Knitting In The North

The Curse

As you may have noticed, I tend to knit for others most of the time.  There are many reasons for this:  I love giving gifts, I love spending my time making something for someone I love, I struggle at times with a feeling of not deserving such lovely things as I see coming off the needles out there.  This, though, is the main reason - I am cursed.  Whenever I take it upon myself to knit something for me and only me, something goes terribly wrong.  I lose the last ball of wool in that dye lot.  My gauge goes screwy, and even with the benefit of swatching, the finished item is too big or too small.  I make some dumb mistake, and don't notice it until far to late to fix it.

Knitting the T-Twist has been much the same.  A simple pattern, I somehow did a yarn-over in the middle of the body, creating a gaping hole, and adding a stitch, guaranteed to throw off the decreases and shaping.  I bit the bullet, ripped it back, and started again.  This was not enough, however.  Oh, no, there must be more.  I finished the T-Twist.  I followed the instructions exactly.  It was perfect.  Until the moment when instructed to try on the sweater before binding off.  I had a brilliant idea.  "I know," I said to myself, "I'll use my Denise needles, extend the cable, and it will be easy as pie!"  Self, you should know better.  Just as I pulled the ill fated sweater over my head, the cable join popped.  I could feel stitches unraveling, and was helpless to stop it!  I looked over my shoulder.  There -  about 30 stitches running down the back, including one of the raglan decreases.

I am fed up.  I am ready to chuck the sweater in the garbage.  I am so close to finishing it, and so frustrated I could cry.  I tried to save it, really I did.  My knitting time these days is so rare and precious, I didn't want to waste a moment.  I sat into the wee hours, carefully hooking up stitches, attempting to follow the decreases, and save the damn thing.

I really don't know where to go from here.  I tell myself, in my calm moments, that I can just rip the yoke back to where I attached the sleeves, and re-knit from there.  Not such a big deal, really.  A decrease of 12 stitches on every other round makes it go quite quickly, I could rip and re-knit in no time.  But I don't want to.  I'm sick of the dumb thing, and I don't ever want to see it again.  I want to frog and put the whole thing out of my memory.  In the words of the great Harlot, I've had my ass kicked by my knitting.

It's Here!

Just last night I was complaining to Stuart as we shopped (kid free - Woo Hoo!) that the new IK was out on newsstands and still hadn't arrived at my house.  That drives me crazy - because I'm someone so incredibly impatient for my latest issue, I really believe that I should be able to get my copy before the rest of the world does.  I mean, really, what is the point of subscribing, anyway?  Still, complaining is now over, because it's here!  I can hardly wait for the kettle to boil so that I can sit down with a cup of tea and have a good read over.  In fact, maybe a visit to the park is in order - in theory, the kiddies will go play, and I can dream in peace, right?

Progress is being made on the T-Twist sweater - I've started and joined the sleeves, and am now doing the decreases for the yoke.  Our local weather is calling for a bit of a heatwave in the next week or so, so I'm sure I'll get this baby all done just in time to not be able to wear it!  (Have no fear, this is the North after all, there will be days I can wear it, even in the summer.)  I didn't bother with a photograph, though, because it doesn't really look that different than the last one.

This morning, after dropping Katie off at school, we stopped at the post office to mail my ISE 4 package to my pal.  Sadly, my last message to her blew my cover, and so I'll save the photos of this for after she receives is.  But it's nice.  Really nice.  I can hardly wait for her to get it, and I think another skein of this yarn may be in order to make myself a similar scarf.  Just looking at it made me feel all pretty and feminine.  You gotta love that!

Horcrux, Part Deux

I enjoyed the pattern so much the first time around, I had to come back for more!  Here are my finished Horcrux socks, all for me, me, me!  (I would feel guilty, but I actually made a mistake in the lace pattern on one, therefore the socks are not worthy for gift-giving, and can stay mine.)  I love how quickly socks knit up in a heavier weight yarn!  I started these on Wednesday, and finished them Sunday morning.  Anyone with real knitting time in their day would have them done in literally no time at all!  Plus, I had the fun of trying to explain the theory of the Horcrux and Harry's scar to the two big kids.  Katie can get it, but with Brian, I am simply stirring up deep questions that I have no answer for.  Sigh.

Particulars:

Pattern: Horcrux Socks

Yarn: Whatnot Worsted, in the Mermaid colourway.  Joni did an amazing job with these colours, and you gotta love superwash wool! 

Needles: 3.75mm bamboo DPNs

Started and Finished: Wednesday, May 16 - Sunday, May 20th

The 100g skein of yarn had 218 yards, and I was terrified that I would run slightly short.  Because of this, I shortened the amount of ribbing at the top of the sock, and then ended up with quite a bit left over!  I'm slightly put out by this, but I will survive.  I just have to think of some clever thing to do with the leftovers.  It's too pretty not to use.

These socks count as my May socks for the SAM 3 KAL, and I just came across a great pair of ankle socks this morning, that I think will be my June ones.  I have some Dancing in my stash that will be perfect!  And now, I can get back to the T-Twist - I'll post progress photos next week.

Winner!!!

I recently entered a contest on Nicole's blog (she's one of the amazing hosts of Stash and Burn, one of my most favourite podcasts), and I was a winner!  My prize was a gift certificate to the awesome Etsy shop Zero Markers, where I chose these:

A set of seven stitch markers, made with aquamarine and green pearls - they are lovely, and so light!  Nicole raved about them to me, and everything she said was right on - I can't wait to use them.  If you're in the market for a little indulgence, you should certainly check this shop out!  Thank you, Nicole & Aija!

Randomness

Like so many of you, I've been tagged!  Now, the trick is to find things I haven't already talked about... you may have noticed, I'm just a bit chatty.

1. Although I HATE confrontation, I have no problem stepping up and saying what I feel needs to be said.  This inevitably leaves me in a shaking puddle later, but at the time I seem very strong and assertive, which I suppose is a good thing.
2. I love to garden, and while I grew up in a gardening (mostly for necessity) kind of family, I learned almost nothing about it, and am learning as I go now.  Fun!
3. This is the second year in a row that I've tried to convince Stuart that we should sell our house for a raging profit, chuck it all and go camp in the tent trailer on St. Joseph Island for the summer with the kids.  His parents and one sister are there, and I love the idea of all that quality family time.  I have only just learned that he is deeply offended by this plan, and feels that even the suggestion is a bit of a slap in the face.  He loves our home, quite likes Prince George, and has no desire to do anything so "hippyish" whatsoever.  Ah, well.
4. I dye my hair red every December.  It makes me feel more Christmassy.
5. I love lists.  I make lists constantly, for every visit to the store, budget issue, meal plan, decision making process, you get the idea.  I love lists.  They make me happy.
6. I used to be an extreme perfectionist, until my son was born.  Suddenly, things just didn't seem worth the fight anymore, and I think the whole family is happier.  I remember arguing with Stuart about the correct way to fold and put away towels early in our relationship - now I'm just pleased if they make it to the bathroom!
7. I have a brown birthmark on my right knee.  When I was a child, it was the exact size, shape and colour of a brown Smartie, and that's what it's been called ever since.

I may be a party-pooper, but I'm not tagging anyone.  If you feel left out, say so, and I'll tag you then, okay?

WIP Wednesday

My mum left to go home today... it was so wonderful having her here, and I'm just a little sad, but also so happy for the time we had.  This is one of the longest visits we've had in a while (just over a week), and I enjoyed every moment of it.  Unfortunately, Gwenyth passed a spring cold on to Mum, so I hope the trip home isn't too much, and she recovers quickly.  This is my crew with her on our front steps, just before leaving for school.  What a bunch I have!  I have so much to be grateful for!

I figured with all the family drama and coming and going of the last few weeks, I should give you an update on the knitting front.  The pretty ISE scarf is finished - I'm about to give it a good blocking, and will post photos then.  It really is pretty, I'm so pleased that it turned out exactly the way I envisioned!  We all know that that doesn't always happen!

Since I finished the scarf, I am now legal to start my next pair of socks.  I'm using the Horcrux Socks pattern again, as I gave the turquoise and grey pair I made previously to my mum.  This yarn is Whatnot Worsted, in the Mermaid colourway, from my Sockret Pal, Joni.  It's just too beautiful to let it sit in the stash - all my favourite colours!  It has the added bonus of being a heavier weight, which means it will knit up faster.  If I can, I'd like to have these done by the end of the month, so I am able to count them towards the May SAM 3 KAL.  I've been faithful to produce one pair of socks (some were very small, I admit, but they still count) each month since August, and I would hate to break this knitting streak!

My other current project (is it really possible I only have two?  What's that all about?), is the T-Twist sweater from Knitty.  I really like the way the twisted hem looks, and am pretty motivated to finish this.  The only reason I've put it down at all is to focus on the scarf, and now the socks.  I did make one big mistake, and ended up frogging back about two inches of length (to my utter disgust), but it's back on track again.  I'm almost to the "put stitches on holder for sleeves" part, which is exciting.

I really like this colourway, and the Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora yarn is quite nice to work with.  I'm a bit concerned about the wearability of the angora fibre, but I'm sure it will all work out for the best.

The Modeled Shot

Here is my beautiful mother, wearing the Silk Cabled Tank I knit her!  Finally, a shot of my mum modeling something I've knit her!  (Sorry for the sunspot, we were having camera issues.)

Knitting has been pretty slow of late, I'm still working away on my International Scarf Exchange scarf, it's coming along nicely.  I've not had much time for it lately (my family laughed at me this morning when I complained that I hadn't picked up my needles in TWO WHOLE DAYS!!!).  I've been thinking a lot about my homelife/work situation, and I feel that some changes are in order.  I've allowed things to become somewhat unbalanced, and there are some areas in my life that need adjustment.

I'm having a wonderful visit with my mum!  Mostly I've been dragging her around with me as I do my daily tasks, but we spent a few very nice hours outdoor gardening together, and went to the greenhouse again today to pick up some annuals to brighten things up.  It's just so great spending time together.  Last week, Mum came along with the rest of us to a barbeque at a friend's house.  As we were chatting, my friend said to me, "Now I see where you get it from!".  "What?", I asked.  The answer?  "Everything!"

Peace

I'm home again from Calgary... the trip was hard, and even harder was my body's reaction to being home.  It was as though all the strength I've been using over the past weeks suddenly left me, and I was a shaking, emotional heap for a few days.  Peace has begun to settle, and I have much blogging to do for you all, as I re-adjust to being home.   Thank you again for your prayers and support, I could feel them as I went about my tasks, and was so grateful.

When I arrived home, I had a package waiting for me.  This is my final Sockret Pal swap parcel - finally, I know the identity of my pal!  I have been spoiled by Joni the Amazing (that's my name for her, not her own!), of Union Centre Knits!

 

Not only is she an extremely accomplished sock knitter (look at the amazing lace socks she sent me!), but an expert dye artist as well!  She sent me two skeins of her own wonderful yarn, one a sock weight, and one worsted.  Also, check out the fibre!  Two different colourways of Spunky Eclectic, plus a giant (what is the right word here?  skein?  bundle?  mass of goodness?) from Mad About Ewe in the most beautiful shades. The fibre is totally fueling my creative juices - now I just need some alone time so that I can polish up my spinning skills.  I don't want to wreck this incredible stuff with my rookie spinning - I'm just going to have to practice, practice, practice until I am worthy of the wool!  There was also an assortment of great goodies, stitch markers, postcards, etc.  Joni, you're awesome.  Thank you!

In my own knitting, I've been working away on the T-Twist sweater from Knitty.  I "found" 5 balls of Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora in my stash (isn't is horrifying how easy it is to forget what's in there?), and have been completely overtaken by the pattern.  It doesn't hurt that there's been a lot of simple knitting in the round, which is right up my alley at the moment.  I'm almost to the arms, and am really excited about it.  Is it possible I will actually be able to knit something for myself that fits and I can wear?  Pictures of this next time!

Procrastination

It's been weeks (yes, weeks) of procrastinating, but I have finally done the finishing on this tank.  Just in time, too, my Mum has mentioned she is planning a visit out here in the next few weeks, so I can have this all wrapped and ready for her arrival.  Once she does, I'll have to convince her to give us a modeled shot!  Please forgive the unblocked photo, there is simply no time.

Particulars:

Pattern: Cabled Shell in 100% Silk, from Estelle Designs and Sales, Ltd.

Yarn: Estelle Tussah Silk, 7 balls

Needles: Denise interchangeable circulars, 4.5 & 5mm

Modifications: I followed this pattern pretty exactly, except that they forgot to put in directions for picking up and knitting the neckline stitches.  I just made do, and it seems pretty good.  Not too loose, not too tight.

I've been rushing around like a crazy woman, getting everything ready, and finishing this was a definite priority.  Very sadly, my step-mother passed away this past Sunday, and so I'm headed back to Calgary Wednesday for the funeral, and to support my dad, who's understandably having a really rough time.  I almost feel bad asking, but prayers would be so appreciated for all of us, right now.  In amongst all the rushing around, I managed to loose my wallet this morning, which has changed my travel plans a bit.  I was going to rent a hotel room and a car, but now won't be allowed to (having no ID or credit cards is extremely limiting!), so please pray for extra grace as I stay with, and am driven around by, family.  I'll be home by the weekend, and hope that life will once again return to it's blessedly boring and simple pattern.