tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-302537042024-03-06T23:41:36.001-05:00the mighty momogusSince 2006, the Internet's Premier Source for Combined Knitting and Phillies Information!dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.comBlogger420125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-54077158725506717852011-02-07T16:59:00.002-05:002011-02-07T17:02:29.340-05:00Crafty Monday - Make Your Own Stitch Markers!Welcome! It seems to be Crafty Monday around these parts! For some reason, I got a lot of crafty stuff done today, but I'm going to parcel out crafty tips over a few weeks so you all don't get overwhelmed with the craftiness.<br /><br />Today's topic is stitch markers. I, like many knitters, am always looking for new gadgets and tools and enhancements to my knitting experience. Specifically, I'm always looking for good stitch markers. I've bought and received as gifts those stitch markers that look like jewelry - the kind that hang off a loop that sits on the needle.<br /><br />As pretty as some of these are, I find them a pain in the patootie to knit with. They keep getting stuck in between stitches or they need to be flipped to the front or back of my knitting depending on what stitch I'm doing.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujB6A-iyvjYaiNrLwIxZSxWy7NLHIeceL-lsYiZnTh7MjrH7-45JRadXN8avWqfO3TqDQL9F8WYIfSSxXcHhIttbGurvGRl6XtPHlTGizoGSdC_aecMyBOoSaCr8cOxexi12D/s1600/DSCF6945.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujB6A-iyvjYaiNrLwIxZSxWy7NLHIeceL-lsYiZnTh7MjrH7-45JRadXN8avWqfO3TqDQL9F8WYIfSSxXcHhIttbGurvGRl6XtPHlTGizoGSdC_aecMyBOoSaCr8cOxexi12D/s400/DSCF6945.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571066890505454194" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We're pretty, but we don't work well!</span><br /><br />I wanted markers that were circles, like those ubiquitous plastic ones that we all have. I've never attempted to make stitch markers before, but I saw some online that looked like just the ticket, so I thought I'd try to recreate them. And let me tell you, <span style="font-style: italic;">they are the easiest things in the world to make</span>! And <span style="font-weight: bold;">they work</span>! And they're pretty!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzlJ03_Vj7Px6ngR2kVFlZaSaDu3YINcZBXfnSeOYw-mZhkDAs9qbJf8exBHkWRi-r5L0BtvJcFq-k0WKp8Jxv-TU-LBTOMNzO0r1mlTTqG_9BmXjRR40FD-OABeKy5-bMg2t/s1600/DSCF6936.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzlJ03_Vj7Px6ngR2kVFlZaSaDu3YINcZBXfnSeOYw-mZhkDAs9qbJf8exBHkWRi-r5L0BtvJcFq-k0WKp8Jxv-TU-LBTOMNzO0r1mlTTqG_9BmXjRR40FD-OABeKy5-bMg2t/s400/DSCF6936.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571057593634063122" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We work! And we're easy to make!</span><br /><br />Yep. That's it. You need 10mm jump rings - the kind that are a single circle, not a coil - which you can purchase at any big box craft store or bead store, and size 6 (or E) beads, also widely available all over the place. (If you are like me, you have trillions of these beads lying around from various beading and knitting projects.)<br /><br />You don't even need pliers to make these. Simply pry the jump ring apart with your fingers, slip on a bead, and then pry the jump ring back together. Voila! That's it! You're done! I took these out for a spin on a pair of mittens I'm making (Shelburne from knitty.com, if you must know).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRG2adVlfgqBslPdMm7mcdT7jXt3akRWjl0praNUR2S2sPDR45gmZlBH-B9Izo7aoPXG-O55dTsJLZV0ogDpEnMQ7hxdtqE6Xxd_GSYKy3IA_VqUT3GQUAuQftBErRGvHEtZCg/s1600/DSCF6938.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRG2adVlfgqBslPdMm7mcdT7jXt3akRWjl0praNUR2S2sPDR45gmZlBH-B9Izo7aoPXG-O55dTsJLZV0ogDpEnMQ7hxdtqE6Xxd_GSYKy3IA_VqUT3GQUAuQftBErRGvHEtZCg/s400/DSCF6938.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571066889223543474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Terrible picture, but seeing the cat's feet made me crack up)</span><br /><br />Those mittens are on a size #9 needle, and the markers work perfectly. They had smaller jump rings at the store, but I like markers on the big side, even if I'm using small needles. I'm going to troll Etsy and see if they have even larger ones.<br /><br />No more plastic markers! Make some pretty ones of your very own today! And think of what a nice gift for your knitter friends a set of these would make!dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-27395267841069348752011-01-31T17:15:00.001-05:002011-01-31T17:15:54.939-05:00What I Knit On My Winter VacationEvery year around this time we head out to the end of Long Island to stay at the house of my beloved Aunt Jane. We love it out there at this time of year - the bracing walks on the beach, the snuggly times reading in the cozy house, the local seafood. Heaven.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUw8LLNykwVuO8ZoBjwtW2uf6uExI3xK58c4s8JYkF-4kODmqyKV9d7uAFF4qYi9FFMpTQJ5ZDB5TTZwtIZ8Tvn9TtkWr-3p94vKs19eXfhP4loys2FQlvcxI2Mk7dQr_F3tH/s1600/IMG_0240.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUw8LLNykwVuO8ZoBjwtW2uf6uExI3xK58c4s8JYkF-4kODmqyKV9d7uAFF4qYi9FFMpTQJ5ZDB5TTZwtIZ8Tvn9TtkWr-3p94vKs19eXfhP4loys2FQlvcxI2Mk7dQr_F3tH/s400/IMG_0240.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568475763611029730" border="0" /></a><br />Also, I have a lot of knitting time!! Before I go on vacation, I start thinking about what I'm taking, knitting-wise, wayyyyyy before I think of packing stuff like, oh, clothes, toothbrush, those kinds of things...<br /><br />I like taking small projects on vacation and besides, I'm in a very non-sweatery knitting mood these days. I started and finished these:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGE1lnbGUkRA0-AKR5U-kXE2LKtR13BPYREe8aexeQbsntPwzSwKRWCyQeSGfWSuNep3eCHsPg5X19YqrTvKNryhtDrs6ME7Cbg3pdXvicDfOdlELTRJjCMcUlpY6dMKaD9I-/s1600/DSCF6890.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGE1lnbGUkRA0-AKR5U-kXE2LKtR13BPYREe8aexeQbsntPwzSwKRWCyQeSGfWSuNep3eCHsPg5X19YqrTvKNryhtDrs6ME7Cbg3pdXvicDfOdlELTRJjCMcUlpY6dMKaD9I-/s400/DSCF6890.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568469250244669282" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEw11/PATTshelburne.php">Shelburne Mittens</a> from the latest Knitty.com. Great easy pattern. I do love a textured mitten!! The yarn is from an unnamed big box store. The yarn I brought was impossible to get gauge with, so I popped in a store (yarn emergency!!) and picked up a ball of this insanely bright fuschia yarn. I like it though, and they'll never get lost in the snow!<br /><br />These gloves I had already finished before I left, but they felt short to me, so I picked up stitches around the cuff and knit a couple of inches of garter stitch. The wonky, Wonder-Woman type shape of the cuffs was because I had added a sort of tab to put the button on, but added it on the wrong side on one of the gloves. So I seamed the tab to the side of the cuff and got that weird shape. Which I like, so that's cool.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4zt88SETK-wQdUa-8hmFHI1ncg5Teg5B0BPkE06RUPlnvwBv62pz670yiSUXDvCrU3cCoSZVGmbYQnuhm4JJmppk8WXPtalSr8-TCNYD_2AW8rFAJnoeu48tBchMbPDQdcXg/s1600/DSCF6891.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4zt88SETK-wQdUa-8hmFHI1ncg5Teg5B0BPkE06RUPlnvwBv62pz670yiSUXDvCrU3cCoSZVGmbYQnuhm4JJmppk8WXPtalSr8-TCNYD_2AW8rFAJnoeu48tBchMbPDQdcXg/s400/DSCF6891.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568469252723304530" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.sharalambethdesigns.com/2008/10/4-ply-sideways-gloves-knitting-pattern.html">Garter Stitch Sideways Gloves</a>, in Claudia Handpaints Fingering weight, Zecca buttons.<br /><br />I did some Momogus knitting too. Here I am zooming up the 2nd of a pair of <a href="http://www.momogusknits.com/NS29-twisty-toe-up-tube-socks-knitting-pattern.html">Totally Twisty Toe-Up Tube Socks</a>. Some vintage Opal sock yarn from the stash. These will never get lost in the snow either!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnEjCcWxwQonzImkft_9NHQrWRUc1E4uFMZ1D4aXDORZGddXFiZ4843zoo6aJoh89LSgJxdxs64urIHeq3o7pqM8tHe6-1wVQGFZMeP9MgZkkmwdA4P4aLpCRS64mJGm0iKZM/s1600/DSCF6889.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnEjCcWxwQonzImkft_9NHQrWRUc1E4uFMZ1D4aXDORZGddXFiZ4843zoo6aJoh89LSgJxdxs64urIHeq3o7pqM8tHe6-1wVQGFZMeP9MgZkkmwdA4P4aLpCRS64mJGm0iKZM/s400/DSCF6889.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568469246457722482" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Finally, I made an <a href="http://www.momogusknits.com/NS33-headband-knitting-pattern.html">Easy Colorwork Headband</a> for myself, but just as I finished a cold front swept the East Coast, and I decided to convert it to a hat. It was super-warm! I'm going to write up the conversion-to-a-hat instructions and add them to the Free Patterns page of the website.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1ReKyhbIwUuLhjTZqiruxLLtmtjmFd5r6dnIBeEv5HUUV-1tparJaB7oDgYi_Rd-1kjKiC9Ov5FFi_rpQGAGp9-AmoR37QhYVLOFW-5Lz2BFndJxVbmlCZb_x8m9ap3sCVmC/s1600/DSCF6892.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1ReKyhbIwUuLhjTZqiruxLLtmtjmFd5r6dnIBeEv5HUUV-1tparJaB7oDgYi_Rd-1kjKiC9Ov5FFi_rpQGAGp9-AmoR37QhYVLOFW-5Lz2BFndJxVbmlCZb_x8m9ap3sCVmC/s400/DSCF6892.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568469256933340130" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.momogusknits.com/NS33-headband-knitting-pattern.html">Easy Colorwork Headband</a>, converted to a hat! Brown Sheep NatureSpun yarn.dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-26012158331046386672011-01-26T11:39:00.003-05:002011-01-26T11:42:13.087-05:00I haven't dropped off the face of the earth!Yes, it's been a long time. Here's where we are right now:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqmsXVeoGNA1ZOfiXbk7mRFZQvWRmZDHQLaK2gLRmtP-F2vOt54pYNQXbjIJv2NV0fjft8-5Z6xPOc7wTLJwS531I5eyIP69lyCqqu4Gzx382j4OcdZZNueByy2_lTYjzNLUYeg/s1600/DSCF6843.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqmsXVeoGNA1ZOfiXbk7mRFZQvWRmZDHQLaK2gLRmtP-F2vOt54pYNQXbjIJv2NV0fjft8-5Z6xPOc7wTLJwS531I5eyIP69lyCqqu4Gzx382j4OcdZZNueByy2_lTYjzNLUYeg/s400/DSCF6843.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566535532942216018" border="0" /></a><br />Aaahhh, our beloved annual Long Island trip!dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-33535238287478508232010-10-21T07:33:00.007-04:002010-10-21T09:25:55.546-04:00Back to KnittingSorry, folks, the blog got hijacked by the Phillies for a while there. But since they seem to be sinking fast, let's talk about something fun....like knitting!!<br /><br />Yesterday on Facebook, Kris mentioned that she was about to become a new grandma (yay!) and asked, "...<span>Anybody have any great but simple ideas for new babies from their grandma?"</span><br /><br />Funny she should ask because I am in the middle of the same dilemma (as a friend and sort of great-aunt-in-law rather than a grandma). My usual go-to project for new babies is this, the <a href="http://www.momogusknits.com/ES3-Baby-Cardigan-Sweater-knitting-pattern.html">Easy Baby Cardigan</a>:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIRU2xRszWe6jxXpPB27QvoXXXFBHKKLAKtSbDaIdPHGKXrSKqWyDjurdcCx_BXIMtkpvgvAVdo1xGQYD1uRL3ArXTLH-DbQzgj5MJj1YOG64zrH0AFlpvzsscwX8pGjeSMplfg/s1600/2657230978_c5aa4a159f_z.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIRU2xRszWe6jxXpPB27QvoXXXFBHKKLAKtSbDaIdPHGKXrSKqWyDjurdcCx_BXIMtkpvgvAVdo1xGQYD1uRL3ArXTLH-DbQzgj5MJj1YOG64zrH0AFlpvzsscwX8pGjeSMplfg/s400/2657230978_c5aa4a159f_z.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530462400597254354" border="0" /></a><br />In this case (I think this was for my nephew), I also made the matching <a href="http://www.momogusknits.com/ES4-Baby-Cap-knitting-pattern.html">hat</a>. A few weeks ago, after a baby lull of a year or so, I found out that a dear friend of mine was welcoming a new baby boy into her family and also that my husband's nephew's girlfriend had just had a baby girl.<br /><br />I wanted to make something special for each baby, but didn't have enough emotional energy to make sweaters for both. So I poked around in my patterns and suddenly had an epiphany! What if I took this:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITmItV6tntK1R8nZ4J890wVcxy36oVUfCEhR478EoIcQIYOBAiNVArsqW3iF3JUQLWgWxLEPH33v9ikdLH7lmdj4NYBKvnrg8LW1UNzqOxhYFbfZ2vPbzXDciBfHE_GngocxNvw/s1600/DSCF5620_medium.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITmItV6tntK1R8nZ4J890wVcxy36oVUfCEhR478EoIcQIYOBAiNVArsqW3iF3JUQLWgWxLEPH33v9ikdLH7lmdj4NYBKvnrg8LW1UNzqOxhYFbfZ2vPbzXDciBfHE_GngocxNvw/s400/DSCF5620_medium.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530463912973948242" border="0" /></a><br />(<a href="http://www.momogusknits.com/free.html">Easy-Peasy Washcloth</a>) and expanded it into a blanket? Light bulb! I love a garter stitch blanket and I love the simple eyelet edging on this. So I unearthed some cotton-blend yarn from the stash and started these:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTuWrkMsJCyZD9FnKxSga9wgOUEekAWr0gYQifwsLz7UgRtogu7iZyUKYuKWHuuSoi1i1Nc7EpDICQ2QxtMaQeKXfUGLDiICaGUjhsqRaPA2SP9n9NIzJ-i0NMXH85WnC2ru9ew/s1600/DSCF6605.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTuWrkMsJCyZD9FnKxSga9wgOUEekAWr0gYQifwsLz7UgRtogu7iZyUKYuKWHuuSoi1i1Nc7EpDICQ2QxtMaQeKXfUGLDiICaGUjhsqRaPA2SP9n9NIzJ-i0NMXH85WnC2ru9ew/s400/DSCF6605.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530485489885205234" border="0" /></a><br />What's great about this pattern is that it is the ultimate no-brainer. You can just put down and pick up without constantly checking a pattern. You can also control exactly how much yarn you want to use. I had 2 balls of cotton-blend yarn with 207 yds on each ball. So I increased until I had used up one ball and then started decreasing with the new ball of yarn.<br /><br />I started these at the corner, but instead of increasing up to about 50 sts or so (can't remember exact #) for the washcloth, I continued until I had 126 sts, which was also when I ran out of yarn from the ball. I was shooting for a stroller blanket of about 24" x 24". 126 sts on a #7 needle got me to about 21". I only want to use the 2 balls of yarn for this, so I'm going to make up the difference by crocheting a 1.5" border with cocoa brown at the end.<br /><br />I love these blankets because just as the rows start getting long and boring, it's time to start decreasing! That's where I am with the pink one; the blue one needs about 20 more rows.<br /><br />So there you go, Kris. A couple of ideas for that precious new grandchild. Plus here's a whole <a href="http://www.momogusknits.com/babies.html">page of baby patterns</a>. And here's a <a href="http://www.momogusknits.com/knitting-pattern-sets.html">page with some sets</a> on it if the sweater/hat combo appeals.dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-60432148618224094272010-10-07T07:31:00.001-04:002010-10-07T07:31:42.617-04:00Why Thank You, Mr. Halladay!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XrALWqktM4PQWU6inWkvEK9M38iln9k1IVjwsIKumGIt-tFfKtWwJ3kdvRsabr-KgNTgCRBTmKsflEcUsDvBBU21tAJ3JzCQvKHxtwQwRokaH9kge7ajVP4YXXtXFEIEkBXuqg/s1600/t1larg.halladay.gi.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XrALWqktM4PQWU6inWkvEK9M38iln9k1IVjwsIKumGIt-tFfKtWwJ3kdvRsabr-KgNTgCRBTmKsflEcUsDvBBU21tAJ3JzCQvKHxtwQwRokaH9kge7ajVP4YXXtXFEIEkBXuqg/s400/t1larg.halladay.gi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525265361565287458" border="0" /></a>dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-85744888431290749042010-09-28T06:55:00.000-04:002010-09-28T06:56:16.061-04:00YIPPEEE!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0gADQgr7C21OsOgCWaMovl6ENGnj_0mF0KLY842MV1QQbIeLFQD0DEF3MiwWIo1vWZ3Y-KmKvob4d2_58pDithd132H8u0M7WgpUHjyk8GMLW93eaFFdb5kMAZDhqwVaOGt1ew/s1600/20100928_inq_pinside28z-z.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 381px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0gADQgr7C21OsOgCWaMovl6ENGnj_0mF0KLY842MV1QQbIeLFQD0DEF3MiwWIo1vWZ3Y-KmKvob4d2_58pDithd132H8u0M7WgpUHjyk8GMLW93eaFFdb5kMAZDhqwVaOGt1ew/s400/20100928_inq_pinside28z-z.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521916447952999106" border="0" /></a>dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-45222024235461782842010-08-22T08:50:00.009-04:002010-08-22T18:19:45.458-04:00Taking the Plunge!If there's a crafty bandwagon anywhere around, I'll jump on it! Lately I've been seeing many articles about canning and preserving, and I've been intrigued. I remember years ago my friend Lisa gave me a jar of preserves that a friend of hers had made. When I expressed delight and amazement, Lisa said, "Oh you would like her - she knits and makes furniture and makes her own preserves." This paragon of self-sufficiency has haunted me a little for years.<br /><br />So yesterday I went to the Oreland Hardware Store and bought this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINqmUc0s4YM_pzw3L1awx0UDLn-Ess4j-hzlWJXv_33bW80Zw0DffJWlOnBW8X8muy8rSCe6jJFfvKvCZ3Opn-miscWNNgTmkaRh2CkqqtSWOfNBzeF-XASeYYGc7XA_ospnaCg/s1600/DSCF6529.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINqmUc0s4YM_pzw3L1awx0UDLn-Ess4j-hzlWJXv_33bW80Zw0DffJWlOnBW8X8muy8rSCe6jJFfvKvCZ3Opn-miscWNNgTmkaRh2CkqqtSWOfNBzeF-XASeYYGc7XA_ospnaCg/s400/DSCF6529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508321736832016674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Matthew went to the Glenside Farmers Market and bought these:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqBzjioSOQ1Cyh0wO5ZbUQ_lIjsUBOE7RM_FZnNbXNGRWYSmvXcMphZzSWYP_Djpy1wO47UfXM_k4Z8TMBLqIukqEnaf3oD8LL9UYC5U2jYgAa3egOYCmzdeCGb3XpH8qn3VnpQ/s1600/DSCF6530.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqBzjioSOQ1Cyh0wO5ZbUQ_lIjsUBOE7RM_FZnNbXNGRWYSmvXcMphZzSWYP_Djpy1wO47UfXM_k4Z8TMBLqIukqEnaf3oD8LL9UYC5U2jYgAa3egOYCmzdeCGb3XpH8qn3VnpQ/s400/DSCF6530.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508321741507865378" border="0" /></a><br />Now I shall attempt to combine the two into (insert heavenly choir here) <span style="font-style: italic;">homemade peach jam</span>! In my mind, this is the equivalent of saying, "Well, I'll just go ahead and build a nuclear reactor here in my backyard."<br /><br />Enlist a helper. Peeling peaches (after the hot/cold water dunk) is awesome slimy fun:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllTOl83WwqEgu8VaLMpsLWrI7KqFROuc05BQN49dHV0PfHBYBHWP_t4sVSqt4NLFmwQk5flVoTZlzJKy_c15rCjcOxEa8uISa3t0xOldAqtm3ke3qgErSzkCU9gIry3kzfjRrdA/s1600/DSCF6532.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllTOl83WwqEgu8VaLMpsLWrI7KqFROuc05BQN49dHV0PfHBYBHWP_t4sVSqt4NLFmwQk5flVoTZlzJKy_c15rCjcOxEa8uISa3t0xOldAqtm3ke3qgErSzkCU9gIry3kzfjRrdA/s400/DSCF6532.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508321746714809122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Unpeely goodness:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGjMyi4Ftja7A3V8fKeWSwiW_ISoEWy-25w2EoUPJEYVUM3d9mPcfq12vb750_1-sKYkX7HJMnlI9DkGvljtDshdFShoBa8hDTrtgb53B9w_OD5-0Wzq2BAi3T024brTzbsvYWQ/s1600/DSCF6534.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGjMyi4Ftja7A3V8fKeWSwiW_ISoEWy-25w2EoUPJEYVUM3d9mPcfq12vb750_1-sKYkX7HJMnlI9DkGvljtDshdFShoBa8hDTrtgb53B9w_OD5-0Wzq2BAi3T024brTzbsvYWQ/s400/DSCF6534.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508321750302794690" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then chopped up a bit:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypvr9QwOnWWk7BaOOAQjCt0rc0stEFX5smVyTeDrwJiRAcutVujyWXGbNTUz9vXqxDPSNW6T9H0QpRARQast0uXisnlFVVMvYtdVe3INmCjNXcstOHY6oEUZkzy_cGYYg0bujBg/s1600/DSCF6536.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypvr9QwOnWWk7BaOOAQjCt0rc0stEFX5smVyTeDrwJiRAcutVujyWXGbNTUz9vXqxDPSNW6T9H0QpRARQast0uXisnlFVVMvYtdVe3INmCjNXcstOHY6oEUZkzy_cGYYg0bujBg/s400/DSCF6536.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508321760479120690" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I was cooking with gas up until this point, when I checked the recipe and it said to add SEVEN AND A HALF CUPS of sugar!!! Say what?! That is a veritable mountain of sugar! It was every molecule of sugar in my house. It seemed like an awful lot, but I at this point I am fanatically following the recipe to the letter, so we'll see:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjZDQjmQAAnDc8aSvhaiZP2cXAqwCPEqw9-zAh__4hEb8eEaZotwJvyW6PIOnFh5KaHhyphenhyphenBjXDdrso7GyCINfr72ovvWFTR5UXUeVLhQm7oEnrsPS4u6X2NVBZqfAUmPKLVtn5pg/s1600/DSCF6538.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjZDQjmQAAnDc8aSvhaiZP2cXAqwCPEqw9-zAh__4hEb8eEaZotwJvyW6PIOnFh5KaHhyphenhyphenBjXDdrso7GyCINfr72ovvWFTR5UXUeVLhQm7oEnrsPS4u6X2NVBZqfAUmPKLVtn5pg/s400/DSCF6538.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508321956913135442" border="0" /></a><br />Oof. That looks like a lot of sugar....<br /><br />Anyway, dump the peaches and the SEVEN AND A HALF CUPS of sugar and some lemon juice into a pan and cook it on up:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzG6ivmKMo6sMXS-rkDQEn4Dz-qf5zEfqeSuAjF4mzezrmPMZeFGFkCrD4C0XXALU7lMYKfcVQixiQjmhjiUvdQpiyICxb_6gw_1YMcbgdfWYJvxx4vB6KAp4R_Tr20zBUDePmgg/s1600/DSCF6539.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzG6ivmKMo6sMXS-rkDQEn4Dz-qf5zEfqeSuAjF4mzezrmPMZeFGFkCrD4C0XXALU7lMYKfcVQixiQjmhjiUvdQpiyICxb_6gw_1YMcbgdfWYJvxx4vB6KAp4R_Tr20zBUDePmgg/s400/DSCF6539.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508321962572014402" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I am blessedly skipping the steps (like #5-#25) where I juggled piping hot jars and lids and liners and ladles and got half of the jam on the counter/stove/floor/the cats/anything in a 20-foot radius. (Note to self: next purchase - wide mouth funnel). Here are the jars, filled with jam and safely sealed, boiling away in a water bath for 10 minutes:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIecAikvy_UMIqNc3Unmw_Z59NJ1WqkwzT4Fey-3mfF99QpIgkqUKAID_fjjT-kTkJO-lFjXafHx4MoC0utsWbvVZGA-cyCmrJb_5qx7FiFRphv9XZihhzGw3VVdrLAkZ2yTq6Bg/s1600/DSCF6541.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIecAikvy_UMIqNc3Unmw_Z59NJ1WqkwzT4Fey-3mfF99QpIgkqUKAID_fjjT-kTkJO-lFjXafHx4MoC0utsWbvVZGA-cyCmrJb_5qx7FiFRphv9XZihhzGw3VVdrLAkZ2yTq6Bg/s400/DSCF6541.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508321964704376226" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Drumroll please! Here is the finished product:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRi9qywCK5zxtuBKQ0s7mJM7pQrXjcMMPLOU8I31nmomHBtMrnup9ggf4F7NCzrBoI3vHkfIGEHWx0JLh10L9G6AfqaoD4JS6sh3QmjsGmomDkBKEMZyl-cIMeYgYutzRIX_7LDQ/s1600/DSCF6544_2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRi9qywCK5zxtuBKQ0s7mJM7pQrXjcMMPLOU8I31nmomHBtMrnup9ggf4F7NCzrBoI3vHkfIGEHWx0JLh10L9G6AfqaoD4JS6sh3QmjsGmomDkBKEMZyl-cIMeYgYutzRIX_7LDQ/s400/DSCF6544_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508321969303959314" border="0" /></a><br />Beautiful, ain't it?! I made 4 pints of peach jam. It took about 3 hours from start to finish. It was exhausting, both physically and mentally. I am all for improvising and not throwing a lot of money at a new hobby, but this is one enterprise in which you are rewarded exponentially for having the right equipment. I am definitely going to get that wide mouth funnel and try it again. We can't eat it for another 12 hours, but I will report back.dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-4761014950395382272010-08-20T19:46:00.001-04:002010-08-20T19:46:21.422-04:00I'm back from gorgeous Lake Willoughby, Vermont - sigh! I had a lot of time to think about designs and ideas and promotions and giveaways and all that good stuff. I also found time to visit some amazing yarn stores and add to my "little" stash (ha. ha.)<br /><br />From <a href="http://www.knitordye.net/www.knitordye.net/Home.html">Knit or Dye</a> in Brattleboro, I bought some Malabrigo lace yarn. I am so all about laceweight yarn these days - it's crazy, considering how absolutely 100% against it I was just a short while ago. Well, what goes around comes around or something like that.<br /><br />Anyway, this yarn is a true olive green. And while I love olive green in general, I like it on the more acid-y side. A good violent chartreuse makes me shout with joy. So I decided to see if I could get this yarn more chartreuse and decided to dye it. Follow along with me!<br /><br />Here's the yarn in its original form:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgBfvxhYlhfptdO3YbiN4PfXniU35OtPvoDmJ-pRQfNtUPwil1mm-8iYHnh9z3ZIqcwGmSGDka9hsjNvuxWd4aHYEqWTjCdxVVvkGcbg8ypT9Wgt6gJ1Lfw6bvB-zMnXCAvR0/s1600/DSCF6513.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgBfvxhYlhfptdO3YbiN4PfXniU35OtPvoDmJ-pRQfNtUPwil1mm-8iYHnh9z3ZIqcwGmSGDka9hsjNvuxWd4aHYEqWTjCdxVVvkGcbg8ypT9Wgt6gJ1Lfw6bvB-zMnXCAvR0/s320/DSCF6513.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507202212164260178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Untwist the skein (but leave the ties on!! You'll never untangle it if you take the ties out!! Don't ask me how I know!) Now give your yarn a little cold water and vinegar bath (about 30 minutes soaking - 4 parts water to 1 part white vinegar. The vinegar is a mordant to help activate and hold the dye):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6QENG5PPLgMYZtkobvay2ave_Ov_SM5EO8-D2Hq85qCH97125pkphXxcpX7r04-3jo_O0B1IAb7-a4bF6Bkght3WEfgshaZ8e6aLBb43aOTbjGmdXVqruFTvuOAYyYPIO0r6/s1600/DSCF6514.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6QENG5PPLgMYZtkobvay2ave_Ov_SM5EO8-D2Hq85qCH97125pkphXxcpX7r04-3jo_O0B1IAb7-a4bF6Bkght3WEfgshaZ8e6aLBb43aOTbjGmdXVqruFTvuOAYyYPIO0r6/s320/DSCF6514.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507202216951888530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Take a break with some Cheerios while the yarn soaks:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4gf0MZhTRiA8d5IsWUnM3dLYzpn_IgoIGXPmU0WstyCRtLXYBATsj1FGV6JM72a3Y1XltHfrA4F0a-UEP6J_-FGNj0vP2JVqv70-ym1iWLNHR6TcXrW3-YgorRB5OOaOB4TP/s1600/DSCF6515.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4gf0MZhTRiA8d5IsWUnM3dLYzpn_IgoIGXPmU0WstyCRtLXYBATsj1FGV6JM72a3Y1XltHfrA4F0a-UEP6J_-FGNj0vP2JVqv70-ym1iWLNHR6TcXrW3-YgorRB5OOaOB4TP/s320/DSCF6515.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507202225140280306" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then drain the water out, don some gloves and use a strong solution of Wilton Cake Icing Dye in Yellow (strong = about a tablespoon of dye and a teaspoon of water - a little goes a long way) to paint the yarn. I started out painting it, then just dumped the whole glass of dye over the yarn:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0RLOpAYN5crz3y9cXDMUhiBLaeyul8Zk-hBNc01j7qp9dPQGngMcwNQUWfnTocVbICRFt17aHvFlfDVC0oKm7LZx0s3iQSf_2DkV7m31slgpm_-ZJL3BX0tJX6gtzUsH7-TU/s1600/DSCF6516.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0RLOpAYN5crz3y9cXDMUhiBLaeyul8Zk-hBNc01j7qp9dPQGngMcwNQUWfnTocVbICRFt17aHvFlfDVC0oKm7LZx0s3iQSf_2DkV7m31slgpm_-ZJL3BX0tJX6gtzUsH7-TU/s320/DSCF6516.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507202226160961682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After dyeing you wrap your yarn in some plastic wrap:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyeC_wxS65HjMFgZPc_SYsjDpu7qJlY7qEbG9U_fXEtOlYy39aPIizRD3yi2j8fm_sCeOOacIFHuVY-hrhYfJk0JVz6VwyKh7uItW5WYWMCCK1FXscsz-u_tXxabXnEyzrHTiU/s1600/DSCF6517.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyeC_wxS65HjMFgZPc_SYsjDpu7qJlY7qEbG9U_fXEtOlYy39aPIizRD3yi2j8fm_sCeOOacIFHuVY-hrhYfJk0JVz6VwyKh7uItW5WYWMCCK1FXscsz-u_tXxabXnEyzrHTiU/s320/DSCF6517.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507202235894679330" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Curl it up in "cinnamon bun" style:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw_bjdsTl_qxKokbnsQchoASC9yLQf0HefBg7dEeJDcoTT2n8ba_sVFfyUOLgSymkxDrKvzaeZh468JnMZ2ujsldg8p4GIK2mIfl7btYgc7YBuoS3jAkJkbeXALRS3UJKMJGq/s1600/DSCF6518.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw_bjdsTl_qxKokbnsQchoASC9yLQf0HefBg7dEeJDcoTT2n8ba_sVFfyUOLgSymkxDrKvzaeZh468JnMZ2ujsldg8p4GIK2mIfl7btYgc7YBuoS3jAkJkbeXALRS3UJKMJGq/s320/DSCF6518.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507202769141659074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And then nuke it in the microwave for 2 minutes. Let it cool for at least 10 minutes out of the microwave (it will be hotter than Hades!), rinse gently (especially important for single plies like this yarn), and then hang on your drying rack of choice, in this case, the baseball pitchback in the backyard:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tk7u_YLiE5wmyBPW2IOh0nSLdVzLeRF-e8wK1-t5u2-ODrAnAsUaHNIh69Y2h4RaUIFHi9f-OMj78iYuCW7llihf13rQWM2-saZQgakC5dutb7BORGZOSd4KBD0XDTZ7BRVc/s1600/DSCF6519.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tk7u_YLiE5wmyBPW2IOh0nSLdVzLeRF-e8wK1-t5u2-ODrAnAsUaHNIh69Y2h4RaUIFHi9f-OMj78iYuCW7llihf13rQWM2-saZQgakC5dutb7BORGZOSd4KBD0XDTZ7BRVc/s320/DSCF6519.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507202769301531730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After a couple of hours sunbathing, the finished product was subtly but noticeably yellowy-er:<br />Before:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgBfvxhYlhfptdO3YbiN4PfXniU35OtPvoDmJ-pRQfNtUPwil1mm-8iYHnh9z3ZIqcwGmSGDka9hsjNvuxWd4aHYEqWTjCdxVVvkGcbg8ypT9Wgt6gJ1Lfw6bvB-zMnXCAvR0/s1600/DSCF6513.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgBfvxhYlhfptdO3YbiN4PfXniU35OtPvoDmJ-pRQfNtUPwil1mm-8iYHnh9z3ZIqcwGmSGDka9hsjNvuxWd4aHYEqWTjCdxVVvkGcbg8ypT9Wgt6gJ1Lfw6bvB-zMnXCAvR0/s320/DSCF6513.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507202212164260178" border="0" /></a><br />After:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0Bo6M0Wc9Ipdmt9aHXtemEVrFzwS1yZ48CF0i36Rfdu9UmUeRVd6cfQRHUQWqAgRxRhGam7VarZxPXu3UdI6GwLGKPWmbadiTE9DiSmp-wHBV3fsgr08A02pQDry4x0oWGYb/s1600/DSCF6528.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0Bo6M0Wc9Ipdmt9aHXtemEVrFzwS1yZ48CF0i36Rfdu9UmUeRVd6cfQRHUQWqAgRxRhGam7VarZxPXu3UdI6GwLGKPWmbadiTE9DiSmp-wHBV3fsgr08A02pQDry4x0oWGYb/s320/DSCF6528.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507484152698170706" border="0" /></a><br />Easy-peasy!<br /><br />For more detailed instructions on using this method to dye yarn (like how to get stripes in dyed sock yarn and the like) go to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/45315781/yarn-dyeing-instructions">Kalamazoo Knits etsy site</a>. They are great ladies!!dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-58824730918136087642010-07-18T13:24:00.001-04:002010-07-18T13:24:42.413-04:00Etsy-riffic!Do you all know about <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy</a>? Has it altered your life (and your checking account) like it has mine? I came across this wondrous website a few years ago - now whenever I have a moment I go and check things out. It's all (or mostly) handmade items. It makes you never want to shop at Target ever again. I have to be careful how often I go on because I just want to buy every thing I see.<div><br /></div>This month I hit the Etsy jackpot with three new purchases. First this, two gorgeous chili bowls from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/darshanpottery">darshanpottery</a>. These are exactly the kind of thing I love - I love the earth tones, the shape, the capacity of the bowls. Look how beautiful!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBo4ZUpUioKLHWNgFTwPO-Zh37umL0Dp_-rHSAAMr6UANYVAcwoQQxwDcS0_B6qI8p5G85cXic5QT2pIRz7eByCc-E_vbycNkycLz9pgfhsfpbGuYo9aZKF82dCOxtXN2BLYY/s1600/il_fullxfull.157236344.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBo4ZUpUioKLHWNgFTwPO-Zh37umL0Dp_-rHSAAMr6UANYVAcwoQQxwDcS0_B6qI8p5G85cXic5QT2pIRz7eByCc-E_vbycNkycLz9pgfhsfpbGuYo9aZKF82dCOxtXN2BLYY/s320/il_fullxfull.157236344.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495217618171427746" border="0" /></a><br />And they're from Vermont, my most favorite state in the country!<br /><br />Next, I had a hankering for a necklace, so I poked around Etsy and found this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUz20ljdkeesODVx2BWrmlkvKkEl0oYKztzPZ46dDDvVycHcQZBgkc8Pyscs_KBcUZf62tvC_7e4hcBntp-zoyXS-BKvXCOXIpCdOuJMe5SBNn5ba_rJVZoxWM6WIBd0I4H1QN/s1600/il_430xN.155245707.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUz20ljdkeesODVx2BWrmlkvKkEl0oYKztzPZ46dDDvVycHcQZBgkc8Pyscs_KBcUZf62tvC_7e4hcBntp-zoyXS-BKvXCOXIpCdOuJMe5SBNn5ba_rJVZoxWM6WIBd0I4H1QN/s320/il_430xN.155245707.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495218241843507202" border="0" /></a><br />This is from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/DelicacyJ?ref=seller_info">delicacyj</a>. Isn't that the prettiest thing you ever did see?<br /><br />Finally, after seeing a ton of filmy laceweight shawls at TNNA, I had a hankering for some laceweight yarn. I had none in the stash, so I bought this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVvICkxkLA4krj4jqrEMiYTakw6yRjSadwLfReLwZPdStBVI5DB81gw_9mbLughs8XTj5eAGOFC5mUToM4ygjtYweVDPU7lg1HSMj2tyndzgTJrKWOgwOJPSphE-59nuSdONm/s1600/il_fullxfull.149065092.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVvICkxkLA4krj4jqrEMiYTakw6yRjSadwLfReLwZPdStBVI5DB81gw_9mbLughs8XTj5eAGOFC5mUToM4ygjtYweVDPU7lg1HSMj2tyndzgTJrKWOgwOJPSphE-59nuSdONm/s320/il_fullxfull.149065092.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495219369348175906" border="0" /></a><br />100% tussah silk yarn from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/DyeForYarn?ref=seller_info">dyeforyarn</a> which became this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuN9wk8JxC01rVzA3WaFoPmVE5EqDtNNJPc7sqdxt8857O7fRyzNZKkP-ZXsCBvRFX1oDHeIBKW_Tvxcc78xjMj6duQbffb7v0Dw3UvleWq3i4r33KirQAsz5qU61C3RzRiC7/s1600/DSCF6407%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuN9wk8JxC01rVzA3WaFoPmVE5EqDtNNJPc7sqdxt8857O7fRyzNZKkP-ZXsCBvRFX1oDHeIBKW_Tvxcc78xjMj6duQbffb7v0Dw3UvleWq3i4r33KirQAsz5qU61C3RzRiC7/s320/DSCF6407%5B1%5D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495219647222731378" border="0" /></a><br />"Little Leaves" by Susanna IC. Loved the yarn, loved this pattern. It has little silver-grey beads in it - I <span style="font-style: italic;">lurve</span> knitting with beads!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibP5MVLPt51nxWhq0Y2LwfQCjE9M35Li9j4h2dmiC91EO5jm5ajGpqEpQg5WLB7BExYJU4btq9g0VJueyWtH-L4smWhcYUDAA5DwhIoMvKGvKSlf2EJ7sjKw6bI7-oo1rNckOP/s1600/DSCF6409%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibP5MVLPt51nxWhq0Y2LwfQCjE9M35Li9j4h2dmiC91EO5jm5ajGpqEpQg5WLB7BExYJU4btq9g0VJueyWtH-L4smWhcYUDAA5DwhIoMvKGvKSlf2EJ7sjKw6bI7-oo1rNckOP/s320/DSCF6409%5B1%5D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495296652043989490" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So that's a little tour through Etsyland for you. And of course, you can always find FABULOUS <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MomogusKnits">knitting patterns</a> there as well!dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-76647534925068772302010-06-30T05:06:00.000-04:002010-06-30T09:47:23.954-04:00Random ImagesDon't have enough mental energy for full post, but here are some random images to get me back into the swing of things:<br /><br />Mr. Cool, before the GYAC All-Star Game, at which he would drive in the go-ahead run for the National League (game ended in a tie):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEBsEP24ggM1NDdFfdHz2EI08Ac5nHWaeTD_cgyQApRJKRs3oEHef4PbpM3bp5nvyuX830MY-7TfwOVhQOLCO9VlMUXGtRZGKIbf0ELv4Z5modjSE0GsgBP44OXrmOUDRrmWLLw/s1600/DSCF6329_2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEBsEP24ggM1NDdFfdHz2EI08Ac5nHWaeTD_cgyQApRJKRs3oEHef4PbpM3bp5nvyuX830MY-7TfwOVhQOLCO9VlMUXGtRZGKIbf0ELv4Z5modjSE0GsgBP44OXrmOUDRrmWLLw/s320/DSCF6329_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488560964777026114" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Cabled Fingerless Mitts (well, Mitt) by Meg White:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhen8YnDgTApr7olppASkXHL3ObmFExM0CQb56oh2VKPwr86tg3XasCXKZxjKzj9n8Id-9b_wI-IQG1W0yRqOdBq0TTpc3mmmOM_KbxMNALdG7RJDb-GRdWGXxTtod1_piAIStoSw/s1600/IMG_0408.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhen8YnDgTApr7olppASkXHL3ObmFExM0CQb56oh2VKPwr86tg3XasCXKZxjKzj9n8Id-9b_wI-IQG1W0yRqOdBq0TTpc3mmmOM_KbxMNALdG7RJDb-GRdWGXxTtod1_piAIStoSw/s320/IMG_0408.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488560962541144818" border="0" /></a><br />Two things about this glove I do love so: One, it is constructed from the top-down, which is interesting and means you don't have to fuss with a thumb gusset. Two, the big beads which you sew into the middle of the cables when you're done. LOVE! I'm teaching a class in this at the Tangled Web in the fall.<br /><br />Beat-up shack and transformer box (which says "Crazy Train"!!) near the mighty 12-million-line crossing at Marion, Ohio. The Jordan-Borns do love their trainwatching, and Marion does the trick. We saw about a dozen trains coming from every which way in the hour or so we were there. Might be the best train watching place in the country! There, I said it!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8nLV6xf-tS6zON9_GQ7cx2qwGjTxqILZAI6NHBu8t8pp7bX6aI6dqMPZ8ppTCiCmpaoShubDLae-vqwdGVZpUPe_lYv7QcgIbFHNchn7E9XsAvS4-dh1vVcpF2XlPzrXykCqbQ/s1600/DSCF6324.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8nLV6xf-tS6zON9_GQ7cx2qwGjTxqILZAI6NHBu8t8pp7bX6aI6dqMPZ8ppTCiCmpaoShubDLae-vqwdGVZpUPe_lYv7QcgIbFHNchn7E9XsAvS4-dh1vVcpF2XlPzrXykCqbQ/s320/DSCF6324.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488560949073309266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You know I try to keep cat pictures to a minimum on the blog, but this just cracked me up. This is how Nuts sleeps. Every time he gets on that old car seat, he stretches his arms out like that. It makes me giggle every time. Also notice Funny stuffed into small basket on the left. "I fit!"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwn6bjnI6ztRFd2uzin10NphYAEVjaOy3U_56cSiyjW9SvIYcpw7wgly_Gzw6zmFMDc0RPIGHpGMZwuBrn14xouNI0HAauDk3G3t2wwm8R4Yo9iXrVr-rgzYPqhMVtu-szjXNeg/s1600/IMG_0406.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwn6bjnI6ztRFd2uzin10NphYAEVjaOy3U_56cSiyjW9SvIYcpw7wgly_Gzw6zmFMDc0RPIGHpGMZwuBrn14xouNI0HAauDk3G3t2wwm8R4Yo9iXrVr-rgzYPqhMVtu-szjXNeg/s320/IMG_0406.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488560953416378674" border="0" /></a><br />Goofballs.dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-67787299981368774692010-05-26T04:08:00.001-04:002010-05-26T08:56:59.220-04:00Baseball time!Phillies: I'm disturbed by the wasting of several fine pitching performances by Halladay, Moyer and Kendrick. Also by Jimmy Rollins' persistent injury, which he aggravated <i>warming up</i>. Um, that's not good! Also that they got whacked by the stinkin' Mets. Also that Lidge is ready to return, which I am a little trepidatious about [did I just make up that word?] But I love my Phillies and my Charlie Manuel. I think everything will be okay.<div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcIpn8SGWhngMB8o4gnyR7WpdQD75bH76zpsRZaWoY_sa7Mv8Q1mgqXu7wW4pVhi7YZd2XC_rmyta-n8rmUPb0SzjCABnaqXB9GNCKxq66vB0q69aW07fsY3yu558nfZM5Umi2g/s1600/phillies.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcIpn8SGWhngMB8o4gnyR7WpdQD75bH76zpsRZaWoY_sa7Mv8Q1mgqXu7wW4pVhi7YZd2XC_rmyta-n8rmUPb0SzjCABnaqXB9GNCKxq66vB0q69aW07fsY3yu558nfZM5Umi2g/s320/phillies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475538736875584962" border="0" /></a><br />By the way, this year I (as the owner of <a href="http://www.momogusknits.com/">Momogus Knits Patterns</a> - have you heard of them?) am the co-chair of the 2010 Phillies Stitch N Pitch game, to be held August 10. Pretty spiffy, eh? I love the idea of <a href="http://www.stitchnpitch.com/">Stitch N Pitch</a>, though I keep score at games, so it's actually the one time that I don't knit.<br /><br /></div></div><div>GYAC Dodgers: The mighty Joseph J Fiandra, Esq. Dodgers are now 5-2, a 5-win improvement over last season, when they had most of the same players, but many newbies. This year there's only one kid who's never played before and he's become an expert at drawing walks, so Coach Matt is happy. Gus has been catching, pitching and playing first and second base - sometimes all in the same game! A veteran presence competent at any position is a godsend in this league.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9KHEguVifaz1jnDddwQ28bi4YzS9dTIuIaiH1wXDAJ1620Lk8sW0q7A43LLVgiCQ4zqyWBTp6LHXR-IAWSUQimcY4zSjndJSOPgL0rurRJug9hglCjCWbjMm78hqkBLK1hCMyw/s1600/DSCF6211.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9KHEguVifaz1jnDddwQ28bi4YzS9dTIuIaiH1wXDAJ1620Lk8sW0q7A43LLVgiCQ4zqyWBTp6LHXR-IAWSUQimcY4zSjndJSOPgL0rurRJug9hglCjCWbjMm78hqkBLK1hCMyw/s320/DSCF6211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475538731621900242" border="0" /></a><br />Coach and son.<br /><br />GYAC Momogus Knits Patterns Purple Striped Tigers: I've caught one game of the MKPPSTs this year. We tried to see another one, but they were rained out. Their last game is tomorrow and I hope to see them once again. They don't keep score at that level, so while the games are soothing and relatively stress-free, they are also somewhat lacking in compelling excitement. But still, to watch those little girls with their business-like swings and their exuberant fun (in those shirts!) is pure awesome sauce.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ADaRLDhrtZnMdqYAaGWvMY0DEUm1t2Ss9OoysaqFulxXsBwdFkGXtrgtbEL7daR78rF-K5kINJzO3ktcbO2Vza076Dv_DEEnZZRA2xmcbbLuG5H3DJj1JQb1aM3q99N1zdyJ9g/s1600/DSCF6241.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ADaRLDhrtZnMdqYAaGWvMY0DEUm1t2Ss9OoysaqFulxXsBwdFkGXtrgtbEL7daR78rF-K5kINJzO3ktcbO2Vza076Dv_DEEnZZRA2xmcbbLuG5H3DJj1JQb1aM3q99N1zdyJ9g/s320/DSCF6241.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475539508460209298" border="0" /></a><br /></div>dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-67969754579068582022010-05-17T06:56:00.000-04:002010-05-17T07:00:40.604-04:00I'm not embarrassed to show you what I've been knitting! It's perfectly normal to knit dishtowels! And besides, these are all going to friends as presents. Because who doesn't want to receive a nice dishtowel as a present?? Am I right?<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkW1c7REM5HopmliW2tqeT4OIpupuCKEo3w5IujnKsCkMwo70zjp_gMDwS9ItTRst7oDGmDPSy3tbsRZs6dkLLigwMxyy4e99r2o7QmwWRqnbfiPAYRG6eF1lJucjVOQRGHGGE2Q/s1600/DSCF6256.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkW1c7REM5HopmliW2tqeT4OIpupuCKEo3w5IujnKsCkMwo70zjp_gMDwS9ItTRst7oDGmDPSy3tbsRZs6dkLLigwMxyy4e99r2o7QmwWRqnbfiPAYRG6eF1lJucjVOQRGHGGE2Q/s320/DSCF6256.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472191844161294066" border="0" /></a></div><div>Well anyway I can't stop knitting these. It's a little bit troubling, how many trips I've made to the big box stores for $1.79 balls of cotton yarn, but hey I can stop any time I want! </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeK5gXYVpUtSdTYJf6A6fcNO0N7vSVNkXRU-PHAfPUngRyXGXcRC27NZO0IF6agfSdaYtkHs0YNxx37wlkcRn7ZoJxBPAaJoaK_FV5NElbBmZDUWMckuLCYf-o2cMYxEF-HMUwA/s1600/DSCF6257.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeK5gXYVpUtSdTYJf6A6fcNO0N7vSVNkXRU-PHAfPUngRyXGXcRC27NZO0IF6agfSdaYtkHs0YNxx37wlkcRn7ZoJxBPAaJoaK_FV5NElbBmZDUWMckuLCYf-o2cMYxEF-HMUwA/s320/DSCF6257.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472191848412012242" border="0" /></a></div><div>I also started this:</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIF51zhT1jpZBNmspFrHjJ7xJ8ZoTzPUHBOoXifM1U2DyIzSR4tMg2ng0EV2MrBfaBZlOX749FodMXg4qQahWuytPUYgFh4X6cm0oKvj4adDUrzsA0MxAnnuNP5REL6f6VxuauBg/s1600/DSCF6258.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIF51zhT1jpZBNmspFrHjJ7xJ8ZoTzPUHBOoXifM1U2DyIzSR4tMg2ng0EV2MrBfaBZlOX749FodMXg4qQahWuytPUYgFh4X6cm0oKvj4adDUrzsA0MxAnnuNP5REL6f6VxuauBg/s320/DSCF6258.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472191854683782690" border="0" /></a></div><div>Yes, this black (actually it's super-dark charcoal grey) shapeless lump is the <a href="http://www.momogusknits.com/ES23-Boatneck-Shell-knitting-pattern.html">Momogus Knits Easy Boatneck Shell</a>. For me!! Hey, you know what's weird? Though I've knit many MANY samples of all of my patterns, I don't think I've actually knit something for me to use in civilian life. Say what?! That's odd..... Maybe if I designed a dishtowel pattern, I'd make them for me..... (hmmm.....)<br /><br />Tomorrow (or, who am I kidding, next post), some baseball musings.<br /></div>dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-75618153115145495322010-04-29T17:44:00.007-04:002010-04-29T18:17:22.898-04:00Holy Procrastination, Batman - I hate when so much time goes by between posts! Especially when nothing much is going on around here.<br /><br />Here's some stuff I'm knitting:<br /><br />After a hiatus of several years, I suddenly feel like knitting socks again. Not plain socks, but nothing too complicated either.<br /><br />This sock - I think it is from "Favorite Socks". A simple lace pattern. I like the look of patterning that extends down the top of the foot, but I don't like the feel of it when I'm wearing them. So I stopped the patterning at the ankle.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5Z0QEplKEvpI1vKBrWMg_VCejPm2IEp4rwt6f4CpRdlNGiTiBpUpHkl_rYS9twpBUPMkir0CDhdG2mzysAE9rRYvHlzcs8judCeeD1lmonalKZY__A9pqjouwqgfA37WA_YsYQ/s1600/DSCF6177.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5Z0QEplKEvpI1vKBrWMg_VCejPm2IEp4rwt6f4CpRdlNGiTiBpUpHkl_rYS9twpBUPMkir0CDhdG2mzysAE9rRYvHlzcs8judCeeD1lmonalKZY__A9pqjouwqgfA37WA_YsYQ/s320/DSCF6177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465679870127655938" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Also, these, with a simple twisted cable pattern on the legs.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdLvpTvh5-qiochqUt3T_GxBRpl5gyRLBBLobirYvcPEScVswml9zPNq8B09N4FHY13O3e8mz84eNHAVxHpSDYuKRMi2Ua1nhgNBeYzLXRwOp3CpXlUiK3jtcMlACu0vXJbeLsw/s1600/DSCF6178.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdLvpTvh5-qiochqUt3T_GxBRpl5gyRLBBLobirYvcPEScVswml9zPNq8B09N4FHY13O3e8mz84eNHAVxHpSDYuKRMi2Ua1nhgNBeYzLXRwOp3CpXlUiK3jtcMlACu0vXJbeLsw/s320/DSCF6178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465679874479224498" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Socks are fun!<br /><br />Then, because I was feeling nutty and retro, I knit this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5EJzHPYTGfdVqRLvT9UFRxSfTI5vE-uDB-gqPgSIpS8v6RcOwOYjuVhCKIKtLq6j3Ksbz_KMIAGc044jWIOHDVqFiNBUtbd6OBbYj6lIqBwqiDLFq_Og9l6ssienZFqBoA23SA/s1600/DSCF6187.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5EJzHPYTGfdVqRLvT9UFRxSfTI5vE-uDB-gqPgSIpS8v6RcOwOYjuVhCKIKtLq6j3Ksbz_KMIAGc044jWIOHDVqFiNBUtbd6OBbYj6lIqBwqiDLFq_Og9l6ssienZFqBoA23SA/s320/DSCF6187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465679898229723266" border="0" /></a><br />This is the dishcloth from Mason-Dixon Knitting. I love it more than someone should love a dishcloth. Here it is, in situ, hanging from my circa 1961 ker-AZY stove/oven:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl_j3JmD8ZM4g5yxcl1QGjbzdmdaxGIR1hdgegVph0dUeABPQXxQpcmNhAh-f1DkTjXyGaUiWZY0RgRSotBzS3XDz8Gg1xNiKGO8Ad9uOHjCS9xNntNTLVJ49hchxsb9V6AIUZw/s1600/DSCF6186.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl_j3JmD8ZM4g5yxcl1QGjbzdmdaxGIR1hdgegVph0dUeABPQXxQpcmNhAh-f1DkTjXyGaUiWZY0RgRSotBzS3XDz8Gg1xNiKGO8Ad9uOHjCS9xNntNTLVJ49hchxsb9V6AIUZw/s320/DSCF6186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465679884473667346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In Momogus Knits knitting, I knit these:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFPh_2a7wehQZd3f1Id_UFKYNJYUj0fbm2EFq2pDmlA2258WOlGxt0h_WqhAIJusMLLaZuMzyjFr7d5lWSPiKy49XhMOvRVNzrtP7LJcz79pAS8toNJrb1Vx0C_vF0IxRsmj31g/s1600/DSCF6191.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFPh_2a7wehQZd3f1Id_UFKYNJYUj0fbm2EFq2pDmlA2258WOlGxt0h_WqhAIJusMLLaZuMzyjFr7d5lWSPiKy49XhMOvRVNzrtP7LJcz79pAS8toNJrb1Vx0C_vF0IxRsmj31g/s320/DSCF6191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465680044962027474" border="0" /></a><br />These are Easy Colorwork Headbands, you know, for like skiing and schussing and stuff like that. Clearly there is a sizing issue. The manly one at the top is way too big. The girlier one at the bottom is the 2nd one I knit and is the proper size to hug your head in a warm and attractive way. Pattern to follow.<br /><br />Also, you may not have guessed it, but cats apparently LOVE easy colorwork headbands. The second I put these down on the windowsill, this happened:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRqEWQPkTVjLy1mQP4Hlz5PxM9mGljx10XiKco2i0JQL1x8ugLcdsObdQa3jHmozW60YkrU85Kx66_9Wd031K7NDTQENK5ub1DedvwERApQuUAwDLoy4a6HMy-QckUjn_jsD9jQ/s1600/DSCF6188.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRqEWQPkTVjLy1mQP4Hlz5PxM9mGljx10XiKco2i0JQL1x8ugLcdsObdQa3jHmozW60YkrU85Kx66_9Wd031K7NDTQENK5ub1DedvwERApQuUAwDLoy4a6HMy-QckUjn_jsD9jQ/s320/DSCF6188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465679899471726994" border="0" /></a><br />Nuts (orange), Funny (grey tabby on carseat) and Silly.<br />And then this happened:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0F9Sxi6Zr5anxQVRUPIcwySua84UHOFCMRU_F1p4mJLR1F-JJ7HymryO8Iai5sy23i2mn6i9SMJuV6lzx1txqn0tkqPJA_yLZ8_GG0L0lxwIQDxmWyReENnsWv-bL-YigkG7Kw/s1600/DSCF6190.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0F9Sxi6Zr5anxQVRUPIcwySua84UHOFCMRU_F1p4mJLR1F-JJ7HymryO8Iai5sy23i2mn6i9SMJuV6lzx1txqn0tkqPJA_yLZ8_GG0L0lxwIQDxmWyReENnsWv-bL-YigkG7Kw/s320/DSCF6190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465680033085883074" border="0" /></a><br />Nuts, Funny, and Caroline! Ooooh, what are those headbands doing in our window???!!!<br /><br />Crazy cats....dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-66249501417480124962010-04-16T07:09:00.002-04:002010-04-16T10:51:00.390-04:00Red Letter DayGus has been idly talking about getting a mohawk for a couple of years now, but this year he insisted that he was serious. His father/coach had also requested that he get a haircut since last year he was always fussing with his hair under his catcher's mask. Gus has been rocking the long hair look for a couple of years now, so this year when he announced suddenly that it was time for a mohawk, I was skeptical and then worried that it might be too big a shock.<br /><br />In true fussy-mommy fashion, I suggested that he get his hair cut short on the bottom and leave it long on the top for a while till he got used to it. I printed out pictures from the internet (you get to some uneasy-making sites if you google "boys haircut"), I lost sleep fretting (what if he bursts into tears at the barber's? what if he tells the kids at school that he's getting a haircut and then chickens out? what will they think?). My goodness, what a lot of effort a commited mom can put into her fretting!<br /><br />What happened was this: We went to the barber. We told Maria what we wanted. She did exactly what we asked. Gus came off the chair with a huge grin. Fauxhawk success!<br /><br />The whole time she was cutting his hair off, I started getting a little weepy (because I am insane) and thinking "Oh look he's so handsome! Oh look he's so handsome!" I hadn't seen his whole beautiful face since he was a baby.<br /><br />We then went bowling and he won both games. He insisted it was the mighty Power of the Fauxhawk. We had water ice. We went to the drugstore to buy hair product (since I don't even own a blow dryer, let alone anything fancier than conditioner). We went to Science Night at his school, and his friends (especially the girls) <span style="font-style: italic;">went wild</span>. The coolest girl in his class saw him across the room and mouthed "I LOVE YOUR HAIR!" He then disappeared from my side and spent the night running around with his friends and generally being about 3" taller from pride (and hair product).<br /><br />It used to be about getting an A on an exam or a promotion at work. Those things are good, but this is better.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/IMG_0322-706786.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/IMG_0322-706362.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-45806655127281850282010-04-06T06:26:00.001-04:002010-04-06T07:37:57.689-04:00Bad Blogger!Sorry, folks - I've been a bad blogger! I'm finding that Ravelry is picking up my urge to document my knitting projects and Facebook is now taking up my urge to document non-knitting stuff.<br /><br />But anyway, here's some stuff that's been going on with me lately.<br /><br />Hello, Roy Halladay! Thank you for completely living up to your hype and more!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/20100406_inq_phils06z-b-772390.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/20100406_inq_phils06z-b-772385.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And thank you, my beloved Polanco, for the grand slam and 6 rbis!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/20100406_inq_phils06z-d-772395.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 232px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/20100406_inq_phils06z-d-772392.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Happy Easter.....Eggs!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6093-710332.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6093-710329.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />These were made in a newfangled way - you squeeze some dye into a plastic bag and rub it on - weird, but so much lower-maintenance than the lineup of dye in glasses with the vinegar and all. I approve!<br /><br />The trunk show at The Tangled Web was awesome! We had over 40 folks, and it was so touching to see people I knew who had come out to support me. I love you, crazy knitters! The Ganseys are all done and if you join my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#%21/pages/Momogus-Knits-Patterns/49362443595?ref=nf">Momogus Knits Facebook</a> page, you will be treated to a nice Gansey-related special.<br /><br />Here are some things I've been knitting:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6053_2-736732.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6053_2-736728.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This is the first of three strips for the Tangled Web's Block of the Month Club. Yummy Manos yarn. With all the trillion colors to choose from I chose to work it in only 2 colors. But that's okay.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/IMG_0287-736701.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/IMG_0287-736303.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Did I post this before? This is Jared Flood's Hemlock Ring Blanket, a lovely project for a lovely friend. Cascade 220. Fun, relatively quick project.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6096-710362.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6096-710357.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Beaded Lace Bookmark by Nancy Knits. I do love a beaded project and also projects that use up leftovers. Took a smidge of fingering weight yarn (Koigu) and some beads. I wish it were a little longer and narrower, but it's still very pretty. Think I'll teach a class on this in the fall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6086-784907.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6086-784903.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Here's an example of Diana, the Dolt Genius. This is Ene's Scarf, from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Scarf Style</span> - May/June Knitalong at the Tangled Web. I knit it in Felted Tweed (dk weight) instead of the laceweight it called for (because I dearly love old FT) and it came out twice as big as the original! I love it though. Anyway I was blocking it on the living room floor (above) and had to take it to the store by evening. When I unpinned it, it was still damp, which was problematic. It was only after taking the photo below (in the <span style="font-style: italic;">sun</span>, with a <span style="font-style: italic;">light breeze</span>) that I thought "AHA! I can use NATURE to dry my shawl!" But it took me an embarrassingly long time to get to that thought.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6087-784943.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6087-784939.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Pretty!dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-62422930162767751902010-03-22T10:42:00.002-04:002010-03-22T10:45:56.116-04:00Bowling Party!A huge shout-out to the mighty <a href="http://phillybowl.net/wgmontco.aspx">Thunderbird Lanes of Willow Grove</a> for hosting an awesome Glow-In-The-Dark Bowling Party for my awesome 10-yr-old this weekend. They did a great job of coordinating - I actually enjoyed the party instead of fretting and micro-managing the whole time. I cannot recommend them highly enough. And, most importantly, the kids had a blast.<br /><br />Here's my little ham getting ready to blow out the candles on his cake:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6067-762214.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6067-762210.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-87853430081622703202010-03-17T11:43:00.001-04:002010-03-17T11:43:39.490-04:00Gansey Madness!It occurred to me the other day that not everyone knows what a gansey is. I've been throwing the word around for months to non-knitters who politely nod when I tell them how many ganseys I've been working on. I assumed they knew what I was talking about, but they probably didn't and maybe didn't want to know! Anyway, a gansey or guernsey, is a fisherman's knitted woollen sweater, similar to a jersey, which originated in the Channel Island of the same name. (thank you, wikipedia) Ganseys usually have a textured pattern on the yoke and upper sleeves alone.<br /><br />And now (drumroll please) here is what I have been working on for the past six months. PHEW. Welcome Chesnut Hill Ganseys!<br /><br />In ascending size, American Girl Doll Chestnut Hill Gansey:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tMY6yTS_LfbCCtCt4b2-Dz0w9J1CgALIY9VRhnqdJetQCJQYMdr8Ji99GI88SZGxoAcEcWAq9eFUXB5QM0XvEP3rozh42n-3qzeCAsiJ8hxTMshpLGfId4TrJn9gdwidNtYL/s1600-h/DSCF6041.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tMY6yTS_LfbCCtCt4b2-Dz0w9J1CgALIY9VRhnqdJetQCJQYMdr8Ji99GI88SZGxoAcEcWAq9eFUXB5QM0XvEP3rozh42n-3qzeCAsiJ8hxTMshpLGfId4TrJn9gdwidNtYL/s320/DSCF6041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449365006418302450" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Baby Chestnut Hill Gansey:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjregg6ZPuGPFkOuIo_GgJohT5_aFkxeAnrrokj96HFeivnERFRi49f28A-OgCBuQhAKcy_NqVvAUWUMNTbXF55ArS8L2exrih5jKbQUehbROyox_bZj3rtaSBQpg2Eq8NZYN/s1600-h/DSCF6035.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjregg6ZPuGPFkOuIo_GgJohT5_aFkxeAnrrokj96HFeivnERFRi49f28A-OgCBuQhAKcy_NqVvAUWUMNTbXF55ArS8L2exrih5jKbQUehbROyox_bZj3rtaSBQpg2Eq8NZYN/s320/DSCF6035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449364982033213602" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Child's Chestnut Hill Gansey:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLppNiwdS-WVHx1mheGyUdnrI2-V70ikUQO4yI2rnbJ0BWoy4toF5OnyQKs58pwzYQMfr67F9FULPaybLfNA06SFV5cMFcfufecNQ75GHVp44W9TgR-uwmcpHAeAdsBDy_d9vG/s1600-h/DSCF6036.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLppNiwdS-WVHx1mheGyUdnrI2-V70ikUQO4yI2rnbJ0BWoy4toF5OnyQKs58pwzYQMfr67F9FULPaybLfNA06SFV5cMFcfufecNQ75GHVp44W9TgR-uwmcpHAeAdsBDy_d9vG/s320/DSCF6036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449364988391811154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Adult Chestnut Hill Gansey:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmZZcqbQyxkY4_HJAqk_Ny91DfqIncoAKJFR4SAXhpDDN3s1hOxDJey2cFyD-DuVK8u8I0D1clDJcSW1xtQ4m3nWat9UEczKMPRBJIRWDikMjeBkvbXWRzK6LtYtQZuuNyYAs/s1600-h/DSCF6046.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmZZcqbQyxkY4_HJAqk_Ny91DfqIncoAKJFR4SAXhpDDN3s1hOxDJey2cFyD-DuVK8u8I0D1clDJcSW1xtQ4m3nWat9UEczKMPRBJIRWDikMjeBkvbXWRzK6LtYtQZuuNyYAs/s320/DSCF6046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449364995982868290" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Baby Chestnut Hill Gansey Hat:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrMnGx9utOcR3AgFWt_UjxTUJ1vITw2u30qtqFTdxTUODLtFvRYrruZz5vQX_L1WTQVWDfirCTYaWYdTqVF7Xghzl9yp6EsE-qk0_bxNalPgbGccfLlIPREmAh9oKJI81fS-v/s1600-h/DSCF6040.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrMnGx9utOcR3AgFWt_UjxTUJ1vITw2u30qtqFTdxTUODLtFvRYrruZz5vQX_L1WTQVWDfirCTYaWYdTqVF7Xghzl9yp6EsE-qk0_bxNalPgbGccfLlIPREmAh9oKJI81fS-v/s320/DSCF6040.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449364999978894274" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Adult Chestnut Hill Gansey Hat (worsted weight):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3_6oteDuXuGTT39e0DXiFX3gj_X3pnlE85vO3p8FFecVAAkOS0K3ausDlRxXAl7wWvVz9Xgy2ZDK3qpHvja_u6zdOwWNn7OR3bydbzAGGRV_9gz_C1GlyrtLgRSQ-P0maxsS/s1600-h/DSCF6044.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3_6oteDuXuGTT39e0DXiFX3gj_X3pnlE85vO3p8FFecVAAkOS0K3ausDlRxXAl7wWvVz9Xgy2ZDK3qpHvja_u6zdOwWNn7OR3bydbzAGGRV_9gz_C1GlyrtLgRSQ-P0maxsS/s320/DSCF6044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449365226117617922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Adult Chestnut Hill Gansey Hat (chunky weight):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKriolYYxeopddB8_uphNJctpz9fG2yKADIjS6PI6xV_wBodlrKQitE3eyUX2O4jaotqAdzs5C-cIrOnXYAFjMr5OOOQtmvqLQpPDXf6M4j4MFgWWLv0eds34yirb6Vn2GjjZi/s1600-h/DSCF6045.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKriolYYxeopddB8_uphNJctpz9fG2yKADIjS6PI6xV_wBodlrKQitE3eyUX2O4jaotqAdzs5C-cIrOnXYAFjMr5OOOQtmvqLQpPDXf6M4j4MFgWWLv0eds34yirb6Vn2GjjZi/s320/DSCF6045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449365230428302722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There's also a child's hat, which I couldn't find (aren't you sorry??) and another baby hat. Yes, I have that cobblestones-and-trolley-tracks pattern burned into my brain forever. We took the pattern pictures for these samples this past weekend and now the patterns are being put into final graphic form. Boy howdy, will I be glad when they're ready to go! It's like giving birth!<br /><br />Stay tuned, they'll be ready for purchase next week. And if you're not already a member of my Facebook Group, go join! I'm thinking I'll have something special going on for the debut of these patterns. Just sayin'....<br /><br />And because I'm nuts, I'm also work on this because I realized there should be CH Gansey Cardigans too:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSp8Yl7zkfxbT6mOm-nnVF5EH-l9Z6mMMncp0_6AMpbnE7hUxQZuShPJJl-ifVK0CAWjdLZ_IhsKL8x6-ewyKXsqxRqMkZYq6ApN7uwGAmjCHmfVppuUqXdI5Z3wZ_XwSX9Zg-/s1600-h/DSCF6054.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSp8Yl7zkfxbT6mOm-nnVF5EH-l9Z6mMMncp0_6AMpbnE7hUxQZuShPJJl-ifVK0CAWjdLZ_IhsKL8x6-ewyKXsqxRqMkZYq6ApN7uwGAmjCHmfVppuUqXdI5Z3wZ_XwSX9Zg-/s320/DSCF6054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449628362594581138" border="0" /></a><br />That's the back of the Baby Chestnut Hill Gansey Cardigan. Madness!!dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-3139171792489705792010-03-12T07:06:00.002-05:002010-03-12T07:11:00.178-05:00Momogus Knits Trunk ShowShameless plug: I'm hosting a Momogus Knits Patterns Trunk Show and Party at <a href="http://www.tangledwebb.com/">The Tangled Web</a> on March 26 from 6-8 pm. That will be the official unveiling of the Chestnut Hill Gansey patterns, plus I'll have lots of samples of all of my other patterns, plus wine! Yeah! Stop by if you're in the neighborhood! We always have a lot of fun!<br /><br />I went bowling yesterday with Gus. It was my first time, and it was FUN! It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be (I bowled an 80, with 4 intentional gutter balls at the end to keep it close), and it was so fun to hang out with my boy. Bowling rules! Now I get it.<br /><br />Blanton shut out the Tigers (I think) yesterday - 35 pitches for four innings - yikes! I love Joe Blanton. 25 days till Opening Day!dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-91687225477835156192010-03-02T07:08:00.000-05:002010-03-02T07:36:47.965-05:00Birthday of the Decade!!Look who's turning 10 years old today! This guy:<br /><br />Accomplished musician:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCN1005-749167.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCN1005-749164.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thoughtful artist:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCN2489-776294.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCN2489-776292.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Occasional superhero:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCN2632-776323.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCN2632-776320.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />More than occasional sourpuss!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF5540-718458.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF5540-718455.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Salty athlete:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF4862_3-718431.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 142px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF4862_3-718426.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Accomplished swimmer! (oh boy do I remember this day!):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF3588-727615.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF3588-727613.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Graffiti artist! (just kidding!):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF3306-727588.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF3306-727582.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Boy of many talents:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF3219-794543.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF3219-794540.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He enjoys every aspect of life to the fullest:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF1095-794515.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF1095-794512.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My dear 10-year-old boy:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF5731-749151.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF5731-749149.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Happy Birthday, dearest Gus. We love you.dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-71242771374435201892010-02-21T07:57:00.002-05:002010-02-21T08:13:49.916-05:00Knitting stuffI have an appointment with an orthopedic doctor tomorrow to look at my arm. But of course as soon as I made the appointment my arm started feeling better! So I decided to take on some knitting.<br /><br />Yes, I jumped on the Knitting Olympics bandwagon, even though my arm isn't quite cooperating. This is Peasy by Heidi Kirrmaier. I'm using some violently chartreuse Rowan Felted Tweed that has been marinating in the stash for several years now. It's a fun pattern - top-down and the lace pattern on the front yoke makes the knitting interesting.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6006-741901.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6006-741873.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I also started these:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6009-741961.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6009-741932.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />These are Ribbon Mittens by Spillyjane. I've wanted to try this pattern and technique for a long time and finally took the plunge (Cascade 220 on a #3 - oy vey). The ribbon technique - technically known as Roositud Inlay Technique - is easy. But look at the chaos inside:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6011-765074.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/uploaded_images/DSCF6011-765043.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Ack!! After I got this far and saw all these floats and ends I wondered if I could just knit the mitten and embroider the design on. It's not knit in, so I don't think it would look any different. And it would be easier and cleaner. I'm going to try to pull out the design I have so far and then embroider it on as I go. Doesn't help that I chose black for the background, but so be it.dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-16524511772899233442010-02-18T15:41:00.003-05:002010-02-18T15:46:24.085-05:00Belated Snow Day Post (and new pattern preview!!)<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(Blog-slacker alert. I originally started this a week ago and just found it languishing in the "Edit Posts" folder...So sue me.)</span></span><br /><br />Like everyone else in a million-mile range, everyone here had a snow day today. Gus and I went out and explored the snow first thing in the morning and found that it was the perfect snow to build a snowman. This is what our snowmen have looked like in the past:<br /><img src="http://www.momogusknits.com/ftp.momogusknits.com/07snoman.jpg" /><br />This morning in about 10 minutes Gus had made this:<br /><img style="width: 401px; height: 534px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/ftp.momogusknits.com/DSCF5975.jpg" /><br />Snow Kitty! Waaaah! So cute!! Notice the appropriately vertical quality of this. The snow was delightfully packable.<br /><br />I made brownies, went back out and shoveled a little, had several snowball fights with the boy and actually <span style="font-style: italic;">knit</span>! These are samples for Totally Twisty Toe-Up Tube Socks, the next Momogus Knits pattern coming down the pike. I'm working on the sleeve of one of the Chestnut Hill Ganseys, but they are still not quite ready. My arm is still not 100%, so I couldn't knit a lot, but I finally felt like I was making some progress. And that felt good.Here it is being modeled by a grumpy almost-10-yr-old:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJPyXCCZCFhxqf1VkyNvZfcoRCun6V6oPj7CTwpRPgenvJENETG5-EdEnVDiceup6yP-0p6LEjZc6ONup5CeAiPocMbfktsV5xgzlvcmewmkhT-RHNEypMZwjUu8fOcYcUvao/s1600-h/DSCF5998.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJPyXCCZCFhxqf1VkyNvZfcoRCun6V6oPj7CTwpRPgenvJENETG5-EdEnVDiceup6yP-0p6LEjZc6ONup5CeAiPocMbfktsV5xgzlvcmewmkhT-RHNEypMZwjUu8fOcYcUvao/s320/DSCF5998.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439559640453245826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Close-up of the Totally Twisty rib pattern (worsted weight):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxjcMoZVkwB83mZqNqUJUQt02OEONDpd_f-8dFIEdVvEX__J4AD5E3BrnDcrn18k93DFZlWD6_Z9PEOL3zXIESBqii9G0MKh7HQm8Xt-QvwQoPtG-00fPZwr03nGEKA1_h_op/s1600-h/DSCF6000.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxjcMoZVkwB83mZqNqUJUQt02OEONDpd_f-8dFIEdVvEX__J4AD5E3BrnDcrn18k93DFZlWD6_Z9PEOL3zXIESBqii9G0MKh7HQm8Xt-QvwQoPtG-00fPZwr03nGEKA1_h_op/s320/DSCF6000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439559656443723042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here it is in sportweight variegated yarn:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqXV0PEoC-yDwzy3bOauXof-1VA0OXsYVzuZLvOiWs2gN85bYlLO4rijfYb1Cvnebpspwv9gMMOQaSLyydV_xMeUlSjcKlwLUqYqbfZCAPiY3rDHPefov7QBiAN0tJpIFH0TX/s1600-h/DSCF5996.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqXV0PEoC-yDwzy3bOauXof-1VA0OXsYVzuZLvOiWs2gN85bYlLO4rijfYb1Cvnebpspwv9gMMOQaSLyydV_xMeUlSjcKlwLUqYqbfZCAPiY3rDHPefov7QBiAN0tJpIFH0TX/s320/DSCF5996.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439559628803345090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The pattern is written for fingering, sport and worsted weight yarns and sizes from baby up to large adult. I LOVE a tube sock because there is no heel. Yippee! And the ribbed pattern makes them fit in a nice way. I will keep you all posted, but I expect to have this pattern out in the next week or so.dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-82120829710370279452010-02-16T07:14:00.001-05:002010-02-16T07:28:12.752-05:00Happy Birthday, Hubby!Happy Birthday to my funny great husband!!<br /><img src="http://www.momogusknits.com/ftp.momogusknits.com/DSCF5809.jpg" />dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-1559378324613661082010-02-07T10:02:00.002-05:002010-02-07T10:09:46.510-05:00Brrrr!In the backyard yesterday:<br /><img style="width: 299px; height: 401px;" src="http://www.momogusknits.com/ftp.momogusknits.com/DSCF5960.jpg" /><br />My favorite bird, gallant Mrs. Cardinal, venturing out for some lunch in the middle of the blizzard. <br /><br />I stayed in and baked bread. My bread-baking is ahem, a work in progress. I can't get the loaves to rise very much, though I sit them on the radiator. I wonder if even that is not warm enough. Yesterday's efforts were very flat and dense. Does anyone out there have any bread-baking hints they can offer?<br /><br />No knitting to show - my arm is better but not back to 100%. I knit a little bit in the morning and my arm began to throb from the elbow to the tip of my middle finger. Not good! And so frustrating! I am so close to finishing up a half-dozen new Momogus Knits patterns, but can't finish because I can't finish the samples. Urgh. And argh!dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-1868206680776584952010-01-23T07:13:00.002-05:002010-01-23T07:18:19.840-05:00Off to Amagansett!We're off to our annual trip out to the end of Long Island today. I am still battling tendinitis so I'm not sure how much knitting I'll get done. That is irksome, of course, but I will just have to soothe myself with two or three walks a day here:<br /><img src="http://www.momogusknits.com/ftp.momogusknits.com/IMG_1687.jpg" /><br /><br />And eat some delicious dinners here:<br /><img src="http://www.momogusknits.com/ftp.momogusknits.com/shagwong2.jpg" /><br /><br />And practice my field goal kicking:<br /><img src="http://www.momogusknits.com/ftp.momogusknits.com/DSCF4371.jpg"/><br /><br />Have a happy week everybody and please think non-inflammatory thoughts about my ding-dang arm!dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30253704.post-70851765681961433202010-01-14T07:02:00.000-05:002010-01-14T07:29:11.062-05:00As Homer Would Say: "D'Ough!"Here's a few things happening around chez Momogus these days. First, in a totally nature-y badness thing, I spied a Sharp-Shinned Hawk in my backyard, eating a woodpecker. I don't like when the hawks use my bird feeders as a sort of delectable lunch buffet. When they get somebody it's usually a dove. Now I love a dove as much as the next person, and I hate the whole circle-of-life thing as much as the next person and wish they wouldn't get eaten at all, but there are A LOT of them in my yard. The woodpeckers, on the other hand, are rare and gorgeous and appear infrequently. So it seemed especially harsh when I saw this.<br /><img src="http://www.momogusknits.com/ftp.momogusknits.com/DSCF5859.jpg" /><br />Hawk-y badness...<br /><br />Now in a palate-cleansing moment of nature-y goodness, here is a ridiculous and totally typical picture of Nuts and Silly. Though he is not related to Silly in any way, Nuts firmly believes and has believed from the first moment he saw her that Silly is his mother. He outweighs her by a good 10 pounds, if not more, and he will wander around the house meowing until he sees her and then will flop down next to her so that she can lick his ears. Then he gets so happy and contented that he will inch closer and closer until she swats him and leaves. This happens continually, but she is patient and he is incorrigible so it never stops.<br /><img src="http://www.momogusknits.com/ftp.momogusknits.com/DSCF5864.jpg" /><br />Goofball.<br /><br />Now on to my main topic, which is bread and the making thereof. I'm experiencing my annual post-holiday-knitting-tendinitis so I can't knit right now and I am going crazy. I've been looking for stuff to do with my hands that wasn't knitting. As you may recall, baking a loaf of bread was one of my New Year's resolutions or 2010 goals. Imagine my surprise when I picked up my Marion Cunningham <span style="font-style: italic;">Fannie Farmer Baking Book</span> and saw this:<br /><img src="http://www.momogusknits.com/ftp.momogusknits.com/DSCF5865.jpg" /><br />If you can't read it, it says "8/30/92 Perfect! I am Frontier Woman!" Huh. Aside from the hubris in that note ("Frontier Woman" indeed, who lived in downtown Philadelphia, worked in a bank and threw darts in the corner bar 3 nights a week), I am struck by the fact that I accomplished this goal 18 years ago, but had no recollection of it at all. I'm going to declare that there is a sort of statute of limitations on baking goals, because I baked a loaf of bread from scratch yesterday and fully documented the process and was very full of myself (one might even call oneself "Frontier Woman"), so here goes:<br /><br />Dough in its initial form.<br /><img src="http://www.momogusknits.com/ftp.momogusknits.com/DSCF5868.jpg" /><br /><img src="http://www.momogusknits.com/ftp.momogusknits.com/DSCF5870.jpg" /><br /><br />Dough in its not-really-very-risen form, but this was 2 hours later and it was sitting in a bowl in a pan on the radiator, so I'm sure it was very close to 75 degrees and I didn't want to wait any longer.<br /><img src="http://www.momogusknits.com/ftp.momogusknits.com/DSCF5873.jpg" /><br /><br />Dough in its risen-punched-down-and-risen-again-and-split-in-two form ready to go into the oven.<br /><img src="http://www.momogusknits.com/ftp.momogusknits.com/DSCF5874.jpg" /><br /><br />I wasn't sure what to expect because the dough did not seem to have doubled in size when it rose, but what came out of the oven sure was beautiful and it tasted DELIGHTFUL! We had it with homemade chicken stew last night, and ate like a whole big Frontier Family.<br /><img src="http://www.momogusknits.com/ftp.momogusknits.com/DSCF5875.jpg" /><br />TA-DA!!<br /><br />I have a bread machine that can knock out a decent-tasting loaf of bread in an hour and I don't have to do anything after I push Start. Yesterday's process was definitely hands-on and time-consuming. Mixing the dough initially took maybe 15 minutes, then there was a 2-hour stretch for the first rise, then punching down and another 45 minutes for the 2nd rise and then finally a 30-minute baking time. So I started around 11:00 am and the bread was done baking at 4:30 (it would have been done earlier, admittedly, but I had to pick up Gus at school and I didn't want the oven on while I wasn't there.) The bread was really really good, though, and it did make 2 loaves, so I guess it was worth it. I don't know how anyone could do this every day though. But it's done. Now I have to start with my chicken goals.dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00893671731903195817noreply@blogger.com2