Updates

Which really just means "Mish Mash"

• Despite losing 8 days during Spring Break (I was traveling with some students), I have made spectacular progress on Brandywine (link my rav project page.) I have one more repeat of chart B to go. Then it's on to the 14 row chart C and the bind off.
• Apparently I am now obsessed with shawls because in the last week I started Plume and faved about a dozen knit and crochet shawl patterns.
• Plume is gorgeous. I love it. I can't wait to complete it.
• Passover started Monday. Tofurky sandwiches just aren't the same on Matzah.
  
• I am looking forward to having Friday off.
• Offspring is thinking of getting a piercing. Bad mother that I am, I am lobbying for a teeny tiny nose stud. It would accentuate her nose perfectly. Most of her friends seem to be going for belly ring.
• As usual, I started this list/post with many things to say and they have now escaped me. Being old sucks.
• Ah! I remember. I finished book #9 (The Yearling) on the plane on the way home and just blubbered. So sad. From now on, no sad books. I do not have a book #10 at this time and I'm now approximately 2 books behind (which I guess isn't terrible, but still.) April won't be too much better. I decided to read Like Water for Chocolate in the original Spanish...and that means a slower read time.
• Why, you ask? Because I joined the ravelry group Knitting 20th century Novels and it's the March-May selection. Any ideas what I should do as a companion project? Opinions welcome.
  
• I also joined Knitting 19th Century Novels and will read The Moonstone in May. I'll worry about a project later.
• So I guess that sums things up for now. Have I missed anything?
• Oh! In case I don't blog in the next few days...Happy Easter!
  

Friday Fill-In 3/26/10

1. The right word is hard to find.
2. Turn out the lights and shut the door quietly, please.
3. Up and at 'em Atom Ant!
4. Home is where you'll is where you'll find me.
5. Ooh! What is that delicious aroma?
6. Non-stop knitting is a good idea.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to knitting, tomorrow my plans include knitting and Sunday, I want to keep knitting!

A Little of This; A Little of That

Hello All,

I thought I'd share a few o' the projects on the needles (All of which, by the way, are messin' with my mojo 'cause I'm not super stoked about any of them.)



Behold the Apple Leaf Cloth. In the picture it doesn't really look so bad, but I'm not real happy with it in real life. I should have used a smoother cotton. Bernat Cotton Tots has a little nubbiness to it that I'm not liking. The pattern calls for a fingering weight, but it seems fine with worsted...as long as it is smooth. I also think I need to work on my M1s (is there a way to increase so it's a purl stitch?) It is just a dishcloth so I guess the work is passable.



This is my take on the Top Down Raglan Baby Sweater. I love the pattern. I love the yarn. I should have started with smaller needles for the neck and then switched to larger, but like the dishcloth, it's passable knitting.



One of the reasons I'm not a big fan of lacy knits is that they look so crappy on the needles. This is going to be nice when it's blocked, but until then, I have to keep telling myself that everything is ok. This is the Brandywine Shawl aka March Goal. I'm using Dream in Color Smooshy in Ruby River (which I did not photograph well...no surprise there, huh?)

I'm just plugging away on them.

Fraturday Fill-In 3/6/10

1. Why are you making all that noise?
2. I want you to take me to the movies....Alice in Wonderland, please.
3. If I'm going to make a sweater then it will be on my terms.
4. Piss me off and and see what happens.
5. I could use a few days by myself with no one asking me to do anything.
6.I got up early to chaperone a lock in at school and then got there and no one was there. They canceled it and failed to tell me.
7. And as for the weekend, last night I looked forward to spending time with Hubadub and Offspring, today my plans include movies and knitting and Sunday, I want to knit!

Some Philosophical Knitting Questions

• When I started knitting in earnest back in 2005 I was unable to frog back to a mistake, put the stitches back on the needle and begin again. Depending how far into the project I was, I either had to start over or abandon the project. Well, today I am able to frog and get the stitches back on the needle like it's no big deal. Yet I wonder, can I say I am a better knitter because I can fix mistakes? Or am I no better a knitter because I still make mistakes?
• Are all perfectionists drawn to knitting? Or does knitting make you a perfectionist?
• If a knitter drops a stitch and no one is around to hear her, does she still curse and scream?
  

Discuss.

Whiny Wednesday-The Birthday Edition

Yesterday was my birthday. Let the whining commence (but I don't want to be a downer so I'll find the silver lining.)

• It's the big 4-0.
• But Hubadub says I look great, so forty is ok. Besides, now I can be "wise."
  
• It was rainy.
  
• But I didn't have to be out in it.
• It was cold.
• But we have a new heater.
  
• Rain + cold = dreary.
• I can't really think of anything to offset this negative...
  
• The day began with cat puke.
• But ended with cat snorgling.

Hubadub also took me to my favorite Thai restaurant then we came home and watched some TV. Not super exciting, but just my speed. After Hubadub went to bed, I cast on for the Brandywine Shawl. I finished the first chart so I went to be feeling very productive. The sun isn't up yet, so I don't have a picture. I'll try to get one this afternoon.

March Goals

Three. Just three.

• Mail February Dancing Dishcloth.
• Mail March Dancing Dishcloth on time.
• Brandywine Shawl-start it, work on it.

Surely I can manage this?