Crafty - "Pond Hockey" Hobo Mitts

Throughout the Fall I often mentioned the Christmas gifts I was knitting but wasn't able to share them with you until after the holidays.  A few weeks ago I presented my "Hot Cocoa" Hobo Mitt to you. Today, I'd like to show you a similar mitt in a different style, which I called "Pond Hockey."

The "Pond Hockey" Hobo Mitt is knit using two shades of Patons' Classic Wool.  The majority of the mitt is worked in Dark Grey Mix, while the accent stripe on the cuff is worked in Peacock.  Both yarns are 100 gram net weight and are 100% Pure New Wool.  These mitts were worked on size 3.5 (US 4) bamboo double point needles.

I designed the "Pond Hockey" mitt to wear during outdoor activities (although the recipient of this gift will probably wear hers on trail rides more so than on the hockey pond) so I knit the cuff snug and extra long to keep the wrists warm.  The wearer can use their arms freely without risk of exposing their wrists to the cold, while leaving the fingers free.   100% wool is ideal for outdoor activities as it keeps the hand warm even when the garment is wet by wicking moisture away from the skin.  Unlike those knit from synthetics, wool garments like these require a little extra care; these mitts must be washed by hand and laid flat to dry.

Do you knit?  If yes, what are you knitting now?

Have a great week!

My Evolution of Knit + A Blogoversary!

This is a rather big week for Nesty.  Tomorrow, January 18, is my first "Blogoversary."  So I'd like to take a moment to thank all of my wonderful readers for a really great year.  Each comment and new follower made my heart jump with excitement and motivated me to continue writing.  As time passed and features, mentions, and awards began to arrive in my inbox, I was beyond thrilled at your recognition of my work.  

When I started blogging a year ago I really didn't know much about the community that exists here in Blogland.  I've met some truly wonderful people and through your writing I've become connected to your lives.  I have read posts with excitement to see if someone's baby has arrived or if their surgery went well.  I've grown misty when sadness has visited some of you.  I've commiserated and lent advice, especially with regards to relocation.  And on the occasions when a favorite blogger decides to leave blogging, or just plain disappears, I've felt their absence and missed them.  It's been an incredible and rewarding time, and I'm looking forward to what the next year will bring.  And so, whether you've been following since the beginning or just joined up, Thank You so much!!!

Those of you who have been following since the beginning may recall my adventures in learning to knit.  Anyone out there remember this?

 Just yikes!  But, as I mention in the original post, my goal with this project was to actually stick with it and get it cast off, no matter how ugly the finished project was.  This scarf could really be a cautionary tale of all the things you shouldn't do, but I'm still really proud of it because once it was finished I knew how to cast on, knit, perl, and cast off.  I was ready to go.  Bring on the projects!

For my next few projects I concentrated on items that would help me learn the basics of knitting.  The turquoise scarf is knit in a basket weave pattern (a basket weave pattern requires you to alternate knitting and perling at regular intervals.)  I also got to make a fringe!  The watch cap was my first project on a round needle, and although it was far too small to wear, it got me very excited about projects that could be knit "in the round."  And so, for the first time, I searched online for a pattern and found the pattern for the cute red hat.  The cute red hat is a lesson in why it is important to pay attention to the type of yarn and needle size the pattern calls for.  Yet again, my hat was too small, however it was the first item I looked at where my mistakes weren't the first things I saw.  


As cute as these projects are (in a retro sort of way) they really weren't items I would wear.  I was on the lookout for my next project and I was determined I was going to wear it.  At Christmas came the item that completely hooked me on knitting.  My husband's aunt sent me a skein of Kochoran wool, a pair of chunky bamboo needles, and a pattern for a seed stitch scarf.  This project knit up beautifully and fast, and I was soon proudly wearing my work.  This is the sort of gratifying project that I absolutely love; in fact I have recommended it to beginners.   This was also the project that turned me into a yarn snob:

This project boosted my confidence, and I knew it was time; when I started knitting, my motivation was that I wanted to make mittens and socks.  And so, I enthusiastically jumped right in and decided to tackle socks: 

 After the socks, I never really looked back.  The past few months I've been knitting up a storm.  I came up with a "collection" of items that I gave for Christmas gifts.  It was so fun embracing the "design" part of knitting; adjusting a pattern, experimenting with colour and fibre combinations, and even making up names for my garments.


One of my favorite items to knit (besides socks!) are hobo mitts. These go by several names but they are basically fingerless mittens.  I made these for my niece, my sisters and my sister in law; each pair had a unique twist to them that made them "one of a kind."  I really fell in love with these cuties and they almost didn't make it into the gift box!

 At a craft show, I bartered two Tiny Totes for a skein of chocolate brown yarn (I was bored and had forgotten my knitting).  While sitting at my table I played around with the yarn and decided that they would make adorable hobo mitts.  The yarn is actually an acrylic nylon blend; compared to the alpaca and sheeps' wool of the other projects I made it didn't sound as nice but it knit up into a delightfully warm and snuggly mitt.  To give it a pop of colour (and a bit of snob factor) I added a cherry pink stripe in Baby Bamboo yarn.


For all my hobo mitt projects I followed essentially the same pattern, but made a few adjustments.  For the Hot Cocoa mitt I wanted a snug fit, so I decreased the last few rows on both the hand and the thumb.  The fibre choices (synthetic and plant based) for this project would make it ideal for someone with wool allergies or ethical concerns.


So there you have it, my evolution of knit!  


I'll be back on Wednesday with a post about severe winter weather conditions and what all those warnings actually mean. And on Friday I'll be sharing one of my all-time favorite recipes, and it's awesome; vegetarian, high fibre, cheap and low fat!  Oh, and absolutely delicious!!  See you then!

Something New - Nesty Creations

Happy Halloweekend!

 You may be surprised to discover that today's post has nothing to do with Halloween.  In fact, it isn't going to be much of a post.  You see, I've taken on a new endeavor; next week I'm going to be participating in my first craft show!  After years of crafting for my own entertainment, I'm going to take the plunge and actually put my stuff "out there" and see how it goes.

Like Nesty the blog, Nesty crafts are a mixed bag.  I'm not a master of any one craft, but I know what I like and I know what I like to create.  I'm not going to knit for this one (although I like knitting very much) but I am going to be presenting a unique collection of handmade items.  There will be Christmas ornaments, possibly some mini-album / gift card holders, and some sewn items like these adorable little bags that have been taking up all my time the past few days:

I'm aiming for quality, not quantity; I'd rather have a few well-made items than a table full of junk.  And so, I'm taking the time with each project to pay attention to the details, like careful pressing and seam finishing.  I'm quite pleased with the final result.

I'll be back Monday with a Halloween "post-mortem."  (Sorry, I couldn't resist that one!)  Have a wonderful weekend, and a very Happy Halloween!

Tiny Hats for Tiny People - Raising Awareness for the Period of PURPLE Crying

Is there anything more adorable than a newborn baby wearing their first hat?  Nope, I couldn't think of anything, either!  So I am very excited to be knitting up a batch of those "first hats" for a meaningful awareness initiative that will be taking place this November in British Columbia.

To coincide with Canada's National Child Day, many babies born in BC the week of November 15 will be given a hand-knit purple hat to take home from the hospital.  These hats are being knit by volunteers across the province to raise awareness of shaken baby syndrome and The Period of PURPLE Crying.  I have been reading mentions of this campaign throughout blogland for several months; then a few weeks ago my friend Tasha of Fiber Rox sent me an invitation to join the Facebook group for this event.  Her invite was just what I needed to get started on a new fall project, so I clicked "Attending," bought some purple baby yarn, and started knitting an itty bitty hat (thanks for the pattern, Tasha!).  This article from the Vancouver Mom website gives a great summary of the event as well as the address volunteers can send hats to. 

Not being a parent (to a human, anyway) I hadn't heard of The Period of PURPLE Crying prior to the purple hat campaign.  I have since visited their website and it is a great resource not only for parents, but for anyone who wishes to understand what parents are going through when their new baby won't stop crying.  I encourage you to check it out  here.  PURPLE is an acronym for:

P - Peak of Crying

U -Unexpected

R - Resists Soothing

P - Pain-Like Face

L - Long Lasting

E - Evening

In short, all babies experience the PURPLE crying period between the age of 2 weeks to 3 to 4 months.   During this time, a baby may cry inconsolably for hours at a time.  For many years this condition has been vaguely described as "colic" however the website stresses that this is a normal developmental phase that all babies go though, some more dramatically than others.  It also provides some great suggestions for coping.  

Tonight, I finished my first wee purple hat!  I will continue working away on tiny purple hats until the end of October. It's going to be a great way to try out some patterns that I would otherwise not make, and I'm hoping to find a few fun, funky patterns to try. Hey, I'm giving someone their first accessory, it's got to be good!  If you knit or crochet and want to participate, I think that's great!  Regardless, check out The Period of PURPLE Crying website; you may learn something that could help you or someone you care about.

Have a great day!  See you on Wednesday!

Wooly Delights!

It's been a while since I updated you on my wool working pursuits.  In truth, between our move and the warmer weather starting up (and all the fun outdoor activities that brings) I had put my knitting down for a bit.  But a few weeks ago, I got the urge to knit again, and out came the needles and yarn!

When I last posted about my knitting, I had just finished a pair of mulberry stripe socks, and I was about to begin a pair of boot weight socks in Fireside Red. Now, as some of you will recall, I was very excited about learning to knit.  I had always dreamed of being to knit socks and mittens.  Well, now I've achieved both dreams!

As I mentioned above, I had put my knitting down for a while, and just picked it up again a few weeks ago.  I really wanted to finish my second red sock, which was near completion.  I finished it off, and put them aside, as I had to wait for my friend Tasha of Fibre Rox to show me how to finish the toes using the Kitchener Stitch.  I had attempted to teach myself this technique, but judging from the number of times I've had to darn the toes of my mulberry stripe socks, I needed some expert advice.  Well, Tasha set me strait and soon both socks had lovely, finished toes.  I proudly field tested my socks on a hike and I am happy to say that they are the perfect boot sock!  The aloe infused wool and nylon blend was comfy and kept my feet dry and comfortable.  And they are so pretty!  They have lived up to my expectations in every way, so much so that I've picked up another ball of Kertzer's On Your Toes DK Boot Sock Yarn, this time in a pretty blue blend. (I can't find a funky name for this one, so perhaps it's been discontinued, but I'm also keeping my eyes peeled for a ball of Meadow Mauve or Wild Child.)  Will this pair make its way into my sock drawer, or will it perhaps make someone a very heartfelt Christmas present? Only time will tell!    The Fireside pair are definitely keepers; they were a labour of love and they still show the evidence of a new knitter.  My second sock turned out a little longer than the first one, although not as dramatically as the picture makes it seem.  However, once they are tucked into my boots, no one can tell the difference.

With two pairs of socks under my belt, it was time to tackle mittens. The funny thing is, I apparently did things backward by starting with socks, since most people do mittens first and then progress to socks. Now that I've made them, I can see the logic in this progression.  Mittens teach you the fundamentals of knitting with four needles without all the extra techniques of socks.

Mittens are fun!  I started with a pair of wristlets (fingerless mitts) which are great because I can start wearing them earlier in the fall than conventional mitts.  I had picked out a spool of charcoal grey angora for this project, and using smaller needles (I think they were 3.5's) I worked away.  I couldn't find a pattern I really liked; most weren't worked in the round, or they were far too advanced for me, so another good friend came over and basically put together a pattern for me.  What good friends I have!  I had started with a pattern that featured extra long cuffs, which I loved because they were different, and hey, no one likes cold wrists!

I was so, so happy with how my wristlet turned out:

  

What I had failed to consider was that the extra long, ribbed cuffs would take up an extra lot of yarn, and so I only have one wristlet!  I am really, really hoping that the yarn shop is still carrying this colour when I get back there (don't even get me started on the dye lot, that would be asking too much!).  My photos aren't really doing them justice, as I was wearing a bracelet when I snapped the photo and therefore they aren't pulled up all the way.  You also can't feel how unbelievably soft and luxurious they are.  They are like puppies wrapped in kittens wrapped in bunnies (angora bunnies, as the case would be):

 Luckily, I had stockpiled yarn, so I had a spool of moss green silk bamboo that I am knitting into another pair of wristlets, this time with regular, one inch cuffs.  So pretty!

I really enjoy knitting; I find it relaxing and rewarding.  I'm itching to learn to crochet now, so I was delighted to see that this week's Housewife 101 at Housewife Bliss is crocheting!  I think that this "modern home economics course" is a brilliant idea, and I'm looking forward to following it as it progresses. I will have to pick up a crochet hook when I'm at the yarn shop!

Have a wonderful week!

Simple Pleasures

I try to keep my mind open to the secret messages my world is trying to send me.  Sometimes the messages come in more obvious forms, such as television commercials, news stories, or Facebook posts.  Sometimes, the messages come from cookies.

Cookies, you say?  Could the Nestygirl have finally gone crazy up there in the mountains of the North?  Do we need to send a search party up there with a pair of heels, some Clinique and a copy of Instyle?  Does she need a filing system in need of alphabetizing and colour coding?  WAS IT THE CUPCAKES????  No, dear readers, I'm fine. No cabin fever yet. But I am telling you the truth, the cookies are speaking to me.

She's mad!!  Send help anon!!!

I'm not even talking about fortune cookies.  I love fortune cookies, but I tend to always get the generic, boring "Peace is found in nature" ones.  My husband, now, the cookies love him.  It's always, "You will receive money in the mail" and "You will protect many people" and "Adventure awaits you on the water."  But like I said, I'm not talking about fortune cookies.  I'm talking about "Simple Pleasures" cookies.  You know the ones, thin, plain little cookies that are actually much more delicious than their simple form suggests?  I picked up a box of lemon ones last weekend to go with the Strawberry Mousse I made for dessert, and ever since, the phrase "simple pleasures" has been floating through my head.  So, now you understand, the cookies are speaking to me.

Suddenly, mood related messages seemed to be everywhere.  This month, one of my favorite magazines, Real Simple, is offering up suggestions on how to "energize your life."  The cover of this month's edition of another favorite magazine, Everyday with Rachel Ray contains the following phrases:

• "Cook With Love, Not Guilt"
• "No-Sweat Party Package"
• "Stress Free Ways to Feed Your Friends"

The message is loud and clear; people are stressing out!  And why?  For Pete's sake, it's summer!  The livin's  supposed to be easy, remember?  So when I got to my cousin Ainsley's Pattycake Manner's post We Need to Chill I raised my hand and said "I second that!"

And then I got some cookies.  Simple Pleasures, eh?  If only cookies could get everyone to chill, how much better off would we all be?  

Part of my new life philosophy is to try my very hardest not to sweat the small stuff; I made a career out of that, and, while it served me well professionally, I really don't feel the need to be so detail oriented in our home life. And life is good!  We put our energies and, when necessary, concern into things that really require it and we move on.  So it makes me sad to see that people are at the point where things that should be pleasures, such as cooking, crafting, entertaining, even, as Ainsley pointed out, blogging, have become sources of stress. 

Cooking? Not feeling inspired in the kitchen?  Here's a little secret; to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever died from eating instant mac & cheese every once in a while.  I have a flat of it stashed in our pantry, and you all know how much I love to cook.  Just pour everyone a glass of juice to go with it.  They'll survive.

Crafting?  Unless it's your income source, crafting is supposed to be fun, so if it's stressing you out, put it away.  I have a pile a scrap-booking projects awaiting completion, but you know what?  I'm not in the mood right now. I can't scrapbook on the patio with a glass of wine, and summer won't last forever so I'm going to enjoy my patio while I can.  My paper and pictures aren't going anywhere, and I'll feel like doing it again soon, but in the meantime, I'll read, or knit, or play with my dogs.  And drink wine on the patio.

Entertaining?  I'll give you that one, it can stress out even the most seasoned party planner.  I love to throw a party, but I've been known to whimper "Martha didn't cover this" as my grill won't heat or the temperature drops to near freezing in July.  If it stresses you out badly, don't entertain.  You don't have to.  Really.  Invite people to a restaurant, or have a campfire.  But seriously, if big parties aren't your thing, don't throw them. 

Blogging? I agree with Ains, we need to chill out.  Again, as with crafts, if your blog is your income source, then yes, it could be a source of stress if you have requirements to meet.  But for those of us who blog for ourselves, for fun, and to be a part of a community, don't let it become work to the point that you dread blogging.  Take a vacation, simplify your posts, scale back the "hops" and "blog parties" you participate in, and enjoy your summer.

To that end, here's some of the "Simple Pleasures" I've been enjoying:

• Knitting - I finally finished my Fireside Red boot socks!  My friend Tasha of Fibre Rox stopped by to help me with my Kitchener Stitch, and they are awesome!  I've started some charcoal grey angora wristlets; the yarn is so soft and pretty, you can feel your blood pressure just loooooowering down!
• Reading - I just finished The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb.  I have my two new magazines, and I'll be starting Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin for book club soon (although I am really liking Mrs. Bliss's idea about starting a Wine Club, too!)
• My dogs - Regular readers of my blog will know by now how in love I am with my pups Molly and Tinkywink.  I know not everyone is a dog person, but I tend to agree with Bernard Williams that "There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face."
• Cooking - My kitchen is my happy place.  When I watched Julie & Julia and heard Julie Powell say "I love that after a day when nothing is sure, and when I say "nothing" I mean nothing, you can come home and absolutely know that if you add egg yolks to chocolate and sugar and milk, it will get thick.  It's such a comfort,"  I understood. Last night I made a glazed lemon cake, and the sight of it in my cake safe makes me happy.  Tonight, I made primavera-ish pasta sauce and added some fresh basil leaves that I grew myself.  That made me happy.
• Naps - One of the really nice things about not working is that, if I want to, I can take a mid-day nap.  They are wonderful!!!

 These are just a few of the things I'm doing to live my life well. As we head into the weekend, I encourage you to listen to the cookies in your life, and embrace simple pleasures.  Summer is short, so enjoy it!!!

Today I am linking to Housewife Bliss' Fabulous Nest Friday, as well as New Friend Friday, which is co-hosted by The Girl Creative and Trendy Treehouse. 

 

Pretty With (Re)Purpose!

If I had to pick one thing that all scrapbookers have in common, I would have to say it would most likely be....their stash!!!!


I'm not talking about the twizzlers behind the paper boxes or the bottle of cabernet stashed under the sink for "inspiration" (although those both sound like fine ideas...).  I'm referring to the shelves, boxes, filing cabinets, you name it, full of 12X12 sheets of patterned papers, cardstock, ribbons, buttons, brads, rivets, clips, cutouts, chipboard cutouts, fabric cutouts, alphabets, tags, shiny flowery thingies, glitter, ephemera...did I mention 12x12 paper?

You get the idea.  Scrappers love stuff, we are creative beings that for the most part create because we are inspired...and nothing is more inspiring than pretty stuff!  And there's nothing wrong with that!  Scrapbookers are always challenging themselves to use up their stash, in fact right now I am trying to not buy anything else until I use up some of my existing stash.  But there is one part of my stash that I sometimes find extra challenging to use, and that's my scraps.  Often in scrapbooking you will cut into a piece of paper and will have some of it left over.  I keep almost all of my scraps and try really hard to use them up.  But the pile is there and sometimes I feel guilty about the waste, especially when I've only used a small part of the paper.


Finally, the other day, while I was changing the garbage of all things, inspiration struck.  I really think I'm a genius for coming up with this one.


You know those giant 454 gram tubs of spinach that you can buy? The ones that come in the big plastic container that isn't recyclable in many areas?  Well, I was about to cram one of those containers into a garbage bag when I thought, not for the first time, isn't there anything I can do with this besides sending it off to the landfill?  I took a closer look. These containers are well made, they have a lid that fits well, they are clear...really the only difference between them and a lot of other plastic bins is the label on top.


And then it hit me...the label could be covered...with....it's getting clearer....SCRAPS!!!!

 As you can see here, once inspiration hit I wasn't limited to spinach containers!  I'd been holding onto a few empty Tetley tea containers for awhile for the same reason, they were so well designed that it seemed like a waste to just thow them away. 


I took my "supplies" and headed for my craft room to create.  Once I was finished I had four snazzy new containers to use for storage, gift wrap, or organizing.

The best part is that this project is incredibly easy and fast! 

Start by taking a piece of plain white paper and press it into the inner most indent of the spinach container lid. Then, trim around the indentation and you now have a template for cutting out your paper.  Go though your scrap stash and find a piece of paper that will fit your template.  For my project I used sassorted scraps of Stampin Up Designer Series Paper in Razzleberry Lemonade (all four projects).  Once you've decided on your paper, trace the template onto the wrong side of the paper with a pencil, and then trim it with scissors.  Keep trimming until the fit is perfect! 

Once you are sure that your paper is perfectly trimmed, get out some good craft glue.  I like Aleene's Original Tacky Glue because it dries clear and bonds different surfaces together well (like shiny plastic to paper).  Apply glue to the wrong side of the paper, trying not to apply it too thick.  Then, carefully position the paper in place in the indentation on the lid.  Apply gentle pressure to the paper to ensure that there aren't any lumps and that the paper adheres to the lid.  Let dry.  If you wish, you can trace another template for the inside of the lid, as the label will show through on the inside (I wasn't able to remove all of the label).  This isn't necessary but it looks nice, especially if you are using the container to wrap a gift.  Once the glue is dry, you can place it back on the container and start thinking of what you want to do with your beautiful new designer container!  I've already decided to save the next three to help organize my coat closet.  I'm going to assign one to myself, one to my husband, and one for the dogs, to hold all the "things" that are always floating around in the closet (hats, gloves, leashes). 

Spinach Bin Container Holding Yarn

  The next project is to use up those tea canisters! The best thing about the Tetley canisters is their lids; since they sink into the tube they won't tear the paper (as potato chip tube lids and coffee tin lids can).  For each tin, I cut a strip of paper 7.5 cm wide by 24.5 cm long from scraps (also SU Razzleberry Lemonade).  I dabbed craft glue on the wrong side of the paper and, on the edge of the paper that will be seen, I applied a strip of Stampin' Up Snail Adhesive on the wrong side of the paper. Then I removed the lid from the canister, took a strip of paper, lined the edge of the paper up with the seam of the canister label, and held it in place with a piece of scotch tape.

I then wrapped the paper around the canister slowly, making sure to line up the edges and smooth the paper where the glue was.  When I reached the end, the Snail Adhesive held the edge cleanly in place.  That's all there is to it!  If you like you can embellish the tins a bit.  For the pink tin I used a scrap of Stampin' Up grosgain ribbon in a pretty spring green, and a few dollar store floral embellishments.


Here are my completed projects!

As you can see, this is a simple project but one that is satisfying because the results are attractive, useful, and green!  I will leave you with a few more images of how I used my new containers.

Holding yarn (I'm a wool snob!)

Pen Cup

Craft room organizers.

Simply Lovely - The Simple Woman's Daybook

Hello!  Happy Tuesday!  Are you surprised to hear from me?  Although I am still keeping to my regular posting schedule (New content Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays!!) my cousin Ains at Pattycake Manners recently sent me a link to a wonderful blog called The Simple Woman's Day Book.  As soon as I read her blog I knew it was something I would enjoy participating in, so I will occasionally be linking to it on Tuesdays.  I strongly encourage you to check it out, too (just follow the link above)!

The Nesty Girl's Day Book, 
Tuesday May 4, 2010

Outside my window...Snow capped mountains

I am thinking...that I'm happy my dogs have stopped barking :)
I am thankful for...my happy life

From the kitchen...Root Beer Floats!
I am wearing...a turquoise t-shirt and jeans
I am creating...warm wool socks in "Fireside Red"
I am going...home in July!!!
I am reading...Real Simple Magazine, and the new National Geographic (shortly,with coffee!)
I am hoping...the dogs stay quiet ;)

Be good, little babies!

I am hearing...muffled sounds of hammering and power-saws (but it's not unpleasant!)
Around the house...Pitter patter of my Yorkie's feet
One of my favorite things...My vintage lusterware tea set that my mother-in-law gave me
A few plans for the rest of the week...Write, knit, scrapbook, perhaps wash the Jeep.

Jeep Picnicks

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

It was one year ago this week that we arrived in Kitimat!

Photographic Memories

Like many, many people, I Facebook.

I actually held out for a long time.  But finally, when my email flow had all but dried up, when I grew tired of being the last to know, and fascination got the better of me, I folded and signed up for the social networking site.  And instantly, I was hooked.  I was amazed (and still am) at the people from high school, university, drama groups and beyond that sent me friend requests.  Eventually I got up the nerve to start sending requests of my own to long lost friends, and some of my most frequent (and relevant) commenters are people who's friendships I valued very much but had drifted apart from due to time, geography, and life.  And so, while I acknowledge that there is a lot about Facebook that gets on my nerves, I freely admit that I love Facebook and enjoy my daily (erhm, make that twice, thrice, oh leave me alone, I live 6000 miles from home) fix!

One of my favorite things about Facebook is pictures.  I'm talking about the well put together albums with obvious thought behind them that share something relevant, not the ridiculous dumping of hundreds of mobile phone party pics.  As mentioned above, I live far, far from home, and pictures help me feel "part of the loop."  Also interesting are the occasional "old" pictures that people post.  Yearbook photos, baby pictures, even snaps from high school, stumbling across a blast from the past always makes me smile.  Especially since it means that someone went through the trouble of sitting down with their scanner and a shoebox (or two or three) of pictures and scanning them in.

A few years ago, before one of our bi-annual family reunions, my aunt Merle tackled a huge pile of family photos and digitally captured them.  I shudder to think how long it took her, but I'm really grateful she did this.  Photos, after all, are simply paper with photographic emulsion, and are famously vulnerable to moisture and time.  Anyone who's ever opened a photo album or scrapbook only to find it's pages sealed and it's precious memories destroyed knows the value of digital images.

I was delighted when, a few weeks ago, my aunt started uploading many of these images to her Facebook albums.  Reading my family's comments, and adding my own, was almost like an online family reunion.  Some photos made me laugh out loud, others made me cry.  But there was one photo that made me stop, froze my fingers on my keypad, and transported me back 28 years to a time before scanners, external hard drives, and social networking...

From left, me, my mother Arlene, and my sister Jamie

I'm six in this photo.  Jamie and I are wearing our new Lopi sweaters that our Nana Maxner had knit for us.  Our hats are souvenirs from a trip to a Mennonite village in Saskatchewan the year before.  I remember this afternoon well; there are actually quite a few pictures floating around of Jamie and I running around our grandparent's back yard in our new sweaters on a picture perfect Cape Breton autumn afternoon.  I suspect this picture was taken at the end of the photo session, as Jamie looks decidedly tired and I am gazing dreamily at the stick I am holding.  (I liked sticks a lot as a kid.  Always had one lying around.)  We are content to sit still on a sun warmed rock while the photographer captures one image of us with our Mom, looking casually stylish in a hand knit sweater of her own.

Finding this photo made me happy.  As I am busy setting up my new home, I am of course perusing our artwork and trying to decide what to put where, and what new should I add?  I have been toying around with the idea of putting out some new pictures of both of our families, especially ones like these, which, while not perfectly composed in a photographer's studio, capture more light, love, and emotion than any well-lit Photo Shopped creation in an artful brushed steel frame.  I'll be adding this jpeg to my zip drive and printing it off soon, so as to proudly display a vintage memory in my modern home.

Happy Feet!

Well, there was big excitement around here lately!  After many long nights, close calls, and muttered cusses, I've done it!

I've finished my first pair of socks!

I was very happy to have achieved this because every time I've attempted to learn to knit, it was the thought of home-made socks and mittens that I had in mind.  As I've mentioned before, all my previous attempts at learning to knit ended a few short centimeters off the end of a needle.  But this time something clicked and I actually started finishing projects.  Every time I would complete a project I felt a bit more like I would actually achieve my goal of toasty warm hands and feet.  

Anyone who's ever learned to knit understands the process involved.  Most people start with a simple project, like a scarf or a dish cloth, something that can be worked simply on two needles using basic stitches and techniques.  You'll struggle with stitch tension, trying heroically to scrape squeaky tight stitches off one needle to another. In time you will master the basics and then perhaps move on to using a round needle (LOVE round needles!) and make a toque.  Now, the round needles are tons of fun, but if you're anything like me, ambition will start to pick at you and you will want to take the plunge and try socks and mittens.  And that means one thing - knitting on four needles.

In all honestly, prior to learning how to knit I couldn't wrap my head around how people knit on four needles.  I thought surely that these folks must have hands possessed by magical wool-working craft fairies that showed their fingers where to go.  It makes no sense!!! And yet, it does!  It really does and once you've been properly shown how, there's no turning back!  It's great!

So, I decided to start with socks.  In retrospect, mittens may have been easier to start with.  There is actually more to knitting socks then just mastering knitting on four needles.  You will also have to learn to "turn the heel" and form the toe using "kitchener stitch."  "Turning the heel" went swimmingly for me despite a few errors with a technique know as "slip slip knit" or "SSK."  Let's just say that it's a small miracle that I have socks.  The toe, not so good.  One piece of advice that I kept hearing was to look up videos of techniques on YouTube.  I chose not to do that for sock number one, but did check out a few for sock number two. I found two great videos from Craft TV for both SSK and Kitchener stitch.  I still had some trouble with the Kitchener stitch so I am going to get a little help with it for my second pair. 

I have some great wool for my next pair; SRK On Your Toes DK Boot Sock Yarn with Aloe Vera by Kertzer.  It's 75% superwash wool and 25% nylon, so it should make a nice, weighty sock that will wear well and be comfy.  It's a pretty red (actually, it's two reds twisted together!) called "Fireside".  I've only gotten a couple of inches knit on the leg of the first sock but it's looking very "old school," like socks I might've had as a kid.  I like that it's heavier because I wear Doc Martens a lot and I find they need a heavier sock.

My first socks!

My first socks, pictured here, are worked using Patons Kroy Socks in Mulberry Stripes.  This wool is a lighter weight so it makes a more traditional feeling sock in terms of thickness.  It comes in a variety of self-patterning stripes and jacquards, as well as some solids.  Working with the self-patterning stripe wool was fun but I would suggest a solid for a first time sock maker as I had to be conscious of where I started my sock so that the socks would match.  As you can see in the photo, when I messed up the toe I messed up the pattern. However, these are my first socks and while they aren't perfect, I'm quite proud of them!  I was pleased to get them finished; some friends were telling me about "second sock syndrome" which occurs once you've finished sock number one and never get back to finishing sock number two! I can understand this; I was so excited when I finished that first sock, mistakes and all, and then I had to pick up and start all over again!  But I did, and now I have cute cozy Mulberry Stripe socks to keep my feet warm!  

By fall, I mean to have a drawer-full!