Back to Basics……….

In light of my recent bag obsession, I noticed that lately I seem to be gravitating to knitting mostly accessories, and the quicker the knitted item the better. I love working on small, portable projects where I can see progress quickly and feel the satisfaction I get from producing functional, wearable or useable pieces after only a few evenings work.

Oh yes, I have produced many rather large afghan’s (yes, the ubiquitous granny-ghans!), shawls, baby blankets and throws in the past with no trouble even though the timeline for completion is hugely increased with these projects. And I have two big afghan’s on the go, one for Afghans for Afghans, and the other for myself.

What confounds me is that when I start knitting a wearable item, like a vest or sweater, I get bogged down, and progress stalls and that’s when my WIP projects list grows and grows. It happens with a wicked case of “startitis”, where I cast on for everything in my path. I’m not sure what it is that makes this happen, since I am picking items to make within my skill level, and I understand the instructions with little difficulty and I am not afraid to ask for help when I need it, and the items do make up just fine if I stick to it.

It’s the sticking to it part that is causing some trouble. I seem to lose interest in these items as I go along, yet the word boredom doesn’t quite explain the lack of interest. I love them in the book, or wherever they come from, and I love choosing the yarn, examining the pattern to ensure I understand the construction and fit. All these things do interest and excite me and I knit along at top speed. These items are not too lengthy in duration, and I get about 80% of the way through and then, bam! Apathy hits. I don’t care any more, and I’m drawn on to the next thing I can find.

To compound the issue, I find myself excusing my smaller, simpler knitting choices to other knitters, when they ask me what I’m working on. As in please excuse me, it’s only a ribbed sock, or a plain mitten, or a hat, scarf or whatever. Like it is somehow shameful that I can’t keep count of some wickedly complex 12-color Fair Isle garment while watching the latest episode of House, and simultaneously holding life or death conversation with a family member, all the while baking a cake and organizing some massive theme party. Now what’s up with that? It’s a ridiculous feeling to have, and yet there it is, creeping in when I’m happily ensconced in my chair at knitting guild, or hanging around my LYS, or even when knitting in the wild, making me stop and compare my creation to that of the next knitter that happens near me.

Knitting is all about personal choice and I know that I am choosing the kinds of items that I like to make right now, so why would I feel a little less than, when sitting next to the knitter who is working on a more complex garment piece. Why should the complexity, or the lack of, cause me any concern what so ever? After I am a still a relatively new knitter amongst my knitting peers, and therefore my skill level is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, I think I done rather well, considering some curve balls that were thrown in over the last 6 months that caused me to have to relearn many of my knitting, crocheting and sewing skills.

So here is my “ahhh” moment. Knitting is also about personal expression and is generally a fairly good reflection of the knitters self in the moment. So perhaps what I am knitting is trying sending my thick head a simple message. And if that is the case, the fact that I am purposefully choosing to create simplistic items is definitely a reflection of what I want my life to be right now. Easy. Straightforward. Simple. Pleasant. Comfortable. Which in fact, it has been anything but in the last 6 months, with no promise of a reprieve any time soon. So perhaps this is my knittings’ way of reducing the internal stresses even further; that just the zen of knitting itself is not enough to bring about tranquility, so that the knittings’ message has progressed to influencing what I am knitting too, in order to achieve some sense of balance, control, and accomplishment at just the most basic of levels. Yup – that’s a message for sure. Back to basics.

It feels good, I tell you, very good.

Knit on…

Kate

I was just looking, really,.....

Have you seen this, by the wonderfully talented blogger, the Angry Chicken (aka Amy Karol)?

Or this by Celine Dupuy:

My favourite newsstand was out of stock of my favourite British magazines, Simply Knitting so I went to my local Indigo Book Store to get it, and made the grievous of errors in wandering over to the Home section to see what was new in books. It was a mistake of great magnitude. In fact Amy Karol’s book was only launched yesterday and wasn’t even on the shelf, but was rapidly produced from the shelving cart on request to “just have a peek”.

I’m not sure how it happened. One minute I was contented enough with having secured my magazine purchase and the anticipation of a pleasant evenings read, and the next minute I was walking out the door with a bag laden with lovely, inspiring, and soul-pleasing books. I was a little startled when I got home and emptied the bag, since I don’t really remember when I actually decided to purchase these two books. This morning I woke up, and I caught myself smiling, still pleased to see them by my bed where they were gently placed late last night before I feel asleep dreaming of printed fabrics and other hand-made lovelies.

I like this new breed of books that has filled the bookstore shelves lately. Rather than just putting together specific pattern instructions (although these are there too), these brilliantly talented authors have created books that are really more like roadmaps and travel guides to making personal, one of a kind, hand crafted items. The items suggested are limited only by your imagination and indeed it is encouraged and almost expected that you will supplement your purchase of new materials to include reclaimed fabrics, notions and novelties in your creations. Since I am always on clothes budget, and would love to have a limitless closet of uniquely flattering styles for every season, I love the resurgence to revive and refresh tired articles, items that still have lots of wear and still fit well, with new punches of patterned fabrics or fibres. Or when the day has come, and your favourite item is no longer wearable, what about salvaging the wonderful print into the lining of a newly knitted bag, and maybe creating a few co-ordinating flower pins to add to your blazer or bag?

The possibilities put forward by these books are easy to do and easy on the pocketbook too, and definitely will have me itching to create my own stylish custom accessory.

Knit (and sew) on ……Kate

And now, in today’s local knitting news………

Now I been e-talking to a couple of local gals about various knitting happenings and they are very busy trying really hard to reach local fellow fibre freaks for some really good stuff that you all need to know about.

So I’m helping them out and spreading the word, complete with links. Go check them out and get busy!

First off - over here is a local meet up for knitters going, so check out the blurb at http://knitting.meetup.com/1240/t/wm1_mem3 , everyone is welcome, and when the weather co-operates more fully (a major thunderstorm complete with hail is expected today) we’ll be getting together for some fine fibre fun!

And second, hooking up with local meet-up’s leads me to AB. You’re going to want to know that
AB and her pal AB have teamed up with some of our fantastic LYS’s like Yarn Forward on Bank St. http://yarnforward.com/ca/index.html and other community knitters for an Afghans for Afghans www.afghansforafghans.org challenge. You can read about AB&AB’s inspiration for doing this and all the details and requirements here: http://findingfortygatheringknitting.blogspot.com/ and I hope you’ll decide to join in the fun for a really great cause! And just to give you a poke to get started too, get this - I’ve already half finished my first 9” x 9” square for the blanket I’m going to do and I only learned about this great event yesterday! Half a square down and only 34 ½ to go! To meet AB&AB’s fall shipping deadline, I’ll need to crank out 4 squares a week, so I need to get busy or find a friend to help me out! If you are interested in contributing a square or two to my blanket, leave me a message in the comments and we’ll work out the details!

And while I’m at it, as an Ottawa Knitting Guild member http://www.ottawaknittingguild.ca, I would be remiss if I didn’t post this; do you all know that there is a second annual Knit-Out happening here in Ottawa – yup, it’s for real! How many of you missed the first one like me because you didn’t know about this wonderful day in the park. Well here, now you know:
Second Annual Knit-Out
Sunday, August 5th, Noon to 4:30 p.m.
Stitch Doctor, Learn Cables, Crochet Too!
Memory Park, Canada Agriculture Farm, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Hope you will all consider hooking up with the Ottawa knitting meet-up or AB&AB or joining us in August for the knit-out (bring your Afghans for Afghans projects). You know you wanna!

Here ends you local knitting news for the day.

Knit on……….
Kate

We apologize for this temporary service interruption…….

I give. I’ve tried to make it work, but to no end. I scoped out the Blogger tutorials, helpful hints, and tricks of the trade, FAQ’s, etc. etc. ad naeseum. And so I’ve called in the big guns – the G-man is on the case with a clear mandate - to make the pictures on this blog come alive! My faith in him knows no bounds! He should be very, very afraid!

I have things to show you folks! Socks and slippers, scarves and shrugs, toques and berets, and mittens, and even my WIP’s! There are knits to be photographed in the wild that will go un-recorded unless I get this resolved. Failure is not an option!

With any luck soon I will have some show and tell, and then I encourage you to re-visit some of the back blogs since I’ll edit these too and tag on the appropriate pictures. And I need to add a sidebar for FO’s, either that or create a Flicker account to capture the line-up – any thoughts on that? What is better, a side bar or link to Flicker or some other photo sharing option?

At least I’m in good company – the Yarn Harlot herself, has had far more serious blogging concerns than I did last weekend – here, check it out: http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/ .

Please stay with us, and your regularly program will return shortly.

Knit on……….Kate

I was just looking, really!

Have you seen this, by the wonderfully talented blogger, the Angry Chicken (aka Amy Karol)?
http://www.amazon.com/Bend-Rules-Sewing-Essential-Guide/dp/0307347214
Or this by Celine Dupuy:
http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Sewing-French-Twist-Illustrated/dp/0307351823
(yes - there are no pictures yet - don't ask!)

My favourite newsstand was out of stock of my favourite British magazines, Simply Knitting so I went to my local Indigo Book Store to get it, and made the grievous of errors in wandering over to the Home section to see what was new in books. It was a mistake of great magnitude. In fact Amy Karol’s book was only launched yesterday and wasn’t even on the shelf, but was rapidly produced from the shelving cart on request to “just have a peek”.

I’m not sure how it happened. One minute I was contented enough with having secured my magazine purchase and the anticipation of a pleasant evenings read, and the next minute I was walking out the door with a bag laden with lovely, inspiring, and soul-pleasing books. I was a little startled when I got home and emptied the bag, since I don’t really remember when I actually decided to purchase these two books. This morning I woke up, and I caught myself smiling, still pleased to see them by my bed where they were gently placed late last night before I feel asleep dreaming of printed fabrics and other hand-made lovelies.

I like this new breed of books that has filled the bookstore shelves lately. Rather than just putting together specific pattern instructions (although these are there too), these brilliantly talented authors have created books that are really more like roadmaps and travel guides to making personal, one of a kind, hand crafted items. The items suggested are limited only by your imagination and indeed it is encouraged and almost expected that you will supplement your purchase of new materials to include reclaimed fabrics, notions and novelties in your creations. Since I am always on clothes budget, and would love to have a limitless closet of uniquely flattering styles for every season, I love the resurgence to revive and refresh tired articles, items that still have lots of wear and still fit well, with new punches of patterned fabrics or fibres. Or when the day has come, and your favourite item is no longer wearable, what about salvaging the wonderful print into the lining of a newly knitted bag, and maybe creating a few co-ordinating flower pins to add to your blazer or bag?

The possibilities put forward by these books are easy to do and easy on the pocketbook too, and definitely will have me itching to create my own stylish custom accessory.

Knit (and sew) on ……
Kate

I saw it, and now I want one too… or maybe two, or three, or….

The first step to recovery is admission. So here goes. I am a bag addict. I love them. I firmly believe that one cannot, under any circumstances, have too many bags. I truly believe there is a bag for every occasion, and that one bag does not fit all.

I have many bags, and when I like a bag I buy it in multiples, in every color if I can. I like a bag for every purpose and a purpose for every bag. I have bags everywhere in my home, in my car, at work. I need more hooks for my bags. I have purses too, which are technically bags, but we won’t go there today. I want more bags. There are those in the family who shall remain nameless who are responsible for this love of bags, but this is a family friendly blog, so digression into family matters remains the domain of brave therapists only.

I have 5 sturdy canvas boat bags for shopping and toting weekend gear to and from the car. I have recently switched from plastic shopping bags to 10 environmentally shopping tote bags now stored in the car, oh and two more in my car, that makes twelve, made from recycled fibres. I have 6 straw bags in various shapes and sizes for market shopping expeditions. I have 4 rigid plastic woven market totes for storing WIP’s in my craft room and beside my favourite family room chair. I have a black soft-sided business bag for trucking my lunch and my knitting to and from work, and a separate bag for Knitting Guild. And I have begun to collect knitting bags in all shapes and sizes, I especially love freebies and give-aways from our LYS’s and knitting magazines for this, since I discovered the right bag for each project goes a long way to project containment and portability further solidifying my knitting happiness.

Bags make a statement, like: I came prepared; I have a bag. Or, I can manage my purchases thanks; I have a bag. Or, I really do care about the environment; I have a bag. And of course, don’t I look good; I have a bag.

And, I have made bags too! A few summers ago I tried my hand at a crocheted bag made of strips of grocery store plastic bags (my family thought I was really strange then!). It worked up fairly easily, although the number of plastic bags to be cut into strips was never-ending, although quantity wise that was environmentally good as it keeps them out of the landfill and gave them a second life. And it is very, very sturdy, although not as aesthetically pleasing as I would have like. Still functionality is first in my book and I can see a place for reclaimed items such as this.

Recently I sewed up a few book bags from stash fabrics in honour of the fact that I have returned to using my library, and therefore required a tote that would be gentle on the books as they traveled to and fro.

And I tried my first felting project this past winter, a felted messenger bag of my own design with a long strap in Patons Classic Merino Wool in Taupe and Chocolate Brown, which I am very pleased with. And in fact, I hope the Cool Corder* that I mentioned previously, will have a part in embellishing this bag even further.

And yesterday, I saw another bag at Knitting Guild, like a tiny version of this one here at Lene’s blog:
http://lenealve.blogspot.com/2007/06/french-market-bag.html

Lene’s bag is truly beautiful, and the pattern is free from here: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter03/PATTfrenchmarket.html

And now I must knit one too, or two, or three…..sigh…. I think I must need treatment for this addiction. I haven’t stopped thinking about The French Market bag since I saw it. It has all the qualities that I like in a bag: it is a simple shape and a simple pattern, it can be any color I desire, I can customize it with embellishments or not, as I choose, potentially it could use up stash yarn and stash fabric for lining (which is very good), and it is immensely practical and comfortable to use.

I dare not mention it to the G-man – he’ll lose it for sure. Just what we need, he’ll say, another bag. Right. I got caught recently looking at a bag, a lovely printed fabric bag, with pockets and things, just right for a girl like me with stuff to carry, and so he quickly warned me to back away from the bag.

If I make some French Market bags, I wonder if I told him they were presents, would he believe me? I can do that, give bags away, to like minded people who love bags as much as I do, who will give them a good home, and a proper hook to hang on, and lots and lots of outings in the fresh air.

Yes, that ‘s what I’ll do. I swear it. I’ll find any French Market bags that I knit good homes, and we’ll all feel better for it. Really. I promise. Cross my heart.

Knit on……….
kate

Weekends are highly under-rated!

Did you all enjoy your weekend? I think weekends are highly under-rated, as are summer vacations, and winter breaks. Personally, I can’t wait for the day we have sanctioned 4-day workweeks and 3-day weekends! And yeah yeah, I know about the economical impact, and more importantly the impact on my own paycheque, but I just don’t care at the moment – I just want more lounging time in my own backyard oasis! I want time to doze in my lawn chair in the sleepy hot sun, time to visit with my neighbour’s over a long cool drink, time to have murmuring conversations with my girls about this and that and nothing in particular, and time to stare and admire the vibrant colors of my potted flowers and hanging baskets. And more time to knit and knit and knit! So could we all just agree that in the summers (which are short enough as it is here) we should have 4-day workweeks? Ok then. We’re good!

That being said, I did get some moments of lounging in over the weekend, and a bit of knitting. Yes, you guessed it, more Moda Dea Sassy Stripes socks – I am happily addicted to this simple portable self-striping pattern, and have successfully avoided second sock syndrome by always having two sets of the required needle size, casting on both socks at the same time and knitting each stage of each sock immediately after the other; 1st sock knit leg, 2nd sock knit leg, 1st sock turn heel, 2nd sock turn heel, etc. etc. It is a highly successful method for me and by the time I reach the 1st sock toe, it is gratifying to know I only have the 2nd sock toe to go and another pair is completed and off the needles.

And you’ll never believe what was in my e-mail box this morning: an lovely little note from Mary at Mary's Craft Supplies Inc., Finch, ON to say they had received more Sassy Stripes (should I be telling you this? Will you scoop it out from under me?). Well, now what am I going to do? I can’t possibly knit up what I just got that fast, but I desperately want the colors I’m missing and the new summer colors – they’re not even on the Moda Dea website yet! It’s so agonizing! However I’m headed to Prescott next weekend, and I’ll be taking sock knitting for sure, so maybe a quick stop could be worked in…… Can you say addict??

In other knitting news, I have taken up the Ruffles and Ridges shawl again, but as with most things set aside for any length of time (I was waiting on more yarn), I am lost in the pattern and have had to rip out the two rows I just knitted. Let’s hope for better results when I take another stab at it tomorrow. Once I’m back on track I’ll fly through the last of it I’m sure.

Tonight is the final Ottawa Knitting Guild meeting for the 2006-2007 season and fun is on the agenda! They’ll be food and lots of show and tell before the summer respite. Just the thing to inspire me to some summer knitting. Yeah, like I need more inspiration, ha! I’ll be showing the Taos Beret and Ruffled Scarf that I made from the mohair I purchased from the Hidden Touch Ranch Tour this spring (yes, I know, you want pictures – sigh – me too).

Oh, I almost forgot, my gadget arrived last week, thanks in no part to Canada Post who did everything possible to thwart its delivery, but in the end it was rescued by a Canada Post employee whose name was – yup –Kate! I knew at once it would be fine until I arrived to collect it. After all, we Kate’s look out for each other you know!

Have you seen this? http://www.bond-america.com/products/cool_corder.html . It’s a Cool Corder* from Bond America. I know, you’re like, what’s up with that (it’s a very funky sparkly pink!!)? Yes, it’s sort of for kids (but then again sometimes, no often, I’m a big kid too). Well now, I do have a grown up reason for ordering this strange gadget – you see I like the felting I did earlier this year with a messenger bag I knitted up, but wished I had some thin cording to felt and appliqué on to I and mayube some other things. But who wants to knit miles of I-cord in fingering weight yarns for thin feltable cording? When I saw the Cool Corder* I thought this might be just the ticket. And a quick test run with the yarn supplied in the kit on Friday shows great promise. I will try it with the slightly thicker Patons Merino Classic Wool this week, and with a little luck, instant cording! I’m not knocking knitting I-cord, but anything that can expedite the process for me is a plus. It’s my instant gratification nature coming through! And I’m thinking I can run a whole lot of my baby fingering weight yarns through it and come up with something cool, so stay tuned and Ill let you know how I make out.

Now I return you to your regularly scheduled lazy, hazy days of summer.

Knit on………..

Hello? Can you hear me now?

So, with luck, you've been wondering where I am! I'll even bet you thought this blogging stuff was too much for me, that the fact that I can't for love not money get my pictures to load onto Blogger (something about my laptop it doesn't like) scared me off. You thought I'd gone and left this all behind!

Well, I don't scare that easily, I tell you, I have children, and soon, very soon I will have some lovely pics to show - I hope!

In the mean time, family matters came up unexpectedly, and a dash to the Eastern Townships of La Belle Provence was an order of the highest kind. You know the kind where your mom phones and says help is required and so you pack your over night bag, call the your version of the G-man home and tell your kids and your work you'll be back sometime, who knows when, and off you go at breakneck speed hoping its not as bad as it sounds.

And fortunately it wasn't too bad after all! Exhausting but not too bad. And we managed and got things sorted and things are still good even though we're home again. Phew! And the G-man and I even managed to steal a little quality time over two wonderful dinners at a delightful French bistro within walking distance of our home away from home. The venue was open air, the weather stellar, the food divine, and the wine - oh, the Italian wine!!! Italy - I must get to know you much much better! But next to no knitting was done, and the progress report is appalling! I know what you are thinking, all that car time, but really I was even too exhausted to do more than just sit there with knitting in my lap. It was all I could manage.

But you'll never guess where I made a little stop?? Remember my commiserating about the G-man not wanting to collect some Moda Dea Sassy Stripes sock yarn at Mary's Craft Shop in Finch,ON? Oh ya baby, we made the stop and I got sock yarn - enough for 4 pairs! Yippee! And while I was in there, I got to see the new shades coming this summer and of course, I ordered 3 pairs worth! Bliss, I tell you, bliss!

So what is on the needles as I still procrastinate about all those WIP's in the craft room?? Well I finished DD1's Taos Beret from the last blog, and another Taos Beret using Patons Canadiana? I think it is, for DD2 in white. And of course cast on traveling socks to knit with the newly purchased Sassy Stripes in Smoke. And I pulled out the Ruffles and Ridges Shawl WIP and it is beginning to call me again.

Now I haven't quite caught up from my unexpected trip, so this is it for today. And I'm too beat to argue with blogger and my laptop about the pictures, so this is all you get.

Knit on.......
Kate

Monday June 4, 2007

Monday June 4, 2007

Arty goodness!

Well that was quite a weekend, full of arty goodness from all art venues, music, craft and fine arts! I feel somehow more educated from my attending these events, as if some of the incredible talent around me has rubbed off!

Saturday was the second occasion I have had to see the National Capital Chorus, a 100 plus member Barbershop chorus. Now this may seem strange to you that I would like this style of music, being more a 60’s, 70’s and 80’s classic rock and roller myself, but the music is many of the tunes my Dad used sing (loosely stated!) and the G-man’s father is in Barbershop himself, and so I am comfortable with the melodies and indeed know may of the older ones very well. I enjoy hearing very fine acapella of the men’s voices, the catchy toe-tapping tunes, and the wonderful word play of many of the light lyrics. The arrangements are incredibly well done and the chorus is just stellar in their delivery. It was a grand evening at the NAC http://www.nac-cna.ca/splash.htm for sure!

Sunday was up and about early and off to the Art in the Park http://www.artinfoboy.org/ to be bombarded by the unbelievable talent that resides here in Ottawa. Arguably on the largest outdoor Art in the Park festivals in recent years, we enjoyed hours of visually superb art of every style and medium. I even had my first tofu burger from The Pantry, which was fantastic! There were even fibre artists selling their wares there so I got my fill of creative arts from all angles.

The day was capped off by a stop at The Clocktower Pub for well-deserved drink, where we had a great laugh watching DD2’s very concerned face as both DD’s received their raspberry daiquiri’s in a glasses almost the size of her head! Me, like the Yarn Harlot herself, am more basic in nature, and a large ice cold Keith’s was what the muggy afternoon temperature called for! We talked for almost an hour about being creative for a living, the challenges of being in business for yourself versus the personal satisfaction of doing what your heart needs to do. As I was well reminded last week in the blog comments, these stolen moments of conversation with my DD’s are without a doubt the most wonderful and important times a mom can have.

Finished and off the needles is the Wool-ease Seaspray Taos Beret for DD1, and it was a big hit for sure! DD2 has climbed on board and asked for a white one as well. And I finished another beret in the incredibly lovely Angora Mohair from Hidden Touch Farms. I had set this yarn aside until I realized the Taos Beret would be perfect in the stormy grey blue lavender colorway. Tonight I’ll cast on for the co-ordinating simple ruffle scarf to go with it. I am simply addicted to not only the simple knitting, but also the simplicity of the style of the beret and various ways one can wear it to suit your face shape and your personality. Each one of use wears it differently, which is great fun! Bring on the fall weather so we can wear them!

As well, my Mother-In-Law’s hat has been cast on for my traveling knitting this week in my crusade to knit what I have and reduce my WIP’s, and I’ll have some extra lunch hour time to work on it over the next few days as I am on course, and we have a full hour for lunch, something I’m not used to, so I’ll need to keep busy!

And I’ll be right next door to one of the main libraries so this is an opportunity to catch a few books on the shelf that don’t get to my smaller local branch. Have you all discovered the treasure trove of knitting and fibre arts books your local libraries are carrying these days? Unbelievable!!! I have been having a blast taking out books, and it has helped my to decide which ones I really want in my collection, and which ones I just want to peruse now and again. Now I just need to master reading and knitting at the same time and I’ll be in heaven!

Knit on………

Kate

Thursday May 31, 2007

An encouraging welcome! Times 3!

Well, a big thank you to Peg from www.Woolinmysoup.com for her kind comments and she has some very good advice I will take under serious advisement – she’s right you know – we can’t do it all and I need to remember that taking time to have a slow day now and again is definitely not a bad thing!!! A serious battery re-charging is good for all of us now and again! As long as you can knit through it, of course!

Yes Peg – the Tulip Festival http://www.tulipfestival.ca/index.html is done for the year (I think the rain this week will finish them off) and sadly I don’t get to see them except in the newspaper as we were in beautiful Vermont that week. They are quite a sight that’s for sure! And I haven’t been to the Byward Market http://www.byward-market.com/ either yet this spring, but am totally beginning to feel the urge to prowl through the stalls, so I can tell another girly day needs to be planned! I love to visit the flower stalls – the colors are absolutely incredible and so inspiring! Aren’t Beaver Tails a wonderful thing? After living here for 6 years I finally had my first taste last winter while checking out the Ice Sculptures – all that sugary goodness in a one hand friendly delight - heavenly!!!!

Kelly from http://hedgehogknits.blogspot.com/ gave me lovely warm welcome to the blogging world and put me on to the National Capital Knitters webring and a local Knitting yahoo group –more local knitting buddies to hang with both on-line and in person! Yippee! Kelly – Your knitting skills outclass me by miles if your pic’s are any indication, but I’m definitely going to be checking you folks out for sure! Did I mention I love coffee too, maybe even more than knitting (is that possible)?

And Karen at http://www.cornflower.typepad.com/ was also sweet enough to make note of my special anniversary last week, and she had one too, so right back at you Karen! Check out her amazing photography on her blog. Karen – I’ll be showing your photos to my youngest DD as she has an interest in architectural photography too and will love these.

I polished off the Moda Dea Sassy Stripes socks, and they are plushy goodness in every way! The pattern was fast and easy (I’m still a novice sock knitter, so I’ve been hunting for an easy heel to turn and this was definitely it!), the yarn lovely in my hands, and they wrap your happy feet in all the nicest of ways! I made the large size just to see how big it is and they are like loose fitting girly work socks on my medium sized feet. Great for wearing on a rainy day, while hunkering down under your afghan on the couch doing nothing (see Peg – I get do it!).

Naturally the girls are clamouring for a pair for themselves now, and wouldn’t you know it – I can’t find Sassy Stripes Sock yarn anywhere in Ottawa – how can that be? Does anyone know where some may be had? I picked up the original 2 skeins from Mary's Craft Supplies Inc in Finch, Ontario on Hwy 43 heading to Cornwall just before Chesterville. Mary has lots of yarn and tons of other craft supplies, and is so lovely and helpful. But do check her hours here before you go: http://www.wecornwallarea.ca/members.php?id=328. I tried to coax the G-man into collecting a little care package when he is in the area, but he declined as he would be in “work mode” - now what kind of excuse is that when your wife is in dire next of a bulky sock yarn fix, I ask you??

Then in a fit of what to do next after dinner (which really means I am procrastinating about picking up any of my various WIP’s), I cast on for another Taos Beret using a left over skein of Lions Brand Wool-ease in Seaspray. It’s a fast and easy knit, but will give me time to ponder the next item on my lengthy to-do list. I’ll give it to our oldest DD as she already has a matching cabled scarf, cabled bag and cabled mitts in this yarn from Christmas last year. I was learning cables last year and got a little carried away! And this will just finish up the yarn from my stash quite nicely.

My stash reduction campaign is not doing well this spring. Between all the traveling we have done (there is a standing agreement between the G-man and I that yarns or fabrics will be procured on any trip when it presents itself and I feel I must bring it home) and lovely donations from friends and fellow Tuesdays Are For Knitting S’nB-ers, my stash is not showing any definite signs of shrinkage!

I was preparing the single spare bed in my craft room for DD2 as she gives up her double bed when the in-laws visit, and I realized I simply cannot contain my current stash and WIP’s. It is a dreadful situation, and one I must get a hold of immediately. That being said, I did order on-line more Odyssey from the Northeast Fibre Arts Center http://www.northeastfiberarts.com/ in Vermont for a matching scarf for my lovely beret!!

Sigh….. Knit on……….

Kate