. I made these 2 great bags for knitting & made face cradle covers for my office.

Why am I typing on painkillers? I had a tooth pulled today. Typing is not agreeing with the medicine & I must go lay down now.

End of another year

2007-12-30T19:10:00.000-05:00

Each year at this time, I do the usual review of the previous year's events--good & not-so-good. I'm releaved most of the psycho shoppers/drivers will retreat to their homes and post shopping debt--now if I could only outlaw the number of displays in the aisles at the grocery store & the race car grocery carts that get caught on the displays when zooming past me.

I spent some santa money on fiber stuff--went to the yarn sale @ Webs last week with the main purpose of picking up a part for my Louet wheel and bought a sweater's worth of yarn in purple & 2 scarves worth of cashmere/silk for $15/scarf (sorry no pics...spent too much time spinning this afternoon and it's too dark now).

I picked up my new spinning wheel on Saturday AM & I love it! It's a Kromski Sonata & it's so much easier to use. I'm much more relaxed at this wheel than the Louet. I originally thought I would continue to use the Louet for plying since it's bobbins are much larger....now I'm not so sure.

Well, off work on the deep breath sweater. It'll probably take me all evening to figure out where I left off in June.

Sunday Sleet

2007-12-16T13:28:00.000-05:00

The weather today is complete crap. Although I must admit that I did have fun baja-ing into work at the hospital this morning & then back into my parking lot. I love my Subaru! The only thing that could make it better would be snow tires. I advocate practicing driving maneuvers in an empty parking lot when the weather turns snowy/icey. I feel more confident driving in wacky weather when I know how my car will respond under certain conditions.

I finished nearly all my holiday knitting!!!! I even got Salta to model the alligator scarf for me today! I only have a bath mitt & the other shadow knitting pot holder to go. I dropped the idea of making mittens for my BIL & FIL 'cause my hubby said "no one wears mittens". So, I'll make a pair of mittens for myself & possibly a hat for the hubby.

I am finding myself already thinking about what my next project will be. The urge to cast-on is strong! I think my will power is stronger. I have other distractions: laundry, making soup for dinner, finishing Xmas gifts. Crap! I just remembered that I still need to sew a lining into the small felted bag.

I've been giving some thought to resolutions for 2008. Usually I settle on something completely attainable & fairly simple to integrate into my life--drink more water, floss more regularly, etc. However, next year we are hoping to leave condo life & get a house of our own. That means that I need to de-clutter the craft corner of the bedroom, replace the carpet, and begin to pack little things. I started 2 weeks ago by packing up the fly tying supplies. Now I need to organize the yarn & finish up some loose ends. I'm still trying to formulate my actual resolution, so you will just need to stay tuned.

Here is the finished canadian hat(s) by Sallie Melville.

How to stop non-knitters in their tracks

2007-12-08T12:47:00.001-05:00

This week I transplanted the orchids. The one in the back of the photo still has the battle wounds from a hail storm this past summer.

I photographed the completed gauntlets.

I have been working frantically on the alligator scarf. I hate the acrylic yarn chosen for the project even though the color is good. I have been on a mission to finish this scarf so I can work on other gifts for the holidays. I take it everywhere & sometimes I don't work on it much due to showing it off to people who want to know what it is, who it is for, & answering the "did you make that?" in a way that doesn't make the person feel like he/she is the hundredth person to ask.

I intended to work on alligator this morning with my new knitting group that was meeting this morning, but I never found the meeting spot. Thus I got an early start to my day & I am using my time that I would have spent knitting with them writing this post.

This is where I was last weekend

In two days I got this far by working in public & @ home, even with the "help" of the dogs.

Stay tuned next week for the photo finish--I have to get back to knitting.

Twisted Gauntlet Conundrum

2007-11-18T18:23:00.000-05:00

I realize that this is the wrong time to experience and induldge start-itis (the compelling need to start a new project when there is still a project or 2 on the needles). I must have been out of my mind going to a yarn tasting yesterday. However, the yarn I ordered is for xmas gifts AND I'm constantly wanting to start other knitted gifts even though I haven't officially finished ANY yet.

I thought I was making great progress on the alligator scarf. I switched to longer needles & it made working the ridges easier. I still hate the yarn--the price one pays by regularly knitting with good quality yarn. I was up to 4 rows of ridges & was ready to take a photo for blog & ravelry when I noticed that my stitch count was off....and had been off for the past 2 rows of ridges. So I ripped back. I haven't been able to pick up that project since last Friday.

Instead I've been trying to finish the fingerless mitts. I don't know if I'll reach my goal of finishing them today, but I hope to be very close. The green yarn is my waste yarn until I pick up for the thumb.

However, I need your help......I noticed that I worked the first 6 rows on the first gauntlet in stockinette, which causes the expected curling as seen above.

The second gauntlet I actually followed the instructions and did the first 6 rows in garter stitch.

Regardless of the reason for my error (probably wine), I refuse to frog & start the second gauntlet over again. I can only see a few choices:

The recipient will never notice
This is a design element for designating left vs. right
Crochet a decorative edging (I'm thinking scallop)

Suggestions?????

The Christmas Gift Countdown

2007-10-29T16:05:00.000-05:00

Rhinebeck is over...now the only thing to look forward to is warm wool in one's lap (and/or a cooperative pet) during a cool/cold day.

It's not even Halloween & I'm feeling the pressure of Christmas looming over my shoulders--too many gifts that I want to make. The good news is that I started a few gifts & have been making regular progress with the World Series. I'm probably the only person (besides Colorado fans) who wishes there were a few more games. I'm not really a Red Sox fan, but I'm glad that a New Engand team Won.

I'm looking forward to attending a new knitting meet-up in New Hartford on Thursday & Sunday this week. I hope to continue with gift progress during these sessions.

I tried my hand a shadow knitting with good results. I really liked this idea for a pot holder 'cause it uses up stash & is a little different. I had originally planned this as a practice piece for a tote bag. However, I think it will be too stretchy for the size I want to make. I really liked that I didn't need to sew in a bunch of ends afterwards either, I just dropped the "dark color" and used the "light" color for 2 rows & switched. I'm anxiously awaiting the bag knitalong from Ready Set Knit podcast as a possible quick gift.

Other things I've started are the CamoAlligator Scarf. I'm using the pattern from Morehouse Merino. I elected to use cheap yarn so I don't have a meltdown when the recipient looses it. HOWEVER, the camo yarn is wearing away my fingerprints while I knit! Has anyone else had this happen ever? Thankfully I have another project to switch off too--the twisted gauntlets from "Not Just Socks" done in Koigu.

7 more days until Rhinebeck

2007-10-12T19:54:00.000-05:00

I went to my first Spinning Guild meeting last Saturday & had a great time. I got to try a Kromski wheel for the first time ever. I really liked it. I think I now have 2 choices...Schact or the Kromski Sonata. I like the smoothness that the double treadle offers. I plan on trying it again at Rhinebeck.

While at the meeting & not coveting other wheels, I was trying my hand at spinning merino. My first few feet were pretty bumpy. Things smoothed out as I got further along and even got nods of approval from fellow spinners. I realized on my way home that this is only the second type of wool that I have ever spun.

You may have noticed that my project list has changed. I'm finally finished with the commissioned childs sweater. It was 2 colors with stripes, too bad I didn't learn how to weave the second color in while I knit until a few nights ago while trying out shadow knitting potholders (hopefully pictures next post). Thank goodness I didn't have to sew in all those ends myself. At least now I know that if I ever can't afford yarn, that I can find someone who will pay me to knit their project for them.

Happy Fall

2007-09-22T15:55:00.001-05:00

Where has September gone? How many more months until the Xmas deadline? I haven't really knit much this month. I completed my first century (100 mile bike ride--yes in one day). It actually took me 6 1/2 hours (it was a flat course). Anything after 90 miles was awful (except for the finish, of course). I've been holding off on this posting waiting for the picture. I could wait no longer so according to Murphy's Law as soon as this is public, the picture will be in my inbox. I felt pretty good considering my training was the bare minimum. I strained my left thumb from spending so much time in the hoods of the brakes. This is why knitting has been halted for a bit. Massage has been challenging. I'm mostly recovered by now.

I have begun seaming the Brilosso pullover--I only have the sides to go before having to figure out how to make it longer....that is if the armholes are big enough. I'm really hoping that I don't have to give this project away as a gift, but only the knitting Goddesses know the ultimate outcome of this project. In the meantime, I plug along one seam, one stitch, one breath at a time. I guess I'm not one of those "process" knitters who would rip the whole thing out & start over.

I also completed a knitted thong for Peter the Blow-Up Doll who found a new home with a newlywed. I used the Bottoms-Up Hootchie Kootshie Tasseld G-string Pattern (http://naughtyneedlesknitting.com/?p=18) Sorry no picture posted here--whatever you imagine is better, trust me or if you really must see check out the link. I made size Small. I wish real clothes were sized as appropriately as this....the small was so small I think it could only fit Peter. I used Lion Brand Glitterspun in Purple. If I was making this to really wear, I would consider swapping out the yarn. The glitter tread in the yarn would be irritating...then again a person wouldn't be wearing it long anyway....

So Rhinebeck is around the corner. I'm feeling the pressure to use my roving I bought last year. Now that I don't have to ride my bike for 4-5 hours on the weekend, I hope that I can at least get some of it spun up.

It's Fair Season

2007-09-03T16:04:00.000-05:00

This has been a fabulous weekend in CT! I went to the Goshen Fair yesterday to see if I knew anyone who entered finished knitted objects & sure enough I think I know the person who received a few blue ribbons!

As you can tell, I saw some sheep. I bought some Goatboy Soap in Apple Cider scent (I can't wait to try it in the shower!) As I wandered around the fairgrounds & saw a few unruly critters--draft horses & a cow that didn't want to be shown. All in all, it was a nice way to spend 2 hours.

I finished the body of the commissioned sweater project. I will seem the shoulders & possibly start the sleeves after this posting. I also need to seam the sleeves of the Brilosso Sweater. It is presently being held together with pins on a large table in our living room. I may work on this this evening instead--depending upon my mood.

Next week the post may be a few days late....I bike my first century next Sunday (a century is 100 miles). People who have done this ride in the past say it will take 7 1/2 hours, not counting the time you stop to eat & to allow blood to return to one's posterior. Hopefully the weather will be good & I will have a tail wind the whole way!

Summer is back in CT

2007-08-25T16:02:00.001-05:00

It is so hot & humid outside today (heat index of 100) that I decided it was a great day to upload stash to Ravelry, post to the blog, put my computer on my bike, and knit a bit.

I seamed the shoulders of my Brilosso Short Sleeve Pullover this morning. I set out the sleeves on the blocking board.

I tried on the pullover &

it's a crop top!!!! I suppose this wouldn't be to bad if I were 18 again, but I'm not. So I will be adding on a knitted border after I sew in the sleeves & seam up the sides. I also plan on taking my measurements so that I can avert this type of problem sooner in the garment construction process.

Until my Knitting on the Edge book arrives, I'll have to continue on the commission project, finish up another pair of yoga socks to I can start either a toe up pair of socks or jaywalkers.

I have started my list of holiday knitting projects. I'm hoping to focus on the commission project so that I can start on some of these gift knits soon. I would also like to get some spinning time in, but that will have to wait until after I complete my first bicycle century on Sept 9th.

Knitting in Nova Scotia

2007-08-17T20:42:00.000-05:00

The trip was great! I got some great photos & we survived 24 hrs of gail force(90km/hr or 45mph) winds (picture on left just a day after me knitting on the beach)--no knitting got done that day. Too bad some pop-up campers & motorcycles didn't fair as well.

Vacation knitting project status: I finished knitting a felted bag on the ferry ride from Yarmouth to Portland (6 hours). Only one teenage boy commented on my project: "That's a great hat your weaving!" I did tell him that I was really knitting, but I didn't have the heart to tell him it wasn't a hat. One of my dogs helped me unpack the knitting, by trying to chew the double points thru the Ziploc bag the project is presently in. I think the needles are still usable (the knitting goddesses must have been smiling on me for some reason). I also finished a pair of yoga socks & got 2/3rds complete with the second pair. I did bring home one vacation project completely untouched.

I also bought yarn at a local shoppe http://www.bellemeadefarm.ca/. It's from her sheep (I think they ran across the field just for me), dyed & I believe, spun locally by hand. I thought for sure the guys at US customs were going to rip our car apart when all we had to declare was 750ml single malt whiskey and yarn.

I got this really cool quiz in email this week. Answer all the questions & find out what kind of yarn you are! Please leave me a comment so I know what type of stash I'm hanging out with.

http://www.quizilla .com/users/ bisybackson/ quizzes/What% 20kind%20of%

I'm Shetland wool!

Inbetween vacations

2007-07-29T20:01:00.000-05:00

Getting ready to take off to Nova Scotia. Just discovered that I will have one less day there due to not being able to get the fairy on Saturday as hoped. I guess that means I have more time to get my vacation projects in order.

On the needles: I'm still working on yoga socks. I finished one sock & I'm hoping to squeeze out another one from the same ball of yarn. I'm about 1/2 way there. I had hoped to work on the "get paid to knit" project today, but my bike ride took longer due to a few missed turns, backtracking to find them, and poor average speed due to high humidity, hilly terrain, and my piggy road bike (she weighs 23 lbs! For the non-bike people reading this, a race level mt bike is about 23lbs or slightly more. Ok, so it's not really a road bike....it's a cyclocross bike so maybe that's why she's a pig). When I finally got home, I stretched, drank water, ate the last piece of my ice cream cake, showered, napped, paid bills, balanced checkbook, and did laundry.

It's still really humid, even though the thunder showers came through a few times today. I can't bare the thought of having yarn in my lap or even near me. The carpet in my house feels wet (I've found myself checking to see if the dog made the wet spots, only to discover the whole carpet feels this way)! I probably should have added "buy dehumidifier" to my "do today" list.

Stuff I'm planning to take on vaca: One skein wonder by Stephanie Japel, small noro bag (intended purpose once complete is to hold spinning wheel tools on the back side of the wheel while I work), yoga socks, the second Harry Potter Book, and my Soduko puzzle book.

Bitten by Ravelry Bug

2007-07-11T11:32:00.000-05:00

I got my long anticipated invitation to Ravelry this past week...I entered some projects, found a few friends, joined some groups, and knit absolutely nothing!

However, I'm now officially ON VACATION. If you are at the Pedros Mt Bike Festival http://www.pedrosfest.com in Hancock, MA this weekend, bring your bike & go on one of my rides (I'm a ride leader), stretch out at my yoga class on Sat or Sunday (check fest schedule), or stop by my tent (or the Tour de France broadcast area) & knit with me! Hopefully, the weather will hold out & the mud and bugs will be minimal.

I nearly forgot to mention that my Knit Picks Options needles came in just 6 days--even with the free shipping!! I'll be taking the entire set with me to Pedros so that which ever project I start, I'm prepared!

Lilly's last fleece

2007-07-06T17:39:00.000-05:00

I recently learned that Lilly the sheep past away since I bought this fleece a year & a half ago. I'm not sure if she was shorn after the fleece I got or not. She hadn't been sick or appeared ill. One morning when her shepard went out to do the morning sheep routine, Lilly was found, after drifting away to sheep heaven in her sleep. I like to think that she decided to follow one of the sheep she may have been counting in her dreams.

I included some pics of the last skeins drying outside between thunderstorms. I ran out of empty plastic hangers & places to hang the yarn outside, so I had to resort to some drastic measures.

Today was some of the best weather ever!

2007-07-01T18:52:00.000-05:00

I haven't done much knitting this past week. Real life tasks like taking dog to vet & cleaning the house/laundry had to be done. However, I have done a great deal of thinking about knitting & dying and catching up on podcasts.

The weather this past week was awful--too hot, too humid, just breathing caused sweat to drip done one's brow. My air conditioner could barely keep up at my office. Fortunately the weather broke into a lovely weekend--cool, sunny, breezy. I did some trail maintanence on Saturday for a Mt Bike Fest that's happening in 2 weeks in Hancock, MA (I'm a ride leader at the event).

Today, I had to get on the road bike (I barely rode in the past 2 weeks & there's that century that I signed up for in Sept....). My hubby & I went on a group ride that left from Sharon CT this morning. It was a great ride. Only one person had a flat & it was right infront of an alpaca farm!!! It turns out the person who got the flat knows someone that makes drop spindles & people that spin while hiking?! I didn't get to take any pictures, 'cause I don't take my camera on bike rides. I'll have to take a scenic detour back to the farm the next time I need more Harney & Sons tea.

Hopefully I can catch up on knitting time this week due to the holiday & the Passiflora (tea shop where I do chair massage) being closed!

One hour to spare

2007-06-24T07:02:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted in awhile due to being blessed by these pretty things outside my door & working on a gift project that is due today (I just finished with an hour to spare).

Two weeks ago I received an invitation for a christening for twins. I then did what any respectful knitter would do....search for a gift project. I really wanted to do a baby kimono jacket, but I couldn't get my hands on a pattern that I liked (minimal seaming). After an evening of browsing the web for free patterns I found "Katja", a baby halter top, from knitty.com.

The following day I bought "Key West Karibbean Kotton" from The Sassy Skein in Beach Glass & Fruit Punch colors. I swatched that night I started knitting the next day. It took me about a week to complete the first halter top due to only 1-2 hours of much interrupted knitting time/day. I think the dogs wait until I pick up the needles to start their potty dance. Of course then we go out & all they do is eat grass. We come back in, I sit down & it starts again...usually with the grass that they ate coming back out.

I started the next halter top & realized that I missed 7 rows in the first one (there were two sections of "7 rows of stockinette" & I just jumped ahead in the pattern. So I finished the second halter top the correct way, then added the 7 rows into the first top & bound off again. After I finished the second top, I got out the measuring tape to check my dimensions 'cause the tops just didn't look quite right. Sure enough, they were 1.5" too wide! I should have measured sooner, but I was knitting in the round instead of flat (as the pattern was written). Normally I don't think an inch would matter, but on a baby garment the difference is readily apparent, even to non-knitters.

So I sat at the Tea shop (I was really supposed to be doing chair massage, but it was a very slow day), placed one of the tops on my head as a hat & did the math......today is Thursday, I have (insert number of hours of knitting time here), projects need to be ready by Sunday at 9:30am. The decision was made.....frog them both!!

People in the tea shop asked me what I was doing. Then I started fresh. I finished the first top & frogged the second, and started on the second all on Friday night. I tried to finish the second on Saturday, but caught myself falling asleep with needles in hand. So I woke up early today. Bound off & sewed in the ends. Steamed them & gift bagged. So now I'm off to shower, 'cause I don't want to be late for church.

Getting "high tech"

2007-06-05T17:34:00.000-05:00

I've been trying to figure out how to add buttons & links to my blog. So far I've learned that I need something called "basic html skills". At first I took this as a sign of aging & I have visions of becoming my grandmother who still refuses to use a microwave & watches TV that projects all humans as having purple lips & distorted faces (I develop a bit of a facial tic if I stay to long during a visit due to the screen scrolling like a broken movie reel--UGH, yet another sign of age--movie reel...).

I however will not allow my language barrier prevent me from becoming more dorky than I already am. I now ask everyone who I know who has been blogging longer than myself, how to add a button. I've searched google & read the help section of blogger. All the while thinking that I should bring my knitting over to the desktop so I can at least be productive on one project.

All I have learned thus far is that I have inherited 2 generations of stubbornness on both sides of my family. I will not give up until my blog is graced by vibrantly colored links in the side bar! Hopefully this will happen prior to employing anger management techniques to my PC (aka smashing). Stay tuned...

Stephanie the Knitting Rock Star

2007-05-30T23:05:00.000-05:00

I just arrived home after 1.5 hours of driving. As I type this, I'm enjoying a "decompression" beer. Traffic, driving in strange lands, getting up at 4:30am for work this morning together has my adrenalin a little up--nothing a cold refreshing beverage can't remedy.

I've been looking forward to seeing Stephanie ever since I learned she was coming to Northampton as part of her book tour. In my excitement I have been telling anyone who will listen of my adventure. As all knitters know, it is impossible to get non-knitters excited about yarn...never mind someone talking about yarn, even if she is funny. I started explaining this event as a "knitting concert". I don't know why I chose to compare this book event with a midweek concert. Now, in hindsight, I can't even relate to how I thought this would be an amusing comparison. Eventually people nodded & fained interest enough that I would stop talking about knitting or they would just change the topic of conversation all together (last nights Yankee game was the most popular diversion).

I wasn't really sure what to expect this evening. No one in my small knitting circle seemed to know about the event. I've only read one of her books so far. I started to read the latest one last evening but only got through the introduction (had to get to bed so I could get up for work at the wee hours of the day).

It turns out that she is really funny. Her responses to some of the Q&A at the end were almost better than her monologue. I'm a new fan. Why? Because she is genuine.

Maybe it's because I live in the land of pencil thin eyebrows, tummy tucks, trophy wives/kids/cars, second homes,.... Maybe it's because it gives me hope that a normal person can be successful without playing politics.

Cheers! (please clink glasses with person nearest you) May knitters rule the world!

Is it possible to knit & ride a bike?

2007-05-25T19:29:00.000-05:00

Now that spring feels like summer, I feel compelled to be outside as much as possible. However, I also have resolved to exercise first, then knit. I completed a 75k road ride along the coast of CT this past Sunday & squeezed in another nearly 18 mile ride yesterday. I'm hoping for a mt bike ride tomorrow afternoon & then I'll be able to knit guilt free.

The downside of my enhanced fitness is less time spent clicking needles. I suppose overall this is ok, however, I have taken on a paying project that is due in 2 weeks. I received the project last week which I immediately swatch-ed & then started. However, as I knit the item I realized the gauge seemed off. So I stopped knitting it until I spoke with the designer & got the ok to proceed. There is no reason for any other knitter to not be finished by the deadline--most would probably be done by now. But I'm not sure if I'll make it. It's a simple pattern, luscious yarn, and goes quickly when I actually sit down to work on it. [While I was waiting to hear back from the designer this week, I started & frogged the first sleeve row of the Deep Breath Sweater twice.]

How do I find time for this you wonder? Maybe it's because I don't watch television, don't have children, and tolerate a higher level of dust than my mother might. It's not that I live like a pig. I clean the bathroom & the kitchen, do the laundry, clean the cat box, etc. I just don't dust as often as some people I know.

Speaking of cleaning up....I have to take the dogs out & then sit down to knit.

Knit with Love for Mom

2007-05-12T19:31:00.001-05:00

When I would get sick as a kid, my mom would bring my coloring books & crayons into my room so I could be busy between sleeping & sweating out whatever bug I had picked up at school. Even when I was in college (250 miles away from home), my mom would send me a new coloring book & a small box of crayons if she learned that I was sick.

Moms always know when something is amiss....my mom called shortly after my back decided I needed a vacation or even just a day off. I told her the whole story, then on Friday of the same week I received an envelope her. I wasn't expecting anything. I didn't miss any religious or "Hallmark"/commercial holidays. I opened the envelope & out spilled a card that made me cry & the alpaca yarn she bought when we went to Rhinebeck last October. Here is an excerpt..."In the meantime, 'pet' the alpaca yarn enclosed until you feel better, then add it to your stash until the time for the right project comes along-it will be a beautiful work of art in your hands!"

I immediately knew what I would use the yarn for...a scarf for mom! I set aside all works in progress & focused solely on the scarf. I finished it on Wednesday and blocked it on Thursday. So here is the picture of the finished object. It was mailed on Friday, so it should arrive early in the week. Enjoy!

Wet felting 101

2007-05-04T18:03:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday I took a wet felting class. I would have never even bothered except my mom, the voice of reason with me at Rhinebeck last fall, said "Don't buy a kit, just take a class. There is no mess in your house, you have a finished object & if you hate the process, you never have to do it again." So, like usual, mom was right....

We spent 3 hours rubbing angora with soapy water & a baggie. I liked the control that I had throughout the entire process. The excessive rubbing wasn't bad or overly tiring, but given my profession I may already be "trained". We used a water bottle with a sip top to drizzle soapy water over the fuzz to allow for felting to occur. Now I have to save those leaky workout water bottles that I picked up a health fair.

I was inspired by a movie my hubby & I watched the previous evening. It was a visual journey by an artist from Scotland who used found objects in nature to create sculpture within it's natural environment. One of is works is Orbs...one was in a tidal pool in Novia Scotia, one in a meadow. Another is laying of flowers &/or leaves in water pools. Another was a swirly icicle that glowed at sunrise & then proceded to melt. He photographs or films the work through the creation & destruction process. I think the film was called "Rivers & Tides". We are sending it back to Netflix now. Do not knit to this movie...sit back, enjoy your relaxing beverage of choice, and be wisked away!

Will I make another one? I haven't decided yet.

Knitting injuries

2007-04-25T20:31:00.000-05:00

I think I've reached a new level of knit addiction--I've been wounded! OK, I'll spare you the drama. I experienced my first back spasm EVER last week. WOW do they suck!! I'll also spare you the IBS (irritable bowel) details. I left work after only 1.5 hours last Monday, went home, slept, received a massage, guided a yoga class, came home & slept some more. Over the next few days, I gradually nursed myself back into my normal self with the support of tennis balls, a hot water bottle, & LOTS of stretching. My animals thought this was a great opportunity to take advantage of me. I think I overheard them conspiring "OK, she's on the floor, on my count we'll pounce...read...set...". Although my personal favorite was when the cat was on my butt (hot water bottle was on my low back) & she was kneading my hamstring! This eventually was not fun when Zappa decided to paw/scratch at the back of my head. He must have been paying me back for putting him in this awful static sweater!

So how is this knitting related?!? From too much sitting! I have been so focused on trying to promote classes for work, decide if I should cut back my hours at my day job, & knitting to catch up with the Deep Breath knit-along, that I was getting to bed late, working too hard/many hours & not exercising when my back went @#$(&*^!

I took almost 5 days off from knitting to focus on work & self care. Worked on the knit-along Saturday & Sunday, after exercising during the day. I even started to ply "lilly", & got half way when my back started to talk loudly.

I've been focused so much on my back that I haven't addressed the knots in my shoulders that I got while working on the Aran braid socks in the cold garage when my car's water pump was replaced.

Now if I could just figure out how to knit while lying on the hot stones at the massage office.....

Wool, cotton, & silk, Oh My!

2007-04-08T18:36:00.000-05:00

I received an email on Thursday of last week inviting me to a new fiber arts studio in town! Of course I had to check it out. I wasn't in the market for any yarn, but as a fellow business owner, I wanted to be supportive...so I bought one hank of Farmhouse Silk Blend dk wt called "rose garden". I considered this a very good exercise in control since I really want a double treadle spinning wheel & she is an Ashford dealer. This yarn is going to be perfect! I have this one skein pattern that I've been trying to knit up for almost a year but never seem to have the right yardage or gauge of yarn.

I arrive home, search for the pattern (which is buried under UFOs & patterns for the "next" project), find it & .......it is for bulky wt yarn. So now I need to find a yarn to knit with it to beef it up so I can still use my pattern. I can't get out to any LYS until possibly Tuesday. UGH!

I'm also waiting for some hand dyed yarn purchased online for the Web's knit along. I'm beginning to fear that the knit along will be long gone by the time my yarn arrives.

This is all really an act of a higher spiritual power, because I still need to finish the sleeves for a short sleeve pullover then seam it up. I finished the back (which was pictured 2 posts ago) --it's the blueish yarn that's sideways. The next time I include photos, I will orient the pictures properly. If you got a stiff neck from viewing them, I know a really good massage therapist in New Hartford, CT who might be able to help you out. Oh, gotta go, the sleeves are calling.

The poisoning!

2007-03-27T19:59:00.000-05:00

I came home from teaching yoga yesterday & Matt, my husband, couldn't wait to ask me what was in the pot on the stove. See, I had a touch of the stomach bug that has been going around the hospital where I work. So I decided that I should have steamed veggies & rice to go with my soup for lunch at work(nothing spicy, yet packed with vitamins). I steamed the veggies in the afternoon, got my plastic lunch containers ready for the week & left to workout & teach yoga.

While I was away, my husband came home from work & noticed a pot on the stove with an oddly colored liquid in it. He decided that the liquid looked like the color of my bicycle. Then, being more curious that most cats, he decides to taste it. I don't know why he would want to taste something that reminded him of paint, but that's Matty for you. While he was savoring the lack of flavor of the mystery juice, he realizes that the pot may have contained something for the knitting & might even be poisonous! He promptly spits the juice into the kitchen sink & rinses his mouth with copious amounts of water.

Roughly an hour later, I return home. He tells me of his poisoning scare & he's greatly relieved when I inform him that the pot did not contain poisonous dye...only juice from the steaming of beets, carrots & zucchini for my lunch.

Now I know why the little white packets in my wasabi peas are labeled "Do not eat".

Works in progress

2007-03-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

Getting ready to ply!! I finally finished spinning the last of "Lilly" (the name of the sheep) that I purchased last year in Lewisburg, PA after learning to spin. I'm looking forward to totalling the 2 ply yardage (completed skein shown below on left) so that I can determine what to make. I'm curious about the consistency of the gauge due to the long stretches of knitting time between actual spinning sessions.

Last week while attending local SnB groups I finished the back & started the front of a short sleeved Brilosso top. The yarn was purchased at Webs after a snowboarding lesson at Mt. Snow, & has been living in the stash until last fall when I began the project. My goal is to have it completed before the end of April (I would prefer before Easter). Pictured to the right is the front of the top...I just don't feel right about calling it a sweater with short sleeves.

Not pictured is the Knit Picks aran brained sock. The reason for this is that I believe that it is a cursed project (thank you Brenda Dayne from Cast On for putting words to this phenomenon). I have started it twice & un-knit 1/2 of a row twice due to starting the pattern in the wrong spot. Plus, it makes my fingers hurt. Well, ok not really, but I stretch a great deal after completing each row. I'm hoping it gets better.

Maybe one of these days I will follow my own advice & not have 2 simultaneous projects that use small needles. The next time I need a break from the socks I just may catalog my stash, for a baseline. My stash is by no means large which is intentional...small houses save on heat & have limited space for stash.

My podcast addiction

2007-03-17T15:17:00.000-05:00

Hi, I'm addicted to pod casts. It all started when my husband left me a ski widow a few weeks ago. Before he left, he showed me that he found a knitting podcast for me. He showed me how to copy it to my ipod so I could listen, subscribe if I wanted too, and look for others. I started at episode 2 of Cast On & was hooked! I now subscribe to about 5 knitting/spinning pod casts.

I'm glad that the art of storytelling is still alive. I'm more grateful that there are thousands of other people that are as addicted to yarn as I am and who also subscribe to or create knitting pod casts. Now that I'm aware of this culture, I'm joining in with my blog (besides my dictionary was lonely--just kidding).

The name for the blog comes from my desire to have a pet alpaca. I first learned of alpaca at my knitting guild 2 years ago. Since then I know search out & pet alpaca yarn whenever possible. I save newspaper articles about alpaca farms in CT. I found out that 2 other people I know also want an alpaca. I dream that some day I will have an alpaca to knit all my own.