1. Teresa is still pregnant. (She is delighted, let me tell you.) Since finishing the knitting didn’t work instantly, I’m hoping to make the baby jealous by beginning to knit for another baby.
This is my swatch, a sleeve for the Voss Dale of Norway baby sweater. I’m using Baby Ull and it’s knit on 2.5mm needles. (There’s a picture of the sweater here, but mine’s the baby version and this shows the kid one. Close though.)
I’m upholding my personal swatch philosophy here. The sleeve of a baby sweater IS a swatch. I mean, what would you knit to test gauge that would be smaller? The sleeve is in the round so the swatch will be accurate, and if the goddess smiles on me then I have a sleeve. If not, well….I have a swatch. Really, the only thing wrong with this system is how long it took me to learn to cast on the sleeve instead of the body. Chronically slow learner here.
2. The TSF pins. All talk of the TSF pins and what will be done with them in on hold for two weeks. If you sent me an email offering help or suggesting something…don’t worry. I have it, and when I am ready, I’ll email you.
3. My manuscript (bookbookbook3) has to be on my editors desk in it’s entirety, in two weeks. Until then you will have to forgive me spotty blogging, poor grammar (more than usual), blatantly ripping off other blog formats (thanks again for the random thing Mamacate) and the occasional sobbing jag, sleep deprived rant or apparent lack of will to live.
(Sounds like it’s going to be a funny book eh?)
4. When Sam was Trick or Treating, she went up to one house and when she came back to the curb we had the following conversation:
Sam: That house was really scary.
Me: Really? Inside or Outside? (Since the house was not decorated on the outside, I assumed that they must have gone to town in their foyer or something.)
Sam: Inside.
Me: Lots of Hallowe’en decorations eh?
Sam: I don’t think they had decorated.
5. I will now distract you from the lack of coherency with presents.
Karlie has this beautiful bracelet she made
and it will be making it’s way to Mary B. (Don’t you sort of want to know how she made that? I say “sort of” because I think that if you knew how to do it, you might spend your whole day messing with beads, and that would cut into the knitting time.)
Sandra D. (I love typing that. I bet Sandra got sick of that song from Grease a long, long time ago…but I think it’s still funny.) has all of this for TSF’ers.
The Green Mountain Spinner Knitting book, which is wonderful…I have a copy upstairs and I love the “Easy Raglan” with the cabled edges. Sandra’s mailing it to Anj – aka Purlewe.
Sandra’s sending this copy of Alice Starmore’s Celtic Collection to
Teresa. (Not my pregnant one, but the one I emailed.)
and Jean Moss Designer Knits to Kelli Ann F.
Cervinia sock yarn (I haven’t used this one…) to Shelby M.
(Let me know what you think of it)
Regia sock yarn to Vicky (The one I emailed)
Lang Jawoll sock yarn to Rachel T. (am I the only one sort of coming to the conclusion that Sandra may have a pretty big stash of sock yarns?)
and last, but certainly not least, this lovely Louet Gems Pearl is going to live with Marian C.
I’ve emailed all the lucky picks, so if you’re wondering if it’s you, check your inbox.
6. Laurie (That Laurie) has taken the time to write us a spectacular guest blog series on the joys of dyeing with Indigo. (It’s really good.) I’ll be posting it here over the next two weeks as I need a little room to focus on the last bit of the book-in-progress. Her last tutorial was so good to I know you’re going to love this. Once again, I’d like to thank That Laurie for giving me the gift of time and sanity.
7. I forget what 7 was. I’m going to go write a book now.
I love your swatch philosophy as it is close to my own. Good luck with the next deadline. Any time you want to rant, I’ll listen.
Another book?? Oh my gosh!! I am envious of people who can writewritewrite and make it look so easy. I’ve constant writer’s block.
Um, “pretty big stash” of sock yarns would be a gross understatement. Pretty big stash, period, would be a gross understatement. When I moved in with DL, I added a garage and finished out the basement so I’d have room for it (NOT exagerating).
Go Steph – write, write, write – you’ll do it! In the meantime, I’m re-reading “Stash, and Why You Want It.”
What a lovely swatch! I get so jealous of people who can do such pretty color work.
What are you doing reading comments. You have a book to finish. No dilly-dallying! Now go get writing!
Any baby would be so lucky to receive the swatch. It’s going to grow into a beautiful sweater. Write Steph, write. See Steph write and not on the blog!
Here’s hoping Teresa has a speedy delivery so you can get back to writing.
(Have I told you I’ve already preordered bookbookbook3? – get writing dude!)
The Stella’s on me when you’re done!
What do you MEAN, she’s still pregnant? How can that be? The shawl is done!
I don’t even know this woman, and I’m getting antsy now. As for spotty blogging and rants for the next couple weeks, don’t sweat it. As long as you post the moment this lucky babe is born. Tell Teresa she’s got a lot of wacky strangers rooting for her now.
Please tell use Teresa doesn’t have to stay pregnant for two more weeks while you finish the book!!! And no sobbing quietly on the kitchen floor this time, y’hear?
First, the sleeve is gorgeous, the pattern is gorgeous, even I’m jealous of the baby. Second, how the heck do you write book after book with no break? I’m so glad, though.
stop reading and write now. we all love you and stand behind every word. actually, we all stand right behind your right shoulder and read while you write but don’t let that hinder you in any way!
Wow, that’s some baby sweater! Where does the green come in?
Good luck on the writing, we’re all looking forward to bookbookbook3! When you need a break or a change of scenery, we’ll be here.
See Harlot. See Harlot write.
Write, Halot, write.
Hi! I’ve been reading your blog for a while and this is my first comment. What are the odds of you being in San Antonio on your next bookbookbook tourtourtour?
Oops. I meant,
Write, Harlot, write.
There’s an r in there, isn’t there.
Hey – I’ve made that sweater, except for it’s in charcoal and white, and it’s in the heavier Dale yarn, and it was for me! It was great fun to knit.
BTW, I was in Toronto last week for a conference – went to Lettuce Knits and Romni – and did a fair bit of credit card damage. Love Queen St W!
Are you suffering ego death because finishing the shawl didn’t make Teresa go instantly into labour? I mean, Rams’ point is valid – maybe the baby wanted Auntie Stephie to be well rested for the birth (although any baby that would leave its mother in Theresa’s state this long is unlikely to have much consideration for Auntie Stephie) – but maybe not. I’ve never noticed that babies had any particular awareness of the needs of others, what with their being helpless infants.
Get back to work. That is all.
Love and kisses….
Teresa, Teresa, Teresa! All this “TERESA” talk and none of it is about this TERESA! Oh well, I am actually happy for TERESA the book winner (we TERESA’s must stick together you know), and I am hoping TERESA delivers here baby soon (I am not at all envious of the latter TERESA, even if I am a little envious of the former TERESA). Anyway, that baby sweater is fantastic-those are some darn lucky babies that have you around, I tell ya.
Indigo, indigo, indigo!!!!! I can’t WAIT!
Norma, do you mock?
😉
All your deadlines kinda clumped on you, huh. Happens to me with indexing all the time. What do you want to bet she’ll wait to have that baby until two days before the book is due?
Don’t forget to wash your swatch! Mine grows in the wash, as I know yours does too.
BTW – Book two is a good read. I lent my copy of book one to my mother, who read and enjoyed it, and it is currently residing with my mother-in-law for a while. I would have bought them a copy, but while they are both knitters, they are not Knitters. That title goes to me!
Take care of yourself dear. We adore reading all these books and seeing you on your book tour, but do remember that you are of a quality that does not go out of style, and hopefully give yourself a little more time between books in the next contract, kay? Not that we’re not grateful, we just don’t want a spontaneously-combusting yarn harlot on our hands. Now, to take my own advice…
You’re not helping me with the startitis. I think that bracelet was knitted. Ellen at Earthfaire has kits for the bead-impaired like myself. And the Dale sweater? How cute would my kids look in that?
I’m off to invest in coffee futures.
Best of luck finishing the book. You can do it! Know that a bunch of whacked knitters are all thinking good thoughts in your direction.
Hi!
I have the same swatch philosophy as you, I learned it from my grandmother!
And she knitted ‘Vossakofter’ all the time!!!
All the boys and men in my childhood had Vossakofte!
A ‘Vossakofte’ is shown here:
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/6880/vossakofte013xx.jpg
Hugs from Norway
Virtuella
http://virtuella.blogdrive.com
Previous lurker here…Making the other baby jealous! LOL!! That beautiful shawl would be hard to beat… but that sweater’s looking awfully nice!
I just downloaded your Snowdrop shawl pattern – trying to decide if I’m woman enough to tackle it! Soooooo pretty – maybe I’ll just go slow, and make it a lifelong project!
What I want to know is how many Teresa’s read this blog. I didn’t get the book either, nor am I pregnant. Although like the 3rd Teresa who didn’t win, I am happy for the book winner and wishing pregnant Teresa has her baby soon.
I am hoping to learn colourwork after Christmas. Thanks for the advice on starting with the baby sleeve.
I too am impressed by the speed of books. Especially since you’re trying to encourage births at the same time.
Happy writing. Remember, sleep helps you think better and be less cranky. Don’t deprive yourself too much. I’m speaking from experience!
Lovely swatch, too.
Wow that sweater swatch looks fantastic, what lucky baby! I like that idea too… do the arms first… well I guess that saves you from having a front and back and too sick of it to finish the sleeves… or am I the only one who has that happen?
Oh my gosh! I am so pleased to be writing you. I just finished reading Knit Wits – Laughed myself to sleep for nights! Thank you so much for admitting truths that we dare not!!
I have just started this blogging thing and don’t know exactly what I’m doing – other than trying to meet more knitters and stitch and bitch together.
Do you have any tips to pass on to new knitting bloggers? Should I join a ring? etc etc…..
Just what I need – more to do!
Thanks again
Julie
lol, yet a fith Teresa chimming in… wonder if we COULD get a head count of Teresa’s who read the blog….. lol, but not right now! work on that book first!
If you started knitting a second baby item for Teresa, would the present baby simply be delayed further, or would she wind up (eventually) with twins?
Nice swatch, Ms. Harlot–I’m particularly impressed because I was trying to improve my skills on dpns last night with a hat, some wool worsted, and #$%##$%$# aluminum needles. I do believe I’ve invented some new swear words–the hat came out okay (if you don’t look on the inside and see the heinous knitting violations I perpetrated in the name of not having to weave in 32 orange ends of yarn for 1.5 stitches per end) but not nearly as lovely as this baby sleeve… and I bet you’ve not dropped a stitch in at least a week, so color me impressed! (of course your funny blog and lovely philosophy has already done so:-)
Shanny Mac, the Red-Heart Ho:-)
What #7 your progrees on the Socks that Rock? Not that I’ve been sitting on pins and needles waiting to see the results or anything 😀
Teresa number six raising her hand here! Hello to all the other Teresas! (who knew there were so many, and all spelled correctly!). Can’t wait to read bookbookbook3, Steph. Write, harlot, write!
Um, a Dale of Norway sweater for a baby? Does it have steeks? Lady, I think you’re out of your ever-loving mind.
What if you get cold feet and the baby can’t be born until you work up the courage to cut the armholes? It doesn’t even bear thinking about, talk about pressure. The swatch sure is lovely, though.
I love this whole Teresa thing….if we get anymore we are going to have to start putting numbers by our names. All through school, there was only one other Teresa, and she spelled hers with an ‘h’ (no disrespect to the ‘h’ spellers, but those who spell it sans ‘h’ know what I am talking about). I have found “my people”…
Did you see the Amazon rank? Yesterday it was 33,398 and today (well, a few minutes ago anyhow) it was 10,209. At this rate I would suggest you get your little fanny in gear. Read ya in a couple weeks!
An indigo tutorial would be beyond delightful.
I’m having one of those “I’ll go write a book now” days, too.
I ameliorated the pain with chocolate bought off my daughter.
Could be worse – I could be stealing…
Auntie Rams, see what you did? That poor lady’s still pregnant and from the looks of things Steph’s not gonna get much actual rest in the next couple of weeks anyway.
I’m only not screamingly jealous of Rachel T coz I have that sock yarn in a similar colour in my limited, but wants to grow up to be like Sandra D’s stash. I am, however, screamingly jealous of Sandra D’s stash.
Stephanie,
While I am thrilled at the thought of a third book, I am a little concerned: there are only 51 more knitting days until Christmas. By exclusively writing for the next 14 days, you are leaving yourself only 37 days to complete the impossible list of gifts that you have inevitably decided to make. While I realize that you have analyzed this holiday phenomenon based on past years experiences, and that you and your family have highly developed coping strategies, you may have bit off more than you can chew (or knit) this year.
You know, it’s funny, I was just thinking before I caught up on the last couple of entries that my friend K might not have her baby until I finish the blankie I’m knitting for it. I’ve been procrastinating with only a few rows left of simple, simple garter stitch…and I just can’t seem to do it. Am I being cruel? Maybe. Maybe I have the same power and will soon be affecting birth weights here in NB.
Off to dilly-dally a little longer. And then I swear I’ll finish. Right after I wrap someone else’s birthday presents.
BEAUTIFUL shawl by the way. Hope Teresa’s little one is swaddled in it soon.
Coming out of lurker mode long enough to be counted as #7 (thanks for leaving out the H, Mom!), to wish the Snowflake-mom Teresa a baby pretty enough to outshine the shawl, to envy the Celtic Collection winning Teresa, and to join the other Teresas and readers in cheering Stephanie on to her deadline – you can do it!
I know that washing out the egg tray and hand collecting the dust bunnies and emptying out the pockets of every coat in the house and writing a blog entry are all part of the process of getting those words down on paper. You are doing it, and it is good. Trust me that we will like it. Really. xo
You *swatched*??? I don’t understand!
🙂
Good luck with number three! You do your best work under pressure – we’ve got the proof in bookbookbook and number two! (which is not a number two, if you get my drift)
And I sorta hoped that Teresa’s baby would arrive on my birthday, when it was due but no such luck….
Gee, I sure hope that Teresa’s baby isn’t waiting until bookbookbook 3 is finished! She’ll be pretty mad at you then!
Your readers might want to know that you can donate on an automatic monthly basis. That’s what I’m doing. I’ll be donating $10 a month. Not a lot, but I’m on a pension and every bit helps, I’m sure.
Hi Steph. I am working on improving my tension in color work and am AMAZED at how gorgeous that pre-blocked sleeve/swatch is. Do you carry both yarns in one hand? Use the two-handed method? Newby stranders want to know!
Keep writing but don’t forget the all important knitting breaks. My dissertation might have been completed in one year instead of three if I had ever been able to make my knit breaks shorter than my writing breaks.
Gosh, I hope Teresa (the one who’s now past her due date, not the rest of you) goes into labor soon. Whew. That tiny sleeve is ridiculously beautiful. I have yet to try colorwork, but I’m gearing up to. I don’t know if your sleeve/swatch is inspiring or intimidating (or maybe a little of both). Good luck with your writing! You are truly a force of nature.
First absolutely loved the first book, went and bought one for my best knitting buddy for her birthday because I DIDN’T want to part with mine 😉 Am reading the second now, fantastic, can’t wait for no.3.
Second, I am so envious of all who can do the knitting with 4 DPneedles. I so look like a major KLUTZOID, have avoided all patterns even looking for 2 needle mitten patterns….help?? advice anyone??
Thanks for the great books and site,
bets
ps Teresa….all great things are worth waiting for, including precious bundles…good luck!!
bets: Try an internet search on “clover mini circulars” and see if they might appeal to you…
I am reading your book right now and am so inspired to become a better Knitter. Thanks…. I am amazed at the baby sweater! (FYI: I am stash busting right now and it is taking every ounce of restraint not to go to my LYS and but new…. wish me well!)
S.Kate,
Thanks for the suggestion, I will do that.
bets
The faster you write- the sooner we get to read- if only you could write as fast as you knit—
GO Harlot- Go Harlot— i already finished the other books- will knit till this ones out—-;) well- thats a suck up lie—- i DO read others— sorry—- 😉
Is there word processing voice recognition software that can understand Canadian? 😉
Then you could knit while you dictate book thoughts to the computer…
Nice idea S.Kate but we’d know when she’d dropped a stitch/messed up the pattern/pulled the wrong needle out of the sock heap by the entertaining language. I suppose she could auto replace “arse” with “to recap” and no-one would ever know.
..but her Canadian “colour commentary” might be so delightfully funny in itself!
Steph: *Coffee, chocolate, create copy* repeat until you have a book.
…telepathing encouragement to you, oh bookwriting bubalah!
bets or anyone else looking for 2 needle mitten patterns, Patons has some. They are in a vintage book “Gloves & Mitts” Beehive Book #406 but it’s been reprinted as book #500406. You can paste this URL into your browser,
http://www.patonsyarns.com/patternbook.php?PBS=500406
to see what it looks like.
Liza {who’s using the pattern on pg. 11 right now}
I feel strangely jealous that my name isn’t Teresa
The Swatch, the fiber, the tutorial – Gorgeous, yummy, COOL – respectively =)
I did not, no matter how many time I have read and reread this post, see the words, “And Sandy wins the mittens.”
xo
but I love you anyway.
🙂
I can’t think about your books while knitting ….. I get laughing and drop stitches.
PS I hope you saw me raising my needles after reading the intro to Yarn Harlot!
What kind of sadistic book publisher demands a knitting book from a knitter within 3 months of Christmas???!!!! They are heartless; take care of yourself, ’cause we don’t wanna be Hartlot-less while you enjoy a nervous breakdown—because it is all about US, you know.