Life has come at me like a ton o' bricks

So, i've been busy. Knitting. Taking care of baby. Working. Attempting to get some sleep. Getting involved again in intellectual discussions... you know, re-engaging.

Where to start. I've finished one of the super easy leg-warmers - yeah! A diaper cover, and all of Kate's limbs. Now, she just needs to be assembled and we're off to the races. I'm nearly done with another diaper cover using kate's leftovers... now annan will match her toy :)

work has blown up on me. One of the VPs AND his admin have resigned. Fortunately (or unfortunately more like) I was crosstrained in the VPs duties, so guess who gets to do them for a less-than-executive-salary? Moi. Yup. Not so fun. However, this particular VP leaving is a good thing for our company, I think. That will bear out over time.

Annan has been having a rough month. Lots of grumpies + very little sleeping = a very tired and stressed out mama. Thankfully, the little one has woken up her usual happy self for the last two days, so perhaps, we can just put last month behind us and look forward to the sunny days ahead.

My tomatoes are GORGEOUS! Now, I just have to hope the weather keeps cooperating and the fruit can set. This is my first attempt at gardening edible things, and with all the rain we've been getting, seems to have come off without a hitch. I think I'll try to plant more tomatoes in the fall - some unusual varieties, like yellow ones, or zebra ones or something... make it interesting.

I started a knitting group from my home. Hey, when you have a sensitive 6 month old, you've got to bribe people to come over and hang out with you :) And trust me, its much easier for them to come to me than for me to go to them. Its been fun teaching them the fine art of knitting. I tell you what, kids are speedy learners. Makes me ashamed of how long it took me to get the whole cast0on thing right.

Well, must run, Annan is awake again. More later.

as I thought...

I am talking to myself in the blog'o'sphere. No matter, I'm not here for the crowd :)

So, I'm thinking I might take a dive into sock knitting with a few tidbits from Nancy Bush... Knitting on the Road and Knitting Vintage Socks, which can be had for a combined price of $27.82. I really like the idea that these books are spiral bound... should help it stay open. Plus, it seems every blog I frequent has many good things to say about these patterns.

But being a sock virgin, I'm wondering if I should try a free pattern first (like this toe-up version). But I'm more interested in something fun like Monkey on knitty. Of course before I venture into the world of sock knitting, I need to acquire some very skinny dpns and/or circulars, as well as some very skinny yarn. Most of my stash acquisitions have been in the worsted or bulky weights (discounting the Isabella yarn, of course).

I think I'll hold onto my bucks and see about getting some (fairly inexpensive) knitpicks yarn and hunt down some good quality dpns and circulars in the US1 - 2 range... yee haw!

Well, I think I have neglected the job long enough. Later!

Amazon $$

If you found yourself in possession of $25 Amazon bucks, what would you spend it on?

Still no kate?

Sadly, tis true... I've just now finished the stuffing part. I'm needing to take a pause and step back for a bit... I want to make sure my stuffing job is going to be good enough to live with it. After all, I am giving this to my daughter, so I'm sure I'll have to look at it often and I don't think I can bear something I'm not perfectly happy with.

I'm a few rounds below where I have to add eyes and the nose/mouth issue. Never having done any embroidery I'm understandably nervous about it. I have a general idea of what I'm going to do, but we'll have to see. Anybody have any suggestions for a newbie? (if anyone is reading this :)

I'd post pics but we're under a serious, rainy cloud cover - until Friday!! Yeah for rain, boo for poor lighting. but my garden is loving it. When we get some good sun, I'll have to take some pics... the colors are amazing :) Maybe I'll apply some color impulsing like Ruth (although I can only hope to get as accomplished as she is someday).

Well, the little one is calling for me. Must run!

Kate and I

So, the yarn is growing on me. I really am liking the softness as well as how well you can see the stitches. I am now about halfway done with the body (and have completed two whole color changes!) and am just loving this pattern! It knits up quickly, and the instructions for a jogless color change are very easy to follow. She is going to be much bigger than I'd imagined, but will be oh so cute with a growing girl :) Using the two circulars is quite easy; I'm really glad I decided to try that route, DPNs make me crazy.

Oh, I have to add that this pattern is

A little something for the seasoned knitter.
Daring but not exhausting.
Previously, I've only done things up to tangy :) Yeah for upping the ante!

If all goes well, I will hopefully have a finished toy to show you.

Happy Friday!

Kate updates

As promised, here is a pic of my latest project. :) I'm halfway through round 10 and I only had to cast on once. I tend to cast on too tightly, and I just wasn't able to wiggle the needles through after my first round of increases. Not to worry, I cast on again, and it was even better.

The jury is out as to whether I like this yarn or not. I find it rather splitty and it seems to lose its twistyness as I knit. I don't know whether that's the yarn or my knitting, but that's how it is. I'm hoping to have enough left over to do a few diaper covers for the wee one, or maybe even a wrist warmer or two :)

Isabella is still steadily being worked on. I finished with the first ball and am rolling my second. I've got a few inches to add and then I'm on to the shaping of the back. Yeah for progress!

Enjoy spring!

Kate: the cat with britches

So, I got my yarn in today for Kate, the cat with britches, my first knitted toy for my little girl. I got the yarn from Flying Fingers, as they had the colors I wanted. The service was quite fast and the prices reasonable, so I will be patronizing them again :)

The details:

1 skein each of Lamb's Pride Worsted in M-181 Prairie Fire, M-14 Sunburst Gold, and M-105 RPM Pink. I will be attempting to use two circular needles size 8 to do this (as I'm not a big fan of DPNs - too much to hang on to), but I've got the necessary DPN's just in case it doesn't work. I'll be casting on just as soon as I get off work, which is in about 3 minutes :D I'd post pics of the yarn, but we're under a tornado watch and the light is bad (what with the green cast and all).

Hopefully, I'll have a toy to show off soon.