Some Progress and The House That Yarn Built February 27, 2008
Posted by La in Miscellaneous.add a comment
The Central Park Hoodie? She’s done a-blockin’…
Actually it’s been ready to block for a couple of weeks now. Crying shame. I’ve either been too busy or there’s been someone staying in the guest/cat’s room, or I was just too damned lazy to block it until last weekend. Well, at least now it looks like it’s going to fit. Prior to blocking I was sweating the sizing, cuz it looked WAAAY too small. Also, I caught a little snafu on the shoulder cup of one of the sleeves, and fixed that. Now it’s all set for the seaming. Yikes! Sure hope I do a better job of it than on my last hoodie. Hell, blindfolded 2-year-olds could do a better job. Am I the last person to knit this sweater? I KNOW I’m still the last Crapotis hold-out, and damned proud of it!
Of course, as usual Sassy’s gotta have a say in things…
Looks like she’s standing guard, huh? Has you fooled. What she’s really doing is waiting until it’s less damp and WAY less stinky to flop her scrawny ass down on it and claim it as her own. I think she’s channeling Momoze now. I swear, she’s becoming more and more like him every day.
On my way to work today I was listening to one of my favorite knitting podcasts, Stash and Burn, where they announced that they’re holding a drawing for some awesome Stitches West loot! Just make any donation to The House that Yarn Built in the Make it Right fundraiser to re-build homes in the Lower 9th Ward. Then email Stash and Burn with the subject heading: The House that Yarn Built to let them know and you will be entered to win a prize package that they are putting together. It will contain all manner of Stitches goodies! You can also let Christy, the founder of the House that Yarn Built know that you donated and enter her drawing as well! To be entered into the drawing, donate by March 18th.
~~~~~~~
Two-and-a-Half Men
Wanna know what’s sad? They’re watching NASCAR, and teaching my godson Levi to be all manner of redneck. Again. Proof positive that I’m adopted. I need to geekify that boy, and quick! Where’s there a light-saber plushy toy or a tribble or even a plastic dinosaur when you need one?
Clamber February 19, 2008
Posted by La in Accessories, Design, Family.Tags: alpaca, Cherry Tree Hill, Clamber
3 comments
Sunday was Mom’s 70th birthday, and the day couldn’t have been more perfect! We celebrated with a Mardi Gras themed party, with all my mom’s closest friends coming, the little nephs making and wearing masks, a parade up and down the driveway Zydeco & New Orleans’ Jazz, and my brothers throwing beads from the deck. I made the gumbo…like I learned how to make when I was stationed in Alexandria, LA…you know, the real stuff.
A week earlier, mom solved the problem of what to give her for her birthday when she noticed a little hat I made for one of my nephews out of some garage sale yarn he found (he’s 7), and decided how nice and toasty warm one of those will be. Just PERFECT, actually, for her Alaskan Cruise come April.
Misti International Misti Alpaca Sport (12 wpi) [146 yards, 50 gm]
Make a most excellent hat-and-scarf set? Not to mention it’ll fulfill one of my MP 2008 goals! And I could teach her the modified loop-de-loop (third method Gracee models) method to wrap the scarf so it stays put while she’s out clambering around on glaciers and such.
Yes, at 70, among other things, the woman STILL clambers. Amazing!
Clamberma 1.0
I’m not entirely satified with the way this turned out, so I’m going to tweak the pattern and try it again. It’s a little snug, a little short, and I don’t like how unfinished the bottom edge looks. I’ve already got some ideas on how to modify it, I just have to get finished knitting the accomanying Irish Hiking Scarf to make sure I have enough yarn for a second hat, so I don’t have to rip the first one, which took less than a full ball.
On Notice February 8, 2008
Posted by La in Dumbassery.4 comments
~~~~~~~~~
To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door – nose height.
Dear Dogs and Cats, The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn’t help because I fall faster than you can run.I cannot buy anything bigger than a king- sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the
bathroom for years — canine or feline attendance is not required.The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat’s butt. I cannot stress this enough!
To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:
To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets:
1. They live here. You don’t.
2. If you don’t want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That’s why they call it ‘fur’niture.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it’s an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn’t speak clearly.
Remember: Dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
1. Eat less
2. Don’t ask for money all the time
3 Are easier to train ( except Terriers and ShihTzus and all dogs named Trixie)
4. Normally come when called
5. Never ask to drive the car
6. Don’t hang out with drug-using friends
7. Don’t smoke or drink
8. Don’t have to buy the latest fashions
9. Don’t want to wear your clothes
10. Don’t need a gazillion dollars for college, and…
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.
Finished Object – Smackdown!* February 4, 2008
Posted by La in FO, Pets.add a comment
Well, the finished object isn’t called smackdown, though it could be. No, the smackdown comes later. Instead, I present…
An EFfin’ Oh!
Stats:
Pattern: The Nora by Megan Ellinger
Yarn: Some gawd-awful stuff called Baroque that my nephew bought at a garage sale for a nickel no doubt.
Needles: Size 6 [4mm] 16″ circular and DPNs
Started: January 30, 2008
Finished: February 4, 2008
Mods/Notes: The pattern is written for an adult, and states that it’s not very easy to adjust the size on, so she recommended changing yarn weight and needle size, which I did. The pattern calls for worsted on size 8; I used craptacular DK on 6s, making it the right size for a 7 year old with a huge melon.
Over a year ago my nephew Mikey brought me these 2 balls of yarn…
He then very sweetly says “Auntie La, can you please make a hat for me? My other one is too small.“
…a hat I had made for him 2 years before. Later that day his mom told me how he saw the yarn at a garage sale and bought it with his own allowance. So of course I’m gonna knit him a hat! Unfortunately it took me a year to get around to doing so. And the yarn was so shitty I kept having to chant…I love my nephews…I love my nephews just to see it through. What helped is that 1) it’s a small project and 2) the pattern was great! It is very well-written, simple yet engaging. I may have to make a few more of these hats…with more likable yarn, of course.
The Schmo-FO
