Yarn Karma - paying it forward

I've recently come across some very generous knitters on ravelry - there's a huge community of knitters and crocheters there that swap yarns and knitting supplies, and some are generous enough to send yarn or supplies one way w/o charging for them or for shipping.

Due to this, I've built a good collection of yarns and supplies. Most of which I was able to use for some design ideas I've had in mind and some other projects. Unfortunately, there was a stash of yarns I couldn't find a use for.

My neighbor is a high school teacher in Toronto, and we got to talking today on how there's a knitting club at the school he teaches. A knitting club! How lucky! I asked him if they could use yarn, and he said absolutely!

An hour later I showed up @ his place with a large Ikea bag full of the yarns I can't use - some were yarns shipped to me, others were yarn from my own personal stash - for this knitting club. He was so happy, and commented on how a lot of students are shying away from the group - despite the group being relatively new - because of the cost of yarn. Hopefully this bag of yarn will get a generation of knitters more enthoused about their projects!

Dashing is done

DH's modelling the pair of Dashing I made for my dad for xmas - made from Cascade 220 in a nice shade of purple. I've made it considerably shorter than the original pattern, but still long enough to cover a good part of his arm.

Mississauga mention on Regis and Kelly Live

This morning I was watching Regis and Kelly Live as I was knitting, and Regis mentioned that he was making another trip to Canada, visiting my hometown of Mississauga to attend and I guess talk at a ceremony comemorating our mayor, Hazel McCallion. Kinda neat to have Mississauga mentioned like that on tv! Neat.

Just putting it out there, is all.

finished Fetching

I think that this pair of Fetching that I made for my mom for xmas turned out rather well! I love the colourway of the yarn - it's Twilley's of Stamford Freedom Spirit yarn, 100% wool.

Although, trying them on for me, they had a bit too much stretch, but that's due to my having slightly wide hands... wider than normal I think. So, if I were to make these again, I'd add an extra 4x1 ribbing repeat. And because I just prefer a longer mitt, I'd add an extra cable repeat to both the top and bottom. Aside that, they fit really well!

Obama is President

Minutes ago, his acceptance speech hit the airwaves in Chicago.

I never thought I'd feel the sense of joy that I do over a non-Canadian election, but remembering my frustration as Bush got elected not only once, but twice, into office, I was almost in knots to think that the Republicans would somehow weasel their way back into the White House again.

When I first heard that CNN thought Obama would likely win office - dare I say it, I almost felt... emotional.

I - as most others, not only in the US but worldwide - realize that this is a huge step forward for not only my American neighbours, but for the world around us.

There is hope. Things will change. Sometimes, the right guy wins.

I've so many things running through my head right now, so many... feelings. I've no idea how to put them into words. This is not a political blog, nor am I one to normally comment on politics as a whole, so this faults my putting my sentiments here properly.

His campaign slogan, I think, best sums it up for us all: Yes We Can. Here's hoping he can.

Things can only go up from here.

another scarf done!

Finished the scarf for my grandmother! Spent the day blocking it, otherwise I would've posted it yeserday!

less than 2 months until Christmas...

I've done things a little backwards this year.

I've knit for the wrong family first.

I know this sounds bizarre, but let me explain: My parents live in France, my inlaws all live here. My husband, brother and I normally put together a care package to send to France with gifts for Christmas, something for each of my parents and my maternal grandmother; this care package needs to be mailed before December 1st to get there on time for the holidays. I haven't knit for any of them yet.

But, with the exception of my FIL, I've knit for my entire DH's side of the family.

I should've procrastinated with my inlaws, and knit for my parents first. Because now, I'm scrambling. I haven't even bought gifts yet, but my brother's coming home (from being overseas @ work) mid-November, so he'll help shop for my Dad at least. I've bought something for my grandmother, but not for my mom yet either.

Now, knittingwise, I'm planning to make the same scarf I knit for my SIL (posted here) for my grandmother, but using some nice fingering weight handspun I bought on etsy; these Dashing gloves for my dad and these Fetching gloves for my mom, with some yarn that I bought over at The Wool Bin store in Oakville yesterday. Hopefully these 3 projects shouldn't take me more than a couple weeks to complete!

dual purpose cozy

As it turns out, the carboy cozy I designed for my husband's beer making has a dual purpose, it works well for a large-pumpkin-cozy too:

Can't wait to carve this thing tonight! Woo hoo!

I want to... cut my hair!

Today I happen to catch Pink being interviewed on The View - and decided that that's the hairstyle I want. I want to chop my hair that short.

Now, I wasn't necessarily watching The View because I like that show, I rarely follow it, mainly because Elisabeth whats-her-name drives me bonkers. And, despite liking a few songs, I can't call myself a huge Pink fan, but I like her style. And I love the hair she had today.

I've no idea if that hairstyle would look good on me or not, because I've eternally not been able to get a good hair cut - like ever. Maybe if I can find a printable pic of that kind of style, I'll bring it in somewhere to see if I can get my hair chopped that way.

olympic scarves

I read in the current issue of knitsimple magazine the need to make some scarves for the Special Olympics - a pattern is available via the link, but I followed the pattern in the magazine. So far I've only knit half a skein of each colour and wound up with two scarves, which I'll mail this week, and finish knitting the rest of the skeins later on, hopefully have them mailed before the end of November.