World Wide KIP day!

Yesterday I dragged my bum out of bed at 7am. What could be so important, you ask, that I was up and showered and out of the house by 7:40 on a Saturday morning? The TTC along!

I picked up Beth and Lynne in KW and then we set off for Toronto.
There was an hour of knittin' and chattin' in the car, some confusion over where was kosher for parking, and then a short walk to Village Yarn. Those folks really went all out. They had mimosas, they had baked goods, they had swag . . . . they had free yarn! This is where my first accident happened. It all seemed so innocuous, so innocent, then all of a sudden - one skein leaped off the shelf, slapped me across the face, and demanded I take it home. Well, after that I just blacked out! I didn't even realize what I'd done until I came to - standing on the street outside the shop . . fondling that skein of delicious . . . Okay, it's not true. I was fully aware of what I was doing. I have yarn for a mini clappy now! I'm going to wrap that yumminess around my neck and wear it with pride. Or maybe I'll suddenly turn to loving making socks. Either way, I love the yarn, and the colourway. It makes my heart flutter. The folks at the store were very kind, and there was a lot of fabulous things to be found inside.
But we had to move on!

We traveled via ttc, knitting the whole way - people were fairly weirded out by the whole thing, I think. There were some looks askance cast at me and my fellow knitters - there were even mutterings and dirty looks. Too bad for them! We got there first and had the seats! HA!


















Our second st op was Romni. There was an awful lot of selection, but I have to weigh in and say I didn't love this store. It's almost too big - and it's completely overwhelming. If you were to go there with a specific yarn in mind for a specific project, well that would be one thing. But, if you were like me, and just looking for 'the right yarn' for a specific project . . well, good luck. I couldn't even figure out how the store was organized. I was thoroughly confused. That said, I did find something yarny -- three skeins said such flattering things to m e as I wandered innocently past, that I just had to buy them.

After a quick stop at a coffee shop, we were off for location #3 -- Americo. Spendy little store, with some loveliness --but it felt at least a little prohibitive to me.

Some street knitting was had.

And then on to Lettuce knit. I was surprised at just how wee Lettuce is -- but I was also impressed with the stuff they had on hand. A sweater kit cried when I set it down and said 'no' in a firm, I mean it! voice. It set up such a fuss that I went ahead and bought it.
We sat outside Lettuce and knit for long enough that I got a little sunburn. And we picked up some new knitters -- a mom and daughter team who had just come to knit at Lettuce joined us for the remainder of our day!

Then we went to the Naked Sheep. It was packed to the gills with knitters. I think I would have really enjoyed the store . . . if I could a) move around, or b) even look at the yarns.

And then it was off for food and a wrap up.







What did I wear? Well, I'm glad you asked! I wore my Hempy T! Finished and in all its glory. Do you ever see a picture of yourself and think Good gravy! Do I really look like that? This is one of those photos for me.
I took photos of my yarny procurements, but I think I need a rest before I post anymore photos! Oh, and the peonies finally bloomed!

Oh . . . what's this??

yes, that's right, the knitting is done! Now I just have to block it, and I can wear my lovely hempy T with knitting pride! Oh, and weave in 2 ends.

I even knit the 54 inches of i-cord already.

And it's confirmed, I will be going to the TTC along on Saturday. I can't even wait!! I think I'll knit up my Montego Bay scarf during that . . . I would be at least slightly embarrassed to bring along my acrylic feathers and fans baby blanket. Not that knitters are judgmental, just . . well, I would feel inadequate with that thing in tow. Besides, if I take it to work I may be finished with it by Saturday!

Delerious . . .

must sleep!

I am roughly 44 rounds away from done my hempy T. I have 300 and some stitches on the needles. In just 4 more rounds, I get to decrease! yay! Then maybe it won't take me 90 minutes to do 6 stupid rounds!

Coming Soon:

SLEEVES! Yes, that's right, I'm up to the sleeves on my hempy T! I haven't even started in to the third (and final) skein of hemp yet . . . which is good as there is no more to be had at the LYS.

I'm a little worried that the shirt won't fit me. I tend to forget that I'm not high school shaped anymore. Or 25 year old shaped.

Think I can finish it this weekend? I really want to! I have a stupid baby blanket to knit up, and that's getting pressing. T minus 8 weeks for my knocked up co-worker.

At the risk of a jinx . . third time's the charm!

My yummy hempy T-shirt is well underway! The lacey bit is all done, the eyelets are all done, now I'm on to st st rounds. I really want to have it all done and ready for the TTC-along on June 9. It's a very motivated knit! Here it is, thus far:Doesn't look like much. It needs a good blocking. Oh, and the rest of it needs to be knit on of course.

Here is a blurry photo of the button Amy R. Singer gave me on Friday -- see how well it goes with my knitting bag? We were meant for each other!








I'm absolutely aching for peonies!

They're so close . . .

they tease me . . .

it's not fair! I want them NOW!








Instead, I get Lilacs. They smell fantastic, and they're lovely. . . but they aren't peonies!!

The best weekend ever!

So Friday night was incredible - simply incredible. I have never attended a knitting event before. I have always been too busy, too introverted, or too interested in staying home and knitting. Friday night was the Canadian launch of the Yarn Harlot's latest book - Casts Off.
I was informed/invited by the fabulous LYS lay-dee Lynne who advised me that she had a car load of knitters going. I have always said no to Lynne's offers -- I figured if I continued saying no, she would stop inviting. So I said yes. And in the back of my head I said 'but I'm not going to like it'.
I took Friday off work. I got off to a bumpy start with my mom making a surprise visit at T minus 60 minutes . . thank heavens I had to get going! She would have been here all day, I'm sure.

Cut to the car ride to Toronto. There is something to be said for flying down the highway with 2 socks, a dishcloth and a hempy t-shirt on the go . . .

We got to the bookstore slightly late. There was standing room only, which frankly didn't surprise any of us. Stephanie's 'speech' was absolutely engaging! What a wonderful speaker - she themed on the misconceptions surrounding knitters and knitting, and basically sternly warned anyone listening not to underestimate the power that we wield. Okay, so I enjoyed that bit -- now we're heading to the after party . . I'm so not a pub/bar girl. Once again that voice in the back of my head chimed in . . . 'I'm not going to like it!'

I have to admit that I'm surprised at just how much I liked it. The whole thing. Start to finish. I met some great new people - before Friday, I was pretty much convinced that I was the only knitter in the whole world, and that the rest of it was just an elaborate ruse. Now I know that to be false. There are bazillions of knitters! And I think they all live in Toronto. The last place I would expect . . .
There was an amazing power to gathering and knitting and just being there. My knitty mojo has returned full force, I am on the way to knitting nirvana!
I think/I hope I have made some new knitting friends - Lynne, of course - and also Barbara, who is just getting her knitting obsession underway.

Now here is something that thrilled me to pieces. I was sitting on my barstool, knitting my lacey hemp top, when Amy R. Singer drifted by. (Be still my heart!) I love her for Knitty.com and all the implications it has had in my knitting life. I struck up a very small conversation with her -- and she gave me her I (heart) knitty button!! Thrill!


yeah, so anyway . . . Friday night was super good for my soul. Didn't get to speak to Stephanie at all . . . but completely satisfying nonetheless.
** how did I not publish this? . . . oops **

starting over . . . again.

How many times do you think I can frog hemp and still have it come out reasonably decent looking? I had to start my T-shirt over again!
Try 2 . . . oh the misery! Oh the error! I screwed up somewhere, but because it is 225 stitches around, figuring out where the mistake happened, and how many rows ago was simply not plausible. Groan.
Without thinking, I took it off the needle, and pulled back a number of rows . . but when I went to put it back on the needle, what did I realize? Oh yes, that's right -- it's knit in the round. Where is the beginning of the round? Well now, that is a truly excellent question.
And so I am back at row one.

Agonizing.

I really just want to wear this T-shirt!