Knit & Nosh

kimono

The Interweave Knits summer preview is up.  I am relieved.  The past two or three issues have left me cold.    I was beginning to wonder if I was losing a favorite magazine.  Not even the sock patterns did for me the past few issues, and that is saying something.

This issue makes me feel much better.  I love the Tidewater Wrap.  I can not imagine me making it, but it is lovely to think about.  Then there is the lace.  The Wakame Lace Tunic will be put into the queue.  The Gossamer Stars Scarf will probably be my vacation knitting.  I plan to spin the yarn for that particular project.  What are you going to knit?

Here is an FO.  It happened so fast I did not have a chance to blog it in progress.

The ends still need to be woven and buttons attached, but the knitting is done.  This is the One Piece Baby Kimono from Mason Dixon Knitting.  A great weekend project.  I used Knit Picks Crayon from the stash and size 6 needles.  The intended recipient of this little piece of fluff is slated to make her debut any day now.  Because I do not know which side of the fence the parents fall on when it comes to handmade gifts, I will purchase a sleeper to match.

Sunday I spun 8 ounces and am now back to work on the Danish Tie Shawl.

I went a little crazy with the fiber buying this past week, crazy for me anyway.  As soon as it all arrives there will be pictures.

Bifocals have arrived.  OY!

great

Here it is, my birthday.  So far I have had a great day.  I woke up because I was ready, no alarm, no cat, no pitter patter of other people around the house.  it was great.  Husband and I went out to breakfast.  I ordered something I had not had in years.  Eggs Benedict, no ham.  It came with hash browns, I am all about the hash browns.

I spent the rest of the morning spinning up the next 8 ounces needed for my Danish Tie Shawl.  It is drying and I hope to get back to the knitting tomorrow.

I took a trip to the nursery and brought home many flowers and a couple more trees for the deck.  The plan was to get them planted out this afternoon, but then the rain started.  I can wait.

So, instead of playing in the dirt I asked Husband if he would like to open a bottle of champagne. YES!  Nothing like taking a shower after a couple glasses of champagne.  Great fun.

We are going out to dinner and I have heard rumors of an ice cream cake.

There are many turning points in a person’s life.  Some of them we share.  Driver’s License, first apartment, college degree, marriage, kids, first house.  These are common and expected.  Then there the more personnel turning points.  Right now, this year is a turning point for me.

The kids are beginning to fly the coop.  Even when they are here, they do not need my constant attention.  I have spent MANY years caring for children and volunteering for the organizations that are important to them.  It is all fading away and what is left is for me.  What do I do now?  Fortunately I have the answer. The list of things I want to do is long and I am anxious to get to it.  This birthday feels like it is my time.  I am ready, it feels great!

thank you

See that little link over on the right hand side that says Celtic Sea Socks?  Can somebody please fix that for me?  And by fix I mean, write down the pattern and take some pictures.

a clue and inspiration

No one has guessed the mystery item. 

A clue:  It was made for Youngest Son.   Inspiration:  A skein of Dream In Color Smooshy is the prize.

Now for a bit of catch up.  Yes, I did get a prescription for bifocals.  In addition, my regular prescription also changed quite a bit.    My new glasses are so strong that they could not be made on site.  Oldest Daughter had her Rx filled in about an hour.  Me?  I will take 2 weeks, thank  you very much.

I did not choose to go with the progressive bifocals.  I did not care for all the distortion around the small clear points.  I opted for the could I please look a little oder? good old-fashioned bifocals.  No distortion.

When making my choice the “technician” asked if I read a lot.  I said yes.  She asked again, a lot?  Yes.  She looked at me like explanation was needed.  I explained that I write and often spend hours at a time doing research.  That seemed to work for her.  I did not bring up the knitting, which I am certain has some bearing on the whole thing.

It stopped snowing.  Yipee!!!!!

This weekend in my birthday.  Yahoo!

guess what i am

The first person to guess what this is will receive some yarny goodness.

rose colored glasses

I am off to get new glasses this morning.  99% certain I will arrive home wearing bifocals.  It really should have happened about a year ago.  I hope I still consider myself a good knitter and spinner once the vision is improved.

can we talk?

Dear Mother Nature,

Have you misplaced your notes about Seattle’s weather?  I first began to wonder about this last summer.  Remember those 3 days of sunshine you gave to us before you switched to fall?  We have been pretty bitter around here about being jipped out of summer.  But we are an optimistic people, and spun our non-existent summer into a sign of a mild winter and gorgeous spring.    We Seattleites have always appreciated that you give one nice snow during the winter .  A chance for the kids to play in the snow, a reason for the adults to stay home from work.  But was last winter really necessary?  And speaking of last winter’s snow, what is it doing here is spring?  Did you forget that April in Seattle means tulips and a few days of sandals without socks?  It is April 18^th and I am gazing out my window at snow.  Lots and lots of snow.  In case you missed it we were all pretty ticked off about the snow that fell April 1^st.  This is snow is just too much.  You have pushed us over the edge.  Our hopes dashed and spirits broken. 

yesterday

Yesterday morning began with a mad dash to the LYS to grab a longer circ.  After a day of knitting I do not think that 32 inches is going to be enough.  Sadness.  After a day of knitting the shawl looks like this.

I love how fast it is knitting up.  I love that It is a mindless knit without being socks.  I love that towards the end I will be learning something new.  What's not to love about this shawl?

Yesterday I also finished spinning the brown, today I will switch to the undyed.  Spinning the such a nice way to start the day.

Lastly, yesterday the FedEx man brought me this.

Imagine my surprise at receiving something so official looking from Random House.  It turned out to be an advance readers copy of Black Wave.  It made its way into my bag as we headed out the door for dance class.

OH MY!  I was hooked from the beginning.  After a few chapters I knew that Husband would be reading it as soon as I was done.  I will write a review when I have finished reading.  Until then, put it on your Wish List, it is a great read.

tumtooray

What a day.  The things I accomplished today would have taken 3 normal people 2 days, but I had my super hero cape on, so I was able to defy the laws of physics.

I did spin another bobbin for the Danish Tie Shawl.  No pic, it looks just like the pic from yesterday.  I was also able to knit over 6 inches without even breaking a sweat.

It may not seem like much, but my day included, among other things, dealing with government agencies (plural) AND a bank.  So I consider my progress damn good.

Before I go any further, this is what arrived in the mail today.

They are from Spindle Cat Studios and they are little works of art. My camera refuses to believe that copper is a real color, so here are links to the copper stitch markers, and the turquoise markers.  She does not have the marker keeper listed, but it is wonderful!  I HIGHLY recommend this artisan.  In addition to her beautiful metal work, the presentation is top notch.  Totally gift worthy.  Mother's Day?  Its right around the corner.

Just in case you need another reason to start spinning...after 3 weeks of this my butt and thighs are going to feel like granite.

oh bob, how I love thee

Today I rummaged through the fiber cabinet and came up with this

This is the fiber that came with my wheel, and this

I purchased this a while back with plans to play with Kool Aid.  They are both Corridale and will be spun into singles and knit into a Danish Tie Shawl. The pattern is in the new Spin Off and there is a Ravelry group. This is a sort of a test run.  I will make the shawl for myself, or at least as a deck shawl, and if all goes well  I will spin up something blue and make one for Grandma.  No better thank you for the wheel than a handspun, handknit shawl.

I was able to spin about 3 ounces this morning. 

It is drying right now and I plan to cast on in the morning.  I will spin all of the brown for the center of the shawl and spin the undyed ,as needed for the border.

The thought of being able to spin all of the yarn for my projects is making me a bit giddy.  Even at retail prices, gorgeous fiber is only $3.00 an ounce.  That makes every project affordable.

Of course I would never be able to dye and spin socks that look like this

Oldest Son is very happy.