Cardi progress

Decided to work from home this chilly Wednesday after another hellish commute last night. A mid-afternoon ice-storm glazed the roads and caused accidents on just about every thoroughfare out of Washington DC. I left at the usual time (see that's the danger of having an office with no windows - no idea what's going on outside) had to de-ice the car, crawl along in blurry traffic with ominous flashing lights in front and behind...I was 25 minutes late picking up DS from daycare. That is, twenty-five minutes after they closed, not just 25 minutes later than usual. He wasn't the last kid there, at least, and didn't seem all that perturbed. He then came to vote with me - usually he is not the best companion to run errands with but I guess his spirit of patriotism kicked in. I would insert a cute picture of him with an "I voted" sticker on his coat but 3-year-olds have a mind of their own. Good practice for when he's a teenager I suppose. So here's my sticker.

Indulge me won't you - this is the first time I've voted in a Presidential Primary, it being the first time I've been a US citizen for the voting cycle. I am also an Irish citizen, of course - keeping my options open ye know ;)

Making some progress on the Dollar-and-a-half cardi. Two conference calls today gave me the chance to do 20 guilt-free rows. Nothing cosier than working at home with this:
and this:

A Vicennial Event

Yes it's a word - refers to something that recurs every twenty years. Like me casting on for a sweater! Actually, a cardigan, The Dollar-and-a-half cardigan from Interweave Knits, Spring 2007, to be precise. I saw one of the Columbia Sip and Knitters wear hers (I really must introduce myself) and it looked so good I decided I'd go for it. Have vacillated back and forth between this and many, many other patterns since, but I like this. Plus - I already bought the yarn for it. Dale of Norway Svale: a cotton/viscose/silk blend in brightest purple. Fourteen balls of this have been looking accusingly at me since November, and so yesterday I cast on for something larger than a scarf for the first time in years (crocheted items do not count: crocheting is much faster).
You'd think I'd have a picture to show you. You'll just have to trust me that I did make a gauge swatch that came out quite close, and I've done the back rib plus six rows. And yes, I am very proud of myself.

Crazy dogs

I get to work from home a day or two a week which does wonders for the sanity, considering my commute. Usually this means I have conference calls, where I've learned to be quick with the mute button:The one on the left is Paddy, our rescue pup, who just wants to be petted (and fed) all the time. The other is Jamie, who wants to play, and thinks Paddy is a wuss. She torments him, but I think he likes it really...

My new socks

Last night I finished a pair of socks I cast on for myself while in Ireland. Sassy stripes yarn (acrylic) in various hues of (what else) pink: I used a pattern in the recent edition of a knitting magazine I picked up in Ireland. The pattern includes a wrapped heel and a star toe, a bit different techinque - but I don't really like the uneveness of the toe decreases - see the way it looks like the right sock is a bit wonky...But they are keeping my feet toasty and that's the main thing!

While in Ireland I also finished off the scarf, which was promptly gifted:

The colours are great, but I was disappointed in the yarn. It's 100% silk, with the texture (but not the price) of that cotton you use for crochet dishcloths. And I have two more balls of it, yay...

The quest for knitting supplies in Ireland, part 2

So, I thought I was going to come back from Ireland yarnless. But my Mum knew better - she brought me to The Crafter's Basket in Cliffoney. Co. Sligo. This shop is, far as I can see, Northwest Ireland's answer to Jo-ann's: supplies for cardmaking, beading, knitting/crochet etc. Unfortunately the staff are about as friendly as those in Jo-ann's, rather than the usual LYS friendliness. People always say the Irish are so friendly - have to say, having lived in both places, for me the American's have the edge. So here's the outside of the store - it's an old building that's been renovated, which I love -
-look at the view they have - this is an old ruined castle by the Atlantic.

Another aspect of traveling in Ireland - getting stuck behind the likes of this as you traverse the country -

I took a picture of this tractor carrying 3 bales of silage as I crawled along in second gear behind it for twenty miles, flippin' two lane 'highways' (now I am sounding like an American ;))

At the end of my tractor-affected journey I visited my friend from college in Cavan - and found another store selling yarn! It's the local Singer store, which also sells all kinds of sewing stuff. Again, they had questionable customer service - some of the yarn wasn't priced, and while yer one in charge pondered this dilemma, she served two other customers and left me standing there. I think having three customers in the place was something of a rush - it was a sleepy place - some of the notions in there were still priced in Irish pounds.

Here's what I ended up with - the 10 50g balls on the right are Kilcarra wool, from Co. Donegal (about 3 euro each)- so now I have 500g and need to find a good pattern - maybe an aran vest? Any suggestions? The other balls are Rowan, I think. So I did quite well, and was rather restrained. There is such a gap in the market over there for crafty stuff. I keep encouraging my mostly retired Mum to set up a coffee shop/LYS but she won't bite...