Last night’s knitting bee consisted mainly of Alison, Jason and Kelly. Kelly showed up at around 9 to watch us knit, and Les joined us for some Incredible Hulk after his work was finished at 10. Jason and Alison learned well; I’m hoping it was the addition of all the sexual knitting innuendo that did it. Amusingly, Jason The Boy picked things up faster. I think it’s because Alison got hung up at the beginning by having to cast on twice, because I didn’t teach her properly the first time. I didn’t notice that she was adding an extra stitch each time she cast on a loop. Reminds me of my early days; I made a lot of mistakes. My needles slipped and my yarn got tangled. All part of the learning process, guys. You guys, you guys are The Guys.

I started a hat yesterday, and it’s looking good. Hopefully it will fit. My gauge was right, so it had better work! If not, I shall wreak vengeance upon Debbie Stoller. I’ve had to modify every pattern of hers I’ve ever had to use. It’s beginning to irk me.

The Knitting Bee is happenin’ tonight at 8 at my place. It’s a party, and everyone’s invited!

It has been decided. Our first knitting bee will be on Wednesday (that’s the 19th) at 8pm. It can be at my place or an alternate, hipper location if people wish. BYOYarn, needles can be provided in limited quantities if you don’t have any.

The guest list: Eve, Jo, Adrienne (?), Kelly, Liz, Alison, Hilary, Jason, … ???

Any name suggestions for this shindig (for example, “Kool Knitterz Party Jam” or “Purl Party 2006″) are welcome. More information will be posted once more stuff is figured out. This party is GO!

I bound off my latest project and it’s a bit too small. So I’m going to have to pull out a bunch of stitches AGAIN and fix it. Or maybe I’ll just leave it the way it is, because it was getting on my nerves. It was good practise with intarsia and fair isle (knitting with different colours of yarn), so I’m writing it off as a learning experience. Maybe I’ll go back to it in a few weeks.

I also finished the previously mentioned SECOND BEST IDEA EVER: a little condom cozy. I used moss stitch with a pretty red yarn, so it’s stretchy and wonderfully textured. I just did some tests and it gets a bit bloated with 8, so I’m saying a healthy capacity is between one and six condoms. It’s really easy and fun to do, so if anyone wants one of their own I’d be glad to knit it for you.

In the next week or so, I want to organize a knitting bee, both for those who know how to knit and those who don’t but want to learn. If anyone wants to hit this up, let me know when you’re free. I’m available most weekdays. No experience necessary!

Click below for pics of the cosy and from last night.
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I knit a lot over the break. I’ve almost finished my last big project; it’s taken a helluva long time because I have torn out the last few inches about 5 times now. Hopefully it’ll be done by tonight.

Here’s the tea cozy I knit for my teapot:

It’s a bit misshapen because I had no idea what my pot’s dimensions were. I’m just glad it fits. You can’t see the pattern that I knit into it because of the wackiness of the yarn, but I assure you it’s awesome.

Here’s an interview with Kristin Spurkland, talking among other things about how knitters like to give stuff away. It’s true, too. I learned how to knit by making blankets for the homeless, and lately I’ve been planning more knitting projects to give to my friends and relatives than to keep for myself. It’s a strange phenomenon. I wonder if the knitting community has banded together to knit for tsunami survivors? Maybe I can make some Teddies for Tragedies?

My Dad just said “LOLZ.” It was awesome.

New Year’s Eve went well. I went to my uncle’s 60th birthday party and sat around knitting and talking to old ladies about knitting for something like 8 hours. My aunt got so excited about my knitting that she raided her library and gave me all these books about knitting and patterns from old magazines. Some of the pictures are great, and will be uploaded at some point tonight.

Unfortunately, there was no making out to be had at this party, except among the old married folks and my one unmarried cousin-in-law who brought her boyfriend/possible fiancee along to be attacked by my crazy relatives. (Fortunately, his teeth and ankles were not examined by his mother-in-law-to-be, as has happened to quite a few of the suitors of women in our clan. Watch out, Les.)

Six more days!