Wind It Up!
Tonight I took a little time to unwind by winding … er, spinning. When I need to relax spinning is what calms me the most. Even more than knitting. There’s just something about taking a bunch of fluff and making it into something I can use. Pinching the shaft, watching the swirls of colour form in the single … it’s wonderful. I think in the future when I come across a few extra hundred dollars (haha) I will invest in a spinning wheel. Among other things. The thing about spinning is getting the basic supplies can be pricey (if you want to spin a lot of yarn), but once you have combs and carders and a wheel and spools and a niddy noddy, your set. The wool is pretty cheap, and if you want to, you could have a pet sheep. :>
I also swatched for Wicked. Last time I visited the LYS I bought some pretty purple Cascade 220 and it took a while to decide if I wanted to knit Wicked or Forecast. I’ve decided on a compromise: Wicked, but I’m going to use FlintKnit’s alterations to make it into a cardigan. It’ll be so purrrdy. I mean, after all, I need to start building a more professional closet, what with the apparent career I’ve got to start soon. *roll eyes*
Alas, I’ve included an image of my fetchings. One is oh so lonely, but I really do want to finish it’s lover!
Bummer.
I noticed something the other day. My favourite reads all post regularly. They also knit regularly. Heck, they seem to work in knitting. And I am sad to say that I resent it. This whole student thing has really gotten under my skin. I mean, this is my fourth year — I am almost free. But then, a year or two from now, I’ll be back in the same boat. It’s not so much school that bothers me, it’s working and going to school. But then, I am also in big student debt, and the government barely loans me enough money to get by … comfortably. So, it’s a catch-22.
My knitting distracts me from all of these things. It keeps me sane. And recently, spinning, as well. I feel almost as though it is wrong that I feel like this, that I should feel the need to be distracted. I mean, shouldn’t I be rejoiced that I have been given such oppurtunities as to get a post-secondary education? I think my bitterness has more to do with the choices I made concerning my education. They say do what you love and it will all fall into place. Since I love to read I went with an English degree. Whoop-de-doo, lots of career that will get me.
Well, at least I have my luggage for Korea in September now. And it’s pretty, and contains lots of room for yarn. Filed under Knitting | Comment (0)
Excuses, excuses…
It seems to me that I haven’t done this a while…could it really be that long?? Um, yes…
I have no reason for it…hence the title of the post…I just keep making up excuses for myself as to why “now” isn’t a good time to be writing a post. No pictures, nothing to talk about (there’s always something), there’s only dial-up here, blah, blah…BLAH. Like I said no excuse.
So what keeps me from doing it? I don’t know. Best guess?? I don’t know how to write…? At least I think that’s what holding me back. Reasons…
1. My background is definitley not in composition. I don’t know how to be funny, writing with a twist of humour (I think I got a B on my grade 13 satire essay).
2. I think I’m a lazy writer, I mean, I hate capitalizing all my “I”s, but I’m also a perfectionist, so I’ll go back and fix every single one before the world sees any of it.
3. It’s hard to feel an obligation to something that although you know is publically available, it’s not likely anyone will see it…one in a million. Our family knows about this blog, but not a one has bothered to mosey on over and even look at it. Yes, that’s real encouraging.
4. Danielle and I haven’t really figured out yet that even though we share this site, we can do this independantly of each other…instead of waiting for the other one to post before making our next post. We know this, we just haven’t accepted it.
I’m sure there is much more to it than this, I will likely come back and edit this later…I need something to look at to tell me I’m being a fool sometimes. Really, all of this is foolish…how am I supposed to get any better if I don’t practice?
I mean, it’s not like I don’t have lots to tell the world, Christmas was four mornings ago, it was wonderful, but here is my first post since then, and I’m not talking about it at all.
A commitment then…
1. I shall not care, hoping that skill will come with practice. I’m not used to not being good at something on first try.
2. I shall write every second day, at least. Even if I have nothing knitting to talk about and all I have is a picture of my cats…you will see something.
3. I will tell more people about this place (eep!). On-line and in the “real” world. Perhaps if i know there are people expecting something, they will continue to show up if they see something.
This sounds to me like a good foundation for bringing this site forward, now and in the new year. Danielle, get on this with me too…you know I’m not the only one.
Filed under Venting | Comment (0)Shakespeare Should’ve Knit
Haha, I didn’t die … I’ve just been stuck in the purgatory otherwise known as MacOdrum Library at Carleton University. Now that I have redeemed myself with some A’s and a few B’s, I have a few minutes to breathe, and buy yarn! Yay yarn! Our beloved LYS is having a sale right now, so buy yarn I did. I finally picked up some Rowan Felted Tweed for my Patti Cardigan. This yarn is gorgeous … the texture is beautiful! I wish my camera could capture the colour better.
Other investments I made include some Cascade 220 in a lovely true purple for either a Forecast or a Wicked … or maybe something else. I’m about 95% sure on the Forecast though. Something about all those textures makes me really want to knit it up. Plus, some of the ones I’ve seen on Ravelry are just gorgeous. I also got some yarn for a Calorimetry (because Ottawa Winters are not fun) and I made an investment in some future knitting: a back issue of Phildar Tendances (Autumn 06/07). I know, dorky! But the shop owner didn’t have an English insert for the current issue, and I like the patterns in this one better. I would (if I had that kind of time) probably make at least half of the patterns in this if I could. French = good taste. ;P (I am half Quebecois after all.)
You can see everything at my Flickr, which I (almost) completely updated tonight. There’s also pictures of the progress on the Karate Sweater there, which is kind of hibernating right now so I can work on Christmas stuff. I now realize what an amazing resource that website is for bloggers. I have also tried to knit my first sock, getting no further than the toes before having to put it down to work on Christmas gift. But I did it! Short rows! Yay me! As for Christmas gifts, they’re coming along … and I can’t wait to post them after Christmas. 
And finally, I received some pretty books in the mail a few weeks ago …. I lurve them very very much and I am thrilled to have them in my collection.
Is anyone else stalking the entire Internet for any pictures for a preview from Twinkle’s Weekend Knits (which comes out February 5/08)? I swear, I google it almost every day. That’s almost sad. Almost. *reluctantly crawls back to writing Shakespeare paper*
<3 Danielle
P.S. Ravelry owns my soul.
Filed under Knitting | Comment (0)I want to live in a Ginger House! and Seal-cats are Bringers of Yarn
Ha, I wish or I’d have new yarn every time I went to visit my parents…check out their seal-cat…
…and houses that were well branded (bet you can’t guess who built it…)…
…Second Prize…
…and Third Prize (very inviting looking).
They had small villages…
…grand mansions…
…pink palaces…
…light houses (with chocolate rocks!)…
…and architectural wonders.
Yes, the windows were clear and you could see inside everything going on…all made of sugar!!! Yum! In knitting news, I have finished the first of two odessa’s, although it will no longer be the cure for mom’s UHS…I made her try it on and she flat out told me she wouldn’t wear it, ever…pooh. So now it will be a present for someone else…because although it is very pretty, it is not my colour.And!!! I almost have the first sock done…the present socks, did I mention those? They’re for someone else too, but i’m not going to say who, that would ruin the surprise….i just have the toe left to graft (eeek!).I think I will be switching to something a little less hand crampy for a little while, perhaps a scarf…another present, but i’ll show you the kit, here. In the ‘Autumn Fandango’ colourway.Lots of knitting fun to you all!Vicki Filed under Kitties, Dyeing, Knitting | Comment (0)
Two Bags full or A year of lace
See…
Also in the box, some jacquard dyes and a couple of Knitpicks Harmony Circulars.
Because I’m hoping to dye some natural yarn that I had purchased a long time ago i need a pot to cook it all in, something that won’t ever be used for food again…i found this.
Possibly the ugliest pot ever, i think dyeing yarn might be an upgrade for it.
I love the space age handles…yet ugly, ugly orange…it shall never be mistaken for a real cooking pot, that’s for sure.
While out, we also found tiny spray bottles, finally. 
Both of our kitties are real shredders, and we aren’t about to get them de-clawed, so we are going to try some alternative remedies. Kitties don’t like citrus scent. I hope i can keep them from doing anymore of this to our couch.
Peeper, meanwhile, as cute as she is, is an awful chewer, so a hot sauce mix is going into the other bottle. It will be used to keep them both off the tree, cause cats like to chew on trees, and to keep her from chewing all my Christmas light. Which, would normally be up by now, except I’ve spent the last three weeks looking for bottles just like these. I’m two weeks behind in getting my lights up…
Other than that, some baby booties, for a friend’s preemie…
And last, but not least, blur kitty…
A trip to the candy store…
…was much fun.
I like my LYS, and the lady who owns it is truly lovely. Picked up yarn for Christmas gifts for René’s family. Some for me too…this is where the boys crying part comes in. When she finishes punching in everything and my husband hears the total…at least a huge chunk of it is, like i said, for Christmas.
Also got two balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK for Odessa. One for me and one for mom. I am on a mission to rid her of her Ugly Hat Syndrome…believe me, just about anything will be an improvement, but I think a nice lavender Odessa would suit her much better.
I’ve already cast on for my first sock ever, it’s a gift, so no deets, sorry. But i’m enjoying it so far, despite the fact that socks are tiny knitting, they seem to go really fast. However, i am considering the possibility of attempting magic loop knitting at some point in the future.
Filed under Knitting | Comment (0)Karate-ness
I’ve finally moved the blog into the right directory, and alas, I can post pictures! Love!
Let me start with this. I want a Namaste. Now. The Jetsetter. In Turquoise, probably. Good thing my LYS carries Namaste. Bad for my wallet, though. 
I recently purchased Wenlan Chia’s Big City Knits because a) I like style b) I like knitting c) chunky yarn = fast knitting. Once I received my order and the book was in my hands I fell for the karate sweater (third from the top). I’ve noticed that not many people seem to have knit this one up. I guess it’s because it seems pointless to knit a sweater with a bunch of holes in it. But I love love love the stitch design, and how pretty it looks. It’s like lace, except with super chunky yarn and size 35 (that’s right, I said 35) needles. Which explains why it took me 3 tries to start it. I finally succeeded when Vicki introduced me to the wonderful lifeline technique, which has assisted me with working on cables for the first time, too. It’s been an exciting week for me!
Anyways, here’s WIP pictures of the karate sweater. I’m almost done the back. I’m using Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick because as pretty as Twinkle’s Soft Chunky yarn looks, I don’t have 150$ to buy that yarn and have it shipped up to the boonies of Ottawa. (I might get some to do up a scarf or something, though.) I also love the colour of this particular yarn. The pictures don’t do it justice at all. So, I admit it — I’m using cheap yarn. So sue me, it’s got acrylic in it. I also want to make the groovy sweater dress. We shall see.
A Short List…
I have decided to make a list of all the things that are filling up my life right now. I need this to remind me of everything I’m supposed to be doing.
It’s a bit of a doozy I guess
1. working full time
2. going to school
3. school homework
4. working on this site
5. trying to learn adobe illustrator
6. trying to learn CSS/HTML/XHTML
7. career coaching
8. trying to learn french
9. trying to squeeze in time to knit
i a busy girl…and i’m sure this isn’t a definitive list…
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)Howdy Folks
Dear hubby wanted to see me do something ’special’ with the site, so I’m making a post.
Yeah!!!
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (1)