Another month gone, and also another new moon gone by. I’m a day late again. I’m sure everyone is shocked.
TUSAL - September 2011.
Sadly, I haven’t added too much this month. Between the trip to Vegas, and a million other little things, I haven’t found much time to sit down with a needle of any type in my hands. However, I will have this month’s ornament done on time. Although, it might be late at night on the 30th before I put the final stitch in. 😉
I love to see maneki neko in a store window or near the cash register. I think they are a lovely little bit of fun and, of course, good luck. We have one in our home, with its left arm raised and pointing towards the door, inviting money in.
When I came across a cute maneki neko crochet pattern, I knew I had to make it.
Maneki Neko
I used a combination of Bernat Satin and Mary Maxim Starlette yarn. The bell isn’t quite right, but it is all I had on hand. And, sadly, my embroidery skills aren’t great, but I still think this turned out pretty cute. The pattern, for those interested, is Maneki Neko Lucky Cat Amigurumi from Handmade Kitty on etsy.
Well, I’ve been home from vacation since last Thursday and I still haven’t gotten around to posting an update. We did have a great time, although Vegas has changed a good deal from the last time we were there (a scant three years ago). It is very clear that the city is hurting and that tourism is down. None the less, we still saw a great show (the other one we wanted to see was cancelled due to rain, if you can believe it), ate a lot of great good (I highly recommend the Wicked Spoon at the Cosmo and the buffet at Paris), and even did a tiny bit of shopping.
View from Room
I did manage to find some time to do a little bit of knitting. That picture up there is the view from our room. We had a lovely, large balcony with a lounger. I sat outside and worked on my socks for a little while.
6x2 Rib Socks
Unfortunately, I don’t like how the stripe is turning out. It has stopped stripping and is now pooling, so I’m going to be ripping them out and trying again with a slightly difference stitch count. I like the yarn too much to make socks that I don’t like the look of.
Architecture Mitts
And progress was made on the fingerless gloves too. I worked on them during the plane ride down. I’m a bit worried that they are going to turn out to be too small because of the colourwork. So, I’ve put them down and I’m afraid to pick them up again. I do really like how they are turning out, so I’m sure I’ll get back to work on them soon.
I didn’t make any progress on my cross stitch project, unfortunately. I noticed that I had made a pretty significant error that would require quite a bit of picking out, which I didn’t want to have to worry about. I don’t know if it will get done in time for Halloween this year, but at least it is on my WIP list now. 😉
Later day, the husband and I are setting off on a short vacation. My main criteria for the destination was being not here, which meant that we had a lot of options. But, ultimately, given the short time we have to be away, my desire to sleep and eat well, and also a desire to go somewhere we sort of knew, we decided on Las Vegas. And, for some strange reason, perhaps it being the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States, air fare was particularly cheap for today. So, our bags our packed, Baby Man’s baby sitter has arrived, and our passports are in hand.
Of course, I couldn’t go anywhere without a whole pile of projects. Here’s what I’m bring along:
Architecture Mitts (Aqueduct) from Knit Picks
I’ve cast on for the Architecture Mitts (Aqueduct variation) from Knit Picks, using Knit Picks Comfy Fingering yarn in colour Whisker. My contrasting colour, nestled in my project bag, will be Lilac Mist, a very light purple.
I’ve also cast on a pair of simple socks of my own devising, using a 6×2 rib. They should be perfect for working on when standing in the inevitable line-up waiting to get into a buffet. The yarn is Wendy Happy, a bamboo and nylon mix, in colourway Venus.
Las Vegas Socks
And, of course, I’m taking a cross stitching project: A Spirited Mandala by Ink Circles.
Here’s my “little” pile, ready to go. I made sure I’ve got wooden knitting needles, a very small supply of needles, and a tiny pair of scissors. Hopefully everything (including me!) will come through the flight today just fine.
Lots to do!
So, I started another project: A Spirited Mandala by Ink Circles, from the Just Cross Stitch Halloween Collection (which I reviewed just the other day).
A Spirited Mandala by Ink Circles (WIP)
It is stitched on a one-of-a-kind piece of hand-dyed fabric from Enchanting Lair. It looks to be 28 count linen of some kind, or maybe 32 count. I’m not sure. The thread is good old black DMC.
Why start another piece? Well, I love this design. And, Halloween is coming. And, being all one colour, I figured this would be a great design to take on my holiday.
Oh look, a new start! Imagine that.
W is for Wtitch by Victoria Sampler
It is W is for Wtitch by Victoria Sampler, stitched on 30 count linen banding using the thread pack which is full of yummy silk threads. And, while this may be a new start when I am already drowning in WIPs and UFOs, at least it is a) seasonally appropriate, and b) on my list of 2011 goals. This lessens my feelings of guilt just a little bit.
No, there is no new baby on the way over here. We are quite happy as a trio. However, a friend of the family and his wife are expecting their first, a little girl, in mid-November. Since I didn’t learn to knit until Baby Man was about nine months old, I missed out on the whole knit-for-baby thing. So, as you can imagine, I’m so pleased to have an excuse to knit some of those cute little designs I’ve been seeing.
So far I’ve only completed a couple of small things. First, a wee cabled hat knit from Rowan Calmer in colour Calmer:
Cabled Baby Hat
And, with the left over yarn, I knit a small pair of baby mitts:
Baby Mitts
I have enough of the yarn left to do another small project, possibly another hat. And let me tell you, this yarn is sooooo soft. I have six balls of another colour hidden away for a project for myself, and another two balls of yet another colour that I’m planning on knitting some fishnet trouser socks with. I can’t wait!
I’m also working on a large baby blanket using Bernat’s new Pipsqueak yarn. The yarn is very soft, and reminds me of Baby Man’s own treasured Blankie (or Glankie, depending on what he is calling on that particular day). And, bonus, it is machine washable! On the downside, it is shedding like crazy from all the cut ends while I am working with it. I dearly hope that once it has been washed that it will beheave a little better. Here is just one of the thirty-six squares I’ll be knitting for the blanket. So far it is about 1/3 complete, and I am aiming to have it done by the end of the month.
Baby Blanket square
The free pattern for the blanket is available here. I’m using Pretty Pink as my main colour (A), Sitting Pretty as colour B, and Whitey White as colour C. Baby Man is so in love with this blanket that he has asked me to make one for him when I’m done. Honestly, with all the ends I have to weave in for every square (8!), plus seaming all the squares together (6 per row) and then seaming the rows together (6 rows), I don’t think I will be making another one of these blankets. They do, however, have a lovely crochet blanket that Baby Man might like just as much.
I’ve still got (fingers crossed) two months of knitting time left before the baby arrives, and a lifetime of knitting for a girl after that. I’ve got a couple of cardigans planned, and then who knows what else. Baby Man’s blanket may be delayed for a little while.
Needleworker, Knitter, Crocheter, Sewist, Paper Crafter, and more!
Also known as Silverlotus & Stitchinglotus
Located just outside of Toronto, Canada.
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