Ta Da Clapotis

December 31, 2004

Ta Da - its done



I love this scarf and can hardly wait to start the next one.

Thinking Through the Looking Glass

December 30, 2004

Clapotis is done, late last night and I love this scarf. It is perfect. Went to bed with it around my neck and looks wonderful with my pjs. What shall I wear today to show it off. (Of course pictures of it will come soon. ) It also has me thinking about knitting and what turns out best and why. Unknit yarn is such a visual and tactual thing that usually I fall in love with a yarn and then knit it up. Sometimes I fall in love with a pattern then have to find yarn I love to go with it. But I think I have to change that.

With Clapotis, I loved the pattern and really thought about what I would wear as a finished product. And in the end I loved the finished scarf. Maybe it was one of those perfect combinations, but I think that an eye to the end will make me really love more of what I do. I suppose it is like clothes shopping, in middle age I finally look at what I love, what looks good on me - then the bottom line after that is will I love to wear it. The first two do not always lead to the second. Like my OBI sweater. I love the sweater, sometimes it looks good on me -depending what I pair it with, but I am not sure I love to wear it.

So Kate over at Needles on Fire is making a list of what she would change in 2005 and for knitting

1. I want to go to a three step process a) love the pattern, b) love the yarn, c)think about if I will love and use the finished project.

2. See if I can knit for a very upscale local dress shop

3. Somehow work into math, knitting,wearable art and making money

4. Use some old stash yarn, so I can acquire new stash yarn.

5. will have to keep thinking and adding to this.

Also, what I want to do for the New Year is leave some things behind. Once I was given a ritual where I really sat down and thought how I wanted my life to change. In doing that there were things I wanted to leave behind. I wrote them on a piece of paper and around sunset on Dec 31, I took a match and burned them. I think this year I will do that , then sit down and write what I want to add to my life, roll that one up and keep it.

Clapotis

December 28, 2004

Have just a few minutes before I have to run to Fry's Electronics to exchange the computer case we got Gavin for Christmas. We have been through three - Clark spends an hour putting all the bits and pieces in, tries it out and it is broken, power doesn't come on, doesn't stay on etc. Then he spends a little less than an hour taking all the bits and pieces back out. So I volunteered to run and exchange the current one for him. Want to get out there early because yesterday's knitting with friends was changed to today.

But really I wanted to post my work on the Clapotis scarf. I am a little over halfway done and I love this scarf. Yesterday I someplace I read someone say that if they could only knit one thing over and over again it would be this scarf. I think I agree. I am already planning my next one.

Four or five years ago my whole family - 24 of us - spent Christmas in Pueto Vallarta. There was a little shop on the edge of town that had sarong and scarf. Near the first day I saw a black and white hand painted chiffon scarf. If it had not been $100 I would have bought it instantly. Everyday I went back and looked at it. Tried it on in front of the mirror - it was thin and scrunched up perfect around your neck, wrapped twice and being black and white added a the perfect neutral flair to any outfit. After about a week of this my niece finally looked at me and said you have thought about this for days buy it.

Now years latter I have been worried, I have lived in that scarf, the ends are getting tatty and pretty soon that will show - even scrunched up around my neck - then in walks Clapotis.

My first one is in the gray to replace the chiffon scarf - Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool. Knit on the bias with the dropped stitches it scrunches up just perfectly. I love this scarf.

Already I am dreaming of my next one - yarn from A.L. de Sauveterre at Two Pointy Sticks. Would love the cashmere, but will probably get the Alpaca. But what color?



Just time to get dressed, off to Fry's then the day........

After Christmas

December 27, 2004

Well Christmas day is done - but we have another Christmas to go, cause step-kids were in LA with their mom. So we get to do it all over again. Still have shopping to do!!!

No kids in the house right now, as it is my ex's week. Luckily he is leaving town half way through his week and Gavin and Calum will be back here early. The house always feels empty with no kids, (as I say that one of the cats walks under my legs rubbing his tail against me. DH says that is how he says "I am here and I love you mom.") Funny when the kids are all awake bopping round the house, its great; but I love the time in the morning when I am the only one up and can sit and knit, and know they are all tucked up in there beds.

This morning I am here on the computer. Will just run down and take a picture of the Vegan Fox I finished last night.

DH kept asking who it was for and I kept saying I don't know - which I finally decided means "Probably for me, but if I can't pull it off Danielle can use it next time she gets dressed up and comes over."



Think it would go well with the blonde hair.

But this morning I have a hard choice - as I love to knit in the morning. Somehow it is one of the few times I just knit. Usually knit in the car, in front of the tv, at swim meets, usually while something else is going on. Mornings I just knit and it is nice to just focus on one thing. That certianly doesn't happen much during the day. But this morning I may want to stick my nose back in the book I started at midnight.

I think it was last August I picked up a copy of "The Time Traveler's Wife" anmd in perusing other knitting blogs have run across several references to it. So when DH fell asleep last night I started, only on page 12 but I love it, the writing and the whole concept of over lapping lives.

But now just noticed the time and have to run for my Monday morning knitting group at Lets Do Coffee. Usually it is just Kaye and Me, but last week I think we picked up another member and maybe LeAnne can meet today since she is off this week. So much for reading - guess I will have to knit and talk.

Christmas Movie Tip

December 24, 2004

DO NOT knit while watching
"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."

Everyone in the room will look at you when Aunt Bethany pulls out her KNITTING.

It doesn't matter what you are knittng you will look like her, (even without a hat)

Finally a Tree

December 23, 2004

Gavin and Clark have spent the last two days looking for the perfect Christmas tree. I think they just liked driving around together, talking about life and stuff. Today they headed out determined to get a tree for a reasonable price. I headed to the mall - YUCK!!!, but necessary. After the mall I headed to Michaels to see if they had fur for the vegan fox. Somewhere back in the yarn section my phone rang, Gavin wanted to know when I would be home. Told me they got a tree, but it was only 8 feet tall and by the time they cut some off it might be 7. (We have a two story ceiling in the living room and were looking for a tall tree.) I told him it didn't matter, we had to have a tree. He called me four more times before I got home to see where I was, tell me Clark needed Coors and they needed me to help get the tree straight and they were sorry it was so small.

I arrived home to see this tree propped upright out side and the two boys (Clark and Gavin) standing by it with HUGE grins, I did not get out of the car before Gavin burst out laughing "we really got you this time!" - like that is a hard thing to do.

I think this is the prettiest tree I have ever had, and I just wish that Kinne, Austin and Riggs were here to see it right now. But they are in L.A. with their real mom for Christmas - don't worry guys it will still be here when you get home.

Knitting fever

December 20, 2004

Have been fast and furiously finishing Christmas presents. Mom's FedEx-ed off to New York today (upstate!) . Debbie's done, blocked and ready to wrap. Took Joyce her shawl and she loved it. Called yesterday to tell me know much she appreciated it, she is in the nursing home after breaking her hip at Thanksgiving. Said her hands get cold and she wraps the shawl around them. So of course I wonder if I can get a pair of fingerless mittens done by Christmas.

Finished my Obi sweater, will try to get a picture. Like it - but with the weird shape you can't just throw it on and go, you have to think about it. Looks gorgeous with a straight black dress, but too dressy for most days.

Busy trying to get an entrelac pillow done, as I am teaching a class in that at the cozy Ewe in mid January. Want to get the pillow, a scarf and maybe a bag done so everyone can see and sign up for the class.

Almost done with the front of the Banff sweater. That is my mindless project right now. Knit at swim meets and basketball games.

Now I am off to crawl in bed and read "The Shop on Blossom Street." Fun because it is a knitting novel.

Think tomorrow I will start sweater with the Debbie Bliss Merino Aran in black. Need the basic just bum around sweater. But maybe try to get Clark's watch cap done without him knowing - Gavin says that would be impossible. Clark really does notice what I am knitting!

Calum's Poem

I've Seen It

I've seen it
I've seen what you see
I know what you feel
For I felt it too
I know you never want it to end
For that's how I felt

You seem as if you can't be touched, Until someone touches you
You seem as if you can't be beaten, Until you are beaten

You wonder at all these things
They fly through your mind, As if they know you
As if they know you wouldn't ask them to leave

Why in the world do you feel the way you do?

I know
But I'll stay a while and let you figure it out.

By Calum Hayes 12 yrs old

Beware of Cat and Mouse

December 15, 2004

Woke up at 6:00 this morning and decided to make the cats a catnip mouse. Found a scrap left over from Kinne's scarf and took about 30 minutes to knit and stuff.. Was going to take a picture when I was done and post it - but my camera was up stairs. So I gave the mouse to the cats. The cats loved it.

this is 10 minutes after receiving the lovingly created toy.

30 minutes later it looked like this



And this is the cat coming down after all the cat nip - in the finished kitty pi bed

My advice, knitted cat toys should not be stuffed with catnip. (maybe I will try to felt one and see if it lasts 1 hour)

Busy Busy Week

December 11, 2004

I don't really know where the week went, but to say the least it has been kind of stressful. But good things happen in the midst of the swirls. Best of all my neighbor's 1 year old had a successful Kidney transplant yesterday. Youngest child ever in Oregon to undergo a Kidney transplant. Makes all of the trials of my life seem small.

Good knitting week! Finished the Kitty Pi. Three skeins of Lambs Pride Bulky from my stash. (I love it when I can use stash yarn) Finished Joyce's Christmas shawl. It was a struggle. In the end I didn't like the combination of yarns and I think it would have looked better if the green garter stitch was to a tighter gauge. Oh Well, it is done and she will love it. Finished the Entrelac felted bag and it is great how it turned out. After Christmas I will post a picture.

Started the Clapotis Scarf in a light grey tweed from Elesbeth Lavlod. I love the feel of it. Wanted it to scrunch up around my neck and so far so good.

Am going to frog the Farrow Rib scarf I was working on for Christmas, only had about 6 inches done and changed my mind on the pattern.

It is just starting to get light so I will try to take pictures of the finished projects, will post later. Now Pip the cat is trying to sit on my arm and is making it hard to type. Think I will run see if he will pose in the Kitty bed!!!

Quiet Weekend

December 5, 2004

Very quiet weekend – so I went on a production knitting kick!!! Finished my Newsie Cap – from Stitch N Bitch Nation. Have wanted to try it since I saw the pattern.

Turned out cute – even the Gavin at 16 said so. Clark calls it my hippie hat.

Saturday mostly worked on a bag to be felted for a Christmas present, some on Joyce’s shawl. Although it doesn’t thrill me, she will like it so I plug away.

Have been drooling over looking at the Banff sweater pattern from Knitty.com. Dug through my stash and found enough of this Noro to make it.

Really wanted to sit down this morning and do a gauge swatch but the kitchen was a mess –

So I knitted two rows cleaned a little, knitted a few more rows. Can only get to 13 stitched and inch so think I will just make the smaller size used 10 needles and do 12 per inch. Have to start in secret cause DH doesn’t really understand having a million knitting projects going at once. (really doesn’t mind just teases me about it.

After Thanksgiving before Christmas

December 1, 2004

I know I have more to write about life and knitting – but it seems right now knitting and life are taking up all the time. Finished Clark’s watch cap – he talked about having one years and years ago and told me how he wore it all the time. He wanted a fine knit and olive drab color. Then watched at the size 3 needles SLOWLY built the hat. Finished the hat on Friday and yesterday Gavin asked Clark if he sleeps in it, as he had not seen it off Clark’s head.

The felted Aran backpack from “Bags – a Knitter’s dozen” is done and I really like how it turned out. Obviously not sewed together yet – but I am toying with the idea of contacting a local leather crafter and seeing if they can sew leather for the bottom band and straps. Guess I could sew the bottom in while I am thinking.

Calum’s basketball team had its first loss last night, final score was 34 – 32. Worst part about it is that I had to run the time clock and couldn’t knit. A good hour I could have put in on Christmas presents, this time of year that is critical.

I keep adding Christmas gifts to my list of projects. Think I will have to finish some I am working on before I add the sweater I wanted to make for someone! Maybe tomorrow I will figure out what I want to make and what I may have time and yarn to make.