Pictures, Pictures, I've got Pictures!

Look, socks!

Extreme sock close up:

I love this yarn. Great texture, and feels incredible while knitting and when against the skin. It looks awesome. I think it has fabulous stitch definition. And it even smells good. This is Claudia's Handpainted in Blue Terracotta. Pattern is a basic garter rib pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. I wish it was cold enough to wear these every single day.

Speaking of socks, when I was house sitting a few weeks ago, I had a dream about dyeing some sock yarn in a certain colorway. (Stop laughing. I really did have a dream one night about this. I'm strange. You knew this.) I thought about this yarn for about four days. I could see it in my mind, exactly what shades and hues I wanted. I tried to take the easy way out, and looked everywhere to see if I could buy some. I came close, but no cigar. I went with the whole self-dyeing thing, and here's the end result.

Misti Alpaca, sport-weight, dyed with that Wilton's gel cake icing stuff and a pinch of Kool Aid. My favorite color combination right now is a teal blue with dark brown and just a smidge of lime green. If you come to my house, you'll see it everywhere in the living area. I tried to make this self-striping, and we will see how that works out when I start knitting it up. I wish I could have gotten a darker brown, and maybe a richer blue without that nasty separation issue Wilton's seems to have, but I'm still pretty pleased with the way it turned out.

Did y'all see Alias last night? Did you get weepy like I did? I cried a little at the end when the "Thank you for five incredible years" flashed across the screen. I've watched every single episode religiously since the series premiere in 2001. I've been with the show through it's greatness and the depths of its suckiness. Alias, I will miss you. You are second only to the X-Files in my freakish television addiction/loyalty. I worked on this while I watched.

Yeah, that blob is my Icarus Shawl. Let me say again how much I adore this pattern. It's fabulous. I gave in and purchased Eleanora, which looks to be as well-written. Mim, you are a genius.

I've also been working on a blankie for my niece Skylar. It's a simple pinwheel blanket, and it is wonderful for mindless knitting.

I've got some baby kimonos on the needles too, I'll show you those in a few days.

Oh, and I am measuring my sister this evening so I can knit Calla for her. Anyone have any opinions on doing this pattern in a variegated yarn? I've got some Katia Mississippi 3 in a subtle green/white/pale yellow colorway she likes.

Also? There are many, many, many reasons why I hate my neighbors, but I can only show you one.

In the photograph below, my house is on the left. The blue vehicle is my Corolla, the big ass white van is B's work vehicle. Everything else? Not ours.

Please note, we are unsure exactly how many people live next door, and have hypothesized that they have turned their staircase that is directly on the other side of our bedroom wall into a full service bowling alley. That sago palm that is supposed to divide our driveways? Yeah, they THROW TRASH IN IT. Like the palm tree is going to EAT THE TRASH. Then they pull shit like you see in the picture...and this is actually mild. Usually, they park so both B and I are totally blocked in. Then they hit our cars with their car doors. THEN, they get pissy when we need to move our cars. Hate them. Used to be tolerant, but that has now blossomed into hate. Too bad we just signed a year lease. I love my house and my neighborhood, but these people totally suck.

This post is brought to you by my future husband and his Sony CyberShot, which he graciously let me borrow until my new camera cord arrives. Thanks, honey!

Comments

[Jonathan Barton]

damn, so all those people park right there at your house?

[stephanie]

your house is so freakin cute. I love all the brick. That must be a southern thing. Random question....does B get to park in the hadicap spots with that van??? just wondering. :) Your knits are cute too.

[puppymomma]

If they're in your driveway can't you have them towed? After all, it is your property they're on.

[Stacey]

Love the colors of the Icarus shawl :)
If I lived near you, I'd go slash your neighbors tires for you.

[Betsy]

There are many things that can be done. You know in some cities they have laws about alot of people living together without being husband wife, parent child sort of thing. Your landlord should also be held responsible for these asswipes. So you know sugar in the gas tank renders cars D-E-A-D and also the right sized ping pong ball in the gas tanks allows for many hours of entertainment!!!!!!!!! I am just saying - these things I have heard.

[Lauren (Knitting in the Desert)]

This is too coincidental. i just bought the Claudia's Hand Painted in that exact same colorway today at Oodles, a yarn shop in Santa Fe. I jumped on the internet to get some inspiration for stitch patterns to use with the yarn and found this post in about five minutes flat. The Web . . . it's beautiful thing. =) Love your socks! May copy you!