Committee Sweater 2010

Kathleen-
Now that the Knitting Olympics are over, Committee is hanging over my head. Now we're on to the annual Committee Sweater. I bought the yarn almost 3 years ago, the first time I went the Shepard's Harvest with Aubree, Tess, and Tracy.

It's sinfully soft merino from Blue Hills Alpacas and Fiber Mill. (The color is really orange there- it's much more red in person, but I'm struggling to get a good picture). I loved it so much that I bought all they had at the festival, and then got them to send me more. And I've been searching for the perfect sweater pattern ever since.

Enter Twist Collective, and Audrey in Unst. A perfect transition piece, and something completely wearable both at work and to social events, etc.

Swatching happened before the Olympics, and now I'm working the hem. It is a much finer weight sweater than anything else I've knit during committee, so it might not get finished during committee, but I think it'll be worthwhile.

Olympic Knitting Complete

Kathleen-
I was down to the wire, but I finished my olympic mittens during the closing ceremonies tonight, just as they were ending.




Ends still to be woven in.

Knitting Olympics 2010

Kathleen-
So apparently I'm blogging once a month (once in Jan, once in Feb, even if the posts are separated by 6 weeks!).

In keeping with tradition, I'm knitting stranded mittens for the Knitting Olympics. These are a bit more complicated than my project 4 years ago, but since the whole point is challenging yourself, and I must be a better stranded knitter than I was 4 years ago, right?

I'm knitting NHM#8 (Ravelry link) from Selbuvotter, and adoring them. They were meant to be a very large mittens as a present, but apparently my combo of very tight knitting and fine fingering yarn made them about half the predicted size.

My sizing issues mean that the mittens fit me in circumfence, but would have been too short for your small hands. Mucking about with charts led me to add a third snowflake, and now they fit me, so I guess I'm getting mittens out of the deal!

These pics were taken before the weekend of knitting, but give a sense of the pattern and yarn:




Mitten #1 is done, but for the thumb, and tonight I should finish 1 of the 3 snowflakes on mitten 2, so I might just squeek in and finish them for the Olympics.

Just in time, too, since Committee starts next week, and I'll need to be working on my Committee Sweater!

I'll try and pop in with an update on these and my committee sweater before the craziness starts...

Happy 2010!

Kathleen-
We both fell off the blogging wagon this year, but I found that I miss it, so though I'm not much for resolutions, I figured I'd try to start occasionally blogging again in 2010.

The turning of the decade, and the many ensuing blog posts, makes me reflective (yes, mathematicians, I know that the decade doesn't technically change for another year, but this seems like the time to reflect).

I hadn't really thought about it until this week, but it does turn out to be a momentous decade. I graduated from high school, went to college, graduated from college, worked as an EMT, a 911 dispatcher, a political fundraiser, and a college admissions officer.

I traveled halfway around the world, and all around the country for fun and for work. I averaged getting on a plane every month (though it was mostly much more concentrated than that).

I met amazing people, and gained amazing friendships (including you!).

I met Mike, and by the end of the decade, we'd moved into the house we bought together.

I lost one of my favorite relatives to cancer, and watched the ripple effects on my family. Both of my parents had a stay in the ICU, reminding me of how fragile health can be, and how lucky I am that they both made it. We lost friends and family to illness and tragic accidents, and watched friends have children, bringing a whole new set of joy.

I learned all kinds of new skills, from academic research and public speaking to driving, saving lives, spinning, and weaving. I knit a ton, keeping me sane through all the transitions.

10 years ago, I welcomed in the year 2000 standing on the edge of Grand Canyon, 2 years ago, Mike and I celebrated New Years Eve at the bottom (and went to bed at 8pm!). This year we were sitting on the couch in our house.

So what are my resolutions for the next decade? To keep my life in balance. To travel for fun, and spend my time with people I care about.

For 2010 in particular, to spend more time with my spinning wheel, knit more projects that I love, and use up my Sock Summit stash. To blog, from time to time.

Sock Summit!

Kathleen-
I'm so glad you dragged me to Sock Summit (though to be honest, I was pretty happy to be dragged!).

Following is a selection of photos, with more to come (I haven't photographed all my yarn yet!).

Flying into Seattle:

Name Badge:


Portland welcomes Sock Summit:

Delicious cupcakes from Saint Cupcake:


Book Signing with Nancy Bush(!)


Ravelry Party! With Shetland Triangle Shawls:

Barbara Walker and her AMAZING lecture:

Matching yarn:

Matching Socks (and Clogs!):


My spinning class with Abby and Denny, who are hard to take pictures of since they're always moving! Sandi Wiseheart was in the class too (but I'm choosing not to post the picture I took of her, since apparently I can't make it non-blurry). After accosting her in the elevator when we first got there, it was nice to have her in class!


Sock Team overlooking the Marketplace:


The amazing luminary panel:

Steph and Tina doing thank-yous, just before singing Happy Birthday to Elizabeth Zimmerman.





I'm still jet-lagged, and need to go through all the new yarn tonight, but it was a fantastic trip!

Bike Racing

Kathleen-
Long time no blog! the house-hunting on top of a full-time job and a very busy summer (including an exciting visit for you), leaves very little time or inspiration for blogging.

This weekend is packed, but last night we went to see one of the races that is part of the Minnesota Bike Festival. A friend of Mike's from HS is racing in the women's events, so we went with friends to cheer her on.

Having never attended a bike race, much less a crit (where the riders do many laps on a short course), I didn't know what to expect...though I certainly did not expect the convertible/front car:
Because they raced on city streets in Uptown, including tight corners, measures were taken to protect the racers from obstacles such as fire hydrants:


Here are the leaders rounding a corner:

The pack spread out behind them:
Mike's friend Anna zooming by (she's the one with #71 on her back):
And the finish:
It was good fun, and lovely way to spend an hour on a Friday evening.

And what bike race would be complete without a visit from the mascot of the Minnesota Wild?
Because as a spectator, you get a minute or so break every lap during which there are no bicyclists going by, I brought along my knitting, and got lots done on my Sunshine Socks (Rav link)

Top of the World

Hey Flan,

The trillium are in bloom! There is a mountain across the lake from where The Aunties live and the trail up it has hundreds in bloom right now. Trillium are white flowers, but as they age they turn purple. Last weekend all of them were totally white and this weekend some had started to turn.

Naturally, last weekend I forgot my camera. This time I was prepared. This is the view from about halfway up.
This is looking straight across the lake.While in MN and AL I missed my home state and totally love to go out and revel in it.

Knitting? I suppose there has been some of that. I'm working on the Whisper cardi. The delightful Melissa gifted me with some yarn in a beautiful lavender. It's about 3/4 the way complete.
All my other projects are stalled. I am not liking any of them enough to finish but don't really feel like ripping them out. Sigh.

Happy End Note: I get to come visit in 34 days!

Belated Blogiversary

Hey Flan,

Happy 3 year anniversary to US (a few days late).

Year 3 is leather. According to Ravelry there is no leather yarn. Guess we'll have to buy both yarn and something leather (shoes? handbag? both?) to celebrate.

My favorite (wedding) anniversary gift was from you on our third anniversary. The package showed up and it was very very small and compact. I was then somewhat nervous. It turned out to be personalized leather coasters. So delightful. Thanks by the way.

I hope a week ago yesterday- the official 3rd year of Emphatic Knitting- was delightful and when I come visit in June we'll be sure to have cake.

Be a TreeHugger!

Hey Flan,

I am the Lorax I speak for the trees...

A quick post to celebrate Arbor Day!!
(Photo from my trip to see The Brother last November. These are exotic DC trees)

There are lots of free tree distribution places around my great state, and I hope other communities have them as well.

So go get yourself a tree... or maybe just go hug one- but definitely go get "The Lorax" from the library!

Spring Cleaning

Hey Flan,

During my visit you asked about the shawl I'd done for The Gma's Xmas gift and I realized I'd never put it on the blog. Not that this is a surprise to anyone. I seem to have finish-nesia in that whenever I finish something I immediately disavow any and all knowledge of it ever occurring. They might have happened, but no one has proof. There are never any photos and since I usually give away anything and everything I knit, they can't be traced back to me.

While perusing the Ravelry boards I found out this is not the normal way of things. Yet another way in which I am out there in left field whilst everyone else is partying around home plate.

Anyway, I realized I actually took photos of the Shetland Triangle I made out of the beautiful SeaSilk you so generously gifted. The Gma is nearly 92 and totally knit worthy. The last wrap I made for her was out of a light gray/ white and I'm not sure she could see it very well, which makes the bright pink a delightful choice. Isn't she cute?!The Mommy and I went to visit her on Valentine's Day and I found it displayed on her favorite chair. I knew she would rarely wear what I had made, but what I did not expect was that she would turn them in to impromptu furniture cozies.

Lastly, it's finally and officially spring here in the PNW. The daffodils are up and trumpeting its arrival. With the end of the winter snow comes the beginning of flip-flop season in my world, but it also heralds the beginning of hiking season for The Aunties. We convinced The Mommy to go with us and here they all are.I love that this is 30 minutes from the house. I wasn't sure I would be all that in to hiking as it conjured scary images of peeing in the woods, but then I found out they just meant going on a walk up the side of a hill and, well, I can do that.

There are other projects which have been completed, but they are for some of the spring and summer babies and their mommas haven't received them yet. Once I have the green light to send them off to their final destinations there will be photo evidence (maybe).

What a Suprise!

Kathleen-
What a fantastic surprise!

Like Kathleen said, we went to the zoo, where I snapped this picture of Kathleen and Mike:


As well as this picture of Kathleen's favorite animal (that's a moose, for those who aren't up on their ungulates)


And of Kathleen with a statue of her favorite animal:

I ended up buying the yarn we picked out for 2 pairs of stranded mittens, and started the first:

(I can't resist the cute picture of our friend Sue's cat playing with my yarn:
And we threw a successful baby shower at knitting, where I gifted the mom to be with the TINY baby booties I made while you were here:
Apparently Minnesota decided it's not spring yet, as we're supposed to get a rain/sleet/snow mix, so I leave you with this sunny picture of a leopard from our trip to the zoo.

Surprise!

Hey Flan,

As you now know, your big birthday surprise this year was... ME! M and I had a delightful time planning my cross country weekend jaunt and, for the record, I had an utterly delightful time. Here you both are looking happy to see me even though I arrived at a truly ungodly hour.
For anyone who doesn't know (and before this weekend, that included me), Flan really likes to go to the zoo. The weather was nice and Sunday off we went.

This tiger is amazingly gigantic. Ergo, not all of him/ her would fit into the frame. Well, he/ she might have if I'd been a better photographer, but I'm choosing to over look that possibility. Really freakin' big animal.The zoo has three bears in this particular habitat. I think this one is a golden bear, but I very well could be making that up.I love raptors. Birding seems so passive and calm, until you remember these bad asses. Here we are at Flan's most favorite animal, the otter. She likes them so much we went back twice. The second time we were in time to watch the keepers handing them frozen fish patties in the shape of stars. Total replica of a natural habitat if you ask me.
The rest of the weekend was just as delightful as the zoo. There was some crazy good food, awesome people and a whole lotta yarn. So sad that I had to come home again.