Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Straw head
The day after Thanksgiving our local alpaca farm, American Alpacas, had a special open house. My mother in law, daughter, and I went to visit the alpacas last year, and the purple yarn that I used for my Flower Basket Shawl and airy scarf (last post) was from the farm.
We decided checking out alpacas would be a fun way to work off the turkey dinner. Of course, we didn't expect them to have a fancy chuck wagon catering spot set up... The chuck wagon was providing Slovacek Sauages, cowboy coffee, biscuits, chicken wings, cupcakes, sweets and more--all complimentary. A good way to wake up and get the energy needed to look at the sweet animals.
A Chuck Wagon
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
We were able to look at their entire herd, who are incredibly sweet and friendly. Anna wants a a "paca" for Christmas.
The little girl was really interested in Anna, the source of food!
Food?
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
Isn't this one (below) goofy? Take a look at this picture from last year. The alpaca looks exactly the same as last year, including the straw on the head. What is up with that?
There were tons of baby alpacas. This little boy was really curious and allowed us to scratch his head before dashing off to his mama.
I keep trying to convince my husband that an alpaca or two would be a nice addition to our pasture. He figured out that you could probably generate 2 sweaters from an alpaca a year. Given the cost of an alpaca (1,000-50,000) and their upkeep, he informs me that it would make for an expensive sweater --yeah. You know he doesn't understand the lure of the yarn... or the alpaca. Who can deny that little face?
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Gifts!
After an event filled weekend of stuffing our faces with turkey, dressing, pie and more, it's back to work. I have some fun pictures from the break, but those will have to wait. Right now, we have FOs!
I had some lovely purple alpaca lace weight left over from my Flower Basket Shawl and, with a quick look through Last Minute Knitted Gifts, I found the airy scarf. It was a great knit to take on outings and, when blocked, stretched out nicely. This is destined to be a Christmas gift for someone special!
I had some lovely purple alpaca lace weight left over from my Flower Basket Shawl and, with a quick look through Last Minute Knitted Gifts, I found the airy scarf. It was a great knit to take on outings and, when blocked, stretched out nicely. This is destined to be a Christmas gift for someone special!
Alpaca Scarf
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
Here's a close up:
And a completed Branching Out scarf from Knitty. This is made from Elsbeth Lavold Silky wool on size 5mm bamboo needles. Another Christmas gift!
Monday, November 21, 2005
Don't look MOM!
Hey MOM--No peeking of you will spoil your Christmas surprise!!
While I have been working on my Christmas knitting, I had a special request on Friday. The child informed me that she needed a hat IMMEDIATELY. So, I went to the LYS and bought the requested pink yarn. Here's the weekend hat:
While I have been working on my Christmas knitting, I had a special request on Friday. The child informed me that she needed a hat IMMEDIATELY. So, I went to the LYS and bought the requested pink yarn. Here's the weekend hat:
Hat
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
Pattern: Holiday Handknitting, Candy Cane Striped Hat
Yarn: Patons Merino
I wanted to soak the hat to let the color changes settle in, but I was told that there was no way that I could do so, as the hat was going to be worn on Monday. So, it looks a little lumpy, but maybe I will get to block the hat soon. This was the first project that I was able to hold the yarn in two hands. It did make things go much more quickly, and I really enjoyed the color work.
Here's the part my Mom isn't supposed to look at. This is the knit vest from Sally Melville's the Knit Stitch. I finished knitting it last week, but it needed a good block. Better pictures coming when it is seamed. I also soaked and blocked my name tag for our knitting guild. I'm bound and determined to make those holiday deadlines.
Friday, November 18, 2005
I'm Knitting!
Now that I'm over a few HUGE deadlines, I'm able to show you some of the recent things I've been working on.
I'm a member of our local knitting guild, and we have a few special events that are underway. For our December meeting we are going to have a hat exchange. In October each of us brought yarn that we thought might make a nice hat. We put this yarn in a a numbered brown paper bag, drew numbers, and exchanged the yarn. I don't think that my secret hat person reads the blog, so I'm going to share the hat that I made.
Knitting Guild Hat
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
The yarn was a lion brand acrylic, which I never work with. But, that is what the person wanted, so I found a nice pattern in the Yarn Girls Guide to Simple Knits book, held the yarn double with the novelty yarn that was in the bag and came up with this little rolled hat. Hope she likes it!
For our December meeting we are also supposed to produce some sort of name tags. I played with a program and made an intarsia pattern for my name. I love the purple and pink yarn that is in my stash, so that's the color scheme. The little greenish/pink bit is a flower to add to the tag. I found the pattern for the flower here: Head Huggers.
I think I will get some little beads to add to the center of the flower. Then I have to figure out how to make this thing lay flat and attach to my shirt. I'm off to our hobby store to look at plastic canvas and the like.
Nametag
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
Since I'm finishing lots of things, I started to think about my upcoming projects. Add to that the cold weather here in Texas, and I'm expanding the stash. I bought this at our LYS:
Here's a close up of the yarn.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Branching Out Scarf
The knitting goddess is smiling on me today. It is actually cold! That means I am wearing Gingham, my Mountain Colors socks, and the Rowan lace scarf. Whoo hoo. I am grateful for this as I'm reallly tired. My husband was to fly into our local airport at 10 pm last night, but his plane was delayed along the way. That means he missed the last plane in our town. So, it was either go to Houston to pick him up or he was camping out in the airport. We left around 7, as the plane was to land at 9:20. It landed at 11 pm. The child refused to sleep in the car until 12:30. Argh. In bed at 1:30 isn't a fun evening for me--I'm much too old. Enough whining, then.
So now that Gingham is wearable, I have been focusing on my holiday knitting. Here's one of the scarves that I am making for a friend.
So now that Gingham is wearable, I have been focusing on my holiday knitting. Here's one of the scarves that I am making for a friend.
Branching Out Scarf
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
This is Branching Out from Knitty. I'm using the Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool and size 5mm needles. I've made a bit of progress since the above pictures, but this isn't a knit I can work on and watch the child or chat. It isn't hard, but I do have to pay attention. And a close up:
Branching Out Scarf: Closeup
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
I've decided that I really prefer lace to be part of a larger design, perhaps a border on a sweater or something to that effect. Entire lace projects just don't get me going. I think that, ultimately, I'm not frilly enough to be a lace person. But, for friends, I will work through the lace. Just don't expect me to crank out tons of lace shawls. Look for standard sweaters, color work and, I swear, some cables soon!
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Gingham Front
I'm in a fine mood today. You see, I had a number of BIG deadlines this semester and, as of Monday, they are passed. Now I have all of the normal business of work, which is a lot more manageable now that a few huge projects are out of the way.This morning was beautiful. It is still really warm (70-85 on most days), but the leaves are falling and the ground is crunchy. Here' s my view off the back deck:
I was out on the deck trying to get some pictures in natural light. My photographer (hubby) is away on a distinguished lecturer jaunt (good for him, back for us), so I had to rely on the old, lay the knit down and shoot it or the self timer. There's lots of pictures because I'm pretty happy with this sweater. Presenting Gingham.
- Yarn: GGH Naturwolle
- Pattern: Interweave Knits Winter 00/01
- Needles: US 10.5 Bamboo
- Purchased: As a kit from Teresa's stash!
Here's the front:
And the back:
This is certainly a big and bulky sweater. The wool is super warm, so I'm thinking this will end up being more of a coat than a sweater. A close up of the collar:
And the button band:
The button band is not perfect, but I like how the stitches were picked up evenly. The buttons came with the kit and are really nice with the colors.
Now you might be wondering what this looks like on me. Here's the cool pose. Excuse the goofy expressions on my face. It was pretty early! And I do have a tank top on under the sweater. It is Texas, you know, and this will probably never see a turtle neck accessorizing the look.
Now you might be wondering what this looks like on me. Here's the cool pose. Excuse the goofy expressions on my face. It was pretty early! And I do have a tank top on under the sweater. It is Texas, you know, and this will probably never see a turtle neck accessorizing the look.
This pose is a lot more like me. I like rolling up the sleeves a little. I have a feeling that this sweater will be one of those comfy cozy sweaters that, when you put it on, you feel like a pot of good Barry's tea with honey and cream, a plate of scones, a great book, and a toasty fire. In other words, I'm liking the Gingham!
Gingham
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Knit Geek
It is Sunday, and I'm at work trying to finish a presentation that I must give tomorrow. I'm making some progress, but I'd rather be at home hanging with my family, cooking and knitting. Sigh.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Gingham
Gingham
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
Ah ha. This is indeed Gingham. However, it is 85 degrees today, so you are going to have to wait for a modeling session. I promise to take pictures this week! Instead, I will try to amuse you with our weekend activities. Run now if you want knitting content.
This is our latest addition. No, it isn't satellite TV. It's satellite internet! We are a non-TV watching house, so satellite TV holds little interest for us, but we are computer geeks. We live outside of town and can't get cable or DSL. That left us with a dial up for a long time--on old phone lines--that get a 14.4 signal. Yes, not even a 56 K. Add to that the fact that we use an air port and both share one connection. Well, there are people yelling "stop sucking up the bandwidth" quite often.
Wild Blue has just started satellite internet for rural areas, so we jumped on board. So far so good--1.3 MB download is a huge difference to us! I can't cruise through those knitting blogs!
I also took the time this weekend to clean up my knitting stuff in preparation for the holiday knitting fest. Here's the needles:
My cat was really intrigued by the stash clean up. Notice the wide variety of needles: addi turbos, birch, plastic, metal. I guess I'm just not that picky!
Here's the little cabinet full of items that are probably going to our knitting guild silent auction. I'm just not going to knit with the cotton or ribbon yarns, so I'm planning on passing them on to someone who will use them.
Here's the little cabinet full of items that are probably going to our knitting guild silent auction. I'm just not going to knit with the cotton or ribbon yarns, so I'm planning on passing them on to someone who will use them.
Knitting Stash
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
And the main knitting stash, the chest. I put each project into a nice little bag and cleaned everything up.
And some pictures for the Grandmas. Here's a picture my Mom took when we were in Houston. I think this is an amazing picture! We never did figure out what the sculpture was--Anna thought it was a zebra.
And since it is warm, Anna took the opportunity to climb on our fence. This is apparently good for hours of entertainment.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
A Little More
Notice that I have not abandoned Gingham. I'm a little behind, but last night I cleared off our kitchen table, soaked the sweater, and blocked her. I had taken care of all of the little ends last week, so I'm in the home stretch!
My husband returned from Paris on Thursday before our Houston trip, and he brought some lovely goodies:
French Gifts!
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
For Anna, a book, a cute little nested doll, and a big bar of chocolate. She prefers European chocolate, the little foodie! For me, a great bottle of champagne, two huge blocks of yummy foie gras, and a gorgeous turquoise necklace from Diwali in the Latin quarter.
I realized that I never shared my pictures from the weekend that my friend and her little boy visited, so here goes!
We had a great visit. Anna and Aidan played non stop and seemed to get along really well. Anna has reported that she misses her buddy.
We went to the Texas Renaissance Faire during their visit. Even though I've lived here for 12 years, I've never ventured out to this huge festival. It is just as whacky as I thought it would be. There is this entire subculture that surrounds the Faire that includes whole families who dress up to attend. The costume are amazing. Some seem historically accurate, while others are chainmail bikinis, al la Zena. I probably wouldn't be wearing such garb if I was 200 pounds, but folks must be more comfortable with their bodies than me!
Here are some of the costumes we saw:
Anna wasn't so sure about the cenataur, particular when his tail would twitch. She was much happier watching the mud men perform. The mud men are Renaissance beggars who tell baudy jokes and smear themselves with mud, all with the intent of making the audience muddy as well. Most odd.
We had a wonderful visit and Aidan and Anna especially enjoyed themselves. Here they are showing off their tattoos from the Renaissance Faire:
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
