Finito

The picture of the finished Vogue Vest. This was a great quick project. Well, quick if you used the same yarn and needles called for, not AS quick when you change those and don't check gauge. Annnnnnyways, I love this vest, it's perfect for work. I wore it today with a pink shirt, and on the weekend with a striped shirt in different shades of purple so it's definately versatile. You might notice the armhole and shoulder edges are rolling a bit, I'm going to try and fix that. But overall I am very happy with this vest. *click the photo for a better look.

Yarn Prizes

What can be better than that? UMMMM, Nothing! I received my prize yesterday. Generously donated by Anne, from the Give a Little campaign for Katrina Relief. Not only did she send the yarn described in the prize, but a handmade soy candle that smelled so delicious I couldn't keep my nose out of it. Pearberry was the scent and the tin was beautifully decorated with seaglass and decorative wire. Anne, the extra skein of Canadian wool you sent along is now happy to be "home" in it's country of origin, and we both thank you. What a great ending to a day that started out a little shaky.

Rest In Peace Copper

It is with great sadness I announce the passing of our guinea pig Copper. He was a member of our family for four years, we will miss that famous squeak. Predeceased by his friend Jersey the long haired guinea pig. He was laid to rest in the backyard beside his best buddy this afternoon. R.I.P. Copper, my boys say you are welcome in pet heaven and have wrapped you in your special blankie for the journey.

This afternoon was a difficult day for the boys and probably harder for me. That's the problem with having pets, they die. As much as all that chomping on the metal water bottle annoyed the heck out of us, the quiet now reminds us that he is gone, My husband even said "How sad, no more squeaking EVERY time I walk in the room." (At least someone acknowledged my husbands comings and goings)

The Long and Short of it.

It's going to be a long weekend, short on knitting. This weekend another tournement, this time Taekwondo. We spent 4 1/2 hours there today, Kendal was testing for his #7 GUP (yellow with green stripe)First was Pomsee, then Sparring and finally kicking he did well in all, and I was very surprised at how well he broke his board. Tomorrow is competition, so I should be able to make a good dent in the sock kntitting department. I hope to finish picking and sewing the button band on the MHC on Sunday. I do have an FO, my Vogue Vest is done and I wore it today, I love it. There's a few things I could have changed if I would have actually thought the pattern through, but I like it just the same. Hopefully I will have picture to show on Monday. My next project in the line up will have to be my husbands earflap hat, made with the Alpaca he brought me back from his trip to Peru last November. I will have a full report on Monday about how flat my ass was from sitting on the hard bleachers of the Civic Center. I'm kidding, a full update on knitting news and otherwise.

Less is More?

One could hope that less is more, because I got less knitting done last night. I had to take back about 5 inches of knitting on the piece I showed yesterday, which will eventually become this (without the stripes), from VOGUE knitting Winter 2004/05.



The stars must not have been aligned, or I didn't hold my tongue right because this piece of knitting was much to big after the ribbing. Because it certainly had nothing to do with the fact that I used different yarn, different needles and didn't check gauge. Gauge, schmage! We must soldier on so instead of ripping out all that hand cramping ribbing I decreased enough after the ribbing at the start of the stocking stitch to make it less "poofish". I know I lost you at poofish, these technical terms are difficult to dicipher, my apologies.

On the finishing front: NONE, NADA, ZIP.

Pressure Tactics

Resulted in this, no not the finished object as demanded, but a new WIP. The pattern is from a previous Vogue Knitting Mag. I think from winter 2004, I am knitting this from yarn I had in the stash, amazing I know. It is a cotton blend and very soft, and very heavy, it will be perfect for the office with a white collared shirt underneath. While I love the look and feel of the yarn, it is difficult on my hands to knit with. It was supposed to be knit flat but I am knitting it in the round due to the inches of ribbing and st. stitch. and less sewing up. We all know where the sewing up leads.... D E N I A L !!!

Well it seems that I don't respond well to pressure, I'll do what I want when I want damnknit! I think that I put a little to much on my " to do" list, not to mention that I forgot I would be spending most of the weekend away from the house. My son had a mid-season minor basketball tournement, they came in 6th. There are only 6 teams in his division, but they played very well, and the team received the Most Sportsmanlike Team award. I played bball in elementary school, but never in highschool. I actually thought I didn't like bball, until this weekend when I realized of all the sports/activities we've watched this is my favorite. So much warmer than watching hockey or skating. BRRRR. All that sitting on the bleachers did not result in the finishing I was hoping, but what a comprise.

Frappin' Unravelled

If your visiting, please come and add yourself to my Frappr Map powered by Google. I'd love to know where your visiting from.
http://www.frappr.com/unravelled
The Knitty Board has started one for their members http://www.frappr.com/knitty, and thought it would be neat additiion to my blog. So please humour me, don't be shy.

This weekend may very well result in some finished objects. But hey I'm not promising anything, just saying. I may even get to updating my sidebar. Maybe if I create a pressure situation I may actually get it down. It's a test, lets see if I pass.

Productivity

Well as predicted, not much knitting, well more like no knitting was accomplished this past weekend. But I was productive, housework (blehhhh) productive. I spent a long time spring cleaning our bedroom and ensuite. I took everything out except clothing in closet and dresser. I cleaned from top to bottom and nothing went back in that wasn't clean or junked out. The following day was left to vacumming and washing floors. I need to be remined why I insisted on buying a larger home.

Then of course Halloween pumpkin carving and trick or treating sucked up more knitting time. I must admit we had fun. The boys decided they would rather have a more difficult pumpkin design then to carve themselves. So they cleaned I carved.

Then gearing up to brave the weather and go trick or treating. Kendal the Ninja looked more like a sumo wrestler before we but the belt and muscles on. He had all his winter clothes under his costume. After our house to house we went and watched the fireworks then home straight to bed, Mom was tired!

Some knitting was accomplished and believe it our not, the Must Have Cardi pieces have finished, wahhhooooooo! Only blocking,button bands,sewing up left. I finished one sock and cast on for the other, and I am one sleeve away from another FO, the Wrappy cardi. It may just be a seaming party for me this weekend.

Help when you need it most.

I found yet another blog to read,thank you toKnit One Chick Too for leaving a comment here on my blog so that I could find you. And just to make you feel better I will make it a point to never mention that in the 80's you harboured romantic feelings for Bill Gates. I'll be our little secret. While I visited KnitOneChicToo, she made mention she had called the Yarn Harlot's Help Line. I have to confess I did try to call the number before, but instead of S "O" S, I keyed in S "zero" S and didn't realize until now. DOhhhh. Very funny go call now, 1-877-SOS-KNIT.(toll free in Canada and the US)

It has been a very productive knitting week, which will make way for a very unproductive knitting weekend. I will now have to "put on" what I was putting off all week while I knit. House cleaning denial, I wonder if there's a toll free number for that? I am nearly done the last piece for the Must Have Cardi, I need to finish the sleeves for the Wrap Cardi and put together, I'm almost to the toe decrease for brown "tweedy" socks and I knit 10 rows on my Flower Basket Shawl.

No new knitting pictures to speak of, so a picture taken at my birthday dinner. Lyndon had Dino Nuggets and "smiley" fries, perfect match no? And notice the "fancy" shirt, he has to wear this to every important dinner. He said to me that day "Mom, can you flatten (iron) my fancy shirt?" The shirt was a gift from his uncle from the Dominincan and was on the smallish side when he got it. So our friend Steve who is particulary great a picking out "fancy" shirts will have to take him shopping when he outgrows this one.

"...you look like a monkey..."

It was my birthday yesterday, and I had a fantastic day. I received many great gifts, I was served coffee in bed by my four year old butler. (I knew I had kids for a reason.) I had a breakfast of pancakes and sausages, and dinner out with family and friends. Thanks for a great birtday.
One of the great gifts and card I received. If you can read the card it says "Thursday already, where does time go?" It just happens that our Knitting Night is on Thursday every week.

And I took full advantage of my day of leisure and finished one front of the Divine Wrap and knit and tinked on my FBS (which I have yet to take a picture of).

Michelle, the 80's called they want Jason Bateman Back

Your 80s Heartthrob Is

Jason Bateman

Who's Your 80's Heartthrob?

I couldn't resist this quiz, come on who could resist those dimples! But I have to admit I love him in Arrested Development . I thought for sure I was coming up with Micheal J. Fox. I had a momentary lapse of good judgement and nearly posted a picture of myself from the 80's. This on the day before my birthday, not a good idea. It could only cause me (and you) pain.

Harlot Radio

I think that is the next step, when knitting can have it's very own radio station. Sit back, knit and listen all day, all night to 100.0 KNIT-FM. Featuring"music" from the most famous knitter's around, the soothing click clack of needles. Featuring segments from knitters' all over the world. Stay up to date with local knitting events in your area, bringing you all the late breaking knitting news. I digress, I'm sorry I think I may have caught what the Yarn Harlot has:

"All of this, this incredible stunning whirl of fantasy around me was dragging me down the path to my dreamworld and I was becoming more convinced by the moment that I was asleep... creating a world where knitters rule supreme and everyone not only cares about that but agrees that it's a good idea...an invented reality where knitting finally gets its dues and stands firm and proud in bookshops, auditoriums, radio stations...all places where humans gather and bow to yarn and it's wonders.."

If you haven't already gone to check out her radio spot listen here. (Scroll to Oct 21 Knitting is Hot) Unfortunately, it will be the closest I ever get to hearing her, because I'm sure she won't be flying to my neck of the woods any time soon. We take what we can get.

Ponder the thought people, all knit, all the time, just saying.

Fickle

Last night while shopping at the grocery store I picked up the lastest copy of Vogue Knitting and inside was a Patons pull out booklet. So it seems that the the pink Devine. (A purchase for which I am extremely happy about never getting around to making!) will be made into the quick and easy Wrap Cardigan. I know you're thinking, what about those socks you just started, or the Must have cardigan front that has been so patient. I say in my best Mikey Blue Eyes voice "Forget about it". So maybe on Monday I could really have a FO, miracles do happen ya know.

Moon & Socks

This morning on the way to the sitter's house we had a glorious "moonrise". Yes that's the moon at 8 am, bootiful isn't it.



And here is the sock I started last night. This sock yarn was brought back from a friends trip, I have never knit with it before but was pleasantly surprised. The yarn, Scheepjes Invicta Extra is soft and I love the color. Well, as much as you could love a brown sock, my husband is on the reserved side when it comes to socks. The brown yarn has a black and white strand twisted in to give it a tweed look.

I'm a WINNER!

When I opened my e-mail this morning I had a fabulous surprise, the Subject read "PRIZE" and the message read " You have won a prize. Please forward your address and we'll send it along.Thanks for your support, Margene and Susan" of Give A Little . What a great way to start a Monday morning. And a great big thank you to Anne C. for the donation of my prize, 5 skeins of Classic Elite Star in "milk" chocolate brown. Can't wait.

In knitterly news, I finshed one front of the Must Have and I have started the second front which is the last piece, then I can block sew and knit the button and collar. Wahoooo. I finsihed the sport weight socks for hubby, and tried to start the Silk corset, but it came to it's demise. That's the for the best, I need to finish off the Must have first. I am now casting on for another brown pair of socks for my hubby.

Dodgeball Knitting

I found a mosiac knitting tutorial over at Zib's In her walk through she states "If you can knit a stitch you can knit mosiac...". Immediately my son's new mantra "If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball" rattled through my brain. The movie Dodgeball is on the movie channel about every other few hours this month. I have heard it alot in the last week or so. Let's just hope he doesn't test this little theory on his four year old brother! Speaking of dodgeball knitting, I am dodging actual knititng content because who really needs to see a picture of a partially finished pair of navy blue socks. That's what I thought. So one can only hope I get that sweater finished soon so I can show you I really do knit.

Lyndon stopping to smell the roses.

I give thanks to... Hot chocolate

On Thanksgiving afternoon we headed out for a bike ride, our usual waterfront ride. We thought that the rain would hold off, it didn't. We took shelter and had a bite to eat. Then off we went into the rainset. (that would be the opposite of a sunset). During a discussion about living in a rainforest type region our four year piped up and said Auntie Lynn lives in a sunforest! She lives in the Okanagon where it is very sunny. Makes sense, very logical no? Anywho, everyone was game for a mug of hot chocolate to warm our freezing fingers, especially when it comes with sprinkles.

I did get some knitting done this weekend but sorry no pictures today. I finished the clown cotton socks and knit about 20 rows on the FBS, and almost completed one front of the Must Have Cardigan. One down, one to go. I also cast on for another pair of socks for my husband, these will be done in a sport weight yarn so they should be quick. Lots knit but it doesn't make for exciting photograpy. If only I could get those socks to dance then maybe I might have something.

I leave you with a picture of Griffin, Lyndon took over the dogs spot and "locked" him in. I can tell by the look on his face he's thinking "OH NO I've been hotwheeled"

Better late than Never

Seeing as how it is already Friday I thought that I should share the previous weekends events, before this weekend passes me by. My photo journal of "What I did Last Weekend"

The sceneary photos are along the highway from my home town to Terrace, following the Skeena River. Please note that only bugs were harmed in the taking of these photos.

On Sunday the whole Fam Dam went down to "The Beach" (see previous post for an explanation) to eat our "Picnic" (again previously posted) Look at those faces they're loving it.

Our two other boys were having a hoot too. Barnes the yellow lab loves to swim in the ocean, Griffin the girly boy, not so much!

Wait don't leave yet there's more, this is our son Lyndon, practising for when he runs away and joins the circus. Currently he working on taming our Lion dog Griffin. Click to enlarge the pics.

This weather for this long turkey holiday doesn't look as promising, but we'll manage. I'll try and come up some knitting content soon. Just as soon as a learn how, becaase apparently all I know who to do is un-knit!!! Bahhhh that's a whole other post! Anywho, have a great weekend,Happy Thanksgiving. Or as my son likes to say Gobble, Gobble!

Italian Men

You Belong in Rome You're a big city girl with a small town heart Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand And gorgeous Italian men - could life get any better? What City Do You Belong in?

Because I forget my camera yet again I will humour you with the Quiz of the week. Roma here I come!

MONDAY

Creative title, I know. Not much to blather about. I was sick this weekend, joining the other sickies of the household. I did manage to make some progress on my MHC and I am almost finished my sleeves. I can see the boat approaching to take me away from Sleeve Island. Yesterday was a beautiful day and we got out to walk the dogs and had a picnic with the kids down at "the beach". Really it's just the rocky shore at low tide, but hey whatever they wanna call it. The picnic consisted of home made banana bread, and some tortilla and salsa, but hey whatever I wanna call a "picnic" is fine with them. I hope to share some pictures tomorrow, I forgot the camera on the charger at home. Well I better get that signal fire lit so they don't cruise by and miss me. Wait I think it sees me already!