I Am The Champion My Friends!

Behold the domesticated monster. I was in such a funk this week I knew there was only one project that could pull me through. I had to tackle that fuzzy sweater from Rowan Magazine #31 that's been sitting in the box under my nightstand for over a year and show it who's boss.

Once I pulled it all out and figured where I left off, I was stunned at how quickly it came together. Not only did I finish it, but it's actually my favorite finished piece yet! It's a true testament to the beauty of Kidsilk Haze that I'm still eager to knit with it again after all this and the sweater has a flirty Donna Reed feel that makes me want to greet my family with fresh baked muffins in the morning and vacume in high heels and pearls.

Never again will I be intimidated by two sticks and some yarn. I will knit intarsia. I will knit fair isle. I will knit lace. Who knows, maybe I'll even knit enterlac and NO ONE CAN STOP ME! except maybe my husband when he gets the yarn bill.

Speaking of yarn. Here's a great mystery of the knitting universe to ponder, if KnitPixie receives a new supply of Vesper Sock Yarn every week, why is it always out of stock??? I obsessively check everyday and it's never there. Has anyone tried it? Is my adoration from afar well founded? Will I ultimately be disappointed when I finally get my hands on some? And how does Knitterly Things dye a self striping sock yarn with so many shades of Kool-Aid anyways? The worlds biggest microwave?

5...4...3...2....

It's time for the Inspirations Yarn Womb Watch! Margaret's due for an induction any time now. Watch her blog for the big announcement.

Good News, Bad News

The good news is, I'm no longer the only knitter in the house.

The bad news is, I'm no longer the only knitter in the house and she'll soon learn where I stash the good yarn.

Melancholy Baby

My best friend is being abducted.

Ok, maybe I'm exagerating just a little.

Jenn has been my best friend since 7th grade. She was in 8th grade, but we both were scheduled for Mr. Vail's quiet study at Danvers High School right after lunch period. On the first day of school I arrived in the classroom and sat in the very front row. Suddenly I heard a voice from the back of the room saying, "Psst.... Hey ding dong, Nobody sits in the front row for Study Hall! Sit back here by me." She's been saving me from my innate dorkiness ever since.

Well now she's gone and married a hockey coach whose job requires them to move all the way to Switzerland. I cannot hop on the "T" and go to Switzerland. This is causing an unexpected amount of angst. The fact is, for the past few years we've both been busy with our own young families and haven't seen each other as much as I would have liked, but at least I always knew where she was. If I wanted to talk to her I didn't have to calculate time zone changes and deal with overseas phone service.

I am in serious danger of being thrown into some nostalgic gloom where I will be found wearing my old baton squad uniform, drinking Zima and listening to Michael Bolton sing "How Am I supposed To Live Without You" over and over again. The only cure for this is Sushi. Whenever life gets crazy Jenn and I leave the kids with our respective hubbies and meet for Sushi. Does Sushi go well with Zima?

Another For The "Must-Knit" List

Just for the record, if you had told me a year ago that I would be this excited about socks I would have said you were crazy, but here goes...

Alison over at The Blue Blog has just posted her new pattern for the cutest little ankle socks with pom poms no less. It's free, go get it.

Speaking of socks, There's even an entire blog devoted just to sock knitting. Be still my beating heart.

A Second Chance At Love

I'm back in the sock knitting saddle again.
It's the Interweave Knits Retro Rib socks for my Mom, knit in KnitPicks Dancing sock yarn.

After the lemon yellow socks and I parted ways some time ago I was a little leary, but just look at how playful this one is. Fun to watch how it develops & just complicated enough to keep things interesting.

I guess you knew it had to be serious if I was introducing it to Mom.

Happy Father's Day!

awwww...

Aren't you glad I didn't knit you a tie?

Congrats Kids!

Totally unrelated to knitting, but too hilarious not to share.

TomKat have announced their sincere and non-PR related engagement.

In honor of this momentous occassion I'd like to share the following links...

If you thought this montage of Mr. Cruise on Oprah was funny, this clip of Dane Cook impersonating Tom Cruise on Jimmy Kimmel's show will have you shooting your beverage of choice out your nostrils. Better put your knitting down first.

Cruel Summer

A picture of the Flame halter top from Rowan Magazine #31 , as promised.

Phew! Good thing I finished just in time to enjoy another lovely New England Summer.

That's Monmouth Cap #1 by the way and the Purl Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

Alive & Knitting

I've just returned from vacation to find my computer in a state of rebellion. I can blog, but I can't post pictures right now. Just the process of getting online again was like trying to unravel double stranded mohair in the dark.

I finished the Rowan Flame pattern while I was away and actually started a new pair of socks for my Mom. It's the Retro Rib sock pattern from Interweave and I'm knitting them in Knit Picks Dancing sock yarn. I'm using "Rumba".

Before I had a chance to sew up Flame, my youngest daughter got a hold of the front piece after eating Doritoes and managed to get nacho cheese powder all over it and pull a few stitches out of shape with her teeth. One of the selling points for the KnitPicks Shine yarn is that it's machine washable. I tossed the finished garment into a cold wash and then into the dryer, said a knitter's prayer and hoped for the best. It came out just fine. I have a few possible baby gifts to knit and this yarn will be my first choice.

Rowan Flame, still on the needles. 

Knitting in Toyland

I have a new daily read and I just added it to my list of favorite knitblogs . Go visit Knit & Tonic . Just be warned, after reading it you'll want to go to Glampyre Knits and get the pattern for this which is evidently Highly addictive. I think I may have to knit this myself for a little instant knitty gratification once the sock is done. Yes, the sock looks like it may be finished today. No really, I mean it this time.

As I read other knit blogs I'm always astonished at how quickly other people turn out completed projects. Unfortunately what I practice is something that I like to call "extreme knitting". I have a gaggle of young children so whenever I sit down to knit I always know that I will be interrupted and forced to get up at least three times a row for the putting on of little shoes, the search for a lost toy, refilling the sippy cup, etc. I also know that when I do start knitting I will have to do so while dodging peanut butter & jelly fingers with a 2 yr. old trying to climb me like Mt Everest. By the time my little darlings are asleep for the night and I could actually do some knitting I am catatonic.

Which brings me to my third point. No, the Rowan Flame pattern is not done yet either, even though this should be a fairly quick project. I'm on the second halter strap now which requires me to reverse the shaping while doing decreases at both the neckline and armhole at varying rows. This has become similar to those word problems that made my head hurt in 6th grade math class. Yes, I can figure it out and do it correctly, but my sleep deprived brain needs a block of undistracted knitting time to start and finish it otherwise I know I will lose my place and/or my mind. But when will I have a block of undistracted knitting time? Oh, about 16yrs, at which point I will have NO business wearing a low cut halter top.