12 rows

I made a special trip to get my clapotis yarn wound into balls so I could start it. I hope to work on it when I ride in my mom's car to Chicago in a few weeks.

Yarn: Artyarns Ultramerino 8, 100% merino wool
Color: 132, hand painted
Needles: size 7

Karaoke reprise

Voila! Fetching mitts for me, made in Karaoke yarn again.

Leslie visited this weekend, which was mucho fun! We had a sort of knit-along going with the Fetching mitts. I showed her how to do cables, so who knows what all interesting projects she will come up with now because everytime Leslie learns a knew skill she takes off running with it: purling, crocheting, felting.

Now that it's legitimately feeling cooler, I feel that I've run out of time to finish the Lotus Blossom Tank and wear it this year. I don't have a sense of urgency about it anymore and I haven't done anything to it since my last posting.

Short rows

I have to learn how to do short rows to finish up the straps of the Lotus Blossom Tank. This picture is from the back of the tank, ready for some short row action.

Mo' monkeys

This is a get well card my sister Abby sent when Dodger was sick a month ago. Isn't it cute? I also like it because it closely resembles the faces of the sock monkeys I make.

Introducing Leslie

Well, introducing her knitting. Here's a plethora of baby knits she made for an old friend who's having a bebe: some bibs, a crocheted burpcloth (I think. Leslie?), and my fave, an adorable teddy bear!

I'm so happy Leslie's an enthusiastic knitter. When she visits me in Nashville it's like a BFF knitting retreat!

Weekend

Is it the weekend now? It's not? You're sure?

Progress report: Lotus Blossom Tank

All I have left is knitting the back, the straps, and sewing the straps to the front! The lace section on the bottom goes all the way around my torso, and I have knit the front panel.

Roosevelt AKA Rosey

Behold, the glory that is Rosey Grier! He is famous for indulging in fiber arts to relax before he played NFL games.

Did you know Pam Grier is his cousin?

Did you know he jammed his finger in Sirhan Sirhan's gun, preventing more shots from being fired after RFK was shot?

Did you know he was probably the biggest man ever in the thread aisle at the local craft store?

Fin

Mitts again

Fetching mitt number one for Abby to wear in Chicago before it gets too cold.

The second one has quite different color stripes. The yarn is Southwest Trading Company's Karaoke, half soy silk, half wool.

Gee's Bend here!

The Gee's Bend quilt stamps are at the post office! They keep them in the drawers by the cash register--you have to ask for them, they are not displayed on the wall (like you see if you go to the Frist P.O.).

Viva la dog park

Sniffing at Centennial Dog Park, with bonus pic of Dodger at home with his ears flipped back from chasing a reflection of light.

Sock monkey was once young too

This weekend my sister Anna and I looked at disorganized family photos. We saw one of a ceiling in 1978; I'm not kidding. Some serious editing of the photo collection is urgently needed.

I noticed my o-riginal sock monkey, looking rather well stuffed, and with his felt eyes intact, in the corner of this photo of my great-grandmother and me. I'm just a few weeks away from turning one year old in the photo (December 1979). Sock monkey is very old!

Lotus lace

Here's the Lotus Blossom Tank so far, about seven inches long. I surprisingly got a lot of knitting done at my parents' house this weekend. I usually take my knitting and get nothing done because I'm distracted by the people, dogs, and cat.

The first two lace repeats were with the extra ball of yarn I picked up to make the tank longer. It is the same brand and make, but a different dye lot, and in fact, has a totally different feel, not so silky soft, more crunchy. I think the color is very close, and I don't regret forgoing the two-hour drive to get matching yarn from the place I got the first batch of yarn.

Sock Monkeys Gone Wild

This is the newest crafty chica I want to copy, Heidi Kenney. Stuffed toy bread slices coming soon!


Thank goodness my friend Rene is on top of all the sock monkey trends for me. Check out this Sock Monkey formal gown!