What I've Got So Far

Now that I've re-knit the skirt for Mom's dress, I'm second-guessing my design. The plan is to finish the entrelac skirt with tan triangles, then join it to the bodice with a three needle bindoff. However, now that the skirt circufrence is only 4" more than the bodice. I'm worried the straighter line won't look too good.

The sleeves will be slightly on the narrow side with a single band of green entrelac for the cuff edge, same size diamonds as bodice detail.

I'd sure love some input here! Do you think it will work? Please say yes, 'cuz I'm not ripping it out again.

ValenTiki Takes A Day Off, New Camera Gets A New Home, A Better Camera Means A Better Photographer... EH, Not So Much, Really

After working V-Day two years in a row, ValenTiki is taking the day off.

In his place, we present for your approval this charming cherub, ValenTinyTot, from "Knit and Crochet for GIRL AND BOY BABIES", a 1950 pattern book from The Spool Cotton Company, a recent thrift shop acquisition. I know, I know... nowhere near as fierce as ValenTiki, and therefor lacking the proper fright value for Valentine's Day. But the hat is scary, right?
Unfortunately the 1949 booklet, "New Sock Fashions In Wool" from Fashions In Wool (see how that plays into the title?), did not have a picture of a sock framed in a heart. 69¢ each, not the 20¢ & 25¢ printed on the covers.

Not much knitting accomplished while at Mom's, but I did finish this new home for my new camera, which did not have a case among its included accessories. I cast on 29 stitches then knit into the back and front of each stitch. From there the pattern is k1, sl1wyif to the end of the row, on every row. Yes, this is double knitting, which in its simplest incarnation (this one) forms a simple tube. After a few inches, I split the stitches for front and back, but continued to work in the round for 5 more rounds. The back stayed in stockinette, while the front changed to 1x1 rib. I bound off the whole thing, then picked up stitches in the bind-off on the back. Doing this created a slight natural fold for the flap. The flap is 10 rows of double seed stitch, stitched to the sides of the pouch. Finally I added a small button center front for a more secure closure. The yarn is an unlabeled thrift shop find from 11/11/11.





I also had about a dozen false starts on a cushion cover for Mom, but just couldn't get anything going that we liked. The yarn is Chenille Thick & Quick in Peacock and I want to accent it with the last skein of the "Amethyst" Jewel from the entrelac cushion. I know the look I want, but not how to acheive it. At least it gives me something to fail at on my next trip up there. Probably the next several trips.

Mom would not be best pleased to find that I'd posted her plant in this condiditon, but I love the way Geranium leaves turn these wonderful, vibrant colors.



You know that line in the song Oklahoma "Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk / Making lazy circles in the sky."? Take out your camera and watch that hawk liven up. I've never been able to take a good picure of one, but I did get one I think has an interesting, almost abstract feeling. And because of the new camera I was even able to crop it and not lose a lot of definition!



Here is the Bluebird Of Hoppiness. I think he's been taking posing lessons from Vivianne's dog, Sebastian.

Look What I Can Do...

from about 3 inches away...



from about 1 inch away...


from about 8 inches away...


from about 8 feet away, with 10x optical zoom!

(I'm really liking the 16:9 ratio, perfect for those of you with with widescreen, hi-def tellys who'd like to put a picture of my knitting up instead of watching the latest episode of Downton Abbey - was it Patrick, or Peter?)

from across the street, about 60 feet from the telephone pole

(see the black line right under the roofline, near the tallest tower?)

from the same position, with 10X optical zoom


from the same position with optical and digital zoom, total 67X!




Needless to say, I am not a happy Kitten. I am a bouncing off the walls, giggling like a lunatic, dancing 'til the floor drops out from under me, getting ready to run outside and grab people off the street and say "Look at this! I took a picture of the inside of your nostrils from across the street, and this camera made them look good!" Kitten.

I am going to Mom's tomorrow (thanks for the comments!), but I don't think I'll take the camera with me. The last time she got near a camera, she swallowed it!

YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY?

Friday we finally got the report on Mom's capsule endoscopy, which was that everything looked fine except one small area of inflamation, which in no way looks cancerous or otherwise malignant. YAY!

My camera is in Sacramento, a mere 85-95 miles away. YAY!

I finished a row of entrelac on the dress. YAY!

Everybody who reads this blog post gets a free dose of boredom. YAY?

The Shadow Knows!

In true groundhog fashion I pop my little head up to say HI!. I tried to chat with my shadow. Will there be more winter? Has there been any winter? Not so much around here. Well the Shadow may know, but he ain't telling me.

Other people who ain't telling me stuff - Mom's HMO. No results yet from the capsule endoscopy. Hopefully that's the no news that's supposed to good news.

Certainly nobody ain't telling me "Gosh, you're sure moving right along on Mom's dress." Cuz I'm not. It takes about half an hour to do a square of entrelac on the skirt, and I'm not getting more than a few done each day - if any. There have been several no-knitting days lately.

I'll be going to Mom's again next week, but first I have to wait for this to arrive. Details at a later date - maybe six weeks from now? I dunno, but The Shadow Knows!