Diversions Continue

Yes, the convertible mittens are another diversion from the Tea Set. But they shall be the last. I have crochet hooks, I have a "I Can't Believe I'm Crocheting" pamphlet book thing. I shall learn. As soon as I finish the mittens.

One done one to go! I like this pattern much more than the one I used for the SIL's mittens. The construction makes for a mitten that fits the shape of a hand better. I'd read that some found it to be a bit loose but I'm liking it's slight roomyness. The fingers are snug and that is what matters more I think. However I've found the directions to be a bit, well, odd. With stuff that seem like mistakes, like increases that don't get you the right number of stitches or decreases that are just worded oddly so they don't make sense at first. Anyhow. The second will definatly go faster.

I need to rip back a bunch of the cable part of Arwen. I've needed to do this for a few days. blech.

This past sunday we went to the Mardi Gras Dog Parade. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment.

Blues

I started Arwen.

It is going well so far. The above is the beginning of the left front panel which soon will morph into the sleeve. I actually need to rip out about four rows on this, it's too long. One of those times when you measure and knit and measure and knit and it seems to take forever for you to get to where you need to be then all of a sudden you've gone too far. I'm using Cascade 220, my first time. It's nice and soft. When I was picking out the yarn I kept thinking, I really shouldn't do blue, everything I wear is blue, but this is the yarn that said it should be Arwen. So it shall.

I also started some convertible mittens

I've wanted to make myself some convertible mittens for quite some time. This is the Broad Street Mittens pattern from Knitty. Looks like some kind of sadistic tourcher device for your hands. I've just started the pinky finger. The finger on mittens seems to be the most fiddly thing I've ever knit. blech.

Return of the 80's

Don't run away, everything will be alright... It is bright, over sized, and tends to hang off the shoulders. But someday it will fit her and then it will just be a bright and colorful sweater. She is quite taken by it. I've had to convince her, however, that playing in this over sized of a sweater isn't as much fun as one would hope.

Knitted Yoke Stripe Pattern from Lion's Brand; not one of even their better patterns. Ah well. Knit up on 11s with Plymouth Encore Chunky. I'm not sure if it was the yarn or the giant needles but every little knitting inconsistency is noticeable on his thing. Rather keeping me from liking it and giving it even more of that hand-made-in-the-80s look.

Even the cat is scared of the sweater, and he can't see color!

On a much more exciting note, and more geeky I made a breastfeeding advocacy dishcloth.

This is Little Bug's green. She has claimed it as her own reasoning that she is the breastfeeding baby. I got way too excited about this pattern, the husband thought I'd lost my mind. hee hee.

An American Meal

Chickpea Cutlets with Red Wine Roux, Mashed Potatoes, and Broccoli, from Veganomicon. I love making meals like this and calling them all American. This was such a yummy recipe! Have I raved enough about this book? It's one of those recipe books where while working on a recipe you look over at the next page and think, ooh that sounds good, and I only need to get this and that. And before you know it you've cooked your way through the entire book. Well, that has happened yet, but give me time.

Knitting Takes Over the Home

The Absorba Bathmat from Mason-Dixon Knitting. I worked on this when the husband wasn't home to avoid the teasing. Teasing which he claims wouldn't have happened. No, I don't believe him either. Three strands of Double Worsted Weight Peaches & Creme in Tan and Ecru. The two cones of ecru are different die lots and you can really tell. Which in this situation actually worked quite nicely. It's a bit wonky though I haven't tried blocking it. You get all that cotton wet I'm pretty sure it would collapse my drying rack. So I'm just going to let it do it's own thing; freedom the the knitting.

I'm sewing up Little Bug's stripey sweater. Should have that to show you next time.

I went to my first knitting group yesterday at the new LYS near our house. It was quite fun. I don't know anyone in this city outside of our playgroups. Just moms, and mostly just moms who are as weird as I am. It was nice to meet people outside of that world.

While I was at the LYS I got the yarn for Arwen. This is my Yeay-I-got-through-Holiday-Knitting project. When I first saw this pattern I thought, "ooh" then I saw the name and said "Really?", then I read the description and said "Now I have to make it". It calls for a Lord of the Rings marathon while being knitted. Oh twist my arm! Now off to join the Ravelry Arwen Knit Along. Oh how I love being a geek!

Road Block

In knitting a Road Block, usually turns into a Fork in the Road; ie. in another project.
The above is the Tea Pot. I needs polly fill and pellets. I have been yet to get them. But more daunting, the lid to to the tea pot is crocheted. I haven't had the personal patience to learn to crochet. I also don't have the needles yet. Freaky needles, using letters, it's juts not natural. So there it sits.

I'm sure you are wondering about the aforementioned Other project.This is a sweater for Little Bug, really, who else would wear these colors? She picked them out. Never mess with the fashion ideas of a toddler! It is the Knitted Striped Yoke Pullover from Lion Brand using Plymouth Encore Chunky. Crazy easy and quick, I'm using size 11s! I've finished the front and back so far, and while waiting for everything to load I've almost finished the first sleeve. It's cute and she's excited, what more can you ask for?

What else does one do when running into a road block? Cook.

Banana-Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Bread from March 2007 Veggie Times. Yes it is as good as it sounds.

Last night I made Mac Daddy from Veganomicon. A vegan macaroni and cheese. Now you must understand the testing of my marriage this meal involved. Mr. Gnome is one who believes that nearly all meals are enhanced by some sort of cream sauce or at least Ranch. When I first saw this recipe I was intrigued, but thought, no no the husband would never go for it. But I just wanted to make it so much, I was so intrigued! So I did it. And he liked it!! He even brought some to work for lunch today! Shocked I tell you, I'm shocked. Though, amusingly, he did ask my why I couldn't be normal.

Normal

Recently I saw a bumper sticker that read, "My next life will be Normal". At first I smiled and thought, yeay. But then I really thought, wait what would be the same about my current life then?
There is the obvious stuff like I'd be eating meat, I probably wouldn't be nursing my almost three-year-old, and I'd be some kind of Christian, or pretend to be, or something. Which leads to the more ambiguous stuff. Like would I still be a stay-at-home mom? Is that normal now? Would I really just want one kid? Would I knit? Would I weigh more? Or is that juts normal in America? So who's normal are we talking about? I guess I'd have to be taller, so would my husband for that matter.
Speaking about the husband he wouldn't be working for a theater. That can't be normal, or sane, but that's another rant. Which means I wouldn't have seen this crazy bumper sticker walking through the parking lot to get to my husband's work. Thus I wouldn't be wondering about normal. And then being amazed at how nothing in my life would be the same. Then realizing I would never want a "normal" life and really feeling sad for whoever has that bumper sticker.

Much and Nothing

Much has been going on. We got a new kitty. TJ is a 3.5 yr. old tuxedo cat. A real sweetie. He's a real lap cat and string cat. Not a good combination when knitting.

I started this month with nothing happening and being quite concerned about staying sane in winter with no planned activities. Then I signed up for Story Time at the library, then some play dates, then other commitments popped up. Now, suddenly, the calendar looks quite busy!

I haven't been knitting as much so there isn't much to show. I don't know why I haven't been knitting as much. It's really a lack of day-time knitting. We've just been doing other things. Though, I'm not entirely sure what those things are.

I started the tea pot from Itty Bitty Nursery. I love the tea set; too cute! I made the mistake of showing it to Little Bug last month and she fell in love with it too. She's been on my case to start it ever since! It looks nothing like a tea pot right now I know. And this is the crazy mess I've made doing stripes and moving it from room to room.

I did finish one of Little Bug's socks. Not sure if I like it though. I don't know, it fits great and look really cute and she loves it. I just need motivation to do the second sock. That's not like me, I don't get second sock syndrome!

I have also just started the leg of my sock. It's darker than this. Wow this is a bad picture. Sigh, ok it's darker and the pattern really does look like dragon scales. Some day you will see what I mean.

Dirty Snow

There once was a pile of dirty snow. The snow was sad about being so dirty. It wanted to be bright and beautiful like all the clean snow.

One day the dirty snow decided to either end it's snowy life or get clean. It was unsure what would happen if it jumped into a tub of water. Jumping in the water only resulted in the snow getting wet. Now one would wonder why the snow had not been wet before. But this pile of dirty snow didn't know any better.

Disappointed in it's failure to even end it's life, or get clean for that matter the pile of snow stretched out on the floor to dry. While drying the dirty snow slept. When it awoke it was being held outside. This is when the pile realized it was not snow or dirty at all. It was a lovely silk shawl.

Note: Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl again. Three balls of Plymouth Shire Silk was almost enough. As in I was off by 12 stitches on the bind off row. Oh sigh. Perhaps if two of the three balls hadn't had knots in them it would have been enough. I used some purple of the same yarn for the two rows in the bind off. On size nines.

I had Wanted to wear this when Mr. Gnome and I went to see Wicked. But it was too cold that night and a jacket was a necessity. We will just have to go on another date.

I'm Back....

Catching Snow Flakes

Our trip was nicely uneventful. Well, no, the Visit was uneventful the trip part was quite eventful. Full of getting on and off planes, flights being cancelled, getting lost, and spending way too much time in the Minneapolis airport.

Our New Year's Celebrations were ever so thrilling.



That's us in a surprisingly nice hotel outside of Manchester NH. I'm drinking cheap champagne out of a plastic hotel cup and eating a Dunkin' Donuts donut. Little Bug is having animal crackers. We went to bed at nine. Oh so thrilling...


On the knitting front I finished the first of Little Bug's sock and got almost all of the foot done on my sock. The next post may or may not be about my shawl. We have no plans here!