Knitting Away

Shawn and I have been toying with the decision for him to stay in the military if he makes rank this testing cycle. I'm trying really hard not to think about another 3 years of military hell. I'm so ready for retirement and my own home. If I think about it too hard I'll end up with a flippin ulcer so denial is the river I'll be floating down for now.

Shawn will be heading out the beginning of Nov for 6 weeks at the NCO Academy. I can't even begin to explain just how much I'm dreading those 6 weeks. He'll be heading home 3 frickin days before Christmas providing the weather doesn't keep him from getting home. Between here and Colorado anything is possible and it doesn't help that he'll have to drive down there because they expect him to bring his own printer. You so don't want to get me started on that rant. Who has two thumbs, hates the cold because of her arthritis and will be in charge of shoveling snow....that's right "This gal". OK so no I won't be shoveling it because we have a snow thrower but it's still not easy work and who in the hell wants to be outside clearing snow at the ass crack of dawn when it's -20F outside? Not this lady but that's exactly what I'll have to do so I can get the kids to school. I'm really hoping the snow won't be bad this year or at least wait till Shawn gets home but it flurried a little bit today so I have a feeling this is going to be the year for Snowmageddon. Snow flurries before Halloween is never a good sign. OK, Mother Nature prove me wrong!!

So on to knitting. Lets see what have I been up too. Well I finished some test knits but for obvious reason I can't show you those.

I did finish Bree's Christmas sweater.

Not the greatest picture. I'll get a better one after blocking and sewing on the buttons. I opted to put a third button hole in. The pattern is Tiny Tea Leaves (ravelry)(non ravelry) and the yarn is Miss Babs Yowza. I really love Miss Babs yarn and her Yowza worsted weight yarn is wonderful. Who could argue with a 560 yard skein of yarn?Awesome! The colorway is Blue Teal. 

Finished shot of my Choix Entrelac socks.

I test knit this pattern for Woolgirl and Miss Babs quite awhile back. I haven't seen this pattern for sale online but I'm pretty sure Miss Babs sells them in her booth during fiber fests. I got my pattern by contacting Miss Babs through email. I like that this one has some entrelac in it but not enough that the socks don't fit correctly. Most entrelac socks end up being to tight for me. The main color is Miss Babs Yummy 2ply sock in the Smooch colorway. The green yarn (Kiwi)  and the purple yarn (St. Clematis) are Miss Babs Yummy Toes sock yarn. They're mini skeins perfect for heels and toes. I worked two colors for the heel and a stripe of green before starting the toe decreases in purple.

My attempt at a crochet drink coaster.

I think there are like 20 stitches in the base chain then row after row of single crochet until it was long enough to double over. Then I worked a row of single crochet to bind the two halves together. After that I worked 5 double crochet stitches in one stitch then skipped a stitch and repeated that all the way around. I think the end product came out pretty good. The cotton is nice and thick and soaks up the liquid that sweats off of cups with ice in them. I think I'll make a few more.

The buttons I found for the girls cardigans. 

The dragonfly buttons are for Bree's sweater and the purple stripes are for Kaity. I found them at JoAnn's. 

I've started Kaity's cardigan but haven't taken any progress shots. I have about 6 inches to go before finishing the body. After that it's two sleeves and the button bands. It'll definitely be done before Christmas. I have it set aside right now because I'm working on test knits.

I'll leave you with some shots of Penny trying to be a little dog.

That's Zeus' bed she's trying to sleep in. I should have snapped pictures of Zeus sleeping in her bed. I need to find Penny a bed with sides on it so she can snuggle in it. I found some nice ones at PetCo but they want like $75 for a bed big enough for Penny. I'm hoping Sam's Club will get dog beds back in again. One year around Christmas they got in a bunch of dog beds like what I'm looking for.