Knitting Passion

Yesterday I told you about Jess at Sticks and Strings. Last night while watching SYTYCD (what??? You don’t know what that means? sigh. So You Think You Can Dance, of course) I cast on the Lake Ariel cloth. It is a super easy pattern of only four rows. It works up really pretty, but there is an error in the number to cast on. I’ve let Jess know, so she will likely change it soon. If you decide to try it before . . . or just want to make sure . . . it should be CO 41 (not 42) to make the pattern work out right.

I’m doing it in a cream color - hers was done in a gorgeous green - and I think it will look really nice when it is completed.

I’ve completed another tweed cloth and another petal cloth - I haven’t take pictures yet, but will post them when I do.

So, for now, I’ll share some more pictures of the cloths finished for the fall ladie’s retreat. This is the Lace Curtain cloth by Patricial Lawrence (meowmama).

This is a really super easy cloth to knit up. Again, it is a simple four row pattern stitch. You should know YO (yarn overs) and P2SSO (pass two, slipped stitches over). They are easy to catch on - and there is help out there for you if you need it.

Another beautiful cloth is the Lilacs on the Verandah cloth from Keeping You in Stitches.

I am drawn to this pattern firstly because I love lilacs - we had a huge bush next to our rental house when I was growing up. My mom loved flowers of all kinds and had roses, the lilacs, four o’clocks, and many others.

My own lilac bush here in Alaska has never bloomed. The moose keep it pretty well pruned and it has just never gotten there in all these years. At least I have a pattern to keep me in mind of the flowers.

Yeah, I know . . . lots of dish cloths - what else can I knit? Well, I am about out of dish cloth cotton so it may be time to dip into the sock yarn stash . . . . . . .

Yes, you read the title right . . . it’s a Sock Summit! Held in Portland, Oregon August 6-9th at the Oregon Convention Center. There will be socks and socks galore . . . in fact, even the Big Sock might be there - that’s in the process of being arranged right now.

If you like to knit socks - if you like to talk socks - if you like to dance at a Sock Hop (ouch! that is an old, old, OLD term - but one I remember well) - then this is the place for you.

You could take classes while there: 2 at a time socks, crocheted socks (for those who would rather hook than play with sticks), learn to make beautiful beaded baby bootees . . . you have a class in mind? There is likely one there for you.

Of course, this isn’t cheap. On top of airfare to get to Portland (or fuel if you’re able to drive there from wherever you are), and hotel rooms, the registration costs follow:

Prices:

$70 A three hour half day class.
$140 A six-hour all day class.
$15 A “one hour wonder” featuring small techniques that can be learned in an hour.
$35 Lectures (Barbara Walker, Anna Zilboorg)
$25 The Luminary Panel, on Sunday afternoon, featuring Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, Anna Zilboorg, Nancy Bush, Judith MacKenzie-McCuin, Deborah Robson, Barbara Walker, Cat Bordhi, Lucy Neatby and Meg Swansen, with Tina Newton and Stephanie Pearl-McPhee moderating.
$20 The Sock Hop on Friday night.
$22 A ticket to the opening reception on Thursday evening.

Students will be able to sign up for as much or as little as they please, and materials fees for the classes will be extra—and optional, as much as we can. (We want you to be able to stash-dive to save money where possible.)

They are developing a Sock Museum as well - and for those of us who cannot travel to the summit . . . it is available online - and there’s a KAL, too! Check out how you can help build the museum (so to speak) with your sock knitting capabilities.

There’s a Sock Summit group at ravelry, too. Waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy too much fun, yall!

Baaaaaaaaaabbbbbby it’s cold outside . . . and what do you do when you are an orphaned little lamb and so cold? Well, but of course you look to your owners who . . .

give you a sweater (the British say “jumper”) to keep your little lamb skin warm. Seriously, folks . . . if that is not enough to make you reach for your toothbrush . . . I don’t know what is.

So very cute - and it has caught the eyes of a lot of knitters.

In fact, another (from Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm) shared pics of her babies in their sweet little sweaters. Actually, they are in the sleeves of sweaters. I guess adult sweater sleeves are the PERFECT size for newborn lambs.

Can you see the tags on the ears of the Martha’s Vineyard babies? Those of you who are from the same generation as I (born in the 50s, teens in the 60s) might remember the curlers called “spoolies”??? Don’t the ear tags remind you of those? Except mine were pink . . . and the ear tags seem to be blue. I guess you just have to be of the same mindset as I am when I’m writing these posts.

Yeah, tired . . . humor me.

Speaking of . . . . awwwwwwwww, don’t it make you feel good type stuff . . . have you seen Inkheart yet? Would you like to see it on someone else’s dime? You can, you know. Just toddle off over to visit Lessa at Parenting Teens, sign up in her comment section for that post, and hope that the randomizer likes Y.O.U to be the winner. It’s as simple as that.

If you are the winner, enjoy yourself and stop back by here to let us know how you liked the movie.

This is mentioned over at Creative Mom , and I have read about the project at other sites as well. The picture, btw, is of the scarf that CM is working on. Nicely done, Lynn!

You can find the following information at the Special Olympics official website:

Anyone can make and submit a scarf for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Scarf Project, we just ask that you follow a few simple guidelines in order to maintain consistency:

Scarves must be received by no later than January 15, 2009.

This looks like a great - and quick - project. A simple scarf can be crafted in a weekend - and there seems to be a LOT of leeway in how to make the scarves. This is one of those times that I like to just look into my computer and tease you a bit by saying . . .

Come on, you KNOW you wanna!

Thanks to Lessa for sending me the link and to Lynn for writing about it - and taking part.

Isn’t this cute? So sweet Shelly gifted me with this cute little hand after the Share A Square project was “over”. Why the quotation marks??? Well, we had so many squares donated to the project that there were enough for the original 140 afghans - PLUS many more.

So I have two more sets of squares I’m working on right now. All of the squares have been edged in black and I am working at piecing together the first afghan. It’s my goal to finish both this week and get them shipped back to Texas in lickety split time.

In other project news . . . met with the “Soldotna knitters” this morning. We’re all working on various projects - one is working on fingerless gloves, another an afghan, another socks, and I had a dish cloth on the needles (shhhhh a friend has a birthday soon.) I thought I might finish it so also had some of the squares with me. They were not touched this morning. Guess I know what I’ll be doing during tv time later, huh?

Have you tried Ravelry yet? If you are a knitter, crocheter, or would like to be, this is your home! Seriously. There is so much fun to be had there - so many different groups to join - many different swaps to join - and just interesting conversations to take part in, or to lurk and read through.

Sign-up invitations are only taking a couple of days now - when they first started it could take a month or more - and there are currently 153,476 registered users. Goodness! It is growing. Even Lessa has joined - and she doesn’t knit OR crochet! She’s there to chat about Big Brother, of course.

Come on over and join us. We’d love to see you there.

The KnitWitch is open and running a contest. Run on over and check out the site and let her know what YOU would like. There are some seriously gorge-mous yarns there . . . and, and, and, YARN BOWLS!!! How pretty THEY are. Go on . . . you know you wanna . . . time to add to your stash.

And, if you have any alpaca roving or have knit with alpaca, she is interested in seeing pics of that as well.

There are three ways to win her contest - so go on over and check it out and, ENTER!!!

And, have you joined Ravelry yet? If not, you need to get on over there and check it out. There is a place where you can take a test run so to speak - that is, check out some of the site before joining.

I’ve had a lot of fun reading through - and joining - several different groups. I’m taking part in a couple of swaps - you’ll read more about them here as we get closer to them. I don’t want any spoilers going on with my swapees.

Speaking of spoilers . . . Big Brother is starting today. Lessa’s 451 site is not available so she is writing about it here. Hopefully the powers that be will get the problems sorted out before much longer - orrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, I might let her come in here and do some guest postings - wonder if anyone took knitting needles along? Well, the one who might have is a fellow raveler and she was not selected for the group. Pout!

So, go on over and give the KnitWitch and Lessa some knittingpassion kinda love, okay?

I couldn’t beleive it when I was able to log in just now! And, here I was ready to head off to bed. Well, sir, I am going to take this chance to post something and do it quickly before the 451 devils whisk my site away again.

So, how are you all doing? Here it is July 9th - okay, 10th for most of you - and I feel like my summer has just gone whisking past me - I know, it is just beginning to be summer for all of you, but I live in Alaska and it is feeling a bit chilly in the mornings lately.

But, what have I been doing knitting wise? Well, after the last of the bags for the SAS bag project were completed and shipped off, I started some dish cloths. One of the Ravelry groups I belong to is a dish cloth exchange group - so, I joined a July swap where each member knits a cloth to send to someone else - you can swap with one or two people. In return, you will receive a dish cloth from someone. I chose to swap with two people - then I chose to do two cloths for each. Those are ready to go - just as soon as I receive my swappees’ names and addresses.

Then I cast on the July 6th weekly dish cloth pattern. It is pretty nice looking - and will be a gift for a sister-friend who is having a birthday this month. She and I and another friend hope to drive towards Anchorage - going to Mt. Alyeska ski lodge - take the tram to the top of the mountain, have lunch and share some good friend time.

We’ll probably also go into Anchorage to the LYS for some dream/shopping time.

And, I’ve been spending some time on the Ravelry forums - doing some RAKing (Random Act of Kindness) and receiving one as well:

Aren’t they the cutest? Yeah, I know the picture is crappy, but the critters are darling. They’re finger puppets - will take them to work for my groups and such - some people like to fiddle with toys or something and are able to learn better when they do. So I try to always have paper, pens, markers, and TOYs on the tables when I present.

are the queen of stashes? Ohhhhhhhh no, my friend, I seriously think not! Check out Squitchinglady’s stash - of yarns - oh, me oh, my . . . I am lusting a wee bit over the tote of sock yarns. Yummy!!!

She’s also got a nice stash of crafty projects material stashed!

In the yarn stash post she also shows her husband’s complusion - lego toys! And, I thought my grandboys had a large supply! Mercy me!

I do love her finished object - an Amiguri - complete with pink sweater and froggie buttons. Veddy cute.

is it not the cutest?

I found Donna through Ravelry. Do go over and drop her a note - she has fibromyalgia and is in quite a bit of pain right now. Your cheery comments could help her day go a lot better.
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. . . So you think you can Dance

I love music - I love rhythm - I love dance - I tell my hubby (who likes none of the same, btw) that it is something that has to be felt in the SOUL of a person. I think anyone can appreciate beauty of these things, but to LOVE them, that appreciation must be soul deep.

Agree? Disagree?

It matters not - it’s all subjective, I guess.

But, I must say that I am enjoying the new season of So You Think You Can Dance. The choreography is (mostly) stunning and the interpretation of it by the dancers is (mostly) spot on (as my British friends would say). I thoroughly enjoyed the Broadway piece and the Viennese Waltz tonight.

Saying that - I must admit that I called Lessa to find out what in the world was bothering me about the faces of a couple of the guys - she confirmed my suspicion that they “manscape”, that is, they wax those errant eyebrows. So, mama learns a new word.

I would never have thought of that - except that I happened to catch an episode of Meet My Parents (or whatever it’s called) a few weeks ago and two of the guys were called out because they waxed their eyebrows. Well, one was called out about it and the other revealed his habit during one of those hidden camera segments.

Gracious! I hardly have time to shave my legs! Let alone wax my eyebrows.

And, to go with the dance theme:
Triangle Tango
so you think you can dance,
dance,
dancecececece . . . .

Big Hearted Folks! have been helping to make a difference in kids’ lives and making a Big(ger) Hearted Texas Woman’s dreams come true at the same time . . .

. . . that is the project that I have been involved in over the past many months. I crocheted over 100 squares for the afghans - then I helped piece together eight afghans - and then I began collecting bags for the tags from the afghans.

We are almost there, folks . . . and you have all been a HUGE help!!!

Latest bags in are from Miki:

soooooooo cute!!! Thanks, Miki. And, on top of the bags, Miki sent me a little gift, too:

a little purple kitty to sit on my keyboard next to the purple moosie. They look like they are getting to know each other.

There are five more bags supposed to be in the mail this week - and I knitted 10 more to make up the balance of the 70 needed. I’ll post pictures of the 5 when they arrive and mine tomorrow perhaps.

Thank you so much for the help ALL of you have been - in making and sharing the squares needed - Shelly received WAY more than needed for this project and I think we will be putting together more afghans for other children (those too ill to come to the camp, etc.) over the next months. You all helped make that happen, friends!

Thanks for helping with the bags - and, for sending yarn and $ from time to time to Shelly to help out with postage and such. I know she did not really think about how time consuming and ROOM consuming this project would be. But, I also know that she would not have changed a thing in how it was done.
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You know, I actually feel like I am playing hookey this week - and, in a way I guess I am. I’ve taken a week off from work - and, while it won’t be all play, enough of it is to make me feel just a tetch guilty. I think that will pass before I have to return to my job, though. And, then it will take me a day or two to get reacclimated to the whole working for a living routine.

But one of the projects I have lined out for myself is to clean up my computer/craft room. Okay, what I actually said was that I intended to clean my house this week. That might be a pretty tall order, though, so I am setting my sights on at least getting THIS room cleaned up. If I get brave enough, I might show you before and after pics. Well, bravery isn’t really the emotion - I guess I would have to get over my embarrassment about how mussy it is in order to share pics. lol

So, we’ll see. Have a great week, everyone!

So much to talk about - so little time. I know, how can that be? But I find that I either have the time to knit - or the time to write - but really, not enough time to do both some days. So, I’m (quite) a bit behind here. Seems like the 451Press peeps are pretty forgiving of me right now and I am thankful for that, but I don’t want to abuse the system, so will try to do much better.

Today is World-wide Knit in Public Day! Did you know that? I didn’t find that site soon enough to register our little group of Soldotna knitters - but then, we don’t really need an excuse to get together and knit in public.

I discovered yet another person I knew BEFORE Ravelry in today’s group. She shied away from the camera when I took the obligatory picture, though. And the other BR(before Ravelry) person I knew wasn’t there yet. The ladies you see in this picture all gave permission to post it - but I’m not going to give their names. If they want to add them via comments that is cool with me.

Don’t they make a lovely group of knitters? Many others coming into Mugz also thought so as they stopped to admire the various works in progress and to ask questions. We invited several to join us in future meet-ups. We may have to move a couple of tables together next time.

Several of the ladies are taking part in the Rockin’ Sock KAL (knit along) and today we had a glimpse of the current pattern - one pair of socks finished and on foot, the other pair almost finished and still on needles. Nice work, ladies. Beautiful socks. The Raveler wearing her socks said she loves them - they are super comfortable. They are lovely, too!

I’ve been tagged by Miss Piggy! She has up and tagged me for a me-me. Soooooooooooo - here we go:

1. What were you doing 10 years ago (1998)?
Oh, my goodness! I’m not always sure what I did ten MINUTES ago, let alone ten years ago. Let’s see . . . 1998 - I am positive I was making gooshy gramma faces to the grandbabies - or tickling their toes - or chasing them around the yard through the sprinkler - yup, I’m a gramma deep, deep down at heart.

2. 5 Things on todays “to do” lis:
well, the day is drawing to a close, but you’ll be reading this Wednesday - so, let’s see.
a) wake up and go to the pool first thing - laps
b) complete the paperwork from the class I co-facilitate on Tuesday night -
c) complete May’s stats
d) complete my portion of a grant for work
e) cover the desk for the receptionist so she can have some personal time in the afternoon.

then, an added f) come home, fix dinner, and try to get some knitting done.

3. Things I’d do if I were a billionaire:
a) give back to the Lord what He had graciously given to me
b) pay off both daughter’s and our houses
c) set up education funds for the 7 grandkiddos
d) buy two new cars - probably Saturns
e) invest for the future!!!! (cos I’m not getting any younger, friends!)

4. 3 Bad Habits
WHOSE bad habits? Moi? Nahhhhhhhhhh
oh, wait . . . I guess that is number 1) not seeing my own faults - even when those close to me tell me what they are.
2) I tend to put myself down and not see my true worth (ooooh - inner reflection!)
3) Like Ms. Piggy - I eat when I’m not necessarily hungry

5. 5 Places I’ve lived
okay, this is a little harder - I’ve only lived in two towns and two states in my 58 years: so, going backwards:
a) Kenai, Alaska - we’ve been in this house 29 years
b) Cannery Road - SeaCatch fish processing plant. Stayed there our first 9 months in Alaska
c) far east side Columbus Ohio - bought a house there after my Mom died - getting away from the lower west side with all the familial memories and pathos.
d) west side Columbus Ohio - little pink house we bought before youngest daughter was born
e) upper half of a duplex on west side Columbus Ohio - moved there 6 months after we got married - had oldest daughter while we lived there - crazy downstairs neighbor.

6. 5 jobs I’ve had
Education & Training Coordinator
co-facilitator Batterers Intervention Program
Volunteer Coordinator
Receptionist
pre-school teacher
and, number SIX - da bestest gramma in the world (to my grandbabies!)

I will skip the tagging - if you’d like to do this, please comment and let me know you’ve done so.

Thanks, Ms. Piggy - it was fun.

A work in progress from one of the Soldotna Ravelry knitters.

I wasn’t able to get together with the Soldotna Ravelers today as I had an earlier coffee date with two very dear friends. We met at the same location - Mugz - and sat and talked and laughed and cried and drank our coffee. It was a very nice meet-up and I am blessed to have such great friends as Ms. B and Ms. S. Thank you, ladies. See you again soon.

They have music - looks like about every weekend - in the lounge, too. I’m a bit disappointed because it looks like a colleague of mine (work related) was featured there tonight. I enjoy her music, but it is usually a “chance” occasion when I get to hear it - and, sometimes it is a near miss - like tonight. (Yes, I’m pouting just a bit)

Daughter Lessa, who writes for 451Press also, (Watching Rachael Ray, Watching Survivor, and Big Brother Craze) also has another home online. Please go and read her snarky account of life on our own little Wisteria Lane. Maybe it’s just me - and maybe it’s because I know the folks of whom she speaks, but I about spat on my screen as I read it. Of course, it might be funnier to some who actually watch the show - I’m afraid I’ve never seen an episode of Desperate Housewives. (does that make me truly weird?)

In other news - hubby and I went to see the new Indiana Jones flick last night - we weren’t able to do so last weekend because the showings were all sold out. This week, I bought tickets on the way home from work - we went out for dinner - and then went back to the theatre and saw the film. I was told by the manager that the BIG seller this week was Sex and the City. Well, call me silly, but I would rather watch Indie!

We enjoyed it greatly. Yes, Harrison Ford is older, but then so am I! I thought that his stunts were reasonable (for an old guy) for the most part.

There were a couple of scenes I could have done without - no spoilers, BUT - I am a bit afraid of heights (being vertically challenged and all that) and I have a high gag reflex. When you’ve seen the movie, if you don’t know what I am referring to, feel free to leave a comment or email me and I’ll share.

Have a great weekend!

So, on the 17th and again on the 24th I met up with some of the Soldotna Ravelers for coffee and kibbitzing about knitting - and families - and hubbies - and jobs - and the cost of gas, etc. It’s been fun getting to know these knitters . . . and crocheters.

One of the daughters was working on a toy elephant in crochet. She was using blue sparkly yarn which just kinda cracked me up, being as the repubs are all blue and such - quipped that she would need to use red should she make a donkey (for the dems, you see).

We have socks in the works and scarves and elephants and leggings . . . we are a diverse and eclectic group - and that is ALL good!

Thoughts out to J’s mom - hoping she is out of the hospital by now and things are getting back to normal in the J household.

There will be another meet-up this weekend, I understand. I will be at the same place at the same time, most likely, but will be meeting a couple of my friends for coffee and chit-chat - not coffee and click-clack. One of them does knit, but the other does not - she, however, quilts!

Generally, when we get together, it is more chatter than crafting of any sort. Three good friends who don’t see each other nearly as often as we would like these days. It’s always good when we CAN get together. (can you tell I’m looking forward to it?)

And, remember these socks?

We got to meet the new baby last weekend - at the swimming pool while we were celebrating the Pup’s birthday. He is a cutie patootie!

All right, my friends - this has been a long year for Ms. Shelly, she of great passion and even greater heart. Her dream originally was to bathe campers - who have been battling great things in their lives - with some love and cover them with home-made afghans.

She put out her desire onto the internet and asked crocheters from around the internet (which spans around the globe!) for 6 inch squares that would be put into afghans for the youngsters. Next came a plea for crocheters to edge the squares and join them into the afghans.

Her dream grew - wouldn’t it be cool to enclose bags for the tags that were on each individual square - (48 tags per afghan) 140 afghans needed bags. Yellow Rose and I would be working on collecting 70 bags each.

It’s time for an update and followup request. I have 48 bags in my possession currently. I’ve gone through my emails and I think there may have been a few more promised but haven’t been received yet. (it gets a bit difficult because we all have our online personas and our real life names - and a purple moose can sometimes be easily confused, you see.)

So, here is my request - I need 22 bags to hold up my end of the deal. If you have it in your heart and have not yet contributed, now is your chance. Email me (prplmoose AT kenaiwriter DOT net) and let me know if you are able to help out.

Shelly is checking on the time when we might be able to deliver the afghans - and that will determine the absolute latest time we can gather the bags to get them to Shelly to get them placed with the afghans to get them delivered to the camp.

See how small ideas snowball?

Thanks to all of you!

Yeah, I know it’s been awhile - and just like a bad penny I turn up, huh?

Life has been busy in this knitter’s household. School had come to a screeching halt for the grandkiddos with last field trips and last concerts and last fun things with friends . . . and there are some firsts, also: granddaughter #1 walked across the floor at the middle school for the last time as a middle schooler and for the FIRST time as a freshman in high school!

My first granddaughter is a FRESHMAN! Oh, my goodness - I do NOT know where the time has gone with that one . . . or with her brother . . . the one who is going to be a JUNIOR next year - the one who is working at his first job - the one who is practicing driving with his mama and his grandpa - my own sweetcakes is a JUNIOR!

Add to that the final swim meets for the grands in the other daughter’s family and THAT daughter’s first triathlon, and, and, and, oh, yes - hubby’s and my 39th anniversary(!!!)

Busy, busy, busy - also at work. And, on the knitting front.

Really, folks, about the only place I am NOT busy is cleaning my house. Ha ha ha. I am taking off a bit more than a week in June and will try to get the house into some semblance of order.

But, on the knitting front . . .

Finished hubby’s socks just tonight:

He put them right on and declared them to be good.

They were part of his anniversary gift - gifted a wee bit late (anniversary was May 10th). Gifted ON the day was:

this Star Trek insignia wash cloth. He loved it.