A bunch of little things and a few big things…

I’ve been making a lot of little things – baby things – and spinning for a hat I saw on Google Images that I had to make.

After I finished my Brandywine shawl (which was praised a couple of times), I started with the wee things.

Both the same.  Colors are inverted.

Not a great photo… but my second ever crochet project from a pattern.  I was pretty proud of this little thing.

Oh, my “wee” things were interrupted by the blue cowl.  Made with my handspun.  Yay!

See how one blue is plied on itself and the other is plied with black silk thread?  Pretty cool ha?  I was experimenting.  I was disappointed when you couldn’t really see the difference in the finished product.

Oh, and our guild is having a Christmas party at the beginning of December.  We have a gift exchange.  Last year, the theme was hats.  This year, the theme is hand coverings.  I’ve been wanting to make the Ribbed Hand Warmers from Purl Soho.  What a perfect way to scratch something off the list!

I also made a tuque for my neighbor, Terry.  All summer, Terry has been mowing my ditch.  For no reason.  He’s retired and spends his days puttering outside.  What better gift then a woolly thing to keep his melon warm!

I must confess: this is an old picture from the tuque I made last year for my friend Michel.  The one I made for Terry was the same.  I forgot to get a new photo.  Bad Mylène.

Yesterday, while I was vacuuming, he came to my door to thank me for his hat.  Some people are genuinely nice.  Why does that surprise me sometimes?

Behold (pun intended) another wee thing.  I’m making these little things for a local photographer.  Soon you’ll probably see a few of my hand knits on her baby photos.  Youpi!  I’m going to be famous!  NOT.  Hahaha.

I finally finished my green Monkey socks.  I haven’t photographed them yet.  Perhaps in my next blog post… in a month (oops!).

There’s a story behind this yarn.  I spun it black and white.  I found the contrast too stark.  I decided to dye the white a little grey.  I didn’t remember that food dye doesn’t really come out the actual color of the dye.  So, my little bit of black turned out a little bit of purple/red.  I tried to overdye with some brown.  No worky.  So, I ended up with a lot of this:

Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with this wool.  It’s just not what I wanted.

I started over with an actual gray and more black.  Turned out great.  I also spun up a few other colors and added some of the blue from my cowl.

I chose not to keep the nipple at the top.

I will attempt a better photo soon.

Then I had to make yet another pair of baby mittens for Callah.  Either I have no concept baby sizes or that kid has giant hands.  I made her two pair already and they were both too small.  So I made these rather big – they might fit a 5-year-old.

I’m finished with baby mittens!  No more.  I told Dad (Austin) that I would make the kid a snowsuite before I made her another pair of mittens!  He thought that was very funny.

Last night, I started an extremely boring pair of grey ribbed socks for Brian – another guy from work.  I swear that earlier, I started to wonder if I could knit my own eyelashes.  That’s how boring these socks are.  I need color people!!!

So, I think that’s it for the knitting stuff.

A couple of big things have happened in the last few weeks.  I won’t bore you guys with the details.  I lost my balance (figuratively) and my perspective.  Some old feelings I hadn’t dealt with came up and bit me square in the ass!  But, all is well.  Nothing a few days at home and some travel mags can’t cure in a pinch.  Balance restored!

Michelle visited with the family.  I always love spending time with them and all their pets.

Ultimately, family and great friends stood by me, held my hand (figuratively and literally) let me cry and said all the right things.  People amaze me sometimes.  I love it.

Oh, and I’m planning another tattoo.  Actually, two of them.  One for next week and one for later – the big one.  Requires planning.

Ciao all and see you soon (I hope).