Happy frogging to you

Dang but it feels good to frog a project that is not offering any enjoyment whatsoever. I had been working on the Lotus socks from Red Bird Knits a bit at a time over the last few months and for some reason it was not working for me. I had turned the heel and was starting on the gusset when I decided that I simply was not enjoying the lace pattern. And the memory of working on this thing while waiting for my nine-year-old to come out of the OR did not bestow any positive vibes either. So they're toast. The yarn is luscious (Lana Grossa Seta/Cashmere) and will serve me very well in a future project, ideally one that does not carry any hospital associations.

Pictures of the Wallaby will be along eventually. Lame as this sounds, I swear it is the truth: the batteries in my camera are dead. I laundered the Wallaby this week, once I was finally able to peel it off the daughter, with only mildly upsetting results. It was knit in Knit Picks Main Line (cotton/merino) and I very cockily put it in the washer on delicate. It came out of the washer stretched all the way to hell and back and looking a little fuzzy, but it seems to be regaining its shape and most of the fuzz appears to be loose lint rather than pills. Whew. While suffering machine washing remorse I rhetorically asked the daughter whatever we would do if the thing did not recover. And she answered, bless her, "I'd just wear it anyway."

Gymnastics meet tomorrow. I'm going to be working on my Boring-As-All-Get-Out Dishcloth Pattern Baby Blanket for Charity (hereinafter known as the BAAGODPBBFC - or maybe not).

Day 2. The daughter still has not taken off the Wallaby. Obviously I'm going to have to photograph it on her.

The older daughter's Wallaby is done. I will get a picture of it eventually, but at the moment she is wearing it with pajama bottoms while doing housework. I am trying to control my horror as this is probably evidence that she likes it. And that is more important than the fact that she's going to butcher the bloody thing before I even get my camera out. Deep breath.

I could make a long list of its imperfections (like screwed-up Kitchenering on the garter rim of the hood, sickeningly obvious joins of new yarn, one wonky stitch in the placket...) but I won't. They'll just be my little secrets.

The best news: it fits me too. If I don't get to steal hers, at least I know what size to make my own.

A positive stash experience

I have oft grumbled that the majority of my so-called stash is crap. I have boxes full of leftover odd balls, freebies and crappy acrylic whose origin has faded into the mists of time. There are a few balls that belonged to my late mother and grandmother, and everybody knows that you can't just chuck out family heirlooms like Eaton's Sayelle, right? And a full ball of anything with an intact label has automatic immortality.

I do realize that I have a problem.

Well, yesterday I was in Michael's with the young one (and may I say it was a most uninspiring yarn experience) to find her some craft supplies. I picked up a free leaflet about making critters out of yarn, felt and googley eyes. And I am ecstatic to report that I had in the aforementioned Stash O'Crap the two very exact balls of yarn that the projects required (Bernat boucle and that godawful Disco). I mean, I even had the colours pictured. See, there's a reason I keep all this junk around.

If there was any hope that I would ever purge this stuff it has now been squashed like a bug.

Oh yeah, I edit this to add that the Wallaby is still creeping along. I have started the neck opening and am attempting to de-glitch the placket by changing the knits to purls on one side of the garter stitch border. If I understand the directions correctly you can get away with this if you're doing a stockinette hood. Which I am. So it's all good, I hope.

announcement of revision of goal

OK, I said I was going to join both sleeves to the body of the Wallaby before the snow stops, but that was before we managed to acquire a Wii. I have started the second sleeve nevertheless and am now forced to adjust my goal. I will get to the top of the cuff increases before the snow stops, and I will play some Wii with my darlings. Just because I'm a good mom, don't ya know.

Another snowstorm. Whodathunkit?

Apparently it isn't enough to have snow piled so high on both sides of the driveway that one has to back out blind. No, we're expecting another foot or so over the next 48 hours for good measure. Just to make sure that we still won't be able to see to the corner by August, I guess.

I am trying to see this as a Golden Knitting Opportunity. Once I've delivered the older daughter to the gym at 4:00 I will not be required to leave the house until Sunday. The husband, fortunately, does not mind driving in this ridiculous weather and has agreed to be the designated driver until the storm is over. So I intend to cocoon, knit the sleeves of the Wallaby and get them joined to the body before the snow stops.

I seem to have returned from the gymnastics road trip without my Chibi case that contained not only its original contents but all my favourite yarn needles. I had to run out to Wally World this morning when I felt the urge to weave in some ends. That urge doesn't hit very often and must be obeyed when it drops by. I hope the fact that I replaced some of the needles will ensure that the Chibi shows up within the next day or two. But it's most likely in Montreal somewhere.