Armed with Pointy Sticks

Behold: The Power of Sheep

Yes, that's right, I've finally gotten my banner (hit refresh).  Sometimes, in the world of knitting, if what you want is too specialized, you have to strike out and make it for yourself.

Apparently, a sheep with a rocket launcher is a specialty item.

I did not scan it.  I took Chris's advice and took a picture of it.  Hung it up there on the fridge (it's still up there. It'll stay up there until my yet-to-be-conceived children start giving me things to replace it with) and snapped a picture.  Uploaded it, put it into photo shop, and started work.  I'm half tempted to put a ball of yarn with a target on the other side of the text. Anyway...

In other knitting news, the part of the Cable wise cashmere that I'm having a problem with does not require an errata.  I'm just over thinking it.  I actually gave up and called the one person I know who knit it.  Beverly at Ewe'll Love It.  I explained to her that I thought it was odd that it was asking me to cable on every RS row and I thought it'd look busy, and she told me not to worry, since the cable wouldn't cross, it wouldn't become an issue.  Yep, I actually called Beverly at the shop.  I owe that woman cookies.

Yep.  Cute sheep.  I haven't named him yet.  He needs a name, don't you think?

The Weekend and its Love Handles

Because you know, if you do it right, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday is just extra weekend.

This is going to be a bit photo heavy, I'm afraid.  If this bothers or distresses you please leave a comment (I don't screen or block, you are safe) and tell me that you don't love me.  And then I will politely remind you who is Armed with Pointy Sticks (yeah, sure, you've all got 'em, but how many of you are prepared to really use them?)

So, shall we start?  Yes, the only question is where shall we start.

Let's start with Wednesday night.  Yes, I start my slow easing into the weekend on Wednesday.  When I leave work and head to knitting, the hard-to-chew part of the week is over.  Yes, I still work on Thursday and Friday, but its really more of an inconvenience than a job, something that I have to do so I can live my weekend. Capture that mentality, my friends, and you shall always celebrate four-day weekends.

Anyway, Wednesday... I learned to crochet!!  Granted, I can only do one thing, but I think it's fairly nifty.  Look at this! Baby's first crochet!  Our dear Marion taught me, and I'm still kind of clumsy, but I can now talk a crochet hook into doing what I want most of the time.  Now I just have to learn what I want it to do. Now I am not armed only with pointy sticks, but with a blunt object.  I don't think I will be renaming the blog though. Armed with Pointy Sticks and Several Blunt Objects just doesn't have the same zing.

We then went to Famous Dave's.  I love Dave's.  It's pretty good barbecue for a chain joint, and our server, Famous April, is one of the most wonderful people on this whole fricken' planet.  I'll be honest, I go more for April than for the food.  Although the food is great.  So here she is, Famous April.  Hopefully just a little more famous for having graced my blog.  And my blog a little more Famous in return.

And then I dumped my Diet Coke in Sarah's knitting bag.  She tells me that Homespun, even though it is entirely acrylic, smells like wet sheep when it gets wet.  Funny that, the yarn channels. Through my mortification I learn.  Ever want to feel like the worst knitting friend in the world?  Up end an entire, big glass of carbonated beverage directly into someone's knitting bag.  Let me tell you, you will feel like the biggest jack-ass in no time flat.

So Thursday we went drinking.  Sarah sat as far from me as she could.  Across the table and on the other side.  No joke.  I was poorly prepared for knitting.  I had a sock that was almost done, and I didn't have the next ball of yarn.  I didn't end up casting the sock off until the next day (and oh boy, did I cast it off.  Regular cast off?  Not very stretchy. Seriously.  Look into something different.  I'm doing to have to take back the weave in, the bind off, and a row or two.  But I've found an alternative.  I'm going to finish the other sock first, then start deconstructing the first one)  So yeah, Steph may have the traveling sock, but I've got a lecherous, prowling, alcoholic sock.  I want that on a coffee mug.

And yes, I did get knitter's into Ben and Jerry's.  How great it that?

                                                   

Pretty damn great, I take it.

And then I went to Maine.  Well, Friday I went to Maine. Maine affords a lot of knitting time.  I've gotten past the first cable step on the Cable Wise Cashmere.  I knew there was errata for this pattern, but I was thinking it was for the sleeves. Nope, found it.  And I hadn't brought the errata print out, so I had to go back and apologize to the sock.  It was most forgiving.

And... maybe that's it.  Unless you want to oooh over this picture of my nephew chewing on a crochet hook.
                                                         

Ok, that's it, I dead, bedtime!

I Love my Postperson!

Even though I had to go to the post office this Saturday, I still adore the postperson who brought me tidings of this:

Are they not gorgeous?  So perfect together?  Wild and demure, calm and untamed, ecstatic and comtemplative, side by side?  Well, there they are, Sherbet and Lucy, courtesty of Blue Moon Fiber Arts.  Lucy isn't up on the site yet, but for those of you who missed it, you can get many eyefuls of it's goodness here and here. 

I've discovered that the nicest thing about a "sock formula", as opposed to a "sock pattern" is that it fits like, well, it fits like it was made just for you.  Cuz it was.

Wow, I need a little lotion.  Poor, scaley legs.  Pattern is from Knitty, the toe-up sock formula.  I don't know how long the cuff is going to be, but it can be as long as it wants, until I run out of yarn.  I'm doing at 3x1 ribbing, and maybe ending it with a picot edging.  Who knows?  I'm full of mystery!

And finally, for all of my Manch Vegas friends... I'm sure you know about the new Ben and Jerry's on Elm St, right?  I just figured I should let you all know that they're open til 11pm, every night.  Just like our dear Barnes and Nobles.  And they have outdoor seating, and summer will be gone in a few weeks.  It'd be nice to take advantage.  Just saying is all.

Sock Wars Target: Live in Fear

Ok, I'm cocky because it was a pretty slow day at work.

I did a toe up cast on.  It didn't make any sense to me, but I trusted in the pattern, and I figured it out:

And now I get it!  What a nifty little trick!

    I continued to get it.  Now we'll see if I like the toe-up method of heel construction.  Maybe I'll keep this trick up my sleeve.

That's the STR Watermelon Tourmaline.

And, you know what?  I check my mail today when I got home, and there was a slip from the post office that had a note, "rang bell at 3:05, no answer, non-secure area".  They never do that.  In fact, I'm convinced that they don't even bring my packages, they just dump the slip in my box so I'll have to go to the post office. 

Package from?  Blue Moon Fiber Arts.  The mail person must knit :D

It seems like I should have more fo's

I just got back from the gym.  It's been a while since this curvy little spectacle has graced a gym, but my sister and I are going to make it a tuesday/thursday thing.  We both agree: it's harder than we recall.

So about the only thing I'm good for is posting pictures.  Luckily, I thought to grab my camera before I melted into my computer chair.

I finished my Jaywalkers last night.  I used some Knitpicks yarn that they don't carry anymore (seriously, they have three (3!!) different sock yarns.  I think I'm going to call them tomorrow and ask them what they hell they think they're playing at!) I don't remember the label, but the color was snapdragon.  Kinda rough after all that lovely socks that rock...  but anyway.  They did get nicer after a wash.  I don't know the extent of it, as they're still drying.

I knit these two at once on a circ needle.  This technique is great for Second Sock Syndrome.  Be warned though, you may suffer from a new affliction that I like to call "Whole Damned Pair Syndrome".  But it's done.  I have a new trick. 

Speaking of new tricks, I was sitting somewhere, thinking idly, and wondered "why don't people use a 3 needle bind-off to graft their toes?"  They do, but Kitchner has most of the market.  Let me tell you, it makes a neat, little seamy toe, with nothing much irritating on the inside.  And it takes 2 minutes to do, and no finishing needle.  I think I'll be using the technique a lot.  Turn the puppy inside out, and graft away.

Ok, the socks, after finishing.  I was lamenting at their littleness, and Jackie told me to try them on.  I did.

What do you know, they fit! (I adore that man)

These are going in my chest for a later date.  Someone appreciated them as I was knitting them, and they might just get them for Christmas.

And here's a decent picture (the one I sent to dear Grumperina,                                                      the Dr. behind this monster). 

So there I was at work (yeah, I took that picture at work.  I've got a little knit kit in my cube.  My cube neighbors don't even ask questions anymore) and I was done a pair of socks.  Hooray!

I had yarn, and a pattern, and even a measuring tape (that I intended on leaving at work.  Hey, you never know) but... no knitting needles.  *thump*

The people at work now know why I knit.  I can't sit still for the life of me, and I have a job where that's a necessary skill.  Knitting helps me focus.  And I had a skein of STR in Watermelon Tourmaline that I could only sniff!! 

So yeah, kinda long day.

I think I'll make like Gina did last night and kill a mixed drink.

Poor little mixed drink... never saw it coming.

A Blogger's Camera

Saturday night I was thinking.  Thinking usually either costs me time, money, or cleaning supplies.  If I'm really lucky, all three.

I was thinking of replacing my big SLR.  I love my old camera.  When I got it, it was fantastic.  Canon was just venturing into the world of the digital SLR, and it took all the same lenses that my old camera took.  Today its a bit of a dinosaur.  I wanted something new.  That day at Donna's (nothing like celebrating a good knitter turning 50 to make a party, huh?  Especially one that you know damn sure that you're lucky to be acquainted to.  Happy Birthday, Donna!) I had lugged along my big camera, which has taken quite a beating in the last five years.  I've lost the lens cover, so the lens is bruised. The thing weighs four pounds.  There has to be an easier way for easy shots.  And there are bitty cameras on the market with better resolution at a quarter of the price.  The rape that technology takes from five years. 

But you know, I'm not really doing anything that requires a digital SLR.  I haven't for a long time.  Lord knows I'd like to, but it really doesn't fit in with the big picture.  So, I got a new Powershot.  Why stray from Canon?  I like Canon.  I know Canon.

So, meet my new Canon Powershot A540.  Whenever a new camera comes into my home (I'm a shutterbug.  I've loved my share) it starts by taking pictures of the cat. 

                         The cat, and the monkey.  Ok, so the monkey is a new rule, but                             it is now a rule!! Bwahahahaha!

The next day the camera came with us to the NH Guild of Craftmen's Fair (I think I got that right)

This was an amazing.  So many different crafts, so many different patterns.  Fibers, paints, clays, processes, techniques.  It was a bit dizzying. 

  I didn't go to buy.  I had been warned.  These are people who ply their art for a living and expect to be paid for it.  Photography, painting, potters, sculptures, weavers (seriously, you couldn't turn a corner without stepping in some weaving.  I think they had the advantage in numbers) wood working, carving, turning, latheing, wall hangings, rugs, etched pottery, etched glass, etched wood, clay ware, glass ware, the original spoon, raku fired pottery tiles.  Live demonstration: turning bowls, carving snowmen, black smithing, chainsaw wood sculpture, potters, it was really quite amazing.  Nope, not to buy, I went to be wooed by the beauty, and wooed I was.

Tips:  Bring a camera, and walk the entire fair before you decide if you want to buy anything.  Bring your own food or eat before you come.  Limit the water, ladies; I don't know how we do it, but we kept a steady line outside of a 6 stall rest room.  You've thought a movie just got out.

Yes, there were knitters.  Two, I think, and one of them sold only felted hats.  Beautiful, felted hats with very nice embroidery.  And the other made toys and dolls out of recycled sweaters.  Come to think of it, I didn't get pictures of either.  I have to get used to this having a convenient camera around.

Well, I'm off to bed.  Who knows what I'll post next!!!  Ooh! I should start paying for my flickr account again.

Socks don't count, socks don't count, socks don't count...

I grew up with lovably obnoxious, seal point Siamese cats with big, blue eyes and ash to charcoal colorings.  So of course I had to buy a skein of the STR named for Wendy's dear Lucy.  And while we're at it, throw in some Sherbet.  (My sister saw Jackie's socks and indicated that she'd like socks knit out of that, but with no "old man" stuff.  She's referring to cables, and I'm questioning her paternity again.)

So, I haven't even started using the stuff from the last order, and I've still got stuff from the order before that, but I had to get more.  Melissa from Blue Moon Fiber Arts said that as prepared as they tried to be, they just weren't ready for the orders that they got.  Heh, put yarn like that next to a pretty girl like Lucy, and watch them pour in.  If they ever want to make a creamsicle color way, I'll lend them Princess.

Next Up...

I want a header.  I need a scanner, because this will have to be drawn.

Unless... anyone has a picture of a sheep with a rocket launcher.  Anyone?

Executive Decisions

Yesterday I made the knitting equivalent of deciding that I would eat ice cream for breakfast.

I put aside the Mary Jane (It's grounded.  It does not thrill me, I don't enjoy knitting it overly much, and I don't think it would look good on me, and I can't think of anyone else to give it to. That's knitting project death, in my world) and picked up the Cable Wise Cashmere.  Well, I picked up the Cashmere, and the needles, and now there is a bit of sweater to be picked up.

This is the largest gauge project that I've worked on in a long time.  It's been mostly lace and socks for me, so this is a nice change.  And the yarn?  Oooh.  I'm working with Louise Harding Kashmir DK.  This stuff is so nice... it has the same content as Cashmerino (well, the same content that the Cashmerino is supposed to have) but it's woven.  It's a delightfully soft yarn, and they tell me it won't pill after it's worked up.  Looking at the two inches I have so far, I'd say Sir Patrick, the Enabler, is a genius.

Now, if you look around you'll see I'm still adding stuff.  Yep, sock warrior...  Arrr!  Fear my socks!  Still adding the blogs that I read.  Eunny, make yourself a button, girl! And I have made my own little button.  Yep, there it is. That's the ball of yarn I taught myself to knit with.  Nothing more deadly than that.

Ok, well, I think I'm going to go scrounge around the kitchen.  I had a half-assed left over supper.  What kind of dietitian am I going to be?  I might knit some more (Its been a while since I've had a project with a sirens' call like that).  But I think really I just want to sleep.  With the fan in the bedroom window cranked right the hell up.

September, I miss you.

Today was a grand day for a jaunt into the country.  Why? I'm not telling.  This information will be divulged after next weekend, if I think about it.  Just know that I went.

We went to Peterberough, which is the basis for the play "Our Town".  It's really quite quaint, with friendly hippies everywhere.  I like hippies.  A strong community of liberal, "earthy" folk make for a wonderful town.  Here you will be able to find good, organic food, independent retailers, and a strong sense of art and expression. 

Toadstool Books is the largest independent book retailer in NH. It's very well organized, almost as big as our local Barnes and Nobles  and (a feature that gives it points that the B&N doesn't have) it has a big room of used books.  Who doesn't love sorting through piles of old books?  The fact that it's sorted very nicely gives you a better chance at finding those hidden gems.

In this room of treasures I found Fox & Geese & Fences (I have the combined book, but I liked the old copy so much I grabbed it up.  5 bucks!) I got Knitted Embellishments by Nicki Epstein.  This find of the day usually runs 32 bucks, I snatched up a completely un-stressed copy for 15!  And... because no one in the world would ever believe me if I didn't get it, I got a copy of Cat Knits.  This is fug fug fug.  No pictures of this book exist on the internet.  It's that ugly.  Fair Isle cat motifs made in the 80's.  My knitting book collection officially has a side show.  My knit group can look forward to this treat on Wednesday!

Yep, today was a knitterly day.  Maybe I'll even do some knitting before bed!