Anemoi Mittens

Finally, I can post pictures of my super secret Christmas knitting! As soon as I saw the Anemoi mittens by Eunny Jang, I knew I had to make them. I was halfway into the first sock for my mother's Christmas present, but I put them down and started the mittens for her. The yarn is Koigu; this is the first time I have ever used it and all I have to say is "YUM!" The slight variation in the solid colors adds a wonderful vibrancy to the finished product. I was a little concerned about running out of yarn, so I switched the colors in the mittens, so that I would use the colors evenly. The pattern calls for 2 skeins of each color, but I got by with 1 skein each, and had a little bit left over, even with making the medium/large size.

I did make a teeny weeny mistake on the mittens, which I didn't notice until they were blocking. I've decided to take advice from the Yarn Harlot and call it a "design feature". You can spot it here in the lower right corner, in the corrugated ribbing.



Oh, well. My mom loved them, and that's what really matters. If only I could stop letting that stupid stitch bother me so much!

Merry Christmas!

My sister bought the cutest toy for Dinorino. He liked it, but the older boys had some fun with it, too. Every time I see this video, it makes me laugh. I hope it gives you a smile, too. Merry Christmas!

From Itchy Sweater to Fabu Bag

Several years ago, I fell in love with this pattern and decided I HAD to knit it.


For yarn, I used a wonderfully soft no name alpaca that I had bought at fiber retreat in Wasilla, AK. It was so soft and buttery, and slid through my hands like silk. But when it was finished, I tried it on, wore it for a few minutes and realized that it was INSANELY ITCHY. And hot. If you weren't aware already, alpaca is very, very warm. Not what you want to make a sleeveless sweater out of. I kind of screwed up the neckline, and didn't like how the pattern finished up the armholes, but wasn't an experienced enough knitter to know how to do anything about it. So it sat in my closet for 2 years. Every once in a while, I would take it out, try it on, and remember "Oh, yeah, this thing itches like crazy!" Back in the closet it would go. I found it again a few days ago while in an organizational frenzy, and thought, I am not going to keep this thing when I never wear it. i almost threw it in the trash, but at the last minute decided to throw it in the washer and see how well it would felt. After felting it, I cut it up, sewed it together, needle felted a few flowers on and Voila! My new favorite bag:



I love it so much, and it was a super quick and easy project, whick makes me love it even more. I can totally see doing this to thrift store sweaters. I am thinking about adding some blanket stitch around the upper edge and handles, it depends on how much spare time (hah!) I have during the next week.

Tonight was the big Christmas program at church. In the program, I had a beautiful angel:


A handsome shepherd:


And a handsome king:



It took me a while to convince WD that he needed a spiffy moustache like his brother, and by the time we went over to get one, the selection had gotten a little sparse. I think he looks a little like a certain German dictator, but it was either that or a grey one that he was very much against. After all that work convincing him to get one, I wasn't going to say ANYTHING to make him back out of it.

The Plumber and I got a little bored while the kiddos were getting in costume, so I snagged that last moustache, and well....



Everyone brought cookies to church tonight to eat after the program. JR didn't want his moustache anymore, so I stuck it on Dinorino.



You can never have to much baby 'stache!

The Good News and The Bad News

The Bad News:
Yesterday, I got two fillings. I have had filling before, but have NEVER had this much pain afterwards. I could tell the dentist was being pretty brutal while the novacaine was working, and I felt the effects of it when the novacaine wore off. It turned me into a total crabcake for the day.

The Good News:
I finished a scarf made from Mmmmmmmmmmalibrigo. This yarn is awesome! I was worried that this colorway would be too loud, but the colors blended wonderfully, and it was so soft to knit with. I will definitely use this yarn again.





My first Sockret Pal package came!


I got a little notebook, some cute stitchmarkers, candy, a stitch gauge, a pencil, and a yummy bath set. But the best thing was the Cherry Tree Hill Sock Yarn. This colorway is exactly what I have been looking for, it's almost like she read my mind. The whole package was girly and pretty and yarny and just the thing I needed at the end of a horrible day. Thank you Sockret Pal!

Doo-Doo Haiku

Rainbow of color
You do not brighten my day
Baby ate crayons


Children call my name
They are done and need my skill
I must go wipe



I can't stop!

My Little Getaway Haiku (Otherwise known as Ode to the Bathroom)

I sit on the pot
Children bang on the locked door
I get on Bloglines

Child screaming loudly
Brother poked her in the eye
Here I am alone

How to Wear a Shawl

The Plumber and I had a date night tonight, and I really wanted to wear my black sleeveless shirt. As most of you know, I live in freakin' Alaska, and it's kinda cold here. So I was trying to think of something to wear with it and I remembered Icarus. It would look good, keep my shoulders warm, and look dressy. The only problem is that I have never actually worn a shawl. I've thought about it, but could never really figure out how to wear one. So I started with the traditional look.


Too grannyish, and it covered up the shirt.

I tried the side tie.



It could work. There 's a jauntiness about it that looks fun, (isn't jaunty a fun word to say?) but it still covers up the shirt. Not quite right yet.

Next up, I tied the ends at my lower back.



YAYYYYY!!! This is perfect! It looks like a shrug from the front, but looks like a traditional shawl from the back.



The date was great, I am stuffed full of Moose's Tooth pizza, and the shawl has finally seen some use. Now that I have found a way to wear one, I see more shawls in my future.
I am off to snuggle with The Plumber on the couch and watch a UFC fight he rented. Watching a sweaty guy break another sweaty guys arm always makes me feel all romantic inside.