Life's a Stitch

A few days after his attempt at knitting, Chuck asked me if there was some other yarn he could try. I figured he could handle the Moonlight Mohair and the shaped scarf form Sally Melville’s Knit Stitch book. Here’s how it went:

He: Can’t you just get it started for me?

I knit the first row.

He: Can you show me one more?

I knit the next row.

He: I didn’t quite get it, one more, please.

I knit the third row.

He: This knitting stuff is pretty relaxing, can you do a few more?

I did, and few minutes later was serenaded by his snoring. The pattern had grabbed me and I continued for awhile. The next morning:

He: How far did I get on my knitting last night?

About this far:

He: I did pretty well, huh?

And we knit and we shopped and that’s about it. An excellent girls’ weekend; the two students, Mari, my friend Lynn and me. We also watched the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants – the perfect chick flick for a girls’ weekend.

Shopping included an outfit for Chuck’s Christmas Party – hand picked by Mar. I wasn’t intending to buy one, fancy outfits are right up there with bathing suits, bras and shoes. My most hated activities. So, how did I end up with a bag from TJ Max containing a daughter approved fur collared silk sweater and black pants, tighter than I usually wear? Very unlike me, but I think OK.

Brought back memories of the time Lynn and I went south for our annual November girls’ weekend and I tried on so many horrendous outfits I ended up with a blister on my thigh from changing in and out of my jeans one too many times.

The knitting: lots thereof, starting with the herringbone rib scarf in Manos, adding a few more stripes to the leftover throw and lots of progress on the mystery Christmas gift. I hit a yarn shop and exercised self control. Not one penny spent there. Here’s the scarf, front and back:

Lynn finished her first scarf and Betty made progress on her first project. It, too, is a gift, so I can’t disclose what it is. A great time was had by all.

I was taken totally by surprise when Bryant posted earlier this week. I was reading my comments and thought "What’s going on here? I don’t remember a post called Uh-Oh." Commandeered indeed! That’s my kid. So here are the victims of my brain washing techniques: Betty from Germany, Carolina from Mexico, and that’s Grace attempting to flee from my evil influence. I’m taking the girls over the border this weekend to continue the process, and you know we’ll be hitting the yarn shops. Heh, heh, heh.

Hey everyone, it’s Bry, Li’s son…

And I am afraid that the family is going mad: Everyone has begun knitting! My mother shall now be dubbed the missionary of knitting. She is always converting her friends, family, friends children, etc, to this cult that you all refer to as "knitting". Even my exchange students are doing it. Who’s next, the dog?! I hope not. When my mom says she’s going to bed, I always catch her, not sleeping, but tittering away with those needles and yarn. I must admit her efforts do show, but this "luxurious throw" as she describes it a few posts back, is over the top. Is it a piece of art, or a furry beast. We could colour it blonde, leave it in a lump in the living room, and Grace will have a new twin/playmate!

Now it’s time for me to confess. I have knit in the past. I found it (dare I say) kinda cool, and a great way to get outta doing homework. 😛

If you haven’t knit before, run away now, for it’s highly addictive, and you family will complain about less quality time spent. 😉

-Bryant

PS: Mom, when you find this, don’t be too mad, it’s all in good fun 🙂

We had a record low number of trick or treaters this year – five in all. We live in a  very hilly community and the parents are known for driving their kids to where the houses are closer together and the roads are flat. I know of people who turn off their lights after 300 kids. Halloween started nicely, though, with a RAOK card from Liz.

I have caved and done the popular activity of googling my name followed by the word "needs:"

Li needs to read up on myths in education.

Li needs a lil edge.

Li needs to dip "his" hands into the painted element.

Li needs more kicking!

Li needs to give you a leftover throw update:

Giving in to the family’s threats of not going out in public with me if I wore my leftover shawl, I turned the project into a throw, necessitating the purchase of more yarn. Since this was supposed to be an economical project I put the following stipulation on the purchased part – it must be on sale. Those who know me know that I hate paying full price for anything and the hunt for the bargain is as fun as the purchase itself. So, between Michael’s coupons, last week’s sale at Hellen’s and a .99 basket at my LYS (that’s a first), the second photo shows the bought part of the project:

I have some Manos del Uruguay in my stash just waiting to be knit up into a scarf. I’ve admired Stacey’s Manos scarf pattern from, I believe, a yarn shop in CA (pattern link on my sidebar), and I like the way the Herringbone stitch enhances the variegations in the yarn, but I find the stitch awkward and the scarf has an unattractive backside, so to speak. No disrespect, but isn’t that the way with most knitted objects? There are some reversible stitch pattens around so I went on a mission to find one that, if not reversible, looked good on both sides. The result?  A modified herringbone cable. Here it is frontside and back:

Halloween is not so happy around here, boywise. Instead of hanging out with his friends, dressed as Kiss, he is going as low man on the totem pole to work, having had his schedule rearranged by those with more seniority. Now there’s a life lesson.

Why am I attracted to things that sparkle? And why are things that sparkle so expensive? I have always loved sparklies – when I was seven, on a trip to the Museum of Natural History, the rest of the Brownies oohed and aahhed over the dino bones. Me? I couldn’t wait to go up to the dusty low ceilinged seventh floor to see the jewels. I am not a girly girl, but I think diamonds go great with jeans. It just isn’t a great fit with the salary that comes with my chosen field of non-profit social services. I  have to settle for cheaper thrills. Of course, I’ve found a way to fit sparkles into my knitting life. Here are the crystal beads I found for the points of my Kiri shawl and some shimmery yarn for a scarf. I’m still surprised at how much Moonlight Mohair is like Trendsetter Dune. When on sale at Michaels, it’s half the price of Dune and it’s machine washable.

Saturday, my 15 year old son started his first job. Why is this so incredible? He had to be there at 7:15 AM meaning he had to set an alarm and not turn it off and roll over as he does on every school morning.  It means he had to put in eight hours of heavy work as stockboy service clerk. I honestly can’t think of anything heavy he’s ever lifted. The dog only weighs 22 lbs. and that may be the extent of his lifting experience. I was proud of him because he refused the pitiful "training wage" ($2 under minimum wage for the first 500 hours of work) our cheap provincial government instituted in their first term in office. He signed on at the proper $8 an hour. I’m dating myself yet again, my first job paid $1.55/hr (I’m glad I caught that typo, I substituted an n instead of the b in job). Back then some people paid .50/hr for babysitting! Here’s our working boy, after his first day, melted into his Dad’s lap.

I’ve started a small Christmas knitting project. I don’t usually knit for people unless they’ve shown some interest in what I’ve knit or out and out asked me to do it. Not everyone is as crazy about hand knitted items as I am and I don’t want to put in the time if it’s not going to be appreciated and cared for properly. So, since the person I’m knitting for reads this blog, everyone will have to remain in the dark. I promise pictures later.

I enviously read about other blogger’s positive mailbox experiences. It’s my own fault as I have chosen to refrain from secret pal activities. Call me a killjoy, but I’d rather use the money to buy exactly what I want and I can get the satisfaction of surprising others through the RAOK group. But this week, I had two blog surprises in my mailbox. A crane from Julie. I feel like I’ve arrived in the RAOK world having seen these clever birds on other’s blogs. I have never been able to accomplish origami, usually ending up with a pile of wadded up creased paper, so I’m especially appreciative. And I received my prize from Jane – mountain colours Barefoot in Flathead Cherry. I wish you could feel how soft it is. Thanks to both of you for brightening my week.

I apologize for not being as good a blogger as I have been. You see, there is a dead mouse somewhere in the wall next to our computer, and I have to post with the window open wide, letting in the cold wet air, lest I become asphyxiated with rotten mouse. Chuck kindly lit the cookie dough candle last night for me and now it smells like dead mouse cookie dough. You must appreciate the fact that on-line smell-a-vision hasn’t been adequately developed.

Here is an update on the left over throw. Nadia pointed out, that after having seen it in person, the photos don’t show its true wonderful textures. I’ve made a point of brushing up its hairy bits in hopes of a more accurate picture.