pumpkin patch

B's been drawing a lot of jack o'lanterns this fall. We have a mini-pumpkin patch on our kitchen wall and he's brought tons of pumpkin pictures into school for various teachers. I've started on my own little pumpkin patch. It's a necklace for me to wear on Halloween. The idea came to me last week when I was knitting with a friend at lunch. She was starting a necklace from DomiKNITrix Whip Your Knitting Into Shape. I thought, that would be neat in a larger gauge and as pumpkins for Halloween. So, I went home and ripped out my Hallowig. I would be nearly done, except I keep ripping out the second pumpkin and making the distance between the two shorter. I may do it again.

I also hemmed and hawed about what to use to stuff the pumpkins. Currently, I'm using cotton balls. I had thought about using polyfill and dyeing it orange so white wouldn't pull through when I duplicate stitched the faces, but now I'm stitching the faces before I stuff and close up the balls. It was a very simple pattern to re-engineer (I may have peeked at the actual instructions).

I forgot to mention yesterday that Mom loved her E pin. I wish I could have gotten a decent photo of it. But, my camera wouldnt' cooperate. As for her reacting more to the chocolate, my sis took a pic of her opening the gift with the chocolate in it and got a shot of her mouth open in a big O. I know she appreciates the hand knits. She wears them all the time.

Vermont

We had a great time. I hated to leave. I always do. B was asking to go home Friday night. But, he had a great time anyway. Cinxia was finished Friday night after Mom went to bed. She took forever to dry. Finally drying Monday morning. I think she liked it. It didn't get as great a reaction as the bag of mini Kisses my sister gave her. No, I'm not bitter.

from an e-mail I just sent a staff member

"I need a bell that goes off if I try to send an e-mail that has the word attach in it but nothing attached."

Someone let Google know to get on that, mkay?

No, I'm not drunk at work and I know it only works on Google mail.

collar begun

I've got one of five inches done on the collar. I hope to finish the collar before I get home tonight. So, all I'll have to do is seam the under arms and weave in six ends. I've been spit-splicing when I join a new ball. Which is good, because I've used parts of 13 balls (the sleeves used about 1 3/4 balls each). That would have been a lot of ends. I even have a plan in mind in case the sweater doesn't dry overnight, it involves the cargo area of my H3 and the foam fold-up chair we bring with us for B. I may try to get modeled shots with Nannette before I go up, but I'll definitely have modeled shots of Mom when I get back. I sure hope it's long enough.

I might just make it

As the rows get shorter, the goal seems more attainable.

My sister implied that I procrastinated on this and I'd like to point out that I cast on with more than a month to knit. Just because I can't stay awake doesn't mean I'm procrastinating, it means I just don't drink coffee.

cutting it close, as usual

As is my habit, I am once again cutting it close with the deadline knitting. Mom's birthday is Sunday. B and I drive to VT on Friday. Ideally, the sweater should be done, blocked, and dry before B and I pack up the truck and go. Le sigh, I've completed two of four sets of yoke decreases. I've got at least 5" to go, then the short rows for the neckline and the 5" collar. One saving grace is that the rows are shorter now. But, why do I do this to myself?

Actually, I blame the B. The last couple of weeks, he's been insisting that I lie in bed with him until he falls asleep. Not a bad thing, except I often fall asleep, too. Well, it is bad if I want to get something done after he goes to sleep. Last night I had to let him cry it out so I could call my mom and dad (they go to bed about 9 pm and I couldn't stay with him). He's nearly five and it's so hard to let him cry it out (although, we did do a modified Ferber to get him to bed as an infant).

You know what totally rocks?

I have the day off on Monday, but Billy and Hubby don't! (Not that I celebrate Columbus Day, I don't think we should have a holiday for an event that precipitated genocide, and if you want to say it's for Italian heritage why do I have to work on St. Patrick's day, but I won't go into the office in protest either.)

C'mon, you know I love my family, but a whole day to myself? Maybe I'll get some sewing done (finally finish that tunic, start a corduroy skirt, a fall tote bag, another apron). I know I'm going to get some shopping, cooking and/or baking done. Hubby's birthday is the next day and I promised him a special dinner. I know there will be no housework done, because M-i-L and F-i-L will be watching B Friday night (Devils tickets) and Saturday night (local drama club doing Urinetown) so I need to do any cleaning/tidying before Friday night. I think I'll tackle the bathroom tonight, since there's no Project Runway.

Mom's second sleeve is half done. I would be further along, but I watched I am Legend last night instead of the debate and couldn't concentrate on the twisted stockinette. I hope to be joining body and sleeves by the weekend.

nearly as many tries to cast on

Sleeve 1 was completed Saturday. I think I have the cast on done for sleeve 2. I've had it nearly done a few times, but kept screwing it up. I'll let you know tomorrow.

Less than three inches to go until sleeve 1 is done. I really wish I had been knitting in front of the tv all week. This would have been done days ago. Oh well, I have 3 weeks to finish (kiss of death, I know).

It only took a dozen tries

But, I finally got a half-way decent picture of the first sleeve. One big mod, I am not knitting 6" of slipped garter stitch so 1/2 is invisible when it's turned over.

2/3 of increases are done (not hard when there's only 3). I must start knitting at home at night.