Schrodinger's Kittie

The Bell Shawl that I was making for my niece Emily has been completed. It’s about the size of a dress scarf for me, so should fit the 7 year old, petite girl decently. One can hope, anyway. It is stretched and drying, as I type. I really like how it turned out and wouldn’t mind making one for myself at some point – probably even this size instead of full shawl size, as I wear scarves more often than shawls.

I also scored some Koigu KPM from my LYS today to compliment the hand dyed Wensleydale from Taylor’s Fiber Fancies in the colourway of October. I really think these two will play nicely with each other using Charlene Schurch’s Sensational Knitted Socks “Double Spiral” mosaic pattern (p93). I have to finish up the last bit of the current sock set I’m working on.

The yarn for my vest still hasn’t gotten in, but I’m hopeful it will be here shortly.

Progress has been made on the Kiri shawl. I’m really enjoying the feel of the yarn and how it’s coming together. If I can just figure out how to block it when I’m done, I think this will be beautiful.

So, I have made it to row 32. Yah, yah…really flying, aren’t I? I’m a very slow lace knitter. I love the results, but it takes a lot of focus and I tend to be someone who gets distracted easily and likes multiple levels of mental interaction. With lace, it’s all about the lace or I screw up in a major way and start cussing like the ex-GI that I am. I’ve been trying to keep my language pretty clean, lately…not that I’m succeeding, but I’m trying. I’m liking how the shawl is coming along, though I do have to admit that I’m stumped at how this is supposed to be blocked. I’m sure it will make sense to me as soon as I spread it out to block. I do know I don’t have nearly enough t-pins so I’m going to have to make a shopping trip before I reach the final row.

Since this is supposed to be for a 15 year old girl, I’m not certain if I should take it the full length, or stop a bit earlier and make it a little smaller. I don’t want it to engulf her; but, I don’t want it too small, either. Decisions decisions. I suppose I’ll worry about that when I’m a little closer to it being an issue, eh?

As for my poor, perservering pups. Well, Loki got his shave last night. He gets one about every six months or so. Generally because my little ewok winds up dragging in half the backyard with him if I don’t. He, of course, still needs some touch ups. However, I had tormented him enough by this point and figured I’d let him do his spaztastic run through the house for the night before coming after him with the shears and combs to get the final, little tufts and balance him out. Once he gets tired of sitting still for the clippers, it becomes almost impossible to keep him even.

I’m starting to park upstairs these days so I can at least get some additional exercise. I really, really need to hit the gym so that I can lose about 15 of these additional 18 pounds I have on. To be honest, I like how I fill out in certain areas when I’m this weight. I just don’t like the soft, jiggly layer of fat over the muscle. That’s what I want to work off. My yoga is keeping me flexible and energized; but, without a workout partner, actually getting myself to the gym is proving difficult at best.

It’s a wee sweater. I’ve a few things I would change if I were so inclined to make another.

A) He’s gotten chunky since I took his measurements for my notebook, so I’d increase the size just a mite going around the boy. Though, this isn’t tight on him, I wanted it a bit looser than it is.

B) I’d make the back a little longer, though it is actually perfect for putting him outside because he always comes in with a backside full of crap from the yard and it short like this keeps the sweater from getting nastified….it’s a little shorter than I’d like for any future projects. If that’s the case, why’d I stop there? Because, he was getting offended at mom trying it on him and the whole filthy backside thing.

By the way, the poor thing is not being strangled. *snickers* He’s a longhair, and his hair is poking up over the collar of the sweater. This is literally a doggy sweater, not a tunic. I suppose it’s a bit short all things considered, but I like it. And as a first endeavor, it’s not too bad. In my opinion, anyway.

Got another few rows done on the quinceñera shawl tonight. I’d have gotten more completed but I was rather distracted for several hours tonight and didn’t get to focus on it. That’s what tomorrow’s for, right?