Viola!

Hey Robin,
In the immortal words of the most-esteemed being in our house (that would be Wall*E):

TA-DA!

Later

Shiny!

Hey Robin,
Lots to share. I am still in the midst of trying to finish my laceweight long jump event for the Ravelympics and am 6 of a possible 8 repeats in. I am convinced I cannot finish in time and yet part of me is still thinking "It would be SO cool if I could finish in time!" However if the event requires me to be blocked before the closing ceremonies I am scrood. Ah well, I will stay up far-too-late-tonight and try to finish anyway! :) Besides the idea of getting one of these:

with the word "lace" on it is just so much something-that-I-want. That's a badge I will have felt like I EARNED!

Oh and I don't have a picture of the lace in-progress because I feel like if I pick it up I should be knitting it and not picture taking. Oh the anxiety!

I did manage to finish another item that it looks like I haven't posted about. OK so it's half really. A sock from a pair. But this is the saga-sock... the one that is taking me an inexplicable number of redos to finish but now that I have one whole sock all done it feels good. Great even. I will share the pattern when I am all-done with sock-the-second. Here's a pic to entice though:

Got another FO for you with a BONUS! A FREE PATTERN TO SHARE!! Woohoo!! Been a while since the last one eh? The pattern is:

The Shiny iPod Sock
(called such because it's "Shiny" (as in Firefly), the yarn is "Shine Sport" and it's to keep my iPod shiny... triple threat!)

Materials: Knit Picks Shine Sport (I used the leapfrog colorway) one ball is enough to make two and maybe three of these; size 3 (3.25mm) double-pointed kneedles; tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Gauge: 5.5 sts/inch 7 rows/ inch in stockinette

Notions: one 5/8” button

Using Judy’s Magic cast on from knitty.com:

Cast on enough to make 36 stitches (18 sts on each of two kneedles to start, then on first row you will spread that out to 9 on eachkneedle).

Start working stockinette and split each ‘side’ onto two dpns so that you have more flexibility, remember when you knit your first stitches on starter kneedle #2 to knit through the back loop because those stitches are twisted.

Keep in mind that you will want to knit the first stitch on each kneedle a little tighter so that you don’t get “ladders”.

The first few rows of stockinette will be a bit fiddly and difficult to maneuver, but by the 4^th
round or so things start to relax a bit and life gets easier.

(Look Ma! No seams!)

Continue in stockinette until the pouch measures about 3” to 3.25” then switch to seed stitch and continue for 8 or more rows (this is a good time to put the ipod in the sock and test out the length).

Bind off all the stitches on one side of the sock so that you are working back and forth on the other side, this is the flap.

For Flap:

Work seed stitch back and forth on 18 sts for 3 or so rows, end with a WS row.

Next row: Work a decrease row (ssk, seed stitch to last two stitches, k2tog) (16 sts)

Next row: seed stitch across

Next row: Decrease row (14 sts)

Next row: seed stitch across

Next row: Decrease row (12 sts)

Next row: k5, bo 2, k5 (10 sts)

Next row: ssk, seed stitch 3 sts, co 2 sts, seed stitch 3 sts, k2tog (10 sts)

Next row: seed stitch across

Next row: work one more decrease row (8 sts).

Bind off. (I used the “invisible Bind-off for Single-rib” found on page 46 of the Fall ’08 Interweave Knits)

Weave in your ends, sew on your button, insert iPod and Enjoy your tunes scratch-free!

(add one favorite-button and viola!)

I haven't had a test-knit of course so if "anybody" finds an issue I would love to hear about it so that I can fix the pattern here.

I am SO proud mof myself for this one! Used a whole-new cast on (which I am in love with and must use for my next toe-up sock), custom-fit the "garment" (can you tell i've been watching Project Runway?) and made it the way I wanted! No seams!! Wahoo! And this yarn is my new favoritest cotton ever... so soft. I want a sweater out of it!

Another note: this pattern is for fitting the classic, 3rd Gen and 5th Gen (video?) iPods. I would LOVE a chance to make one for an iPhone too! hint-hint! ;)

Later

Pheelin' like Phelps

Hey Robin!
Things have been massively busy 'round here as we burn-through the last of the dog days of summer. We've had to run the a/c THREE WHOLE DAYS!! What's becoming of the world's weather patterns?! Seriously...

We've had a few coming-up-to-Kindergarden playdate type things in local parks and it's been nice to see how Little Guy socializes with the other new kids (that would be "not much at all") and the other Moms seem like pretty nice people so this should be an interesting year... adding to that the fact that I had to put my size-8.5 foot in my mouth and volunteer with the PTSA to organize the event photos for the year! Wow... what on EARTH was I thinking?? I must have been martini'd when I wrote that email.... never volunteer alone...

I've got some FO's to show off! I have completed two of my three events for the Ravelympics and I'm feelin' GOOD (or I was until I saw that there are people doing knitting Decathlons... people... don't you SLEEP? Do you get up to PEE??) I just have the Laceweight Long Jump project left and I am feeling the pressure. This is a project that can only be done after L.G. is in bed and I just can't keep my eyes open late at night lately! It's a gorgeous lace though, I am seriously looking forward to the finish-line on this one...

Here's the finished Hat Dash items:
#1: Star Crossed Slouchy Beret by Natalie Larson I love this beret. I chose to make it from a colorway of Malabrigo Worsted called: "Paris Nights". Perfect eh? Paris? Beret?

It really makes for a lovely/smooshy beret. My BFF already wants one :) Sorry there's no pick of it on me, my pictures suck lately as you will see...

#2: Bucket Hat by Bonnie Marie Burns. I actually PAID for a hat pattern in order to make this. I KNOW!! That's a rarity for me... Anyway, I wanted a good cotton-type hat to use my Malabrigo Organic Cotton with (Lima colorway, which I am loving). And this one won the coin toss. It's a FAST knit so I almost felt like I was cheating my Ravelympic co-athletes but what the hey. Live and learn!

When I get the energy I am going to wet-block this one. The brim is puckering and I don't like that. I cast on as loose as I could manage... perhaps it wasn't loose enough? Or perhaps I just need to get to work on blocking it. Over all, the cotton makes a nice fabric and I am happy with the pattern! I think it could seriously be dressed up with different yarns and embellisments etc. Could make some fun gifts!

The laceweight is farther along than this picture shows, but I like the fabric so I wanna show it off a little:

OK so it doesn't look as great in the photo as it does in person so you will have to take my word for it. It's pretty. This is Malabrigo Lace in the Mariposa colorway. I am using the Serpentine scarf pattern by Keiran Foley. It's just a 50-row repeat and each 50 rows is about 5 inches of length. Give or take. I am almost done with 2 repeats. It's slow going folks, let me tell ya...

This is definitely a project that will improve with the blocking.

Oh, and how jealous are you of me? I just got a new gardening-crew. They are totally organic and work for FREE!! What are the chances of finding these guys to help me out with the grass??

Anyhoo! That's what I have going on, give or take the chores and the fussing-at-the-5-year-old! I hope all is well in The Swampy MidWest!!

Later...

How lucky am I?

Hey Robin,
A while back I had the fun job of creating a little logo for the Ravelympics 2008 'event' on Ravelry. It was a blast but I have to admit that if I thought the Ravelympics were going to be this big (over 10,000 projects listed as Ravelympics Projects!!) I would have tried harder to make something a little more professional. Woops.

But hey! It still looks alright!

Ok the point I am getting to is this: people are getting into it. I mean REALLY getting into it. I have "met" a sweetheart on Rav (MekaMika?) now who has an Etsy store. She will take whatever image you send to her and make a set of stitch markers. Brilliant! Go check out her shop, it's a great idea.

She asked if she could use my Ravelympics image to make some markers to sell people. I said, "OF COURSE!" Like I could say 'no'. Well, she sent me samples! Three sets; one each of all three sizes. As I am fond of saying: How COOL is that?? I feel like I am all set for my Ravelympic Events now!

Hat Dash and Laceweight Long Jump here I come!

Got it! Part Deux!

Hey Robin!
At long last I have gotten the "spoils" of my other swap!

This was the "Going Green" swap where required items were: A hand-made market bag; an item of the fair-trade persuasion; an organic or non-toxic type cleaning product. Go here to see the bag and washcloth I made my swappee.

My gracious and wonderful swapper lives in Canada and she and I have had a ball writing back and forth to each other (this was not a secret swap). She did this swap while she was in the midst of fixing up AND moving into her NEW HOME!! Amazing. I couldn't have done it and she did a wonderful job! Lookey!

The box before I ripped everything out of it and made a cloud of tissue-paper-pieces

All the items out-of-box. You can see the thoughtful note she wrote out to me. And the other unwrapped items are some method wipes, a LOVELY smelling candle (that has cashmere in it?! woah!), a bag of "gummy pandas" (seriously Kimmer, they are ALMOST gone!), a stack of "K" post-its and a washcloth she knitted for me!!

But wait there's more!

..."The Hell you say!"

...I do not lie!

Shall we move on?

Alright then:

Here you can see a close-up of the market bag she knitted for me! It's so lovely and it looks VERY strong! I will use it often! Plus the neatest-pooling washcloth. How did she figure out how to do that?? There's the wipes and above a pound of some great smelling fair-trade coffee. Can't wait to try it!

Here you can see the nice candle (in the tin) it really smells so pretty! The "K" post its (fun!) and a box of her favorite cookies (they aren't crumbs Kim! I can't wait to try them but right now I am o.d.-ing on Gummy Pandas!) and 5 balls of Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy in "sunshiney colors" because she heard it rains a lot in Seattle and thought I would like some sunshine in my world. HOW SWEET IS THAT?! It's supposed to be enough to make a sunshine market bag. I'm totally going to do that. Can't wait to get started...

Thanks Kim! You made such a lovely package and I am so happy!
I hope that you are getting all that furniture up those tight stairs and getting settled! :D

Later!

Tidbits from Ada: Part 2

Hey Kate,



There are boarded up homes and businesses everywhere. Emme found a tree swing.

Later!

Robin

Tidbits from Ada: Part 1

Hey Kate,

I don't really have time to do much of anything here, so I'll just have to send little tidbits. We're staying in Ada, Minnesota with my Mom.

This place is interestingly named because there is no valley to view. Flat flat flat.

Emme found a bee.

More (hopefully) tomorrow!

Robin

The Eagle has Landed!!

Hey Robin!
I whined and complained and moaned about waiting for my MYB (Magic Yarn Ball) and I feel like a toad because it CAME!! It's wonderful and I feel so spoiled (again... the Malabrigo Junkies are the bestest). Here is my Photo Journal on the unveiling of the package:

The box-o-goodies, just opened; The MYB still wrapped! Oh the anticipation!


All the "stuff" in the box! And this is BEFORE I unwrap the ball (which is btw Spunky Eclectic 100% Alpaca sportweight in colors that are PERFECT for me!)

In front is an adorable needle-felted otter (my favorite animal!) and a copy of the pattern for Green Gables, can't WAIT to start that one! There's two, count 'em TWO hanks of Malabrigo worsted in the Loro Baranquero colorway. Very hot. Very.... enticing. Mmmmm....

In the edibles department, there's a bag of Ghirardelli's dark chocolate collection, Little Guy LOVED the raspberry stuffed one and I noshed a caramel stuffed one while unpacking (how could I not? The bag was right on top of the box!) and BRACH'S NOUGATS!!!! I swear, my swapper, "Kimothy Jones", is ON TOP OF THINGS! She rocks!

The MYB itself was choc-full-o-things that she knew I would lurve:
<--The Haul, the large items: a BROWNCOAT t-shirt! OMG!!! You have no idea (or maybe you do!) of how much I have wanted one of these but decided not to spend the money! The back says "I aim to misbehave" one of the best lines in the whole show (That would be Firefly, if anyone out there hasn't seen it, you are missing out). A Serenity button-magnet too. I heart it, it's already on the fridge at my eye-line. A PIRATE MUG!! It matches exactly the t-shirt I bought Hub a couple of years ago that he wears rather often, but I get to put my coffee in it. How lucky am I?? Oh and ANOTHER ball of 100% Alpaca from Drops. In a gorgeous blue color that I neglected to get the name of. Nice.
Two packets of Soak, I look forward to trying. Some stitch markers in rainbow colors that I had favorited on Etsy (so cool, they're like chain maille). LOVE THEM!! OMG She was too generous!!
A mini-sock (squee!), awesome buttons, a set of tapestry needles (I really must find out what the three sizes mean) and T-pins!! How did she know I totally needed to get more?!
And this little moment of zen. I've been cradling this little guy around the house ever since he was unwrapped. He's adorable and I love him. He has been introduced to my Otter backpack-purse that I bought at the local aquarium. They are buds now. Totally tight.

Kimmer, you rock. You stalked me well and did a great job. Thank you from the bottom of my Malabrigo-linted-heart. You are awesome.

Later!

"T" bag anyone?

Hey Robin,
It's been a long time since I mentioned the possibility of a "t" bag (lol! Get it? I slay me...) and with the recent era of cooperation between myself and the sewing maching I have finally managed it!

At long last I give you: The "T" Bag!! *commence trumpet sounds and crowd noise!*

I know... after all that set-up the pictures are a huge let-down. Do you have any idea how hard it is to take a picture of a bag with just one person? I will try again later when The Little Guy is feeling like helping Mommy.

It's reversible! I thought the double-thickness would make it a bit sturdier (duh!). I assumed that the arm-holes were plenty large enough (because at one time they were, after all, for arms) so I merely shortened the sleeve to make it easier to carry, next time I might contemplate making them even narrower. I opened up the neck-line a lot to make it easier to stuff things inside, but again I may go larger next time. I have to use (see: "test") this one a few times and find out what alterations are necessary.

I can guarantee that if I can make this, YOU can also make this. I am the world's most-pitiful seamstress and seriously if I can figure it out.... well you get it.

If anyone wants a tutorial, then I will work on a picture tutorial after this weekend (family is coming to town and I felt like I should maybe clear-off the dining table).

This bag is going to join my pantheon of already-often used bags in an attempt to reduce the number I shall need to take from various shops. I like that both the inside and outside shirts in this test-run are for the Xbox 360 in one way or another. I also have a Pirate shirt that Hub is too-chicken to actually wear... can't wait to make that one into a bag!!

"T" Bags FTW!!!

Later...

A new bag in town

Hey Robin!
How's the vacay? I have to thank you again for the Ropa Vieja recipe. It's sooooo good and I have to admit lately that meals that spend all-day getting to where they are... are my absolute favorites. Tuesday I made my Mom's Etouffe! THANKS MOM! That was awesome too. I never knew how much butter went into that dish. Eegads, but then again, no wonder. Y'know?

Did I show you the finished blue-felted bag that I recently made? I think I was keeping you appraised of the progress, but since I felted it (mostly successfully) I haven't said much. TADA! It's DONE!

Yesterday dragged out the sewing machine, bits of fabric, magnet clasps and handles (bought specially for this) and sat down to see what I could make!

You know that I am no seamstress, and indeed my machine and I are rarely on speaking terms. But this time we cooperated and managed to kludge-together something that I am actually rather happy with! It's rare for me to find that in a sewing-scenario! I really wanted this to be lined, in order to be more useful, and also to add a pocket or two. A lining would also serve to hide whatever method I choked-out for attaching the handles to the entire structure...

That as a tricky-bit let me tell you. We can't all be Grumperina!

At any rate, some bits of my fave fabric scraps, some grosgrain ribbon that I've had since the early 90's and the aforementioned handles and clasps and VIOLA!

It's that odd-mixture of all my favorite bits and pieces and obviously they don't go-together for just ANYBODY. I have a feeling this is going to be another one of those projects that only-I will love...

Next: I guess I should update my 'on the kneedles' bit and also maybe think about a couple of future projects YAY!

Also: the shawl for the beloved Aunt was well-received. Brought a little tear to my eye, that one.

Later!

Miss ya already!

Hey Robin!

I know I JUST dropped you off at the train station, but I miss our conversations already! Little Guy was sad that Emme had to go, but he was maybe just a little glad to have his personal space back. And yet it's easy to believe that he enjoyed himself thoroughly. Look at this face:

I love this picture...

We hope you and Emme can come again sometime... oh and the mochi is almost all gone by the way. Tell Emme "Kake says hi!"

On to the FOs!!
I finished my first-ever lace triangle shawl. It's the supremely easy-though-it-doesn't-show Shetland Triangle from Wrap Style. I swear this pattern is easier than it looks. The lace-repeat in the body is just 10 rows, half of which are just a purl row with 2 knits on each end, and 90% of the RS rows are the same stitch repeat in every row. So you have to consult the chart, what, once every four rows? It's just so easy to memorize. I love it. I can't wait to try another Evelyn Clark shawl. Yippee!

This one is going to my Aunt Carole whom I love dearly. She has put up with so much from me (bs mostly) and still loves me even though we aren't blood-relation. That somehow makes it more-special, and the fact that she is married to one of the most special people I know just makes it better. She's wonderful and I can't wait for her to have it.

If this shot gives you a little vertigo, that's because it's upside-down. Just sayin'

Happy Birthday Carole!!

Lastly, there was a request for more 'body pictures' of the Rogue. Thanks to Robin I was able to get some relatively-stable images in a pretty good light. I hope they satisfy some of the needs, though I am a little bummed that I didn't think to get a better side-shot, though I think the mirror pictures from before show that part pretty well already:

I really love this sweater.

Hope your train trip was uneventful!
Later ;)

The Monday before our departure

Hey Kate!

Things are hectic around here while we prepare for Emme's and my Big Train Adventure and I'm so excited we'll be seeing you so soon! In the meantime, here's some randomness:

• What to do while waiting for Diablo 3
• Is Lando looking for love?
• Click on "Why is the world so screwed up?" on Matt's page.
• This game looks fun and makes this comic hysterical.
• I think I need this. I think I need this now.
• I didn't realize how important 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night (no more, no less) is.
• Ah, the things we learn from scientific research.
• Dude, I had no idea.

I suppose I should add a little knitting content, too:

• I want the bag at the bottom.
• The outcome of the dyelot disappointment ended up being lovely, though I would still be pretty unhappy about the color difference.

Unfortunately, for Thor, no place is safe from the camera...


or from the Two-year-old:


See you Thursday!

Robin