My annual post...

Wow--almost an entire year since I last posted.  I suspect that's directly proportional to the amount of knitting I've been doing.  I started two mystery socks a few months back, but abandoned them after clue #2 when I knew I wasn't going to be able to keep up.  But they're still pretty and I still want to work on them....until I found the first (Blathnat) had the needle pulled out of one side by someone (hubby/kids?) trying to "help" me move my knitting--don't we all know by now to not touch mom's knitting? *sigh*  I'm not tinking lace, so I'll just rip it eventually. The second one is the TGIS sock, btw--lovely pattern.

My new sock is a basic one using Cascade Heritage but in secret colors.  I'm not enjoying how pointy the toe is, so I'm researching round toes tonight.  *The pattern is toe-up starting with 8 sts and every-other-row increases. Waaaay too pointy--even though it rounds out a little once a foot is in them and even if they're not for me.  Also considering a star toe, but I'd rather not have the seams/ridges....

Easter Washcloths

The last two Easters, I have knit washcloths to go in the boys' Easter baskets setting myself up for a fun tradition and a good way to eventually have lots of handknits in the bath!

The first washcloth I knit (though not as an Easter gift) was the Garterlac pattern. After finding out how fabulous it was at scrubbing grubby little boys, I decided they definitely needed more.

Then in 2009, I found the sweetest Bunny Rabbit washcloth pattern and picked some shiny cotton for each.

 Last year I knit the Illusion Bunnys and loved them (the garter texture again being very useful in the bath).

Presently I'm forgoing the bunny design, but sticking with the washcloth tradition by knitting the Ballband dishcloth popularized by the Mason-Dixon knitting book (in fact, there are more than 7,300 of them on Ravelry!).  The pattern is going so quickly and I'm really enjoying it.  Aaron's will be a green solid with green/white variegated while Everett's is white solid with blue/brown/white variegated.

At almost 8, Aaron is on the cusp of figuring out the Easter bunny, Tooth Fairy, and Santa Claus, but I think he's keeping his ideas to himself just in case.....  Last year I managed to sneak the washcloths into their baskets but had to fess up 'cause not even the little one thinks the Easter Bunny knows how to knit.  I'll have to gift these separately from baskets this year so as not to have big brother accidentally spilling the beans for the little one.  But I'm lucky my boys love handknits.  Can't wait to see these done!

More Knitting Content!

I finished a pair of Sojourn Mitts for myself today.  Yes, I know it's April, but I live in Oregon and we're still lucky if we hit 50 degrees.

I was up reading and knitting the other night and realized how COLD my hands were!  I guess because I was curled up on the couch and had my elbows propped up on my knees, my hands weren't getting enough blood flow.  Brrrr...  I immediately hit the stash and found the yummiest berry-colored Louet Gems Sport from my friend Kim. Thanks, lady!

Mitts knit up so quickly.  Even more so than socks, I dare say.  I enjoy socks, but I'm not very fast at cranking them out.  But mitts are like the best of socks--straight down the leg.  3-5 pattern repeats and you're done.  These took me 6 days of spare time.  Not bad.

The Sojourns have a nice, snug fit, too.  In the past, I've had fingerless mitts that creeped up my hand until I couldn't move my fingers.  What's the point in that??  So, I am extremely happy with how these turned out and don't ever want to take them off.

P.S. I've been reading the Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians series and it completely cracks me up!  It's a bit Harry Potter, a bit Percy Jackson, and more than a bit Lemony Snicket.  Witty and fun.  Check them out...

Oh, Snap!

I wondered if I should hold off posting for another couple of months and hit the "nada in a whole year" mark, but that would just confirm my slacker-ness.

I was awakened by Aaron on Saturday with, "Sorry, Mom...."    *sigh*
"Huh?"
"Sorry, Mom.  I broke your knitting needles...but they were on the couch.  I'm sorry." (hangs head, gives best puppy dog eyes)

I had picked up a much languishing sock (Chrissy Gardiner's Mix & Match Bamboo Rib) the night before and knit a couple inches before putting it down and going to bed.  I remember vaguely thinking I should move it to the table, but the boys are fairly aware of staying away from any WIPs.  Enter elder son who wakes at dawn to play Wii, and apparently jump on the couch, before the rest of us get up.  One jump snapped those KnitPicks Harmony circs like toothpicks.  In his defense, they were US2's so they practically were toothpicks.   As I tried to fish wooden shards out of the couch cushions, even the little one looked up at me with his baby blue eyes and said, "Why did you leave them on the couch, Mom?"   Point taken, little one.

So, the socks are on the back burner until Make One's needle shipment comes in (I think KnitPicks' decision to sell their needles in local shops is brilliant, btw!), but I did realize that there are three moms at E's preschool who are due with second babies in May (girl), June (not finding out), and July (boy).  Now that would make for fun projects--plus, I already have 3/4 of a Debbie Bliss Matinee Coat done from years back.  Sweet!

I think I'll make this swaddling blanket for the middle baby.  I love the pattern--and even have yarn in stash from when I wanted to make it for my own little bundle, but certainly didn't have the time to get it done. I will be glad for it to go to a sweet baby rather than hang out for the rest of its life in my stash.

Also, I bought some pretty blue-turquoise Rustic DK today that will become a BSJ for baby #3.

Plans!  Now let's see if I can stick with it. ;)

Hopefully, just hiding.

LOST: Knitting mojo. Missing since May. Last seen making a toy for my son, but disappeared when it came time to seam. Answers to colorful yarn, interesting patterns and starting new projects. Approach gently, may be skittish around finishing techniques.

*sigh*

On the other hand, this blog makes me very happy. And her recent post makes me even happier....

Hoppy Easter!

Here is what I knit for the boys' Easter baskets:Stripey washcloths! What? Don't you get it?
Okay, how about now? :)
They're my first illusion knits! So cute and fun. I still have a hard time wrapping my brain around how they work. No, that's not quite accurate. I understand how they work, but not enough to chart my own design at this point. It's sort of like the first sock heel or two you knit: just follow the directions and don't ask too many questions. But I really did enjoy these.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Not This Year, Clara!

I am so ashamed to have been taken by last April's Knitter's Review spoof on a new yarn made from recycled cat litter. I still can't figure out how I fell for it!
But I was on guard for Ms. Parkes this year...no duck yarn for me. :)

p.s. Sprite was very excited to win a copy of Toe Up! and I sent it off to her the very next day. If you want to join the monthly Toe Up! KAL on Ravelry, head on over. April's sock is the Old School Knee-Highs.

Finally!

The Random Number Generator has chosen Sprite as our (hopefully final) winner!
And her Blogger profile actually points to a web page--and she even keeps it up to date, so I can only hope she will respond to my contacting her and be excited to win Chrissy's book!

Sprite's comment on the Toe-Up! interview post was: I love to knit socks, but I'm still way less confident about the toe-up variety than I'd like to be. Won't this be the perfect book for her? Hooray!

I'll let you know how it goes. :)

*In knitterly goings on, I have finished the 2nd of 3 hats for my friend. Planning on casting on the last one this weekend. Then--pictures!