Monday, October 24, 2005

A few detours

I finally picked up a pair of sz US10 double points this past week to start on the Cinxia sleeves (I am using a bulkier yarn than the pattern calls for). My 6 year old son was with me and reminded me that I had promised him some Fuzzyfeet from Knitty, so I tested out the new Bryspun dpns (love them!) on a pair of Noro Kureyon color 134 slippers this week. It took three felting passes before R liked the fit. I tried to convince him to leave them a little big so he could grow into them, but he would have none of it. A photo when he agrees to pose in them, and when I can find the camera.

Bryspuns proven to be in working order, I then began the first Cinxia sleeve. And yes, Cinxia knitters, although the number of cast on stitches just seems wrong, the sleeve slip stitch pattern does work out after the 4th row. I am considering ripping out the inch of sleeve I have though because I realize that my yarn is too bulky to fold the finished sleeves up - it would look like I am wearing black "floaties" outside of the swimming pool. The pattern is written assuming you will fold the sleeves and has you knit the wrong side. If I continue my started sleeve I guess I could knit the twisted stockinette backwards... Hmm. I didn't think this through (who, moi?). Another thing I wish I had done - *not* cut the yarn after the armholes because I didn't want to retrieve new ball of yarn from box from under my sleeping daughter's bed so I could start the sleeve the other night. She admitted, sheepishly. So, no Cinxia progress this week because...

I decided I needed something to wear for our office Halloween party, so I'm making a Hallowig from Knitty. Easy to knit while watching the World Series. Maybe I can pair it with a tank top and leather skirt and claim to be Sydney Bristow from Alias? Yeah, I'm a dead ringer for Ms. Garner. Though this idea amuses me too. A few years ago my former model friend Janet and I went as Edina and Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous, and I think it was my best costume ever. Haven't decided yet what Z will be - maybe a puppy so I can reuse an old family costume. Or, as she's into The Wiggles, I'll dress her in a red turtleneck and black pants and tell her she's Murray. But I doubt she'd carry a guitar.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Hey, Bub.

I'm back from my conference at Yale. I even managed to get some knitting done on Cinxia - I'm up to the armhole openings and now need to buy another circular needle or else free up one or two of my Denise cables so I can move on to the sleeves. I didn't take a photo because, you know, more black knitting. I also used my conference attendance time to make this:



It's a Bubby from the new Knitty. Stacy and Rhonda had also made one, and I needed a gift for a friend's baby who is expected any time now. Because the baby will be an October baby, Bubby was outfitted with an orange crocheted scarf. Here's another shot so you can see the scale - my row gauge was a little different, so he is slightly smaller than the pattern says:


Bubby gives TiVo a big thumbs-up!

This past weekend was Z's second birthday. The yellow sweater is not quite done - am on last sleeve. I am thinking of *not* making it a hoodie but instead adding a crew neck and maybe some colorful duplicate stitch as it's a very pale yellow. I have some (shock, horror) Fun Fur that was donated by someone who probably wishes to remain nameless. I wonder if that would impact the current machine washability of the sweater? Yes, we here at Chez Debutante are almost as concerned with Mr. Washie as is the Yarn Harlot.
Here is a photo of Z at the exact moment she turned two (it's ok, my husband parked the car before taking the picture):



And, because I have to keep things even between my kids, here's R simultaneously doing his Spanish homework, playing Connect Four, building a Bionicle, and having a snack. I think one of my crocheted doilies is under there, and the white bag in foreground has the lap blanket in progress inside. So it's knitting-related. Kind of.