Quinched thirst March 29, 2007

Here it is. The humble beginnings of my Central Park Hoodie from KnitScene. A few false starts (dontcha hate that!), but I’m now a little over 2″ into the ribbing. I’m knitting the fronts and back together. The yarn is the now discontinued Rowan Yorkshire Tweed in the color DarkSide. This picture was the best I could do with dying camera batteries. It is actually more black in real life. I am loving it! More about where I got the yarn later this week, but right now I must pick up my Dude #1 from school!!

I’m back…again? March 28, 2007

Well I didn’t leave the state this time. I just left the blog for a bit I guess. I’m not gonna apologize or give excuses. I’m a big believer in choices. I believe it’s empowering to know you have them. You always have choices. When I worked in a domestic & sexual abuse crisis center that is what we told clients. We never told them what to do; we only made them aware of their choices. I try to let my kids have as many “choices” as possible, letting them practice “choosing” in the safety of my eye and their home. When I’m unhappy or dissatisfied with something I ask my self, what are my choices and what can I change? As a Mom when I feel stuck and overwhelmed, I remind myself I’m choosing to do what I do, and I then can take pride in my choices. All this to say…I’ve made lots of choices over the last few days… and none of which included blogging.

I did however choose to:

Finish these

And these.

Then I chose to make a purchase. A yarn purchase. It’s for a project that has sent me scouring for the right yarn over the last few months. In fact while searching for the right yarn, I of course came across many other yarns and my stash has grown extensively. Then I found it. The perfect color, fiber, gauge, and price! Then while I waited for my order to arrive, because this project is now at the head of the wait list (Sorry boys!), I wanted a small project that would be done by its arrival. While digging through the stash I was also thinking of what I could do away with. I came across some Sugars and Cream and thought it should definitely go. I had a run in with some other cotton last year that left me with a in a wrist bandage. I’ve been scared of a lot of cottons since. Not all, Cotton Fleece and Cotton Ease are luckily safe! But the stringiness of Sugars and Cream had me cringing. But I also thought how nice it would be if this little cotton stash was knitted into some of those cute little Mason Dixon Warshrags and then sent to Grandma J back in Texas. So I thought I’d be brave and just try.

Turns out it may not have been the cotton, but the combo of the cotton and the needles I was using. (some Susan Bates for the curious). These little things are quite addictive. It’s mindless knitting for sure and it’s almost instant gratification how quick they work up! Well my yarn arrived on Saturday, but we had quite the busy weekend with a baby shower and a bday party so I decided to wait to start. I decided that warshrags were much more portable so I just kept going. Then Monday came and went…still knitting warshrags.

Then Tuesday night I finally hit my end. I ran out of yarn.

I still plan on knitting more of these, this time for me in more ME colors. But for now I’m out cotton and looking forward to my next project. Stay tuned for more…

3 of a kind March 14, 2007

So all the love that I feel when I wrap myself up in Gma A’s blankets has had me thinking a lot about knitting for the people I love. And with that I present some FOs for people I love.

It is the same in essence as the brother in law’s hat; but with a different stitch count, motif, and yarn. So it felt different enough to not bore me…too much.

It was soo much fun to knit for my little guy! He’s the one who wants everything I knit, not ever caring what it is, how big or how wrong the colors are. His favorite part was trying on, and giving me direction. We did many try-ons just for fun. Now I know a 3 yo is normally excited about socks, but he was soo happy. And really I don’t think it had anything to do with the socks. It’s funny how a child can get it. A lot of adults you run into today just don’t. They think handmade means cheap and crappy. This little guy knows that hand made means made with lots of love. He knows that while Mamma is knitting, she’s thinking of him. He knows that I’m taking my time to make something just for him. It’s a completely tangible evidence of love. He gets it, and he already wants to know when it’s his “turn” again!

The Dude would not budge on the yarn choice. I kept asking, like I forgot, “come and pick out some yarn sweetie” or “what yarn do you want?”, but I kept getting the adamant “I already told you, I want the rainbow yarn.” even after it had been deeply hidden, he didn’t…couldn’t… wouldn’t forget. But a ray of sunshine poked through and I found this pattern at Ana Paula’s etsy shop. I asked Dude and he said very quickly, “Yeah Mamma, an Octopus”. So I guess he really just wanted an Octopus, not that Octopus. Had I known I would have tried this many months ago. And I just kept telling myself “look at the pretty colors” instead of focusing on the plasticky yuckiness of the yarn. But whateva, it’s done and he’s happy. I do say this every time I’ve made a toy/stuffie, but it is sooo much fun! I love watching all those little pieces come together (even if that means I have to sew them together). I love embroidering the face (even though I have no idea what I’m doing) and I love watching the kids play with them and having them come to life. I feel like Geppetto . I have a small collection of knitted and crocheted toy books and patterns, including the many I just bought from Ana Paula, and a secret desire to own them all. I could almost do this kind of making full time…almost. I know the kids would love it! And I do definitely have to recommend Ana Paula’s patterns, she is very fast at emailing the patterns and they are very well written, so seriously go look – so.cute. I only made one teeny tiny mod, I used this start method rather then the first two rows on the body and the legs. I really like the magic adjustable ring method and do also recommend it. (It does seem, from my track record, that putting magic in the title makes me a believer. Magic loop, Judy’s Magic cast on, and now The Magic Adjustable Ring. Gullible me)

And speaking of Etsy love….I also picked up some soap from the Knitting Philistine’s shop. WOW! As soon as I read her blurb about the grapefruit soap I had clicked the buy button before I could even stop myself. Then I thought, what did I just do? I’ve got soap, I don’t need soap. But then it arrived. Again, WOW! The aroma was exactly what I was dreaming of, and I instantly wished I had bought more. Well luckily Megan has such phenomenal customer service skills that she can actually read my mind. Okay it was more of an accidental duplicate shipment…or was it…I kinda like the idea of normal people with super powers.

So anywho, I’ve got 3 satisfied customers. HaHaHa! Umm, yeah right. Dude #1 is already asking for his socks, Dude #2 is already asking for Octopus (I’m hoping to convince him a different Ana pattern) and Hubbo had me order yarn for a sweater for him. Well luckily, I’m feeling the love and don’t have a problem with granting there knitting requests…for now.

Back from Texas! March 12, 2007

Hi! I know it’s been awhile, and I wasn’t actually gone in Texas this whole time. But I was having some yucky internet problems before we left, and even after many, many hours on the phone with some dude in India it wasn’t fixed. Luckily my Dad is a genius, and it’s all better! So we’ve been back a week already, but I’m having a hard time catching back up and getting back into my normal routine. But in order to keep this post from being too long to handle (for my benefit and yours!) I’m going to just do some highlights.

• David Hasselhoff sighting at airport. (not exactly a highlight I guess, but it was interesting)

• First breath of Texas air!
• First hug with Gma J!
• A lot of first foods, including: Brisket, Barbequoa, and Frog Legs! YUM!
• Hours and hours around the Gma J’s kitchen table with photos, memories, and stories!
• Being an observer to special moments between Gma J and my kiddos! (actually my kids Great Grandma)
• Bringing Gma J to the 21st century and getting her a DVD player, and her first DVD player (Johnny Cash!)
• Meeting the Amazing Great Gma A on her 100th Birthday! (my kiddos Great, Great Grandma)
• Meeting the rest of the incredibly remarkable family!
• Witnessing the perma-grin on hubbos face!
• Not having time to knit and being totally okay with it!
• Experiencing true Texan hospitality over and over!
• Four generational pictures!

Really I could do more but I’m too anxious to talk more about Gma A. She was truly an astounding woman, and probably has more talent in her pinky than I have in my entirety!

Her 100 years have been jammed pack with courage, love, family, and craftiness! Born into a family of 12, then as a young woman traveled from Northern Texas to Southern Texas in horse and carriage with her first 2 sons (eventually had 5! boys!), churned butter to sell at the local commissary, raised 5 boys during the depression, taught her self piano and played beautifully, painter, artist, knitter, crocheter, HAND-quilter, wonderful cook and canner, and a top of it all a heart of gold!

Now I’ll go directly to the photos….
(I do apologize in advanced as pictures were taken in either fluorescent lighting while I was meeting a hundred or so new to me family members or too late at night with flash. And do click for bigger and more details)

And I am now the proud owner of these blankets. Swooooonnnnnn! Knowing the love and work that went into these blankets is keeping me warm at night!

Look at this awesome randomness created with out the use of a uber cool random number generator!

I am so in love with this stitch, and did not come across it my crochet stitch dictionary. But I think I’ve figured it out. And for those who are interested:

Row 1: Sc desired amount (to achieve width based on your gauge) in multiples of 8. Chain 1 and turn.

Row 2: Sc across, chain 1 and turn.

Row 3: *Sc 8, dc down into row 1*, repeat from *

Row 4: *sc till just past row 3’s dc , then dc down into row 2* repeat from *

Repeat row 4 until desired length and bind off!

And for maximum coolness work each row in a different color with complete randomness!
So in conclusion I am just smitten with Texas and my extended family! I feel honored to have married into such a wonderful family!

p.s, I do also feel honored to come from such a good family! (Hi mom!!)

Rough Starts… February 21, 2007

I’m running a little behind this week. Hubbo was off work Monday…so Tuesday felt like  Monday…but now it’s Wednesday…I’m a little thrown off. So let’s catch up…

Friday night me and Hubbo were able to have a kid free night and ride his motorcycle  Harley Davidson to our home group. I’m actually a nervous nelly and riding the motorcyle is always a bit nerve racking, but it’s also very fun to hug my man tight and arrive in style! So all in all it was very nice!

Saturday night I started a swatch/sleeve for the Dollar and a Half Cardigan. Note to self: Do not rush to conclusions on pattern errors at midnight, just go to bed! My difficulty began at row 1. Yuck! The stitch repeat of 3+1 was not adding up with my 51 sleeve stitches.  I kept trying, counting, fiddling, etc. Then I started googling and didn’t come up with much. But I did find Veronik Avery’s blog, so I left a comment insisting error. D’oh! Opps , I neglected the pattern notes regarding the two selvedge stitches. THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE STITCH PATTERNS! Sorry, I was yelling at me-not you. Fortunately Veronik was very nice and helpful, THANK YOU Veronik! But now, given my history, I’m having difficulty selecting a size.

So while I’m deciding on size, I thought I’d go ahead and start on a requested hat for the Hubbo. I don’t know about you guys, but I have no lack of requests when it comes to knits, he’s got a list! I know he really likes the idea of CUSTOM knits, but I also know (cause he tells me) that he’s proud of me and wants to show off! So I can’t refuse the guy, blame love.

It’s taken some knitty math, lots of charting, knitting and frogging, and finding the perfect colors, but by george I think I’ve got it! Now I just gotta finish it. It’s not very portable at the moment so I’ve also casted on some comfort socks.

In other news: We were planning on going out to Texas this summer to visit Hubbos family (that he hasn’t seen in 20 years!) . But instead, we are going NEXT WEEK! His Great Grandma is turning 100! A surpise party has been planned and we don’t want to miss it. (Although I’m not sure a surprise party for a 100 yo is wise) So I’ve got lots to do. You don’t fly to another state for a few days with 3 children with out lots of planning!

p.s. thanks again for the sweet comments on Green Gable!

Modeling… February 17, 2007

Click for details

I’m really reaching beyond myself for this. I am quite camera shy, and hardly ever pose for pics and when I do it’s usually with some goofy face. The photo shoot with the hubbo did turn out pretty fun though. He really likes the top and was very encouraging. Thanks hubbo!

Perseverance February 16, 2007

Green Gable done and drying.

Hopefully a modelled shot this weekend!

Well I gotta run, someone wants some attention…

Yarn Love February 14, 2007

Make sure you hug your yarn today!

Put on your sunglasses! February 9, 2007

click for details and for more photos

(I wasn’t kidding about the sunglasses, sorry for the “winter legs”. And In case your wondering, in the summer time they are not magically golden brown, more like a crisp pink!)

So with the kiddos being sick, not much knitting has actually happened this week. More because of having a highly contagious infection (Sorry Dad!!), rather than actually feeling sick. Being stuck at the house with no playdates and other outings made it increasingly difficult to use up all the energy they awake each morning with. But I did manage to start and finish the second Lana Grossa Mega Boots Stretch sock.

Have a great weekend!!

Introducing…. February 8, 2007

You’ve met Dude #2 and My Babydoll, now introducing Dude #1.

as always, click for details

My first born, for you mothers out there, enough said!

So Dude #1 is currently going to a local private school. This was a very hard decision to make. Since pregnancy we had been set on home schooling. Even before kids I had always thought that home schooling was the way to go, not that I ever planned on having kids of my own, it just seemed like the ideal choice to learn in life rather then to learn in a class. Yes it’s true. I never wanted kids or marriage; I had no desire for anything domestic. Cooking, sewing, cleaning, etc – Blah! Not me. I often played “business meeting” as an alternative to “house”. Instead of Barbies I was often writing letters to the members of Congress and the President. But in hopes of keeping this shorter rather than pages long on the transformation of Roni, let’s just say God changes people. Anywho, putting him in school didn’t really seem like an option, but in the end it’s not about pride, it’s about what is best for my kids. So school it is for now. I have no regrets. He loves school and does very well. I love.love.love his teacher. She let’s me intrude on her class quite often for crafts and games. She’s a knitter too! (I kinda taught her, but mostly she persevered and got it despite my efforts!)

So Dude #1 has missed all this week of school so far, and his teacher called yesterday hoping he’d make it in, as it was award day and he got Student of the Month! Yaaaahhhh!
I’m soo proud of my Dude. They will do the award next week, so for now we are keeping it a secret from him, so shhhhhh.

And on the Green Gable front, I have yet to restart. I’m fighting it. It’s kinda like when I let the dishes pile up, cause I’m just sick of doing them. But in the end it has to be done. I also secretly like having the transformation of a completely overflowing sink to everything clean and put away in its proper place. No matter how dirty the dishes are it so easy to fix with some soap and scrubbing. I wish all life’s problems were that easy to solve! So in the end when I suck it up and perform my knitterly duty I’ll probably will have that same satisfaction that happens from an empty sink. Plus that way I can get to the other projects calling to me!!