AWOL

Sorry, I had to go AWOL for a few days of Blogtoberfest.  The low pressure system that moved in last weekend and caused terrible rain storms, floods and even tornadoes up North, played havoc with my joints and fibro flare.  The funny thing is that I feel the rain more in the mountains and 100 miles away in Phoenix.  By WIP Wednesday I wandering around looking for the toolbox that holds the rubber mallet to put myself out of my own misery.  I keep to myself during those times as I'm a bit of a gloomy Eeyore and I find it best to just keep to myself.

From Knitting Kitties

Anyway, I knew eventually it would let up and it did.  It's now a beautiful time to be in Tucson.  The sun is out and it's cooled down to the upper 80's with such low humidity it's sure to dry out swollen achy joints.  This week, I put down the Bohemoth Afghan and worked on the granny squares for my granddaughter's afghan.  Wednesday's progress, except after I charged the battery and took the photo, posting was too much an effort.

From Knitting Kitties

I'm planning on setting them as a four patch within a four patch within a four patch.  Gosh, I hope that makes sense.  I'm working on the two larger squares right now.  I think another trip to Wal-mart for one more skein of each color might be needed.  That's the beauty of Simply Soft yarn, there's no dye lot and I can just pop down when I'm able to get more and no worries of matching.

From Knitting Kitties

There is a wonderful thread going in Ravelry right now about the wonderful things that can be made with acrylic.  I was disheartened to see someone post how much nicer those things would if knit with natural fibers.  I've knit the Mediterranean Shawl out of gossamer weight cashmere/silk and spun some really nice fibers.  I believe there is a right yarn for the job and there is nothing wrong with acrylic especially for something that is going to be well used.

From Knitting Kitties

Crocheting granny squares and afghans out of acrylic reminds me of afternoons with my Grandma crocheting together.  That is the best kind of comfort craft there is, like grilled cheese and tomato soup on a chilly rainy day.

From Knitting Kitties

Miss Tennessee aka Poopy Tail aka Bedroom cat thinks it's perfectly cozy to cuddle up with.

While I started this post, I received a phone call from a fellow Ravelry member who just moved here. She picked me and we went to Kiwi Knitting to poke around a bit, then had coffee across the street.  Isn't Ravelry just wonderful, to be able to meet wonderful new people with similar hobby. I hadn't yet been to that store and I was really impressed with the nice selection of yarns. I've noticed from the three stores I've been to each one has a slightly different selection from the others.

I'm looking for some fingering superwash merino in bright red, black and royal blue to make hats for my guys back home. I have planned to make that certain reindeer hat that was so popular on Ravelry last year. (Ravelry link) I want something machine washable, hard wearing and I'm trying to convert them to not all wool is scratchy horrible stuff. I found a nice tomato red, but then I saw something I fell in love with for me. haha

From Knitting Kitties

I can knit pretty quick so there is still plenty of time as long as I look at it as two months and keep my eyes off those awful Christmas countdown tickers. I plan to visit Grandmother's Spinning Wheel later this month and see what she has. I haven't been there since the 110F degree day in June.

So far this has been a great day. I'm feeling much better, met a new friend who is really nice and got some pretty yarn. Now, I'm going to straighten up, the place is such a cluttered mess that if we had a dog it would be disgusted. I'm still looking for that Workbasket magazine that I knew right where it was in NY, it's eluding me down here.

I'll leave you with a link I found on the blog, I have seen the whole of the internet. 109 Cats in Sweaters is the perfect site for knitter, crazy cat lady like me. Oh kitties, Mommy has plans for you. I'm gonna need band aids.