Escape From Sleeve Island

Sorry for the lack of posting lately, but slow knitting progress on two sweater sleeves doesn't make for compelling blog posts. That said, I'm back because Oscar finally has sleeves! I think I may have jacked up the stitch count somewhere along the way, but ask me if I care. Sleeves, people! They are done!

You'd think I've just finished knitting some grand project, but no, just two sleeves. That's how pathetic I am. However, they are now done and that's all that matters! What this means is I can now allow myself to (temporarily) put this aside to work on a few small holiday gift knits. I wouldn't let myself start anything else until I finished these sleeves, but now- I'm free!!

In totally unrelated - but equally as exciting - news, a longstanding dream of mine has recently come true as we are now the proud and, in my case- very happy, owners of a Prius! In case you don't know, I've been wanting one of these for years, but I couldn't really justify a car payment when Darby (my old car) is still running (for the most part). But thanks to an awesome incentive program at B's work, we were provided with the perfect opportunity to take the leap. This is how I feel about it:

Our first day together

So, the plan is to sell B's car (if you know of anyone who wants to buy a 2 year old Acura TL, please let me know!) and keep Darby for B to use during the week, if he needs to drive anywhere. Since he walks to work, this won't be very often, but it will still be good to have a second car just in case. And since I drive a hellacious amount every week, this car (named Linus) will now be my primary car. Yay, yay, yay! IloveitIloveitIloveit!

One final note: Please join us in congratulating Nasus on passing the California Bar Exam! Nasus, we are so proud of you! Bravo!! :)

blender bread, booties, and other misc. crafting

Christmas has come a little early here. Last week we received our Christmas present from B's folks: a new blender...and spent last weekend blending all manner of foods. One of the things this handy dandy machine lets you do is make your own whole wheat flour and then make dough for fresh wheat bread.

Here's the flour after the blender pulverized the whole wheat berries:


And the dough...which is nothing more than the fresh flour, water, yeast and some honey:


And here's the bread, which was super tasty!:


I've also been doing a bit of knitting, which you probably wouldn't have guessed given my more recent sewing posts. I made a pair of Saartje's Booties (free pdf and on Ravelry here) for a co-worker's baby girl. I knit them out of about a 1/3 hank of Knit Picks Sock Landscape yarn from my stash. These were super fun and fairly simple to knit. The best part was when the little toe took shape - it made me super happy.


I also started a Tilted Duster (Ravelry link) made out of some Rowan Magpie I've had in my stash for a very long time. I think it will be a perfect during-and-after-pregnancy sweater.

I've already knit the back and the fronts and almost one sleeve. I didn't bother with progress photos because nothing is blocked and frankly all the pieces look like nondescript gray rolled tubes at this point. I'm trying to power through the sleeves so that I can get to the skirt as fast as possible. It seems like people have been able to knit this sweater pretty quickly and I really need some longer sweaters now that my normal ones are starting to look short over my maternity shirts.

However, I've also been distracted by the cutest of flannels on sale at Joann's this week:

These are destined to be more burp cloths and bibs...I just can't help myself...They are so cute and so cheap to make!

Oscar...the saga continues

Now, I know I tend to let WIPs linger (Carmelita and Stripey Tweedy Knee Highs come to mind), but this is just ridiculous. This is not a habit I endorse, but it just seems to happen. Some projects coma and go, while other projects just sit there in their sad little project bags for months on end. Poor Oscar (aka Tangled Yoke Cardigan). I'm appalled to realize I started this sweater over a year ago. But, blog dates don't lie. I haven't even been working on him. I completed the body, up to the sleeves, and the sleeves is where I left off. Stupid sleeves. I just have not bring myself to work on the sleeves. Until recently.

I started on them in Hawaii. I didn't have as much time to knit as I thought I would (I know, but I did actually think I would have time!), but I did manage to at least start them. And I've been working on them since we've been back. Evidence:

I'm not gonna lie. It's been a struggle. That said, I spent lots of quality time with Oscar's sleeves this past weekend, and...I feel like we've bonded. :) At this point, I have two half-completed sleeves. Woo-hoo! I have a thing about working on pairs of things at the same time. It's really the only way to ensure I end up with a completed pair of anything (I am being realistic). I mean, seriously.

And so, the saga continues, but at least progress has been made. I think we have turned an important corner in our relationship, and I look forward to spending more time together. I can't wait to be able to wear this thing! Rowan Felted Tweed - you are so smushy and wonderful!

smushy, tweedy love

On a different note: Tomorrow is Election Day! Please, please vote, people (if you haven't already) and make sure everyone you know does the same!