tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-217902292024-03-07T09:50:45.469-06:00FrienderKnitting and life with young children.JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-35766570474788954312009-04-24T09:10:00.004-06:002009-04-24T09:37:38.825-06:00Why, Yes...Why, yes, yes it has been more than two months since my last blog post. I never get very personal on this blog, but let's just say outside professional forces have not been cooperating and WOW, have the children been sick. I have a sneaking suspicion that it might be because they weren't subjected to all manner of germs in daycare, and now that the boy is in his first year of school we are paying doubly in illness. As a matter of fact, his report card says he was absent 7 days last grading period. He has missed another two this week with a stomach flu. Which wouldn't be at all remarkable except that it's his third stomach flu in two months, this week the girl had scarlet fever, and last week the husband was in bed, sick, almost the whole week.<br /><br />People, we have had <span style="font-weight: bold;">enough</span>.<br /><br />It turns out that family illness is not so bad for knitting, though.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3460775390/" title="Twirly Skirt by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3554/3460775390_e6dee96730.jpg" alt="Twirly Skirt" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Friender/twirly-skirt/">Twirly Skirt</a> by Christine Schwender, Paula Heist<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This (free) pattern was lovely and I made only a few modifications, including knitting it in the round, casting on provisionally and then knitting the waist closed as I went, and a picot hem at the bottom. Oh, and the various yarn is a substitute for stash yarn--all different brands of denim. I'm sorry I don't have a modeled shot yet. It's still fairly cool here (I ordered some navy blue leggings for underneath) and the aforementioned girl is still under the weather.<br /><br />I also started a scarf for Mother's Day. I was smitten with this pattern as soon as I discovered it, only a few weeks ago. Apparently I didn't see it when it was first published on Knitty, for some reason or another.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3465915951/" title="Lace Ribbon Scarf by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3526/3465915951_481db46228.jpg" alt="Lace Ribbon Scarf" height="500" width="387" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Friender/lace-ribbon-scarf">Lace Ribbon Scarf</a> by Veronik Avery<br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'm using Yarn Chef Minestrone in the "Frosty Window Pane" colorway. I just love the name of it and the color. I hope my mom does, too. I have a feeling she won't get a ton of use out of a lace scarf, but I know she'll appreciate it and I am really having a fun time knitting it. I can't recommend the pattern highly enough...it's very easy to memorize. I see quite a few more of these in my future, actually. A great use for semi-solid sock yarn!<br /><br />And last, but certainly not least. Our son. During the NCAA March Madness tournament, he became completely obsessed and engrossed with basketball. He wanted to watch every game that he could. That's when we noticed that he couldn't see the score of the game from our couch...which is not really so very far from the TV. An appointment was made with the optometrist (even though he went before the school year started) and voila:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3466851526/" title="First Glasses by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3530/3466851526_f24827bb5d.jpg" alt="First Glasses" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">First glasses<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Now he can see. And he looks even more like his mom now, too.<br /></div></div></div></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-55512065637671471652009-02-08T13:32:00.002-06:002009-02-08T13:44:24.333-06:00For Future Reference<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3240789905/" title="Thorpe hat by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3480/3240789905_92f3be2ba9.jpg" alt="Thorpe hat" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It's that time of year again. The time of year when the kids start outgrowing their winter clothing, that is. I swear, I buy/make it big in the fall but by February we always need something new. No matter, I had been wanting to try <a href="http://www.throughtheloops.typepad.com/designs/">Thorpe</a> for quite awhile. This one turned out just as I had planned, although I haven't gotten to the crocheted bits yet.<br /><br />As per my usual M.O., I didn't swatch for this but just grabbed some Cascade 220 Paints, doubled it and knit the medium on size 9 needles. Smaller needle, larger pattern, eh, it worked out. I didn't knit as many garter-stitch rows on the front because I was worried it was getting too long for her almost-four-year-old head.<br /><br />One way to get a preschooler to laugh is to have her look outside at feet of crusty snow on the ground and ask if she sees the Easter Bunny. Just for future reference.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3264310980/" title="Thorpe by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3517/3264310980_c70a09da2f_m.jpg" alt="Thorpe" height="240" width="160" /></a><br /></div></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-75041822841485264282009-01-20T14:02:00.004-06:002009-01-20T16:19:20.835-06:00Speedy Recovery BlanketAbout a week ago we got some not-great news that a favorite cousin who underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor will also have to undergo further treatment for cancer. She is 42.<br /><br />Not yet willing to pump out a few hats for her, I decided to cook up a blanket. I looked around Ravelry for awhile for something I wanted to knit. I really did. I wanted something easy for TV knitting, something chunky but a little interesting.<br /><br />So I ended up doing it myself.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3213567328/" title="Hip To Be Square Blanket by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3320/3213567328_896e91c0c0.jpg" alt="Hip To Be Square Blanket" height="333" width="500" /><img src="http://www2.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hip-to-be-square-blanket">Hip To Be Square Blanket</a><br />Yarn: Four skeins of Wool Pak 10ply (aka 1600 yards of any worsted, held double)<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I hope it finds my cousin safely and helps to keep her warm. It's certainly not a ground-breaking pattern, but it was quick and easy. If you're not interested in applied i-cord for the edging, you can choose your own.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3213567462/" title="Hip To Be Square Blanket by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3427/3213567462_118f7e54cb.jpg" alt="Hip To Be Square Blanket" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div>She's not sick in this photo (this morning), but last week she came down with a doozy of a virus with a fever and a sore throat. Just in time for -20 degree weather, too. So she was out of school Wednesday (sick), and then school was cancelled Thursday and Friday. That makes four school cancellations so far this winter season.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3201668002/" title="Deep Freeze Jan 16 2009 by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3261/3201668002_22100ac6dc.jpg" alt="Deep Freeze Jan 16 2009" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div>Friday I put them in handknits and let them make Playdoh ice cream. It seemed to occupy them, at least. But it was odd, I must say. It contributed to the alternate-reality feeling I had all day. It's strange to be afraid of the out-of-doors.<br /><br />In other news, I have actually become a working mommy again. Well, for the time-being anyway. I picked up some freelance work with my old employer. They've been very good about tossing me work now and then since I quit there 6.5 years ago before our son was born.<br /><br />And so far, we are still in limbo regarding our long-term residence! Fairly soon we should know if we need to put the house up for sale (again) and actually sell it this time, or if we can make plans to stay. (<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Stay</span>---what a delicious word.) I'm voting for the latter, but I've never been Ms. Moneybags, so we'll see how it all shakes out.<br /></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-9891025006409274352009-01-10T15:48:00.005-06:002009-01-10T16:09:51.368-06:00Moving On...I can't stop thinking about last year, in total. Not about knitting, but about our experiences as a family. Both of my kids had their adenoids and tonsils out after some serious sleep apnea issues. We took our first family vacation to another country. We had our house on the market for much of the year. We took it off the market. Ups and downs, my friends. Ups and downs.<br /><br />The very last day of the year could have been worse, but it wasn't that great. I had bought some ice-melt/rock-salt (whatever-you-call-it) and had somehow made the ridiculous decision to open the bag with a garden weeder. One that looks like <a href="http://www.hardwarestore.com/media/product/276501_front200.jpg">this</a>. And anyway, let's just say I really did almost prove <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppOXpyhM2wA">Ralphie's mom</a> right. Thankfully I had my glasses on.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3156088679/" title="My scratched glasses by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/3156088679_1607f71978_o.jpg" alt="My scratched glasses" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">It's a little difficult to see the scratch in this photo because of the focus, but it's there.<br />And it's deep.</span><br /></div><br />So I found myself at one of the local eyeglass chain stores with the rest of the people who waited until the very end of the year to spend the money they've put away in their Flexible Healthcare Accounts (aka, everyone in the city). But after three hours, I ended up with these:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3155051684/" title="New glasses by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/3155051684_0669980d53_m.jpg" alt="New glasses" height="210" width="240" /></a><br /></div><br />And so far, so good. I can't say how happy I am that January seems to be moving along at a nice clip. Our reward for having such stunning summers here is that basically January and February get to the brink of unbearably cold. Next week? Temps of -15, without windchill.<br /><br />I'm trying to focus on the right things, like how much progress our son has made in the short time he has been in elementary school. Here is a poem he wrote on Friday:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3185263715/" title="Poem by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/3185263715_1f034ccbf9_o.jpg" alt="Poem" height="278" width="400" /></a><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">And no, his name isn't "Mike".<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This year I want to get back something I seem to have lost. I have lost my go-with-the-flow, happy-go-lucky qualities. I used to have that, I really did. Ask my friend <a href="http://tristahill.blogspot.com/">Trista</a>. I want to get that back. Desperately. Anyone know where that went?<br /><br /></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3155051720/" title="New glasses by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/3155051720_9992b21a8e_m.jpg" alt="New glasses" height="186" width="240" /></a><br /></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-67314588566187653022009-01-01T12:03:00.003-06:002009-01-01T13:05:50.354-06:00Happy New YearI'm not nearly as organized as <a href="http://woolyheaded.blogspot.com/">some</a>. I can reflect, abstractly, on what I knit in 2008, and it included two adult sweaters, one of which I eventually ripped out over the summer. The other I just finished last week, and it, too, will eventually be ripped out, probably over the summer. It doesn't fit well and I am going to blame it on the design and my lustful need to knit without seams.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3136641758/" title="Imogen Finished by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/3136641758_3c9ab35004_m.jpg" alt="Imogen Finished" height="240" width="194" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Imogen (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Friender/imogen">Ravelry link</a>) with Araucania Nature Wool Chunky<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">If you can imagine, for a minute, how this sweater is put on the body, and think about what happens to the rolled edges when one is crossed in front of the other and held together with a shawl pin? The edge bunches up under the other one and adds some lumps around the wearer's waist. Yes, I probably made this too big, but it also bags in the back a lot right underneath the arms, as it does in quite a few on Ravelry. Lesson learned. This year I would, however, like to complete at least one or two adult sweaters that I wear. For now, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Friender/wonderful-wallaby">this one</a> is still my favorite, imminently wearable (even while not pregnant), washable, dryable.<br /><br />For now, though, I caught the crochet bug. Actually, I've been meaning to try this for quite awhile. It's a revisit of sorts as my introduction to fiber arts was at a very young age - my mom's mother taught me how to crochet. I think I only learned how to chain and do a single crochet stitch, though. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-ripple-afghan">This project</a> got me excited to try again, however.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3156923234/" title="Crochet by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/3156923234_9d3972bbe7_o.jpg" alt="Crochet" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /></div><br />This particular grandmother died when I was in middle school. There was a time in my life when people just kept dying all over the place. First my paternal grandfather, when I was in the fourth grade, and then it just went downhill from there. His widow, my last living grandparent, died when I was in college.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3156923478/" title="Crochet hooks by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/3156923478_245d1e9c71_o.jpg" alt="Crochet hooks" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">What I have left of Grandma: Her crochet hooks<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I have a bunch of loose Rowan Handknit Cotton that I plan to turn into a Ripple Blanket for our daughter. I knit her a blanket when I was pregnant with her, before I knew if she was a boy or a girl. And that blanket, a neutral tan, has never appealed to her. She carries around a yellow polyester fleece blanket. I'd like to bump it out of its prime spot - we'll see. That's a large spot to fill.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3156088839/" title="M's blanket by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/3156088839_d074a3c169_o.jpg" alt="M's blanket" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Rowan Handknit DK and Denim for M's ripple blanket</span><br /></div></div></div></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-82997535129309978902008-12-19T10:38:00.003-06:002008-12-19T10:50:28.119-06:00And again, with feeling...Here we are again; another foot of snow fell overnight and into this morning. Snow day. I wonder how many snow days we'll get this season. It sure it shaping up to be another snowy winter. Last season we surpassed the city's previous snowfall record by about 30 inches, and that was just ridiculous. I'm not sure how anyone deals with more than 100 inches of snow in a season on a routine basis. Our city certainly isn't equipped to handle this much snow in a timely manner. I expect they won't even plow our cul-de-sac until late into tonight. This morning already, I have seen three of my neighbors get stuck. Hey neighbors, stay home. The snow is too deep for your average fuel-efficient tiny car (this is Madison, after all.) It gets stuck under the body of your car.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I have been working on some knitting. This is another Christmas present, and it's almost finished. I didn't quite follow the recommended color pattern, but I love denim yarn so much, and this seemed like a perfect application.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3089724120/" title="Snake In Progress by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/3089724120_ce8ebc2894.jpg" alt="Snake In Progress" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Friender/slithery-snake">Slithery Snake</a> by Zoe Mellor<br />with Rowan Handknit Dk Cotton, Tahki Cotton Classic and Rowan Denim<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The meteorologists say that we're to get another 4-6 inches over the weekend. At some point I've got to stop being frustrated and just let it happen. I'm sure that'll happen any day now...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3087121959/" title="Sledding by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/3087121959_3a35cc5a45_m.jpg" alt="Sledding" height="160" width="240" /></a><br /></div></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-6823149922096409742008-12-09T11:50:00.002-06:002008-12-09T12:15:46.178-06:00Anatomy of a Snow DayIn my opinion, it's a little early in the season for the weather to be this nasty. But what do I know? I've only lived in this state for 17 years (non-consecutive, but still). Maybe I'm just getting less tolerant as I age.<br /><br />Thankfully, I bought decorations for gingerbread (graham cracker) houses yesterday, so that's what we did this morning.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3096105414/" title="Snow Day by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3021/3096105414_9cb9c8f3a7_o.jpg" alt="Snow Day" height="499" width="333" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I have directions from our preschool about how to make gingerbread houses with graham crackers and Royal icing. Each year parents make some basic houses and bring them in for the kids to decorate. We used a tub of regular vanilla icing to attach the candy.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3096105504/" title="Snow Day by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/3096105504_267576d9a7_o.jpg" alt="Snow Day" height="524" width="332" /></a><br /></div></div></div>Generally, it's one of those activities that is fun, but takes a lot of preparation and a lot of clean-up for about 20 minutes of activity. Rather a negative cost-benefit ratio, but you know. One of those things you have to try once, at least.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3096105338/" title="Gingerbread cookies by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3227/3096105338_214bda0965.jpg" alt="Gingerbread cookies" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The other day we made gingerbread cookies and that was considerably more fun and productive, if you ask me, because I gave some of the extras to the neighbors. Our recipe is from our preschool:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gingerbread Cookies</span><br /><br />2 cups sugar <br />1 cup shortening (or butter) <br />2 eggs <br />1/2 cup molasses<br />4 cups flour<br />1 tsp ginger<br />1 tsp cloves<br />1 tsp nutmeg<br />1 tsp baking soda<br />2 tsp cinnamon<br /><br />Cream together sugar and shortening. Then add eggs and molasses, beating well. In a separate bowl, sift the remaining ingredients together. Then add to the mixture, mixing well. Cover tightly and chill for about three hours or until the dough is stiff enough to handle.<br /><br />On a floured surface, roll the dough to 1/4" thickness. Using your gingerbread man cookie cutter, cut dough into shapes. Place 1 inch apart on cookie sheets.<br /><br />Bake in a 350 oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheets for two minutes, then remove and cool on wire racks. (I use simple powdered-sugar frosting for them.)<br /><br />Let's hope I can find something a little less time-intensive and less messy to fill the afternoon!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3096105592/" title="Candy by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/3096105592_d7aaa71a8e_m.jpg" alt="Candy" height="240" width="160" /></a><br /></div><br /></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-34045090790911669172008-12-04T13:10:00.004-06:002008-12-04T13:21:59.151-06:00The Winding RoadI'm not afraid to admit that some of my days are meandering. Like this morning. We were supposed to have a playdate with some friends, but I think M might be coming down with something, so we stayed home.<br /><br />She wanted to paint, so I pulled out the craft supplies and ended up deciding to completely clean out the craft area.<br /><br />That culminated with finding my bead box. I immediately decided to make some stitch markers for the playdate friend's mom, a good friend who knits. (Immediately, meaning of course I hadn't finished cleaning out the craft area yet.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3082184657/" title="Stitch markers (by me) by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3201/3082184657_3f3b190e14_o.jpg" alt="Stitch markers (by me)" height="231" width="374" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I have always been like this. When I was a in high school, for creative writing class I wrote a short, slice-of-life story about how my mom would tell me I needed to clean up my room before I went to the pool with my sisters. So I'd go into my room, find something under my bed and instead of cleaning everything up, end up getting completely distracted by a long-lost book or scrapbook or something else. I honestly have good intentions, but I am not the world's most organized person. I get the sense this was overwhelmingly frustrating for my parents.<br /><br />After I made the stitch markers (three sets, actually), I decided, hey, there are some earring hooks in here. Why not try my hand at making earrings, too?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3083022048/" title="Earrings (by me) by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/3083022048_246fd9f834_o.jpg" alt="Earrings (by me)" height="245" width="374" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So I did. Two pair, actually. I might give them to my sisters, who are infinitely more organized than I am. Their rooms were always organized, clean and straight. Mine was not a disaster, but it was cluttered.<br /><br />But that's Ok. Because sometimes I think my distracted mind has allowed some room for happy things to happen in between.</div></div></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-61017622127493625982008-11-30T18:22:00.006-06:002008-11-30T18:55:46.755-06:00Crafts New & OldIf this time of year isn't a good time to take stock in one's life, I don't know when is. Not to be sappy, thankfully our family is rich in things that matter a lot to us, like health, love and happiness. Ok, I will admit to being a grump, especially in the last month. BUT, it was nice to convene with my sisters and their families and Thanksgiving and be truly thankful. I feel like what money can't buy, we got. Unfortunately, you also need money, too. But that's another matter, and not one for this post.<br /><br />I'm also immensely grateful for listening to my inner knitter eight years ago. She was screaming at me to learn how. Although my grandmother had taught me to crochet as a young child, it didn't really 'stick'. I loved to peruse her skeins and skeins of bright acrylic yarn in her attic, though; I definitely remember that.<br /><br />For the past few years, we've been cutting down our own Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. We like to get a jump on the season, as we both really enjoy Christmastime. And each year, I climb up on a chair and put her at the top of our tree:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3071804658/" title="Kindergarten Christmas Angel by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3277/3071804658_1dbbfec697_o.jpg" alt="Kindergarten Christmas Angel" height="400" width="267" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This is my Christmas angel. I made her in Kindergarten when I was five years old. She is, admittedly, a little worse for the wear. Each year I marvel that her Kleenex wings haven't ripped, however. (And each year I also marvel that I made her at public school.)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Here we are, still crafting 31 years later. The great thing about my blog is that my family doesn't know about it. They can't read what they don't know about, so I can talk about gift knitting to my heart's desire. This is for my mother for Christmas:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3071804770/" title="Baghdad Blue vest by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3032/3071804770_419f178321_o.jpg" alt="Baghdad Blue vest" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It's not quite finished, but should be done tonight. It's a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Friender/basic-cardigan-vest-for-women-995">Basic Cardigan Vest for Women</a> by Diane Soucy of Knitting Pure & Simple fame. Wow, was this simple. And pure. And knitting. ;) This is Peace Fleece worsted in Baghdad Blue. It's a little more purple than shows here.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I plan to place one button on this vest. I'm actually binding off the front edges with i-cord and I hope to be able to manage an i-cord loop to put around the button. But I've never done that before, so we'll see how it goes. It's amazing what a little undivided attention can accomplish, though.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3071804842/" title="Jennie The Potter button by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/3071804842_8d35d7c62f_o.jpg" alt="Jennie The Potter button" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I picked this button up at <a href="http://www.jenniethepotter.com/store.asp">Jennie The Potter</a>'s stand at the Madison Knitters Guild annual Knit-In earlier this year. <a href="http://jenniethepotter.blogspot.com/">Jennie</a> has scads of cute knitting pottery and gorgeous buttons. This came in a 3-pack, but I think one button is fine for this vest.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3066471212/" title="Christmas 08 by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/3066471212_110758be18_m.jpg" alt="Christmas 08" height="160" width="240" /></a><br />Yeah, I think I'll keep them. They're the ones I want in this foxhole we've dug out for ourselves. I hope you enjoy your holiday season and keep people around you who lift your spirits.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-51307193794738113262008-11-17T12:32:00.005-06:002008-11-17T12:56:39.316-06:00FO: Helena!It's suspicious that I only blog when I have something finished. At least, I think it's suspicious. I'm afraid of boring anyone with WIPs and complaints, which seem to fill most of my days and nights nowadays. Heard of a little thing called the crashing financial economy? It's lately affecting us directly. There has been talk of moving to Singapore. (and not as a joke, either.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3038917672/" title="Helena by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/3038917672_6393d5ba96_o.jpg" alt="Helena" height="242" width="449" /></a><br /></div><br />But Knit On, dear friends, isn't Elizabeth Zimmerman's advice pertinent as ever?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3038080153/" title="Helena by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/3038080153_83f7cc091b_o.jpg" alt="Helena" height="499" width="333" /></a><br /></div><br />For Halloween, we traveled to visit family on the East Coast and I had a lot of precious knitting time. I was able to crank out most of the skirt of <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer08/PATThelena.html">Helena</a> and all of one sleeve, too. My plan was to use a worsted weight wool to knit a holiday sweater for the three-year-old in our house. I had this O-Wool Classic in Sumac that I got (drastically reduced, mind you) awhile ago, and thought it would be perfect. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Friender/helena">Helena</a> (Ravelry project link) calls for DK-weight wool, however, so I decided to knit a size 2, but knit the length to a size 4. I ended up just knitting and knitting and I think, all told, this is really closer to a size 5/6. And thankfully so. The little lady has long arms (like me) and she'll be able to wear this next year and maybe even the year after that.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3038917990/" title="Helena by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/3038917990_ba739d7c6f_o.jpg" alt="Helena" height="499" width="333" /></a><br /></div><br />She likes it. I love it. I think it's the prettiest thing I've ever knit and I'm very happy with it. I already have black leggings to match it for Thanksgiving (and a black shirt for underneath) and green/red leggings for Christmas. We'll get as much mileage out of this sweater as possible. After all, it's 86 degrees every single day in Singapore. (<span style="font-style: italic;">sob</span>)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3038080341/" title="Helena by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3164/3038080341_a20a44bcf3_o.jpg" alt="Helena" height="499" width="333" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/3038917794/" title="Helena buttons (ladybugs) by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159/3038917794_e4782540fa_m.jpg" alt="Helena buttons (ladybugs)" height="240" width="205" /><br /></a>Ladybug buttons (what else?)<br /><br /></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-34749870405160042562008-10-28T18:02:00.000-06:002008-10-28T18:03:13.385-06:00Two-Day BeretYes, it really only took two days. Although I knit a lot during those two days. Heh.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2982536966/" title="Moss stitch beret by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2982536966_0d99f6f850_o.jpg" alt="Moss stitch beret" height="418" width="308" /></a><br />Pattern: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/moss-stitch-beret">Moss Stitch Beret</a> by Kent Turman<br />Yarn: 100Purewool 3-ply in Azul Profundo<br />Needle: 3US<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I'm truthfully not sure why Kent has one cast on provisionally on dpns. It takes a special kind of talent to cast on 90 stitches in the round provisionally on dpns. Quickly, but not quickly enough, I realized this would be an easier task on a small circular needle. Otherwise, I knit the hat a little taller than called for because I knew I wanted to pull it down over my ears. It was snowing here just yesterday. Yeah, this hat has to be <span style="font-weight: bold;">functional</span> and cute. But really, when you are <a href="http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9028218">staring down</a> another "numbing" winter, cute really takes a back seat to functional.<br /><br />While the little one and I were sick, we ended up getting a new camera. Hooray for entering the land of DSLR. Hooray for pick-me-up purchases whilst ill.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2967882352/" title="M in B&W by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/2967882352_4472a3d321_o.jpg" alt="M in B&W" height="300" width="450" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-size:78%;" >Snack in black and white</span><br /></div><br /></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-17748636655223480082008-10-11T08:21:00.003-06:002008-10-11T08:35:28.143-06:00Warm Heads, Warm HeartsThese hats were so much fun to make, I almost wish I had more children.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2931770150/" title="Very Warm Hats by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/2931770150_1c54fbe946_o.jpg" alt="Very Warm Hats" height="400" width="229" /></a><br /></div>Almost, but you know, not really. I love my kids, but we've been passing around an intestinal bug and I am glad we only have four people in the house.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2930913167/" title="Snowflake Hat by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/2930913167_921a3f8dc9_o.jpg" alt="Snowflake Hat" height="400" width="300" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/very-warm-hat-wg-11">Very Warm Hat</a> by Meg Swansen, a handout from Knitting Camp '07<br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/norwegian-star-earflap-hat">Chart</a> by Tiennie Knits "Norwegian Star Earflap Hat"<br />Yarn: Cascade 220 Paints #9867 & Cascade 220 white<br /></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-83098021200989811982008-09-29T13:17:00.002-06:002008-09-29T13:27:53.631-06:00Ah SuccessFinally. I made a hat that fits. You'll have to trust me on the fitting part--he did not want to wear it for the camera. (Give it a month for the temps to dip down a bit...)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2898915457/" title="Very Warm Hat with skulls by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3259/2898915457_47d61aaa32.jpg" alt="Very Warm Hat with skulls" height="400" width="300" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2899759006/" title="Very Warm Hat with skulls by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2899759006_6fb06a347f_m.jpg" alt="Very Warm Hat with skulls" height="240" width="172" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2898915637/" title="Very Warm Hat with skulls by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/2898915637_2e0f1366df_m.jpg" alt="Very Warm Hat with skulls" height="240" width="180" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Pattern: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/very-warm-hat-wg-11">Very Warm Hat</a> by Elizabeth Zimmerman (a hand-out from Knitting Camp 07)<br />Motif: A modified <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/we-call-them-pirates">"We Call Them Pirates"</a> chart provided to me by Stacee (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/knittingelephant">knittingelephant</a>)<br />Yarn: Cascade 220 (.4 skeins of blue and gold)<br /><br />Blue and gold were chosen because those are the colors of the boy's coat. Not for any team affiliation. I grew up in Ohio and had to say this *first thing* to my mother, who still believes if you wear blue and gold you are, even if you don't mean it, rooting for Michigan.<br /></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-2899808660904284352008-09-19T13:58:00.002-06:002008-09-19T14:05:26.252-06:00Try, Try...Try Again?This is my second attempt with this hat. I tried it <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/1799490697/">last year</a>, as well.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2863526916/" title="Second Try by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/2863526916_ed1e757a5d_o.jpg" alt="Second Try" height="299" width="399" /></a><br /></div><br />This time it's too big. And it's made with a large seam that's designed to cover the ears with double the fabric. I like the idea in theory, but in practice it means that there's a big, chunky seam running right through the pattern. And you can see it, especially since it's too big for his noggin.<br /><br />So, ever emboldened (?!), I've decided to try again, but this time I'm using Meg Swansen's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/very-warm-hat-wg-11">V. Warm Hat</a> (Rav link) that I got at Knitting Camp last year, and N has chosen the motif from the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/we-call-them-pirates">We Call Them Pirates</a> hat. Should be interesting! At least this one is completely lined..it's basically two hats, one knit inside the other. I hope it'll work. It has to..it's the third time.JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-64157536186666691872008-09-04T15:15:00.003-06:002008-09-04T15:29:36.141-06:00New StartI know we were asking for it, but starting in the first grade instead of Kindergarten turns out to not be the most seamless experience on the planet. But he has stepped up and has taken the whole thing in stride.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2821046237/" title="Don't Look Back by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/2821046237_fe288aac2c_o.jpg" alt="Don't Look Back" height="400" width="300" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday when he started school it was 92 degrees. Today, two days later, it won't even hit 60. Things are just very weird here, overall. The whole school experience and weather wackiness have left me feeling a bit unmoored.<br /><br />But I did finish a baby cardigan for a baby shower I'm attending in a few weeks. It's the <a href="http://www.knittingpureandsimple.com/babycardi.html">Easy Baby Cardigan</a> by Knitting Pure & Simple, made with stash yarn: <a href="http://www.joslynsfiberfarm.com/sheep%27s.htm">Sheep's Gift</a> from Joslyn's Fiber Farm. It's very lovely and there was plenty in one skein to make this sweater. I might even crank out a hat to match, since I already bought pink Robeez for the little one, who is due in October. She'll need a wool sweater, if today is any indication of the Fall and winter that are ahead of us.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2828917408/" title="Easy Baby Cardigan by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/2828917408_94b8208927_o.jpg" alt="Easy Baby Cardigan" height="381" width="399" /></a><br /></div><br /></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-28302841595756167522008-09-01T17:25:00.002-06:002008-09-01T17:43:25.599-06:00The Summer AwayIt appears as if I took the summer "off" from blogging. The truth is there are a whole lot of reasons why I haven't. And they seemed to overwhelm the reasons why I should. And that is all.<br /><br />We still haven't sold our house. I'm convinced at this point that we'll spend the rest of 2008 here and a good portion of 2009. We have about 40 days left on our listing, and after that we are not relisting it until after the holidays. Who wants to spend Nov & Dec keeping their house immaculate for showings? Not I, said the fly.<br /><br />So it works out Ok. Really it does. Thankfully my husband is his own boss in his new venture and he has been working from our house since July 1. He can continue to do that, with semi-weekly commutes to Boston.<br /><br />Our son starts school tomorrow (!) and if we don't have to move him immediately to a new school, I think that's what we prefer at this point. Some may remember he's due to start kindergarten, but we inquired with the principal about whether or not he has made leaps of progress so as to sit well in first grade. A few weeks ago he was tested by a first-grade teacher who deemed his skills to be more than adequate for first grade, so off to first grade he goes. He'll be the young one, but we're confident that he'll do well. (And when he gets older, we can tease him about never learning to share because he "skipped" kindergarten.)<br /><br />As for me, well...I'm just trying to ride the sea of change, for lack of worse imagery. Our daughter most likely will be home with me all the days because we didn't enroll her in preschool because we thought we were leaving. It's a difficult place to be in...leaving but on hold. Going but staying. But I think I've mastered it by now--we've been in a holding pattern for quite awhile.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2687015676/" title="Ear Cozies for Iowa by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2687015676_844a02f51f_m.jpg" alt="Ear Cozies for Iowa" height="180" width="240" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Ear Cozies by Fiber Trends</span><br /></div>I haven't blogged, but I have knit! Earlier this summer I churned out a few hats for the Iowa flood victims. There is still time to provide items for them, although now I suspect with the hurricanes in LA, MS and TX, Iowa's flood victims might get "lost". They are taking:<br /><ul><li>mittens</li><li>caps</li><li>scarves</li><li>afghans</li><li>prayer shawls</li><li>baby blankets</li><li>dishcloths</li><li>socks</li><li>infants, children’s and adult sweaters<br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div></li></ul> Everything should be sent by November 1 to:<br /><p>Post office address:<br />Cottage Creations<br />At the Farm on Deer Creek<br />Carpenter, Iowa 50426</p> <p>UPS or Fed Ex address:<br />Carol Anderson<br />4562 Zinnia Ave.<br />St. Ansgar, IA 50472</p>I have matching mittens in the works. It'd be so nice if you could churn something out to warm a little head in Iowa this winter. Many people there lost everything in the floods of June.JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-46223986764757555362008-06-19T09:14:00.007-06:002008-06-19T09:42:28.328-06:00SuperstitiousI try not to be superstitious. I inherited a few from my parents, though. When the salt spills I have to throw a bit over my shoulder, for instance. Innocuous, for the most part. However, the past two times I've blogged, I've come down with a big illness shortly thereafter. What's up with that?<br /><br />I'm actually still sick. Low-grade fever and possibly heading toward another sinus infection. I'm trying to head it off with a neti pot. Thankfully husband is in town this week and has been picking up my slack.<br /><br />Monday was the last day I was out and about. Here's a colorful photo of M, who is growing up so quickly lately. We had to take her to the ER last week with croup, but she has recovered.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2592304721/" title="Chalk girl by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2592304721_5501bd7e25.jpg" alt="Chalk girl" height="399" width="344" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Doing her best to beautify our house while it's for sale<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Over the weekend, our son really got the hang of riding his bike without training wheels. Santa brought this new bike for Christmas, and it didn't come with training wheels, so there has been some motivation to ride it. Seeing as Santa also took the other bike that had training wheels. Santa's ways are mysterious, for sure.<br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=49235" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="300" width="400"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=87bbfb0442&photo_id=2581624789"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=49235"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=49235" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=87bbfb0442&photo_id=2581624789" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><br /><br />Like about a billion other people, I started the <a href="http://www.flintknits.com/blog/?p=151">February Lady Sweater</a>. I'm using Araucania Nature Wool and although I had to fiddle with the numbers because my gauge is off, it's working up nicely. I don't know what those people at Araucania were smoking when they got 18 stitches for 4 inches on size 6 needles--the gauge on the label. I like this wool at 6 stitches per inch.<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2592304787/" title="February Lady Sweater by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/2592304787_bcd8555b2b.jpg" alt="February Lady Sweater" height="299" width="399" /></a><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I've also decided to write up my diaper cover/wool soaker pattern and sell it on Ravelry. I have uploaded a total of three hat patterns on Ravelry for free, and they seem to be going over well. I like my diaper cover, because the design is very clean and has an adjustable waistband, too. We'll see how it goes. Right now I'm just trying to recover from this virus and make sure it doesn't go all bacterial in my sinuses. I'm sure blogging about it won't help, eh?<br /></div></div></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-25526183635617664962008-06-10T07:55:00.002-06:002008-06-10T08:01:11.208-06:00PublishedI forgot to share that I finally published my Cherie Beret pattern (free) on Ravelry. You can <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cherie-beret">find it here</a>!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2284569226/" title="Pre High School Grad shot by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2053/2284569226_7142276dca_m.jpg" alt="Pre High School Grad shot" height="240" width="179" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/367499524/" title="Cherie - side view by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/140/367499524_079a10be1c_m.jpg" alt="Cherie - side view" height="180" width="240" /> </a><br /></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-53807369355230043712008-06-09T08:15:00.003-06:002008-06-09T08:35:43.403-06:00"I don't know where you went..."I've been here the whole time, Internet. Just not feeling like blogging. When I have nothing but complaints, whines and moans, I usually refrain from posting. So that makes me a very intermittent blogger, at best.<br /><br />But then a blog pal left a comment and said "I don't know where you went..." and it made me feel a little badly for not updating lately.<br /><br />Let's see. Shortly after that last post, I had a vicious stomach flu that took a week to get over. I did finish my mom's socks for Mother's Day and they were semi well-received, although a week later she still had not tried them on. And I haven't asked about them since.<br /><br />After that, I needed a sure-fire project to pick me up, so I knit my first lace: a Shetland Triangle Shawl for my oldest friend. We go back to the 4th or 5th grade, when she moved to my school. Somehow we keep reaching out to each other from time to time and I truly believe we will be connected throughout our lives. She's a very special person to me.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2516229332/" title="Shetland Triangle by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3184/2516229332_05238836f6.jpg" alt="Shetland Triangle" height="183" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2516229384/" title="Shetland Triangle by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2161/2516229384_bf91c0d1c5_o.jpg" alt="Shetland Triangle" height="400" width="286" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Project: Healing Shawl (Shetland Triangle Shawl from <u>Wrap Style</u>)<br />Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy Sock in Gothic Rose<br />Modifications: 10 repeats, but I'm pretty sure I could have done 11<br />Received: Extremely well. Better than expected. Happy.<br /><br />After that, I knit a cabled pillow, but I have yet to sew it up, so that'll be for the next post. I also caught the <a href="http://www.flintknits.com/blog/?p=151">February Lady Sweater</a> fever, and cast on in 100purewool's 3-ply. It's turning out lovely.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2382792705/" title="3-ply Purewool by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3114/2382792705_bd25c576cd_m.jpg" alt="3-ply Purewool" height="240" width="180" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">100purewool 3-ply in Azul Profundo<br /><br /></span></div>On a continuing personal note, our house has been on the market for just over a month. We are hoping to move before school starts, but we're not counting on it. The housing market, if you haven't heard, isn't great. But we are buoyed by the fact that a few houses in our neighborhood have sold in the past few weeks.<br /><br />I continue to spend way too much time on Ravelry, and CESOB in particular. I've met some great friends there and would like to give them a shout-out. We just had a stitch marker swap, and these are ones I received from Lynnea. I'll post photos of the others in another post. I promise to post again in June. Although I can't promise it'll be upbeat.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2506692220/" title="Stitch markers from L by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2236/2506692220_80c77596a8_m.jpg" alt="Stitch markers from L" height="180" width="240" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Lovely stitch markers from Lynnea</span><br /></div></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-73264680518781221972008-04-22T11:48:00.002-06:002008-04-22T11:54:38.489-06:00Mother's DayI think I've mentioned before that my immediate family doesn't know about this blog. It's appropriate because they also don't care about knitting. But it's also convenient for me because then I can dish about works in progress that are gifts and not have to be all <span style="font-style: italic;">hush hush</span> about them.<br /><br />This particular pair of socks is for my mom for Mother's Day. I haven't knit any socks ever for my mom, and I thought that since summer is coming, Sockotta (cotton/wool/nylon blend) would be appropriate. I actually don't often knit with true fingering weight yarn for socks (preferring the process to go a little more quickly) so I'm surprised at how quickly these are working up.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2434631682/" title="Sockotta Socks For Mother's Day by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2434631682_bdc08dddc5_o.jpg" alt="Sockotta Socks For Mother's Day" height="399" width="324" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">What happened is that I realized I don't want to knit for pay. I knit because I love it and I only knit for people who I truly adore. That doesn't translate well into knitting for random people for money. Thankfully we are financially in a position where I don't have to earn money. Anything I earn is gravy, and so I can continue to knit for love. And thankfully the people who invited me to participate in their store have graciously allowed me to bow out.<br /><br />I felt so relieved, that I just knit and knit and knit on my mom's socks. And lo. They are going much more quickly than I had anticipated! Maybe I *do* like fingering weight yarn afterall.</div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-13041122942142407832008-04-14T08:19:00.003-06:002008-04-14T08:25:11.748-06:00Not Very MassachusettsOur house went on the market Saturday officially. Let the craziness begin. In the meantime, I've determined just how much I guess I am not Massachusetts:<br /><br /><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="350"><tbody><tr><td bg="" style="color: rgb(238, 238, 238);" align="center"><br /><span style=";font-family:Georgia,Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-size:14;color:black;" ><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>You Are 16% Massachusetts</strong></span><br /></span></td></tr><br /><tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff"><br /><center><img src="http://www.blogthingsimages.com/howmassachusettsareyouquiz/mass-1.jpg" height="100" width="100" /></center><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />You Yankees loving homo! You probably think Starbucks coffee tastes better than Dunkin Donuts.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/howmassachusettsareyouquiz/">How Massachusetts Are You?</a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Ack. I suppose it's not very scientific, but then, I tend to think since I've spent 29 out of 36 years of my life in the Midwest, I'm fairly Midwestern and probably always will be. It's not a bad thing, is it?<br /><br />As a result of the above, I haven't been knitting much, well, much that's very interesting. I started knitting for a little online store--baby things. They are fun and pretty quick and I'm "designing" some items, so that has been creatively challenging and fun. But I also yearn to get back to my other adult knitting projects.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2410380547/" title="Organic Ruffle Baby Hat by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2144/2410380547_c7fcc24b7e_m.jpg" alt="Organic Ruffle Baby Hat" height="240" width="223" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2406660508/" title="Baby Ruffle Hat & Bootie set by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2340/2406660508_271bb219ec_m.jpg" alt="Baby Ruffle Hat & Bootie set" height="180" width="240" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2388593792/" title="Denim hat/booties by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2269/2388593792_c9b9383403_m.jpg" alt="Denim hat/booties" height="240" width="228" /></a><br /></div><br /></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-54244802215718179642008-03-26T08:53:00.005-06:002008-03-26T09:18:06.829-06:00Where Is Spring?Hi again. I feel the need to introduce myself. Hi. I'm Jen and I knit. Sometimes. Lately, not so much. And because I'm not too big on complaining publicly, and lately I've had not much nice to say, I've resorted to...well, not saying much. Which is probably not the right thing to do because I think about blogging quite a bit.<br /><br />Just do it, right?<br /><br />Genuine <a href="http://thelumpysweater.wordpress.com/2008/03/24/quick-dirty-tag-six-word-memoir/">tagged me</a> on her blog and even said I'm "very inventive" so I guess I need to follow through with that or lose her respect forever. This is a six-word memoir and it can include an illustration. Mine will not.<br /><br />Reads, knits, writes; usually plays nicely.<br /><br />Boring? Well, tough. In truth I would have liked to write something like "Writer saves humanity with poignant prose." But I have neither the ego nor the crystal ball to say that. So I'll stick to the here and now.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">T&A</span><br />In other news, our daughter sailed through her tonsillectomy & adenoidectomy last week, but not through her recovery. It has been a tough, long slog. Two days after the surgery, she came down with croup and a nasty cold. Which meant she didn't want to eat. At all. Not even ice cream, popsicles or pudding could entice her. So it has been rough, but we're managing. She's almost 3, so she's got that 2/3 <a href="http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/tantrums.html">thing</a> going on, too.<br /><br />I was able to finish another diaper cover (before the surgery)! This is another soaker for Sam. It's from 100purewool's 3ply; the color is Brown Lilac and I just love it.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2337188779/" title="Curly Purly Diaper Cover for Sam by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2006/2337188779_71fd930a11_o.jpg" alt="Curly Purly Diaper Cover for Sam" height="400" width="300" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I also finished the second sock in a pair (after the surgery). This pair is made with Duet from <a href="http://www.aswellyarnshop.com/cart/home.php">A Swell Yarn Shop</a>. I had traded for it on Ravelry a little while ago. I have to say while I adore the colors (cream, tan, pinks) I'm not in love with the yarn base. I found it splitty and squeaky. I think I've decided I'll mostly stick with wool/nylon blends for socks after this one. Superwash 100% wool just rubs me the wrong way. It feels too much like acrylic to me.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2364234768/" title="Duet Spring Socks by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/2364234768_1318504217_o.jpg" alt="Duet Spring Socks" height="400" width="327" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Even though they are heavy wool socks, there's something about them that says "spring" isn't there? (Despite the fact that we're supposed to get two more inches of snow tomorrow. On top of our <a href="http://www.crh.noaa.gov/crnews/display_story.php?wfo=mkx&storyid=12881">100+ inches for the season</a>--we passed by our previous record of 76 inches awhile ago. Oh the humanity!)</div></div></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-14411411942214844742008-03-11T16:48:00.002-06:002008-03-11T18:02:23.838-06:00No New KnitsBlog posts are daunting when you have no new knitting to show. But there has been stash acquisition and other fun things, so I'll go ahead anyway.<br /><br />This past weekend the knitting guild in my city hosted a Knit-In and I came away with quite a few items:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2321187989/" title="Skacel Preludio by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2321187989_0c6e35aa99_m.jpg" alt="Skacel Preludio" height="240" width="180" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.yarns-and.com/fabrics/Skacel/SKApreludio.htm">Tribbles</a>. More specifically, 12 Tribbles for free.<br />Won as a door prize.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2322005356/" title="Blue buttons by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/2322005356_fd4a2854a6_m.jpg" alt="Blue buttons" height="180" width="240" /></a><br />Blue buttons from <a href="http://www.jenniethepotter.com/store.asp">Jennie The Potter</a><br />I couldn't resist!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2322005436/" title="Pink button for Imogen by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/2322005436_d9d943e63e_m.jpg" alt="Pink button for Imogen" height="240" width="180" /></a><br />Pink Button for <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2189359237/">Imogen</a> from <a href="http://www.jenniethepotter.com/store.asp">Jennie The Potter</a><br />oooooooooo.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2321188277/" title="Mountain Colors bearfoot by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2085/2321188277_4b674cbe14_m.jpg" alt="Mountain Colors bearfoot" height="240" width="180" /></a><br />MC Bearfoot for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/periwinkle-beret">Periwinkle Beret</a><br />to match my brown winter coat<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2322004734/" title="Aussi Sock by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3091/2322004734_9ff5dfc4d8_m.jpg" alt="Aussi Sock" height="240" width="180" /></a><br />Aussi Sock in Faded Valentine<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I also may or may not have purchased 8 skeins of <a href="http://www.abbeyyarns.com/fork-in-the-road.html">Black Water Abbey</a> 2-ply in Ocean. She didn't have them on hand, so I don't have them in hand, but I think they are making their way to my house as I type. Or perhaps that was allllll a dream.<br /><br />I do know one thing. This week is "Kids Week" at the local children's hospital and because we were there today for a pre-operative appointment, we got two "doctor bags".<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2327049213/" title="Is there a doctor in the house? by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2299/2327049213_c0c64be8cc_o.jpg" alt="Is there a doctor in the house?" height="289" width="399" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Surgical masks turn out to be a really handy plaything when your 5 year old has a low fever. Can I just point out that...shouldn't every week be "Kids Week" at a children's hospital?<br /><br />Miss M is scheduled for her tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy March 19. Yes, we'd like a matched pair, please. No seriously, I know this looks and sounds ridiculous. But rest assured that we are not operating on our children willy-nilly. Our ENT is a very conservative guy and we all agree it's time to take hers out, too. Even the nurse practitioner who saw her today commented on the size of M's tonsils.<br /><br />Ah life. It just keeps doling out the sweet and the not-so-much sweet.<br /></div></div><br /></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-60485753311917837472008-03-02T15:57:00.004-06:002008-03-03T07:16:55.005-06:00Back to RealityThe lull experienced on this blog was actually a refreshing vacation in Jamaica. For six days we frolicked on the beach, soaked in the sun and ate delicious, authentic Jamaican food. Truthfully, I had low expectations for this trip. Let's face it: I am the mother of a 5 year old and a 2 year old. I know that vacation can have it's trials for little children. Especially an overseas vacation. But it was seriously very fun. We kept the activities to a minimum so as not to wear out the children (and thus ourselves) and we happened to get really lucky when we booked our stay at <a href="http://www.thebluehousejamaica.com/">The Blue House</a> near Ocho Rios. What an amazing place. They call it a B&B but it's more like a boutique, luxury hotel. We stayed in the cottage behind the house and there was so much privacy and the food was amazing.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2302279742/" title="Reggae Beach by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2193/2302279742_31a8c356ce.jpg" alt="Reggae Beach" height="288" width="400" /></a><br /></div><br />There was even time to knit. I started and almost finished another Koolhaas Hat. I didn't bring dpns with me, so I had to wait until we got home to finish it. I'm calling it my "Rum Cream Koolhaas" because the colors remind me of Jamaica Rum Cream, the most delicious drink on ice that I've ever tasted. It's rather like Irish Cream, but so much better.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2305092963/" title="Sangster's Jamaica Rum Cream by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2149/2305092963_6af4dc2959_m.jpg" alt="Sangster's Jamaica Rum Cream" height="240" width="94" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">We brought a few bottles back.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2305092731/" title="Rum Cream Koolhaas by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3029/2305092731_13e58905f4_o.jpg" alt="Rum Cream Koolhaas" height="299" width="399" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Project: Koolhaas Hat by Jared Flood of brooklyntweed<br />Yarn: 100purewool.com 3-ply merino in "Tostado" colorway<br />Mods: none (4 repeats, not 5)<br /><br />You know, for all the complaining I've been doing about this winter, I was so happy to come back to 30-degree temps. Today it's 41 and the snow and ice is melting. Much of the week it's going to be in the 30s. That's all a girl can ask for--it's my 36th birthday tomorrow and I'm just glad it's not supposed to snow.<br /><br />ETA: *sob* it snowed last night. I guess there are worse things, right?<br /></div></div></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790229.post-86576173735246524872008-02-20T13:29:00.002-06:002008-02-20T13:33:59.801-06:00C is for CupOk, so I'm late again and it's a mug, not a cup, but I had to show off this new-found rescued mug from my parents' house.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/friender/2279445669/" title="Cup (mug, you get the idea) by Friender, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2228/2279445669_e8b5639173_o.jpg" alt="Cup (mug, you get the idea)" height="399" width="288" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Why, right? Why rescue this cup/mug? I love tea. And this mug is really big. I'd say it holds more than 20 ounces. Upwards of 80 inches of snow has fallen so far this winter, and it's only February. That calls for a lot of tea. This mug makes me giggle, too.<br /></div></div>JenniferBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426250105925398900noreply@blogger.com3