Triumph!
I finished knitting Auburn Mist this morning, with more than enough yarn left over to do the sewing up. When I was about halfway through the sleevecap I realized I would make it and let out a huge sigh of relief. Even though it felt like I was knitting the second sleeve at a tighter tension than the first, there is no noticeable difference between the two. By the time I go to bed tonight Auburn Mist will be sewn up and blocked, which will leave tomorrow free for housework and grocery shopping. I finished my shopping and wrapping yesterday. Don't you love it when it all comes together?
We have another taste of winter here today, having woken up to a snowfall. It's snowing pretty heavily now but is supposed to turn to rain this afternoon. I wonder if it will keep the customers away? I'll know soon enough as it's off to work I go...
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
It's a Good Day
No, I haven't finished Auburn Mist but I have made good progress on the second sleeve. How can your day not start out right when you look out the window and see this lovely sight?
This is our Great Blue Heron friend, who has turned up regularly the past few winters, walking around the neighbouring field or using our clothesline post as a roost. I'm not sure if it's the same one returning each year (or same ones, as we sometimes see a pair) but I like to think it is.
My good mood continued as I headed out shopping. Now, I know what you're thinking...why in the world would the thought of heading out into crowded stores three days before Christmas make me happy? Because I finally came up with a great gift idea for Cameron!
He is a huge James Bond fan and has all the movies. However, I realized last night, all but two copies are on VHS. I decided it was time to update his collection to DVD and after going to three stores managed to find copies of most of the titles. For ten bucks or less! And despite being really busy out there, the lineups moved reasonably quickly and everyone seemed to be in a decent mood.
To top it all off, when I arrived home I found two more parcels of yarn that I had ordered with my Christmas money.
From left to right: Seacoast Handpainted in "Gilded Lily"; Cherry Tree Hill Glitter Alpaca in "Northern Lights" (I've drooled over this one for a long time); and Colinette Jitterbug in "Monet". I had the pleasure of seeing some of Monet's work at the Musee d'Orsay this fall and this colourway captures the feel of his work perfectly.
Now, with all that Christmas spirit coursing through my veins, it's time to resume work on Auburn Mist. I'm feeling lucky.
This is our Great Blue Heron friend, who has turned up regularly the past few winters, walking around the neighbouring field or using our clothesline post as a roost. I'm not sure if it's the same one returning each year (or same ones, as we sometimes see a pair) but I like to think it is.
My good mood continued as I headed out shopping. Now, I know what you're thinking...why in the world would the thought of heading out into crowded stores three days before Christmas make me happy? Because I finally came up with a great gift idea for Cameron!
He is a huge James Bond fan and has all the movies. However, I realized last night, all but two copies are on VHS. I decided it was time to update his collection to DVD and after going to three stores managed to find copies of most of the titles. For ten bucks or less! And despite being really busy out there, the lineups moved reasonably quickly and everyone seemed to be in a decent mood.
To top it all off, when I arrived home I found two more parcels of yarn that I had ordered with my Christmas money.
From left to right: Seacoast Handpainted in "Gilded Lily"; Cherry Tree Hill Glitter Alpaca in "Northern Lights" (I've drooled over this one for a long time); and Colinette Jitterbug in "Monet". I had the pleasure of seeing some of Monet's work at the Musee d'Orsay this fall and this colourway captures the feel of his work perfectly.
Now, with all that Christmas spirit coursing through my veins, it's time to resume work on Auburn Mist. I'm feeling lucky.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
It's a Numbers Game
Knitting is all about math. 5 st per inch times 36"equals 180 st. 100 m per 50 g ball times 6 balls equals 600 m. And when it comes to Auburn Mist, 34 g divided by 2 equals 17 g.
After I finished the body I had 34 g of yarn left over from my original 100g. This meant that each sleeve could take no more than 17 g of yarn to complete. The plan was that I would knit one sleeve, determine how much yarn I had left over, then decide on my course of action. Well, after finally finishing the first sleeve this afternoon, I weighed the remaining yarn and discovered that I have a total of 18 g, divided into two skeins.
Or at least I did, until I weighed it again and came up with 17 g. When I weighed the balls separately I got a total of 17 g...then 16 g.
The point is that 1 g of yarn is going to determine whether or not I will be wearing Auburn Mist this Christmas. I have already checked all the yarn shops in a 100 km radius and there is no red Madil Kid Seta to be found. The way I see it, I have three choices:
1. Walk. Away. From. The. Sweater. Put Auburn Mist into hibernation, order a new ball of yarn, and complete the sweater in time for next Christmas. This would relieve a lot of pressure, freeing up oodles of time to wrap presents and clean my house. Imagine approaching the coming holiday with a feeling of peace and relaxation!
2. Rip back sleeve number one and knit two short sleeves. Surely that wouldn't take too long. I could easily finish the sweater by Christmas Eve, not to mention complete the rest of my Christmas jobs. Okay, I'd feel a little stressed but it would all be worth it when I slip my new sweater on over my head.
3. Knit sleeve number two, crossing fingers and toes, hoping and praying that I have enough yarn to not only finish a second sleeve, but also to sew both sleeves into the body. This would practically ensure that every moment between now and when the yarn runs out will be filled with anxiety and anticipation. Will I have enough yarn? Will I have enough time? Will it all end with a shout of triumph or a wail of disappointment? Surely no sane person would put themselves through all that just for a chance at wearing a new sweater...
Yeah, you guessed it--call me crazy.
In the meantime, I'd like you to meet Aggie, more formally known as Agate, a one-of-a-kind 1200 yd-skein of laceweight merino and tussah silk, dyed by my friend Lori of Oceanwind Knits. It is shown here with my new hummingbird ornament, an early Christmas gift from Cameron.
After I finished the body I had 34 g of yarn left over from my original 100g. This meant that each sleeve could take no more than 17 g of yarn to complete. The plan was that I would knit one sleeve, determine how much yarn I had left over, then decide on my course of action. Well, after finally finishing the first sleeve this afternoon, I weighed the remaining yarn and discovered that I have a total of 18 g, divided into two skeins.
Or at least I did, until I weighed it again and came up with 17 g. When I weighed the balls separately I got a total of 17 g...then 16 g.
The point is that 1 g of yarn is going to determine whether or not I will be wearing Auburn Mist this Christmas. I have already checked all the yarn shops in a 100 km radius and there is no red Madil Kid Seta to be found. The way I see it, I have three choices:
1. Walk. Away. From. The. Sweater. Put Auburn Mist into hibernation, order a new ball of yarn, and complete the sweater in time for next Christmas. This would relieve a lot of pressure, freeing up oodles of time to wrap presents and clean my house. Imagine approaching the coming holiday with a feeling of peace and relaxation!
2. Rip back sleeve number one and knit two short sleeves. Surely that wouldn't take too long. I could easily finish the sweater by Christmas Eve, not to mention complete the rest of my Christmas jobs. Okay, I'd feel a little stressed but it would all be worth it when I slip my new sweater on over my head.
3. Knit sleeve number two, crossing fingers and toes, hoping and praying that I have enough yarn to not only finish a second sleeve, but also to sew both sleeves into the body. This would practically ensure that every moment between now and when the yarn runs out will be filled with anxiety and anticipation. Will I have enough yarn? Will I have enough time? Will it all end with a shout of triumph or a wail of disappointment? Surely no sane person would put themselves through all that just for a chance at wearing a new sweater...
Yeah, you guessed it--call me crazy.
In the meantime, I'd like you to meet Aggie, more formally known as Agate, a one-of-a-kind 1200 yd-skein of laceweight merino and tussah silk, dyed by my friend Lori of Oceanwind Knits. It is shown here with my new hummingbird ornament, an early Christmas gift from Cameron.
I've been eyeing this yarn for a while now and when I received some Christmas money a couple of weeks ago I decided to go for it. I just wish the photography could accurately reflect the subtle colour changes and sheen.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Let There Be Light!
Not only are the Christmas lights now up, there is also a light at the end of the tunnel. The shopping is nearly done, half the presents are wrapped, and I have completed the body on Auburn Mist. Here is a photo of it, unblocked. It fits perfectly!
And here is a closeup of the lace pattern. Isn't it pretty?
Speaking of pretty, look at the view out my window this morning.
Perfect knitting weather to see me through the afternoon, as I cast on the first sleeve. But first things first--lunch!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Tea Time
Last week when I happily proclaimed that I had completed my Christmas knitting, what I failed to mention was that I still had my Christmas sewing to do. Luckily, this was not as labour-intensive as it sounds since I only had plans to make one small gift. This afternoon I put aside a few hours to produce this tea cozy for my brother-in-law, James.
He requested it specially, along with the white teapot it is modelled with. When he saw the one belonging to my mother-in-law, he expressed an interest in owning one, so my mother-in-law, who does the (ahem) "random name-drawing" for our family gift exchange, somehow made sure I drew his name.
He requested it specially, along with the white teapot it is modelled with. When he saw the one belonging to my mother-in-law, he expressed an interest in owning one, so my mother-in-law, who does the (ahem) "random name-drawing" for our family gift exchange, somehow made sure I drew his name.
I am having more trouble Christmas shopping for some of the other men in my life, especially Cameron and Matt. It's hard to know what to get for them, when they don't even know what they want. If they're not careful, they might find only I.O.U.'s under the tree on Christmas morning!
I am continuing to slog away on Auburn Mist. I have almost finished the waist decreases and have about 2" to go before the armholes. I find I can't work on it too long at a time because the yarn and needles make my hands a bit tender. Let's just say that I am beginning to look at other wardrobe options for the big day but I haven't given up yet!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
The last few days have been busy with work, Christmas parties, and Christmas decorating, so I haven't had much time for knitting. I've managed to regain the original 5" of Auburn Mist and have added a bit of length to the leg of my latest sock. The yarn is Sockotta from Plymouth Yarns in the colourway 6655. I love the colours in this sock and I think it's destined to become one of my favourite pairs.
We woke up to a light snowfall this morning. Although the wintery weather messed up our plans to hang the outdoor lights, it created the perfect atmosphere in which to put up the tree and decorate the house. Ahhh, there's nothing like the sound of carols, the smell of cinnamon and clove-scented candles, and the sight of sparkling garlands and tree to put you in the Christmas spirit. The house is ready--now, if only my shopping was done...
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Mr. Greenjeans
Mr. Greenjeans is completely done, button and all!
The photography is deceiving. The button is actually more of a blue-grey and matches the yarn perfectly. The body is slightly too big and the sleeves a tad too long for me so it should fit my sister-in-law just fine. Nineteen days and I'll know for sure!
The photography is deceiving. The button is actually more of a blue-grey and matches the yarn perfectly. The body is slightly too big and the sleeves a tad too long for me so it should fit my sister-in-law just fine. Nineteen days and I'll know for sure!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Good Karma, Bad Karma
I read Yarn Harlot's post yesterday morning, blissfully unaware that later that afternoon I, myself, would become a victim of "the knitting fates". I finished the waist decreases on Auburn Mist, transferred the stitches onto a spare piece of yarn, and tried it on. My nagging suspicion was confirmed. It was too big.
Now, I am a great proponent of swatches and almost always knit one when I embark on a sweater. Once in a while, however, I make an educated guess and cast on, reasonably confident that I will achieve the desired size. Experience has taught me that I will usually require a needle size 0.5mm less than the one suggested. Sometimes I will deliberately knit something at a looser gauge in order to manipulate the sizing to fit me.
This is what I did in this case. I fall somewhere between the sizing for an x-small and a small so I decided to knit Auburn Mist with the suggested needles, in order to achieve a slightly bigger finished product. Instead, I ended up with a more than slighty bigger finished product.
With a sense of resignation, I immediately ripped out the whole thing and rewound the yarn. Happily, despite being mohair, this was achieved with surprisingly little trouble. Then, before discouragement could set in, I cast on again with slightly smaller needles and began knitting. My 5" head start has disappeared but at least time is still on my side. Shhhh...I shouldn't say that too loud.
On the bright side, I spent last evening getting into the true spirit of Christmas. I belong to a group of nine women, who get together once a month for appies and dessert and loads of laughs. Each woman puts $20 in a pot and we draw a name at the end of the evening. The winner gets to spend the money on herself, in which any way she chooses, and hosts the next gathering. Every person wins once during the year.
From September to December we each contribute an additional $5 per month and use this money to adopt a family from the local women's shelter for Christmas. In early December we all meet and go shopping for the fixings for Christmas dinner, additional groceries, and gifts for all. I always feel like "mom" is the unseen tenth member of our Ladies' Night group and somehow it makes our get-togethers seem less frivolous.
It makes me feel good to know that in some small way I have helped to make someone's life a little brighter and helps put things in perspective. Somehow, whether or not I will be wearing a new, red sweater on Christmas Day doesn't seem all that important.
Now, I am a great proponent of swatches and almost always knit one when I embark on a sweater. Once in a while, however, I make an educated guess and cast on, reasonably confident that I will achieve the desired size. Experience has taught me that I will usually require a needle size 0.5mm less than the one suggested. Sometimes I will deliberately knit something at a looser gauge in order to manipulate the sizing to fit me.
This is what I did in this case. I fall somewhere between the sizing for an x-small and a small so I decided to knit Auburn Mist with the suggested needles, in order to achieve a slightly bigger finished product. Instead, I ended up with a more than slighty bigger finished product.
With a sense of resignation, I immediately ripped out the whole thing and rewound the yarn. Happily, despite being mohair, this was achieved with surprisingly little trouble. Then, before discouragement could set in, I cast on again with slightly smaller needles and began knitting. My 5" head start has disappeared but at least time is still on my side. Shhhh...I shouldn't say that too loud.
On the bright side, I spent last evening getting into the true spirit of Christmas. I belong to a group of nine women, who get together once a month for appies and dessert and loads of laughs. Each woman puts $20 in a pot and we draw a name at the end of the evening. The winner gets to spend the money on herself, in which any way she chooses, and hosts the next gathering. Every person wins once during the year.
From September to December we each contribute an additional $5 per month and use this money to adopt a family from the local women's shelter for Christmas. In early December we all meet and go shopping for the fixings for Christmas dinner, additional groceries, and gifts for all. I always feel like "mom" is the unseen tenth member of our Ladies' Night group and somehow it makes our get-togethers seem less frivolous.
It makes me feel good to know that in some small way I have helped to make someone's life a little brighter and helps put things in perspective. Somehow, whether or not I will be wearing a new, red sweater on Christmas Day doesn't seem all that important.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Rain, Rain, Go Away
They don't call it the "Wet Coast" for nothing. On the heels of Sunday's snowstorm came the "Pineapple Express", a tropical weather system that dumped buckets of rain on our region yesterday. It did not help that many sewer drains were blocked by unmelted snow, causing lakes to form where they do not naturally occur, like in parking lots and at the end of our driveway.
Despite the fact that we west coasters accept rain as a fact of life, many of us rarely wear boots or carry umbrellas as you might expect. Unless someone spends a considerable amount of time outdoors, shoes and hooded jackets provide all the protection we need as we run from house to car or car to store. We are even less likely to own a pair of snowboots, considering that we might see significant snowfall only once every few years. Thus explains the lack of adequate footwear in our house for yesterday's weather conditions.
In the morning my husband, Cameron, and younger son, Colin, got soaked through as they dug the delivery vehicles of the auto parts company they both work for out of a flooded, slushy parking lot. This necessitated a trip home to change clothes and attempt to warm their cold feet in a hot tub. Colin never did return to work; he was chilled through and by all appearances seemed to suffer mild cases of frostbite and hypothermia (he was much better by evening). Cameron, on the other hand, headed back out into the deluge to deal with a leaky roof at one of the stores he oversees. He got soaked yet again as he shoveled snow and cleared the drains on the store's roof. And so my morning was spent running baths, making hot drinks, and dealing with piles of sopping wet clothing and footwear.
Luckily, things settled down by afternoon and I was able to get some knitting done, after all.
I completed and blocked Mr. Greenjeans. All it needs is a button. I am very pleased with how this sweater turned out and am even considering making one for myself, though I rarely knit anything more than once.
Which leads me to these:
Matt's felted clogs. Once they're dry I'll give them a shave, then they'll be done too. I think I have now knit this pattern seven times, have plans to make another pair for my son-in-law's birthday in January, and will probably knit more in the years to come. However, as much as I love the finished product, I really don't enjoy knitting this pattern anymore. Once was fun, the second time was okay, and now I just find it tedious. A confirmed process knitter, this is one of the few things I knit strictly for the product.
Last night, with most of my Christmas knitting out of the way, I knit a few more inches of Auburn Mist. Only a ball into it, I am already beginning to fear that I am not going to have enough yarn. Oh well, I can make shorter sleeves, if necessary. This morning, as I sipped my first cup of tea, I began the heel of my mom's sock and got as far as the gusset. Now that I have passed the stage where I need to concentrate I will work on the sock in bits and pieces, while watching tv, talking on the phone, or riding in the car.
It is raining again today but the worst seems to have passed. Looks like I have another cozy day of knitting ahead of me before I head out for a very special shopping trip this evening...
Despite the fact that we west coasters accept rain as a fact of life, many of us rarely wear boots or carry umbrellas as you might expect. Unless someone spends a considerable amount of time outdoors, shoes and hooded jackets provide all the protection we need as we run from house to car or car to store. We are even less likely to own a pair of snowboots, considering that we might see significant snowfall only once every few years. Thus explains the lack of adequate footwear in our house for yesterday's weather conditions.
In the morning my husband, Cameron, and younger son, Colin, got soaked through as they dug the delivery vehicles of the auto parts company they both work for out of a flooded, slushy parking lot. This necessitated a trip home to change clothes and attempt to warm their cold feet in a hot tub. Colin never did return to work; he was chilled through and by all appearances seemed to suffer mild cases of frostbite and hypothermia (he was much better by evening). Cameron, on the other hand, headed back out into the deluge to deal with a leaky roof at one of the stores he oversees. He got soaked yet again as he shoveled snow and cleared the drains on the store's roof. And so my morning was spent running baths, making hot drinks, and dealing with piles of sopping wet clothing and footwear.
Luckily, things settled down by afternoon and I was able to get some knitting done, after all.
I completed and blocked Mr. Greenjeans. All it needs is a button. I am very pleased with how this sweater turned out and am even considering making one for myself, though I rarely knit anything more than once.
Which leads me to these:
Matt's felted clogs. Once they're dry I'll give them a shave, then they'll be done too. I think I have now knit this pattern seven times, have plans to make another pair for my son-in-law's birthday in January, and will probably knit more in the years to come. However, as much as I love the finished product, I really don't enjoy knitting this pattern anymore. Once was fun, the second time was okay, and now I just find it tedious. A confirmed process knitter, this is one of the few things I knit strictly for the product.
Last night, with most of my Christmas knitting out of the way, I knit a few more inches of Auburn Mist. Only a ball into it, I am already beginning to fear that I am not going to have enough yarn. Oh well, I can make shorter sleeves, if necessary. This morning, as I sipped my first cup of tea, I began the heel of my mom's sock and got as far as the gusset. Now that I have passed the stage where I need to concentrate I will work on the sock in bits and pieces, while watching tv, talking on the phone, or riding in the car.
It is raining again today but the worst seems to have passed. Looks like I have another cozy day of knitting ahead of me before I head out for a very special shopping trip this evening...
Monday, December 3, 2007
Winter Wonderland
As predicted, the white stuff fell thick and fast yesterday, depositing 30cm (12") in about ten hours. This sort of accumulation--in fact, snow in general--is rare for this region of the great, white north, rare enough to be a novelty. While others grumbled about the impending snowstorm, I eagerly awaited the first flake, anticipating a cozy day indoors, knitting my little heart out.
I was not disappointed. As I watched the snow fall all day, I worked on my Christmas knitting, while sipping copious amounts of hot tea. By the end of the day I had accomplished this:
Most of the second sleeve of Mr. Greenjeans for my sister-in-law, Dilys.
About 3" of the second sock of a pair for my mom. I am now ready to do the heel.
Most of the first of a pair of felted clogs for my oldest son, Matt. I finished the cuff and second sole this morning before he got up.
And so, at the risk of sounding smug, I am happy to report that all that's left of my Christmas knitting is about 4" of sweater sleeve, the heel and foot of one sock, and one slipper. I assure you, I do not feel smug at all but instead relieved. Last year I took on way too many projects and presented my husband with a half-finished sweater and an I.O.U. on Christmas morning. This year I resolved it would be different, and thankfully, it will.
I don't mean to imply that I have no other deadline knitting. I am hoping to complete this in time to wear for Christmas:
It's Auburn Mist from Knitter's Summer 2007. Luckily, I have a 5" headstart and if I don't finish in time I will only disappoint myself.
In true west coast fashion, it began to rain overnight and our winter wonderland has been transformed by the slush and drizzle. I feel another cozy knitting day coming on...
I was not disappointed. As I watched the snow fall all day, I worked on my Christmas knitting, while sipping copious amounts of hot tea. By the end of the day I had accomplished this:
Most of the second sleeve of Mr. Greenjeans for my sister-in-law, Dilys.
About 3" of the second sock of a pair for my mom. I am now ready to do the heel.
Most of the first of a pair of felted clogs for my oldest son, Matt. I finished the cuff and second sole this morning before he got up.
And so, at the risk of sounding smug, I am happy to report that all that's left of my Christmas knitting is about 4" of sweater sleeve, the heel and foot of one sock, and one slipper. I assure you, I do not feel smug at all but instead relieved. Last year I took on way too many projects and presented my husband with a half-finished sweater and an I.O.U. on Christmas morning. This year I resolved it would be different, and thankfully, it will.
I don't mean to imply that I have no other deadline knitting. I am hoping to complete this in time to wear for Christmas:
It's Auburn Mist from Knitter's Summer 2007. Luckily, I have a 5" headstart and if I don't finish in time I will only disappoint myself.
In true west coast fashion, it began to rain overnight and our winter wonderland has been transformed by the slush and drizzle. I feel another cozy knitting day coming on...
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Walk right in, sit right down...
Why would an essentially private person decide to invite an untold number of strangers into her world? Because you're knitters, that's why! And even though I might not yet know your name or recognize your face, I already feel a connection to you because you, like me, have a passion for transforming yarn into something useful, something memorable, something fabulous.
I've followed a number of blogs for quite some time now but never found the urge to write my own...until recently. Percolating in the back of my mind these past few weeks has been the notion that perhaps some people might be interested in my knitterly and not-so-knitterly experiences, the way that I am drawn to others'. So, here I am, opening my door to you. Come in and make yourself at home.
Now that you've made yourself comfortable, let me introduce myself...
My name is Carol and I'm a knitoholic. At other times I have been a sewaholic or a cross-stitchaholic or a genealogyoholic. See a pattern here? I'm an all or nothing kind of girl, throwing myself into one hobby--for days, weeks, or months at a time--then abruptly shifting to another.
I have been interested in the needlearts ever since I knit a square in Brownies circa 1972. An avid Barbie lover, I knit and sewed doll clothes long before I ever attempted making something for a human being. In high school I took all the sewing and textile classes I could and also enjoyed thread and crewel embroidery. After I graduated I worked at a fabric store until just before my first child was born in 1985. Soon after that I learned counted cross stitch and never did any other type of stitchery again.
Once my three children were in school, I returned to university and pursued a degree in history, and later completed a certificate in genealogy. Throughout this time, needlework in all its forms was my retreat, my reward. Unsure of how to parlay my interests in history and genealogy into a viable income, I returned to what was familiar and took a job in a craft store, where I worked until it closed less than two years later. Now I work part time in a yarn shop, where I am continually surrounded by inspiration. Not surprisingly, knitting has become more important to me than ever and during the past four years I have become completely immersed in the world of knits and purls.
I often remark to our customers that it's a great time to be a knitter, with the incredible variety of yarns, patterns, and books that are available. Even more special is the vast online knitting community, with its blogs, podcasts, and magazines, not to mention the recent addition of Ravelry. With this blog, I look forward to becoming a more active member of this knitting community, sharing with other knitters the ups and downs of my knitting life. I hope you enjoy your visit.
I've followed a number of blogs for quite some time now but never found the urge to write my own...until recently. Percolating in the back of my mind these past few weeks has been the notion that perhaps some people might be interested in my knitterly and not-so-knitterly experiences, the way that I am drawn to others'. So, here I am, opening my door to you. Come in and make yourself at home.
Now that you've made yourself comfortable, let me introduce myself...
My name is Carol and I'm a knitoholic. At other times I have been a sewaholic or a cross-stitchaholic or a genealogyoholic. See a pattern here? I'm an all or nothing kind of girl, throwing myself into one hobby--for days, weeks, or months at a time--then abruptly shifting to another.
I have been interested in the needlearts ever since I knit a square in Brownies circa 1972. An avid Barbie lover, I knit and sewed doll clothes long before I ever attempted making something for a human being. In high school I took all the sewing and textile classes I could and also enjoyed thread and crewel embroidery. After I graduated I worked at a fabric store until just before my first child was born in 1985. Soon after that I learned counted cross stitch and never did any other type of stitchery again.
Once my three children were in school, I returned to university and pursued a degree in history, and later completed a certificate in genealogy. Throughout this time, needlework in all its forms was my retreat, my reward. Unsure of how to parlay my interests in history and genealogy into a viable income, I returned to what was familiar and took a job in a craft store, where I worked until it closed less than two years later. Now I work part time in a yarn shop, where I am continually surrounded by inspiration. Not surprisingly, knitting has become more important to me than ever and during the past four years I have become completely immersed in the world of knits and purls.
I often remark to our customers that it's a great time to be a knitter, with the incredible variety of yarns, patterns, and books that are available. Even more special is the vast online knitting community, with its blogs, podcasts, and magazines, not to mention the recent addition of Ravelry. With this blog, I look forward to becoming a more active member of this knitting community, sharing with other knitters the ups and downs of my knitting life. I hope you enjoy your visit.
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