Elf Hats, Magic Rocks and Sea Monkeys

These elfy hats are very addictive because they knit up so fast. It would be even better if I could knit them in the round so that I wouldn't have to sew up the back seam. But I haven't found double pointed 13 needles or 40" circular 'magic loops'.

QUESTION: Why do I have to block my finished stuff? (for those of you who don't knit - Blocking is when you dampen or wet your knitting and lay it out to dry in the shape you want). I don't get why because when you put on socks/hats/scarves they are the shape of your foot/head etc. What's the point. I blocked this orange hat, but I did not block the first one. I see no difference. And socks? You knit them and wear them. Why would I block them?

My 3rd Noro (silk garden) scarf is so pretty! I did not know it would have so much purple in it. The skeins were deceiving - mostly greens/browns/blues. This is why knitting these scarves is so fun. Why doesn't Noro ever go on sale?
Day one of summer vacation:

MAGIC ROCKS! Remember those? Got 'em at Target. In the 70's I ordered mine from my Archie comic books . . . along with my Sea Monkeys - perhaps the biggest disappointment of my life. You cannot train Sea Monkeys. Nor do they grow arms and legs with flipper feet.

Beloved Barometer

Well, chalk this up to experience. Remember my first Noro scarf?
Then I started the 2nd Noro scarf. The first time around, I knit it all wrong and I've just figured out why!!! The first time, I did a stockinette stitch and folded it lengthwise and sewed up the edge. DUH - So tedious! So I did what any decent knitter would do. I ripped this sucker out and started again . . . the right way.I did a bit of back-searching on Saartje's website - which is where I got the inspiration to make the first one. I found out I was doing this all wrong. She does a simple k1,p1. That's it! I feel such the fool!

So . . . without further ado - and some tedious ripping, I began again and I'm so happy I did.
I'm actually glad. The yarn is so expensive and I want it to be right. The new version is on two skeins (three was foolish . . . what was I thinking - oh, yeah - a longer scarf). Anyway, I love this scarf and I can't wait to make one for everyone I know. I'm going to keep this one for myself. Thank you Saartje. (Bye the way, she has a fabulous blog full of inspirations!)

Our beloved Barometer: This dog hates sleeping on our bed. We know a storm is coming when she collects the kids' stuffed toys and curls up with them on our bed. Fear factor for the poor old creature.

Bye Bye Little Birds!

This scarf is expensive and just tedious enough that I can't cart it around with me. Also, I'm not sure if I like the colors. They looked good all balled up in the store with the nice lighting. The good news is that the scarf will probably go with just about any coat I wear, and once it's balled up around my neck, it may look really pretty. Hmmm. There is a section in here that looks sort of Rastafarian. Not that anything is wrong with that. It's just that I'm not a Rastafarian. I do hum "Three Little Birds" everytime I visit Little Birds Handmade. (sigh. she's leaving us bloggy pals) This woman is amazingly talented - and takes beautiful pictures of her work. But she is discontinuing her blog.

I pulled out K's (hubby) Choco-socks again. I believe that makes it the fourth time. But this time, I'm taking a deep breath and putting the yarn away until Fall. In the meantime, I'm going to practice my cables (which Lori so graciously took the time to teach me - THANKS!!!) so that when I crack that sock yarn out again, I'm going to whip up some unseemly, gorgeously cabled socks for my beloved.





This is an Icelandic kleiner. It's a bit like a doughnut, but not quite as sweet and has just a pinch of cardamon. A bit better than M & M's for breakfast, I dare say. (compliments of my mother-in-law)


And how about knitting soccer socks for this pinky-punk! Just one more thing to add to my list of things to never get done. But check out the link. . . maybe I'll post the picture. I hope I don't get into trouble. I consider it free marketing for the pattern. I got it from atypically.knit.