Friday, October 26, 2012

Friday Mishmash

I made toast for breakfast this week, just so I could open up a jar of my homemade peach jam.  I think I'm down to three jars and will be sad when they are all gone.  Next summer, when peaches are back in season, I'll have to make a lot more - it's THAT good!

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Sit and Knit update:  I bought some acrylic yarn to make baby hats to donate - hospitals require that the hats are washable, so I went with the easy stuff.  Love how the yarn striped itself:
 I didn't put a pompom on it because I wasn't sure how well it would hold up to a washing machine.  But I think the hat looks sweet, anyway.

This is a newborn size, and I have enough to make either one more in that size, or I could possibly squeeze out two preemie sizes (if I can find a pattern that corresponds to the yarn).  Here's a confession:  I also bought another skein of the acrylic yarn with every intention of making more baby hats for donation...but I love the colors and am thinking about making a hat for myself instead.
The only things holding me back are lack of an adult pattern for this size yarn, and also I'm wondering if the acrylic will give me a massive case of static electricity with my hair - I'm not really a hat wearer, so I don't know - would wool do the same thing?

I started knitting a sweater on Wednesday.  It's the same yarn that I from last summer, when Debby helped me get going on a different sweater pattern.  But I set it aside when I came home (I had baby blankets to make!) and when I finally picked it back up, I was pretty lost.  So I found a different pattern that thousands of people had used with success (that's the cool thing about Ravelry.com - you can see what people have made and read their comments about the pattern, yarn, etc. to see if it's a good match for you) and got started with it.  Now, I'm a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants knitter and can't be bothered with things like a gauge swatch, which helps with sizing, so I have no idea if this will actually fit me...but hey - I figure it will fit someone that I know, and in the meantime, I'll get good practice at knitting a sweater!  I had a little trouble with the one buttonhole, but got help from my running/knitting friend, Cary, and was back to knitting it again after a couple hours.  Then, I ran into a part that intimidated me and I hemmed and hawed about continuing, but finally decided that at worst, I'd have to unravel it - and it's not like I haven't done THAT time after time - so I plunged in and did it!  Here's what I have so far:
It kinda reminds me of Cleopatra's collar, but I promise, this is the beginnings of a sweater.

I'm also knitting some small things for Christmas (which I can't show you yet as certain recipients read my blog), and I'm working on my one bigger Christmas present.  I like having several projects going at once, because some of them require a lot of concentration (like the sweater) where I have to refer to the pattern often and, repeat the sequence out loud as I knit - so there's no TV or other distractions on.  But others, I can just knit away, and that's when I get to clear out my DVR or watch something on Netflix.  And this is probably more than you care to know about my knitting process, I'm sure!

Finally, here's a picture of baby Helen wearing her newest hat:
Such a cutie!  And there's room to grow with this hat, which was my intention...she lives in Minnesota and it's COLD out there!

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I really appreciate all the comments on Monday's post - it looks like we all struggle with finding clothes that fit well.  Nice to know that I'm not alone...and I hope that in the future, we ALL can have esteem-boosting success in the dressing room!
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After one last hurrah of near 90 degree temperatures on Thursday, a cold front blew in overnight, and we are going to be chilly for the foreseeable future - which means that tomorrow's 11 miler will be done in the upper 40s - and you better believe I'm doing a happy dance about that!  Ahhh...I'm not going to focus on the distance; I'm just going to enjoy running in cool weather for a change!

Have a great weekend!

17 comments:

  1. OMGOODNESS!!!
    you made that hat?!
    Im in awe and keep waiting to come here and see a new REDIRECTED url:
    therunningknitter.com

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  2. How adorable is baby Helen in that hat!!!

    Yeah,like Carla says - the knitting runner! Wouldn't that make 13.1 miles go by fast if you could knit while running?

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    1. LOL - as long as I didn't trip and impale myself on the sticks! I should start rewarding my long runs with yarn. :)

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  3. Remember when you were trying to figure out exercises to do before your ankle surgery and you tried a recumbent bike? Don't you wish you were a knitter back then? I bet it would have made the pedaling tolerable!

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  4. Happy dance for that awesome weather! It went from 80 to 50 here over night so I get it!

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  5. Love all the projects. So sweet to make hats for the babies at the hospital!

    The sweater really does look like Cleopatra's collar right now. I bet it's going to be beautiful. LOVE those colors!

    Yeah, it's gonna be a cool run. I guess better that than running in 98* temps at 6am though! I'm guessing this counts as Texas' one weekend of fall and we'll plunge straight into winter? LOL

    Have a good run.

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    1. Kinda hoping winter holds off until after the San Antonio RnR in two weeks, but then again, this is Texas, so our winter really won't be all that bad. :)

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  6. All the hats are so cute! I tried to read about static electricity, but it was too hard to understand. I don't know if natural fibers are better than manmade. But that yarn is so pretty, I think you should make something for yourself out of it!

    The new sweater is pretty! Does it look like it might be in the ball park as far as fitting you?

    You know I for one am not going to get tired of your knitting updates!

    And running in the 40's? For 11 miles? Oh my. I'll be thinking about you as I sit and knit next to the wood stove!

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    1. Thanks - I am really enjoying making the baby hats. They knit up fairly fast, which gives me instant gratification. :)

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  7. You are getting really good at knitting Shelley! Gotta give you props, and baby Helen in that hat? Too cute!

    This morning when I woke up it was 31 degrees - yesterday when I woke up it was 67 degrees - what a difference a day makes!

    You will kick 11 miles ass tomorrow - I just know it!

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    1. Baby Helen is a doll! Honestly, she looks good in everything, but I'm glad that she (and her mom) like the hats! :)

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  8. Shelley - what kind of knitting needles should I get for Claire? She's 11 and we just started watching you tube videos. Should they be long, short, skinny fat - do you know? Her birthday is coming up and she wants fuzzy yarn :)

    Love the baby hats - so cute - you are so talented and I can't wait to see how the sweather works out

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    1. Jenn, I think larger circular needles would work well, plus some chunky yarn. Her project will come together pretty fast (yay instant gratification) and with the chunky yarn, I find it easier to see the stitches as you knit. I'll email you links to my favorite needles.

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  9. I LOVE the hat, and the adorable little head its on in that picture! I 'aww'd' out loud!!! Have a great "cooler weather" run!! Happy Friday.

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  10. Mmmm peach jam, heavenly! We are still in the 90's, I would love a cold front but it's not coming :(. Great projects, love the hats!

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  11. Love your knitting projects. If I would knit as much as you I would have more projects too because I get bored easily. That's why I have so many cross stitching projects, I love the variety.

    By now you have finished your 11 miler strong! Well done my friend.

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