I yam what I yam

My tote and I share some similar qualities: structured, uniform exterior, slightly wild interior, and a little girlie girl icing.


Project specs: 12 mitered squares using hemp twine on #8 Brittanys. I made a plastic mesh frame for reinforcement which I placed between the lining and the tote. After lining, I used this scarf which I knotted on the side after I tacked it in place.

And here's Miss Bizzybellie sacked out for the count. I have no idea why she is choosing to sleep on the CatMan's stiff Carharts when there are two soft t-shirts right next to her. But then again, I have no idea why she does what she does anyway.

So we are off later today for the Chicken Vacation. The car is packed and I've just got some cleaning to do around the house. But it appears they've turned the water off. This could prove interesting. See you all next week!

Another Conversation

in the continuing saga of the Chicken Vacation. On the phone with CatDad last night:

CatDad: "Oh, hey there. I thought it was your aunt calling back."
Me: "??"
CatDad: "Yeah, she called me a few minutes ago to find out where we were going on vacation."
Me: "But I thought she was going with us?"
CatDad: "She is. I just never told her where we were going."
Me: "??"
CatDad: "Well, we got to talking and I just never got around to telling her the actual location. She knows now, though."

*Note to self - get more gin.*

Learning some lessons

with the white, blowing curtain and the angle of sunlight, this picture is quintessentially summer to me.

I started on Scarlet Thursday night. Instead of 1x1 ribbing, I adapted a one-repeat lace pattern (pssst- it looks strangely familar, eh?) I'm checking my progress each step of the way to avoid another Ed situation. So far, I've dropped my needle size down to an 8 (recommended was 9/10)and I'll be decreasing a bit from the waist to underarm. I am enjoying the Classic Silk slubbiness and it's knitting up so quickly, I might get to wear this on the Chicken Vacation!

However, some lessons take repetition to be valid. Note below:

The yellow exclamation point is the end of my red remnant. Yet 13 stitches remain to the end of the row. Since this is a lengthwise knit, I am not relishing the tinking of a bazillion stitches . So Red Scarf #1 is on hold until I make a LYS run. KYarns has a loverly little basket of wool remnant skeins which are perfect for projects like Dulaan and Red Scarf; I know I'll find enough to finish this row off. A visit is scheduled this week anyway since my niece has decided on socks as her "learn to knit" project. Her favorite colors are green and blue which are woefully lacking in my stash. So I've added needles and yarn to my "buy for vacation" list, right under the Bombay and tonic.

Enough with the swatching!

I feel like I've knit half the stole already! After consideration, I'm going with the 3rd swatch (#6s). I really love the look of the 2nd swatch, but at 5" for 35 stitches and Melanie indicating there would not be allowance for extra pattern repeats (whine but I'd only need one more /whine), I know I wouldn't be in the ballpark for the finished width of about 20".

I picked up some great beads from here - metallic dark blue iris - think of oil with the rainbow sheen on the surface.

I just hope I get the first clue before I leave on the Chicken Vacation.

What AM I thinking?

Well, at least the yarn I picked goes with this month's Project Spectrum.

A Conversation

A conversation with the CatBro this past week re: The Chicken Vacation -

Me: "So instead of staying overnight in Dover, we are staying in Salisbury. We'll meet you there instead."

CatBro: "But we aren't going through Salisbury."

Me: "If you're driving through Dover, you have to go through Salisbury. It's on the same road."

CatBro: "Salisbury is out of our way."

Me: "I'm looking at the freakin' atlas; there's only one main road down the center of the DelMarVa peninsula. It goes through Dover AND Salisbury."

CatBro: "We didn't go through Salisbury the last time."

Me: "I'm telling you. One. Freakin. Road."
CatBro: "Google doesn't say anything about going through Salisbury."

(continued bickering for a few more minutes.)

CatBroWife (exasperated, in background): "We have to drive through Salisbury just like the last time."

CatBro: "Oh."

We shall not discuss the conversation that occured re: getting on to the Outer Banks.

All knitting is completed on Hip2B. Just the sewing remains. So can you guess what I started?

Saving the day

So Ed is a Frogged Object. *sigh* I think the biggest mistake I made is using a #8 to knit - I got gauge, but Ed turned out to be way too drapey in the wrong places. So I'm gonna think about it some more and maybe try the pattern again in a few months.

Good news? Red Scarf 2008 is up and running. I think after the Ed disappointment, finishing Hip2B, and getting ready for The Chicken Vacation, I would enjoy a little scarf knitting. And it might be the perfect introduction for teaching my niece.

Cuteness alert: This morning, I was stopped by parade of 6 adult geese and 13 goslings of various ages crossing the road. Were they having a play date? Headed home from a late night? Early morning skinny dip? Only the geese know for sure.

hmmm

I finished Edward over the weekend and I'm not feeling a warm sense of satisfaction. The fit isn't what I was hoping for - the final decision will be made after blocking. There is enough cotton in the Wildflower DK blend to be stretchy - with the previous frogging and the abandonment time out, I think it might need a bit of refreshing. So stay tuned for either a FO or a F(rogged)O.

Hip2B is down to the last two squares. Tonight I'm hoping to start the lining with project completion slated by the end of the week. I'm holding off on starting anything new until these are done - that should help my motivation.

Project Spectrum Wish List

There are certain items that will always be my Holy Grail. 3 of them happen to fall into this month's colors.

Item 1: The perfect red lipstick. Not too loud, not too opaque, not too shiny, not too orange or blue.

Item 2: The perfect silver hoop earrings. Matte, not shiny. Maybe hand-hammered. Big, but not Sade-sized. (For the record - I adore Sade and want to be her when I grow up. I just don't want those earrings.)

Item 3: A black suede fringed coat. No, I'm not a biker babe or a cowgirl - I just have always wanted one.

And thank you to those who commented and emailed with clothing suggestions. I heard ya and ordered - stay tuned for the outcome.

Finishing is the hardest part

I'm cruising along with Hip2B - well, cruising might not be the right word when knitting with hemp twine. I've got about 11" left of the side panel and 3 mitered squares of the back panel. Then there's the whole sewing together, figuring out the handles, and making the lining bit. But I'll be glad to be done with the knitting portion - I'm starting to feel it at the base of of my fingers and thumbs.

I'm hoping to dig Edward out of hiding very soon - he was set aside (read: tossed in the closet) to make way for some deadline knitting at the beginning of April. My goal is to finish him in time for the Chicken Vacation.

And while we are speaking of The Vacation, anyone have suggestions for nice, lightweight cropped pants that do not rest on or about 'MuffinTopLand'? Seriously, I'm 45 years old with hips and would like to look like I still have all my wits about me!

Boxed up and away

Dulaan 2007

5 scarves, 6 hats, 5 pairs of socks.

I didn't make the Magic 28, but I did do my 5 + some.