Weekends are not for relaxing anymore, that is for sure.  It is for cleaning, driving your kids to their activities, parties, etc. Man, this weekend, which happens once in awhile, was crazy - and not in the good way.  We were way too busy, but I really can't put my finger on what we did.  The only thing that comes to mind is taking down the Christmas tree and decorations.  And I didn’t even do it, Chris did.

That's it folks, got to get back to work and earn my keep. Have a good one.

Seaming.  Yeah - I really hate it. It is my biggest weakness in knitting.

  I'm fine when I can use the mattress stitch on vertical pieces, but on horizontal? Forget it. I totally suck. How do I know this - why Lara is seamed. The arm seams are just fine, but the body seams. They SUCK!  Katherine and Elizabeth both showed me the how-to and do you think I could make it look good? Oh no. Did I keep seaming? Oh yes. Did I sew in the end of the yarn? OH yes. And now what? Well, I am going to wet it, stretch and then iron the crap out the side seams, and hope that I can live with it.  I am sure it is not that bad. I could just keep my arms at my side so no one can see them. But, hey - lets be realistic here, that is NOT going to happen. Also, I don't like the edges, so I need to single crochet along the edge so it looks nice. That is the easy part. I think.

But, I did find the silver lining in all this.  I will NEVER, ever knit a sweater all in one piece. Not only does it take forever to knit with all the hundreds of stitches but I can’t use the mattress stitch along the side, like I can when seaming all the pieces of a traditional design.

That is my story and  I am sticking to it! I have started a beanie using Silk Garden.  Pretty easy, and I know I will wear it, and it will give me the break from Lara that I need. That's it. Have a good one.

Yarn Exchange

Now, I reached another level at acquiring yarn.  I will be exchanging the Highland Wool - Candy Cane colour with Kim at Curlie Girl for a mitten thrum kit.  I'm pretty happy with the exchange, as I have never made a thrum mitten/sock before, so that is new and I will making them for my good friend Christine who is colder than Frosty.  So we all win. I usually don't knit for anyone outside my family, but Christine is a GOOD friend and would appreciate these mittens more than anyone I know.

I have not been knitting. Nothing. Period.  I am really not in the mood right now.  I want to sew up Lara. Can you believe I have not done that yet? I want to wear it to a party I'm attending shortly, so that is the incentive to get my ass in gear.  I seamed one sleeve, sewed in the little bits of ends I won't use and now I have to figure out how to sew the side seams.  The mattress stitch won't work here.  But I am in luck, I'm going to the Naked Sheep tonight and hoping someone, anyone can help me. 

There's your update. Have a good one. 

 Nothing on the needles. Now that I have finished my mis-matched socks and arm warmers.  I will be warm and that is all that matters. Matching or not - who gives a damn? NOT ME.  Now - what should I knit next?  I have a few sweaters waiting in the wings, but it is a tough decision to make between Sitcom Chic, Ribby Cardi, Everyday Cardigan. Decisions, decisions, decisions.  I'll sleep on it and decide soon.  I'm a bit surprised I am not chopping at the bit to start something right away. Maybe I need a break? Maybe. I'll sleep on that one too.  Sounds like someone has not been getting much sleep, but I have, so I wonder why I keep talking about it? I'll sleep on that one too.

Enough about that - if you have not checked out the GTA Knit Blog Ring, now is the time.  There are 38 blogs in this ring, and well worth the trip around it to read all about our fab Toronto area knitters.  The list seems to be growing, and wonder how many more we will get in the new year.  Time will only tell.  When I started to manage the ring, there were only 5 sites including mine. WOW.  Yep, I can't come up with anything else.

Well, believe it or not, I don't have much to say. That is all folks.. 

Have a good one.

Great News Folks....

My order from Elann came in last night and I LOVE the colour of the dark grey for the Sitcom Chic. I am so pleased.  I also like the blue and light grey wool too. YEAH for me.

In order great news, I finished the Hurry Up Spring Arm Warmers from the SnB Nation book, errors and all. Does it really matter anyway? No. I did try to take pictures, but the yarn is dark and lighting was shitty = no pictures for you.

So what's next? Well, the pattern for the arm warmers said you needed two balls of Noro Kuroyean.  Actually, you need one and about 5% of the 2nd. Now that sucks. What to do with the extra ball??  Let me think now. Can you smell the wheels burning? NO, well it wasn’t that difficult to decide. I am going to make socks for the -33 degree weather Toronto is experiencing right now. But The Naked Sheep sold all of colour 90. Hmmm...So faithful readers what did I do? I bought colour 139, which has similar colours to colour 90, and will have two socks that don't match.  My socks don't match on any other given day, so what the hell...

I'm off to knit socks - my toes are falling off in this cold.  Yes - Kim - you read it right.  My feet are freaking cold.

Have a good one.

Fast post today - Three more FOs:

Ear Flap hat for and modelled by my brother in law Alex. Project specs:  Araucania nature Wool Chunky, 2 strands held throughout, Size 6.0mm needles.  12 sts over 14 rows = 4". Pattern based on this.

Flower washclothes for girls.

Project Specs: Crystal Palace, 1 skein each (well actually I used  a little over half a ball for each one).  Size 4.0mm needles. Pattern: Weekend Knitting Book.

That's it for now.

What's up next? Maybe I will sew up Lara? Let's wait and see.

 Wow, my posts are more regular now that the holidays are over, or I just have more to say. For those of you who know me well, I can hear you laughing all the way over here. 

I have been a bad, bad girl. Kris informed me that elann.com was re-stocking some colours in highland wool - THANKS. Does anyone sense a touch of sarcasm? Really, I am just kidding,  and thanks to Kris' , I bought 10 balls of the Charcoal Heather to make the Sitcom Chic,  4 balls of Ink to make a pair of socks, and 4 balls of 0402 Oxford Grey Heather to make socks.

As you may remember,  I bought 10 balls of the Candy Cane red from elann.com, and it is too orange/red for me.  I wanted it more of a red, red, but alas it wasn't meant to be, hence buying more yarn for the sweater.

So here is a deal I have for someone - I have 10 balls of the Candy Cane red and would like to give it to a good home in exchange for something. What that something is I have no idea, but I will once I hear the trade.  If you are interested in a trade for this yarn, email me and we will talk.  

Just to prove I've been knitting, here are two FOs.

Maddie in her multi directional scarf. I used the Paton's version of Sidar's Snowflake yarn, and I think 5.0mm needles.  She loves it.  And I'm quite happy to be rid of one ball of yarn from my stash.

And 2nd up on the FO list, Maddie modelling my husband's scarf I made him for a Christmas present.  I used 2 balls of Koigu in two different colours.  I cast on 32 stitches, 2x2 rib, and everyother row, I changed colours:

This was a pattern adapted from the Last Minute Knit Gift book.  I have just finished the ear flap hat for my brother in law, which he has, and I hope to get a picture of him wearing it tonight, and post tomorrow. It turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.

Well, that's it folks. Happy knitting.

Ever have one of those weekends, where you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off, and at the end of the day - you feel nothing has been accomplished? Well - that sums up my weekend.  Not much knitting, other than finishing one of the two flower washcloths. It was a pretty satisfying project. Quick, cute and easy.  I'm sure my girls will love them. As you know, I have two girls, so I cannot give the flowers to them until both are done.

I also started the ear flap hat for my brother in law, again.  I think the third time is a charm. I hope. I'm crossing my fingers and toes that this attempt will work out okay.

Today is Monday, which is one of my favourite days of the week - why you are probably asking yourself - I like it because I get to meet up with my favourite bunch of ladies at work and knit with them.  I haven't seen much of them, as December was a crazy month for most of us, so it will be nice to knit, eat and catch up on how their holidays were.

Well folks, got to get back to work. Sucks I know, but I guess I like to eat, have a warm house, and money to buy yarn - and lots of it.  Have a good one.