Two Wooden Sticks and a Ball of Wool

Never say never....

Unlike most knitters (I say tongue in cheek), I have a pile of left behind WIP's who have been thrown to the wayside in search of newer, more exciting knits.  Soooo, this year armed with lots of integrity (and a nagging armada of guilt) I have decided that I will tackle that pile and get some oldies finished.

With this in mind I present the following two finished projects:

Four Panel Jacket

I can't quite remember when I started this (not a good sign) but most likely it was way back in early 2006.  My grandiose plans at the time included getting it done and sewed up before my Mom returned from Florida.  Didn't happen.  I had the back, two of the four front panels, the pockets...well you get the idea.  Fast forward to 2007 - I decided I was going to get the sweater finished.  Did the rest of the knitting.  Didn't do the finishing.  Enter Patrick.  Knitter and sewer extraordinaire. (I really need to do a post about the very special people I have in my life who do amazing things for me, given my particular "issues.") Patrick put it together for me and, I was able to give it to my Mom THIS year when she got back from Florida.  Better late than never I suppose!

Specs:  Four Panel Jacket from Jamieson's Shetland Knitting Book 2
Yarn: Jamieson's Chunky Shetland (purchased from The Needle Emporium) in Artic
Modifications:  I did not add the button loop as my Mom has a bunch of funky pins she can use to fasten.  Patrick left out the finishing edges on the armholes to create less bulk and some ease of wear.

I love the shaping and it looks great on my Mom!  She loves it and with the recent switch back to fallish/winterish weather it has gotten some good wear.  I'd love to knit another one of these but holy mackerel given how long it took this one to get done I'd better keep on movin'!

Ribby Cardi

This little sweater (and I do mean little - when Ed and Nick saw the finished product they both asked me what little kid was getting it - I do live in the world of big chested men!) was a quick knit but then languished in the needing to be sewn up pile (it's funny how that happens...).  I started it last spring and had the pieces done pretty fast and then......NOTHING!  When Patrick took the Four Panel Jacket he had me give him the Ribby Cardi and wow he did such an amazing job.  The man can put a zipper in! (Okay the photo below is not the zipper but I looooooove the shoulder seam on this!).

The sweater was a gift for Pam, who works her bahuee off as the Administrative Assistant at the Brain Injury Association, Quinte District, a local volunteer organization where Ed donates his time in the role of President.  It is like another full time job and Ed is so thankful for the work Pam does (she is the only paid person at BIAQD), given all the other things going on in his life.  Thankfully, she had no idea she was getting this because it sure has taken a while!

Specs:  Ribby Cardi by Chic Knits
Yarn:   Peruvian Highland Wool (purchased at Elann.com) in Starlight Blue and  Nutmeg Heather
Modifications:  None other than some extra finishing details.  Patrick added a lovely  decorative edge along the zipper selvage which looks wonderful!

Pam loves it!  When Ed went to the office with the bag, Pam sarcastically asked if there was something hand knit in there for her (Ed does wear his hand knits proudly!) and when Ed said, "well, actually yes," she was mortified!  Of course Ed got a big kick out of that.  Anyway, she says it is her favourite sweater and I am happy to have such a loving home for this boffo sweater!

Thank you so much Patrick.  You rock!  I love you Buttercup.  And besides giving you this (you chocaholic you although I have to say if you haven't tried this you really must.  Must.) I will so find some other way to express my appreciation.

I do hope to have more old and neglected WIP's done this year...here's wishing me luck; I am sooo going to need it!

Happy Birthday Nick!

Today was Nick's 15th birthday!  YAY!

We actually spent a very quiet day at home.  Nick had several assignments for school sooooo while he was doing school work I was making this:

Haleakala Cake from Maida Heatter's Cake Book.  White cake (Nick has this thing about white cake.  Me totally Carrot cake all the way, Ed is a cheesecake man) with Pineapple and Coconut filling and Marshmallow icing ( I did make a few modifications in the recipe).

I made the meal Nick requested....well almost.  He asked for fried chicken, he got roasted.  Add potato salad, bean salad (he loves, I mean LOVES my bean salad) and devilled eggs.  It was a pretty good meal. Nick is taking leftovers to school tomorrow.

There were gifts, including Guitar Hero III and a really cool red leather wallet (with plaid material as the lining - sorry no photo; he squired it away immediately!) from Splatgirl (Lara is awesome - she made the wallet especially for Nick and was so quick in getting it to me).  One of the best parts for Nick was the wrapping - he loves racing and red and he is 15 - what are the odds of getting all three on wrapping paper.

Okay I did go a little overboard on the birthday cake decorations (Ed and Nick were totally giving me the gears about how it is so me).  It does look great though.  I did learn that one should never put sparklers on a white cake (or maybe any cake for that matter) - they left little tiny black specks on the frosting (I don't know if I want to know what might be in those specks!).

Cake eaten with Rhubarb Ginger - yummy!  The birthday boy indulged heartily and with quite a bit of gusto.

All in all a great birthday.  Nick is such a great kid and it was really nice to have a small family celebration.  Happy birthday my little scrunchion! 

Apparently we are going really really large for the big 16 next year.  With that said I am going to bed now!

Eyelet and Chevron Socks - Done!

Hard to believe I have another pair of socks done!  Actually these were finished before the Dolomites but I am sure you will forgive my foggy state of brain (things have been... well... a little tough... to say the least) but I had to show you! (And Typepad has this great thing where you can do a few or many posts and then decide when to post....so I did a few 'cause I have been knitting; not much else but definitely some knitting).

Specs: Eyelet and Flame Chevron Socks
Yarn:   Celestial Merino (Sugar Maple Colourway)
Knit Toe Up on 2.5mm circular needles

I loved this yarn!  There are yarns I like and yarns I love and then there are yarns I LOVE.  This is definitely in the LOVE category.  Beautiful texture and sheen, wonderful elasticity and knitability and fantastic colour!  I know I raved about them before and I am still crazy about the yarn - anyone who has enjoyed the festival of fall Maple leaves and the blaze of colour will completely understand the perfection and subtlety of this colourway.

The sock pattern itself was a joy to knit.  Kept me interested enough, wasn't hard and worked up quickly. Sort of the perfect sock.  I am so in love with these.....so keep your hands off!  Seriously though, YOU MUST KNIT A PAIR FOR YOURSELVES, you will not be disappointed!

E is for.....

eh.

Not the "so, you know I am a Canadian eh?", eh (even though I am Canadian and have been known on occasion to use the eh? although I don't know why and how I ever even started using it) but more the eh as in it doesn't thrill me, I could take it or leave it, it could be dreckma.  Eh.

And the eh I speak of?

This is the Easy Drop Stitch Scarf Pattern from Frazzled Knits.  Nothing wrong with the pattern; I am just not so sure about my yarn choice.  I am also not an orange person but I had this lovely yarn in my stash and thought I could use it up.  But it isn't totally working for me.  It is possible that it will look great when all is said and done but I am not sure at this point.

I have had a few opinions and so far everyone else who has seen it likes it.  Me, still not sure.  Eh.

On a brighter front I have a couple of other E related fibre items I do love (and I am aware that the snow below the photos means they were taken a long time ago - while I am somewhat pathetic about the photo taking, the CFS and Fibro are also making the blogging pretty onerous):

Elfine's Socks in Lorna's Laces (Ruby Red Colourway).  I LOVE these.  I used this pattern for the first (and only) socks I made during Sockapalooza (May 2006).  Courtney loved hers and I have always wanted to knit a pair for me.  And now I am.

These are definitely a keeper!  More like the Fonzie's ehhhhhhhh (okay I suppose it was more of an aaayyyy but I'm not telling) for these babies!

Another E for me that I am absolutely, positively in love with is the Elvera Scarf by Evelyn Clark.

I had the wonderful opportunity to take a class with Evelyn at Madrona (I think I am still recovering from that little frolic...) and she is a blast!  A generous teacher with some incredible experience.

I couldn't wait to start this lovely.  I am using Malabrigo Lace and it is WONDERFUL to knit with; and at a lowly $10.00 for 470 yards an incredible bargain to boot!  This scarf is knitting up very quickly (these are old photos) and this has been an exquisite experience for sure!  I guess not all the E's are so bad!

Done!

I finally finished my Dolomite Socks!  Yay! 

Specs:  Dolomite Socks
Yarn:    Pansy Golightly (Dream in Colour Smooshy)
Knit Toe up on 2.5mm circular needles

This is a great pattern and the Dreamy is divine to knit with. 

I did have some mental block after turning the heel (I could not get the pattern to work properly) but I fixed this by going back to the last row of the heel turn and adding 3 stitches, and then continuing the foot pattern - the adjustment allowed for the zigs and zags to continue properly on the sides - up the leg).  This kind of block is the frustrating part of my cognitive fatigue - I needed to put it down and go away from it for a while - but the reward is the finished pair of socks! 

I have to say I have never had a pair of purple socks and I only have one thing to add - EAT YOUR HEART OUT DONNY OSMOND!

Okay....I know I am totally dating myself...lol!

A Blanket for Megan

Megan is six years old and was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. She lives in Boston, MA and I heard about her through Amanda.

This blanket was put together by Carole (blogless) just for Megan and sent off.  A huge thanks to both Amanda and Carole.

I know your thoughts and prayers are with Megan.

P.S.

Warming Grace continues irregardless of how I am feeling.  Megan's blanket is the sixth one completed and sent out.  If you know of a child who has been diagnosed with Leukemia, or you would like to make some squares contact me. Thanks so much.

In Memory...

Robin Jacqueline Crysdale
(January 21, 1958 - April 1, 1997)

Dear Rob,

With each and every passing day I continue to appreciate more and more the gift of your life and how lucky I was to have you as my older sister and best friend.  I miss you so much.

You are always with me; whether in reminiscence, laughter, appreciation, gratitude or tears.  I love you. 

Continue to soar high.

Cin

D is for.....

Dreamy.

Specifically, Dream in Colour Smooshy Sock yarn.  This yarn is soooo lovely.  The colourways are beautiful and the yarn itself is a dream to knit with. Seriously. Dreamy.  So dreamy.

Dolomite Socks.  Pattern by Anne Hanson. Her patterns are always wonderful - this is no exception.  I am having a great time working it up.  You MUST knit these! Must.  The colourway: Pansy Golightly. 

Dolomite in Dream in Colour.  How D of me!

Another Dream in Colour pair:

Gentlemen's Shooting Stockings.  Pattern by Nancy Bush (from Knitting Vintage Socks). 

I have modified it to a toe-up sock (Carole never knits toe up, I never knit top down - I DO know how but I am totally hooked on toe up socks) and do plan to incorporate the pattern into the heel turn. 

The colourway, Cloud Jungle, is wonderful (I bought another skein of the same colourway from Julie to make socks for Ed).

Also dreamy: some Dalegarn Baby Ull

Amanda (formerly of Clothesknit) is having a baby!  Due in early summer (June/July) and I plan to knit a baby thing (or two) for her.  This is a possibility - the colour is a lovely pale mauve; suitable for a boy or a girl.  I love Dalegarn Baby Ull. Dreamy baby.  Dreamy possibilities.

I know I am in the minority but....

I will miss you.

I love snow.  I love winter.  It has been so nice to have a real Ontario winter for a change.  Snow in the country is beautiful.

I will miss you. Okay, no throwing snowballs at me!

C is for.....

catching up!

I know I am waaaaaay behind on Vicki's ABC Along (I have a good excuse I assure you...more on that later) but I figured I needed to get my knitting ass in gear so here goes:

Celestial Merino

Bought last October at the CSNF from Lucy's booth in the market.  This stuff is good.  Really good.  You have to buy some good.  Amazing colour; rich, deep and just like the name.  Sugar Maple. 

Anyone who has watched a Maple tree change colours in the fall knows Lucy has this bang on.  Seriously bang on.  This colourway is so beautiful.  Genius actually.  And the yarn?  Glorious.  It has the shiny look of Koigu or CTH with a wonderful elasticity and sproingyness (okay I know it's not a word but it perfectly describes the feel) that is really glorious to knit.

My Eyelet and Chevron Flame Socks.  I love them. I love them in their fraternalness.
Pattern from The Ultimate Sock Book.

Central Park Hoodie

For Nick. 

Who is continually asking why I am making yet another sweater for Dad and not for him.  Who adores the size of my stash.  Who has promised his undying love to the art of Handknitting.  Who knits, but until he falls seriously in love will probably never knit anything other than a hat or scarf (or maybe just more hats and scarves).  Who adores women who knit.

Who can now comfortably wear the same chest size as Ed (44"), with a bit of room of course (the kid is growing; size 12 shoes and a 40" chest - holy crap) and who can now pass his hand me downs (tee hee) to his father (I figure I am golden).  Who is 14 1/2 years old and 40 years old and 5 years old all at the same time.

Who decided that he wanted to start high school.  My 'little' homeschooler came to us last fall with the idea that he wanted to go to school.  Everything was settled by October but as the semester was well into itself already, the decision was made to wait until February when the new semester would start. 

He loves it!  He is up by 6am every day, he makes his own lunch, whistles while he does his homework and is just a teeny weeny bit in love with his math teacher (who also doubles as his homeroom teacher).  He wants to go to school on snow days.  He is running with the Track team and trying out for the Rugby team.  And he is pulling straight A's.

Central Park Hoodie
Donegal Tweed Homespun in Nick's favourite colour, RED.

Oh...and the excuse.  I went to Madrona (combination birthday and Christmas present from Ed who also told me I needed to get out there and start living; he would help me pick up the physical pieces after - I have to say the recovery has been brutal) - I will post on it soon!