Recent Sex

Lest you recoil in horror, I'm referring to S.E.X., which in yarn parlance is short for Stash Enhancement Expedition (i.e. buying more yarn). On Friday we lucked into a half day and Pam and I hoofed it all the way up into old downtown Carmel to Stitches n' Scones. Some decent damage to the debit card later and I'm now the proud owner of:

(top photo)

• Four skeins Plymouth Linen Isle in color 7503 228295 (the poetic craft employed by Plymouth for its color names is clearly unrivaled)
• Four skeins Plymouth Linen Isle in color 7471 195690
• Two skeins Blue Sky Alpacas color 627 (note that I wasted no time in dipping into this yarn, I only photographed the front of the sweater, the back is already done)
• One skein each Blue Sky Alpaca in some green color and some yellow color (don't feel like walking across the living room to read the label)

(bottom photo)

• One skein Lamb's Pride Worsted in Brown Heather
• One skein Lamb's Pride Worsted in Old Sage
• One skein Knit One, Crochet Too Paint Box in a variegated green-dark purple colorway
• One super-soft skein of Inca Alpaca color 1108
• One skein Rowan All Seasons Cotton color 191

Best part? There's another sale next Friday at Mass Ave Knit Shop, and I fully intend to go.

Hey Guys, Look At Me!

I've been trying to make a point of not talking about work overly much. Partly because I don't want to bore you all to tears, partly because I'm actually pretty fond of my job and would prefer to hang on to it. However, I really just can't help myself just this once.

A project near and dear to my heart just released this week, and as part of the book launch, we're doing a charity knit along. The book was a true collaborative effort and, if I do say so myself, it turned out really well. It helps that we had the cutest models on the face of the earth (read: Keira models one of the hats in the book.)

So, if you happen to see this in any of major bookstores, take a peek - if you haven't figured it out yet, I'm really rather proud of it. And, if you knit, consider joining our knit along here.

Lace, Lagaan, and a List

What do all these things have in common? Well, not much actually, except that they are the three topics that kept popping into my mind when I tried to think of what to write. Lace, because I'm starting my first lace knitting project, Lagaan because it's a movie I was planning to start tonight, and lists because I felt like sharing some of the teasing I inflicted on my poor husband last night.
You see, he loves:

• kung fu movies
• science fiction
• movies and TV shows based on comic books
• conversations based on any of the previous
• bloody action movies (but really only those based on either ancient history or comic books)

I took up knitting because:

• my husband likes to watch kung fu movies
• my husband likes to watch science fiction
• my husband likes to watch movies and TV shows based on comic books
• my husband likes to have conversations based on any of the previous
• my husband likes to watch bloody action movies (but really only those based on either ancient history or comic books)
• we don't go out much anymore
• for work
• it's unavoidable, really

So you see, the lace really is a product of kung fu. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. How does Lagaan fit into this at all? Well, you see, if I felt okay to poke mild fun at Chad's viewing preferences, I really then ought to admit that I have some guilty pleasures of my own. I like:

• the occasional volume of chick lit
• The Spice Girls (yes, still)
• knitting
• Brit pop
• Japanese Cute Culture
• Hello Kitty
• Baliwood music

Though I've not yet tried it, I very seriously suspect that I'm bound to enjoy Baliwood movies. Since Lagaan is purported to be the quintessential Baliwood musical, I thought it best to start there. Chad is out swilling beer and watching The 300 with the boys (see earlier bit about Chad liking gory films based loosely on a) comic books b) historical events). I think I'll go pop in Lagaan now, although I won't get too far. Chad's due home soon and Heroes is on in half an hour (see earlier comment on TV shows based loosely on comics).

Cupcake Hat

Whew! One more project done. This one is all finished, blocked, and ready to be shipped off tomorrow morning. It's been done for a bit, but I hadn't yet had time to photograph the hat. I turned out really cute, if I do say so - but I only knitted it, I didn't design it. The photo on the left shows off the adorable shaping.

The yarn I used was Rowan Baby Soft, not the best choice for this pattern as it really would have benefited from a much springier yarn. Ah well, I'll have to find something else to do with my immense stash of Baby Soft. Anyone have any ideas?

If you like the pattern, you can find it on www.slumberland.org

It's "worthware," so at some point I guess I'll need to go pay her $5.

I'm a little teapot

Now that it's been delivered, I can post a photo of another recently completed knitting project, a tea cozy for my friend Pam's birthday. A birthday that I both remembered and then forgot. See, I accidentally transcribed said birthday into my 07 calendar for Feb, when it should have been March. So, I had everything ready in Feb, then realized her birthday was in March. Then, last week at work was ridiculous-busy and I proceeded to forget the same birthday. Sorry Pam.

If you like the tea cozy, you can find the pattern here. If you decide to knit it, read the pattern very carefully, you really do need both sets of dpns, but you don't need the circular needle, a pair of spns would have worked better. Also, Manos del Uruguay is a great yarn substitution (it's what I used).

Ta-Da, Sugar on Snow

In case word hasn't yet reached you, it's time I came clean. I've officially joined a cult; become a junkie. My sinister co-workers subliminally coerced me into picking up needles, and now I'm hooked - no wait, hooked would be crochet. Anyway, since I've been having some fun with it, I thought I'd share a photo of one of my completed projects.

The best part, Keira will actually consent to wear this hat every once in a while. That is, if the blue (pink) hat isn't anywhere to be seen.

By the way, if you like hand knitted things, just send me your sizes (and those of your kids). You just never know when I'll find a yarn and a pattern that remind me of you (Becky, I already have about 20 ideas for you, and yes, I know your sizes.)

If any of you have taken up knitting, I'd love to hear about it and see some finished projects. You can find the hat pattern, for free, at Knitty.com. ttp://knitty.com/ISSUEfall06/PATTsnow.html