I BLAME THE INFORMATION AGE
I seem to be unable to read a pattern correctly, probably because I tend to skim then just jump in. So, I got to spend a lot of time scratching my head wondering why I kept ending up with too many left over stitches as I did the shoulder shaping on the Classic Silk Cardi. Finally, focus! - it's 28 bound off at the neck and 24 on each side. Not the other way round. Duh!
Then things got even better. I washed and blocked the back and it grew from 25 inches to 36. Now, this is gorgeous Sundara Aran Silky Merino and I loves it but it is driving me bananas.
I suspect that there is a great afghan inside this yarn waiting to come out, NOT a cardi. Sigh. So much knitting, so little to show for it.
I did three left fronts trying to see if I could control the stretching by using a smaller needle. Cascading down...6, 5, 4... Seemed to stretch a little but only by an inch. Why is this happening to me.? I've cruised Ravelry and other folks are blithely tossing off amazing FO's with no apparent problem.
I knew it: It's ME. I am also frogging the baby overalls but that's because by the time I finish them (and the weather is cool enough for anything more than shorts and a t-shirt) the baby will be too BIG. I'll knit the one year size and hope I can get them off my needles before Sammy grows into year two sizes.
The Squeakers
We've taken to calling Oscar and Owen, "The Squeakers" because, that's what they do. We're weaning them right now and they really, really like the bottle so it's not being much fun for all involved. They eat kitten food and various other bits and pieces (tuna juice, fish, chicken fat on dry food) so they're more than ready. That and they've chewed off all the nipple tips so no more bottle feeding. They continue to be adorable as only kittens can. Thankfully, everyone but Otis seems to be taking them in stride. I hope he comes around to accepting them as members of the household. He does have the most amazing growl though.
I am off to the Sebastopl Celtic Festival this coming weekend. I'll get to go over to Petaluma and visit Knitterly again. It's an amazing yarn store. Perhaps I'll find some yarn that cries out to be made into a cardi. I bet I do!
IN ADDITION, LET ME ADD...
...two kittens. You go out for some groceries and as The Enabler said, "Tra la! tra la! To the grocery store I go. Carrots, kitten, cabbage, milk, spam, kitten, celery, bleach, dishwasher soap..."
Oh yeah, right.
Total pets:
One slightly freaked out rat terrier.
Three adult male cats going, "Huh?"
Two clueless kittens.
Total:
5 cats
1 dog
Okay, all together now, really, really fast.
Omar, Opie, Ollie, Otis, Owen, Oscar (and Ozzie, now deceased).
Meet
Oscar
and Owen.
Age? Uncertain other than far too young to have been parted from their mother. The giver away-er said they were old enough but by evening time they were very hungry and not at all chewing or lapping anything. Out with the eyedropper and off to the pet shop the next morning for powdered cat milk and bottles with nipples.
Happily, they are sucking it up like pros and doing all the things kittens should. That is, mostly sleeping, vaguely understanding what the litter box is for, biting each other's tails (mostly Oscar to Owen - Owen seems to be rather less developed), grooming, and generally complaining that there isn't a nipple in their mouths at all times.
This will all pass in time.
It better.
BK*
The second neck scarf is done and buttons procured but not quite yet sewn on.
Autunno di.vo. Needle size, um, size....I really don't remember. 7? One skein total.
The denim overalls from Minnowknits progress. I had to frog about 5 inches when I realized that I had done the bottom in two pieces when I should have combined them. I really couldn't quite tell from the pattern notes and resorted to going over to Fibers to see how their display was done. If I was in charge of patterns there would be a Very Thorough Review of Pattern Notes along with detailed photos of what the thing looked like. You know, the way The Twist Collective does theirs.
I have noticed that my ability to hold a bottle or two of formular, corral a wiggly kitten or two and deal with the other parts of my life seems to have decreased my ability to knit. Something must be done.
*Before Kittens
Sammy Comes Clean.
Cute? You bet.
