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Today is Joey's sixth birthday.
Like most people with Christmas Birthdays (yes, Madmad, I'm looking directly at you), Joey tends to get lost in the shuffle of holiday craziness. But he is my sweet boy, full of love and anxiety. He is the one who snuggles as close to me as he possibly can at night and stands guard for me all day. He cries when I leave and greets me with love with I return. Who could ask for more?
It's amazing how sometimes things just fall into place, isn't it? Minutes after my last post about the Garter Stitch Jacket and the possibility of my running out of yarn, RoseRed commented that she thought she might have some of the same yarn leftover from her gorgeous husby's sweater (or is that husby's gorgeous sweater?). Anyway, how lucky am I? And how generous is she?!
I may have some hat eating to do since there would be absolutely no way six skeins would have made it to the end unless I took Nora's advice and used larger needles. But I don't like to fiddle with patterns and sizing, as it seems to be a recipe for disaster with me. I just hope this jacket turns out as adorable as I envision it.
I also finally blocked and put the buttons on the blue Razor Shell Scarf. I just used simple shell buttons for this version, since I don't have anymore of the antique ones and couldn't find anything else I felt suited the fabric better. I can just see this with a white t-shirt and denim jacket (which I don't actually own)...
Just in case you haven't had your fill of cuteness today, here is a picture of Joey hiding from my big, bad cooking. He is terrified of the sizzle. We found him cowering between the screen and the door...
And here is an early-morning shot that Jim captured of Maggie sunning herself and contemplating her next meal. 'Maybe they're having steak tonight...'
Wow, so I really didn't mean to be away for an entire week, but you know how it goes. First there was the whole congestion/achey sick feeling that just set my week off, and then I was playing catch up for the rest of the week. Briefly, my week went like this... Monday/Tuesday sick, blah, blah, blah... Tuesday night, dragged myself out to pick Jim up from the airport and was presented with scads of lovely yarn. Can you even believe this guy? It seems like a nice gesture, sure, but I asked for an actual alpaca!
In keeping with my scarf obsession, I bought more of the Berroco NaturLin -- this time in blue -- and started another Razor Shell Scarf. Because, as we all know, if one is good, then two is even better!
Friday, when I finally felt well enough, I got to visit the peanut (after my sister said, "Um, why don't you give it one more day...."). She naturally slept the entire time I visited. Apparently, the girl needs her beauty rest...
But seems to perk up just fine whenever I'm not there...
Then there was a very relaxing weekend with some of this...
Oh, and finally, remember when I thought that Tracy might just take pity on me and sew that beast of a scarf together for me? She did! Now that is friendship!
And that brings us right back to Monday. I promise my next post will be more interesting. I swear! Don't be hating!
This past weekend was unusually busy, leaving very little time (or much less time than I would have liked) for knitting. Saturday afternoon we had family over for a birthday party, and Saturday night Jim brought us to Kooza - Cirque du Soleil. I was surprised that I liked it as much as I did given my aversion to clowns, but the "bendy people" were amazing. AND, a brush with celebrity - I saw Brian Dennehy! You know, Tommy Boy's dad? Of course, this is where the nutty in me kicks in, and I want to know, "What is Brian Dennehy doing in Connecticut? Does he live here? Does he have a son who is a clown - Little Timmy Dennehy, Juggler? " Inquiring minds... And you don't think that Kooza bothers to put cast names in their very expensive programs, do you? Nah, that would be too easy. But I digress...
Today I was home sick, and although I slept most of the day, I managed to finish a couple of projects as well. The first one is a baby gift for a coworker's new grandson. Pattern: Rowan Classic Babies - Wills done in Loop-d-Loop Moss. I.love.this.yarn! It's like knitting with felted yarn. Well, it IS felted yarn. And I just loved it. Two and half balls of yarn made this entire sweater!
Even more exciting to me was that I finally got the opportunity (and the nerve) to sew the buttons on the Razor Shell Scarf I'd completed last week. I don't know that a project has ever titillated (how do you like that one, Peaknit?!) me as much as this scarf has. It's a simple pattern, yes. But it was as though everything I envisioned it to be just came together. I wanted to use antique buttons (idea from Hello Yarn's version) to finish it off or at the very least give the appearance of having used antique buttons. It was LYS Judy to the rescue. "Oh, my mom has tons of buttons. I'll have her bring them in!" I almost felt guilty using them, as they were incredible buttons. And then I had anxiety about having the buttons look too contrived. But I think I have done them proud because if I love something I've made, then it must be okay because I am my harshest critic.
And finally, Maggie went to the vet. She has gained three ounces in one year for a total of 6.5 lbs. Sounds small, doesn't it? Yet, she should weigh 4.5 lbs. The vet said she would not put her in the "obese" category, but she would like to see her lose at least half a pound. So, I guess we'll be walking more... Right now, her feelings are hurt and she is a bit sleepy from her vaccinations.
Joey is such a sweet and gentle soul, yet he can be rather aggressive when the situation necessitates. He is also a creature of habit who suffers from separation anxiety. (My mom wonders how in the world I found a pet with the same personality as myself). Joey has the most adorable (and annoying) habit of never leaving my side, which makes it difficult to knit or get things done. But what really drives me insane is that when Joey is ready for bed (at precisely 11:00 pm!), he goes halfway up the stairs and whines. Then he comes back down, sits in front of me and stares into my eyes - soulfully. Then back again to the stairs - just in case I don't get the message the first five times. Typically, I, too, am ready for bed at this time, but last night, I was on a knitting roll and thus annoyed at his persistence.
I have finally finished the Razor Shell Scarf. After reading all the pattern notes, I had decided to knit this scarf all in one piece. I realized that the points of the scarf would not be the same, but I figured it mattered less than having a nasty seam or graft in the middle of the neck. The perfectionist in me just couldn't reconcile this even though others have said it doesn't matter because it's on the back of the neck. It matters to me. But when I cast off on the purl side, my edge was straight instead of scalloped. I was so upset thinking I would need to rip this back halfway and reknit this scarf with a graft. I tried again casting off on the front side, and while the scallops were not as marked as the cast-on ones, blocking seems to have done the trick. I just need to slap some antique buttons on this, and it's done!
While I was on a roll, I also finished the Flutter Scarf. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this pattern and working with this yarn. Others might find it tedious, but I think the 4-row pattern was just challenging enough not to be boring, and the yarn was so smooth that row after row just seemed to flow off the needles. I blocked it last night, and wore it to work today.
Oh, and remember the Anniversary Scarf that I sort of passively begged Tracy to take from me and make into something wonderful? Well, she grudgingly graciously took all the pieces. So stay tuned...
I think I have finally solved the Leaf Scarf problem. The solution? Well, it's something I didn't want to face, as I normally don't. Blocking. Yes, blocking seems to have cured the cone problem I was encountering with these little scarves. I had actually made another from a different yarn (Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK) and was still getting the same result. After blocking, it definitely flattened out quite a bit.
I also decided to add a few seed beads for interest.
At first I thought the scarf would be too floppy in this fabric, but an appreciative coworker/friend tried it on, and it looks fabulous on her. So she has a new gift, and I'm ready to make another.
A few of you asked about my adventures in babysitting. It was fine, but a little disappointing because Gianna slept almost the entire time I was there. I did get to feed her, but she immediately went right back to sleep. Luckily, I spent most of Easter Sunday with her, and I must, must, must show her off to you just a bit more. Here she is in her little cashmere outfit...
and angora booties....
I'll bet that with all this talk about babies, you all thought I was neglecting my own babies. Go ahead, admit it. You did wonder why there hadn't been any pictures in such a long time. Well, you may be a little bit right because they both were in desperate need of haircuts. That all changes today because today, my friends, is haircut day.
When my mom and sister and I go shopping, my sister likes to drive because she gets car sick. I typically end up in the back seat with Marcello. Today Marcello was not particularly well behaved, barking at small children and whining. I think he was tired. As soon as we got back to the car, he jumped into my knitting bag and went to sleep.
Shopping with women is not always fun.
But it's better than getting left behind...
Today is Joey's 4th Birthday!
Joey works very hard all day long keeping the house safe from strange noises, mail, and squirrels. He also keeps watch over Maggie...
Just don't try to steal his rawhide because that's serious business...
And he will know if you try.... Because he's always watching!
Happy birthday, Jo-Jo!
It started out as a pleasant Saturday excursion on a beautiful Fall day, one of the last chances to take a ride with the car top down before it gets too cool. And somehow we ended up here:
I had known about Webs and realized it wasn't too far from Connecticut, but I hadn't realized it was so, so overwhelming. There were aisles and aisles of wool and books and needles and, and, and everything! And then Jim, who was patiently wandering around, mentioned that there was an entire warehouse in the back for perusal. I think that's when I lost my mind. I just wasn't prepared!
For any of it. Not for this:
Or this:
And what happens when I become overwhelmed? Why, of course, I buy practically nothing!
I did manage to find some of the Reynold's Sea Wool that I've been wondering about ever since I saw it on Rose Red's site.
The color selection was scarce, but I'm perfectly content with some fine, red socks. I also found Shi Bui Sock Yarn that I just had to try. I don't know that I would actually wear purple socks, but I know I had to knit with purple yarn. Or, you know, maybe I could just send them to Donny Osmond...
And for those of you saying, 'Hey, wait just a minute! Don't try to deflect from all your unfinished objects with this Webs post,' I'd like to assure you that things are indeed progressing. Well, not with the Silver Belle (right now), but...
The doctor bag has been handed over to Judy for finishing. One of the hold-ups is that I special-ordered carved-wood handles that are on backorder. The finishing is the hardest part of this project, and I can't say I would recommend it unless you have a burning desire for cramped hands and love torturous finishing work.
The Drops Cardigan is completed; however, part of the deal was that Judy wanted to do the finishing because it is to be displayed in the shop. Not that I am unable to do my own finishing, and, truth told, I was more than tempted to finish that baby on my own while watching that awesome episode of Grey's Anatomy --Did I just digress a whole lot? --But that was the deal. Here is sort of what it will look like only much, much better with fewer threads and a collar and buttons.
And, finally, I have begun the cabled baby cardigan, which I love. The yarn is not so easy to work with, but it is squishy and soft and beautiful when knit. Although it's fingering weight, it is going very fast, undoubtedly due to my exuberance about the project itself.
She's pretty, no?
Oh, and one more thing. For those of you who saw Maggie looking rather shaggy....
and wondered when her mommy would get her the haircut she so desperately deserved, here you go:
I don't like to admit defeat, especially where knitting is concerned. In fact, I can be a little cocky about my knitting, considering it's one of the few things I think I actually do fairly well. Well, I might not be cocky to you all, but I am inside my head. Sometimes. But, oh, the stranded knitting, she vexes me so. I could lie and tell you that this mitten, shot at an angle, came out just fine. And you might even believe me. Except it would not be true.
And, honestly, why would I lie to you, my internet friends? Exactly. I would not.
It's not for lack of trying that this mitten failed me, for I put quite a lot of effort into it. The pattern, Elizabether Zimmermann's Norwegian Spruce Mittens, was in the one EZ book I do not own. No problem, I can schlep to the library with the best of the them, get the book, order the yarn, and give it a shot. I didn't dwell on the Anemoi Mitten debacle from earlier this the year. But no matter how hard I try, how neat I try to be as I'm moving along, I seem to get bested by the stranded knitting. Either it's puckered or I hose up the thumb or I get to the end, and the damned mitten is way too small for an adult hand or all.of.the.above (see said picture).
Maybe that's what I get for tempting the fates and trying to sneak in another quick weekend project. Lest you think that I am never going to finish that doctor bag, well, let me tell you, if you are considering that project, you'd better hunker down and resign yourself to one long and arduous project. In fact, there is only one finished bag on Ravelry. If I had any idea what it would take to make this bag, I don't think I would ever have begun. I've been three-needle-bind-offing it together one side each night because that's about all I can stand. Oh, my aching hands.
Do I sound like a complainer? I don't mean to. I have some projects I love. Like the sweater I made last weekend or the Log Cabin socks I'm making for the second time with Berroco Ultra Alpaca. I think I just need to stop trying things that I am not good at, stick with what I know, and hug a sleepy puppy.
When I ordered the Habu Fringe Tape Choker from Knit/Purl, I never imagined it would arrive in two short days. Surprise number one.
Surprise number two was that this itty, bitty package could produce a scarf. But I've learned to trust the all-knowing Habu, and I believe. (Trust me when I tell you that these two balls were no bigger than two very small plums).
BIG surprise number three was that the pattern was crochet(!). Anyone who is considering ordering this, do.not.freak.out. All the pattern actually consists of is a series of chain and slip stitches. Even I can handle that.
Ta-Da!
(We're thinking of changing her name from Maggie to Zsa-Zsa).
Second sock soon...
Pattern: Child's First Sock, Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush.
Yarn: Cherries - The Knittery
Modifications: Picot edge, shorter cuff
Just because they're so cute (to me at least)....
It's been so nice and relaxing having this long weekend to finish up projects.... Here is my unblocked Juno. Please tell me it's going to look alright when the buttons are sewn on and it's had a bath. Please!
We celebrated my mom's birthday at my sister's house today. Family get togethers always yield great dog pictures (and remarkably few human ones).
Here's my sister with Joey who detests the camera and will not be fooled ever!
Missus Bluebird's on my shoulder...
BIL with Marcello:
Mags - "I'm ready for my close up":
Cello - a very cute fellow:
Tired out:
PS> Yes, it IS a rule that we wear black t-shirts - ALWAYS!
I couldn't help it. I found myself back at the (other) LYS with Tracy at lunchtime, and there they were, my little beaded beauties. No, not the $22 ones -- I had to say, "I rebuke you!" to those.
But these pretty, whisky-colored babies will find their way onto something I knit and make it that much more special. For now, though, I may put them next to my tape measure and sleep with them too.
I also found these horn (I think) buttons for the Juno sweater. I had considered brown buttons, leather buttons, ebony buttons with white centers... But these seemed to bring out the little golden flecks in the wool.
And now, I need to get back to the fun part of the sweater -- the aran collar. I leave you with.... A miscellaneous puppy picture:
(Maggie and Marcello - 11 months old)
Maggie and I are contemplating our next project.
In the meantime, we will work on boring, grey striped socks.
And Joey will continue to protect his rawhide.
I'm still working on the nearly-completed lace scarf, and Joey really likes it. Okay, he doesn't actually like it, but he'll sit still until I'm through torturing him. Doesn't he look jaunty? Sort of like a 70's rock star with the spiky hair and scarf?
This week we visited the vet for our annual checkups and assorted vaccinations. It seems that Maggie has a bit of a weight issue. She is supposed to weigh approximatley 4.5 lbs., however she is in fact tipping the scale at a wopping 6.2 lbs. Now that probably doesn't sound that terrible to the average knitter, but to a Yorkshire Terrier, it verges on morbidly obese.
See how the back of her neck has rolls? Yeah, those shouldn't be there. See how she is nearly as wide as she is long? Also not good. I suppose the fact that we've nicknamed her "Mrs. Waddlesworth" doesn't help her self esteem much either.
I'll admit that most of Maggie's food issues are my fault. I have problems eating in front of those little beggars and not sharing, their sad faces looking up at me like little birds. I can't help but toss them a chip or two (or twenty). But now the problem has reached epic proportions. And to make matters worse, when Maggie sees me reaching for the leashes to go for a walk, she runs and hides behind the sofa like I'm sending her to her death. When I successfully catch her, forcing her to walk to the end of the block and back, this is what she does for the next half hour.
So, we are going to make a concerted effort to transform Maggie into the lean, mean yapping machine that we know she can be. It isn't going to be easy, but it is necessary. Who knows, just maybe mommy will drop a couple of pounds as well.
Oh, and on a totally unrelated topic, I won something! Fancy that. Thank you, Rebecca, for making me smile on an otherwise unremarkable day.
..... la la la .... warm woolen mittens....
These are a few of my favorite things....
(Or something like that)
I finally finished another something! I think I'm on a roll. And it's in time for Easter.
I woke up today feeling tired and very old with a line from that Paul Simon song in my head: "Yesterday it was birthday; I tossed one more year on the line. I should be depressed; my life's a mess, but a I'm havin' a good time." I've never really minded getting older, but this past year sort of kicked my ass. For the first time, I think I really look my age. And that, my friends, is a scary thing. I'm trying not to dwell on it too much, but once I renewed my driver's license and realized that the next time I get another, I will be fifty (new 6-year renewal), I think I sort of lost my shit. Fifty. FIFTY! I just got used to being "in my 40's (sort of), although if I look back, there are definitely skid marks.
I also think it's the time of year when people begin to shake off the dust bunnies and see how much weight was packed on from the winter hibernation. It makes me want to go back to bed and hide under the covers for the next thirty years. Which brings me right back to the topic of knitting and the sweater that I copiously worked on with fairly expensive wool, only to finish and find.... Um, yeah, it's small. And no amount of blocking is going to make it better. No, I think my little (younger, smaller) sister is going to be getting yet another gift. When will I ever learn to just stick to hats, mittens, and baby sweaters? When?!
On a happier note, Jim bought me a very cool digital picture frame loaded with all the old family photos I've been scanning for months. We went out for a very nice dinner, and my mom and sister brought me these pretty flowers with more family birthday celebrations next weekend.
And the best part is that I took a vacation day today and got to spend the day with my little muses.
Some people doubt that Maggie is a bona fide, pure bred Yorkshire Terrier, maybe because she has the tendency to hold her ears out to the side like Yoda. But, for some odd reason, for the past two days, she has mustered up her Yorkitude and is proudly strutting her stuff.
First we stretch:
Then we climb the doggie steps:
Ears back to position one. And then we rest.
(Yes, I have PhotoShop. No, I do not know how to use it. Back off.)
Yesterday was haircut day, which consists of my dropping Maggie off before work and picking her up on my way home at lunch. The rest of my lunch hour is spent trying to get adorable pictures for the five or so people who actually care and appreciate how adorable she is.
This is the scruffy "Before" picture:
And her "After" photo shoot:
Another one? C'mon! I thought I was hiding from you!
LEAVE.ME.ALONE!
How do you like this one? Hah!
Resigned: Go ahead. Hurry up.....
And the money shot:
Joey had his hair cut two weeks' ago. He was no more happy about the photo shoot than Maggie.
Marcello is always happy to have his picture taken -- just like an Italian film star!
Not to be maudlin or anything, but it seems fitting that I mention my girl Chelsea today. She was the best Christmas gift I ever received and the best pet our family ever had. It's been three years and two Yorkies later, and I still miss her every day.
October 26, 1992 - December 6, 2003
Today was haircut day at Chez Yorkie. It only took fifteen tries to get this photo and only after trapping the two of them on the counter. That'll teach them to look away from the flash. Hah!
I haven't had a lot of time for knitting (or trying to find or copy a pattern for the pictures on this post). I have been furiously scanning all the old family photos -- over 800 of them -- so that we can preserve and share them among the family. Unfortunately, this means chiseling them up off the old-school albums of yore. I haven't figured out how to reorganize them so that the same problem doesn't occur thirty years from now, although I'm not really sure I'll care one way or the other by then.
My best friend Kate, whose friendship dates back to kindergarten, asked me why I never refer to her by name or post pictures of us as children. The reason is twofold. I didn't think I actually had any pictures of us and also.... well, we looked like this:
Maybe I could pretend I'm the guy on the right selling cigars.
"Aaaarg! I'm a pirate! Shiver me timbers."
"No, I'm just a dog with an eye infection."
Actually, this is not nearly as bad as it looks. The goop that the vet gave us makes Maggie's eye reflect light.
It's too bad this didn't happen around Halloween or I could have held a flashlight under her face and scared the neighborhood children away.
"Aaaarg! Bring me one noggin of rum now, you son of a buscuit eater!"
"Hey, Bud, What's Your Problem?"
"If any of you homos put your meathooks on my cookie, I'll kill ya!"
"You had me at 'Hello'"
