Frog Is A Four Letter Word

I assure you we'll all get sick of hearing about these fingerpuppets. But for now, they're really fun. I'm almost done El Burro, which the book says is the least difficult. Note it did not say easiest. Before the ears went on, it seriously looked like a duck. A gray and white duck. I was concerned that a two year old would not be able to tell what animal it was, but the bf knew it was a donkey, so we're fine. I may have gotten into something here when the pattern uses the words "faint of heart".

No pics of the fingerpuppet, but here's my cell phone monster. Not very scary, is it?



Have you made a cell cozy?

Even though I may not be supremely productive, I feel my creative mojo is rebuilding. It took a little inspiration; some new toys; and an evil cell phone of peril.

The inspiration was from more cool magazines--another issue of Selvedge and an issue of FiberArts. I went to a book store on my lunch break yesterday and was tickled pink to find they are carrying Selvedge now. The only down side is they are currently stocking the issue prior to the one I received free in the mail. So I'll have to wait two months for a new one. Both mags are just what I needed to get my lazy ass in gear (mentally, that is) and create something. Also today I received my KnitPicks catalog in the mail. drooooool, speeeeennnnddd, reeeeppppppeat.

The new toys are yarn, natch. K and C sent me rainbowlicious sock yarn scraps for my finger puppet (is it one word? fingerpuppet?) project. I sent them some treats in return, hope they like them. And I am helping Lynette and Monica destash some Classic Elite Tapestry. Wasn't that sweet of me, to help them out with their predicament?

As for the evil cell phone of peril. I detest cell phones. But Work has insisted that I have one (just call me their bitch). The only positive to this is I get to make an adorable little cell phone case! Have already started on that as well as the finger puppets. Pics tommorrow maybe. Making fun funky stuff like the puppets of the fingers and the cell phone case should keep me enthused so I can finish the other items that are lingering. It seems every dark corner around here holds a UFO, each saddled with more excuses than the last. A lot of what is holding me back now is using the wrong needles. I need to bust out the inventory list and just frickin' buy some needles. Just do it already!

Have you made anything from Classic Elite Tapestry?

No, I haven't retired or moved to a internet-free zone, but after the past couple weeks I am tempted to do both. I have been on the road the last two weekends so I haven't done much knitting. I also did not have a chance to find any local yarn shops in those areas. Any (non-suburbs) Virginia knitters out there to recommend a LYS in Leesburg or Harrisonburg?

I worked on my sock for a while when a former-Meetup buddy came over to knit during the week. We were both doing socks, but mine was toe-up and hers was top-down. We had both just turned the heel, so we discussed which methods we used. I have also ripped out and re-cast on for the baby sweater. Had to switch to smaller needles for this Debbie Bliss pattern. Does anyone else find that common?

Lastly, these pics are for Toni, or should I say Doily Queen. I was working in an historical house/museum and these were on display as being made by the lady of the house. (I'm not going to list the name of the house, because I'm almost positive I wasn't supposed to take pictures. HAHA!)





Well, myimgs.com seems to be down again. I wonder how long that's been going on. Anyway, they're white cotton doilies with some nifty stitch in the center. Also, for some inspiration, check out Prudence Mapstone. Have you done any freeform crochet?

The trellis pattern baby sweater has been cast on. But ever notice how the wrong needles will kill a project's momentum faster than anything? Like I had a shitty circular for my socks for the last several weeks and now that problem is corrected. But now the circ I'm using for the baby sweater is just an inch or two too long and man is that annoying.

But that's not why I'm here.

Today I received my free copy of Selvedge magazine and will completely devour it this evening. I literally could not sit down to read it, I was pacing around the house while I flipped through the pages. That's how starved I am for textilual news. (I just TOTALLY made up a new word).

Also, M and I are going to the Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago on her birthday! If you click on the Brooklyn fair you'll see all the cool shit. I have already put in my vacation request.

Wow, this post is longer than I thought. I guess I have something to say afterall. One last thing. GODDAMN MEETUP.COM--don't even get me started. Long story short, some of our knitting group members are coming over to my house to knit next week. YAY! I have so much cleaning to do. But it will be fun and/because I will have daquiris.

Does anyone know anything about shaving a long haired dachshund?

I finished up the cotton wrap Sunday night and wore it at work all day today. They had the a/c so high that even -I- was chilly.



It's eight ounces of Blue Heron Yarn's Beaded Cotton in Tiger's Eye. I used a #9 needle and the pattern was more or less Holey Moley but not a poncho.

I made a decision on the baby gear. I bought a mild green to make the Sirdar baby set--I actually bought the recommended yarn!--and some gold cotton/wool to make a Debbie Bliss trellis pattern sweater--it's almost the recommended yarn!



Thanks for all your suggestions. If the parents don't like this look, they can regift it to someone else with a baby girl. It won't hurt my feelings because I will have enjoyed making it.

In deciding what to knit for my friend's new baby boy, I thought surely I already own a pattern that would be suitable. So I flipped through all my books and magazines (because you know how you forget what you have in there) and instantly fell in love again with this set from Sirdar.



It's so classic and unfussy. Right, we all want unfussy things for babies. But does it look too girly? Honestly. I am in love with it, so I cannot be objective. To help with your decision, I was thinking of doing it in an oatmeal alpaca. Also, am I crazy for making baby something in alpaca? Set me straight here, people.

My backup options are also clean and classic but would require a new yarn purchase. Weep, weep. This cardigan would be nice, but there's nothing *!spectacular!* about it.



And either of these options are nifty, but I don't like pullovers for babies, because their head is so disproportionately large. Screw it, I'm not the one dressing him, right?



I started swatching the alpaca, but am not sure if it's a baby-wise choice. I think I'll go to Sea Needles this weekend so I should decide on this soon. Let me know what you think! Thanks.

The cotton wrap is moving along. Can you believe I haven't thrown it aside yet? I have about an ounce and a half left, so a finished photo any day!

I am still working on my cotton wrap. It's approaching 40" long now and it will probably finish at 60" or 65". Uh, that's it. I know, boring. I realized this afternoon why so many knitters, especially bloggers, start more projects than they really need. Because this Start-a-Project-and-Finish-It crap is LAME. I bore myself with it, that's why I haven't posted anything recently. I enjoy the project, obviously, or I would have put it down in favor of something else. But actually writing about it or posting pictures is pathetic because it looks the same--just longer.

I bought Katia book #47 a couple weeks ago. This chevron design is one of my faves. I have some gorgeous dark green something that would be a great start for that sweater. Now just need a couple more yarns.

Have you knit anything from Katia patterns?