The Big Dig

I find it very apropos that the day I finished the digger sweater was the same day The Big Dig was completed. The tunnel construction project in Boston cost way more than expected, faced delays with errors in construction and continues to receive tons of criticism. From Wikipedia, "The project has incurred criminal arrests, escalating costs, death, leaks, and charges of poor execution and use of substandard materials."

Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating.

But, here's the sweater story. I switched yarns because the pattern called for wool/cotton. I wanted the boy to actually wear the thing in Texas, so I chose Rowan Handknit Cotton. I swear I checked my gauge, but when I started on the bottom half, it could have fit me. Frog. Start over.

I switched to the basic pattern from the Handy Book of Patterns and just used the chart from the original book, Handknits for Kids.

The rest of the project went well, except for the occasional knot in the yarn... what is up with that? A few times I just knit along, but now I see those knots poking through and I wished I had unknit and cut the yarn where needed. Lesson learned.

So, as with the Boston Big Dig, construction was delayed with my 3 month knitting vacation (aka first trimester exhaustion) and I finished a month or two later than expected. I finally finished the week before Christmas just when it's getting cold enough to wear it. I showed it to Donovan and with his usual enthusiasm he said, "I want to wear it!" He will continue to be my favorite knitting customer with that attitude (hint, hint, future knitting recipients ...).

We go to get dressed and Jim tells me it won't fit. What? I knit the size 4 knowing it would be too big, but he could wear it for a couple years. The neckline is too tight. It won't stretch over the kid's head. After we try over and over, Donovan falls down on the floor crying. Not sure if it was due to pain or because he wanted to wear the sweater. Sigh.

I tore out the collar and one shoulder seam, crocheted in a button hole and crocheted a chain stitch along the collar. It doesn't look as good as it originally did, but at least he can wear it... and nobody died during construction.

A Christmas Blog

After a really long time away from the blogging, I'm back with a Christmas song! If I can keep the second trimester energy up (and work down), there will be more blogging on a regular basis.

Donovan learned a Christmas song at school, but didn't make it to the performance because of the traditional Christmas illness. Now, with the magic of the Internet and my awesome new Christmas toy from Santa... here it is. Keeping the performer in one spot was a challenge, but when the music takes over, you just gotta move!

Translation:
Merry, Merry Christmas
The Lord made this day
We're so happy the Lord had his way
With a great big hug
And a kiss from me to you
Won't you say Merry Christmas too!

Fuzzy Fireman

This blog is supposed to be about knitting, but you wouldn't know it by my last few posts. Oh, well. It's my blog, I'll post what I want to.


Anyway, photos of my latest FO... the felted Fireman hat from Vickie Howell's New Knits on the Block. I love this book! I want to make almost everything in it for the kids in my life.


I tried making a cowboy hat version of this last year without the extended brim for my nephew Wyatt, but I over-felted it and it wouldn't fit on a 6lb infant! So, this time I was more cautious, maybe too cautious.

He'll grow into it.

My embroidery skills are a little lacking, but I hope to take a class at Make soon. Until then, hurrah, I move this from the WIP list to Recently Finished!!

Dry Run

We went to visit 2-day-old Everett Smith yesterday and I'm calling it a dry run. What a tiny little dude! 6lbs! I could put him in my purse. And I threatened to.

(Poster children for teen pregnancy prevention)

Donovan saw me holding him and said, "No! That's not your baby. That's her baby!" pointing at Kerry. Then, I invited him to come see him and he wanted to show him the buses. He laughed and said, "Ooh, he's so tiny! He has little feet!" All was good. I'm breathing a small sigh of relief, but he knows who Everett belongs to and he didn't come home with us....

I especially like this picture.

Me holding the baby. Jim in the background looking for an escape.

The Littlest Longhorn

We decided to see how Donovan would fare at a UT game this year. Last year he lasted 3 quarters, so we thought he might actually enjoy the fanfare this year.

After taking a really exciting shuttle bus ride, we arrived in time for the opening band performance, the World's Largest Texas Flag, singing "The Eyes" and the running of the horns. He loved it. He clapped, he yelled, he tried "Go Horns Go!" When we tried to help him hook 'em he would pout sadly saying, "No, I can't do it." We'll keep practicing.

The first quarter began. He jumped and yelled for the first few plays along with the crowd and then... he sat on my lap and then....

Out. For almost two straight quarters, through bands playing and fans cheering and yelling (mostly yelling...) all around, he slept!

He awoke in time for the halftime performance and a little snack and then....

Rain. Torrential Texas-sized raindrops. We were lucky to have a blanket we intended for him to sit on available and dry for wrapping up in the air conditioned shuttle bus on the way back. And I was worried about it being too hot.

When I ask if he had fun he says, "Yeah" but it's his "I don't really know what to say, I haven't quite learned to lie - Yeah."

Yeah.

Introducing Georgie

I have few readers who don't already know the news, (few readers period) but a new feature has been added to kcknits... the baby ticker! We're happily waiting the arrival of baby #2 on April 14. (And the reason for my infrequent blogging... either too tired or not feeling well.)

The cool little widget to the right shows an image of the baby's development day by day. Dontcha just love the Internet?

The nickname is Georgie. When we ask Donovan if he wants a baby sister or a baby brother he says, "No, I want Curious George." Well, babe, we already have one monkey in the house, why not another?

Love's Labour's Lost

I never thought it would happen to me.

We had just arrived at the New Hampshire airport after a surprisingly calm airplane ride with a 2-year-old when my husband handed the sleeping boy to me and gathered our items. Later, in the car halfway to the in-law's house I go digging for my knitting bag for the remaining hour car ride and... it's gone. Left on the plane.

(This is where you knitters gasp in horror. As if I have to tell you.)

Lost:

• The completed back of the Tulip top
• The first 3 inches of one front half
• About 5 skeins of yarn (fortunately purchased on Elann.com, so financial loss is not too bad)
• Travel bag of basic tools: stitch markers, row counter, stitch holders, etc.
• My favorite project bag which was just a recycled plastic zipper from a pair of sheets I bought, but it opened flat and was awesome.

Yes, I've called the airport. New Hampshire ships everything to the central lost and found which happens to be in Dallas, so there was hope. Maybe I can swing by to pick it up. Then I called the Dallas office:

"Due to the extremely high volume of calls we cannot return all calls. Describe your item and if we are able to locate it we will call you back." Not holding my breath. But, I refuse to take it off my WIP list for now.

Sigh.

I had emailed someone about a KAL a few months ago and she told me she lost her project on a plane. I told her I don't know what I'd do. Know I know.

Therapeutic yarn shopping. Photos coming soon.