Yeah! Toe Up Class Starts Tonight!

I am so excited!

So I have been a busy, dedicated knitter this past week. Sticking to my WIP's, not starting anything new.


I took the wrap cardi off the needles last night for a fitting. It fits beautifully but I am glad I gave it a proper try on. I was at the 17" mark--where you are suppose to stop wrapping and put in the button hole for the tie. I am nearly 5'10" tall and long legged but also long wasted, a standard medium width wise but length can be a problem. Instead of the 17" called for in the pattern I would be better served to keep wrapping 'til 18" to hit the right point at my waist for a tie. Also for over all length it should be 25" instead of 24" to hit the right point at my hips. I think I have enough yarn--hope and pray I have enough yarn--I have three or four rows of knitting left in the ball I'm working with plus three full skeins of olive Malabrigo, plus a small ball left over from Greenzilla. That should be enough to finish the bottom of the sweater, sleeves and trim.

My scarves are almost finished. Might be done scarves for a while. they look great but it's pretty repetitive and being as I've done three the same in a row…

I am picking up the yarn for my boy's Top Down Henley tonight before the class starts. Misti Alpaca Worsted in Olive Melange. Should be nice. I'd love to pick up some extra Misti Alpaca to do him an "Everybody's Favourite Hat 'n Scarf" from Fiber Trends to match with the winter jacket I bought him today and his soon to be sweater. May be something with some golden brown tones like the Pottery Melange. He already has the hat in Fern Blue Sky Alpaca Cotton with off white trim. It totally suits his complexion--fair skin, pin point freckles, green (and I do mean green) eyes and dark brown hair. He'll need some warm stuff soon because man oh man…


I woke up yesterday morning to this…

the boy borrowed my parka (I was trying to wash blood out of his coat but that's another story) and bolted out to play in it but was back in a flash because it was freezing and the wind was howling.


Today it's this… still cold but talk about gorgeous!

OH… about the blood…to make a long story short: my son was having troubles with a couple of kids at school. One of them deliberately drew with whiteout on the chevron insignia of his army surplus jacket. My son was NOT happy. He came home and talked to me about it. We agreed the jacket wasn't the same anymore. The insignia was the best part and it was wrecked. SO he went back and told the other boy he should pay for a new jacket… the other boy shoved him…he shoved back… the other boy socked him squarely in the nose resulting in a GUSHER of a nose bleed. Copious blood everywhere. Both boys were suspended and rightly so. The nice thing was in talking to the VP (who I had left a message for about the jacket wrecking incident the day prior) is that he likes my son, he found him very personable and pleasant and as he is also the Junior High rugby coach was thrilled to find out the boy has been playing for two years. The other kid did admit to deliberately wrecking my son's jacket and to starting the fight when asked to pay for it. The boys agreed together that it was a pretty stupid fight. and with any degree of luck after the school meets with the other boy's parents we will get $50 to buy a new jacket. All's well that ends well.

Add On: All did not end well… the parents won't even help pay for a new jacket… so much for teaching children to take responsibility for their actions. I must've been alone in thinking that was an appropriate consequence.

And finally, every girl needs a little eyecandy once in a while--you can thank the UBC Engineers for this one ;-D

Nothin' to see here…

Ack!! I wanted to post all this good stuff this week but it's all WIP's--nothin' new to see here--I'm happy with everything, just can't get over how much I LOVE the top down wrap cardi. It's coming along really fast. KPn'S patterns are so easy to follow, I couldn't have picked better for my first ever sweater and Malabrigo is awesome, I will definitely be using it again (and again). How ever, when you get right down to it, the sweater is just a big green blob right now. The scarves are still looking good, you know… the same only longer. Both about 3/4 done. I spent most of the weekend working on the sweater. When I need a break from the sweater, I do a few rows on the scarves and as they pack smaller, I also take them to work with me. I am dying to do some smaller things like these (which seem to be everywhere and are calling my name) just to have them done, have something new. That's probably at the root of my starting so many projects.

My car developed a major oil leak last week so it was in getting fixed today. I slept poorly last night (bad dreams) and my head was pounding so I napped for a good portion of the day. I love having the Sunday/Monday off and a late start Tuesday (1:30 PM). Makes the weekend seem a little longer. Tuesdays are my only late shift the rest of the week I'm off by 5:30. Nice hours for retail--gives me lots of time in the evenings with the boy.

My sister and I had a compelling conversation about spontaneity today. Why do we over think things to the point where they don't happen or the expectations are set to the point where we can't enjoy ourselves. Think about dinner with friends… when was the last time you called a bunch of friends at the last minute and said, "I just want to see you, come over tonight, I'll make something quick and easy, you can bring along something equally quick and easy, we'll get a couple bottles of wine and it'll be great!" I never do it… my house is never clean enough… it's too small… I can't afford fancy enough treats… there isn't enough time blah, blah, blah… and you think there is always later but sometimes there isn't. It's something I'd like to change.

I went to Make One for the launch of Amy's book: Not Your Mama's Crochet. It was great, wish I could have stayed longer. I told Amy I don't dare take up crochet given what happened when I took up knitting. Everyone at Make One is so awesome! I can't wait to take Amy's Toe Up sock class.

The Make One gang have organized a fabulous knitting getaway in November and I WISH I could go but the reality is it just isn't going to happen this year. If I start saving right now… maybe next year will be a possibility. I hope everyone who is going has an amazing time and take lots of pictures.

Oh the weather out side is frightful…

And my fire is so delightful…since Mondays are my day off…let it snow let it snow let it snow!

After all…What more perfect excuse to spend the day knitting could there be?

My top down cardi is coming along swimmingly…


my Dad's scarf looks great, I keep trying to get a picture of it that will do justice to the colour.


I am yearning to make something "Fetching" and to turn these beauties into a Purl Scarf but I am standing firm in my efforts to complete WIP's!


My Toe Up Sock class got postponed for 2 weeks but that didn't stop me from heading down to Make One and picking up this lovely Trekking XXL in a soft 'n yummy, bluey plummy colour way. Should look great with blue jeans.

Can you tell I'm in a smashing, good mood?

We've been unpacking box after box of Christmas ornaments at work, put me in the festive spirit I guess. For those amoung you who humbug Christmas…I am not your girl! I am all about winter, I love snow, tobogganing, X-country skiing and most of all I love Christmas! Not the getting of presents but the decorating, the festivities, buying and making presents (and wrapping and hiding them) for others…the whole family thing! It may have something to do with the fact that had I been born but one, lonely day earlier, my Mom was going to name me "Holly Noel".

Anyway…to all of you who embrace the cold, wintery weather…HAPPY SNOW DAY!!!

Happy Thanksgiving! And a Burning Question…

Has everyone been enjoying their Turkey? Ginger looks like she may have got into it.

So, I have a question…
If I wanted to make a very special girlfriend, a mentor, a true friend a "pashmina" style wrap in Chocolate Brown and wanted it to be really, REALLY special… what yarn would I use? What pattern? I ask this because my experience with different yarns is limited. I know in a perfect world, it would be made of cashmere but do you know, I have no idea what weight, on what size needles or whether there is some miracle yarn out there that would be even more perfect, softer more drapey (is that a word). Is there a yarn out there that would give that "pashmina" drop dead gorgeousness but not cost me a month's pay? And where might I find it? I know there are other clever knitters out there who have the answers to these questions--to them I say--PLEASE help me!


Otherwise: I am loving my top down wrap cardi!! The olive Malibrigo looks great, here is a detail that doesn't do it justice, it is SO my colour. Now the boy has decided he really NEEDS a top down Henley. He saw this and asked me if I'd make him one in something with greens and browns.



I am well on my way with my Dad's scarf. He'll love it!

The Hanger seemed very pleased with his scarf. He tends to be drawn towards more "decorative" women (did I mention he's shallow) I don't think he's ever been given anything hand made before.

We had a very nice get away, the weather couldn't have been more perfect. The boy hung out with his Uncle for the weekend--they went to the climbing wall and had a great time. I quite like my X-Brother in Law, he's a little rough around the edges but he's a good guy.


I found a top I HAD to have.… and new earrings. As you can plainly see… the obsession with green continues.