It’s very quiet at work these days. Very strange for public service. Things are ticking along, with little crisis to distort the daily routines. Considering it’s the height of winter, it’s really quite unusual. A normal winter day usually consists of damaged vehicles, urgent parts orders, delayed deliveries, etc. causing much grief. So there is a little newspaper reading and small conversations being done in between tasks, and people in general are in good humour – a rarity around here many days.
I have re-discovered my public library lately, especially of course the needlework and craft section. It seems that many newer books are there, and some that I have wanted to look at but that would be too expensive to buy. I checked out Handpaint Country, by Cheryl Potter yesterday, a book about hand-painted yarns and the artists who create them from all over North America, including Koigu from Ontario (why didn’t I know that?) and I simply cannot get the images out of my mind! Breathe-taking! And so inspiring! While some of the items are well beyond my scope, there are a few I can do, and one very easy ruana from the front cover that will be a pleasure to make. However, I priced the yarns this morning and with the shipping and exchange it is well over $200.00 USF – totally out my price range, even for a shawl of superb quality like this. So it will be into my stash and off to the discounted yarn bins at my LYS to re-create my economy version.
We are fortunate to have some great LYS’s around and for this project I need glass beads and we also have several LBS’s too, which are always fun to venture into. Once we go in, it’s is hard to come out without extra things! I love beads and buttons and little rounded things. The colors the shimmers, the finishes – I have old crow syndrome – you know, where you can’t not pick something up that’s smooth and round and maybe just a little sparkly to take back to your nest!
This week, I tackled my plan to learn to knit socks. I consider sock knitting a skill level that I need to attain. Everyone says it is simple, but until now I couldn’t get my head or hands around those small needles and thin yarns. But then I saw these amazing sock kits from Socken Wolle, enough for two pairs of sock, one plain and one variegated, plus the needles and simple pattern, all in one kit. I found the kits in Sutton, QC in a great yarn and craft store, run by a wonderful lady who fortunately spoke English (I regret I cannot speak French to save my life!). It was hard to choose a colorway, so I ended up with 2 kits, so now I am committed after spending all my play money in one place!
But I think it was worth it as I am halfway through the leg after just 2 evenings of fiddling with those small needles, and seem to gaining some ground. And in an effort to ward off second sock syndrome I will use the needles from my second kit to knit the leg of my second sock before moving on to turn the heel of the first. Each stage I will do the second sock before moving on with the first. That way when I’m done the first sock toe, I only have the second sock toe to do.
Sort of assembly line style I guess, but I have finish-itis very badly and am trying very hard to keep my projects to four or less on the go, and finish at least one before casting on for more than that. Still it’s hard, since not all projects are suitable to drag around or work on in certain situations. I need mobile projects, like socks and slippers and mittens, and TV projects, like scarves, garter stitch shawls, crocheted afghans, and S’nB projects like baby things, etc. And then there is the real challenging projects that require the house to be quiet, free of distracting chatter, and suspicious noises that would draw my attention away from my stitches. Usually these are the projects like my vest or pullover that have reached a point where decreasing or increasing is required and I must count. Although I like to think I am multi-tasker like the best of them, counting and talking at the same time, not so good!
Now be quiet – I’m counting……….
Friday, 20 April 2007
February 7, 2007
So I’m entertaining, repeat entertaining, with the idea of someday investing in an alpaca. Yes, an alpaca! I am fascinated with the creatures. Their sweet faces, inquisitive and social natures, and fluffy coats of all natural colorings attract me over and over again! Oh, the softness of their fleece – to a fibre nut like me it’s all but impossible to resist touching. I hunt them on the net, press against the car window when we go by a farm hoping for a glimpse, I’ve even started reading the Ontario Alpaca Association on-line newsletters. Can you say obsessed?
So yesterday, when fate thrust its hand in front of me, I stopped. Hard. I was walking through the lobby of my workplace, when I noticed another knitter working on a lovely sock. Elated, I greeted her and introduced myself, and we chatted for a while about the tiny sock that she was knitting – it was just beautiful – and how I needed to learn to knit socks. The wife of an employee with whom I am acquainted, she told about her alpaca farm. Well what do you know, I had surfed her web site during one of my alpaca prowls, and so we had a brief but informative chat, and then regrettably I had to bolt off to my appointment.
But I couldn’t stop thinking about this momentary encounter that Fate had placed in front of me. See, unbeknownst to me, my ride had called too late with a message to meet at the back door, not the lobby. But I missed the call and headed to the lobby. Fate I tell you, Fate. Why else would I have missed the call and found an alpaca farmer sitting in my lobby!
At SnB last night I showed one of my knitting buddies the Sandy Ridge web site (here www.sandyridgealpacas.ca), and we discovered a term that was new to us: agisting : v. t. 1. (Law) To take to graze or pasture, at a certain sum; - used originally of the feeding of cattle in the king's forests, and collecting the money for the same.
Ok, now we are talking! I wouldn’t have to own a farm, or a whole herd, I could just “board” or invest in one! And my knitting buddy was as fascinated with this idea as I was. We’ve been e-mailing back and forth this morning and she’s as keen to get more info as I am! Yippee – a partner in crime – someone to get my back when I present this to my husband!
Oh lordy – that’s going to be quite the conversation. Me: “Uh, Honey, I think I’m gonna do some investing.” Him: “Wow- that’s great! It would be great to see you put your money into something solid instead of spending it all on that knitting and yarn stuff. What’s it gonna be – stocks, bonds, gold?” Me: ”Well no. Not exactly – I was thinking of livestock.” Him: “Oh – ok – beef, dairy, oh – you like horses – what, racehorses then?” Me: “Well no, something a little smaller and fluffy. Alpacas!” Him: “ Alpacas? What the hell is an alpaca?” Ya – looking forward to that conversation a whole lot! Wait ‘til he finds out I can knit with alpaca fleece!
I’ll keep you posted while we entertain this whole idea. I can’t rush here – a) the funds aren’t there to play with anyway, and b) I think I need a whole lot more info, and c) always need that cooling off period while I see if this is just whim or if I’m really ready for a long term commitment.
But aren’t they sooooooooo cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m doomed…..
So yesterday, when fate thrust its hand in front of me, I stopped. Hard. I was walking through the lobby of my workplace, when I noticed another knitter working on a lovely sock. Elated, I greeted her and introduced myself, and we chatted for a while about the tiny sock that she was knitting – it was just beautiful – and how I needed to learn to knit socks. The wife of an employee with whom I am acquainted, she told about her alpaca farm. Well what do you know, I had surfed her web site during one of my alpaca prowls, and so we had a brief but informative chat, and then regrettably I had to bolt off to my appointment.
But I couldn’t stop thinking about this momentary encounter that Fate had placed in front of me. See, unbeknownst to me, my ride had called too late with a message to meet at the back door, not the lobby. But I missed the call and headed to the lobby. Fate I tell you, Fate. Why else would I have missed the call and found an alpaca farmer sitting in my lobby!
At SnB last night I showed one of my knitting buddies the Sandy Ridge web site (here www.sandyridgealpacas.ca), and we discovered a term that was new to us: agisting : v. t. 1. (Law) To take to graze or pasture, at a certain sum; - used originally of the feeding of cattle in the king's forests, and collecting the money for the same.
Ok, now we are talking! I wouldn’t have to own a farm, or a whole herd, I could just “board” or invest in one! And my knitting buddy was as fascinated with this idea as I was. We’ve been e-mailing back and forth this morning and she’s as keen to get more info as I am! Yippee – a partner in crime – someone to get my back when I present this to my husband!
Oh lordy – that’s going to be quite the conversation. Me: “Uh, Honey, I think I’m gonna do some investing.” Him: “Wow- that’s great! It would be great to see you put your money into something solid instead of spending it all on that knitting and yarn stuff. What’s it gonna be – stocks, bonds, gold?” Me: ”Well no. Not exactly – I was thinking of livestock.” Him: “Oh – ok – beef, dairy, oh – you like horses – what, racehorses then?” Me: “Well no, something a little smaller and fluffy. Alpacas!” Him: “ Alpacas? What the hell is an alpaca?” Ya – looking forward to that conversation a whole lot! Wait ‘til he finds out I can knit with alpaca fleece!
I’ll keep you posted while we entertain this whole idea. I can’t rush here – a) the funds aren’t there to play with anyway, and b) I think I need a whole lot more info, and c) always need that cooling off period while I see if this is just whim or if I’m really ready for a long term commitment.
But aren’t they sooooooooo cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m doomed…..
January 31, 2007
Well it has been a very busy week here. I’ve had lots of appointments and physiotherapy sessions continue to keep me moving (literally) along. All good things!
It is week for educational things – we’ll be celebrating at SnB tonight (yes – on Wed – there a hockey game in town and the traffic is brutal!) as one of the girls has received her diploma for her hard earned studies and of course we are going to give her a big congrats! Cake all round! Yummy!!
And daughter #1 is madly finishing up her final course/final class project, which is due tomorrow, in between two jobs and 5 new clients this week, and of course there are the usual printing problems to contend with, just to make life interesting. So I’ve been on deck to print, print, print, and pick up this and that, and while I’m at it, please drop off that and this! I don’t mind – it makes me feel that I am contributing to her success in a practical way; something my nature needs to feel from time to time.
Now something strange has happened with the keyhole scarf in Softee Chunky Bernat (which I made the hat to match) and I’ve had to put it down for a day or so. Every time I pick it up and knit a row or two, my hands begin to burn, like when I’ve handled fibreglass insulation. I have never had this reaction from acrylic yarns before, but have from insulation, and indeed have other WIP’s that don’t have that effect. Wonder what’s up with that – any guesses?
In the mean time, I’ve decided that a pair of wristlets (yup – knit in some other soft chunky acrylic with no unwanted effects) might protect my hands from the irritation, so the scarf will have to wait a couple of days. Note that I tested the Bernat yarn hat without incident, and my girlfriend who received it is very happy with it. Very strange indeed. I have told the G-man that my body is just becoming accustomed to premium yarns, in the same way that I can only wear high quality silver and gold jewellery! Ah, what a shame! Merino, Alpaca, Quivit – here I come!
This weekend we are in La Belle Provence - does any one still say that when referring to Quebec? My parents grew up there and my father’s sister still resides there, and they all still say that. I remember when the licence plates had that phrase on them – I much preferred that slogan, especially since it is so true as far as the physical nature of the province is concerned – just don’t look too closely at the infrastructure these days!
It is week for educational things – we’ll be celebrating at SnB tonight (yes – on Wed – there a hockey game in town and the traffic is brutal!) as one of the girls has received her diploma for her hard earned studies and of course we are going to give her a big congrats! Cake all round! Yummy!!
And daughter #1 is madly finishing up her final course/final class project, which is due tomorrow, in between two jobs and 5 new clients this week, and of course there are the usual printing problems to contend with, just to make life interesting. So I’ve been on deck to print, print, print, and pick up this and that, and while I’m at it, please drop off that and this! I don’t mind – it makes me feel that I am contributing to her success in a practical way; something my nature needs to feel from time to time.
Now something strange has happened with the keyhole scarf in Softee Chunky Bernat (which I made the hat to match) and I’ve had to put it down for a day or so. Every time I pick it up and knit a row or two, my hands begin to burn, like when I’ve handled fibreglass insulation. I have never had this reaction from acrylic yarns before, but have from insulation, and indeed have other WIP’s that don’t have that effect. Wonder what’s up with that – any guesses?
In the mean time, I’ve decided that a pair of wristlets (yup – knit in some other soft chunky acrylic with no unwanted effects) might protect my hands from the irritation, so the scarf will have to wait a couple of days. Note that I tested the Bernat yarn hat without incident, and my girlfriend who received it is very happy with it. Very strange indeed. I have told the G-man that my body is just becoming accustomed to premium yarns, in the same way that I can only wear high quality silver and gold jewellery! Ah, what a shame! Merino, Alpaca, Quivit – here I come!
This weekend we are in La Belle Provence - does any one still say that when referring to Quebec? My parents grew up there and my father’s sister still resides there, and they all still say that. I remember when the licence plates had that phrase on them – I much preferred that slogan, especially since it is so true as far as the physical nature of the province is concerned – just don’t look too closely at the infrastructure these days!
Bon Voyage!
January 29, 2007
So. What’s new, you ask? Well, not much quite frankly. Although I will say that my knitting if not increasing in difficulty, is at least increasing prolifically!
This weekend I finished my own hat and immediately churned out another one a great friend, who has been patiently waiting half the winter to get a hat for her blue winter jacket. it is my own pattern, although any fool could, and probably has, done the same thing a thousand times!
Ribbed Toque:
Cast on 8.
K4, P4 in the round for approx. 10”, then begin decreases by knitting 2tog at the beginning of every knit 4 sequence. Continue k2tog every time you come to the previous decrease, transferring to double points as needed, until only 6 stitches are left. Thread tail through the remaining stitches and gather together tightly and fasten off. Pom-pom or tassels are optional. Bernat Softee Chunky in Sea Blue was the perfect match to her jacket, and pleased with the fit, she promptly requested a scarf to match!
Ribbed Keyhole Scarf:
Cast on 28.
R1 to R4: Knit in garter stitch
Scarf pattern:
R5: K4, P4 across, ending with K4
R6: K8, P4. K4, P4 across until 8 stitches remaining. K8.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 until scarf is approx. 20” long ending on a R5 repeat.
Make Keyhole side one:
R1: K8, P4, K2. Place balance of 14 stitches on stitch holder.
R2: P2, K4, P4, K4
Repeat R1 and R2 until side measures 4”, ending on Keyhole R2 repeat.
Make Keyhole side two:
Pick up stitches off stitch holder and with new strand of yarn, from keyhole edge begin:
R1: K2, P4, K8.
R2: K4, P4, K4, P2
Repeat Keyhole second side R1 and R2 until side measure 4” ending on Keyhole side two R2.
Finish Scarf:
Pick up yarn on Keyhole side one and continue in scarf pattern beginning with
Scarf pattern R6.
Continue Scarf Pattern R5 and R6 until scarf measures 29 ½ “ ending on a R6 repeat.
Finish scarf with 4 rows knit in garter stitch and bind off.
The scarf will fit just under her jacket with out adding too much bulk around the neck and allowing for ease of movement while staying warm - just right for tobogganning!
Knit on!
This weekend I finished my own hat and immediately churned out another one a great friend, who has been patiently waiting half the winter to get a hat for her blue winter jacket. it is my own pattern, although any fool could, and probably has, done the same thing a thousand times!
Ribbed Toque:
Cast on 8.
K4, P4 in the round for approx. 10”, then begin decreases by knitting 2tog at the beginning of every knit 4 sequence. Continue k2tog every time you come to the previous decrease, transferring to double points as needed, until only 6 stitches are left. Thread tail through the remaining stitches and gather together tightly and fasten off. Pom-pom or tassels are optional. Bernat Softee Chunky in Sea Blue was the perfect match to her jacket, and pleased with the fit, she promptly requested a scarf to match!
Ribbed Keyhole Scarf:
Cast on 28.
R1 to R4: Knit in garter stitch
Scarf pattern:
R5: K4, P4 across, ending with K4
R6: K8, P4. K4, P4 across until 8 stitches remaining. K8.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 until scarf is approx. 20” long ending on a R5 repeat.
Make Keyhole side one:
R1: K8, P4, K2. Place balance of 14 stitches on stitch holder.
R2: P2, K4, P4, K4
Repeat R1 and R2 until side measures 4”, ending on Keyhole R2 repeat.
Make Keyhole side two:
Pick up stitches off stitch holder and with new strand of yarn, from keyhole edge begin:
R1: K2, P4, K8.
R2: K4, P4, K4, P2
Repeat Keyhole second side R1 and R2 until side measure 4” ending on Keyhole side two R2.
Finish Scarf:
Pick up yarn on Keyhole side one and continue in scarf pattern beginning with
Scarf pattern R6.
Continue Scarf Pattern R5 and R6 until scarf measures 29 ½ “ ending on a R6 repeat.
Finish scarf with 4 rows knit in garter stitch and bind off.
The scarf will fit just under her jacket with out adding too much bulk around the neck and allowing for ease of movement while staying warm - just right for tobogganning!
Knit on!
Tuesday January 16, 2007
Stitchin’ & Bitchin!
Yup – It’s Tuesday and that what we do here in my house on Tuesday’s. We, being my bestest girlfriends and I, cram in my sitting room with the radio on and drinks of choice in hand and pass the evening away working on our projects. It’s a rare opportunity in a busy week to commit a specified number of hours working on an item at least once every week through to completion. It’s a chance to leave the outside, well, outside. Or, when necessary, bring in and let ‘er rip!
There are 4 of us the moment – and we are all moms of various ages (both ourselves and the kids) and hugely diverse backgrounds and careers (yes – I’m not telling you what we do – live with it!). It makes for some lively and interesting conversations, and what I love the most is the right-out-of-left-field perspectives I get from talking with them about all kinds of things from raising our kids through the various stages, to what our travels have taught us about the world, to why our men do what they do (haven’t exactly figured that one out yet!)! Many a world problem has been solved on Tuesday nights let me tell you! With my own sometimes brutally forward positions on many topics, I am often compelled by these wise women to take another look at just why I think the way I do, and I find frequently there is room for a change of heart or a new way of thinking. And our significant others know full well that they need to be conspicuously absent on Tuesday evenings or they could become live targets! Stay low, move fast! And when in doubt, bring Starbucks. Still, if the odd politician would chance by we could help with many of their pending issues too!
At the prompting of DD1, who has recently been bitten (ok, infested!) by the knitting bug, we hosted a joint Smashing Sundays S’nB Special Edition this past weekend complete with “It’s-a-Special-Sunday” cocktails! The purpose was to make up our mesh scarves that some of us received for Christmas and others acquired at the Fall Ottawa Needlework Festival and have been languishing in the must-do pile ever since. Frantic last minute shopping ensued at our LYS for just the right yarn. DD1 provided the technical portion of the day, as she had made a drop dead gorgeous mesh scarf for her Aunt for Christmas.
It was a crazy weekend what with The Ottawa Knitting Guild Knit‘n Learn on Saturday and our own Smashing Sundays S’nB on Sunday. Fit housekeeping, loads ‘o laundry, yarn shopping of course (did you all see the $2.00/ball yarn sale Michaels had last week – OMG – I was doomed from the beginning!) and the retro-fitting of new pot-lights in the master bedroom by the boys, and you have people everywhere!!
It is scary how all civility disappears when knitters are confronted with piles of pretty colored yarns calling to be taken home! I had decided that at the same time as our scarf workshop, we should have a yarn exchange to help purge our stashes. Really I see this as a public service to my friends, who like me, have significant others who watch their finances dwindling at fantastic speeds directly into our LYS’s and who become increasingly vigilant when words like “Special Edition” and “Workshop” and “get-together” are combined with “Yarn”, “Wool” or “Unique”.
The noise level was amazing in side my house! But what a blast we had, sipping our Cranberry/Raspberry cocktails and swooping round the table full of stash yarn clutching our picks by the armful, greedily packing multiples of bags worth while keeping a sharp eye out for the next perfect skein to appear from under the pile!
And the scarves – have you seen the scarves! I mean, for not being knitted (which is not as much of a cardinal sin as you would think) they are gorgeous, and everyone is as different as the person who made them! This is what I love about this project. Start with one common element: scarf mesh, and a basic instruction: bring at least 4 balls of yarn in colors you like to together, and add in something festive to drink, and throw everyone together at the same table and check out the amazing results (pics to follow when I figure out how to attach them!)
You know you want one too - so go make one!
Yup – It’s Tuesday and that what we do here in my house on Tuesday’s. We, being my bestest girlfriends and I, cram in my sitting room with the radio on and drinks of choice in hand and pass the evening away working on our projects. It’s a rare opportunity in a busy week to commit a specified number of hours working on an item at least once every week through to completion. It’s a chance to leave the outside, well, outside. Or, when necessary, bring in and let ‘er rip!
There are 4 of us the moment – and we are all moms of various ages (both ourselves and the kids) and hugely diverse backgrounds and careers (yes – I’m not telling you what we do – live with it!). It makes for some lively and interesting conversations, and what I love the most is the right-out-of-left-field perspectives I get from talking with them about all kinds of things from raising our kids through the various stages, to what our travels have taught us about the world, to why our men do what they do (haven’t exactly figured that one out yet!)! Many a world problem has been solved on Tuesday nights let me tell you! With my own sometimes brutally forward positions on many topics, I am often compelled by these wise women to take another look at just why I think the way I do, and I find frequently there is room for a change of heart or a new way of thinking. And our significant others know full well that they need to be conspicuously absent on Tuesday evenings or they could become live targets! Stay low, move fast! And when in doubt, bring Starbucks. Still, if the odd politician would chance by we could help with many of their pending issues too!
At the prompting of DD1, who has recently been bitten (ok, infested!) by the knitting bug, we hosted a joint Smashing Sundays S’nB Special Edition this past weekend complete with “It’s-a-Special-Sunday” cocktails! The purpose was to make up our mesh scarves that some of us received for Christmas and others acquired at the Fall Ottawa Needlework Festival and have been languishing in the must-do pile ever since. Frantic last minute shopping ensued at our LYS for just the right yarn. DD1 provided the technical portion of the day, as she had made a drop dead gorgeous mesh scarf for her Aunt for Christmas.
It was a crazy weekend what with The Ottawa Knitting Guild Knit‘n Learn on Saturday and our own Smashing Sundays S’nB on Sunday. Fit housekeeping, loads ‘o laundry, yarn shopping of course (did you all see the $2.00/ball yarn sale Michaels had last week – OMG – I was doomed from the beginning!) and the retro-fitting of new pot-lights in the master bedroom by the boys, and you have people everywhere!!
It is scary how all civility disappears when knitters are confronted with piles of pretty colored yarns calling to be taken home! I had decided that at the same time as our scarf workshop, we should have a yarn exchange to help purge our stashes. Really I see this as a public service to my friends, who like me, have significant others who watch their finances dwindling at fantastic speeds directly into our LYS’s and who become increasingly vigilant when words like “Special Edition” and “Workshop” and “get-together” are combined with “Yarn”, “Wool” or “Unique”.
The noise level was amazing in side my house! But what a blast we had, sipping our Cranberry/Raspberry cocktails and swooping round the table full of stash yarn clutching our picks by the armful, greedily packing multiples of bags worth while keeping a sharp eye out for the next perfect skein to appear from under the pile!
And the scarves – have you seen the scarves! I mean, for not being knitted (which is not as much of a cardinal sin as you would think) they are gorgeous, and everyone is as different as the person who made them! This is what I love about this project. Start with one common element: scarf mesh, and a basic instruction: bring at least 4 balls of yarn in colors you like to together, and add in something festive to drink, and throw everyone together at the same table and check out the amazing results (pics to follow when I figure out how to attach them!)
You know you want one too - so go make one!
Tuesday January 9, 2007
Hey - Nice to meet you!
My name is Kate and I’m a 40-something mother of 2 gourgeous grown daughters and married to the G-man, who does all the cooking (hey – lose the face - jealously does not become you, and if the wind blows on your face, it will stay like that – I’m surprised you mother didn’t tell you that!), and one very old neurotic cat who owes his happy kitty life to what we lovingly refer to as Kitty Prozac!
I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada – yup, that’s our nation’s capital – and surprisingly, at least a little to me, I really like living here. When we moved here 6 years ago from the GTA (that’s The Greater Toronto Area) I was prepared to tolerate the place, if only for the sake of good jobs, but I actually have come to like it so much that I’d have a hard time to move if asked to! Well ok – if you offer up a beach house in the DR I’ll be packed before you can finish the offer! But otherwise, it’s a great City to live in.
So this blog is going to be about me – duh, what else? ‘Cause in my mind, I don’t get enough chance to talk about the things I like to do (well ok – my friends and family are probably just really sick of hearing about me!), so now I have to start blogging and boring the rest of the world with my ramblings. My intention is to do a weekly entry about the things that I like to do during the week, like knitting (which I am becoming stupidly, stupidly obsessed with), crocheting, sewing and whatever else scratches my creative itch. But on occasion, and there will be many I’m sure, I’ll probably have something to say about things that smack me up side the head and demand my opinion (of which I have been told, I have many!) be heard.
It’s also going to be a place to capture some of the images I hope to be photographing with my new digital camera received just this Christmas! Yippee– no more sharing with the G-man! I have long wanted to show off a bit of the things I am learning to do, and this seems like just the place.
So there you go. Now you know about me. Time to move along - nothing more to see here. Check back next week.
ps. You'll have noticed this blog is is dated in the past - that's because I've been practicing off line for a while, just to see what it would be like to do this on a regular basis. And yup - I think I like it! So there will be a couple of back-dated entries to follow while I play catch up.
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