Knitting Little Big Things (and crocheting, too)

And that's all I have to say about that. 

Thirty-Two

I had something on my wishlist that my younger brother said he wanted to get for me, but lamented that Amazon had let him down by not being able to get it to me in time.  We'll just gloss over the fact that he waited until the last minute to figure out what to get for me.  Fast-forward to yesterday, and I was in Costco and spotted the very thing in the store.  When said younger brother called to wish me a happy birthday, I told him what I now had.  He asked if I would be making him a Darth Vader for Christmas, and also if the book had a Chewbacca pattern.  I asked him what he was getting me for Christmas.  

  

Dispatch from the Patch

Just when it seemed we were out of the danger from the cold, a leftover piece of it jumped up and bit me.  Actually, it was a patch of ice I was not even thinking of watching out for because the danger of ice seemed like it should have been gone.  Yeah, I fell, but it could have been much worse.  I was carrying my nephew (he's 20 months) at the time, and I am just glad that he was unhurt.  I was carrying him on the left and I managed to fall to the right.  Now I have a somewhat sad elbow and shoulder, but it is not too bad.  I am doing the resting and icing and that is helping.  It has limited me from doing much beyond Netflixing, but there are worse ways to pass time.  Anyway, somehow I have found a comfortable position on the couch and gotten some real sleep in acceptable quantities for three nights in a row, even.  Yeah, I'm surprised, too, but quite pleased.  

So, you ask yourselves, and quite rightly, "Why is she bothering to blog if she's just lying about on the couch not doing anything?"  Well, you see, before the fall, my sister found a picture of something and gave a not-so-subtle hint that she would like me to make it for my niece.  Since it is unbearably cute, super easy, and takes almost no time, I made one.  I think I will make more.    

Block After Block

Well, there is only one more Christmas gift to show you all, and it was a doozy.  It was one of those ideas that nearly did me in, and had its hooks in me before I knew what had happened.  Since my mom found the pattern, she earned a portion of the credit and the blame.  

When the idea first struck back in September, I thought I would make these for everyone I know who loves Legos.  I would make one for the newest nephew, (the original plan) one for my younger brother, and then for the other two nephews.  My mom (she knows how to crochet) was going to help make blocks, too.  This would be a family effort, and so special.  It was going to be my go-to baby blanket pattern.  I was going to make one for Kitten's Elizabeth, and then for each of her other boys.  I have friends with little ones who go crazy for Legos, and I was going to make them for all of those kids.  Oh, I wasn't going to do it all at once, but maybe one every couple of months.  It all seemed so reasonable.

The little blocks that make up the blankets are so quick and easy to make that I had finished (even had the ends woven in) the first twenty in no time at all.  Then by the time I had thirty done, I was losing the will to live.  At this point, it was also apparent that Mom's crocheting, well, we will just say she would not be able to help with this.  Somewhere between blocks thirty and fifty-five, time stands still, with the exception of that brief moment at forty--the halfway point.  Amazingly enough, once I hit sixty I was back on a roll again, and soon after that, I had finished all eighty bricks.  I set them aside for about a week until I had the uninterrupted time at home to assemble it, and then I was done.  I was amazingly pleased with it, and I think I could make this again, but I just do not know when I will be ready to tackle the challenge.  

Anyway, the blanket was a big hit, and my younger brother was visibly jealous.  The baby chewed on it, but I did not get a good picture of him with his new blanket.  He was a very blurry boy that day, but I hope he loves his blanket for years to come.    

Hoppin' Good

Well, we made it through the full-moon weekend, and it was something else.  Very little went as planned, and it was both too wild and too quiet.  A perfect companion for both the crazy and the nothingness, was making things.  Of course, scattered throughout the weekend were tiny baby bunnies.  They are quick, easy, and fun.  Then I decided to work on a little frog hat that my mom asked me to make for my soon-to-be-here nephew.  None of the patterns I found was really doing it for me, and that is part of why I hadn't made it before now.  In the end, I decided to use the owl hat pattern as a guide, and I think I have something that works.  




Speaking of Rufus, we got good news about him; he turned.  Not only that, but my sister's blood pressure is back where it should be.  We are so very thrilled.  Now that he is headed in the right direction, his birthday is planned for the 18th, or sooner if he gets impatient.  

I'm an Owl Exterminator!

It is all owls, all the time here. I have been hooking almost nonstop for about the last week-and-a-half. I do not remember just how it all started, but once I began, I never found a stopping point, and now that season two of Downton Abbey is over, I do not know when I will stop. The bright colors and acrylic yarns are not my usual style, but they work for these hats. I did get a look from a knitter in a waiting room the other day, but when I asked how she liked the Signature Needle Arts circs she was using, my Real KnitterTM credit appeared to be restored, or not--I really do not care.

The finished hats were piling up for a while, and then I gave four away. Three went as birthday gifts, and one went to a niece because she wanted one. The kids love the hats, and so do their parents. Another niece asked me to teach her mom how to knit (and then she asked me to teach her mom how to crochet once I told her the hats are crocheted) so that she could have one. I have already taught this particular niece to knit, I have a feeling she does not want to learn to crochet any more than I want to teach her, I know her mother does not want to learn, and I have already given an owl hat to her sister, so I think making one for her is the best option.

The two sleepy owls are meant for the future new nephew and niece, and when another sister-in-law saw them, she asked if I would make two for her twin infant nieces. I am not sure what will happen with the rest. People keep telling me that I could sell them, (yes, the designer does allow this) and the same thoughts go through my head each time I hear it. Usually I think, "If people will pay, please give me money, or point me in the direction of those who will." Then I just have a chuckle to myself about being a hooker who never gets paid.

Hint, Hint

A few months ago, my younger brother sent me a link in an email about crocheting an Android figure. I filed the hint idea away for future reference for gifting. Fast-forward to the news that he was about to finish his degree, and I knew I needed to get out a hook and some green yarn.

I did not follow any patterns for this, but just looked at the shape of the Droid mascot and put my experience in crocheting amigurumi figures into play. It was a fun, simple, little project, and one that I am pleased to give my brother in honor of his graduation. If only getting a good photo of this little creature was as easy as crocheting it. Seriously, you would not think that this would be such a challenge, but it really was.

Mailbox Mania

Trips to the mailbox have been very rewarding this week. The beads for Bitterroot showed up, and I have already been working with them, although they are very difficult to see in this photo. With only twenty-five rows remaining, I have answers about the yarndage. Yeah, I am going to need to spin some more yarn for this shawl, but I view that as more good news.


Speaking of beads, look what Our Opal sent to me. This is such a cute book, with so many different patterns. We have both been noticing how many books we have that we are yet to create from yet. Still, there's always tomorrow, and the inspiration for today, right? Did you know that Opal has a new place? Remember to update your bookmarks and feedreaders accordingly. To celebrate the move, she is having an excellent contest you will want to enter.

Speaking of winning contests, well, that will have to wait for another day.

Merry Mohair Moebius

I hope you are all having a wonderful, peaceful day. I am celebrating Christmas, though not sure whom we will see or have the chance to talk to, nor what all we will do. There is a decent chance that we could sleep all day. We are very tired. I stayed up all night finishing crocheting my brothers' gifts. I completed them in time for the gathering at my mom's on Christmas Eve. My fingers are a bit sore. Still, I grabbed yarn and needles in a last-minute attempt to knit a mohair moebius for my sister to go with the hat I knit for her. I surprised myself with how far I got on it. If I get up in the morning, I might be able to finish it and give it to her when I see her later. Then again, I may start playing the Super Mario Bros Wii game that she gave me, and that could take over for a bit.

Anyway, my brothers were pleased with their gifts. The older one grumbled a bit when I asked him to sit next to the younger one so that they could unwrap together. I packaged both in the same box since I made the same things for them. The mild irritation at being directed by me could not survive in the face of what I had made. I crocheted a Strong Bad for each of them. I am not too familiar, but know they are fans, and when I saw the pattern, I knew it would be perfect for Christmas gifts for them.

The mad-crochet-frenzy of the past few days has me appreciating deadline-free living. Of course, the tight gauge of those two creations and the resultant achy fingers mean that I would be unlikely to be able to make anything under pressure right now. It also means I am pushing out of my brain any thoughts about the sweater my younger brother envisions wearing next year for Christmas. He asked whether I could make my own sweater pattern. It sounds like what he wants is something that would incorporate both intarsia and fair isle, and Homer Simpson in a Santa hat. No, I am not thinking about it for at least the rest of this year.

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

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?

Hexed

When I learned that the 8" square I knit for a community afghan was lonely, I was not sure what to do. Then I remembered a long-abandoned crochet project someone gave me several months ago. I told the organizer I would examine the contents of the hibernating piece and see if it might be something that would work.

Let us fast-forward through the weaving in of many ends, gauge issues, seaming, and steaming. That brings us to the finished piece.

If I'm Lion

When I last laid down the amigurumi baby lion, I had finished the head, embroidered face details, and completed and attached the mane. Then it sat and waited for me. I thought about it occasionally, and thought that the project was doomed to remain unfinished when I put it away out of sight. As my nephew's summer break was over, I decided the time had come to complete it.

Robuddy played Zelda while I finished crocheting. At one point, he was swinging the lion limbs by the yarn tails left on for sewing. The closer I got to finishing, the more interested in the project he became. He offered suggestions for colors when I crochet the daddy lion to go with the son. He pointed out that a baby lion would not have a mane. He wished for a crocheted tiger. He thanked me.

Seemed Like a Good Idea

I thought I should wait to post until after I was caught up with everything else. Everything else is a continually renewing list. I also missed more opportunities to spend time doing the things I enjoy whilst in the grips of this poorly thought out time management strategy. I tried something, and it did not work out the way I hoped it would. I think I was less productive this way. It's OK; I will try something else. In the meantime, I am still way behind with almost everything.
Anyway, we do have another distraction in our home, the Wii Fit. I like it. It is nifty. On the balance board, you can see my first amigurumi attempts. I like them. I keep forming small plans for more of these little critters.

Also on the board, you see the answer to a previous mystery. The shirts I showed beneath my books the other day match these little locking stitch markers. Perhaps my less than stellar photography made this one tough to guess.

Thrilling Thursday

I went to out to knit with the NAKG Tuesday afternoon. However, I was the only one there. I did not mind. I got in some nice knitting. I'm sure it was more than I would have done if I had been knitting with friends. Also, I probably would have spent more time talking, and not have made my way to these three books. I do enjoy the promise of new books.

I have been working on some mysteries around our home. The first was missing underpants. It is not completely resolved, but we have made our way away from being in a state of emergency. The second was a mystery aroma in the kitchen. It was not far from becoming unpleasant, so I gave this one serious effort, and it is taken care of. I know, you are seriously jealous of my exciting life.

Speaking of mysteries, beneath my new books, you can see two new shirts. They were on clearance, and I thought this was my only motivation to purchase them. I later uncovered another reason why I was drawn to them. Do you know what it is?