Ooo Baby Knits

This and That

I’ve been my usual schizophrenic knitting self this last week. I haven’t felt like thinking much lately and everything I have going seems to require some thought. I admire knitters who can think right through a complicated sweater or shawl like they do it all the time. Amazing. I knit Little B’s sweater up to the pits and put it aside because my dps weren’t handy to start the lace sleeve cuffs, pulled out the ribbon tank a couple of times and put it back so I didn’t have to pick up the stitches I frogged, glanced at the gloves I started last winter but amn’t happy with, rummaged through this and that, and came across my hat bag. So I knit this for Ship Support.

Pattern: Mine
Yarn: Cervinia Sorrento

Putting the hat bag back in the closet, I found some Simply Soft so I knit that.

Pattern: 5-hour Baby Sweater
Yarn : Simply Soft

Those were downstairs knits. Upstairs I knit these:

Pattern: Mine
Yarn: bandless stash

Then last night, we sat down to watch The Constant Gardner. Mindless knitting was definitely called for, so I started the Tomten from my new book. (When you get a new book, you have to start something as soon as possible.) Nothing can be more mindless than garter. Unfortunately since I wasn’t paying attention, I didn’t realize I muffed a stitch. Now I have to think to weave it back up. Ratsafratsa. Wonderful movie, by the way.

We leave on vacation July 30th. That gives me a week and a day to finish my ribbon tank and cotton cardi so I can start something new. I like to start something new on the first day of vacation and hence forth refer to it as the where-ever-we-went sweater. This year it will be the Edisto Island sweater. I’m thinking about knitting the Picovoli t-shirt from Mag Knits in an ocean blue slubby cotton I just happen to have. Somewhere.

We’ve been to Edisto once before, and it’s my favorite beach. No crowds and dolphins a plenty. This time will be a little different. Instead of the 4 of us, it will be the 15 of us- the whole Huckabee clan. (My side of the family.) We’ve never done this before. Could be interesting.

The new eating plan is frustrating me. I got on the scale this morning, and I’ve gained back all but two pounds. Why? How? I’ve been so good. I haven’t even wanted to pig out on undesirables. We must needs new scales. Homemade veggie soup for supper, and fresh blackberries I’m about to go pick for dessert.

Sock Trees

Do socks really grow on trees? In much of the knitting blog world they do. I don’t know how many socks I’ve seen sprouting like leaves, so I decided to grow a pair on our peach tree. It worked! Think I’ll gift these for Christmas, and now I’m wondering if I can grow a sweater. We’ve been picking lots of peaches and other than give more away, I’m not sure what to do with the rest. I may try canning as Julie bravely does, or take the easy way and freeze some.

The parts for the star sweater are completed, but I’m thinking of redoing the hood (that purple thing on the side) so I don’t have to seam. If I use short rows, I can 3-needle bind off. On the other hand, it’ll be quicker to just sew it up at this point.

Purse knitting lately has been preemie hats for our hospital. Waiting in the ENT office with my daughter, I finished this one and wanted to start another but didn’t have a stitch holder- so I improvised. The hospital provides the yarn and pattern which is nice, but the hat requires seaming and we all know how I feel about that.

Time to start a little winter knitting. This is the Weekend Sweater by Elizabeth Zimmerman. I used a lace edge pattern from Knitting on the Edge to girly it up. My crummy old circular poked a hole in my finger while knitting the lace, so I ordered a new Inox from The Knitter. Somehow I ordered a new book, too. I didn’t to. Really.

And I’ve done a little more sewing. AC4C’s June project was putting together themed diaper bags for I forgot whom. I know the dress and the diaper bag don’t go together. They’re for different sets.

We’ve been having big bada boom thunderstorms in the evenings (one is cranking up now), and miserably hot and humid days. Cocoa doesn’t mind as long as I turn the sprinkler on. 

Happy Birthday America!

Pass the cake. Please. Seriously. Pass the cake. Now. I want cake!
I don’t know how you are spending your July 4th, but hubby and I spent the morning in Wal-Mart grocery shopping. Drew has high bp and cholesterol even on meds. He also listens to talk radio all day while he works. Does he listen to me when I suggest he take a sandwich or a salad instead of eating fast food for lunch? I even offered to make it, but no. Thankfully he did listen to one of the shows talk about the "Eat to Live" plan, so here we go. It’s almost vegetarian, especially to begin with, but at least I get my fruit. We did South Beach a year ago and Drew has kept off 20 pounds, but we decided high protein is not a healthy life choice for us. This plan is supposed to be really good for a lot of health problems including Drew’s. I'm still reading the book (and craving chocolate chip cookies already), but so far it makes sense.

So. We’re standing in line with a cart full of fresh and frozen fruits and veggies and an ironing board. I’m thinking, I could be knitting. I take the keys and head to the car, only I don’t remember where we parked. I circle the lot for 10 minutes- good exercise except for the 90-degree temp and 90% humidity. I finally collapse in the car and pick up my needles just in time to pretend I’d been there all along.

We get home and stash all the groceries. I fix us a huge salad, and we pour on the new 25-calorie dressing. We throw our salads away and make a mental note to never, ever buy that dressing again. Drew eats an apple; I eat a handful of walnuts and dried apricots. If tonight’s eggplant recipe isn’t wonderful, please invite me to your house for dinner.

My knitting hasn’t gone much better lately. I finished the back of the ribbon tank and frogged it last night. I didn’t like the way the colors were pooling, so I’ll rework it alternating rows with different skeins. I did finish up 3 preemie blankets with booties to send to Lubbock hospital in Texas and a couple more booties and hats.
 

I’ve finished some sewing- these are for Little B, our sponsor child, and a nighty for her doll.

And I’m reupholstering a rocking chair. There are two, but I only have room for one. It came from my parents’ house. They bought the set used early in their marriage. It’s never been very comfortable, but I’m hoping a little extra padding will help. I’ve never done this before, so wish me luck. I’ve finished the fun part- the deconstructing.

Very interesting. I’m not sure what some this stuff is,

but look at the cardboard backing. I’m thinking maybe a soft drink ad? I haven’t found fabric yet, so for now we have a naked chair in the living room.

Neighbors are shooting fire crackers, and poor Max is petrified. I'll have to skip the fire works tonight to stay with him. Happy Fourth!