still knitting

So begins November. 

 I finally finished Rockefeller!!! I know ... but I was working on the skirt but then I got yarn for Seanair and I just wanted to finish something in the midst of so many WIP. So ...












And I have Seanair (the link is to the Ravelry page as the errata is noted there. There is no indication of the errata on the Knitty page - unless I totally missed it which is entirely possible) well under way. I'm not sure how I feel about the alpaca with this pattern though - the fuzziness of the yarn is obscuring the stitch definition some. The 50 Shades of Grey variegation is subtle enough that I don't think that that is an issue. Hmmmm ... what do you think?

Most accurate representation of colour & texture

I had my annual breast MRI on Tuesday - I actually fell asleep during it and the start of the last scan woke me up with such a start that the poor tech thought that there was a problem. I also got my flu shot. I am around so many diseased and disease carrying people that, especially never having had any issues resulting from it, I always get it.
Completely unrelated, I am fighting off a low-grade cold. Pounding back vitamin C and tea laced with lemon & ginger infused honey. A combination of knitting & napping will be the agenda for the rest of the day.

Kyle is doing his own thing ... learning life lessons as young men will.

Amanda is very happy with a nice young man - he is lovely to her and they are exponentially adorable together.

Woodstock Fleece Festival - The Day

Helen and I had a blast!!! Neither one of us bought very much but we found what was needful and lovely and touched so much more!!!







Shouts out to Lori and Carol - awesome to see you ladies again!!

Helen found a perfect worsted weight for a hat for her grandmother - Malabrigo. She also purchased another knitting project bag and some koigu for fingerless mitts.

I fell hard for some Studioloo - the colours in Vintage Sundress sung an irresistible siren song to me (and my feet), then I saw "eat your greens" and knew that I had to have it to swatch up for another Sweet Spot strip.





We petted an French Angora rabbit and had some close moments with Halifax, a very loving (and lovable) alpaca!!

I had swatched for Seanair Friday.

Very Loose

Still loose

Apparently I am a much looser knitter on circulars. I started on the recommended 4mm needles and finally achieved gauge on 3mm needles! I cast on for while Helen was in class for the afternoon. With that time and the drive home and DVR watching last night, I am off to an excellent start!!














Today I am revisiting my Rockefeller shawl - I really hope that I can finish the 2^nd (and final) wing today.

I have been coveting starting the Color Affection shawl but between not being able to completely commit to a colourway and having a lightweight shawl on the needles I've talked myself out of purchasing yarn.

This is a Madelaine Tosh Merino Light colourway that I've picked out that I keep going back to.

Okay ... back at it; I am really excited about finishing a project for myself!!

Woodstock Fleece Festival

Helen & I are going to Woodstock tomorrow!! I'm so excited; I've never been before and I'm going with a super fun friend!!

Shout out if you see us!!!

Oh - and this is Helen's Ravelry page. Check it out & friend her if you are so inclined.

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I Love Yarn Day

Hallmark should get on this for next year!!

I will be knitting - at work, in the pedicurists chair and at home. Enjoying every moment of the yarn sliding through my fingers, stitches turning into fabric and colours dancing before my eyes.


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50 Shades of Grey

Meditation was very enlightening and was deeply soul satisfying. It was exactly what I needed and the practice does me in good stead still.

In other news --- I am separated!! I know, finally! It was the perfect belated birthday gift and an ideal way to kick of my 43rd year. I It is good to have a sort of official closure on that part of my life and I feel like I can move on now without an invisible tie to the past {or Sword of Damocles hanging over my head - whatever ;)}.

I am working away at Elise's project. I am now at 256 sts in the round ... it's slow going but I am enjoying the colours at play.








I received a new project from Julie today!! I know, there is nothing more exciting than finishing a project except for starting a new one. And this one is going to be fun, but not a quickie. We will be having all sorts of lovely times together, Seanair & I.
I was initially hoping for a lovely, traditional cream coloured yarn but the Misti Alpaca Tonos Worsted that Beth sent out has me all sorts of excited to cast on!! It's called Blackberry TW23, but between you and me, it is now 50 Shades of Grey.

Vipassana

I am off for 12 days to the Ontario Vipassana Centre. I have been trying to get in to a course for quite a while now but there was always one roadblock or another. I am very fortunate that things finally sorted out on all fronts and I'm really going.

I am really looking forward to this experience. While the Noble Silence, vegetarian meals and lack of connection to all things virtual and physical are daunting I am not 2nd guessing my decision at all. Giving the tumultuous last couple of years I welcome the opportunity of just quiet and finding my own mental clarity and awareness.

This is truly a selfish act on my part; I am doing this only for me. I need to know that I have dealt with all of my feelings about all that's happened with me and that I haven't just put a Pollyanna or Scarlet O'Hara face on. I want to be able to go forward with my life knowing with a certainty that I am unencumbered and unfettered by invisible tethers.

I am going in with an open mind, no expectations and truly willing to commit to and immerse myself in the experience, willing to embrace whatever physical, mental and emotional benefits I can take away with me.

I will be completely without communication for the 12 days, and while it's not like I've not gone 12 days without blogging, I won't have my phone or anything else either. So don't worry if you don't hear back from me ... I'm totally like the proverbial bad penny - I'll turn up.

August 14, 2012

I know, unimaginative title but there it is. 

I was back to work yesterday & today - my foot is none the worse for the wear, uber-achy but nothing utterly unbearable. My back needs to get used to me standing again all day ... oy vey!!! 

Beth's sweater is awaiting sleeve measurements so that I can do some maths. Rockefeller is awaiting the Malabrigo Velvet Grapes which Julie has set aside for me!!

I have gotten well into my Family Pendragon Sweet Spot strip. I love it!! 

I have also cast on a new Pink Camo sock - lovin' it too!!

 

One Wing

I have been knitting but also taking some time to just enjoy my last week or so of time off and the absolutely fabulous weather we've been having. Granted, it's been quite warm some days but that sure beats chilly & rainy!! It's Summer and I love it!!!

I spent my entire Friday knitting and
ripping, let's call it swatching, doing some serious maths to make sure that my 36g of orange would last for both wings. I totally did it - numbers don't lie!!! - but I ate up the Malabrigo Velvet Grapes. But I can deal with that, I've got Julie on the case!! I'll have to wait for the new skein to continue - if there is a significant difference in dye lot I'd rather it was on the entire left wing than just half of it. If you want to see all of the progression pictures, I have them on my Ravelry project page.





No worries, I have been working on my Family Pendragon SweetSpot strip and I can jump right back into Beth's Drops sweater.

I am healing very well on all counts! My stomach still feels tight and if I stretch/twist a bit too much I am reminded that there is still healing to be done. I still put the Bio Oil on; can't hurt ... My toe still has a numbishness to it and while I can walk it's a careful placing of foot to ground and I'm careful not to roll off of the ball of my foot. There is still some swelling on the top of my foot, but I feel good about how both surgeries have gone. Next week is filled with doctors appts to get followups done and return to work permissions and modifications sorted. I'm scheduled to go back on the 13th - I'm looking forward to it. No, really I am. I would love to keep staying at home but needs must and I miss the people!!!

Rockefeller, Clue #3 SPOILER

Today's clue for the Rockefeller Mystery KAL from Westknits was just over 4 hours of knitting ... I'm not generally much of a fan of the look of a corrugated-type ribbing but this suits the design.











A few people have posted pictures of Radio City Music Hall in the Rockefeller Centre and a few of the symbols outside of it that appear to be the inspiration for this design. Without knowing it I chose (and you solidified that selection) colours that echoed one of the online pictures. I know ... creepy!!! ;)

I have also made excellent progress on Beth's Drops 85-11 sweater. What a difference a proper blocking can make!!

The Olympics have begun. I was seriously bewildered by the opening ceremony. Aside from Rowan Atkinson who can't help but steal the show, I was totally uninterested and glad of the distraction of sorting myself to go out. Yes - I went out!!! I put on my face and something not a t-shirt. One our very best cashiers is moving on from Alliston and we were celebrating her presence in our lives and her future. Best wishes Blanche!!!

I know - can you even believe how much my hair has grown in a year?!? I hardly had enough to run my fingers through last year and now it blows around in the wind, drives me crazy in the morning and is enough to grab a fistful. Sometimes I just love going outside and just standing in the wind and reveling in mess that the breeze makes of it, enjoying the crazy tickling of it teasing my face. Amazing.

Block Party

Beth's Drops 85-11, front

Well, last night was blocking night. I really do enjoy blocking - seeing what you've knit transform and unfurl into what it's meant to be.

Westknits Rockefeller Clue 2

I also swatched for a new strip for my next SweetSpot afghan. It's Family Pendragon, Fae Lite colourway.

I'm not sure if I am going to have an official Ravellinic Games project ... I have these 3 things on the go and am going to be casting on a new project for Elise. I think that juggling these will have me quite busy enough without adding a self-imposed deadline that will put a halt to progress on one or more of these.





Saturday was beach day. My sister came up with my niece and we headed to Wasaga. Now, I did give some thought to walking in sand but perhaps I didn't think it through as thoroughly as perhaps I should have. Not that it would have mattered - I'd've gone anyway, but still. Damn - walking on the extra fine & shifty sand of Wasaga took a whole lot of concentrating and slow, deliberate movements. I didn't wreck anything but I am back to feet up. It was a gorgeous day and totally worth it!!

Westknits Rockefeller Clue 2 SPOILER!!!

I was on a mission today - I was doing Clue 2 until it was done. YATTA!!!!

It definitely needs blocking. I had blocked the inner ring (clue 1) last night, tonight I'll block it all out.
I am somewhat concerned about the orange - I don't know what it is, it's a bit of a heavier sock weight and I don't know what I'll do if I run short. Fingers crossed; I'll cross that bridge if I have to.

Now, back to Beth's sweater for 6 days. I know, that'll be awfully boring for you, maybe I'll have to start something new. For you ... not me.

edited to add: 6.5 hours of knitting. Not real hard core, but quite steady with a few breaks.

Drops Like it's Hot

Beth's sweater is growing with the ease that every knitter knows when the yarn is perfect for the project and you are loving both! I'm just past the armhole shaping on the front.





And the ayes have it - with a landslide of 63%, is the winning colourway. And it's lovely. The brown/purple is Malabrigo Velvet Grapes - a perfect nod to an Autumnal Garden. Actually Linda, the intensity of the oranges reminds me of the Portulaca that my mother always planted. The first 1/3 went quickly. I'm going to finish Clue 1 today so that I'm ready to hit the ground running tomorrow.

 

My surgeon is on holidays until the 31st - amazing since I'm supposed to have a 2 week follow up not a 4 week follow up. But my family Dr. is awesome and between her, her nurse and I we took the cast off and decided that I will just be a very, very good girl and (mostly) stay off of it and try to get in to see the surgeon when he gets back. I think that the bruising is mostly from walking on the partial cast, it doesn't really hurt. I'm taking 81mg of aspirin from the previous surgery - it doesn't seem to be helping the bruising, or maybe it would just be a lot worse if I wasn't taking it. Hhhhmmmm. Anyway, it doesn't hurt a lot but it does ache deeply so I just stay off of it and up as much as possible.
My stomach is feeling good - not that I can really do anything remotely strenuous anyway, but if I reach and/or twist too much or the wrong way I can feel that it's still healing. 

Vote on Westknit Shawl

Okay - I have put together a couple more options for a short-list. I need your help now - I love them all!!! I think that they all speak to an aspect of my personality.

Vote please - I've closed the voting for tomorrow afternoon so that I have time to bang out the first clue before the 2^nd one comes out.

 Ice

 Fire

Autumn

Knitterly Knitter

I feel astonishingly and refreshingly productive!!! 

I have finished my purple socks!!

And we all know that there is no love like a new love. That feeling of anticipation,  just thinking about that soft new fibre slipping through your fingers, seeing the colours dance and twirl on the needles and into a new fabric. Hearing the siren song of a new pattern. Ah yes ... there's no time for tired now.

I cast on Drops 85-11 aka Beth's Zara Print Sweater last night. I forgot how buttery smooth Zara is!! It has such a soft twist that you'd think it would be splitty, especially when I'm using my most fave needles ever - Signature Stilettos. The colouration is wonderfully blended, the cables are popping well.

I am also in the throes of indecision for Westknits Mystery KAL 2012. I read it on Anne & Julie's blogs and thought that I had missed the signup - but I didn't!!!

Not like I need another project but Stephen is a very clever designer and I admire the organic flow of his designs very much. I dove into boxes, retrieved likely candidates, mixed, moved, walked away and walked back.



I had it down to the Sundara Seaweed & Red Corset Sunkist but the two skeins of Seaweed are sufficiently different that I have decided against them; I don't want to be switching up balls on alternate rows on a Mystery Project.

I think I'm in love with this though. Wollmeise Blue Bell & Dream In Color Some Summer Sky. Seriously - the names alone betoken a perfect summer shawl combination!!
 
I'm also considering a linen laceweight combination, but I'm not as certain about it.

For a woman who is supposed to be resting I have been very busy. And if I could just shake off my perfectly harmless but time-consuming love of Bejeweled & Solitaire Blitz I would be even more productive!!

My Dad had quadruple heart bypass surgery done last Wednesday. He had been feeling shortness of breath and tightness in his chest for about a week when doing different activities but it went away when he stopped. He finally went to the hospital and they jumped right on that with diagnostics & drugs and the surgery. He is doing well by all accounts, and in good spirits considering the considerable change in his diet, quitting smoking and having his activities severely curtailed.

I had my foot surgery on Thursday. It also went well but it hurt like a mofo!! I spent Friday in a drugged haze.

Daphne concentrating

my niece Jasmyn

Saturday my sister came to get me so that we could visit Dad and take him some more books. He can't do much more than read and I came by my love of reading honestly.  It was a gorgeous day and we did a few errands (I picked up a few more books) on the way there & back. While I just limp around at home, I have crutches that I used for the day. That was a lot more work than I thought - my arms and shoulders obviously need more work and it was more ab intensive than I would have thought. I love my dad and I wouldn't have not gone but my body waved the white flag.

I am feeling loads better today!! It is a necessary luxury that I am able to sleep and not sleep as my body dictates. Sometimes that is an hour or 4 hours or 10 hours. I am just rolling with it. The pain has significantly subsided; it's more of a throbbing ache, I still need to keep it elevated more than not.

I finished Elise's sweater! well actually a week or so ago ... And you know the drill, super Top Secret.






I banged out the Mountain Colors scarf - doing the fringe took awhile. I'm not very good at fringes.

 And I have dragged out some yarns and a couple of Sweet Spot strips that I had made - I want to do some more, I just need to decide on the next strips yarn designer.






I finished my Starbucks socks and have started a new pair of Purple Regia socks. The sock on the left reflects my mood during the few days that I was knitting it - the tension is all over the place. It's not noticeable in the fabric itself but the patterning is a whole lot less forgiving and shows even slight and subtle changes in tension. Not a bad thing, just a thing.

Yes, I have a fun photo editing program and I really love it!! 

The Olympics are coming up and all Ravelympics/Ravelry Games drama aside I am looking forward to them! Along with Netflix and an excellent movie collection my knitting and resting are well accompanied.