Pictures of the day

I'm trying to take a photo every day or so. I'll post some of them. I like these two. One of them is not even a cat! It's Don's Christmas sweater out on the town.

I want to write a pattern for the sweater, but I might change some details and maybe make a women's version. I used Barbara Walker's simultaneous set-in sleeve technique, and I have mixed reactions to it.

I tried the black and white setting on my camera. I couldn't get Ziggy to look up or to stay still...

Woolly Copse

My sister has a talent for finding expensive yarn in thrift stores. Sometimes this is cause for celebration, and at other times, lamentation. At first glance, I couldn't imagine what this strange yarn should be used for. My sister must've have thought the same thing because she gave a big bag of the stuff to my mom.

My mom is not daunted by weird yarn. She knit a blanket, and it's kind of cool. Look how good it looks on Ziggy! Ziggy's been under the weather for more than 3 months now :( But, at least he's keeping cozy in this thicket of wooly boucle.

I'm nearly done with a summer cardigan. I think these buttons look about right. Best of all, both the yarn and the buttons are from my stash.

And, here's a little swatch of what I hope will be a simple, summer tank. I'm experimenting with combination knitting. I have a couple of wrong way decreases, but other than that, I like the results.

I don't generally have trouble with rowing out, and I'm not opposed to imperfections, but the stitches in this 100% cotton yarn looked a little too uneven for my tastes. Combination knitting helps to keep the tension of the purls equal to the knits. (It's probably hard to tell from this stupid picture.)

Learn more about combination knitting from Annie Modesitt and Grumperina.

Different day, same cat

All Ziggy's tests (thyroid, kidney function, x-rays) came back oky-doky. So, his problems are probably due to the sensitive stomach of a senior kitteh. This is good because it means his condition can be managed through diet. All I need to do is figure out what to feed him.

I needed to hear this good news because right before the vet called, I was vexed. I've been working on a summer shell. I really like the yarn, the stitches, and the pattern was coming along nicely until I spotted its nearly identical twin in the Ravelry database.

Now, all I have to do is figure out a new design.

Kissable

For the last several weeks, Ziggy's been making frequent trips to the veterinarian. The vets, techs, and receptionists are getting to know him by name. To know him is to love him, I guess, because today, when he went in for a thyroid panel, his doctor kissed him.

He is a handsome little devil, don't you think?

Two swatches and a cat

It's pink, and it's lacy, but so far that's all I know. Here's a swatch with a few stitch patterns, but no clear favorite. I bought this cotton yarn (Reynolds Saucy) a year ago after I learned to crochet. My intention was to make a lacy jacket thing. But, then I learned to knit. I haven't really crocheted since.

This is the beginning of the Honeycomb vest. It's pretty. The cable twist is kind of a pain in the gluteus maximus, though. The yarn (Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool) is thin and much darker than in these pictures. I'm having a hard time seeing the stitches. I'm getting used to it. And, since it's not for me, I can congratulate myself on what a self-sacrificing martyr I am when the irritation starts building.


It kind of looks like Ziggy is genuflecting to me in this pic. That'll be the day. He's playing on the bed. Like Oprah, he prefers fresh sheets daily, or at least every other day (I heard her say that on her show once). Clean bedding makes him frisky (don't know what effect they have on Oprah). As soon as the sheets hit the mattress, he starts prancing around, arching his back, hissing and acting tough. He does not deign to frolic on unclean sheets. He thinks they're...unclean.

You can't fluff the floor

How will I ever finish the Must Have if I’m ripping out rows as fast as I'm knitting them?

Perhaps I should put it aside and knit a mindless project. Ziggy could use a soft, fluffy, hand-knit cat bed.



Then again, he seems pretty content with the floor. Maybe he'd prefer an attractive, ribbed pullover, like this one:


Get the free pattern at ChristineLandry.com.