I Was Knit Together In My Mother's Womb

Is it hip to be a square?

Yes, it is. Especially when you are "Squarey."  A Jess Hutchison design (of Knitty Kate Cat fame). I did this guy in Lamb's Pride Bulky instead of worsted, because I had it in my stash.  Squarey is going to be a birthday present for Augie , along with "Spherey." I think Jess should make a cartoon featuring her guys... with adventures and everything.

Karen and I exchanged a few emails a few weeks back, when I asked her what she liked about this issue of Knitty, and then she asked me what I liked. I do like Kate, of course, and not alot else this time around.

I think Tempting II  is very nice. Thuja is a good sock pattern. And, the more I look at Tubey, the more I'm liking it. Will I knit any of it? What do you think?

There is a "show your knitting space" thing going around. So, I'll show you mine.

Two days ago, I had a bag of Cheetos behind my chair instead of the popcorn. And I did not eat them with a toothpick, Vicki.... I didn't have to. Squarey is orange, too!

Oh, how exciting! When knitters gather...

We had the very best time last night! We met new blogging friends...

 

That's Diana, and Susan and me...Krista and Christine (behind her...sorry Chris!) and of course, Lisa....  And we had my Mom, Lana, and Karen, Alma, Maria, Chrissy, Denise, Faith and Joanne, Megan, Kathy, Mary and of course, if there are women knitting, you can count on Moses being in the middle of it, too.

These knitters came bearing gifts and grub that you would not believe... We ate REALLY good stuff... The kitchen counters were loaded with food, too.

  (CURSE the person who brought the white trash and left it at my house!)

....and of course a few of us had some knitting problems resolved.

We did a gift exchange, shared our latest projects, admired yarn and did not take enough pictures at all.

But the coolest thing was meeting these new bloggers! I felt like I was inviting celebrities into my home!  The Syracuse area ladies drove over two hours to get here! But I'm so glad they did. I am still  coming off the high of meeting the stunning Susan, and Diana, who did not seem to me to be any more dysfunctional than the rest of us. (in fact, she's ready to go back to school to be a librarian some day!)...and very sweet Krista, who found us by way of blogging and has decided to join us for our knit nights. ...and it was just so cool how we could all just be in the same room, attracted to each other first because of knitting, and then realizing we are all the kind of people we would definitely like to hang with! ( "with whom we would like to hang," for the grammatically correct among us!)

It was just an honor to have all of you at my home, and since we're wrapping up the year,  and we tend to get sappy and reminiscent at this time...

I have to say,though, not only was it an honor to have you all here, but I just have loved the friendships we have cultivated, and the deeper connections we have all made because of knitting. I do have to say, though, If I didn't knit with any of you, I'd love you all. From my Lockport Girls to my family,  from Syracuse to Albion and Medina...and to every blogger that has shared their passion and their hearts....  Happy New Year!

Let's do it again this year, get that web ring going, and make it bigger and better than ever!

The best thing about having family here for Christmas...

Morning Snuggles.

My girls were here last night, to play a little "What Not To Wear" in Mom's Closet.

This is always painful.

 

New Year? New Clothes. But I can't shop alone...I must have supervision, they say.

I can always knit, though...and it actually got me thinking about how I will knit in the New Year... I am going to be much more selective about the sweaters I knit. I have a a few I've done that I don't wear, because I was a bit impulsive in knitting them....knitting a sweater just to knit a sweater so I could say I've accomplished knitting a sweater.

No more of that...I will knit sweaters to fit my body type, sweaters I would buy if I saw them on a rack... I tend to be a bit impulsive about my clothes and knits. I don't always think about the big picture...what I can wear it with. I don't think outfits as much as I think pieces...usually that are on the sale rack , clearance priced with a coupon. Then I end up with a closet full of stuff that I end up getting rid of because I don't wear it.

What will I knit this New Year?  I am pondering that over the next few days. I know I

will not knit most of what I saw in the Debbie Bliss Home book   that I impulsively bought last week... Alot of it looked very,very familiar...like some of the pillows and the cable socks, especially. I've made the cable socks. I'll probably never knit a pillow other than "Squarey." I most certainly will not knit a bedspread. So, the book is going back. That is my book review. And, I need new pants.

I will carefully consider my knits in 2006. I have a few things in mind...some to finish up and some a waitin' in the stash.

Friday, I got a last SP6 Reveal package!

It was from Karen in Connecticut! She has been a wonderful pal, and I have so enjoyed her thoughtful emails and just her sweet interest in me. You have been great, Karen, and I thank you, thank you , thank you!

These are the completed knitting bags, shipped Wednesday! I hope Patty and Kim like them!  They really turned out nicely...I used some vintage floral cotton in each of them.

 

 

I'll have more for sale after Christmas.

After a few hours of picking up a few gifts, some of which were in Barnes and Noble, I happened to run across this:

  So, I treated myself. I've only glanced

through it, so I'll have my full review later...But it looks very interesting.....

I had the pleasure of spoiling Megan during SP6. She was such a sweet pal to treat because she was always so graciously thankful, and she worked on very cool projects...many of which I have done, or am doing! We are knitting soul sisters, I think.

Anyway, I was all agog over the knitted toys she was making from Jess Hutchison's book, and  do you know what Megan did? She sent me the booklet!

I told her I actually jumped up and down when I opened it, because I've been checking in on that site almost daily to see when Jess is doing another printing! Isn't that the best thing?  Tonight, I start Squarey, in hopes of having him knit for either JonJ or Aug for Christmas night. Thank you so much Megan! Now go check out some of the cute toys she has knit!

Remember, WESTERN NEW YORK KNITTERS!

My house, Tuesday December 27th 6:30- til?

Knitapalooza! Knitting friends old and new,

Bring a snack to share, a friend, your knitting,

and a $10-15 gift if you want to exchange!

Email me with questions.

I'm making knitting bags.

Tomorrow I ship out two more. One for

Kim, and one for Patty

I promise!

Last night we shopped...my husband and I .  Men shop so differently than women. We were on a mission. List? check.  Route planned? check.

"I need to run into Steinmart."

"Why? is it on the list?"

"JR, we don't have gifts for everyone on the list...I just want to look, get a feel for things, see what ideas may come to me..."

"I thought we had a list."

Is it the genetic male hunt and kill instinct? Hunt, sieze and bring it home gift-wrapped?We are so different. I could have lingered in Steinmart for two hours even if my husband was standing  next to me with his arms crossed on his chest.

So, today, I do the obligitory Walmart shopping, sans husband. He wouldn't have lasted ten minutes...you know what I mean. Most of us have to make the Walmart trip the week before Christmas. I was a woman on a mission...(I don't browse at Walmart like I do at Steinmart) I got everything I went in to get, including some Dr. Scholls Gellin' Insteps, because last night's shopping killed my feet... and a plastic bin's worth of art supplies and puzzle books for JonJ. My husband would have been so proud of me.

I scoped out the lines...narrowed it down to two. Chose one. The man in front of me had laundry soap and a bottled water, the woman in front of him was checking out. I stood in that line for 20 minutes. The woman, it seems, had two carts full of items, and upon checking her receipt and checking it twice, found some errors, which of course, our Walmart Hostess can take care of right at the register, by re-ringing! It's so convenient! The man in front of me was still in good spirits. I was inches away from pulling out the kiddie scissors and the Dr. Scholl's and cutting them to fit my feet which were indeed burning by this time. I happened to glance to the line in back of me and a sweet lady caught my eye, just looked at me and said...."I always  choose the wrong freaking line!"

Me too. But, after all, I did decide not to knit any gifts this year.

Upon a quick review of my UFO's, I found I am in better shape than I thought I was!

 

There is Josephine and the Fluted Bannisters,

 

A CottonEase fake cable sweater and a pair of mittens.

The very start of some Knit3 Purl 1 Ribbed socks from some very nice Reggia, I think.

A Best Friends Doll, a Midwest Moonlight scarf,

An Everyday Cardigan aaaannnnndddddd.....

The Hourglass.

So, what did I finish this weekend?

One pair of mittens, one pair of socks, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Tomorrow, I'm froggin' that Everyday Cardigan and those Reggia socks...that ought to get me closer in the Naked Sticks 2006 contest! That's five finished projects, and two to rip out...that's seven, and if I get that doll finished and Josephine done in ten days, maybe whip out a Christmas hat in chunky yarn..... Oh, forget it.

I'm starting fresh with about four new things this week. I swear I am.

I'd like to wrap up this mystery...

Did my tape dispenser look like this? 

Oh, no....but it was returned safe and sound, and with not one demand met!  With TypePad being done since Friday, I couldn't report! The perp. actually called me at my desk, from his cell phone, with his fake gravelly, thief style voice making even more demands until I got him to laugh, and finally, the little game was over. He did tell me to check under my desk, on top of my computer, and there was my tapeless dispenser! Returned at last!

After such a day as this, I returned home to find my husband had put up the family room tree and hung ribbons and garlands all about...

    

here and there,    

A little sparkle, dangle and arranging   

And all that I had to do was to add the Shiney Brites, kids ornaments and the blown glass old and new....

 

Now all that's left is to buy the gifts! Look out, Santa, we are on a mission this week!

Ah, the pleasures of decking the halls...

With antique ornaments and  hand knit Christmas Stockings:      Not to wear,

But to hang, hoping it will be filled with something other than old Dollar General bags on Christmas morning! A      Handknit Holidays project         

Made up with KnitPicks wool of the Andes... A very neat pattern that was hard to put down.

Now, the other foot gear I've had on the needles since summer, were these fluted Bannister socks, inspired by some Margene had done....

 

I am just a few inches from the toe decrease and gave the incomplete pair to the perfect recipient at last night's office party! She was a dear about the whole thing...I actually had to ask her for the one sock back so I could finish the pair to match! I worked the whole weekend trying to finish that dang sock. I figure I get to kill two birds with one stone...one more project off the needles for the Naked Sticks 2006, and a Christmas gift to boot. To sock. Whatever.  If I even wore socks much, I'd probably really like these...Lorna's Laces, of course...and in my very humble opinion, the perfect sock yarn.

A few stash acquisitions....

   

Some lovely Kiogu KPPPM, by way of Churchmouse Yarns, with a fun scarf pattern that I saw on this blog.   AND another skein of the lovely Artful Yarns Jazz. Getting harder and harder to find, I "settled" for a sultry colorway called "Miles", with which I will knit some slipper socks for my sweetie. (how's that for a sentence phrase with some alliteration, you English buffs?)

The Tape Mystery Continues...

Late Friday, as I was getting ready to leave work ,  this email arrived:

<b>Lynne,<b>

<br>Br>

Rest assured that it is your tape that we have, and not a decoy.<br><br>

Here is a list of our demands:<br<br>

- A hand-knitted Afghan<br

- An entry in the Knitting Blog<br>

- Homemade cookies<br>

- A piece of chocolate fudge<br>

- 2 Japanese Yen and 1 American nickel<br>

- A Christmas decoration<br<br>

All demands must be filled by December 25, or your tape gets it!!

<br><br>

Love,<br> Your Favourite CP

Eee Gads! It would have been a tortuous weekend with thoughts of the demise of my tape dispenser, had it not been for this: Another Secret Pal Package! What a lovely idea, with all of the necessities for keeping warm in Western New York! It really was a cold and snowy weekend, here, too! Thank you Secret Pal....we have had such a very pleasant ongoing email pal-ship and I can't wait for your final "reveal!" I spent Sunday evening getting ready for the office girls' Christmas Party: And, doing some fabulous knitting, which I will tell you all about tomorrow!

I always find myself in the midst of a mystery

THIS is what has transpired at work this week...

It started with a simple email from me to everyone

"Has anyone seen the tape dispenser from the front desk? I think it has a label which says 'property of Shelly G.' or something like that.

Thanks for your help...I'm in a "sticky" situation here without it!

Lynne"

Of course, I get several responses, no one has seen my tape dispenser...( Shelley is the former receptionist here) But one in particular, from Mr. Funny Guy in our Tech/ Website department said this:

"on the contrary, you're NOT in a sticky situation unless you did in fact have it! you are stickless right now, or stickfree, if you will. You're such a stickler, Lynne. A stickler without the stick. Perhaps you should change the label to say, "This stick is property of Lynne" so that it's returned to you. Someone probably air-mailed it to Shelley. And guess what they used to seal the box? Not the tape, if you thought so, because it was already IN the box. Perhaps a cousin of the aforementioned tape, but it was clearly a different stick."

I respond in a poetic way to Mr. Funny Guy...

"Some tape with nothing to do

Out of it's dispenser one day, withdrew.

It rolled round and round,

Collecting dirt from the ground

Along with some goo, poo, and spilled chicken stew.

(now, my tape, out of view, has probably rolled to Timbuktu....just wondering , wondering , what on earth stickless tape should now do.)"

So I arrive at work this morning, open my email, and I find this from ChiefPilferer@I haveyourtape.com :

"b>Lynne,</b>

<br>Br>

Here is a picture of your tape dispenser. It is safe in our custody, for the moment.

<img src="http://www.thechapel.com/2.jpg width="194" height="194/>

<br>br>We will be sending you a list of our demands.

<br><br>

If you ever want to see your tape again, you will adhere to every word.

<br>br>

Love,<br> CP"

When I sent a response, my email failed. I tried and tried to figure out how to crack the code...how to get a picture of my tape dispenser...for Heaven's sake, I've never been involved in a kidnapping or ransom!   and then I remembered TypePad, which saved the day!

And THIS IS WHAT THAT RAT WROTE TO ME!

"Lynne,

Here is a picture of your tape dispenser. It is safe in our custody, for the moment.

We will be sending you a list of our demands.

If you ever want to see your tape again, you will adhere to every word.

Love,
CP"

And this, my friends, is just an example of the internal workings of a church at Christmastime...As I await the list of demands, I am prepared to bake cookies, or knit a scarf or something for this hoodlum....just to get my tape dispenser back! There are a few potential co-workers that could be involved.

Just had to share...

Have a wonderful weekend!