Author: yarn & yarns

What Was I Thinking?

| yarn & yarns

So, um, yeah…. The Ravelympics. Knitting as a sport. Citius, Altius, Fortius.

One week after the opening ceremonies, nearly halfway through the Winter Games, and it’s looking less and less likely that this knitter will finish the race. A spectacular crash into the sidelines is a surer bet.

It seemed like a good idea at the time — using the event as a chance to finish a stalled WIP, rather than going for the gold and casting on a new project to be finished in 17 days. So I entered my Moderne Log Cabin blanket, which looked like this when I stalled out in mid-November.

Here’s where it was at the end of last weekend.

 

That’s pretty much another 200 yards of yarn, and it gained me about 3% (if I’m being generous) of the total blanket. Sigh. At least the miles of garter stitch involved are a good match for watching the winter sports, which I do love. And, as I learned last Saturday, working on a large, wool blanket is the perfect choice when sitting in a freezing ice rink watching the kid’s skating lesson.

Next Ravelympics? I’ll be signing up for the single-skein skate.

FO: Askance Cowl

| yarn & yarns

Wanted a scarf better suited for running around ABQ, and I found this one-skein Askance Cowl pattern on Ravelry. It was just complicated enough to keep it interesting, yet simple enough for a relaxing evening project. (Did I mention it was a crazy-busy week at work?)

Pleased with the yarn (soft, washable, light-weight wool) and the colors (green, blue, purple — big surprise — with a nice gold to set them off). In fact, decided to grab another skein from my LYS so I can create a matching set of fingerless mitts.

I finished the knitting on Thursday, while watching Conan. Still love me some Robin Williams. But now as the mother of a spirited child, I can’t watch him without thinking about what he must have been like as a child. Oy.

Anyway, had planned to block the cowl this morning, but decided that I liked it wavy. Of note: It’s also been quite a week for the bulb Izzy gave me for Christmas, which was just barely sprouting last weekend. (Have I mentioned how much I love Izzy’s Garden Club at school?)

FO: Izzy’s New Hat

| yarn & yarns

Right before Christmas, Izzy spied a pair of mittens at the holiday craft safe at our church. I try not to give into these whims — the whole giving rather than receiving thing — but not only were the mittens adorable and fleece-lined wool, they were also crazy cheap. The fact that they were fair-trade wares from Peacecraft is what pushed me to “yes.”

But then, of course, my little fashionista needed a hat to match. And it needed to be a quick knit — we are in Albuquerque, where spring is right around the corner.

Well, I pretty much knit the whole thing up today during a two-and-a-half-hour spelling bee. Mission accomplished plus sanity preserved.

 

And, yes, that is the Christmas tree still up in the background. It’s coming down this weekend. Hey, St. Knut’s Day fell during the week… (I’m Swedish, so that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)

Why My Holiday Cards Were Late Didn’t Happen (part 1)

| yarn & yarns

Just take a look. Is it any wonder both Izzy and I are completely nuts about my coworker’s dog, Truffles? She’s just the sweetest little thing. And after a night of dog sitting, well … let’s just say Izzy has her first big bout of puppy love.

Having spent the past five winters in Minnesota, I can safely say Albuquerque’s take on the season has yet to surpass a 2.5 on the cold & blustery scale. Not that Truffle’s owner, who’s an LA gal, would agree. You’d think hypothermia were always just a degree away, to hear her talk.

Combine that with all the doggy knitting appearing on Mason-Dixon for little Olive, and you can see where this is headed.

Just what every LA dog needs — a little black dress with pearls (hidden in this shot).

It’s lucky the house got cleaned before the family arrived for Christmas.