May I have your attention, please.
[clinks glass with fork]
I am inordinately behind on reading blogs. So far behind I may never catch up. For this, dear readers, I truly apologize. Please none of you take it personally at all if I haven't commented on your blog, or if I have not responded to a comment you left here. I love you all, and have good some excuses:
1) Our basement flooded again and we are trying to deal with many other nasty fix-it home issues that are driving us nuts.
2) I have been having to study for continuing education testing.
3) And, er, um, I may have become addicted to this TV show, on DVD of course. I am 3/4 through Season 2. Miss Jenny loves watchin' her stories.
4) And, er, um, hmmm, I might be knitting too many things at once. Might be. So the progress is few and far between.
Well, at least give us somethin'
I finished the crocheted star blanket for my friend Teresa, who may have had her baby this week! I'll know when I go back to work Saturday.
And, click here for the stitch close-up.
UPDATE: Here is the link for this pattern, "Beth's Little Star Afghan."
Moving On.
I may have started something new - a headwrap. This pattern is from the IK website. I think it might be subscriber-only. ;-(
The Yarn? Patons Grace.
So, this pattern and another one I am working on involve the dastardly K3tog. When knitting two together is so simple, why is knitting three stitches together so damn hard? Especially in skinny cotton yarn on US2 needles, I might add.
I am a glutton for punishment.
When life hands you lemons...
Best thing to do is play with your new squeaky spider.
Good. Times.
Or, go to Karaoke with Carrieoke, get drunk, and belt out "One Way or Another" by Blondie, complete with boogie-ing in front of tons of people. Oh. My. Lord.
Serenity Now!
People really can be dimwits.
OK. So a few late night types read this post, in which this first part was a complaint about a thing that happened at work. I work in a hospital*, and I like to keep my work off the blog. I was so mad when I came home that I blogged this whole story.
A few hours later I am uncomfortable about it, and it's gone. I'm sorry, but I don't want to get Dooced. Just me ranting. But the first couple comments reflect this, so don't be confused. Someday later I'll get drunk and blog and tell it.
High Energy... CROCHETS?
Because you are so good as to listen to me complain, complain, and then delete the complaint, here is a picture of a baby afghan I am crochetting for a friend:
The book is the very book from which I learned to crochet at about age 7.
From 1975. Oh yeah.
Yeah, you heard right, crochet. I don't do it much, but this star is too cute. Here's the pattern.
I am crochetting because if I knitted an afghan it would take FOREVER. It's going pretty quick. The baby is due anytime so I am crochetting like a FIEND.
High Energy... FELTS?
I am also making the French Market Bag from Knitty. Because my friend AM is too, and I am a copycat.
This project has been an adventure. First, my washing machine is a super energy efficient front loader that I LOVE LOVE LOVE.**
However, it can't felt, really, because it is so low agitation (Yes, Alex, I know it felted your blanket. I can't explain that. It hasn't done it since ;-)). So I had to learn to felt by hand in the sink.
Also, I am using Rowan Cork which I got mostly for free, and I wasn't sure it would felt. So I made swatches, as recommended by a great book, Felted Knits. And it worked!
Here's pre-felt:
And post-felt:
Well, okay, it's hard to tell in pictures, but the fabrics are totally different now. It's cool. Took about 11 minutes in the sink.
So I started the bottom of the bag, and here it is being a beret for my deck post:
Isn't it jaunty?
I leave you with a picture of the Flowerbasket shawl being worn. That's the only pic I got, cause I gave it to me mom and she made off with it. ;-) See ya'll later.
*Please note this does not allow you to email me for medical advice. All such emails will be cheerfully ignored, or incorrect advice will be given, depending on my mood. You have been warned.
**There are SOME who say they care deeply for their washing machines. But I have true unconditional love for this machine. There are not words.
Blue Jean Baby... L.A. Lady...
Seamstress for the band...*
That song has nothing to do with this post. Except that I'm listening to it right now. I am TELLING you, this damn blog needs a soundtrack! I'd love for you all to hear what I hear when I am blogging. Gah!
I want to thank you, for letting me, be myself, again.*
We interrupt this post to say:
YOU. PEOPLE. ROCK. MY. WORLD.
Thank you so much for all the nice comments. I am so lucky to have you all out there (and the noncommenters too!) It's so so nice to have you all as readers, and I am very lucky. I am out of my funk and back in the land of High Energy! Wooo-hoooo-hahahahahaha! Look Out!!!
Just think for a minute how I would be on crack or meth. Holy Shit! The world wouldn't be able to handle it!!!!!
Get with the knitting.
You got it. I present to you one finished Sister Sock. (And she even left a comment to approve of the sock. Please note this side is minus the "design feature" ;-D):
And because we do what we are told around here, please note the second sock is already started. Even my hubby knows:
Me: So I finished Mel's first sock. What MUST I do next before anything else?
Hubby: (Very decisively and sure of himself) Finish the other one.
Well, he sort of gets it, anyway. That exchange makes me snort out loud.
Ginger was cooler than Maryann
And, I got my act together to finish the front and back of Ginger:
I love this color. Love it love it love it. Because I'm not super sure the straps are long enough yet, they are on holders. I'm going to seam the sides and we will see. This plan will not fail.
A Tisket, A Tasket
And, last but not least, the Flowerbasket shawl, she is done:
Ok, but hurry and click HERE to see it all big!!
OK Kids! That's it for now! I am super happy with these results so far and feel I am finally accomplishing. Now, if I could just get enough energy to study for my CME test that I have to do this year. Oh, and er, last year's too. Oops. Studying=yucky.
*Elton John. I neglected to mention that the hubby always makes fun of this song by singing, "Hold me closer, Tony Danza."
**Or, as Sly & the Family say, "Thank you (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)"
I am onnn reprieve...
lacking my joie de vivre...*
Seriously. I am lacking. Sorry for the lack of post, and lack of reading. I don't know what's up. Everything is overwhelming.
And you know, it's really stupid when the things that stress me out are because I HAVE things, ya know? Woe is me, we have all this stuff to take care of, but we have a roof and food and money, so what's my problem? How stupid I am to be upset.
But our roof leaked, and it's one more issue with the contractor who did our house who hasn't followed up on ANYTHING. So, now, an attorney threat later, things are supposed to get done. I won't hold my breath, you'd have to intubate me. Or I would have to intubate me. (Tricky, that).
So the latest issue is that the remote hold I had over my environment went to sh*t with the bringing home of my late father-in-law's furniture and stuff. It's as if we moved TWICE in SIX months. Kill me now.
Witness:
And: THIS, and THIS, and THIS.
Whaddya gonna do.
There has been some minor knitting. First, I did find I could knit a sock during the Alias fest I had recently. I must say I am very upset with Season Three. I'm not sure I will watch Season 4. I hate it when great TV goes to poo.
These are for my sister, and are in Lorna's Laces. So far so good...
But turn it slightly and: WHAT'S. THE. HELL.
Where did the big brown blobbo come from?
Oh, pooling. What funtimes. NOT. I won't rip it out though, otherwise she'll never get them. And in general they will be in a shoe. Mel, if you are out there, now's the time to tell me to rip it out. For you and you only, I will. ;-)
Flower Crapsket Shawl
I am almost done with the Flowerbasket Shawl, but I am quite worried. I haven't used nearly as much yarn as the pattern, and it is only 13" long to the point and 27" wide. Now, it needs to seriously be blocked, but I don't know how much stretch I will get. (It's in Mountain Colors Mountain Goat, which is 55% mohair and 45% wool).
I need some of Alice's "drink me" potion...
The Harlot did her green one in the same yarn but she used US 9s and I used US 6s. Hmmm. I am only about 18 rows from the end... What do you think, readers? Should I just block the crap out of it and hope for the best??
OK. I will try not to have ennui on the blog anymore. Wish us luck digging out from the craziness. Anybody need some furniture?
* More Decemberists on a knitting blog. Can you stand it?!