Not really knitting.

Right after I posted last week, I got sick.  So sick that I didn't knit, play with the new loom, or even read the Spin Off magazine that arrived.  Now, that's really sick.

I was too sick to knit, but that didn't keep me from being busy doing knitting related things, though.  I"ve accepted the position for Superintendent of Textiles for the Washington County Fair.  The entries for the Fair have fallen off in recent years and interest was waning, especially in the Textiles Division.  Since the previous Superintendent is bowing out, the Fair organizers decided this is the year to shake things up.  If you know me, you know if there are two things I do well, it's shake things up and tell people what to do!  

The Textile Division classes have been added to over the years, but unfortunately none were removed.  Some were very outdated; I mean, really, when was the last time you heard anybody say, "Wow, look at all the patterns for an embroidered toaster cover!" or "I'm happy to see some many designs for macrame' plant hangers!"  Severe editing was called for.  I culled and combined and eliminated and added; what was a 23 page, single spaced list of classes and lots is now down to 11 pages, including all the new rules.  

My next step on the Fair is to wrangle judges.  I think I might have a Master Knitter roped, um, coerced, er, convinced to judge the knitting, and I'm hoping I can talk her into doing some of the other classes.  I have the card for the past president of the local quilters guild (that's the only class I didn't mess with), so I plan on enlisting her to judge as well.  I think one more judge would be good, hopefully I can find a Master Crocheter to help out.  After that comes strong-arming volunteers for entry day, judging day, and watching the exhibits during the Fair.

I did gets nearly every weaving book the Library offered and have been pouring over all of them.  And Ravelry and YouTube have proved to offer up tons of information about weaving and this loom.  I did finally feel well enough on Friday measure a warp for the loom; just a short one of 2 yards, but in two colors for a sampler.  Since I don't have a warping board (that's on ToolMan's list), I turned the dining room chairs on their sides on top of the table and used the legs.  

I got part way through warping the loom the first time and then got hopelessly tangled and lost between going front to back and back to front.  So, out went that warp (I'm sure the birdies building nests will love the cotton and wool yarns, though), and I started all over on Saturday.

The next warping went better than the first, but by no means smoothly.  Probably because I was tired, still a little sick, and it was late, and I don't know what the hell I am doing.  I found this tutorial, which was actually more helpful than most of the videos on YouTube.  After nearly 4 hours, during which I had to re-thread missed reeds, re-thread missed heddles, tie and re-tie knots, and cry, I managed to get nearly all 200 threads where they were supposed to be.

This afternoon, I wound a couple of bobbins and sat down to try this baby out.  

And discovered that my sampler in no way even remotely resembles what the picture in the book looks like. Possibly because I discovered that I have several threads in the 3rd harness when I was supposed to be using only the first 2.  And probably because the yarns I have on hand are a bit thin for the 8-dent reed, and probably a lot because of what tech people refer to as a "PICNIC".*  Well, I've go no where to go but up, as they say.  

On the "almost knitting" front, I haven't worked on the Masters Project at all this week; I just wasn't up to  being hyper-focused this week.  I did meet with Sandy, from Shibui Knits today and took on a Secret Knitting Project.  I can't tell you about the pattern or show you what I'm knitting, but I can let you drool over the yarn!

She entrusted 10 hanks of the above to me; Staccato is a fabulous superwash merino and silk blend (70% merino, 30% silk) in fingering weight in a lovely dark gray/green called "Field".  It was so delicious feeling when I wound it into cakes, that I can hardly wait to swatch and get started!

*  PICNIC = Problem In Chair, Not In Computer

THE Book

It's official.  THE Book is out in public.

And so is the Secret Knitting.

I am beyond honored to have a pattern in this book.

Secret Knitting Revealed

Remember a couple years ago, when I knitted ToolMan's Driving Cap?

Remember a year or so ago when I was doing Secret Knitting? 

Remember my friend, Judy Becker?

Judy has written her first book, Beyond Toes: Knitting Adventures with Judy's Magic Cast-On, which isn't available yet - it's due to be released in mid-September - but you can pre-order it from Amazon now.

In the book, are 23 patterns, all using Judy's Magic Cast-On, and one of the patterns is mine!  Yep, I wrote the pattern for ToolMan's driving cap; now know as "Haberdasher" and I am so honored that Judy included it in her book.

I was excited to be chosen for the book, even more thrilled when the test knitter (Thank you, Jen!) did such an excellent job, delighted when I saw the proof pages for my pattern, and astounded when I saw the list of other designers!  There are some pretty big names in there with some pretty fantastic patterns!  I feel rather like a very small fish in a very big pond.

O. M. G.

Holy smokes, I didn't realize that I'd been incommunicado, or in absensia, or incognito, or in deep s**t, or in whatever for so long!  Time for a quick catchup, I suppose, so here's the list, in no particular order:

1. The trip to the coast was great.  My seminars were good; I got to catch up with some old friends; and the weather was good.  ToolMan and I had a lovely dinner with one of the local judges and his wife which we really enjoyed. 
2. We probably won't be travelling anymore for quite awhile.  We can't leave Andy with a kennel because of his diabetes, and it's just too difficult to travel with him.  Any change in his routine or environment is just too stressful for him since he's become blind and deaf; it just throws his blood sugar way out of whack, and it's just too stressful on him and on us.
3. We bought a new digital video camera before the beach trip.  He tried to take some video, but with Andy's leash on one hand and the camera in the other, it's more than just a little jerky. 
4. I finished the short row scarf at the seminar and donated it to the BSD Project.  I have some more things planned to knit for this, but I'm working on something for myself right now.  I also cleaned out my stash and gave a big bag of yarn for the BSD Project. 
5. I'm working on a seamless sweater for myself, using EZ's Percentage System.  I'm going back to Elizabeth's writings on knitting and designing.  I'm hoping she'll spark the answers to some things I've had rolling around my head for the last few months.
6. The Secret Knitting still can't be revealed.  The original plan was to spill the beans in October, but that didn't work out.  Best laid plans and all that.
7. I'm still watching DWTS and have no idea who's going to win.  Jennifer has been wonderful through the whole season; Kyle is such fun and so energetic; Bristol has finally found her confidence and has worked really hard.  Who's going to capture the mirror ball trophy?  Your guess is as good as mine.
8. Work is going fine; I'm glad to be back in litigation.  I like working with the young attorneys and having the opportunity to mentor them.  I'm changing some of the office procedures, and in some cases creating protocols.  And I'm doing the ex parte appearances several times each week; that's always been something I enjoy.
9. ToolMan and I have been on diets since the first of July.  Nothing too stringent; just cutting down on carbs, watching the portion size, and eating salads nearly every day.  We've both managed to drop quite a few pounds; he's lost about 40 pounds and I've lost nearly 30.  Enough that we've both had to buy more pants, which is a very good thing!  Still lots more to go, but we're determined to reach our goals, sooner or later.
10. ToolMan delivered some of his shawl pins to Cindy for sale at Urban Fiber Works.  She's thrilled to have them in her shop, and we're thrilled for her to offer them.  I'm planning on going through my stash and possibly offering some of my handspun in her shop as well.
11. Next weekend is the Surprise Stash Sale at Blue Moon Fiber Arts.  ToolMan and I are planning on going over in the morning to have breakfast at the Scappoose Creek Inn before the sale.   Maybe we can figure out the new digital camera before then.

I think that's pretty much caught you up on what we've been up to.  Now that I have the laptop and internet access at work, I'm going to try doing shorter posts more frequently.  Maybe just a short paragraph or two several times a week.  I blog in my head all the time; I just need to get it out of my head and onto the 'net.  In the meantime, I'll see you in the funny papers.

Not Dead, Yet

No, we're not dead, yet. And we haven't fallen off the face of the earth, either. Just been really, really busy. With what, I'm not sure. Anyway, here are a couple of cute videos I ran across in the last week. If you have dial-up internet, I apologize in advance but these are both just too cute not to share!

First up: Fraggle Rock Knits!



And second: Where's Bee?



Think ToolMan would let me have a house lamb?

I am . . . . GOLDEN!

I finished! Ok, so the "real" closing ceremony was hours ago, but it's on the telly right now, and I cast off the last stitch before the last note of "Oh, Canada!" and the flame is still burning. It still has to be steamed, there is some sewing which doesn't involve yarn, and there's lots more work to be done on this project before it's complete, but the knitting part is finished so I'm counting this as a Gold Medal.

Bell Lap

It's down to the final lap and I've got the finish line in sight; the major pieces are knit, steamed, and drying overnight. Good thing my secret knitting isn't the Knitting Olympics' equivalent of speed skating, because if it were, I might wind up sliding across the finish line like Anna Friesinger-Postma. There's one more piece to knit up tonight; it can be steamed tomorrow while I do the sewing up and with a little luck, I'll have an FO by the time the torch goes out tomorrow night. I know we have a Bavarian cowbell in a storage somewhere; I might have to dig it out and have ToolMan ring it just to cheer me on.

Synchronicity

Call it karma or whatever, but for knitters, today is just about as good as it ever gets. The knitting gods have looked down on us and smiled. The universe is in perfect harmony. You can call it Littlewood's Law, or coincidence, or the Butterfly Effect; but today is meant for us! After all, how often do these things occur ALL AT THE SAME TIME?

For starters, today is SuperBowl 798. Sorry; I know the football fans will crucify me for that one. I'm not a fan of the game. Although ToolMan will have it on all day (even though his team isn't playing) I only watch the commercials. Really.

Because B: I knit during the game because I've got serious swatching and sampling to do. See?


I'd tell you more about it, but then I'd have to kill you. It's secret knitting; something I can't even hint at until next fall. This isn't even the yarn I'll be using to make said secret knitting object. This is a blob full of increases, decreases, short rows, stitch patterns, and other various variations. All in prep for said secret knitting which will actually begin during the Knitting Olympics, which coincides with the real Olympics, which start next week.

And 3: it's International Pajama Day. OK, so I know this happens every year on the first weekend in February, and she picked the date three weeks ago, but come on, gimme a break here! Me, I'd have chosen next weekend, which would have totally screwed up the works.

I love it when a plan comes together. *

* Hannibal, played by George Peppard, in "The A-Team"