No Really!

Honestly I've been knitting. You just have not heard from me much as we've been processing our grief. You want to see what I've been working on?

First up we have D's new socks. You'll remember these started off as urgent vacation knitting. I picked up the Lang Yarns Super Soxx yarn in Mad About Ewe on Vancouver Island. It is Cashmere Color 4 Ply. They are very nice and stripy too like D likes his socks.

Now I wished I had picked up the red version of the yarn too. It was so nice to work with. No really so nice.

Then we have my rustic socks. Hey they're Canadian yarn too! Shelridge Yarns Soft Touch Heather in Bronze. Oh that one toe tip is in Gunmetal Blue though. Yep I ran out just a tinge shy. Good think I can always pick up another color at Rhinebeck.

Yes they're a wee bit loose but I cannot stand the feeling of my feet being strangled. It must have been all those ill fitting socks over the years. I also like my sweater arms just a bit longer too, for the same reason.

Since I've only got a pair of socks on the needles for Mom, I'm looking for new project. This handspun yarn from Into The Whirled fiber is calling to me.

As it was calling it jumped onto my ball winder. I think it wants to be a cowl. Maybe another Honey Cowl? Does lace work with variegated handspun? It is more of a green and blue than it shows here. Anybody have a suggestion?

Gus does not yet have an opinion. Well at least he is not willing to voice it now.

Which is pretty funny because he has been voicing quite a bit. I feel like I am always being scolded or kept on his schedule. I think he misses Jack but is enjoying being the only cat. It is much easier to demand attention then ignore that same attention when it's only you.

First handspun item

Yeppers that is correct the very first item I've ever knit from my handspun.

Do you think I may have commitment issues? It is way less risky to knit something small.

The fiber was from Into the Whirled ends bag I bought at Rhinebeck. Oh a few years ago. I don't have any clue what fiber it is but I liked the colors and enjoyed working with it. It turned out much smaller than the one I knit out of leftover sock yarn, but hey the ear buds fit in it and that's all that matters.

Well that and a happy knitter and spinner.

Startitis Struggles

Startitis, oh I've got a bad case of wanting to cast on all of the yarn in my house. OK fine I don't want to cast on those two skeins from back when I started knitting. What was I thinking when I bought a cotton blend of sock yarn?

But the other skeins of all my carefully cultivated collection? Yes please!

Ok this is an old picture from one of my annual stash airings. That reminds me I have to air the stash one of these days soon. I'd say half of them are knit into something lovely that I adore. The other half is totally guilty of singing the startitis song. 

I have three second socks on the needles and none of the socks are for me. I know I don't really believe it myself sometimes. I have cast on a heavy sweater three times now? I know, I know, it is complicated to explain. I did not knit a sweater all last winter, but now that spring has sprung I pull out the big needles and cast on? You know sometimes I cannot even explain me to me. 

I have some lovely alpaca yarn hiding around here that I want to knit into a shawl, but it must not like the pattern I am thinking of. It seems to be on walk about. Maybe it will come home if I actually print off the pattern. I'm not sure I believe that either.

Maybe I should go wind up some of my purple yarn. It seems sort of fitting on the day we lost Prince. Rest in Peace the coolest man in heels that I've ever seen.

While we were away

So we're still adjusting to the new normal around here. I am very thankful that Gus' illness has not flared up with all the craziness that has occurred.

I may have told you but I'll tell you again. I did the most unknitterly thing ever on our trip to Vancouver. Because I was not yet done with the socks I was knitting for Adriene, I made a rash decision the night before I left. The only knitting I packed was Adriene's 3/4 done socks. I finished them on the flight there. 

But that was OK because I had researched yarn stores in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island. I would be just fine. I could start a new sock with vacation yarn while still on vacation. Cue music of doom here.

My first day there was pretty much wrecked as a travel day. I was exhausted. The next day while completely lovely was a travel day getting to the island and navigating to where we were staying. I had a two hour ferry ride with nothing to knit. I did love the ferry.

The next day Adriene whisked me off to a yarn store but, my mind was still in the US. I found a really lovely skein of MadelineTosh sock yarn but it was something I had access to in the US and it was $30. I've paid that for yarn before but why when it was something I could get cheaper in the US?

Yeah I know I forgot to take into account the awesome exchange rate. Instead I bought some Briggs and Little yarn for another Baa-ble hat, this time the Canadian version. But alas the only needles I brought were sock needles. But I had some nice wool to keep me company at least.

Finally on our second to last day, right before our ferry ride back to Vancouver I searched out Mad About Ewe.

Ah the sense of calm and excitement when I walked into the store of my people was immense. The chatter of the knitting group and the walls of wool welcomed me to home away from home.

I touched many yarns, collected a few and paid my happiness fee. I did not get one of my beloved easy to knit from Zauberballs. I found a manly cashmere sock yarn already in a knittable form.

I tucked it into my useful again sock knitting bag and we were off for the ferry. I cast on while waiting. D pointed out another knitter sitting across from us and I had a dandy time trying to figure out what she was going to make out of two, two inch squares on straight needles. D encouraged me to ask but I was having more fun speculating. I think they must be the saddle portions of a saddle shouldered sweater. It was the only thing I could think of.

Anyways here is a gratuitous shot of my ferry knitting set up.    

Looks like I can knit a cuff in an hour?

This is while we were knitting waiting for our plane the next day.

This was my haul from Mad About Ewe. A locally dyed sock yarn. A skein of Kunni wants to be a shawl. And the half knit sock I was able to come home with.

I was going to take a shot of all the vacation yarns together but Jack interrupted the photo shoot. I'm so glad now that I took the time that day to enjoy him and his personality instead of just trying to get something done. Those are the last pictures I have of him.

I think I'll go pet a sock and a cat now. I may even squeeze the Hubby.