The latest...

So my son is off to do his thing as a roadie for Invisible Children, and since his district isn't anywhere cold, I knitted him a "sock" for his cell phone:

The pattern is free, I found it through Ravelry, the link to Smariek Knits' blog is the caption for this photo. I used leftover sock yarn from my Oak Ribbed socks. It's Regia Stretch color, I think it knitted up wonderfully in this pattern.






Four-Rib Braid I Touch Sock Pattern


I also knitted him a case for the camera he bought to document his trip:

This pattern was also free, and found through Ravelry. Doing the math for sizing took a bit of time, but from start to finish, the whole thing only took maybe 2 hours. For this one, I used leftover yarn from Josh's Camo Earflap hat. It's Red Heart in the "Woodsy" colorway. He picked the button out of my tin of my Grandma's old buttons, so he's got a camera covered in love!!! The link to the blog is also on the caption for this photo!




Free "recipe" for camera case

Currently, I am knitting a ruana for Char, to barter for haircuts, and deciding what to cast on next...I have an 2 purses that need finishing and am still working on my Log Cabin Afghan...it's simply too hot here to have it on my lap right now!!!

If you're curious about Invisible Children, I linked to them at the top of the post. If you want to follow Josh on his adventure, check out his blog: http://www.dailyleaps.blogspot.com/!

Gratuitous Cat Cuteness!

In the spirit of NOT having to title an entry with the word "overdue," I'vd simply decided to share some feline adorableness:

Sweet, sleepy Frosty

"Uh, excuse me, but could I bathe in PRIVATE????"

Come, on, you KNOW they're cute!!

The Really, REALLY overdue post...

Okay, so this time it's been nearly a year!!!

Facebook, the devourer of time, sort of took over my online life...I'm seriously considering dialing that back, if not off, and returning to the "simplicity" of the blog form of self-publication. It's just much less time consuming. No gaming and constant live chatting....though I love having gotten in touch with some folks from back in the day!

My knitting life has been fairly steady, I've finished lots of projects since my last post...

Oak Ribbed Sock from Nancy Bush's "Knitting Vintage Socks"

Lichen Ribbed Sock, also from KVS

Currently, I've got these on the needles:

Waving Lace Sock from "Favorite Socks" (Interweave Press)

I'm really enjoying this sock, I'm doing it with Knit Picks Essential Kettle Dye yarn, in the Bordeaux colorway. I love this lace pattern, it's simple enough to remember, and you can find where you are in the pattern without too much trouble. Yet it's varied enough to be interesting to knit, especially since the two previous pairs wer just basic ribbed patterns. Those two were done in two different colorways of Regia Stretch sock yarn. I LOVE the Regia for wear and tear, it holds up excellently, and washes very well. The stretch factor is really nice, they have great memory and don't end up sagging when you wear them. I have two more colorways in my stash!

And miracle of miracles, neither is blue!!!

In my kitty life, sweet Beasley crossed the Rainbow Bridge to pet heaven 2 days after Christmas. He went in his sleep, after 19 long years. He was ready, and now is with my mom and his! He's missed, he added so much humor to my life. The two remaining boys are doing very well, though they've been tussling with one another more often since Beas passed. I suppose it has something to do with pecking order.

Miss Zoe is still my sweet, lovable pup, a clown as always! She's finally finished (fingers crossed!) shedding her coat out, so hopefully I won't be sweeping up hairballs the size of elephants again for a while. I swear, she should be bald!!! It's never been so much before. I think it was the strange weather as summer came on this year, lots of ups and downs in temps, which is strange for Arizona. It's usually just a steady climb to blistering heat!

Hope all is well with any and all who "stop by" to read this...with my lax posting schedule, I'm sure you are fewer and farther between.

The really overdue post!!!

Okay, it's been literally months since my last post. Life is like that sometimes. I guess I need to see if I've been kicked off any of my blog rings!

Let's see, since my last post, I've done some knitting, I made these cabled socks:

I got the pattern through Ravelry. They're called Naive Socks by SpillyJane. (PDF pattern here) My pics probably don't do my socks justice, as they were taken with my phone, still a problem. I knitted them in Opal Prisma on size 2's. The next time I do the pattern-and I will probably do it again-I would do the leg portion on 3's, as the cables really tighten up the leg and reduce elasticity.

I am really pleased with the result, though!

I also made another cat bed-the Kitty Pi from Wendy Knits. Milo has claimed it as his and sleeps in it EVERY day. Seriously. Definitely the most used cat thing I've ever knitted. The other cats haven't had a chance to lay in it even once.

Kitty Pi pre-felt-Notice Mr. Milo already staking his claim...Mi says, "My kitteh Pi!"

Blocking-I used a Tupperware cake carrier and a bunch of towels.

Look at the face!! This was taken about a minute after I finished blocking, and wanted a photo of the bed. There was no way I'd get the pic without the cat! A "Milo Pie!"

I used Paton's Classic Merino, double stranded, Worn Denim and Wedgewood colorways on size 11's. It took 1 skeins of each, and was just short of enough. Fortunately I had some in my leftovers to finish the last row or so. The eyelash was a skein from my stash-Berroco Zoom in brown.

Well, it's off to the Saturday morning Stitch n' Bitch!!!

Kitty Knits-a knitter's book review

I have the privilege of being a stop on Donna Druchunas' blog tour for her latest book, Kitty Knits. Donna is the author of another book I admire, Arctic Lace, as well as others. The book is nicely put together, with projects for cat lovers, as well as the cats themselves. I love the variety of skill level available, as well as the variety of knitting styles. Like Donna, I love all sorts of knitting, from lace to felting! There are lots of pictures, clear instructions, and even cat poetry!!! I was hoping to interview Donna herself here, but it didn't work out. She did some Q & A on some of the other stops on her blog tour-links to those are on her webpage.

Here's Donna, with her cats, Dee Dee and Uno:

In my previous post, I mentioned the first project I completed from Kitty Knits, the Felted Catnip mouse. It's a hit, and so fun and easy, I'll be making another-especially since Milo and Frosty are both in love with it.

Milo and the Mouse!

Frosty loves it, too...clearly I'll be making another!

The second project I made from the book is the Bull's Eye Cat bed. It's one of 3 different cat beds in the book, all of which are really adorable! This one most closely resembled a commercial bed that the boys all love, so I chose it. Since it's been on the chair-even before finishing it, it's been occupied regularly! It's worked in the round, in 2 pieces, and stuffed with some batting! It's a fairly simple pattern, good for learning increases and knitting in the round. Again I substituted the called-for yarn with something from my stash. I used up the RH acrylic from the bass hat project, but did buy the novelty yarn. The bed is definitely a hit with the boys, all three have used it, though Frosty uses it most. It sets off his blue eyes nicely!!!!

Early stages-notice Milo already checking it out!

Here it is just prior to stuffing

Stuffed and Finished!

Occupied!!!!

My next project from the book, though, will have to be for me-the Peruvian Cat Lace Scarf!! Beautiful.

I definitely enjoyed the book, and would recommend it! Thanks to Donna, and to her publisher, Martingale and Company, for allowing me to preview the book!!!

Book Tour Delay...

Donna Druchunas' interview IS coming...it's just a bit delayed. I love the Kitty Knits Book...here's a preview of one project:

Frosty with his Felted Catnip Mouse

This was a terrific project...it knitted up in about an hour to an hour and a half. It's knitted in one piece, beginning at the tail. It was my first foray into knitting bobbles...a great introduction, since there are only 2!

As you can see, it met with cat approval. Milo also likes it. And, as with every toy, Zoe likes it, too. (In Zoe-land, ALL toys are dog toys, and ALL dog toys are for her!)

Catnip Party! A cool new toy for Zoe...knitting, of course!

Frosty "under the influence."

Milo, enjoying the sun, and feeling "nippy!"

Talk about cheap entertainment. Formula: a new container of Cosmic Catnip, and to nip crazed kitties!! Sprinkle a bit on the carpet, and watch 'em go! Beasley didn't join in the fun. Not because he's a senior citizen, but because he's just never been much of a catnip guy. I wonder what that's about??

I got to go to coffee yesterday with my good friend, Kim, who is a knitter, and a HUGE dog lover. She has two Border Collie boys, who are as much her sons as her own, human son. She was thoughtful enough to bring me a present for Zoe. It's a nifty dog toy called a Pooch Ball. I have had so much fun watching Zoe try to figure out how to get the ball out of the tube. She got it once, but hasn't yet made the connection as to how. Here's a pic:

"How do I get this thing out of here????"

As for my knitting, I've got the Bulls-eye cat bed from Kitty Knits underway, using some leftover yarn from the Bass Section Hats. I bought a skein of Paton's allure to make the outside edge fuzzy. I got it with a 40% off coupon at Michael's, so the bed has only cost me about $3 so far. I'll have to buy some batting, which I'll do with another coupon. Since I'm on a tight budget right now, and trying to do some destashing, the projects from the book so far have been great! Though I'd love to do the 2 scarves...and...well, I'll save all that for the 16th!