It's Too Cruel...

 2024 has been beyond heartbreaking. I'm in so much emotional agony. 

On March 23, 2024, I had a knock at my door. It was the police to notify me that my forty-two year old son had passed away. It was a shock. I had just talked with him. It couldn't be possible. It was quick. A heart attack. He was hospitalized in 2020 at the beginning of Covid. He was in an induced coma to allow his lungs heal from the virus. I could not visit because of Covid. He survived, but new conditions plagued his health. He was a hard worker. A funny, very sensitive and caring man. A joy to raise. My greatest champion of my knitting and spinning.  How I miss him liking my posts of another finished object. My love for him cannot be put into words. His loss has brought a huge void into my life. I miss talking to him everyday. I miss seeing his handsome face. I miss him. My heart aches for him.

Now, exactly six months later, on September 24, 2024 at 7:30am after a brief illness, my husband died in my arms in the ICU. Eight days after we celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary in the hospital. We were together everyday for 23 years. This man was our protector. Our rock. A hard worker. He brought the calm to our world. To think this good man picked me. Chose me to love forever. Wooed me with coffee. My other champion of my knitting and spinning. I am honoured. Now I am shattered. My world is empty. Now it is just my daughter and myself. It's too cruel. I don't know how to go on without him. Make me smile. Dance with me in the kitchen. Hold me close. Comfort me. Rub my feet. Call me his Love Blossom.  It's all over in the blink of an eye. 

My devotion and love will never die. I will continue to honour you. Love you. Cherish you. Until my last breath, my love. My heart. 

 

Knitting Through a Heatwave

is possible. It's not comfortable. Sweaty fingers will slow you down. Litres of various beverages will be consumed, which in turn keeps you sweaty. Wash, rinse, repeat. All worth it, though. Yes. Definitely. 

Now I'm just debating on whether I will start the sleeves before the body, or visa versa. Thoughts?

Throwback Yarn for a Throwback Cardigan

Stash dived and found some vintage Knitpicks Wool of the Andes Tonal to knit The Throwback during some hot, muggy weather. I haven't knit a sweater/cardigan in quite some time.

The Winter Months...

Get things done. I'm currently in the midst of yet another snow storm and my daughter's 5th snow day from school within the last two weeks. Lucky kid. So, much knitting time on my hands...or in my hands. ;)

I just finished this last night. Game of Tones shawl. I love it and look forward to using it. It's very soft, using Knitpicks Chroma Twist fingering in Groovy (unfortunately discontinued) and Knitpicks Stroll Bare Glimmer. It's hard to see the glimmer in the pic, but trust me, it's shimmery and lovely. 

Water for the Elephants socks for my friend. She is wonderful and deserving.  Knit using Knitpicks Stroll in Pumpkin and Knitpicks Stroll Glimmer in Peacock.

 I decided to change the elephant's trunk to turn up for luck and also placed the elephant motif on the top of each foot.

Again, I love the Glimmer and it's not scratchy at all. Very soft.

Now to finish some socks and fingerless mitts.

Knit on...

Startitis

Just look at my project progress bars in my sidebar. 

Pitiful.

I want to knit all the things.

I just can't finish all the things. 

I mostly get to the 50% completed stage. Then I'm like a duck attracted to all the shiny and cast on another. I suppose I need to live up to my name, but at what point do I go from always casting on to I can't wait to wear my hand-knitted (insert knitted article of choice here), today! 

The project I'm currently really enamoured with is the Game of Tones shawl by Stitchnerd Designs. I will admit, (I am a reluctant Game of Thrones fan -- I just don't like to jump on the bandwagon) that it was the name of the shawl that caught my attention as opposed to the actual design. I always like to have several snuggly shawls about the house to throw on when the chill sets in -- they're just so cosy -- and hence proceeded to shamelessly chuck my other wip's to the side.

The planning commenced. I thoroughly enjoy the planning process. I scored some discontinued Knit Picks Chroma Twist in Groovy and paired it with Knit Picks Bare Stroll Glimmer, both in fingering weight. I got everything prepared so I could work on it during a three hour car ride to a wedding. It's a simple knit with a fabulous effect. The glimmer is wonderful and makes the shawl twinkle in the light. I love it. 

 

I love it and yet it's now sitting on my table waiting for me to pick it up to finish. 😞

Granted, it has be hotter than Hades. Anyone else have this problem? Am I just weird? 

Don't answer that.

I've also been sewing. I want to make it clear right off the start that I hate sewing, though I do appreciate the fact that I was able to learn the basics in home-ec class in school. 

I have a very old sewing machine. Made in Poland. Heavy -- as in hernia inducing heavy. I bought it when I was fourteen years old...just because. It has followed this haterofsewingthings throughout all these years. I'm fifty-mumble-mumble. BUT! I loved all these project bags I've been seeing some wonderful knitter's using. Cute drawstring bags with delightful patterned fabrics. So, I bought some fabric, looked up some tutorials then dusted off and oiled good ole' Matilda. (My maternal great-grandmother's name) and because there are just some things you will never forget how to do, this happened...

Three Small Sock Sacks.

A medium Lil Knot Bag

Teeny Tiny Zipper Coin Purses

They are really stinking cute!

and lastly, my version of a Field Bag. I'm quite proud of this one. My first time using french seams!

We also have a new tyrannical kitty, named Echo. 

My beautiful Miku passed suddenly a year ago from saddle thrombus.

Hmmmm, almost four years to the day that I last blogged. Maybe I should change my blog name to The Leap Year blogger. lol

Stay strong. Knit on.

Oops, We Did it Again

She's growing on us. She is also an incessantly barking dog, so I don't need to change my "About Me" on Blogger. We've had her since mid April and she just turned 14 months old.

I'm also knitting. I hope to finish this pair of socks for my mother.

These are Lingerie from Knitty First Fall 2011, by Maria Näslund. Very pretty. The heel is a pain in the ass, though.


I also very excitedly joined the Outlander MKAL that's being hosted by Jimmy Beans Wool on Ravelry.  Designer is Rachel Roden. Having been a devoted fan of the series since it was first published in 1991 and anticipating the "OMG, I've been waiting forever for this to happen" tv series, I could not pass this up! Aye!

Yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in the two limited edition colours dyed especially for this MKAL in Beauchamps (blue/green) and Fraser.

Clue 3 is out tomorrow morning. Oddly enough, still haven't seen the first episode of Outlander. It finally airs this Sunday here in Canada. Glad I had the project to not feel completely left out.

I've completed other projects. Just wasn't much in the mood to talk about them. Then, didn't have much time to talk about anything since we added a new dog to the pack.

Maybe that'll change.

Maybe not. 

 

ARIES: APRIL 10, 2000 - MAY 8, 2013

 

I lost my best buddy suddenly yesterday evening. She was loving, loyal, trustworthy, funny and one of the loves of my life. I'm going to miss her dreadfully and a little piece of my heart has gone with her...but, I'm glad to share it, just like she shared hers. RIP, my BoBerries. I will always love you to bits and pieces.



Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

 

O.M.G!

I knit and finished a project. It's a small project, but was enjoyable. Gives me a little niggle to knit more. I don't want to speak too soon, but perhaps it's the end of my slump. Maybe... This was knit for my sister, as per her request. The wee beggar better like it. :D

Pattern: Robin Hood by Grace Akhrem

Yarn: Knit Picks City Tweed HW in Obisdian

Needles: 5mm - 4.5mm

Cast On, Baby!

I Don't Know Why

I waited so long! I have great big squishy love for all of it.

A New Addition

A new tyrannical kitty to help keep my yarn tangled and my needles chewed.

My daughter named her Miku. My dog on the other hand has a few inventive nicknames for her, I'm sure. ;)

In knitting news...I pulled a Yarn Harlot. Who'd a thunk that measuring to 16-1/2" would be so difficult? Obviously, my tape measure is broken, because my notes were correct. Doesn't change the fact that I had to rip out half of the back to my textured cardigan, knit the extra two inches. Too bad I didn't make the same measuring error on the left front...no one would have be any the wiser and I'd be knitting the right front as I type. I'm sure with the new kitten, I won't have anymore such distractions.

Pooh.

Knit on...

Relegated

My camera is pooh. Pooched. Bit the dust. Has gone to the great lens in the sky. :( So, until I get a new one...one with a flash, macro and zoom and all those other nifty things a camera does that we take for granted, you will all be subjected to crappy pic's taken by the camera on my iPod Touch. I'd apologize, but shit happens. :P

Knitting update with crappy pic follows.

So, I finally finished the back of the Textured Cardigan(Rav link).

There is a lot of knitting and bobbles on that back. I'm making the medium/large 50" size, so you can just imagine.

The front is much easier on the bobbles with the added excitement of pockets.

Ohhhhhhh, ahhhhhhhh!

I want this finished. It's perfect weather for wearing, like, NOW! At least knitting needles don't pooch unless I do...

Birthday Request

As per my daughter, whom is turning nine today! Happy Birthday, toots!

I even managed to squeeze in and knit part two of eight between all the baking and the dipping. :)

I know, still doesn't look like much, but it's a project concentrating on colour placement and I made 5 swatches until I settled on what I thought was complimentary. It's interesting to see how colours come together and compliment each other, even when you thought they wouldn't. :) This is a KnitPicks Palette stash buster. I have a lot of single colours and would like to knit them up for something useful.

Part One of Eight

It'll get more interesting. Promise.

Kony 2012

I will repost this here once a month for the remainder of 2012 so we don't forget.



P.S. I just want to say that I've been reading around the web how this video won't help, it's a fundraising attempt by Invisible Children to make another documentary, to how the campaign reflects neither the realities of northern Ugandan nor the attitudes of its people, etc...but, when I watch this video, I see children. I see children living in fear in a certain area of the world that happens to be in an area of Uganda. I see myself as having been completely ignorant of this before watching this video. I had no idea who Joseph Kony was. Maybe I'm just a middle aged naive white woman who needs to remain under her rock, but I personally cannot live my life with suspicion, pessimism or ignorance. That is all. :)

Complex Simplicity

Sometimes, it’s the complexity of colour that turns something simple into a work of art.

Step one: KnitPicks Palette Golden Heather

So Awesome!

Ahahahahahahaha!

Pinterest

I think I like it. :)

Something is Better Than...

nothing.

I'm knitting in fits and starts. It's really weird. I have the urge, but don't pick up my project to work on. It's mainly because of being constantly interupted, I think. My attention hasn't been able to totally devote itself to any specific project for any length of time, so I don't bother. Kinda feel like a sacrificial lamb, some days.

Regardlessly, God works in strange and mysterious ways and has found interesting alternatives to keep reminding me of what it is I love to do to relieve my life stresses. I am teaching twin girls how to knit, which has been a true pleasure. They are very good students. I've also been approached to give a review of a craft product, which I hope to get to soon. Perhaps a video review? Whaddya think of that? Let me know!

Now, about my current project. I know in my previous post I said I was itching to knit the Relaxed Coat by Mari Lynn Patrick (Ravelry link)...but, I am a woman of limited mental capacity (A.K.A. perimenopause) and I decided to start something different. :P Short attention span, indeed, eh? Besides, it's another Mari Lynn Patrick pattern. I seem to really like her oversized knits. They please me very much. So, I started the Textured Cardigan (Ravelry link) from the Fall 2011 issue of Knit Simple Magazine.

BACK

Yes, I'm in bobble hell! Purling five together repeatedly every few rows keeps in line with eating one too many cookies. You're fine as you're doing it, but regret it the next day...instead of gaining a bazzilion pounds, though, I have a very sore finger. I've lost my knitting callus. Very sad, really.

This is being knit using KnitPicks Comfy worsted in silver sage. I love Comfy. I really, really, really do! It's so soft and even though it's a cotton blend, very easy to knit.

Alrighty, I'm signing off. Have a good one. Until next time...

Knit On!

Obsessed...

Relaxed Coat by Mari Lynn Patrick

From the winter 2011/12 Knit Simple magazine. My fingers are beyond itching to knit this.

Have a happy weekend!