Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Storm water is rising.

I have, just in time for summer to be over, started knitting with the sea-silk.


It took me forever to decide that I like this pattern. I hated knitting with two yarns, I don't like purling through the back of the loop, I just was cranky about it. But, I didn't find anything I liked better.


Then, I saw a woman knitting the same pattern at Winnipeg's knit out on August 19. Hers looked pretty good, so I went hunting for a new copy of the pattern, because I misplaced mine in my disaster of a house. Found a new one, and it has been amended so that only one strand is used, and there is no purling through the back of the loop.


Must have been a sign.


I swatched, blocked and cast on before the swatch was dry. I'm loving it.





I'm also loving that I got royally sunburned on the first official day of fall. Can't complain about that, especially today, when I wish I had a proper jacket. And a hat.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Lazy, hazy days of summer have gone

Well, I don't know where September (or the summer, for that matter) has gone, but if you find it, let me know, please?

Actually, I know exactly where it went - camping, dragon-boating, baby-sitting a little girl, rehearsing and planning for a stage show, and getting used to a new job. Oh, and that pesky thing called a boyfriend. Then a cold. And, I have not had time to mow the lawn, never mind keep up with all the other jobs around here. I'm doing good to keep on top of the laundry. There's a bunch of other stuff, too, like returning to school.

That said, there's been some sock knitting going on:

All yarns are some form of OnLine sock yarn, from left to right: Grumperina's Jaywalkers, Harlot's basic sock pattern, basic pattern with 2x2 ribbing all the way down the leg and top of foot, basic pattern with 3x1 twisted rib all the way down the leg and top of foot, Monkey socks. All socks knit on 2.5 mm needles with the exception of the Monkey socks, which are knit on 2.75 mm needles. All in all, not a bad couple of month's work.



And, I am sad to say that I must be developing tendinitis or something in my right hand. After knitting for a couple hours, the top of my right hand, towards the wrist, becomes swollen and very tender. I thought it might have something to do with my incessant mouse clicking, or the oh-so-not ergonomically correct keyboard position at work, or something, but I noticed a week or so ago, when I hadn't knitted for a couple of days, that the pain and swelling disappeared. Over the past few days, I've been sick, and therefore have knitted quite a bit. So, my hand hurts again. I am very sad about this.


However, I will not stop knitting. I have an incredibly high pain threshold, and will continue, perhaps in smaller stretches than six hours at a time. I will be sure to mention this to my doctor when I see her for my annual physical.


I had a birthday a week or so ago, and I bought myself some treats. Others have yet to be delivered, but these came in the mail this week:

I can't wait to wear the Panopticon's "I learned to knit in prison" t-shirt to the pub!



I took these photos on the front lawn. Sometimes I wonder what my neighbours think about the crazy lady who drinks lots of wine and wanders around her yard taking pictures of string (however, I must point out, I don't drink wine until at least 3 pm. These were taken in the morning, so it's coffee - my first coffee in four days. Damn, it tastes good!).

I had a stranger-than-usual experience at the watering hole last week. I was sitting by myself at the bar, as usual, when a very drunk woman sat down beside me. She obviously was feeling very sorry for herself. Our conversation went something like the following:

Her: Is that knitting? (imagine "is" sounding more like "ish").

Me: Yes.

Her: You do that in bars?

Me: Yup.

Her: Why?

Me: I like keeping my hands busy.

Her: Oh. Do you have a boyfriend?

Me: Yes.

Her: You have a boyfriend and you knit? How is that possible? I make a lot of money you know, so why don't I have a boyfriend?

At this point, I finished my pint and went home. What could I add to that?