Ponchorama

Here's the poncho I'm working on, from Cables Untangled.

I don't have strep throat; it's some sort of bizarre virus. I feel better!

Getting better

I'm sure when I go to the doctor tomorrow he or she will tell me I have strep throat. Friday I was too sick and feverish to do anything but wallow in my own sweat in bed. All day. It was not pretty. I was also too sick to even think about knitting all the great projects I have lined up, which made me a little sad.

I am feeling better! I made a lot of progress on my Red Scarf, because the rest of the weekend I've been feeling well enough to knit, but not well enough to drive anywhere--sort of voluntarily housebound.

I found these great knitting backgrounds tonight: Potter Craft backgrounds.

Stash enhancement

I got my KnitPicks yarn today! Bunches of Swish Superwash to make: a Red Scarf Project scarf, a scarf and possibly a hat for Paul, a Retro Redux Shrug for me, and some CotLin for a Mason-Dixon Chevron Stripes Hand Towel, probably.

I also indulged in a trip to Hobby Lobby last weekend and bought some Sugar n' Cream and some Caron Simply Soft for Paul's Nautie, which is almost done!

K.I.P.

I felt a bit self-conscious knitting this in the cafeteria at work today. Someone asked me if I was making a sock, but otherwise I didn't notice any dirty looks. Heehee! It is Paul's Nautie.

Say cheese

Today I delivered this cute mousy pair to my sister Anna who's just started college. She loved them! They are "Mel's Mouse" from the book Knit 2 Together.



I altered the dress pattern. Here it is, my knitting friends!

Mouse Dress

Worsted yarn, size 6 needles. This is an adaption of the pattern in Knit 2 Together by Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark. Their dress is more of a pencil skirt instead of a full skirt.

CO 40.
Beginning with a knit row, work in St st for 13 rows.

Shape armholes:

Left back (RS)
Row 1: k 12. Move rest of stitches to a stitch holder.
Row 2: p 12
Row 3: k1, yo, k2tog, k9
Work in St st for 3 rows. BO.

Front (RS)
Rejoin yarn, k 16. Move rest of stitches to a stitch holder.
Rows 2-4: work in St st
Row 5: p 2, BO 12, p 2
Rows 6-7: work in St st. BO.

Right Back (RS)
Rejoin yarn. Work in St st for 7 rows. BO.

Sew shoulder seams. Sew back seam halfway up, starting from waist.

Skirt:

Using assorted size 6 circular needles.

Pick up 40 stitches from RS.
Inc row 1: k, kfb (repeat to end)
Knit for one inch.
Inc row 2: k 4, kfb (repeat to end)
Knit for one inch.
Inc row 3: k 5, kfb (repeat to end)
Knit until skirt is 4 inches long.

Skirt ruffle:

Row 1: kfb (repeat to end)
Rows 2-3: knit.
Row 4: BO.

Finishing:

Add a 3/8" ribbon belt (I bought a yard and had enough for a headband too). Use embroidery thread and needle to make belt loopholes in the center back and sides of waist. Add a 1/2" button at the top back of the dress. Weave in all ends.

I also altered the "Art School Mouse" Jacket, to make a shorter, three-quarter-sleeved, girly jacket.

Girl Mouse Jacket

Worsted weight yarn, size 6 needles.

CO 45 sts.
Starting with a knit row, work in St st for 4 rows.
Row 5 (RS): Work to last three sts, yo, k2tog, k 1.
Rows 6-7: St st.

Left Front (WS)
p 13, turn; place remaining 32 sts on holder for back and right front.
Work even for 11 rows.

(WS) Bind off 7 sts purlwise, purl to end—6 sts remain.

Knit 1 row.

(WS) BO purlwise.

Back (WS)
Rejoin yarn and purl across 19 sts from holder; leave remaining 13 sts on holder for right front.

Work even for 13 rows. BO knitwise.

Right Front (WS)
Rejoin yarn and work across remaining 13 sts from holder.
Work even for 12 rows.
(RS) Bind off 7 sts knitwise, work to end—6 sts remain.
Purl 1 row.
(RS) BO knitwise.

Jacket Sleeves:

CO 23 sts.
Beginning with a knit row, work even 10 rows in St st.
Work moss stitch (k1, p1) for 2 rows.
BO in moss pattern.

Finishing:

Sew shoulder seams. Sew sleeve seams. Set sleeves into jacket body and sew seams. Add 1/2" button to jacket front. Weave in all ends.

Hello!

250th Post

Big Elvis Update

Very briefly, I met Elvis Costello tonight!! Paul and I were walking on the side of the symphony building when I saw someone get out of a car who I thought I recognized as Steve Nieve, who has played piano with Elvis since the beginning. And then we saw Elvis.

About four people hightailed it over with albums and papers for him to sign. Someone got their picture taken. Paul, noticing that I was getting no attention, told Elvis, "She's got posters of you all over her house!" Elvis looked over with a "huh?" expression. After he was done signing, I asked, "Can I shake your hand?" He shifted his suit jacket from his right arm to his left and shook my hand and smiled. Awesome.

The concert was really good. Elvis was really belting them out. He sounded operatic with the symphony. The first half began with Il Sogno Suite, a classical piece he wrote based on A Midsummer Night's Dream. Then he sang with the symphony.

Sometimes I drive myself crazy trying to recall exact songs that were sung at concerts, so in the calmer symphony setting, I wrote 'em down this time. Some were orchestra-esque and others jazzy. The songs he sang were:

1. All This Useless Beauty
2. Still Too Soon to Know
3. The Girl in the Other Room
4. The Birds Will Still Be Singing
5. Still
6. Green Shirt
7. Shipbuilding
8. Veronica
9. Watching the Detectives
10. My Flame Burns Blue
11. She
12. God Give Me Strength
13. I Still Have That Other Girl
14. Accidents Will Happen
15. Scarlet Tide
16. Couldn't Call It Unexpected no. 4 (without mike)

Gray Mouse

Tiny buttons completed the jacket. All clothes are removeable. Gray Mouse and Brown Mouse may be gifts for my sister who just started college.


The garter stitch scarf was knit from a scrap of wool yarn.

Elvis

Elvis Costello's playing with the Nashville Symphony this Sunday! I love the symphony, the symphony hall, and even more, I love Elvis C.!! My fantastic boyfriend got us tickets. Thanks, Paul! I am so looking forward to a wonderful evening.

Here's Dodger while I knit on the couch and watched terrible daytime courtroom shows on Labor Day. Somehow this is a relaxing position.

Happy Labor Day

Brown mouse in her skivvies.