AND ONE MORE MAKES FOUR!!

I can't believe I haven't updated the Blog in all this time!!! How the time flies . . . . I've been so busy with knitting socks, completing TWO courses at the Virtual U and trying to make a living!! The week of August 12th was MURDER!! I had to write two challenge papers, write two exams & complete two corporate tax returns. I finished the whole Shebang at two minutes to 3:00. Yup, that was 3:00AM on the 12th!!!


I finished all four pairs of socks in time - two of them are pictured - two pairs for the Birthdays & two for the Anniversay! The 'Parents who have Everything' were quite put out when their favorite granddaughter told them that 55 years of marriage was no big deal . . . . I laughed & told them we couldn't afford another big DOOOO until their 60th anyway so 'suck it up'. But,I guess we'll have to 'Flamingo' the yard again in a couple of years on her birthday since she's on the way to 75.

I promised a pair of Frankensockettes to a kid waaaaaaaaay back in the spring. So last nite I dug around in the scrap basket & came up with some bits & pieces that go together - sort of! I decided the base color would be black so the bright stripes would really stand out - so the ribbing is black & the heel ended up being black because I ran out of the cherry halfway through the heel shaping . . . . but so far, I think they'll end up looking great.

I've also been spinning like mad on my Arvik fleece. Its so nice I didn't even wash it before spinning but I have several fluffy skeins of washed wool hanging on my skein rack . . . . they range in color from light grey to almost black & should knit up into a lovely mottled fabric. I'm thinking of knitting it up in a one piece, plain cardigan, knit from the neck down in stockinette with seed borders & cuffs. I haven't decided whether to knit it up as a fine fabric in one ply or as two yet. Swatches to come . . . . will post a pic when I'm able. I'm thinking of taking some time off from knitting socks & finishing the three sweaters I have started for myself so I have something to wear in the fall . . . . .

I'm knitting as fast as I can . . . .


I have two birthdays & an anniversary coming up for the same people. They got married on his birthday, the day he turned 21. She had just turned 18 two days before. His parents wouldn't give permission for him to marry her even though her parents would. So, they planned the wedding, invited everyone, waited for his birthday & got married that afternoon . . . . his parents didn't even attend the wedding. They said they were too young, she was no good & it wouldn't last anyway. They're celebrating their 55th this year, healthy as horses & still going strong. And I'm giving them socks.

My cell phone contract was up for renewal in the fall so they called me with a terrific offer - get a new phone with the renewal if you renew now - sure, said I. And the BT picked out the new phone he's been lusting after - the Razr - I think thats the spelling, its some sort of hashed version of Razor. Lovely, thin, with multi-musical rings, more games, better camera, more songs, more surfing, more texing . . . . all the bloody things I don't need, like or want. I've lost half of my phone numbers, all my fax numbers & email addies kept in the old phone. I thought these things were saved on the damn chip you transfer over . . . . . !!!??? The phone book is not as good, there is no recurrent alarm & the datebook is not as good. The only really good things on this phone are the extended life battery & the speakerphone. I hate the Razr. I want a PDA phone that rings like a phone & has good coverage. If I get to choose extras, I want to put books on it so I can read when I'm waiting or travelling. Thats it. Is that too much to ask for????

On the needles . . . blue Confetti socks. Its the pattern Gail did for her son - two shades of blue with one of grey in alternating thick stripes with one white stitch every few stitches between some of the colored stripes to delineate them. Very graphic. Very nice. Have the same in browns too. They're for the Birthday/Anniversary boy. Her's are finished. She gets blue Invicta in shades of blue ranging from dark Navy to Royal with bits of light blue here & there & a pair of Confetti in oatmeal & grey lattice with fine, one row wide, stripes of yellow, buff & pink with lavender toes.
On the really BIG needles - an afghan for the BT on handmade needles from Houndesign. They're 40" circs with turned wooden tips that I've rubbed with greasy fleece to make them smooth & they're a little bigger than my little finger, probably a 7 or 8mm. I wanted very long circs so I could make an afghan in one piece - I hate sewing things together!!! So Cheri had her hubby make them as a demo set for me to try. I love wooden needles to start with so these are really nice!!! I'm using a light demin colored acrylic since this will be washed a lot & I'm using a large lace pattern - I think its a Feather & Fan version.

The picture is a proto nebulae - isn't it grand???

The BoyToy wants more socks

I'm sure he has no conception of the cost or time involved in manufacturing socks - all he knows is that they're more comfortable & his feet are happier. I've had this pair in splotch dyed blue Confetti languishing on my favorite bamboo skewer needles for weeks now . . . . knitting his socks has become soooooo boring. I mean, how many pairs can you knit in the same color??? I do vary them somewhat with solid colored toes - he has red, black and many shades of blue & grey. They're extra long in the leg. So, out of boredom, the last pair just laid there. Partially knit. And then I had a brain storm. It's amazing how fast these things knit up when you're excited. I decided to knit a narrow stripe, just a couple rows of red before adding a solid blue toe. They're very nice. He came over last nite, spotted the socks - I still have to close the toes - & said they had better be his because he's gonna kill anyone else who gets them!!! He likes them!!!

And now my favorite bamboo needles are free . . . . . I love these needles. They're a little long - 10" - but I made them from the bamboo meat skewers you find in most grocery stores. I got smooth ones, you have to watch out, some are ridged. I sanded them lightly, cut off the sharp end & sanded both ends to a dull point. I rubbed them with greasy fleece & used them. I did carry a small piece of sandpaper for the first week or so to catch the little burrs but haven't had a problem since then. They've developed a nice patina from use & I love their flexibility. And, best of all, they're almost all a perfect 2.5mm before sanding!! I'm still working on sanding down a set to 2mm for knitting MY socks.

Oh For a Little Adventure . . . .


I've been cruising other people's blogs this morning while I wait for the last lazy people to fax their time-sheets to me, Yes, its payroll day! I've offered to do it one day early in the summer if all the employees get their stuff in by Wednesday nite but there's always someone who can't co-operate!!! This means everyone who wants to leave early for the weekend will not get paid again this pay period. Tsk, tsk - I keep reminding them that their Mothers DO NOT WORK HERE! One late apple ruins it for all - I will only do payroll once . . . .

So, I'm cruising Other People's Blogs. Louisa - I just LOVE those Africa Socks!! To see them, go to Damselfly's.blogspot.com !! I'm looking for something "manly" for the BoyToy's dad - he will wear wild socks if they're in "manly" colors like blues, greys & browns. The BoyToy will not - wonder who's genes he got???? His mom will wear anything I make!

The Ladybug socks are almost finished. It was decided at my Wednesday Nite Nitting session that grey toes are the way to go - the Ladybugs are NOT cherry with black, they are actually cherry with dark grey. Hence, the grey toes. Will post a pic when they're done!! And then on to Parent's Socks. Got two birthdays & one anniversary August 22-24 for them & socks are the present of choice for the Parents who have Everything. So, socks it shall be!!

And what have you been doing on YOUR summer holidays???


I've been watering the garden - in this weather it grows itself! The zucchinis double in size over night & are crawling out of the garden & wandering across the lawn to the landlord's delight. It means he doesn't have to mow the grass!

I didn't plant anything in the garden this year because he said he was getting a big load of topsoil & mushroom manure. DIDN'T. One day I came out & he had planted some tomato plants & some zucchinis - he said his brother put in two new greenhouses for produce & he can get it for free so why dig in the garden . . . . . OOOOOOKAY. I can't pull weeds anymore - my fingers swell up like sausages!! So, I guess I'll be doing more container gardening & he'll be mowing more lawn . . . . .

Got three clamatis plants donated to me last week. I intend to put them into one big container to provide me with shade on the west side of my patio. Bought the plastic lattice to put up - check, bought container dirt - check, now to find a container BIG enough!

And now to socks. I love my FISH socks & have cast-on the LADYBUG yarn. Actually, I've already begun turning the heels on the LADYBUG socks! I think I love the LADYBUG colorway even more than FISH. I cast them on Saturday nite in the middle of a movie & got up to the heel turning last nite. I couldn't put them down!!!!!
And I think I'll have enough yarn left over to make a pair of short summer socks with a contrasting toe out of each ball!! I decided to make longer winter socks first since I'll get more use out of them but the leftovers are too expensive not to use. I'm actually thinking of knitting the LADYBUG leftovers with black, maybe in stripes instead of just finishing the foot where the LADYBUG runs out - I think it would be sooooooo interesting . . . . . And I still have PARROT to knit!!! God I love yarn!

On the wheel - my spinning has been somewhat neglected lately but I have been spinning up the acid pink & chocolate brown superwash roving that Gail gave me, off & on. I found another piece of roving so I think I'll have more than enough to make a shrug on large needles. The yarn is a yummy combo that I've spun in a soft singles, a la Lopi - But, I'll wait until the third skein is done before deciding exactly what it will be . . . I think the shrug will be the handiest item. It gets cold when the sun goes down when we're spinning outside the Esquires & I haven't come close to finishing a sweater yet . . . . especially one light enough to wear in summer!! Sometime this summer, I must finish one of the three I have on the needles so I have something to wear to work this winter!!

Ahhhhhh . . . . if only . . . . I pray to the Lotto gods every time I buy a ticket - puleeeeezzze let it be me so I can spend the rest of my life with fibre!!

Ahhhhhhh, the joys of Summer

The corner veggie stand has "melon madness" going on! Casabas, watermelons, cantelope, crenshaws & honey dews . . . with strawberries, cherries & papayas. Hmmmmm, sounds like a song or a new sock color, doesn't it??? I keep taking myself over there to spend another $20 on something cool & tastey. Just give me fruit salad - to hell with cooking steak!

I love my new FISH socks. I'm sure I'm going to love my soon-to-be LADYBUG socks as well. I must, I must, I must cast them on NOW. I'm supposed to be finishing off a year-end & tax return but I'm heading off to knit in front of an old episode of Star Trek. Isn't that a hoot???

I can tell the kids are OUT for the summer. I'm sure the decibel level around here is in the industrial range somedays. I must be getting old . . . . but this is the time of year I dislike my home office the most - the kids are out. You have to understand that I live in a basement suite under a family with 5 kids & no interior insulation. There are two teenaged girls, one tween girl, one 10 year old boy & a little boy of 5 up there. One whines & shrieks loudly; one screams, cries & stomps when she can't get her way & all of them swear like Longshoremen. The girls pick on the oldest boy until he lashes out & breaks things. Mama can't cope & I've offered to go up & clean house a time or two. I count the days till they go back to school & count my blessings when the whole tribe are out for the day!!! What's going on with kids today??? We used to be gone on our bikes from morning till nite when school was out, we used to play outside & DO THINGS. Am I old fashioned or just old?? Maybe I'm just a whiner . . . . .

WAVING THE FLAG . . .


RAH RAH RAH I'M SO GLAD TO LIVE IN THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!! Any immigrant I know tells me Canadians have the best scenery, the best government, the safest streets & the friendliest people. We, in BC, apparently have the best of EVERYTHING! And thats a lot to be grateful for.

I know a lot of folks are travelling this weekend, in fact, Friday traffic on local streets was positively sparse. Guess they were all sweltering on the freeway . . . its been a very HOT & Dry couple of weeks. My arthritic hands thank the weather gods for that! Since my hands aren't hurting, I intend to spend this long weekend spinning & knitting when I can escape my home office.

My Opal FISH socks are well under way. I couldn't help myself, I had to cast-on one of the three balls I got & I thought FISH looked the most intriguing. Purple, yellow, blue & white - it does indeed look like a tropical fish. The wool is a little coarser than Confetti or Regia but the colors are much nicer, especially the soft, muted colors. I used Jan's heel - I never want to pick up stitches on a flap again!!!

The purple is actually lighter, more of a lavender shade & the narrow stripes are dark blue - but this is the best I can do with my camera phone. Someday, I'll get the cable for my digital camera from the Boytoy & all the real colors will come thru.

Gail gave me some superwash roving in hot acid pink, chocolate brown & brownish pink for my last birthday. I spent last weekend dogsitting & spinning it up in a soft singles yarn a little lighter than a sport weight. I separated the roving into short, thin sections so I could keep long runs of bright color between the shorter sections of blended colors. Not sure what it will become yet but the acidness of the pink really softens nicely when spun up with the chocolate - toooooo yummy!! I may knit it up into a wide lacy wrap or shrug on large needles to snuggle into when I read on the couch this fall. I decided it was a shame to make socks out of it - I'd rather show it off!!

Happy CANADA DAY everyone.

Well . . . . there's nothing like shouting to the world


Yup, I hate those black socks. I guess the font in the previous posting says it all. But, the black socks will be saved by the red toes. Beautiful, blood red toes. On the black dress socks. Ha ha ha hah! My revenge.

I received my Rainforest Opal last nite. The balls look perfectly ordinary although FISH is a little paler that I expected. I can't wait to knit each of them up. I think I'll start with FISH. I have some nice slatey blue Kroy with almost perfectly matches the little bit of blue in the yarn & LADYBUG will get black toes.

I'm dogsitting this weekend so I intend on spending my time knitting socks & spinning. Yeah, Baby!!

I HATE BLACK


I finally picked up enuf stitches around that flap to finish the heels from hell.
Even standing under the bright lamp on its highest setting at NOON, I couldn't see the damed stitches. I eventually picked up the flap stitches by guess & by golly. I'd forgotton how ugly that is . . . . . . Man, these socks are not knit with love. Is there a rule somewhere that says "thou shalt wear dark socks with a dark suit!" Yeah, I know, I could buy them but what do you do when bought socks hurt & burn??


I guess I have to sit down & figure out why my sock grows wider with more increases . . . they should all disappear when I short row that heel. Obviously, I'm doing something wrong!!
But, I've successfully finished the gusset in one sock though & am plowing thru the second. This
Lanett is definitely thicker than Confetti!! And it has much less yardage. Mind you, Lanett's also 100% merino superwash - no nylon to make the feet burn - I wonder how they'll wear???? Thinking about going to Knitopia & checking out her darker yarns - I think a dark patterned sock would work under that suit - and black is going back to the toe bin - I can't knit too many like this!


I haven't even had the time to card my doggie hair & wool for spinning but I should have a day off by Thursday & hopefully the weatherman will cooperate. Ain't no way I'm carding that fluff indoors!! I intend to set up my operation outside where the excess can 'blow in the wind' instead of in my house - the cat is not too happy about that bag as it is . . . . . Is it my imagination or are we getting LESS sunshine so far this year????

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And I worked all weekend again . . . .


I always said it was too bad that tax season only lasted two months more or less. For about 2 months we work nite & day to get all that work done in TIME. So, the tax department made life 'easier' for us by extending it a little to June 15. I've finally figured out that all this extension does is make the late people be later! So I'm still doing late returns as well as my regular stuff. And now I've acquired two new REALLY REALLY late people with several year's worth of paper . . . .


Thank Gawd for Socks. And new yarn. And Cuddling. My knitting pal Gail brought her grandbaby Freya to our last sock gathering. I got Cuddle Time! Its amazing how cuddling lowers your blood pressure, relaxes your muscles & makes your brain turn into mush. Language flees & the words you actually make are an octave higher & sound amazingly like gibberish. I wonder what the baby actually thinks . . . .

I took advantage of the situation to show off Freya at 2 months & the last two pairs of socks I've been talking about while Gail actually had a camera which would show off their true colors. Too bad I couldn't keep my eyes open!!!

The Opal socks are on the right & the Regia on the left. The Regia is actually softer & I love the patterning - its the one I hope Knitopia has in other colors. I've used Jan Pinard's easy heel in both pairs so I don't have to pick up stitches in poor light. I can't wait to wear these!!

Meanwhile - the black socks progress. I'm down to the heel flap - Ronn has skinny heels with a high arch & needs a much longer flap than I normally use as well as a snugger heel, especially in a shorter, dress sock so they don't crawl into his shoes when he walks. Normally I make 10" tops with a 3" heel but these will be 7" with a 3.5" heel. I found Jan's heel got too wide & I haven't figured out how to make it narrower & still get the same depth in the heel. I don't have time to play with it unfortunately - I'm sure Jan knows whats wrong - but I have to get these ready for next week. And knit another pair.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE PAPERLESS OFFICE?


Remember the old days folks, I'm talking about the days before computers. Remember how we processed paper, catagorized it, stapled it, mailed it, saved it & filed it?? Neatly. In a LOT of file cabinets & boxes??
Well, I belong to the 'paperless' generation. I'm one of the folks who email, fax, enter onto the computer, efile, telefile & generally do things electronically - I should, I've got all the gadgets in my office. How come I still have boxes & file cabinets full of the same paper I had before the electronic revolution?? It makes me want to go & knit somewhere . . . . .

Tax season is officially over & I'm still tripping over boxes, bags, stacks & bins. I do my work in 8 square inches of desk space. I gotta find a better way . . . . . .


Back to yarn - the Opal is on the way - YESSSSSSSS!! The bras are on the way - in about a month - YESSSSSSSS! Now to wash the doggie hair & start carding & spinning this weekend!!! I'm looking forward to spinning this up & knitting the first sample. I have great hopes for this yarn.
Speaking of carding & spinning - I found a box of Romney roving hidden away in the closet - guess I bought it some time back & forgot it. I have some silk waste that I bought at FibreFest & I'm thinking about spreading a little of it on the dark Romney & spinning it up. Just a flash of color in a lovely dark grey yarn . . . . doesn't that sound lovely??

My Opal socks are finished! I can't seem to take a good pic of the Regia striped socks with my camera phone darnit. But Gail likes to flash her digital one around sooooooooo - that one will officially appear next! The Boytoy's new BLACK socks are on the needles but are not progressing quickly. But, as usual, I'll want to knit some Rainforest socks the minute the yarn arrives - next Wednesday - so I have to get these black things knit up quickly. With Red toes. I just have to . . . . its a sickness!

IN SEARCH OF TREASURE . . . .


I'm feeling very frustrated at the moment. I checked & rechecked the undies drawer & I'm down to my last two tatty bras. I was sure there was another one hidden in the back so I wasn't really in a panic but now, the search is on. In the past, I've always relied on the Sears Discount Store to supply my needs - they have a HUGE selection of catalogue returns, end of the line or just grungy store models to choose from & they don't cost an arm & a leg. They don't carry most of them anymore!!! What is with this?????
Let me explain - I cannot buy off the rack. I almost never could. And when you need a G-cup, it ain't easy. I spent 3 hours trying on bras at Penningtons. I ordered several models from the Sears catalogue & sent them back. I checked out Suzanne Bell's. I phoned the Mastectomy shops. I could not find my size unless I have it 'CUSTOM MADE' at a huge cost.
I was finally reduced to going On-Line to look at bras. I'm giving Decent Exposures in Seattle a try - they make em in ANY SIZE CUP, ANY BAND SIZE!! in WILD COLORS!! With WIDE straps! In breathable fabric!! And they don't cost a fortune!!! I ordered one in Hot Pink & one in Turquoise . . . Oh, puleeeeezzze let them fit!!!


And back to knitting - I've caught the Opal bug. I've been in love with the Rainforest Collection for some time - Hey, did you know there's more Rainforest colorways coming??? - I keep drooling on my keyboard whenever I check em out. And I found a place locally that sells Opal . . . . & I bought some. I bought Parrot, Fish & Ladybug!!! For ME!! My reward for working hard & having no money all spring.

I've cast on the black superwash Merino for the BoyToy's new dress socks - boy, is black ever boring!! I'm thinking of knitting a little red design at the ankle - do they call it a clocke or cloche???? - just to add some excitement - of course I intend to put a red toe on them . . . . . I can't help it. They're just too boring otherwise . . . . And no one will see the toe in his good shoes . . . . . hahahahaha

As Ye Knit, so shall Ye Rip . . . .


The Opal socks were finished last nite without contrasting toes. I decided they were already so colorful that a contrasting toe would ruin the look - I finished them as is . . . . . well, sort of.

Sigh . . . I tried on my Opal socks. Alas, they're just a tad too short in the foot. I mean, I CAN wear them but I like my socks to be a little looser in the toe area just so they don't wear as quickly. I haven't darned or reknit a single toe for myself yet - & I don't intent to start now!!! So, this morning, I spent a couple of hours in front of the Home & Garden channel with many cups of tea, ripping & reknitting those socks. I added just a half inch to the length but it makes a huge difference when I put them on!! The secret to good socks - measure twice, knit once!

I was gifted with a grocery bag full of very dark brown Newfie hair from a friend who adopted a 6 year old fella named BOB who'd been abandoned at the vet. Now, I don't even pretend to understand how people can do that to a member of the family but that's another story!! Bob has a glorious home with a couple who hike for pleasure - that hound goes everywhere with them.

Bob generously donated some lovely soft fur which will be carded into some local fleece to be spun up for DIVING SOCKS. Since dog hair is much warmer than wool but has no 'memory', blending the two should produce a nice yarn that will give the diver warmer feet & a sock that'll hold its shape. I just hope he doesn't shrink them up in the first wash!!! I was going to start knitting alpaca/wool socks this weekend but I think I'll just work on the Newfie/wool carding & spinning instead. Hopefully I'll have pics soon . . . .


NEWS FLASH . . . .

I must be losing my mind because I essentially published the same blog on two different days!! Must be due to the blog site doing maintenance & I lost my post & had to do it again a couple of times . . . . thats my story folks, etcetera, etcetera!

ITS ACTUALLY SUMMER AGAIN . . . .

That muggy wetness has finally lifted from my heart & home. I didn't realize just how warm it was till I went outside & saw some of my plants laying down the side of the pot. It was raining for days so I just assumed all was well my little green friends out there . . . . ooooops, sorry little buddies.

The Opal socks are almost done. I'm trying to decide what color to use for the toes or whether I should add a contrasting toe at all. I really DO like to put on contrasting toes but these socks are already so colorful . . . . so they hang up by my stash of sock yarns while I contemplate the color choices.

In the meantime, the Lord & Master's half knit Confetti socks are being worked on again. He loves the dark blue/white speckled yarn the best so I knit each pair with a different colored toe for contrast. So far he hasn't worn a hole in any of them even though I stopped adding fuzzy nylon to the heels & toes. I found the fuzzy nylon made the heels & toes hard after a while. Here's a pic of his favorite socks - the Lanet toe does pill a little but he's been wearing these for at least a year - once a week - & they're still in good shape.

My hands have been too sore to spin lately - guess I'll be fine when the weather stabilizes. I don't care if its Hot or Cold, just make it DRY!! I want to get my Arvik fleece spun up this summer so I can enjoy her fuzzy warmth in the winter!!

I've been swatching a pattern or two - I want to make the Lightening Lace Jacket from Just One More Row but I'm not sure what yarn I want to knit it up with. I fell in love with some lavender - groan, did I actually say that - baby acrylic. Did the swatch up in some leftover blue/pink I had laying about. This yarn has a sheen to it & a slightly nubbly texture . . . . but does show off the pattern quite nicely. The pattern goes up to a 64" bust, I do believe & could even go higher with a slightly larger needle. This acrylic comes in No Dyelot colors & just may be the answer to something light & lacey for the summer & fall evenings that needs to go in the wash regularly . . . . too bad it only comes in baby colors!! But, I can live with lavender!!

The BoyToy wants dress socks to wear with his suit. He had to go to a function the other day with nylon dress socks & hated them. Seems he's been spoiled with the handknit socks that he's been wearing for the past couple of years & really notices the difference when he's stuck in something with lots of cotton or nylon - he says his feet burn & stay wet all the time. He says his handknits don't really go with his pinstripe suit - he's quite correct in that - he needs black or navy socks. Bloody hell - does he understand what knitting black or navy socks actually means????? Boredom! Blindness! Sigh. Well, I have to admit he looks mighty fine in that suit - I did pick it out after all! So, I'm breaking the rules here folks - I should be beaten - I'll knit two pairs of dress socks for the suit. Its only because of the suit! Really!

I HEAR YOU CALLING . . . . .


I was given a ball of Opal by my knitting pal Gail - I decided to 'save' it for Summer Socks because it was too good to hide under pants all winter. Now, my budget seldom extends to Opal or Lorna's Laces or any of the High End yarns although, I will admit to being MADLY, PASSIONATELY IN LOVE WITH THE RAINFOREST COLLECTION!!!!! Anyone who wants to send me two balls of Ladybug or Parrot will be written into my will!! I intend to get all of the Rainforest Collection for myself even if I have to sell the BoyToy into bondage. Ya know, a little bondage might even do that boy some good . . . . mmmmm
As I was saying - I was saving that yarn for 'someday'. Well, someday came. I wound that ball into two smaller balls & cast on the ribbing last nite. By the time my friend Kelly & the Dirty Little Dawg - my wrestling partner - went home, I had both socks to the heel increases . . . Ain't it amazing how fast interesting yarn knits up??? Now, I could never get this far if the yarn was black or grey or dark brown.

I must get my butt in gear sometime this week & cast on the yarn for my latest project - DIVING SOCKS. One of my client/friends has taken up diving. Our coastal waters are pretty cold & he complains of freezing feet in his dry suit. So, I've offered to knit some experimental socks for him. I spun up some alpaca & some wool for the first pair. I'm going to knit them up in a fairly firm fabric to start with so he can test them out & let me know how warm they are. I'm also going to card some doghair, llama & wool together, spin it up & knit another pair for comparison. Who knows, I may start a new business in handspun, handknits . . . . they also want thin gloves but I'm not sure I want to go there!!

WHAT A DORK I AM . . .


Just about finished my latest socks - in Regia 5380! Looked right at that ballband when I reported it to be Confetti . . . . guess I have Confetti on the brain!!! But, as I said before, this yarn called out to me & I wanted to knit it up right away. I was finally able to cast on last weekend & what a great pair of patterned socks they turned out to be!!! I ended up picking out a slatey blue from the dark stripe & using it for the toe - the dark rose was just wrong for these socks. I think this is one of my favorite color combinations ever. I made them in a short length to wear for summer - I'm stuck in my orthopedic sneakers again this summer so I might as well have snazzy socks to wear, right???!!! The colors aren't quite true but this is closer than the pic of the ball I posted - one of these days I have to get my digital camera a new cable so I can use it instead of my cell phone camera!!

Meanwhile - I've been spinning on my Arvik fleece and now have 3 big fluffy skeins of yarn in varregated greys. I'm still undecided as to whether I should knit up the Shrug with cuffs from Lion Brand or the Lightening Lace jacket from Just One More Row. I want something light & lacey to keep the drafts off for the summer . . . . my spinning friend Cheri made a shawlette that fits her shoulders to her elbows & ties in front, out of dog hair & wool. It looks like a puff of wind would blow it off but Cheri reports its warm & cozy & just what she needs to spin outdoors after the sun goes down in summer. I keep eyeing that thing & wishing I had one . . . . . . maybe Arvik will become one of those.

I love the drapey fabric that fine yarn & small needles produce but I'd be knitting for a year if I chose that method to make myself a sweater or jacket!! I have to think about how much yarn I need as well as the weight of the yarn in a large garment. As an example, I've been knitting up 10"squares in a dark grey handspun with a fine red mohair in the diagonal dishcloth pattern. My plan is to make a square, Chanel type jacket for winter. I chose to use the squares because I thought it would keep its shape, be easy to do in smaller pieces & I could adjust it somewhat without frogging a lot of knitting. I also thought the squares on the diagonal would make an interesting pattern when put together. Work in progress . . . .

DON'T GO OUT IN THE WOODS TODAY . . .


Got an Email this morning from my spinning pal Gail. She's been spending all her time out in the garden after work & on the weekends during these warmer sunny days . . . . She's been spinning up her 'Hazelnut' blend & plying it with the complimentary blue from Aurelia Wools. Gail is still searching for the perfect vest pattern - I have one I hope she'll like - and she's sent me this picture of her progress . . . . not too shabby for a person who's only been spinning for a year or so!!

I had my wheel out several times this past weekend as well but I'm spinning up my Arvik fleece - the skeins are an interesting blend of light & dark grey which I loved in the sample swatch I knit up when I first got it. I could've separated the colors but I decided to spin it randomly & enjoy the interesting effect. I'm spinning it up as a fine singles yarn for now but may knit it as a two-ply in the end. I guess another swatch will make up my mind before I knit it up. I've found a stitch pattern I love but I'm not sure how it will look in handspun - something else to check out in a swatch!

In the meantime - I'm doing the heel increases on my new socks in the yarn that's been calling to me for weeks. I love the way the colors blend together. It ends up with light heathery bands of rose, purple, turquoise & white alternating with dark bands of navy, dark green & black. I'm not sure the rose Sisu will become the toes - they may end up being grey or black. I should be wearing them in a day or two!! One thing about socks, you don't have to wait too long to wear them after deciding what color to knit.

SO ITS ANOTHER LONG WEEKEND . . .

I was watching a biography of Princess Margaret on tv last nite - in honor of the Victoria Day holiday, they were featuring a Royal weekend. I do wish they would run biographies of the older members & even some of the previous generations more often. I think we were Di'd & Fergie'd to death for years but I do enjoy the ones about Victoria, the Queen & Queen Mum, King George, Margaret & the previous generations! I admit to watching Henry VIII & Elizabeth I several times!! I like educational tv but most of the channels are doing the same old Makeover shows & 'Reality' shows now - too bad!! I enjoyed Nova, the Operation, the Pioneers & their ilk. I remember not long ago when the Learning Channel taught you something . . . . .

I sound like an old fart, don't I??? I do admit to liking CSI but I love educational tv. I want to learn something if I'm in front of it or why turn it on??

And to socks - finished my first short 'summer' socks of the year for ME. I used my usual 64-68 st start at the ribbed top & 2mm needles but used the heel designed by Jan. I've been complaining about not being able to see the stitches on the old heel flap to pick up for the gusset - Jan designed a pattern using plain increases, decreases & short rows to avoid that problem. I used her heel on these socks. Unfortunately, emailing the pic from my phone doesn't show the detail or colors really accurately, thats for sure, but its nice to have a pic or two to decorate the site! These socks are actually a lot lighter in color - there's lavender, aqua, yellow, orange, rust, pale blue, robin's egg blue & two shades of green in these socks! They'll go with everything!!!

These two balls of yarn are going to be my next pair of socks. The patterned ball is Confetti 5380 & is much bluer than the picture - that dark stripe is actually black in the middle with a slately blue & a brighter blue verging on Royal blue as well as a bit of Kelly green for good luck. I am dying to knit these up to see the pattern. The red ball is actually a deep purpley rose from Sisu which almost matches the tiny bits of rose in the Confetti - I thought it would make great contrasting toes!! I'll have to decide after I knit the pattern. Sometimes socks don't want a plain toe.

I have a pair of blue speckled Confetti socks on the Bamboo skewers for the BoyToy. I knit them to the heel using Jan's heel again but decided I didn't like them. So I tore them out & reknit Jan's heel with S1, K1 between the increases. I'll get a pick up when I finish them - hopefully it will show the details. The BT likes the cushy feel of the S1K1 on his heels & I like the shaping you get with it.

The weather has been nice here so I've been able to spin more & more lately - Arvik is sooooo nice to spin from the fleece - I do love greasy fleece!! I love the smell & the feel . . . and greasy fleece is easy to spin! I once got a couple of pounds of greasy Romney roving which I also loved a whole lot but that kind of roving is hard to find. I'm hoping to knit Arvik into a soft light sweater for work & if I'm lucky, a soft shawlette on big needles to snuggle in when I read on the couch. I saved the Lion Brand pattern that's essentially a shawl with cuffs - I'm hoping it will do the trick.

I hope the Virtual U has its new courses up for the new semester today!! I finished Healing Herbs & Intro to Forensic Science last week . . . . . enjoyed both of them! Can't wait to see the new selection . . . .

AND THE BEAT GOES ON . . .

Did I mention the weather?? Summer in May!! My arthritic hands have appreciated the lovely hot, dry weather we've been having - hurrah, I can spin again without pain!! I'm knitting as fast as I can . . finished my new socks with Jan's simple heel. I like the fact that I don't have to SEE to pick up stitches cause I don't have to pick up any!! But, I'm experimenting with the BT's new socks because I like the look of the Slip1, Knit1 heel ribbing. I tore out the half done heels in his socks-to-be & am S1,K1-ing between the increases for Jan's heel. I like this version a whole lot better!!

Has anyone read the Girl From Aunty's comments on the Lion Brand Knitting Instructor Program??? I checked it out when Lion Brand sent me the announcement & thought it was silly but I never delved into it with the thoroughness that she does. It makes worthwhile reading!! Before you sign up, read this! And the comments . . . .

I am so proud of myself - I just finished the Healing Herbs course at the Virtual University. It looked like a "Fluffy" course but contained a lot of good information. And I passed the final exam with flying colors . . . I now know the difference between a decoction & an tincture! Apparently I've been making tinctures with berries & vodka for years . . . .

Did I say I'd actually been spinning?? Yessiree Momma - had the old Mud Valley Clone outside in the sunshine spinning shetland fleece from a sheep named Arvik. Arvik is a nice mix of greys from light to almost black with a little sunbleaching on the tips. Its so soft & not too greasy so I'm spinning it right from the fleece into a soft singles yarn a little thicker than sock yarn. It does bloom when washed in the skein & knits into a lovely, soft, drapey fabric . . . . . I have a pattern from Just One More Row called the Lightening Lace Jacket which I think will look lovely in the all-shades-of-grey Arvik yarn. Must do up a swatch & take a picture for the record!! Ahhhhh . . . . the joys of summer . . . just give me hanging baskets, a big mug of tea & a spinning wheel with Arvik to enjoy.

TO REGISTER A DOMAIN NAME
OR LET THE PROS TO DO IT, THAT IS THE QUESTION!


One of my Guys wants to sell a product that he thinks is fantastic . . . He loved it so much he imported a great pile of it last year & it gathers dust in a warehouse! Sounds like some of that unspun wool in my livingroom . . . So . . I went on-line, searched the name he says someone registered - NOT - registered the name, got me a website & I am now in the website creation business!! Just have to learn a little HTML, upload some pictures, get a credit card gizmo & BANG. We now have a little web based business complete with email. Gawd how I love technology!!! All of this & doing late tax returns too!!!!


My hands have been really sore lately - bought a book " ARTHRITIS, What works & what doesn't" - everything is discussed, food, meds, bracelets, rubs, heat, cold, exercise & clothing. I found out my diet could be increasing the inflammation & pain.
I wanted to go to the Tulahead Spin-In even though money is tight, but was afraid I wouldn't be able to spin - seems legumes, dairy, cheese is a biggie, meat, corn, wheat & all the nightshade family which include tomatoes, potatoes & peppers are very bad . . . . guess what comprises most of my diet???? I don't have to worry much about caffeine, nicoctine or alcohol. Most arthritis sufferers get a lot of relief from fasting or juice diets only. Its recommended that we cut back everything to fruits, veggies, fish & fowl for a couple of weeks then gradually add one food at a time to find the culprits. It would be nice to cut back the Tylenol too . . . . One good thing about the diet recommendations - Salmon is the preferred protein!!! Fish oil is GOOD for you.


On the needles - still plugging away at my new summer socks. Can't believe I haven't been able to knit much - this is really unlike me. I keep looking at all the yummy sock yarns I've bought at Knitopia & wish for several more of them on the needles. I have two balls of Confetti with my usual menopause purple, turquoise & white with just a little black!! I am dying to see what this will look like . . . & I have the dark rose Sisu for toes which matches the rose in the yarn . . . . . I think that Confetti will be next . . . instead of the mostly pink Fortissima.
Decisions, decisions . . . . . and then there's all three sweaters I started last year. I have to finish one of them SOON.

If the weather continues to be nice, we'll be spinning outside soon too. I have a yummy shetland fleece that I started to spin last year - got one big fluffy skein to tease me, hanging on the rack!! I want to finish spinning Arvik & hope to get another of her lovely fleeces this year!!! So many projects, so little time . . . .

Oh for a weekend at a Spa . . . .

I need a manicure, a pedicure & a salt scrub . . . . .

Planted my first pansies out in one of my Patio pots today - seems the planted stuff in the big containers is relatively safe from the two legged scavengers but the squirrels will still dig up anything to make space for the peanuts some well-meaning neighbor gives them. My squirrels never eat the nuts, they just bury them in my pots & forget about them . . .
I found a clay strawberry pot at a garage sale some years back & have used it as a plant stand ever since - it dries out too much for strawberries, they like moist feet & dry tops!! So . . . this year, I'm planting it full of sedums & hen & chicks. I've noticed at least 5 varieties of hen & chicks around town & they multiply magnificently!!! I have three baskets of them at the moment so I've decided to fill the pot with them. Plant thieves - take that if you can carry it!!!!

I am about to inherit a couple of varieties of clematis from the BoyToy's mom. She doesn't like them!! HUH??? They provided a lovely HUGE display of flowers for the last two summers on the lattice of her back porch but she wants roses!! Roses??!! The woman is mad & I luck out! I intend to do what she did & put up a piece of plastic lattice on the post, plant them in a tub & let them grow everywhere - I may yet get some summer shade!!! I intend to buy one of those big plastic tubs with the rope handles - it'll weigh a ton & be immovable as long as its watered!!

On the needles - another pair of socks for me. I'm knitting short summer socks. This pair using the rest of the ball that I used for the last baby socks & then on to the mainly pink ball for more summer socks. Have been too busy to do much else but will be soon spinning outside in the evenings . . . . summer is on the way at last!!!

ITS OFFICIAL!!! ITS ALL OVER AT MIDNITE

To steal a famous quote . . . . Free at last, free at last, free at last!! Tax hell is officially over at midnite! I have to admit that I LIKE tax but not the constant work with no days off. I've had very little free time & no time for spinning or knitting much other than three pairs of baby socks & one pair of toes in the last month or so.

News Flash - Kathy, our latest sock convert, has finished her FIRST pair of socks!! We're so proud of her that she's getting published!!! Grrrrrrrrrreat way to go Kathy! Kathy had so much fun knitting these, she's halfway thru the second pair. These socks are for her teeny-tiny feet & Hubby - who got her into this - gets the next ones.

I managed to cast-on for a new pair of summer socks just for ME!! I have to admit to sneaking the first little bit of yarn into another pair of baby socks first though. I just couldn't wait to see how this Fortissima would look knitted up so . . . . well, we know a teeny tiny person who needs foot coverings . . right??? I couldn't help it. Here's a pic of the new sock yarn - its actually much pinker than it looks in this picture but its taken with my camera phone which does the best it can . . . .

Meanwhile, back at the farm, I've been digging thru all the bags of wool I've got stashed around the place - amazing how you just can't pass on another good deal!!!! I've accumulated a good pile of raw fleece which must be washed & even a nice, clean Shetland fleece which is a joy to spin right off the sheep. I'm thinking of sitting outside this summer & converting that wonderful fleece into yarn for something light & airy to wear in the winter.

On that note, I've found a couple of really nice cowl patterns for the fall - I know, I know, we haven't even had the first sunburn of the season & I'm talking about FALL??? Am I nutz??? Nope. I'm the old broad with bags of wool, remember??? First I have to wash it, then spin it, then dye it or maybe I'll dye it & then spin it . . . and then & only then, I can knit with it. I'm trying a new dye - I have 5 copper pot scrubbers sitting in a jar of ammonia cooking up a nice dark blue dye that I hope to use on some Coopworth wool I've only just started to spin!! Its a luscious, creamy color with a nice shine to it but I'm a tropical color person - those muted colors, pale colors & fall colors look dreadful on me . . . . might be good for walls & furniture but I look like a dead person when I wear them!! I want tourquoise, raspberry, fuschia, cyan, watermelon & purple!! I admit BLUE isn't tropical but its a good background color . . . Ain't no way I'm gonna disguise my ginormous self so I might as well be comfy & flaunt it! Just means I have to spin more yarn, use more dye & knit larger sizes . . . .

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER THEFT

Today I'm gonna whine & winge about damn kids. Its a sad thing to say but you can always tell when a certain type of family moves into the neighborhood - you know the kind I mean. They never have much & always rent. Everyone's car is broken into within a month, some more than once & trash starts accumulating along favorite short-cuts. They're nomads who never live anywhere for very long & turn landlords mean . . . We have one in our neighborhood.
It was bad enough to come out & find my car open & rifled . . . even worse to find the old van broken into, the windshield broken, all the stuff stored inside strewn on the lawn & even the Boytoy's car stolen. But this morning I came out to find three of my biggest potted plants missing as well as the flat of little plants for the hanging baskets long gone. Now what in the world would they want with plants???? I would've willingly brained them this morning, left them bleeding or dead in the alley. I raised hell & threatened to take skateboard & bicycle as payment. What can you do?? There's no law in the land. And no punishment for these crimes.

Its a good thing I have yarn & needles & baby socks to knit . . . . .

MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN A CAT!!

The BoyToy tells me its soooo simple to upload pictures to the net. Just take the digital camera, plug one end of the cable into the camera & the other into the computer. Nice trick!! First of all, I didn't get a cable & second, I don't have a hole in the camera!! And I've checked it twice!!! The BoyToy's mother says to bring the card that the pictures are saved on over to her house - she has a new printer/scanner/fax gizmo that has a nice little slot for the card. The contents get uploaded to a file that gets emailed back to me.

BUT, I want the pictures NOW!!


So, I remembered my expensive cell phone. There's only one reason they come with a damn camera & thats so you can take a pic & email it to someone. Dunno what it'll cost but I took the photos with my phone, emailed them to myself & VOILA . . . . pics of the 'Snotty' green & pink socks!! They don't look too bad with the 'bubblegum' pink toes but I'll be glad to see the end of them!! Hopefully, the new owner will be happy with them since she picked the color combination.

Granny Gail reports that her new Grandbaby has a ton of everything but SOCKS. Well, they came to the right people, didn't they??? Baby socks are a bit fiddly, especially picking up stitches along the heel flap but, they're a great way to use up all the leftovers!! I've finished this pair - Gail's finished a pair too & I'm almost finished another . . . . Ain't we having fun????!!!

I must be out of my mind. Not only is this the busiest time of the tax season, but now I've signed up for two courses at the Virtual U. And I'm trying to finish up a sweater . . . . hopefully, I'll get a pic of 'Ginny's' sweater up somewhere along the way. I'm about 6 inches down from where I joined at the underarm. When the midback & fronts are long enough, I start the side shaping - remember this sweater has a deep V at midback, midfront & at both sleeves. Apparently a triangle has to be knit under the arm to fill in on the left & right between the Vs.

And I still have to spin up enough yarn to make something for Show & Tell if Gail & I get to go to our spinning retreat in June . . . . . I may be knitting socks out of handspun while Gail drives this time!!!

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY CAME & WENT . . . .

Its tough to celebrate a birthday when you're too busy to think . . . . But, Gail sent me an invite to a morning Birthday Tea - turned out to be a yummy mocha instead, by the way - and we knit for an hour or so as well!! Got a lovely "Wool Bouquet" of dyed superwash roving to spin in pinks & chocolate brown called 'Its my Party' as well!! Gail said it called my name across the room . . . . . I believe that!! LOL Not sure what it will be when its spun up - I'm gonna think about it for a while first. I kind of like the way its wrapped, looks like a bouquet with the bottom tighly bound & the top spilling out in a burst of color. I think I'll just use it as a decoration for a while . . . . . . .

Finished my first baby sock for Freya today. Gad, working with something this small is a pain when you're used to larger items!! But, its really cute & uses up left-overs . . . . now to finish the other one. I've actually found quite a few little bits & pieces to make baby socks with - I sure hope her Mom likes 'fraternal' socks. Baby knitting is really fun. Takes so little yarn & time to knit them up - not like the chore of knitting a size 52 sweater, thats for sure!!


I noticed today that my 'hot flashes' or 'Power Surges' as the Tatla Socklady calls them, have decreased in quantity as well as intensity. Could it be the Selenium that was recommended to me??? Mmmmmm . . . I wonder?? I feel a little like Archie Bunker when Edith was going thru the "change". Okay world, I'm ready, CHANGE, lets get this over & done with. Sprout hairs on my chin, make my skin wrinkle & sag, take away my short-term memory, decrease my bladder to the size of a marble & move all my excess body weight to my stomach but lets get it over with tonite!!! I don't have time for all this crap!!!

You can tell I'm a little testy tonite . . . . I need a week OFF!! or a week to just SPIN!

GOOD FRIDAY IN THE RAIN

NEWS FLASH*****

GRANNY GAIL has just sent me this photo of her new best girl!! FREYA was born on Wednesday just after 6:00 in the PM.


My birthday is on Easter Sunday this year. I can only remember one other time my birthday fell on Easter weekend & I think I was 11 or 12 then . . . . my family had driven to Armstrong, BC for the holiday. My Mother's eldest sister lived there on a dairy farm with the biggest asparagus patch you ever saw. We loved the place with its huge hayloft, stumps to climb & all the cows to call home at night - I know now that they would come home by themselves but we thought we were important then. I remember Armstrong still had party lines then & wooden two-part phones that you cranked to call out . . . I sometimes think about what kinds of spinning, weaving & fibre prep tools were hidden away . . . . . Wish I could go back & claim them all!!

The Snotty Green socks have been transformed. I've added a couple of inches to the foot as well as finished the toes in SISU in a Candyfloss pink. They look great. I've just finished the first sock & am finishing up the second - I know if the lady who ordered these doesn't like them, the BoyToy's mom will! That woman will take anything in pink or turquoise - especially if I knit it up. I've also managed to add a couple of inches to my "Ginny's" sweater although its coming along slowly right now. I just don't have the time . . . . .

Tax season proceeds. While you folks are eating ham dinners & sneaking chocolate treats, I'll be finishing off year ends & tax returns. Remember the deadline - APRIL 30 . . . . . Enjoy everyone!

The Twisted Sock . . . as ye knit, so shall ye rip!

CONTROL . . . WE HAVE A BABY!!!

Granny-in-waiting no longer!! Gail - my sock knitting cohort - is an official Granny!! Guess what we'll be knitting??? Baby is a girl, 7.6 pounds & everyone is delighted.

I dug out my really old baby books - you know the ones - the patterns are all in black & white & all the outfits come with leggings . . . but, they also have some really really cute sweaters with matching socks, mitts & hats which the modern knitting books seem to lack. Especially the socks!! I've already spotted a neat little lacey dress . . . so impractical . . . . but what the heck.

I even managed to get a little done on the snotty green & pink socks over the past couple of days at break time - I even managed to spin outside yesterday afternoon when it was so warm & nice . . . got a nice layer of color on my nose to prove it too!! I have a big bag of Coopworth roving bought last year & just waiting to be spun up. I have to admit though, silk & merino roving passes thru the sore hands & spins up soooooooooo much easier!!! Could this be a hint???

SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN . . .

The BoyToy & I make our own beer. Well . . . we manufacture it at the local UBrew. They provide the basic recipe, ingredients, warm room, cold room, filters, bottles & CO2 to carbonate it but we have to do the work. I love the yeasty smell of working beer & now - wonder of wonders - they have a MASH brewer. I was never a big beer fan & hardly ever drank wine but MASH beer is wonderful stuff!! Waited up last nite for the BoyToy to come home with the lastest offering to sample & ended up grilling steak at midnite before I could drink my share . . . but, it made a nice ending to a long day of data entry & tax returns.


Managed to get a few minutes of knitting time on my 'Ginnys' sweater. From the underarm down, its all plain knit in dark plum but with the deep V shaping accentuated by the different colors on the top. The sleeve stitches are all happily held on long circs & will also be plain knit from here on down. I've seen a couple of pictures of women modeling the sweater on my AmpleKnitters list & thought the sleeves were too long & much too bulky - sort of like they just knit straight down & then gathered the stitches together with a cuff!!! I picked up a few less stitches - left more stitches for the fronts where I need them - and intend to decrease a few stitches as I go. I'm thinking about a 3/4 sleeve but, I'll decide later.

Started yet another pair of socks for the BoyToy. He spotted the birthday socks I made with the narrow, solid, black stripe before the red toe on the black/white socks & wanted the same. So, I'm knitting all the left-overs up in the same color for him. I'll have to admit, the solid stripe really set off the toe nicely!!

Speaking of socks - its just about time to start thinking about Summer Socks for ME. I've got several balls of yarn with pinks & turquoises & purples in them, one even has a little black it it as well, so I guess we all know what my future pallett will be. I have relinquished by old loves - black, red & navy & gone to pinks, purples, turquoise & grey. I suppose its like giving up shoulder pads & heels for sneakers & sweats. Softer, softer, softer . . . . as you age. Bought myself a SCRUBS pattern last summer - but didn't get off my butt to sew. This year will be different. I may still get the cheeeepie sweats because they're comfy & have pockets but I intend to SEW some nice cool cotton tops in the sock colors!!

Still waiting for Granny-to-be Gail's phone call! The baby is due this weekend & everyone is camped by the phones!!!

Trapped in Tax Return Hell

Oh for the return of the interesting Tax Return!! If I have to do this for a living, puleeeze give me the complicated, interesting ones that require the use of at least a portion of my brain!! Days of multiple, simple, single returns are sooooo boring! I'd rather be spinning or knitting . . . . I enjoy the challenge of the odd returns or the weird forms & situations . . . maybe I'm just weird.

Speaking of Brain Power . . . I've added a new site to my "Favorites" - the Virtual University. For $20 USD a semester, you can take up to 4 courses from their list. Its hard not to find something worth taking . . . . . and its certainly cheap enough. Enjoy!!

I've been working on my 'Ginny's Sweater' when I take a break from the computer. I've decided I MUST retire that ratty old Fuschia sweater as its not fit to wear in public anymore . . . I admit to wrapping myself in it when I'm at home behind closed doors. It will take its place in the catbox for her to enjoy - BUT, first I must knit something to replace it.
I decided to knit 'Ginny's Sweater' by Medrith Glover who designs a lot of goodies for the larger body. Her designs always have an interesting twist & are very easy to knit. Several have been featured in 'Knitters' magazine.

This sweater is knit in one piece from the neck down & features a lovely V-shape at the middle of the back, on each arm & down the front. It was designed to use up all the left-overs in your stash & the V shape is very flattering! I have the remains of a couple of purple sweaters - lavender, plum & deep purple as well as a nifty ball or two of "designer" yarn in hot pink with turquoise bumps in it, fuschia boucle & a turquoise mohair. I thought they would all combine in an interesting yoke while leaving the main body in the deep purple. I'm knitting it in a plain stocking stitch with probably a garter cuff & hem. The biggest problem with the whole sweater is deciding just where to take off for the sleeves . . . .

Medrith also has a "Volumnous Vest" knit in one piece from the bottom up on huge needles which I'd like to make for myself someday. Who knows, maybe in handspun . . . . She also has an Aran sweater that's knit in modular bits. Another project which might look great in handspun!!

And socks - yes, the girls agreed on Wednesday nite - the snotty green & pink socks will live once more on the needles!! Long enough anyway to get pale pink toes . . . . they may actually get sold! The Fibre Fest has saved the socks.
And, speaking of Fibre Fest - the lovely topknot I bought - turquoise, fuschia & plum - to go with the one I had in purple, tan & lavender, is all spun up!! I'm thinking it will eventually become a cowl for the fall. I may knit it up in a lace pattern to make it go farther but I think it will eventually warm my head & neck.

Sigh . . . time to get back to work . . . tax will not wait. After all, how else will we pay for the Olympics . . . . . .

Gone away, gone to Fibre Fest . . . .

Escaped the tax return hell in my office - I do like taxes but not the horrible volume!! - turned off the cell & went to Fibre Heaven.

I left most of my plastic, the chequebook & work behind! Took spinner, granny cart & small bag of fibre & arrived before the place opened with my friend Gail. We were determined NOT to spend money this year since we both have overflowing mounds of unspun fibre. She ended up buying a bench for her loom & I bought only 4 balls of yarn for toes & two small bags of co-ordinating colors for the plum/tan/lavender fibre I brought to spin. I found a topknot(100gms) in plum, turquoise & plum/turquoise/fuschia blend as well as a small bag of fuschia. There should be enough spun fibre to make a nice cowl for the fall . . . . . I've spun half of it up already!! Gail & I spent 7 hours, mostly spinning, & barely spent any money!!! We renewed acquaintances from the two spinning retreats of last year & had a great time.
My only negative comment is - I have to admit I was a little surprised that more of the local raw fibre venders were missing this year !! It seems to be becoming a commercial vender showcase . . . I hope I'm wrong.

I chose not to buy much this year because my "Open Concept" livingroom/kitchen now has a room divider made up of boxes & big baskets of fibre as well as a revolving library book rack & one 7 foot giraffe. Don't mock the Giraffe!! I fell in love the moment our eyes met across the crowded room . . . . . .

The snotty green & pink socks may yet be reserected!! Sisu has come out with new solid colors & I snagged a couple in a deep rose & a lighter pink. One of them HAS to work. I may yet get those damned socks finished & sold!!! Whoooo hoooo

Well, the dream has to end sometime & I now have to pay for my sins of yesterday . . . . the sun has finally decided to shine & I have to go to work!!! Sniffle . . . . whimper . . . . I just want to spin . . . .