fiery red

Look at that lovely fuzzy cashmere. It feels like ... cashmere. There are no other words to describe it.

his name is colin

The new baby was born on Wednesday! He was 6lbs 7oz and very tiny indeed. His sweater won't fit him for awhile, I'm sure. He is super cute, and his mommy has really taken to him. It is her first baby and a year ago she was sure she wouldn't be having any babies for a long time. She told me tonight that she already can't imagine not being a mommy.

They asked me to be his godmother! I am so excited about it - it is such an honor. Just having that job has made me feel much more attached to him - it's really neat. I love holding him, he's so aware and alive, but he's this little 7lb person. AH! I can't wait to help teach him to walk and read and drive a car (I'll be so old by then).

I have decided to make a baby blanket for him, and I have to somehow incorporate the Steelers logo (baby's mommy is a HUGE fan):



I have seen a baby blanket pattern that had star shapes similar to those in the pattern, so I'll probably do something like it. Of course I can't remember who's site I saw them on, but I think it was in one of the popular baby books. He's got plenty of blankets and toys for now, so I'll probably make this for Christmas.

The red sweater was started Sunday, but somehow my gauge was way off and it turned into a 44-inch sweater - way too big. So I re-measured and took it from 248 sts down to 200. This should technically produce a 36-inch sweater, so we'll see. In the sample stitch counts Elizabeth Zimmerman uses for the hybrid sweater, she uses 200 stitches, so it must be kismet.

I'll get some pictures taken after I have more than 1 1/2 rows done. :-)

flying in airplanes part 2

I went back to Virginia last weekend and just got back to Florida today. What a crazy couple of weeks!

I'm going in a different direction altogether with the socks - when I get some sunshine I'll put a picture up. The picture explains it all.

I joined Zimmermania! It's madness. I was going to make a seamless hybrid out of my denim blue yorkshire felted tweed (which was originally intended for Salina, but nevermind for now). I was really looking forward to using it up since it has been sitting around here since February. I went into Knit Happens on Sunday to find a contrasting yarn to use for the hems, and some stripes. There is a pretty gold color sprinkled around in that denim yarn, and I thought that color would complement the blue nicely. They didn't have anything in the whole store that looked good with the denim yarn, except for some silk, but that wasn't going to work. Then I found the red cashmere. It looked so nice next to the denim felted tweed.

Then I thought about a whole sweater in red cashmere. Real gorgeous red. Then she tells me it's 40% off. I thought about it for about 20 minutes while the two sales ladies looked through two different pattern books with me.

:-D



This picture was the closest I could get to the right color. 1800 yards of yumminess.

So, now a seamless hybrid in red cashmere, but with waist shaping of course. I have been sorting out the measurements and shaping, so hopefully it will work out well. I have left over cream colored cashmere to use for the inside of the hems. I think it will be nice.

Sunday:





Mmmm, Virginia food. I have yet to find decent lox in Florida and I can't find babka anywhere. It was damn good food this week, that's for sure.

flying in airplanes

There has been little knitting action around here for the last few weeks. It all feels very stale (which means it's time for something new, anything).

The sock is growing, with a new heel which I like much better.



Just a backwards heel flap heel. I sort of made up the short row heel turn numbers, but it worked out fine. The calf shaping worked out well, too, except I decreased about two inches too early, so I have to rip a few inches out and re-do it. The idea worked out fine though. I increased every few rows and then every other row and every row for a few and then every other row for a few more. When it seemed to be wide enough, I knit straight for awhile (though not long enough) and then started decreasing every other row, like you would for a gusset. I sort of wish I was using the magic loop method for this sock, though. Every time I want to try it on I have to transfer it to a circular needle and it's a bit of a pain. The size 1 Lantern Moons are 2.25 mm and the size 1 addis are 2.5, so it's too late to switch. When I do the ribbing at the top I will use size 0 addis. I always like dpns better, but next time I make toe-up knee socks I will definitely use magic loop.

This weekend I went home to visit my family. I got to see one of my oldest friends who has been away for years. He went to school in Oregon and then lived in LA for awhile, but now he's back home for a bit. It was great to see him again - we've always been really good friends.

I played pool with my brother and I beat him! That is amazing because he is killer at pool.

I am kind of sad that the Skins lost their first game of the season, but it was cool to see that Tom Cruise and Katie were at the game. Next week they play the Cowboys. Normally I would hope they beat the Cowboys (there is a huge rivalry), but though I feel like a traitor, I hope they lose. My boss is going to the game in Dallas with his brother and they are HUGE Cowboys fans and absolutely hate the Redskins, so I want the Cowboys to win so their trip is fun. We'll see what happens. I will be watching the game at a friend's condo upstairs in HD on the big screen. :)

At the office there is always talk about football. Always. I am not a very big football fan, but I decided that this year I am going to at least pay attention to what happens with the Skins.


One of my random pictures from home. That is one of the statues on the DC side of the Memorial Bridge. I've always had a fascination with those statues. This picture makes me want to go back (I haven't even been gone a day). It was cool outside and it wasn't humid and I needed a sweater. I miss seeing my family everyday, too. I am too old for this homesick stuff.