About Time

First, let me inform you know disappointed I am with Blogger eating my brilliant post that I finally got around to writing Friday. Doesn't saying I was disappointed make me sound calm and in control of my emotions, unlike what I would sound like had I said how furious I was and how stupid and useless Blogger was? Heh. I realized I was disappointed and perhaps even somewhat perturbed; after all, I did spend a considerable amount of time composing the blog entry, using big words and everything. It wasn't that I was trying to impress you. I was actually stating a load of excuses for lack of blogging, but trying not to sound like I was laying down a bunch of justifications. The main reason for not getting totally bent out of shape over the disappearance was simply that it was not a life or death situation (doesn't that make me sound all grown up?) As much as I'd like to, I also admit that I will not be able to reproduce the post exactly as I had written it the first time around. No, this post is not an attempt to do so.
Basically I typed on and on about my lack of blogging and writing. How I've posted pictures and called them a blog post, when in reality it wasn't any more than being lazy and using shortcuts. How I'd signed up for NANOWRIMO but managed to write just over a thousand words so far. How I used my mother's visit as an excuse for not blogging or writing my novel. Her visit lasted seven days but that excuse sounded feeble even to my ears. Too busy? Nope. Oh, yes. Now I remember: I also used the lack of laptop or notebook as an excuse for not producing literary brilliance. What load of stinky stuff. As if sitting comfortably on the couch or in bed would make me more productive. If you buy that one, then I have this invisible house cleaner I can lend you at a good price. Yeah, not really. On the other hand I do have 10 days to produce just under 49,000 words. Yeah, even can't stop laughing at that one.

So. Tonight will be a full moon. Will you be out there howling? Me neither. Too cold. The day is beautiful though, all sunny and pretty blue sky and I'm inside because that's the best way to enjoy a crispy day.

Now that I've blah blah blahed long enough, the reason I actually started to write this post was to say that I finally finished reading The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. About time, indeed. Well written and enjoyable. Much better than some of the other "knit fiction" out there. If you haven't read it yet, prepare yourself with a box of tissues for the last few chapters. Seriously. Definitely worth the read.

Cheers. I'm off to knit.

On the Knitting Front

There has been a fair amount of knitting going on here, and not necessarily on projects that have been waiting to be knit. (What can I say? I'll never be a monogamous knitter.) Although it would probably make sense to get back to work on my long-janies since there has been significant frost overnight lately. I've only got one leg started on them, and I'm only up to the knee at that.
In my defence I did knit a pair of socks for my mom while she was visiting, in yellow, as per her request. And I gave her another pair that I had knit up during the summer. This has been a year of sock knitting it would appear.
I have started knitting scarves though. First there was a short one I made for Alison this summer (which I will get back one of these days and lengthen, I promise!), then there is this one in Rio De La Plata (vibrant orange) and a matching hat. Very cushy and soft.

Yesterday I stopped by Zellers and picked up some yarn to knit gifts for their Christmas tree which then get distributed to the less fortunate. As of last night, I knit a hat in a three by two rib, started a two by two rib hat, and this evening I started this mistake rib scarf. At knit night I started a pair of thrum mittens, using Briggs & Little Regal and Patons Roving. The roving is lovely and soft, but has a bit too much twist in it and makes ripping off pieces for the thrums a somewhat time consuming endeavor. I'm considering pre-cutting the thrums to speed things up.

Also on the needles are socks for my youngest. I've very pleased with these two colours (from Sisu) and so is she.

And last but not least, the Olympic Sweater is still waiting for attention. Notice that the sleeve is quite a bit shorter than when I last worked on it. Somewhere along the line I dropped a black stitch and didn't notice it for several inches worth of work. Needless to say I also didn't notice the pattern not lining up quite right due to the regular increases. I will make a point to work in much better light the next time I pick this project up. The new self-imposed deadline for this sweater is Christmas. Here's hoping for the best.

I'm thrilled to say after this show and tell that the stash has deflated nicely. As you already know I've broken the yarn diet a while ago, but I haven't gone on a mad yarn shopping spree either, so I do in fact feel ahead. If possible, I'd like to squeeze in a Lopi sweater before the New Year to bring down that portion of stash which is quite sizable, and possibly another blanket. I've been eye-balling the pillow pattern from 24-7 by Veronik Avery. Two-colour, nice and simple. Knit in the round, it would also be relatively quick using a heavier yarn, which I have plenty of. Imagine that. Heh.

OH. Big news: thanks to my friend Tina, the spinning wheel has been dusted off and put to use today. Tina very kindly invited me over and helped me adjust the wheel and gave me a lesson in drafting and spinning. Thanks to her patience I've had that eureka moment: finding the sweet spot for the tension where treadling is easy and comfortable and I was actually able to spin yarn. You couldn't possibly imagine how thrilled I am.