Knitting In The North

Using the Good Stuff

 

I realized the other day that I've fallen back into a bad habit.  I have a collection of beautiful sock yarn, but I leave it in it's box, waiting.  Stuart gave me these beautiful rosewood DPNs last fall, but they've stayed in their pretty little tin.  Enough!  I tell myself.  It is time to use the nice things. 

I have to give myself permission to work with beautiful materials, and there is a part of me that is afraid to, as if what I create with this yarn, these needles, will not be "perfect" enough to justify their use.  Sigh...  Imperfection...  The good part of this is that I recognize it now, and can take steps to change my thought processes.

Yesterday, I pulled out the pretty needles, and one of my favourite skeins of yarn.  I cast on for a pair of toe-up socks, sitting at the computer watching a tutorial for the Magic Cast On until I figured it out.  

It's raining here, and I can think of nothing I'd rather do than throw a loaf of banana bread in the oven, and then curl up with my sock, my nice needles, my pretty yarn, and a good cup of tea.  I remind myself: self-care is important.  How are you taking care of yourself today?  

A Way to Say "Thank You"

With the end of our school year, came the need to express our gratitude to the three teachers in our lives right now.  I had seen, last fall, a blog post all about notebook makeovers, and thought perhaps this was something all three of the big kids could manage, with supervision.

  

We started with a trip to the dollar store, where we found plain composition notebooks, scrapbook paper, plus assorted glue, ribbon, pens and pencils.  We cut the paper to size, and glued two overlapping pieces to the notebooks' covers.  The white glue did not hold well, so I ran out for some Modge Podge - this seemed to do the trick.  After the paper was dry, we applied ribbon around to tie the book closed, and added a couple of pens.  If we make these again, we will definitely use card stock to cover the books rather than paper, and a stronger glue for the ribbon.  Still, it was a fun project; the kids enjoyed the craft, and the gifts seemed to be much appreciated.

 

On the first page of the notebook, the child giving the gift wrote a note to the teacher, thanking them for the past year - it seemed to be a bit hit!

Summer "Things To Do"

 

 

A little while ago, I stumbled across this post from Whatever, detailing her family's tradition of a summer To Do list.  It seemed like a wonderful way to celebrate the end of the school year, and commit to an intentional holiday season.

Knowing my own, and my children's love of lists, I was sure this would be a hit, but they surprised me with their zeal - not one, but two pages of things to do!  With 85 items, I'm sure not everything will be tried (and there are a few definite No things, too), but I guess no one will be bored...

  

Canada Day!

We're home safe and sound again, after a whirlwind adventure to Vancouver and back.  I have to say, with all possible modesty, that I have pretty wonderful children, because there are not very many families who would rush off to take two 9+ hour drives in 3 days!  They all did amazingly well, especially on the return trip, while I was driving solo.  The reason?  We returned home with a new addition...

I've been planning, for the last two years, to buy Stuart a vehicle for his 45th birthday.  Originally, I had thought I'd find a classic car that he could enjoy fixing up (like a Triumph, or something).  When we were on our honeymoon, though, we rented a Jeep, and had a blast together.  At one point Stuart said to me, "If I didn't have kids, I think this is what I'd be driving", and that clinched it for me.

I had a tough time, though, finding just the right thing.  There were a few online fraud attempts, which shook my confidence, and I wasn't sure I could find the "perfect" Jeep.  Finally, on Father's Day, I spilled the beans, and Stuart joined in the search.  He located this one in Chilliwack, an 8-9 hour drive from here, so we packed up and went to get it!  Stuart's birthday isn't for another month, so I tease him that he's not allowed to drive it until then.  Do you think that's going to happen?

I wanted to do something really special for my husband this year - he's a hard worker, who does what he does to allow me to stay home with our children.  Not the easiest thing in today's world, and it involves a lot of sacrifice.  That sacrifice is hardest for him, though, surrounded each day as he is by new vehicles, and buddies who don't have the same lifestyle we do.  Even though we know the value of having a parent at home, and love the lack of stress of living debt free, it can be tricky when surrounded by people who have all the fun toys.  Still, Stuart gets up every day and goes off to work, without a complaint.  For that, I am very grateful, and I hope that when he gets in his Jeep at the beginning (and end) of a long day, that he feels that.

We went out for a little drive this afternoon, to test out the Jeep, and pick up some sweet & salty popcorn for the kids.  It's our Canada Day tradition, and they're all sitting in the backyard in the sunshine, enjoying their treat.  What a peaceful way to spend an afternoon - I hope yours is just as nice!  Happy Canada Day!

FO: Reclamation

It. Is. Finished.  And, it's the right size.  And... she likes it!  She really, really likes it!  Success all round, I'd say. 

Just in time, too, as we're off to Vancouver to pick up Stuart's "surprise" birthday present, and have a mini-holiday while we're there.  I'm taking along some really cool baby knitting, which I'll show you next week when we get back.  Or maybe I should take socks.  Or perhaps I should start Sabine...

Particulars:

Pattern - Reclamation, by Stefanie Japel

Yarn - Knitpicks Shine Worsted in Reef, 3 balls

Needles - 5.5mm Denise Interchangeables

Notes - There are really no great modifications to be made to this sweet little pattern.  It's easy, rhythmic, and looks wonderful finished.  I used almost all of the three balls I had left (you know what happened to the other ball!), and it came out a generous size.  It fits me nicely as a scarf, and drapes beautifully around Katie's slender neck.  She even wore it to school, the ultimate wardrobe test for a tween.

 

Collections and Lists

I love collecting things, and I love lists.  I'm not sure if there is a correlation, but I get the same sense of satisfaction from the two.  Something about an itemized list, or a laid out collection, soothes the need for order in my chaotic little world. 

Apparently, I'm not the only one like this - Gwenyth has started to show a great appreciation for both lists and collections; she seems to thrive in the safety of a careful list (ummm....  if we stick to it - life can get in the way around here), and has started to amass collections of things.  Sacred things.  Like these special rocks, carefully set up on the lid of Modge Podge.

This whole year (which is now almost half over - can you believe it?!) I've been part of a Ravelry group called Stash & Burn, which has been running a NaKniAnyMoDo - basically, set some goals at the beginning of the month, and then try to fulfill them.  I'm finding it terribly motivating, and when I read about Ali's Summer Knitting Goals Contest, I knew I was in. 

Here, then, are my summer knitting goals: 

• Copper Penny Socks from Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn
• Sidelines Top from IK Fall 08
• Sabine, by Julie Weisenberger
• Knit some other pair of socks, possibly for one of the kids
• Finish the Palette scarf I started on my way to Hawaii, or rip it out and find a better purpose for the yarn.

Writing all these things down suddenly make my goals seem kind of big - what do you think, can I do it? 

Was, Wasn't, Will Be Again

 

 

Katie has been telling me that all the girls at school are wearing these triangular scarves draped around their neck, and it might be nice if she had one, too.  A scarf?!  For Katie?!  But of course!  Naturally, I turned to my stash, and the wonders of Ravelry, rather than the mall.

I dug up some Shine that I had sitting around, and whipped up Reclamation by Stephanie Japel.  Er - I thought I'd whipped it up, but it turned out she had dreamed of a larger version.  No big, I thought, I'll just undo the cast off, and add on.  Super easy. 

Then the soft yarn snagged on a zipper pull, and I changed the plan to unravelling a bunch, but not all of the scarf, and adding on.  Still pretty easy.

Today?  Today the much smaller triangle is nowhere to be seen.  Liam was carrying it around for a while, and it was last seen with Brian (on his head, the story goes), but does anyone know where it is now?  No.  No idea.  Fruitless searching.  Frustrated mom, ranting about messy houses where no one picks up after themselves.  

Now?  More peaceful mom, with a new ball of yarn, and a new beginning.  It was, then it wasn't, but it will be again.  

Lazy Days

The weather has been incredible here the last few weeks - I don't remember a time before now when we've had such a stretch of sunshine and warmth.  Gwenyth has taken to delightedly telling everyone she meets, "It's summer now!"; I agree, and feel with every bit of me that we need to gather up each of these days and hold them in our hearts. 

Naturally, Princess Gwenyth of the Universe needed a new skirt, and I chose to follow this wonderfully simple pattern from Oliver + S.  I mistakenly cut the fabric far too long, but Gwen seems to enjoy it anyway, evidenced by the difficulty I had taking a picture of her wearing it.  (She's far too busy dancing the hula, or waving a magic wand, or performing her latest song, you know.)

Both the fabric and elastic were thrift store finds, and I was pleased at how quickly this came together.  The Princess approves, and I'm sure we'll see a few more of these in days to come. 

 

Fibre Finding

Of course, on any trip, it's important to find a LYS.  Why would going to Maui be any different?  I did a bit of research before we went, and found two small shops, both in Lahaina (a main town on Maui). 

The first was called Yarn & Needlecraft, and it was a nice, small shop.  It happened to be right next door to a dive shop, so Stuart happily went next door to talk scuba while I looked around.  There was some luscious silk that was difficult to walk away from, but ultimately I decided that pretty much everything there I could find from home, and moved on.

 

The second, The Needlework Shop, was a mult-crafting shop.  They carry yarn, cloth, thread, needlepoint kits, ready-made items, and also offer classes in many different areas.  I purchased there one skein of sock yarn, hand-dyed on Maui.    It is called Maui Sunset, and if you'd like your own little taste of Maui, the dyer has an etsy shop for you to explore.

 

I also indulged in a half dozen batik fat quarters.  Although I'm still so new to sewing, I couldn't resist all the colours and patterns, so full of possibilities.  I also picked up a pincushion kit, which I hope to make up soon, to keep in my studio and remind me of Maui.

While in Vancouver, I found a few treasures, although some are for gifts, so are top secret.  At Christmas, Stuart gave me a gift certificate to Birkeland Brothers, with the thought of taking me yarn shopping while we were there, and I purchased 6 skeins of NaturLin, in a navy blue (which sadly does not photograph well).  At Three Bags Full, I picked up a couple of skeins of Shetland wool, found in their sale (!!) basket - I've never used Shetland before, so I'm looking forward to giving it a try this winter.

I feel I was pretty restrained, at least for me, in my purchases this time around.  I have been talking for ages about knitting from my stash, but it is only recently that I've found my perspective changing.  Rather than dragging my heels and making myself use what's here, I'm quietly enjoying my stash, planning and admiring the treasures I already have!  It's amazing how much things can change, depending on how you look at them, eh? 

A New Thing Every Day

I've been putting off telling you all about our trip, only because we took so very many pictures (750+!!) that I am overwhelmed when I go through them, trying to decide which to share with you.  I mentioned the other day that I did something new, that I had never done before, every single day.  This is important to me, and when I think back on the trip, these are the things, the activities, that stand out the most.  Here's a little list:

• On our way to Hawaii, we had a full day in Vancouver.  I have always wanted to visit the Granville Island Public Market, and had never had the chance before.  It was happy coincidence, but I was so glad that we had the layover in the city, so we could spend the day there.  We rented a car and drove over, and spent the morning walking around looking and smelling and touching amazing things.  After a wonderful lunch, we left Granville Island and checked out a couple of yarn shops before heading back to the airport.  I found a few special treasures, which I will show you in a later post.

 

   

• We visted a lavendar farm - walked the garden paths, picked and squished and smelled more varieties of lavendar than I can remember, admired the lavendar fields, purchased goodies in the shop.

 

  

• Attending a traditional luau is something that was a must in Hawaii, and the one we went to was amazing!  Delicious food, incredible service, and an incredible show.

 

• Parasailing is something that I've always wanted to try!  A few years ago, we were in the Okanagan Valley, and there was a boat offering parasailing on the lake.  It just happened to be my birthday, & I told Stuart that was what I wanted for my birthday present.  He got me all signed up, but just when it was my turn, the wind came up, and the outfit packed it in for the day.  I was so disappointed!  Parasailing over Maui more than made up for it, though! 

 

  

• After a very relaxing couple's massage, Stuart & I took a sunset sail.  It was beautiful weather, and we saw dolphins playing in the water alongside the boat!  So very lovely!

• The Haleakala crater is at the summit of the volcano on Maui.  We walked right to the top, which is 10,000ft above sea level.  It's like another world there above the clouds, so awesome to see.

• As well as seeing amazing things, we also ate many amazing things!  I had my first real sushi dinner, complete with very nice saki.  Apparently, saki makes me happy - who knew?

 

• At the very south end of the island is Maui's freshest lava flow.  There is a one lane track through it, so you can see where the lava came down the mountain, and poured right into the sea.  What I loved most, though, was to see the greenery growing around and through the massive flow.  The contrast was beautiful.

There you go - a week of new experiences through my eyes!