Wearing of Sweaters and Socks

With the coming of Eldest from the east, it was a time of getting together for meals.  We met Youngest and Fam at a local restaurant for chow the first weekend of the visit.

Grandbebe Girl First was wearing the sweater -Peasy – Heidi Kirrmaier- (rav linky) which I knitted for her for Christmas, and I am here to say that every time I looked at her, I was filled with deadly and sinful pride.

I just had to keep looking at her.

It looked so perfect, fitting so well, hanging just perfectly.

I will have to knit another something for her soon.

A few days later, Dearest Sister told me (again) how much she ‘loved loved loved’ (and I quote exactly) her Christmas socks, and perhaps she should learn to knit her own…ensuring a lifetime supply of socks in addition to her lifetime supply of dishclothes.  I assured her I would be only too happy to tutor her in the simple complexities of sock knitting.

Then, upon the return of Eldest and Youngest Daughters from visiting Middle Daughter, Eldest told me how Youngest had loaned her the pair of hand knit socks I had given Youngest after the holidays and that Eldest had worn them the rest of the time there because they were the best thing evah! keeping her feet warm and felt so good and oh my gosh why didn’t I make her some?

I assured her a pair for her were onThe List…and in fact…with praise like that…her socks just got bumped way up on The List.

My family…they are knit-worthy indeed.

The Unfeltable Pocket Meets a Good End

(photos by Eldest Daughter)

The Unfelting Kindle Pocket has been converted to a Leapster Pouch for Grandbebe Girl the First.

Youngest Daughter mentioned that perhaps one was needed, and I had this….thing...but it was sort of big and galumphy, being knit on sz10 ½ ‘s and not felting and all.

Perhaps if I lined it?  Which I have not done to knitted items before, but as I am all about learning new things, that is what I set about to do.  First I reinforced the button hole, because…wel...sz 10 ½ needles and aran weight yarn and and it seemed to tidy it up and I like tidy.

Then I looked in my fabric, and what did I find but two blocks of nine-patch that were not used for her quilt.  They were very close to being the right size wide, if just a bit short.  I stitched the blocks together, and added a band to the top of matching fabric to make up the length and the flap.  I whipped the lining to the pouch and tacked the corners of the lining to the pocket.

I found a button, steamed the whole and called it done.  It was determined that a drawstring pouch was required for the game cartridges, and that was handily made from the same fabric as the added band.

She thinks it’s awesome.

I think she is awesome.

Some Thoughts

I was watching an interview with Brian Williams a few weeks ago.  He was visiting with the new Speaker of the House, John Boehner.

I am prepared to take the high road (I almost always am, sometimes to my detriment…).  The Republicans won the House.  They get their turn.  I will try to not be the person that spouts without listening, believing I am the only one who is right, and if I talk loud enough, repeating myself enough times, I will convince others to my way of thinking.

(Actually, I prefer to let them shoot themselves in the foot.)

(But I digress…)

So, with open mind, I am listening to the interview.  I know Mr. Boehner differs from me in his fiscal opinions, in his take on the healthcare issue, and many other things.  That’s okay.  We are a nation of different opinions.

But…

Then…

Brian Williams broached the subject of Mr. Boehner’s cigarette habit.  He is, and I quote, ‘a committed smoker’. He has made a few efforts to stop, but none lately.  Mr. Boehner makes no apologies for is, says that is who he is, and that is that.

Well. Okay, then.

But guess what, Mr. Boehner?

I pay for your friggin’ healthcare.  Well, actually, it is the private payer plan offered to all federal employees, retirees, and their dependents, that subsists of several differents levels of covereage and premiums.  But it is a generous plan of which the government pays about75%.  Oh.  That would be the taxpayers.  Our congresspersons pay the remainder (up to about $300/month), depending on their choice of plan out of their paychecks (which are significantly larger than mine)...again paid by the governnment.  (Which again...would be us.)  To the best of my research, the plans are blue ribbon.

And yet…you want to vote to repeal, albeit symbolically, the healthcare reform bill.

He says it is a 'job killer'.  Because the rise in healthcare premiums are causing employers to not hire or to lay off.

I am casting about in despair at this.  I cannot….I cannot! be the only one that has seen healthcare premiums continue to climb for the 10-15 (at least) prior to the current debate, with out of pocket expenses rising and coverage dropping, totally eliminating any raises we might receive as employed persons.  At least for the 9 million of us who aren't federal employees.

Also.  We have been told there is no end in sight to this rise in healthcare cost.

I think I understand now, though.  As with many people who have nice and safe insurance programs, the thought of rocking their safe and secure boat is filled with all sorts of spooky.

And this man…smokes.  In spite of all we know...he smokes without excuse.  And he is now leading the House Healthcare debate.  I am filled with warm fuzzies.

Or not.

I heard this as I was putting on my shoes to head out the door for work.  And I must say…Wonderful Guy got an earful.  I had words, and they just came bubbling out.  There was no highroad to be taken as I stomped strode walked into the kitchen to fill my travel mug.  I was filled with vitriol.

(Did you know that ‘oil of vitriol’ was what sulfuric acid was known as back in the day?)

Dishclothes

Over the holidays, I gave away my complete stash of hand knit dishclothes.  All of them!

Which is okay.

It is not like I knit as many as my mother knit, when she was in her dishcloth knitting heyday.  I didn’t have stacks and stacks.

And I gave them to those I wanted to give them to.  I gave them willingly. It wasn't forced giving.

But the fact remained…I was out!  So while my primary goal of the new year is to quilt that third grandbebe quilt, I really felt the need to knit a few dishclothes.

Because one never know when one might have a dishcloth emergency.  Someone might need one RIGHT AWAY, and as quick as they are to knit?  It still takes me two to two and a half hours from start to finish.

That’s a long time in the face of a dishcloth emergency.  I mean…people might die, wars could be lost, disaster could reign in two hours for want of a dishcloth.

Anyway.  Since the owls, I have been knitting with nothing but dishcloth cotton.

 It is a functional yarn, certainly.  And I have been using from my stash, which is good.  Unfortunately, my dishcloth cotton isn’t ‘itemized’ in my stash.  It’s more of a ‘lump sum’, so I am not getting to eliminate from my ‘total yardage’ (which is actuallytotal mileage) (Don't judge me!)  My dishcloth cotton now fits tote-ally into a small tote. Ar-Ar-Ar...

And I have a stash of a stack of dishclothes…against any and all emergencies!

The pattern I follow: Four Corners by Abigail – 1870 Pearl (Ravelry link)

(Using a provisional cast-on, short rows, and a kitchener finish, it’s a bit more than mindless dishcloth knitting.)

Snow

First it doesn’t snow. Like all fall, except for just a smattering.
At New Year’s, we got some, and frigidly cold temps. Really cold. Not out of the single digits for three days.

Then in 36 hours, we are in the 50s. For a week. This, my friends is why I love living in this place.

But I get caught unawares sometime. I bopped out of the house earlier than usual day before yesterday out of necessity for work, and thereby not catching the news/weather…sans gloves, because hey! 50 degrees! Warm!

And at lunch time? Snow…wind…and a chill wind…chill.

Next day? Blue skies, sunshine, and snow melt!

Love it.

Movies

Four movies in one weekend?  What sort of couch potato am I?

One that enjoyed four good movies weekend before last!

After the Weaver’s Spinner’s Guild and the workshop following, I caught up some things around the house.  The day had started out sunny and warmish, but with the front moving in, had become chillier and cloudy.  I didn’t think much was showing, but I checked out the ‘cheap seats’ movies.  That’s the movie house that shows 'not the first runs' for a couple bucks a ticket.  Social Network was showing (about the Facebook guy), so we took in the late matinee and we enjoyed it very much.

Then that night at home, after all was said and done, I settled in front of the fire, and started flipping channels.  I found Working Girl on Encore, just starting…at 9pm.  A little late, but it wasn't a school night.  Harrison Ford!  Sigourney Weaver!  Melanie Griffith!  Permed hair and shoulder pads!  Theme song by Carly Simon…what’s not to love?  One of my fav shows evah!  Also…a very young (and thin) Alec Baldwin.  I almost forgot.

Sunday brought our snow and cold temps, and after we did some things around the homefront, we went to a showing of something we saw a preview of at yesterday's movie.  We were reminded that we thought this was going to be interesting, at least, so using the movie coupons The Guy got from Christmas (the kids know that always a sure bet!) we took in another matinee, and saw The Fighter, with Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale.  There is some extraordinary acting in that film for that family to come off as crazy as that!  Excellent, excellent film.

Home again, and wrapping up the weekend, lining things up for the start of the work week.  I settle in again, in front of the fire, with the snow coming down, and see what I can find to kill the time before bed.  I find Legends of the Fall on Encore…again starting at 9pm!  And it is a longer movie than the night's before.  But I cannot say no to Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins, both with long hair, in the Montana wilderness!

I kept yawning all day Monday at work.  Staying up past 11:00, way past my bedtime, two nights in a row!  By 9:15 on Monday night, I was in bed.

I am so old.

Grandmama, Let's Play...

When last the Grandbebes came to spend the night, the toy basket was ignored.  Totally ignored.  And the girls brought over some books for bedtime and one movie.  In my considered opinion, a pretty lame one, and I have told Youngest Daughter that next time bring a good one.  One I want to watch...like Cars, or Toy Story, or Shrek...

But I digress.

My point is that while at Grandmama's, we don't need no stinkin' toys...we play GAMES!

It goes like this.  Grandbebe Girl the First asks 'Grandmama, let's play a game.'  And I answer, 'Alright, what game shall we play?'

And these are some of the games we have played.

• Hide and Seek
• Save Baby Jesus from the Monster
• Roll On the Floor
• Robots
• Chase
• Tickle Monster

Now while some know the rules to Hide and Seek and Tickle Monster and Chase...I bet few have heard how to play 'Save Baby Jesus from the Monster'.  Mostly it's played when Nativity Scenes are handy.

Grandbebe Girl is a bit hard pressed to play Hide and Seek really well.  She is very excitable about being found.  The anticipation gets to be too much, and she leaps from her hidey spots proclaiming her presence.

When I saw her parents arrived on New Years Day, I said to her, 'Your mom and dad are here.  Let's hide from them!', to which she readily agreed.  We scooched under the desk in the office, moving the desk chair in front of us, ostensibly 'hiding' us, but also allowing us to see them come through the front door (and really.. letting them to see us as well) .

As they entered, Grandbebe Girl Two wondered through the office to the front room...pointing to where we were crouched, as Bebe Momma smilingly asked where was her sister...at which point, Grandbebe Girl The First says...

'We're HIDING!'

All part of my plan to be The Fun Grandma!

Hooters

I knitted on these fellows during the trip to Utah, and finished them up on New Years Eve.  They were a special request from Precious Niece who texted me, after seeing a display of knitted owls in an LYS window in NYC, saying, 'knit me an owl!'

So, of course, that became my mission.

I looked throughout Ravelry for a pattern, and ended up BUYING one.  (Marie Mayhew, Woolly Something) I know!  But I didn't want to go hokey and slipshod on these, and often, free toy patterns end up with a toy that looks less like what was intended, and more like...a blob with flaps.

I even bought yarn specially for the project, albeit on sale.  Most of the other supplies I had on hand, but purchased a total of around $8 of goods, most of which I have leftovers in varying amounts.  To make more owls if need be, perhaps.

The knitting part went pretty fast, as did the felting, which I did by hand.  The finishing?  Now that took time and considerable attention to detail, but Marie Mayhew writes a good pattern, and the instructions were very well done and easily followed.

I was a bit too excited to get them off to my niece, however, and after snapping a quick, off kilter shot with my camera phone to show Eldest Daughter, I packaged and taped them up before realizing I had not even taken a decent photo.

Upon their arrival, Precious Niece let me know how pleased she is with them, and chronicled their first evening in the Big Apple.

The Wooly Hooters visit the Empire State Building in it's holiday glory.

Waiting for the subway.

Sticking together in the big city.

Meeting other owl-ish friends at their new digs.

Close-ups!

Bottoms up...for New Years!

Gratuitous Grandbebe Photos

I finally got through my downloaded photos, which sort of maybe went back to almost….Thanksgiving.  Why, that’s before Grandbebe Girl, the 4^th was born!

Here she is modeling the hand embroidered onesie by her great aunt Dearest Sister

Weeding out the poorest quality (personal and totally subjective opinion), and those that were almost duplicates, I think I am grateful for digital photography.  It sure makes it easy for me to take pretty decent photos.

But these are pretty easy subjects…

It also makes it easy and inexpensive to take a lot of photos!  Keeping up with the organization on my hard drive is taxing.  But not near as taxing as keeping up with developed photos in the ‘old-school’ manner.  I know. I have plenty of those.

In boxes.  Sort of…sorted.

I remember when I received my first camera for a birthday (pre-5^th grade).  I cranked through the first rolls of film that came with it.  The way my mother went about things at the time was to send of the film for developing to a lab that provided a replacement roll of film free of charge.  Now Momma didn’t just hop right to putting that film in the mail.  Money had to be loosened up for such expenditures, and after the film was finally sent off, developed, and then returned, it was not uncommon for many, many weeks to have passed since that last photo was shot.

I will say this.  It was always a surprise to see my pictures.  And there was not much understanding or growth in what would make a better photograph, because I sure didn’t recall from one time to the next what was going on when that ‘too dark’ one was taken, or why that ‘blurry’ one happened.  It was hit or miss, and always a gift to get a ‘good’ shot.

And what was done, was done.  There were no do-overs with PhotoShop!

Modeling a February Baby Sweater received for Christmas!

All that adds up to why I love my starter dSLR and my antiquated version of PhotoShop, and why it frustrates me that I don’t have more time to spend learning how to do ‘more better faster’ with both of them.

Another February Baby Sweater.

And therein lies part of the problem for me.  With so many possibilities, choices, and raw material, it is very easy to be plain overwhelmed, too.  There's so much I want to learn, so much I would like to do!

In the meantime, I have these little people to keep me occupied.  Really the camera does all the work!

Contest Winner

I entered all the pertinent information into Random.Org number generator, and the comment number is

12

That means that Sarah (I will PM you on Ravelry) wins the booty.

Congrats to Sarah, and thanks everyone for playing along and visiting my little place here.  I hope maybe you found something of interest and maybe you will come back.

I have had fun checking out all of your blogs, too.

Holiday Post-Mortem

December is done and past, and the holiday trifecta of T-day, Xmas, and NewYears is over.  I didn’t think I ate too much, and thank goodness I practiced moderation, because the scales tell me I ate plenty.  The décor (inside) is down and stored. That’s my part.  Outside (The Guy’s part) will wait for the temps to rise.

We celebrated Christmas in Utah, instead of New Years, opening gifts with the Middle Daughter and Fam.  We ate Christmas dinner with Dearest Sister and Car Guy in their Tote-er Home at the KOA.  It was the VIP KOA…all upscale RV-in', doncha’ know!

New Year’s Ever brought the local Grandbebes over for another sleepover, and silver dollar pancakes for breakfast.  I think it was another good experience for everyone involved. It is believed the girlies looked forward to coming over, and were sorry to leave.

And now with the solstice behind me, I can’t help it…I look toward spring.

Which is crazy, because there are more months to the last freeze of winter than from the first hard freeze last fall, but I can’t help it.  I look forward to the backyard thawing and green shoots and warm earth!  We have only had our first real snowfall of the season and my north lying backyard will likely be covered with the white stuff for weeks, and I won’t venture out there for at least that long…so yeah…crazy talk.  And it’s still dark at 5 PM.

But the promise is there.  It’s a new year, and spring is on the horizon.  It’s a ways away, but still...it's coming.

I am thinking of starting seedlings in the basement with grow lights this year.  That might hurry it up just a mite.

New Year’s Calendars

Every year, the day after Christmas, I go shopping for three things.

1. Christmas cards
2. Christmas wrap
3. Calendars

This year, or might I say, last year, the day after Christmas found us driving home from Utah, and therefore, my post-holiday shopping was postponed for a day…or two...or three.  Also, I decided that both my Christmas card and wrap inventory was up to snuff, and only calendars were really on my list.

However, I am persnickety about my calendars.  I look for #1 a weekly desk calendar for my desk at work, and #2 a wall calendar for my kitchen.  And for those two calendars, I look for #1 an Anne Taintor (who takes vintage photos and puts snarky captions to them) and #2 a Kliban Cat calendar.  Mostly, I do pretty well finding these each year…at one of three places locally…after Christmas…for half price.

This year I found my desk calendar right off, but by Saturday, on New Year’s Day, at the third calendar stop…I found I had to settle for less than my Kliban Kitties for my kitchen.

Boo.

But!  Making the best of the situation, this is the calendar I bought.

Now what I am sort of thinking is maybe I should try to get some of each month’s ‘representative’ wool…sort of a wool of the month thing…just for those I have not already tried, you know…

That would fly in the face, however of Goal # ‘spin/knit from the stash’ really really early in the year.  I should try a bit harder.

Anyone know where I can get some Galway?

On (…Off…and Back On…) the Needles Of Iron

So Wonderful Guy was wonderful.  For Christmas, I received a Kindle from him, and I have been diligently learning and researching and reading about and trying out.

I have downloaded two books, transferred a .pdf (knitting pattern, of course) from my computer, and converted/transferred another .doc (guess what…another knitting pattern). I just love a good knitting pattern...

I have joined the Kindle Corner group on Ravelry, found where the free books are offered, where the cheap books are sold, and that some books sometimes are cheaper as….books.

I have looked at the leather cases, the nylon covers, and the patterns for knitted, felted, or sewed ones.  And I decided.  I decided that to protect my new kindle, that I named Bilbo (after one of my oldest known and favorite literary characters), I needed a felted cover toute suite!  I want to shield my wonderful new gadget from all the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune that being carried about within my purse might bring.

I embarked upon the task using some 100% merino out of my stash.  Red, and ripe for the task it was, and also...out of my stash!  Using sz 11 needles, and using ‘Judy’s Magic Cast-On’ (new technique for this year’s ‘List of Things Fearlessly Approached and Learned’), I cast on 72 stitches and knitting with the Loops of Magickness, I commenced.  And 12 or 13 inches later I cast off one side, continuing with a flap for about an inch on the other, making a buttonhole, then casting off.

And then I felted it.

I should say, I tried to felt it.  And I tried and tried, then I tried some more…and I checked the label…sure enough…100% merino wool…nowhere did it say superwash…

Back to the hot water and the ice water…

Then I went Ravelry’s yarn database, where I learned that Debbie Bliss’ Merino Aran is washable in water 40C (104F) on a gentle cycle.  Well, I was using way hotter water (~140F), and not being at all gentle, and also shockingly not gentle with ice water, but alas, I was getting no where close to a felted product.

And yet? What do you bet that if I had spent weeks working up a sweater, and had tossed it in the washer on the gentle cycle with cool water, that it would have felted like a damned yurt.

So anyway, I now have an seven-ish by ten-ish inch rather loosely knitted envelope that I think I am going to try my hand at lining (another new technique for this year’s ‘List of Things Fearlessly Approached and Learned’) and give to Grandbebe Girl, the First for her Leapster gizmo.

And I went back to my stash and pulled out 2 skeins of some Caron’s Felt-It (FELT being in the name...just so there would be no mistake).  In one day, I Magically Cast On (again, thereby re-enforcing the technique), and knit that whole sucker up.  Felting the next day, and after drying, a button.

Behold.

Bilbo’s Coat, being a just tad short and a bit on the wide side, but felted, by gah!

(also not made of dwarvish mithril)

With a needle felted heart...gosh...

And it's done just in time, too, because my real book is finished and I am ready to give Bilbo a test drive!

Goals for 2011

After reviewing and revamping last years list, I have added to and edited it, and the results are as follows…

• Quilt.  I have two bebe quilts to complete.  At a minimum.
• Knitting. I would like to continue with my sweaters, expanding to pullovers, and also continue my sock knitting.  I am thinking to try some colorwork this year. And fearlessly learn new techniques as I go.
• An east coast trip, maybe timed for a trip during Rhinebeck.
• Continue growing the photography/photoshop skills.
• Quilt…
• Commute by bike (May-Oct) at least 600 miles.
• Hike 40 miles.
• Snowshoe.
• Make soap.
• Maintain low sat fat diet and continue regular exercise.
• quilt…
• Knit/spin from stash (exceptions only when deals are spectacular and/or for souvenirs)

(List to be amended as needed/desired/required!)

I would say the pre-eminent goal of the year is to finish up the baby quilts.  I am behind in that.  Having said that, I must admit to watching two groups on Ravelry, one dedicated to those desiring to learn stranded colorwork (also known as fairisle), and another whose goal is to knit a holiday ornament a month.

Now the holiday ornament a month group has provided a glimpse of the patterns available, and some are very, very fun looking.  However, the whole concept of an ornament a month has given me a thought as to how to go about making these little quilted ornaments I have not been able to get around to making.

I am not sure about the colorwork thing.  It looks….complicated.  But man do those sweaters sure look pretty when all finished up.

In the meantime?  I have been knitting on something not even in my queue.

Blog-iversary

Alrighty then!

The first day of the first month of 2011 marked the beginning of my fourth year blogging at Needles of Iron.

How about that?  I missed it, didn’t I?

I promised a contest last month, which I remembered about 10 days ago, which was when I first drafted this post.  What to do, what to offer, how to go about it…so many questions and decisions…so much inertia…

This is what I came up with…3 prizes for 3 years…

Three (3) skeins of my hand spun natural grey Shetland, 2-ply, about a DK wgt, totaling ~387 yds.

 Plenty to do something with...

Three (3) Season’s Best recipe books from Pampered Chef (courtesy of Youngest Daughter).

Three (3) felted soaps (not soups) to round it out to three sets of three to fit the three completed years of blogging.

Makes it tidy.  I thought tidy would be nice.  Tidy is nice if tidy is…you know…prompt and all.  But tidy and prompt is as tidy and prompt does…and tidy and prompt didn’t get photos taken and posted, and the road to h-e-double hockey sticks is paved with good intentions…and the post is just now getting up.

But now it's done and up and here's the thing.

Chime in with a comment letting me know that you are out there, and I will draw from the comments for a winner of it all on January 5^th….uh…better make it the 10^th.