Feeling selfish

As I mentioned before, my intention for Christmas presents this year was to knit every person on my list a pair of socks.

But now I don't want to.

I'm feeling selfish.

I just want to knit for myself and no one else.

And this is partly to blame:Fourteen scrumptious balls of Rowan Classic Cashsoft DK in poison, a deep, dark maroon. The picture doesn't do it justice and it's not quite that redish. It's a super soft blend of superfine merino, cashmere and microfibre. It came in the mail today and I've been fondling it all afternoon.

It's slated for this:
Empire Cardigan from Debbie Bliss' "Alpaca Silk Two" that I'm pretty sure she designed just for me.... if you saw my wardrobe you'd think so too.

So, sorry family... you're all getting store bought socks this year.

And in the spirit of selfishness, I decided to get back on track and finish the back of my cardi. Of course I had to get it back from Peno first:
The back is blocking now and I've cast on for the left front. If Dave doesn't bother me too much this weekend (unlikely) I might be able to get it done.

I couldn't resist...

... jewellry is near and dear to my heart, so I just had to combine it with my passion for knitting.
And the best part? You can share. There are a few new items up in the Wandering Cat Yarns Shop including alpacas, spinning wheels and yarn! All are cast in sterling silver, feature genuine semi-precious stones and are a perfect addition to any wardrobe. (For non-knitting jewellry you can check out the Wandering Cat Studio Shop )

On the knitting front, not much progress on anything. I ripped out the sock I was designing - it needs some major revamping. I haven't touched my cardi.

The only thing I've managed to do it knit six more squares on the sockghan. And now I'm going back to knit three more and finish the fourth row. That will make the blanket about six inches long.... this is going to take a while.....

Just a little quickie....

Too tired and sore to knit or write...
But I just wanted to let you know there is some new yarn up in the shop (clicky the ad on the right)

This one is my favourite:

Colour: Witching Hour
Blend: Alpaca/Merino
Weight: Lace

Now I'm off to stretch out in bed and read some historical fiction until I fall asleep.

Sidetracked....

Well I had full intentions of working on my cardi this weekend.. and I did get about four rows done... but then I took a trip to The Needle Emporium...

I went up there to pick up a couple of balls of Noro Silk Garden for a hat I want to make later, and pick up Debbie Bliss' Alpaca Silk Two pattern book (I have some yarn on the way for a sweater in it) and Mom wanted some extra cables for her Addi Clicks. While I was there, I decided to grab a new pair of 2.5 mm sock needles because I have one really crappy wooden set, (they splintered and are total crap) a metal set which are too long for socks, and a nice pair I stole off Mom, which are currently tied up in another project.

Well.... when I got them home, I wanted to try them out.... so I cast on for a sock: ...and I was having so much fun knitting it, I decided to finish it. Then I cast on for the second sock of one of the other socks I knit a few months ago (Second Sock Syndrome hits me like a mother sometimes)... but then I decided to take a little nap... which was a wee bit pain-killer induced (back's been getting worse since I started working at the second job.. too much sitting... no it's not all the knitting I swear) and my muse came.... with a vengeance... I couldn't sleep. So I got up, printed off some graph paper and got the design out of my head...

But it wasn't enough....So I cast on. This will probably take most of tomorrow night too. I just want to get the cuff done.... then I can stop and go back to my cardi... really...

And poor Rocky"When are you going to put down the needles and play with me?"

Rain, rain, rain...

Well... there's no doubt about it, it's been a pretty cool summer. Normally by now we are all sweating our socks off and complaining about the heat (though really it's the humidity) here in Southern Ontario.

But not this year... this year we've only had a few day above 25, and even fewer above 30 (that's Celsius, not Fahrenheit) which is the norm for this time of year. And we've had rain... lots and lots of rain. Today alone we've had about 50 mm.

Now while most people are bemoaning the drizzly days, I am quite enjoying it. (Though admittedly, if I had children and had to spend the summer holidays with them cooped up indoors, I'd be a-bemoanin' too.) We've had some awesome thunderstorms, and I've barely had the air conditioners on. I can open the windows, curl up with a good book and listen to the rain fall. And... because Dave hates going out in the rain... I'm not being dragged all over the place... which means more knitting time! Who wouldn't love that?

This week I've manage another row on the Sockghan:
As you can see, I'm not knitting the half squares on the sides, as some people are. I like the rough geometric edge the corners create. I am loving this project for several reasons:
1) I love blankets. I have lots of blankets, all over the house. Quilts, afghans, comforters, throws... even in summer, I'm usually wrapped up in a blanket. Just like Linus, I love my blankies (though Dave keeps saying I'm more like Pig Pen.. only I'm walking around in a cloud of cat hair and yarn fibre)
2) Almost every square is different. By the nature of most striping sock yarns, and the way the squares decrease the chances of getting two squares alike is slim.
3) It provides a little bit of instant gratification. While the whole blanket is going to take quite some time (possibly years) each square only takes about 20-30 minutes. If I only have a little time to knit, I can whip up a square and still feel like I've accomplished something.
4) I get to knit with lots of different yarns. Most of the yarn my grandma donated is Opal and Regia, but there are a few bits that came from mom, (Socks that Rock and Cherry Tree Hill) which are sproingy and soft, and delightful to knit with.

I will probably set this aside the weekend however, as I'd like to finish the back of my cardi. I also have a few more "presents" on the way (Damn you Ebay!) so I'd like to get make some real progress on it before I feel the uncontrollable urge to cast on again.

T stands for Trouble... I mean Tux

Okay, we all know my cats are a little messed up... but can someone please explain this to me.....????

It happened like this...

Today is one of the days where I work at Job no. 1, followed by job no. 2, and don't get home until well past the cats' regular dinner time.

I forgot to put some extra food out for them as I usually do, but I had left the cat food container on the table. Now we all know this one:is far too smart for his own good, so I wasn't surprised when I came home to find the container on the floor, top off and kibble all over the floor.

So, figuring they've had their fill, I clean it up... but as soon as I put it away in the cupboard , this one:Along with this one:Start yelling at me with cat swear words... what did they want? Their dishes filled..... well if they are going to spill it on the floor you'd think they would darn well eat off the floor.... not my babies.

Down and out.. but still knitting

Well, it turns out that the bug that I've been warring with for the last couple of weeks finally won a battle. I think working two jobs, the excitement (and chaos) of getting the yarn store going, and the racing to finish projects finally caught up with me.

I woke up today achey, sniffley, and with one of the worst headaches I've had in a long time.
So I got out of bed, fed the cats, called into work and promptly climbed back into bed and slept till noon.

I'm still achey sore and tired, but I feel a little better than I did. Hopefully after another good night's sleep tonight, I'll be good to go tomorrow.

On the knitting front, I did get Dave's crab done in time for his birthday:He loved it (though I think he like the scan tool my parents bought him a little better... that's what I get for falling in love with a gear head) and took it to work to put in his studio. Mom made him a special birthday dinner (I asked her to, because she's a MUCH better cook than I am) and we ate far too much cake (but it was delicious).

We also stopped out at my grandparents so Dave could play with the tractor, and while we were there, my grandma and I were discussing our knitting projects and I mentioned my Sockghan... she disappeared into the the basement and came back up with this....
A whole bag full of sock leftovers! So needless to say....I spent my sick day working on the sockghan. This is the first row... this is going to take a while but so far I love it!

Oh, and if you're looking for a super fast (and super cute) baby/toddler knit, my mom just put up this pattern
I knit this one up this weekend (and keep in mind I worked five hours on Friday, eight hours on Saturday and spent most of Sunday out and about)

Oh Baby!

Finally.. it's typed up and waiting for your needles and yarn to get together and knit it for your own little princess!
Details:
Little Princess Baby Blanket
It uses worsted weight and knits up pretty quick
The pattern is easy to memorize
It's knit in the round and ends in a square
Pattern includes 2 sizes

I do recommend using a yarn that can be blocked, and that you block aggressively. I used acrylic, but I think it would look so much nicer blocked in a lovely superwash merino or cotton.

It's available on Ravelry and Etsy (and if you go to the Esty store you can get yarn too!)

Happy Knitting... I'm off to assemble a crab!

Crabby

Despite all the working, yarn dying and posting I've been doing lately, I've even managed to sneak in a fair amount of knitting.

I set aside my one button cardi to work on Dave's birthday present. His birthday is on the 20th, and on Monday I realized it was only a week away.... how did that sneak up on me so quick?Anyway, all the parts of his Hermit Crab are done, it's just a matter of sewing them together, which will probably be done Friday.. so plenty of time to spare!

I must say, Hansi Singh is a genius... I don't know how she imagines these things and makes them work!

Saturday night, I finished up the baby blanket I was designing... ...good thing too... it turns out the recipient is due in just a few weeks.... not like September as I was told. Lesson learned... never trust a boy when it comes to "girl issues".

Anyway, the pattern for this should be available by the end of the week. I just have to type it up.

And (yes there's more) I've finished the decreasing for armholes on the back of the One Button Cardi...Only six inches more of straight knitting to go for the back! Then it's on to the fronts.

Look at all the lovely moss stitch!As you may remember, I am knitting this in Filatura Di Crosa Zara... it's extra fine merino and I have to say.. I LOVE THIS YARN!!!!!!

It knits up so nice and smooth and creates a lovely velvety fabric. This is definitely my desert island yarn.... what's yours?

WINNERS!

HEAR YE HEAR YE.... WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!

(thank you to Mopar... an honourary Wandering Cat)

First... thank you to all the people who entered the contest. We were pleasantly surprised by the turnout.

And now... for the moment you've all been waiting for....

1st prize - Tales from a Self Taught Knitter

2nd prize - Serendipitous Opportuknitty

I've sent messages to the winner will be sending the prizes out soon!

Thanks again!

SOCKS, SOCKS, SOCKS!

There is sock yarn in the shop now, but don't wait too long... I was barely done listing before some already sold.

Don't forget - the contest ends tonight!

Colour me Happy

For all those that visited the shop and were hoping for sock yarn....
It's coming...very soon. Mom and I got into the dye pot again this weekend. We also did some more alpaca/merino lace.

As soon as it's dried, we'll be photographing it and putting it up on the site.

And don't forget, there is still time to enter the contest.

Oh and I got an awesome present in the mail that I just have to share. When I was on Ebay buying yarn I didn't need, I was also looking for a pair of black granny boots. I had a pair when I was 13, and I'd love another pair just like them, but haven't been able to find any (I'm very specific on the style of boot I want).

I still haven't found them, but I did find another pair of shoes that were just too cute to pass up...
They came Friday, and I was a little apprehensive, I don't normally buy shoes without being able to try them on. But they are a perfect fit! Now, I really have to stay off Ebay because I have bills to pay!

The body is strong but the will is weak

I know... I know... I know I said after all the great yarn I got at Julie's tent sale, that I wasn't going to buy any more... I have more than enough yarn to last me to the end of the year (and probably beyond.)

But I was on Ebay... (note to self.. stop logging on to Ebay) checking out some of my favourite bead sellers, and I decided to just take a peek at one of my favourite yarn sellers and well....
Twenty balls of Rowan Bamboo Tape in "Honey"... a nice shimmery beige-gold colour. This is destined to become a "sloppy" sweater... you know, a nice, plain sweater you can just toss on and bum around the house, but with enough panache that you can dress it up and wear it out.
Two balls of Regia sock yarn in "Papillon" (for all you non-French talkers, that means butterfly)
Now, I got so excited when I saw this and it's fabulous price, that I didn't read the listing... one ball is enough for a pair of socks. So, I may end up gifting one ball, or... it may end up as something larger than socks... to be determined.
Two balls of Regia Silk. Now we all know my... 'affinity'... for silk. And if the other sock yarn got me excited, this one made me totally spastastic... it was silk AND pink! (if it had of been green we would have been in real trouble) So again, I didn't read the listing properly...

1) this yarn is 6-ply not 4-ply (the big six on the label should have clued me in) so its heavier than sock yarn. Not a big deal, I'll just make heavier socks!
2) it also takes THREE balls of this yarn to make a pair of socks... not two...

Oops... but I'm still so enraptured by the silk that I don't care... I'll just make ankle socks! And they'll knit up EVEN FASTER!

I've also made some good progress on my Zara cardigan, especially considering I've had very little knitting time since I cast it on on Friday. I'm into ball two, and only a few hours from decreasing for the armholes on the back.

I also sucked it up and ripped back the border of the baby blanket. I'm putting the cardigan away for now until I get that puppy done.

Also, I want to thank everyone who has entered the contest so far. We've already surpassed the number of people we thought would enter (and I've added lots of new blogs to my blog roll so I have so much more to read when I should be working.) I'd also really, really like to thank the people who bought yarn (you know who you are... thank you). It's a great feeling when people want something you've created.

The contest runs till Monday, so please continue spreading the word.

A CONTEST

As some of my regular readers may have noticed, there is a new addition to the side bar of my blog.

Mom and I have finally put our hand painted creations online! Right now we have some luxurious lace weight yarn and stitch markers up, and in the next couple of weeks, some sock yarn will follow.

And to celebrate we're having a contest!

First the good stuff... the prizes....

First Prize:
Two skeins (totaling about 350 yards) of 100 per cent luxurious Alpaca in our "Petunia" colourway.

Second Prize:
An adorable set of "knitaholic" charmed stitch markers. They fit up to a 5mm needle

Now the rules:

To enter:
1) visit Wandering Cat Yarns and browse around. Then come back here, and leave a comment, letting us know which colourway you liked best. (And feel free to purchase if you are so inclined)
2) Link to the contest on your own blog to help us get the word out.
3) Only one entry per person please

Contest closes at midnight on Monday, July 13, 2009. On Tuesday, July 14 we'll do a draw from all the entries for the prizes!

Rocky says:
Good luck and happy knitting!

Ugh...

Well... I was hoping to present you all with a beautiful new baby blanket pattern today... but it's been delayed...

After many time-sucking rounds, I finally cast off around 1 a.m. last night... only to discover that I miscalculated my increases and the darn thing won't lay flat.... not even remotely.
Oh, it looks lovely folded up and hanging on my chair, but don't unfold it. After some technical discussions with Mom, we figure it can be salvaged and I just need to re work the border. I'm too depressed to rip it out right now, but probably Sunday I'll pull it back and try again. Sigh.

So what do you do when life's got you down?You take a deep breath.... streeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetch
..... and cast on for something else.

I should be working on some hermit crab legs (Dave's birthday is only 17 days away), but I really need to handle something other than acrylic for a little while. So... for today at least.... I'm being totally self indulgent and I'm casting on for....
....Debbie Bliss' Single Button Cardigan from Pure Silk Two.

I bought this book hoping to find a lovely pattern for the decadent five skeins of Pure Silk I snagged on Ebay.... only to discover that even the smallest top in the book calls for 6 skeins.... C'est La Vie.

However, Debbie Bliss designs some of the most classic, wearable garments out there, so I considered it an investment for future knits

And after another brief technical discussion with Mom, I discovered that all that lovely Zara I bought at the Tent Sale.......is in fact dk, not worsted like I thought (I really should read labels) and I was looking at all the wrong patterns. As soon as that fact was established, I immediately dug out my pattern book and decided the cardigan is perfect. Just something nice and simple I can slip on and wear just about anywhere.

So I'm off to it!