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The Younger - Climbing to the ceiling at gymnastics.
The Youngest - Climbing the playground.
The Elder - So excited at the prospect of a sleepover today.
Joining Jodi for 52 portraits

Gnarled Oak

After a few weeks' flurry of knitting I finished up my Gnarled Oak cardigan that I started swatching at the beginning of the summer.

I wasn't exactly having the best luck with my photos this morning, but here it is in all its un-blocked glory.

I finished knitting it yesterday, sewed the buttons on as I waited for the carpool to rehearsal and put it on immediately.

The yarn is Tracy from Imperial Yarns, and it is the perfect weight for our early Fall weather. 

It's warm but not too heavy.

Next on the list is a sweater for The Younger. It's actually already on the needles, I started last night while I was watching Breaking Bad. I can't believe that there's only one more episode! 

Anything exciting on your needles today?

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On the playground is where we spend most of our days.
The Elder and Younger on the lookout for fun.
The Youngest observing.
Joining Jodi for 52 portraits.

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The Elder - On the border between little girl and big girl.
The Youngest - Swingin'
The Younger - The one moment he was still (sorta)

This week's portraits brought to you by Mama worked all weekend, and we sneaked these in at the playground before school.
Joining Jodi for 52 portraits.

Dance Party

Is there anything better than a backyard dance party? 

 Not much, unless you get to jam with the band.

What does the Fox say?

This week is the week of foxes, it would seem.
After I made my foxy scarf last week I saw this hilarious video that has been floating around the facebooks.
I think I could watch it about 30 times before I tire of Fraka-kaka-kaka-kaka-kow.
So, as I said, my scarf was a little long, so I took off the end 18 inches or so to make this hat.

I knitted about an inch of ribbing on the open end and then I sewed it in half along the sides, and tucked up some ears.
I also re-knitted the face end of the scarf so maybe the kids can go around as a fox pack together.

 

Today will be quite warm (they're predicting high 90s) so there's not too much call for woolly hats and scarves, but in the coming weeks we're sure to see more fall-like weather, and it's always good to be prepared.

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The Elder and The Younger - First Day of School. He wanted to hold hands, she didn't want to hold hands.
The Youngest - Eating an avocado, nature's yogurt cup.
Joining Jodi for 52 portraits

Sunshine, Almost All the Time, Makes Me High

So, I have been coveting this color of Kauni for about a year, but I wasn't keen on knitting it because I knew that what I wanted was a big stockinette scarf or something and I was too lazy to knit it. 

Enter my new best friend.

I knit up this entire ball in an hour while I was listening to Poems and Prayers and Promises on the record player (which The Younger doesn't want anyone to use, since it's his, and I have to sneak during the day).

Sunshine on My Shoulder came on and I knew that should be the name of this colorway from now on.

 Then I realized that what I really wanted to do was Kitchener the two ends together and make a cowl, and what I had so far was going to be too short, so while I reknit it I listened to this little beauty -

 I gotta say, I don't know if there is an album that epitomizes the music of 1985 more succinctly than the soundtrack to The Breakfast Club.

 Sunshine on My Shoulder (or neck) in action.

Kauni is a little scratchy so I got it wet and I'll see if the fibers relax a little, if not I think I'll have to pick up some Eucalan from the shop.

What's on your needles today?

Crafting On

I have a new best friend. 

It's is this -

The Ultimate Sweater Machine.

My friend posted on facebook that she had one, and would anyone like it, and I cried Yes! A thousand times Yes!

I have been coveting one of these for many years. 

Hand knitting will always be a craft that I enjoy, but I have no love for the seemingly endless stockinette that presents itself in some projects.

Since I got this beauty on Friday (late, like after sunset, because I just couldn't wait another minute) I have finished the back and half of the front of a sweater for The Elder, 

and this scarf (the body of the scarf was on the machine, I did the face and tail by hand).

I still have a ways to go before I am truly proficient at the machine. 

The front of the purple sweater is so short because with one pass of the cartridge I managed to disengage every needle and the whole thing fell off.

Also, the foxy scarf is about 2 feet too long. 

Once you get into a rhythm it's very appealing to just keep going.

So, I think I am going to cut the top 20 inches off and make it into a hat, and then re-knit the fox face on the scarf.

In hand-knitting news, I am so very nearly finished with Grettir. 

I had hoped to finish it this weekend, but I got distracted (see above).

Just the Kitchener bind off and blocking left to do.

What are you creating lately? 

Joining up with Nicole for KCCO.

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Joining Jodi for 52 portraits.
The Younger in the creek
The Youngest in the creek
The Elder swinging.

The last week of Summer has been full of wonderful outdoor activities.