NotScarlett

A New Day

Sampson doesn't like it when I cry. He crawls in my lap, puts his front paws on my shoulders, and proceeds to make these sad little whimpering sounds while licking my tears, my eyes, my nose, my mouth and generally just freaking out. Usually, the desire to keep my dog from licking inside of my mouth makes me stop crying and push him off me, so I guess there is a method to his madness.

Unfortunately, Sampson doesn't understand happy tears. Like the ones I was crying this morning as I watched our 44th president being sworn in.

He was very concerned.

This is an incredible day in the history of my life, your life, our nation, and the world. I believe today is the beginning of a brand new era. Change won't come overnight, but for the first time in a long time, I feel hopeful about the direction our country is headed.  Listening to our president speak, I felt such inspiration swell up inside me, I just about burst. Yes, I want to choose hope over fear. Yes, I want to pursue my full measure of happiness.  I'm ready! I'm ready to do my part, whatever it may be, to get our country back on track. As our new president said just a few hours ago, "For everywhere we look, there is work to be done." 

Let's get to work!

Selfish Knitting

Told you I was gonna knit me a sweater.....

Pattern: Dollar and a Half Cardigan by Veronik Avery

Raveled here

This is my progress on the back, which has been a bit of a challenge. I think I've got the lace pattern down now, and it's actually going pretty quickly. I love the way it is turning out, and I'm enjoying knitting with the yarn quite a bit. This is my first time knitting with Cotton Fleece, and the fabric is turning out better than I'd imagined. It's going to be perfect for North Florida!

I'm also doing a bit of knitting for the house. We've used the last batch of dishcloths I made so much they are literally falling apart. Time for some new ones!

Collective Unconscious at Work

While I was knitting away on some last minute fingerless mitts on Christmas Eve, a package was winging it's way to me from the West Coast. The mitts I was knitting were destined to be a gift for my sister's boyfriend's sister (go ahead, work that out, I'll give you a sec to catch up) but in the cold, hard light of day on Christmas morning, I faced reality and realized I'd never finish in time.

Those mitts ended up languishing in the WIP basket until a few days later when that package arrived. Upon receipt of said package, I suddenly had motivation to finish the mitts and keep them for myself. You see, my good buddy Stacey sent me a hand knit Christmas gift, which just so happened to match the mitts quite well.

The gift:

The mitts:

Stacey had no idea I'd end up making these mitts and selfishly keeping them for myself when she was knitting Gretel, and I had no idea she was knitting Gretel for me, and yet, we have a perfect match. Coincidence? Well, probably. A good one though.

Thanks, Stacey! 

Tiny Sweater

I am unable to resist knitting for babies. Other people's babies, of course, since I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies or want/plan to ever learn for myself. I love that my friends seem to get pregnant all at once, and then they seem to all have girls, or all have boys...it's been really interesting to watch! The latest baby bumper crop seems to be all girls so far, the most recent birth being that of B's bandmate/friend and his wife. I whipped up a little something for the baby, and we'll be going to visit them this evening.


Specs

Pattern: Super-Natural Stripes by f.pea
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice in Chocolate, Dusty Purple, and White
Needles: US size 6 and 8
Started: Jan.1, 2009
Completed: Jan. 4, 2009
Raveled here

Mods: No major mods, this is the second time I've knit this pattern and both times I've kind of done my own thing as far as the striping sequence & cuffs/hem go. I knit the whole thing on size 6 needles, then actually went up to size 8's for picking up stitches for the button band...I had some funky issues with the button band last time when I went down needle sizes. Based on that experience, I used larger needles and was able to pick up and then knit the button band just the way I wanted it on the first try. No swearing and ripping back repeatedly like on the last sweater.

This is a great pattern, fun to knit, and endlessly adaptable to different yarns, color combos, methods of fastening, etc.

It's a little on the large side for a new baby, but those little things grow so fast I'm sure she'll fit into this in no time at all!

I love me a bandwagon

Inspired by lots of my favorite knitters/bloggers/twitterfolk, I'm giving the 365 project a whirl. We'll see how far I get...maybe I shouldn't have started on a day when I feel and look so crappy, but oh well. I'm hoping this project will help me get over my self-consciousness about appearing in photos, as well as help me learn more about photography in general.

I've been wanting to start this project since Jan. 1, but keep getting distracted by making videos of my dog, a la Charlie's mom. Someone stop me. I cannot help myself.