Finishing thy name is me

Two skirts for A with another cut out waiting to be sewn this week. There is also a skirt for me, but I'm having issues getting the hem just right since it is an a-line skirt. Mom is supposed to help me the next time I see her. Hmm, I have a party next weekend that it might be fun to wear it too. I'll have to bug her.



Now, aprons, aprons everywhere. Two are for me and one is for a friend. I'm wearing mine. I like the pattern and they would be fast to make if you sew at anything resembling a normal speed. (I sew like I knit, very slowly) They do make me look a bit large perhaps, but they'll be comfy even if I eat a lot. I picture the yellow one with purple flowers over a Mrs. Cleaver style 50s dress. I could wear it with some high heeled shoes and my pearls. I would be resplendent as I made M and the boys from work some martinis while they waited for the rack of lamb to finish.




















Next up, sushi anyone? For some reason this took me six months to finish. I'm not really sure why. The body of the clutch (they call it a wallet, but it is 7" x 4-5" to me that is a clutch) has been knit for quite some time. The sushi were giving me a little bit of a headache since I knit tightly and my cast on row was causing them to pucker when felted. They looked more like little oddly colored breasts. I just needed a break from it I guess. Overall the project was fun and I love the way the 220 felts. I'm obviously not a master sushi chef, but it's not bad for an amateur.

I have a few projects on the horizon in my get new things by finishing things I already have started/bought. I've been pretty good about not buying new stuff, yet I will soon have a new skirt and if I can buckle down maybe I can get my sweater done before next winter. The weather here will most likely not dip too far below freezing (during waking hours) for the remainder of the season. Other projects in the works include, but are not limited to an Asian style shirt for me in red brocade, yoga pants in black organic cotton, a purple felted bracelet bag, kitty pi inspired cat bed, and yes I am still working on the damnable hollow log for the woodins to live in. This may end up and Easter or even a birthday (mid summer) present.

I also have some red Regia sock yarn that has been calling me with a siren song so sweet that resistance has only been possible because one of my knit picks size 1 circular needles has, after much use, developed a little rough spot. Since I have decided that I don't care for knitting one sock at a time on dpns, I like dpns for other things, this has prevented even the most rudimentary of gage swatching. I can't pay shipping for one stinkin' needle and since I can't purchase anything that is not a necessity.... You can see my problem. I can consider the needle a necessity, but that is about as far as I can stretch it and I hate paying shipping.

There are perhaps other things lying around undone, scrubs for A, for example. We shall not speak of these things until more of the above list is done. Hopefully soon I will have more FOs for pictures. I could also post pics of UFOs. I'll work on taking more pictures soon.

An effort

So I am going to attempt to reduce my purchasing. Lately I have been getting all sorts of things that I want, many of which were needed. Some of which were not. I now sit here surrounded by UFOs of more than just the knitty kind. I have four skirts, one that is even for me, cut out waiting to be sewn. I have fabric for three aprons, two for me, waiting to be cut and sewn. There are logs and woodins and sweaters and sock yarn and that mystery felting project all just waiting. Several of these need only a small amount to be finished. Just a smudge as A would say. There is also my new video game Legend of Zelda The Phantom Hourglass to be finished. I'm about halfway done and I would say that this and my daughter's Lego Star Wars game have contributed to some other projects' neglect. Sweaters don't have rewards until you finish the whole thing. Even if it is just an electronic boat prow or extra heart container that makes you harder to kill.

The theory here is that if I finish my projects I will have new things without actually purchasing anything else. We in the US have so much stuff. Generally in our house we try to mostly upgrade rather than just aquire new, new things, although it does happen. Really we have everything we need and our wants are few. Not a lot of keeping up with the Joneses here. That said I have a weakness for textiles, whether it be woolen or plant, woven or waiting to be knit. I see the potential and next thing I know I'm at the register. The plan is to avoid stores that sell anything other than food for a couple of months and see how I do.

Today, however, is a day for laundry, mopping, and the cleaning of fish tanks. I have a few other things going on as well. I will have some knitting time later. Perhaps I can force myself to pull out the sewing machine this evening and get started on some of that too.

Does the new season of Survivor start tonight?

Christmas Hangover

Here is what I have been working on. Firstly the FO. An IPod cozy for M. I am really happy with how it turned out and I love the fact the he wanted the funky lime buttons. This is the first time he has wanted/asked for anything knitted. The lighting isn't great in the photos with this being winter it's dark when he's home so no sunlight. I used a tiny bit of three colors of Cascade 220, blue, black, and reddish brown. It's just a 2x2 rib with the button flap holes made by well placed yo k2togs. He really liked it. I could change it up pretty easily if I wanted something

a little different. I'm still thinking on how to add a pocket for ear buds with out having to do any sewing. He didn't want a pocket on his so it wasn't an issue for him.



Here are woodins or at least they will be once they are felted, have eyes and tails and stuffing. I made them in different colors. Three colors as a matter of fact I must have a thing for threes. We have a green woodin, two white woodins and two brown woodins The white and brown woodins will have the leaf tails and the green woodin will have a twig tail. They were going to be for A for xmas, but obviously they didn't make it. I'm just going to give them to her when I finish the set. The last part of the knitting is....


the log that they live in. I know it looks just like a hollow log doesn't it. I'm getting ready to switch it to some circular needles since it keeps trying to jump off my dpns in my knitting bag. I have made a few modifications to the pattern on the woodins. Mine are different heights due to leg length. I wanted them to be more unique. I also used Knit Picks wool of the Andes instead of Elann.com Peruvian Highland Wool that the pattern called for. The bonus was that I had to order a book to make free shipping. You know 'cause I saved money that way. I would have gotten the book anyway eventually.

"Bob"bles and Cables

Here he is in his sweater. He is lying there because of the sweater. Bob wouldn't actually walk with it on, only crawl a little. I'm glad it's done and he's glad the photos are done so he doesn't have to wear it any longer.

A's socks are coming along nicely and I have a hankerin' to make myself some more socks. I've been wearing the pair I finished last year quite a bit and wish they fit better. They are a little big. I have thought about frogging them and starting over, but I think I'll make a new pair first and see how I feel.

I'm going to be out in the cold tomorrow night and now I wish I could knit faster. Mittens would be really helpful and all I have are some thin gloves. Really what I would like is fingerless gloves that have flip up mitten tops. I just don't have that kind of time at the speed I knit. Oh well, I guess that's what pockets are for.

The sweater is also further along. I had a dream about spinning the other night. The gist of it seemed to be that I need to spin more so I can get better. Probably good advice.