The last day of Vestuary!

Well, this finally turned out nicely. I made Middle Daughter try it on for the photographs - she even said it was "nice." It is incredibly warm, however, so I think it will work well over a long sleeved tee shirt in the spring when the heat in the house isn't quite so high.



I'm not too crazy about the single crochet edging on the back of the neck - it just looks a little thick - but I can change that later if necessary.



I really like the colors in the vest - I have a bit left over so I may attempt a hat. I might even make another one using my handspun - but not in the bulky yarn!



The Saturday Seven came about when we painted Youngest Daughter's bedroom last week. We moved furniture, sorted out books for her bookcase and are still thinking about curtains. I haven't even attempted her closet yet - maybe for next week.

Well, Youngest Child and I are "Batchin' it" tonight - the girls and their dad are out at their school's annual Father-Daughter dance. The Boy and I are making pizza and then making some finger puppets as a project. Very exciting stuff!

The return of the mouse house

After a brisk walk to the bus stop, I may have changed my mind about that ski trip. 16 degrees F. and sunny looks nice but feels like crap. Knitting and muffins sound much, much better!

Youngest Child had some time to rebuild his Mouse House for the snow mice.



I think there may be a Neil Gaiman story about the things that live in snow - and they definitely belong outside.

And while some kind soul has roughly snow-blown the main sidewalks, I would need to wake the teens to make them shovel the other walks so I might as well do it myself. And to think I could be working in some dry, warm museum someplace . . .

My morning vest

Okay, my older children's school was off this week and I've spent a fair amount of time goofing off, eating ugly-but-tasty cookies, walking the dog, shopping for dance dresses and . . . Face Book Farming. Yes, the snow has done nothing to quench my urge for spring - I want plants now!

When not goofing, I was knitting - a little.



If I hadn't been reading a book last night instead of knitting, this would be a finished vest. I just need to knit up the front straps and then connect it. Perhaps tonight I'll post a finished vest. Of course, that means GFMelissa won't be able to kidnap me for a long ski trip later this morning. A short one would be fine!

Sadly, this morning I read of the death of poet Bill Holm. I highly recommend his last book "The Windows of Brimnes."

Here is the Friday Film, a clip of Bill Holm talking about the late Senator Paul Wellstone:

On the go

Another busy weekend - got to go out with Mr. Daisy. In the meantime, discuss this amongst yourselves:



Saturday Seven? I cleaned out the toy box between the front doors. Mr. Daisy calls it the decompression chamber but it's really just a little space. Usually filled with a boy's toys.



The pathetic vest is still underway. Smaller size, same large needles.




I bought this at the Weavers' Guild of Minnesota's Holiday sale. Ten or so skeins of handspun black/brown Shetland wool. What to do . . . what to do.


Bye!

A belated Valentine's Day film

In case you were able to tear yourself away from Twitter or Facebook in order to actually send a real valentine last week . . . I just hope you were able to address it correctly.



Back to re-knitting the Vestuary Vest.

Remember this?

This was the start of my Abrazo Vest (pattern from Knitty.com) for the Ravelry Vestuary Knitting Group until I realized one serious thing.

Way back about two inches from the beginning, I was supposed to switch to stockinette stitch from the ribbing. So, today I ripped back to those two inches and reknit the vest.



I still like it but the change to stockinette stitch has caused the vest to grow quite a bit. Even though this is just under the bust line, it seems too wide. Tomorrow morning I will try it on and get the final look. Who knows, maybe I'll go down to the medium size.

Luckily, there was a lot of good late night television last night (The rise and fall of Rome) and tonight (Rattle and Hum) so I don't have to spend the day glued to my chair. Gluing my eyes open, maybe!

Sweaters on parade

I like my sweater and wore it out to dinner last night - but didn't get anyone to photograph it. So you're stuck with my poor photographic work. Although, I must say, it does make me look - hmm, healthy.



My first choice of photo titles was, of course, "Goofballs on Parade." GF Melissa and I had some lovely ski outings this weekend.
The icy trails, however, did make for some spectacular falls.

In the mean time, I'm still working on the Vestuary Vest.

Blown away by Dorothy

This week I've been working on a Dorothy costume for Youngest Daughter's dance at school. As of now, the shoes have been spray painted red and are drying in the garage, the socks have been dyed blue and are drying downstairs and the dress is sewn. Why so stressed? I am going out of town in about an hour. Some of the adults are staying, some are going and nothing is packed. Augh. Also, YD gave me her cold so all I want to do is take a nap. So much for the winter sports!




I have been trying a new knitting option for me - knitting in bed before sleep. It's slow but at least I've been getting a row or two in before the cold medicine kicks in. Some one asked me if I'd recommend this vest pattern - well, so far, it's just fine. I'll let you know when I get to the neckline! I am glad I repurposed the yarn, however.

Also, on the yarn front, I've been stalking Sundara Yarn. Yet, every time I hit the site - all sold out. Bummer.

Friday Films courtesy of the Garden Girl - she rocks!

Looking for the buttons

Well, I still haven't blocked it yet so the FLS is a bit bumpy - but oh, so soft and warm.



I bought some buttons back in October but I'm not liking them so much. They are kind of a dull wood - I might go with a shiner one.

Oh, and I couldn't resist the Vestuary. I sorted my needles, found the pattern and cast on for the Abrazo Vest from Knitty using this old poncho yarn.



Love the colors so I'm glad I can use it. It makes me feel so thrifty!

First sweater of the year!

The aptly titled February Lady Sweater. Time for a bit of blocking and some buttons and, maybe some better photographs!

It is already so cozy - love it, love it, love it!

A gaggle of . . . skaters

Today was Youngest Child's last day of Mighty Kids, a learn-to-play hockey program in Saint Paul. It's very funny - like watching ducks play hockey. He learned a lot and his skating has improved quite a bit. Of course, Mr. Daisy's instructions to him every week - "Skate like you are being chased by bears!" - seems guaranteed to give him a trip to the counselor.



I bought this yarn at the Holiday Sale at the Weaver's Guild of Minnesota over at the Textile Center. I have 12 or 13 skeins of lovely hand spun Shetland in dark brown. Each skein is slightly different in size, however, so I'm not quite sure of my yarndage. I'm thinking some could be 150 yards and some could be about 220. I am a bit too lazy right now to weigh and re-skein them. It's Middle Daughter's birthday party and we've having home made mini pizzas and ice cream cake from Izzy's. Yum!



Most of these Saturday Seven items are going off to GFMelissa's for her youngest. He's a big fan of trains and construction!

Friday again . . .

and I need more knitting time! I am finishing up the sleeve on my February Lady Sweater - in fact I've been fitting in some late night knitting time watching Clean Houseon the Style Network - but I just need more.

I had some pictures but Someone-Not-Me used my camera and now all I have are photos of dolls. Tomorrow, I promise.

So, soup and sandwiches for dinner tonight and an evening "watching" the kids play video games. As long as I "hmm" or "Great!" at the right time, I'm safe.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering how we are cutting corners around here,



I also use this cute towel rack for drying mittens and wool.

This week's Friday Film? Check out this demo from Garden Girl:




Middle Daughter's class wants to buy a rabbit - I said I would be the responsible party if it was an Angora.

And where are those kittens?!!

I have an apparent affinity for the delete button on my digital camera. I was all giddy, trying on the February Lady Sweater and even posing some fabu camera shots when - I deleted them all. By that time, I needed to move on and I just used my old camera phone to do the deed.

Note the bemused yet irritated expression on my face. Middle Daughter just got back her Senior Photo shots and one or two have the gazing-just-past-the-nose pensive high school girl expression. Or as we call it here, the "But where are the kittens? I was promised kittens!" expression. I think this was my grumpier version.

Hopefully, by tonight, I'll have the sleeve finished. Which is good because I am seriously thinking of joining up with the Ravelry Vest-uary Group and making the Abrazo Vestt from Knitty

But only if it comes with kittens.