The Dubai Marina…it’s a strange place for me. It’s one of those areas in Dubai which seems far too posh for someone like me to be venturing into. Look at all the yachts moored (is that the right term?) there! I get the feeling that if you didn’t have a yacht to park there, you definitely do not belong there.
But this is where the Amiras found themselves last Friday. It was a little bit puzzling to get to but once we figured it out we were alright.
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I am not fickle-minded. I have a very good attention span. I don’t get that “Oooh shiny!” moment, well not that often anyway. But when it comes to knitting, I lose all control. I just want to start on a new project every time I see something that I know I will be able to knit in no time.
True, I have a few WIPs lying about and that means a few sets of needles which I am unable to use for new projects. That reminds me, I need to do a needle inventory because I swear I have more then 5 sets of 2.5mm circulars and I cannot find any now in my needle case! Anyway, back to the topic, WIPs are a -plenty.
The cardigan for my niece had barely dried on the blocking foam when I pulled out this skein of STR Mediumwieght in Atomic 6 which I wound into a ball a while ago intending to cast on for a pair of socks for the Socks that Rawk Group KAL, about 2 quarters ago but never did. I wanted to knit my own Sockhead Hat, dammit!
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You may have seen such stuff in the blogosphere.
Wordless Wednesday. Friday’s Flowers. Tabby Tuesday. WiP Wednesday.
I’m sure there are others out there but the above are examples from my blog reading list. I always look forward to these posts because I know they will be there at the same time, every week. And they have become a fixed part of my life. That’s a big thing to say but it’s true.
Who wouldn’t want to see Calvin and Ripple’s antics every week, huh? Or the pretty flowers that Gail finds on her walks every Friday?
So I decided to start my own regular series of blog posts. Welcome to the first edition of WIP-tastic Monday.
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The subject reads: Wareware wa sushi ga daisuki. Or we love sushi, in English. But this is not sushi, no. It’s a bunch of “blue” roses at a florist we passed by last night while waiting for the call to prayer.
It’s Ramadan and the Muslims started their month-long fast so food shops are closed during the day. No eating or drinking in public until after sunset. It’s a bit weird for newbies, but we’ve been here forever so it’s almost second nature to us now. We automatically switch on the “Ramadan” mode as soon as it starts.
If you are new to the country, it’s a great way to immerse yourself right into the culture and traditions. Everywhere you go, you will be faced with so much fact and trivia and images and actual examples of the culture. You have no other impulse but to embrace and accept it.
Friday, or the weekend, means we are out of the house and in a mall somewhere. Today’s agenda is to watch The Last Airbender. It was alright, nothing too earth-shattering but it was entertaining. It was great to see what Jason Rathbone really looked like, without all that make-up, coloured lenses and stupid blonde wig in the Twilight Saga. And there’s at least 3 sequels, if the kids are right.
One big plus in the previews is HP7 Parts 1 and 2. I am re-reading the book now and I couldn’t help but compare what I’ve been reading to the glimpses of the scenes. This s going to be awesome – in 3D too! Oh, don’t mind the cheerful yellow mascot – he always crops up all over the place during summer. He’s the mascot for Dubai Summer Surprises.
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All that stashed yarn won’t knit itself, you know? Unless you’re Molly Weasley. She has no idea just how easy she has it!
Speaking of which, I started re-reading Deathly Hallows today. It’s so much better this time around. Everything is clearer and the story is much dearer to me now. I hope I finish this before the films come out.
The second Charybdis sock has a toe. Yay! I wanted to get this done asap but then I realized the Socks That Rawk KAL lasts for 3 months, so why am I rushing? I do have a second pair of socks to knit for the KAL, but that should be a breeze since it’s an Irishgirlieknits pattern.
More knitting happening after the jump.
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Since I started knitting nearly 3 years ago, I have knitted 28 pairs of socks. Some of them were given away as gifts but most are kept in the wardrobe for when the weather gets cooler. I have maybe three pairs that I use for the office when I want to add a bit of funk to my mood. Black trouser socks 5 days a week does not help lift your mood at all.
I currently have 6 sock projects on the go, some getting more attention than others. Here are two recently half-done socks.
I recently signed up for a Spring Swap in the Sundara Yarn Love group on Ravelry. It’s not easy doing international swaps from the UAE since our postal system has gone, well postal. Luckily, I was paired up with Susan who is in Athens and therefore should be easier to send stuff to.
She was quicker though and my swap package arrived last week. Here’s a peek at what the big brown padded envelope included. The pink things are toe separators for when you get a pedicure. I reckon I’ll get a few laughs and strange looks at the salon if I decide to take these along. There is a cute project bag, a bar of Chesapeake soap, a travelling photo frame which doubles as a small pattern keeper and a notecard from Susan with a cute felted design on the front. And of course there was yarn!
More detailed photo of the yarns after the jump.
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The knitting never stops. If I could do it in my sleep, I would! But you’re here for the eye candy so here goes.
Yarntini’s Knit, Drink and Be Merry Semi-Solid Club is going strong. So far the colours are rich and highly saturated, until May’s shipment which is called Mint Fizz. It’s cool to the eyes, just like an iced lemony minty drink would be on a hot summer day!
I’ll spare you the sordid details of how I almost lost this precious skein, but will tell you that I plan to knit my second Swallowtail Shawl with it. I’m also knitting with Yarntini for the first time, but more on that later.
>Well, not quite a cardigan yet but it will get there soon enough.
I signed up to a KAL with the Madeline Tosh Lovers and Skein Queen groups in Ravelry. The design? Connie Chang Chinchio’s Austin Hoodie. I’ve always admired Connie’s designs but have been too chicken to try to knit them. I read this pattern through as soon as I bought it and it seems do-able.
The next hurdle for me was the yarn choice. The design was knit with Tosh Merino Light, a new base which I do not have any of! What I do have are 3 sweater quantities worth of other MadTosh yarn all sitting in the cupboard. I decided I would use Tosh DK in Wisteria from the last Sweater Club.
Next was the fun part: swatching! I did it religiously. Three times. Aren’t you proud of me?
