Goats on the Roof!

Goats on the Roof at Coombs, BC

I'm here in Courtney, BC visiting my good friend Jill and she thought it would be fun to take a slight detour from our drive up from Nanimo to see some Goats on the Roof. She said, "Trust me, you'll know when you see it." And really, that is what they are! Just some goats hanging out on the grass-covered roof of a market that overlooks a restaurant patio. Apparently, some of the goats will leer at you while you eat your tasty food! Very cute.

Mystic Sea Socks FO

FO: Mystic Sea Socks - Pattern by Cass White

These socks were great to knit! Yummy yarn and an interesting pattern. I'm pretty happy that Angela gave me this pattern. I always have my doubts with rib patterns, I just do. But this pattern was a total success! I really liked how it was cast on. (I don't know if that method has a name but I think the idea is to cast on twice the number of total stitches needed so there is more stretch at the cuff.) I did change the heel and toe, but only because I am partial to short row heels and toes. I did a plain 1x1 rib while working the short rows for the heel and stockinette for the toes.

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts-Socks that Rock in Nodding Violet

I'm wearing them right now. They're really nice.

Cobblestone Pullover FO and Nomad Hat and Scarf FO

Cobblestone Pullover

I like it when it only takes 9 days to knit a sweater. Of course it doesn't hurt that My Fella usually fits one of the smaller sizes. This Cobblestone Pullover pattern by Brooklyntweed is a beaut. It's very easy to read and all of it is knit in the round which I love! The only seams to be sewn are under the arms, another plus for me since I dislike sewing seams. My Fella is so sweet he has been very careful his green zip-up skull sweater for fear that he might wreck it somehow. It was the first sweater I had ever knit for him so I appreciate and understand how he feels. But this time I have given him strict orders to wreck this sweater. Pilling, threadbare, worn. I want him to wear it so often that people start asking him why he doesn't change clothes. *haha* Okay, maybe not that much...

I knit this sweater with Rowan Felted Tweed (50% Merino wool/ 25% Alpaca/25% Viscose/Rayon). 6 1/2 balls @ 50g each (175m/191yds).

Nomad Hat and Scarf

Another quick knit FO I've got is the Nomad Hat and Scarf pattern by Kat Coyle from the same Fall 2007 issue of IK. I knit it with Patagonia Nature Cotton from Araucania.

Now all we have to do is wait for fall.

Best Angela Ever

Eeek! Socks That Rock!

That is the Angela over at Food and Yarn. How come? Because she has brought me a cool pattern and pretty sock yarn. *Swoon* How sweet is that? The pattern is The Mystic Sea by Cass White. So pretty. And the yarn! Blue Moon Fiber Arts - Socks That Rock. (I don't know what the colorway is called though...Nodding Violet I think?)

The Mystic Sea by Cass White

Yarn Cake!

Squamish Getaway

Sloan, David and Ian

Well my Fella got whisked away this weekend with me and a couple of friends to Squamish, BC for his surprise birthday weekend. (Specifically, it was a joint birthday weekend because Ian and Sloan share the same birth date!) We stayed at this cool little hostel called Squamish Inn on the Water and we took in the sites and hiked around at Shannon Falls.

The Birthday boy on his hiking adventure

Me taking a dip in cold river water after a good hike!

We also had time to check out the little shops downtown and of course, I found a yarn shop. Not just any yarn shop mind you, a yarn shop-slash-gelato cafe called Gelato Carina! (604-815-4448)

Noro Cashmere Island in Color #5

Which is where I found nine skeins of this lovely Cashmerino Noro. Mmm, I've already got a sweater in mind for it too.... Possibly the Eyelet Pullover from the Fall 2005 issue of Vogue Knitting.

And speaking of sweater, there has been good progress on my Fella's Cobblestone Pullover. I may have pictures to post soon...

Oh My!

The fall issue of Interweave Knits is amazing. Go and get it right now. Also, the new editor has her blog here. I'm so hyped about this issue!!!! I've already started on one of the patterns for my Fella. Progress update to follow!

On Strike! It's Sam's Strike!

July 26th 2007 - First day of strike for CUPE Local 391
Approximately 400 people from the membership were present.

In the pursuit of job security, pay equity, benefits and improvements for part-time/auxiliary workers! The workers of the Vancouver Public Library have been on strike since Thursday, July 26th in the hopes that the Library Management Team (LMT) and the GVRD will return to the bargaining table. Currently, CUPE Local 15 and Local 1004 are also on strike. This city-wide strike has been dubbed "Sam's Strike" because of the actions (or rather, inaction's) of our Mayor Sam Sullivan.

Below are some of my fellow library workers on the picket line.

(From Left: Lani and Alexei)

(From Left: Sherry, Jaspal, Ian, Al, Lara, Stephen and Ron-o-tron.)

Our Bargaining Committee has been hard at work, constantly encouraging our management team to return to the bargaining table to discuss our issues.

This post is not completely without knitting content though! There are many avid knitters that work at the library and they were out in full force as well!

Knitting in Solidarity!

Baby steps with the new camera

March of the knitting needles

Orchid roots and terracotta pot

Typewriter typebars
(Which would fit in with the current colors for PS 2.0)

Brown and Blue Tank Top WIP

There is so much to learn with my new camera. I am very excited and I feel very dedicated to decoding the lingo and testing out the different settings etc. So far, so good. I'm inching away and slowly gathering knowledge. I am considering taking a few courses, which I will have to save up for... (Read:Yarn Diet!) But until then lucky for me I have a friend (my Fella's co-worker) who has the same camera as I do and he has offered to answer any questions I might have. Check out his stuff here! As you'll see, he's got the skills to pay the bills.

Preject Spectrum Green

Yay! New shortie socks!

~Specs~

Pattern:
I made it up...

Yarn:
C*EYE*BER FIBER sock yarn from Mama-E! ( Leftover from last year's PS.)

Needles:
2mm Clover Bamboo dpns

Pros:
I've knit with this yarn before and I love how it softens up. And I love the color.

Cons:
I cast off kind of loosely and the cuffs kind of bag out a little bit. That and I turned the heel a little early so they fit kind of funny. Not funny enough not to wear though!

And here is just some random greenness I found with my camera.

(Clockwise from top left: Orchid leaf, candle close-up, my Ovation guitar and Thai basil.)

I've started a project to send to one of my girlfriend's in Australia. I will post photos when I have a bit more progress.

Also, I have loaded up photos of the wedding my Fella and I went to a couple weekends ago. Check out David and Sloan's wedding here!