Finishing kick

Five Mile Thursday….I know what you’re thinking, is this an alternate universe where The KnittingSamurai is active? No it’s just Seattle recovery. Ten miles in two days, I’m pretty proud of myself.

Last night I finished the Bulldogust socks. Words can not express how much I love these socks. 100% merino with a some sort of wonderful wash that makes them silky soft.

The pattern is just subtle enough.

I finished the thumbs and sewed up the Devon Rex Norwegian Mittens today. 100% alpaca and super soft. Knit on size 2s so it’s a very dense fabric which means they’re very warm. I can’t wait to go to a football game and drink hot chocolate with my mittens on.

Oh and I cut the final armhole steek and started the ribbing. No pictures yet…is the suspense building?

Is there such a thing as too successful?

Started the day as a Five-Mile-Wednesday…I know it’s not Friday. Although I did plenty of walking in Seattle I also did plenty of drinking and eating and have gained a few pounds. So having a couple five mile days this week definitely wont hurt anything. I listened to music the whole time, imagine, me, not listening to podcasts. The music did keep me pumped for the first four miles but the last few hills were a struggle.

I know that there is such a thing as too much a good thing. And last year at this exact time I was fretting over how to get people to come to knitting group. One night early on, after only 2 people came, I left and plastered ever condo complex, restaurant, coffee shop, library, university I could think of with flyers. Now here we are a healthy vibrant knitting group, growing every day and it’s amazing. I enjoy our time together and look forward to hanging out with my knit sibs every week. Tonight we were a group of fifteen, the largest we’ve ever been, so large in fact that we had several conversations going on at once. It was a bit overwhelming and boisterous. And if someone wanted to talk to the whole group it felt more like a presentation to the group rather than the usual chill conversation (and we all know how much I loath public speaking). Attempting to keep track of what was going-on and learn at least a little about the new faces was a challenge. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed myself, it’s just not what I had planned for my evening. The dynamic was completely different than it usually is and I fear that some of the regulars may not come back or may break off if knitting group is this exhausting every week. It’s always interesting to have a new person in our mist. Perhaps it was the mass number of new knitters that changed the group and made it feel a bit like a get to know you meeting instead of getting together with friends. I guess we’ll have to suck it up and get to the new people well enough to make them friends as well.

And finally, don't you think the boys have a tough life? You know sometimes sleeping for 7 hours a day is just too much and they need a break…

Thursday's Progress Report

Thursday progress report is coming a bit late today.
I was fed up to my eyebrows with knitting squares so I decided to switch it up and work on the hat and booties. The hat came out awesome!
I’m so pleased with it. Although I would’ve liked more XOXOs around the base it’s still good. For sizes up to 6 months and there’s an O on the top!
As you can see Billy modeled it very nicely.


The booties are a bit slower owing to the fact that I’m kitting bullet proof fabric with smaller needles and more stitches. I’m using size 6s and the pattern from Holiday Knitting. They are a cute white and pink blend but until they are sewn together they really just look like a rectangular cube taken apart.

Today was also a Five Mile Friday. I actually did a little longer than that, I did 5.6 miles. It’s interesting that as I’m walking along about half way in my hips hurt, then that passes and my knees start to ach a little, then at about mile 4 my calves really start to scream and they don’t let up until I get home. Good to note that my energy levels stayed at about normal after the walk. The two weeks previous I was exhausted until I finally broke down and took a nap.



I walked a big loop through a couple miles of canopied roads that had horse farms on the sides. It was around 8am and the temperature was almost perfect, 5 degrees cooler and I’d have been in heaven. Did you know that there are these ugly black flies in the woods? I think they are technically called deer flies but I blamed the horses for their presence. Oh were they annoying!

After that I rushed off to Plaistow to Knit Pickings with the girls. I took the plunge and bought 16 skeins of Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk. I just love this yarn. I used it to make both of the Better Bucket Hats. Perhaps this is my favorite yarn, at least in my top ten. So I bought enough to make the Longorias Something. It’s a turtleneck vest. I’m so anxious to cast on but I’ve got to finish my booties and baby blanket.

Also while I was there I bought these Ginger Sissors. We will not have a repeat of the events of Sunday.

This morning I knit one more square which means there are four to go. I’m thinking I can whip those out tonight while The Boyfriend is off at his brother’s Pre-Bachelor-Party-Party. I did get invited which pleased me but I don’t think I want to be around any of the guys this weekend. Their brains will all be mush.

Inaugural Five Mile Friday

Today was the firsts in what I hope will be a standing occasion. Today was the inauguration of Five Mile Fridays! My Mum informs me I need structure in my life, and that I’ll quickly grow tired of a “life of leisure”. So I thought, I’ll take some classes, cook dinner two nights a week, walk every day, and on Fridays I will make a point of doing a lot extra. I will walk for 5 miles instead of the standard 30 minutes.
So today Dad and Simon (their dog) headed out for the first 5 miles.

This is a man-made pond in what used to be a gravel pit. We also saw some lovely soccer fields that are built right on top of land fills. I think this is the ultimate in reclaiming the land, in correcting the mistakes of our ancestors, and in healing the planet. Once the area was a dumping site for a tannery. Now it’s a lush field in the middle of the woods near a pond.

Walking 5 miles wasn’t as bad as I expected. It took close to 2 hours and was 14,000 steps according to my pedometer. By the time we finished my hips and the outside of my knees were soar. We ate a delicious Thai lunch but I still didn’t feel “right” until about 3pm. Walking for 2 hours is a big exertion for this sedentary office girl.

This afternoon I finished the Retro Rib Footlets, the first pair of socks from the Favorite Socks Book. Now I’ve cast on the toe for the Wave Lace Socks. Love the way the Jitterbug yarn is semi-solid.

I have some sad news, this afternoon we had our first Brain Slug tragedy. I did all I could to revive MacOban but he it was too late.

And last but not least I cast on the Native Poncho in some Araucania I got during a Webs Expedition. Knitting on size 13s after knitting socks on size 2s is amazing! It should be illegal to knit this chunky and this fast!

Yes I know you're saying, none of this is French. I know I know. I just checked I have 14 active projects on the needles or in line for the felting machine. I can handle multiple projects at once. Really the Tour De France is an attempt to focus on some specific themed projects in addition to what ever is moving me at the moment. Which this moment happens to be the Native Vest! Anyway the new French yarn hasn't arrived yet. I could be working on the Lutea-Lace Tank but you know how it is, I'd rather be doing something new and exciting!

Off to see the local fireworks display tonight. Humans are funny, bright lights + big bangs = fun. I bet we’re the only species on the planet that thinks this way.

Happy Independence Day!