comfort knitting

I was sick on and off for many weeks this fall. One day, when my head was really stuffy and I couldn't breathe, and couldn't function at work, I came home and settled in for an afternoon on the couch. In assessing my knitting options for the sick day, I knew that I wanted yarn thicker than all of the socks I've been doing, and also thought that something destined for a very hot water bath was an equally good idea (given that I was a germ factory). Burp cloths came to mind, and I settled in with my cotton and Addi Turbos. It was so nice to work with fun colors, and see the fast production that come with size 6 needles. The ultimate in comfort knitting, from Ann and Kay of Mason-Dixon Knitting.

On a different topic, isn't Studio 60 getting better? I did replay the bit when Danny (Bradley Whitford) popped out from behind the screen to say, "We're having a baby?!" about a dozen times. It was so silly, and hilarious. BW needs to get a character that gets out of the office more, though; it's his second ill-advised workplace relationship in a row! Find a nice girl at Starbucks or the Coffee Beanery or something. (What is the name of the LA coffee place/chain that I've heard about? The name is related to coffee or tea... can't remember.)

one more warm baby head

Apologies for the ickiness of the picture; it looked just fine on the camera's screen! One more baby gift was handed over to the post office over the weekend. The baby hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, presented here in the called-for yarn, Mission Falls cotton. I like the little tie, which I hope keeps little ones from ripping off the hat and tossing it down onto the subway tracks.

It is suddenly really cold in New York, and I'm working on a hat for me now! Pictures of the completed hat (hopefully) later in the week.

my kind of town, chicago is

Hubby and I had the pleasure of visiting Chicago over Thanksgiving, where we got to check out Clairest's new digs, and new city.

Chicago is super-cool because there's public art everywhere, and lots of space to stand around and discuss what you see.

Big shiny beans are very popular.

As are serene, giant video screens that display either babbling brooks or massive faces.

Chicago seems to be all about juxtaposing architecture, art, and tradition. Here, we've got all three: the Chase building, a Picasso sculpture that dismayed/scared the crap out of the city when it was unveiled, and the German Christmas fair (with real German vendors).

But the old and the new coexist very happily.

On our next trip, hang the expense, we are going on a Segway tour. They just look like too much fun.

lilly's sweater

And so: the backlog is attacked.

Here we have the little Baby Kimono, from Mason-Dixon Knitting (everyone's favorite 2006 knitting book release! Well, mine, at least.) This version is done in Cascade's Pima Tencel, which is conveniently machine washable (I think I forgot to add that, Melinda). I made it 25% larger than written in the pattern, because I was late in getting the gift started. It's really soft, and I think that I like babies in dark colors, just for something different. The front pieces have a little decorative yarn-over to soften up the edges.

It's a fun pattern, and the very little finishing required gives it a big thumbs-up from me. So how about sharing some shots with Lilly modeling it, huh? We haven't gotten a picture email in quite a while. ;)

still around...

I think that I need to try and find this bar, wherever it might be. If I saw this sign, I would totally go inside. The real problem is that I haven't seen the camels out and about in the morning since before Thanksgiving. I miss them; the trailer is outside of Radio City, and they aren't inside... so where are they? Life is a mystery.

This is, um, weird.

But Gilmore Girls cracked me up this week.

I haven't been home when there was daylight in a long time, but tomorrow should offer the opportunity to take some pictures of my recent knitting. And winter weather will finally have arrived! Yippee!

dulaan #2

A scarf this time! More Lamb's Pride, and suitable for a single-digit child, size-wise.

dulaan #1

Hat #1 for a little to mid kid. It's super stretchy, so there are possibiilities. The brim is double thick to protect little ears (I used the trick of purling a row to get it to fold over nice and easy, and then reversed the ribbing to it would fit together. It's Lamb's Pride Bulky in periwinkle and amethyst. They must know wind out there in the prairie.

More to come tomorrow!

a quiet friday

Isn't this just the cutest? Slate is running a global warming-awareness series, and this is the graphic for the article about greening up your clothing.

To countdown to Thanksgiving next week, starting tomorrow I"ll be unveiling my five Dulaan items day by day. After focusing on socks for so long, I found myself going kind of crazy with thick wool and big needles. By Wednesday, I'll be done with all five of the promised wooly items. But I'm not stopping there! I'm going to keep knitting until I've used up the three skeins of Brown Sheep Bulky and two skeins of Webs' Berkshire. I should be able to get a pair of mittens and at least one more hat out of the leftovers. It's been very rewarding to repurpose the yarn I got for making felted bags into much-needed cold weather gear for Mongolia.

Of course, the way the globe keeps warming, Mongolia won't need wooly hats much longer.

it's in the mail!

I'll share pictures of what's inside once I hear that the package has made it to Illinois safely. It's wrapped in red for good luck!

...which I'll need tomorrow night for my exam. I kinda sorta think that I'm ready, but who knows, really?

Finally, this is post #150! Woo hoo!

since my last update

I saw the arrival of the Rockefeller Christmas tree. And the camels are back! I saw them on their morning constitutional on Thursday morning, which is always a treat. Didn't see them when I had the camera the next day, but I'll take lots of pictures of them through the end of December. Have no fear. There will be lots of Camels in the City shots.

Democrats: good job. I still can't quite believe it, though. I'm now just waiting for the party to screw everything up, cause really: that's our MO.

I turned in the paper from hell; my exam is just about 48 hours away. I have too much confidence in the formulas sheet that we are allowed to bring into the exam. Anything we want can be on it, but I don't know if magnifiying glasses are allowed. If I knock the font size down anymore, I'm going to need one to read anything on it.

I have been knitting to take the edge off. I knit some burp cloths. My Dulaan items are coming right along. I'm going to draw those out though, because I haven't been very prolific lately, and I don't think my readership could take anymore sock in progress pictures.