One Crazy Fiber Lady

Coming Clean

Wow, time really does fly when you're not paying attention.  Days flow in their normal way.  Work, kids, sleep.  Rinse.  Repeat.  Oh yeah, knit on the train.  XBox at night.  I finally found the family timer on it and set it for 90 minutes a day.  I finally got some knitting time last night as I didn't totally lose track of time and play Puzzle Quest until midnight.

I finished the first of the teacher scarves last week ( I think, lost track of the time and stopped noting when thing were started and finished.)  Here is scarf number two, also in Malabrigo worsted, colorway Amoroso (?).  I finished it last night while watching Project Runway.  See, the timer on the 360 is a good thing. 

Friday night/Saturday I was sort of pushed to finally get an item off the queue and onto the needles.  See, Friday night the twins got robes from my folks for Hanukkah.  Alex's came with slippers.  Kat's did not.  I've been unable to find her slippers.  Then I remembered Twinkletoes and that I had already had the Calmer in pink marinating in the stash.  So I knit the little miss a pair of the toddler size.  She's got wee feet like me.

I've become the role model for avoiding SSS.  I giggle when I read others quoting my "immediately cast on for the second".  So what does this say about me?

All three are first socks.  I can't remember the last time I had three single socks on the needles!  Left to right are:  Duet Skinny in Sailor Girl, Regia in the Kaffe stripey goodness and Jitterbug.  It has been a very long time, September to be exact, since I finished a sock!  The Duet was started on 9/11 believe it or not.   I haven't a clue when the other two were started.  I'm not looking forward to all those second socks! 

The Jitterbug sock has presented additional difficulties and is now on its third set of needles.  The first set were the ebony Lantern Moons that I bought at Rhinebeck.  I managed to snap two of the needles.  WHILE KNITTING.  Not while taking out of purse, or just collateral damage in purse.  No.  I was actually knitting, on the train, and snapped first one, replaced it, and then a second one two days later.  Damn.  I  swapped in a set of rosewood needles over the weekend only to find that the 6" needles do nothing more than piss me off, jabbing me in the hands.  I've now gone to the third set, and apparently my favorite needles, Clover Takumi's. Good.  Maybe now I'll finish the damn thing.  I have to say, I'm sort of tired of these socks.

This is the first year we did the 8 nights of presents for the kids.  They really "got it" this year.  (As always click for bigger)

Thanks to the snow falling outside presently, no SnB for the second week in a row.  I'll probably be leaving the office early to avoid having to dig my car out of a large snowdrift at the station with nothing more than a stupid brush.  Have I mentioned before my serious dislike of the white stuff?

Craft on!

Edited to add:  almost immediately after I hit the post button, the kids' teacher called to tell me that Tutor Time was closing at 2:30 because of the weather.  I gotta leave in 25 minutes in order to get them.   

ABC's

Trying something new that has been banging around inside my skull for a couple of days now as a post theme.  Really thinking about it, there are three big components of my life, ABC's if you will.    I present them to you:

A is for Animals

There are a couple of critters (other than the bipeds) who live in this house.  They are all doing fine.  Here is the choice photo of the week..

Even though I've had cat(s) now for decades, I continue to be surprised by the way they contort themselves.  Note that Sara's coat has FINALLY grown back in from that "grooming" last December.  Took a good long time for it to really achieve full puff.

B is for Babies (though not such babies)

The girl child continues to sleep in increasingly odd spots.  A few nights ago, I found her just inside my room sleeping on the hardwood floor.  Personally, I love how she wedged her Zoey doll into the door :)

She's also taken a liking to sock yarn.  I find her quite frequently digging through the sock yarn basket in my room, picking out a few skeins.  I left her one morning, as I went to work, with this collection in the kitchen.  Not sure where this addiction comes from ;)  She does have good taste in yarns though!

Boy is modeling a sweater that I knit years ago out of sock yarn.  I think it is an Ann Norling pattern, but I'd have to go digging in the old pattern notebook to confirm.  I made it for my sister's oldest, who is turning 11 in December.  It came back as a hand-me-down a short time ago.  Alex found it in his closet and has taken a liking to it.  Fits him well too!  And yes, I have a pair of socks in the same yarn....and if memory serves correctly, probably one of my first pairs also from a Norling basic sock pattern.

C is for Crafts

I've been doing some serious crafting, thanks to the daily train ride.  First up the knitting:

I knit a Drive-Thru for Kat in just about a week (10/1 to 10/7 for the knitting and I did the buttons on 10/12).  I made the 4yo size.  The yarn was a combo of Cascade 220 (the fuscia which is the same as last year's sweater) and Galway (black and white). 

The Galway is left over from Alex's Drive-Thru:

They'll probably be wearing these sweaters next Sunday at Rhinebeck.  I'll be wearing this:

I finally made it through the sewing parts of Minimalist.  I do want to give it a good soaking, probably should do that today.  I do like this sweater very much.  I knit it from Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran in the Casket colorway.  It was a fast knit that took me longer to assemble.  I have no pictures of it, but Ribby is also assembled.  It is just waiting for a zipper.  I was on a bit of a finishing quick towards the end of last week.  I should probably sew it in tonight and have a finished shot soon.

Also in the works is my swatch sleeve for Autumn Rose.  I'm loving this project.   I hit gauge right off the bat with it, which makes me quite happy.  It doesn't make for great train knitting (but that's what things like socks and Clapotis are for) but I've made progress the last two nights while watching the Red Sox play :)  Sara graciously agreed to model...

I've caught the Fair Isle bug and rediscovered that I like colorwork.  The Ingeborg kit might actually bubble to the top of the queue sooner now, and I picked up some yummy yarns at MY last week to knit Eunny's Argyle Vest.

There's also been a bit of spinning around here.  Have to, must justify further purchases at Rhinebeck next week!!!! 

First, I finally finished that cashmere/silk blend that I bought at MASW this year from Foxfire Fibers in Greylock.  I'm leaving it as singles and will probably knit the Shetland Triangle with it.

I have two bobbins of the wool blend roving that I bought at GSSB  to knit Kat a sweater done.  I've been spinning this stuff a rather fluffy long draw.

I also plied a bunch of bobbins that have been sitting around for a while, but no pictures of those at present.  I still need to skein em up and wash em. 

So yeah, its been busy around here, but it always is.  Its better that way.

Next weekend is Rhinebeck.  Woot.  The monkeys and I (along with a mother's helper) will be there on Sunday.  I'm a square again this year!

I think that covers most of what's been going on.  I'm sure there's something I'm forgetting though.  Oh yeah, including my third blogiversary which was this past thursday.  Happy Blogiversary to me :)  Whodathunk I'd still be at it three years later.  Surely not me!

Craft on!

Random Wednesday

While it might appear otherwise, I am indeed alive and well.  I'm seriously touched by recent comments inquiring as to how I am.  It has sadly been a long while since I posted, and I'm sorry about that.  Part of the reason has been that work involves a longer day as I'm now getting home at 7:15 instead of 6:15.  Dinner is now later, which I don't always get to share with the monkeys either.   I'm trying to adjust to the new schedule and hopefully will get into a real routine that will also include semi-regular posting shortly. 

In the meanwhile, here's a random Wednesday update as to what has happened over the last THREE (can it really be that long?) weeks:

1.  The twins were on vacation for ages.  Their last day at the old school was August 24th.  They've been home, making my mother nuts since.  I did provide her a bit of relief that last week of August when I had one of the girls from school come over for two days.  They finally started up again today at the new place (Tutor Time) and were almost eager to go this morning.  They took to it like old pros.  Alex asked of he could go back tomorrow.  I'll take that as a good sign, especially since they only go M/W/F :)

2.  We spent Labor Day weekend on the boat.  The weather was gorgeous and sadly, for most of it, I had camnesia.  I did manage to remember the thing for Alex's first fish.  We fished off the back of the boat while tied up at our regular slip at the marina.  He caught this little baby using grilled chicken as bait.  It's not a huge fish, but darn good for his first time out.  The little dickens reeled it in himself!  I managed a few catches too including a small pike, a crab and even a catfish.  It was a very relaxing weekend!

3.  I finished spinning up the second bobbin of that BFL on my Schacht last week.  I pulled out the Fricke eSpinner Friday night and plied it all.  I had forgotten how wonderful that sucker is for plying.  It took me over an hour to ply it all.  Contrary to standard practice, I skeined it and then even washed it immediately.  I set it out to dry in the sun on Saturday.  I'm pleased with the colors and am eager to see how it knits up.  I haven't measured either the length or the wpi of this skein, but it is all of 4.5oz.  Will be plenty for socks.

4.  Knitting continues.  I have finished not one nor two but three pairs of socks since I last posted.  First up was the Monkeys:

Not sure when I started, or even finished these.  I just know they were done when I started the next pair on Aug 15th.  Notice the lack of monkey-ness on the foot.  I went with the plain knit and opted for a smaller needle than the pattern calls for.  The socks fit my little feet perfectly.

With the leftover Lorna's in Bittersweet, I knit a pair of socks for Miss Kat.  I did hers toe-up over 44st and used a rib lace pattern on the cuff.  I increased the stitch count the round after the short row heel to accommodate the pattern.  Miss-miss is very happy with her new socks and immediately tucked them in the nearest bag.  I don't know if I mentioned this before, but the chick is a serious bag lady.  Everything is in bags!  Anyway... I'm very pleased with the socks and will prolly make her (and her bro) a few more pairs.  These were started on 8/18 and finished on 8/24 (my former wedding anniversary but that's for another post :)

Finally there was a third pair started/finished.  More basic vanilla stockinette socks in STR Silkie Little Bunny Foo Foo colorway.  I believe I got this yarn in a swap with Dorre, for what, I don't actually remember :)  Couldn't be more standard.  US1's, toe-up, short row heel.  blah blah blah.  Started:  8/15 Finished:  8/29.  The preschooler socks snuck in before I managed to finish both socks.

The crochet sock blankie progresses but that, like a few other projects, completely lacks updated photos.  I'm just shy of the armpits on the Tangled Yoke Cardigan.  I've acquired the yarn (but haven't cast on yet) for the Hemlock blanket.  It's rather high in the queue and I might just tackle it this weekend.  We'll see.  I also finally dug out the much neglected Ribby that I started so very long ago.  A hidden note in the sidebar indicates that I cast on for it on 4/5/06.  I worked on it off and on, mostly off obviously, but last touched it last winter as a break from Celtic Dreams.  Seeing Deb progress on hers made me remember this bad old thing hanging about and I finally dug it out from the back of the closet where it has been hiding since I moved into my new room last February.  I'm ashamed to admit how far along I was when it went into hiding.  Earl here helped me show you:

I had completed not only the back and both sleeves, but also the right front and had done the lower ribbing on the right.  One evening in front of the TV and I had it to the armpit.  One more night and it was done.  I've ordered (and even received) a zipper for it, now I just need to do the fiddly things.  But first it needs a blocking.  {snicker} maybe this weekend.

That should do it for now.  Hopefully more very soon including further catch-up.  Miss you!

Craft on!

Around and Around

No soap opera moments here today.  At least I don't think so at the moment.  I have an early morning appointment tomorrow at a nursery/daycare center (Tutor Time - if anyone has experience with the chain please do chime in!) and another Friday afternoon.  I should be able to finish this project off before starting the new job Monday.  Have I mentioned that I START A NEW JOB on Monday? :)  Thank goodness. 

I've been sitting idle at work since last Tuesday when I deployed the last project I'd been working on.  Figures I get an email from someone a half hour ago regarding something that had been in discussion as a wish list item in APRIL.  They've finally compiled what they want, what format did I want it in.  Um. None ;)  I copied my original email, along with a reminder that Friday is my last day.  She'll have it to me by EOD.  What?  I thought the freakin thing was compiled already.  Geez.  I hope "Brand Creative" has signed off on this wonderful addition to the intranet.  This kind of project I don't even want to do.  HR wants a page linking to outside vendors.  oh yeah.  You need a developer to do simple html. No wonder they can't keep anyone here for more than a year. 

Okay, enough griping... this shitty job is almost done.  Since yesterday was Tuesday, I spun!  Amazing how fast bobbins fill up when you spin regularly!  Totally unreal!  So anyway, while watching yesterday's episodes of Ryan's Hope, I finished the second bobbin of the hand dyed merino on the Gem.

Still playing TV catch-up as I didn't get home from the Parent Meeting on Monday until rather late, I watched Hell's Kitchen while working on the Schacht.  I finished the first bobbin of the BFL and am ready to start splitting up the second half for some interesting stripey fun.

I didn't do much knitting yesterday.  The humidity was really unbearable.  Even worse today, especially after that torrential downpour this morning that totally futzed up the commute.  I took this picture yesterday morning using the TM dashboard location...

.. I've since finished the sock on the way in this morning and (everyone) immediately cast on for the second!  You can see that I went plain footed on this modified monkey sock.

I also managed to get a picture last night of the Striped Baby Sweater in that yummy Smooshy yarn...

It is such a cute little knit.  I'll have you know that I've been working in the ends as I go.  With the three active yarns for each row, the ends were making me nuts so I just had to get rid of them.  The colors in this picture are just a little bit off.  The orange isn't quite that orange, more a peach, and the others aren't quite so blue.  Maybe I can get a dashboard shot for true color representation :)

Craft on!

Wheelin' and dealin'

Time for the weekly update.  Sadly, I have no photos of knitting to show right about now.  I've been too busy doing stuff and forgetting about the camera.  There has been progress on multiple fronts though beyond the wheeling and dealing. 

Speaking of wheeling an dealing, the Victoria will have a new home and she will be shipped out imminently.  I am replacing her with another highly portable wheel that makes more sense when the other wheels in the collection are taken into account.  I've ordered a Majacraft Little Gem 2.  As I already have a cache of standard bobbins ( Suzie and the Fricke E-spinner) and a Woolee Winder (Suzie) to fit it, as well as the skein winder, it just made more sense than a lone Louet. After I told mom that I was selling the Victoria, she asked which wheel I would use to spin on the boat?!  The Hitchhiker had served that role, but she too was in a new home. Not that I spin on the boat all that much, um only once if I recall correctly, but it was enough to put the bug in my head.  Add in I had just seen Deb's little Gem on Saturday, the seed was planted (btw she has an excellent recap of the day).  So I went for it.  Tax refund and yearly raise time :)  It should be here before MD$W, fingers crossed! 

So yes, there's been knitting going on.  Evenings have been devoted to finishing up Setesdal.  Sunday saw the end of the button bands, Monday I finished the collar and last night I got the sleeves sewed in.  Tonight I sew on the buttons and call this baby done.  I have some small round buttons from the button box that go perfectly with it.  I'll most definitely be taking pictures of it this evening.  Good timing too as the shower is Saturday.  I have to admit, I did not enjoy knitting the bands on this thing.  The Baby Ull was very splitty on the US0 needles, especially on the purl rows.  I was never so glad as to bind off the last one.

Speaking of splitty, I finished the Vesper Neapolitan socks.  The colors are gorgeous and I managed to get identical twin socks out of it, but honestly, it is too softly spun for my preferences.  I had major issues with splitting and had to watch each and every stitch.  Since socks are predominantly my mindless commuting knitting, I don't want to focus so very much on them.  The yarn required me to do so.  I finished the last one at the SnB Thursday night.  Friday morning I started the next pair.  This time using the discontinued and returned to production Trekking XXL 126.  I picked it up on eBay a couple of weeks ago (right around when I finally got my hands on the Vesper Neapolitan).  I finished the first one this morning.  For a change, I'm working cuff down, short row heel and grafted the toe.  I cast on for the second while standing on the PATH platform waiting for the train.  They're definitely going to be fraternal twins (unlike the Vesper pair).  I'm rather partial to frats for some reason ;)

Thursday night I also restarted Spring Things.  I wasn't thrilled with how it was coming out in the KSH.  While the KSH is a lovely yarn and definitely crack-worthy, I just wasn't feeling the love with this pattern, not to mention the less than spring color I had picked (though with the way the spring weather has been in this area lately it is appropriate if not gloomy).  So Thursday I wandered around MY when I spotted the right yarn.  Enter more Claudia Handpaint Silk.  The color is "Pink Posey" and if that doesn't shout SPRING I don't know what does.  And Dorre, after I got home, I did restart it with the smaller US4 needles ;)  I like it much better and have gotten through I think 4 of the 13 repeats of chart 1.

Other than that, I've been doing a little spinning.  About an arm's length of Spunky Eclectics beautiful BFL roving in the Rocky Mountain High is left on the Suzie.  It is spinning up at my standard sockweight.  Sunday night I started the Big Yellow Taxi roving from Crown Mountain on the Lendrum Upright.  Also spinning up at my standard weight of sock.  It goes without saying that the 8oz will take me just shy of forever to spin.  Now you know why I have so many wheels!  Its the only way I can get some spinning variety without mucking around with settings and changing bobbins.  New colorful rovings are on my list for MD$W purchases.

That's about it for the moment.  Pictures of actual knitting soon!

Craft on!

Weekend Update

Sorry, this will be a quick posting.  The weekend is drawing to a close and there is work in the morning.  I do have progress on a number of fronts to relate.

First, a finished pair of socks.

We have a guest spokesmodel for today's pictures.  Miss Kat has been extremely helpful (and attached to me) over the last week or so.  More about her later.  I finished these socks on Thursday at the SnB.  Project details are:

Yarn:  STR - Lucy
Pattern:  Own basic toe-up over 52 st
Needles:  US1

Which was really excellent timing seeing as the order Dorre placed for Vesper had arrived and she was bringing my yarn that night.  I saw that there was going to be an update of Vesper but as I'd be on the train home, no way could I place an order.  I asked Dorre if she could do it for me and she was lucky enough to get a few skeins!  I started my Neopolitan socks Friday morning on the train.

I'm back to using the US0 for this yarn as it is much finer than the STR.  Its not at tightly twisted as I prefer to use but rather nice all the same.  I'm digging the colors.  Somewhere along the way, I've gotten onto a Neopolitan kick and have all sorts of sock yarn (and some worsted for a felted bag) in the same colors.  I'm going to try the toe-up flap heel on this sock for something different and maybe feather and fan on the cuff.  We'll see when I get there if I actually do it.

Progress has definitely been made on the Setesdal for my impending niece.  I'm 2cm of binding off for the front neck.  Amazing how fast little baby knits go.  I did get a rude awakening after realizing that I had to use a 16" Circ for the body.  I generally don't like anything that small, but there really was no choice.  I'm surprised at how well I've adjusted to it.

And now, the most important progress.  Potty training of the girl child.  She's done remarkably well.  With the exception of an accident or two a day, she is going on the potty to pee.  She's even initiated it and not waited for my periodic question of whether she had to go or not.  I do believe she's rather pleased with herself.  There is one shadow on this sunny day though.  She has yet to make poop in the potty.  (Oh the new google hits that will turn up on the stats now!)  Makes for rather messy new panties.  This afternoon though, she was so upset about her latest accident that it took both mom and I to calm her down and tell her it was okay. Patterns are starting to emerge that the "accidents" occur right after nap so I started to drill her a little on what to do when she woke up.  Head for the bathroom, just like mommy.  We'll see if that works.  We have another week before they go back to school so Mom and I can work on her further.  We got the call Saturday morning that the construction at the school still was not complete and certainly not inspected so they would be closed again this week.  Sigh. 

I'll leave with a final picture of the front of the house.  I forgot that I hadn't posted a final/finished front shot.  With the wait, you can now see the new pole lamp that dad installed last week.

Before.....

After...

Craft on!

Midweek Madness

Well my brief spring break is now over.  I've spent 5 solid days with the monkeys.  Just when I finally adjusted to life at home without begging to go to the office, it is time to go there.  It was a busy couple of days, coupled with some beautiful weather.  Here's a quick list of thing we did:

Monday: 

• Modern Yarn where mom and I shopped while the kids colored so nicely with markers. 
• Walk to Soda Pops for lunch to discover they are gone
• McDonalds Lunch
• Walk/Trike around block
• Play in park
• Nap
• Work on Setesdal (lose to Sara who wanted to sleep on it)

Tuesday:

• Van Saun Park Zoo / Park
• IHOP lunch
• Nap
• Sew buttons on Fana

• Begin Mitered Square Blanket as 1824 Cotton arrived on Big Brown Van
• Begin to play with new Palm T|X also on Big Brown Van
• Block Swallowtail
• Enjoy new front porch

Wednesday:

• Haircuts (mom, Kat's bangs, me)
• KMart for Dora, Ariel and Tinkerbell panties
• Burger King lunch
• Nap
• Unpin Swallowtail

• Sync Palm T|X with iMac after getting iSync and finding old Palm stuff that had been on the much missed Treo
• Block Forest Canopy Shawl

Time to go work on the much neglected abs now.  Bathing suit season is around the corner! :)

Craft on.

Knit Goes On

I can't believe the amount of time that elapses between posts these days.  Between work and the kids, it really comes down to knitting or blogging.  Recently, unfortunately, the blogging has been given the short shrift.  I've composed a dozen posts in my head, but actually sitting down and typing doesn't always happen. 

While I was in NYC on Thursday, I wasn't able to represent.  Damn.  Judging by all the posts, I missed some good fun.  Looking forward to MDSW all the more now.  Especially since the folks have already agreed that they'll watch the children for the weekend enabling me to go unencumbered.  I've been debating between staying with my sister in Lancaster area or getting a room near the fairgrounds again.  I'm leaning towards the hotel, probably the same one I stayed in two years ago with the twins.  It was a nice place and convenient to the grounds.  Oh wait, I think I've got the answer.  I head out to sister's house Friday night and use that as my launch base Saturday late morning.  Hit the fairgrounds Sat afternoon and then to the hotel for the night with the fair the main event on Sunday.  There we go.  Sounds like a plan to me :)

While potty training has, in the past, been less than successful around here, we've finally made a breakthrough with Kat.  I took Kristen's suggestion of M&M's for potty success.  Though the bag sat unopened for close to a month, it has finally worked.  That's not to say that we're down to periodic accidents, not by a long shot, and the boy doesn't even try, but at least Kat is starting to get it.  I got the first "I have to go potty" out while shopping yesterday!  We're close and maybe this week's vacation will do the trick. 

Speaking of which, due to the sale of the school building probably, they've had to reschedule their spring break from the first week of April to next week.  Fortunately my work is flexible enough that this isn't a problem, I can't imagine what someone with a less flex job has to face.  I'll be home thru Wednesday so I'll probably be scarce but you never now.

In all that, I have been knitting.  Icarus is now halfway through Chart 2.  Love it, but it comes out of the bag and can't be commuting knitting any more.  Its no longer the mindless knit it was.  It is a pain to photograph and is certainly at the shapeless lump of floss stage so any further photos will be at the finish line.

I finally cast on for the second STR sock yesterday morning.  I knit on sporadically during the day.

Friday night I finished the second sleeve for Setesdal.  Yesterday during nap, I cast on for the body.  I had some serious brain farts in trying to get 154 sts into a 2x2 rib.  Took me three tries, but now I have 3/4" of ribbing done.  Geez...

I managed to actually finish something too.  On Monday (3/19) I finally got to the end of the Swallowtail Shawl in the Sea Silk that I started a while ago.  Its now sitting in the pile of lace that needs to be blocked.  Someday.  Maybe today if the twins cooperate.  Ha ha ha.

Having seen a lot of links to Loopy Ewe, I finally went and bought something myself.  I had to get the German Stocking pattern and some Louet to knit them.  High in the queue these babies are.  Service was super fast.  I'll definitely be shopping there again.

 
The pattern indicates 3-5 skeins are necessary, but I figure with my little skinny feet that I should be able to get by with the 3.  I seriously hope so, I only bought 3 ;)

I have a few other projects in the prep stages too.  I'd like very much to knit the Mitered Square blanket from Mason-Dixon.  I ordered Mission Falls Cotton from Purl in a variety of colors.  It was on sale cheap and currently winging its way to me.   Its a cute blanket and I like the idea that each block doesn't get larger as in the Log Cabin.  I'll probably supplement with some other yarn I have in stash.  I recently did a little spelunking and came up with forgotten packs of Rowans All-Season Cotton, some Cotton-Ease, and quite the cache of TLC Cotton Plus.  Put together, it should make for a good blanket. 

Time for more coffee and a little knitting...

Craft on!

Snowblind

Geez, this winter is never going to end.  The 70F temperatures earlier this week were nothing but a tease!  I must have gotten a foot of snow/ice in the last 24 hours.   I had the kids out this morning for some fun in the snow, but boy am I glad that they wanted to come in.  They are currently vegging out on the couch watching some TV giving me a primo opportunity to catch up.

Here's how I've been spending my commute time during the last week:

The current socks, as Christine correctly guessed, are from STR in the Lucy colorway.  It is a slightly thicker yarn than I normally.  I "swatched" with the normal US0's but wasn't happy with the feel of the fabric so I went up to the US1.  As a result, these socks are only 52 stitches!  Combine that with a short foot and these babies basically knit themselves.  Which is a good thing when you see that sexy toy holding my needles for me ;)  That's the sweet PSP.  I played Me & My Katamari until my fingers cramped.  Oy.  I've since taken a break and played Lumines (Tetris on steroids!) and even put a couple of movies on the 4 gig memory stick I bought for it. 

I've done a bit of work on Icarus, but don't have any progress shots as of last.  I finished the 5th repeat of chart one and am in the prep for chart 2.   In other lace update, my Sea Silk Swallowtail has come out of timeout and I'm ready to start the final chart today.

Yesterday Kat awoke with a fever, I had a headache and combine both with the snow, I took the day off.  I was very productive though.  Beyond getting through the Lily of the Valley chart on Swallowtail and well into the partial repeat of Chart 1 for Icarus, I started a project...  I don't think my baby sister reads the blog regularly and if she does, MOVE ALONG NOW RIKKI!....

She's due with her first baby, July 2nd.  The baby shower is April 21st so I need to get knitting.  While I did pick yarn and a pattern at the MY SnB on thursday, somehow the pattern didn't make it into my bag.  I'll have to pop down there tomorrow to pick it up as I won't be able to make the SnB this week (folks are teaching a final class on charting/plotting to a bunch of local police turned activated Navy Reservists who are off to Iraq shortily).  While the u/s pretty much indicates that I'll get getting my first niece, mom thought it best not to rely on that quite yet.  We've had a few u/s indicated nieces turn out to be boys at birth ;)  U/S technology is far better these days, but better yet save the pink yarn for a couple of months.  So I went spelunking in stash and hot off the heals of my success sewing together the Dale sweater for Alex, I remembered the Baby Ul marinating that I bought to make a baby sized one.  I got to work and by the end of yesterday finished this:

I'm pretty sure the pattern is Sedestal (its way upstairs and I'm too lazy to go get it).  I "swatched" by starting the sleeve, getting spot on gauge.  Nice.  Its a cute little knit.  Now to maintain focus long enough to finish it ;)  Knit on US0 and 2's, I'm seriously glad it is a baby sweater.  I'm making the 6/9 month size so it should be perfectly sized to get my niece through the fall and winter.  I hope her mama likes it.  I hope to have it finished for the shower.  I might try for one of these sweaters too if I can find the right yarn for it or maybe upsize it for one of the monkeys.  (Thanks go to Dorre for the link!)

Time to go relax..

Craft on!

Getting Better

Wow, maybe I really am not the slacker mom I billed myself as last week.  Even though I lost a day Saturday to a bad head cold, I managed to finish off Alex's Drive-Thru yesterday. 

The first sleeve was done Friday night.  Saturday I managed to merely cast on for the second sleeve.  Yesterday morning I picked the sleeve up just above the cuff and went to town.   By the time the Survivor reunion show had started, I had finished sewing on the buttons and weaving in the myriad of ends.  Alex now has himself a very cute new sweater. 

Kat requested one in pink.  Big surprise.  Full project details here: 

I will definitely be using this pattern again.

Another commuter project done.  The brought the Shetland Tea Shawl out of the wings to resume travel knitting.  I managed to finish 3 repeats of the edging on the way in this morning and am trying very hard to not do the math to figure out how many more commutes it would take to finish the damn thing off finally.  I also sort of misplaced my completion spreadsheet when my Treo crashed a couple of weeks back and they gave me a new one.  Should I mention that I hadn't synced with the desktop in a while?  Nah.  That second Treo is now gone too as we've moved to the Blackberry, which I got on Friday. 

Speaking of portable computer-y gadgets and the time-suck roles they can plan, I'd like to mention now that I found a version of Zuma for Pocket PC.  A good and bad thing as I have a pocket pc device that is supported.  Should I mention that I spent hours Friday night playing the damn game on my iPaq?  I got way further in the game on it then I ever did on the iPod, must be the stylus tapping thing versus the scrollwheel.  I hit level 12 before I lost all 7 of my frogs.  I had gained a number of extra lives there ;)  Okay,  so I did play through Battlestar Galactica.  Fortunately the DVR caught it and I was able to watch it yesterday while the monkeys napped.  I've resisted picking it up since. 

Tonight I really have to remember to block the teacher gifts.  I was planning to do it this weekend, but that cold thing had me totally useless on Saturday.  Now to find a place where they can dry safe from monkeys and construction. 

Craft on!