Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Feet Don't Desert me!
I looks as though someone stuck to the knitting and finished the pair of socks that have been OTN for months!
They fit. And they are cozy!
The yarn is merino and nylon and is very soft.
So, whadda ya think?
That makes 15 down and 12 to go. Currently, I have only one in process, so I need to cast on many more.
I think I'll start a baby sweater for an up and coming bambino, and maybe the beginning of a cushy snowman pillow.
Here's one last look before I pack them away.
Only 23 knitting days until I have to turn my stuff in! I'd better get cracking.
(Yes, my legs really are that white!)
Labels: fair entry
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Let It Snow!
No, wait! Not yet!
Mr. and Mrs. Snow with the inspiration in the background.
It's an ad in IK Holiday Knits 2007, p. 11. Wooly Snowbabies, knitted and felted.
Mine are knitted, but not felted. Just plain old ack for the bodies and odds and ends for the trimmings.
14 down, 13 to go!
Labels: fair entry
Saturday, July 26, 2008
The Week In Review
I wish that I could say it's been a quiet week, but that would be something of a stretch.
At work, we have been painting all month (exterior first, now interior) for the first time in perhaps 15 years. It looks incredible! So clean and bright and so marred (again) with graffiti! What goes through the minds of people who get their kicks damaging other people's property?
With the fair less than a month away, I've moved into high gear on starting and finishing. My tags arrived and of 27 entries, 13 are completed and several more are well under way.
These would be the "underway" ones.
Snowman pair, other
2-piece baby set, sweater and (still deciding on hat or booties)
Some other odds and ends that are not actually "fair knitting," but that need to be completed in the near future.
Book I just finished (and have moved along to the next in the series--1949)
I have loved this little sweater since the first time I saw it on the Berroco website. It's not a freebie (at least not yet), but I bought the booklet (#274 if you are interested) and plan to make at least a couple of the sweaters before the Tiny Prince outgrows this size range.
I am using Fibranatura Baby Merino in Billy (light blue), Jason (red), and Cassandra (natural) 100% wool, superwash. The body will be all in Billy, as I'm less than crazy about the contrasting sleeves and ribbing.
This will be a fair entry.
Also still under construction, the Penny socks. Yarn was hand-painted in this colorway by Janice. The last hank known to be available is here. If you want it, get it now!
Sock is just the basic, cast on 64 and knit until you can't stand it any more. I used a 2X2 rib for an inch and a sl 1, k1 heel flap.
These are for me and for the fair. I love the way the yarn stripes!
Adult Mittnz, also for the fair, then on their way to Cheyenne River for the 2008 Mittnz Blitz. This is pair number 9 for me (or maybe 10--I've lost track).
Yarn is Gjestal Naturgarn, pattern here. These would work up well in a bulky Lopi yarn as well.
Construction is a bit unusual. I had to go back and look at the photo as I had printed off only the words. Made more sense with a picture.
And so ends another weekend. Work week looms ahead. What will this one bring?
At work, we have been painting all month (exterior first, now interior) for the first time in perhaps 15 years. It looks incredible! So clean and bright and so marred (again) with graffiti! What goes through the minds of people who get their kicks damaging other people's property?
With the fair less than a month away, I've moved into high gear on starting and finishing. My tags arrived and of 27 entries, 13 are completed and several more are well under way.
These would be the "underway" ones.
Snowman pair, other
2-piece baby set, sweater and (still deciding on hat or booties)
Some other odds and ends that are not actually "fair knitting," but that need to be completed in the near future.
Book I just finished (and have moved along to the next in the series--1949)
I have loved this little sweater since the first time I saw it on the Berroco website. It's not a freebie (at least not yet), but I bought the booklet (#274 if you are interested) and plan to make at least a couple of the sweaters before the Tiny Prince outgrows this size range.
I am using Fibranatura Baby Merino in Billy (light blue), Jason (red), and Cassandra (natural) 100% wool, superwash. The body will be all in Billy, as I'm less than crazy about the contrasting sleeves and ribbing.
This will be a fair entry.
Also still under construction, the Penny socks. Yarn was hand-painted in this colorway by Janice. The last hank known to be available is here. If you want it, get it now!
Sock is just the basic, cast on 64 and knit until you can't stand it any more. I used a 2X2 rib for an inch and a sl 1, k1 heel flap.
These are for me and for the fair. I love the way the yarn stripes!
Adult Mittnz, also for the fair, then on their way to Cheyenne River for the 2008 Mittnz Blitz. This is pair number 9 for me (or maybe 10--I've lost track).
Yarn is Gjestal Naturgarn, pattern here. These would work up well in a bulky Lopi yarn as well.
Construction is a bit unusual. I had to go back and look at the photo as I had printed off only the words. Made more sense with a picture.
And so ends another weekend. Work week looms ahead. What will this one bring?
Labels: baby things, fair entries, mittnz
Monday, July 21, 2008
The Mittnz Are Rolling In
Jean G made this batch. I really really [heart] the snowman ones (click to make it bigger so you can see how very cute).
The pattern is on her blog. (There's a really cute "sweater along" there, too!)
Labels: mittnz
Proud As a Peacock
The Other Half voted for the little white lace collar (I wasn't so sure, and besides,the pattern called for it to be the same color).
He called it "icing."
He also said that this is a Princess Dress, the kind a little girl puts on and feels just like a princess. The man is a poet!
I always knew there was a reason I kept him around!
Here's a closeup of the "icing."
It's only 5 rows from cast on to cast off, and has the look of tatting.
And here's the lacy skirt. Looks like feather and fan, but isn't.
The waves are formed by two decrease rounds followed by a round of k1, yo.
There's a picot bind off at the scalloped hem edge.
And a picot edge on the sleeve.Details, Details
Pattern: Mary Jane Dress from Rich Designs' Kids to Grown-Ups Seamless Sweaters
Yarn: Paton's Astra color 2746 (rich Peacock green/blue, if I had to give it a name) and Lion Brand Jamie Baby White, both 100% acrylic, both 6 st./in.
The pattern calls for 500 yards of DK weight cotton for the size 3 (23" finished chest). Weighing the remaining yarn tells me that the yardage is accurate.
I followed the directions for a "fuller skirt," but left off the ribbing at the faux waist. In my experience, most 3 year olds don't actually have a waist.
Today is my 4th blogiversary! Let the wild revels begin! Oh, it's Monday. And you know what that means!
Labels: fair entry
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Happy Birthday, Baby!
I have known you for more than 2/3 of your life. As the Older Kid and the Younger Kid woyuld have said in their younger days: That's even longer than you've known us!
May you have many, many happy beach days ahead!
May you have many, many happy beach days ahead!
Labels: current events
Friday, July 18, 2008
And Then All H*ll Broke Loose!
The sky was bright blue when out of nowhere. . .a giant clap of thunder broke the peace of Thursday afternoon.
That sent Sparky the Bob-tailed Wonder Cat under the bed. Then nothing, for several minutes, then the distant roll of thunder, and then. . .
Lightning, thunder and a driving rain so hard that we had to close all the windows, and then the lights went out.
Fortunately, dinner was nearly cooked and so, we didn't starve. And then, it was early to bed for the Other Half and me.
The fury of the storm made me wish there was room under that bed for two more!
Lights came back on at 1:15 this morning. Ask me how I know this.
That sent Sparky the Bob-tailed Wonder Cat under the bed. Then nothing, for several minutes, then the distant roll of thunder, and then. . .
Lightning, thunder and a driving rain so hard that we had to close all the windows, and then the lights went out.
Fortunately, dinner was nearly cooked and so, we didn't starve. And then, it was early to bed for the Other Half and me.
The fury of the storm made me wish there was room under that bed for two more!
Lights came back on at 1:15 this morning. Ask me how I know this.
Labels: current events
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Day Late, Dollar Short?
I know I promised pictures of knitting, and here they are (finally)!
Ihave had all of this On Line Linie 121 (Summertime) that I bought way back 15 months ago. (Yeh, 4 bags, bite me!) I've used a bit to make things for the Tiny Prince (frog suit, surplice sweater), but face it, 40X 135 meters is a heck of a lot of yarn!*
I figured that I would try it double-stranded and make a blankie for the rez, you know, the giant dishcloth one. That consumed considerable yardage.
Well, the fabric is so cushie and snuggly that I decided to make a
little sweater to go with the blankie. (Pattern is a very basic top-down raglan, seamless--pattern in a book I found remaindered at Ollie's--the Portable Crafter: Knitting by Leanne Bennet.)
That used up another couple of balls (3.5 oz. or so).
I found the perfect flat yellow buttons in the Button Stash and called it a finished baby set.
Then I realized that one of the possible fair categories is 3-piece Infant set, blanket, sweater and
cap!
And so, I cast on Tammy's In a Flap Cap. It doesn't require strings or ribbons to keep it on baby's head. The ears are covered. What more can you ask of a little hat?
I think the fabric is loose for my taste, but in person, it looks good and it, too, is nice and cushie.
Summertime knit fabric is very similar to French Terry. All cak, all the time.
*Even after all that, I still have more than 2 miles of the stuff left! I have a full bag of grenadine (orangy red), a nearly full bag (missing about 20 yards) of Marine (navy blue) and 6 balls of this yellow. I forsee a couple more blankies after the fair knitting is complete!
I
I figured that I would try it double-stranded and make a blankie for the rez, you know, the giant dishcloth one. That consumed considerable yardage.
Well, the fabric is so cushie and snuggly that I decided to make a
little sweater to go with the blankie. (Pattern is a very basic top-down raglan, seamless--pattern in a book I found remaindered at Ollie's--the Portable Crafter: Knitting by Leanne Bennet.)
That used up another couple of balls (3.5 oz. or so).
I found the perfect flat yellow buttons in the Button Stash and called it a finished baby set.
Then I realized that one of the possible fair categories is 3-piece Infant set, blanket, sweater and
cap!
And so, I cast on Tammy's In a Flap Cap. It doesn't require strings or ribbons to keep it on baby's head. The ears are covered. What more can you ask of a little hat?
I think the fabric is loose for my taste, but in person, it looks good and it, too, is nice and cushie.
Summertime knit fabric is very similar to French Terry. All cak, all the time.
*Even after all that, I still have more than 2 miles of the stuff left! I have a full bag of grenadine (orangy red), a nearly full bag (missing about 20 yards) of Marine (navy blue) and 6 balls of this yellow. I forsee a couple more blankies after the fair knitting is complete!
Labels: baby things, fair entry
Saturday, July 12, 2008
The Further Adventures of Sparky, the Bob-tailed Wonder Cat
. . .Formerly Kitten
We have gone through "bladder issues" with our cat. A couple of years ago, she finally wound up having general anesthesia and a sterile urine sample removed during a pneumocystic scan (x-ray with the bladder blown up with air).
After all that, the culture was negative for bizarre bacteria. Four different types/rounds of antibiotics later, she appeared "cured."
We finally wound up keeping a Feliway plug-in running constantly in the house. There is some suspicion that part of her problem was stress. She was on an anti-depressant (Elavil) for years and had to come off cold turkey because of her thyroid (the two meds don't play nicely together).
The up side was that her belly fur is growing back in! (Side effect of the mood med was an itchy rash--poor baby was chewing herself raw!) (Digression: this is the second time in recent months that I have self-diagnosed a serious symptom just by reading the package insert. Is it too much to ask that medical personnel do the same? )
Sparky went to the vet this morning for her regular blood draw (now, we are trying to get her thyroid medication stabilized).
Here's what we do: Sparky gets her leash on (it's a figure 8 rabbit harness), then she starts howling. We hop in the car (okay, I hop, she clings and howls). I start the car and turn on the CD player REALLY LOUD. Then we sing along for the 15 minute ride (she's partial to Helen Reddy and Rod Stewart).
When she was finished with the 2 minute procedure, she walked from the door, down the walk, across the parking lot to our car, just like a well-behaved, trained kitty. On her leash.
(The techs in the vet's office are probably still laughing at that sight!)
Labels: cats
Friday, July 11, 2008
Two Inches, Who Woulda Thunk?
Get your collective minds Out Of the Gutter! Now!
A couple of months ago, we replaced our geriatric king-size water bed with a new mattress and box spring. I won't even go into the difference between 18" off the floor and, what, 30?; that is significant unto itself and fodder for a blog entry somewhere down the road.
No, the two inches I'm talking about are the 78 X 80 dimensions of a king-size bed. It's 78 inches wide (side to side) and 80 inches long (head to foot).
The salesman told us (uh, oh, here it comes) that since it's a pillow-top (with a big cushy built-in pad) that it shouldn't be turned over (I sort of figured taht out on my own, but rather sort of twisted 90 degrees each month or so (WTF? the mattress we had before the water bed was foam and it didn't get turned at all, ditto the water bed except for the occasional shift of the tubes because we were acquiring gullies). Clearly, we were entering uncharted waters.
Okay, I'm all for following instructions, so the last time I changed the sheets, I dutifully turned the damned thing so that the sides were now at the head and foot (and the stripes on the sheets ran horizontal on the bottom one and vertical on the top one). Then we spent the next week or more with our toes hanging off the end of the mattress. Two Freakin' Inches! Did I mention that there was an overhang on the sides and a little ledge at the foot?
In upcoming episodes, read: Why the Mattress Will Never Again Be Shifted 90 Degrees, How the Cat Copes With an Extra 12" Leap, How the Humans Cope With a Tall Bed. Why There Isn't More Room Under the Bed? and other interesting slices of life.
Next Episode: Actual Knitting!
A couple of months ago, we replaced our geriatric king-size water bed with a new mattress and box spring. I won't even go into the difference between 18" off the floor and, what, 30?; that is significant unto itself and fodder for a blog entry somewhere down the road.
No, the two inches I'm talking about are the 78 X 80 dimensions of a king-size bed. It's 78 inches wide (side to side) and 80 inches long (head to foot).
The salesman told us (uh, oh, here it comes) that since it's a pillow-top (with a big cushy built-in pad) that it shouldn't be turned over (I sort of figured taht out on my own, but rather sort of twisted 90 degrees each month or so (WTF? the mattress we had before the water bed was foam and it didn't get turned at all, ditto the water bed except for the occasional shift of the tubes because we were acquiring gullies). Clearly, we were entering uncharted waters.
Okay, I'm all for following instructions, so the last time I changed the sheets, I dutifully turned the damned thing so that the sides were now at the head and foot (and the stripes on the sheets ran horizontal on the bottom one and vertical on the top one). Then we spent the next week or more with our toes hanging off the end of the mattress. Two Freakin' Inches! Did I mention that there was an overhang on the sides and a little ledge at the foot?
In upcoming episodes, read: Why the Mattress Will Never Again Be Shifted 90 Degrees, How the Cat Copes With an Extra 12" Leap, How the Humans Cope With a Tall Bed. Why There Isn't More Room Under the Bed? and other interesting slices of life.
Next Episode: Actual Knitting!
Labels: current events
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
To the Pollster Who Called Tonight
The wording of your questions made it very clear which way you wanted the answers to go.
Labels: current events
Monday, July 07, 2008
A Squeeze of Lime
With a little math, I reverse engineered this:
from this photo.
If you want to make your own, buy the pattern. It is so worth it. I ripped and reknit 4 times before I was satisfied with the angles.
I like the straight lines on the original better than the spirals on mine. I could probably block them out, but then, I'd have a hexagon, not a circle.
I may try again--for an orange slice, or perhaps a lemon. I don't seem to have quite enough lime-color left. (Thank goodness for the scale. It has saved me more than once.)
The yarn? Some sort of cotton stuff (probably Tahki Cotton Classic) left over from another project and Sugar and Cream or Salt and Something. You know, the dishcloth stuff from the big box store. Both doubled. On size 9.
Do I need to say it's a pot holder?
from this photo.
If you want to make your own, buy the pattern. It is so worth it. I ripped and reknit 4 times before I was satisfied with the angles.
I like the straight lines on the original better than the spirals on mine. I could probably block them out, but then, I'd have a hexagon, not a circle.
I may try again--for an orange slice, or perhaps a lemon. I don't seem to have quite enough lime-color left. (Thank goodness for the scale. It has saved me more than once.)
The yarn? Some sort of cotton stuff (probably Tahki Cotton Classic) left over from another project and Sugar and Cream or Salt and Something. You know, the dishcloth stuff from the big box store. Both doubled. On size 9.
Do I need to say it's a pot holder?
Labels: fair entry
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Memories
We watched a recorded movie last night. It brought overwhelming memories of college and hope and all sorts of feelings back.
I can't help but wonder how different life would be today if RFK had not died back in 1968. Forty years ago.
Whether he would have been elected President is something that we will never know. But even if he had not, I suspect that he would have kept us honest and grounded.
Yep. Things would have been different.
I can't help but wonder how different life would be today if RFK had not died back in 1968. Forty years ago.
Whether he would have been elected President is something that we will never know. But even if he had not, I suspect that he would have kept us honest and grounded.
Yep. Things would have been different.
Labels: movies
Friday, July 04, 2008
Why Fireworks Are Illegal
They are dangerous.
They disturb the peace.
They scare other people's pets.
And now that the actual holiday is over, please put them away until next year.
Thank you very much.
They disturb the peace.
They scare other people's pets.
And now that the actual holiday is over, please put them away until next year.
Thank you very much.
Labels: current events
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