yayayay!
Talk about a pick-me-up--I get home today from a day notable for its lack of comfort (cold, snow on the ground) serenity (crazy drivers) and sanity (shorthanded at work because some of my co-workers didn't show up)--and what greets me from my mailbox? This delightful consolation prize from the Ultrafestive Holiday Contest cooked up by the fabulous Ann and Kay over at Mason-Dixon Knitting. Apparently they're trying to start a dishcloth craze, and baby, I'm IN! Watch this space for news of bruxknits dishcloth fever! And a sincere thanks goes out to Ann and Kay, how thoughtful!

road tunes list
Undoubtedly you guys have decided that I've conveniently forgotten about the CDs I promised for the road tunes mp3 compilation. I don't blame you. Well, I actually haven't forgotten, it's just been put on the back burner with all that's going on down here. However, I forsee a chance to get back on this project real soon, like perhaps this weekend. In the meantime, e-mail me your address if you contributed to the list for a possible surprise!

sir, your throne is ready
After careful consideration it was determined that Osiris would/should be the lucky recipient of the first bed (I have enough yarn to make another, I think). I had to block this baby twice because my plastic chip 'n' dip container left the bed slightly too small in diameter with higher sides, so for the second blocking I stuffed plastic bags around the sides to elongate the bottom. Which left a somewhat lumpy curve, but I don't think the kitty will mind. Am trying to catch him in the act of using the bed--will post photos when I do.

football and knitting
Unlike many of my blogging buddies, I like sports. Especially collegiate football/basketball, baseball, and now that the Carolina Panthers have made it to the Super Bowl, maybe I'm an NFL fan. As I learn more about the plays and strategies of each sport, I enjoy 'em more--but I have always seen them as a way to a) forge common ground with the opposite gender (hey, I like talking to men. so shoot me!) and b) knit!!! Time in front of the TV (or time on a metal bleacher) is time best spent knittin'. Any other sports fans out there?

scarf-along
Sandy has graciously allowed me to participate in the scarf-along, even tho I'm working on a hubscarf. She and I both agree that I can borrow the scarf anytime *MY* neck needs warming--so I guess that counts. Anyhow--I'm more than halfway done with the allocated yarn for the thing, but not quite halfway done with the hub-desired length. So--get this ladies--my DH has given me permission to go get more yarn! YAY! And I better get moving--his birthday is Thursday (YIKES)!

no willpower
I was zooming along on the second sockotta gift sock, when I was struck by a terrible case of start-itis--I was literally rows away (tee-hee, isn't that a great excuse?) from finishing the sock but had to put it down in favor of:

Ladies, this pattern is delightfully fun and easy to make--no houndstooth fair-isle or anything. Get yerself over to wendy's place right now and download yer own! Now: it has been felted and is drying out--pics tomorrow! Which cat o' mine should be the lucky recipient? Cast your vote now!

two FOs!
So now (since I finished the sockotta pair) I have two FOs in the same day--I'm not sure if that's ever happened before!

scarfverk
Here's what I got done on my husband's scarf while I was gone--I did a few more rows last night but realized that his birthday comes after the sockotta recipient's birthday, so I have to go back to working on the sock. I guess I'm a pretty happy person if my largest problems involve the switching of knitting projects to meet a deadline!

more about DC
The weather in D.C. was really cold--highs in the low 20s last Saturday. But on the plus side, the crowds at the most visited museum in the world--the National Air and Space Museum--were almost non-existent! So we really enjoyed checking out the Wright Brothers exhibit, with almost no other people to squeeze past (I admit to being mostly disgusted with moving into, around and through large crowds of people, no matter how nice they may be). What I liked most about Orville and Wilbur and their groundbreaking work is that they didn't start out dreaming of ways to get man up into the air--first they ran a printing business together, then a bike shop, and *then* began the experiments that eventually led to the first flight at Kitty Hawk. Which goes against conventional wisdom that a person who wants to go down in history by inventing or creating something new should be hyper-focused on that one goal and stay dedicated to it throughout their life. What say ye, my fellow creative dreamers?

lots to tell you about
We had so much fun--we did in fact visit all the places I mentioned earlier, including the Spy Museum, which was great fun--highly recommended. However, since this is a knit blog, I'll point out that I couldn't travel to a different city without dragging everyone in my party to a fabulous knit store. This visit it was Springwater Fiber Workshop in Alexandria, only a couple of miles (if that) from the Embassy Suites (where we stayed). This place is wonderful--since they are a true learning center, there was no hint of snootiness at all, and they had a wonderful selection of both yarn and books! Therefore I bought the latest VK (which has improved this issue, IMHO), Barbara Walker's Fourth Treasury (I've checked it out so many times from the library I thought it was about time I got my own copy) and the luscious wool above, which I plan to use to make this! They didn't have the Big Kureyon the pattern calls for, but I figured this hand-dyed Brown Sheep would be about as good. I can't wait to get started--I gave brief thought to designing a kitty bed of my own, but couldn't think of how to improve on Wendy's version. And since I have three kitties, if one likes it I may make several versions. Fun!

i'm b-a-a-a-c-k!
It's late and my DH will kill me if I spend my first few minutes back with the 'puter instead of him, but I'll post pics and more info tomorrow. But I have one thing to say first:

more tomorrow! xoxo

knits like a dream
This yarn that I got for my husband's scarf is just wonderful (Filatura di Crosa 127 Print)--supersoft and knits up beautifully. I'm doing a simple twist-stitch cable design... found it in one of Barbara Walker's Treasury books, but modified it myself to make it reversible. This swatch would've been the beginning of the actual scarf, but DH wants it just a bit wider, so I decided to bind off and keep the swatch around for myself, just to pet and cuddle with (tee-hee).

DC trip
Thanks for your suggestions everyone--am going to try to make it to at least the stores close to Alexandria, where we'll be bunking. And my li'l sis has convinced me that we should visit the Spy Museum, right across from the National Portrait Gallery. And of course (aside from the new wing at the Air & Space Museum) we will not miss the Eckersberg and Picasso exhibits over at the National Gallery--YAY! What fun--an entire four-day weekend devoted to looking at art and yarn stores!

elle tip sheet
Now that people are actually starting to knit elle (thanks San!) I finally got up off my holiday-addled keister and completed the tip sheet for elle and belle, including photos and things I've learned after knitting two of these bags. Visit the Elle-along page to download your copy, or click here.

need your help!
This weekend (Jan. 9-12) I am going to visit Washington D.C. with my mom and sister and need some insider's tips for where the best yarn shops are. We'll be staying in Alexandria for three nights and will be taking the Metro into the city. And I am profoundly sad at the fact that Kristine's shop won't be open by this weekend. Any other ideas for yarn (and fun things to do besides the usual suspects on the mall) in the nation's capital?

d'oh!
Sandy brought to my attention the fact that perhaps I wasn't as clear as I could've been with my fair-isle chart for Elle. Hopefully the above chart makes it easier to understand: it's a four-stitch and four-row repeat throughout (with one stitch interruptions in the main color on either side of the stitch markers, placed at the beginning and at the halfway point). My sincere apologies to Sandy and the rest of you who might be slogging through the pattern. I've made the change to the pattern--visit the Elle-along page to download your new and improved version, or click here.

one down, one to go
Crankin' on the sockotta pair now, and got the first one done. I still hate grafting and have vowed to do a left-hander's tutorial on the technique before I do the toe of the second sock of this set.

next up
Am hoping to start swatching in the next couple of days on the husband scarf with this Filatura Di Crosa 127 Print from the LYS in color 12 (gray). The smidgens of earthtones are supposed to show up as stripe accents--hopefully it will make for a nice scarf.

Happy New Year everyone! xoxo