Quickie

I'm rushing around to get ready for a conference and a few days of R&R with the hubs. When did my house get so messy?! Where are all my #@!% clothes?!

Anyway, here's the project I'll be taking with me - it's about the only thing small enough to travel with me right now:


This is the Breath of Fresh Air Vest by Kim. As it happens, I love vests, and this is a cute one :) With all the books and mags out there I rarely purchase single patterns but I just couldn't pass this up. Love the clean lines and the ribbed sides. I converted to knit in the round and it's going very quickly.

I'd love to get this *and* my top-down cardi done before Ravelympics, but that's actually *really* unlikely to happen, knowing me :)

And now a quick DOT shot:

Online ID tag shopping with Frisky:

"Quick, pass me the credit card, Mom - I'll take one of each.

And yes, I do wear those pj's quite a bit ;)

10 More Days...

My project details are here. So, what are you making?

Summer of Frog...and Dog

So far, my knitting this summer has been equal parts FO and FrOg. I've finished three items that I will actually wear (two cotton tank/vests and a wrap). I've also cast on several new things that I realized I would *never* wear, and so they have been (or soon will be) frogged.

I've also found myself reevaluating wips that have been sitting around for a while. Let's be honest: Most of the time, "sitting around for a while" is code for "this isn't working/isn't me/looks like crap/wrong yarn/wrong color/wrong pattern, but I'm just not ready to throw in the towel." I'm sure you know the feeling.

And so, in this spirit of realism (and desperate need to clean up my office) I've bitten the bullet and frogged two long-time "sitting around" projects. One, a feather and fan shawl in Manos del Uruguay, because I realized my needle size was wrong - that sucker was getting so stiff and heavy it could practically stand up on its own. (Note that this Manos has already been frogged from a different project :) ) The other, a top down turtleneck, because there is no way in hell that I will wear a wool turtleneck, ever. What was I thinking when I cast *that* thing on?

It's hard to let go, but I'm feeling good about emptying those project bags and returning reclaimed yarn to my stash. It'll become something nice, someday.

Now, onto the latest fo: The All-Star Shoulder Shawl, so named because it has been my mindless knit during my younger son's endless little league all-star games and practices this summer.



Pattern: The Maggie Shawl Pattern Generator by Lucia Liljegren
Yarn: Patons Grace (sport-wt mercerized cotton)in Tangelo colorway
Needle: 24" circ size 4
Mods: I sandwiched some stockinette panels amongst the garter to keep things interesting yet still mindless enough for spectator knitting. The panels are 8 rows stockinette between 6 rows (3 ridges) garter. I also omitted the shoulder shaping part of the pattern and the picot bindoff (looked too foofy with the stockinette stripes.)

Ordinarily this is not a yarn or a colorway that would interest me in the least. I don't know what possessed me. Maybe it's just this nice summery weather? I don't know. But I bought it and cast on immediately and didn't stop till it was done.

I'm *very* happy with the finished product (although I do hope it will grow just a bit with washing.) I will totally wear this with a white tee or blouse and khakis. Now, to find the right shawl pin...and cast on for either the February Lady Sweater or Laura Chau's top down raglan cardi :)

Now, about the dog...


Chi coverlet

The tedium of frogging led me to ponder some alternative uses for my beloved silk Della Q project bags.


Chi shawl


Chi super-cape


Chi kerchief


"Chi whiz, will you please go away and let me sleep??"

Stay cool!

Unintentional Moebius

Although this project (Leaf Lace tank from Spring/Summer VK 2008) was not actually written to be knit in the round, I am well acquainted with the general knitting admonishment to "join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches."



...being careful not to twist stitches...not to twist stitches...

Let this be a reminder to us all: The wine comes after the cast on.

In the spirit of the 4th of July weekend, I'll leave you with a gratuitous chihuahua-on-vacation shot:


"Hoomans: The only way to travel!"

Dogs and Knitting on Friday

"Welcome to Frisky's backyard wonderland."


"Sometimes I think I want to go out, but then I think I want to go back in..."


"...until something distracts me..."


"...like the sound of hoomans in that big water thing."


"Too many decisions."

On the knitting front, a quickie project gone awry. Sunday Market shawl, details on my Rav page. This one is a big UGH. Wrong kind of yarn: too slippery and way too much stretch. In the pic below I had actually ripped out quite a bit.



Frogged soon after the picture and repurposed as a Strangling Vines scarf. We'll see how that goes...the yarn is terrific, I'm determined to use it for something!

It's a wonder I ever get anything done around here...

...given what I have to put up with. Realizing that holding my arm with his front paws didn't work Frisky has now taken to pinning down my arm:


"No knitting! No!"

Despite this I did manage to finish a cotton tank (click for specs on Rav) for myself.




Also started a cute wrap out of some Araucania Nature Cotton I've had kicking around. More on that later...

Bagged!

Hmm...thought I could get away with lurking and snurfing but, sigh, I got bagged by Ericka of the Pointy Sticks. Thus I am coming out of blog-ernation long enough for a meme.

*Never* let it be said that I welched on a meme tag.

First, a gratituitous chihuahua shot:


"Hey, bro, what d'ya know? Hows about a little turkey jerky?"

And now, the meme:

1. What was I doing 10 years ago? Hubs and I had just sold our first house (tiny new construction) and bought a second (large fixer-upper in a *fabulous* neighborhood). I was about 7 mos pregnant with my second babe and the house, which had looked pretty great before we owned it, was turning out to be a money-pit nightmare of poor maintenance and problems. A crazed pregnant woman in a dirty house in the heat of summer with a two-year-old in one hand and a paint scraper in the other. Oh yeah. That was me.

2. What are 5 things on my TO-DO list for today? Ooh, this is actually a good day to ask me that question! Go to elementary school to help make silhouettes of the graduating class, write, read (Sisterhood, Interrupted by Deborah Siegel), go out to lunch with hubs, go for a swim with the kiddos after school. Don't I sound fabulously fun?! (NOTE: Today is an anomaly. Also note I left out "pick up dog poop" and "scrape unknown sticky substance off of refrigerator door handle".)

3. Snacks I enjoy: Oh, man, what don't I like? Minute Maid raspberry lemonade ice pops, roasted red pepper hummus with pita chips, ice cream of almost any kind, mozzerella cheese sticks, veggies and dip...the list goes on...and on.

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire: Buy a summer house on Cape Cod, spend some time in California, breathe a sigh of relief that the kids' college tuition would take care of itself, and see to it that the Women's History Museum in Washington DC becomes a reality.

5. Places I have lived: Ottawa, Canada. Narragasett, Rhode Island (on the beach). Salem, Massachusetts. Caen, France.

6. Jobs I have had: beach parking lot attendant, aerobics instructor, summer camp counselor, kitchen designer, college instructor, research assistant

Bloggers I am tagging for this MEME: The ADD Knitter, witchypoo, Vivian, and Rima - if you haven't been tagged already - because I'm really looking forward to reading your responses! :)

No more Mrs. Nice Guy...

It's been awhile...I have been beyond busy, but in a very satisfying and productive way. Finally have made some good progress on my research - and have jettisoned most of my old obligations in order to make time to do so: reduced my teaching load; got hubbo to take over our finances; dropped PTO, most school related volunteering, and all housecleaning. But did I give up knitting? Nay. Proof:



The free pattern can be found here. I've listed other specifics on Rav. Drops is an unbelievable resource - so. many. patterns. Their yarn looks nice as well.

Okay, now back to work. Hope you are enjoying the Spring as much as I am :)

Dogs on Thursday on Friday *Plus* Demonic Cookie

Well, well, is it Friday already?


Sigh, another perfect evening - if only all those "others" would go away and leave us in peace.


Oh, yes, now a little to left please.

"Mom?!" "Yes, honey?"


Curses...durn hoomans!

And now, a miracle of nature that I simply had to share. If you liked the Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich, you'll love...




Satanic sugar cookie! Mwahahaha!

In knitting news, I'm working on some things I can't show just yet (gifts), but I will probably post on Ravelry this weekend. Happy Spring :)

You Must Be a Genius...

....to read my blog, apparently:



See - we really DO have a lot in common. Besides knitting and all.

See you 'round the blogs, genius ;)

PS: I totally stole this from Lynne.

Holy Cannoli, What a Sale!

Webs is having an Anniversary sale - such bargains! Staples like Cascade 220 and superwash even. Get thee to the mecca or at least go do some drooling:

WEBS YARN SALE, PEOPLE

This PSA brought to you courtesy of YawnOver.

Support

I have been too busy to blog much lately, but just had to take a moment to pass this link on. I want to give others the opportunity to support a fellow knitter as she works to raise money for a cause that is far too close to her life.

I don't have much of a readership, but if you do, please, please consider posting this link. Every dollar counts in fighting this horrible, invasive disease.

Thanks - and good health to us all.

I'm Just Wild About DOT..

A Day in the Life of a Busy Chihuahua:


SNOW!! Come on Dad, hurry!


Whee!


Whew - time to hit the shower...


Dig a hole...


Watch for intruders....


Hey, you want a piece of me?!


And finally, a little joyful writhing just because. Happy DOT!

And now for something completely ridiculous...

...I give you the knitted notebook cover:



You know how sometimes you knit something because the pattern is somehow compelling, and sometimes because you have to have the thing the pattern produces? This is definitely a case of the latter. I just wanted a fuzzy wool sweater for my notebook. Because yes, I am a giant nerd.



After knitting it this weekend I realized that the notebooks I planned to use this on (I have two old ones and thought the cover would come in handy) are actually much larger than 5x7. Doh! :) So, for now, it's covering Max Weber. The Protestant work ethic, capitalism, and some warm fuzziness all rolled into one, sigh. Not sure Weber would approve...

And now, a PSA from Frisky:


"Sorry, I'm busy drying off from my bath! Dogs on Thursday will return at its regularly scheduled time next week! See you then!"

Dogs on Thursday

"Dreaming of turkey jerky...mmmmm"

Happy DOT. The shawl continues to occupy my knitting time, and Frisky continues to occupy my lap :) SSDD, lol.

Spring!

Well, not really, but soon. Look what we saw in our cherry tree yesterday:





Eastern bluebirds. So adorable.

Also, we noticed today that it was still light out at 5:30 pm. Barely, but some light was definitely still visible. Good, good stuff.

Lest you think that between Frisky and the bluebirds we've gone completely Wild Kingdom here at Yawn Over, I give you the new love of my life:



Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl by Sarah Bradberry, in Manos del Uruguay. (Click here for some Manos versions on Ravelry.) Oh, the wooliness. Oh, the rippliness. I simply cannot put this down. I have not experienced this level of project monogamy since...never. How long will it last? Stay tuned...

PS: Many thanks to Kat with a K for patiently explaining to me which end of the shawl is supposed to be the pointy one - before I tugged the whole thing completely out of shape :) Yes, I am clueless!

DOT: Cheap Fun with Chihuahuas

Also, now that my mom received her Valentine's Day Malabrigo Loafers, I can post about them here. SO comfy! And the pattern is fantastic, click here for the link. There are three different embellishments and options for men's slippers too. And it's Malabrigo! Seriously people, what more could you want?





Happy VD, and Happy DOT :)

Aye Carumba, It's Cold Outside! DOT.

"Brrr...! Hoomans sure do come in handy."



"But thank God for cashmere!"



Top secret loafer project done - check out my Ravelry page. Also finishing Thorpe.3as we speak. And finally! frogged the Einstein coat - good riddance :)

Dogs on Thursday: Social skills...

...or lack thereof.


Frisky: "Bark, grrr, growl, slobber..."
Lucy: "Kiss my grits."

ETA: Lest you find yourself worrying about Lucy:
1) She outweighs Frisky by a good 5 lbs or so;
2) Her growls are about an octave lower; and,
3) She is a talented boxer with a penchant for hitting Frisky with a quick two-paw right-left smack to the face.

Believe you me, the smart money is on the cat.

Dogs on Thursday and Thorpe Love

Remind me again why I live in New England?


"Nobody knows the trubbles I've seen...oowwooo"

Did you know: With just a bit of finagling, your neckwarmer can double as a warm yet stylish chihuahua snood? It's COLD out there! On the plus side, though, it's the best winter ever for handknits. So many opportunities, and so many grateful recipients. Like Frisky, for instance.

In knitting news, I'm wishing I'd nominated Thorpe for a Bobby award. It is the perfect winter hat; quick to knit, warm, practical, and equally cute on guys and girls. Not only do my sons love theirs, some of their friends have started hinting to me how much they love them too :) Amazing that we have so many free patterns to choose from - so many talented and generous people out there!

My last Thorpe is too big for my little guy (though he insists on wearing it), and I am still mad at the yarn. As soon as I can get my hands on a skein of Malabrigo Chunky (LYS is fresh out!) in something close to red I'll be Thorping once more.

Happy DOT :)

ETA: Oops - guess I never posted about the second Thorpe, see below - full sob story available on Ravelry