Booya, Baby!

I got your sock...




and the foot of the other sock, too!




Deadline (cue "Mission Impossible" tune): Sunday evening, 10 pm CST.

What Is This "Knitting" and "Socks" You Speak Of?

This blog post of sock knitting distraction is brought you by Tank.

Tank who is trying to teach me a lesson: when I am not actively paying adoring tribute with snacks, she commandeers my favorite leather chair, and falls asleep on it.

Nearly to the detriment of her health this time as she damn near fell off of it as she began to fall asleep again, which caused me to laugh, and completely negated any lesson that she hoped would be foisted upon me. This led to her absolute ignoring of me, in the living room on the comfy leather couch, until treats were brought out later.









Are you paying attention? Are you not regretful for your utter lack of appropriate adoration of me?



This teaching is hard work.



A wee nap won't hurt anything...

I was laughing too much to take a photo of the girl sliding off the chair, then she left in huff.

Faux Mousse/Pudding

No knitting, just deliciousness in the form of food.

Due to lactose sensitivity, I've had to give up cow milk in most of its form. I miss cheese, real whipping cream, cheesecake, frozen custard. I especially miss pudding. My ultimate comfort food. And mousse...silky, dark chocolate, blow your hair off your head rich mousse.

I finally found a good substitute. Tofu Chocolate Mousse. Stop making that face. It's *excellent* for pudding and mousse!

This is what I started out with:







And the recipe I used is a bit altered from the original recipe:

Five-Minute Chocolate Mousse
(serves one)

4 oz Mori-Nu Silken Tofu Lite - firm (about 1/3 of the package)
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
1 tablespoon dutch-processed cocoa powder
tiny dash salt
up to 2 tablespoon Silk Soy Milk Chocolate
1 tablespoon sugar (sugar alternatives: stevia, agave, etc. to taste)

Procedure: Blend until smooth.

And this is what I ended up with:



It was smooth, silky, rich chocolate taste that was incredibly like pudding in mouth feel!

Suggestions to the above recipe: use Soy Almond Milk Dark Chocolate. If you want more of a mousse texture, use only 2 teaspoons of soy/almond milk.

And I have to say that I'm pleased with this Cuisinart CSB-76 SmartStick 200-Watt Immersion Hand Blender that I bought to replace the Braun that died a few years ago.





Now, off to finishing knitting sock #1 of the pair I need to complete in four days. Ha!

Holy Crap.

So this is how she whips through projects so quickly. My hands, wrists, and shoulders just *ache* watching this video.

Lever Knitting - Yarn Harlot

The Final FO List: 2011

Damn - this is a lot of knitting. All of them can be found on my Ravelry project page.

January 1 - Alligator Scarf
January 5 - Damn Socks
January 7 - Fingerless Mitts
January 29 - Bloody Damn Socks

February 2 - Boring Old Garter scarf
February 9 - Reknit of fingerless mitts
February 20 - Savanah's Tulips Baby Cardigan

March 2 - Cambridge Watch Cap
March 15 - Alexa's Saartje Booties
March 19 - Alexa's Tulips cardigan
March 30 - Baby Sun Hat

May 1 - June Baby Baby Sun Hat
May 22 - Baby carrier blanket

June 4 - Iris the Gourmet Monster

August 13 - Alyeska socks

September 10 - Kimono Baby Sweater

October 17 - Comfort Scarf
October 29 - Not Woven Fingerless Mitts

November 13 - Nora's Kimono Cardigan
November 25 - Notwoven Mitts Cashmere version
November 26 - Dragon Scales Earwrap
November 27 - Enzo Gnome Hat
November 29 - Dragon Scales Earwrap II

December 10 - Damn Pink Scarf
December 27 - Mallory's Kimono Sweater

FO #3: Thankful Gift

I finished another scarf for a friend who saved me from the torment of IRS "love letters." She deserves the baby alpaca and silk:







* * * *
The down and dirty details:

Yarn(s): Plymouth Baby Alpaca Worsted and Plymouth Mulberry Merino

Pattern: peppermint stick stripes scarf

Purchased: Knit and Knot Yarn Boutique

Needles: size 9 US

Time: for me - 8 hours; for most knitters, 3-4 hours

* * * *

Now excuse me, I've a pair of socks to finish in eight days.

Tank

All Tank, No Knitting - if you're here for knitting today or even a bit of rogue crocheting action, you'll be disappointed.

I actually had my camera on hand when Tank decided to play around two nights ago.

Her idea of playing, besides running around doing the Basset 500 in the apartment, is “I am biting your bed.” I have no idea why she does this, but it started about 9-10 months ago. Tank doesn’t rip it or tug it, just really bites down on the comforter through the protective (old) bed sheet. She sticks her face under a blanket or pillow, bites at the bed then begins to bark - loudly.


Chomp! Chomp! Chomp!
Bark! Bark! Bark!


After she's worn herself out doing this game, then it's time to roll around on her back, grunting loudly. When Tank finishes this action, she lies on her side, sighing at me until I pet her.


Rub the belly. Now.

And it's Tank's habit to be in the same room I am in, at all times. If she's kept out for any reason, she will whine at a level that will make you want to tear your ears out of of your head. Ask me how I know... I spend quite a bit of time in my studio, working on binding books/journals, knitting or sorting through knitting projects, studying and writing papers. I bought a bed for her to sleep in since the floor can be drafty during the late fall/winter/early spring seasons. The girl likes her pillows:


Being undeniably adorable is taxing work. I need my beauty naps.


In fact, the girl loves *my* pillows, too. Even a pillow I use for my back support that happens to be half-hanging off a couch.


If you would lay it on my bed, I wouldn't have to jack my neck around like this, you know.

Yeah, little wonder I'm stupid with dog love for the Tank.

Just Because...

Last week, someone I know sent herself flowers. I think she said something along the lines about a girl has to look after herself. I couldn't agree more!

I sent myself yarn.

I knew from reading my history in the browser that I had been hitting Jimmy Beans Wool site quite a bit. And specifically spending large amounts of time on the Malabrigo Worsted section. I knew I would be pleased when Malabrigo would arrive:




Oh! I was so thrilled I had been so thoughtful to get the yarn I've been lusting after the most, well, at least in the past six months (Oceanos, worsted weight).

Okay, all kidding aside, I also really wanted some yarn to go with the Malabrigo Mitts of Utter Comfort and Happiness:




The cuffs are too short to guard against drafts up a coat sleeve. Even Pooh knows those cuffs are too minimal:




They're going to look great with reverse stockinette stitch cuffs!

Hot-cha!

It was an amazingly fine Wednesday given the way it had started out. At lunch I had to take care of a few things, so a friend and I got carry out from Red Ginger (the Maki Rolls are wonderful!), and sushi always makes me feel better.

While waiting to pick up the food, I managed to purchase two 1/2 price coupons for Knit and Knot (a total of $50 for $25).

But wait, there's more!

The Yarn Harlot published the hotly awaited pattern for her Cloisonné mittens I've been lusting after ever since she began her experimental knitting of them.




Then it was the SnB for a knit night at Knit and Knot: A Yarn Boutique! (Thanks again, Joy - we had a GREAT time!)

And these are the yarns I purchased for the two pairs of mittens I plan to do for myself sometime after I get the shark mittens and fish hats done...










Meanwhile, back at the ranch:





I'm cooking along on the beautiful side-to-side scarf. It's so soft (alpaca, silk, merino) and so pretty (blue!), it's going to be hard to let it go to my friend. However, she deserves the love for all the good she's done for me.

I'm almost at the 50% point now. I love the stripes:

FO #2: Friend's Knitted Scarf

I've begun a new course, Psychopathology and Counseling, which is a fascinating course but I'm going to have be on top of all the reading for it...and watch the lecture videos this time around. Hey, if you had seen the research video, you would have totally fallen asleep, too. And never watched another one.

I'm also at a point with this obsessive hobby that I can't watch something without knitting in hand. I wanted something while watching the psychopathology lecture videos, but interesting enough I wouldn't be starting a UFO pile with it by next week.

Enter the textured stripes scarf:












* * * *
The down and dirty details:

Yarn(s): Plymouth Baby Alpaca Worsted (doubled)

Pattern: textured stripes scarf

Purchased: Knit and Knot Yarn Boutique

Needles: size 9 US

Time: for me - 8 hours; for most knitters, 3 hours

* * * *

Two finished objects in three weeks, whew! I'm getting faster!




Time to get working on another scarf for a friend:





Meanwhile, Tank weighs in on the photo session:


Eh. Wool. Alpaca. Silk. I'm more interested in that cup you had hot chocolate in up there on the shelf...any left?

"Or it could be, something special, just for me!"

I survived the wretched Research Design and Methods course prior and following the holidays. Not only did I survive it, I managed to keep a 4.0 in the damn thing. Time to celebrate!

I got a new knitting bag.

I came home this afternoon to a package waiting for me.

I immediately began to hum and then sing:






Y'all knew I was a dork. You just didn't know how big of a dork I am...

And in the package?

















And this wee bag was a bonus that I hadn't ordered or expected, but a thank you gift! I put my small hand lotion and lip balm in it to keep in my big bag:




It's a kick ass knitting bag!

Approximate Measurements:
17 1/2" wide at the top
14" wide at the bottom
15" tall
4 1/2 " deep
22" handle with an 11" drop
It reverses to a Lime green and black dot fabric.
-MaddyMaze Studio

FO #1: Friend's Crocheted Scarf

This was a whim. I needed a break from heel-turning frustration. So I crocheted this in about two days. The color doesn't photograph well, it's a sage green.








* * * *
The down and dirty details:

Yarn(s): Plymouth Baby Alpaca Worsted

Pattern: off the back of a Lion's Brand yarn label

Purchased: Knit and Knot Yarn Boutique

Needles: Size I hook

Time: for me - 12 hours; for most crocheters, 6 hours

* * * *