Monday Morning Blues

Joseph once told me that he wished that the weekday and weekend were reversed. This way he would go to school 2 days a week and be off 5 days a week. Wouldn't I love that. The weekend goes by way too quickly.

I did have a dizzy sort of day yesterday so there was no spinning but I did manage to get some knitting done. No pictures today. I'll try and get some in the sun this afternoon. I finished clue 4. I repeated rows 219-302 because I was afraid the stole would be too short otherwise. The yarn I am using is very fine lace weight and I'm using 2.75mm needles. I did make one mistake but it won't be noticeable unless you look very closely. I did not read in the instructions for lengthening or shortening to adjust the chart for the beads and so I did the beads as shown on the original. That means there is one spot where the beads are closer together than they should be but I was way to far up to even attempt to rip back by the time I noticed that little note in the pattern.

Since I finished the latest clue what better time to get back to mystery stole 2 aka Scheherezade. I couldn't find my pattern so I printed it off again. I am amazed at how easily I was able to find my spot. I finished side 1 through row 251 when the "half" of the skein I was using ran out. So I am working on the other half now and I just finished clue 4. I should be able to finish clue 5 by tomorrow. Clue 6 is pretty short and then the edging. When I split the ball it was after I had already started and they weren't exactly split evenly. I am going to finish this side completely and then go back to the other side. I had bought another hank of the Fleece Artist yarn I am using just in case but based on how far the ball went, I am pretty confident I should have enough without using the second hank. Now I just have to decide if I want to keep this hank or see if the yarn shop will swap it for another colour. I've had the yarn for almost a year so I would understand if they don't. If not, I might reknit the current mystery stole in this yarn to get a larger stole.

Now Back To Your Regularly Scheduled Program

Since Monday I feel like everything has been on hold. I haven't done knitting since Tuesday and have been totally absorbed in reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I just finished reading it around 30 minutes ago. Don't worry I won't give any spoilers. I will now go back to everything I was working on before book 7 took over my life. All I will say about the book is it is amazing. Now that I read it as fast as I could I will go back to book one and read all seven books over again.

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire

I am so excited. I've been accepted into the Hogwarts Sock Swap. I was on the waiting list so I wasn't expecting to hear so soon. I thought there would be only a slim chance I would get it. I've been placed in Gryffindor house. This is my first Hogwarts Sock Swap and I can't wait.

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into? Gryffindor

2. Shoe size? 8.5 US

3. Foot Length? 9.75 inches

4. Foot Circumference? 9 3/8 inches

5. List your three favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length.

I don’t use double pointed needles since I learned the magic loop so I am going to give my favourite circular needle size and length

a. Knit Picks 2 mm (US0) 32 inch length
b. Addi Turbo 2 mm 40 inch length
c. Addi Lace 2.5 mm (US 1) 32 inch length

6. Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length?
I am willing to try anything but because I prefer circulars the cord must be flexible to do the magic loop. I still prefer to use 2mm for socks and do most of the time.

7. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference? Not applicable

8. Allergies? Do you have any? I can’t wear acrylic socks. They cause my feet to peel. Will your knitting be exposed to smoke or animals? No

9. Are you an international participant (outside US)? yes Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal? I would prefer within Canada but yes I can send internationally.

Spinning With Friends Is The Best

Kimberly and I drove up to Maggie's place this morning. We had a spin in day. We all had a blast. I am so glad we did this. Kimberly is trying to learn to spin. I brought her a Mini Bossie spindle to try. I think, if nothing else, she might have started to get the hang of drafting using the park and draft method. Then she gave my Victoria a try. It was more difficult, as is to be expected but I think she had a very good time.

Look at the lovely stuff I brought home from Maggie's. The left is some hand dyed merino that she dyed and the left is fingering weight sock yarn that she dyed. The colours are just spectacular. I think I am going to be getting a lot more of this stuff both for knitting (sock yarn) and for spinning (fibre). I don't think Paul is going to think this is such a good thing.

Speaking of spinning, I managed to get the rest of the singles spun and plied. At first I was going to try and ply it again because there are sections that are under plied. I took the skein off the noddy when I was by Maggie and wound it into a center pull ball when I got home. When I did that I found that the under plied sections are not as bad as I had originally thought. Add to that the fact that the sections that are over plied will be even worse if I try to ply it again. So I've decided to leave it the way it is. Hence you see it here on the noddy waiting to be given a bath. I started spinning some fibre Maggie and I dyed a few months ago. I think I am going to give that a rest for a bit and start another bobbin on the Louet Victoria. I haven't used that wheel in a while and I brought it with me to Maggie's in case Kimberly wanted to give it a try. She did and I used it for a little bit to show Kimberly some stuff. It made me want to spin on her again. I just wish Louet would come out with the higher ratios for this machine. I have to treadle so fast to get the twist I need in the singles. I have to do the same thing on the Joy and that's why there were parts on the yarn I just did that are under plied - there are sections that are under spun and I think that's what caused it. Maggie said treadle faster and draft slower. It's so difficult for me to remember to keep doing it. THAT'S WHY I WANT THE HIGHER RATIOS. I thought they were going to release it in March. It's already July. Can they hurry up already?

Ready for August

The Serpentine socks, the July sock from the Sockamania Club, are now complete. I just finished re-knitting the first sock. When I knit the first sock I was worried about yardage so I made the cuff about 2 inches shorter. On the second sock I decided to make the foot a little bit shorter so I was able to make the cuff longer. I liked the way the second sock fit better than the first so I ripped the first sock back to where I began the gusset shaping on the second sock and re-knit it. I can't begin to say how much I loved this pattern. I did change it just the slightest bit by doing the cables every 4th round instead of 3. I couldn't use the 2.5mm needles that I started with because the sock was coming out too big. I was afraid if I kept the 3 round repeat on the cables it might be too tight using the 2mm needles. The fit is perfect and I actually found this heel construction was easy to avoid the holes on the side of the gusset. This is the first time I used this heel construction. I think I finally have the wrap and turn under control and I should be able to try the short row toe next.

The yarn used is Lucy Neatby's Celestial Merino in colour Fiesta on 2mm needles. I love this yarn. I like the way it looks and the way it feels. It is a joy to work with. The only thing I wish is that it had a bit more yardage. I would have tried to make the cuff length a little longer. Other than that, I have to get more of this yarn.

First Blogoversary

I can hardly believe it's been a year since my first post. The past year has been amazing. I've had ups and downs as we all do but I would have to say mostly it has been great. Who would have thought this little blog of mine would have become so important to me. It has become a release for me. I find when I put things on my blog I can get stuff out of my system.

Thank you to all who read. Thank you for the comments. I look forward to many more years of blogging and making new friends through this wonderful media. May the next year be even better than the last.

Tests

I saw this test on Sherri's blog and especially since I went to see Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix last night I thought I would give the test a go. It was a very close call between the three houses of Gryfindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff but this is the one that won out in the end.

The sorting hat says that I belong in Hufflepuff!

Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot, and treat them just the same."

Hufflepuff students are friendly, fair-minded, modest, and hard-working. A well-known member was Cedric Digory, who represented Hogwarts in the most recent Triwizard Tournament.

Take the most scientific Harry Potter
Quiz ever created.

Get Sorted Now!

Flowers, Mysteries and Blues

I went to Lettuce Knit this morning. I wanted to get the Tulip sweater in the new colours. The original colours won't be available until September. Never underestimate the power of The Yarn Harlot. This is a picture from their new newsletter. When I got home I realized the Tulip pattern can be done in different sizes. Since Elisheva was so big at birth, I would prefer to make a larger size. However, the kit is for 6-9 months. I spoke with Megan and I am going to get a full ball of another colour that will go well with this colour scheme and add stripes in that colour and then use that colour for the borders and bands.

I started clue 3 last night. I am having a much easier time with the beads this time than I did before. I think I am finally getting the hang of it. I use the Susan Bates hook .9mm if the beads fit through the head of the hook. If it doesn't I use the Boye .85mm hook. It is working out very nicely. I love the way the pattern is coming along (sorry for the blurry picture). The next clue might be longer than 50 rows because there won't be a clue on the 27th because of the release of the new Harry Potter book on the 21st. I've pre-ordered the book but it will be sent to my work address so I won't get it until Monday. That will give me the time to finish clue 4 over the weekend.

I also bought 2 skeins of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock lightweight yarn. The colourways are Minestrone and Mystic Kelp. I had ordered 2 skeins directly from Blue Moon but I had them sent to my daughter since I thought I was going there for the first week of July. Since I didn't get down there I decided to get two more colours. I am trying to get colours that are a little different than I usually get. I tend to gravitate towards blues and purples. These have blue but browns and greens as well. The yardage is about the same as the Lucy Neatby yarn and it looks like it is the same weight. That is a little heavier than I usually use for socks but I love the way the Serpentine socks are coming along so I think I will pick one colour to use for my August socks.

A Wii-ing We Will Go

I'm going to blame this one on Maggie!! As you may recall, Paul, Joseph and I went up to Maggie's place on Saturday. They have a Wii. Joseph got to play with it for the first time. To say he loved it would be a gross understatement. He's been wanting an X Box 360 for quite some time but he knows that's not going to happen. Paul's birthday was on Wednesday and he decided to use the money he got for his birthday to buy this! Joseph and I went to pick it up (Joseph chose the game and accessories to get). I think we would have gotten one eventually anyway. However, since the stores are having such a difficult time keeping them in stock, and it will be even harder to find the closer we get to Christmas, we decided to try and get one now. It just so happens that the Future Shop that I called had 30 in stock. While we were there looking at the accessories another person came in and bought the game console as well. Now they can build up on the accessories and games a little at a time. The big purchase is over and done with. Now can I get my pink DS? I love all things pink. My Casio camera is even pink. It reminds me of breast cancer awareness. (The truth is I want another wheel and I would rather have another wheel than a DS so there won't be a DS in my future)

Serpentine Socks

I have been busy spinning and knitting and just having a grand old time. That's of course when I haven't been sleeping. The new meds for the infection pack a wallop. I spoke to the pharmacist about the challenges I've been having since I started taking the Sulfatrim and he suggested I take the Bonamine 1/2 tablet 4 times per day. This way the meds would be in my system throughout the day. I am glad I decided to speak to the pharmacist because doing it this way has helped a lot. I think it might make me a little more sleepy at night but that's alright.

On the knitting front, I finished the first sock from the July sock for the sockamania knitting club. The sock is called Serpentine socks. I used the Lucy Neatby yarn. I made the sock more like anklets because the yardage on this yarn is not as much as on other sock yarn I normally use. I split the sock yarn before I started but I wanted the "O" complete on the back of the sock and I was afraid if I did another repeat I wouldn't have enough yarn for the ribbing. I love the way they fit. They go over my foot without any problems. Next time I do the heel according to the pattern I will shorten the foot by about 4 rounds before I start the gusset. I cast on the second sock last night so I should be able to finish it before the end of the month.







I've also managed to get my spinning committment in for the Tour de Fleece. I've been doing about 30 minutes before work in the morning and the rest in the evening. I have finished the first bobbin and started the second bobbin. I should get that bobbin done by the end of the weekend and then I'll just have to ply it together.

Clue 3 comes out today for the Mystery Stole 3 pattern so I will be busy with that for the rest of the week as well. I'll have to divide the time between the 3 projects. I found another crochet hook on Wednesday. It's a Susan Bates 13/14 and it says it's .9mm. It is great for the yarn because it doesn't split it at all but the beads don't all fit on the hook. I can't wait to give it a try with clue 3.

Campanula for the Cure

My friend and SP10 partner, Ramona - aka MezzoDiva, is doing the Weekend to End Breast Cancer. I commend her to no end for this venture. It is a 60K walk or run over 2 days. In order to raise funds for this very worthy cause she has decided to self publish and sell her sock design. You can see below the socks she made for me for my birthday. The pattern is lovely. I would encourage everyone to please go to her blog and sponsor her. You can get a copy of the pattern for any donation you are willing to make. I know that knitter's have always been generous. Please please, from a breast cancer survivor, continue to help support this cause.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to the love of my life. You have brought joy to my life after much pain. You have stood by me through thick and thin. You are the most wonderful man I have ever met. Your patience always astounds me. Thank you for putting up with me. I hope we get to spend many more birthdays together. I love you, now and forever.

Treadling Along

I've been keeping to my commitment for the Tour de Fleece and spinning a minimum of 1 hour per day. Yesterday was a challenge for sure. I've been battling the dizzy factor of late. The labrynthitis is rearing it's ugly head again and, I believe, it is because of the side affect of the antibiotics I'm taking for the kidney infection. The heat was oppressive yesterday and I was very tempted to not spin at all. I did in the end because if I didn't yesterday I would use the same excuse today and possibly tomorrow. I love the way the fleece is coming out. I am almost done with the first bobbin. This bobbin will be done today and the second half of the fleece will be started on a second bobbin. I'm pretty confident I will start the second bobbin tonight.

I have some decisions I need to make. I saw that the Woolee Winder is now available for the Louet Victoria. I want it A LOT but I also want the lace flyer (or whatever it is called) when that comes out from Louet. If I get the lace flyer, which is one of the reasons I bought the Victoria to begin with, the Woolee Winder will not have the same higher ratios. That makes me not want to bother with the winder until I see if he will do something for the higher ratios once Louet releases the flyer. I'm torn because I have to decide on which wheel I want to sell, the Joy or the Victoria. I love both wheels so the decision isn't an easy one. I'm leaning towards selling the Joy. I have the Woolee Winder for the Joy even though I love the wheel, the ratios are fixed and no way to get a higher ratio. I will eventually have the Little Gem and if I sell one I can get the Little Gem that much quicker. Decisions, decisions. I can't decide right now. It's too hot and I can't think so I will just leave it for another time.

More Forest Path Stole Pictures

Katie K asked if I could try and photograph the shawl with a background that has more contrast. I am not a photographer by any means so I am sure these are not as good as someone else could do. It is, however, the pictures I managed to take this morning.

Forest Path Blocked

I finally got around to taking some pictures of the blocked stole today. Unfortunately, it was a gray rainy day. Paul tried to take a picture of me holding the shawl but it was taken inside and it came out really blurry. I'll see if I can get more pictures taken tomorrow and post them. If not, these will just have to do.

Pattern: Forest Path Stole
Cast on: Feb. 9, 2007
Cast off: June 19, 2007
Yarn Used: Crystal Palace Yarns - CK Linen - 100% Linen - Colour Jade
Needles: Knit Picks Options 3.25mm

I don't know the yardage because I knit from the cone.
Finished Measurements: Approximately 38" wide x 80" long.
I completed 19 tiers instead of 23 and I think it was a good thing. It would have been way too long if I had gone even up to 21 tiers.

All in all I am very pleased with the final result. The stole gets softer and softer the more it is handled. When I first started knitting with the linen I was worried I might have made the wrong yarn choice. In the end I love the way it looks and feels.


I did my spinning for the Tour de Fleece this morning while I was watching the first real stage of the race. That gave me time to work on the July socks for the Sockamania club this afternoon while we were at my in-laws doing laundry. I finished the heel on the first sock and I knit it according to the way it is written in the pattern. I am glad that I ripped out the first sock and changed to the smaller needles. They fit my foot nicely. The heel looks great and now it's onto the cuff.

Such Fun!

The weather was great today for the drive up to Keswick. Joseph had a great time playing games with Alex. They Wii'd for a while and then they Xbox'd for a while. I asked Joseph at one point if he was ready to go home and he said no. That must mean he had a great time. Before we left the house Joseph was asking me how long it would be. I told him it takes about 30 to 45 minutes to get there but once I get there I don't know how long we would stay.

We stayed about 4 to 4.5 hours. I think this is the first time I went to Maggie and actually did quite a bit of spinning - for me anyway. I tried Maggie's wheel and words can't even describe how nice it is. It is stunning and lovely to use. This bobbin is what I managed to spin on my Joy so far today. The fibre is yummy to spin. A longer staple length than I normally have with merino and I just love the way the colours are working out so far. It will be interesting to see what it ends up being once it's plyed.

Tour de Fleece Begins

Today is the beginning of the Tour de France and hence the beginning of the 2007 Tour de Fleece. As I mentioned before, I am going to spin a minimum of 1 hour per day for the next 3 weeks. What will I be spinning, you might ask? It's the fibre Maggie dyed especially for me. Speaking of Maggie, I am going up to her place this morning with Paul and Joseph. I'm bringing the Joy with me and will get started on the hour for today. I'm a little nervous about the trip up. It's the first time Paul and Joseph will be joining me and I so want them both to like Jeremy, Maggie and Alex. Of course, what's not to like but I guess I am being obsessive, as usual. Paul is pretty easy going so I don't think I have to worry about him. Joseph, I hope isn't too competitive or too sensitive. I'll post more later on how things go.

Here is the mystery stole - clue 2 stretched out a little. I feel a little lost that I finished the second clue so quickly and now I have to wait until Friday before I can work on it again. I have other things to do. I decided to rip out the July socks that I was knitting on the 2.5mm needles and go with the 2mm needles. I think when I do the heel I will work it with the 2.5mm. It was just too big on the larger needles and I couldn't get used to knitting socks with the larger needle. It's amazing how much different just .5mm makes in how a needle feels. I felt like I was using sticks or something. It's hard to explain. I just didn't like it and wasn't enjoying the knit. I'm almost caught up on the second sock to where I was on the first when I ripped it out.

P.S. I took advantage of the fact we will be gone most of the day to finally try and block the Forest Path Stole. The colour is totally off because the stole is wet. I am hoping it will be dry by the time Joseph has to go to bed tonight. Especially, since the stole is now covering a good portion of his bed. I had to block it folded in half. I don't have a space big enough for the stoles full length and my back was aching enough by the time I finished pinning with it half the length. I don't think I would have managed it fully stretched. I'll take pics tomorrow outside in the daylight.

Clue 2 Done!

Clue 2 is done!!! It's amazing how much knitting you can do when you aren't at work. The beads are getting easier and easier. That's a relief. I think I finally have a rhythm when it comes to adding them and I'm glad I went with the clear beads. Now I am just a little concerned about the width. The yarn I am using is very fine. I am using 2.75mm needles. I tried to 3.25 mm and it was just to open for my taste. I was originally going to use the 2.5 mm and compromised with myself and settled for the 2.75 mm. I am getting an idea of the shaping. Even though this still looks triangular, it definitely isn't. So the question in my mind right now is will the 99 sts make a wide enough stole? I'll have to wait and see what the rest of the clues bring.

Ready For Clue 2

I finished clue 1 last night. The knitting is slower than I'd like. I think it is the stopping to add the beads and the yarn being so fine. I've been knitting socks for a while now and the fingering yarn is quite a bit heavier than the elann.com laceweight. I love the way this is turning out. I think it looks great.

I also started the second sock for the July Sockamania club socks. I am not sure I like the socks worked on the 2.5mm needles so I am going to knit up the second sock on 2mm needles and see if they will fit with the cable. I am also contemplating changing the cable to a cable every 4th rnd instead of every 3rd. I am hoping if it is spread out just a little more the sock will fit better.

Now on to clue 2.

Le Tour de Fleece 2007

I just signed up for Le Tour de Fleece 2007. I love watching the TDF and I need to get back into spinning. My goal is to spin at least an hour every day through the course of the tour. The tour runs from July 7th to July 29th and hopefully I can spin up and ply the fleece that Maggie hand dyed for me.

I *Heart* elann.com

These cones came from elann.com yesterday. I'm on vacation this week but I have my orders sent to work. On the way back from Romni I passed by the office to check if the order had arrived. I am so pleased that it did. Unfortunately, the colours in the pictures are a little off. They are about as close as I could get them. I know they are in the plastic for the pictures. I tried taking them out the first time and the pictures were even worse than these soI decided to try with the plastic bags. Much better but I need to learn how to manipulate some photo editor much better than I can at the present time. This is carnation and chartreuse. I think the chartreuse is a little lighter than it looks here.
This is the coral and the buttercup. My first reaction to the buttcup is it was way more yellow than I was expecting. I love love love the coral. Again, the pictures don't do them justice.
This is the fawn. When I saw this colour I thought it was a lot lighter shade than I had thought it would be. Colour pictures from a digital camera are a funny thing. I don't know the mechanics of it all. I just know if you use a flash with certain colours it will look totally different. That's why I love my Casio d.c. so much. It makes taking pictures without a flash very easy.

When I was looking at this yarn yesterday I realized something. I started reflecting on the Knit From Your Stash 2007 and how I've done so far. First, I am going to take the countdown off my side bar. I think I will change it to something else. However, I think because of the KFYS I have definitely not bought as much yarn as I would have otherwise. I think if this is done again in 2008 I would have to exclude lace weight yarn along with the sock yarn. I can't resist a good buy on lace yarn. But then again, maybe that's why I should keep it in there so I could learn some restraint. I tried. That's better than not giving it a shot at all. I still have the summer to go with this. However, I have had my proud moments. For example - I went to Romni yesterday to pick up the crochet hook. That's all I bought!!! I actually went to Romni Wool and walked out getting change for a $5 bill. When has that ever happened? Never before yesterday!!! Don't think I wasn't tempted. They had some yummy dyed laceweight tencel in a blue/purple colourway that has my name written all over it. But I left it there. I don't know how I did but I did. I probably will go back and get it at some point in the future but I resisted yesterday. I'll take this one step and one day and one decision at a time.

Who Would Have Thought

For the last 2 days I have gone to 7 different stores looking for a US 13 steel crochet hook. The only place I was able to find one was at Michael's. The catch to that is it's part of a crochet hook set. I don't really think I can justify spending $40 on crochet hooks for just one hook. I called Farida at the Knitting Basket and she checked to see if she can get it for me - she can't. I was just about ready to give up and just deal with the 14 hook when I thought of Romni. They have practically everything there. So I called them and sure enough they have the 13 US steel hook and they are holding one for me. I am going to go over there this afternoon and pick it up. I know the hook will definitely fit through the hole in the pin because I tested the 13 hook from the set at Michael's. I was sooooo tempted to get the set but I just couldn't see myself doing it. Once I pick up the 13 hook from Romni I'll probably find my complete set of Susan Bates hooks. Isn't that the way it always is?

More WIPs

I really do have enough works in progressbut that didn't stopped me from starting two new ones today. This morning I started the July sock from the Sockamania Club. The yarn is the Lucy Neatby sock yarn I bought last week. You can't see the pattern very well but it's the snake or wavy cable. The pattern is easy to remember and since I can do the cables without a cable needle it is moving along. I should be able to get to the heel tomorrow. That is if I don't spend too much time working on the second project I started today.

After some help from my Snb group I decided on the needles and yarn I will be using for the mystery stole 3 pattern. I did a test swatch with 3.25mm needles and 2.5mm needles. I am using the elann.com Peruvian Baby Lace Merino in the parchment colour. When I did the swatch with the 3.25mm needles I tried 3 different colour beads - maroon, gold, and clear. Paul and Joseph preferred the gold. Most of the ladies in my Snb preferred the clear. I decided on the clear and I decided to use my KnitPicks Options in the 2.75mm size. I've completed row 50 and am ready to start the second chart. I need to find a size 13 crochet hook. I have a size 14 now and it fits through the beads but it is a bit of a challenge getting the yarn through without it splitting. The size 12 hook is too big. I went to 4 different places today looking for size 13 hooks and no luck so far. I will try again tomorrow. I hope I manage to find it because it will make adding the beads so much easier.

Socks and Mysteries

The chevron socks from the Sensational Knitted Socks book are done. The yarn I used is Super Socks Dazzle in colour 718. The socks in the book looked like they were knit from the same colour yarn. I believe I cast on the first sock at our last Snb so that would have been June 19th. I cast off the second sock today. I am not pleased they took me so long. I can usually do a sock in a few days but I haven't been feeling well and, lately, knitting hasn't been happening as much as I'd like.

Now that these socks are done I can start on the Mystery Stole 3. I have decided to use the parchment colour elann.com Peruvian Baby Lace Merino. I am still trying to decide if I want to add the beads or not. I have some really nice maroon seed beads that I am thinking of trying. I just have to find a tiny steel crochet hook so I can add the beads when needed. I think I will need either the size 13 or 14 steel hook. I did a swatch using 3.75mm needles and I didn't like it at all. Now I am going to try 3.25mm needles and see how that works.