Grrrr...

Hi there, I'm Loopy. And I'm a knit washcloth...hear me roaaaarrr!




Meet Loopy. Isn't he brilliant!!! And a blast to knit too. I can't believe this pattern (Grrr from last summer's Knitty) hadn't caught my eye sooner because it's super quick (Loopy here took less than 2 hours to make start to finish including embroidery, hanging loop and weaving ends!), it's super cute, uses less than a ball of stash and it's functional too!



Naturally, I had to immediately cast on for another. He's Loopy II and I've been petting him all afternoon. So soft and fluffy. I may need to knit another for myself since both these cubs have already been claimed by mine ;0)



I knit them both from stash Knit Picks Shine in Sunflower and Terracotta. I didn't know if I would have enough yarn for the full sized version so I knit Loopy using the smaller version (22 sts wide) with inch and a half loops to be safe but it turns out I didn't need to worry at all since I had lots of yarn leftover.



So I knit Loop II using the larger instructions and with a shaggier mane, and still had yarn leftover so if you knit one of these, don't fret too much. I think I used less than 70 yards even for the larger cloth.



So go knit one already. I personally guarantee that you'll be glad you did! If you're not, just pop it in the mail and send it to my kiddos ;0)

Now on to my hyperbolic pants. Heehee!

The good one ;0)

We were sitting on the bottom step together yesterday, hurrying to put our shoes on so we wouldn't miss daddy's train when Julian totally blew me away. This two year old of mine was doing up the velcro on his runners and said, "mommy, I put on my left shoe". And it was! So I asked him what his other foot was? "The good one," he replied. "You mean, the right one?" I asked. "No mommy, it's the good one!"

Stephen was on vacation last week so we were busy little bees, soaking in the sun, visiting the sites and of course running some errands! We took the boys to the Montreal Biodome with grandma and grandpa and it was a lots of fun. Julian got to see penguins, and porcupines, and a moose, and a cougar, and giant jungle birds, and even an alligator! He was very impressed. Logan on the other hand was most smitten with the fish. I was carrying him in the bjorn and could literally feel his breathing patterns change as the aquariums soothed him. Magic!

We also got to do something a little strange...we went to a Stanley Cup parade in our little suburban town! The goaltender for the Ducks is from our little town and brought the celebrated cup over for an impromptu Monday afternoon parade.

It was strange to go for a neighbourhood walk in the deeps of suburbia to participate in a Stanley cup parade when our home team didn't even make the playoffs! It was great fun nonetheless. Giguere (the hometown hero) rode on an old fashioned fire engine with the cup, preceded by the local kiddy teams and followed by what seemed like all the kids in town on their bikes cheering and waving. It was a really cool suburban moment.

Julian was trying really hard to keep up with the parade on his little tricycle. He was so focused and determined, trying to go really really fast... despite his best efforts though, he was the very last kid in the parade. Here he is being tailed by the police escort. So cute ;0)


I did get a little knitting done, too. I started knitting a trellis of my own for Lolo and honestly it's such a fabulous little quick knit that I really don't know why I didn't knit it before. I've got half a front and sleeves left to go before I can consider this one an FO. I just hope it fits Lolo when it's done... I knit the 6 month size but it looks a little small.


The story of the week though...Buddy Bags! The response has been so heart-warming. Knitters are so wonderful ;0) For those of you who have purchased a pattern, you may want to go download it again using the same link you were sent. A few knitters send some minor errata which I have reflected in a new update (any new buyers will receive the revised file).

Here's the errata:

• The row numbers in the 'Birdy wing' section should be even-numbered starting with row 2...(all odd-numbered rows should be as indicated in row 1) - thanks Renee!
• In the basket instructions, Row 20 should read (P5, K3) - thanks Jessica and Renee!
• I added needle size info throughout to make it clearer
• I added a note up front about how the pattern is for your personal use only and should not be sold or distributed. I also ask that you not sell any Buddy Bags you make, though you can knit and give away as many as you like ;0)

Next time, some Q&A for anyone interested in self-publishing a pattern. I'll share my research and experiences with software and online tools...

Happy knitting!

One week

Well it's been one week already since our little lolo joined the nest and I think we're going to keep him ;0)

He's a great nurser and a good sleeper and we're all adjusting nicely to our new family. And though there were many "what did we get ourselves into" moments last week, I'm beginning to feel more confident about being outnumbered 2 to 1 when daddy returns to work in 5 weeks time. Okay, not really but I thought I'd exercise some positive thinking! Renee, how did you do it?

There hasn't been all that much knitting time since we returned from the hospital with our new bundle of joy but I've kept the anniversary sweater close-by and knit on it every chance I get. I now have the back done and probably 3/4 of the front.

I didn't wash and block my swatch and am now wondering how the Rowan All Season's Cotton will react to a soak. Will it grow? Anyone have any experience with this stuff? I think I may have to block the back to see but it seems there is no where left for me to let my knits block anymore now that Julian actually sleeps in his bed. I think I may have to make myself a blocking board one of these days.

Oh, someone's getting hungry again. Got to go ;0)

Still nothing...

Well we tried our best this weekend. We mopped and vaccumed. We took long walks around the mall. We drove over lots of speed bumps in the parking lot. I took warm soothing baths to relax. And even got to enjoy a really nice date night with hubby (*wink *wink)! But still no baby. That means we only have one more week to try to get things going on our own before our doctor takes over and induces labour...




So my strategy for the week is distraction! Since everything is ready: socks are knit, bags are packed, car seat installed, nursery organised, house sparkling, contingency plans for getting to the hospital and arrangements for Julian during our stay there done...well, there really isn't any reason for me to dwell on any of this this week now is there?

So I'm going to will myself to think about other things, starting with the knitting! See that picture up there? It's not a baby knit. No Sir-ee, Bob! That there is a really, really old project and long overdue present for dada. Anyone recognise it? It's Knitty's anniversary sweater that I started working on almost a year ago.

It was intended as a present for my honey on the occasion of our second (aka cotton) anniversary which we celebrated on April 17th of last year. Needless to say it's been slow going. I have the back done and just cast on for the front. I figure as long as I give it to him before April 17th of this year, it'll still count as a cotton anniversary gift ;0)

(See how I didn't think about it for a whole paragraph there? I can totally do this ;0)