Ooo Baby Knits

Up to My Pits

I’ve started my Making Waves socks and worked the Stripes Go Round up to the armpits, but not photo-op worthy progress yet. I’ve been considering going on a yarn and project starting diet, but thankfully I put it off. See, I really need a poncho as I don’t have one. Nanc started one using this pattern so I thought I should, too. I got this huge cone of wool on Ebay, and I wish I know from where. It's very soft and light- just what I wanted in a poncho. Something to cuddle in without weighin' me down.

I also started a scarf with Boa for my sister for Christmas. It is good to start Christmas presents early.

And a scarf with this unknown entity and this pattern. I think matching gloves would be lovely. I don’t know what kind of yarn it is as there is no label, so I tried the burn test. And then I tried it again and again and again. And again. Finally decided to stop before I ran out of yarn, then I guess it really wouldn’t matter what it’s made of. Yarn is almost as fun to burn as it is to knit, but I still don’t know what it is.

On the way home from the beach, DD#2, the artist in the family, wanted to stop and get some paper to draw on. So we did. She was making cute cartoon characters, and I asked if she’d draw one knitting. So she did. She drew this…

…and this…

…and this.

I’ll have to frame them, of course, but I’m wondering if I can make iron-ons with them for tote bags. Knitters never have enough tote bags.

Smiley’s Yarns has Encore DK on sale, so I had to buy some for a baby set I get to knit for a friend. Got some other colors, too, just ‘cause. Actually I want to knit the Three Penny Pullover in this fall’s IK, and my sister likes washable sweaters, and I got a few skeins for charity knitting. They are great tweedy colors.

But starting September 1st, no more yarn and no more starting projects other than keeping a hat for the homeless shelter on the needles, and a baby hat or booties for charity. But that’s all. No more for the whole month of September. No matter what. No drooling over the Elann site, and I will delete every Herrschners email that sez “Sale Yarns have been updated!” No, really- I will. And if I can refrain from buying any more yarn until we go to Blacksburg in October, I will treat myself to some Kureyon which I have never had and so richly deserve.

Something Blue...

These are my new Making Waves socks!

No, really, they are. Some assembly is still required, but they are socks. Don't you look at yarn sometimes and just know what it wants to be? This isn't sock yarn, but it really wants to be socks, and who am I to argue? Of course, yarn sometimes cries out to be something I think is silly, and when I knit it up it is silly, but you have to let yarn have it's way sometimes. Otherwise it gets belligerent and purposefully runs out when you have 1" left to knit on the second sleeve, or it lets your secret stash be found right after you've promised not to buy anymore yarn until you pay the electric bill (although I have no problem knitting by candle light. Our foremothers did, after all, so it's good enough for me. And I'd further like to add that I see nothing wrong with occasionally having popcorn, bananas, and ice cream for dinner when I forget to cook.)

I worked on two partially blue knits at the beach last week. Ahhhh, the beach. Here's the view on the drive down. I want a sweater the color of DD#1's hair.

I knit 9" of my Stripes Go Round in the car. I think I spent as much time untangling yarn as I did knitting- I was hoping to finish it. But then I'm always hoping to finish something. I have worked a couple more inches since returning home.

I also knit this kids sweater while watching the Olympics at night. I love the gymnastics. If I ever suddenly find my self 10-years old again, I'm going to take up gymnastics.

Edisto Island is a fantastic place to beach. We practically had the beach to ourselves every day, the dolphins swam by every afternoon, and Hurricane Charley hardly bothered us. Here's the view over the sound. This was taken right outside our room.

Every night the sunset was different and equally beautiful. This was our neighbor. He lived in the pond by the next building.

This I finished knitting post beach. The pattern is Wendy’s design at Wendy Knits. The yarn is unlabeled stash (Caron Simply Soft maybe?). The needles were #9 short straights. Don’t know who it’s for- just wanted to try the pattern which is very pretty. The yarn is very soft. You can probable see the face prints all over it from being rubbed.

Wendy has blogged about how to blog, and I’d like to add this suggestion. Don’t ever, ever, ever, type your whole blog entry in on your blog site. Use a WP program then cut and paste. I, for the gazillionth time, accidentally erased my entry instead of saving it. Hopefully this doesn’t happen to you, but if you cut and paste you will save yourself much aggravation and not expose your children to words you tell them not to use.

I have this one skein of unlabeled wool that wants to be a scarf next. I don’t remember buying it- I just found it stash shopping last night. Guess I'd better start one more thing.

Something Borrowed...

I love percentage sweaters- you can use any yarn, any stitch, knit any size, and (if I get my math correct) it comes out beautifully. I’ve borrowed Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Tomten pattern (in Knitting Around) and instead of garter stitch I did my own thing. Here’s the baby sweater sans sleeves (I really will get to them):

Here’s the broken rib adult jacket with one sleeve started:

And finally the slip stitch adult jacket so far:

We’re leaving for the beach tomorrow- Edisto Island, SC. Hoping we won’t have to deal with hurricanes (Bonnie should pass through in the morning), but I’m prepared for bad weather. I’ve cast on Stripes Go Round in this summer's IK with Lion Brand Micro Spun. I love the way this stuff feels. I should get lots done on the 7-hour ride there and back. (No, I’m not driving.) Also taking yarn for a couple of kids sweaters and a bag of sport washable wool if I’m in the sock mood.

Max knows we’re up to something, but our neighbors (his other parents) will take good care of him while we’re gone.

Garden Shot: The view from my desk.

Knitting Funny: http://www.ucomics.com/closetohome/2004/08/06/

Something New...

My new camera! What an ordeal to get it, though. But first… new things I’ve finished. (Gee, I love finishing things.)

First, a baby set. The pattern is here, the yarn is cheap acrylic, but washes well, so is good for charity knitting. This will go to the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation along with the rainbow sweater, blue Tomten and anything else I get finished this month.

Next- socks! The pattern is from Knit Net, but I can’t find my notebook of sock patterns so I can’t tell you what it’s called. Dimples maybe? Darn. I just had it, now what did I do with it? The yarn is Wool-Ease sport weight in Boysenberry, #5 needles, but I should have used #4. Couldn’t find those either. I did join the Six Socks Knitalong, so more socks on the way.

And now for the non-knitting news.

The Great Camera Saga I researched what I wanted on the internet (inexpensive but good) and decided on the camera. Low and behold, the next week Office Max had it at the lowest price I'd found with a free 64 mb memory card. I drive over to pick up my new toy, and they've sold out. The manager was very nice and said if more didn't come on the truck the next day, she would have one sent from another store. I go home and pout. Next day I call to see if it came in and a young man sez sure, they have two. I rush right over and they don't have one. The manager gets the young man out who apologizes for just checking on the computer and not looking on the floor for the actual product. The manager sez she had one sent UPS and she'll call. I go home and pout some more. Last week I get the call and rush right over... again. They can't find the camera. They try to give me the wrong camera. They find my camera. They don't know I get a free memory card. They're out of that memory card. So I get a free 128 mb card! I'm a little happier. On the ride home, DD#2 ripped open the 2-way radios I had also purchased while I double check the receipt. I got the wrong 2-way radios.

Curb Shopping Extravaganza So I'm walking around the block Friday morning and notice the long neglected house on the corner is being fixed up and piles of stuff are on the street. I pass over the mason jars gray slush and the 1950's style hairdryer and the box of broken alarm clocks, but I stop when I spy boxes of fabric. Do I grab and run? No, I go home and get DD and the car and come back for the big haul. It's damp from rain the night before so I take it home and start washing. 13 loads in an extra capacity washer! I have 3 laundry baskets piled over 3 feet high. Now, one basket is all polyester doubleknits which will all be sent a friend whose sewing group can use it for charity projects. Most of the rest will be used for blankets for the homeless shelter and clothes for Aid for Orphans. Now I have to find a place to put all this stuff!

Garden Shot Kindly ignore the dead vine on the trellis. We accidentally killed it transplanting a rose. Please imagine it a deep green and covered with tiny, fragrant white blossoms.