Ooo Baby Knits

The Wal-Mart Scarf

What do you do when you drop your car off at Wal-Mart for an oil change and are told it will be over an hour because two people didn’t show up for work and you only have three things on your list to get and of course you didn’t bring the big purse that always has knitting in it because it’s pouring down hurricane Jeanne rain and you hadn’t planned to get an oil change anyway?

Why, you buy a couple of skeins of yarn (thank goodness #10 ½ circulars was one of the items on the list!), sit in the lovely waiting area, and knit a scarf.

My friend Sunny Song (isn’t that a wonderful name?) and her daughter were waiting for an oil change as well, so it turned out to be a lovely morning. Sunny wants to learn to knit and start a weekly knitting group. Finally a friend with some common sense. I mean who wouldn’t want to drink coffee, knit, and chat? Especially with me?

Here’s the Wal-Mart Scarf Pattern:

Materials:
1 skein each Bernat Softee Chunky in cream and gray
#10 ½ needles

Cast on 26 (or any multiple of 2) with gray.
Row 1-2: Knit.
Row 3-4: K2 for border, K1P1 across to last 2 stitches, K2.
Repeat these 4 rows 8 times. K 2 rows.
Change colors and repeat. (I’ll let you know how many repeats I get.)

This week’s knitterly To Do list:
- finish this scarf
- finish black and white Tomten
- finish a hat
- finish red, white, and black baby sweater

If I check off everything by Tuesday, I will reward my truly deserving self by starting new easy car knitting projects for our trip to NYC! Yea! I’m going to NY! Actually have to go for doctor appointments Thursday, but this time we’re going up a day early so Wednesday we can have a play date. I’ve been flaking out a lot lately, so we may not get to do much, but we do want to go to the Metropolitan Museum, Eddy’s Pizza, and the little yarn shop around the corner from our hotel.

Woo Hoo!

I Cheated

I admit it and I’m very, very sorry. Okay, not. I have really good excuses. I know I wasn't going to buy any more yarn or start anything new, and I was knitting diligently away at the black and white Tomten. But then… this happened:

Someone in my AC4C group had an emergency request for a 3-month-old on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The mom had given away all the baby things after the last baby and had only 2 onesies and a couple of blankets for him. Hence the sweater. I want to sew a couple pair of pants to go with it. Scarf on the left was from yarn courtesy of lovely Lois. It would have been rude not to dig in and knit something with all the yarn she gave me. The bucket hat goes with the poncho, so it’s not really another new project (I finally got it small enough by throwing it in the dryer a few times. I still don’t think it felted- just shrank.) The Kool-Aid dyed top-knit hat was purse knitting. And the hat and scarf set (for homeless shelter) happened because I couldn’t find my #10 16” cicrs. I found them now. Don’t panic.

Then there was the Ebay incident:

This yarn is so cool- you would have bid on it too if I hadn’t gotten there first. It’s 40% ganpi abaka, which is tree bark. Tree bark! How cool is that? I have 5 180m skeins which does not a sweater make, but here’s the plan. I knit the Einstein (I think) sweater from The Knit Stitch alternating garter ridges with this and some black wool I have in my stash. Tres fantastique, n’est pas?

I also really like this vest pattern I found at the Yarn Barn.

Oh, what to do? Good think I loaned my Knit Stitch book to a new knitter who's perusing before buying. I’ll be forced to swatch as soon as she returns it.

A little non-knitting aside- Do you frequently type “me” instead of “my”? I usually catch it, but I’m beginning to think I may want to leave it from now on so I’ll sound like a pirate. Hands off me stash, matey!

The Dog Ate My Homework

… or at least the knitter’s equivalent. Max chewed up one of my bamboo dps, so I’ve been knitting with 3 dps and a circular. Arrrg.

On the brighter side, Hancock Fabrics has 20% off all knitting books and needles. They don’t have much in the way of needles, but I did get a book: “Donna Kooler’s Encyclopedia of Knitting.” There’s a wonderful history of knitting in the front I’ve been reading through. Next, lots of good basic information and techniques I’ll need when I finally start working on the Master Knitters program. There are several projects I’ve added to my WWIP (wishful works in progress) list like the beaded scarf, the lace scarf, and the Entrelac scarf knit with Noro Silk Garden. A couple of fun felting things, too, then lots of stitches, some I’ve never seen. Definitely a good buy, despite my DH’s comment, “I thought you had every knitting book already.” Nooo, duuuh. Non-knitters can be so silly.

I had to squeeze in a little project that wasn’t on my list because, well, I just had to. My first Bucket Hat! It came out a little small for me, but it has a home. When DD#1 was little, she would put a large plastic mixing bowl on her head and run around until she ran into something and fell down. We called her Bucket Head, so it's appropriate that she get the first Bucket Hat.

I made another one out of the leftover yarn from my poncho which I thought was 100% wool but apparently I thought wrong. It’s a big floppy mess. Drats.

Waves Are Made

Woo hoo! Another WIP becomes a FO! I finished knitting the second sock during DD#1's volleyball game Monday nite. I don't recommend it- I almost got whacked a couple of times. Oh, the dangers of knitting.

Good day

My day yesterday: I was still in my pj’s and robe when my MIL came by at 11:00 and the house was a mess. I really was up early, but I didn’t want to wake my DH (he’s recuperating from a motorcycle accident and hadn’t slept well) so I’d been writing and doing laundry- things that don’t show when you walk in the front door.

Later I knocked a shelf out of the bathroom cabinet trying to put back one of those little plastic shelf brackets. The whole thing fell. A bottle of nail polish broke in the sink and another on the floor, splashing on the tub and shower curtain. So I cleaned.

I had to restart a sleeve 3 times before I got it right, and the I-cord for Mom’s purse shrank more than expected. I’ll have to knit another one.

Today: Flowers unexpectedly and for no reason other than he loves me from my darling DH. (No, he’s mine and you can’t have him!)

And a box of yarn. Whoopee!! (The poor guy brought it to the house in pouring rain.) I bought a cone of wool on ebay for socks for CIC, and wonderful Lois sent me all this! Lois you are my yarn angel. I don’t think it will all be practical for charity knitting, but that will come first. New yarn... makes me all tingly.

I have made progress on my WIP list. Putting it on the wall by my computer as a constant reminder not to start anything new is helping, but as you can see in the yarn picture, I did have to start a scarf as soon as I piled everything out of the box.. What can I say? Knit happens.

But I did finish Mom’s purse. She loves the colors and the size, and took it as is.
Here’s a close up of the clasp.
I also finished a scarf , the dishcloths, and made progress of a couple of other projects. That’s 4 down, 43 to go!

PS I hope my WIP list confession has helped just one knitter who can say, “See honey? I’m not the only one!” Or, “See honey? And you thought I had problems!”

It's All About Me

Enough about knitting, let's talk about me. This is for the benifit of my new Secret Pal. She's written me already, and her name is Ella Minnow Pea. You can't hide anything from me! What? That's not her real name? Why would she lie to me? I thought we were pals!

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high-end/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

I’m a yarn snob wanna be. I love nice yarns, and prefer them when knitting for friends, and myself but I do use some Lion Brand as I can get it locally (no LYS here) and I use acrylics for charity knitting.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I have a hand spindle I play with some, and want to learn to use it better. I have a friend who has two pet lamas, and can have the wool when I learn what to do with it.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

Licking envelopes and mold.

4. How long have you been knitting?

35 years. (I started in utero.)

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Nope.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

Plumeria, vanilla, daisy, anything fresh and not too heavy.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

Does eating peach cobbler for breakfast, dessert after snacks, and chocolate after dessert count?

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

I sew, paint, and buy craft magazines every Christmas intending to do stuff.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if you want to make her a CD)

Jazz, blues, classic rock, classical, some country, contemporary Christian, and good instrumentals like Jim Brickman. Yes.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer?

My favorite color is yellow, and I also like blues and greens.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I’m married (20 years Oct. 13), 2 teenaged daughter, and a pound puppy named Max.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

I never thought I’d have to quit teaching, but it has given my more time to knit and write. I have published a few things, but would really like to sell one of my children’s books. I’ve come close- nibbles but no bites yet.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

I don’t have a favorite. I like wools and anything interesting.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Haven’t met a yarn yet that I don’t like, other than some cheep acrylic that didn’t wash well.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

Dyeing everything in my stash with Kool-Aid.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Anything without seams. They get finished.

17. What are you knitting right now?

Umm, one of everything.

18. What do you think about ponchos? (this is really a curiosity question for us)

Just finished my first, and love it!

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

Definitely circular except for socks- I’m a dp gal.

20. How did you learn to knit?

My grandmother taught me the basics when I was about 7. She died when I was a teenager, and I inherited her needles. The rest I’ve picked up here and there- I’ve never had anyone to knit with. (I know, poor baby.)

21. How old is your oldest UFO?

That would either be the taupe cabled sweater or the pink lace scarf. Both were started at least 15 years ago.

22. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

We’re a Sponge Bob family.

23. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas.

24. Is there anything that you collect?

Piggy banks, snow globes, music boxes, and dust bunnies- but that’s not intentional.

Okay, enough about me. Too much about me. As Billy Bob Thornton said, "If I'm sick of me, I can only imagine how other people feel." Back to my regularly scheduled witty knitting banter.

Call Me the Kool-Aid Kid

My DD#2 walked in the door after school Friday and said, “Who burned the Kool-Aid?” I was proud to say ME!

It will become scarves, socks, and a felted purse for my Mom.

I’m a list and a pile person. I’m constantly making lists, so you’d think I’d be better organized. I guess one day I’ll have to start reading them so I’ll remember what I’m supposed to be doing. I typed up a list of all the projects I could remember starting so I can check them off as I finish them. I’m sure there are other things- I didn’t go looking. But maybe, just maybe this will help me to actually finish things. I get too excited every time I get new yarn or a new pattern, and I can’t put it aside- I have to knit it NOW!

I give you the list:

LIVING ROOM
Main Knitting Bag:
- Wool Garter-striped Cardigan
- Cabled Tote
- Lace pullover for Cory
- Green bulky child’s cardigan
- Black/white Tomten
- Baby Tomten
- Lavender lace scarf
- Making Waves socks
- Cream Boboli cardigan

Other bags:
- Stripes Go Round
- Allison’s vertical striped scarf
- Slip-stitch Tomten
- Dishcloths for Trish
- Yellow Homespun scarf
- Poncho
- Mom’s Purse

LIBRARY
By Computer:
- Dishcloth baby blanket
- Purple Easy Child’s Sweater
- Surprise Adult Jacket (need more yarn)
- Allison’s white sweater (narrow shoulders)

Game closet:
- Red/black/white baby sweater
- Alpaca boucle sweater
- Green variegated cotton sweater
- Cat Hat
- Blue/white cabled short sleeved sweater
- Tube socks
- Pink preemie set
- Blue-green boucle cardigan

Coat Closet:
- Fair Isle short sleeved sweater

BEDROOM
By Bed:
- Green baby-cable scarf
- Gray cabled sweater for Mom
- Boa scarf/hat for Shannon
- Blue/white preemie blanket
- Rambling Rows Blanket
- Blue Preemie Blanket

Under the Sewing Table:
- Stained Glass girl’s sweater (sew up and finish)
- Orange lace cardigan (sew up and finish)
- White preemie blanket
- Striped girl’s cardigan
- Granny Square laprobe

Attic Closet:
- Flower summer top
- Taupe cabled sweater
- Pink lace scarf
- Shannon’s purple cardigan- sew and finish
- Shannon’s Homespun sweaters to reknit
- My Homespun sweater to reknit

Today the purse, tomorrow the... something else!

Poncho Perfecto!

I am amazed at myself. I started this poncho Saturday, and actually worked on it exclusively until I finished it Tuesday. Ok, I did knit up some baby booties in the car, but other than that I was a one-project gal for 3 days! I know what you’re thinking- is she pulling my leg? Is she yanking my chain? Is it getting really cold down south? I really did it, for the same reason the possum crossed the road- to prove it can be done.

I made mine nice and long to keep me warm at the drive-in. Here’s a close-up of the border. I used the Double Beaded Edge on p. 94 in 440 More Knitting Stitches. Don’t you just love stitch books?

Now I’m not quite sure what to do. I joined the Poncho KAL which starts the 5th, but I finished mine already and I’ve sworn off starting new projects. What should I do? Should I start a new poncho? The Magic 8 Ball sez, “Very Doubtful.” Drats.