Friday, March 21, 2014

Farewell, T!

One of the saddest truths about being an expat, living in a mixed, mostly transient community, is that people come and go. They leave to start families. They leave to sometimes return home. They leave to put down roots.

One of my closest friends here, is leaving for good. She's returning to her roots and while I am deeply saddened at her imminent departure (she flies out today), I'm happy that she's happy with her choice to return home. With their family growing, it makes sense for her and her husband to go back.

I dedicate this post to you, T.



Today's FO is the baby blanket I knit for her. I won't be able to meet her or her baby anytime soon and although I will miss seeing her and cuddling the little one (due in a few short months), I hope the blanket will comfort him or her in my stead.




I knit the blanket super fast because I did want to finish it before she left. Since they have decided to keep the baby's sex a surprise, I used a pastel yellow shade, acrylic for ease of washing and larger needles because it doesn't get very cold in Bangalore, where she's headed.



The ribbon finishes the whole thing off nicely. I was hoping the hearts were brown when I bought it, but oh well.



And my label, to remind her of me.



The pattern, as written, has no real edging. I added a crocheted scallop trim to make it prettier.

Finished dimensions are about 30"x 30".

I gave it to her on her farewell a few days ago. She liked it!


Pattern: diagonal tweed baby blanket
Yarn: Lion Brand Pound of Love, pastel yellow colorway
Needles: 6.00 mm (US 10)
Hook: 6 mm

Linknig up with FO Friday, Fiber Arts Friday and Creative Friday

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

WIP Wednesday: Aggravated!

Sorry there are no pictures today. I'm kind of upset, because my project keeps encountering the same problem! I've been working on my Francis revisited pullover, and at last count, the cable on my knit picks options needles has snapped four times. Four times!!! Each time I end up dropping several stitches before realizing the darn thing has broken and picking up the dropped stitches. Ugh. The join where the plastic cable meet the metal holder must be weak because the plastic keeps popping out. I've thrown out three of the cables, kept the last one- which broke yesterday- in case knitpicks asks me to send the cable back. I've emailed customer care but I don't know what they will say. I'm really not inclined to spend postage money on returning a broken cable!

Ah.....end of rant. How much better I feel!

Friday, March 7, 2014

Friends, Friday and 'Frisco

First off--I have a terrible sinus problem. Dry winter air + indoor heating + leaky humidifier + dust allergies= a very unhappy and congested nose. And just a few days before we head to San Francisco too. Ugh! I've been sleeping (and basically living) with the humidifier on all day, but it doesn't do much good. I've taken steam, irrigated my sinuses and popped several pills to stop the sneezing and the general feeling that my head will explode. Will we survive the long flight and the dry air?

We can only hope.

Today I'm sharing something I finished awhile back, but couldn't call it like 'finished finished' because the buttons took forever to arrive. These winter storms have much to answer for (including my present state of misery).



I've never made leg warmers before, but I can see the attraction. Warm and cute! And a very easy knit, especially if you do them in the round. I made these for a friend, and the pattern she chose is knit flat. Its a cute pattern, but if I made it for myself, I'd knit in the round and the buttons would be sewn on just for show. As a matter of fact, some designs have mysteriously appeared in my Ravelry queue....wonder how that happened :D





She does seem to really like them so I'm happy. And they turned out cute which makes me happier.





Pattern: Legendary Leggings
Yarn: Lion brand wool ease, wheat colorway
Needles: 5.00 mm (US 8), 5.5 mm (US 9)

Linking up with FO Friday (although her post isn't up this week), Fiber arts Friday and Creative Friday. I'm catching an obscenely early flight tomorrow and will be traveling all of next week so there likely won't be much posting done. Have a great weekend!