Tuesday, January 27, 2009

I Met Someone at the Dog Show....


She was holding my left hand.



And, she was wearing a star-crossed beret perfectly matched to her scarf.

Thanks, Emily.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Elderly British Lady


For the past two weekends (or so), I've been holed up at home working on my knitting while drinking tea and watching BBC while the weather was snowy and very, very cold. I've been hooked on the Dorothy L. Sayers Miniseries from the late 80s. So many hours of mystery and clever British witticisms.

Anyway, I've been making head way on my February Lady Sweater. Right now I'm about 7" into the lace section of the bodice. I've also been perusing the billions of FLS projects on Ravelry to get inspiration on how I want the finished product to look. While I have an idea now, it came mostly by way of all the unfortunate projects on Ravelry. Perhaps I'm a horrible person, it could be so, but some of these projects are really atrocious. Now, I support the idea of making something yourself and being really proud of what you have accomplished; however, I also think that you don't have to wear the thing you toiled away on if it makes you look dumpy or frumpy or just doesn't do a damn thing for you. I think there is also the brave spirit who gives the finger to the world and all the critics and says, "Screw you. I made this. I'm wearing it." That's ok too. Those people don't want to be know by what they have knitted but by their attitude in wearing it.

All the perusing put me in a bit of a snit. This was due to the fact that while I start looking at everyone else's Ugly Finished Object I start to fear that mine too is going to be ugly and I'm going to be blind to its ugliness. So, I charge all of you readers (all two of you), to not be afraid to tell me thank my labored over and carefully knitted FO is atrocious and should be frogged without delay. Either that or give me good ideas on how to not make me look frumpy and dumpy as though all I've been doing is eating scones, drinking tea, and knitting while watching the BBC.

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Knitting for the Wii?


This was a running joke over Christmas break only we didn't know that it was a real thing.

Check it.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

2008 roundup and Xmas Present Revisit


This past year has been a good knitting year. Retrospectively, in 2008, I visited 2 sheep and wool festivals, started 20 projects (more projects than all my other knitting years combined), finished 14 of the 20 projects that I started. I knitted by first sweater in 2008 (Best Friend Cardigan) and was able to give 11 knitted gifts for Christmas.

As for my Christmas gifts, I was able to make 2 Jacques Cousteau hats, 4 Star Crossed Slouchy berets, 2 Crofter Cowls, 1 Holding Hands Feeding Ducks Scarf, 1 Amelia Earhart hat, and 1 Woven Headband. I neglected to take pictures of all of them before gifting but here are several.

Jean's Crofter Cowl
Yarn: Malabrigo Paris Night
Needles: no. 8s


Noelle's Star Crossed Slouchy Beret
Yarn: Manos del Uruguay
Needles: no. 10.5s and no.9s



Dad's Jacques Cousteau Hat
Yarn: Ultra Alpaca
Needles: no. 5s


Darlene's Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks Scarf
Yarn: Atelier Yarn's 50/50 Yarn
Needles: no. 10.5s



Sarah's Star Crossed Slouchy Beret
Yarn: Manos del Uruguay
Needles: no. 11s and no. 10s




Haley's Star Crossed Slouchy Beret
Yarn: Knit and Needlepoint's Merino
Needles: No. 11s and No. 10s





With all of my knitting for others out of the way, I'm really excited to work on some projects for myself. I finally ordered more skeins so that I can finish Twiggy. I have may Noro sitting out for my Noro Stripe scarf. I am swatching for my February Lady Sweater and I have new plans for my cheap, cheap purchase of Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool. I plan to knit Frances with it. I also have a pattern picked out for the Times Remembered Alpaca that I bought at Rhinebeck. I've kinda fallen in love with Charlie by Jordana Paige.

Bring on the 2009 knitting!