Project Tart

I am such a project tart. There. I’ve said it. Now you know. I’m fairly certain you won’t hold it against me though, considering there are probably a few of you just like me out there. Likely, one or two of you are even reading this post right now.

I’ve been hit with some major startitis. I can point my finger in the two directions that have contributed to this problem. The first, Christmas is around the proverbial knitter’s corner so I’ve got to/have started casting on or started shopping for some projects in that vein. Secondly, knitting swatches for the Yogini Bolero is kicking my butt. I am on swatch five, people. Yes! You read that right. Swatch FIVE! And still no closer to getting gauge than when I started. This fact alone has me turning my adulterous eye in different directions. Really, five swatches? That’s enough to make even the most fearless knitter cringe.

However, my eye is not turning too far from my new favourite designer, Wendy Bernard. No Sir! Next on my list of Wendy’s patterns to knit is Marilyn’s Not So Shrunken Cardigan. Have I mentioned that I love it? Have I mentioned that I hope it will make me look young and hip (I’m ignoring the little voice that says ‘Patty, no sweater can do that. That requires plastic surgery and an attitude change.’)? This sweater is one sweet little number and, I think, will get worn and worn.

When we went to Australia (can you believe, two years ago in November? Time flies!), I picked me up some yarn. Likely I never told you about it. Sorry about that. Anyhoo, I did. I picked up enough Cleckheaton Country Silk 8 ply, 85% Pure Wool, 15% Silk blend in a gorgeous khaki green to knit a sweater (Hmm. The colour I have isn't on the Cleckheaton website anymore. This is slightly worrying.) And, get this, the label even says ‘Made in Australia’. Squeee! I decided awhile ago that I’m not picking up tacky tourist stuff when I travel. When I go to exotic locations (such as the other side of the world), I’m picking up quality tourist stuff. That’s where this yarn comes in. Quality and the label verifies that I was a tourist.

I need something mindless (and that cable scarf sure isn’t it…) for those times when I find myself sitting in front of my Apple TV watching Season 1 of Stargate (I’m addicted and very behind the TV times. And, I'm comfortable with that.). The Marilyn should have include a fair share of mindless stocking stitch which is perfect ‘in front of the television’ knitting for me. I do believe I’m off to, you guessed it, s. w. a. t. c. h. for another project. One that is not on my Christmas ‘to give’ list. Yep, project tart. That is so me right now.

Stunned As Me Arse

She hates me. Yes, it’s true, there is no denying it. The Knitting Goddess hates me. Mind you, perhaps it’s too much to expect a Goddess to save you from yourself.

I managed to finish that lovely second swatch I told you about - no mean feat in this house and I like to think I was entitled to feel a little thrill of accomplishment considering what I had to do to get it finished. After all, one more swatch meant one closer to the goal of actually starting my bolero (I usually knit three swatches per ‘large’ project so this meant two down and one to go). It was only after I had finished the swatch, bound it off, washed, blocked, waited for it to dry and started measuring that I realised I had a problem. I had gotten a gauge of 18 sts/4” on 4mm needles before and I need 20 sts/4”. I was measuring 17.5 sts/4” on the new swatch.

Picture this, Fibreholic bent over the dining room table with the measuring tape and a screaming child at her knee because he wants that measuring tape (and I quote here, “Aaaaaaaaa!”. That’s Iain for “Give me measuring tape NOW!”), all the while muttering to herself something like,

“1, 2, 3…17.5. 17.5? How can it be 17.5? I got 18 stitches yesterday. How the hell can I be going up? Unless….aaaak! Ga! Argh!”

Instead of going down a needle size, I went up. Really, I should have realised something was up yesterday when I typed “usually I knit looser than the gauge called for in a pattern...” This is why I swatch, right?

Go me.

In other news, our cycling trip this coming week has been cancelled due to an increase in DH’s workload. No, I’m not happy about it. The ‘guilt’ flowers look nice though. We are going to head to Kejimkujik (see if you can say it!) National Park for Saturday and Sunday night as they will likely be the last camping weekend we have in the near future. Every other weekend this month is already spoken for. One of the few good things I can think of as a result of not going to PEI this weekend for a week of cycling (sob!) is that, with the way I’m knitting swatches, I could not in good conscience take bolero yarn on the trip to work on as I do not yet know what needle size I’d need to accompany me. Yeah, sure. That makes me feel loads better.

I Be Swatchin’

Elizabeth mentioned a few comments ago that I must be very patient as I knit swatches. I had to laugh out loud, ‘Patty’ and ‘patient’ not two words you’re likely to often see in the same sentence. I am not patient. At. All. Just ask my family. They can tell you all about it. The only thing that makes me knit swatches is that I hate a sweater that just does not fit more than I dislike knitting swatches. And, after swatching recently for something else, I realise that my swatching process takes a week as it takes me that long to knit a swatch, wash it, wait for it to dry, realise that my gauge is off, and start all over again.

The nice thing about this current round of swatching is seeing the colour play of this yarn. Isn’t it lovely?

I knew it was going to be nice but even I am impressed with how darn purdy this fabric is going to be.

I managed to get my skein wound into, somewhat, passable yarn cakes. My ‘swift’ (two chairs back to back) was being unreasonably difficult.

You may have noticed the little note on the completed swatch. Usually I just write the needle size and the gauge I got with that needle. In this case, as I was using a set of Addi Turbos which I am not used to using, I decided to add that information as well. There is every likelihood that the ‘slipperiness’ of the Addi’s threw my tension off as, for the first time since Moses was a baby, my swatch is too small. I’m usually a very loose knitter (don’t tell anyone. The neighbours already have too much to talk about, what with me out putting yarn in trees to take pictures of it) so was very surprised. Then again, the yarn may have shrunk. Regardless, I’m now knitting up from a 4mm to a 4.5 mm needle. I’m hoping to have a decision before we leave at the end of the week. Stay tuned.

A Visit to Fort Anne

The week after we got back from our Newfoundland holiday, when I was still on a ‘get Iain in the car at least once a week’ kick (that quickly fell by the wayside immediately following…), I decided to take Iain on a day trip to Annapolis Royal and the Fort Anne National historic site. We are blessed by living in this area for many reasons but one reason is the variety of beautiful historic sites within an hour drive of us. Annapolis Royal and Fort Anne are no exception.

Perhaps I should say right up front that I did not significantly increase my knowledge about the history of Annapolis Royal and Fort Anne on this trip. It was such a gorgeous day and Iain and I were both in such a good mood that we spent the afternoon enjoying each other’s company and being generally silly. Therefore, my increase in educational information will have to wait for another trip. I did learn that Fort Anne was called ‘Acadie’ (Acadia) by the French and Nova Scotia by the British. I should have known that before but it seems that this fact escaped me. Port Royal (now Annapolis Royal - I think I've got that right) was the seat of government for Acadie/Nova Scotia for some time. It was also the Fort Anne commander who saw the expulsion of the Acadians from the Annapolis area in 1755 – something I had learned during my many visits to Grand Pré but it was interesting to visit the site itself as it was a prime trading location for the Acadians.

One thing I did wrong on this day trip was forget Iain’s hat and his sunglasses. He’s wearing my hat in this shot, as well as his ‘just got out of jail’ outfit.

“Look, Mommy! A cannon!”

Part of the fort wall at Fort Anne:
The view from the walls above (if you turn around) if, you know, you were a soldier with enough time on your hands to enjoy that sort of thing:
This shot is very typical of the dyke-land beauty built by the Acadians.

Ready to walk through the wall at Fort Anne. Note the hat is no longer on his head. It was a fight keeping it on the whole day:

I neglected to take pictures of Annapolis Royal itself which is a pity as it is such a picturesque little town. I guess we will just have to go back.

Am I knitting? Why, yes! I’m knitting swatches for the Yogini Bolero. Thanks so much for your opinions regarding using my yarn with the Yogini pattern. Ah, I love other knitters!