FLAT YORKSHIRE PUDDING
and other weekend projects. After eating in British Pubs for three weeks, I was feeling the need for some calorie heavy goodness this past weekend. This is not what Yorkshire pudding is supposed to look like. This isn't the first time I have ever tried to make them, but it is the first time that they were a flat dismal failure.
This, on the other hand is what Sticky Toffee Pudding should look like. But if you pour a sauce made out of cream, butter and brown sugar over anything, it tastes good. Maybe I should try it over the Yorkshire Pudding.

Mystery Stole 3 Progress and decisions being made.
Clue #4 is done and I am at the halfway mark of the stole. I know there are 7 clues but I have decided to make mine a symetric stole rather than following the last three clues. I looked at the pictures on the Yahoo Groups site and the Bjork look is not for me. I love the first half of the stole and will finish it with a slight modification to the pattern.
Socks were ripped out and restarted
This is Waving Lace pattern out of Favorite Socks. Every once in awhile I come across a pattern that just seems right from the very first stitch. After ripping out several of the last socks that I started and knew I would not enjoy finishing, this one just has been a dream to knit.

WE'RE BACK!
After being away for three weeks, the tomato plants are dead, the Little Dude doesn't remember who we are and there is a mountain of laundry to be done, but it's great to be home. We saw castles and ruins and hills and paintings and more castles. After reaching maximum sensory overload, we are happy to be able to sleep in our own bed and not have to rummage through a suitcase looking for a passibly clean shirt.
While I was gone, My Sockapalooza 4 socks arrived. I don't know what thrilled me the most when I opened the package. My Sock Pal is from Japan. How neat is that? Someone on the other side of the world knit me a pair of socks! They are my favorite color! She knew they would be the perfect shade of green (Fottozey Foo). They are knit out of Socks that Rock. The pattern is perfect. I started knitting the Embossed Leaves socks last year when the pattern was first published in Interweave knits but ripped them apart when I decided I didn't like the fabric I was getting with the size of needles that I was using. I tried again with a different yarn and different needles and ripped it out a second time. When the pattern was republished in Favorite Socks, I thought I should try it again. Now I have my very own pair of Embossed Leaves socks, knit out of STR in green - Perfection! There was an extra surprise in the package. Sock yarn that I haven't seen before. Jaquard superwash. It looks like a self stripping yarn that will be perfect for a plain pair of socks. And chocolate covered almonds. The package was full but we started eating them last night and it's going to take all my will power to not eat the rest of them before Noon!

Airplane knitting

This is how much of a sock you can get done on a flight to Scotland. I don't like the way some of the stitches have stretched out so this is probably the last time you will ever see this sock.
Yes, you can knit lace on an airplane. Some of this lace was knit before we left and the majority of it was knit in quiet evening moments but 1/5 of it was knit on the flight home yesterday. I'm pretty sure that there aren't any mistakes in it and I didn't spill my lunch on it, so it was a good project to take on the plane.
Today is the day I tackle the laundry and watch Y&R. MS3 might come out of the basket while I'm seeing what Nickie and Victor have been up to for the last three weeks and I'm even looking forward to cooking supper. Now that is a scary thought!

ANOTHER MONKEY DONE!

These socks are being sent to my Sockapalooooza 4 pal. Will they fit? Will she like the colour? Will the yarn be itchy? Will they be the best socks that someone else has knit for her? All these questions will hopefully be answered in the near future aafter my socks fly off to a foreign country where they will come face to face (or sock to foot) with their new owner. The suspense continues.

MY SUNDAY DOWN AT STAMPEDE PARK
One of the displays that very few people know about is in the Agricultural area and involves several of the Guilds from the Calgary area. There is a heritage cabin that is a Summer Kitchen, and volunteers demonstrate various crafts for the ten days of Stampede. This past weekend, the ladies from the Calgary Guild of Needle and Fibre Arts were demonstrating knitting, spinning, doll making and stitching.

Donna decided that her crocs were not time period appropriate and ditched her shoes to spin barefoot. The 29 degree temps. might have had something to do with it as well. We refrained from making comments about being barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen but it was tempting.
This is an activity I sign up for every year. I believe it is the best way to see the Stampede. We spent a wonderful day knitting and visiting and chatted with some really interesting people who ventured into the cabin to see what it was all about. Further entertainment was provided by the sheep being sheered and cattle being milked across the road. The high temperatures were lessened by a nice breeze and I can now see the end of my Sockapalooza 4 socks. (Catching the Stampede Express bus and finding out that it only took 30 minutes to get from the far north end of the city to the grounds was a definite plus. It would have taken me double that time to drive down and try and find a parking spot, plus a great deal of aggravation)

Before I caught my bus home, I wandered over to the Creative living display in the Roundup center. (D#2 had taken pictures earlier in the week of my shawl, but the computer wouldn't let me rotate the pictures. I thought you might like to see them without having to kink your neck)

The ABC blanket won 3rd in it's category. After Tuesday, Carson can finally have his blanket!
My Hanging Garden Vine shawl won a second place ribbon. (Crappy picture but that's what happens when I take pictures through the glass) This was a last minute entry since I didn't finish the stole that I had planned to enter. I really should start now for next years competition rather than leaving it until May.

Caution - Rant Ahead

One of the highlights of the Stampede for me is going down to see the Creative Living Display. The display was much smaller this year and while the quality of the articles submitted for display is wonderful, I would like to see more entries submitted. The Committee reduced the number of entries per person to only two. The categories were also changed- a christening gown would be in the same category as an adult sweater because they were lace items. The Seniors Division was eliminated as was the Nursing Home Division. These changes were implemented to increase the quality of the entries. What it did was reduce the number of entries as many people showed their anger by not putting in anything. Without us showing our support for the Creative Living Display, I fear that it will disappear like it has in Edmonton, Vancouver and Toronto. This is a part of our annual exhibition that needs to be kept.

The Creative Living Committee is a very hard working group of individuals who get very little recognition for the work they do. They spend hours throughout the year organising things for the display. From the time the entries come in at the end of June to when the are finally picked up after Stampede, the ladies on the committee are there: assisting the judges, putting up the displays, washing the fingerprints off the glass, answering questions, taking down the displays and finally returning all the entries. (One year I assisted in returning the entries and wore my pedometer. I calculated that I walked over nine miles. ) They are not the people who make the final decisions.

The Creative Arts and Craft Committee is under the Western Lifestyles Show Committee who are the people who believe that in 2007 there is no interest in Arts and Crafts.

I disagree. Many people pay their gate admission every year and the only activity they take part in is viewing the displays. To shrink the Creative Living display or to eliminate it would be a great loss to the Stampede. We don't need a Cowboy Theme park that ignores the history and heritage that was the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede.

So, what can we do? Glad you asked! Write a letter. If you saw the display and were disappointed, tell someone. Even though it is 2007, an email or a phone call won't have the same effect as a good old fashioned letter and after all, we are trying to keep something that is old fashioned but still very valuable.

Plan for next year. Knit a sweater. Stitch a picture. Bead a necklace. AND ENTER IT INTO THE STAMPEDE! Don't worry about winning a ribbon. The thrill of going down the the World Famous Calgary Stampede and seeing your article on Display in the Roundup Centre is worthy of a great big Yaahoo. You might win a ribbon and that is even better. If we don't enter, the powers that be can only believe that there is no interest. The best way to prove them wrong is by entering.

Rant over - for now

FINISHED PROJECTS

I love this sweater pattern. It was such a fast knit. The hardest thing about finishing it was finding the perfect buttons. I'm still not sure that these truck buttons are right for the sweater but they will stay....for now. It's also my first finished Christmas present. Hooray! My socks for the Gillihook Heritage Knitting Guild Sock exchange are complete. I knit one extra pattern round for the cuff and then worried all the way through the foot that I would have enough yarn to complete them. Fortunately I did and have since started on my second pair using the same pattern. I'm in love with the Monkey!
I am one of the 6689
We are knitting the Mystery Stole 3. I am working on clue #2 and I will be finished it before the next clue gets posted on Friday. I almost wish I had all the clues so I could continue on with it and not have to wait for each one. Sanity does return and I remember that since I'm also working on socks for Sockapalooza4, it's a good thing I can't get all the clues. It's an easy knit but I don't seem to have much knitting time lately. Maybe that's because I spend too much time planning my next project! I also found out that my Hanging Vine Stole and ABC blanket won ribbons at the Creative Living displays down at the Calgary Stampede. D#2 took pictures for me but once again the computer is not cooperating. If you are down at the grounds, check out the displays of needlework, knitting, quilting etc. I usually go down on Sneak-a-peak night just to check out the displays but didn't make it this year. Pictures will be on a later post.

HERE HE IS!
Five days old and already been out shopping, to the Dr. for the first checkup, over to Grandma and Grandpa's house and to Starbucks for Chai Lattes. No wonder he's all tuckered out. Note - the socks fit but it won't be long before the little guy needs bigger ones.
His mom may not be a knitter but she definitely takes good photographs!

LET THE MADNESS BEGIN!

(All those people who are thinking that the madness started long ago, can just stop thinking that right now!)

I realise that I have signed up for not one but two sock exchanges. And I know that I have a new Grandson who needs some new cozy sweaters. And I know I have more than one shawl that is waiting for me to finish it BUT another Mystery Stole is starting. More information is here Pink Lemon Twist . I heard the call of the pattern and felt the urge to join. Does anyone else suffer from the need to start a new project? Care to join me in my downward spiral into knitting Insanity? I will bring my mystery shawls to Knitting Circle tonight at Make 1. What's one more project?

CAN YOU GUESS?? Carson Ray decided to finally make his appearance at 4:20 this morning. Mom, Dad, and Baby are all doing fine. I'm off to the hospital to meet my Grandson and to take lots of pictures!

PINK OR BLUE? WHAT'S A KNITTER TO DO? We are still waiting for the Grand baby to make his/her appearance and until that happens, my knitting of gender specific sweaters is on hold. Since the knitting needles were lying idle and calling out to me to knit cute baby stuff, I had to cast on this.
This cute little sweater in a neutral aqua is probably too girly for a boy and not pink enough for a girl but I'm liking the pattern so far. I might even get it finished before baby arrives and I start knitting pink or blue.
Monkey socks.
These will likely be my exchange socks for the Gillihook Heritage Knitting Guild sock exchange. Knitting them both at once seems to be the best way of making sure they are the same since I have modified the pattern slightly. It will also ensure that they both get finished before I switch gears to knit mega numbers of baby socks. (Do I sounded excited and impatient yet?)

ONE MORE RANDOM FACT

In 2005, Little House on the Prairie, a mini-series, was being filmed south of Calgary. I knit Laura Ingall's socks for the movie. Six pairs of socks were knit in five weeks. No, I didn't get listed in the credits and I haven't watched the whole show yet.


Today is a Snow Day!

Originally my plans for today included driving out to Crossfield to help D#1 plant flowers and the garden. Oh Darn! I guess I'll have to stay home and knit.

The Baby's blanket is done. The baby can arrive any time now. And as soon as we know if it is a boy or a girl, the sweater knitting can start.
Debbie Bliss pattern, knit in Cascade Pima Tencel

Seven facts about me.

I've been doubly tagged to list seven facts about myself. I'm not sure I can think of seven interesting facts but I have been thinking about it for a day now and the only way to stop the daydreaming is to put some thoughts into actual words.

1. I put salt on watermelon. Weird? yes, but ever since I've been a child that's the way it tastes best. My preferred way of eating that same salted watermelon is with a knife and fork. Both of these idiosyncrasies were taught to me by my Grandfather. (no-one said the seven facts had to be earth shattering or even interesting!)
2. I'm competitive. The easiest way to convince me to start a new project is to say "let's race!"
3. I've been entering projects in the Stampede since 1988 and have several ribbons awarded for both needlework and knitting. It's that old competitive streak again. My goal is to win the Gina Brown award.
4. I used to be a co-owner of a needlework store. The day I regained my sanity and decided to sell my share in the store was both one of the happiest days and saddest days I remember.
5. I'm lucky to have survived my childhood. When I was six, my brother and I were playing with candles in the hay loft. Of course, we started a fire. My older brother left me to put it out while he ran to get help. My grandfather who came to help never did tell my parents. I had to 'fess up the next spring when my Mom found some burnt doll clothes.
6. I am a Y&R addict. I will rearrange my day so I can be home knitting in my favorite chair when Victor and Nickie make their daily appearance.
7. I read when I'm away from home - holidays on the beach, weekend retreats or camping. I pack lots of books and tune out everything else. When I'm at home, the TV is on and I'm knitting.

As I look through the blogs, I realise that most of the blogs authors have already listed their seven facts. Feel free to play along without being tagged.

A LIFETIME OF KNITTING

I came across this on a couple of other blogs and thought it looked interesting. It made me realise how many things I have done already and how many more I have yet to try. There are also alot of techniques that do not interest me at all. Knitting with dog fur? No Thank you!!

The instruction part:
Mark with bold the things you have knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Participate in an exchange
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s hand-spun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Knitted flowers
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/arm-warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

What have you learned to do that has marked a definite change in your knitting life? To be patient and wait for the yarn to let you know what it wants to be. This is why I have a yarn stash. It hasn't "spoken" to me yet.

HURRAY FOR RETREATS!!!!

I should be packing my bags because I am heading out on a retreat this weekend with my friends from the Calgary Guild of Needle and Fibre Arts. I am looking forward to a weekend filled with knitting, stitching, eating, drinking wine and lots of laughter. We head out twice a year to North Bow Lodge to enjoy the scenery, the company and to have some uninterrupted knitting time.

Before I head out this afternoon, I will be making a stop at the Book Store. One of the things that I enjoy most about retreats and camping is getting away from the TV and losing myself in a good book. (Yes, I realise that I could turn the TV off when I'm at home, but I don't.) My problem is, I don't know which book to read next. On my last trip out of town I read three books. Two were excellent. One was marginally better than reading the security card on the airplane - I should have known to avoid the Harlequin romance but read it because it was set in a knitting store - silly me! And one that I gave up on after the first one hundred pages. I detest books in which half the story line is a repeat of what happened in previous books. I don't care about the personal disagreements that the pathologist had with the detective in the last book. Tell me who was the victim and find the criminal in this book.

As I was describing the books to D#1, I found myself comparing them to my all time favorite book, and realised that it has become our standard for all other books. I'm looking for another book to read and hesitate to start another one because I want it to be a good read. Any suggestions?

All time favorite book - "A Fine Balance" - Rohinton Minstry
Also good is "Family Matters"
Last Weeks Excellent books were "Kite Runner" - Khaled Hasseni and "Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Kidd

BACK FROM DENVER

While in Denver we did the Tourist thing and stopped off to see the State Capitol Building. We thought we were going to look at a building and perhaps a few portraits. We were amazed at our luck.
The Colorado Quilting Council has a display of 210 quilts on four floors of the State Capitol Building. What had started out as a 45 minute tour ended up as a two and half hour viewing of some of the nicest quilts. We finally had to leave because our necks were protesting that we had been looking up long enough.
The Mile High Lace Knitting Conference started Wednesday night with an opening reception and our classes started early Thursday morning. It was absolutely marvelous. I took classes from Margaret Stove, Nancy Bush, Donna Druchunas, Galena Khmeleva and Joan Schrouder. The classes were all very small and the teachers were excellent. I learned about Estonian Lace, Russian Lace and Arctic Lace. I knit samples and attempted to chart my own designs. I learned about the importance and necessity of swatching both when designing and when knitting a pattern. I sat in on Round Table discussions, admired lace shawls that were being worn and shopped. (Doug, stop reading now!)

This is all destined to become more lace shawls. Clockwise, Blue zephyr for an Orenburg styl triangle shawl, Fino Alpaca and silk the has started to become the shawl in the new Knitters' (It may not stay as that shawl.) Quiviet, two skeins of merino tencel that is so soft and reflects the light in ways that just demand for it to be knitted and two skeins of a 2/32 wool. The two balls in the center are varigated with some of the most yummy colors. The green goes to blue and back again but you can't really see the colors because of the way it is wound. It needs to be knit to show off the shading.
Of course I couldn't just buy Quiviet, I had to see what it was like to knit with. It isn't as soft as I thought it would be but since I got to look at and molest many samples, I know it will bloom and soften when it is washed.
I didn't just start new projects, I actually finished one too. It will be nice to wear my Spring colored new socks since spring also means we will still have many cool days.

I'm glad to be home but I am looking forward to next year's conference. Now, back to reality!

Living dangerously in Blogland!
This is new sock yarn being added to the stash. I found a local source for Koigu and since I have signed up for Sockapalooza 4, more sock yarn sounded like a necessity. Karen went on a road trip to Edmonton and found the Socks that Rock and her husband found the perfect shade of green. Now I just have to find the perfect patterns. The other option is to let the yarn age for a certain amount of time first.

My Hanging Vine Stole is done. I don't have the outfit to wear with the stole but I'm working on it.


This is the first half of the baby blanket. Entrelac is only fun for the first little while and then it really begins to drag. My project for this afternoon is to decide which projects to take to Denver for Mile High Lace Knitting weekend. Socks would be ideal for the plane ride but the I really should have an actual lace project with me. I found out that one of the Vendors at the marketplace will be bringing Quiviet. I can't wait to see what other treasures I can find!

I really hesitated before showing the stash additions and discussing purchasing luxury yarns since my husband has asked for the link to this page. I'm not sure if having him read this is a good idea!

True Confessions!

I did not last the whole month of March without starting any new projects. I started a basic pair of socks but socks are a necessity. I had many choices for a new project and resisted many. It was not the STR that made me pull out my double pointed needles and cast on for a new pair of Toe up socks!
It wasn't the colours of the Helen's Lace that called me to find a new shawl pattern.


This is the start of an Entrelac Baby Blanket from Baby Cashmerino by Debbie Bliss. I think I will have to work on this in short spans of time. The hands and elbows were both protesting working with the cotton yarn and tight cables. With only two months to finish it, I'm glad that baby blankets are small.

While reading blogs this morning, I found a new challenge for April. Runagogo I believe that I can run 100 miles between April 1 and July 1 and in fact, to run/walk 100 miles in April is not impossible. I may have to put down the knitting, or at least work on basic socks while on the treadmill. Cables and jogging will not work. Any one care to join me?

Finally, March is over


and along with it is my self imposed restriction to only work on started projects. I did finish several projects including the ABC baby Blanket. I started this in November with very good intentions of finishing it quickly and before moving on to other projects. It was completed on March 11.





Four pairs of socks were completed. Two sweaters had minor sewing to be done on them. They are now completely finished. The Hanging Garden Stole is not complete but it is close.

My toe-up socks are finished!








My Raku Suri Stole is finished. That's it on the left. On the right is my Persimmon Lace stole. It too is finished.


I realised early on that there were some projects that I had no desire to work on and that I didn't like the way they were turning out. There is more than one way to finish a project, and I am sure that the yarn is much happier in it's unknit state.

A Mid-month progress report

These are Doug's Socks that were going to go in his Christmas stocking. They are finally finished and on their way to a new home. They are going to be sold in a silent auction at a friend's church. I will be very annoyed if they don't sell for a good price. Too many times, wonderful hand crafted items are sold for prices that don't even cover the cost of materials.
Last year I donated some knitting to a bazaar and it was priced to only cover the cost of the yarn. There was nothing extra added on for the time spent knitting them. A plate of cookies was priced at $2.50 for a dozen. There is no way that the ingredients in the cookies cost $2.50 . I decided that I would no longer be supporting that charity by knitting but would be buying more cookies.
As long as the Ladies who are pricing crafts for charities continue to ignore the time spent in creating a garment, the public will continue to believe that mittens are worth a dollar and a pie is worth $!2.00.




Blankets for the New Baby (Why do we say that? Has anyone ever had an Old Baby?)



These are technically a new project for the month of March but since I made a dozen receiving blankets and one fitted sheet for the bassinet in only four hours, I'm not counting them. It's my rule. I can bend it anyway I want to!




Leaf Lace socks are also done. These were Sock of the Month project from Make 1 YarnStudio The pattern is from Fiber Trends and the yarn is Sweet Georgia. These one were residing in the basket since October, because I thought I had a mistake in them. The mistake was in not finishing them earlier.
The advantage to working on old projects is that you end up with many more finished projects instead of a full WIP basket.

TAG - I'M IT?????

Michelle tagged me for the Five reasons why I blog and while this seems like a simple tag, I don't know if there are a full five reasons.

1. I started this blog when I joined a sock exchange, which leads me to...

2. Everyone else had one so I thought I needed to have a blog too. Now, the next thing I have to do is figure out how to make my Blog look pretty instead of very boring. I just wish that learning stuff on my computer didn't take so much time away from knitting!

3. I love to show off my knitting. This is the same reason that I enter my stuff in the Calgary Stampede (Creative Living display).

4. I enjoy being part of a great knitting community. This opens up the ability for me to communicate with other knitters around the world and it really fascinates me.

5. In Theory, friends and family can find out what I do each day but since no-one in my family reads this that makes this a irrelevant point.

If you tag someone who doesn't know you have a blog, does it still count? Morgan - You're It!

On my needles

It's getting tougher to keep to my pledge to only knit on unfinished projects. Even if there was no new project that I wanted to work on, the mere statement that I would only work on old projects makes me want to start many, many, many socks and sweaters and shawls and cute little baby hats. This same process works whenever I decide to go on a diet. I'm never hungry for chocolate cake and chicken wings until the day I decide to visit Weight Watchers.

Projects are being Finished!

I hate to think about how long ago this little sweater was started. This isn't it's original shape. I started out with a pattern from a "Knitters" but then decided that it really wasn't working and ripped the whole sweater apart. After I decided on this pattern and had the fronts done, I ran out of yarn for the back, ripped it out and reknit it in a totally different colour.This has been complete for over a year except for the buttons being sewn on.
...and one final blocking will happen before it is donated to a local charity.

Now that it is finished, I'm thinking I should make another sweater with another pattern from Bee's Knees. There is no shortage of sock yarn in this house.

These are my Ladybug socks. The two pair were knit out of one ball of Opal. I had to one sock from the first pair and then the first sock from the second pair in order to get the sequence of the stripes the same. I'm just slightly obsessive about my socks matching.

And this is what happens when you knit one sock in August and the second sock in March. You forget what kind of decrease you were doing (naturally not what the pattern calls for) and then have to rip because, socks must match exactly. Yes, I fully expect that when I wear these socks, everyone will be starring closely at my feet and realise that they are exact matches to each other!

MARCH 1 - MARCH 31
NO NEW PROJECTS MONTH!

Each time I attempt to find my knitting chair, I trip over various partially completed projects. I can't put my feet on the stool because there are two unfinished socks there. There is another sock on the hearth and two more hidden in the basket.

There are a least three shawls that have been started and that are waiting patiently for me to finish them.

Two sweaters - one with a minor amount of finishing and one that is just barely begun - have been stuffed into the basket.

A baby blanket that is half done has been claiming most of my attention recently.

Knowing that this array of projects has not been enough to keep me from planning new projects. This morning I found my self checking out the stash and looking for new patterns online. (Where is Lily Chin's Reversible Cable Heirloom blanket?)


I have decided that the pile must be demolished or at least shrunk down to a reasonable size.

In several of the blogs that I read on regular basis, my fellow knitters have made 2007 a year in which they knit only from the stash. While this is an admirable goal, I realise that it is a futile goal that is doomed from the start. A year is a very long time. A month is manageable - maybe.

My Weekend Projects!

My night time knitting.

I realised that it had been awhile since I had worked on the Babe's Blankie and so I decided that this was the weekend to make some progress on it. As I worked on it, I finally read the directions and found out that the borders are all done separately. This makes no sense to me so I will be picking up stitches on all four sides and knitting my borders in one piece. I suppose that knitting them separately might be simpler for a beginner knitter but this is not a project that any beginner knitter in their right mind would attempt. By the time you get through all the pattern for those letters, you can certainly handle the border done in one piece.

My Daytime project.

I spent most of the daylight hours working on this. Yes it's another new project, but one I felt that I needed to stitch after listening to the program at the Deerley Wrought Sampler Guild last Monday night. This is one of a series of samplers that were originally done at the Ackworth School in England. It was the smallest one that I could find and at 8 x 21 on 36 count linen, there will still be lots of stitching to keep me busy (as if I ever had a problem being bored!)

The socks will have to wait.

Just about done!

Sew on seven buttons and it's finished! I went to a size larger needle and a size larger on the pattern and I still wish it was a smidgen bigger. This was an easy, quick pattern (Alchemy - The Naturalist). I may have become a convert to top down sweaters. The yarn was a Christmas gift so I had to knit it rather than letting age in the stash. It was a dream to knit, but then , how can you go wrong with Silk Purse (100% silk) and Haiku (40% silk 60% mohair).

I registered for the Northwest Sampler Guild's Seminar to be held in October. A weekend of stitching, listening to lectures on samplers, visiting and seeing the sites of Seattle - can't wait. I hope I enjoy the classes that I picked. I will wonder until I actually get there if I picked the right classes for me.

When I registered for the Mile High Lace Knitting Seminar in Denver, I thought I knew which classes I wanted to take. Fortunately, I was able to change my mind and my registration. I will see in April if I made the right decision.

I guess indecision is all part of being a Libra. Sometimes I wonder how I get anything done. For now, I'll use it a s a good excuse for starting so many projects. After all, I couldn't be expected to just choose one and stick with it until it was done. It might have been the wrong project!

I'm back!

It has come to my attention that someone out there might actually be reading this blog and that I should update it periodically. While I have been knitting lots and thinking of lots of things to say, they very rarely make it on to the page. I will try to do better.

Procrastination at it's finest - A New Year's resolution made on February 17.

The Shrug for Kari was finished two weeks ago and she picked it up last Friday. I think it took longer to find the memory card, and fight with the computer than it actually took to knit this. We lengthened the sleeves by three inches and they are still 3/4 length.

Debbie Bliss pattern -

Yarn Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmere

Hopefully I will get some good knitting time in this weekend and finish my "naturalist" Plans include stopping by the Kensington Pub with the gang from Make1 Since Monday is Family Day, I may have to socialise with the Family.