Putting it into words

What Margene said.

We have nothing to lose by coming from a place of love and, thereby, putting aside fear.

Brilliant.

Too long, and not long enough!

No time to blog so far. But soon, pix of DD's teacher's socks (completed), Franca's second hat (not finished, too thin yarn), new yarn, Franca's new singles, rovings from Easter egg dyeing.

I have also been speechless about the VTech tragedy. I pray for the families, I cried when I heard that cheer at the convocation (makes me tear up now, too). But I don't know what to say. Iraq is worse than this every single day. How dare we? That's all I got.

But on a far less important note, this time of year I get SO busy it's just...overwhelming. School trips, girl scouts, church events (multiple), etc. It always gets away from me a bit. My task is to not get all stressed out. Two years ago I 'bout had a nervous breakdown. But now I try to compartmentalize. I try to think of things in smaller pieces so I'm not worrying about some event three weeks from now when I wake up in the morning. This week's events are enough!

So this unit of time ends with our spring choir concert on April 29th. In between now and then, I have: Knitting group at church, kindergarten field trip, girl scout meeting, birthday party, Jog-a-thon at school, orchestra rehearsal for concert, trip to see loom (yay!), Mother-Son Monte Carlo night, extra rehearsal for concert, concert. Enough? Yeah, I thought so.

J is thinking we need to figure out stuff for our camping trip the following weekend. I say, since we can't do the grocery shopping till that week, I can let it go for now. Guess we could make the lists, though. Fine. NOT going to worry about it, however, till after the @!&#& concert is over. Can you feel the enthusiasm? After the HUGE conflict and political fallout over this concert and the assignment of solo work and the cost and, and, and, I am only looking forward to it being OVER. Then I can worry about how my employee evaluation goes post aforesaid conflict, blah, blah, blah.

Anyway, guess I had a couple of minutes but getting out the camera is just too much at the moment. More later!

Hug your family today!!

Some pictures of Rogue

Later today I will have a child pull a name from a hat for the contest. The latest guess was March 20 and I finished it on April 7.

But here it is!



And a detail of the neckline:


Love it! It is very warm and will be great for camp and winter. This year it's a bit warm for home, but I am wearing it some early mornings.

Now on to some serious spinning!

DD's teacher's socks are past the gusset shaping on the second sock. I made a big mistake on the first one, but they still fit so I'm repeating it on the second. I should have decreased back to 50 stitches, but only went down to 54. Why? Dunno. Had the wrong number in my head for some reason. Now they are only based on Nancy Bush's pattern, but that's okay. At least I know how to deal with it! I also decided to do a flat toe rather than the star toe, as I had the wrong stitch count for the row gauge. I'm proud of myself for figuring that out!

Next up knitting wise, second hat for Franca, the Italian designer out of my handspun. If I run out of this yarn, I actually have more of the roving to spin up so it's not so nervous making.

I'm finding that the design process makes me nervous, even though I know I can reuse my materials perfectly easily. What's with that? Why must there be a fear of failure if the only punishment is a do-over (and I LIKE to knit!)?

Have a lovely day!

No, I still haven't finished sewing up Rogue yet!

No one is bugging me about this. You've all forgotten the contest!! Of course, the guesses have all passed and my plan is to put you all in a random drawing and hope for the best. Hope it's okay with everyone!!

However, I do have some rather exciting news. My friend C and I started a knitting (any fiber arts welcome) group at church this week. Our first meeting was attended by four actual crafters and one hanger-on who says she'll let me teach her after the first of the year. Anytime, M!

Anyway, we're sitting there chatting and knitting away and A mentions that her daughter years ago won a LOOM in a contest or something and it's living in her garage. A LOOM. A FLOOR LOOM. Never been used. Big. She doesn't know anything about weaving. Doesn't want to sell it. Do you hear it coming?

WOULD I LIKE TO HAVE IT!?!?!

Well, let's see. YES!!

DH has consented, although I have told him that it is truly too big (I'm sure) to ever be set up at this house. It will be a lovely future addition to a craft room to be determined later. So Easter Sunday I will be looking for A at church to ask her to let me come see it. Yay!

In actual knitting news, after casting on 7 (yes, SEVEN) times the Horcrux Socks on a circular needle (couldn't find my #2 DPN's for a couple of days), I gave up on it for the moment. Funny thing is I think the pattern is really cute and easy. It was the technique that made me screw it up. So Horcrux is definitely still on the list! Cast on Nancy Bush's Friday Harbor socks on DPN's for DD's teacher with no problems. D**m circular needle gave me a blister.

I'm enjoying the pattern and although they look small, the ribbing is pulling in on the back and the lace will open up nicely. I'm thinking I might need sock blockers for these, though, which I have previously thought were unnecessary. But perhaps for gifting lace socks, they would certainly make them more attractive in the package. Yarn is from Amy Boogie at Spunky Eclectic, her new Super Nova sportweight superwash/nylon sock yarn dyed in Blue Moon, gorgeous!!

And here is the first hat for Franca Bartoli, my Italian Fashion Designer who requested some sample hats from my handspun yarns:

Still on the 11" blocking cardboard, but it does look nice, doesn't it? This yarn is some rather variable worsted? weight wool (blue) plied with mohair (green). Spun the yarn so long ago I don't even remember where the fiber is from.

Next up, a ribbed cap made from 2 ply Turkish Carpet top down (so it fits).

I will probably get Rogue finished this evening. That is my plan. And I also hope to finish Miss D's first sock by bedtime. Can I do it? Sock Madness says yes!!

Have a lovely weekend!

By God, I did it!

Pattern: My own!!
Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes Bulky, 6 skeins
Color: Emerald
Started: Two weeks ago? Around March 17, 2007
Finished: April 2, 2007

Based on Barbara Walker's Classic Raglan Cardigan in "Knitting from the Top" with V-neck variation.

Wish you could see how happy I am to be wearing my perfectly fitting, just so happy making sweater, but I spared you the zit!

I was a bit worried last night, as before washing it was a little small, but the sweater relaxed exactly like the swatch did after washing and my assumptions proved true.

I would definitely do this again, but buy one more skein of yarn and take it longer. I do have some left, but will be adding patch pockets when I get a chance.

Next up, setting in Rogue's sleeves, but not tonight, alas; must work!

Have a lovely day!