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Thanksgiving Holiday!

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate the holiday!

For those who don't celebrate the holiday, Happy Thursday! Have some pie!

The pups and I have a four-day weekend, and we'll be spending it with our kids from California. We'll be back in blogging-action on Monday—until then, keep your needles clicking!

Glove Gone Wrong

Ooooh! I made such a bungle in the second glove. I attribute the bungle to hurrying toward the finish, with the result being a rip-out of a whole glove-finger. Ow! Glove Hurts! See the black lines that line up from wrist to fingertips on the finished glove?

Somehow I began knitting four whole stitches off of my baseline black stripe, and didn't even see it until I was nearly ready to bind off. Much gnashing of teeth ensued, accompanied of course by the wringing of non-knitting hands. How'd that happen? Luckily, I'm always ready to take a chance on glove. I'm back on track with the pattern now, but I wanted any new knitters reading to know that bungles in knitting are just part of the process. Yep. Sometimes, Your Glove is Like Bad Medicine.

Book Reviews

Sitting on a knitterly fence over purchasing the latest? Here are book reviews from the SeattleTimes of Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook, Weekend Knitting: 50 Unique Projects and Ideas, Knit Baby Blankets!, Knit Baby Head & Toes! and Knit Christmas Stockings! 19 Patterns for Stockings and Ornaments. Don't miss the egg cosies. Oh what the heck; I'm feeling a bit frumpish, so here they are:

Pups

The pups are very excited because their own personal boy is coming from California on Wednesday night for the Thanksgiving holiday. Whoo-HOO! I'm excited too, and while you can't see, I'm making the same face that Mikey is in this photo:

Happy Wednesday! Are you cooking tomorrow? Have your groceries? Better get cracking those eggs (unless they are going to be wearing tiny sweaters).

No News Tuesday

Hello all, not a single stitch to report here. I'm going to take a pass on blogging today, but will be back with knitting news tomorrow. In the meantime, why not go take a look at Cari's glove? Woofs!

Jack and Della say This Thanksgiving, Give Peas a Chance.

Happy Tuesday!

Big Fat Monday

Warning: The following entry may be disturbing to some Yarn-Dieters. If you are on a Yarn-Diet, please avert your eyes from my conspicuous consumption.

I caught up with virtually a ton of paperwork this weekend, and consequently realized very little knitting gain. I wouldn't let myself knit until I had one or two urgent items cleared up, and clearing them up seemed to take a dreadfully long while. Cleverly, I postponed opening three packages that arrived Friday afternoon, in hopes of being able to trick myself in working hard over the weekend, and sure enough! By late Sunday afternoon I felt quite accomplished and relieved to have finished quite a bit. So! On to the rewards!

I've been obsessing over some Mountain Colors BearFoot sock yarn since I saw Theresa's striping up so prettily in her 18 November entry. My skein (in the "Indian Corn" colorway) from Matt and Rob was in the first package, along with Lucy Neatby's new sock book. Yay! My second package contained some brand new-to-me fingering weight/sock yarn from Apple Laine Farm. Called AppleButter, it is the same blend as Mountain Colors Bearfoot (60% wool, 25% mohair, 15% nylon), so both have quite luscious hands. I'm hoping to use this wool for gloves, and so for once, I'm really looking forward to the swatch process! The Indian Corn BearFoot is on the far left.

I've been on a wholesome yarn-diet for months, and so these skeins plus last week's add up to a regular binge to catch up on what I've missed. Yes. I realize that's not a healthy habit. But look how pretty the wool is!

The third package contained the most exciting stuff of all in the mail-call. Four historically-correct and different versions of Sanquhar Gloves from the Scottish Women's Rural Institutes (SWRI). This packet came from my online overseas buddy Dawn P., who also sent chocolate and some beautiful handpainted laceweight merino. The merino lace is some of Margaret Stove's handpaint, and it's the loveliest blues and greens. I know its going to make a fine pair of gloves. The pattern authors at SWRI say that while the gloves were originally knitted only in black and white, modern Sanquhar gloves are knitted in contrasting colours. So I'll feel free to use my merino lace plus a solid.

The pattern designs are Shepherd's Plaid, Midge and Fly, Prince of Wales, and Duke design. I'm so pleased and happy with this trade that it wasn't until just a few moments ago that I realized that none of these patterns are charted...it's all row by row directions. I'm going to chart them, because I can't imagine doing fine wool colorwork with written directions. Spoiled, aren't I. If you have charting tips, please send them along.

Pups

Little Jack says It's Monday. Boil your cranberries until they pop, then chill overnight.