What kind of knitting needles are you?

You are pink aluminum.Retro, straightforward and fun, you love classic things. If they're 99 cents at Goodwill all the better! You are moved by striking colors and tasty morsels, and you like a stitch-n-bitch session in the sun. Just remember, while you're being kitschy cool, don't get too cold. Ice cubes are best kept in your cocktails, baby!

Been A Long Time Coming

Posting anything has been difficult lately with the Back to School Craze that's swept the Country lately....

That and work, going to the lake, bombing around town in my new car, summer holidays... Blah, blah, blah, yada, yada, yada. This lil ol post is just a teaser....

Here's what's been occupying my needles mostly as of late. We had an exchange in the Canadian Dishcloth Group I belong to and I was lucky to exchange cloths with a super nice lady in Halifax (Hi Suzanna). She sent me the lovely blue/green/yellow cloth that's resting on the top right hand side of the photo. I should have done a better photo of it, what was I thinking.... I also got some chocolate that was "confisgated" by my son and a sample of some detergent for wool. Thanks again, I hope you enjoyed your cloth and goodies I sent....



This is the cloth I sent her.... Its the ZigZag Stripes pattern I've got posted here on my blog. It was fun to do but I really had to concentrate... Again, I don't think the photo captures the pattern well enough. I'll update it when I take a better one.



I finished my shawl that I started for my Triangular Shawl KAL.... Here it is in all its glory resting comfortably on our sofa out at the lake. There's a few boo-boos in it, but all in all, I'm pretty happy with my first big piece.



We decided instead of doing the "family summer vacation trip" together this year, we'd seperate our holiday time so that our son could be at home all summer instead of having to go to his grandmother's. My hubby took him to the Dinosaur Provincial Park earlier so when it was my turn to do something "summer vacation" like with the boy, we went to the beach! The sandcastle that my son and I made during our "mini-holiday" when we went to Sylvan Lake. It was hot and sunny and wonderful to be able to go just him and I, and hotel it for a few days.



... and my new car .... (Notice my hubby's head poking out the top.. heehee.) The back windows have since been tinted and now it looks really hot! I want to wash it and detail it again then I'll update this photo also.

My Cabled Irish Hiking Scarf

I love knitting these cables! The pattern is so nice. Its a simpe repeat that once you get going, you just don't want to stop! The Conquering Cables KAL was such a great idea, I'm glad I joined... Thanks ladies for organizing this one.

This is only about 2 hours worth of knitting and its already close to 12 inches long. I know there are some who have already finished theirs and probably faster than me too, but hey, its not a race...

My niece asked me to knit her a poncho for back to school. Maybe it'll have cables in it.

Dishcloth Weekend

Summer holidays are without a doubt the best way to unwind and recharge the batteries. They give me a chance to get things done I wouldn't do otherwise. Like reorganize entire bedrooms, go through piles of clothes that no-one wears anymore and KNIT!

We went out to the lake this last weekend and it was wonderful! Not super hot, by any stretch, kind of drizzly and overcast, but great weather for just sitting around and relaxing. The kids were busy riding the quads, with helmets and a pre-determined speed limit set by us, AND within viewing distance. Our boy is very responsible on a quad and doesn't grumble with our rules.

Anyway, I managed to knit up 4 dishcloths during our 4 days out. It was perfect!

The first one is a simple but pretty lacy pattern that
Dorothy left for me in a comment she posted on my blog. Thanks Dorothy! I chose to break up the pattern with stockinette between each panel and really like the way it turned out. I did have some trouble with it though, each panel of lace is just a bit different. Hard to tell until you really scrutinize it, but all in all, its a nice big piece (about 8x10).


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The second and third are variants of Granny's Fav and the DW cloth. This one was tons of fun! Especially when I did the second one and figured out when to start the pattern closer to the edge so that the whole thing is in the DW pattern.
The picture however is super bad so I'll have to take another of that one.


Then, just for funsies, I did a Granny's fav. Would you believe this is only the second one I've ever done.. With so many great dishcloth patterns out there, I've never really thought of doing more of these. This I think I knit up in about an hour and a half.



PLUS, still on one set of needles is the Mock Lacy Cloth from my Monthly Dishcloth Group's KAL. I really need to finish this one even though, (I know I'll be making another) I debated frogging it as there's a couple of boo-boos in the repeats.

Dude - Where's My Car?!

So. I tickered when my new Caliber should be arriving. Like an expectant mommy waiting for the stork. 40 Days, 30 Days, 20 Days, 10 Days.... I phoned today. TWO OR THREE MORE WEEKS MINIMUM!

OMG!

I'm now on holidays ...without reliable transportation... This bites, sucks and blows. I know that's not nice to say but, here's the kicker. I booked my holidays off, thinking that when I did so I'd have my new car to bond with. Take my son on road trips around Alberta. See all the sights... The Giant Egg in Vegreville . The UFO landing pad in St. Paul. The Giant Mundare Sausage in Mundare... PLus a couple others I just can't remember them right now. We did it one summer with my family and as cheesy as it sounds, I enjoyed it! It was an Alberta Bound Road-trip.

Anyway. Now. I just don't know... End of rant.

I'm a Cablerina... dance cables, dance!

Get it? Cablerinas... Ballerinas.... OK. I'm just really excited about this one, so sue me! LOL

I'm having a blast Conquering Cables! (Insert really big smile here.) I've always "adored" cables and envied every big and beautiful one I've ever seen! In fact, my absolutely most favorite sweater was an aran cable in "ivory" cotton that I literally wore out. Could not be saved! Holes in the "girl-zone", if ya get my drift. I'd wear camis under it so I could wear it in public... BTW, I'm not exactly a size "2". I didn't care! The sweater begged to be worn and I wore it out!...

Anyway, I've started my Irish Hiking Scarf (which by the way, I've downloaded the pattern onto every computer I've touched since I started knitting in January...) in Red Heart Cozy Wool Paprika on No. 11 bamboo needles (bulky 5, 70% acrylic, 30% wool). I've frogged it twice now. The first time out, I did it on No. 8 Bamboos, and mucked up the 3rd repeat of cables in my excitement of doing the first two right! It was so pretty... I just couldn't stop! Anyway, after I frogged the first one, I restarted on the larger needles, but didn't like how loose it was. Got grumpy and in a fit of "over-perfectionist" rage, frogged it all after my first repeat of 8 rows...

That's when I had an Epiphany! I'm going cable at row 6 instead of 8, AND, instead of repeating the pattern 3 times, because of my bulky weight yarn and big fat needles, I'll do the cable repeat twice. The Extra 2 rows aren't really helping me any, other than making me tired as I'm really trying to watch my tension and "tighten up".. By row 8, it was looking holey and sloppy with big baggy ladders... Anyway, tonight I've done 5 sets of 6 rows and its freakin awesome!!!

You'll have to take me word on it though as my hubby and son took my camera with them on their "father/son" holiday. When they get home Thursday, tho, I will take plenty o'pictures!...

Faith and Blarney! I love this Irish Hiking Scarf!

From Too Busy, To Can't Stop Knitting!

Well, it seems that my lack of blogging lately has contributed nicely to my excessive knitting these days.

I've done 3 cloths in 4 days. All of which I can't show just yet as they are gifts and I don't want to ruin the surprise for their intended recipients. Let me just say this, though... I have been having such a good time doing this cloths, they're patterns I'm just learning but they're fairly easy to memorize! Makes for a fast knit!

Once I figure who gets what, plus I think I still need to do about 4 more before my gifting session is finished, I will post photos of all my hard work!

My son, (who turns 10 in Oct.) bless his heart, asked me to teach him how to knit! I grabbed some big needles, some cotton yarn, cast on a dozen stitches and we went at it. In no time, he had a rhythm down and was knitting like a pro! He even made himself a wristband... I'll share the photo once I download them to my computer. It was a blast!

Oh yeah!... I've also joined a Beginner Cable KAL called Conquering Cables. Its going to be great! I need to see if there's anything in my stash that will work for the Irish Hiking Scarf I'll be doing... Cables are so beautiful and I'm hoping that I won't get too frustrated learning. Patience, young jedi.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone, if I don't get a chance to post again this week...

TooBusyToKnit

I have been so busy lately I haven't had any time to do any knitting... Apparently, I need a new keyboard at home, too.... (the space bar doesn't work-I'm editing this now from the office) Wowthisisgoingtobehardtoread!

What have I been doing? Preparing my old car (a 1990 Honda Civic) for its new owners. A brother and sister are buying it. Teenagers, so I want to make sure that all is good before they drive away in it. I remember my first "real car" and what a hunk of junk it was! A 76 Vega. I owned it for 6 months and drove it for 2... Anyway, I don't want them to be disappointed with their purchase so I'm trying to go the extra mile. Cleaning and fixing little things that I had planned to eventually do but didn't seem to be essential... Painting the wiper arms, replacing a couple of burned out bulbs, making sure the glove box opens and closes properly... Yesterday I took it in for its insurance inspection and all was good. I'm excited for them. These little Hondas are great for a young person. They usually take them and "sup" them up with fancy rims, fancy paintjobs, kickin' stereos. I can't wait to see what they do to it (if they do anything).

Then I Wait (not so patiently) for my new car...
a bright shiny new Dodge Caliber


6 weeks to go... I think I might add a ticker to my blog.

DPN Hell

Okay... So am I the only person on the face of the planet who can't seem to knit with DPNs?!!! Holy "insert colourful metaphor here"!

My son, after watching me knit my armwarmers, has asked me to knit him some. He thought "they are so cool!" he wanted a pair. Sure, buddy! But I'll do them different. Your arms aren't as big as mine. The circs I'm doing mine on wouldn't be a good size to do yours on". Thinking in the back of my not so logical mind I'll do his on DPNs instead. Its a tube thing. I find it fun to knit tubes. Socks for everyone, maybe. I think its all stems of my instant gratification issue.

So anyway last week he picked out this "yarn" from the dollar store. That alone was a mistake. Then, this Saturday, before we head out to his ball tourney he tells me, "Don't watch me play, just knit my armwarmers." OK! My son is an alien. The original 9yr. old showman is letting me, nay, ordering me to do something instead of watching him during his "time"! I can't argue, I grab the knitting go.

So, his first time up to bat and he hits it! First base.... My husband pokes me in the ribs and says, I think he wants you to knit. Here's our son, standing there, doing the hand motions. Up and down, up and down. Go on, he mouths... OK! I giggle and say, well guess that's all the ball I'm watching today!

I cast on to one needle. Start doing a x2 ribbing. Do three rows and then divide onto three needles. 9 Stitches a needle. When I start kintting, I put my spare needle in and give'er. When I got to the end of the third needle I, for whatever reason, was lost... OK! How do I join them now. I know I'm jsut supposed to knit them together, but if I do I'll end up with only three needles instead of four! I fought and fought with how the heck I was supposed to get this blasted thing together for the rest game. I suck, but they won the game.

After we came home and I said I needed to consult "the experts" to my hubby. Got on the computer and surfed till my fingers hurt from clicking and my eyes from not blinking. I thought I had it.

The rest of the day was pretty much the same. Two more games and I was still fighting good and evil. For some odd reason, the left side of my brain is fighting the right side and there doesn't seem to be a definite winner! His last game was at 6:00 and we got home by 9:00. I was a spent penny. There was nothing in the tank anymore. I said screw it! Tomorrows another day.

Today...I washed and detailed my car.

Finally!!! Some Photo Updates!

I've finally taken some photos off my camera to update my blog.

Here's my Girlie Scarf. Its lovely and very, very long. Almost too long actually. I have to wrap it around my neck twice to get it to hang just below my waist. But, I still love it...


Also, off the needles is my mid-month KAL from my Dishcloth Group. Its a lovely red-dress, embelished with a heart. A Reminder of how common heart disease is in women and a how important it is to have proper diet and excercise... Something I know I've been neglecting.


I'm also working on a pair of full length armwarmers. Our office is cold in the mornings, but too warm for a jacket... I were alot of short sleeved shirts because by mid-afternoon, our office feels like a bakery.. Very, very toasty. Its amazing how 5 computers can pump out the heat. This way I have something small that'll warm up my chilly parts without alot of bulk. Besides, I love the way the arm length armwarmers look and it gave me an excuse to knit them. (Like I need an excuse...)


When my hubby was having surgery to remove screws from his leg, (he broke his tibia nd fibia almost two years ago,) I was able to get alot done on my first one. All I need to finish now is the ribbing.