Knitting Imps

Another month has gone.
In some parts of the world this is a Special Day. In Finland it's Vappu, and they drink Sima and
eat Tippaleipa. In some countries it's called May Day, not the one that calls for help, but calls for
parades and other festivities. If I am correct, it's equal to Canada's Labour Day, which is in September. We don't drink Sima or eat Tippaleipa, we do other stuff, like if I knew, I would tell.

I did not make any of those traditional items, but I did bake a cake for Easter.









Can you imagine,
I have not been here since in the beginning of April (I hate the month of April).

Some of the reasons for not liking April

1. It's the tax month. I have every intention to finish this
tax return stuff during February, but there is always "tomorrow"
and all of a sudden it's the mid April. Hate it, Hate it.

The only good thing about April is that my son has a birthday.

2. It's the tax month. Getting papers to our accountant in the last minute kills me, because she is busy with other last-minuters. I don't want to be one of them, but I am, and it makes me sick, but not sick enough to do the paperwork in February.

3. It's the tax month. Every day is a day of "I should do the paperwork" Oh, please, some powers, please erase the procrastinator syndrome from my being, and make me an organized,
go-get-it-done-now person. Oh, phleeeez

Well, I think you got the idea. Next year I will not hate April, I will hate February. Oh, yes, it's better, because in February I wait for the winter to end, and all the yucky snow melt (the snow that is covered with road dirt), the white stuff is pretty.

What else was happening in April? I was creating stuff every single day. It was either crocheting freeform scrumbles or knitting socks, or making a mess with a sweater I am TRYING to knit for my stepdaughter. I have frogged the front piece once. I have frogged one sleeve completely, I have frogged the other sleeve half way down. I have frogged many rows, due to twisting the stitches wrong way, or cables turning the wrong way. This sweater is a real DEVIL.

The picture shows a beautiful sweater, mine is not nearly as nice as that. Besides, there are no bobbles on mine, that's just too much work. This pattern is in a Sandra magazine from 2003.

I am using Filatura Di Crosa Zara yarn. It's a nice and expensive yarn, but don't ever let me buy this yarn again. It splits, it does not hide loose stitches, they just don't even out, after blocking or washing.
The sweater, though, is going to be super soft.

I finished, finally, a small size pair of Jaywalker socks, Finally. I will not make another pair of Jaywalker socks, not for a loooong time.
The pattern is nice, and the socks are pretty, but don't ask me to make a pair. Thank you very much.

On one beautiful April day, I went to see the Coral Reef pictures at "the Institute for Figuring". Of course I had to make one, once again. I am always amazed to see the pictures of those Coral Reefs that people around the world have made (including me, I have pieces in Londong, UK, and NYC, exhibitions). Not the one that is in this picture, though. This one is my last week's inspiration. I don't have a picture of the complete piece.












April was also a month for Knitters Frolic. I went with an idea to buy a weaving loom. Instead, I bought a canvas knitting bag, two skeins of sock yarn (50% off sale on that yarn), some bamboo sock needles, a circular bamboo needle, Misti Baby Alpaca yarn, and
"Hooked on Murder" novel. No, I have not read it, must finish the sweater first. Didn't buy the weaving loom, Cricket.
I am waiting for a better balance in my savings account.











My sister is building a doll house, so I decided to weave some little rugs for her house. This will be a surprise for her, so do not tell that these two little rugs are already in the mail.

When I come back from my vacation, I will take up this weaving thing more seriously. So far I am just a beginner, and have done only small things, with my Pink WL.










Other pleasant things during April,
My son and my granddaughter and of course me, went for lunch for his birthday. This was a few days later, because he decided to have his special day in the middle of the week. Who wants to go out on a weekday? We went on Sunday. The place belonged to a Mr. Greek. I didn't meet him, but the food was good, and plenty, and believe it or not, I could not finish my salad, only the olives, cucumbers, feta cheese, and some of the lettuce, but I did manage the chicken on the pita (did not eat all of that pita) and that white stuff, tzatziki yummy. Grandaughter had ice cream, too, because she had the kiddie menu and it came with ice cream. what's with that policy? I wanted some, too, but there would have been an extra charge for that. Grandmothers should be treated with same respect.

Socks and Weaving

What the heck has happened lately? There hasn't been a moment of non-creativity during the last few weeks. Have I finished anything? Yeah, socks, what else. I am so lacking
imagination, when I have things on my "must-to-do" list. These socks are all for gifts.

The pictures show the two pairs I finished this week.

I have also done some weaving, but there isn't a picture that I could share at this time.

A friend of mine sold her RAM Loom to me, and I picked it up last night, and assembled it this afternoon.
Here is my new toy:

I almost forgot, I received the other weaving loom, Spear's Loom, size 3, over a week ago, and have not even tried it yet. The socks have taken most of my time. I have one more pair of socks to make, and then there is a sweater to finish for my DIL.

The picture shows my collection of weaving looms. What else is new.
I started with the pink one, and then came potholder loom, and then Spear's weaving loom. Oh, for crying out loud, yes, the Ikea one is the first one, but it was in the box, until I discovered how wonderful a new hobby I had. Mind you, I don't really care for that Ikea one, but I will give it a try, one of these days, when I want to do something crazy. The creation that is with the Spear's loom isn't mine, it came with the loom. That is the one I won at e-Bay, early in March.

It's Saturday afternoon, and I have some chores to do, before hubby comes home. I spent too much time with my new toy. After finishing the chores, I will try to knit as much as possible on the pair of socks that are on the needles and then relax...sure.

More weaving

I made two more pieces on the weekend. That's about all I was able to accomplish, except about 5 rows on two socks.
Oh, and lots of sitting and staring in the air, attending to sick hubby (cold and fever), and generally just doing nothing.

The bigger piece has homespun yarn (solid grayish/purplish shade) by Sherri,
and the smaller piece has also homespun yarn, by Sherri, tambien.
That is the yarn on top of the smaller piece, looks like purple, and below and at the bottom the same grayish/purplish homespun as the bigger piece.

Don't you just love the words I use for colors.

I am eagerly waiting for my new weaving looms, one is spear's and the other is potholder loom,
both of them on the way. It's going to be a mail waiting week, as I have some books coming in, also.

The books that have been shipped are:

1. Margaret Hubert: Knit or Crochet--Have it Your Way: 15 Fun Projects with Complete Hook and Needle Instructions for Each

2. Crocheting Adventures with Hyperbolic Planes by Daina Taimina

3. Crochet Embellishments (Leisure Arts #4419) Jean Leinhauser

However, they are coming from the USA, so it will take some time before I am able to enjoy any of my recent purchases.

My latest obsession

It was Cricket weaving loom in a Lion Brand newsletter that tricked my interest in weaving.
Oh, I was in love, it looked so neat. I asked my friend Noreen for her opinion. Of course she liked the loom. I got very excited and started using my math brain cells, and this time they worked, and I came to a decision, this Cricket was way over my budget in price. First, there is the over the border hump, the dollar amount has to be brought over it, and then the carrying charges, plus the customs officer's salary has to be paid somehow, so Canada Customs probably would take someone's hourly pay from me.

I was not ready to fork out that kind of money, so I settled on a potholder loom, which is going to cost me an arm and a leg to get it over here, from the good old USA. I also won one weaving loom at the e-Bay, and that shipping isn't free either.

Plus the books I now need to learn to put yarn thru those wasps, ooops, warps....let me check it that is the right word. Sounds weird, but I think that is the word. Anyway, I have now spent the amount of money on other things, including some knitting and crocheting books, that I would have spent on that Cricket. I am not sure if I have done a right choice. I will, I know, buy that Cricket one day, too. Unless I absolutely hate weaving.

My friend Sherri would know exactly what I mean by upgrading the tools section in crafts. She spins, and has some nice equipment to do that. Just like that Lucille 2 in the picture, with Hugo sitting on top of it.

While I am waiting for my nice looms, I am knitting socks, crocheting freeform scrumbles and dream about having enough time to finish all my WIPs before May. Why May? because I have to have my job stuff done
before I go on vacation. That's why.