I like it

The past few years The Bug's birthday has been wrapped in a new mom made article of clothing. It didn't start as an intentional thing. It's just that it's spring and I start wanting to sew again this time of year.  But then it happened for three years in a row and, well, I guess that's how traditions start.  This year it just didn't happen.  I did finish a dress for her that may fit her in a year....or two...what I was thinking when I thought she'd be a size 7/8 is beyond me.

Today instead of going knitting I caught up on house chores (blah). Then I put on my IPod and, while listening to Good Omens,  finished making this shirt (yay).  It was a Very easy shirt and it's super cute.  Thus I believe it shall happen again. 

 I'm thinking contrasting sleeves would be fun.  This shirt's fabric is from a table cloth I found last summer at a consignment shop.  I saw it and knew it must be something for The Bug.  Yellow and butterflies.  Just so her.  It seems to be quite old and a bit worn though not at all stained.  The body is the border from the table cloth, no need to hem (yay again).  I did have to adjust the body a little to make the straight bottom hem work and not be too puffy, but still puffy enough. 

The facing was giving me trouble and with her big head I needed to keep the top a bit more open anyway.  So I just gave it some lace to finish it off.  Not sure if I'm pleased with that decision.  The Bug likes it so....  Mr. Gnome, however, asked if I was working on her homeschool attire.  The support I get from that man....

And....again

 Again I knit through the heel flap of an intricate sock before trying it on.  Again it is way too small.  At some point I'll learn..Right?  This one was so small I actually broke on of my needles trying to get the sock on.  Ripped it out at the playground and cast back on.  sigh.

Then later I was sitting on the floor with The Bug knitting while she did something.  We ran out the door to run errands with Mr. Gnome; sometimes this is all the family time we get.  This morning this is what my knitting looked like.  Someone had fun with the ball of yarn last night.  One cat wouldn't make eye contact and the other just stared at me wondering if I was going to take his spot on the couch.  I haven't had enough coffee yet to face it...I hope it's not too bad. 

Now she is 9

 Yesterday was The Bug's Birthday.  She is now 9 years old.  Or, as she likes to tell me, a Tween.  It was an amazingly beautiful day outside.  So much so that she had to dance on the sidewalk before we went in to see the Symphony.

 We then had lunch and floats.  She went crazy with mint-chocolate chip root beer.  Crazy kid.

 We just finished making cupcakes to bring to Earth Scouts tomorrow.  Crazy me with a nine year old. 

Endings and Beginnings

One Gift done!  Well it needs to be blocked and the ends need to be woven in but the massive knitting is done!

It has been pointed out to me that I should have some basic knitting for The Yarn Harlot visit in Tuesday.  You know, something that doesn't involve a chart or lots of involved stuff.  Something I can knit without paying too much attention.  I briefly considered a basic sock as was suggested.  But I just don't think I can.  I mean I could cast it on and all but would I finish it?  I mean I would because I'm a neurotic finisher.   But I wouldn't enjoy finishing it.  So I'm thinking this stuff will become the cowl they've been waiting for.  Cabled....But not crazy...or not too crazy.  But crazy enough; like me.  I'm thinking this.  Probably.

Some bad Yarns

 This is some yarn from roving I got at Rhinebeck.  It was a mess to spin.  A matted, flubby, obstinate mess.

 It's now more or less even 3ply 331 yards of sport weight yarn.  Scratchy yarn.  As in I, who am not usually bothered by such things, do not want it against my skin.  My initial plan had been for slippers for myself.  I think they'll be good for that.  If not much else.

And then there is this.  It may look like something.  But it's not.  This is the yarn I dyed with avocado skins and pits.  Or what I tried to dye with avocado skins and pits.

See that lovely red in the dye bath.  The skins and pits sit in water and ammonia for a few weeks then the yarn (pre-mordanted) sits in all that for another week.  It smells horrible.  Then you heat it all up to set the color.  And it looked good, until I went to rinse it.  Then it all rinsed away.  Red, bloody looking liquid swirling down my drain.  The yarn up there isn't even running clear yet I just gave up rinsing.  sigh....It may need to be re-dyed purple.  Purple fixes things.

February

Good grief February was cold.  See that pattern of tan and gray at the beginning.  Neat to see but cold to live through.  Oh, but that blue and green and some lovely yellow.  Those days were wonderful.  Looking forward to them coming back. 

A semi-inaccurate glance into our kitchen

I was looking through the February pictures and realized there were a bunch of food pictures I could post on the blog.  Then I realized that it's all cookies and pizza.  Ah well.
The cookies were the recipes with the February Cookie A Sock Club.  Chocolate Crinkles; I was out of powdered sugar so we used peanuts, and cream cheese sugar cookies; in which we had a bit too much fun with our cookies cutters, gnomes, and ninjas and Vermont oh my.
Earlier this week I had a massive and horrible migraine/sinus headache/desire to die.  Mr. Gnome had been rambling on about pizza bites the previous week and I'd had a plan to surprise him with semi-homemade ones.  Turns out this is a good Daddy/daughter/mommy wants to die dinner.  Then on day three of the headache Mr. Gnome brought home a frozen cheese pizza and accessorized it with veggies we had in the fridge.  He was proud, took the picture, told me to blog it.  Be glad I don't blog a lot of the things he tells me to blog...
The headache has passed and home made vegan burritos and stir fries and such are back on the menu.  Though there is still one last frozen apple pie in the deep freezer and a winter storm heading our way.

An Adventure In Pink Socks

 The Bjork Socks as they are called.  Now I have a lot of socks.  I mean a lot.  We aren't going to get into numbers.  However, up until just now I didn't have a single pair of pink socks.  Not in any shade or type.  I think there is one with some pink in it.  But that's it.  Pink just isn't a color I'm drawn to. 

Thus one of the best parts of this club; making me use colors I generally wouldn't pick myself.  I do like them; they are fun.  I am a firm believer in funky, crazy and different socks.  If you can't live out loud on your feet where can you?

I finished the socks last night.  The giant blanket gift I'm knitting has eaten all the yarn and I'm waiting for more.  This morning The Bug was all ready to read to me and I realized I didn't have a sock to knit!  She's understanding, or resigned, to my ways and happily played wit Legos while I stash dived for the next sock.  Some well marinated Wollsmeise to be knit up into Sake.  Apparently this pattern refers to some sort of raw salmon dish.  I always think of the rice wine and thought it was a representation of how one walks after have too much sake. 

The Arrow Has Been Followed

The Follow Your Arrow is done!  And it's pretty darn cool. I did have it all nicely blocked...but then I wore it...and then I might have tossed in on chair where it sat crumpled for a day and a half. 

 I like the asymetricalness of mine.  It hangs and wraps nicely this way.  I did end up doing A for the last clue!  Making mine BBBBA.

 This is how I'll really where it. 

See the arrows all along the bottom?  This was such a fun MKAL.  Mystery Knit alongs are always risky and this choose your own adventure is so different.  I love how mine turned out!