Dogs Steal Yarn

I keep bringing home dead bugs

Billy thinks my desk is starting to look a little creepy, but I think they're beautiful.

Behold the power of the lowly termite!

We got a lovely little surprise today while working to get the house ready for the wedding. A friend of my father's was here working with Billy to reinforce the deck. We're having about a hundred guests and we wanted to make sure the deck could take the weight.

Well...

They removed one little plank and the entire side of the stairs fell off. The beams are practically hollow from termite damage. The one good thing is that it's all old damage--no sign of active termites. But now the wedding is less than a month away and there is major work to be done on the deck. This is on top of all the other mucking, swabbing, painting, scraping, drilling, cleaning, decorating etc that is still to be done...you know, the stuff that was already on the to-do lists. I guess this is just how it goes with houses, especially old houses...

While Bob and Billy worked on the deck, I spent today unpacking the last of the boxes from the move. Yep. We still had like fifteen boxes that had just been moved from room to room over the past eight months. I sorted through them all, repacked the things that were to be stored in the basement, put the rest of the stuff away and broke the boxes down. It feels good to have all the boxes dealt with, especially the ones that were in the bedroom. Not so good to have the room where you're supposed to feel most relaxed looking so very transitional. I'm hoping to get the bedroom painted next weekend.

Gah. Why, oh why didn't we elope?

Of course, what's a few termites when compared with the infestation of Republicans this week? I hope this weekend's protests and those to come make the delegates aware of just how very unwelcome they are here. NYC is at least 85% Democrat, for crying out loud! Shouldn't they be meeting somewhere in the Bible Belt?

On bad writing days...

...there's always the comfort of mindless knitting.

Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk...if word gets out about this stuff, you may soon need a prescription to buy it. It's so damn soft and knits up beautifully.

Yep, I cast on for Lara the other day. She's keeping me company while I write tonight. I knit a row, bang my head against the desk a few times to shake out a few words, knit another row... When the writing is going well, there's no time at all for knitting. The fingers just go and my brain gets left way behind. I know I'm writing well when my fingers are moving faster than my brain. If I have time to think, I'm doomed. Well, not doomed, but not writing at my best. The Alpaca Silk doesn't mind. It's already told me it loves me no matter how awful my sentences are tonight.

Thanks for all the intarsia advice. I'm leaning toward Claudia's method of just letting long strands dangle. That's about my speed. If that doesn't work out, I think I'll try the butterflies.

The Tart

Yesterday the last color needed before I could get going on the Tartan Jacket from the most recent Interweave arrived from Threadbear. (Tahiti teal. It had been on backorder.) Last night I diligently swatched, was very pleased to get gauge on the recommended needles first time out, and this morning cast on for the back.

This is what it looks like, three rows in.

Every time I switch from RS to WS or WS to RS, those eight little balls of yarn in their sad little sandwich baggies have to get moved around. It takes longer to turn the knitting over than to complete a row.

So here’s what I’m wondering, having not tackled any intarsia more complicated than the you’d-have-to-be-braindead-to-screw-it up barely-intarsia intarsia of the Rosedale.

• A) Is there a better/easier way to set things up than the way I’m going about it?
• 2) Am I just crazy to be doing intarsia, especially with so many colors?
• III) Since what I really love about the jacket is the shaping and texture, should I maybe consider following the shaping guidelines without the intarsia? Or am I just saying this because the mess on my worktable looks like such a hassle? I have a feeling that decision would be inspired more by fear and laziness than actual desire. I could see myself making this AGAIN without the intarsia, but I do like the plaid pattern...

Mostly I think I'm nuts to have started this project with so much to do before the wedding AND with school starting in two days. Yep. MFA year numbah two starts in two days. A wise woman would stick with mindless st st. I, however, am not all that wise.

Gulp.

Birthday fiber misadventure

Sure it was about 90 degrees and 115% humidity on my birthday, but I had finished my Rosedale United and was determined to wear it. I walked into KnitNY, very excited to show off my latest FO to Em and Iris. I knew there were some other Rosedales out there, but not in this colorway. Mine was special, unique, a perfect birthday sweater even if it was a tad bit too hot to be wearing 100% wool.

I had quite a surprise waiting for me when I walked in, and I don't mean a birthday surprise.

Sitting there, knitting and looking very innocent, was Em. Wearing a Rosedale United in the same colorway as mine! And she'd never even told me she was making the same sweater!

Shocking, right? Well, get this. Then I look out the window, and there's Iris waiting for a bus. And what's she wearing?

Here I was in my candy-colored Rosedale, thinking I was so special and that no one would have a sweater like mine, and two of my knitting friends had the exact same sweater on! I needed a coffee. A large one. And a muffin. So I went to the counter and guess what? Yep, even the coffee-and-muffin slingin' chick had a candy-colored Rosedale.

To add insult to injury, her blue and green hair looked much better with the sweater than my pink and plum.

What's a birthday girl to do? My mom would probably say that even without the most unique sweater in all the land I'm still rather special and unique. I couldn't help but be a bit disappointed though. The muffin helped ease my pain. Sugar has a way of doing that.

(This has been a joint production of Unfurnished Iris, Everybody Loves Michelle, and Dogs Kiss Cari. All rights given up if you say the magic word. Hint: The magic word ain't please. It starts with a "Y")

Happy birthday to dog moms!

Hi there. Sadie here. You know, Sadie of Diego and Sadie, the Dogs who Steal Yarn? I'm the alpha dog round here, so I'll do the typing. Besides, Diego can't spell.

Mom's taking the day off from blogging cause it's her birthday. And guess what? Today is also the birthday of Mike, Jack, and Della's mom Lisa AND Sandy's mom Greta. Kinda crazy, hunh? So we blog dogs thought we'd get together and throw our moms a birthday party.

We have big plans for our mom, Cari, today. We're gonna bring her all our toys all day because she really loves to throw things we've drooled on. We'll probably also follow her really closely all day and maybe trip her up a few times because that's really funny too. Not on the stairs, though, cause she already told us that wasn't so funny. Who knew? (She's turning 31 today. She thinks that makes her a big grownup but Diego and I figured out that if you compare her human years to our dog years Diego's older than our own mom and I'm only three years younger than her! Sometimes it's better to just not think so much, you know?)

Go wish the other birthday moms a happy birthday!

The Hold Steady...Almost Killed Me

I can't stop listening to The Hold Steady. Their new album, Almost Killed Me (as in The Hold Steady Almost Killed Me... heh heh. That amuses me) is proving to be a perfect summer soundtrack. Yep, it's the lead singer from Lifter Puller (and the bassist too but on guitar now). Of course, if you know that, you already know The Hold Steady. And if you don't, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about. (Oh boy. I really should never blog after midnight. I should be in bed right now.)

While you're checking out their site (you ARE going to click that link up there, right?) listen to the mp3 for "The Swish." You'll be glad you did. Really. Okay, well if this isn't your cup of tea, maybe you won't be glad. But you never know until you try, yes?

Michael's socks are done

(Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Tuscany. Pattern: Simple Sock from Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles. Model: Clarence the Sheep.)

sleepy, sleepy...

We were out of town this weekend at a wedding upstate. It was great to get out of the city--upstate New York is always beautiful; it's one of my favorite places on earth (that's where my mom grew up, and I went to college upstate too)--but there's just something exhausting about being away from home but not on vacation. And weddings kind of wear me out. I don't like them. Nope, for the most part I don't enjoy weddings. I'm not into functions in general. Yes, I'm having a function of my own next month. It will be different. (Well, probably not that different, but what can you do...)

It's good to be home. The dogs survived the doggie daycare where they stayed, though they returned home absolutely REEKING of something. I don't think I want to know what they got into. They both got baths last night. Nothing like snuggling a couple of sweet-smelling dogs, at home in your own comfy bed.

Knitwise, I'm closing in on a couple of FOs. Photos soon.

dangerous knowledge

Jealous of the knitters who live within driving distance of Kristine's Knit Happens? I was. And then it occured to me that I have both phone and Internet, and mail runs regularly from Virginia to New York.

Yes, she does mail order.

On its way to me is the new Debbie Bliss Silk Alpaca pattern book (yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. You're sick of me bitching about the quality of tech editing in her patterns. I promise to keep gripes to myself this time. Maybe.) and the yarn to make Lara. I chose a nice sage-y gray that you can see on the Knit Happens site. Of course I'll also post some pics when it arrives. Here's Lara:

There's already a knitalong springing up for this one, but I'm going to do my best to pretend it isn't happening. For some reason, knitalongs have a way of making me lose interest in a project.

I'm off in a few minutes to meet Michelle and Iris at KnitNY for yarn, coffee, and their wonderful apple muffins. Mmmm. Muffin crumbs in the knitting. It's looking like I've got a decent shot at finishing Rosedale this weekend.

matching is a state of mind

Here are MC's sock and a half. Not so much matching as coordinating, but I'm rather pleased with the effect. At least for now I'm pleased with it.

The second sock is closer to my previous Lorna's Laces experiences than the first is. The first sock surprised me by striping so regularly. I think I like the wild sorta zebra-y stripes of the second one better. I briefly (very briefly) considered restarting the second one in an attempt to get it to match the first...but nah. I like it, and so will MC, I suspect. He did want fun socks, after all.

Endless summer

Somehow I fall into the same trap every spring. I make all these fabulous plans, set all these fantastic goals for the summer. And then every year the summer whips by at light speed and I don't manage to do even half of what I'd planned.

When I was a kid, summer seemed to go on for years. Decades. I mean, it was summer FOREVER (until suddenly it wasn't and you were shopping for school clothes again because you outgrew your favorite purple cords). Yes, yes, it was that way for you too. That way for all kids. I mean, remember how an hour used to be a long time?

For some reason, I slip into this euphoric seasonal recall each spring. At the end of spring semester I had only about 120 pages of my novel written, and yet I planned to finish the first draft by the end of the summer. Right. As of this minute I'm on page 190, and I haven't written a word in two weeks because I've been working too much. I also planned to finish four WIPs and complete two other knitting projects. I planned to get back into a more regular exercise routine. I planned to read twenty-two books, three of which were over 600 pages long and one of which was almost twice that (Infinite Jest. I'm stalled around 200. Got bored, forgive me). I also planned to work my butt off to stockpile some money, so I could work less once school started up again. Oh--and I had this fantastic series of paintings in mind.

Oh yeah, and plan a wedding.

Now I find myself in August already. I still have at least 200 pages to write before I've got a finished first draft of the novel, based on what still has to happen. I've read seven of those books so far, but none of the really long ones. I have managed to work my ass off, so that's one goal met, but that's what's been keeping me from everything else.

All of this is fine, really. It's been a great summer and there's still plenty left of it. I've worked too much but that's okay too. I have one deadline left, which is Friday, and then I won't take on any more jobs until after the wedding and honeymoon. So now there will be time for the novel, for knitting, for painting, for reading. I still won't meet those goals I set in May, but that's the point I guess.

Year after year I keep planning for summer the way summer felt when I was eight. I'm not eight anymore, and time is shaped differently. Summer really did go on forever when I was younger, because that's the way it felt. Well, now it's zipping by. Think I'll remember this next year? I kind of hope I won't.

Return of the yarnhead!

There's nothing quite like freshly dyed hair...

(Ignore my sweaty face--it's really hot today. Focus, please, on the hair)

I wish I could have taken the picture in full daylight. Maybe Friday. The colors aren't showing up so well in this photo... it's a mix of fuschia and plum this time.

Parade of WIPs

Thanks for all the comments and compliments on the Dolman! It knit up fairly quickly, and I'm hoping to take advantage of the FO momentum to finish up some WIPs that have been on the needles for far too long, as well as some more recently started projects. My list of future projects has grown to fifteen (!) so I need to get those needles a clickin'.

By far the oldest WIP is my mom's 3/4-sleeve pullover in Cotton Fleece.

I started this sweater in April 2003. It's been in close to its current state since around September 2003. Yep. Sorry, Mom! It's ready to join now. I'll be doing that tonight. Really. I want this done... Black st st. Yawn. Potential drawback? I designed it and wrote the pattern myself when I'd only been knitting for five months. I'm a bit nervous that it's going to look like a sack of potatoes when the petite little mama tries it on. I've warned her that this one might suck, and have promised her something better at some point in the reasonable future.

Next oldest WIP is the candy-colored Rosedale United, started this past January, right after we moved.

I finished the sleeves in two weeks and then set them aside until last week. It's now joined and I'm in the happy land of the SSK. With any luck it'll be done by end of week. That's Noro Kureyon #130. Sometimes I love the colors. Sometimes I think we're all suffering some kind of mass Noro delusion. Today I love it.

I started this ribbed jacket back in April (that's THIS April--not so bad!).

That teeny bit of ribbing on the needle wants to be the right front when it grows up. Debbie Bliss pattern, Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmere yarn.

Now on to the two newest projects:

MC's first sock is coming along nicely in my subway knitting time.

That's Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Tuscany. Size 11 feet. This pair is my warm-up for the two size 13s I'll be doing next.

Last week I cast on for the back of the Cable Hoodie from Patons' Street Smart booklet. (It's the same one that the Must Have is in.)

That's Patons Classic Wool in Leaf Green. Sometimes cheap yarn is a bargain. Sometimes it's just cheap. Patons Classic Wool? Bargain. It's lovely, plain ole wool wool.

He Who Feeds Our Habit dropped me a line today to let me know the yarn I've been waiting for has arrived...that is, the last color needed before I can get my Tartan Jacket underway. Very exciting! I need to get the Rosedale and Mom's sweater done quickly or I'm afraid The Tart will push all other projects to the side. Tarts can be somewhat...erm...assertive like that.

It's August, which means it's my birthday month (Woohoo existence! Thanks, Mom!). Always a happy thing. Unfortunately this year it also means we're that much closer to our September wedding and we still have a million things to do. We're rather behind on the whole wedding planning thing. Ah well. One way or another, we'll be married at the end of that day. Everything else that goes right is a bonus.

I'll be knitting my wedding jewelry with wire and beads, assuming I manage to make something presentable. I have a necklace and wristlets in my head and I'm flattering my own creativity enough to assume I won't find anything like them already in existence. I know. But I'm a Leo. We're a bit grandiose, but we're so damn cute and charming you tend to love us anyway. You know you do!

And you know what? Maybe I'm right. The jewelry I have in mind will be rather dramatic, organic, and generally fabulous. I hope I can get somewhat close to the image in my mind. Anyway, stay tuned for wacky adventures. I imagine plenty of spilled beads, kinked wires, chewed up needles (time to break out those straight needles I never use). Tears shed, maybe a bit of blood. Oh, the potential for drama! (I mentioned that I'm a Leo, right?)