A Yarn Too Far

UFOs Updated

2008-02-20T09:23:00.003-05:00

Well, I've finished those 5 pesky UFOs that just needed a few ends sewn in and blocking. Unfortunately, I didn't include those in my original UFO count; otherwise I'd be done with making a dent in my UFOs and could start something new!
Several of those items were for Street knits or some other such charity. They're sitting in a bag in the office, and will hopefully go out this week.

And now I'm just dying to start into a new scarf (for Knit for the Cure), but I made that pesky promise. Oh dear!! I guess my donation will have to slide this month. I have ideas for embellishing the Cravat with a bit of a lace pattern, to make it a bit more feminine. I mean, it's not like I don't have anything to knit.... Just look at my previous entry.

Ok. That's the update - 5 things finished, that don't go towards my UFO update. On the good side, I'm about 1/5 into the 2nd sock for Sockmania.

UFOs

2008-02-16T14:54:00.022-05:00

What would we do without our wonderful friends??

My "Cosmic Sister", Helen, has just been visiting with us for a couple of days, and she couldn't believe the number of UFOs I have. She gave me a really stern talking to and I have promised her that I would catalog them all, and that I would finish 1/3 of them before starting another (What was I thinking?!? That must have been a really weak moment on my part!).

Helen, I've got a question - Does this commitment include Charity knitting? I like to knit a Scarf every month for Knitting for the Cure (and I'm about 3 months behind!).

What follows is a full (I think) catalog of my UFOs, including planned completion dates (or note of hibernation).

Pi R Squared Shawl was started just last Sunday. It's great mindless Garter Stitch, with just a little bit of thinking arond the stitch markers. It is such a beautiful yarn and colour (yarn is Classy by Dream in Colour; colour is called Petal Shower). I need this as a Comfort Shawl for me.

Bottom Line - This is Number One priority for completion.

This is my "Secret of the Stole ii", complete to Clue 3 of 9. And Clue 5 was available yesterday. I've had a really tough, busy week, and didn't think I could handle the demands of this lace (even though it's pretty simple and straight-forward). I will try to catch up on this project during the coming week.

Scheduled finish date - Mid March

This is the Simply Love sock from Sockmania. It's a lonely sock that's missing its mate. Originally I was making these socks for myself for Valentine's Day. But when I tried on the first one, I realized it's too big. In fact, it would probably fit my daughter perfectly!! I really need to finish and blog a sockmania pair (it would be my first in about 4 months!), so I need to keep this active.

Bottom Line - Complete Simply Love sock by February 29.

This is the 1824 (or is it 1842?) Blouson Top from Summer 2007 Interweave Knits. It's been hibernating because there's a lot of calculating and figuring to get the cuff on just right. But it really should come out of hibernation, as I could wear it as soon as the weather warms up a little.

Bottom Line - take out of hibernation; schedule completion for mid April.

Lacy Little Hemp Top from LanaKnits would be ideal for Summer Wear, and has been hibernating for several months.

Bottom Line - Take out of hibernation; scheduled completion - mid May

Jaywalker Socks (by Grumerpina) from Magknits. This is sock 1 of 2, and may be too small for me - there's not much lateral stretch to them - but I could complete them as a gift (maybe for Mom's birthday?). This is a relatively mindless sock that is good for travelling around.

Bottom Line - Completion by June?

Cosy Lace Shawl (pattern by Dorothy Siemens of Fiddlesticks) is semi-mindless knitting. The pattern is pretty simple, with easy repeats. This one will probably stay active, to work on in between other projects.

Scheduled Completion - Unknown; but it's not hibernating.

Shedir hat is something I pick up from time to time. I'm enjoying making it, but other projects have precedence due to various commitments. I use this as a portable filler that takes a bit of brain work, but not too much. As complicated as it looks, the pattern repeats are pretty easy.

Bottom Line - Shedir is semi-hibernating..

The Sacha Socks (from Berroco) were originally supposed to be for Julie for her Birthday (over a month ago). But I really don't like the way the pattern is written - You knit the sole of the slipper side to side from heel to toe, then knit the top of the foot (over the toes), then down each side of the foot. This means there's a tonne of sewing to do!!! I think it would make much more sense to make these toe-up. Except that I'm 3/4 of the way finished, and don't want to have to re-do all of that.

Bottom Line - Sacha Slippers are Hibernating.

Natural Aran Pullover from Ram Wools - for Me!

If I were to work on this diligently (in between clues for the Secret Shawl) I don't think I could complete this in time to wear it this winter.

Bottom Line - Going into Hibernation

I feel I need to note that this list does not include the 5 projects that need some small amount of finishing - ends sewn in, blocking, final end trimming. I'll get that done before the end of this month.

So here's my commitmentto each and everyone out there who may read this - I will complete (including sewing in ends and blocking) at least 3 projects before casting on another.

Signed,
Carol

Yarn, Wonderful Yarn

2008-02-05T16:40:00.000-05:00

I went to the Dentist this morning for my routine checkup.
And as a few other plans had fallen through, I decided to console myself with a visit to Romni to pick up a small bit of yarn. I even had a shopping list of things I "needed"!

I took the TTC down to Queen & Bathurst, but was too early, so had to treat myself to a coffee (and a Raspberry-White Chocolate Scone! Yum!). Then into Romni just minutes after they opened.

First, pick up a Basket for all my goodies. (Normally, I would try and juggle all my purchases, until somebody forced me into taking a basket.)

Next stop - the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in a pretty dusty rose to make some Fetching gauntlets (knitty.com).

Then walked past the Manos.

What was I thinking?!? Walk past?? Manos???

Some just hopped into my basket.

It will likely become a scarf and possibly mitts or hat for me. My 2 black coats need some dressing up.

Maybe a Cable?

Then over to check out an alternative to Kid Silk Haze for the Ice Queen cowl (knitty again), and found some Colinette in a lovely blue-teal.
I picked up the beads later, at Arton on Queen.

I then asked if they had any Tahki Donegal Tweed, and found the 6 skeins I need for the Peruvian Cap in the Vogue Knitting on the Go Caps & Hats book.

And as I was heading out to the Cashier, I passed by the sock yarn. There on the floor in a basket was some Arequipa (like Dream in Colour Smooshy, but almost half the price!!), which again just hopped into my basket (well, maybe it didn't exactly hop in... more like I crammed it under the basket handle!).
It will become either the Jeanie shawl or Juno Regina, both on knitty.com.

And to top it all off, I found 2 adorable dresses at La Cache for my granddaughter - 75% off! And I met up with my daughter at the Eaton Centre for her lunch break.

As I was walking across Queen towards the Eaton Centre, this tune entered my head ....

Yarn, wonderful Yarn.
What wouldn't I give for
That little bit more.
That's all that I live for.
Just thinking of touching more,
My senses are reeling.
One moment more knowing that
Soft warm feeling.
Oh, Yarn!
Magical Yarn!
Wonderful Yarn!
Marvellous yarn!

What a wonderful day!

What colour am I?

2007-09-08T18:02:00.000-04:00

You Are a Yellow Crayon

Your world is colored with happy, warm, fun colors.
You have a thoughtful and wise way about you. Some people might even consider you a genius.
Charming and eloquent, you are able to get people to do things your way.
While you seem spontaneous and free wheeling, you are calculating to the extreme.

Your color wheel opposite is purple. You both are charismatic leaders, but purple people act like you have no depth.

What Color Crayon Are You?

Dishrag Tag

2007-08-22T20:11:00.000-04:00

This is so much fun!

I've received and re-sent the package for Dishrag Tag.

This is the package I received yesterday. A hand-knit dishrag in wonderful sunny yellow (thank you, Joan!), a Spatter Screen for the Microwave, a scented tea-light, an Aero Caramel bar (I'm looking forward to trying that), a couple of Bernat patterns, and 2 balls of Cotton. Yes, I know you can only see one - that's because the other ball (in red, white and blue) got knit up as another dishrag last night while I was listening to the Yarn Harlot talk up in Aurora. I wasn't as fancy as Joan with a pattern - I just knit the basic corner to corner variety. Today after work, I rushed over to the Post Office and sent the package off to Ruby - next on the list.

I've just checked the team listings, and it looks like we're way behind compared to most of the rest of the teams, and I chalk that up to good old Canada Post. It's costing us 2-3 times what it costs in the US, and appears to be taking longer to travel, too.

This getting presents in the mail when it's not my birthday or Christmas is awesome! Anybody know where I can find more of these "tags" or "swaps"?

2007-08-21T08:04:00.000-04:00

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Walking Weekend Part 2 - Saturday

2007-07-13T21:24:00.000-04:00

OK, so I've been a really really bad blogger!

I wrote this back in early July, and delayed posting because of wanting to add Photos. And it's taken until now (September 26!) to actually get the post up, with a few additions to the original.

Last Saturday [July 7] morning, we met up with a friend from Abu Dhabi/Kuwait, who calls Hamilton home. Donna's on her way to Kabul to work, and is back home for leave.

We met Donna at Union Station and TTC'd up to the ROM. I'm one of those who is not at all impressed by the Michael Lee Chin "Barfed Crystal" attached to the ROM. But we've heard so much about how wonderful the light is for exhibits inside, that we decided it was worth checking out. Plus, we had an out-of-town guest, so to the ROM we went. You now enter the ROM through the Crystal - just a big white and grey open space - no atmosphere at all. We did walk down to where the old entrance lobby was - it has so much character and really set the tone that you were in a special place. I hope the have some interesting plans for that space.

That sense of wonder right from the moment you enter the building is lost now, in a sea of grey and white.

We wandered through a number of the exhibits in the main ROM building, but the building, and the exhibits, seem to have lost much of the character and old feeling they had. It just felt sterile to me.

We then decided to go see the inside of the Crystal. That was a challenge all in and of itself - No, you can't access the Crystal directly from this floor, you have to go to that floor, and then around that corner, and around another corner. The main bank of elevators isn't working yet, so you get up in the Crystal via a freight elevator - Lovely!

We finally found a nice open (so far exhibit-less) area and were impressed by all the natural light coming in - what a wonderful exhibit space!

Then we followed the signs to a special exhibit - the History of History - what a joke! It was just a few items with no descriptions. The items themselves are supposed to speak for themselves. Oh, and all the natural light? Most of it had been blocked out by blackout curtains fitted to the windows and skylights and the exhibit was lit by potlights - something about the natural light would damage the artifacts. Well, so much for all that nice bright light and white walls and the whole reason for the Crystal!

OK. Enough of my griping. I didn't like the Crystal when I first saw it a few years ago under construction, and the steel girders looked like a kid's game of Pickup Sticks. And I still don't like it. Inside or out.

After an hour or 2, we'd had enough of the ROM and headed back out into the wonderful Summer Sunshine and west on Bloor towards Spadina and then Bathurst. We stopped in my favourite pub in the area - Dooney's - for lunch. They have the most amazing version of Huevos Rancheros (I think they call it Huevos Dooney's), and some pretty excellent Eggs Florentine. And beer. I think Frank had a Roast Beast sandwich of some sort, and really enjoyed it. (He's not emotional about food as I am, unless he hasn't had any - then he's really emotional: Me Eat Now!)

We wandered over past Honest Ed's, but didn't go in. In hindsight, given the passing of Ed this past week, maybe we should have - it may never be the same again. And over to Markham Street. I was surprised that South of Harbord, Markham becomes a totally residential street, with some quite large homes and huge old trees. South of College, the homes become a bit more modest, but still quite interesting.

This house must be owned by someone with some sort of OCD. I'd love to spend some time talking to the homeowner and finding out all about their collectibles and assorted plants.

And then, just before we got to Queen Street, I saw this absolutely awesome residential street. I had no idea Toronto had such interesting areas. I don't think the photo does it any justice.

And just down the end of the street, around the corner to the left, what did we find, but Kensington Ice Cream! I'd heard about this place, but never knew where to find it. And finally we did!

Wow! Such amazing flavours! Hot Ginger Ice Cream and Rhubarb-Apple. Even "ordinary" chocolate has a twist to it. Yum! I'll be back.

We finished our walk by heading west on Queen Street through a number of Art Galleries and Boutiques, right down to the Gladstone, where we hopped a Streetcar back to Union Station.

All in all, a very good fun (tiring!) day with a special friend.

Walking Weekend - Part 1, Friday

2007-07-08T08:22:00.000-04:00

Wow! What a wonderful weekend!

I had Friday off work, but due to a big project I'm involved in, I went in for the morning. So, noon comes, and off I go on the TTC! The only silly thing is that I didn't carry a camera on my Friday excursion. Sorry - with photos, I wouldn't have had to write so much.

First stop - City Hall for the annual Art Exhibit. Lots of people were there, and it was interesting seeing what other people take for art. I guess I'm just not an "art" person. But all the colours and ingenuity and activity were wonderful! I love to see this city so full of activity.

So then I wandered along Queen West, stopping in various shops as the spirit moved me.
I bought a wonderful top at La Cache - their Summer Sale is on!

I also stopped into Americo. They have such wonderful yarns!! Except that they are only sold by weights, with no yardages on them. I would really love to knit up a cable afghan this winter, and something from Americo might fit the bill, but I really don't know... And yes, I know that size doesn't really matter for an afghan, but still. I'm just not comfortable enough with my ability to gauge yarn weights just by looking at the strands.

From there, I headed up into Kensington to Lettuce Knit, where I picked up a girl's Tulip Cardigan kit. I looked at some of the sock yarns, and was very glad I picked up the Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock last week, because the colourway that I loved was gone. That's the next sock - a boudoir sock of some kind for my grandmother.

On the way to Lettuce, I passed through the park in Kensington. Some people were playing guitar and singing; the wading pool was full of kids; and lots of other people were outside enjoying the sunshine and the park.

From Kensington, I headed up Bathurst and poked around a bit in some of the interesting little shops along Bloor.

Next stop - St. Clair. And I wimped out and took the Bathurst Street bus - that hill up Bathurst is Brutal!!

I thought about stopping in to see Haley at Knitomatic, but I was just there a week or so back, and I really don't need anything right now. And yes, I know that yarn is nothing about need, but I already had the yarn for the Tulip Cardigan in my hot sticky little hands, and really didn't want to carry much more on my ramble.

The bus dropped me at St. Clair & Vaughan, and I headed west towards Alterknit. That whole stretch of St. Clair West, from Bathurst to Lansdowne, has a wonderful community atmosphere.
Along the way, I stopped into Zia Mosaics, a cute little Mosaic studio where they will host parties/events around a mosaic theme and teach you how. Sounds like Fun!!

It is so wonderful to have an afternoon's worth of hours with really nothing to do. If you're open, you see all kinds of interesting things and people. I wish I'd had my camera to capture some of the things that moved me. Like flowers - I saw these amazingly yellow-orange daisy-like flowers in a yard along St. Clair that was absolutely bursting with flowers. I didn't know what many of them were, but there were Yarrow and Canterbury Bells among them.

I got to Alterknit about 5, which is where Frank and I had decided to meet whenever he managed to get away from work. Our evening plans were to experience Corso Italia (the Italian street festival along St. Clair W). Revetelle, proprietor of Alterknit, (I'm not sure that's how you spell her name, but I hope it's somewhat close) was extremely friendly and accommodating. I had an Iced Americano (Yum!!) and sat and visited with her while other customers came and went, and while she went through closing up the shop. Finally, just as we'd decided that Frank might not arrive for a while and decided to lock the doors, there he was!

Thank you Revetelle - I really appreciate you allowing me to "camp out" on your stool for so long. (Not only are they friendly over at Alterknit, but they make some pretty wonderful Waffles on Sunday morning - covered in fresh berries and cream. They also make a pretty mean Iced Americano.)

When Frank and I got to Corso Italia, they were still setting up, so we just meandered from Dufferin over to Lansdowne looking for dinner, finally settling on a sandwich outside Big Ragu (on Lansdowne, just south of St. Clair). They had some Italian name for it, which I don't remember, but the sandwiches were full of tomatoes and bocconcini cheese and basil, and Frank's had Prosciutto as well. I poked my head inside the restaurant, and looked at the menu and the reviews, and we will definitely be back! It appears to be a nice family-run place. Nothing fancy, but with good basic food, and not too expensive.

What had first attracted us to Big Ragu was the band outside - they had a really good guitar player, who reminded us a bit of Levon Ichkhanian, and an awesome percussionist/drummer, Armando, who we have run into several times before.

Once they'd finished their set, we wandered back out onto St. Clair for more of the festival. Project Phoenix was just starting their 2nd set, and so we listened to some really good funky R&B (70s-style).

We got pretty lucky with the buses/streetcars, and finally made it home about 11.

Boy was I tired!! And I had no idea I was going to do it all again tomorrow...

My Visual DNA

2007-07-01T14:15:00.000-04:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Knitting for the Cure and All Jazzed Up

2007-07-01T12:40:00.000-04:00

Wow, I can't believe it's been 2 weeks since my last post!
Let's see now...

Last week, on Friday Night, I joined the Downtown Knit Collective's Knit for the Cure night at the Canadian Cancer Society's Relay for Life. What fun!! There were 10+1 of us knitting pink scarves through the night (6pm Friday to 6am Saturday). The scarves we knit that night, plus scarves knit by many other contributors, have been donated to be given to women who've been diagnosed with breast cancer, as a Hug from us to them. What a cool idea.

And speaking of cool - it was definitely cool that night! We were wearing every piece of clothing, blankets, etc. (except for one sleeping bag, kept in reserve), and still froze. Thanks to Wannietta for the Tim's run in the wee small hours of the morning. The hot coffee definitely helped to warm us up, and keep our spirits up.

I don't remember the exact number of scarves we donated, but it was a large cardboard box full.
Check out Wannietta's blog and the DKC Knit for the Cure Blog for more information.
And in addition to the scarves donated, our DKC team raised over $4,179, taking 2nd prize for highest number of team pledges. We received a copy of Dr. Marla's book "Life in the Balance." I'm looking forward to reading that, and sharing it, too.

This past week the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival has been on, and I've been downtown (at City Hall) catching some awesome music most days. It started with Noon on the Friday of the Relay and Brian Barlow's Big Band. Monday evening, my DH and I saw Holly Cole - she really put on a great show. Michael Kaeshammer opened for her - Wow, what Amazing Piano Playing!! His fingers just fly over the keyboard, sometimes with his 2 hands doing different rhythms, and I would go just about anywhere to be able to see him again.

Tuesday at noon was Russ Little - he's one of my favourites! Thursday I saw the Toronto Blues Society Competition Finals - it's so nice to see young/ undiscovered/ struggling talent get recognized and promoted. And Thursday night was the United Trombone Summit - a bunch of old-tyme jazz trombonists who really know how to put on a show. They were followed by Roy Hargrove on trumpet, but it was getting really late, and so we left after 2-3 tunes. I also think he's highly over-rated.

Yesterday (Saturday), we saw Colourblind Brian and the Blainettes down on the Danforth, for some wonderful blues with intelligent lyrics. One of my DH's favourite songs is known as "Chicken Cordon Blues". It's about this couple, and when they first got together, she fed him on chicken and wine and steak, but now she's become vegetarian, and only buys 10-lb bags of brown rice, and granola, and he's looking jealously at the dog down the street who's smiling because he has meat. It almost sounds like the story of our lives!

And tonite we have tickets to see Mavis Staples. We're both really looking forward to seeing/hearing her (and yes, I'll have my knitting with me!).

Now I've done it....

2007-06-15T12:40:00.001-04:00

I just saw this really cool competition online.
Anybody want to join me?

Now it's time to go out and enjoy the sunshine and quit goofing around online!

Introduction

2007-06-13T15:57:00.000-04:00

I find this process of Blogging to be a little bit daunting.

You see, I've started writing a Journal many times for many different reasons, but never stuck with it.

Maybe this time will be different.

So I guess I should tell you a bit about myself.

I first learned to knit when I was 5 years old, but I really didn't "get it". I was given a child's How to Knit kit and can remember sitting in the kitchen being taught by my maternal grandmother (Grandma Elsie), but my mom tells me that's a false memory, because my grandmother never visited us when we lived in the Dance Studio. Anyway, I still have those original needles, but unfortunately not the first test swatch. And whoever that wonderful older woman was who sent me that Kit and sat down to teach me to knit - I thank her!

When I was about 10-12, Grandma Elsie (she was a professional knitter!) was visiting us, and I asked her to teach me (again!). And I've been knitting ever since, although sporadically. I'd pick it up and knit a couple of sweaters or scarfs or mitts, always being quite ambitious, and then I'd drop it in the middle of a project and not pick it up again for a few years. Ditto crocheting, which my grandmother also taught me.

And then about 2-3 years ago, I picked up the needles again. I don't think I'll be stopping any time soon. For starters, the Stash has sort of taken over the house!! And I'm having so much FUN!! I can't imagine going through a day without picking up the needles.

So, for my first post, here's my planned knitting for the summer.

Summer Knitting List

Falling Leaves Socks - Just a few ends to sew in (Gift)

Aran Pillow - I'm knitting a pair as a Wedding/Bridal Shower gift. 1st one's finished (and given); 2nd is In Production

Whisper Soft Baby Blanket (Leisure Arts, Quick Knit Baby Afghans) - In Production (Gift)

BFF Socks - in Koigu - In production - Travelling Sock (Gift)

1824 Blouson - For ME!! In production

Flower Petal Shawl - in Millefilli Fine (100% Cotton) - not started. It's for me, and gifts and UFOs come first.

In addition to the above, I also have several other projects that need ends sewn in or to be blocked, but they're not needed any time soon.

Well putting together that list was an interesting project for me to undertake. It's certainly helped me to organize my UFOs, and will hopefully keep me on track for the various due dates for the Gifts!

One more thing.

Next Friday, I'm part of the Knitting for the Cure Team at the Canadian Cancer Society's Relay for Life. Joan has organized a team of 10 of us who will be knitting pink scarves through the night (7pm-7am) to be donated to women who've been diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

I've you'd like more information on Knitting for the Cure here in Toronto, check out the Downtown Knit Collective.
And if you'd like to support me in this project, go here.