Great Loves, Present and Past

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This is Coltrane, our newest family member. We rescued him from the local pound--he'd been there for 30 days and we adopted him on day 31. He's about 7 months old, and full of beans and love. I've never met such a dog who *loves* to cuddle more than anything. I suppose 30 days in jail will do that to a fella.

And forever in our memory and our hearts is our Mingus, who past 23 December 2006. We love you Mingus!


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Happy Belated Valentine's Day, everyone. And thanks to you all for your sweet, kind comments on Rusted Root. I've missed you, one and all, and I'm so grateful that you're still reading :)

ox,
K.

Rusted Root via The Great Parikha

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Anyone still here? :)
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Guess what I wore to work today?
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Let's try another jacket...
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Now, it's back to the wild for me...
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Pattern: Rusted Root by Zephyr Girls
Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Alpine Lilac (2.3 skeins)
Modifications: I am a sheep. I followed Parikha (Ravelry link). She graciously said to me, "Heck, go on and copy me." Okay, not quite those words, but it captures the spirit of our email exchange last year :)

Thanks Parikha for the inspiration. Thanks Zephyr girls for a great pattern. Thanks to anyone who might still be reading ;)

Hi :)

Hi!

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How easily I am distracted these days. I move from one project (both crafty and academic) to another, but never feel like I'm accomplishing much of anything. For instance, I simply have the sleeves to finish on Rusted Root, and then I'll be done that top. And yet, the top remains (a bit more finished than the state in the photo below) unfinished.

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Indeed, I went a bit crazy last weekend. I wanted a particular Banana Republic dress for a wedding that we have in December to attend. The trouble is that I saw it in September. It was a beautiful navy silk dress with cute-cute cap sleeves, but my size was sold out EVERYWHERE in the US. I called many places, looked online, searched ebay, and found nada. How is that possible that the dress is nowhere to be found, but was everywhere sixty days ago? So I decided to take the matter into my (crafty) hands--to make my own version of the dress, thinking that I was capable.
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Alas, I'm not feeling so capable anymore. Sewing is REALLY hard. I think everyone should have to sew his or her garments at least once in his or her life so that everyone can appreciate and value the knowledge, talent, expertise, and labor that goes into each piece of clothing that we wear.
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The other distraction: well, after feeling useless with the sewing machine, and seeing no satisfaction in sight, I quickly cast on for Dashing given that my Guido noted that his hands are cold now in the morning and at night when he's outside smoking his pipe.
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The DASHING pattern is great and is free from Knitty.: details are here on Ravelry (speaking of MAJOR distractions!) And I've really enjoyed the Primo yarn that I got from WEBS last week for a song.



Final distraction: dog-sitting for the next eight days as a friend is away, running a marathan (!) and visiting family over Thanksgiving.



These two dogs are used to running 4-6 miles every other day with their marathon-running mama. I took them for less than a mile run yesterday, and then pooped out on them. The poor things. They looked up at me as though I was completely LAME-O. And they were right. I can't believe that last year, I was running 6-mile races, and now I can barely make one mile. Lame-o, indeed. I guess that's what sitting on your butt working--er, okay, okay, knitting--gets a person...

Inspired = New Project Underway...

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So some cooler weather has finally arrived in the Southwest, and thus Forecast is finally getting to come out of the closet. But let's face it, I'm not going to get too much wear out of Forecast in West Texas (except when I go home to Canada in December for the holidays [YAY!]), so I'm casting on for a new project which will get much more wear down here on the Panhandle: can you guess? Here's an INSPIRED hint...

I wrote to "The Brown Sheep" to see how Parikha would feel about my Zephyr Girls' Rusted Root being a version of hers. She was so cool about it, and so now, I'm underway. BTW, this isn't the first time I've been totally inspired by Parikha--see? see?

Who inspires you?

Have a good weekend everyone--

Blog Action Day Continued

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"Not Just a Platform for My Dance"*

this land is not
just a place to set my house my car my fence

this land is not
just a plot to bury my dead my seed

this land is
my tongue my eyes my mouth

this headstrong grass and relenting willow
these flat-footed fields and applauding leaves
these frank winds and electric sky

are my prayer
they are my medicine
and they become my song

this land is not
just a platform for my dance.

-- Marilyn Dumont, Cree/Metis poet


*This poem is from Marilyn Dumont's collection, _A Really Good Brown Girl_ (1996), which I highly recommend.

I wanted to quote Marilyn Dumont's poem for yesterday's Blog Action Day post, instead of listing the several things that my partner and I do to try to live green, but my copy of Dumont's book was at the office. I think we all know now--or at least the resources abound for finding out--the changes we need to make in the ways that the people (of the First World) live (if to consume is to live).

Therefore, I wanted to use my little blog space to ask ourselves to remember that in these noble efforts to "save the earth,"--which, of course, is a bit silly given that eventually the earth will be just fine--it'll be us humans and many/most of the animals that will be long gone--that we need to listen carefully to indigeneous peoples from around the globe who have always lived closely and respectfully with the earth. Indeed, to quote Barry Lopez, "what is it going to take to get people to start listening finally to our world's aboriginal peoples and to take their very important knowledge seriously?"

Blog Action Day--Unite!

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You can go here to find out more about Blog Action Day, and you'll find there a link to the Action Blog where you can find tips and ideas for living green from other bloggers. Of course, we knitters also have a great resource on Ravelry--the Green Craft Discussion Group [that link only works for those who have a Ravelry account].
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{BTW: I took the poultry photos from the last post when I attended my first County Fair last month and ate my first fried cheese on a stick (eewww)}.

Feeling Cocky

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So thank you all for your kind words on Forecast. I was really flattered by your comments.

But I'm also waaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy late in thanking two other women whom I admire so much: Olga of YoLaTejo and Parihka of TheBrownSheep. These two talented, intelligent and gorgeous women tagged me for two awards: Olga honored me with a "Schmoozer Award" and Parikha, a "ROCKIN' GIRL BLOGGER" award weeks (months?) back, just when I was forcing myself to step away from all the blogging/ravelry time for a rest from the computer world (and to get some work in the so-called real world done!).



These awards mean a lot to me, because, as Olga says in her post, "I probably wouldn't still be doing this blogging thing if it weren't for you all." It's true for me too. The group of warm, genuine, supportive women I've "met" via this blog--and theirs--has added immensely to my creative life. Often the blog seems like another thing I have to do on an already full list, but then I think of you all, and how much I enjoy interacting with you, and I know for sure that I want to keep blogging--even if it is really sporadically, at times. So a big shout out of LOVE goes to all you--even the silent lurkers!!

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And this photo is for Al Gore, who just might be feeling a bit cocky today as well :) YAY GORE AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS EVERYWHERE!! YOU'RE ALL DEFINITELY ROCKIN'! And so, in honor of this wonderful day for Gore and the UN panel and the EARTH, I'm going to point you towards a few of my favourite environmental websites: SewGreen; localharvest.org.; and treehugger.com

~ And remember: 15 October is Blog Action Day: Unite!

Can You Tell?

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Can you tell how much I love my Forecast? How pleased I am with the results? (BTW, the above photo was inspired by halfandhalf's photoshoot of her fantastic Forecast).


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No? Well, let me give you a few hints...


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How's that? Need more?




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Pattern: Forecast, by Stefanie Japel of Glampyre Knits, free from Knitty
Size: XS
Yarn: Cascade 220, 4 skeins
Needles: US 5 and US 7
Modifications: I used the now famous, original modifications of Winnie and Pinku, which are posted at the Forecast KAL.

FORECAST: LIGHTENING!! (I love this photo best!)

My heartful thanks go out to Stefanie Japel (who's pregnant! congratulations!) for creating such wonderful (and often free) patterns for us to knit. I now want to rush out to buy Fitted Knits to make the U-shaped vest and the classic V-sweater. And my heartful thanks go out to the many wonderful knitters, such as Winnie and Pinku, and those on the Forecast KAL, who inspired me to go ahead and make this beautiful sweater. Merci beaucoup!

Coming Out From Under A Rock

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Thanks to my dear friends-readers who welcomed me back to blogland so quickly, so warmly. I've missed you all so, even though I've been quietly reading y'all in the background. I don't want to talk about what's been going on. Instead, I want to use this reemergence to talk about what I want to do. And, dear readers, having been inspired by all of you, there is oh so much I want to do.


Stay posted :) I'm coming back...

Testing...

Working My Knits; or, Wearing My Knits to Work; or Why I Want to Be Just Like Julia When I Grow Up

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So today I'm wearing Kat Coyle's Eyelet Skirt to work. I let it soak again in a nice warm bath, reblocked it, stretched it back to fit evenly, and now it's ready to rock again. It's so comfortable, and airy, and here are the project details at last:





Project Details:
Pattern: Eyelet Skirt, free from Knitty, designed by Kat Coyle
Yarn: Classic Elite Flash, Electric Blue, 7.5 skeins
Needles: US 5
Modifications: Once I got to the eyelet section of the pattern, I did not follow the directions which asked me to "Inc 1 st each end every 6 rows 11 times."

Errata: Kat Coyle herself (!) emailed me, to let me know of the Elongated Stitch correction, so if any of you are thinking of making this skirt, please know that there is one small correction to the pattern. Thanks again Kat. I was thrilled by the idea that the designer herself had contacted me.

Recommendations: I would knit this in the round to avoid seaming. For some reason, I thought that I needed to have seams in order to give the skirt the structure, but if I were to make another, I would forego this step completely. I'm just not the best seamer (seamstress?).

More information: You can see my swatching notes for the yarn and needles in this post.




Lastly, I want to say that the inspiration and courage to knit a skirt came from Julia at Mind of Winter. When I saw her in this skirt, I decided that I wanted to try my hand at a skirt, especially given that I live in skirts for much of the year down here in the Southwest. So thanks Julia for being my muse on this project.



Now it's back to the grind...




Pictured above, some of my many coffee/tea mugs that I must use to get me through the day. The problem: at the end of the day, I just don't want to spend the time going to the lounge to wash them up. Hence, why I need so many of them, I guess. (Oh, and do I even need to say it? Probably not, but the mugs, of course, are courtesy of our local thrift shops.)

The Forecast: Raining Cats and Dogs

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So Forecast is finally blocking...FINALLY!!...and the Eyelet Skirt disaster has been averted (I'll show you the reblocked skirt this week, along with Forecast modelled, and provide all of the knitty gritty details of both projects: I PROMISE!!).


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I just need to choose which buttons to use; there are three choices here and I think I already know which ones I'll use. But just so y'all can have a say in the matter, here's a close-up of the button choices:
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And didn't I say the Forecast was "cats and dogs"?


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Why, yes I did. Cats and dogs indeed.

The two cats are ours. The two dogs are our friends' who have gone on vacation. Let's just say our tiny household is in a constant frenzy right now. I'm getting an up-close and personal look at why world peace is so hard to achieve...*sigh*

When Disaster Strikes....

....one should: (A) procrastinate dealing with it by admiring all of your favourite knit-bloggers, (B) decide to copy (yet again!) one of those said bloggers, (C) start a new project, (D) all of the above.

Answer: D
Hence, the Elisa Tote has been started, inspired as always by Dogged Knits (take that, pretty gymnastic girl--Ashley soooooooo rocks the house!).

Plus, this tote not only will help distract me from the Eyelet Skirt mishap, but it will also help me with my commitment to living green. (Now go join the GreenCraft group on Ravelry if you can and if you haven't done so yet. There are awesome tips being shared, and Al Gore, Leonardo, and the Earth will thank you.)



Speaking of the Earth, here's my first sunflower, which I present to those of you who helped commisserate with me on the Eyelet disaster, and who offered tips--or just sympathy! Now I'm about to go home, and face this task. I will rescue the Eyelet! I will!
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Can you see the difference in length here in the post-disaster photo? It's not the the end of the world obviously; the skirt would still be wearable (I guess), but I'm positive I can reblock it to be of the same length. It's at least worth a try...

Where Did She Go? Or, Egads! Or, The Horror, The Horror...

So I had asked you to sit down with me in yesterday's post--to read along all week of all my latest creative pursuits, including what was to be, first off, a detailed post outlining the process and finishing of the Eyelet Skirt. But let me interrupt myself before I do by saying thank you for your welcoming back comments. You are all so sweet--and especially so as you've kept me on your reading lists despite my oh-so-sparse posts as of late.

Now, you're probably wanting the pattern details I promised on the Eyelet Skirt... This is when the "egads!" and "the horror! the horror" subtitles come into play. This is also the reason for the now-vacated chair above. For, you see, I decided last night to wash gently and reblock the skirt because I had worn it already about five times, and I had noticed in the photos recently posted that it was looking a bit stretched out from all its wear. So, a nice fresh blocking for today's photo shoot and blog post was in order, I thought, to convey more of how nice the skirt had turned out, and so as to present it to the knitting world properly.

Flash forward to this morning: the side facing up is dry, the side facing down is not quite. So, instead of simply flipping it over, I decide to pop it in the dryer *very briefly* so as to speed up my photo shoot with it on (you see, the nice morning light was starting to wane and turn into the nasty harsh summer light that I didn't want).

You do know what's coming don't you?

After a very short time in the dryer, I pull out the skirt to discover that the side that was already mainly dry is now two inches shorter than the side that was still damp. However, the entire skirt is now dry. So I have a skirt where the back is considerably longer than the front. Now, I know that this is sometimes the style, but it's not the style I like or want for my Eyelet Skirt. Understandably, I threw the skirt down on the bed in horror, and left for the day. I'm home now, have taken photographic evidence of the debacle while sipping a strong, much-needed drink*, and am about to soak the skirt again in hopes that I can get the two sides to match up once again.

Any advice, dear knitters? Any suggestions? I figure I'll soak it, and then try to reblock it so that both the front and back are the same lengths again, and for whatever reason, I'm believing (vainly?!) that this will work.

In the meantime, let me present to you the newest member of our family who has been one of the many delights that has kept me away from the blog:
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This is Winston, adopted from a family whose other cat used to beat him up constantly. He's now sharing his life with Morph, and they seem to love each other already, immensely. They are constantly wrestling with each other, chasing each other, and then sleeping nicely together. It's great to watch all the kitty play and love between them.

*I'll post the photos of the disastrous, two-lengths-skirt tomorrow; I yet again forgot my camera transfer-cord at work.

I Flew The Coop, But I'm Back

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Dear, Dear Readers:

I apologize for my long absence from this blog. There has been much activity of all sorts in my life as of late (including a lot of inward reflection that has tired me out). Quite simply, I just felt that I didn't have the time or energy or motivation to blog. But as I said before, I've been reading the blogs and rambling about on Ravelry, and now I'm glad to say that I'm back, and will post every day this week with a different project (not all knitting)--all sorts of things that have kept me crafting away my life since we last spoke.

First up, for tomorrow then, will be the finished Eyelet Skirt (Kat Coyle's design) from Knitty. All details will be related. Until then, I ask that you sit down with me throughout the week, and I'll tell all...




*See you tomorrow :)

Girl Interrupted

Dear Readers,

I apologize for my silence. Many things have occured that have taken me away from my blog and knitting, though I have still been reading all of you (just silently) and knitting vicariously through you.

And now that I'm ready to show you a completed Eyelet Skirt, I do not have the use of my camera at the moment (I cannot find my bleeping battery recharger for it). So, I give you one of my Ms Pacman scores. Yes, dear readers, instead of knitting I've been playing Pacman when I haven't been on the road (I returned to Canada for a family affair, and am only now back in the USA).

And to make matters worse, I no longer have an internet connection at home, so blogging will have to be on the fly (sly) at work -- I'm a closet blogger and don't want my office-mate to see -- and so blogging, until the beginning of July when I get Internet access again, will still be sparse. I will keep reading, mind you. :)

Miss you all, and hope you are having a good summer thus far.

PS: I missed my birthday and my blogoversary, so I'm thinking July 1st (Canada Day) will be a good day to have a wee bit of a contest giveaway :)