Knitting Actually Happens

It may seem like no knitting has been going on over in Mommy land, but it has actually happened.

I knit a dishcloth*
.and started another.

And I even finished a baby sweater for Fourth Trimester (although it still needs buttons).

The pattern is from the Sweater Wizard, and the yarn is Marble Chunky. The sweater was originally for Baby Girl, but I didn't finish it before it was too small. It's supposed to be sized for 9-12 months, but I think it's a little smaller than that. The sweater called for one ball of the yarn, and was knit on size 10 and 10.5 needles. Really, it's crazy that I took 8 months to finish it. There's something a little off about the collar - and I know it's my failure to grasp directions. I'm going to pretend it's a design element.

I've gotten some significant work done on Top Secret Project Part A, and hope to finish this part by Monday. I'm not so sure if/when I'll be able to share the Top Secret Project with you, but I'm pretty excited about it.

*Here is the dishcloth pattern, and I found it through this blog. I liked the title. I taught archery at summer camp, and was surprisingly good at it.

Happy knitting!

Trifecta

I had an amazing weekend. The kind of weekend that parents of four young kids should not rightfully have. I scored a trifecta - three nights out in a row, without the kids. Friday night, a friend watched the kids and the husband and I went to a local pizza place and had a meal uninterrupted by a constant stream of little kid chatter (Mama! Mama! Do I have to eat that? Daddy! No! He looked at me! She touched my plate! Mama! MAAAAAMAAA! Why are carrots orange? How many bites of this do I have to eat to get dessert?). We had hoped for a fancier meal to celebrate our birthdays, but various elements in the universe conspired against us. We settled for an hour at the pizza place (with REALLY good pizza!)

But, we still wanted to go somewhere kind of fancy for our birthdays. We looked at our schedule, we consulted with the babysitter, and she was free on Saturday, and so off to a fancy dinner we went. I got to wear a dress and everything! Dinner was delicious and slow, and it felt like a real live date!

Father's Day, we took the kids to the Boston Public Garden after church. We saw lots of pretty flowers.

We rode the Swan Boat.


And we even saw some real live swans.


The kids and the Dad had a great time. We stopped by my in-law's house for lunch, and then, my weekend went off the charts. My BIL is in the ticket business, and he had a pair of tickets to see James Taylor and Carole King that he couldn't get rid of, and he GAVE THEM TO ME!!!! DH was hiking today, and didn't want to be out late, so I called a friend and she came with me.

I SAW JAMES TAYLOR AND CAROLE KING IN CONCERT!!!!

The seats were great, the concert was amazing, and I can't remember the last time I went out three nights in a row.

I'm pretty sure it's not going to happen again for quite a long time. Trifectas are special because they're rare.

Poor Neglected Blog (A Hiaku)

Busy With Kids' Fun

Secret Projects Can't Be Blogged

Lacking Post Ideas

More Lelah Problems

You may recall that I had issues with this top when I first cast on. Miscounting and all of that. I finally finished the lace section, and made a decision as to how to knit the top with straps - tube tops not being my thing and all. I tried on the top after grafting the straps together, and was pretty happy. Then, I picked up stitches around the armholes and neckline to deal with the stockinette rolling.

Well, I tried on the top again, and the last row of eyelets that should be below the bust for a ribbon, is now right on the bust.

Is it possible that picking up the stitches pulled the fabric up?

It looks nice, doesn't it?

Will contemplate if Cotton TLC Yarn (50% acrylic) will block.

If it doesn't, I'll have to find someone else this will fit, because I'm not jazzed about unknitting this thing anymore.

I've cast on for a pair of socks. They're part of my top secret project, so that's all I can tell you for now.

Happy Knitting!

Hiatus

I've been on a bit of a knitting hiatus the past two weeks. No particular reason, just busy doing other things. Here's a brief update of things we've been doing:

• Little girl graduated from preschool last week. She was so excited the night before graduation she couldn't sleep.
• Baby girl has been sleeping through the night pretty consistently.
• This means I have more energy during the day, and I have been trying to exercise every day during nap time.
• The weather has been beautiful and we've been outside a lot.
• Baby girl is getting more and more brave at the playground.
• Little boy runs everywhere, no matter how hot it is.
• I'm almost done with my Lelah top, but progress is slow.
• My top secret project is starting to take shape.

I hope to have a more coherent, knitting related post for you soon!

Happy knitting!

It's Raining, It's Pouring

On Saturday, we went up to the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival. Although it was raining when we left, the weather people said it would only be cloudy in New Hampshire. Umm, not so much. It wasn't even just raining. IT WAS POURING! We were in and out of the festival grounds in 30 minutes. We saw some sheep, and some rabbits, and left.

Although, I did buy one skein of yarn for my top secret project.

Moral of the story? Leave the family at home, and go to the Sheep and Wool Festival by myself.

I don't mind getting wet.

P.S. Shawnee is having a giveaway on her blog. 101 One Yard Wonders. My favorite knitting series applied to my new sewing machine! What could be better????

Final Pictures

Here are some pictures of Gail after I unpinned her yesterday.

I totally wore the shawl all day today, even though it's almost 80 degrees, just so people could tell me how great it looks.