tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40658552024-03-27T19:53:12.712-04:00brainyladyAlisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.comBlogger1059125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-18020073153238458382011-04-15T13:25:00.002-04:002011-04-15T13:30:44.576-04:00Four months<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHL1_2zs-mM85JZ6thUzAxUCRXGWW5ML18YcrxUGxcqyrx0kj8pCV6kLQSA7rj1FCmDJDwKuJVaqpiZE5HdY7KLfZLZUJYY6RPEXlAvps8V41QUntHQlQkx9mlEXUovU-rrQRpQ/s1600/4-months.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHL1_2zs-mM85JZ6thUzAxUCRXGWW5ML18YcrxUGxcqyrx0kj8pCV6kLQSA7rj1FCmDJDwKuJVaqpiZE5HdY7KLfZLZUJYY6RPEXlAvps8V41QUntHQlQkx9mlEXUovU-rrQRpQ/s400/4-months.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595862858358258866" /></a><br>Max is four months old now and such a happy kid. He still spits up quite a bit, but not in the huge volumes that he did before. He laughs a lot. Last week he rolled over from his tummy to his back! All is well.Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-2445553769134703922011-02-17T11:52:00.003-05:002011-02-17T11:58:37.024-05:00Ten weeks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJk99YcNUOuFF6dH0ApRXRlx3RbjSUH1Cd1IOgGZT0YbmkVzdmMnsl3BG9DCYOLgrWe6orMtC31zB95a1iCcW0BSiOtqzOeOzrRL_gOQ63ngatplPS5HzLkjA9Kca_nqF2HG0C1w/s1600/Max-10-weeks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJk99YcNUOuFF6dH0ApRXRlx3RbjSUH1Cd1IOgGZT0YbmkVzdmMnsl3BG9DCYOLgrWe6orMtC31zB95a1iCcW0BSiOtqzOeOzrRL_gOQ63ngatplPS5HzLkjA9Kca_nqF2HG0C1w/s400/Max-10-weeks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574702385943896066" /></a><br>Max is ten weeks old tomorrow. Things are definitely good now; I'd say the first five or six weeks were very difficult for me. At around eight weeks, something seemed to click on in him, with lots of smiles, lots of movement, super-alertness, and a good long sleep at night. Earlier this month we flew out to B.C. so Max could meet his grandparents and other relatives, and he was a champ with the travel as well as with all the new faces, voices, etc. Now I'm looking forward to him holding up his own head and feeding less frequently during the day. Also wondering if those blue eyes are going to change. They're so blue I find it hard to believe they'll turn brown (like mine). Maybe green (like his dad's)?Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-12694262478809171482011-01-14T13:18:00.002-05:002011-01-14T13:26:19.382-05:00Five weeks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZdvA9YGgYdZGn3Nqg28U862KIzA-3vyIRgcNRuBExxySxU-KduEeukyUtGT_DcfqHOwMVrQ_utpHMdSXQeeWmQoRaIhg5RMwetrtg2yAAyXX80htmkPauZJH7KGWU8tO9dm0LA/s1600/Max-5-weeks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZdvA9YGgYdZGn3Nqg28U862KIzA-3vyIRgcNRuBExxySxU-KduEeukyUtGT_DcfqHOwMVrQ_utpHMdSXQeeWmQoRaIhg5RMwetrtg2yAAyXX80htmkPauZJH7KGWU8tO9dm0LA/s400/Max-5-weeks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562109510571735250" /></a><br>These have been the longest five weeks of my life ... but Max is a beauty, I must say, and he's getting more alert every day (i.e., more fun).Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-47928956382847938932010-12-21T11:53:00.006-05:002010-12-21T12:07:21.551-05:00It's a boy!Maximilian Charles <br>born at 7:16 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10, 2010 <br>9 pounds, 3 ounces (4.18 kg) <br>20.5 inches (52 cm) <br><br><b>Day 1:</b><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63cYrhyVImOJJU5C4sMKfQPX3LpM2NEpZ2bEJOc5xvk_8yhGFFWox4Kxcl3vcoIC9QLg7fpjKGj1JR2kjtYjignhVO6FSshsO2iPfjw9vyaOsirvrn8wsh5cwa9WDLbQdHwRxWw/s1600/IMG_1078.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63cYrhyVImOJJU5C4sMKfQPX3LpM2NEpZ2bEJOc5xvk_8yhGFFWox4Kxcl3vcoIC9QLg7fpjKGj1JR2kjtYjignhVO6FSshsO2iPfjw9vyaOsirvrn8wsh5cwa9WDLbQdHwRxWw/s400/IMG_1078.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553180284403918754" /></a><br><br><b>Day 7:</b><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfy365MwsRXsAq8-rs-GlJN8OIXdc3fxwNPU77hBBfvzd1Au1us5sCk9dekzQnWqaN6jSLEHsFC79YCk_ek21hIEA3GrWCVG8P-n2ZoRPinHzxCvW8TDF_Ome5u-zNVbBpIjuCA/s1600/IMG_1139.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfy365MwsRXsAq8-rs-GlJN8OIXdc3fxwNPU77hBBfvzd1Au1us5sCk9dekzQnWqaN6jSLEHsFC79YCk_ek21hIEA3GrWCVG8P-n2ZoRPinHzxCvW8TDF_Ome5u-zNVbBpIjuCA/s400/IMG_1139.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553181514218428194" /></a><br><br><b>Day 10 (yesterday!):</b><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnTOOWwyDwtgTExCMOWMOCZp7cpDGrWGDxwPkO2vFo-iKbu5_gF6yrYlJfaLsER7ucMq9ue4fMPkOs31EzlHsQ4zkfUpMuZmyOz1xrIwP5bamVRorD8Vbzr8eBGnRQYwT19wzXg/s1600/IMG_1164.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnTOOWwyDwtgTExCMOWMOCZp7cpDGrWGDxwPkO2vFo-iKbu5_gF6yrYlJfaLsER7ucMq9ue4fMPkOs31EzlHsQ4zkfUpMuZmyOz1xrIwP5bamVRorD8Vbzr8eBGnRQYwT19wzXg/s400/IMG_1164.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553181930556941746" /></a><br>All is well with us. I'm feeding him right now and typing one-handed, so no big story. But I'll be back! Just didn't want to keep you hanging for too long. Also, we wish you all the best for the holidays and the year ahead! Much love to all, from Alison and Max. xoxoAlisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com62tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-61559655099316070002010-11-17T13:50:00.005-05:002010-11-17T14:06:13.503-05:003 weeks out<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyDK5ZSCzFl53hJOHhkAnrxDQqLmJU8HKN9Lum65KusDoMqh4Jw03VQ1w1Syrqn3aaSwrFdclrNOeEDgmCXyWBVugYdH6uev3LCnKJkdMs4eJuVJicFP9Z1yZ3hwuYcLpM49WNg/s1600/mooky-lap.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyDK5ZSCzFl53hJOHhkAnrxDQqLmJU8HKN9Lum65KusDoMqh4Jw03VQ1w1Syrqn3aaSwrFdclrNOeEDgmCXyWBVugYdH6uev3LCnKJkdMs4eJuVJicFP9Z1yZ3hwuYcLpM49WNg/s200/mooky-lap.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540596188663981074" /></a>My due date is in three weeks, on Dec. 8. We're feeling pretty on top of things -- we're taking our weekly prenatal classes; we've taken a tour of the birthing centre at the hospital; we've got the cloth diaper service set up; we're taking an infant CPR course this Friday; we've got the crib up (but it's filled with other stuff at the moment); the base of the carseat is in the car; and I've finished my part-time job. We've got pretty much everything we need, according to lists like <a href="http://eco-kid.blogspot.com/2010/05/infamous-baby-checklist-printable.html">this one</a>, <a href="http://babyproducts.about.com/od/preparingforbaby/a/basiclayette.htm">this one</a>, and <a href="http://www.todaysparent.com/baby/youandnewborn/article.jsp?content=20030605_132958_3736&page=1">this one</a>. I think we're as ready as we're going to be! And we're definitely excited. So watch this space -- I may check in again before the baby comes, or the next post might contain the big news...Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-87762034611384998472010-10-06T10:56:00.007-04:002010-10-06T11:26:35.092-04:00BibsMore sewing! I will admit I've done some knitting, too, but it really does make my hands ache, so I need to <i>stop it!</i> So this is one of the sewing projects meant to take over some knitting time: cute bibs. I have lots of sweet fabrics, from a south-of-the-border trip in the spring where I found bundled fat quarters of 1930s-repro prints at a Jo-Ann store.<br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaNrYUzcdwREWZzktWUuhjywPFC0TOvEodZUVWFjk8u14PmROFpjyjPuYwRHcDcCAQhS4JqoUqthaLXEzS2JIIzqJEYMKBwJlP4YzA7SKC8YoGyxxfyMcEtnq0J1KF7ci1nWXVw/s1600/bibs1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaNrYUzcdwREWZzktWUuhjywPFC0TOvEodZUVWFjk8u14PmROFpjyjPuYwRHcDcCAQhS4JqoUqthaLXEzS2JIIzqJEYMKBwJlP4YzA7SKC8YoGyxxfyMcEtnq0J1KF7ci1nWXVw/s400/bibs1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524951999746846274" /></a><br>I used <a href="http://chickpeastudio.typepad.com/chickpea_sewing_studio/2008/01/chickpea-infant.html">this free pattern</a>. Cotton prints for the fronts, plain white flannel for the backs, and snap closures. Pretty simple; as with most things, I spend more time ironing than anything else. <br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblpBTRruAXpZ4oRl6VsNHyowbIh4jTyiQirJO7TyJoCHc7A4Mgi49D7Ovt7t6iUHbSE9M00QyJmynPBgzvOTI2i3QCxVGdDyb3sMyDr4PsosJrUr-9o3levhehOr38J9VwVeA5w/s1600/bibs2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblpBTRruAXpZ4oRl6VsNHyowbIh4jTyiQirJO7TyJoCHc7A4Mgi49D7Ovt7t6iUHbSE9M00QyJmynPBgzvOTI2i3QCxVGdDyb3sMyDr4PsosJrUr-9o3levhehOr38J9VwVeA5w/s400/bibs2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524953885688988882" /></a><br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaGiWTcBHiphwlAN3JF0W-5xHv0jRRw4uOoxcjJMRKNJ2BwAkZtTu7MQh46ycGGI5kLgh6h4Etyhhnu6bK9yjvc9f6FfawqWib2e9sal7mzSPqYG0zS_gSA-C5HqXEJCWLQFwHw/s1600/bibs3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaGiWTcBHiphwlAN3JF0W-5xHv0jRRw4uOoxcjJMRKNJ2BwAkZtTu7MQh46ycGGI5kLgh6h4Etyhhnu6bK9yjvc9f6FfawqWib2e9sal7mzSPqYG0zS_gSA-C5HqXEJCWLQFwHw/s400/bibs3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524953791837447666" /></a><br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJly5Ji1oQs-jv4KoplmqbewCRCIBWFi2YPPv5JXpUKxh2lrQ89RI2bDGDvR54xehYpMaAtzwIr4eQTBkVgMN5veD25NKx5Kbw1NOI_MGekNKTND6a30djFVn8i-Kg2V_jagd7Xw/s1600/bibs4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJly5Ji1oQs-jv4KoplmqbewCRCIBWFi2YPPv5JXpUKxh2lrQ89RI2bDGDvR54xehYpMaAtzwIr4eQTBkVgMN5veD25NKx5Kbw1NOI_MGekNKTND6a30djFVn8i-Kg2V_jagd7Xw/s400/bibs4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524953708376252114" /></a><br>(Those little gardeners on the green fabric are killing me with their cuteness. I have them on yellow, too -- and maybe blue.)<br><br>So, I'm 31 weeks pregnant today -- two months to go. Still feeling good, other than the carpal tunnel. I'm not sleeping well, but from what I read and hear, that's to be expected, and it's only going to get worse. But in general, all is well -- and fall is my favourite season, and October is my favourite month, so no complaints.Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-40046956921674119082010-09-24T20:03:00.006-04:002010-09-24T20:48:06.363-04:00Tag, you're itI came across one of these on some website or another a while back and didn't really understand it, but I did some poking around online and the ribbon-tag blankie became my newest obsession. (I guess this kind of object is just something very tactile to occupy a baby -- the different textures and colours are fun and stimulating. Seems like a good idea.) <a href="http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2008/09/tag-blanket-and-toys.html">This one</a>, for example, is just so sweet. Some are smaller, like <a href="http://www.craftyrachel.com/blog/2010/01/26/diy-baby-taggie-blanket/">these ones</a>. (And this <a href="http://wendolonia.com/blog/2009/03/28/taggie-monster/">ribbon-tab "monster doll"</a> is inspired and awesome.) I had to make one of these little blankies, too. So I had a look at <a href="http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/05/tag_happy_baby_blanket.html">the instructions on the Craftzine.com blog</a>, bought some short lengths of ribbon to add to my own meager scraps (several in black and white, for the recommended high contrast), and did just that: <br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_pr4dS2UAgf2Eke0XNSn43o0GO4RILlur5GAfdAFhwrZk4NHTJ_DMwY_hfZ3L5n0yW26DwnogK4fNUOPaMZpEXLDHYZI9Eoa9dc_xgYZw8zSPWQd-CmXCT_Wlofg8zY0ZJ6Nhg/s1600/blankie1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 341px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_pr4dS2UAgf2Eke0XNSn43o0GO4RILlur5GAfdAFhwrZk4NHTJ_DMwY_hfZ3L5n0yW26DwnogK4fNUOPaMZpEXLDHYZI9Eoa9dc_xgYZw8zSPWQd-CmXCT_Wlofg8zY0ZJ6Nhg/s400/blankie1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520641797975546354" /></a><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTykKNUJV6JmUIVFuFtVE2XIc38CuqCQAn_wGYucl5vDqVf_pm9_MkE5CD-uYHhInV-3pOo-IUFZEUYzXmBPU5mUdwcW1QzvUfawpaCnHzrMk1QD6PpZoV-QTQ2cfPQk2ep_apQ/s1600/blankie2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 327px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTykKNUJV6JmUIVFuFtVE2XIc38CuqCQAn_wGYucl5vDqVf_pm9_MkE5CD-uYHhInV-3pOo-IUFZEUYzXmBPU5mUdwcW1QzvUfawpaCnHzrMk1QD6PpZoV-QTQ2cfPQk2ep_apQ/s400/blankie2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520641926361364546" /></a><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAREu7kvIWEIbN2W_gTfLpX-EoAkaPlKkui7pfN0OGGf1sBT7VwpVnP8fkm9XeYlAQJwGajQyQGSYKQeftKW9WV3-gHbYw486fgB4HFJidY0kBfsfU85H9SotwvPFsr9fTVHfIA/s1600/blankie3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAREu7kvIWEIbN2W_gTfLpX-EoAkaPlKkui7pfN0OGGf1sBT7VwpVnP8fkm9XeYlAQJwGajQyQGSYKQeftKW9WV3-gHbYw486fgB4HFJidY0kBfsfU85H9SotwvPFsr9fTVHfIA/s400/blankie3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520642067895490978" /></a><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9dk_h2Pu_R_rc9Xkwtk1cL5_YJ52jHkPLbjHkUVy2-_PdA1DDHvnM4sYQIvLsjzhaW8zBGh3vXBD6qK128gHynO_5pazZBJI7rcO_cSQP-Rud5v1lW8SnWovXrJJtP4F99KNUw/s1600/blankie4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9dk_h2Pu_R_rc9Xkwtk1cL5_YJ52jHkPLbjHkUVy2-_PdA1DDHvnM4sYQIvLsjzhaW8zBGh3vXBD6qK128gHynO_5pazZBJI7rcO_cSQP-Rud5v1lW8SnWovXrJJtP4F99KNUw/s400/blankie4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520642167005790770" /></a><br>I cut 16-inch squares of a cotton print and a plain white flannel. (Lots of people favor super-soft <a href="http://minkydelight.com/minkydotfabric1.html">Minky fabric</a>, but it's too expensive for me.) I cut the ribbons at 2.5-inch to 4-inch lengths -- short enough that the baby won't get tangled up in the loops. Pressed, pinned, sewed, top-stitched, and <i>voilà</i>. It's very cute! I have ribbon left over, so I might make another, smaller one. Plus it was fun to make -- a very rewarding result with little effort.<br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqELQmqsJ8v-QLgY8iNHshZ4kcNOwn1qBxeSsM1im2o7ypaXuqu6wwwB4Ndd_LkipQVJTbFJQnRY3eT8AS-SDm9R4oDOB9D2ISD6r-C2NhHrnuFW8brNCOyv3eXNshIKwC5r14Q/s1600/blankie5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqELQmqsJ8v-QLgY8iNHshZ4kcNOwn1qBxeSsM1im2o7ypaXuqu6wwwB4Ndd_LkipQVJTbFJQnRY3eT8AS-SDm9R4oDOB9D2ISD6r-C2NhHrnuFW8brNCOyv3eXNshIKwC5r14Q/s400/blankie5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520645430542918546" /></a><br>Have any of you made one of these before? If so, was it a success with the baby? (And how old of a baby would dig this kind of thing? Is my friend's 14-month-old too old for one?)Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-64059155375288086992010-09-14T10:08:00.005-04:002010-09-24T20:50:33.350-04:00FoolproofThanks for your comments on my last post. It sounds like the wrist braces at night can really help, so I may go that route. I'm going to wait another week to see if the pain lessens a bit. A <i>real</i> week without knitting, unlike the five days that have passed since I got the bad news.<br><br>I know I should have dropped the needles immediately, but I just couldn't. I saw Dr. K on Thursday morning, and he diagnosed the carpal tunnel; I went straight from his office to the hospital for a blood test, and I had brought knitting with me for the waiting room! So, in the spirit of "new rules start tomorrow," I cast on and knit most of a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/norvegal/1800193288/">Foolproof Baby Hat</a> (from the <a href="http://www.knittersreview.com/knitters_book_of_yarn.asp"><i>Knitter's Book of Yarn</i></a>) while waiting. (It was quite a wait: 45 minutes for my number to be called at reception, and then I had to drink glucose, wait one hour [plus 15 minutes because the technician was having lunch], and have the blood taken.)<br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPg0HVz4QRh95LIytbiNK1bHLU3MRIzgzSvkQLSSEh1YJCXJfKPE1ppSUa4WU-BHei9PsSguEoNA_bMb5PC1OAScXwr6vyOMJaYdkyrGxl2zOxyOcgDkjpxHoH1Y3dj7UYgTmhIg/s1600/foolproof-huckleberry-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPg0HVz4QRh95LIytbiNK1bHLU3MRIzgzSvkQLSSEh1YJCXJfKPE1ppSUa4WU-BHei9PsSguEoNA_bMb5PC1OAScXwr6vyOMJaYdkyrGxl2zOxyOcgDkjpxHoH1Y3dj7UYgTmhIg/s400/foolproof-huckleberry-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516774284929740754" /></a><br>Such a cute little hat! I'd been inspired by seeing <a href="http://purlewe.typepad.com/purlewe/2010/09/baby-hat.html">Purlewe's version</a> on Ravelry. My version (like Anj's) came out just as cute as could be. It's tiny, but the mistake rib makes it super stretchy. The yarn is Mountain Colors 4/8's Wool.<br><br>Besides this wee hat, I had a baby cardigan on the go that was one sleeve away from finished, so I couldn't very well just leave that, could I? So there was a little more knitting there. But I've definitely set aside the blanket I was working on: linen stitch with a double strand of fingering-weight wool. Definitely too hard on the hands. <br><br>So I really need to stop knitting now. It's really hard -- knitting is what I do when I watch TV at the end of the day. Last night I went to bed with a book at 8:30 p.m. because I couldn't really think of anything else to do. I can use my sewing machine, but not if I want to watch TV or hang out with Bill (because it's in my office). But I really don't want to mess up my hands more than they already are messed up, since I have a lot of work to do, so wish me luck! I've had to quit things before that I enjoyed. And it's only temporary. Maybe I should just take the extra evening time I'll have and use it to keep working on my thesis. I think my hands are going to hurt either way; if my hands hurt but my thesis is finished, I'll take that.Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-82927939888534432682010-09-09T19:19:00.005-04:002010-09-24T20:50:33.351-04:00Noooooooooooooo!First of all, please imagine my "Nooooo" in that slowed-down, cinematic way -- like when, in a movie, something precious is falling and someone dives to catch it, all in slow motion, shouting in that low, distorted voice. Thank you. That will be sufficiently dramatic. <br><br>I saw my doctor this morning and told him that for the last three or four days I've woken up with stiff, numb hands, and that some swelling and stiffness persists throughout the day. He said this is (pregnancy-related) <a href="http://www.babycenter.ca/pregnancy/antenatalhealth/physicalhealth/fingerpainandnumbness/">carpal tunnel syndrome</a>, and that to keep it from getting worse, I need to stop doing anything repetitive with my hands -- like typing and knitting. <br><br>"No knitting," said Dr. K. "You need to stop knitting."<br><br>Gulp. <br><br>Now, I have to admit that normally, I might not <i>actually</i> stop knitting. I might tell my doctor I will stop knitting, and then keep knitting. But he said I should stop knitting <i>and typing</i>. And there's no way I can stop typing, unless my supervisor will accept a five-hour thesis on tape. Stopping typing is simply out of the question, which means I'm going to have to sacrifice knitting in the interests of getting my work done. <br><br>It had occurred to me at that at some point in this pregnancy, something might go wrong with my health that would lead to bed rest. I figured that would be bad, but I could still have my laptop and knit. But "don't use your hands"? I hadn't anticipated this one, and I think it's worse -- for me, anyway. (It's funny -- I've never thought of myself as a person who works with her hands, but I am. Bed rest would be devastating for an athlete, or a bike courier, or the mother of a toddler, but "don't use your hands" is worse for someone who spends most of her time sitting and typing and reading and making stuff.) (And I know this carpal tunnel thing is quite common in pregnancy, and the doctor said if I was at 37 weeks it wouldn't really matter. But since I'm only at 27 weeks, there's plenty of time for it to get a lot worse. The word "splints" was mentioned.)<br><br>So I guess you'll be seeing more sewing around here...Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-29265212393422605992010-09-01T11:42:00.006-04:002010-09-24T20:50:33.352-04:00WowzaAs I clicked "publish" on that last post, I gave myself a little pep talk about how blogging probably wouldn't be like it used to be after all this time -- it might take a while for people to notice me again, etc. And when I checked back the next day and saw "0 comments," I was OK with that. And then a few hours later (thinking, "Really? Not even one?"), I remembered that I have to approve comments before they appear. And lo and behold, more than 40 lovely notes were waiting for me in comment-modification limbo, making me feel very happy and humbled. I thank each of you from the bottom of my heart. Welcome back to you, too. <br><br>And thanks for the burp cloth comments! I'd like to make more that involve simply <a href="http://www.makeandtakes.com/baby-burp-cloth-tutorial">adding a fabric trim to cloth diapers</a>, or with <a href="http://sewshesews.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/burp-cloth-tutorial/">flannel over one whole side</a>. (Where does one even buy cloth diapers these days? Zellers? Do I have to go to Walmart?) I'm spending most of my time this week polishing off a couple of draft chapters, but I have a second flannel receiving blanket on the go, too, so I can take a break from writing and just roll my chair a few feet over to my sewing table. So far, I've cut the fabric and pressed/pinned the hem around it. At some point this afternoon, I'll do that sewing. From my googling, I see that lots of people sew double-layered receiving blankets, but I'm just using a single layer. A 40-inch-square piece of flannel is big, and I think getting two pieces to match exactly in size -- and to sew them together perfectly so that the blanket lies flat -- would just be needlessly frustrating. I'd rather make a pile of single-layer blankets and just use two if the extra warmth is needed. I'm all about layers. It's because I started dressing myself in the '80s. <br><br>So life is all about flannel and writing these days. As for other baby stuff, we're slowly amassing the things we'll need. I've bought plenty of baby clothes secondhand (PLENTY); I scored a Boppy pillow (with a dinosaur-patterned slipcover) on eBay; and my best friend found a really good carseat at a yard sale last weekend. I've signed up for prenatal classes, which don't start until October, and I've put the baby's name (i.e., "Baby") on the city's central daycare waiting list. (Quebec is good to babies, offering things like subsidized daycare, because they need more of them -- but the waiting list is long.) I'm 26 weeks pregnant today. It feels to me like I'm right in the middle of "we've still got lots of time" and "not too much longer now." It's a nice place to be. <br><br>In the meantime, here's a gratuitous shot of Mooky, keeping it real on the back porch.<br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmDgcHVrA6SoAfl8Dnjr5-3mI02XuHUOfAZPe8hlXm-4uASSZUjxAFccJuBAHUrmghSlKbBENmxx7PBZMEgsVKVVe7rnDW-rrV8BJqWxd5i9SIyWlrCGwuIWyC98UTO91USYGeg/s1600/aug10-mooks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmDgcHVrA6SoAfl8Dnjr5-3mI02XuHUOfAZPe8hlXm-4uASSZUjxAFccJuBAHUrmghSlKbBENmxx7PBZMEgsVKVVe7rnDW-rrV8BJqWxd5i9SIyWlrCGwuIWyC98UTO91USYGeg/s400/aug10-mooks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511980321438185970" /></a><br><b>ETA:</b> Funny -- I just noticed that <a href="http://brainylady.blogspot.com/2009/08/weekend.html">the last photo I posted of Mooky</a> was almost exactly one year ago. That's a long time without Mooky! I apologize! (It obviously wasn't so hot at this time last year, or he never would have been sleeping in the house.)Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-36432696407730745162010-08-26T13:16:00.007-04:002010-09-24T20:50:33.353-04:00Are you there, blog? It's me, AlisonI've been thinking for a week or two about how to make a drama-free return to this little corner of the Internet that I've got here. I lost interest in the whole thing last year (obviously), but I never did say goodbye or officially shut things down, just so that I could come back if I wanted to. I'm still not sure whether I'll start blogging again with any regularity, but I have been finding myself wanting to post certain things, and this seems like the most appropriate place to do that. So hello to anyone who may pop by after all this time!<br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9vf50SuhJ8fw1lqvJ1gzBGu_U4tZLIrDjGOXfvPRxe8OQxmwPSncrO6abIpTizwAS2l-quHGgjCMGrxnGTN-yXOTZi3F27m-aZhDxI8aD-2CcJtGjPz3CfLimzXUJxsymLStkA/s1600/0826-10_25weeks.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 156px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9vf50SuhJ8fw1lqvJ1gzBGu_U4tZLIrDjGOXfvPRxe8OQxmwPSncrO6abIpTizwAS2l-quHGgjCMGrxnGTN-yXOTZi3F27m-aZhDxI8aD-2CcJtGjPz3CfLimzXUJxsymLStkA/s200/0826-10_25weeks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509774300906854290" /></a>I'm not going to try to summarize the nine months that have passed since I last posted, except to say this: I'm still living in Montreal and working on my Ph.D. (writing the dissertation draft). In news of the new, I'm expecting a baby in early December -- and that’s what brings me back to the blog. Yep, I'm 25 weeks pregnant and, I must say, feeling excellent.<br><br>For me, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/brainylady">Ravelry</a> took the place of knitblogging. I could put all the info and photos about knitting projects there, and I no longer felt the need to duplicate that stuff here. But now that a baby is on the way, I'm doing a little bit of sewing and bookmarking a lot of stuff online, and I don't have another place to keep track of that stuff. Also, I probably want to talk about baby stuff more than my friends want to hear about it, because -- let's face it -- stuff can be boring if it isn't about you. I'll be the first to admit that when knitting bloggers had babies and started talking about the babies instead, I often tuned out. If you're not interested, you're not interested -- and I wasn't, but now I am. Life changes like that, doesn’t it?<br><br>All this is to say that I might start blogging a bit, and it's probably going to be about babies. OK, about <i>my</i> baby. (But I'm more interested in yours now, too -- I promise.) And I'm jumping right in with burp cloths. What could be more fascinating?<br><br>A couple of Christmases ago, I made flannel pillowcases as gifts (a big hit, by the way), and I had some flannel left over. With more than a yard of one print, I made a simple receiving blanket: trimmed off the selvedges, cut about a 40-inch square, turned over a hem all around and sewed it. With smaller pieces of leftover flannel, I made three burp cloths:<br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Uwvh9fyjKgU25jrIo0G7pQJ5NM2MyXNSnbVO61CWfdKb2Zi015G-nwtgBsARV-DYZ3nvPFE9gPwRde-6jH4x7e3t20e4bf05jHwD9JOKGOtW6u7ny7TsSygj_iGb3rSFWB_upg/s1600/0826-10_burpcloths.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Uwvh9fyjKgU25jrIo0G7pQJ5NM2MyXNSnbVO61CWfdKb2Zi015G-nwtgBsARV-DYZ3nvPFE9gPwRde-6jH4x7e3t20e4bf05jHwD9JOKGOtW6u7ny7TsSygj_iGb3rSFWB_upg/s400/0826-10_burpcloths.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509775064190287074" /></a><br>I looked at several patterns/tutorials online and settled on <a href="http://thelongestyear.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/06/easy-peasy-burp-cloth-tutorial.html">this one</a>. I cut out six pieces, paired different patterns together for each cloth, sewed the pieces together, and topstitched. Easy -- once I figured out the tension on my machine had to be set at 1 for the topstitching (only 1!?).<br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwUtw3jIZ4OH3NK8Ld8DG2oFsM5mPpU7mMyF1CjzOL7RwUOfC9VfFSrcqh8BePQwzXN4DTvXQW7P3l1a0y8r_BTqIMxQ-kpZ2qgheoM_QgpFFsaOKE7dt1PaCrEyt61irPRWSEQ/s1600/0826-10_burpcloth-close.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwUtw3jIZ4OH3NK8Ld8DG2oFsM5mPpU7mMyF1CjzOL7RwUOfC9VfFSrcqh8BePQwzXN4DTvXQW7P3l1a0y8r_BTqIMxQ-kpZ2qgheoM_QgpFFsaOKE7dt1PaCrEyt61irPRWSEQ/s400/0826-10_burpcloth-close.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509776408983373938" /></a><br><i>Et voila.</i> I'll probably need dozens more. Several patterns recommend layering a cloth diaper inside the burp cloth because some babies barf that much. This, along with about 273 other things I've read in the last five months, terrifies me.Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-9794765337739825992009-11-28T21:02:00.005-05:002009-11-28T21:31:29.193-05:00Monster shawl<i>This morning's conversation...</i> <br><br>Me: I'm going to take some photos of my shawl. <br>Bill: I can take them -- you go to the very end of the garden, and I'll stand at the back door and see if I can fit it all in. <br><br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmlc_iovUMYSItzZvTw7Wod-Xxy2XM-8jlFt6THxpbLdVnzRkcx7zjgBF8KvSM4Hd-zzp9PgCyFT9rMxjPN3vM4E-ojxm013AjHNcrdZ7G1JqZ3v-XqmEN5H7EY5R9Mk4155doA/s1600/1128-09_MtnPks1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmlc_iovUMYSItzZvTw7Wod-Xxy2XM-8jlFt6THxpbLdVnzRkcx7zjgBF8KvSM4Hd-zzp9PgCyFT9rMxjPN3vM4E-ojxm013AjHNcrdZ7G1JqZ3v-XqmEN5H7EY5R9Mk4155doA/s400/1128-09_MtnPks1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409340801024984930" /></a><br><i>Pattern:</i> <a href="http://mimknits.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69&products_id=184">Lightweight Mountain Peaks Shawl</a><br><i>Yarn:</i> 2.4 skeins (1,050 yds) Misti Alpaca 2-Ply Lace (colour: 0790)<br><i>Needle:</i> 3.25mm Addi Lace<br><br>I feel a real sense of accomplishment with this project. The pattern was a challenge, with two elements I'd never done before: lace patterning on both RS and WS rows, and a knitted-on side-to-side border. I think it's my most difficult project to date. As I was blocking it I was a little scared by the size, but the second I draped it around my shoulders, I was in love. <br><br>The reason for its hugeness (compared with <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mimsical/180950021/">the photo of the original shawl</a> in the Mimknits pattern) is that I used laceweight yarn with a cobweb-weight pattern. (So typical of me: I meant to buy the <a href="http://mimknits.com/shop/index.php?main_page=document_product_info&cPath=69&products_id=171">laceweight Mountain Peaks pattern</a> but made a mistake, and I was too cheap to just suck up that $6.50, so I just went ahead with the pattern I'd bought.) <br><br>Because I used a heavier yarn and, thus, a bigger needle, I ran out of yarn at the halfway point of the border. I turned to Ravelry for help, and it didn't let me down; Raveler <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/luGirl">luGirl</a> very generously dug into her own stash and sent me a skein of yarn from the same dye lot so I could finish. (Oh, how I love knitters.)<br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGyRIcgRoH2x_74omJ-Y7mnCeL91-IYEzCkvnxLWtNxBfTPpwUfzGD05BCcXtseZNWYYAwGlp4CASBzXbokRoj4nQ8E568kt1biD0BWvxplVnz7HpgkGOsN2pWlQAJFW5Dw9VYA/s1600/1128-09_MtnPks2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGyRIcgRoH2x_74omJ-Y7mnCeL91-IYEzCkvnxLWtNxBfTPpwUfzGD05BCcXtseZNWYYAwGlp4CASBzXbokRoj4nQ8E568kt1biD0BWvxplVnz7HpgkGOsN2pWlQAJFW5Dw9VYA/s400/1128-09_MtnPks2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409345616571671250" /></a><br>I still love all those small shawls I listed in <a href="http://brainylady.blogspot.com/2009/11/small-shawls.html">my last post</a>, but I want to <i>marry</i> this giant shawl. I also want to keep knitting challenging lace. It's very satisfying.Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-61303409903604454642009-11-15T10:50:00.009-05:002009-11-19T10:46:37.580-05:00Small shawlsI know I'm not the only one preoccupied with small shawls at the moment, not by far. The appearance of <a href="http://ysolda.com/wordpress/2009/01/14/ishbel-pattern/">Ishbel</a> seemed to open the floodgates, and now I'm seeing lots and lots of beautiful little shawls on Ravelry -- lots and lots of patterns that use about a skein of sock yarn. I was gathering links together for myself and thought I'd share.<br><br>These patterns are free:<br><br>- Fizzi (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fizzi">Ravelry</a> link only)<br>- <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/multnomah">Multnomah</a> (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/multnomah">Rav</a> link)<br>- <a href="http://hugsforyourhead.blogspot.com/2009/09/lazy-day-lace-shawl-free-pattern.html">Lazy Day Lace Shawl</a> (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lazy-day-lace-shawl">Rav</a> link)<br>- <a href="http://feministy.com/traveling-woman/">Travelling Woman</a> (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/traveling-woman">Rav</a> link)<br>- <a href="http://www.knitlist.com/2003/minishawl.htm">Weaver's Wool Mini Shawl</a> (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/weavers-wool-mini-shawl">Rav</a> link)<br>- <b>[added 11/19]</b> <a href="http://www.rosiesyarncellar.com/library/rosieknitsdownloads/rkleafpeeperbandit.shtml">Leaf Peeper Bandit</a> (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/leaf-peeper-bandit">Rav</a> link)<br><br>These ones cost some money:<br><br>- <a href="http://shetlandtrader.blogspot.com/2009/06/aestlight-available-for-purchase.html">Aestlight Shawl</a> (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/aestlight-shawl">Rav</a> link)<br>- <a href="http://www.familytrunkproject.com/antonia/">Antonia Shawlette/Capelet</a> (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/antonia-shawlette-capelet">Rav</a> link)<br>- <a href="http://wonkknits.blogspot.com/2009/11/butterfly-forest-shawl.html">Butterfly Forest Shawl</a> (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/butterfly-forest-shawl">Rav</a> link)<br>- <a href="http://www.stolenstitches.com/pattern-shop/centrique/">Centrique</a> (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/centrique">Rav</a> link)<br>- <a href="http://ysolda.com/store/accessories/damson/">Damson</a> (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/damson-2">Rav</a> link)<br>- <a href="http://knotesfromaknitwit.blogspot.com/2009/07/testing.html">Hayworth Shawlette</a> (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hayworth-shawlette">Rav</a> link)<br>- <a href="http://westknits.blogspot.com/2009/08/herbivore.html">Herbivore</a> (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/herbivore">Rav</a> link)<br>- Little Colonnade (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-colonnade">Rav</a> link only)<br>- <a href="http://www.cosmicpluto.com/blog/milkweed-shawl/">Milkweed Shawl</a> (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/milkweed-shawl">Rav</a> link)<br>- <a href="http://www.rainydaygoods.com/notes-thoughts-rambles/2009/11/14/simple-things-coming-tomorrow.html">Simple Things</a> (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/simple-things">Rav</a> link)<br>- Sunbird (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sunbird">Ravelry</a> link only)<br>- <a href="http://shetlandtrader.blogspot.com/2009/11/wast-side-shawl.html">Wast Side Shawl</a> (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wast-side-shawl">Rav</a> link)<br><br>So many shawls! All I want to knit these days is shawls. These ones, big intricate lacy ones, you name it. (They don't have to <i>fit</i>, for one thing.)<br><br>By the way, new <a href="http://twistcollective.com/2009/winter/magazinepage_01.php">Twist Collective</a> today! I haven't even looked yet...Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-16750775481666733952009-10-29T21:36:00.006-04:002009-11-01T10:01:05.872-05:00Comfort knitting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkSqdrUcj5pOmwVJ9uWmQ13gmse3eNek0JvVkIPGIhd5tDF33S_W5ui-8TosYWHVWA1KtF_nggwj97gehu4goUgi76exyLptn6zlzEt61DHoDtpBzPyWJhtJzhSmuoBfPQm6jew/s1600-h/PrairieRose-side.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkSqdrUcj5pOmwVJ9uWmQ13gmse3eNek0JvVkIPGIhd5tDF33S_W5ui-8TosYWHVWA1KtF_nggwj97gehu4goUgi76exyLptn6zlzEt61DHoDtpBzPyWJhtJzhSmuoBfPQm6jew/s400/PrairieRose-side.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398202202838465138" /></a><br>Well, I worked very hard on my conference paper last week, and got it done (with pie charts!), and ... and nothing. By Friday I was sick with a sore throat and was losing my voice, and on Saturday morning -- when I was supposed to present my paper -- I felt worse. So no conference, no paper. I was disappointed, plus I had this pesky stabbing pain in my throat, and if that wasn't enough, Saturday afternoon came with period cramps. So it was a rotten day. So I started knitting. <br><br>As I mentioned in my last post, I already had my eye on the Prairie Rose Shawl from <i>A Knitter's Book of Wool</i>, and I had the perfect yarn for it. On our <a href="http://brainylady.blogspot.com/2008/09/nova-scotia.html">holiday to the east coast</a> last fall, I'd bought a 400-yard skein of Shetland laceweight that was from the Last Resort Farm in Malagash, NS. It's very woolly -- a little bit thick and thin, spun tight in some parts, fluffy in others. Since <i>KBoW</i> is a celebration of wool -- real, woolly wool -- and since Prairie Rose called for less than 400 yards, it was a perfect match.<br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4bksBfZXoFYP3eUXal3AiD74ANByiZwHgD_2yVfP4c5JzFXMz4085LoWEToHHoF7nrBN8dwXByfEGzTF5-ff24tkD86Ewtn02zPqkA2UC8SpUq0aIgJ9Lpbm-7m-6v-whZ8jAw/s1600-h/PrairieRose-close.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4bksBfZXoFYP3eUXal3AiD74ANByiZwHgD_2yVfP4c5JzFXMz4085LoWEToHHoF7nrBN8dwXByfEGzTF5-ff24tkD86Ewtn02zPqkA2UC8SpUq0aIgJ9Lpbm-7m-6v-whZ8jAw/s400/PrairieRose-close.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398203277339103122" /></a><br>So I knit, and I knit, and I knit. I watched TV (<i>Kramer vs. Kramer</i> was on, and then loads of reality shows). I cuddled with Mooky. And I knit. And then I knit on Sunday, too, between cups of tea and hankies full of ... well, I was sick. But I knit and knit, and by Monday evening, I was blocking my Prairie Rose Shawl. And I was feeling better.<br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51iRfieX__gnFA-WUF1HZirn8vdE8NsNjs5mGo5V3WoliGwEL82gdyUaOCF_szOEBuznQo-HKKsukBUMwaHsEmJtslNGZzj90MUgR-pbKFDwS6m7mFv9hGc_bjhOlndtpP90Knw/s1600-h/PrairieRose-sillhouette-ful.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51iRfieX__gnFA-WUF1HZirn8vdE8NsNjs5mGo5V3WoliGwEL82gdyUaOCF_szOEBuznQo-HKKsukBUMwaHsEmJtslNGZzj90MUgR-pbKFDwS6m7mFv9hGc_bjhOlndtpP90Knw/s400/PrairieRose-sillhouette-ful.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398204838334894914" /></a><br>Now, the pattern calls for 370 yards of "fingering" (though the shawls shown are knit in laceweight), so I thought I was safe with my 400 yards of heavy lace, but I ran out. I had to knit the final row and do the bind-off in another yarn; fortunately, I had a ball of Plymouth Baby Alpaca laceweight in the same shade of grey. And it actually worked out well. I think the Last Resort wool would have made a bit of a thick edge, while the baby alpaca is finer and made for a more delicate edge. So all’s well that ends well. (Still, be warned!) Maybe I ran out because I went up a needle size (pattern calls for 3.5 mm; I used 3.75 mm) to get a slightly larger shawl. I <i>was</i> cutting it pretty close.<br><br>As with all <a href="http://www.evelynclarkdesigns.com/">Evelyn Clark</a> shawls, the construction is simple and logical, and the finished product is lovely. Plus, my cold is pretty much gone. Plus, I can recycle that conference paper. My pie charts will live again!Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-45861735204935675572009-10-16T16:25:00.005-04:002009-11-03T10:34:37.712-05:00In list form<b>1.</b> <a href="http://www.sheepandwool.com/">Rhinebeck (NY Sheep & Wool Fest)</a> is this weekend, but I'm skipping it this year. (I went <a href="http://brainylady.blogspot.com/2007/10/post-rhinebeck-post.html">in 2007</a>, and <i>I had so much fun</i>; I went in 2008, and <i>I froze my ass off</i>.) There are lots of people I'd love to go and see, but I can spare neither the time nor the cash this year.<br><br><b>2.</b> I defended my dissertation proposal last week, so I'm finally whatcha call <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_But_Dissertation">ABD</a>. (Remember I submitted the proposal back in July? Well, it took three months to actually get three academics in the same room to talk to me about it.) So that's a big step. I'd feel more excited and relieved if I wasn't in the middle of writing a paper for a conference that's only a week away. <br><br><b>2. b)</b> My conference presentation is going to involve pie charts, and they're going to look <i>awesome</i>. If you need to make pie charts -- which, I recognize, is unlikely -- I can recommend <a href="http://piecolor.com/">this site</a>. <br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMButDHn4bawoUGqmOxBsC1_B5Esz8grnpIbbLg_gV9cxdAUzCvOmEymYuKCdkhoeXddG7RaeVVSi0Z-CVlWbNTw_6uiglcvA67Nu4t0-FLIx6sPh-LcIbvugfbMHnwnsAs9Z9cw/s1600-h/KBOW+cover.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 166px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMButDHn4bawoUGqmOxBsC1_B5Esz8grnpIbbLg_gV9cxdAUzCvOmEymYuKCdkhoeXddG7RaeVVSi0Z-CVlWbNTw_6uiglcvA67Nu4t0-FLIx6sPh-LcIbvugfbMHnwnsAs9Z9cw/s200/KBOW+cover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393301217790093122" /></a><b>3.</b> I got my copy of the beautiful <a href="http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307352170"><i>Knitter's Book of Wool</i></a>, and I am sorely tempted to drop everything (including the pie charts) to cast on for Evelyn Clark's Prairie Rose Shawl. It's beautiful. (Why can I find no photos to share with you? Hmmm. Just keep checking <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/prairie-rose-lace-shawl">Ravelry</a>.) <br><br><b>4.</b> I've become obsessed with <a href="http://www.minibabybel.ca/en/original.asp">Babybel cheese</a> -- those little red wax-covered ones. I love them. On the packaging, it just says they are "cheese." What <i>are</i> they? <br><br><b>5.</b> It's getting cold here. In response, I am working to finish a bulky wool/alpaca cardigan vest: the <a href="http://www.knitscene.com/issue/Fall-2009/heather-hoodie-vest.asp">Heather Hoodie Vest</a>. Mine is neither heathered nor hooded. It's a solid orangey-red. When I get it done, I'll post photos here. If this doesn't take place within the next couple of weeks, it probably means I've gone ahead with the Prairie Rose Shawl at the expense of all other knitting. This is a distinct possibility. <br><br><b>6.</b> I am now going to resist the temptation to make a pie chart outlining the percentages of my thoughts currently occupied with the Prairie Rose Shawl, my conference paper, and Babybel cheese. Time to get back to work. Have a nice weekend, with or without Rhinebeck!Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-75676403773311970912009-10-01T15:37:00.005-04:002009-10-01T15:45:32.966-04:00Which ewe am I?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHykTqolg5BohmmgF6lhl3TDgd_O6nJMCwP9JqyiuabS_J4Wc8S-lBwiO4a9xpJjtBSWb-dviDl1iO2Q79_ywqKtFUhoE1KNTxujT-AvVOa07ro0P15r4gckDtNx8SYo6YQpy9g/s1600-h/shropshire.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHykTqolg5BohmmgF6lhl3TDgd_O6nJMCwP9JqyiuabS_J4Wc8S-lBwiO4a9xpJjtBSWb-dviDl1iO2Q79_ywqKtFUhoE1KNTxujT-AvVOa07ro0P15r4gckDtNx8SYo6YQpy9g/s200/shropshire.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387719277936046834" /></a>A Thursday afternoon distraction for you: <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/whicheweareyou/whicheweareyou.swf">Which ewe are you?</a> The quiz is part of the promo for the much-anticipated (by me, and probably by you, too) <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307352170&view=isbn_events"><i>Knitter's Book of Wool</i> by Clara Parkes</a>. <br><br>(Remember how many yarn-related quizzes there used to be for knitbloggers back in the day? We were always finding out which stitch pattern we were, or whether we were a pair of socks or a sturdy cardigan...)Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-9713432026006540642009-09-24T14:45:00.006-04:002009-09-24T15:04:58.291-04:00Third time's the charm<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrCgJtcgzcPdvEASSdxeh0hyphenhyphen0REIprbbULRRkjIRNfiqHAXjh8JNBRnj32W2ojZFo4R0ZnvJOsOb7eMOvxEV3-qwQls50XKRr-3TgnvRjTdIwF84cT8FuX1ZTuPl4qz0MI4rfkA/s1600-h/Thorpe-stache.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrCgJtcgzcPdvEASSdxeh0hyphenhyphen0REIprbbULRRkjIRNfiqHAXjh8JNBRnj32W2ojZFo4R0ZnvJOsOb7eMOvxEV3-qwQls50XKRr-3TgnvRjTdIwF84cT8FuX1ZTuPl4qz0MI4rfkA/s400/Thorpe-stache.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385107080477174466" /></a><br>I've been inspired by <a href="http://www.stashandburn.com/">Nicole and Jenny</a> -- specifically, by their Single-Skein September initiative -- to crank out some small projects and use up some yarn. In the last week or so, I've knit three hats! The one shown above (<a href="http://throughtheloops.typepad.com/through_the_loops/2007/12/working-hats.html">Thorpe</a>) is my favourite, and the third one. I used up the Debbie Bliss Merino Chunky that was left over from my <a href="http://brainylady.blogspot.com/2007/09/bob-cardigan.html">BOB cardigan</a> -- which means it has been hanging around for two years. I love this new hat. Bill loves it, too, so it has been christened the House Hat. No need to get possessive. <br><br>Hat #1 also used up some two-year-old yarn: a ball of Wool-Ease that I bought in Buffalo because I just liked the colour. Finally turned it into a nice, plain tuque, using <a href="http://www.needlebeetle.com/free/seacap.htm">this free pattern</a>. I have a large head, so I made the large size, but it's a teensy bit too big. I may rip back a bit to make it shallower. I may not really care. I still love the colour. <br><br> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdj9OUGxK6_TN7N7h9Gku8RHtakA5NMBVuaFhE4g4NRmJwxB36FpAK0d3AEp1I7QVaIOwsuO_MB-3O5vpXQxTv3FxcaPOpaTwvswGaOdLDnwtuWoIhm_fZ8fUq-2FqWhW3FeyRLA/s1600-h/PPtuque-L-front.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 363px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdj9OUGxK6_TN7N7h9Gku8RHtakA5NMBVuaFhE4g4NRmJwxB36FpAK0d3AEp1I7QVaIOwsuO_MB-3O5vpXQxTv3FxcaPOpaTwvswGaOdLDnwtuWoIhm_fZ8fUq-2FqWhW3FeyRLA/s400/PPtuque-L-front.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385109878435120370" /></a><br>And Hat #2 was all about the knitting -- less about the outcome. I've always been curious about EZ's <a href="http://images.google.ca/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=ganomy%20hat&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi">Ganomy hat</a>, and I had a gorgeous skein of Easter-basket-coloured merino (<a href="http://www.shopyarnlove.com/">Yarn Love</a> Anne Shirley), and ... now I have a lovely, ill-fitting hat. (See aforementioned large head.) <br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPUdrWjA34EhkoK6rqSeQS5LVIdPJePOpru2Ve1PUj8_13V__FcTg0GglR0JEHaY9qxbqupTkA0JRKY3lldHfRDPzy_8VOOAg_VTBijqguj15pEI3yfidbZjJYwoDeY24seeTvw/s1600-h/ganomy1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 398px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPUdrWjA34EhkoK6rqSeQS5LVIdPJePOpru2Ve1PUj8_13V__FcTg0GglR0JEHaY9qxbqupTkA0JRKY3lldHfRDPzy_8VOOAg_VTBijqguj15pEI3yfidbZjJYwoDeY24seeTvw/s400/ganomy1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385110624168184194" /></a><br>I don't think the Ganomy will survive, but it was fun to try the pattern. The yarn is so pretty that I want to use it well. I still have half the skein, and I think Ganomy will have to be sacrificed in favour of a tiny little sweater for a friend's new little girl. It will look cuter on her. <br><br>Anyway, hats! Single skeins! Quick little projects! Whee!Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-15975596154022900352009-09-02T11:48:00.003-04:002009-09-02T12:32:24.834-04:00Oh, yeah -- knitting!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1H4EeNHOezwZKZnSkjpakNu6f35ebeTBzJf5e7QJ1x7iH08OkCSCK8C1CGvVCDloZqRLuebb25gqDS1oCVXpkWrLbJtedaGEAu6W8RtBkvylUU-mxYfCb25aWiiRezt2Rnvqug/s1600-h/FeatherCardi2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1H4EeNHOezwZKZnSkjpakNu6f35ebeTBzJf5e7QJ1x7iH08OkCSCK8C1CGvVCDloZqRLuebb25gqDS1oCVXpkWrLbJtedaGEAu6W8RtBkvylUU-mxYfCb25aWiiRezt2Rnvqug/s400/FeatherCardi2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376905056741255682" /></a><br>Here is my <a href="http://knitbot.com/knitbot-patterns/">Featherweight Cardigan</a> (which I'm calling the Welterweight Cardigan, because my yarn is a heavy laceweight). After this photo, I saw that I wanted a longer cardigan, so I performed some minor sweater surgery. I threaded a lifeline through the last row before the ribbing, ripped the ribbing, knit another two inches in st. st., and starting ribbing again. (So, where the needle is in the photo is about where the ribbing starts now.) I did just under two inches of ribbing and bound off. I'm going to do three-quarter-length sleeves, and I'm going to do the neck/front band in k1,p1 ribbing to avoid the dreaded curl.<br><br>My version is a little roomier than <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/featherweight-cardigan/people">most others</a>, but it's because I see this cardigan as a fall/winter layer instead of a summer cover-up. The yarn (Blackberry Ridge silk blend lace) is wool and silk and, like I said, heavier than other laceweight yarns, so this is going to be warm. And it needs to fit over more than a tank top. I just hope it doesn't block out to be really huge. (What? Swatch? Swhaa...?)<br><br>I picked up the current issue of <a href="http://www.knitscene.com/">Knitscene</a> after hearing <a href="http://www.stashandburn.com/2009/08/episode-80-autumn-sweaters.html">Nicole and Jenny</a> talk about it. Is anyone else thinking of making the <a href="http://www.knitscene.com/issue/Fall-2009-Projects.asp#heather-hoodie-vest">Heather Hoodie Vest</a> without the hood?Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-3346951809040912882009-08-30T14:08:00.002-04:002009-08-30T14:09:01.890-04:00Weekend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU24-nAGlS5ISPJuLxhUcki2kCjbuFhiuUfjgR4LVa2XNIDI5DWgEMv3ZlWicm19ZmFVjMjq5F4-Bo8dWF0V3w3ib7eT4Ol6oUWpR-eFRlZ6WxZWkrMZO5RfxAJlOfdljTz6YrhA/s1600-h/0930-09_mooks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU24-nAGlS5ISPJuLxhUcki2kCjbuFhiuUfjgR4LVa2XNIDI5DWgEMv3ZlWicm19ZmFVjMjq5F4-Bo8dWF0V3w3ib7eT4Ol6oUWpR-eFRlZ6WxZWkrMZO5RfxAJlOfdljTz6YrhA/s400/0930-09_mooks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375820405786350258" /></a>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-27074814800702592492009-08-28T16:02:00.003-04:002009-08-28T16:38:54.497-04:00DriftingI'm working on a beautiful wool/silk cardigan* and nearly finished a gorgeous alpaca shawl**, but I find my knitting fantasies drifting towards winter hats and mittens. Is it because the days are getting shorter and cooler? Or because I'm bored of having the same two WIPs for the whole summer? In any case, I spent the last half hour trolling the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ganomy-hat---three-cornered-hat-june/people?page=1">finished Ganomy Hats on Ravelry</a>. (The pattern for Elizabeth Zimmermann's Ganomy Hat was published in the latest <i>Vogue Knitting</i>.) (Come to think of it, <a href="http://www.vogueknitting.com/magazine/fall_2009_fashion_preview.aspx">all those hats</a> in the fall VK probably have something to do with my tuque dreams.)<br><br>Last week, my crafting urges left the knitting world altogether, and I spent my evenings hand quilting! Remember the <a href="http://brainylady.blogspot.com/2009/01/next.html">Scrap-X quilt</a>? I'd gotten as far as making the quilt sandwich, so I pulled it out and started stitching. It's exciting. I'm pretty in love with it. <br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6slA1X6oxDT6-gUqORV_mc3TlDBntWOle_5-Ve3DUwqFTuOhMsMazKNhBy8vm1nlE0baRr7I7RvGBObox45mk7T_TAsw5vUxASu4GCBKNs3FSnwZJW1RFGRooCiI4q7I5QIwwyg/s1600-h/0928-09_scrapquilt-hoop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6slA1X6oxDT6-gUqORV_mc3TlDBntWOle_5-Ve3DUwqFTuOhMsMazKNhBy8vm1nlE0baRr7I7RvGBObox45mk7T_TAsw5vUxASu4GCBKNs3FSnwZJW1RFGRooCiI4q7I5QIwwyg/s400/0928-09_scrapquilt-hoop.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375115984555385842" /></a><br>Once I stitch around the inside of each white square, I'm not sure how I'll quilt the scrap areas. It's a little tricky because there are so many seams, and so many spots with a double thickness of fabric. Anyway, so far so good. <br><br>* Pattern: <a href="http://knitbot.com/knitbot-patterns/">Featherweight Cardigan</a> / Yarn: <a href="http://www.blackberry-ridge.com/">Blackberry Ridge</a> Wool/Silk Laceweight <br><br>** Pattern: <a href="http://mimknits.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69&products_id=184">Lightweight Mountain Peaks Shawl</a> / Yarn: Misti Alpaca LaceweightAlisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-50199956083489899622009-08-19T11:31:00.003-04:002009-08-19T11:36:02.631-04:00Unclear on the concept<i>Young woman working at the Roots store</i>: Would you like a recyclable bag?<br><br><i>Me</i>: No, thanks. I already have a bag.<br><br><i>YWWATRS</i>: But it's recyclable.<br><br><i>Me</i>: Well, I think no bag is better than a recyclable bag.<br><br><i>YWWATRS</i>: Are you sure? It's nice. It's a recyclable bag!<br><br><i>Me</i>: [blank stare]Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-25851824329987001732009-07-30T14:24:00.007-04:002009-07-30T14:40:25.756-04:00Too hot to blahhgI'm in B.C., and it is HOT out here. Too hot to knit, but there are plenty of other distractions: peaches, cherries, apricots, raspberries, etc. It's a tasty, tasty heat.<br><br>How about showing some knits from the past few months? A quick parade of highlights:<br><br><b>1. Kingscot cardigan.</b><br><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVrVtaVYcZwumdUeFE6y09ki-IB280gtEXpZnTWAvbEhSUki-zKApG_E7M3Xrrp1lcUcX2q2SSAyhpytTwSY-tPPxiR1EToAGJomrciS-le0kjaQzoVtqjyFH3BRC6p7cNGYYCA/s1600-h/kingscot-brick-blur.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 363px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVrVtaVYcZwumdUeFE6y09ki-IB280gtEXpZnTWAvbEhSUki-zKApG_E7M3Xrrp1lcUcX2q2SSAyhpytTwSY-tPPxiR1EToAGJomrciS-le0kjaQzoVtqjyFH3BRC6p7cNGYYCA/s400/kingscot-brick-blur.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364323674127935090" /></a><br>I love, love, love this cardigan, and I'm looking forward to wearing it in the fall. From the moment I saw it as a <a href="http://twistcollective.com/2009/summer/magazinepage_01.php">Twist</a> preview, I loved this design. I followed <a href="http://twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/60-winter-2008-patterns/135-kingscot-by-norah-gaughan-">Norah Gaughan's pattern</a> to the letter (other than putting buttons all the way down the front), and it turned out perfectly. The yarn is Rowan Pure Wool DK -- an expensive splurge for me, but I loved working with it and I love the results. (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/brainylady/kingscot">Ravelry link</a>)<br><br><b>2. Leafy Medallions shawl.</b><br><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpaISkd8nnC73cXLap1E9k1xh_SsvTyDTzdWs4wk3ZrbPBpJBN6ptZyq2A3x4c7eGH8ZVKASzGoBmhiTgkxUsTRTdc7YZg8AyACdOGEgteUe3LeqPyrMpwsSsyr159AhnHewn5A/s1600-h/medallion-done-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpaISkd8nnC73cXLap1E9k1xh_SsvTyDTzdWs4wk3ZrbPBpJBN6ptZyq2A3x4c7eGH8ZVKASzGoBmhiTgkxUsTRTdc7YZg8AyACdOGEgteUe3LeqPyrMpwsSsyr159AhnHewn5A/s400/medallion-done-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364323562087414370" /></a><br>This was a quick shawl; I needed a lace fix. I used Evelyn Clark's book (<a href="http://www.evelynclarkdesigns.com/portfolio.html">Knitting Lace Triangles</a>): 10 repeats of the Leaf Lace chart, and then 3 repeats of Medallion Lace before the edging. The yarn is Spirit Trail Lachesis -- a purchase from Rhinebeck last fall. It's 100% alpaca, but I found it slightly wiry. I didn't love knitting it, but it did block nicely; it's the thinnest laceweight I've used, so the resulting shawl is very delicate and airy. (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/brainylady/knitting-lace-triangles---design-your-own-shawl">Rav link</a>)<br><br><b>3. Zetor shawl.</b><br><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWhSl05It07ByXlXshf6DUN7ZXMQtg0AvAHVBWa5PMrZrl1NF9nQQkBd83imIJAWh_C9Kmsr0_utoGalGqgVRDszN620KfblRYDycA0nP0dYEYV9axc0eXT-u-HbQ3Ph84UdONQ/s1600-h/zetor2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 312px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWhSl05It07ByXlXshf6DUN7ZXMQtg0AvAHVBWa5PMrZrl1NF9nQQkBd83imIJAWh_C9Kmsr0_utoGalGqgVRDszN620KfblRYDycA0nP0dYEYV9axc0eXT-u-HbQ3Ph84UdONQ/s400/zetor2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364323418100282434" /></a><br>This is the last thing I finished, just a few weeks ago. Another case of simple pattern + yarn I didn't really enjoy = pretty results. The yarn is One of a Kind Lace Solid -- a wool/angora/nylon blend with no elasticity or shine. I do love the colour, though. (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/brainylady/zetor-scarf">Rav link</a>)<br><br><b>4. Portland pullover.</b><br><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorZIoPB1Zx9DdmpANfUSlPsLfF0VsKHlDlZaDP4HukzsCSiCQLs7r7C47KPmIC4zNoG7WUnpvywYsaoYPF1GS99gCB1R-K4DaQqe8WPDp1wiZ4WoqK6x6pIjEM6TnfcHN7-u3Vg/s1600-h/portland-done-mooky-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 335px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorZIoPB1Zx9DdmpANfUSlPsLfF0VsKHlDlZaDP4HukzsCSiCQLs7r7C47KPmIC4zNoG7WUnpvywYsaoYPF1GS99gCB1R-K4DaQqe8WPDp1wiZ4WoqK6x6pIjEM6TnfcHN7-u3Vg/s400/portland-done-mooky-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364323234372723314" /></a><br>I'm not sure yet whether this is finished. (I have it "hibernating" in Ravelry.) I mistakenly knit an extra repeat into the body, resulting in an unflattering length. I'm not sure whether I'll keep it as just a warm sweater, or if I'll do some altering to shorten it -- I guess it will depend on whether I find myself wearing it or not. It did turn out beautifully; I'm very pleased with my finishing. I enjoyed knitting this. It seemed to go quite quickly. It probably took as long to sew the pieces together as it did to knit them. (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/brainylady/portland">Rav link</a>)<br><br>At the moment, I'm knitting a <a href="http://mimknits.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=184">Mountain Peaks shawl</a> -- or, I would be if it wasn't so HOT. I chose this shawl because I wanted a lace challenge, and most of Mountain Peaks has lace patterning on both the right and wrong sides. It's been slow going, but before my holiday I finished Chart 1 -- and not a moment too soon. I was definitely getting tired of p2togtbl....Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-38757646702028376732009-07-17T11:29:00.005-04:002009-07-17T15:17:30.067-04:00Hello? Hello!Well, I vowed to myself that I wouldn't blog until I'd finished my thesis proposal. I didn't think it was going to take four months, but it did, and it's done. I have to do a little tweaking before formally submitting next week, but it's close enough to finished that I can relax. Hallelujah! <br><br>So it's been exactly four months since my last post. Mostly I've been working on my proposal, which included a couple of Toronto library trips and a longer road trip to Bloomington, Indiana, to do research at the <a href="http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/">Kinsey Institute</a>. I've also done a lot of knitting -- I'll put up a few photos soon. In the spring I was on a bit of a book jag, so for now I'll leave you with a pile of inspiration: <br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIKSo5DepUNpP0s51D3ypx9gwI9s7UXi_-5Q8eEsH-WgxuxFnvRsFRsHx1T92AVk3AHbC_1-iNK16ppm4uTi-aa5YYIzVxUMGf-depmbHXkz789diD_HjZxndMivXV6L2DtmKMA/s1600-h/0717-09_books.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIKSo5DepUNpP0s51D3ypx9gwI9s7UXi_-5Q8eEsH-WgxuxFnvRsFRsHx1T92AVk3AHbC_1-iNK16ppm4uTi-aa5YYIzVxUMGf-depmbHXkz789diD_HjZxndMivXV6L2DtmKMA/s400/0717-09_books.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359453977438218034" /></a><br>From top to bottom: <br><br>- <a href="http://ysolda.com/store/whimsical-little-knits/"><i>Whimsical Little Knits</i></a> by Ysolda Teague (so charming!)<br><br>- <i>Material Obsession</i> by Aussie quilt-shop owners Kathy Doughty and Sarah Fielke (<a href="http://www.melaniefalickbooks.com/material-obsession/material-obsession/">beautiful photos of fabulous quilts</a>) (I see there is now <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36139406@N02/3339584977/"><i>Material Obsession Two</i></a>, Lord help me...)<br><br>- <a href="http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307449443"><i>Socks from the Toe Up</i></a> by <a href="http://wendyknits.net/">Wendy Johnson</a> (patterns + general how-to)<br><br>- <a href="http://www.fireflybooks.com/bookdetail&bookid=4931"><i>Ontario's Heritage Quilts</i></a> by Marilyn I. Walker (wonderful historical quilts -- <i>so</i> glad I found this in the clearance section at a Chapters store)<br><br>- <a href="http://us.macmillan.com/countryweekendknits"><i>Country Weekend Knits</i></a> by Madeline Weston (one of those books, like <i>A Fine Fleece</i> that I want to step into and live in)<br><br>- <i>Victorian Lace Today</i> by Jane Sowerby (old news, I know -- I finally bought this book not so much for the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/383842@N21/">patterns</a> as for the historical info on lace knitting)<br><br>- <a href="http://aliciapaulson.com/books.html"><i>Stitched in Time</i></a> by <a href="http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/">Alicia Paulson</a> (pretty pictures of pretty projects)<br><br>- <i>Chatelaine's Gardening Book</i> (published 1976 -- a nice thrift-store find)<br><br>- <a href="http://marthastewartstore.seenon.com/detail.php?p=86307&v=martha_library_books">Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts</a> (need I say more?)<br><br>- <a href="http://www.voyageurpress.com/Store/ProductDetails_39398.ncm"><i>Retro Knits</i></a> by Kari Cornell and Jean Lampe (great reproductions of vintage patterns and images)<br><br>Whew! Blogging takes a long time. That's why I'm not going to be blogging all the time anymore, but I don't think I'll disappear completely, either...Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-52324396793947969112009-03-17T15:17:00.007-04:002009-03-17T15:38:07.798-04:00... along came Ishbel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ouR3tU36peykEMKfmdFiRb8VE7K5xfMRfXcg_j6djPbQrQifYI8n9vTOX1FCdR8F8laHD-mlBYGlluuGWGu9rWXyroWCEGjP_sqZC54JK9AUmbg4Bq2sQGiqTaJ96KsS7Dz1JQ/s1600-h/ishbel-back.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ouR3tU36peykEMKfmdFiRb8VE7K5xfMRfXcg_j6djPbQrQifYI8n9vTOX1FCdR8F8laHD-mlBYGlluuGWGu9rWXyroWCEGjP_sqZC54JK9AUmbg4Bq2sQGiqTaJ96KsS7Dz1JQ/s400/ishbel-back.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314238124023551986" /></a><br>In the fall of 2005 I bought a beautiful skein of <a href="http://www.fleeceartist.com/">Fleece Artist</a> merino "basic sock" yarn at the <a href="http://www.kwknittersguild.ca/fair_about.html">Kitchener-Waterloo Knitters' Fair</a>, and I've been saving it since then for the right project. It was just so pretty -- a semi-solid forest green. Too pretty for socks, even though Fleece Artist is a great sock yarn. Also, it was precious because it was from a previous generation of Fleece Artist sock yarn; a few months later, they changed suppliers (or something) and the sock yarn got a little fatter and a little softer. So once this skein was gone, my stash of F.A. v.1 would be gone, too. <br><br>And then, just a couple of months ago ... along came <a href="http://ysolda.com/wordpress/2009/01/14/ishbel-pattern/">Ishbel</a>.<br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7iro6KcHzbMVMQFRMwio07vpLNpA6vgYtOYpeR-mYyPOhMWarvIV2WbGx8MCx_qUJHxB_2lqxVqwq9TJtUJ9MChY80E59PuFpqi1dOpu8g3QrsiOruAqS5PG3GAyV7Bz3Ht9uw/s1600-h/ishbel-close.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7iro6KcHzbMVMQFRMwio07vpLNpA6vgYtOYpeR-mYyPOhMWarvIV2WbGx8MCx_qUJHxB_2lqxVqwq9TJtUJ9MChY80E59PuFpqi1dOpu8g3QrsiOruAqS5PG3GAyV7Bz3Ht9uw/s400/ishbel-close.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314239622663635602" /></a><br>A super-fast knit because it's half stockinette, Ishbel took me just a few evenings of TV-watching to finish. The pattern includes instructions for two sizes (as well as for sock yarn and laceweight); my version is a combination of the two. I'd planned to knit the small size, for more of a scarf, but when I'd finished the stockinette section I still had so much yarn left. I wanted to use as much of my pretty yarn as I could (what was I going to do with a quarter of it left over?), so I kept knitting. My stockinette section is from the large size, and then I went back to the small size for the lace portion. (I see <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ishbel/people">on Ravelry</a> that a lot of people have done this. It's certainly the way to get the most of your yarn.) Blocked, my Ishbel measures about 54 inches (137 cm) across the top, and about 23 inches (58 cm) at the deepest point (which isn't actually a point!). It's a great size -- not too big, but big enough to wrap solidly around my neck. And I have, literally, a handful of yarn left over. (So I'd estimate that it took ... about 320 meters?)<br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqO8k5oPvQ35SUhEXh7xGBM41dkzGv8j2RgUHzt3QGSh7dPzKQJGGxyynioSP0_w5CBhFIVERXc_3AItBWErnw7D-Xr-3-JoxU_XHk5lvAn9VV0FdFcicklaqX_Kdt3V71W5egg/s1600-h/ishbel-wrapped.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqO8k5oPvQ35SUhEXh7xGBM41dkzGv8j2RgUHzt3QGSh7dPzKQJGGxyynioSP0_w5CBhFIVERXc_3AItBWErnw7D-Xr-3-JoxU_XHk5lvAn9VV0FdFcicklaqX_Kdt3V71W5egg/s400/ishbel-wrapped.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314241338602732242" /></a><br>And with that, I'm going to disappear for a while. I need to be more focussed on my school work for the next little while, so I'm taking a break from both the Internet and knitting. Only e-mail and writing for the next month (?). We'll see how it goes, and I'll be back when I've got a good handle on my work. Enjoy the beginnings of spring! And thanks for all your nice comments on my recent FOs -- you're sweet. xoAlisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4065855.post-19894753432527876612009-03-13T18:33:00.005-04:002009-03-13T18:54:27.306-04:00FO: Amelia Cardigan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-xGOafAkjt4Z_RHWTPMXJrKPEINnlJDNMh10m0XaKnLRJVAzOEMVuBT0T82vqzCpHwEXKhLB6clj7730NWvvFjdONdVXLDoI9YfVDGQq-_VVsZzGoLwPe_NEN2PC1Jr3fUdEtw/s1600-h/0313-09_amelia-done1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 339px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-xGOafAkjt4Z_RHWTPMXJrKPEINnlJDNMh10m0XaKnLRJVAzOEMVuBT0T82vqzCpHwEXKhLB6clj7730NWvvFjdONdVXLDoI9YfVDGQq-_VVsZzGoLwPe_NEN2PC1Jr3fUdEtw/s400/0313-09_amelia-done1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312805325820734994" /></a><br>Here's my Amelia cardigan (<a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter08/PATTamelia.php">free pattern by Laura Chau</a>), in a springy green ("larch") wool-cashmere blend by <a href="http://www.colourmart.com/">ColourMart</a>. Love it! The yarn felt like a wool-cotton blend while knitting, but it bloomed like crazy in the final soak and is soft and drapey. Much like the similarly shaped <a href="http://www.flintknits.com/blog/?p=151">February Lady Sweater</a>, I find that Amelia is universally flattering (having looked at a zillion photos of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amelia-8/people">finished Amelias on Ravelry</a>). The vertical lines are columns of twisted rib, which looks sharp and allows lots of stretch for a good fit. I followed Laura's pattern to the letter, and I'm thrilled with the results. Thrilled! New favourite. <br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwgvCZcCx4Ut0C9w5-Q-RvsFZvZDoWvLLzkTVckEqy31JNNx2b6E76fgmoX7OSaf05Fd0Ko6-lL0DqJheywb81i7m3EBj75S1ZL8Qafxo8fgd7K368EXms_-07NimDxKM0l5F_w/s1600-h/0313-09_amelia-three.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 138px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwgvCZcCx4Ut0C9w5-Q-RvsFZvZDoWvLLzkTVckEqy31JNNx2b6E76fgmoX7OSaf05Fd0Ko6-lL0DqJheywb81i7m3EBj75S1ZL8Qafxo8fgd7K368EXms_-07NimDxKM0l5F_w/s400/0313-09_amelia-three.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312809443252242418" /></a>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02552492730405613361noreply@blogger.com31