Jo Knits!

D, for Dimanche!

Dimanche = Sunday in french! ;)

The other day I went to Indigo, that would be a bookstore. I went in and do what I usually do. Read a few knitting magazines and books that I couldn't afford to buy. It's nice because it makes me learn things and also I always note a few websites that I can go check later. :)

So I checked 2 Family Circle knitting books, one was about afghans and the other was baby or children clothes. They were really nice, had great pictures. Then I notice that the patterns featured in the book were previously published in there own Easy Knitting magazines. Coooooooool! I just bought 6 that I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival. I can't wait to see what patterns will be in them. :) The FCEK magazines and Lion Brand's own mag. called Knit It! are the only two magazines that I like enough to actually buy. There are plenty other out there but these are more of my level, easier projects, including more kid projects too. I feel overwhelmed when I read "fancier more mature" magazines. I don't feel like I would even wear what they publish. LOL! I don't wear crop tops or super slinky sweaters. I prefer loose and big! LOL!

I'm still debating if I should try to knit the Top Secret sweater Kate has designed for Knitty. I'm thinking, if I finish it while it's still spring, I can wear it now. If I finish it this summer, I'll be able to wear it on chilly evenings. If I only end the sweater next fall, well.... it'll be perfect timing to wear it for 2 full seasons! LOL! So it's all a win-win thing. I just need to start it! ;) I already narrowed the color down to I want, a mottled purple or a deep blue colorway. LOL! I'm just sooooo afraid I'd screw it up. ACK! I never completed a sweater yet, sewing up seams is something I really hate, simply because I never really know what I'm doing.

Maybe I'd have to go back and read a finishing technics book. LOL! Maybe my Knitting without tears has a chapter on this!? I'm about half way through the book and then started knitting more than reading. I do want to get other Elizabeth Zimmermann books when I'll be able too. I really like how she thinks/writes, it's as if she wear talking right to me!

Now all I'm missing is a knitting friend who could show me a few tricks! LOL! I still have yet met someone who knits and 1- it feels lonely to be the only person I know to knit 2- I purpetuously have knitting questions and it would be nice to have someone close to show me when I don't understand something!

Hey, I just got an idea! LOL! Yeah! A silly idea. ;) Anyone feels like taping themselves knitting, then I can pop the tape in the VCR and I wouldn't be knitting alone! teehee! I said it was silly! ;)

p/s: I just need to see up the resized slippers I made Lucas and he can start wearing them! :) I might start a pair of socks for myself, I received the yarn I won from Chris. Love the crazy colors from Regia! :)

Yup! Today is a good day. :)
hugs,

C, for Comfort!

Thank you for your VERY kind words Kerstin and just when I really needed them. Today I was going to put in the title C, for Crisis but I already feel better! :)

I've been very slowly knitting, spring is coming along but my spirits are still pretty low. I spent all day outside so I boosted my vitamin D intake, still I feel slow. I've got so much on my mind...

I do still knit and here's a pic of the seed stitch slippers, before being pieced together! LOL!

I friend helped me resize the pattern so the next pair should actually fit Lucas! LOL! You keep seeing yellow projects, I'm simply trying to use it all up! LOL! I'm getting tired of seeing this color lying around. Maybe I'll make up a few squares to donate somewhere. :)

hugs to all!

Thank you Kerstin for taking just a little time to write me a note, it really hit home!!! :)

B, for Busy Bee!

Busy, busy, that is me! ;)

Started seed stitch slippers for Lucas, got an "order" to make head scarves for a little girl Zoe's age. The mom promises to pay me by yarn! teehee! ;)

It's my mommy and coffee meeting today, moms talk over coffe. Kids get to go to daycare for free while I go at this "meeting". I don't like the moms there so I hide behind my knitting! LOL! ;)

My obligatory pic! LOL! Lucas just chillin' with his baby last night.

hugs, I'll update more by tomorrow.

A, for Awards

ARGH! Just wrote my entry but then clicked on something and poof, entry gone! So as I was saying...

The oscars were nice, a beautifully pregnant Catherine Zeta Jones-Douglas was beaming when she won. Almost makes me want to ge see Chicago or at least rent it once it's on video. ;) I really like Steve Martin and it was nice to see him again. What was his last movie, it's been so long I've watched him in something.

I just started my biggest project yet, a 230 stitch wide blanket in a basketweave pattern. :) It will be using up neon orange and yellow variegated yarn I had found at the thrift store. If I run out of yarn I can always just mix and match with orange and yellow.

Last night I made Lucas a slipper, I SWEAR I followed the pattern exactly as it was written, row by row. I won't be making it's twin, so bummed at the end result.

The picture on the pattern's site clearly shows (well at least to me) the slipper has a cuff, also the toes is rounded not as square as me for sure. I know it has to do with the way I do the kitchener stitch. Why is it that I keep on choosing patterns that deceive me? Either I'm disappointed because it never fits and just come out like the pics or I just don't understand the pattern. I tell ya, each time I start a new project I need some help because I always get to a row where nothing makes sense to me.

I was so excited to make a little slipper for Lucas, usually Zoe is always the one who receives my knitting projects. Luckily I made a hat (for myself) too small so Lucas very happily swiped it. ;) He looks so cute with it too. :)

So now I still don't have a knitted hat for myself (dh stole my cable hat) and Lucas still doesn't have any slippers in his feet! LOL!

Thank you to my special friend Becca for helping me make this blog show multiple entries on one page. That way you can see a few entries at once. I will make a new page each mondays so you get a weeks worth to read by the weekend! LOL

The small bag is still sitting next to make, I promise I'll felt it today! LOL! ;)

hugs to all, have a great week! :)

test123

Testing new format of the blog! :)

happy days!

Well as amazing as it can be. More yarn is coming my way! Yippeeeeee! :)

Chris had a contest on her blog to win Regia crazy color yarn! I think it is so generous to see many hold contests to share yarn they have. Of course I'm a contest lover and yarn addict. I couldn't be more pleased. :)

On my needles are a small bag to be felted, found the pattern in someone's blog. How neat is that? I love it when I read people and then they have patterns to share. Here's the link: Keyboard Biologist:)

I started a hat yesterday, it's going well, I will probably finish it tonight or tomorrow. the Marsan Watchcap. Thank goodness my friend Theresa was online last night. I couldn't figure out the row 23 in this pattern. LOL!

hugs to all, I keep dreaming of all the blogs I read. LOL!

mocs and beads

I'm so happy, the spring season is sure kicking in Montreal! :) The weather is sunny and warm, that only means no more mittens for now. LOL! Soon it'll be back to wearing shoes and a thich sweater to go out. I can't wait when we will be able to just got outside when we feel like it, without having to dress the kids in a million layers. UGH! That's the longest part of winter, dressing the kids in their snow suits.

I finished Zoe's orangemocassins!!! She loooooves them of course! Orange still being her flavor of the day. ;)

They are a tad on the big side but at least they aren't too small. I think I have trouble sizing stuff to make it fit just right. I better figure that out before ever knitting myself a big sweater! LOL! I really hate the seaming parts in a project, right now I'd prefer to kitchener/graft then the sew up a seam. Who would have thought that? LOL! Me who used to be so afraid of the kitchener part in socks. ;)

I got a little crafty last night and made a little beaded necklace.

I get these rages to bead a few times a year! LOL! I always make too many too wear and then give a few to my mom, dh and Zoe. ;) I had a 10$ certificate at the beads store. Bought some wire and beads, dh made a few beaded stitch markers. I hate how he is always great at something he never tried. Frustrates me so much! LOL!

At the kids nap time today, I'll try to the spindle again. It's not working at all for me but I'll give it another shot.

hugs,

p/s: I love spring! :)

pp/s: I took the tag-board out as it didn't fit in this new spring template. You can leave me comments in the link right under this comment! :)

bored

Carl is sick, Lucas has an ear infection, Zoe just lost her voice and I am as healthy as can be! LOL! Guess eating all the oranges I did, helped! ;)

I just wanted to share a picture of the head scarf I made Zoe to hide her hair! ;) She's really excited about it and wore the scarf two days at the daycare. One lady has named her the little hairdresser, I think that I too cute. :) The purple is made with Patons Diana yarn. I started a white one using a simple old dishcloth pattern, it's only missing the ties. I had to learn crochet to make the ties. Crochet is FUN, wow! I never thought I'd say that but dang! it's so hard to understand pass the slip stitch and single crochet. ;) I'm thinking Zoe will have a few more head scarves to wear this summer.

Also at my crafting class yesterday afternoon I made a gel candle, it's REALLY nice and am eager to share it with you all. Bummer that they wouldn't ship well. I could see myself make many more candles in exchange for yarn or fancy knitting markers! LOL! ;)

A month ago, Carl lost his job, he still is looking to find one. Many job interviews seemed promising but here he is still at home. It's nice to have him home but it's also nice when you know the bills are being paid. LOL! He's been treating me good though, almost too good for me to want him to go back to work! teehee!

Today is a happy day, hope it is one for everyone else too! :)

hugs,

p/s: new template to come, I hate this reddish one.

more yarn :)

Ok this morning I wake up in PAIN. Why? I twisted a muscle at the base of my neck. It's happened to me before right in the middle of my back. It doesn't feel too good, it's really painful each time I move my head up and down and now even when I go from left to right. UGH!

Remember my last post where I raved about Kate being an angel to me? Well..... Kate isn't my only angel this past week. Cindy, sent me a pick-me-up box full of yarn.

Purple yarn is already reserved for Zoe, that's IF I can find a simple 'spring' sweater for her. This yarn screams, fancy frilly girly sweater to me, maybe something with eyelet. Not sure yet, I have 9 balls so I believe that should be enough for her size. :) Cindy, you know we chatted and I REALLY appreciate this box from you. What I did get as a bonus though is a new friend! I think that is the best part of this surprise. We both got surprised this time. ;-)

The other yarn I'm not sure yet, might just use one of the green colors or the white with specks to make Zoe a headscarf. :) The bottom left yarn is Lopi!!! WOOHOO! :) I really enjoyed felting my fuzzy feets and am eager to felt something else. Of course I have no clue what yet. LOL! I'd love to create my own messenger bag pattern and felt it or not. I'm no designer though, I can see images in my head but couldn't knit them out that's for sure. In time maybe, in two days it'll mark 6 months since I started knitting. I'm very proud of what I've accomplished already, socks, cables. Things I never thought I'd be good enough to do. I learn everyday and always want to learn more, just want to learn too fast too! LOL! ;)

I finished my cable hat! yippeeeeeee! A wise woman suggested I should block it so I'll do that before posting a picture. :) It looks all nice but it fits just a tad too loose. Dh loves it and if I let him he'd gladly steal it from me! LOL! I got my spindle this week also, can't believe *I* have a spindle. Sadly enough I don't know anyone who even knows about a spindle locally. At all the yarn shops I've been too, I never saw a spindle nor roving. Guess it's a lost art around here. Here's my spindle, I haven't tried it yet as I'm afraid to spoil the little roving I have. LOL! It's soooooo soft I could sleep with it around my face. ;-) Next to the spindle is the soaker I made this weekend. Bummer is that... I came just a few rows short to complete it. ACK! :(

Today to make things a bit more exciting or just because she was bored.... Zoe cut her own bangs. Mind you, daddy was going to cut them later this evening and she knew that. I guess she wanted to "surprise" us and proove she could do it herself. ACK! :( Her hair is so ugly now. She's got teeny tiny bands as dh tried to even them out and make them look straight. UGH! Here she is in her new rag. I'll be knitting a few 'cause she needs to hide her hair for a while. I just wished she would have not done that. She's cut her hair twice now, once at around 18months and now today. Why but WHY do kids do stuff like that? Notice the bangs, how low they were on the right.

"But mommy I love you" says Zoe. -Yeah, yeah I love you too Zoe! ;-)

Ugh, my back, shoulder, neck is killing me.

hugs,

Surprise in the mail!

Yesterday, I cried.... tears of joy, humility, surprise and every other mixed emotions you can add to that! I received a surprise pick-me-up yarn package! Now I've only been knitting for almost 6 months and just discovered the hidding world of knitting blogs just a few months back. I try to read the all the blogs on the rings I belong too, once a week or at least make an effort to do so. I always feel like saying, hugs to you all. All the blogs out there with pictures of your creations, you inspire me. People are so friendly too, I feel I know a few of you just by reading your everyday thoughts.

Now to my surprise, some people might surprisingly enough like my own blog too! LOL! So if you read this, why don't you say hello! I'm always pleased to see a new entry in my comments area. I know what I write isn't always super happy but it's my life. If you go back and read to last october, you will see my life has been a world of emotions in the past months. I try to stick to knitting in this blog but sometimes I slip into my real life too! ;)

So back to my surprise!!!!! Carl was home and thought I had received the spindle I'm waiting for. I don't think it is, the package seemed to have been mailed within Canada. So I open the Fisher-Price box and see yarn. HUN????? Now I KNOW I never bought yarn online.

So I get the 1st ball out, it's orange, Zoe jumps up and down and claims it as her's! LOL! Silly child. ;) Well turns out it IS her yarn to have. I see a note tucked in the ball saying that this 100% wool may be used to knit Zoe some slipper/socks. Can you just imagine my daughter's face. She claimed the yarn and then I say it is OK! lol! ;)

Then I get to 2 balls of grey colored yarn. OMG!!!! It's Lamb's Pride worsted wool, ok maybe not everyone would get as excited as me to receive 100% wool but I can't find any around me, except for Patons Classic Wool. Since I like to follow the crowd, I was eager to try Lamb's Pride yarn when I first planned on making my Fuzzy Feet slippers. Luckily I found Alafossi Lopi for my own pair. Double lucky is that this wool was sent for Carl's birthday, so he can get his OWN pair of Fuzzy Feet. Do you realise how happy you made my man? LOL! I'm getting pancakes this morning because of you!!! ;)

Here's a pic of the Dorm boots I made dh for his bday last weekend. Of course now he's hoping for Fuzzy Feet so his new slippers will be worn until I knit and felt his new slippers! LOL!

Then last but not least, a gift for my own little self! I received two balls of yarn of Bernat Boa eyelast yarn!!!!! In a niiiiiiice blue color, perfect to go along the cable hat in navy blue I'm working on right now. :) The note explicitly said that these two last balls were mine because I deserve something too! Me, just little ol'Jo deserve a gift from someone in outerspace internet! Can you see how shocked I am? I'm not used to received such kind, generous gifts like this, especially not from someone I never met.

You know the package had no return addy, nor did the notes got signed... I'm afraid to attempt a guess and get it wrong, boy would I feel lame and sound ungreatful to the person who really wanted to surprise me. Well it worked, this care package sure made my day, week, month and will keep my busy knitting for quite some time too! :)

I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Zoe says merci! :) Carl, keeps asking me why did I received this package? What can I say more than what the tears rolling on my cheeks say. I told my mom about this package and she got teary eyed too, what can I say, we are emotional people! ;)

Thank you and moster hugs to your kindness, generosity and ! :)

Ok I'm gonna jump in with both feet and say THANK YOU MAMA KATE!!! :)

11:02AM, received my spindle in the mail!!! Could this day get any better? :) Oh by the way, don't be surprised if I change my whole layout into oranges! LOL!

11:50AM Just received an email from Canada Post, a package is on it's way to me! If I'm right this is yarn donated by a friend to me. She thought I'd use it well! ;)

I LOVE this day!!!

spring knitty!

Check it out!!!!!!!!! The new spring issue of Knitty is out! It's the 1st button on the right under links.

I already have my favorite patterns! The best one in my opinion is the Janga is something I'd LOVE to make knit for myself! Just totally my own little style! :) I dream of it in blues or red!

There's also the cutest pattern for Zoe too, the Joseph which looks so cozy but I know that I couldn't find the Colinette yarn locally.

Ok, that said, sorry I never finished the previous entry on dh's birthday. What can I say it was his bday aka we were busy! ;) To make up here's a picture of him. LOL! If you live in Montreal and now someone who can offer this hard worker a job let me know! :P He's been looking for a new job for the past two weeks.

Picture taken Feb.17, 2003.

So I finally finished the birthday slippers for my loved one. He's pleased as can be, what a great guy! ;) NOW I can happily start my navy blue cable hat. I have never made a cable so I am a little too excited to start this new project! Especially since it is for ME!!!! :) What can I say, it's all about me! LOL! I have this HUGE 16oz/454g yarn ball sitting next to me. That's the ball I'll make out my hat out. Sure enough I'll have enough to make a scarf and maybe even mittens! LOL! I never used such a big ball of yarn. Let's just say it won't be very practical to bring with me! ;)

Hey! I haven't been knitting a sock in pretty long, maybe I should start a new pair. :) I have 1 ball of Confetti yarn. Hopefully that would be enough to make a pair for Zoe, my 3,5yo.

On the home front, cutting our internet service is still an option. I would/will turn crazy if this does happen but our family needs to get our basic needs met before thinking about having a net access.

hugs,

p/s: what have YOU knitted today? :)

another bday

Happy Birthday Carl!!! :)

My boyfriend is 25yo today. I remember a few months back hat a shock 25 made to me. I got all down and realised I hadn't done much in my life yet. That's not all true 'cause I have 2 gorgeous kids and most of the time I'm happy! LOL! Dh is an important part of those things too. He did help with making the kids (LOL!) and he does make me smile. :)

We have visitor about to pop in so I'll continue this entry later.