Stress knitting

It’s been a busy and somewhat stressful couple of weeks.  Luckily I had my knitting to keep me sane!

I finished these socks:

Sweet Georgia Yarns “Cashluxe” socks

One of my Crossfit coaches is embarking on an epic journey – travelling to New Zealand and competing in the Ironman!  Epic!  I appreciate all she does for us at Crossfit and she’s a fantastic coach, so I wanted to give her a little something for her trip.  The yarn is gorgeous – 70% Merino, 20% Cashmere and 10% Nylon.  Very soft and lovely.

I have a couple more skeins of this yarn in different colourways that I was thinking of using for a shawlette/scarf, but I might just make myself some socks!

We had a big decision that we had to make for our derby league.  Since September we had very low numbers and over the past 18 months or so we had lost players along the way – some moved, some had babies, some had other interests taking their free time.  Completely understandable, as people’s priorities and interests change.  However, we had to make a decision at our year end – we were operating at a loss for several months.

So it was voted at the meeting to dissolve the league and those still active and interested decided to join the other league in our town.  There was a significant amount of stress during all of this, and many details to oversee and attend to.  For the time being, my fellow ref and I are unaffiliated and don’t belong to any league now.  :-(

As a board member for the past three years it was bittersweet.  We had put all of our hearts into trying to grow the league and drum up recruitment and interest, we couldn’t do anything more.  We were sad to let it go.

However, that now frees up some time.  I want to devote more time to my photography and get back to practicing my guitar again.  And of course more time for Crossfit and knitting.  But not at the same time. Ha!

We had a nice treat last week.  We used some airmiles and had Ken fly in for three days.  Always great seeing him and it was nice to just relax and spend time together and not be dashing about everywhere.

Bill and Ken

Tin Can Knits “Flax” Sweater

I finished this a few days ago, but have been busy with derby things.

The “Flax” Sweater:

Cascade 220 yarn, colourway 2452 “turtle”

Ravelry project page is here, with details about modifications and waist shaping.

the back, obviously!

More pics on the project page.

This was a fun, quick sweater.  I would use the pattern again.  I tried a new method of waist shaping and really liked how it turned out.

I did some extra rounds to get the yoke depth I needed, as well as a few extra increases on the sleeves to accommodate my non-Grover arms.  I think this will become a favourite sweater!

I cast on some socks while I contemplate what I want to knit next.  I am loving having all this time to knit whenever I want.

Weird Weather

For most of this week, it’s been at or above freezing by several degrees.  Practically unheard of for Saskatchewan in January.  Just weird.

I have been working on my sweater – the Flax sweater from Tin Can Knits.  Great little pattern.  I am working on the second sleeve.

progress from two days ago

I hope to be able to finish it over the weekend!

It’s cold

We’ve had some “normal” or seasonal temperatures the past week or so.  Cold then some days/nights with added wind chill.  It doesn’t make one eager to go outside one bit.  The poopers are not complaining too much about not getting long walks.

Ava waits for her jammies to be washed

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and Chopper contemplates moving back to Florida

Rufie couldn’t be bothered to move for a photo.

I came across a pattern for a “cat nest” on Pinterest.  I wanted to try it.  A girl I know from Crossfit has a Sphynx (hairless cat) and was saying how he is always burrowing under and into things to sleep.  So I gave it a try.  Ravelry project page here.

cat nest!

He’s still figuring it out:

I had some bulky weight yarn I had bought before Christmas, but was going to run out.  So I went to Michaels to see if I could find some more.  While I was there, I saw this bulky yarn and bought it.  Then I had to find a pattern to use it with.

The Vermonter hat

It was a quick and easy knit, but the bulky yarn and 8 mm needles were hard on my hands.  I think I need to redo the pompon as it’s quite wonky.  Ravelry project page here.

I’ve been working on a sweater for myself.  Tin Can Knits Flax sweater.  I was working on it for a while, then checked my gauge.  I had dropped down my usual one needle size but needed to check row gauge.  The stitch gauge is close enough that I can adjust as needed with adding increases, but the row gauge was off.  So I had to add a few extra rounds to get the arm scye deep enough.  I think it will be okay – the rest of the sweater is “knit XX inches” not XX rounds, so I can adjust as needed.

I’ve been working on clearing out my office and reinstating it as my yarn room.  Almost done!  I just have a small filing cabinet to go through.  We’ve been busy going to Crossfit and getting ready for derby to start up again.  We’re running another “learn to skate” program for the next six weeks until derby season is in full swing.  That should be fun!

And we’ve been using the library a lot for books and dvds.  I have some interesting books on night photography that I want to finish reading, then go and try some new night shots.  But when it warms up a bit.

Onion domes!

(That was taken with my phone’s camera.  Will do some more with my dSLR.)

Time to knit!

 

Mittens!

I finished these a couple of days ago, but didn’t get any photos until this morning.

Springy Ring Mittens (worsted)

The yarn is Crystal Palace Mochi Plus that I think I got on our vacation last year.  Ravelry project page is here.

the articulated horizontal ribbed cuffs. Love these!

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love the cuffs!

I had been working on those toe-up on one/two circular socks, but last night after mindlessly knitting on them a few days, I realized that 1) the cast on was too narrow (8/8 stitches – not wide enough); and 2) I wasn’t particularly enjoying fiddling with the long cable of the needle, etc.  I ripped them out last night and will decide what to do about that.  I do want to try the technique, but I can see I need to refine a few parts of it.  So for now, I will knit some slippers or mittens and decide which sweater I want to start next, and then decide about the socks.

 

Some Projects

Now that gifts have been given, I can share them on here.  I loved having time to make a few gifts this year.

The Nola Cloche

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other side

Ravelry project page here. I’ve made this hat a few times; it’s a cute pattern.  The red of the yarn is much deeper and bluer than the photos show.  It’s Cascade 220 in #9404.

I made these slippers – another pattern I had wanted to try for a while (funny it’s a similar pattern name).  It calls for a double strand of worsted, but I used a bulky yarn.  The first one I did as the pattern directed (knit flat and seamed) but the second one I adapted and knit in the round.  When I make these again, I will definitely do them in the round.

Nola Slippers

Project page here.  These are very cooshy and comfy.  I will likely make a pair for myself.

I made two cushion covers for dear Ande.  The project page is here.

cushion cover

I made a grey one and a brown one (whippet friendly shades!).

heathery brown

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both cushions

If I made this again, I would also knit it in round as much as I could.

Once I was done my obligatory knitting, I started a pair of mittens for myself.  I just finished them tonight:

Springy Ring Mittens

I’ll post better pics when I can get some in the daylight.

We went for a drive the other night and I grabbed my dSLR to snap some pics.  It was interesting!  I’ll have to go out again and try it when I have more time to fiddle with settings and focus.  I liked these:

We have a few old ‘ghost’ signs on some brick buildings in our downtown

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Queen’s Bench Court House

I took these freehand with no flash, just ambient light.  So they are grainy, but I like it.

the park at night

I picked up some socks I’d started a while ago, trying toe up, two on one long circular.  I’m not sure if I’ll keep going.  I seem to spend more time sorting out the tangled cable and adjusting the stitches on the needle than actually knitting.  We’ll see.

Five WODs in Five Hours

We had our annual “food bank drive” event at our Crossfit on Saturday.  We worked in teams of two.  For each WOD that we did, we needed to donate an item to the food bank.  I did it last year and it was a lot of fun.  This year was just as fun and challenging.

They did a nice write up in the paper about it, and a photo of me is in the story.  Ugh, not the best form, but we got ‘er done!  That’s supposed to be a push-press.  This was WOD #4 of 5, I think.  Or maybe it was 5.  Oh, right.  This was #5, which included 100 over-the-rig medicine ball throws, then 75 of these push presses, then some other stuff.

 

We donated almost 400 pounds of food goods to the food bank.  We always have the best events at our Crossfit gym.

Yesterday I was pretty achy.  Today Bill and I went to Crossfit for a workout and it felt good to stretch things out.

Bill has joined our Crossfit now, too!

It was his birthday yesterday and I got him some Crossfit gear to wear when we go.  I hope he finds it as fulfilling as I have the past year and a half.

I’ve been knitting, but I can’t show you

As I have a little time, I’ve been trying to make a few things for Christmas gift giving.

what is it?

I have a few other projects that I hope to finish.  We’ll see!

Hounds are fine.  It’s been getting warmer so they’ve been out for a few walks (the boys, not Ava).  Today is quite mild and Bill took them out for a long walk and they’re pooped now.  This was the other day:

Believe me, the couch IS big enough for both of them

And poor Ava, on the floor with a case of “bed fail”:

oh, such a tragedy

A busy week – lots to do around the house, it’s Buddy Week at Crossfit, so I have people coming with me each time I go.  Fun!  Plus I’ve been trying to make the twice weekly mobility classes to help with my, well, mobility!  Yesterday we did shoulders.  Ow.

Great pattern!

My Crossfit asked me to donate something for a door price at our all-day “five WODs in five hours” event that is happening later in the month.  I looked at some of my favourite hat patterns, then started a hat.  I worked on it for a few days, but wasn’t feeling it.  I ripped it out and saw this great pattern on Pinterest.  I tracked it back to Ravelry and decided to make this instead.  The Howlcat.

the “howlcat” (cowl, hat …)

It is basically a Buff type article – one long tube that you can configure to wear in different ways.  The grey ribbing is knit with worsted weight yarn and the red part is sock/fingering weight yarn, knit in stocking stitch.  I am really pleased with how this turned out and am already thinking of new colour/yarn combinations.

Reffed a double header in Saskatoon on Saturday night last week, then last night I reffed a rec scrimmage.  It was a lot of fun.  Derby is winding down in the province for the winter.  We have a couple more skates/practices before the middle of the month, then we’re not back until January when we’ll concentrate on our “learn to skate” program.  Then derby gears up again in February for the 2015 season.

So I will be concentrating more on my Crossfit.  I am spending the month of December focusing on improving my hip mobility to help with my technique.  It’s improved from when I first started Crossfit, and in the summer I worked on it, but I need to be consistent with it.  And working more on intermediate level WODs and movements.

The poopers are enjoying a bit warmer temps we had this week:

resting up for a nap later

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but Ava still needs her jammies at night

I

Public Service Announcement

It has been brought to my attention that an unscrupulous asshole is taking my free greyhound sweater pattern and selling it on eBay.  While I know once something has been released on the internet, I don’t really have control over what people do with it, but I am sorry that people don’t do their research and end up paying for something that they could download for free.

The seller on eBay has been reported.

Thanks.