October 08, 2004
Pleasants
When my son was little, he called gifts 'pleasants' instead of 'presents'. I was reminded of the long-ago with him Thursday, because there were many pleasants!
While I wasn't feeling so hot during the day, I was able to rally for the 15% Off Everything! sale at the LYS. Yep. A practically miraculous recovery. I picked up Susan after work, and we headed downtown to stake our claim to future knitting projects. While there, Cyndilou came in, bringing her luscious work-in-progress, her birthday cake. And then Karen arrived, and in getting to see these three, I didn't feel so bad about missing the SnB Tuesday night after all.
Here's Karen and Susan, the smartest and most interesting twins ever:
And here is some of my plunder:
I don't wear scarves, but I'm crazy about that book Scarf Style by Pam Allen! I am lucky to have a sister who will wear nearly anything I knit, and so I get to indulge myself in novelty stuff that I ordinarily wouldn't even think about knitting. It's nice to have a change. I have been happily surprised lately when I get home and find "Fizz," "Splash," "Squiggle," etc., in my shopping bag. I'm glad to have a sister to knit for! Am I lucky or what? Also lucky, for all knitters, is Straw.com's index of free patterns for frivolous yarn!
Crochet
I also indulged myself with a little Habu crochet kit; I'm planning to have Cyndilou, Crochet Maven, teach me enough to do this very cool Habu scarf. Finished, it will be very near to wearable art. And yet more on crochet . . . Cynthia, the hardest-working art-blogger ever, found this and I pass it along: The Museum of Crochet. I really don't know how I got through the days before finding Art for Housewives. I could happily spend hours at that site every day!
Pups
Being furry and happy. They know it is nearly the end of the week, and it's time to start ambling toward the weekend. Plus, the mailperson has been bringing lots of packages this week, and that always makes the dachshund cup of joy run over. Mailpersons are a particularly toothsome dachshund delicacy.
Q: Why did the dachshund bite the mailman's ankle?
A: It was as high as she could reach.
Happy knitting, and happy Thursday!
October 07, 2004
My!
I have knit-blog readers who are wonderful conversationalists! Thanks to all who commented so thoughtfully. Sometimes I read a blog in which the author states that she/he is writing only for herself. I have to admit I write for your comments now. What a nice exchange—thanks! Yesterday was a real jackpot! I should blog more often when I'm feeling lousy!
ka-CHooo.
Knitting
Laura's scarf is about a foot long now, and it's time to add in a new ball of the Elisabeth Lavold "Angora." As you know from reading this blog, I'm a spit-splicer. But I feel quite squeamish about spit-splicing angora. I keep imagining rabbit hair on my tongue.
(Ew. Ack. Gack. Please excuse my highly-sensitive gag reflex.)
I meant to ask Nanette about alternate methods of splicing angora, but in my ragweed-daze, I forgot. Maybe she'll read this. Or maybe you know? If no one speaks up, I'll have to tie the new ball in with a KNOT.
Speaking of squeamish! Here's a new one to me—meat hats. I wonder why. And who. What were they thinking?
Not squeamish at all, but quite adorable, are these three thrifty crafts that Brilliant and Beautiful Cynthia found recently. Grazie!!
Pups
All is well. They are enjoying my being home from work. Sister is sick, too. So it's a dachshund holiday, I guess. Even so, Little Jack declines to be the Celebrity SpokesDachshund today.
Happy Thursday, and happy knitting.
October 06, 2004
Talk Amongst Yourselves
A bit under the weather here from ragweed and a few other minor inconveniences. Please talk amongst yourself today.
What effects do events (time, nationality, physicality) have on knitblogs? Should they be more topical? less topical? This blog tries to stay focused on knitting (and dachshund photos), but should a knitblog be more engaged with the world outside of yarn shops? Discuss.
October 05, 2004
Delightful Diversion
My LYS owner told me that her favorite knitting book of the year was Interweave Press' Scarf Style by Pam Allen (ISBN: 1931499543). I couldn't believe it! How could a knitting book about scarves be anyone's favorite?
Scarves! I scoffed!
Once again, pride goeth before a—well, you know. Upon examining this book, I agree with Suzanne that it's a completely delightful book, bursting with wonderfully creative scarf-y diversions. There are 31 patterns from all of our favorite designers, and they've each taken the very idea of a scarf to new levels. Really different!
I cast on immediately for an intriguing scarf for which Sister picked out the yarn. It's a beautiful peacock blue angora blend from Elizabeth Lavold. There is 60% angora, 20% wool, and 20% polyamide in the mix. I think the polyamide would make this stuff luscious for house socks. I can't say how it will hold up over time, but hey! how long does a scarf have to last? And I cannot say enough nice things about how it feels. Soft, soft, soft! It's not as excessively fluffy as pure angora, or even an 80/20 blend. It's just perfect :-)
Cool! and curly, isn't it! This scarf, which utilizes short rows very cleverly, is called "Ruffles" and it was designed by Amanda Blair Brown. There is a fantastic cabled and stranded color scarf by Mags Kandis that I want to knit, too. In fact, and I blush to say this, there are at least a dozen scarves in this book that I want to knit. Nancy Bush, Nicky Epstein, Shirley Paden, Fiona Ellis, Debbie Bliss, Sasha Kagan, Annie Modesitt, Sally Melville . . . I'd knit one of their scarves any day. Two knitterly thumbs-up.
Pups
Mikey picked out his Halloween costume today, but other than that, the pups kept busy by napping, with brief intervals assigned to barking. What good dogs! They take the business of being dachshunds very seriously.
Tuesday night there is an SnB at Book People here, and I hope to see my favorite genius twins. And, the charming Chelsea is back in town on business, so we'll get to see her again too. If Cyndilou can join us, my knit-joy will be complete. Knitting. What a community-builder. Who knew?
Happy Tuesday! Knit with your pals! Pal around with your knits!
October 04, 2004
I Came I Saw I Katinka-ed
Knitters, we have Katinka-ed. I'm so glad I found the parts to this sweater and then the pattern! The yoke was the most fun. The underarms are grafted/woven together (very neatly, I must say). We have an official page for this Finished Object, but like the wonderful sister she is, Laura thoughtfully provides a Knitty-esque photo for you here:
Wot larks! Isn't she the best sister? The most difficult part was working the blanket stitch around the welt, cuffs, and collar. I have it on good authority that blanket stitch is just about the easiest embroidery you can do, but I found it quite difficult. <Yet another occasion when I wish I lived closer to the WiseNeedle Shepherdess.>
We have enjoyed our Icelandic sweater-tour, and while we await delivery of our next Icelandic yarn pack, we'll listen to some music that is not Bjork. Would you like to knit along to Iceland's National Anthem? Listen to „Ó, guð vors lands“ here. Or, you can listen to Icelandic folk recordings made between 1910 and 1934 on Edison records here. By the way, since we're sort of in the neighborhood, check out Queen Margrethe wearing the most awesome poncho you ever saw in Hello Magazine. Follow the link for the full story and photo, but here is part of the poncho:
Not Icelandic, but the traditional Inuit costume of Greenland—sometimes beaded, sometimes knit. Wild. Can you imagine the weight when worked in beads?
My Lopi yarn-pack should hurry up, because it's almost time for the Poetry-in-Stitches-along over at Ginny's! Yay Ginny! I'm making the cardigan with wristlets on p. 65. Although I admit to being horribly tempted by the gloves on p. 78.
Temptation! Sometimes it's so delicious! The lovely and thoughtful Teresa of One More Row surprised me with some lavender-infused Dagoba chocolate. The chocolate is luscious and organic. And incredibly, it's chocolate with a conscience! Dagoba (the company) believes in organic/sustainable agriculture, ethical trading and eco-friendly manufacturing practices. Yum. It's such amazingly tasty chocolate that I've been trying to be mindful when munching, rather than gobbling it all up. Thanks, T!
Pups
Little D and the Boyz had their usual enjoyable weekend, with barking and snoozing being the primary enthusiasms. Sometimes they even bark in their sleep. Silly pups. They also had a visit from Cousins Dyna and Apple Sunday afternoon. Dyna loves her cousins so much that she wants to kiss them all the time. This photo shows one of the few times Mike was being patient with her. He's been a bit crabby since he was sick. And it's true that Della does seem to be saying "Blech," as she flounces off. Even so, and as ever, a good time was had by all.
Except perhaps Laura, who had to model the unique qualities of Icelandic wool in the form of the completed Katinka in the heat of the afternoon. Isn't she the greatest?
Happy Monday! and happy knitting! Hum that „Ó, guð vors lands“, why doncha?