ObsessKnit

Knit and life and stuff

Knitting is clicking along as it should, in spite of the WildThings and all of their screaming at each other. I've been dragging the yarn to the pool and knitting a few while the crew splash. And dragging it to swimming lessons, and all the other exciting places I get to go.

Brace yourself now, recitation of mental WIP list coming up....

1. The Noni bag is felted and drying, as is one of the flowers. I am still thinking about making a contrasting color flower (not pink) for it. The pattern had two pink ones but I think it needs a different color. I want to enter this one in the fair--its simple and good.

2. The short row sock is stalled; waiting at the heel. I knitted on it at Busch Gardens while waiting in line and Mr. Funny (aka Favespouse) watched everyone look LONGINGLY at the sock, all of them wishing they had something interesting to do while waiting. Many people asked about it and even admired it (kids especially, since its pink with sparkles). Mr. Funny was very surprised--he had no idea the feedback would be so positive.

I knew--and told him so!

3. I made 3 lemon/fruit hats for the breastfeeding program that The Harlot mentioned on her blog. Those go out tomorrow. Fun hats for a good cause!

4. I sent a big box of yarn to a woman who makes things for a women's shelter that Mary had mentioned on her blog. What a relief to pass on some love!

5. I have a package ready to go to The Heathen Housewife--she is making a mitered square blanket from sock yarn ends and bits--she wants your leftover yarn! I am just waiting on her physical address.

6. New project! Ballet Camisole from MagKnits, our yarn group's FAVORITE online knitting magazine! I am doing it in Frog Tree Pima/Silk that I had originally used for Annie Modesitt's Silk Corset, but had ripped b/c the size/gauge was all wrong, after I was more than 2/3 of the way through it. Bad times. I just do not feel like I will ever complete the project now, so I picked a new pattern for the yarn. Up to the waist shaping now; good mindless in-the-round stockinette so that I can.....

7. Watch Dr. Who!!!! over and over and over (in that wonderfully obsessive I mean analytical way that I have). I wept during the last show of season one (yes, wept, it was so perfectly beautiful and really summed up the entire season.) And now through the power of TIVO I have been rewatching the season. AND I have been brainwashing the children--the kids now are watching with me. I need the next generation to go with me to see all the good SF/Fantasy stuff' Mr. Funny is not a fan. Even Girlpants asks "Can we watch Dr. Who? PLEASE?" When your three year old knows about the Doctor something is either very right....or very wrong.

I know I have not seen the next series, but I cannot imagine any actor coming close to the multilayered performance of Christopher Eccleston. His Doctor shows tenderness, anger, loneliness, love and great pain in nearly every episode. They say that the first Doctor you see is your Doctor for life (I researched it. I try to conceal my obsessive nature but its always there.) The ninth doctor is definitely my Doctor. I've been watching Mr. Eccleston for years--since he blew my mind in Cracker in the early 90s. Hopefully for us, he will continue to pick amazing roles, and that we can get them here (and not have to ALWAYS rely on amazon.co.uk).

Now that you have suffered through that, vacation pictures.

Boys crazy in the pool (yes, mine is the crazier one)
Girlpants with her fave companion and cousin.
Finger crocheting with bathing suit! what could be better?Off to jump in my Tardis!

posted by Suzanne @ 10:30 PM 4 comments

Horrors!

Is that really the time? where did June go?
Is is possible to go more than a month without a post and still call yourself a blogger?
Where is the dividing line between knowing how to knit and being a knitter? somewhere close to knowing you have a blog and actually updating it?
Though I have not been chronicling it here, there has been some real knitting going on (as if I would forsake the needles! Sheesh....) For BoyWonder's fabulous teacher--who just published a book about Monarch Butterflies--I made this Milkweed Flower Corsage. Monarch caterpillars eat only milkweed, which makes them taste bad to all birds who want to scarf them down. They completely depend on this plant for food and reproduction. This is my version of the leaves and flowers, which I kinda made up with the help of Nicky Epstein's Knitted Flowers book. This is a really fun book! I can see more improvised flowers in my future--I made one in less than 15 minutes to wear to a party. Good times!


I also finished my sock savior socks for my second sockpal. The yarn had come from the UK and knitted up soft and strong--its a lovely dusty blue. I had bought it to make socks for FaveSpouse but discovered that there was not enough in the skein. I did let the sockpal pick out her colors and patterns--I did not foist unloved sock yarn on her! and this was the style she chose. Inside the package I added another sock-pairs worth of yarn (in navy, the same yarn) and some locally made soap from Grubby Girl. I also made some more flowers, and tied them to some flip flops. You should always have something knitted on! this way even in summer she can have a bit of yarn with her. I am going to have to make these fabby flip flops for myself too. The sock pattern came from the fantastic book by Charlene Schurch--Sensational Kntitted Socks. The lace is called Bluebell Rib, but I call it Tulip Lace (much fancier!) My pal requested no pattern around the foot, so here they are. I finished them in less than two weeks.

I hope my sockpal liked them. I know that she got them (Alison, the sock mamma, told me) but she never emailed me or left me a comment. No news is bad news? Hope not.

I have also finished the Noni bag and one of its flowers, one flower to go. When they are all done I'll felt them. I am on the i-cord edging of the kids jacket--and I hope to take that project with my to KnitNite tonight. I have not even been to KnitNite for more than a MONTH!

Vacation knitting news and other fun bits to come.....

posted by Suzanne @ 8:00 AM 4 comments