First Ever FO- back in '85

So that's me, at 7 years old. Check out those two front teeth, MIA. check out those snowpants. Check out those elephant earmuffs!!! I wish I still had those blue elephant earmuffs, they were fabulous. See that scarf? That is my very first FO, a purple and white striped garter stitch scarf. I think I made it when I was in Brownies - because you KNOW I got my knitting badge!! Anyway, I'm currently trapped at a work meeting out of town, I'm sleep deprived, over caffienated and overfed, and dying to get out of here. And my hotel room is so freaking cold, I slept with Lady Eleanor (WIP) around my neck and shoulders. With the needles attached and everything. Turns out even a good WIP can keep you warm when necessary. I can't wait to finish it- SO close!!

Quoddy Scarf

I had been doing very well on my yarn diet, until I came across 272-yard skeins of Briggs and Little yarn for $3.50 a pop. It was too cheap to pass up, so I bought out the whole stock (5 skeins) of Quoddy Blue, from the Regal line:I love that heathered blue.
So I decided that I'd knit a scarf for my dad for Christmas, as well as give him a coupon for a knitted object of his choice, which he can then redeem. I'm hoping he picks socks, and not a sweater.

For those of you who have worked with Briggs and Little before, you know it's not exactly a soft yarn. At all. In fact, I'm seriously wondering why I bought such rough-textured yarn. Oh wait- because I got 1360 yards of it for $17.50. But I'm told that it is possible to soften rough yarn with a nice bath and some hair conditioner. Is this the best option? I'll have to look into it further.

But in the meantime, can I say what a sheer joy that scarf pattern is? It's from the Yarn Harlot, and can be found here. It's only a 4 stitch repeat, only one row, and it's completely reversable. I can knit it while I read (book propped open with my knee). Isn't it great when you don't even have to look at it?! I finished this book tonight, then looked down and was pleasantly surprised to see that I'm almost halfway there.

Gobble Gobble!

Sometime in the summer, I agreed to knit a turkey finger puppet for my friend, Julie. Actually, we had just met that night and totally bonded over several martinis and the fact that we were both left-handed Julies. Since then, we have become friends even while sober, and it was her birthday this month. So I thought it was high time I came through on my drunken turkey finger puppet promise: Turkey Finger Puppet (great pattern name, I know. I'm so imaginative, it hurts.) Materials: - set of 3.25 mm dpns - any kind of worsted weight yarn (this makes for a stiffer puppet, but that helps keep the tail upright. Sport weight could also be used, but will result in a floppier tail) in dark brown, beige, white, burgundy, and some yellow for embroidering the beak. Body: Cast on 17 stitches in dark brown. Join for knitting in the round. Knit in the round until the body is 3 inches long. Change to burgundy yarn for ribbing. In burgundy yarn, *k1, p1*, and at the same time, increase 4 stitches evenly in this round. Do 3 more rows of k1, p1 ribbing (4 rows total). Knit(knit all stitches) 5 more rounds. Decrease: *k2tog, k1*, repeat to end of round. Knit one round. K2tog all stitches, then thread remaining loops with a tapestry needle and sew up tight. Tail: In beige yarn, cast on 50 stitches. The tail will be worked flat on two of the dpns. *k2, p2* for three rows. Switch to dark brown yarn. *k2,p2* for 3 rows. Decrease: k2, p2tog, until end of row. Next row: p2, k1 until end of row. Change to white yarn. k2, p1 to end of row. Change to beige. p2, k1 to end of row. Decrease: k2 tog, p1 to end of row. Next row: p1, k1 to end. Change to dark brown. k1,p1 to end. Continue in dark brown, in pattern, for another 3rows. Decrease: *p2tog, k2tog* until last stitch. k1. Next row: p1, k1, to end. k1, p1 to end. Change to white, contiue in pattern for one row. Then cast off, in pattern. Here's a clear shot of the back of tail, for reference: Wings: (make 2) In white yarn, cast on 4 stitches. Change to beige. Purl one row. Knit one row. Purl one row. Change to dark brown, do four rows in the established stockinette. Cast off. Finishing: Weave in all ends (this takes longer than it does to knit the thing, I found). Taking a small amount of dark brown, make french knots for the eyes. The beak is nothing more than one straight stitch down the middle. The red waddle is done by making a loose loop in burgundy, and then keeping your finger in the loop as your pull it taut. While keeping the loop intact, remove finger, and make another (much smaller) straight stitch across the loop to secure it in place. As for the tail, I used the white to secure the cast off edge to the puppet, and the dark brown to sew the bottom dark brown portion to the back of the puppet as well. This seems to provide a stable tail. Sew on wings wherever you would like them. I liked doing the ribbing for the head, since I find that without some kind of head definition, some finger puppets look like condoms. But not this little guy! Rumor has it that American thanksgiving is coming up soon (this week? next week? I have no idea), so I guess it's seasonally appropriate! And if anyone finds any pattern problems, let me know.

I love Toronto

On any given night there's an absolute plethora of art events happening! Kevin and I saw three completely different gallery showings- two by accident. The first was a composite of 5 varying themes brought to life with graphite and paper. If I could sum up the artists work in one word- it would be fluidity. The artist captured the movements of fabric and body whether they were jumping or underwater it's not clear- but the fine use of chiaroscuro was. After we realized this wasn't the show we had gone to see we set out again, not realizing that first stop was only a preamble to the nights festivities! We happened by the next stop on pure luck- the designers were outside having a smoke and beckoned us in. I imagine we were looking like stylish people who could afford thousand dollar dresses-(dream #87 come true!) Soo, we lifted our chins a notch and waltzed in. Ever notice how much more confident you feel with loud clicking heels? I do. And immediately the first thing I see is this: This night's picking up! It was paired with an atached nude tank and a green pencil skirt. It stuck me as a modernized version of an ensemble for 'Eve'. Can you see it too? It's so simple- yet elegant. When you break it down it's just roving thats been twisted at intervals looped round, embellished with pearls and fabric stocking gloves covering wooden balls. I'd love to wear it, but I fear I'd come out looking like Simba. We scooped up some truffles, blackberries and blueberries and made our awkward-not-buying-anything-but-eating-their-food exit. We finally get to the intended gallery showing and it's much more scenester. I'd give it a 7 out of 10, -1 point for no fiber content, -1 for redcap beer, -1 for the lady who kept farting beside me. The artwork itself was all mixed mediums- video, painting, fashion design, photography and poetry. How I wish I had $350 to spend on art. I met a painter- Beth (Adam Parishil's new roommate), wholooks like Lindsay Lohan but 10x better and her boyfriend looks like Colin Farrell. But I digress.... Last year I knit Kevin quite possibly my finest beanie to date but the top knot had come undone from too much wear. Last night I presented him with the refurbished beanie. Made from 100% baby alpaca it's divinity comes from the blending of form and function. It's a simple cable rib pattern that anyone can dream up, but one that is timeless and chosen again and again for a reason. It just looks great! I wanted this knit to be very fine quality so I chose a needle (2mm) small enough that the stitch definition would pop. I made this so it would sit on inline with his eyebrow freckle. (hello! neurotic much?) Turns out Kev prefers to wear his hats off the forehead. (Note to self, note to Jules) I also did a different closure than normal, instead of stringing the remaining 8-10 stitches together, I decreased to 6sts remaining and cast off using the 1 over method and then knotted the stitch a few times. This baby's not coming undone again. "emo time"

Not Much Knitting...

... but a lot of apple pie making. I love making apple pie from scratch. Even if it does take all afternoon.

The grass is greener...

Ofcourse, since I'm locked into a project there are about a hundred other things that I want to knit. Hell, I almost picked up my discarded tuscany shawl! (*gasps from the peanut gallery*) I've scoured library books and found my next project. It's a gorgeous slouchy hobo from KnitKnit: Profiles + Projects from Knitting's New Wave I believe. I was looking at so many books that I'm not 100% sure anymore.(Edit: It is the KnitKnit book. I just bought it!) Either way the book is great! Each designer not only has a cool project, but they go in depth about the knitter rather than a small blurb. I found it a great insight to how or rather why people design what they do. Some of the projects are off the wall, but it was some nice insight. I also loved these projects from various books for inspiration Knitted Nails! Embellished Pillowcases Seed stitch kimono wrap *sigh* Almost done the montegos, Had I known it would be such a commitment when I agreed to them.... Oh well. I feel good churning each one out. Hopefully tonight I'll finish the last one and fringe it tomorrow. How did you guys like fringe on the Origin Montego? Should I add more strands to make it more substantial?

Baby Norgi Drive-By/ T.O Confidential

Okay, I finally cleared the slate a bit to work on finishing Baby Norgi for my friend's little one. So here's a progress shot:Trouble is, I started knitting this thing months ago, and I'm not sure it'll still fit him anymore. And to be honest, I'm a bit.... bored with this. I don't know, maybe it's the reindeer, maybe it's the boring colours I chose. But the Baby Norgi ennui is definitely there. I'm hoping that the excitment of steeking will perk things up.

I assume the steeking takes care of that jog in the round, because right now, that's ugly:The major reason I chose to knit this (other than my bizarre compulsion to take on more WIPs than I can possibly handle) was to try steeking, since I haven't done it before and I have a secret project that will need that technique.

I'm dying to talk about my secret project (of my own design, to boot), but it is a Christmas gift for my mother and she checks my blog. I'm suprised at how much this pains me, because I'm usually an expert secret keeper- I actually had a job that was titled 'Confidential Secretary' (a seriously weird title that made it sound like I had lunch with James Bond on a regular basis. Truth is, we only had lunch together once and all he did was moan about how Moneypenny won't talk to him anymore), that's how top notch I am in keeping secrets. But for some reason I am dying to blog about my secret knitting project. Just. Dying.

Ugh.

Montegos in spades!

My mission is two thirds complete. You've seen so many progress shots already, and there isn't much to talk about the third time around but the difference in fibers, and how that changes the look and feel of a piece in it's entierty. This one is lighter, more elegant and such a fashion statement. I can't wait to see what my girlfriend wears it with, she's such a fashion plate, that one. <3 On with the photoshoot, shall we? Thanks to Tobias Visualbass for these.. xoxo

Amy Singer's Mongeto Bay Scarf in Origin. It really is a fine scarf. As promized, I asked Toby to take some "action" shots of the straw/buttercream montego! Real action, I'm on the phone with Travis, Hi Trav! *phew* that was a LOT of photos. thankyou "chiengun de pie" (sexy pie in mandarin)

greeting from Montego

Yup, still in Montegoland. 80% done the second and hope to get the rest done while I'm fighting the passport office today. My own government doesn't believe I'm a Canadian citizen(WTF?!!) So after a lengthy debate(fight) I have to come back with any/all gov't issued ID's I own and a healthy dose of humble pie. There had better be chairs, thats all i gotta say about that. The Origin montego is comming along nicely though. I've found the color pools into two groups: - brown/pruple/burgundy which on it's own would make an amazing scheme -brown/yellow/orange/red this bit kind of looks like fire, and adds that drama I was looking for and as they blend they look like this.. I'm really liking the colors, and couldn't be happier with the fiber. It's smooth, vibrant and oh does it glisten in the sun!