Look at it...

Oooh...look at it being blocked.

I turned up the heat so it will dry faster...so I can wear it tomorrow.

Feeling MASSIVELY productive

Okay let's go through the things I did tonight.

• Sewed in edges on THREE projects
• Packaged said projects and another gift
• Mailed all five things--2 baby gifts, 2 christmas gifts, 1 birthday gift

I'm like SUPER NINJA JEN with KUNG-FU grip.

watch this space

For soon, it shall bear the fruit of the shawl I'm within 20 rows of finishing. I wanted to finish it last night...but at 4:30 am I was starting to lose it. And miscount stitches.

yarn over under upside down.

I was way way way too tired to knit.

But it's so freakin' close

then block

THEN WEAR

I'm so freakin' excited I may spew.

Irresponsible parenting

G is beside me right now. She's closer to her next bed time than the one she missed.

(okay it's not that bad...but it's not good)

We had friends over. My friend N gave me crystal stitch markers. So tonight G and I stopped by the store and got a button and yarn and made her daughter A a hat. I sat and just made it (how much do I ROCK)

Here's the pattern.

Omigosh so cute...and knits up in 4 hours...which is dang quick as I am the slowest knitter in the world.

A looked adorable in her new hat. Oh, I'm trying to convince N to start selling her stitch markers...they are so perfect...watch this space if she starts selling.

Funny Thing

If you know me and what I do, you know why this is so funny.

Italians at Purl Harbor

I've started to think my knitting group keeps me sane.

I wear so many hats at once...working mom, wife, friend, etc. It's not easy...but at knitting, I shut down everything else and I talk yarn love. It's fun to just have a group that laughs together, talks together, and accomplishes things. It's lovely.

Today, A brought her omigod gorgeous swift and her ball winder so I could make some balls...oh, that sounds so dirty. I had 500 yard of alpaca, 200 yards of merino sock, and...something I forgot to mention to A...1400 yards of merino lace. A set out her swift (which I covet) and I got the alpaca done pretty quick...then I brought out the lace.

Thankfully A helped me do it. Lace is sooooo a two person job. Esp, merino lace--it tends to stick to itself. So we're in the midst of this and these two guys with Italian accents come by and say they've never seen anyone do this (esp at a Panera, I bet). They introduce themselves as from Italy, and ask if they can take a picture of us winding balls (okay that sounds dirtier). But so now Alise has a fan club in Italy--as usual I ducked out of the photo. I don't like pictures of me.

I also got a couple rows done on my shawl. It is so gorgeous. I can't wait to block it.

In other news, my college JMU won today. GLEE.

Coffee

Oh dearest coffee.
Beloved coffee

On a morning like this...I feel I must write haikus to your awesomenest

bitter berries brew
the caffeine makes me aware
of the day's promise

no bean could make you
too delicious for legumes
my berry of joy

Oooh, I could write an haiku about my knitting project

alpaca knit purl
estonian shawl alive
growing by a bit

Dear Longtail Cast-on:

These letters are always so hard to write. You never know if you say too much, too little. But I think it's only fair you hear it from me...on a blog...

you're not my favorite cast on anymore

I know, for so many years, you were the one I reached for. the one i knew and cherished, but we have our problems. You know what they are:

• -I have to estimate how much i need and either I end up with one inch left to make 10 stitches or I end up with three feet to make
• -You suck for anything that needs to have any give...like socks/lace
• -When I make you I look like a drunken sailor having a fight with a skinny octopus
  

Knit on cast on and me have been getting closer, spending more time together. When I'm casting on 331 stitches...you just don't cut it anymore. Kniton and I have been working on shawls, sweaters, hats--and it feels really really right.

And kniton gives like you just aren't capable of.

Don't think of this as goodbye. I'm sure I'll still use you for things...like sweaters where I need some firmness of sleeves...you do a mean sleeve. In a way, we're not breaking up at all...

Instead I'll just be coming over to your house at 2 am when my new boyfriend is out of town.

Love,
-Jen