Ghosts of Knitting Past

I am usually the first one to walk into any one of our many fine local retail establishments, take a look around the "holiday" section, and begin to spout obscenities. I normally do not see the need for Christmas lights right next to the jack-o-lanterns, and most years the premature shoving of Christmas cheer down my throat tends to make me a little crabby.

This year, on the other hand, I am ready. Bring on the eggnog!

What? You don't have a Chrismukkah tree decorated out of wee socks? Some knitters you are... (just kidding, I love all of you slackers).

Oh, and just as a reminder: there are only 27 days until Hanukkah and 30 days until Christmas. Block carefully people:

You may want to head over to Threadless's $5 sale instead of knitting. Won't you please think of the towels.

Hat Fancier

I don't know what it is, but this little knitter seems to be on a hat jag:




Button Cap & Wristlets, my own design. Yarn by See Jayne Knit

See that "my own design" above? That means I saw something similar on the Lime 'n' Violet Chum, was too lazy to look it up or knit a gauge swatch, so I farted around with the yarn until something worked.

TKGA Hand Knitters Level One Project. Cascade 220 in Mocha and Azure

I think I should just move into the Loopy Ewe's crawlspace; now that they have every Cascade 220 color imaginable I don't see any reason to leave...

Dream Swatch. Yarn unknown

Okay, not technically a hat, but still a head covering. Check out the hair!

Garbo Garden Hat from Lace Style. Louisa Harding Nautical Cotton

I knew I had all these stitch markers for a reason... Thankfully there is a millinery shop near the Husboy's work, so I can pick up the needed wire sometime next week.

Shedir from Knitty's Breast Cancer Special Edition. Alpaca/Silk blend yarn

Don't worry, I haven't completely gone over the edge. In fact, I just started a bag. Of course, the bag is solid bobbles...

Maybe you should worry.

What Recession?

I know that the world economy is slowly swirling towards the septic system right now, but I have to admit that I've been doing a little bit of shopping investing in my favorite hobby (next to beating the kitty, of course).

I was out of town and just this side of broke when The Loopy Ewe uploaded their new stock of Namaste bags, including the very desirable Laguna in the might-be limited Peacock colorway. I had missed it the first time it came around and had been holding off buying another bag because I had my sights set on this specific bag. I had also just made an order a few days before and was, as previously stated, just this side of broke. Did I let the opportunity slip by?

Heck no. There was no way I was going to be left in the dust by another gaggle of equally fashionable (no insult intended) knitters. It took some juggling, but I got it, and I have been extremely happy with it. My previous bag, the messenger bag from Namaste was just a little too clunky and the flap made it a pain to access when you're knitting on the run. This bag is easy access with lots of little pockets and zippered compartments and the color is to die for.

Of course, a few weeks later The Loopy Ewe had a 20% off sale on bags and selected yarns. I checked and, thankfully, my bag was already sold out. Nothing miffs me more than missing a great deal. To get over my almost anxiety attack, I used my newly acquired $25 loyalty credit and picked up some Farmhouse Yarns sock yarn in Chocolate, which was also on sale and looks good enough to eat.

I don't even want to talk about all the yarn I've been buying; the idea of photographing it all for Ravelry is laughable. The Husboy is absolutely no help. Even after telling him that one more skein of yarn in the house meant that we would have to rent a storage unit for him to sleep in, he still bought me a skein of Manos when we unexpectedly (honest!) found ourselves at Strands and Stitches in Laguna Beach. They had an excellent selection of knitting and cross-stitch supplies (for you poly-craftual folks), though I can't say I loved the sorting by color. Definitely worth a stop if you find yourself in that neck of the Pacific Coast Highway.

I am also still producing yarn, though I haven't taken any pictures of that either. I need to shake a leg; the shop opens in only a month and a half! I hope you all like lace-weight cashmere!

Let me distract you with my latest antique store find:

Stocking blockers! They're a little smaller than my feet and need some major sanding and a coat of varnish, but for $7 how could I refuse? I may pick up some more next week, though they looked a little huge... Maybe I'll paint them and do something fun with them?

Have to run; I need to fold laundry before heading out to Knit night. Be safe out there!

The Reluctant Blogger

Hello out there in Internets land! If it seems that I had another abra-cadabra moment, it is because I did in fact disapear for a while. I seem to have hit the point in my recovery where I'm getting better, but not fast enough dag-nab it, so I am constantly either pushing myself too hard or sitting around as a tired, depressed lump. In an attempt to nudge me out of this, the Husboy has ordered me to blog and go to knit nights. I have done the latter and am now doing the former.

Now for the requisite catch-up montage:

• Went to the Torrance Fiber Festival this year. I only bought one little skein of sock yarn from Chameleon Colorworks, though I am regretting not picking up one of the infant-sized skiens of sport (?) weight that everyone else seems to have gotten.
• I have also been working on my TKGA hand knitting assignment; I have all the actual knitting done and have made an outline for the paper I have to write. The paper will get more attention when I drop the Monkey Cousin at school on Friday. I don't know how everyone gets all the information you're supposed to submit on these little labels, but I need to do that too. Le sigh...
• At some point I promised someone that I would knit the Greta Garbo Garden Hat from Lace Style for someone else that is related to the both of us. I then bought a bunch of cotton for it, then forgot to start it. It is now on the needles (thank goodness for voice mail) and seems to go pretty quickly. I may make another in wool for the 2009 county fair, but I think I'll wait until I see how this turns out.
• Hate me if you will, but not only do I have some of my holiday knitting completed, it is blocked and wrapped. Ugh, I hate myself a little...
• Husboy is good, Stinker is well, my hair is growing back like the dickens, and all is right with the world.

There has to be more, but for the life of me I can't think of it now. Big hugs!