FO: Kilkenny

This hat is adorable and I can't wait to put it on my niece's head this weekend. I will be sure to get some more pictures then.



Pattern: Kilkenny by Woolly Wormhead
Yarn: Sublime Yarns Extra Fine Merino Wool DK
Needles: US 3
Started: October 30, 2009
Finished: November 4, 2009





As I mentioned before I had gauge issues. I solved that by casting on for the extra small. The baby's head measured 13 inches at a few hours old and I really wanted a hat that would fit. On the train home the other day I realized that I had knit it 3 inches before starting to decrease which is the small size. At that point though I had to just deal with it because there was no way I was picking back half and inch.



I had major issues picking up dropped stitches on this one due to the pattern. As much of a pain it was to get started on this hat, the end result sure is cute. Although that is possibly because tiny hats are just adorable.

Knitting and PIE!

Let's start with the pie. I wasn't feeling well on Friday so I took a day off. I loved watching the Halloweenie Ellen show. The perks of calling in sick! I lazed about the house all day and then my husband came home. I decided I wasn't really feeling up to leaving the house to go with him to the supermarket, but I thought I could handle some pie. I have been promising him some homemade apple pie for weeks now.



Although I made him peel the apples before he left. It seemed to me that I had to many apples in that pie plate, but I don't really know because I have never made apple pie before.



It isn't really that hard, just a little bit of prep work. I didn't like the crust that much, but the middle sure was tasty! I had one happy husband Friday night.



This is my second attempt at a baby hat for my new niece Claire. I had some needle issues, but I hopefully fixed that.

I realized something in my kitchen yesterday morning. There is way more sunshine in the AM now so I might try to actually get up when my alarm goes off and take my knitting pictures then.

Some of you may have noticed I have been posting less. I was feeling a little unsure about blogging so I decided to cut it down to three times a week. I hope that cures whatever issues I have, so thanks for sticking around.

Book Update - October 2009

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
One of those books that I have always meant to read. I had started this book a few times but could never get into it. It is not my favorite Jane Austen book. The wordiness of the characters got to me, also their morals got on my nerves, but it is a classic.

The Ladies Lending Library: A Novel by Janice Kulyk Keeger
I disliked this book. It is about Ukrainians that immigrated to Canada. This took me a while to figure out. It is set at a lake during the summer. The women watch the kids during the week and the husbands come up on the weekends.

These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901 by Nancy E. Turner
Loved this book. I would recommend this book to everyone. It is written in diary format, but you don't even notice it after a while. Sarah describes her travels with her family across the territories. I was sobbing at the end and very happy to have finished the book at home instead of on the train.

South of Resurrection by Jonis Agee
A woman goes home to the south after having fled as a child. The town is fighting about its future. Much conflict over the debate of selling out to the hog farms. This book was okay, didn't hate it or love it.

Sarah's Quilt: The Continuing Story of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1906 by Nancy E. Turner
I need to read these books with a tissue box. This is the continuation of "These Is My Words". It is still written in diary form, but I know I when I write in my diary I don't include complete conversations. I sat down to read during lunch on Saturday. Three hours later I had finished it. It is that good.



The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian
I have read two other books by this author and to be honest I probably won't read anymore. This book had a really odd connection to the book "The Great Gatsby". I can't say I enjoyed it that much.

Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson
I read Erik Larson's book "The Devil in the White City" and loved it, so when I saw this at the library I had to grab it. It is the account of the great hurricane in Galveston. It was a very descriptive book.

Why can't it just be easy?

Wednesday night I cast on for Kilkenny (minus the ear flaps). I decided to go with the needle size recommended, which is US 3. I sat there knitting along slowly as I am not a fan of DPN's for an hour or so. Thursday morning I grab it to bring with me to work. I am walking to the train station and I start to think about sizing.

I cast on for the for small size which was for a head circumference of 14 inches. I am not sure the reasoning of this but I do know I was stuffing my face with Halloween candy at the time so my math might not of been correct. Since I know my niece's head is 13 inches and I want to give this to her Monday I can't figure out why I am making a hat that is to big. I know they grow fast but I don't think they gain an inch on their head over a week.

I get on the train and proceed to try to measure my gauge. I at first think I am getting 9 stitches per inch because I have issues counting, especially garter stitch. When I realize I am not getting an 8 inch hat I settle on 5 stitches per inch. So I will be getting a hat in the medium size. NOT what I was aiming for.

At lunch I head off to the yarn store to get some US 2 needles. Looking at the rack I see the 2's and realize they are really really small, at least compared to the 3's. Hmmm.. Why is the jump from US 3 to US 2 so much larger than 3's to 4?

I went home and ripped it all out. I cast on for the XS size with my US 3's. I want to be able give my niece SOMETHING she can wear right now. If they start putting hats on her now maybe she will grow to like them... because all babies I have ever seen rip them right off.

Is planning more fun than knitting

I probably spend more time researching knitting patterns and yarns than actually knitting. Is this a common occurrence?

I don't like the baby hat I started this weekend. So what did I do but spend a crazy amount of time researching hats this morning. I fell in love with Wee Woolly Toppers by Woolly Wormhead. I am leaning towards Kilkenny and Buzzbee, but I might leave off the ear flaps on Kilkenny.

Then of course I saw some baby booties over at The Purl Bee and who doesn't love booties. These at least look like they just might actually stay on and I think I have the book at home. Score!

At least baby items are small and if you actually knit on them quick!

Weekend in the Kitchen

First thing Saturday morning I popped a cake in the oven. It was my father-in-law's birthday Sunday so of course he needed a cake.



One of my better cake decorating attempts, ruined I might add in the car. The stop layer slid off and cracked. Still tasted good though. I also forgot the candles, but he didn't seem to mind.



Next up some pumpkin muffins. Which I my husband inhaled they were that good.



Then with the left over pumpkin Sunday morning I whipped up some pumpkin pie oatmeal. While it was tasty I think we prefer the Amish Baked Oatmeal.

I also made up a double batch of stuffed shells. Now that took some time, I always forget about the filling of the shells in my prep time.

At least I was successful in the kitchen, because I wasn't craft wise. I decided that since the baby certainly isn't going to fit into the hat yet I can finish that this week. Then she doesn't need a blanket till she gets home, which is Tuesday so I bought myself a few days. I did cast on last night for a tiny hat though she has a little 13 inch head. I don't think I like it though and might have to find something else. Any suggestions for a easy newborn hat?



Claire Noelle, a perfect early birthday gift for her grandfather don't you think.

Flowers and Presents

Look what my lying husband got me Wednesday night.



I say lying because he told me he was going to get his dad's birthday present, but he just went to the flower store and came home. I was trying to call him on his cell phone to let him know a skunk was trying to make a home next to our driveway. I didn't want him to get sprayed or something when he came home on his motorcycle because I could not get that skunk to move. I tried everything, I guess it just wasn't scared of a woman shaking a box of au gratin potatoes at it. So then I tried the car alarm, it still didn't move (although it made all the neighborhood dogs bark) but when my neighbor had some pizza delivered that did it, go figure. Then he comes driving up and pulls out some flowers from his saddle bag. What a sweet sneaky husband.



I spent a crazy amount of time last night wrapping three presents for kids who are just going to rip it off in 5 seconds. I think I did this to compensate for the fact that I am not done with the baby blanket or hat. We aren't going to tell this to my sister-in-law though, she is going to think we forgot them at home. If she even cares since I am pretty sure her newest child will be stealing the spot light. On Sunday however they will be done. I was a little stressed last night and figured I can finish them Saturday. I do have most of the sewing done for the blanket. So that is a plus.