And the Winner Is ...

Tests make me nervous. Public speaking/teaching makes me nervous. I generally do well at both because I spend a lot of time preparing but I still get feel like there are a flock of birds chasing the flock of butterflies in my stomach.
The days leading up the the competition at the Rogers Centre were no different. Even though I had the confidence that I could do the job and it was something that I do every day my little tummy would do little flips if I allowed myself to think about knitting on the field.
When the time came to walk out I felt a calm settle over me - I was still excited and I was totally feeling the magnitude and thrill of the moment - but my nerves were taking a back seat. I waved up to the knitting section and panicked for a moment because I forgot what Amanda was wearing and I couldn't see her, but then I remembered her green sweatshirt, found her in the crowd and waved right at her. I was both encouraged by her being there and a wee bit more nervous at not doing my best in front of her.
In all of the years that Linda & I have competed at the CSNF for the Fastest Knitter title, we have never gone head to head so this was going to be new too.
I got settled, queued up the song that I had chosen to knit with, (In previous competitions I'd been going with Beenie Man's King of the Dancehall but I'd decided to switch it up to Bodyrocker's I Like the Way you Move. This too was giving me cause for 2^nd thoughts.) took a few deep breaths and focused on Joan for the "GO".
I got off to a great start and tried to let the music keep me in the moment and not get ahead of myself. I was ahead of Linda on the first turn, lost track of her 2nd turn (peripheral vision is the bomb!!) and we were neck and neck on the 3^rd turn. When Joan called "Stop" I was almost scared to count. Can you believe that we tied?!? I know!!! I knit a personal best of 250 sts in the 3 minutes.
It turned out to be the first time that there were 2 first pitches thrown at a Jay's game - what a way to make our mark!! My pitch wasn't stellar, but geez ... my hands were shaking from the fastest 3 minutes of my life and besides, I did my job - I knit fast. I don't have to pitch well, I knit awesome!!! And seriously, the Jay's pitchers didn't do much better that night.
Great champions always have great rivals and Canada has 2 of the best - the drama lives on.

Amanda admitted to being a bit nervous for me & it takes a lot to impress Kyle with knitting, but throwing out the first pitch because I knit fast did the trick!
When the Jay's send the pics I'll post them!

Wannietta in Action

On Tuesday the 25^th I am going to participate in a speed competition that Creative Yarns is organizing at the Blue Jay's Stitch 'n Pitch. It's going to be a blast!!! I mean, when else am I going to get a chance to be out on an MLB field?!?

September 11^th - 13^th I'll be enjoying Stitches Midwest, mostly from the Signature Needle Arts booth #518 - stop by and say "hey".

October 17^th I will be teaching Knit One Below classes at the Needle Emporium Knitting Camp. There's an intro to the stitch with the scarf and then another class where we explore the stitch with different hand dyed yarns. Trust me - you'll love it! I'm so excited - Julie puts together a great get away and I'll get to meet Cookie A!!!

Stitch 'n Pitch '08

That's where Amanda & I will hanging out with Joan, Cindy, Carole, Jocelyn, Bev and a whole whack of other knitters who may or may not be baseball enthusiasts. I haven't entirely decided on my project(s), but there is no shortage of contenders. Here are a few pics from last year - will you be there tonight?

Newest Members of my Stash Family

Amanda & I both had a wonderful time at the Tent Sale & at The Needle Emporium. Really, you have no idea how much she loves going there - working the register, neaten shelves, seeing Julie, Jane, Cathy & Sarah (she really missed you Sarah!!!) and even sweeping & making up price stickers.

I think that I demonstrated a remarkable amount of restraint, coming away only with the following:

The Cotton Braid will most likely find itself being knit into this:


Amanda also begged me into starting her on the pathway sock knitting. She couldn't wait so I got her casting on at the store and then she picked it up and kept going at home to make sure that she felt pretty good about working on multiple needles so that when I went to work she'd be able to go on her own. I finally had to make her put it away. "Just one more needle," wears a little thin at 10:00PM. She made excellent progress!! I would love for her to love it, but I've told her that if she's not enjoying it she doesn't have to keep at it - there are other projects that she could try.

Amanda & I will be at the Stitch 'n Pitch Toronto on August 5th - it's going to totally rock!!!
Edited to change S'nP date!!

Stitch 'n Pitch Toronto

It was a blast!! Joan invited Amanda & I to join her and Heather for a quick dinner before the game, then once we got to our section I met all sorts of friends, some of whom I hadn't seen for a long time.

Jocelyn works for Laidlaw and knits - she's with her MIL Bev whom I know for ages. Kindred spirits both!

Joan & Heather

Julie, Beth, Cathy & Sarah

Elise

No pics, but to Pat from Herrschners, Carolyn of Main St. Yarns and Linda of Linda's Craftique.
I tried to get
The Blue Jays mascot Ace came up and took up yarn & needles with a gusto - what he lacked in skill he made up for with enthusiasm!! He sat down for a quick knitting lesson and I believe that with some larger needles, chunkier yarn and evolutionarily improved wings that Ace has a real future in the needle arts!

Here are a couple of crowd shots - can you find yourself? You can make the images larger by clicking on them.

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to put this together and make it so much fun. The Jays Knitting Bags and the goodies inside were great. I'm really looking forward to next year - we are doing it again, aren't we? And yes, I will be bringing the horn again. It wasn't that bad!!

Takin' This Show on the Road

Amanda & I will be working at The Needle Emporium August 14^th and 15^th for the tent sale. Yes, THE tent sale. Don't pretend like you didn't know or that you don't want to go - you know you wanna!!
After work (and I use that term loosely) on the 15th we will be heading down to the Dome (yeah, I know it's now called the Rogers Centre now, but it'll always be The SkyDome to me) for the Stitch 'n Pitch. I'm not sure who is more excited - Amanda or myself! It's not to late to order tickets - bring your yarn and friends & family - the more the merrier!!

Ohhhhh - look-y at what came in the mail! Laceweight alpaca/silk in Slate and fingering weight superwash merino in Poppy. Oceanwind is a Canadian company and Lori was absolutely wonderful to deal with & order from.

Now, if I could just learn & master the ability to knit in my sleep.

Knitting in the News

Knitting Needles are the New Scissors - Don't Run With Them!!!
Can I get an application to Dell?

Stitch 'n Pitch

I mentioned the upcoming Toronto Blue Jays (vs the A's) Stitch n' Pitch on Sunday and I just wanted to elaborate a bit more.
You don't have to like baseball to come. Like you don't have to like reading to go to the local knitting guild meeting at the library. But if you do like baseball this'll be an awesome night!
This is going to be a massive KIP opportunity. I mean, how many time do you think that an entire section (or more if necessary) of knitters will get put up on the JumboTron? And really, what are the chances that sports commentators are going to be able to ignore the most fun-having section in the Dome? I don't think so!!

We are also encouraging any and all kinds of stitching - crocheting, cross stitching, embroidery, needle point and, of course, knitting!!
I'm not one to watch baseball on TV but I love a live game and to not be the only knitter there - there's no way I'm gonna miss this!
You can get tickets here, or from Joan Kass at the DKC or from Julie at The Needle Emporium. We'll all get a Blue Jays knitting bag and I'm told that there are going to be knitterly goodies in it!! So whadda'ya say - shall we "knit, knit, knit for the home team"?

Down the Rabbit Hole

I have fallen into the Rabbit Hole that is aka Summer and I'm trying to slow down!
Appointments, Amanda starting a paper route, Kyle starting at McDonalds, charters (not that I'm complaining on that score! I didn't do any charters last summer and so far I've done 3 and have 3 more scheduled.) While it's cutting into my knitting time it pays more than U.I.. Amanda & I went to the Ontario Science Centre and, among other interesting activities, she became a chameleon! See what I mean - she's practically invisible!!

I met Revital at Alterknit when I was on a charter last weekend. Alterknit was literally right around the corner from where we parked the buses!! She was knitting on her first pair of socks.

Bonne's sweater is on it's way to her, Veronique's is going very well as is Elise's. I know, but you'll just have to trust me on these.

Joan Kass & I will be down at Alterknit this Friday for the Knitty Yarn Roundtable Night.

Amanda, Elise & I will be going to the Toronto Blue Jays' Stitch 'n Pitch on August 15th - it's going to be great!!



Click here to create your own painting.

Thanks Sam - it's better than I could have done on my own.

I'll try to do better at summer blogging. And summer knitting that I can take pictures of.