knitters of the world unite

All I can say is that I am grateful I am here to still make posts. Every time I go ice climbing with the Babe I always think I am never going to make it back alive. We went ice climbing on the 'Weeping Wall' which is located on the icefields parkway in Alberta (weeping wall) . It is a 400 metre wall of steep ice. It's right off the highway (thank God--that backpack full of ice gear is bigger than me!) and is this massive, stunning ice formation. Anyway, we climbed the full length of it, I could hardly breathe by the time I hit the top, the top out was dangerous and creepy. I know why it's called the weeping wall -- because by the time you finish climbing it you are weeping!! Needless to say I can hardly move today. Why do men pick such stupid sports and than want you to participate in them?

The positive of the whole thing was that in the evening in the hostel I got a bunch of knitting done. There was a big group of us that went out to climb different things (only the Babe and I, however, got up and left at 5:30 a.m. to do our 'little' climb) One other climber chick was knitting away, so I happily took out my knitting, which I grabbed at the last minute as we were leaving the house 'just in case'. I finished the cute little pink and orange (for the spectrum project) girly socks that I have named "rings of flames". There really is no pattern, I took the stitch out of a vogue book, cast on like I do for my basic socks and used the monkey pattern to turn the heel and work the instep--kind of!! The yarn is my favorite Koigu KPPM from the painters palette. I love wearing them they really turned out well. I also cast on for the BF socks I have been promising the Babe since he gave me knitting lessons for Christmas. I found a beautiful khaki green by ShiBui and have one sock almost completed...stay posted for pictures when they are fully knitted.

The climber guys were bugging climber chick and I about our knitting, however, the Babe stands up and says in a loud voice "knitters of the world unite" and laughingly explained to all the confused men that knitting is the new yoga and big business nowadays. He also explained about the knitting blogging phenomenon. He said "first you start knitting, then you start a blog, and then probably getting a cat is almost obligatory." The guys were all intrigued by all the technical equipment i.e. my harmony needles and Alison's Addi Turbos, and one dude even tried knitting. Alison managed to teach him the knit stitch the first night and then got him going on the purl stitch. The way I see it is that it should be a breeze for climber dude because after all, he is an expert with knots already...so knitting is just a step up!

me day

Since I completed my first sweater, I need a new 'big' project to work on. I purchased a beautiful yarn at my LYS a few weeks ago - a deep red with a hint of brown, Malabrigo (worsted marino, color: burgundy 41) yarn. During my drop-in knitting class, on my instructor Amy's suggestion, I decided to make Mr. Greenjeans. It is a step up from the cropped cardigan I completed and therefore, affords some new challenges. Mr. Greenjeans has cables, knitted ribbing along the edge, and requires a button. I have already cast-on and after four swatches got my gauge right. The yarn knits up so well and feels incredibly soft.

I had the perfect me day on Saturday. Me days are expensive because they typically involve a trip to the LYS. I was in stash-adding mode and purchased this absolutely divine cashmere yarn from Italy. I can feel those cashmere socks already. I know... a bit decadent but, then again, it does get really cold here.

yes virginia, there really is a st. valentine

Well, for once in my life I have had a great Valentine day. Firstly, the Babe took me out to dinner at the Artisan Bistro, which is like my most favorite place. Secondly I started this sock a week ago. It's my Koigu yarn, and the sock is a combination of three patterns. I will post the finished product ... once it is finished!!

The jelly beans are for the Babe because sweets are his favorite thing. Thirdly, my harmony needles arrived today:

And last but definitely not least, my Selvedge magazine finally arrived. I live in Canada - it takes like 21 to 30 days after publish date for me to get each issue. They lost this issue and I called to London to rant and rave and within a week it was in my mail box.

The Babe is going ice climbing on Saturday. I am having a totally 'me' day. Reading magazines, surfing blogs and knitting and maybe going to my local LYS., and drinking some great wine. Ahhhh.... life is good!

intestine sweater

So my mother phones me and leaves me a message saying something like "I am curious about the intestine sweater...when are you going to post something...when will I see it?" So, the thing is, I finished the intestine sweater, I honestly can say it no longer looks like intestines, but it is a little big around the chest (wishful thinking on my part when I was knitting it, obviously). So like a madwoman I am rushing around downtown Calgary looking for a pin so I can put the sweater on and have the Babe take a photo so I can put it on my blog so my mother is happy. I don't know what the world is coming to but obviously pins or broches as they are called, are not in style because I could not find anything - actually one woman looked at me like I was some relic from a past life. Finally I went into one of those hippie, pot-pipe and rolling paper stores and found a hideous pin that was, thank God, on for half price. The girl in the store who obviously uses too much of the product they don't actually have out on the counter said "wow, and it's such a cool pin, and lucky for you no one has bought it - it's meant to be yours!" IT IS SO UGLY, however, it did the job in providing closure to the sweater. So here it is, my first sweater ever for an adult.

ugg, i love my monkeys

Finished my monkey socks. That was a great pattern and they are awesome inside my Ugg slip-ons. Sorry they are green and yellow, and not this month's reds, pinks or orange...could have saved them for another month to post but I cannot help myself. The Babe keeps asking when I will knit him some 'man socks'. I need to get one of those ball winder things. I have the umbrella stand but no ball winder. I have some awesome Shi Bui in a khaki green that would make perfect man socks - just need to wind them into a ball.

I finished my intestine sweater...all I have to do is sew a button on and I can take some pictures.

'lest you think I am not knitting

I am knitting!! I have completed my two pairs of socks, my intestine sweater only needs half a sleeve to go, I completed one monkey sock...and I am trying my hand out at this:


All I can say about color work is do not drink wine, lock your cat up, and don't watch television when you are doing it. This takes focus - lots of focus. I can only do like ten rows a night, after that my mind cannot handle it. Hopefully these will end up being handwarmers. I think endpaper mitts are the starting project for many people for color work.

I am traveling today for business, and my only question in life is: Why is it that when they tell you to turn off your cell phone and blackberry on a plane, some MAN, always thinks those instructions are not for him. I don't see women disobeying "the rules", only men. I mean really, what cannot wait till you arrive at your destination? It's just too much...I see the guy, he is playing with his blackberry, talking on a cell phone in the other ear, squirming around in his seat. For crying out loud, just read a book or something, practice airplane yoga, take up meditation. The same guy is turning his irritating electronic addictions on before the plane even lands. I think the worst invention ever is the blackberry. I think this is one reason I took up knitting...so I would stop checking my blackberry on the weekend! I mean, what could possibly happen in the oil patch over a weekend that I would need to know about? If there is some hideous disaster in downtown Calgary, I would rather wait till Monday morning to deal with it!! It's like having your boss living in your house 24/7. Nightmarish thought. I am cranky because I am in Winnipeg and its -28C.

woe is my camera

So I have been perusing the different blogs out there and I have decided that everyone is a photographer, or the new cameras are just so much better than my five year old Canon elf. Very frustrating when you want to take awesome shots for the Spectrum project. Well, before I go out and spend a thousand dollars to produce pictures of wool and cookies, I have decided to actually READ the manual that came with my five year old camera (trust me when I say that I had to turn the house upside down to find it...I mean really, who needs manuals?). Then I called my friend who is a commercial photographer and enlisted his help. He assures me that I can get good shots with my current camera...I just need to learn how to use it (man, I hate reading manuals...they are so complicated). Once I get full capacity out of it, then I can spend the money on a new one. Last night I figured out "the macro". Above is my image for this week's spectrum project. (Why is the spelling feature not working on blogger?). I absolutely love tulips. Tulips and daisies are my favorite flowers. The fact is orange, pink, red tulips add warmth and sun to a bleak snowy day. That flower is taken using my newly discovered "macro". Life is looking up.

fire

I associate fire with spicy, vibrant colors. When I was looking for something to photograph I looked at my persian carpet and the rich fibers that compose the pattern...it inspired me to buy yarn in those same colors to make something that would remind me of that element whenever I wore it. Here is the beginning of something...not sure what yet.

I am still working on my intestine sweater and I should have it done this week. I managed to complete one monkey sock - but, I think I will save it for the element that compliments it.

It's cold and snowing outside. This orange tulip is the only reminder that spring and heat may come at some point...

project spectrum 2008

So, there is a really cool project I read about on Lolly Girl. The concept is that you create a piece or an expression - be it knitting, sewing, photography, or something coming from within - that speaks to the four elements: fire, earth, air, and water. Each two months will symbolize an element that is expressed through color. The months and corresponding colors and elements are as follows:

february/march - FIRE - orange, red, pink
april/may - EARTH - green, brown, metallics
june/july - AIR - gray, white, yellow
august/september - WATER - blue, black, purple

I love the concept of this project because it involves a community of people, it stimulates your creative side by encouraging you to think in colors and hues and apply these to a project. It focuses creativity to both the element and the color representing it. I am going to join in the project and see what I can come up with over the next eight months.