Archives for October 2006

DS has some friends coming out from the City tonight for a "Suburban Halloween".  They will get what they asked for.  This historic little town has a timelessness to it at certain times of year.  All of the costumed children on the streets tonight could as easily be crunching leaves under their feet in 1959 as in 2006.  There are many days that the backwardness of this place irks me, and other times that I am charmed by it.  Tonight I will be charmed.

We started the day by discovering that we were TP’d last night.  This thrilled us.  We live a few miles from the town center, and are often missed on such devilish outings.  Getting TP’d made us feel loved. 

Once we were all dressed, we went outside for the traditional Halloween photo session.  This must be done before school in the morning, for fear of damage to the costumes during the day.

We have two rather esoteric costumes this year.  No, that is not a ghost as you might think, but rather a tissue.  And no, not a prima ballerina from Swan Lake, but Bjork from the Oscars.  The DD’s love to ham it up for the camera.

This year I only made one costume (with the help of DD#2).  So you’ll  have to indulge me with another shot of Bjork.

Just in case you fear there is no room for handknits in our celebrations. . .

The tissue will be sporting Baudelaires with her new Chucky T’s.

Happy Halloween!!!

Frequently my mother finishes beautiful handknit socks.  They are all very colorful.  As soon as she is finished with the last stitch, we hurry outside and she has my sister or me model them.  This however is only the beginning of a very long process, through which the socks go to become official handknit socks.  After the modeling, they stay on the model, and are worn throughout the rest of the day.  They go through some pretty hard drills in that time.  We begin with the absolutely mandatory sliding around on the wood floors.  The softer the sock, the better.  Then the sock might be taken on it’s first trip to the supermarket or some similar outing.  In this exercise it becomes familiar with some of our local shoes.  After returning home, they will most likely go through a vigorous routine of various dances.  Including but not limited to, ballet and hip hop.  There is usually a little yoga thrown in as well.  They are worn during homework.  At this time they get stretched and pulled and are often found hanging from a toe.  By the end of the day they are strewn haphazardly across the floor, waiting for their first washing.   They are sometimes worn to bed by my sister, and kicked off during the night.  The next morning they may be worn under big hairy pink slipper boots, and found in the kitchen looking for breakfast.

I hope this has given you some insight into the hardships that our socks go through.  Have a happy Socktober, and goodbye.

Today there was going to be a finished object to show you.  It was going to be a warm, woolly cardigan.  It was going to make some space in my stash, to fit those Rhinebeck purchases.  You see, on Wednesday I did a little cleaning.  I bought some of those bags that you suck the air out of with your vacuum and they make the contents really small.  I put all of my yarn in them, and cleaned up the stash.  But there was some bulky yarn that I had sitting around for a few years.  It was taking up a lot of space, being bulky and all.  I also love, love, love the color of this yarn.  It was a happy accident of dyeing involving some Wilton food coloring, and a few beers with friends.  I thought I could knock out a top down raglan in a couple of days.  Sure no problem. 

Now, here’s a little note to my impatient self.  Break out of that moment of excitement when you first cast on.  Get off your lazy butt, and simply pick up a tape measure.  You know, figure out the gauge, do a little math.  It’s simple really.  Then, maybe, just maybe, the arm openings won’t be as big as the body.  And you won’t have to frog all of that pretty green yarn.  And today you’d be sewing on some nice wood buttons and taking those fun modeled shots of  a FINISHED OBJECT!!!

Bye, bye pretty color and dreams of a warm woolly cardigan.

So it’s back to the knitting I should be doing.  It’s back to the Wool Peddlers Shawl (from ) that I’m making for my mom for Christmas, in beautiful Artyarns Ultramerino 4.  It’s not quite as quick as the bulky sweater.  All of that garter stitch does get a little boring.  Luckily, I’m almost to the fun part, the border.

I’ve finally broken down and brought the hat and scarf basket downstairs.  It spends the winter by the door.  I love winter for all of the opportunities it affords us to wear handknits.  I just hate being cold!

I picked a winner in my 100th post contest.  It’s blogless Patti.  DD #1 pulled her name out of Tupperware.  It was very auspicious and glamorous.  Patti, I’ve sent you an e-mail, just send me your address and I’ll send you the yarn.

Happy Friday!

A few weeks ago I entered a contest that Keohinani posted on You Know You Knit Too Much When . . ..  It was a contest to photograph handknit socks paired with shoes.  I entered in a few different categories and won one!  Today my prize package arrived.  It contained some really great stuff!

Brooklyn Handspun in the Winter’s Delight colorway.  It’s luscious!

Some magnificently spooky stitch markers, made by Keohinani.  It must have been one of those sleepless nights of hers. When else does one make Halloween stitch markers?

And because she is such a thoughtful person, she even included something for DD#1 and DD#2!   There are handmade bracelets for each girl, a Hello Kitty Pez dispenser, chewy fruit candies, Hello Kitty Post It notes, some lovely nail files and nail polish, with flowers in it!

For anyone interested, DD#1 & DD#2 will be starting the official Aloha & Oreos Fan Club!

Thank you Keohinani!