FOs* MO FOS!

Oh, fellow knitting bitches, I've got some fos* to show you.

First up, Mandarin Moonlight. You will recall the following from previous posts.

Many of you may recognize this as a scarf modeled on the pattern entitled Midwest Moonlight [from Pam Allen's Scarf Style]. My scarf is called Mandarin Moonlight because it is being knit from Southwest Trading Company's Bamboo in firey red. This yarn is actually made from bamboo, which as you know is native to China and a healthy snack for pandas. Also the Chinese are totally red communists. The name change seems inevitable when these facts are considered. I'm sure you all agree.

Here are some photos of the finished scarf being modeled by Macy, the official spokes dog of the Totally Knitting Universe.







This was a lot of fun to knit and I really enjoyed working with the Bamboo. I bought more bamboo, this time in electric blue, but haven't yet decided how to use it. The scarf became a gift to a dear friend who moved away. Of course, I had the distinct impression that if I hadn't graciously gifted it, said friend would have stolen it. Had I not continually reassured her that the scarf would be hers I'm certain she would have mugged me for it in a dark alley.

Next up, a baby blanket I made for my soon to be born nephew, Xander. I call it the Stained Glass Sampler. It is also being modeled by Macy, the official spokes dog of the Totally Knitting Universe.







This blanket is based on a sampler found in Vogue Knitting On The Go's Baby Blankets II. The design has the blanket done in a single color, but I wanted something more vibrant. This was knit in Lion Brand Baby Soft, because expensive fibers should never get so close to spitup. It features a lace border and I'm very proud of myself for enduring all the crochet necessary for the seaming.

I effin' crocheted that bad boy together!

Currently OTN** Building Blocks Baby Blanket (again for Xander) from Vogue Knitting on the Go's Baby Blankets.

Stockinette Starters from Knit Socks! in Lion Brand Magic Stripes, denim color way. Hella cool.

*Finished objects

**On the needles

Peth Tagged Us

I am only doing this because Peth tagged us. And she is sexy so I do what she says.

1. Go into your archive.
2. Find your 23rd post (or closest to).
3. Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
5. Tag five people to do the same.

The article is not technically about us, but we are none the less featured extensively.

Totally referring to our New Yorker announcement.

I tag anyone reading this.

Possum Yarn?

Possum Yarn?

I find possums creepy. They have rat-like tails. And are not even cuddly-looking. There are some in my neighborhood and one time I saw one sitting in my neighbor's window bars, right next to his front door. If I walked out of my door and saw a Possum sitting in my window bars I would scream very loudly. I vow to you that even if I am eccentric enough to seriously consider adopting 2 chickens as pets, I would never ever knit with Possum yarn.

*********

As there are a few babies being birthed into my life, and last summer after giving birth to her second child, Ava, my GF* Haywood's sister in law told me they don't really need clothes for their kids but they always need bibs. Since babies vomit and drool a lot, I can see how that is true. I imagine it's sort of like how when you have to do your laundry at a laundromat, you have to have a lot of underwear to meet the demand.

Since I enjoy the Knitting and since I discovered how incredibly long it takes to knit a baby blanket, I thought that knitting bibs would be a good idea for making fast and easy gifts for friends. Cotton yarn is totally cheap, too. I got a pattern online for a basketweave baby bib, made it fast but was unhappy with how they had the strap designed (crochet, ugh) so I modified it a bit for my own means. I have since embarked on a journey to create a fabulous and well-designed line of punk rock baby bibs.

While I'm working out the kinks, though, Ava will be the recipient and test subject of these bibs. Her parents were delighted with my first attempt, pictured below.

Ava (13 months old) with my GF modeling the finished product.

Close up of design.

I didn't plan this out well enough because I was trying to figure out how big to make it, get the row and stitch dimensions, etc... And since I don't belive in frogging or starting over or whatever on something where the yarn cost $1.50, I just kept going and learned for next time to make the chart bigger and not to screw up the spacing between letters or whatever. But the straps rule and that's what I was really trying to work out. Haywood offered "constructive" criticism, that I might just use a longer piece of the fuzzy part of the velcro (I sewed on velcro to attach it) and that way the size is adjustable and can grow with the baby.

I think this is a good first attempt and will, of course, continue to update with my progress.

*GirlFriend