Geez, sometimes work really gets in the way of knitting and quilting. But, if I wasn’t out there earning, I would not be able to indulge in my passions. Here we are, Wednesday already, and I’ve barely had time to put in any knitting/quilting stitches.

On the knitting front, I did go shopping with my sil for yarn (see my last post); I got to the heel flap of my first Trekking XXL purples - this sock is in holding pattern right now,  until I see my sil this weekend - I’ll show her how to turn the heel. I’m still also knitting on the sock from hell (most ugly yarn I’ve ever seen — I know that I should rip it out and just put that skein to rest, but I just can’t help it), and I’ve now started Grumperina’s Jaywalker sock. I saw some finished socks in this pattern on Ravelry, and after reading through the pattern - I figured I could do this pattern. And, it is really easy. Once I figured out the K1 f/b (real easy) and the DD (slip 2 stitches together as if to knit and then knit next stitch, then slip the slipped stitches over the knit stich) I started and, well, I think I know what I’m doing. Some pattern is emerging.

I’ m using some Brooklyn Handspun yarn that I picked up at last year’s Kitchener-Waterloo knitting festival - the colours are a little odd — but I was attracted to them: yellow, brown and peach. They labelled it as Root colourway. I will get a photo up asap.

On the virtual knitting front - I received the Spina di Pesce sock kit from Yarnissima to join the KAL with the Yarnissima Ravelry group. It’s  gorgeous, gorgeous blues Wollmeise yarn. The KAL starts on April 4th. This is the KAL that I need to get ready for by learning how to knit toe-up and learn some stitches, plus figure out how to read those charts.

I also received a pkg from Knitpicks with a book from Cat Bordhi “New Pathways for Sock Knitters” - that should help me learn the toe up thing. I also signed up for some Peanuts kits from Woolgirl (have not heard back yet as to whether I go in on those.) And, phew, I joined the Indigo Moon Ravelry group just in time to discover that Indigo Moon will be running it’s first ever Yarn Club!!! I’ll be watching out for that one. And, last, but not least, I’ve been reading the buzz about some people having received their March sock kit from BMFA.

So, considering I’m having a busy week at work, and, now that I put it down in words, I did have time for some knitting related stuff - and the week is not over!!

On the quilting front, I managed to get a quilt in to Jan (long arm quilter) for quilting and I just have to get one last border onto my Holiday Sampler quilt, and then I can drop that one off with Jan as well.

Wow! Imagine how much of this stuff I will get done when I retire (BTW, very long way off). Nice to dream about it though!

Winter encounter with a buck

Yep, that’s me feeding a deer in January. We became fast friends over the winter, on those freezing cold days  when no other human was crazy enough to go out hiking. Well, there is another human crazy enough…my husband, Erwin. We are co-workers and we like to get together at lunchtime and get some fresh air and  a little exercise. Luckily for us there are wonderful hiking trails nearby the office.

Anyhoo….that is not what this post is about. It’s about a knitalong (KAL) that I’ve signed up for on Ravelry. One of the sock groups I am a member of there, Yarnissima, is starting a KAL, and we just got notification of the start date:  APRIL 4th.

The pattern for this KAL is Spina di Pesce

Spina di Pesce kit from Yarnissima

The Spina di Pesce kit uses wonderful Wollmeise yarn. But, what the heck have I just gotten myself into? I have NEVER done a toe up sock. I have only knitted on dpns…not circulars.. Geez, I’ve never even done a pattern …for my entire knitting career (about a year and a half) I have just knit self-striping yarns, going round and round, and round …

Now, this is where my deer-friend comes in - I think I now know how those critters feel when they are caught in the headlights — frozen in their tracks — fearful about what is going to happen. Knowing he/she should move out of the way…but, kinda brain-numbed and can’t move…

I don’t know why I’m doing this…but I do know (does that make any sense?). I have to move beyond my box of this self-striping, plain knitting thing…Yet,  there may be an easier way to ease into it. But, like everything I do, I’ll throw myself right in…

Last couple of days I’ve been searching the internet for info on knitting toe up, and magic cast ons, and knitting on two circular needles.  I’ll have to sit with some practice yarn and figure this out before April 4th. Today I ordered a toe up knitting book by Cat Bordi  from Knitpicks, (along with some circular needles), and hopefully I can get a grip on this before April 4th comes along…

In the meanwhile, I’ll  go seek out my deer-friend and see if he has any sage advice for me.

Thinking about that KAL...

wollmeise

Have I just gotten my hands on a  skein of Wollmeise? I am not sure. I’ve been scouring the internet and ebay - and have not been able to buy a skein of this elusive yarn. I must get my hands on some to see if what “they” are saying is really, really true…From the wollmeise web page I ended up at an online store called Yarnissima , that I think is in the Netherlands - and although they did not have any skeins of wollmeise, they had a kit - they claim that the yarn in the kit is wollmeise - I’ve made the purchase, got a confirmation email - and I guess that now it is all a waiting game!

So, I MAY just have gotten my hands on some elusive Wollmeise!! Stay tuned….

Last Saturday, Feb 14th, I enjoyed my first visit to Janey H. Knits in Perth, ON. What a wonderful find this wool shop is! I shop in Perth approximately once or twice a month, but had never been to this shop. They had some beautiful sock yarn from Apple Laine - first time I saw this yarn.  The yarn is 65% wool, 20% mohair, 5% silk and 10% nylon. words can’t describe the wonderfully soft, sheen feel of it. I bought the colourway “garden party”. I can’t wait to start with this yarn!

Apple Laine Apple Pie "garden party"

Apple Laine label