Day 4 and going to the dogs

I can claim only small progress on the stop-light project:

But we can say, other than some stuffing, the dog toy for the granddog is finished.

Will report back the consumer test results on the toy in a later blog.

Day 3 and the long wait

An update:

But before you begin to think that I am supper fast or stop not only for red lights, but yellow and green, I must point out that I had extra time this morning.

I car pool with my daughter and this morning she took extra long to get out the door. Now in most cases waiting for a woman to be ready is difficult. There is the watching of the watch, the pacing back and forth, even the inquiries into how much longer. Although I have to admit to an extra text message and one phone call to check status, I still sat comfortably in the drive way and continued on a few more rows.

Gentlemen, the answer is knitting.

Say the wife wants to change into that blue outfit instead of the fifth one she has tried on, or maybe the girlfriend (speaking here of a different man, not the same one from example one - that would just be wrong) is going to go with the hair up and will just take a second more, or maybe the teen age daughter (this one is the daughter to the married man from the first example, and is a daughter from this marriage) needs to get her books, even though you were already backing out of the driveway and had reminded her about the books SEVEN times before she came down, the answer to the blood pressure and pacing is KNITTING.

Take up knitting and all these frustrations are now opportunities. Opportunities to get a few more rows done, to start and finish the turn of the heel, or to complete the last 240 stitches on the gossamer shawl.

Smile.

Day 2 and going to the Dogs

I can give you an update on this week's stop-light project. The incorporation of vertical squares is going well, need to be better at counting to 5, but still going well.

And then there is that moment when the movie is good, but you need to keep busy; the needles are all full, put you remember an empty set; and you thing about how much the new grand-dog would like a chew toy!

First you start with an idea: "I will knit a two panelled stuffed animal."

Then you think, "I could just add the arms here."

Next, you figure that you can make it all in one piece, since it is for a puppy and it can be on the small size (6 1/2" tall and 7" in width).

And then you can work on a small rounded head, no need to be to anatomically correct - the dog will be biting on this part.

At the Stop Lights

My latest stop-light project was a lesson in yarnover plus. The project started just another face towel. To mix it up,but not mixed up enough to miss the light changes, I added a v patern of yarnovers.

Did you know that keeping track of right side (k2tog) and left side (sl1 k psso) decreases is a good challenge, but when you and various placement of YO's, you get a wild time. LOL Ok, you get a really mixed up result when you don't have your full attention on the st count and moving placement of the YO's.

I like the end results:

No, let's try it again, but from the corner up:

This week will be an attempt to keep track of verticle squares on a corner-to-corner wash cloth.

Updates

Here is the update on the shawl:

The pattern is simple:

1) *YO, K2tog, K2* to middle; K2tog, YO, K2; *Yo, SKPSSO, K2* to end

2) *K1, K2tog, YO, K1* to middle: YO, K2tog, K2; *K1 SKPSOO, YO, K1 to end

3) repeat 1

- purl on WS

The increase is 2 on multiples of 8.

The current Stop Light project is a bath mit:

Simple 1X1 cuff, increase at st 2 and next to last stitch on two even rows, then knit to two inches from fold (finger tips).

On a technical note, I found a new pouch for holding my 3x5 pattern cards. Oxford makes this pouch that I found at my local office supply store.

It will hold about 25 cards in the middle and can display a card in the front and back.

WIP's (works in progress)

What is needed is a brief comment on what is bogging the plot down on this blog. First, and for most, it's summer. It's hot. Everything runs slower at this time of year.

WIP #1 - I have started a wrap for a Christmas gift for a special little one.

Started as something fun to do while sitting in the air conditioning and watching a good movie. The pattern is a combination of two stitch patterns from a book off the shelf.

The need to run more than one project also carries the problems of putting down and picking up these things, according to my flighty whims, and recapturing the moment. Or at least, the right count in the pattern for the next stitch.

To help with this, I have turned to using numbered stitch /place holders.

WIP #2 - It died. I was participating in the great SOCK WARS III. I was to participate in something bigger than just me knitting in my office. The plans were to knit an extra 6 hours a week to get it done - RIGHT.

Well the missile finally landed in my lap -

I must know turnover my weapons (mail my socks) to my assassin. (something that is also overdue.)

WIP #3 - So to console my need for life, I took up a fresh pair of circular needs and started a half-circle blanket for a baby-to-be-named-at-a-later-date. (Note the use of numbered place holders again.)

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to my eldest, Mr. B. A lot can be said about the burdens and trials of the first born. First, all the mistakes and experiments are tried out on him. Second, he can never escape the fact that he is the point person - first to be taken down, ruled against, and "put upon". Third, even his nick name "Mr. B" implies expected growth and maturity.

Gladly I can report that all of these things were added to our Mr. B's role in the family. We are not a family to disappoint when it comes to burdens and expectations.

But in truth, B has been a great blessing to all of us. He has been a son that grew to become a respectable man and brother in the faith. He has become a father and husband, not in that order, and a good person to have on point for all of these.

Happy Birthday, Mr. B.