Hibernation........
I'm coming out of my blog hibernation....I've been busy doing stuff, but now when I'm trying to recall what's been going on since Nov.7 I'm at a loss to remember......either way here's this.....Finished Father and Son Socks which were mentioned earlier......I knit these up with DH's knowledge, but I'm not giving them to him until Christmas. I gotta save something knitted for a gift Christmas morning even though it's a struggle having to wait to see him wearing them.

Next comes the Alpaca Cloud bought from Knitpicks.com. I mentioned in an earlier post that I planned to knit a shrug out of this, but I've since changed my mind. I didn't like the gauge I was getting when knitting up a swatch so it got shelved. I continued on perusing the new Interweave Knits Winter 2007 and I came across a neck/ring in their Top 10 picks for winter. The pattern is Flared Lace Smoke Ring from Heart Strings Fiber Arts. So far I'm loving the pattern, it's been easy to memorize each row, and the gauge is right on. The lace pattern isn't coming through on this picture right now as it's bunched up on the circular needle. Which I also wanted to mention, I'm loving the Harmony wood fixed circular needles I ordered from Knit Picks. They are so smooth, and I can't believe how they have such a fine point on them which is great for lace knitting. I plan on ordering more different sizes in the new year.

Next comes the pair of socks I'm knitting for myself.....

Cable Rib Socks by Erica Alexander from the book Interweave Favorite Socks.

I'm using my first ball of Tofutsies which is a very soft yarn. Comparing it to another sock yarn I've used, Lana Grossa Mega Boot Stretch, the Tofutsies has no stretch when knitting.

Tofutsies content: 50% Superwash wool,
25% Soysilk, 22.5% Cotton,
2.5% Chitin (fiber from shrimp and crab shell

I would compare the feel of Tofutsies to more of a cotton yarn. I'm looking forward to wearing these socks, and testing their durability.

With the way the weather is going I'll be doubling up on wearing socks....I think the snow is here to stay....

What a busy summer!! Where has the time gone? I say that now as I'm sitting in my housecoat hacking at the computer. I've been sick with a cold/cough, stuffed up nose, plugged ears. So for a change, this week seems to have gone on forever.

Here's something that's been making me feel better.

After being housebound for the last three days I ventured back to my LYS and exchanged the Ambiance Superwash yarn (picture in last post). I had it sitting on my ironing board and I kept looking at it, and rethinking the navy blue colour. "I've got a fevah, and the only prescription is more heather." (God bless C. Walken). I just couldn't face knitting the navy colour for the next month and a half. In the Fall 2007 Interweave Knits magazine they've got an article about going organic. It mentions that superwash is one of the most chemically treated yarns. I was surprised by that info, and I thought with my doubting the colour, and finding out something like that I was heading back to see Bonnie. Check out Interweave it's a good article. In it's place is Galway Heather, Irish Worsted Knitting Wool, colour brown heather, 18 st/24 row to 10cm/4in., 200 metres. As soon as I got home I started casting on. The pattern is designed by Elsebeth Lavold in her 'Book Nine, The Second Viking Knits Collection'. The name of the pattern I'm knitting is 'Ymer, man's vest'. With my brain fog/head cold I ended up frogging it about six times. I couldn't get my head around reverse stockinette stitch (purl side is right side), and the cables knitted on the purl side..geesh.

While at my lys I couldn't get out of my mind the Flower Scarf, designed by Nicky Epstein. It's in the new Vogueknitting Fall 2007, Silver Anniversary Collector's Issue. I had in my stash a couple balls of Watercolours by Estelle, and searching around Bonnie's store she had more of the same. So I added a couple more balls of the light tan, enough to eventually start on this scarf.

Watercolours is so soft, 50/50 Mohair, Acrylic.

Hold me back.....Bonnie then shows me what she's clearing out of....and of course do you think I could stop?

Sisik by Dalegarn, 30%wool, 30%mohair, 34%acrylic, 6%viscose. I'm thinking something along the lines of a vest maybe for me...we'll see. It feels great, and I'm thinking that's going to be the end of my buying for awhile....I've got to get at the actual knitting now.

I've been feeling guilty about not sharing equal time between both of our pets, so here's Anna and she doesn't care how much yarn I buy just as long as she gets fed, and let out of the house so she can have a roll on the pavement.

Anna is a finicky feline and she loves the guys, doesn't tolerate girls all that much. I met Anna when she was eight weeks old. I was working at a school and it was bring your pet, show and tell day. Well this little girl had this little grey ball of fluff and was throwing her down the playground slide. I couldn't stand the thought of the kitten being treated like that again so that afternoon I adopted her, and we've spoiled her ever since. It was destiny, and I really believe I didn't find Anna, but that she actually found us.

Either way she's been a great old girl for the past 15 years and she's still going strong.









Have a great Labour Day weekend!!!!!