Unexpected Reaction

I couldn't help envision receiving the Mother of the Year award as I sewed the buttons onto C's top down cardigan. Disregard the pile of clothes in his room that are yet to be put away. Forget that I've let him have PB & J for dinner at least three nights this week. I just made one freakin' adorable sweater for my child by hand.

Imagine my surprise at his reaction...

The boy was not happy with the buttons. In the mind of a 2 year old lad, sewing vehicle shaped buttons onto a sweater is a waste of perfectly good playthings. He refused to wear the jacket (or quiet down) until the buttons were removed.

So C can now happily sort his buttons and wear his cute new jacket. Maybe I can still be Mother of the Year. I just need to find some plain new buttons.

Daddy-O claims he can gauge my stress level by the amount of knitting that I get accomplished. Less knitting equals more stress. The 8 or so rows of garter stitch that it took to finish off Holli's baby blanket is the sum total of knitting I did Monday through Thursday. Things are looking up though, so let's dwell on happy things.

For example: happy families at weddings,

love birds,

and crazy uncles that show up for weddings in Elvis wigs.

I feel better already!

Stick a fork (or a Chibi) in me...

Humpty Dumpty is chillaxin' on Lane's Modern Blankie. I've bound this one off, now all I need to do is decide on a border. There's no time to waste because the shower is in two weeks.

I also bound off Fran's diagonal stroller blankie. This one is knit from Lion Brand Watercolors that I found for less than $1 a ball. I would normally pass this yarn by, but it was just crying out to become a baby blanket. It looks sort of like knit up cotton candy. I ran out of pink so one little corner is finished off in purple. Let's call it an "interesting design element."

The Breakup

Sweater: "You're not ready for this. I'm asking too much with all the seaming and alternating skeins. "

Me: "Yeah."

Sweater: "So we're breaking up?"

Me: "OK, I'm frogging you."

*rip, rip, rip*

Sweater: "We're broken..."

Me: "It's over... Hey, what are you doing? Get back in your storage bag."

Sweater: "Break up cast on."

Me: "Break up cast on..."

Sweater: "Break up ribbing, break up button band..."

Me: "Break up ribbing...button band...mmmm"

Dang...

Stupid sweater monogomy. I was ready to start seeing someone new.

Cue the McDreamy music.

I guess we can start over... AGAIN.

Thinking about Fall...

I know Autumn is on its way when the weather cools, I develop a sinus infection, and my knitting fancy turns to scarves. Despite the fact that I have two baby kimonos and a blanket to finish, I've cast on a Montego Bay scarf and a One Skein Scarf.

Actually the Montego Bay has been put on hold. C is convinced that my bamboo needles are the best set of drumsticks he has ever used. Mind you his percussion rendition of "My Savior My God" is adorable, but I can't bear the thought of picking up all of those yarn over stitches. In the name of family harmony this project has been laid aside for now.

A moment of blatant vanity:
Farrah taught me how to flat iron my hair yesterday. I am so proud of myself for pulling off an actual hairstyle that I had to document the results. It almost looks like my little avatar. Thank you dear Farrah for teaching me to be fabulous!

Remember the Knit Picks Dancing that was on clearance? I know I said that the colors weren't my cup of tea... but last month a few balls wound up in my shopping cart along with some new circular needles. (Knit Picks circulars; where have you been all my life?!) This darling little ankle sock is the result.

I got my Ravelry Invite! Woo hoo! It would happen on my second day back to work...

I will try to post some actual knitting content soon; but first I've got to meet 14 little people who expect me to teach them how to read.

In the meantime enjoy this lovely family photo from Julie's visit home.

I would have never imagined that my old school Cotton Ease stash would have lasted this long. My mom bought Tuesday Morning out two summers ago and we are still knitting from it today. Can you believe that I still have enough for two more log cabin blankets? These are the first three blocks for baby Lane's blanket. Of the four babies coming into our circle of friends and family Lane is the first with a confirmed gender, so he gets the first blanket.

C was such a big boy at the barber shop yesterday that Daddy-O rewarded him with a big ole' slice of water mellon... and another... and another.

Land o' Cotton


Sarah commissioned me to knit this little layette for a friend who is expecting. I used Cotton Tots in Jelly Bean and Blue Berry. The cotton feels so very good on my dry scratchy hands. I know it's Summer of Socks, I KNOW that there is a beautiful stash of sock wool in the next room, but I'm going to have to stick with the cotton for now.

Free fiber from Pebbles! If only I knew how to spin...

At last the Crimson Tidal Wave socks are complete. I couldn't resist showing off my new nail design before finishing the toe. (I'm SO easily amused.) Look at how much Tofutsies yarn was left. It might be just enough to double and make a wee hat for one of the many November/December babies on the way around here.

It was a rough week for C, but he got over the strep with a steady regimen of antibiotics, Nick Jr., and banana Popsicles. I'm happy to report that he is back to full strength and ready for a full week of VBS and hanging out with Daddy-O.

I was feeling uninspired this week until C and I spotted these babies at Love Without Boundaries. I dove right in to my Warm Woolies stash and finished up two more house hats. They enjoyed a nice sunbath on the patio railing. Thank goodness we don't have a wool pilfering squirrel around here.

Then C came down with a nasty summer throat infection. The brave little guy is spending his time watching Pixar movies and drinking yogurt smooties. (I've already seen Finding Nemo at least 30 times this summer.) Its probably strep, so the Dr.'s advice was: "Wash your hands A LOT." Even Burt can't defend my tender hands from both wool and frequent washings so Warm Woolies knitting will have to be put on hold for now. Too bad there isn't a Cool Cottonies organization.

I'll just have to get out some Cotton Tots and make something new for the adorable Emmy. I think she and Reagan both need one of these. Their dads will be sure to thank me!

Big C's Playdate with Jillian

I'm down to the toe on the first Tidal Wave Sock. So far I love, love, LOVE how the tofutsies feel on my feet. They are very light and breathable. Finally handknit socks I won't have to wait until January to wear.

Mars the fish was discovered this afternoon lifeless at the bottom of his bowl. He is survived by his beloved companion Venus the Snail.

Sockapalooza4Pal, you were the first to suggest the winning name. Sorry you had to find out under such difficult circumstances. Send your contact information to knitbud at yahoo dot com and I will arrange to send your prize.

My Sockapalooza socks are finished at last. I was having a serious bout of fourth sock syndrone, but once the heel was turned they flew off the needles. Don't they look pretty drying on my new patio?

I was able to finish them thanks to my new best friend Burt's Bees Hand Salve. I slather it on before and after knitting with wool and my hands feel just great. The only problem is that it makes the needles a little slippery. I have to keep a crochet hook close by just incase a stitch jumps off.

My next pair to cast on is Tidal Wave Socks in Toufutsies color 721. The color is probably going to obstruct the stitch pattern, but I adore the concept of Crimson colored Tidal Wave Socks. Crimson Tide Socks!

Eye Candy Friday: These moon flowers are the only living thing in my yard that hasn't been withered by the drout we are having.

Rustic Ribs Redux

My old nemesis Eczema has reappeared on my right hand, so woolly knitting time is very limited. Even the Koigu for my sock pal leaves a scratchy red place between my fingers. So I spent most of my knitting time this week reworking the Rustic Ribs Cardi. I frogged the back and sleeve and reknit them a size larger. I also alternated balls of the Patagonia Nature Cotton to even out the coloring. Even Daddy-O noticed that two of the skeins are dramatically darker than the others. I don't know why I didn't see that in the yarn shop.

When you last saw this fish bowl, it was holding names for the baby blanket drawing. Now it is home to a real live beta fish. C and I snuck him in past Daddy-O a few weeks ago. (Daddy-O feels that betas are a gateway fish that lead to larger aquariums.) His bowl was pretty bleak, so yesterday I added a plant and a snail. Just look at how proud he is!

Now all he needs is a name. Leave a comment if you have a suggestion. The best name left by midnight Friday, June 15 will win a woolly sock yarn prize. Have fun... and remember kids, this is a family blog