The Border Patrol and the Seam Police

"oh" - say that in the soft astonishment voice you have. The one Dorothy uses when she lands in the house and murders the Wicked witch of the East.



It's done.


Well, I thought it was. When I went to photograph it this morning, I decided I didn't like that one seam so I opened it up and will fix it tonight when I don't have to get ready for work and I don't have a headache. The Border Patrol and the Seam Police should be happy with this one.

This is for my neighbor. Here's the stats: Yarn: Patons Astra Crochet Hook: Size D (remember: Passion for itty bitty sts...) Date Started: Labor Day Weekend or so... but I put it down to work on other things and did more than half of it the past two days. Pattern: Designed exclusively by me. Yes, if you want the pattern, leave a comment. I will write it out and e-mail it to you. Each ball of yarn made 6 squares and each square measured 5 1/2 inches so you can figure out how much you need if you used Astra. Astra is a sport weight yarn and I've had this in my stash for years. It was left over from a blankie I made for a little girl who is now in sixth grade. I love the border and I think it came out really nice. The recipient of this is due to arrive within two weeks or so.

Next project is a knitted one and I am deciding between three patterns...it'll be white, Cotton Fleece "Cottonball" that is on order and it'll be one piece, geometric. I'm between skinny ribbons, diamonds or squares. In order of current preference, it looks like the diamond pattern is winning. This baby is due Christmas Day.

The Tofutsie socks look the same, by the way.

I'm going to rip out a mistake in my little Wallaby and then restart, just above the ribbing, with the correct number of sts....... I am sorry, it just has to be perfect. This is why I don't sew. note to self: make curtains for sewing practice.

Well, time to get ready for work and rouse the younguns for school. Hope you enjoyed a little crochet in the knitting blog.

LI Fair and the Border Patrol

Well, first a quick update on the baby blanket. Sorry about the bad pictures, it's still dark out and I didn't tweak them because it's late and we have alot for show n tell today! It started out like the picture on the left and finished like the picture on the right. In fact, I was about 6" from the edge and I saw that I had put two dcs where one should have been. I knew that the Border Patrol wouldn't like that so I had to take out an entire round. I think I'm actually going to make the border bigger. Other than that and a few dangling strings, it's done. Yippee!! Onward...

Speaking of crochetting and crafts in general, I went to the LI Fair at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. I am going to try and enter something next year so that I can whine and moan when something less nice than mine wins the blue ribbon. First off, lemmie show you this:

Is that cute or what? It's a cake!!

Here are some lovely quilts. I thought alot of them were very nice but that may be because this is something that I can't do. Here's a first prize knitted thing. Not a good picture but it was fuzzy and they didn't have that kinda yarn at the turn of the century. It's kinda odd that it won. They changed the rules a bit but still....

This was also a blue ribbon winner. I loved the colors and the pattern! Nice job!

Here are some of the crochetted afghans. I wasn't overly impressed. I really thought that only a handful were truly exceptional, I didn't agree with the judges. Some were very nice but they weren't unique. The blue flowered thing is actually a flag but you can't see that from the way that it was hung. (Hard to display them all, of course.) There were alot just basic granny, no nicer than my baby blanket. I did enter this one year and lost to something truly mediocre. The colors were ok but the workmanship was shoddy, the edges were all uneven! Oh well...I'll try next year, perhaps.

They had old time furniture and even sewing machines! And Stoves!!

Too cute!

Punch and Judy were there, too. The puppeteer was excellent!! Punch's baby has the face of the person in the painting, "The Scream". Gotta love it. He put on a half hour show and the kids didn't budge! Neither did I. It was my favorite part of the entire fair.

Well, time for work!

New Pix - Crochet Time!

Good Morning, another rainy weekend. We were supposed to cover our pool today but I don't think that that is going to happen. It's 64 and rainy and husband is off at work for about three hours. Perfect knitting weather!

The baby blanket is currently underway. I can make a square in only a few minutes and it's much faster for me to crochet a baby blanket than it is to knit one. I have one to finish by October and one for a December baby that is due on Christmas Day. I think these squares have just moved up to be my current portable project. The yarn is Paton's Astra that I had from a previous project. The pattern is nothing special, my own. This will be a boy blanket and I may do the edges in baby blue, haven't decided, that or white. I lean towards white on these things for some reason. I figure I have to make 36 squares, probably this will be 6x6, each square is about 6 inches across plus a small edging around the entire thing to even it up.

Meanwhile, in sock land.. do they look ANY bigger??? I guess they do. I am nearly ready to start the heel flaps. Being the baby blanket is mindless crochet, I can do that when I'm tired. As for the socks, my goal is to get to the heels today and then get up to the foot (two at once, feet?) no later than Monday. If I get up early enough every day next week, I can probably sail through the feet in two days. Then, I can screw up the toes and leave it to age properly for two or three months along with the Jaywalkers.

They are very pretty though. It's just the constant ribbing takes alot out of me...and I knit continental because I am really a crocheter at heart. Next pair of socks will be big man socks. I just haven't decided whether or not to make them out of wool. I am missing wool a bit. The baby blanket is acrylic, the socks are Tofutsies and the Wallaby is cotton/acrylic. I may need a Cherry Tree Hill or a STR (I have Mudslide on hand!!) for a wool fix.

Pictures of my sock family and staff are coming. Please stay tuned.

No New Picture Friday, Part Deux

Here it is, Friday. I am really slacking in posting. I've just been so swamped, kids are back at school, house is a mess, I'm enjoying my new washing machine. I don't even know if I told you about that or not, that's how much my head is spinning.

Well, cliff notes: Old 15 year old washing machine crapped out and we got a new one. It has all these nifty settings and I love it. Washing clothes has never been so much fun! So much fun that I have been neglecting the rest of the house.

There is junk everywhere. I have to call 1-800-GOT-JUNK and have them come in and throw everything out. But, there is just so much that I want and need. I just need a bigger place to keep my stuff.

I haven't been doing all that much knitting. I will show you some pictures tomorrow but don't get your hopes up. Things have been kinda the same. I am not knitting at lightening speed at all.

The Jaywalkers: Still on the back burner.
The Poncho: Still needs to be blocked and fringed.
The Tofutsies: Still knitting the legs, slow going, I tell you.
The Wallaby: Much progress but needs the pouch to be added.
The Baby Blanket: No where near done.
The Baby that will receive the Baby Blanket: 1 month till he comes! (It is a boy!)

AND, I have a nice new camera and no new pictures to show you.

Tomorrow, husband is working in the morning for awhile. I will probably let the kids sleep in until 8 or so and then have some alone time. Maybe even time for an illustrated post!

As for now, kids are jumping all over the place, have to go and watch them and knit some socks!

Called in 'Sock' today...

Well, I called in sick today. I haven't been sick for months but I felt sick this morning and last night so I decided to not go in and rough it in the office. Instead, I'll rough it here at home.

Here's the updates:

Pool Update: Sand delivery is scheduled for "Today or Tomorrow, between 9-3". That's a nice window. I'm parked in the street and a tire is low and I don't know what to do with a flat. I'm helpless when it comes to anything more than checking oil and adding gas. Kids have been signed up for swimming lessons. My son swims in the ocean, under large waves, holding my hand. He has swam across a 3' pool but not really in water over his head all that much. This pool will be over his head. My daughter is afraid of the ocean waves and sometimes won't even stick her feet in. Two summers ago, she swam out there as a mere yearling, last summer, she wanted no part of it. We'll see how she does this year, alot can happen in a year.

Diet Update: I have been eating Nutrisystems and have cheated here and there. I could drink more water on some days and I admit that I am hungry from time to time and squeeze in a cheese stick, a few melba rounds but not an ice cream sundae. I have also used the Chinese Buffet as an excuse to pig out because I cannot control myself when it comes to dumplings. That's like, once a month. Next planned day off is June 14, pre-k graduation night so we'll eat out. That lousy half a pound is back. Two sticks of butter. It's the attack of Gremlins, Part Deux.

Puppy Update: I think we may be done with pee pee in the house...I think I like watching the Dog Whisperer. He showed me how to bite her back. She doesn't do it viciously, she just plays and wants to hold on with her teeth.

Knitting Update: Baby Ripples to Knit, Leisure Arts #3159, #7, Chevron Ripple. It's done and photo is in my brag book! It's ok. I don't like the yarn and the gauge is a little loose and I bound off a little tightly. Ok, ok, it's very, very nice. It's also my first knitted afghan. (I have crocheted tons of them). I like the color, hate the yarn, it's that Caron softee stuff. It splits easily. Next time, Red Heart that new soft one, feels like it's been waxed.

Options Update: Could it be?? Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrreeeeeeeeee's OPTIONS!


I got some extra cables, 40" and 60". I have it in the back of my mind to make my sister in law an afghan for Christmas for her new house. Maybe five panels, like a fisherman knit, two panels of one pattern, three of another. I will design it myself. We'll see how motivated I am.

My little girl cannot contain herself. I am done with the baby blanket and now only have two WIPs. The blue socks, which look now have both legs and gussets complete and need two feet. I am considering doing them together...the other WIP is the hooded raglan for my son which needs one sleeve, to be put together and then one hood. I suppose I could knit the sleeve today. I am not so sure this is going to fit him. He's 5 and I made a 6 - 8 size to be safe but he's grown a few inches since I started around February! I'll have to just make him a Wallaby after all. I haven't heard back from Knitpicks. I did e-mail them and ask if they sent my needles via mule train. That order took like 11 days to get here.

Yarn should be coming today. My daugter can hardly contain herself with excitement. Being we're home today, she keeps looking out the window to see if the priority mail is here yet. She also wants Elizzabetty to come over and help her wind her yarn. She wants a 'Little Red Riding Hood Poncho". I have to admit, for a three year old, that was quite observant of her to relate that pattern with Red.

I think that I will whip out the hooded raglan and see how it's going, photograph it and then see if it'll fit the big boy. Next, I'll be casting on for either the Wallaby for DH, a Wallaby for DS, or the poncho.

Until next time, happy completed baby afghan day to you and may my belly feel better.

Gearing up for the Wallaby!

Well, I've reached a decision today. It's time to make hubby the Wonderful Wallaby that he wants. He's picked his color: Cascade Superwash 220 color number 860. I am considering ordering the yarn from Hello Knitty, being they charge $2.50 to ship and have very good prices. I may order it from Infinite Yarns being they're local and I like to keep the local businesses in business. Let's get a price first!

In any event, I got the yarn coming...I have the pattern in hand...he picked his color... only one more thing is needed! SO....I also treated myself to the Knitpicks Options Needle set today! I got the needles and a few extra cables. I'm wondering if you can remove the needles from the cables and use them as stitch holders? Do they have endcaps to put on? I should've sprung for a spare 0 and 1 while I was at it though, being I'm thinking about making socks two at a time going forward.

I'm also thinking about taking out the pink sock with the mistake. It bothers me. Let me put that on hold for now.......

The blue socks are coming along nicely! Love's always better, the second time around! My frogging skills have really increased. While waiting on the needles and yarn to come in, I'm going to finish the baby blanket. Only a few more rows to go.

So, let's set some goals for ten days ahead:

1. Finish the Blue Socks for the last time.
2. Finish the baby blanket that I haven't shown you yet.
3. At least start the sleeve for Daniel's blue hooded raglan pullover.
4. Ensure that the 10 lbs is gone off of my body.

Yep, I've been hanging at 8-9 lbs for awhile now. Tomorrow is weigh in day and I feel fatter than ever. Tomorrow night is departmental night out. We're going to dinner and then to bowl. Should be fun! (I love Burgers and Beer diet!!! OH MY!) Today I had a yogurt, two meal replacement bars (one for breffie, one for lunch) a salad with lowfat blue cheese dressing and six large croutons (or as my daughter says, "FUTONS") and one cup of fresh strawberries. I'm not hungry but I'm looking forward to dinner. Nutrisystems Chicken Pasta Parm over a large bed of spaghetti squash with two tablespoons of grated cheese. Then, delicious water. Then, for dessert, nutrisystems chocolate bar with the crunchies inside or maybe a blueberry lemon dessert bar which I like. ....

Then, finish the sock!

BTW, did you click over to Elizzabetty's blog? Her weatherpixie needs a new wardrobe, don't you think? What Not to Wear?!