Twit knit

Ok, so I jumped on the Twitter band wagon, but I am still not sure what to make of it.

I have decided to make it knitting related, as I can't imagine anyone being interested in my day to day activities (it puts me to sleep at times). And people are starting to follow me who I don't know, except that they are knitting freaks like me, so I start to follow them.

But who knows where it would go. When Ravelry started I knew it was a good idea, but would never imagine the people I would meet, the things I would learn, the events I would attend. A good example of this would be the February Lady Sweater, February Tea party. Seems that more than a few of us have either knit this sweater or are knitting it presently. So, it seems only appropriate that we have a tea party (as that is what ladies do) in February while wearing/knitting the sweater. It was a kick, had a good time and hope to do it next year. Without Ravelry, none of it would have happened.

Mary, Mary quite.....
Mom and dad came to Canada from England in 1957, and mom knitted this Mary Maxim sweater shortly after arriving. It used to fit my dad who at his strapping hight was 6'1" 200+ pounds. Mom put it in the washing machine recently (not sure what she was thinking) and now it fits her who is considerably smaller (which proves the point that it is wool). In any event, it is a beautiful sweater that has lasted over 50 years.

Parting is such sweet sorrow....

Not my first commissioned piece, but certainly my first commissioned sweater. It has almost two months of knitting and I am really really happy with the results. Having said that, not sure if I will knit for someone again. It isn't that I didn't enjoy it, I did. And it isn't that the compensation isn't good (we agreed on me being taken out for lunch, as there wasn't anyway he could compensate me financially). But there is an added pressure to 'do well' that isn't there when you knitting for yourself. You always want to do well, but you can't really frog the whole project or let it turn out so-so.

Anyway, I get a bit attached to my projects and I am certainly going to miss this one. Even though I know Ian will give it a good home.

It must be me....

It never ceases to amaze me how often I think this. If I am knitting a pattern and something doesn't make sense, it must be me screwing it up (even if I have to go over it 10 times and still doesn't work). I don't think I am alone in this....in fact I know I am not.

Today at work two police officers came to our company to interview people about an incident last Friday. My first thought, oh my god....what did I do??? Funny thing is, my friend/coworker who was also interviewed had the same thoughts.

Sort of like going to a boarder crossing. You know you aren't smuggling, you are within your limit, don't have firearms, undeclared alchol or anything else that can get you in trouble. And yet your heart pounds and you worry about them believing you.

Where does this lack of confidence come from??

I guess the only thing I find more interesting than yarn and knitting for clothing, is yarn and knitting for artistic purposes. A case in point would be Kirk Dunn, who I first saw at a DKC meeting about 2 years ago. He knits stain glass windows and is currently working on a three part instalation about Christianity, Judaism and Islam. My regret at the time was that I didn't have a camera on hand, and there is very little to follow up on through the Internet.

He was speaking at the Vogue Knitting tour of Toronto today, and this time I had camera in hand. Not only is the concept intellectually stimulating, but the actual process and design is fascinating. Have a look for yourself....

Doubt, doubt, and more doubt....

As my best friend Eden will tell you, I question my knitting....alot....so when I finished a very easy Turn A Square hat by Jared Flood, I should be pleased about my accomplishment. But, instead I am fretting over whether it is too big. BTW, it's circumference is 20".... my head is 22"

I seriously hate when I do this to myself, but seem powerless to stop. I am going to ask my neighbour Dave to stand in as a male model, but ultimately, I will have to ask the intended recipient Ian to try it on (it is for his birthday in Dec).

Casting on for the Ravelympics last night, I am already wondering if I can have this item finished by time they put the Olympic torch out. I always have problems with the initial few rows of a new pattern, and Heather's chatting last night didn't help. I think I have it now, although I did miss one yarn over (I'll let that one slip).

Final doubts, well....not knitting related but I have to get this house in order to sell in a year. Our condo's construction is finally a go, and we should be in early 2010. Although the house isn't in a horrible state, there is much I want to do before we list it. Mainly purging stuff, which isn't Heather's strong suite. I am dreading the upcoming negotiating, begging, pleading, gnashing of teeth, etc., and really hope we can get our lives sorted and organized. Being a library technician I kind of feel the pressure of being on top of this, and if it was just me I wouldn't be so worried, but trying to negotiate these things with someone else can be quite a task. Wish me luck.

WWKIP 2008

What a day we had today.....Yarn Harlot's Birthday, Franklin Habit's 1,000 Knitters, raffles every hour at Lettuce Knit, tons of knitters, loads of laughs.

Rather than posting pics here, I'll point you to my Picasa photo album...enjoy!!!