FO Alert

I actually have a Finished Object to show off today! The hat I started for Dad is complete, all the way down to weaving in the ends. My younger sister will deliver it to him on Saturday. Interesting... there's a pattern here. I knit for Dad, little sister delivers the hand knits to him, I see him with the gifted knits later. (Remember the socks??)

Anyway, here's the finished Utopia hat. Please excuse the crummy cell phone photo. I was excited and couldn't wait to get a photo uploaded from my trusty Nikon.



My nephew is out of the hospital and adjusting to life with diabetes. He's really taking it all in stride and is back at school. Thanks so much for the prayers and good wishes.

In knitting news, while sitting watching TV last night, I decided to teach myself something new. I dug out my little book of Magic Loop Knitting and a long circular needle and taught myself how to knit using one long circular needle. This is something that I have been meaning to learn for ages. With having a bum shoulder, I figure I need to exercise my brain. ;-)

The Proof

I promised some photographic evidence of Mayhem in knitting action, and I have it for you today. She is getting faster, and more proficient. When her dad picked her up this evening for his week with the kids (we alternate weeks with our custody), she made sure to pack up her knitting and take it along. Perhaps she'll need to learn to purl in two weeks...





There's also an FO alert! Dad's socks are finished, and I dropped them off at my younger sister's house this afternoon. She will deliver them to Dad tomorrow. I'm particularly pleased that I was able to make the stripes match up.



These would have been done about a week sooner, but I decreased too many stitches at the gussett and didn't discover my mistake until I was nearly ready to start the toe decreases. UGH! I had to rip all the way back to the gussett. Absent-Minded Professor could get them on his feet today, so I'm pretty sure that they will fit Dad okay.

Tomorrow is Monday and it's back to PT and my wonderful torturers.

Just Keep Swimming

Without boring you with all the details, I've finished the round of medical tests related to my migraines. The MRI showed I do indeed have a brain in my head. The brain even fills the entire space! I was allowed to see some of the scans after asking the technician, and they were pretty awesome. While the tests are done, I don't have answers yet. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

My Dad just celebrated his 75th birthday and I knew I would be seeing the youngest of my great-nieces and great-nephews at his party. A.J. is not quite 18 mos. old and I wanted to give him something special. I decided to whip up an Oliphaunt. Here's my version:




This is knit with Brown Sheep Bulky on size 8 1/2 U.S. needles. I started it Saturday evening and finished it in the car Sunday on the way to Dad's party. Bill and the kids loved watching it take shape. By the way, Bill was driving.

My children were lovely for Dad's party, and Absent-Minded Professor agreed to wear something other than his usual black or grey t-shirt. My Mom was so pleased to see how nice he looked. I was stunned to see how grown he suddenly looks!


This weekend, my LYS is having a knitting retreat. 40 of us, maybe a few more, are heading off-site, overnight, to knit and be silly together. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous, and we will be together from 9 AM Saturday until 5 PM Sunday. I am taking 3-4 WIP's that I want to finish and also my spinning wheel.

If it's cold where you are, or you need a little hit of spring, this is for you. I took this photo on the way out of my hometown Sunday, after my Dad's party. The kids and I stopped to show Bill one of our favorite places, Kingwood Center.
Pink daffodils. I think I have to look for some of these to plant in the fall.

Itty Bitty

Yesterday was a lazy day. Buddy Bill and I went out to breakfast, napped, watched a James Bond DVD, stayed indoors and ate chili...

While watching the movie, I knitted a mitten ornament for Bill's little Christmas tree. The candy is included for scale. US size 1 needles were used for this itty bitty mitten, and some leftover sock yarn. Sorry for the cell phone photo. You can find the pattern by searching "mini mitten" on Ravelry (it's blocked to me at work!) or check out this link to pattern.

If you have some scrap yarn and 30-40 minutes, whip a couple of these up!

Holiday Knitting

How many days until Christmas? Oh yes, twenty one. 21. Sorry, I don't mean to alarm you!

Not being good with deadlines, I made sure to not commit myself to making many gifts for the holidays. Instead, I planned only to knit two for sure, and any after that would be bonus gifts. I love giving hand-knitted gifts, but rather than putting pressure on myself with deadlines, I knit them all year and present them as I complete them.

The mittens I showed in progress last time are finished, and I can now show you the felted clog slippers that have been completed. Both of these items are for Bill's boys, and they are really the only planned knitting for Christmas gifts this year. College Kid (the older) loves his socks that I made earlier this year so much, that I know he'll love warm slippers to wear in his big old rental house off campus.

Since completion of the slippers, shown before felting and after, I have cast on a scarf for my mom, using some yummy Misti Alpaca yarn. The pattern is here, Ribs and Ruffles, and uses just one skein of chunky yarn. I'm using the baby alpaca called for in the pattern. I am halfway finished, and might, maybe, make a couple more, since it's so quick and easy.

Are you knitting madly or taking it easy?

On a Roll

I seem to be on a roll with completing WIP's and making them FO's right now. Here, for your viewing pleasure, is my Dream in Color Shrug. I finished it Tuesday evening at knit nite at Yarn Cravin' (the best yarn shop in town!)

I started this in mid-June, then put it aside to finish Bill's sweater. This is my first big lace project. It wasn't hard once I kept track of where I was in the pattern! (and yes, I know there are yarn ends sticking out, waiting to be woven in!)

This is finished just in time to wear to A Wool Gathering this weekend. I'm looking forward to going, and even better, Bill is going along! We're combining it with Parents' Weekend at Wittenberg University and a quick visit with College Kid.

I've started a hat, and a new knitting adventure. Stranded knitting. I'm knitting the Fake Isle Hat in brown and orange. Photos soon!

Now I need to concentrate on all those unfinished pairs of socks...

Cell Phone Pics and Finished Sweaters Don't Mix

The photo really doesn't do it justice, but I couldn't wait to share it with you. I was so impatient to share it, that I had Buddy Bill try on the Cobblestone this morning while he was still in his p.j.'s and I shot the photo with my cell phone.

Remember, though, that:

1. It FITS!

2.. It's finished!!

3. This is my first adult-sized sweater ever.

4. Both sleeves match in length and width.

5. It's finished!!!

I bet you probably want to see it, crummy photo and all, huh?

I promise better photos soon. For so many reasons, I love this photo!!

FO Alert

Have you been wondering where I've been?

I've been trying to finish things I've started.

Buddy Bill received a kitchen dishcloth I started for him a while back. Funny thing is, he says it's too pretty to use. He has it hanging on his refrigerator as artwork, much like someone would hang pictures their kids did at school. Magnets at the corners and all. One day I'll just go over and use it for dishes as it is intended to be used, and that will be that.

Pattern: Chinese Waves - from Maggies Rags

Size 7 US needles

College Kid arrived home for the summer and was greeted by his red and green striped socks, which he immediately unwrapped, tried on, walked around the apartment wearing, and declared "just right, a perfect fit!" Another FO. Smack me if Mr. Size 12 1/2 asks for more socks, OK?

I also had a trip to my hometown planned in order to meet up with some high school friends. One dear friend, who seems to be the glue that binds us all together, was home from California, and he rallied the troops. We gathered at the regular watering hole for the evening, and when they shut it down in the wee hours of the morning, I drove a group of us to the greasy diner for a long breakfast and then shuttled the guys home. It's interesting to see how the dynamics can change among people from 1985 to now. The guys who used to chase cheerleaders aren't chasing them anymore. The cheerleaders aren't cheerleaders anymore. Some of us still manage to be out until 3:00 AM without too many ill effects! That hasn't changed about us! It was strange to see the children of people two classes ahead of us in the same bar, though, old enough to legally drink. EEEK!

Mayhem is playing softball and that's the best place to work on my Log Cabin Afghan! Her team is 4-2 so far and she has scored in every game. Not bad for a first year player! And I might actually finish this afghan. :-) She's almost as tall as her coach, you see?

FO and Surprises

A friend from work took me to lunch today for my birthday - it's coming up in a few days.

Buddy Bill's Irish Hiking Scarf is complete! He received it today, all wrapped up for Valentine's Day (I know, I know... late). We didn't see each other that day, though. I remembered to take photos before it got away. Bill was thrilled with the scarf, full of brown that match his eyes.
Yarn: Dream In Color Yarns - Classy
Color: November Muse
Needle size: US size 7
Scarf Length: 56"

One surprise was getting a new cell phone today. It's orange, like BGSU colors! And it has a typepad inside, just like a regular keyboard, for text messaging. The nV. Cool stuff. It's my present to me this week. :-)

The other surprise was that Bill took me to a wonderful dinner at J.Alexanders. Great company. Good food. Wonderful wine. It was a wonderful place with no screaming kids, clowns, balloons, or waitstaff clapping and cheering for birthdays. It was bliss!!!!!

I don't know how my birthday could get any better. I finished a knitting project. I was treated like a queen by Bill, and I got a great deal on a phone I've been wanting and added a line for Bill, giving him my old phone.

Today life was very, very good.

Taking the Chill Off

These mittens are officially now being counted in the FO category! Warm, wooly mittens are just right for January. I know, because I wore them all afternoon today while running errands.


Pattern: Warmest Mittens
Yarns: Handspun by Becky along with a little Patons Merino (Thanks, Becky!)
Needles: US size 4 and 5 dpn's

These also qualify for the Quarterly Challenge (Q1-08) at The Loopy Ewe - Q1-08. The challenge was to knit something you had never knit before. I submit my first mittens!

Mittens are forever disappearing at my house. The kids take mine when they can't find their own. Well guess what? These are mine, guys. There's no way they can be confused with anyone else's!

Happy New Year!

Since I last checked in with you, the Ribbed Beanie found a home. Mayhem didn't want to model the hat that I finished the other day, remember? Absent-Minded Professor, on the other hand, loved the hat! He adopted the hat as his own as soon as he saw it. I didn't have a specific recipient in mind when I made the hat so I didn't have a problem with my 6th grader keeping it. How wonderful that my kids love the handknits I have given them so far. Even better, this morning it was only 10 degrees and my dear Professor wore the hat to school.

I woke up Jan. 2 intending to go to work as scheduled, only to find I had a fever, was ache-y, and had a cough. Ugh! I put myself back to bed, made arrangements to get the kids to school via their dad, and slept until 3:00PM. Today was pretty much a repeat. Tomorrow is Friday... I think I should try to go to work. You think?

Before being knocked flat, some good things happened, though. Have you ever been to the Detroit Science Center? This was a great time! Buddy Bill and I took Mayhem and Absent-Minded Professor and made sure to see the Our Body exhibit, as well as an IMAX movie about prehistoric Sea Monsters. The kids got to play in their own band, too. B and I were fortunate enough to be outside the booth! See how happy my Professor looks?

The deer that frequent the field we pass on the way home were out that same afternoon. AND I finally had my camera! From the stoplight I was able to capture five of them, including one buck, if you look carefully. It was even trying to snow. The kids and I have seen as many as 12 deer in this field at once. Being inside the city limits, the deer are safe from hunters.

New Year's Eve was a wonderful evening; waving good-bye to the old year and welcoming in a fresh New Year full of promise and opportunity.

Hope 2008 brings you health, happiness and a great deal of knitting time!

Good Things

GOOD THING #1 Having won the battle to get the medicine I needed for my wrists about three weeks ago, I can tell you that 85% of the time I am without pain now. I can knit again! The celebrex is working enough that I actually managed to finish one of my UFO's, friends. The ribbed beanie is complete. I'm trying to talk Mayhem into modeling the hat for me, but I was informed I have to talk to her agent! What's up with that?? Maybe an ice cream bribe will work?


Photos are lousy when the kids won't model! (that's a Doodle Pony underneath) I'll work on a better photo.


GOOD THING #2 Karida, of Neighborhood Fiber Company, was running a contest before Christmas to try to help a DC neighborhood win a makeover. By voting in that contest, and letting Karida know by commenting on her blog, I won a prize. What did I win? A sock club membership! Check this out! There's more fibery goodness, friends. I had already purchased my membership, so I will be sharing this prize with you all in the form of some contests as the goodies arrive. (You can cheer now!)


GOOD THING #3 Tomorrow I get Absent-Minded Professor back! He's been at my parents' since Christmas Eve. I'm sure he's been busy beating them at mensch argere dich nicht - which is basically the same as Parcheesi or Aggravation. At Oma and Opa's we actually play on the German game board, though. I have no idea how old the game board is that we use, but I can't remember a time when we didn't have it.

GOOD THING #4 Buddy Bill is making the drive down with me to pick up Absent-Minded Professor, which means he is meeting the parents tomorrow. My parents. (Everyone say "eeeeeek!")


GOOD THING #5 I am loving knitting again (back to #1 and not having pain) and I think Cobblestone Sweater is ready to come out of time-out and become an FO. I think. Wish me luck.

Keeping Warm

It is beginning to get colder. This morning I saw my most favorite thing: SNOW! Plenty of you are groaning right about now, I'm sure, but the sight of the first flurries of the season never fails to make me giddy with anticipation for winter delights. Woolen mittens. Rosy-cheeked loved ones. Long walks during quiet snowfalls. Snowball fights. Making snow angels. (Buddy Bill, this winter you WILL learn the fine art of making snow angels! It's not a spectator sport.) Snuggling in front of the warm woodstove after playing outside in the snow.

Along with the cold, I've thought of others and finished one cap and cast on for another. First up is the Knit Shortie which will go to the chemo cap donation box at knit nite. It's made with Tatamy Tweed, size 7 needles, and was a quick, quick knit. I plan to do another with some Plymouth Royal Bamboo. This was mostly knit up on Saturday evening after the junket to Marblehead. The kids were out to dinner with their dad and I was being lazy. See my handsome model?

The newly cast on hat is the Ribbed Beanie (pdf). I'm using two sock yarns, one thick solid red yarn and one thin, self-patterning yarn, for this cap. It will be warm! This is destined to be a gift, and if I can make it fast enough, there will be a twin cap.

My monsters have chosen the yarn for their Brain Monster hats. Yes, Mayhem decided she needs one too. Crystal Palace Merino 5 is soft, squishy and washable. Mayhem chose Dogwood Pinks which also has her required purple. Absent-Minded Professor chose Ultra Blues which is a combo of blues and aqua.

If you haven't seen enough autumn here at chez T-Town, have another look. This is part of my house, and the big, big, maple tree out behind it. The photo was taken today, so this tree is a late bloomer in terms of fall colors.

Magic and Pointy Sticks

Have you succumbed to the spell that has been cast over the world? Surely you know what I'm talking about. The BIG book. The end of the saga. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I went out just before midnight on Friday to purchase my copy but went to our local grocery store instead of dealing with the Halloween-like atmosphere at the bookstores and big chain stores. The line was short, and I was back in my car headed home by 12:09 AM. Just like all of the other books in the series, I devoured this one, finishing it well before midnight on Saturday. All I will say is that I am satisfied with how it all wrapped up.

My own pointy sticks have been busy as well. I have an FO to report! Socks! The Thuja socks are now a complete pair, having been finished Sunday afternoon. One pair complete for Summer of Socks 2007!

What did I start next, you might be wondering? I cast on for Rusted Root in a lovely light blue called "nymph" in Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece.

Of course I also started another pair of socks! Victorian Lace socks that the Six Sox KAL is finishing up now kicked my butt a little earlier, and I frogged mine and set them aside. They are back on the needles. That a Cider Moon yarn - Morning Sky in their Icicle weight.

In one week I leave for Phoenix with K2! I will be taking knitting along, most likely socks. Loopy will going too. There's some good photo op's for the Loopy post card out there!

Houston, We Have Bananas

This is Banana Cabana sock number 2 this past Saturday night, while the kids and I had a campfire in the backyard. It has a heel and is partway thru the gussett, nearing the foot.

*Insert trumpet fanfare*

Banana Cabana socks TODAY! A finished pair.

Yarn: Cider Moon, Glacier weight. Color: Banana Cabana. Needles: US Size 3. Pattern: Garter Rib from Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks.

These won't count for Summer of Socks, but they do count for the Sensational Knitted Socks KAL. And I'm always happy to have another FO! It's been ages, it seems.

Tonight Sarah and I went knitting at Vintage Yarns, another LYS. I cast on for another sock; The Victorian Lace Sock. Once again, I'm using Cider Moon. This time it's Blizzard, in the Morning Sky colorway. The owner there loved my Cider Moon yarns and may be contacting Jacki and Gail. She likes having things other shops don't!

For those of you wondering, I mostly behaved myself.

FO's and New Projects

Warning: Knitting content ahead!

First of all, I have a couple of little, quick, FO's to show you. The first is a cute, little knitted bunny that I made for Mayhem for Easter.

See the Longaberger baskets?

It's a quick knit, any slightly fuzzy yarn will do the trick. Best of all, you knit a rectangle and then stitch it together almost like origami. After that you knit a couple of ears. Here's the pattern if you want to make some yourself: Knitted Bunny. (Kelli? You reading this??)

Friday night, when I couldn't sleep, I completed a small hat. This is made from superwash sock yarn and will be headed to The Loopy Ewe's Quarterly Challenge, and then to an orphanage in China. As you can see, the hat is lovingly modeled by my old friend Humphrey. Humphrey came to me from Germany as a gift from my oldest sister when I was 4 yrs. old. The pattern for the hat came out of Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

Having finished my Just Ribbing socks, and taken them for a test run by wearing them all day at school on Friday, I can officially say they are real socks! I love them. They received many compliments. Even our home ec (excuse me, Family and Consumer Science) teacher proclaimed them fabulous. Today I am casting on another pair of socks using Banana Cabana yarn from Cider Moon. This link shows you colorways. Banana Cabana isn't there because it sells out! There's a photo on my blog in another post if you read.

Last but not least, some of you may still be wondering which big project I decided to cast on next. Clapotis? Log Cabin? Well, here it is. In Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb (wool and silk), color Tuscany:

The beginning of my Clapotis. The color isn't accurate at all. It's more red than pink, a wine color, with blue and sage green and tan.

This week I'm checking out a new yarn store in the area called "Yarn Haven" with a fellow blogger Sarah Lou. Watch for the scoop on that after mid-week.

If you're lurking, de-lurk and leave a comment!

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.