I got nothin'....

I know you're all waiting for a post to say "Hey, the baby is here!" No one more, I'm sure, than my partner in crime.

But I got nothin' to tell ya.

So instead I'll woo you with pretty pictures of something I finished a while ago, and was just blocked last week with my newly purchased blocking wires (which are heaven....).


My Hanami v. 2.0.


Now, last I talked about this baby, I said that I was going to throw it in the Christmas Cumulus.

I've changed my mind.

It's mine, all mine.

And in another attempt to woo you, I'll show you my first completed sock for the September STR shipment. Spoiler Alert!!

The colour way is called Tidal Pooling and is my favourite so far.

Did it work? Did I divert your attention? I'm sure I didn't, but it was a worthy try, right?

(and we're all sending good thoughts to the baby......go towards the light baby....gooooo....)

Say What? T. actually finished something???

That's right - she did.

Two things actually.

Crazy, I know.

First, I finished the Hanameeee. That's my made up word for Hanami for me. At least originally it was going to be for me, but now I don't know. I don't love it. It's lovely, but I'm not sure. It may go in the Christmas pile. I should make that sound a bit nicer. Pile implies, well other things. Let's call it the Christmas Cumulus.

It still needs a bath and some stretching, but I am awaiting some blocking wires to help in that endeavour.

Second up, the Bainbridge scarf.

Another thing to put in the Christmas Cumulus. This little number took 2 short nights of knitting and is quite warm and fuzzy. I can think of a couple people I know who would appreciate this one.

Things are flying off the needles here at Baad Medicine. Watch out for flying wool.

Rites of Passage

A little more than 100 years ago, a Belgian anthropologist explained that all cultures have ways of marking major life transitions - and he defined these as being rites of passage. Many of these rituals surround the transition of a child into adulthood; often revolving around puberty (what a great time to remember, right? Aren't you glad I'm bringing that up?).

When I think of rites of passage, I think of the Jewish tradition of bar mitzvah. I'm personally more familiar with the idea of confirmation, but I think of them as being somewhat similar. The end result is the formal admission to a community.

So, what is the rite of passage for a knitter? At what point are we formally admitted, or at least feel formally admitted, to this community? Do we need to have accomplished a certain number of sweaters or socks; or completed a difficult pattern; or deciphered a ridiculous chart?

I feel like I'm a fairly accomplished knitter, in most respects. I like to stay in my comfort zone, but I can knock off some pretty crazy things (have you seen Cat Bordhi's socks?) and I think I could probably attempt most things thrown my way.

However, the one thing I've never knit is a Baby Surprise Jacket. To me, this feels like my rite of passage. I can't consider myself a truly proficient knitter until I've done one. I'm not sure why I have set this as my standard, but I have. It's likely due to the mythic nature of the pattern and the designer.

So, once I complete my Hanami (I'm currently on my last basketweave repeat...almost half-way) and the Tour de France KAL (go Team CSC!), I think I need to do this. To complete this rite of passage.

What's your knitting rite of passage? What project do you have set in your mind that once you complete it you will feel like a truly accomplished artisan?

Enjoy it.

Everybody keeps telling me to "enjoy it".

Enjoy this time at home by myself doing very little.

And I have to say, I am really trying to.

I've watched many movies over the last few days. Some horrific (I may even say the worse movie I have every seen), a few which remind me of being a kid, and some horribly sad. But it's been good. It has been good to just sit and try to relax (that is truly a stretch for me).

There have been a lot of end of pre-school events that have kept me busy too.

Graduation.





















And end of school barbeque (my kids the tall one....not surprising right?). They are releasing their butterflies that they watched go from a caterpillar to a chrysalis (yes, Punky referred to it as a chrysalis, it's not technically a cocoon) to a butterfly. Then they released them at the park. So freakin' adorable.











I've also made some good progress on some knits.

Hanami v.2.0.


This time, it's for me.

And Cat Bordhi socks v.2.0.


Baby Coriolis. Let it be said again, that women is on a different knitting level entirely.

I have also enjoyed having my love around quite a bit. He usually commutes an hour each way, but he has been at home for quite a bit, and when he has gone to work, he's commuted about 10 minutes each way. It's been nice. I know it's only temporary, but it's been nice.


I've enjoyed it.

It's so hard...

...to NOT blog about your Christmas knitting projects.

I am dying to post about some wonderful pieces. One in particular. And I can't. Well, I could but then it would be no fun for the recipient at Christmas.

In the meantime I will bore you with my boring knitting.

My Hanami (no, it's not done).

This big blob-o-knitting (that's all the info you get. And it's knit with this.)

I started this....

And this finished object.

It's lovely but it was a pain in the butt to knit. The pattern stated to cast on 52 stitches in a DK weight yarn. Do you know how big of a circumference you get with that? About 10 inches. That's about 50% TOO SMALL for any human head - no matter how small they are. I ended up searching the pattern on Ravelry (who doesn't love Ravelry?). Someone else had knit it and had the same problem. I followed what they did (cast on 96 sts) and then converted it to knit in the round. Lucy would be so proud. It turned out ok - perhaps could have been a little longer. Just have to add the flower stamens in the middle of the flower then voila - one more Christmas gift done (the recipient of this gift doesn't read my blog as she is 17 months old).

Next up - some more covert knitting, finishing the Hanami, starting some socks for someone and then re-evaluate. How many days left till Christmas?

The Week in Review - Knitting Style

It's been a busy week - between birthdays, and birthday parties, and school parties, and rodeos (yes, rodeos) there hasn't been a lot of time for knitting. But, we work with what we're given. And the week consisted mostly of good things knitting related.

The good knittin' that occurred this week:

My Big-Boy's New Toque

He requested a blue and green hat (the last hat I made him was blue and green - he isn't the most imaginative child). Ta - da. Complete in less than 3 days (Ann Budd's standard hat pattern from here). And the best part was the yarn. I love this yarn. STR Heavyweight. It's so nice to work with. Luuuuv it. And I have enough left over to make matching mitts. Add that to the queue.

This is a little something for someone special for Christmas - I'm not saying what it is or for whom I'm knitting it for, as this person has taken to reading my blog (hi Mom...).

I also pulled out the Hanami again and we're making good headway with that.

Also have completed these lovely socks (No Sweat Socks in Wick).

That's the good. A pretty good showing for my knitting if I do say so myself.

Then there's the bad.

This is my MS3.

It is officially done. Frogged. Ribbit-ed. Done. And I'm ok with that. It wasn't meant to be and the yarn will turn into something better. Something more T-like. I'm ok with it (I keep telling myself this).

And this is another bad result of the week. Pulled these socks on:

and found this on the bottom:

These are Hedera's I knit myself in some Cherry Tree Hill (Earth colorway - not sure what number Earth colorway because there is more than one). I like the pattern but have never loved the yarn. It really felted up for me (even though it was superwash) and I had a hard time pulling them on. Also the colorway was kind of, well, weird. It had browns and yellows and oranges (earthy colors which I like) but that was mixed in with some steel blue and purple. When I think Earth - I don't think steel blue and purple. But, it doesn't matter. They are, or more aptly put were, the first socks I had knit for myself. Given my size 12 monstrosities, knitting socks for me are quite the endeavour (just ask J.). And now this is the result - a big gaping hole.

Alas the week has been busy, knitting and otherwise.

Did anyone notice anything.....I cast-on 2 new things.....I think I've fallen off the wagon....

Thoughts on Socks

Check this out....

And this....

Can you believe it? Two pairs of socks finished in one week. Unbelievable. Now, my goal is to finish the Hanami before starting anything new.

I think I'll cast on the No Sweat Socks from No Sheep for You. These are for my sister-in-law. I have the Columbine colorway in the Wick yarn. The yarn is worsted weight so I think these will go fast. I've never actually knit socks in anything other than fingering weight.

What's everyone else's experience in other weight yarn for socks. What's your favorite weight yarn for socks? What has turned out being disastrous? Comments, concerns?

Fabulous

It's a Tuesday after a long weekend. Tuesdays after long weekends aren't good, let alone Tuesdays after long weekends, post-holidays. My favorite radio DJ referred to today as a Mega-Monday. I have to agree. I was back at work for 30 minutes and it was like I never left.

In an effort to be positive (I've had other attempts in the past. I'm not the world's best "Glass is Half-full" person), I'm thinking of everything that is fabulous.

My new shoes:


My Hanami (I think the color is Fabulous):

Our Fall 2007 Photo shoot (how many attempts does it take to get 1 good picture?? It takes about 20 attempts to get 20 ridiculous pictures)

































My new nephew (what isn't fabulous about that??):

And Last but NOT Least, J. She's pretty fabulous. Did you read her Knitting in today's society series. Pure brilliance. And the quote of the day from J. While having lunch we were philosophizing (is that a word?) about kids. I said God must have had some reason to give me 2 boys - not sure what the reason was, but there must be one. Response from J: "There is only enough room in your house for your shoes". Nice. I think I found the reason. Fabulous!

Plodding along...

Week 2 of No New Cast-ons....applause please...thank you, thank you

This is a great feat given that my first Hill Country Yarns shipment arrived. They are destined to be Christmas socks to boost up that tally (I'm not even trying to approach J's 8.5 -- I'll be happy with a solid 5). Pictures of those will follow when they get started...

As I work through my current projects, I notice that I have made some progress. Amazing what you can complete when you actually focus on a few things at a time (rather than ELEVEN things at a time...and yes that number is correct; 11 UFOs).

My Tomten....

This was originally meant to be for my new niece/nephew, then I thought my baby boy but now I'm thinking maybe my big boy. What do you think???

My Hanami....

It's looking good, and I'm keeping up.

This Christmas gift which can not be spoken of....

So I'm making progress and as Oliver Wendell Holmes said:

“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.”

I'm moving forward baby, I am.

Back to School Blues

I love the fall. Love it. It's my favorite season by far. I got married in the fall, I had a baby in the fall. And, fall means back to school. This has, at most points in my life, been a highlight of my year. New books, new stationary (I love new stationary), and all the things that go along with the beginning of the school year (clothes!!).

As I get older, however, back to school means much different things to me. Getting the kids ready for back to school (can you say "Mom's taxi??), getting ready for my classes (teaching this time round...yikes...when will they find out I really don't know what I'm talking about) and dealing with back to school traffic. An hour in Mom's taxi this am was enough to drive me to drink (it was 8am, a little early for drinking, even in mybooks).

So just as J. did the other day - I'm trying to find my silver lining.

This helps....

(Classic Elite Bam Boo in Flamingo)

As does this....

(Colinette Jitterbug in Copperbeech)

Oh, can't forget about these....

(new stitch markers from here)

And of course, this....

(Mama E's C*eye*ber Fiber in Sea)

And, as always, the back to school pic for mom....

(all yarns acquired on Yarn Crawl '07 with my friend Elsie - we had fun!!)

Why I'm a Bad KAL Host...

1. I appears that I have 'misplaced' my Hanami Pattern. This can be attributed to my very rudimentary filing system (ie. there isn't a filing system).

2. I still don' t have yarn. This isn't entirely my fault. I didn't like the first color of yarn I ordered (ok, that's my fault), so I ordered some more which hasn't arrived yet (not my fault - that one is on Canada post). I guess if I had made a yarn decision prior to last week, maybe it would have arrived on time (ok, it's mostly my fault).

3. Haven't even looked for beads. There is a nice bead store in town which I'd like to check out, and I'm off work this week. However, the thought of taking my 3 year old, and even more frighteningly, my 1 year old, there is too much for me to handle.

4. There's no way I'll be casting-on with the group. So, not only do I not have yarn, beads or pattern, I am leaving town tomorrow for a few days. Therefore, even if my yarn arrives tomorrow, I won't get it till Monday.

This is why I keep J. around. She's a good KAL host. She has yarn, beads and pattern. She has even cast - on in preparation for the launch on Friday - so she can show everyone what to complete the first week. Again, this is why I keep her around. There are many other reasons why I keep her around: comic relief, keeping me sane, supporting my yarn habit, supporting my shoe habit, making sure I don't cast on anything else, etc etc. Plus she is a super-duper cool blogger. Yeah she rocks!

Shawl Chic

J. and I decided to collectively do some ordering (yes we're on a diet, and yes we know it's not August yet). We checked out The Knitter for the first time and we're excited about the possibilities. We've both decided on some Zephyr for our Hanami's. I had a dream about a gold Hanami (when do you have a 'knitting problem'?? when you're starting to dream about it???) so I went with the Chrome colorway - I think it's the closest to gold I could find.

I've never actually worn a shawl. Ever. And now I have 3 on the go.

The Tuscany in Seasilk.

The MS3 in baby alpaca.

And now the Hanami in Zephyr wool/silk.

Maybe I should consider giving one away, but right now the thought of giving any one of these away gives me a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. Too much love and toil and tears (not really, but you get the picture) to give these away.

I suppose I can just start wearing a shawl everyday to work. It'll be "my thing". I'll be the pharmacist who wears a shawl. I have been referred to a number of times as the Tall Pharmacist; I think I like the Shawl-wearing Pharmacist better. I will never be cold. I will always be chic. I will be able to better hide any body-related flaws. I think it's a great idea!! Now, I just have to actually finish one....