Schrodinger's Kittie

Well, because I was horrified at how many family members I was going to meet last Saturday, I started on a seed-stitch rib sock in a really nice copper Koigu.  I am an absolutely horrid person and haven’t taken photos, yet – but, the play of the shades against each other is just perfect for a “fall” sock.  And having something I could pull out of my purse and fiddle with helped soothe my nerves.  Let’s put it this way…there were enough family members there that THREE of them were celebrating their birthdays (75, 56 and 40) and there were SIXTEEN birthday cakes.  I was a gibbering mess in the corner, fiddling with my sticks and hoping no one would talk to me.  Of course, by the time we left, I had my own, personal cadre of chatterers over in the corner with me – all talking about knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting, etc.  One of them may even show up to the Knit Out.  She’s been crocheting for years; but, never learned to knit and she’s interested

Kate – my best friend – also dumped some yarn on me on Sunday and begged me to make her a hat and wrist warmers for her ride in to work.  The crazy woman rides her bike year round to work.  Every day.  She’s certifiable, in my opinion.  But to each their own, eh?  Told her if she got me a bit more, I could make her matching leg warmers too.  Might as well go all out, eh?  I’ll be doing it in the Harald cable pattern from the book Viking Knits.  And, I think I’ll modify it a bit to put on removable ear flaps for her.

I’m still working on the seed-stitch block afghan – it’s coming along; but it’s one of those “in between” projects.  So I don’t really devote a whole lot of focussed time on it.  Especially as it’s getting larger.

The crochet along afghan is moving right along.  I have one more of “my” blocks to make.  My son pouted that he hadn’t been invited to join in – so I gave him a hook and away he went.  Didn’t do too bad a job either!  Especially for someone who’s turned his nose up at crocheting for the last 10 years (he used to crochet with me all the time when he was younger).  So now the family block afghan will have blocks from all the grandkids, myself, my sister and my mother.  Yay!  This just makes me happy in a ridiculously big way.

Well, Jaz (my son) arrived yesterday afternoon.  This means I won’t be out at Graham’s dancing for the next couple of weeks.  Instead, I’ll be spending time with the kiddo – always a worthwhile thing.  

In addition, I’ve started crocheting blocks for the blanket – I’m using Red Heart SuperSaver and Red Heart Fleck.  I’ve found the easiest way to work them is with an N hook and a tape measure.  Unlike knitting, I actually have to keep count of my stitches per row because it’s so easy to start leaving a stitch out – which gives you a parrallelagram instead of a rectangle … not cool.  But, I am not worrying about how many rows I go, so long as I get to the desired 10 inches.  

So, the only thing I have to worry about is keeping myself somewhat close to 8  inches across, and not skipping any stitches.  The pattern is so easy to do, it flies right along.  I got one block done in two evenings. Had I more time to just sit, I could probably have completed a whole block in one night.

Bratnik - Red Heart is available just about anywhere, which is why I chose it.  You and the girls and mom choose what colours you want to work with and so long as it’s Fleck or SuperSaver (or Classic) you’ll be golden.  I am using a “natural” (think undyed) look, so it will go with anything you guys choose.  I’d really like for the girls, you and mom to choose colours that really appeal to you so that the blanket comes out with all our personalities shining through.

Kaylee’s sweater has been washed, blocked and dried and now just needs to be wrapped and boxed.

I found a perfect present for dad.  Mom and my aunts are covered as well.  Now to figure out what in the world to do for everyone else!

I think Jaz will get one of these crocheted blankets.  They are quick, easy and lovely.  I think he’ll love one – especially if I do it in colours he loves…like red and black or something.

That just leaves the girls, Bratnik, the BIL (he’s darn near impossible to think of what to get), my uncles, Brian and Lesli.  I hate trying to figure out what men would like – I mean, I seriously have no idea what Uncle Bobby or Uncle Robert would want. 

At least I’m making an effort to have stuff for people this year.  I even got a fairly early start on it – that’s a first.

I was browsing through Amazon for books on Needle Lace and Knotted Lace today and stumbled across this interesting book. For those of you who haven’t read me for very long, let me explain that I’ve crocheted for many, many, many years. I only recently started knitting, in the grand scheme of things. So this book is certainly something that had me perking up. I went ahead and preordered Amazing Crochet Lace: New Fashions Inspired by Old-Fashioned Lace as it’s not due out until November 2006. But, I certainly want it. I am an “old fashioned” girl in a lot of my design preferences and this certainly has me perking up in interest.

In addition to this book, I snagged the following:

Mediterranean Knotted Lace – by Elena Dickson

and

Hispanic Lace and Lace Making – by Florence L. May