Ba-Ba-Ba-Baaa-Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-Baaaaa

It seems that the Daisy Cardi got her man (or woman...I haven't the guts to check the sex of the cargo pants...)


(cue the music for Happy Together by The Turtles)

Imagine me


and you,


I do
I think about you day and night, it's only right
To think about the girl you love and hold her tight


So happy together

If I should call you up, invest a dime
And you say you belong to me and ease my mind
Imagine how the world could be, so very fine
So happy together

I can't see me lovin' nobody but you


For all my life
When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue
For all my life

Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be


The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together

I can't see me lovin' nobody but you


For all my life
When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue
For all my life


Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together

Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba

Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba

Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together


So happy together
How is the weather
So happy together
We're happy together
So happy together
Happy together
So happy together
So happy together (ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba)



*****


Cargo Pants:

Pattern: Cargo Pants from Knitty by Brynne Sutton

Yarn: Rowan All Seasons Cotton

Mods to pattern: None. Although if I knit these again I would pick up stitches for the pocket rather than knit it separately. I would also make it a functioning pocket. Non-functioning pockets remind me of dickie's and well, that is NEVER a good thing.

You all are giving the Husband a complex.

I came into the bathroom this morning and he said,

Robby: "Honey, is it okay if husbands comment on the blogs?"

Wendy: "I don't think there is a rule against it if that's what you mean. Why do you ask?"

R: "Because you usually get lots of comments on your posts and no one has commented since I left mine. Maybe I scared them off or something."

W: "Honey, you didn't scare them off. Sometimes people don't have anything to say. That's okay. And I love it when you comment. So, do as you please."

He's a keeper huh?

Have you ever had one of those moments when you realize to absurdity of your life and/or circumstances? Well, maybe absurdity is not an appropriate term. Maybe the strange parallel universeishness. I was talking to a friend on the phone tonight and I said that if I wasn't already married that I would marry my Tivo. Which is a true statement, I love my Tivo. However, at that moment it struck me. Hey, I'm married. Weird. Or, I'm grown up, weird.

***

I caught up with the knit parade. This item was a particularly bad one. I found it trying to seduce some knitted cargo pants to join it in an ensemble.


I'll let you know tomorrow if it was successful in its pursuit.

Check out the cute buttons. I am totally a sucker for buttons. My grandfather used to work in a button factory. Growing up we always had a box of misc buttons to play in. Something must have imprinted somewhere.


The Hammer helped me pick these out - her color advice was dead on.

Pattern: Daisy from Knitty by the Rock Star.

Yarn: Butterfly Super 10 (When I say this in my head it turns into Superfly 10, which is way more fun.) (ps- have you seen this company's sock yarn? the colors! oy!)

Color: No idea...maybe Tiger Lily

I did not modify the pattern. Except of course for the misplaced bottom button hole. But we're ignoring that. Oh yes, we are.

Missing: One Kickass Knit Parade

As you can tell, I have been a busy, busy girl (ps- a $10 margarita is NEVER a bad idea). In addition, the hubbers and I also have some BIG LIFE STUFF happening in the real world (no I am not pregnant). As a result of inattention, it seems the knit parade took a detour and ended up on Spring Break in Miami. Word on the street is that the baby knits are getting down with Jack.

I have loved reading all of the handwriting on the web from the latest and greatest follow-the-leader. I am an extremely visual and tactical person (shocking, I know) and handwriting is one of the things I miss the most in our type-written age.

I was especially intrigued by Carole's adaptation to the usual lazy fox. Here is what you get when you know me in real life:



And, if you knew me in real life and were walking into my office to see me this is what you would see today:

It's totally not meant for me to post another Finished Object tonight. Picture issues.

I'll post 2 tomorrow or maybe 3 Friday. I don't know - we're crazy over here at Bookish Girl, flying by the seat of our pants and all...

A few random thangs.

1 - Step Into My Thimble Heidi is running a sweatshop (and birthing babies) over on her blog. She is making the cutest itty bitty baby things. I couldn't resist ordering this bib (picture taken from Heidi's shop and saved on my server.)
I'm trying to figure out where it's going to go....I'm thinking it may just stay with me. You know, for "some day".

In addition to the bib Heidi unexpectedly sent me a book treat. An old used libary book that smelled perfect. Library, old, awesome. Anyway. After I smelled the book I tore in and started reading. I should finish it tonight. A great fast little mystery book, set in a library. Thank you Heidi! The title is Dewey Decimated by Charles A. Goodrum.

2 - I received a knitting catelog in the mail today. On one of the pages was this picture:
Ash by Rowen

Now, I am not one to make fun of others. But, seriously, are you kidding me?! This is High-larious (ps - 4/20 is tomorrow kids, a fabulous commentary on this notorious day is here) There are so many things wrong with this design. In fact, it has become my new threat to the husband. "Do what I ask or I'm going to knit you Ash."

3 - A jury duty post is in the making. It was a long 6 day trial with many interesting aspects. Teaser: Which knit blogger got to hold an automatic 9mm handgun in one hand and a bag of 14.8 grams of crack cocaine in another? Hint: she likes to read.

Get your stitchy on.

We interrupt this finished knits parade to brag about the creativity and pure genius of my girl Stitchy. I tell you what - the worst thing about knowing these nuts in person is that you find out that THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN'T BLOG ABOUT. This is one of those things that has been chained to my leg. I found out about Debbie's new book some time ago and I busted at the seams with Pride and Joy. But had to keep it in. Well, no more. It's officially out....go give her some lovin'.

Alrighty then....

Entering day three of the finish the knits parade. I can see why I do not talk about this stuff too much, it bores me. Granted, I bore easily but this is ridonkulous.

A few months ago, December to be exact, I came across Cast on, Cast off Jenifer's Tote-along. I didn't join because really, what more reason NOT to knit something then because you are in a knit along. Truly the kiss of death. However, I was totally smashed in the head by this post and this post by Marina from "Have sticks, will travel." These bags (the Vertical Stripe bag from Pick Up Sticks) are so cute! And they claim to stand up and they seemed to be thick and sturdy. And the color combinations are endless. And I had never felted. And I wondered what it would be like. And. And. And.

I filed this information away and a few weeks later I found myself in Lowell, MA at the Classic Elite whorehouse...I mean wearhouse. They carry Pick - Up Sticks patterns and Brown Sheep Nature Spun Yarns. I bought both and I knit the pattern during my Christmas vacation.

My goal was to knit one panel a day. There are 8 panels. The math minded among us will tell us that I finished - 8 days later - voila! 8 days of work and I had big old bag that I needed to felt before we left the 'rents house for the holidays (we have a front-loader at home, they have a top-loader.)

Our plans were to drive back to the Bean on New Years Day. You know what that meant? As the ball dropped in NYC my bag swished and swashed in the tub of the washer. It was a family affair. Dad, the engineer, was particularly interested in the process. Mom, the quilter, made a lining of some fabric I had picked out during our trip to her local quilting store. Rob, the husband, drank a lot of beer and cheered us all on!

This Quilting store? The ladies there are crazy. They talked about how they were going to corrupt me into liking quilting, how they were super excited about an up-and-coming quilting retreat, how they were glad they had made so many good friends through quilting. Total dorks.

Pot? What? Kettle? Black? I can't hear you.... I'm too busy making fun of myself. ;)

On to the pictures...





I still have to sew in the lining. L-A-Z-Y. Of course, this little detail has kept me from actually using the damn thing.

The pattern is great, the bag is sturdy the construction is ingenious. I would definitely made it again but would probably double the length of the stripes, and therefore doubling the height of the bag.

Go forth and knit a bag now. Oh, and Cascade 220? On sale at WEBS for ass cheap (ass cheap = $4.79.)

Chunky Tut Part Deux

I am so glad you all love Juli as much as I do. And for all of you who are scared to go back to projects after hating them... just do it. It takes one itty bitty step after another to reach the finish.

Anywhooo...
Here we are day 2 of the week and another finished object to show you.

Remember this hat?

Well, I decided to make one for my sister for Christmas. Problem is, I decided this about a week before Christmas.

Here I am knitting away on Christmas Eve at my parent's house. I'm wearing the hat that I knit first for myself, no pattern just made it up, and am knitting the one for Margaret. How meta.



She was sitting next to me as I knit. When I finished she said, "Oh, that's cute, who is it for?" I said "you, here ya go!"

Great sister, huh?


Same yarn, same pattern...she has the EXACT same size head as I do, which is somewhere around huge and ginormous. This realization led to a frantic measuring of all the heads in my family. Cousins, uncles, aunts. We all have freakishly big heads.

All the better to out thunk you my friend.

News Flash!

News Flash - The Bookish Girl Knits. A lot.


I have truly neglected the knitting content on this here blog. In many cases projects have been started, finished and gifted without even a brief peek at the world wide web. This week I will present a finished object per day. I think I have that many. I will document each and every one until I run out out of them.



Today - the Shit-com Chic. Remember this post? I started this sweater in July 2005, put it down, picked it up, put it down, picked it up and finished it in December 2005. This sweater was knit as a gift for Juli, my best friend.


Well, I did finally finish this sucker and gifted it to Juli in her Christmas package (sent sometime in February, I'm a horrible post-office doobie.) She loves it! I think that it is a bit big. But, frankly, I'm pretty proud of the finished project. And even more proud that she wears something that I made for her!

Here is a close up of the button.


Purchased at the New York Sheep and Wool festival last fall. I knew I needed a button and this handmade glass one caught my eye. Unfortunately, having finished the project, I did not have it with me. So I eyeballed the color. I think I did a pretty great job!



The pattern is here, I knit exactly to the pattern with two exceptions. Up the sides and down the arms I used paired increases, M1L, M1R instead of the M1L alone. I also increased the length of the sleeves to full length. I would modify the design of the sleeves a bit the next time I do this pattern. If you cast on the called for stitches for the sleeve and plan to knit it full length you will have a very wide wrist and forearm. The sweater's 3/4 sleeve design starts the sleeve at the widest part of your arm. Whereas, with full length sleeves you typically increase from the wrist - the smallest part of the arm to the forearm/elbow area. Therefore, a full length sleeve should cast on few stitches and increase to the pattern's starting arm width. This is a great pattern, the sweater is cute and functional. I will definitely knit it again!
Oh, the yarn? It is Cotton-Ease (now discontinued) in Sugar Plum.

Here are some pictures Juli sent me shortly after she received the sweater...



Isn't she the cutest?!!

Ramblin' On

Thank you all for taking the time to leave me your words of support. I have loved the distraction and the warm fuzz sent through the internet. I'm not sure that I will be able to get to thank each of you individually - but please know that I'm thankful and truly appreciative.

It has been a bit harder since our return to normal life. I live in a different city and did not often see her, however, knowing that I can not call is a strange feeling. We all have inherited her sense of humor (among other things) and have found this a great coping mechanism. Grandma was very particular with her things and was a bit of a pack rat. I was cleaning out her art supply cabinet (more on this later) and repeatedly dropped boxes of things. I was all jelly fingers. The theory floating around was that she was pissed and was trying to tell me to quit touching her stuff (most of it was being donated to the residence in which she lived.)

Rob and I purchased a lotto ticket the other night - we figure that we probably will never have as much of a chance of winning as we do this week. She would totally let us win if she had her way.

I have spent the last few days trying to catch up at work. Between Jury duty, my trip to NYC, and my trip home to ROC I haven't been in the office much. I have also been waiting for the other shoe to drop. First Ms. Melanie finding her way in out of hospitals and then Grandma...I'm waiting for the third thing to find its way to me. Bad things ALWAYS come in threes.

I did get to spend some time QT with my favorite new mom these past few days. This woman is my hero. For realises. She is so brave and graceful. Go show her some love. Her attitude has made me truly put everything back into perspective. And the hot doctors that seem to travel around her, well, they help too. ;)

To add to the rambling falling out of me today...

A huge box awaited me upon my return on Monday. It was a belated birthday gift from my BFF Juli.

A horrible picture - it was dark outside.

Ain't it awesome. Juli is an incredible potter (is that the right word?) And she made this 'specially for me. Her hubber (the soon to be recipiant of my tetrahymena creation) did the wood work. They rock.

Just because this blog needs a little pick-me up...here are some of my favorite rugrats. Neala and Noah, True love Always.


These were taken during my birthday trip to Vermont. These two baby buttons are about 3 months apart. It amazes me to see the developmental differences in the short distance between their ages. The adults were sitting around the table shooting the shit and the kids were getting antsy. So, the moms plopped them on the table and I handed them all things knitting that couldn't fit down their throats.

I'm ready to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens.

I lost my grandma last Wednesday. She went peacefully and was ready to move on to her next place. In fact, she said that she, "Was ready to die she just didn't want to be there when it happened."

I was driving with Cara and Kay in NYC on my way to celebrate Kay and Ann's incredible accomplishment - a knitting book that doesn't suck one tiny bit - when my mother called to let me say good-bye to the grandma. A harder task does not exist. What do you say, "Have a nice trip?" It helps to know that grandma had a wicked sense of humor and lived her life strongly. I hope to spend some time reflecting on all that she gave me. I hope that this will make it to the blog.

For a small bit of her check out this post on her mad pasta making skillz.


Here she is as a child

My great-great grandparents, Domenica and Antonio with my grandmother Maria Guiseppa, 1925 in Poggio Pigenso, Italy (where the family is from.)
My great-grand parents were named Augustino and Angelica.
My grandmother was called Josephine (English version of Guiseppa) until she graduated from highschool and realized she had two names. She hated Josephine and went by Marie from that point on.


As a mother (there was a third child to come ~15 years later!)

My grandmother Marie Josephine (the english version of her Italian name) and grandfather Vincent (Vincenzo in Italian). My father Michael Angelo (standing) and my uncle Vincent Michael. This was taken in Batavia, NY or Oakfield, NY sometime ~1947.

As a grandmother

Marie Josephine, 2005, 80thBirthday


She rocked.