I know, I know. I keep changing the look of my blog. It seemed too cold for me, so I had to warm it up a bit. Perhaps it's because today, the wind is up, the leaves are flying past my window and the chickadees are congregating around our bird feeders. Autumn is laying itself at our feet.
You know how I said I would never master cables? Well, a sweater siren has appeared on my radar and I am having a hard time resisting.
I 'borrowed' this picture from Lion Brand's web site. It is from their latest catalog. It is "ME". I love it. I want it. I just don't want to knit it. It's all cables!! sigh.
I also decided to order this pattern which Guinifer so graciously shared on her blog. It will be years until I can do these things, but fun to think about.
How cool is this!? (That is, if you live to knit socks . . . ) I joined another sock club which has started (timely enough - my first club just ended). In the first package was . . . 
What you're looking at is a cool pattern, awesome woolly (and washable, I might add) yarn of the colorway "Waterfall", LipBalm called Waterfall, a sock knitting journal/pen and a stitch marker. 
I started the pattern and will post it soon.
ANNIVERSARY TRIP - PHASE I
"Libations"
K took me Up North for my first Boundary Waters camping trip. Day one included snow and high winds, so we opted for the warmer "Grand Ely Lodge" where we soaked up some local flavor both in liquid form and human. Friends, I had to 'warm up' for the trip ahead. 
And yes, I actually brought my knitting into the bar.
About that. I met some weathered men who, I thought were staring at me for my obvious 'city folk' look. Instead, they approached me as I was leaving to ask about my knitting and then they proceeded to give me a fashion show of sorts, sharing some things they were wearing that were hand-knit by various family members. They were very proud to show me and tell me about mittens, hats, sweaters; the feeling was mutual. My personal favorite was an older fisherman who had, and I kid you not, a dickey neck-warmer knit by his mother. It was all very warm and fuzzy. You gotta love Ely!
more about trip on Friday
Aaaah. September. The air turns crisp and cool and the wool basket calls to us. I began reading Elizabeth Zimmermann's "Knitter's Almanac" - the chapter titled, "September - Nether Garments". There is a picture of some scratchy looking long-underwear of the type that my Icelandic mother-in-law remembers wearing.Anyway, she says (and this goes for you non-knitters, too), "September is the logical beginning of the year. Summer heat is nearly past, the weather begins to brisken up, schools open their doors to siphon our beloved young out of the house for longer or shorter periods, adult activity starts to stir, and Mother forms good resolutions and makes lists."It's true. Here's my list:- Make hats for everyone.
Finish my "Golden Snitch" socks. (Nancy Bush's Friday Harbor pattern)
Figure out how and when to wear day-glo yellow socks.- Remain undaunted by EZ's February Baby Sweater pattern and finish IT!
Spend more time playing with my kids (not folding towels and watching them play).- Spend all spare moments with beloved old dog who is, to put it plainly, "circling the drain".
Try to have a 'hot meal' planned for every night.- Try not to knit past 11 PM.
- Try to write every day (not including my blog).
- Consider making 'nether garments' for entire family (then quickly "un"consider it).
The list goes on, but things like Teach Myself Icelandic and Become a Proficient Guitar Player are included on another sort of list that mocks me from inside my journal. The kind of mocking that says, "Buy a guitar." and "Become proficient in your own language first." Knitting is a fool-proof way to ensure success. You can always fall back on the tried and true square, garter-stitch potholder if all else fails. Hmm. I may just add that to my September list.
A blog is just not a blog without pictures. But I'm in a hurry - frogging a certain sweater for a certain niece.
So just a couple of things:
If you like crafting, you must check this out - one of my favorites! But beware, much enabling and inspiring may lead to more projects.
And a little pre-winter kindergarten humor:
What did one snowman say to the to the other snowman?
Do you smell carrots?
tee hee hee hee
See you wednesday with HOPEFULLY some progress to report.
Can you share your SOCK KNITTING secrets on how to measure/cast on for a perfect fit? If my ankle is 8 inches, if I cast on for 8 inches - won't that be baggy? How much should I subtract? HELP!
Ok, so it's not technically done. Sew on buttons, weaved in ends, seam the arms. It will be presented this weekend at my niece's baptism. I'll post pictures tomorrow night. Wait until you see this kid. She is so cute she'll knock your hand-knit socks off.
Nancy Bush's "Child's First Sock" from Vintage Socks. (It's actually an adult sock). I was inspired by this lovely version from Cosmopolitan Purls. The yarn I'm using is Sweet Sheep Project Spectrum Sock Club yarn. Color: Vampire - And by the way, it is the softest wool I have ever felt. It's like silk. 
You can buy this stuff right here in the States, but it's about half the price in Germany. The tan-colored Opal is cotton, but it feels/looks like wool. Can't wait to knit this into socks.
SPECS:
That's me in the front kayak.
IT'S A LOG!
View from Campsite
Final shot - paddling home.
I 'borrowed' this picture from Lion Brand's web site. It is from their latest catalog. It is "ME". I love it. I want it. I just don't want to knit it. It's all cables!! sigh.
A sweater for my niece who's 1st birthday is fast approaching and I need buttons!
Elizabeth Zimmerman's February Baby Sweater
He is in his element.
Cool rocks.
This loon was about 15 feet from my Kayak and had a chick with her.
And yes . . . I brought my knitting.
I made sure to bring along a mindless project but added the element of 'self-striping' wool to make things interesting. I'm not yet sure if I can knit a pair of socks using only gray. That's just to much monotony.
What you're looking at is a cool pattern, awesome woolly (and washable, I might add) yarn of the colorway "Waterfall", LipBalm called Waterfall, a sock knitting journal/pen and a stitch marker. 
I started the pattern and will post it soon.
And yes, I actually brought my knitting into the bar.
New toe decrease I had never tried before:
I still have to weave in the ends, but what a relief! They're done!
Finish my "Golden Snitch" socks. (Nancy Bush's Friday Harbor pattern)
Figure out how and when to wear day-glo yellow socks.
Spend more time playing with my kids (not folding towels and watching them play).
Try to have a 'hot meal' planned for every night.
And as a pleasantly timed distraction, I received another "Sock-of-the-Month" color - this one is "Milk Chocolate" which means I will be knitting another pair for K-hubby, who, by the way, got mad at me when I told him I was making a chocolate zucchini cake (thanks Lorraine) because he said it shouldn't't be done. Silly Chocoholic. It turned out great by the way and I caught him at 11:30 last night finishing it off with his bare hands, thank you very much.
Got the kids successfully out the door and off to school this week. So far so good!
So did everyone else.
DNR POND. LUMPY, "Can I fish here!?"
Shame on us! We're raising a 'city girl'. (the calf is just a few hours old)
