Pick Up Sticks

I've been knitting a red helmet liner for DS#2. It's done, but doesn't fit properly, so I'm going to have to re-do it. DS uttered these ominous words when he tried it on, "It's itchy."

Arrgh! Does that mean it's a bit too tight, or is it actually itchy? The wool seemed soft to me. Now what? Re-do the whole thing? Or believe in the itchiness and give it up? I'll have him try it on again tonight to figure it out.

I fixed this sock once already. Then it got worn. Once. And here's the result:


While I did knit a piece on the toes, obviously more work was needed. This time I cut off the front part and ravelled it back so I could re-knit the whole toe.

It took a very small amount of time, and will wear much better, unless he gets a hole somewhere else. Then they will go into the trash.

I've been very proud of my kids lately. DS#2 remarked that these pick up sticks would be perfect to use as knitting needles. (And they are. I made a stuffed elephant using these needles, er sticks, when I was in college. It was different shades of blue and had flannel on the ends of his feet. I still have it....ummm.....somewhere......)


And DD#2 remarked that they needed to be in this formation.


They're getting to know their knitting!

Helmet liner

Had a not-very-clean house, but plenty of good food and fellowship, and my oven mitts worked like a charm!

Here's Jasper, sleeping on DD#2's pillow after a hard day's work.


My family decided to play checkers, but couldn't find all the pieces, so they used animals. Jasper's not a piece, he decided to play too!


King me!


Here's my latest knitting project. It's helmet liner for a soldier in Iraq. There's a whole group that's knitting these hats, and I thought about knitting one and sending it there. Then, I realized that I have friends whose son just went over. Who better to knit for than someone you know?

Here's the helmetliner pattern. I knit it in black Cascade 220 using size 6 and 7's. The bottom half can pull up or down over the nose.

DS#2 is modelling it. The sides gap a bit on an 8 year old, but on an adult, it fits fine. The modelling payment, of course, is to make him one!

My mitt has a mate

Here it is before felting:


And after:


If only I could make such good progress on the housecleaning.

Pecan Pie Soda

Had to take a test. I'm Jones Pecan Pie Soda which doesn't actually sound too bad. Click on the link below to take the test yourself!

You Are Pecan Pie Soda

Sweet, but totally nuts

What Jones Holiday Soda Are You?

Preparations

I've been swinging into mild panic mode around here. Thanksgiving is a week away, and I have to work 4 days next week. When, exactly, do I plan on preparing? Not only is there a dinner to plan, but all the normal housekeeping chores (plus some--my house is a worse wreck than normal.)

I made a start yesterday. Gave the dog a bath, washed the bathroom rugs, cleaned up the hamster cage and put it away. (Yes, both hamsters have now passed away.)

I also made a list for Thanksgiving dinner. I asked my family if they'd like any changes in what we eat. NO! no! NO! came the immediate responses. Okay...then....

I don't know why I'm surprised by that. Several years ago we had friends over for dinner and they brought several things, including a vegetable casserole. "Good", I said, "then I don't have to make a vegetable". "We still need the succotash," said my family. Really? It's not like it's that special, just corn and lima beans. But it was served along with everything else.

I should just make a list of everything we need, and keep it from year to year.

I might've gotten distracted and knitted this oven mitt.

In my defense, it goes with my kitchen that isn't done, and maybe it will distract everyone from the other unfinished elements. I need something new while I do all that cooking, right?

It used an entire skein of Lion Wool, and a couple bits from other skeins. It will be felted and will shrink down to exactly the right "oven mitt" size (I hope, but don't put great faith in. I have 2 other oven mitts hanging around that are now kid-size.) I'm waiting a day or two to see if it will have a mate.

Preparations are underway....

Helpless

There are some days where I just feel like a helpless female, and this is one of them.

Normally I'm reasonably competent. I have a cordless screwdriver, and know how to use it. I can paint the ceiling, move the refrigerator to clean behind it, do figure logic puzzles, do various crafts other than knitting, and keep the 4 kids' (and husband's) schedules reasonably straight.

However, the best that I can say for today is that I took the garbage to the dump without any major mishaps. The day went downhill from there.

I was late for an appointment because I was preparing packages for the post office, then forgot them.

I stopped to fill my really-too-low tires with air, but the compressor didn't do a thing. "Is it putting air in or letting air out? This doesn't look good." This is the second time I've attempted this. The first time the compressor was out of order. (Yes, I pushed the button anyway "just to check" and yes, I drove away with it's annoying hum pursuing me.)

Then, I attempted to change my kitchen light.

Here's a before picture.

The previous fixture had crashed to the floor and shattered, and I actually left it in this state for months. Literally.

I bought a new light finally, and attempted to do it myself.

I wish I could say "Look what I did all by myself!"

But in reality, "Look at what my husband did after he so kindly rescued me!"

The directions were easy, simple even. I couldn't get it to screw onto the ceiling, and what's the use of a light if it's just dangling in the air?

I finally gave up, and watched some mindless TV. Nope, not doing anything else. I'm shutting down before I ruin something else. Waited til DH came home, and he figured it out. Stupid directions--what good are they if they don't work?

The Opal Rainforest Tiger yarn has arrived. This is for DS of the "you never make anything for me" who incidentally found a hole in his sock today--handknit last year by me.


I can't handle "fixing" anything else today!

knitting event

Well, I forgot the camera at yesterday's knitting event. DD#2 fit right in, though, working on her fuzzy fur purse and her spool knitting. My highlight of the day was showing a fellow lefthander how to crochet. She's never found a person to teach her, and even took a class where the righthanded instructor told her that she couldn't help her.

Anyway, that was fun, and she seemed to get the hang of it. I told her to get a hook and some yarn and practice before she forgets.

DD showed off her Homespun Poncho, and I worked on my handwarmers.

I finished the first one last night after I got home ( finished is a relative term). I haven't cut the yarn yet as I consider whether or not to rip it out and start over. There's just minor tweeking to do, so it may not be worth it.

There's a diamond lace pattern on the back that may still be gaining stitches. And maybe the ribbing should continue for the whole cuff, but that might itch my arm. Hmmmm....

Let me think about it....

Normally that is a prudent thing to say:"Let me think about it....and I'll get back to you."However, there are some circumstances where thinking is unnecessary.

As I've previously mentioned, I work at a big-box craft store (Michael's) as a part-time cashier. I was asked last week if I wanted to help with the 5 Hour Knitting Event that is this Sunday.

"What do I need to do?""Just sit and knit on a project that you're already working on and answer any questions that people ask.""Do I get paid?""Yep, just clock in, then sit and knit."

So I said, "Let me think about it....and I'll get back to you."

(At this point I'm glad I'm telling this story in cyberspace and not in real life. I'd be afraid of getting slapped upside my head. ARE YOU CRAZY????? Get paid to sit and knit and YOU HAD TO THINK ABOUT IT??????

In my defense, it's not a normal workday so I had to check my schedule. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.)

So, when sanity returned, I told them I'd be happy to do it. And I proceeded to knit a fluffy scarf for the occasion. (That was pictured in the previous post. I hadn't gotten the nerve to tell this part of the story yet.) The scarf was worn twice this week while I promoted the event. (Well, the scarf promoted the event--I didn't do much promoting. Have to work on the whole salesmanship issue.)

Then I had the brilliant thought of bringing DD#2 along. She can knit and promote to the whole younger generation. If I get up my nerve, I'll take some pictures to post.

Next, I've been thinking about what to take with me. I figured that even though I could work on whatever I'm currently knitting, it would be better if customers could buy the yarn in the store, right? So I bought more yarn, and started these:



These will be fingerless mittens. (I know that this isn't these, this is this, but just imagine the matching one so that my subject and verb matches.) I'm still at the "I think I want to design these myself" stage. Therefore, they started with a ruffled edge that got ripped out--way too ruffly. Restarted with a 2x2 ribbing, but I think the circumference is still too wide. I'm also planning a diamond lace pattern on the back. And the goal was really to have one of them done for tomorrow to show what I'm making. Think I'll reach that goal? Not a chance.....

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This is the only knitting that I've accomplished this week, and the sleeves were mostly done during a migraine hangover. Couldn't do much but sit and knit, so I did.

Have I mentioned how much I love this yarn????


Here's my next ambitious project. Orange yarn. Lots of it. 10 skeins of Plymouth Encore that I'll be using to make the Rogue Hoodie for DD#1.


In my defense, the color choice was totally hers. However, the yarn type was mine. (I know that Plymouth Encore isn't aran weight. Don't confuse me with the facts. I can achieve st gauge with the Encore. Will it be too drapey? Time will tell.)

Will I be tired of orange yarn by the end of this project?

Hmmm....let me think about it....

Competitive side wins!

My competitive side won out. My family said I couldn't finish this poncho in a week, so that's what I worked on first.

On Sat. night it was finished and ready to wear (several hours before the deadline).

Next, I worked on the balls of yarn to make a CIC vest. This was then frogged. Sometimes it just doesn't work out.

Next was the quick and easy scarf for me. Something to wear to work. Hey, I can branch out into marketing, can't I?


And last was the baby Nutcracket jacket from Morehouse Merino (pattern and yarn).

I'm LOVING the pattern. Works up very logically, using as few yarn ends as possible. Still have the front bands to do, then the sleeves. It's a 6-12 mo. pattern, so there's plenty of time for Sophia to grow into it.