A Day of Thanks

It's 4:30AM. The house is quiet, everyone is asleep except mom and the cats. Before the chaos of the day begins, it's time to stop and give thanks for the past year. It hasn't been a bad year. We are well, Brian and I are still gainfully employed. Sure there have been disappointments and setbacks, but in the grand scheme of things, nothing was that bad. My mom's recent eye surgery went well. We are living inGod's country. There are projects that didn't get finished, people who have recently royally pissed me off, but again, when you compare it to everything else, it wasn't that bad. We have friends and family, a roof over our heads, and a amazing yarn stash, who could ask for more? Well, I have some cleaning in the kitchen to do, a turkey pan and rack to find, a pie to get in the oven, and some koigu that is calling my name before the parades start on TV. Happy Thanksgiving!

Is there smoke in here?

This is what happens when you hang Christmas Stockings on your mantle, have a husband who does his manly thing and builds a warm, blazing fire, and then forgets to open the chimney flue. These are the remains of the stocking I am going to recreate. The woman I am doing this for only had a picture of the stocking from about 35 or so years ago, but then when she visited her daughter this summer, she actually found this. Her daughter doesn’t know that mom took it, or what mom is up to.

What’s interesting after looking at these charred remains is that you can tell it was made of wool. Wool stops burning when the fire source is removed. If this was acrylic, there would be melted fibers. Luckily for me, the intarsia section is pretty intact, so I am going to chart it out using my new software Stitch and Motif maker, and then it’s off to the races. I am going to use Cascade 220 with a little angora for the Santa’s beard.

Had a sock class at the LYS last night, and Louise showed up with a nice Cabernet. Knitting and wine, as always a lovely combination. The socks are looking good, there are some over achievers that have two going at once.

I have to get charting on the mittens, after I figure out my software. Looks to be a lovely day here in God’s Country. Don’t you just love those bright, crystal clear blue skies?

Where did the year go?

Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away, and Christmas is right around the corner. It just seems to me that this year has flown by. Maybe it’s because I was on and off airplanes for most of the past six months. Maybe it’s because I’m in the middle of a big case at work which has consumed my attention and energy for what seems like months. Maybe it’s because of how big the boys look; they are just not my babies anymore. And the little one just switched to swimming lessons in the lane pool, which of course scares him, but puts him in the big boy category.

But what really points out to me how fast the year has flown by is a couple of things. First - all of the different projects that I have taught at the LYS, and the many friends I have met there that add their own special threads to the fabric of my life. The second is all the projects that I thought I would get finished during the year, which are still up on needles. There are so many of them that I would like to be wearing in this nice, cool Colorado weather. There are so many I want to finish by Christmas. I need to spend some serious time in the yarn room and prioritize some projects.

To add to the mix, I am probably going to knit a project for a woman that contacted me last year. It’s just a Christmas stocking, but I am going to be recreating a stocking from a picture and the remains of a burned stocking – I don’t know the details of what happened yet. I am meeting her today to see what she has, and what I can come up with. I really don’t need to add this to my list of projects, but she seems like a real nice woman, who wants to surprise her daughter.

I have my new knitting software to play with. I am going to try to chart out Latvian mittens for my class on Saturday. If this doesn’t work, it’s back to the colored pencils and knitter’s graft paper.

Oh, I promised some more Stitches. On Friday morning of course I spent more time in the market, doing a leisurely stroll among the booths to see what I didn’t see Thursday night. In the afternoon I attended a hounds tooth class given by Jean Frost. She gave us about 14 different stitch patterns, and of course she had a few of her gorgeous jackets. After swatching many of the patterns, I found that I liked the looks of the slipped stitch hounds tooth best. And it really looks nice in Alpaca. I’m putting that on the future list for a jacket design. Friday night was the designer fashion show. Lots of lace from Victorian Lace. What was disappointing was that they used stick thin models with purchased chests. Things just did not look right. Stitches West usually has some models that look like normal women. My outfit that I bought from Great Yarns looked great, and there was a killer Jane Slicer Smith coat that will be in the next issue of Knitters that is definitely going to be made by me.

Well, time to get back to my real job.

Mail call

Look what I found in the mail today! Not that I need new yarn, and not that I need to start some more socks. But isn't it pretty? I've never knit with this yarn before. The color name is Jolene, and named after a sunset she saw. The company is Mama-E's C*EYE*BER FIBER SOCK. I know I owe you some more on Stitches East, but frankly this girl is still tired. I have some sock knitting to do today, and two sweaters are badly in need of some attention. I leave you with this pretty yarn, and promise to do some better blogging this week. I know why I am so tired, I'm getting back in to a workout routine and did some heavy lap time in the pool at 6AM this morning. I'm just not happy with my back view you know? Catch you tomorrow.

I'm back!

I am back and I am tired and much poorer than I was before I went to Stitches East.

First of all, let’s start with the grey shawl. I am happy to say that it was finished and packed for the trip. And boy is it nice. I wore it on Friday and received many nice compliments. While walking through the Stitches market I was stopped by several knitters who asked me about it. I directed them over to Marilyn’s booth, Black Water Abbey Yarns. I don’t know how many bought yarn, but I think the booth did well. I bought a beautiful shawl stick pin that goes great with the grey yarn.

Well, let’s start with day one - Thursday. We attended the opening and were wowed by Kaffee Fassett. Needless to say, his combinations of colors, both in quilting and knitting are remarkable. He’s quite a speaker, very much at ease in front of a crowd, and was very responsive to questions. Later that day I attended a labyrinth knitting class with Debbie Neu. Let’s just say, I have no idea how this woman’s mind works, but oh my goodness, are the end results wonderful. Don’t ever expect me to knit a teacup or boat, but I will someday attempt to design a sweater using her techniques.

Later that day was the market. I was approximately 10th in line (no surprise there). And I was the first at the Socks that Rock booth. I needed to buy 4 skeins by request, and I wanted to obtain them before they sold out. Let me tell you, walking by the booth on Saturday showed very slim pickings. I bought 6 different colorways, and yesterday my boys picked 2 for mommy to keep. So the 4 of you out there can figure out which one is going home with you. What else was purchased at market? Several patterns for ideas for upcoming classes. Lace weight of course for 2 shawls. Cashmere from Australia. Like butter folks. This is for 2 scarves. An alpaca teddy bear for the yarn room. 2 knitting bags. An outfit from Great Yarns. Wait until you see this one. Some ribbon yarn for a sleeveless top. There is more, I just can't remember right now.

And I bought software. My husband has been after me to put the ideas down, so here we go. Now if I could just find the time.

More tomorrow…..