Spring Things FO

Cookie, I knit my Cabin Cove yarn (I have a skein of Yankees Ikat to be a pair of socks once they stop sucking so much, kidding, I'm not a bandwagon fan).

I finished the shawl a while ago but didn't get around to blocking it until this past Sunday. The pattern is Spring Things Shawl from Knitting As Fast As I Can. I don't know what Dave uses as lace weight merino when he dyes, but the yarn was 100% merino and I can't remember the colorway name he gave it either. I knit the shawl on my KnitPicks options size 4 (I think). My only mods were to try to make it BIGGER, to use as much of the yarn as possible. I added extra eyelet rows as directed in the pattern, and an extra repeat of the bottom pattern. I still have a sizeable ball of yarn left and in my spree of picture taking on Sunday, I forgot to include it.

This goofy pic is included to give an idea of size. I could have gone bigger. I'd like it to be deeper, but not necessarily wider. I love it and have no idea when I'll wear it!

I'm hoping to FO bounce tonight. It's all seamed but for one underarm gusset, which I've lost. I'm taking care of that on the way home tonight (knitting a new one from the swatch I washed). B should be happy. He keeps taking it out of my bag and asking me to fix it. He wasn't bothered by the fact that it wasn't done, he just didn't like the long ends hanging off it.

to the tune of Winnie the Pooh

Billy went Pee
Billy went Pee
Big boy Billy peed on the potty

I think hubby and I were a mite worried that B would stop using the potty all together when we hit the road this weekend. Fears assuaged when he went pee on a strange potty at the half-way mark Friday. Then, he peed at my mom's a few times Saturday (including letting Daddy help him with Mommy nowhere near the potty). Piece de la resistance, he peed at every stop yesterday plus once at mom's. Five pees on the potty. Each time he happily announces "I went pee!"

Still no poops and the pull up still occasionally gets wet. I hope we get an update from school today.

That's not really the highlight of the weekend, I had a lot of fun hanging with my mom and sisters (and their SOs).

I'm glad I got to see my dad, but his situation just depresses the crap out of me. He does nothing but sit in his recliner. He rides a stationary bike or walks on the treadmill for about 15 minutes each day, but this is the man who ran the Boston Marathon, competed in the VT Golden Gloves when I was a kid, kept a vegetable garden bigger than my back yard, barely stopped moving as long as the son was out. It was a gorgeous weekend this weekend and we played outside a lot (even having a bonfire Saturday night), but he step outside more than 10 minutes all weekend.

The killer.... the man who always said sunny days were "golden days" responded to my husband's comment about Sunday being another nice day with it's going to be a nice day with "doesn't really matter."

They're taking him off lyrica and putting him on celexa. Can't happen soon enough. He doesn't think he's depressed (he worries that mom's not handling the situation, but she just started dyeing her hair again), but denial isn't a river in Egypt.

He's got some serious bone deterioration issues in his neck and back that cause excrutiating pain and ridiculous headaches. Just talking too much can cause him a lot of pain, forget moving around. Julie mentioned that anti-depressants are commonly used in low dose in pain management, I need him to get some depression sized doses.

I did find out this weekend that my Meme's (dad's mom) family has a history with depression. Seems dad's meme once pulled a Brittany, chopping off all her scissors with kitchen shears. And Meme's sister is currently deeply depressed. I forgot to thank Meme when I saw her.

Spring Things shawl was bound off on the way home yesterday. Once I find room, I'll block her (pics may be hard to come by, I left my camera in VT).

More potty progress

Because I know you're on pins and needles about my kid using the potty.

Last night after dinner (ribs at Tiffany's mmmmmm), I was getting B's bath ready and he asked to go on the potty. And wanted me to do my silly cheers. When he said he was done, I figured it was another practice run (not hearing any musical tinkling), but low and behold, the water was yellow. So, step two is accomplished. Child has informed parent of need to pee and then peed on the potty. Yippeee! The kid literally glows when I tell him how proud I am of him.

This morning, we didn't quite get the timing right. We had three dry runs and he asked me too late for us to make it upstairs in time. I could tell he'd let go as I was turning to get out of my chair.

The Asst. Director at school says he's working very hard there as well. Little bugger's getting much better at manipulating his clothes, too.

We're getting there with minimal frustration. I think our ordeal last weekend, while not successful, was a bit of a motivating factor.

Again, I didn't knit more than a few rows on the shawl yesterday. I had to do some housework (bane of my existence, I hate it worse than poopy diapers). Hubby's grandparents are up for a visit and they're coming down to the house with the in-laws for dinner. M-i-L is cooking and doing the cleaning up afterwards so I can't really complain, but I did have to make the house presentable last night. I'm still planning on bringing just the shawl and bounce to VT tomorrow.

I can't wait to ask Billy if he wants to go see Nanny and Grampy tomorrow when he wakes up. He's been talking about them and his aunts a lot lately.

I just don't knit enough

Seriously, I've been barely touching my knitting the last couple of days. I need to stop acting like I have a life and get back to knitting.

I've planned what I'm taking on the trip to VT this weekend. Billy's bounce for duplicate stitchery (I've got 3 rows of balls done and at least 8 more to do). And the Spring Things Shawl to complete. I'm not bringing anything else.

I do still think about knitting a lot (and sewing). I've got my next couple of projects lined up (M-i-L's birthday CeCe, for late August gifting, and Hubby's Flag sweater, for late January wearing) . I'd like to set a goal of sewing one item a week because my fabric stash has become ridiculous, complexity depending upon time available (ie, weekend plans mean whipping out a simple tote). I actually ordered fabric last week to make Billy a quilt (it should be on my doorstep today).

I desperately need some organization. I'm thinking of taking a day and just overhauling my basement storage area to consolidate the various stashes (under the bed, in the closet, in the office at home and at work) and make the office area where my sewing machine more user friendly (not to mention find room to put in a futon or small sofa bed).

physics

I've got a new knitting physics problem. It's not that I'm knitting and the piece isn't getting bigger, which is the usually knitting physics problem. Actually, it may not be getting bigger, but I'm not worried about it's current size. It's lace it will block out larger. What I'm concerned about is having leftovers. See, the ball is not getting appreciably smaller. Granted, I've only done two and a half rows since Friday, but still it seems like it's been the same size forever. I just don't want too much leftover and the shawl too small.

Sorry for the itty bitty pic, it's all blogger would let me post (clicking makes it way bigger).

no potty, I promise

This is the Spring Things shawl as of this morning. Per the pattern, I should be starting the lower border. But, I've decided that since I still have a pretty sizeable ball of yarn I'm going to do 4 repeats of the upper border on this bad boy. Yes, I am consciously choosing to do two more rows with nupps (there are nupps, but you can't see them)! I love the nupps they're pretty, but they can be a b*tch to execute. I can't wait to see what size this is when blocked out. I added a couple extra repeats of the upper pattern as well.

Not that I've really touched it since Wednesday night. I've been reading. I don't think I'll be blocking soon.

Note to self, do not back up a reading of The Road with a viewing of "Children of Men." So very good, but so very bleak, with a hint of hope at the end. Although, when I finished The Road I thought to myself, that's what fatherhood should be.

all potty all the time

I know, I'm obsessing. B was very happy with his new potty seat for school. No word on if he's using it, but I had to have F-i-L pick him up yesterday (busses were running way late due to our esteemed president raising GOP money and morale in my blue state) and B couldn't wait to show his new potty seat to his grandpa.

I've started reading the fun potty book. I'm feeling less than confident. Not because of the book or its content, but because I feel I'm rushing this and I will fail gloriously. Then one day, when I've change gazillion more pull-ups, all on his own he's going to just start doing it.

In good news, I had the world's fastest Gyno appointment last night. I was home in a half an hour, that's with almost 20 minutes driving time. I'm a bit annoyed that all I got were general questions (no follow-up on my PPD, no mention of my ballooning weight). I guess she figures all she's got to worry about are the PAP and the pelvic. But, most women only go to their gyno regularly. Shouldn't they be looking at overall health?

Hubby was left with the task of putting B to bed while I was out and got him down earlier than I normally do. B was in hysterics for about 3 minutes after I left and Hubby smartly distracted him by asking him questions about his train set. I get longer crying jags when the 8 shirt is dirty. But, B was appropriately thrilled to see me this morning, to the point of telling his father over breakfast "Daddy, look mommy here."

I've been doing a little knitting. Very little was accomplished over the weekend (no surprise there, I never knit as much when I'm away as I think I will), but I'm one repeat, chart C and border from finishing the spring thing shawl. I hope that means I can block it tonight. Then, on to finishing something else.

Anyone want to come over to my house and install the air conditioners?

it's the weekend

Who cares that I'm stuck at this desk for the next five hours or that we're not driving down the shore until tomorrow? It's the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend and I'm celebrating. I've got a bag of Lindor truffles (why yes I am wearing a bathing suit tomorrow, so) and I'm in capris and summer has begun.

Here's serrano. I'm still working on her and she's anxious about her upcoming abondonment. But, with the drive down and being back at the condo early for B's bedtime, I think I'll be able to get a lot done on Spring Things this weekend.

Thordora suggested a yarn swap to me in the comments yesterday and I'd love some Louet Sales yarn. But, I can't deal with the thought of parting with any of my yarn. Isn't that sick?

Sunny Day

What can go wrong on a day when you come out of the shower and hear your pre-schooler loudly singing the Sesame Street Theme Song to the world (at our house we refer to it as "Sunny Day"? Granted, I'd rather he wasn't up at quarter of six, but we were out the door relatively easily this morning. Especially since his orange pants were clean.
I've started the border on the spring thing shawl. I've completed a repeat and am concerned that it's going to be too small and I'm going to have lots of leftover yarn. I think I may have to rip back and add more repeats to the upper eyelet pattern. Good thing I'm not on deadline.

I've completed two full repeats of the dragon socks. I'm liking it a lot and have gotten to where I don't need to look at the chart.

I haven't touched Serrano in a couple of days. Mostly because I've got too many wips (shawl, socks, serrano, B's sweater, dishclothes, a hat) and I need another US3 to work the body.

I'm sorely tempted to open up one of my five bags of Polar and whip up a quick cardi for the office. It is a meatlocker in here with the air on.

I did some sewing this weekend, after I rearranged the mini-yarn stash and maxi fabric stash and books that were blockading the sewing machine. I started a "Piderman Packback!" for Billy. A while ago, I bought a yard of Spiderman quilt fabric and decided this weekend to make B one of those drawstring backpacks. It's all sewn up. I just need some cording and grommets to finish it. I think he very much wants to use it. I've also cut out a simple skirt for me. I might work on that tonight.

my one photo per week per blogger

This is what I was doing Saturday and Sunday. I've been wishing I could go back all week.

Is it just me...

Or does the Beatles' Penny Lane play in your head when you see Amy Lane's name? Must just be me.


I made some progress on the shawl last night. 11 sets of eyelets done. I re-did my math and I'm going to aim for 20-22 sets, depending on yardage, size, etc. No ripping and minimal dropping back to fix last night, even with a Desmond-centric episode of LOST (I just knew he wouldn't let Charlie die). Posing up there is my Koigu sock swatch. I washed it last night and have a gauge of 7 st/inch. That means that the 64 stitches in the pattern might fit around my big fat ankles. I really want to cast on, but besides having a job to do, I need to look up the cast on Teresa recommends.

Hubby had a work thing last night so we haven't really talked about this weekend. Although, after this morning's performance, I'm thinking leaving him with the grands won't be bad. He was so good last night. He ate well, came in from shooting baskets without fussing, took his bath, went to bed, minimal amount of frustration for mommy. This morning, he wanted his frog shirt, orange shirt with a bright green tree frog on it. I couldn't find it. I think it's at school in his emergency clothes bin (I'm going to check tonight and bring it home if it is, he's asked for it a couple of times). So, then he decides he's not going to cooperate at all. He wanted to wear PJs to school. He wanted a Bob the Builder pull-up while we used the last one yesterday and only have spiderman pull-ups and elmo diapers. After 15 minutes of no and wriggling and crying (all on his part, I behaved very well), we finally got dressed and out the door with no more fuss.

Although, I do still think I might want him with me. I wonder if I'm trying to avoid being alone with Hubby or if I'm feeling guilty about taking time off from Mommying.

Back to the fiber

I avoided posting my feminist ravings about the whole Don Imus thing, but I couldn't keep quiet. It's one thing when a group of women are insulted, it's another when 33 people have died.


So, back to the fiber, I'm about 4 sets of eyelets further along on the Spring Things shawl. I'd be even further, but I had to stop and rip, drop back, and tink a number of times last night. I have to remember that just because a pattern is easily remembered, doesn't mean that I can knit like it's stockinette in the round! I think the color is more accurate today. I'm planning on about 25 sets of eyelets before I start the upper border. We'll see what kind of yardage that takes and what size it gets me.

The green thing on top is a swatch for my Here There Be Dragons socks in the leftover Koigu from the lace leaf shawl. I just had to print out the pattern and try it. My previous attempt was on a much thinner yarn and it lead to a smaller sock. I'm hoping koigu on 3s will get me less than 8 stitches to an inch so that the socks will fit my wide-ish feet.

I'm enamoured of that greenish koigu and I have more than four skeins left. Two plus a partial ball should be enough for the socks. I'm thinking of using the other two to trim a future project. Maybe a lacy ruffle on a 3/4 sleeve of a plain beige sweater? With a little trim on the front bands? Just a thought. I'll try to remember to put the koigu with yarn I was thinking of matching it with.

In other news, Hubby's got his parents shore place for the weekend. (Definition of shore place: a converted motel suite one block from the beach in North Wildwood, NJ. M-i-L hates to call it a condo because it's an itty bitty, one bedroom converted suite.) Since the weather's going to be nicer this weekend (read: sunny in the 60s), I'm thrilled. However, we have a minor debate on bringing the B. This morning Hubby suggested leaving the B with his parents, they're already taking the dog, and it nearly brought me to tears. Usually, I'm all for getting the mommy and daddy alone time, but for some reason, as of this morning, I want B with me. Maybe that's just because he's been really easy the last couple of days. I'm sure if we get a "no pants" episode as I'm trying to get out the door Friday morning, I won't regret leaving him with his grandparents.

Cute thing B's been doing lately: over dinner, we get a run down of who pooped at school that day. Not sure how accurate it is as it always starts with "Nessa got poop." The other kids who "got poop" that day will vary and he invariably says no if we ask about kids by name, including him. Mostly we think it's entertaining, but Hubby was a bit uncomforatable discussing Nessa's bowel functions at the diner last night. Like the old people behind us don't regularly discuss BMs!

all lace all the time

Here's the progress on the Spring Things shawl. Not bad considering I didn't knit at home last night. I hemmed some pants instead. How is it, that at 5'4" plus-size petite pants are at least 3" too long? Being fat doesn't make my legs longer; I'm still short! I'm totally grooving on the colors. I think they're a little more saturated in this picture than in real-life. I've got the pattern memorized for the upper chart. I've got many, many 6-row repeats to go. Since I've got 870 yards, I'm thinking I'll make it a little bit bigger.

I've gone ahead and signed up for the Cabin Cove knitalong. Got to remember to add the button to the sidebar.

I hope to have modeled shots of Lace Leaf later this week. I'm hoping the weather will improve so we can have some daylight modeling, either by me if I can find a photographer, or by my forsythia bushes if I can't.


Go find a Ben & Jerry's scoop shop. It's free cone day! My first experience with Ben & Jerry's was in grade school. In 1983, the town next to mine made the Guiness Book of World Records for the world's largest sundae. B&J donated the ice cream and they bussed kids in from all over to eat it. Being from VT, B&J was always the ice cream of choice. I remember seconds sales (esp. the seconds that were seconds because there were TOO MANY chunks), getting Peace Pops at the drive-in, visiting the original scoop shop in Burlington, coming to NYC in high school and seeing the famous Woody Jackson holsteins and realizing there was a bit of home in Times Square. When my cousin worked at their factory in St. A, she'd get sleeves of ice cream each week and would pass along the extras. Free cone, I think I need a pint!

No grasshoppers today

Here is the lace leaf shawl all blocked out. It's a little wonky, first time I've blocked a triangle. I finished the cast off on the way to and from church yesterday. I washed (hit the dirty train floor) and blocked during Billy's nap yesterday afternoon. She was dry when I left this morning, but I didn't have time to unpin it. This was a very satisfying knit. Two weeks from cast on to blocking. I'll need to trim ends but she's ready to wear now. The pattern is Lace Leaf Shawl from Fiber Trends, knit in Koigu (I can look up the color if anyone wants to know it) on US 7s. I used by KnitPicks Options in the 32" length. I had to rip once, I think. There are a couple of minor errors (a k3tog in one row where the k2tog was missed the previous right-side row), but nothing I can't live with. I'll try her on and see what I think.

Meanwhile, I cast on for the Spring Things shawl on Saturday. I was waiting for B to finish the french toast Hubby made for lunch. Since the yarn, pattern and needles were sitting right there, I started. But US3s seemed too small. I started again on Sunday (during nap after I blocked lace leaf) with US5s. I liked the fabric better and cruised through nearly 40 rows when I realized I'd messed up but good back on row 6 or so. RIiiiip it went. I started in again this morning. I just love this thing and can't wait. Hubby's not convinced that I need to knit multiple shawls, but when has knitting ever been about need? (Okay, I know 100 years ago I would have been knitting out of need.)

In other news, parts of my town have become new duck ponds. Seriously, I watched from train station as a pair of Mallards landed on the water on High Street and just toodled around. Most roads were passable and the bus ride into the city was only 5-10 minutes longer than normal. The river hadn't wiped out much, but, the blocks near the river were not draining. The public schools are closed (some are being used for shelters for people who live near the river) and I'm probably going to need an alternate route to daycare if this hasn't subsided by evening.

Ladybug Presents

I've got no idea what the blog title means. Billy's been pretending to see ladybugs or grasshoppers out his window (second floor to the ground, kid's got good eyesight). And he's been obsessing about presents. Not just that he wants to get new stuff or even open presents himself. He was perfectly happy when Molly opened her present a week ago. So this morning, after telling me about the ladybug he saw, he started asking for ladybug presents. I really don't know if he thinks there should be a ladybug holiday for which we exchange gifts or if he wants to wrap up some aphids to leave for his invisible friends. I'm confused, but he's cute!

I've decided I'm going to make a bigger Lace Leaf shawl. I'm nearly to the end of what would be the last repeat of the smaller size, but it's only about 15 inches deep. I don't think it's going to grow by more than half with blocking. I don't know if I'm going to add seven more repeats to make the full large size, but I definitely want it to be at least 33" deep after blocking. Which is fine. I was kind of bummed to think that I'd be starting the 15 row border tonight on the way home. I'm not quite ready to be done knitting on this. Although, I was very excited to think that I might be blocking it this weekend. Oh well. If I'm not ready to block by Saturday, that means I don't have to clean off the guest room bed!

I did order the Spring Things shawl yesterday. I'm going to knit that up with my Cabin Cove yarn. (I'm going to have to join that knitalong when I cast on. Which is good. I like the buttons.) I just ordered a niddy noddy on eBay which will make the Icarus Magnum Dye much easier.

Rae, browse through here for some rectangular shawl ideas. I imagine some aren't too holey. Hey, there's always Clapotis from Knitty.