Well, there goes another weekend

I was at a meeting last week, and a couple of my fellow committee members were squeeing over my bag, because they'd seen me working on it. These particular committee members are also crafters, so they understand. Another committee member looked over and said that he didn't know where I found the time.

I smiled and said something about there being plenty of time on the bus and waiting for appointments. All knitters know that squeezing in the odd round here and there can really add up (and keeps us from killing stupid people. Knitting really takes the edge off the desire to commit murder).

I got thinking about that this afternoon, because here it is, 6 pm on Sunday, and I'm still in my pajamas. I have a to-do list as long as my arm, and I've done nothing all weekend but knit. And cook a little. A girl has to eat something to soak up the wine.

I can't help it. I am utterly captivated by the purple, yellow, green and turquoise in this hand-dyed skein (which sounds like it should be clown-barf, but it's not). The feel of the silk sliding through my fingers and along the needle is music to my hands.

The pattern is so random and clever, and I say to myself "just one more row" because I'm desperate to find out what happens next. It's better than any gripping novel.

So, yeah. That half-shawl pictured above (and believe me, the colours are way, way nicer in real life) is why:

- the kitchen cupboards have not been defuzzified

- the laundry is not done

- my hair is lank and greasy

- the new batch of wine has not been started

- there is still (STILL!) wallpaper to be stripped in the study

All that aside, sometimes knitting does take forever. These socks took nearly two months. Same yardage as the shawl I'm now making, but navy blue ribbing with one boring little cable, man-sized in hard-wearing yarn just isn't as awe-inspiring. Glad these are done.

With that said, I should probably get up and scoop the poop. And have a shower. I have to go to bed in four hours. Should get the chores out of the way now.

Tossing the stash

Last week, when it was time to start another pair of bar and bus socks, I had a good look at the china cabinet.

It was time for a decent sort. I had been stuffing things in willynilly for months.

My instincts were wrong, when I thought that I didn't have any sock yarn:

I also have a little bit of lace yarn. I should get cracking on some of those shawls in my favourites:

Now that things are organized, or as much as it will be until I find some new baskets, I am inspired. I can't wait to get going on some things. Some things that I've been thinking about making for years. Isn't it amazing what you don't notice because you see it every day?

My aim is to knit up a lot of the stuff on the left. Some of it was purchased when I was married (10 years ago, ouch!). Gotta make room for those new baskets I'm dreaming about.

Squee!

I'm still fighting with the pink wrap. I've screwed up royally (about 20 rows to rip back) and therefore, it's in time out. Really, every time I think I've got things under control, I pour a glass of wine or six, and then things go pear-shaped.

Coincidence? I think not? Will I stop drinking wine? Not bloody likely.

However, I wanted to move on to a quick, easy project that would give me a sense that I have accomplished something. I thought I would make some socks for my newest nephew. These will be too small for him, but I'm sure there will be another baby in my circle of friends and family eventually (cough, January, cough).

They are adorable, and only took me about four hours.

If I am sick...

I don't ever want to get better.

This case of Finishitis continues. It feels really damn good to get some of that stuff out of the WIP basket (though somehow, the basket isn't getting any emptier).

Tonight's project was to finish socks that I started in January, 2008. Yup, I blogged about them here. J just turned 33. Oops.

I stalled on these because I had forgotten to note how many stitches I used for the heel flap, and was concerned about running out of yarn.

Finally, last Tuesday, running out the door for knit night, I grabbed them, thinking that it wouldn't really matter if the heel flap was done over 32 or 34 stitches, and if there had to be a contrasting toe, well, I could always give them to Dad. He wouldn't care.

Turns out, my heel flaps match exactly, and I have about 4 meters of yarn left. One is a tiny bit smaller than the other, but no one's feet match anyway.




I'm running out of old projects. What a strange feeling.

Sometimes, I get so annoyed with myself

So, I have this reputation of being super-organized, and having everything in its place all the time.

Not true. Maybe that was true a few years ago, but not anymore. Underneath the lids of the carefully arranged baskets and spreadsheets that I constantly talk about, chaos reigns supreme.

I've been trying to update my Ravelry notebook with all the projects I've completed over the past year (yes, a year), and it's not fun, scrolling through the photo files, trying to figure out what I finished and when, how many stitches I cast on and what mods I made to the pattern.

Trying to find the ball band is its own world of heartache, because all the ball-bands are tossed into a basket, along with patterns, swatches and miscellaneous sticky notes. The task of matching up things that belong together is nearly impossible.

Also, why I feel the need to keep every single ball band that I've ever come across, I'll never know. Especially now that we have Ravelry to keep track of the details.

Of course, it doesn't help that my blogging has been less-than frequent over the past eight or so months.

I'm over-whelmed. I don't know where to start.

I know better. I really do. If I did this at work, I would fire myself.

Calm before the storm

Edgar and I have been having an amazing time, lately. The weather is warm (finally!) and so the ce-ment pad is truly open for business:

When the sun is too strong, we retreat to the shade for our knitting:

(note to self: get some loung-y chairs and a table for the shady part of the yard).

We finished a pair of socks (which only took a year! And less than a gram of yarn to spare!):

There's also been that travelling scarf thing going on:

With all this nice weather, the garden is growing like there's no tomorrow, or something. I've got broccoli and hot peppers growing. Plus, I expect a huge burst of daisies and tiger lilies just about any day now:

Edgar and I were hanging outside tonight, when it suddenly got very dark. It was one of those maybe? maybe not? rain moments. I grabbed Edgar, because I wanted to bring him inside if it started to pour. And since we were cuddling, I thought it would be good to have a photo of us:

I'm going to miss that little stinker when he's gone. It's nice to have company when I am outside.

Sheesh, gotta get back at this blogging thing.

Well, Edgar has settled in, a little. There's still an awful lot of hissing, but I took a lot of hope from this moment:It appears that tuna juice is a great community builder.

That said, the living room smells like pee. The cleaning service is due tomorrow, and I purchased a special odor removing cleaner. I've left the cleaners a note asking them to use it instead of whatever it is they use.

And, there was an appalling fight earlier this week, just as I was applying my make-up and getting ready to go to work. Poor Edgar was dripping blood, but seems none the worse for it now (also, I was late for work, because I needed to clean it up and make sure that murder wasn't going to be committed).

I was taking a much-needed nap on Sunday. My two boys were in bed with me, as they usually are. Edgar sat in the doorway and looked at us longingly. I felt bad for the poor wee bugger, and since then I've been sure to give him lots of cuddles. And yes, I have broken my own rule. He is allowed to go outside, but only when it's nice enough for me to actually be outside or I am not doing much and therefore can hang around the kitchen window and watch for him.

And speaking of outside, I highly recommend allowing a five-year-old and a three-year-old to pick your flowers:

Other than the impatiens, I don't have a hot clue what any of my flowers are, but they are thriving in the front, which is rather shady, and in the back, which is a huge, sunny, heat vortex.

I'm impressed.

And one more garden thing:

I have this thing sticking out of the south-end of my hedge, right before the potentilla. I think it's mostly dead. I didn't know until this evening that it blooms, and that it is gorgeous. When I rip out that gawd-awful mess, I'm saving that tree. Or whatever it is.

Wait for it... there's knitting content. I finished this sock at work today. I started it a year ago.

The wee bit of yarn is what is left-over from the 50 gram ball. It's about 24 inches of yarn. Couldn't have done that better if I tried. Of course, I grafted two sets of 22 instead of two sets of 14. But still, it will fit someone. Now to do the second sock. Hopefully this one will take me less than a year.

Slowly finding the surface

The show was two weeks ago, and I've sat down at the computer many times to write.

Then wrote nothing.

I don't know where to start, with the journey I was on for that short five weeks that is the social highlight of my year.

How about some photos of knitting?

Rehearsal socks. Basic sock pattern, too small for me. Details to be entered on Ravelry. Eventually.

Sweater for Junior B. That name is bulky, and she shall henceforth be known as Lillibean. Trust me, it fits. Argh, details on Rav to follow.

This is, believe it or not, a much, much smaller version of the same sweater shown above. It's for my vet's assistant's daughter. Let me explain... no, is too long. Let me sum up; lady I like had baby. I make present.

Big brother or dad socks. These suckers are huge (Six-ply yarn FTW!). If I stick my arm in them, with my fingers at the toe, the cuff ends up at my elbow. And I have long limbs. Really long limbs.

Well, that was good for me. How's about you?

Easter at the homestead

Since Granny and Grampa are chocolate fiends, I have to do something else for Easter.

Plus, I think my sisters-in-law appreciate that I don't wish to add to the future not-inconsiderable dental bills.

For once, all the socks were done before I presented them to the recipients (just barely, though. Cast off the last one just before everyone arrived for brunch):

Is anyone else singing "One of things is not like the other? One of these things just doesn't belong...?"

All wrapped up and ready to go.

On the feets! Squee! I'm a lucky, lucky auntie to have little kids who are thrilled to get socks.

Mini B's Mom: What are those, Mini B?

Mini B: Thocths!

Mini B's Mom: What do you say to Auntie Misstea?

Mini B: Please!

And later:

Mini J's Dad: Who's Dad's sister?

Mini J: Auntie Missie.

Mini J's Dad: What did she make you?

Mini J: Socks!

Clearly, my work is done for another year.

Hey! I still knit.

Meetings, when I am not chairing or busy taking notes, are an excellent opportunity to work on socks.

Also, there was that three-hour power outage at Construction Inc. yesterday. Ha! All you non-knitters, I had something to do!

I started a tiny, tiny little sock, so that I could have something ready to show my hairstylist how to turn a heel, and then I was hooked on little socks:

2.5 mm needles, 36 sts, basic twisted, broken rib sock pattern. Would fit the average six-month old niece.

Those socks were so cute, that I immediately cast on socks for her big sister:

2.5 mm needles, 48 sts, basic twisted, broken rib sock pattern. Shooting for a kid's size nine.

And for a comparison, here is one of each together:

Oh my! These are too cute! Because I am dorky, I weighed the socks. The wee socks are 15 g, and the big sister socks are 28 g. I'm using Wisdom Yarns, Marathon - Los Angeles (gah! This has been in the stash for a while - too lazy to find a good link).

I've cast on, in the same yarn, a pair with 44 sts. Those will be for the cousin.

After that, looms the big question. What do I do for the boy? Purple and lime green are too girly, otherwise this yarn would be perfect.

Presents? I get presents?

I have had the greatest pleasure, over the past few weeks, of teaching my hair stylist to knit socks.

It's been a real treat, indoctrinating another into the fold, and all for the pleasure of his company and a free cut-and-colour.

I wasn't sure it would stick, though. He told me he wanted to do this because he can't stand not knowing stuff, and of all the knitters that patronize his shop, I'm clearly the expert.

So, I dragged him down to the LYS, introduced him to the girls, and we picked out some nice Malabrigo sock yarn. A week or so later, I introduced him to the dreaded horrors of The Swatch and Algebra.

Things have been going along tickety-boo. His tension is remarkably even.

We got together yesterday, where he showed off what he purchased in yarn shop in Calgary - more sock yarn, more needles, and a new sock just about ready for the heel flap. I guess I needn't worry about it sticking. He's all ready talking about a third pair.

The big surprise was that some of the yarn was for me! Holy shit!

Malbrigo Silky Merino, 2 skeins

• 51% silk, 49% merino,


• 50 g, 137m


• #473 Arlene's Purples

My stinker of a hair stylist just got himself a pair of socks knitted by me. But not in this yarn. I'm going to tuck this stuff down my shirt and pretend I have cleavage. It's that soft.

Something different

I'm breaking out of my standard sock rut. With a garter rib.

Wild and crazy times here at Chez Peepee. Someone call the cops.

For my reference: 68sts, 2.25 mm needles, 2.5" k1tbl p1 rib, standard heel flap begun at 8" (ending on row 4 of pattern) over 30 sts.... to be continued.

POWN'd that deadline!

That's right, I POWN'd it.

I have a friend, and I thought that her birthday was at the end of January. Then I figured out that her birthday is tomorrow.

Shhhiiit.

So, what did I do? I speed-knit a pair of socks. I worked on them very diligently for a week, and even knit several inches successfully, in a dark bar, under the influence of several beer. It was going well, until I counted my stitches an inch after finishing the second gusset. Three extra. Unacceptable.

So, with three hours to go before catching the bus to meet her for coffee, I ripped:

I finished those socks in Starbucks, and presented them to her. I was very cool, and never even dropped a hint that they were for her, as I was working on them.

I'm not the Supreme Sock Goddess for nothing, doncha know.

(P.S. Wash them before you wear them - I tried to keep the cats away, but who knows what they do when I am sleeping).

(P.P.S. The pizza and beer was awesome! Let's do that again.)

These are mine! All mine!

Somehow, in the last couple months, I've managed to knit some socks:

Rabbitworks Toejam sock yarn, in Fiesta (linking to my original blog post, since Rabbitworks seems to be offline). Standard twisted rib sock pattern.

Fleece Artist Merino 2/6. In an unknown colourway. Also standard twisted rib sock pattern.

My feet are very, very happy. And warm.

Fat yarn makes fast socks

One week, start to finish (and they are big enough to fit me. Yay!)

I started these in order to have something simple to knit at J's wedding. She's a knitter. I had to knit at her wedding.

Regrettably, these are too big for her, but she's getting her own socks. Soon. I hope.

You'd think I was picking my nose

Last night, during my lecture (knit night peeps, how I miss you, all ready), I disagreed with the lecturer and spent a good five minutes eloquently arguing (why can't I be eloquent during exams? It's one of the mysteries of the universe) that I thought standard 2500 of the Institute of Internal Auditors was not the horrendous waste of resources and time he thought it was.

I failed to convince him, but he agreed that my points did have merit, and were thoughtfully expressed.

For the next few minutes, I was the student that he made eye contact with as he talked (You've heard that, right? When public speaking, make eye contact with someone, and in a large crowd, preferably lots of someones).

Well, I had forgotten to keep my hands below the table, and he stopped in mid-sentence to say, "ARE YOU KNITTING?"

I looked around, and said to the class, "Yes."

He stumbled and mumbled for a few minutes about how he'd never seen that before in his classes.

Well, he's going to see a lot more of it over the next eight weeks. It's either that or nap.

Now, I know you are curious to know what was I working on:

A basic broken rib sock, LL Shepherd Sock in Jay Pond, 2 mm needles, 72 sts. Heel worked over 34 sts.

Summer's not over yet

Or at least I like to think.

Look! New blooms, and as an added bonus, finished socks!

Really, there's something to be said for stockinette. It goes quickly.

Well, it is knitting

Let me present to you the total of my finished knitting objects for the summer of 2008.

Yup, one lousy pair of socks.

Oi.

I'm an idiot

Over the last week, I have knit the same six rounds on the lacy socks about eight times.

I now understand why dark yarn is not the best. Especially in dim light.

In a fit of inspiration, and a new audio lecture, I cast on a new sock:

Do you see? First sock, 2x2 twisted rib. Second sock, 1x1 twisted rib.

Rrriiippp!

What little I have knitted, is gone. That's OK. This way, I get to knit more.

The fun never stops

It was an exciting day, here at Chez Peepee. All studying and knitting.

Punctuated by a trip to the grocery store, expressly to get cat food, but instead I came home with laundry soap and dryer sheets and these:

Oh, my. These are my new favourite snack.

I forgot the damn cat food. The boys are enjoying some fine dining tonight, on canned stuff (which I hate giving them - makes their breath stinky(er)).

Anyway, without anything complicated on my needles, and no desire to pick up any of the many unfinished projects around here (knitting and otherwise), I started a new sock.

J - these are yours, as requested. If I don't decide to keep them. I'm loving the plain back and patterned front. I read a couple lines during the stockingette part, pay attention to the 32 patterned stitches, get back to the stockingette and read some more. It's making all this internal auditing garbage a little bit more tolerable. Not entirely, though.

Pattern: Anniversary Socks by Ann Budd, in Favourite Socks (watch for errata - my copy must be a later edition, it seems OK. So far.)

Yarn: SandnesGarn Sisu, navy blue, two balls. Purchased at Ram Wools.

Pattern modifications so far: Leg is seven inches, not nine as instructed. I am playing with fire when it comes to the yardage.

And guess what! I didn't swatch. I have to do something to generate some excitement around here.