Good Knit

Samantha,
I miss you so much even though you were only here for 13 days. You, Allison and I lived as one for 6 months – a short, wonderful time. Ally is old enough now that she asks about you and asks where you are. Someday she will understand more about the angel who watches over her.

I love you,
Mom

Never forget who you are
Little star
Never forget how to dream
Butterfly

God gave a present to me
Made of flesh and bones
My life, my soul
You make my spirit whole

Never forget who you are
Little star
Shining brighter than all the stars in the sky
Never forget how to dream
Butterfly
Never forget where you come from
From love

You are a treasure to me
You are my star
You breathe new life
Into my broken heart
Never forget who you are
Little star
Never forget how to dream
Butterfly

May the angels protect you
And sadness forget you
Little star

There’s no reason to weep
Lay your head down to sleep
Little star

May goodness surround you
My love I have found you
Little star

Shining bright

You breathe new life
Into my broken heart

Never forget who you are
Little star
Shining brighter than all the stars in the sky
Never forget how to dream
Butterfly
Flying higher than all the birds in the sky

Never forget who you are
Little star
Never forget where you come from
From love

Little star
Little star
Little star

From love

Madonna – Little Star

Okay here’s the thing, although the celtic sweater is done it’s pretty snug. I’m thinking about frogging the whole thing and starting over, adding an inch or two all around. I have enough cotton to do this. It’s just all the work (about a month) that went into it. Sigh, but it just doesn’t fit the way I want it to. I’ve been in denial about it for the last few days.

I’m going to leave it alone as I knit the girl’s winter sets and any Christmas gifts I want to do. Then I’m going to go back and think about it. I think it’s going to be frogged. I mean what’s the point of making it if I can’t wear it? I’ll make the proper modifications and then I’ll be happy with it.

Please take a moment of silence and weep for me.

Here it is…

Front

Back

I know I said I’d post a picture of me wearing, but it has done nothing but rain here the last few days. I managed to take this during a break, but my husband wasn’t home to take a picture of me wearing it. I hope to post such a picture in a day or two when the ‘flood waters’ stop raining down on me.

Well at least for my Celtic sweater. I finish the new neck last night or early this morning if you want to get technical about it. I foolishly stayed up until 1:30 a.m. completing it. I’m not quite done though, I have a few duplicate stitches to add to the knot. Even though I followed my chart I found a couple of spots that need to be brown to make the knot look better. I also have a loose stitch at the neck egde that needs to be tighted with a stitch, especially since it’s at the front.

I’m not sure if I’m going to block any further with it as it fits well and is already sewn together. I’m hope it’ll be a less stiff after I wash it. It very fitted so the stiffness could be a problem, but I think after I wear it for a bit it’ll soften and loose up.

I’ll post a picture of me wearing as soon as I fix those few problems.

I’m trying to get out and play with the girls as much as possible. Soon the cold weather will be here and it’ll be harder to get outside. I’m not big on playing in the snow. Perhaps that’ll change this winter, but I can’t make the girl’s any promises.

I took the camera out today and took these shots:

Lovely red leaves

Little G looking at leaf

Little G getting a little too close to the camera

Little A and I (please excuse my lack of make up and even brushed hair)

Little A being cute

After yesterday’s disaster I walked away from my sweater for a few hours. I looked at it and swore a few times, then I got out my sissors and carefully ripped out the neck edge. I decided I should have cast on more stitches. I’m still so sore about the whole thing that the sweater sits in a neglected heap in the living room while I happily work away on 5 mm dpns on little G’s winter hat. Stupid sweater can sit there for another day or two.

Uggh! I’m having one of those days. After struggling for the better part of the day trying to figure out how to do kitchener bind off in the round (my first time every trying it out). I’ve discovered that this bind off is rather unforgiving and I can’t get the @#$% thing over my head. I think with a regular cast off it would fit fine. So here I sit, having to pull the neck out and start the whole neck over. I couldn’t possibly unravel the kitchener bind off at this point. It’s going to be easier to hack at it with sissors (okay maybe I need to step away from this until tomorrow). I’m pretty sure the number of stitches I used around the neck are fine, but maybe I should start over and add a few more just incase.

Okay I need to go and weep for a while. Maybe I’ll have a cup of green tea and some dutch spice cookies to make me feel better.

My husband, who’s always thinking of my interests, sent me this link The Last Knit. I want you all to note that at the beginning of the animation the knitter’s silhouette appears to be an old woman, but when you see her you realise that she’s actually a young woman. I like that a lot because it reflects well the resurgence of knitting in the last 10 years of young knitters. Knitting isn’t something that just Grandma’s do. Although I’m very thankful that my Grandma knit because she taught my mom and they both taught me. I got the wealth of two great knitter’s knowledge early on in life.

Here’s the beginning of little G’s winter hat. Not much I know, but I’m glad I cast on with a contrasting colour. I think stuble hints of white will look nice. I’ll probably do a white tassel on top. I love working with dpns, especially bamboo ones. I think they look like little chopsticks.

The front

The back

I got the first sleeve sewn in. It look insanely skinny along most of the length of the arm, but it’s only because of the way the double rib looks. The whole time I’ve been making this sweater I’ve been panicing thinking it looks too small. Granted it is a snug fit and the next time I create this sweater I think I’ll be adding a few inches in the width here and there. I hope to get the second sleeve on and then knit up the neck. I still haven’t decided if it’ll be a turtleneck or a crew neck.  I guess it’ll depend on whether I feel like doing a bunch more ribbing.

I blocked the sleeves today and I hope to sew them in tonight. It’ll depend on whether they are dry or not. That’s the problem with blocking on the rug in the basement family room, it takes forever for stuff to dry. Unfortunately it’s the only good place for me to block. Speaking of blocking does anyone know of a place online that I could buy a blocking board? Or maybe some suggestions on what’s good to use for blocking. The rug is good, but I worry about my girls or the cats getting at the pins. If I had something portable I could lean on the wall in a room that’s off limits to children and felines alike.

I’ve started little G’s winter hat. It’s nothing fancy, dark blue with a white contrasting edge and a white tassel. At least I think since it’s still a pattern in my head. It feels strange knitting with 5 mm dpns after working on 3 mm straight needles for so long.

Little A had a wonderful birthday. Her favorite gift would have to be the puzzles she got. I think she was given four puzzles in all even one that goes on the fridge.  Today she did a 24 piece Dora puzzle all by herself. Pretty good for a 3 yr. old. Now if potty training could only work that well. Little A still isn’t trained and is only mildly interested. Little G is about the same, but she’s not even 2 yet. I’m going to train them together. I wish I had started little A earlier but I avoided it when I found out we’d be moving.  Tonight she kept putting her doll on the potty and reading to her. I’m hoping this is a good sign. I’m doing the sticker chart thing too.

Ally after her birthday hair cut. She looks a little stunned, but this was the best picture I could get. She tends to be goofy in front of the camera.

The birthday girl eating her cake. Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday.