Quack!

Aren't these hilarious but cute baby booties? Well, that's what they are if you can't tell from the work-in-progress photo.

They're actually quick to whip up. I can crank one out on a Saturday. If you're planning to try out the pattern (found here: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEss10/PATTduck.php), I should warn you that having experience with toe-up socks is a plus. I haven't knit toe-up socks before (only cuff-down), and at points in the pattern, I actually said (aloud), "WUT?" I was able to quickly figure it out though.

Excuse the yarn ends sticking out all over. I hate weaving in the ends and will leave it until I have to.

Shame shame!

This post is all about the shame of unfinished things.

Last weekend, I had gone out to purchase rug supplies. Oh yes, I am going to make my own rug because I am fickle about colour and currently there is no rug out there (that is reasonably priced) that prevents my whining. Why yes, I AM feeling a bit Little-House-on-the-Prairies with all this crafting. But, you know what stands in the way of my rug making? My unfinished objects. They'd be my Nellie Olsen.

 I decided that I needed to tackle those unfinished objects before I even think about the rug. How shameful of me to leave them for weeks (ok. months) on end. There is something so evil to me about seaming and sewing knits...only because I'm lazy in that department.

I first tackled those eyeless fish hats. They were blind and swimming aimlessly in my knitting basket.

I presented my brother with his hat, finally. I mentioned to him that it wasn't washed yet, and gave him instructions. He promptly handed it back to me, "You waaaaash it!" Brat.



I also finished sewing on buttons and a label to that baby sweater I was working on.

I also gave my mother her beret this weekend. She laughed because it was hot out. I suppose I could've hid the shame of this by giving it to her next winter.

Still outstanding is my baby afghan and Tunisian crochet project...then I can tackle that rug; that is, if people can hold off on birthing babies for just a moment! I want to make a dang rug!

In renovation news, I am in the midst of figuring out drapes and curtains. Number of Home Depot trips today for the hubby? Two. Number of trips to Walmart for the hubby? Two. I luckily eeked by with just one trip for each.

My backyard is a mess. My neighbor commented, "Shame shame." I am unaffected. Poor lady. Dandelion seeds from my yard are blowing into her garden. However, she's been sneaking her garbage into our garbage can. That sorta balances things out, right?

Other activities this weekend:

• Ran a little bit over 7.5km. 
• Played the piano. 
• Spent the day with my mum (which my brothers promptly crashed). 
• Went with hubby to have dinner with my Father-in-Law (who loves to give me more rum than coke in my Rum & Coke -- because I'm fun!).
• Updated the website: http://www.blubluberries.com
• Visited a garden store and Jysk

Have a great week!

blublu

It's To-Do List Day!

Spent the entire day running about trying to cross items off of my to-do list.

Did my taxes. First year I'm filling out the forms with a spouse in mind. This is good as this means hubby can not leave it until August. I still do my taxes by hand because I am dinosaur.

Am currently on load three of laundry and am wondering why I let it accumulate. Side note, anybody else a little bit weary of almost climbing into the washer and dryer to pull things out every week? Laundry, laundry, laundry. Am seriously contemplating paper clothes.

The morning started off nicely as I met up with some of the other students from my yoga class for dim sum. Then I ended up at Ikea for two hours with the hubby as we scrutinize every display and had long discussions about colours, design and furniture. I ended up buying a red cushion for one of my future knit projects, a bath mat, and a new pillow.

The pillow is made for side sleepers. Because I sleep in fetal position, this seems appropriate. AND... the fellow on the package looks peaceful doesn't he? I want to be that peaceful while sleeping...although don't want to be bald, or handless.

Then I ended up at a Walmart and found some curtain rods that the hubby and I both liked. Hopefully going up soon!

My project from last week is currently being blocked. I actually block sweaters on foam mats that parents typically use for their kids. I pinned down the sweater with some blocking pins.

I'm glad this sweater turned out. When I can't find my running groove, and when my hip flexors are frustratingly tight in yoga, I can look at this sweater and say, "At least I can do simple algebra, design a baby sweater, and knit it up!"

I haven't sewn on the buttons yet as the sweater is still drying; however, this is what I'm thinking...

This is what happens when you buy a large bag of random buttons. You aren't able to find any that match exactly.

This is the next project...

 

 ... just a simple crocheted baby blanket.

Happy Saturday!

blublu

Why my husband has no where to sit...

I am currently in the midst of designing and knitting a baby vest. I do this on the living room couch. As a result, the hubby really doesn't have anywhere to sit. Typically, when I'm knitting, the couch will house all my tools. (See below).

If he asks nicely (or if he gives me that look), I'll shove everything to the right a little. I kid. Sorta. Not really. He's nice though. Right, hubby? (<- clearly a public display of sucking up so that he won't be mad when I make him sit on the floor). Knitting tools get preferential treatment around here, apparently.  (Aww, hubby! I will knit you another pair of socks!)

Today the couch is housing my project, stitch counter, knitting journal (compliments of my sister-in-law), measuring tape (compliments of my friend, M -- which surprisingly I haven't lost yet; it's been 5 years maybe?), and two animal Clover containers containing more knitting tools.  Sidenote: Boy, do I have enablers in my life or what?

Anyways, that up there is part of the vest I've designed. I started about it in a frenzy in the dead of night after a JellyBelly-induced sugar rush. Costco has my money for that 1.1kg bag of Jelly Belly! When I was ready to implement, I tore through my stash and was unsatisfied with my choices. I did end up choosing some Fisherman's wool. No baby is going to get cold or wet (while fishing? whaling?) under my watch!

I don't feel any anxiety about screwing up the knitting aspect of this vest. I'm more anxious about the sizing. "What if everything fits but the neckline? What good will it be?!" -- these are the sorts of thoughts that rush through my head.

In other news, as I knit, the hubby renovates. So far, we've painted, put trim around the doors, popped in new doors (that the hubby did semi-from scratch), got the baseboards, and crown molding up. See below for before and after pics. (Excuse the mess! All furniture is still 6 inches from the wall!)

 Before: White walls, old baseboards, no crown molding, ghetto door frames, old doors.

After: In all its glory!

I love color! You should see that dark chocolate wall in the dining room.

Happy Weekend!
Blublu

Bulky Seamless Kimono Sweater

I'm on my second bulky seamless baby kimono from The Complete Fabrication blog (here's the pattern: http://thecompletefabrication.blogspot.com/2007/11/bulky-seamless-baby-kimono.html). I can't stress how awesome this sweater is. I hate seaming, and this has none. It's knit from the top down in one entire piece. I think I've learned quite a bit from knitting this sweater and am feeling pretty good about designing my own top-down one-piece sweaters. YAY!

 As you can see, I'm still working on it. It has not been bind off at the bottom yet, and it still remains sleeveless. I also plan to modify the pattern a bit. I am not loving the ties on the original pattern, and may even out the edge along the front as well.

This time around, I chose to knit the sweater in Lion Brand's HomeSpun in Apple Green because I could not resist the color.

Isn't it a lovely colour? I had stolen that pic from the Lion Brand website as my pics were taken indoors at night and thus, aren't that accurate for color. What can I say, I'm a night-owl blogger.

I've never knit with a yarn with such texture. Seriously. With all the knitting I've ever done, it's always been with smooth yarn. This results in nice and even stitches. But look at this yarn...it has got a ripply thing going on.

When knit up, as you can see from the first photo, it has a bumpy texture to it. I'm not used to it as I've been knitting with smooth yarn for years. I don't hate, I don't love it...I just think, "Hmm! Now that's different!" or "I bet this is what knits would look like if a drunken monkeys could knit!" Here's a close up!

It's like forcing uneven stitches. It looks like something I might have spun myself off my spindle...except better. haha. I find that the yarn splices easily. In the above picture, you can see one of the ends sticking out, and it has completely been fuzzed up. Worth it for the effect though. :)

Currently, these are WIP projects:
*2 fish hats: 1 needs eyes, 1 needs eyes and fins
*FO a beret. Even sewing in ends deters me from finishing a project

Haven't made much of a dent this weekend as I went running, and then went to a bbq and gobbled away all benefits of said running.

Currently, on my to-knit list
*another kimono baby sweater (wow, people are really popping out those babies!)
*1 more fish hat
*baby blanket
*socks*cowl
*coffee cup cozy

Time for bed!
blublu