When Obsession Cancels Itself Out & Juliet

This morning I met a galfriend for coffee right outside a quilt shop (I think you may already know where this is going). Anyway, we're knitting and chatting and I'm feeling a bit of a soulful breeze and I look over my left shoulder and spot the quilt shop. And instead of the sign saying "Quilt Shop" or whatever the heck the name is, it says "Come to me! Come in and spend 76 bucks on flannel!" So I did.

(And I could just hear the women who work at the quilt shop dropping their betweens and jumping off their comfy chairs while smacking high-fives all around and doing a round of "Whoop! There it is!" the second the door slammed behind me.)

Not that I quilt. I mean, I used to hand quilt way back when, before I was this self, but now I wouldn't even know where to begin. I tell you what, though, when a girl who knits (GWK's) goes into a quilt shop, she must buy some flannel. Especially the stuff that has the Sock Monkey theme splattered all over it. Really.

On another note, this evening, after I told him how nice the latest Hatha class was, HWWV declared that this would become a Yoga blog. I said, of course, it would not, and that if I had anything relevant to say about yoga, I'd definitely start a different blog, which would be an interesting venture, but something I'll never, ever do. Wouldn't want to tee off the yogis, you know.

I was just thinking how funny the whole Hobby/Obsession Thing works. First, you get excited about Knitting and next thing you know, you're visiting the LYS and buying wool or whathaveyou in lots the likes you ponder might, once knitted, clothe a small city. Now, not only am I eating up the yarn like a crazy giant moth with a serious hormonal imbalance and an angry habit of eating while sleepwalking and dreaming about flannel, I'm carrying canvas totes here and there for groceries, and meditating on the subject of about how I'll ever get Girlfriend to stuff those plastic water bottles into that giant recycle-r thing that'll give her a few cents in return.

At least, with the knitting, I could give out the knitted garments so someone else would feel better. With the yoga thing, I'm feeling better, but while I do it, I am thinking about cutting back, and looking for cans to recycle, or buying boxed wine because it'll collapse better than a bottle while in the garbage. Come to think of it, on my way to Whole Foods yesterday, I had to wait for a well-dressed lady to riddle through the trash for "stuff" before I could make my way into the joint, where, just around the corner, they displayed those expensive Heirloom tomatoes.

I wonder if she does yoga.

Interesting conundrum.

Done with Juliet. It is honestly fabulous.

Info & Mods: Worked with Tahki Stacy Charles "Bunny" on size 9's instead of two worsted's held together (they do give info about working with a bulky yarn, though.) I also had 14 yards shy of what they called for, so I just worked the length until I thought I'd nearly run out, ending with a Row 6, and instead of working a wrong-side row, I started up with the garter stitch right away and only worked 2 rows. Then I bound off. Who knows how long the thing is--I haven't measured it--but this is the sort of thing you can try on as you go and work to the perfect length. For me, it was a crap shoot because of the dearth of yarn, but heck. It looks great and I love it. (I used Pearle Cotton, crocheted--16 chains--for the loops.) Oh, and I did a size extra small, which I could never wear under normal conditions, but with the raglans, I tend to err on the size of small. It worked!

Comments

[Aura]

I used to do yoga at home, once a week, and it was amazing what that single hour did for me. Hmm... Maybe this is telling me something.

And hot damn, Juliet is cute! Looks great. I think two messages are coming to me now...

[Miz Booshay]

"But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
who is already sick and pale with grief
That thou her maid art far more fair than she."

Fair Juliet is fair, indeed.
And Wendy, you are a fine maiden, too.

[Wendy]

heh heh (maiden!? I think nOt!)

[Martha]

I think this "obsessions cancels itself out" is what people generally refer to as "balance in their life".

[Lizbon]

Pretty, but I think it's the model making it look really glam. Way to rock a headscarf, babe.

[g's mama]

Your Juliet looks great!! I am following your lead and making the smallest size but I wanted to know if you did a few extra increases for a little more 'give' under the arms. I like the look of mine, but it does feel a little snug. I'm thinking the garter may stretch a bit, but you're the expert...

[Nymue, Eveilleuse Créative]

Your Juliet looks great. The colour you choosed is enlighting ! :o) (my french brain is wondering if enlighting is the right word I want to say, but that's the only one coming now ... lol)

[Knitterella]

Your Juliet is fabulous! Looks great on you!

Love it. I think I'm going to buy my pattern today!
Jill

[Melissa]

The sweater looks great! I'm waiting for my yarn to arrive...

[gay]

looks great. i am making this for the grandaughter and she wants hers to fit like this so i think i'll make the longer version in a size smaller and since i order enough yarn for the medium i should be ok as long as i'm willing to stop when the yarn runs out. i love yours and ay make one for myslef too!

[Kathy]

Juliet *is* seriously fabulous.

[Beth]

oh my god wendy, the juliet is unbelievable. My fave yoga is vinyasa in a heated room - try it!!

[shobhana]

that sweater is super cute!

[nichole]

LOVE it! I'm getting ready to cast mine on in a very similar shade, but the Cotton Fleece yarn!

[Jeanine]

Juliet looks fab! I can't go into a quilting shop without coming out empty handed. I also have some of that sock monkey fabric - in the cotton.

[margaux]

love your juliet!! I have one on the needles too :-) Those Zephyr girls are fabumondo, no!? Looks great!

[rachel]

found my sister's xmas gift! Whee!

Looks great on you.

[Kristen M.]

I love that top. I'll have to check it out.

Since Girlfriend started Kindergarten, she's about the same age as my boys. For the last year, recycling has been their chore. I even give them a stool to rince some bottles before putting them in the bin. Then they carry the recyclables to the garage...and when the bin is full, they fill a bag and take it to the store. Whatever money comes from the machine is theirs. When they want something that I don't want to buy them...then I ask if they want to use their money. Oh, no...they'd never spend that. They are little savers. They want to buy something big. This year they've made over $100. You can easily put that Girlfriend to work. =0)

[Michelle]

It looks fantastic. Love the Zephyr girls!

[Mel]

Love the Juliet! Must make one for myself now. ***Le sigh...***

Now, I think you need to design a sweater for HWWV and name it "Romeo." LOL! :)

[elizabeth m]

Perfetto!

Here are the stores that do it to me:
yarn shops
art supplies
office supplies
fabric stores
craft supplies, to some extent.

All the places sell stuff to use in creative or other pursuits. I think I fall in love with all that possibility. As if buying more supplies will make all those ideas turn into reality.

[jillian]

Beautiful! Purple is a wonderful color for you. I tried Juliet but ACK it came out too big. Park the yarn sub, but I think I could have made an ES too. Lesson learned!

[Tammy]

LOVE your Juliet!

[Heather]

Wow! That is stunning, Wendy. I just made it to the armholes on mine, and I was leaning toward continuing in garter until below the bust, and this has convinced me that that's the way to go.

[Wendy]

G's Momma, no, I didn't add any more increases for the arms. I knit it to the pattern, except the length. And of course, I kept going with the garter until it reached under the bust.