Tedious, Stale, Boring

Stocking stitch. An interminable amount of stocking stitch.

You would think that would mean a loathing of this project.

Actually - this project is my interlude. Respite from the insanity of the last few days of school and the upswing of summer.

It is a painfully slow project, but I'm enjoying it. For now.

Femme Fatale

I hear that the original use of the name Rowena was for a femme fatale character - so that's what I'll call myself while wearing my Rowena cardigan.


Seriously - even though this sweater is almost a year in the making, it was worth it. Look at it. Look at that edging. My goodness it's pretty.


I have left it loose and swingy as opposed to putting buttons on the front (this is primarily due to the fact that I ran out of yarn....not because of my exceptional style or anything).



I'm still struggling with ribbon options. Below is choice #2. I'm not completely happy with either and think that for now I may go ribbonless.


In the meantime I will bask in the joy of a finished object. A finished object for me. I will take it with me this weekend as I go to visit both of my grandmothers in Saskatchewan. I hope to get some knitting love from my Grandma that used to knit. It's only recently that I've realized that she was quite a knitter in the past - and I hope to hear more about it this weekend.

Knitting Resolutions

I'm not a big fan of resolutions. It's the researcher in me. People say "I want to be healthier", "I want to lose weight", "I want to start running". I think - how are you going to do that? What is your measurable outcome? To me, goal-setting makes more sense. Set an attainable goal and try and get there.

So, I'm making Knitting Resolutions/Goals. Measurable with timelines and specifics.

1. Everything that is currently on my needles will be off my needles by July 1st. If not, it's ripped. This includes the beast of a never-ending sweater. It includes those socks that I lost (and now have found). My Rowena is in there as well (but in breaking news, it's blocked and partially sewn together....).


2. I will only buy yarn that has a specific purpose in mind. I'm trying to reduce stash enhancement. After cleaning out my yarn bins yesterday - I realize I don't really need any yarn. I have tons. So I need to use up what I have. But, let's say I want to knit my boys new sweaters - fine. I can go get yarn specific to that project but nothing else. There is a little loophole with this....sock yarn is ALWAYS specifically for socks, so I can get away with that. (these are my resolutions, so I make the rules).

3. I will donate any unused balls of yarn to a women's shelter. I have unused balls that just sit and sit. I think I'm going to use them someday and they're still there. They would be better served helping someone else. So next December 31st I will pass them on. I have visual record of everything I have to date, so I can easily purge next year.


That's pretty much it. I have lots of knitting I want to do, and dream of doing. We'll see what 2008 holds in store for that.

In a last tip of the hat for 2007, I present my most proud piece of knitting from the year (since SPM asked)- my husband's sweater vest. It's not complicated, but it turned out beautifully. The best finishing I've ever done by far. I took my time and it was worth it. And, he's worn it twice already. He just may be on his way to a full sweater next year....

What do you do when....

- your "friend" is holding yarn hostage so you agree to go to SnB tonight. Yarn to knit this (little green clutch) and possibly this (see one recently completed by J.).

- your almost 4- year old wants to invite everyone in his class to his birthday party, and you barely know all the kids (let alone their parents) names?

- you have a knitting project stalled and you can't decide to finish, or to frog (currently leaning towards ribbit-ribbit)?

- this is your option for dress clothes for your 3-year old. Check out the description - nice polyester, elasticized waist pants. Lovely. The options for boys are limited to: cotton khaki pants and ugly poly pants. That's it. Nothing in between. Nothing cute or a little bit trendy. Nothing.

- you have the urge to drum and knit at the same time (I don't, but some people might). Well, you do what this guy does.

- you are almost out of yarn for this (yarn which you bought over a year ago so you know you're never going to find the same dye lot)

and you are completely out of yarn for this (for the second time...). You'd think as a pharmacist my math skills would be somewhat exceptional. I think this proves they are barely passable.

What do you do?

My Knit Stitch

Being in the midst of miles and miles of stocking stitch has come to bore me. I know this is why the Rowena has been put away for so long. I knew there were 2 sleeves, and an endless number of knit and purl stitches waiting for me so I hid it away. In an effort to keep me entertained, I have been trying to closer investigate my actual process of completing a knit stitch and a purl stitch.

I have come to one major conclusion - I produce a very odd looking stocking stitch.

Take a look at the left side of each "v" of the stitch - it appears to be quite tight, while the right side looks very loose (or normal). It's hard to take a picture of very small stitches - hopefully you get the picture.

Upon closer examination, I think it's because I pull my right needle at the end of each stitch. Not intentionally, but I do it.

Any thoughts on this? Why I might be doing it or how to fix it? It doesn't bother me too much, but it'll be interesting to hear what people think.

Tomorrow, we'll closely examine my purls...and I got me some good purls....

On the Road Again...

We need to spend more than a couple days at home in a row. This travelling really puts a dent in my knittin' time.

We got home from Vegas, then my husband ran to San Diego and then we did a quick 14 hour trip to Calgary. Whew.

Friends of ours are moving to Australia in a couple weeks so they were having a going-away shing dig. There are very few people I'd do a 14 hour road trip for....these are some of the few people. We left Saturday afternoon at 4pm (after a doctor's appointment and hockey practice), drove the 3 hours to Calgary, spent far too long drinking red wine, slept far too little, and turned around to come home.

The plus side of this trip was the 5 1/2 hours in the car. I got this done...


I need to get this done in time for our finishing workshop with Lucy Neatby. The Rowena has officially come out of hibernation.

Things I Should Do and Things I Shouldn't Do - The Knitting Version

Things I should do....


1. Finish my Rowena Cardigan (ok - I won't really wear it till winter, so it maybe shouldn't be #1 but it has been on the needles the longest. I'm done the back, 2 fronts and part of one sleeve. I really should finish this one).



2. Finish JW's (That's my husband) father's day present (ok - I'm not even done 1, and I have to make another one. I have turned the heel on that first one, but given the size of the appendage it's meant to be for - no nasty comments J. - I still have a lot of knitting. I really need to finish this).



3. Weave in the ends on my god-daughter's birthday presnt (well it's done, for the most part. And her birthday isn't till July 2 - should really get this finished).



4. Finish my monkey socks. I am supposed to be doing a knit-a-long with J., but she's FAR more 'a-long' than I am. (ok these are probably going to be a Christmas present for a dear friend who specifically asked for hand knit socks - I've knit her kids some but never her, so she'll be pumped. But given the timelines, I got lots of time to work on these).



Things I should NOT do....



1. I should NOT cast on my Tuscany shawl with my Sangria Seasilk (confession - already did this. J. was going on and on about how great the yarn is and I had finished winding it and it was really calling my name and well.....you know....)



2. I should NOT buy the Hempathy yarn required to make the Hip in Hemp skirt from the new Knitty, even though J. found some online for a totally reasonable price and free shipping (I have nothing to confess here -- I haven't bought it....yet....)



3. I should NOT return to the yarn store just to pick up more DPNs ( we all know how well that would go....there would be more than just needles purchased....it's inevitable).



4. I should NOT wind up my KPPPM just because it's a good, brainless activity to do while watching TV (there is NO way I could just leave that newly wound ball alone in my knitting basket. Seriously, I have a 'casting-on' problem).

I really need help....