the blue blog archives: what, me knit?

S was feeling a little under the weather. Look at his little upset tummy sticking out from under his shirt. Reminds me of my favorite baby picture of him. Awww. While S was recouperating on the sofa, B was content to play hide and seek in the kitchen cabinet.

And what did I do? I read. Whaaaaa? Okay, I'll admit that I got hooked on one of those Harry Potter books. I read the first one a while back when the books first became so popular. I wasn't that impressed and wouldn't have picked up another, but then I saw the films on HBO. Those kid actors got to me! So I finished up book #3 in the morning.

I've also been enjoying KnitLit Too, a second collection of knitting related stories. I'm enjoying it even more than the original KnitLit. Although the first collection contained a lot of touching stories, its real charm to me was how the majority of stories told familiar tales of learning to knit, failed projects, and yarn obssession. The experiences we've all shared. So far this volume seems more literary. I'm finding the stories more affecting - a single skein of yarn reknit for each new baby in the family - and funnier too - a woman attempts to knit and ice skate at the same time and another solves a crime for her husband so he doesn't have to go into work and leave her with the kids on her knitting night.

And then the new Interweave Knits shows up in the mail. Cool stuff: stripes, free-form crochet and knitted sweatpants - am I crazy for wanting to knit the sweatpants?!

posted by alison at 8:44 am | in

Comments

aaah, bless poor Stephan feeling ill. I hope he is back to normal today. Are your boys sympathetic to each other when they are sick or don't they pay much notice?

All that reading sounds great, I love the Harry Potter books. The sweatpants sound cool as well. Happy knitting day today..

Posted by: kerrie at February 5, 2004 9:11 AM

I hope your boys are feeling better. It's funny because I have a picture of my now 14yo daughter crammed in our TV stand when she was 2yo. Treasured memories.

I should be receiving my Interweave Knits soon. I can't wait. Hope you get to knit today.

Posted by: Lynette at February 5, 2004 9:19 AM

I want to knit the sweatpants, too! I haven't seen the magazine in person yet, but caught a sneak peak online.

Posted by: sarah b. at February 5, 2004 9:53 AM

How coincidental! I just finished reading all five of my sister's Harry Potter books. I have to admit, they are pretty good. Hope Stefan gets well soon!

Posted by: lyn at February 5, 2004 10:31 AM

Oooh! I'm jealous. I hope my IK shows up soon, too. And I've been there too with the HP books... I bought one to read on the plane when I went on vacation and by the end of the vacation I'd read everything in softback. Thanks for adding me to the Banff-along!

Posted by: Theresa at February 5, 2004 10:39 AM

Aaaah! I have swooned over that adorable baby picture of Stefan! Get well soon, Stefan! That way, you can play hide and seek with your bro.

Oh, don't worry about playing knitting hooky. I play knitting and web hooky all the time when I get caught up reading a book. And you're reading Harry Potter...those books are responsible for slowing my knitting down, too. When the books came out I had no desire to read them despite the enormous popularity. But then, I read one. And got hooked. Then the second, and the third...I think I've watched the movies about three times each. So, I understand.

And that is the end of my long and chatty comment :-)

Posted by: Becky at February 5, 2004 10:44 AM

Update from the sickhouse: Stefan's feeling mostly better, but seems to have passed his malady on to me. So it's the sofa for me today (if only I had the next HP book!). Benny, of course, remains oblivious.

There's a preview of all the latest IK patterns (including the sweatpants!) here. (Link swiped from JoKnits.)

Posted by: alison at February 5, 2004 10:50 AM

Just a suggestion on how to integrate reading and knitting... BOOKS ON TAPE. I've been getting them from the library (including all of the FABULOUSLY read harry potter books), and I'm addicted! :)

Posted by: maeve at February 5, 2004 11:40 AM

Re: KnitLit Too

You lucky duck -- I've been anxiously awaiting the new KL Too -- where did you find the new
book? Also, have you seen the new Beyond Stitch n Bitch (not related to SnB)?

Leslie

Posted by: Leslie at February 5, 2004 1:16 PM

Not crazy at all about the paints, I think they are the coolest!

Posted by: Cindy at February 5, 2004 1:39 PM

OOPs! pants

Posted by: Cindy at February 5, 2004 1:40 PM

I hear "knit your own sweatpants" and I think, "find another knitter." But, wow! Those are really cute. Then I thought, "Oh, it will cost a fortune for all that yarn." No, again. Very cool. Do I sense a sweat-along in the near future?

Posted by: Jessica at February 5, 2004 3:41 PM

Jessica, you're a genius! A pant-along. I love it! Let's do it.

Posted by: alison at February 5, 2004 4:44 PM

Hope you and Stefan are both feeling better. Lucky Benny not to get sick. I came home today to my Interweave in the mail, too. Hmmm, did a quick flip through, now have to read it thoroughly. I didn't know the KnitLit Too was out yet and I was at 2 yarn shops today.

I ripped out my sleeves to Banff, not enough yarn. So now I am about 2 inches into the first sleeve doing it in two colors instead of one.

Posted by: Suzanne at February 5, 2004 5:01 PM

I want my IK! Maybe tomorrow. And I didn't know the KnitLit Too was out yet. Love the sweet belly babe photo. Hope your son is better.

Posted by: Melissa at February 5, 2004 7:28 PM

I was surprised that IK made it to me so quickly. Usually I'm one of the last to get my copy. So to the rest of you subscribers, it should be on the way!

KnitLit Too isn't out quite yet but look for it at the end of the month. I got lucky and was sent a review copy.

Posted by: alison at February 5, 2004 8:06 PM

Sitting, reading, laying around in a cabinet, it all charges the batteries! It's a good thing. Please, just don't start reading in a cabinet. Ouch.
Harry Potter is the greatest! I love the use of language. The only one I remember off the top of my head is Diagon Alley. which is, of course a pun on diagonally. She is clever that JK!
Sunday, sunday...

Posted by: Sandy at February 5, 2004 9:31 PM

Heh; if I weren't sick to death of Homespun, I'd be "panting" along - they are cute! And how great is Co-op Cables? Pretty great - that Kathy Zimmerman is swell.

Posted by: Donna at February 5, 2004 10:50 PM

Hope you and Stefan are feeling better!

Posted by: Dava at February 6, 2004 9:22 AM

Hey, you got a Knitlit 2? Considering that I'm the lady who wrote the knitting and skating story I'm so jealous I could bust. How does the book look? I can't wait to read the other stories. The suspense is killing me.
Love the blog. I might be short enough to consider knitting the sweatpants.

Posted by: Stephanie at February 6, 2004 9:57 AM

That baby picture is so cute! Hope Stefan feels better. Now, the true question is, how is it that you have an entire empty kitchen cabinet that Benny can fit into!?!? I wish I had that much extra space in my kitchen.

Posted by: Stacy at February 6, 2004 4:07 PM