Rico's Hat

My friend Riccardo commented on a hat I was wearing the other day.

"Hey. That's the kind of hat I could use. Something small that will keep me warm on cold days like this."

Cold days...in San Francisco. For two ex-New Yorkers it's kind of embarrassing to admit we speak like that.

I followed the Ann Norling pattern for the Spiral Rib Hat. With just one skein of Berroco's Inca Gold, this is what Riccardo will get when I see him next:



I like quick projects like this one. Took about two days to complete. Wish I could say that about some of my other WIPs...

Yarn Sale!

Need to make room for more yarns. (This sickness is not new to me...) Posted some nice stuff up on ebay that I know will never get knitted by me.

Take a peak. Maybe there's something there you love.


Excess Kittens

My stash can relate to this!

Mohair?

This from my knitter friend who just got married.

"Married life is just like dating life but feels more solid and definite - kinda like knitting with mohair - can't unravel, just move forward."

Still Knitting

It's hard to keep up a blog about knitting when it's hard to find time to knit. But thinking back over the last few months, I've actually done a fair amount of knitting. But not so much blogging.

Over two years ago I was in Sea Ranch, CA, and found yarn made from sheep that graze their hills. I started something with the yarn at least four times and ripped it just as often. I couldn't find the correct pattern for this yarn.

Recently, while browsing the Winter 2007/2008 issue of Vogue Knitting, I spotted the perfect pattern for the Sea Ranch Wool -- a cabled scarf and hat. It's not like that's so unique -- but it was just right for this yarn.

It was a little bit of a challenge because the pattern was written in chart format. I've avoided charts in the past because they looked too scary, but it turned out to be less scary after I color-coded the right and wrong rows.

This wool, because it's made locally vs. at some big yarn manufacturer, had a very gamy smell and was kind of dirty. I couldn't wait to wash it to see what effect it would have on the yarn.

It turned out great. The color took on a less gray color, and felt smooth and soft. (Using some Bumble and Bumble conditioner in the final rinse might have helped!)

I put the drenched scarf in a lingerie bag on the spin cycle for a few minutes. Then I blocked it with pins on this gigantic blocking board that's been sitting in my closet gathering dust since I bought it last year.

Here it is, blocked and dried. I'm really happy with the outcome. The cables are highlighted nicely and the gamy stink is gone.





I'll start the hat shortly, I have to adjust the pattern slightly to fit my big fat head. I look forward to bringing them both with me on my next trip to Sea Ranch.

Interesting Commute

Thought the way the fog sat on the bridge this morning was cool.



And then there was this:



Not really sure what to say.

This is What Drives Me CRAZY about Weight Watchers

I just saw this on the ever-so-helpful Weight Watchers website:

"For 3 POINTS values* you can have half of a plain, small fast-food burger "

Excuse me, but who the FUCK eats half of a plain, small fast-food burger???

*POINTS values, for those not up on WW speak, means you can eat on average 22-24 points per day.

Did Paula Abdul Have It Right?

Ok, so I'm dating myself. But the Paula Abdul song "opposites attract" is not exactly a new concept. Opposites do attract. On one hand that makes perfect sense. You want people in your life who are different than you. But on the other hand -- it's kind of ironic. Think about it. Someone quiet winds up with someone loud. How annoying for the quiet person when all they want is silence.

Someone aggressive lands someone passive. How frustrating for the aggressive person to have to put up with all that passivity. Or someone neat marries someone who, let's just say, is not so neat.

My point is this:

My husband was on a business trip recently and I was meeting up with him to spend the weekend. By the time I arrived, he had been living in his hotel room for six days.

This is what the bathroom sink looked like (coffe cups were not his):




I'm not kidding. Six days! I arranged nothing for this photo.

After 6 minutes, this is what my side of the bathroom sink looked like:



Let's discuss. You're on a trip for about 8 days. You have 3 containers of liquid, some dental floss and toothpaste?

I'm gone for two stinking nights and the thought of fitting everything into one quart-sized ziploc so I can carry on luggage instead of checking is mind boggling.

Two words for a successful marriage:
Separate bathrooms!

Ok. Plus three more words: Breathe right strips...

The World's Brattiest Cat

The World's Biggest Cat

The Ten Month Socks

I started working on a pair of socks for my sister in March 07. I was on a plane to a trade show in Orlando and figured the five hour flight each way would give me a good head start. Plus, I had until November of that same year to finish them in time for her birthday. Piece of cake, I thought.

November came and went. No socks.

Christmas came and went. No socks.

I mailed them to her in January 08.

With this card:



Here's what they looked like:



I used Panda Cotton, a blend of 55% bamboo, 24% cotton and 21% elastic nylon. A really nice yarn. Smooth. Easy to knit with. It's a 4-ply, which can get a little tricky on size 1 needles if you're not careful, but overall a great yarn.

I spoke to my sister the other day and she's loving her socks. But it's already February. If I plan on knitting her something for this year's birthday I better get started now...