Dish, Dat and de d’uther

There are many things I should and could be doing, but I’m blogging.  It’s been one of THOSE days.  It was a Monday of sorts, since I unexpectedly never made it to work yesterday.  I was supposed to have a dental appointment at noon, but when MJ wasn’t there at 11:15, I called to postpone, especially since Dae left for a site visit and we had an audit at 1pm.  Just too much happening on one day, but despite it all, MJ has suggested I try to get a hair appointment later this week.  (I need it.  Badly.)

Here’s my little sick boy.   Thanks for noting it; I am sure that being out in the leaves (blown on Saturday, not that you can tell it) isn’t a wise idea, nor is throwing the ball (he LOVES his glow in the dark balls), but obviously, you’re not familiar with Jack Russells.  They do what they want, when they want, or as Pop says, “He’s like Burger King.  He has to have it his way.”  Note the heavy “tear” staining; it’s on both sides.  Sure, some of it is indeed allergies, but there’s more.  That’s why I now get to keep a cough notebook.    No SNOLs.  I’m serious.  My kind father inlaw - Dae - has been counting coughs all day, and my blotter is filled with time, number of coughs, and what Mugsy was doing immediately prior to the event.  As soon as I blog, I need to find a notebook for said purpose.  If the broad-spectrum de-wormer doesn’t do the trick, I don’t know what comes next, short of the wee camera into his throat…

However, I do have a finished object, one I can actually share!  I’m stuck on this pattern. 

Details:

Pattern:  Doily Style Dishcloth #2

Needles:  2x #5 circs

Yarn:  Sugar ‘n Cream in Midnight Magic.  This one is much prettier in person. 

My next I need a break from the lace thing project is going to either be a cozy for my ice pack or a sweater for Mugsy.  I live an exciting life, eh?  I’m sure I’ll start whatever it is tonight, because in case you live under a rock, it’s House night!  That means I slip out of my meeting early (which is okay, because I’ll be there early to collect money for our endowment) so I can be at home for the opening seconds of House!

This is also your last chance to enter my contest.  I’ll be recapping the most excellent favored charities later this week too, so everyone can learn a bit and maybe find a new cause.  Also, I’ll share the thought we’re “pushing” tonight at our meeting; instead of buying a little something kind of gift (like a bottle of wine or whatever) for a friend, why not make a donation in her honor?  Tonight, it’ll be all about the endowment, but it’s always a great time to support a friend’s favorite cause!

All we need is just a little patience…

Anyone else groove to GNR? 

Patience.  It takes more than a little to do lace.  I knit.  I frog.  I count.  I frog.  I knit.  I count.  Not necessarily in that order, over and over again, and we’re all of about 50 rows into the lace that cannot be shown here, but is on Ravelry.  (Gee, that’s a hint, huh?  Not for a knitting friend…) 

So, I require a sanity project, which I can pick up and clickity clack through after the lace has tested my patience.  My new favorite easy-peasy is the Doily Cloth, and here’s the start of #2.  Since I can’t find 10 inch, #5 or #6 dpns, I’m trying it on two circs this time.

Also, here are a couple of shots of the gorgeous Alpaca Sox yarn Anne picked up for me on Wednesday.  Yum!!  Can’t wait to knit with it, and of course, it’ll be socks.  I’d not seen it in person before it became mine, but it’s so soft, so very soft.  I’m really looking forward to picking a pattern and creating socks with this yarn.  Thanks, Anne!

One last thing…  Amanda’s doing her part to boost the economy, and my personal spending.  Free shipping!  Go, go, GO to her Etsy store!

What I Did at Work

A quick thank you for all of the concern, good vibes and even the outrage headed our way.  I do trust the clinic where we’re headed tomorrow, and I’ll report in as soon as I can, but it will probably be mid-afternoon EST at the earliest. 

Before the bad news is better than not knowing trip, MJ and I had fun with the camera.  Hopefully, Dae (my father inlaw) will email me some photos she took with his camera, but in the meantime, I bring you today’s photo art, called “A Slow Day at the Office.”

First, we have little pixie feet showing off the MJ Birthday Jays.  She’s quite the proud knitted sock owner, in a gooblette sort of way.  She made a gal I grew up with admire them when the woman just wanted to drop off the fundraiser cookie dough and get on with her day.  She made a sales rep and his manager admire them, just because they had to sit and wait for their appointment with Dae.  (Y’all need a character list on the side, don’t you?  Maybe that can be my new trick for this week…)  It was cute, and very gratifying.

So, the details.

Pattern:  Jaywalkers

Needles: Size 0 dpns, in the not so fancy and annoyingly long Susan Bates version

Yarn:   Knitpicks Felici in Hummingbird.  Love that yarn.  Get you some, even if you can’t find a colorway you like.

Comments:  You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again.  This pattern and this yarn go together like peas and carrots, bread and butter, etc.  Just don’t use my wee needles; follow the pattern unless you’re knitting for pixie feet too.

This is the ONLY spot in two in socks where the self-striping failed me, and of course, it’s on the front of the foot, where everyone could see it, if MJ didn’t always wear long pants.  See that splash of pink on the left that doesn’t make it all the way across?  Pooo…

Then, there’s the ever so awesome pattern Devon made me aware of, which is the new love of my cotton life.  Meet Doily Style!  It’s shown on the ever-accommodating MJ’s back, because her tee was the perfect color…  (She’s such a good sport!)

Pattern:  Doily Style

Needles: Size 5 dpns.  (Yep, the pattern calls for 7s.)  I need 10-inch #5 or #6 dpns for this pattern.  Don’t care whether they’re metal or wood.  Know where I can find some?  (Don’t tell me to make my own.  I nearly cut off my thumb when I had to whittle for a Girl Scout badge.  I slice open a finger pretty regularly with knives too.)

Yarn:  Peaches & Creme Potpourri

It’s a Christmas present, finally!  And I’ll be whipping out more.  Evidently, I like not-square-ish cloths a lot better.

Then, for your non-knitting entertainment, how about this as a cute border in the vet’s exam room?  While Mugsy was X-rayed, I worked on this.

Abby’s Coat of Many Colors

Pattern:  The Beaded Rib from the FiberTrends Dandy Dog trio, in a size XS.

Needles:  #6 straights and #5 dpns (again, the pattern called for #7s & #8s, but I became loose somewhere this year)

Yarn: Plymouth’s Jelli Beenz.  Colorful and washable, wool blend, and not very nice to knit with.  Won’t buy more.  Happy to report there’s only a few feet of the stuff left over.

Like the model?  It’s a Saint Bernard named Rescue.  He’s much fatter than Abby, but at least I know this one will grow with her! 

Dishcloth Square Blocks

Meet Dishcloth Square Blocks. Or at least, that’s what I’m calling him. He’s #2 in what seems to be a weekly series of dishcloth patterns, being designed by Anne. He’s done in Lion Cotton Red, with #7 straight needles, in my very Continental method. You can find the pattern here, but be sure to note the contest rules for both cloths.

And don’t worry. He’s not going to live on the tree. The Knight has already claimed him as his own, and I suspect that before the sun sets, DSB will have been called into action.

I was impressed with the Lion Cotton. It was soft! I’ll have to see if I can’t find some more, since I don’t recall where I picked up this ball, but I do remember that it was the only color they offered…

Now, what next?? You’re not going to get to see Amanda’s socks while she’s on vacation. That just doesn’t feel right. If she was here to taunt - er, make that see them herself - that might be different, but since she’s out in the middle of the ocean enjoying some alone time with her beloved, I think the socks will just quietly head north on Monday, and you can pop over to her blog for a shot of the finished pair. I *NEED* to start on my Sock it to Me pal’s socks, but her yarn won’t be here until next week. I am going to send my pal a little package next week too, but the socks obviously won’t be included. I guess that forces me to figure out what I’m going to knit for my tea swap pal, huh?

Anne’s First Pattern

Anne has designed her first pattern, and she’s having a contest! Here’s my cloth, or rather, the cloth I knitted from the pattern. The Knight has already claimed it as his own, quite pleased that Anne made it large enough for a man-sized washcloth. I don’t know what the colorway is, but the remainder of the Sugar & Cream ball will be used to make baby booties! If you want the pattern and/or you want to enter the contest, head over and get the pattern, and then post a photo of your finished cloth. There are other instructions, but you’ll see ‘em on Anne’s blog. It was a quick, fun pattern!

The details: Yarn - Sugar ‘n Cream. Needles - #7 straights. Method: Continental, all the way.

Also, does a single finished sock constitute a finished object? I’m just curious, because technically, the socks are a pair… At any rate, the first of Amanda’s socks is complete. It’s a cute little pattern, and it also knits up very quickly. I’m so glad she offered to take in the little fella’, saving it from an uncertain future.

My first efforts at two socks on two circs died before the first round was complete. I’m just not coordinated enough for that challenge right now. I’m casting on with Tofutsies for the Summer Daze toe-up pattern, just because it is a little different. The fun, quick little pinky will be my travel project next week, and if it is anything like my trip to Chicago, I’ll have it done before I get home. This time, I fly out of my local airport with a friend, but I fly home alone, so delays will mean I have no one to talk to and plenty of time to knit.

Back to socks now!

Red and Read

It’s really a true red, but that’s indoor photography for you. The boys - Mugsy, Fred and the Knitter’s Knight - are all sound asleep, so it doesn’t seem right to go out to snap a picture for my blog. (Mugsy would pop up and follow me, which would cause Fred to cry, which would wake KK, which would make us all grumpy!) Sorry. I can tell you that I’ve found a cotton albeit blend to be gushy about, and Cascade Cotton Rich is it. It’s about triple the price of a similar quantity of whatever and cream brands, but it’s also triple the pleasure to knit with. All those patterns I’ve seen for clothing made of “dishcloth cotton”? I’d make ‘em with this stuff. My pal will have to let us know how it washes and holds up, but it’s pure knitter’s joy on the needles.

Obviously, it’s for my KVVS pal. I’m happy to announce that my pal’s package, along with my Dog Days package, which should still make its way on time, will ship out on Monday. I have to give a shout-out to Willis (the owner) and the gals at the Charlottesville branch of The Virginia Store for the big assist in shopping for my VVS pal and more. (I’ve purchase my first Christmas gift!) You know I love good service, and that store never fails me. I hope my pal likes her virtual vacation too. (Hint - note that I did NOT venture to Monticello’s gift shop for museum type gifts.) The lady waiting on me was very curious about knitting and swaps, so maybe next time I go in, she’ll be knitting!

The same sales lady recommended the Debbie Macomber books. Sadly, my lame-0 Barnes and Noble doesn’t carry them in stock, so that helped me just spend my gift card and NOT renew my membership thingee there, which I never really earn back, because of Amazon and Borders. So, I’ll be leaving here and going to trusty Amazon and my prime shipping, and I’ll have the book for less, probably before I’m ready to read it anyway. Now, please scoot on over to Debbie’s site. There’s a free pattern, which will change on August 18th, and Mary, this one is for crocheters! She has a blog too, which lacks photos, but does mention a new knitter in the family.

I’m more of a non-fiction type of girl, but I do enjoy a good what my family calls a “beach” read, so if you’ve read the Knitting Series, let me know what you think, but no spoilers, okay? There’s also content on the site I linked above for Debbie’s new inspirational book, which I did buy at B&N, along with another sock book, Vogue Knitting Socks Two. I love those little books, although I’ve yet to actually knit anything from one. Sigh. So many books, yarns and patterns, and so little time!

I also hit It’s a Stitch for some personal and swap stuff. Sigh. The lady I like best wasn’t working. I want to love that store and say great things about it, but instead, I’ll tell you that I very nearly paid for two Addi circs. I already own, because the sales lady wasn’t listening. She sold me 2 - US #1/2.5mm circs., when I very clearly explained that I have those and NEED the 2.25mm size for my socks. BIG SIGH. She says Addi doesn’t make them, but I bet they do. However, since I’m having trouble finding them, good ol’ Knitpicks (books in stock, 40% off through August 17th) will get my order, because I *KNOW* they have the 2.25 mm size, and their website always seems to “listen.”

THEN, the same lady insisted she’d never heard of a sock pattern calling for two different sized needles. Now, I know I’m no expert, but I’m positive I’ve seen other patterns that do indeed call for different sized needles for the same sock! Hello? Am I wrong? Then, she told me to just knit the whole thing on the #2s called for in the bulk of the pattern… And what does one do when the said professional tries to tell her she’s wrong? I can tell you what I do. I decide that if I can’t make a mini road trip to Carodan or Limerick Fibers (no website yet, but oh, I hope it will be up in time for Christmas!), I’ll just order online. I hate that, I really do, because as part of a local small business, I *WANT* to shop locally and support small businesses, but geeze folks, can you meet me half way and provide a modicum of customer service?!

Whew. I think some tea and stick therapy is in order. Why is it so hard to run a decent yarn shop?

Still Green

Friends, I think I’m in a rut. It’s a lovely cloth in a cotton-linen blend, but it’s a sage green. Green. It’s all I seem to be able to reach for these days, but that will change. It must! I’m going to knit a little something for my KVVS pal, so unless she’s really into green, there will be a different colored finished object soon enough. I love this pattern. It’s in a booklet the awesome Anne gave me, and it’s called “Soft Texture.” Indeed. I think Mark wants it for his own, but no dice. I also must announce that I care not the least to knit with linen or linen blends. Ick, yuck, and almost yuck yarn worthy. Scratchy. I will do a linen face cloth for Mark (and let’s all hope he doesn’t adore it and want more), and mostly likely, he’ll get a twin to this one too, just because I’ve got the yarn, and it’s good to keep the Knitter’s Knight happy.

I did find the link for the Petal Dishcloth (pictured a couple of posts before this). In a true gooblette moment, when I unfolded the page, which was merely folded in half, there was the link, across the bottom of the page. Imagine…

I also shoved the Sockza socks on blockers. Follow the link to note that you’ve knitted your socks, sent your socks (tomorrow, for me!) and again when you receive your socks. Maybe all of y’all knew to do that, but I needed my dear Devon to point that out, so I’m returning the favor. I really do love that pattern, but there are so many others I want to do that it will probably be a while before I knit the same pattern twice again. I’m pretty sure the June Tofutsies Sock Club is next for the needles, and yes folks, that will be a return to the two circs. method. I like dpns a lot, but they wore out their welcome (snapping, poking in the palm, etc.) with that last effort. The yoga socks in Wick remain on the needles in a fancy Ziploc bag, but when Mugsy isn’t sleeping on said bag, I am picking them up once in a while, because I love the Wick.

Thanks for all the Fred good wishes. He’s better, but not much, so I’ll call Dr. Nancy in the morning, and either tomorrow or Tuesday, the big boy will go see her. It’s heartbreaking, but I still have hope…

There’s still time to sign up for the tea swap. We’re rounding up some nice prizes, and the first contest isn’t far off, so don’t wait until the last minute to sign up or to post your questionnaire!

Green Goodness

The knitterly goodness coming my way is remarkable. I truly have been richly blessed by the friends I’ve made in our online knitting/crocheting community. This treasure is now mine, merely because I openly coveted it when Mary posted it on her blog as a finished object! Not only did the bag arrive, but wrapped inside it was Knitting for Peace (thanks, Amazon, for the link). I have picked that book up a few times, and now can’t wait to get started on a hat for Amy’s charity project for her hometown. Right now, hats are my favorite charity project, and Amy’s Warm Up Winchester is definitely my go-to giving spot right now. (Note: I have yet to get a hat done, but I am going to correct that in the next few days! Will you do the same?) Many, MANY thanks, dear Mary, for the perfect gifts. I’m taking the bag along next time I go shopping, to leave a few of those plastic thingees I recycle behind.

Next, I’m going to break from my usual habits and post my Sockza socks. They’re done, and they certainly count for the Summer of Socks, as one was knitted entirely on vacation! The photo could be better, but it’s threatening to storm, so you get the idea. I hope my sweet pal will like them! They were done in the Knit Socks! pattern featured earlier in the blog, but this time, I used fingering weight yarn, Misty Mountain Farm’s Blue Ridge Yarn Jubilee. The colorway is called Evergreen, but I am excited about this yarn because the farm is in an area near and dear to my heart. It’s also a soft, yummy yarn, and a dream to knit up! (I hope they fit…) Of course, if you’ve been reading my blog, you probably know the yarn is available at The Loopy Ewe.

Last, but not least, I present my first non-square dishcloth. It was done in the Bernat Handicrafter Shades of Green my first swap spoiler sent me. I have found THE pattern for my variegated yarns. It was fun, quick and easy, and I wish I could remember where I found it. (In a link on one of your blogs, I’m sure.) At any rate, thanks whomever, because I adore this pattern! The yarn? Eh, not so much. It was less splitty than the Sugar ‘n Cream I usually use, but it somehow felt bulkier while knitting. Less flexible, perhaps? But, I wanted to try it, and now, I have, so there’s that to cross of the list. Mark should be happy; only a few yards remain, so it was a stash buster too!

Healing Drool

Fred here. I’m the beautiful basset hound she mentions once in a while. Before the Harry Potter forum, which was before the knitting obsession, she had the basset hound forum. When one of the other bassets or their people had a problem, we sent healing drool. So, that’s what our house is sending to Michelle, Chewy and their household - boxes and all. Please stop in and offer them support, prayers, good karma, hugs, kisses, or whatever nice thing you are into.

While I’m at it, Mommy failed to make a deadline for her little 100th contest. So, let’s say you have until midnight EDT on July 1 to leave a comment, okay? Then, she can pick a winner on Monday, and I bet she won’t let me drool on the prize.

And Auntie Anne? Thanks for naming the dishcloth swap after us. Ahroooo!!

Good Karma

Fate? Whatever you choose to call it, today was a good day. But first, a finished object from Friday. It’s the camper cloth, the last of my mother inlaw’s Mother’s Day gifts. Well, that and the Crocs clogs that I was shocked she wanted, but she is fun-lovin’ woman! Having that behind me left me free to cast on for Sock #1’s mate. It’s moving along, especially considering today was much longer than anticipated, so I had much less time to knit.

Did anyone notice that I learned how to doctor my photos? That’s a rather accurate color, but it didn’t start out that way. Look at the cute little pattern. Wee! This blogging to inspire techno-learning is working.

However, my knitting disorder continues. Hubby had to be out and about by 7am, and I found myself killing time after Fred awakened me around 5am for a quick trip outside. I finally settled on a pattern for my pal in the Spring Felted Bag Exchange (no, I’m not tellin’!), so the next step was the yarn. I remembered Anne telling me about a sale at Webs, so before my dear, sleep-groggy husband was down the drive, I was ordering. Soon enough, I stopped by It’s a Stitch to pick up SOME of the special order yarn for Mark’s afghan, and wouldn’t you know it?! Some sock yarn hopped up on the counter and I accidentally purchased it. (YOU believe me, don’t you? My husband sure didn’t. He pointed out that this yarn thing is getting out of hand. Whatever. The largest allocation in my stash is for his personally demanded project. That makes it all okay.)

While checking out, the debate began. I explained that my first sock was Magic Looped and that I was going to try dpns next. I love yarn shops. A woman I’d never seen before appeared at my elbow and assured me that dpns are much easier. The lady behind the counter insisted that two circular needles is the only way to go, and asked me to please stop in sometime and have Ann (??) the resident sock expert, show me how to do THAT method. The lady at my elbow shook her head emphatically, and told me that if I wasn’t fond of Magic Loop, there was no need. The lady making the sale held her position, and pointed to the Addi Turbos behind her, and insisted that I must invest in them and give the two circular needled method a try. I smiled, and noted how nice it was to be leaving the shop with much more yarn than the debit card had just paid for, as all the special order yarn had been paid for up front. As I signed the receipt and slipped away, the debate continued at the register…

Knitters are passionate people. And that’s a good thing.

As for karma, well, the package I shipped to Anne about ten days ago, Priority Mail, FINALLY found its way to her today. Turns out, despite the frustration it caused when I finally confessed that she should have received a little surprise something from me, the timing was perfect. (Must have been the Tai Chi DVD enclosed, although dark chocolate is medicinal, right?) My day was much longer than expected, and I ended up listening to the Derby on my trusty XM radio, but I met four delightful ladies, ate some good food, and what else really matters? I even got to the pharmacy one minute - literally! - before closing, to be waited upon by the best pharmacy assistant in the world. Life is good.

Ask me what I’m going to do tomorrow, if I don’t meet friends at Graves Mountain Lodge for lunch. Mugsy and I are going to hit the other LYS, and another, about 30 minutes away from town. My sock may or may not get finished this weekend, but I’m lining up yarn for many more socks to come.