The Yarnarian Snarls.

It's one of those days. I've been running a lot and it caught up with me today. My gut is not a happy camper, so I'm stuck in the house, which is not so terrible except that I wanted to go to my knitting group and then visit the Mommie. And I'm missing the MA kids and grands. And I want to pester the grands. Not to be, alas. But that's not why I'm snarling. Here's my snarl, and it's totally my own doing!

This, boys and girls, is what I'm grumping about:



These are my notes on the brand new Fan Dance Shawl. Have you ever seen such a mess? This is how I design and knit. Which is just fine if I'm doing it only for me, but this little shawl is destined for greater things. She's going on sale at some point after my insanity calms down. Now I have to decipher what is going on. I know exactly how I knitted this shawl, but formal patterns require some numbers and charts that make sense and such. So, yours truly is sitting here in front of the computer slowly losing what's left of her little mind. SNARL! By the way, I've not been to this restaurant yet, so I have no idea how the menu appeared in my purse.

I was smart enough to make good charts, because I knit solely from charts, and they have to be good, but the verbiage part, plus the unhappy gut is not making me a happy camper.

Not to fear; I will conquer it, and will not learn from this lesson. I can assure you that the next shawl will also be scribbled somewhere as I work with it. This is all Elizabeth Zimmermann's fault! She taught me how to be an independent knitter, and now I have a hard time formalizing matters. Giggle! (I do wish that Blogger had emoticons, because this would be a good place for one or two.)

Wanna see more shawl pics?




I wore it yesterday and the Mommie was quite impressed with it. She's doing remarkably well. She did have lunch in her room, but came out for supper and is her usual self. I suspect that I have more of my dad's genes than hers, but hers are the ones I want. She tells me over and over that she has a very nice old age, and I believe her. She charms everybody. Her doctor bows very low to her when he sees her; he loves her. She is just about the most adorable, charming little old lady around. Believe me, this was NOT the Mommie of old. In her youth, she was one tough cookie. Now she doesn't have to be tough, although she does like a good argument or two. She has Little Old Lady down-pat, and it's all genuine.

One more Mommie story: her short term memory is not great. OK, she's 95, she's entitled. But every now and then, she comes up with something from her youth, and it just rocks me. How does she remember this stuff? Yesterday she started to sing some Romanian patriotic song. Huh? She comes from Transylvania, the ethnic Hungarian part, and her native language is Hungarian. After WWI, that part became Romanian. But the entire family spoke Hungarian at home as did her little town. Somewhere in school, she had to learn this song, and now she remembers it. In Romanian, which I thought she really didn't remember at all. So, while the short term memory is iffy, her long term memory is amazing. Not bad for a really old lady. We had quite a laugh over the song, too.

OK, I've had my fun, back to work on those directions. If you see a small woman in her nightie and robe tearing her hair out and screaming at herself, just smile at her, pat her on the head and tell her it will be all right, and then run as fast as you can to get away from her. She's liable to make you write up the directions!

The Yarnarian Is Back.

Click on all the pics to get the true look of the shawl!

Whew, it's been a crazy couple of days here, and I'm sorry I had no time to blog. But everything is fine.

Mommie news: We had quite a scare yesterday. She fell, and when the staff came into her room to ask her if she wanted to go to a program, they found her on the floor, bloody and very confused. So, they called me, the rescue squad (yay, rescue squads!), and carted her off to the emergency room. I met her there a bit later. In short order, the Mommie has some broken facial bones just under her right eye, but, most important, the eye muscles were not affected. She has one helluva bruise on her eye, and she looks as if she's been in a barroom brawl. Bloody nose, the whole nine yards. But her vitals are all fine, and she looks a mess. The Hubbo and I brought her home, where they saved some supper for her. The kitchen staff is wonderful, and they heated up her supper, brought it to her along with her coffee and chocolate cookies. She'll be on antibiotics for 10 days just to ensure that she doesn't get a sinus infection. I suspect she might be a bit sore today, but she wasn't complaining much yesterday.

I was supposed to go to MA this weekend to see the gang, but I'll stay home and visit her every day. I want to be nearby just in case something goes wrong.

The Mommie charmed everyone in the emergency area. All sorts of doctors, physicians assistants, and other medical folk came to visit her. One doctor wanted to know her secret of longevity. She's 95! She quipped with everyone, kept her sense of humor, and was truly adorable. This is the woman who was the toughest mom around. Boy was she tough! And now in her old age, she is delightful, charming and funny. And everyone loves her. Yeah, Mommie! At one point, I gave her a kiss on her head just before they took her off for a scan, and the nurse in charge asked her if she could give her a kiss too. Of course, said the Mommie most graciously.

Knitting news: So of course, I brought my knitting to the hospital. Emergency room visits are at least 4-5 hours long for cases like my mom's. I'm prepared all the time with my knitting. I finished the little shawl that I showed you. I love it; it's pretty and lacy and easy.

When I got home, I soaked and blocked it, and discovered in the process that when I bound off, I didn't pull my thread through. Emergency room nerves I think. But I didn't lose much and have enough yarn to refinish it.

Before blocking:




After blocking.








Don't forget to look at the info for the Flower Fairies Sock Club! Either Tuesday, November 24, 2009 post, or here! Flowers, Fairies, spring. I already am tired of winter. very big sigh.

The Yarnarian Blathers on.

I went to the gym! Yay me!



I've been giggling all morning over the comments about my facebook addiction. And some people, who will remain nameless, have discovered some new games (but not facebook games). Hee hee hee!

The Hubbo and I do a lot of laughing. Might as well. What? It beats major agita over stupid drivers and such. I figure we can laugh, get mad or cry. Most of the time, I just laugh. Things I can control, I get mad about. Things I can't, I laugh. Well, I don't laugh at global warming and Darfur and the Taliban and racial discrimination, but at the idiot who cuts me off on the road. I merrily give him the finger, wish dastardly consequences upon him, have a good rant, and then move on. At my age, I've learned to differentiate between really getting upset, and the stupid juice aggravation that propels all our lives. Let's face it, boys and girls, life is often absurd; laughter is the best answer.

Now how did I get on that topic? Blogging is a stream of consciousness moment for me. Some folks actually read my blather, some just click on and then off. It's sort of like a public diary, except that the real stuff is private, as it should be, given that anyone can read this blather.

I like the word blather.

OK, mini silliness of the day: This morning my tea escaped its little holder and ended up in my cup. I did try to read my tea leaves before I decanted the mess into another cup, but couldn't figure any of it out. So now I don't know my future.

Dyeing? Nope. I'm scaling back a bit. This is a very slow season for me; people buy yarn at their local yarn shops but not from little online indies like me. So instead of making myself crazy over yarn not selling, I'm going to do a bit less dyeing. Not to worry, though. I have to dye just for the enjoyment of it, so you know that yarns will appear, just not as many.

Knitting? Yep. I'm knitting a lot. Working on this adorable little triangle shawl from my new Gina yarn (50/50 merino/silk). This is such a wonderful yarn. I love the little silky sheen that it has. I don't have a lot of it because I'm just trying it out. But it's a winner. The rusty-colored ones are almost true to life, just darker and more mahogany-ish.





Of course it needs a good blocking, but you can get some of the idea of how it will look. The pattern is a bit different with decreases where you don't expect them to be, but easy enough to memorize. Now I need a name for it.

And now I'm going to the gym! So there!

Lamazeteacher - I will make it available, maybe even as a freebie for a while. It's that much fun.

Ruth in Ottawa - The yarn is even nicer in real life. You know I'm frugal (cheap), but this is one case where the cost is justified. It's that beautiful!

Jen - Yep, I'll make it available. My poor sock knitting is suffering because all I want to do is knit this and crochet!

The Yarnarian is in a rut.

I'm in a funk these days. Bored, cranky, no energy. Yes, I know the solution, but get me to act on it is impossible. I need to exercise. I really need to do this, and I sit here on my bottom and play dopey Farmville, and such on Facebook. Help! I keep looking for rewards to give myself for going to the gym, but haven't come up with any. Help, yet again! I'm here, writing this. Do you think I could bestir myself, put on the gym clothes, and just do it? Nah, not me. This is bad, boys and girls, bad, bad, bad!

I need to get out of this house, and explore the universe. OK, get to a mall, go for a walk, something. If I were a joiner, I'd join a gazillion groups right now. But then, if I were a joiner, I'd already be in those groups, and looking for something else. I could use a little therapy, here. Shrinks, and you know who you are, get me out of the house. But, she said, I love being home. Yes, says the shrink, but you know that you really appreciate home if you get out of it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, says I.

Grumble, grouse, complain. OK, now I feel better, but I'm still not dressed for the gym. All talk, and no action. sigh.

OK, but I did a bit of dyeing on Monday, and didn't show you the Rachel yarn I dyed. So here are 4 lovely skeins of yarn.

Dreams of Blue and Domain.




Firestorm and Hypnotize




Now aren't they pretty?

Blogs for you to check out: These are such pretty blogs that I had to bring them to your attention.

Attic24: http://attic24.typepad.com/ This is the most charming crochet blog out there. I totally want to do everything that Lucy is doing. If this doesn't make you want to crochet, then nothing will.

Emma Lamb: http://www.emmallamb.blogspot.com/ Another charming shabby chic crochet blog. A different sensibility than Attic24, and just as lovely.

A nice bread blog for those of us who love baking bread: http://www.artisanbreadinfive.com/ I like this no-knead method; it really works, really good bread!

And now I'm off to do something. I don't think it's the gym, however, it's more futzing around this place. I think I'll visit the Mommie. Or stay in my nightie and futz some more.

itsJUSTme-wendy - It is the biggest time waster out there, but it's so cute. I'm hooked. I need exercise, not farmville.

rheffner5 - See my answer on the original post a couple of posts ago.

KV and Holly - I have tears in my eyes from laughing! So, just to spite you, I'm going to the gym today. So there! Hah! She stamps her little foot and pouts, and goes downstairs to make breakfast.

Rudee - I tried spinning as in a wheel or a spindle, and it wasn't my thing. I wanted it to be my thing, but it laughed at me. So now I want to try weaving, but only when I go out of business. I'm so yarn obsessed that there has to be a limit here. Besides, the poor Hubbo is totally swamped with my yarny stuff. On the other hand, this is a man who has more flashlights than anyone alive.

The Yarnarian Dyes Again!

My Multnomah shawl:



Yesterday i dyed Bambi and Rachel yarns. Bambi is 70/20/10 SW merino/bamboo/nylon. So nice to knit with, very drapey, and makes great socks and scarves and mitts. 4 oz approx 460 yards. $20/skein.

Rachel yarn is coming tomorrow.

Here they are:

Mirabella and Gavotte





Reef and Lovey




Shock Waves, Rose Hips, and Wood Chimes





Sock Club!!!! Flower Fairies Sock Club is posted below. Check it out.

Flower Fairies Sock Club!

For those of you who like to shop via Etsy, I've now listed the Flower Fairies Sock Club there.

http://fritzl.etsy.com

Yippee! Pretty socks and yarns, here we come.

The Yarnarian and YarnYenta Team Up!

This is a very long post with lots of pics. Enjoy it.

Here's my exciting news! I'm so revved for this.

YarnYenta and I have been chatting for a while about doing a sock club together, and yesterday we messaged back and forth and here's the result:

Flower Fairies Sock Club!

Is this neat or what! 3 months of charming sock designs and fairy yarns to make you a very happy camper. Everyone needs a little magic in her life, and we are going to give you a bit of it.

The particulars:

3 months: Feb, March, April (middle of the month, as usual)
3 brand new sock patterns designed by a wonderful sock designer
3 charming new colorways dyed my me

Yarns? I have a lot to choose from and have not decided yet, but you know that they are all lovely because I wouldn't knit on them if they were not.

Cost? $90 for everybody, USA, Canada, UK, and any other place possible. US shipments will mail out as Priority Mail, the UK and other places across the Pond will be sent as First Class International, Canada will also ship as First Class International. So, no extra charges for the basic package because you are not in the States.

Payment is done all at once, and not pay-as-you-go. I'll need payment by the end of January to make sure that I have enough to dye up the yarn.

Extra goodies? Nope. I don't like them, and don't send them, and anyhow, if it costs me to send them, then I have to add that cost to the club. We are a no-frills club, but we are sending you what counts: wonderful yarns and patterns!

Sign up: Any time from this blog and Etsy posting will follow next week. My routine here is for you to email me and then I invoice you. Etsy is self-explanatory.

Payment is done all at once, and not pay-as-you-go. I'll need payment by the end of January to make sure that I have enough time to dye up the yarn.

fritzL234 AT yahoo DOT com

So, is that not a treat? Now I have even more treats for you! New yarns. Really new yarns. They arrived last week after dyeing day, and yesterday I played with them.

First of all, I have a new Penny yarn. I'm replacing the old Penny yarn with this one because it is softer, has amazing yardage, and I don't have to wind up skeins from a cone! I've been looking for a replacement for quite a while, and now I've found it.

Penny yarn: 4 oz, approx 450+ yards. 75/25 superwash merino/nylon. This is a tad skinnier than the old Penny and softer and that yardage is amazing! The usual $20/skein.

Aida



Amneris



Radames is much more vibrant than Aida. Well he's a guy and a general and she's just a poor ex-princess now a slave girl.




Pastel Rainbow.



Violetta




AND my brand new Gina yarn: 50/50 SW merino/silk! This is so gorgeous. You don't even have to knit it. Just drape it around your neck and arrange artfully in a crystal bowl.

Gina yarn: 100g, approx 400 yards. 50/50 superwash merino/silk. Cost is $26.00, which is very reasonable for a luxury yarn, and this is really luxury. It is superwash, but I would hand-wash it. The pictures don't give you any idea on how soft and luxurious this is, and you can barely see that silken sheen. This yarn is a treat!

Metallic Silk




Midnight Silk




Silken Dew





Silken Mahogany




Silken Huntress




I need to keep one of the Gina yarns for me so that I can actually get to knit on it. Which one? I don't know. If you shark them, and one is left, I'll keep that one. I love them all and cannot make a decision.

fritzL234 AT yahoo DOT com

Silken Dew, Midnight Silk and Aida are already taken!

Silken Huntress is grabbed!

rheffner5 - They will be almost solids, or with a little bit of color variation. No deliberate striping or tons of variegation because that will interfere with the patterns. So just a bit of color play to make the yarn interesting and to give the socks a bit of spark. Light or dark? Not yet determined. YarnYenta and I will work that all out. Does that help?