the Akamai Knitter

Onyx came into my life way back in 1988, which was the year that I really got into Tracy Chapman and her song “Fast Car”. We got her along with Phoenix at the Hawaiian Humane Society and they were my very first cats.

The Human Society had three rooms. There was a room for the adult cats, a room for the adolescent cats, and a room for the kittens. We first went into the adolescent room and that was where Phoenix plopped himself on my lap. He seemed to say, “Okay. I’m ready to go.” So I took that to heart and took him home.

Before I went home though, I decided I really wanted a black cat. Now please understand that I had never really owned pets before and I was completely inexperienced in the choosing of them. So all I did was walk into the kitten room and scoop up a black kitten and walk right back out. I didn’t even check to see if the kitten was male or female. All I can say to that is I was only 16 years old and not a very smart one at that!

That’s the story of how Onyx came into my life.

It’s a miracle that she became the perfect companion for me, but she did. She never complained if I stayed out all night. She never criticized my taste in music or in men. (Well, maybe in the men.) She was always there for me to cuddle or to cry on when life got a little hard. All she ever asked was to be near me.

Yesterday, Onyx passed away in my arms at the vet’s office. It was very peaceful and very quick. I’m comforted in the fact that she did not suffer any indignities or pain, but the fact remains that there is a hole in my heart and in my life that may never truly be filled again with her gone.

I go through phases where it doesn’t seem like she’s gone quite yet. That maybe she’s just in another room. Then there are moments when it hits me like a brick wall and the grief is overwhelming. She’s been a part of my life for so long, (nearly half my life) that I can’t hardly imagine life without her.

It helps to think of her finally reunited with Phoenix and to think that the two of them are waiting for me there at Rainbow Bridge. Until then though, I will sorely miss her and I know that nothing and no one will ever replace her in my heart.

Rest in peace, baby.

… but I’ve been busy. The past week has been filled with football. Lots and lots of football. (UH won the WAC Championshop! YAY!) With football, comes knitting. Lots and lots of knitting.

I managed to finish the Ariann and I am ever so pleased with it. I still have to put buttons on it and block the collar, so I’m holding off on photos until I can get that done. Instead I have three other projects that I’ve got to show you.

First up is a sock that I began right after I finished the Idle Love socks. I got the pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks and I’m using Shibui sock yarn with size 1US/2.25mm needles.

Gosh, I love this yarn! It’s so soft and smooshy. There’s some very subtle pooling, but I can live with it because the colors are just so gorgeous. I might even dare to say that I like it.

The color is called Seaweed, so I’m calling this sock Seaweed Lace Rib. The pattern even reminds me a little of seaweed.

Next up is a present for Dani who is moving to Washington State. Dani has worked with one of my doctors for years and has always treated me with kindness that goes beyond the call of duty. I’m going to miss her tremendously so I really want to make her something special.

I have until December 15th to finish so I needed something that would knit up quickly. I decided to make her a pair of Anemoi Mittens since she’s not used to northern winters. I really hope she likes the design. I love it, but I don’t know her well enough to say she will.

Finally, I couldn’t resist casting on for another sweater for myself. I chose the pattern Something Red. I’m using Tatamy Tweed with size 4US/3.5mm needles. I adore this yarn. It’s so soft and easy to knit with that I often forget that I’m working with cotton.

I’m only loosely following the pattern as I had to recalculate the numbers to accommodate my gauge. I really couldn’t have done it without the help of Shelly and this website. With the success of Ariann and Shelly at my side, I’m feeling much more confident in my sweater making abilities.

That’s it for now! I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving!

I have been diligently working through the Ariann. I completed two sleeves since we last talked and I was near the end of the raglan shaping, but something was nagging at me. So I tried it on. And guess what?

Yeah, you guessed it. The sweater was too big on the top. Way too big. Phooey is just too mild an expletive.

I didn’t take into account that even though I may be wide, I am not as long as the designer assumes for the size I was knitting. At the point where I stopped knitting the sleeves came down to my knuckles. This was supposed to be a 3/4 length sleeves. Not good.

So I ripped back and I shall reknit the sleeves to a more appropriate size. I shall also adjust the raglan decreases so that it will fit my shorter body. I remain hopeful as I continue on my pursuit of a perfect fitting sweater. (There are no pictures as I just couldn’t take the heartache of documenting the carnage.)

Shelly suggested I take a break from the Ariann, so I did and I managed to finish a pair of socks.

Idle Love

Pattern: Pomatomus by Cookie A.

Yarn: Socks That Rock in the colorway For Love In Idleness

Needles: size 1US/2.25mm and size 0US/2.00mm

Started: October 25, 2007

Finished: November 15, 2007

If you remember, I had some concerns about whether or not I’d have enough yarn to finish the pair. As it turns out, those concerns were completely justified. Do you see any difference in the toes?

I had to stop short on the second sock because I did indeed run out of yarn. In fact, this is exactly how much yarn I had left.

Can you say “too close for comfort”? My heart went through a series of palpitations that were rather uncomfortable as I was kitchenering the toe together. Luckily, these are for my mother and she says they’re perfect. If they were for me, I’d probably have to fix the other toe to match. I’m just that picky. :-P

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of reknitting to do. I only have 2 more weeks of November and I really want to have Ariann done before December for NaKniSweMo (Ravelry link).

I think I can do it. I have a ton of football coming up, which means lots of knitting time, and some new Harmony needles to make the experience all the more enjoyable.

Have a great weekend and wish me luck!

ETA: I forgot to say thank you for all your opinions on whether or not to give the shawl to my great-aunt. I’m going to be sending it to her for her Christmas present. I think it’ll be in very good hands. I’ll knit another one for myself as soon as I can figure out what color I’d like it in. That could take awhile though. ;-)

Last night I got together with my Great-Aunt Eleanor and my cousin Nathan for dinner. They’re in from Tacoma and I rarely get to see them so it’s always a special treat when I do.

The conversation got around to my knitting and my Great-Aunt, who is 82 years old, started going on and on about the shawl I wore the last time I saw her and how much she loves it. The shawl in question is the Peacock Feathers which I made back in April 2006.

This was the first big lace project I ever completed and every time I look at it I experience a great surge of pride. Even though I rarely wear it, sometimes I’ll take it out and just pet it for a bit whenever I feel like my knitting skills are below par.

I tried rather unsuccessfully to see if Great-Aunt Eleanor would be like the shawl in another color, thinking that I could just knit another one for her. But she was rather insistent about that color green in that pattern. I even wore my latest pride and joy, the Bee Fields Shawl, but she barely gave it a second glance.

I don’t think she’ll be happy with another pattern and I’m not sure she’ll be happy with another color even though I’d be more then happy to knit her the same shawl in one. So the dilemma is whether or not I can let go of this particular shawl.

Part of me thinks it would be a good idea, because it will definitely see more use and my Great-Aunt Eleanor is a very special lady. Part of me is loathe to let go of such a sentimental item, even though I was already thinking of knitting another one in a different color that I would wear more often.

I’m thinking that giving the shawl away would be best. Still, I’d love to hear other people weigh in. But like I said, my Great-Aunt is a very special lady and I would love to make her happy. After all, I can always make another for myself and I only have one Great-Aunt Eleanor. :)

The other day a package came in the mail for me from Shelly. It was filled with unbelievable goodies. While most of it was expected, it made the pleasure none the less.

First up, we have a circular needle case holder in some fabric that I fell in love with. I bought the fabric myself, then I sent it off to Shelly so she could sew it up. I think it came out just perfect!

With the remainder of the fabric, Shelly then made three of the most adorable bags in varying sizes. They are just too cute!

The larger size is perfect for holding a sock project. The others are great for holding jewelry or stitch markers. In fact, Shelly put in a couple of stitch markers in one of the bags for me! Silly me, forgot to take pictures of those.

Next up is some yarn that I bought through her from Victoria’s House of Needleart. It’s Tatamy Tweed in Walnut and I plan on making Something Red.

This yarn is so soft and it’s very cushy. I’m having a hard time resisting the urge to cast on. Maybe I’ll just do a little swatching. No harm comes from a little swatching, right?

The goodies don’t end there though. For my birthday present, Shelly got me a couple of skeins of Lang Jawoll sock yarn in the most beautiful grey. Perfect for my mother’s Rococo socks!

The funny thing is that she said she couldn’t fit everything she wanted to mail in the box either. I can’t imagine what else she could possibly send me. Thank you, Shelly, but I think if you spoil me any further I’ll become a horrid brat!

Have a great weekend everyone!