Finding Peace in A Busy Life

It's weird to think where we find peace. I found peace today because my husband is sick. I know, I know an awful thing to say - but with him not feeling well, I was left to do whatever I felt like doing when I felt like doing it. It was a nice day for me. I felt like a new person who has control over her weekend days. But I do feel incredibly guilty about it. He is at the Emergency Room right now. I think he'll be ok, but he was having some stomach pain that wouldn't let up all day today, and so he went to figure out if it was serious or not. They didn't have a lot of staff on, I guess, because he waited more than 3 hours just to be seen and still isn't home yet. Guilt aside, I got some quiet time to knit and play with the kids on their video games and did a tiny bit of cooking and dishes and laundry in between. But it was nice to have a day without someone giving me an earful about what we should be doing.

Anyway, so the class was nice; we hung out and chatted and I learned a new technique for stranded knitting. I have to admit, I've had a tough time sticking with it. Can't teach this old dog too many new tricks I guess. Some stick and some don't. Anyway, I made this silly little hat while I was in the class - finished it that night when I got home.

What was really fun about it was that I made it up. I love the yarn too, it's some I bought at an indian reservation store in the canyons of Utah?, New Mexico - I can't remember now, but it was for making navajo rugs. The colors were spectacular. I bought 1 skein in about 15 different colors. As you can see it's a little big. It was smaller until I blocked it and then it grew. I may have to play with shrinking it a bit, but I'm scared to do it.

The class was great in that I realized so many things about Fair Isle projects while talking with the ladies. I didn't have to be scared. At any given time I'd only be working with 2 colors, and I've done that before, and all I had to do was keep track of the pattern carefully (which I've already learned with my lace projects), and I can do it! So I started on something I had in my que on Ravelry. The Autumn Tam, by Sandy Blue - pattern available on TwoSwansYarns.com.

This is so far the most beautiful work I've seen next to stuff by Alice Starmore. So I got started on it right away. I ordered the kit without telling my husband, becuase I just needed to do it and if I had asked , he would have said no. I know he's seen the credit card bill...and knows I ordered something, but hasn't mentioned it to me outside of telling me he knows I've been spending money on knitting stuff. Whoops I hear a car door. I'd better load the pictures quick and get a move on with the dishes. Here is my Tam so far.

ON Hold until class is over

I am frozen. Not literally, but I have stopped knitting until Sunday. I could work on that simple Aran Scarf that moves quickly, when I actually work on it, that is. Or I could add a few more rows to my lace scarf. My arm has been bothering me again, and I've been spending more time reading instead of knitting, lately. But I have a good reason besides my arm. I'm taking a class on Fair Isle - A one day, Sunday Brunch group lesson at what remains of my LKS. She has moved it to her home now, and the actual shop is closed. She apparently still has a limited supply of yarn for sale in her home and opens her home to others to come and knit, or ask questions, or whatever they need, since the shop has closed. This is the first time I'll be going to her home, and taking a class with her. I'm looking forward to the day, like a treat. It's my idea of the perfect Mother's Day or Birthday. I' know I'll be starting something new, so I am hesitant to start something else. I have however done something I know I'll be in trouble for soon. I've ordered the pattern and the yarn for this GORGEOUS Autumn Tam, that I found originally on Ravelry. She has another like it in dark blues. I hope I can do it after I take this class. I have the feeling that we'll be making some kind of hat in this class, but that's ok too. I was hoping more for learning how to knit with multiple colors, but she's only having us work with two. That's ok, maybe the techniques will improve my rather scrambled attempts at color work so far. I'm assuming there is a better way than what I know. It's possible that what I'm doing is it. I still struggle with my carrying colors ending up too tight or too loose, however and herein lies the question. Is there some magical way, that will solve this problem for me?
I've been reading...and I'm almost embarrassed to say... albeit some really interesting reading it is actually children's literature. I'm reading a series called The Land of Elyon. I bought the first book for my 8 year old to read, but then as she started to read it, she became frightened early on and wouldn't finish it. I picked it up just to see how scary it was and whether or not it was appropriate for her. The book I was reading, is actually the 4th, after the initial trilogy, it starts as a prequel of other characters from the original trilogy. It was called Into the Mist. I loved it. I went right out and bought the trilogy. I guess I'm still looking for something to replace Harry Potter for me. I'll be finishing the 3rd book tonight or tomorrow. They make for a nice escape. Other than knitting that is...

How Do Mom's have time to knit over the Holidays?

Seriously, folks. I had one day. One. Actually, half of one. Forget Christmas - it was too filled with getting Christmas cards done, and baking cookies and a Gingerbread house - I still have half a pound of Gingerbread dough in the fridge that never got transformed into cookies. I used to make 10 - 12 different varieties of cookies before I had kids. Finishing decorations, also ate up time, and planning menus and making meals, and serving guests and wrapping gifts and last minute shopping. UG. My visions of sitting on my couch with my feet up sipping cocoa or tea and watching the snow fall while I happily knit during the holidays - was a farce! New Years Day folks. That's the day I got to knit. New Years Day, after racing around like a chicken with my head cut off to prepare an Egg Strata for a Brunch, and then finding I had no eggs - I had to race to the store in my pajama's (under my coat), buy eggs, throw together the Strata, which was supposed to soak overnight and bake for 55 minutes, and I just barely got it together and threw it in the Convection oven at a higher temp while I took a 3 minute shower. Luckily for me my husband was feeling generous with his time, and actually got the kids ready while I was doing all that. As soon as I was out of the bathroom I grabbed my undercooked contribution and we hit the road. Needlessly to say, we were 45 minutes late. We stayed as long as we could without seeming like we were leaving too quickly, and took off as soon as the first guest left. I wanted to get home and make some progress on Mom's Icelandic Cardigan, and needed to leave before I had one too many mimosa's and would lose the whole rest of the day to a drunken stupor! I had what I would consider a great knitting day. I feel caught up. I finished the second sleeve and attached them to the main body, and after a little time this afternoon have a nice start on the yoke! I'm fairly happy now actually that I've gotten a good bit of it done. Maybe I'm just lucky it's an Icelandic, and once you are done with the sleeves all you have left is the yoke, so you feel like you are really working at the speed of light.

I spent part of one morning the other day reading Stephanie Pearl McPhee Casts Off , and particularly focusing on a section about start-itus, and I was beginning to panic. Somehow reading her stuff and then actually making progress on finishing something, gives me more joy than it would normally. Well ...maybe that's because normally if I set a project down and pause for too long- I can't seem to pick it back up at all, and usually start something new to motivate my knitting spirit. Oh...I guess this sweater actually falls under that category. Oops. And I was so proud myself too. I convinced my Mom to let me make her this sweater after I finished my Dad's and knew I was still too exasperated to return to that lace scarf.

Ooh some shopping news. I bought a couple of KnitPicks needles the other day. It turns out my Denises' don't shine with their previous glittery shine anymore. I'm not liking the plastic needles. Particularly with the icelandic sweaters. You've got to have either the turbo Addi's or ... in my case, the Nickel Plated Knit Picks Options. Ok, though I already have a complaint. I was whizzing along and suddenly realized my stitches were falling in my lap. My needle had come unscrewed! I was silently praising Knit Picks for being 110% better than the Denises, and look where it got me. Boom. I had to quickly lace them back through praying I didn't drop any stitches and then try to re-tighten the needle on the circular band, when it was full of sweater. Not fun. I still like them better than Denises, but YEESH. Can't someone come up with a better locking system that actually works? Granted I didn't use my locking key, but ...ok this is going to sound strange, but I'm not actually sure how to do it? Is there some trick to it, or are you meant to gain more leverage by holding it to twist tighter? It just doesn't seem like it actually gets any tighter than it was by hand, because you are still holding the needle with your other hand. Maybe if I locked the needle in a vice grip first it would tighten it more. Between my teeth? I don't know. If anyone has any advice on this I would appreciate it. I love the actual needles and I love the cords...I just need them to STAY together!!! I bought some size 4s too, in both the Options and Harmony, so I could use them both at the same time while making some mittens using the double loop method. WHEEEEEE. If they fall apart though, I will have to scream.

Notice Rudy in the picture above. Always having to be in the middle of my knitting. It's like he knows. But look who was right next to me.

That's all for now. So WHEN When I ask you is the calm snowy Knitter's holiday with nothing to do but knit???

The Good, The sad and the downright ugly.

I have been so taken with Ravelry, that I haven't spent much time reading or writing my own blog. So sad. I have had a rough couple of weeks. I have had a few very sad days indeed. I did finish my Dad's sweater but my dh ruined the 3rd cast of the Leaf and Acorn scarf, so I'm on round 4. I am debating whether or not to actually write out what happened to it, because its just too sad and awful to put out there. Let's just say that anger of a spouse can work its way into your knitting stash and current projects if they are angry enough. I don't want to talk about any of it... I do, but ick...who wants to read that?

He did say that I could purchase what I needed to replace it and have a day to get it back to where it was, (a day which he said would be without kids)...it did not happen this weekend, which is what I thought the plan was. I am wondering if it will ever happen. I will however, buy some more yarn because I damn well deserve it.

I am Hinklebell on Ravelry, and have posted all my photos up there, but I can add some here as well.

Here's my Dad in his sweater. He's happy, but I just made him stop making the goofy faces.

Now I just need to figure out how to add my Flickr account here and i'm all set.

I've started another old pattern of an Icelandic Knit Sweater for my Mom which will be a cardigan. I'm looking forward to finishing that soon as well. They go so fast and always end up looking quite nice.

It's a short post, but its a post. Ah well... better than nothing.