Reverse UFOing

Instead of finishing UFOs, like Katherine, I'm adding to the list of projects. Here are some mittens, which I was going to thrum, but now realize they'd be too warm, so they'll be plain. A side effect of this change of plan: I now own orange roving I have no use for...but it was only six bucks, so whatever. I'm going to make some simple mittens and do a sideways-knit garter stitch scarf with the rest. Or maybe a popcorn scarf? Probably too trendy...we'll see when the mitts are knit.

The variegated stuff is Brooks Farm, sorry I can't remember the type, except that there is some silk in it. It must be "Harmony". The color was discontinued. It's really pretty, I think, but might not be for everyone... The plain pumpkin color is Gems sportweight. The Brooks Farm stuff is kind of slippery and doesn't feel sturdy enough on its own, especially for mittens, but an unexpected bonus is that by knitting them together, it sort of mutes the variegated stuff. I love the way it looks.

Just as well I'm not doing the thrums, though. That orange is just not quite right...

In other news, just cast on for a Noro Silk Garden beanie. Which, needless to say, doesn't match the mittens. I think I'm going to try and finish this tonight and wear it tomorrow. Pretty, pretty Noro!

And I'm still working on the purple socks. Am about halfway down the leg. These have turned into very satisfying knitting, easy and relaxing.

I am also dreaming about knitting a lot. Anyone else do that?

Ta-Da!

Woo-hoo! I have photo-posting capability again!

And here's Silvie on the book. Isn't he the king of the world? There is another picture of him actually sitting on top of the thing, but he's facing the camera and his eyes have a demonic, green glow.

A Couple Of Things...

First, thank you all for your lovely, supportive comments!

Michaele asked how I liked Big Girl Knits. Weeeel, I love the idea, and the part at the beginning that describes finding styles that flatter your particular figure is quite inspiring, but the problem is that many of the sweater patterns are a little funky for my personal taste. I don't actually want to knit anything in that book. Except the handbag. And maybe the shawl, but I don't know about the beads... And the socks are cute. And I do like the wrap sweater, but with a shirt under it so the girls don't catch cold. But I LOVE that the book exists!

No progress on getting the photos from the camera to the internet, which brands me as a lame-a$$.

I've been knitting the purple Opal socks, finished the first one last night at Stitch n Bitch, and cast on for the second one. This is my relaxing, idiot project. (Well, it became an easy project after I fixed a little problem with the toe) My 'real' project is for the Spring Swap, and even if the camera was working, I'd have nothing to show you. I'm still figuring it out, swatching and ripping out. I'm spending most of my knitting time on this, and look forward to having a final design soon, but right now all I've got to show for it is a pretty ball of pink yarn and a head full of ideas.

No picture yet,

But you can imagine it. I'll download it as soon as my dear husband and household tech support manager clarifies what exactly I have to do to install Picasa, or whatever new picture software we're going for. We had a wee hard drive failure last week, and I'm not 100% back yet. Still using webmail, no photo software, no bookmarks...It's annoying, but not catastrophic b/c my darling man has recovered all the data.

Anyway, imagine the scene: I've got a great shot of Silver (who's currently draped across my shoulder and chest like a furry purring stole) sitting up next to my new knitting book. He's bigger, a handsome kitty adolescent. I had a whole blog post planned around the shot. Silvie looks like he's King of Cables, and the new Melissa Leapman book about cables looks fantastic.

I bought the book with a B&N giftcard my dear mother in law gave me for Christmas. Why? Because the sweaters looked cute AND they come in BIG GIRL SIZES! GO, MELISSA! I don't know if I can convey my feelings about this without sounding negative about my shape, so bear with me here. I don't actually hate myself or my dress size. Of course I'd be healthier and live longer if I lost 80 pounds or so, but I don't hate myself.

I do hate that it's hard to find plus-sized knitting patterns. I'm a size 2X-3X, not the biggest woman in North America by any stretch of the imagination, but plenty large. You'd think more knitwear designers would recognize that by doing a little more math, they'd be able to sell more patterns!

Of course I could size up the patterns myself, but it's just kind of insulting to give your money to someone who implicitily doesn't want it. So Melissa Leapman, THANK YOU! I bought your book because the patterns come in my size! THANK YOU, MELISSA!

Heidi Liked Them!

And check it out--they fit her perfectly.

These are Susan's Moc Croc Socks in koigu ppppmmmm or whatever the initials are. I did them on a size 3 needle, which looked best to my eye. I really liked them, but when my sister tried them on I realized I should have made them longer.

Heidi likes them, though. I think she was pleased to get some handknit socks in her Christmas stocking. She expected them to be scratchy, and was pleased at their softness. And she loved the color!

The pic makes them look like they're uneven legnths, but they really match. Really, they do!

Blame it on the despair

The despair of missing Stitch n Bitch, that is. In yesterday's post, I forgot to link to Jacquie's list of her Costco Top Ten.

Curses! Foiled Again!

Rats! I was all set to go knitting tonight, and my son breaks out with a rash of atypical tiredness. He's pretty clearly getting sick, so I'll be staying in tonight. Sorry to miss you, grrls!

Good thing I made it to Costco today! Here is my top 10 favorite items from Costco. Note the happy absence of diapers and wipes!

1) The big red case of boxes of chocolate milk. With these on hand, I'm the hippest playdate hostess, according to the preschool set.
2) Tillamook cheddar, presliced. Yes, I'm a lazy Mommy!
3) Sharp Tillamook cheddar in the brick. Taste of the Northwest!
4) The big jug of real mayple syrup, the kind directly from trees. Yumm. It's expensive, but I've argured with my DH that a jug lasts around six months, and what's $17 over six months. This led to him labeling the jug 'o syrup with the date purchased, charming behavior. He's right; it's gone in about 5 months, not 6.
5) Two pack of Orowheat 100% whole wheat bread. This and the cheese, and I can always make a lunch the kid will eat.
6) Huge box of Dare cracker boxes. Again, I'm the preschool hostess with the mostest!
7) Case of small containers of applesauce.
8) Case of nasty canned peaches and nasty canned oranges. 7 & 8 I never eat, but dramatically increase the fruit intake of male family members.
9) Big box of organic salad weeds.
10) Case of organic free range chicken broth. I make a lot of soup!
11) Case of Muir Glenn canned diced tomatoes. Again, I make a lot of soup.
12) Bag of dried cherries. Great in salad dressings and directly from the bag. OK, they do have a slight oily taste, but otherwise, yumm.