View from the Top of the Bed

The other day, this is how the bed looked:

There are always lots of snuggles at my house.

And I am always welcome to join--lucky me!!

Of course, they're always welcome to join me on the couch while I'm knitting. And I am often and often reminded that it is now "pet Gino" time or "pet Penny" time, and must put down my knitting. Which, of course, I do, as I am a huge sucker for my kitties. They make life happy.

Speaking of knitting (when do I ever speak of anything else? Well, besides kitties, but I've already done that...) I've finished Zauberflote!

In the end, I made several modifications. 

• I shortened the sweater a bit, because the tunic length Jade likes so much doesn't work too well for me. I started the armseye steek at row 38, and then started neck shaping on row 9 (after a full repeat, of course.) This ended up to be about 23 rounds fewer than the pattern.
• My gauge is looser than called for, so I knit a size small, which fits just fine.
• For the sleeves, I knit as written, and then knit straight through round 10, knitting rounds 11-17 in garter for the cuffs. This brought the length to about the same as Abalone, which is what I was trying to copy. (I was very curious as to why the pattern was written to repeat the most recent section for the cuff--this is not at all usual, and not what I wanted, so I ignored it and did what I pleased.)
• Picked up fewer stitches for the button bands to compensate for the shorter body. (This took some thought--I forgot about it, picked up about 3/4 stitches/rows, counted, and thought, "where do I get those extra stitches???" Took me ages to remember.)
• Also, since I bought the buttons for this sweater before I bought the kit, and they are larger than what Jade calls for, I used 7. I'm not a huge fan of small buttons on these sweaters anyway--I often use only 7 or so buttons for the button bands, and ignore that part of the directions. I'm a big fan of ignoring directions, I think.

Anyway, I finished the knitting two weeks ago, and the finishing this past week. (I am not a big fan of finishing work. But it's always nice to have something fully finished...) Now it is blocking:

I've also cast on Anne Hanson's Wasp and Rose in Tulipa Yasmin for a sample. I do love Yasmin, and this pattern is pleasant. I need to finish it by the beginning of August, which shouldn't be a problem!

I'm also hoping to finish a few more things this month... Megan's vest, which has been languishing for years, shouldn't take too terribly long to finish. This project, especially, reminds me of how much one can accomplish if one spends actual time with a project! The back is done, and one of the fronts is about a quarter done. It'll make a nice break from the shawl, although they are both purple!

So, for a break from purple, I'm hoping to finish the body at least of the Sheeps! Sweater. This is partially because I like the sweater, but not too much the knitting, and would like to make some progress. This is probably one of the few projects that are more of a product than a process knit for me--I just love sheep, though, so I know I'll love to wear it once it's finished. But also, I need that size needle to cast on the next Starmore I want to knit, Marina. Added inspiration!

And lastly, I think it would probably be a good idea to finish the mother's day scarf by the next time I see my mom, in early August. So I shall swap that one to the project that lives in my bag, to encourage myself to knit on it in spare moments. 

At the moment, this all seems fairly reasonable. Of course, it won't all happen, but surely I will make good progress on at least several of these projects!

Oops... I knit a sleeve

I was being so good, working on the two scarves that were on my Holz and Stein 16" 3s. But this is our vacation week, and what I really wanted to spend it doing was knitting on Zauberflote while sitting on the couch with the kitties, listening to a good book. So on Saturday I slipped Marie's scarf onto some Hiya needles, and cut a steek.

(Well, actually, I knit a few repeats onto the Hiya needles. I am making *some* progress there, though not as much as I should have... see??)

This morning I finished the cuff on Zauberflote's first sleeve. 

I didn't like the instructions for the sleeve-- it seemed like it would be too short. Also, they wanted you to do the first few rows of the up-side-down pattern, and then the garter chart. Since the garter chart and the first few rows are the same design, this repetition seemed odd to me. 

I decided to knit straight until I liked the length (using Abalone for guidance), and then knit the next section in garter.

I don't think it turned out too badly... and I don't mind a deeper cuff than suggested. I'm wondering what I'll do for the front bands and collar, though, since the sleeve cuff is not what it is supposed to be. I think I'll probably use the garter chart, so they'll match the bottom band.

I've just knit the first few rows of the second sleeve, and am taking a lunch break. I think it quite likely I may finish Zauberflote this week!

I've also made some progress on the Perfect Woman Scarf-- it has grown since the last photo!

Certainly won't be done by this weekend, but it is coming along.

The kitties have been at their usual posts: Gino next to me on the couch, and Penny a siren on the bed, luring un-suspecting passers-by in for snuggle sessions.

They are excellent helpers.

Progress on Two Fronts

Lots of progress happening 'round here!

Kitty progress:

Annie has just visited me, and she actually got to snuggle with Penny! Pen sat on Annie's lap for at least half an hour. Considering in the past there have just been walk-bys as Penny decides if the visitors are safe (and this only after several hours or days of a visit) I consider this excellent progress.

And I have photographic proof of this, even!!

Look how happy they both are!!

Then Annie got to at least see Gino when he wasn't under my bed... yesterday morning, Gino, Pen and I had a lovely three-way snuggle. Gino was sitting on my lap when Annie got up, and he didn't immediately bolt! So I called her in, and she peeked 'round the door, and got to see his magnificence before she tried to walk in and he ran under the bed. So that's good progress for him as well, since up to now he's not even wanted any not-Helen-people to see him!

I'm also hoping to make good knitting progress today. I'm hoping to finish the Not A Scarf socks for Marie, the Cherry Me shawl, and Jen's Backup Mitts.

Not A Scarf Socks-- lacking a Toe and about 4 rounds.

Cherry Me. I've got about a golf-ball sized ball left... I think I should be able to finish another set of leaves before binding off.

Backup Mitts. Jen's Birthday is Tuesday! Need the top of one mitt and both thumbs.

Having finished at least two of the three projects, I'll probably give myself permission to start something new, which will quite likely be the Leftie I've been wanting to make since Christmas!

Or I may keep knitting on the Sheeps! sweater, and/or one of the scarves I need to finish before I can start Zauberflote's sleeves. Either way, it'll be a lovely, knit-full day!

He ALWAYS Does This!

Gino and I will be on the couch snuggling. Then I'll need to get up to put the kettle on, cake another skein, or use the toilet.

As soon as I get up:

Gino steals my spot.

Then, a minute later when I return:

He's settled in.

At least he doesn't mind shifting a bit, because a minute later, we're back in position and ready to go:

Snuggled next to my knee.

Lots of knitting projects going on. I've finished the body of Zauberflote, but both good needles of the size and length needed for the arms are in use, so I've got to finish a scarf before I can move on with that. There are, of course, many other projects I'm also working on!

Life is good.

Monogamy

Monogamy is an amazing thing. Although the first half of Annie's Graduation Shawl took about 5 or 6 months, most of it was knit in two weeks. And then the second half was knit entirely during ONE week, as the graduation was fast approaching and I had great hopes of finishing on time.

I did! (Although ALL the photos I took are backlit, and not that great. Sigh.)

I blocked the shawl two days before heading up to Arlington...

And then she wore it during our dinner after graduation.

I do quite like this photo, though I still want some nice ones!

Anyway, it always amazes me how quickly one can finish a project when it is the ONLY project one works on! But then, once I've finished a monogamous project, I usually crave variety, so the amazing feeling of productivity decreases, and I revert to my normal, piecemeal ways.

Today I have off, and plan to knit on whatever pleases me. This will likely mean great progress on Zauberflote!

Noses

I like to look at noses in profile, and my kitties have excellent ones.

Gino was very obliging in letting me take a photo:

Gino naps next to me while I knit. Nose has lots of character!

Penny was less so... she wanted to snuggle! (But was cute, so I forgave her)

Pen climbs on my lap for snuggles.

Best photo I got of her nose. A lovely slope!!

In other news, someone washed away the graffiti I photographed for last week so that the rock says only "Narnia" at present. Still amusing, but not nearly so nice as the full message, in my opinion.

Marie's (exceedingly belated) graduation quilt still lacks a lot of work...

Several hours left here!

While Annie's is close to completion!

Although there are probably more hours left here!
(Note the beauty of unblocked lace... a big muddly mess!)

I'm fairly sure I'll finish the shawl in time, although I'm thinking in terms of total hours it will take more. However, knitting is more in favor at present, so it gets more time. I'm still hopeful I'll be able to finish them both before heading up to Arlington, though!

Randomness

This showed up on my drive to work recently. It makes me smile. (In case it's hard to read here, it says: "To Narnia Not an Entrance"

I get a kick out of it, because someone sprayed it directly onto the rocks, and I can totally see there being an entrance to some sort of magical place along the drive...

In other news, Annie's Graduation Shawl is coming along apace. I've decided to do 8 repeats of the blossom pattern on each side of the center, and am 6 repeats on. I don't think it will be done in time, but I'm kind of hoping that if I focus in on this for the next two weeks I may finish before she graduates... We'll see.

And, of course, the kitties have been being cute recently... (I decided to document this, since it is such an unusual occurrence!)

Penny, and the couch that still needs patching. I like the idea of a patchwork couch! Plus, then they'll have something else to tear up.

Gino likes to help me knit. Always.

I met with a new agent this week, and we saw two houses. One was not so nice inside, but the other, although under repairs, looks quite nice. I'm excited to see it again once the repairs are all done!