And She Knits Too!

Can we fix it?

Yes we can!

(With apologies to all parents who must endure Bob the Builder).

Here's Able Undone.  I left it as it's been sitting for the last week--things have been a bit busy around here and the crap very important junk stuff is piling up around the house.

I will tackle the Mandarin Faux Cardi at some point this month, I will.  (Public pronoucements to spur on action).

I also finished the first Morehouse Merino hat on Thursday night.  If you're looking for a quick project this is the one.  Not only is it cute, it knits up in about 4 hours.  And I have enough left for a kid's headband or neckwarmer or something.  Emma is doing the modelling today, not only to show off her new toothless grin, but because I'm not feeling very photogenic.

It looks pretty good on me too, and it's really nice and warm.  The stitch definition is fab and the yarn was a pleasure to work with.  It's now on my yummy list.  Off to Wiseneedle to post a review.

Lost

I sure was glad that Lost was back on TV last night--even though I missed the first 20 minutes.  I'm a tad pissed that at what Charlie did though (I won't spoil it).  I get that it extends the mystery, but they could have given us a little taste of the intrigue.

I didn't get much knitting done until American Idol started.  And yes, I watched that too.  I could plead my 7 channel universe (I got this thing about paying for tv), but I have this weird fascination with the show.  The media studies person in me is really interested in how they construct the show, which people they tend to focus on and what dramas they create.  I'm also amazed at the contestants' egos and desire for fame--often when they are not overly talented.  I'm trying to figure it all out. 

So the sock is done (and yes, the title of this entry works with the sock pattern).  I was sorta unsure of it while knitting, it but now that it's done, I like it a bunch.  I'll cast the second one on tonight so I can get them to my sock pal asap.

Today I'm trying to finish a paper (that is *this* close to being finished) while avoiding the siren song (see the running "lost" metaphor here?) of Morehouse Merino.  Since the weather shifted back to winter, a new hat is definately in order--especially one in nice colours.  I may have to go write in a coffeeshop to get away from that yarn, it's calling to me right now.

New yarn loves

There hasn't been much knitting going on because work and sleep are taking precendence, but this doesn't mean I'm not lustily fondling some new yarn loves in my life.

First is Lorna's Laces sock yarn.  Yummy.  Soft, beautiful colours, great to work with.  I fixed my first attempt at my sockapolooza sock and am almost done the first one.  Here's a purposely crappy picture because I don't want to give the whole surprise away (in case my sock pal figures out it's for her--or at least has a strong hunch).

Second is Morehouse Merino yarn.  I haven't knit with it yet, but I really want too.  I ordered two hat patterns and accompanying yarns and they're the nicest bulky yarns I've ever touched.  It wasn't cheap getting them into Canada (shipping and taxes and Canada post fees add up) but they're going to be nice cozy hats (and soon because Spring is fast approaching). 

Yarn Harlot said this is knitter's heroin (and claims it more addictive than Koigu).  And I bet the lighter weights are even nicer than the bulky (not my preferred yarn weight).  Good thing I don't have more knitting time in the near future or I'd be back on their site doing some browsing.

It has begun

Last night February Fix-It Fever took hold and I wasn't reaching for the Advil.

The fact that the first piece of yarn I unweaved (?) was a seam meant this was meant to be.

I have most of it wound back into balls and there was no kink to the yarn--no washing!

The fever must have really taken hold because I've started to hunt for more things to rip.  I've started this one but it's not going as well.  Scissors will be needed and the shoulders were grafted (quite well if I were to brag) so this baby's going to take a tad more patience.  I never liked the sweater (the dropped shoulders are the culprit) and I may never use the yarn again, but it feels so good to rip it out.

What didn't feel so good to rip was the 7" of sockapolooza sock I made yesterday--the one where I didn't notice that I was doing the pattern completely wrong.  The one I want perfect for my sock pal.  Grrrr.

Memories

Remember this? 

Well it fits the little guy now

 

Remember this?

Well soon it's going back to it's original form--yarn.  I've joined Alison's February Fix-Up.  I'm never going to like it--so why waste all that summer tweed.

Hey, not bad

I finished the hat.  I'm pretty pleased.  (All photos by Emma--she's getting good with the camera.)

The planned folded brim had to be abandoned because I was running out of wool.  There wasn't enough for a pom pom so I made these kicky corkscrews instead.

It won't keep me warm when it's -20c, but it works great for today's almost-spring weather.  And with my Nordic Mittens (which also won't keep me warm when it's really cold) Here's the side view because it looks the neatest. 

I may have this short-hair hat thing figured out.

I got tagged

Neat, I wanted to get tagged because as the geeky girl it doesn't happen to me very often.  I wasn't always the last one picked for some sport thing (I did play Rugby in university), but it did happen to me enough times to sting.

Now not to look a gift tag in the mouth or anything, but I was hoping for the movie tag since I'm not a huge audiophile.  And I'll likely be showing off my geekiness...  But since Helen asked, here goes.

1. Total amount of music files on your computer:

I actually had to think about how to figure this out.  Windows explorer tells me My Music file has 3.39 gigs in it.  According to Windows Media Player it's 3.28 gig or over 55 hours and 820 items.  I guess that makes sense.

That's only about 1/4 of our CD collection--I'm in the process of uploading for my eventual purchase of an mp3 player (still deciding on a flash player, though this one is in the lead--I want an FM radio and those colours are fab)

2.The Cd you last bought is:

I bought my husband The Rolling Stones, 40 Licks for his birthday last March.  I asked for and received Sarah Slean, Day One for Christmas. 

3.What is the song you listened to before reading this message?

I haven't heard much music today.  I'm currently listening to Where are going? from Dora the Explorer.  I heard Sharon, Lois and Bram in the car this morning.  Wait! I heard a bit of One is the Loneliest Number by Aimee Mann (had to look her up) at the end of a little satire of gay marriage on The Current.

4.Write down five songs you often listen to or mean a lot to you:

Hmmm, this is tough. 

*Anything by Thelonius Monk.  He's a genius and it always puts me in a bopping mood.

*You're the best thing that ever happened by the Style Council because it makes me sentimental.

*Glenn Gould playing Bach's The Goldberg Variations.  Another genius and it's beautiful and complex.  It was especially good blaring out of the Mustang convertable Craig rented for work while we zoomed down the DVP in early autumn under the stars.

*F**k me pumps by Amy Winehouse.  That girl has jazz figured out and that song cracks me up--I see women like that all the time.

*Blistered in the Sun by Violent Femmes.  A great song that carried me through high school and university. 

Seems I have eclectic taste.  I rather like that about me.

5.Who will you pass this on to (3 people) and why?

Jenna, to bug her.  (Though I'm interested in what she'll come up with.)

Amy, because I want to know what she's putting in her nifty new iPod.

Amy Indigirl, to help her with her musical selections for the wedding.

Going Hatty

The hat obsession coupled with time alone with a sick child has turned to shopping.  Remember yesterday how I deduced that bulky yarn would be good?  Well that brought me to Morehouse Merino's website (which I always mean to visit when I see their ads in magazines) and the purchase of two hat kits.  Tassel Top in Zest and the Super Top hat in Red (what can I say, it was on sale).  Someone tell me their yarn is nice--because I'm getting hopeful that there might be a suitable hat in my future.

And thanks for all the suggestions, they really helped. 

I started my pink and brown hat yesterday while watching the kiddie shows with Emma.  I think with the folded up brim it's going to work.

I'm going to knit in brown until I'm almost out and then add a bit more pink at the top (I say a bit more because that's all I have).  Or I might knit the whole thing in brown and add a pink tassle or pompom or some other embellishment.  I would like to knit this up without having to buy more yarn, but it's going to be tight.  Hopefully I can get it over with so I can get back to my regular less-obsessive knitting (like the socks I need to start for my pal).