Thursday, March 27, 2014

Little Things

New vocabulary word: "armscyes."  A pattern I'm working from used "armscyes" instead of "armholes."  New words make me happy.

My daughter and I long ago decided that everyone looks good in a cowboy hat.  (Turtlenecks, too, by the way.)  This week, I came across this photo, which further proves our point.

For last week's NASCAR race, Gonzo was the Grand Marshal, and gave the command to start engines.  And then he got to meet Dale, Jr.  What a great day!

This is me and my best friend, Shari, as high school seniors.  This week, I bought plane tickets to visit her in Pennsylvania, and see Barry Gibb in concert.  (Okay --- that's actually a BIG thing.  Sorry.)

Made more wristers.  Can't make enough, can't wear them too often.
They're a little roomy (I have surprisingly thin wrists), but I like them.

When my children were trying to talk me into watching "The Walking Dead" during its first year, I was so rattled by Rick's horse's demise in the pilot that I didn't think I could go on.  I have gone on, quite obviously, and the other day, I found this photo.  The horse is okay.

I bought myself some flowers.  And I'm glad I did.




Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Botheration

I have never gotten the hang of double-pointed needles.  A friend of mine once described them as "fiddly" --- I've yet to come across a better description.  At least not one I can type in polite company.


If a pattern calls for DPNs, I just move right along.  (I'm the same way with charts.)  Over the years, I've become fairly adept at adapting circular patterns for straight needles.  Some, though, refuse to be translated.  It is especially disheartening when there's something I'd really like to make.

And, yes, I have tried learning over and over and over and over again.

The letters "DPN" send me into spirals of exasperation.  Something like this
 makes me break out in a cold sweat.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Mail

For as long as I can remember, that distinctive sound of the mail truck arriving has made me happy.  Mail could bring almost anything: letters, packages, books, a Weekly Reader. . .  I've never not looked forward to opening the mailbox and seeing what was inside.

Never.

Last week, the mail brought me very good things.

A wedge bag from JessaLu.  I've bought a lot of her box bags over the years, for myself and for gifts, and they're tremendous, but the wedge may very well be my favorite.

On the same day, the always-welcome red envelope from KnitCrate. (This one contained mini-skeins of Three Irish Girls' yarn).  And my newsletter from ECAD, which featured a picture of Vandy, the service dog I got to name. She's the one in the top photo --- you can kind of see the Vanderbilt star bag I sent to her.  She and her littermates (all named for colleges/college mascots) are called the "Captivators" because their mother's name is "Captiva."

In addition to KnitCrate, I also subscribe to yarnbox.  (I haven't needed to buy yarn in forever.  Probably won't have to buy much ever again.)  This month, gorgeous shades of turquoise:
   

I also received letters from two friends.  I've had pen pals for most of my life, and have made great friends through the mail.  Do you still write letters?  They're a dying art;  each one a little gem.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Long Division

For some reason, two of the three projects on my needles right now feature stripes.  First is this cowl/wrap 

in shades of blue and grey

Second, the Foolproof Cowl in Bernat Baby Jacquards "Macaroon."
I like baby yarns in general (they're very good for socks), and I really, really like these prints --- I've got skeins in just about every color.

Then, I finished up the Peeta wrap
A fun knit --- at one point, I realized I was working the wrong short-row repeat, but it really didn't matter.  Extra short rows provided more depth and character.  The sock yarn section is a very good use for a nice amount of leftovers.

I also have some stripe projects in mind for the future, but there's a story that goes along with them.  It will keep until another day.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Mid-Season Report

When Hannah was in town the other day, she, Briton and I started talking about Knitter's Hunk and Knitter's Chick, how we're all kind of missing it right now, and whom we would nominate if we had to today.*

My three for each:
Rashida Jones

Jenna Fischer

Lucy Liu



 AND

Craig Ferguson


Hugh Laurie

Scott Wilson


How about you?  If you had to nominate today, who would be in the tournament?  I promise not to hold anyone to what is said here come actual nomination time.






*All three of us recognize that by August, our lists may (probably will) be quite different.

Monday, March 17, 2014

The Wearing of the Green

My mother was relentlessly adamant that one say "polishing" one's nails rather than "painting" them.  You could almost hear her teeth clamp together if someone said the latter.

Yesterday, I polished my nails in recognition of today:

This is the only way anyone will know I am sporting green today, as it is a cold, windy, rainy, stay-inside-and-knit-and-read St. Patrick's Day in Northeast Georgia.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Some Things Go Wrong, Some Things Go Right

The projects mentioned here the other day have all gone by the wayside, for various reasons, resulting in various degrees of frustration.  So, I cast this on:
I'm making it in green worsted with a green/lavender/blue/grey fingering yarn.  All the short rows were going so very well Wednesday that I worked on it most of the day.

Hannah came home yesterday, which necessitated my baking her favorite pie:
They came out spendidly.  They're called Jefferson Davis pies, but are very much like Chess pies.  And although the recipe is easily halved, I knew that having one around the house (and one that was going to be given away) was going to be too much to bear.

She and Briton did the consuming part while talking movies and video games:







Sunday, March 9, 2014

(See Photo for Post Title)



What our reigning Knitters' Hunk is up to of late.  (Fourth picture down?  Great hands.  I'm a hand and forearms girl.)

Every time I wear a scarf, I look for different ways to tie it.  There are several good websites to look to, and this book just came to my attention.  Hooray!

Even with all the books around here, it's sometimes difficult to choose one to read.  This has some interesting ways one could go.

Made two batches of these yesterday.  They are really, really good.

My ineptitude with DPNs is fairly well-known.  Circulars I don't mind so much, unless the cable just won't straighten out.  Sometimes, even though the pattern calls for knitting in the round, I find myself hunting out the straights.

Looking for some photos to make you appreciate knitting even more?

Never really wanted to go to Mardi Gras, but this might not have been a bad year to be there.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

In Progress

Top in :

(Blue Sky Alpacas)
Middle in:

(Gnome Acres)
Bottom in:
(Mexican Wave #167)
Stripes in between in a deep maroon (Lorna's Laces.)

Also working on a wrap out of:
(Feza Nico)

and this out of:

What's on your needles?


48

If you've ever rented a movie on Amazon Prime, you know you have 48 hours in which to watch it.  (By the way, why do we "watch"...