Camping With Some Acrylic

A few weekends ago, I took off camping with my man-friend and a giant posse of his family members and friends. Not sure how much knitting would get accomplished, I did what any good knitter would do and packed enough projects to last me until my 90th birthday. (God forbid I get lost in the woods with no knitting!)

Little did I know that the one ball of acrylic yarn that I threw in the bag as I was running out the door would be what I felt like knitting with once I got a load of some fresh air.

And with that ball of acrylic (Yup! That one ball!), I knit this baby sweater.

Yarn? 1 ball of King Cole 'Big Value' in shade 151
Needles? 4 mm
Pattern? Elizabeth Zimmerman's 'Best Baby Sweater'

Are you feeling like you've seen this sweater somewhere around here before?

Well, that's because you have.

Zimmerman doesn't call it 'Best Baby Sweater' for nothing.

Now, I gotta run.

The magic carpet to Portland is pulling outta here any minute now, and I've got a golden ticket.

Knitting With Julia

A friend of mine passed along this video that she found on this blog.

My favorite part???



When I discovered that Julia Roberts and I knit in the exact same way. (Which is that super inefficient way when you drop your right needle to throw your yarn).

Now, I don't have to tell you that I have finally  figured out the secret to her success.

Do I???


I thought not.

Exposed For Who I Really Am

I had a new air conditioner installed this week. Awesome- right? I can now sleep through those hot and humid nights and actually get under my sheets instead of just sweat right through the top of them???

Well, yeah. It is awesome.

Or, it was awesome until I realized that in the process of installing the new air conditioner a water valve had broken and a large selection of my personal stash was absolutely dripping wet.

Yeah. I know. I should have it in rubbermaid bins and Ziplock bags.
I get it.
A large portion of the stash is suffocating under plastic.

But.... a chunk of it is not. This is so that I can enjoy it every time I throw in a load of laundry (it happens to be right next to my washing machine) and easily access it when... I feel like it.

Well, well. Did the 'Gods of Proper Yarn Storage' ever have their way with me this week!

After finally getting my first blast of cool air this summer, I went downstairs to admire all the handy work that the AC men had done... and there was the mess.

They had warned me that a bit of yarn had gotten wet in the process, but yarn dries- right?

Right.

And now my house is absolutely covered in every nook and cranny possible with drying yarn. My bathtub, bedroom floor, hallway, kitchen counter (this is making food prep sort of difficult), family room floor... I mean every nook and cranny is covered in drying yarn.

I know that even my roomate/cousin who has lived with me for a year and a half didn't even realize that there was this much stuffed in our teensy house (I'm barely showing you a fraction of it BTW)... and he even knows all about the other Rubbermaids tucked safely in the corner.

It's... a bummer.

Fortunately for me however... it's this time of year.

And the flowers are a-blooming.

That always cures my mood.

Time to empty out the dehumidifier tray.

Woolen Welts and Straw Hats

I have made it quite clear here once or twice before that my feelings for Jared Flood are stonger than they probably should be. But I am not afraid to re-state that fact here.

Especially after casting off yet another one of his wonderous pieces.

And while it might be too toasty outside to wear a cozy cowl, it's never too warm to knit one.

So, that's what I did.

Should you be wondering- this hat was one my Grandpa bought himself in 1961. Trendy guy, eh? 

Pattern? Setzer by Jared Flood aka Brooklyn Tweed
Yarn? Naturally's Harmony 10 ply (this seems to be my current go-to yarn for accessories)
Needles? 5mm 60 cm Chiaogoo Red

POW! POW! 

While it looks like lots of lovely welts while wearing it, to lie it out flat gives a whole different story thanks to my favorite knitting technique in existence- short rows!

See the curves and winding bands? Looks kind of like a gentle ski slope? (My favorite kind of ski slope...)

It's a little secret that only you will know until you yank this little number off and toss it on the hall table.

I do love finding little secrets in other people's knitting.

And while peony season is now behind us (where IS this summer going? I ask)...

It never hurts to look back on days in the garden gone by.

Why I Don't Get Invited To More Dinner Parties

This is the book I have on my night table.

This is the DVD I watched last night (more on that later).

And this is where I am headed on my next vacation at the end of the month.

I've got a 'one-track-mind' of a different sort.

But you know what?

I'm OK with that.

I'd rather be knitting anyway.

Wouldn't you?