Hobby blog?

It's been so long...I've decided this blog has to expand from it's knitterly roots. I tend not to knit very much in the summer and I don't want the blog to die so I am going to add my love of gardening to this blog and hopefully I'll keep up with the knitting too. Here's where the second Child's Placket-Necked Sweater stands:I haven't touched it in a week but I'm sure it's only a matter of time. If I had time to peruse online yarn stores, I'm sure I'd have a backlog of projects. Soon... In the meantime my baby sunflowers make me very happy.

Comfort knitting

For once I have been spending more time on knitting than blogging (or reading other people's blogs is more like it). I decided to toss aside all knitting that causes me frustration and started another Child's Placket-necked Sweater. I started the sleeve (because I forgot my other needles) at the Lakeview Library knitting bee where I met Madisonienne and Sweater Girl. Apparently we were also in the same crochet for knitters class but I was too intent on finishing my Knitting Olympics sweater to notice much of anything else. Here's the sleeve and part of the body.I have about 6 inches of the body done now. Sadly, I envisioned my cousin's daughter, Elena, in this for Easter (or would the pastel eggs next to this sweater be too much?) I can't decide if this yarn is ugly but when I asked Lili, who is 8 and 3/4 she said she LOVED it. I guess that's good enough for me! Anyway, I'd have to send it off by Wednesday and that is just not going to happen. I'm actually surprised I got as much done as I did this weekend. We went to the Chazen Museum and made lots of good food (Vietnamese summer rolls, Mmmm!) and went on the first bike ride of the season to Gov. Island. I can't think of many things better than the first spring bike ride. I could live without the sore butt though!

You know what this means don't you?

No, I'm not having a baby but my sister is. YYYYYYEEEEEEEHHHHHAAAAAWWWW!!!!!!!
Yeah, I'm pretty excited. This baby bootie kind of sucks, though, so I probably won't make the second one. My sister is not in the fan club of finding out the sex of the baby so green and/or purple baby goods are in order. I can't wait!

Felted Happiness

They're still wet, but that hasn't stopped me from wearing them! Yes, I love my new clogs.I mean really, don't you wanna slip your feet into these?! I'm just sad that it took me most of the winter to knit these. I know if I put my mind to it, I could crank a pair of these out in two days but I really hate the pattern. Don't get me wrong, it is a brilliant and well written pattern, it's just no fun to knit. Too bad I've already promised Sam and Lili each a pair.
The funny thing is that I tend to wear socks or slippers around the house because I'm too lazy to sweep often enough to have barefoot worthy floors but now I think I'll have to clean my floors more because I can't stand the thought of the bottoms of these getting all grungy!
To celebrate, I cast on for Samus from Knitty. It became a swatch since I already made a mistake (see the bottom left cables where there are some purls intead of knits?) This is definitely a more involved cable than I am used to. This is 1/2 a pattern repeat that I have to do 8 times (I think). Hmmm... might be a bit too tangy for me right now.
I'm also looking for a lace sock pattern for my dyed yarn. I've been looking online but I don't like any so far. I'm willing to entertain the fact that I just don't like lace socks. Any ideas?

Wish me luck...

It seems to be a pattern for me. I go along patiently working on a project. Usually several at once, actually, so that I can work on another when I inevitably get stuck on the first one. Then, at some point in the pattern, and I never know when this will happen, I am gripped with the desire to see the finished object and I feverishly finish the rest in one sitting. That happened today while working on my second felted clog. I was having fun ogling other people's yarn stashes (April 1st was flash your stash day) and listening to my favorite knitting podcast (it's Cast On if you were wondering) and I HAD TO FINISH THE CLOG! You see, I have so many things that I am dying to start. So even though it was no fun, I got it done. Here they are unfelted.
I'm off to Molly's house now use her free washer and dryer. I've never felted anything before. Cross your fingers for me.