Sadly, there will be no pretty pictures with this post (unless I do a mosaic) as my lense crapped out on me and is currently being fixed. It happened after the very last photo from the previous post. I snapped a shot of the February Lady Sweater without the flash, flipped the flash on, went back to programmed auto, and nothing. Shit . . . and then wasted a day tracking down the missing receipt.
If you have been reading us for a while, and it still truly shocks us that anyone reads, then you may have heard me mention my friend Tricia. I've known Tricia for seven years nows, but the first few were merely in passing. Tricia, however, is a Knitter among knitters. You have a problem? Go to Tricia. Not sure if that yarn will work? Go to Tricia (it will and you'll walk out with more than you intended . . . she's an enabler, too). Can't remember what pattern you were knitting? Go to Tricia. Need some formal knitwear for your bear? Go to Tricia (sorry, couldn't resist). Tricia commented on the last post that I should get ready to say the word - which is "whackadoo" by the way - because she thought that 992 stitches wouldn't be that bad since the shawl was so beautiful. That's just Tricia. I've seen people make mistakes before, ask for help, and before you know it, Tricia says, "Do you mind if I take this off?" as she is ripping out your stitches. Mistakes just don't sit well with her and she will put your stitches back on correctly. Me? They'll be on there alright, but I'll kindly remind you to knit through the back loop of any stitch that looks wonky.
So, a few days ago, I got a message on Ravelry from Tricia saying that my homework was the following and then she proceeded to list several paragraphs worth of info. Seems I said yes to the Great American Afghan a few months ago and well, it begins next Thursday evening. I blame this on several people. First, Lola. See, our little Lola bought the booklet and oohed and ahhed all over it until I bought it and did the same but here I am knitting it and she is not. To her credit, she has knit three of the afghans that I currently have in pieces so she is ahead of the game. Second, three people who will remain nameless at the shop simply because they have never commented on the blog. Oh, you all know who you are as you are right in there with me most Tuesday evenings. They have knit the damn thing and there is a smidge of pattern envy. And third, Tricia herself. She knows I am a sucker for a) yarn, b) learning, and c) yarn and learning.
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1. In The Cold Cold Night, 2. Goodmorning Amsterdam, 3. card catalog redux, 4. worried about whackadoos, 5. Jack's Sweater on Bear!, 6. 992, 7. The Great American Afghan, 8. Downtown Trois-Rivièrs, 9. ...
Today will be spent finishing up square 13 to be used to measure tension (did I mention that Tricia is Canadian so most things get Anglicized, which is just another reason to love her) and figuring out what colors of Cascade to buy and what block to substitute for the hideous sock block. If I go crazy, I blame . . . oh who am I kidding? I must be crazy for knitting this in the first place.
Ava
PS - Not a big fan of the White Stripes, but "Meg White" by the sublime Ray LaMontange truly rocks. If you have the time, check out the whole album (CD for all you whippersnappers out there).
Oh my goodness! I am honoured(note the spelling of that)but lets put some things into perspective. The GAA is going to give you several months worth of blog fodder and it seems to me that Lola just better jump right into because she is going to get sick to death of hearing you talking/moaning about the current square(s). Not that you ever, ever are at a lack for words, but I'm just providing you with a fall back plan for the next several months when it comes to your blog. I mean seriously how many people that read your blog are now going to get GAA fever.
Next on my list is yes, I do knit for one bear. His name is Douglas. Poke fun all you want, it won't stop me knitting Douglas a new sweater every now and again. He currently has 4 sweaters and a vest. I learned how to steek on the vest. Methods and madness me thinks.
OK, the frost flower thingy with 992 stitches. Yes it is a lot but if you knit a triangular shawl you are going to end up with a whole whack of stitches as well and with more rows. Something that has a huge lengthwise cast on, normally has fewer rows to knit, sort of a psychological bonus of only being able to knit a couple of 992 stitch count rows in an evening. This is probably one of those things that only makes sense in my mind. Anyway it is all mute because my copy of Knitted Lace of Estonia arrived, so why don't we knit a shawl with 1000 nupps in it instead. That is only 8 more than the 992 stitch cast on for the other thingy. It is the one on the cover and it took my breath away to see it in real life at SOAR a few weeks ago.
And did I tell you that I just joined another afghan group, only problem is it is all in Dutch. Thank goodness for charts.
Affectionately yours, Tricia
P.S. And now you already have one square done, only 24 to go.
Posted by: tricia | November 01, 2008 at 01:54 PM
Hi!
Found your blog due to blissfully random browsing on Ravelry (from a post on NaKniSweMo) and I will definitely be back!
Posted by: Marce | November 02, 2008 at 12:20 PM
You can do it!! May be I'll join You!!
Posted by: Michele | November 04, 2008 at 09:41 PM