Crochet-me-not

The first Sweet Mary Jane is nearly complete, but the awful lumpy strap is further evidence that I am still struggling mightily with the hook-and-loop...crochet...will I ever learn to do it properly? Of course, using yarn that varies in thickness probably didn't help matters.



I did not attach the strap to the slipper yet...how do I crochet them together? Help! Crochet struggles aside, the slipper was fun to knit, and I look forward to stitching the second one after I finish holiday knitting!

Holly days

Due to a last minute change of plans, Dan and I spent Thanksgiving in the city. My family came over for barbequed turkey...it was yummy! Dan also made roasted sweet potato cheesecake, and I made pecan pie. My mother brought sticky rice stuffing. We did not have Brussels sprouts, but over the weekend we went to the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, and I got this!



So we had some roasted sprouts the other night. Didn't do much knitting over the weekend...to give my wrists a little rest...but I did make a few pom poms.



And Arrow sunbathed...

Pink and felted

It is still unseasonablely warm in San Francisco, and yet I have been fighting a bug for nearly a week now...argh!

But I have been knitting. On Sunday I made turkey cupcakes for the monthly nosh 'n knit. (Where again, like a fool, I forgot to take pictures.)



I actually spent the entire time unknitting horribly obvious mistakes on my Sweet Mary Jane. I think I'm back on the row where I bound off and start to knit back and forth...I hope so, anyway! I am using Lamb's Pride Worsted in Old Sage.



And I finally finished the Sophie bag...yes, the one I started in August. I didn't keep track of rows properly when knitting the bottom, so the sides are bigger, and the handles are thicker, but I do like the way it turned out. I added a button flower pin to offset the pinkness. Why did I choose pink??

Blogging by Mail 3

I participated in my first blog swap, Blogging by Mail 3 hosted by Cathy, and received the most amazing package from Vivian all the way from London! The theme was Home for the Holidays, and she sent all sorts of goodies for a traditional English Christmas.



She also made wonderfully rich and crumbly shortbread, which Dan and I finished off pretty quickly.



And the food section of her local paper, a Marks & Spencer catalogue, and a little book about London.



So thoughtful and generous -- thank you Vivian! And after seeing some of the regional yummies that others included in their packages, I felt quite silly for not thinking to put some extra San Francisco items in the package I sent to my partner...hmm...perhaps a sequel to BBM3 might be in order...

Baby knits & soccer cupcakes

Although I am without camera, my sister -- thanks Katie! -- took these photos before the items were gifted at Peanut's baby shower on Sunday. Knitting baby items is rather satisfying since I actually am able to finish them!



First pair of booties, from Stitch 'n Bitch Nation...took me over an hour, but still pretty quick...I can't crochet to save my life though...the straps are just chain stitch, but my tension is all wonky...probably am not holding the hook and/or yarn properly. First time knitting with Lamb's Pride...exciting discovery, as the yarn comes in so many lovely colors...the green is a new one called Pistachio. Yum.



More baby hats...on the left is yet another Cascade Fixation stretchy cotton hat...on the right is Rowan Soft Baby, and I used the pom-pom maker...very fun!



And finally, look at this soccer cupcake compilation! I didn't get to see it in person, but Dan's sister Cecilia sent the photo, and I had to share the brilliant use of cupcakery.

Food for thought

I've noticed a trend in knitted (and crochet) foods lately...or maybe it's just because I love food and yarn and am drawn to both?

Some evidence:

• The cupcake hat and pincushions...alas, I still have not learned to crochet properly
• Sushi roll...also crochet
• Garden variety vegetables
• Slapstick pie, via not martha
• Doknit...knit doughnut!
• Fry up bag...eggs, bacon and sausage

And there's even a knitted digestive system...yech! Strange, but impressive.

Works in progress

The camera is at the shop, so no photos...but, I have many works in progress! Mostly gifts-to-be, if successfully completed...yes, holiday knitting has begun! So even when the camera returns, photos may be delayed...

On the needles:

• Started a scarf with green Malabrigo...I taught myself a new stitch pattern!
• Another (neglected) scarf in Rowan Chunky Print is waiting to be finished
• A couple of baby items in various stages, one in Rowan Soft Baby...so soft!
• Ready to start the handles on the accidentally-too-big Sophie bag, after getting help from the nice folks at Imagiknit

Thinking about...

• Cupcake hat!
• Might attempt the Sweet Mary Janes?

So it's definitely time for another Sit 'n Knit (aka Nosh 'n Knit)! Hopefully this beagle will stay out of the yarn...

Halloween mini-break

We took a mini-break to Carmel-By-The-Sea over the weekend. Arrow met two beagles at Asilomar, where we picnicked and went tidepooling. She also got to run along the white sands of Carmel Beach, dine at dog-friendly restaurants, and visit several galleries. We hiked at Garland Ranch Park in Carmel Valley, visited the mission, and I saw monarch butterflies at the sanctuary in Pacific Grove.


Lots more pictures on Flickr

I also knitted and got some new yarn at Monarch Knitting in Pacific Grove.


Mermaid scarf

Quick scarf:
2 skeins Rowan Biggy Print, in a lovely new color called mermaid
US 19 needles
- Cast on 8 stitches
- Knit one, purl one
- Bind off and weave in ends
- Yay, all finished