Recognition truly deserved

I always like feel-good stories esp nowadays w lots of things to grr about. I checked out The Yarn Harlot (or Stephanie Pearl-McPhee - I switch between the two bc how do you address her properly though I doubt she'd care since she seems so laid back at times as per her writing) website today to see the post about her new book which is now #32 in the best sellers for hardcover non-fiction. How cool is that?!?!

sniff sniff knead knead

I had intended to make a quick post then go to bed but rather I'm making a post from bed. Also I'm being glared at by Big Cat since my typing has interrupted his kneading of the afghan I knitted years ago. Both cats seems to enjoy it (though Little Cat is more interested in loudly sniffing things at the moment) so much so that I'm thinking to try some sort of cat bed. I do have some wool blend in the stash.

I've frogged the prior idea for the baby blanket for M & S. It was a decent attempt but baby fine yarn on size 4 needles was problems just awaiting to arise. I decided finding an actual pattern, though the idea I had before I do want to plot out since it'd be quite cool once it took ages to make. So I found this one - Hoodie Baby Blanket and picked up the yarn used as per the site, Lion Brand Cotton-Ease.

I've not used that yarn. The only cotton based yarn I have is the Sugar and Cream cones that will eventually be a summer blanket for when the air is too high in the house. I just haven't decided on a pattern. I digress. I'm quite happy w the yarn choice. I had forgotten the difference between straight acrylic and other yarns. I forsee myself buying this for other projects. There is a sage-ey green that would look nice for a February Lady sweater though I forsee that being a more pumpkin color in my head.

I also stuck w the circulars and got them working. I do not know where I went wrong w circulars in the past. Maybe I was too green to the whole knitting thing and just stuck w that? Nevertheless, they are working well and are much easier on public transportation esp when somewhat crowded (bus more so than el) as was the case today. People are still sticking w public transportation in larger numbers as was the case more recently w the crazy gas prices. Over $4 a gallon is never fun though I had orginally traveled via such. It finally went under $3 today ($2.99 but still) as I noticed making the little kid "ooooh look at that" face.

While gas is under $3, The Husband and I realized that approximately with tax a milkshake at Oberweis would be about $5... each... for a non-specified size. We ended up not getting them which is in a way a good thing since I'm sitting here in a robe w a comforter, the earlier mentioned afghan, and a wool indian blanket from AZ. I'm starting the cold weather transition as well as learning that turning on two space heaters, no matter that the smaller one is tehnically smaller than the other, will leave you standing in the dark. Yep, I blew a fuse. Not a big deal but enough to laugh about it as I called downstairs for him to reset it.

Totally by chance, Nixmusic, The BFF and I came across a local knitting group that actually meets locally. I say it as such bc there is another group that seems quite cool but w inconsistant bus timing esp w holiday traffic approaching is somewhat not do-able. It was quite fun esp with other patrons looking over to see what was going on. I forsee us going back. There is something quite nice about being able to talk yarn or about how you didn't make it to Rhinebeck but would love to someday or the local signing by the Yarn Harlot and the typhoon during the first scheduled appearance.

Are you deflating a balloon? No, that's just the cat.

Are you deflating a balloon? No, that's just the cat.
I know that cats make noise. They mew, meow, merow, and hiss. However, Little Cat yodels, sings, talks - helllrrooo & MAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOM - and makes the deflating balloon noise when he's sleeping/half asleep. It was something that I couldn't figure out the best way to describe and it finally came to me today - the deflating sound. Hmm well maybe like an air mattress at times too - not as squeeky.

It looks like I may be doing another baby blanket for a gift, being made as a gift for someone else to give. I'm thinking that C & I, if she does want me to make it and not just thinking of a possibility then we'll be off to Hobby Lobby (the fact that they are closed on Sundays so the workers can have time w their families makes me want to shop there more and more} or Michaels or somewhere. Not the LYS though for something to be baby whatevered on.

LYS yarn though is still needing to figure out a plan. I have four skeins of Stacey Charles Rittratro in that pretty dark black/purpley color. I am too lazy to go look it up as well as that it is buried on the yarn shelf - aka the front hall closet shelf where it's hiding from the yarn-chewer/eater. I originally thought to make a shawl of some sort with it since it has that nice sheen to it. I did find some nice projects on Ravelry that used it. I just can't figure out if I should wait til I get the hang of a basic lace pattern or just make something less intricate so I can actually wear it.

I do know that a lap blanket is something that will be on the needles next spring. Cold legs, ankles, feet, basically from thighs down is not fun when the air conditioner is on, car too. Hmm that would be a good idea - a lap blanket w a seat belt loop or something to keep it from sliding down. AH HAH! I will be rich, or more realistically warmer in the truck for roadtrips or perhaps a plane if we end up somewhere this {next?} summer.

I have a list of places to travel, or at least the start of one. The newspaper recently had some places to go in the Midwest that looked really nice. I had not been much of an outdoorsey person - camping and whatnot - pre dating The Husband. {The Husband may be renamed on here. I'm not sure but there will be *s included if I change.} Camping made me go ih. I liked the trails/easy hiking though. One campground based trip that was a lot of fun led to an 11 mile hike in AZ to one of the most amazing places I've ever been, Havasupai. So locally or more so regionally, I've found some nice camping places, cabins, lodges, or even just low key hotels incl chains but in quaint areas. It would be a trip too that I'd bring knitting. Last one I didn't and had hours in an airport that were perfect for it. Flickr is good too. I put in "hiking" and got some gorgeous pictures of places I never knew about.

I was reading on Raverly and people were talking about how many WIPs they have and it makes me feel better and a tiny bit less of a procrastiknitter. I found myself falling back into the land of other stuff to do rather than that and it as a bit of a "waiiiiiiiiiiit a minute!?!" moment. I don't have xmas/holiday present knitting so that works. I remember the year I made a ton of scarves - 4 x 4 ribbed striped were the majority and they turned out great but lots of rapid needles. I've converted a purse into a temporary knitting bag - one of those fabric quilted ones and it's working well. I'm tempted to just make it a full on knitting bag. I just have to figure out how to hang them w/o the kitties playing with them... NOM! NOM!! NOM! YARN! YARN! YARN!

The knitting on C's baby blanket is done now. All it needs is to be bound off and the ends woven in. I found my yarn needles so that won't be a problem.

I've started back w the shan scarf. Now that I've back to almost my normal knitting speed, I think I can get more of it in the near future. Being away from knitting from before had me a bit slower than normal. It was flattering though when you are thinking you're a bit on the slow side to have someone say that you knit fast w that sort of wow look on their face.

Little Cat is back to his yarn antics. This time though I lucked out and could get the camera, well more so let him have a little extra time to roll about with it then take the pictures. Being in a Ravelry cat related group I'll be posting pictures sometime soon.

Intended post saved but not blogged from friday nite...

I had a Bridget Jones moment, well rather moments, this morning enroute to work. I was wearing a skirt, as in the case for most days when it's spring/summer (so I'm attempting to cling to the concept of warmish weather as long as I can) which decided it had a mind of its own - turning, inching up, just being bothersome. Luckily I had a longer coat/light jacket on so it wasn't a full eek moment. The coat/jacket however decided to start bunching on on shoulder, of course the shoulder that had my purse & overstuffed bag - knitting needles sticking out of one side as well - causing both bags to slide. I'd fix both skirt and shoulder area mixmosh and then my coffee would slosh out. (I've decided one starbucks/foo foo coffee a month is my new allowance. Then I don't feel horrid for spending $4 for coffee.) So it was my version of the pepto bismal song - skirt shoulder coffee sloshing as I shuffled down the street. Th entire time all I could think of was the part in Bridget Jones (the book not the movie - which I'm reading for the umteenth time)when she and Daniel are messaging about her skirt being sick.

I have about an inch left of C's doll blanket which makes me happy for two reasons -- it is beautiful and it will be done so I can move back to another WIP. It looks like, however, I will have leftover yarn from this one. It's a nice ombre that I know I can use for other things. The wool-ease that Little Cat stole this morning would look nice.

Yes, Little Cat was a yarn theif. He managed to get the small ball (Charcol colored) out of the closet w/o me knowing. I just see this piece of yarn trailing along and a bwahahahahaha kitty face attached to the end of it. He was not pleased when I took it away. A small amount is one thing, enough to be small arm warmers or a collar scarf = he gets ran after with BAD KITTY being hollered. Little Cat being a cat and all, while he does get cat toys, would rather bat them around til they get lost (usually under the dining room closet door) and then latch on to random household items or kitty designated/given things. The milk jug rings are thrown to him. The bottle caps he throws off the counter and runs amuck.

I'm waiting for a door to dry.

Seriously, I am waiting for door paint to dry. I put on the second coat and it's still tacky so I can't close it just yet. Grr.

This weekend was door weekend. The Husband helped The Dad take off the old doors and put up the new ones. They are pretty, if you could call a door "pretty," let much more light in, and do not look at all like the grate for some sort of fortress.

I'm a bit behind starting for Ravelympics Summer 2008 due to said doors. My stash also lives in the closet that was blocked during the work. If I had realized how long it would have taken I would've pulled the yarn out sooner.

Photoshop decided to be a brat last nite and killed a design flow that I was quite pleased about. Non-working programs are quite problematic. Luckily the parts saved and I have the sketches though my sketches others don't oftrn decipher. I'd be working on that instead of on here but I know if I get on a roll it will be time to close said door and finish errands.

I keep looking at sweater patterns thinking I'd actually start one. Start being the key word since I have too many WIPa now. Plus I'd have to figure out measurements and I'm not sure if I own a measuring tape. I've used tape measures for stuff before but it's a but different when it's something you are spending hours upon hours to make.

I'm a firm believer in clothes are made for a size for a reason. Too many times have I seen people with some aspect of their body squished out or hanging out of their clothes. Same with people wrapped up so tightly that the fabric becomes see thru or rouches when there isn't any intended. It's not like you are at home in comfy or whatever clothes but in public. I think it's from watching the makeover shows on TLC etc. One size larger = great looking outfit. I know it's a pain for even one sized bigger because I've had to deal with it. (Being set in one size for years and then being one size up does make you go what? wait a min.)

Little Cat and Big Cat are on the desk next to me. They are playing nice for the moment. I am awaiting the yowling mass of fur to start. It woke me up this morning as well. A day I can sleep in luckily meant sleeping in a bit. If they had woken me up way earlier that wouldn't have been fun. Sometimes I think they watch wrestling when we're not home due to the crazy moves and pins these two goofs do. Speaking of goofs, the dogs are quiet. I better go check on them.

As I realize it had been a month for posting....

as well as that I STILL haven't taken pictures of the intended.

I've learned that making dishclothes/washclothes work incredibly well with public transportation. Small, easy pattern, not alot to lug around. It all started as an attemped to make a blanket for in here - the office - as well as decrease the stash a bit.

I got almost beened in the head with a cone of yellow blend cotton yarn about a week ago. That could have been bruise inducing.

I can see it now...

Person: Oh wow, what a nasty bruise on your head. What happened??

Me: Yarn fell off the closet shelf and hit me.

Person: (tries to keep from laughing) You got hit in the head with yarn and it left a bruise?

Me: It was a POUND CONE of yellow sugar and creme yarn... there's cardboard in it too!

The Raverly olympics start in two days. It's working out well timing wise to make a doll blanket for my cousins daughter. Since I've started knitting the family tradition of the doll cradles has had a knitted blanket included. It'll be fun and easy to complete in the amount of time. I just need to decide on the yarn. Right now I'm thinking a mix of hot pink and white that is in the stash. The last one was light pink/white.