Right now I have umpteen zillion unfinished projects (or something close to that number) but I keep casting on new ones. I have, though, gotten two recent projects off the needles – the ring toy and the owlie cowl. I’m going to get a post together on those two cuz I want to share lots of photos.

Since I’ve been such a professional procrastinator I think it’s time I finally tackled the sleeves for the blue raglan I’ve had on the needles for ages. It’s another wonderful pattern from talented designer Jane Richmond and I love it…but I don’t love sleeves. I’m not sure why that is. I should be excited to be on the home stretch – but I’m not. I’m afraid to check my rav notes on this one to see when I actually started it but as the boy’s birthday is a mere 25 days away (he likes to keep us posted) I’d better get it done. Plus then I can reward myself with a new cast-on!

I’m still reading A Homemade Life and very much enjoying it. I love how reading about cooking makes me want to get busy in the kitchen. I stocked up on cook books and food-related memoirs last week at the library and I have Julie and Julia checked out on DVD for some quiet evening. We’ll see if I end up inspired or just hungry.

I’m also back into some children’s lit with The Sea of Monsters. It’s the second book in the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordin. If you haven’t caught on yet, I’m a total geek for children’s novels. Quick reading; demanding a reasonable amount of emotional response without disrupting my precious hours of sleep; satisfying my craving for fantasy and adventure without getting all gory or PG-13 on me. I’m enjoying this one although it isn’t one of my favourite children’s/young adult series.

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joining Ginny of Small Things

Joining the yarn along party late this week…

I just been working away on rings for the toy that has since become toys. I keep forgetting to attach the rings to each other when I graft them closed but with a slew of friends with babies on the way I’m sure getting a head start on knitting is not a bad thing. I’ve started felting the first two sets but after two wash and dry cycles they still aren’t as small as I’d like. I keep tossing them in with warm washes so we’ll see how that works.

I did start on the owlie cowl I wanted to try out. I’m working 60 stitches on size 9 needles with worsted weight wool held double. I’m going to work in some cables after a few inches although I’m already starting to wonder if I should be trying this one bigger needles….Of course I don’t have a size 10 in circulars (or dpns) so I’m debating a trip to the yarn store. Dan loves those trips…

I still very much enjoying A Homemade Life, although I haven’t tried any of the recipes yet. I thought it was a strange coincidence that she waxes poetic over coconut and coconut macaroons in particular. I came to that chapter after I’d gone crazy for coconut macaroons myself. I’m taking it mean my love was meant to be. And now I have another recipe to try out.

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joining Ginny for yarn along

Despite my very best intentions, these weeks seem to be passing by in a blur with the needles not seeing as much action as I’d like. I carry my knitting around with me, I take it out, I knit in the late evenings when the little people are settled but I don’t feel like anything is flying off my needles.

I did finish the secret hat for Jen. I’ll share a peek after it’s safely in her hands. Other than that I’ve just been knitting a loop now and then for the ring toy(s) – I decided I couldn’t stop at one so I’m doing a couple. The loops are definitely fun and addictive. I’m knitting them in Paton’s Classic Wool – a great yarn to work with, and such a great felter. Beyond that I’m dreaming up an owlie cowl for my little guy; thinking I could come up with a simple enough pattern in his favourite colour, yellow.

As far as reading goes, I’ve been inspired by A Homemade Life. It’s a memoir cookbook by Molly Wizenberg, the author behind Orangette. She writes so well. I love her stories; they are so personable and heartfelt. And the recipes: they beg testing. The problem is I want to try them all – I can’t decide where to begin.

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joining with Ginny for yarn along

It’s once again time to fess up on my knitting and reading for the past week. It’s a confession because I’d like to have more to show for myself but the truth is I’ve spent more time baking and cooking up treats than sitting with my knitting this week.

I have been working away on the hat for the little exchange Jen and I have arranged. There was some trepidation and the occasional fearful outburst that it’s all wrong for her but she kindly encouraged me and I’m sticking to it. I’d love to share the pattern but I don’t want to ruin her surprise (could you resist following the link, Jen?).

The leg warmers I started last week were a big flop. I feared early on that they were too wide but I stubbornly kept knitting. Until I finished the first one, until I’d woven in some of the ends, until I tried it on her leg and saw how ridiculously huge it was. I’ll need to rip it out – until then I’ve stuffed it a basket until I’ve forgiven it for not working out.

In the meantime I picked a project I’d barely started a while ago and have been enjoying how quickly it’s coming together. I’m making this knitted toy for my wee girlie who loves to stuff everything in her mouth. Socks seem to be her favourite but I’m hoping I can tempt her away with the sweet rainbow colours. Considering all the babies I know of on the way I might easily get carried away with more. This pattern is wonderfully easy and very quick, and because it’s felted (helping hide boo-boos) I think it’s great beginner project for someone who wants instant gratification. I can even imagine the kids working on these with their knitting towers.

As usual there has been quite a bit of reading going on here this week. I’m enjoying The Lightening Thief and am already nearly through it. The kids have books strewn all over the house after our trip to the library. Elizabeth has been reading a book on taking care of goldfish (we don’t have fish) and Liam has been browsing a book on car maintenance (??). The older kids have discovered little brother’s skills at I Spy books and Sarah is sticking with her good old favourite. My favourite, though, has to be the bedtime reading of Five on a Treasure Island with the two oldest girls. Elizabeth has read ahead though and warned us the next few chapters need to be read during the day – just in case we get scared.

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How about you? Had any knitty successes or failures this week?

joining Ginny for yarn along

I’m enjoying keeping warm with a stack of knitting at my side. I think it leaves Dan rather bemused that despite the new baskets he brought into our life as a means to tame the wool beast* I still end up with multiple projects circling my feet, taking over the couch, and undoubtedly, getting kicked across the floor by a small person.

* To be clear, I am not the wool beast. I am it’s mistress…but just barely. It threatens to spin out of my control at any moment.

This week I’ve mostly focused on the cowls I wanted to finish up (seen here). I still have four sleeves, button bands, a secret hat, and an ear to finish…but as a reward for finishing both cowls I cast on another project. It feels like a reward but after reviewing that long list of unfinished knits I’m starting to think I should change my reward system.

Either way, I started a pair of leg warmers for the littlest girlie’s chubby baby legs. She’s been wearing leg warmers under her clothes often. They are so nice and easy for diaper changes and give her that extra warmth she needs. I decided cozy handknit leggies were a must have for an Alberta January. I do proudly admit that seeing Corrie’s wee babe modelling her pair pushed me over the edge on this decision. Since my need to squeeze her little sweetie is going unrealized  (thank goodness I have Mira to snuggle on this end of the country) I’m outfitting Mira in a sweet pair of her own.I’m knitting them in the same alpaca I used here and here. They will be cozy warm!

My book pile has grown significantly after a hold placing spree I took last week. They seem to come it for me at the library all at once so now I have a lovely stack to poke through. The only one I’ve had a chance to look through is The Home Creamery. We started making yogurt before Christmas and we can’t get enough of it. I’m making 6 L a week and everyone is devouring it. Yum! Now that we’ve realized how easy yogurt is we’re excited to try more dairy making.

I also finished The Red Pyramid this week. I did really enjoy it and will look for the second book. It was a bit more intense than I’d expected when I began – my kids would be freaked right out by it and aren’t old enough for it yet. I found the premise of Ancient Egyptian mythology and religion as truth a little creepy but it would be very interesting for youth studying the topic. Has anyone else read this series?

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joining Ginny for yarn along