Mystery Knits and Procrastination Buttons...

We have a little joke in our wee knitting group about each of our personal knitting quirks. I won't publish my sweet friends' names here because they might get feisty and take my yarn away.  So i'll call them by the colour in which I see them. If this makes no sense, google "synesthesia". Then laugh a while, and come back to read the rest.

I'm going to start with Indigo. She's an addicted test knitter. The girl is always on a deadline, and I seriously think we need to start a support group and give her tokens for every week she doesn't take on a new test knit. She also has, by far, the most coveted yarn stash. 

.

Next is Olive, who cranks out some really pretty, intricate patterns and awesome finished projects...but I think you'd have to hold her at gun point to get her to weave her ends in. She'd rather just wear the hat with the tail hanging out, or tucked up inside. We take turns doing her dirty work for her.
Then we have Miss Plum, who knits insanely fast. And when she's done? Oh, she gives the piece away to someone that we've decided is an undeserving person and starts another. And we're all left with our mouths gaping open saying "what?? you gave that away??"

And last there's Honey. Honey is happy as a clam knitting and ripping the same project over, and over, and over. Or losing it and finding it. Over, and over, and over.

 I recently, jokingly asked her if she had actually *finished* any of the projects that I've seen her working on over the last 2 years. Some of the ones I mentioned sounded like a total mystery to her. Then she ran all over her house looking for finished projects. She came back with a wad of frogged yarn  and a mitten. A, as in singular. And it was a very DETAILED, fair aisle mitten. And the other? She never bothered to start it. 

There is another friend in our little circle who I haven't  known long enough to figure out her quirk (or her colour) but I'm on to her. 

...or there's a slight chance that she'll read this and run-crossing my fingers that she doesn't.
 
and well, I have a knitting quirk of my own. A couple actually...
If you were to ask my friends they would probably say something along the lines of "she knits wrong". This is a sort of a joke that came from what a woman in a yarn store told me once when she saw me knitting continental.

 I can't do english/standard knitting like my friends-my head just doesn't work that way. And apparently the woman in the yarn shop thinks that continental is wrong. Whatever, I'll live. My projects come out looking the right way, so I don't care if it's "wrong". 

But there's something else. Buttons. I hate them. I love how they look...but I will let a project sit in a basket, finished, for a year, before finally adding the buttons. It's usually sort of a set series of events that leads to this inexcusable act. 

First, it's "I must find the right, most beautiful buttons".
Then it's "I need to find my scrap yarn so that the yarn actually matches the garment".
Then, "Oh shoot, this needle doesn't go through this button, but this yarn is to fat for a regular needle. I must pull it through with wire".
But "I don't feel like getting wire out at 1 am. I'll do it tomorrow".

Tomorrow comes and I remember I need to hide my finished project from the house hippo before she potties on it, or decides it needs to go swimming in the toilet, or it would make a nice blanket for her doll. and once it's reached blankey point, let's face it, i'd never get it back.

So it gets shoved in a knitting bag or basket with it's buttons and scrap yarn and put away until a later date. Like....months later.

I finished this "in threes" in AUGUST. In my defense, I didn't actually find the perfect buttons for it until November. (yes, I realize that was two months away, shuushh.)
And it took a pottery store opening right across the street from my house for me to actually go and buy ceramic buttons. And then another month and a half to actually attach them to my garment. I think I've found my phobia. (which is weird, because I don't do this when sewing.)

Oh yeah, and there are these. I couldn't decide which clue to do for the "follow your arrow" mystery knit along, so week one I made both. Now I can't decide which of the second clues to use for each. I'm still mulling over it. I might give it a week and see what the third clues look like and then decide.

binding off, 

Corra

{Yarn Along} Mildred

Yarning along while on the road. We're rounding the end of our trip now and currently in Council Bluffs, Iowa, visiting my grandfather.
My knitting over the last day has proven to be...ugly. I just wanted something simple and mindless that doesnt take up too much space in the car, so I cast on a wash cloth. (Or as you would say here in the midwest... a "worsh" cloth.)
What can i say? Its brown. Its round, it has no rhyme or reason, no bells, no whistles. If she had a name it might be Mildred, and she might be a bit grouchy because her support stockings are too tight. And When you visit her home, her only snacks to offer are grapefruit juice, old saltines and banana flavoured hard candies that are all sort if stuck together in one unpromising wad, in the bottom of an old watkins cough drop tin.
Yes, Its safe to say that knitting Mildred right now is purely about the process, and has very little to do with the actual project. If not, she would have been frogged by now.
My reading has mostly been limited to some recipes, a few magazines weve picked up on the way and the orschelns catalogue. (Which is actually more excting than it sounds.)
Also, a few of Lottes books that have been read more during these last few days than i can count. Dr. Seuss, anyone?

Binding off, 

Corra

P.S... check out the yarn bombing I found at the old market in omaha, Nebraska!

Yarn Along {bubblegum}

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Yarning along with Ginny

I've made it a goal to knit some little cardigans for several of my nieces and nephews for Christmas this year, and I thought it would be best if I start a little bit early (as in now.)
For the little girls, I decided to go with the vertebrae again because it was such a fun and quick knit, and the closest thing I could find to what my sister wanted for them. Something quick and cute to throw over a sleeveless dress in the fall or winter, but something that could go well with jeans as well.

I've started one in bubblegum pink (my oldest niece's request was that it be this colour) and it's been flying off the needles. I can probably have the sleeves done by the end of the day if I can get some knitting time in.

I've still been reading "The Beauty of Humanity Movement" and I've also started "NourishingTtraditions" by Sally Fallon this week.
I just found nourishing traditions from a clearance bin at one of the local health food stores, and it's a book that I've had my eye on for a quite a while.  It focuses mainly on fermented foods and how they benefit our bodies, and is loaded with recipes and ways to squeeze more fermented foods (full of pro-biotics) into our diets. This book definitely does not disappoint.


Ok, maybe the part where she said that I should get rid of my pressure cooker. That was disappointing.She says it cooks food above boiling temperatures which isn't as nature intended. But really, did nature intend to us to cook everything? Will we ever know? I can understand the microwave....but my beloved pressure cooker? Paws off, Sally lady. Hmph!

Binding off,

Corra

Yarn Along ::Noro Log Cabin::

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Yarning along with Ginny

I can't hardly believe it, but I have no projects on the needles right now other than this. I've recently finished a little sweater, but I forgot to photograph it so i'll save it for next week.

A little while ago I started the Noro Log Cabin Blanket. It's just a simple square by square project that is eventually all picked up and formed into one big blanket.  Several of us at our Knitting group decided to make these together as a knit along, just for fun.
One of my friends has already cranked out an entire blanket and is on to her second! And she's giving the first one away for a wedding present. We've all told her that she should just give them the token salad bowl or crockpot (I mean, after all, who else but a knitter would truly appreciate an entire blanket made of noro?), but she won't listen to us.

This is a fun, simple knit and I have no deadline so i'm enjoying this just as an "in between" project. I've also really appreciated this because we're in the middle of an intense heat wave and  these squares aren't big heavy to rest on my lap as I knit, and they're pretty forgiving when my iced tea glass makes condensation all over them as I knit. I may have even used them for coasters now and then.

The only hard part will be finding 20 different colourways of noro, which is what the pattern calls for. 

I suppose you could repeat a few, but that wouldn't be as much fun, would it? Now I have an even greater excuse to peruse every yarn store I happen to find. Oh Drat.

My Reading as been light this week. I've set aside "The Beauty of Humanity Movement" for some of the well loved Yarn Harlot's humour in "Stephanie Pearl Mcphee Casts Off". I've read her other books, but I think I'm enjoying this one the most out of all of them. Maybe it's because I've been knitting longer and now I "get it" more...but i'm not sure. I really do think this book is golden. Who would have thought that there could be so much potential humour from something as simple as Knitting?

Binding off,

Corrabelle

Yarn Along :: Leftie ::

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?  -Yarning along with Ginny

The Leftie has finally crawled off my needles. If anyone remembers, last week I was talking about playing chicken with what was left of my itty bitty ball of yarn. 

Well, I lost at that game.
There wasn't enough to do a final repeat, so I ended up having to rip back to the last red leaf and binding off there. And the real kicker was that only had a eeensy weensy bit of red left to do it with. But alas, it was done, with about 8 inches to spare. Horray!

I haven't started any large projects since completing this, but I'm finishing up a few little Lotte sweaters for the fall. Nothing fancy, just plain Jane cozy. I'm still itching to find the perfect "larger" project. I think I may have fallen in love with fingering weight, something that I never thought would happen.

I'm sad to report that my reading hasn't been up to snuff this week. I've dug my way through some more of "the Beauty of Humanity Movement" and I've really enjoyed it so far.
And-each time I've picked it up, it's left me craving phở (traditional Vietnamese beef noodle soup, which is pronounced feu-like fire is pronounced in french), so I might have to make some this week.

What have you been knitting? Or making? Or reading?

xo

Yarning Along...Out Back

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now?

I'm blogging from the back yard today, as it's gorgeous outside and this temperature shouldn't be missed.  We've had beautiful weather these last few days.
Not too hot, but warm enough that the tomatoes are happy and thriving. (Which is really all that matters...right?)

Things feel a little bit southern out here-Zeke is practicing the slide guitar, glasses are filled with iced tea, and a plate of piping hot fried zucchini is sitting in the middle our picnic blanket, cooling just enough that we can devour them comfortably.

I'm working on my Leftie, and I'm at that point where I get to play a little bit of *chicken* with whats left of my yarn. Is it enough to finish another repeat? Do i knit on, and risk running out and having to rip back? Or do i just rip back now to the end of the last repeat and kind off? I love this kind of dilemma, and it might be sad to admit, but it makes me as pleased as pie.

I just finished reading 'The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow', and i think i can sincerely say that its one of the best books that I've ever read. It reads like a real, heartfelt, deep and fascinating tale.

It was a book that didn't have me on the edge of my seat, but i still couldn't put it down.
Set in the Fifties, in New Orleans, the scenery alone was enough to keep me captivated. The actual story line was absolutely beautiful though, and the characters were believably human, peppered with flaw, love, and haunting remorse.

Its going to be difficult to find another book to follow in its footsteps, but the first few chapters of "The Beauty of Humanity Movement" by Camilla Gibb have shown a lot of promise! It's set in Vietnam, and loaded with sweet historic and cultural tidbits, which is right up my alley.

The Zucchini is cooled off now, off to get some before I miss out!

Yarn Along {Breaking Black}

This week the boys and I decided to have a little wool dyeing experiment.

We had some plain wool sitting around that a friend had given me-the colours were a light army  green and an *almost* cornflower blue, neither of which were terribly saturated. 

I'd read about breaking black Wilton food colouring-which is really neat. Black is just made up of various colours, and when you add acids, sometimes the colouring "breaks" into all the original colours and dyes in blotches. If you're trying to get a uniform colour, this wouldn't be a successful way to dye. But....we had free wool, a rainy afternoon and decided to give it a go.

 So this is the "before" shot of the green. I didn't get one of the blue, because i'm irresponsible like that.

 We unwound it into big hanks (I used my swift for this and it was kinda messy, but it worked well enough.)
Then we soaked these puppies in water and some vinegar for about 20 minutes.

 Dissolved the black food colouring into some water, and then added it to a pot of water and vinegar, and let it heat up. I added the wool, this time one on top of the other. I knew this would make *some* colour difference, but I wasn't sure how much.

 Reduced it to a simmer and let it go about 25 minutes, until the water around it was all clear. (The wool soaked up the dye.) You can see around the edges, the reds that broke away from the black dye.

 We let the wool cool. I ran a sink full of cold water and set the whole pot in there to cool it more quickly without shocking the yarn. (I don't even know what that really means, to be honest. I just read somewhere not to do it.) Apparently wool is sensitive to rapid temperature changes...kinda like me.

Then we gently rinsed the wool with some mild soap (my beloved Meyers lemon verbena dish detergent, actually-one of the few dish soaps i'm not allergic to!) Doing this over a colander helped because the water could run through it without us handling it too much. (Wet fibers get all cuddly with each-other and felt into one-which would be really messy.)
We rinsed until the water ran clear, which didn't take long at all because the wool had already soaked up most of the dye anyway.

The hank that was on the bottom of the pot soaked up most of the dye. See the one that's still green? That portion of wool was the one closest to the top.

Hung the wool up on the porch and sat nearby with small objects to throw at the squirrels who tried to steal it for who knows what.

Once dry, we took a look at the way the dye had broken-and it looked pretty cool. But not so great on the army green. I think if it had been white wool it would have been really pretty. But the result was kind of muddy.

So we decided it was going back in the pot. We decided to go with the greens since that was the direction the wool was going to go anyway.

 This time used several blues to get this mix, to sort of brighten up the greens a bit.

 I used more dye this time, so even though it simmered for almost 45 minutes, the water never *totally* cleared.

 Same process...cold bath for the pot, rinse with soap.

 It started to rain so hard though (and sideways) that we couldn't hang it up on the porch, so we spun it instead.

 And then hung it up while still a bit damp, once the sun came out.

 Twisted it back into hanks-and voila! (I turned a folding chair upside down on a dining room chair and used it's legs diagonally to wrap it back into hanks. Unconventional, but it worked.)

 I think I need a Niddy Noddy, and I took a  risk of complete embarrassment in having to ask the Mr. to make one for me. You should have seen the expression on his face when he repeated the words "niiiiiiiddy nooooddy....?" to me in complete confusion.
Awesome tool. Totally ridiculous name. Just sayin'. 

Oh, and The purple is the cornflower blue batch that we did later, using reds and blues.  We dyed those hanks in cake form, but both side by side so that they'd soak the dye up the same way.
I'm not sure what i'm going to make with them yet, but I'll post a picture once knit up to show the way the colour turned out.
That's one of the things I noticed, while looking online for dyeing tutorials, is that everyone showed how to dye, but not very many people showed the knitted results of different dye methods-which left me really curious!

The boys wanted to name our colours after things that only boys would come up with. And since they helped me, I only thought it fair to let them. So I won't repeat the original names.... They're gross.
I had to talk them down to less disgusting names, which took about a half hour of negotiation.  So, I give you, "Gaseous Peacock" and "Purple People Eater".

{Yarn Along} :Gretal

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?

This week I haven't gotten a lot of knitting done, household chores (a.k.a more laundry than usual and a basement clean-out) needed to be addressed instead.
I did however manage to finish one of the hats that my sister requested for her little girls
. {Project notes here.}

I plan on doing some modifications to it for the next one, maybe adding some eyelet further up than just the brim, and using nicer wool. I always like to use the cheaper stuff when i'm "winging-it", so to speak.

Reading has been slowed a bit this week, I did start another book though on top of the ones i'm already reading. Mark and I saw "Les Miserables" last week which inspired me to re-read it. As good as the movie is, it's so much more about the music than the depth of the character development- (Which is fine, it would be 8 hours long if they did both character development AND music.) 
I hadn't read the book since high school though and had forgotten how much I enjoyed it. 
This one might take me a while as i'm reading it secondary to other books, and on top of that, I'm reading it on my phone since my e-reader went kaput. It's a slightly frustrating way to read, but at least I still have access to my downloaded books!

Yarning along with Ginny

P.S. Don't forget that week two of the lexicon project is going up tomorrow over at HouseFullOfJays.

Yarn Along...Downton Cowl

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?

I've put aside my sock for a few days to work on the "Downton Cowl"-something that I signed up for as a Downton Abbey knit along over at Luvin The Mommyhood.

I messed up the lace pattern in the second row and had to rip back a few rows and start over. I'm terrible at counting while the kids are trying to talk to me, or if there are any shenanigans going on around our house. (It's safe to say that there usually are.)

Once I got it ripped back and got the first set of pattern work done, I found it much easier to figure out where I was in the pattern if I was interrupted. And not near as much counting now because I can just see where I am, what I've just done and what needs done next without looking at the pattern chart.

This is my first project using Madelinetosh wool. I'm not sure that there's any going back after this, knitting with Madelinetosh is pure luxury!

I'm a bit confused because the woman who owns the yarn store where I bought this wool told me that i'm knitting wrong and that my stitches are going to come out twisted. (Because I knit continental, she said I should be knitting through the back loops?)

It bothered me a bit-and it took a bit of motivation to start again. I didn't want to continue if I was doing it *wrong*...but at the same time what i'm doing feels right, and ends up looking the way it's supposed to. 

I've watched quite a few knitting videos on youtube and I don't think doing anything different than what they're doing. And my stitches aren't twisted either, so I'm not really sure what she was trying to say.

Once I got over that hump, I'm  back to loving knitting. There were a few days though where I just left it in it's bowl afraid I was somehow going to mess things up.

I've been reading "The Mermaid's Chair"...it's been sitting in my "to read" pile for a while now and decided it was time. To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of the story line (from what I know by reading the jacket anyway). Stories about unfaithful spouses-or stories that excuse that behavior, rather, tend to bother me.

I do like Sue Monk Kidd already though, so I decided to give the book a chance.

Also, re-reading "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis. It's been a while since I've read it and found it floating in a stack of my Dad's books.
It might take me a little while to get two books read with the little reading time I've got...but at least I wont' be short on reading material!

P.S...Don't forget! The Lexicon project starts tomorrow!! Check back here or over at House Full of Jays for the project word of the week!

Yarn Along

With the race being on to finish some Christmas knitting, I have several projects on the go right now. Some have only been cast on, some are a couple rows in. 
I like to have a few different types of projects going on so I can knit them depending on where I am- the ones that are less portable, or require the most attention I keep at home, but others I take with me in the car, or to waiting rooms and other similar places.

I cast on this lace cowl (a gift) about a week ago with the intention of it being the "keep at home" project. I'd never knit lace anything before so I thought it would require some more devoted attention. As it turns out though, the repeated lace pattern this cowl calls for is incredibly easy to memorize, and it's been easy to pick up and bring with me various places.

The only thing that's been a bit of a challenge is purling the yarn overs with these needles. I love my wood interchangeable circulars, but the tips just aren't quite pointy enough for lace.
Say what? Could it be true? Could I need more needles?
I've actually got it sort of figured out a way to make it work in an unconventional sort of way that seems to be doing the job thus far. And I don't know if I really want to go buy lace needles if I'm not sure i'll be knitting more lace. 
This is a fun cowl, but it's a gift. I don't know if lace is my thing. Who knows, maybe i'll fall in love with it, we'll see. I also said a while ago that I didn't have much interest in learning to spin etc, but.. ahem...my opinions on that have changed.

Also, I've never blocked lace, so i'm counting on blocking to work every bit of it's supposed magic to make this cowl look like more than just a clump of yarn. I see the pattern in there, but it doesn't look like 'lace' yet. 
I'm really hoping it turns out though, because I used one of my favorite yarns for this one.

My reading has been curtailed significantly this week. I was partially through several good books this week (including the Yarn Harlot) when my ereader decided to retire young and move to Hawaii. I'm not entirely sure what happened to make it's screen turn into what looks like a 1984 "Etch-a-Sketch", but until I replace it, I can't finish those books. So sad.

Instead I've been listening to a lot more of a prairie home companion and some pod casts while I knit late at night. I'm enjoying some of the Knit Picks pot casts especially, they're full of good ideas and tips.

{Yarn Along}

                         

I decided to avoid the many projects that I have to block by starting another on the weekend. Makes sense, right? However, I feel like I can't take a photograph of my finished projects until they are blocked...so I'm going to try to get that done this week.
I started the Honey Cowl that I wanted to make for my sister. She saw the yarn on my table a while back and while she's not a knitter, she has an appreciation for beautiful colours.
This knit up super fast because I used a much bulkier yarn than the pattern called for, and obviously cast on fewer stitches.
I'm at the very end though, and have half of it bound off. Here's the kicker though. I don't think I have enough yarn to finish binding off, so I'm playing chicken with what I have left. I'm at that point where I think I'm going to rip it back a row and bind off there (which I can afford to do, because I accidentally knit an extra row anyway and left it.)
Or, i could pick up a really close bulky strand and bind off with that...I'm not sure I have anything that would blend well though. I'm going to have to dig.

No massive reading accomplishments here this week. I'm almost finished "one thousand gifts" which is proving to be a slow, but good read.

Looking forward to seeing all your projects this week.

Yarn Along

I've been hanging back a bit lately...not just here, but in life's activities as well. 
Feeling a bit of angst and trying to cope. Not finding the relief i'd hoped, but seeking.
Seeking God, searching my heart, chiseling away fears and layers of scars that I chose to ignore for so long. 

Sweet Rachel recommended "One Thousand Gifts" last week when we spoke, in our usual hurried conversation that we manage to squeeze in once or twice a week, and i'm so thankful that she did. This book is like a soothing tub of old lady Watkins's salve for the wounded spirit. 

I have managed to squeeze out some knitting this week, mostly in the car, but i'll take it anyway I can get it. 
I have Lotte's lovey dovey up to the point where I get to start the bodice, and the ribbing finished on one of the boys' hats. I don't know who's hat it's going to be yet-I'll see which head it fits better and make the next one accordingly.

 I can't wait to see what knitting and reading has kept the rest of you sweet souls busy this week.


Yarning along this week with Ginny.

Yarn Along

I'm happy to have finally re-cast on the Lovey Dovey- I had to frog the last one because it was running way too large. 
The pattern suggests a size 10 needles, but I brought it down to a size 6 needle, and now it looks to be about the right size for an 18 month old. (Although, i'm following the pattern for a 9-12 month old).
I don't think I have terribly loose stitches or anything, and I don't normally have things turn out so swimmingly large. So i'm convinced that it's not just me. 
Also, Cordelia mentioned to me that she had the same problem wit hers, so I don't feel so bad now.
I'm finished that somewhat tricky (to me) hem and i'm on to the stockinette stitch for the next 8 or so inches up. Easy peasy portable knitting, the kind that I like to take with me everywhere, and easy to do while watching baby.
Someday i'll have time for learning trickier stitches...I keep telling myself this.

I haven't been reading much lately, I do want to dive right into a good book, more than anything. 
However, our littlest has been a few cute dimples short of horrid at night for the last while- And she's not much for napping.
It's getting better, slowly. 
Once I start getting a couple hours in the evening I'll be able to start reading a real book again.

In the meantime, I've started jotting down my evening  ideas, thoughts and prayers again. (I don't know why my best creative thinking comes to me late at night, but it always has.)

I used to do this all the time-in fact it was a crucial process I had to go through in order to fall asleep. I felt like I couldn't go to sleep until some of it was on paper. 
Sometimes in the morning, it looks ridiculous because it was written in the dark, or because the idea or thought that I had was written with only half my wits present.

I've been having some anxiety lately though, some baby related, some just me, and as if that doesn't make sleeping hard enough, I also have just been laying awake even when babe is sleeping because I feel like she's going to wake up at any second and i'll have to get up and go put her back to bed.
I have a hard time relaxing enough to fall into slumber and spilling thoughts out on paper has been therapeutic.

{Yarn Along}

This past weekend I finally finished up on my rae, I don't have it blocked yet though so I didn't bother to photograph it for this week. Next week! I've never blocked anything (I normally don't knit anything very large...), so that will be new.
I had to frog the lovey dovey, it was coming out so big that I didn't think Lotte would wear it until she was probably 4. I'm going to go down a needle size and see if that helps. I'm excited to start it over again, because it was looking really cute before I realized just how wide it looked.

I started on these little mice for my sister's babies that will be arriving sometime this fall.

 *yes, another sister of mine is expecting multiples, just in case you think "deja-vu"! *

These little suckers are the tiniest things that I've ever knit. Normally I'd crochet something this small without a second thought, but wowee, these were a bit of a learning curve.
My wooden double pointed needles just didn't seem small enough for some of those ssk's.
After I relaxed a bit though, the pieces got a bit easier, and my stitches got a little looser, which helped a great deal.
I've finished up a head, a body, two feet, and one ear. The feet were the strangest things I've ever knit. It works in a knit, slip, knit, slip, knit type pattern. And in the end you have two sides, and the whole thing turns inside out. That was a surprise!
(I'm sure all you knitting pros are laughing at this right now, but It really did amaze me!)

I can't wait to get these little guys assembled, they're so cute! I'm not making the entire mobile in the pattern though, just the little mouses.

I haven't done much reading other than patterns this week, but Lotte sure has.

 I had to remedy the situation by packing the books in so tightly that she can no longer pull them out. She's a little miffed at me, but I think she'll get over it.

Yarn Along

I was beyond giddy when I found this sweet book in the bargain bin at my favorite local yarn store.  I already have another one of Susan B. Anderson's books, "itty bitty toys", which i'll admit, I haven't actually made anything from just yet. It's not because I haven't wanted to though. The desires are there, it's the skills, you see, that are not. 
I'm still a knitting newbie, but i'm slowly getting the hang of all this, and patterns are starting to make sense. I've always been a hands on, visual learner, so reading about how to do something is a little bit confusing.

My knitting this week was actually rather productive; i've finally gotten comfortable enough that I can put my knitting down if need be, to chase baby, or remove random objects from her mouth etc. Before, I couldn't put anything down mid-row without having a small, but very real panic attack. I'm also able to knit without looking at my work non stop, providing i'm just knitting or purling, which makes it a lot easier to knit at the same time as minding the baby.

I'm just over half way on the rae, thanks to sweet Rachel for helping me understand the decreases. The pattern had me a touch confused, thinking that the increases and decreases would end up on opposite sides, which wouldn't make much sense.

The yarn i'm using is a little bit odd. It changes consistency in thickness and colour, so some spots end up looking much more lacy than others. It almost looks like I used self-striping yarn.
 I don't mind too much for this project, because it's just a scarf. But if this were something else i'd be a little annoyed. I love the colour though.

I also started the "lovey dovey" that i've been seeing everywhere. I fell head over heels for this sweet little shirt (or dress, depending on how long you make it) and wanted so badly to make this for Lotte for her first birthday. I decided to make it in turquoise, and a buttery yellow for the bodice and hem line. Rather than a heart, I might do her initial, but i'm not sure.

The hem was a bit confusing, but now that i've done it, I get it, and I really like the look of it! I had to call a friend on that one too, to help clarify exactly what I was supposed to do. I'm a little freaked out by the bodice, but i'm not going to worry about it just yet. 

Lastly, I made the head portion of this little mouse last night. I don't want to make the entire mobile, but I do want to have a few little mice for baby gifts.
I'm not going to do any more though until I get some metal double pointed needles (or tiny circulars). Doing this tiny little guy on bamboo with slightly blunt needles nearly made me throw in the towel. Some of the stitches on the decreases were really hard to pull through.

I also get to learn to make I-cord for the arms and legs, something I haven't done before. I'm slightly tempted to just crank some out on my little i-cord machine, but I do want to learn, and it doesn't look terribly difficult, so now is as good of a time as any. However, I think i'd better finish a couple projects that are in the works first!

 
::yarning along with Ginny ::

{ yarn along }

I'm happy to say that this week I finished Lotte's little rag rug. She seemed to know it was hers right away when she crawled on to it and laid her head down, and gently pat the rug with her chubby hands.

I wanted to show you all some close ups of some of the feed sack fabrics that revealed themselves one print at a time as I made my way through each ball.
I really fell in love with the reds and blues...and especially when the ended up together.

I think that this will be a cozy little spot for her to go to when she's feeling tired, or a good place to park her bottom while she enjoys eating (reading) one of her little books.

I finally started my rae that I've been dying to try for a long time now. I picked a soft cotton and bamboo blend in chartreuse...I bought the last few skeins left so I got a really good deal. It feels too nice though for me to be using...I feel like I should still be *practicing* with acrylics.
One of Lotte's little tiny hair clips makes a perfect stitch marker, and I can easily move it up my work as I go, to count my increased rows.

and this folks, is my reading for the next month. Or at least until I get this task finished. 
I have years and years of one of my favorite magazines, Country Living, stored on a book case in my art studio.
And what's worse....I have both British and American issues. And they've gotten out of control. 

Hello, My Name is Corrie, and I am a Country Living Addict. There. I said it.

I've decided to do the unthinkable, and go through each one and rip (*gasp*) out my favorite recipes, articles, how to's and inspirations etc, and store them in a binder with plastic sleeves. 

I never thought that this day would come, but alas, it has. I want the space that they're taking up for things that just matter more. 

I thought it would be a dreadful task, but as I got going, I wondered why I hadn't done this ages ago. Now I'll be able to open up binders and immediately be able to see my favorite things without having to weed through the ads and articles that I don't care about. 
It's rather refreshing. I've gone through probably about 30 issues today, and already have condensed the space to about the size of two magazines. Incredible!

Playing with Ginny in yarn along.