Yes

As you all know, one of my resolutions for 2009 is to be more of a Yes person, to be more positive, more spontaneous. As far as knitting goes, I think I'm on the right track :)

Regia Kaffe Fassett Design Line, Landscape Fire colourway (I heart this colour!)

Regia Kaffe Fassett Design Line, Landscape Twilight colourway
(come on, with a name like that, how could I resist???)

Noro Silk Garden, colourway 241
(I'm thinking of pairing this up with my colour 8 for a Striped scarf)

Noro Silk Garden Lite, colourway 2011
(because I love thursdaynext's Noro Joe hat so much, I want to make one exactly like it)

Oh, and because I know you've all been dying to see it, my grandmother's Sweater for a purse-size tissue packet. I'm happy to report that the socks and the sweater were mailed today.

I've mostly been working on my Multidirectional Diagonal scarf, it's about half done. I'm going to cast on the third Miscellaneous Man-Sock, take 2 tonight, and I hope to have it done by the time my parents get here this Friday.

What did you all do this weekend?

Happy Knitting Everyone! :)

Pretend

Today was a really good mail day. I received 2 orders I've been waiting on for a week, one from Pick up Sticks for a bunch of Noro Silk Garden and one from Wool-Tyme for the Regia I've been waiting on to cast on the third Miscellaneous Man-Sock, take 2.

Unfortunately, I can't show you any of it, because Phil is out kiting under the full moon tonight, and he took the camera with him. So just pretend you're looking at lots of yummy yarn, m'kay?

How was everyone's week? Are y'all glad it's Friday? I am, but I'll be even happier NEXT Friday, right? We're leaving for Paris a week from Saturday, and I'm very excited. Of course, I'm already thinking of what knitting I want to bring with me, but I think I'll save that for another post.

I had my appointment at the optometrist this morning. He's a wonderful gentleman I've been going to for years, and as I see him every 2 years (this time it was more like 3), we always take some time at the beginning of each visit to shoot the breeze and catch up. This one was a doozie, as you can well imagine, since the last time I saw him I only had one child and I was still working to complete my Masters' degree! Anyway, we were talking about everything I've got going on, and he stops and looks at me and says: "You know, the life of a modern woman is really... (pauses) Not. Enviable."

He said it with complete sincerity and it just struck me as funny for some reason, and I burst out laughing. At the time I agreed with him (and I still do, in a way), but right now, at this moment, with the kids in bed, a glass of wine, and my knitting awaiting me, it doesn't seem so terrible, does it?

Anyway, I needed a new prescription, and I decided to order new frames as well. I've had my current glasses since 2002, and I'm due for a change. I've been working very hard at improving my physical and mental wellbeing, and at trying to be more attractive, both for my benefit and for that of the people around me, and new glasses just seemed like the thing to do (rationalize much, Tara?). I should get them next week, right before we go, and I really can't wait to show you. I think they're awesome, and very fashionable, and bold and just, well, "fit for a young executive" (my doctor's words, not mine).

All right people, I'm off to work on my scarf and watch a few episodes of Bones.

Happy Knitting Everyone!

180

Wow, did life chez Dearknits every do a 180 over the past 2 days... First up, I'M GOING TO PARIS!!!!! Yeehaw!!! My sweet Dad and stepmother Margot graciously offered to step in and save the day, and no sooner could I say "non-refundable ticket", said tickets were booked, bought and electronically delivered. I'm psyched, I'm excited, I'm slightly nervous about being so spontaneous (we leave January 17th). But that was one of my resolutions for 2009, right? Go with it! Live high, Live mighty (I got the latest Jason Mraz CD for Christmas, which is awesome by the way, definitely check it out).

I was also thrilled to score tickets to a favourite local artist of ours, Daniel Boucher, who recently came out with a brilliant new CD in November. We'll be seeing him at Club Soda in April with some friends (we may have been pimping him a bit...) and we're calling this a "Happy No-Smoking Anniversary" present (we both quit smoking 8 years ago this January).

And the knitting is going well, too! For instance, I finished my dad's hat last night (how fortuitous!).

It's a bit, um, snugger that I would have liked, but on the bright side, the lack of circulation means he won't feel the cold, right? Just kidding, it's not THAT bad. It fits Phil fine, so I'm not worried. Much. No really, I'm sure it'll be fine. Right?

Since I finished that project, and I can't work on my Noro scarf until the new yarn arrives (I'm going to alternate lot numbers in case it looks a little funky), and I don't want to start a new sock before I finish the second (technically third) Miscellaneous Man-Sock, take 2 (the yarn has also been ordered), I cast on the the Sweater for Purse Size Tissue Packet last night. It'll take no time at all (and I'll have plenty of yellow left over for your blankie project, Robyn) be a fun little something to add to my grandmother's socks when I finally get off my arse and mail them already (insert sheepish grin here).

And I'm pleased to announce that this morning, I actually sat down and doodled a couple of sketches for MY OWN DESIGNS. Crazy, right? One for a hat (sort of a play on the Turn a Square Hat, actually) and one for a scarf and/or hat, depending on whether I can get my brain around the crown decreases (it involves cabling - shudder). I really need to get my hands on some stitch dictionaries, though... I might cast on for the first idea over the next few days, I've got to take a look at the stash first.

Happy Knitting Everyone!

Odds and Ends

Today was my first day back after the Holidays, and while work itself was fine, the rest of the day thought it'd be fun to hand me my arse on a platter. Despite everyone's best efforts, it turns out I won't in all likelihood be accompanying Phil to Paris in a few weeks, which sucks because his trip coincides with our 15 year (dating) anniversary. I almost lost one of the lenses of my glasses (I took the hint and made an appointment with my optometrist), sent a personal email to a friend on their work address, only to find out that someone else was manning the desk and reading their messages that day... And then a hungry pack of wolves mauled me on my way home from work.

OK, that last one I made up. But the rest is true, and I'm definitely NOT feeling the love for 2009 so far.

Hey! You know what always cheers me up? Knitting! So let's get to it, shall we?

Oooh! Look! It's a slightly longer hat! Well, much longer, actually. You can see the point where the knitting is turned inside out and the brim will be. I've got about 4 rows left on the body before I start the crown shaping, so depending on whether I decide to capitulate to this Monday and head to bed after writing up this post, I may finish this puppy tonight.

I've got a few more deadline projects lined up, 2 of my nephews are celebrating birthdays in the next few weeks, and I'm debating whether or not hand knitted items will be considered cool or complelety awful by a soon-to-be 12 and 9 year-old (I'm leaning towards awful...). Would both be overkill? Actually, the older of the 2 really seemed to be into knitting when I taught him this summer, so I may just get him the yarn, the needles and a copy of Son of Stitch and Bitch. What do you think?

Since I've got nothing more interesting to show you today than a picture of a slightly longer than last time hat, I thought I'd share this with you:

Émilie got an encyclopedia from her grandparents for Christmas, and the section on human anatomy has all the internal organs represented in knit form, something I hadn't noticed until Phil pointed it out to me with a "You should blog this". I sort of smiled and nodded, but upon closer inspection, I had to admit it IS sort of cool.













And I thought knitted toys were weird! This stuff is just, well... Can you imagine working on something like this on the public transit system? LOL!

Happy Knitting Everyone!

Ready Set Go

I've been thinking about resolutions, taking a hard look at my personal and professional life, and the sometimes great differences between what I say and what I do, between what I put out there for all to see and what's really going on inside. I don't know that anything concrete has formulated itself, but I do know the kind of person I WANT to be, and I guess my resolutions are whatever will allow me to become that person, you know? A better, more patient mom, a more relaxed spouse, and just generally a better WOMAN. That last one's the key, I think.

Hmmm, so what does that mean? Hell if I know... Actually no, I definitely want to be more open to new experiences, to be more of a YES person, to be more spontaneous...

So, in the spirit of spontaneousness, I give you 2 newly cast-on projects! WOO-HOO!

First up, and I think you all knew this was in the works, a new hat for my Dad. I was really on the fence for a while with this project. I've got some lovely DIC that I want to knit up, and some great patterns queued, but either the pattern didn't suit the yarn, or vice versa... Then I remembered I've got about 3(?) skeins of Manos Del Uruguay 100% wool in the stash, something I bought over a year ago to make Dad a scarf (which he's still patiently waiting on - Whoopsee!). Anyway, it's a nice forest green and it's sort of rustic, and I really think it'll suit him perfectly.

After browsing all 527 matches when searching for free hat patterns using Aran weight yarn, I settled on the Marsan Watchcap. I really hope he likes it!

Earlier in the week, Kate-the-Enabler and I finally got our acts together and had a SnB à deux (technically à trois, since her husband Chris sat in and contributed the occasional comment). As I was getting ready to head over to her place, I realized I didn't have any suitable knitting. I had finished most of my WIPs, the hibernating projects were firmly ensconced at the bottom of the knitting bag and there they would remain, and all I had going was a lace stole (that doesn't work so much with the talking and drinking). So I ran upstairs, grabbed a couple of skeins of Noro Silk Garden and a pattern I'd printed up a few weeks ago, and was off to the races.

Can you guess what it is?
It's the Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf, and I'm absolutely loving it. I want to knit it all the time. I want to wear it naked, or possibly with high heels and a tiara. The colours are just SO. ME.

Turns out I don't have enough to knit a proper scarf though (I only had 2 skeins). Not to worry though, I've already scoured the Internet and placed an order with Pick up Sticks (Sorry Robyn! You didn't have any 205!) whicyh should be arriving shortly. I MAY have also picked up a few additional skeins while I was at it...

And that's all there is for today! I've got the last of my Christmas concerts coming up at 4 this afternoon, so I should probably go get ready. I wish you all a very Happy New Year. My wish for everyone is that, whatever life throws your way, you have the courage and grace to rise up to the challenge. And of course...

Happy Knitting Everyone!

Rack 'Em Up

I finished my Christmas Knitting! At least, I thought I had. More on that later. For now, I just want to bask in the glow.

First up, I finished the Bobbled Tam #31 last night.

Knit with Alpaca with a Twist Baby Twist (I used up about 250 yards out of my 549 yard jumbo hank). I loved working with this yarn, even if it tended to shed a bit. I hope my Mother-in-Law will like it! I wanted to give it to her today, but she's gone and caught a nasty cold, so she's in a self-imposed quarantine at the moment.

I also finished my grandmother's socks.

Knit with Dyed in the Wool Handmade fingering weight sock yarn, in the Butter Cream colourway, using 2.5 mm needles. I really love these socks, and it was a great pattern. Easily memorized, but still able to hold my interest. I'll definitely be knitting this pattern up again!

I've still got quite a bit of yarn left (about 80 yards' worth, if my math is correct), and I really hate to let Maggie's stuff go to waste. So I think I'll use the rest to knit one of these cute Sweaters for purse-size tissue packets. The question is whether I'll wait to have one knit up before mailing my grandmother her socks!

So I should be done, right? Well, that's what I thought, and then my Dad sent me this poem, from which I'll present a small excerpt (he was referring to my previous post):

Upon her pert head there rested a hat
(quite pretty she is and not just for that)
and Look where its HAWT
(can t be? It can not!)
Another great hat
Well what can be said?
Save where is the one
for my balding grey head?

Looks like I'll be knitting another hat before the year is out!  I've got some Manos squared away...

I'll leave you with this picture I took of Émilie and Maxime this morning, completely entranced by the recent additions to our family. I wonder how long these little guys are going to survive their constant tapping on the glass!

Happy Knitting Everyone! I'm going to watch Cinderella with my daughter.

Post Haste

How was everybody's Christmas/Holiday? Ours went swimmingly, and quite according to schedule.

Émilie and I made cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve (Paging Doctor Freud! My Christmas cookies look like little boobies!)

Then headed over to my Mom's for the toddler version of Réveillon. For those who don't know, Réveillon is sort of a bigger deal in Quebec than Christmas day itself. Traditionally, you would go to Midnight Mass, then come back to the house and have a huge meal and open presents at midnight. We weren't going to keep the kids up that long, so we opened the presents before dinner, then enjoyed a tasty feast.

Christmas morning, the kids were up bright and early, and whaddaya know? SANTA HAD BEEN TO OUR HOUSE! He had even forgotten to shut the fireplace door on his way back up the chimney, a sure sign of his presence (that Phil, he has such an eye for details!), and he also seemed to have enjoyed his boobies.

See how dark it is outside, and how even Émilie looks bleary-eyed? Yeah, it was THAT early.

I think we covered just about everything on Christmas morning. We went through the initial euphoria of the discovery of the presents, followed by the ripping through the presents to get to the "good stuff", zoomed right to the "I-can't-believe-you-bought-another-plastic-piece-of-crap" phase (which goes hand in hand with the "I'm-not-assembling-this-stupid-toy" phase), and finished up with the "If you two can't share the toy I'm throwing it in the garbage!!!!" finale. And all in record time! Brilliant!!!

That night it was off to Phil's parents for yet more food and gifts.

Maxime and Émilie, enjoying the bounty of the crudité platter

Then yesterday, we went to my brother-in-law's and his girlfriend's for, you guessed it, food and gifts (again).

My brother-in-law was the lucky recipient of the Turn a Square Hat. Ignore the dufus on the left, okay? Thanks.

Thank God Christmas is over. Except it's not, really, because I've still got 2 gifts on the needles. I'm about halfway up the instep of the second Yellow Sock (for my grandmother), and I cast on the #31 Bobbled Tam (from the Holiday 2008 issue of Vogue Knitting) for my Mother-in-Law on December 23rd.

I'm using Alpaca with a Twist Baby Twist for this project, and I'm loving it. It's fuzzy and soft and delicious, and it's going to be a great hat. As a matter of fact, I think I might make one for myself, along with a scarf, I've certainly got enough yardage in that skein!

And because I'm such a sucker for all your "You look great in hats" comments, here's another shot of me wearing the hat. It's a bit out of focus, but I like it anyway.

Happy Knitting Everyone!