Loaves and fishes knitting

Now, everyone knows I'm not a religious person. Nonetheless, I'm hoping for a knitting miracle right now. I'm working on a hat for a friend for Christmas, and I'm perilously low on yarn. I used the same yarn to make her hand warmers, which is why the quantity is limited. Cross your fingers that I don't run out!

Back on track?

Well, not that anyone has noticed, but I've been out of commission for more than a year on this blog. 2008 has been a really crapola year in Reinselandia. One good thing came out of all the yuck: we moved back to the US. A long time ago now, it seems. Back in March. It was a sudden decision, so if you were wondering if we were captured by some FARC nutters while out on a hike in Mindo, well, we're fine.

I'm considering starting to write on this thing again. Not sure what it'll focus on, but yarn will be involved.

Happy Holidays! Here's to 2009: the year that can't possibly be worse than 2008.

Bad Blogger

I'm back. No promises, but for this minute, I've decided to return and grace my few but dear readers with another entry. I have no excuses -- I really don't know why I haven't been around. It could be that I was suffering so badly from ennui that I just couldn't write. Or I'm lazy. Whatever.

Right now, I'm working on two things. A pair of Thuja socks for Joe and a Christmas present sweater that is really driving me nutso, but shouldn't be. Pictures later. Other knitting news, I'm trying to gather some knitters together regularly to start a knitting night at the Magic Bean at 5:30 on Wednesdays. All are welcome, even non-knitters who want to have a little happy hour fun and aren't afraid of the crazy people with sticks and string. I was finally invited to Ravelry, which is great and I'm not taking advantage of it, but I will I swear.

In honor of Halloween, here are two pics of last year's costume, including hat knit by me at Lovely Yarns and my Jedi costume that I also made myself:

Yay for these awesome ladies!

This is the kind of grandma I want to be. They are knitting little tiny items for preemies. How freakin' awesome is that!? I'm not keen on the whole knitting in pastels, thing, but I still think that this is what I want to be when I grow up.

Grrrr

Ok, my camera phone's bluetooth is not cooperating with me right now, so I'll have to post the pics later. I'm done the first sleeve of the Cambridge jacket for my husband, and have come to terms with the fact that I am going to run out of yarn before I finish the second sleeve. This is likely because I made the body longer to accommodate his long torso. So, poor Joe will not have his jacket any time soon.

Some more info on the jacket:
Yarn: Cascade The Heathers, purchased at Capital Yarns, Color No. 9408
Gauge: 5 sts/in on US 6 needles (Inox)

Bolivia, again

So sorry that I've been AWOL. Things have been somehow both busy and boring. I'm currently in Bolivia working on a couple of proposals, and will be here until the end of the month. Unfortunately, I learned the last time I was here that it is nearly impossible to buy decent yarn here, so I'm not going to try that hard this time. I did go past a place that might sell yarn today in a taxi, but I'm not sure if I will have a chance to get back there, given the workload I'll have over the next couple of weeks.

I did get some great textile shopping in today, though. Above on the left is a weaving from the town of Tarabuco. This traditional weaving style is done for fiestas, and was nearly extinct until two Chilean anthropologists worked with the women of the community to improve the quality and find ways to sell the weavings. I bought it at the Inca Pallay museum and shop, which is hidden above and behind the Comart Tukuypaj at Calle Linares 958. The saleswoman was very knowledgeable, and helped me to understand the symbols on the weaving. They come all ready to hang up on the walls, so there is no procrastinating for the framing. Very nice. All the proceeds go back to the women, so you can feel very good about shopping there.

I also bought some things at the Comart Tukuypaj. To the right is the scarf and sweater that I got there. Both are 100% alpaca and extremely soft. I can't seem to make the color in the camera phone photos show up well, so you have to imagine that the sweater is made up of very rich earthy colors. Not sure if it is for me or for a gift yet, so we'll see.

The brown blob is actually a picture of the sweater that I'm making for Joe. It is the Cambridge jacket from Interweave Knits summer 2006. I really like it. I'm knitting it in Cascade Heathers brownish. I had to rip out the top of the back after finishing the sides because I realized that I forgot one of the armhole decreases, but that's ok. It is a pleasure to knit. I'm excited that I'm almost done, since I started this for him last year. I think he's excited, too.

This last pic is of a toe-up sock I'm doing with Opal yarn. I like it so far, but it is my first time knitting on DPNs, and I'm not convinced of their superiority. I learned to knit in the round on two circulars, and thought that I would try this for the heck of it. It is fine, but a bit weird at the same time. I suppose that I need to get used to it. The sock yarn is ok, too. Not awesome, but solid.

I have another project on-deck, and it is Christmas knitting! I'm so good getting a jump on things. I'll post about it when I finish Joe's sweater.

On that note, I'm off. Do let me know if anyone out there has a suggestion for where to buy yarn in La Paz.

The Eagle has Landed!

My stash (along with the rest of our earthly belongings, but we all know what is most important) has arrived unscathed! It traveled the sea, through the Panama Canal, and then the road from Guayaquil and not a thing was broken.

Yay!

Check this out for laughs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bv0BwzM-Lg