Bathroom Knitter Stalking

So yesterday in the bathroom at work there was this coffee cup sitting on the counter with the cutest little lamb on it you ever saw. Not this lamb, but I wasn't able to get a photo without looking like a serious CREEP as there was some traffic in the bathroom. I will say I tried, but gave up after the 2nd attempt. Anyway, a normal knitter would've probably made note of the cup and went on her way....but I've not ever claimed to be a normal knitter.... Let's just say my hands were VERY clean as I kept washing them over and stopping each time someone came near the cup, then back to washing hands again. After the owner finally claimed the cup, I asked if she was a knitter. After complimenting her on her lovely handknit cabled sweater and she on my lovely shawl (knitted by my dear friend CheryKnits) we had a short chat about yarn, knitting and how sad it is that Knit Wit is no longer open in Olathe. I did behave myself enough to not follow her all the way to her desk (it's a big building) so I wasn't a truly creepy knit stalker, just a normal knit stalker. Knitters. We're EVERYWHERE!

Still alive and still Knitting!

More knitting on my Sock Yarn Bits Blanket....LOVING it! I put 4 rectangles together by using 3 needle bind-off and I use it alllllll the time. Warm and snuggly without being too heavy! I'm reworking the free pattern, so should have it out soon. :)



Also found a bit more of the Schafer Elaine yarn in the stash so the Ugliest Blanket Ever gets to grow a little longer. It's sure ugly, but it's also warm! Now that it will be long enough to cover you from chin to toes while napping, it should enter into more demand in the household. It still looks like a migraine, though. wow.



Hand Knits in ACTION! Wearing a lovely warm mohair scarf while waiting in line back at the NCAA tournament in KC. Got to see KU win (earlier in the tourney) and while it was FREEZING outside in line, I stayed toasty by using a tall guy in front of me for a windbreak and wrapping my neck in mmmmmmohair! YAY!

This yarn makes me SOOOOO Happy!!!

"This yarn makes me SO HAPPY!" said from an adorable little 8 year old girl while HUGGING the yarn above at the KC Maker Faire.

Having a yarn booth at an event not necessarily for yarnies is an unusual thing. You run into all kinds of comments....."Oh, that's interesting, just like Little House on the Prairie"....."You know you can buy yarn at Wal-Mart, right?"....."Look Tommy, that lady is weaving a scarf"--"Actually, I'm spinning yarn on a spinning wheel."--"No, you're not. You're weaving."--"I'm pretty sure I'm spinning on a wheel.".....And lots of people asking good questions, or just standing, amazed, watching the colors and textures wind onto the bobbin while the wheel goes round and round.


My favorite part of the WHOLE EVENT was this adorable little girl that ran over to our booth (shared with FiberTerian), grabbed hold of this skein of apple green thick and thin yarn, hugged it hard and looked up at us both and yelled "THIS YARN MAKES ME SOOOOO HAPPY!" That's what it's all about. This yarn makes ME so happy too, kiddo!

It would've been cooler to strap the actual mohair goat to my forehead

It's summer, which around here means LAKE KNITTING! We went camping for a week in NW Kansas at Lake Webster for a family reunion. LOTS of good food, family fun, beautiful scenery for sitting & knitting, but it was HOT HOT HOT. Another weekend or four spent at the Lake of the Ozarks, also HOT as HELL, but good knitting, food, family, etc.

The only issue was the good old TreasureGoddess Orange Lake Hat was looking a bit rough. Here it is in the glory days.


Well, it's been beaten to heck and has a few light tears that've been glued back together and the cool hat band & metal front piece fell off. In what I thought was a bit of genius, I decided it was the PERFECT place to glue a big, handspun, hand crocheted AND hand felted fire red/orange MOHAIR flower! Right?


Anyone see the problem here? It looks great! The big honking mohair flower has gorgeous texture, it weighs the hat down well so it doesn't blow off in the wind, it's handmade and fabulous, made of one of my truly favoritest fibers on earth, and is HOT AS HOLY HELL!!! It HOLDS IN THE HEAT and basically boils the front of my head. It would've been cooler to strap an actual mohair goat to my forehead. Seriously. Cripes almighty. I can't bear NOT to wear the hat, it provides JUST the right amount of shade, is a permanent part of my personality in the summer, but is almost unbearable to actually WEAR. I also glued the holy heck out of it, so the only way this flower is coming off the hat is to cut a hole in the front of the hat. I can't bear to do that, so it looks like sweaty days ahead.

THIS is what lake knitting is all about. Sitting on the dock, watching the waves, light breeze blowing, sitting and knitting in your swimsuit, hopping in for a quick swim and then back to the knitting.


May your summer knitting be cool and mohair free. :)

Hand Knit Socks, now WITH PUPPIES! (or Puppy, actually)

Actual Knitting Content! YAY! I'd forgotten how much I love knitting socks. Crazy, huh? I actually started these socks TWO YEARS AGO. They sat as a ball of yarn and a pitiful 3 inch tube of wool/bamboo yarn. I grabbed them before a trip to Omaha, NE for my kids' soap box derby race on a whim. It turned out to be just what I'd been yearning to knit!

I've actually already cast on another pair out of malabrigo sockyarn and am in the midst of turning the heel after only 2 days of sporadic knitting! YAY!

Rio (now 9 weeks old and in CONSTANT MOTION, hence the blurry photos) approves highly of hand knit socks, especially those of natural fibers. YARN: Scarlet Fleece Grassy Wool. NEEDLES: hiya hiya double pointed needles size 1.5. DOG: Miniature Australian Shepherd, 9 weeks old male, adorable.

See? Perfectly nice socks, but SO boring without the puppy.