This I gotta blog

You know, here's why I'm an incurable optimist: I'm right.

This is so not my week. Working on hopelessly late stuff, scrounging for appropriate clothes in the closet of Ms. "Olive green is the new black" (I guess it won't surprise anyone that the tragedy that shall remain unblogged involves a funeral?), getting organized (ha!), listening to my dad as he barked his bronchitis in my ear, and I wasn't there, watching helplessly as people I love went through hell (they are not back yet). Not my week.

But sometimes, when you are really stressed out, miserable and ear-achey, Fate decides that you need a heaping load of good stuff to perk you up a little.

First of all, people sent love. In person and in cyberspace, I was offered shoulders to cry on all week long, room and board if I needed a vacation from it all, and chocolate. I mean, what's a good crisis without chocolate? All that felt really good, and I'm deeply grateful. This is a trying time for me, but I'm finding that sorrow does not just make me vulnerable, but also wide open for all sorts of hope and kindness. I truly appreciate that.

Apparently, Fate wanted to reinforce the message with a little fiber therapy. Thus, it dispatched the postman to my door today.

First we have ...

... one skein of Japanese goodness. Silk Garden in #84, about 237 gorgeous shades of red. I have been toying with the idea of trying Silk Garden for a while now (unbeknownst to my Secret Pal), but so far there was no chance of meeting it in person. Pal to the rescue. I love it, and Secret Pal, you are right about everything you said in your letter. The blend! The colour! The yardage! The character! I think she sort of likes this yarn ;o). And so will I. I already swatched a little bit, and so far so lovely.

Speaking of the pals, the postman also bore a big package from England.
Apart from the fact that I always want to frame her wrapping paper, here's some real chicken soup for the knitter's soul:
An entire shawl. Handknit. For me.

This shawl is just so right for many reasons. It's soft and warm, for one thing :o). My pal says she thinks it's a bit short, but it works really well for me, because the boucle fabric is stretchy and doesn't slide off my shoulders, when I sit at the computer, but I don't have to worry about spilling coffee on the parts that would be draped over my arms with longer shawls. And those shades of pink? Love them! I really need to look for those shades more, what with all my muted greens and blues and purples. And did I mention that it was handknit? For me?

And ...

... three skeins of handpainted cotton in greens and rust? maroon? brick? Whatever, it looks like the view from my window in October. And I love that view :o). Gaaawwwwgeous. And ... gulp ... it looks like laceweight to me. That means, I guess, that I can't get away with knitting DK lace anymore. I shall rise to the challenge ... well, I'll have a go at it anyway.

Thank you soooo much, Secret Pal - and other Secret Pal!

If you're here for the World Cup Knitting, let me update while I'm here.

For a variety of reasons, I'm not very far along (row 65 of 140-something). Me? Not a natural lace knitter, not even polite garter stitch lace. But I'm getting there, and it's addictive in the "Just a few more, I have to see how it turns out" way. In case you're wondering about the colour, which looks very much like my Pal Shawl on here ... it's not. It's "dark dusty rose" alpaca, because I'm all with the dark and dusty. Not so much with this alpaca. It splits.

And I have to do just that now!

We interrupt our regularly scheduled blog entries ...

This is the week where I'm at home, so I should update like mad. However, I might not be able to do that right now.
Something very sudden and sad has happened to people I care about a lot, so that's where my energy will be going. I know, everybody hates a blog teaser - "Something hugely interesting is happening in my life, but I'll only talk about it in oblique references" - but I know for a fact that the people in question would not appreciate to be blogged about right now. I also didn't want to leave the blog unattended for too long without an explanation of sorts.

So, see y'all. Have some fiber in your life!

Woman is fickle

Didn't I say yesterday that I wanted Germany to win the World Cup?
Well, I do, but there is a contender for that place in my heart now. Last night, I read about THE ultimate underdog: Trinidad and Tobago. The smallest country ever to take part in a Cup. Heck, Berlin, where they will play ... Sweden? ... today, has three times more inhabitants than T&T has citizens. And they tried to make it to the Cup 11 times. That's 44 years. I don't really think they have a chance to get to the end, but I sure hope they'll make it out of their group games! Go T&T!!!

Speaking of things I said yesterday, the Lang-Covered Cherry being my favourite project and all? You'd think I would be happily working on it during work breaks and the opening match.(4:2!! I don't care what German newspapers write today - critical things, I can tell you that without looking - "we" won!) You'd be wrong.

Lunch break:

Corrections chapter 7 (of the novel with the bloodsucking fiends):

See where this is going? That's right.

Chapters 9-12:

Yes. I am the last person on earth to make an Amineko. Don't ask me why I felt suddenly moved to do it, but I'm already finding it just as addictive as everybody says. Visions of (sugarplums) colourful animals dance in my head. Oh, the cuteness of it all!
I'll be stuffing it with cotton wool and dried beans despite the dire warnings of weevils and roaches, because it's what I have at home. The next one - and there is going to be a next one - will get properly stuffed :o). I also remember my Monchichi. Back when I was a kid they were stuffed with rice, and no creature infestation ever befell mine. I'll take the chance.

Oh dear. Now I want a Monchichi. The one in the giraffe suit. I collect giraffes. I could rationalize this. It's not a toy, it's a collectible item. I really need to stop surfing while I'm ahead.

I did not busy myself with the creation of cute Japanese toys during the opening match, however. There is a limit to the excitement I can stand, so I ...

... sort of cast on a sock. Regia, naturally. Cotton India this time, in "Jaipur". Pretty. And totally without lace or ribs or checkerboard pattern or anything that requires the least bit of thought. Sock nirvana, if you will.

I also had a first look (read: panic attack) at the Gardenpath pattern. Oh heeeell, what have I gotten myself into? I - see above - am Sock Nirvana Girl. I make mistakes with 6x6 checkered sock patterns. And I want to knit an alpaca lace shawl?

Well, the alpaca will certainly be soft on my hands when I frog. There is that.

Kick it like Schweinsteiger

With my belongings strewn in two households 100 km apart, I'm having a little difficulty updating my projects. Still ...

This is Chocolate Covered Cherry from BGK. I'm still on the hood, and the little ruffle on the side is the beginning of a sleeve. The yarn is Lang New Angora. It's a little lighter in person. Unbelievably soft.

This is my favourite project right now. The lace has a really easy repeat, and I'm knitting with 7 mm needles, two sizes above recommended needle size for the yarn. The stitches are still small and even, but it makes the fabric much lighter.

The pattern says to bind off the stitches in the back between the shoulders, but I just put them on a holder, because I had to pick them all up for the hood anyway. Well, in my second attempt I did. I don't know what it was with me and that hood. I'm really looking forward to finishing this cardigan. Because that means there can be more New Angora in my future :o).

Today is the kick-off date for the Knitting World Cup. Oh yeah, I think they are also playing football somewhere in these parts.
The project I picked is this:
It's the Gardenpath Shawl from Elann.com. Personally, I think I'm mad. I'll be lucky if I can finish one repeat by the end of the Cup.
I will also begin the challenge with a severe penalty, because the yarn won't be with me befor Tuesday. Yes, I planned this well. But whatever, just call me the Swiss football team, I'm not in this to win.

For his WC pool at work, Andy has today's game down for 4:1 to Germany. I'm not quite that optimistic, but I do think Germany can win this, although it is reported that the Costa Ricans are responsible for our weather upswing. Today I used my sunglasses for something other than hiding my puffy eyes from crying over the bad weather. The Costa Rican football team claims credit for this. They say that sunshine travels with them. Hey, whatever works.

My tip for the final? Brazil - Germany again. Please bear in mind that I know not of football. Honestly? I want Germany to win. Very much. This country needs a positive experience.

The good, the bad and the fantastic

The good news is that I sort of have pictures again.
I managed to get the camera to work, only the quality of the pictures is rather variegated ;o). Ah well, it will tide me over until I can buy a new one ... about 2010, I reckon.

Here's the bad news, well, for me anyway.
Blueberry Bomb turned out to be just that. I made it from the Cherry Bomb pattern in BGK with Rowan Summer Tweed in Blueberry. It knit up well, I got the right measurements, it blocked like a charm, it fits - and I look horrible in it. All weird and droopy and lumpy. I tried everything I could think of, different outfits, a bit of steaming, different attitudes ... no go. The top is lovely, but I suppose it's just not into me.
So ...
Much frogging ensued, before I lost my nerve. See what I mean about the bad pictures? I mean apart from my bad (annoyed about having to take a picture of an about to be frogged item) image composition?
Yeah, well, it gets worse.





This? I'm making it up as I go along, using the blueberry and some mohair/wool. A vest? A cardigan? We will see how far the yarn goes. It does look completely different in person.



I know I'm owing tons of pictures of socks and other FOs. I'm getting there.

Now ...
It's been one of those days. Boring but difficult work, a raaaather unpleasant phone conversation with my editor AND my bank manager. Lots of chores.
But: MAIL!!!!
My Secret Pal strikes again! And hurray for both the British and the German postal services, because it didn't take long at all.
Let's peek inside, shall we?


A letter and lots of gift-wrapped packages. Love the paper.
Yeah, I know YOU can't really see it very well. It's lovely, trust me.







When we were kids, my cousin would have called this a seriously good haul. Well, if he were a girl. And into fiber stuff. You know what I mean.
First of all, there is a cute little note pad with a sheep. As I always say, even notes from unpleasant phone calls are not so bad if a sheep is looking at you.
Then there is chocolate. KitKat Chunky Peanut Butter :O). Two and a half of them!!!! Oh alright, there were three. This is a long entry.

Yes, that great hat is just as soft as it looks. Umm, it's a lot less bumpy in person, those are due to my mad photography skilz. Frankly, looking outside I'm not so sure I won't need it before next winter.
I love the colour, it fits my big head perfectly, and I don't really want to take it off. Also, as my Secret Pal already knows, it's the first handmade gift I received since I was a kid and my grandma was knitting doll clothes for me. :OD


A close up of the stationery. Just because it's pretty.
The letter says that the long red box with Pooh, Tigger and Piglet on it is a toothbrush box for travelling to my parents, but ...









... it is OBVIOUSLY a case for my dpns. :o) It will still go on my trips with me, so all is well.





And then there is this deliciousness. A supersoft Patons cotton blend in "Herb". Exactly my colour. And a whopping seven balls of it, too. Don't you love a pal who keeps in mind that you are a big chick and might need a little more yarn?
Now I'm in full frontal "new yarn mode". Must browse knitting books. Must find pattern.



Thank you so much, Secret Pal, I'm delighted with everything, and I do feel so spoiled!!