When I left the congregation where I served three years ago, my knitting yearnings were well-known, and I got a gift certificate in the hundreds to my then favorite LYS, which lasted 'til about 9 months ago.
This month I'm finishing another interim pastorate, and because they are very much in debt for all kinds of reasons, many of which are not under their control, I expected a potluck party and good wishes for the future.
Imagine my huge surprise then, when I got the following at my farewell party yesterday:
-- a pair of lighted knitting needles, with batteries
-- two books on knitting (Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's At Knits End, and Zen and the Art of Knitting
-- a gift certificate to my NEW favorite LYS in an amount almost equal to that of the last larger and more financially stable congregation of three years ago.
Are these great folks or what!
OTN: a scarf for the Red Scarf Project
Monday, August 20, 2007
Monday, August 6, 2007
Stress Knitting
It's one of those weeks, when there's too much life for the hours that are there. In other words, I need my knitting. It'd better be pretty simple, because it's just not a good thing to add to the stress by having to frog stuff.
So, I worked on this birthday present for a family member:
and started the Carlsbad scarf in Alison Hyde's Wrapped in Comfort. It's done with beautiful bombyx silk from Ellen's Half-Pint Farms, a score that I made at Stitches West this year. I tried two other patterns that didn't work because it made it look like tie dye (the pattern repeated too perfectly) but this is going to be very nice...and it's very easy, so it's good for my nerves!
So, I worked on this birthday present for a family member:
and started the Carlsbad scarf in Alison Hyde's Wrapped in Comfort. It's done with beautiful bombyx silk from Ellen's Half-Pint Farms, a score that I made at Stitches West this year. I tried two other patterns that didn't work because it made it look like tie dye (the pattern repeated too perfectly) but this is going to be very nice...and it's very easy, so it's good for my nerves!
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Vacation
I've been away, on travel for work, and then what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation. So the vacation part was good for a while, but then life intervened, and it wasn't so much.
In short, my Mom joined me in Tahoe, and after a couple of days, she fell. Fell kinda down a small incline, over bushes. Rolling over kinda falling. For an 85-year-old with osteoporosis, this is not good. At all.
But miraculously, she got away with a pain in her neck and a bruised hand! No ambulance or broken bones. Dude, she WALKED AWAY from the fall...that's a spunky 85-year-old.
But the rest of the time was spent in some care-taking, not just relaxing. Clearly that is going to have to wait 'til September.
I did, however, get some knitting in...cute socks for Mom in Panda Cotton
and another Tomato sweater, just for me!
In short, my Mom joined me in Tahoe, and after a couple of days, she fell. Fell kinda down a small incline, over bushes. Rolling over kinda falling. For an 85-year-old with osteoporosis, this is not good. At all.
But miraculously, she got away with a pain in her neck and a bruised hand! No ambulance or broken bones. Dude, she WALKED AWAY from the fall...that's a spunky 85-year-old.
But the rest of the time was spent in some care-taking, not just relaxing. Clearly that is going to have to wait 'til September.
I did, however, get some knitting in...cute socks for Mom in Panda Cotton
and another Tomato sweater, just for me!
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Celebrating some FOs
Ever have one of those FO's that you are really, really glad to have done? This week I finished the Lily seater in Euroflax linen by Louet. 
It came out well -- a bit of fudging with the styling to accomodate my shorter, curvier shape, but the fiber is very tough on the hands. I will be knitting with only very soft stuff for a while. In addition, because I am a loose knitter, this baby was done on size 0 addi turbos. It was like knitting a very, very large sock for an elephant with twine.
Did I mention that I really liked the outcome? In that respect, it is, I fear, a lot like having a baby -- so much fun at the end that I'll forget the process.
I also finished a hat and socks of my own design for a cute baby in my life.
So, what do I do to celebrate -- yep, head straight to the lys for a fix! Got me some Sierra in a couple of nice colors to make a Tomato for me, now that I realize what a lovely pattern it is because of the one I made for my cousin. LYS owner talks me into some Regia bamboo to take to knit a sampler sock -- I'm using the Jaywalker pattern, since it seems to work with almost any yarn, and I've wanted to try it.
It came out well -- a bit of fudging with the styling to accomodate my shorter, curvier shape, but the fiber is very tough on the hands. I will be knitting with only very soft stuff for a while. In addition, because I am a loose knitter, this baby was done on size 0 addi turbos. It was like knitting a very, very large sock for an elephant with twine.
Did I mention that I really liked the outcome? In that respect, it is, I fear, a lot like having a baby -- so much fun at the end that I'll forget the process.
I also finished a hat and socks of my own design for a cute baby in my life.
So, what do I do to celebrate -- yep, head straight to the lys for a fix! Got me some Sierra in a couple of nice colors to make a Tomato for me, now that I realize what a lovely pattern it is because of the one I made for my cousin. LYS owner talks me into some Regia bamboo to take to knit a sampler sock -- I'm using the Jaywalker pattern, since it seems to work with almost any yarn, and I've wanted to try it.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Wrapped in Alison's Warmth
Today I headed to Marin Fiber Arts for the booksigning with the wonderful, amazing, gentle spirit that is incarnated as Alison Hyde.
She brought her wonderful shawls for us to admire and drool over, and although the sun is not great for her, she would not remain alone, but joined us on the floor, refusing to take a proffered chair – there’s a humorous story she told about a couch, but it is her story, and I leave it to her to tell it.
The book is lovely and wonderful too. Thce shawls really do work so much better than others that I have seen, and lucky me, the Carlsbad scarf is perfect for some bombyx silk from Ellen’s ½ Pint Farm that I bought at Stitches West earlier this year. And I will decide on whether a shawl is in my future.
She laughed with Patricia, of the very cool Sea Socks '08
took photos herself
and posed with me and Warren Agee, owner and inspiration of Marin Fiber Arts.
It was a good day!
She brought her wonderful shawls for us to admire and drool over, and although the sun is not great for her, she would not remain alone, but joined us on the floor, refusing to take a proffered chair – there’s a humorous story she told about a couch, but it is her story, and I leave it to her to tell it.
The book is lovely and wonderful too. Thce shawls really do work so much better than others that I have seen, and lucky me, the Carlsbad scarf is perfect for some bombyx silk from Ellen’s ½ Pint Farm that I bought at Stitches West earlier this year. And I will decide on whether a shawl is in my future.
She laughed with Patricia, of the very cool Sea Socks '08took photos herself
and posed with me and Warren Agee, owner and inspiration of Marin Fiber Arts.
It was a good day!
Friday, June 29, 2007
Squatty
Today I post my Amanda Squatty Sidekick photos. I used Cascade 220, in a wonderful purply heather. The purse felted in 5 minutes in the washer. One hank with leftovers, hardly any finishing -- you gotta love it!
At the owner's request, I made one for the LYS -- www.marinfiberarts.com -- with a much nicer button from the store.
At the owner's request, I made one for the LYS -- www.marinfiberarts.com -- with a much nicer button from the store.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
A Yarn Fast for a Good Cause
Well, I was so busy on my mission trip to build a couple of houses in Mexico that hardly any knitting happened -- I started the toe of one sock, but then I got busy the rest of the week, or was so beat that yep, the trip turned into a complete yarn fast.
But see what was accomplished -- we helped build houses, one for this family -- Luis, Yajida, and Janeen:
and the baby's feet were stamped into the new concrete entry to their new small, but now more than twice as big house!
I think the Yarn Goddess will understand!
But see what was accomplished -- we helped build houses, one for this family -- Luis, Yajida, and Janeen:
and the baby's feet were stamped into the new concrete entry to their new small, but now more than twice as big house!
I think the Yarn Goddess will understand!
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