WOOHOO!!!!!

I just learned to knit and purl in the Continental (left-handed) method! Knittinghelp.com works for me!!! The purl stitch is a bit tough to do at first, but it smooths out after the first couple of stitches. The knit stitch is pretty easy and goes well. The hardest part was figuring out how to hold the blooming yarn in the left hand, wrapping it around the pinkie and pointer fingers and not dropping the whole mess into my lap. Dropping needles out of the yarn stitches isn't any fun either. Fortunately, there's videos about how to pick those up too. Yayyyy!!!

I'm going to go knit in the living room now. Away from the computer! Away!!!

Oh yeah. Our couch surfer, Emma Laigle, should be arriving sometime today or tomorrow. French girl with a (holy smokes does she ever have one) British accent who just spent a bunch of time in Iceland.

Bye-bye!

Am I hooked?

I'm not entirely sure what constitutes an addiction. I usually take great pride in NOT being able to get addicted to anything, but realize that I'm a huge book-devourer. THAT might be an addiction. But other than that... and chocolate... So far, I've gotten away with it.

Is that changing? I'm working on this shawl, and I want to have it done for Christmas. I'd really like to have it done even sooner so that I can start on another project (oh no... another sign!!), and that means I have to commit time to knitting. I've been knitting while visiting with my best friend, while cooking dinner, while sitting with the family post-dinner, pre-bed, and now... post-bed!!! I'm knitting while waiting for it to be time to drive Miranda to school!!!! While waiting for coffee to be done!!!

Worst thing of all is that I'm actually wavering between reading and knitting! AAAAAaaaaaaggh!!

I'm afraid to go to the library, because it might become official when I start looking for knitting books. Oh gods... what am I going to do?!!!

DANA! This is all YOUR fault!

Love you. ;)

Gotta go doctor up my coffee and pick up my knitting again. I'm heading out to Michael's with Gerri later in order to use my 50% off coupon to buy a ginormous (or medium-sized ginormous) canvas... maybe some yarn... and some non-plastic needles! They squeak and my yarn sticks to them!

... going now... must get off the computer before I look at yarn requirements for another project... *gasp*

Knit ? Purl ? ... go crazy!

It's been a while since I've been here. Too many other things going on, I guess. Went to Winnipeg to visit with Dana (Hi, Dane!!!) and had a fabulous time. Ethnic food galore (oh yum!), shopping and hanging out with Dane! (yaaaayyyy!) We watched a few movies, some of them repeaters. Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes are proceeding apace. Dana! Stop watching them!!! This is a "you-and-me" thing to do. Otherwise I'll start watching them with Alia! Yes. She's asking. ... hmm... It means I might get the whole series watched before I'm 60. *thinking*

Ron and Diane's wedding out in Grindstone National Park, Confusion Corner Bar and Grill with Dana (Beach Salad!), all the fun stuff. *sigh* It's going to be a long time before next summer comes around.

Dana learned to knit not long ago. She kept at it, even while I was visiting. She asked if I'd like to learn. My response was a pretty big "NO WAY!" ... After about a week, I'd softened up and asked her to show me. It seemed pretty easy.

Note to self: Never try learning something new when you're exhausti-pooped and stupid-blind. I couldn't even count as far as 2 on a continuing basis. Ah well. I got over that little learning bump and have since been doing pretty well.

My first project, a dog collar-cover with a neckerchief attached, turned out pretty well. Unfortunately, it's the wrong size scarf for Niki. I have to find a smaller dog to give it to. Try again with the larger size! I'd also like to get a sweater knitted for Niki before it gets cold. Poor puppy... don't want her to freeze!

The second project was hilarious. I think I must've cast-on about half a dozen times before I finally got it! Then I'd stitch a couple of rows, realize that I'd messed it up and proceed to tear the whole thing out! Argh! I finally stopped being the "anal knitter" and left it as is. The shawl took much longer than the pattern indicated it would take, but it's finally done. Funny thing though, I kept making longer and longer rows, thinking that I was making the part that lays over the shoulders with each pass. Nope... not so. It turned out that the beginning part that I'd ripped out repeatedly until the yarn was actually a bit fuzzy-looking was the top-centre. Right at the nape. *sigh* Fortunately, it looks gorgeous everywhere else. I refuse to look for mistakes and I push Alia's comments aside every time she tries to say anything about it. She's quit now.

Project three is well on its way! Another shawl, but not the triangular kind. Something a bit different, and using a boucle (eep!) yarn instead of the thick bulky stuff.

Pictures to follow. Honest!