Annoyances

It started this morning, when I was driving to my hair appointment, and this Acura behind me had his stereo on so loud my car was vibrating. I was keeping an appointment that was rescheduled after my hairdresser stood me up. She says that I wrote down the wrong date in my agenda. So, we agreed to reschedule for this morning. I waited outside for a half hour at a closed salon. My hair is still long. This was the completely wrong time to do this again, as the end of the month is extremely busy for me with my day job. Add a custom order for three sweaters to that, and preparing for the Renegade Craft Fair, and you have the makings of a meltdown. So, next week, me and my long hair will be finding a different hairdresser. Which is too bad. My hair had been looking really good these last few years. This excursion had me running late for my long distance job, which I had deferred from yesterday because I didn' t want to drive fifty miles one way in driving rain. I'm funny that way. At the end of the day, my foot is still a throbbing, stinging mess. Which is why I did not attend my last Guild meeting, or any KIP events at the Art Institute. I want my knitting with a chair, coffee, and pastry. At the end of the day, it's just too much walking right now, and neither event had nearby parking. The most annoying thing in my life right now, is that the photos for my book have to be re-formatted into a different type file. A few hundred images. It's a long story, but it appears that one department at my publisher's doesn't interface with the other--why their tech people can't do this function escapes me, and any one I have asked to help me with this. It's frustrating and scary, as details like what kind of files they wanted were omitted when we called before the shoot. The scary part is that more than half of what was spent on photography was from my savings. If any of you out there think that putting together a book is all glamour and book signings, and TNNA, I can tell you that it's not. I can't even imagine getting that far--I was pretty sure I was D-list as far as authors go, and after this experience, I can confirm. Like I've been thrown under a bus. The good thing about today, is that Piccolo has discovered the nook under my desk, and is resting here under my feet as I vent.

Stitches Midwest Yarn Gluttony, part 2

My first encounter with Dzined Handpaints was at a TKGA conference three years ago. I thought the wool/hemp blends were interesting, but I passed on taking some home. At the first Chicago area Stitches Midwest, I purchased some, and now it's a must have every year. I love the sport weight for socks and shawls. Here's a photo of some socks done out of one of last year's purchases. This year, on Market Preview night, I made a mad dash for the baskets of "onezies," 100 yards of yarn, so I can mix things up, like in the photo taken last year of a pair of socks made with onezies. With my most recent purchases, I have plenty to play with. There's also some worsted weight for a Piccolo sweater, and currently on the needles is a jacket for me in worsted weight. I'm knitting the right front now, and plan on making the sleeves on my machine. Because I want to wear the sweater right away! I think the color blends on this yarn are spectacular, I love the way it feels, and it has a lovely sheepy/barny type smell. The colors are all dyed in one of a kind batches. I'm always so excited to get more of this stuff, that I usually start a new little project right away.

Summer Knitting

The scene: a park bench in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. The knitting: test of a pattern for the one day to be published book. The dog: Piccolo. The foot: my swollen left foot. August 5, 2006.

Project Spectrum--August

So, for my August project, a little cabled vest. Will I finish? Maybe. Do I want to? This is the most luscious yarn that has ever passed through my hands. It was my big splurge at Stitches Midwest. It's 75% Cashmere, 25% Polwarth wool, from Rovings. I couldn't wait to start a project with it. There is a lovely halo that can be seen even with the yarn rolled into a ball, and the color is undyed. I love that it is the color of the little animals that made it! I had a hard time passing that little booth and not being sucked into its luxury fiber delights. There was some buttery yellow Cashmere and Yak blend that was calling out to me as well. A sweet little Quiviut, Polwarth and Alpaca blend found its way home with me this year too, and will become a delicious little lacy scarf. Rovings was probably my favorite booth at Stitches, but in future posts I will send some knitterly love to some other of the Market stars. I have enough to spread around.

Michigan Fiber Festival Recap

We didn't have much time at the Festival, because we forgot about the time change. So, my purchases were modest. The yellow is Blackberry Ridge 100% wool, that will become a cabled cardigan. The brown is 100% alpaca, 660 yards from a little animal named Pronto. It's undyed! I have a little lacy scarf in mind for that. I was surprised to find out that an alpaca could be purchased there for not very much money, about the same you might pay for a dog, and they live about 25 years. The Man was pretty interested in alpacas. Could there be a little alpaca farm in our future? I would like it, I think. The other picture is a little goat that liked the camera.

Incomplete

The Man and I are back from Michigan, and the Michigan Fiber Festival. We always forget about the time change when you cross the border East, so not much time was spent there. The photos of this weekend aren't downloaded yet, along with my Stitches Midwest purchases, so if you want the full flava of the Michigan Fiber Festival, check out Angela's blog. She was brave enough to camp out in a tent! The Man and I, we were at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids. It's a great weekend rate, a beautiful hotel, and downtown Grand Rapids is really clean and attractive. We're home in an empty apartment. Oh, yes, we have lots of stuff in here. Too much stuff. What's missing is Piccolo, who had to be boarded this weekend. The office doesn't open until tomorrow, so she has to spend an additional unhappy night. Tomorrow, when I wake up, the Man will say, "go get the little hound!" When they first take her out to me, she'll be a little disoriented, but when the sees The Car, and knows she's going home, it will be instant happy. I can't wait until tomorrow morning.

Large Hadron Collider

I was wondering what LHC stood for when I charted the logo and knit this sweater. I posted previously about knitting the logo upside down, so the sweater could be photographed in progress, and it would still read as a sweater. The back and sleeves were knit on machine, and the sweater assembled before the front was completed. I used Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran for the body and blue letter, the other colors are Cascade 220 and some green that I fortunately found in my stash instead of spending funds on an entire ball to use just a few yards. I finished the sweater completely a few nights ago, and it flew off to California to meet its intended recipient. The magazine is called Symmetry, and it's published by Fermilab. If you click on the link, you can see the PDF version of the magazine with some additional shots and my photo credit. Which is a disappointment. No mention of my web site, and my name is misspelled. I mean, who cares what neighborhood I live in? I guess this is just another lesson in keeping my expectations low when it comes to knitting for business.

Layin' Low

I was getting ready to leave for work this morning, and taking Piccolo for a short walk up and down my street, the stinging in my foot was so intense that I scrapped my plans to travel south. The place I planned to go to is huge, and just the walk, or in my case, hobble, from the parking lot to the building was daunting. So, a lot of time was spent on the sofa with an ice pack. I think last weekend really took it out of me, and I need to get a little more healed because the Man and I are planning on attending the Michigan Fiber Fest on Saturday. I'm hoping I can talk him into the same hotel we were in last year. The socks in progress pictured are knit using Socks that Rock in the Farmhouse colorway, using heavy weight, because I'm kind of an instant gratification girl when it comes to socks. So, I'll start on some of the wrap up of my Stitches Midwest experience. I took three classes, one with Nancy Bush, and two with Nancy Marchand. I was surprised at Nancy Bush's revelation that she doesn't wear hand knit socks. How sad for her. Looking at Knitting Vintage Socks in a critical way, I realize that she stayed true to the history of the garments, but some would not be practical to wear today. For example--cashmere bed socks. Her recommendation was to put them on after getting in bed, and take them off before your feet make contact with the floor. Who lives that way? In class we made a sample sock with a Welsh heel--it was a nice effect, but considering the beating my socks take, this heel seems like it would wear out quickly, so probably will not make it to my sock wardrobe. I crashed and burned in Nancy Marchand's class, Beyond Basic Brioche. I couldn't get past doing the two color method to ever try shaping techniques. I don't know it it was because I was tired, or uncomfortable, but I just couldn't get it. I did the simple one just fine. Nancy M. provided sweater patterns in both classes, and the one from the basic class is something I would consider making. I haven't downloaded the photos from my Market purchases yet, but lots of fun was had in there, and considerable damage done. One place really got me good. Rovings. Rovings! Love them!

I'm Gonna Knit Like It's 1966

I like to collect vintage toys. Most of what I collect is stuffed animals from the decades when I was a child, but occasionally something comes along that I can't resist. This little item came up on knitswap a few months ago. A Kenner knitting machine from 1966. I may try knitting with it. One of the projects is a dog sweater, which makes the toy even more appropriate for me. The funny thing is, it would have been the perfect toy for nine year old me, and I wonder why I didn't have one. I'm home from the yarn orgy known as Stitches Midwest. Resting the throbbing mass of pain that was previously my left foot. Walking on the concrete floors of the Market was probably not the best thing, but I was sucked into a Polwarth and Cashmere blended stupor, partly encouraged by a new knitting friend, Carol. Not that I needed much pushing. Of course I had to dig into my new treasures, the previously mentioned blend being first. Surprisingly, no yarn was purchased for Lucky Penny. I really have lots on hand, so that's okay. My camera battery is being recharged, so a full inventory will be revealed in later posts.

Taking My Shot

I guess being house bound had its advantages. The manuscript and photos are flying off to New York, guaranteed to be on my editor's desk tomorrow morning. It's a big load off. I'm hoping to have a lot of fun this weekend and next, and doing some pleasure knitting. No dog things for two weeks! Let's knit for mommy! At the same time, I'm anxious about the response to my work. I think I've stayed true to my design aesthetic: comfortable, the best materials, a fresh look at color, and fine craftsmanship. I'm hoping that other eyes looking at it will see the same. I'm also hoping that I get my point across in the text. One thing I know for sure--the photography is remarkable. It's making me a little nuts that there are so many books on the same topic out there, and likely more to come before mine is available. So, now I'm waiting for that celebratory cake that the Man promised! Hey--and my ma-han, Captain Save-a-ho, won the Project Runway challenge tonight. You've just gotta love him. I'm getting a little concerned about my other picks for the top three--it looks like Robert may crash and burn, and Uli is doing more of the same. Maybe Angela has a chance. She's starting to surprise me.

For the Every Day

I've lived with the Man for eight years. Today had me thinking how much more difficult life would be without a mate. It's not that I wouldn't have gotten by these last few days if I had been alone, but today was so much easier. My car's battery died today. I fortunately was not far from home, and I was grateful for not being at the job site I go to that's fifty miles one way. Life is easier when you live with a Man who has four cars, because I was just able to get one from "the fleet" so I could continue my day. Yes, four cars. All parked on the streets of Chicago, except for the one with no door that's been on my side of the garage for months. Fodder for another post. It's easier when you live with a Man who's friends with a mechanic. A few hours later, and my car is operational again. One thing about the Man--he doesn't get the knitting thing. He doesn't care if I make him another sweater (I made him one nine years ago--before I ever knew about a boyfriend curse!). "How did I end up with you?" I ask, about the knitting thing, and we both laugh. It's fun to share the mundane and the surprises of every day life with the Man. Piccolo loves him, too.

The Two Heels

So, enough about my pains and annoyances. This is primarily a knitting blog, and knitting there will be. Here are some socks, finished a few months ago, waiting for ends to be woven in so they can make rotation into the sock wardrobe. From Simply Sensational Socks, one of the stitch patterns for self-striping yarn. I mentioned in an earlier post that I hated making the heel, pictured lower left. I found the entire maneuver awkward, and was annoyed about grafting the last few stitches of the heel. It does make for a nice effect. For the mate, I used Lucy Neatby's garter stitch short row heel, pictured upper right. Less awkward to make, and no grafting. For the most part, these socks will be worn with shoes, so unless you read my blog, you probably would not notice or care that the heels are different. My thought is that hand knit socks don't need to match perfectly, any way. The yarn used was the Opal DK, which I'm going to keep an eye out for at Stitches. I have a little list going on in my brain about what to get at the Market. I'm also going to keep my eye out for Cherry Tree Hill Super Sport in Life's a Beach, because I have a little leftover from a baby project, and with one complete hank, I can make more socks. I did a little splurge at Arcadia today, and purchased some Berroco Ultra Alpaca to make my own version of the Playboy sweater, for me. Love the colors, a pink, my blue, a mint green, and a darker green, but I'm still wavering between making a vest or a long sleeved sweater. The garment will be a fusion piece, so hopefully completed quickly.

Living With a Stinker

We were not even out of the hospital parking lot when he started talking about Wisconsin. He has not let up, even after I lost my temper. Hey--I had a fall, and other parts of me are banged up, too! Now, he says he will drive. That will be the first time he's ever driven on one of the excursions. For once, I will have knitting time. The truth is, I don't like saying no to the Man. My guess is he hasn't changed much from the little boy in the innertube playing outside all summer. It still hurts, but I'm off crutches! Stitches, I'm coming to take some classes, shop, and eat steak!

Waddling

Recovery at the Lucky Penny household, day 2. I'm moving around, trying to do things on one crutch. Either my injury is not as severe as five years ago, or the drugs are better. Vicodin is my new friend. I'd love to wash it down with a margarita, I must confess. The Man is doing a sort of better job with me. He did disappear for a few hours when I was in the ER waiting room, and I was stuck without any knitting. I think that would have helped to take the edge off. The last few days have revolved around napping, and knitting on the sofa. All knitting is work related until Stitches. Some final additions of sizes to two designs, and finishing the Symmetry sweater. My goal is to be on my feet by next week. I told my editor my things would be turned in on the 10th, and I really want to go to Stitches. Thursday, before the market preview, I plan on meeting up with some Guild buddies, and we're going to Gibson's. Land of large portions of meat and gorgeous waiters. One slice of banana cream pie serves six. I'll be really bummed out if I miss it. I want a big gin and tonic, and a modest size steak, creamed spinach, and some fabulous yarn shopping. The little duck is a vintage Steiff mohair piece that I got the Man for his birthday. He loves ducks. Really, I bought it for me, too.

My Shoes Stayed On This Time

Five years ago, around this time of Summer, I was walking out of Knitting Workshop, crossing the street with a new issue of Vogue Knitting in one hand, and a coffee frappe in the other. I was wearing some fabulous backless platform sandals. I got one sandal caught on a section of pavement, went airborne, and landed in the middle of Webster Ave., twisting my right ankle in the process. I was on crutches for a few weeks, and in a walking cast for a few more. It sort of began this downward spiral in my life, with Gidget losing an eye a few days later, and me eventually losing the building that I had just moved into that summer. I was not good at navigating on crutches, and many little things that I normally take for granted, like walking my dog, taking out the garbage, grocery shopping, and laundry, now presented as difficult tasks. The Man was not very good at taking care of me, and we fought bitterly. Flash back to yesterday. I was crossing the street with Piccolo, stepped in a hole in the pavement, and twisted my left ankle. As the afternoon went on, it was clear that I needed to go to the emergency room. Which was a miserable experience. I love that when the nurse asked me if how bad the pain was from 1-10, when I said 10! she didn't offer me something! A few times in the waiting room, I was almost parked in the wheelchair next to a drunk who was so filthy, I just knew the smell of him would be unbearable. I had to ask the physician not to bend my foot that way again, until they finally gave me a muscle relaxant in the form of a shot. The nurse in the exam room kept telling me I looked "pissed off". Because I knew what was next. Crutches. I hate crutches. So, I'm sort of housebound, and dependent on the Man for household duties. Now attending Stitches is in question if I'm not crutch free in 8 days. I just remember how long it took to recover from the last injury when I was told it would only take a few days. I just hope this isn't the beginning of another negative cycle in my life.