Meow. Meow? Meow!

Oh, what's that over there?

What is it that I see? Could it... it IS!

A snow tiger! Incredibly rare in these climes, but not entirely unheard of, they are always a sight to behold. The majesty, the grace, the *slips on ice*. Well, more of a snow kitten at this point.

I will save the well-lit, detail oriented shots until I get through the thumb gusset (going to start it tonight), but since I am adding colourwork into a solid-colour item I need to graph out the stupid gusset (first I've ever knit) to make sure the decreases don't mess up the striping. And today gives me reason to be meek and not trust this project, so we shall see. Adieu!

6/8

So I am sorry for the inundation of photos of one project, I do this all the time I know, it is my monogamous knitter self coming out. I will try to break it up, go easy on y'all, can't have you getting bored! This shouldn't be TOO difficult, because, once February (I love that word) rolls around, I will be participating in Project Spectrum 2.0, hooray! I don't know how much of a craft colour thing it will be for me, as my crafting is limited, but I do have some ideas, and this is the kind of project that really fires me up (and I followed it avidly last year).

Anyway, today's knitting content is the fact that I believe to have met gauge for the Princeton Knucks. I ended up doubling the yarn for a really dense and squooshy fabric (and I hear it gets cold there, so I'm not worried), the fabric I was getting from single-stranding was just getting way too light for my taste as I kept going up needle sizes to meet gauge, but we shall see. I think Ms. H. and I have settled on an acceptable design (but I'm going to review that because you know, midnight sketches and IM ideas aren't always the best) and it is sufficiently tiger-y without being tacky (no Fair Isle Princeton crests).

In short, if I can keep the energy levels up long enough to have this finished in good time... I am excited! Yay! Shiny! *runs off to chase yarn*
















(The ceramic piece in this photo is a little Greenman made by my aunt years ago. She may drive me crazy like my mother [her sister] but there is no denying the fact that they are both incredibly talented artists. And I love Greenmen, they are adorable.)

Lies, lies, they are all lies!

Well, the colours in these photos at least (are unthruthful, for those who don't read blog post titles). It is all a little red or yellow, but you see, I have been busy, and social, and busy, and busy, and hi, I'm Michael and I have the attention span of a gnat on speed and the organisational skills of a pineapple (nothing against pineapples, but they aren't know for being well organized). My point is, I never remember to take photos of things in the daylight, so I am stuck with poorly light shots on my shoddy little desk (which is going to be replaced with a nice big table, which I can actually work at, and I am so excited).

Likewise, The Helm is done, has been done for two days and has been worn for two days (and oh my bubbeleh , the double-thick brim is sooooo nice and warm right now) and as a result, I have no pictures I am willing to share. Yet. They will come, as my weekend is free enough to find some time I hope.

Oh, as an aside, the black and orange (which is more of a slightly dirty orange) are supposed to turn into Princeton Knucks, if I can figure the gauge out (and that deserves it's own rant, maybe tomorrow). I hope I got the orange close enough to Princeton orange, so if there are any Tigers out there, let me know when I upload the good photos, eh?

Hello January

Heh, it's resolution and list season! Neither of which I really do, but I do set goals.

Planned Knitting (in possibly chronological order)

• Pirate Mittens for Mr. vonA.
  
• Princeton Mittens for Ms. H.
  
• The (stupid...) Helm for me.
  
• Fingerless(?) Mittens for me.

Potential Knitting (in no order)

• A sweater, maybe for me (I am a large guy, it would not be cheap).
• Lace, probably not for me.
• Socks, likely some for me, and some not.
• A murse, I could use a new one (that would be a man-purse [or a messenger/satchel bag], NOT a male nurse).
• Something felted.
• An Angst Cozy (patent pending).
• More Swatch Monsters.
• That's Enough For Now, As I Will Be Eating This Later, I Know, And Besides, I Need a New Job Before I Can Even THINK Of Buying More Yarn.

More Me-lists.

• Get in The Shape (I know, everyone says it, but I need to, and have [hopefully] the motivation).
• Make friends! (Last term was very encouraging academically, but I am starting to feel lonely)
• A job, I need a new one to buy yarn. Also see below.
  
• Travel (I would like to fly out East, dip down into Princeton, then take my time and train back across Canada. Also, there is a potential road-trip down the West Coast into the States, maybe as fat as San Francisco or something, which might take place next Christmas, but it's on the radar).
• Get my driver's license (I have had my 'L' for just over a year, I don't want to get it, but it's time to do it). Also see above.
• Floss.
  

That's all really that comes to mind, I am a simple person. Random, irrelevant goals/semi-lists include, and are not limited to: growing a full beard (either I'm clever or lazy. Mostly I'm curious what it will look like.), really getting down with some art (something I always mean to do, but it's not terribly important), successfully keep up with Embodiment (didn't make it last year), cook like a bandit (and compile my cookbook), move out (this should be on the other list, but it is highly unlikely), decide on my Undergraduate major (also, that should be on the other list, but it's not really something I can not get done, they make sure of that, so it goes here).
That is all.

Hope you all have a great year.

2007

Hope y'all have a safe and enjoyable New Year's Eve.

And here's hoping my knitting mojo comes back to me soon.

A slippery slope

So my first international yarn order arrived today! It is two skeins of the Supersport Merino in Violet's Pink Ribbon from... LISA SOUZA! I have heard tell of her marvellous yarn but this puts all stories to shame, shame I say! And the worst part? I. Want. (nay, NEED) MORE! It is soft like all get out and at 375 yards (4 oz.) for $16(US) I am so sold. And of course, the colour is awesome. And no, I'm not a big wearer of pink, but this is for someone else (and that is a secret, shhh), but I get the joy of using the stuff.

How happy is this guy with the yarn? He is my new yarn model and he just makes me so happy! (My brother got him for my mother as a gift, and we might stash him in the garden when the weather clears up, ooh, and my mother wants to give him coloured robes and a gilded bellybutton. Don't ask, this is my family)

Blech

I'm sick. (which sucks)
And done gift shopping. (last minute? me? never!)
And unemployed now too. (there are pros and cons)

I ran into a hitch on The Helm, but I'll have it done in a day or two, especially now that I have free (sick) time, and then I will try to post photos and stuff n' such. I've just been too busy and wound up to knit lately, but that should be passing soon.

So Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it, and a belated Happy Hannukah to those (like me) who celebrate it (I got kicked right over by work and busyness). And of course, best wishes for the ass-end of this year, and the coming one as well.

-michael (who is off to knit and consume "recovery" food)