Monday, July 28, 2008

Knitting Doldrums

I have been desperately looking for something to get me out of my knitting doldrums. I had previously set out to use as many of the leftover bits and pieces in my stash as I could to make the kids some sweaters. I think this is where my problem started.

So far, I have only managed to complete one v-neck pullover. I have a v-neck sleevesless vest, which is for Cruz, still on the needles and am really struggling to get this thing finished. I designed the vest myself and used my leftover Manos del Uruguay yarn (bio on the company at http://manosdeluruguay.co.uk/manosdeluruguayyarns.html) which I had purchased many moons ago from a lovely knitting shop in Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A. called The Knitting Basket.

Here you can see me working in the round using 4 double pointed needles to complete the neck.

Needless to say, after completing the neck I was unable to pull the thing over Cruz's head. It didn't even make it past his forehead. I ripped out all of my hard work and will pick up even MORE stitches this time around. As an aside, I would just like to say that I HATE THIS YARN! I have found that it is easy enough to knit with but that it is incredibly scratchy, wears terribly and pills like you wouldn't believe. I have no plans to buy Manos del Uruguay again anytime soon.

On a brighter note, I have also been planning to do some creative dying with another one of my stash items. I can't even recall where I purchased this from (could have been Patternworks.com) but it is beautifully soft New Zealand merino wool that is called "Waterspun" by Classic Elite. There is no twist here, the wool is felted. I have spent the better part of two nights in front of the TV watching Farscape (on DVD) and getting all of the Waterspun onto a niddy noddy and into 100 gram skeins. I am hoping that with the assistance of my new friend Shirley, I will be able to turn this into something fabulous.


Honestly though, I just couldn't wait any longer to buy something that would make me feel like knitting. Yesterday, while in Christchurch, I stopped by the Arts Centre (http://www.artscentre.org.nz/) and popped in at the Wool Yarns and Fibres Shop and purchased these two beautiful skeins of handspun merino wool.

I was so moved by the colors that I couldn't wait to knit this up and rushed home to look through my patterns. I think that I will knit the Lacy, Leafy Luxury Shawl from Knitter's Winter 2000 issue. But, on closer examination, the pattern calls for four balls at 205 m each and I only have 732 m. What will I do?

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

I always seem to have trouble getting started but once I've started, WATCH OUT!

Today was a crazy day. It was filled with intrigue and excitement, tears and laughter. Today was big for both of the girls as Ivy was to have her stitch removed and Melody was to have the mysterious foreign body removed from her ear.

On Sunday night, Melody told me that she thought she had a big piece of wax in her ear. After peeking in and seeing soemthing in there we proceeded to try to remove it at home. After many attempts with the bulb syringe we gave up and committed to seeing the doctor the next morning. Upon seeing the GP on duty, we were given the number of an EAR CLINIC to visit as the doctor did not believe he could remove the offending oject from her ear in the office. So, this morning, Melody went to the North Canterbury Ear Health Clinic and was treated by two lovely nurses. They each had a go at getting the object (what was now believed to be a polystyrene ball- more on this later) out of her ear canal.

After much suctioning and even attempts with forceps we were resigned to have to go to the hospital in town. Given one last look, the expert nurse removed a large ball from Mel's ear. YEAH!


Melody was so glad to have the object removed from her ear that she immediately asked, "Mom can I have a treat?" Melody and her foreign object left the office far better than when they had arrived.

After a bit of pasta and a wee play outside it was off to Ivy's ballet lesson and then on to the GPs office to have her stitch removed.

Just to recap, Ivy had hit her head about a week ago. Her sister had pushed her and she fell into the corner of the wall. After much bleeding and crying, we made it to the doctor's office for a stitch to the upper forehead. Ivy was very brave and managed to handle the injection of anesthetic and the feeling of having sewing happening on her head. She didn't seem the least amused when the GP mentioned she was being sewn up with BLUE thread. I am sure she would have preferred PINK. Anyways, today was the day for her stitch to be snipped and she was a real trooper. Here you can see the stitch being liberated from her head.

Ivy was excited to show Dad the stitch that had been removed and the nurse was kind enough to put it in a jar to take home.

After a day like today, I feel like I am ready for a holiday!