Two in a week?

Things must be finally getting back to normal here at Chez Susan, since I am managing to type my second blog post in a week, and there's knitting to report.  Can you believe it??  I can't!  No spinning yet, but we're working on it!

I think, except for a few minor details, my Christmas shopping is done.  Tyson and I went out and bought gifts today for our friends kids, and of course went nuts on them.  Toy shopping is waaaaay too much fun.  And they're getting so cheap!  I swear toys were more expensive when I was a kid.  I have to say, there are some out there that scare me, like the Bratz toys.  I cannot imagine buying these for my child.  I sure as heck don't want a daughter emulating these dolls.  Barbie may have an unrealistic figure, but at lease she dresses tastefully.  and I don't want any kid thinking being a Bratz is a good idea.  I sorta feel like my parents saying stuff like this, but yeesh...  These dolls are tasteless. 

On the way to gift shopping and job site drive bys, we happened to pass A Stitch in Time in Bellflower.  I just almost jokingly casually mentioned we could stop there and take care of my stocking stuffers since Tyson never knows what to get to put in it and he said OK.  Are you kidding!  Whaooo!!!!  He told me to just put things I liked in a basket and he'd pull out some he liked.  Well, I pulled out an awful lot of yarn and three Fiber Trends patterns and he didn't put any back.  I'll show off the haul on Christmas, he hid it until then.  I swear, I have the World's Greatest Husband.  I gotta find one of those mugs....

Well, on to to the knitting...

  Why, is this an almost finished OSW??  Sorta.  I need to rip out and redo the picked up stitches for the body facing, as it's way to tight.  It might just be the cast off too.  The one done sleeve is perfect, though.  That at least fits nice.  I'm doing this a little bass-ackward as I am almost out of yarn.  Yep, this is now the 4SW.  That's me folks, can't possibly do a pattern with the right gauge yarn and stuff... Gotta mix it up and keep it real.

And then there's Let it Snow!  The lining is done and we have color!

   Yay two color knitting!! I can see why being able to knit both ways is a plus here, grape on the right, chartreuse on the left, pick one, throw the other.  Super easy!  Why, oh, why has it taken me so long to knit my first stranded item?  Speaking of strands, here are mine:  Not so bad for a beginner!!!  They're a little loose, but I'm afraid to pull them too tight.  What's the longest I should float?  I have a couple that are five stitches, and they seem OK.  I think I see a new addiction here.... 

Comments

[Caroline in NH]

Two-handed knitting is great for stranded knits! I go over five stitches; more than that and I weave in the floating color. I shoot for weaving it in through the middle. If I have, say, a 7 stitch float, I'll hold the floating color up over the needle for the 3rd or 4th stitch, and down for the next stitch. And I actually keep the knitting spaced apart - without actually stretching - at least in the part that I'm currently knitting. For stranded knitting, a little loose is good.

[Amy]

Yay! I get so excited when there is something to read...Sorry I am clueless re:the knitting, but the other updates always make me smile! Hugs.

[spaazlicious]

And the Bratz Dawgs in a bag really make me want to rip someone's head off. Dogs as a fashion accessory? Great, start the little kids believing in the disposable nature of others ASAP, a generation of Paris Hiltonesque sociopaths. Grrrr...