Deeper into Patrick

I have finished Elise's Felted Tweed Sweater!! It took longer than it may have - Elise has very undefined deadlines. She let me know earlier in the month that she really wanted to take it to Stitches East so with a deadline in sight it is done. So if you're there & you see Elise and ask real nice like, she may just give you a peek. No promises though.

I bought the 1^st season of Heroes on DVD, and let me just say that this is the way to watch tv!! Kerwyn had to work this weekend, the kids were occupied with iPods, friends and work so I had the remarkable and rare experience of watching TV in peace and knitting. With the Felted Tweed sweater off the needles I made some serious in-roads on Patrick. I will always associate this sweater with the handsome man wearing it so it is an especially pleasure to knit. Isn't he hot? Kind of Sean Connery-esque, and I love Sean Connery!!

My 1^st Woolgirl sockclub shipment arrived and I love it. Totally my kind of colours - I hope that this is a good sign for the rest of the club year. It will be my first sport weight pair of socks - I'm a bit of a die-hard fingering weight sock gal - but I will give it a shot. I mean, it will go faster, right? I'm almost done my FEBRUARY RSC socks so faster would be better.

Today is another great knitting day - after I went through Kyle's i-Tunes list and deleted all of the gangsta shit and the other crap that is inappropriate. Heavy metal isn't my favourite genre, okay I really hate it - how can you be happy when the music sounds so angry? - but when the themes are suicide, murder and drugs he will just have to find nicer groups. And I use the word "nicer" in a very relative context.

Coronation Street, Heroes & Patrick - here I come!!!

Feeling Crappy

I feel crappy. The problem with having the allergies is that it takes longer to decide that you've got some sort of end-of-summer, beginning-of-fall cold.
I'm going to bed. I can never remember if you're supposed to feed a cold & starve a fever, so I just feed every malaise whatever it feels like in the hopes of appeasing it and making it like me enough to go torture some mean person.

Different Day,

Same shit.

Amanda has never been a clean child. Not that she doesn't take a bath or brush her teeth, but she gets dirty. She really gets into her life!! Whether it's eating, playing or working the child comes out looking like she did it. Her friend Riley is the exact opposite. Riley is a clean child. Her clothes and hair are always in place and looking like she just got dressed. She plays and eats too, but somehow doesn't manage to wear it. I tease her about it & she smiles her dimpled smile.
But God doesn't give you a cross to bear without the fortitude to support it. Meet my fortitude. Spray 'n Wash is a miracle, a true testament to scientific research for the betterment of humankind. It certainly works and makes me look like a better Mom! And Whoopi likes it too - it was one of her favourite things that she shared with The View.

And while I can't show you my excellent progress on Elise's Felted Tweed sweater, this is what a fucktillion Felted Tweed ends look like. Truthfully, I don't mind sewing ends in, but I rather be knitting! It's totally worth the effort though - it's a gorgeous sweater. I have one more sleeve to do. Hey - that would make a good contest! Guess the # of Ends. Yeah - when I'm done the next sleeve I'll make the necessary calculations to quantify "fucktillion" and we'll do it.

These are the 2 fronts for a Foxy Boxes jacket that I'm knitting for Artisan Knitworks. It's going to be a kind of kimono-shaped jacket with fronts that can be left draped & open, belted or pinned closed. I am loving the Noro Silver Thaw, even though there is fluff all over!

And for Julie - here is the start of Patrick!!

Ada & I went to the knitting group at Pick Up Sticks - it's only about 40 mins from each of us. I guess that makes it the center of the universe if the borders of the universe are defined by the where Ada & I live. I digress. A lovely group of ladies - we met Angela of Red Corset Designs!!! I didn't go crazy or anything, but I couldn't resist a few skeins of yarn.

Some Summer Sky - Dream in Colour Smooshy

Sunkist - Red Corset Designs

How Very Berry - Spunky Eclectic

I totally thought that it was "Spunky Electric" until I typed this out today!! Yup, I read fast too!!!

Ahoy - Treasure!!!

I were going to blog about me bountiful knitting such happenings when, shiver me timbers!!! Avast - treasure!! We pirates don't go in for fancy words and such smarmy nonsense but. Yer a fine mate Woolgirl. Arrr - that's all I'll be sayin' about that. And I'll have ye in Davey Jones' Locker if ye be telling anyone the tale of me goin' soft!!!

Knitting Declared a Hazard

Knitting Declared a Hazard

I don't know where to start. This is not a daycare center where children are running amok and knitting needles would be used as a weapon. It's a hospital FFS!!! I'm sure that it's not such a fun place that young children are popping in alone to pass the time. Children are probably with at least one responsible adult who could either take the OMG!!! It's a knitting needle from the child or supervise them and instruct them in the proper use of a tool.
And really, if a child were to injure themselves (has this happened or did some over-zealous administrator and/or lawyer miss lunch and stop thinking clearly?), what better place to be in than a hospital!?!

Really, what's next? Children fall off chairs all the time. Will the hospital remove all the chairs and put in nice, safe mats for people to sit on.

Same old Face, New Look?

The Old:

Julie didn't notice any difference - she was certain that I had these frames all along.
It took Kerwyn a week to notice.
The New:
I thought that they were dramatically different and that everyone would notice!
Note to self: Don't have picture taken after you've been rushing around the house. And get Amanda a stool to stand on - those upward angles are not flattering!

Here's the Donna Karan Shetland Lace Pullover that is in the VK Anniversary issue. I knit this about 16 years ago and I've had to repair it frequently the last couple of years. The Rowan cotton has really stood the test of time (and the test of my not-so-gentle wearings & washings) but it can't last forever. I'll absolutely be knitting another one - I this sweater!!

And I'm doing the "Honda Run" tomorrow so I'll be hanging out at Alterknit for a few hours!! I know, but someone's got to do it.

Another Blogthing that has me totally pegged! Except for that 'vow of silence' bit. I mean, I could take a vow of silence but keeping it would be another thing!

You Are Midnight

You are more than a little eccentric, and you're apt to keep very unusual habits. Whether you're a nightowl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence - you like to experiment with your lifestyle. Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your place in it. You enjoy staying home, but that doesn't mean you're a hermit. You also appreciate quality time with family and close friends.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Who Broke into the Vault?

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!Ummmm ... it's not me. It's my twin sister. And that's not Kerwyn either.

Cinderella goes to the Ball

In which Cinderella is played by Wannietta and the Ball is the KW Knitters Fair.

I had such a wonderful time!! There was so much yarn and yarny goodness that I was on a giddy high just from breathing the air. Even though I was working (and calling it work is kind of misleading - I was lovin' it - Julie couldn't even get me to leave early!) at The Needle Emporium booth for most of the day, I walked around, soaking up the colours and textures. I didn't go with any preconceived ideas about what I might be wanting and I think that, along with all of the work knitting that I have to do right now that I was thoroughly sated by just being in the same building as all of the yarn.
Now, lest you think that I was image beside the definition of restraint, I did make a small purchase. An investment really.
Knitting Classic Style by Véronik Avery.
I love this book - whether it's cables, fair isle or simple ribbing for a sweater, sock or mitten, Veronik has given it a modern look using her trademark attention to detail without compromising her goal of a classic style. I am in total covet with the Fair Isle Cardigan.

I also remembered to take pictures! I saw:

Michelle,

Sandra,

the blog-free Rachel H. and Renee.

Close to the end of the day a nice lady in the bathroom said. "You look familiar". Once I said that my name is Wannietta, she remembered how she knew me. She's Lori of Oceanwind Knits - I had bought some yarn from her recently. Okay, in hindsight asking to take her picture while we were still in the bathroom was probably a bit creepy. But she didn't hold it against me. We left the loo & I asked again, "Now, can I take your picture?" LOL She's a really wonderful person, I wish that we would have had more time to talk.

NEW YARN STORE OPENING!!!

I'm so excited for Angelika (on the right, pictured with Joan Kass) of Lindenhof Wool Mill - she is opening a yarn store in Toronto!! There will be there own line of yarns - alpaca, mohair, angora, Bison & wool. Rovings, both natural & dyed, hand-woven wool rugs, felting supplies and more. Gorgeous I tell you! You've been warned!! Angelika and her family are friendly, knowledgeable and hard working - you can't help but love the yarn that they produce.

The store is at 102 Ossington Ave between Queen St W & Dundas St. It will open on September 13th at 11am with the hours as follows:
Thursday 11-7
Friday 11-7
Saturday 9-4
Sunday 9-4

Done with Summer

Hang in there - I'm still tweaking the blog with Michelle's help. We'll either come up with what I want (which I know in my head but I can't verbalize) or we'll break Blogger in the attempt. I really want it to be interesting and visually appealing but still comfortable and a pleasure to read.

Once my ragweed allergies kick in mid- to late-August, I am totally done with summer and begin to pray fervently and frequently for frost. Hard frost and days in a row of it. If the sneezing - which on the plus side has got to be an abdominal workout based on how sore my stomach muscles feel - wasn't disrupting enough, there's the endless nose blowing which only seems to make room for more nasal drippage. My eyes are runny & dry. Trust me, they are both simultaneously and itchy to boot. When I can't stop myself from rubbing them for another second I rub them with a relentless fervour. When the urge to rub abates I am left with swollen red eyes that leave me looking especially pitiful.
Then there's the scratchy, sore throat that neither scalding tea, ice cold ginger ale nor extra strength Halls can soothe.
None of these tortures is as difficult to live with and endure as the exhaustion. I am utterly sapped of energy. It requires all of my willpower to not crawl back into bed and just lay there, whimpering and feeling utterly hard done by. I'm not sleepy-tired, just exhausted and wanting to close my eyes.

Yes, I take allergy meds. I've tried various brands and formulations and they all offer a modicum of relief, but the above describes me on the medication. I tried the shots but I was so sensitive to them that it made little sense to continue. So for now massive amounts of caffeine, looming deadlines and familial obligations are keeping me going, but I really need that frost.

Amanda had clothes laid out in the living room and kept switching and re-arranging them trying to settle on "the perfect" outfit for the first day of school.
I threw a wrench in the works when I finished her Stop & Go sweater Monday night and laid it on her chair. When I left for my bus run on Tuesday morning this was what she had decided to wear. Of course, she changed her mind about 5 times over the next hour or so and didn't end up wearing the sweater - it was too warm. That's okay - we'll have a frost soon.

Rhonda did this and I'm weak and had to do it to! I just love Blogthings!!

You Are a Yellow Crayon

Your world is colored with happy, warm, fun colors. You have a thoughtful and wise way about you. Some people might even consider you a genius. Charming and eloquent, you are able to get people to do things your way. While you seem spontaneous and free wheeling, you are calculating to the extreme. Your color wheel opposite is purple. You both are charismatic leaders, but purple people act like you have no depth.

What Color Crayon Are You?

The More Things Change...

Well, whadda'ya think? A friend once told me that she really liked a black background so since I was messing around with changing to the "new" Blogger (I know, it's old now) I figured that I'd test it out.

Edited to add: Okay. Here is a tweaked version. A bit dark (some of you just haven't met Bizarro Wannietta), but still light.

Labour Day weekend

So I went to Julie's with Joan & Amanda yesterday and picked up the yarn to knit another Patrick for Julie. I looked at so many new things that I started feeling a bit numb and was easy prey for Amanda who is going to get a cute little shrug from Sirdar. We're going to use the purple Denim Tweed DK (it's #634 and despite being called "blue wave" it's purple).

I dropped off the Hydrangea Lace Scarf. It will be at the KW Knitter's Fair this Saturday if you want a closer look. Julie will have the chart that I made for the extra leaves that I added. BTW - I will be at the Fair as well - for the first time in about 10 years!! I usually work at the store, but Cathy will be there so I lucked out. Apparently it's crazy-busy, but if you see me make sure to poke me or something & say "hey"!

The neighbour is taking the "labour" part of Labour Day very seriously. They have been doing the roof since early Saturday morning. It is not a quiet kind of job. I don't fault them for this effort at home maintenance, but it isn't endearing them to me either.
The constant noise may have contributed to my less than stellar knitting performance yesterday.

The following image may be disturbing to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.

This is what a mitten looks like when it "was a mitten" but "is no longer a mitten". I spent Saturday knitting this up with a cable pattern that I had agonized over knit up the back of the hand. To be fair, I wasn't really feeling the love for it while I was knitting it, but I persisted. I have been previously diagnosed with "Wishful Knitter Syndrome". The dominant symptom is knitting past a point of certainty; knitting on, hoping and wishing that it will be okay and when it's not, wishing that I hadn't kept going. I think that the noise from the next-door roofing was obscuring the noise that the cautious side of my brain was trying to make.
I utterly snapped when I couldn't get the cable centered for the top shaping for all 3 sizes that I'm designing it in. I had so carefully planned the ribbing to flow into the cables, written instructions for the right & left hand so that they would be perfectly mirrored and graphed the chart - by hand and with S&M Maker. No, I don't believe in doing anything by half measures. So, there be Saturday's knitting.
I started over again today and I'm very pleased with what is coming off of the needles. Again, complex enough that I'm writing RH & LH instructions so I don't want to jinx it by showing it before I've done the RH at least - knock on wood, I should be finished it soon.

I also stopped to pick up another copy of the Brazilia Stop and Go pattern that I'm making I've been making for months now. I went to pick it up a few days ago and the pattern was nowhere to be found!! I really want to finish this for Amanda so I just bought another pattern. Having the shrug in the wings is great incentive to get this one done. Finally.