Knitting In The North

International Scarf Exchange 3

Thanks to info from Dorothy, I've gone and joined this exchange. I think that about gets me to my limit on exchanges for now, although I'm very pleased with it. It's similar to the stitch marker exchange, in that it's something fun that does not have a huge time or financial obligation. Thanks for the tip, Dorothy, I can't wait to get a partner. By the way, they are still taking sign ups, in case anyone out there is interested.

The Great Exchange

I have watched with fascination the exchanges that take place in the knitting community, both officially and privately. People are exchanging yarn, secret packages, dishcloths, stitch markers, and on and on. Still feeling pretty new to this knitting game, I've watched and wondered, and enjoyed seeing all the special things that arrive in people's mail boxed around the world.

A while ago, you may recall, I joined this exchange, both for the fun of this neat idea, and to motivate me to try this thing I've been wanting to do. Here is my first try, and a gift for blogless Kathy in PA. I've been getting it all together this weekend, and am taking my little parcel down to the post office this weekend. I wasn't sure how to package them, and ended up knitting a little Amulet Pouch to hold them. It's actually very cute, and I'm thinking more of these will be in my future.

Mitten work is progressing, although I stopped yesterday to knit up the little bag. I've also paused to cast on for a little pair of socks for Gwenyth, as a refresher. I'm using Elann's Sock it To Me yarn, and they're coming along swimmingly, except I think they'll be far too large for her little feet. At least I know she'll grow into them. I haven't looked at socks for a while, but Katie has been asking for a pair. I thought I'd make Gwen the guinea pig, since her feet are so much smaller, and then move on to Miss Kate.

Saturday Sky

Here is my Saturday Sky for Sandy: this is the view from out front of my house. We call this the cutbanks, and is a high hill along a river valley, cut away by the Fraser River below.

More progress has been made on the mittens! The first mitten is completely finished, ends woven in and all, and I'm just about to the thumb gusset on the second. I am trying to really discipline myself with the gift knitting, especially since Jeannie has just added another project to my list: she is quite sure that Victoria would love, love, love a pair of legwarmers for Christmas, and we just spent an hour looking through my stash. There is a basic pattern in Weekend Knitting, which I'll likely use. I'm not positive we found anything perfect, although I have a few ideas. You know what this means: my gift count has moved to one down, eight to go. Suddenly, December doesn't feel so far away.

Fizzled Sizzle

I don't think I mentioned this, but Miss Gwenyth decided to wean herself from the breast while we were camping. It was a tad sooner than I had planned, but whenever we sat down to nurse, she would drink for a moment or two, then look at me and say, "All done!"

I didn't really mind, except for the fact that my measurement shrunk 2 inches in less than 2 weeks! Now, I have never been amply endowed in this department anyway, and nursing is about the only time in my life I've gotten to experience certain fun things in life, like cleavage. I was prepared for the shrinkage, but my knitting wasn't. Foolish Charity, I cast on for Sizzle based on my measurements at the time. Yes, I knew the nursing was coming to an end. Yes, I have weaned a baby before, and was prepared for the results. No, I didn't take this into account when I measured. Those measurements are so far off now, that a completed Sizzle would immediately become a big, loose, saggy sack. And the sexy low neckline? Not so sexy when there's nothing to show for it. When realization struck, I wrote emails in a panic, to the Knit List, and to the designer. I was hoping that I could rip back the front, re-knit it in a small, and then put it together with the larger back. No dice. Ah, well. I know that my own slightly perfectionist personality would never allow such a thing, but I was hoping for a solution that would allow me to keep the finished back, and not frog the whole darn thing.

All the Christmas knitting I've been doing has helped take my mind off it, but it's still sitting there, looking at me with a sad little face. While I was reading Ruth's blog this morning, she mentioned something about seasonal knitting, and I realized that the seasons are changing (yes, I know, in Canada seasons change, swiftly - I was blocking it out), and I'd better get busy. If I return to it after the second mitten is done, there is still a chance I'll get to feel the sun on my arms once this year while wearing it. Hey, sometimes we get an Indian summer in late September. There's always hope, right?

Progress

I've been working away at my Flap Top Mitten from Handknit Holidays, and am almost finished the first one. I had ordered some alpaca from Elann, and then decided it was too light a weight for these mittens. So, I went out and tracked down some Galway Irish Worsted Knitting Wool. With a name like that, you know it can't go wrong! (It even has a sort of shamrock on the ball band, which I think is a tad too cute.) You can't see it very well in the photo, but I'm using black for the main colour, with a heathered dark red/black for the wrist and trim on the flap. The wool is obviously not nearly as soft and squishy as the alpaca (which arrived today), but I'm sure it will be warm. Most likely, the wool makes for a more sturdy mitten, anyway. Now I have to decide what to do with the alpaca. I'm thinking maybe a pair of fingerless gloves for my mum.

I've never made mittens before, and am feeling completely satisfied with myself because of this pattern. I read it through a few times, and thought there was no way I could manage it. Still, I'm making progress, and at every step completed, I say to my Wonderful Husband, "Look! I just made a thumb gusset!" (or whatever). Sadly, he is not nearly excited enough, so I'm hoping you'll share my joy. I've finished the actual mitten part, and am nearly done with the flap. Then it's just the thumb, and we're on to #2!

Really, though, these mittens are a completely encouraging knit. They're small, so you get all this gratification, and halfway through, you have a finished object, which is always thrilling. For me, this pattern is a challenge, and I totally love doing something I've never done before, or am not really good at. It feels so good when you conquer it.

Yet Another Meme

I picked this up today from Christine, so thought I'd share it with you. If this is your kind of thing, I'd love to read your responses. I think it's amazing to have these internet friends, and yet there are big gaps of knowledge about all of you.

1. FIRST NAME? Charity
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No. My parents named me Charity Dawn, which means Love Awakening, and was very significant to them while expecting my arrival.
3. LAST CRY? Can't remember, which is finally rare for me. After a year of baby blues, I'm getting to the point where I can even look at sappy commercials on TV without shedding a few tears!
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Eh...
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Rosemary Ham
6. KIDS? 3 marvelous blessings!
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I like to think so, but who knows! Would I be a nice other person?
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? This is it!
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Constantly. I'm not sure you always pick up on it, though, sarcasm in print can be tricky.
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes.
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No. This is about the only "extreme" thing I don't want to do. Anything else, I'll at least try!
12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Cocoa Puffs. I don't know if this is still the case, but when I was a kid, you couldn't get them in Canada. A friend from the States used to send a Christmas package every year, and always included a box.
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Never.
14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Used to be no, but the Hapkido is making me much stronger.
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Hard to choose, I like the ones with all the stuff in them, like Rocky Road.
16. SHOE SIZE? Used to be 7-1/2, now pretty firmly an 8.
17. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? The way I can't stop talking. It drives me crazy - inside, I know I'm talking too much, but I can't seem to make myself stop.
18. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My mum, who lives in Winnipeg.
19. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? I'd love to know more about all of you!
20. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Bare feet, denim capris.
21. LAST THING YOU ATE? An Instant Breakfast drink.
22. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Kids playing, lunch cooking, Martha Stewart doing something wonderful.
23. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Ocean blue (is that a crayon colour? If not, it should be!)
24. FAVORITE SMELL? Fresh bread baking.
25. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My friend, Sarah.
26. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? The eyes have it, here.
27. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? I do.
28. FAVORITE DRINK? I drink tea all day and evening long.
29. FAVORITE SPORT? To watch? Not so much. To participate in? Hapkido (does that count as a sport?)
30. EYE COLOR? Brown.
31. HAT SIZE? No idea.
32. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Occasionally. My eyes tend to be really dry, so they can get uncomfortable.
33. FAVORITE FOOD? This amazing Persian chicken dish, that I don't know how to spell, with pomegranates and walnuts, or lasagna.
34. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? Has to have a happy ending. On my camping trip, I read Message in a Bottle, and was completely incensed at the ending. What a waste of time. We get enough unpleasantness in reality.
35. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED AT THE MOVIE THEATER? Can not for the life of me remember.
36. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Striped with shades of blue/turquoise.
37. SUMMER OR WINTER? Autumn (Yes, I have to be difficult)
38. HUGS OR KISSES? I like to hug a lot.
39. FAVORITE DESSERT? Chocolate is good.
40. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? No idea.
41. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?Again, no idea.
42. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? I'm listening to Pride and Prejudice on CraftLit, and reading a book by T Davis Bunn, can't remember the title. Also have a few knitting books from the library, and one on crochet.
43. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? One of those little gel pad wrist supports.
44. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? I didn't.
45. FAVORITE SOUNDS? The woods at night when I'm camping, the sound of the ocean.
46. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Beatles. Although I wasn't allowed to listen to secular music growing up, so have never formed a great attachment.
47. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Moscow
48. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I guess I'll have to go with knitting.
49. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Winkler, Manitoba, Canada
50. Who sent this to you? Chrissy

Yet Another Meme

I picked this up today from Christine, so thought I'd share it with you. If this is your kind of thing, I'd love to read your responses. I think it's amazing to have these internet friends, and yet there are big gaps of knowledge about all of you.

1. FIRST NAME? Charity
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No. My parents named me Charity Dawn, which means Love Awakening, and was very significant to them while expecting my arrival.
3. LAST CRY? Can't remember, which is finally rare for me. After a year of baby blues, I'm getting to the point where I can even look at sappy commercials on TV without shedding a few tears!
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Eh...
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Rosemary Ham
6. KIDS? 3 marvelous blessings!
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I like to think so, but who knows! Would I be a nice other person?
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? This is it!
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Constantly. I'm not sure you always pick up on it, though, sarcasm in print can be tricky.
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes.
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No. This is about the only "extreme" thing I don't want to do. Anything else, I'll at least try!
12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Cocoa Puffs. I don't know if this is still the case, but when I was a kid, you couldn't get them in Canada. A friend from the States used to send a Christmas package every year, and always included a box.
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Never.
14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Used to be no, but the Hapkido is making me much stronger.
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Hard to choose, I like the ones with all the stuff in them, like Rocky Road.
16. SHOE SIZE? Used to be 7-1/2, now pretty firmly an 8.
17. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? The way I can't stop talking. It drives me crazy - inside, I know I'm talking too much, but I can't seem to make myself stop.
18. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My mum, who lives in Winnipeg.
19. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? I'd love to know more about all of you!
20. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Bare feet, denim capris.
21. LAST THING YOU ATE? An Instant Breakfast drink.
22. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Kids playing, lunch cooking, Martha Stewart doing something wonderful.
23. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Ocean blue (is that a crayon colour? If not, it should be!)
24. FAVORITE SMELL? Fresh bread baking.
25. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My friend, Sarah.
26. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? The eyes have it, here.
27. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? I do.
28. FAVORITE DRINK? I drink tea all day and evening long.
29. FAVORITE SPORT? To watch? Not so much. To participate in? Hapkido (does that count as a sport?)
30. EYE COLOR? Brown.
31. HAT SIZE? No idea.
32. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Occasionally. My eyes tend to be really dry, so they can get uncomfortable.
33. FAVORITE FOOD? This amazing Persian chicken dish, that I don't know how to spell, with pomegranates and walnuts, or lasagna.
34. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? Has to have a happy ending. On my camping trip, I read Message in a Bottle, and was completely incensed at the ending. What a waste of time. We get enough unpleasantness in reality.
35. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED AT THE MOVIE THEATER? Can not for the life of me remember.
36. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Striped with shades of blue/turquoise.
37. SUMMER OR WINTER? Autumn (Yes, I have to be difficult)
38. HUGS OR KISSES? I like to hug a lot.
39. FAVORITE DESSERT? Chocolate is good.
40. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? No idea.
41. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?Again, no idea.
42. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? I'm listening to Pride and Prejudice on CraftLit, and reading a book by T Davis Bunn, can't remember the title. Also have a few knitting books from the library, and one on crochet.
43. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? One of those little gel pad wrist supports.
44. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? I didn't.
45. FAVORITE SOUNDS? The woods at night when I'm camping, the sound of the ocean.
46. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Beatles. Although I wasn't allowed to listen to secular music growing up, so have never formed a great attachment.
47. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Moscow
48. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I guess I'll have to go with knitting.
49. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Winkler, Manitoba, Canada
50. Who sent this to you? Chrissy

Cross One off the List

One down, only seven to go! Here is the Birthday Poncho. Since Jeannie doesn't get it until her birthday at the beginning of next month, I can't show you a modeled photo, but there it is all spread out on my dining room table.

Here are the particulars:
Pattern: Chunky Lace Poncho I understand the idea of naming chunky-weight yarn (because it's, well, chunky), but I still object to it's use in the title of an item of clothing. I don't know about you, but I sure don't want to be putting anything on my body called "Chunky". This is for Jeannie, who is anything but chunky, so I'm sure she won't mind.
Yarn: Patons Shetland Chunky, Colour # 3038, 75% acrylic/25% wool, 3 skeins
Started: July 12, 2006
Finished: August 06, 2006
Modifications: The pattern called for 3 skeins of Wool-Ease Chunky, and I used the Patons instead. The size small called for 48 inches of lace pattern, and I started to run out of yarn, so stopped at about 45 inches. Jeannie is pretty small and slight, so I have no worries about it fitting comfortably around her shoulders.

This was a pretty fast knit, and the lace pattern was very easy to memorize. I am not crazy about the lace pattern itself, but I am one of those girly-girls who like pretty, lacy things. This is just right for someone who likes the look of lace without it getting too feminine or fancy. Here's a closer look at the lace:

It is supremely satisfying to have finished another object, especially one that is from my gift list. I stopped by a LYS today, and picked up some Galway wool, and cast on for the mittens for my step-father. It's been a while since I've knit anything in the round, so I'm not convinced how smoothly it will go, but I'm so pumped at the progress I'm making, that I'm tackling it anyway. If I keep it up, I may have a chance to knit myself a sweater before winter is over!

Mount Robson Sky

Since I'm finally able to post a picture, my Saturday Sky photo is one I took on our trip. Here's Mount Robson, the highest elevation in the Canadian Rockies. After many years of traveling back and forth along this highway, this is actually the first time we've had a clear view, traveling East. We generally drive East at night, or it is cloudy, and we can't see it. This time, though, it was perfect. Sometimes when I see the pictures, it's hard to believe I actually live here - I'm so blessed!

Knitting is progressing on the Birthday Poncho. I'm almost finished the second ball, and have one more to go. Jeannie called last night, and is still not sure when they are coming home, so if I work at it, I may get it finished up before her return. It's pretty tricky making a gift for someone without them seeing it. I must have been in the "black hole" that the Yarn Harlot talks about, since it didn't seem to be getting anywhere, and then all of a sudden, there was length! A thrilling moment, to be sure. Even my Wonderful Husband was impressed, and he's a pretty mellow guy.

Gift Knitting

During my trip, I did a lot of planning and dreaming about knitting projects to come. As I started to think about my plans for the upcoming holidays, I started to get a bit nervous. I believe the bulk of my knitting will now be directed at gift knitting, at least until January. Of course, if I finish my list ahead of time *insert hilarious crazy laughter here*, I can always work on something for me. Here's the list:

1. Birthday Poncho. You know I've already started this, and am almost to the halfway mark. The birthday this is intended for is in September, so I don't have that much time, but I'm feeling pretty confident.

2. Flap Top Mittens, from Handknit Holidays. These, I hope, will be a birthday gift for my step-dad, who celebrates his happy day in early October. With allowances for Canada Post, who are not the most speedy folk, it should be done and gone by the end of September. Haven't even bought yarn for these yet - oh darn, I suppose that means I'll have to do some yarn shopping.

3. Pirate Sweater, Adorable Knits for Tots. I've already told you all about the yarn I picked up at Make 1 Yarns for this. I have cast on, but am only just past the ribbing for the back. This is Brian's Christmas gift, and I'm pretty excited to watch his face when he sees the skull on the front.

4. Pig-Tailed Dolly, from Weekend Knitting. Again, no yarn (the sacrifices I make for my children are amazing, I will be forced to pick up yarn for this project, too). This is for Gwenyth for Christmas, because she loves a dolly more than anything. I don't hold out any hope that the one I make her will be more loved than the cloth one my mum gave her at her birth, but I'm sure she'll enjoy it, anyway. We also have a pushchair that once belonged to Katie, so plan to present the dolly to Gwen in that.

5. Katie is getting a plush, sleeveless hooded pullover, but without the motif. She's a girl who likes the plain things, and I'm determined to make her something she'll actually wear and enjoy on a regular basis. I bought the yarn for this, Patons Be Mine in light blue, when Lewiscraft was closing out.

6. Hee hee, I thought I was done. How silly of me. Next up is a matching set of hats and scarves for my mum and step-dad. They're very cute, still very in love, and like cute things, like matching. Yarn safely in basket, pattern there too, just need time and desire to get it done.

7. A cabled, lace scarf for my mother in law. I bought the most beautiful Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk, and really hope she loves it. She's the old school kind of knitter, who works mostly with acrylic, and I'm thinking she might not appreciate the lovely yarn, but I'll still love working with it.

8. I would really love to knit up a teddy bear for my step-mother. She has a huge teddy bear collection, (I was checking it out during our visit) but not a single knitted bear. No pattern, no real plan, either, just a nice idea. It may stay a nice idea this year, too, since my list is starting to make me feel queasy.

I've been working away on the birthday poncho, not because I'm feeling stressed about it, but because the recipient was called away for a very sad family emergency, and I'm taking the opportunity of doing it while she's out of the house. I don't know if I have ever talked about my crazy blended family - my husband was married before to a lady with 2 children. He thus has 2 step-children, both of whom are older than I am. His step-son doesn't live here, and doesn't speak to him at all. His step-daughter, however, is here in Prince George. Last spring, Jeannie went through a separation, and moved into our basement suite with Stuart's granddaughter, Victoria. Victoria, obviously, does not call me "Grandma", although she does call Stuart "Grandpa", which makes for some very funny looks when he & I take the kids out. We love them very much, are happy to have them here, but it makes for some interesting family dynamics at times. It works well for the most part, largely due to the fact that we have different living spaces. Although we eat most evening and weekend meals together, and spend a lot of our free time together, it's important to have our own space, too. Victoria is 6 months older than Katie, and they are the best of friends. Brian is surrounded by females, but is surviving admirably. The baby is spoiled rotten, since there are now 6 people in the house to dote on her. Long story short (too late), the poncho is for Jeannie. Phew, what a story!