Some WIPs and FOs for you

Mostly WIPS. This here is a picture of my first attempt at blocking! It was truly necessary to do so, as this shirt is so tiny, there was no way in hell I was going to be able to seam it without doing so. This little tank is for my dad's Blythe doll, Bridget (see previous posts for explanation of 'my dad's Blythe doll'). This is sport weight yarn (Dale Stork), on size 1 needles. I've never knitted anything so tiny before! The shirt and skirt (not pictured) only took one afternoon to knit up; it will probably take me about a week to actually sew everything together. I'm also making a cloche-style hat to go with.

Now on to more normal-sized things. Here is a finished legwarmer, pattern courtesy of Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I probably posted about this before, but I'm hoping that if I post about it again, I may actually be motivated to knit the other goddamn legwarmer. They are soft as can be, although I wish I had learned to knit on DPNs for this project, as knitting these bad boys on circs is a major pain in the ass. I had to cast on 12 extra stitches, and it's still so tight I don't even know what to do with myself. Oh well.

Here's the Puzzle Scarf by Kirsten Kapur of Through the Loops (link in sidebar). I dig this scarf, but again I'm posting about it because the project has stalled and I really want to finish it! I have so many other projects that I want to cast on, but I don't want to come down with startitis. I need to post about more FOs! I really want to start the Lacy Shrug from Kelly Maher at 10 Feet High, and I also want to do the Ballet Camisole by Alexandra Virgiel (pattern on MagKnits). They would make a cute matching ensemble to start the school year with. I also need to re-knit the Green Gable, which I frogged almost entirely due to the fact that it was about 4 inches too big around. I love the yarn and the pattern, so why am I stalling? I don't know. I just need to DO IT!

This is quite the rambling post, isn't it? I feel like I'm throwing a pep rally for myself.

Finally, here is the Crochet Crop Cardigan by Monica Brown at M1 Designs. I'm really happy with the way it came out. It makes my boobs look nice and big, and it's comfy and I like the color. I used 5 skeins of Cotton Fleece. The shell pattern at the bottom and on the sleeves makes me happy.

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Currently, my two kittens Carlos and Joey are careening around my house, into walls and each other and poor old Tino. They are insane. It's sort of like having two teenage boys in the house, except they don't talk, which is kind of nice. They really enjoying swinging from the sheer curtains in the Banana's room, and Joey has also found out that it's really fun to scrape the paint off the door jam in our breezeway. I come out every morning to find a little pile of white paint chips littering the carpet (no lead, don't worry), the water bowl is overturned and the floor is sopping wet, book are scattered about, etc. I finally got smart and got them a COVERED litter box; before that, they would manage to scoop at least one third of the litter out onto the floor. Maybe they'll calm down once they're fixed. God, I hope so.

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So when my mother passed away last year, we donated her body to a medical school in NJ for research purposes. When they are done with the donations, they cremate them and send your loved ones back to you. We just got Ma back last week, and my father doled out a portion of Ma to both me and my brother (since my father is forever an engineer, we both got exactly half a cup o' Ma). So now Ma is in a Ziploc baggie on my dresser. I was trying to come up with an appropriate vessel to store her in, and my friend Jeb had a brilliant idea. When Ma died, Dad let me have this tarnished old copper watering can that leaks. Why not keep her in there? I like it. The watering can reminds me of Ma, and reminds me of how Ma also took such good care of her house plants. I have one houseplant that is from a clipping of hers, a Christmas cactus. It hasn't bloomed yet, but I haven't killed it yet either, so that's good. But I digress. I'm keeping Ma (in the baggie) in the watering can. It's appropriate. And it's comforting to have her around.

Banana saw the ashes and heard us talking about them, and so she asked how the gray stuff was Grandma. I explained cremation as best as I could, then we got into this conversation about God and Jesus and Mary and Joseph and heaven and what you do with people when they die and all that stuff. She listened intently and seriously, and then said:

"Mom, I have one question for you."

"What is it, honey?"

"How do you spell 'Joseph'?"

I swear, that kid always knows the best things to say in any situation. She also asked me later why people turn into gray powder when they 'get all fired up'. Yet another question for the ages. I feel sometimes like I live with the Sphinx.

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If you haven't already, go read the latest post by Laurie at Crazy Aunt Purl (link in the side bar, I'm too lazy to do imbedded links). It's really brilliant. I truly admire people who are able to succinctly explain what I sometimes have wandering around inside my skull.

That's it for now. Thanks for stopping by. :o)

An FO and 2 WIPs

Hello all. I am somewhat fatigued, and I have no photos pour vous, but I'm posting anyhow because it's been awhile and I feel like it. So there.

I finally finished the Crochet Crop Cardigan by Monica Brown. I'm pretty gosh darn pleased with it too, I might add. The color is good, the shape is good, the fit is better than I expected, and all that good stuff. The pattern originally called for 4 buttons, but I had 3 big buttons that looked really good, so I sewed those puppies on, and there you have it. I used 5 skeins of Brown Sheep Company Cotton Fleece, so the cost of the sweater was under $50 if you include the buttons. I find this to be a tremendous bargain for something so darn cute. One of these days, when I get my lazy butt around to it, I'll post some pictures. Monica's patterns are really cute - you should go check them out! Very well written too, which is always a crowd pleaser.

I found out my friend Gloria is preggers, so I am making a Baby B.A.G.S. (big-ass granny square) and the Heartbreakingly Cute Baby Kimono from Mason-Dixon Knitting. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to avoid ginormous loops of yarn on your edges when you are casting on extra stitches using the backward loop method? I'm finished casting on for the sleeves, and I think I'll be able to hide the extra yarn in the seams, but it would have been nice to avoid this altogether. Let me know.

I also found out that my next-door-neighbor's grandson's wife is pregnant with twins. Looks like I'll be making the Tiramisu Baby Blanket by Alicia Paulson for those babies. I really like to crochet, but I've found that I'm not a huge fan of following crochet patterns (except for Monica's, because they are short and sweet). Many crochet patterns are eighty bajillion pages long, because it's possible that you need to write instructions for each darn row, unlike knitting. I like Alicia Paulson's blankie because it is literally one page long and the repeat is over two rows and it is just easy and it looks pretty and it looks complicated too, so I can impress people. And that's what it's really all about. Okay, not really, but it's fun to impress people anyways.

I need to get started on my Green Gable again. I put that on hold for a while as I finished the Crop Cardi. I have a bunch of summery tops I want to knit, and it would be nice to finish them in a season when I could actually wear them, rather than waiting until next year. However, I'm feeling the afghan urge coming on again. I started a ripple, and I really want to make a Vintage Stripe Afghan by Bella Dia, and I have an idea for a nine-square granny using 9 different variegated yarns that I think will look pretty nifty when all's said and done. And I have to crochet 3 baby blankies. Woo. But all that double crochet, it's all so easy and fast and satisfying...

Maybe I just won't work anymore. I'm sure WT won't mind if I just sit my ass on the sofa 24/7 and crochet afghans.

Har dee har har.

Another reason that I have not posted for a little while is because all of my attention and energy is being sucked into Ravelry. I can't wait until everybody can join. It's so fun. I'm not even sure why it's fun, it just is.

This will probably be my last post until next week, as the fam and I are going to Santa Fe on Thursday. I am very much looking forward to this. We'll be staying with my aunt and uncle (free lodging), and my cousin will be there with her kids (free babysitting). So it'll be good. Not to mention they're only a stone's throw from Taos - can you say Georgia O'Keeffe? Like one of my favorite artists ever? Dude, I so hope we get to visit Ghost Ranch. That would totally make my day. My week, even. Bah, it'll be fun no matter what.

My head hurts. I'm going to bed. Thanks for reading my rant. Talk to youse guys soon.