Yarn crawling with the Harlot

Bright and early Saturday morning, I found my bleary-eyed self heading into downtown via Go Transit, Subway, and Street Car for the yarn crawl with the harlot. Being a suburbia mom driving a minivan, public transportation confuses me. I think I consulted the map about 20 times before jumping on the right train/car. Everyone met here first:

We took the street cars most of the time and I think we got a few funny looks from the passengers. Not every day do you see 20-some people whipping out their needles at the same time. Knitters - we love to travel in packs.

How many knitters can fit into a bus shelter? 20 - well, that's only because we ran out of knitters. Maybe we should have try to find a phone booth?Our 2nd stop. A very chic and Uber cool yarn shop. It's like the Banana Republic of knitting.
3rd Stop - the famous Romni Wools. I think I died and went to yarn heaven. Every colors, brands, materials a knitter can every dream of. While I was in there, I was mentally calculating how much money I can get for my left kidney. Since this was my first time in there, I was totally overwhelm. I would have to make the trip back there by myself really soon.
4th Stop - Lettuce Knit. What a sweet and charming little shop. It's much smaller than I had imagined it but it carried some really nice wools and the cutest accessories. Since we were already in Kensington Market, we stop for lunch at the Big Fat Burritos. The food there is brilliant. I'm thinking about going back there in a couple of days just to have the burritos. A girl can never have too much Guacamole!5th and last stop: Alterknit. A little cafe equipped with chocolate, caffeine and yarn. What a combination!
My purchase: I had to practice more discipline and restraint than a celibate monk. I think I did pretty good. 4 balls of Lang Mille (doesn't really count since it's a gift for my mother), 3 hanks of Misti Cotton, 2 hank of natural Kraemer (I'm hoping to hand dye it myself), 4 balls of sock yarns.
All in all.... it was a fabulous day spent with the Guru and fellow knitters. I had good food, good conversations and awesome shopping spree. I'm planning to organize another yarn crawl really soon...... just me and my Visa!

My Knitting Idol

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (aka Yarn Harlot) had launched her Cast Off book here in Canada this past Friday. Yours truly was there to catch a glimpse of her and to finally reaffirm self that knitting is totally not for losers. It's hard not to feel isolated and weird sometime since I live with a muggle who thinks a sweater on sale for $20 from Sears is superior to the one that I spent 60 hours knitting, frogging and re-knitting again.

Needless to say, the book store was cramped with enthusiastic knitters waving their pointy little sticks and gushing about the latest bamboo yarns. I felt like I finally found my way home! Even though I got there early,they still only had standing room left. The atmosphere was incredible. Anxious knitters awaiting their guru to make an entrance and nervous employees standing guard, velvet roping entrances (tres VIP). The applause was thunderous when the Harlot arrived.....and if you think her writing is amusing and funny........she's more hilarious in real life!

I was standing right next to her daughter (Meghan, friend and Ken)

Here's Joe, her husband (god, I'm such a groupie!)A signed book and a pic with the author herself...

While waiting in line, I mentioned to another knitter that knitting cable is hard without a cable needle. She taught me right then and there how to do it. I love knitters!
After the signing, I went to the Spotted Dick for the after party. I must say, I preferred my Dick to be unspotted! (oh, get your mind out of the gutter!.....I just don't like raisins in my bread pudding!) There were quite a number of us there and I would imagine that when morning came, a lot of tinking had to be done.

The very next morning, I went on a yarn crawl with the Harlot. More to come in another post...

Looky Look!

In the past couple of months, I've hit a lot of online sales and put a huge dent into my credit card. A lot of these vendors do not ship to Canada and if they do, they usually charge a shipping fee equivalent to my first born. Lucky me that my parent lives in the states so I normally ship everything there and when they come over to visit, they'll haul all my treasures too. Well, my mom came to visit on Friday.........and looky look!

Nashua Creative Focus Chunky in Copper and Worsted in Delphinium
Atacama in Blue Jean and Plums, Lorna Lace Bull Frog in Vera and Cherry Tree Hill Socks Here's Araucania Nature Wool in Lime...Iceland Wool and Noro KureyonDebbie Bliss Cashmerino in Cream.... Rowan Little Big Wool in Pearl

Rowan Little Big Wool in AmberKnit Picks Dancing Sock Yarns...

Elann's SonataRowan Big Wool in Acer

And finally....my Swift and Ball Winder

It sure feels like Christmas! Ho! Ho! Ho!

Knitting comes to a halt!

I was knitting along happily this morning. The sun was shining, the kids were still asleep, I was bliss. Just me and my knitting. Until I looked down at my knitting and it hit me like a ton of bricks.

Mis-crossed cables! AAGGGHHHHH! I'm going to be up all night performing knitting surgery. However, I remember browsing the book store and seeing the book Knit Fix. Hmmm, maybe this would be a good excuse to go get one.

Too holey?

I started this sweater for Max last night. He mentioned that I haven't knitted him anything (of course, he denied this) and conveniently forgot about that Tan Alpaca sweater with the funky neck he wouldn't wear. I'm using RYC Soft tweed and knitting the sweater "Bruce" from their RYC Winter book 6. I love the pattern and the color, but more so..... the model that's wearing it.

After I showed Max what I was knitting for him, he gave me a lukewarm enthusiastic, " It's nice, but don't you think it's a little holey?" (meaning - the lace yarn over between the cable). I glared at him and continue to knit.

Stash Enhancement

Look what the UPS and the Postal Carrier bought me today. YARNS! 'Tis a good day to stay home and receive random packages. UPS man was the first to arrive this morning with a package from Rowan. Can it be true? Is Rowan that generous? I had express my disappointments with their yarns and pattern earlier last month. The pattern was filled with errors and when I contacted their head office, I was assured that it didn't have any errors on it. After an extensive Internet search, ripping out my work 5 times and swearing that I'll never knit again, I finally found the corrections. What a shame that the lady that handled my call didn't realized that they were revisions for this pattern. Also, the yarn had so many knots in them where I have to cut and rejoin so many times. One ball had 4 knots in them! With only 68 meters, I lost a lot of yardage. Thus that's probably why I'm on my 19th ball for a pattern that called for 17. I wasn't looking for any compensation but Rowan was generous enough to send me Rowan Biggy Print for another project in the Arabesque book.

Later, the postman arrived with this:

It's the RYC Soft Tweed in Slate. When I saw that awesome sweater on the cover, I knew that I had to knit that for hubby. I ordered this from Knithappen.net. I think I'm going to cast this on tonight.

The Clapotis is done!

I'm finally done with the Clapotis. I actually modify the pattern a bit so I would have enough yarns but wouldn't you know it... I still had to run back the Yarnopolis twice to buy it. I totally suck at guesstimating yarns. You think that referring to the pattern might help... but no, it never seems to work for me.

I knitted this in Manos del Uruagay (5 skeins at $16.95 per skeins) Stupid me, I didn't realize that the yardage was so short in each hanks. At that price, I could have used Malabrigo or even the orginal yarn that they called for (Lorna's Lace Lion & Lamb). Anyway, this was for my mom and she loves neutral colors. The Manos was the only one at the time with soft neutral brown hanging at LYS. It actually blocked really nicely and became a lot softer. I think my mom would love it.

You have got to be kidding!

Well, the grace sweater is now sewn up but it's still on the needle. I've ran out of yarn AGAIN! The pattern calls for 17 balls and now I just went through the 18th one. It's so frustrating! I'm contemplating turning this so-called turtle neck into a crew neck since I can't be bother to buy another freakin' ball. However, knowing me, I would totally pissed myself off every time I'll wear it.

In the meantime, I cast on the Fleece Artist sweater. It's a fairly easy knit which is done in the round with only 4 x 4 ribbing.

Last weekend was the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. Wouldn't you know it, my mother lives in Maryland. I asked her to go so I can live vicarious through her. Now, please understand, my mom is not a knitter. She's a crocheter (primarily afghan, one design and with acrylic only). I called her on her cell while she was there. I think she was totally overwhelm by the 10,000 of people attending the show. I was channeling, yelling, spelling K.O.I.G.U. and Socks That Rocks. I don't think she has any clue what I want though.

She ended up at this one booth, called me and balked to me at price of yarns. "$26 for a hank of yarn? Are they mad???" she yelled. Well, when I asked her what it was made of, she said "100% cashmere"

She's definitely not a knitter.

MmmmmMalabrigo.......

Look what arrived in the mail today. MmmmMalabrigo. 8 beautiful skeins of it! I can't believe how soft it is.



Finally, the Grace sweater is being wash and block. The last ball of yarn came in the mail today so I was able to finish the sleeve. I'm soaking it in Eucalan and will block it. Hopefully, I can finish the collar tomorrow.