Olympic Inspiration Sabotages Knitting

I was not going to watch the Olympics this year. But that was a foolhardy thought.

I am Knitlark, and I am an Olympics Junkie. I need help. And sleep.

There is something about the Olympics that sucks me in every time. I like sports, but I do not follow these winters sports as a rule. But here I am --glued to the set-- watching curling and short track and nordic combined.

As I watch, I think about how hard these athletes had to work to get to the point where they could even be considered for the Olympics, never mind win a medal. Think of all the hours of practice over years and years! And because the Olympics happen once ever four years, for many it is now or never.

In the old days when athletes could not accept any sponsor money whatsoever, it was one-and-done for most of them. Who knows what The Great Eric Heiden might have accomplished if he had been able to have sponsors and return for three Olympics a la Apollo Ohno? (Eric Heiden was not able to earn any money from skating sponsors because of the strict rules at the time. He participated in one Olympic Games and then went to medical school)

SO since I am watching so much of the Olympics, I should be getting lots of knitting done, right? WRONG! I might miss a Triple Lutz or a Double Salchow or something equally as thrilling while I am passing a slip stitch over. When I said I was a junkie, I meant it.

But I shall trade in the hockey sticks for the pointy sticks soon. Closing ceremonies are looming. And I can knit during March Madness with no trouble at all.

Time for a KNITTING JOKE

We all need some laughter in our lives --

So a California highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the crowded freeway...

Glancing at the car, the officer was astounded to see that the young woman behind the wheel was knitting!

She was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren.

Upset at her lack of respect, the trooper pulled up in the next lane, cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled,
PULL OVER! PULL OVER!

NO, the woman yelled back. (wait for it.... ) IT'S A SCARF!



Don't forget to check out the
Knitlark Lane Podcast
Good Lit While U Knit
A Novel
A Fairytale
And Moonlight Medley
http://knitlarklane.libsyn.com

Knitting for Comfort and Solace

Something bad happened to a good friend of mine this week.
He is hurting, and I am hurting for him.

Our knitting can be a great comfort to us when we are troubled.
I needed the help of knitting this week and, as usual, it came through for me.

I decided to work on something soft that was not too difficult. My mind and heart were troubled enough without taxing either one with something too complicated.

I chose my twisted rib scarf pattern made from Sylph yarn that I got from Art Fibers. It is part 76% silk, 19% kid mohair and 5% wool. Very soft.

Here is a picture from the Art Fibers site. This shows the yarn -- not the pattern. It is just about this color, too.



There is something in knitting that helps us get through difficult times.
Maybe it is the repetition of the stitches, caressing the soft fiber, or looking at the pretty color.
Or perhaps it is the fact that we have some control what is happening beneath our fingers when the world seems to be spinning out of control.
Whatever it is, something in the process is healing.

Another wonderful thing about knitting is that if you make a bad mistake, you get a do-over. This is not always so in life.

My friend is beating himself up for not reacting faster when his home burned down so that he could have saved his beloved two cats. No matter what we say to him, he is in anguish, and he cannot go back and redo it.

Most of the time knitting lets us fix even our bad mistakes. We can TINK (knit backwards) or FROG (rip it, rip it). Knitting gives us solace because we know that at least we can go back and redo that part of our life if we want to.

I am going to knit my friend something warm and cozy for when he gets his new home. I know I will find some peace as I work on this.
I hope and pray that it will give the same kind of comfort and solace to him.





Check out Knitlark Lane Podcast
http://knitlarklane.libsyn.com
Reading the Classics
Check out the Fairy Tales
Talking about Books, Knitting and Other Stuff

Slug City -- On the Outskirts

Knitting Mojo - Got it back. All it took was being inspired by my Knit Nite buddies. Thanks, guys. You all are doing such gorgeous things.

I know what happened when I Lost that Lovin' Feeling for my knitting. I knit a hat from Noro Silk Garden to match the scarf I made. I used the generic hat pattern in Knitting Rules by Stephanie Pearl McPhee (the Yarn Harlot). I SWEAR I checked gauge, but something went wrong.

I blocked the hat right before we left for London. It was even a little damp when I put it in the suitcase. I was so excited to take it out and put it on with my scarf as we headed out of the hotel for Green Park. Yikes. WAAAAAAY too big. Even too big for darling hub's head. I don't know what went wrong. My knitting buddies think that Noro may just stretch too much.

So I frogged it. Yuck. Now I am trying a hat called Sea Urchin (free pattern on Ravelry). It is specifically for Noro Yarn, so I will let you know what happens.

I started The Enchanted Wood Lace Shawl Knit Along. It is a stretch for my skills, but I like that I can ask in the Ravelry group if I have a question about things. I have a beautiful very light green yarn from Unique Sheep called Sage. It is gorgeous.

Mindless Knitting - still working on the Twisted Rib Scarf from the Sylph Yarn I bought at Art Fibers in San Fran right before the brick and mortar shop closed (The shop is still online -- check it out). The pattern is easy, (I bought the pattern at the shop) and the yarn is lovely and soft.

Fitness Mojo
We all know what we are supposed to do here: Be mindful of what you eat and how much of it you are shoving in your mouth AND remember to exercise.
Right now I am working on developing better habits.
We all have been developing habits for (Fill in how old you are) years so this is not easy and does not happen overnight.
In the next post, I will write about some things that have worked for me.
So far.

Please check out the KNITLARK LANE podcast.
Good lit while you knit.
A - Fairy Tales
B- A novel: The Hunchback of Notre Dame
C- Moonlight Medley (knitting, books, travel and other stuff)
http//:knitlarklane.libsyn.com
You can listen on your computer at the link above or download from Itunes.
Always free with no advertisements.

Leaving Slug City

Ok. I have been a slug. It happens. Holidays. Work wildness. Intestinal bugs (ick). Travel (yum).

But I am nowhere near being the sock jock I wannabe. Or any other kind of jock, for that matter. I have not kept up with the blog (though I did keep up with the podcast, after a fashion)

Time to get out of Slug City.

I did complete a scarf -- called the Labrynth -- for a friend for Christmas in a pretty turquoise. I will be putting pics on my Ravelry page. I also completed another scarf -- simple k1p1 seed stitch -- for a friend I don't see who lives in Oklahoma. (She is Emmalemma on Ravelry). I found a Noro yarn that included a powder blue that was just the shade of a coat she has (and her eyes). I knitted the scarf and sent it as a surprise. She was happy, and that made me happy.

But, to be honest, the knitting mojo has been hibernating. But I am working on finding it again.

I also lost the fitness mojo. I got back on that wagon yesterday. I went to the gym and got on the treadmill. I only did one mile -- paltry -- but it was a start. I am going to walk at lunch today. Tomorrow I am going to get to the gym again. I am going to lose some weight ... five pounds at a time. Join me if you wish. I am listening to the podcast called Podcaster Intervals while I am on the treadmill. Check it out.

Join me finding my way out of Slug City. Any suggestions, cheers (or even jeers) welcome.



Check out Knitlark Lane Podcast
Reading the French Literature -
Reading Fairy Tales
Talking about Books, Knitting and Other Stuff
FREE at link below or on Itunes
http://knitlarklane.libsyn.com

Cheater, Cheater, Pumpkin Eater

I am weak. I am a ---

Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater



Yes, I should have been a monogamous knitter to get this baby gift done. I tried to be a good little knitter, but I am a CHEATER.
It is one cast on for the CONCERTO SCARF. That doesn't count, does it?

Here is my cheating paramour:

I cast on for the Concerto scarf -- pattern available free from Ravely, but you have to join a Yahoo group. De De from Ohio is hosting a Knit Along (KAL) for this free lace scarf or shawl pattern. She is also offering free tutorials.

I need all the help I can get knitting lace (actually, with everything) so I happily signed up.


I am knitting it on size 8 with Miss Babs Yummy in Light Turquoise. You can see that I wound it up the traditional way (not center pull). So shoot me. Or please post and tell me why I need to do center pull and why it is better. Here it is:





You can also see that this was not a MEANINGFUL CHEAT, as all I did was wind the yarn and cast on. I may have a tryst tonight though.

Also daydreaming about that sock. Does that count?


Knitlark Lane Podcast
Starting with Episodes #20
A = Old-fashioned Fairy Tales
B = The Hunchback of Notre Dame
C = Moonlight Madness (medley of knitting, travel, books and Life Flavor -- What is Life Flavor?
You have to listen to find out. This month it is BUTTERSCOTCH.)

I Need to Knit Like the Wind

What am I Needling?

I love that term. My niece used to ask me that instead of asking What are you knitting?

I am working on a Baby Afghan -- Basketweave Pattern from Our Best Knit Baby Afghans by Leisure Arts. This is for a dear couple who are over the moon expecting their first grandchild. I am doing it in acrylic (so it is easy to wash) Loops and Threads Seaside Ombre colorway worsted on size 11 needles.

First I was going to knit a cupcake hat from the Itty Bitty Nursery book ... Pink cupcake, white frosting, cherry on top. Found out it is a boy. Ok. Next idea: Yellow cupcake, brown frosting, cherry.
Then I remembered kid-to-be lives in Florida. Probably not too many hats -- cupcake or otherwise -- in his future.

Have lots of fabric from quilting days. Why not a baby quilt? Cut out some squares, but I was not NOT FEELING IT. I wanted to knit. I found this book and pattern at Michael's (used my coupons) and off I went. I have to KNIT LIKE THE WIND, as Baby Conner is due next week.

Here is a picture of it about 3/4 of the way through.






I have to CONCENTRATE only on this project. No more sidetracks to other things. Sure.


Knitlark Lane Podcast
Starting with Episodes #20
A = Old-fashioned Fairy Tales
B = The Hunchback of Notre Dame
C = Moonlight Madness (medley of knitting, travel, books and Life Flavor -- What is Life Flavor?
You have to listen to find out. This month it is BUTTERSCOTCH.)