Category: A little about knitting

Ciela: The winged sprite that leads Link along his journeys through Hyrule. What does this have to do with my sweater? Absofreakin’ nothing. The sweater was designed as a ‘shout out’ to all those moths that nibbled their way into people’s stash.  Rather than maligning the moth, I decided to name it after the winged charmer from Zelda.
This sweater took way too long to complete, but in fairness to the pattern, it really lends itself to the ‘Interrupted Knitter’.  I was able to pick this up and put it down as life dictated.  That, my dear readers, makes for a splendid pattern.  The fact that it was lovely to look at and even lovelier to wear makes my life complete.
That’s it, that’s all. Peace out!

For the past few months, we have had the pleasure of the company of this sweet lil critter.  We call him ‘Moouuse’ (shown actual size, sorta). Since making his appearance, I have tried all manner of capture. Springing traps, snapping traps, sticky and spinning traps.  We even tried the neighbors cat. The level of desperation to rid my home of him stopped short of snakes; although barely. 

Then the phone rings at work. It’s my son with the news: “we caught the mouse!” Apparently, after a long day exploring the bedroom, Moouuse, in true Goldilocks fashion, found his way onto the chair and cozied under my throw. While that seems relatively cute and harmless, I must clarify that it was not just any chair, he chose my knitting chair. I will repeat this so it can sink in…MY KNITTING CHAIR! Might I add it was not just any throw? It was my 3 winters long hand-knit cabled throw. For those tortured souls who actually follow this blog, you know what  an affront this is.  Those of you who are new to my rantings, gaze upon this photo:

Could there be a more suitable throne for me, the Queen?  Right?  OFF WITH HIS HEAD, I SAY!  OFF WITH IT!
That’s a bit harsh, even for me.  Instead, it was dragged to the bowels of the tupper-chamber and forced into exile in the barren wasteland behind the barricade. Or, as my son tells it, scooped into a plastic container and set free in the neighbors yard.  I fear future attempts at escape in which case I can only hope the neighbor’s fierce lioness has its way!
Here’s something just for giggles: http://youtu.be/9bTbAsmPOKo

I have done many new things this year; things that in my ‘previous life’ would have scared the snot outta me!  Each time, I come away feeling stronger…walking taller. 
What I have learned:

1. I can find both NYC airports without batting an eye
2. I can drive 18 straight hours so my son can compete in a gaming tournament
3. I can survive 3 solid days of Halo Reach and the teens that come with it
4. I can navigate up, down around and through the Blue Ridge Mountains
5. I can maneuver the 5 mile long downhill stretches that come after the above mentioned mountains.
6. I am terrified of ‘runaway truck ramps’, blown out tires on the side of the road and elevations over 3000 ft
7. I can drive to Citi Field and back

That is a pretty impressive list, don’t you think?  Considering this was just the past 3 months.  In that time, I had a few moments, I call them my ‘oh shit’ moments.  I had one last night.

Last night, the Mets hosted a ‘Stitch n Pitch’.  For those of you who are reading this, I don’t have to explain what it is.  For the rest of you, Google it.  Then, the Mets announced it was ‘Star Wars Night’. Being in the ‘Firsts’ state of mind, I decided I HAD to go.  Alone.  So, I bought my ticket.  Next step, transportation.  Alone=Train so I looked into the MTA.  Fighting off another OS moment, I sent out an SOS to a very kind-hearted fellow at WFAN who patiently gave me a lesson in public transportation 101.  This is very good, indeed.

Until I missed my train out of Poughkeepsie.  OH SHIT! Breathe, Regina, Breathe…

I can do this, there is another train in an hour.

Grand Central Station.  Lovely to look at, but rife with OS potential.  Fortunately there were plenty of police sprinkled around.  The 7 Line?  “Right over there.  Takes you right to Citi.”  As promised, the sight of Citi Field from the subway window was wonderful.  The stop is a stone’s  throw from the Rotunda.  I bought a program, got my pencil and found my seat.  Missing that first train left me without the free yarn/needles for the fundraiser.  I didn’t think I would get much knitting done anyway.

Boy, I could use a drink.  Hey!  I am not driving!  I can have a drink!  One Stella, coming up!

I was fine until the 7th inning.  As I sat amongst the knitters, chatting away with their friends from various knitting clubs, I suddenly felt alone.  Even in the company of Darth Vader and Mr. Met, I started to get that funny feeling in my stomach and that pinching in my nose that comes just before the tears.

So I got up, had another beer and walked…and sniffled…and caught up on some of my favorite ‘Tweeters’.  A Mets reporter that I follow (you know who you are!) mentioned that my solo-ness was depressing, like having a fly ball come my way, only to have it stolen by a Wookie! And that is when I began to cry.  I cried, but not because of how I was feeling, but because he was able to make me laugh in spite of it. 

Last night’s life lesson: At the end of the day, no matter what kind of pitch life throws me, if I can laugh then it is a good day… A good day indeed.

May the Force be with you; it was with me last night.

This post was made possible by the support of @StevePopper and @MetsWFAN

Sasquatch.  It’s what’s for dinner.

Based on this blog, one would think I was sitting around doing very little in the way of knitting.  While I am not someone who cranks out projects like mad, I have managed to keep my needles busy in spite of one shit-storm after another.(Do I have to make this post ‘adult-rated’ for saying this?)

My biggest accomplishment this winter was, by far, finishing the Cabled Throw.  This project was knit over the course of 3 winters.  I never thought I would be able to mark it finished on my Ravelry page.  Here is the irony: My initial notes on the project page was to add a 😦   because the shape of the blanket reflected the change in my tension and skill over the years; starting out wide when my knitting was loose and “new”, to a gradual narrowing as my stitches became civilized.  My decision to change my 😦 to a 🙂 was due entirely to the encouragement of my friends and fellow knitters.  Over and over again, they told me how great it was to have a singular project with so much knitting history.  This confounded throw was telling a story!  Nothing dramatic, really, just a “Gee Girl, your knitting doesn’t suck anymore” tale.  This is my ‘Linus’, my ‘special needs’ blanket.  My boys love it.  I love it.  It smells like yummy wool.  Granted, it is impossible to fold, having no ends that meet, but at the rate it is being used, I cannot imagine folding it for some time.
  

I completed the scarf and I could not be happier.  This was a pleasure to knit, and thanks to the generosity of the designer who offered his pattern at no cost, I am able to use this for teaching new knitters the basic cable.

The Icelandic wool makes for a very rugged and chunky scarf.  As you can see from the photos, it stands upright around the neck.  Imagine knitting this in a buttery soft merino or alpaca.  The fabric would drape nicely; giving the scarf a completely different look.

This is a simple pattern I found on a knitter’s blog (see below). I am modifying the width to ensure I have enough yarn; going from 40 cast on stitches to 30.
The purpose of this project is manifold. I am teaching myself continental style knitting, cabling without a needle and the end product will be donated to the school’s knitting art club annual outreach project. I am very pleased thus far. Once I block it the ends will shore up nicely.
#
eta: http://theactorknits.blogspot.com/  Giving credit to the designer.  I hope he does not mind the modifications, necessity being the mother of invention.

Here are a few of the left over squares from the blanket we made for Meg. The chick is done in Intarsia so the floaters made it unsuitable for baby toes.  The remaining squares are just a simple 6×6 in stockinette stitch with a garter stitch selvedge for easy seaming.  The final touch was the addition of a few jingle bells tucked inside for a maximum giggle factor.  Too cute!