Oh That Envy.

I'd recognize that look anywhere. The one that needs no words, no frown, no smile. Just silent observation.

I try to keep a clean car. This means promptly removing any of our trash and belongings right along with ourselves everyday. That's why when I find stuff that belongs to the kids, I throw it right in their faces. They know the deal, yet they repeatedly test me.

Well, when tossing back Lil Man's favorite pair of ski gloves, I caught this look in Teddy Bear's eyes like, WTH? Just silence while driving for about 3 minutes. Then before we could even make it to the intersection...

"Mommy!"
"Yes?"
"Can you make me some gloves?"
"Yes."

No more words, just a sharp look towards Lil Man's way as if to say, how dare you tease me with those cool things. Lil Man never even noticed that she noticed the gloves and didn't even catch on with the verbal interchange.

Do you think she would let me forget? Huh! The very next time she caught me on the computer, she made sure it was because I was looking for her a gloves pattern. Now see, the only thing I had to do besides find a simple pattern was to convince her that mittens were just as cool as gloves. I'm trying to knit my own pair of gloves and have yet to figure out how to close those little gusset holes at the base of each finger. I'm so frustrated. So, do you think I'd dare to start myself yet another challenge on an even tinier scale? Not yet. Soon though, ya'll know me.

"Nooooo, glllllooooveees."

As if I didn't hear her the first time. So, I had to pull rank.

"What color do you want them?"
"I want pink and yellow and white and purple and blue."

I initially had a little panic attack of the prospect of having to search for something in this bizarre colorway, but then noticed out the corner of my eye that she was eying my stash. She'd found some cheap sport weight acrylic that I'm sure I copped from Walmart umpteen years ago before I realised me and my yarn would be this close. Exxxxxxcellent.

Although it took me two tries to get it right (I was sleepy and rushing the first time), after the third mitten, I got a pretty cool pair of rainbow crazy, that'll do, "can you please knit faster?", "ha ha ha, yaaay", mittens.

And oh, big brother, you don't have to look at my green eyes anymore, but you do have look at these fabulous rainbow mittens that Mommy made for me and not you. "Ha Ha!"

Knitted on size 7 circulars I made the K1, P1 ribbing a half inch longer than recommended. The rest of the dimensions were just fine. Find the pattern here.

Flower Scarf

I want to make my own coat. I found a pattern that's supposed to be really easy, except I can't find a fabric I like.

I want a brown and light blue plaid. I think this is why I don't sew much. All that work and I want some fabrics that I want. I can't even find a border print for the dress I wanted to do. We just don't seem to have a big selection in stores in my area.

Anyway. I envision wearing a flower scarf with matching gloves with my coat whenever I get it done. Before fall ends I hope.

Here's what I have so far.


Everything was copesthetic when I first sat down to make this scarf. For a hot second I thought that I might make these as Christmas gifts because it takes so little yarn and time. Then I got to the flower.

Impossible to do on DPNs I say! I had to go to circulars for sure and since I don't have size 5's I had to use my size 4 Addi Turbos. Do you see the nasty kinks this flower put in the cord? Uh! And all the little finishing details after that are irking me for some reason. And because I had to go down a whole needle size, my flower shrunk.

Warning!: Do not start that flower while experiencing PMS. I still have to crochet around the edge of the flower and will be using those long tails you see to do that. The pattern keeps saying to cut these 36" tails. Wayyyyyy too long in most cases and the length of the tails just added to my frustration. I could have just used one ball (110 yds) if it wasn't for those too long tails.

Otherwise, the project still went quickly because it was so small. It was actually a diversion from my Cloud Cardi whose modified sleeves are challenging me.

Pattern: Flower Scarf
Yarn: Queensland Bebe Cotsoy 50% Cotton 50% Soy, Very soft!
Colorway: Light Blue
Needle Sizes: 5 US, 4 for the dumb flower
Yardage: 115?
Time to make: 4-8 hours.

Renee's Going Away Belt

Pattern: Floral Lace Belt, from Interweave Crochet
Yarn Used: Aunty Lydia's Crochet Thread, Size 10
Size Made: 9 motifs I think
Hook Size: 1.4 mm, that's tiny! And sharp too.

I wanted to make something special for my really good co-worker moving to a new chapter in her life. And as you all know, I think this pattern is really special.

My Favorite FO Ever

But first, an update on other projects.

Man, am I ready to get this Cycling Aran out of my house. It was zipper's fault. I really loved knitting this sweater. It will be the warmest sweater my brother has because I held the DK/Worsted double. I know, I know too thick but I wanted it extra squishy because of the cables. Oh well, he can pull it out next winter. Just a few more stitches in the zipper, then it's off to big brother.


I've been trying to be good (environmentally conscious), so I whipped up these crochet grocery bags. These bags are really strong and stretchy and quick to make. Very easy pattern, but because of the continuous increasing and decreasing, I wouldn't advise making these bags sleepy or tipsy, LOL.

I made the Ribbed Lace Bolero for Teddy Bear. The Easter outfit needs a post of it's own and I should be getting the kids ready for bed now, so next time. Long story short, much to my disappointment Teddy Bear has developed a strong opinion on what she wears. So all my Easter dress ideas went out the door when we got into the store. What a shame, some of the dresses came with matching dresses for your dolly too. "No! I don't like that one." She got on my last nerve. I'll have to make her put the dress back on for a picture. I hate how the Lace Bolero came out by the way, but she wore it anyway.

And finally. I really do think I've made my favorite FO ever. When flipping through the Spring 2008 Interweave Crochet online. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this magazine because this Floral Lace Belt just called me. The largest size called for 10 motifs but because I measured my waist and divided that by the width of each motif, I decided to make 12. Too big! But this is o.k. I'll come up with a different closure than the ribbon one shown. I thought that making this belt would be like going to Universal Studios and learning how Star Trek is made (totally taking the mystery out of the whole thing), but no. I was still fascinated with this belt when it was done and can't even believe myself that I could make something so beautiful. It was easy. Am I bragging? Well, whatever. I just love this piece, O.K.?

Teddy bear is already hatin'. "Where's mine?" I'll get to it, because for some strange reason I have the crochet thread called for by the pattern in almost every Spring color.

My next venture will be the China Doll Top on the cover. There are detailed instructions for shaping for almost every figure even the busty AND hippy like me. I'm so much deeper in love with crochet right now.