Long weekend: No knitting

The boy's red cabled sweater is slowly progressing. I have but seven rows before I can join the sleeves to the body. The weather has been absolutely beautiful around here so of course we've been out every day. I haven't sat down except to eat since Friday.


Do your neighbors think you're weird? I bet mine do.


Yesterday was the Boy's 6th birthday and he wanted to go to an indoor amusement center. It was, um... amusing? At least the kids had fun. See?

Massive Time Suck

but in a good way. Of course I'm talking about my newest obsession, Ravelry. if you haven't seen it yet, it's an online journal/ project and stash organizational tool/ bulletin board thingy. It's pretty awesome and I can't stay away.

Which is of course distracting my from my current knitting project, the Kid's Cable Sweater. I am currently doing the arms two at once on magic loop. I cannot for the life of me knit more than three rounds in a sitting. I didn't even knit it at all last Wednesday at knitting. I opted instead to knit the second slipper scuff out of the Lamb's Pride bulky. Man, I love Lamb's Pride. It's so soft and warm and I loved the feeling of the scuff pre-felting, but after, well lets just say these go into the loser pile. When I got the yarn at Sheep and Wool, there was only one skein of each color. I was going to do contrasting sole/ insteps before I realized that they're knit in one piece. So scratch that idea. Idea two was to knit each one a different color and do embroidery in the contrasting color. The problem is the two colors felted differently and one is a bit bigger than the other. I don't even want to bother at this point.

Back to the kid's sweater. I'm making this for the Boy knowing that he will not wear it until at least the fall. This is fine, I'm making it a bit bigger since I was hoping to get more than one season out of it. The issue is I know if I put it away until the fall it may not be picked up again. I have to plug away until it's done. No more side projects until this sweater is complete!

P.S., Socks Don't Count.

Randomonium*

I've been tagged by Gina. Whee!

Here's the deal: Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.

Here's my seven random facts:

1. I fell out of a third-story window when I was three. I got up and walked to the front of the house. I didn't have a scratch on me. It's my earliest memory.

2. I have an older brother and sister.

3. I've known my oldest friend since we were two. I still talk to her every week. My second oldest friend I've know since we were five. I'll be in her wedding this fall.

4. I've never quite grown up. I have the same sense of humor as my five year old. I love cartoons.

5. I'm deathly afraid of heights.

6. I used to smoke. A lot. I quit when I was pregnant with The Boy. I still think about smoking, but would never start again.

7. My met my husband when we moved into the same apartment building. He was my upstairs neighbor.

Okay, so I need to tag some peoples, um... I think the ManchVegans are all covered, so if want to play consider yourself tagged.


*Randomonium is the main ingredient for creating monsters in Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. See number 4.

Happy FO Friday!

I finished my Zoe bag!!



This is such a cute bag. It came out a bit bigger than I expected, but I didn't want to put her through a third cycle in the machine. I just love the finished product.

Details:
Pattern: Zoe, by Carolyn Mader (May 2007 Magknits)\
Yarn: Lamb's Pride Worsted, 3 skeins main color, 1 skein contrast for ruffle. I used Red Hot Passion for the bag and Chocolate Souffle for the ruffle.
Started: May 7
Finished: May 15

The only change I made to the pattern was to knit the ruffle in the round instead of flat (I shudder at the idea of purling 280 stitches).

Some before pictures:



Peek-a-boo!



And in use:



Cute, no?

I got nothing

Well, almost nothing at the NH Sheep and Wool this past Saturday. I went there with the idea that I wouldn't buy any yarn unless it had a purpose. I was looking specifically for some lace weight for the Myrtle Leaf shawl and some non-girly sock yarn for the husband. I did manage to find a skein of sock yarn that I liked in greens, yellow, and a salmon pink (not girly), but they had only one. I did find a matching skein of just greens and had the idea that I could do heels and toes in the semi-solid, but the husband vetoed that one like I suspected he would.

I also got a new felted slipper pattern and some yarn to make a pair. I love felting.

The rest of the day was spent fondling yarn, laughing with friends, looking at cute animals, and just enjoying a sunny Saturday outside.





On Sunday my wonderful children took me out to lunch and we bought a new swing set for the kids. We've been shopping for one for a while. I can't wait til it's delivered!


Zoe is done, she's going through the second cycle now. I'm crossing my fingers she doesn't over felt.

Socks!

I finished on Sunday night, but I'm just getting around to posting this FO. I give you, Matt's socks. These are the biggest honkin socks I've knit so far, and they were the fastest*. It took me 12 days start to finish. Not bad.


*With the exception, of course, of the Socks of Doom which were knit on fives. I mean c'mon, fives? Those aren't socks, they're slippers.

Pattern: Basic Men's Sock Pattern
Yarn: Regia Crazy Color #112
Start: April 24
Finish: May 6

I've been trying to finish the sleeves for the Boy's cable sweater, but honestly, the weather here is in the 80s. Who's thinking sweater? Anyway, I'd rather spend some time with Zoe. She's fast. I can see me sporting this lovely bag this time next week.

Where I sit

when I knit.

Thanks, Lora for the cute post idea (check out her knitting spots). Here are the places I most frequently knit:

The big comfy chair:



The dining room:



And my side of the bed:



These are the places at home I knit most often. I will spare you the photo of the toilet I sit upon while the children are bathing.

There's finally a new Magknits up. For some reason, there was no April issue. I suspect it's because the editor was a little busy having a brand new baby. The issue is okay, but what really caught my eye was Zoe. This bag is so adorable. I literally ran to Yarn and Fiber to pick up the yarn. I can't wait to knit this bag!



Have a great knitting weekend!