Chickenlips Knitting

Finished, washed, blocked, worn to the office, & washed again: my take on the Lace Blouson from Summer '04 Interweave Knits. Warts and all, it's one of the more satisfying projects I've completed. I, for one, tire very quickly of endless blog photos of a WIP, and I realize I've done that with this project...so, a thousand pardons. Just wanted to share the project completion high.

You Spin Me Right Round, Baby




Looking like a skirt, this...but it's actually the Chic-Kami from Chicknits. Let me just go on record as saying that I Heart Bonne Marie! Her patterns are simple, attractive and sized for gals like moi, but the deal clincher for me is the built-in finishing that makes the garment truly lovely. I promise not to bore y'all with any more in-progress shots...you won't see this baby again until it's done. The yarn is Rowan Calmer, and I don't care if some knitters think that's a goofy name. It makes perfect sense to me! I just put the yarn ball to my cheek and I somehow feel, um, calmer. Yeah, that's it.

Anniversary Gift



What every addict needs.

My friends, you're looking at 24 balls of Debbie Bliss' Cashmerino Astrakhan, which are slated to be made into the Log Cabin Blanket from Mason-Dixon Knitting. I know you can't wait for the backstory, so here 'tis:

Yesterday, DH and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary. I presented him with new dress slacks, dress shirt and tie, and he splurged on this indulgent gift for me. It came from Boersma's Knitting Basket in McMinnville, which is where we spent our special day. Now why did we drive the 40-odd miles out to that college town, when the same product (and maybe even the same colors/quantities) could be found 5 miles from here? Well, it so happens that I was temporarily, to use the tired old saw, "bitten by the acting bug." A theater out that way was auditioning for Steel Magnolias...and even though I have no stage experience other than being a stage mother and doing the odd skits in English and Japanese classes at Pacific, (the ones in Japanese were way more fun, BTW,) I got the mother of all wild hairs and decided to try out for a part in that great, Southern-fried, rarely-staged play. I thought I was pretty hot stuff when I went in there...then quickly realized I was completely outclassed and was swimming with the sharks. Needless to say, I didn't get cast...along with 19 other hopefuls. 26 women auditioned for 6 parts...so I've got plenty of company. And for the record, actresses, paid or not, really are egomaniacs! I had surprisingly bruised feelings about losing, even considering how willing I was to face facts. What finally pulled me out of the doldrums was the realization that I would rather kiss a dead woodchuck's behind than hang out with those stuck-up, condescending harridans for the next three months! (Me, a sore loser?! Perish the thought.)

Now, this inundation of fabulous new yarn has given me a destashing dilemma. Which brings me to....

Contest Time

I've got so much frickin' yarn that I'm going to put these two lovely skeins of Koigu on the block! That's right, I've decided to hold a contest...but what kind of contest? Well, that's where you come in! Absolutely! I need your suggestions, recommendations, whatever. This one is gonna beat the Rocky Horror Picture Show for "AP" (audience participation)! C'mon, you know you want it. The power of Koigu compels you.