End Rant...Let's start fresh, eh?

Okay, I think I have successfully exercised the bad freecycle voodoo out of my system enough that I can snap back and move on...to this. It is the beginning of Tater's Cardi by Marie Grace Smith and is a free pattern on The Garter Belt site.

I had put aside this Plymouth Stone Cotton in bright red for something for my niece and considered a few patterns finally settling on this one. I'm hoping she'll wear it for the upcoming holidays and for knock around days when my sister dresses her in her little jeans with the tartan-colored trim at the cuffs.

I am hoping to have this done by the end of the week and also settle on what yarn to use to make Fantine, a French Girl pattern that I purchased from Yarntopia (you know, Amylovie's and Sheryl's great LYS in TX). I want to make three in total. Me, mom (I'm thinking alpaca), and my sister.

I have to put the finishing touches on my nephew's scarf from last year. Yes, bad aunt had a few finishing issues last year so he'll get it this year. He'll get a matching hat and maybe a rolled neck sweater if I can find a semi bulky pattern that can go rather quickly. I may also knit my niece a hat and scarf set also.

Yes, I am nuts. But two of the little ones that I knit for are moving to Dallas from PA. Do they really need scarves? Maybe some Knitpicks Crayon (cotton) scarves would be better. I'll have to ask and then ship after they get settled in TX. The other, other little ones I knit for live in FL. I'm cursed with warm weather friends. Good thing I live in a cold, damp, 8-months-a year snow belt and can appreciate a warmer weather vacation every now and then ;)

I do complain about the weather, but look where I drove around all day on Wednesday...I'll be doing more lake hoping with a friend this wednesday, weather permitting. I will find my little slice of heaven yet. I'll post more progress on Tater tomorrow.

The Not-So-Warm-and-Fuzzy of Freecycle

I have been on freecycle for months hoping someone would post this very type of computer desk, an armoire style that closes into a cabinet. So yesterday, there it was and only 10 miles from me. I emailed my interest and the owner sent me the dimensions and seemed like all was set. I sent her one final email telling her when I'd be there. I get home and there is an email saying is has been taken. TAKEN! So, I basically have to call back 3 friends who set aside time to help me with this (the owner knew this) and I gave my other desk away this morning to make room. What is wrong with people??? So, here I sit with my computer sprawled on my kitchen table because I no longer have a desk.

/rant

Baby Bolero and booties - FO

I've been back home for a while, but busy with other things to post about knitting. This will be a short post and this weekend is designated to cleaning and reorganising. I'll have more soon.

I'll borrow an FO post format from Laura, so here goes:

Pattern: Baby Bolero from One Skein
Yarn Specs: Mission Falls 1834 Cotton in Maize #209, 100% Cotton, 85yds, 50g skein - I used about 1.5 skeins. Machine Wash & Tumble Dry on Low.
Gauge: I was just off, but the recipient baby is already 2 months old and and growing like a weed. So, I was not ultra concerned about the gauge being a hair off.
Needles: Addi Turbo circs US8 and US9 various lengths. Bamboo was too grabby and made my hands ache.
Size: Only one size given for the pattern and I followed it. Should fit 0-3mos.
Model: Top of my washer.
Things I learned: How to pick up stitches, how to seam properly from Theresa via her wonderful instructions on Knitty. (scroll to the bottom to see all the tutorials)
Comment: Okay, you can laugh. This was challenging and frustrating because I fumbled and had to wait for a friend or two to give me the nod that I was doing it correctly. Such a tiny thing was taking FOREVER. Sheesh! But it got done and I have another in the works but this time I want to do the sleeves in the round. Overall, it came out rather cute and not too terrible for a first sweater-type item. Nothing very wonky, but perhaps that's because the nubby quality of the yarn can hide a multitude of sins. The next will be a non-knubby type yarn.

Pattern: Dreambaby Booties - free online pattern from Fabulous Yarns.
Yarn Specs: Same as above.
Gauge: 3-4 stitches per in in garter.
Needles: Clover bamboo circs US 7 - grabby was good here.
Size: 0-9 months
Model: Same washer.
Things I learned: Having faith that this was actually going to successfully form a bootie. But it did!
Comments: I modified the pattern slightly, by accident really. So, on the 2nd one I tried to follow the original oops and, well, you guessed it, opps again only slightly differently. My solution? Knit a 3rd and match a pair that was the same (stop snickering, Beannie). It was frustrating but I had to laugh at myself *snort*. I will get around to knitting a 4th in the hopes of making a match to the now orphan. One day, I promise.