Knit One (or Two or Seven or A Hundred)
As the strange Hallowig in the last post might suggest, I have in fact, been knitting and even finishing. I’m on the last sleeve of a Klaralund which is dull but quick. I am still working on that !*#*(&#^(*@&%#@ lace Half-Pi shawl but as it now has something like 500 stitches in a row, I’m feeling a bit less kindly towards it than I was when it had only 48. I finished the Lace-Leaf sweater and am very fond of it, even though it leaves reddish-pink fuzz everywhere. 
The remarkable thing about this garment (for me) is that I actually fixed it rather than crying “Who cares about the bloody thing” and tossing it into a heap in the corner. You see, having kitchenered the whole thing together, it turned out to be too short, even for short-arse me. So I actually pulled out the grafting, knit another four inches and then re-grafted the whole sweater, getting reasonably quick at Kitchener stitch in the process. This sweater also convinced me absolutely of two things: the value of swatching and the redeeming value of blocking. Because I never swatch, the sweater was in fact, a little too small. Hurg. Except that I blocked the bejeezus out of it and now (tra la la) it is perfect.
In other knitting news, I have had an amazing package from my thoughtful, incredibly generous and marvellous Secret Pal. Can you even imagine that she apologized (!) in her card for not making the package better? How could it have been better? It was stupendous. Look at this loot. I am overwhelmed. 
Not only is there nice yarn in a soft steel blue (can there be such a thing as soft steel? Nevermind.) but there are two books (a very nice edition of Candide is open on the book stand) to read while I knit, a much-coveted book to knit funky things from, a book holder so I can knit without having to hold my books open with my toes, spare yarn, other books or wet towels (Ed is trying to make off with this one, claiming it is just what someone writing his PhD on the couch needs), two rubber stamps (already appropriated by the children — pretty funny watching a three year old stamp martinis all over the place), a huge white-tea scented candle, olive and chamomile soap (just as I am running out of soap), a CD of all sorts of music, including William Shatner “singing” with Ben Folds and Joe Jackson (a cover of Pulp’s Common People) which appeals to both the Star Trek fan in me, the Joe Jackson fan in me and the Ben Folds fan in me, and stitch markers, my first ever fun and beautiful stitch markers. I must quickly cast on something that needs lots and lots of stitch markers.
Thank you thank you thank you, whoever you are. I feel terribly spoiled and almost embarassed by this wealth of riches.
Wow!
1. Your extensive knowledge about knitting leads me to think you should write a book.
2. You should not relinquish the book holder to your husband. If he is going to get a PhD, it will not be due to reading anything on the couch. He must hasten to an upright chair (preferrably uncomfortable) if those orals are ever going to get finished.
3. Your secret pal seems quite the good friend. What a lucky knitter you are! And the color of that sweater is a wonderful bold…I can see that it would look quite nice on you with your coloring. My goodness, you are a small woman!
4. Do you ever use that booga bag? Like, ever?
Hey Fritz — I have knit two boogas in my life — one was for my mother (that was the one I photographed for the blog and she is apparently pretty happy with it). The other is done and is fine except I’m none too fond of the colors — it’s a brownyreddygreeny earth toned thing going on except for the occasional hit of pink. Pink?! If you want it, it’s yours. Or you can buy me more Kureyon (three balls) and I’ll whip you up one. You can email me if you like: stuntmother@gmail.com.
In other news, I find it very strange that I have to type in a word verification to comment on my own blog.
I am working on my lace leaf sweater now, and have NO IDEA how to kitchener stitch. So far many people who have knitted this sweater have said they put it together to find out it is too short. My question is, can’t you tell if it is too short before you put it on? I am wondering because I think mine looks long enough… but I keep reading about people’s lace leaf’s (lace leaves… um whatever) being to short. Help!
Hey Krista — thanks for visiting and I posted a ramble on your blog, under the Hallowig posting. Good luck with your sweater.
Stunning sweater. I’m jealous.
I love the sweater, which I believe I have seen on you? Or is this another one in a different color? Anyway, I love it.
Secondly, I want a Secret Pal who sends me things! How can I get one?
You have seen it on me — and I love it too. The only other one I’m knitting of this is for you if you decide you want one.
You can have a secret pal, oh excellent walker, IF you venture into the wild world of knitting and knit blogging. While the SEcret Pal phenomenon does not require you to have a blog solely devoted to knitting, it does require you to knit and occasionally post about knitting. For more information, click the secret pal thing on the sidebar. Also, in the May archive are the 20 questions that are supposed to help your secret pal know what to get you. Oh, and you get given a secret pal to spoil too. It’s all a little bit of pass it forward. And it is yay fun getting stuff.