Extravayarnza

Spring is finally here in Michigan. Robin & I enjoyed escaping out for a long walk in the April showers. Early flowers are blooming all over the woods. Plus when we go walking in the rain generally we see lots of dogs on the path (and only dogs/dog walkers). The last couple weeks we've been running into a group of black & white dogs on the trail. Robin just loves the border collie in the group (I guess it's a family thing). We found out today that they joined the same agility class we did! So they'll get to play every Wednesday night.
However, that's only part of the whole walking on sunshine thing. Many of you will probably remember the Dragon Shawl I knit last summer. I knit it as a wedding gift for two of my closest friends who are engaged. I love that they found each other, they are the two best people I know. I worked with J all week on Sweet Charity and after the final show on Sunday I went out for Oberon with the two of them. This was the perfect opportunity to present them with the shawl.
Lets just say it went well. They totally understand the value of a handmade gift & I've never felt so good about giving a gift. Especially when they wrapped me in their arms & told me I was a good person. That meant the world coming from them. And she looked so beautiful wrapped in the shawl...
Okay, so yes I was way busy last week. I kept thinking I'd blog when I got home, but I was working 12+ hour days & pretty much fell right asleep when I walked in the door.
One thing that happens when I work in the theatre is I usually knit lots of socks.
First up for last week was finishing my Monkey socks. These really ended up as almost a tribute to Cookie... seeing as how I used her pattern & her blog colors. So I decided to take it one step further & use my leg to take the photos!

There are 2 socks, but I only had one leg to use...

This is one of the 2 spots I changed from the pattern. I swapped out the heel for a short row heel & carried the stitch pattern down into the back of the heel.

and I'm pretty sure this is different from the pattern... I think I'd lost the instructions by the toe. Well, either way I again carried the stitch pattern down the top of the toe.
Can I just say that I love these socks. I'd totally knit this pattern again!
I knit more socks over the week, but I think I'll cover those tomorrow... but just a quick sneak peek...

(it's Socks That Rock w/ silk in it)
Good Night Robin
Good Night Siouxsie

Good Night Moon

HSKS Questionnaire

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into?
Hufflepuff

2. List your three favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length.
I really don't ever use double-points to knit socks. I suppose once in a blue moon I might pull out my size 1 rosewood needles...
I knit socks using magic loop either on size 0 or 1 26" crystal palace circs or on the new size 1 32" Addi Lace needles.

3. Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length?
If there is another company that makes size 1 bamboo circs I'd be interested in trying them.

4. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference?
n/a

5. If your pal decides to send candies or chocolates are there any that you don't like?
I love chocolate, especially white or milk chocolate. I don't particularly like cherry flavoring & I'm allergic to almonds

6. What are your favorite scents?
I'm allergic to all artificial fragrances. That usually limits me down to things that smell like oatmeal or soap. I like lavender, but it has to have real lavender in it, not a fragrance.

7. Do you have any allergies?
Lets see, almonds & artificial fragrances... and also acrylic. Can't do acrylic at all, I break out in hives.

If you haven't read this news story you need to check it out!
THOUSANDS of rich women were conned by a firm into believing LAMBS were valuable miniature POODLES.

So,
in the last installment I showed you all the amazing new Socks that Rock Silkie. Yep, 3.5oz, a touch under 400 yd per hank, 81% superwash merino, 19% silk. Wow...
Plus with half a skein you can just eek out one of these~



Right now this yarn is only available to Sock Club members, but the rumor is that it should be available on their website soonish. I'm using all my will not to knit the second sock right away.
Now why would I do such a thing? Well, I have another new sock yarn that needs to be tested out!
This is a limited time sock yarn from Rio De La Plata~

Can you say yum?! Again the word on the street is that they are only making these shifting multi-ply yarns this one time. I have a ton at the store right now, but once it's gone I probably will not be able to get it in again. (that makes me really sad, but there's nothing I can do about it...)
Some Doggie news...
Now that I'm home again at night Robin & I are back on the trails every evening. Walks are becoming quite pleasant with spring in full force.

If you're in the Lansing area I have a really cool dog event to invite you to.
This Friday from 5:30-8:00 the Friends of Greater Lansing Dog Parks is hosting a Dog Paddle at Hawk Hallow! Robin & I are so going to be there.
More information is available on their website.
Speaking of Robin...

I think he's telling me to keep my eyes on the road! (no worries we were at a red light)
We finally start out agility class tonight. Wednesday has just been a bad night for rain. Luckily the forecast looks good for tonight (knock on wood).
To prep for class I spent last evening baking doggie treats.


Those are doggie banana bread & cinnamon chicken treats. Robin approves!
These are the easiest things I've ever baked and none of the ingredients are gross. Most are probably already in your cupboard. Usually meaty flavored treats involve things like putting liver through a food processor, but this recipe used canned low sodium chicken broth. Very easy.

This is a quick update from earlier today. The weather did hold out & Robin got to enjoy his first agility class. He did so well! I've very proud tonight. He went right through the weave poles (set at a beginner angle). The A-frame through him a bit, but with a ton of positive reenforcement he made it over. Once he went over right there was hardly any hesitation the next time. He just needed to see that it wasn't going to hurt him & that there were treats at the other side. I even got him to stop on the contact on his way down (for those of you who don't know about agility, on obstacles like the a-frame the dogs feet have to touch a contact zone at the beginning & end of the obstacle. This is to make sure they don't jump onto & off of the beam and hurt themselves)

They put us in the group with what I think of as 'pocket dogs'. At first I was a bit miffed that we weren't with the shelties, aussies, and cocker spaniel, but when I though about it I think it's better this way. He is too young to work on jumping, so if we work with the tiny dog group he can just walk over the jumps & not risk injuring himself. I suspect they thought about this...

Robin loves some of the new training games they showed us. Especially the game that teaches them to go to your hand. I hold my hand out & tell him to 'touch'. Then he goes to my hand & touches it with his nose. That's got to be the easiest way for him to get a treat...

& what does Robin think about all this?
I'll have to ask him when he wakes up.

He's been napping for 5 hours straight since class got over. Apparently agility is hard work ; )

Just a forewarning... not a single stitch of knitting happened today. Nor will any be shown on the blog tonight. Today was all about Robin.

I had the morning off, so Robin & I started off our day with a 4 mile hike (note to self... next time you wear shorts remember bug spray). The woods are still going crazy with wild flower. My favorite flower is in full bloom right now~

Where I grew up the woods would literally be carpeted with Trillium blooms & May Apples for about a week every spring. I have to look a bit harder for them now, but luckily I saw that the trees were starting to get leaves & knew it was the right time to find them. Two days ago they weren't there yet. As a kid I always was amazed how a plant that's so fragile (they die if you pick the flower & are heavily protected) could flourish in my backyard.

After that hike in the sun Robin had a few hours to crash at the shop before we headed off the Dog Paddle.
The Dog Paddle is a special day where dogs are allowed at the Hawk Island beach and it's a fund raiser for the first official Lansing Dog Park.
We just couldn't miss this. Robin doesn't get to play off leash with other dogs very often. Plus I was curious how he would take to the water. Robin just had a blast! The first thing he did was run up to the pair of Great Danes. Eventually he found a cute little 4 month old Collie pup who was his perfect match for a playmate.

I got him to venture into the water quite a few times. I love that he would wade out till the water reached his belly, then he would yelp & book it for dry land!
There was quite a bit of media coverage. One of the photographers was quite taken with Robin & took tons of photos with him. I wish there was a way to get a hold of those! Hopefully a few will make it into the story, I believe he was with the free paper that comes out on Thursdays?
Robin was absolutely wonderful tonight. I was a little apprehensive to let him off leash (the area wasn't fenced) but he mostly stayed by my side & when he did run and play he came right back to me.
These are a few of my favorite photos from tonight... you can click any of them to head off the the flickr set with all of tonights photos in it.

This weekend really breezed by. The whole weekend was filled with wonderful activities. Even here at work I had our new employee Rachel in & we got more done than I could even have imagined. Every ball of yarn that could be out is now out. The class room is once again a class room & the storage system is now complete with all shelves & boxes packed with yarn. I once again have some breathing room.

This weekend I found myself knitting on two projects that have some close deadlines. The gnomes really should have left on their journey the end of last week, but gnome number 2 still needed some knitting done on him... Well he's down to the finishing touches, all that hairspray & jazz. I want him perfect for the big trip, but I have to share a photo of my favorite gnome knitting stage with you:
The webble wobble...

The other project is one that I just can't photograph. It's a sport weight shawl that was cast-on then forgotten about a few months ago. The shawl's knit from the center out & is hexagonal in shape, so there just is no good way to photograph this thing! It's just this purple pouchy misshapen blob squished on a set of circular needles. However, I'm hoping to continue my tradition of finishing a shawl for/at TNNA (first weekend in June...). I'll knit on this one a few more days & if it's seems undoable I'll probably sneak back over to my half finished peacock feathers shawl. Either way I need a new shawl in 4 weeks!

Robin continued to have a big eventful weekend. Actually Saturday was a day of rest for him. However Sunday totally made up for that!
We had the first meeting of the new Yarn Tails knitting group!!!!
Luckily we found one of those square picnic tables that up to 8 people could sit at & for those of us with dogs who can't be held on to at the same time as knitting, the table had lots of spots for leashes to be attached. Robin was loving spending a few hours with some really cool dogs.

Plus it was the first Sunday gallery walk in Old Town & the farmers market. We broke up the group early to head down to Gone for the Dogs to get the pups some treats then zipped over the farmers market to look at handspun yarn & get the dogs more treats (one of the vendors had all natural liver dog treats).

When we got home Robin & I enjoyed some good grub on the grill & headed for a long walk. I decided to go along the grassy side of the river & see how Robin would do off leash. Umm yeah, he walks better off leash than on. He stayed right by my side, came right back when he stopped to smell something. The bikers/joggers on the paved side of the river didn't phase him. and we got to play fetch! This will now be a permanent part of the walk. I'm just so pleased with how well he minds me off leash.

In fact I was so pleased he got rewarded with a bath when we got home *lol*

I don't think he saw it quite as a reward (the work torture might have come into his mind), however the massive amount of *oh he smells so good I just want to hug him & squeeze him* cuddling he gets in the days after a bath more than makes up for the bath.
I'm just going to leave you with some photos of flowers in our yard & on the path from this weekend...

So, I need to blow some steam. I'm just a touch upset right now & I really shouldn't be.

Tonight was Robin's first big boy training class. We moved up to Beginning Obedience at the OTCGL. This is our local AKC obedience club.

To set this up, you all should know I have some issues with authority figures. I was always the kid in class who even when the teacher was very nice & pointed out a mistake in a positive way I still started crying. This sensitivity goes double (or more) for male authority figures... In school I solved this by deciding that all that mattered was that I knew that I knew the materials, I don't give a rats .... what the teacher thinks. I don't think that attitude works very well.

So, I noticed earlier today that the teacher for Robin's class was a guy. I almost decided not to take the class right then & there, but it was the only class at any of the training facilities that worked in my schedule for the next 2 months.

This guy was really nice about everything, but he's an opinionated AKC obedience competing dog guy, and we're going to do things the right way. Poor Robin was thrown into the deep end of the pool tonight. I had steeled myself in advance because I figured heeling would be lesson one. Yep.

After much praise & correction to Robin & much constructive criticism from the instructor I'm just feeling really drained. I was practically in tears after the class. I feel really silly about this, but I guess it's just who I am. I will get through these 8 weeks, both for myself & for Robin.

And let me tell you, I have to go & get a 'choke chain' for this class. I'm totally only doing it because Brother Christopher (of the Monks of New Skete) recommends them & talks extensively about the correct way to use them in their book, not because this guy teaching my class told me Robin would respond better to it.

I’m going to go curl up with my dog now...

I realized I neglected to write up a good Thank You to my secret pal over the weekend. A fantastic package arrived last Friday~

It's so hard to choose a favorite thing in here, great sock yarn, tasty mints, a super cool book that I'd never even seen before... but I think my favorite is this~

I'm really sensitive to fragrances & she found me some sheepy soap that's all natural! I just love it.
The soap is from a company called Down to Hearth.

Robin has also been getting a few gifts lately. In fact his toy bin increased by 5 toys in 3 days. Probably that's a bit too much, but I felt so guilty after Monday's class. BTW thank you all for your support & suggestions about our bad experience in class. I found a training collar I can live with (has a nylon braid woven into the chains to help keep hair from getting caught & also to make it more comfortable for Robin). I also decided to stand up for us a little more starting next week. If I don't think Robin will respond well to something (like stepping on his collar to keep him in a down!) I just won't do it. I'm paying for this class & they can't force me to do anything I think will do more harm than good.

I'm also reading The Monk's of New Skete's book How to be your Dog's Best Friend: A training manual for Dog Owners. I really like their training methods & I think this will help support my decisions in class.

In the mean time I think Robin is turning into a Detroit Tigers fan!

I don't often to Meme's but I found this one over at Pollyanna & think it looks like fun~
Mark with bold the things you have ever knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book 2008 with any luck!

Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars

Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit (so would male knitters change this to “teaching a female”? I left it in, but it’s annoying me)
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch

Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
RugOkay, that one is an UFO, but I'm doing it!
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair (unintentionally, but with plans for later doing on purpose)
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

What have you learned to do that has marked a definite change in your knitting life?
Well it would probably be the first scarf I knit when I became a serious knitter (as opposed to knitting once or twice a year...) Right from the start I 'designed'. This is the project where I taught myself how to purl (literally taught myself, I didn't know any knitters or have a book, all my purls were twisted, but it didn't matter).
I started with garter, then moved to stockinette, worked for a while in basketweave, attempted all sorts of diamond shapes & crossing diagonal lines all using knit/purl. Then reversed the whole thing for the other half of the scarf. This forced me to interpret my knitting and deduce the pattern due to a lack of any note taking. I also visited my first real yarn shop when I decided the scarf was finished & realized I didn't know how to bind-off. Luckily I had made a million of those potholders on the little square looms & figured if I found a crochet hook I would just pull loop over loop then fasten off the last one.
The search for a crochet hook lead me to an amazing yarn shop in the French Quarter (yes I happened to be in New Orleans when the scarf was finished) where I saw my first $100 hank of yarn and I think where my dream of owning a yarn shop first started to fester in a dark corner of my brain.

Now one last recommendation: Go check out the comments on 'How many knitters does it take to change a light bulb' I'll warn you though, it's hours of bust at the seam entertainment!

Finally, Gnorm & Gnuman the knitting gnomes have been sent on their way. Finishing up Gnuman took everything I had in me, but he turned out so cute!
So, this morning they started scheming...

They opened up the Knitter's Travel Guide to try and decided where they should stop first.

So Where will they stop first? Swappers keep an eye on your mailbox. Gnorm & Gnuman have packed their bags, jumped on a plane & should be arriving at their first stops early next week!

Now that the Gnomes are on their way off I've gone a bit crazy starting new projects.
The first thing I started with a Ballband Face Cloth (I don't do wash rags)

I'm using Online Alpha which is a dk weight mercerized cotton. The yarn is really soft & shiny plus the colors are very rich. Everyone has been right about these being addictive. I've just about finished the first one & am who else I could knit one for...

We received a huge order of Claudia's Handpaints today. I had to swipe a couple of skeins to hop on another big knitting bandwagon, the LMKG chevron scarf. Just look at how much creamy goodness is in these colors!

I played around with test knitting these a bit tonight & the scarf is going to be just smashing.

I also want to share with you a few pics that the photojournalist at the dog paddle took of me & Robin. The other pup who's in some of the photos is McKenna a 4 month old collie. (Robin is in the bandanna)



The last pic is the one that made it into the newspaper, but I just love all three. I'm really glad they posted the additional pics on their website. I suspect that free professional photos don't come along very often...
I've noticed that the photos make it look like Robin is beating up on poor little McKenna. Trust me, she was giving just as good as she was getting, it's all just puppy play.

I'm so addicted to this Chevron Scarf. I already know I need to knit another one with sock STR light weight when the next shipment comes in. The way it's mixing the Claudia Hand Painted is just so stunning.

I'm using Blue Fields & Toasted Almond. I'm quite intrigued in how the Toasted Almond is turning pink when it's knit up with the Blue Fields when it's very much tan & cream in the skein. I wanted a pretty pastel spring scarf & that's exactly what I'm getting.

Not only am I getting a spring scarf. My brother & I went flower shopping and found some really lovely gifts for mum & dad.

For mom we picked some big beautiful Columbines


Then we found a plant my Dad had requested as an early father's day gift. It's a very cool native MI plant called a Jack in the Pulpit. It's similar to a pitcher plant in that the sides are coated in a sticky sweet substance that attracts then traps bugs.

Then I was informed that I get a gift this Mother's Day (from Robin). I suppose being the mom of a pup counts... so I found this little lovely at the green house.

My mum also got a Tree Peonie, a Lupine, and another cool native MI plant for Mother's Day, I'll add pics of those to my Flickr flower page as they bloom (it's so cool to have a licenced dealer in protected plants as a friend).

Let me just say this will be a pretty random post. I have been quite busy this week.

In knitting news I first need to say a big Thank You to my Hogwarts Sock Kit pal she has already sent me my kit & it's so cool!!!

Yeah, most of that chocolate is already gone...
I love JaWoll sock yarn. It's so soft & wears like iron. My first 'real' knit socks we're out of this yarn & they're still around and kickin'. (my actual first pair was out of Bernat Hot Sox acrylic and have fun fur cuffs so I just bring myself to count those)
Plus the Harry Potter candy was so yummy.
BTW: Alison's new Harry Potter knitting book, Charmed Knits came into the shop today & sold out today! I immediately reordered it & since the ship out of Grand Rapids more copies will be here either Friday or Monday. The book is totally wonderful in every way. I'm trying to decided if I need a weasley sweater or a wizard cloak first...
My current knitting focus is finishing my Spiderweb shawl for TNNA. I don't know if it's going to happen (I might be driving to Toronto next weekend, so that would improve my knitting time, on that note can anyone recommend a good/cheap hotel room in Toronto? preferably not too far from the Yarn Harlot book party)
I've now finished my third ball of SWTC inspiration (alpaca & soy silk) and am around 20 rounds from finishing the first chart. That's 2 maybe 3 more days of knitting to finish the first section.

My current big project at work is this:

I'm switching our old customer appreciation card system over to new cards & a new storage system. The main bulk of the work is switching everyone over to the new cards & marking them all off. My hand had such a cramp by the end of the day. I worked on this for 5 hours straight & only made it to M.
But the new cards look so much nicer!

and the new file drawers hold so many more cards (no more worries about over stuffed roladex things) and they are very pretty looking~

The other bit of shop news is the tragic loss of one of our neighboring businesses. Lazeez restaurant a few blocks from us burned down on Tuesday afternoon. It happened so fast. I went out to give Robin a potty break. When we went behind the building the skies were blue. We walked back around to everyone standing on the side walk with shocked looks on their faces. This is what we saw.


Luckily everyone was warned before the fire got out of control & no one was seriously injured. It really makes you feel powerless to see how fast their business was destroyed.

Okay, let's move to a happier subject...
How about a pretty flower picture?

I saw this lovely walking through the MSU perennial gardens. The signs still seem to be being sorted out, so I don't know what it is, but it's really a pretty plant.

I didn't let our Obedience teacher get to me like he did last week. He again told me to do something with Robin that I won't do, I just played dumb & didn't do it. (I am so not grabbing his muzzle & holding it shut to keep him from barking).
Luckily Robin & I both love our Agility class. Tonight he went through with flying colors! He's now seen & performed every obstacle that he will eventually see in competition. Many are still at a beginner setting, but he's seen them & know what the point of each of them are. We even are starting to work on sequencing. My favorite to see him perform tonight was A-frame to tire jump to weaves (all off leash & on my command! that's so cool because those are difficult obstacles) & we also did chute (a blind tunnel he has to push through) to a jump, then a 180 degree turn to the stay table. It's starting to feel like this is really going to happen.
The funniest moment of the night was when we were doing an exercise where we did a circle of different types of jumps. Some of the jumps are window or tire jump, so I dropped the leash to let Robin go through. The plan was just to let the leash trail behind & complete the exercise, however Robin hates his leash dragging on the ground. So he just stopped & picked his leash up in his mouth and continued to jump. Every time he jumped he opened his mouth & the leash fell out. Then he stopped & picked it up again before the next jump. This happened over & over all around the circle.
I think next week the leash needs to just come off.
However nothing tires out a pup like an hour of agility training...

I am so sad I couldn't keep a copy of Charmed Knits from the first shipment. I'm planning to put up a display of things knit from the book & while I have no book, things are not getting knit...
Luckily it looks like I'll have more copies on Monday so the wait won't be too bad.
A cute little weasley out of L.Harding Kashmir Aran is first on the list (Kashmir Aran has all the house colors, plus it's washable! who could ask for a better yarn)

So, I do have a confession to make... I haven’t read a single one of the Harry Potter Books. Not one. I've seen bits & pieces of the movies on tv. That's about it.
I have a very good excuse for it though.
When the first book came out I was at the rebellious high school age where I hated anything that was mainstream & Harry Potter just had too much of a craze about it to be cool.
Now I know better.
I'm also the obsessive type. Once I start reading these books I'll probably make it through all of them in about a month. It's not unheard of for me to read a novel in a night (obviously sleeping doesn't happen that night, but a good book is much more important than sleep). I'm waiting till the final book is released, then I'm going to devour the whole lot of them.
I have no excuse for not seeing more of the movies. I keep meaning to go see them in the theater, but it never seems to happen. Perhaps because I don't want to go by myself? I don't know. I guess my official excuse is I like to read books before I go see the movie (I reread each of the Lord of the Ring novels before seeing the movie. I believe I remember often finishing them as the previews were running).
So, when it comes to trivia for the HSKS all I can really say is, TGFG (Thank God for Google)

Trivia #1
What's the name of this potion?
This potion has the colour of molten gold, and while exposed to the air, large drops will leap like goldfish above the surface without spilling.
Felix Felicis

Trivia #2
Which book is this line from?
"Harry and Cho were now too embarrassed to look at each other, let alone talk to each other; what if Ron and Hermione started going out together, then split up? Could their friendship survive it? Harry remembered the few weeks when they had not been talking to each other in third year; he had not enjoyed trying to bridge the distance between them. And then, what if they didn't split up? What if they became like Bill and Fleur, and it became excrutiatingly embarrassing to be in their presence, so that he was shut out for good?"
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Trivia #3
Who utters these words?
"Oh I am glad I'm not on duty. I wouldn't fancy having to go and tell the Irish they've got to stop celebrating."
Mr. Weasley

I had a lovely time knitting a little distraction project. When I work on a big knitting project (like the spiderweb shawl) I need a little side project once & a while.
So I gathered around the fur kids & got to work on a super cute little hat.
Siouxsie actually sat near by (kinda unusual)

Trend sat down to give himself a bath

Robin was fresh from a bath himself & decided to take a nice long nap.

Okay,
Many of you have probably seen the Sweet Baby Cap over at Hello Yarn. The pattern is freshly translated & I had a partial skein of Claudia Hand Painted in Poppy!
This hat turned out so nice & was a really easy knit.
The photos don't come close to showing the correct color of the yarn. It's a super saturated orange/red/pink & my camera just about blew a circuit attempting to capture the color.


Robin humbled himself about and allowed me to photograph him in the hat... this is as close to the correct color as I got.

One part of the pattern is a little fuzzy. I attached the ties by picking up 3 stitches at each of the 2 back pointy bits. Then I worked an i-cord on each at the same time (one from either end of the ball).

This ended up working really well. I was freaked out at several points that I might run out of yarn (I only had 30g to start with) but I had a comfortable amount left over in the end.
I want to leave you with a photo of my clematis that's overgrown 2 trellises and 2 pine trees. It's in full bloom right now & really is quite a view!

More photos of the current blooms in the garden can be found on my flickr page.

Has anyone else out there been drawn into Blood Ties (on Lifetime)?
Gosh, I just watched the season finally. Can I just say that Henry is the sexiest thing on tv!
I guess once a goth, always a goth... I just don't know how I'm going to go through the week without my Henry fix. I hope season 2 starts sooner rather than later.

So, I started a new diversion. I'm half way through the second chart (of 3) on my spiderweb shawl. I'm finding myself knitting a full ball a day on this & have knit 5 balls in the last week. At this pace the shawl will easily be finished in 2 weeks for TNNA.

Okay, back to the diversion. Since you all know I'm anything but a monogamous knitter, I've started an Agrosy scarf!

Mine's being knit with Noro Cashmere Island. It has 30% cashmere in it so the scarf is buttery soft. I'll be so excited to wear this in the fall.

I've got a little sewing project on my hands right now. The store bought bandannas are way to big for Robin & I really wanted some different prints than I could find, so I've decided to sew him up some nice reversible bandannas.
Doesn't he look so cute!


Plus I have several other prints to sew up...plus a few knitting themed fabrics on the way!

Here's the deal though. To buy enough fabric to sew up one, I have to get enough to actually make 4. Robin doesn't need 4 of each print.
If I sew up the extras & put them on etsy is anyone interested? They fit a small to medium dog (neck size up to around 12") and all edges are completely finished off. I find these have long enough tails to tie in a square knot on Robin & the tails are short enough he's not chewing on them very much.

I am already half way through my Argosy scarf in the Noro Cashmere Island. I love how soft it is & this pattern really shows off self striping yarns to their full potential.

For those of you following our drama with Robin's obedience class, class 3 of 8 was tonight. I still don't like the guy & it's very obviously that Robin doesn't either. When he came over to push Robin back into a down Robin just freaked out. However as long as he doesn't ever touch my dog again I think we'll make it through.
Robin just isn't comfortable going into a submissive position when that particular teacher is near by. His downs are solid out of class, but he gets all skiddish and uncomfortable when he's there.

However I'm noticing he's taking a liking to the Shepard pup in class. I'm cool with that. I think I may be taking a shine to the Shepard's owner... puppy's are the best icebreakers.

I'm leaving it off today with a photo of Robin from our pre-class walk this afternoon. He's really starting to look like an adult Sheltie! Plus I just think he looks so happy in this shot~

I don't mean that in any relaxing watch bad movies all day on Sunday sort of way. It is hot here! It's been 90 or close to it for the last couple of days & I just realized that the air hasn't been on at home. I've been sweating buckets here melting onto the couch & just thought to check the thermostat. It was 84 degrees in the house. No wonder why I feel like I'm in an oven. Poor Robin's been laying at my feet panting... the heat doesn't seem to effect the cats for some reason though.
I guess it doesn't help that I have a large purple object laying on my lap either. A large unphotographable object. I'm more than a repeat into the final chart & am about to go up to the biggest needle size. I think (assuming I don't turn into a puddle first) it will be done for TNNA in 9 days.
I do have a finished sewing project. Here's Robin's new set of Bandanas!

I think he likes them...

I'm planning on putting up the extras on etsy when I get back from Toronto (I have between 1 & 3 additional of each print) and I believe I can make some larger ones in the interest is there.
Oh yeah, I'm headed to Toronto for Stephanie's book launch party & the yarn crawl on Saturday. Yippy!
My last trip to Toronto was not as good I had expected.... I suspect that being lead around by a troop of knitters will give me a pretty fabulous view of the city. I don't believe I'll have internet access at the hotel, but I'll be taking tons of photos & you'll either get the full report when I get back (probably posting on Sunday) or if I find some free internet access in Toronto I'll sneak in a quick post.

So, I leave first thing in the morning for Toronto. We should be arriving between 2 & 3 depending on Traffic and other border crossing issues (last time I crossed I got stuck right in the middle of a protest walk on the bridge, took over an hour to cross).
Our Friday plans so far include a trip over to the Textile Museum for the sale, then ? until the big launch at Indigo, and ending the day with some good Canadian brew at The Spotted Dick.
Saturday I'm planning to get on the bus/subway & follow where ever Stephanie leads me hopefully ending up with a skein of Fleece Artist Sea Wool sock yarn (and hopefully not too much else, but I believe lace yarn & sock yarn are still fair game within reason).

Those of you who are going to be at the launch, I'll be wearing this~

It's my hempathy Flannel Garden Top. Of course this depends completely on the weather being as hot up there is it is in MI. (off to check the weather...yep Friday looks darn hot)
I'm looking forward to this front moving through soon

So, what does an OCD knitter pack for an overnight trip?
First she commandeers the new knitting bag that arrived at the shop...

and declares it the best knitting bag ever made. More pockets than I can figure out how to fill!?
Then she proceeds to attempt to fill it.

One part Chevron Scarf
One part Argosy Scarf
One part Sockapalooza socks
One part LPO (large purple object, aka Spiderweb shawl)
Then toss in 5 extra balls of yarn for LPO, all the knitting notions she could possibly think of using and fears being without, iPod, Camera...
She then realizes that the bag is still only half full!!! and decided that since she is driving home in the dark on Saturday that a knit at night in the car project needs to be added...

So, she ads in a skein of Noro Transitions (OMG I love this yarn & it's being discontinued this Fall, better horde this while you still can), some knit lite needles, and a pattern for a simple chevron scarf.

I think I maybe overpacking a bit...
See you all in Toronto!

So,
It was a long wonderful weekend. The type of vacation you need a couple more days off to recover from.

Lynn & I headed out fairly early Friday morning to make the 5 hour drive to Toronto. For the first time in my memory I actually ran into construction in Canada. Major construction, this stuff made MI highway construction season look like a kid playing with legos. We didn't get into Toronto until after 4. On the positive side I got some amazing practice driving a stick (that mostly stopped highway backup can teach you how to get into first really well).

It was so worth it though!
Just look at the crowd at Indigo~

As usual Stephanie was charming & funny making sure we were well informed of the presence of CHOKE (they are everywhere) & the need for knitters to be proud and represent.

Plus, unlike any knitting event I've attended before we got to gather at The Spotted Dick and partake in the dangerous mix of drinking and knitting. (For us American's the whole Spotted Dick thing will never get old... I delighted in getting to ask the male employee at Indigo "So, Stephanie tells me you're the man who knows about The Dick", minds out of the gutter people, I was only attempting to get directions to the pub).

After luckily making it back to the hotel for the night and getting in a much too short nights rest, Lynn & I hopped on a street car and made our way to the Naked Sheep (is it just me or does this trip sound risqué so far?)

Can I just say right off the back that every shop we visited was just lovely & I was lucky to have only come home with a modest stash enhancement. My rule for the day was simply that I could only purchase yarn that I couldn't easily get in MI.

Our next stop on the tour was a shop that was new to Stephanie (Thanks Amy for the recommendation), Americo.
Americo was the most unique yarn shop I've ever been to, no Debbie Bliss or Rowan for them, nope only hand spun yarn here.
Funky Wool Hand Spun

Dreamy Cotton Hand Spun

And for me to bring home, Precious Hand Spun Cultured Silk in Lace Weight (about 800yd)

Our next stop of the day was Romni Wools. Cleverly chosen to be the stop before lunch because we easily could have spent a week in there & not have found our way out yet. Stephanie figured calling us all to lunch would be our only hope of ever leaving. She was most likely correct on that point.
Well, Romni is where I found my goal of the day. A skein of Fleece Artist Sea Socks!

A couple of skeins of their Angora/Silk blend also followed me home.

A short Street Car trip & we found ourselves at Kensington Market for lunch & to visit Lettuce Knit. I can hardly believe how amazing Lettuce Knit was, especially since it's only 200 sq feet!
Here's the whole gang infront of Lettuce Knit...

I'm easy to pick out of all the group photos! Just look for the only knitter wearing sunglasses (I have transitions so I'm never in risk forgetting my sunglasses).
Some stash building happened here too...
Some Smooshy for Mum~

And some BFL braids for Me~

After a long wait for a street car (all of 20 min, I'm told that's long in Toronto. Also it's long enough for Knitters to wonder how many of us will fit in a bus shelter... You'll have to go to Stephanie for that answer)
we then headed to AlterKnit...
There were sock Monkeys knitting!

And a skein of Sea Silk that just called for me to bring it home...

So, I'm home again, and my stash has grown to take up even more of my home.

Plus during my days off I started an Etsy Shop! Some of my hand dyed yarn is up there. My patterns will be joining them soon, but in the mean time they're available on my webpage by clicking the link over on the right.