Socks, booties, and bags

I have a new pair of socks in the works. I really needed something to work on while waiting for PT to start and while my ankle is being iced. And these are working out nicely.



I really enjoy the way the colours are progressing. I admit I prefer the shades on the rightmost sock better. But these are the same colourway, so hey should even out eventually.

One of Bill's cousins is having a baby soon, so I've also been working on baby's things. First up is a cute little pair of booties.



The pattern is Oscar and I love it. I only made one modification and that was to make it so I cold knit in the round. I hate seaming. These guys are so cute that I'm working on another pair in orange. (I don't have very many 'boy' colours, and unfortunately the parents are the type where the pink in this pair will be pushing it)


A couple of weeks ago while Bill and I were out shopping I found this really nice straw bag at Target.



It's been perfect for carrying my knitting around, but it was in the bargain bin for a reason. It sheds little bits of it self everywhere. And I'm worried it won't hold together too well.
We went back last week to see if maybe I could get a backup replacement. But they were all sold out. I was a bit disappointed because, I really liked it, it was small enough that I couldn't over pack it, and hurt myself (my elbow is still quite delicate). Yet big enough to hold a project or tow as well as the sundry notions that I like to have on hand.

Luckily when we stopped in to Michaels to look around I found this beauty on clearance:



It's a little larger but definitely put together better. and I love the colours. Yay!

A gratuitous dog picture: Cayenne was helping as I to photos today

I'd like to be under the sea, in an octopus' garden in the shade

Meet P.Z.*



P.Z. is an adorable Amigurumi style Octopus from Octopode Pandemonium

Cat included for scale:



He was a lot of fun to make, it's been a while since I've made any Amigurumi, and well, Cephalopods are just irresistible!

Stats:
Time: about three days on and off, it would have been much quicker, but crocheting at a tight gauge really kills my wrist and I need frequent breaks.
Hook: G
Yarn: random blue/variegated acrylic from my stash.
I thought the variegated yet still blue of the yarn mimicked a real octopus's colour changing ability. (And it was cute!)

Before assembly:



I thought the legs looked like little blue sausages. Bill says the looked more like fuzzy blue tampons.

The body was mad in one piece, because I hate seaming. legs were 15 rounds of plain crochet.


After Assembly, aka the obligatory 'stuff on my cat' shot:



* My Husband named him after one of the bloggers he reads: P.Z. Myers from Pharyngula

Post thanksgiving fish?

I hope everybody had a good thanksgiving, ours didn't exactly go as planned, the freezing rain and snow conspired to keep us home.
So instead of dinner with family we stayed home, ate tofurkey sandwiches drank hard cranberry lemonade and watched Serenity.

And I knit fish.



Yes fish.



As you can see:



Esme was quite happy by this.



The pattern is my own, and I plan on selling the extras in my Etsy store

So, you know, no selling of products made from this design yada, yada.

Felted Catnip Fishies:

Materials:

• Small amount of worsted weight wool
• Size 10 1/2 DPNs (or long circulars for magic loop)
  
• Darning needle
• Poly Fill
• Catnip
• Cat

CO 30 sts, join in the round, careful not to twist.

Knit 1 round

Tail:
R 1: (K2tog, K11, SSK) x2
R 2: (& All even) K
R 3: (K2tog, K9, SSK) x2
R 5: (K2tog, K7, SSK) x2
R 7: (K2tog, K1) x6

Body:
R 9: (K1, M1, K4, M1, K1) x2
R 11: (K1, M1, K6, M1, K1) x2
R 13: (K1, M1, K8, M1, K1) x2
R 15: (K6, M1, K6) x2

R 16 – 18: K

Head:
R 19: (K11, K2tog) x2
R 21: (K4, K2tog) x4
R 23: (K3, K2tog) x4
R 25: (K2, K2tog) x4
R 26: (K2tog) x6

Break yarn, thread tail through remaining sts, felt, dry, stuff with poly fill and catnip, sew up tail, give to cat and enjoy!

socks: done!

Bills socks are finally finished...

but first...a pause:



I mean some paws.
sorry, couldn't help myself, she's just so darned cute!

now the socks:


as you can see I changed the pattern a bit, they were originally going to be the cable top socks from Cat Bordhi's Socks Soar, but my first mistake was panicking about her percentages for when to start the gusset shaping, I jumped the gun and started the heel before the gusset was done because I was afraid it was going to be too long, when in fact it would have been just right, oh well, you live and learn, they still fit him, and that's what matters.

I cast off on the first sock as Cat directs with the twisting i-cord bind-off but it was awful, it flared out horribly and kept rolling over on itself. I immediately ripped it out and sent it to time out for a while.
I really didn't want to knit ribbing, I mean, that's one of the reasons I picked these socks was that it was something other then the usual ribbed cuff. I could have done a picot hem or bind off, but I thought that would have just been too girly (yeah, I know, like a cable top wasn't girly, shut up) I really liked the applied i-cord thing though, so I decided to just do a simple applied i-cord and call it a day.



the top still rolls a little bit, and they really want to slouch, but Bill is happy, and that's all that matters I guess.

Friday cat blogging, or day two:

After I posted yesterday there was a bit of a ruckus when Cayenne got a little too excited near Esme, and somebody got a claw full of fur and somebody else had a small scratch by her right eye. (Don't worry, she's ok, no damage)

We decided to close the bedroom door last night so Esme had the living area and Cayenne was in with us, that way there could be no accidental bothering in the middle of the night.

Photo journal of Esme's first two days:

Napping in her safe spot:



We had to move her food up onto the table because Cayenne kept trying to eat it, we don't actually use that table for eating, and it's easy to clean if we need to:



After we moved Esme's food we were watching TV and we heard a loud "MEOW" from the bathroom, Esme had apparently wandered into the tub looking for water. We have one water dish down by Cayenne's food bowl, but apparently Esme was still a little too timid to go to it, so we put a small bowl of water up on the table next to her food, and everything was good. Or so we thought. Apparently Esme prefers human spit in her water, and insisted on trying to drink from my glass when Bill was doing his homework:



"This place is great they have 'Bird TV'!"



Watching birds is sleepy business:



After inspecting the Bedroom:



Even sleepy kitties read SIAM news!



"I can has box"



And one of Cayenne so she doesn't feel left out (She's been such a good girl, and we have been giving her so much love. She seems more jealous of us than of the cat, she really wishes she could be friends, but Esme isn't ready to cuddle just yet.)



One more for the road, I love her colouration:



tomorrow should be a return to normal knitblogging, including a pair of finished socks, stay tuned!

Introducing...

The newest member of our household!



It is my pleasure to introduce you all to Miss Esmerelda Weatherwax!



We went to the SPCA today and looked around, she was quite lovey, and insisted on climbing upon both mine and Bill's shoulders. They said she was used to dogs and small children, and was very calm and laid back.

It was a bit of a bumpy start at first, Cayenne got far too excited by the new kitty and got a little too close for Esme's comfort, which resulted in a scratch upon the nose. But after a while with Cayenne and the leash and time to explore Esme decided upon a safe spot, and Cayenne got used to the idea that she didn't need to constantly inspect the new cat. I eventually put a blanket down in Esme's safe spot so she would have something soft to lie on.

Lunch time was quite interesting, at the Shelter they only feed dry food, so we didn't know what Esme would like, and hadn't actually bought any wet food yet. We fed Cayenne first, we decided to give her the 'special food' it's this all natural stuff that comes in a tube like sausage, she loves it, and we thought it would bee a good treat for today. She sucked it right down, so Bill pulled out a small can of Mighty Dog that we had, and as soon as he popped open the can Esme appeared on the counter! Apparently she used to get wet food at her old home, and the sound of the food can was enough to make her brave the dog and make an appearance! We let her eat her fill (about half the can, Cayenne finished the rest.) and then filled up her dishes with the dry food we had gotten for her. We'll leave the dry out for her all the time, and make sure to get some wet food tomorrow for lunch times.

Right now Bill is doing homework and Cayenne is curled up next to him, he just reported that Esme is napping and purring happily.

Yesterday was not a good day

(I know this isn't want you were expecting after the last post, but I need to write about it.)

Wednesday my parent's called to tell my that Duchess was dying and that they would have to take her in on Saturday, So Bill and I made plans to go in and see her yesterday and say good bye.

Yesterday morning Mom called me, Duchess was very weak and unable to walk now, and had not eaten or drank anything since the morning before.

We left early and stopped by my parent's house to see her before going to finish our errands. When dad got home from work we all drove up to the animal hospital and said goodbye.

She had a good life and the vet said she was one of the oldest bassets he's ever seen, 13 years old.
She survived a tumor on her spleen which later ruptured, and lasted two more years until Lymphatic leukemia took hold.

Good bye my duchie girl, you were a good dog, and one of the coolest Bassets I ever knew.
We'll all miss you.

Shameless plug for DeFeet

The other day I posted pictures of my pet's feet because La, of JenLa is having a contest for the cutest DeFeet

And I made it to the first round!

And this is where I shamelessly ask you all to please go and Vote for my menagerie because well... they are the cutest!

the paws have it

La of JenLa asked for paw pics.
And loving my critters so, I couldn't resist!

My baby, Boogs:




My prissy pawed American Eskimoe, Cayenne:


Jake and Kate, the amazing polydactyls!






Rustifer Jones (aka Rusty):





Basset paws!!
First up is Duchess, and next is Sam. Floyd doesn't like having his paws photographed.





And in memory of my Frisky, who died several years ago, but I still have paw pictures:

Saturday Sky

Today while we had Cayenne out for her afternoon romp we decided to walk down to the river to see what we could see.

All that white? That's the mighty St Lawrence. Frozen.
Those brown splotches in the foreground and the pole in the middle of the picture are the docks.

I was actually standing on the water when I took this picture.
Gotta love winter in the North Country!



Saturday Sky, taken February 24, 2007 at 12:45pm

Don't believe I was really standing on the water? Here's a picture of Bill and Cayenne out on the river too:

that's the dock next to them, Bill is getting ready to slide across that patch of exposed ice next to him.

ho ho ho

I hope everyone had a good Christmas/Yule/Solstice/Hanukah/Kwanza/Festivus/whatever.

Just a few pictures from my holiday:

the sky on the way down to my parent's house was beautiful, I don't this picture does it justice, especially as I had to take it out of a moving car's window.

While setting the table for dinner, my grandmother's cat, Rusty tried to get in on the act. I think he was disappointed, no food yet.

home this morning, Cayenne cuddling/shredding her new friend.

chocolate cake truffles that I gave out for Christmas, the top ones are Kahlua with powdered cocoa coating, middle was Baileys with powdered sugar, and the bottom was Kirsch.

and for knitting content!

Some little knitted gifts I gave:

Perdita for my cousin, she loved it! (it's unfinished in this picture, because I had to wait until I could measure it on her wrist before putting on the loops to fasten it with.)

The mitered square heart sachet(pdf)

This was quite fun to knit, and my grandmother loved it! I stuffed it with lavender, and she kept picking it up and sniffing it throughout the present opening.

I enjoyed making the sachet so much, I wanted to try making it in this neat worsted wool I had too, so I set down to fiddle with the pattern and came up with this:

my soon to be mother in law loved it.

and then a gift for myself, I wasn't sure I liked the way the ridges worked on the fist version, so I tried on with just stockinet.

I'm still not sure which way I like better. Ah well.