Told ya there'd be more color

I couldn't resist this yarn any longer.

I've been looking & looking for a top pattern for myself & although I find things, they're not 100% what I want. It's either too plain or too much. I like simple, but with a little extra something. So this is my first foray (and maybe last, depending on how disastrous this goes) into designing. I want a halter top/tunic (haven't quite decided) with a picot hem; I'm not yet sure how the back is going to be.

This yarn is bamboo & it's extremely soft, but also splitty. I've done quite a few gauge swatches on it & it's the sort of yarn that can't handle too many tests. So I'm wondering about how it's going to hold up as a garment. I won't know until I'm finished, I guess. This makes me sort of nervous, this not-knowing. At the same time, I'm excited about making something up as I go along.

This is either the beginning of a beautiful relationship or the descent into one of those where you end up applying for a restraining order.

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Fun With Cables

Here's my finished Chunky Cable Purse. It was a very quick knit, but since I wanted to be different & have a nicer liner than just the canvas tote the pattern called for, I had additional sewing to do. Note to self: I like hand-sewing even less than I thought.

Pattern: KnitPicks Chunky Cable Purse (free!)
Yarn: KnitPicks Sierra in Cranberry; 70% wool, 30% superfine alpaca. Bulky yarn, nice to knit with.

The pattern calls for 2 hanks, but I used less than one.

Closeup of handles. I just love these handles. I bought them at Joann's.

Closeup of liner, also from Joann's.

Also, I am finally seeing a light at the end of the long, gray tunnel, so DH's socks will be done probably before the weekend. However, it remains to be seen if he'll actually wear them.

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Ten things my kids need to know

1. If you put it on just for a few minutes to admire yourself or any other benign purpose, but decide not to wear it--even if you then put that item on the floor instead of in the drawer like I repeatedly tell you--it's not dirty, so get it out of the *!&@!*# hamper. I have enough dirty clothes to wash without washing the clean ones, too.

2. If you put your mouth on a water bottle, it's yours henceforth & forevermore until it's empty; then it belongs in Recycle Heaven & you know very well where that is. Note: Why these prissy kids today can't drink tap water like we did is beyond me.

3. If, by some random lining up of all the stars & planets in the universe, you see me with my eyes closed & lying down, do not come to ask me for a snack (can you wait 30 minutes since it's only been 20 minutes since you last ate??), tell me that your brother is swinging his foot out at you when you pass, ask if there really is a Santa Claus, etc. Let me sleep!

4. You all are never going to get dates if you don't actually put toothpaste on those toothbrushes.

5. It's fine with me if you guys want to engage in hand-to-hand combat while I'm knitting a hat, a scarf, a sock. But must you hit the button for World War III while I'm working on a lace pattern?? Huh??

6. On that note, do you decide to scream at the top of your lungs only when I'm on the phone?

7. You are not the only children in the world without an XBox. You're not. I'm sure there are some Amish children somewhere who are suffering just like you.

8. There really are starving people in the world & guess what, you're not one of them. Someone who hasn't eaten in 1 hour is not, technically, "starving."

9. A, my one & only girl, in my hopes to one day get you out of my house see you married, I'm only going to say this once more: you have to be just a tad bit neater. Otherwise, the only man who will want to marry you is going to be named Fred Sanford:

10. Oh yeah, I love ya.

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Would you call me obsessive?

Went a little nuts at the bookstores

I was supposed to take a knitting break this past weekend. Just because I needed to read & write more. I took more of a mini-break because I couldn't give it up entirely. So I worked this up in 1 day (a personal record):

I've been wanting to make the Chunky Cable Purse for a long time & I could knit these all day long. I needed some color to break up the monotony of the Vast Gray Wasteland, otherwise known as the grey socks. I just have to sew in a liner (actually a canvas bag) & sew on handles. Not bad for under $10. Once the sturdy liner is in, it won't look so wonky at the bottom.

Yarn: KnitPicks Sierra in Cranberry

Also, I went to the LYS. Now, on my way out the door, I told DH where I was going & he gives me the I-can't-believe-you're-buying-more-yarn look. So I said "I don't have to buy anything!"

I can't believe I said that with a straight face.

The stuff on the bottom, I can't show you because it's for my Secret Sistah Friend. It's a wrench giving it away because it is yummy; next time, I'll buy some for myself. The chocolate brown you see will be a sweater for me.

Gratuitous Yarn-Porn Shot (Partial view of LYS haul)

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The Long, Hot Summer

No, not the movie, the actual experience of having children home for the summer. (Yeah, I wish the young Paul Newman was hanging around here.) I have to find things for them to do, so yesterday was the museum. Now, our city's Museum of Science & History sucks leaves much to be desired, but we've already done the zoo, Ollie Koala's, library, movies, bookstore, LYS, etc. I have to keep things fresh, or else the kids turn on me like rabid dogs.

File this next bit under "You Know You Have a Problem When..."

At the museum, my 7 year-old says "Mom, look! Yarn!" & I rush over to see what he's talking about. I may have shoved someone's child out of the way to get there ("Sorry, lady!"). Anyway, in the World War II display, there was a tin filled with the yarn knitters used to make socks, sweaters, etc. for the soldiers. In the museum, the tin was open so you could see how drab olive the yarn was. (Still, my fingers started itching.)

This being Florida, staying outside for any length of time between the hours of, oh, 5 a.m. & 9 p.m. is just asking for heatstroke. If your air-conditioning breaks now, you may as well fling yourself on a charcoal grill (the lit grill will be about 6 degrees cooler than the air around you).

But this knitter perseveres, in spite of the heat. That's what AC is for.

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Hey baby, can't wait 'til you're finished

This is the only way sock-making gets done for me, to immediately cast on for #2 as soon as I finish weaving in ends for #1. So far, I've avoided SSS this way. I don't know yet if DH is going to like these socks (he tends to be picky picky picky when it comes to clothes), but if he doesn't, I never have to make him another pair, which has an upside. His feet are bigger than mine, therefore his socks are more time-consuming & when you're working with funereal gray & this particular pattern (which, while easy, is about as fun as getting hit on by a drunk relative at a funeral--don't ask, just forget it was ever mentioned), you're glad to be done. GLAD.

Upcoming projects have lots more color, thank goodness!

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If only this was sock #2

If this was sock #2, I'd be able to finish it & package it nicely in time for Father's Day. I'd have a great feeling of accomplishment. I'd stick a bow on it with a big grin on my face.

But...this is not sock #2. This is only sock #1 & first socks often get the brunt of knitter's frustration. Not at first, of course. At first, it's all love. Casting on, that first join...oh, it's love, I tell you. But somewhere around pattern repetition #3874, you get bored out of your mind & it doesn't get any better when you remember this is only the first sock. When you finish sock #1, you're not happy, you're not elated. You either cast on for #2 or suffer debilitating Second Sock Syndrome & find something better to do.

Sometimes, first socks languish for a long time. They'll give you a guilty look if they can, so it's best to cover them up with something (big hanks of chunky yarn work well). They'll whisper to you, I just want a mate. I just want a partner in life. You know first socks--they're needy.

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Too busy to knit

'Scuse me while I whine a bit because I've gotten very little knitting done. I'm going to make this short & painless, like a booster shot.

Friday was A's dance recital, which requires almost a whole day of dance-related stuff. We spent 4 hours at the morning rehearsal (yes, 4 hours!!!), then had to go back for the actual recital that night. Every year at this time, I'm like "why did I sign her up for dance again??" Anyway, I was able to knit some at the morning rehearsal (to A's utter embarrassment--heh heh), but that was it.

By the way, A was so amazing in all of her dances...that's why I signed her up! Now I remember!

Saturday was such a blur, I can't remember what I did.

Sunday, the 'rents came over. My mom & A play Monopoly like 2 old tycoons. They scare me when they play--they get so vicious. They play like it's real money.

So I figured Monday would have things back to normal & I could finish up DH's first sock (& start a mad dash on the 2nd). Well, wouldn't you know, I found this...

Short version of a long story: This dog is at the entrance to my neighborhood, dangerously close to the most-traveled road in my city. I take him home & feed him with dog food I hadn't yet had the heart to throw out. I take him to the vet, who gives me meds for the dog's hookworms & flea medication; the vet also locates the dog's microchip number. I call Home AgainID & am still waiting to hear from the poor thing's owner. Still! To be perfectly honest, I think the dog was dumped. *I'm not going to go into my irresponsible pet owner rant here* I'm just going to take 10 deep breaths & go on.

Anyway, this is the "After" shot, after I took the dog to my old groomer. Now I don't know what I'm going to do. I really wasn't ready to get another dog. Plus, this dog belongs to someone (can you believe anybody wouldn't be looking for this dog??). He's a neutered Cocker Spaniel, so the fact that he's purebred, fixed & implanted with a chip tells me that someone loved (loves?) him at some point & time. He was obviously groomed, but being out for who knows how long (& clearly hungry) made him very dirty & matted. (That's why you don't see a "Before" shot--believe me, he was beyond filthy.)

So between vet visits, phone calls, groomer drop-offs & pickups, etc., DH's first sock is barely into the gusset...and Father's Day is this Sunday?? *UGH*

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Good things DO come in small packages

I received this gift in the mail from Sara Jayne the other day.

Words cannot express how touched I am to get such a thoughtful present from someone I've never met; she's not my Secret Pal or anything, she just sent this to me out of the kindness of her heart.

The yarn--she told me--is Malabrigo. I'd never even touched Malabrigo before, but she's got me hooked now! Must.Buy.More.Yarn. Must.Be.Malabrigo.

It's a keychain & the charm attached says "I *heart* knitting."


And there's needles & a scarf & a basket on the charm, too. I LOVE IT!!!

There was also this handmade card which has a nice little poem inside. How talented!

Thanks so much, Sara!!! This absolutely made my day.

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What's next?

First, I'd like to thank Ginx, who remembered that it was Crazy Aunt Purl who tempted me with her fried green tomatoes. I tell ya, people, if you post food in your blogs, I will want it.

The Irish Hiking Scarf is done! It took me so long because although I was told I had matching dye lot numbers (and indeed, all the balls had the same number on them), I didn't. To avoid that tacky, obvious color change, I had to knit with 2 balls & switch every couple of rows & that just made the whole thing drag on & on & on (like an Air Supply tune--any Air Supply tune).

I only have 2 WIPs, then: the baby blanket & DH's socks, which have been sitting around forever. I'm thinking I can give these to DH for Father's Day--I know, what man doesn't want more socks for Father's Day? Or how about another necktie (preferably one that lights up)? Can't beat that. But these are handknit socks, not your average socks & I know all knitters out there can understand & appreciate that. Plus, I'll get him that Home Depot gift card he wants (which he'll probably love more than the socks it took me days to make).

After that, I'll knit a little something for my Secret Pal. It's something I've been wanting to make for a while, so this is just perfect.

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Today was a good day

I found a LYS that I didn't even know existed! *swoon* I was puttering around on the Web last night & found KnitWitz. Needless to say, I was there before the doors opened this morning (face pressed against the glass, messing it all up). It's really lovely; they have comfy chairs for their Knit-ins & the owner was super sweet. I only picked up a few things--the sock yarn you see here & something else for my Secret Pal for the Secret Sistah Friend Exchange. I practiced Restraint, people. Never mind that I also ordered some yarn from Patternworks yesterday. Just strike that from the record, please.

Ever since I saw another blogger post about these, I've been craving some. (I wish I could find the blog again so that I can blame credit the right person.) Anyway, here are my own Fried Green Tomatoes. I know, I know, to people in the North (or from the North, like my DH), this is the same thing as grits & fish, as unlikely a food as poached possum tails (no offense to anyone who eats poached possum tails). I have no defense except to say that I live in the South.

Plus, they're good.

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First top for myself, done

Not too shabby. I'm not yet sure how I'm going to wear it; I need a better shirt to go underneath, but just to show you, I'm wearing what's available.

And yes, I'm always this gorgeous first thing in the morning. HAHAHAAAAAAA.

"MAAAAAKKKKE-UP!!!"

Yarn: Rowan 4-ply cotton
Pattern: Prairie Tunic, Interweave Knits Spring '06
Designer: Veronik Avery

Even DH said I did a good job & for someone like him, who does not get the knitting thing at all, that's a big compliment. And speaking of DH, I will be so happy once I get the never-ending Irish Hiking Scarf off the needles so that I can finally finish the poor man's socks. Actually, the scarf is a fun project (I really like cabling) but as with most scarves, at some point, you're like young children in the backseat of your parents' station wagon on the Road Trip to Nowhere: Are we there yet?? (Or Donkey from Shrek 2, whomever you most resemble)

So once the scarf comes off (my bad dye lot problem also turned this into a long, drawn-out affair that I never want to revisit), I'll only have 2 WIPs & I'll be very happy because that's about all I can handle right now.

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She knits! She paints! She blogs!

I am finally--FINALLY--getting to the end of the front of the tunic. Oh my, I can't wait to finish this top! If it fits, I swear I'll wear it all summer; stinky, fresh, it doesn't matter. I made it, I'm gonna wear it.

Underneath is the beginning of one of my paintings for my breakfast nook. It's been years since I picked up a paintbrush, so I feel kind of rusty, but it doesn't have to be perfect or a masterpiece. It just has to hang on the wall & make me happy while I'm drinking my morning cup of sanity coffee, right?

I knitted at A's recital rehearsal last night. If you've ever taken dance or have a child who takes dance, you know that when it's nearing recital time, it's total chaos. All the students who dance at the studio are there at the same time, so I'm in a room with about 200 children (there's another room full, too) & it's about as loud as a Van Halen concert. Maybe even louder. There were about the same number of bodies flying through the air.

I claimed an out-of-the-way bench & proceeded to drown them out, which, surprisingly, I was able to do. Still, I heard "Cool, she's knitting" from someone's brilliant child. A fellow knitter came up to me & told me the front was beautiful. She didn't bring her own knitting, however :-( She didn't think she'd be able to concentrate. But she said she'd look for me to wear the top on Recital Night. Yes, if I finish by then (1 week from today!), I'll wear it.

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