First Sunny Saturday

I did a bit of work on the front bed today. The perennials have come back nicely. I know it's just hole in the concrete but I've worked very hard on this patch the past three years and I shall miss it when I move.

First Baby Sweater

It's hard to believe that I've been knitting all this time and have never produced a baby sweater until now. For unknown reasons, I've resisted baby knitting.

Well, this pattern by Barbara Breiter was an absolute delight to knit and so easy too. The top down knitting was completed in two evenings and the sewing of the arm seams and weaving in of ends were easily accomplished at Friday's Drunken Knitting. I followed the pattern with no mods other than adding buttons, and the size is fine. It should fit the nephew's newborn son (is that my great nephew?) nicely come this autumn. If I ever make another one, I'll try doing the sleeves magic loop style, as Sandi suggested. Why didn't I think of that? It would make the finishing even easier.

Like A Train

I think I would like to take a train.
The motion appeals. I start Here and I end up There. I will wear a skirt - a cotton/rayon blend, and it will be full. Full enough to tuck up my feet and cross my legs underneath so that I appear a footless thinking pyramid to anyone looking. But no one is. Out the window the gravelly roadside passes - Milkweed, Thistle, Queen Anne's Lace. Count the poles. The green will increase as the city is left further behind and the light fades and the green darkens and the trees grow and the ducks sit and the green thickens while the water ripples and the golfers golf and the train makes its glorious sound. The coffee is served in styrofoam. It is bitter and thin and delicious. There is that light above. It is spherical and moves on its axis. I rotate it with my thumb until it points directly at my long, long, paperback novel. Thick binding, well thumbed. The page edges feel like velvet as I turn and read again the tiny print while the strangers around me snore and snooze. When my own head nods, I can bend into the seat, for I am still young and small. My jacket is my pillow. The seat back holds me spooned and my toes press, just slightly, against the armrest. My hair is freshly washed. My sweater is blue. The rhythmic ka-chunk of the rails is directly in my ear and it rocks me to sleep like a trusting happy wee 'un. Here I am, perfectly small and still, yet moving. Moving steadily to somewhere...Else.

Update

So, the pieces of the purple top have been done for a while, but repeated attempts at seaming them together have failed. I have seamed before. Several times, in fact. What is with this sudden brain hemorrhage?

In frustration, I have moved on to another project. It's a baby sweater for the newborn son of my favourite nephew. I love this kid. He's kind and funny. He flirts with old ladies in restaurants. He's also been floating about aimlessly for a few years now, living with various friends and relatives and working different jobs. Now he's a new dad living with his girlfriend and her parents who do not speak English. Damn.

Frolic: Part Deux

My other major score at The Frolic was this fabulous, amazing, Laurel Burch design tote. I vacillated for quite a while between this and some beautiful Dyed in the Wool Handmade sock yarn. I could afford only one. In the end, practicality won over. The bag was chosen as being the more useful item. It's large enough to throw in all my assorted daily crap, my lunch bag and a small knitting project. The long strap means I can throw it across my shoulder and hop on the bike. Just look at the beautiful detailing. The jute strung wooden bead? That stitched-on piping? Gorgeous.

Apres the Frolic, Michelle and I headed over to Lettuce Knit for the Big Girl Knits II launch. It was such a lovely party with the usual knitterly good will flowing. I took a holiday from my self imposed alcohol free state and imbibed much red wine. All ended well thanks to Cheryl driving my soggy self home. Does anyone know Cheryl? Does she have a blog so I can thank her properly?
I lurrve this blurry snap of Jillian Moreno, myself and Amy Singer. We all look so pretty!

Frolic, Frolic

Well, thanks to a serendipitous car rental on the part of Michelle, our DKC Knitter's Frolic outing was not upset by the dumb-ass TTC strike. She, Meredith and I rode comfortably through the overcrowded Toronto streets to the largest Frolic yet.

Yarn overload! Sensory overload! So many smiling familiar faces. Cash registers everywhere going ding dong ding.

Hands down, the best display of the event was created by Emily of The Naked Sheep. She used her personal collection of vintage housewares to great effect. Yarn adorned a stove and an ironing board. Spilled out of a washtub, a breadbox, canisters, and a blender. It was truly gorgeous.

Above, Sarah guards the cash box. Can you see the vintage linens on the tables? I covet them in a big, big way. Below is the very clever Emily.

Here are some of my yarn purchases - a deep charcoal merino silk laceweight and two skeins of old reliable Briggs and Little in a heathered brown. I can't even tell you from which vendor I purchased. Frankly, it's a bit of a blur! I also picked up some needles, and a fabulous new bag. I'm quite proud to say that I went in with a set budget and stuck to it. Present back. Pat, Pat, frolic, frolic.