The things we do for love...

Yesterday I went to pick up the kids from daycare, and the lady who runs the daycare, Isabelle, asks me if I've got another hat for Émilie. I'm afraid I dropped the ball with the whole "providing my family with warm woolly winter accessories" obligation every knitter in Canada seems to take upon him/herself, so I can't say I'm surprised when she points out that the hat Émilie's currently wearing is no longer appropriate.

"Why, is this one too small?" I ask innocently. I know perfectly well it's too small. Both my kids have big noggins, and I bought this hat for her LAST year. I'm surprised it doesn't shoot off her head with a loud "Pop!" sound every time I put it on her.

"No" she says, surprising me. "It's too hot"

And she has a point. Not only is it too small, it's also lined with polar fleece. Clearly, it's too hot for Spring.

"Oh. Sure, I can make her a little cotton hat, no problem".

She looks at me dubiously. "Yeah... I mean for, like, tomorrow".

We stare at each other in silence for a few seconds. It's a tense moment... Tumbleweeds blow past us in silence as we size each other up, she with a look of incredulity, I with calm certainty in my abilities as a devotee of the needle arts AND a mother.

"I can make her a cotton hat. No. Problem". I repeat calmly. And with that, we depart.

On the way home, my mind was already going through the stash, trying to see what I could use, what I would do. I quickly decided that I would crochet rather than knit a hat, as crochet is so much quicker. Desperate times, people. Desperate. Times.

Fresh from my bag success using the Katia Jamaica cotton, I remembered that I had a leftover ball from the Baby Pinwheel Blanket I made a few months ago, and how Émilie had commented that she really liked the colour.

It was settled then. I'd make her a little rasta beanie using the Katia Jamaica cotton. This was going to be so a cakewalk. Mwahahahahaha!!!

I cast on (hooked on?) at Kate-the-Enabler's house, where we were having one of our all too infrequent local knit nights. I chatted, I laughed... I enjoyed a lovely glass of red French wine. It was looking a little... holey, but I assumed it was because I was using a thinner yarn than the last time I had crocheted a hat. I had a piece of chocolate and chatted and hooked. At one point, Kate commented that it was looking sort of pointy at the top, and it was.... But I just shrugged it off and kept right on crocheting. It was 9:30, and I was practically done!

I pulled out Émilie's frog beanie, which I had planned to use as a reference for the length of the cotton beanie...

And that's when it hit me, the truth I had failed to see all evening.

The pattern called for a double crochet stitch. I know what a double crochet stitch is. I've done double crochet. And yet, for reasons that are unfathomable to me, I was doing a triple crochet stitch.

That's why it was looking so holey. And that's why there was a point at the top, because I was beginning each round with a 3 stitch chain (as one would do for a double crochet stitch), and the rounds were pulling.

What could I do? You guessed it. I frogged.

I was down but not out. I cast (hooked?) right back on again, and crocheted faster than I ever had before. My reputation was at stake, people! My little girl was counting on me! (OK, she had no idea I was making her anything. But Isabelle did, and that was enough for me.)

I finished it at 12:04 AM, but I FINISHED it. I was Mother. I was Crafter. Roooooooaaaaaaarrr!!!!


And the best part? Émilie loves her hat. She put it on as soon as she found it at the breakfast table this morning, and wore it to daycare with pride.

As for Isabelle... Apparently her jaw dropped to the floor when she saw the new hat. THAT'll teach her to doubt the awesome power of the knitter/crocheter!

Happy Knitting Everyone! I've got a hockey game to watch.

A Brief Affair

So how was everyone's Easter? Didja eat lots of chocolate? Celebrate with friends and family?

Not only was there was chocolate aplenty at casa de Dear, but we were also fortunate enough to score invites for waffles at Kate-the-Enabler's house on Saturday, dinner at the in-laws' on Sunday, and lunch at my cousin Jessica's house today. Needless to say, I'm positively dreading stepping on the scale at the gym this week. *Shudder*

I know I promised pictures of my blocked Clapotis last post. While it IS blocked (and looking pretty spiffy, if I do say so myself), I'm ashamed to admit that I couldn't bring myself to ask Phil or anyone else to take any pictures of me wearing it this weekend. Probably because I was too busy pilfering the kids chocolate to bother...

But I DID finish my crocheted bag! Look!

I really like the way this project turned out. OK, assembling all the little squares was a bit of a pain, but not as much of a pain as assembling pieces of garment for some reason.... And the best part? I only wound up using about 2 balls and a bit of the Katia Jamaica cotton, which means I've got almost 3 left for Emilie's Very Berry T-shirt. I hope it'll be enough!

OK, Heroes is on, people! Happy Knitting Everyone!

Back to my roots

So what did I knit during my vacation?

Well, for starters I finished the first Fratello sock on the plane on the way down there.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again (besides, it's my blog, I can do what I want): I love Yarnissima's sock patterns. They're complex and can be a bit intimidating, but they're also just so engrossing, you know? And her gussetts? Dudes, she is all OVER the gussett.

Oh yeah baby, flaunt that sexy arch!

This pattern also has a lovely twisted stitch section at the top of the foot and the front of the leg. It's only about 24 rows long, but it's enough to spice things up on what would otherwise be a fairly simple twisted rib pattern.

And besides, working those little cables without a cable needle makes me feel like a badass.

Yup, the only thing wrong with this pattern is that, genius that she is, Yarnissima hasn't found a way to get a completed PAIR of socks after knitting ONE.

Seriously, forget all these crazy new sock architectures, just figure out a way to get a pair of socks out of one sock, and you'll go down in knitting history! Fame, riches, the sky's the limit.

Since designers are still zooming past the obvious, I was forced to cast on the second sock. But I haven't gotten very far yet. I've been re-reading Twilight, and wouldn't you know it, it's just as engrossing the second time around? Insert sheepish grin here.

For a new project, I decided to cast on for Inga's Haekelbeutel bag using the Katia Jamaica cotton. I know... crochet! The night before we left for Florida, I realized that this project meant packing one crochet (and the yarn, of course), whereas the Very Berry T-Shirt I had also been considering for this yarn would require me bringing a variety of circular and double pointed needles with me, since I hadn't swatched yet... Sue me, I chose door A, Bob.

You know what? I'm enjoying it. It's quick, as in "Hey! I can't believe I already finished a square!"-quick, the colours are wonderful, and I think it'll make a cute bag for books and groceries and such.

As of last night, I've got 14 out of 16 squares done. I'm hoping to finish the last 2 squares tonight, and possibly start assembling them. Maybe I'll have a FO by Easter Monday?

Actually I will! My Clapotis is blocking as we speak. Pics next post!

Happy Knitting (and crocheting!) Everyone!

The Next Thing

I'm sorry to say there will be no knitting content in today's post, because I'm heading out to the North Shore Knitters' meeting tonight so I'm blogging from work (hence, no pictures). So if you came for a fiber-fix, move along, and be sure to visit us again soon.

If, however, you're interested in some incoherent ramblings, sit yourself down with a cuppa, you've definitely come to the right place.

I don't know what it is, maybe it's the apalling weather we've had since coming home from Florida (it snowed here yesterday - we shan't speak of it further), maybe it's the fact that both kids are sick and our nights have been interrupted (cough, cough-cough, little bit of throwup, cough), maybe it's just Spring (or the complete lack thereof)... but I'm feeling restless.

I've noticed I'm at my happiest when I'm engrossed and utterly comsumed by something, be it a TV show (Buffy!), a book (Twilight!), a hobby (like, you know, knitting?), a relationship... Whatever it is, when it's really got it's hooks in me, that "thing" is all I want to do, all I think about, and the only time my brain shuts up and I'm at peace.

Don't get me wrong, it's not like I've got loads and loads of free time I don't know how to fill. I'm busy enough with my regular routine of work, choir practice, knitting, the kids, the hubby... But I don't have that "thing" and it's really bugging me. I've lost my mojo.

Never thee mind the fact that these obsessions of mine, when they take hold, can lead me to trouble. After all, it was whilst deep in the thrall of my newfound obsession with knitting that I accumulated about 10 years' worth of yarn in just under a year.

I know all that, but I still miss the rush and the thrill of anticipation. It just hurts so good, you know?

I'll get over it, of course, and I'll be onto the next "thing" in no time. In the meantime I've got my eyes peeled, and my credit card locked away. Just in case ;)

Happy Knitting Everyone!

Let's Go Fly a Kite

Hey y'all! Phil and I are back from Florida. We had a wonderful time at the festival yesterday, and we've got the sunburns to prove it! It really was another great day for kite flying , and even though I didn't get to spend as much time lounging around as I had planned (they put me to work yesterday), it was a blast.

So, as I mentioned in my last post, Saturday morning began with a hearty breakfast of cheesy eggs, raisin toast and GRITS at the Waffle House!


We had seen these restaurants all over the place (no really, there was one on both sides of a 500 metre long bridge, I couldn't believe it), and given the secrets of Southern cuisine it promised to demystify, we just HAD to go. Unfortunately we didn't have the greatest waitress, but the food (once we got it), was pretty good. I wouldn't say I'm heartbroken that grits haven't made it as a breakfast staple food in Canada though.

After that, it was off to the kite field to put up some big ass kites!

The Manta Ray. See how small Phil looks?

The one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people eater!

Betty-Octo-Boop. See her garter?

As you can see, at one point there were many kites in the sky. This wasn't the biggest festival I've been to, but seeing all those kites in the air, right on the beach, was really something. It's an experience Phil and I will cherish, and we're so grateful to our wonderful friends Barry and Karen for inviting us down there.

As fun as it was, it was a loooong, hard day. Putting on a show like that is a lot of work! And those kites may be fun to fly, but they're a pain the arse to put away! But hey, we were there to work, right?

It didn't stop me from taking a break to take a dip in the ocean though! Most of the group thought I was nuts (it was a lottle cold), but one flyer, Matt, came with me. We were on the frickin' gulf of frickin' Mexico, dudes, and by Golly, I was going to swim!

That night we were just plain beat, so we decided to just stay in the condo (some of us - PHIL! - even stayed in our jammies). I talked Star Trek with a cool young lady (Hi Savannah!) and everyone just had a swell time.

It's back to reality today, of course. We were glad to see the kids, and we'll be glad to sleep in our own bed tonight (though perhaps not to go to work tomorrow!). Thanks again Barry and Karen! And thanks to my Dad and Margot for coming and babysitting the kids. We're so very fortunate that you are able to come here so we can take these trips together.

We'll return to our regular blog fodder next post! Until then, Happy Knitting Everyone!

Now THAT'S more like it

Apparently this is all quite normal for Spring in Florida. In the space of 24 hours, the weather went from this:
To this:Yesterday could NOT have been a more perfect day for kite flying. Or for just lazing around and looking fabulous on the beach. There was enough wind for the kites to go up and STAY up, which allowed Phil to sit and enjoy and relax instead of run around, trying to get the silly things up in the air again.



Yesterday was only for fun, since the festival really only starts today. They're going to be putting the REALLY big kites up today. Should be a hoot. :)

Have a good day everyone! I'm off to have grits and cheesy eggs at The Waffle House. I've been told it's an absolute must when in the South.

What Sun?

Hello! My goodness, it's nice to have the condo to myself for a few minutes! I can finally sit down to blog! Yay!

Not that there's much to tell, I'm afraid. The weather has been bloody awful the past 2 days, complete with storms and friggin' TORNADOES touching down all around us last night. But the Spring breakers, God bless their silly little heart, were still outside in their bikinis. They were in Florida, darn it, and they were going to effin' FROLIC!

We arrived safe and sound on Wednesday afternoon and, after some initial false starts, finally found our way to the condo our friends have rented in Fort Walton Beach. It's right on the beach, really quite lovely. Or rather it WOULD have been, if it weren't so cold and rainy. I thought Florida was supposed to be sunny???

Of course, as soon as our bags were in the room, Phil wasted no time in getting to the beach and trying to get a kite up in the air.

He wasn't very successful, I'm afraid. The wind, which had been fairly steady when we arrived, naturally died the second the kite was out of the bag.

That night we went out to dinner with our friends at a local seafood joint, AJ's Seafood and Oyster Bar. Mmmmmm, seafood.

As I mentioned, yesterday's weather was just plain miserable. So the boys went to a kite store in Pensacola, and Karen and I went to have manicures and pedicures at a local spa. Well WHAT? We had to do something, right???

We met up with the boys for lunch at a local BBQ place, and then Phil and I did some shopping. We went to Target to pick up a few necessities, and then to a huge antiques store to look around.

Then last night Barry and Karen took us all to a very nice steak house (they're from Texas, y'all understand the allure of the steak, right?), and we stuffed ourselves to the gills.

And today it's finally sunny! So off I go to don my brand new bikini and soak up the sun. Although, all the eating I've been doing lately, I'm starting to rethink the whole "bikini" thing. Oh well!

Oh! Before I forget, I'm happy to report the the stole was a big hit with Karen. She wore it that very night, and it looked beautiful on her. I'm so glad!!!


Happy Knitting Everyone!