Flagel Knitting Files

So yesterday was in fact one of those days.  Perhaps it is good to have a few of those days in life to make the days that aren't those days seem so much sweeter. But today, today everything is coming up sunshine, even the weather has taken an improved turn.  There is actual sunshine outside, not the gray gloom of a day full of showers and sprinkles, like yesterday. With regard to the printer, Paul does have a better temperament for technology.  He is logical, methodical and patient as compared to my sometimes rational, scattered and frenzied approach.  At 9:15 am, as promised, he came to my office and first downloaded again all the things I had done yesterday.  Then systematically went through the steps twice and was thwarted, just like me.  But then rather than throw in the towel he called the company for directions.  Sure enough after 23 minutes on the phone my laptop and printer are synced again.  In total he spent less than an hour and was...

I am having one of those days.  It seems everything I am trying to get done implodes due to my lack of ability to figure it out.  Below are my cases in point. My wireless printer was working properly with both my iPad and laptop when I left in April.  Knitting patterns were printed, legible letters written and ran off, all was good.  Then while I was away the wireless gnomes messed with my stuff and upon returning I could no longer print.  To add to the confusion about three weeks ago we upgraded to a new router (well after first attempting to print).  This morning I decided it was time to address the problem so the electronic manual was downloaded, things were reinstalled and attempts to print were made.  Two full hours of time were invested in the adventure.  Heck I even gave up on wireless and went direct by connecting my PC to the printer using a USB, to no avail.  On the bright side, Paul has promised to help tomorrow (he is indeed ...

I am behind in congratulating Canada in celebrating 149 years of existence; July 1 is the day we commemorate the event.  Happy belated Canada Day.  The Yarn Harlot writes proudly of Canada on this day in her typical Canadian way.  Check out her 2016 post here . And to my U.S. friends and family, enjoy the 4th of July.  (At least I managed to get one of the two mentioned before the day is complete.)  Additionally I would be remiss if I didn't do a quick shout out to my youngest son and his wife on this their seventh wedding anniversary.  My son says he likes the idea that there are always fireworks for their anniversary. Now on to pink and blue.  While randomly surfing through VeryPink.com I found a lovely jumper designed for girls. Fiona Baby Sundress by Very Pink (it's her photo too) This little project would allow me to address a couple of issues that have been bouncing around in my head lately.  I need to be knitting ...

It has been said several times by both me and others, now is a great time to be knitting.  There are so many wonderful wool, cotton, mohair and other types of yarns available.  When I started knitting one generally had to purchase yarn at the local Five and Dime store where acrylic yarn was about all one could purchase.  Free patterns are available with a few simple clicks as well as free help to answer almost any knitting question or solve any knitting problem one encounters.  Back in the day to solve problems or answer questions one had to find someone skilled and talk to them in person.  And this is specifically what leads me today to a discussion about the website verypink.com .  (Here is a very short montage video to give you a sample of the videos). Staci Perry in her Rodeo Drive poncho.  Photo from VeryPink Ravelry site If you want to see a video on how to do the Kitchener stitch or German short rows or Pinhole cast-on, one YouTube video...

While I take a break from small-needle knitting I decided to try another lace adventure by taking on Anisette by Kristeen Griffin-Grimes (the pattern found here ).  I am using Lang Yarns Merino 400 in colour 796.0010  (Perhaps I am not the only one lacking in colour-naming skills.). The colour BTW is a greyish navy blue. The stole/wrap is knit using #8 US or 5mm which compared to the 2 or 2.75mm I had been using seems huge.  The lace weight yarn on these big needles creates an airy open fabric that is very satisfying. Here is how the finished project should look. Knit and photographed by Dejavu from Ravelry And this is what I have successfully completed so far. It is a start but there is a long way to go yet. One photo shows you the number of things I have had to do to give myself a hope to knit the pattern accurately.  This is the second time I have gotten to this point only to frog the whole work and start over.  It seems I forgot to ...

Upon arriving in town in April my youngest son, the teacher and prepared principal, handed me a children's book, Julia, Child .  Written by Kyo Maclear it outlines a fictitious childhood of the chef, Julia Child with her friend Simca Beck cooking up friendship and adventure using butter.  It really is a cute tale and I can see why Miss M enjoys it.  In the book a French meal is prepared including the following dishes:  sole ala dieppoise (fish in a mushroom and shrimp sauce), cheese souffle and petite gateau (small chocolate filled cupcakes). We set aside an entire afternoon to shop for and prepare these three dishes.  The fish stock making up the bulk of the ingredients in the sauce for the fish had to be made.  Three types of cheeses for the souffle had to be graded.  It was a major cooking event, but by 6 pm that evening we had the meal ready.  Miss M loved the cheese souffle (but then she really likes most anything containing cheese, a girl ...

Perhaps it is our age, but when my knit buddies and I have tried to knit and drink in the past the knitting suffers a lot.  That's not to say we don't occasionally down a glass of wine and attempt to knit anyway, but it is fair to say Knit Nite for us is a mostly dry affair. Two younger knitters from Edmonton have attempted to put knitting and beer drinking together as a business with an emphasis on "locally sourced" for both the beverage and the yarn.  Read the whole story here  written by the CBC. Photo from yarnovermatter.com I wish the two entrepreneurs all the best.  Creating a combination yarn shop and bar would certainly change the general image of granny sitting at home knitting with the television on watching ME TV.  What is more gratifying is someone from CBC Edmonton found this story meeting the threshold for being newsworthy.  Perhaps this is another sign knitting is in vogue.  OK perhaps not, but I do like that so much page sp...