Weekend accomplishments

Oh me, oh my.
I bought a sewing machine.

All in all, I had a pretty good weekend:

1. Shop for a sewing machine! DONE, and I didn't even have to bring it home on the train. They are shipping it to me tomorrow. So I just have to finish up everything here before then... It's a Pfaff. I'll show you when it comes!
2. Read a Jasper Fforde novel. NOT YET DONE. I started, and will finish, but the bouncy train is no good for reading and the chatty family is not, either!
3. Knit. IN PROCESS. I finished clue #1 of the knitalong, just knitting and knitting till I finished a ball of Denim, and then attached a new ball, found a new pattern and carried on. I am always surprised by the Rav chit-chat about this. People are crazy for getting gauge, worrying about half an inch on one of 48 or 64 or whatever squares, and talking about sewing it together when it's a mystery knitalong and we don't know what the designer has in mind. (I am not worried about it, because I know I won't do what the designer says, anyways!)
4. Knit something else. IN PROCESS. Still no verdict on the teeny sock needles. I found it easier to knit the denim, so I have just a few inches, mostly ribbing, but nothing very exciting yet. 
5. Hang out, go shopping, have dinner, play pool, talk about renovation, talk about aches and pains... DONE.

I'll get pictures of all this stuff tomorrow when the friendly UPS guy brings my machine. Pretty exciting!

I won't even have much time to fuss about with it for a little while, since it is Hot Docs time again. I am working 6 volunteer shifts and have a bazillion movies to see. (Those are the ones I already have tickets for. There are plenty more that I am excited about as well!) Fun times ahead.

Away for the weekend

It's Easter, and we are riding the rails down to London to spend a couple of days with my brother and his family. I hope to accomplish several things:

1. Shop for a sewing machine! If I buy one, I'll have to bring it back on the train, but it seems the best idea, because I can shop with my SIL who knows something about sewing machines. The Sew Show is here next weekend, and a girl could get a "deal," but it is not convenient for me to get to and I have other plans for next weekend anyways. 
2. Read a Jasper Fforde novel. I have read the first in this series and I *think* I have read the second. Yeah, pretty sure... So, this is the third, and one I have on my bookshelf.
3. Knit. Now, there's a thing... I have started the Rowan Pure Wool Worsted Knitalong, but of course I did not go out and buy 17 different colours of wool, delightful though that would have been. I am making my squares in Denim. One square pattern has been released, so I will just putter along with that. Not even sure I will make squares, or just keep going and make a strip. Only time will tell. 
4. Knit something else. I bought a 9-inch circular needle, and will attempt to knit a sock, holding teeny tiny needle ends delicately in my fingertips. I like this idea a lot in theory, and I did try the needle out in the shop, but I am somewhat nervous and think I might find it awkward after a bit. No trouble with losing a sock needle on the train, and no opportunity to poke oneself in the face while squinting up close at dropped stitches, so I think it will all be good. Right? 

I have no pictures. Not even pictures of flowers poking into view, although I have seen a crocus and heard rumours of daffodils. Perhaps next week!

What to do, oh, what to do?

I wonder if I have a list somewhere of all the WIPs around the house. Surely I have had this crisis recently.

Ah, yes, from before the Olympics:

1. second mitten (now I don't need it till October)
2. Malabrigo scarf (makes me sneeze, but very pretty)
3. Botticelli (sew the dang thing together!)
4. Sunday Best (or start a whole new denim gansey)
5. that beautiful golden shawl you might not have seen but I have knitted about an inch on it (yeah, whatever)

We can add a few more:

1. Arthur's second green sock
2. a baby blanket (I've knit about 8 inches on a strip)
3. a hat

And then there are the things I see on Ravelry and want to join in on:

1. the Rowan mystery blanket KAL, which might end up being the same thing as the baby blanket
2. A 1940s KAL, which might result in a hat and socks for the baby, forget the blanket. This is my book, from 1941. It seems like every dang hat has ribbon rosettes to tie the hat on. If I am doing a 40s KAL, is it cheating to change the pattern and knit a little button band under the chin? 

Oh, I don't know!