Remember The Pilgrims’ Progress?  Well, that’s how I feel – so much knitting is going on chez connemara (that’s the name of our house!) Since last Monday I have been knitting, knitting, knitting, knitting.  We are in the home stretch truly – there were a few aborted projects last week – most of Tue and Wed night’s knitting was frogged – on Thursday I regrouped and got myself sorted out as to who and what and what yarn etc.  Monday I had gone to Michael’s for a stash of Patons Classic Wool and then on Wed I ordered a bunch of Brown Sheep Lambs Pride from a great e bay store – Oregon Trail Yarn (she is VERY nice and helpful and has good prices).  So once I sorted myself out and made my list…

well I am ok until I search the patterns at Ravelry – but even though I have changed some items a few times since last week – am happy with the choices – and add my praises to the creators of Ravelry – Bravi!

So its been All Knitting All The Time at Chez Connemarra – and the weather has helped – it was REALLY YUCKY on Sunday – just the best weather to stay in – sleety icy rain/snow mush fell most of the day – then Monday was REALLLLLY very windy and that helped too.  Today was still cold – actually moved the car from one parking spot to another to make sure it wasn’t frozen in place – on Sunday in a lull I scrapped and pushed off all the ice/snow (4 inches) that covered the car – this is my second Northern winter with a car and NO garage or driveway (sigh).  anyway, the weather has helped to contribute to knitting-all-the-time.

The first project took a bit longer than I had hoped but the second one went much faster and should be able to do the third one tonight – its about 30% done…. of course knitting to TV , some mindless, some not.

Have actually caught up on my netflix dvds (rebus set 2) and sent them back today and pray that the next three (the first set of Inspector Alleyn) come REALLY SOON.  Watched all of last week’s GH (yes I do) and am holding off on Mon and Tues eps for later tonight or maybe tomorrow night – the storyline is a bit mysterious and want to watch several in a row to catch the arc.  Caught up on all last week’s Gilmore Girls and Monday too.  Now have started in on my old VHS tapes of Inspector Morse eps  on which I am discovering there are other interesting items too  – to wit last night after watching TWILIGHT OF THE GODS I found the next item was EYEWITNESS (Hurt/Weaver)  [love him but didn’t feel like watching it] , then the very LAST episode of Spenser For Hire (loved that series – still NOT available on DVD at this time) and then a funny odd episode of Remington Steele (loved both of them)…. funny what I taped in those days – must be the mid 90s!   Tonight will continue with the Inspector Morse tapes (and see what other goodies are on them) as tonight’s TCM selection is really boring as far as I am concerned although there is an NCIS that I don’t remember seeing before …and still have the last three eps of DAMAGES where ALL is revealed.

Anyway, here is the list of knitting   … well actually I can’t post the list cause its all for family and friends and some of them (i think) read this blog .  So instead a list of destinations, giftee and status

Current Holiday Knitting

California 
Sister –  DONE Need to wrap and mail (wed)

New Mexico
Sister – DONE 
Sister and BinLaw – started about 30% done – to work on tonight
BinLaw – not started – to start tonight and finish tomorrow
Laignappe (small item) – not started – to do tomorrow or on a break tonight as its a very quick project

New York 
Eldest Nephew’s Blanket (Channukah) – Need to measure and then determine how much more to knit (we are talking a few inches here) and then soak and block – due date is Saturday   (This was started several years ago, most of the knitting is done)

Youngest Nephew Birthday – Snowflake Sweater was the original item but NO WAY that will be done by Sunday morning (we are celebrating at a brunch since he was born at 11 am last year)…so may whip up a little hat for something to give and do the sweater later (luckily he is too young to know from presents being his first birthday)

Louisiana (These are being carried in my luggage so their due date is Dec 24th eve or later)
Sister – not started, pattern chosen, yarn at hand – to start after the above are done.
BinLaw – not started, pattern chosen, yarn at hand – to start after the above are done.
Nephew – one big item – needs sleeves finished and buttonband and buttons (80%)
Nephew – MS Christmas stocking – yarn and pattern at hand – not started.
Mother – Two items – one will be done by Christmas, the other will be in progress and completed during visit after Christmas.
Other folks – two hats for men, one hat for woman – can do while there .

All are in my Project list in Ravelry….some have photos some not (can’t promise when)

Now, my rice pilaf is ready and I will have that with the sausages cooked last night and a new pot of tea and  ….knitting and tv..

onward

.

From Mason-Dixon:

Important: THE SEW-UP DATE HAS CHANGED. (The yarn shop had a conflict.) The new details are:

DATE: Monday, December 17, 2007
TIME: 4-8 p.m.
PLACE: Knitty City, 208 West 79th Street (between Amsterdam and Broadway)

Note: Nobody has to come for the whole 4 hours! Come when you can, leave when you must. I know everyone is busy this time of year, and then there's those pesky day jobs, too.

Please send an email (bigbonegalAThotmailDOTcom) if you're planning to come, so that we have some idea of what the demand will be for tapestry needles, munchables and potables.

Some photos of current FOs and WIPs– an update soon (promise!)

FO Moderne Log Cabin Blanket (Mason-Dixon)

List of WIPs

1 Butterscotch Gansey
Elizabeth Lovick’s Jess’s Gansey pattern – my adaptation for a four year old boy
Who:  Village Nephew #1
Status:   Up to the shoulders but need to rip back as I didn’t do steeks and now have measurements of armhole to hip and can do them.

2.  Meg Swansen’s Eli’s Christmas Stocking
Who: Berkshire nephew
Status: waiting for yarn to arrive from Schoolhouse Press

3. Salsa Hat  (Nanette Blanchard’s Pattern)
Who: WIP in progress for DEC 10th birthday (YIKES) for Brother-in-law
Status:Half done as of this morning–other half tonight-overnight for Monday delivery, shipping on Friday – will it dry ? fingers crossed)

4. Sofa Bolster Pillow 
What: My adaptation of the Salsa Hat and a Navajo pattern from the newly gifted Kristen Knits book for a bolster pillow.
Who:  Christmas present for TBA 
Status: Edging and first panel done – started on main central panel

5. Blue Gansey 
Elizabeth Lovick’s Jess’s Gansey pattern – my adaptation for a soon to be six year old boy
Who:  Berkshire Nephew in a different color yarn (Brilliant Blue Elann Peruvian Highland Wool)
Status: Up to the armhole (in the round)

6.  Nordic Cardigan/Nordic Snowflake Pullover
From Heirloom Knits for Babies 
Who:  Village Nephew 2 (brother of the Butterscotch Gansey).
Status: Need Measurements!

7.  Other Christmas presents TBD
Status: Need to decide rest of list and itemsTHIS WEEKEND.  
Have been perusing Ravelry and adding patterns to my queue.  COLOR seems to be my idee fixe this year; maybe its the long dark cold days – already Dec is colder than last year, we have had TWO snow falls this week– anyway, I have been wanting to move to more color knitting and something has CLICKED and away I go. 

So lots of ideas – need to nail down my list (four sisters and mother and friends oh my!) and figure out what yarn I have and need. 

BTW KRISTIN KNITS is a FABULOUS book for shaking you out of monochrome doldrums – tons of gorgeously hued projects and lots lots lots of ideas!  That Fair Isle Cardigan is DEFINITEY a must knit for me in the New Year.

Ok off to run errands for the visiting Family Member and then on to Weekly Knitting Group.

If the movies of Hollywood’s Golden Age had a Great American Lady, Irene Dunne was surely it. Whether suffering through melodramatic “women’s pictures” or rollicking through screwball comedy, Dunne always maintained her dignity. And she never seemed to strain for her effects, whether jerking tears or inciting laughter. “Dunne was a brilliant actress and her comedy timing was impeccable,” said no less an authority than Cary Grant. “She played it straight, instead of playing it for laughs as some comediennes do.”

Read the rest HERE

All December – Thursday Nights…set your TIVO/DVR !!

From Mason-Dixon Knitting, the details of a little sewing-up party.

DATE: Tuesday, December 18, 2007
TIME: 4-8 p.m.
PLACE: Knitty City
             208 West 79th Street
             (between Broadway and Amsterdam)

What would we do without Pearl Chin? During the busiest time of the year, I asked her to keep Knitty City open for us on an off-night, and Pearl said "of course!" If you are planning on coming, would you please RSVP so I can give Pearl an idea of what she's in for?

Just send an email to me at bigbonegalAThotmailDOTcom.

Just bring yourself, and your willingness to submit to instruction from that domineering woman sitting in the chair Kaffe sat in when he was at Knitty City last month. (No, she will not let anyone else sit in that chair.) (Yes, she is me.)

More info on the Squares for Blanket project at the blog

Post Offices Stage “Knit-In,” Celebrate Knitting Revolution

WASHINGTON, DC — Knit One. Mail, too.

Today’s knitters are not all grannies in rocking chairs. Knitting is enjoying a surge of popularity among the young and hip. There is a very active knitting blog community, and yarn stores are as much a social scene as they are commodity shops.

And today’s U.S. Postal Service is not your grandfather’s Post Office.

In the time it takes to download a tune or video on an iPod, customers can print shipping labels, design personalized holiday greeting cards and make custom stamps — all from the convenience of their home, office or favorite internet café. Today’s holidays need today’s mail.

To mark the knitting revolution and the value of today’s mail, this week the Postal Service is calling all knitters. Armed with balls of yarn and a few good needles, participating Post Offices nationwide will open their doors for a “knit in,” mirroring the popular knit-in-public events taking the country by storm. In addition to knitting demonstrations, sweaters, scarves and other items knitted or collected from events can be donated and mailed to local charities, shelters and hospitals.

“Mailing that knitted gift is easy with one-size-fits-all Flat-Rate Boxes, the ultimate gift box for sending warm greetings to friends and family over the holidays,” said Anita Bizzotto, USPS chief marketing officer.“If it fits, it ships.”

More HERE

BookGem Hands-free reading

A great tool – and gift for your favorite Knitter who Reads.

More info here

 Travel Mug

No Spill!

Fair Isle

Life on a remote Scottish island. Weekly insights from Malachy Tallack.

Guilty pleasures

Malachy Tallack

Published 03 December 2007
The trials and tribulations of knitting a gansey

Okay,so I gave in to temptation. I admit it. But what’s wrong with that, tell me? What shame in that? After all, it’s only a jumper.

Yes, after some days of deliberation, hesitation and procrastination, I finally sat down at the knitting machine and made myself a jumper. And I have to say, I’m rather pleased with myself. And it.

I had forgotten how much work was involved in the creation of a garment. All that measuring, counting, reducing, grafting, making mistakes, fixing mistakes, taking long rests; I was quite worn out by the end of it.

I admit that I did have some help with the more difficult bits. In fact I had quite a lot of help with quite a lot of the bits. Actually, it is probably stretching the truth somewhat to say that I really made the jumper myself. But I was certainly involved in the making of it. And more so than I am involved in the making of most jumpers.

I have been proudly sporting this new jumper (gansey is the Shetland word) all around the isle, showing it off to anyone who is interested. Which unfortunately is nobody. But still, my pride is undimmed, and I have not taken it off in 12 days. I just can’t wait to get the chance to show it off to a wider public. There, I am sure, it will find an appreciative audience.

The more observant and knowledgeable amongst you will have noticed from the picture that I have been very sensible in choosing to use only two colours, instead of the standard plethora of tones. This was partly for reasons of fashion and good taste, and partly because it made my job a huge amount easier. Mainly it was the second reason. The constant changing of wool colours is what makes Fair Isle knitting so much more time-consuming than a plain or two-tone pattern. It also vastly increases your chances of making mistakes. So two colours was plenty for me.

In the course of this task I have discovered that there is something very satisfying about making a piece of clothing for yourself. Like catching your own fish or growing your own vegetables, an involvement with the process increases enormously the pleasure in the result. And believe me, I am very pleased.

Not that I’m thinking of taking up knitting more regularly of course. I certainly am not. This will undoubtedly be the first, last and only jumper I ever make for myself. The knitting machine has been packed up and given back to its rightful owner now, and I shall not be allowing it back in the house again. Even if it asks very nicely. One jumper is quite enough for any man, after all.

I have been wondering about crochet though.

Fair Isle Homepage

The knitu list moderator has passed away…

Gail Eleanor McHugh, an internet moderator for a national knitting company, died at home in Malden on Friday, November 16, 2007, she was 60. Born in Boston, she was the beloved daughter of the late Wilfred E. and Eleanor Marie (Lanagan) McHugh. She is survived by her loving sister, Karen Roche & her husband John of Arlington. Funeral from the Keefe Funeral Home, 5 Chestnut St., Arlington on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at 9 am. Followed by a funeral Mass in St. Agnes Church, Medford St., Arlington at 10 am. Service will conclude with burial in Saint Joseph Cemetery, 990 LaGrange St., West Roxbury. In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Gail may be sent to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, 5005 LBJ Fwy., Ste. 250, Dallas, TX 75244. Arrangements by the Keefe Funeral Home, ARLINGTON.

from a note from her sister:

Gail was born in Boston but went to college in Washington, DC where she stayed for about 13 years before returning to the Boston area. She was an accountant by training but always loved knitting and in fact loved and tried just about any craft.  She used to design needlepoint and was now into jewelry making.

We lost our mother to breast cancer on November 17, 1957 —- Gail died on November 16.  The request for donations to the Susan G. Komen fund were in honor of our mother. Our mother taught Gail to knit but Gail retrained herself left-handed. Gail taught me to knit. I have never knit anything in my life and don't have a craft bone in my body —- she got all those genes!

She could read a novel, knit and watch TV all at the same time. I thought she knit very fast. My husband says that if Gail were around, the Industrial Revolution wouldn't have happened!

Gail's passing was very unexpected although she did have some health problems they weren't terminal. We don't know as yet how or why she left us.  Gail did see the Red Sox win the 2007 World Series; we decided that 2004 was for our Dad but this one was for us! She didn't get to hear that they resigned Mike Lowell though. She'd have approved. She would have liked the Patriots victory over the Bills last Sunday! (sorry if you are from Denver or Buffalo)

Purple was her favorite color. I have never seen so much yarn so I think she has the largest stash —– so I guess she wins! I am sure that the angels do not wear socks! She was very proud of the charities that you all support in particular Covenant House.

I will greatly miss my big sister, Gail. In so many photos of us as children she is holding my hand. She took care of me when our mother died. I like to think there is an afterlife and that Gail is up there with our parents now. Momma and Gail are knitting and all three of them are watching the Red Sox or the Patriots.

Thank you to everyone who has sent a message, lit a candle, sent flowers, made a contribution to any charity and who just plain thought about my sister, Gail. Your outpouring of affection has been a comfort to me and my family.

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