Bragging Rights!

---

Okay, so about, oh, a long time ago, I taught Youngest Daughter to knit. She wasn't enthused, although she's been crocheting for years. She works as a companion to an elderly lady in a home, so has lots of down time. And she's been knitting. Obviously. Now, understand I only taught her the knit stitch. She asked one time about the purl and I can't remember what I told her. The other day she said I needed to show her how to bind off. I gave her verbal instructions and she said she needed to be shown. HA! Yesterday she came home with this scarf.

She made the pattern up, didn't follow a chart or written instructions.... It's 6 ft 9 in long. I'd never have the patience for something that long.

I'm proud!

Let's see, my dog scarf is now 19 inches long. I switched from Rabbit Tracks to three rows of knitting with one row of dropped stitch. It's really looking nice... Pics soon.

And I cast on the second Mickey Mouse Waterloose Sock. Got through the first pattern repeat. Six more repeats till I start the heel flap.

Not sure what today has in store. I have errands to run, and I want to spin some more of the mohair to fill up the bobbin. I think that's destined to be another scarf...although lots of people don't like the fuzziness of mohair against their skin....

---

Knitting Iris has some absolutely stunning photos from behind a frozen waterfall.

More Easter toys...crochet this time!

Aren't these socks gorgeous. Note she said it was a difficult pattern!

One Sock Syndrome

---

I finished up the first Mickey Mouse Waterloose Sock yesterday! Yeah Me! Will cast on second

one today to avoid Second Sock Syndrome (SSS). I'm happy with how they turned out and think they may be the socks I wear on the flight to Tennessee.


I got some more rows done on the doggy scarf. No not the scarf for my dog, the scarf I'm making with her fluff! It's nine inches long and I really am seriously thinking of doing some garter and drop stitches as the center of the scarf. Then break yarn, knit up another section of Rabbit Tracks and Kitchener it on the end..... That's the idea right now at 7:13 AM on Sunday, February 10, 2008. The plan may change, without warning, at any minute.

Not much else done yesterday. Oh, the normal, cooking, washing dishes, changing diapers, but nothing else on the fiber front.

One of the "bad" things about reading other blogs is the book reviews. People mentioning a good book, or suggesting a good book.... My list of "To Read" grows daily. Speaking of reading, I didn't use my make shift book holder to read my Nora Roberts novel. I listened to my current audio book instead. Taking the time to adjust after each page was too much. I read so fast that it became a choice of either reading or knitting. Knitting and listening won. This time.

Talked with 3rd Son and his wife last night. Plans are to go to the Ripley's Believe It or Not Aquarium in Gatlinburg, TN while I'm there. Too cool. I love zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens.... And talk of going to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. I hope my grandson likes fish! I just remembered I have a few "loose" fish left over from when I was knitting the tessellating fishes. Maybe I'll make him a couple stuffed fish!

---

Wanna knit some Easter Eggs? And there are more patterns for other little toys (Christmas Stockings, Little Cakes for Tea and some cute little kids).

Karen shared some very neat pictures of gargoyles. Go look, they aren't ugly and they tell a story!

Masks and Chows

Eldest Granddaughter brought home her Friday folder of weekly accomplishments from school. They made masks for Mardi Gras this week. I'm really happy about how well she is adjusting to the new school and seems to feel good about it all, and the class feel good about her.

I got over six inches done on the scarf made from my dog's fluff. As I was working on it I kept wondering where the bits of color came from and then remembered I'd spun it with some wool I'd gotten in a swap. Hence the bits of orange and olive. I sure hope dog fluff blocks well, cuz this will have to be blocked. Had to use several pins to stretch it out enough to see the stitch pattern. Think the Rabbit Tracks can pass for Dog Tracks?


Hmmm I'm wondering about using something like glittergirl used in between stretches of Bunny Tracks on the scarf... What do you think?

I did a bit of spinning yesterday, giving myself a treat and working on more mohair. Knitting today has to be sock spiced up with scarf. Yet what I really want to do is sit down and read my Nora Roberts book, Seventh Son. She is a good story teller! I don't know if my book holder will hold a paperback well. Seems to me I remember it didn't work so well. It's too light weight to hold it's own with a strongly bound paperback.... And too wide to hold it. Hmmmmmm....

Necessity is the mother of invention:This is the little wire rack my printer sits on. The book fits nicely in the space and is At just the right distance for me to read while knitting. Turning pages will be a pain, but, hey....if everything was perfect what would have to bitch about???

---

If you've not seen Dot's blog, check it out. She's a fabric artist and always has something inspiring to share. It is the home of the becoming very famous, Dotee Dolls.

Farm-Witch has some endearing photos of a just born lamb.

Berocco has a new-to-me sock called Comfort Sock. It's 50% nylon and 50% acrylic. Anyone have any idea why the nylon is there? Don't need it for strength and durability like it's needed for wool sock yarns.... For those that saw, "EEEwh, acrylic socks!!" I have been wearing the socks I made from LionBrand MicroSpun and enjoy them. With that said, I haven't worn them at all when my feet would get overly warm and perspire.

Squeeky Wheel....

After reading Amy's blog for a very long time, now, and admiring all the wonderful cards she makes for her family, I whined that I wanted one. I got one! And as usual with Amy's cards, this one is very much me. When I joined the Air Force way back in '74, I was stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ. I'd never been to a desert in my life. Culture shock. In 1979, after being married, had a child, I got orders for Anchorage, AK. So my little family and I headed North to Alaska. Three years later we headed for Texas. That was really culture shock. I'd never lived in the south. I grew up as a damn Yankee. I didn't even know that half the population (or more) of the United States went to church regularly on Wednesday nights!

After 18 months in Texas, due to my dad's health, we got a humanitarian reassignment back to the desert in 1983. And have been here ever since. I so totally understand the coyote in Amy's card! Thank You, Amy! You've told the story of much of my adult life in that picture! (BTW, the colors are much brighter on the original!)

Yesterday was a spinning day. Finished another bump of the Rambouilette. Three more to go. This will be wound off the bobbin, washed and blocked today.

We brushed the dog yesterday, my Youngest Son and I. Soooo much fluff. YS asked if I was going to save it and spin it. Which reminded me of the huge ball of spun dog I already had! The answer to him, btw, was, "No." I have enough to spin, and I don't anticipate the source of dog fluff to disappear any time soon.

Well, while reading blogs today, I read with joy, Allison's SpinDyeKnit blog. Allison's blog is so restful and comfortable to read. Like a cup of tea and a deep breath. She has a few free patterns on her blog, all with a story of how the design came about. I saw the Rabbit Tracks scarf and immediately thought of the spun dog fluff I have.... What a great long term project..... So, I may just have a new project to CO. It'll definitely be long term as lace and I are not very good friends and I can only take it in short doses. This is a very easy pattern so perhaps...

---

This is just way too cool. Each panel of animation is knitted and there are over 700 of them. Watch to the very end, and you can see the numbers in the bottom center of the panel. The group is Tricot Machine. (F, turn the sound off and just watch the pictures. It's in French.)