Stalking the wild Asparagus... I mean yarn purchase

A short time ago, I pledged that I would NOT buy more yarn until at least the following were finished:

April Socks

Chocolate Cherry Socks - These will be the socks for May in Nancy Bush's Whitby pattern
Something in the Butter Peeps or Paris Nights yarn - this was a mental error, I didn't pack the Paris Nights, I packed the Handmaiden Mini in Ebony so consider this revised.

Wicked or TAOs Smokin. I actually got most of one Wicked sleeve done before spending time with Sir Frogsalot, buying different needles and now I am happy with how my sleeve is working out.
The five center reps of the Phoenix Rising. Yeah, this might be a problem child. I spent a little time away from this, still not happy with it. Still undecided. Still considering ripping and using the yarn for something else. Aaargh!

I am slowly closing in. Which is good because I saw the NordicStars by Candace Eisner-Strick and am really tempted to make this as a Warm winter sweater for me. It's even made of a relatively affordable yarn. As opposed to the Lopi that I am tempted to make myself whenever I wear TAOs cardigan.


And for those who remember today's Book Title, I was pleased to see new reprints from as late as 1988 were available.

Self Absorbed

So I'm thinking of taking the plunge....no, not marriage, silly...I'm going to get my hair cut by a hairdresser on Sunday. It's part of Aveda's Cuts for Clean Water campaign. And, I'm thinking of making the commitment - buying a blowdryer and a bottle of goop and getting a Style.

Currently I get my hair cut professionally about, oh, once a year - perhaps twice if PMS strikes at just the right moment. That means the rest of the time I just whack my bangs off when they poke me in the eye. That also means that my baby fine, ruler straight hair spends the majority of it's time clubbed back in various twists or ponytails. I have few hair rules but the two non-negotiables are: Not in Eyes, Not flopping around face. Important rules given that I spend the majority of my life in hospital gloves with ick on my hands, and look down at the bed, up to the screen, down to the bed, up to the keyboard, etc etc.

So when I decided to get it whacked off, the hunt for a good look comes into play. It can't be a pixie cut ala late 90's Winona, because TAO put his foot down about that a decade or so ago. Which leaves either a nice trim with some shaping and continued pull back, or some feminine cut in between that would be so short it couldn't flop forward and would not be able to club back (or catch in exercise equipment).

The later option would require commitment - get it cut regularly, keep it styled or look like the dutchBoy,no more washing at night and sleeping on it, put goop in hair, apply swirling warm air regularly. I feel vaguely overwhelmed.

So if you think I may be mature enough to handle this, kindly suggest some celebs that have good hair.

(PS - I loathe that look in which women over the age of twelve put barrettes in their hair smack at the sides of their heads, but would be open to the thought for workouts...maybe).

April, the cruelest month

Knitting was interrupted by a coupla days spent in the smallest room of the house. You know you're sick when you're too sick to knit.

However, I am still on track for April's Socks with:

One Sock, starting Two Sock. Sorta Red, Sorta Blue Sock.

Um yeah, it's been that sorta week.

Knitting is a Myna Bird

Phoenix Rising has a couple of little areas that make me reconsider my relationship with the project. Among these were a couple of wonky areas (tension issues) that I had concerns about visibility in the finished project. Do I rip back 40 rows? Do I risk it and get to the end and be crazy because of it? How about I semi block it now to see?

Hmmn still a little wonky. (No closeups to show). Secondary to that concern, is the small needle/silk thread issue. I am loose knitter. I knit to relax. I knit because you can't drink on call, and I never got into drugs. This project at this time is NOT relaxing.

Which leads to a conversation with myself about work and the next 40 years...

• Keep doing what I'm doing (just keep knitting this plan)
• Keep doing what I'm doing but at a slower pace/lesser level. (keep knitting a row a day)
• Do what I do now, but at a real job in one place (rip back and knit again)
• Do something else entirely. (knit this pattern in a different yarn)
• Pursue disability funds. (skip this whole project)
• Go knit and think about this again in 2010 when the plan has been worked (Set the shawl aside, knit something else to distract me and see how I feel about it in a few weeks/months)

And they call knitting a Hobby.

Slow and painful progress thy name is

Tiny needles and tiny silk thread combined with a chart, thereby rendering it non-portable knitting. Sigh.

On a brighter note I spent some tax refund money first to House that Yarn Built, and then yesterday at The Loopy Ewe. Which led to a little guilt. Not a lot, but a little. (I did donate more than I spent.)

Which tied in perfectly with something that one of my favourite authors, Larry Winget said in his newest book
You're Broke because you want to be.

As a digression...I'm not broke, we're not broke, it's not like that at all. It's just that growing up the way I did has given me an awareness of how these decisions are made daily, and it's nice to be kicked in the mental arse occasionally. It's also nice to hear some of the gaffes people make and realise it's been a long time since You Made That One. There were parts of his other book "Shut up Stop Whining and Get a Life" that made me laugh so hard I couldn't see. I do recommend the audio books, because he reads them. (I don't recommend his wardrobe.)

This morning (post Loopy Ewe glow) on the way into work, the audio book
was having you go through some exercises. Since I was driving, I did them negligently but did find myself making a mental list of projects that I have with me. This led to the following:

I hereby pledge that I will NOT buy more yarn until at least the following are finished.

• April Socks
• Chocolate Cherry Socks
• Something in the Butter Peeps or Paris Nights yarn
• Wicked or TAOs Smokin.
• The five center reps of the Phoenix Rising.

Because really, that's Enough.

Make One Year of Lace Kit One

The Post Arrived. Check out the yummy colour from Claudia Hand Paint Yarns. It's a special dyelot for the Make One Year of Lace Club. Silk Lace 20/2 in Sivia's Hot Brick Orange. I have 2 skeins of this type of yarn in the stash already wound into cakes, and now I am a little sorry. I am making Nancy Bush's Ene Scarf in Woodland Moss and it's very slick.

However, some of the Canadians who got their kits a week before the rest of us, had commented on the extensive crocking of this vibrant hue. Therefore when my skein came, it received three rinses in Sweetness SOAK. Even the third sinkful was still reddish in hue. But when I balled up the 1100 yards the next day the yarn had bloomed and was still lovely, but not so slick - more manageable in the skein and the needle. Live and Learn, Eh?

And my more adventurous/fashionable/crafty friends of the blog world will be glad know that the Phoenix Rising Shawl by Sivia Harding has Beads. I know how some of you are about a little bling.

Adult content.

Warning: the following contains content that may not be appropriate for all audiences. There are brief references to violence and destruction.

I started March with these: My first socks. Made the first time in 2002 out of Kroy Winter Eclipse. Yes, I wore them. But they were too tight at the cast on edge of the cuff. So after a long spell of wearing them with the cuff folded over, I dug from the stash the remainder of the two balls. Mind you now this was a couple of complete household moves later.

I picked back the cast on and re-worked the leg, adding a few inches more to it. Lovely springy bind off and went off into the world. Well now they slithered down into the shoe. But they were soft and cushiony and warm. And look at the colours.

So that brings these poor socks to 2008. Ill fitting and loved but not utilised as much as I would like. I finally figured out that the FOOT was the wrong size. Yeah, hard to believe I have a highly technical and responsible job, eh? (Violence ahead) I cut off the toes and heels, which by now were quite felted and worn. Then unraveled the remaining 3 segments of each sock. Washed it, wound it into balls and knit these...
I used the Fan toe from Crazy Toes and Heels, the foot and heel from Judy Gibson's Putting me On socks. (one of my favourite patterns) and did the Twin Rib from Sensational Socks for the leg. I still ended up with a 7" leg and now have lovely socks that will make me smile when I think of them.


I will confess that I have 2 more balls of this exact colour in my stash and could have just made socks from those, but these poor socks looked so sad in my drawer that it made the Holmes on homes experience necessary.

Is it Mardi Gras if you're alone?

Seriously, Purim is a Holiday of Unity.The three main observances of Purim all radiate with the theme of togetherness. Despite being a wry and creative woman I just can't get up the gumption to wear a costume and rattle a gragger all by myself.

I did take Mojitos to work in an assortment of bottles and sent them home with people. Not enough to make it "until you can't tell the difference between 'Cursed is Haman, Blessed is Mordechai.'" But enough that I figured festive meals would be enjoyed.

Purim is among other things a celebration of survival against many odds. Appropriate on both cultural and personal levels. However, I think I'll celebrate by going to bed early and taking Hamentashen to work tomorrow.

Woof, it's been a long week. Good thing I have a great bag.

Checking back in

Yea though you schlep to work, let not your items hang out loose.









Though you carry for both work and knitting,let not your items conjoin.
It's official, this bag is a keeper! I have gotten many compliments on it - Knitters None of Them (not yet anyway). It is well balanced, soft, and doesn't irritate my shoulder. I have been carrying it faithfully for a week. Full, Stuffed, nearly empty, purely for the effort of remembering to carry a purse. (Except in the grocery store, I only need money/list in the grocery store, and groceries are notorious for thieves.)

In the photos above it is packed for work. Items include an 84 oz cup, 2 24 oz Nalgene bottles, lunch,box of crackers, small knitting project, papers, lab coat stuff, phone, keys, etc. It was still easy to get to my knitting on the shuttle bus, and the bag hangs so nicely that the cup doesn't spill.

Would asking TAO for a Saddle coloured one for Mother's Day be Gluttony?

Nervous, bored, anxious?

Something to ponder the next time your mind is whirling around and around gnawing on a thought and making you stressed:



You are familiar with Peppermint, Spearmint, and with the new gums that include Wintermint, Cinnamint, Bubblemint...so what flavour is Fragment?

Whew, it's a big 'un

I might have tripped and put something in my online cart. I may have tripped over the DreamWeaver delivery box on the way in from work. Might? May? Puh-lease! My bag is here. Hee Hee hee. The combination of rationalisation and lust worked.

May I have a round of applause for the Olive Namaste Laguna....

Front View with the shoulder strap completely doubled on a 5'2" (66cm) size 12-ish woman.


I know that a big trend in bags right now is a lot of hardware that contributes to the weight (and supposed stylishness). This bag has very light hardware, it adds to the look without adding heft.

It is wide enough across the beam that it will add to your visual bodyweight. But what bag designed to carry this much stuff wouldn't. I will be replacing the 3/4" wide strap with my gel strap, but that's for My quirks, not a fault of the design team.



Back Zippered pocket for keys and wallet - no opening your whole bag to the world in order to pay for your coffee.



Front flap pocket for the phone, no chasing and fishing for it in a crowded aisle.




Would the impatient knitter in the back please resume their seat.
Interior and comparision photos are coming....

Finding it hard to get a sense of size from just listed dimensions I set it next to the Loopy Groupie Bag
and put the small Loopy bag in front to show it's size when the handles are folded down.
Straight down one side of the zippered divider
And the other side
And this is what was in the bag for all those photos...wallet, phone, keys, fullsized hardback, trade sized paperback, 5 skeins of shamrock, my Loopy Ewe accessory kit (sizer, tape measure, gum, calculator, crochet hook, scissors, stitch markers, stitch holders, cable needle) Lantern moon bag with skein of Knittery and a partial "Lacy Hug Me Tight" I think you would need to be knitting a Sukkah to fill it.

I'm running errands and going to the doctor tomorrow, working Friday & Saturday, I should know by Sunday how it's going to work out.

Thank you Ravelry ladies for the enabling and DreamWeaver for the quick service.