Beautiful Birthday Booga Bag

How's that for some alliteration?

My Just Ribbing (aka Wild Thing) Socks will be finished today sometime, and I'll have another FO to add to my sidebar. I'm trying to decide what to start next. Another pair of socks will be started, of course. I've been bitten by the sock bug. My dad has requested a pair, and I'll lovingly oblige. Yesterday my brother and I made a deal where he gets handknit socks in exchange for my receiving a set quantity of his home-brewed beer... The words "Way better than purses," came out of his mouth, referring to the One Skein clutches I made all my sisters at Christmas. But I digress.

Back to what to knit next. My two big choices are to cast on for my Log Cabin afghan or to start Clapotis. I already have the yarn for each. If I start Clapotis, I can knit it along with Sarah Lou, who is just a short way into the project. I know I signed on to knit Sahara as part of a KAL, but making a sweater right now, even a short-sleeved one, just isn't calling to me. It's going to wait.

So what do you think? Log Cabin or Clapotis? It doesn't mean I'll listen to you, but I'm interested to hear what you think, and why.

Happy (Brrrrrrr) Easter

This afternoon I was looking at my calendar and looking outside. Checking again. And checking the thermometer on my back porch. It was a balmy 29 degrees. My calendar says it's April 7. This afternoon, most of the day in fact, this was the scene outside my windows:

Inside, the kids and I were busy creating these:

I also have a FO to report! The Booga Bag is finished. I'll only show you the "before" felting photo for now. This is going to my sister for her birthday next week. In case she's reading, the completed item won't be shown yet. Rest assured, it is completely felted and put together, straps and all. And it's beautiful!

I hope the Easter Bunny has some ear muffs and mittens for tomorrow.

Forecast: Pictures

When I want something crafty made in a hurry, I still go back to crochet. I know I can produce a granny square baby blanket in short order. This one is made with Lion Brand Jiffy that I pulled from my stash. Time? Less than three hours! My mom (who is still around) and Tante Annemarie (who is with the angels) taught me to crochet when I was about seven years old, so like reading or typing, it's a skill I don't really have to think about.

I thought you might like to see a sock progress picture. Even if you don't, here's my sock, dammit!

And even though my little sister hates to be called Christabelle, here's Christabelle's Birthday Booga Bag nearing completion. I love the colors. Probably because I bought the yarn for me. Go figure.

I am productively knitting (and crocheting). Work is really getting in the way, though. Tonight is the third night in a row that I've brought work home with me. UGH! Don't get me started on the state of affairs at my school. There's not enough space in the blogosphere, which is really sad. The morale in my building is at an all-time low, and I don't see it improving anytime soon.

Guess I'll just keep doing this: knit knit knit knit knit knit knit knit breathe knit knit knit knit knit knit knit breathe knit knit knit knit knit knit knit...

Seventy with a chance of snow

Ahhhhh, spring is in the air. Today it reached 70 degrees in my fair city! Blue skies, sunshine and mud, mud, mud! Boor Bruno and Coco. They love the mud, but don't enjoy the rigorous battle with the towel to get the paws clean each time they come back into the house. The warmth won't last much past tomorrow, though. By Saturday we are to expect snow in the forecast again. Hopefully not enough to shovel.

I knitting news, the Booga Bag for Christabelle's birthday is nearly complete. I do have to do the miles and miles of i cord (OK, really it's 6 feet) for the handles still. Then into my trusty Kenmore for felting it will go.

The cuff of my Wild Thing sock is knit! I have begun the heel! Woohoo! I love turning the heel of a sock. I always feel so doggone accomplished. Plus, there's the bonus of knowing I'm nearing the home stretch. Work has really been getting in the way of finishing this beautiful sock. I've had to bring paperwork home from school the last two nights in a row! Hmmmmph! How rude.

That's all the news that's fit to print. Really. Everything else I have an opinion on today would involve really foul language. Trust me on this. Seriously.

Stash Enhancement

For ages now I have been longing to knit a Log Cabin afghan; ever since I bought the Mason-Dixon Knitting book last April. I have looked at many different yarns and have wondered if Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece might be the best choice. I didn't want something all cotton, but am drawn to cottony yarns. I'm someone who wants to touch before buying though, so I delayed making a decision. My LYS just started carrying Cotton Fleece and today I stocked up with eight skeins to get started. Some people don't like making afghans, they complain about them being boring. I loved the basketweave afghan I made my best friend, K2, last year. This one might be perfect for covering up with on the bus as we drive home from Washington, D.C. in June. The overnight bus ride home is a little chilly, as I found out last year.

Yeah, I know. I need another project like I need a hole in the head. You might notice I did not say I was going to start this Log Cabin project right away! Want to take bets on how long I can delay? With colors like Wolverine Blue, My Blue Heaven, Barn Red and Banana, I don't know how long I can hold out!



Did I mention why I was at the yarn store to begin with? It was to meet my friend Sharon so that Mayhem could deliver the Girl Scout Cookies to her! Sharon knew I needed a little retail therapy this week, I guess.

I did, however, already start another project. My younger sister turns 39 next month, and yesterday I cast on for the Booga Bag. I promised her a "real purse" for her birthday. She loves the little clutch I gave her at Christmas, but needs something she can really use every day. It's turning out to be a quick knit - I'm 1/3 of the way finished already. Gotta love circular knitting! I'm using Noro Kureyon in dark colors, blues, grey, purple and a little green. It's a discontinued colorway, #52, I believe. Picture soon, I'm sure.

The Wild Thing sock isn't very wild. It is slowly coming along. About 4 inches of the 6 inch top is knit so far. My mom and dad saw it Saturday and were surprised that I had moved on to knitting socks. Having grown up in Germany during WWII, they both learned to knit socks at a very young age. For once, I didn't take any "ribbing" (get it?) or teasing about my knitting, with the exception of the chosen color. I guess socks are "real knitting" in Mom's book. Dad commented that he loves to wear handknit socks, so once I have this sock thing for big people moving faster, he's getting some.