In From the Cold

The scene in a frozen back yard in the Lincoln Square neighborhood in Chicago. Piccolo likes to run, usually motivated by the words "gonna get!" to come charging towards me, or running around the periphery of the little yard. Then, when she's tired of that, she'll run up the back porch stairs, and then into the apartment like she's been shot out of a cannon. Then a hop up onto the sofa for some wrestling, kissing, and sweater removal. The sweater is Blackberry Ridge wool, purchased at the Michigan Fiber Festival last summer. Not visible in the photo are the bands knit of navy Noro Cash Iroha, and tipped in a yellow hand paint purchased at a long ago Stitches Midwest. Tonight I'm working on a bag for the annual Guild exchange Tuesday night. I still need to felt it, and sew a binding to the edge, and apply handles. The materials I got were some grey and cream dk weight wool, and some funky eyelash. I ended up doing a houndstooth in the cream and grey, and knit the gusset and lining on the machine. I figured with all those floats, even with felting, a lining would be a good idea. The eyelash is going back as is. I can't get my head around adding eyelash to what will end up being a classic, tailored, dare I say, Chanel? type look. My strategy for these exchange deals is to always provide the best materials. I have not been disappointed in what I got back--and I should really take pictures now that I can post them to the blog! This year, for my bag, I provided Noro Kureyon #149, and I saw who took it, so I'm expecting something great. I've been given questionable stuff, so what I bring back is generally not something to write home about. Maybe this bag will be different. But, next year, I'm not participating! I was out of my mind to do it this year. For the book, another home piece is being knitted in my new knitting crack, Misti Chunky Alpaca. Love, love, love it. Cathy Montoya is having a 20% off sale next week, (www.montoyafiberstudio.com) and some for a sweater for me is coming home. And some Dzined sport weight!