Mokihana's Garden

The Knitting Olympics/Ravelympics are pau. Before I started, I had set a very challenging goal for myself, namely to enter the “WIP Dancing” (Work-in-Progress) event, and finish up two blankets that had been languishing for years, as well as a shawl that I’d started right after my mom died but had never finished.

We couldn’t start till Opening Ceremonies. We had to be pau by Closing Ceremonies.

I am pleased to announce that I did it! I reached my goal! Here is one of my medals. (Bob, the dog, is the Ravelry mascot.)

Just so you folks know… besides updating da blog, I’m also trying to complete some knitting stuff for the Ravelympics, which coincides, strangely enough, with the Winter Olympics.

The goal of the Ravelympics (from Ravelry, a knitting community) and The Knitting Olympics (both of which I’ve signed up for) is to sign up for knitting challenges that require a whole lotta effort in order to complete by the time Closing Ceremonies in the real Olympics ends. You might want to read Stephanie-Pearl McPhee’s blog post (second link) to find out more what it’s all about. She says it much better than I can.

I am in an “event” in which I am finishing up some projects that have been languishing while I did my normal thing of rabbit-tracking from one knitting project to another. I’m doing four of them!

So if I don’t update Da Mystery Road Trip Revealed as often as I’d like, that’s why. I will do my best to keep at it in both arenas.

I started out not so good. One of my projects is finishing a blanket with my handspun from some of my favorite sheep. It was languishing, waiting while I carded and spun some fleece from my very special ewe, ‘Ele‘ele, who died several years ago. The other night during Opening Ceremonies (we weren’t allowed to start our projects till then) I knit four very long rows with yarn from her, and hated it. I’d spun it too fine and with too much twist, and it felt horrible. Which meant that I had to spin up two more bobbins, then ply them together, then set the twist (soaking in hot water), then let it dry, which it’s doing now. I am so much happier with this skein and I’m glad I did it.

Part Ten will be tomorrow. Mahalo for understanding. Knitting? Writing? Or both?

You folks can cheer me on… the encouragement would be fabulous.

Just last week, our friend passed her five-year, cancer-free anniversary, so I’m reposting this story in celebration. Mahalo ke Akua!

One time Nolemana was having surgery in a large Portland hospital, so I took my spinning wheel (it was going to be a fairly long surgery) and was spinning some dyed purple wool in the open, not crowded, waiting room. I was happily creating a yummy yarn when a doctor and his entourage stopped behind me and asked what I was doing. I told him I was spinning and making yarn to knit with. He asked what kind of stuff it was and I replied that it was wool.

He gave me this condescending, arrogant look as if I were out of my mind, and with his coattails flapping in the breeze as he left, entourage in his wake, I heard him say to his students, “Oh yeah, right! Purple sheep!”

I wanted a quick project to do today so decided to knit this li’ili’i [little] sockie. It just took me about 2 1/2 hours, and I’m so pleased with how it turned out. Ho da kewt, yeah?

Much quicker than socks for my feets!

I haven’t posted photos of some of my knitting projects for awhile now, and thought it was time I did. Seems like anytime I have any free time at all, like waiting for tire rotation at Les Schwab, or at the doctor’s office, or at The Gathering or home church or wherever, I’m always knitting. Sometimes I even finish stuff! (more…)

So remember the humuhumunukunukuapua‘a I knit for Hawaiian Beanz Coffee Shop? All this time I’ve been waiting for Mike to do what we’d decided on so that nobody could steal the fishie, and two weeks ago, he finally got it done (not that I hounded him about it or anything… let’s just say I strongly reminded him!) (more…)

Last fall when Nolemana and I went to Hood River for apples, we stopped by Foothills Yarn and Fiber, as always. He wanted me to knit him a hat, but thought they should always be dark, unnoticeable colors. Ho da boring! (more…)

Right about the time the huge snowstorm hit at Christmas last month, I started feeling junk. I thought I was getting a cold. But if that’s what it was, it was sure a weird one. (more…)

During the Arctic Blast of December, I also knitted some handwarmers for myself. I love these things!! Kukui was my cooperative background; I think she makes a great contrast for the yarn colors. (more…)

Amanda is my hānai mo‘opuna [granddaugher]; her folks own Hawaiian Beanz Coffee Company, my favorite home away from home. Her birthday was December 30th, but because of all the snow we had I couldn’t get them to her till today. (more…)

I started a new sock yesterday. This yarn is also from Maui Yarns, and I fell in love with the colorway. I’m just about down to the heel flap already. These colors are not my usual ones, but I am so pleased with the way this sock is turning out that I may have to get a couple of shirts just to go with it! (more…)

Since the humu was going to Hawaiian Beanz Coffee Shop, I re-made his eyes and added some coffee bean decorations to his tail. (more…)

The “Ripe Pineapple” socks are pau! I got the yarn from MauiYarn at Etsy.com. Her yarns are fabulous. I loved knitting these socks. I should’ve used size 2 needles, however, because they’re a little snug. Next time, Mokihana, do a gauge swatch, you lolo! (more…)

I can’t stop knitting these fish! This is my second one and I’ve just started on my fourth! As I was knitting this one, he told me he wanted to live at Hawaiian Beanz. I checked with Mike to make sure it was okay, and when he said “Sure!” (more…)

I wanted to make something special for my hānai niece, and decided to knit her a fishie! I found a wonderful pattern, bought some Noro Kureyon yarn, and during our Bible Study retreat at the beach over the weekend, knit this cute little guy and called him a humuhumunukunukuapua‘a. (Yeah yeah, I know da colors aren’t right.) (more…)

I finished the Upside Down Daisy Hat from Itty Bitty Hats yesterday, and am very pleased with the way it turned out. The stem of the flower was a little fiddly, and I thought this would be the first and only hat like this I would make. But thanks to some people on Ravelry, who encouraged me to finish, I did. And I just might make another one! (more…)

My hands are always cold in winter. We keep our house pretty cool, and here in my office my desk is right in front of a sliding glass door. Yes, it’s thermal. But my hands still get cold. So I decided to knit myself a pair of handwarmers. (more…)

Julie and I go to the same Bible Study, and we consider it our moral obligation to check out the new yarn stores around the Portland area so that we can maintain our status as yarn pushers enablers and report back to the rest of the girls. I had read about Yarnia on Monica’s blog, and was so intrigued that on Monday I told Julie I wanted us to go there as scouts. (more…)

My friend Kerrie was recently diagonosed with cancer, and began her chemo last week. She is a vibrant, full-of-life person, who has an incredible gift as a watercolor artist. She is creative and funny, and I wanted to make her something special. I decided on a chemo cap, and chose Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk to make it with. (more…)