More Frolicing

Ok so back to the frolic. This could also be known as a place where it is considered ok to fondle things even if they are being worn by complete strangers. As well as stare and try to peek into the bags of those people as they pass you

Here were my purchases:

This is a fibula. I liked it as a nice simple shawl closure that locks in place. I put it on some Yarn Pirate to show it.

Like I mentioned yesterday I bought a few patterns. One for a Noni Bag and I bought some handles to make one. As well as the pattern for Simple Knitted Bodice from Stitch Diva Studios. I have thought about that pattern for ages so when Megan from Lettuce Knit had it I could resist no longer.

Another thing that happened while I was watching knitters go by and talking to people about knitting I saw a Clementine Shawlette in real life. It was BEAUTIFUL. I immediately regretted ripping mine out. So tonight with the Yarn pirate pictured above, I am casting on again and this time there will be no turning back.

I keep thinking back on what a fun day we had. We saw Amy Singer again and she is always a blast. Laura from Cosmicpluto helped Connie's sister Lisa to fix her sock problem and all in all it was a great day.

Come and frolic with us!

Today was a blast! The ladies took Pick up Sticks to The Knitter's frolic today! Everywhere you turn there were beautiful yarns, neat and new accessories, amazing hand knit items and great people!

My house/wedding budget kept me very reserved I bought a few patterns and some handles to make a felted purse, more addi lace needles and a few other things but I am proud of my restraint and if you were there you know it was hard. (you gave in and had to leave yarn in the car to hide it didn't you!)

I have a few pics to add tomorrow but I am wiped out. After coming home I had to clean up around the house and do way more laundry than should have been left to do, of which I have more to do tomorrow (it has been a few weeks). But heeeelllooo to all of those people we got to meet today. It is neat to meet people that have left comments or who's blogs you have been reading.

Enjoy all of those beautiful things you have acquired today (including the ones that you are still keeping quiet) and take comfort in this final thought......

Last time we went to a show like this I came home with a spinning wheel! Now go get the rest of your yarn out of the car!

Rrrrrrip!

Perhaps it is the preoccupation with all things wedding and looking for a ceremony and reception cite but my knitting just isn't satisfying me this week. I love my blanket still and have been working on and off on Thermal. But everything else is just not cuttin' the mustard.

One thing that doesn't help is that I received my April Rockin' sock club package today. It made me pick up the inside outside sock and finish it tonight. I put in on right side out..... I put it on inside out.....and I don't like it. I think it will be ripped tomorrow.

Next to be tossed into the pond is the Clementine Shawlette. I like the yarn I like that pattern but I can't see myself really wearing it that much so.....why keep going and deciding that later.

And finally.....Clessidra! I LOVE the look of the pattern. I LOVE the louet gems yarn. I do think the sock looks great so far. But two knee socks ? I have enough trouble with regular length SSS.

I spent tonight looking a few places with Aaron and with my mom and am pretty sure that I know where things will be happening but nothing signed or deposited yet. I guess there will be limited yarn budget for the next year because all of my money will be going toward house and wedding. * sigh* this must really be love!

many mindless squares

Am I sick of the squares yet? Nope. I'm surprised myself actually. I just want to knit squares all the time. I don't think I just knit.

I might have to put the blanket aside to finish the bag since that was what started it all with the squares. (Plus I am so much closer to finishing the bag than the blanket)

I am still overwhelmed by the engagment. There have been so many warm wishes. Thank you to those of you whom I haven't talked to since it happened /met who have sent your best. I still sometimes look at my ring and think "hey wait, I wasn't dreaming!"

I am going back to my knitting of squares. I'm going to sit with the bag for a while.

What a way to wake up at 5am! Saturday morning I woke up around 5 and could hear Aaron in the kitchen. I thought that it was not like him to be up in the night. He sleeps like the dead. He came back in the room and said something about the dogs bugging him. I said they want you to let them out. He came back with "I'm not going to let them right now". I started to get angry. He was already awake, he was already out of bed and now I was getting up to let the dogs out. Grrr.

Grumbling the whole way, eyes barely open, I let the dogs out and waited for them to do their thing outside not bothering to turn on the lights. I couldn't wait to get back to bed.

On my way back in through the kitchen there he was. Completely dressed in his jeans and sweatshirt and hat. "Why are you dressed" I asked, really annoyed at this point, "are you going out somewhere?"
"Didn't you see anything outside?" he asked.
"no" I said "why?"

"Come back here" and he walked me back to the door and turned on the lights outside. That is when I saw this.

I couldn't believe it. We had be talking about getting married for a little while now but then the conversations suddenly stopped. The reason they stopped I know now is because he had ordered my ring. It is so beautiful. Just my taste. I love it! I am so happy.

He asked my parents on Friday and showed my mother the ring. We spent this weekend visiting family to let them all know. Now we have a wedding to plan. We are thinking that we will go away for the wedding and then have a reception when we get back.

I'm very overwhelmed and excited.

Knitting in the box

Knitting in the box or cat in a box?

No lets stick to the knitting!

It has been a while since my last post. I have been knitting a lot..however I have not been knitting on any one thing. I have been averaging a new project a night for the last three nights.

I started Thermal and have knit one inch so far. Exciting I know that is why there is no photo.

Something that I thought would never be my style has become my life. Because of this and this I find that I MUST knit mitered squares and what better to use for squares than Noro. So I have started both projects.

This is beginning of the mitered squares felted bag.

I am using Kuryon in colour 178 and was not sure about the colour when I bought it but I was intrigued to see how it would turn out. I think when you buy Noro you have to spread the ball out like the petals of a flower to see all of the colours in it. Even then it is always a pleasant surprise.

An even nicer surprise then is the Silk Garden, of which I have purchased a ton to make a mitered squares blanket. I have colours 221 and 47.

I know that I am going to hate squares when I'm done and may never to them again after I'm finished but right now....I'm hooked. I may have to get in touch with Monika for tips and motivation to keep going.

The wonders of sleep

Well after yesterday's post the being sick stopped and the shaky weak feelings started. I went into work just long enough to make sure they got someone to cover me. Then I came home and did the bed to couch to bed dance for the rest of the day. Nothing but sleep. I didn't eat anything until 8pm and even then it was if-ey. Then Aaron came home and I had some more of the soup at 3:30 am but I was starving by that point and ready to eat. I am feeling much better today. Thank goodness....nowhere to go but up I guess.

P.S. Connie, the cats (at least one) took a liking to my new Addi Turbo Lace needles last night. There are a few teeth bumps on the cord. So when you get home watch out for your needles

Now perhaps because no knitting happened yesterday I can't wait to get some knitting done today. I have two new projects on the go. (I'm doing really well at finishing up those old ones aren't I).

I have started this:

It is the Clementine Shawlette from the Spring 2007 Interweave Knits

I am knitting it in Handmaiden Mini Maiden. I am still a little undecided if I like this yarn in this pattern. Love the two separately but together I'm not sure. So progress has slowed.

The other new project is Clessidra in Louet Gems Merino in Burgundy. So the colour is similar to the one pictured on the pattern. I love the pattern but here is the problem with this project. Knee socks are big. I have SSS (second sock syndrome) bad enough as it is and I haven't worn knee socks since high school. But the look of this pattern made me swoon. The sock so far is beautiful (you have to trust me because the camera is being moody again- I think I might need a new one).

So to sum it all up... I want to knit! but I am not sure if I should keep going on these projects or frog them. And yes I am aware that I could knit on the numerous other unfinished projects I have in my knitting bag.

yuck

I'm sick! I don't remember being this sick so fast before. Last night I was out for dinner at my parents house and some time at Unwind. I got back to the house and knit some more and then got ready for bed. The only thing I felt was really full, like I was gaining weight, like everything I had eaten yesterday was still sitting in my tummy.

I lay in bed for an hour before I had to get up. I think everything I ate yesterday really was still in my tummy. I continued to be sick all night and still feel a little stick and shaky this morning. I am waiting to go to work and tell them they need to get someone in for me today.

This has happened before when I had a migraine. I knew what I was doing for the day but didn't have everything set up. So today when I wish I could just not go at all I have to go and put away the things that are covering my desk so that someone can work for me today. Yuck I wanna go back to bed.

Speak up!

First a little comment about Wicked. If/when I knit this sweater again I will not do the optional increases after the decreasing. I would still decrease after my chest but I would leave it a that number of stitches. I wore Wicked today and thought that it seemed to sweep out too much. I am a curvy girl and thought it would make the sweater fit better. If I block the sweater to be a little longer it may not be as noticeable. hmmmm.

The reason I titled this post Speak up was because I need to learn to do that a little more. You never know what could happen. I was knitting in the waiting room at the dentist's office today. I have had people in waiting rooms ask me about my knitting before but the woman today knew it was a sock (it was duets and they use the afterthought heel so it could have been just about anything) we talked about the sock. She said that she thought it was a sock and that the first thing she did was check my feet (I was wearing store bought socks today). Did I speak up and ask her if she was a knitter? No. She was more interested that the average person who just stares a bit. Little old ladies love to see me knit in public because they can't believe someone my age is knitting (and most admit that they feel my work is "better" than theirs). It is fun to talk to strangers about knitting but I don't say too much back to make it a real conversation. Think of all the great people and other knitters/potential knitters we could meet if we just speak up.

The Wicked Sweater of the North

Say Hi to Mommy you two!

I am not at home for the next two weeks because I am looking after Connie's animals while she is on vacation with her family. I got here on Friday and I feel a little like I'm on vacation too (but I have to go to work tomorrow) It has been pretty quiet except for the trains. I am told you get used to them.

My dog Carlie seems to be doing really well. She is on some new medication and we are resting her as much as possible and not leaving her loose to chase things in the yard. We are still kinda wait and see I guess but we are going to see how much she continues to improve. Thanks again for the comments of support. Although I know I'm not the only one to ever go through these things it is a nice reminder that I am not alone.

I have spent the last few days finishing of Wicked. The pictures aren't great because I was struggling to keep my batteries hanging on and I couldn't seem to get a great pick of the whole sweater before they finally bit the dust so.

Wicked

Pattern: Wicked from Zephyr

Yarn: Malabrigo in Taureg

Needles: 4.5mm Knit Picks Options and Addi Turbos

Date Started: March 17th 2007.

Date Finished: April 1st 2007.

I really liked this pattern. I have been having just the kind of time lately that plain stocking stitch was just the way to go. This sweater has so many options too. Short sleeves/long sleeves/worsted weight/lace weight.

When it rains.....

It is so true that when it rains it pours. But then why does it seem that things are happening in more than threes? I had a convo with Connie today about what is too personal to share on a blog. I don't think this is... and I just need to let it out. No knitting content today.

It wasn't long ago that we had my grandmother's dog put down because she was so aggressive. Then there have been other personal family things going on in my life followed today by the news that it looks like my dog Carlie will have to be put down.

Friday night she ran outside and came in limping. She likes to chase small animals in the back yard and has pulled muscles the odd time before. This time seemed different. She didn't get any better over the weekend.
Yesterday when the vet was opened again we took her to get checked out. The Vet said she thought she had torn a ligament in her knee. We took her back today for x-rays. Turns out that the one ligament is torn, the other is damaged as well and she has hip displaysia (sp). The one leg that she is favoring can only be fixed by surgery. A surgery that costs about $2000(that is just an estimate). They think we should do both legs.
Aside from the cost, the problem is that Carlie is 12 years old. Who are we really doing the surgery for? We are going to see how she is of a few days of bed rest (what a joke to call it that for a dog) When she goes outside she needs to be held up at the back with a towel, used like a sling.

Really it sounds like it is only a matter of time. She is such a good dog with a personality like no other dog I have had or seen. She really loves you back! Comes to lay with you when you are sick, bumps your arm when you are crying and just seems to have a sense of what you need when you need it. Even this weekend she wants to play but can't. It hurts me so much to see her trying to get around on 3 legs. I know that some people would say that it is just an animal but that isn't the way in our house. Carlie is family! We love her! This is so hard.

Over/Underwhelmed

I am just in one of those moods. There was some news that.....just dropped me into my shoes today yet I am also so excited about some wonderful things in my life. It leaves me in this place where I don't know what I'm feeling anymore. I don't know what to do with myself and even knitting seems like too much effort tonight.

Anyway lets move on. A good thing in my life is that these came in the mail last week. Of course that means I want more solid coloured yarn.

I have also been working on the Inside Outside Sock finally this weekend. (I started the toe a while ago and stopped) I figure there is no longer a fear of spoilers so I will post this pic.

I'm not yet sure what I think of this pattern. I think I might like the inside more than the outside at the moment. I have knit the whole foot in 2.25mm and then after the ankle have moved up to 2.75mm. I know a few people who have decided not to knit the pattern given with the yarn but I have this thing about keeping the sock club yarn with the sock club pattern so as much as I am not "in love"with the pattern I will finish these.

I have also heard that a few people seem to not like the yarn colour at all. However this is exactly colours I would choose. So far my yarn is striping more than pooling which is interesting. I thought that might change when I changed needles but so far I still have stripes. I will have to see if sock number 2 is going to match.

Saved by Yarn

Thank you Lettuce Knit! I called the store this morning and they are sending me more Malabrigo! There will be a pocket on the front of my Wicked. Good idea or added tummy I don't care.
Plus I think I'm going to knit it a little longer than the pattern. I always think my sweaters end up a little short.

How long until July?

I love my family. Family is very important to me. However the longer I stay at home thinking about moving into the house with Aaron, the harder it is to stay at home.

I know my mom has been going through a lot and that this week has been no exception but I am tired of her turning those things around at her family. Tonight I have been out all night (most of the week actually) and then come home to one word answers or short sentences, followed by seemingly normal conversation. I just never know how to take it. I don't know if she is angry, over being angry, average or tired. I'm tired of treading on eggshells in my house where I'm supposed to be relaxing.

Anyway... Here is the beginnings of Wicked. (a little blurry this photo)

I love this sweater but when it says it takes 600 yards I don't know if I can believe it. I bought 650 yards thinking that is just enough extra to get it done. I am on the last of the 3 balls at 216yds each and I have a long way to go. If I make it I don't think I will be able to knit the pocket on the front. The pocket was one of the things I thought was so cute.

Maybe it is the sweater's way of telling me a pocket on the tummy is not a good idea for someone who is not a rake.

I will continue. I want to make to the end ... or maybe I'm a sucker for punishment.

Are we there yet?/The story of Rapunzel

You start to get excited when you are getting close to having the pieces of a project finished. The excitement builds. "I can finish this tonight" you tell yourself, "all I have left to do is seam it and those little details".

You start to seam the shoulders and realize, "Oh yeah this pattern has an i-cord". No biggy. You begin the i-cord and read a little further into the pattern and it hits you ..."I have to do this for how long?" But we are knitters hear us roar and you persevere and the i-cord is complete. You sit back to admire the work and aside from a few little bumps (we are human knitters after all) you think that i-cord really does add a little something. I've gotta be done now.

Oh yeah...the border....the crochet border. Didn't the person who wrote this pattern know that I am a knitter with very limited knowledge of crochet? *sigh* With a little help from online crochet sites and a hunt around the house for a 3mm crochet hook (successful) you sit down to begin. "grr why did I ever mumble... who wrote th.. grumble....I'm not done yet?.. humph"

All in all...taking a few days longer than anticipated.

Rapunzel is done.

Date Started: Last year Sometime

Date finished: March 18th 2007

Pattern: Rapunzel from Rowan #34

Yarn: Rowan Kid Classic (colour 822 - Glacier)

Needles : 4.5mm addi turbos

I just have to find some buttons that I like. It was a long time coming and I am going to have to block it to make it longer because as you may see in the picture the "girls" are a little too big for this sweater. The rest of it fits comfortably though.

Can you see it?

I am still working on finishing Rapunzel. I am finished the knitting but there are still cord detail and crochet edges to do. I am only posting because I had a thought when I used a different computer to look at my blog.

When I look at my blog on the laptop I like the way it looks but when I used to computer last night I looked at my blog and had to scroll over to read it. This is something I don't like to do when I look at other blogs. The laptop has a wider screen so please leave me a comment if you have to scroll over to read this blog.

The Yarn Crawl

Hi! My name is Wooly.

I wanted to help Sarah tell the story of today's "Yarn Crawl".

For Connie's Birthday the girls had planned dinner and a Yarn crawl in Toronto. The trip unfortunately had to be postponed when Sarah had to attend a funeral. Today was the day!

They started out at the Naked Sheep where Sarah found this lovely Bio Bamboo for the Tunic in the Spring Interweave. There was a tank knit up in the store and it was sooooo soft that Sarah fell in love.

Next the ladies went to Knit Cafe were there were so many bright colours. Followed closely by a visit to Romney where I joined the crew as well a few bags of roving. Sarah started to spin some silk and merino tonight wanna see?

Last but definately not least was the lovely Lettuce Knit with the lovely Megan. Sarah bought some Blue Sky Alpaca to make Rogue and some Malabrigo in a bright blue for Wicked.

Now Sarah says she has to finish Rapunzel tonight (I wonder if she can stay up that late) so that she can cast on something new.

She is having trouble deciding which of these three should be next. Leave a comment with your vote.

1)Tunic from Interweave

2)Rogue

3)Wicked

The Joy of Living Together

Because my parents are out of town for the week my bf and I get a little trial run of what life might be like when we get the house. So far this is what our weekend has been like.

Friday:
I stayed awake to pick him up from work at midnight. I couldn't sleep because he was taking up all the room.
Saturday:
We had to meet friends to go to a car show at 9:30am (his friends, one of which is so....annoying and to be really honest, quite rude and inappropriate). The alarm went of at 8am and I spent a half and hour trying to get him to get out of bed.
Once home from the car show he slept for 3 hours while I did laundry (did I mention he slept through the night while I tossed and turned)
-I slept like the dead through him trying to wake me up during the night
Sunday:
I spent from 10 am to 12 trying to wake him up again, as a three hour nap doesn't stop this man from sleeping through the night again. I cooked him breakfast and we went to look at furniture for the house and went to visit our pile of mud where the house will be. We peaked in windows of the houses already framed and saw for the first time what our main floor will look like in 3D.
We came home where his majesty had another nap for an hour. I cooked dinner, we ate. He came down with sudden headache which progressed into him feeling sick to his stomach. He went to bed and wanted me to sit with him. I was sure he would fall asleep but apparently he had too much sleep so he laid there while I read a book. I finally said I'm going to the living room got out my Sex in the City DVDs and have been here since. I'm sure he has gone to sleep now with no one to whine to.

I complain but... (I have to consider that I do think he is feeling sick and he is trying to quit smoking today which he is convinced is part of the problem) looking at furniture and going to see our mud makes me even more excited about the house. I like that as much as he can bug me I just like to have him around. I knew I was ready to live with him when we can be together and don't feel the need to be in the same room at every second.

During our travels I worked on my Duet Sock because Connie told me I better hurry up. And I'm trying to hold off from starting the Rockin Sock Club sock.

If you look close you can see where the afterthought heel is going to go. There is a line that is more green than the rest of the sock (on the right furthest from the toe).
For now I am going to work on Rapunzel because I can't wait to wear it.

Rockin Socks in Canada

No pictures today because I am trying not to spoil things right away! but ......

IT'S HERE!! my first Rockin' sock club package came today and I love it! The colour is just what I like and the pattern looks interesting. Waiting to see if other's around here have theirs yet before I start ..... but I can only be so strong. It may be on the needles before the end of the night.

Rapunzel Rapunzel let down your yarn

Yes I would like to announce the return of Rapunzel. I have only been working on this sweater for a year I think and I do love it so why do I not finish? That is the age old question isn't it.

This is the first sleeve. The two fronts and the back are finished. Psst... the back looks a little wider than my fronts so this again tells me not to leave a project for a year to knit because your guage will change (I'm going to start to tell myself that every morning and every night so I might one day remember)

I needed to work on the sweater because I have been knocking off those unfinished socks lately and needed a break. In addition to the Whiskers and Paws socks and the Pomatomus socks I finished a plain pair of socks in Vesper sock yarn (colour Neapolitan).

This is the Crooked Cable sock in Socks that Rock ( colour Lemongrass). I started these socks last summer for myself but I think I might give them to my mom. She really seems to like them.

This was the first time I tried Socks that Rock and I have been hooked ever since.

Speaking of Socks that Rock. I'm waiting very impatiently for my Rockin' Sock Club shipment. This is my first time with the club and first time as a part of a sock club so I'm SOOOOO excited. I tried to discourage myself from spending the money but as I have said before ... I am weak.

Anyone in Canada have their Rockin Sock Club yet? I know international orders were later from what they say on the blog and I can't imagine having a sock club with over 2000 people as members but....I am being impatient. It is the first think I think of when I get home. I don't want to turn off the car in case I get a slip telling me to pick up a package.