Oh, there I am.

The bad news is that I’m so busy that I only have time to drop-in on my own blog for a moment.

The good news is that I dealt with a whole pile of papers, messages, bills, bits and pieces that were sitting beside the computer glaring at me for being a slacker. (We shall not dwell on what the world would have had to say about me if my hydro had been cut off because I was too busy with the Knitting Olympics to pay the bill. They lock people up for less. I’m sure of it.)

The other good news is that I appear to have finished my big needle garter stitch phase along with finishing this shawl.

Gsttichshm

This is the Fleece Artist “Soft wrap” kit knit up in a triangle instead of a rectangle.

Gsttichshosh

I cast on one stitch, then increased at the beginning of each row, changed yarns at the beginning of each row, left the ends hanging and knotted them up when I was done. Instant fab, and it could have been bigger too…I ran out of the will to knit it before I ran out of the yarn. The left-overs have been gifted to Megan, who has enough for a scarf but said that she would “rather eat the yarn” than knit another scarf. Any ideas?

(PS. Juno? No way.)

71 thoughts on “Oh, there I am.

  1. I feel the same way about scarves.
    I told a friend recently I’d knit her anythign she wanted as a gift. She chose a scarf. Made with eyelash yarn. The horror.
    Rox

  2. I’m finally delurking to share my experience at church yesterday: as I was hanging up my coat, a parishioner walked by (picture an older, distinguished, internationally-recognized professor) and he was wearing *gasp* a DALE OF NORWAY sweater. I admit I lost my head just for a moment, stroking the sleeve, making him lean down so I could see the label, flipping up the cuff to inspect the finishing…it only occurred to me later that it might be considered inappropriate to grope another man at church — especially because I’m the priest’s wife!!
    See what you’ve done to us, you harlot?!

  3. Love the colors! It is absolutely beautiful… and the perfect transition from post-Olympic craziness to regular knitting craziness!

  4. Looks like it would make a lovely, fluffy spring purse. The yarn reminds me of the grass stuffed in easter baskets – only prettier.
    Glad to hear that I’m not the only one slowly digging out and through the to-do piles. It felt like I spent most of the weekend with the dishes and my own Mr. Washie. I just hope that tonight’s productivity doesn’t involve water…

  5. Oh my gosh, am I first? Love the shawl, the colors are beautiful and it looks so soft. On the other hand, I think your pile of stuff sent its offspring down here to roost on my computer desk. That I don’t love so much. If the “pile of stuff” was composed of yarn it would be a different story (hint, hint). You are such a bad influence….I’m supposed to be working on jewelry – for you, no less – and instead I’m knitting on another sweater and reading your blog. Sorry ’bout that. My beads are pouting, but the yarn stash is sure happy.

  6. Enough for a one skein wonder? I know she wore the one you made her, perhaps she would like to make her own now.
    I like the purse idea but I suspect it would have to be lined or it would have unsightly bulges as soon as she put anything into it.
    Very nice shawl!

  7. I’d like you to post pictures of Megan eating the yarn, please, although it might be the audio that’s more fun.
    Or maybe pictures of Juno flossing with her miniature knitting needles…

  8. Excellent. A return to small needle complex pattern phase tomorrow then? Oh, no, wait – tomorrow’s Tuesday. If Rams doesn’t see some Gansey spinning, you’ll be in biiig trouble…

  9. Ahhh… didn’t take long for the garter stitch scarf thing to wear off. Maybe next you should spin something next . . . Do you remember spinning?

  10. Love the color of that shawl. I tried to think of small things that would be cute to knit and also cool (because really, what 30-something sock-and-sandal-wearing Mom doesn’t know cool? ahem.) but everything I thought of and pictured in my head would have looked like someone had skinned a sunburned Smurf. And really, the shawl is lovely, but no one wants little Smurf pelts in one’s hair or around one’s wrists.

  11. I bet Megan might actually like whole fibre linguini yarn in a fleecy bleu cheese sauce. Fleecy, flossy, stick-to-the-ribs chewy goodness… yum!

  12. I know what that big pile of odds and ends looks like. Yours spawned in my house and there are LOTS of offspring. Couldn’t possibly blame it on myself, could I? Am I cleaning it up? H*ll no. I’m knitting. I have half a pair of fingerless mitts done and I’m wearing the one. At least one warm hand. I’ll cast on the other and knit some on the sample from the Bohus class at Stitches West. Tiny needles are so much more fun than (urk) housework.

  13. I suggest a felted bag… ipod or cell size, or something larger… so many great patterns, or make one up. I have felted slippers in those colors and love looking at them.

  14. I love the colors! Absolutely beautiful.
    I wouldn’t mind making a scarf out of it, but it’s beauty just lends for it to be more! 🙂

  15. At least you finished the shawl BEFORE you finished your big needle garter stitch phase. It looks soft and lush, and oh so pretty, but I agree . . . scarves can be boring. How about a hat?

  16. I like knitting scarves – you could send it to me! A neck warmer/cowl if there’s enough, would be lovely. Itchy? Who would care if it was. The colours are beautiful.

  17. A headband? A nice headband with really long ties with fringe on the ends…
    Oh, wait. I guess that’s just a scarf you tie around your head.
    Um….

  18. A cage cover for your next hamster?
    A doll blanket for your favorite 5 year old? (A lot of my unfinished work has been made into doll blankets.)
    Shelf cover to put something girly on top of?
    a hat?
    A basket liner for a yarn basket?
    A square in a scrap afghan?
    The most fabulous doll dress of all time?
    I don’t know… but whatever it ends up as, it will be lovely…

  19. It’s too bad she doesn’t want to knit another scarf because that would be great for an oddball scarf. Maybe she should just hold on to the yarn until she’s ready to knit a scarf again.

  20. Pretty yarn! A belt for her jeans? A hat? If it felts perhaps a purse?
    Happy knitting!
    Lana

  21. What fabulous colors! It would indeed make a great felted easter basket. Perhaps pair it with a worsted weight wool?

  22. oh my gosh, I want to curl up and nap in that yarn! I’m suprised she wasn’t accosted by stray kitties everywhere attracted by the soft squishiness of the shawl.
    A drop stitch scarf would be lovely out of it.

  23. I don’t suppose you would be willing to donate that shawl to DD’s school auction? It’s on the 25th, I promised them an original design, and I’m on my 3rd choice of yarn. Aarrgh! Out of the deadline, into the deadline.
    A hat? A neckwarmer? A set of hot-drink cozies?

  24. I think it would be pretty cool to make a roll-brim hat with that yarn. Random striping, even. Such a cool accessory that isn’t a scarf!

  25. How about the latest Knit.1 neat fluffy dice and/ or stearing wheel cover for your car. No more cold wheel to grip on those icy mornings. Oh well these are “crochet” but sure you could come up with a knit version.
    Or she could knit a scarf but long ways. As in cast on 100 stitches and knit every row with a new thread leaving the ends to hang. Knit until wide enough and use the ends as fringes.
    Or a shoulder bag. A snap to line if needed. Could just knit a strip leaving the ends hanging for fringe both top and bottom. Then knit a long strip for a strap/gusset.
    etc etc..
    PS Love the shawl!!
    Knit on >^..^<

  26. What about some kind of cool sash to wear with jeans? Like a belt but a funkier shape? It could have a bunch of fringe and stuff….

  27. FANTASTIC SHAWL – I can’t wait to knit one what a perfect donation for an upcoming raffle at my daughter’s school!
    can’t wait to get started!
    Keep those needles clicking!

  28. does she have enough to get started on a pair of legwarmers?
    the perfect spring accessory.

  29. OHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhh that colour and the texture !!!!! ABsolutely love it!!!! Leftovers cold be FELTED into a Ball with a cord put through the middle and wear it as a piece of costume jewelly . DON”T ask ME how to do it as I have not had much luck with felting but I’m sure your daughter could figure it out and it would probably work and be real neat. My KO project was a felted knitting bag that felted into a Long narrow “”nothing bag so I’m not going there again . Other people have luck with it though. Maybe she’d start a new fad and have enough to make for fiends. Good luck

  30. Every try yarn jambalaya? Have someone cut the yarn into rice-sized pieces. While they are doing that, saute 1/2 cup flour in some peanut oil over LOW heat until you have a nice brown roux. Add a chopped bell pepper, a chopped onion, two chopped stalks of celery, a whole head of garlic chopped up fine, and one teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Saute until onions are clear. Add 2 cups chicken broth, 1/2 pound chopped hot sausage, 1/2 pound chopped chicken meat, and some chopped okra. Bring to a boil, add one cup white wine, add chopped yarn, return to boil. Cover and simmer for one hour or until all water is absorbed. Add one teaspoon salt, a big pinch of black pepper, and more cayenne if desired.
    Cajuns will eat anything if you put enough cayenne pepper on it.
    Oh, didn’t I tell you? In honor of your hosting the Knitting Olympics, the Cajun Olympic Committee held a meeting, and you have been made an Honorary Cajun, mon cher Steph. Now you must celebrate with a couple of beers, and laissez les bon temps roulez.
    Ahem. Now.
    Is there enough remaining yarn to crank out a densely-knit cage cozy for your local animal shelter if the yarn is machine washable? If not machine washable, don’t I recall that you are owned by at least one feline who would luxuriate in the softness of such a thing, and washability should not be a big issue with your own healthy kitty, unless she is in the habit of yarking directly on her favorite sleep spot, which they tend not to do?
    If not, how about wrist warmers, a very girly purse, or a tea cozy?
    Or, you could pimp your ride with knitted headrest covers and a matching steering while cover.
    And dice.
    Dez, at the SPCA

  31. I just had to click the PS link. Now I am thinking of all the naked Barbies running around this house. Oh for the love of Pete! As if I didn’t have enough knitting stuff I was obsessed with.
    🙂

  32. How about a panta?? those colors are yummy. and I don’t blame her for being bored with scarves. Oh another thought, wrist warmers??

  33. Wristwarmers! Fluffy pretty girly wristwarmers. Quick, easy, Totally Trendy. Those are SUCH cotton-candy colours!

  34. I love the fuzzy dice idea! Or, how about knitting a Muppet-like creature?
    Beautiful model, but the girls are growing up way too fast. The fringe on that shawl is wonderful.

  35. Brave woman for making the garter stitch shawl. Only love could propel one forward on such a task. As for eating the yarn rather than making another scarf, I understand girl! Just put the yarn in daughter’s stash. She may be inspired at some later point in her life. If not, it’s her problem, not yours!

  36. I don’t want to seem like sour grapes, but I really hope that I was the only one who got missed from the list. I didn’t want to complain before, since the task of assembling the team list was Herculean to say the least, but I did knit a sweater before the flame went out. I took it to Jamaica with me and didn’t wear it. I am awarding myself a Shadow Gold Medal, and pronounce myself the Captain of the Shadow Knitting Olympics Team (Canadian Chapter). Had fun, got sore wrists and shoulders, and totally think that Stephanie should have straightened out the bank teller.
    Are we doing this again for the summer olympics in Beijing? Count me in.

  37. I followed the PS link too. Now take it one step further to its comments. Someone there recommended wwwDOTbugknitsDOTcom You’ve got to see it to believe it!

  38. there’s always the panta thing, but that yarn may be too light for it – but then again, a yarn sandwich might be ok

  39. Ah, yes, sick of knitting scarves. The only antidote is to venture into the unknown of learning a new skill. Once learned (with a yarn a person can actually count the stitches) she can then select a project for the gorgeous yarn, so beautifully knitted by the Harlot. I must say the shawl colors and the tasteful bit of eyeliner are most becoming.

  40. Hmm – things that are not scarves to make with that YUMMY yarn – specifially as summer will soon be coming your way:
    A Bikini
    A micro mini
    A boob tube
    Are you ready to kill me yet?
    BTW – I have knitted small sweaters for teddy bears using 1ply yarn and needles the size of pencil leads. Next time I need to make the teddy FIRST and then make the sweater to fit as opposed to making the sweater first and battling to find an appropriately sized teddy to wear it.

  41. Hey, I met a woman who says she’s related to you today. I started talking to her because she was knitting a top at a cafe on Bloor West. I guess that she works at the cafe too! A very nice woman . . . I tried convince her to start her own blog.

  42. Looks like cotton candy! How about felted flowers (or snakes) to give old felted clogs new life!

  43. I like the purse idea, or the legwarmers. What about a Cat Bordhi Moebuis basket or bag? That should keep her occupied for awhile. (Or better yet, Meg will grasp the concept *way* faster than her Mom – wouldn’t you love that? She would.)
    I too, am trying to dig out from under the detritus that accumulated during the Olympics. It’s nice to be needed, but I wish my family didn’t *need* me quite so much…

  44. It’s a little intimidating when the mail, bills and dust buffalo start merging; at least only the gas/electric bill is left and payday is Thursday.
    And then there are bunnies to groom, cages to clean and a large dog that could really, really use a bath. I’m putting the critters in a separate category, as they are supposed to be moving with their own power!
    People have opposing thumbs, so, in theory, they can manage on their own.
    I vote with Sandra, something from Cat Bordhi would be fun. Sounds like there’s enough left to combine with a coordinating solid to make a really nifty bag (especially one of the larger ones with a pocket).

  45. That shawl is fantastic — and the colors are so springish! (Is that a word?). Anyway, what to do with the rest? For spring-wear? Soft tube top, corselet, or how ’bout a really cute ipod/cell phone set?
    And those doll patterns on size 0000 needles? *shudders* Ouch. I thought making a dress for Barbie was hard — but knitting fair isle at that size? Oh. Wait. Maybe that will be the challenge for the summer Olympics!

  46. Followed the link. Shuddered. Wondered if I could see well enough to accomplish the socks.
    My childhood next-door neighbor made her Barbie a tiny knitted UFO with two quilting pins and heavy thread. I think it was going to be a scarf, but neither Barbie nor Neighbor ever finished it.

  47. Glad you have recovered. We want to hear/see more about your new back room, the Ikea disaster and your stash.

  48. Just when I decided to knit a new jumper, realizing that I haven’t been knitting for some two zears and that i don’t remember how to begin, I got a link to your website. From a Finnish language discussion group member, world is small. Just wanted to tell you that the things you do are absolutely fantastic…. As for my knitting, I’m a minimalist. I’m not much an expert, but my mom is…. I have a fantastic sweater with reindeer she made for me…. however, i think you have another regular reader:-)
    And as for the green michelin sweater…. I have a similar one. Similar green, similar cut, twice as big as me.

  49. How about a fiber necklace? I haven’t made any, but have thought about it often- It could be narrower than a scarf (which I also hate to knit) but wide enough to incorporate some sort of pattern, and maybe some beads. I have these multi-colored fimo beads that I bought 16 years ago lurking amongst my darning needles and stitch markers. I think that when I have enough left over something I will experiment

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