Waves in the square It was to be the never ending shawl and at times I was doubting my decision to add an extra panel on this shaw. Now that it's done, I like it but I'm thinking that I should have used darker beads.
Do other knitter's question every project that they knit? It seems as though I have have restarted every project because something wasn't quite perfect. This was not the original colour that I picked for this shawl. It was going to be green, but I thought I might run out of yarn. I would have had enough but I will probably get more wear out of a blue jean coloured shawl.

Sivia Harding Pattern
Malibrigo lace weight - 3 skains

These are my Baudelaire socks. I started them in the red but then decided that the toe should have been 12 stitches to start rather than 8. So I started them again in the plum colour. I was past the heel when I tried them on and decided that if I wanted to wear them I would be folding the toe over in my shoes. Ripped them back, and I think they will fit this time. But I really like the other colour better and so I've started it a second time. By my calculations, I will have knit six socks in order to get one pair!
This is the second start to my endpaper mitts. The first colour I tried was the Plum colour that is now in the above sock. The pattern didn't show up enough for my liking and.....rip....and cast on again.
On a positive note, because of all this ripping out and casting on, I now have the figure-8 cast on and the Italian Tubular cast-on figured out.

.....and the two mystery stoles that are hibernating may just have to sit in the "Bad Knitting Basket" for a bit longer until I decide how to change the patterns.

HAVE YOU STARTED YOUR STAMPEDE ENTRY YET????
Yesterday I received my copy of the Creative Arts and Crafts book in the mail. This is the book that has all the information needed so you can enter your knitting, stitching, wood working, etc. into the Calgary Stampede. If you are not on their mailing list, it's all available at www.westernshowcase.com

A MAJOR JANUARY PROJECT
For a long time...not months but years, I have wanted to reorganise and make my sewing room a usable room rather than a giant walk-in closet. It has always been the room where we dumped the stuff that didn't have a home. There was a pathway to the ironing board but other than ironing, it was a room I and everyone else avoided.
I knew this was a massive job which was why I procrastinated. I also was afraid that as soon as I got rid of stuff, I would want it and not be able to find the discontinued patterns, antique buttons, perfect piece of fabric, etc.
After a brief discussion with Doug in which I demonstrated the instability of the current shelves, he agreed that changes needed to be made. I'm not sure if he realised that he was also agreeing to painting.
Early in January, I started. Trip after trip down the stairs I emptied out the shelves. After a full day, the room was empty.

My living room looked like this.
After painting and building new shelves, I still had to deal with piles of stuff. Never junk. Treasures I accumulated over the years. Necessary Stash to create Works of Art.
There were many trips up the stairs with armloads of books. I sorted and filled boxes for charities. I filled bags for the garbage collectors. I had second thoughts and pulled stuff out of the boxes. I filled more boxes. I had more second thoughts and pulled stuff out of the closet and threw it into the charity boxes. I filled more garbage bags. Many more trips up to put threads and yarn in the shelves.


I finally found room for everything I decided to keep. Some things are left on shelves for everyone to see.
Other things are kept neatly out of sight. Even my closet door closes again!

Today I hung some of the pictures. There are still some changes that I want to make but for now, I'm done.
Oh yeah, How long did it take before I was looking for something only to discover that it was gone, never to be seen again? Less than a week.

RESOLUTIONS AND PLANS
In the spirit of the New Year and keeping with tradition, I felt that I should make a number of resolutions to make me a better person. First of all, I thought that I should not procrastinate anymore. Check the date. That one ain't gonna happen!I then thought that maybe would be a better person if if I became more active. That one died on the treadmill on January 5.Okay, maybe I should try for the easy ones. I will Knit more! This the Mystic Waters Shawl that was started in November and finished on January 15. A lovely pattern. I enjoyed knitting it and love that it's a huge shawl...even though at times it felt like I would never finish it.Another hat for LD. It's a size 2-4 so hopefully it will fit him for more than a month.Cables in the square. Why do I always pick large lace patterns. In a moment of weakness, I decided this one should be even bigger and cast on one extra panel to make it a square shawl. The malibrigo yarn I received for Christmas is so soft and squishy and wonderful to knit with that I'm also considering increasing the length of this shawl. As long as I'm resolving to knit more, I might as well fall into the completely crazy level of knitting obsession.The Unst Bridal Shawl. I've wanted to knit this pattern for awhile and decided that 2008 is the year for it. The fact that it's a bridal shawl has nothing to do with my S#1 and his oh so perfect girlfriend coming over and showing us "the Ring". The wedding isn't planned until '09.
My fourth resolution for 2008 is to finish DH's Christmas socks before the end of January. 6 days to go. I think I can do it.

Organization may or may not happen in 2008.

Finally, I will blog more! No more waiting for a month between posts. They will be interesting comments on the state of the world and educating knitting essays. Okay, that's a lie. There might be pictures.

THE PRECEDENT HAS BEEN SET
Calgary is a Hockey town and my family loves the game. While I know who Iggy and Kipper are, I have never been interested in the latest score, trade, or playoff position. I have been invited to attend several if not most of the games, but have maintained that if I couldn't take my knitting, I would rather stay home. My knitting has always been banned from the games with the threat that it would be thrown on the ice if I dared to be so sacrilegious as to knit in the great dome in the shape of a Saddle.
Saturday night - The Flames against the Ducks - I went to the game and the knitting came out! Granted, this picture was taken between the first two periods and those are little guys on the ice, but I knit all throughout the third period.

I do believe that the Flames played their best hockey during the third period and my knitting was probably the reason they won the game!

WE INTERUPT YOUR KNITTING TO BRING YOU THIS...
A welcome break to a busy time of year!
Doug and I headed out to Banff for the weekend. We stayed at Baker Creek Chalets where there are no TV's, no phones, no computers. There are however, paths along the Bow River, Cross country Ski trails and snow shoes! We followed the moose tracks through the clearing under the power lines for about three kilometers which doesn't sound like it was very far. With snowshoes, it was about a two hour hike.

There were a few tumbles in the snow when I stepped on my own snow shoe but it was easier than I thought it would be, It also helped that Doug broke trail for most of the hike!

Next time, we might have to try the Cross Country Skies.

We also found a puzzle in our cabin. We ignored the 1000 piece puzzle for the small 500 piece one. Once we started, we had to finish it. There were 13 missing pieces and the last piece didn't get put in place untill 11:00 - checkout time! It will be a long time before we work on another puzzle.

After we arrived at home, we had company. LD sure does like his carrots.
We will now resume our previously scheduled stressful December. Baking today and Cabbage rolls on Wednesday with Christmas sock knitting thrown in just in case I get bored!

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

It has been cold in Calgary the past couple of weeks. Cold enough to chill the coffee in the short blocks between the local coffee emporium and work. The solution? Coffee sweaters!


Instead of knitting my Christmas gifts or stitching ornaments for the tree, I have been knitting tiny sweaters without sleeves. One ball of Kureyon will make two Vente size sweaters.
If you feel the need to make a coffee sweater, Cast on 40 stitches on 5.5mm needles. join in a round with 10 stitches on each needle.
Purl 3 rounds.
Knit 5 rounds. Increase 1 stitch at the beginning of needle #1 and needle #3.
Knit 8 rounds. Repeat increase round.
Knit 8 rounds. Repeat increase round. (46 stitches)
Knit 5 rounds.
Purl 3 rounds.
Cast off. Finished length is ~6". Felt the sweater and dry on the appropriate size cup. Felted length is ~4".


You also should check your yarn before you start knitting because not all yarns that look like they will felt actually will!

I HATE COMPUTERS!
I have recently taken numerous pictures of finished socks, and a sweater and wonderful new yarn that has been added to my stash but unless you wander over to Ravelry, you will have to use your imagination.

It's enough to drive me to drink!

Tulip Sweater Finished I started this cute little sweater on Wednesday and was finished it by Saturday. What a great pattern and soft squishy yarn! It also helped that Amy and I had an unofficial race. I won!
It was a good thing that I had a couple of productive knitting days because Saturday was the day to help D#2 clean out her room.

There were books! And more books. Notice that there is nothing in these piles of collectibles that resemble clothes. Those are in a different room. I'm amazed that she could ever find her bed !

Back to knitting now! I'm on the second sleeve for my hoodie and the end is in sight!

THIS SWEATER DOES NOT WANT TO BE FINISHED!




Do you see that line where started the new ball of yarn? My family doesn't. So much for a "quick project that I''ll be wearing before the snow flies" This one is very close to having a "time out" in the basket.

THE SWEATER FROM HELL!!

On Sunday, I got the brilliant idea that I should cast on a new sweater. After all, the weather is going to be turning cooler soon and since I had this wonderful Malibrigo yarn that was calling to me and a simple top down Hoodie pattern, I would soon have a new sweater. I quickly knit a gauge swatch and cast on. By Tuesday afternoon, I was at the armholes when my good friend Knitting Grammy suggested that I should put my stitches on a string to check the fit. I protested. I had knit a swatch. My gauge was correct. It would fit. I put my stitches on a string and tried it on. I ripped it and cast on the next largest size.
I now had many more stitches on my needle but I was determined. I would have a new sweater soon. By early this afternoon I was back at the armholes. I was ready to place my sleeve stitches on holders. I paused briefly to admire my work and saw it. The missed decrease. Inches back. In the section that I had so cleverly knit while playing on the computer.
This pile of yarn is now my sweater. This wonderful sweater is quickly loosing it's appeal.

This is a warning!

As I was happily sipping my tea and reading the morning paper I realised that my good mood was about to be changed. Today is National Grouch Day. Today I can be as cranky as I want. I can slam the phone down on the unsuspecting telemarketers. I can impatiently tap my foot while waiting in line at the bank. I can honk my horn at the drivers that cut me off because they don't think the stop signs are meant for them. I can even throw my knitting across the room when I realise that it needs to be ripped. Today I will be Grouchy!
The main problem with being a Grouch today is that everyone else out in the world can be Grouchy too. It might be a good day to hide out at home. See you all tomorrow!

QUILT OF BELONGING

Yesterday, I went to Glenbow Museum to see the Quilt of Belonging. I had heard of this 120 foot long and eleven foot high quilt but was not prepared for the amazing work that I saw. It features 263 blocks of fabric that represent every country in the world and each of Canada's first peoples. Each block was stitched in Canada, by a Canadian about another country in the world that they have a connection with.
If you haven't seen it, Go! Go Now! Turn off your computer, Put your knitting down ( unless you want to knit on the bus downtown) and Go! It's only here until September 30 so you must go now! You won't regret it!
Glenbow Museum

HERE WE GO AGAIN!
MS3 is not complete and I have been feeling the need to cast on for a sweater or two. So why does this appeal to me? Secret of the Stole It's not like I don't already have 2 or more shawls that are started. I also have three other shawls that I have been wanting to start but have not cast on because I could only handle so many WIPs at a time.
I joined. I've checked out my Stash to see which beads would work best with the yarn and I've printed off the General Instructions. Currently there are 1477 members. I can't help but wonder how large this group will become.
First Clue will be posted on October 5.

AT LONG LAST

It seem like forever since I have actually finished something. I have knit socks and ripped out socks. I have planned new sweaters but not actually cast on. I have fretted over the stack of projects in the WIP basket. Today the was success. Today the Estonian Lace Lace was declared finished as it is blocked and the pictures have been taken.
Including the artsy outdoors shot with the breeze blowing.
Designer - Nancy Bush - Lily of the Valley Shawl - with nupps on every lily rather than every second one
Book - Lace Style - Interweave Press
Yarn - Suri Elegance - 100% Suri Alpaca By America's Alpacas

When the knitting is not going well, I can always bake. It's a different recipe but looks just as tasty version of Sticky Toffee Pudding. I think Karen is right. I just like saying "Sticky Toffee Pudding".
When I wonder why I haven't been getting much knitting done, I can find a dozen excuses. The best one is that there's nothing better than a baby's giggles. The knitting will all get done eventually.

Ravelry Conundrum
Today I got my invitation to join Ravelry! I want to spend time setting up my Flckr account and start taking pictures of my WIP. I need to inventory my STASH and figure out how many UFOs I have. My list of future projects is growing as I read other pages and find new and exciting projects to knit. I'm being introduced to many more blogs to read. There are yarn sites where I can sign up for newsletters to find out about new yarns that I have to add to my Stash and then inventory.
But, if I spend all my time on Ravelry, I won't have any time to knit! I'll never have another finished project to post on Ravelry. If I can never post a picture of a finished project, there's no need to set up a Flickr account. If I don't have time to knit, I don't need more yarn and I certainly won't have time to read all the new books that I'm finding out about.
The thought of it all just makes me tired. I knew the computer was my enemy!
If you have discovered the evil that is Ravelry, I'm AuntyTink.

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