2.27.2006

Olympic wrap-up

16 days
5 skeins of Chenille T&Q
1.5 pairs size 11 needles
1 size N hook
6 blue buttons....

and we end up with
1 3-6m dragon hoodie for my baby
1 12m dragon hoodie (gift! Already wrapped too!)
1 pair crochet booties to match dragon hoodie for my baby
3 premie hats for "Hugs & Stitches"

AND
1 GOLD MEDAL!!!

I'm glad I didn't flake out or buckle under pressure like SO many US athletes did.. Is it just me, or were a lot of them just phoning it in expecting to win?

2.17.2006

GOOOAAL!!!!!!!!!!!

I did it!!! Baby dragon is DONE! I CO baby dragon 2 for a gift. it was fun to knit, and a LOT easier than I thought! sweaters have really scared me.. dont' know why... maybe I'll have to actually make that sweater for myself. of course I won't be able to wear it until next fall/winter, so no hurry.... I'm going to try to get the second dragon done for the KO, but the ultimate deadline is 3/19.... must fix camera...

Note: I'm working on the pics Bear with me! I REALLY want to show this one off!

2.13.2006

The Random Files

ok- very Random post today.... lots of things to catch up on...

First.. A little birdie told me I should be congratulating someone.... I swear it is NOT possible for me to be pregnant w/o someone I know getting knocked up too! at least it isn't a sister or SIL this time!

Second.. The stupid bridge!! does anyone else know what a PITA it is to have the drawbridge out of order on the weekends.. when I run my errands.. there are only 4 blocks adn a drawbridge between me, the grocery store and Joann's (the one that actually carries a good supply of yarn!) SO I've yet to buy food this week AND I ran out of yarn for my KO project! I went to the other joann's b/c they do have some yarn BUT not hte color I needed. not a total waste tho. I found buttons and orange slices (mmmm).

Third.. the KO progres report! Well, I didn't get off to a very good start. Todd called me on the way home and asked me to meet him at a friends house to get the boys. if I did that, we wouldn't get home unitl 6 or 6:30 and THEN I could start dinner. Not a huge deal for me, but if hte boys aren't fed by 6, they turn into Gremlins! SO, since my mom is only 10 minutes from the friend, we went over there for dinner. not much of an impediment to knitting EXCEPT that he called me AFTER he left the house where my knitting sat unloved and alone until 10! EIGHT hours after the KO began!!! I felt like I HAD to knit something.. so I pulled my "emergency sock" out of my purse and got a couple inches done on that, but that got me NO closer to the gold.. I did get a reprieve and some catch up time on Saturday tho. Todd's car went in for the 90k service, a new timing belt (it was due) and water pump (it was leaking.. so at least it was under warranty!). SO I was w/o car for several hours and had nothing better to do than knit. got the boys to bed early and knit. Sunday I shoveled and did some house work, but the boys went to bed early, so I sat in bed with the hoodie and ABC's Sunday line-up. About halfway through DH and the hood.. I RAN OUT OF YARN!!!! so I did the crochet spots in the CC and whip stitched them on. I sewed the buttons on, and wove in all of my ends. Now I need more yarn! all in all this is going a LOT faster than I anticipated... I may make another as a gift for my soon to be Godson. I won't promise getting it done BEFORE the torch goes out (he'll need a bigger size!.) .. but we'll see. double gold? I'll get MORE yarn tonight.. another problem is what to use to sew the side seams.. I'm thinking just a needle and thread....

Fourth.. It's a redneack blizzard! I decided that the storage container in my driveway with the old cabinets, panneling, dishwasher, and sink piled behind it weren't redneack enough, so I parked on my lawn YEE HAW!

2.10.2006

tick tock kathump kathump

I added a new ticker today for the KO! it is officially begun and I'm still here at work and not knitting :(

my appt went well yesterday. HB was good, placenta is already going strong. I lost 3#. for the first time ever in my life I got lectured about losing weight! she told me I can't do it again this month. how am I going to be able to eat more???? my u/s will be in 7 weeks. we'll schedule it when I go back in 4 weeks.

2.09.2006

OH baby!

I added a nifty little ticker to the top so everyone can see just how close we're getting! I really like this one b/c it actually shows the developing fetus.

I have my 12w appt tonight. we should be able to hear the HB for hte 1st time. I NEVER get tired of hearing that sound! I've got to dig out my copy of Mickey Hart's "Music to Be Born By" SOOOO relaxing! If you click the link, it'll take you to Amazon where not only can you order it, but you can listen to a little of it!

the other REALLY cool thing is that I felt a kick this morning! YAYAY!! it was so exciting! especially since it doesn't hurt...yet..

Ryan had his pre-k visit today. he'll start thursday, then they're off for a week. we could have waited until after the break, but why?

2.07.2006

baby dragons

Some people have had a hard time finding the patterns I'm using for the KO. here is the basic sweater from LB:
http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/kts-816AD.html
and Here is Marnie's Dragon Hoodie Pattern
http://marniemaclean.com/patterns/Dragon/index.html

my changes:
  • LB has discontinued the Terryspun, so I am using CHenille T&Q - see PP for color swatches.
  • The basic sweater has SG sleeves and hood. I'm going to do tehm in St st but I'll continue the GS edging like the body.
  • Marnie's ears are knit seperately and tehn sewn on. I hate hand sewing. that is why I have 2 machines and a serger... I think I will pick up and knit the ears right to the hood. I think...
  • the spine is crocheted seperately and sewn on. I don't think so! I'll pick up the knit stitches and sc into them. no futzing with the length of the chain that way either.
  • spots are either intarsia or applique. real dilema for me here. I've never done colorwork, so this is an opportunity to try it out, BUT I'm on a schedule here. also the gauges are diferant for the 2 patters, so I can't use Marnie's chart. I could easily crochet round spots and whip stitch them on...
  • zipper or button? the LB has 1 button, Marnie's has a zipper. what do you think? I'm not crazy about just 1 button.. I may do 2 or 3...

Hooked

I've joined "Team Hooker" for the KO. no button as of yet :( I am clueless when It comes to making them, so I guess I can't complain too much... Team Hooker is made up of Crocheters who knit. Many knitters can crochet enough to do an edge, but not may crocheters will take the plunge into knitting. Crochet is faster - mroe instant gratification, but some things are just nicer knit.. IMO anyway..

on the baby front... Daddy has decided that we'll find out the sex at the next u/s. I'm 11w today and the u/s will be at about 18w. so for the next 7 weeks STOP ASKING! I will post (with pics!) when we know. I took the boys with me "window shopping" at "Babies for Us" you know the sister store to "Toys for Me". (side note: Andy saw the TRU sign as we went by on 95 and said "Mommy, what toy store is that?" I think he can read. he can also read "Dunkin Donuts" - Uncle Tommy must have taught him that one.. "Target", and "McDonalds" oh and he can read "Andy" and "Ryan" too!) I can NOT believe how expensive car seats have gotten in the last few years! Now that I'm over the sticker shock, I need to hit Consumer Reports. I looked at the Co-sleeper as well. I think it will work nicely for us. it is the size of a cradle, but more convenient and practical for bfing and it has pockets to keep diapering stuff nearby too. just don't be TOO shocked to see some yarn and hooks or needles poking out... I stash my WIPs next to my bed as it is... and yes, I CAN knit and nurse... what do you think the sling is for???

My kitchen is comming along slowly but surely! I'll have to track down a camera and post some pics. this blog is having some SERIOUS picture withdrawals!

2.01.2006

Dawn Breaks over the Zoo!

So, I was watching the boys play last night (all 4: 2 furry, 2 not so furry) and I noticed a couple things. The cats are just like the kids! Seriously! Smokey is the cat incarnation of Ryan, and Z - the more timid crybaby CONSTANTLY asking for his brother is the cat-Andy. Then I remerked to Todd that Z's makrkings are just like smokey's but more of a contrast. "Z looks more like a zebra.", I said. and it clicked! That is what Robbie was trying to say when he named the cat Zeebinz. so translated from 3yo to english, the cats name would be Zebra! but he doesn't answer to that (or Batman or Spiderman...) so Zeebinz it is...