Knit 911

There are times when it just doesn't pay to be organized or overly protective of your knitting supplies. In all the craziness of planning a move with the kidoodles, I worry about everything from A to Z. No really, I could make a list from A to Z - but I'll save that for another time. Among my many worries have been concerns about protecting my stash while it is in storage. Sure, some may say that yarn, separated by fiber & sealed in Ziplocs in a Rubbermaid tote is sufficient.

But no. We had to go one step further. My husband is my knight in shining armor. (Although he says he's more of a Shite in Whining Amour.) He is a creative genius with a love for woodworking, power tools & John Wayne movies. He really listens and hears everything you say. When I expressed concerns over storing our "valuables" - valuables defined as family heirlooms, fragile items, clothes to be protected from that stray moth and of course, knitting supplies - he built me a cabinet. This cabinet is like Fort Knox - with the valuables on the inside and all of our other worldly possessions stored on the outside - to prevent it from tipping over - in our storage/moving trailer.

Herein lies the trouble... literally. Of the 2 WIPs in my bag to work on during the "transition", one is missing half of the yarn and the other is missing needles. That's right! They are all safe, sound and secure in the Fort Knox inside my very own 53' storage trailer in the side yard. With no closing date in sight, it may be a very, very long time before they see the light of day again.

So what's a girl to do? It was a true knitting emergency. A Knit 911, if you will. If only I had a project to knit, then maybe that would keep me from snapping at the kidoodles or breaking another night guard stressing about all of those details that are completely beyond my control! Lucky for me, there's an oasis in my neighborhood. The Sheep & Wool Shop is a treasure in the countryside of Western New York. Louise and her adorably furry helpers Panda Bear, Emmy & Sugar, listened so patiently as I explained my tale of woe. We discussed projects, gauge, yarn, needle preferences & even hedgehogs all while my little Princess Kidoodle was dismanteling beautiful displays of beads and dancing for - or was that tormenting - the puppies?! The shelves were lined with incredible fibers - including a whisper soft yarn by Queensland made from corn! (I need some of that!) The shop is a feast for the knitter's soul. We made our selections and left with smiles, renewed enthusiasm for the bumps in our road ahead and a new project in my knitting bag - to keep me sane! Just what the doctor ordered.

Thank you Louise. You're a lifesaver!

Fetching & Fabulous!

Just the right project for a sunny Spring afternoon in Western NY. What could be nicer than a quick, fun knit with gorgeous yarn; the sunshine warming my face and the birds serenading in the background? Sure, it's 50 degrees today, but odds have it that Old Man Winter will pay us another visit and I'll be ready with my Fetching fingerless gloves.

Of course the kidoodles had other plans for my knitworthy afternoon - including a mud romp in the back yard! It is quite exciting after all. We haven't actually seen grass or mud in what seems like MONTHS! Now they are on the way to the showers and a few loads of muddy laundry are waiting for my attention. Yes, the project is Fetching, but the weather today is Fabulous. This project will have to be a WIP a little longer.

'Midnight knitter' on the loose in NJ shore town - NYPOST.com

'Midnight knitter' on the loose in NJ shore town - NYPOST.com

So this was just too funny not to share!

It's the little things...

Well, it's official! I'm a Ravthlete! For many - okay, for most - this may not seem like much of an accomplishment; but sometimes, it's about the little things. In the last two weeks, stories of the incredible Olympic spirit have unfolded before our eyes. On the homefront, we've battled the stomach bug, wintery weather, love, loss and heartache for family and friends. All of it is beyond our control. The only things we have to offer are a sympathetic ear, a shoulder to lean on (and a barf bucket at the ready) and warm, woolen mittens to make that shoveling a bit more bearable!

It seemed like the perfect time to take control of something. So as you saw in yesterday's post, here is my Ravelympic 2010 achievement: the Blue Jean Bag from here. The kit has been in my stash for years - yes, years! It was high time to de-stash and challenge myself with a little fair isle knitting. This is my first Ravelympics and my first fair isle venture. What better combination? The Ravelry community is an endless resource of inspiration and support. But this time, it wasn't about earning a new ravatar! This project was awarded a Bronze medal by my son and got a two thumbs up from my daughter along with a chorus of "Good job Mom!" What could be better than that? Afterall, sometimes it IS all about the little things.

Ravelympics 2010

Warm & Fuzzies

Voici Fetching - just in time for the holidays (and the latest blast of winter weather).

This is such a fun pattern! It's a real contender for teacher gifts for next year!

In the meantime, my littlest kidoodle is asking about her Pink Kidoodle Mittens and there are those WIPSs waiting for attention. That January deadline will be here before we know it! What better way to jumpstart those projects than with some new, fun stitch markers!? My sister found them on Etsy and if you haven't already seen scarymerry's work, you're in for a real treat!

Thanks Kate for the festive markers, for understanding my knit-nuttiness and for arranging the Fetching Fotoshoot. You're one in a million!

When to say when

It's not about NOT getting things done - but rather about celebrating the season and enjoying the art of knitting. Afterall, who wants to receive a gift knitted under stress & angst? So the Campfire Socks won't be ready in time for Christmas, that's true. But let's look on the bright side of the basket of UFOs and WIPs:

1. Campfire Socks will be a wonderfully unexpected gift in mid-January.
2. The Starry Night Bag needed frogging. Feel no guilt. It needed to be done!
3. Even the most uninspired projects can be frogged and reworked into something exciting - or at least the yarn can be used as insulation.
4. There are treasures hidden in the stash - like just the right amount of CashVero to make these fetching fingerless gloves!
5. My kids are happy, healthy and growing like weeds!
6. There is a kid out there somewhere who will fit into this sweater that was meant for my kid.
7. If you look hard enough, you do eventually find the missing cable needle, pom pom maker (will I ever use that thing?) and extra set of size 6 double pointed needles.
8. With 2 sets of US6 DP, I can knit mittens for both kids at the same time!
9. Projects that were great ideas on last year's "to do" list will still be great ideas for this year's list.
10. Even though there are some - okay many - projects that have been woefully neglected, teachers, letter carriers, friends and neighbors will be a little warmer this winter thanks to some quick, kidoodle friendly knits.

So while it is important to know when to say when, it is also equally important to see the great, hidden value in that overflowing knitting basket.

Happy Knitting to all - and to all, if you need me, you can find me knitting into the wee hours of the morning - putting the finishing touches on one more project.