Vive la France

I'm in training. I have a big event coming up and I want to be in top shape to meet the challenge head on. I want to do my best and I want to make my fellow knitters proud.

I'm starting the Tour de France Knitalong. And not just because T. is making me. No. This is something I sort of chose to do. Every once in a while, I find that the stimulus of a deadline can make knitting exciting. It's the thrill of the chase, the danger of falling down, the lack of any other interesting television.

As I am a new competitor this year, I am competing in the White Jersey category. That means I can knit whatever I want, really. I'm basically along for the ride and the men in tight pants. I have to admit, I do enjoy the crashes. There's usually some blood and a bent wheel or two. And the scenery is lovely. It makes me feel so European as I knit on my couch and basically act as a pod for this baby. I've chosen to knit the Juno Regina in a burgandy laceweight silk/seacell blend. I'll probably even do a little swatch (totally legal, no cheating here) so I'm ready with the correct needles. Like the yarn?

Me too.

I'm in Team Silence-Lotto. I understand we have a couple of good looking Australians on our team. Eye candy is very motivating.

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?

Perceptions and a Poll

These days, I'd like to look like this...

but I feel more like this.

Hormones can be cruel.

Fortunately, my ankles are still shapely and my feet are unpuffy so I've been thinking about sock knitting. I think I've already told you that I like my socks from the top down on DPNs. I think that's because that's how I started knitting them and that's my comfort zone. In an effort to shake things up, I started a sock on two circs. I don't mind this technique but I'm pretty slow because I'm still getting used to it.

This has got me wondering how people like to knit their socks. So here you have it.

J's Informal Sock Poll

1. Do you like DPNS or Circs? If you like circs, do you like one or two?

2. Do you knit one sock at a time or two?

3. Do you have trouble finishing a pair or do you finish both socks before moving on?

4. What's your favorite fibre for socks?

5. What's the weirdest thing you've knit socks out of?

6. What's your favorite number of stitches to cast on for yourself?

7. Who's got the biggest feet in your life and do you knit them socks?

Leave me a comment. Answers to be compiled however I see fit. Let me know about your socks.

It keeps my mind off my ever expanding middle.

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.

February in June

I'm pretty tired tonight. Working and answering endless "whys" and making a kid are really taking their toll this week. Fortunately, I've had knitting and a little show called "So You Think You Can Dance?" to keep me from losing it completely.

I cast on this little number on Monday just before SnB and yesterday, I made it to the pattern section. Knitting with Cascade 220 is great! You see your results quickly and it's a pleasant and financially responsible knit. (Especially when certain yarn dealers have big sales.)

Hope you've got more energy than I do and that your knits fly off your needles as quickly as mine have lately.

(T., I hear they're doing a Canadian version of SYTYCD. I can't wait to see your tryout next year.)