lest you think that only the Olympic Knitters are experiencing the Sturm und Drang of high pressure knitting, I shall tell you about my evening. Which actually began a year ago.

Around this time last year, Kathleen, Peggy, Ricki and I got together for a bit of knitting. Somehow the talk turned to the latest edition of Vogue Knitting and Nicky Epstein’s pattern for a trellised, floral bag. Perhpas it was the bleakness of winter, but a mania swept over us with an urgent need to knit this pattern. Yarn was ordered.

and back ordered.

and back ordered.

By the time the yarn finally arrived – (this past October, I believe) – flower bag fever had subsided.

At least for some of us.

Kathleen and I wanted to turn the yarn into felted slippers.

but NO. we have to knit this bag. At least that’s what Peggy and Ricki say. Actually what they say is that is is perfectly fine for Kathleen to change her mind. But not Ann. Ann must knit this bag.

We gathered at Ricki’s to knit. Ricki provided the bribe – carrot cake. I had four false starts. Which I blame entirely on Cara. (She called last night in a panic over her mitten thumbs – having a real tantrum over the fact that she left this project til the last minute, thinking it was a no brainer despite me telling her she better keep knitting it. Dude, she said, it’s so easy, it’s not a problem, it’s just thumbs. I could knit them in my sleep.)

Note to all Friends of Ann: if you call seeking advice, and Ann gives you good, solid advice which you roundly reject, do not be surprised when hysterical laughter erupts upon discovery. This is Ann’s way of saying I told you so.

I am convinced that Cara put a spell on me. I had to cast on four different times. By the end of the evening, I got through one pattern repeat, Peggy had a whole section just about finished, Ricki was moving along nicely and Kathleen was taking hers home to rip.

ps. carrot cake was delicious!

This is my last week of working at Granny’s Yarn Shop. And all of you out there who predicted that I would come out financially behind were right. At the end of yesterday, I owed the shop $$ …. and this is not the first time that’s happened! I need to have this job be over – my wallet can’t take it anymore!

Things have quieted down around here from all of my gadding about. Now it’s time to get some serious knitting accomplished! Although I did nothing but knit last weekend – I have nothing to show for it. ooooo wait, that’s not entirely true. Remember my fuzzy mohair shawl thing?

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Well, that came off the needles! And not a moment too soon – I hated that project and am still not sure how much I like the finished result.

Back to it – the workshop was great, but after I learned the new adding on and weaving in techniques, I decided that I did not like my sampler – the colors were bleh. During a break in the action, Ricki and I escaped for an interlude at Colorful Stitches where I bought some very thin Rowan two ply. Love the colors, but it turns out the yarn is hard to work with, especially with my bandaged thumb. (did I mention that while working with Kathleen on Thursday she made me scrub the toilet and I actually got a gash on my thumb that would not stop bleeding. Seriously – this mf bled for three hours!) So now you have the story of why there are no colorful sampler pictures to show.

Furthermore, I have put the Chinese Sweater on hold and am knitting up a Lauralund. I have loved this pattern since PMF put it out there and have gotten the Lopi to make it.