Bite Me, Baby!

Ooooh, you've got to run over to The Bite Me Kitchen for some great recipes! I just printed off a great one for stuffed acorn squash (thank you, Auntie Meemo!).

Another UFO Completed!

Socks:

• Pair of socks (2 at the same time) from the toe up (about 3 inches in) on US 1.
• Pair of red socks for my SIL Deb on US 2. ---DONE!!!!!!!!!!!
• Pair of waffle socks on US 1 in sparkly Berroco sock yarn. First one is done; second one isn't started yet.
• Pair of socks on US 1 worked in hand-dyed Louet Gems sport weight and a funky honeycomb sort of pattern. I'm losing interest already.
• Pair of socks from the toe up (just one at a time) in Dream in Color with silver. -- FROGGED
• Pair of socks for a college-bound nephew in Lisa Souza sport Merino superwash in the Mars Quake colorway. Worked in a simple 2 x 2 rib and 2 x 2 garter rib. Worked on US 2. -- DONE!!!!
• Second Raindrop Sock needs to be worked from Purlie sock yarn in the Mardi Gras colorway (first sock was knit as a sample; it's about time I get the second one done).
• Second Swag Sock needs to be worked from Purlie sock yarn (Appassionato colorway). Again, the first one was knit as a sample.
• Second Swag Sock needs to be worked from a ball of Cash Vero DK. Still again, the first one was knit as a sample.
• The second of a pair of socks from Cascade 220 Superwash on US 4 that utilizes a stranded rose pattern.

Scarves:

• A lacy scarf on US 5. I'm about 5" into it.
• A scarf from Misty Alpaca bulky. *DONE (back in July)*
• Garter Linen scarf on US 9 in Manos del Uruguay silk blend. Nearing the halfway point. I think.
• Lace scarf (Victorian Lace today Pattern) on US 6 with Jojoland Ballad. I've got about 2" knit.
• Lace scarf (another Victorian Lace Today pattern) on US 7 with Mini Maiden in colorway Vintage. I have two repeats done of the first end border (see previous posts on this).
• School Scarves -- Black and Gold 1 x 1 rib (my own pattern) -- about 1/2 done now.

Wraps/Shawls/Throws:

• Diagonally crocheted wrap with leftovers from a Kaffe Fasset kit (long story) that's going to take forever. (Handed over to my mom for finishing. Um..... don't ask)
• AB-Fab throw in colorway Misty Morning. Only through the one color repeat (56 rows), plus 8 more.
  

Pullovers/Cardigans:

• Striped pullover that was to have been for my niece (she's grown out of it) on US 6. I have the back done and I'm slowly working up to the front. There are a zillion ends to work in.
• A short cardigan in Cascade Venezia worsted on US 7 for my sister Mary. --- Frogged. It just wasn't working. Am now working the cardi in Cascade Pastaza.
• Magnificent red pullover (mentioned earlier) from hand-dyed Louet Gems sport weight and fashioned with some Melissa Leapman cables. I'm about 6" into the back only which is pathetic because the back is the easiest.
• Colorful cardigan for a grand-niece made on US 3 with King Tut cotton and worked in intarsia. I'm 1" - 2" away from dividing for the armholes and I'm not sure how I want to work it, so it's in stasis.

Other:

• Washcloth on US 6. DONE (back in August).
• Pair of gloves on US 3 from Cascade 220 superwash for my DH. In a bright royal blue. First one done, second one barely started (just past the cuff ribbing). The first glove is ... interesting. I think the fingers and thumb are far too big around.
• A doily I'm crocheting from Austermann Step is about halfway done.

Any Fool Can Do It

At last, we not only have a new Dan Brown over-the-top conspiracy novel, we have the Dan Brown Sequel Generator, courtesy of Slate.com. You just select a city for the setting and an organization which is hiding the conspiracy. The text generator will give you a synopsis.

Here's the start of my Dan Brown sequel synopsis (I chose Chicago and US Postal Service):

When celebrated Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to Wrigley
Field to analyze a mysterious ancient script—imprinted on a gold ring lying next
to the disemboweled corpse of the head docent—he discovers evidence of the
unthinkable: the resurgence of the ancient cult of the Destifori, a secret
branch of the United States Postal Service that has surfaced from the shadows to
carry out its legendary vendetta against its mortal enemy, the Vatican.

Secret Pal 14 Package 2 -- It's Here!

I have such a lovely and wonderful Secret Pal! In addition to the cool little bag (complete with a nifty tape measure that has both standard and metric markings but also looks fashionable *and* has a little button to lock the tape) and the stickers and the handknit washcloth (love that color!) and the hand-dyed sock yarn ..... Yes, she sent me some hand-spun yarn! I feel so special! I've never had anyone give me their hand-spun. Spinning yarn is something I absolutely know nothing about and haven't tried (doubt I will, either), so I feel so honored that she included this. And look at those wonderful colors! Ooooooh, I love them! I love it all! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! A thousand more Thank Yous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cascade Pastaza Cardigan

This is Cascade Pastaza (lamb's wool and llama wool) being knit on US 9 into a cropped cardigan using the Knitting Pure and Simple top-down cardigan pattern. I'm working a lacy kind of figure in the sleeves (above) and I'll work some kind of pattern stitch when I join up under the arms. It will be a shorter cardigan than the pattern calls for, and I'll make 3/4 sleeves instead of full ones.

Alpaca Yarn

My sister M in Albuquerque sent three lovely skeins of alpaca yarn from a farm in New Mexico. I dyed them to a medium turquoise color.

Two-Rib Socks - FREE PATTERN

OK, following the "Basic Sock Recipe" these are a pair of socks for a guy. They were knit on US 2 with Lisa Souza Superwash Sport Merino in the Mars Quake Colorway. The gauge is about 6 sts per inch in Stockinette Stitch. It's an easy pattern:

CO 64. Work 2 x 2 rib (K2, P2) for 12 rounds, then K all sts for the first round of 2 x 2 garter rib (K one round, then 2x2 rib on the next round; keep alternating these two rounds). Work garter rib for 52 rounds, then work straight 2 x 2 rib for 8 more rounds.

Before working the heel flap, shift sts to the right by 1 stitch so that stitch #2 becomes the first stitch of the round. This will balance the rib over the top of the foot (so, over the top of the foot you will work the Offset 2x2 Rib as follows: K1, P2, *K2, P2* repeat to last stitch, end K1).

Work heel flap, then, as follows:

Row 1: sl 1, P2, *sl 2, P2* repeat to last stitch, end K1. Turn work.

Row 2 (WS): sl 1, P to the end. Turn work.

Repeat these two rows until there are 16 slipped stitches on each side of the heel flap.

Turn heel, then pick up 16 sts on each side of the heel flap while working Offset 2x2 Rib (as noted above) over the top of the foot and stockinette stitch on the underside of the foot, and while working gusset decreases on either side of the instep sts until you're back to a total of 64 sts.

Continue working foot with Offset 2 x 2 Rib on the top/instep and St st on the bottom until you come to about 2" shy of the foot length. Begin toe decreases (all in St st). Decrease 4 sts every other row until there are 32 sts remaining, then work decreases every row until it's down to a number you don't mind grafting.

Inter-Species Relations Continue Well

Nip, the grey kitty, has decided that he is comfortable around Chance, the black doggy.

Tuck, the orange striped kitty, still keeps a good distance away.

UFO List Update

Socks:

• Pair of socks (2 at the same time) from the toe up (about 3 inches in) on US 1.
• Pair of red socks for my SIL Deb on US 2. The first sock is done; 2nd sock near the heel flap!
• Pair of waffle socks on US 1 in sparkly Berroco sock yarn. First one is done; second one isn't started yet.
• Pair of socks on US 1 worked in hand-dyed Louet Gems sport weight and a funky honeycomb sort of pattern. I'm losing interest already.
• Pair of socks from the toe up (just one at a time) in Dream in Color with silver. -- FROGGED
• Pair of socks for a college-bound nephew in Lisa Souza sport Merino superwash in the Mars Quake colorway. Worked in a simple 2 x 2 rib and 2 x 2 garter rib. Worked on US 2. -- DONE!!!!
• Second Raindrop Sock needs to be worked from Purlie sock yarn in the Mardi Gras colorway (first sock was knit as a sample; it's about time I get the second one done).
• Second Swag Sock needs to be worked from Purlie sock yarn (Appassionato colorway). Again, the first one was knit as a sample.
• Second Swag Sock needs to be worked from a ball of Cash Vero DK. Still again, the first one was knit as a sample.
• The second of a pair of socks from Cascade 220 Superwash on US 4 that utilizes a stranded rose pattern.

Scarves:

• A lacy scarf on US 5. I'm about 5" into it.
• A scarf from Misty Alpaca bulky. *DONE (back in July)*
• Garter Linen scarf on US 9 in Manos del Uruguay silk blend. Nearing the halfway point. I think.
• Lace scarf (Victorian Lace today Pattern) on US 6 with Jojoland Ballad. I've got about 2" knit.
• Lace scarf (another Victorian Lace Today pattern) on US 7 with Mini Maiden in colorway Vintage. I have two repeats done of the first end border (see previous posts on this).
• School Scarves -- Black and Gold 1 x 1 rib (my own pattern) -- about 1/3 done.

Wraps/Shawls/Throws:

• Diagonally crocheted wrap with leftovers from a Kaffe Fasset kit (long story) that's going to take forever. (Handed over to my mom for finishing. Um..... don't ask)
• AB-Fab throw in colorway Misty Morning. Only through the one color repeat (56 rows), plus 8 more.

Pullovers/Cardigans:

• Striped pullover that was to have been for my niece (she's grown out of it) on US 6. I have the back done and I'm slowly working up to the front. There are a zillion ends to work in.
• A short cardigan in Cascade Venezia worsted on US 7 for my sister Mary. --- Frogged. It just wasn't working. Am now working the cardi in Cascade Pastaza.
• Magnificent red pullover (mentioned earlier) from hand-dyed Louet Gems sport weight and fashioned with some Melissa Leapman cables. I'm about 6" into the back only which is pathetic because the back is the easiest.
• Colorful cardigan for a grand-niece made on US 3 with King Tut cotton and worked in intarsia. I'm 1" - 2" away from dividing for the armholes and I'm not sure how I want to work it, so it's in stasis.

Other:

• Washcloth on US 6. DONE (back in August).
• Pair of gloves on US 3 from Cascade 220 superwash for my DH. In a bright royal blue. First one done, second one barely started (just past the cuff ribbing). The first glove is ... interesting. I think the fingers and thumb are far too big around.
• A doily I'm crocheting from Austermann Step is about halfway done.

School Scarves & Other Ramblings

Dear Mandella:

I've broken my self-imposed rule of No New Projects and started in on scarves for my oldest brother's two sons. It's a simple 1 x 1 rib scarf knit from Berroco's Comfort yarn. One will be Gold & Black, the other will be Red & Gold. Lest you think these are Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, you're wrong: They're University of Iowa and Iowa State University (respectively). I've got a good start on the black and gold. I'll post the pattern eventually.

In the meantime, my husband is in a huge funk. I know I emailed you that he was going through a tough time with his clinicals this past week. He came home on Friday determined to see it through at least to another week, but now he's depressed and down on himself for everything all over again. I need a forklift to get him out of this hole.

He's taken Dogbert (aka Chance) to the dog park for a few hours. I've cleaned up the few dishes in the kitchen, gone to the grocery store, emptied the garbage, and hoovered the living room. And I've answered the phone a lot today. I don't know why, but every robo-caller in the country has found our number!

We're having a House marathon on one of the cable tv channels today. They're showing about 20 episodes on the trot; tomorrow it will be a different program. I've got in on because it is better company than my husband who has retreated to the bedroom in his depression.

*sigh* This is not an easy weekend.

Judith