So Much Fun

You know, when your kids grow up and move away you think you're done teaching them stuff. Not so. Yesterday I got to show DS how to knit in the round with Double Point Needles (DPNs). Teaching someone how to do something makes you stop and think about how you make the motions and how you figure out the muddle of needles and yarn that you've just assembled with your cast-on. Naturally the pattern he chose to start with is a top-down hat so he's beginning with 8 stitches on 4 needles and that's a challenge. Luckily I had a book that I bought when I was learning to knit in the round that I could lend him. I did have him practice on yarn other than the stuff he hopes to make the hat from because I was certain he'd have to rip and restart at least once.


While he was learning I cast on a worsted sock since now's the time I wear thick socks and boots to work. I think it looks like a Dreamsicle, don't you?





I braved the backyard drifts for the first time since the blizzard to fill the feeders. It was an adventure.

I Made Sasquatch A Hat

I don't know what's wrong with me this winter but I keep making hats way too big.

Way. Too. Big.

WAY.

I finished up Jason's Hat just now. I tried it on. I immediately noticed that it wasn't the size I was hoping it would be. It's 14 inches wide and it's reallyreallyreally warm. Really. Warm. It'd be good for a creature who spends his winters in the damp and chilly Pacific Northwest.

What do you think?

Keeping My Promise

I promised the daughter of a friend I'd make her a hat. I did. But then her brother asked for a hat too. I've been looking and looking for the yarn colors he requested and they are nowhere to be found, so I dug down into the cellar of the stash and came up with a couple skeins of Jiffy Thick 'n Quick to make my old standby, Crazy Aunt Purl's Brangelina Hat. It's a classic style beanie or watch cap that makes up fast and is nice to wear. I like that it has a long ribbed part so that it snugs down over your ears in a double layer. I cast it on at work on Wednesday. Finishing it is this afternoon's project.

Gone Fishin'

Since it's bonechilling cold today and I ditched walking this morning, I sat myself down on the couch and applied my skills to crocheting the second eye, the dorsal fin, and the drawstring for the fish bag for the fish-tastic baby gift. It turned out much bigger and cuter than I had anticipated.







I love the bulging eyes,




and the granny square tail, complete with picots.










The whole group of Fish-tastic baby things makes me giggle. I hope the mama and baby like it.











This is all the yarn left of a 4 oz. skein of worsted. The bag took more than I thought it would. It was a lot of single crocheting around and around but worth it in the end. Now all I have to do is wait until the baby makes his entrance into this world and I'll box it up and send it off to Madison.

Blizzard Aftermath

I know you're out there worrying about if we're buried or if we've survived the latest "storm of the century." We survived. I'm guessing we got about a foot of snow and it blew around like crazy. Having the house face south is mostly a good thing except when there's a blizzard. Then the snow piles up in front of the house and it's work to get it cleared away. But that doesn't happen too often.




The wind sculpts drifts that look like ocean dunes.













The only parts of me exposed to the wind and blowing snow were my eyes--and I squinted them to slits when the snow blew right into my face. I looked like a yeti when I came in.






Seemed like one of the neighbors got an early Christmas present. He was having a blast snowblowing the street in front of his house.








I think I waited too long to put Fifi and the tree out in the yard. There's 3 ft. of snow there. Oh, well, next year. (this is a picture from last year)

Oh Mercy

You would not believe the snow flying around outside. Here's the view out the front door. We were supposed to go to a Christmas party tonight but we decided to stay home and we're both glad we did.




I finished the hat I started the other day, only to discover I had added too many stitches and too many rows. The first hat was too small, the second too big. Way. Too. Big. R-r-r-rip.








In frustration I dug out the Meathead Hat pattern I used for Xmas hats a couple years ago, added another strand of the variegated yarn, and started again. Hats go fast when you knit them on size 15s. By last night I finished it up at Friday Night Knitting. Now I need to find a big button or a shiny pin to put on it.

I Want A New Hat

I thought I'd make a quick rolled brim hat but it was going very slowly (that's two days worth) and I lost patience.

I frogged it and started one with a strand of the wool and one of creamy chunky wool on size 17s. I got it all done by bedtime last night only to find that it was sized for a child or a peanut head, so I frogged that one this morning and brought it all to work with me today. This is how far I've gotten.

The fish bag is coming along nicely. I anticipate getting to the fins and eyes this weekend.