Bichons In Berry Sauce

My brother recently moved to a cold climate without any winter accessories, so I made him a hat. He's picky without reason and wouldn't wear anything fun, so I cast on for a simple 3x2 ribbed hat. No real pattern-- I guessed at 100 stitches to cast on, and used Cary as a head model to tell where I needed to start decreasing. He would say, "but I just tried it on, nanc. c'mon" to which I would reply, "yeah, but I just did 5 more rows. please?" I think he's glad it's done.

Pattern: My own, a 3x2 rib, 100 cast-on stitches
Yarn: RYC Cashsoft Aran (57% extra fine merino, 33% microfiber, 10% cashmere) in black, 2 skeins- the ribbing eats a lot of yarn!
Needles: Boye 16" circular, size 8

It turned out well. My brother reports that it's warm enough and more importantly, that it fits. I'm a nice big sister, so I also sent along some oatmeal and dried cherry cookies. My co-worker baked these a while back for a night shift, and I successfully scammed them from her. The cherries taste very yummy, especially after a day or so in a ziploc container.

Abby says hi from her indoor home. When I took her potty last nite, there was no way she could get on the grass. We got 8 inches yesterday and when you add that to the foot or so that's already on the ground, it's like a snow wall to Abs. She made the best of it and peed on the sidewalk, then I decided my Arctic Bichon needed to be thrown in the snow bank. Twice. Once she sunk to the bottom, she shimmied, and then made a few hops to get out. I think she had fun. Or at least she tolerated it. We're still on speaking terms.

Posted by Nancy at 04:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's freezing! I got home 45 minutes ago, and my toes still have that cold hurting feeling. I don't know how or why Abby is still going potty outside-- if I were her, I would have a potty strike. She can't even walk in the snow! It reaches above her back. She just kinda hops around, shimmys her legs apart, and lets loose. I'm impressed- she's either really smart, or really dumb. I can't decide.

C'mon mom, it's not that cold, just a little bit further?

I have a cold weather hat to show you. It's for my dad, who complains that no one ever makes him anything (probably because I would hear about the time wasted while I was doing so). Even so, I decided it was time to make him a nice winter hat. He lives in Arizona, but they take day trips to the Northern elevations like Prescott and Flagstaff frequently so it will get some use. I knew he liked cables,so I asked Jared, who always makes great hats, for some advice. He was quite helpful and one of his suggestions was perfect:

Pattern: Winter Femme by Diana Gates
Yarn: Filatura Di Crosa Wave (75% wool, 25% silk) in color #12, a tweedy chocolaty brown
Needles: Inox circular, size 5 and Bates DPNs, size 5

Dad likes it a lot, even though the hat is a little short. It just covers the ears, but I learned my dad would like the folded brim variety of hat next time. It was a great pattern, very well written, and the cables looked great, even through the decreases to the crown.

Abby liked the wool (as always), but I think she wants her Christmas presents more.

Mom sent me a package with the Christmas gifts that wouldn't fit inside my luggage, and little Abby went nuts when she saw these guys. While I was in AZ, my mom, sis and I went to one of those pottery painting places. I had never been to one before, and it was a lot of fun-- I made Abs a new water bowl, and it came out super cute.

Abby wasn't quite sure about it at first. She just kinda sat in front of it and stared at it.

Mom also put a surprise in my package. She goes to crafty antique stores sometimes, and came across this sheepy item at an after-Christmas clearance. Isn't it cute?

Stay warm!

Posted by Nancy at 11:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

an explanation for the past few months

It seems like we just became engaged, but it's more than half over, and I'm getting married in 5 months. Less than that. Eek! Most of the bigger things have been booked, thank goodness. Most recently, we found and booked a DJ, photographer, and picture site (at the George Eastman House West Garden). Mostly, I just have little things left to do. Like picking favors and invitations. A lot more fun than playing phone tag, getting pricing info, and trying to make sure I'm not getting taken for a ride.

Even during the planning, I have been knitting! We have a new nephew, baby Oliver, who is lucky enough to receive an extra soft knitted teddy.

Pattern: Harry Bear, free on the Berroco website
Yarn: Chinchilla, in Fawn (one skein!)
Needles: Boye circular, size 8

He's knit in two pieces: the back and the front, then seamed together. The pattern is easy to follow, and uses short rows to shape the feet, belly, schnooler, ears, and buns. The yarn is a bit hard to work with at first, but I got used to it a few inches into him. The nose and eyes are embroidered on, making him perfect for new little ones. He's so soft, and doesn't even look knitted (or handmade).

Little Abby's favorite toys are the soft, squishy ones. Especially the ones with squeakers, or some sort of musical button inside. Abby was going nuts while I stuffed Harry, she wanted him very badly. I put him up on the counter for safe keeping, and she stalked him for the evening, trying to figure out her best plan of attack.

I have a couple more finished projects to show from my time away, plus a few new ones. In preparation for making the Lillelam Pullover, I'm going to make a stab at Eunny's Endpaper Mitts. Am I nuts?

Posted by Nancy at 07:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)