Meme!

I've never been tagged before so pardon if these are so yesterday. A progress photo of my many socks coming soon!

What were you doing 9 years ago?
I was in Middle School, getting horrible grades and going to all sorts of special counselors and having systems for stuff because I was so disorganized and wacky.

What were you doing 6 years ago?
I was flying by myself to California for a comic convention. I had this thing for flying by myself, I loved it! (And still do.)

What were you doing 1 hour ago?
Sleeping.

Name 3 movies/tv shows you can't turn off if you stumble across them on TV:
Kim Possible
Lost
Anything Miss Marple/Sherlock Holmes/Midsomer Murders/etc.

Name 3 things you want to improve upon this year:
Being a little more impulsive (Did I mention I want to take dance lessons?)
Lose things less often
Spending more time with people who care about me (friends and family :)

Name 3 things you can't live without (aside from knitting):
snuggles, hugs, and squeezes
eBay (for yarn!)
a comfortable bed and a library card (these go together!!)

Name 3 things you could live without:
half my clothes
stress-related muscle tension (tho this is better than it used to be. yay!)
soda

Name 3 things you really like about yourself:
I don't give up on anything. Ever. (this can also be bad. See: stubborness)
I am really warm and caring
I'm excellent at finding information

I don't really tag people, but if you do respond send me a link. I like reading other peoples' answers. :)

hmph.

What do you say when someone asks you how you're feeling? The truth - which is far too long and complicated, and people think you're crazy for doin' what you're doing, or they ask some stupid question like "what went wrong? you seemed so perfect together!" I KNOW, ME TOO.

So here I am, I am not feeling as bad as yesterday but then my whole world fell apart then! So I guess I still feel pretty bad. However I went to watch today's rugby game, we won, and I got many kisses and hugs so obviously he is not doing that stupid boy-thing where they shut down, and act as if you have leprosy, also can we have sex? You know? But anyway, I am drinking a (small) glass of white wine with my minestrone, and I have a Cadbury egg here too, which is good because besides a piece of toast with peanut butter I have not eaten anything. Not because I'm sad, or feel fat, but because my stomach is just screwed up, which happens every time I get stressed.

Now I am going to dye my hair, take a bath, and listen to my new itunes mix I made for myself. No, not heart-wrenching breakup songs, but songs about hope and the future and moving on. (I am, however, avoiding the radio.)

Thanks for the emails and advice, though I won't be following all of it. You just take one step at a time, cry in public if you need to (not that you'll be able to help it. Ya'll know, right? isn't that THE MOST EMBARASSING THING?)

Well, I asked before I posted about this.

Normally I veer away from personal topics, but this one couldn't be ignored, See, after a glass of wine last night and about two boxes of tissues, Mark and I talked a long time and decided to separate. Not because we're unhappy, or don't want each other any more, but because we both have things we want to do that just can't involve somebody waiting on them. He needs to go home to NZ when he graduates and face all the things he ran away from (his words) and I need to move elsewhere to pursue my art. I guess it sucks so bad because we still love/care about each other; I think he shed as many tears as me. I feel so lucky though, not only because we had this wonderful time together, but because we have been able to handle this with real grace and compassion.

We even shared a story with each other. His parts are about the caterpillar, mine about the stone...

In a beautiful garden, it was summer all the time. A caterpillar met a smooth, dark stone in that garden and they became fast friends. They spent every day together and were so close. However, one day the stone was found by the gardener; "This doesn't belong here! it needs to be back with all the other stones, at the beach!" So, not seeing the frantic caterpillar, he slipped it in his pocket and carried it on the bumpy and dark ride to the beach. The caterpillar was left behind, crying all day and all night. Eventually it cried so many tears that its body was covered and the tears hardened into a chrysalis. And as the stone was worn by the ocean, the caterpillar erupted from the chrysalis, the most beautiful butterfly in history. From the beach the stone could see the glint on the wings, and its heart ached with sadness. But the waves washed away the stone's tears, and other parts too, until the stone, too, was transformed into something beautiful. But the days in the garden were a warm memory for both the stone and the caterpillar, and though the ache lessened, there were still thoughts of each other from time to time.

The end!

Well, it made me feel better anyway. I don't know if I'll be posting any knitting progress for a while though. I have never "lost" anyone so close to me and it feels like sacrilege to be doing things I did before. We WILL be living together through May, when we'll split up all of our things (because there's no way we could bear it now.) Until then we'll still be a couple, and not see other people or anything like that! We're just a couple with an expiration date, and one that is sadly too soon.

If you have any good vibes, please send me some as right now both our hearts are breaking big time but this is just how it has to be for us.

ugh!

I don't know why, but the last couple days I have been feeling miserable. Not sick, just... miserable. Nothing bad is going on, but I'm crying at car commercials. For some reason my self-esteem has vanished and left a wobbling pile of insecurity and self-doubt in its wake and I don't know why! (As in, any time somebody compliments me, I can't believe them. I find myself thinking "What did they mean by that?") It gets me feeling frustrated, which only makes it worse. I wish I knew what was going on in my brain, because I can't seem to calm down or focus on anything! (Can I have a hug, please?)

Anyway, my ebay auctions ended and I did really well, but I am NOT SPENDING THAT MONEY! It is staying in my account. I am going to Adrienne Outlaw's studio today to see about an internship and one of my favorite people will be there. God, I hope she is, because I could sure use somebody to commiserate with!

(It probably doesn't help I am listening to the Perishers. Their music is beautiful, but it is all depressing as hell.)

Please send some mental love my way, til I can get over this very fragile feeling.

I held out pretty long, don't you think?

Lorna's Laces sock in Gold Hill
Originally uploaded by The Prolific Knitter.

I guess I was thinking more "buy less yarn" than "buy no yarn". I did buy some yarn today, but I don't feel bad about it because:

1) I know exactly what it will be used for (socks for Mother's Day.)

2) It was on sale. ($13 I got these for, and the shipping cheap too.)

3) I like the seller. Not personally, I don't know him/her, but when I sent her a little advice about his/her auctions, she thanked me and asked me some more questions, and seemed genuinely interested in being a good businessperson. How can you not buy from somebody like that?

Anyway, I counted it up, and I have bought 3 balls of yarn this month. I am really proud of myself! I also had a swap go really well too; I traded away 13 balls of DB merino dk I didn't want for...drumroll please...

2 balls of Kidsilk Haze (in a color I wanted anyway)
2 balls of Lorna's in Desert Flower (ditto)
8 balls of baby alpaca silk in red (I have been wanting to try this yarn, and it's enough to actually DO something.) YAY!

So while I have all this yarn coming to me, the expenditure was practically nil and my stash also lost a little weight. (Did I mention my WIPs as well??)

Anyway, I'm feeling so good that I sent in my tax return. Now, tax return time is bad for the yarn stash, as it tends to swell insanely from all the "free money" I get back. But seeing as I'm on this yarn diet, AND enjoying the effects of it, I decided the tax return would be spent this way: 40% into savings for summer vacation. 40% towards credit card. 20% is free money to play with, about $40 I think.

I spent last night thinking about what I would spend said return on... and I'd like your feedback if possible. You've come to know me, you know what I'll use, so let me hear your opinion!

1) One hank of Artyarns Silk Rhapsody. I doubt I'll go with this, as it's not much yardage for the money and it's the last yarn I'll be buying for a while.

2) Four hanks of Lorna's sock. (colorway options: gray's corner, happy stripes, wisteria, watercolor, seaside.) I love LL. What can I say?

3) lace patterns. Baltic Sea Stole from Fibertrends, Violets by the River from Blackberry Ridge.

4) 2 hanks of Schaeffer Anne (socks)

or 1 of 2 kits, the garter stitch jacket kit from Fleece Artist, or a shawl kit from Blackberry Ridge. Right now I'm leaning toward this conglomeration:

Fleece Artist mohair jacket kit ($29), and a lace pattern or two. What do you think? (new suggestions I may not have thought of are, of course, welcome.)

Yarn porn!

silkrhapsody
Originally uploaded by The Prolific Knitter.

And you thought I'd been a bad girl, didn't you? Truth is, I am D-Y-I-N-G to have some of this, but I am being strong! No new yarn til I don't owe anyone money! (I just paid $50 too. Pretty good, huh? At this rate it will only take.... 10 months to pay it off!)

Anyway, if there is a rich, yarn-gift-loving person out there, I am currently in love with the purple mix. But really, I'm not picky! :)

Honestly though, I've found it easier and easier to say no to yarns when I think of how many years that gapcard has hung over my head, collecting interest (and in the past, late fees. But no more!) I'm trying to pay more than the minimum each month, and putting money into savings too. When I think about going to Asheville in the summer, and San Diego, and how much that will cost, I won't be able to do those things and be paying big ole credit card bills. (Well, bill. but I don't make a lot of money!) So I just think of my future happiness, enjoy the new yarn that's out there, and live vicariously through other peoples' purchases. So please, share your buys on your blog - it's the only way I'm getting new yarn action for a while! *grin*

I've also been working dutifully on the Faux Russian Stole, which is about to become the Faux Russian Baby Blanket because I'm bored of the pattern already. I'll take a picture when it's done, otherwise I might get lazy!

Mark's Felted Hat

Mark's Felted Hat
Originally uploaded by The Prolific Knitter.

I forgot to mention, I finally got a new Flickr account. I was pretty pissed off that yahoo/flickr merged and then made it such a pain in the ass to merge the accounts. Anyway, I gave up and got a new yahoo email (which I won't be using) and a new Flickr account.

I knit and felted this hat all yesterday, in one day. That is some kind of record for me, seeing as I've never felted before and did it by hand. I knit it using a hat calculator, which I won't link because it didn't work for me and I ended up with a hat that would've fit the Jolly Green Giant. We filled the sink with hot water and scrubbed and rubbed and twisted, and this is the result! it fits perfectly, and I have to admit it's darn cool looking through I was not keen on knitting all that grey and brown.

It was due to this hat that I broke my yarn diet. I discovered I love this hat, but cannot handle the greyness. So I started another one - out of teal possum/merino I had from NZ, and the leftover grey wool. I had a ball of Knitpicks' merino style in Vanilla, but no other color that matched it... so I hopped on Knitpicks, and, armed with my free shipping coupon code, ordered one measly ball of merino style in crocus, a cheery yellow. Yellow and cream make the prettiest stripes! I also got a colorcard for merino style, to make color picking in the (far) future easier. I know it isn't much, but it's a good feeling to just buy what you'll use right away rather than adding to an enormous pile. There're so many things I found while cleaning that I want to knit, I began to realize by overstashing I lose things I want to have handy.

it's done!

Chamonix Sweater
Originally uploaded by The Prolific Knitter.

I started this back in December, and picked it up again when we got back from New Zealand. I designed it using 6 balls of Jaeger Chamonix in "Marseilles" (with some left over!). I used size 10.5 needles and a copy of "The Sweater Workshop" to create this custom sweater, that is SO comfortable and a little bit sexy too! I took measurements at my hips, waist, and bust then figured out sts/in and just did the math. (Please note: I am horrible at math. You can design this too, with the help of this hand book!) I also have an extra copy of the Sweater Workshop, so if you want to buy or swap for it. send me an email or leave a comment with your info.

Anyway, this sweater is the most comfortable, flattering thing I have and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. In fact, I am thinking of swapping my four remaining balls for a different color and buying two more to make a striped version! (I'm thinking cream (Orleans) and gold (Rouen).) I hope you all like it as much as I do!

saving is good. but painful.

Much like working out, saving money is one of those things that feels good after you've been doing it for a while. Not when you're in the act of "ten more minutes of cardio," or "I'll just walk out today without buying anything." But later, much later, when you're sleeping soundly instead of wondering if you can pay rent with the yarn you just bought.

See, last year I had a problem; a shopping problem. When I am stressed and frustrated, I buy. Especially yarn, because it makes me think of what I'm doing in the future, and, stemming from that, that there IS a future out there for me. So I shopped, a lot, and have lots of yarn to show for it. But I did a lot of lying awake, and after an emergency loan from my parents (God, how embarassing) I realized I was a little bit sick and needed to fix myself quick. (hey, that rhymed!) So after Christmas, I said no more yarn. Not really thinking I could do it, but guess what? I've only bought two balls of yarn since January 11. I know, it's still yarn bought, but that's a total of $14 spent on yarn in a month. That's pretty good!

Not to say it hasn't been hard. But what IS fun is trying to figure out how to use the 1 million little balls I have collected. A shawl is being knitted, a sweater which will use a whole cone, and an art piece that is eating up my little balls. I couldn't be more pleased. Seeing the drawers actually close without having to be slammed, no wiggly strands waving limply from baskets and containers.... it's a good feeling.

I still have to make it til January 1, 2007 without buying more than an "eensy-weensy" amount of yarn. I'll even knit my dad or boyfriend a sweater out of the Debbie Bliss merino dk that I bought, to avoid buying new yarn for a new sweater.

Oh, and I'm teaching at the Knaughty Knitter now. On March 9 I'll be teaching cables. Wish me luck! (Good thing I only get an employee discount in the month that I teach. That should keep it way down!)

Faux Russian Stole

So here is my problem. I want to knit the Faux Russian Stole from Gathering of Lace by Meg Swansen. Except that it calls for 1200 yards of fingering weight (sock weight) yarn. Now, I'm not normally a cheapskate, but I'm not even working enough hours to pay the bills (thank God there's two of us) and I can't justify buying new yarn. Yet the only yarns I have in quantity are Jaeger Luxury Tweed and DB Merino DK, both really too large. I think the Luxury Tweed (Kingfisher Blue) might work better than the DB, though it's supposedly larger, because it's so lofty and has a fuzz to it. My only other option is to double-strand Knitpicks Shadow, which would cost me all of $14. But, I'd rather use what I have so I'll start swatching with the Luxury Tweed before I buy anything else. And really, I could stand it if the stole were a little bigger, so bumping the needle size up to an 8 (to make a holey fabric with the larger yarn) would be ok with me.

I can't get Flickr or Yahoo to talk to each other right now, so I may have to sign up for another photo program. Too bad, since I liked Flickr so much!

All I Want for Christmas...

While I knit on my Chamonix sweater, I got all googly thinking about how lucky I am. But I would be lying if I said there weren't things in life I'd like, that would make life easier. And no, money isn't one of them.


1. A dishwasher. it's funny how this keeps coming up in our lives and in my blog! Dishes pile up so quick, and then lay around til they get washed. Neither one of us is lazy so that isn't for very long, but wouldn't it be nice to have something else do them for you? If nothing else the dishes are out of sight and the sink is clean. (clean sinks and counters, along with a made bed and vacuumed floor, relax me.)

2. A working vacuum. See above, our vacuum just spews dust. Since I like a clean carpet, I have been using a handvac to clean it. I know, I am insane. But I can't stand gross carpet, and our carpet is white (or used to be, anyway.)

3. A big gift certificate to Plum Good Foods a Nashville-based grcery delivery business that only carries organic, fair-trade, etc. etc. Even the meat and eggs they carry are free range. The prices are not thtat far above what we normally pay for most things, but the $8 delivery charge just stings. I know our friend and neighbor KlaraTyson gets it, so I am wondering if we can split the cost and order together!

4. A gym membership. I thought I'd get one locally, but $70 is just out of my price range. Now that Mark's going regularly I am wishing I could too, if only to take yoga and swim. This one makes me saddest.

As the leaves begin to bud and the ground thaws, my mind turns to our lease, which expires in May. We have to stay close to school, and very well may stay in this apartment. But I would dearly love a) dishwasher, b) second bedroom/studio, and c) more kitchen counter space.

Also, wood floors. No more of this carpet shit. it is too hard to clean and nobody seems to pick a decent color, like say, TAN or BLUE. Instead, we get light grey and BROWN-ORANGE. Ewww!

I think I will clean the apartment (to make myself feel better) and do my yoga dvd (to feel less gross).

More than one toe in the water...

I placed my first order today for yarns to knit the winter collection 2006. After weeks of deliberation, I decided this series would lean towards the soft, organic, and natural. Pale without being baby, with a predominance of violets and cream. What I ordered:

Louisa Harding Kimono Angora
Louisa Harding Kashmir
Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk
Rowan 4ply Soft

Obviously my bank account is hurting right now, but since it'll be sent out again to be sold I don't feel *too* much panic. :) I already have some designs in my head and plan to spend the afternoon doing some drawings. I wish the yarn was here now though, rather than having to wait. Well, you never get what you really want, and I needed a chance to finish my Chamonix sweater anyway. (I am through the body and nearly done with sleeve 1, in case you're wondering.)

I also have the Karabella Magritte from my SP... which I love. I am really thinking about doing a collection out of cashmere yarn, but it'll have to wait til I have the extra money to afford it. I don't want to do low-quality stuff just to have "cashmere" on the label; better to sit on my hands til I can use the real thing.

Wanna hear something nice?

Mark had to write some haiku for an assignment, and to show him how it works, I wrote him a haiku. He then wrote one for me, and I thought I'd put it up. :)

You are squishy and smell nice
Your hands are delicate
You make me feel happy and warm


What girl's heart isn't melted by that?

(I've begun working on some designs to send to the shop in Auckland. If I stay on it I should have some finished by the end of this week. Rock! :)

Jack's Aran Cardigan

man, I am happy right now. I have been really good about knitting (and spinning) out of my stash as of late. I did decide that it was ok to buy books and needles right now, since those things can help me knit up yarn that's been languishing, waiting for the right pattern. I have been wanting two books though, Men in Knits and Knitter's Stash. The Knitter's Stash has a pattern for the Euroflax Sheila has ordered that's lovely, as well as a sweater that I love. But Men in Knits, I wanted it sight unseen for this project which I want to make for my dad. But I just could not justify the cost, especially since I just ordered Sewing for Dummies from Overstock.com. Along comes the Interweave "Hurt Book" sale, which had not one, but BOTH books I wanted for under $25 total, rather than the $50 that I would've paid. How could I say no to that? I ordered both, and now I have to be good til I've saved the money to buy the yarn to make said cardigan for my dad's birthday (on March 9!). I won't be using Knitpicks, by the way, but something from Threaded Bliss. I like Knitpicks and all, but I also like being able to return leftover yarn without hassle, supporting my LYS (and my job), and since it's so involved I want to make sure this sweater lasts!

I'm not sure what yarn to use though, so I may wait til after inventory and see what new stuff has come in before making any final decisions.

I took my first spinning class last night, and I LOVE IT. And, I hate to sound snobby, but I'm good at it. Even my meagre experience with David's wheel seemed to prepare me for it. Call me weird, but I like the spindle better. Is it slower? Yes. But it's also portable, and the slower speed allows much more control for this beginning spinner. I liked doing it so much that I spun three hanks of yarn before bed, over 100 yards total. The one I'm most proud of is spun up from a deep violet and blue merino/tencel mix that I bought many moons ago when I had David's wheel. It's drying right now but I'll get a shot of it tonight.

Hope you're all doing well!

If I ran a yarn store....

I'm taking a break from knitting the second sock to post about something that's been bothering me lately. Knitters are such a friendly bunch, why is it that so many people have negative experiences in yarn shops? I don't mean that a shop is nasty, dirty, or unstocked... but the majority of complaints are about rudeness. It's something I've noticed more recently myself, and the trend is disturbing. We can't really complain about knitting "dying down" as a trend when we scare customers out of our shops or make them feel unwelcome. Especially now that so many knitters have blogs or forums, and post their experiences which affect whether or not people ever even make that first trip in. I thought of some things that could be improved, both from what I've observed and what others have said. Post your experiences in the comments too, and maybe some shop owners out there will read this and see room for improvement in their own stores! :) (my ulterior motive should be obvious - the happier customers, the more shops that stay open!)

1. Do not talk about customers or other employees in front of customers. Or really, negatively at all. It is normal to dislike someone. However, it is so rude and unprofessional to talk about it in front of a customer. If nothing else, they will walk away wondering if they will be talked about as well.This also includes bad mouthing other shops! It's one thing to say, "I'm sorry, but we are out of that needle and we tend to have the largest selection of needles in this area." It is TOTALLY another to say "They are so snotty, I don't know anyone who's had a good experience there!" Concern yourself with your own business. If the other store is snotty, well, their customers will come to you instead and you will not have to open your mouth at all.

2. Do not make the shop environment negative! I have seen this so much it's not even funny. When you are sick, stay home. If you need a hug, a smoke, a good cry or a glass of wine to stay civil, go get it and come back. Do not greet customers by saying "Hey, how are you? Oh, well, (insert long list of everything that has ever been wrong in your life)." They are not here to be your therapist, they are here to buy yarn or get help!

3. Treat every person who comes through the door as a potential customer. Whether they buy $100 worth of yarn a week, or sit and knit on their acrylic baby blanket from Michael's, they are here for a reason. Maybe it's the pleasant environment, the camraderie, to take a class, or just to look at yarn. If they wanted to stay home and knit and be ignored, they would. Greet them, give them advice or encouragement when they need it, and they'll repay you by being a good word-of-mouth advertiser if not a purchasing customer. Eventually they will need some stitch markers, or needles, or a knitting bag, so don't assume because they don't knit with your yarn, they don't want one of these other things!

4. Don't treat customers as if they will steal something if you turn your back. We customers can feel when we are being "watched" and it's insulting. Keeping an eye on your merchandise is part of the many jobs that owners must do, but how often do people steal? For most shops, the answer is "not often enough to alienate other customers with poor behavior." You may lose one $50 garment that you knitted yourself, but you lose many dollars in business when you are rude to customers or make comments like "we have that knitted up somewhere, assuming someone hasn't STOLEN it." (Yes, I have heard it.)

5. Do not charge people for help! Before you think I am insane, read the full paragraph. When someone buys yarn from you, they are paying more because they want a brick-and-mortar store to come back to when they are stuck. If you do not have the staff to help all the time (and most people don't) then the best answer is not "take a class," but "I'm sorry, but we're swamped today and I can't give you the attention you deserve. If you'd like to come back, you can call ahead on X day, we're usually slow enough on that day to help you for a few minutes." The key here is to be polite and honest, but not imply that the customer is a burden or annoying you. If I am made to feel this way, I "burden" some other shop with my money next time! If someone needs extended help, such as starting a big project or is a total beginner, then suggest a private lesson. Emphasize that this is for the customer's benefit, providing them with one-on-one help and attention. Do not make it sound like you are just out to raid their pocketbook for their precious yarn money. :)



All this being said, I have been in very many good yarn shops. I hope this list helps somebody make their customers even happier, growing their business, and making it a good pit stop for me and others while on vacation! :)

Whoa... it's been a while.

Truth be told, I've been back a week. I had a great time, but I am tired of people I don't know asking about my trip and wanting to see photos and being kind of, well, pushy so out of resentment I'm going to skip the trip talk for now.

What's concerning me now is this: small apartment + girl trying to start new business + yarn +boyfriend = not much room for an office.

The obvious answer is to get a bigger apartment. And we will, but not til at least May. And even then, it won't be a huge jump or anything. (I am not-so-secretly hoping we will find a 2-bedroom with dishwasher. HAHA, good luck!) We can't afford to buy a bunch of new stuff (see: yarn) and Mark doesn't have time to rearrange the whole apartment with me, so it's just me. Which can be good. But right now it's just frustrating. Here are some of the main issues:

1. There is no "room" for an office of any kind, much less a studio. I have two desks, one of which is not really useful for this kind of stuff but it has sentimental value. I have a feeling this desk will go to Salvation Army, but only when Mark is there, holding my hand while I sob. *grin*

2. The desk must go in the bedroom. It just can't be any other way that I can see, without majorly moving some furniture. That also leaves Mark the living room to surf the net and read. (I will miss the couch though. We have become knitting buddies, me and the couch.) However, I have a sturdy sit-up pillow and a feathertop mattress so I can knit on this when the feeling moves me.

3. Our bedroom is cramped, to say the least. It doesn't help that it has three doors leading into it and two big windows. I need wallspace to put in shelves, but the only fully open wall is where the bed is. (or right next to the bed. Also nixed.) mark has a desk too, but I'm not moving it as that motha' weighs about 1000 pounds.

4. I have a lot of ugly plastic storage containers, and two pretty FANGST organizers from IKEA. There are no ceiling hooks in the bedroom, so Mark will have to install one for me if I want them next to the desk. He will not be keen on this idea, I don't think. (Neither am I. The ceiling looks rickety, and the FANGST holds a motherlode of yarn).

Clearly, a few things will have to happen. FANGST will hang in the closet, which will be next to the desk, or remaining in the living room where it currently resides. The bed will have to move against one wall or the other, to prevent me from going insane planning around it. Beds are for love and sleepytimes, not for the tearing out of hair or crying or throwing things in a fuss. So let's just move it!

All of the art supplies overflowing will go into the containers emptied by yarn going into the FANGST. Poor Mark; I will catalog them lovingly to give them some chance of being found again.

.... now to work...!

Oh. The vacuum cleaner only spews dust. Isn't that just sad? :\ I'll post before and afters if I get it finished today, kids!

Sock yarn, Tracey Chapman, and Beck's

In case you're wondering, we're having a wonderful time though the weather doesn't want to cooperate! It's been gloomy and cool, too cool to even go swimming or snorkeling. Mark was kind enough to try to get in the water with me, but we both agreed it was just too damned cold and went home a bit dejected. However, he's gone out with the boys, which is great. He can have fun and let loose a little, and I can work on a knitting project in peace.

As for Christmas knitting, I finished all my family's gifts. For mark's family, I've thus far finished:

Liz's lace scarf
Dan's striped merino hat

Started but not completed:

Sue's lace scarf
Carol's stole
Anna's Seaweed and Shells stole
Mark's sweater (to be fair, I remembered the yarn and needles for the sleeves, but forgot the body at home. Oops. I figure I'll finish the sleeves, then graft them on when we get home...!)


As for me, I'm making a pair of socks for myself out of the Lorna's Laces Springer. It's such a green and fresh colorway it makes me feel sure tomorrow will be sunny.

I hope you're all doing well, we are!

Finally, some knitting content!

tanktop
Originally uploaded by happyhandpainter.

I actually finished this a couple of days ago, but hadn't had time to upload the photo that Mark so kindly took. I LOVE this tank top - too bad it's a store model for Threaded Bliss and not for me! It fits perfectly too. One odd thing, it only took two hanks, despite the pattern calling for three, and I made the SMALLEST size (28"!!) However, it fit me perfectly! So either my gauge changed A LOT or this thing stretched out a lot for some reason. But I would advise making a smaller size than you would normally wear, and bind off the back stitches loose enough to be comfortable.

Repeat after me: IT DOES NOT MATTER IF IT'S ON SALE!

I am a sucker for sales. Especially sales that involve laceweight kid mohair/silk blends. In many colors that I love. Especially blue-green. It doesn't matter to me that I already own Baby Kid Extra in glorious white, or Kidsilk Haze in Trance. Madil Kid Seta is clearly a slightly different yarn, and it's on sale.

I don't like knitting mohair. But I LOVE the chubby little balls of the stuff, and I KEEP BUYING IT. BY THE TRUCKLOAD. You do not want to know how much laceweight I have. Do I love to knit lace? Yes. But not with mohair.

Yet... it would work so perfectly for the lace poncho in Wrap Style... and this delicious pearl grey could be held along with my LACEWEIGHT ANGORA THAT I NEVER SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT WAS SO @()$&!&$ EXPENSIVE. Why can my brain not see that I am going on vacation! I know I am getting yarn vouchers for every conceivable yarn shop! I do not have extra money to spend. Yet... here I am... fighting the shakes that come with not buying laceweight for almost a week.

It is a sickness. I vow to never turn anyone on to knitting again. ESPECIALLY lace knitting. *grumbles*

Off and running

Originally uploaded by deborah lattimore.

This a quick post from the computer lab where I'm (supposed to be) writing a paper. I found this photo on Flickr while browsing this week's "Interesting" feature. I hope to see something like this while scuba diving... *happy sigh*

When I get a chance I'll upload photos of the work in progress knitting-wise. I'm half-way through two scarves, and about a quarter done with another. :)