February Square

I love this blanket in a year thing. I can pick something really challenging but it's only a little square so I'm not committing a lot of time to it. Very good idea. If anyone's interested here's the Ravelry group.

This square is the True Love Knot Pillow and it was a bit of a challenge. There's just a chart and a key, no words. It required a lot of stickies to keep my place, a little frogging and a bit of bad words but it only took three or so evenings and then one to block.



I still haven't decided how these squares are going together or in what order but I'm thinking there will probably be an applied Icord edge around the whole thing. But then again I don't even know what I'm doing for March yet, so these ideas are still rather fluid.

I do know that this design really made it clear how some cables are actually made and since I've been working on a little design project of my own, that information was definitely one of those light bulb moments.

Lazy Weekend

We didn't do too much last weekend, sort of a lazy, sit on the couch and watch movies kind of weekend. I did manage to knit this bonnet for a co-worker's new baby girl. It's a really fun pattern and there's a great tutorial on the figure 8 cast on.

Top Down Bonnet by Hello Yarn

I made these Mary Jane's for the baby, too. I used up some of that left over yarn, you know the bits you can never throw out. I have to do something with the ends and get buttons.

Mary Jane booties

I finished my Nutkin socks. I really like how the pattern changed the look of the self-striping yarn.







I bought these shoes. So comfy and you can see my socks.





And I bought a dress for BDE's wedding next month. It's so funny, it matches our living room in Delaware. I brought Mr. Truck with me and he's really good to take shopping. First, he doesn't let me take more than three dresses to try on because I'll get too confused. Second, if it doesn't look good he tells me right away. "Take it off, it looks like a potato sack." "Take it off, you look pregnant!" This isn't always a pleasant experience but he's always right. This was his pick and I think it looks pretty good.




After shopping, we went home and sat on the couch some more. We did see some pretty good movies, though.

D is for Darning

I think I've mentioned Mr. Truck's sock issues before and how his goal is to have 365 pairs of socks every year. A long time ago we had this running joke about darning socks, something I swore I'd never do. You see, my Grandma darned socks and I remember them being lumpy and uncomfortable as well as funny looking. But I did buy this darning egg at an antique store as a gag gift. We've been using it as decoration ever since.


It opens up to store needles and thread. As you can see, mine is empty.





But now I have holes in my hand knit socks. These were knit out of Wool-ease sport weight that was left over from another project about four years ago. I've been wearing them as house socks and shoveling snow socks. And I'm actually considering darning them or just throwing them out. What do you think?

Knitting Guilt

I think we've all done it. Gotten to the end of a project and then gotten distracted or bored or just busy. After the big Christmas rush, two of my projects just got put aside. I couldn't forget them because they were sitting there mocking me. This one was sitting next to the computer cabinet waiting to be sewn together. It was even blocked once. All I had to do was seam it up.




And this one was next to the bed staring at me every night. Almost done, just the button bands and the seams.




So when I couldn't stand the guilt any more I made myself sit down and just finish them. Here's the Peapod for Reese. In yellow this time.




And the Apres Surf Hoodie for me. This took a long time to knit but it wasn't really hard. Thin yarn on very small needles, but the lace pattern is easily memorized. The yarn is Beaverslide Light Sport Weight and it's a single ply. It's a bit coarse and has some stuff in it, I think it's straw or sticks or something. But when it's washed, it just blooms beautifully and is soft and a bit fuzzy but not too much to hide the stitch pattern. I love it.




And it's a good thing I finished Reese's sweater. She has officially outgrown all but one sweater that I've made her and Cherry Pie says she needs more. Poor baby has to wear store bought sweaters and my reputation will suffer.

C is for Cakes and Cameras

I've already talked about the beautiful yarn I bought at Rhinebeck and it's finally time to make my sweater. I spent an evening with the first hank hand winding it from my swift. I've gotten pretty good at making center pull balls with two pencils and it's not a bad job. Kind of relaxing. I finished knitting the first ball the other day and decided to wind the second hank. Just as I dragged the swift up from the cellar Mr. Truck said, "Wait!" and disappeared. He came back with a small box and said, "I was going to give you this for your birthday but I think you need it now." Look a ball winder!



He actually went on line and googled yarn ball winders and then compared them and bought me this one. I'm so excited and yet I can't believe he did it. Of course, he has seen me look at them every place I've been. So we made a yarn cake. Mr. Truck turned the winder and I did the swift.




And I can take pictures of them because I got a new camera. The old one was not working very well, it would only take two or three pictures and then turn itself off, very frustrating, and no, new batteries did not help.