Hey! You! with the knitting blog! where's the knitting?

It's been a while since I've posted... work has been a bit crazy lately and then I was away from (almost) all technology for a week at my Mom's. (no computer. satellite tv had yet to be moved over/installed at new house.) Then, back to work and the crazy crazy fun times.

Last week was my vacation but before I could leave I had to face the mountain of paperwork that had backed up because my company had year-end and I couldn't do anything with the paperwork until year-end was finished. Whee. So, I somehow managed to do a whole month's worth of invoicing in 2 days (you might not find that all that impressive, so you will just have to take my word for it. I am the MAN)(you know). Then, I drove to Southern Saskatchewan to go to my cousin's wedding. My cousin, who can not possibly be that big mature guy who was wearing the tux standing beside the beautiful girl in the white dress. How did that happen? Not to mention how did I get old enough to be thinking that? Yikes.

So, I got to spend that weekend with my mom and my aunts and uncles, almost avoiding the "So, when is it going to be YOUR turn?" fun that usually comes along with a family wedding. What do you say to that? The uber-sarcastic responses that sprung to mind were quickly pushed down in order to maintain the peace. Why do people ask a single woman why she is single? I realize that some people make that choice, but it's kind of insulting to be asked all the time. Actually, people don't ask me as much anymore. Maybe they're scared I'll freak out or tell them something horrible or something. People, please. "Why aren't you married, Lori?" "Well, no one has asked me." or "I can drive, I can put up venetian blinds and I'm tall enough to reach the top shelves."

I seem to have digressed.

ehem.

After the wedding, Mom and I made our way north and west to go to the town where I grew up. We stopped in Saskatoon and saw my sister and one of my nephews. It was nice to see them, I don't think I've seen them since Christmas. My sister works at a meat-packing plant and I can honestly say she has the (pardon the following if you are offended) shittiest job in the world. (She cleans out the intestines.) (seriously). Anyway, she is stubborn and a serious hard worker and I'm really proud of her for sticking with it.

Then, we headed "home". I was a bit uneasy about it, since my mom had just moved from the farm where I grew up into town and a house I had never seen. Would it feel like home? My brother and his wife had moved on to the farm. Would that feel weird?

In all, it was strange at first, but it was good overall. My mom's house is cozy, much smaller than what she is used to, but she seems happy there. My sister-in-law had changed enough in the house I grew up in that it wasn't so hard to visit there. It still is hard to imagine that it is permanent, or that I won't be in MY house for Christmas or Thanksgiving or... you know.

So, during all the crazy work and family time and visits to home/not home, I still managed to knit. Because, you know, i am compelled to. Also, because, in the land where time stands still (small town Saskatchewan) and the rain never stops having something to do is a good thing.

So, I present to you the following:
(FINALLY, KNITTING PICS!!!)

1. Wrap sweater I made to wear the wedding. I had started Isis from IWK but couldn't decide if I was going to like it. Plus, after a while, you have cast on so many stitches for the sleeves that it is sucking the will to live with each YO. So, I did this:




I based it on Knitty's Otis. I lengthened the sleeves and used a Trellis Lace stitch from my Reader's Digest Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting and Crochet Stitches. Guess what I found out while knitting this simple, all over lace pattern. Go on. Guess.

All over, simple lace can be just as boring as all garter stitch or all stocking stitch!!! argh.

I used TLC Cotton Plus and it took about 4 balls and about a week-ish.

The dress was $10 (!!!) at Winners and was purchased because a) it fit me really well; b) it was $10 for crying out loud; c) the flowers on it matched the yarn I had already bought.

Yes, I planned the accessory I was making before I had the dress. I'm crazy like that.

2. Sock. (singular)



I gave Mom the socks I made her and she loved them. I cast this one on the day before I went home and worked on it at home off and on, in between other knitting.

Wanna see an action shot? Sure you do.


pretty active, huh?

3. (almost finished) Hourglass sweater


Looks pretty good, no? slightly blurry, yes, but good. Well, um...


this is my "i can't believe i didn't realize that with my gauge being bigger than called for i should have added decreases to avoid the off the shoulder look" look

Of course I didn't try it on and got so excited about the cool bind off method that I got the neckband all tacked down before I realized how wide the neck would be. So, it is in time-out while I finish some other projects and work up the resolve to unpick the neck band and tear back to before the turn. Sigh.

(oh yeah, this is what became of the yarn I dyed a while ago)

4. Incredibly Boring Sweater, the sequel.


Look at it, lying there, waiting to be seamed. Somehow, the fact that I will earn a little cash with this one makes it all better.

5. Teeny Tiny Hoodie!!
knit, seamed and waiting on an edging/button band.

aaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwww

My sister-in-law (and brother, though I think she did most of the work) had the babies!!! Nicholas (sp?) and Logan (also sp??) were born Sunday evening. I can't wait to see them, and frankly, although I think they'll be good parents, I really can't believe my little brother is a DAD!!

So, I think that's it.

Oh, wait, there's this sneak peak:

A present for my friend Julie. She might wander by here sometime and I don't want to give it away. I just thought the colors are cool and had to show you!

So, there you are. Thanks for sticking it out till the end with me.