Yesterday the knitting trade winds blew through my brain.
The sails flapped and unfurled, the waters rippled, and we left the hats behind for the time being.
Each month a member of our knitting guild presents us with a 'challenge'. The fish hat I made not long ago was just such a knit-a-long. This month it's something called 'Mrs. Beeton'.
I admit to you right now that I am intimidated by knitting patterns. They seem very overwhelming to me. I read them over and over before I start, and now even do research on Ravelry.com to understand what it is I'm getting into before I ever knit a stitch. I hang out with knitters who possess some truly awesome skills and I gotta tell you, I often feel like the most wretched sort of underachiever.
Anyway, yesterday I picked up my needles and cast off.... [nautical reference intact, knitting reference muddled] on the Mrs. Beeton's.
I was deep into the pattern counting out loud and negotiating my way through some lace weight yarn that I usually avoid like the plague, when I became vaguely aware that Fiona and the two dogs were milling around the open slider. I was completely absorbed with making sure I had my stitch counts right, and I'm sure I must have even had my tongue sticking out in concentration. Finally however the milling around got too pronounced and I glanced up to see what was going on over there.
I saw Sunny and Ben sniffing at a small pile of something on the rug. Now with my reading glasses on, I couldn't tell what it was and my hands were full of lace weight knitting on tiny needles so I finished the row and gently laid it down and took off my glasses to see clearly across the room.
My first thought was .... Oh rats, one of the dogs threw up on the rug..... how did I miss THAT sitting just a few feet way? But as I walked closer I discovered an entire drama had played itself out right under my nose [almost].
There was Fiona, showing off her trophy.
Now for the record I want points, kudos, and perhaps chocolates in the mail because I went and got the camera first....
before dealing with this....
[album 65561 Fiona Snake.JPG]
because I wanted you to share in Fiona's proud moment.
Clever girl our Fiona.
I was sure that it was still alive and was afraid to disturb the rug thinking we would end up doing the snake chase dance through the house, so I got a saucepan and lid and scooped him up and took him to the ivy patch. Though when I dumped him out, it was clear that he was a gonner.
Fiona had dispatched him. Most likely right there on the rug while I was on row 7 of the Mrs. Beeton.
Oh the humanity.
I wonder what else goes on around here that I miss while knitting with a pattern perched on my knee and my tongue sticking out?
Oh, the Mrs. Beetons?
Here is the first of the pair close up:
[album 65561 Beeton Close.JPG]
This is how they are supposed to be worn:
[album 65561 Viola Beeton.JPG]
Funny, to be knitting such a foo foo little item while the wildlife sanctuary is spilling onto my living room floor.
It's a zoo around here.
Today I have started the second of the pair. I think while I'm knitting it, I will keep the sliding door closed..... just for insurance purposes.
(If it's like this with her living in the suburbs, can you IMAGINE what she would attract if we lived in the country? Gives me the willies just thinking about it.)
The sails flapped and unfurled, the waters rippled, and we left the hats behind for the time being.
Each month a member of our knitting guild presents us with a 'challenge'. The fish hat I made not long ago was just such a knit-a-long. This month it's something called 'Mrs. Beeton'.
I admit to you right now that I am intimidated by knitting patterns. They seem very overwhelming to me. I read them over and over before I start, and now even do research on Ravelry.com to understand what it is I'm getting into before I ever knit a stitch. I hang out with knitters who possess some truly awesome skills and I gotta tell you, I often feel like the most wretched sort of underachiever.
Anyway, yesterday I picked up my needles and cast off.... [nautical reference intact, knitting reference muddled] on the Mrs. Beeton's.
I was deep into the pattern counting out loud and negotiating my way through some lace weight yarn that I usually avoid like the plague, when I became vaguely aware that Fiona and the two dogs were milling around the open slider. I was completely absorbed with making sure I had my stitch counts right, and I'm sure I must have even had my tongue sticking out in concentration. Finally however the milling around got too pronounced and I glanced up to see what was going on over there.
I saw Sunny and Ben sniffing at a small pile of something on the rug. Now with my reading glasses on, I couldn't tell what it was and my hands were full of lace weight knitting on tiny needles so I finished the row and gently laid it down and took off my glasses to see clearly across the room.
My first thought was .... Oh rats, one of the dogs threw up on the rug..... how did I miss THAT sitting just a few feet way? But as I walked closer I discovered an entire drama had played itself out right under my nose [almost].
There was Fiona, showing off her trophy.
Now for the record I want points, kudos, and perhaps chocolates in the mail because I went and got the camera first....
before dealing with this....
[album 65561 Fiona Snake.JPG]
because I wanted you to share in Fiona's proud moment.
Clever girl our Fiona.
I was sure that it was still alive and was afraid to disturb the rug thinking we would end up doing the snake chase dance through the house, so I got a saucepan and lid and scooped him up and took him to the ivy patch. Though when I dumped him out, it was clear that he was a gonner.
Fiona had dispatched him. Most likely right there on the rug while I was on row 7 of the Mrs. Beeton.
Oh the humanity.
I wonder what else goes on around here that I miss while knitting with a pattern perched on my knee and my tongue sticking out?
Oh, the Mrs. Beetons?
Here is the first of the pair close up:
[album 65561 Beeton Close.JPG]
This is how they are supposed to be worn:
[album 65561 Viola Beeton.JPG]
Funny, to be knitting such a foo foo little item while the wildlife sanctuary is spilling onto my living room floor.
It's a zoo around here.
Today I have started the second of the pair. I think while I'm knitting it, I will keep the sliding door closed..... just for insurance purposes.
(If it's like this with her living in the suburbs, can you IMAGINE what she would attract if we lived in the country? Gives me the willies just thinking about it.)