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i met kay gardiner!

It all started one Sunday morning in November:

Me: Why is Liz calling on a Sunday morning?

…Hello.

Liz: Kay Gardiner is coming to String of Purls to teach a Log Cabin class on December 28th. I’m calling at noon to register myself and Mary Pat. Wanna go?

Me: Yes!

Notice I didn’t ask any questions like: How much does it cost? What’s the time? Will I be able to get someone to look after M? I just say “Yes!”

kay

For you non-knitters out there, Kay is from Mason Dixon Knitting and wrote the pattern for M’s baby blanket in the book she co-authored with Ann Shayne. Y’all, this is my favorite knitting book right now and I want to knit practically every pattern. And the log cabining—well, I just love it.

I was lucky that Jocelyn was free that day; she took M while I headed up to Omaha for a fun-filled day with yarn. The class was awesome (you can see me right over Kay’s shoulder). Kay is a great speaker and shared her thoughts on knitting, log cabining, yarn, color and more. We worked on a pillow cushion that I am knitting up in a color scheme to match our bedroom. After the class, I bought the Manos for my socks and then we went to lunch. Before we had a chance to order, guess who walked in needing a lunch buddy? Kay! So we got to have lunch with her and talk about the book and publishing process.

After lunch it was off to Personal Threads. Every year after the holidays they have a huge yarn sale. I finally got to touch yarns that I had only seen online and wound up with some Koigu KPPPM and some Noro Kureyon.

It was my first day away from M for more than a few hours and I was worried that I wouldn’t do so well. Thank goodness I had all that knitting and yarn to keep myself from going crazy. Great friends, knitting and yarn—you can’t ask for anything more!

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i’m in love

A few weeks ago I signed up for another KAL. This one was also for Larissa’s book; a quick an easy sock knit in Manos del Uruguay. I have always wanted to try this yarn and I was planning a trip to our LYS in a few days. I have a lot of knitting projects on my plate right now and I needed a new one like a hole in the head, but I couldn’t resist. The colorway I picked was beautiful and since I live in brown, black and denim, it was a perfect choice. It was as if the stars had aligned and said “You must knit these socks.”

manos socks

And now I am in love with Manos. These are the softest and warmest socks I have ever owned. I’m debating a whole sweater in Manos. Oh, to wrap myself up in that warm and soft wool—how divine! I think this is maybe how yarn addictions start. I must be careful, or next year I’ll be taking the knit from your stash challenge.

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fauxburgers

Why do we call them hamburgers when they are made out of beef, not ham? Oh, that’s why. One of the things I’ve been really craving in my beefless state is a hamburger. T and I have planned a few times for me to try beef on a Friday night. That way, if it doesn’t sit well with M, I won’t be home alone all day with a screaming baby. Friday nights come and go and I never seem to have one. I guess once I’m faced with the reality that I can try some beef, I get cold feet. Do I really want this? Is it worth the risk? And what if M is fine? Will I feel silly for eliminating beef from my diet for the past few months? Then I hear the little volcanic sounds her tummy makes in my head and just can’t do it. So, last night I made some turkey burgers.

I’ve never been a fan of turkey burgers, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I used my mom’s burger recipe. (I think it is hers. If not, I have a made up childhood memory of making burgers this way.)

• ground turkey (not ground turkey breast)
• ketchup
• mustard
• dried minced onion
• garlic powder
• worcestershire sauce
• salt and pepper

I think the worcestershire sauce was the key to making these taste like regular burgers. Even T said it was hard to tell they were turkey. We grilled them on our indoor grill, and our house smelled a little like a BBQ when we were finished, but it was worth it! We even had fresh slices of ripe tomatoes and a side of fries. I can’t wait to have the leftovers tonight!

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meathead kal

I’ve joined my first kal (knit along). I’m planning to do a cornhusker theme with my meathead, since I live in Nebraska and all. I purchased some red Lamb’s Pride Bulky last Saturday, but still need to get the yarn for my embellishment. Can anyone guess what that might be? Tonight is knitting group and I’m going to take this along. I’m also going to take M’s blanket, which is still not finished because I’m not really happy with it. It’s not knitting up like I imagined at all. This was supposed to be an heirloom kind of project, and I don’t think I can look at it the way it is for years to come if I am so unhappy with it. Last week I got some tough love on another blanket project I am working on for my parents. Hopefully tonight I’ll get some of the same. I’m thinking I’ll need to frog and reknit, but maybe someone can suggest a way to salvage it.

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this knitting thing is getting serious

knitting group

Yesterday was our knitting group’s first Lunch & Knit event and by the end of the day, I was a new member of the The Knitting Guild Association and Secretary for the new Lincoln Chapter. I know it may seem to some that I’ve been slacking on the knitting this summer.

bk blanket

Exhibit A: Baby K’s blanket—still not finished!

I have to blame that on the pregnancy. Usually I sit in front of the tv in the evenings and knit up a storm, but for the past few months all I do is put my feet up on some pillows and close my eyes. I’ve even missed a few Wednesday night meetings because I’m just too tired and uncomfortable to leave the couch.

But I still love knitting. I read books and websites, I plan projects for the future, and most of all, I love the group of knitters that I have met in Lincoln. Pretty soon, the needles will start going again, and I’ll have a little guest to bring to our meetings. Until then, I’m just going to keep on with this blanket and hope I get it done before the first frost in October.