surprise!

I bet you totally weren't expecting it, were you?

:-)

Knitty's winter surprise is up! 4 patterns and 2 great articles. Enjoy!

raglan continues

No pictures. They'd be boring.

I did, however, take Kristi's advice and try the thing on AGAIN. This resulted in changing the extra stitches added under the arm from 18 to 6. Why 6? I don't know. It seemed better, and 18 was definitely way too much. The front and back haven't changed, even that funny increase at the bottom of the v-neck that was required to make the front and back the same size as each other. Like I said, I'm not stressing over this sweater. But at least now it won't have elephant sleeves.

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We had bananas going to waste and a box of Bisquick on the counter. As a result, banana bread is now baking in the oven. Found the recipe here, but didn't add the nuts. Don't have 'em, don't need 'em.

It smells HEAVENLY in the house.

Also, I am becoming very fond of Bisquick. It's the lazy-ass cook's enabler!

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Also, snow. We have it, it's nice and thank you very much.

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I have a massive craving to hit First Markham Place today. This always happens when I have a writing deadline to meet. There's something about the sensory overload of my favorite Asian mall that is happily numbing. It's like a huge tranquilizer that I step into. Plus the food court is exceptionally good and cheap.

I never manage to leave without at least one bag of goodies from the candy store [the one where the guy gives out samples as you shop and "discounts" when you check out. He's a riot, that guy], including one blind-boxed SOMETHING.

I lost my wee Lighton's Life sperm pig [it's P3 on the linked page] charm when I was in San Diego. I must replace him!

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Hope everyone is having a similarly relaxing, vaguely productive but mostly fun Sunday!

Knitting in the Knitty household

It continues, really! Want some proof?

I am knitting a SWEATER. Seriously. I have also recently accepted that my knitting has to be near-mindless or I just can't finish anything. So instead of an uber-flattering BGK sweater [which would require me to actually pay attention to a pattern at multiple moments], I'm using some BGK principles and knitting a super-deep V neck top-down raglan with waist shaping. If i were really keen, I'd be adding short rows. One thing at a time, people.

Here's where it is so far:


And a close up of the yarn, which you can find here. It's a great pure cotton yarn -- two strands of different colors twisted together. Knits up nicely...you just have to watch that you catch both strands in every stitch.



It's lovely mindless knitting and it's making me happy. I just might get this one done this century!

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Something to save for the future...a treat that came hand-dyed from Scout -- cotton and elastic sock yarn in Knitty-friendly colors!
. Two different approaches, and both are delectable! Thank you, Scout!

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And an update to the post about Habu...it's arrived at Jillian's place, and here it is!

Charcoal leaning toward blue. I don't get to touch it for a while, though. But I can look at sweet Henry's face and my yarn any time I want, thanks to this pic.

So there. Knitting continues, along with book writing, magazine producing and occasional laundry washing. Clearly I have my priorities straight!

Eee! We made the BBC!

In an entry about keeping warm during winter, we find mention of Knitty...BBC - collective - webslinky #117: keeping warm. Thanks to David Thair for the shoutout!

you should be so lucky

...to have a friend like Jillian.

I was too shy [shut up; it's true] to call Habu and see if my dream kit could be made up in non-wool. Cause what if they said no? And then I would cry. I mention this to Miss J and not only does she make it happen -- she picks exactly the right yarns [Habu recommended the combination in kit 19 -- linen paper and silk!] and colors [deep greys]. And orders it on my behalf. And it'll be at her house this week.

I won't be at her house till next month, however. But that just means I'll have time to do the BGK2 writing that needs to be done before the all-consuming knitlust of working on a Habu Kit that will FIT ME and is knit in fibers that I LOVE takes over every waking moment of my life.

J and I have decided "Habu" must be the Japanese word for "love". Don't you think? She also says, "they were really, really nice" about the swapping yarn thing. So if you've been too shy like me, just call them.

Ahhh. Habu.

p.s. I finished the Americo scarfywrap two weeks ago. Maybe I'll get my ass in gear tonight at LK and get someone to snap me in it. It's super-warm. Big love!

guilty pleasure confession time.

I suppose it's natural. You like an artist, so you go back in time to see what they did before you learned they exist and that you love what they do. It's perfectly acceptable in music...it's expected, really!

So why, then, did I hold back on my confession for my deep and abiding love for Felicity until now? Alias started it. Lost confirmed it. So when I realized that the formerly scorned-by-me Felicity was a product of the same twisted brain that made my two favorite shows, I found myself sitting still every Saturday at 10am, watching it. I've just watched the very last episode and I think this is the most satisfying show finale I've seen in ages.

Let's be clear. It's not about Keri Russell for me. She's cute. She's fun to watch, but she wasn't the reason I watched. The reason I got so hooked is the ensemble cast that JJ Abrams created. How messed up they are, how they interact, the stupid stuff they do. How much you can fall in love with someone who doesn't exist [Javier, I love you! Molly, make better choices! Noel, come over here and sit by me a while!]. And it's also about New York city, a place I always dreamed of living.

Because I didn't really get the bug for this show until the 2nd season, I have season one to watch now to figure out how everyone got to where they were by the time I became smitten. And because JJ Abrams is my TV god, he's currently working on What About Brian, which is totally grown-up Felicity. Love it just as much. Not quite sure about Six Degrees [which I thought was cancelled, but seems to be on some sort of hiatus...].

So there. Now you know. I love Felicity -- even the last four episodes -- and will not apologize.

hyperbole go away.

Last night, hub and i were watching tv in bed, and saw a commercial for toothpaste. On the box of toothpaste, where the name of the flavor should be, was "whitening mint experience*". It's just toothpaste, people. My head is shaking. Can you see the shaking?

At that moment, I fell more in love with knitting. Because nobody advertises their yarn as a "life-enhancing finger-soothing experience". It's all just yarn. Pick what you love, what you need, whatever suits the project, without the ridiculous promise that this yarn will be different...it will make your world better. It's just yarn. And that's more than enough.

I salute the knitting world for avoiding unnecessary hyperbole in advertising. I love you guys.

*i checked at the drug store this evening. that same flavor of toothpaste [same exact brand] in Canada is called "mint". then again, two other flavors in a different brand were labelled "mint essence" and "fresh wave". what does that mean? i don't want my mouth to taste like spearmint or salt water. you lost me.

Now that it's cold here...

StreetKnit needs our help. I'm sad to say I didn't know about them until tonight when I read a post about them on the Toronto Craft Alert blog [thanks, Ryan!], but at least I know now.

If you're looking for a way to share the knitted warmth your hands produce and you live in Toronto, check out StreetKnit. They need our support.

I got a mouth on me, all right.

Want proof? Here. I was the inaugural interview for the new Interweave podcast. Marketing Manager Laura Levaas asked me to sit down at the back of the convention center in San Diego on the weekend and talk about No Sheep.

You'll hear when birds fly past our heads [not exaggerating] in the convention center, and as someone who's read Margaret Laurence*, I was kind of freaked by that. Knock wood, we're all still here, thankfully.

Anyway, lots of tidbits about the book in the interview. Bonus features: me talking too fast, laughing a lot and saying "um" a lot less than I thought I might!

*Not Atwood. I should be ashamed of myself. I have read both, really.

where did i go?

I was at the big yarny trade show [they call it TNNA. I call it Rita.] in San Diego and just got back last night. A more intrepid blogger would actually post from the road, but that blogger was not me this time.

As you surely know if you've ever had to do a trade show, despite how much you *adore* the subject matter and the people you get to work with, it's still several days of nonstop walking aisles, having brief-but-effective meetings with people you rarely get to see in person, "show me what's new" at every vendor's booth and you always run out of time to see everything.

STILL...I saw a lot. It was a mighty fine show, with some wonderful offerings from your favorite yarn companies, shwag manufacturers and knitwear designers. And as always, some new treats, too. I made some new contacts for Knitty and you'll be seeing the results of those meetings in future issues.

I also got to talk to a lot of people about No Sheep For You and hear what they thought of it. Put it this way: my face hurt from all the smiling by Sunday morning.

And as for the do that started off the weekend at Knitting in La Jolla, we had a great time. A few pictures courtesy Kristi Porter's camera [thank you, Kristi!]...


[do not ask me why i look so silly. i was clearly having a good time with nathania, sandi and chloe from Purlescence.


And here's Kristi wearing the original sweater which she colorshifted for No Sheep, while reading No Sheep, looking at the sweater in its published version. Everyone went MENTAL for this sweater all weekend -- it's a pure-silk mosaic with lace sleeves. Who could blame them?

More tomorrow. I'm coming off jet lag and some kind of bug i picked up somewhere.

STR club news...[you won't believe a bank could be so, um....

...what's the word? Dumb?]

Tina and Kaci at Blue Moon Fiber Arts have had a busy weekend, but not for reasons anyone expected. The people at their bank seem to have lost their collective minds [details below]. As a result, the Blue Moon website's been down all weekend, and they've had to scramble to find a new way to accept payment and reprogram their whole website. But they've got stuff under control now...if you're a Blue Moon lover/supporter, you probably want to know what's what, so here's the message the girls sent out last night:

The sign-up for the Rockin' Sock Club 2007 has been a resounding success. So much so that our bank thinks we are running some type of elaborate yarn scam and is refusing to accept our members' money! So, you know what they are doing? You are not going to believe this. They are sending all of that money back! Unbelievable and astounding!

Here are the details. Within the next ten days, all of you who signed up for the Sock Club by paying either $210.00 (domestic) or $240.00 (international) between December 31 and January 5, will be getting a credit back onto your Mastercard or Visa. It is the Sock Club only, all other yarn orders placed will go through and you will be receiving your yarn soon.

Do not panic!

Everyone affected by this incredible situation is guaranteed their spot through the end of January, including those on the wait list. After you receive your credit, just go to our website and use your same registration number to pay for your Sock Club (yet again). The website is temporarily under construction in order to install the new bank’s (who has guaranteed us they will have no difficulty accepting your money!) system. The site should be back in full swing in the next couple of days. In the meantime, you can view products and place phone orders.

If you have any problems, call or email us and we will gladly help. Keep in mind that there are a lot of you involved! It is going take us some time to sort through the mess the bank has so graciously created for us. Remember, those of you that ordered other products from the Blue Moon website during this period are fine. It does not affect your orders! It is the thought of a Club for knitting socks they cannot get their heads around.

This certainly is NOT how we envisioned starting the New Year, the launch of our website upgrade and the 2007 Rockin' Sock Club! We cannot apologize enough for any inconvenience this causes you. To honor all of your dedication and patience, we are including a coupon in your first shipment to help compensate for this.

So, knitting comrades, we can choose to look at this in many ways (and believe me we have run the gamut on this one). Disbelief, shock, outrage . . . it has been a surreal experience for us. This is not just about us here at Blue Moon. It is about knitters as a group. We are extraordinary people. We have seen our power when rallied . . . large fundraising for great causes, KAL’s across the planet, and standing room only at knitting-related gatherings. Because of this, the Rockin' Sock Club 2007 will prevail! We will have a blast and knit awesome socks that will be the envy of all nonbelievers!

We thank you so very much for your support, and community. There will be more (much more) to say about this saga in the first shipment’s dyer’s notes!

Our socks are still rockin',
Team Blue Moon

No Sheep and friends

It's really cool, this life I have somehow managed to wrap around myself. I like it very much and wish to keep it.

Case in point: Wednesday nights are always fun because of the Lettuce Knit s&b. Not having to get up early on Thursdays means I now am a regular attendee, and I get recharged from hanging with the crazy people [regulars and noobs] that show up there. In the midst of the final production push for the winter '06 issue of Knitty, rather than slitting my throat, I went to LK on a Wednesday night, got work done, laughed myself silly, and felt more human afterwards. Excellent therapy.

This week, I got the first real copy of No Sheep For You, and I wanted to share it with the folks at LK. It felt so almost-weird to watch the copy get passed around the room. People paged through it, smiled at some pages, were stunned by others [Jenna's Morrigan sweater, for example. You'll see why when you see the book]. Tuscany got good buzz.

People filled the little store. Jen from Winnipeg [hi, Jen!] -- a reader of Knitty since issue 1, who had a great "how i learned to knit" story. A really nice woman who I hope will forgive me for forgetting her name, who visited us from Montreal. She's a recent arrival from France, is a great designer, and I'm sure I'll know her name soon enough, because I tried seriously to get her to submit something to Knitty. You'll love her work.

David came, which is always a treat. And this time, he came bearing gifts! I don't know why I was so lucky, but I now have this delicious assortment of fruity soaps, thanks to David. The marmalade [the orangy block], the lemon [yellow with poppy seeds] and coconut [the one with the heart] are especially yummy. I keep smelling them.


Aleta walked in, and I nearly dropped the Americo wrap in a rush to hug her. Aleta is a rare species during the school year, and it was damn nice to see her again, even if only for a while. Also, I like her friend Scott [also a knitter] very much, even if he has issues about his hat. [I''m sorry, Scott, but it's a Tilley. It is automatically uncool, unless it's a Tilley Hemingway wore or something. Go vintage.]

Rachel H, the blogless one, came in mid-evening, and she held out a small rectangular box to me. Having been at Stephanie's LK party and witnessing the giving of the coffee-tree-wood coffee scoop, I got very excited very quickly. Rachel had made something...for me? No way. But there was the box! So I opened it...and look:




Not only is it a beautiful pen. Not only is it handmade by Rachel H, just for me. Not only did she finish the wood to [her words] Norm Hall standards of smoothness and silkiness.

But the wood? It's COTTONwood, people. To celebrate the No Sheep For You booky thing.

I've spent the last 2 days trying to knit up a little pouch worthy of this pen, and have failed miserably. I'll keep trying. I think I'll do better once I find the stupid clover icord knitting tool thingy i KNOW is somewhere in this house.

Rachel H is one of those special people you wish you could have around you all the time. She radiates good vibes and is infinitely huggable. Thank you, Rachel. You are amazing.

Also infinitely huggable is miss Jen, who was in attendance, talking abstractly about fartiness, yet smelling like a daisy. Michelle showed us all her gorgeous brand-new engagement ring [a square diamond. be still my heart] and her huge smile, glowing right to the tips of her ears. So nice to see her so happy.

Lots more delightful regulars were there, but I'm out of bloggy steam. Anyway, guys -- thank you all so much for a lovely reception for the book. I'll be throwing a proper launch party later on in spring [with Megan's kind permission, of course], when it's warm enough for us all to spill over the LK steps and onto the front patio again.

I'll write about last night tomorrow*

Right now, I need to tell you about next week. I love being messed up like that.

Kristi sent me the deets today. She was a sweet, clever friend and set up a little meet and greet for me on the west coast. You in the SD area? Come say hi! I'll be at Knitting in La Jolla, 909 Prospect Street — Corner of Prospect & Fay [across the courtyard from the Hard Rock Café], next Friday, January 12, from 2-3:30 pm.

As anyone who's ever met me will attest, there will be lots of juicy gabbing, photo ops for those brave enough, and I'll even bring my single ziploc-bag-protected copy of No Sheep For You so you can have a flip through. Bring your knitting!

*Because I'm still working on the post about it. It was a really good night.

it's today.

Today I see my copy of the latest thing I wrote. I am trying not to plotz or faint, waiting for the FedEx truck to reach my door.

To keep busy, I launched the extra-juicy No Sheep For You website, with almost no content whatsoever.

I wrote all the copy myself. Can you tell? Full-featured site coming soon. Might as well enjoy this one while it lasts.

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Wow. It's here. Enjoy along with me, will you?


The book is there, wrapped in pretty paper.


Along with, the buttons Franklin illustrated for me. They're giveaways for TNNA next week. :-)


Not only were they a great partner to work with, but Interweave knows what really matters. They send chocolate with your first copy of your own book.


Look! Tuscany really exists! Eeeeeee!


I love this design from Barbara Gregory and obviously Interweave does too -- they put it on the back cover!

I am *so excited* about this book. I'll bring it to Lettuce Knit tonight, so if you want an early peek, come too! There will, I guarantee, be plotzing.

ciao, kiddo!

i <3 skype. i just called wendy with the skype out function [2 cents a minute to italy? are you KIDDING ME?] and got to talk to kiddo.

for kiddo, this little bunny says hi:

we picked him up in cozumel. he was the only lime green bunny in a sea of pink and red and blue bunnies. he wanted to live in canada, but he waves hello to italia!

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are you afeard for the status of my Americo wrap? do not be afeard.



you see how little is left after all this knitting [an afternoon's worth]. what will it be? no idea.


i envision it as a big shoulder-loving wrap, but with only three skeins of this stuff, i might be dreaming. what i think i will do is just keep on knitting. at certain points, i will wrap the thing around me and decide if it wants to be some kind of pinnable neck wrappy thing instead. or if i am insane and it should just be a scarf [but that doesn't seem right. it's too lush to be so small.]

if need be, the store will reopen in a day or so and i will be back, debit card in hand, to get more supplies so i can knit the world's coziest wrap. yummy.

[stitch: barbara walker's twin rib]

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also, there is still no snow here. or in norway, a friend tells me. listen to al gore, people. he's not making it up.

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one more thing. i have 4 balls of this stuff that i want to give to someone who will do something amazing with it.

by amazing, i don't mean throwing it in the garbage [i can do that myself :-)] or wrapping their dog.

i mean turning this raw-meat yarn into what it was meant to be, whether horrible or spectactular.

write me in the comments below. best answer gets the yarn.

[what? no year-end what-i-knit wrapup post? are you kidding? i knit raw meat. time to move on to new, fresh stuff!]

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also, will someone please invent a moo card frame? one where it has slots for the cards and you can add them as you collect them, move them around, etc. someone?