God Has a Sense of Humor

I am acting chair of the PE department at the college where I work.

DB#2 said: "The screen writers can stay on strike with quality real life comedy like that."

Christmas Eve 2007

My gift list this year did not include anything that I had to make. I love making things, but I hate doing it under pressure. I had been collecting odds and ends of neat pads of paper and pens and such for my neices for most of the year and the T-man wanted stuff for his Wii game. So, I was set. Then on Gingerbread House Day at Bebe's house (an annual tradition since the T-man was little), Niece A came running in saying "Aunt Sally, I want you to make me some doll clothes for Christmas."

Naturally, I caved.

The outfit is from Sew Today's Fashions for 18-inch Dolls by Joan Hinds. The blouse was a lot of work, but worth the trouble. The pants turned out a little big. Lots of neat outfits in this book. Niece A picked this one and many others. Now I have to start working on birthday presents. Both nieces got a new American Girl doll for Christmas from their grandparents, so I know they are expecting Aunt Sally to sew more clothes.

	The T-man is ready for paintball action. His grandparents got him a new gun and two very nice used guns and some gear. Aunt J gave him paintballs and a gift certifcate to the paintball fighting place. Mom added the vest and more paintballs.

The tree did not stand a chance.

More Cables

Details to follow. I just wanted proof that I am knitting. The mate is at about the same point. Both will probably be finished tonight or tomorrow.

I Am Not Procrastinating

Honest Kimberly, I said that I was going to sew doll clothes tonight and that is what I am doing. But, I had to clean the table top photography studio off the ironing board so that I could sew. I thought that I should first attempt to get pictures of my new fingerless mitts before packing up.


The mitts are supposed to look like this (scroll down for the pattern in English) or this. Mine did not turn out as good. I think that my yarn is too fuzzy to really show off the cables. Of course, the problem could be that this was my first project with cables.

Side note: Do I start with a simple little cable? Of course not! I have to do one that is crossing itself from both directions for my first cable.

My assistant photographer got spacers on his teeth today in preparation for braces next week. Therefore, he is only able to manage sitting his his bean bag chair and playing his video game or laying on the couch and eating pudding while watching TV. So, I was on my own. Some things are not easy to photograph on your own.

The yarn is a 100% alpaca sport weight from Blue Sky Alpacas. It is so unbelievably soft!

And just so that there is proof that I did both...

Things That You Should Not Say to Your Mother When She is Having a Hot Flash

Mom, you need to hurry up and cool down because we only have a limited amount of time to get ready.

When she hands you your t-shirt and boxers on the way to the shower, don't ask why they aren't already in the bathroom neatly folded.

Mom, I'm failing math.

I'm sure there will be more examples before this is over with.

Mittens for Akkol Package Sent

I survived Mr. T's entry into teenage years. His party was a success.

I even managed to send my package to Mittens for Akkol. The goal was to give every child in the orphanage a pair of hand knit wool socks for Christmas. We did it!

I'm having photography issues, so please excuse the poor quality of the following photos.

My contribution included 5 pairs of socks:

The big blue socks previously shown.

The socks are toe-up with an afterthought heel out of Cascade 220. I started not to finish these since the stripes were not showing up good, but Niece A who has to be the pickiest person in the world about clothes said that she liked them. She said "In fact, I would wear them myself."















The following socks were all knit toe-up Queen Kahuna style with gussets and heel-flap and with a Wisconsin Winter Socks influence. The all are made out of Cascade 220 and a sock yarn on size 8 needles -- they knit up really fast.













































My package also included three hats:

The green and white hat that I did while testing the pattern for Kimberly, the Knitting Wonder Woman.

This hat was knit by my blogless mother (Bebe). The yarn is pink. I know it does not look pink. I really need to take a photography class or get organized enough to take photos in the daytime. Wait, that would mean that I would have to be home in the daytime.



















Another hat using the Team Spirit Beanie pattern. The yarn is Cascade 220.























Joke from Mr. T:

What did one math book say to the other?

Answer: Boy do I have problems.

Nag, Nag, Nag

Kim has been trying her best to guilt me into posting something. I finally go around to it. Here is a picture of a hat that knit to test the pattern for her. I used Cascade 220. I need more practice at carrying the yarn in both hands, but I think it turned out ok. A shot of the crown is below.

























The pattern is easy to follow once you get past the cast on. That took me longer than the hat, and I don't think I actually did it like she intended, but I'm happy with it.

This hat will be sent with 4 pairs of socks (photos later, I promise! Don't look at me like that Kim) to Mittens for Akkol.