Rest

You always were an amazing person to me, as I told you many times, in your energy and countless items you were busy with in addition to working full-time and having a family.







I enjoyed our conversations about your world travels and adventures, the highs and the lows. You would get a bit of sparkle in your eyes when you talked about those travels. This was part of the enjoyment for me as a friend.







And I appreciated the way you just wouldn't give up. There was always another option that needed to be considered when it seemed all had been exhausted.


Your sense of humor was a delight. We enjoyed some of the same authors and knitting personalities, and I looked forward to getting your perspective on their latest blog entries.


In spite of the curse of lace knitting, you always felt I just hadn't met the right pattern yet. You had such a talent for knitting lace, that I would fall under your optimism and try it. Yet again proving I had no talent for lace knitting, just creative swearing.











You were tenacious, and you didn't mind me teasing you about it, especially when you refused to believe I would never know the joy of knitting my own socks. You lured me with the socks you knit for me.





Then pounced with a book that did indeed show me I wasn't as inept at knitting socks as I thought. And you know that every time I knit a pair of socks or wear this wonderful pair, you'll be there right with me.





You were a quiet dynamo of talent, grace, wit, humor, kindness, and intelligence. I'm so pleased that you were feeling well enough to host some of the SnB for the holidays this past winter. It was wonderful to sit and chat with you, hear you laugh and see you smile. You were always good at helping create an outing for the QC SnB...













You will be so missed. But rest now, darlin', you've more than earned it.

Reassess, Decide, Move Forward

So. Now that things are rolling forward with the change in life plans for me, time to review the queue.

I've decided to go with this little project because I want to knit a sweater. It's for the Child O'Mine. And now that the luscious yarn has arrived, I think I'll break out the needles this weekend.

"Well, there it is."

No new home out West.

Due to a family situation, I'm needed here.

This is the fourth time in my life I've tried to move out West, only to have a situation that required a heartfelt, soul searching meditation on what is the right thing to do.

If I was that sort of person, I would think the universe feels the West isn't for me.

At least there's always vacations to look forward to...

Sigh

I think all yarn should come wrapped like the gift it is...










All my angora is here, now to await the arrival of the merino that will be carried with it when I knit the shrug.






The Shrug of Soft Happy.

You read it right, The Shrug of Soft Happy. (Listen, name your clothes whatever the hell you want, but my shrug will be the envy of all who wish to roll naked upon it and are denied!) It's going to be so light and soft, like dandelion puffs being carried away on the whispers of the wish you make on them.

One Less Secret

Angora. In all the exotic fiber yarns that are out there, I've adored angora since I was very young. One of my aunts had an angora cardigan that I would pet until I was covered in shed angora fur. And I admit it. I've always wanted an angora sweater.

So, why haven't I made my adoration (fine, *lust*) for angora known? I thought it was so ultra-feminine and so not me in terms of what I like to wear (jeans, button-down Oxford shirts, loafers). I decided that I'm not going to be young and cute forever, so I best get my angora-wearing on before it's too late.

I found the pattern.

I found the color of yarn I wanted for the body (sky blue) and for the cuffs and possible edging (fawn).




















Of course, this is in the queue, I'm just not going to have the time to knit it before I move this fall.

Also? I know I may resemble a yeti with no fashion sense when I wear this shrug, and I don't give a damn.

Summer Of "Damn It! I'm Going To Finish This, Even If It Kills Me!"

After conversing with persons, doing a pattern search, and after some guidance, going back to the original pattern I started out with, I've got the Scottish wool going back on the needles this week:




Meanwhile, everything else is on hold. This includes Zombie Monkey. Of course, if I need a break from the cabled shawl, the monkey's going to be the first one to get pulled into action.

My goal is to have the shawl done by mid-August.

Then it's Zombie Monkey time.


Also? I may have, sort of, fallen into purchasing some of this yarn for a shrug, in the powder blue colorway.

Dead. Dead. Dead. Oh, Pretty!

This pattern is dead to me.




I paid for a lesson in crochet to do this pattern. Upon getting about 3% into the pattern, I thought I was going to lose my mind. It was all written out in long-hand. No chart.
I can't believe I paid for a complex pattern without inquring if it was charted.

I conferred with people who know these sorts of things, and basically it was agreed upon that it was written like an Algebraic word problem.

I loathe Algebra.

Done. Dead. Gone.

I've gone on to Plan B with my crochet tutor. I believe it will *not* end in tears.

Meanwhile, I bought yarn to cheer me up - from Knit & Knot:




It's going to be a crocheted and knitted rectangle shawl for me. I love the Plymouth Baby Alpaca, as always, soft and lush. What surprised me was being stupid with yarn lust over the bling Tiara yarn (colorway: Iris Blue).








So. Pretty.








Also, I found this at Knit & Knot. Cool, no?

Abandon All Hope

It arrived.







I always get so silly-happy to see the Royal Mail stamp!




What this does *not* say is "crochet pattern of doom for a knitter - turn back now!"




So nicely and neatly packaged and on beautiful paper stock:






And there are *five* pages and *no* charts. I'm pretty sure in there are the shorthand phrases for "weep uncontrollably at your knitter's I-want-to-learn-to-crochet-the-most-difficult-pattern-right-out-of-the-gate enthusiasm," followed by "take sewing needle and poke out own eyes for your idiocy." This is what I imagine the pattern will look like after I'm done weeping and gnashing my teeth (also? It's copyrighted material, no looksies):




The yarn is wound, the project bag is stocked.

I'm going in...

Companionship

Iris the Gourmet Monster is going with me on the trip out West to our new home this fall. Iris is in need of a traveling companion because, quite honestly, Sumo Sheep tends to be distracted too easily by shiny stuff.

Enter the next project on the needles: Zombie Monkey









While Iris approves:





Tank snores on...

It's Just About Cold Enough

The mitts I began in February are finally finished!





* * *

Needles: US 5 - 3.75 mm

Yarn: GGH Cashmere

How much? 3 skeins = 192 yards

Time To Learn Something

It's been 3 months since I finished my master's degree program.

In addition to brushing up on my Spanish language skills (mis habilidades son pobres), I've decided to increase my knowledge of crocheting.

I can do the basics of crochet. Nothing elaborate, just some trim on knitting projects or a very simple crocheted wrap or scarf.

Now, I want to do this bad boy. I know. I'm practically a basket of crazy snakes for jumping into a complicated pattern immediately.

It's going to take some patience, swearing, and hand holding by an expert to get me through this project.

I bought the supplies:












I couldn't resist a new project bag: