Now, the not-so-fun part...

I finished all the knitting part of Isabella. Now, my favourite part (or not): finishing! I have a very busy weekend ahead of me so I may not finish it in the next few days, but I'll try not to let it drag for months (like that blue cardigan thing that I may never seam and let it acquire urban legend myth-like fame). Pictures of Isabella will come for the weekly wip report on Sunday, whether it's finished or not (most likely, it won't be).

Also, Do asked me how long it took for me to get my Ravelry invite. I don't remember exactly when I signed up, but it must have taken at least a month (maybe 6 weeks) to get an invite. But it's totally worth it so go and sign up now if you haven't already! Oh and you mentionned inspiration? I suggest Craftster for that (and there are crochet and sewing sections that I'm sure you'll love too).

More inspiration? This cardigan. I'm in love.

Yesssss!!!!!

I finally got my Ravelry invite! It was SO worth the wait, I think I'll spend all night on it. I can't believe what a fantastic site these girls have created.

I just joined and I'm still feeling the place. My username there is, ta-da: Caroline! Not original, I know, but I like to use my real first name and it wasn't taken.

Oh and I know I haven't done a weekly wip report on Sunday, sorry about that. Both my boyfriend and I usually work on Sundays but it was Quebec Day so we had it off (and we have the next one off too because of Canada Day, how cool is that!) and we spent the whole day outside and at night I was too tired to write anything coherent. I'll make sure I do one next week. But if you really want an update, I can tell you that I finished the first Roza sock and started the second one, and I've made progress on the left front of Isabella.

In knitting news, the fall preview of Knitscene is online. I'm not crazy about any of the pattern though it's difficult to tell because the pics are so small. I guess I'll have to go to the yarn store to check the magazine out.

Oh and if you don't subscribe to Knitting Daily, you should (it's free)! They recently gave away the pattern for Tomato, a cute top available in Amy R. Singer's book No Sheep for You.

Contest and stuff

I LOVE 3-day weekends. I usually have Fridays and Saturdays off, but because tomorrow is Quebec Day, I also have Sunday off. Yay! I'm having a fabulous weekend so far. My boyfriend and I bought a couch yesterday. It was our biggest purchase together so far. I also took advantage of the fact that I was close to a H&M store to buy some clothes. I got some cute tops and a black with white polka dots headband. Cute.

Robyn mentionned a new contest held by Lotus Knitter. Thanks Robyn! For that contest we have to show our first FO or talk about the next project in my queue. I think I'll do both.



So this ugly weirdly shaped scarf (aka the itchiest scarf ever) was my first project. All garter stitch baby! Thank God I a)fell in love with the craft despite the bad material and b)got better. My second project was already much better I think :



I even chose a much softer acrylic ;)

The "What's next in your queue" is a tougher question. I'm working on two projects right now but I have a couple more on the needle that I'd like to finish before starting something new. That being said, I'm thinking of making this:



...because I have yarn that I think would work well with this pattern. And I need something like that for my office, where I'm always cold.

I will also cast on new socks when I'm done with Roza's socks, but your guess is as good as mine as to which ones I'll make. I can think of 4 patterns that I'd love to make right now. So we'll see.

Now, another contest. My Secret Pal hostess Shelby tagged her group with this meme:

The rules: Go to Wikipedia and type in your birthday month and day only. Then post 3 events, 2 births and one holiday that occurred on your birthday, then tag 5 friends.

DECEMBER 3

Events:
1917 - After nearly 20 years of planning and construction, the Quebec Bridge opens to traffic.
1970 - October Crisis: In Montreal, Quebec, kidnapped British Trade Commissioner James Cross is released by the Front de Libération du Québec terrorist group after being held hostage for 60 days. Police negotiate his release and in return the Canadian government grants five terrorists from the FLQ's Chenier Cell their request for safe passage to Cuba.
1997 - In Ottawa, Canada, representatives from 121 countries sign a treaty prohibiting manufacture and deployment of anti-personnel landmines. The United States, People's Republic of China, and Russia do not sign the treaty, however.

Births:
1948 - Ozzy Osbourne, English singer
1960 - Julianne Moore, American actress (love her)

Holiday:
International Day of the Basque language

I tag:

Deawn
Molly Ann
Michelle
Laura
Karine

Now I'm off at the gym for my new Super Workout class!

Weekly WIP Report

I haven't worked that much on Isabella this past week. But I'm happy to say that I'm almost done with the left front. I probably won't be finished by next week like I hoped I would, but that doesn't mean I won't try.



I neglected Isabella because I felt like working on the sock. I turned the heel! The sock looks pretty narrow on the pic but it stretches well enough to fit my big calves.

I realized that working on only a couple of projects at a time means that I'm always showing you the same WIPs. Sorry about that. But while more projects would mean more diverse WIP pics, it would also mean FO pics would come even less often. And I don't know about you guys, but I prefer to see FOs. So this is my goal : to finish Isabella in the next two weeks (I can do that) so I can show you a FO. And then I'll have new WIPs (or old ones that I'll pick up again) to show.

I must say that I've wound the alpaca my secret pal gave me into a ball. I have a few ideas for it. We'll see.

I also sort of want to make a very simple scarf for my mom. She gave me yarn last Christmas and hinted that she'd love a scarf made with it. Only problem is, it's acrylic and I know I won't LOVE working with it. But I know she'll love the scarf so I'll make her one.

*Tag* You're it!

I've been tagged!

Here's the deal: Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag 7 others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.

1. I hate umbrellas. I hate to carry them. I sometimes carry a small one in my bag but I'll only use it if it's raining really hard.

2. I've written two novels. Neither of them is good. Neither has been read by anyone but me.

3. My coworker told me I should watch Hell's Kitchen, so I did for the first time this week. It was the scariest thing I had ever seen (I'm slightly exaggerating here). Yet, I know for sure I'll watch again next week.

4. Up until the end of high school, I wanted to be a physical therapist and work for the Canadiens de Montréal. Then I took chemistry and physics and realized I'd have to keep on taking science classes to get there. So I changed my mind and studied literature instead.

5. My new ring tone is the Super Mario Bros theme and it makes me smile everytime my phone ring.

6. I like celebrity gossip too much for my own good.

7. I'm planning a parachute jump for this summer.

Now, who will I tag...

Kadi
Jo
Lee Ann
Véronik
Jennifer
Robyn
Mona

I'm sure you've all see that the new Knitty is out. What do you think? I personally don't like that many patterns. Coachella and Tangerine Twist are cute. And I like the socks. But none of the patterns will go on my to-do list. Oh well. You like some, you dislike some.

Tomorrow, I'm going shopping for yarn for my secret pal's last package. Will I get something for myself? I really shouldn't. But sometimes, yarn just calls your name. ;)

Weekly Week Report

It's now my favourite part of the week, the part when I realize I really am a slow knitter ;)

Seriously, I feel like I've progressed with my two regular WIPs this week. First, let me present you the pink sock:



A.K.A. Roza's sock. I have about 2-3 inches more to knit before I start the heel flap. Somehow, I doubt I'll finish them in time for the end of June, but we'll see.



I've also made some progress on Isabella. I'm now at the neckline, at the part where you work half the stitches. It's going pretty well. I was hoping I could finish it before going to my mom's on Friday, but that just won't happen. I know I won't have time to finish the knitting AND seam it. I could if I spent all my free time doing that, but I won't. I need me some Internet time :)

(I'm interrupting this blogging to mention that I currently have a bad case of the hiccups. It's very annoying.)

I'm sure you've all heard about the big Knitpicks sale. I hesitated a long time, and then I decided I should get me some yarn to make Tubey. I chose Andean Silk, and then I realized that the colours on sale weren't my favourite. I finally settled for Leaf. I put 10 balls in my "stash" (i.e. cart), I added two sock books. And then I decided not to order. I don't know why, I just wasn't sure anymore. And now I'm happy I didn't get the yarn because I find that I would prefer a Chocolate or Pool Tubey. Or something else entirely.

Since I can't make up my mind, I decided to try and find projects for the yarn I already have. I found a lace scarf pattern for the yarn my Secret Pal gave me (it'll be a mini-scarf, I'll just go for as long as I have yarn). And I found a shrug pattern in a past issue of Interweave Knits that would look good with the alpaca I got from a previous Secret Pal thing.

But that Knitpicks Andean Silk is still tempting. I have a colour card and I keep touching it. It's so damn soft. The sale lasts until Friday (if they don't sell everything by then) so who knows. I may change my mind again.

Chez Robyn

Kadi, Angela and I (not on the picture since I was taking it) went knitting at Robyn's house last night. We had a lovely evening and I was able to work quite a bit on my pink sock. Robyn has posted more pictures on her blog, if you want to see. I hate how I look on them though (don't I always?). Robyn, I actually stole the pic above from your blog because I'm too lazy to get my camera and transfer it myself ;)

While knitting, we watched So you think you can dance, which I had never watched before. It was... interesting, to say the least. Some good dancers on there. Some, not so good.

I've made good progress on Isabella. I'm almost done with the front. And I'll really try to seam right away so I can wear the damn top sometime this summer. Actually, I'm hoping to finish it sometime next week. Hey who knows? It could happen!

Funny thing is, I have no idea what I'll do next. I should probably pick the lace shawl back up. It's probably what I'll do. I'd also love to try another sweater, but I should probably try to make a couple of smaller projects first.I'll feel less guilty buying yarn for a sweater if I knit a couple of things from the stash first. Not to mention that I should probably wait and see if I can actually finish a sweater before committing to a new one...

Weekly WIP report

I'm keeping with my new tradition (can you say "new tradition"?) and posting a WIP report.



You can see where I am with Roza's socks (though they are NOT that bright in person) and Isabella.

I've mostly worked on Isabella this past week because I'm really looking forward to finishing it. Of course, after the knitting I'll need to seam it. Hopefully, it won't take me as long as the blue cardigan. God I hate seaming. I really should ask the owner of Effiloché if she gives finishing lessons. I want beautifully seamed sweaters dammit!

I'll leave you with a link to Mona's blog, where you will find the great new sock pattern that she designed. I think it'll be next on my sock list.