purl jam

power high

It's been a mighty long time since I KALed.  But sometimes a KAL is just what you need to keep from feeling as if you're pissing into the fiber wind.  Hmm, howsabout some Seize Diamondbacks socks from Yarnball Boogie  John?

The pattern is written for two circs, but given the general state of Fuckistan that is my knitting for the past week, I opted for what I know.  The Tess sock yarn is working up fab in this pattern.  Just another excuse to invade the Tess booth in a couple of weeks?  Rock Chick is shocked - SHOCKED! - that you would suggest such a thing.

what went wrong

When one travels in an impromptu manner, not a lot of thought is given to the fiber projects that accompany.  You grab and go, essentially.  This is also known as The Land of Failed Crap.  Behold:

Marine blue silk.  Gorgeous stuff.  Does not want to be a lace shawl.

Cobweb weight merino.  Apparently really still wants to be on the sheep because you can't pull more than a foot out of the center without a huge snarl.  Colorful language at no extra charge.

Fair Isle wool bag in autumn colors with wonky gauge.  Yeah, that's the ticket in early spring.

Kew Garden socks from Knitty.  Moderate success here, although I've fudged the lace pattern so many times to get back on track, I should ring up Keebler and see if I can get an elf endorsement.  (Fudging totally my fuck up, not the designer's.)

A stockinette sock in a ziploc should be kept in the suitcase at all times.  The origami-esque disintegrating Kleenex needs something to keep it company waiting for the next trip.

mind too clear

Clementine, she is finished.

The tree, on second thought, not such a hot idea for a backdrop.  Only one other person on earth knows what the alternative was and for negating that momentary lapse in judgment, blogdom should be grateful.

everybody had a wet dream

MSWF 2007 link love has arrived.  Get connected here.

i'm ahead

Out comes Big Blue and down goes Clementine for the block.

Steam blocked - not RC's favorite method (a few catastrophic disasters in the past, let's not talk about them, m'kay?), but it survived.  Can't wait to take it out for a test drive.

What's a blocking session without the requisite interloper?

What to do while awaiting the yarn delivery for the next project...

Wendy's Dream Swatch Headwrap (pdf).  Rock Chick found a single skein of Spirit Trail Fiberworks 100% silk in her stash from last year's MSWF.  Gorgeous stuff - so slippery it had to be wound into a ball; it collapsed in cake form.

Speaking of MSWF, it looks like they've started linking on the vendors list.  A bit half-assed at this point, but appreciated as Rock Chick's annual invasion plan involves doing this on her own every year.  Hey, MSWF folks, RC volunteers her services for free if it will get this in gear.  Call her.  ETA: The list indicates the links had to be purchased.  Okay, I'll make my own linked page,and post it later.  Dear God, toss us a frickin' fried Twinkie, will ya?

ruled his world

Today's edition of "Where's Wilfred" finds him usurping Rock Chick's Burger King crown.

Yes, she wore it all day and no, not one colleague thought it strange.

take your pick

There are those types of knitters who cannot live with flaws - they'll rip back beyond a lifeline, if necessary.  The flaw may be imperceptible to others, but that knitter cannot abide it.  Rock Chick is not that knitter.

If you think she is ripping back on Clementine because of five missed garter stitches, you must have started reading this blog yesterday.

Clementine is half finished and she is fab.

A bit of pooling, but again, no Xanax required.  Yes, RC has multiple skeins and, no, she can't be bothered to alternate every couple of rows. 

take your time

Alive.  Well. Happy-ish.  Knitting.

The Clementine Shawlette from IK Spring '07.  The Brooks Farm Limited Edition has finally found what it wanted to be after three false starts.  Just in time to justify loading up on whatever the fine pushers from Lancaster, Texas unleash at MSWF.  Did someone say the "M" word?

Contributing to the happy is knowing one is working closely with one's humor peer group.

Found on RC's desk Friday.  Someone knows Rock Chick eats oatmeal every morning.

let go of a rope

Is Rock Chick the last knitter in the known universe to churn out a Clapotis?  Quite possible.

The power of its attraction and addiction didn't take long to sink in - who can resist when every 12th row provides one with the perverse pleasure of dropping stitches.  Perverse and pleasurable in the same way one cranks Fergie in the car (insert joke re: it isn't the first time Fergie's been cranked in a car.)

city, state, your town

Dear Gridskipper Editor,

Rock Chick couldn't help but notice the recent uptick in traffic eminating here from your site.  Seeing as your original post is dated November 8, 2006, one wonders why the recent surge.  Perhaps the freakishly warm winter has delayed a young man's fancy turning to knitting, but when it did, Purl Jam was here to help.

Alas, RC can only imagine the bitter disappointment of those in possession of an XY chromosome as the link ferried them to a land where not only Ed Vedder, John Mayer, Jake Gyllenhaal and Johnny Depp are found not knitting anywhere near Portland, but a foul-mouthed chick knitter bleats on about her knitting ADHD.  Fairness dictates that the link be corrected.  It's like clicking on a link for Rowan and ending up with Red Heart.  You don't get that, do you?  The boys with sticks do.