Tag, you're it!

I just got tagged by Michelle. I've seen this whole tagging thing on a bunch of blogs lately and the funny thing is, just yesterday I wondered if anyone would ever tag me. Nah, probably not, I thought.

So, for those of you who read the last several lines and have no idea what I'm talking about, here are the rules for a tagged blogger (a tagee?) to follow:

The tagee answers the following questions about herself. The tagee then tags 5-6 other people and lets them know they’ve been tagged. When you post your answers, let the person who tagged you know.

So, let's get started:
1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

In June of 1998, I had just finished my junior year of college. I was double majoring in Anthropology and Comparative Religions. I was also practicing Tibetan Buddhist meditation and was working for my awesome Buddhist teacher and Tibetan translator, Dr. Robin Kornman. My job description was quite varied, with duties that included gardening, housekeeping, editing, errand-running, and making the house ascetically pleasing so that dralas (Tibetan spirits) felt like they could land on objects around the house during translation session (no, I'm not joking).


2. What 5 things are on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order)?
1. Quit my job so that I can knit full time (not gonna happen, but who ever gets through everything on their to-do list, anyways).

2. Win a billion dollars so that I can afford to quit my job and knit full time (this might happen, anything is possible).

3. Get through the intarsia part of the giraffe sweater I'm knitting for my kiddo (this might happen, the night is young).

4. Wash a load of diapers (already done! cross one thing off of my list!)

5. Snuggle up in bed between my husband and son (on my to-do list everyday, because it is just so doable).

3. What snacks do I enjoy?
I'm addicted to these Greens+ protein bars. The ones with peanut butter and chocolate are so amazing, but they're really expensive, so I'm trying to cut back. My excuse for consuming them in bulk quantity is that I'm a nursing mom and a vegetarian, so I have to get my protein and calories somehow, right?
I am also a big fan of kettle chips and these little organic truffles that come in a green box that I'm sure are meant to be shared amongst a group of people, rather than eaten just by me.

4. What would I do if I was a billionaire?
That's so funny, because becoming a billionaire was on my to-do list today! What a coincidence. I'm glad this question was included, because now I can figure out my plans before the high of winning all that money overwhelms my ability to distinguish right from wrong.

I've actually thought of this before, which is why Michelle's response to this question made me smile. It is exactly my plan too, believe it or not. I want to build a totally green off the grid house for my family and give money for my friends to do the same as well. I'd probably have one more child and maybe adopt another one as well. I'd also make my stash completely organic/fair trade. I've been thinking lately about yarn made from who knows what by people making who knows how much money, using who knows what chemicals and dyes. And think of the sheep, won't anyone think of the sheep? I think there definitely needs to be a greater variety of organic yarns, so since I have a billion dollars, I might as well design many many new ones.

There are a lot of charities and causes out there and I'd probably give to several that I really feel closely aligned to--environmental, anti-war, literacy, orphans, puppies. You know. Fight the good fight (pacifistic fighting, that is).

Oh, yeah, and it probably goes without saying, but, I'd quit my job so that I can knit full time.

5. Where have I lived?
I was born and raised on the west side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My parents still live in the same house, in fact. I moved all the way over to the east side of Milwaukee and lived in various locations near the University during undergrad and grad school. In 2003, I accepted a job in Silverdale, Washington over the phone, and sight unseen, my husband and I decided to jump ship and head west. We've been renting a sweet little house on Bainbridge Island ever since.
In addition, I often live inside my head. I keep a beach house there.

I guess I should follow the rules and tag other people. It makes me feel a bit like I'm sending chain mail, but that's part of the fun, right. So, I'm tagging the following people who probably don't want to be tagged. Maybe the billion dollars I'm going to win today can help persuade them to respond. The new tagees are: Beth, Jessica R, Jessi L, Amelia, and Alias Polar Bear. Have fun, kids.

Thus it begins

This is shaping up to be a super easy sweater. I'll be starting the intarsia section soon, but it doesn't look too daunting. This is a good project for me right now. I'm feeling the need to de-stress after the kiddo's in bed with some no-brainer knitting. In fact, I had a crappy day at work, and I'm so desperate to forget about it that I turned on the tv and am watching Nashville Star. It's horrible. Truly. It's one of those shows you watch with someone similarly-minded so that you can make fun of it together. My husband just asked "what happened to real country?" but that's like watching American Idol and asking what happened to real rock. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day at work and I won't feel the need to purge brain cells by watching reality tv while I knit. But wait, isn't that talent show with Jerry Springer on on Tuesdays?

Finally!

Silas played Vanna White for me this afternoon, showing off my newly arrived yarn. What a great day! Both my Webs and my Knitpicks orders arrived--FINALLY. I don't have the time to list off every single yarn and it's intended purpose right now, but I can tell you that there's enough yarn for 2 sweaters for Silas, a vest for me, 2 pairs of socks, and several soakers and longies. I am set (for a while)! Now all I need is 3 extra hours in my day or the ability to knit in my sleep.

First up on my queue--a roll-neck sweater with an intarsia giraffe for Silas made with Berroco Love it.

While I wait for my yarn to arrive...

...I am working on a Scarf for Beatrix, which is a knit along through the Belle of the Ball Podcast.

I've made progress on this since this picture was taken, but I still have well over half to go, so it's not zooming by. Still, it is an easy lace project and is turning out to be quite pretty.

I got this cone of mystery yarn from someone in the local library knitting circle I used to attend pre-baby. She didn't like it, apparently. I was uncertain about using it. I wasn't sure how the variation in color would work with the lace pattern, but I'm pretty pleased with it, so far. I originally started the project with a black fingering weight wool yarn, but I soon abandoned it. I couldn't see the pattern at all with the dark color, plus, it was a hot day and I couldn't stand the feel of wool on my hands.

I'm looking forward to seeing this project completed, but I'll probably work on it in between some other projects. Don't know yet if I'll keep it or give it away as a gift. We'll see...

I might have bought some yarn this weekend

I could resist Web's Annual Sale no longer.

Atari Toddler Space Invader Soaker

This is the Pea Patch Diaper Wrap pattern, size XL. I decided to add a few space invaders, courtesy of the bmp sock pattern from knitty. The sock pattern also has a chart for the little shooter that you use in the video game to stop the alien onslaught. I thought about adding that as well, but it would have been placed right on his butt and I think it would have been, well, let's just say that he has enough shooting out of there.

The two shades of gray are made from our sheep's wool. Thankfully, these are large on Silas, so they should fit for a while to come.

BREAKING NEWS! The knitbook featured in podcast

I'm so excited! My humble, little blog was featured in this week's Belle of the Ball Podcast. Thanks, Michelle, for recommending it, and thanks to the Belle of the Ball Podcast for featuring it. Be sure to check it out! It's a great knitting podcast out of Graham Washington that I've been listening to for a few months now.

Pea Patch Diaper Soaker

The soakers I originally knit for Silas no longer fit, and we've been mainly using Velcro wraps with his cloth diapers. I decided I'd like to knit some soakers and longies, at least to have a few in consistent use, by next fall. So, here's the first one!
This pattern, the Pea Patch Diaper Soaker, is by one of my Ravelry friends, Michellerene. It's a clever design and knits up fast and easy. I made a size large, and they fit him perfectly. Since I want to have him grow into them, the next one, which I'm about 80% done with, will be an XL.

What's cuter than a baby in wool pants, I ask you? And brown, well, it's quite the appropriate color. Stay tuned for pictures of the next soaker, which have something a little retro added to them.

Waldorf Fleece Balls

I got the idea for making these simple fleece balls in a Waldorf-inspired book called "Creative Play for Your Baby" by Christopher Clouder and Janni Nicol. They were very easy to make and my son loves them. I used some of the wool batting that survived the awful moth infestation we had earlier this spring.

To make these balls, all you have to do is wind the batting round and round until it's a bit bigger than the size you want the finished ball to be. Then, take scrap yarn comprised of feltable wool and wrap it around, or needle felt it onto the ball in various patterns. Wash in the washer on hot till it's the desired size. Needle felt to tidy up any loose segments, or add additional embellishments, dry, and give to baby.

Just Some Socks (not too intersting, but finished!)

I'm not a huge sock enthusiast, but I got Ann Budd's "Getting Started With Socks" in January and decided I'd check out what the sock-making madness was all about. I've only made one other pair of socks and that was 3 or 4 years ago, so doing this pair was basically like starting from scratch, knowledge-wise. This project also filled an obligation to knit something for my husband, who's been neglected in the hand knits in favor of making a gazillion hats and sweaters for our son. Socks are actually something I can make for him which he'll wear (unlike the scarves and hats I've knit for him).

I'll admit, turning the heal is really fun. I love making something that forms so well around such an oddly shaped body part. And the self-striping yarn always impresses people who don't know what self-striping yarn is. I made these on dps and I LOVE my dps. Still. Since I hear the magic loop method makes sock knitting faster, I've gotta try it out. I also heard on the Knit Picks podcast a while back about a double knitting method in which 2 socks are knit simultaneously, one inside the other. I've GOT to try that. But I'll probably take a wee break before I knit another pair. I've got a soaker on the needles right now and it's so fast and gratifying. I'll be done with several pairs before I know it.
I'm not complaining too much about the fact that it took me 4 months to finish these very basic socks. Why? Because Drew's been wearing them a lot. He loves them. woo-hoo!

Death By Moth

I have a fear of moths. Irrational though it may be, it is very real. It began with a childhood experience which I will briefly recount and hope that you are not too grossed out. When I was about 8 years old, I was on vacation with my family. I remember that we had stopped at a visitor's center at a western national park. The center was in a small trailer-like structure. While my parents talked to a ranger, I wandered aimlessly around the trailer, and a movement around a light caught my eye. Ironically, I felt drawn to the light bulb, just as the moths who were fluttering around it had been. I got close. Too close. Several of the moths flew up my nose. I have no idea why. I then proceeded to sneezed them out. Ever since then, I've been afraid of the fluttering little bastards. I cover my nose whenever they come close, afraid of a repeat of that traumatic childhood experience.

Now that you know that story, you will understand when I say the following, I say it with horror: My wool has been infested with moths.

Yep, we have an all out moth invasion on our hands. I keep a good bit of my stash downstairs in the living room, and that has survived just fine, thank the gods. But all of the wool I was storing upstairs, well, that's a different matter. You can imagine what it's like for me, going up there and having moths swarm around me. They might as well be bats, though truth be told, I'd love to have a few bats right now as long as they favored a diet heavy in moths. I did have cedar amongst my wool to ward off the moths, but apparently, it wasn't nearly enough.

Onto the specifics of the loss, as well as the clean up: I was too grossed out and sad to take pictures of the worst of it. In fact, my husband cleaned up a lot of it for me, bless his heart. There were bags and bags of wool batting from our four sheep waiting to be spun or felted. Most of it was filled with eggs and larvae (I shutter just writing that) and most was not salvageable. They even burrowed into the wicker baskets the wool was stored in. Oh, and apparently, moths love alpaca as well. Fortunately only two skeins of my hand-dyed Atacama alpaca yarn were eaten through:

Here's the thing. I can't bring myself to kill them. As a rule, I try not to kill anything. Maybe it's the years of Buddhist practice, I don't know, but I hate to kill anything, including insects. Instead, I let my man incur the karma and kill them for me. Mostly, we brought everything outside and released them to the elements. They few that are lingering inside, get the smack down whenever my husband sees them.

Here are two of our sheep, Bart and Blu, whose wool was (partially) lost to the moths. Thankfully, wool is a renewable resource.

Frog and Frog are Friends

This is a free pattern from Lion Brand Yarns. My first Amigurumi! Very quick and easy. I made one for a friend's baby shower, then whipped up a second one for Silas. So the frog friends had fun together for a few short days. Perhaps the new baby will bring her froggie over to play with Silas, and they will have a frog friend reunion some day.

Crocheted Coasters For Our New Table

When we bought a new wooden table, I realized we needed to protect it's surface, so I whipped up some coasters using Medina Bouton d'Or, a linen/viscose blend variegated yarn. I'm very happy with how they look. Now I need to find some matching dark blue yarn to make some accompanying place mats.

Catching up -- Someone Else's Sweater

Here's what I wrote in Ravelry about this project:

I didn’t knit this sweater. I don’t know who did, but as a tribute to that anonymous crafter, I’m including this project with my finished objects.
Here’s the story:
We have a great Rotary auction here that is like a huge rummage sale. The yarn is cheap and plentiful, so naturally, I am always drooling when Rotary time comes around. In 06 I attended the auction and I’d just discovered I was pregnant. I got a bunch of yarn including this bag of white yarn with a bit of silver sparkle to it. When I got the bag home, I took the yarn out and discovered amidst the yarn a baby cardigan, completely knitted, but still needing to be seamed. I kept wondering what the story was behind that sweater. Why had the knitter stopped when she was so close to having a finished project? Did something happen to her? Or to the baby? Did something less traumatic come up that simply made her abandon or forget this project? Did she just hate finishing work? We’ll never know the answer, but I felt compelled to finish what the woman had started. The yarn is acrylic and not the best, truth be told, but the workmanship is very fine and the finished sweater is beautiful.

My son wore it on Easter and looked very cute, but the silver sparkle does make it a bit feminine, so we will probably give this away to a friend’s baby girl. It is lovely and deserves to be worn a lot!

Whoever made this sweater, Thank-you.

Catching Up --Baby Cargo Pants

This week my goal is to post a couple of projects that have been finished for a while now but that I just recently got around to posting on Ravelry. This blog will probably never include the body of finished objects that my Ravelry site has. No time for that! Such is life.In the pics, Silas is sporting his cool but casual baby cargo pants. The pattern can be found HERE on Knitty.com.
As you can see, they look pretty good in action!
I knit these late last summer and they now fit Silas pretty well (they are the 18 mo. size). Overall, I am happy with how they turned out. I had a little trouble with the elastic band. It just didn't seem to look right. Don't ask me why. Chalk it up to my complete lack of sewing skills (though the sewing involved was very minimal).
They've got a bit of stretch and are made from an all cotton yarn. Should be a nice fit for a while to come.