Major Knitter

Progress Despite the Heat

It's hot, hot, hot.  I even have proof.

Yet, despite the heat and humidity, I managed to make some progress on my Jambo socks

I love this Regia Kaffe Fassett sock yarn.  It's beautiful and makes a wonderful pattern.  The other Scouters are so impressed that I can knit without looking AND create such a beautiful complicated pattern.  Let's not tell them the secret to these socks, 'kay? 

Knitting in the Great Outdoors

I wouldn't be Major Knitter if I didn't knit everywhere I go.  So true to form, I'm knitting in black flag heat index under a rubber tent (which simply makes it hotter!)

 

Sorry, it's a photo from my cell phone which apparently isn't that good.  Hmmm.  Maybe an iphone is in my future...

I'm having a blast.  I think my favorite sight so far is this:

 

There are vending machines all over the place.  They look cool and refreshing.  
 
 

Finishing Friday - Blue Madder Rib Socks

In all the excitement of Jambo, I nearly forgot to post pictures of my latest FO - the Madder Rib Socks.

Here's a shot of the socks inside-out so you can see the actual ribbing.

 

And here's a picture of the socks right-side out so you can see the subtle ribbing:

 

Details:

Needles:  US Size 1 needles
Yarn:  Alpaca with a Twist - Socrates
Sts:  Cast on 72 sts

These socks are very soft and will be toasty warm come winter!

 

What Knitting Project to Pack

I spent about a half hour going through my sock yarn SABLE (stash acquired beyond life expectancy) to find some self-striping yarn for easy mindless socks to knit while at the 2010 National Jamboree.  I selected these yarns:

 

But despite being pretty yarns, they weren't speaking to me.  So while I was out running errands the next day, I made a quick stop into my LYS - Westport Yarns - and told them I was in search of sock yarn with nylon in it (my new requirement for socks).  There was only one problem - there was so much yarn to choose from, I couldn't narrow it down to just one.

Beautiful colors, right?  I wanted self-striping yarn, but I couldn't resist the Cascade Yarns in olive green.  I am at the National Scout Jamboree afterall.  Now I have to decide which two socks to take with me. 

 

All Our Bags Are Packed

They're ready to go.  They're standing here, outside the door.

 

I can hardly wait for the 100th Anniversary adventure to begin.  Will I see you at Fort AP Hill?

 

The Guilford Craft Expo

This past weekend BF and I took his mother to the Guilford Craft Expo and spent an hour or so wandering around the tents on the historic Guilford Green visiting the various artisans from across the country.  I was so glad we went, because I've been interested in visiting this fair for many years, but never seemed to make it.

The crafts were amazing, but of course, me being me, my eye was drawn to the more mundane things that pertain to the fair, namely the knots.

Here's a jumbo stake with some ropes wrapped around it and an imitation taut-line hitch.  (Scouts notice these things!)  Fascinating. 

 

While there were many beautiful things at the fair, I'm not much of a shopper and only purchased a few practical things that I'm always drawn to at craft fairs - hand carved utensils.  These three spoons/spatulas were made by David Levy of Hardwood Creations.  I love my new spoons already.  

How about you?  What do you like to purchase at craft fairs?

Her Own Little Cuddly

Wilma, aka Girly Girl, always amuses me.  She amuses our guests to no end.  She makes other worldly sounds of all kinds.  She does things that are very un-girly like.  But some things she does are simply adorable.  Like this for example:

Wilma has been sleeping with this little stuffed penguin for weeks now.  She hugs it.  She gently moves it from place to place.  I think it's her surrogate child.  I think I should call it Pebbles. 

It's True What They Say

Don't you hate it when something so cliche rings true to your ears?  I can hear my mother's generation warning how time flies quickly the older you get.  Of course, when I was a child, I tried to make sense of that.  It seemed true:  first and second grade seemed to last forever; but by middle school (which we called junior high back in the day) the weeks, months and years seemed to fly by.  Now, time flies by so quickly I wish I could press the pause button just to enjoy every minute of it.  Instead, I use my blog and my digital camera to capture as much of it as possible in real time.  That's what's been happening this summer: so much going on; so much excitement; so little to blog about.  It's only the middle of July and I've already been to summer camp; hosted three sets of guests at the house; prepared for another big adventure; raised money for summer camp funds; had some wonderful dinners in the city; enjoyed not one, but two amazing concerts (Huey Lewis and the News and Sting's amazing Symphonicity).  It's hard to believe that all this has happened and summer isn't even half over!  

So I guess what I'm trying to say to you is that if you don't hear that much from me this summer, don't worry.  Please know that I'm having a wonderful time and am simply too busy to keep up with everything.

My LYS Meets the Press

I've been quiet and very busy lately - so not a lot of posting.  I think that might be the status quo this summer so I can focus on the summer fun and less on wool and work.  But today, with relatively little stress on my part, I bring you a post about knitting, specifically about my local yarn store - Westport Yarns.

Check out this article in our local newspaper - Westport News

I Judged This Book By Its Cover

I went to Barnes & Noble to buy a summer read, and the book I wanted wasn't available.  In the meantime, this cover caught my eye.

 

I don't know if I'll like the book, but I sure was drawn to the handknit blanket on the cover.