Not Much.

Just knitting chemo caps, and treading water. There's a lot going on, and I'm ignoring as much as I can, and knitting.






Ollie pics for J.

By the way, Ollie's dad needs a home if anyone is looking for a kitty.

Time to Make More ...

Chemo caps.

It breaks my heart to make them, but when I do, I knit them with my whole heart and good wishes. Now I need to make them for my sweet and lovely friend T. who taught me so much.

Olympic (Knitting) Drama

So there I was, doing so well with my 6 1/2" of Ribby Cardi done, feeling like I might be able to really do this...until I noticed that this Ribby was looking a bit too narrow...about 7 inches too narrow.

No, I did not do a gauge swatch.

I admit it.

Yes.

I frogged it.

I had to.

Now I have about 8" done, but my pride has taken a beating.

Ribbing Done! Pattern Starting...

Deep breath.

It's time to start the pattern on the Dale sweater...I guess I should think about reading the directions in full, huh?



However, since I have decided to do the Knitting Olympics this will probably be on the back burner for a bit. Especially since the 6 1/2" I knit of my Ribby Cardi had to be frogged due to incorrect gauge. I have 3" re-done and a bad attitude.

Olympic Cast On

It's official. Look! I got 5 1/2" done!




Ribby Cardi, ChicKnits by Bonne Marie Burns,
knit in Stonehedge Shepherds Wool

I actually knit while watched the Opening Ceremony on TV - I loved the kilt clad dancers, the first nation dancers (what stamina!) and the skiers hanging in the air. I carefully checked out the Latvian, Estonian, and Norwegian teams for awesome knitwear or at the very least some good mittens, but no, sadly nothing to see. The Italian team had some beautifully tailored coats that I loved, I wonder if they were designed by Armani?



My sympathies to the Georgian team, and the family of the luger, Nodar Kumaritashvili. What a tragedy.

What was I Thinking?!

I was reading the Yarn Harlot's blog, and she talked about the Knitting Olympics, and I thought, "Yeah, that's a good idea! Have fun everyone, but count me out, I don't need another deadline knitting project."

Then she posts a photo of her Knitting Olympics project, a Dale of Norway Whistler sweater! Now, since I already have one Dale of Norway on the needles (and that will NOT be deadline knitting unless I learn to knit at the speed of the Harlot and assorted other speedy knitters!) I know there is no way that that could be a Knitting Olympic project, and I'd be disqualified for starting with a WIP.

I realized that I am really in need of some new sweaters, and I have the yarn stashed away for some, and I start thinking, and then before you know it I deluded myself into thinking that this might even be a possibility ...a Ribby Cardi! How perfect!

The yarn is some lovely Stonehedge Shepherds Wool in a lovely eggplant purple. This yarn is super soft and knits up beautifully.

...but still...

...how long are the Olympics?


What was I thinking?


Darn Harlot!!!


(I have 2 Harlot related posts in a row, I swear I'm not in the cult of the Harlot!)

The Sock Club

I know you see that link there, and before you run off to Google, no, it's not an "official", purchasable sock club to join - it's even better and it helps you use what's already in your stash.
Yarn Harlot Sock Club

I thought it was brilliant! Of course I had to get together some patterns and yarn and put them together in a bag and now there are socks and patterns. Needles I will still have to hunt high and low for, but hopefully I will manage that without too much frantic searching. I might even end up with the often wished for drawer of hand knit socks to wear.

No, we will not speak of the fabulous Dye Dreams Sock Club I joined last year, only to have the yarn and patterns languish a good long time. Ahem. Nor will we mention the Mitten Club that I had to join this year, I just saw Beth Brown-Reinsel was designing a mitten, and I was powerless.

I did have an excuse for last year....kind of....maybe?

My Drawing Table

This is my drawing table. It's been languishing in the basement for a couple of years, but now with the back sunporch cleared out a bit I really wanted to be able to use it again. I love how it looks, it just reminds me of drafting classes I had in high school. I loved drafting! I logged many hours at this table working on many projects, back when I did something creative on a daily basis. Now, I have other things that really need to get done on a daily basis, and creativity? Well, I wonder sometimes if it's really still there.



We'll see. Having this old table out again has made me feel optimistic and happy.



Ollie checked it all out for me. He thinks it'll be great. As long as the lamp is on, and he's under it.

Here I go....

C#2 is due for a new handknit sweater. Yes, made by me.

C#2 is extraordinarily particular about his clothing.

After much discussion and perusal of patterns and colors, he chose this...



Dale of Norway, Team Norge 2002

I'm not afraid of colorwork, serious charts, or no, not even too fearful of steeks, but geez, this is a BIG project.

I cast on all 238 stitches for the ribbing in the main color, yes, black.

Wish me luck!