Blue sky...sun is shining. The weather is sweet...make you want to move those dancing feet. In early part of the afternoon, our kids enjoyed a welcoming Surprise by briskly snowfall but all melted within minutes upon landing.
It's a busy day at the Peery lane, just as I've foreseen it would be. I'm a bit swamped getting ready for tonight's SPA party, finishing up community quilts,
teaching one of the COOL girls to sew a quilt, packing for a 10-day trip, finding sitter for the birds, cleaning the house and the messy birdcage...running million miles a second. Some days are just too busy to create a masterpiece in the kitchen for the potluck dinner. Today is one of those days. Hmmm...Chinese takeout will have to do!
To complicate my schedule further, a mixup on my part, a friend dropped off her daughter at 11 a.m. instead of 1 pm as I thought erroneously. Now, my day is totally off. Anyway, it was fun to lay out the pattern with a 10-year old. For a first-timer, Madelaine did great. We finished sewing all but 2.5 stripes-not too shabby for 3 hours' worth of machine sewing. Madelaine will finish piercing the rest of the blocks and ironing the seams at home. Next time we meet after our 10-day trip, Madelaine and I will add the sashs between stripes, borders, and bindings. Meanwhile, check out her first machine-sewing project:
Tonight's COOL Moms' Night Out is in honor of a special friend (which I will have to keep it a secret for now. Michelle S.) She will be presented surprise CARE "Full" (not Felted as referred by many) baskets, filled with handmade goodies, from the moms coming this evening. The two wash clothes I chose for the occasion are intended to salve the hurt a little bit - to let Michelle know that her friends are thinking of her, know the gut-wrenching disappointment she feels, and wish we could magic the pain away. Hope these gestures help her move on from the heartbreak.
The Angel measured 8.5" by 10", in Bernat CottonTots Pastel Dreams. The staggered fern is 10" x 10", in Lily Sugar n Cream Playtime. Both are 100% worsted cotton, washable/dryable, and knitted with size 8 needles. They will get softer with each wash--I love how they both turned out.
Following are some holiday samplers I decorated, over the wet weekend, out of wooden cutouts with acrylics paiints and glitters...they are adorable and fitting for upcoming winter festivities. I got more cutouts for COOL Kid's Club next project in first week of December.
It is grey in Bend today--dark and cloudy, and very reminiscent of a Seattle autumn day. See for yourself.
It’s amazing how it affects me. I am sluggish and slow and just feel like sleeping in as with our three little ones. I wonder how people get by living in places like Seattle in gloomy autumn days.
A part of me welcomes a grey day because it inevitably means cool weather, which gives me the perfect excuse to wear my Audrey Hepburn shrug knitted last winter (but soon will be taken apart…)
finished a scarf for KNIT TOGETHER before sunrise yesterday, later than I really like to admit that I stayed up knitting an reading.
I feel silly…really, really silly. Yesterday, I cast on for a Totally Autumn lap blanket. After completing first 36 rows that made up one complete pattern and examining the diagram twice, I realized a couple of stitches were incorrect—K2tog & SSK in rows 1, 3 and 5. It is not noticeable. But, I just had to rip it apart--Doh! It’s embarrassing.
A second chance…I knit it with a size-7 circular needle and Paton’s Soy Wool Stripes in Natural Geranium. Isn’t the color great? 
I love variegated yarns, but I’m pretty picky about them. I want all of the colors to be similar hues in terms of their relative light/darkness. That way any pooling isn’t especially bothersome. The blanket I’m working on now is my idea of a great hand-paint - it gives depth but doesn’t scream at you.
Now I’m off to cuddling with the kids…11:15 in the morning? It’s gonna make this a busy day.
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WHOOO HOOOO - my knitting and craft books arrived this afternoon.
Epstein is one of my favorite knitters/authors. Since we heavily focus on felting this holiay season, her book arrived very timely.
What about those lacey knits, I just don't have enough! More to add to my WIP baskets.
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Last night, the rain sounded so foreign since we haven’t had rain in quite a while. The earth after the rain, that musty, loamy wondrous smell. *sigh* It didn't last long.
Today though, it was the crisp Autumn air and the wonderfully sunny skies. I didn't have to think long about what I wanted for lunch--a salad with the pears and perhaps some Roquefort and walnuts. Wouldn't it be nice that farmer markets run all-year-round here in Bend, OR?
Before our friend Michelle arrives in 5 minutes, I thought I'd blog about this lovely socks I'm knitting from Cat Bordhi's new sock book. I acquired an assortment of Mega Boots Sock yarns early in the year. This colorway is most fitting for the season. The lacey pattern chosen is simple and easy to remember so I may focus on learning the architectural design Cat is introducing. Some friends asked what I'm knitting this past week. My indecisive reply was "not sure...may be a pair of sleeves for a sweater, leg warmers, or the socks intended." So, it comes time to decision-making...hmmmm...socks they are. I started out with size-1 circular needles; it's a tad too loose for my preference. So, as I knit the Arch Expansion section, I'll switch to size-0 needles for a tighter fitting. Keeping my fingers crossed...I hate to rip them apart and start all over. Oh...I'm not supposed to have negative thoughts.
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Procrastinating no longer...I worked on the shrug yesterday...late last night...again at 2:30 a.m. because DS woke up and were watching Digimon Frontier on YouTube.
I guess I should work on the shrug some more...It's finally finished this morning. Last minute,DD#1 decided to go with rosehip bamboo (instead of dill selected previously) for the collar. It complements the pastel pink of the wool yarn and turns out dead gorgeous! I love the cuddly soft feel of the collar. DD#1 would like to have it on her sleeves. I'll have to give it some thought--perhaps an Epstein edge. For now, I declare the shrug is completed! Material cost came to $80.00 (same if I were to use Crystal Palace Kaya Chunky.)
Oooooh, what am I thinking, really...DD#2 likes one too. Hmmmm, I think I have just the right yarns for hers.
Pattern: Aran Cabled Shrug Yarns:9 skeins Trendsetter Granito #9 Floral Multi (50g; 70 yards)1 skein Bernat Bamboo Rosehip (60g; 63 yards) for the neck band only.Needle: 10.5 circular needle.
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No such luck... I didn't get to work on the shrug as planned on the 2-hour scenic drive to home yesterday. Instead, we had thought-provoking discussions over articles published in
HEM recently. Some were meaningful, insightful, some we couldn't relate, and others were too radical even for us to digest.
Despite somewhat busy morning with dh leaving for 10 days, I managed to knit a few more rows. The shrug begins to take its shape and form. DD#1 can't wait for its completion. It would complement her fishy costume, I guess.
The
pattern called for 11 skeins of Crystal Palace Kaya Wool. Instead, I bought 9 skeins of
Trendsetter Granito #9 Floral Multi, knitted with size a 10.5 circular needle. I am down to 2 skein left with a partial sleeve and the band to complete. That is probably enough as I plan to knit the collar and band with Bernat bamboo yarns. Itchiness caused by wool does not appeal to our 11 year-old. Who would blame her? The bulky plied wool shrug, in random shade throughout, will be fun-to-wear for the cold months ahead.
P.S. The color palette is actually much more pale than as pictured.
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In addition to a few knitted projects completed, here is a couple of pictures of the Aran Cabled Shrug I am working on for DD#1--beautiful as I envisioned it. I'm on Day 3 and hope to finish it today on my ride home from Eugene!
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The colors were showcased with these swirls but don’t detract from the beauty of simple stockinette. The pattern shows off the DK weight and rich colors with some pizzazz. It reminds me a lot of Cat Bordhi's Coriolis socks in
her latest book. I'm inspired to cast on a pair as I am going through second sock syndrome; employing my favorite seamless toes-up technique by
Judy Becker's Magic Cast-On. Now, decision...decision...would I find the right yarns from my stash? Or do I need to head to the yarn shop?
Some day soon...I'll include all of my favorite links in my blog!
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True learning-learning that is permanent and useful,that leads to intelligent action and further learning, can arise only out of the experience, interest, and concerns of the learner.
John Holt
Real heroes are men who fall, fail and are flawed, but win out in the end because they stayed true to their ideals, beliefs and commitments.
Actor Kevin Costner
