>^..^< Cat with Cats >^..^<
• • • • •

Well, here it is Monday morning.

Monday morning after a long holiday weekend! Ugh. I almost forgot to turn on my alarm clock last night. And I definitely forgot to get out of bed when it went off. Had a rather embarassing run to catch my bus this morning. But, I guess it is better than missing it, right?

I didn’t accomplish much of anything major. I took Wednesday and Friday off so I had a nice long break. On Wednesday, Mom and I went shopping. We had a really good time and it wasn’t too crowded. On Saturday, I got a haircut and picked up my nephews’ Christmas presents (shh, don’t tell them!)

I mostly just puttered around the house. I finished a scarf and made good progress on the second Bella’s mitten. I had my annual holiday “Lord of the Rings” Fest (all three movies, extended versions, of course). I watched the Wizard of Oz (yay) that was on TV. I read some books. I did laundry. I filled up a huge box of clothing and household items for donation and purged more books (*sob*) from my overwhelming collection. One of these days, I really need to drop them off at the library…

In short, a nice, relaxing holiday away from work.

Here are pictures of the baby blanket that I finished earlier in November for donation to my Aunt and Uncle’s church in Arizona. I’ll send it off to them next year (they are only down there during the winter months).

Aren’t the wavy ripples fun? It is from the Fiber Trends pattern “Trio of Baby Blankets” and is made out of Cotton-Eaze yarn that I got on clearance. They were all different dye lots (I got it WAY before I was smart enough to pay attention to such things), but the narrow stripes helped disguise the fact that the blues were all different.

(really bad color representation and really out of focus)

Kind of a modified feather and fan pattern, with the yarnovers knit through the back loops to “avoid delicate baby fingers getting caught in holes.”

I guess that I was never aware that was a problem, but I am nothing if not obedient to the pattern directions.

It is warm, soft and washable, and will give some baby a cuddly entrance into the world. Much better than being wrapped up in newspaper, I guess.

My tentative plan over the winter is to sew a few more baby blankets. I’ll use the opportunity to practice my (barely) existing quilting skills. Once I’m a little more confident, I’ll tackle my wonderful collection of Alaska themed quilting fabric that I have collected over the past two years.

What… doesn’t everyone buy quilting fabric as a souvenir?

Everybody have a great Monday and I hope that going back to work after the holiday isn’t too stressful!

Finally. Photos.

The details:

Pattern: Modern Lace Henley from Knitty, Winter 2007
Yarn: Classic Elite Wool Bamboo (50% wool, 50% bamboo) Color 1658 (LOVE those romantic color names)
Needles: size 3 and 5 (24 and 32 inch) circular needles
Started: April (ish) 2009.
Finished: November (ish) 2010

Yes, that is a long time to take to knit a sweater. I was weak and kept getting distracted by other knitted items. And, oh yeah, the rigors of the Science Building project left me pretty much unable to focus on anthing with an actual pattern…

You think I’m not proud and happy of this sweater? Look at the smile!!

Oh yeah, and you can also see the lace pattern in a little more detail.

This was a very challenging project, but BOY did I learn a lot. Increasing and decreasing while keeping the lace pattern straight was the main thing, but the neckline was rather challenging as well.

I’ve worn it several times, and get lots of compliments on it. Even though it is short sleeved, it is very warm, so it is perfect to wear in my office during the winter. I am rather paranoid about wearing it into the chemistry labs, though, so it is a good thing that I have to wear a tshirt under it. I can slip the sweater off and leave it in my office before going into the labs.

So, my biggest “UFO” is finally done. I am a proud and happy person. A proud and happy person who is going to focus on very simple and SMALL projects for the forseeable future.

Well, here it is. Mom’s shawl. Many (many many many) stitches. Every one made with love. Presented to her on Mother’s Day, so my timing (for once) was spot on.

A fun project and a well written pattern. Lots of visual elements without being too mentally taxing. It turned out to be excellent knitting to keep me going during Rockies Baseball games.

Look at the pretty detail:

The statistics:

Dragon Melody shawl, by Mary Young Smith (YarnSmith Patterns)
Seven balls of Jojoland Melody superwash wool, Color MS08 (I only had about one yard left of ball number 7 so I was glad that I had one more).
Pattern and yarn acquired at Inua Wool Shoppe in Fairbanks Alaska.
KnitPicks interchangable needles, size 6
Started: September 2009
Finished: April 2010
Blocked: May 2010

Tomorrow: an update on my weekend “ToDo” list.

P.S. Does anyone else notice how color coordinated the shawl is with the colors of my website? Very strange.

Wow… Not only is it Friday again, but it is an entirely different month since I last posted!!!

Many topics to cover today, so I’d best be about it.

1. Please go to this post on my sister in law’s blog to commiserate about her sock tragedy. I feel so bad for her!!!

2. Knitting Olympians/Ravelrympics participants: Good Luck to all of our Knithletes!! Make sure that you take plenty of breaks and don’t get any Knitting related injuries. Once again, I am declining to participate as anything other than “support team.” My hands are still sore from all of the move activities so my “goal” for the Olympic time period is to reduce my computer use as much as possible (at work; my “home” computer work has been nonexistant). I also want to reduce my television watching so that I can focus back on my various unfinished knitting projects. Wish me luck.

3. I am trying out a new (higher) desk chair at work. My “height adjustable” desk that I was promised for my new office never appeared, and the desk that I was given is way too high. Which is probably one of the reasons why my hands and elbows hurt so much. My theory is that since I can’t lower the surface of the desk, the higher chair will raise me. I already feel better, so hopefully this will do the trick. Though my feet are continually hanging in the air. I’ll have to find something to use as a foot stool.

4. Cinnamon’s scarf: I gave Cinnamon the scarf when we met up a couple of weekends ago. We had a great day visiting book stores and yarn stores, and I completely forgot to get pictures. Never fear: Cinnamon took pictures for me, so here they are:

For the beaded fringe, I abandonded the idea of weaving the strands. The strands were too close together and the weaving just didn’t show up very well. Instead, I just kind of randomly distributed the beads on each strand, and tied knots to keep them in place.

If I may so, I am extremely pleased with the way that the fringe came out. It really “swishes” when it is being worn and looks really nice. The whole scarf is really long and colorful and dramatic.

Now I’m working on a blue/purple scarf for another friend. I’m planning on doing the same fringe treatment, though with a more restricted color palate of beads. For the knitting, I am sticking with the woven/linen stitch from the Scrappy Lengthwise Scarf. I really like it.

5. Hey… It is FRIDAY!!!! Happy Friday Dance *bounce bounce*!!!

Everybody have a super weekend, full of nice yarn or other fun-inducing objects.

So, what do you do when you can’t find a suitable location to photograph your latest knitting finished object?

You go out and find a funny napping bear sculpture who doesn’t mind giving you a hand. Er… paw. Er… back.

All winter, I drive past this guy and I just have the un-bear-able urge to knit him a scarf. Maybe I will do that some day. But in the mean time, he was happy to display the finished Taos stole.

Mom went with me for the “photostyling” and suggested that he should model it as a muffler.

How about a detail shot of the knitting?

This was a fun project. Here are the details:

“Triple S Shawl”, by a designer called “The Knitting Fairy”. The yarn used was from the “Plain and Fancy Sheep and Wool” company (no website, sadly).

I picked up both pattern and yarn at the Taos Wool Market last October. I understand that the Plain and Fancy vendors will be at the Estes Park Wool Market, so I am hoping to be able to show the finished project to them.

I highly recommend the yarn – very soft and stunningly colored. It knit up like a dream. Blocking was amazing – I didn’t even have to stretch and pin out the shawl. Instead, I soaked it really well and then laid it out on towels on the guest bed. The weight of the shawl let me just give a tug or two to straighten out the lines and then it was perfect. As usual (for Denver), it dried overnight.

Everybody have a great weekend!

As I mentioned previously, I made some dishcloths for one of my neighbors.

The first one that I made she didn’t really like because she wanted to be able to bleach it. I told her that it would still be pretty after bleaching, but as it turned out, I was perfectly happy to keep this one. I really like how it turned out. I’m not hugely fond of using cotton dish cloths, but I’m using this one in my kitchen and it seems to be working out OK.

(Specs: Mason Dixon “Ball Band Warshcloth”, with Peaches and Cream “Natural” and “Jelly Bean”)

The “Jelly Bean” color is the one that I found in two separate locations in my stash, so I evidently liked it enough to purchase it twice.

The next two were much to her liking:

Mason Dixon “Ball Band Warshcloth”, Peaches and Cream “Natural”

no pattern, bias knit; Peaches and Cream “Natural”

She has washed and used both of these and appears to be very happy with them. When I get some projects finished, I’ll make her a few more (after all, what else am I going to do with all of this “dishcloth cotton”).

For that matter, why did I even have it in my stash to begin with??? I have vague memories of intending to knit grocery bags or something inspirational like that…

So, finally….

Hearts for Heidi Socks

The heart lace pattern is really neat.

The pattern is by Wendy Johnson (mama of the famed Lucy the Cat), and was an absolute dream to knit. Not only did I learn a new (and really fun) heel for a toe-up sock, but there was also a wonderful bind-off for the top. REALLY loose and stretchy and looks very nice too.

Yarn used: Socks that Rock, lightweight. Color: Ruby Slippers. Size 1, knitpicks fixed 24 ” circular needles. LOVE this yarn. Am tempted to get a heavier weight so that I can make myself a hat…

I really loved knitting these socks. A little too much, I might add, as the obsession led to hand pain. Cast on Feb 14, completed March 6th.

How much do I love my red socks? So much that the following two items may have snuck into my stash, in hopes of future red socks…

Pagewood Farms, color called “Really Red”

Moutain Colors sock yarn, color called “Bitterroot Rainbow”

(also note my loyal photography assistant in the background…)

How pretty are both of those??? I can’t wait to get to work on them at some point.

And, last but not least, since I am in a “Red” theme today…

RED COWBOY BOOTS!!!

Freshly polished and waterproofed, all ready for adventures.

Hi All,

Here is my Mom, photographing wolves in Yellowstone earlier this month.

Note that she is using her hand knit scarf and hat!!! Bet she had the warmest neck and head in all of Yellowstone.

And note that she has her “Fetching” wrist warmers, which she knit herself.

A final “Finished object” report… I’m terribly afraid that while I was trying to “fix” my wireless router, I really messed up my new computer. I may have to resort to something drastic like… take it in to work and have a college student fix it for me.

Everybody have a great Saturday!

2:30pm: after fussing with it all day, I finally gave up and called tech support. They had me up and running in 20 minutes!! Yay! I’m BACK!!

I know, I know. Another Finished Object. Helpfully modeled by the Hedgehog.

And you thought I was just lying around the house, snarfing bon-bons and watching trash TV, didn’t you?

Well, Ok, there was some of that going on as well, but I really HAVE been knitting.

The above pictured hat is the Noho Boho hat, from (of course) the Shear Spirit book (*waves to Gale!!*)

If you remember, this is the project that I struggled to achieve a seemingly impossible gauge. A gauge, I would point out, that becomes much more realistic if the full directions are read…. *sigh*

Anyway, you may also remember that once the hat was completed (with PERFECT gauge, I might add), I noted that I wanted to soak it and block it to see if the Alpaca would “bloom” a little bit.

Well, apparently that will happen after I get done wearing it. I really like the hat and it is great to wear on chilly winter mornings. Which we have been having quite a few of, lately.

Yarn source:

The variegated black Alpaca was acquired at the Taos wool market, from “Cornerstone Nigerians”. The tag says: 3 ply (2 strands 100% black Alpaca – Phineas of 4 Pines Alpaca; 1 strand of 100% rainbow dyed silk).

You do know how much I love to know the names of the animals who “grow” my yarn…

Anyway, the yarn was a joy to work with. The tag says that I had 180 yards; when I unwound the hank, it was in two sections (one larger than the other). I started with the smaller section, and it was almost exactly the correct amount to use for the hat. Had about 3 or 4 yards left over. So, I’ve got the bigger section left to do something fun with. Just haven’t made up my mind what yet.

The blue trim was leftover Cascade “Dolce” (Alpaca, Wool, Silk) obtained from Knit Knack. It was leftover from when I made my friend his hat (the one that generated a poem…).

Behold, a finished object.

Tendrils Rib Hat, test knit for one of the designers in my favorite book, Shear Spirit (Mary Lou Egan).

It really is a beautiful hat, using a twisted stitch (both left and right twists) that kind of waves back and forth.

I cast on this hat at Knit Knight and finished it at home the following evening. I’m even pleased to report that I was able to knit this while participating in my annual Lord of the Rings Movie marathon. OK, it got put down pretty much any time Aragon or Legolas or Eomer was on the screen, but come on… I’m only human!!

My mom is the happy recipient – she says that it is the first hat she has ever worn that doesn’t “creep up” and expose her ears. Given the amont of time she and Dad spend up in Yellowstone in the winter (photographing whatever they can find), it is good to have a hat hat keeps the ears warm.

The yarn I used was a beautiful worsted weight Merino Wool from Neota Designs (a fiber artist based out of Estes Park, Colorado). The color is called ” Autumn Haze” and the artist is inspired by the colors in the Rocky Mountains around her.

I was very happy to find such a great use for a yarn that has been marinating in my stash for a couple of years. It was a particularly huge skein of yarn, so I have enough left over to make mom a co-ordinating scarf. I”m doing the classic “two row scarf” ( a la Brooklyn Tweed) and am striping it with a deep rich purple Cascade 220 yarn (to match mom’s coat). Not too exciting of a pattern (since I don’t have the fun of the subtle Noro color changes), but it is very soft and is going to be very warm. To counter the boredom factor, I stopped by the library and selected some books on CD to listen to while working on the scarf.

It is amazing how one of your favorite books sounds COMPLETELY different when read to you by someone else. I finally had to go up and get my copy of Jane Eyre out because there were entire sections that I didn’t recognize. And that is my absolute favorite book that I read at least once or twice a year!!!

For the photo buffs: For those of you who are concerned with these things, I am using the free photo-managing software from Google called “Picassa”. It, so far, has done everything that I have asked it to do, and done it well. For the first time, I have the ability to “tweak” color representation so that my photos actually represent my yarn/finished objects.

I’m very pleased.

Everybody have a fantastic weekend!!