CIC package

It's Nov. 30th and the CIC vest/sweater challenge is done today. Here's what went out in the mail:


You've seen all of these before, but it's fun to see the pile they make all together. They've been sitting around for several weeks now--apparently waiting for the last minute rush at the post office.

Next challenge is mittens. I'm still debating that one--there's already too many WIPs.

Birds

For as many times as I've tried to upload these pictures, you'd think there's a specific blocker:

"Warning, warning, birds coming through. Direct them towards the south, but by no means let them through to this somewhat northern blog. Or if they get through, make sure they have friends. Multiple friends. Three or four friends. Then when one is deleted, make sure the pack stays together and all get deleted."

This time I think I've won and these birds will stay somewhat northern, at least for today.

All this work concerning birds, but there's not really any knitting content. Rather, this is DD#2's crafts for the day.

Here's our turkeys that graced the Thanksgiving table.


Here's my new winter nametag. Pretty snazzy, huh?


If anyone sees these birds flying south, send them back this way, please.

Mashed Potatoes

You Are Mashed Potatoes

Oridnary, comforting, and more than a little predictable You're the glue that holds everyone together.

What Part of Thanksgiving Are You?

Yippee!

Check out the new button that Marie made for CIC!

No idea for a title

Goofy Blogger tonight. The program, not me. It loaded 3 copies of each photo instead of just one. Does it somehow think that each picture deserves a second, and third look? That I might forget a comment and need another picture to go with it? Moving on...

DH's socks are done. They are fraternal socks rather than identical. I must've tried them on his feet at least 5 times, trying to get the length correct.

Is it correct?



Nope.

Not even when he tried it on--over and over--with each time me knitting another couple of rows--is it long enough now?

I guess he was trying it on using the gingerly "don't pull too tight while it's still on the needles. If a needle gets losts, I might get poked with it" method.

When done, he tried them on with a "put on the socks" method. While the method is to be expected, the heel now comes up the side of his leg.

I told him that it would be easy to fix. He figures that they'll shrink in the wash and then they'll be fine.

He forgets Murphy's Law #42: Things only shrink when you DON'T want them to, not when you DO.

I'll keep my needles ready.

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First picture of my machine knit afghan. The strips are done. Now all that needs to be done is the sewing together.




(Stop that laughing--I hear you!)

Daiily Progress

I'm back to knitting a bit each day on each of these projects.

DH's second sock is past the heel with the end in sight. (It's always in sight when past the heel, then I realize how long there is still to go. But no ribbing. Or heel stuff. Just decreasing at the end. And that's always the icing on top.)



My teal cardie has been sadly neglected. I had thoughts of wearing it by now. Humph. It's close to the armpits, though, ready for separation. Should go faster then, right?



Today is the first day of Knitting Unto Others. I hope to drag out the afghan tonight.

If you don't hear from me for a couple of days, I may've gotten stuck in the closet trying to find the afghan bag. Send in a search party. With chocolate.

Knit Unto Others

I decided to participate in the "Knit Unto Others" KAL that's being hosted here.

Here's a quote from their site:

"At a time when we enjoying large Thanksgiving dinners with family and friends, shop until we drop for the coming Christmas season, it will be good to step back and think of others who may not have enough to keep them warm. The basics of life are very hard for some people, right here in this country to come by. A warm hat, scarf or mittens can do more than warm fingers and ears, it can lift someone up and show that someone cares. Do what you can from November 18-December 2 and join our Knit Unto Others campaign."

I figure that since I knit for CIC throughout the year, that this time I'll pick something different.

Here's my two thoughts (and if I get past them, then Good For Me! But I won't hold my breath.)
First, a couple of women in my church have started a prayer shawl ministry. That's basically knitting a shawl that will be given to someone in need, praying as you're knitting for the comfort and well-being of the recipient. Here's some more information on the prayer shawl ministry. It's a good challenge for me--I have to concentrate--not so much on the pattern, but on the prayer. Here's what I have done so far:


It's Lion Brand Homespun, 54 sts, K3, P3 ribbing. I'm not a big fan of Homespun, (and didn't want to be complaining the whole time instead of praying), but so far so good. The yarn knits up with a nice stripe, which is an added bonus.

The other thing will be a machine knit afghan. Pictures to be coming later (after I drag it out of the closet.) I'm planning on giving this to Warm Up America.

Oven Mitt Birthday

Since I'm a mom that believes in embarassing all children equally, I present DS#1 at one year old:



Here he is at 20:



(Notice that I could actually find a non-baseball picture of him. Not as easy a feat as it sounds.)

Yep, my oldest turned 20 years old today.

Sigh.

Boy, do I feel old.

Oh, yeah, and I miss him and wish him a Happy Birthday down in the sun-soaked state of Florida.

This may seem like an odd present, but since he's living off-campus for the first, I decided to make him an oven mitt and pads.

Here's the huge before-felting version:


I used Paton's Classic wool (one whole skein for the mitt, most of another for the pads) and a mitten pattern on huge needles. I tried using a duplicate stitch afterwards for the "U", but it didn't look right, so I ripped back and knitted it in.

Here's the finished product:



It ended up shrinking the right amount.

Think he'll know how to use it?