All posts tagged: humor

Kick in the butt

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This post nor this project is either big, nor fancy, but writing it is meant as a personal kick in the butt or more politely said, motivation to get MOVING with this adorable project. The always alluring patterns from Tiny Owl Knits are just that, alluring, worked up or just admired on the printed page, the forest themed animals always call to me. This is my very first shawl (and likely last) but that owl . . . could not resist her and will be a lovely addition to the set of forest creatures growing in my hand knits . . . bear (yes, I made two), fawn, and snake (look for cabling around the hem). Now, to get GOING!!!  Look at how adorable! Gift yarn to boot! 21 feathers, I need 44. and, body is coming along. . . Let’s see if writing about this project is the kick I need to finish it!

Bear(s)

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It began with wanting to knit my daughter a Christmas present.  Not being a fan of surprises, I did not want to present my daughter a knitted garment she hadn’t seen. Having to start somewhere in the investigation of what to knit for her, we began with patterns I had saved over the years.  Our tastes are different as are our lifestyles, so I did not think she would actually choose any one of these yet I did think these patterns would lend some inspiration.  Well, I was wrong.  The bear sweater by Tiny Owl Knits stopped her dead.  In my queue for a few years, she fell in love with it and visualized hers to be in the colors that are seen in the pattern.  I found a great visual to help with the face. The knitting of it was quick and easy; sending it off to her was another matter.  She promised me a photo shoot (one day, maybe) so these are the only pics I have of it now.

A DC Opportunity Leads to a Knitter’s Reflective Moment

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As Grandmother, I was recently invited to the DC area to babysit grandchildren while very intent parents set up house for their temporary move.  (no photos because I never knew how to take care of young ones and be a photographer at the same time) As Mother, I found myself adding a day to that DC trip to hang out with my daughter before the gig of babysitting and before she was to leave on her trip.  We didn’t have any real plan, maybe some sightseeing, a dinner in the evening with friends, and lots of chatting and laughing about this and that. As Knitter, I became reflective.  Leisure is as leisure does, after a day of sightseeing, we were setting up our bedding.  Scurrying about for blankets here, sheets there, and rummaging through her ‘stuff’, we came across a gift I had made for her years, ago! There is something about running across one of your projects.  Especially if you forgot about it and especially if you made it for someone else.  There is the moment you try to recall the making of …

Little Red Wagon

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I recently heard someone say of her house, “This is not a house of yarn.”  She and I were looking to repair a knitted hat and she was fearing she did not have yarn or supplies we could use.  With that criteria one would say that this home is a house of yarn.  And, I am always looking for new, functional, and creative ways in which to store it.  And, the projects.  And, the works-in-progress.  And, the knitting tools.  My goal:  convenience, cleanliness, free of dog destruction, least amount of space, variety, and attractive.  I love perusing yarn rooms and often talk to knitters about their space.  When you google yarn rooms or craft rooms, you see oodles of shelving either lining walls or mounted on walls.  I do think shelving is handy however, I was recently in a local yarn shop, Raveloe Fibers and quickly became inspired by how the yarn shop owner displays her new yarns.  She uses antique suitcases, here and there, some opened, some stacked, some vertical, some horizontal.  Something about the juxtaposition of old (antique) and new was very appealing to me and I …

Spring version of Renaissance Tunic

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Well, I do keep my word.  Today, we had a redo photo shoot of my Renaissance Tunic, designed by Teva Durham.  Now, make no mistake as to how much I love this sweater as evidenced by its wearing this winter.  My love of this tunic is probably why I wanted to bring it to you, again as I wasn’t sure the first photo shoot did it justice.  However, this idea does add pressure to an already stressful activity.  That is how I feel with these photo sessions, pure stress.  Many reasons.  You see, hubby, who wants so desperately to please is not quite as flexible and energetic as he once was and the model is getting older.  Both get cranky and both want these photo shoots to be successful, at least in our eyes.  Also, a redo moment takes twice the energy to ready our ‘get-up-and-go’ and we (or at least, I) have high hopes of capturing some good looking shots.

The Winter of Wind (and no snow)

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Howling in the morning blowing in the afternoon Winter of blustery wind I will remember you I listen for the rhythm of breathing as it informs a runner’s endurance unable to grasp its contents as Mother Nature has taken over Her noise becomes the norm tree tops dancing, daring to snap unsuspecting and interrupting the family’s every move Howling in the morning blowing in the afternoon Winter of blustery wind I will remember you The dog lifts her head, tense body on alert jumps at what is enveloping her to catch the invisible play Layers are a must double here and vested there Don’t forget to zip up Frost bite is ever near You say you cannot sleep? When will the blasts of cold air stop? At least it is not snowing dumping two feet at the stair. Howling in the morning blowing in the afternoon Winter of blustery wind I will remember you

Mitts Update

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“Mikey Likes it!” You may remember a slogan from a commercial some years back where kids push off the then-new cereal, Life to Mikey, who was too young to realize the product was being touted as healthy.   Ends up that Mikey’s happy so the older boys accept that the cereal might have good flavor as well as nutritional value.  As the boys were in anticipation of reaction, I was in anticipation of feedback whether my daughter liked her hand knitted Hedgehog Mitts.  And, I indeed heard word that ‘Mikey likes them!’  I believe the exact words were, “They are perfect!”  (Keep in mind we are serious animal lovers, here.)  And, in fact, she is seizing the opportunity with her now retired Mother requesting that every gift from this point on (from me) be hand-knitted.  Smart girl.  And, by the looks of things she is not the only one finding some bit of humor and joy in them. ok, now I am getting silly . . .

Hedgehog Mitts as Wearable Whimsy

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I am not a knitter of mittens, in fact I believe this was my first pair.  I saw this kit, yes kit, complete with Morehouse Merino 2-Ply and pattern, a Morehouse Original.  It came with a little scrap of the darker brown for the noses as well as the four beads for the eyes.  I believe this was also the first kit I’ve ever knitted.  I was taken with the mittens’ cuteness. I don’t quite know how to size for mittens.  Should they hang loose or tight?  The pattern did not include ribbing at the cuffs, now in retrospect do I wish I had added ribbing?  Is the thumb too long?  Are the noses the right shape and in proportion with the body?  Am I being too critical and likely the answer  is yes and of course, all of the answers are up to the individual knitter.  I knitted these for my daughter and I am hoping she likes them.  I think that when I knit for someone again, I may take the mystery out of it as it has …