Lost In Translation

Recently, I have made a string of poorly chosen pattern purchases on Ravelry. I see something I like, get overly excited, type in my PayPal password (they make it WAY too easy to buy things online), and BOOF! There is a fresh new pattern waiting for me.

The trouble is however, I should really learn to read the fine print first. 

On one occasion, I paid for a pattern and as soon as it was ready I hit 'print', only to discover that the pattern was 52 pages long. 

Buh-bye ink cartridge.

Shortly after that incident, I bought another pattern, opened it up on my iPad (I had no more ink, so what other choice did I have???), only to discover that it was only available in French.

Buh-Bye $6.00.

My grade 9 French mark is a sure indication that since I can't even speak in simple past tense 'en Francais', I certainly can't knit in French either. And believe it or not... Google Translate isn't so sure what to do with knitting abbreviations.

Low and behold however... that pattern showed up in my inbox a few short weeks later- IN ENGLISH.

Hallejulah.

I felt as though Karma was coming for me- in a good way. I am doing my very best to support all of those independent online designers, and here I am with no ink left, and a pattern in another language.

So in celebration of my victory, I cast on pronto.

And this is what I ended up with.

Why hello little sailor collared/ kangaroo pocketed pullover for a two year old!

I love you.

I must confess that the pattern was still a little wacky, even in my native tongue... but that's OK. It wasn't anything that a decent knitter couldn't figure out.

Besides, who am I to judge? I can't read a pattern in French, why should I expect someone else to be able to translate it from French to English FOR PETE'S SAKE!

They done good.

I'm not entirely sure who will wear this little sweater someday. Maybe our beautiful nephew, maybe someone else...

But for the time being, it's going to hang up at Mary's Yarns as a daily reminder to me to always read the fine print first.

Baby Sweater Details

Pattern- Pull Gaspard by Christine Rouvillé in size 2
Yarn- Four balls of SMC Universa in shade 197, 45% acrylic, 55% merino- love this stuff
Needles- 4mm Addi Turbos (still the best needles EVER)

Breathe deep knitters.

Spring is just about to show her pretty face.

Je vous promets.

♥

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Wishing you all, all the luck in the world.

This cowl, this yarn- AS IF I even had to tell you...

I hope you all enjoy your green beer/cake/favorite t-shirt today!

xo

Sick, With A Dash Of Sparkle

Last week, I was sick. Like... I was DOWN. The edges of my nostrils were peeling from blowing it too much, my body was rolling through a 'hot, cold, hot' temperature cycle, and I couldn't taste my food for what felt like... an eternity. A real hardship when you love to eat as much as I do.

Admittedly, I'm a big baby when I'm sick. But aren't we all?

The nice thing about being a knitter however, is that even being sick has it perks. While I didn't leave my house for days and I was pretty much the grossest I have been in a loooong time, I got to knit.

I propped myself up on pillows, allowed myself some daytime Downton Abbey marathons, and I knit.

And occasionally I would think to myself, "What do non-knitters do when they get sick???"

Cool pants Lynn!

So while I was cooped up in the house in my ugly grey sweatpants, I cast on some yarn that conveniently arrived at the shop the morning I went down.

Sock yarn, with SPARKLES.

Socks = the perfect thing to knit while sick. Round and round and round...
Sparkles = a sure thing to cheer you up when you're feeling a little bit blue.

Plain socks means minimal thinking required. A real bonus when your brain is ensconced in... the common cold.
 

FACT- One side effect of cold medication is that your stripes will match

 So while being sick usually makes you feel like you are a burden to the world and all those that you love, at least I was able to proudly hold up a pair of sparkly, matching socks at the end of my few days in isolation and say "Hey guys... look at what I made!".

Although... I must admit that these socks were knit with none other than me in mind.

Because let's be real. When I'm sick... I become a rather self-centred whiner who just sing-songs 'Me, Me, Me' at every chance.

So yeah... the socks are for, ME. (Sniffle, sniffle).

The sparkle is there, but the sparkle is subtle

Yarn- Opal Hundertwasser SPARKLE!
Needles- 2.5mm Signature Stilettos DPNs
Pattern- The one in my rather foggy head

And finally- some tulips.

Not only were these a 'Get Well Soon' gift from my lovely sister... (which worked, BTW!)

They are also a wonderful reminder that Spring really isn't all that far away.

♥

Ten Years Ago Today...

Happy Birthday Mary's Yarns!

And many, many more...

xo