Instant Gratification.

So, I have been at loose ends for the past few days - my Mum is up visiting, and has absconded with Mr. Munchkin every day around 8 am for the past week or so. (She wants me to rest and keep my strength up. Lovely woman, that. I know why she's so worried about me - and to be honest, I'm kinda worried about the same thing - but at the same time, I miss the company of my little boy.) Needless to say, this has given me oodles of spare time in which to nap, and craft.

I vaguely remembered today that since the Yarn Harlot is visiting, hats would be collected for a charitable cause. At least, I think so. That's been what's happening at the other locations on her tour, so...anyhow, my fingers have been itching to do something (fyi, spinning on a hot, humid day is so not a good idea. The resultant fluff that covers you leaves something to be desired re: the whole cooling-oneself-down situation.) so I knit a quickie project.

Based off the Harlot's own Ken's Duulan Hat pattern, with a few adjustments. Pom-pom instead of an i-cord knot, and it's much deeper to accomodate the dampness of Nova Scotia winter. Knit with 3 strands of ghetto Malabrigo (2 beige, 1 variegated in pink/purples), this baby took me about an hour to make from cast-on to pom-pom attachment. I tried knitting directly from the pattern without adjustments, but clearly I have gauge issues, as the resulting hat (while very cute) is size-appropriate for a 6 year old. So I have two hats to bring with me. Ninja representing, yo.

Next up, a sewn bag to house my Sockapalooza pal's gift package. Judging from her blog, she seems to like luxe yarns...I'm willing to bet that she'd like a silk project bag.

But I've got an excuse this time...

Really!

But first, knitterly content to distract you...

The Beast. Done. I tell you true love isn't about doves and cherubs and all that jazz...it's working with a man-sized MERINO sweater in the middle of a sweltering summer. I'm not entirely happy with the neckline, as it's doing a weird puckering thing, but I'll be damned if I'm about to touch the accursed thing until the mercury takes a major plunge.

Sockapalooza socks. Done. Hedera in Natural Dye Studios...pure wool. Not entirely sure about this one, as I think that the stripes muck about with the pattern a little too much for my taste...but what the hell - they're not for me. (yay!)

More of the handspun silk/wool...in another pair of socks. These are intended for Christmas gifties...good thing that they're waaaay too big for me, as I'm sorely tempted to keep them for myself. (My socks in this handspun had an unfortunate encounter with the dryer, tragically.)

In other knit knews, I am down two pairs of handknit socks. (My Monkey socks bit the dust with a MASSIVE hole in the heel, and the aforementioned dryer felted my handspun socks. Sob.) So, my next project will be something slightly more amenable to this weather... I'm going to be spinning this lovely roving (superwash merino from Crown Mountain Farms - see, I can learn...superwash = good) into sock yarn, which will then get knit into new Monkey socks for me.

I figure at the rate that I'm crawling through projects these days, I'll be ready to start knitting with this stuff when the leaves start to fall. Also, I'm hoping that the spinning wheel will have a fan-like effect and will cool down my knees. I could be wrong...but onto the excuses!

1) Have been travelling. P.E.I. is possibly the most laid-back place on the planet. We stayed in cottages that were as close to the ocean as you can get, and ate lots and lots of potatoes.

2) Mr. Munchkin turned 4 years old.

He doesn't normally stand on tables...but then again, he doesn't normally get to jump head first into a gift bag either. Nice little party, it was awesome fun to get 4 kids loaded on a massive sugar rush and then send them home with their parents. I'm pretty sure that we're going to be looking at some karmic payback for that one.

3) I've been sick. In a good way though...I'm pregnant, and have the worst morning sickness. Blergh. The doctor (bless her cheery little heart) says that it's a great thing that I'm constantly nauseous and exhausted - after the 2 miscarriages last year, it's a sign that this is a strong pregnancy. I would have nodded in agreement, except that sudden head movement tends to send me running for the gravol these days. So, we're 10 weeks along now. Cross your fingers for us, please.

There, all caught up. Will be better about posting, as I'm intending on hiding inside from the blistering sunshine until the jack-o-lanterns start appearing on street corners.