News on the knitting front . . . Friday I went yarn shopping! I needed another skein of Cascade 220 to finish the clapotis so I called my friend Sharon D. and we headed to The Wool Patch in Middleboro. Sharon hadn’t been there yet and I think she enjoyed the shop. I got my skein of cascade and also some Lamb’s Pride Bulky to make a felted “button hole” bag. There is an “unpattern” for this on the Mason-Dixon Knitting Blog and it looks like fun. Plus, I really like felted projects and haven’t done one since I got burned out on Booga Bags last Christmas. I also picked up an Addi Turbo size 15. Seems like knitters everywhere rave about these needles, it’s time to see if the price is worth the hype!
Sharon, meanwhile, is learning to knit socks on 2 circs. Not something I can help her with and as I am fan of double-pointed needles myself. So we left Middleboro and headed to Hanson to the yarn shop where she took her sock lessons for a refresher course in picking up gusset stitches. Of course while Sharon learned, Carole shopped. I got some Noro Kureyon to make . . . another Booga Bag! More felting = more fun. I also got a needle for needle felting, something I would like to try but really know nothing about. Not that knowing nothing about something has ever slowed me down before. This was all in the middle of a snow storm but that didn’t slow down the determined knitters/shoppers!
Yesterday morning I finished the clapotis. Waaa Hooo! I went out last night with some friends from work and really wanted to wear it but I chickened out. I’m sure I’ll work up the courage at some point but that French attitude isn’t something I’m real good at adopting. But I love the way it looks and the colors are vibrant and I spent many many hours on the thing so I am going to wear it.
As soon as the clappy was finished I cast on for the Booga Bag. This is a gift (can’t say for as who she reads my blog. Ah ha – now you’re all wondering, could it be me?!?!?) and it’s a short clock so I’m anxious to get it done. I hate deadlines but I don’t think it will be a problem to have this finished in time. Especially since I really got a lot done yesterday, all while watching women’s college basketball. It was snowing and the woodstove was warm and it made for a very pleasant afternoon.
Speaking of warm woodstoves, I believe I’ll head there right now and pick up the booga bag!
Knit (and felt) On!
Naughty Kitty!
You know that picture from the other day? The one with my cat, Mason, looking all cute sitting in my lap? Well, it should have a big red circle and line through it because yesterday he was very naughty. Apparently, he was not pleased with the lack of attention he received Tuesday night while I was working on the clappy. So, yesterday, he pulled said clappy out of the basket where I store my works in progress. He then proceeded to spread it out, got himself all comfy on it and went to sleep. When Dale got home yesterday, there was Mason, sound asleep in the middle of my knitting project. Dale, being Super-Husband, picked it all up and promptly forgot to tell me about it until last night during dinner. I rushed through the rest of my dinner to see what horrors Mason had wreaked on my project. He had pulled out about 20 stitches! Thankfully, that was the only damage and I was able to fix it quickly and without too much stress. Needless to say, when I left for work today, the basket with the clapotis was safely stored in a different room. Cats are resourceful, though, and I wouldn’t put it past Mason to go in search of more trouble!
Last night our regularly scheduled quilting program was interrupted by a Longaberger basket party, so I brought my socks along with me. I finished the heel and I’m working on the gusset now. Lois was knitting a sweater for Halle and Sharon D. was knitting a sweater for a baby-to-be. I think the Hungry Quilters are going to have to change their name to the Hungry Knitsters if this keeps up! Sharon H. had lots of yummy snacks, including some Longaberger spreads for crackers, and cheese, and cookies and fruit and veggies with dip. Of course, I had some of everything and I bought two baskets. So I shopped, I knitted and I ate. Not a bad night a’tall.
Knit on!
Movin’ on Up!
My blog software is now Movable Type and it’s being hosted by knitblog.com. I love the new layout and style! The buttons and logo are awesome and really capture the look I want. Thanks, Missa, for making it so cool!
As for knitting stuff, the koigu socks are about 5″ long today. Only another 1/2″ to go and I’m ready for the heel flap. I worked on them most of Saturday while trying to sell Hannah’s reenacting clothes at the swap meet.
I worked on the clapotis a lot last night and I’ve dropped 8 stitches now. My cat, Mason, interrupted me around 9pm. He will tolerate my knitting for a time but then he gets impatient for my attention. He’ll bat at the yarn or push the project out of my lap to make room for himself. He’s cute, though, so I don’t mind too much!
I need to start a secret project, can’t talk about it until it’s finished . . . but it’s a quick deadline . . . Easter!
On the reading front, I started March by Geraldine Brooks yesterday. I was reading the afterward (see the 100 things about me list) and was pleasantly surprised to find out that Ms. Brooks is the wife of author Tony Horwitz – he of Confederates in the Attic fame. This certainly explains her interest in Civil War history as it’s a rather big departure from the subject of her previous novel, Year of Wonders. That one was about the plague in 17th century England. Anyway, this new book is great and I like her style.
Knit on!
Dropped Stitches and Old Friends
Yesterday afternoon (late) I worked on the clapotis for a while and finally got to drop a stitch! It was pretty cool to actually drop a stitch on purpose and the Cascade 220 performed remarkably well, although it did make me nervous to see that ladder running down the side of the shawl. The pattern only calls for a dropped stitch every 8th row, so it will take a while to get to that point again, but I’m ready to see how it develops.
We had to go to a wake last evening. One of my favorite library patrons from the East Bridgewater Public Library, Mr. Ed Sexton, passed away. He was in the library about twice a week and always made me smile. I will always remember how happy he was when he heard the news that Dale and I were getting married. I hope there are great books in heaven for Mr. Sexton to read.
Tomorrow we’re off to a Civil War swap meet in Uxbridge. There should be opportunities for knitting while sitting around and socializing so I’ll be bringing the koigu socks with me. I should have some pictures showing progress by Monday.
Koigu Socks Started
Last night I started the socks with the Koigu. I was hoping to knit on size 1 dpns but decided that the 2s would give me a better gauge. I had one false start because I cast on 60 stitches but then realized I couldn’t K1P1 around without having to P the first stitch on the needle and I don’t like having to do that on double points. So I started again with 56 stitches and they are progressing. I’m almost done with the ribbing, anyway.
While knitting we watched The Grudge. Pretty lame, let me tell ya! Dale was frustrated because they didn’t wrap everything up into a nice package at the end by explaining all the freaky occurences. I told him it would have been a waste of time since the whole thing was silly anyway. They used lots of cheap scare tactics to make you jump but it just didn’t work for me. Sigh. I’ll have to wait for a good scare – maybe when we watch The Ring 2!
