Knitting in the hockey bar

So, now that I'm knitting furiously again, I'm taking my knitting with me to the Icehouse Tavern at the Arcadia rink. It's pretty funny to sit in a dark tavern, drinking a Molson, watching hockey, and knitting. But it's a great way to get a lot accomplished.

I'm currently obsessing with my felted daypack. It requires knitting in the round forever. Or nearly forever. It feels like forever and I'm about a third of the way through the body. Then straps, flap, pockets... It's one of those projects I want finished tomorrow, and hopefully will finish rather quickly. At least knitting in the round goes very quickly. I love my KnitPicks Harmony circs. They are awesome. So smooth & fast. And the cable is so nice.

Kyle is currently playing pond hockey and taking powerskating lessons in anticipation of Bantam hockey next season. Our tryouts are coming up pretty quickly here - May 10. He's still not grown the foot we need him to grow. Any suggestions? The rack?

It's hot here, already. 90+ today and climbing. I think the a/c will have to go on tomorrow. Yuck. Knitting wool and 90+ degrees. Fun stuff.

Fear of circular knitting...

I admit it. I am utterly terrified of trying to learn to knit in the round. It's some kind of mental block, but I see people holding 3, 4 or 5 needles at one time and it freaks me out. I think I like circs better, as you're only holding 2 needles and you simply keep knitting round and round. I promised that I'd try to get brave enough to start a sock by next weekend. Ha.

So today I began attempting the crochet-chain provisional cast-on for my felted daypack (pattern is on Ravelry - KimBnAZ, or on my Facebook page.) I found that I couldn't make my crochet stitches even enough to start. My MIL is coming over shortly, so I'm thinking maybe I can get her to make my chain to start. Not the best way to learn, but HEY, at least it will get me going.

Other than knitting???? Kyle started pond-hockey yesterday. Sounds like it was fun, except it was all mites there (7 & 8 year olds.) At least he had Steven & David, his teammates from last season there as well. He also had a lesson, and Gayle said he is vastly improved from day one.

Nana is packing up the house and had 4 showings today. That's incredibly exciting since last time I think she had 4 showings in 6 months. Ron spent the day there yesterday doing yardwork and getting it ready for show. Never know, she might be packing up for good, sooner than we think.

Snoopy and Joe are SnooJoe. Wild and crazy as ever. Joe is currently jumping on and off the chairs in the living room while Kyle is outside shooting pucks. Snoopy is lying on my feet as I type.

Hope you're having a great weekend. I'm getting off this time sucker and knitting!

Coffee Cup Cozy & SnB

Went to the Mesa SnB yesterday. Had reinforcements in Kim M. We got there a bit after 10, which is the start time for this weekly SnB (meets at Wildflower Bakery on Baseline in Gilbert, if you're interested - click here) Turns out other than Kim & me, there was only one regular group knitter. She was great though, and we had fun knitting and chatting.

I started on a coffee cup sleeve (see photo) and nearly finished it. Very simple and fun project. This is the unfinished product. Still needs to be seamed and cute little embellishments added. Pattern is on Canadian Living

Watching hockey is a great time to knit. Boston College won decisively over Notre Dame last night to take their 3rd NCAA championship. NHL playoffs are going on as well, watched Dallas spank Anaheim. Still weeks left of NHL hockey to get lots of knitting done.

No hockey & lots of knitting

Felt it was time to check in without hockey news. Kyle is taking a break. Tryouts in May. He is taking some private skating lessons with Gayle Shalloo. We think it will probably help him.

The puppies are swimming daily again. The pine trees are dropping all their pods in the pool. The mockingbirds are kicking eggs out of the nest again. It's supposed to be in the mid 90s here this weekend. Yuck. Time to close up the windows and turn on the a/c until October.

I'm in the midst of 3 knitting projects that can be seen on Facebook or Ravelry. Slippers for around the house, a scarf/hat/mitten project that needs to be finished for a xmas gift, and soon to start a lovely felted backpack. (Thanks to Tempe Yarn & Fiber for patiently watching me try to pick yarns and then winding the skeins for me!) I just ordered a circular needle set for the backpack, as I couldn't see adding another individual circ needle when the beautiful KnitPicks Harmony set exists.

I'm sure my ramblings about my felted backpack project will be fun to follow. Never have done a crochet cast-on. Double YO? What's that? Should be a hair puller.

Keep checking in.