Anybody think this is a funny looking sleeve cap? Ding ding ding. Yes, it is! I knit these sleeves during “Constantine” last night and was so pleased with the fact that I didn’t lose track of which rows I had to decrease on… that I lost track of how many decreases to do! So, now, I have to rip back 20 or so rows of lovely 3×3 ribbing. Say it with me, “doh!”
Oh boo hoo. I was planning on driving down to Seattle tomorrow to buy tons and tons of lovely American yarn — maybe some nice colours of Brown Sheep cotton fleece, or maybe some of that Cotton-Ease that I’ve been fixated on. But mostly, it was to go and see new yarn stores and maybe get inspired… Ah, but disaster struck when a client project that was due to finish today got delayed by last minute changes. Ah well. That means I need to work tomorrow. No Seattle. Maybe next Saturday.
Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. Because, really, I’ve been finding it difficult to focus on the difference between what I want to knit, what I want to wear and what I need to knit. Maybe this will give me the week to sort it all out before I end up buying $500 of yarn that I’ll never knit.
Maybe this is odd, but I get motivated by a little (just a little) competition. Seeing finished objects in magazines is like a challenge to me and a little voice in my head goes off saying “I can do that. Maybe I can do that better.” Probably not healthy, but hey. The problem is, who am I trying to prove this to? I’ll just end up with a whole bunch of finished objects that I may never ever wear. Hmmm, in any case: * Meadow Sweet Shawl: This is one pattern from the Spring 2005 “Cast On” magazine that I actually like. It’s knit up in Classic Elite Provence cotton — beautiful. * Paisley Shawl: This one is the gorgeous red shawl from the new Spring IK (which I still haven’t received yet!!!) knit in Jaggerspun Zephyr — a mix of Chinese Tussah silk and fine merino. * Kiri Shawl: I read somewhere that Kiri is in fact a re-write of Rowan’s Birch shawl, making it easier to knit. I have three balls of Kid Silk Haze just waiting for this.
It seems there’s a little trend going on. Cardi’s to wear. Shawls to knit and never wear.
I guess that’s the question. What’s the problem? How to prioritize those wants and needs? And, of course, how to organize and complete those projects you are obligated to finish because, well, you started them?
I spent Friday and Saturday at the SnowBall Classic, doing my regular, taking photos — of the 7 GB worth of photos I took, there are a few nice ones and I’ll be spending more time this weekend posting them. But here are a few “highlights” of my photo-taking adventure:
Since I own the design firm that sponsors the SnowBall Classic, I get seats at this cute little round table at the front of the dance floor. Ooh, and this year, there were little candles on all the sponsor tables. Oooh, oooh and during general dancing (when I was also dancing), someone must have knocked over a chair that knocked over the candle… onto my camera strap! So apparently, my table caught on fire and burned right through my lovely Nikon camera strap, the black nylon tablecloth and down to the table surface itself. You can even see melted plastic from the tablecloth on my little sponsor table tent!
Luckily, someone blew out the fire (they were afraid dowsing the table with water would destroy my camera — right!!!) before my camera and trench coat also caught on fire. Phew. Too much excitement for one day.
Yes. I know. I should have asked this question weeks ago when I first received the Elann newsletter.
Has anybody used Classic Elite Spotlight? How about the Plymouth Stone Cotton?
I got to my computer at 8 am PST to shop at Elann — a mere two hours after the Spotlight had gone on sale — and all the Ballerina Pink colour was SOLD OUT! Not that I was going to buy more pink yarn, but man, you quick-fingered stashers!
I added the Spotlight (destined for a Sitcom Chic cardi) to the basket and then, just as I was about to hit “Check Out”, I was hit with pre-stashing remorse — OMG, would the 100% cotton stretch and become all schleppy looking? The sample patterns from Classic Elite look droopy. Oh no, do I want to get this yarn? Or should I wait for the Plymouth Stone Cotton which is 50% acrylic? Will that stretch less? Doesn’t Stone Cotton have better colours? Hmm, Stone Cotton is cheaper by the ball and has more yardage…
So I left Elann, yarnless, which is probably a good thing. I mean, have you seen Jody’s stash? If your stash is not as big as Jody’s, get yourself to Elann now, before the rest of the stashers pick up all the nice colours!
Yes, I’m waiting for a few deliveries. Is it weird to feel anxious when you don’t have anything in the mail for you? I’ve ordered some RYC shade cards, the RYC Classic Caf?¬© book, the Jaeger Siena mag, an older Jaeger 4-ply book, and some more Regia (in Paris!). Of course, we’re all waiting for the new Spring IK and the new Rowan 37… So in the meantime, here’s what I picked up:
I love the sweater on the cover of this book — just trying to decide what yarn to use. AV Martina or not… Martina is pretty pricey at $15 US per ball, but it’s a merino and silk blend which would lend itself nicely to year-round wear. Ah, decisions decisions. I was a little disappointed that it wasn’t a DK-weight pattern — I have all that lovely Zara lying around, waiting for a nice pattern!
Ah, more sock yarn. Sorry, I couldn’t resist! I was in Homecraft Importers and they had this cute new sock yarn — I’m trying to say no to more self-patterning sock yarn, but it was a moment of weakness! Has anybody knit with this stuff before? How does it hold up?
Oh, and as if you need another reason to shop, go visit Adele at Passioknit — she has the new Spring Phildar preview up!
Driven by an obsessive, passionate and often tumultuous relationship with colour, Felicia Lo is the owner of SweetGeorgia Yarns, a handpainted yarn and design company based in Vancouver. Founded in 2005, SweetGeorgia Yarns is about intense, relentless and unapologetic colour in luxurious natural fibres and textiles. She writes about all things knitting, spinning, dyeing, and weaving here at sweetgeorgia.
SweetGeorgia Yarns Studio is located at #401-228 East 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5T 1G5 near the corner of 4th and Main. We're officially open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 am to 6 pm. Other times are available by appointment. Just give us a call!
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