Throwin' and Pickin'

Recalling images in videos of knitters in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Scotland knitting fair isle with strands of different colours in both left and right hands, it suddenly occurred to me, while slowly plodding along, that I needed to change my technique if I was ever going to finish this pillow (and hopefully complete the second one) by the time the Olympic flame was extinguished. So, I put the black in my right hand, the pink in my left, and WOW: it happened. I was knitting faster, and looser. The picking part(left hand) has helped me to knit looser with each stitch as I go. This results in the stitches moving more smoothly along the circular needle - they don't bunch up as much. It's like a life-changing moment. Well, maybe that's taking it too far, but I learned something new, and that makes me happy. Thank you, Kaffe Fassett.

Knitting Olympics - Day Two

I resolve not to try and watch movies on TVO and knit at the same time. Probably would not have had to rip out so often if I had focussed. And maybe I should learn how to count to 5. All together now: 1,2,3,4,5. Yes! However, I did manage to get the buttonhole band done, and have started on the diagonal stripes. 15 days to go.

Knitting Olympics

Thanks to Nurd-Grrl and Stephanie, I'm ready to dive into the Knitting Olympics. I found some yarns in my stash, and hope to have 1, if not 2, fair isle pillows done by the time the torch goes out. Sounds simple, but I'm really a beginner knitter. Finding a somewhat challenging pattern quickly, and the yarn/needles readily available(without having to run out to a yarn shop at the last moment) was a challenge, but I did it. Because I don't have the exact yarn or needles, and no time to swatch, I'm thinking that a pillow will give me some latitude in that regard. So I have cast on, according to the rules, and made a start. Citius, Altius, Fortius.

Our Daughter Knits

Two warm and beautiful pieces knitted by our daughter for our Christmas this year. The vest has bone buttons, and the shawl is in a lacy pattern with a varigated yarn. We love them.

Socks, Socks, Socks.

New silk and wool yarn from my knitting daughter are making some 'Seduction Socks for me. This is an adventure - usually I knit a basic sock pattern, but I found this one and thought I'd challenge myself.
Christmas socks for my friend Pat, whom we haven't seen for weeks, so hopefully we get together soon - winter will be over before we know it.

Birthday Present

When I turned 62 in March of this year, my daughter, Heather, gave me a wonderful gift. It arrived today: my first monthly sampler of small yarn hanks from Elann Canada. They are beautiful! There is enough yarn in each hank to knit a small swatch to see what it looks like. The yarn comes attached to a card that gives a huge amount of information, such as where it was made, how to care for it, the kind of fibre, gauges, other colour choices. I am really impressed. This company is based in Delta, BC. There is a US base also. Yarns come from all over the world. Here's their web link: http://www.elann.com
Every Mom should have such a thoughtful, sweet daughter. Thank you, Heather. I'll be thinking of you every time I use this lovely gift, (and I'll still think of you lots of other times, too).

New-found Shop and New Yarns

My daughter, Heather, visited us from Ottawa on the Easter weekend, and she and I planned a day trip to Toronto to walk about and see some sights. We took the train, which was so much more relaxing than driving for 3 hours, and arrived at Union Station at 9:30 am. We had 9 hours of fun ahead of us - and a few kilometers of walking, to say the least.

The main focus of our visit was to find a yarn shop called Lettuce Knit located in the Kensington Market area. After getting fortified with breakfast at a nearby coffee shop, we headed north and west. It wasn't too long before we located our quest: and what a beautiful little shop it is: as unique as its name. That's Heather sitting on the front step after our shopping spree, and the other photos are of some of the yarns I bought. Can't wait to make some Socks That Rock! The colours in the Japanese Noro yarns are absolutely luscious also.

Jim, husband and father, grins, shakes his head, and asks me just when I plan to knit all this yarn. As I glance at my bins of various "projects on the go" I have to admit that I am a true Knitting Hussy, flitting from one project to another, always promising that this time I will finish. Sometimes I do finish, but this is one of my 'relaxation' activities, never to be a 'task', and always there to tease me, filling me with the joy of colours and textures.