I’m all over the place today, so let’s go random.
— Yesterday, while working on the sofa (seriously – I was really working!) I went to put one of my feet up on the ledge and notice what I thought was a pill on the back of my sock. I wish.
You know how sometimes you think things and then you write them down or say them out loud and you wonder if you just tempted the fates and brought on EXACTLY what you didn’t want? Well, that’s how I felt yesterday when I noticed the hole. The first hole I’ve ever found in one of my handknits. The first hole in one of my precious socks. The first hole in one of my jaywalkers. The first hole in my beautiful Socks That Rock.
I was devastated. I may have cried a little bit. For a good five minutes I wondered why we ever knit at all – especially socks – if they’re only going to get holes in them. Seriously. I was ready to quit on the spot. But then I looked at the hole – which, by the way, is on the LEG of the sock in a place that has never rubbed against any shoe – and I realized that it is only one stitch. It must have gotten caught on something and snapped. I have no idea. And I do think it is completely fixable. I mean, it is only ONE STITCH. I have looked at some options – namely at Grumperina’s recent post and the Knitty article she linked to and I will fix it, but for now, I’m not in the mood to be reminded that things don’t last forever. Hits a little too close to home. So I picked up the socks I’ve been knitting – the G-Rocks and January One socks and I got back on the horse. Hopefully I’ll have a perfectly mismatched finished pairs of socks to show you Monday.
— Reason No. 4,391,628 why I love The INTERNETTTTT. (See? No S!) The vast majority of blogs I read are knitting blogs – but I don’t just love them for the knitting. Lately I’ve been running down memory lane because of a couple of blog posts. First, Jane mentioned When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit in a post. This was one of my absolute FAVORITE books as a girl. I thought I had my dog-eared copy – the one with the gray cover and ink line drawing on the cover, but I couldn’t find it. So I went out and bought it and read it and loved it all over again. I was a little bit afraid that it wouldn’t hold up to my memories, but it did. And honestly, because of a part in that book, I can’t be sick without thinking of it. And then, just yesterday, one of the Two Black Sheep sisters (fess up! Which one of you was it?) mentioned my OTHER MOST FAVORITE book: The Westing Game. I’ve read this book more times than I can count. And as soon as I’m done the book I’m reading now, you can bet I’ll read it again. What I love about these posts is that these are books that are mine – that I never really talk about or ever really talked about growing up – I don’t remember my siblings ever reading either of these books or friends or anyone for that matter. Yet here are two people, who are really strangers to me, sharing something about them that is just like me. Thank you for that. It’s really a nice feeling.
So I’m going to throw out another title – a book that came along way before that Harry guy – Half Magic, by Edward Eager. I loved this book and I hope it sparks in someone else the same feelings the other bloggers sparked in me. Happy reading!
— I’m not sure how many ways I can say this, but I found someone else using a photograph of mine without my permission. In theory, I didn’t object to the way the photo was being used, and there was a link back to my site and credit for the picture, but YOU HAVE TO ASK ME FIRST! I’m not sure how much clearer I can be. I OWN the picture, I OWN the words. THEY ARE MINE. ASK ME FIRST. I hope this is the last to be said on this matter. (And, again, it’s not you. Unless you and I exchanged emails about this – where I was very friendly, I thought, and told you you could use the picture, just ask next time – then it’s NOT YOU.)
— I’ve been really missing my spinning lately. I waited forever for my WooLee Winder (over six weeks!) and then I got it and it was a disaster. I’ve been seeing all this great yarn being spun all over the place and it makes me sad because I’ve still got my wheel in time out. It’s not the wheel’s fault and after reading Judy’s post today, I’m going to spin on Sunday. Distaff Day. It’s as good a day as any and if the WW doesn’t work out – I’m taking that sucker off and I’m spinning without it.
— There will also be some swatching this weekend. Look what came in the mail today:
Margene has been singing the praises of Beaverslide Yarn (grow up Annie!) for forever. The Friday night before my birthday, after serious consultation with Margene, I placed my first order. Huckleberry Heather is the color and I love it. Get yourself some color cards. Totally worth it.
This yarn is a departure for me, what with it’s 10% Kid Mohair. I’ve gone on the record many times about how much I HATE mohair, angora, alpaca – any of those hairy yarns. But Margene assured me that I wouldn’t even know it’s there and then she sent me a snippet that I stuffed in my bra and wore around for the day and I barely noticed it at all – and when I did it was to remark at it’s softeness. I can’t wait to knit it up. What’s it going to be? A Central Park Hoodie. Because all the cool kids are making them.
The coolest part of my package from Beaverslide – the stamps!
This is so totally going to be a superhero sweater! Have a great weekend!
L, C
Oh those stamps make my heart pitter-patter. So beautiful! Have a great weekend too!
I’m obsessed with Beaverslide yarn. Been tying to make everyone get color cards for months. This should take care of THAT.
I’m about finished with the body – sleeves tonight – of my Montana Midnight sweater…oh, right, maybe I should blog about that?
Knew I forgot something…..
Have fun….
Dude. The Westing Game. I haven’t thought about that book in YEARS, and now I really want to read it! I might have to make a pitstop at the library on the way home… So. Good.
The Westing Game is one of my all time faves. I just re-read it last year, and I can’t wait until my kids are big enough to read it.
Eeeeee… Beaverslide. Love the yarn.
Ooo, the huckleberry is so cool! Love the bits of purple. Poor Ann…she must have a little fit every time she reads BEAVERslide….ha, ha, ha, ha….she cracks me up.
Oooh, so sorry about the sock. But you know, for as long as people have been knitting socks, they’ve been darning them as well, so it’s clearly something that happens and can be fixed.
So, the Westing Game. One of my favorites as well. I’ve read it several times, but I always seem to forget how it all ends! The weird thing (to me at least) is, there’s this big mansion close to where I live, and when I read the book I always picture it in my mind as the Westing mansion. I don’t think I was even aware of that fact until I reread the book a second or third time.
That Beaverslide (heh) yarn is SERIOUSLY gorgeous!
I’ve been toying with the idea of buying a Woolee Winder for a while now, but have seen mixed reviews . . . I’m interested to see if you get it to work for you or not. I may just wait and, if I get to go to MSWF this year, try it out there before I buy one. Sigh.
I loved Half Magic and recommend it to my students regularly, and they read it and love it and tell friends about it. Pretty impressive for a book published in 1954.
oooh, i love the central park hoodie. it’s so cute! very cara 🙂
look at all those stamps! great way to package.
That beaverslide yarn just looks delicious – I’ll have to keep that in mind for when the stash diet is over (September keeps seeming further and further away, but it will be a nice b-day present then)
Hmmm, yarn in the bra? That could be an interesting photoshoot.
Central Park Hoodie is high on my list too, ever since seeing Rachael’s. I’m still trying to decide on the yarn. Has to be something from the stash, though… I’ll look forward to seeing yours.
Bummer about the sock. I think the Central Park Hoodie will look great on you.
That is such a great color for a sweater!
Your jaywalker tells us all why we save leftover sock yarn foreverandeverandeverhallelujah!
Had a chuckle thinking of you with a snippet of yarn in your bra. When I get a skein of new yarn, I wear it around my neck like a boa – it works, if I can wear it for a few hours and have no itchiness, I’ll knit with it. The bra idea would not work for me. One thing I did not realize when I had a double mastectomy was that I would have no feeling on my chest – that is both good and bad, but just a few scars from a war with the C word!
My worn out copy of The Westing Game has travelled with me on every move for years. I still pick it up and read it at least once a year.
No one I have ever mentioned it to has heard of it – I’m so excited to know others love it, too!
Half Magic, Magic or Not, Seven Day Magic, The Time Garden, The Well-Wishers, Knight’s Castle, I read them all. I loved them all and so did my daughter. I hope she reads them again as many times as I did and passes them on to her children someday. As an added bonus, I love it that Edward Eager got me onto E. Nesbit, another childhood favorite.
Give those Jays a lot of love and attention so they’ll be with you for a long time.
Cara, you take beautiful photos of yarn and knitted projects! I know you are a professional photographer, but still, are there some things you can suggest so I can take better photos of yarn and projects? The photos come out either blurry or miles away from the real yarn color (or both!). Thanks!
Color me BLUE with envy!
HUGE Edward Eager fan, and love passing on my favorite books to my kids. Half-Magic, Knight’s Castle,Magic By the Lake.. loved them all. Also loved E. Nesbit : Five CHildren and It… very fun.
But one I want to go back and find and read is called (I think) A Room Made of Windows by Eleanor Cameron. It lives in my head as one of my very favs, although I cannot really recall much about it. Need to see if I can find a copy!
I think I read The Westing Game four or five times a year, and have done so every year for as long as I can remember. It is my all-time favorite book, my sole answer whenever someone asks about favorite books, and the book recommendation I give to all parents of kids, and kids, if I interact with them. Thanks for reminding me; I haven’t read it yet in 2007!
Westing Game!!!! I LOVE that book. Half-Magic was one I missed as a kid, but my (so-close-to)13-yr-old read it and _all_ the rest very recently.
Ah, now I’m remembering books…. The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenwhiler. Goodnight, Mr. Tom. Konrad. 🙂
Half Magic was one of my favorites! I know I read The Westing Game, too, but I don’t now remember what it was about…didn’t read it quite as many times, I suppose.
An old copy of When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit has been spotted in my daughter’s room (likely my own book)…I must re-read it.
I found the Beaverslide site last week and I’ve been drooling over the yarn since then. I really didn’t need to hear how nice it is, or rather, my bank account didn’t need to hear how nice the yarn is.
Maybe I’ll let myself buy some as a reward for finishing my current sweater – I need a carrot to keep me going at this point.
I’ve been drooling over Margene’s Beaverslide yarn myself. That color you got is perfect for me!!!!! Hmmmmmm
Oh, shoot, Cara. I am on a YARN DIET. And you tempt me with that Beaverslide. Not good. I’ve already started the Central Park hoodie — it’s fun and easy — you’ll enjoy.
i have heard good things about beaverslide as well, and may or may not have checked out their pages on more than one occasion 😉 it looks gorgeous, dear!
Thank you for reminding me of The Westing Game! I was picking my brain trying to remember the title of it when a few of us were discussing favorite books of our younger days.
I’m cool too! Seriously!
And I only have one front (less the ribbing), a hood and a lot of seaming between me and wearing my Central Park Hoodie…
Aw I’m LURVING that BEAVERSLIDE yarn. THANK YOU FOR THE HEADS UP. SORRY TO BE YELLING BUT THAT YARN IS VERY EXCITING TO ME.
Loved The Westing Game. Loved it. Just bought it again recently (one reason I love browsing the books at the local thrift store – lots of trips down memory lane). Another great recent purchase – The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. So great to read again and remember. Another one of my faves (highly recommended) – The Hero and the Crown. First loved it as a kid (teen), but it still speaks to me as an adult.
Holes in socks suck. I just noticed some serious damage to one of my pairs of Sockapalooza socks. Bad holes, which have now unravelled into runs – disaster. I had to put them down and walk away too. I’ll pick them up again later, but not now.
I’ll be spinning on Sunday, too!
Half Magic YES and all those Edward Eager books. If the library weren’t closed I’d run right over. And what about Time at the Top?
Oooooh! Half Magic! I loved that book! My daughter is seven, just the right age. Now I have to track down a copy for her. I’m so glad I stopped by and read your post today. And I can’t wait to see your Central Park Hoodie.
Watch out girl.. Central Park Hoodie is beyond addictive 🙂
My copy of “Half Magic” is falling into pieces, I read it so many times when I was a kid! And yes, those stamps are so much fun! I buy all of mine online these days, so I can browse the different options–and yes, I’ve gone through at least one package of those Superheroes….
HALF MAGIC! I adored that book! In my elementary school, I was the only one who took it out from 1976 through the early 1990’s when it was to be discarded since no one ever took it out (and no I didn’t hog it, I took it out I think once per year for three years). Luckily the librarian (my Mom) saw who had taken it out and saved it for me (she even saved the card with my signature on it). Yay! Thanks for mentioning it – I think I’ll have to call my mom and have her send it out for a little reread.
I *loved* the Westing Game!
Also, as far as books about magic and stuff, I loved The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper.
Distaff Day, that’s awesome! Thanks for the info. The timing could hardly be better: after taking up spindle spinning not so long ago, I made myself a wrist distaff no later than yesterday… I’ll be here putting it to work and spinning with you all on Sunday!
I don’t know exactly why but your post made me think of a book I love: Circles in a Forest by Dalene Matthee. I think it made me think of this incident: I once brought this book back with me from a friend, it was late Friday night and I told myself I will just leaf through it for a few minutes, it is not risky as I read it so many times, and found myself many hours later still awake, finishing the book yet again.
Have a great weekend
THE WESTING GAME–an incredible book! Miss Clement, my 5th grade teacher, read the book to the class just after it first came into the school library. She snatched it up first since it was the new Newberry Award winner. (I’m guessing she also knew it was a mystery and needed to get it first before anyone had read it).
My oldest son Avery has been trying to get me to read the Westing Game for two years now. It’s absolutely one of his favorite books, ever.
I’ve been neglected my new wheel so now that I know about Distaff Day I think I will make a point to work with it on Sunday!
Longtime reader, infrequent commenter…The Westing Game is in my top 3 books of all time. I have read it until I destroyed 2 copies and I’m on my third, which at 35 (so at LEAST 25 years of reading this book!) is pretty good. 🙂 It started my love of mysteries that continues to this day.
Super site, great GORGEOUS knitting and great vibes, keep up the good work and Happy Belated birthday.
🙂
I miss my spinning too, my spinning wheel is at university and I am home on break. I suppose that is one good thing about starting up school again, I get to spin! My condolences on you sock…I hope you’ve got it feeling better soon 🙂
The westing game rocks! I had to make sure I went to get a copy of it for myself about 10 years ago. Now I reread it ever couple of years. I do tend to allow myself to forget the mystery so that I can rediscover it anew each time. I was looking at it the other day and thinking I should read it again soon. Now that this gets mentioned I think I’ll take it as a sign and get it up on the list sooner rather than later.
I love Half Magic – just finished reading it with my son – such a great story! Also, love the beaverslide, made one sweater with it but have enough to make 5 more! And lastly, love, love, love the Central Park Hoodie. I’ve made 3 of them that’s how much I love them. Hope you do too!
I saved all the Edward Eager books from my childhood and read them with my own kids, who loved them as much as I did. I find them once in a while, being happily reread…
At a slightly earlier stage I loved the All-of-a-Kind Family books. And Kate Seredy’s “The Good Master.” Anybody else read these?
HALF MAGIC… oh sigh!
all of Edgar’s books are wonderous… thanks for reminding me now off to ebay to score.
I just came across your blog. I am a fellow knitter and blogger and my 2 year old Son was born on Jan. 1st.
Sorry to hear about the socks. I am sure that you can fix them. Whew, thang goodness that it was only 1 stitch.
LOVE the new yarn. The color is so rich and pretty.
question: does one need a panty-liner when knitting with Beaverslide?
oh Ann.
Sorry about your socks. They are beautiful though!
Half Magic was my all time favorite book. I remember feeling that maybe it could really happen, atleast I wanted it to. I read all the others in the series too and then introduced them to my kids and was disappointed that they weren’t as crazyabout them as I had been. Thinking about them not only reminds me of the books but of a magical time in my childhood and a magical feeling that all things are possible.
Add me to those who have the Central Park Hoodie on their To Knit List.
Oh, I loved Half Magic as a kid! So much so that in an attempt to get my boyfriend’s younger daughter to read (she is not a reader), I gave her a copy because I knew she would love it. And she did! Thanks for showing me that I’m not the only one who read this one. 🙂
There’s a really great new teen book out called “The Lightning Thief.” If you like Greek mythology, it’s awesome. “Westing Game is still one of my favorites, as is “The Dark Is Rising.” On a knitting note: So sorry about the hole, I hope it’s fixable.
I had seen some of those mentions of the CPH that you have, but it wasn’t really registering. Now I see the light. I might just have to become a copycat! Where are my Beaverslide colorcards?
Ooh, “Half Magic” was one of my very favorite books to read when I was young. Talk about wonderful memories of the family of four children who find the magic coin! I don’t know the other two books you mentioned, but I can’t wait to find them and read them. Thanks!
I still remember the day when I read The Westing Game for the very first time. I was all of ten. It was a lazy, gray Summer day, and I read it while curled up in the wing-backed chair (the most comfortable chair ever)in my parents’ living room. I was so proud of myself for figuring out the mystery before the end.
I never read Half Magic as a kid, but I did read Octagon Magic (different author), which told the story of a magical dollhouse in an octagon shaped house. There was an Octgon house in the town where my grandparents live, and I always wondered growing up if it was magical too. 🙂
Hey, Cara (and anyone else interested), if you’re doing the Central Park Hoodie, there is a KAL currently underway. I linked the URL to my name on this comment. It’s wide open for members.
Where on earth did they get the name “Beaverslide”?
I’m sad about your beautiful sock. Hope it can be fixed.
i LOVED “when hitler stole pink rabbit”… now i have to go see if my library has a copy! thanks for reminding me of such a great book…
my other absolute favourite was “harriet the spy”, which i still have – it’s a paperback copy that has been read so many times there’s duct tape holding the spine together (i was a lot less careful with books when i was little!).
Beautiful yarn. Glad to hear about the softness. Mohair/Angora tend to irritate me. I walk around feeling like I have to sneeze! How does it compare to Cascade 220?
So cool how many people love the Westing Game as kids. It’s like discovering a secret society. I was so in love with that book that I named my cat Turtle.
My cool kid status: slacker.
And dude, I have taught The Westing Game and put Half Magic into the hands of many a ten year-old. You want to talk great kidlit, come on a’ my house. Harry’s okay (he gets them reading) but JK needs a better editor (whoa with the adverbs!) and I don’t see “timeless classic” in them. Though I do plan to knit the Biscuit a Weasley.
I weep for your sock! I had my first hole a couple of months ago in a freakishly similar sock of mine, also a Jaywalker, similar colorway- except it was Koigu. None of my beloved STR socks have succumbed yet. I made a fairly messy fix to the hole, and it’s held since- but I still cried!
that Beaverslide is some seriously spectacular yarn!
Me too! I had the same hole in the same spot in my newest pair of socks! Mine were Trekking and the hole showed up right in the middle of a cable, so it seamed right up. Something strange is going on around here.
Hey, Cara.
I got a woolee winder for xmas and was surprised that at first I did not love it. But I do now. I think it requires a different spin style, which I wasn’t prepared for, but after a few hours (or days?) it’s totally grown on me.
I find most helpful is to keep the tension (the rubber band thing) tighter than for the regular bobbin. Then the yarn sucks up faster, eliminating the sort of chugging and rattling thing I was getting from the giant head screw. (does this make any sense?) Once I kept my tension tighter than usual, it purrs like a kitten.
And don’t freak when you try to ply–the ww bobbins don’t work well with the lendrum Kate. (disappointed!) But the Keyboard Biologist has excellent solutions for homemade shoebox kates.
Hope it works out for you!
Mags.
I didn’t read Half Magic until I was an adult. I read it out loud to my kids. It’s a wonderful book. Some of my favorite books fall into the children’s literature catagory. Among them, the classic Phantom Tollbooth and the more recently published Golden Compass.
That yarn looks heavenly. I recently broke down and placed my first Peace Fleece order. It’s those colors that get me. I think the Beaverslide is the same way. If I had a set of color cards I would spend all day dreaming over them.
I LOVED HALF MAGIC!!!!! I READ THAT BOOK OVER AND OVER AND OVER…..
It IS a sad day when you get your first sock hole. I know it made me question why I bother making socks too. But when I put one on and it feels so good and looks so cool, I remember all over again, why I make them :-). I hope you were able to fix your sock.
GREAT Beaverslide yarn! I have been wanting to try some since Margene’s post too. I look forward to seeing how you like knitting with it. 🙂
Made my first sweater out of Beaverslide for the Red Sweater KAL and just fell in love with Beaverslide. I ordered the color cards for I could order more.
Ooh, I made my husband a big Aran out of huckleberry heather. The stuff is amazingly soft, mohair be damned. You’re going to love it!
oh my gosh, i loved “the westing game”. i think i read it 5 or 6 times–i only stopped because i lost it when we moved. wow. i haven’t thought about that book in years!
and i looooove my beaverslide yarn. i bought it to make my hubby a sweater but i’m just gonna hoard it for a while…
Loved your thoughts about books, those were some of my favorites too!
Did you ever read “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler”? It’s another great one.
You know how many bizarre little details I still remember from The Westing Game? How Angela listed her profession as “none” and her fiance thought “nun,” how the dressmaker kept pins in her mouth, how Turtle sold candles that told time when the power went out, I could go on forever. What is it about that book that makes tiny details stick in your head years after you’ve read it?
Half Magic, absolutely all time favorites. My youngest daughter also read all the Edward Eager books and loved them, and she is very difficult to find a book which appeals to her. For a long time nothing was worth reading after those books. I will have to look for When Hitler stole Pink Rabbit if it is recommended by so many. The title would not have appealed to us without recommendatons.
I loved Half Magic, but never heard of The Westing Game or When Hitler stole Pink Rabbit. I’m going to look for both of them, although I think that When Hitler stole Pink Rabbit will be very difficult for me to read. My mother was a refugee–her family ended up in the US because my grandfather, a doctor, wasn’t allowed to practice medicine in France.
He had trouble keeping up a practice in New York and they moved west where he was promised a good practice, but no patients came, probably because he was Jewish and he committed suicide.