Ladybugs & Yarn

There’s a place along Highfield Street that sells the biggest brownies in the universe. I put it next to my hand for size comparison purposes:

It’s also delicious… soft and chocolatey and even still a little oven-warm. Mmm. I cut it into four normal-sized brownies and have put three away for later/tomorrow.

I went for a walk today in a part of the city with which I’m not familiar; it’s full of beautiful old houses and huge oak trees and centre-square parks. There are a couple of tiny restaurants, and a couple of martial arts schools, but other than that it’s almost exclusively residential. The trees are all red and gold now, so it’s the perfect time of year to go walking through pretty neighbourhoods. I should have brought my camera.

While I was walking along and wishing I had my camera, I stumbled across Cricket Cove, a beautiful little yarn shop. I don’t know how I didn’t know it existed before. I fell in love immediately, and it pleases me greatly that I’ve found a local source for brands like Rowan, Opal, Brown Sheep, Araucania–ones that I’ve only been able to get through the internet thus far. There was one ball of sock yarn that had to come home with me:

It’s such a bright, happy green. I’m thinking that I might knit a pair of Tidal Wave socks with it, which may be only about my third time using the recommended yarn for a pattern.

I’ve been wondering for the past couple of weeks why the Elmwood TH never called me back about the part-time job application I sent in (I was going to check on it–all sorts of things can happen), but I’ve decided it must have been fate. I noticed a “Part-Time Help Wanted” sign in the window of a fabulous little place today, so I’m going to print off my resume, cross my fingers, and call on Monday.

Randomly, making soap always makes me feel a bit like an alchemist.

I have generally well-behaved cats when it comes to yarn. They might occasionally paw at the dangling tail from a cast-on, but don’t attack my projects nor pounce the balls of wool. So I was unprepared to get out of bed this morning and see this:

That atrocious tangle was formerly two balls of KSH. Augh. It’s no use disciplining Pi (I am under no illusions as to which cat is responsible), because the damage is done and he wouldn’t understand, but augh. I’ve laid the mess in a drawer until I can face the thought of sorting it out. *flails*

Onto better things. I have a book of vintage doily patterns, and I went looking for it today to see if one of the patterns in it was, as I suspected, the doily that the popular Hemlock Ring Blanket pattern had been based on. (It was!) But while skimming through it, I noticed that there were a lot of large doilies in there that would probably make gorgeous lap blankets if worked in heavy aran yarn rather than fine crochet cotton.

I also, randomly, think that My So-Called Scarf has a lovely stitch pattern. Anything that’s almost-mindless-but-interesting and makes handpainted yarns looks gorgeous gets my vote.

I cannot find my 6mm needle tips, and of course that’s a) the only size missing from my Options binder; b) the size I need right now. I don’t like you very much right now, Mr. Murphy. I tried casting on with a 6mm Susan Bates circ, and for the life of me I can’t figure out how I ever knit with them before. I’ve been spoiled, I guess. Still, in this apartment, there are a limited amount of places those tips could be hiding. They’ll turn up soon.

It’s raining outside. Pouring, actually. I like autumn rain–I like how it makes the leaves stick to the sidewalk and/or gather in the currents and float down the river. I like how it makes the trees look after dark when there are only streetlamps for light. Rain at this time of year, like snow in winter, makes me want to curl up on the sofa with tea, knitting, and a warm cat, and I think as soon as I’m done here that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

One more thing. I went to a blood donor clinic at the local air force base this afternoon–where I used to live, there was one once a year, but the size of this new little city of mine means that the clinic comes once every two months. I strongly encourage anyone who can get to a donor clinic in their own area to do so, as it doesn’t harm your system to donate (actually, it’s beneficial in some ways) and, of course, it saves lives.

Right! Tea. Knitting. Cats.

Pharmaceutical Mathematics I
Assignment #1 — A+ (100%)
Assignment #2 — A+ (100%)
Assignment #3 — A+ (98%)
Ch. 1/2 Test — A+ (104%)
Ch. 3/4/5 Test — A+ (95%)

Medical Science I
Ch. 1 Test — A+ (98%)
Ch. 2 Test — A+ (100%)
Ch. 3 Test — A+ (100%)

Keyboarding
Final Mark — A+ (100%)

I have no scores for my current lab course (Non-Sterile Compounding) yet; the first practical exam is tomorrow morning, and the written portion is Thursday afternoon. As far as Keyboarding, I’m pleased with the score but glad the module is over–I’ve had computers in my home for twenty years and am quite comfortable with my skills, so the basic learn-to-type exercises and speed tests were boring. I made a comment last week that my keyboard was missing a foot, and the teacher replied that I’d likely burned it off by typing too fast. =D

We’re starting Pharmacology next week, and although it’s supposed to be challenging, I’m looking forward to it. I think. Eeek. Fingers crossed.

So! Now onto the stash enhancement. Not mine, however, but yours. I’m going to link you all to a few of my favourite yarn-ogling sites, because I like being an enabler and/or watching willpower crumble.

– Colorsong Yarn — Devoted exclusively to Handmaiden and Fleece Artist yarn and kits. Mmm.
– Emtnestr — An absolute ton of Lorna’s Laces and Cherry Tree Hill, plus much-coveted CTH mill ends.
– Pick Up Sticks — It’s Canadian, and it’s awesome. Lots of sock yarn, and other goodies as well.
– Simply Sock Yarn — Much loveliness here, like Claudia’s, Koigu, and Shibui Knits.
– Webs — Uh. Do I even need a description here?

There’s nothing better than yarn p*rn on a Tuesday evening. Or any evening. Or afternoon. Or morning. Or… well, you get the picture.

Because I haven’t done so in a while, I’ll leave you with a photo of cats.

Edited October 10th, 2007 @ 05:56 pm:

Aced my lab practical. Woohoo!

… are ladybugs and yarn. I was looking to give the blog a makeover and a name of its own, considering a) the shiny new index page on the main site; and b) that I’ve been formatting my patterns under a similar name. So! Now I have both.

When looking for beads last week, I went into the biggest arts & crafts store I’ve ever seen, and in the process rediscovered, in a sense, all of the crafty pursuits that I’ve let languish since knitting elbowed its way in. I’m not drifting from knitting by any means (as it seems to be the one craft I honestly feel that I’m good at), but I do think I should get the rest of my craft supplies from my parents’ house soon, so I can dabble here and there. I seem to have packed rather randomly (read: extremely quickly) when it came to those things, too. I have my fabric stash, but no sewing machine at the moment as Mom took it home with her the last time she was here. I have my brushes and dabbers and stencils, but no box of paints. I have beads and wire and crimp pliers, but no findings. I have pretty papers, but no paper-slicer or flat glue to collage them onto boxes.

I also have cats on my feet, but this is unrelated.

The first tweed sock is done and I’ve started the second, but photos will have to wait until they’ve been gifted. They’re on Ravelry, for those of you with access–I’m seventykay there. As far as my Juliet sweater, I frogged it. Loved the yarn, loved the pattern, but didn’t love them together. I think I may try again with some medium slate-ish blue Cascade Pastaza.

Happy Canadian Turkey Day!

Pattern: Felted Tote from Fleece Artist
Yarn: Fleece Artist BFL Aran in Seashore
Needles: 32″ 6mm circ

I cannot manage to photograph this tote in a way that a) makes it look as cute as it is, or b) makes the lovely, subtle colours show up. Natural light would help, but it’s evening and I’m too impatient to wait until morning. So! I actually cast on and knit the base before I moved, but I got sidetracked and forgot about it until a few days ago. Then once I’d almost finished, I had to rummage around in the yarn containers to figure out where I’d put the handles.

I haven’t figured out what I want for a lining yet–I’m thinking that since the tote has a square bottom, it’d be cute to keep that shape all the way up and have a drawstring top like those cute Lantern Moon baskets.

At the moment, though, I’ll put all thoughts of linings aside and focus on the medical science test I have tomorrow.

I discovered tonight that felting knitted items in communal washing machines tends to draw strange looks, at least if you repeatedly lift the lid to poke the fluff within with a wooden spoon. I also discovered that Fleece Artist BFL takes an eternity to start felting, so after my tote bag emerged from the washing machine looking only slightly smaller and a lot fuzzier, I tried something else: hand-felting! It’s a great workout for the arms, plus getting to flail around and fling water everywhere is kind of fun, too. And it does work–there’s no stitch definition left on the tote, although I have yet to decide if it’s felted quite as much as I’d like. I may stick it in the bucket for another go-round tomorrow.

Socktoberfest is starting off well. I’ve just turned the heel on the first of a pair of gift socks I started Sunday night. I know Dad’ll like the navy blue Regia tweed I’m using, and I think he’ll like the interesting-but-unfussy railway stitch pattern on the leg. I’ve been meaning to knit him a pair of house socks for ages, and his birthday is the perfect excuse.

I may possibly have taken the bus all the way up to Trinity yesterday in search of beads for a Black Sea hat. And I found them–perfect little pearls to go with my light sage green Baby Cashmerino.

It’s getting late, but there’s some lovely soft instrumental jazz on the radio, and I think I have time for a cup of tea.

I found out about the Pay it Forward exchange through Gilraen’s blog, and it was such a lovely idea I had to throw my hat into the ring. Here’s how it works, in the words of the creator of the exchange…

It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based on the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. You all know I’m already a PIF type of person. So here’s how it works. I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

So! I am therefore making the same promise to the first three people who comment and request to be a part of this exchange.

In other news… Socktoberfest! A perfect excuse to pair up those lone socks, finish those languishing WIPs, or knit that pair of socks you’ve coveted for months. There’s nothing to sign up for and no imposed deadlines–all you have to do is decide to focus on sock knitting during the month of October. If you want to set goals, go to. Mine are to finish the sekrit socks and get them mailed off, and to knit a pair of tweed socks for my father. If I get those done, then I have a lone crazy-coloured sock in self-striping wool that needs a mate, and if even that gets done, then I’ll work on the pair of barely-started Fire on the Mountain socks that were my new commuter project.

Time to put on a film and get knitting.

Pattern: What pattern?
Yarn: Fleece Artist merino in Jubilation
Needles: 2.5mm circs

Stevie wanted to help with the photo.

I knit these exclusively on the bus to and from college, save for the toe decreases on the second sock (had to take a few minutes at home to finish that up so I could get them on my feet!) I more or less used my standard sock pattern–64 stitch cast-on, 13 rows of ribbing, eye of partridge heel flap, and flat toe. I probably should have only decreased down to 10 sts on each side instead of 8, but they fit fine nonetheless. Mmm, squishy squishy FA merino.

So! On the needles now: the sekrit socks, Juliet, and a somewhat-neglected Icarus shawl. I’m doing rather well at controlling the startitis.

The leaves are turning. It always seems to happen so suddenly; you go to sleep on a warm indian-summer night and wake up to a crisp autumn morning. I love this time of year, when the leaves are red-gold, when the air has a refreshing chill in the early hours and a lovely warmth mid-afternoon.

I noticed the trees on my way to Lakeburn this afternoon. The transit buses don’t venture that far outside the city limits, but my mother’s car is here while she’s in Alberta visting her sister. I’ve only had it out twice, once being today’s drive and the other a trip to the zoo on Magnetic Hill (more on that, later).

Lakeburn, of course, is home to London-Wul. I could have just phoned them with my questions about spinning classes, but I chose to visit, instead. The studio has such a wonderful atmosphere; it feels less like a store and more like a cozy workshop. Which, I suppose, it is, since the owner does have her own lines of handspun and handpainted yarns. I took a look through Folk Style, More Sensational Knitted Socks, and a bunch of other books while I was there, and of course had to take the opportunity to squish yarns, eye up the Addi Turbo lace needles, and pet the pearly pink plastic sock DPNs. Even in the presence of all that gorgeousness, I did behave myself–almost. I found a lone skein of hand-dyed fingering-weight pure wool in a bright cherry red, and 500 yards for $8 was too good of a bargain to pass up. It’ll make a fabulous Estonian Garden scarf.

Speaking of red, I took out several yards of red corduroy from the fabric bins this evening. It’s waiting beside the sewing machine now, along with a fall jacket pattern. I think I’ll cut it out tomorrow while the cats are napping–much easier that way. They’re positively angelic where knitting is concerned, but pattern pieces pose too great a temptation for them to resist.

I spent a fantastic afternoon at the zoo on Friday. Look at this beautiful creature:

I loved all of the big cats (and the raccoons and the alpacas and the marmosets and the wolves and the otters and…), but this jaguar and her mate had me captivated. Such powerful animals, yet they roll and stretch and paw at each other like kittens in the sun.

More photos!

Oversized teddy bear.

Young stag.

A capybara, the world’s largest rodent. This one must’ve weighed about 80lbs.

Bison.

Tomar the gorgeous tiger.

Baby llama!

Aww.

Adorable raccoon.

Very curious, too. As soon as he noticed us, he decided to sit and watch us the way we watched him.

Bald eagle! Very impressive birds.

Sleepy otter. <3

Another sleepy otter, obviously protective of his toys.

Pygmy goats, looking for handouts.

Norwegian pony. A cute one, too.

Scarlet macaw, king of tropical birds.

This cockatoo was a total show-off.

Some kind of small South American tree snake.

Alpacas!

A cougar, more interested in his nap than in the humans watching him.

Itsy-bitsy marmosets. These little guys could fit in the palm of my hand.

Something tells me it would be a bad idea to turn your back on this deer.

I have loads more photos, but it’ll take some time to sort through them. Also, I think next time I go to the zoo I’ll go in the morning, as in mid-afternoon most of the animals have taken refuge from the heat.

As promised, I took some photos along Main Street. I’ll put them in another post, though, later this afternoon.

That ecstatic bliss brought on by fabulous life changes has settled down a bit now, of course, fading into a low-level buzz of contentment that hovers at the corners of my mind and occasionally makes me smile at completely random times. The courses are going so well at the moment; my average is a solid A+; we’re constantly being warned that the course is going to get much more difficult, and quickly, but I’m looking forward to the challenge. As long as I keep up the good study habits I have at the moment and don’t allow myself to procrastinate or fall behind, I’ll do well. I’m almost sure of it.

Tomorrow afternoon I’m going to the Magnetic Hill Zoo and plan to take a load of photos. I’m thinking about wandering around town after supper, too, with camera in hand, provided the weather behaves itself. It’s been gorgeous the past three days, though, so I have hope.

… I did promise knitting in the subject line, didn’t I? Yes.

I’ve been steadily knitting away on one of my own designs–a set of two pairs of pretty plum-coloured socks, one mother-sized and one daughter-sized. The pattern’s not for release here, but it’s being sent to somewhere more commercial and with a larger fanbase than this itsy blog of mine. =D I’m very excited about it. If I could knit the pairs on the bus they’d be done, but charts and buses don’t mix. I’ve been doing them, instead, in the moments I can manage at home.

As far as bus knitting goes, I’m 3/4s done a pair of socks knit with the Fleece Artist merino that the LYS’s knitting night girls gave me as a gift when I left for college. Lookie at the awesome rainbow colours:

My other commuter project is a Juliet cardigan knit in this gorgeousness. I’ve made a few simple alterations to have the pattern work with the gauge I’m knitting to, and now it’s fine for bus knitting until I get to the lace.

It’s September. Do we all know what that means? … Holiday knits! Oh, come on, I can’t be the only one to have all of my gifts planned and yarn-stashed already. Granted, it’s a small list, but I had to figure out what yarns I’d need while I still had a steady income, so the plans are all done up. All of the giftees have access to this blog, so I’ll keep the babble to a minimum–all I’ll say is that I have two pairs of socks, two hats, and a wide scarf to knit.

It’s autumn-evening chilly outside (beautiful!) so I think I’ll take a walk to the mailbox–I keep forgetting it exists and haven’t checked it in a week. Good thing it’s locked, yes?