Passing the Hat

First, thank you, thank you, thank you for all the kind comments on Icarus!

Now, on to more serious matters...
The shop I work at, Colorado Fiber Arts, is having a Rock-A-Thon on May 12 to benefit Warm the World, a wonderful charity that provides handcrafted items (hats, blankets, scarves, you name it) to those in need. Rockers are collecting sponsors, and all the items created on that day will be donated to Warm the World, as well as all the funds raised. I'm doing my part to get the word out, but, seeing as I will probably be helping in other capacities that day, I cannot rock or collect sponsors. I can, however, put a call out to all of you out there reading this to knit (or crochet) a washable 4" square and mail it to the shop:

Colorado Fiber Arts
121 Broadway
Pueblo, CO 81004

with a little note with your name and, "Lisa sent me." I'd love to see how far this can reach, as I know most of you are not local to Pueblo! I will put all the names into the proverbial hat and, yes, there will be a prize (TBD, but I promise it won't be from the Stash of Shame) along with the feeling of doing a little bit to help Warm the World fulfill their goal of no one in need going without. Really, how much time does a little 4x4 square (or two, or as many as you want to send!) take? Of course, hats, scarves, etc. are also more than welcome.

Please help spread the word and help our little shop Warm the World this Mother's Day!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the e-mail address on the sidebar.

Losing the Battle

Yet, winning the war. I did, indeed, run out of yarn on Icarus. I don't think the solution harms the final product in the least, do you?

Didn't think so.

Pattern: Icarus, by Miriam Felton
Yarn: Knitpicks Bare Merino Laceweight and a touch of Colinette Parisienne in Castagna
Needles: 3mm circular

I knit this as a gift for my mom, who, incidentally, is flying out for a visit tomorrow, so the finishing couldn't have better timing. I'm ashamed to admit how long this thing languished on the needles. I got bogged down in the stockinette columns, and it just sat quietly waiting for me to pick it up again. Looking at it pinned out on my bedroom floor, I'm glad I refocused my energies on this one. It's really a beautiful pattern. (and, not a half bad dye job on my part! All hail the Kool-Aid Man! Ooh, yeah!) My only real problem, other than running out of steam in the beginning, and running out of yarn at the end, was the fact that the name Icarus just makes me think of that episode of the Cosby Show when we find out that Theo's not really an idiot, he's just dyslexic. So, here's to Theo and his magical LD diagnosis, and here's to my mom, who raised me and gave me wings. The least I can do is return the favor.

Pardon Me Whilst I Remove My Crabby Pants!*

Now that my computer has (finally!) deigned to speak with my camera, it is refusing to acknowledge the existence of my printer. Grrr... Curmudgeonly computer. Okay, so it is four years old (I secretly blame the printer, which is 8), and maybe it's time for an upgrade...

Moving on!

Nothing finished (that I took photos of, anyway) but things are starting to get interesting on Icarus:

More interesting than you might think, since I fear I may run out of (hand-dyed) yarn! Fear not, as a solution has been determined that will work if it has to.






This lovely pile of moguls is coming along nicely... Anyone care to Name That Tune?













And, I think I'm getting the hang of this spinning thing! (white is wool, brown is Al. Pa. Ca.)























*When I taught school, I used the phrase "I'm wearing my crabby pants today" to warn students I was not in the mood to deal with nonsense. My first graders spent the entire school year attempting to surmise just which pair was the crabby pair. They determined I must have several. ;-)

On a side note: Cellie, you left a comment with a question, which I'd be more than happy to answer. Just drop me an e-mail (my address is on the side bar) and I'll try to help you out!

Fiddle-Fart: Techno Edition

So, after spending some quality time on the phone with Kodak, no dice. They are mailing me a CD to update the software. Meantime, I decided there must be a way to load new photos in absence of the "Easyshare." There is. You probably already knew that, but it was a discovery for me!

Without further ado:

Mrs. Feezy's second sock!
It will eventually get mailed to you, Feez, so Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday and all that jazz!

Pattern: Log Cabin Socks from Handknit Holidays
Yarn: Bernat Denimstyle in Polo, 2 skeins.
Needles: US 5
Comments: Yeouch! Denimstyle has no resilience, so was a total PITA to cable with, especially at this tight of a gauge. Worth it for you, though, F! And, another Holiday Hangover is done and gone! All that's left is the second half of Skippy's scarf!
















Here is a photo of the Monkey sock in Fire (ooh! Flaming Monkeys!)










The heel has since been turned and the gusset is decreased. I can't wait to wear these!

And here is the knitaround ad nauseum. The more I look at it, the more I think maybe I was thinking Seurat instead of Monet. Well, they're both good.









But not as good as this:
It even comes with patterns for a little afghan and throw pillows! I love how the cat on the cover seems to fully realize the humiliation of his situation.

Picture This...

So, there are a lot of things I would like to show you (including a real gem of a pattern leaflet find, and a couple of blue FO's), and the powers that be at Kodak have been contacted, so, perhaps by the end of the week.

The DH was not hired for the position he interviewed for. Back to the drawing board with ever-changing game plans. It would be nice if things could just be simple, but we all know they never are, so it's best not to dwell.

It's Official: I am Not Elizabeth Zimmermann (I know, I know, you were sure I was, but, nope!)
I have a great admiration for her innovative and creative contributions to knitting, but, I gotta tell you, I have a current project on the needles that is stockinette in the round and I. Am. So. Bored. I know I've said I like a lot of fiddle-farting around in my knitting, but, it turns out I actually need a lot of fiddle-farting around in my knitting. I need something to be thinking about. I'm knitting around and around and around and around and around and around on this thing and there is absolutely nothing to think about while I knit and knit and knit except that I miss home and I want to move back but now there are some people here that I would just have to sneak into the moving truck because I will miss them if we do end up moving. Do I really need extra time to think about all that? No, I say, I do not. So, it's a good thing the yarn is knitting up to look like a Monet painting, or I'd likely have chucked it across the room by now! Anyone have any suggestions of a pattern with major fiddle-farting that I could reward myself with upon completion of this one?

To ease the grumblemuck of the aforementioned project, and to remedy my pathetic sock drawer, I am working on a pair of Monkey socks in Jitterbug Fire. They are for me, and the first heel is turned with the gusset almost complete. I resisted the call of the Jitterbug for a while, but now that I've actually knit with it, I want to smuggle all of it out of the shop and take it home! I'd suggest you go out and get some, but, honestly, I want it all for myself, so I won't!