Monthly Archives: August 2013

Re-homed

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Re-homed

Re-homed

When you’re a knitter, occasionally your projects take on a life of their own.

This one sure did! I had intended it to be a Christmas gift but one of my college friends (who I adore and with whom I share lots of fond, fun, singing memories) loved it and asked if I would sell it to her. Well, after figuring out what it cost me to knit, I decided to send it to her with the hope that it will not only keep her neck warm but that it will also keep her heart warm.

I know it will look wonderful with her beautiful blue eyes!

I may not be knitting a whole bunch but I am so glad that she loves her new scarf!

Gone knitting.

Finishing Projects

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Today I can proudly say that I survived my first week as a Clinic Assistant. It wasn’t without bumps and bruises but I escaped mostly unscathed.

This weekend is a little bit bittersweet since I say goodbye to my guy on Monday for a week – he’s spending a week with the guys in North Carolina – and I have decided that I need to concentrate on finishing those projects that I’ve been carrying around for ages … well, at least one has been carried around for ages.

DROPPS Tunic ... ready to travel

DROPPS Tunic … ready to travel

My DROPS Design tunic is the first on my list. I’ve taken it to my knitting guild meeting and to my knitting group this week. I have an inch or so of 1×1 ribbing (on size 1 needles) to go before I reach the straps … and then I “just have to seam it”! Since it’s been so blasted hot here in Florida this August, I’ll be excited to have it finished and be able to wear it!

Hair Elastics holding my stitches on the DPNs

Hair Elastics holding my stitches on the DPNs

The beaded scarf is ready to be grafted together. The construction is unique to me in that it is knitted from the bottom up in two pieces (with the beading being on the bottom or at the beginning of each piece.) Now, both pieces are a bit longer than the 27 inches that is suggested in the pattern so that (I hope) it can be wrapped double around my neck and the beaded edges pulled through the loop. We’ll see when it’s grafted. I haven’t ever grafted a 2×2 rib before so this will be a new adventure for me. I found a YouTube video that was a very *very* brief explanation of how to do this and I’ll be writing about my experience after I’m successful!

I have my bag with the lace end panels, too, to finish. They’ve really taken a back seat in my knitting bag. Mostly because I have to start working on the lace in relative seclusion. So, next week, when I’m alone at night after work, I will be working on the lace panels. I’ve already knitted and frogged the first panel several times. Maybe the fifth or sixth time will be the charm.

Felted Scuffs ready to be Felted Today!

Felted Scuffs ready to be Felted Today!

Last, but not least, I have to felt the scuffs that I knitted in Maine this summer for N. Just a bit of hot water in the washer and I’ll be good to get that done this afternoon. Maybe after his daughter, R, washes her couch slip cover … I hear it needs it! 🙂

Gone knitting!

Learning Something New

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This week I started a new job with a day of training and then “bam!” I hit the ground running. I am the Clinic Assistant at my local elementary school … what used to be the school nurse but public school budgets don’t have the budget to pay an RN so they train us to do the job under their supervision.

So, I’m learning a lot of new things. How to take in and administer medications for students in my school. How to deal with angry parents who didn’t educate themselves. How to follow new procedures. How to deal with “politics” in the office and how to create healthy boundaries so that we all do our jobs in a cooperative, collaborative and happy environment.

Today I taught myself something else new. I learned to crochet!

I learned it by watching this most excellent tutorial on Youtube! It’s provided from All Free Crochet (dot) com and Nastazia … check them out (since I can’t teach crochet just yet!)

My first attempt was nowhere near a square shape. The sides were all sorts of wonky.

First Attempts

First Attempt

It was supposed to be a washcloth or dishcloth but I didn’t have the proper size of crochet hook. My hook was somewhat smaller and so was my swatch … so we’ll call it a coaster! 🙂 I also used cotton rather than acrylic (because if my dishcloth had been dishcloth size, I would certainly not have wanted it to be acrylic … acrylic doesn’t really absorb! Anyway, my first attempt (which isn’t well photographed) looks much better here than it turned out. It was the most oddly shaped piece of work EVER! So, I frogged it and started again.

I’m super pleased with my second attempt!

Second Attempt

Second Attempt

My second swatch is a real square and it has fairly decent tension. Tah! Dah!

I guess I am going to have to take a trip to Joann’s now to buy some larger metal crochet hooks so I can keep learning … it is a lot quicker than knitting and some of the new patterns that I have been seeing (in crochet) are so cute. I have been threatening to learn for so long. It’s about time I finally just did it!

And now I am feeling proud!

I can crochet … the Queen Bee Knits and Crochets, too!

Gone shopping!

I’ve Been YARNBOMBED!

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We arrived home in Florida after a pretty dreadful three day drive from our favorite place in the world, Maine. The traffic was horrendous. The worst we’ve seen in seven summers. I’m  not kidding!!! From Washington, DC to Florida, there was pretty much solid traffic and the rest areas were all full … and it was hot. HOT!

Our second night we stayed in a hotel in Richmond, VA. It was there that the biggest problem presented itself. The air conditioning in the truck broke. It would work for awhile, and then just stop blowing cool. And even when it was blowing cool, it was a feeble blowing … in order to get the air to circulate, the fan had to be on full blast. Loud. Not cool enough and then when it would stop, we had to open the windows. My little dogs, particularly my little girl, don’t tolerate heat well and they can overheat very quickly … so I was really worried that we’d have a serious problem … and only 6 hours to go! Ugh!

But after tears and panic and many calls to AAA and service stations all through the Carolinas, all of which are closed on Saturdays … unbelievable! … we just drove and made it home (relatively) unscathed.

And the unpacking began. I had made several trips back and forth lugging in our stuff when N asked me if I had seen my piano. My piano? What!? I was immediately worried and walked around the corner from the kitchen to find this …

I've been YARNBOMBED!

I’ve been YARNBOMBED!

It made me cry!

I knew immediately that two of my friends were in on it – I can spot their work from a mile away (and one of them is the only person in the world who has a key to our house).Three of my friends created this surprise for me while we were away … and I am so honored. It is absolutely magnificent!

Here are some other pictures …

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Cute little sheep!

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This Makes Me Smile!

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Cutest Bee Ever!

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Curls hanging!

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All the Legs are Different! (Two on the Piano and Four on the Bench!)

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View From the Right Side!

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Even the Pedals are Yarnbombed!

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The Front

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View From the top of the Bench!

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An Amazing Work of Art!

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Terri … the MasterMind!

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Terri and Jackie! (Kelly was taking the photos.)

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The Top … with Candlesticks.

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Before and After!

Before and After!

So, there you have it. I’ve been yarnbombed.

This yarnbombed gift made all of the bother and drama seem OK … and I am never taking it off my piano! I love my friends! What a wonderful welcome home surprise!

Gone knitting!