a different kind of needle, for a change...

My niece's upcoming birthday got me to put down my knitting needles for a minute and take up the needle and thread! Every time I sew I wonder why I don't do it more often - it's like I forget how much fun it is. Anyway, my mom is getting my niece, Savannah, an American Girl doll for her birthday (the whole American Girl thing kind of turns my stomach, but I suppose I begged just as much for a Cabbage Patch Kid, and got one, when I was her age so I really can't say anything) and I decided to make her some clothes.

These things crack me up - I don't know if it's just that little things are so darn cute, or what, but whatever it is, it's making me love sewing doll clothes! I think it's the little details that tickle me so much - like the fact that the shirts have set in sleeves, just like big people clothes! The little buckle on the corduory pants I found and sewed on (which I think must have been saved from a doll shoe at one point - it was in my grandma's button box and I had to pry it off a little leather strap) and the mock zipper flap on the jeans: I'm also pretty proud of myself that I didn't buy anything except for the velcro - the rest is all fabric that I reclaimed from clothing destined for the Salvation Army, or scraps from stuff I made in the past. Oh, I also knit her this little cardigan! I think I know what Savannah is getting for Christmas! I've got plans already - I could modify the patterns to make a party dress, or put a peter pan collar on the shirt! oh - she better not get sick of this doll anytime soon! (but I'm sure she will -she's a kid!)

The christmas knitting monkey...

...is on my back! Even though I told myself I wouldn't get crazy with Christmas knitting this year, I feel myself doing it already. I planned the Rowan sweater for my favorite uncle plenty early, got the yarn, and started it - then got derailed by an irresistable test knit for Carol Feller. It's nearly finished. And now there's another test knit that I absolutely can't turn down - it's colorwork (hello? love!) and it's for Hannah Ingalls, and I can't wait to do it! I know it's still August, but still, the sensible thing would be to pare down my plans for gifts, but this time of year I just start adding them on, and on, and on! I definitely want to knit for my mom because she's the one who appreciates it and deserves it more than anyone else. I'm going to make her some thrummed mittens because she's got perpetually cold hands. However, that just doesn't seem like enough, you know? I fear that I'll make some rash decision to start on something like a 2000 yd. lace shawl for her 2 weeks before Christmas! Then there's my father's birthday on December 1st, which always catches me off guard because my mind gets fixated on the 24th. I want to make him a pair of socks because I can't ever think of anything else to get him - no wait! it's the standing gift of date bars (my grandmother's recipe) for his birthday, then socks for Christmas - ok, I just got a month back! Oh, and have you seen that new kit from Knit Picks for the ornaments and garlands? It's adorable. and so cheap! I ordered it. I'm already envisioning a strand of knit lights on my mantle! and of course that's also going to lead to little knit ornaments for my mom and sister-in-law too! I told myself I would not knit for the nieces or nephews - it's all just going to end up in a dog's mouth or on the garage floor eventually anyway. Buuut, my oldest niece is getting an American Girl doll for her birthday in October (and I decided I'd sew some clothes for her - pattern is in hand, but when am I going to get around to that? a week before? probably) and there are some pretty cute American Girl knit patterns on Ravelry. How long could that possible take? Gaaaaa! It's August - this is only going to get worse!!

Saying Goodbye

My sweetest little friend finally let go yesterday.

Margo, I'll miss you forever. I don't even know what to say. I know you're at peace now, and I like to think you're kneading bread on a cloud somewhere, with a brand new set of kidneys.

what does a rock star need?

After a week of being on the road touring with Akillis Green, I figure the fella might like a square meal - all rock stars like steamed brocolli, right? and a little cake with a heart on it :)

An yes, I got to use my Pyrex split casserole finally! I'm glad he's home.

you know what would be really terrible?

getting hit by a bus tomorrow and dying having never knit up my Wollmeise.

So after my top secret test knit is finished, I'm casting on for a clapotis with my precious skein. I don't even care how long it takes me to finish, or how many other things I knit while it's on the needles, I just don't want to die with it still in a ziplock bag. life is short. knit with your good stuff.

Christmas in July!

Perhaps for the first time in my life, I'm getting started on Christmas stuff at a reasonable time! I've been wanting to make my favorite uncle a sweater and believe it or not, I'm going to start it NOW, in July, rather than in, say, November, which would be more typical for me (you know, when I realize I have no gift ideas for him and make a stupid decision to whip up a sweater that is sure to end in stress and gnashing of teeth!) This uncle is totally worthy of a handknit sweater just in terms of my love for him, but he's definitely not the kind of person I'd normally knit for because there's no way in the world he's going to handwash anything, and I'm pretty sure blocking is also totally out of the question. I think he stores motorcycle parts inside his stove - he's that kind of bachelor. But I didn't want to make him some acrylic sweater either - I decided that superwash wool was the way to go, but I'm still a little worried about the washing and drying thing - I mean can you throw superwash in the dryer? or is that asking too much of it? Anyway, I got some Lamb's Pride superwash worsted in a charcoal heather from Suzoo's Wool Works in Cali, which I only knew about because I saw a post on the Yarn Sales Rav board (god help me - I should NOT read that board!) - they had some crazy huge sale and I'd been on their site several times, filling my cart, then being rational and emptying my cart. And, as you might suspect, because I was getting John's sweater yarn there, I also threw in two sweater quantities for me - and left it in my cart this time! but get this - it's Nashua Creative Focus (single ply wool and alpaca - heavy worsted weight/aran) 220 yd. skeins for $1.99 each!!! whaaaat? I pretty much feel like I stole them at that price. And it's such pretty stuff!! I got black and red: Oh, the pattern I decided on for my uncle's sweater is from a Rowan book, which means all the people in the book are so beautiful, and the photos so picturesque, I'm never sure if I really like a pattern, of if I just want to live in the picture.

This sweater, Beau, seems simple and classic, and like something I think John would wear. Once he was talking to me about seeing pictures of old fishermen in those Aran sweaters, and said "well I guess they have people like you at home knitting for them." That was when I decided he deserved a sweater. 'cause he's the best.

lookit!

Guess what I've got?

Do you see it? Yes, a nearly ripe tomato!!! and not just one, but three!!! It's a juliet variety.

And also wax beans, which I picked a bunch of yesterday:

(nice shot with a weed right in the frame, eh?)

And Swiss Chard (bright lights variety - do you see the ones with the yellow ribs? those are my favorites):

Yay Ohio!