NP&S Progress Check

The one-armed gal. I look tired because I am tired. But I'm getting knitting done, by golly.

Next time I do this or any other top-down sweater, I'm going to finish the sleeves before the body. The body is rather heavy as I knit the sleeve in the round on DPNs.

This pullover is going to be as warm, soft and light as a cotton ball. Rowan Big Wool is niiiice. I'm beginning to be a fan of this yarn company. I might just join the Rowan International club.

I hope to have an FO photo the next time I post. See ya'll later.

How Much TV Is Too Much?

Admittedly, I watch more TV now than I ever did. But that doesn't mean I really like it.

When I was a kid, I saw the usual shows - Gilligan's Island, Bewitched, Love Boat, all those goofy shows in the 70's. In hindsight they were a lot more wholesome and innocent than the violent and gratuitous crap we are offered these days.

However, when I was an infant and toddler I watched next to nothing TV. In fact, my first memory of TV was a basketball game (probably why I love Sportscenter so much).

Why am I talking about this? I read a CNN article about Moms and TV: A Love-Hate Relationship. I really have a thing about TV and babies and young kids. They don't mix. Is this considered too idealistic in this day and age? Working moms are caught between a rock and hard place - how to keep a child occupied while you try to get mundane but necessary chores done? I run around the house like a frazzled chicken picking up stuff, folding laundry, washing dishes while Karalyn is either playing in her gymini (which means I stop every few seconds to check on her) or taking a nap (then I stop every 20 min to I check on her).

There is a lot of guilt and frustration about how much TV a child should watch and what programming is considered helpful. If I had my way, Karalyn would only ever see Animal Planet, National Geographic, Discovery and History. Oh, a little DIY wouldn't hurt every now and then. But is even that too much? Is it too commercialized? Would she learn anything from them?

You know the worst part about it though? TV won't be the biggest problem when Karalyn gets older. By then it will be (gulp) the evil Internet.

All right, since this is a knitting blog here's a pic from the recent archives. My youngest brother moved to San Franciso in late summer. I went to visit him at the end of September. He lives a few blocks away from Imagiknit! He knew right where it was and indulged me with an hour of browsing bliss (gooood brother). I was taking my turn at the swift with my purchase of Malabrigo.

Happy Knitting all!

Two on the Needles

Knitting content implies that there's been knitting going on, eh? All right, let's get started.

Exhibit A: I was desperately trying to finish something for October and ambitiously decided, in the last week, that I would knit the Weekend Pullover #224 from Knitting Pure and Simple. After all, it advertises itself as quick, only two days worth of knitting. That would've been accurate if I hadn't been such a cheapo. This sweater requires at least size 17 circulars in two lengths and in DPNs. Sheesh. Not sure that I would ever knit with such a large needle again, I tentatively bought Lion Brand plastic circulars.

I learned.

I learned that plastic needles with 100% wool is torture. To make it worse, the stitches tightened up a lot once they were off the needles and on the cable. I knit this much before I said ENOUGH, GET ME ADDI'S!! The thing is, size 17 metal Addi's with the fat cable is hard to find. The three closest stores to me did not have them. I ended up winning an auction from eBay. Hopefully they will arrive tomorrow. The good news is, I love the yarn - Rowan Big Wool in a light lavender (although it looks blue in the photo).

Exhibit B: The other Knitting Pure and Simple sweater. This is the Neckdown Shaped Cardigan. I'm patiently working on this one, it's my mindless knit. This morning I was in a teleconference and I managed to complete 8 rows in an hour. I danced a little jig in my cubicle. This one is with Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed from my stash. My knitting is so uneven! I think you can tell when I've had a tough day and when it's been OK.

Exhibit C: Nothing to do with knitting, this is the odd photo of the day - Garden Buddha. I've been feeding my neighbor's koi fish and the pond is surrounded by lush greenery and an eclectic assortment of garden art. I enjoy going over there because his backyard is so quirky, so tropical bohemian. The buddha brings good luck to the fish. Perhaps I should have one to watch over me while I knit.

The Great Pumpkin

Karl's version of Charles Schultz' Halloween spirit.

Holidays take on a renewed significance when there's a baby in the house. We aren't big celebrators of any of the major holidays so it's funny that all of a sudden Karl and I were dashing around getting candy ready and making sure the pumpkin decorations were lit on the front porch. Karalyn's daycare had a Halloween parade with all the kids dressed in costumes. It was, as one parent said, organized chaos. Kids also renew their parents' sense of play. Karl and I definitely had a lot of fun dressing Karalyn up in her Great Pumpkin costume.

Hope you all had a ghoulish Halloween, take it easy on all the leftover candy! Knitting content will return in the next post.