Weird

I just saw a guy running up a very steep hill.... while juggling.

A Crocheted Object

Finally... I have my YeeHaw Lady Hat from the Happy Hooker!
Yarn: Lion Brand Lion Cotton.... purchased in the states for me by my mom's awesome friends.

I left out two rounds (by mistake), but thank god, the peak is way too high for on me!
I think my gauge is still really off, but I'll manage.

Playing Hooky

It's Friday.
I'm not at work.
Oops!

I'm sitting on the couch watching Footloose. Aahh... what more could a girl ask for.

I've had a crappy week at work. It's made me want to drink copious amounts and take up smoking. But I've been good. Instead, I've gone to the gym, and had a pedicure. Only one beer, no cigarettes. And, I'm playing hooky from work. I feel much better now.

So, I have some pictures to show you....

Remember when i said I finished the New York Sweater? Well a few days later Lisa had us over for a Pool 'n Purl Party, and I modeled it there.

The pattern is The "Side Tie Vest" from Vogue Knitting, Spring Summer 2006.
I did it in Large, but should have gone down a size or two, it's way too big.
The only modifications I made were in the tie... I didn't knit it, I bought ribbon instead, and left the hole in the side for it at only 5cm, not 5".
The yarn is a Cashmere /Silk mix, handpainted, that I bought from School Products in New York.


Notice how bad my hair looks? That's for several reasons
1. I had just gone swimming, and didn't have a hairbrush.
2. My hairdresser broke her ankle and is out of commission. I refuse to let anyone else touch it. I hope she gets better really soon!


Here's a picture of her. Heather has actually become a really good friend, and knits with us too. At this moment in time she is eating an orange ju-jube.





Here are Katherine and Corrie hard at work. Katherine finished her Polka Purl Dots wrap that night, and it looks awesome. I feel the need to make one myself....

Tanya and Elizabeth were there too, but I don't have any photos of them....














Lisa and Brenda didn't do a lot of knitting, but they did spend a lot of time in the pool.





Brenda and I joked that we were going to start dropping buy on Sunday afternoons to swim and hang out in Lisa's huge backyard. I think Lisa's away this weekend, perhaps this Sunday would be a good time? Brenda?

Thank God for My Mom and Her Crazy Crafty Friends....

I've been obsessing about the YeeHaw Lady Hat from the Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker book since I first saw it. I admit, I bought the book for just that pattern. Bad, I know (but now there are actually a bunch of patterns I want to try).

Problem..... You can't get Lion Brand Lion Cotton in Canada. My solution... "heck, it's just dishcloth cotton...why don't I use Bernat Handicrafter?"

Yeah, whatever. I tried 4 different needle sizes, and can't get near to the right gauge.

But, yay for my mom and her crazy crafting friends, who drive all the way to the states for Crass Stitch stores! They hit a few craft stores for me and brought me back Lion Cotton.

So tonight, I start my hat. Yeehaw!

Back to Normal

Aah... what a lovely day I'm having!

I didn't have anywhere to go this weekend, so things are feeling pretty normal again.

I went up to The Only for a couple of drinks last night, and then was actually able to sleep in this morning... nice.

After making a big breakfast and catching up on some Corrie, I wandered over to the Naked Sheep to buy some yarn for the Tulip sweater. I spent the afternoon sitting in the living room, watching season 1 of Laguna Beach on my computer, with the World Cup game on the TV in the background, swatching away with my new yarn.

This is the way Sundays should be.

I know you're going to ask...... what yarn did you buy Dianna?
Well, the pattern calls for Katia Jamaica, which Lisa says is pretty wicked to knit with, but vertical stripes aren't my thing, so I was looking for a solid. It's supposed to have a gauge of 20/28, but the only cotton yarn in that size at the Sheep was Rowan Handknit Cotton. There weren't any colours that jumped out at me, and it would have been pretty pricey. But on the next shelf with all the Aran Weight yarns was the Mission Falls Cotton. I LOVE the Mission Falls Cotton, but it had been out of production for awhile, so I had forgotten all about it. The colours they have are awesome. But the gauge? 18/24. Hmmm.

Screw it, I've been knitting for long enough that I should be able to figure this out and make it work!
So, home I came with ten balls of this awesome pink colour (peony 206). I did my first swatch with the called for 4.5 needles, and I got 18 sts/4".
According to my math, I could knit the small size in this gauge, and it should work.

I also knit a swatch up on 3mm needles, which gets me the correct 20 sts gauge, but it seems a little dense. Although now I look back at the first swatch, and it's pretty loose, and might end up being a little see through.

I'm currently knitting a swatch in the 4x2 ribbing stitch, with the 3mm needles,to see if it will turn out ok.

But alas, I'll have to put it down to go play some soccer.

I hope you're all having a great day, and all the France fans aren't too sad.

Best Friends and Almost FO's

Tracey and Rachel left on Saturday. Sob Sob.

But, life goes on!

What else have I been up to?
Well......

• I went camping at Sandbanks
• I got two speeding tickets in less than 7 days
• I am obsessing about trying out for the Toronto Roller Derby League (just call me Taylor Trash.... or maybe Misty Meanor.... I haven't decided yet)
• I have been on four dates (with the same guy.... whoa!)
• I've had to file an harassment complaint about a co-worker (but I guess I shouldn't talk about that)
• I've continued with my love of Laguna Beach/The Hills and Veronica Mars (Kristin guest starred on an episode!)
• AND, most importantly, I have finished my new york sweater! (or almost, its soaking in SOAK as we speak, and I still need to sew on the ribbon that I bought at Mokuba today.... I bailed on the stupid knit ties)

So yes, I'm back, hopefully a bit more consistently.

What else have I got on the needles? I'm still working on the Shapely Tank- I had almost finished the front, but it was way too big, so I ripped it back and have started again.... I'll do the back first this time. And I'm going to try and get the yarn to start Tulip, I want to work on it at the Mary Kay Seminar (hee hee, I guess I should do it in pink!).

Tomorrow night after work I'm having drinks with Monique.... she's in the running for new best friend (Ontario chapter), I'll let you know how that goes.

Have a GREAT weekend!