Nomad again
I’m living up to my nomadic roots and we’re once again on the move… off to Seattle in mid-May so we’re up to our eyeballs in planning and packing and packing and planning. This time it means moving things from Ensenada to San Diego and then packing it all up to be moved to Seattle, while at the same time co-ordinating a container holding our 2 bedroom house in England to also go to Seattle… and a tottler… and my stash… I’ve been anticipating this move for nearly a year, but when we were told officially the date- I felt pain instead of joy and relief. I really hate to leave Ensenada and San Diego- two places with the most perfect weather and an excellent mix of friends and friendly places. I wish i could take a few people with me… the worst part about being a nomad is the packing up and saying goodbye (although the REALLY worst part of being a nomad is when everyone else is leaving and you’re left behind!) . So my knitting time had been seriously cut down.
I did manage to knit up a hat from one of my best Ensenada friend’s daughter. I wanted to knit something special for my friend, but I knew that I wouldn’t finish it in time now that we’re also leave (she’s going on the 16th of May- a week before me). 
My biggest concern so far in this move… I’m going to be about a month without my stash… I need to start planning projects carefully… and of course, how will we manage two cars in a city where many people have none?
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)Knitting on a hot day
Today was so hot that just trying to knit some of Natasha’s Accordion Jacket almost made me run to the fridge for a cold glass of …something…. anything! Instead I picked up the not so exciting, but ever so elegant, yet unending Veil by Norah Gaughan which I’m knitting with Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool (from my stash!!). It is light and well, not terribly cool, but light- so I worked an inch or two. I also worked a bit on Kim’s Clapotis which is made using lovely and delicate Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk in Kim’s favorite colour (from my stash too!), but way too hot to even look at the Spring Clapotis- in worsted weight wool. No I ended up sticking with the Veil. It is straight easy knitting, great for watching TV they say… I don’t have a TV. This week hubby is in Mexico and I’m in San Diego, so hopefully I’ll have my nights free to watch movies gallore in front of my computer (or the 7 inch portable DVD player that’s become my new best friend this past year)- and knit knit knit this Veil until it’s done. Then I can wear it in the very slightly cool evenings we’ve had (24C at night! This is April, right?)
Kim’s Clapotis looking a bit mangled because the poor yarn has been frogged a few times in search for the perfect pattern for the yarn and Kim… yarn whispering I call it.
Filed under 2008, Accordion, Just talkin', Knitting, Projects, Veil | Comment (0)Taking the San Diego Spring with me
JimmyBeans Wool seems to have a special understanding with the powers that be at Lorna’s Laces, and for the last few months, Lorna’s Laces creates a special colourway for JimmyBeans alone. I’ve never knit with Lorna’s Laces before but I’ve admired their colours from afar. When I saw the April 2008 colours, I decided this was going to be my first Lorna’s Laces project with Clapotis. Yes, I actually had a project in mind when I bought the yarn, which doesn’t happen often. I only bought 2 skeins, since I’m on a yarn budget, and hopefully it should be enough for a nice Spring Clapotis. These April colours remind me a bit of Matisse and of Spring here in San Diego. And if things go as planned, my last Spring here. So I’m knitting a warm Clapotis to heat up my cold days in Seattle.
I took a picture of the Clapotis but the colours in the picture are not the true colours of the skeins.
The blues are not so green, and the green is a lot lighter… I hate to say it but in the picture it looks pretty ugly!
Filed under 2008, Projects, Spring Clapotis | Comment (0)Letting go…
A soon to be grandmother in Mexico asked me where I got my yarn, and perked up when I mentioned I wanted to rid myself of some of my stash (sob… gulp…hankys flying). She came over to my flat the next day and proceeded to pick out some great yarn for her future family member. I ended up selling some yarn I hadn’t meant to see- 7 skeins of Rowan Denim- and a few other bits. But in all I was more satisfied by her excitement than a slightly smaller stash. I realised that letting go is not too hard to do.
Filed under Just talkin', stash | Comment (0)In the company of knitters…
I rushed down from Ensenada this Thrusday- braved a new path to the border since for some strange reason, the police had closed off the normal route- and then gulped down a cup of tea (of course), so I could make it to the first Ravelry event in San Diego… the Bobmas Eve celebration. It was being held at my local yarn shop, The Grove at Juniper and 30th (yes, the address is also it’s name). It had to be very hot in San Diego, so Natasha couldn’t wear her cute hoodie or 3/4 sleeve jacket- and I couldn’t wear my pride and joy, The CHP. Still, I took it with me… it might get nippy in the evening!
I’m very glad I went. I got to meet lots of other knitters from all ages and interests. We chatted, enjoyed yummy cupcakes provided by one of the knitters, and of course, coveted all sorts of yarns and projects. The perfect closing to the evening was the yarn swap. We had been asked to bring a ball of yarn and swap for another one- all were supposed to be wrapped up with only the yarn contents in a tag. Some of the wrappings were so beautiful it really spoke of the time people took to choose the right yarn and to make it look as desirable as possible. I picked the one that looked like an adorable Christmas pillow. Inside was a yarn that I’ve never seen or heard of before - Marr Haven - made in Michigan. mule spun… the most wonderful mix of tweedy grey and a bit of brown- It looks rugged but feels soft. i can’t wait to knit something with this lovely gift!
Throughout the evening I kept trying to work on the spring clapotis or start on an entrelac scarf, but I finally just put them both aside and helped a new friend to crochet.
Filed under Central Park Hoodie, Spring Clapotis | Comment (0)Mystery Capelet
I have two skeins of French Grey of Soft Chunky Twinkle Handknits. It is a lovely fluffy yarn, as soft as feathers, and a lovely gleam. I seem to be buying orphan skeins no-one wants because I also have 1 skein of the lavender colour as well- it was looking very lonely in the shop. Originally the lavender was going to be a hat from the Twinkle Weekend Knits, but now it might become part of my experiment began this morning. I am trying to create a little capelet with these three colours, which won’t involve intarsia or colour changing of any kind. I also want it to be as versatile as possible, so it might be modular.
Filed under 2008, Mystery Capelet, Projects | Comment (0)CHP’s first outing!
Finally the CHP is done. It took a while and I nearly lost heart doing the ribbing.. it seemed to take forever. The weaving in of the loose ends took even longer. When I put it on it fit perfect. It looks lovely but it is a bit itchy. I thought this would be a problem but when I wore it today, I hardly noticed it. What I did feel was how warm it is. I love this yarn!! Wore it on a windy day out and it was very comfortable, soft and warm. It stopped the chilling wind dead. The only problem was that I chose to NOT put buttons on it. I like the way it looks open, but unfortunately I kept having to hold it closed when the wind got too much. I might have to rethink the button issue (without having to redo the ribbing!!) or actually even think about a zipper!!
Filed under 2008, Central Park Hoodie, Finished, Projects | Comment (0)