the LIST

I hesitate to say this, but I feel I have this real bipolar relationship with my knitting. Sometimes I have a gazillion projects I want to do or have started and sometimes, it takes all my energy to even think of one. But I hate calling it bi-polar because it seems like I'm making light of something that is actually very serious. And I do not wish to make light of it. At the same time it is a pattern I've noticed--either I feel all meh about knitting or sewing anything or I want to knit it ALL.

Lately, I've been in more of the down stage. I started working on my Estelle sweater to kind of move me out of it. And I've drudged along convinced that I may not be making the right size on Estelle and then suddenly it is finished. Except that the sleeves are a bit too long and the length is a bit shorter than I'd like. I did rip out the sleeves and need to re-knit the cuffs. I'll have to think about length because that would mean ripping out the 250 something stitch edging.

Then I realized that I needed to get going on teacher gifts and so I started a Fishtail lace scarf in shadow tonal (and I am coveting it). I knit on it all the time and while I feel like it is not growing at all, it seems to magically grow overnight. At last measure I have 41 inches.

I also realized in the middle of Estelle that I need to knit some sort of thing to carry around my ipod in and started a sock, but I really think I need a felted something.

Then I was asked to make a chemo cap for a middle schooler in pink/orange or something funky, and bought yarn.

But I still need another idea for a teacher gift for the classroom aide, who has been in the girls' classroom 3 of their 4 years in elementary school (So I have, in past years, made her a scarf and a necklace). Although she has a new winter coat since I made the scarf.

To top this off, I'm thinking that it would be especially nice to make some extra doll clothes for Christmas this year. And Joann's had patterns on sale for 1.99.

You will notice that there are no pictures accompanying this entry. This is because I am lazy. I have been so bad with photos this year that come mother's day when I go to make calendars for my mother in law, I will have NO pictures. And my kids are always my favorite subjects.

Nothing in this pile is finished, but I'm hoping that over the next few weeks, some of it will be and I will try really hard to photograph things in the next few weeks.

halloween

I've seen a lot this year about taking back halloween for girls. Basically calling for the end of the slutty costumes. I totally agree with this by the way and am horrified at the differences I see in boy and girl stuff generally (last year one of my girls had "boy boots" because only one style of "girl boots" were actually waterproof and they had one of that style in their size--and I have 2 girls the same size). But I thought oh my girls are eight, they won't have that much of a battle, if we stick to the pattern books like we usually do.

Well, thank you Simplicity for putting the adult costumes in with the kids costumes in the pattern book. One of my daughters saw this:


She thought the black swan was the creepiest thing she EVER saw and instantly asked if she could be that. After much discussion we agreed I'd buy this pattern:



And make it all black. This was deemed acceptably creepy.

My other daughter could not decide for a long time and then in the end decided to be this primarily because of the hair.




Actually these costumes didn't go together badly. The main problem I encountered was the sequined fabric for the rock star. It was hard to cut, gummed up my sewing needle and was impossible to press. The tu tu on the ballerina costume wasn't even sewn, it was merely tied on. So tulle is awkward and everything, but one afternoon had the whole thing done.

I think they turned out well.