tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034865028068373416.post-73537046358900232492007-03-14T13:41:00.000-06:002007-03-14T16:18:55.223-06:00<strong>keep your hands and arms inside the car at all times and enjoy the ride</strong> <div><div><strong></strong><br /><div>I'm happy to report I am no longer tragically blogless. Let me introduce you to me and my family. I am the blonde fire engineer on the right. Not to point out the obvious, but I am the one who puts out the fires around here. And I am blonde. In the little red car, cell phone in hand, is my sweet baboo. He has accepted his fate as the spouse of a craftaholic with resignation and patiently tolerates the fabric and yarn that blanket the house.<br /></div><br /><div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_-8StEie8Dig/RfhoGi6soWI/AAAAAAAAAAM/H1OXHG-cqQY/s1600-h/March+14+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041894244502774114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_-8StEie8Dig/RfhoGi6soWI/AAAAAAAAAAM/H1OXHG-cqQY/s320/March+14+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div>Next we have the little yarnies. The kitties in front are, left to right, my three daughters Coral, Rosie and Ruby. Coral and Rosie are elementary school-age. Ruby is very small and cries a lot. That's all I'll say about that. Unfortunately I only have one orange cat <a href="http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=10&e=lplanding">Little Person</a> (warning, annoying song if you click this link), because Rosie and Ruby both have red hair. And personalities to match. The lone engineer at the top of the ferris wheel is Mr. Choo-Choo, my favorite (and only) son, a charming preschooler who engineers the chaos here at this house. If there is devastation or mayhem, he is the behind-the-scenes guy. </div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041895807870869874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_-8StEie8Dig/Rfhphi6soXI/AAAAAAAAAAU/6xS4MWuXyhU/s320/March+14+009.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div><br /><p></p><p><strong>socks of the past</strong></p><p>I have knit 2 pairs of socks so far in my budding career as a sock knitter. They are both baby socks, courtesy of Teri's "<a href="http://stitch-n-snitch.blogspot.com/2006/05/little-16-newborn-sock-pattern.html">Little 16 Newborn Sock Pattern</a>." They are small and quick to knit, obviously. The first pair was for Ruby, made out of <a href="http://www.fuzzymabel.com/yarn/ldn/ldn_babystar.shtml">Laines du Nord Baby Star</a>, colorway pink ombre. Pacifier included for scale. Needles were Takumi bamboo size 1, 7" long. The 7" length drove me nuts. Shortly thereafter I bought some 5" Brittany Birch needles. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041897925289746818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_-8StEie8Dig/Rfhrcy6soYI/AAAAAAAAAAc/NWg8kjVGdXw/s320/March+14+006.jpg" border="0" /></p></div><p></p><br /><p>I did something wonky on one of the toes, not sure what. I can tell you that I was so pleased with myself when I finished the first one. I felt like a freaking genius. My husband was very impressed too, and he doesn't impress easily. "You made that?" he said. "Yep, I did," I said. "Wow, that looks really good. I can't believe you did that. This knitting thing is so practical." Naturally, this is an illusion I wish to perpetuate. </p><p>Next pair of socks: I just completed this pair a few days ago. Yarn is <a href="http://www.lionbrand.com/yarns/magicStripes.htm">Lion Brand Magic Stripes</a>, colorway Denim. Now, I have heard some people (cough*<a href="http://limenviolet.blogspot.com/">Miss Violet</a>*cough) talk smack about Lion Brand. Although this is my second sock-knitting experience, I really loved this yarn. It has 75% wool and stripes in a delightful way. I love the colors. I washed the socks last night on warm, delicate cycle, and they look great. Plus my son loves to wear them. Needles: Brittany Birch size 3, 5" long. (awesome needles) This time I used the cast-on trick Nancy Bush recommends, of casting on over two needles held together and knitting the first few stitches with both the working yarn and the tail. This is probably not a new technique for some, but it worked like a charm--no gaps at the join of the round! Again, I felt like a genius. (Pacifier included for scale.) </p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041901670501228946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_-8StEie8Dig/Rfhu2y6soZI/AAAAAAAAAAk/LFhAWcuCn48/s320/March+14+005.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p>And the money shot (but a little cheap because of the bad picture):</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041902048458351010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_-8StEie8Dig/RfhvMy6soaI/AAAAAAAAAAs/SQ6BwwmH50g/s320/March+14+001.jpg" border="0" /><br />Next project: Socks for the sweet baboo as a graduation gift. He will be graduating as a physician assistant in August (he is 35 and we have 4 kids--please, don't ask). I have purchased <a href="http://www.yarn-store.com/lornas-laces-yarn-colors.html">Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock </a>in Safari. I am considering doing the <a href="http://wendyknits.net/wendy/knitting.htm">GTUS</a> from WendyKnits with the wrapping technique from <a href="http://misocrafty.squarespace.com/journal/2006/9/21/short-row-heel-tutorial.html">Misocraft</a>y. This could be another opportunity for geniosity. I am looking forward to it. I have to do a little detour along the way. I have promised Rosie and Coral shrugs, so I am doing the <a href="http://glampyreknits.tripod.com/glampyrephotos/id97.html">One Skein Wonder </a>in <a href="http://www.bernat.com/product.php?LGC=cottontots">Bernat CottonTots </a>in lime berry and lemon. I hafta to get these done before Easter to go with the Easter skirts, or I will once again be the mother of broken crafting promises. So far it is a quick knit but kind of boring. I am missing the dpns and sock yarn. </p><p>I'm hoping this blog thing will help me get more knitting done, with the idea that I will be motivated to finish more so I can show it off on my blog. I need to get a new camera, though. This one kinda stinks. Which ones do you, my yarnies, recommend? Leave me a comment and let me know, along with your tips and tricks for good pics. And stay tuned this week for a contest with a prize and free yarn! </p></div>karenthecomputerwifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120573947683029198noreply@blogger.com