Malabrigo IHS Done!

Finally wrapped up some unfinished business:





This was supposed to be a Christmas gift! Now it is soaking in a Eucalan bath and will go into the gift pile for this Christmas. See, I wasn't late, I was early ;) ...

I still love this pattern. I made one out of Paton's Classic Merino in brown and my husband wore it every cold day this winter. It still looks great. (For $5 per 100 g, that yarn rocks.) This year I might make one for myself in purple...in Malabrigo though,it is so heavenly!

Hoping to get a few more items knocked off the WIP list soon, maybe at SnB this weekend. Maybe this will be a knitting-in-the-park weekend at last?

Pilgrim's Progress

It's done! Ye olde 17th century Pilgrim cap from the pattern I bought at Plimouth Plantation. Yarn (also bought at PP) is Harrisville Highland wool, color=purple haze, made right here in New England.

Here's a closeup of the cuff, uncuffed:



The cuff design is very cool-looking and was fun to knit. It's not showing up very well here but it definitely pops. The yarn is fantastic, it feels very durable and the heathery tones of lavender with a bit of pink and grey are gorgeous.

More shots. I have never made a hat with this kind of shape at the top, but I really like it. The nubby little i-cord bump in the center is something I added because it just needed a lil something up there.





DH wants one now, in the same yarn but in a manly man color - of course. Since this one fits me pretty snugly I'll have to figure out how to accomodate his even bigger cranium; the cuff pattern is a multiple of 12 but I think adding 12 more stitches would make this too big. I'll probably try going up a needle size (used size 3s this time) instead.

Today's gratuitous chihuahua shot shows Frisky in love overload mode. Frisky's day: Morning: Sleep. One pm: Beg to go for a walk. (Don't take no for an answer.) Afternoon through evening: Get someone to throw ball endlessly for fetching, and to take outside for more walks. If unsuccessful, follow Mom constantly, staying as close as possible. Follow at her heels as she runs around the house. Sit on her whenever feasible, but if she's working, sit on sofa perpendicular to her desk and stare her down with misty eyes of love.



"I am silently willing you to snuggle with me, NOW. And while you're up, I could use a Greenie please."

Random meme

I've been tagged by Kat! Hey, Kat.

(I have to post this first:)
Here's how to play...
1. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged write a blog post about their own 8 random things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog you need to tag 8 people and post their names.

Hmm...8 random things.

1. When I was an undergrad I used to zone out from studying/knitting/partying by reading Archie Comic Digests. Yes, as in Archie and Jughead. I still have a slew of them dating back to 1984.

2. I am a Chinese film and novel junkie. If I had time to pursue another language it would be Chinese.

3. Sour candy totally rocks, especially Sour Patch kids, Jelly Belly sour jelly beans, and Quench gum.

4. Symmetry is very important to me. As in, things on one side of my mantel need to be exactly the same as the things on the other side. Most of my house is like this. I don't want to think about what that says about me.

5. When I'm stressed out I play Louis Prima cds and sing along real loud. Usually I do this in my minivan.

6. I tell people I miss my SUV and the minivan was just a necessary evil, but secretly, I love that minivan.

7. When I eat out, my first choice is sushi. Second choice is Lebanese.

8. I was born in Canada. This bugs my kids because it means I can never run for president :) I kind of like it, actually.

Now I am supposed to tag, so witchypoo, Patrice, Lora, Kathy, Kristi, the crazed weasel, consider yourself tagged if you haven't already been.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day! After a breakfast in bed of peanut butter toast and diet raspberry lemonade courtesy of the boys, I spent my day at Plimouth Plantation. My mother just finished reading this book and was eager to go chat up some Pilgrims, so off we went. The weather was perfect. This is always my favorite view, from the top of the hill by the watchtower:



We took my little one, who talked me into buying quills and ink at ye olde gifte shoppe. (Who knew the Pilgrims took MasterCard?) And I couldn't resist this Mother's Day gift for myself:




Because I so needed another project :)