Ignoring My Own Advice

Ask me how many times I've started this damn shawl. Go on, ask me. I dare you.

This is the third attempt.

Never work on a lace project during the season finale of your favourite TV show. In the dark.

And about that lifeline thing...

Sigh.

Sort-of Off Topic

Most people who know me know that I watch TV or movies when I knit.

I therefore feel that it's not entirely off-topic to mention the newly launched blog brought to you by the man making the recommendations on what TV and movies to watch. (Not to mention working the remote.)

Norman's blog. Which may or may not be about movies.

It is hair, after all

I buy a lot of vintage. One of my latest purchases is a lovely red aran cardi. I couldn't resist -- the bargain-basement price was a factor, but I loved it most of all because it was red. You never see red arans.

But damn it, it's itchy. Wow. I can see why it ended up lonely and forlorn in a vintage store on the clearance rack.

But wool is hair. And conditioner is good for hair. So there's no reason why conditioner isn't good for wool, I figured.

I'd read about using hair conditioner to soften itchy sweaters. And it works! A good old simple cream conditioner, and I soaked the sweater for over an hour -- but it is noticeably softer.

Very pleased.

Can't Write, Too Busy Knitting

Lots of stuff cooking right now...

the bee socks are almost done, another pair of rainbow socks, yarn and a pattern for modest-size lace shawl, and a super-secret thing in the bottom left of the pic.

Another clue:

And I have to say that it's Erin's fault, with her Lady Eleanor.

Who Knew?

Wool comes from sheep!

A modicum of fame!

A few people I work with know about my "other life". It came up at work the other day... B. said to me that M., a co-worker, also knits, and I should tell her about my blog.

M. tells me she is making her first sock. It's a sassy little pink number, in Cascade Fixation. Very nicely done, too.

And then she tells me where she's learning from... my piece on Knitty. She didn't know it was me.

I'm so proud -- of M. for knitting a really great sock the first time around -- and of my piece that clearly works so well.

Wow.

Signs that maybe you've knit too many socks

When you can turn the heel on the bee stripe sock on 2mm needles in a dark bar, after a pint of Wellington County Ale, while dancing along to the music, not only without a pattern, but without looking.

If we can knit for the Olympics...

My brother the footie fan has posited the idea of World Cup Knitting.

It's a thought.

Projects would have to be limited to appropriately coloured scarves, though.

It's like I was asking for it

My piece on repairs has been up on Knitty barely a month....

So there I am at lunch, with a member of the Knitty family, and she points out to me that the neckline of the vintage aran cardi I'm wearing is unravelling.

And I realize that this is a situation I didn't cover in my article!

(Note to knitters: keep a safety pin in your purse. Mine is attached to my little Swiss Army knife.)

Real Sheep Scarf

This stuff is lovely.

I'm particularly enjoying the sensual experience of the knitting process. The wool is barely processed, so there's lots of lanolin left in it, and it smells marvellous. It's suprisingly soft, too, for something so close to the sheep.

The striping is fairly evident -- this yarn has no dye lots, needless to say. A colourway is a rough combination of various natural colours.

Mistake stitch ribbing, easy-peasy. This is definitely a yarn that demands a simple stitch -- it needs room to tell its own story.