CO - Bombshell #2

Bombshell #2
Originally uploaded by civilgrrl

Pattern: Bombshell from Big Girl Knits
Yarn: Online-Garne - 100% cotton (color 57) lot 032
Needles: US 8

FO-Jaywalkers ankle socks

Jaywalkers
Originally uploaded by civilgrrl

Pattern: Jaywalkers by Grumperina
Yarn: Spinning Straw into Gold Superwash wool with Tencel
Needles: Magic loop with 3 mm.

Thoughts: This went pretty fast. I think I figured out how to get rid of the whole between the gussett and the heel flap. I still have some, but it's only on one side. I forgot to p2tog with one of the second loops.

Mel Update

Well, my little dog has been through the wringer - and so I have I.

Last time I posted about this, we had just had him stitched up. Well, he popped his stitches a week later and I had to take him in again to get new stitches put in.

Three days later, THOSE stitches pulled apart - so in we go again. It looked like a portion of his skin had adhered to his skin (which was good), so the doctor went ahead and took out all the stitches, allowed us to keep off the Elizabethan collar, and let Mel lick his wound.

That evening, I went to check on him, and the bugger had pulled the flap away from his leg - thus - uggh - it's really too gross to describe.

So, in we go again. This time the vet said that his wound is not life threatening and we had three options:

1. Go see a board certified vet surgeon and get an opinion.
2. Put him under general anaesthesia to take the flap off.
3. Let the flap go necrotic and he could then just cut the flap away without any anesthesia.

Well, Option One would cost more money. We've already spent over $1,000 on this little guy. I love him, but if we can stop the hemorrhaging (so to speak) and he's not in pain, then Option One is out.

Option Two will cost money, too. But it also puts him under again for a third time. I just didn't feel comfortable doing that. We were given a couple of days to think about this option, and while we were thinking, we've found that he's actually doing just fine with Option Three.

I have to wash his wound twice a day and he's still taking antibiotics and some type of pain pill to keep him lethargic. Mel is a high energy dog and we need him to keep still so his wound will heal.

Good news is that his appetite is finally coming back.

2008 Knitting Resolutions

I have only a few:

• Restart my Hex Coat. I'll knit it like I did the Arwen - all three pieces together. I'm finding that when I knit each piece separate, I don't do such a good job matching the sides and have difficulty sewing them together.
• Finish my Oregon Vest.
• Knit another Bombshell with a machine washable yarn
• Do more charity knitting.
• Knit something for my daughter that she can use for a while.
• Learn how to knit socks with my CSM.

Awww

Yesterday I gave D her jammies. While her mom held them up, she ooo'd and ahhh'd the pink jammies.

She gave the Batman jammies a great big hug.

Ya' know, that has to be one of the best gift endorsements I've ever seen.

D's superpower is absolutely the "power of cute". Her folks are so doomed. Fortunately, GOAM is nigh-impervious to her wily ways. :)

GOAM says she has photo's of her in them. I'll see if I can post them when I get them.

WIP-Jaywalkers

Project: Two-at-a-time, toe up socks (for ME!!).

Needles: 3 mm needles (47" long).

Yarn: I'm knitting these with Christine's yarn that she spun up (I love the colors). If you want some yarn like this, head on over to her site: Spinning Straw Into Gold. She raises her own Satin Angora rabbits, and currently has the cutest batch around - all are white, except one light brown one.

Notes: Cast on 10 stitches using Tunisian Cast On (basically I just wrap the yarn around both needles and knit from them - it works great - thanks Carissa!). Increased each row for three rows (16 sts on each side) Switched to inc every other row and increased to 30 stitches on either side. Top of socks are knit with Jaywalker pattern, but I k5 instead of k7. Works just fine.

Jammies!

M LOVES her new jammies I made her, so I had a little extra time on hand and made her another set - this time with some Cheetah Girls fabric.

For the uninitiated, the Cheetah Girls are a girl band that Disney made up. If you ever turn on Radio Disney, they're played in heavy rotation (Fuego, fuego, fuego. . .)
So here's my Cheetah Girl (don't mind the goofy look in her face - her eyes really aren't that strange):

I also made two more jammies for M's good friend, D. Her momma was who I made the pirate hat for, so I thought this fabric would be very appropriate.

D also got a Batman watch for Christmas, so I thought this would be well received:

And viola:

FO-Super-sized Spiral Doily

Pattern: Doily with Spiral from Yarn Over
Yarn: Tahki Cotton Classic, Deep Red #3424 - 11 skeins (I could have gotten away with 10, but I kept making my joins with very long tails).
Needle: US 6
Size: 48-inches in diameter.
Modifications to pattern: The spiral part of the pattern only goes up to 33 stitches between markers - it only has 8 points. I knitted to 66 stitches and have 14 points. So, if I were to knit this for me, I'd knit it with 99 stitches between markers.

Mom, thanks for the great vacation.

2007 Finished Objects

1. Super-sized Spiral Doily Shawl
2. We Call Them Pirates Hat
3. Flying Spaghetti Monster Ornament
4. Little Treasure Jacket
5. Hedgehogs
6. A Cardigan for Arwen
7. Little Treasure Booties
8. House Slippers #1
9. Bar Harbor Bag
10. Pi Topper Chemo Hat #5
11. Pi Topper Chemo Hat #4
12. Pi Topper Chemo Hat #3
13. Pi Topper Chemo Hat #2
14. Small Rabbit with Sweater
15. Sleepy Snake & Mischievous Mouse
16. Felted Invaders Coffee Cozy
17. Felted Snowflake Coffee Cozy
18. Pinwheel Baby Blanket
19. Baby Surprise Jacket
20. Fair-Isle Baby Halter
21. Katja Baby Halter & Striped Baby Halter
22. Pi Topper Chemo Cap & PICC Arm Band
23. Satchel [Smaller Striped Version]
24. Twisted Stitch Baby Hat
25. Franny Onsey
26. Garter Scarf
27. Wedding Gifts
28. Spherey Bunny
29. Eye Ball
30. Boy Robots & Spherey
31. Nearly Gloves II
32. Girl Baby Bobbi Bear & Towel, MDK Kimono & Ruffled Hat
33. Boy Baby Bobbi Bear & Towel
34. First Socks

WIP-Super-sized Spiral Doily

I am so close to having this done. Here's a photo of the edging - what's cool is that it's actually looking like the what the pattern photo looks like. That's always encouraging.

This pattern has a weird YOx2 that's repeated through out. Usually when I see this, it's to do a bobble or knit into it several times. This pattern does not do that, so it threw me off a bit. Markers are a MUST as sometimes the YOx2 do get dropped. If I work on it this weekend, I think I may actually finish this up!

FO-We Call Them Pirates hat

This was a quick knit and I really like how it looks with the Encore DK.

Pattern: We Call Them Pirates by Hello Yarn

Yarn: Plymouth Encore DK, white and black

Needles: US 3

Notes: I didn't anticipate this hat being only half-way lined, but I'm pretty happy with the final results. Hope Terri likes it. I love the idea that this is machine wash/dry.

Poor Puppy

We don't keep our dog in a fence because he just keeps getting out. He's a bit of a social dog and likes to go visit the neighbors - who have assured me that they don't mind. We live at the end of a cul-de-sac style road surrounded by Corps property, so the road traffic is really limited to folks who live here.

There is a Siberian Husky who occasionally runs by and plays with Mel - and he gets caught up and keeps following him. Unfortunately, these are nail-biter evenings because I just hate feeling like I'm going to get THE CALL that Mel has been hit by a car. We've been fortunate as he's been found by some really nice people who call us.

The other night Mel didn't come home and I ended up driving around the previous areas where we've found him trying to find him, but I had no luck and went to bed around 10:30 hoping that he'd come home.

We got a call around 11:30 pm. Mel had impaled himself on a wrought iron fence at a house located about three or four miles away (in an area where he had not gone before) and it was bad. I ran over there and got him to the local animal emergency room. I have to admit that I did pretty well at not freaking out. Mel had essentially peeled away all the skin from his right hind leg and all I could see was muscle and red. Once I got him to the vet and knew he was being cared for and out of pain, I started shaking. The vet told me that he was fine, but I had to leave him overnight because he had to operate - the words he used were, "he's a bit of a mess."

After I calmed down enough to drive, I got home and didn't really have a fitful sleep. The next day, I got over to the vet to pick him up. He had MANY, MANY, MANY stitches. I don't want to post a photo because it still freaks me out just to look at them. Let's just say that the gash is over a foot long - and Mel's not that big of a dog.

So yesterday was spent sitting on the floor of my living room and keeping my puppy still by petting him. When he slept, I was able to get some work done on a hat I've been knitting for a good friend. I actually finished it - so I guess that's the only really good thing that happened yesterday. It was really stressful - even though I didn't do much.

He's still sore today, but is doing obviously better. Poor little guy.

Work on Vacation

I have a project that's due at the end of the month, so I brought my laptop on vacation with me. I'm actually able to get a couple of hours worth of work done - it sucks, but it's better than sitting in 40 degree wet weather.

Oh, and the lobby keeps playing the same insipid Christmas music - over and over and over again. If I hear Jingle Bell Rock one more time, I'm gonna kill some one.

J surprised me, though. There was a weird Spanish carol on and he started singing it. I had never heard it, but here was my DH singing this song. I asked him about how he knew the song, and he answered in one word: Catholic. It was funny. He says its about Joseph going from house to house trying to find a room for his pregnant wife, Mary. It's just a little strange having a 6'8" hulk singing a Spanish song at a high pitch - and someone who only knows how to ask where his shoes are in Spanish.

We went snorkeling a couple of days ago. M was scared of getting in the water, but finally had to go to the bathroom. She insisted that Francisco go back so she can use the bathroom. Francisco pointed to the water, and M was horrified. "I don't want to go on my suit!"

So I had to pull the suit aside. After much thought and angst, she finally went pee and proudly announced it to all. Oh. She went pee in the ocean FOUR times that trip!!

Once M was in the water, she did really well. I had her grab on to me while I snorkeled. J finally got to get into the water and snorkel, too. It was great. The fish were beautiful and we saw several eels - very cool.

When M gets tired, she wants to go hang out in the hotel room and watch "Neek" - or Nickelodeon for the non-initiated. She gets to see the same programs she knows and loves - but in Spanish.

All in all, I'm ready to come home. It seems five days is just enough time for us to be on vacation. Seven is two days too long.

Must. Stop. Jingle. Bell. Rock.

Hola!

We've been in Cozumel for a couple of days now. It's a beautiful resort. For the past two days, though, it has gotten chilly and was difficult to go swimming because the wind was so cold. The locals called it an El Norte. Hopefully it's gone today because M had declared that she WON'T go swimming today because it's too cold.

It's not the greatest photo, but here's a picture from where I'm sitting while blogging today:

Life can be so difficult sometimes! :)

I finished the Hemlock Ring blanket. I'm glad I finished it. M has claimed it to be her shawl and wears it around the resort. I am getting close to finishing up the Spiral Doily. I'm really liking the way the it's coming out.

AFI Top 100

I've watched 86 out of 100 of the AFI's top 100 movies. How about you?

1. CITIZEN KANE (1941)
2. THE GODFATHER
3. CASABLANCA (1942)
4. RAGING BULL (1980)
5. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)
6. GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
7. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
8. SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
9. VERTIGO (1958)
10. WIZARD OF OZ, THE (1939)
11. CITY LIGHTS (1931)
12. SEARCHERS, THE (1956)
13. STAR WARS (1977)
14. PSYCHO (1960)
15. SUNSET BLVD
16. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
17. GRADUATE, THE (1967)
18. GENERAL, THE (1927)
19. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
20. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
21. CHINATOWN (1974)
22. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
23. GRAPES OF WRATH, THE (1940)
24. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
25. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
26. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
27. HIGH NOON (1952)
28. ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
29. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
30. APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
31. MALTESE FALCON, THE (1941)
32. GODFATHER PART II, THE (1974)
33. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
34. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)
35. ANNIE HALL (1977)
36. BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, THE (1957)
37. BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES, THE (1946)
38. TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE, THE (1948)
39. DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
40. SOUND OF MUSIC, THE (1965)
41. KING KONG (1933)
42. BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)
43. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
44. PHILADELPHIA STORY, THE (1940)
45. SHANE (1953)
46. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
47. STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, A (1951)
48. REAR WINDOW (1954)
49. INTOLERANCE (1916)
50. LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, THE (2001)
51. WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
52. TAXI DRIVER (1976)
53. DEER HUNTER, THE (1978)
54. M*A*S*H (1970)
55. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
56. JAWS (1975)
57. ROCKY (1976)
58. GOLD RUSH, THE (1925)
59. NASHVILLE (1975)
60. DUCK SOUP (1933)
61. SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS (1941)
62. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
63. CABARET (1972)
64. NETWORK (1976)
65. AFRICAN QUEEN, THE (1951)
66. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
67. WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? (1966)
68. UNFORGIVEN (1992)
69. TOOTSIE (1982)
70. CLOCKWORK ORANGE, A (1971)
71. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998)
72. SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, THE (1994)
73. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
74. SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, THE (1991)
75. IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967)
76. FORREST GUMP (1994)
77. ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN (1976)
78. MODERN TIMES (1936)
79. WILD BUNCH, THE (1969)
80. APARTMENT, THE (1960)
81. SPARTACUS (1960)
82. SUNRISE (1927)
83. TITANIC (1997)
84. EASY RIDER (1969)
85. NIGHT AT THE OPERA, A (1935)
86. PLATOON (1986)
87. 12 ANGRY MEN (1957)
88. BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
89. SIXTH SENSE, THE (1999)
90. SWING TIME (1936)
91. SOPHIE'S CHOICE (1982)
92. GOODFELLAS (1990)
93. FRENCH CONNECTION, THE (1971)
94. PULP FICTION (1994)
95. LAST PICTURE SHOW, THE (1971)
96. DO THE RIGHT THING (1989)
97. BLADE RUNNER (1982)
98. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)
99. TOY STORY (1995)
100. BEN-HUR (1959)

WIP - Spiral Doily

Still knitting along on the spiral doily. I think I have something like thirty six rows to go before I start doing the fancy ends.

The pattern is very easy to knit once I figured out to place markers after each k2tog's. I'm also over knitting the spiral area. The original pattern goes as high as 33 stitches per marker. I'm going to knit till I have 66 stitches per marker. The fancy edging is broken up by 11 stitches, so I think it'll work out.

I have my fingers crossed.

Free Pattern - FSM Ornament

Flying Spaghetti Monster Ornament Knitting Pattern

Materials:
1 skein worsted weight 100% wool yarn – Brown
1 skein worsted weight 100% wool yarn – Cream (can’t felt white yarn)
US size 4 needles – DPN’s or Circular
US size 11 needles
Tapestry needle
Poly-fil
Oobi eyes (I used the oobi like eyes)
Upholstery thread for loop to hang on tree.

Meatball (make 2):

Knitting in the round with brown wool, cast on 6 stitches with US size 4 needles and join. Place marker.

Row 1: K all stitches
Row 2: Kfb around (12 sts)
Row 3: K all stitches
Row 4: (Kfb, K1) around (18 sts)
Row 5: K all stitches
Row 6: (Kfb, K2) around (24 sts)
Row 7: K all stitches
Row 8: K all stitches
Row 9: K all stitches
Row 10: (K2tog, k2) around (18 sts)
Row 11: K all stitches
Row 10: (K2tog, k1) around (12 sts)
Row 11: K all stitches

Stuff the meat ball at this time.

Row 12: (K2tog) around (6 sts)

Break yarn leaving a long tail. Take tail and tapestry needle and thread through remaining stitches and cinch up to close the meatball. Leave the tail so you can use it to sew the meatball to the spaghetti monster.

Felt. (I just throw it into my washer and wash with hot water. If the monster still has some stitch definition, your monster needs more felting).

Spaghetti Monster:

With cream wool, cast on (double stranded) between 20 to 30 stitches with US size 11 needles.

Cast all stitches off but keep the last stitch on the right needle.

Repeat until you have roughly 30 to 35 tendrils.

You’ll have a long string with tendrils on it. Using a tapestry needle, sew the string together to make the monster, leaving the tendrils to dangle.

Felt.

Make up:

Sew the meatballs on the monster (use the photo above as a guide). Trim all stray yarn ends. Take Oobi eyes and thread some of the tendrils through the loop so the eyes will stay in place (Usually can stay in place with three tendrils). Sew upholstry thread on top and make a loop so you can hang it on the tree.

Variation (added 12/25/07):

If you don't want/can't get the oobie eyes, you can do this instead:

After knitting all 30 tendrils, knit two additional tendrils like this:

Cast on 8 stitches.

K2, turn work, k2, turn work

Cast off 8 stitches.

Make him up as shown above. Using two buttons for each eye socket, you can buy a large white button and insert a smaller black button to make them look like googly eyes. I've found that these work better than the plastic googly eyes. (look at my alligator mittens for an example).

This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

Brain Bones

Random Thought

I truly don't understand the big worry over illegal immigrants in the US. I know that a lot of it is borne out of fear of 9/11, but I can't help but notice that the guys who brought down the towers were Saudis, not Mexicans. You can bet that many Mexicans will be there to help re-build it.

Do our political talking heads have silly priorities or what?

Almost finished - Hemlock

100_1881
Originally uploaded by civilgrrl

I'm almost finished with the Hemlock Ring Blanket. I am going to run out of yarn, so I am waiting till I get the final ball to finish binding this off.