Friday's are for 'Fessing Up

I started a new project. I just couldn't resist. The Joseph's Coat Bifle was calling my name, saying, "Dont' abandon me - be true to me - you spun me, now you should knit me!"

Uh huh. I started a new project. Or maybe it's not really a new project, since I was already spinning the fiber, and that was a project. But then we'd have to count the yummy merino/angora roving that I put on the wheel because it looked so sad sitting in the corner of the room empty. Ahhhhh. Let's leave it there.

So I am knitting along on this yummy Joseph's Coat. And what, you may ask, am I making? A mistake stitch rib scarf. It'll be a Christmas present. Perhaps for myself, if it turns out too wild for the men in my life. Only time will tell. And no pictures today. It's a picture-free Friday.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Tuesdays are for...

...I don't know what. My brain is starting to un-numb after having some dental work this morning. Perhaps I will come up with a catchy title later? (it's doubtful)

Lest we think that I never finish something, here is the Blue Faced Leister in color Joseph's Coat from the fabulous Lisa which I wrote about last week:



OK, so it is not totally finished. But the yarn has been washed, and will hopefully be dry tonight. This is destined to become a chunky scarf, perhaps using a mistake rib stitch and my new #10s from Sheila. (and no, Sheila does not pay me royalties. I just love,love,love her stuff!)

And, for Angela, a photo of the Short Row Rib, in progress:

WW Spin-in

I went to the Weaving Works spin-in Friday night with Sam. Amazing how much spinning one can do when locked in, without interruption from people < 3 feet tall. Terri and Jessica were already there and spinning away, when we arrived.



I love love love the color of Jessica's wheel. Such a beautiful, soft brown. Terri was spinning away on some Blue Moon roving I had picked up for her at M$W. It is called Seal Rock, and the colorway is still one of my favorite. I love the acid green mixed with blues and purples. I forgot to take a picture, but maybe Terri will post one?

Sam, although blogless, is most easily identified by her gorgeous, looonnnnggg, hair. She was sporting some beautiful works of art from Sheila Ernst.



I got to meet Katie from the FiberTraditions mailing list, and she got to treadle on my little Gem. I thank everyone there for not noticing how long it took me to get my wheel set up. Let's skip over the fact that I put the bobbin on backwards. This was only the second time I had set up my portable wheel, so there are many things I am still getting used to!

After the meet-up, we chatted outside for a while. Terri was finally brave enough to share with us her MongoLEEan camel sock. Where did she get the yarn? The local zoo. How come they are never selling yarn when I am there???!!!!!

Catching up on some photos

I couldn't post pictures of Wool Peddlers until a certain someone had received it in the mail. Here she is blocking:



Check out the cute blocking helpers. Some areas of the shawl had so many pins in them, there is no way this shawl could be crooked!

On a different note, imagine my delight to see my daughter dressed like this:



Yep, uh huh. That's the rainbow sweater I knitted for her last year, but it was never cold enough to wear it. It does my heart good to know that she picked it out herself!

Sock Fever

Have you seen Lolly's Socktoberfest yet? There's a lot of great inspiration going on over there. I personally have not joined, as there is no way I could knit a pair of socks between now and the end of October. Or is there? Suddenly, I recall a special gift recently received from Angela.



Hey Ang, they fit! Angela was knitting these great socks when she realized they were too big to fit any normal sized human. So, she asked, rather politely, if there were any abnormal sized humans out there :-) (I'm making this up - Angela is WAY too polite to do this). Luck was with me, for I, bearer of extremely wide feet, became the recipient of these beautiful Regia socks. And look - they are half way done!

Maggie says they look pretty good to her, too.


So I suppose it is feasible for me to finish a pair of socks by the end of the month. But, is the motivation there?

When I have this calling me:


And I know it will magically become this:


And really, what I should be working on, is this, for SuperNanny.

No < insert noun > today, Mom's sick

No photos today, Mom is sick.

I can't tell you how many times I said that this weekend. No light saber fights today, Mom's sick. No chess games today, Mom's sick. No princess dress-up today...you see what I mean?

So you, dear reader, will have to wait your turn. Just like my kids. Because Mom is sick. (I'm actually starting to feel better, but I see the need to milk this for all it's worth).

I am ashamed to admit that it was a marathon movie watching weekend at my house. That's what happens when Mom is sick. It's a good thing we had some new movies in the house, including Cinderella and Star Wars 1 & 2. The kids were thrilled and I got a lot of knitting time.

Ah hah - knitting content! You may have been wondering when we would get around to that.

First to report, Wool Peddlers is done! She is even blocked!!!!! It is gorgeous, huge, and I really, really, really want to make another. I might even use my handspun for it.

Second, and not so dramatic, is a multi-directional scarf made out of Blue Sky's Alpaca and Silk in the mocha colorway. This stuff is like heaven on earth. I wish I hadn't added a charm-type bit of color splash, because the novelty yarn distracts from the softness. I still need to weave in the ends and add fringe on this scarf. Photos will come, eventually... but not today, because Mom is still sick.

Koigu raglan and stash enhancement

I mentioned a few days ago that I was working on a raglan-shaped sweater out of koigu kpppm. Here's the current status:

I have enough yarn to make either long sleeves or 3/4 length sleeves, but I am not sure that I like the way the colors line up differently on the sleeves compared to the body. I am considering leaving this as a t-shirt style, adding a half inch of ribbing where I am and then casting off. What do you think?

I've had a pretty bad week what with a severe allergy attack and now a cold. Imagine my surprise when I came home to a lovely package from dye-master Lisa:

I missed the debut of her new Sock! yarn when I was down under, so I finally got my hands on some in the lovely colorway Shade Garden. The roving on the left is superfine merino in Petroglyph, and on the right, Joseph's Coat in biffle. Now if only me head would stop pounding so I could spin!

To my dog

Dear Bagel,

Since you came into our lives a little over a year ago, we have been through a lot together.

First, there was the peeing on the carpet.

I forgave you.

After all, you had been to so many different, unloving homes before you found us, I assumed you were just working through the transition. A loving family with a big backyard and three wonderful children to play with was like a dream come true. I probably would have wet my pants, too.

Then came the toy chewing.

I forgave you (although the kids did not.)

After all, we have had too many toys. Besides, they were laying all over the floor. How were you supposed to know that they were not for chewing? This period of family life soon earned the codename "The Great Toy Reduction Campaign". We couldn't have done it without you.

Then came the barking.

I forgave you (although the neighbors did not.)

After all, you are a beagle, and it is in your nature to bark. You can bark all you want until that pesky neighbor with the rooster and the little dogs that sh*! poop all over our yard moves.

Like I said, we have been through a lot:

• You amazed us with the improvements you made at doggy camp.

• You astounded us by tolerating birthday parties.

• You became "the good dog" when Mocha moved in.

• You slept in the oldest sons' bed when he needed some extra love.

But then...

One day, you went too far...



THIS is by NO means acceptable behaviour.

You are banished.

Forever.

You are now a downstairs dog with the other one.
You will sleep in a kennel.
And you will stop barking ALL NIGHT LONG.

These changes are effective immediately. If you feel these changes are unfair, you may speak with my manager.

With love and affection,
Mommy

Who the heck is this?

Your Hair Should Be Pink

Hyper, insane, and a boatload of fun. You're a traveling party that everyone loves to follow.

What's Your Funky Inner Hair Color?

Knitters envy

Weebugknits mentioned yesterday that she cast on for the koigu turtleneck from VK Fall 02. What? Huh? A koigu pattern that I don't recall? Google wasn't much of a help, so I patiently waited for the clock to tick past 5pm, then raced home to pull out that backissue of Vogue. Ahhhh. A sigh of relief. A classic turtle crafted from blending 5 shades of kpppm. Interestingly, the photo didn't indicate much shading. I wonder if the model sweater used only one color? The turtle looked close enough to my top-down raglan v-neck, so I decided not to turn pea green with envy. Instead, I will live vicariously through Marti as she knits her own version of this lovely, colorful, turtle.

Gem-along

There was a Little Gem action over at my house this weekend.

Notice the scrumptious Petroglyph in the bottom left corner? It's a good thing mine was already on order, or I might have had to tackle the Fiber Freak and demand some.

Lisa, oh LISA, when will mine be here?