Jane Ellison came to Ottawa on Sunday Oct. 14th and I was fortunate enough to meet her. I decided to throw caution to the wind (in the case of my budget) and buy some silk garden by Noro (shade 8). The Jane Ellison pattern I chose was one of her men's patterns as I wanted to to make a "boyfriend" type sweater. The sweater is big and loose and very comfy. Not to mention that I received many compliments on the finished product. Even Jane, after looking closely at my shoulders, praised my finishing abilities. (This is me doing the happy dance at a compliment from Jane.)
BUT.... guess who the sweater fits perfectly and guess who has a birthday coming up very soon. You guessed it....The Sweater Boy. Hmmmm do I give him the sweater or not?????
Jane came to Wool N' Things that day. She gave a trunk show, there was a workshop on how to make the gloves from her latest book The Mirasol Collection with the free skeins of Hacho yarn everyone received, and we ate. Very friendly and down to earth woman...well after all... she is a knitter.
After telling her about the lost sweater incident, she agrees with every one else. DH shouldn't be getting this sweater. He doesn't deserve it!
Swap Pal...if you are reading this....look away.
With no up close photo, my pal can't see the detail so they look like basic stripes. ( a much better photo will follow). Jane totally understood the need for a sock photo for my blog and was willing to help out with sock mojo. She liked the socks! I am beginning to get star struck at this stage, especially when she asks for my blog address.
As soon as I find the needle nose pliers, I'll make the stitch markers and be ready to mail my package and send it off to my swap pal. This is just too fun.
I've been given another knitting commission and have to give a quote on another so I'd better get to work.
Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic
This was not suppose to happen!
Angora bunnies are a smaller rabbit. Their size comes from their beautiful coats. Being a smaller breed, it is better to wait to start breeding them until they are fully mature at about 8 months. Having a litter at an early age can spell trouble. The doe may not be able to deliver them, the babies get stuck, and mom and babies die.
This was not suppose to happen!
32 days ago, Tristan was about and about getting his exercise. We usually put a box near Isolde's cage so they could have a non-conjugal visit. However, this particular evening, someone had not closed the hatch on her cage tightly, and Tristan got into her cage.
This really was not suppose to happen!
Last Thursday, Isolde started to pull wool from her belly in an attempt to nest. I called my breeder and she told me that sometimes when does are ready to breed they will "play at being mommies".
She wasn't playing!
This morning at 5 am, DH woke me up to tell me that we were bunny Grandparents.
The good news....Isolde is in very good health. We've counted about 6 babies. They are pink and perfect, DS says they look like little pigs. All I can say is if I were naked and pink, I'd like to be surrounded by a blanket of angora wool. I can let them go at about 8 weeks and will post pictures often so you can see how they are doing.
Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic
He had a good day at work.
He was in a good mood.
He wanted to surprise me, so he bought me a single rose.
He was now in a romantic mood and wanted to make the evening special.....so he brought home a bottle of Cat Pee.
Surprisingly, it wasn't too bad. Something tells me that the name is keeping the wine from being put on some of the fancier wine list in the upper end restaurants.
Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic
Thanksgiving Day..... The harvest has been brought in, let us give thanks for the bounty that has been provided. NAH!!!!!
Let us give thanks that I've received my Raverly invite. WOOT!!!!! WOOT!!!!! My family just doesn't understand my exuberance at this news. They are true muggles...the lot of them. Look for me at ravelry under the name of "theFibreholic".
We've got people coming over for turkey so I can't play too much online today. I've got to clean my house. :( But the good news is one of them is a knitter so while the kids play, we'll be able to sit and enjoy ourselves. :) I'm still working on my Jane Ellison sweater. I've almost reached the neckline of the front, then it's on to the second sleeve and I'm home free. The sweater must be done by the 14th. I hate deadlines!!!!!!!
I told DH on Saturday that I was thinking about going to the States that day. He got it into his head to drive me so we could stop and price cars at a few of the dealerships along the way. This isn't a bad thing as I got to knit for the whole trip. BUT, have you ever looked at cars on a lot in the rain......NOT FUN!!!!!
Joann's was having a sale and I've been asked to make a quilt for a silent auction. The two go hand in hand.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words
This is the sign for the turn off back to Canada on the outskirts of Ogdensburg N.Y. I'm not sure what this picture is saying.
I'm sure the Amish family, across the highway, selling veggies was wondering what I was doing.
Seven Things Update
Last week:
OUT
another 30 balls of junk yarn (this is begining to feel somewhat liberating)
IN
2 pkgs of T-pins for blocking
2 DVDs (one is currently on the movie shelf, the other was put away for a Christmas gift)
This past week:
OUT
I didn't get rid of anything this week as we didn't make it to the drop off area of a local charity. So there'll be lots to go this week.
IN
quilting fabric to be used for a quilt I need to make for a charity auction.
The Net Result?????? I am begining to be a lot more picky about what I am personally responsible for bringing into. the house.
Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic
- Gather all those leftover bits of sock yarn. They should all be about the same weight.
- Put them all in a bag. Nothing clear or see through.
- Take out your first bit of sock yarn and start to knit. When you have used up that leftover, pull out another and keep knitting. Remember to use whatever yarn you pull out. Doesn't matter if they don't match, the sock will look good in the end.
Please note: If there is a lot of leftover from one particular sock yarn then keep the strip to about 2 inches/5 cm. Use whatever sock yarn you pull out next, with one exception: mixing colours is best, so if you pull out a yarn that is similar in colour to the one you just used you may put it back and choose another. I was going to show you the other pair of crazy socks I had knit, but the teen went into the clean laundry pile this a.m. and is wearing them to school.
I was told that Kaffe Fassett uses this blind picking method for colour work. So I guess that great minds do indeed think alike.:)
For all of you who are participating in the Southern Summer of Socks or those who just like crazy socks, you MUST check out this pattern for Rainbow Socks. They are so on my to do list now.
Gotta finish the Jane Ellison sweater first...must not deviate.....don't look at the socks...your plate is already full.....don't look at the socks.......to much to do already......I looked at the socks.....
The Other Day
There I was minding my own business, fondling yarn in a wool shop......
ME: Woolworth, I know it's soft, but get out of there.
Great, just great. A sheep with expensive tastes!!!
Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic
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The teen just got home and I was right. She wore the socks to school. This is the first pair, the one that started it all.
Once again
Until next time
Your in Yarn
The Fibreholic
BUT.... guess who the sweater fits perfectly and guess who has a birthday coming up very soon. You guessed it....The Sweater Boy. Hmmmm do I give him the sweater or not?????
With no up close photo, my pal can't see the detail so they look like basic stripes. ( a much better photo will follow). Jane totally understood the need for a sock photo for my blog and was willing to help out with sock mojo. She liked the socks! I am beginning to get star struck at this stage, especially when she asks for my blog address. 
