Catherine gifted me me this fantastically cute book for my 30th birthday. I put it to good use for Josu's 3rd birthday. The sock elephant was fun - - the book gave enough direction but also left room for improvising . . . which I like.

and I think I have to admit, what I really, really liked was how this little guy facilitated accessorizing.

ummm . . . yes. the wee bear's ears are tweaked and crooked. I did some fast and furious blind stitching as I sat by Rachel's bed during her recent ER visit. I love hand stitching. you can take it anywhere.

Le Slouch (and it only took 7 months)

pattern: Le Slouch (Wendy Bernard) -- free download, found on Ravelry
yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino chunky, 2 full skeins, some lovely lovely color that I've been in love with for some time now and whose name I don't remember.
guage: who knows. should have done a swatch, but didn't.
needles: ???
picture: Naomi. she insisted. she's good, right?

OK, so it took me forever to finish this hat (I have too many projects going at once...yes, I know that already). I should have been able to finish it up in two weekends/movies instead of taking 7 months. The point, thought, is that it is finished! And I like it. I think. At least, trying it on in my bedroom I like it. We'll see what happens when I start wearing it out in public....

hmmmmm.

(Malachai's "yes i'm a very cool dude look." or in this case, very sick. and aunt Rachel's making me model. anyway...)

well now. this was supposed to be for Josiah. the first time I made it, I ran out of yarn. I frogged it. I recalculated. I changed the pattern. I made it again, and had an arm's length of yarn left over. yay for me, I thought! finished! with just enough yarn to weave in! off to try it on Malachai or Naomi to see if it's big enough for Josiah-in-Tennessee.

as you see, not so much. we decided this would be a great hat for Malachai, but in another color (and sorry Malachai, your mom says red isn't your color either, so it won't be in red). In the meantime, points for me for having a gift hat in my closet....but minus points for having to start from scratch for Josiah. sorry, Josiah!

pattern: Binary Cable Hat (found on ravelry)
yarn: RYC Cashsoft Aran, and I'm not kidding when I say you need 1 whole skein
gauge: who knows. apparently, I don't believe in doing swatches (and this is the sort of thing that happens as a result. you'd think I'd learn!)
needles: US 7

Projects for airplanes

When you're facing a long trip on a plane (which I did over the weekend), here's what you do: knit a baby hat...or anything else for that matter. And yes, it's totally legal to take knitting needles on a plane, surprisingly enough.

As for my list of projects, it's overloaded because my girls and I have decided to make homemade gifts this year...so we're knitting and sewing up a storm...or should be anyway! For the sake of surprise, those will have to be posted after Christmas!