WWKIP Day 2016

What a wonderful and perfect day for knitting in public!! 

We started off early and seeing Mr Peanut ready to set sail was an auspicious start to the day!! 

 We breakfasted (though in hindsight the sausages may have been a bit dodgy), stopped by Serano's for their famous honey balls, then on to Leslieville Park. We arrived early and set to knitting in public, like we do! 

I got Helen started on her Bottoms Up bag. To be fair, starting on 8 sts in the round, on 15mm needles, with two colours AND in a knit one below pattern is a fair challenge. 

 

Elise joined up a bit later and we were a fierce threesome, knitting and chatting just having fun!!

Craig also came along. He doesn't knit but he came along to meet some of my friends who knit, he chatted up and amused us, helped carry things and even went on a coffee run!! He was a perfect companion and made the day that much more memorable. 

 

Then we went to meet up with Ramona. I have known Ramona online for time beyond memory. She has been a steadfast and true friend through my challenges and triumphs. Meeting her in person was so good though, and man, can that woman hug!!! I love how the Internet has allowed me so many friends that, though I haven't and may never meet them in person, we know each other. 

 

The weather is doing me head in though ... 4^th day in a row with a migraine. This may be a long summer!

I took a ball that bounced off of home plate to the ankle on Friday night. Yup, it left a shiner. Garlic and ice are doing their best. 

 It's tender, but not affecting me otherwise. 

OITNB marathon underway!! I am working on the Bernat Sweet Spot afghan, and am very pleased with how it's progressing.  

 

Rub Some Dirt On It

It is an expression in sports. In general, it means to suck it up and keep playing.
I took it rather literally tonight. I slid, hands first (which wouldn't have counted had I made it to first base as it's illegal) and scuffed myself up.





The bandaid don't stick so to staunch the oozing I patted (rather than rubbed) dirt onto the wound. Yeah, not sanitary, but short-term effective. I redeemed myself in a later inning with an RBI that took us to 5 runs and out of that inning.

We ended up with a tie; acceptable, considering that they had three hitters who could easily hit it out of the park (and did).
A fantastic last (for me) game. I made new friends and had a great season.

I will miss playing ball. I love the game, straight up. But I'll be going as soon as I can to cheer my teams on! We all do what we can.

I got a ride today, so I was able to take all the Rx and a few supplemental beverages. While it's a "beer league", I am the least imbibing. But my period hit today, and needs must.
Petey sensed my pain and tucked in for most of the day, ignoring Chica's pleas to play.


Have I mentioned how much I just love this dog?!?

Chica *did* get a new collar from my last visit to PetSmart.


She is just at the cusp of no longer being an XS.

Elise called this afternoon. Just hearing her voice, especially this close to my surgery date, made my day!! We got all caught up, then my son called. He's likely coming up tomorrow, so I'll see him before I go under the knife. It was a happy day all the way 'round!!

I am going to have to sort Petey out a step up to my bed. He is just not quite able to jump up on his own, (my Queen bed is a bit high up) and he is my night time sleep buddy. Chica gets daytime napping privileges as she *can* jump up on her own. Post op, I'm am limited to lifting less than 10lbs for 4-6 weeks.

I am ravenous, and know I shouldn't, but I am craving mac & cheese something fierce!! I'm off to the kitchen. Y'all enjoy the rest of your evening. I'm going to spend it with SOA, knitting, and a bevvie or two.

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Inspiration

in·spi·ra·tion  

/ˌinspəˈrāSHən/

Noun The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative: "flashes of inspiration". The quality of having been so stimulated, esp. when evident in something: "a moment of inspiration in an otherwise dull display".

When Elise gave me the pattern for her her On The Easy Side pattern it was the beginning of a journey that started with that single questing query, "I wonder if ...".

I wondered if Koigu's PPPM would repeat and pattern as did their Kersti at a particular stitch count. Thus began my journey and exploration of the Sweetspot of a yarn and my resulting scarves/afghans.

I always believed and discussed with Elise the mathematical theory of a predictable repeat based on the skein size, dye sequence and stitch count/gauge but it was well beyond my skill set. I relied on intuition and trial and error.

My day was totally made when Elise & I spoke yesterday and she mentioned an article written by Karla Stuebing in Twist Collective on The Art and Science of Planned Pooling where she said that my design inspired her to explore and extrapolate the maths in the yarns!! Carol Sulcoski wrote an article in the Early Fall 2013 VK on Planned Pooling referencing my design and Karla's work.

I am still exploring indie yarns and have another afghan in the works.

 

 

 

Keeping Busy

I've had a few unexpected days off from work and I've been able to use some of that to knit.

I have finished The Shawl of Secrecy!!

The sock has had some undocumented work done on it ... I'm not sure if I'm feeling the love for it though.




I am feeling the love for the yarn that I selected and have wound up for the Westknits colourknits Mystery KAL.
The yellow is Red Corset Designs Osmosis in Sunkist. The red is Spunky Eclectic Skinny Socks in How Very Berry. The blue is Punta Yarns MeriSock Handpainted.

I am going to do a swatch tonight, though for shawls it's less crucial; I just want to see the colours together!!

I have also wound up Americo's Linen Cordón for a different Shawl of Secrecy.

 That was a lot of winding ... the knitting will take awhile I'm sure!

Shawl of Secrecy

And lest you think that I am perhaps knitting on The Emperor's New Shawl, here is a glimpse of the Shawl of Secrecy.

Still Knitting

It's been too long, I know. I've been busy with work and family (the good and the bad) and there is always knitting!
So I did finish Elise's sock. Much better on 3mm needles.

I finished the two toddler projects for Julie. Blue Sky Alpacas Cameron Hoodie and the Beatrice Top. Easy knitting and well written instructions.

I'm in the midst of the Amalfi Poncho right now. I am using the suggested Classic Elite Liberty Wool Print, col #7840, Middle Earth and #7845, Spark.

 

 
 
 Again with the easy knitting. I love the cabled projects but getting back to basics is always a pleasure as well. I try to find a fairly matching colour section when I have to move into a new ball and I use a spit splice so the continuity is maintained (and fewer ends to sew in!!).

I didn't give much thought to the last bit of the funnel neck which gets seamed to the beginning until I was ready to cast off the neck stitches. No matter how you stack it, it wasn't going to look a bit right. It might not bother some but I could feel the hives waiting to break out if I didn't sort this.


I'm also not generally one for knitting in my ends. I know, but I prefer to sew them in after. That being said, I am knitting them in on this project. It seems (no pun intended - groan) to be finishing up well.






There - all caught up on the knitting.

The Misfits finished our regular baseball season without adding any more wins to the column but I pitched great, hit well and had a fantastic time!! Our whole team improved and we really started to play well together. Learning each others  strengths and foibles, making the most of our assets and helping cover each other in the field. We play our year-end tourney in two weeks and I'm looking forward to it but I'll be sad to have it end for another year.

Back to Reality

I know ... back to work was a crushing reality. And Spring is bringing with it the kind of changeable weather that gifts me with migraines. Zomig is awesome but has side effects as well; not as bad as the migraine but still.
Anyway, I have finished Elise's linen skirt!! I know ... I dogn't even remember when I cast it on but it was ages ago. This is what happens without a deadline ;)


The black linen is Euroflax while the hand dyed is from Claudia Hand Painted Yarns.

I started on Blue Sky Alpaca's Beatrice Top


but the Yarn Hoover that I am, I am stalled at the top of the 1^stsleeve. Julie is sending more and letting BSA know that the 3^rd size requires a 4^thskein.
Good thing that I have another project set to go!
Four knitted cats, fiddly but très portable and with a day off we'll see what kind of a litter I can get knit up.






Lee, Jake and I had a lovely time at a neighbourhood bonfire Sunday night.












Toby & I enjoyed the sunshine before the rain this morning, getting my litter off to a good start.


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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.

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.

Knitting on the Knitting Blog

I know ... novel concept!! I still whiled away most of the day but I have knit over 2400 sts so far and I'm feeling a few more in my fingers. This is the lovely article for Elise - shhhhhh.

Silvermist is the Fairy of the Day. The collage seems a bit not right, but I'm sure that I'll perfect the technique eventually. ;)

CEY Jetty

I updated my sidebar yesterday; it felt good to do a bit of virtual housekeeping.

I got wonderful new project from Julie after The Frolic, Classic Elite's Jetty. I am really enjoying it - a simple project but I love the colours. I have had a wonderful long weekend. It has been sunny and restful and productive. The proof is not in the pudding in this case but in the pictures. Cast a glance.

I still love doing my math in my own mixed up way.

I'm also working on a project for Elise - you know the drill. 

 







And a pair of socks for myself. I have got to knit more on the socks - I'm wearing out my socks fairly quickly since I've been back to work and I can't knit fast enough to keep up. I know ... the horror should I have to wear White Sport Socks!!!

Wins

The Spiders won again!!! Our time of 5:53:34 was sufficient and a half hour faster than the 2^nd place team. Here's a link to the official results.






The Relay for Life was awesome - the weather was perfect, not overly cold overnight, not the dewiest we've knit through and experiencing it as a Survivor for the first time was very special. Thank you to all of my supporters - you were all with me in spirit!!!





Amanda has graduated from Grade 8! It was a lovely evening, she was (as if there was any doubt, last minute beauty emergencies notwithstanding) beautiful and her teacher made a wonderful DVD montage of the year for all of the graduates. I am so proud of her and can't believe that my baby is going to be in high school in the fall.







I am almost done the Wollmeise cami for Elise. I love how the straps are rainbow striping!!

I'm going to be at The Needle Emporium on the 9sup>th of July so if you're in the area pop in & say "hey".