When all else fails tell them about your knitting

August has been a whirlwind of work and family visits. It's been a bit stressful and very enjoyable but a little overwhelming at the same time. I've blogged a bit about my LA trip for work here (and hope to add more once the latest round of visitors are gone). Other than that I've been plugging away at the knitting when I have some downtime. I'm gonna look at the Summer Knitting List to see how I'm doing. This is what it looked like last I looked:

1. A-Line Top from Jo Sharp Saturday
STARTED 2. Sea Mesh Wrap out of Handmaiden Seasilk
3. Sunflower Tam from Knitting Nature
DONE 4. Angora Baby Booties from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts(3 pair)
DONE 5. Magic Loop socks
DONE 6. Clapotis Cap out of Malabrigo
7. First Hat from Knit 2 Together
8. Begin Fitzgerald from Noro Knits
DONE 9. Gauge and start some sort of sweater out of Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed (probably Pimlico Shrug from Knit 2 Together)
10. Finish Toy Bear from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
DONE 11. Three baby related secret things (they're very small)
12. Dye-Versions Wrap

Annnnnnnnd, it doesn't look much different. Although nothing is finished, I do have some items that highlight my progress that I can show off.

1. detail of Eyelet Lace for Pimlico Shrug, 2. Eyelet Lace for Pimlico Shrug, 3. Seamesh Scarf, 4. detail Seamesh pattern. (Created with fd's Flickr Toys.)

This eyelet lace is going to keeelllll me. Seriously. It is a totally boring knit. Zzzzzzzzzz. But I know it will look gorgeous in the end. I'll be focusing on this for the rest of August, so I'll be working on it like a madwoman. Then I'll put it down for a bit and focus on what needs to be done for September. I'm participating in Ms. Snarks Secret Snark-A-Sock-A-Long. There's eleven (or twelve of us) who are going to vie for Ms. Snark's hand spun by working on the Garter Rib socks. Cast on date is the 1st so I wanted to make sure I had everything I needed. Here's my swatch:

And I cast on for a second try at the Hell Socks. This time using larger needles. Hopefully it won't be so much of a struggle.

September will also see me finish Seamesh as I haven't dedicated too much time to it in the last month.

So the recap for September will be:

1) Garter Rib Socks
2) Hell Socks (probably with re-knitting the first one I did ages ago)
3) Seamesh Scarf
4) Pimlico Shrug

Should be doable...urrrrr... I think.

Summer Knitting In Review (July edition)

It's now been two months since I've posted my summer knitting goals and it's time to check in.

1. A-Line Top from Jo Sharp Saturday
STARTED 2. Sea Mesh Wrap out of Handmaiden Seasilk
3. Sunflower Tam from Knitting Nature
DONE 4. Angora Baby Booties from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts(3 pair)
DONE 5. Magic Loop socks
DONE 6. Clapotis Cap out of Malabrigo
7. First Hat from Knit 2 Together
8. Begin Fitzgerald from Noro Knits
DONE 9. Gauge and start some sort of sweater out of Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed (probably Pimlico Shrug from Knit 2 Together)
10. Finish Toy Bear from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
DONE 11. Three baby related secret things (they're very small)
12. Dye-Versions Wrap

Not as much progress has been made but I'm getting there. I came very close to casting on #8 but Paul decided he didn't like the pattern so off the list it goes! I've started the Seamesh Wrap (picture in the previous post) and I've gotten a total of 3 repeats complete (only 9 more to go). I'd like to get that done by August when I head to LA for work as I may head north to San Francisco for a few days and I'd love to give it to it's recipient in person.

Summer Knitting In Review

It's been a month since I posted my summer knitting goals. I guess I should review to see where I am:

1. A-Line Top from Jo Sharp Saturday
2. Sea Mesh Wrap out of Handmaiden Seasilk
3. Sunflower Tam from Knitting Nature
4. Angora Baby Booties from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts(3 pair)
DONE 5. Magic Loop socks
DONE 6. Clapotis Cap out of Malabrigo
7. First Hat from Knit 2 Together
8. Begin Fitzgerald from Noro Knits
DONE 9. Gauge and start some sort of sweater out of Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed (probably Pimlico Shrug from Knit 2 Together)
10. Finish Toy Bear from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
DONE 11. Three baby related secret things (they're very small)
12. Dye-Versions Wrap

Looking at this list I feel I made good choices. There's only one thing that I'll scrap from the list now, as I'm not thrilled with the knit and I want to start focusing on cold weather items, is #1 the A-Line top. I've decided that trying to knit for a season I'm already in is silly since I'm such a slow knitter but if I give myself enough time to get things done than maybe I can actually wear that garment during the appropriate season.

For example, #9 I'm gauging and starting the Pimlico Shrug... even with it's 504 stitch ribbing. I'm ready for the tedium! But that is why I'm starting it now so I can put it aside for a bit and still hope to get it done by fall (so I can wear it until spring). After I finish the sleeve in the picture, I'll finish the bear (#10) and the three pairs of baby booties (#4). Then I'm going to cast on for the Sea Mesh Wrap (#2) and work on Pimlico at the same time.

Now for something completely different. The Toronto Humane Society has come out with a "new campaign to encourage pet adoption." I've watched all three ads (my favourite is below) and I've ogled the posters. They brought a tear (of joy!) to my eye and made me want to run out and adopt. Since I'm already animal tied, anyone who has been considering adoption might want to check these out. Even if you don't, you should still check them out.

What I Plan to Knit this Summer...

I'm taking Ladylungdoc's lead and entering in the Skeins Her Way pre-summer knitting contest. If you decide to enter, tell 'em "jacquieblackman sent me!"

1. A-Line Top from Jo Sharp Saturday (for me)
2. Sea Mesh Wrap out of Handmaiden Seasilk (first serious lace project for my friend Kyra)
3. Sunflower Tam from Knitting Nature (possibly for my Mom)
4. Angora Baby Booties from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts(3 pair), for pregnant friends (you know who you are!)
5. Magic Loop socks (First try with Magic Loop, for me)

Here's to writing your goals down! I know this list doesn't seem like much but I'm a slooooooow as molasses knitter. It's true.

EDIT: I've decided to add a few things to the list

6. Clapotis Cap out of Malabrigo
7. First Hat from Knit 2 Together
8. Begin Fitzgerald from Noro Knits ( with a finish date by October, for Paul)
9. Gauge and start some sort of sweater out of Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed (probably Pimlico Shrug from Knit 2 Together)
10. Finish Toy Bear from Last Minute Knitted Gifts

NEW EDIT: I thought to completely put me over the edge I'd add two more items

11. Three baby related secret things (they're very small)
12. Dye-Versions Wrap

Project Update

Yesterday I was kinda farting around. Had a hard time working. So I thought a lot about knitting. I thought about the Kitty Hat and how I still haven't finished it. I think I will finish it soon, though. At least that's what I thought. I also thought about my stash. Stash Bash Night didn't do much to lighten my load, as I did get a few balls of interesting stuff. But at least I didn't leave with more than I showed up with. While looking for things to bring, I discovered an Interweave Knits that I had hidden away. I looked at my 5 skeins of Wooly Bully and thought that the Portland Pullover would be a good match for it.

I also thought how the Huggable Toy from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts doesn't look very huggable. Once I looked at the picture, I felt a little better about it. I think I see some hugable-ness there.

I did think very hard about three little words. Because on Wednesday I was doubting them. And trust me when I say, I couldn't have been more wrong. Those three words: Trust. The. Noro.

I'm off to watch a movie, drink some wine and eat some dinner with my honey-pie. I won't think about the baby booties I need to have done by Sunday.

Anti-Theme for 2006

LadyLungDoc did a nice little "Roundup of 2006" and since finishing projects was not my theme for 2006 I thought it would still be fun to list out what I've completed.

1. Angora Baby Booties (finished January 8th), 2. & 3. Paul's Socks (finished January 29th), 4. Blackberry Sweater (finished May 17th), 5. Clapotis (finished September 19th), 6. Tit-Bit (finished October 7th)

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Geez, what a lame list! This doesn't include a second Tit-Bit (that I finished a week after the first), two sets of arm warmers (the only Xmas gifts) and the Gypsy Shawl. A total of nine items. Blah!

Maybe I can take a look to see what my "2007 Roundup" could possibly include.... let's see... Tithe Sweater, Huggable Toy Bear, arm warmers (for Paul!), 2 pairs of Angora Baby Booties, Lace Wings (for Kyra!), Very Cherry, Orangina, Hell Socks, Kitty Hat, Clapotis Hat, Lé Slouch, Fitzgerald Sweater (for Paul!), Wooly Bully sweater, Ubernatural, two sets of mittens and 4 pairs of socks. That's all I can think of off the top of my head. And not too ambitious of a goal. I don't think. (I want my mommy.

If I said I was distracted...

Would you believe me? I was thinking last night as I was knitting in my living room, enjoying the beauty that is new furniture, and I realized I haven't finished one knitted object since the Tit-bit in early October. In fact, last night was the first night I dedicated any amount of time to my projects. One thing I realized is that I have lots of projects in various stages of not done.


CLOCKWISE: Huggable Toy Bear from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts in Mission Falls 1842 Wool (One stubby arm complete.); Official Kitty62 hat from kittyville.com in nasty-assed Mary Maxim Starlette (What can I say? It was to be a Halloween costume. I swear! If it makes you feel better I'm having lots of trouble with the yarn); Tithe from Noro Unlimited by Jane Ellison (That's the back piece. I'm already at the arm shaping.) and then finally the Lace Wings shawl in Handmaiden Sea Silk (I've done 13cm since the end of September. Do you think I'll get it done by February when I plan to go to California to give it in person?).


CLOCKWISE: "Gypsy" Shawl in Gypsy by NY Yarns (I need to have someone show me how to crochet an edge and then this puppy will be complete.); Orangina in Mandarin Petit (Which has been a work in progress since May); a cabled scarf/hat combo from Rebecca #30 in Blue Sky Worsted (I know it looks like a cuff, but it's not. It will be ripped and turned into something else.); Very Cherry in Rowan Holiday (Another project that's been in progress since the beginning of June. Considering ripping it out.); Gauge Swatch in Estelle's Woolly Bully (Slated for either a cowl neck sleeveless or a plain ol' top-up seamless sweater.); in the middle are the dreaded socks of despair that I am doing for Amy (Must keep under wraps, but seriously it looks like it's in a wee body bag, which is fitting since I've had to rip it so much I'm ready to kill it. If you *can* kill an inanimate object. Please tell me I can.)

Gak! What a terribly boring post. Oh, well. I said I was distracted and I guess going on a weird tangent is part of it. BTW - I have my Permanent Residency interview next Wednesday, the 13th, at 4:00pm. I have to go to Scarborough. I think that's the bulk of my distraction. Plus I'm trying to get things done for the DKC's December meeting which falls on the 14th. Eep!

What a weekend...

I haven't had email since early, early, early morning Saturday. Now I'm starting to feel disconnected from the world. Sigh!

I had a weekend full of yarny goodness. On Thursday (it's close enough to Friday, so it counts towards the weekend) I meet up with Amy to get The Socks. Amy also gave me the cutest mitten kit that she received from Moorehouse Merino. Love it! How did she know I needed mittens? (Other than she can't actually knit with wool and the ones I've been wearing are .99¢ special from Shoppers?) Thanks, Amy! You totally rock! So I started the socks on Friday night and then proceeded to riiiipppp them out. I found that I may be a good knitter but I am a lousy stitch counter. But I got back on that horse and casted on again Saturday morning.

Sunday, Sophie and I headed to a Secret Location where I was able to add to my growing collection of yarn 20 balls of Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed in "Night" (#409) to make Ubernatural and 5 skeins of Estelle's Wolly Bully in "Sunset" (#350) to make some sort of kooky top-down or bottom-up raglan sweater.

Ok, so now my stash basket runneth over. OMG! I mean, look at it. Loooook!


I know for some this would be just a mole hill not a mountain, a grain of sand on the beach, a drop of water in the ocean! But for me this is out of control. I'm not complaining, but this means no new yarn for me until I actually complete a project or two (or five). Which isn't the worst thing in the world because I have great projects in the queue.

More pictures to follow later when I have a bit more time and I can find the D70. (Blown out picture above brought to you by the tired, borken A60.)

Keep your fingers crossed that I can continue to count until I am finished with the first sock. Off to bed. Zzzzzzzz!