Sunday, September 21, 2008

Oh, I almost forgot -

the real reason for the post -

I thought that a vest would be a nice piece for this time of year, decided on the Back to School vest, and raided my stash (and this, children, is the reason for a stash). I found 5 skeins of yarn from Handpaintedwool.com, bought for I don't know what back in I don't remember when, calculated that I have just enough for the vest, and wound the skeins.

As I looked at them, an old Sesame Street song popped into my head:
P1010544

"One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong.
Can you guess which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?"

Well, how'd you do? Did you just assume that the top cake is lighter because of the sunlight?

Wrongo! (do you remember that 7-Up commercial?) It is SIGNIFICANTLY lighter than its relatives. So much so that I am a little concerned that simply alternating skeins might not be enough to blend it in.

Sigh.

I just want a damn vest. I just want to sit down, and churn out a quick, cute, cuddly vest. I don't want to have to figure anything out right now. Mindless is what we're going for here (refer to previous post for reasoning).

Any suggestions? Anyone???

Brain... exploding...

must

warn

others.....

every fall I do this - I want to knit EVERYTHING I see, and I want to knit it NOW. I assume that, instead of buying additions to my fall "wardrobe", and I use the word loosely, I'll just whip some things up. So I settle on a couple of items, completely doable, and (hopefully) based on stash:
Come Together, from Twist Collective, in (stash) Malabrigo worsted, Paris Night colourway
Come Together sweater - front

Clapotis (yes, I may be the last person on earth to succumb to the call of the siren), in (stash) Elann's Peruvian Baby Silk
P1010545.

And then I get a new book or pamphlet, and decide I can add another couple of sweaters to the party, one using stash, one not. Oh, but then another book comes out, and something kind of snaps in my already overworked little brain.

There's a coat, and a sweater that looks like an upscale sweatshirt. And I have stash yarn which would work for the coat. And I'm hoping to visit Kelly in Wisconsin in November, and wouldn't it be cool to actually wear the coat when I go? And maybe the sweater? And/or one of the others in the works or waiting patiently in line?

In the words of Yosemite Sam, "I'm a-thinkin'... and my head hurts".

Send reinforcements...

Monday, September 15, 2008

Such Goings-On...

Well, while some of us have been, um, relaxing, shall we say?
could she be any lazier? (and yes, the couch is crapped out and that's because it's her couch),

and others have been settling into their new roles as high schoolers (grade 9) and middle schoolers (grade 7 in the big school)
P1010526,

still others among us have been taking on the really important chores, the things that make life as we know it go on -

we've been attending the Kitchener-Waterloo Knitters' Fair, and doing our level best to support our local merchants.

Yes, it's tough, it takes a certain sort of person to rise to the challenge...
and I think I did...

I went with a list this year - first time I was ever so organized - and I found the makings for one of the items on said list:
say hello to what will soon be Cosmicpluto's B-Side Cardigan
cardigan in the making - I can't say enough about how much I LOVE this colour, and please - everyone - stop for a second and admire the cocobolo buttons...
perfect buttons
uh huh... I know...

there were other goodies: sock yarn Handmaiden Casbah (wool/cashmere/nylon), which my mother thinks would be totally wasted on my feet, or any feet, for that matter;
a little more sock yarn and some (gasp) Christmas gift makings
stash enhancement, courtesy of KW Knitters' Fair,
and that's it.

I would like to point out that there was a bag, a sort of Mary Poppins bag, teal and brown paisley-ish pattern, somewhere near the Four Seasons display booth - I coveted it, oh, yes, but fought the urge and left without it.

And have regretted it ever since. Truly. Sometimes I think it's better to go with your gut than with your common sense.

Sigh.

My mom and I were there about 2 hours, during which time I looked for people I might recognize from their blogs - I looked for a yellow messenger bag till my eyes bled, but left disappointed. However, I resolve to force myself to attend as many of these functions as possible, supporting whichever merchants I can, until I find you, Sandra. This I pledge now, with witnesses... again, it won't be easy, but I will do it.

Later, I'll tell you about my stash knitting, which has TOTALLY balanced out my stash enhancement. Maybe the scale has actually tipped in my favour, because the brown yarn I bought from the Purple Purl was ON SALE...

which means I should probably send out an APB on the bag... just to keep things balanced, you know...

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Further Signs of Knitters' World Domination

So my mom sent me this today - check the sentence used to define the word:

Merriam-Webster’sWord of the Day
September 4

haptic

\HAP-tik\

adjective


Meaning
*1 : relating to or based on the sense of touch 2 : characterized by a predilection for the sense of touch

Example Sentence
Katy could tell one kind of yarn from another purely by haptic clues.


We are everywhere, and skein by skein are taking over the world...

mwa-ha-ha-ha......



Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Denial...

not just a river, but a state of mind...

no, today's post will not include reference to the passage of time, nor to the importance of the day (milestones all round)...

no, today we will simply reflect on what has been a most enjoyable, relaxing summer...

okay?

We will think about short trips to Sandbanks Provincial Park: about the best signage ever
IMG_1786
IMG_1785 (this gives one-stop shopping a whole new meaning, although I thought you'd want to hit the chocolates before the dentist, so he could repair the damage, whereas Ben thought the dentist first, for a clean bill of tooth, made more sense);
the best sand dunes and sunsetsIMG_1788IMG_1804.

Let's think about the things that have amused us most this summer:
P1010510 (best $80 bucks I've spent in ages - it's better than watching TV)P1010511P1010512P1010480 (look at what they deem important enough for this bag... I was SO impressed!);

the things we've seen grow
P1010518 (Ben's jalapenos) P1010519P1010514 (honest to God, the yarn was just growing there!!!)
P1010513 (this is the Sidelines Top in the Fall Interweave Knits in Dream in Color Classy, "Gothic Rose", and because of my utter obsession and devotion to it, it has grown to a front, back, and 1.5 sleeves)

what else has grown this summer, you may ask?
P1010523

but like I said, denial is a wonderful thing...