Happy Horrordays

That's what my co-worker and I have been saying to each other the past few weeks. And now the days are upon us. Bags are packed, presents wrapped and packed, apartment cleaned, laundry done, emails caught up, hotels and rental car confirmed, and cat needs taken care of.

I had a little set back with the meds/panic thing this week, so absolute zero knitting has been done since last Sunday. However, I was able to finish these beforehand.

Project specs: Jack Frost Ladies Mittens #5619 in pink Manos wool, done on #6 needles. I used scap yarn for a combination of lazy daisy and duplicate stitches.

Since we will be spending at least 25 hours in the car (most of it in daylight), my trip's knitting bag consists of:
The wrap with sleeves
LadyMacWisp
My first socks for 2008
A baby cap and Sarjaate's booties for a co-worker's new granddaughter due on 12/26.

The CatMan is duly impressed with my Christmas gifting: the Tychus hat (which he wanted felted a bit), the Bourne Trilogy DVD set and these (don't ask, I couldn't tell you. It's a boy thing, I think.)

Happy Horrordays and may you all get good gifts!

And we're back

I'm finally feeling back to myself again. Yippeedoo! To celebrate, I went a little crazy with the needle action this week.

CatDaddy indicated he would REALLY like a hat for Christmas. How can I deny a man I still call Daddy?

Project specs: about 1.25 skeins of Lang Mille Colori in color 839 - olives/greys/neutrals on #8 Brittany DPNS. The pattern is a 1 x 3 rib available when you purchase the yarn at KYarns.

I also finished the Tootie Tweedie socks. Knitting these just plain ol' made me happy.

Project specs: Regia 6-ply Tweed in color 53 on #2 Brittanys DPNs using the formula.

I also started a cool Wisp for myself using KidSilk Night in the "MacBeth" colorway and a pair of mittens in pink Manos.

And you know how socks go missing? Well, I 'lost' one of the Crazy Anklets a week or two ago - I figured it got caught up in the laundry folding and was statically stuck to something. Couldn't find it. Until today. When I changed the sheets on the bed.

It makes me laugh EVERY time

photo courtesy of southflorida.com/scared of santa

Because you know the older sister is grinning at the torment.

Crappy week saved by knitting

I've been crappy sick this week - long story shortened to "chemical imbalance/panic attacks/take these meds now". Still not feeling great and probably won't for another few weeks (I've put my request in for "by Christmas"). But I did get some knitting done - actually it was the saving grace of the week.

Here's the CatMan's Tychus. Project specs: Cascade 220 in black and charcoal grey done on #9 Brittanys. The yarn is held doubled which I found to be a pain in the patootie, but it finished nicely. If I was knitting it again, I would cast on a few more stitches to make it a bit longer when the brim is rolled up. Of course the CatMan is wearing it now (I think 'cause he likes it and not just because I knit him something.) When I finished the hat, I immediately cast on an easy, no-thinking project. The Regia 6-ply is nice and wooly with a bit more heft than most of my other socks, so I'm looking forward to finishing these and getting them on my toodies!

Hope all your holiday knits are going well. Maybe my next post will be more dynamic!

Blame the bird!

For obviously losing my memory- it's the only plausible reason.

Examples:

• Directions and phone number for the mutual acquaintance we were picking up on our way out of town? still on the kitchen table.
• The first annual post-Tdinner dip in Lake George in which The CatMan participated? no camera.
• Forgetting a pack any type of hair grooming implement? check.
• Forgetting my purse at the Hampton Inn and backtracking 20 minutes to retrieve it? check.
• The picture of the giant bald eagle sitting in a tree south of Shoreham? oh right, no camera.

See what I mean?

But I was able to do a little knitting. Progress was made on Santa's surprise and I also took the blankie (made up of the O-C(ee)-D fun squares from the side bar). Yeah, I know the squares aren't facing the same direction. This would be my 'not planning, just making' project.

I've also got some remnant projects on the needles. A few weeks ago, I was blog-surfing and saw a pic of a man walking down a city street wearing an Eros scarf. Of course I can't remember whose blog (bastardly turkey again!), but the pic inspired me to knit my own Eros scarf. Screw the fact that Eros is so 3 years ago and that I don't have a complete skein of any one color. This is gonna be my Joseph's coat (you know, if he had worn a scarf and Eros has even been a concept at that time). Y'all are gonna be so jealous. Really.

Glove Love

Beannie's Glovelets are finished. I modified the pattern to rib the fingers, which I think gives a better fit and look. The Beannie's fingers are longer and narrower, so I think the ribbing will be just right (vs. the chubbette look of my fingers in the glove).

Project specs: Hooray for Me Glovelets using Regia 4-ply Tweed in a blue denim colorway (#52) on #2 Brittanys. This pair also took less than one skein - go figure.I put the festive something for me on hold for right now as I'm working on the Christmas Surprise. Since the receiver of said gift knows about this blog, no pics for now. However, if you are a member of Ravelry, you can check out the progress and pics there. Hooray for a short work week - here's to my Ravelry shirts and Webs order getting here before our day trip to Lake George!

Two down, one to go

Christmas Wisp

Project Specs: 1 skein of Knit One Crochet Two's Douceur et Soie (70% mohair/30% silk) in color 8633 (referenced as "Cornflower" on the Kyarns website) on #8 Addis. I really liked this yarn, more so than the Kid Seta. I know it's the same fiber content, but it was just different in a good way. I seriously think I need to knit one Wisp for me in a solid color.

Edited to add - looks like I've got another project before the 'me festiveness'.

Why you are supposed to make your bed

When it's chilly out, the puffy comforter is fair game.

I love how Pip made his own little tube!

A Christmas gift is off the needles.

Project Specs: Mountain Colors' 4/8's Wool in Steelhead knit on #7 Addis. Pattern is the Double Eyelet Scarf from The Little Book of Scarves. This scarf blocked out to about 5' long and I used approximately 1 1/2 skeins of wool. (Side note: looks like my cactus is more of the Halloween blooming variety.)

It was EOM work time this week, so not a whole lot of knitting got done. I did however sneak in a little project that has to be done by Wednesday, so I'm off to knit for bears.

Cleaning up the corners.

This rainy weekend appears to be perfect for cleaning up the corners and tying up loose ends. The Double Eyelet scarf is blocking (note to Santa - blocking wires. I've been very very good). My glovelets are done and the Christmas Pair have been cast on. A Christmas Wisp is also making headway on the needles, and I even found some time to work on the Suede Surprise. The surprise may be that I will actually finish it.

Hooray for Me Gloves

Project specs - Lang's Jawoll Color Superwash 549-65 colorway (olive green with copper and blue shadings. Done on Brittany #2 DPNS. I knit one size up from the pattern (an addition of 4 stitches) and still used less than one skein of yarn.

I've cleaned off my desk and weeded out my desk drawers (where magazines, catalogs and FOs go to hide from the roving TerrorCat band.) I've got a few phone calls to make, emails to send, one last strip of doorway trim to paint, and stair painting to work on. The Netflix queue needs to be refreshed (it turns out the video store near my office where I get fill-in movies is ridding themselves of their VHS selection and not replenishing them with DVDs.)

The rain is also aiding and abetting my sinus headache, so I foresee a curl-up on the couch with a few cats and some knitting. The weekly domestic goddessing can wait.

And this was my birthday card from the CatMan (see - I really did have to clean off my desk!)

Genie: "...And for your third wish?" Cat: *happily dazed with 2 shiny bright balls of yarn at her feet*
Dog: "Seriously, you might want to stop and give this a little more thought."
But the best part is the inside of the card- the kitty, wearing a party hat, snoozily wrapped around a third ball of yarn.

Field Trip

The CatMan and I went for a little trip to Middlebury yesterday to meet up with some friends. Of course, what good is a field trip without scoping out the local sites of (my) interest? So while the CatMan checked out the bookstore next door, I perused Vermont Beads and Fibers and found a taste of honey.

Laughing Tree Farm's 2 ply light worsted in Honey.

Don't forget the Christmas project yarn.

The Regia above is destined to become a pair of these. However, I've got to finish my test pair first. A couple hours in the car speeded that process up a bit.

And speaking of Christmas, look who's two months early (ahem!)

The slate tile underneath the cactus is a recent purchase from VT Structural Slate. One item on my ongoing house projects list is removal of this little table's original small mosaic tile and replacing it with a piece of slate (this would be Black Lace Rust). VT Slate was amazing to deal with and didn't seem to have a problem AT ALL with a small request like mine. So now MoMA and the CattyAbode have something in common (other than housing real pieces of work!)

A beautiful fall day

Knitting at the CattyAbode continues to be WIPs. I did finish the Vineyard socks just in time to mail off to PA - and by 'just in time', I mean 'weaving in ends in the post office parking lot' - hence no picture. So instead, I give you some views from the farm on this Columbus Day weekend.

The girls, sunbathing.
Jerusalem Artichokes

(I love the contrast of the almost spring green grass and the red barn.)

Lake Champlain (does this blue come in a yarn?)
And a very confused iris (that's one regal purple!)

Boyfriend

I've got an exotic Persian boyfriend with gorgeous blue eyes. Yeah, The CatMan knows (they have their issues.) Last Monday my boyfriend had an accident, so I've been spending the past few days taking care of his needs, which basically consist of being held/caressed every possible second when I'm home.

(That's the booboo on his back haunch)

How cute is that freakin' tail? And no, he does NOT like to be compared to Mr. Bigglesworth, so don't even go there.

So what have I been ignoring to give my boyfriend his sweet lovin'?

This is Vineyard Sock #1 - these must be in the mail no later than Thursday, the 6th to be on time for my girlfriend's birthday.

The Confetti baby sweater - the baby shower is the 14th. You do the math.

This the Double Eyelet Scarf in Mountain Colors "Steelhead". This has been my car/take along project during the week, but I think it's gonna be backburnered until items 1 and 2 are done.

It's all in the planning

Autumn Wisp is done - I enjoyed knitting it, though I chose to make just a scarf sans buttons. I definitely will knit this again, either as a gift or for myself.

Project specs: Wisp from Knitty, using Madil Kid Seta (70% kid mohair, 30% silk) in Shade on #7 Inox circ needles. I used just one skein and blocked the scarf to just shy of 48" long x 10" wide.

So while the CatMan is doing manly guy things with his friends this weekend, I'm enjoying homemade bean soup, clean laundry, watching DVDs, and planning some upcoming knit projects. On the docket for October:
A pair of socks for a girlfriend with an October birthday (in this colorway).
Some baby shower knitting for a co-worker including these booties and this top-down cardi

And this pullover

Best part of the whole she-bang? I'm knitting from stash. Unless, in typical Gathering Wool fashion, I run out with a row to go.

I am the Eggplant koo-koo-cachoo

Don't know why a bastah-dized Beatles song would pop into my head when I saw the yarn for these socks, but it did and the rest is history.

Project specs: Zitron Trekking XXL in color 76 (purple/navy/moss brown/orange). Pattern ribbing based on Nicole's "9-to-5" sock pattern with my standard heel and foot. Needles: #2 Brittany DPNs.

And then I immediately cast on for the Autumn Wisp. It's what got me through 18 minutes of GW and the Democratic response last night.

Burning it up

Summer gave us (hopefully) one last heatwave this week. (If I wanted to live in 95 degree weather, I would have stayed south of the Mason-Dixon.) So, I kept things light on the knitting front.

Luckily, all that was left was the felting of the One Skein's Felted Striped Tote (quarter is for size reference)-Project specs: odds and ends of feltable wool on #10 Addis.

Project mods: I made I-cord handles which I then criss-crossed across the tote body to add some reinforcement.

Here's a closeup of the first Eggplant sock. I tried to get some detail of the faux ribbing, but it's hard with the yarn. I'm using the stitch pattern from here, but the rest of the sock is my usual suspect.

And this? She is a secret. But I can tell you she is made of Suede.

Yesterday, we attended the annual corn roast/bonfire. We cooled down to the lovely breeze blowing through the Underhill valley. This is the bonfire pile: see the teeny-tiny pallets on top of the pile? That's because I am standing in the first row of chairs very far away. Why?

Because this was hot enough to melt anything closer!

So long Summer 2007!

Labor Day is a day of rest!

Because this is done -

You really can't appreciate the softness of the yellow, but trust me all 17 wall surfaces of the CattyAbode's 3rd floor positively glow sunlight. While in Vermit's few weeks of 95 degree temps, this may not be our first color choice, the remaining 49+ weeks of the year need happy, sunny yellow.

These are also done!

Size 14 Sasquatch Socks knit with Lion Brand WoolEase in Grey Heather and Seaspray on #7 Brittany DPNs. That would be one of my size 9.5 Tiger Socks for scale.


And this (almost!)

Felted Stripe Tote from Leigh Radford's One Skein.

And in case you were wondering about the new button on the side bar, you can go here to read the rest of the story. I'm freeing myself from the labor of sweater-making. At least for now.

The price of productivity

The past few days (and the coming week) is high gear time here in the land of Gathering Wool. Between work (remember, it's EOM time), some company come callin', and trying to finish a few self-imposed deadlines (the bastardly painting and those socks for the boy formerly known as my niece's boyfriend now hereby dubbed Sasquatch), I got a hurtie.

Thanks be to Otter Creek for the medicinal skills....um, it's like holding an ice pack...yeah, that's it.

And now back to our regularly scheduled knitting...

This just in: it wasn't all clean-up and painting this weekend (why yes, there was actual painting...er, priming!)

I finished the Crazy Anklets.


Project specs: this standard sock pattern on #2 Brittanys using leftover Regia Crazy Colors with a stash skein of Koigu KPM, dye code 2160/103.


Also finished was a stealth project which I can show, but can't tell you who it's for just yet (unless you check out my Ravelry page).


Project specs: Persnickety Knitter's Arrowhead Lace Headband pattern using stash remnant wool on #7 Addis. This project was instant gratification and I really hope the giftee loves them as much as I loved making them.

There was some knitting on the Size 14 socks (I really want these off the needles by the weekend.) And because I just picked up this book, I felt compelled to start the Felted Striped Tote using up my autumn-hued wool remnants.

Next on the needles is another pair of socks using a new Trekking colorway and (gasp!) a new sock pattern. Stay tuned!

Thanks, Mother Nature!

Last night, I was all set to have a nice dinner, watch a DVD, and knit.

Mother Nature had other plans: (this is outside our bedroom window)

The Weather Service is hesitant to call it a "tornado", but whatever the little weather/microburst/storm cell was labeled, it still spelled trouble. The farm was very fortunate. We had some tree damage, a few small structural issues, and a mess of the flowers - but everyone is ok.

(Neighbor cats Bart and Lexie are glad the excitment is over for now!)

Do you like our topiaries?
And the old pumphouse still stands -

At least something's getting finished around here!

Exhibit 1: Scarlet
Project specs: Oat Couture's Tropical Tee knit in Classic Elite's Classic Silk (a cotton/silk blend), Colorway 6953 on Size 10 circs (bias neckline done on #6 dpns.) I used just under 7 skeins. Pattern mods: Horseshoe lace hem, knitted bias neckline. (And yes, that is a primed wall you see behind me.)

Exhibit 2: 2008 Red Scarf #1
Project specs: Pretty much the same as #2. I used Lambs Pride in "Khaki" for the main colorway, with the remnants on the ends. Finished length is about 63". (I still have a little steam blocking to do.)

I've decided to backburner MS3 for a variety of reasons. Even if I decide to frog it, I've learned some good lessons: I can bead and I like lace on a smaller scale. In fact, I've got a project mulling over in the back of my mind even now.

And speaking of unfinished stuff - Mr. Cat loves me enough not to care if he has to nap on the taped-off floor.