Chat with Meg

Me (calling Schoolhouse Press): Hello, this is Kim DeMille and I just returned from Camp 2 and, in reviewing my knitting bag contents, discovered that I had a couple of items that I had purchased that were not on my Brown Book Invoice and I wanted to make sure that I paid for them.

Meg Swansen: Hello Kim. This is Meg Swansen. Weren't you the camper with the February Lady Sweater?

Me: Yes, that was me (note: I'm sure that I was supposed to say, That was I, but I was a little shocked that it was Meg on the phone).


Meg and I then discuss the items that I needed to add to my purchase. Then ...


Meg: Oh, Kim, I heard all about you from Amy D. and Michelle that you were doing the most wonderful impressions of accents from the British Isles. Apparently you had them rolling on the floor. I was so disappointed that I missed it. It won't be the same over the phone. If you ever come to Camp again please make sure that I get to hear you.

We finish the call with some chit chat about how she thinks that I do a wonderful American accent now, but that sometimes I sound Canadian.

I hang up the phone, and mumble to myself that I'm so glad that she remembers me for the funny accents and not for how RoseKimKnits, Earthtonegirl and I goofed around in the knitted GIMP masks or how we got into a heated conversation at the local restaurant while at dinner with Amy and her daughter-in-law Michelle.

No Time to Say Hello, Goodbye!

I'm just about to leave to pick up earthtonesgirl from the airport and meet Therese (another camper) and head to Marshfield for Knitting Camp. I'm ridiculously excited and don't feel as prepared as I'd like to be. I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Oh well, I'm sure I'll survive.

I'll seriously miss the little munchkins, but from past experience I recall that their was practically no free time to miss anyone.

Will report when I return.

Meme from Marji

What was I doing ten years ago? I was on bed rest with my second son and attempting to keep up with my job in Human Resources for Sears at their corporate headquarters in Hoffman Estates. I was fiesty and tired of Chicago's notorious power outages when it gets too hot and having to go and stay in a hotel to cool down. DH was in dental school at Northwestern University.
2. What are five things on my to-do list today? Finish sleeve on Lady Sweater, Take DS#2 to ortho appointment, Arrange service for DH's hummer, Meet friends daugther at airport, and attend golf lesson.
3. Snacks I enjoy. Chocolate (english candy bars are, of course, my favorite). Twix is my all time favorite candy bar. Cereal (I could eat it 24-7, of course, only once it's been nuked for one minute in the microwave) Honey Smacks and Special K are my favorites. Oatmeal, but I like that served cold. Licorice Allsorts. Pear Drops. Hum Bugs and Chocolate limess.

4. Things I would do if I were a billioniare? Okay, I'm with Marji on this one ... I'd buy a house in the UP (Northern Michigan Peninsula). Buy homes for my parents in both AZ and WI so that they could visit both kids and get them checked out and health taken care of by REAL (non-national health uk drs) doctors and provide them with all the medical care they would need. Buy a lot of land suitable for lots of off-road vehicle driving for DH to play with his hummer and his new fleet of hummers. Set up trust funds for kids, nephews and nieces. Donate to my church. Donate money to find a cure for Celiac Disease and Trigeminal Neuralgia. Get the parts of my body put back in the same place they were before having four children. Enjoy treating friends and helping them fulfill their dreams. Build a new home.

5. Places I have lived? Torquay, Devon, England; Las Vegas, NV (2 different addresses); Salt Lake City, UT (four different addresses); Buffalo Grove, IL; Schaumburg, IL; Wausau, WI (2 different addresses).

6. Peeps I want to know more about. Is there anyone anywhere that hasn’t already done this? Denise, Jessica, Charity, Sue, ??

Summer Knitting Goals

One of the blogs I read, Skeins Her Way, is having a Summer Knitting Goals Contest and although I've been training myself to overcome some of "join-itis" problem, this was one that was in line with what I wanted to do this summer.



Here goes.... 2008 Summer Knitting Goals

1. Knit February Lady Sweater in Cascade 220 Paints. CO 6/12/08


2. Finish Oblique Cardigan in Kathmandu Aran. All pieces have been knit, but I still need to pick up the front bands, and do the neck and sew together.


3. Finish Riihivilla Rosebud Mittens. All that's left to do is graft the fingertips and block. ?? May need to rip and reknit one, as it appears i knit it on smaller needles.


4. Finish Maddie's Kimono. Pick up neck and front bands and sew together.


5. Sew side seams on Vivian Hoxbro's Rainbow Jacket in fall colors.


6. Cast on Moroccan Days in Woolen Rabbit Laceweight (kit). Try to get halfway completed.


7. Knit at least one pair of socks.
8. Knit (already cast on, but only about 5 inches knit) on Lupine Cardigan in Canadian Regal.
9. Knit Butterfly Jacket by EZ in Inca Alpaca.
10. Knit "LP" a Debbie Bliss Cardigan (can't remember name) in DB Baby Cashmerino.
11. Finish Mimbres Vest in Québécoise.

There's definitely more that I want to work on (and probably will at least cast on) this summer, but this initial list will do.

I'd really like to get a good chunk of it completed before I head to Knitting Camp next month. After all, who needs sleep. It's completely over rated.

I caught the Fever

The Lady Sweater Fever, that is!

I loved this pattern and immediately cast on in Cascade 220 Paints and have been thoroughly enjoying it. That was until I reached the one point on the pattern for yoke length. I'm knitting the size XXS, which although seems a little silly, according to the numbers it should make sense. I'm a size 4 and have a size 34 (okay, I'll be honest, the ever shrinking bustline is now a 32). I've been following the directions and hit a point that I'm not sure what to do. The pattern tells you to keep knitting until the front and back almost meet underneath the armpit. I'm knitting to gauge, but according to others on the KAL, considering the stretch of the garter they've been knitting to around 6 1/2" in length and then starting the body. Mine's not there.

I'm over thinking this. I know it. But i need to decide what to do, before I get discouraged and throw it on the pile of UFO's.

Any thoughts?!

Isn't knitting sweet?!

My friend forwarded this to me. She knows how much I love both knitting and all things sweet (especially cupcakes).


Good Enough to Eat!!!!

Red Carpet Time

Okay, I couldn't be bothered to grab the red carpet from the Mud Room for them to stand on, but here is our Little Princess and Cool Dude ready to leave for their Spring Concert at Elementary School.


To get the ready for the event, Cool Dude had asked me if I could rent him a Tuxedo. Sucker that I am, went in search of one, but didn't feel like shelling out $80 for one night. So, he decided to go with his suit and act out the GQ part in that. Apparently, he was a hit with the girls. (The player in Cool Dude really worries me sometimes - those eyes can make anyone melt).

Little Princess on the other hand, knew exactly what dress in her closet she wanted to wear, but did ask for her hair to just be put in a pony tail. Mum refused, so the Big Curling Event took place. LP has such long hair, and so very much of it, that it takes almost an hour to curl her hair.Here's a picture of LP smiling, because we're almost done. Her legs were going numb. Mommy had inhaled too many fumes from hair spray and they both had a fit of the giggles somewhere during the process.Look how beautiful her hair looks all curled. She has such pretty hair with so many natural shades and highlights of blond. Grandma DeMille once asked me if I colored her hair (I think she was about 2 at the time) :) and others have asked where her pretty blond hair comes from and if she's adopted. People shock me sometimes. For those wondering out there, Steve had blond hair when he was younger, which has now been replaced with many gray hairs and in some places an absence of hair, all of which having me for a wife and four kids have been the cause. We all think he's gorgeous. Also, I don't know if this counts, I have plenty of blond moments myself and am not sure that having a ditz for a mum somehow contributed to her stunning blond locks.
The Finished Product!

No apologies, No regrets, Just busy with life!

I haven't posted for a while. I'm not going to apologize because life has gotten in the way. It is what it is. I'm attending Camp 2 at Schoolhouse Press this year again and have been mulling over what I would like to attempt for my show and tell. Voila! Look what just appeared (okay, I bought it, but will deny it if the stash police are watching) on my doorstep. The Moroccan Days Kit from Woolen Rabbit. Isn't it pretty. I need to order 5,000 (yes, that's right - I did type in correctly five thousand) beads for it and then I can get cracking on it. I know it's entirely possible that I won't get it completed in the next three months, but who knows, I work well under pressure and deadlines... and this would definitely be a lot of pressure. I could have gone with the Moroccan Days Little Sister, but I wanted a nice meaty challenge. Do you think I got one?

BTW, don't you think that spring is interesting?! Interesting isn't exactly the word I used when I looked out of my window on Friday and saw this!!!!

And I was on such a role..

I actually posted three or four times in November. Then a couple of times in December, and then two months later. I'm finally getting a post going. I've been knitting... reading peoples blogs... commenting on peoples blogs.... thinking about blogging.... just not actually blogging. I am the perfect example of procrastination. (my knitting stash of nearly finished ufo's would attest to that). I kept waiting for the perfect time of day to take some photos, but would then become distracted or think that I'd get to it tomorrow. So, today, I'm finally posting (without photos as we really had icky grey weather today) just so that you don't all think I dropped off the face of the knitting world.

Okay, so let's catch up. My parents came to visit. I had the worse case of Strep I've ever had (horribly painful). Little EB became sick with the flu, became dehydrated, when to ER, and was bouncing around later that evening as though nothing had happened. I think there was a brief week where no one was sick, but I wouldn't bet on it. Madison got Strep. Ethan got Strep. Caleb tested positive for Influenza Type A. Kim tested positive for Influenza Type A. Yes, I personally am funding the local medical community, or so it would seem. Forget being on a first name basis at the Pharmacy, I think they're going to give me my own personal parking space. ;)

During all of this, I have been busily reading and knitting (well, and of course, doing 8-10 loads of laundry a week not including the extra loads when kids were sick). So far this year I've knit EB a earflap hat out of Chunky Baby Alpaca, it's gorgeous - I definitely need to get a picture of that one posted. To be honest, it wasn't actually for EB. I was lazy and cast on (guessed incorrectly at a needle size and didn't check gauge) while watching a movie with the family in the dark. It was supposed to fit Caleb, but fortunately we have a large number of head sizes to work with in this house, and EB grabbed it before Maddie got hold of it.

I have finished the Rosebud Mittens with the exception of the thumbs. So, I guess you'd say that they're not really finished. Maybe they're going to be thumbless mittens?? I loved this kit, even though I had a hard time with my gauge (not the pattern or yarns fault - it was my own). I'm pretty sure that any tension problems will block out. I still have two other of Leena's kits to knit up. I'm trying to show some restraint and not order some of her new mitten kits that she just posted. Take a peak.

I knit a couple of large squares for Beth at the Black Purl, who is going to have an exhibit at the Center for Visual Arts.

I started Oblique in January. I love the yarn (queensland aran) and the pattern. I highly recommend this pattern. I'm on the second sleeve and hope to have it finished by the end of the month. I promise pictures will follow.

I also cast on a toe-up sock (I'm normally a cuff-down sock knitter) using Ann Budd's basic toe-up sock chart from Interweave Knits. I'm using some wonderful Socks That Rock yarn in the Gibson colorway from Denise. I love this yarn. As I'm knitting with this yarn, I keep thinking of Denise and remembering Knitting Camp (which fingers crossed I get into this year). When I'm gifted yarn I always think of the person who gave it to me as I knit, it's like they're in the room with me as I knit.

I've been busy with some other projects and as usual there are plenty of kid activities that keep me busy.

Hopefully, I'll get some pictures posted in the next couple of days of some of these projects (I know marina, you've heard that before - I promise to include a photo of Chinatown - I think I've been promising that for the last few months).

Mittens in Full Exposure

Finally, I have set aside my ego and am posting pics of the Rosebud Mittens.
The bottom is supposed to be hemmed and you can either knit it together or sew it. I chose to sew as I just wanted to keep knitting and couldn't be bothered to pick up and knit together. I'll probably regret that decision later when I'm all finished except for the wrist lining.

I started on a size 2 needle, which got the gauge specified in the pattern in stocking stitch, then around the 3rd leaf, I decided to give the size 3 needle a try as I had a 18cm circumference instead of a 20cm. Fortunately I have skinny wrists/hands. I stopped knitting on it for a few days because of busy family holiday events and a couple gifts that needed to be whipped up.
The picture above is a little blurry (this is the part with the size 2 needles), but you get a close look at the stitches and can see how even/uneven they are. That's where I came to a standstill; when I started to critic my tension. I do this every time when I do color work.

Here's a picture where I've used the size 3 needles. I can't decide if it looks much difference. The stitches are a little bigger, but I think they look less even.
Here's the palm. So.... what do you think? Am I over scrutinizing my work. Do I just keep going? Frog it and re-knit it all on size 3 needles? Relax?

(BTW: Carrie K, I did exactly the same thing as you and posted the pics only to discover a mistake I had missed)

I really enjoy knitting these and I completed this much of the mitten in an hour or two. Why do I take away the joy from my knitting by scrutinizing each stitch? I'm happily knitting away and then I start to stress about whether I'm doing a good job or not. I think I've taken too many technique classes and need to get over it.

So, tell me what do you think?

Mitts & Mittens Everywhere

Okay, so that whole "week of posts" kind of fell through, but at least I tried.

I finished Beth's Princess Mitts. They turned out nicely, but it wasn't my favorite pattern to knit, so it probably won't be repeated. Update on Beth - she had surgery last Friday and is recovering and back at work as usual. If you haven't done so yet, check out some of her patterns on her website, she has some beautiful patterns. Chinatown is one of my favorites - to knit and wear.
Yesterday the mailman delivered two new mitten kits from Leena at Riihivilla. I had her change the colorway on the Oak Tree kit to the Forest Selection. The other kit I ordered was the Tulip kit, which colors I kept the same. I'm eager to start these but need to rip and re-knit the other kit I had purchased from Leena, I think I need to go up a needle size.
I also cast on and should be finished this morning with a pair of Fetching mittens that are a quick instant gratification project. I like the Princess yarn in this pattern more than the Princess Mitts. I'm thinking of whipping out a pair of Dashing next for one of the boys. Partially for comparison sake of the patterns and partially because I promised them I'd knit them some soon.

Yesterday when I dropped the kids off at school, the temperature was -10F (yes, that is negative ten degrees) not factoring in the windchill. D was furious that they actually made them stay inside for one of the recesses and M still took some convincing that it was cold enough for her to wear a sweater and a coat. After dropping them off, I was thinking about whether fingerless mitts are really a good idea for Wisconsin winters, as come January you can get frostbite while shoveling your snow. Maybe triple lined felted wool mittens with pockets for heat warmers are more in line with our weather. Mmm... That's an idea, forget pockets on the mittens for ipods, what about pockets inside for heat warmers.....

Pretty as a Princess

I'm being lazy and am posting a picture of the Princess Mitts that I'm knitting for Beth (at Black Purl - refer to Tuesdays post) that I look last night. I've completed the mitt since, but need to do the thumbs, and they are beautiful. Will post pics when they're completed. I don't think that this pattern flows very well - all the details are there, but it's a little disjointed. They're a simple knit and look lovely, but its definitely a pattern that you should read all of before knitting (not always my strong point) or you'll end up ripping the bloody thing back a few times.
I'm a little frustrated with the lack of knitting time that occurs during the Holidays, which generally is a time where I'm trying to get gifts and serious knitting completed. I was reading Earthtonesgirl's blog today and Denise was talking about how she tries to wrap up all of her knitting projects at the end of the year, so that she can start fresh in the New Year and not have any projects hanging over her year. Doesn't that sound wonderful?! I got all excited and thought how I was going t do the same thing ... and then I started counting up UFO's/WIP's and realized that even if I knit solidly, without sleep, for the rest of the year, that not even half of them would be "wrapped up". So, instead I thought about casting on some more new projects. Mmm... that Logan River Wrap or Irish Hiking Scarf look cute, or what about Oblique...

Twins

I was about to climb into bed (and watch Project Runway) when I remembered that I still needed to post today. So, I thought I'd take a quick pic of the twins and show you the matching pairs of Maine Morning Mitts.

Although it was suggested that Noro Kureyon wasn't the easiest to make matching items with, I was determined and headed to the LYS. I examined the different skeins of yarn as in the same colorway and dye lot, there were many variations. I selected the one that looked like it matched the previous ball I had knit the mismatched mitts with, and voila!!! Twins! I had whipped up one of the mitts between stops while Christmas shopping, and the other while waiting for an oil change last Monday, but then I'd stalled on doing the thumbs, which is silly as these are the easiest thumbs you'll knit on mittens. The motivation to finish - the fact that I had promised that I would blog today.

These are destined to become teacher gifts. I did try them on and they are a very nice fit. I'd knit me some (the boys really want a pair), but I get bored knitting the same pattern. So, I'll have to find them a different mitt pattern. Thank goodness for Ravelry.

Now, I know this isn't the most interesting of blog posts, but it does have a pretty picture.

Gratitude

I had planned on a different post today, for my week of blogging (I know, you don't believe I'm going to do it, do you?), but then I stopped by my LYS, Black Purl and changed my mind. The update on some of my knitting projects will have to wait until tomorrow.

Today, when I stopped by the store for yet another pair of size 2 dpn's (one can never have enough dpn's) I found Beth, the owner, with a cast on her arm and looking quite miserable. Beth has rheumatoid arthritis severely although very young and on Sunday as she reached for her toothbrush, two of her fingers broke. She drove herself to the hospital in agony. She will probably have to have surgery shortly. Of course, this means that she can't knit right now (although she was attempting to fix a customer's knitting project when I arrived). Knitting has gotten Beth through a lot of tough times and right now, she can't do that. She'll bounce back, she always does and she'll continue to produce beautiful work.

I feel incredibly blessed tonight to be able to sit and knit, and am grateful for my hands, and the joy of knitting. Take a moment after you read this post to pamper your hands, rub in some lotion, give yourself a manicure, and say thank you to your hands.

Knitting update: I ordered two more kits yesterday from Riihivilla (one customized in the forest selection) and grabbed some Princess yarn today to knit Beth some fingerless mitts she wanted, but is unable to knit for herself right now. The Rosebud Mitten wrist lining and wrist has been knit, although I am debating changing needle sizes. I've been getting a couple of rows in per day for a few of the wip's that have been hanging around for awhile.

Goodies

I returned home today from a playdate and some errands to find a package on my doorstep today. It was the mitten kit I had ordered from Leena at Riihivilla. Isn't it packaged beautifully (My Treo does not take great pictures). So, of course, I ignored all those pesky chores, dishes and loads of laundry and sat by bum down and swatched the yarn. It's beautiful. Very soft and lovely to knit with. My only dilemma is that I stupidly ordered only one kit. I a nothing, but willing to admit to my purchasing mistake and will rectify the situation by purchasing a kit and color selection once I'm done posting. I suggest you do likewise. Why shouldn't you buy yourself a little holiday gift - I get tired of getting every body else presents.

This week I have quite a few projects to post updates on and some new ones that have been started. So, maybe we'll get more than one post this week. Of course, don't hold your breath.

Misfit Mittens

Ravelry seems to suck up my computer time lately, but that's not a bad thing. I've been inspired to work on a couple of projects that are very close to completion so that I can post the finished items on the site.



I did manage to whip up a pair of Maine Morning Mittens from The Knitters Book of Yarn by Clara Parkes. As you can see from the picture - they don't match. Clara's pattern calls for one ball of Noro Kureyon. While that is sufficient in yardage, because of the lack of repeats in the colorway you end up with very different looking mittens from one ball ofyarn. They are such a fast, fun and easy knit that you could make them in one night, so I'm going to buy another ball of yarn and make another pair, so that they'll match. I'm thinking that these would be great teachers gifts - well, if you live in nice cold Wisconsin that is.



The boys loved them as they thought they'd keep your hands warm but still leave your fingers free to play video games.

I don't really have something wise or funny to write about today (not that I ever do). So, I'll show you what Marji enabled me into purchasing the other day. I went with kit #8, but am forcing myself not to email Leena and order some of the Forest Collection yarn and a couple other kits.

Which reminds me .... I was reading the book "Eat, Pray, Love" by Liz Gilbert this morning and she was talking about how people panic about getting old and not having accomplished everything they want to in life before they die. I think as Knitters we suffer from a different variety of this psychological worry - we suffer from panic attacks over whether we will be able to knit everything we want to in this life. "Oh crap, I'm almost forty and I find at least ten patterns a day that I'd like to knit from Ravelry. Maybe I should sell off some of my yarn or Starmore books and donate the money for finding a cure for the dreaded "lack of knitting time" epidemic."

Maybe, I'll just get a grip and relax and enjoy what knitting time I do have.

Other Wool Pursuits

Last Saturday, I was able to attend an all day workshop at a local Fiber Artist's Studio for a Rag Wool Rug Hooking class. It was wonderful. She lives in the most beautiful setting on a renovated farm with a fiber studio that was delicious. When Kathy (the teacher) left the room for a minute, one of the other classmates and myself felt the need to hug the wool and fondle it. It took all my willpower not to drool on the fabric.

Of course, I couldn't pick something too easy to start with so I'm struggling a little with how to do some of the shading, but here is a picture of what it will hopefully resemble when finished.

The name of her business is Red Barn Rug and she sells her patterns and wool at craft shows and wholesale. I'm attending a 1/2 day workshop on needlefelting this weekend.

I've also been knitting but have discovered that I despise picking up necklines as it always takes me 10 tries until it looks okay. I whipped up a couple of baby hats and some slippers, but am thinking that I need to designate one day a week that is finishing day. That I take sometime to finish the many knitted projects just sat around for the final stage.

Stuff everywhere

In case you haven't guessed, I've been busy browsing Ravelry and now am on a blitz of what I own - books, yarn, UFO's, needles so that I can update my stash.

In doing so, let me just say - WOW! I have a lot more yarn and "stuff" than I thought. I wondering what I was thinking with some of the yarn; complete impulse buys. Some, is just plain ugly and others, I think I bought them just to fondle.

I'm hoping to have a couple pics of some finished objects later this week.

BTW, check out the schoolhouse press website (bottom right of the home page) and follow along with Meg as she knits a Christmas stocking for her grandson, Eli.

1,648 balls of yarn on the wall....

I'm on a self imposed work of UFO's week while waiting for Ravelry to finally accept me (I feel like I'm in high school) and then those pesky UFO's can bugger off and leave me alone to browse and find a few thousand more projects to cast on.

I was watching Grey's Anatomy the other day and they were talking about Dr. Mark Sloan and that his name was Man Whore. It popped into my mind that my title should be "Yarn Whore" because I promiscuously cast aside my projects for the sleek lines of a new project or the full and juicy balls of yarn. I've also been known to simply be disloyal to a project simply because I want to play with some new sticks. (Okay, now I'm getting carried away). I apparently was not in line for the Fidelity Gene when it came to yarn.

It bothers me that I'm not more loyal and devout in my fiber relationships. And so, I am working on this character flaw. Well, at least for the next couple of days.

You are #34362 on the list.

Ahhh! Patience is not a virtue I possess. There are 5790 people ahead of me on Ravelry. Which is good progress considering three weeks ago, there were over 13,000 people ahead of me. The only twisted pleasure I get from the antsy checker is that there are 9693 people behind me.

Meanwhile, I finished a hat for my son, have completed 1/3 of my quilt piecing and have stitched a pillow for Christmas decorations.

Maybe if I keep busy enough the time will pass faster.

Maybe I shouldn't check the Antsy checker on Ravelry every five minutes.

You decide.