Update, a Review, and a Rant

I stitched a bit on this at stitching on Monday and more today. There was a counting error with one of the motifs (I won't say which one) but rather than pick it all out, I am carrying on as is.

I'm pleased the border is correct so I can fill in the bits around it at stitching again on Monday. I may even do more on it this weekend.

Last night I finished the first black and blue helix sock. The light-coloured yarn is where I'll insert the afterthought heel.

Generally I prefer a ribbed cuff as it hugs my leg and ankle better than a stocking stitch cuff. I also cast on over both needles for extra stretch to the top of the sock.

This is a closeup shot of where I started the second (blue) yarn after knitting the black cuff. That's the only jog that appears since the rest of the sock has the one yarn chasing another (described in the previous post).

I've been subscribing to food kits on and off for the past couple of years. When I was cooking for two, we liked the Hello Fresh offerings. However the minimum order is three 2-serving kits per week. With leftovers, that's 6 meals per week for me on my own. A friend recommended ChefsPlate which has a minimum order of two 2-serving meals per week - a much more manageable quantity. I used ChefsPlate a lot last summer and fall. Before Christmas, I discontinued my subscription to ChefsPlate as I wanted to eat down the food in my freezer - lots of leftover bits of this and that. 

A couple of weeks ago I tried GoodFood. They also have a 2 meal minimum. I received two boxes and have cooked three of the 4 meals so far. I am not impressed. 

Pros: 

• excellent packaging
• sturdy boxes
• reusable clear bags with handles containing the produce
• well-packaged meats

Cons:

• frozen blocks contain a gel which I don't want to just pour down the sink
• the inserts are foil-lined so I had to peel it off before recycling the cardboard
• the food was just not that flavourful
• entrees not that impressive. For example the salad last night was a head of leaf lettuce and radishes. The chicken dish with pesto was OK but there was no vegetable, or starch. 

So I have cancelled my GoodFood subscription and re-subscribed to ChefsPlate. The first box arrives on Monday.

And now for my rant. I cancelled my spot at a retreat I was going to attend last fall at a stitchery shop in upstate NY. Because it was past the cancellation date and I had already paid in full, I did not receive a refund. However, the proprietor last September offered to send me the materials I would have received had I attended. In the past, they shipped an item that I had won as a door prize via UPS. When it arrived here, I got a card asking me to pay $20 in fees to pick it up from their depot. (This was before any tariff silliness). Basically couriers charge an arbitrary customs brokerage fee to their international customers. I was not amused at having to pay $20 for something I won. CanadaPost on the other hand only charges a flat rate of $5 for customs brokerage fees - if they levy the fee at all.

I explained this brokerage fee anomaly to the shop's proprietor and requested that he send the materials from September's retreat via US Postal Service instead of using a courier.

Then I waited. Every month or so, I would email requesting an update on the status of this parcel and requested USPS rather than a courier.

Then Poppy and I decided to not attend another retreat there we had planned for this June. All but $100US was refundable and Poppy got her refund a few weeks ago. I still have not received my refund. So I emailed the proprietor again asking about this. I also requested a tracking number for the materials from the September retreat and again requested shipping via USPS. 

Earlier this week I received an email that a label had been created for my package, a tracking number,  and it would be shopped via UPS!!!! What the heck?!?!? A bit of bad language ensued.

Finally today, the package has been picked up by the courier, and is schedule for delivery tomorrow late afternoon. The notice doesn't mention any fees but I'm not holding my breath.

All that being said. I am not impressed with the customer service of this shop. I'm annoyed it took 6 emails over 6 months to get this parcel sent. And I still have not received the refund I requested at the end of last November. 

Grrrr.  (Rant over)

One bit of good news, though. Kristi Noem has been removed from her position with US Dept. of Homeland Security. She really took a (well-deserved) drubbing for her lies. I don't expect her replacement to have any moral integrity either but I'm glad to see Noem gone.

Finishing a Knitting UFO

I started these Black and Blue Helix socks in May of 2024. I abandoned the project shortly thereafter having knit only a little farther than this.

I'm half-assed trying to organize my office/craft room and found the project last week. I needed something to knit while I watch TV other than little bears for a while.

I'm this far as of last night.

I tried to do an Eye of Partridge heel in black but I couldn't see how I could continue the helix pattern when I pick up the stitches on either side of the heel flap so I frogged back and just inserted a contrasting yarn. It will get removed once I've completed the foot and toe, leaving live stitches which I'll pick up and knit an afterthought heel in black. 

Actually, I'll wait until I've knit both sock 'tubes' before I do the heels.

When knitting a helix pattern there are no 'jogs' between yarn colours except at the very beginning when the second colour is added and at the very end when that yarn will get dropped and the toe knit with one colour. Basically the two yarns chase each other around and around.

It's easy to do. First, knit a round with one colour. In this case, the ribbed cuff was knit. Then add the second colour and knit around until 3 sts before the first colour. Drop the second yarn and slip the 3 sts, reaching the first colour. Pick it up and knit around until 3sts before the second colour. *Slip the next 3 sts, pick up the next yarn and knit around until 3 sts before the next colour. Repeat from * until you've knit as far as you want to. 

Yesterday, Alexa and I booked our flights to Amsterdam for our Christmas Market Rhine cruise. We're going there a few days ahead and will do some day tours before embarkation.

The other girlies are looking at other crafting tours for 2027. I've been leaning towards KnittingTours of either Denmark/Copenhagen, Scotland/Shetland, or Barcelona. More discussion is needed.

We are also looking at a crafty road trip in SW Ontario this summer or fall - whatever will fit in their schedules.

Speaking of road trips - this Sunday some of us are heading into The Big City to the Knitting Loft and Country Clothesline for some retail therapy (not that I need to buy anything - eye roll). It's always fun to spend time with whatever girlies are available.

And finally, I got around to ordering another crochet kit from WoolWarehouse.co.uk. It's another Janie Crow pattern - Mystical Lanterns. I selected the Original colourway with a wool/blend DK yarn.

I should have ordered it last week to ensure that it arrives before the March Break retreat I'm attending. I'll be taking all kinds of crafts to attend this retreat. Most of the others will be quilting. My niece wants me to teach her how to crochet. I plan to take Sashiko, knitting, stitching, and hopefully the Mystical Lanterns project if it arrives in time. 

International shipping via Royal Mail was only £4.99 and will take between 7 and 14 days. Both packages I received from them in the past arrived between 7 and 10 days. Fingers are crossed...

Scooter will be here to house-sit during my absence. I'm sure he'll enjoy having the place all to himself.

Crafty Catch Up

 I have been obsessively knitting little bears. I ran out of bear-coloured DK weight yarn so knit one with doubled sock yarn. He came out a little larger than the others. That's him on the right. As I was knitting him, a name didn't come to me like when I did most of the others so I put out a call on Facebook for suggestions. I got about 15 great names which I have recorded and may use on future bears. 

It has been decided to name him Everett. The next day I knit the little guy on the left and for some reason the name Bertram came to mind. Both their sweaters are leftover yarn from the Persian Tiles blanket - Storm Blue for Bertram and Violet for Everett.

Bertram and Everett

This is the gang of remaining bears in order of their creation - starting with (from L to R) Ernest, Davis (because his nose kinda looked like the moustache of Blue Jay player Davis Scheider), Reginald, Rusty, Everett, and Bertram. I have two others knit but not fully finished and one other is on the needles.

Happily four others have gone to live with deserving people. Percy went to Karen, 

Buster to Judy L, 

Stavros to Eugenie, 

and an unnamed one to Dolores for her granddaughter.

While on the plane on the way to Spain, I crocheted most of the linen stitch dishcloth. I just had a few stitches to finish up when I got home. (oops, it's upside down)

Crocheting linen stitch is very easy. Basically it's *1sc, 1ch, repeat from * end with 1sc. Then on the next row, do the sc in the little hole created by the ch stitch.

I had some of the girlies over for stitching today. It had been almost a month since I'd seen them. I was going to have them over last Sunday but the weather was going to be crappy and it was the Canadian men's hockey Gold Medal game so I suggested not hosting. They came here today instead. 

I worked on 'The Light of Winter', making many counting errors, picking out those errors and re-stitching. Argh! This evening I stitched down to the bottom border so tomorrow at stitching I can just stitch the leaves and flowers that go on the 'stems'.

I can't believe it's March already. I have so many fun things coming up.

One big piece of news is that Scooter is going to be staying here for a few weeks starting this Friday. His mother and her husband are having their house staged then will be listing it for sale. Their plan is to move out until it is sold. Scooter will be with me during that time. I haven't overrun Scooter's room with craft stuff (yet) so he's more than welcome to occupy it for as long as he needs to. It works out well because he can house-sit while I'm away during part of March Break at the retreat my nieces invited me to.

Alexa and I hope to book our flights to Amsterdam this week for our Christmas Market Rhine cruise next December. My task tomorrow is to make an appointment with our travel agent to get things set up. We've also been looking at Viator for Activities in Amsterdam before embarkation. We plan to fly over a few days early to acclimatize to Central European Time and get some sight-seeing done before getting on the ship. Last time I was there was July 1981 so I'll be happy to get reacquainted with the place. I also plan to eat lots of Edam and Gouda cheese while I'm there.

Part II - Starting the Tour

I have started sorting through my photos so will start outlining the hightlights of the actual tour.

The first stop was Madrid's Almudena Cathedral. It was started in 1883 and just finished and consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1993. The current King Felipe VI was married to Letizia Ortíz Rocasolano there in 2004 when he was still a crown prince.

The ceiling had beautiful, colourful frescoes. 

I'm not going to even try to outline more highlights.

We also toured the Palacio Real (Royal Palace) which is just next door.

The royal family don't actually live there but state events are held there. There were many beautiful things; this table for example - exquisite mosaic tile work:

a closeup of one of the butterflies. Many of those little pieces were only a millimetre wide.

The music room held several Stradivarius instruments - displayed in front of mirrors so the backs could be seen.

The throne room.

And on display nearby, the royal crown and scepter. The crown dates from 1775 and the Austrian-made scepter from the 16th century.

Ernest came everywhere with us.

Royal Palace group shot taken by our tour guide, Cecilia.

We had lunch at some point.

At some other point we had churros and hot chocolate. 

One night we made our own tapas at a very cool kitchen. We were paired up at our 12 work stations. Each one had an induction cooktop, all required utensils, and the measured ingredients laid out from left to right.

We put on our aprons and were put to work.

We ate some of the tapas as we made them. These little sausages went well with the crusty bread spread with melted cheese. Ernest supervised from my apron pocket.

After cooking everything, we moved downstairs to eat the dinner we prepared, banquet-style.

Back at the hotel, this is the fabulous room where we ate breakfast every day as well as some lunches. It was beautifully lit. All four sides of the room were like this.  Each shelf had a hand-painted, blue and white talavera plate. 

(to be continued...)

Another Mini Hana Fukin

I signed up for a free 5-day Sashiko class knowing it would be right before I went to Spain. Fortunately any ZenStitching.ca classes are recorded and can be accessed in perpetuity. I knew I’d be able to access them when I got back. 

I didn’t need to buy anything for the project. I already had the fabric, threads, and needles in my stash. However, when I went to start the project I couldn’t locate the project bag with all my Sashiko supplies for a few days. Finally I located it and got started.

First the fabric had to be cut to a particular dimension, then the grid lines added with a white, heat-erasable pen. The Clover marking pen is good for this but it takes a few seconds for the drawn line to show.

First we stitched a bunch of staggered horizontal lines

and then parallel lines crossing them. 

Then we began the diagonals.

Each step was longer than I remember the August stitchalong I had participated in. However I persevered and finally today, finished the last two steps of the stitching.

Here’s the front:

And the back:

Because the stitching involves piercing through both layers of the fabric, a different design appears on the back. At the beginning of a thread, it is knotted and fished between the two layers. The needle is also woven between the layers at the end of a pass or row and starting another.

I have made a few others.

I really liked the one with the three colours but have no idea what I’ll do with them all. I could use them as exteriors for zipper bags but I’m afraid the threads will just get snagged. However, I could put them behind a vinyl window. Hmmm - must do some more thinking on that.

Last night I started another companion for Ernest. I don't have a name for him yet. Any suggestions?

These little guys knit up in an evening. I didn’t have any more bear-coloured DK yarn so I used two strands of sock yarn and 3.25mm needle. The stuffing and finishing takes almost as long as the basic knitting. 

For stuffing I just buy a cheap pillow at WalMart - it’s the same fibrefill as can be purchased at craft stores. Tonight I’ll finish stuffing it then get the ears knitted and attached, legs and arms defined, and the face embroidered. Still lots of steps but they’re so stinking cute! 

Percy has gone to live with someone I felt needed a little friend. He will be missed but it is nice to know he will be a comfort to the recipient.

He has such a sweet little face.

Ernest and Fuzz were very sad at the final result of the men’s Olympic hockey game.

The US goalie was a beast and did an amazing job of stopping the many shots on goal. In the end, the Canadian men got the silver medal. Hopefully in time, they’ll realize how truly amazing they played.

The girlies are registering for a stitching retreat in Ottawa as I write this. It will take place in August right before Jen1 and I will leave for music camp so we won’t be attending. I could have really pushed myself to drive home from Ottawa, pack up the car, and pick up Jennifer then head to Waterloo. Instead, I decided to forego this stitching opportunity. I already have FOMO but I have asked for a full report when they return home.

Our Knitting tour of Central Spain - Part I - Half the Fun is Getting There

Almost two weeks ago, Poppy, Ernest, and I travelled to Madrid to join a knitting tour by KnittingTours.com. 

Ernest and Sparky

We had a very comfortable ride to the airport with Sparky's Limo Service (Poppy's Jim).

Once we dropped off our luggage, we headed to the Air Canada Signature Suite for our 5-course, gourmet meal.

We practically had the place to ourselves.

We got seated in a comfy spot.

'A Flight Above' was the chosen cocktail.

First we enjoyed a cheese plate with some other hors d'oeuvres.

A mixed salad was next.

Shortly thereafter the beef tenderloin with rapini arrived.

Dessert was yogurt with apple compote and granola, and a brownie. 

With full tummies, we boarded the plane and located our little cubby hole for the flight.

In addition to the toiletry kit, bottle of water, glass of sparkling wine, a quilt, and pillow were provided. The 20" TV offered many entertainment options. Under the TV is an open area. When the seat is fully reclined, feet and legs go under the TV so we could lie flat.

Noise-cancelling headphones were provided.

It was our first time watching 'Frozen'. 

Goodbye, Toronto!

Once we reached cruising altitude, the meal we pre-ordered was served. Salad, beef carpaccio, and garlic bread were our first courses.

The linen tray cover, linen napkin, and metal cutlery are a nice touch. Pasta was next.

After finishing dessert, we settled in for a comfortable, overnight flight to Frankfurt. 

3 hours after arriving in Frankfurt, we boarded our flight to Madrid.

Business class wasn't so fancy on the European flight. It was similar to a premium economy seat.

Customs and Immigration in Spain were easy. After collecting our luggage, we met up with our driver, Sergio, who took us to Only YOU Boutique Hotel where we checked in and made our way up to our cozy room.  

Our tour didn't start 'til the next day so we had the day to ourselves. Poppy, Ernest, and I decided to nap for a bit before exploring the neighbourhood. 

From previous experience flying across the Atlantic, we like to arrive a day early to begin acclimatizing to the time change and recovering from the overnight flight. We took things pretty easy - knitting and watching Olympics (the only station we could get was in German).

The next day we were scheduled to meet up with our group at 11:30am for introductions and light lunch..

(to be continued)...