Bits and Pieces (1)

Things… pictures should come… just not today….

• I did cast on (pun for the podcast fans) my first Mrs. Beeton's over a week ago. I even did the beaded cast on edge, which was a first. Adding the beads into the knitting wasn't nearly as hard as I'd expected, and the results were totally worth it. Mom was here, and I thought I'd start them. She was going to start the Branching Out lace scarf, and I pulled out my Knit Picks shimmer, which has been languishing, hanging around since last year, tentatively earmarked for a Branching Out, but once I grabbed it, I realized it really fit the bill for the Mrs. Beeton's (filling the fingering weight slot – though I guess it's a bit thinner being lace weight). An oddball of bright pink Koigu was in sight, too, and it seemed a perfect and fated match. So, I got started. What fun! The Mrs. Beeton's were a delight to make. I loved watching the first section take shape with the almost wedge-like shapes of the bell cuff. I got hung up for a day or so trying to determine what beads (from the house) would work for the next beaded section. I ended up with beads that are too large. I like the look, but with the little one around, I worry they are not long for this world. I also, in my rush to get the first one finished late one night after the little one had finally crashed, didn't do the cast off the way it's written. I haven't ever done the cabled cast on, which the directions call for, and I just didn't have it in me that night to go look it up, and I really wanted to get the first finished (probably because I was jealous that Gramma and M had gotten to knit on and off all evening), so I just did a regular bind off – losing what is most likely a ruffled bind off edge in the pattern. I've debated about going back and redoing it, but I think I'm okay with it for this first pair, which was sort of a "test the pattern" pair in my head. I got caught up working on another project, so the first mitten is still mateless.

• We made several yarn store trips while Mom was here. She and M actually even made one without me, and all of us ended up with more yarn than we needed given the sizes of our existing stashes. I, of course, showed more restraint than they did, but I've got a clear list of things I want/need to make (a list made in January), and I've got the yarn already for most of it. So, I saw many things I oohed and ahhed over, but I just felt overwhelmed with the number of projects already on my plate (or supposed to be on my plate).

• I did succumb to some Lorna's Shepherd in a wonderful grey/lavender colorway for a Multi-Directional scarf – something mindless that will be fun to make at some point as a breather from the bigger projects soon to be underway. I haven't made the Multi-D before, but the one Mom made me last year I really love.

• M. picked out and bought yarn for the sweater she wants me to make her for Christmas. (I guess the knitting itself is the gift. Sort of strange approach.) She's narrowed it down to 2 Mission Falls patterns or a Mission Falls shrug, which is very pretty but I think will be too bulky for her. Probably one of the sweaters. I just have to check the gauge on the swatch I knit with M and Gramma while sipping coffee at Starbucks during our one childless afternoon last week. Bless the occasional baby sitter.

• I did take the plunge and start the Koigu sweater – actually it's a Kim Hargreaves pattern from an old Rowan mag, but I'm making it out of 8 colors of Koigu. When I pulled the colors out a few weeks ago, intending to do a pink/red one, I ended up thinking I liked my lavender/purple skeins better for this. But, when I got them out again last week, the pink/reds were really speaking to me. I've started, with the left front. I'd rather work both fronts together, but that would leave me guessing where to position my button holes since I'm working the button band as I go along (because of the multiple colors). So, left front it is. Going strong.

• The recent episode of Cast-On talks about the Duulan project (spearheaded by Mossy Cottage Knits). Knitting again for it this year is also on my list. I'd better get started.

• Equipment for my own podcast finally arrived. (Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!) I seem to only be missing one critical element (a way to actually connect my microphone to the desk stand I bought – they don't FIT together, so I'm stumped). Still, we've been tinkering around with recording and trying to understand the mixer. But, fates are working against me a bit. I've sort of lost my voice this week and sound really hoarse. So, instead of jumping right into it, I'm hoping to have a full voice again in a few days.

• PuzzleBlast has moved (for now) to a downloadable model, with subscriptions available for $12.95 per year. It was a hard decision to move to this model, but the realities of print/postage really put a crimp in the production costs, making it hard to bring it in at a good, appealing, "doable" price point.

• Doesn't this look like a cute book of knitted toys? Looks like she's all sold out, but if you like to knit these kinds of things, watch for her next batch.

• This is something I'm sure to mention on my podcast, but for those of you with techy kids, particularly older ones, you might check out Apple's summer in-store "camps," one of which is on podcasting. Very cool.

• Mom bought me a Timbuk2 messenger bag as an early birthday present, and I love it. I'd wanted to customize one in pink and green, but the customization options have changed, and you can't customize the extra-small size either, which is the size I decided I liked when I stopped in at a local See Jane Run store. So, I ended up with peacock and silver, and I love it. It's perfect. It's got great compartments. I was able to throw my little bag of memory sticks (which I tend to carry with me), the book I'm reviewing for my podcast, my Palm (and my old Palm to let the boys play at dinner), my wallet, a diaper, wipes, and more, and I still felt like I had a ton of room and everything was accessible. I just love it. Thanks Mom! (She bought a tote, too, and I have to say it's amazingly cute/cool and held everything she wanted to carry on the plane trip home.)

  (Note: I went extra-small because I want it as a daily bag – not a backpack replacement; I carry a super overly-stuffed backpack with me on my daily forays to the beach to work while the little one naps. If you're considering one, definitely go look at the sizes in person to get a sense of what hangs right on you and for what purpose.)

• I've been having some strange urge to read the entire Anne of Green Gables series again. Hearing that, Mom picked up an illustrated edition of the first book at the bookstore the other night. How very cool. I'm looking forward to reading it, as soon as I finish Knitting: A Novel, which she brought with her for me to read. I was also tempted to pick up Cornelia Funke's books (Dragon Rider or Inkheart). Anyone who loves fantasy/SF and even young adult fantasy/SF read it and have opinions?

• We built the pirate ship from the Klutz book over the last few days. What a wonderful project! (We'll have to get the castle book, too.) The directions were sometimes a bit hard to "see," but they do totally work – just look carefully – and the cards go together easily and easy enough for little fingers. Excellent Klutz title.

• We finally got all caught up and did a Gilmore Girls blitz, watching a bunch of episodes leading up to the finale. Somehow our DVR didn't catch the last minute of the finale though… she wakes up and Christopher walks in… and our episode ends. Hmmmm.

• Mom came toting a Kakuro (also called Cross Sums) magazine. It didn't take long until we found Top Kakuro for our Palms. If you're a Sudoku fan, check out Kakuro, too.

• And, she brought news of PathPix, a cool maze-like game where you reveal pictures by drawing lines of specific lengths to fill in the grid of the screen. It's very cool - for everyone.

• Christy's Roomba ate her Tivo cord. Yikes! Go on, send her a little love.

• And Sharlene's cat…