I Once Was Lost, But Now Am Found

Tucked away in a jacket pocket, was the wandering Broad Street Mitten I had completed for my law clerk.  Horray!  It's now happily residing in its bag with its mate in progress.  I'm almost ready to start the fingers.  I feel so much better now.

The Mitten Monster

If you look back a few posts, you will see a mediocre picture of the Broad Street Mittens I am knitting for my law clerk for a holiday gift (now overdue). There is proof, via my IPhone that the first mitten was completed and does exist. I CAN'T FIND IT NOW.

The second one is mostly complete and I cannot find the first one. I have tried every active knitting project bag. When I was a kid, my mother would say: "Put it someplace safe, so you don't loose it." Well, wherever I put this mitten, it is very safe -- I cannot find it. The good news is I have enough yarn to knit another one, but that's not the point. The other one was COMPLETE. DONE. FINISHED. ENDS WOVEN IN.

It's gone.

In other news, Christmas with the family was wonderful. We are blessed to have a wonderful family we are related to by blood and a second family we have made of dear friends who truly make us remember how loved we are.

I'm going back to tearing apart the house now to find the mitten.

Happy Boxing Day!

Teacher Gifts Completed

Just under the wire. No photos, but five of my version of Calorimetry were handed out to teachers between yesterday and today. What I really had to laugh about was this article about Sock Wars which was in Monday's Wall Street Journal. Think Assassins with size 0 dpns. First day back in the office after the knee arthroscope, which went great. Now, back to work.

Five Done

All five Calorimetry headbands are done. I can't get a good picture -- they are in navy wool.  Now I need buttons to finish them off and get them to the appropriate teachers next week.  Now I need to finish a second Broad Street Mitten by the end of the week.  May the knitting forces be with me.

Finally!

Got the gauge right on my version of Calorimetry. Now, I need buttons. Thankfully, I wrote down the changes I made so I remember. Will cast on the next one tonight. One down, three to go by December 19. I think I can do it. Will post a victory photo later.

The Gague Goddess and the Frog Pond

OK. I was stupid. I admit it. The last attempt at the Calorimetry went to the Frog Pond because it was smaller than the first one, but still too big for any human head I have seen. Last night, I broke down, did the unthinkable and knit a swatch. I am bound and determined to use the yarn I have, so I then sat down and did some math.

There. I said it. I knit a swatch and did knitting math both in one night. Is there ice in h*ll? That said, I'm almost done with the third attempt. My version of Calorimetry, involves size 6 (US) needles and casting on 100 stitches. Then I followed the pattern as stated until I had 30 stitches behind the markers and 40 in the middle. Then started the increasing as in the pattern. I'm about two rows from done and it actually looks like it might work this time. I'll try for a photo later today if I get it done, if not tomorrow.

It's knitting up fast and I should get them done for Christmas.

On another note, the hounds are in the proverbial dog house. Came home the other day and somehow, one of them had pulled my beautiful wood swift out of its box behind the couch and gnawed it to death. My swift is beyond repair. I'm in mourning. When that passes, I'll buy a new swift. No cookies for the hounds this week.

Gauge is a Fickle Mistress

So, I decided to do Caliometry headbands for the teachers for the holidays this year. (Since the kids are at a Catholic school, I guess I can say Christmas without offending anyone.) I'm using this great handspun Shetland (I think) yarn my SIL gave me for Christmas last year from someone she knows who has sheep. So I follow the directions, cast on 120 on size 8s. A few hours later, I finish and the finished product is MAMMOTH. As is Shaquille O'Neal doesn't have a head big enough to wear this. OK, the gauge goddess is laughing at me, because I thought - I don't have to swatch this -- it's small. I'll know if its not coming out right. Slap me. The Harlot was right. Steph is very clear in Knitting Rules! that if you are cavalier or less than humble, the gauge goddess reaches down and slaps you upside the head.

So, I cast on again -- 120 stitches now on size 6 needles. We're looking closer, but again, I didn't swatch. Am I tempting fate? Maybe. But I will brave on. I have 17 days to get five of these done before school is out for Christmas.

Who wants to start the pool on whether I make it or wind up buying gift cards?

Linked by Casseroles

So, I'm tooling around other blogs yesterday and Nake-id Knits mentioned that a friend was going to have surgery. Leslie was looking for casserole recipes. Fan of 50s cooking that I am (water chestnuts wrapped in bacon, anyone?), after a few suggestions sent her off to the Cambpell's Soup web site for more uses of condensed soup than a sane person should know.

Side benefit of this bit of cooking trivia -- I've been linked! In a matter of two days, I've gotten a comment and a link. Whoa.

Thanks, Leslie. Feel free to come back any time.

On the knitting front, I've cast on the remaining Broad Street Mitten which will be a Christmas gift for someone in my office. I can mention that since she doesn't know I blog. The photos from my iphone don't do this yarn justice, but here is one completed mitten. This was my first attempt on something with fingers and I'm pleased. (It's not blocked -- be kind when you comment.)

Now an idea. My girls go to an aftercare program at their school. The aftercare ladies (who are wonderful) are outside with them on nice days, but that's still cold at this time of the year. Would knitting up quick Caliometry head warmers be a good idea?

I have a ton of really great hand spun Shetland wool from Maine (gift from my SIL last Xmas), that would be really warm. Any other ideas for something quick that can be knit four or five times between now and December 21? Thanks.

BTW - if you comment and leave an email address, or your Ravelry ID, I'll write back and "friend" you on Ravelry.

My first time!

I'm so excited.  This is my first post.  Now, if I can just figure out how to post my photos of what I've been working on, I'll be in good shape.  

A little about Chez Knithound.  You can find me on Ravelry by the same name - Knithound. Don't you just love Ravelry?  I'm trying not to be an addict.  I'm an attorney.  I love yarn.  I love my two daughters -- ages 8 and 4.  I love my wonderful husband who more than tolerates my fiber problem.  I love our two retired racing greyhounds, Mocha and Flirt.  Please consider adopting a retired racer -- they'll run right over your heart.  

From a knitting standpoint, I've been knitting hats, mittens, scarves and sleepy socks in this Classic Worsted colorway.  Generlly, I avoid wool/acrylic mixes, but when making winter wear for two girls who are hard on clothes and likely to loose items, I'd rather go with an easily washable wool/acrylic mix than go to the expense of a superwash which may be lost in a matter of days from first wearing.    I found four balls of it in a clearance bin at Ewe & I in Bryn Mawr, when shopping with Older Daughter at the end of October.  Since it is the colorway of our house (pink and purple -- all girls, all the time), it has become hats for Older Daughter and Younger Daughter, mittens for both, a scarf for both and sleepy socks for both.  (Sleepy socks is a term of art in our house -- they are the comfy socks one puts on before bed so as not to complain that mom has turned down the heat too much.  Generally worsted weight, generally knit from my generic sock pattern.)  

Of course, I'm working on the obligatory Christmas knitting.  Some Broad Street Mittens, some Fiber Trends felted clogs and a few other things.  Not much time left, though.  Should have started sooner.  

Hope to hear from folks.  I'm always looking for ideas and inspiration.