Another One Bites the Dust

Another not-for-Christmas-anymore gift is finished. The Dad Scarf. The pattern is my own - just used the Woven Diagonal Herringbone stitch pattern from Barbara Walker. The yarn is Cascade 220 and I blocked it to 8"x62".



In other news, we keep talking to Ethan about the fact that he will not be able to use a paci forever. In fact, we would like him to be finished with it very soon. Today I was getting him dressed and brought it up (he had it in his mouth). I told him, "When little boys get to be three years old, they can't use paci's anymore. It won't be long until you are three and then there will be no more paci's!"



He looked at me, squinted his eyes as if he meant business, and said, "Stop talking."

Clappy

Clap on *clap clap*, Clap off *clap clap*, Clap on, clap off...The Clappy

So I'm knitting Clapotis again. Good ol' Clappy. This time I'm using Southwest Trading Company's Bamboo yarn in the Tequila colorway, worked on US sz 4 needles. The Bamboo feels so good it's almost indecent.

Underpants and Knitting

There's no correlation.

My four-year-old asked for a piece of cheese this morning and I obliged. A few minutes ago, she came running in and said with excitement, "This cheese looks like panties!!" She was right.



I've been laughing about it ever since.

I feel like I haven't been sharing much in the WIP department lately, so here are a few things. Knitting has resumed on my dad's scarf, which was going to be his Christmas present - but now we are only doing gifts for the kids, so it's his not-for-Christmas-anymore present. I would like to finish it ASAP so I can get it to him.



It is now at the half-way mark, I think. I'm planning on blocking giving me some extra length. Unstretched, it is measuring around 28", so I think if I consider that the halfway point, it should be plenty long enough after a good blocking.

I've been itching to knit a new hat lately, so I started Odessa. I planned for this to go to my sister (it is not wool), but I have my doubts that it will fit. If not, I know a few little girls who would like it!

The First Death Eater

I love Scout. Her dyeing abilities are marvelous. I emailed her a week or so ago with an idea for a custom order and once again, she managed to exceed my expectations. Behold, her handiwork + my knitting=







Yarn: Death Eaters colorway from Scout's Swag
Pattern: RPM
Needles: Addi Turbo, sz US 1.5

I dinked around with a few different patterns for this sock, but RPM was definitely the best one for the yarn. Holiday knitting? What holiday knitting? I've got another sock to knit.

P.S. Don't know what Death Eaters are? Go here. It's a Harry Potter thing.

It Was a Good Idea

I had this great idea. Natalie has a lovely dress for Christmas - the top is deep purple, basically eggplant. "I'll knit Ethan a sweater that will coordinate for pictures!" I said to myself. I really should stop talking. *sigh* I ordered yarn (Swish, the new KnitPicks superwash - sorry for the lack of a link today) - color: Bordeaux, which looked like it would be a good match. Hm. Not so much. The yarn is lovely - it just doesn't match the dress AT ALL.

Anyway, I decided to go ahead and knit the sweater. Perhaps we can figure something out for Christmas pictures. Who knows? If nothing else, Ethan will have a lovely sweater to wear this winter.

I'm using my handy reference book for the basic pattern numbers and decided to use Barbara Walker for the design. I chose to do a panel of the Triple-Braided Diamonds down the center. The rest is a little gem called Crossed Stockinette. It's very subtle, but I like the look of it. Just gives a bit of texture without adding any bulk.

In real life, the yarn is not this color. It truly is a wine color - not this odd shade of purple:





So far, so good with the pattern - that is one complete run of the cable pattern. It's just slow, the cabling.

In other news, my feet have been really cold today, despite the 75 degree weather, and I think it is mighty sad when I have to wear mismatched handknits simply because I haven't gotten around to knitting the mates to these socks.

KMKS Questionnaire

What are your favorite colors?
I love autumnal colors and bolds - not really into pastels.

Are you a new mitt knitter? How long have you been knitting mittens?
The only mittens I've knit are Knitty's "Fetching."

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn?
I like them both!

What fibers do you prefer in mitten yarn?
No preference, really, since we have fairly mild winters...so I'll go with something soft.

Where do you usually knit mittens?
Wherever!

How do you usually carry/store small projects?
I have a few homemade project bags for small projects - otherwise a Ziploc bag.

What are your favorite mitten patterns?
I don't really have any favorites! I probably wouldn't knit anything bulky, just because I don't need mittens like that where I live.

What are your favorite mitten knitting techniques?
I don't really have any!

What new techniques would you like to try?
I'm open to anything. I like colorwork, cables, plain...whatever!

What are your favorite needles for knitting mittens?
No preference.

What are some of your favorite yarns?
Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Manos del Uruguay, anything alpaca (I'm not brand specific!), Lorna's Laces

What yarn do you totally covet?
Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Lorna's Laces

Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object?
Don't know!

Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)?
Addis or KnitPicks for circulars, Crystal Palace dpns, Lantern Moon straights

If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be?
I'd be Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock.

Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack?
Love chocolate (prefer milk chocolate over dark) - like chocolate oranges, Toblerone, peanut butter cups

What’s your favorite animal?
I like dogs and horses, but I'm not into them enough to collect dog or horse stuff, LOL!

Would you prefer super warm mittens or something more like fingerless mitts?
Don't really need super warm mittens, but anything goes, really!

If you were a color what color would you be?
Orange or green

What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature?
Probably flowers

Do you have a wishlist?
No, but if you have questions about what I'd like, feel free to ask!

Anything else you’d like to share with the group today?
Nope!

Dog Art

My daughter, for reasons still unknown, believes she is a dog. A dog named Otis. She has been Otis for well over a year and a half now. She knows she is not *really* a dog, but she doesn't let that stop her. She refers to herself both as Otis, and as a dog.

Otis also quite likes drawing, coloring and arty things in general. Today she created this:



"This is just some piece of art done by a dog." - Natalie, age 4