Quickie August 29, 2006

Thanks for all the input on Gloria.  I think I found some colors I like in Berroco’s Ultra Alpaca.  Saddle Brown, Salt and Pepper or Denim Mix.  I liked the idea of Cashmerino though–as I didn’t want the sweater to be too hot.  I might be making the change sooner than I thought…I am overheating all of the time.

Life has been busy with very little knitting.  Owen is home.  Yesterday he visited the aquarium with his respite group.  Today, Cameron and I accompanied them all to an indoor play place.  Field trips are awesome–as difficult as they may be.  You can see the staff revitalized and enjoying themselves in a whole other way.  Cameron and Owen interacted so beautifully.  And Owen only got yelled at once by some nasty lady.  Luckily, his teacher was right there and went right back at her.  There is something to be said for being in a "group of your own".  People with autism don’t look different so most people just think they are naughty or spoiled. 

Kevin is off for the rest of the week.  I am working at the shop tomorrow and then we are gearing up for our big Labor Day BBQ.  We are having 4 families over–3 have children with autism.  I can tell you it is never dull!  We hope to have a brand new patio installed on Thursday and our new outdoor furniture set delivered Saturday.  Now, we could very easily be sitting on old furniture in the dirt come Sunday…but that’s okay.  I bet the kids would enjoy it more.  Wait till I show you the furniture…omg…I love it.  We weren’t going to go with wood–as much as we love it.  But it was a floor sample and the price was terrific and the set beautiful.

Gloria, I’m just not that in to you August 24, 2006

You know, I was concerned about the color combination I chose.  As well as I love them together–I wondered if it could work for Gloria.  A swatch was knit–alright, I dove right into a sleeve–most knitters know they make the greatest swatch.  If only it didn’t look so clownish.  I brought it to breakfast this morning to show my mom (and dad) and my mother agreed–the blue is not doing the Silk Garden justice.  And the sleeves…I love bell sleeves–really, I do…but these are way too huge.  Margene says she modified hers and if I find the appropriate coordinating color–I will be modifying mine too.

Sigh.  I am sad.  It  would have been beautiful but alas, it was not meant to be.

Gloria–I think I’ve got your number August 23, 2006

Ever since seeing this post–I’ve had some serious Gloria envy!  When the majority of Granny’s Silk Garden order arrived (today), I knew #239 would be glorious with the Robin’s Egg Blue Cashmerino I have been eyeballing forever.  The colors are really outside my usual knitting color range but one of my favorite blues. 

I also brought home some of DB’s Pure Cashmere to whip up a little lace scarf for the shop.  Samples are always good for home project avoidance. 

Owen has just 2 days left of his school year.  But his respite program is going on two field trips on Monday and Tuesday.  Monday is the aquarium and Tuesday Fun4All–a gym type of place.  Owen is a real skutch at the aquarium–he can find the elevator from anywhere!  And has since he was able to walk.  I am not going there but was chosen from the hat to accompany them on Tuesday.  It should be fun!  He gave me 45 minutes worth of business this morning because I gave him a sesame bagel (we were out of everything).  C’mon…

Two more weeks and they will all go back to school.  The summer went by far too quickly.  What do you all think of those colors for Gloria?

August 18, 2006

Stuck home with Mom–Send bagels!

Seriously, Owen and I are home alone this weekend.  Kevin and the other two are off to a christening in MD for his brother’s son.  John will be wearing the christening outfit both Cameron and Owen wore.  We bought it for Cameron at Harrods when we were living in London.  It is simply beautiful.  Maybe I will be able to dig up a picture.

Ralphy Baby–the yarn rep from Plymouth–came today.  He is such a sweet guy and it is always fun to have him in the shop.  It was also the Guild day so it was nice to introduce him to the ladies.  They have some nice new patterns at Plymouth.  Has anyone tried their new Speedway Needles?  Gee, they aren’t even on the website.

Knitpicks, I suppose,  has cornered the market on new needles.  I sure do want to give them a try.  I especially want this!  My mom has it on good authority (her friend Catherine) that Knitpicks needles are very nice!  Can they replace beloved Addis?

August 18, 2006

Stuck home with Mom–Send bagels!

Seriously, Owen and I are home alone this weekend.  Kevin and the other two are off to a christening in MD for his brother’s son.  John will be wearing the christening outfit both Cameron and Owen wore.  We bought it for Cameron at Harrods when we were living in London.  It is simply beautiful.  Maybe I will be able to dig up a picture.

Ralphy Baby–the yarn rep from Plymouth–came today.  He is such a sweet guy and it is always fun to have him in the shop.  It was also the Guild day so it was nice to introduce him to the ladies.  They have some nice new patterns at Plymouth.  Has anyone tried their new Speedway Needles?  Gee, they aren’t even on the website.

Knitpicks, I suppose,  has cornered the market on new needles.  I sure do want to give them a try.  I especially want this!  My mom has it on good authority (her friend Catherine) that Knitpicks needles are very nice!  Can they replace beloved Addis?

Knitting a bit August 14, 2006

I haven’t felt much like knitting lately.  I am working–or reworking–this sample from the shop.  It is knit in Aurora from Noro.  It’s kind of a poncho.  I say kind of because it is knit flat and has three holes.  We tried for ages to figure out how to wear this thing.  Granny finally decided it was a three-seater outhouse cozy.  I ripped it back to the first hole and have been reknitting it into a wrap.  It’s an interesting yarn to work with.  I think the effect is quite nice and I am not especially glitzy.

We have more reps coming to the shop.  Patons has a new yarn that I am excited to see.  Normally, I don’t go too crazy for Patons–and it’s not up on their website–but it made with soy and wool.  I can’t wait to feel it.  It self-stripes.  I am a sucker for those striping yarns. 

In other news, Cam is enjoying camp.  The story of the dragon chicken lives on.  Owen is reluctant to go to school on non afterschool respite days.  He was so cute last night.  We were all watching tv together and he happily said, "I want cookie."  So we told him to go get one.  With a song in his heart and a dance in his step, he ran to the kitchen saying, "I’m eating.  I’m eating."  I guess you had to be there but it was so cute.

YO August 9, 2006

YO means Yarned Out.  Yesterday I took Granny on a yarn crawl.  I would link to shops but I am too tired.  We went to Three Black Sheep in Northport, Knitting Corner in Huntington and Wild and Wooly in Commack.  We tried to find the new shop in Huntington but it was just impossible.  I picked up a Noni pattern for my mom and a new Judith Designs boo (she has to start knitting all that Manos she has).  Granny got a little Cottage Creations pattern.  And I am still in that Summer of Stash but I could not resist 3 skeins of Cotton Fleece in the sale bin at Three Black Sheep. 

This afternoon Ann (not linking to her either)–Miss Purlingswine for those who don’t know–met me at Granny’s to look at some tweedy yarn for a intarsia dog pattern from the latest KnitSimple.  It is very cute and that girl can not pass anything pug related.  Except maybe that nasty fun fur dog coat Lion Brand designed. 

My Dulaan sweater grows ever so slowly.  I started the first sleeve but in pulling tight on my joins, I have broken the yarn a couple of times.  Very annoying.  I am now using my mom taught method of pulling the stitches after I have knit them to tighten them up.  Cam started karate camp.  He is killing me–"you mean, we do karate?  This isn’t camp?!"  And is bewitched by tales of the dragon chicken that only pecks at Mets fans.  My mom and I laughed over Girl Scout camp and the elusive Bloody Mary.

Well, Owen will be home momentarily.  Must get a few things done.

August 4, 2006

Inspired by Norma I decided to knit up a sweater for Dulaan.  I am a bit stalled on the Leaf Lace with yet another mistake.  Sigh.  My mom says I should use a magnetic board but the pattern is small and very easy to memorize with a quick glance.  Besides, St. Brigid is on one magnetic board and pulsewarmers on the other.  Goodness, looking for a St. Brigid post in the archives, I started with May–not even close–February!  Anyway, this is another little Rosemary Sweater using leftover Lamb’s Pride, Mountain Mohair and a bit of Beaverslide Dry Goods Mulespun.  If I can find my Kureyon leftovers–I will use that too. 

A rep came to the store on Wed.  That was fun.  She does Berroco, Tahki, Stacey Charles, Filatura di Crosa, Brown Sheep and Great Adirondack.  She may have others too but I had to leave.  Granny ordered a new sock yarn from Great Adirondack called Silky Sock.  And some other things, of course! 

We are off to the aquarium today. 

August 4, 2006

Inspired by Norma I decided to knit up a sweater for Dulaan.  I am a bit stalled on the Leaf Lace with yet another mistake.  Sigh.  My mom says I should use a magnetic board but the pattern is small and very easy to memorize with a quick glance.  Besides, St. Brigid is on one magnetic board and pulsewarmers on the other.  Goodness, looking for a St. Brigid post in the archives, I started with May–not even close–February!  Anyway, this is another little Rosemary Sweater using leftover Lamb’s Pride, Mountain Mohair and a bit of Beaverslide Dry Goods Mulespun.  If I can find my Kureyon leftovers–I will use that too. 

A rep came to the store on Wed.  That was fun.  She does Berroco, Tahki, Stacey Charles, Filatura di Crosa, Brown Sheep and Great Adirondack.  She may have others too but I had to leave.  Granny ordered a new sock yarn from Great Adirondack called Silky Sock.  And some other things, of course! 

We are off to the aquarium today.