The Magic Loop

My Secret Pal 7 sent me this booklet about knitting in the round on one needle as well as a pair of Addis to practice the technique. She knew about my DPN hopelessness and promised that she would turn me into a sock knitter. Over the last couple of days, I have had time to sit down and try out the magic loop and, By Jove! I think I've got it!
The knitting of socks was never something that particularly appealed to me. I know it is a passion for some, but I've always considered socks to be something that come in black, white or blue and are purchased in 3-packs at Zellers. I did buy this Scheepjes Invicta sock yarn a while back for another project (that went horribly wrong), so I figured what the heck? I don't know yet if I'm a sock convert, but I am really enjoying this new way of round knitting. I will definitely use the loop for future projects like necklines and - joy of joys - wrist warmers at last!



I leave you with a photo, finally, of the red top I completed a while back. Some of you have seen it on me at pub night. Well, now that my photography assistant is out of school, we've had time for an outdoor shoot.


Ok. I wasn't going to do this, but I can't resist. Above mentioned assistant, aka; The Daughter was the winner of her school's Principal's Award for Student Leadership at her Grade 6 graduation. The award is given for enthusiasm, work ethic, role model qualities and general good eggedness. We are so proud of this lovely young person.

It's Hot!

Poor Francois

World View

I liked the look of this on quiz on Sandy's blog, so I took it myself. Cool!

You scored as Cultural Creative. Cultural Creatives are probably the newest group to enter this realm. You are a modern thinker who tends to shy away from organized religion but still feels as if there is something greater than ourselves. You are very spiritual, even if you are not religious. Life has a meaning outside of the rational.

What is Your World View? (updated)
created with QuizFarm.com

Drunken Knitting

Friday past was the monthly gathering of Team Canada knitters. A few of us stayed a little later than usual and perhaps drank a bit more than usual. A bit more laundry was aired than usual and, man, it felt great. Thank you ladies for keeping the 'bitch' in "stitch and bitch".

Favourite moments of the night:
*Sophia asking "Does anyone have a tape measure?" and at least six are offered up simultaneously.
*Jen's farewell of "Well bitches, I'm out!" Eloquent.
*Meeting Lisa and hearing tales of her famous pink fluffy shrug (among other things).
*Being able to contribute in a teensy way to the Dulaan Project by producing a pom pom maker to finish off Aleta's hat.

In the morning after category:
Knitted the whole second sleeve of my sweater while drinking and yammering. The entire sweater thus far has been knitted with loose, loopy, uneven gauge (left sleeve in photo). The recycled yarn has no stretch and splits easily. I kind of like the result so - no biggy. Saturday morning I peruse my work of the night before and see tight, even and neat stitches (right sleeve in photo). Even stranger is that the drunker I became, and the further up the sleeve I worked, the neater the stitches! The sleeve is way more narrow than the other and must now be frogged back. Still, quite the phenomena.

Garden Shots Taken Today

The rose came with the house. I believe it is a an old variety.

Look at the size of that tomato!

One of my many, many portulacas. A personal favurite.

I'm getting the hang of the macro function!

Ah, Spit

While knitting my shawl, I decided to try the oft referred to method of joining balls that amounts to spitting on your project. I've come across the method in several sources - Stitch 'n' Bitch Nation being one of them.
Basically, it goes like this: When you come to to the end of a ball, fray the ends of the old and the new balls. Lick them and twist them together. Then rub them fast between your palms for a while. The wool (it only works with wool), felts and the strands are knotlessly joined.
Whaddya know? It actually works.

A Package! For Me?

Thank you, thank to my Secret Pal 8. A package of delights arrived Friday. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love, love, love getting parcels in the mail. This one includes a juicy citrus bath bomb, an excellent Moleskin notebook and a birthday card! Check out the hand painted silk! The colour! The texture! This is something I would never buy for myself, which makes it extra special. Any ideas on what might be the best use for it? Something light and meshy, maybe?
My 'gifter' pal lives on the East coast. My 'giftee' pal lives on the West coast. I'm grabbing a spot of joy contemplating this cross-country connection of knitters, with me in the middle.

Knowing that I collect older magazines, SP8 also included a 1979 Good Housekeeping Needlecraft, from her own stash! What fun. Look at this shawl inside (ignore the oh so shiny Farrah hair). Wouldn't this be lovely knit slightly looser with a soft natural fiber? I will definitely make this.

Current Projects

I've gone back to that brown sweater. The front and back were done a while ago and I've just started the first sleeve. I'm starting to resent this project as it's been in my basket for forever. Time to do a big push and get it done! The pattern is from Sandra magazine. It's the lavender one in the upper left corner of the picture.

My other current fiber project has been the unravelling of a sweater I came across at a rummage sale for fifty cents. The yarn is a silk/cotton blend and I just love the coral colour. I fear that the sweater's owner may have abused the yarn beyond salvage (hot machine wash, anyone?). We'll see how it looks after a soak and straighten.

Psst...

So, Happy Birthday to me. It is actually tomorrow (D-Day, dontcha know) and I feel I can't let it pass without a nod. I will soon be officially older than the hills. Alas.
I am hoping for sunny skies so I can spend the morning outside knitting and photographing my knitting. Then I have an appointment with my therapist in the afternoon (appropriate, n'est pas?), followed by dinner with the family at the restaurant of my choice. Not a bad day at all.