the rest of the FOs

Right. So, the deal with my landlord was that our dishwasher is broken, and I am desperate for them to fix it, since I really really really hate doing dishes with the fire of a million suns. And they wanted to tell us that the repairman was coming the NEXT DAY to look at it. Well, the upshot of all that is they needed to order a part, which is still not here. Meanwhile, the dishes are piling up on the counters and in the sink. Ugh.

ANyway, I had more to say about my first Sock Memories sock. Namely that all those colors that I loved in the ball, like the forest green and the deep blue, ended up being all muddy when I actually knit it up. The blue and the green together end up looking black from a distance, and only the light green and the rust colors stand out. It is a bit of a disappointment in that regard, but the yarn feels really good on my foot. I guess I'll be starting the second one tomorrow, since I have to take a business trip to Minneapolis next week, and the other project I'm taking with me utilizes size 7 straight metal needles, and I don't like taking them on planes, because you never know. I travel a lot for work, and what gets through security is really at the discretion of whoever happens to be working the machine when you go through. I've never had a problem with wooden needles or circulars, but I always worry about the long straight metal ones.

Also:

1. Baby blanket and matching hat:



Yarn: Blue Sky organic cotton in Oat, I think. I really loved working with this, and in fact am going to make this for one of the other pregnant ladies at work again just so I can use it. I like the design of the blanket too--talk about mindless knitting. It just lets you work with the luxurious yarn without thinking too much. I got the yarn from Kpixie because it was the lowest price, but it came really fast and they were so nice, that I am planning to order from them again the next time I need the yarn. I've always heard good things about that site, but I don't go on much for fear of my impulse buying.

Pattern: from Natural Knits for Babies and Moms by Louisa Harding. I've talked about this book repeatedly, but this is the first pattern I've been disappointed by. The hat is tiny, tiny, tiny, and there is only one pattern size. Also, the blankie is really not blankie sized. It is just big enough to maybe tuck around a baby in a car seat or baby buggie, or use as a changing pad, but not big enough to cover a sleeping baby who may be moving around or something. Grr. Next time I make it, I'm going to buy an extra skein and just make the whole thing bigger.

2. Dog toys!



Yarn: vintage acrylic in these horrible garish colors. God only knows what someone was doing with this yarn originally. I got it in a box of miscellaneous yarn I ordered off eBay a long time ago. I always meant to use it for toys.

Pattern: The one in the front is the Sweet Potato Chain from Knitting for Dogs. This is the first thing I've made from that book, but I also really like the fair isle dog sweater with the matching hat, so once I'm done with the baby knitting, I'm going to try my hand at both of them.

The cube I made up myself. I knit six small squares and then clumsily (yet sturdily!) whip-stitched them together:



I filled it with poly-fil and two squeakers. I showed it to Stella and she wanted it badly, so I think it will do for the dogs that are going to get the toys. I'm glad those are done. I can mail the package when I get back from the Minneapolis trip. If anyone reads this and knows of any yarn stores that I should check out, I'd love to know. I'm going to have lots of free time and no company.

So that leaves me with the second sock, and this:



Yes, I fell off the wagon yet again but I'm taking this yarn to Minneapolis with me to make Monica for my neice for her birthday. So it isn't actually going into the stash. It will be my project while I'm away from home, and the sock will be for the plane.

I've never used Cotton Fleece before, but I think it will be fun. It feels a bit stiff in the skein, but I'm sure once it is washed it will be fine.

I decided the other toys I'm planning were too fiddly for the plane.