FO - Flamingo

Meet Pink:


Pattern: 221x Flamingo Beach Party by Fiber Trends
Yarn: Cascade 220 Wool and Berocco Swizzle Bright
Needle: size 10.5

Observations: The eyelash yarn ran out on one of the breasts (you can see it if you look closely enough) and I found later that there was an instruction hidden in the back to stop at row 38 or 39 and then devide the eyelash yarn. Just beware. Also, the legs are written to be knit flat and sewn up later on. One of my legs is sewn, the other is knit in the round. The only way I can tell the difference it to actually squeeze the legs to figure it out.

M helped me stuff the body. She was so cute and very methodical in helping me. I'm going to have to have her help me out more often.

WIP - Flamingo

Unstuffed flamingo - washed 3 times in washer

Confuse Box 2

Worm Sojourn

WIP - Baby Surprise Jacket

J's family keeps on reproducing, which is great for a knitter! I cast on for a BSJ with some kitchen cotton.

I definitely am happy with knitting smaller projects.

WIP - Small Pocketbook

M has a teachers assistant that has been with her for two years. Here's her end of school gift.

I need to add a zipper and the hardware for attaching the handle.

WIP - Flamingo

Started another toy. Here it is laying flat.

When I fold it in half, you can see what it's going to become!

Lots of short rows on this bugger.

Happy Chocolate Bunny Day

Say hello to M's new pal, Bunny (that's the name she's decided to call it).

From behind: A close up
The pad of the feet: In hindsight, I wish I had duplicate stitched before I felted.
Paws
Joints: I'm supposed to sew buttons on to cover the dimples. I couldn't find my buttons, but now think it doesn't really need them.

I used Galway wool for the cream and am not happy with how it sort of felted. I've felted with other cream wool, so I know it can be done. The ears were done with Cascade 220 wool and felted like a dream.

Love the way this turned out. LOVE IT!!

Pattern: Knitted, Felted, Jointed Rabbit (BBE02) by Bear Brain

Books

I haven't reviewed any books lately, but I have been reading (I always have a book going).

Here's a list:

1. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
2. Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
3. Specials by Scott Westerfeld (I must admit that I stopped reading this one)
4. Mind of My Mind by Octavia Butler
5. Patternmaster by Octavia Butler
6. March Violets by Phillip Kerr
7. The Positronic Man by Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg
8. The Dispossesed by Ursula K Le Guin

Currently reading Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Cherie Priest. This book actually started out on her blog and was picked up by a publisher.

WIP - Easter Bunny

I started knitting a toy. Couldn't help myself. I've been working on so many larger projects and my CSM machine, that I just HAD to cast on for a toy.

And of course with Easter on it's way, I decided to finally make the Felted, Jointed Rabbit by Bear Brain for M.

LOTS of sewing, which is one of the reasons why I put the pattern aside for a while.
The body is sewn together:

I sewed the arms together, but I did it wrong. I'm going to have to pull out some of the stitches at the end of the arms so I can gather the ends to make them round. Of all the pieces that could be knit in the round, the arms definitely could be rewritten.Here are the feet. I stopped sewing them last night because I was hurrying the result. I think the feet on these are really super cute.

So, I have to finish sewing the pieces up and will probably felt them tonight (fingers crossed).

FO - Trinomial Cube!

DD goes to Montessori and this is her last year with her teacher (she’s been there for almost three years). I am modifying the Fibo-optic to look like a trinomial cube.

Oh, joy! The afghan is done! The afghan is done!

I must admit that in the end, I do like it. I was having some doubts midway!

Hope Miss Marshall will like it.

(Notes on the afghan: I modified this afghan from a known pattern:

Pattern: Fibo-optic by Pat Ashforth & Steve Plummer of Woolly Thoughts
Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun.

• Fawn (1 skein)
• Cobalt (1 skein)
• Granite (2 skeins)
• Sierra (1 skein)
• Covered Bridge Red (1 skein)
• Candy Apple (1 skein)
• Montana Sky (1 skein)
• Sunshine State (1 skein)
• Black (2 skeins)

Some notes:
To make this match the tri-nomial cube, I ended up leaving off the last four blocks.

I sewed up the front blocks and it took me a long time to do, so I ended up playing with a different technique for the “shadow” blocks. I cast on all of the stitches, but added one extra one between the two like colors. When I get to that stitch I K it on the RS row and P it on the WS row (after I’ve increased). It’s working out and I’m pleased with the result.

First Ribbed CSM Socks!

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Originally uploaded by civilgrrl

I went to the North Texas Crank-in this past weekend and I did it, I did it! I got my ribber to work!

Here's my first ribbed pair of socks (for MEEEE)!
Yarn: CK King handpainted
20 rows 1 x 1 rib
50 rows 3 x 1 rib
15 rows preheel
65 rows foot
gage: 10 rows per inch
Size: Ladies 10.5

Math for size: 10.375" (toe to heel measurement for ladies 10.5) - 4" (for toe & heel) = 6.375" x 10 rows / inch = 63.75 rows (or 64). I did one extra row, so I think these will fit very well.

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Note: Thea wanted to know how these fit. Well, I'm now not a fan of 72 needle cylinder socks. When I put them on, they're great, but they stretch out and become bunchy towards the middle of the day. My 60 needle socks don't do that. The leg, however, rocks. I have large calves and these just fit me great. Mary Berry (my CSM guru) has mentioned that she does a ribbed sock with the 36 needle dial and the 54 needle cylinder. It gives a nice large leg and a snug foot. I don't have a 54 needle cylinder, so I won't be doing this for a while. While I was able to whip out the ribbed sock, some knob or setting must have been disturbed during transit because I have not been able to get the ribber going since. I'll get it working! I also have been EATING my ribber needles through this difficult time. I have been wanting to order some large eye needles from Pat Fly with Angora Valley. I'll probably order 50 more ribber needles.

"How did I get such a great kid?"

Warning: There is an explicit word in this post.
--
I was tucking M in the other night and while I was giving her smooches, I asked her, "What did I do to deserve such a great kid like you?"

With a twinkle in her eye, she answered, "You let Daddy put his penis in all the way up to your funny bone. That's why I got so silly!"

Speechless. . .

So, I gave her a kiss and bolted for the door before I would bust a gut.

I told J, and he said, "I'm gooooooooood."

I am in so much trouble between the two of them. :)

Mystery Solved

We have a bird feeder and it always seems to be empty - even though we fill it up quite frequently.

With the snow still on the ground, we finally had our suspicions confirmed: Raccoons!

WIP - Trinomial Cube - 3D

The 3-D effect is starting to show on this afghan.

It's snowing!

It snows a total of two or three days in the D/FW area each winter. Today my daughter was sent home early from school.

My back patio looks like this:

It snowed two days ago and warmed up to a balmy 69 degrees yesterday.

Meme - 4 Things

Four (4) things about me that you may or may not have known, in no particular order.

Four (4) jobs I have had in my life

1. Lifeguard
2. Pizza Delivery Person
3. Mail Clerk
4. Receptionist

Four (4) movies I've watched more than once:

1. Pretty Woman
2. Hotel New Hampshire
3. Grace of My Heart
4. Star Wars - the first one (ep. 3)

Four (4) places where I have lived

1. Naples Italy
2. Honolulu, Hawaii
3. Anchorage, Alaska
4. Miami, Florida

Four (4) TV Shows that I watch:

1. American Idol (a little embarrassed to admit - but I do watch it)
2. Jericho
3. Lost
4. Reaper

Four (4) places I have been

1. Las Vegas, NV
2. Paris, France
3. Munich, Germany
4. Gillette, WY

Four (4) of my favorite foods:

1. Pizza
2. Ice Cream
3. Spaghetti
4. Lasagna

Four (4) places I would rather be right now:

1. Knitting
2. On vacation
3. On vacation
4. On vacation

Four (4) things I am looking forward to this year:

1. Going to Randy's Ranch
2. Going to Seattle
3. Going to Las Vegas
4. Going on a camping trip

If you read this, consider yourself tagged.