Interweave Knits, Spring 2009

The IK preview is up. Lots of lovely lace. I'm looking at the Fountain Pen Shawl and that first cardigan. What's intriguing you?

Scattergories

From Carole's blog...

Use the first letter of your name to find a word for each of the following:

Your Name - Kathleen
Four letter word - kick
Boy name - King (just watched It Happened One Night)
Girl name - Kathryn
Occupation - knitter
Color - khaki
Beverage - Kristal
Something found in a bathroom - knickers
A Place - Kennebunkport
Reason for being late - knot of traffic
Food - kumquat
Something you shout - Kampai!

Knit Kit

Have you seen this? It looks very neat and shiny (always a plus for me, shiny). I have put together my kit over the years with the usual bits and bobs, and it resides in an old Stila cosmetic case, but this looks so compact. Clever thing.

Long Time No See!

It's been an eventful month-plus around these parts, so blogging fell by the wayside. Penelope came in under weight at her four-month check-up in December, so we were on a rigorous, eat-around-the-clock schedule to get her (and my milk makers) back on track. As a result she gained nine ounces in a week, which was very good. Since then we travelled to Chicago for the holidays, spending time with Nick's parents in their lovely apartment downtown (not far from Loopy Yarns - more on them later), plus a few days with my folks. Before we left the Windy City Nick had come down with a cold, Isobel's cough returned, and Penelope get her first real cold, which, of course, turned into an ear infection. This charming bug made her refuse to eat on one side due to pressure on the ear, which messed with my newly increased supply. Super fun. But we're all back on track now, and hopefully she'll be chunked up enough at tomorrow's weigh-in to start on solids. She seems ready, is interested in what we're eating, sits in her high chair with us at meals, and is cutting her first tooth.

On the knitting front I decided to do a lot of stash diving and knit up presents for almost everyone on the list:
-Hemlock Blanket for my parents in Cascade Eco-Wool - I want to knit one of these for me!
-Hats for Nick's parents and sister - tam for Louise in some yummy Magenta Madeline Tosh Sock Yarn, a slouchier beret for Alexa in BMFA's Monsoon Socks That Rock, and a ribbed watch cap for John in Malabrigo's Paris Night Merino Worsted (almost finished!)
-Gifted Mittens (that Kate Gilbert is genius - love this pattern!) and a pair of Fetchings (that Cheryl Niamath is no slouch, either) for Karen and her family - Blizzard for Bill, Encore Worsted for the kids (washable!), and some prized Debbie Bliss Cashmerino for the Fetchings
-Leg warmers for Isobel in the 1824 wool that refuses to become a sweater for her
-Knitted chain mail for Stephen in Encore


Having lost a week to the "Plump Up Penelope" campaign, I still have to knit or finish:
-that hat for John (I do love Malabrigo - that merino is as soft as cashmere!)
-Teddy Bears for my niece and nephew (fiddly finishing work)
-Cabled Footies from One Skein for my grandmother using up some more of that 1824 Wool
-some lovely item for my lovely sister in a prized skein of wool from Romney Ridge Farm - no idea yet, and she leaves for Germany tomorrow to start a PhD on Afghanistan, so this will probably be a longer-term project


Notice anything? Nothing on that list for Nick or Penelope. Luckily, they are two very understanding people. Nick is going to get a hat at some point, and Penelope might, too. Waiting in the wings is my second sock and a huge queue on Ravelry, plus some new yarn from Loopy Yarns (half-price Louet Merino Gems Worsted - enough for a sweater, two skeins of Malabrigo sock yarn for a light cardi, and a tote bag designed by Franklin!)




Apologies for the lack of FO pictures, but I was in such a sleep-deprived haze for the last few weeks that I gave folks their presents without documenting them. I'll see if I can rectify that at some point!

Wish List, Winter 2008

E.T.A. This was dated incorrectly, and I'd forgotten about Ork Posters!

I don't know why I have such fun making these lists, but I do. What do you want this season?

Pretty pearl drop earrings - they remind me of a pair Nick gave me years ago

This pretty clutch from Red Ruby Rose embroidery, silk, nickel clasp - all things I like

I am still longing for Scilla (under Bohus Stickning)

Silk (again with the silk!) Circus dress and one of Desira's Bow belts - I'm thinking of an all-etsy wardrobe for the coming year. Not truly possible with my need for Lucky jeans and all, but fun to imagine.

Silver Wellies 'nuf said

Yarn, yarn, yarn

T I M E Time to knit, write, sleep, design those patterns in my head, play with my kids

a baby who sleeps some of the time

remote for my camera

blocking board - not really sure what kind but some surface for blocking

sewing stuff - I'm getting (have gotten, actually; the box is in the laundry room) a sewing machine for Christmas, so if you have any recommendations on books or blogs or websites, please let me know. My mom taught me to sew when I was little, so I hope it comes back to me, though I should probably find a class to refresh my memory.

Starbucks card since I'm too cheap to treat myself very often (except when I'm visiting my parents 'cause there's a Starbucks drive-thru near their house - love it!)

fabulous laptop case - why is it sold out?!?

the Domino book

an ork poster (or three) - the pale blue Boston one, the Great Lakes one, the orange butcher paper Manhattan (how cool is that substrate?), the white on black Chicago - so many to choose from

Christmas Meme

I read this on Carol's blog and enjoyed it. Hope you will, too.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper (from IKEA usually) or tissue paper and this wonderful ribbon from Paper Source (wish they would open one here in NYC; I always visit when in the Chicago area)
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real! We're going to get ours this weekend from one of the Quebeçois vendors who sell trees on the street in New York.
3. When do you put up the tree? We haven't solidified a tradition yet but sooner rather than later, as we will be in Chicago for the holidays.
4. When do you take the tree down? A week after we should have.
5. Do you like eggnog? Noooo. That may be the one dairy thing that I do not like.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? The dollhouse my parents made for me when I was six.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My father. Added bonus: his birthday is just a couple of weeks before Father's Day.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Isobel. So much fun to find gifts for my little/big girl.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Not here, but my mother has a beautiful one that was her parents'.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Maybe New Year's cards in the mail? I still have to send out Penelope's birth announcements, but she's been a pickle on naps thus far. Next year?
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Netflix (nothing against them) from my now-ex-husband. I should have known he was having an affair at that point.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life followed by A Christmas Story. Is it being a Midwesterner that makes it such a resonant movie for me?
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? December, though I try to start knitting any presents earlier.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mother's Boeuf Bourguignion and her mother's thumbprint cookies.
16. Lights on the tree? Of course! White lights.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Pretty much all of them. Well, except for the dog barking ones and such. All the real Christmas songs.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Winging to Chi-town.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? You bet.
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? My family does one Christmas Eve, usually with family friends, and the rest Christmas morning. Not sure what it will be like this year (we're staying with my in-laws).
21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The buybuybuy mentality, particularly this year. I'm trying to do handmade - we'll see.
22. Favorite ornament theme or color? Lots of red, since that shows up against the tree, and silver, which is just my thing.
23. What do you want for Christmas this year? Anything from my wishlist.
24. Angel on the tree top or a star? Very pretty angel at my parents' house. I need to do something about the dreadful papier mache star I have for our home.
25. Favorite Christmas dinner? See #15. And there's usually shrimp cocktail and champagne to start. Last year I had to forgo the champagne, and that's how I told my dad I was expecting.

Belated Thankful

I am so blessed. This year I am thankful for

-my husband
-my beautiful children (may they some day sleep through the night)
-my family (old, new, and ex)
-living in New York City (finally!)
-knitting
-blogging (and all my bloggy friends)
-ravelry
-my sister leaving Afghanistan
-President Obama
-JetBlue (TV on airplanes is the best thing to happen to family travel ... ever!) and the new T5

I know there is more to be thankful for, but that's all I've got today.