No Camera

I can't find my camera!! Ugh! I'm sure my husband has it stashed away somewhere convenient - for him! I really wanted to have a photo of the Sassy Skeins sweater for the blog today, but it will have to wait until at least tomorrow.

I've been listening to podcasts lately. I don't listen to them on a regular basis, but I try to catch up on them when I'm in between listening to books on my iPod. I just finished "The E-Myth Revisited" by Michael Gerber, and although I'm not done with it, I needed a break from listening to "Odd Girl Out" by Rachel Simmons, so I thought I'd catch up on all of the knitting podcasts I like. So yesterday I listened to a couple of episodes of The Knitting Newscast. The Knitting Newscast is full of info on upcoming books and current e-magazines, which I find very helpful. Today, I've been listening to Brenda Dayne on Cast On. I really love Brenda's style and format for Cast On. She's very professional sounding, but at the same time she's not stuffy or intimidating and she's got a great sense of humor. Tomorrow, I hope to listen to Irie Knits and/or Pixie Purls. Both of these are done by younger knitters whose style I enjoy. I also listen to Knit Cast some, although Marie Urshad hasn't seemed to be producing it as much lately. Knit Cast is full of interviews with the knitting elite, which is very interesting.

I hope you'll find these podcasts just as enjoyable as I do!

Back from Santa Fe

We got back from Santa Fe and the family reunion last night. I got a ton of knitting done. I started a cardigan sweater from a pattern and yarn I picked up from Knit Wits in Chanhassen, MN. The yarn and pattern are by a company called Sassy Skein. Knit Wits had all of their Karibbean Kotton yarn in both weights, plus their pattern "kits." I call them kits because you get a great little pattern booklet, with the pattern and how-to instructions for newer knitters, plus you get the needles needed to make the sweater and any accessories needed to finish the sweater (buttons, ribbon, etc.). Knit Wits only carried children's sweater patterns, but the Sassy Skein website also shows some other children's items... I'm about half way through with the cardigan which I am making for a couple of my neices to share (one's 6 and the other is 4).

I also continued to work on the Sunrise Jacket (I think that's what it's called - from Interweave Knits). I'm almost finished with the back.

I just got back from my karate sparring class, and I should really go take a shower. Maybe after that I can do some more knitting...

Off to Santa Fe

Well, I still haven't gotten that sleeve done. I knit two more rows on it this morning, and I probably won't be able to do any more until I leave for Santa Fe for a family reunion tomorrow. And, who knows how much I'll be able to get done down there. I should take the other parts of the sweater on the trip as well, so I can work on putting it together when I'm in my hotel room hiding out from the family. No, seriously, I love my husband's family, but as an introvert, I need to be alone for a while each day to recharge. After my little time by myself, I am happier and calmer. That's where my knitting and reading comes in handy!

I'm conducting a small survey for a couple of yarn store owners in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. If you're from this area and would like to participate in the survey, please email me at k5tog@aol.com. Thanks in advance!

Much Later

I'm off in Washington state again visiting my oldest son who is at Gray Wolf Ranch until August. We're staying with my sister-in-law and her husband and little boy (Trey, who happens to be three - and he was born on 3/3/03!). They have a beautiful home right on the water and have been wonderfully accomodating. Today we're taking our son to visit the Experience Music Project in Seattle and Pike Place Market. It will be exciting - especially because I'll have two hours in the car to knit.

Yesterday, on our drive to Port Townsend to pick up our son, I knit as much as I could on the modular sweater I've been making - then I ripped about 6" of the sleeve I was working on because I noticed a mistake. I put my knitting away when we got to Gray Wolf Ranch, but then as we were sitting around the fire pit last night, I pulled it out again until I realized I had made the same mistake again. This time I only had to rip out about 3" - UGH! I've got it corrected now, and I'm on my way to actually finishing the sleeve. Maybe today! I brought another project to work on - the Sunrise Circle Jacket - you can see a photo on my website at .

I'll try to be more consistent with posting on this blog. I've been not posting as much because I don't have photos to put up. But, I've decided it's better to post without photos than to wait until I do have them!