tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18069073188402530582024-03-14T06:14:02.938-05:00The Knitting WayKnitting with fiber, three kitties, contact lenses, and allergies.The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-37830746090803214652014-03-13T17:14:00.002-05:002014-03-13T17:14:27.372-05:00Queue Up<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Spring will just not arrive for us! We are waiting patiently. Well, we have been waiting patiently, but our patience is waning. It seems that our nastiest of weather occurs on the weekends, which leaves us housebound and dreaming of greener and warmer days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Right now on my needles I have Owls. I finished the lower part of the body and was ready to begin the first sleeve, but could not find cables to go with my knit picks needles. Now, I could put the body on waste yarn and dig through the bin to find other needles of the size needed, but I was perplexed as to why I did not have those extra cables. I am really not one to leave a project on needles, especially a project that would not come to mind. I tend to finish what I start in knitting. So, I went on a search and found <a href="http://www.chicknits.com/sitcom-chic.shtml" target="_blank">Sitcom Chic</a> by Bonne Marie Burns languishing for <i>years</i>. There were two cables on the second sleeve (I knit sleeves in the round with two circulars). Half of that second sleeve was complete. I figured I could put those stitches on holders, grab those needles and run back to Owls. But. . . perhaps I should just finish Sitcom Chic, have the cables AND needles back into circulation (pun intended) and have another finished project off the needles. So that is what I am doing. Pictures of Owls will have to wait, but soon there will be pictures of a spring sweater to reveal. A spring sweater in the works since 2007. Yes, 2007.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have spent a bit of time organizing stash yarn and performing advanced searches on Ravelry to use up that stash yarn. If you are like me, you search Ravelry in your spare time and find projects to fill up your queue. These projects are in my queue and I have the yarn in my stash to make them. Bonus! (Don't tell my husband, but even knitting these up will not dent the stash yarn. Well, maybe a dent or at least a little mark). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hey-teach" target="_blank">Hey, Teach!</a> by Helene Rush. The stash contains three suitable choices: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in two different colors (gray and smoky green) and Knit Picks Mainline in turquoise. Haven't decided on the color yet. I've been on a blue kick lately so that's what I'm leaning toward, but breaking the lean might be good for me.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGMIVc_9rcpnwl3V4wWWknlKm9IFeP9UfOy7lA-wgyV-y5xXBt0Z2oB4GTxevcB2L_3_I7MHwbRgzYJTXAQxV8O_8txVVwxSSfWCHJ86OtyY4OwjUvMPVhOJ9IT0VV1UaM9ShMs4AV5-g/s1600/2698105163_c6c0b8f4ff_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGMIVc_9rcpnwl3V4wWWknlKm9IFeP9UfOy7lA-wgyV-y5xXBt0Z2oB4GTxevcB2L_3_I7MHwbRgzYJTXAQxV8O_8txVVwxSSfWCHJ86OtyY4OwjUvMPVhOJ9IT0VV1UaM9ShMs4AV5-g/s1600/2698105163_c6c0b8f4ff_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/waiting-for-spring-sweater" target="_blank">Waiting for Spring Sweater</a> by Susan Dempster. Recommended yarn is Lion Brand Wool Ease Solids and Heathers. I have a beautiful blue green stash I picked up at a sale years ago. There is also in the stash a rusty red choice. I'm thinking the blue green (see my bent right now?).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJusyifRMcOxd9Ubi99d7Pswrzh-p1rPihjPwWhekLztGC9xXfe6Pql6dPg5VcIvFk30OKI_fSg8IvANqbSSJTJ4SUBb68cagyT5GT6b0KWUazVKB7SJ0QOvpJVtwgXuJ8iSPKrmqPBsuT/s1600/fallingleaves2_small2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJusyifRMcOxd9Ubi99d7Pswrzh-p1rPihjPwWhekLztGC9xXfe6Pql6dPg5VcIvFk30OKI_fSg8IvANqbSSJTJ4SUBb68cagyT5GT6b0KWUazVKB7SJ0QOvpJVtwgXuJ8iSPKrmqPBsuT/s1600/fallingleaves2_small2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/twiggy-cardigan" target="_blank">Twiggy Cardigan</a> by Jane Richmond. I have an absurd amount of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick. Many colors to choose from. Thick and Quick tends to go on sale at Michaels periodically and when that happens I make a purchase (or two). Time to thin out the thick (and quick) stash!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslF0pkfjXsswcwRN-yPrvRzNzCsMY0DhEc3F_4-g55BlB5qUEiglGHPMfoVexfGoCbE0DEhNwuEZYIRm17pjg6TL04fvHDzIiV7vwTXHyW1jcoGID027KdevHZRbeu4CAzJzyTqoRX1Ao/s1600/Twiggy_Cardigan_099_small2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslF0pkfjXsswcwRN-yPrvRzNzCsMY0DhEc3F_4-g55BlB5qUEiglGHPMfoVexfGoCbE0DEhNwuEZYIRm17pjg6TL04fvHDzIiV7vwTXHyW1jcoGID027KdevHZRbeu4CAzJzyTqoRX1Ao/s1600/Twiggy_Cardigan_099_small2.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/oatmeal-pullover" target="_blank">Oatmeal Pullover</a>, again by Jane Richmond. I like her designs. They are simple, yet feminine and classic. I have a pretty tweedy Patons Chunky Shetland Tweed in light blue and gray. I also have Knit Picks Shamrock which might work as well. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1FjK2J-QlJjfIw9jBHlWW-Qz4yzOEQmYsyYl754MUlYKj7s6MlaCUXmG5P43nKnMpCRxj0jD8HY37sm_0b726aJro-BonZcRzFj3ZsHY-Opx6Cw_DGYfz5hs2LBQEO98xvaG4aPDWkle/s1600/Oatmeal_Pullover_026_medium.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1FjK2J-QlJjfIw9jBHlWW-Qz4yzOEQmYsyYl754MUlYKj7s6MlaCUXmG5P43nKnMpCRxj0jD8HY37sm_0b726aJro-BonZcRzFj3ZsHY-Opx6Cw_DGYfz5hs2LBQEO98xvaG4aPDWkle/s1600/Oatmeal_Pullover_026_medium.JPG" height="320" width="191" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of course, my queue and available yarn is greater than the above selections, but let's start small, eh? What's in your queue?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Stay tuned for upcoming Sitcom Chic.</span></div>
The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-90053087334877997582014-03-06T19:58:00.002-06:002014-03-06T20:03:33.872-06:00Up To My Neck in Knitting<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The first few months of 2014 was all about keeping necks warm. We have had crazy cold weather in Northern Illinois this year. Record breaking cold weather. School-has-been-cancelled-due-to-the-cold-weather weather. On one school cancellation day, I dug out some stash yarn and did an advanced Ravelry search (I LOVE that feature, do you?) to find this gem: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/incognito" target="_blank">Incognito </a>by Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark. The first one was for me. While my husband rebuilt a carburetor in the (heated) garage, I made myself a mustache in the well-heated house. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HAYnEU2ZjlDHADd2G4jHk4N6zsxLo7dZT93aqvyi6iqKSpS2b-vlpfyulm7HOzFaB6-Zl8_Ke_iwBr1XSJQmqFBGyFnyaruW_Ak7VxUFkMMcL-9yzzHFv-t4DhlWW9i68B4qsyvbjaWr/s1600/IMG_1592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HAYnEU2ZjlDHADd2G4jHk4N6zsxLo7dZT93aqvyi6iqKSpS2b-vlpfyulm7HOzFaB6-Zl8_Ke_iwBr1XSJQmqFBGyFnyaruW_Ak7VxUFkMMcL-9yzzHFv-t4DhlWW9i68B4qsyvbjaWr/s1600/IMG_1592.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Dad's birthday was coming up (seems like all of us have January birthdays), so I fashioned one for him. He is outside daily despite the weather. He has to feed his birds and roam his property. A little something to keep him a bit warmer. He is always a willing recipient of knitted goods as his mother kept him in them from childhood. Of course, when I first saw him in it via facetime, he was wearing it upside down. A bow-tie maybe? I explained the mustache to him and he righted it promptly.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNooOzfPRBdbGSGoQb_gq0rZddz4ErD_bGiStG5LOctFqbcu-ygHWpYLVrPPUJpFjl0qazxCL0KvSk7cqcAKugh3KEGetkocQkbsQi-GWGiY4hEp6TTa7CeIlt9LP50kS-HCN8_GbRUkWw/s1600/IMG_1594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNooOzfPRBdbGSGoQb_gq0rZddz4ErD_bGiStG5LOctFqbcu-ygHWpYLVrPPUJpFjl0qazxCL0KvSk7cqcAKugh3KEGetkocQkbsQi-GWGiY4hEp6TTa7CeIlt9LP50kS-HCN8_GbRUkWw/s1600/IMG_1594.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Then the young man was in need of a little knit attention (he gets very little of that), so the stash revealed some hunter-type colors and soon Incognito was adorning his neck.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDvm1gYNWLh6MqpebjtQ-6NCfHy67KD0KDHddekzufY47jsWKPN6J-fw75UL8w7s2KvsMF9EFhF1GRGzfpeD_8F3OPE-avLIuur20jS3MqzF7JksTMreSArpJi29fSBE2o6i4w4fZ5Phz/s1600/IMG_1605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDvm1gYNWLh6MqpebjtQ-6NCfHy67KD0KDHddekzufY47jsWKPN6J-fw75UL8w7s2KvsMF9EFhF1GRGzfpeD_8F3OPE-avLIuur20jS3MqzF7JksTMreSArpJi29fSBE2o6i4w4fZ5Phz/s1600/IMG_1605.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My co-worker has two young girls who are deep into the mustache craze, so I made plans to fashion a few for them as well.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQjwyKBpGJq2D49sQ6FFlDoGTchkmSkZsKnkHQTYvuAHgtdG83I9ykXJ9onjjDlEAIu4StPZKLjf4-zWfwrxVAdb9nakZ-Bo9ZC2tqWWPN3qvBk7N9VaGp0JRcDG7KeZoRWWYnKpVdbrq/s1600/incognito+blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQjwyKBpGJq2D49sQ6FFlDoGTchkmSkZsKnkHQTYvuAHgtdG83I9ykXJ9onjjDlEAIu4StPZKLjf4-zWfwrxVAdb9nakZ-Bo9ZC2tqWWPN3qvBk7N9VaGp0JRcDG7KeZoRWWYnKpVdbrq/s1600/incognito+blue.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One in stash Vanna's Choice blue, which knits up reminiscent of denim. The other in double stranded Caron Simply Soft (went down a needle size for a nice, tight fabric). They were thrilled and the immediate envy of their classmates.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_duwDMd4_uRSrx723_5KnLYxjxit57wIE0ATRneZZDBHYKKv_Pt9gSvydjnbGvmdpUn30J1ANcwr1sJXdpBqK31KVlwBFbACm67JLjF6ocrb_V85Kw7Fp5Na2azRWrYMbRK9hPtOZemW8/s1600/incognito+pink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_duwDMd4_uRSrx723_5KnLYxjxit57wIE0ATRneZZDBHYKKv_Pt9gSvydjnbGvmdpUn30J1ANcwr1sJXdpBqK31KVlwBFbACm67JLjF6ocrb_V85Kw7Fp5Na2azRWrYMbRK9hPtOZemW8/s1600/incognito+pink.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My lovely and hard-working classroom assistant was facing bus duty every afternoon in these arctic temps, so I knit her up a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/marshmallow-fluff" target="_blank">Marshmallow Fluff</a> (fun and amazingly quick knit) in Lion Brand Thick and Quick (again, stash). I did cast on 20 stitches and followed the pattern from there. I believe I did not knit entire length (Provisional cast-on and it is knit long and seamed with a 3 needle bind off). She loved it so much that she requested one for her mother who navigates a school bus and must sit next to the door which opens and closes for each batch of kids. Made an identical one for her, but no picture to show. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> So, those around me have warm necks and I have a warm heart knowing I have a part in that. All of the above neck-warmers/cowls were knit before the <a href="http://theknittingway.blogspot.com/2014/03/olympic-knitting.html" target="_blank">Olympic Bare Trees Jacket</a>, but deserved a post of their own on this little blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And now on to my "test knit". Standardized tests are underway, and I have begun to knit another queue item: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/owls-2" target="_blank">Owls </a>by Kate Davies. I downloaded the patterns years ago when it was a free pattern. This is not stash yarn. Last year, my LYS closed, and I was heartbroken. That yarn store was in my "shopping town" which is about 10 miles away. I was recently informed that my "working town" which is 5 miles away was now host to a quilting/yarn store. Oooo! An immediate cold weekend trip was in order, and I found this beautiful blue Cascade 128 Superwash. As I knit up, I find dye transfer on my hands and uneven dying throughout the fabric, but we'll see how it turns out after washing. I've heard review that this yarn pills horribly, but Cascade says to wash and dry in the dryer and pilling should not be bad. I'll follow their advice and keep you posted. Right now I'm loving the yarn. Soft through the fingers; a delight to knit up with. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Tonight I finished up to the armpit and am ready to begin short rows. </span></div>
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The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-55585216724030696732014-03-02T14:41:00.001-06:002014-03-02T14:41:21.863-06:00Olympic Knitting<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For Ravelry's 2014 Revellenic Games, I entered several projects to be completed in the 16 days of the Olympics. The Valentine Hat was one of them, as were a pair of Incognito Cowls for a co-worker's daughters. But the big challenge for me was to complete a sweater, not only in 16 days, but less given that the aforementioned projects would be completed first. My sweater challenge was <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tree-jacket" target="_blank">Tree Jacket</a> by Sarah Moore. This one has been in queue for quite some time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have had a long, cold, snowy winter that seems to be coldest and snowiest on the weekends. Thus, it seems we have been confined indoors on our days off. One such day I set about organizing my massive stash of yarn. Don't get excited, it is not fully organized, though I'll admit it's better. I found 6 skeins of Lion Brand Cotton-Ease that I'm sure I purchased when I lived in Arizona (read years ago), and I paired it with this pattern. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Watching the Olympics and knitting was no hardship for me at all! In dedication to my sweater event, I had to forgo cleaning. I know, but a girl has been persevere to achieve, am I right? My little buddy and I began my Bare Trees Jacket (in honor of the long, drawn-out winter here).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I truly enjoy watching the Olympics. It's like watching someone's dreams come true. I, of course, cheer on Team USA, but no matter who wins, I share their enthusiasm and applaud them. Years of hard work and persistence and sacrifice and dedication paying off. To be medal-ed as the best in the world. . . Of course, there was great disappointment in watching Team USA lose in hockey, but again, watching the medalists brought a smile to my face and warmth in my heart for them. How can you boo at someone whose dreams are coming true? Not possible for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I began knitting with 11 days to go and accomplished 7 inches of the cowl. Not bad! On Day two I grabbed my project again for the 7:00p.m. start of the Games and discovered that in row 2, I had made a mistake and had to rip the entire cowl out. Yes, there was garage language involved. ;) So, day two consisted of frogging, garage language and re-knitting the entire 7 inches I had just lost to get me back to where I had begun that day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Modifications:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">cast on for size small, but added 10 stitches evenly throughout on set up row.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Picked up 4 stitches on the arm, then took them back out in the next two rounds (ssk, end of round k2tog)</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">knit sleeves in stockinette</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After finishing with crooked, aching fingers on Sunday, in time for the finish line (deadline), I did a little dance. It was iffy there for awhile. In fact, Saturday evening I had decided I wouldn't finish and wouldn't even attempt to finish on Sunday. Upon awakening Sunday I thought "what the heck is that? I have put a marathon of knitting in and I'M NOT STOPPING NOW!" I waited until the following day after work to post to Ravelry's finish lines only to find them closed. I had read that we had 24 hours after closing ceremonies to get into the finish line threads. I assumed (mistakenly) that it was 24 hours after the showing of the closing ceremonies. Nope. 24 hours after the actual closing ceremonies. So, no ravelry avatar (ravatar) for me. But, I have the accomplishment under my belt, in my heart and on my body:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a day of wear, the collar droops and falls down as you can see in the pictures. It stays up the first few hours of wear, but it's downhill from there. Must be the cotton-ease. Not sure what I can do to strengthen it? If you have ideas, please leave me a comment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was not aware that my photographer was snapping away. I look very stern in these pictures, but was just patiently waiting for the husband to take some pictures, not realizing he was. I have a very stern look and did not realize that about myself. Those who know me will tell you, I am not a stern person.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then he said "Why don't you smile for any of these pictures?" So I did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I already have a new knit on the needles (duh, don't all knitters immediately cast on the next project?). It's my "Test Knit Sweater". Next week is the standardized testing week and I am always working on a sweater during that time. This year will be no exception. I will be back to blog about that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Boots is getting better about being snuggly with Heimo (yippee!)</span></div>
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<br />The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-55603856169483597322014-02-15T20:38:00.006-06:002014-02-15T20:38:57.260-06:00Head Over Heels<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am head over heels in love with this man, my husband. For Valentine's Day, I knit him a hat to cover his head, as I've already knit him <a href="http://theknittingway.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-tawt-i-taw-puddy-tat.html" target="_blank">slippers </a>to cover his heels. He projects in the garage frequently, so I "stealth" knit this for him while he was home working in the garage. When he came into the house, I had another knitting project at the ready to pop over this one. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HDkRe62sgIF8ZqCEYejvtaH0cC_lUqThX6vKzZnK-pX8JOFv3JQyENhX5B9SercmesvzsNM-BbIo3cLwOgHIzPoQMO0eyfHgKx_IrZQ6PxIhP3UjnlUsDyxETW8LEIDzwp-8qUlswdaq/s1600/IMG_1687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HDkRe62sgIF8ZqCEYejvtaH0cC_lUqThX6vKzZnK-pX8JOFv3JQyENhX5B9SercmesvzsNM-BbIo3cLwOgHIzPoQMO0eyfHgKx_IrZQ6PxIhP3UjnlUsDyxETW8LEIDzwp-8qUlswdaq/s1600/IMG_1687.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bulky-knitted-hat" target="_blank">Bulky Knitted Hat</a> by Kristen Omdahl. I used stash yarn (yeah!) of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick in brown and white. It's knit from the top down, and meant to be knit flat and seamed, but I did knit it in the round. I used <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall09/FEATjssbo.php" target="_blank">Jenn's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off</a> to finish.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggPRsZ1odHejEckqydQNOlu-HRWcz9XxzxPkCEJwLQjf99aQ77bnn_kKUH-G_22IJNeuBla-q9UNNf20bmi3f-q5V59JuIABF8p574AejYJJJKGK4ptoY9j5urNL7DcxpFAR4zKejb7qj/s1600/IMG_1688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggPRsZ1odHejEckqydQNOlu-HRWcz9XxzxPkCEJwLQjf99aQ77bnn_kKUH-G_22IJNeuBla-q9UNNf20bmi3f-q5V59JuIABF8p574AejYJJJKGK4ptoY9j5urNL7DcxpFAR4zKejb7qj/s1600/IMG_1688.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've knit him a hat of this yarn before (my own pattern), and he loves the warmth of it, but I did not quite make it large enough to cover all of his ears. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkIPZUFBKdbLtIU06Oblix-tanaFms3Vy68gVtzpOAbR5t9BzIjly5pxPHSkwvcMmElY7aaBhc5aox5qAedFhA98X8zk4Ut82BoxKkN-VO0GbqxzkpSEdRNR-SJ92NJnPMVbpQ3EEYNpP/s1600/IMG_1690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkIPZUFBKdbLtIU06Oblix-tanaFms3Vy68gVtzpOAbR5t9BzIjly5pxPHSkwvcMmElY7aaBhc5aox5qAedFhA98X8zk4Ut82BoxKkN-VO0GbqxzkpSEdRNR-SJ92NJnPMVbpQ3EEYNpP/s1600/IMG_1690.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With this pattern, we're covered. Or, rather, his ears are covered. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And now back to my Ravellenic Games 2014 challenge knit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With my catghan on my lap. Always.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Stay tuned for details about my entries in the Revellenic Games 2014.</span></div>
The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-6554603368580588332014-02-10T18:49:00.000-06:002014-02-10T18:49:18.262-06:00Past and Present<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is a certain time of day, in the late afternoon, when it is necessary to turn on the lights in the kitchen. My kitchen is such a bright, vibrant space with plenty of sunshine beaming in. But in the late afternoon during the winter months, the sun goes down and makes it necessary to turn on the artificial lighting. I have plenty of lighting in my kitchen. I do not like a dark kitchen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today after working in the kitchen for a bit, I wandered to other areas of the house to do other tasks. Just a short bit later, I returned to the kitchen and it needed light. I make the transition smoothly, but for a brief moment, I mourn the passing of the sun from my kitchen. But within moments, I am swept up in the pulse of making dinner, lively conversation, and reminiscences of the day and the kitchen is bright, bright, bright with love and lighting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This picture hung on a wall opposite my seating arrangement throughout the whole of my childhood. My mother was kind enough to gift it to me when I started out on my own as a young adult and it has been in my kitchen ever since. It is faded and aged. I read and re-read this prayer over and over again as a child. My eyes always seek out print. I have it memorized I'm sure. If prompted I could recite the whole thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How about a little project viewing? The granny square lap covering rests over my dad's knees. This was made by his mother, his wife and his daughter. The granny squares in the middle were made by none other than my infamous mummu and came into my possession this past fall. The four corner squares were made by my mother, who gave them to me last summer. I put them all together, added filler and border (double crochet) and wrapped it for my daddy for Christmas. I wish my crochet talent matched that of the matriarchs who came before me, but it is what it is. . . Not my specialty. But I think he loves it nonetheless.</span><br />
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<br />The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-37420879408692263502014-02-04T20:08:00.003-06:002014-02-04T20:16:25.336-06:00Twelve Things<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">12</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, hello there. It's been a year since I've been in this space. A busy year. To try to catch things up properly would take pages and pages of a year in the life essay. Instead, I thought, let's do a list. Twelve things for the twelve months that have passed. Not a month by month sequence of events, but twelve major happenings in our lives. After we get through that, there will be knitting (and a bit of crocheting) to post about. But first. . .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. The boy finished elementary school. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. The boy started high school. Yes, we have a high schooler in the house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Lots of home improvement occurred, especially on the patio where we spend most of the daytime (and quite a bit of the evening) hours during cooperative weather.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyD_XIlkOFC-UuYNka9bfEHzHhKy4u0nhOzkDOtcdqNKap376LgWB5mOkPR93j3NcKUc0kZ1t1SjYy0hWTMSrwUHyhkI1NaQQCYwSkAIjMVGHc06g0VJNQDOH_y8hwTD9yhYEDSUDOPyo/s1600/IMG_1328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyD_XIlkOFC-UuYNka9bfEHzHhKy4u0nhOzkDOtcdqNKap376LgWB5mOkPR93j3NcKUc0kZ1t1SjYy0hWTMSrwUHyhkI1NaQQCYwSkAIjMVGHc06g0VJNQDOH_y8hwTD9yhYEDSUDOPyo/s1600/IMG_1328.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a particularly strong gust of freak wind (that I swear came out of nowhere!), we discovered the tempered glass tabletop shattered into millions of moaning pieces. We were heartbroken. That table hosts daily coffee breaks, meals, chat sessions, a spot of reading or knitting, pondering and entertaining. The table is no longer being manufactured and after numerous phone calls we learned that we would have to take out a small loan to have one custom made. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Inspiration struck and we designed and constructed our own tile table top. I think it's beautiful!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. We welcomed a grand baby girl into the fold! A beautiful little girl, who was immediately topped with a flower by this knitting grandma.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. My sweet boy Toivo passed away after a long fight with chronic renal failure. He was a doll and a sweetheart to the end. I held him as he passed and the last things he heard were my words whispering "I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you..." I miss him every day. We were together 16 years and two weeks. His little brother was very lost without him. The following picture was a daily occurrence with these two, but was taken the day before he passed away. The picture that follows it, was Heimo the day after he passed away. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. The boy got his first deer. Such a proud, young hunter you never saw!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7. The boys went off to hunting camp up north with the woodsmen! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8. My school got a brand-spanking new building! It is beautiful AND has air-conditioning. It is a treat to work in such a lovely building. There are times I miss the character and flair of the 100+ year old building, but I am truly grateful to be in such a wonderful new school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9. My parents celebrated 50 years together. Unfortunately, their anniversary was one week after another very large event, (#10) and so they were not given the celebration that 50 years deserves. We, of course, all gathered with them, but given the expenditure of energy and money on #10, our fanfare with low-key. What a beautiful couple. They have been and continue to be an inspiration to me as to what a loving, married couple should be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10. I married the man of my dreams!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There. Whew! Twelve things that happened last year. It was a year of big things and lots of lovely little things too. I will be back in this space soon for an update of knitting activities. Those big things consumed me and left little time and energy for this space, but hopefully I'll be back with some regularity. Anything big happen for you last year?</span><br />
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<br />The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-63299494923585963442013-02-05T19:43:00.002-06:002013-02-05T19:48:54.084-06:00Winter Whites<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A box arrived! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A February, winter box of glorious whites arrives! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Packages are such a treat, especially when they contain yarn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This stuff is so lovely, even the cats want to check it out! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Wishing I had draped my table in a darker tablecloth to showcase the yarn, but it is the season of winter whites, after all!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Boots obliges the photographer with a yarny pose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Does that label say Angora Merino?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> It does! Lion Brand has a collection of yarns only available by online order, which includes this Angora Merino blend. 80% extrafine merino, 20% angora. I did tear into the package to fondle this little ball of fluff and it is soft and sweet. It is part of the LB Collection. An affordable decadence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Even the yarn band is a treat to the eyes. Soon, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/susie-rogers-reading-mitts" target="_blank">these </a>will be on my needles and will adorn my mother's hands. Those hands that have held me so gently through the years should definitely be cocooned in angora softness! </span></div>
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The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-91233115352231098872013-02-04T19:45:00.000-06:002013-02-05T19:49:12.573-06:00Changing my Perspective<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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February is upon us. I've been dreading February for a couple of weeks now. It's my longest, most difficult month. Have spent the majority of my adult life in Arizona, I struggle with the deep, long heart of winter here in the Midwest, particularly the lack of sunshine and outdoor time. I've given this dread a lot of thought the past few weeks. I have decided that I need to refocus and celebrate February, just as I celebrate the other months of the year. Time to bundle up and get out in the weather and glory in the beauty that is the deep, long heart of winter. Beauty can be found in green grass under bare toes, as well as crunchy snow under layers of wool socks and rugged boots.<br />
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It is because of the long, dark days of winter that we are so joyous when spring arrives. It is during the long, dark days of winter that we enjoy the extra time to lounge, relax and pursue our indoor hobbies. It is during the long, dark days of winter that our houses feel so warm and cozy and welcoming. It is during the long, dark days of winter that I can cuddle up in The Disco Blanket all day long and read a good book without regret for chores not done.<br />
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Welcome, February!<br />
<br />The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-17785710188656398832013-02-02T20:12:00.000-06:002013-02-02T20:29:23.529-06:00They're Now Mine<div style="text-align: center;">
I know I promised you this post days before now, but the boy had a rather large homework project that required the computer and being the teacher that I am, there was no way I would kick him off the computer when he was completing required assignments! Sorry you had to wait. He received a nice grade for his efforts, but I'm afraid I have gotten a D for timeliness! </div>
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/susie-rogers-reading-mitts" target="_blank">Susie's Reading Mitts</a>, cast on as a project for mom. Was intended as a stealth item, but while cruising around on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/" target="_blank">Ravelry </a>with her, she saw the pattern for them, and wowed over the lovely, white mitts with the pattern. Of course, they were in angora so they had a gorgeous halo. And she has a black and white winter coat. It all made sense to order her some white angora/merino blend yarn. (Yes, Mom, if you're reading, I'm using luxury angora/merino yarn on your mitts!!) So, finished these for myself and just in time for another cold blast of winter. I pulled them on over my driving gloves this week and it made going out into the cold worthwhile! So warm, so cozy. Love! And they match <a href="http://theknittingway.blogspot.com/2013/01/fo-friday-ingenue.html" target="_blank">Ingenue</a>, as they were knit from the Cascade 220 leftover from that knit. </div>
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The boy was my photographer here. We tried several artsy shots, but lost the purple color in each of those. So we're opting for practical and realistic vs. artsy and inaccurate.</div>
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Had I cast on with the intention of knitting for me, I may have chosen the small. These were knit medium. There is a bit of extra room in with wrist, but I do have ridiculously tiny wrists. Freakishly tiny. (That bulge on the left is my watch). But, it all worked out, as my driving gloves fit well under them. </div>
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I also cast on five stitches when picking the thumb back up, and k2tog each row until only one extra stitch was left. So glad I followed that modification that others were using on Ravelry. No gap on thumb, and nice and roomy (but not too) to get gloves under and still unrestricted use of that opposable thumb of mine. </div>
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While I wait the arrival of my package of yarny angora goodness, I cast on for a baby hat. A young mother I know is having twin girls. Following <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Itty-Bitty-Hats-Anderson-Susan-B/dp/B000PYDJF4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359858415&sr=8-1&keywords=Itty+Bitty+Hats" target="_blank">Itty Bitty Hats</a> by Susan Anderson, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/simple-baby-cap-2" target="_blank">Simple Baby Cap 2</a>. Plan to have shiny tulle emitting forth from the top. As there are two baby girls on their way, another hat will be started immediately. Heimo is a very cooperative model!</div>
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We have learned that he freezes when a hat is placed upon his head!</div>
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It's a bit girly for him, don't you think?</div>
The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-45270507512486625302013-01-28T21:19:00.000-06:002013-01-28T21:19:01.678-06:00Benefits<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;">My man, the love of my life, is a handy, handy man! A jack of all trades. This has saved us a boatload of money through the years and continues to do so. This weekend, he was headed to the nearest home improvement store for some wood with which to work on an ongoing household project of his. He waffled back and forth about the cost and then inquired as to my opinion on the expense. Here was my line of thinking: he needs to be busy or becomes a bit, ahem, "dicky", (shall we say?); we were anticipating a freezing rain storm which would leave us
housebound; two days in a house with no project to complete for a a
restless man; and</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #e06666;">I had just spent a little money ordering some angora yarn (contented sigh). So I told him that I felt he absolutely should run to town and pick up the wood. Besides, I said, I just spent a bit of money on my hobby, of course he should spend some on his. He turned to me, smiled a great big smile, and said "My hobby benefits the house." </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;">(Insert pregnant pause here) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;">(Perhaps a few more seconds of a pause). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Don't take this wrong, please! It was a joke and he is very supportive of my yarn acquisition and consumption. There has been nary a word about the expense of my knitting ways. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Shortly <i>before </i>this particular conversation, we were discussing what to do with the young one's room when he vacates the premises. (It will be a few years yet, but parents can look forward to that, right?) He was thinking an office space, which is a fine idea. I mentioned that since he is handy (and has an awesome set of tools!) that perhaps he could fashion me a built-in for my yarn. There issued forth from this man a heavy sigh, followed by "so this will be a craft room then?". There was an even greater sigh on my part, after which I informed him "</span><span style="color: #990000;">I KNIT. I DO NOT DO CRAFTS. BIG DIFFERENCE</span>.<span style="color: #e06666;">" So, that's settled then!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Seriously, though, please don't think he is crabby or intolerant of my love of the yarn arts. He is not at all. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Look what he brought me the following morning from his convenience store run:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;">It's a doughnut!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #e06666;">Sitting on my cake stand. With a little plastic frog.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Tomorrow I will post what I accomplished this weekend whilst hobbying on my hobby which doesn't benefit the house. Hee hee. Stay tuned.</span></span></div>
The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-17789494607868079692013-01-27T17:47:00.002-06:002013-01-27T17:48:20.458-06:00Happiness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are several blogs running a series called 52 weeks of happiness, wherein once a week they post about the moments of the week that have swelled their hearts and created gladness within. I love this idea! I love stopping to take note of grand and ordinary moments that make our lives joyful, peaceful and worth it all. But I know myself. I know that I will start this wonderful series and miss days and add stress to my life by making this blog, my outlet, my creative space, an assignment or chore. I do not wish that upon myself! So, having said that, I do vow to stop and observe those times in my life that make my heart sing. This week was full of those moments. Some grand, some not so grand, but great each and every one of them.<br />
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Daddy's 70th birthday was this week. I helped him celebrate twice! The second time was a surprise, and I was the surprise. Having traveled to see him last weekend, he was not expecting me on his actual birthday of Tuesday. Immediately following work, I hopped into my Dart and darted his way. Once in town, I picked up my brother and showed up on his doorstep. He was completely surprised and tickled and thrilled. He proclaimed it the best birthday ever! </div>
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Spending time with my parents always fills my heart with joy. I gave up the splendor of Arizona for the closeness of my family and I don't regret it one minute. I do miss Arizona, but do not wish to return and leave my family again. So worth it to be here near them!</div>
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Whether we're chilling out watching t.v. and eating snacks, or traveling to Europe or hopping on a cruise, I love, love, love my time with them. It doesn't have to be a grand adventure, to be grand.</div>
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My Hipstamatic has pleased me greatly (more so than it probably should?) this week. Much experimenting has taken place and I will inundate this blog with those pics here soon, I feel!</div>
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Knitting has been a joy this week. Several people have been the recipients of my hand-knits. Each has been pleased. That pleases the knitter! Greatly! </div>
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Dad had one kneewarmer left from his mother, who knit these for her youngest son, the outdoorsman and hunter many many years ago. I took note of gauge and size and tried my best to duplicate. I'm pretty sure dad was pleased with his new matching set. I chose forest green to go with the original. It was that or blue from my stash and I was afraid the blue might resemble too closely the colors of da Bears. We are Packer backers in this family! Specifications: 54 stitches, size 5 needles, knit in 1x1 ribbing to 6 1/2 inches then cast off.</div>
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This moment just made me giggle and as we all know, laughter is the best medicine!</div>
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<br />The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-66255483833662644062013-01-18T18:30:00.001-06:002013-01-18T18:50:29.849-06:00FO Friday: Ingenue<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"> Finally! It took nearly a year to get this beauty off of this needles, but it finally is. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ingenue" target="_blank">Ingenue </a>by Wendy Bernard from <u>Custom Knits</u>. It has been cast off, ends woven in, blocked and in wearing rotation. Wore it to work already and received several compliments on it. I love the neck and the folded down seamed collar. Followed this pattern to the letter. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkfD32n242ATWAVLTXYO1CzK0SEgI6uGzdNtkXIW4C9G7rR6zcgzuZxx2dHeMCp5t3uouOj3m_qpAVgUqJRXCr06zVgmrcErZiLqTd7zciZrueI3qTy9g8iyyMPgWcPqNBe_g5hQf0bl0/s1600/IMG_0738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkfD32n242ATWAVLTXYO1CzK0SEgI6uGzdNtkXIW4C9G7rR6zcgzuZxx2dHeMCp5t3uouOj3m_qpAVgUqJRXCr06zVgmrcErZiLqTd7zciZrueI3qTy9g8iyyMPgWcPqNBe_g5hQf0bl0/s320/IMG_0738.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">These pictures were taken after returning home from a full work day. A work day during which it was worn. That explains the wrinkled elbows. The sweater lays nicely and has a good fit. I made the medium (37 1/4) on size 8 needles using Cascade 220 in a nice grape purple. Yarn bands nowhere to be found a year later, so my apologies on not having the dye lot or color group on this yarn. This yarn was the first on my <a href="http://theknittingway.blogspot.com/2012/02/lickety-swift.html" target="_blank">swift <i>last </i>Christmas</a>! The pattern was very clear and easy to follow. I would definitely make another knit by Wendy Bernard! My only complaint is that my neckline was not as wide as is in the original pattern, but I actually do appreciate that my neckline will be warmer for me here in Northern Illinois. </span></div>
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I also made the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/brain-waves-beanie" target="_blank">Brain Waves Beanie</a> hat sometime in early winter. As I look so goofy in hats, I thought I'd have Heimo model this one. Those three pictures are three different pictures, taken in not-so-rapid succession. Once I put the hat on him, he completely froze! It was like he was paralyzed. Brain waves indeed!</div>
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Neither boy is very fond of it, but it has been worn. Always good to have a supply of hats in the closet! It brings a knitter (and crocheter) great joy to see someone leave the house in a hand knit versus a "Fox" or "Mobil 1" or "DC" or whatever designer watch caps are being mass-produced out there! There's nothing like wool and loving stitching to keep one's head warm!</div>
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It may have paralyzed Heimo, but Boots is always good for a lay-about on it! Not a good picture of the pattern, which I think is great fun (though the boys did not). I guess "fun pattern" is not a priority among male wearers of hats. Who knew?</div>
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I have a few other finished objects which will be displayed on another FO Friday post. Might as well save them if it's going to take me a year to get a sweater off the needles, eh? I am finishing up some stealth knitting, which will be available for viewing soon. In revisiting old and ongoing knitting resolutions, I have a sweater that has been languishing, and I do mean languishing, for years! I resolve to get that off of the needles. It is <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring03/PATTsitcomchic.html" target="_blank">Sitcom Chic</a> by Bonne Marie Burns. </div>
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Stay tuned!<br />
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The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-36607378653662390792013-01-17T19:22:00.001-06:002013-01-17T19:22:20.473-06:00Hip to be Square!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTx-tEAblqVHxL03AZ1cOfG3MT6lAG-K9Jb3DjLVbjr2NlPmGUfyHTHiKoHf98d_Ae2ZXt_OXOf7tqz5322wHV_FyNIzsKzO5JXHfAQAtKXLkO1__SP9DJX76d2GNMQw4WKyiEsudK9By/s1600/IMG_0756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTx-tEAblqVHxL03AZ1cOfG3MT6lAG-K9Jb3DjLVbjr2NlPmGUfyHTHiKoHf98d_Ae2ZXt_OXOf7tqz5322wHV_FyNIzsKzO5JXHfAQAtKXLkO1__SP9DJX76d2GNMQw4WKyiEsudK9By/s320/IMG_0756.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, what have I been up to? I spent nearly an entire day this weekend reading this <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>. After which I embarked upon making my own yogurt. Quite easy; quite tasty. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I heated the milk to 180degrees, quick cooled to 110degrees, stirred in some active cultures (through purchased yogurt).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIBYQH54RMOM0YyE7lQS1P0l2VvkDTQCPw-DVqTiHY_kn7LPO1lX_OlQzaydKNTIoxWoJ8jd7zwj8OSH1Szgmv9A0jK_XTzqC1wpDto_wz1a6Ou1LuPAZX7rhsPlym1U2IrKWOUX5Qttw/s1600/IMG_0757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIBYQH54RMOM0YyE7lQS1P0l2VvkDTQCPw-DVqTiHY_kn7LPO1lX_OlQzaydKNTIoxWoJ8jd7zwj8OSH1Szgmv9A0jK_XTzqC1wpDto_wz1a6Ou1LuPAZX7rhsPlym1U2IrKWOUX5Qttw/s320/IMG_0757.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I set this atop a heating pad, which was placed upon a towel upon a baking sheet.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90AroC9BEaVk-4Qi7caHDxFxiFpNsNm3XWv0kCqBGw2gE_HGBGQeMN9pObbL4KS_EzeM3Of3bz7nVEGlnyMbSclrSdGYjAXeB18j34HzxDzR8uKqWGM4UDc1n2vsOxP8e6hQAwfpAJZ2g/s1600/IMG_0758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90AroC9BEaVk-4Qi7caHDxFxiFpNsNm3XWv0kCqBGw2gE_HGBGQeMN9pObbL4KS_EzeM3Of3bz7nVEGlnyMbSclrSdGYjAXeB18j34HzxDzR8uKqWGM4UDc1n2vsOxP8e6hQAwfpAJZ2g/s320/IMG_0758.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I then covered this jar with a towel, ensuring that no draft would breach the bedding. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkUMOztFI7VFB-mGiQOtoqzTwDOtgDwi0hlN0vMBVSsRXfp7ihQvv76bNYvc4fypMR8cketGnHP7Kj-xqQ6ABdN9vMfOjUTE-Ekodxeh6Y7cLrR4iVrOpRqzaN3x37rSzl2SwMm08aCn4/s1600/IMG_0761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkUMOztFI7VFB-mGiQOtoqzTwDOtgDwi0hlN0vMBVSsRXfp7ihQvv76bNYvc4fypMR8cketGnHP7Kj-xqQ6ABdN9vMfOjUTE-Ekodxeh6Y7cLrR4iVrOpRqzaN3x37rSzl2SwMm08aCn4/s320/IMG_0761.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After eight hours...et voila! <u>Yogurt</u>. It's a bit runnier than purchased canister yogurt, but oh, so tasty. Today for lunch I mixed in some strawberry ice cream topping and it was like eating dessert for breakfast. (probably calorie-wise too!). I have mixed granola and fruit in as well. It is plain yogurt, but without the <i>TANG </i>of store-bought.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jZYFYrCMU2TDHDQg83VsXbTfYo7w0kTlZzzZQU-fnNHQ8ajRX4D11N6K3oIoUgTErF8ryuf2vgXT3iUqOeb147DmCzasx03OIFYBk-AqGay2JQigD4i06smlWNubHYm2CbA2B4lwJ7QH/s1600/IMG_0767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jZYFYrCMU2TDHDQg83VsXbTfYo7w0kTlZzzZQU-fnNHQ8ajRX4D11N6K3oIoUgTErF8ryuf2vgXT3iUqOeb147DmCzasx03OIFYBk-AqGay2JQigD4i06smlWNubHYm2CbA2B4lwJ7QH/s320/IMG_0767.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another development in my after-work time-killing activities was the download of the Hipstamatic iPhone app. What absolute fun I have had with this app. What follows is a photo essay of how to burn the night hours playing with the Hipstamatic app! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here is the yogurt posed artfully (hee) atop a cake stand.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwCweg4bO-xzzD0YnmbRKKqx4gXGIvcSalPB9zCwt4VjwKKsQE9L5mxBHLUPcdVwiVDj08PxmwWGE1tjYDRE-8e8v5bdZSCZeX2_j90cVUeF7VVP7W3sZe8as6DDednUPjT167YllAhB9/s1600/IMG_0777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwCweg4bO-xzzD0YnmbRKKqx4gXGIvcSalPB9zCwt4VjwKKsQE9L5mxBHLUPcdVwiVDj08PxmwWGE1tjYDRE-8e8v5bdZSCZeX2_j90cVUeF7VVP7W3sZe8as6DDednUPjT167YllAhB9/s320/IMG_0777.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In this picture, the boy is readying himself for an evening ice-skating. (please note this is the garage, I DO NOT hang Mobil 1 oil banners in my home). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFGkdHmmDGdPk2OKjbVgnN00sB2C4yf30NESeGwtXoUiDAHQy4cys7X5JXvlihv3gUE2gPaSZk_Vm6SGZZnNhoKAOz7F6LWN9veELLlCmqlMCaKenhJL4rPsmdC4vT0A4aL-fx_kZzNUL/s1600/IMG_0780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFGkdHmmDGdPk2OKjbVgnN00sB2C4yf30NESeGwtXoUiDAHQy4cys7X5JXvlihv3gUE2gPaSZk_Vm6SGZZnNhoKAOz7F6LWN9veELLlCmqlMCaKenhJL4rPsmdC4vT0A4aL-fx_kZzNUL/s320/IMG_0780.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Man insulates face in preparation of extreme ice-skating temperatures. </span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Man is getting a bit annoyed being asked to stop and pose. He was a good sport throughout, but I decided to seek out other subjects. (He's cute when he's annoyed, eh?)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sleeping cats make very good photographic subjects. My boys snuggle (very familiar pose). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Boots wonders why the camera if there are no woolen knits upon which to lie. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Furball is our (former) feral who occupies the garage and patio and refuses to come inside. In fact she'll only stay in garage if side door is open. She usually is not a good picture taking subject as she's always on the move, but apparently she appreciates the artsy nature of Hipstamatic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heimo up close and personal. </span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heimo has tired of the picture taking and has fallen asleep upon his mama. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxx0XnWheHroYIpxwZKmyGwa9pCEcQN1Nub4yPeUxwpS5KbCHQTpsw1pjLjLFc38JP8Vv0A77qZhH6A77w7FRz38vV2ky4bQkdgenY3EfYhCaiZkSg7C8RhRN7y262GRaNq7GokBeMPWA/s1600/IMG_0802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxx0XnWheHroYIpxwZKmyGwa9pCEcQN1Nub4yPeUxwpS5KbCHQTpsw1pjLjLFc38JP8Vv0A77qZhH6A77w7FRz38vV2ky4bQkdgenY3EfYhCaiZkSg7C8RhRN7y262GRaNq7GokBeMPWA/s320/IMG_0802.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And this is what awaits me after burning through the waking hours with my new Hipstamatic. (No they are not paying me to endorse them)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There has been knitting but pictures will need to wait. Some of the
knitting is stealth knitting, some slated for FO Fridays and some will
require their own post. Please note that all previous New Year's Resolutions will apply for this and future years unless otherwise notified.</span>The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-58249865326809313852013-01-11T18:19:00.001-06:002013-01-11T18:35:53.248-06:00Finished Objects: Disco Doesn't Suck (and neither do ripples)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JbTEQAHUQ28nwpwXltDW1JB9GB40h-goo7NJZe_TllDbbHbp-2C_vXbFOXh2Y4JHuP5r8AQQ0Fqab9yfyOC0uFC2rW93ZVRNpiNbkItrWK4kD9wa4JCO_YU_XpbbPox2lzRIDN1Hmezn/s1600/IMG_0727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JbTEQAHUQ28nwpwXltDW1JB9GB40h-goo7NJZe_TllDbbHbp-2C_vXbFOXh2Y4JHuP5r8AQQ0Fqab9yfyOC0uFC2rW93ZVRNpiNbkItrWK4kD9wa4JCO_YU_XpbbPox2lzRIDN1Hmezn/s320/IMG_0727.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ta-Dah! The Disco Blanket!</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;">This pattern is from <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/granny-stripe.html" target="_blank">Lucy of Attic24; it is the Granny Stripe</a>. I debuted this blanket on my previous segue post. It began as an effort to learn this crochet. What followed became a way to use up stash yarn. What became is an explosion of color! I tried, dear reader, I tried to stick to my resolve on only using stash yarn, but every so often (every few rows or so), a color that would combine beautifully, fabulously with the one just laid down would pop into my head. That color would not leave. I knew that color was available somewhere. It all started because the color I knew I wanted was wool and this was to be an all acrylic, washable all-season blanket. Looking at that wool skein in my hand that was the perfect color, and knowing that I would no longer have a very practical, machine washable blanket drove me to it! I could see it in that wool, that perfect color, but wrong fiber skein. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Well, once you've caved and made a trip to the store and opened your wallet to the possibilities of color, further trips are absolutely justified. </span><span style="color: #351c75;">I mean at that point it is no longer a completely stash driven blanket, right? And I really didn't have my heart set on a "stash+one" blanket, so what the heck...when the mood/color struck, I was more than willing to make the drive again. I did put a border around it of several rows of granny stripe, followed by a lovely</span> </span><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="background-color: white;">scalloped edging. </span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">So here's the story you've been waiting for: The man and I made a trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to see my favorite uncle and aunt and pick up a 1937 Chevy Sedan. This was to be a quick trip. Neither of us wanted to take time from work. The mission of the trip was simple, to pick up a truck and spend a very little bit of time with my aunt and uncle. We enjoyed a very carefree drive up, splitting the trip with a night in a hotel. Upon our arrival the following morning, we had coffee and conversation with my relatives and then the menfolk set out to corral the Chevy. That left my aunt and I some lovely womenfolk time to play catch-up and take a stroll to Mummu's. The men didn't return. We discussed dinner plans. The men didn't return. Rather than worry, we assumed that the menfolk were discussing the finery of machinery, as we had discussed the finery of woolen knits. Still the men didn't return. When the finally returned, they informed us of a problem. The truck we had borrowed to haul this Chevy back with had broken down. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">You already know that my man is handy and he is also especially handy with vehicles. He spent many many hours on the cold ground outside in the November cold of the Upper Peninsula. He was under-dressed. He was now chilled to the bone. We returned to the room and he took a hot shower, but still could not get the chill from his body. At that point I took over and wrapped The Disco Blanket around him. The same blanket he would roll his eyes at whenever I laid it out for inspection. He made small fun-making comments of it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">And then, enveloped in the warmth that is a hand-knit, albeit acrylic yarn blanket, the chill left him. He forgot the sections of 70s colored yarn, he forgot the projective yarn vomit of color. He was warm.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Who said disco sucks?</span></span></div>
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The previous winter I had tried my hand at the <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/neat-ripple-pattern.html" target="_blank">Neat Ripple Blanket by Lucy of Attic24</a>. I needed to produce a blanket for grandbaby boy two and loved the ripple pattern. On the first blanket I had used one skein of yarn (actually multiple skeins, but all the same color). I wanted to make a true, random color placement ripple this time. </div>
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This is the result. This beautiful little grandbaby boy loves blankets and now has a hand-knit blanket of his own. He cuddles in it with his Jacob-Kitty.</div>
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Thinking maybe I should post of picture of just the blanket as that little guy is so gosh-darn cute, it's hard to look away from his loveliness and check out the actual knit object.</div>
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<i>*p.s. we were stuck in the U.P. for two additional days, waiting for parts to come in.</i></div>
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<i><u><span style="color: #351c75;">to view the finished objects of others, click <a href="http://tamisamis.blogspot.com/2013/01/fo-friday-120.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></u><a href="http://tamisamis.blogspot.com/2013/01/fo-friday-120.html" target="_blank"> </a></i></div>
<br />The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-51519671834745427972013-01-08T20:02:00.001-06:002013-01-11T18:38:13.947-06:00This is the Segue<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> My return to the blog world. It has been very nearly a year. No excuses other than life has a way of getting in the way of our simple pursuits. Life. This past year has been an enjoyable one. We spent the year engaged and we continue to be fully and madly in love. We continue to be engaged and wrap up this engagement in early summer. Plans are ongoing...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So a quick recap of 2012 will include a few photos. I have not been behind the camera much this year. My iPhone has captured most of my pictures. It is time for a new camera, but until the time comes that we acquire a new one, iphone and old camera will have to do for continued visuals on this blog. I have finished objects to report and announce, but will save that for perhaps a finished object Friday post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2012 I learned to crochet. I started my crochet venture following the <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/neat-ripple-pattern.html" target="_blank">Neat Ripple Pattern</a> by <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Lucy of attic24</a>. After much trial and error and stash purple/blue/green variegated yarn, I produced a little blankie for grandbaby boy one, seen cuddling with grandpa and new ripple:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zAzXN7GQMUKzdCO6UmU2SdhKq6eW8xqR1K7RrGf4THHpjXA8wkzE-ZdSoKoGQXil_k8x9O7I_ttbpXFn2YrC5Tnu8kQ8fS-Oa-wAOYTKJtf5mGJtAc1sygGMySxTuKqSGm3oSZWmav_K/s1600/IMG_0318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zAzXN7GQMUKzdCO6UmU2SdhKq6eW8xqR1K7RrGf4THHpjXA8wkzE-ZdSoKoGQXil_k8x9O7I_ttbpXFn2YrC5Tnu8kQ8fS-Oa-wAOYTKJtf5mGJtAc1sygGMySxTuKqSGm3oSZWmav_K/s320/IMG_0318.JPG" width="239" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I followed the Neat Ripple with a stashbusting <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/granny-stripe.html" target="_blank">Granny Stripe</a>, also by attic24 Lucy (she writes fabulous tutorials!). I had all intents and purpose of using stash only yarn to create this beauty, but colors would pop into my head as being the next perfect color and I'll admit I ran to my local store for those colors as the muses called. I am madly in love with my granny stripe, which has been named "The Disco Blanket" by my man. There are a few sections of 70s colors, which, while obnoxious, lend a charming granny character to the granny stripe. (Those of us who had grannies who produced knit and crochet goods in the 70s know of what I write). Boots is enjoying the Disco Blanket. My man was not initially fond of the The Disco Blanket, likening it to yarn vomit, but has since been enveloped in its warmth and has changed his appreciation for The Disco. The whole story will be forthcoming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcSRQWdC_4dGPUX8r01_P5CBL6Qmk9NluV2KjHxAi90WWCmu8L5liyioxkNwD310qjeodhN6KgFx2OMOSPY472WPk1PChyQeTgZ-kYlNfYrl8Mpj2tbCQhdldJ90WF9u3Bd1sTN8BOo1y/s1600/IMG_0615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcSRQWdC_4dGPUX8r01_P5CBL6Qmk9NluV2KjHxAi90WWCmu8L5liyioxkNwD310qjeodhN6KgFx2OMOSPY472WPk1PChyQeTgZ-kYlNfYrl8Mpj2tbCQhdldJ90WF9u3Bd1sTN8BOo1y/s320/IMG_0615.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Mid-Spring saw lots of work on our patio. We live next to railroad tracks and the view from my patio table was not my favorite. My very handy and talented man made me a visual block in the form of a wall that I had designed in my head. He followed that construction with new steps under the sliding glass door (not pictured), bricked paths at both ends of the patio (also not pictured), and the leveling out and re-grassing of the patio area. Notice how low the ground is on the patio. No longer my friends! Please note that this picture is very early spring and my patio had not yet been adorned with furniture cushions or green and flowering plants in pots.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuQhqGdaNDgrIk_8JWoyUdudL3YI5hmuqxMHBddtXhhGNiPdKdiiQkV8x4uBx4yYo2C4VVbIFE4XxenFDyj414r4Pmem2Do8O0oIljxq7fuXE7kN2odThSxNDegUbNfauLg6197rheEaQ/s1600/IMG_0382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuQhqGdaNDgrIk_8JWoyUdudL3YI5hmuqxMHBddtXhhGNiPdKdiiQkV8x4uBx4yYo2C4VVbIFE4XxenFDyj414r4Pmem2Do8O0oIljxq7fuXE7kN2odThSxNDegUbNfauLg6197rheEaQ/s320/IMG_0382.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> There was an Easter trip to meet the kids halfway and spend time with them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYCFiixChouaU1tuyyvgucg6JwrS-ElK17UQjnerdeTMsBIxV7p_BBL0XRN2QIbAS9FpDUI8nBpNixScQNOMjZvzdLgEVWM-5LFlOTNxIbg91cmHQpFETil67qN-XuMy6dVheaBujon9q/s1600/IMG_0331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYCFiixChouaU1tuyyvgucg6JwrS-ElK17UQjnerdeTMsBIxV7p_BBL0XRN2QIbAS9FpDUI8nBpNixScQNOMjZvzdLgEVWM-5LFlOTNxIbg91cmHQpFETil67qN-XuMy6dVheaBujon9q/s320/IMG_0331.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There was a summer trip to spend additional time with the kids. We had a grand time with them, but we always do. Daughter-in-law and I enjoyed a day free of men and boys when we went shopping. That is becoming our specialty together!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQ5JhvwbJU31RosrhM_2XPHWdOtdhBsntkoQ-iXbrlvx38O83HAHVoV70IpUtK9nPR6wxYklq4CiBjANRGbQyY0wlxEQLz0pelTH_ve5Iv9Um3LUQhWHieD_dZIxjoTH6HHtQmPFt132L/s1600/IMG_0480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQ5JhvwbJU31RosrhM_2XPHWdOtdhBsntkoQ-iXbrlvx38O83HAHVoV70IpUtK9nPR6wxYklq4CiBjANRGbQyY0wlxEQLz0pelTH_ve5Iv9Um3LUQhWHieD_dZIxjoTH6HHtQmPFt132L/s320/IMG_0480.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I am the proud owner of a new car! The 2012 Dodge Dart, to be exact. Made locally. This is the first new car I have ever bought. Didn't like the idea of debt, but was convinced I amnow old enough and liquid enough to do this. I am very pleased that I did!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjab59BVHeuZiT7ZjMvTnDELn9jWTv5oBs2KHRxNXg6sASwFBNAQqVIFUGY2ayy_XuLpzZyOBzQee24nUipGxcE1XAoZlhVFyW_JiHbW8dIMecw4Cgfhvu-DTFXfMKbMWZecBLCsNZKjKXj/s1600/IMG_0501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjab59BVHeuZiT7ZjMvTnDELn9jWTv5oBs2KHRxNXg6sASwFBNAQqVIFUGY2ayy_XuLpzZyOBzQee24nUipGxcE1XAoZlhVFyW_JiHbW8dIMecw4Cgfhvu-DTFXfMKbMWZecBLCsNZKjKXj/s320/IMG_0501.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Another car acquisition was the 1937 Chevy Sedan pictured below. We made the trek to the Upper Peninsula to pick it up. Snafus ensued. Disco Blanket and the man bonded. More on that later. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43kFYsX4vBzyoTpOdkUCYNPoljW6bgxJWH52W5mgv4bnBM2HaOBEQjvGUOn3LkuWSc3-Wqazo7Bk88_Rme6wyuJ4MRxVe1aR4TMm5u0hEXlhKpQ5iQHJ2AMKQeEAES7UGgx3Q8RgNjd8P/s1600/IMG_0660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43kFYsX4vBzyoTpOdkUCYNPoljW6bgxJWH52W5mgv4bnBM2HaOBEQjvGUOn3LkuWSc3-Wqazo7Bk88_Rme6wyuJ4MRxVe1aR4TMm5u0hEXlhKpQ5iQHJ2AMKQeEAES7UGgx3Q8RgNjd8P/s320/IMG_0660.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">While spending time with my aunt and uncle, I trekked to Mummu's house. Mummu is gone now, but her love of knitting and crochet lives on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKocTqffDKadianySEarkyjyIlgjQv0mBKjsf-gRwO__S-ytp5xu87ENPreLifPnTcYPiB-hBoCjZlmulDeKcr3k8Rl6ppuC6GNZ71os9G3vQJ9ElEWl3AyVXpWFqXUJGrlgLRKiP5JZl/s1600/IMG_0655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKocTqffDKadianySEarkyjyIlgjQv0mBKjsf-gRwO__S-ytp5xu87ENPreLifPnTcYPiB-hBoCjZlmulDeKcr3k8Rl6ppuC6GNZ71os9G3vQJ9ElEWl3AyVXpWFqXUJGrlgLRKiP5JZl/s320/IMG_0655.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And of course, the holidays have come and gone and I have no pictures to commemorate them. I'm sure someone took pictures...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thanks for tolerating the update. More knit and crochet projecting details will be blogged about soon. Wanted to catch up, so that I can segue into knit blogging once again.</span></div>
The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-57376394142086407692012-02-27T20:05:00.003-06:002013-01-11T18:38:09.016-06:00Hopping Along!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Now I admit, I consider myself a sweater knitter. It is my project of choice. Sweater knitting encompasses everything I need out of my craft. Challenge, tedium, familiarity, product. However, sweaters take awhile to knit. I do not knit every night, so they take me even longer than those who do. I enjoy finding a pattern, acquiring the yarn, casting on and laboring away. </div>
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But, there comes a time in the whole sweater knitting process, that I need a break. A quick fix. It is usually around the "nearly done" stage of the sweater, but not close enough to finish it that day. Right about sleeve making time. </div>
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So this weekend, I needed me a quick knitting fix. A finished project. This has already happened during the knitting of Ingenue (remember the cowls? remember the crocheting? remember the rag rug that got underway?) This weekend's answer:</div>
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<a href="http://tinyowlknits.wordpress.com/patterns/" target="_blank">HOPSALOT </a>by tinyowlknits.com</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHo3ZIhyphenhyphenrqLT1a9SAsyZnm1oQ0uhjJcgEjGGysMYb1RKtWZ-XeveYoSZ9O_afMLk3WqkHcrN0ke-yfu9nEHpsbCgtfbPFMXArV4-qWGMli1vonhkKX4Tab-q_mj_EbkMPDcatIp1SLTqOt/s1600/in+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHo3ZIhyphenhyphenrqLT1a9SAsyZnm1oQ0uhjJcgEjGGysMYb1RKtWZ-XeveYoSZ9O_afMLk3WqkHcrN0ke-yfu9nEHpsbCgtfbPFMXArV4-qWGMli1vonhkKX4Tab-q_mj_EbkMPDcatIp1SLTqOt/s320/in+progress.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Project well underway. Notice the pretty stitch markers? I purchased them last November at a craft fair and finally had occasion to use them. Ooooo, I feel so girly knitty! I used the old workhorse standard, Paton's Classic Wool. Great for felting. Two strands, one each of Aran colorway and Natural Mix colorway.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWMA4A5guqjREg_vACgazG3v-D4WoF0cW8kw1GLT0VnK1eNMRNcFvGkvrYywMBTLndwy09SWBBuwYZCbSjHUTyqDdp1QqkothBzyM5RBF6p_VN7W_BaWkvXYdpaZsFPqaZX7fIxdo0rqe/s1600/stitch+markers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWMA4A5guqjREg_vACgazG3v-D4WoF0cW8kw1GLT0VnK1eNMRNcFvGkvrYywMBTLndwy09SWBBuwYZCbSjHUTyqDdp1QqkothBzyM5RBF6p_VN7W_BaWkvXYdpaZsFPqaZX7fIxdo0rqe/s320/stitch+markers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hopsalots off the needles, seamed up and ready to agitate in the washing machine. The pattern called for hand-felting. I chose to run them through the wash. They took three cycles: a 12minute agitation, and two 4minute agitations to felt perfectly to fit my feet. Bunny ears felted one 12minute cycle.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNUT3QnG346rrvpYqhDNRsrZyX2_IVZCFj2PSQeH9zen-MSBBrqu9S4xtNPzhI67udilSdrzx9k2AUULWPdxkw8uHBA_I5erdYKf1kNY-Y4BY08BSq4_OMso71ndZi-f343_Uk96ilJWg/s1600/pre+felting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNUT3QnG346rrvpYqhDNRsrZyX2_IVZCFj2PSQeH9zen-MSBBrqu9S4xtNPzhI67udilSdrzx9k2AUULWPdxkw8uHBA_I5erdYKf1kNY-Y4BY08BSq4_OMso71ndZi-f343_Uk96ilJWg/s320/pre+felting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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All the parts sat on the furnace vents to dry overnight. Eagerly, I rushed home from work together to put together my bunny slippers. Contemplated bolting early from work, but didn't think bunny slipper assemblage to be a good excuse to leave early. Immediately began attaching ears. I didn't even start dinner first. (Did feed the cats first; needed them out of my hair!)</div>
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And here they are, perched and posing on my sewing box. Aren't they cuteness?!?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR5PNksI5KABmsXCMZt_ENgBDmDU1MsBFC4pUUAq6jyvU2jnikXAczQ7Fhyw_eCkl7ctPNu2eo_j3_zqQ47yECgWBcGpjuxx96jH9vRlUW6K3H8VwrCbor6B780zClNFBiSvIbxRQU-nF/s1600/photo%5B3%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR5PNksI5KABmsXCMZt_ENgBDmDU1MsBFC4pUUAq6jyvU2jnikXAczQ7Fhyw_eCkl7ctPNu2eo_j3_zqQ47yECgWBcGpjuxx96jH9vRlUW6K3H8VwrCbor6B780zClNFBiSvIbxRQU-nF/s320/photo%5B3%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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One little bunny peeks up at her owner. Hey there, little cutie! Glad to meet you!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj143FHEEwfNboAMc-Yi9VjERqnKRhY9VnhLhM3Stz6jHeiPFdwR59ZiR_ugdFvo0A1FR3NIAH4gTuap3t-kCNJvX5eA9HhEAfLDHBkzvv1o5GcMRF62lcW7cKGe6wlu1PtmbVpE2XMYZMP/s1600/hello+bunny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj143FHEEwfNboAMc-Yi9VjERqnKRhY9VnhLhM3Stz6jHeiPFdwR59ZiR_ugdFvo0A1FR3NIAH4gTuap3t-kCNJvX5eA9HhEAfLDHBkzvv1o5GcMRF62lcW7cKGe6wlu1PtmbVpE2XMYZMP/s320/hello+bunny.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Heimo prepares to meet the bunny slippers. <br />
We're unsure of this as he's just been roused<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvQLSIwnUW3e6aJD3sFCLNq7UJLXcb3DwdOXa4KkEohnPG6SOthqzIwbajZcgMroxJEO4ghUcLZej9wPXEzE_RMyS_97HY_qHhLvswvAD3Bh3P5rrxfdZO9JUjkKO13Fgt13AQR7T_4vq/s1600/photo%5B4%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvQLSIwnUW3e6aJD3sFCLNq7UJLXcb3DwdOXa4KkEohnPG6SOthqzIwbajZcgMroxJEO4ghUcLZej9wPXEzE_RMyS_97HY_qHhLvswvAD3Bh3P5rrxfdZO9JUjkKO13Fgt13AQR7T_4vq/s200/photo%5B4%5D.jpg" width="200" /></a>from his afternoon nap. <br />
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An initial meeting seems promising. He later </div>
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tried to nibble a bunny ear but was quickly </div>
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diverted with the licking of a Cheetos chip. </div>
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Ready to walk off to the sunset together, my bunny slippers and I </div>
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(or to the sink to do dinner dishes). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUG3e8InHHb6O9PxOatCBPkuRE9IiQuDznniPF_m2uK_ywN2ml4rfunnr7fOWRxfKChg_4VHuw9gAczpHlmQ3_iYLga6S1M3o5R1cfbGZRQDyLxn8oI5DK4U-IcXIXWXch2sgDGG6cPGcF/s1600/standing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUG3e8InHHb6O9PxOatCBPkuRE9IiQuDznniPF_m2uK_ywN2ml4rfunnr7fOWRxfKChg_4VHuw9gAczpHlmQ3_iYLga6S1M3o5R1cfbGZRQDyLxn8oI5DK4U-IcXIXWXch2sgDGG6cPGcF/s320/standing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-53318036969900519542012-02-23T20:58:00.001-06:002012-02-23T21:05:52.450-06:00Back-Up Plans<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My fingers have been lonely. This is for several reasons. 1) I've not had any knitting going on with these fingers. No comfortable yarn wound just so around my fingers to run through and instinctively catch on a needle and be pulled through a loop. Instead, I've been clumsily attempting crochet. I like have a back-up skill, or I like the idea of a back-up skill, because trust me, crochet is not yet a skill for me. I love learning new things, there is an exquisite patience to attempting new skills. But I do not have the natural rhythm with crochet that I have with knitting. In fact, yesterday I did neither. I needed a break from feeling clumsy and out of sorts. Tonight, I picked up my knitting needles and began the first sleeve of Ingenue. Ah, that's better! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The other finger loneliness is due to the fact that 2) my shiny bauble has been elsewhere getting itself sized to perfectly fit my finger. I miss that ring. I got awfully attached to it awfully quickly! It should be back tomorrow. I mentioned to the man how sad and lonely my hand looked without that ring on it. I mentioned that I thought it would be a good idea to have a back-up diamond to wear for occasions such as this: sizing, in the event repairs are ever needed. I mean, I will be wearing this ring for the rest of my life and there will happen an occasion that I will need to take it in. Right? The man nearly choked on his dinner. He really needs to chew his food more thoroughly, don't you think?</span></div>
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Heimo resting with his mama:</div>
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<br />The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-19523904620221286132012-02-20T19:10:00.000-06:002012-02-20T19:10:15.129-06:00Hooked<div style="text-align: right;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Making a rag rug with old t-shirts and a crochet hook:</b></span><br />
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I started by cutting old t-shirts from side to side to create loops of fabric. (Cutting off the bottom hem first) After all the loops are cut out, join each loop into a chain with a slip knot.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpJKXsKihuScwzK7dWZqHJNdJAG-vtLOOvz01oPad-l4Yybe00u68X1Cy83-Pfu8P9xr3uAsIKKgeUFUT2quaBbnd4eQpKc4drisSka5PKhvKZPqBigYLaUzkoOcMFKMG1yFGxzCf26Rq/s1600/slip+knot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpJKXsKihuScwzK7dWZqHJNdJAG-vtLOOvz01oPad-l4Yybe00u68X1Cy83-Pfu8P9xr3uAsIKKgeUFUT2quaBbnd4eQpKc4drisSka5PKhvKZPqBigYLaUzkoOcMFKMG1yFGxzCf26Rq/s200/slip+knot.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLQ65OP-Zj7L9MBlsIxlELhrWV7QFKGH-k2Eu30G6GBC9qjiVsDxM9qIJ92Ub3lLD2iTEl_Hskhc2_GP3K5EV8wKebyqnVOszE8WDxZc9OIWppTQuixLVQzdB_3JqgUbCzs252Mus9I07/s1600/rag+strips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLQ65OP-Zj7L9MBlsIxlELhrWV7QFKGH-k2Eu30G6GBC9qjiVsDxM9qIJ92Ub3lLD2iTEl_Hskhc2_GP3K5EV8wKebyqnVOszE8WDxZc9OIWppTQuixLVQzdB_3JqgUbCzs252Mus9I07/s200/rag+strips.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Tighten the slip knots: Wind into a ball:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SKqZU2RszPaDzv-JYIlY1q6rmy5GUIt3gM87-HtyAABPIJtlXcVjzazCl7tLFhWyYJ1MrSDSy3uoTh7___vefi4-7-A0dzc05uU16DfQMrQyqcZ19vxBwuJeldWdw6sGK3FxT3Ci8cG1/s1600/ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SKqZU2RszPaDzv-JYIlY1q6rmy5GUIt3gM87-HtyAABPIJtlXcVjzazCl7tLFhWyYJ1MrSDSy3uoTh7___vefi4-7-A0dzc05uU16DfQMrQyqcZ19vxBwuJeldWdw6sGK3FxT3Ci8cG1/s320/ball.jpg" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MexLeQpzGv5bir2TtwY5XWLd4xrzYppFfeiT-Y28MUYNwRZKaTf9VZw-Ntq65LHJKmbpxfecGofOhSqZ0EhEwEyuLIg4VYgnudr1y9Bj_B2hyphenhyphenOm3UKqUa0VCm0owXrBfB-3xXknW4wEZ/s1600/joined.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MexLeQpzGv5bir2TtwY5XWLd4xrzYppFfeiT-Y28MUYNwRZKaTf9VZw-Ntq65LHJKmbpxfecGofOhSqZ0EhEwEyuLIg4VYgnudr1y9Bj_B2hyphenhyphenOm3UKqUa0VCm0owXrBfB-3xXknW4wEZ/s200/joined.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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After you've wound your t-shirt yarn into a ball, begin crocheting. <br />
I made a chain of about 40-50 with a size N hook and then began<br />
single crochet. Whenever I would run out of a color on the yarn<br />
ball, I would simply attach another yarn ball with the slip knot and keep going. I have included a close up shot of the single crochet t-shirt rug, as well as the work in progress at my feet. The strip of red is from one adult medium size sleeveless t-shirt, so one shirt does not go very far! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DNMc6Vab81KbV-TbENnSRcvzGokZ_wwdFflVkDou0pm6ilaFn-fAyZJTQ3BvvV3LNWWUEvvc2YyeR3eilkZzYfY7I4T9vSkviAUxF91RkXmrXq5hbtemB8MOAzN4CmYjxWcS2MNr5k9i/s1600/close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DNMc6Vab81KbV-TbENnSRcvzGokZ_wwdFflVkDou0pm6ilaFn-fAyZJTQ3BvvV3LNWWUEvvc2YyeR3eilkZzYfY7I4T9vSkviAUxF91RkXmrXq5hbtemB8MOAzN4CmYjxWcS2MNr5k9i/s320/close+up.jpg" width="239" /></a><br />
I ransacked the closets for t-shirts that are never seen on bodies in this house. I did not ransack my own closet, because I only hang in my closet clothes that I actually wear. When the man came home and found me happily cutting up shirts, he immediately went to the pile of folded t-shirts and began to protest. "This is a good shirt. Look at it! No holes or stains on it. Why would you want to cut this up?" When I showed him the rug in progress, he was instantly ready to head to his own and the boy's closets to gather more t-shirts, including ones that are still in wear rotation. He was amazed and transfixed by the process. <br />
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It is slow going, as one t-shirt does not go very far in the rug growth process. What lays at my feet is four t-shirts, one of which was long sleeved and I was able to get more loops out of the sleeves. I can tell you that my hand hurts like all get out from the cutting of t-shirts!<br />
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I did pick up Ingenue today. With all the crochet that I've been experimenting (badly) with lately, fun though it be, I needed to feel smart and accomplished and choose my more proficient art form. The body is now off of the needles with arms ready to start. I plan to get the arm stitches on the needles tomorrow. <br />
<br />The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-1809736674949001432012-02-13T20:38:00.008-06:002012-02-13T20:58:06.201-06:00Yes!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXquLWXEcugbsA5Z9_gWwZZDcVWCLRrFqa4oSgPCyTbsTDzPrYE266sjceCVNfifbz6ihsZMeb7gjf6m1YfQAOM69QBXdSmTUKvWiDQFHg3UJ3AF0kd_OsJE1jTYt1I-NGrfWIoOxozXNA/s1600/at+jeffs+wedding.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708816182038995538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXquLWXEcugbsA5Z9_gWwZZDcVWCLRrFqa4oSgPCyTbsTDzPrYE266sjceCVNfifbz6ihsZMeb7gjf6m1YfQAOM69QBXdSmTUKvWiDQFHg3UJ3AF0kd_OsJE1jTYt1I-NGrfWIoOxozXNA/s400/at+jeffs+wedding.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRw-vmJJYQehx7zbG2kxY_igs8UMxQ54_Ad66Y8OP3dR0M-rIuWTT9kuzuyPDCTUvqzw6ECDilmVqdk0hy8iLBP5eDepZrBUO6D6kJ3fzw_8o4JQEX5ArbJCNLmWuImuDfe2pkDyCr4he/s1600/terry+and+me+jeff%2527s+wedding.jpg"></a>This man makes my heart smile and sing. He is the love of my life. This Christmas he asked me to marry him. It was a perfect moment. It was all caught on video because everyone knew but me (and maybe the 1 1/2 year old grandbaby). My sister-in-law slyly filmed it all. There was a little joke involved between Terry and me. It all began with the stockings. My first stocking present was the joke part. While inspecting my little joke gift, Terry went down on one knee and when I looked at him he said the most beautiful and wonderful things to me and asked me to marry him. He was holding out to me a gorgeous diamond ring. A perfect diamond ring. Simple and stunning. </div>
<div align="center">Now, remember, stockings had just been passed out and despite the fact that everyone was in on it, my dad, in his glee, began opening his stocking stuffers. So, when all the ladies in the room started crying (as ladies are wont to do when something that gosh darn romantic is occurring), my dad says loudly "Why is everyone crying?". It's all on video. </div>
<div align="center">When you don't know that you're going to be proposed to in front of your entire family (minus his eldest son, daughter-in-law and grandbaby), well, then, you're wearing jeans and a plain long sleeved t-shirt, and fiddling with your bra strap ALL CAUGHT ON CAMERA. </div>
<div align="center">And it was perfect. Just perfect.</div>
<div align="center">And I didn't say yes. Well, I did, but first I circulated the room, crying with the ladies, showing off my lovely new ring. My poor man stood there, waiting patiently for an answer to his question. Which wasn't a question how the answer would be...</div>
<div align="center">YES!</div>
<div align="center">Apparently you can create a photo from a video, but I've yet to figure out how to do that. </div>
<div align="center">The following picture is of the ring, while blogging. It's now in the shop being sized.
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQwrF-WSwzksF65jQYnvXT6cdG4ScY5vYy_7q5PI4GQDR-JcT7dGeJdMLHZHlbh-axy1DRJrbC3IkYM1JN_wwawnG7Sd-JxwIy_FWMd7h3rG4RMAK5e70qrrF6SUcGZxkjpveBv8eAhaE/s1600/SANY3500.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708815490834486754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQwrF-WSwzksF65jQYnvXT6cdG4ScY5vYy_7q5PI4GQDR-JcT7dGeJdMLHZHlbh-axy1DRJrbC3IkYM1JN_wwawnG7Sd-JxwIy_FWMd7h3rG4RMAK5e70qrrF6SUcGZxkjpveBv8eAhaE/s400/SANY3500.JPG" border="0" /></a> How lucky am I?
Lucky in love.</div></div>The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-37800321288239356192012-02-10T18:00:00.005-06:002013-01-11T18:38:43.418-06:00Summer Day Break (FO Friday)<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2vh_fht9bOgBayiZKmCuXzTZ9S9K8aTv4tXwt8zhfGL2y33yIITuQkwI6VetY6cMRBeEC5BQx-YRZ35U4zLQ_oVLCaYEMDLMucWimbhEPocR5KY-XDGge9_tgkO7MzjM-7NCA0AukP7S/s1600/SANY3487.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707661578998382722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2vh_fht9bOgBayiZKmCuXzTZ9S9K8aTv4tXwt8zhfGL2y33yIITuQkwI6VetY6cMRBeEC5BQx-YRZ35U4zLQ_oVLCaYEMDLMucWimbhEPocR5KY-XDGge9_tgkO7MzjM-7NCA0AukP7S/s400/SANY3487.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ok, first let me say that I had been wearing <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sjurmu/francis-revisited">Francis, Revisited</a>, which I skinned out of to model Summer Day Break. Thus, the green fibrous matter all over my black shirt. Also, I don't think I normally have a flat spot of hair on the back of my head, but aseyes are in the front of my head, I will need to be more cautious when styling in the morning!</div>
<div align="center">I finished <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/daybreak">Daybreak </a>by Stephen West this past fall and it has not made its appearance yet on this blog. Beautiful shawl. <em>Someone </em>organized the desk drawer and my yarn bands are gone. I know I've written notes on this project, so will have to look them up and update the information on this post. I'm pretty sure they were Zauerballs, a lovely wool. I did drop a stitch midway into the shawl and did not notice that mistake until I had already cast off. I did the unthinkable. I knotted it! Yikes. </div>
<div align="center">Knit this lovely project over my summer break, thus the change in name.
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<p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707661466780598962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73CWktZfhpp-A1g85B-ZeC8BfzAkGgtvPa5ecNovTcJMYxKe1jgV4w6YA8eW_fMJwan5b4EzEEu5b5nPDWp-g2kKuuLNsA5F-zkzSTWf0ZQhr3i4N9T65ifz0J1aIZn3Q7ssKkaHU4k04/s400/SANY3484.JPG" border="0" />Week's wear in review:</p>
<p><strong>Monday</strong>: Bulky Moebius, <strong>Tuesday</strong>: Central Park Hoodie, Chausettes Pour Moi, <strong>Wednesday</strong>: Drop Stitch Cowl, <strong>Thursday</strong>: Shalom, Friday: <strong>Heather Hoodie Vest </strong>and of course, as it's winter, each day I have worn my Cable Hat, which has never been photographed and uploaded to Ravelry or my blog. I love that hat. Will have to post pics soon. It's my go to hat.
</p>The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-41654440607803046022012-02-08T18:13:00.006-06:002013-01-11T18:38:52.812-06:00WIP Wednesday: Ingenue and Hooks<div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Work in Progress Wednesday:</span></div>
<div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ingenue">Ingenue </a>by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Custom-Knits-Designer-Improvisational-Techniques/dp/1584797134/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328746917&sr=8-1">Wendy Bernard</a>. Have had this pattern queued for quite some time. I believe I blogged last year about coveting this sweater. It has been cast on. I am using size 8 needles and Cascade Yarn 220 Heathers in a rich purpley grape color. This picture, surprisingly, is actually fairly accurate in representing the color of this yarn. My sleeves are on waste yarn. Currently, I am into the bottom ridge stitch. </span></div>
<div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">Modifications I've made have been few: did not do the last increase round in collar ridge stitch. Didn't want a size small sweater, but wanted a more fitted sweater. I have not been trying on as I go, so we'll see how this plays out for me. Also, my decreases were knit on the sides, rather than distributed throughout. I am not fond of visible decreases in the body. My hip increases have been every 6 rounds instead of every 5 to add a wee bit of length to the sweater, per many ravelry projects wishing their sweaters were a touch longer. I have toyed with the idea of changing the sleeves to be longer and more fitted, but I chose the pattern because I like the sweater, so I'm going to follow the pattern for the sleeves as written. I'll update with any sleeve modifications should I choose to make any.</span>
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<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706922799580957682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppHqoohheMOjf6fG1IMpHWmuiouLd569RRFG-PeZR_Gb6hJDE_EVnGhE2h6XQr2w6tPf2xDBP8nP0POXCJ2198JYLMXopyahVLOjgThMYWDKWUIyez7h3Nq1fY56LW18yP7mon5Hhn3q-/s400/SANY3514.JPG" border="0" />
<p align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">The other Work in Progress for me is crochet. I'm teaching myself, which consultation from friends, how to crochet because I covet me some granny squares! When the <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/Crochet/Patterns/Babette-Blanket.html">Babette Blanket </a>pattern came out, I immediately purchased and downloaded, despite the fact that I did not know how to crochet a stitch. I even purchased some yarn for the blanket. That yarn is still in my stash. I recently came across the wonderful blog <a href="http://gingerschatz.blogspot.com/">The Adventures of the Gingerbread Lady</a>. On her blog she has a beautiful Babette Blanket and a fabulous iPad cozy of granny squares. I am single crocheting a swatch and am now pleased with my consistent gauge. Onto double crochet....
</span></p>
<div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706922706255889234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNR_i3u5U1Y9IjLmyx2qnvRDk7rcLOBWPVaT-4z0NBOa8cnRMo_mwTVA3nm-FnhqInRWkv-40eKD7kX9d7BhSWrR3wV1zJ5xuaA2G6yTv1HUOkVgRgO03Lk94KWifaet0kNVfCQARgzAcV/s400/SANY3515.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Toivo ate decently for me today and is now resting comfortably on the monkey chair (so named because there is one monkey in the fabric).
Today, the sunshine was out and all things were shiny. A ring of love surrounds me.
</span>
<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706922568634637682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkv_gVSU_VzEvidQ0uqMckTYc7uCiQy-sJkXRq5DIcRKtRrArpogmBAr4MjTIBFjYUkEcU8rl00lVsz9nIMstpu_QMEA_ZYcK5R7eflA4Rg_-Wu0SVUGfPCQki4j5hWTKBg5_Aayy5mlRz/s320/SANY3521.JPG" border="0" /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;">p.s. today I fashioned my new drop stitch cowl</span>The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-46888479269986705912012-02-07T19:53:00.003-06:002012-02-07T20:07:09.528-06:00I'm a Scribble Globe!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjge2wD_QlxI8WCur1HL0BJZmK4ZTSiJAWyCJgYTpMtrQKirTGWXJ8o3Kp6iOGbWmGacf-WgVsmJ7-n-q8rhWk_oq1Ee81dVchVzVHk50e4va5F8HVw_oyvGpuJtLXe4tUgykQFjgDbeQe_/s1600/scribble+globe.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706577388769210626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjge2wD_QlxI8WCur1HL0BJZmK4ZTSiJAWyCJgYTpMtrQKirTGWXJ8o3Kp6iOGbWmGacf-WgVsmJ7-n-q8rhWk_oq1Ee81dVchVzVHk50e4va5F8HVw_oyvGpuJtLXe4tUgykQFjgDbeQe_/s400/scribble+globe.jpg" border="0" /></a> Lucy and Bob, mom's and dad's cats, (don't ask - weird family gift giving tradition) gifted me this scribble globe for Christmas. It's awesome! Mom thought I could take it to the classroom, but instead it sits front and center atop our entertainment center. It even came with chalk! I love changing the message often. I even put an "x" over our location and wrote "You Are Here" for those who stop by questioning their location. Which could happen to you in Illinois.</div>
<div align="center"></div>
<div align="center">Today's knitwear of choice was the iconic <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Patterns/Central-Park-Hoodie.html">Central Park Hoodie</a>. I love this sweater. It was my first foray into cables. The buttons were chosen by mom and she has impeccable taste.
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<p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706577851874610482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5THpibXsjuR0l03pzvcR8f4YCVht7GvtCocddJ0AR9UKJvudW0j56iPH41PNbvi9JrqHuJvaEMrfAEm97Edq8x1NMAXYdla7OQvYUfsDFlLfNBpuY7oMgG4gZuNS7stUPecGKsXFsq1Au/s200/CPH.jpg" border="0" />In addition to the CPH, I was also sporting my Chaussettes Pour Moi. Comfy comfy handknit socks! Yes, that's me sitting in the Dr.'s office. No worries, just routine stuff. </p>
<p align="center">Work in progress, which did sit at the Dr.'s office with me, is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ingenue">Ingenue</a>, about which I hope to post to WIP Wednesday tomorrow. Haven't done one of those posts in ages. </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinmqYJzX3yL6I9Iw1wTPBEKcOee36ocVx13Ng5C85pM1uV-IvyjVahYUynw42Kg4v90OGBn4ip8NUs91xcSliC0kKJ2ivcGi_sADYNLdaB0YkunmjYFMXfTc_8DdwzMOaxhtzX0DBDEa6L/s1600/socks.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706577309671002466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinmqYJzX3yL6I9Iw1wTPBEKcOee36ocVx13Ng5C85pM1uV-IvyjVahYUynw42Kg4v90OGBn4ip8NUs91xcSliC0kKJ2ivcGi_sADYNLdaB0YkunmjYFMXfTc_8DdwzMOaxhtzX0DBDEa6L/s200/socks.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<div align="center">Don't keep scrolling, there are no gratuitous cat pictures today. But that scribble globe was a beaut', eh?</div>The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-5679080600975892522012-02-06T20:13:00.009-06:002014-02-04T20:16:06.591-06:00A Week of Handknits<div align="center"></div>
<div align="center">I was perusing the closet of handknits very closely last night. It was not self-indulgent, gratuitous, self-admiration at play here, but rather, thought I caught a shadow</div>
<div align="center">IF YOU'RE FAINT OF HEART STOP READING NOW
</div>
<div align="center">of a glimpse</div>
<div align="center">of a moth</div>
<div align="center">in</div>
<div align="center">my</div>
<div align="center">closet</div>
<div align="center">with the</div>
<div align="center">handknits.</div>
<div align="center">GASP</div>
<div align="center">Needless to say, ran straight off to local "everything" store and bought lavendar and cedar chips in BULK, folks. </div>
<div align="center">Anyway, back to my story.
</div>
<div align="center">I was perusing my closet of handknits very closely last night and marvelled at the sheer amount of knitting that has graced these hands. So, my goal this week is to wear a handknit each day. I'm sure this goal could extend past the week, but we'll start with that.
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<div align="center">Today's choice, obviously, was the newly knit Bulky Moebius Cowl. Here is a gratuitous boob shot of me at work sporting its lovely blacks and purples. A co-worker who spins oo-ed and ahh-ed appropriately at not only the yarn, but the magic that is moebius. I love working with other yarn junkies!
What to wear tomorrow??? Stay tuned.
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIxrUNK26LmRvUO0OOornp3b7uV55AOhLTpIx2bHWBhmTMgSHeIXzQ9reUBUEHjfhqxDJ0aMcNRS3VDEF0elgHPRPeEhyphenhyphenVevMlRNAO4oY2YAZPeqd1_T9MOFm9tE2szv3z2ZZyJowJxeN/s1600/photo%255B1%255D.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706212114370031442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIxrUNK26LmRvUO0OOornp3b7uV55AOhLTpIx2bHWBhmTMgSHeIXzQ9reUBUEHjfhqxDJ0aMcNRS3VDEF0elgHPRPeEhyphenhyphenVevMlRNAO4oY2YAZPeqd1_T9MOFm9tE2szv3z2ZZyJowJxeN/s400/photo%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" /></a> Need to tell you all that my big boy Toivo is not well. We are battling feline chronic renal failure. Received the diagnosis this summer. Currently he has very limited interest in eating and his acidy tummy frequently returns its contents very quickly. If I can keep little bits in him often, he does eat better, but I do have a day job. I'm doing the best that I can with him right now. He has lost a lot of weight. He sleeps a lot more. But, each morning he does play a bit with Boots. He gets goo-gobs of attention and loving from everyone. What will our little Heimo do when Toivo leaves us? Heimo adores his big brother.
<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706214106526833474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjekcbOgJUkw7BOrpNADxQ-TVIub2Yy3l6Y637nuUQjw-YEMwmwAev64HKlnoJ8yzXsdSySS-AiW1WpYHQT3GhNlFebJpk85-m7d1r2ozUMoXM6WzA_DMOr5fZYrl-otmYAOkc9c6zlut/s400/photo%255B2%255D.JPG" border="0" />When Heimo first joined our family, Toivo was having none of it, or him. He acted the big bully to that little kitten full of energy and zip and zim. And Heimo was having none of it. Heimo is like his mama in that he feels if someone doesn't like him, they obviously have not spent enough time with him.
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<div align="center">Time and Heimo wore Toivo down and now they spend a great deal of sleeping and cuddling time together. Remember, Heimo is an attention and heat seeking missile. Toivo will bathe him. Toivo is warm. Target achieved.</div>
<div align="center">The man loves Toivo too, and Toivo loves the man. Toivo has never liked any man until the man. I knew this man was a keeper when on one of his first visits to my home Toivo actually climbed into his lap. Mostly. Well, onto one leg. He had never climbed into anyone's lap other than mine before this, and he wasn't a young cat. And now nightly, he gets the good lovin' from the man. As soon as the man settles into bed, Toivo comes running up the side, nearly frantic and leans into him and gets his dose of loving, until he gets too warm and then walks contentedly down to the end of the bed and goes to sleep. This man of mine is a keeper. I think I'll keep him forever, I do. </div>
<p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706214343997204514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_czuJ7USk4MhCMCWMtSi0nrmoi4qZqcYIKADHO5wFqTpMega2VaTMtvp8_KYc05e-w_yQTOavWnMnizNVMy2iXKsVGmz8F6xhUiF9KC-mvRIg25lLupJQwVOvv3kb9q1wbZwabFeo3Qs/s400/photo%255B4%255D.JPG" border="0" /></p>
<p align="center">(on top of man is Heimo, the heat seeking missile. The man, apparently, has a very warm belly. After all these years of just me and the cats, I now get leg room and the remote control. Someone else gets the cats. A very nice deal.)</p>The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-54222307944936187362012-02-05T12:54:00.005-06:002013-01-11T18:38:52.815-06:00Big Cowls and Little Clues<div align="center">Friday evening I found myself alone in the house (which is a good thing on occasion!). I was trolling around on Ravelry and came across this big, warm, wonderful cowl pattern. Pattern called for one skein of Lion Brand Thick and Quick. I have plenty of those in stash (remember, resolution to stash knit?) PERFECT. Dug out this red, dug out size 17 needles, put some nice, mindless t.v. on and away I went.
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHb-cLviUKVEbGwXi0Yk0yWVaT9HH9m_X4-LQjFn8ldrgsBD70B-Ao28WjOe7arJ6GYmliq2DuBqcBHGXz27JGqwcvcQP2PtHcoFYnQ-hQgQtDwPxuEitfcdoMUCUEtZNZE4grt3WgfkE/s1600/SANY3509.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705727044810311362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHb-cLviUKVEbGwXi0Yk0yWVaT9HH9m_X4-LQjFn8ldrgsBD70B-Ao28WjOe7arJ6GYmliq2DuBqcBHGXz27JGqwcvcQP2PtHcoFYnQ-hQgQtDwPxuEitfcdoMUCUEtZNZE4grt3WgfkE/s400/SANY3509.JPG" border="0" /></a> No cleaning, though at one point I did stop to eat. Took the following picture today and see now that I need to water the plant behind me (oops!). The darn thing sits by the heat duct and needs constant watering in the winter.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizU5z_k9Q4KVZ8hD7nd0jdQmfq4wjkCQ9f8O6uRMnoIV4UhqysGXAMMk3fYNOm_alsOCVfJS3veU0-TOILsYDq5aeKhkFSVJBzxrZjG-2r6-60JHcyJWTupy2R_Yk3iCn_8fEArXMLbe5X/s1600/SANY3508.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705726966504730466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizU5z_k9Q4KVZ8hD7nd0jdQmfq4wjkCQ9f8O6uRMnoIV4UhqysGXAMMk3fYNOm_alsOCVfJS3veU0-TOILsYDq5aeKhkFSVJBzxrZjG-2r6-60JHcyJWTupy2R_Yk3iCn_8fEArXMLbe5X/s400/SANY3508.JPG" border="0" /></a>The pattern is free(!) <a href="http://spiderwomanknits.typepad.com/swk/2012/01/free-pattern-.html">here</a> on spiderwoman knits blog. She has adorable hand crafted items in her Etsy shop. Spent quite a bit of time perusing her blog. Wonderful, interesting and fun. Three essential adjectives for a blog. You should pop over and check it out.
<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705727118849652482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VnBecNjxXEI1fm33HpKLjMredWGeCtqe_XYKkc3w0cZFo-1KGQW4OqHUCwBQ0Dh5SmmIPFlSzp2PE-8hcAAp3OfDRB8gcPP9nE59lEyVFZhmuPvkorVbS0CDPaVxkhkieAkCpPDRrUme/s400/SANY3510.JPG" border="0" />I am wearing the cowl today. Wore it to the fancy store as I was dropping something off (clue to you, dear reader). Was sweating in the store. I took my jacket off. I continued to sweat. I took my zip up sweatshirt off. More sweating ensued. Pulled Drop Stitch Cowl off. Whew, that's better! They need to turn the heat down in that store! A girl needs to be able to wear a fine knitted accessory inside as well as outside, am I right?
Within my blog post are a few clues, as to an upcoming blog post news.
I dropped something off and feel a little bit blue, but it will be back in a week or two.
Stay tuned.
</div>The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1806907318840253058.post-38835044075678321372012-02-04T18:08:00.007-06:002012-02-04T18:29:06.908-06:00Lickety-Swift!<div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">(<span style="font-family:verdana;">If you've not read my photo essay on Why I Need a Swift and Ballwinder, <a href="http://theknittingway.blogspot.com/2009/02/on-why-i-need-swift-and-ball-winder.html">here's </a>where you can find it on my blog.)</span></span></div>
<div align="center">
Lookee what I found under the tree this past Christmas! Yippee! I've been asking for just these two items for many Christmases. Being persistent, and apparently optimistic <strong>and</strong> cheap as I've not made the purchase for myself, I was finally the recipient of every knitter's desire: a swift and ballwinder.
<div>
<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705436827927794402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_3Bu5jB6m3LPchA0hhwngxuX8kmNk3WAbIn2TdW7oqE_5m7Hg9H6E59c9esf_dP6Rd1H1MyKOiwMMMytrqvlkIuAKRom6GRagnBRqWkaU1IeUAq_z9VhIyzEVxIaxyp7FZIFfw4S7J7o/s400/SANY3489.JPG" border="0" />Here the two are, working in concert. A thing of beauty to behold. It keeps the cats at bay. I am no longer fighting with yarn attackers as I drape hanks over a chair and wind by hand. The first night, Boots sat on the kitchen table (not pictured), and tried to figure out how he could have yarn playing benefits from the moving apparatus, but gave up. Hee hee.
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijt03svfgcnabwZq91AzU3urzZ_lWIV6wUvcZwAo6varIkhckzx-taM66FItMdJi0YMgg62ziZi2iexQ8IwrhGhFL0UV-VZXrd7CUwKQyvdJdQYtI9R95F0HC2EmbbvBFojO2JPq0MnTY0/s1600/SANY3490.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705436930766151186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijt03svfgcnabwZq91AzU3urzZ_lWIV6wUvcZwAo6varIkhckzx-taM66FItMdJi0YMgg62ziZi2iexQ8IwrhGhFL0UV-VZXrd7CUwKQyvdJdQYtI9R95F0HC2EmbbvBFojO2JPq0MnTY0/s400/SANY3490.JPG" border="0" /></a> This handspun, hand-colored loveliness (which I purchased at a Santa's craft fair this past November), was lickety-swift neatly balled.
<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705437012842271282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNhI_yb9U5LNxhVsJy_xK-AHlFsRhEfzK8oeRpsgDb1QB13LZr8T4awjaAom9UfKpUPP4TZTothUEZNs4dNp399-0Vs8kiOxHtpYcPYveo_H_zAGze7GzGmb7LRG4SUbZ0dEtb99H3gvZ/s400/SANY3492.JPG" border="0" /></div>
<div>And two short hours later, became this:
<div>
</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705437086336874482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzrLGWjNgfdfpW0iQtPnQvfacpGdUglV0DLMNhGZ8jGv-hxYbC2ARVObFfXmavFTNfnHJftYiKq2Jzv9yLm-ghZAZkWtpOqZzZ-RlYkWVdzfaTZaQOz05ZJi4dDmvj-zW6Kjo8y4osUrL/s400/SANY3495.JPG" border="0" /></div>
<div>It is knitomatic's <a href="http://www.knitomatic.com/patterns.htm">Bulky Moebius Cowl</a>. The pattern (free!) calls for bulky yarn, Malabrigo Rasta to be exact. My resolution this year (more detail about that to follow), is to knit more from my stash, so I pulled out this loveliness, wound it and followed Cat Bordhi's youtube tutorial on moebius cast-on. The original cast on amount was 50 stitches for the larger size, but this is not bulky yarn, so I cast on 72 stitches and away I went. Honestly, I thought I'd mucked the whole thing up, "surely I will be frogging this when it comes off the needles". The whole moebius knitting process is weird, wacky, and when finished, magical!</div>
<div></div>
<div>These pictures are pre-blocking, so there is a bit of wonk in the cowl </div>
<div>(but at least the bathroom mirror was clean)
</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705437188921941506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MZA0Tn4z-mL5iLLzoRQ9ojKQZbwD0gDvjhyphenhyphenB4fzcMNvVeYd10YX7nuc2CykJTRmwD1esPGOPXMdfW_z_JaG9nZ-b6sZk26UTmq33YnT2b21gB9PMpaJ7D1rlE4YmOJM1JkmD7bxOkA5h/s400/SANY3498.JPG" border="0" /></div>
</div>
<p align="center">It was a busy cowl weekend. I also cranked out a cowl last night after work, as the boys went to some races. I knit the Drop Stitch Cowl, but will save that for another post. I promise (as I do several times each year) to keep my blog more updated. </p>
<p align="center">Why do I always take FO pics on the weekends when I have on no make-up and my hair isn't done????</p>The Knitting Wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794832303599138657noreply@blogger.com1