Not So Fancy Nancy

New knitting, dog beach & orange crush

The past month was a very hard month, so I'm happy to say I love October. Always have. Here in Southern CA October often brings the bluest skies, Santa Ana winds and warm ocean water. After mid-September Del Mar opens its beach to dogs again. That makes October Cami's favorite month too.

This weekend my husband took our youngest on a camping trip, so eldest and I had a tween version of a mommy & me weekend.

We were on the go:  Dog walks, chocolate chip pancakes at Honey's cafe, JoAnns for Halloween fabric, Dream Dinners (she helped), take-out Chinese, a sleepover (her), trying on clothes at J Jill with no one waiting for me and dog beach. Finished with brunch.

I've been craving Pannikin's steamed eggs with feta, tomatoes and basil and a bialy. Yes, I could easily make it at home, but I've been enjoying that plate at Pannikin's in La Jolla or Leucadia for 15 years and it always makes me think of happy times. Today was one of those times.

Small children are wonderful in countless ways, but I'm thrilled that my 10 year old can hang at the coffee shop now. Bodes well for future travel. We scored some old chairs in the side yard and put up our feet to relax with the worn out dog spralled on the grass. She was so tired she ignored the shop cat prowling around the lawn.

While we sat I knitted the Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I've had the book since it was published, but a but I never thought about this scarf until I ran into photos of it while tooling around Ravelry. I'm up to about 15 inches now.

LOVE that site! Seeing so many images of this project by different people all at one time allowed me to analyze how various color combinations worked together and to think about what I wanted from the project. I decided that a subtle background and a more variegated ripple in earthy colors would please me.

I am pleased.

Both yarns are Koigu, but I can't find the bands. Probably bookmarking a pattern somewhere...

I've also finally cast on Lara in Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk.

Everything was fine and dandy until two weeks ago when I got to the third ball before I was even close to finished with the sleeve. No way were my 16 balls going to make it. Found a good price through an ebay BIN sale, but of course the lot was different. The yarn has arrived, but I'm still trying to decide how I'm going to integrate the two lots. I know I could switch out every two lines, but I don't want to carry the yarn up the side on a side-to-side knitted cardigan. I think I'll do all the ribbing in the new yarn to hide any shading differences.

That's the new on the left. The differences are only visible in certain light, but I know that kind of thing can be more noticeable when knitted up. We shall see.

La Señora Loca gets wicked sharp needles and mail from Holland

From Knitting Wench to Crazy Lady ... not really a big leap eh? I know that's what Fernando, Jorge and Carlos think of me. When I made the comment they all laughed, but with a laugh that said, "Yep, you got it lady!" So, why do these men think I'm crazy? Because while they were digging I collected rocks:

Lots of rocks. This one took a Bobcat:

We live on a former volcano, so when you dig, you dig rock. There are more piles around, but you get the idea. Let's face it, pictures of rock piles are only so interesting ... for now. Have faith my chickadees, it's really good rock. Once it's cleaned and used to face walls you will understand. It's beautiful rock. It's going to have that wonderful effect of looking rooted and natural, like the stone walls in Italy.

I moved all but the largest pieces, which I had my dear husband do over the weekend. I focused on the rocks since he was busy excavating on the hillside for the avocado tree. Look at that soil ... or lack thereof.

Amazingly, things do grow. These are perfect arguments for planting native - they've not had a drop of water for three months:

We tried to use our available child labor, but with limited results.

Bribed the eldest with MP3's but she still got bored in about 3 minutes flat. (Doesn't it look like she's throwing that rock at her father?)

She did come to appreciate the utility of closed-toe shoes that her nagging mother demanded she go find after this photo was taken.

Youngest set about collecting the most colorful rocks and washing them ... and the dog ... and herself.

Not posting my favorite photo since it's Emily using her dress to hold a big collection of rocks, thereby showing off her Pooh Bear underwear.

Most contractors charge you to haul away this rock, then charge you to buy already cleaned and sorted rock from the stone supplier. Javier is willing to build with this, but he charges $25/hr for pulling it out of the rubble and sorting. Fair enough because he has to take a man off regular work to do it and let's face it, the charge is intended to be a disincentive. Enter La Señora Loca. Actually, once I explained that my husband would pay me so I could go shopping they all laughed and the ice was broken. Anyway, it's good exercise, satisfying in the way hard physical work can be, and, most importantly, I really do get to go shopping. Well, OK, I already went shopping, but now I'm not feeling so guilty.

Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmere in one of my favorite colors - steel blue 11 (I think it's been discontinued - get it where you find it).

Don't know exactly what I'm going to do with it yet, but I bought enough for a sweater.

Got the labeled 22/4 in gauge on US #5's. It's got a nice hand and knits up evenly. The larger swatch was on #6's (21/4), but the #5 definitely looks best.

(Sad news to report... one swatch was just retrieved from my retriever. First yarn lost to dog. Possibly not the last.)

I love this new Knit Picks ruler! In fact, I love the whole new Knit Picks Options line:

After reading about them in Knitter's Review I just had to have some. They are as good as described. Excellent in fact. I love the cables - more flexible than any I have (and I have them all) - and the needle tips are wicked sharp. These are destined to become my favorite lace needles hands down. Each cable package comes with two cables - what a deal! One to knit with and one for stitch holding. No more transferring stitches off a holder. Are you feeling the love here? I'll let you know if my opinion changes, but for now I'm sold.

I've got fabric for a new quilt too, but not out for photographing today... soon. What I had to dig out for photography was this:

Thank you so much Froukje! We are Project Spectrum postcard pals - this is what she sent me for blue. I just sat there stunned when I opened the package and examined the needlework details.

A sewn postcard stitched in cursive and in English. I am impressed! The accent stitching she did on the Delft tile blocks is so charming.

Then there was also this blue kerchief bag with decorative stitching. She even included a quilting book with loads of good detailed information that I can most definitely use.

I am so sorry it's taken me so long to blog this Froukje. No good excuse, so please accept my apology. At one time your mail was on the top of one of these piles, but it was quickly buried.

The room above is sad for all that's not getting done. Where are the wall quilts currently existing only in my mind? Where are the knitting swatches and sweater pieces? Where are the scrapbook pages?

This room? ... It's sad for being so clean.

No sewing machine.

No piles of fabric.

Desperately needs a rug.

Watch this space though...

A tutorial for The Wench's Two-Yard Bag will take over this table later in the week. First, I must finish our landscaping plan.

I've earned the Good YarnKeeping seal of approval

... or at least a nice pat on the back.

Remember my swatching? Well, for once I've followed through. With a bit of swagger I threw all the finished swatches in the washer with my Noro Silk Garden entrelac and Rachel's hat and sweater. Now that I've taken before and after gauge, I got one word for you all:  SWATCH! Just a few held gauge while some relaxed and others tightened. A bunch had significant row gauge shrinkage too - enough to affect sleeve length, etc. Many bloomed or the drape changed. Generally, I liked them all better after the wash. I feel so informed.

For all my handknitting except lace I use a front loader on the "hand-wash" setting with either Eucalan or Kookobura wool wash (think I prefer the Eucalan). Everything dries flat except for the 100% cottons which get a low machine dry. Yeah, I know it would be better to dry those flat too, but I have to be honest and give my swatches real-life treatment.

Got a little geeky and made a chart with all my uncommitted yarn listed by brand, content, total yardage, label gauge/needles and actual gauge/needles, etc.

Not just looking for make-work (got enough of that thanks very much). When I browse books and mags I'm always trying to match my stash to projects, but seem to forget what I have, I'm not be sure about the gauge, or mark it, then loose the marker. I've tried putting the book with the yarn, but was then finding my library spread all over the house. The half-assed system was not cutting it. Now I can note potential projects on the list as I find them and reshelve the book. I've found several maybes already. Rogue is calling to me again, particularly after seeing Teresa and Paula's perfectly gorgeous blue ones in the making.

Order is good. Like organic apples in November. Aren't the little ones so cute? The girls love those in their lunches. And that's my new poddish devise on that plate on the left. I've been listening to The Adventure of English read by Melvyn Bragg, a Brit with an amazing ability to make the language come alive. Highly recommended.

Here's a look at our November Santa Ana sky. At least my swatches dried in about 20 minutes. OK, a little bit of an exaggeration, but with humidity less than 30% things dry pretty darned fast! If you're not familiar with these winds, here's an apt description:

Santa Anas are "those hot dry [winds] that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen." Raymond Chandler -  Red Wind

Personally, I hate this weather. Well, I do like the blue skies - I'm not a total Scrooge. But the dryness makes my contacts hurt, face pull, hair look like crap and at its worst, my nose bleeds. No part of this Scots Irish rain-loving body should be subjected to this. I'm sure to keep the carving knives safely in the drawer. Luckily, this is a mild one.

So, I'm sure many of you recognize the Weekend Knits side-to-side handwarmers. Jaime's fun orange pair reminded me that I'd been wanting to make them. (btw, I know you tagged me for that meme) That's the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran I'd bought for Gloria last year. Bagged that effort, but found myself left with 7 balls of the DB. Not enough for a garment, and with this weather do I really need another scarf or hat?

What I do need is a cozy set of bed-gloves and bed-socks. I've got near-corpse blood pressure (90-100/70 when I'm anxious and running late) and it really falls when I lie down. I always worry the nurses at the surgi-center when I get my back injections because it falls to 50's/40's without narcotics. My hands and feet turn to ice cubes when I first go to bed, especially when my hands are out of the covers holding a book. You can imagine how much this thrills my DH. I must be a witch because I can make him levitate with just a touch. Also, we don't heat the house, so it gets in the mid-60's to high 50's in here at night during the winter months. These should be perfect. Luxuriously soft and cozy.

Originally I'd worked up the Cashmerino with a Noro cotton chenille. Didn't like the look of it and took the untouched skeins of the Noro back, but kept the DB.

Since I tried the sleeve gauge method for this I had an annoying alternating yarn pattern to rip. Couldn't just hook it up to the winder, so the piles got a little scary. Didn't help that the DB ball had fallen apart before I even started.

Reminds me of when I was 9 or 10 and the teenager across the street would allow me to unknot her wildly tangled pile of fine gold chains (it was the late 70's) while she got ready for a date. That was my payment to get a juicy peek into the teen years and I felt so privileged, thought I'm sure I was tolerated like a pet. Learned a lot since she took FOR-EVER to get ready - hours - literally. We'd put on classic 70's rock (though it wasn't called "classic" then) and she'd get in the mood. Lots of Steve Miller and Aerosmith for her. I was more partial to Zep. Still am.

Take a deep breath. Look, then look away before you cry. This is novice knitting at it's scariest - when you think you know more than you do. This is Rowan Summer Tweed gone wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. I am proud of my young knitter self for figuring out how to do the pattern (this was 3-4 years ago), but context is everything. I was going to look like a lavender Charlie Brown and ... well ... don't even ask me what I was thinking with the steeks. In rough silk/cotton? Almost embarrassed to even show this, but at least I've pulled it out of the back of my closet, exposed it to the light and righted my really wrong. All is well and the yarn stored in neat little balls now. Move on folks, it's over. Nothing more to stare at.

Hopefully, you can stare at this soon. Blackberry. In cranberry Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Chunky. Thanks Moni for moving it from the abstract to the needles. Isn't is interesting how seeing it on someones blog can take you from browsing Knitty and thinking - hey, that looks cute ... nah [click] - to actually casting on? You bloggers really do inspire me all the time. Thanks.

The Bunny Sweater returns

My SIL jolted me into awareness that Easter is early this year and only weeks away. NOW is the time to finish this sweater for Emily. This is the photo from Zoe Mellor's Animal Knits, my version is below. I wanted to call this post Chasing Tail since that does describe the bunnies in this pattern, but then thought of the Google hits and decided I don't need that kind of audience! Knitters only are just fine with me. But, I must tell you a story to remind us all to write as if your mother, your mother's workmates at the library, or your favorite high school teacher are reading because they might just be. Of course I know my mom - the wonderful knitter who got me started - reads this. I also knew she shares it with with fellow knitters at work. What I never expected was an email from my high school history and psychology teacher. Not really sure why I used his full name in my 100 list - guess it was just the natural impulse to give a person you're honoring their due (the opposite of a "who shall remain unnamed" slam). Someone saw it and forwarded it to him (google hits again I suspect). We traded a couple of emails where I was able to clarify my appreciation. I cannot tell you the incredible satisfaction I've had in being able to say thank you 22 years later. Sometimes the net is just plain wonderful.

Yesterday, after six straight days of rain (we're now at the 3rd wettest year on record for San Diego County) I decided it was time to jump in the frog pond. We actually do have frogs in our backyard, which entertains cats and kids to no end. Ripped Rocktorp. Packed up Lara. And dealt with Rogue. Ah Rogue. So glad I put it aside. Knew something was wrong, but on the circs the extent of the issue was not clear. Off the needles it was downright funny. Had to take this Slim Fast photo to show just how far off I was. Excuse the 14-year-old pleated peg-leg pants - these babies were cheapies from the Limited in 1991 and they will not die! They've been my house sweats for 12 years and I've found nothing can hurt this space-age fabric. Took gauge (again), made notes and frogged it all. Very sad to frog cables and that beautiful knitted hem, but there was no saving this. Especially since I'm at my hippiest from not being able to exercise for 1 1/2 years! Good part is that I get to reduce it by 40 stitches so it will go that much faster next time. Still want Rogue and still want it in this yarn. Next year.

Regarding my back... only 10 days until my percutaneous discectomy! Yippee! Just trying not to hurt myself until then. I've had debilitating sciatica since Oct 03 and during the worst episode last year I was hospitalized because I was unable to move. That sucked. I'll mention it again right before, but I won't be posting for a week or two after March 7th because sitting will be restricted during the initial healing time.

Klaralund has not been forgotten. Got pretty lucky with the sleeve cast ons since these yarns matched right out of the balls. I am changing the sleeves a little with some bell shaping rather than the unshaped kimono sleeves of the pattern. Since I shaped the body I hope it works. Feeling brave and hope to not be feeling stupid. We'll see. Want to finish this soon while they're still predicting more rain. Btw, we're not in any way negatively affected by rain. Our back slope is heavily planted and the retaining wall deeply and solidly footed. That cost us big bucks, but now feels like money well spent.

Also ripped the Gloria swatch. Thought of making another larger swatch since I'm still uncertain about these yarns together, but since I'd gotten gauge that seemed silly. Started a sleeve instead since it uses the alternating garter pattern. I don't think I've ever been this uncertain about yarns. I love both yarns:  the colors, the textures, and the weights. But I keep questioning if they belong in the same sweater. Thought of switching out the Bliss to another color, but nothing else moved me like this periwinkle. It's just such a beautiful shade for spring. Held up next to my face the colors together look good on me, so that's a big positive. It will certainly be unique!

Finally, back to the bunnies:

Started this in spring of '03 before we adopted Emily. Last year it was way too big for her so I left it in stash. It's just her size now and all I have left are the two front panels and trim. Using Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece. Not bad, but it splits very easily and isn't really the best for intarsia, cables or fair isle as you can see. Too late now though! I was hoping two years of additional knitting experience would help, but after picking it up again this morning I can attest that the spliting and lack of stickiness is inherently frustrating. Regardless, Ems is pretty excited about it and woke up telling her Daddy all about her bunny sweater, which confused the heck out of the poor man since he's never seen it. There's a whole lot of estrogen under this roof so he'd better get used to clothes talk. Actually, he can handle that, but he's not looking forward to the boy talk!

Catchin a few Zs - projects in hibernation

I've decided to get in front of my knitting queue. I seem to start projects half way through the season, and as Risa says, I'm always getting distracted by shiny pebbles. Well, I know that I will always pick up pretty stones at the beach, but I feel the need to organize the ones I've already brought home.

So, in the spirit of taking control, I'm deliberately putting some projects in the "Z" category. I am going to get each one out, figure exactly where it is and leave myself instructions for the future. I'm going to admit that I probably won't remember that I made that critical change to the pattern that I've not written down (yes, I knit, like so many things, by the seat of my pants). Then, with everything duly annotated, I'm going to put them in storage marked "get out in September". Then maybe I will have them ready for wearing next winter. Because it's not going to happen this year. What's going to happen this year (if I don't take action) is that I will be knitting wool in May, get bored and still not finish anything, then be behind on the spring and summer projects I've got in mind. Time to break this cycle. Time to take charge.

DH has worked three days out of the last four while the kids have been home on a four day holiday so I've not been able to sit for long. Did this blog overhaul in bits and pieces, so I apologize if you came through when it was in turmoil - at one point the banner filled the entire screen. Wanted to learn my new Photoshop and I didn't need no stinkin help files or tutorials - not me. Knew certain features were there somewhere, just had to find them.

This is the design I will keep for a while, though the banner image will probably be created again since it lost resolution with the obsessive number of adjustments I made. Please let me know if you have a problem with the way my blog uploads on your PC.

Look for photos and project updates tomorrow when the kids go back to school. I've got Clapotis II started. I've got new yarn and projects. I'm looking forward to Spring baby!

Chapter II - In which our knitter learns the true meaning of Swatch

Last week was a very long week on the mommy front. Not worth taking precious post time to describe (and anyway, you don't really want to know since excrement was involved). Suffice it to say I was busy trying to raise two young humans to adulthood without committing myself to an asylum.

But I did knit. I'll start with WIP updates:

Front and back of Klaralund are finished. Realized while doing the bottom border of side two that I'd knitted one ridge too few on side one, so I just adjusted down. Ripping the entire side one flitted through my mind only to be blasted away with a crazy laugh. Not even I would commit that knitting madness. Without these being blocked you can't really tell, but I did slight shaping on the waist.

Also picked up Rowan Birch again. It's just starting to feel like it's going faster thank goodness - these top rows are a long haul. LOVE the Bryspun needles for this and highly recommend them with Kidsilk Haze, which is basically a fuzzy thread. But what lovely thread it is (click this pic to see the shine close-up). This mohair can't be ripped, so it's imperative to get it right the first time and I'm finding that the cream color of the Bryspun helps me see the yarn and the points are perfect for picking stitches. I wrote before I thought they'd be good ... now I know it for sure.

Now, about those swatches...

Here was Rocktorp on Friday. Doesn't it look like a nice basket?

And like a nice basket, it is woven so tightly it could hold water! During all that swatching and deliberating over the stitch pattern I never took gauge. Let's not go there - I've already beaten myself enough. And I entered that knitter's delirium where you lie and delude yourself for far longer than any reasonable person should. I was using the specified needle. It did look like the photo. But, re-read that top paragraph and imagine what my knitting was like last week...

stitch Emily stitch STOP stitch hitting stitch your stitch sister stitch stitch stitch Rachel stitch I stitch don't stitch want stitch to stitch hear stitch that stitch out stitch of your mouth again (looking up from knitting) ...

And so on and so forth. Ad nauseum (my stomach at least - they seem to bounce right back don't they?) I kept telling myself to loosen up as my arms would start to hurt. Finally, some still sane part of my brain demanded I take gauge. Guess I was running just a little tight. Moved up a size and got gauge perfectly. Just a slight difference eh? Well at least I know this stitch pattern by heart now. Haven't ripped or cast back on, but will soon. Needed to take a little time apart.

With my new respect for gauge I took on Gloria. Thanks for all your very thoughtful comments and recommendations to do a swatch and thanks even more for not adding idiot after (I forgive anyone who even thought it - I did). Hey, it was midnight when I posted and I'd had a margarita. Between comments and emails some of you suggested following the pattern and alternating the yarns. OK, I hadn't actually read the pattern yet (what do you expect from me huh?) and didn't have the book with me at the LYS. Did get gauge on the recommended US 8's.

After taking this shot I got very disciplined (for me) and even knitted some rows with 8's for the Bliss and 7's for the Noro just to check the Noro's tension (being chenille and all). Even did a few rows with both on 7's. Now, my new-found discipline didn't actually extend to going upstairs to find free 7 needles when these were so handy.

See, I do know my WIP and where it's living in my stash, I just choose to ignore it. Going to stick with the 8's.

Please note:  Just spent some time updating my photo albums. Going to start putting yarn specs and pattern info in the finished work album and sometimes the WIP album. Once I define a new project it will be often be referred to by name only, so look in the photo albums and the category list for details. Old items won't have all the details, probably because i don't know them myself any longer. Was googling my heart out yesterday looking for something and I kept being teased by blogs with the yarn/sweater, but not the stats. Decided not to make that pattern, but would have loved to figured out the info sooner. So I will try to do my part to add useful content to the blog world.

Baby did a bad bad thing, aka support your LYS

I admit it, I'm a bargain hunting gal. I cruise the net looking for the best deals on yarn. My UPS and post men know me. Packages arrive from the UK, Canada and the four corners of the US.  Just today I received Shawls and Scarves : The Best of Knitter's Magazine on my doorstep to augment my Pi shawl endeavors.

But what about the LYS? Don't they need and deserve my support as well? Where else can I touch the yarn, see the combinations, ask questions and, maybe most importantly of all, wear my creations among those who truly appreciate them. Choosing yarn can be such a tactile and visual experience. My mind is overloaded with color and ideas when I exit the shops. That's plural:  I have two LYS about 3/4 mile apart so I usually hit both on any given trip - spirit of fair play and all.

The net is a masculine way to think about yarn for me. I get an idea, see a pattern, read a  review - whatever - and I look for that specific yarn. Maybe I branch out, follow a side link, but overall the process is linear, i.e., masculine. Going to a yarn store is a feminine experience. I walk in and I'm lost in the colors. Even if I came for a specific yarn, I forget what it is to the point of having to quiz myself as to why I'm there. Half the time I leave with something completely different than planned. Or I do buy the object of my desire, but in a colorway I didn't know existed. The experience is flexible,circular, i.e., feminine.

So, blah blah you say, where are the photos. Show us the goods.

Well, first, I did actually get when I went for. I finally bought Koigu. I just can't take the pressure anymore. I just couldn't take Anne-Caroline showing her too cute Ruffle scarf and talking about how she's seen the light. Then there's Julia making the Caruso Socks from Knitty that use - be still my heart - stranding (and with her perfect heels no less). Hey, I can do stranding like a pro now, I must make those socks! And these two are just the latest in the long line of you inspiring Koigu knitters with your socks and your Charlottes.

I did  look specifically for a lace book. This one looks very theoretical. Just what I wanted. Not a stitch library but rather a design primer. I am considering being very, very brave with my Pi Shawl. Going for the "Make EZ proud" approach. Still not committing fully to designing my own lace yet, buti it's been tickling my brain all day.

So, that should have been the end of it yes? But I had to wait to check out. I'll admit, I'm not a strong woman. Not with yet another color of Collage popping off the shelf at me while I just stood there with nothing to do but catch it. This yarn is nowhere to be found anymore except, it seems, at one of my LYSs. Buy it now or hold your peace. I bought it peacefully (or peaceably? would I have left without it?)

So I signed on the line and gathered my bag, but then saw this beauty. Hey, I'm good, I can sign my name twice! I was wearing my Clapotis (it shows like a pedigree dog - full of confidence, grace and style) and it just seemed right to buy it a little bauble to keep it happy.

Needed Wanted a coffee and Starbucks was right there, but I didn't do it - I was strong and saved the $ for yarn. Went to get my haircut instead (very unsightly this morning). Now, it was 12:45 and a reasonable person would go home for lunch. Maybe even out to lunch. But I'm frugal remember, so I skipped lunch out and directed that money elsewhere.

This might just be one or two lunches out...

I had the book already and have coveted the cover sweater Gloria. The top half and sleeves are Noro Silk Garden, Kuryon or Cash Iroha in a garter stitch and the bottom is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. I looked and looked at the SG and Kureyon choices, but didn't quite make that leap between looking and "ring me up". Didn't seem rational to knit yet another SK sweater and the Kureyon's too rough for what I want (a  jacket to be worn over a tank top or tank dress). Cruised the store looking for other multicolored yarn, but nothing worked. Until... this Noro rayon, cotton, silk chenille caught the light as I walked by. I had to have it. But now I'm in a quandary. The two yarns in the sample are very close in tone, so I have to decide if this much contrast will work. There were no better shades. It's this or nothing. Imagine the top and sleeves in one yarn and the bottom half in the other.

Took these pics to help you visualize:

   

What do you think? Periwinkle on the top or bottom? Or take it back?

Project update:  Spent all my free time yesterday getting a recall fix and new brakes on the van. Not fun, but I did get almost 1/2 of the second side of Klaralund done. Photos next time it's progressed enough to be interesting.

Silk Garden update:  Only one store had it. It was softer than mine and didn't seem as over-spun, but still didn't match the quality of my SG from three years ago.

OK, just fell asleep typing. That sway/fall motion reminiscent of my college years whipped me upright. Went out for mom's night tonight and a pitcher of margaritas came for the second round. We all stayed late and hopefully laughed enough to get us through until next month! I needed that.

That song in my title came into my head as I drove away from the LYS and made me laugh. Guess if I'm going to have an affair, yarn's a pretty good choice.

The rain just started. I love that sound and need to go to bed to listen.

I'm alone and wallowing in fiber

Yes, for the first time in over two weeks I'm alone (not counting the hours spent in a hospital bed - never really alone there either). School has resumed after a two week break (modified year-round schedule) well, two weeks and one day - it's so cruel that they add the Monday of the third week. (Yes, cruel to me, the mom, this is my blog so it's all about me, so there). Actually, my darling spent yesterday with a bucket next to her, so she wouldn't have been there regardless. Thought it was too much candy, but it seemed to go beyond that. She felt good this morning and no call from school today, so it have been a 24 hr bug. No one else has been blessed yet - crossing fingers as I type.

So what do I do with my free time? And yes, it is unnaturally "free" as I'm on doctor's orders not to "resume activities" for another 24 hours. I had another nerve root block yesterday, so I'm on the mend, but still sore, etc. Absolutely no cleaning (and boy does my house need cleaning), no laundry, can't unload the dishwasher -- free! Well, looking at yarn is low-stress, stress-reducing even. So in glorious privacy I got out the new, the old and the in-process for a bit of yarn house-keeping.

But first, I've not done any scrapbooking or stamping for almost a month, but I just had to get these photos on the pages and couldn't help but share them here. My TypePad account is actually Crafty Wench since I plan to have two other blogs in the future: Stamping & Scrapping Wench and Quilting Wench. I do all of these things, but knitting is the only one I've managed to work on lately. I got plans for some art quilts that use fibers, more object d'art than quilts really, but I have to be able to sit at the machine and really concentrate. Anyway, here are my girls on Sunday:

Now, for the yarn. OK, I gave in to Lara. I had to have Lara. I needed to make Lara. And then, I found some chat in the blogsphere about a great source for the yarn in Canada at $5.69 US from Wool NeedleWork (WNW). Yes, that's right. Even with int'l shipping I knocked $50 off my LYS cost for yarn + book. I do (valiantly) support my LYS's, but that was just too good to pass up. This color and style with be perfect with a silky rayon skirt from J. Jill that doesn't have a good match in my closet. See, I'm filling in - making use of what I already have. Brian got was home yesterday, so he collected the box from the porch. He saw the declared value of $110 and gave his little whistle. I pointed out the extreme usefulness of this yarn, made him touch it (that did a lot right there - glorious hand), then pointed out he had a penchant for $100 dinners - such temporal pleasures - he had no further arguments. He found other mail to look at. I didn't talk about the cost of Noro. We've both learned a few tricks in 8 years of marriage. Doesn't it look pretty just sitting quietly in a basket?

Have an bit of a time deciding where to go with this Noro Blossom pullover (click image to enlarge). Cast on for our long car trip this past June/July and did most of this knitting then. Size 8 needles (could have gone up a size I think - it's a rough yarn sometimes) and no pattern, just a plain boxy sweater (the latest book hadn't come out yet, so I was flying blind). I like the reverse ss for this to play up the slubs. Now I've got to choose a neck line. V-neck, round neck (with a rolled collar) or mock turtle. Hummm. Any thoughts (if anyone's read this far)?

My two scarves are coming along. Both have become waiting room and school pickup projects, which I must have. I'm really happy with the Fiesta Yarns' La Boheme. I'm using a pattern from Scarf Style which specs a much smaller yarn/needle combo, but I like their suggestion that a hand-dyed yarn prone to pooling does well in fan pattern. It really does help. I've got a bit more of this yarn which I got in the seconds bin and this should use it all up. Yeah, stash reduction. My Irish Hiking Scarf is also progressing, slowly, but hey, I don't need it until Feb around here. Don't need it even then, but it won't look out of place then.

Got the new Interweave Knits yesterday. Jackpot - the first sweater uses yarn from a stash disaster (ok, not that bad, but a sad mess). Had to face the mess and move on. But, there's a bit of a dilemma.

First I found the wonderfully soft merino bouclé on the right - loads of it at an end of season sale a year or two ago. I know now it really needs to be a soft pullover with wide cables, but in some strange moment of creativity last winter (very late at night) I decided to hold it with alternating mohair colors for a wide-striped poncho (hey, I was ahead of the curve for once). Not really insane, but about 4 inches of knitting showed it to be an obvious loser. It's been sitting for over a year now and I've worked very hard not to see it when I look through my stash, though I had to acknowledge it when I went searching for the needles for another project – still I just closed my eyes, pulled out the needles and slammed the drawer shut. Yeah, denial is a big part of my life, I admit it. Anyway, that bit on the left is the Ruffle scarf cast on in two colors. Great, except my lazy ass didn't unwind the botched poncho, no, I just grabbed two new balls and got started. If you haven’t gathered, I'm impulsive late at night (other times too). So, now I have this pattern that calls for 8 balls and I have two colors. Don't want two colors for this sweater; prefer the olive for this, especially since I've got that blue merino waiting. Going to go to the yarn store tomorrow and hope/pray that they still have the olive and see if I can exchange the unopened balls. More tomorrow.

Decided to put this tidying energy to good use and unwind another mess of silky ribbon yarn that had become a total knot. I can't stop patting myself on the back - so responsible of me to face these little disasters stuck in the bottom of the basket.

Well, need to spend some time with an icepack before going to vote and get the kids. Going to try to swatch the Alpaca Silk later today.