Feel that ocean breeze?

Skinny McGinny - Caribbean meets neckwear.

Sitcom!

Sitcom Chic, pret a porter.


Closeup of Sitcom neck detailing

Soft as a baby's...

Plush Blankie ready for the baby shower. 


Closeup of colors 

Home again

Christmas has come and gone. I ended up frogging Olivia because it looked awful (I ended up setting a column of stitches off and ...well it's frogged.) But I did 1) start and finish Plush Blankie, 2) start and finish a special request scarf - Skinny McGinny (in a turq/lime/blue Splash colorway), and 3) start Skinny McGinny II for my mom who fell in love with McGinny I.

I also picked up a skein of Tibetan Himalayan Yarn Co. in 60% wool, 40% recycled silk; it's sapphire with multi flecks. I'm thinking of using it for some glovelets. And when scouting out an AC Moore store, I grabbed a skein of a mohair blend in "Orangina" to make the LouLou socks from Knitty.com.

Stay tuned for pics.

Yarn Over ...and over..and over

So I spent this weekend YOing. Between Mata 2 (which is now a Finished Object) and Olivia, I can do the YO stitch repeat in my sleep. Will Olivia be done in time for me to wear for Christmas? I'm thinking no, but I do have an 8-hour car ride ahead of me.

Doubting Thomasinas

So people have been asking - what's that you're knitting? "A poncho." ...pause...skeptical looks from the questioner...pause.

"No! Really, a poncho."

More skeptical looks, usually involving a raised eyebrow.

Trust me people, it's a poncho. Hmpf.

The poncho formerly known as Rebekah

I started Rebekah last night. Got a few rows into it and was at 1/2(!) the stitches I cast on with! What? There is no way I'm going to work this poncho as the pattern stands now. So? I've decided to keep the general form (2 19" x 24" panels), but I'm working the YOs my way. And since I've already decided I'm going to do a mandarin collar, it really isn't "Rebekah" anymore. Her name has been changed to "Olivia" in honor of Olivia Harrison (I was watching Great Performances' "Concert for George (Harrison)" during this decision making process.) I was going to call the poncho "Dhani", but thought that was a little too weird. But I will go on record as saying Dhani Harrison is all kinds of hot. (And yes, George was my favorite Beatle).


Stretched a bit for the picture, but here are the first 3 inches of Panel 1


A bit blurry, but the colors in this photo are truer than the other photo.

The Mata Matter

Using #13s makes the scarf much more "lacy". Doesn't it look like "Christmas in a Scarf"?

Mata 2 in Mohair/Eros. Once again, I'm over halfway done and have run out of yarn! When will I learn "leftover skeins are not as big as they appear?" Oh well, another excuse to go to KYarns.

I finished Sitcom last night. Ends woven in, neckband on, button on. I just have to wash and block this weekend. (And yes, I did try it on! And it fits!)

And I started Mata 2. She's for a friend who admired Mata Mohari and thought it would be pretty in brighter colors. So I'm using the black mohair from Mata 1, and the leftover skein of Eros in jewel colors. I'm doing it on #13s so the YO pattern will be a little more pronounced (plus it's a quicker knit).

Rebekah is still on for tomorrow's project.

They'll look better with shoes. Really.

MomSocks. No, my feet are not deformed, it's just the way I'm holding them. And Jack's decided if Cinco gets Mata, he's going for the socks.


Kitchener stitch on the toe. Look Ma! No seams!

The name's Cat. Mr. Cat.

This is a very handsome Cinco deciding that Mata may need to be his. The look on his face seems to say "Go ahead. Just TRY to take this off me."

Mata up close - the brown/red dots in the middle of the scarf are the glimpses of my desk through the YOs.

Done, but nothing to show for it

MomSocks - done. Mata - done. Tea - started. And I haven't been home long enough to get pics. If I play my cards right, I'll finish Sitcom's odds and ends tomorrow, get pics of FOs, and start Rebekah for the weekend.

Oh, and did you see the Knitty.com button changed? Bet I'm gonna have new stuff to add to the "Next" list. So many projects...

Mata Mohari

I decided the SkinnyMinny scarf wasn't quite as dark as I was hoping for, so I picked up a skein of Classic Elite La Gran Mohair to knit with the remaining Electra. "Mata" is 9 stitches on #7 Inoxs. To keep it airy, I'm doing a simple YO, knit 2tog pattern. So far so good.

While I was at my LYS, I picked up the additional skein to finish MomSocks, and the yarn/pattern for the Rebekah poncho. I was a little disappointed that the picture online seems to show a mandarin collar, but the pattern does not call out for it. So I guess I'll be figuring out how to add the collar.

Charmed, I'm sure

In a fit of creativity (not inspired by anything else I know of, so if you had the idea first, I apologize!) I decided to create some stitch markers from a mate-less earring, some tiny pendants from necklaces I don't wear anymore, and a charm or two. Now if I can just remember to use them!

Happy happy joy joy!

Well almost! Sitcom is off the needles! Just needs a neckband, button sewn on, ends woven in, and blocked. My wrist is complaining, but I'm just so happy it's almost a FO!

Something to show for it.

MomSocks. Would have finished these yesterday if it hadn't been for the fact I ..um..well..ran out of yarn. I really thought I could get a pair out of the skein. Dagnabbit.

SkinnyMinny up close and personal.

SkinnyMinny full view.

It's almost Thanksgiving?!?

And I haven't touched Sitcom. The redeeming fact is I'm going to be 5 hours plunked in the passenger seat of the Cattymobile tomorrow, hostage to the sweater that will not finish.

MomSock2 has had some progress and I have started SkinnyMinny, the narrow Electra scarf. Pictures to come of all those FO on Friday.

Hope springs eternal, eh?

Comin' down the pike

With the thought that Sitcom Chic will be done by Thanksgiving (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!), I've been looking forward to some new projects:
1. Baby Blankie in sweet pea green/lavender Plush (using my LYS's pattern)
2. LouLou socks in a TBA yarn (pattern from the Knitty Breast Cancer edition)
3. A felted kitty bed from skein remnants (making it up as I go)
4. Felted Teapot Cozy in Sapphire Lamb's Pride with Manos in a scarlet/purple colorway (making it up as I go)
5. Sasparilla Turtleneck in a TBA yarn (based on a pattern from a Woman's Day article circa 1996)
6. A narrow scarf in cream/grey/black Plymouth Electra
7. Rebekah Poncho in Koigu KPPPM (using my LYS's pattern)

Finally progress!

I'm at the point of casting off and adding the sleeves for Sitcom. I'll only have a few more rows of the taupe, then the yoke to do in all black. I actually might have this done by Thanksgiving (insert happy dance here). So I'm setting the goal. Thanksgiving. Of 2004. In less than 10 days. If I say it enough, will I believe it?

In the meantime, MomSock 2 may be relegated to the wayside. Maybe. We'll see.

Oh happy day!

Here is the Happy Bag, all finished (and the MomSock stuff is already packed inside).

This was the Lambs Pride and Mountain Arts yarn from my LYS sale stash, I made the pattern up as I went along. It took about 4 felting cycles. The tabs for the handles are crocheted -they felted perfectly (in 2 cycles).

One down, one to go

Here's MomSock #1, finished last night during a business meeting. I tried kitchenering the toe - it worked for a few stitches, then I did something wrong and set the rest of the stitches off. So I'll be frogging and redoing this weekend.

Awww, isn't she cute?

FuzzyBaby 'delivered' while I waited for the snow tires to be mounted and balanced.

A little secret

FuzzyBaby Hat

Jennifer Brown's Hat for Newborn Baby is by far one of the easiest, quickest, most gratifying knitting projects I've come across in the land of baby patterns. I've done 4 of these hats so far using a variety of needles and yarns. You can't screw it up. Sure, some have come out a little large for a newborn, but hey - they grow into it. This one is being created from Artful Yarn's Galaxy in muted pastels for a little girl born to a co-worker. She was a whopping 8# 14oz. I'd rather knit for a baby than actual HAVE one any day!

Swirly Girl

Mom Sock #1

This is Janis's Koigu Sock Pattern. I'm tweaking it a bit - offsetting the ribbing - to create a nice little swirl around the ankle. The yarn is Lang Jawoll Superwash Cotton in a butter yellow (the top edge and toe of the socks) and a green multi-fleck on Brittany #2s. Here I'm just about to start the heel flap.

Progress

Here's what I accomplished this weekend - 6" of the body. The bottom edge is rolling a bit in the pic, but all in all I think it's looking pretty good. Not quite as scary as I originally thought, but running three skeins gets a bit tiresome.

To entertain myself during my knitting extravaganza, I rented "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", "Die Another Day", and "Lost in Translation". Yes, I finally watched "FB" - how I had missed seeing it in the past 20 years, I'm not really sure. Made me a tad homesick for Chicago and my John Lennon "Rock N Roll" album. "DAD" was disappointing. Is it just me, or did Pierce Brosnan phone his performance in? So much action, so little Bond. Best moment? MoneyPenny's fantasy. "LiT" was not quite as magical as all the hype, but there were many moments of beauty (ps, Charlotte knits! WOOT!). And Bill Murray? Was just transcendent.

Making a date

So it's a date with Sitcom this weekend. I mean it. Really. All my other WIPs are at the "done" stage (a few stitches here, a little felting there). Mr.Catty is making himself scarce and I see 48 hours of uninterrupted chick flicks, Ben and Jerry's and knitting. Well except for nap times. And some domestic goddessing. And groceries. But the rest of the time, it's me up close and personal with this sweater.

Smile for the camera

If there is reincarnation, I wanna come back as a cat in the Catty household.

Successful Avoidance

I'm ignoring the condemning emanations from the bag holding Sitcom. See how successful I am?

The Chilla Pilla in Teal Chinchilla with a stripe of Bertagna Filati Armonia in Gold. The Snakecharmer scarf is Fonty Serpentine in a lavender shade with Eros with a pink/mint/powder blue/lavender colorway.

If you're happy and you know it...

The Happy bag, almost done. Lamb's Pride in Tigerlily with Mountain Colors in Ruby River.

Whew!

Stinkin' Purses? Done!

The Chilla Pilla Cover? Done!

The Snakecharmer Scarf ? Almost done!

Sitcom Chic? Still staring me down.

Resistance is futile

Sitcom is sitting there, waiting for me to start her body. Why am I waiting? What am I afraid of? I'm going to tweak the pattern a bit and do the bottom ribbing and yoke in black (think spectator pumps) and I want to incorporate the front band as garter stitches instead of picking up the band later. In my mind, it's as easy as just adding 3-4 garter stitches at the beginning and end of each row (in black). But I'm scared. So I'm looking for the opportunity of a solid block of time and freshness of mind. I could be waiting a while. But that little percentage bar is glaring at me every time I log in. Bastard. Who's idea was it to add those bars to my blog anyway.

What was I thinking?

I bought a few skeins of Chinchilla to knit a travel pillow cover (a girl gets sleepy knitting on those long trips). I thought...hmmm #13 circulars and I should be set. Grrrr... I'm hating the way the Chinchilla is NOT sliding along my Addis. Hate. Really hate. But I'm committing to doing this because 1) it's a relatively quick project, 2) the Chinchilla is gonna feel so nice to rest my weary head on, 3) I hate the idea of frogging Chinchilla more than I hate the idea of knitting it.

So I'm sucking it up.

And it fit into one bag!

Here's my stash from yesterday's LYS sale. There's some Manos, two skeins of Fonty Serpentine, some wool remnants (incorporated into granny squares last night), two skeins of sock yarn (one pair for Mom for Christmas), coupla Lamb's Prides skeins for felting, 2 skeins of teal Chinchilla for a travel pillow cover, a skein of Galaxy in baby colors (good to have on hand when you need a baby hat for a shower gift), a new crochet hook and handbag handles for a felted "happy bag" for me.