Word of the Day

Fulking (ptcpl. vb.) - Pretending not to be in when the carol-singers come round.

MERRY CHRISTMAS Carolers and all.

Word of the Day

Burbage (n.) - The sound made by a liftful [elevator full] of people all trying to breathe through their noses.

Holy Blog Posts Batman!

What can I say, I've been away from my computer for quite some time now and have a lot of catching up to do.

I've been working on a few knitting projects the last couple of weeks. Despite the fact that being sick sucks; I certainly got a decent amount of knitting done.
I'm almost done my Cherie Amour by Ashley Adams Moncrief. Designed for Knitty: Fall 2007.

I had a lot of trouble lining up the lace once the decreasing started. I eventually decided to not worry about it. It really isn't all that noticeable that it doesn't all line up perfectly.
All that is left is the sewing (ugh) and some edging. Not bad. If I can force myself to get to the sewing that is.

My Corsica is on hold for now.

I really need to get to my Christmas knitting. I leave for Vernon on the 20th or 21st. Yikes! I do this to myself every year. What I need is a copy of The Knitter's Guide to Life, the Universe, and Everything with the words "DON'T PANIC" printed on it in large friendly letters; a largish skein of cashmere from my favorite LYS (1); and a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster (2) to forget life, the universe, and everything.

**For those of you who are not familiar with "The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy":
(1) A largish skein of cashmere has a similar effect on the psychological well being of knitters as a largish towel from Marks and Spencer on interstellar hitchhikers.
(2) The Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is the best drink in (non)existence. It's effect is like having your brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick.

Stay tuned for more Christmas knitting adventures. Coming to a blog post near you.

I'm Addicted to Socks

Might as well face it I'm addicted to socks. Might as well face it I'm addicted to socks. I can just picture a group of lovely ladies behind me in tight little dresses pretending to play instuments that they probably don't even know the names of. Oh yah, and they're all wearing hand made socks and Burkenstock sandals.
Can I really say that I'm addicted to socks though? I have only knit 2 pairs after all.

Maybe it's the yarn I'm addicted to. I do have enough to make 20 more pairs.
Might as well face it I'm addicted to yarn. Might as well... Mmh... It just doesn't have the same melodic ring to it.
I guess that means I better get sock knitting. :)

Sick as a "Dog"??

Meaning: very sick. Simile dating back to the 1500s or earlier.

Where do we, English speakers, come up with these idioms? Personally I've never really seen a very sick dog.
What happens when a dog really is sick? Do we say: "Poor thing, he's as sick as a human, a hominid, a Homo sapiens, an Adamite"?

All good questions to ponder when you are stuck at home sick as a dog. :)

Word of the Day

Budby (n.) - A nipple clearly defined through flimsy or wet material.

Bude (n.) - A polite joke reserved for use in the presence of vicars.

Budle (vb.) - To fart underwater.

*All words and definitions from "The Deeper Meaning of Liff" by Douglas Adams and John Lloyd.

Word(s) of the Day

Brumby (n.) - The fake antique plastic seal on a pretentious whisky bottle.

Brymbo (n.) - The single unappetizing bun left in a baker's shop after four p.m.

("The Deeper Meaning of Liff" by Douglas Adams & John Lloyd)

Word of the Day

Brough Sowerby (n.) - One who has been working at the same desk in the same office for fifteen years and has very much his own ideas about why he is continually passed over for promotion.

Word of the Day

Bromsgrove (n.) - Any urban environment containing a small amount of dog turd and about forty-five tons of bent steel pylon or a lump of concrete with holes claiming to be sculpture.
Oh, come my dear, and come with me
And wander 'neath the bromsgrove tree - Betjeman

("The Deeper Meaning of Liff" by Douglas Adams & John Lloyd)

The Kiss!

TheKiss1.jpg, originally uploaded by Knits&Pics.

Congratulations to Amy and Sandra (a.k.a Sandra and Amy) on your nuptuals.
The party on Friday was a big success thanks to Michelle and Coreena (sp?) and many others. We all managed to keep the party a secret too so it was a true surprise.
Although, I think the real surprise came when we managed to talk Sandra into a public kiss. Don't they look happy? I mean... ew sick! ;) (that one's for Sandra).
Here's to many more years of bliss you two.

Word of the Day

Broats (pl. n.) - A pair of trousers with a career behind them. Broats are most commonly seen on elderly retired army officers. Originally the broats were part of their best suit back in the thirties; then in the fifties they were demoted and used for gardening. Recently, pensions not being what they were, the broats have been called out of retirement and reinstated as part of the best suit again.

Bonus Word

Brompton (n.) - A brompton is that which is said to have been committed when you are convinced you are about to blow off with a resounding trumpeting noise in a public place and all that actually slips out is a tiny 'pfpt'.

In a sentence: I wish my husband would, once in a while, commit a brompton instead of the trumpeting noise that resounds through the floor from the basement family room.

Word of the Day

Brithdir (n.) - (Old Norse) The first day of the winter on which your breath condenses in the air.

Word of the Day

Brisbane (n.) - A perfectly reasonable explanation. (Such as one offered by a person with a gurgling cough which has nothing to do with the fact that they smoke fifty cigarettes a day.)

Also: The perfectly reasonable explanation that knitters give themselves when buying more yarn despite the fact they have a big enough stash at home to start their own store.

Holy Stash Batman!

I just spent the better part of my day taking pictures of and documenting my yarn stash. It wasn't as scary as I thought. That may be because of the fact that I'm not actually finished yet. Yikes!
I am sure that there are many others out there in knit land that have much bigger stashes than I do. I do take comfort in that. :)
To see my stash in its entirety, you will need to check me out Ravelry.

Happy stash busting everyone.

Word of the Day

Brindle (vb.) - To remember suddenly where it is you're meant to be going after you've already been driving for ten minutes.

Holy Ravelry Batman!

I can't believe it. I got my invite to Ravelry! I thought for sure it would be Christmas before it happened. I'm so excited I don't know what to do with myself.
Maybe it is just as well that I am too exhausted to do anything but go to bed.
But tomorrow is a new day. And so is Saturday and Sunday and ... There are many more Ravelry days to come.
Now I just have to get shots of all my stash and start the uploads. :)

BTW: Did I mention that I was excited?

Word of the Day

Breckles (n.) - A disease of artificial plants.

Word of the Day

Bradworthy (n.) - One who is skilled in the art of naming loaves.

Word of the Day

Bradford (n.) - A schoolteacher's old hairy jacket, now severely discoloured by chalk dust, ink, egg and the precipitations of unedifying chemical reactions.
("The Deeper Meaning of Liff" by Douglas Adams and John Lloyd)

Word of the Day

Botusfleming (n.) - (Medical) A small, long-handled steel trowel used by surgeons to remove the contents of a patient's nostrils prior to a sinus operation.

Word of the Day

Botolphs (pl. n.) - huge benign tumours which archdeacons and old chemistry teachers affect to wear on the sides of their noses.

My First Pair!

How excited am I to have fabulous socks to wear? Let's just say - I'm in love. Woah, what was that? I think I just saw a pig fly by my window.
Do I care? No. Will I make more? Yes. Do I have a stash of sock yarn started already? Yes. Do I have Michelle (and Make1) to thank for that? Possibly.

Word of the Day

Botley (n.) - The prominent stain on a man's trouser crotch seen on his return from the lavatory. A botley proper is caused by an accident with the push taps, and should not be confused with any stain caused by insufficient waggling of the willy (see piddletrenthide).

Piddletrenthide (n.) - A trouser stain caused by a wimbledon (q.v.). Not to be confused with a botley (q.v.).

Wimbleton (n.) - The last drop which, no matter how much you [men] shake it [the willy], always goes down your trouser leg.

Word of the Day

Boseman (n.) - One who spends all day loafing about near pedestrian crossings looking as if he's about to cross.

It's Official

Wow! It's an honest to god sock. Knit by me, the self-proclaimed 'will-never-knit-socks-ever' knitter. I eat my words and LOVE these socks.
Pattern: Jaywalker by Stephanie Japel
Yarn: Artyarns Ultramerino 4; hand paints; in colour 143.
I can't wait to knit more.

PS I have even started a stash of sock yarn.
Yikes! I thought it would never start, now I have to worry whether it will ever end.

Word of the Day

Boothby Graffoe (n.) - The man in the pub who slaps people on the back as if they were old friends, when in fact he has no friends, largely on account of this habit.

Holy! She Cooks

Better make that 'Cooked'. Wouldn't want it to sound like I might do it again.


I might hate cooking and not do it very often, but I sure love to eat.
This is my absolute favorite recipe.
Tortilla shells; chicken cooked in garlic, olive oil and sesame oil; spinach cooked (briefly) in olive oil, salt, and some of the marinate from the artichoke hearts; red pepper; red onions; artichoke hearts; and cheese on top. It takes me a while to put it all together but only 17 min. in the oven to melt the cheese and crisp up the base. Mmmh, yum!
Of course it helps to have a nice glass of Gray Monk Rotberger to get me through that cooking process.


Mmmh, Rotberger.


Wow! Almost looks good enough to eat. :)

Word of the Day

Boolteens (vb.) - The small scatterings of foreign coins and halfpennies [small change] which inhabit dressing tables. Since they are never used and never thrown away boolteens account for a significant drain on the world's money supply.
("The Deeper Meaning of Liff" by Douglas Adams and John Lloyd)

Word of the Day

Bolsover (n.) - One of those brown plastic trays with bumps on, placed upside down in boxes of chocolates to make you think you're getting two layers.

Word of the Day

Boinka (n.) - The noise through the wall which tells you that the people next door enjoy a better sex life than you do.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...?

What is that? I can't quite make it out.


It looks familiar. I think I have seen something like it before.


No. It can't be.


Oh my god! It is, it is!

Has hell frozen over?


Are pigs flying?


No! I've starting knitting socks! Ok, just one sock.

I could resist no longer. I guess I'm...

Bonus Word of the Day

Bodmin (n.) - The irrational and inevitable discrepancy between the amount pooled and the amount needed when a large group of people try to pay a bill together after a meal.

Word of the Day

Blitterlees (pl.n.) - The little slivers of bamboo picked off a cane chair by a nervous guest which litter the carpet beneath and tell the chair's owner that the whole piece of funiture is about to uncoil terribly and slowly until it resembles a giant pencil sharpening.

This Work Thing

Being back at work has certainly been a shock to the system. Especially when that system has been used to sleeping in till at least 9 every morning and sitting around with a lovely cup of coffee and some knitting out on a sunny deck for the following few/many hours. Aaah, those were the days.
Unfortunately, those days don't come without a cost. They have to be payed for some how. Hence the back to work thing.
But it is Friday, which means Saturday and Sunday are close at hand.
Aaah... to sleep, to dream... to knit.

Word of the Day

Blithbury (n.) - A look someone gives you which indicates that they're much too drunk to have understood anything you've said to them in the last twenty minutes.

Word of the Day

Bishop's Caundle (n.) - An opening gambit before a game of chess whereby the missing pieces are replaced by small ornaments from the mantelpiece.

Knitter's Caundle (n.) - Any object of wood, plastic, or metal that has been whittled on one end to replace the needle that just broke in the middle of the knitter's second to last row on the day the piece has to be sent in the mail to their mother for Christmas.
See also - Act of desperation.

Sock Club

SockClub.jpg, originally uploaded by Knits&Pics.

Can you guess who's feet and knitted socks are whose?

Trish's Baby Shower

TheGirlOfTheHour.jpg, originally uploaded by Knits&Pics.

Despite the fact that the little "Monkey" was wide awake here, she slept through most of the baby shower. I suppose that is better than crying through it. :)
There was lots of fabulous food and all of it non-fat. Hey, I'll believe it if others will. And more importantly, lots of friends and family.
For more photos, just click on the above picture and it will take you to my flickr site.
Here's to the start of another week and a chance to burn off those "non-fat" cupcakes and nanaimo bars.

A Fabulous FO

I absolutely LOVE this self designed top-down tee. My favorite finished piece (so far).
The yarn is 100% cotton and oh so soft.
I doubt that I will ever write up an official pattern (I wouldn't even know how), but I will write out what I did for mine, eventually. For now I will just selfishly enjoy this first ever FO that I am 100% pleased with.

Word of the Day

Bickerstaffe (n.) - The person in an office that everyone whinges [grumbles peevishly] about in the pub [or local yarn store]. Many large corporations deliberately employ bickerstaffes in each department. For example, Mr Robert Maxwell was both Chairman and Chief Bickerstaffe of Mirror Group Newspapers.

Magnetic Knits

Magnets, originally uploaded by Belknits.

As soon as I saw these magnets for sale at M1 Yarns I just had to buy a couple. Only a couple? Well, I hadn't been paid yet. Believe me, I will be back for more.
I found these pictures of the magnets on the artist's flickr site and just had to blog about them.
Let's hope she continues to make them so that we can continue to buy them. (They would make excellent Christmas gifts too)

Word of the Day

Berkhamsted (n.) - The massive three-course midmorning blow-out enjoyed by a dieter who has already done his or her slimming duty by having a spoonful of cottage cheese for breakfast.

Word of the Day

Beppu (n.) - The triumphant slamming shut of a book after reading the final page. ('The Deeper Meaning of Liff')

Also - The triumphant and excited babbling of a knitter who has just finished their first ever toe-up sock.

Some Restarts

After blogging about all those frogs I thought I had better show the restarts.
This is my husband's sweater, version 2.0. It is definitely an upgrade from the last version, 1.0. The last one had too many glitches and viruses. Mmh, sounds a lot like Vista.
2.0 has turned out to be the iMAC of sweaters - easy to use, fits perfectly, and no glitches or viruses. I love it. I think my husband does too, which is probably the important part.
I'll post again when it is completed and actually on the man.


Ah, the Keyhole Tee. Should be an extremely easy sweater to knit and fit. Not so it seems. I've frogged it twice. You might say that this (final) restart is version 2.1.3.0... I have it right this time. It's fitting beautifully now. Unfortunately I am going to have to put it aside for awhile.
I'm finally feeling the urge to finish the Husband's sweater 2.0 and then it will be on to Christmas gifts. Let's just say I have a lot of friggin' knitting to do between now and December 23th... 24th... 25th at 5am... 26th oops... 27th IOU... 28th no really they are almost done... 29th look, I'll send it in the mail by next week. Jan 1st sorry, too hung over, 10th it's in the mail, honest. I think you get the point.

Word of the Day

Belding (n.) - The technical name for a stallion after its first ball has been cut off. Any notice which reads 'Beware of the Belding' should be taken very, very seriously.

Word of the Day

Berepper (n.) - The irrevocable and sturdy fart released in the presence of royalty, which sounds like quite a small motorbike passing by (but not enough to be confused with one).
('The Deeper Meaning of Liff' by Douglas Adams & John Lloyd)

Speaking of sturdy farts, go to http://veryfunnyads.com/ads/25448.html

Word of the Day

Banteer (n.) - (Archaic) A lusty and raucous old ballad sung after a particularly spectacular araglin (q.v.) has been pulled off.

Araglin (n.) - (Archaic) The medieval practical joke played by young squires on a knight aspirant the afternoon he is due to start his vigil. As the knight arrives at the castle the squires suddenly attempt to raise the drawbridge as the knight and his charger step on it.

Bealings (pl.n.) - (Archaic) The unsavoury parts of a moat which a knight has to pour out of his armour after being the victim of an araglin (q.v.). In medieval Flanders, soup made from bealings was a very slightly sought-after delicacy.

Word of the Day

Banff (adj.) - Pertaining to, or descriptive of, that kind of facial expression which is impossible to achieve except when having a passport photograph taken, which results in happas (q.v.).

Happas (q.v.) - The amusement caused by passport photos.

This One's for Sandra

Assholian(s) (n.) - of the people born and raised in Assholia.
Assholia - An island found in the Pacific Ocean near the Marianas Trench.
Geology - Many layers of unconformities producing sharp, puckered foothills.
Climate - the island is warm, muggy, and windy year round due to a vuggy thermal underlayer that was formed during the JurASSic period. These vugs (small to medium cavities) hold large quantities of methane gas which are expelled through cracks in the earth crust when pressure builds. (Assholians are said to have no sense of smell. Tourists to the island are encouraged to visit the local tourist and information stops for complementary pairs of nose plugs.)
Vegetation & Forestry - Only 3 types of trees and one type of bush grow on this island - Patmore Green Assh, Asspen, Hoopsii Spruce, and the Compact Burning Bush. Found mostly ringing the island they help to break the wind. These windbreakers also reduce noise and prevent soil erosion and moisture loss. A windbreak can provide protection as far downwind as 15 times it's height. A 10ft. windbreak would give you protection up to 150 ft. (Please see Lois Hole's 'Favorite Trees & Shrubs' for more information).
National Sports - The Flatuosity Games held at Mount Oflatus, held every two years. Games include: Ballooning (athletes must provide their own hot air), inner tube water polo, underwater hockey, air borne soccer (similar to ultimate Frisbee), Cornish wrestling (thought to have been brought over by a lost ship of drunken Celts from Cornwell), and Mini-trampolining.

Few Assholians ever leave the island. If you do see or experience one of these displaced Assholes, please consult your local authority or experienced physician.

For more information on the rise of Assholia and it's people please see the DarHOLEian Theory of Assolution.

Word of the Day

Balemartine (n.) - The look which says, 'Stop talking to that woman at once.' ('The Meaning of Liff')
(Also the look Amy gives Sandra to tell her to stop singing or else because she already has a bad headache)

Ack! Another Frog

Sigh! This was to be the 'Split-Neckline, cap-sleeved tee' from 'Fitted Knits'. WAY too big.
Thank goodness for ball-winders, they sure make the frogging go quickly. Like ripping off a band-aid.
No worries, I'll just start again. :)

Word of the Day

Babworth (n.) - Something which justifies having a really good cry.
(Please see above post for example)

Word of the Day

Anantnag (vb.) - (Eskimo term) To bang your thumbs between the oars when rowing.

Word of the Day

Ainderby Quernhow (n.) - One who continually bemoans the 'loss' of the word 'gay' to the English language, even though they had never used the word in any context at all until they started complaining that they couldn't use it any more.
("The Meaning of Liff" by Douglas Adams & John Lloyd)

Word of the Day

Ampus (n.) - A lurid bruise which you can't remember getting.

To Frog or not to Frog

There seems to be two very distinct camps on this subject - people who HATE to unravel their work (and cringe with just the talk of it) and people who see it as just another part of the process. I am of the latter.


This is (was) an almost completed sweater for my husband. I guess I hadn't been paying much attention because it turned into a big sack. HUGE. So what did I do? I frogged the entire thing.


Apparently Pippin is of the former camp. He doesn't like frogging either. He had to give a good kneading before he could say goodbye. It was his favorite sweater (evident by all the bits of cat hair 'woven' into the yarn).


This was my first ever attempt at a "self" design. It is/was/will be a pullover shrug, but the neck opening was just too small which made it quite difficult to put on. I'm re-designing and re-knitting it now.

Stayed tuned for more perilous adventures of...
"Knits in Frogland"
(Coming soon to a blog near you)

Word of the Day

Alltami (n.) - The ancient art of being able to balance the hot and cold shower taps.

In the Garden

ClematisSeedHead.jpg, originally uploaded by Knits&Pics.

It has taken a couple of summers and a lot of hard work (mostly by my husband), but our garden has much to show for it. We are very proud of it.
There is nothing better than sitting out on the back deck, in the morning sun, drinking coffee and knitting.
In fact, that is where I am about to head.

Word of the Day

Affcot (n.) - The sort of fart you hope people will talk after.
("The Deeper Meaning of Liff" Douglas Adams & John Lloyd)

Word of the Day

Acklins (pl. n.) - The odd twinges you get in parts of your body when you scratch other parts.

One FO, One UFO (WIP)

Yay, a finished product. My husband would be so proud. I better not tell him though, or he'll start nagging about his own sweater.
This is the One Skein Wonder by Stephanie Japel (I love her work). Done with Classic Elite Yarns, Provence. 100% mercerized egyptian cotton. Colour - Clear Blue Sky (#2607).
This one is for my Mom.
Just a couple of simple changes. I increased the length of the back and sleeves and did rows of single crochet instead of the seed stitch trim.

Guess what this one is - Ummmmm? Is it a WIP? Imagine that. ;)
This is Green Gable from Zephyr Style. I'm using Berroco Cotton Twist. Colour - 8369 (dark teal).
I LOVE the colour. Not sure yet about the feel of the yarn. I hope it will soften up a little after washing.
I'll have to do something about the rolling neck as well. I may need to add a little crochet edge or something.
Changes I will do - added length at the bottom in the lace pattern (provided I have enough yarn).

Word of the Day

Aboyne (vb) - To beat an expert at a game of skill by playing so appallingly that none of his clever tactics or strategies are of any use to him.

The Word of the Day

I was perusing Amy R. Singer's blog on Knitty and enjoyed her words and definitions of the day (from a very old dictionary) so much I thought maybe I would start my own.
Of course, I couldn't just do it the "normal" way, having been cultivated and raised towards a more British sense of humour. So if some of you don't get it and don't find it funny, you'll have to blame my Dad.
My dictionary of choice - Douglas Adams & John Lloyd's "The Deeper Meaning of Liff A Dictionary of Things That There Aren't Any Words for Yet."
First Word of the Day:

Abilene - Descriptive of the pleasing coolness on the reverse side of the pillow.

Enough of the Deep Introspection and on to the Knitting!

It's sunny, it's warm, let's talk WIPs.


This is just one of many knitting projects I have on the go.
It is a simple top-down T of my own design.
I LOVE this yarn. It is Katia, Jamaica. 100% Cotton. Colour 4010. Very easy to work with. The fabulous green in it is what attracted me to the yarn in the first place. I also have absolutely nothing with stripes or patterns in my wardrobe so thought it was time I tried something new.
Now I just have to finish it. Mmh... that always seems to be a serious issue with me. Like my husband asks of my favorite LYS - "Do they offer classes on how to finish projects?". I don't think I need so much as a class as a good therapist. :)


This one is so close. The bear just needs a face and the sweater just needs some buttons.
I won't mention how long they have been like this, it's just too embarrassing.
The bear pattern is "Baby Bobbi Bear" by Blue Sky Alpacas. The sweater is adapted from "Babies Neckdown Cardigan" from Knitting pure & Simple.

I won't be able to blog about all my WIPs in one go (there are just too many of them). Therefore, the blogging of my WIPs will have to be a WIP in itself. :)

Surviving vs Thriving

I was just visiting Indigirl's blog and reading her latest entry. It got me thinking about her life, my life, and what (as a western society) has become a normative "life".
When did it become so acceptable and so common for people to only survive their daily lives? Where do we thrive? How do we thrive? Have we forgotten how?
"She [the Wild Woman] comes to us through sound as well; through music which vibrates the sternum, excites the heart; it comes through the drum, the whistle, the call, and the cry. It comes through the written and the spoken word; sometimes a word, a sentence or a poem or a story, is so resonant, so right, it causes us to remember, at least for an instant, what substance we are really made from, and where is our true home." (Women Who Run With the Wolves. Clarissa Pinkola Estes. Pg. 7)
Where is our true home? Is it in the box that surrounds us that we call house/abode/dwelling or is it somewhere inside of ourselves?
We are living lives of scarcity; always looking at what we don't have, not what we do have. We don't have enough time, enough money, enough things...
I have been guilty of all these things and more.
How is the cycle broken? When does scarcity become abundance? Where is the music within my own heart?
I guess these questions I have published outside of myself are not really made to be answered there, but within.

Woman as Archetype

"We are all filled with a longing for the wild. There are few culturally sanctioned antidotes for this yearning. We were taught to feel shame for such a desire. We grew our hair long and used it to hide our feelings. But the shadow of Wild Woman still lurks behind us during our days and in our nights. No matter where we are, the shadow that trots behind us is definitely four-footed."
Clarissa Pinkola Estes, PH.D.



"Within every woman there is a wild and natural creature, a powerful force, filled with good instincts, passionate creativity, and ageless knowing. Her name is Wild Woman, but she is an endangered species. Though the gifts of wildish nature come to us at birth, society's attempt to 'civilize' us into rigid roles has plundered this treasure, and muffled the deep, life-giving messages of our own soul. Without Wild Woman, we become over-domesticated, fearful, uncreative, trapped."
(Jacket Cover and intro of "Women Who Run With the Wolves")

I promised to deliver many Works-in-Progress (WIP) so thought this was a fitting, though more personal, start.
You might say that I am on a quest to find my own Wild Woman.

Some FOs

I thought I should start on a more positive note with my knitting and show some FOs. Ok it's only two, but I have to start somewhere.
Don't look away or blink, you might miss them. They are a rare sight.
Fit for Autumn is a nice, simple, quick knit of my own design. When I say design, I mean I knit it from the top down by guessing how many stitches I needed to cast on and went with it. After that it got more technical. I tried it on as I went, frogged when I had to, put shaping where needed, and was surprised when it was done.
[Amy (Indigirl), if you are reading this, I hope you are laughing while you shake your head, not cringing. ;)]
Despite the fact that I have listed it as an FO, I am not fully finished. The yarn is so warm, and thick, and delicious that I need to add sleeves. I have enough skeins left of that wonderful Blue Sky Worsted Hand Dyes in Rusty Orange that I should be able to add full sleeves to it. I will get much more wear out of it in the winter. I can't wait.

The mini wrap is a variation of Glampyre's Minisweater (a.k.a Boobholder) that I saw on cosmicpluto (thank you for the inspiration). It was fast, fun, and fabulous. I'm making a second one out of the same yarn but reds. Unfortunately I can't seem to find the tags for them and can't remember what yarn it is. I'll have to post that later.

I guess that is it for FOs for now. I hope you enjoyed them because WIPs are next. :0

My First Shrug

MatchingHair&Tartan2.jpg, originally uploaded by Knits&Pics.

This was the first shrug I ever knit, and re-knit, and re-knit, and... You get the picture. It was also the first time I ever threw my knitting across the room. Wow, who knew shrugs could fly.
But, with perseverance and the lace pattern on a spreadsheet, I was able to complete it in time for her nuptials.
BTW Pattern can be found on Knitty. It is Shimmer, by Rebecca Hatcher.
Yarn: Phildar Canasta in Or (Gold)

Mmh? As I was looking for the yarn I used, a funny thing happened, I found a pile of knitted up yarn that looked just like a half finished Shimmer in orange. I have so many WIPs I think they are starting to propagate on their own. :\

A First Look at Cuba

OldHavana1.jpg, originally uploaded by Knits&Pics.

This was our first "real" view of Old Havana in Cuba. I say "real" in quotations because, despite the fact that the buildings are derelict and sad, the people are anything but.
Inside those dark doorways and in the streets are the heart and soul of Cuba, the Cuban people themselves.
I wouldn't have given up the chance to experience the culture shock or the challenge of communication for anything (including Varadero).
I would admit though, having more Spanish would have helped immensely. :)

My Life - A Work in Progress

It seems to me that my life has become a series of never ending WIPs (Works-in-Progress) from my knitting to my photography to my work to my... Now I have added blogger to that list, as anyone who may have stumbled upon this sparse space has probably noticed. :)
I hope, eventually, to make this space a little more inviting and a lot less sparse to whom ever may be looking. Maybe I will even be able to finish some of those WIPs and have many FOs for show instead.
See you again, in blog-land, soon.
SARA (a WIP)