The wrangling continued and not without injury: On day two, Hemlock seemed to relax a but, allowing me to pull out each point an additional five inches. That, and an attack with my Jiffy Steamer, improved the lumps by at least 75%. Hopefully that shot of steam will have killed the acrylic and tamed the…

An apt description, from the Hemlock Ring Yahoo group, regarding the finishing phase of the blanket. These behemoths have eight tenticular points radiating from a lump of a head. They curl and undulate and strenuously defy attempts at blocking. One of my fellow octopus trainers, at our semi-monthly Ravelry get together, exclaimed "Blocking? Schmocking!" She’s…

From the same type of yarns and two different patterns, here are the "twins": Ever wonder how different patterns will turn out using the same yarn? I’ve made four scarves from Anny Blatt Scarf Kits, comprised of one skein of Superangora (116 yards) held together with one skein of Victoria (109 yards). The kits make…

That’s our name for Whole Foods. When they first opened I regularly splurged on their dark German rye bread for $3 a loaf. That loaf of bread is now $7. Seven dollars for a loaf of bread. I don’t think so. Let’s play the Price is Right. A recent advertisement was pushing their easy holiday…

That’s how I feel about modeling shots – grin and bear wear it. Inevitably when a knitting blogger features an FO there’s a cry from the comment section – how about a modeling shot? First up: Pattern: The Seville Jacket from Oat Couture Size:small (beware the sizing, I usually make a large, but had the…

100% knitting content ahead, I owe it to you as this is really a knitting blog and you’ve been very patient with the antics of a certain 17 year old boy. So, on to the knitting front… Stash? I have no stash, because I learned way back when, in training for the field of social…

When the babies were very little, my SIL would play a game of  tiny calisthenics with them, lifting up their arms and putting them down, two slow movements followed by two quick ones. It would go "uuuppp dooowwn, uuuppp dooowwn, up down, up down." The little ones would crack up with those adorable peals of…

"Successfully" graduating two kids into their 20’s, I’m still locked into high school hell with #3. I spoke too soon in my last post regarding a high level of trust for New Year’s Eve. Poor Mari, given permission to be left in charge to chaperone a handful of 17 year olds, realizes it only takes…

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of participating on a yarn crawl of Bellingham with Dorothy, and the blogless: Marsha (Seattle), Daisy, and Linda (both from Ottawa). The Ottawans, arriving by bus, experienced a two hour delay at the border. Really, I can’t imagine terrorists crossing the border by Greyhound, but I suppose stranger…

North American emegency room staff saw almost 7000 admissions last year for injuries resulting from wrestling with wrap. You know the kind I mean, the armour that encases anything electronic. The stuff that requires the assistance or  kitchen knives or razor blades or cover your ears you dental types, teeth. Injuries include deep cuts, some…