pumpkin pie is icky...
... and frankly I resent the implication that I am not thankful enough, and must spend the entirety of one day spouting hackneyed phrases about family and love. Consider too that the holiday isn’t even ABOUT that - not that anyone remembers the pilgrims and the Indians and the corn anymore.
Mostly I’m just bummed that I’m not going to be spending Thanksgiving with my family. My in-laws are fantastic, but it’s simply not the same. Maybe some of you married folks know what I mean.
So I’ll make my requisite pecan pie, and I’ll spout forth my list of What I’m Thankful For, and on Friday I’ll put the pie plate through the dishwasher and hang the wreath on my front door. Because isn’t that what you’re supposed do?
If you’re detecting a depressing slant in this post, you’re astute. It’s been a long couple of weeks, and I’m still not 100% ok with our decision to stay in Chicago and take our house off the market. Couple that with the holiday season, and you may find me spending December huddled on my couch with my iPod Bing Crosby in one hand and a glass of single malt in the other.
On a brighter note, I’ve got lots of FOs to share with you. I finally have pictures of my Central Park Hoodie - can you believe it? Didn’t I finish the damn thing months ago?
the needles: US 5 and US 7 Addi Turbos
thoughts: I didn’t modify the pattern at all, but if I could have here’s what I would have done. First, I would have made the sleeves about three inches shorter. I have to fold over the cuff, and while I could easily cut off the ends and re-knit them, I don’t wanna. Future reference. Also, I don’t like that there’s no closure. I’ve been using the hairstick you see in the picture above, but if I had to do it all over again I’d add buttons. As it stands, I may go get some toggle closures and sew them on. I thought I’d like a sweater that doesn’t close, but it’s so freakin’ warm that I can only wear it on days when having an open sweater is hypothermia-inducing. So. Next time, add buttons.
I do absolutely adore this yarn. It’s crunchy and tweedy and delicious. It’s not soft - even with a Eucalan washing it’s still a bit rough, but that’s exactly what I wanted. It’s a rugged outer sweater, not underpants.
I also finished my sister’s gift - Wanda. Check it out:
many thanks to my beautiful sister-in-law for modeling it for me
the needles: US 7 and US 8 Addi Turbos
thoughts: Ok, first of all, the yarn sucks. Yes, it’s wonderful to touch. Yes, the drape is fantastic. But try to keep tension and call me when you’re into your third glass of wine and staring at errant stitches cursing them and wishing you could just have a hobby like collecting stamps. I do think that part of the issue is the sweater is mostly reverse stockinette, and I think tension problems tend to show more on the purl side. Perhaps there would have been a second date if this sweater were knit in stockinette, but as it stands we’ve broken up. And I’m going to badmouth him to all of his new girlfriends.
The sweater is another story. While it’s not my favorite knit ever, I do think it came out well. It’ll look great on my sister (I’ll get pictures when I give it to her in LA on December 1st). I love the shawl collar, though this is another instance where I think it needs a closure (that is not, preferably, my Clover bamboo dpn). My sis and I will go shopping in LA when I get there to pick her out a closure if she wants one.
It’s different. It’s a bit weird. All in all, I’m glad I knit it. And my sister loves the pictures so far, which is really all that matters.
Click for Ravelry.
Oh, I’ve got one more for you. I’m most proud of this one:
the needles: US 9 Addi Turbos (see a theme here?)
thoughts: I spotted this in the preview, and knew it would be perfect for my stepmom for the holidays. So I went to JoAnn the day the magazine arrived and cast on. I used the Paton’s because I actually hate the Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride that’s called for. I’ve used it before and ended up covered in mohair. Not fun. This wool was great, felted beautifully, and was much cheaper. Score! The pattern isn’t easy - the cables go asymmetrical for several rows in the middle, which threw me off a bit. There’s also an obscene amount of finishing (the cables are lined with backstitch embroidery, and you have to hand-felt the bag so as to not over-felt). But all in all I think this was worth it. I’ve got nothing but compliments since I finished it, and I can’t wait to wrap it up and give it away. Ravelry page is here, for those of you so inclined.
Long post, I know, but I wanted to catch you all up.
Since I’m sure someone will ask me tomorrow, I’ll just add this:
I am most thankful for you all. The friends I’ve met, the friends whose comments I happily await after each post, and the new friends who come and comment each time. When I’m at my lowest, (which is, granted, rare) I have you. You make me smile. You remind me that you’re happy I’m staying in Chicago, or that my knitting is, in fact, awesome. And tomorrow, when I’m forced to tell my in-laws what I’m thankful for (to which I will probably lie and say something horribly cheesy) I will be thinking about you guys.
And I’ll save you a piece of pecan pie, I promise.
Happy Thanksgiving, all.
the knit mongrel
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
