Can Used Be Saved?

My old Swing Coat is used. . I thought I'd love it. Never did. I wored it once or twice. It itched me something terrible. I put it on again the other night to be sure I hated it. Oh I sure did. The top button wouldn't come undone and I began to panic that I may have to cut myself out of the whole mess. Somehow I got away from the horrible yarn (Noro, I dare say. Gorgeous but like a brillo pad to wear against my skin)

Then I took the plunge and threw it in the washer to be felted. Joany, my friend encouraged me at the zoo the other day. After two good washings in a pillow case, with a pair of jeans as everyone says you should, I took it out.

It was so pretty felted together. All my mental lapses that resulted in glaring "issues" were gone. I know had something that I am determined to get a vest out of. It will involve some sewing.....but not by me! I think it will be wonderful.

The only thing we planted this year were pumpkins. They took over the whole garden with their gorgeous yellow blooms. I have a salvaged sweater vest and my own pumpkins. I'm a lucky one.

(I just tried this Cowboy Caviar at a party. I loved it. THere are many variations available. Here is the one we had a my neice's party:

Cowboy Caviar

3/4 cup oil
1 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup sugar

Can garbanzo beans
Can black beans
Chopped celery
chopped green pepper
chopped red pepper
canned corn

Toss the dressing over the vegeatables. Chill awhile and enjoy with tortilla chips. MMMMMM.)


I'll talk to you in the comments. :)

Charmed Under Blue Skies

Knit/Nurse friend Joan and I went to the FREE ZOO in our Chicago City today and knitted away. Joan's socks charmed me into casting on a new pair of socks myself. You see, she was using 3s or 4s to knit them up. Doubled sock yarn here I come. Detaiis in a few posts or so.

I was knitting away quietly with Joan, when I realized the peace she talked about feeling at the zoo. I hadn't really felt PEACEful at the zoo before. Then it hit me: I wasn't chaperoning anyone! I was there without counting any heads, without that green feeling I get when I am on the schoolbus for just a bit too long, without carrying ANYTHING that wasn't my own. No lunches for a dozen, no jackets, no plastic barf bags, no study sheets, and no sticky hands to hang on to for fear of losing the rowdiest one (who always seemed to be assigned to me!) No calling out names of those who run ahead or lag behind. No poop jokes. No butt jokes. No skinned knees. No imitating of primates grooming lice out of their fellows hair. No trip to the souveniors or the bathroom for that matter. No waiting on the hot bus for the other groups who lost track of time or worse lost track of a child. (darn it, I made it back here with all my charges in tow on time, lets GO!) No finding out our bus broke down in the lot and we would wait for another to arrive.....for a long time....

Wow. A day to be an adult at the zoo and just knit. I had no idea!


I'll talk to you in the comments. :)

Curse Undermined By Stitches

Here is the cabled goat motif Al swatched. Al would like to know if other knitters think it looks like a goat.

Being the good enough knitter that I am, I would go with it.

Has anyone else felt the need to run out and grab a falling leaf and tack it back up to the tree?

I'll talk to you in the comments. :)

Chicagoan Under Beautiful Shawl

I don't know if the only thing better would be to tell you that I knitted this Forget Me Not Shawl, or if that would ruin the fact that I WON it. (yes I WON It) Better, I think to be overjoyed that Grace from lovincomfortknits.blogspot.com is so generous she knits lace shawls and gives them away. This lady knits shawls like they are baby stuff! She used double elann merino which was hand dyed by her husband. I'm still trying to get myself to give away some socks that felted into slippers last year! I knit things for others and decide I'm keeping them myself. As if the shawl wasn't magnificent enough by itself, she also sent candles that smell like a fall in a very gentle way. Oh, and a K magnet. If you want to knit a lace shawl for someone you love, she has a free Comforting Hearts Shawl Pattern on her blogsite. Grace is really really giving.

a few other things:
no hummers yet...still.....

My purple sweater had a big problem last Saturday night. Seems my lifeline somehow wasn't so lifesaving. I had to have dropped two dozen stitches here and there. My first mistake was trying to pick them up on the purl row. I was so irate at myself that I nearly, just nearly though, didn't go for a gelato with Huck and Troy at dusk. The butterfinger gelato had a sugary calming effect, altho there weren't any actual candy pieces in it. This is why a Dairy Queen Butterfinger Blizzard is far superior. Huck got to lick both our cups when we were finshed. I think Troy may actually have left a little in the cup for Huck. I figured what with his magnificent sense of smell, he'd get past the fact that I had licked my bowl practically dry. No matter, I got him a kiddie cone yesterday. The season is short and icecream cones won't be happening much this winter for Hucky.

So I managed to go back and do all the pick up and reknitting by myself. (Al wouldn't have had time to help and I am incapable of stopping with this sweater. ) Im hoping a good washing and blocking, (ah I love you washable merino) will eliminate any glaring imperfections in stitch definition. Now, I am in the waist shaping area, and am tempted to add a bit of another color to this area........

Talk me out of it PLEASE. I once knit a cute hobo bag with scrap yarns and managed to put a single row of torquoise next to the deep purple and it set it off so beautifully! Now, I'm thinking of mixing it up with a bit, just a bit, of torquoise again. While trying buttons against it this morning, it just looked so "You could have bought me at Kohl's-ish" in all it's plainness. I could post a picture of the hobo bag and how cute it was set off with just a hint of torquoise.

AM I JUST MAKING ALL YOU COLOR Gifted people cringe with this idea? Sometimes you have to gently tell me ....that's not gonna work!........



I'll talk to you in the comments. :)

CUBS WIN DIVISION

I'll talk to you in the comments. :)

Just to let you know! We won! Here's to a great October and the World Series!

Jo Sharp Hemlock hat

Al's Hemlock colored yarn is a tiny bit cashmere.......She took her knitting from the porch, so I'll have to look up the yarn name or post it when she is finished with this hat. (shhhhh it is for Peter....) She is putting a cabled goat motif on the hat. Some inside famliy joke. She hasn't been knitting too much with work and school. It makes me happy to see her starting this hat. I was spoiled with her knitting when she worked at 3 Bags Full. I miss the inspiration and the commradory of another knitter in this house.

She pulled up the cabled goat motif and muttered that this pattern is backwards or something, but she went right on and created the goat anyhow. I do know for a fact that she is my child.......but where did this gift come from? I'm still working on reverse shaping concepts...

Which by the way, I found a book that had patterns with reverse shaping spelled out for both sides! No evil " reverse shaping for other side" directions! WHy didn't I think of this sooner. Books have ROOM for long written out instructions. Im going to go and check my knit library for these very types of instructions. Oh Dorothy and her old saying, of not leaving her own back yard the next time she thinks to set out looking for something! Another application for this golden quote from Oz.

Speaking of Oz, I think the pumpkin patch in my garden needs a scarecrow. I'm trying to scare crows and lure hummingbirds. They are usually migrating through about now and We see a few, or one......I keep changing the nectar/sugar water in the feeder, but all that seems to come is bees....My sister told me just today that she, without a feeder, had a hummingbird enjoying her impatients just two days ago. He went and sat on her phone line and she even got a blurry picture. Now I have bird envy. Evven though we got to see one (or two) in two days in early august. Which is when I ran out and bought the feeder. And have been wiating for another ever since.

I must camp out here on the porch on this gift of a gorgeous warm September day, even if the Cubs don't clinch tonight, and knit and knit and keep the hummingbird vigil..........do you keep vigil for anything?


I'll talk to you in the comments. :)

Purple Raglan....means....shaping fears

The Purple Raglan follows the practice ralgan. I'll keep you up to date as it knits along. This one will involve some shaping. I think this means I am pushing my knitting limits. It is kind of boring looking right now. I am going to have to knit some fun dishcloths or cowls betwixt and between rows of endless purple , or I'll go crazy.

Donna B asked for some help with the ball band dishcloth pattern from Mason Dixon. I have to say the best tip I have is to buy some highlighter tape! Print out the pattern and put it in a page protector. I highlight the row I am knitting, and move the tapes as I go. Helped me stay organized, as I could never really memorize the 12 row pattern. You begin with your main color for the first two rows, then you start Row 3 with another color, B. You knit a few rows with B and then switch back to A in another few rows. The A is always right there waiting for you at the right time and you just pick it up and start with A again when called for.

Does this help Donna? If you follow it word for word, it is a completely true pattern with no errata. Next dishrag for me might be a little fish dishrag. We'll see. I've only committed to purple Raglan for sure. And to watching the Cubbies every game I can, every inning I can. For as long.....as I can


:)

WE interrupt this blog to say

CONGRATULATIONS BIG Z! CUBS NO HITTER! YOU MAKE OUR FLOODED MESS A BIT EASIER TONIGHT! HOORAY ZAMBRONO!

Because it feels like a dishrag around here

I felt compelled to knit one. And because I have always thought the Mason-Dixon ball-band was impressive!

Good thing I did not enter DishRagTag this year. I was not a fast dishrag knitter. This one took a few days. As in 4 days. Average days when I pick up my needles as I can. In between the nonknitting parts of my life (oh yes there are parts!)

Let's see, October and November have 61 days. Lets say I knit half of them on dishcloths....that's 8 more dishcloths for gifts. Hypotheticals are fun. Dishcloths are fun too.

One of the main reasons I like this pattern is it is laceless. For all of you who love to knit lace, you have until midnight to enter Grace at Lovin Comfort Knits blog contest. Find a pretty FREE lace shawl pattern out there and leave it in comment on her blog. She is giving away an amazing shawl.

I think this dishcloth pattern belongs with my EASY AND IMPRESSIVE category. Right up there with Top Down raglans and socks. Any pair of straightforward socks with steal your heart away yarns. Do you have an easy and impressive favorite pattern? I'd love to compile a list. OH! Maybe I'll have a sidebar!


I'll talk to you in the comments. :)

Trading Places

1) Al's lace top didn't fit her. Too big. Seemed a shame. Who knew I'd be the perfect size fit for it! It is comfortable cotton and gorgeous.
I traded her for a top down raglan I made a year ago that is, well, too small for me! Phew, bye bye Waste police.

2) The still waters canoe image was taken this week. I know many would trade me for still waters, this weekend. I'd trade Long Chicago winters with anyone in the south, but it wouldn't be fair. I wouldn't trade if the hurricanes were part of the package. Good luck to any of you, that will suffer through it. Be safe and knit on.

3) I've traded some nap time for knit time too this week. I have the purple cardigan going, (you'll see it soon) and a ball band dishcloth. I needed a quick fun dishcloth fix for some reason this week. It is making me wierdly happy!

4) I'm trading breakfast with dinner tonight. I know that lots of you do this. It won't be cold cereal or anything. I won't trade taste for time. It will involve some bacon and pancakes.

5) I'm not trading allegiances. The Cubbies need rest right now, and the hurricane coming to the South means they get an extra rest day. I've been hoping for a lucky break. I feel you need some Luck to win the Series. It isn't that I wished the hurricane on anyone, but if it has to be.....and we have to take an extra day off.......well, I believe in my little Cub heart that such things are part of the destiny of winning. Something we haven't seen in ...you know.... 100 years.

6) I really am setting a deadline of this weekend to trade my early, learning experience knits into something useful. Perhaps there is a play being written that would involve early knitting disasters as part of the costumes.......Let me know if there is!

Trades, what do you think?





I'll talk to you in the comments. :)

Irisheyes knit together

If iirisheyes Al and irisheyes Lynn were chilly knitting with me on the porch today, they hid it well. ( I can't give up the outside porch knittng yet. Maybe I'll see how long I can keep the outside knitting going this year.)

As the hostess I offered them 100% indulgence for nourishment. They may have been chilly, but they were all sugared up. We got a little giddy. Now local bakery GLADSTONES sold me decadent cupcakes. The very kind that CAKESPY is always showing off. Lynn choose the coconut lemon with lemon filling, Al and I split the Mocha and the Chocolate with chocolate pocket , gritless frosting and chocolate sprinkles. There was tea, diet coke and coke as well. No wonder we had a good time.

Lynn is knitting some baby socks. I can't even tell you about the baby, because not only is it illegal due to HIPPA violations but it is too sad to even share with you .It would break all your sweet knitting hearts into thousands of pieces at once.

Onto cheerful: her cabled sweater sleeve. She's knitting Central Park Hoodie in this gorgeous blue speckled yarn. She says if she sizes it a bit off, it is okay, one of the 3 women who live in her house will get it. Way to take the pressure off LYNN!

Lastly I show you her new knit bag. Now before you go thinking she's gone goth, she didn't realize the gorgeous little flowers are really skulls. She says it ruined it for her to discover this. Oh, I say its seasonal and it is so darling.

Lynn and AL's knitting inspired me today. Have you been inspired lately?

September things......

One of my favorite bloggers Lynne, asked : do you wear the things you knit? Well, I'm wearing the practice sweater today. I am including a close up of the puppy buttons. Sunny at the cleaners charged me 3.00 dollars to sew the 7 buttons on. 3.00 for peace of mind. What a bargain.

I have worn practice sweater all day without even a thought of a button mishap. The awful sound of a button hitting the floor and breaking my heart won't be happening here. Nope. Call me a cheater... .I am so HAPPY!

The acrylic practice sweater doesn't itch one bit. I have a sleeveless shirt on underneath. If I make the real sweater with the birthday washable merino heathered purple wook, I may change a few things. The sleeves are beyond roomy. I could hide a BOX of kleenex up my sleeve. Oh and I am going to look in Knit and Tonics new book Close Knits. Has anyone seen it yet? She's a top down raglan lover.

So Lynne, I am happiest when I can wear something I knit. It has been a long learning curve for me. I'm thinking of parting with a few early knits that are truly terrible. I know, a bad round of golf wouldn't upset a golfer. Admitting that I wasted money on the yarn kills me. I wonder if I can actually throw them out.??????

Have you done this? Do you have any tips? How can I stop the pain as I discard them? And yes, they are unfroggable. Help me help me!





I'll talk to you in the comments. :)

Knitting Humor

Here's a little story that I thought was funny. I was very overtired at the time, and it made me belly laugh. So, if you want to save it until you are very overtired, it may be funnier.

Al came home from work one day this summer after a busy ER shift. She has this huge soft spot for the elderly. THe ornerier the better. Perhaps this is because she is in the ER and there is a finite interaction time with such characters. Anyhow, of course respecting HIPPA and all privacy she told the story to us without any names.

A patient was in for many hours and her chief complaint appeared to be, not wanting to spend the night in her nursinng home room. She disguised this with an array of vague and every so slightly potentially serious symptoms. However there weren't any signs of the symptoms. She became increasingly demanding as she realized she was going to be sent back to her home.

As her nurse wheeled her out to the waiting van, to be driven back, she whipped around spyly, pointed her finger and shook it and said, "and that little one, the one who isn't a nurse YET (that would be AL) .......I think she stole my socks!

Can you picture Al, stealing a dirtly little pair of cotton white socks from this lady? IF only the little dismayed lady knew Al can knit socks around her!

Like I said, I was very overtired and found this hysterically funny. I apolgize in advance to anyone who is offended. We have to see some humor in situations or they are too sad to go back to day after day!

Allison : give her back her socks!
I'll talk to you in the comments. :)

Summer lingers on ....Sept 2

Huck and I went to our favorite Lake Michigan beach this morning. The waves were warm, the water was clear, my dog was delighted to be swimming again, and I delighted in throwing the stick to him. Then he wrote irisheyesknitters in the sand and reminded me he'd like to be on the blog today. I try hard not to think he may not be here to swim next year....but the emotion is there and shame on me for ruining a lovely time. We could have 5 more years, who knows?

I finished my raglan cardigan and choose the buttons today. Little dog buttons. I know. I asked my favorite cleaners owner, Sunny, to have it for me by thursday. It is supposed to be 63 then. It is 92 outside right now.

I'm off to the frog pond with an old failure.....rip it rip it! Are you frogging?


I'll talk to you in the comments. :)