Charity Knitting

Wow! I am so far behind. I haven't updated much here or on Ravelry lately. Things will open up after Samhain, to be sure. This is a very busy time of year.

Anyway, on Friday, after work, I attended a charity knitting gathering at my LYS. Ewe-Nique Knits stayed open for the gathering. The knitting was in support of the Royal Oak Animal Shelter. We gathered to knit pet snuggles. The idea is to knit smaller afghans or blankets for the cats and dogs in the shelter. These help to make their cages a bit more comfortable and the blankets go home with them when the animal is adopted. Additionally, we were encouraged to bring pet food that would be donated to the shelter.

Hubby did a Costco run the day before and brought home an extra case of Friskies canned cat food so that was our donation. I grabbed some stash yarn (some unknown acrylic chenille) and knit away. I finished a cat crate-sized blanket that night. It is 2 strands of this bulky chenille in very rich purple.

This event happens monthly on the last Friday of every month. It is so worth it. This is especially close for me as all of our pets are rescues. Myrtle came from that shelter and she is wonderful.

Yarn Pimp

So, the other day I was listening to a podcast - knitting, of course, and I heard the podcaster refer to herself as a 'Yarn Pimp'. Now, before I go on, I must admit that I cannot remember which podcast (though I will post it when I can) I was listening to at that time. I diligently made a note of it, of the podcaster's name and of her website. Do you think I can find the note? Not a chance. Podcasts are my new traveling 'music'. I listen to them on the way to work, walking from the car to the building, while at lunch, on the way home, etc. etc. But, I digress.

Anyway, she (this podcaster) referred to herself as a 'Yarn Pimp' and I thought "that's me, too!" I've been accused of being an enabler (thanks to my BFF) but no one has called me a pimp, no one but me, that is. I'll admit to it; I'll own it. I don't actually think I do it out loud. You won't find me wearing a felted fedora with a long feather trying to sell yarns to other folks in some dark alley just looking for my cut of the take. No, I do it to myself! There, I've said it.

I've gone into my LYS (Ewe-Nique Knits) and into other stores and looked at yarns but didn't buy. I've done it on-line, during the day, when looking at indy dyers and spinners and I don't buy. Sure, I put up a good front. I seem to be in control and respectable. I hear some saying "look how restrained she is -she isn't buying yarn." That's me, restrained!

Then, I get home after a stressful day at work and I start to browse. Oh, I might be looking at yarn store sites or, I might be reading blogs. I read about knitters buying these amazing color-ways in skeins with fantastic yardage and my resolve starts to waiver. I even move away from the computer to try to do something else around the house and I keep getting called back. I hear that voice, that quiet sultry voice saying "look at this, ain't this nice? That skein of from etsy.com is just what you're looking for? Come on! Just for you, this yarn will treat you good!!!"

Arghghghghgh! I cannot stand it! I go to the 'puter, type in the URL and buy! Will it end? Will I ever have stash control? Will I ever be able to stand up to my inner yarn pimp???

Hi, I am Dianne and I'm a Yarn Pimp. I've gone 14 days without a yarn purchase (pre-purchased yarn clubs don't count!!).

Yarn for food . . .

Okay, I just came back from the doctor a bit ago. On my way back, I was going to stop at the yarn store near the doc's office. This is a quaint little store with loads of sock yarn (my current fave!). I held firm (being on a food diet and a yarn diet at the same time) and drove past. That took great willpower!

Now, I am seeing this doc about my weight. That is to say, I want to lose the weight. I am not approaching this in a common fashion because those methods haven't worked. I've done Weight Watchers, Eat Right 4 Your Type, Atkins, etc., etc. and just couldn't crack the code. This time, though, it is working. We are approaching the weight loss in the most wholistic fashion that I've ever done. We are looking at the physical, mental and emotional sides of things. Without going into the long and boring details, I've lost 33 pounds since Feb, 2007. Sure, it might not seem like a lot - but, for me, it is a breakthrough!!!

Anyway, I realized that part of why this is working is that I am shifting my reward system away from food. It wasn't all that long ago when I'd complete some project (aroudn the house) or some task and I'd reward myself with chips or icecream or some such thing that didn't help my health. Today, as I was driving by the yarn store, I realized that I was offering myself a fibery reward. This is a much healthier way to approach life, I think.

I am going to set these little goals for myself. If I can get off 5 more pounds next month, I'll buy Stephanie Japel's Fitted Knits. More weight after that might mean more sock yarn, who knows? Anyway, it feels good.

Just one more row, please, just one more.

Well, since finishing the Fraternal socks, I've been going in circles about what to knit. Over the past few weeks, I've purchased several skeins of various amazing sock yarns in preparation for being able to start a new project. I've been digging through patterns, scouring the internet and even wondering if I could create my own sock pattern (No! I am not there ... yet!). All of this was in anticipation of finishing the Fraternal socks and being able to start something new.

Well, as we know, the Fraternal socks were born last week. So, what have I been doing with my time? I just don't know. Somehow, when I looked at the chocolate, vanilla and strawberry striped yarn that I'd purchased for the Carolyn, The Last Queen of Monaco socks by Momma Monkey, I just wasn't satisfied - rather, I wasn't excited with starting them. Okay, maybe it was because I was starting them in the evening and I wasn't in the mood to wind the loose skein into a center-pull ball. Maybe it was because I'd just finished a striped socks and I wasn't in the mood. Who the heck knows?

So, I looked to the Fawkes socks or the Bellatrix pattern, also by Momma Monkey. I was itching to do one of her patterns but not interested in something that made a bold statement like the reds of the Fawkes or the dropped stitches of the Bellatrix. Again, who knows?

Now, add to this a bit of a cold/fluey-type thing that has been going around the office. I picked it up last week and didn't get much at all done over the weekend. My mind was willing but my body was not cooperating. Either I was blowing my nose or sneezing or coughing up a bit of lung. None of those things are conducive to smooth knitting. Sigh.

On Saturday, I dragged myself out of bed and went to my LYS. Ewe-Nique Knits was busy; they usually are busy. That doesn't matter, though 'cuz Marilyn or Amy still take a moment to chat. Marilyn showed me the new Buffalo Gold fiber that they've stocked (and I cannot afford). She also showed me the socks that were on her needles; well, needle - she was knitting on her 'concert needle' - a single circular that she's been taking to concerts with her. Anyway, she was knitting with simply shetland which is a silk and lambswool blend. It is lovely. I fell for it.

I brought that yarn home - two lovely balls of a color called 'Notland'. It is a soft brown with flecks of black and a hint of beige. As I set those lovely bits of yarn on my studio table, I winced a bit. Ah, chagrin! I was ready with the yarn but, what pattern? Fortunately, it didn't take but a moment to work that out. During all my 'research' last week, I knew just what I wanted to knit. I wanted something with where the knit pattern would be the design element, not the color. I wanted something that would show off a nifty stitch and still be a lovely color. Well, I had it, again, Momma Monkey's pattern, this time the Gwen.

I let the yarn sit there for a day as I slept most of Sunday - no knitting for me. But, Monday was a Federal Holiday - Columbus Day for the Americans (Thanksgiving for Canadians). I would have some time. Woohoo! I admit, I didn't dive right in to the socks. I did a bit of laundry (6 loads) and some puttering (straightening, dishes, etc.). But, then, when all that was done, there was no stopping me!!! Knitting was my reward!

Wouldn't you know it? I'd had to toss my favorite machine-made brown socks due to holes - now what was I going to do??? As I cast on, I realized that I couldn't wear my new brown pants until I finished these socks. Okay, that's a bit of an extreme - but, its a good excuse to plug away - to spend inordinate amounts of time knitting. Aha! A juicy rationalization for mucho knitting!!!

The cast on went smoothly. I did a 2 needle, long-tail cast on. I was worried that the silk wouldn't be elastic enough with a regular cast on so I cast on over 2 of the DPNs that I was using (size 0). I finished the rib cuff in no time and started on the pattern. It is a straightforward 5-row, 5-stitch repeat that is easy to remember. It has a k3tog combination in there that can be tough on the fingers - but, it looks great - it almost looks like a cable. The leg of the sock (I am on the 4th pattern repeat) is even and showing off the stitch pattern brilliantly. Tonight, as I was finishing off the 3rd of the repeats, I was thinking that I could get my nightly ablutions (ironing, lunch-making, bathing) done in the morning. Well, though I wanted to, I knew I couldn't do that - I'd be too rushed in the a.m.. But, if I could do just 1 more row, I'd iron, or shower or something.

If I could do just 1 more row, I'd let the puppies in from outside and then I'd feed the kitties - just one more row. I swear the animals know when I am in the 'one more row' mode. The cats stop rubbing against me and just lean against me and wait. The pups stop pounding against the back door and just sit there, looking in expectantly. We all know - just one more row and we can move on. Honest, I'll write a blog entry - right after just one more row.

Woohoo!! A finished project!!

Okay, okay - I made it to Manhattan and back without checking out a single yarn shop (she hangs her head in shame and shuffles her feet). I did, though, accomplish a couple of things. Woohoo!! Watch out - I feel a rationalization coming on!

I got to see some amazing sweaters - hand-made and machine made - and they weren't all on skinny models; some were actually being worn outside. Being in the Big Apple, I was near the epicenter of fashion (phooey on Milan and Paris) and saw some wonderfy assymetrical designs. It was inspiring and it gives me a new view of "Vogue Knitting."

Besides that, I finished my red, yellow and purple striped socks. I've been working on these for 2 months. I finished the first in August while with Miss Alabama and Miss Missouri in Tennessee. I started the 2nd sock at a Detroit Tigers game, worked on it in Atlanta (while there for work) and finished it in New York City. That's one well-traveled pair of socks.

I am calling these my 'fraternal socks' since they aren't identical. Well, I don't think any hand knit socks are really identical - but, these are a bit off. I started the first sock from the inside of the skein and the 2nd sock from the outside. Consequently, the stripes go in different directions. I could say this was a design choice, but, alas, no - it was an error. It is, now, though, a design feature. ;-)

There, those are my excuses for not making it to any yarn stores while in NYC!! Maybe next time.