Words That Filled My Heart With Joy

"Mom, I'm wearing the socks you knit for me."
For the first time. Ever. Yes, I finished them in July. Who knew this day would come?

Monsteralong

I joined the Monsteralong yesterday. Today, I finished knitting the slippers.

I was too ashamed at first to show my off-center slipper before I ripped it out. But I'm going to suck it up and share it with you. At least someone can have a laugh.

But I did rip it back to the sole and start again.

Then I finished one.

And tonight I finished the second. Now it's time to chuck them in the wash and see what happens.

Last night Molly presented me with the most delightful gift bag.

It's got knitting on it! Isn't it cute?
And look what was inside.

Some Regia yarn that she picked up at Churchmouse.
Thanks Molly!

Did You Give Yet?

It's uplifting to see that over $5 million has been donated in the last few days at Amazon.
Please give.

For Dishes That Are Divinely Clean

An angelic dish soap cover.
(I don't understand it either.)

Photos!

I got my flower swap flower from Mindy.


Backyard leaves is slightly longer.


I started a swatch of Ironstone Yarn Streamers for the shop and I couldn't stop until I finished the ball.

I usually hate ribbon yarns but this one has a high wool content and had a nice elasticity to it. And it's not too stiff. I used the Waterfall pattern from the 365 Knitting Stitches calendar. I loved this pattern. It's so simple and has a great look.



I started the second slipper. I can't face ripping out the first one again so soon. Hopefully this one will be uneventful and I'll be filled with confidence to rip and reknit the first one. Damn slipper...

Monstrous

Grrrrr...I've knit something monstrous all right. I finally figured out what the heck the monster slipper pattern is supposed to say. However, I failed to actually knit it correctly. I ripped back to the sole last night after reading all the posts at the Stitch 'n Bitch forum. But I must have started again at the wrong spot because after working about seventy-eight thousand short row wraps I finally bound off my slipper this morning (I gave up on finishing around 2 am last night) and discovered that the whole thing is completely off center. Grrrr... I hate doing stupid things like this. Now I have to rip it out again and do all those short rows again. And then I have to make a second one! Oy vey iz mir. What a pain.

In more successful knitting news, I finished one full pattern repeat while chatting (more like ranting) with other knitters last night. I also finished another afghan square. So some progress is being made here at Rose-Kim Knits. Just not as much as I'd like.

Nearly No Picture Day

For Christmas, Wes got me a new CPU. Isn't he romantic? He says he did it for me. But I know he did it so the kids could have my old one and stay off of his computer. My new computer is lightening fast though. In fact, I can whip through email and blog updates so quickly that I find myself sitting staring at the computer with nothing left to do. Another side effect is that my camera software is MIA and I can't upload photos.

In the meantime let me update you a little on what's happening at the Rose-Kim home knitting-wise.

1) I finally cast on for my Brown Beaded Socks for the Six Sox Knitalong. I pulled out the yarn and got all the beads strung the very day this pattern was announced (December 1) and then I carried the yarn and needles around in my purse for over three weeks. Why? I have no idea. But I got sick of dilly-dallying and finally got to work. I finished the inch of ribbing and have started the beads. It will be slow going for the beading but then it's a completely plain and simple sock after that.

2) I have been knitting afghan squares all weekend. I think I've completed three in the last day or so. I knit an entire one last night on a trip to the bookstore and out to dinner with the kids. These things are so simple and portable. I love that in a project.

3) I have finished three repeats in Backyard Leaves and have a photo I uploaded before the computer change-over.

This pattern is a delight to knit. So many twists and turns. So many mysterious little glyphs on the chart. The only drawback is that I can't really work on it while doing anything else. No TV watching. No chatting. Otherwise I get lost.

4) I haven't touched the Floral Felted Tote since last weekend. This is another turn-off-the-TV unplug-the-phone for-goodness-sake-don't-speak-to-me-I'm-knitting patterns. It also involves carrying an entire bag full of yarn so it's not very portable.

5) I started the Felted Furry Foot Warmers from Stitch 'n Bitch Nation for the shop. I making them in Lamb's Pride Bulky in Lemon Drop and Aura Print. There are errors galore in this pattern. Even the errata seems to have some mistakes in it. At this point I'm just kind of winging it. I'm a little more than halfway through the first slipper.

Mark Your Calendars

I'm going to be on TV.

I Don't Usually Do This

The Parking Lot Tram: The uncredited workhorse of
the Disneyland resort. You take visitors from
the largest parking lot on earth to the front
door of Disneyland and back again. You aren't
the picture of glamour and most wouldn't even
think you provide any sort of excitement, but
without you no fun could be had at all. You
don't mean to, but you seem often sour. You
get little respect and sometimes get lots of
scorn, but yet you are faithful and eager to
please. People need you and you need them.
Your simpleness is the perfect backdrop to
showcase the eager smiles of children riding
you for their first time to the Happiest Place
on Earth.


What Disneyland attraction are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I usually take these quizzes and spare you, my readers, the boredom of the results. But this answer is so apt and yet wholly depressing that I thought you might enjoy it.

Ho, Ho, Zzzzzzzz

Today, while all the world prepared for Christmas, I slept. I stayed up really late last night and when Wes got the call at 8:30 this morning that he did not have to go to work I got to sleep in. And sleep in I did. I woke up when my best friend came by to drop off gifts--at 12:30! I got up for a while. Dropped off some presents and was back down for the count by 2:30. I slept on the sofa covered in stuffed animals and one live beagle until it was time to take the kids out for dinner. And I'm still tired. I'm not sure how this is physically possible but there it is.

I did finish the dolls.



I hated making these. They are fiddly and require lots of sewing of tiny parts. Blech. I won't be making any more of these.

I knit with Marti last night and she gave me the world's cutest mittens.



Second only in cuteness to the mittens Stephanie finished yesterday in her epic knitting marathon.

Hope everyone has a merry little Christmas.

I Am Doll Parts

Knitting for Chimps

I was finishing the thumb on my son's first glove when I held it up and realized that I am an idiot. Once again, I knit along happily without stopping to look and see what I was doing. I knit the hand too long so now I have a long, narrow glove with a tiny thumb down by the wrist. A glove for Bonzo. I am too mortified right now to share a photograph of it. If you really want to revel in my humiliation let me know and I can snap a shot of it. Right now my plan is to bury it under a bunch of other stuff and hopes that he forgets about it.