Wear-A-Hat Night

It is the first Monday after Thanksgiving, and that is Wear-A-Hat Night to Skanky Knitting. I have not been out to knit with the Skanky Knitters lately, but had to make it out for this event.

Same Ol', Same Ol' on a Sunday.

Yes, it is another moebius. It is for my niece. Her birthday is in a few days, and she was trying to steal the one I gave her mother the other day. I may have enough left of this yarn to make a hat to go with the moebius scarf. I might be better to leave that for a Christmas present, though. My hands and fingers are a bit on the sore, stiff side of things. Knitting does not bother them, but I will take it easy.

I think I may be recovering from moebius-fever. I do not feel like I must cast on for another right now. Of course, the most recent one has only been finished for about fifteen minutes. Anyway, it is time for a new week, almost time for a new month, and every day is a new day.

UM...Moving

No, I am not going anywhere for the foreseeable future. Actually, that is a very comforting thought. Anyway, it was moving day for my sister. She just bought a house, and we were part of the moving crew. I am glad for my sister to have a house. I am glad to have been some help. I am glad to be done.

Marathon :: Knitting
Debt :: Drown
Turn :: Down
Image :: Keeper
Sofa :: Sleeper
Envelope :: Seal
Cart :: Norma
Process :: Margene
Question :: Everything
Rumor :: Lie

There Are Worse Ways to Cope

For example, I almost went to Old Navy at three this morning. Then I realized that I might not want or need Lego Rock Band, have never shopped at Old Navy before, and that this is not the best time to take a chance with the budget. Finishing one moebius and then immediately casting on for the next was a better idea. This puts my total of moebii at three this week. I feel like knitting another. I wish these were unisex. Then I could have all of my Christmas knitting done by the end of next week as well as getting the Red Scarf Project very close to its goal.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. It is wonderful to have a day dedicated to being thankful. Of course, keeping an attitude of gratitude every day is best, but it is still special to have this day set aside to celebrate and focus on thankfulness.

I am thankful for indoor plumbing. It makes such a difference.

I am thankful for my nieces and nephews. I learn so much from them, laugh and smile more with them, and look at the world differently when they are with me. I also get to send them home.

I am thankful for my mom. It has been quite an adventure over the years, and we really have a good relationship for all it has weathered. She has done so much for me, and does so much for others.

Wednesday With a Half-Twist

Following sound advice from Cookie and Opal, I have the Traveling Woman waiting for a more appropriate time to fix it. I then took the opportunity to pursue another knitting interest--moebius. That is a different bit of knitting, for sure. I am still knitting and learning, but keeping it simple. I cast-off the first one this afternoon, and then cast-on for a new one at the next opportunity. I think that several people are going to receive a moebius scarf or cowl this year. The next one is likely to be seed stitch or lace.

A Touch Too Little Tuesday

It is so close, and yet not nearly close enough. I have several solutions rattling about in my head. One would be to rip out that extra repeat of Chart A and then continue as the pattern directs. I do dislike that idea. Whatever I do, I should probably wait until after I get more than ninety minutes of sleep. It is a bit rough over here, and I thank you for sticking with me.

Monday Mystery

I do not know how it came to this, but it is time for bed, and I have not accomplished 1/10 of what I had planned for my day. Not only am I not done with the Traveling Woman, but also, this is asleep on my couch.

Lacing My Way Through

This is how it looked when I completed the stockinette section of Traveling Woman, and now I am on to the lace. It seems like whenever I am not sleeping or vacantly staring off into space, I am knitting on this shawl. I think I should know something soon.

UM...When All Else Fails

UM

Grace :: Fall
Shower :: Gift
Alice :: Ask
Purple :: People-Eater
Apartment :: Living
3 :: -quel
Car :: Wash
Pregnant :: Pause
Counselor :: Ugh!
Discretion :: Viewer

Since I am still coming up empty, I am going to cast on for something new. I figure it is time to give this handspun another try. Will I soon have a Lupine Traveling Woman? I hope so.

Pointless Arguing

I finally got around to making the polymer clay weapon for death, and he is complaining. He says it should be bigger. He says I should have made it sooner. I told him it is not a good day to bother me about this. I said that we can re-visit the issue later, but that I am going to bed. He said it would be easy to fix, and that it would only take me a few minutes. I explained to him that it is a bit more involved than he understands. He pouted. I told him that everything is fine, even if it does not feel that way right now, that it would be unhelpful to get in a state about all that needs to be done, and that we will get it straightened out when we can.

Thrice Thankful

It is Thursday, so it is time to remember three more reasons to have hearts filled with gratitude.

I am Thankful for Chocolate

I am Thankful for Knitting

I am Thankful for Friends

Speaking of friends, my Lizzie asked me to make this for her. I was so pleased to be able to do something for my friend.

Pattern: Magnetic Katamari
Hooks: E & G
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft
Magnets: House-Mates Hardware from Home Depot

Someone's Got a Brand New Hat

Is a newly finished knit a great way to push past the midweek meh, or what? Yes, the second moose has is done. I went down one needle size to a US 3 (3.25mm) to make this one slightly smaller. Bruce prefers the colors on this to the first. I like them both for different reasons, and cannot pick a favorite. I was surprised to enjoy the knitting of a second of these so soon, but I did. I also think that I am glad to be done knitting them for a bit.

This will soon go off in the mail with its partner. A few days later, it will arrive at its destination. And there it will sit for about a month. I have it on good authority that at this house they do not unwrap gifts before the occasion arrives. In this case, it is too bad, as I am sure their temperatures are low enough that a worsted weight, stranded, wool hat would be good.

Speaking of wool hats, I believe I might have a request for a new wool hat. My stepdad has made comments about his dissatisfaction with his commercial hats made of synthetic yarn. I have made him a hat before, but that was a few years ago, and I think that maybe it has been lost. His preferred style of hat is black and plain. I need to find out if he does indeed want a new hat. If that is the case, I am going to try to secretly discover if he is perhaps open to a little bit of variety. If not, I will pick up some black superwash wool and knit the standard issue winter hat. I don't do this for just anybody, but this one is worth it. While I may not think I want to knit a plain black hat, I could find out that he would wear a moose hat everywhere. I already know that he finds them to be amusing.

Not Enough Know-How

It has been interesting to think of the items for this week's Ten on Tuesday. I wondered about which things I would like to learn to do, and which I just wish would come to me by magic. I thought about how much time, effort, and dedication I am willing to put towards these skills. Then, I realized I was spending too much time in my head. I will attempt to tackle some of these at some point in my life. In fact, I have given real effort to some, had passing flings with others, and am currently working on a couple of items from the list.

Ten Things I Wished I Knew How to Do

Play a musical instrument

Fix automobiles
Grow lavender
Speak, read, and write seven languages
Be a better friend
Sew
Draw well
Bellydance
Swim
Not sweat the small stuff

Quick as a Bunny Rabbit Butterfly

When the pattern for Olivia's Butterfly made its way to a friend's Rav queue, it caught my eye. I added it to my queue, and there it sat. Then I remembered that this round we are making hats of all sizes over at Caps for a Cure, and decided to give it a go. It is so quick to make and so cute. I used some worsted weight crochet cotton. I had my nephew try it on with the promise that I would not take his picture in this obviously girl's hat. He otherwise approved of the feel of the hat and its color, and the fit looked right to me.

This puts my total of hats for this round up to three. I just have to remember where I put one of them and then get them in the mail. Gee, that is becoming a theme for me, eh?

Some Assembly Required

Like all amigurumi, at this point I am so close, and yet so far.













Oh, ForForksake, (why, yes, I do quote Mr. Jefferies when appropriate) I have 24 magnets, rather than the required 28! Is that store open right now, and if so, do I feel like going there right now?

UM...Snuggly

Alarm :: Clock
Guest :: Book
Worm :: Spit
Puppies :: Poop
Honor :: Roll
No! :: Ewww!
Stomach :: Ache
Counter :: Intuitive
Waffles :: Syrup
Plates :: Tectonic

Fuzzy Friday

It feels so good to have another finished knit. It feels even better that it is so soft and pretty. I like the choices I made with this hat. Now that I am done, I would say that it is only inspired by the original pattern, but it is just right. I am ready to wrap it up and give it to my sister.

The experience with this hat has given me a much-needed confidence boost. I trusted my instincts, and it worked well. I can become caught up in so much thinking, planning, and researching that it sometimes overshadows the joy available in the things I do. Knitting this hat reminded me that I have some experience and abilities, and it can be good to let them be my guide sometimes.

Thankful Thursday

Taking the time to reflect on reasons to be thankful, and remembering to allow the time to feel and express gratitude are surefire ways to improve any day. Carole was inspired to share three thankful thoughts on Thursday, and has encouraged others to participate.

1. I am thankful for the VA medical system. They have cared so well for my husband over the years. I am amazed at how well they are able to do all that they do. We have scratched our heads at some of the ways they do things, but they continue to grow and change in order to meet the needs of their changing population of veterans.

2. I am thankful for coffee. The flavors, aroma, and caffeine certainly give an extra bit of loveliness to my day. However, it has added so much more to my life. I do not know how many times grabbing a cup of coffee has been the excuse to get together and spend time with wonderful people. Whether we are idly chatting to the accompaniment of clicking needles, pondering deep questions of life, or just taking time out of the day to stop and connect with others, coffee has been there.

3. I am thankful for my husband. He knows me better than anyone else does, and he still likes me. He accepts me where I am, while supporting and encouraging me to grow and learn. That is not an easy balance, but he does it so well. He has cared for me in so many ways. He keeps me from taking myself or anything else too seriously. He appreciates me, and values who I am. He loves me.

A Knitter's Prerogative, aka, Oooh, Shiny!

The flash of inspiration came and went quickly. The mountain of mohair appeared to be in danger. I put it back in the bag, placed it on top of the books, and brought it to the stash staging area in preparation for putting it away. Then, I did not sleep. I almost caught up on blogs and email. Then maybe there was some kind of magic that eludes recall, I had the same pile of mohair back in the living room along with beads and a different book, and I am casting on for something new.

I am knitting the Beaded Cloche from Folk Hats. I remember that my sister liked this hat, and I wanted to knit a gift for her. Well, I am actually knitting a hat that is inspired by that pattern. Of course, I am not using the recommended yarn, and I am making several other modifications, chief amongst them being the fact that I am not pre-stringing the beads. The pattern calls for 910 beads to be threaded onto the mainly mohair yarn before knitting. I knew that was not about to happen. I also figured that I was going to have different gauge, looked at the chart, reduced the initial number, and decided to see what would happen. I know that is risky business when mohair is the main fiber, but I think it is working.

Already, I find myself thinking about knitting another, all the while mentally flipping through lists of potential recipients. Wanting to be able to give the knit to several different people all at once is always a good sign.

The Second Time Around

Many times my like or utter contempt for a remake depends on how I felt about the original version. If I loved the original, the new one probably irritates me intensely. If I was not around for the first go, I am usually more open to a different take on the song. Sometimes the new interpretation is not necessarily an improvement, but good in another way. This brings us to the Ten on Tuesday topic. I like these remakes, and I like many of the originals. After writing this list, I have a good soundtrack in my head. I will take that any day.

Ten Favorite Song Remakes

Somebody to Love (Queen/George Michael)
I Will Always Love You (Dolly Parton/Whitney Houston)
(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You (Elvis Presley/UB40)
I'm a Believer (Monkees/Smash Mouth)
Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder/Red Hot Chili Peppers)
The Man Who Sold the World (David Bowie/Nirvana)
Hurt (Nine Inch Nails/Johnny Cash)
Red Red Wine (Neil Diamond/UB40)
Always on My Mind (Elvis Presley/Pet Shop Boys)
They Won't Go When I Go (Stevie Wonder/George Michael)

Mohair Monday: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For Edition

With the secret lace back on track, it has become safe to allow my mind to wander. That can end poorly. However, I sometimes remember important things, solve problems, or have good ideas. Doing this while knitting lace is especially inspiring without allowing my brain to run too far. Today it found its way to a general list of to-knit items.


I have been planning to knit some lace scarves, but have not gotten any further than that. I decided to get on with process, and happened upon a theme. All of the yarns I selected have mohair as the main fiber content. Still unsure of what to knit, I reached for A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns and Knitted Lace of Estonia from the bookshelf. Now all that remains is selecting patterns. Oh, and the knitting of course, but that is the easy part, right?

One Step Forward

I am not even bothering to calculate how many steps back I am. We have coffee once more, so whether I keep sliding back, or if I make forward progress, I will do so a bit more quickly. Or, as it has been written elsewhere, "Drink coffee, do stupid things faster with more energy."

Speaking of making mistakes with speed that take hours to fix, I have been tinking lace. Instead of being fifteen rows ahead, I am behind by about ten. Also, I do not think I like The Manchurian Candidate, but cannot be objective because the rip and repair occurred while watching that particular movie, and most things were to my dislike at that time.

Still, there are things that I like very much. For example, this silk cap that my grandma sent me. Mmmm...worm spit.

UM...I SleepySarah

This house has no coffee.

Hairbrush :: Purple

Sneak :: Attack

Hole :: -In-One

Horror :: Movie

Standard :: Definition

Mailbox :: Fraud

Attachment :: Photo

Type :: Writer

Nails :: Files

Storage :: Unit

Simply Red

It is Red Scarf time again, and my needles are busy. I am knitting the second, and just getting around to showing the first. The discussion about the need for quality scarves stirred my heart. I am pleased with this scarf, and glad to have a contribution to offer for this important project.

Pattern: Palindrome
Yarn: ONline Linie 21 Marly

Stick a Sock Blocker In It

When I was younger, someone could say something horrible to me and I would say nothing because I was scared. That is no longer the case. Still, I usually do not say anything because I do not want to expend the energy. However, there are times when it feels right to put a stop to someone trying to steamroll over me and be hateful.

Picture it, the booth of a woodworker at a fiber festival. Nevermind, I had my camera.


I am looking at wooden sock blockers on a table. I am about to begin to speak with the vendor when another festivalgoer approaches.

Me: These are nice.
BK (BitterKnitter): It won't matter. You have to learn to knit nice, first.
Me: Ah. I actually do knit quite well.
Vendor: Well, if you are knitting socks, I can tell you're no beginner.
BK: (pulling open jacket and puffing out chest) Well can you tell that I am not a beginner with this sweater I have knit?
Me: Hmmm. It is very nice.
BK: I have been knitting since I was ten. It was doll mittens then.
Me: (begins walking away) Ah. Well it sounds like you have probably been knitting longer than I have.

It was more comical than anything. Still, it made me wonder. It also made me want to take a walk to fondle fiber before returning to buy my set of sock blockers. Now I just need to find sock mojo. I thought for sure this gift would have brought it around. Perhaps it is just being considerate and waiting until the new year.

Wednesdays are for the Random, Right?

I am working on a super-secret-deadline-lace project. If my calculations are correct, I must complete 27 rows, which totals around 2500 stitches (give or take, what with changing stitch counts) each day to finish in time. I have remembered to include time for blocking and drying. I am currently choosing to believe that my biggest challenge will be the sharing of the one magnetic board for my two current chart projects. Yes, they are both deadline knitting.

On a local Freecycle group, I saw a curious posting. Offer: Bachelorette Accessories

Yesterday's Ten on Tuesday topic has been detrimental to my productivity. I have been playing games and having fun.

I have lost part of a fancy hat I began knitting in September. I had the opportunity to check fit on the intended recipient, and it is nowhere to be seen. It is in none of the cleverly organized places it should be, and asking me where I last saw it is not helpful.

Scarves are often stubborn, tricksy, and false. I have been knitting on what is attempting to be the Red Corrugator of Doom often, and sometimes for extended stretches. It is not yet 36" long. I wanted to have at least three good scarves for the Red Scarf Project, but this second scarf is out to get me.

Not that I do not enjoy having you here, but I thought I would send you away in hopes that you will win prizes. The deadline is today to enter for Hillary's contest. You have a week to make it over to where Phyllis is giving away some beautiful fiber.

Ten on Time Suck Tuesday

Finally, a Ten on Tuesday topic that speaks to me.

Ten Ways to Waste Time on the Internet

1. Ravelry--whether you lose a day to the forums or the patterns, it can be quite the time suck
   
2. YouTube--because I could need to see that mini sirloin burger commercial or Duran Duran at a moment's notice, and the suggested similar videos are equally important
   
3. Wikipedia--everything is true on this uneditable collection of topics, right?
   
4. Hulu--at least I give those hours away watching what I want to watch
   
5. Games--until the eyes burn from not blinking for so long
   
6. eBay--what don't they have for sale? Also, if I have to pay, I did not win /rant
   
7. etsy--pretty, shiny, fluffy
   
8. Blogs--wait, they aren't time wasters, but valuable resources
   
9. Stalking Research
10. Quizzes--how else would I know that the innerwebs judge me to be: 67% knitting addicted, the delete key, angora fiber, bubblegum flavored gum, Shropshire Sheep, 72% pure, interchangeable needles, mohair yarn, a Knitting Goddess, and that if I were a felony I would be stalking?

The First of...

I finally finished my first pair of gloves. They are toasty warm, and the fit is good. The pattern is Annemor #8 from Selbuvotter. The yarn is Knit Picks Palette in Clematis Heather and Rainforest Heather. I like the way the colors work together, but sometimes wish I had chosen ones with greater contrast.

They had sort of had their public debut at the fiber festival, but they were hidden most of the day because I wore a pair of mittens over them for greater warmth. I did show them off once, but that had more to do with a weather discussion than one about my knitting.

I cast on for them on New Year's Day. I finished towards the end of October. It does not bode well for my career in glove production. Perhaps I ought to keep this as just a hobby, eh? With the extended break between the first glove and the second, I did inadvertently make a change. The undersides of each thumb are different, but if I do not point it out, no one else is likely to notice. Anyway, I am glad to have knit a pair of gloves, and will probably knit more some day, but that day is unlikely to come soon.

My New November

Maybe it is just the joy of getting back that hour with the return of standard time, but I have decided to do NaBloPoMo again this year. However, I have not decided to do NaKniSweMo. I enjoyed participating last time, and was excited to be making something for my sister. However, the list of things I want to knit right now is very long, and there are not any sweaters trying to jump to the head of the line, so I will let that challenge be for another year.

This looks to be a busy month. The full moon is tomorrow, and later there will be a Friday the 13th. My sister is buying a house, and moving day is toward the end of the month. That is exciting.

Before we jump to far into the new month, I will share three tidbits from the last day of October--two good, and one unfortunate.

1. I stood in line for one of the games with my sister and nephew at a Fall festival. Two teenagers approach to replenish a candy bowl. They declared what I am doing to me neat, and that I am smart to have brought something to pass the time.

2. At the same Fall Festival, I walked and knit, and a boy of about eight dressed as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi approaches me. He states, "You're knitting. How do you do that?" I stretched out my arms to show what I was doing. "Oh, I thought you went like this," he said while wildly moving his hands up and down. "I want to knit," he states. I tell him that he is certainly old enough and if he wants to learn, he certainly can. His mother, worried that I am being bothered, pulls him aside and begins listing the people in the family she thinks might know and be able to help.

3. At the mall for trick-or-treating at stores, we pass a group of costumed and decorated people. One individual catches our eye. She is wearing jeans and a half-shirt, is possibly with child (but possibly not), and has some animal painted on her abdomen. There are no pictures because it would have been too terrible.