RAK and more little stuff

First, the RAK (that is a random act of kindness). There is a great blog named good karma yarn. The whole idea is to find homes for patterns and yarny goodness that you know longer want or need. I dropped by after reading about it on the knittyboard. Much to my disbelief, a wonderful woman named Dotty had posted the Jean Greenhowe toy knit book that both kids had been begging me to get. Clowns. I am NOT a clown person. To tell you the truth, they creep me out (thanks to Tim Curry and Steven King). But they thought they were so cute. The books, though, are a bit hard to find and ordering them online was pricey. So, I replied and then, not hearing back, assumed it had found another happy home. So, how surprised and thrilled was I to get the email yesterday that I was going to be given the book!!! It is on its way to me and I can't wait to surprise the kids this Christmas!! I was also given a pattern I had been eyeing for P for his birthday, the sleepy snake and the mischievious mouse. If you have not seen this adorable pattern, stop reading now and follow the link. Go ahead, I'll wait. Adorable beyond words right?! Knittyhead Roxy gave it to me (even though I had offered to swap something in exchange). Big hugs to Roxy!!!

So, after so much kindness, I was having a good feeling day. Then, Wook buys a $10 Red Sox scratchy ticket and wins $50!! He tells me to go to the yarn store and buy yarn for the Tilted Duster (scroll down a bit) which I have been drooling over. I bought 3 skeins of Cascade Eco Wool in a yummy chocolate brown (I'll need about 2.5 so will have some left hopefully for a hat or mittens). Is he not the very best? Top that off with the kids playing without any (seriously) arguements all day and it was like it was my birthday!! I told Wook it was a gift for his last day of vacation. He goes home tomorrow (boo). But we stay through Thursday and my folks will be here for the rest of the time.

So, what did I knit? I finished and felted the booties. I knit and felted an earwarmer for A in leftovers that she picked out. I knit 2 different earwarmers with leftover Malabrigo from Genes. I plan to post the patterns once I get pictures. And, I started designing a jacket-style zip cardigan pattern. I hope to make that pattern available too (assuming it comes out nicely). I'll give more details as I go along. So far it will have seed stitch trim, will be striped, and have a fitted waist.

Here's hoping you had a great day too and that tomorrow is even brighter!

Still no pictures, but an update

Well, we are still away, so no pictures. The vacation has been very nice so far. Lots of relaxing and hanging around. We've been fishing everyday and all of us have caughter something. Wook caughter a good size bass and the kids and I have caught small ones. I am still not convinced that all 3 of us didn't catch the same not so bright fish! I am both looking forward to the kids going back to school (for a bit of a breather) and sad about them going. They are starting to get a bit excited. I'm sure they'll get excited once we get home and start getting their school things ready. P got a new dinosaur backpack. A got a red sox lunch box. And of course both have all new pencils and crayons.

After a momentary crisis when my IK disappeared (I was saved by another knittyhead who posted the needed info), I finished all but 1/2 of one sleeve of Wook's Cambridge Jacket. Why stop now, you may ask? Because I ran out of yarn. Yup. And I can't get more until we get home late next week. So, I knit all the pieces for the red riding hood doll for Wook's cousin's daughter Lucy. And now I am making a pair of felted bunny slippers. If they come out they will be too cute for words!! Wook thinks he has figured out his cell phone camera, so you may get pictures of all these things tomorrow.

Vacation!

Well, we are just a few days into our weeklong Cape vacation. We come up for a few days at a time, but it has been lovely to spend a longer time. Wook has until Sunday and we'll stay through the next Thursday. Just in time to get home and ready for the first day of school (!) on the next Monday. PJ is going to half day Kindergarten and Abby will be strating first grade. Both are excited.

I've been steadily working on the cambridge jacket. I am most of the way up the first sleeve with the front and back all finished. The problem is that I just started my last skein of yarn. Oops. I'm hopeful though that I can get more once I get home (I'm using Patons merino). But that leaves me with a week to go on vacation and no yarn to finish the sweater. Not to fear though, since I packed a huge bag (okay 2 bags) with yarn just in case. I'm planning on getting started with a doll for Wook's cousin's daughter. Her grandmother, Wook's aunt, asked me to knit one for her after seseing A's topsy turvy at her birthday party.

Well, off to stop the whining. Too bad that doesn't seem to take a vacation!

Amanda's Squatty Sidekick's...Sidekick

After knitting two of the cute Amanda's Squatty Sidekick pattern from Knitting daily, I decided that what I really needed was a smaller version to be used as a change purse or credit card holder. I often just grab my license, credit card, and a dollar or two when I run out to the store. So this littler sidekick had the same shaping, but no handle. It is perfect inside the Squatty sidekick or on its own for those who, like me, like to travel light!

Since I am away there is no picture. But I promise one as soon as I get home!

Amanda's Squatty Sidekick's Sidekick!

Finished Size
the size of a credit card (specific measurement to come)

Yarn
Cascade 220, or any WW feltable wool; leftovers

Needles
Size 10 1/2 : dpn

Notions
Button for closure

Bottom of the bag
Cast on 5 stitches. Work 22 rows, slipping the first stitch knitwise on each row.

Body
Knit the 5 stitches. Pick up and knit 11 along the side, 5 on the cast on edge, and 11 on the second side (32 stitches). Join for working in the round.
Rounds 1-2: Knit
Round 3: (K2, M1, K1, M1, K2), K11. Repeat once more
Round 4: Knit
Round 5: (K3, M1, K1, M1, K3), K11. Repeat once more
Rounds 6-8: Knit
Round 9: (K2, K2tog, K, k2tog, K2), K11. Repeat once more.
Round 10: Knit
Round 11: (K1, K2tog, k, K2tog, K), K11. Repeat once more.
Round 12: Knit
Round 13: (K2tog, K, K2tog, K20, K11. Repeat once more.
Round 14: Knit

Round 15: BO4, Knit 9 (for closure), BO remainder and cut yarn.

Closure
Join yarn on wrong side
Row 1-3: Work in St st
Row 4 (RS): Slip 1 st, ssk, K3, K2tog, K1
Row 5: Purl
Row 6: Slip 1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1
Row 7-9: Work st st
Row 10: Slip 1, ssk, K2
Row 11: Purl
Knit 2 st I cord for ~1 inch and then graft to other 2 stitches.

Finishing
Weave in all ends. Felt the purse (I did the felting by hand in the sink since it is so little). Attach the button and enjoy!!!

Summertime Fun

Sometimes, the summer heat and humidity are enough to drive me insane. Plus, I have some wierd allergic runny nose and sneezy nonsense going on. Only one solution: THE POOL. Something about swimming just seems to soothe all three of us. I get to sit and just dip my feet (unless it is like today when I jump right in). They get to play pirate and walk the plank, practice diving, or hunt for buried treasure (diving rings). Ahhh....the pool!

Moving Along

Well, after the cabled vest, I think I had forgotten that knitting can move along at a visible rate! I have been working on Wook's cardigan and am already up to the armholes on the back.
Such progress!! I also finished my small Clapotis which is shawlette size. I'm really happy with this one. The silk in the yarn makes it just so yummy. I would never have bought it myself, which is why I love swaps!! I discover lots of new and wonderful yarns that I wouldn't have tried any other way.

I also just finished a small sari silk bag for a sample knit assignment. No picutres of that I am afraid. On the home front, we are enjoying the summer as it winds down. Today we went veggie picking in Avon, CT. Such fun. Green, yellow, and purple beans. Squash, eggplant, and tomatoes which are currently cooking in a huge pot, the one usually saved for the lobsters! I'll freeze a bunch so I can have summer all winter long!

Cousins!

We visited with my newest nephew and got this great picture of the 4 cousins!