Fibrefest Haul

Look what followed me home from Fibrefest International. I went with a plan. I was going to buy a longer niddy noddy, another bobbin or two for the Little Gem II, sock blockers, and as much luxury fibre as I could manage.

There were no sock blockers, no Majacraft bobbins, and the niddy noddy I saw did not suit my needs. Somehow I still managed to spend all the money I went with.



Want a closeup look?



50 grams of white bamboo top. 25 grams of cream yak top.



25 grams of white silk/cashmere (85%/15%). 20 grams of ramie.



250 grams of "Black Rainbow Glitter" a N.Z. Halfbred wool with a bit of sparkle added. I hope I'll be able to spin it thin enough to make a lace shawl for the holiday season.



A packet of silk hankies. This will be a totally different spinning experience for me.



A huge 225 grams of camel/silk. Ooooo, I'm looking forward to this one. I was gifted a small sample of camel silk a few years ago and that tiny bit was easy to spin into a 3 ply laceweight and it went far enough to make a pair of baby socks. This big bag should be enough to make something substantial.

And last, but not least I got these:



Two lovely alpaca batts. Once I get my existing project off the wheel the alpaca batts are likely to be the first thing spun up. They are the bulkiest to store and I am rapidly running out of space in my "playroom".

There was one other fun item, bought for me as a Mother's Day gift. I'll show a picture of that tomorrow.

Close Up For Nicole

Here's the close up of the lace pattern on the border of the Lace Edged Denim Sweater, Nicole. Sorry it isn't a better picture. It's so dark (darker than this picture portrays) that the camera has difficulty picking up the details.

Profile Revision May Be Needed

If you are a Blogger user and wonder why you haven't received answers to your enquires, please take a moment to revise your profile.

You may have set your email address as "visible" when you first signed up, but Blogger did something a while back that reset everyone's profiles with "hide email address". That means that when you leave a comment, even if you asked me a question, I have no way to respond to you except to leave my answer in my own comment section and hope that you eventually find your way back and also think to look in my comment section of that particular post to see if I've answered you. I'm betting a lot of my answers go unread.

There is a simple way to remedy this. Please go update your Blogger profile and while you are doing so recheck "show email address". This way I can respond to your comment/question personally and you won't have to search for my response/answer.

I take no credit for finally realizing this. I read about it first on Dave's blog, Criminy Jickets. He has asked that we pass the information on.

Quick, Blurry and Poorly Posed

I'm dashing out the door to spend the day at Fibrefest but just had to show you this.



I finished the sewing up of the Lace Edged Denim Sweater this morning. It fits, it's comfy, and I love it.

Made of handspun 2 ply superwash merino (17 - 18 WPI).

Unfortunately it likely won't see much wear until next fall.

Streak Of Blue Lightening Socks

I've been (occasionally) knitting on this particular pair of socks for so long that many of the details now escape my (admittedly poor) memory.

This ruffly looking cast off was only done yesterday so I DO remember that part. I used the ultra-stretchy cast off I learned while doing the Swallowtail Shawl.

K2, *transfer the 2 stitches on the right needle back to the left needle and then K2tog through the back loop. K1 and repeat from* around.

It makes for a very stretchy cast off perfect for toe-up socks. AND ---



---when worn it doesn't look at all ruffly.



The rest of the details for these socks are lost to the miles and miles (okay, just 7", but knitting only in meetings, waiting rooms, or on long car rides, it took forever!) of K1, P1 ribbing. I THINK I used Heartstrings Pattern: A50 - 5232 "Basic Toe-to-Cuff Sock", but after the heel was knit I would have filed the pattern away.



It was likely some kind of sock yarn from Elann.com
Maybe.

Swallowtail Shawl Debut

Swallowtail Shawl, design by Evelyn A. Clark,
published in Interweave Knits, Fall 2006 issue.



Width across the top edge, 48". Depth from tip to top edge, 24"



Started May 02, 2007. Finished May 05, 2007



Knit with 2 ply laceweight (18 WPI), spindle spun from undyed Bluefaced Leicester roving.

Blocking Swallowtail

As promised, a picture of the Swallowtail Shawl blocking. I like to wet block my shawls, pinning them out severely.



Although I use interlocking foam "play mats" when blocking smaller items, like the individual pieces of a sweater, for larger items like this shawl I use foam insulation board. (For REALLY large shawls I lay a sheet on a carpeted floor.)

The Swallowtail Shawl is a great one for using blocking wires. My blocking wires are 36" tig welding rods, much cheaper than "real" blocking wires. I placed one wire down the center back and two across the top edge. I made sure those wires remained straight, but allowed the wires threaded through the lower, pointed edging to curve out slightly while I pinned.

Pictures of the finished shawl tomorrow.

With Yarn To Spare

Stephanie said in her May 4 th post, "I'm knitting quickly since I've started to fear I won't have enough yarn". Although it sounds absurd, I too find myself knitting faster when there is some doubt as to whether or not I will have enough yarn for a project. It's almost as though I am trying to outrun the yarn supply. Perhaps if I knit fast enough, or constantly enough, the yarn won't have time to run out? Sound impossible?



Ha! I proved the theory right. I knit as fast as I could and as constant as running a household would allow and --- TA DA! --- the Swallowtail Shawl is complete, and with a little yarn to spare. That little bundle of Bluefaced Leicester that was sent along with my spindle really went a long way! The shawl is having its pre-blocking bath right now. Photos in the near future.

Now what was I up to before I was distracted by this? ---- Ah yes, the Lace Trimmed Denim Sweater. More on that soon.

While I'm Waiting

My knitty-fingers got fidgety while I was waiting for the Lace Edged Denim Sweater to dry during it's blocking and I cast on for this:



This is the beginnings of the Swallowtail Shawl from Interweave Knits, Fall 2006. I'm doing it in the 2 ply laceweight that I spun up from the lovely Bluefaced Leiscester included with the Spindlewood Co. spindle that I won from Spindlicity.

IF I'm able to finish the shawl (I'm concerned I may run short) I'll likely dye the finished piece.

Wool Watching

Watching wool dry.



I got to a point in the Lace Trimmed Denim Sweater where I had to knit to "x # of inches" before doing the underarm decreases. Normally I'd just keep knitting until I reached that measurement. BUT, to improve the look and drape of the handspun I've been knitting the pieces slightly smaller and blocking them to size. When asked to knit to a certain length, I could go by the rows per inch measurement --- but that isn't necessarily the same over the lace portion as it is over the main, stockinette section. Soooooo, I'm blocking what I've knit so far to the correct width, measuring the length so far, and then doing a calculation based on rows per inch over stockinette to figure out how many rows to knit before doing the underarm shaping.

Which leaves me watching wool dry.

Masters Monday - To Be Continued

Friday was a Very Good Day. It was so good in fact that all the good news could not be contained in one blog post. As you may recall, I reached my running goal on Friday. The update on my "running ticker" at the top of my post was the most immediately visible good news, so I chose to focus on that and leave the rest for today.

So today I continue with a "Masters Monday" post according to the tradition I established earlier of reporting my progress on the program in each Monday's post.

Today's progress report:

I PASSED!

My Level 1 submission was returned Friday. ALL of my swatches were accepted, and according to the letter "It is highly unusual for all swatches to be accepted on the first try!". There were a few, very minor comments which I will point out by editing my earlier Masters Monday posts. If you are interested in viewing the suggestions for improvement you should be able to bring up a list of all related posts by typing "Masters Monday" or "swatches" into the blogs search bar.

The written work that I stressed over so much was accepted as well and was deemed "very thorough" and " well researched". In the questions section I had to resubmit PART of ONE of my answers due to a very dumb mistake. I can't believe I overlooked something as simple as a change in stitch count due to some increases. Kicking myself I tell ya, KICKING myself! But for that one small error I would have passed on the first try. Bah.

Anyway, because my only required resubmit was minor and involved a small portion of one answer, I was allowed to send my resubmit via email. I had my correction accepted by the following day.

Woo, hoo! On to Level II.

I won't be ordering that just yet. I have a few projects around here that need attention and I have to buy new glasses. (Have you seen the price of progressive lenses lately!!)

Let the Band Play

I made it!



Since early January of this year I have run over 329 miles on an elliptical trainer, the distance from my present home in Chilliwack to my childhood home of Prince George. Yes, yes, I know that the silly ticker at the top of my blog says I still have 1.6 miles to go. That's because it isn't registering the fact that I've actually run PAST the required distance. I'll have to either take it down or change the destination and keep right on running. What do you think? Should I just keep right on going to...to...to....hmmmm.....how about to Prince Rupert?

Approaching PG

Almost there! With only 10.9 miles to go I'll make it in another 2 runs. I've passed Red Rock and can smell the mills of Prince George in the air.

Getting It To Fit

Still knitting and spinning for the sweater which is beginning to acquire the moniker of "Dark Denim Sweater". The actual pattern has no name, just a number. The second sleeve is finished. Looks just like the first so I won't bother with a picture. On to the back piece now. And some spinning.

It's getting to be like a film clip download where the viewing begins before the download is complete. Sometimes the film progresses faster than the download and the film must stop and wait for the download to get further ahead. I started knitting before I had the spinning complete and my knitting is progressing faster than the spinning can keep pace. It won't be long before the knitting has to stop and wait for the spinning to move forward.

In the meantime Lorraine left this question in my comments:

Lorraine said...
Absolutely love the yarn and the beginnings of the sweater. I notice that your sweaters usually fit beautifully. Do you alter patterns to fit in advance or are you just genetically lucky enough to have the right figure to get sweaters to fit as written?


I suppose it would be a little of both Lorriane, and then some. My proportions are pretty average. Both now, and when I was heavier, my bust/waist/hips remain relatively normal in relation to each other. If I gain in one place I tend to gain all over. So, yes, patterns do tend to fit me "right off the rack".

Of course one has to choose the right size in the first place, and that is where some knitters go wrong. You can't just assume blindly that you will always be a "small" or a "size 36" or whatever the case may be. I always look at the measurements the finished garment is supposed to be and choose according to my preferred fit. I've learned over time how much "fitting ease" I am comfortable with, and I'm getting better at determining an appropriate "design ease" depending on the style of the sweater, the weight of the knitted fabric, it's drape and so on. If I already have a sweater in a similar style and weight that fits just right, I take the measurements from that. I also use previous disasters as a learning tool!

And then there is the gauge swatch. Nearly every knitter hates to knit them, but they tell you oh, so much and should not be skipped. A gauge swatch not only tells you if you are getting the correct number of stitches per inch, (being off just 1/4 of a stitch over 4" can have a drastic effect on fit if you are using a bulky yarn) but also how the finished "fabric" will perform. For instance, does it drape correctly? "Getting gauge" is not the only thing that is important. You may be able to squeeze a knitting worsted into a pattern for sportsweight by using a ridiculously small needle, but are you going to be happy with the stiff-as-a-board fabric? It's a good idea to take your finished gauge swatch and launder it in the same fashion that you will launder the finished garment. If it is going to go all loosy-goosy and stretch out of shape (sometimes a problem with Superwash yarns), or perhaps shrink, fuzz, or fade, wouldn't you rather know about this before spending all that time and money to knit the garment in the first place?

Sometimes I do alter patterns to fit better. I'll occasionally add waist shaping where there wasn't any, deepen a V-neck, lengthen or add width to sleeves, etc. Occasionally I realize that what I love about a particular commercial pattern is one significant detail and I then incorporate that feature into another design that I like the fit of.

If you can, try on early and often --- it'll save hours and hours of fruitless knitting. In the end, it's still a crap shoot. You win some, you lose some. But when I lose I rip out the offender and try to learn from my mistakes.

One Skein Knitted Up

From the first two bobbins of Superwash Merino I made 2 skeins of 2 ply at an average of 17 WPI. That marks it as a "fingering weight", but in actual use I found I liked the way it draped when knit up a little looser and I have had this pattern kicking around for a while looking for the perfect yarn. It's supposed to be knit in a DK weight cotton yarn. I find the handspun merino looks perfect and drapes beautifully.



The photo shows how far I was able to go with the first skein, which was the smaller of the two.

The beginning of the second sleeve is looking a little rumpled in the picture as it has not yet been blocked. I have the lower part of the first sleeve blocked because I was concerned about my gauge and wanted to double check before I continued. Blocking improved the knitting a great deal. It made the handspun look more smooth and regular, it opened up the lace some, and it greatly improved the drape.

I'm really enjoying this project. It looks way prettier in person than it does in these rather low light photos.

Worsted Weight Socks

You may recall that last weekend I participated in a beta testing of a new knitting software program. Sock Wizard version 2 will be that much better because of me. Well, me and 60 or more other testers. Heh.



Before my test copy expires (I believe that happens today, April 20th) I printed out a copy of a pattern for socks, custom fit for me, in a worsted weight gauge. I decided to give Carol Wulster's "Ultimate Diagonal Heel" a whirl. I'm happy to report it was easy and they fit great.



Gotta love the speed of a pair of worsted weight socks. I estimate that, with the fewer stitches and rows per inch, they knit up in about a quarter of the time it takes to knit a fingering weight pair. I knit the entire leg portion of one of the socks during a guild meeting last night.

These were done in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. It's 100% wool, no nylon, so they may not last as long as the wool/nylon blends. It took the better part of two balls of the blue and somewhere around 1/2 a ball of the red.

Superwash Merino 2ply

2 plyed Superwash Merino handspun. I purchased the mill ends (not rovings, but a hodge podge of pieces and strips from a mill --- all spinnable with very little prep.) from ebay seller: "shpherder". I believe I paid $4US a POUND for this. Even including shipping it worked out to only about $5 Canadian for a pound. It is very slippery and a little difficult to control during spinning, but the end results are quite beautiful. She also sells actual rovings at a higher price....likely easier to spin.

<


The finished skein averages between 16 and 18 WPI (not as uniform as I am usually capable of) and should knit up beautifully.

I have 7 more pounds, in various colours. Heh. Yummy, super soft, lustrous, and washable!

Hixon

I've passed Hixon now, in my effort to run the distance between Chilliwack and Prince George. Check out the tracker at the top of my blog. Less than 31 miles left to go.

2 B Plyed

On the wheel:



Superwash mill ends from ebay seller shpherder.

I have 2 very large bobbins of this spun and ready to be plyed. I purchased 2 pounds of this dark, dark navy colour, and pound of a soft, bubblegum pink, 2 pounds of black, and 3 pounds of light blue. It's lovely, soft wool, but I find it a bit difficult to spin. The combination of "superwash" AND "merino" makes it very slippery. I have to "pinch" with the lead hand a little more firmly than I am used to and if I spin for a long time my hand cramps up.

Worth it though.

Whatchamacallit

I had an interesting weekend as a volunteer "beta tester" for Carol Wulster's "Sock Wizard, Version 2" which will be released some time in the future. Along with 60 or more other knitters I poured over the program looking for errors and glitches in the patterns and help files. Friday and Saturday we looked for typos and errors in the way the program operated. Today we knit all the various heels using different needle set ups (4 dpn, 5 dpns, 1 circular, 2 circulars).

It should be noted that this little oddity is NOT supposed to be a sock. It's just my test drive of a "Next Step Heel" (on the right side) and an "Ultimate Toe" (on the left side). The bit of ribbing at the top was just something I added so that the stockinette wouldn't roll on the sample.



It was fun trying out a different variety of heel and toe. The program is GREAT! If you are an avid sock knitter, keep an eye out for it.

Spindling Spring Colour

On the spindle: Handdyed Merino Sliver by Fleece Artist.



The braided roving was quite compact from the dyeing process (perhaps a little felted?) so I had to predraft quite carefully and I'm still finding it necessary to "park and draft" some stubborn sections.

EZ's BSJ

A gift for Kaylen. The Baby Surprise Jacket from "The Opinionated Knitter", a compilation of newsletters written by Elizabeth Zimmerman from 1958 through 1968.



The sweater is supposed to be "the right size for a 1-year-old, or older", but even though I got perfect gauge, I think it will fit Kaylen when she is about 6 months old. Yup. Right in the heat of the summer. *sigh* I suppose that makes it a good thing that the hat likely won't fit at the same time? It looks quite large even though I used Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's advice on hat sizes. (from the sections "Typical Head Sizes" and "Head Rules and Exceptions" in her book "Knitting Rules"). If we fold up that first, lower red stripe it looks more like it might fit a human being under 5 years old. Maybe Kaylen can wear it some time next winter --- long after she has outgrown the sweater.

Delivery Complete

I just received an email notification from the post office. My Master Knitter Level One binder is now in the hands of TKGA.

While I'm waiting for the evaluation to be done I've completed yet another project I had on my "to do" list.



It's a simple fitted sheet for a playpen so Kaylen will have somewhere to sleep when she comes to Grandma and Grandpa's. I wonder if she will ever use it. She prefers to sleep like this whenever possible ---



--- upright and in someone's arms.

What's Next?

It seems that in one giant heave I got the Master Knitter Level One out the door to be evaluated and then, with a great sigh of relief, collapsed in a corner somewhere never to be heard from again.

Well, that might seem to be true, but in actual fact I've been busy but not much in a blogging sort of mood. PJ asked a question in my comments, and I'll answer her here in an effort to get my blogging mojo going again.

PJ said... ....SO, what's after this? I've enjoyed so much hearing about all this through the weeks/months! Can't wait to see what is next!

Well PJ, when I get my Level One back (and do any necessary corrections) it will be straight on to Level Two. In the meantime I thought I might "...try to make good use of my time getting a few other things finished up." Here is a list of a few of the projects I'm fiddling with:

I have a Dale of Norway kit waiting to be made. I've made two rather unsuccessful attempts at that and it is sitting in time out. I'll look at it again when it decides to behave!

I finished weaving off the Summer and Winter sampler warp at home, so when the second day for the guild to work on it as a group rolled around I spent my time combing a big bag of wool that was given to me. That is still a work in progress, to be picked up as time, weather (best done outside as it is full of VM) and inclination dictate.

On my wheel I'm spinning my way through 6 pounds of superwash merino. I'm findiing it more difficult to spin than many of the preparations I have tackled so far. It's "mill ends" so not all uniform and ready to go. It's also very, very slippery and inclined to spin up less uniform and fine than I am used to. I'm sure it will be lovely yarn when all is said and done, but it is less relaxing to spin than I had hoped.

Just yesterday I started in on spinning some Fleece Artist merino using my spindle. This project will be done in little bits, 5 or 10 minutes at a time as I wait for pots to boil. I like having the spindle near the kitchen for such stolen moments.

Despite having the patterns for several "next up" projects pinned to the bulletin board in my Stash Room (and even some handspun ready to be swatched for them), I ignored all that and cast on for yet another new project, one not even on my official "next up" list. I blame the Dale of Norway kit's misbehaviour. My frustration with it is what lead to me look around for some easy, reasonably quick project that would calm my ruffled feathers and restore my belief in my ability to knit. I found the perfect little project. With some clever little twists and turns and a few color changes it held my attention through 3 days (2 if you consider how late in the day I actually got started) of intense knitting where I was neither bored, nor overly challenged. Perfect! Readers have to wait until after Easter Sunday for details and photos though as it is to be a present for a certain little someone's first Easter.

Another thing I really must get to is an organizing and dunging out of my Stash Room. Being a Multi-Interest Fiber Fanatic does have it's drawbacks when storage space is an issue. Things like looms (I have an 8 harness table loom with stand, a tapestry loom, a rigid heddle loom, and an Inkle loom) spinning wheels, a ball winder, a niddy noddy, a couple of lazy kates, an umbrella swift, a bobbin winder, a large book/magazine collection, and of course all the fiber and project bags that go with the various hobbies. It makes for a very cramped Stash Room and I have a new tool to set up somewhere in there so I can get to learning it's ins and outs. I am the proud new owner of a used Singer 360 knitting machine, with ribber. I took machine knitting in college about 9 years ago and have been wanting a punch card machine ever since. All that's holding me back now is the need to find some room to set it up. Well, that and FEAR. Those suckers are hard to use, let me tell ya. It will put my mechanical aptitude to an extreme test.

Masters Monday - 10

Today's Masters Monday post is a little late because I was busy ---



--- FINISHING! I'm done, I'm done, I'm Sooooo DONE!

That's my binder at the top, ready to hand in. I spent nearly the entire day going through the rest of these books and a long list of online resources (for a second time!) so I could write out my reference list and bibliography. I knew about the bibliography and had added to that as I worked on the swatches and questions, but I had somehow missed the fact that my "Blocking and Care of Knits" report had to include my references. I had done all my research, taking notes from each source I could find, and had then compiled the report from my notes --- but I had not written down my sources or page numbers. I had to look everything up a second time. *sigh*

Note to those just starting the program: Every time you crack open a book or magazine, or find a valuable online source, WRITE IT DOWN!

Sheldon

In or out, he's a cutie!





This is "Sheldon" the turtle, from the free Knitty pattern designed by Ruth Homrighaus. This is destined to be a baby present (shhh, don't tell Kaylen) so I embroidered the eyes using the method suggested by Bogie.

This was a fun knit. Not nearly so difficult as it might look.

Leaf Lace Set

Remember a while back when I modeled the Leaf Lace set I had knit on a baby doll? It fits Kaylen now, but not for long!



This was taken Monday, just before her first outing (not including neighbourhood walks).

Kaylen has started her own blog HERE. She'd love to have you come by and comment!

Grandma's Running Again

With the birth of my first grandchild last week, I was more than a little busy and wasn't able to make it to the gym. I'm back at it now though, 40 minutes running on the elliptical trainer yesterday and again today, brings my total so far this year to over 227 miles. Although I've given up on trying to make the distance from Chilliwack to Prince George by the end of April (too many unavoidable set backs), I still intend to keep on running and working out with weights at the gym. Once I make Prince George I'll reset the "exercise ticker" for a longer goal --- perhaps year end?

Now that baby Kaylen has arrived and I can take down the "pregnancy ticker" I've moved the exercise ticker to the top of my main blog page. This way I can keep it updated without repeatedly adding the graph to a blog post.

With this recent mileage addition I've now passed Mcleese Lake.

Masters Monday - 9

Do I look bored? Frustrated?



I am.

Torturous work this report writing. *Gag* I've found hundreds of reasons to put it off to the last and my procrastination is coming back to haunt me. All that stands between me and handing in my Master Knitters, Level 1 is this annoying report on Blocking and Care of Knits. I have no problem with the material which I feel I know quite well, it's just getting it all down on paper, in detail, and in a way that makes sense and "flows". Borrowing words from a song, I just need to "Knuckle down, buckle down, do it, do it, do it."

My husband says I like to ruin a perfectly good, relaxing hobby by finding a way to stress myself out.

Having taken notes from every book I own that references blocking or care of knits in any way, and having organized a small portion of that into sentences and paragraphs of some sort, I'm calling it quits for the night.

Stay tuned for more next week. Hopefully it will be news that I have crossed the finish line.

Girly Girl

As you might guess, any knitting content on the blog in the near future will likely be hidden among the baby pictures. Baby Kaylen is, after all, my favorite "work in progress" right now.

This very girly little outfit was lovingly knit by my mother, the baby's Great Grandmother.



It's the "Harebell Set for 3 Months" from an old booklet, "Nursery Styles for 3 to 12 Months" by Beehive.

In Praise of Charity Knitting

Along with the baby pictures and grandma-esk bragging that are sure to become a regular feature on this blog, I want to let everyone know how appreciated the little, hand knit, newborn hats anonymously donated to hospitals are.

I've never knit a charity hat for a newborn before but that might change now. I just wasn't aware how much the "little touch of handmade" would mean to the new parents (and grandma!). I figured that because the recipient didn't know the knitter there would be no "bond" with the item and it would just be "another hat", not special in any way. Boy, was I wrong.

The very fact that the knitter does NOT know the baby and parents they are knitting the hat for makes it extra, extra special. From the perspective of a grandma who was there for the labour, birth, and hospital stay, let me tell you it means a LOT when they open that big drawer of little knitted hats and let the mom choose the one she will keep as a memento of this special day, and baby's first bath.



While my daughter and I looked through the drawer finding just the right hat for newborn Kaylen, still damp from her first bath, it struck me that the little hat was a symbol that the baby was not only loved and welcomed by her family, but by the community as a whole, and by the particular knitter who selflessly knit that lovely little hat.



How wonderful the community of knitters are. So generous, so loving, and so willing to spend their time knitting with no thought of thanks or praise. In the case of the hospital hats, there is no opportunity for the mom to thank the particular knitter so --- Thank you kind knitters. Your work IS truly appreciated.

Kaylen also received another very special hat. This one was knit especially for her by her Great Grandma, my mom, and will always be a cherished keepsake.



Sorry mom that we did not understand that the intent was for her to wear it during her hospital stay. It was packed away in her dresser drawer with the pretty little things waiting for her home-coming. She is wearing it now though, and she looks like a little angel in it. So sweet. Thanks SO much. We love you.

New Granddaughter!

What a JOY it is to hold my first grandchild in my arms!



Kaylen Marie arrived in the early morning hours of March 12,



And weighed in at 8 pounds, 14 ounces.



After attending the birth and helping with the first few days at home,

GRANDMA IS EXHAUSTED!

While We're Waiting

So far no grand-baby. While I'm waiting for the call I'm knitting inappropriately colored soakers.



Our daughter would like to use cloth diapers but we couldn't find any first size rubber pants so I'm hoping a few old fashioned "soaker" diaper covers will help "contain" everything until Baby is large enough for the 3 month size. The colors are not very baby girl-ish, but they are all I have in my stash. A quick trip to my nearest LYS was not fruitful. Amazingly enough they don't have any pastel colors in knitting worsted wool.

Oh well. I'm not sure that they will work or fit anyway.

Sample Weaving

Last Saturday I attended a weaving workshop held by our guild and generously taught by one of our experienced weavers. We were learning about a weave structure which is named "Summer and Winter" after its alternating blocks of dark and light. I managed to complete 4 of the 14 samples that day, which was probably about average. I went home and completed two more of the samples that evening.

I continued with the project today and got another 6 samples finished. They aren't perfect, which of course bugs me, but I remind myself that they are just samples and are meant as learning tools. The good ones will make their way into a sample book/file, and the ones with errors may possibly be redone correctly some day --- that is if I like them enough otherwise. Some I like more than others.

Of the ones I did today, these first two are my favorites. Pardon the ends. Those are dealt with after the work is off the loom. This warp is still a work in progress.

Sample 7

Sample 8

The lower Sample in this next photo is riddled with mistakes. I think I wasn't paying careful enough attention and lost track of where I was in the treadling a couple of times. I kind of like the top Sample in the picture though. It was an experiment using "Swiss Twill" as the treadling pattern on the "Summer and Winter" warp.

Swiss Twill treadling (above)

Sample 9 (below)

Sample 10

Constant Baby Watch

Only 5 days left until our first grandchild is due, so it could be any day now and Constant Baby Watch has begun. I'm carrying my cell phone with me whenever I leave the house and still there is a strong temptation to phone our daughter to double check.

In other news, although I won't make it to Prince George by April first as originally planned, that doesn't mean I've ditched the faux journey altogether. I'm still making about 30 miles per week divided into 5 runs of around 6 miles each. 150 Mile House and Williams Lake are now behind me.

Masters Monday - 8

My commitment to posting about the Master Knitters Program each Monday is the only thing that is inching me forward at this point. With the knitting all done it's just paperwork from here on out. It's a slow process because, like a procrastinating school student, I often don't touch the "assignment" until Sunday night or early Monday morning --- right before it's "due".



I have now finished answering ALL the questions, including a mini essay on tension problems and another on yarn substitutions. All that's between me and my submission of Level 1 for evaluation is a detailed report on the blocking and care of knits and a bibliography. Hopefully this will be in the mail next week.

Delayed

It's hard to believe it's March already --- especially when waking to this:



I skipped my workout this morning. And with that, all hope of running the distance between Chilliwack and Prince George (on an elliptical trainer) by April first is gone. It was such a tight schedule that if I missed one more day I would not be able to make it. I was already running (hard) for 42 minutes, 5 days a week anyway for a total of over 30 miles per week. Adding any more time or distance was just not an option. Then waking today to see all the snow, hear of slippery roads and unpleasant temperatures --- bah --- my resolve slipped.

Part of me is glad that the pressure is off. As I said I was in a position where I could not miss a day for any reason and still hope to make the distance by April 1st. Sometime before the first of April our first grandchild will be born and when that happens I'll be taking a few days off anyway. I'll still make the goal though. It will just be slightly later.