Okay, so now I "get" the thrill of being first.....

Yay! I won!!!

Did you ever finish your pair of the Pomatomus socks? You showed them in progress a long time ago.

I am SOOO glad you've chosen the open leaves. AND a gansey. AND finishing Icarus. AND a couple of pairs of socks. You go, Girl! (And I'm exhausted just writing it.)

Totally normal. In our world, at least.

Of course it's normal. Rock on Harlot.

I usually have to *start, frog, start (repeat from * twice) a project before I get it right, so I can sympathize. My cold alcoholic beverage of choice? Margarita(s)...

keep up with diligence, dear! sea silk is only for celebrations...like finished book or gansey celebrations. :-)

Of COURSE it's totally normal. I've a question for you - the family and I are having a short holiday in Toronto, and I will have time to visit one (1) yarn shop. I love shawls. Which shop should I go to? We're considering camping in the Provincial park near Aurora so that I can go to the lys that you blogged about the other day, the one that has laceweight lopi. Yum.

Completely normal. I won't worry about you unless you start buying bras or stilettos or selling stash.

I'm so jealous...I've got all 16 episodes of "Firefly" that I've been planning to watch all summer and I haven't been able to see...(It was the death of that show that convinced me not to start watching BG--I was just too raw to have my heart broken again. And of course the shows a hit at I could have been watching it for two years...I'm such a sci-fi weenie...)

Wow... You and Erin really are the same person... The only thing that is completely opposite about the two of you is your hair.

Wow.

Yeah it might take me a few to not be flipped out by this...

:)

Your gansey is lovely even though it's little. Just think, now you've got your "mistake" out of the way and can knit painfree and flawlessly until the end of the Big Man of Canada's sweater. I love that color.

Battlestar rocks! I too was pissed about the multiple sets not released at the same time. Glad to know I'm not the only one. I love the 1 skein shawl too. I have delusions of grandeur of finishing my sock by Friday too! :oP

BSG! Good stuff! Reminds me I need to check when Season 3's starting. :)

Firefly's awesome, too--we bought the DVDs. Really a travesty there's not more of it to love.

Definitely normal. ;)

I loved Firefly too. Oh well. By the way, what's the name of the yarn shop in Aurora? I can't seem to find mention of it.

Kate

Oh I so agree about BSG, especially since they end the first half of the second season with a cliff hanger. I so can't knit when I watch that show because it is so interesting. Now I can watch x-files and knit away. Did you know that it takes me eight episodes of the x-files to knit a pair of little girl socks? Ask me how I know.

Fortunately for all of us, normal is a relative term.

What color seasilk didja get?? You DID get some, right? Martingale Press has my seasilk shawl, and I can't wait to get it back! I may have to go knit another one...

I loooove the yarn Zoe used for her socks. If anyone wanted to say, let me know what it is, I'd worship at their feet for a while....or at least offer very grateful thanks. *grin*

Well, except for the resisting sea silk bit, not only normal, but cool. :)

Kate Sanderson - the yarn shop in Aurora is Needles and Knits, on Yonge Street, just above Kennedy, south of Wellington on the west side.
Ask for Tove.

Totally normal! I find Battlestar G so good for my knitting - in that I get all tense and knit faster and faster as I get more and more pumped up. Although the times when I stop knitting as I stare at the screen with a dropped jaw ... not so much knitting.

Resist the siren song of the sea. You are a very stong woman.

The only thing holding me back is how to get it without a credit card. I need a shop that carries it and takes Paypal.

I need to make a trip somewhere that sells it. I think it's time to convince my Mr. that we need a holiday.

Mmm, Battlestar Galactica. I have watched many episodes while knitting (because the hubby loves the sci fi, but I still need to know how to spell all those words. Like cylon -- always thought it was psylon. You know, like pseudo, psycho, etc... Do you know Risa (http://crazyfiberlady.typepad.com/one_crazy_fiber_lady/) -- she's a sci fi watcher too....

If you were a fan of one of those other nerd shows, you'd know that resistance is futile, and you'd have cast on your sea silk shawl already.

I freakin love Sharon. I mean, she rocks my world. The second half of season two rocks so hardcore you're gonna feel so... uh... betrayed later on...

My favorite part of the whole show, beyond the opening credits, is the moment when they jump. They just disappear! In space! God, i'm such a loser...

Time and (project) monogamy are really two areas where most knitters falter. At least there is a large enough pool of us to help each other justify.

My man and I frakkin' love BSG. (I try to use "frakkin'" in my journal a bit, but no one has seem to have picked that up yet...)

I knit while watching BSG and sometimes I realize I'm staring too much at the tv to actually knit! So not quite a good combination!

Filmed in Vancouver, did you know they use BC Ferries late at night and film in the car deck for some of their scenes?! Cool!

You aren't the only one sincerely pissed at that DVD release. How can there be a season 2.5?

Yeah, normal in our world, and sweet louise, I love our world. (BSG is geeky?!?!?!?) The open leaf shawl is quite possibly going to be(insert understatement)
the epitome of lace shawls.
25 days.

I watch BSG on the treadmill while I run, and I was not only dismayed but also deeply confused when the second season turned out to be so, well, short. I was ordering the discs from Netflix, and I couldn't figure out what had become of the rest of the season. Where the hell is the rest of the season?!

If you keep going on about "Battlestar Galactica," you're going to have to stop denying that you're fannish.

What??!!? NO STARGATE?

Absolutely totally normal! I had forgotten about the sea silk. You're tempting me...

*sigh*. I really miss the SnB. *sniff*

well, that's it. yours is the third mention this week of BSG. i've resisted long enough. i think i'm gonna have to start watching. ooo, i may have to go yarn shopping for an appropriate tv knitting project. thanks for the enabling! on both fronts!

I love Battlestar Galactica! My son gave me the DVDs for Mother's Day this year. A very cool show indeed.

I did the exact same thing last week on a purse - I got about 4 or 5 inches into it before I realized it was twisted. All is well though now and I have learned a valuable lesson.

Michelle is a woman after my own heart. I spit out my coffee.

Yeah open leaves!

The Gansey is begun! The Gansey is begun! The Gansey is begun!

Were I you, that would have been my whole post...

I knit with Buffy the Vampire Slayer (currently on my new Season 7 DVD set). Glad to hear that I'm not the only one with an unusual viewing/knitting habit. LOLOLOL

That sea silk is so tempting - it must be .0001% Siren hair or something.

It's so neat that you're a BSG fan! I've been marathon-watching the DVDs lately, and "frak" is slipping into my vocabulary, kind of like when I have a song stuck in my head and I can't help humming it out loud.

Come by my blog today and read about totally geeking space-time theory and we shall call you totally normal.

So, where's Jack and Lily? How big are they now?

Yes, but WHICH Sharon???

OMG, Phil and I watched that Battlestar Galactica dvd set when it first came out so it seems like AGES we've been waiting for the second half. Talk about suspense - just wait until you get to the last episode on that dvd! At least you won't have that long to wait... We also LOVED Firefly - if you haven't seen that yet, maybe you could rent that for your sci-fi fix while you're waiting for 2.5. :)

I have a pattern too! Oh please check it out. It's for mittens that look like cute little fish. I've gotten a very favourable response from anyone who has seen them. They are also on www.bitchenmittens.com.

I'm very proud of my little pattern and I just had to brag a bit.

Another knitter/Battlestar Galactica fan checking in. My hubby works for a bookstore, and he has stated that we have to wait for the dvd's to come out instead of buying episodes on iTunes. Humph. Even though I'd hate watching tv on my computer, at least I'd KNOW what was going to happen!

Knitting groups definitely make me feel normal, too! Keep up the good work with the Joe sweater. He deserves a beauty!

Since Rams and I have already been giggling at your expense today and discussing just how much you do need our motivational stylings to guide you, it's more likely I'll be dispatched to your home again to hide the sea silk and the pattern for a couple of months.

Man, I miss Babylon 5. I may have to start that one up again, but you have to start at Season 1, Episode 1, or even the pre-story movies. (We have every B5 DVD there is. This would not be a problem.)

BSG's third season is being advertised now. We shall see. I may be the only person who thinks the blonde is decidedly unsexy...but after Seven of Nine, dude, you can only go downhill.

Hooray for the pattern availability! Hooray for convivial SnB's! Hooray for the gansey! Hooray for BSG!

(you have improved my mood today, and I have to shout about it. Thank you.)

Just as normal as me, but then again, I snort sometimes, so maybe I'm not that normal ;)

O.M.Goodness!!! I had no clue whatsoever you were a B.G. fan! I love B.G.! I cannot, CANNOT wait for Season 3!!!! EEEEEK!!

Oh you are a person after my own heart! How DARE they only put 1/2 of season 2 on DVD? I have 3 kids, I do not have Tivo, I must watch my shows on DVD (thank you Netflix!)

And I love the gansey! I haven't done a full size one yet, only the mini practice one in her book. My sock monkey wears it now.

Love the Gansey and the colour is wonderful.
When I knit in the round, my tolerance for tension being sub-normal, I knit a few rounds back and forth, and then do the join for circular. Eliminates the "fear of twisting" and the resulting meltdown. However, since you were among your SNB friends, and they used the occasion to ply you with alcohol, the "twist" was probably worth it. Knit on!!

About twisted stitches: Having made this mistake one too many times--and I use a cable cast on in pattern, not a long-tail loop cast-on--I now finish the first worked row, take a couple of minutes to align the work on the full length of the circular needles, and then bring the two ends around and safety-pin the first and last cast-on stitches together before starting the first fully circular round. If properly aligned, it's impossible for the work to twist on joining up.

Silver: BSG3 starts on Sci-Fi on Oct 6, according to my (spousal) sources. It is back-to-back with the new Dr. Who on Friday nights, which means our social lives are ruined but damn, there will be a lot of knitted product this fall! (Generally we watch and tape, then go back and play important scenes again.)

Stephanie: I didn't think I could love you more. Enjoy your obsession, and please do geek out with us whenever you wish. 2.5 will rock your world, whenever it gets here.

Holy mother of sheep. You watch BSG. You are my hero. I haven't watched it (yet), but it warms my heart to find people the same kind of geeky I am.

Now, if we could just get you to play D&D...

Yet another show I need to check out. I think I may be introuble when we get Cable next week. We might have to schedule an intervention.

The gansey (although in infancy) is going to be really great. Maybe one day I will make mr. super long torso one.

STOP SHOWING ME LACEY KNITTED GOODNESS!!! Must resist...

That's a great reward! My DVDs will be subject to multiple viewings until the new "season" starts in October.

I have my sea silk - I'm off to find the pattern!

No, you are far from normal, which is actually a good thing. You're more of a creative genious really.

Geek shows, knitting complicated things and avoiding other things I want to do are what I do best... all.the.time. (I tend to measure my knitting progress by numbers of episodes.)

I can't wait (well really, I can, but I don't want to) until October when season 3 starts.

Thankfully, my household understands that Yarn and SciFi are staples, as well as Beer (not just beer, but Beer) and pizza.

I'm SOOOOOOO GLAD to find out I'm not the only one in the world that must bribe myself to get things done! I have so many little things to get done and was considering writing each one on a small piece of paper, placing them in a bucket and drawing one at a time, doing the chore, then treating myself w/knitting/sewing time. But, I can always knit while watching a wonderful DVD too!!

No. You can't tell me that you're a Battlestar Galactica fan. it's just not right. Also, I'm jealous of your great knit night. *sigh*

Oh Harlot, it's like every day you find a new way to thrill my nerdy little fangirl self...knitting, relatable hilarity, nerdy references...

Mmm, knitting and nerdy shows. BSG is really good, but I'm more a Firefly fan. And a Stargate fan. And a Dr. Who fan. Yup, I'm a really big nerd.

Glad you're going with the open leaves...they're gorgeous.

Zoe's sock is great, but that smile is even better.

Rachel and I don't take no sucker bets, as in, to pick a random example, on how long you'll hold out on the She Sells Sea Silk by the Sea Shore Shawl. There is The Counsel of Perfection. Then there is what works. I myself figure it saves wear and tear on the nervous system just to give in and start it. Either the new will wear off in a few hours or (you demon knitter) you'll have it to show us tomorrow morning.

And is it just me, or does Rachel H. always exhibit an expression of bemused disbelief? (So odd to be in cahoots with someone you've never exactly, um -- met.)

Of course that's normal...why are you even asking?

Is there a better picture of that sea silk shawl floating around?

I lost all of last Saturday to the 1st season of BSG. I couldn't knit, so I set the frameloom up and worked on the shawl-in-progress. I had bought the dvd for the kids, who are huge Babylon 5 fans, but it is NOT a kid safe show. My little one now says "Gratuitous sex scene, cover your eyes" when people start kissing... a remenent of watching parts of that marathon with me.

That's my normal. I'm thinking Sharon transcends Cylon-ness.

Not only is it normal, it's REQUIRED. On top of my bookshelves in my dining room I have two cylon helmets. LOL. Props from the original tv series. *grin* And for the more "modern" geeks among us...I REALLY want to knit a Jayne hat. But first I have to finish all the OTHER projects I'm working on.

Or at least one or two of them. LOL.

I love your blog and your books!! I have been lurking for quite a while and this is my first comment, so please, be kind.

I am a rather new knitter and, thanks to a slight bit of OCD (ok, maybe it's not slight), I usually am a strict one-project knitter. You have converted me over to the dark side. I am no longer ashamed to start a new project before finishing another. In fact, I have 4 unfinished projects (while that may not seem like much, but that is huge for me). I'm sure my husband hopes that this new spontaneity and relaxed style will overflow into my housekeeping. No such luck, yet....

I have also become quite addicted to knitting, mostly thanks to your influence (and maybe also to the OCD, but I digress). It's is also amazing to me that knitting can bring people together the way it does.

Good luck with the Gansey. Thanks again for being both inspiring and entertaining!

BSG comes back here in the states in October and Dr Who restarts back up in December! Lots of good TV knitting to be had!

totally normal.

did you ever finish that spiral tank thingy from knitting nature? or did I somehow miss that post?

I wish we had a real community knit shop... about that lace shawl.. how about saying it will be a wedding shawl for the girls, that should give you plenty of time. I love the open leaves, wish I could get my head around lace. I have just about mastered feather and fan.

Whatching BSG, Firefly and Dr Who is geeky? I thought it was normal. Plus knitting. The family might shudder at first but they love the socks and even my dear Bloke enjoys Firefly (he LOVES motor racing V8's) and wonders why it was dumped.

The rest he doesn't get. But socks, he encourages me to knit.

Knit on Steph!

BSG! That's some good stuff -- the potential to watch BSG episodes once I finished helped me slog through a truly horrible take home final exam last semester. We don't have cable (or a TV actually) so we bought all the BSG season 2 episodes from iTunes.

OMG, Battlestar. I'm so glad someone else understands. Please please please someone draw up a pattern for knitting the flattering-on-everyone BSG uniform tanks with the sleeveless grey shirt underneath and x-shaped beater top. Please?

You knit, you drink cold beer, you write, you mother, and you watch Battlestar Galactica? No wonder we all love you!

If you really want to geek out, try listening to BSG's creator and executive producer Ronald Moore's commentary as you watch the episodes (although not the first time you watch, it's too distracting). It's a whole new level of geekiness.

Dude, I love that you love BSG. I totally had to buy the second half of season 2 on iTunes, because after the first half's last episode, there was no way I couldn't. Sci-fi programs (for me, right now, it's the X-files DVDs) are the perfect knitting programming.

I think the odds are good that a whole lot of us are the same general brand of geeky. That's some kind of validation, don't you think? Not that we need any...

no, I will not tell you how the Battlestar Galactica continues... BUT you can download the second part of that season from the apple I-Tunes store (online).
Soooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrry, hope this advice is not on collision course with your book writing

I certainly don't feel so bad about all my works in progress now. I've been doing a lot more sewing lately than knitting, and I seem to go through cycles. What I recently discovered though, is that when I thought I was being so good and not adding to my yarn stash with wild abandon, I was actually adding to my fabric stash instead. I seriously didn't realize this for a long time. I would think how it had been so long since I had bought yarn and I was so proud of myself, and not even notice that I had just bought enough fabric for 3 pairs of pants and 5 tops.

Oh man, can I be your friend? I'm a Battlestar-lovin', beer-drinkin' ecofreak who loves knitting and biking! Except I'm not into shawls. They're beautiful; I just don't wear them, so I don't knit them. But that leaf shawl you've started has almost changed my mind.

Now, if you told me you're a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan who also loves the Harry Potter books, I think I would have to meet you.

I'm not a stalker or anything, I promise. Just excited to find another geek like me :)

Faking good show eh? I watched them all too. Harry told me that her and Jim were also watching Dead Wood. so then I started with that and that wsn't fraking good,it was FUCKING good.

So tomorrows bribe de jour should be Dead Wood, and seening the girls are still away you can wear your new cow-girl hat while watching it (just the wearing the hat ,if ya catch my drift) Yea haaa........Oh I mean Yeaaaa (fucking)Haaaaaa.

About the twisted cast-on: that's why we all love you. you still make mistakes. Nobody likes perfection. We see you admit your mistakes and tell us how you fixed them, and it gives us courage to keep knitting and fixing our own mistakes. keep up the good work.

Oh Rachel H when at Harlots-a-hiding,careful you may find (half done) entrlac socks.Come to think of it, if you did hid them with the entrlac.......she would NEVER find them. Hows the shoulder? See I wasn't that drunk I'm remembering details....some.Like the cool,cool floor. luv dennyxo0xo0

Sounds normal to me.

A couple years ago when my son caught me watching Star Trek Next Generation on Spike TV, he said "you suck at being a girl!"

Tough.

Hi! *waves* I'm a longtime reader but first time commnter ;)

1) You are definitely not the only one pissed about BSG coming out in halves - I don't get it at all, and I'm still living in hope that they'll come to their senses and release the whole thing in one set eventually.

2) Knit Night at Lettuce Knit...Can just anyone drop in? I've been wondering about looking for a stitch n' bitch in the ol' T-Dot and am close enough to LK to wonder about it.

In knitting and DVD-watching solidarity...

Normal is damn dull! You're much too interesting to even consider such a cold-and-lumpy-oatmeal adjective as that. Personally, I watch Poirot while knitting (total mystery junkie). Hope the book is coming along well!

PS: Good beer to be had in Wisconsin, just sayin'

So if you are chained to the desk with a deadline, why have you been plotting a new shawl and starting on Joe's gansey?
(I wondered this yesterday)
(Then again I have two deadlines and I am reading blogs... LOL)

Your gansey was twisted. You just can't know how good it feels that you're a bit like me. One of the most challenging things about knitting is learning patience, to do things the 'right' way, even if it takes longer. People say, "I could never knit they way you do, I don't have the patience." I don't think I am patience, I make most of my mistakes because I'm impatient or get over-confident. Last week I knitted one sock an inch shorter than the other!! I did a half-glance at the pattern and didn't recheck it until I compared the two finished socks. Shock and horror!!

DH looked at the picture of Zoe and said "That's hot" He loves his tattooed knitters!!!! And the one sock on one sock on the needles look sealed the deal But don't get too excited Zoe, I'm not sharing!!

hey stephanie:

do you remember way back when you promised to explain what a gansey was when you started joe's sweater? inquiring minds want to know!

joyce

Gansey:
http://www.manorhouse.clara.net/knitwear/history.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/2004_01_thu_02.shtml

Bob's yer virtual uncle.

Hi Stephanie, and all other knitters and spinners out there.

First time I'm commenting,
a. I have read (own) all your books,
b. am knitting the Shell Tank from Knitting Nature in Seasilk,
c. received a spinning wheel last Christmas from my husband,
d. AND am the hugest BSG fan in the world! I thought this was just me and my geeky self, but evidently NOT! My fav is Starbuck! especially when she dug the cylon out of the cylon spaceship and flew it with her name taped on the underside of the wings.

e. I'm also the biggest Yarn Harlot fan! - my entire extended family knows all about the Doctors Without Borders, and the Knitting Olympics. Keep up the great work!

Thank you for posting so often, Stephanie, it is great to see what you are up to so frequently!

OK, you've had me with knitting and the musician partner for awhile - my guy's a bass player - and the dedication to chocolate and wine, too. But I have to tell you that we love, and I mean LOVE the new BSG series! And I am SO on your page about season two - ACK! I disagree about Sharon, though. I think she'll turn out OK.

Or is it... Knitting books, writing lace, resisting geek shows, watching sea silk? I never can remember exactly what that "totally normal" formula is.

I'm with you in wanting the second season of Battlestar in one complete series! We watched the first season when it was on Space so I haven't even seen an episode in over a year.

You are so totally normal.

You have to be.
If you aren't, then I am not either.
So we shall stick with normal.

Congrats on having cast on Joe's gansey.

Despite having spun ONE bobbin for Ben's sweater, I still think I have a chance to beat you.

It's the time-and-space relationship thingie at work there.

Okay, tonight you crossed over. My family has been skeptical of my knitting blog obesssion, dedication, ...whatever...but tonight, when I read about Cylons, my husband understood. the sci-fi obsessed that he (we) is! .... while not mainstream, he understands...there are others like us!!!!

Our DD was born during the opening theme to BSG(1970's version). DH has put the Space : the Imagination Station CD on our stereo but didn't realize it was the next cd when I was in labour.

We love the new series although they seem to have taken a left turn on the "rag tag" fleet theme.

It is also great that Caprica is Vancouver, BC! Some of the scenes include the Vancouver Library, downtown streets, and more.

BSG, SG1 and SGA all filmed here. I just love seeing show signs all over the place. I'm on orders to liberate a few for some friends in the states, but I never quite seem to be able to get them. ;)

Steph! You have been found out! You're a sci fi geek! A KNITTING Sci Fi Geek! - Heh, Heh, me too. Don't read much science fiction any more, but still watch a ton. What better escapist fare? Friday nights on the Sci Fi Channel are MY nights for TV. I am hoping for the DVD collection of "Firefly" for my birthday (Nathan Fillion is hot!)to go with my DVD of "Serenity." And what about the new Doctor Who series? Christopher Eccleston is hot in that skinny, northern English, not quite enough hair kind of way.

Nothing better than plopping in bed on a Friday night with a sock to knit and three hours of the Sci Fi channel to watch. Hmmmm, is that way I am counting the days (three) until my DV-R service is installed?

You are not alone in the P.O.ed (grammar police) corner about BSG. I ranted for days. I watch the beginning of other shows (including LOST) with the "and they have a plan" bit going through my head...SEPTEMBER IS WAY TOO FAR AWAY STILL!!!

sigh.

Completely off topic...in your last book, Mexican women also wear/wore shawls. They're called "rebosos." My uncle and his folk weave them...mostly cotton, but I own a 50/50 (silk/cotton) one. It's very old fashioned and people look at me funny cuz I'm 30-something not 90-something...

Newbie knitter here, feeling like I have my first crush. Yarn lust. Sea Silk. If I could, I'd call it fifteen times a night and pass it notes in class.

I'm not sure my husband really "got it" when I wanted to go see you at my local yarn store. But maybe he'll pay more attention once I say that you like Battlestar- he *must* watch it each Friday, and I think his respect for the art will increase with this knowledge. Thank you. :-)

I really do feel your pain on the twisting the join thing...I did that myself recently after casting on 420 stitches for a Dale of Norway christening gown. 10 rounds and two weeks later I noticed that things looked "funny". That was easily 8 hours of my life that I would never get back again. But, I cast on again and the gown is almost done. My daughter will be wearing it a week from Sunday.

Oh, and I'm so happy you went with the open leaves...much nicer, in my opinion. The final product is going to be stunning.

Right. :-)

Sorry about your gansey. It happens (but apparently not to me...knock on wood. I've never had a problem with twisted stuff...I don't know) I got pictures of icarus on my blog. You should check them out (just for kicks and giggles)

Much Love.
Megan

I don't know about "normal", but it sounds AWESOME to me!

Good luck with the writing, and with the resisting temptation! And have fun watching your DVD!

If that isn't normal, then I don't know what normal is.

I'm seriously annoyed about the 1/2 of season, more annoyed that my husband got me hooked on it in the first place. I was so trying not to watch but alas I am weak.

Bazaar socks in Cotton Fine (for which I ran all over town to find it in the purple and four other colors that she wanted and of which I'm on my third try starting the two color short row toe) for youngest's birthday in 17 days, Bear Claw Blanket and the ever present Forest Path Stole-(so totally your fault, BTW) and re-knit the toes on my Go with the Flow socks....yeah normal, normal, yeah.

Passion for geek shows = great intelligence

I agree with you about Sharon. I can hardly wait for the new season.

Now I truly love you. A knitting geek with a penchant for BSG? Say it isn't so!
Hubby and I had a BSG marathon a few weekends in a row so we could catch up (he got them off the 'net). I couldn't stop saying frack.

We, the geeks, salute you.

Right!

Normal?
Sure.

Just like the afghan I'm finishing for my mother while designing a cable scarf for my friend who's moving to NYC in a couple of weeks and contemplating the bag to be made from the leftover yarn from the afhan while being inspired to knit lace and knitting and crocheting (don't hate me) blanket blocks for charity also while dreaming of beginning the laceweight shrug whose pattern yarn and needles taunt me from my ever-growing bag and thinking hey, "I've never knit socks before..." all while thinking that this might be time for a road trip north and why not catch Stephanie's appearance in Northern California while I'm visiting my cousin and old friend from college?

Normal?
Sure.

SO SAY WE ALL! October 6. 57 Days.

You mean that there are other knitters who like SciFi? Very cool! Among my fiber friends there is only one other knitter/spinner who is also a science fiction fan. The rest of my friends all tend to look at me like I'm the alien because I love the stuff! Babylon 5 and Firefly/Serenity are my all time favorites and I really miss them. My DH and I are watching B5 all over again. What fun! If you like Battlestar then you'd love those 2 series and they are all out on DVD. I have to confess though, I was a big fan of the original Battlestar. It was great fun, and I was younger then. Happy knitting! I can't wait to see more Gansey pictures. I don't know how you manage to get so much done. Pretty amazing!

TOTALLY normal!

Battlestar Galactica ROCKS!!! - my husband is counting the days until its released here in the UK - I think we have about a week to go - its on pre-order and went it arrives I'll need some straight knitting so we can spend a whole weekend just watching it

Yesterday was our KnitNight here too at The Knitting Room. Many of us are in the Gillis -- you'll have met 'em at your booksigning when you were in town before Book 3 -- and differ only from the LK crowd by about 20 years (older...but who's counting?).

I succumbed to marled purple Sea Silk yesterday...with the knitters, it will comfort...you see (no easy way to say this) my Guy of 31 Years died Wednesday of a massive heart attack, after fighting the complications of Type 1 Diabetes most of the past 20 years...I am Knitting Through It...

Hugs?

Oh my Lord, hope you have time for that beautiful gansey, book in progress, Icarus, open leaves shawl,2pair of socks, sea silk shawl, your weaving, and only you know what else !!. The reason I say this ---136 days till Christmas. Good Luck (Martha)errr Stephanie. Now's the time for bets . My bet is on you . Good Luck

OMG, the last episode of that disc is going to BLOW YOUR MIND. Prepare to be ready to KILL whatever numbskull thought putting the 2nd half of the season on a separate disc was a GOOD IDEA. Actually, plain old killing them is way too easy. I'm sure between the two of us we could come up with something creative involving circular needles...we need SOMETHING to occupy our time with until the rest of the season appears at the Film Buff!!

by tower of isolation i presume you mean fortress of solitude.....superknitter :p

also i hope you have had the time to go and see pesident al gores film "an inconventient truth" which is all about global warming. its really very good and i think you would like it a lot.

Tommy

I hope you're normal. I'm SO with you on the geek TV and knitting. LOVE the Battlestar Galactica.

OK. My question is, can you knit and watch Battlestar Galatica at the same time? I have tried and failed since it debuted. Even socks fall into my lap unknit with the plot twits and suspense. Alas Friday nights are spent at home happily knitting through both Stargates and Psych until October when season three appears.

Margaret - you have my hugs! My Hubby is a type 2 diabetic - in really great shape - but still, I worry, every day.

I have found my people. Battlestar Galactica is my favorite show, hands on, and then we also do this knitting thing? Yippee!!!! (BTW, I am too new at knitting, and BSG is too intense, that I can't knit while watching. But I can knit before and after, and work out my stress in some stockinette!)

ooooh I LOVE BG too! It's very well done. We started taping the second half of season 2 on the VCR as they are replayed so we won't have to wait for the DvD release.

Define "normal". This is about as normal as I get so I figure if I am at least as normal as the Yarn Harlot then I'm doing okay because, as far as I can tell, you are managing to sleep, eat, raise children, write, spin and knit. Throwing in a good dose of geek TV never hurt anyone (plus it makes you feel smart in a spoon-fed Pablum kind of way, right?).

Pomatomus = great socks!! Non-knitters are always terribly impressed by them....like they deserve an opinion...

Firefly ROCKS! Add me to the "Who's the moron who cancelled it" list.

Swatching the Giant Latvian Mitten Cardigan in my head... (WG #67 from Schoolhouse Press)

The call of the yarn. I so enjoy reading about the other projects that you are doing and others in the blog. The pictures of the Sitch and Bitch group are just wonderful and Zoe resembles my daughter except she does not knit she used to wear anything I knitted for her but doesn't do it herself.
I can't make the Portland or Seattle dates I am bummed about it but it just isn't in the cards. I guess I will have to wait until the next book tour comes round.
I love the Icarus by the way. Those colours look like Sunset in motion!

Sorry to hone in on one little thing, but--

you don't knit from a center-pull ball? I can't stand knitting from the outside of a ball.

That sea-silk shawl looks lovely. Nice!

Congratulations on gansey startup. Need to get back to my huge multi-coloured cardigan.

BSG -- haven't seen it yet but the recommendations tell me that I need to go there. Currently waiting for SG1 season 9 release.

Geek shows!! Love 'em. Great to see so many other knitters who do as well! Why do they assume the key audience is only 18-year-old males?? What blogs are they reading??

*blinks* Season two is divided up into sets? How wrong is that! Ungh! I so want to own it at some point. The whole series, I mean. I miss the show so much, I used to watch it every week when we still had Sci-Fi channel.

You are not the only irritated that BSG has season two on two seperate releases... and that they have yet to release the second half. Gah.

I love BSG so much. We've actually gotten the Original series on DVD too, although it's a totally different thing altogether.

You should know I have a girlie crush on Baltar. o.0 The new one, not the old one. :P

I knit really in the zone when watching BSG so I really wish they would release the second half of season two already. I have some mittens that need to get done ASAP. *L*

OH!!! and you should know they are creating a Prequel to BSG called Caprica. :D

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0799862/

It's about the Adama's and some other people during the first Cylon war. Hopefully it will be kickass too. :D

Also if you haven't give it a go you might be interested in the tv show FireFly. It's another great, but very different SciFi series. Plus it has Captain HotPants! *L*

Okay enough girlie gushing over SciFi. Good luck with Gansey and all those stitches for your mans manly chest. ;)

*OtterHuggles*

Steph-You are definitely normal. Your commenters all agree with you. Surely we make a majority and are preparing to conquer the world. BSG-awesome, Farscape-totally rocks. And Ben Browder is soooo easy on the eyes. ;)

Margaret-I'm so sorry to hear about your Guy's passing. Hugs to you.

I envy your being able to go to the Lettuce Knits. Thanks for the tip about the shawl pattern. I just ordered it. SO thanks and enjoy your weekend. cecilia

I trust you've all seen the Battlestar Galactisimpsons?!?!

http://community.livejournal.com/pantsketch/99256.html

BSG, huh? I love that you're such a nerd. You make me feel like taking up knitting was just an extension of finding my people. Also, I was serious about the coffee. If you email me your addy I'll mail you beans. Hmm, maybe I should start a yarn for beans exchange program with caffiene addict knitters who need to destash. . .

Thanks for the BSG reminder! I've added 2.5 to my wish list, and will probably throw it in with stuff I'm ordering out of my next paycheck.

Thanks heaps for the snowdrop shawl pattern - I've been tempted recently to try my first shawl, having knitted almost everything else. I was inspired, having a quick read through of the pattern, to find your instruction to "Take a deep breath....lie down if you feel dizzy"! If only all pattern copywriters were as pragmatic and tongue-in-cheek...

First post, by the way. Lovin' the blog!

about 8 o'clock tonight when you FEEL like haveing a beer, don't.

keep writing

I'll be a true friend and have one on your behalf.

so you can write your bookbookbookbook.

and not come drink with (your people) us.

jen will have one too.

by 10'oclock you should have a nice little buzz on,

thanks to your friends

luv denny

hey rachel h want to help?

Hey, at least you don't attempt to entertain your blog visitors with duck pictures.

Would you stop doing this to me!? *gazes helplessly at all the yarn she's bought in the last two months*. I mean, just this week I've yielded to temptation and bought some of Scout's wonderful yarn and now the Seasilk! OMG I have got to get that Ocean Blue color. And I'm giving up, throwin' in the towel and making that shawl. It's fantastic. My phobia about small needles notwithstanding.

Whining over. Yes, BSG is great, been watchin' since day 1. I so won't ruin the second half surprises for you, or give out spoilers for the upcoming third season (which starts here in the US in October). And I agree with everyone else about Stargate (although I'm a bit disappointed in this season so far) and Firefly/Serenity (which a friend turned me onto).

But for me, it's all about waiting for the second season of Criminal Minds. I so have got to know if I'm right about the solution to the cliffie. That's one show I can't knit through -- I HAVE to be watchin' every minute.

Welcome to the wonderful world of TV addiction.

Season 3 of BSG starts October 6. It's in my calendar. With a reminder. I can't believe I care this much about a TV show.

I have all of the season 2 episodes. Interested? I thought you were. Oh, and I need some help with packing, by the way... ;)

Not that I want to add to your to do list...but whatever became of the sand dollar tank top? Finished?

Last I heard BSG resumes in Oct. (That is so frigging far off I hurt just thinking about it.) Starback is preggers in real life so who knows how that will be handled within the storyline. All of Season Two is out but on two or more disks (big sucking noises on this side of the keyboard).
Sharon (none of them) does not have an easy life. Keep plugging on the book. It will be done. Honest. It'll be great.

I must get some of that sea silk yarn - I have absolutely no idea what I would make with it but I must have it!!!

Next Wed. Mason Dixon will be represented here in our little hamlet (I know you like that term) of Southampton - wouldn't you LOVE to be able to say you did part of your book tour in "The Hamptons" too -- you wouldn't want them to outdo you now would you.......

Clearly, I *am* missing something by not having cable (by choice). But I was (am?) SO in love with Apollo from the first series - so darkly handsome, so tragic - does the new BSG really come up to that standard?

Ooooh! Battlestar Galactica! I had to knit plain vanilla socks while watching that...and sometimes I'd end up throwing a spare ball of yarn at the TV. It's like meth...your teeth could fall out from watching it, but who could stop? Season 2 finale is gonna make you confused and mad, though. Put away the dpns for that episode. (We don't have cable, but we would download it on iTunes the day after it showed on TV. We're ubergeeks. :)

My daughter is bringing me Sea Silk for my birthday. She's been in Nova Scotia all summer and I haven't seen her since last year and all I can think of is the Sea Silk she's bringing! Now THAT's not normal. What's more - all week I've been knitting up some not so nice yarn from the stash like it's some kind of advance payment to the universe for getting that marvellous stuff next week. Pitiful!

Helena

Oh, Stephanie Yarn Harlot, I love that you watch Battlestar Galactica. I don't, yet. My friends have been trying to get me to watch it and recently, some of my customers at the bookstore have been trying. This might be the last straw. You may have pushed me over the edge into Battlestar Galactica-watching.

Also, I recently started dating this boy. He's real cute. I was at his house the other night, hanging out and chatting with his housemates, when I discovered that one of his housemates and I were both at your reading when you were in Portland, OR last year. We both sat in the front row. We talked about our socks. A year later, I'm dating her housemate and she and I are becoming friends. Isn't that great?

Happens to the best of us! Congrats on Casting on for the gansey, that in itself is a huge accomplishment!

You have no idea how happy I am that you watch Battlestar Galactica. My love of knitting and my love of sci-fi have just been united, and it's *glorious.*

If it makes you feel any better, I once cast on for a sweater in the round, knit about 3 rounds, discovered the twisted join ... ripped it out, cast on again ... and DID IT AGAIN. The fact that I was knitting a sweater for a Medium Sized Woman of Louisiana rather than a Big Man Of Canada was no comfort.

I recently became addicted to BSG. I spent last Saturay holed up in my house with my knitting, the mini series, and season one. This weekend I've got a hot date with the first half of season 2...SO STUPID that we have to wait for the second half of the second season on DVD....and I'm counting the days til Oct. 6. Good to know I'm not the only sci-fi loving knitter out there.

Ouch, at least with a cardigan you can do a premature cut of the steek. Been there,
Li

Hi!
If I have a lg number of stitches to knit in the round (like your 200), I knit the first 2 rows back and forth and then join on the third! This prevents the twisting because you have something hanging down to help avoid the twist when you join! Then at the end just weave those rows together - you will not see it and it really saves you lots of time and trouble.
Vi

See, I already thought you were pretty awesome. I read your blog everyday. Love your writing. I love your books. And THEN, you make it even better by being a Battlestar Galactica fan. Yay Steph!
Love from Quebec City!

Just a question...are those the KnitPicks new needles you have there with the gansey? Those are nice pointy points....just wondering..
23 days.

Hi!
Yes there are avid, addicted knitters who LOVE sci-fi. When my oldest went to Cornell as freshman, she took my sci-fi books with her to the co-ed dorm. The guys loved my books and she told them they were her Mom's. Of course loads of amazement. I remember reading the first 3 Terry Brooks Shannara series of books. I am now reading The Historian (a new take on the Dracula myth that has been optioned by Sony) while I make a cable pullover for one of my triplet granddaughters! Much fun - I knit in triplicate - sounds like the Army.

Vi

BSG!!!! I love that you're into that show. It ate my social life last year. But it was worth it. I think that the next DVD set (2.5) is due for release soon.

You're going to need stiff drinks, two pillows (one for throwing at the screen, and one for punching) and a BSG-lovin' friend to discuss the entire thing with after. I'm avidly waiting for 2.5 to come out so I can buy it and watch it again! :D

seriously?seriously?!

i bought the season 2.0 DVD for my friend for helping keep me sane through finals (aka 3 weeks of murderous hell where i couldn't even knit my brain was to mushy) because he got me hooked on that show.

it's probably a sign of me being overworked, overtired, and oversick this week that i get so excited about finding someone else that knits lots and watches the same show as me... i have some twisted notion that this makes me more normal...? i'm not sure how..

anyway. i'm glad 2.5 is coming out in time for his birthday. i've refused to watch the episodes in 2.0 that i missed, because then i don't have to sit there impatiently waiting for the rest :P (i've only seen like 3 episodes in total)

PS - also, i had to try about 4 times before i "joined without twisting" last night. i was pretty close to vowing never to knit in the round ever again....
i'm fairly sure it must happen to everyone from time to time ;)

if it's not normal, please don't tell me. I am, right now, in the middle of a wool crisis and no one fully understands; I think my wheels are going to have to stay at a friends house while I'm on my next rotation, and I'm not sure there is room in my car for bits of unprocessed fleece. Things like my stethescope, white coat and a few iron-requiring shirts and pants are can't-leave'behind-able, and I need the board review books to keep the "I am studying" illusion alive. Sock yarn is smooshed in to "protect" things (so they don't break...right...), and my needles are rolled up in some sort of fabric thing (just waiting to be brought out and set free...).

But my wheels...oh my wheels. I fear that Robin - the real love of my life - isn't going to make the trip. And the wool doesn't fit real well (it's in a big hamper/box so it doesn't get spilt on or seperated).

Please tell me this sort of inner war of wool against medical books and tools is normal. Please.

Ok, so I don't normally comment on your blog, even though I read it all the time! But I just wanted to comment for once and say...'COME TO IRELAND!!'

Anyway, I find that knitting things as gifts is a great motivation for finishing them! I did a lace tank top AND shrug recently and was just under the wire as the recipient needed it for her holidays. I've never been so motivated to finish as my friend knew to expect the gift and was eagerly awaiting it.. I couldn't stand to disappoint her!

But I think I'm in love with lace now! Icarus looks amazing but I'm mightly tempted by the one skein lace shawl. It's fabulous!

Have you seen these? Even the gansey would fit in one . . .

I have the _Knitting Ganseys_ book, too. I got it from the library, fell in love, and had to have my own copy. Up til then, the only sweaters I would consider doing were neck down sweaters...I HATE sewing up. This is knitting, not weaving, why make pieces and sew them together???

But her gansey patterns are done in the round with the sleeve stitches picked up and knitted, and I said, "I'm gonna add ganseys to my sweater repetoire."

I'm afraid I have yet to see an entire BSG episode. I'm such a bad scifi fan. Instead, I watch my Stargate SG1 DVDs while I knit. I'm trying to see how many I can rewatch before season ten starts in Canada. So far, I'm mid season two - only a bajillion to go! Maybe I'll finish by the time I'm done the second baby sweater...

I knit circular when ever possible and used to go crazy making sure that I didn't join with a twist. Then I discovered that joining with a twist in the work doesn't matter at all, it's knitting the twist that causes all the problem. So now I join after trying to do it smoothly but without obsessing about getting a twist in it and start knitting. As you work your way around the first row, if any twists develop, just keep pushing the twist back and continue until the first row is finished. Now, after you have knit the last stitch of your first row but before you knit the first stitch of the second row, take a good look at the space between those two stitches. If there's a twist or two or three, you will be able to see that the yarn isn't as straight as it should be quite easily. Simply move the needle that's in your left hand in a virtical, circular motion until the twist is gone (if your adding twist instead of taking it out, circle in the opposit direction). When the twist is gone, continue knitting as normal. If using double pointed needles, you can do this between each needle as you finish one and before you start the next. It doesn't matter how much you twist when you join as long as you don't knit the twist in and one the second row is started with out knitting in a twist, it can't twist again. Try this on a smaal piece of circular knitting and see if you can get what I'm trying to explain (probably explaining very badly). This is a lot easier than spending so much time making sure your join doesn't have a twist. Hope it helps.

If you're watching Battlestar Gallactica (which you absolutely should - really well written, tons of eye candy, and just all around great acting), you *need* to try out Eureka on the SciFi channel. Seriously.

Sorry about the spelling (and other) mistakes in my post. My husband wanted to go out for dinner and was pacing up and down behind me while I was trying to type.

Late comment again. I'm another SF fan and knitter, though not a TV watcher any more.
((hugs)) to Margaret. My DH has a pacemaker.

I'm cautiously optimistic and pulling for Sharon, but I'm only partly through season 1 (forcibly broke off the obsession because of need to get other stuff done). Also, needed to ration the DVDs. Your gansey yarn looks fabulous!

Isn't the main point of knitting just to knit? If so then you can just see it as getting to knit more. Not that you really need lots more time to spend on the gansey. It's looking lovely so far.
Oh and a pattern for a shawl that only takes one skein. That's probably gonna go on my to do list. As if mine wasn't big enough.
Not much knitting going on in the heat, but that will just leave me lots of time this winter to knit it all!
:)

As I write this, it is Monday, Aug. 14th; your latest post to the blog states Aug. 11th. It's probably just the ultra-slowness of crappy dial-up connection, or perhaps you have other things to do (choking here)? I've been bit hard by the spinning bug (re-bit is more accurate) and I'm blaming it on you. Yes, it will get me off your black (er...blog, I meant blog and onto a few other blogs) and leave you free to live that other part(s) of your life (LOL). But really now, where are you dear harlot?

BSG rocks!!
Umm, if you feel you really MUST watch the second half of season 2, I can set you up. I don't have cable, so I download the shows I want to watch and I have every episode of BSG to date - as well as some of the original series. For the record, the second half of the season only gets better. Wait til you see the cliff hanger then ;)
If you want a copy, let me know. I live in High Park, so I could even hand deliver it :-) (omg omg omg...i just propositioned a harlot!)

The new BSG is totally cool. Season 2.5 comes out on dvd in September - the 26th I think.

Season 3 starts in October. I find I can't knit and watch BSG - Half the time I'm too busy turning to my husband and saying - omg! I don't believe they just did that. SciFI channel is repeating all the season 2 episodes at 2 am EDT on Sundays.

The new Dr. Who is great - the third season has started in England. Season 1 w/ Christopher Eccleston became available in the US July 4th, sooner in Canada.

Another fun series is Life on Mars - bbc america has that one.

I love that you're a SciFi nerd too! I haven't watched any BSG, but am hoping to rent the DVDs soon and get started on that addiction...but I have knitted quite a lot while watching Farscape. And let me tell you, if you think that watching BSG is nerdy, Farscape is so much worse. It's kinda like the Muppets in Space with lots of leather, weird creatures and sexual tension, and ridiculous amounts of the word "frell". Why is it that nerdy shows always have their own equally nerdy versions of ordinary curse words? I've always found that fascinating.

I'm coming out of the shadows of lurkdom to say two things: that shawl is going to going to be fabulous! and on a different note, I LOVE THAT TV SHOW!! It's good to know someone else is hooked on that show -- my boyfriend and I watched season 2.0 almost in one night after we got it. We were so desperate to see what happens that he downloaded the second half of season two and we sat down and watched the entire thing in one day... it comes out on dvd September 19th, I believe. Have you seen the previews for season 3? It looks pretty crazy, it's going to start running on tv in October. I'm excited!
Keep up the great knitting and writing, and hooray to Battlestar! (Sharon is one of my favorite characters!)

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