Sometimes the worst photos tell the best stories

Who would ever have guessed that this little cutie . . .

would ever grow up to be such a reluctant sock model?

And one who wears such big socks already? Youngest Child is on his way to being renamed Biggest Feet! This was a carry along project this winter so it was only worked on here and there - hockey games, meetings, lunches, church services, etc. Thankfully, I finished them before his feet grew anymore! 

The yarn is some inexpensive Premier Yarns Serenity Sock Weight Solids that I picked up at a general craft store. It is not a bad sock yarn and very reasonably priced. It is a little thin for my taste - I like a more circular, rolled sock yarn. 

Now that's a phrase no non-knitter will understand! I mean a rounder yarn because it's usually a three ply sock yarn. This one is just very thin feeling - not soft or lofty at all. But, it seems very hard wearing so it's a good yarn for boys' socks.

Also, a little FYI for knitters: I've had these sock blockers for over five years and have used them about twice. Don't bother with them!

The worst photo this week is the traditional "hat in progress" photo. Too small to wear yet too big to put on the dog . . .

This is a quick Winter Wonderland Hat from Kristin Nicholas. It uses one strand of worsted weight yarn and two strands of sock yarn. A good way to use up extra sock yarn and it's a quick knit! This one is for a charitable event this weekend. The pattern wasn't in my library until recently but I really enjoy Kristin's work and I highly recommend her blog - very lovely photographs and boy, is it colorful! She has a new book out as well that I'm looking forward to reading - Crafting a Colorful Home.

Now, back to those mittens before Youngest Child's hands get any bigger . . .

Burn, baby, burn!

Last year, I mistakenly mentioned that I enjoyed doing "Sudoku." And I got three books of puzzles for my birthday! Since then, I've been skipping back and forth between books, doing one or two puzzles at bedtime, and finally, finally, finished one. So, I burned it in triumph.

With two more half-filled books to get done, it's enough to make me give up puzzles.

This week, I did give up on that green sock but - not on the yarn! I have three skeins of Steinbach Strapaz Cotton in the 03/kiwi color and I am looking for a new pattern to make them up for myself.



Instead, I started a new pair of simple ribbed socks for Youngest Child. That's easy and mindless - just the thing for taking to the Knit Out 2008 at the Mall of America.



Yep, it's that time of the year again and it looks to be really fun! I am hoping to hear author Debbie Macomber speak but the whole weekend's events look good. Just in case you check it out, I'll be working at the Minnesota Knitters' Guild table on Sunday. Stop by and say "hello" in person!

Time is moving onward - but where is my map?

Blessed is the person who is too busy to worry in the daytime and too sleepy to worry at night.

-Unknown



If there was a harried look in this sheep's eyes, it would be me.

These last two weeks have occured on overdrive. School events, class parties, triathlon training, bike rides, visits to St. Louis, graduations, parents' visits - augh. There is just too much going on! And I am responsible for making it all happen!

There is some knitting - the green sock creeps onward. I swear that some Penelope is ripping it back every night. Six more rows. And six more rows. And six more rows. The darn marker does not appear to be budging.

I've also started a baby blanket version of Evelyn A. Clark's "Edged with lace" simple shawl. I'm using some "on hand" Cascade 220 Superwash in color 802. This looks like a muted green when viewed online - but trust me, it's really GREEN! Eyecatching, pirate-parrot, some-sort-of-hosta, maybe-a-tropical-fish GREEN. It's for the "fetus yet to meet us" of a swim friend and she doesn't know if it's a boy or girl, so I think green will make a great baby blanket. Not a sweater, though. It's too loud for a sweater.

Right after I cast on, I found out another friend brought home a brand new baby boy and now I will have to hustle up another sweater. Maybe a hat? Hmm.

I am still working on a red project for my mother - but since she's visiting, I can't work on it in front of her.

Tomorrow, I am taking the third bike ride of the weekend. I'm definitely worried about the Manitou Tri on June 10 - I don't think I am at full athletic capacity yet - and I need more time on the bike. Unfortunately, my legs are telling me that they want off that crazy thing.

What I'm really looking forward to is working on my HKSK bag. I found the right green colors and thread and I am using an Amy Butler pattern for a backpack/tote bag. I want to get the package in the mail and off my hands THIS week. I wil take some photos of it. I wish I was getting this cool exchange!

Yesterday's Saturday Seven is completely boring. When cleaning frantically after my trip and before my mother's arrival, I cleared out bedding and towels.

Boring things like two blankets, a bedspread and four towels. I may take a picture. Or maybe not. They are so dull that I'm worred that no one would buy them at a rummage sale. Not great stuff - but not trash either. The kind of stuff you would give to your first born for their first apartment. Unfortunately, that would be about five years in the future and I don't have the storage room. Look out, Saint John the Evangelist's Big Sale, here comes trouble!

Technically, it is now Memorial Day. Have a lovely holiday, spend time with your loved ones and remember those who have served in the Armed Forces.

Taking it on the road - again.

Luckily, I've been setting aside items to give away for some time - assembling seven items to be named later. As I am on the road, visiting my sister in Saint Louis, I don't have access to my photos. But they do exist! One lace curtain, one pair of running shoes, four of Youngest Child's shirts and one book, "March." The curtain was a stop gap curtain for the top of my stairs. I bought the fabric and simply hemed it as a curtain when we moved into this house thirteen years ago but I never replaced it. Finally, I am sewing a new one. The running shoes were purchased by mistake. After giving them a fair go, I decided to replace them and passed them over to my Middle Daughter. The book was last month's Monday Night Book Group offering. I read it and enjoyed it but I have no room for it on my bookshelf. Perhaps I'll Book Crossing it? The clothing and the curtain will go off to a rummage sale at a local church.
In the mean time, I'll be knitting away in Saint Louis. I brought my green socks and my flower basket shawl to work on. Unfortunately, I think I lost my copy of the shawl pattern at my niece's volleyball game so I'll be sock-ing it all the way home. No chance to visit any yarn stores but plenty of knitting time and that is allways a treat.