good-natured ribbing

I was pretty sick with the flu over the weekend so I was in bed most of the time. By the time Monday (which I had off work) rolled around, I was starting to feel better but also felt like a bit of a slacker for not getting any knitting done all weekend. To compensate, I decided to go for a fast project to give myself a sense of accomplishment.

I picked the very simple Family of Slippers pattern from Knitting at Knoon. I cast on 36 sts on size 10 needles. Yes, it really was fast.

She wanted to have a fancy cuff but I’m a bit short on the eyelash yarn. I did have some white furry stuff from an earlier item I made for her. It looks a little be mangy to me, by hey, she likes it and that’s all that matters.

I don’t know why, but I had a feeling that she was going to revert to her old ways and refuse to put these on or throw them in the garbage or something. I was completely wrong. She way dying to get her feet in them. They are a hit.

Yesterday I went down to the National Museum of the Marine Corps (NMMC) to help knit helmet liners for a unit of Marines that are being deployed to the Middle East in September. The goal is for 500 helmet liners. Although Marines are issued helmet liners, they are synthetic (and will melt) and can’t be worn outside the green zone. Hence, NNMC is asking knitters and crocheters to make 100% wool helmet liners. I believe there are several organizations that are soliciting wool helmet liners. If you are interested in knitting one for NMMC, here is the web address (since I can’t get the link to insert properly!)

http://www.usmcmuseum.org/SupportMarines.asp

I finished a pair of socks that I’ve been working on for a while. I started them back when I was participating in that single sock swap. I couldn’t decided which yarn to use for my pal so I started knitting my chosen pattern in two different yarns. I decided to send the other one and put this one aside for a while. I got it out again for a recent trip and was inspired to finish them.

The pattern in Baltic Socks by Clementine’s Shoes and I used Oceanwind Knits Merino in Amber. I’d never seen this yarn before (ordered it via The Sweet Sheep) but I love it. It was a delight to knit with.

I made a few modifications to the pattern:

1. Picot cuff because I didn’t think the ribbing did the lovely pattern justice
2. Short row heel because I like doing them and they fit me well
3. Short row toe with 3 needle bind off because I was traveling and didn’t have a darning needle with me

I must say, I’m quite taken with these socks. They fit very well, they are very soft (especially compared to my last socks – Kureyon), and they have such a lovely leafy motif. And I really love the color.

Our old friend in Cleveland and his wife had a baby in November but I didn’t get the baby gift out yet. Of course, it only takes a short while to make my standard hat/sock set, but I got bored or distracted or something half way through the first sock. I finished it up today:

Patterns: Norwegian Sweet Baby Cap and Hunca Munca Socks
Yarn: Louisa Harding Kimono Angora

Instead of using i-cord or crochet ties, I decided to use a simple ribbon. I thought that it would compliment the dainty angora well… plus to was a heck of a lot quicker! I just used a darning needle to pull it through and tied a simple knot and pulled it tight. To prevent the ends of the ribbon from fraying, I just added a dab of the wonderful and amazing Fray Check. I like the looks of the ribbon, I think.

It will be out in the mail tomorrow!