Reused and recycled, but is it worth it?

Every year I get a new page-a-day knitting calender. I have enjoyed them, although I'm not sure I have actually knit any of the patterns. About 1/3 of them I imagine knitting just like I dream about making many of the recipes in my cookbooks, but who knows when that will happen. The rest of the patterns fall into 3 categories: ugly, too complicated/not worth the effort and why would anyone knit that. I peeked at tomorrow's pattern (since today was a continuation from the last 2 days and fit into the ugly category) and decided that a knitted plastic bag holder seemed to fit into the "why would anyone knit that" category. So, I went on line to look for a picture of it to share on the blog. In my search, I found this, and I'm a little intrigued. I'm not sure if I want to knit plastic, but I might try it someday kind of like I might make that recipe I have for garlic ice cream. It sounds interesting, but I don't know if I want to go to the effort just to hate it. Next I found this, which is so much prettier than the one in my calender and looks like a quick knit. And you know what? Etsy even sells crocheted holders. So, perhaps I've misjudged the plastic bag holders. It seems to be something that at least a few people are knitting. However, some of them could still go into the ugly category, such as this one.

Missing Person Update

Although I don't know all of the details, the missing person post I did the other day had a happy ending. I don't know the details, but Teresa is home safely.

Missing...Please Take a Look

A friend of a friend has been missing for almost 24 hours. If you're reading this, would you please click here and see if you've seen her? Her name is Teresa Maxson and she was last seen in Lansing, Michigan.

Thanks.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Sock it to me!

I have finished a sock!!! Did it make it on the 6 o'clock news in your area? Yeah, not here either, but it feels like it should have. Although I started knitting a pair of toe-up socks a while ago, this is my first finished sock. What's different? Well, I concentrated on one sock at a time, I did cuff-down and my friend Marsha made some really easy kick-ass note-cards to follow. I must say if you're trying to figure out the Kitchener Stitch, this is the place to go. Thank you, Knit Witch.

Now, I'm itching to get my toe-up socks done, too. I'm stuck and need some help from my knitting buds, who can get me through any knitting emergency. One of my pals gave our group a class in toe-up socks and put together the pattern and suggested we do two socks at a time so we wouldn't just make one. They were very good ideas, but I think perhaps I just needed to see one through and figure out the guts and anatomy of the sock.

Pattern: Socks from Ann Budd's The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns
Yarn: Regia #5342
Needles: Addi Turbo 12"circular size 2
Clover size 2 dpn's (short)

Ok, it's now either time for bed or time to cast on sock #2!

Hi, my name is Katie and I'm a slacker.

Ok, it's been over a month since I last blogged. However, writing (and especially reading) about that is pretty boring, so let's just get on with at least slightly more interesting stuff.

Home: We started a raised bed garden...late. Partly my fault, partly the fault of the company where I ordered the brackets for the garden. It's not clear whether we'll be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor to the full extent, but we're having fun looking every day to see the progress of our tomatoes, carrots, snap peas, beans, sunflowers, zinnias, cilantro, sage, basil and our pepper plant.

We're also in the process of moving Buttons from her small room and her toddler bed (yes, the bed was way too small) into a larger room and a double bed. She's very excited and luckily likes the color of her new room. The"new" bed belonged to her great-grandma and namesake, so that's very sweet as well. Of course, this move has set off the "we have too much crap cleaning extravaganza".

Social: The parties are in full summer swing! We seem to have at least one every weekend and it's fun. We're planning a trip back to Michigan to visit family and perhaps some mini-trips over the summer, but mostly we're hanging out together around home with friends.

Theater: Woot! I auditioned for the show Rumors and I'm going to play Chris. I'm really excited about it, but it's also the biggest part I've had so far. That will definitely keep me busy this summer as well.

Photos: I've been having fun with shutterbuggin' and I promise to post some next time.

Knitting: I'm trying to finish the toe-up socks I started 2 years ago and I'm at a point where I don't know what to do next. So, I started cuff-down socks and, well, I'm at a point where I think I have more salvage stitches than I should have, but....grrrr.....I'm a bit annoyed with socks right now. Perhaps I'll finish the beautiful Malabrigo scarf I was knitting and then start on a Wallaby for Hubby.

So, pictures to come soon, but right now I need to go play with Buttons.
Happy Monday everyone!

Sakura Sunday

There is something magical that happens when the sun shines and you can finally (!) take off your jacket in the spring. Add a Cherry Blossom Festival with friends and you have what feels like a fresh new start. It's like the dregs of winter just melt away as you feel the sun burn into your skin. I had been in a funk of a mood for a while and our trek to Fairmount Park in Philadelphia was just the trick to snap me out of it.

Cherry Blossoms

Buttons' first face painting.

Buttons and one of her best buddies S had a wonderful time together.

Buttons and S enjoyed finding dropped blossoms to hold and I just love this picture.

This is approximately my sixth try for this post, so let me know if it works please.

Wristers!

You may be wondering what I've been doing since seemingly falling out of the blogosphere. Well, besides Facebook and psuedo-thespianism, I've actually been knitting. I've finished several things and I'll takes pics and share soon.

Buttons was in heaven today when I finished her "Superpower Wristers". Yeah, just in time for 87 degree weather this weekend! Oh well, I knit year around so I had to make something and since I'm not excited about knitting summer clothing, I will continue to knit things for the other 9 months of the year. These wristers include the magic three qualities of knitting for me: fun, easy and quick to make. I used about 3/4 of a skein of Moda Dea Cartwheel leftover from the vest I made for Buttons. I also did it on two needles instead of three, but think I should have added 2 or 4 stitches for that for a seaming allowance. I think I have enough to make a hat and scarf for her as well with the same yarn. However, you think she might get sick of the yarn? Maybe I'll make some matching wristers for me instead...

*Update: I am thinking about making this for Buttons for the summer.