Wendy Knits

Happy Memorial Day to all who celebrate it.

Lucy plans on spending the day just lying around.

We had a lazy weekend. Watched a couple of movies so I got a lot of knitting done — I’ve started the armhole steeks on Roscalie:

I’ve also started the decreases for the v-neck, sp we’re just rolling along.

In retrospect, I suppose I ought to have ordered a smaller size than a medium — the medium seems pretty big around. Oh well. I couldn’t change my mind after ordering it because Virtualyarns sent the pattern adjustment to turn the vest into a cardigan (the patterncard is for the vest only) in one size only — medium. Though I could have gone back to the original pattern from In the Hebrides, I suppose. Too late now. I’m not overly concerned — I like things oversized!

Mouse Along Gallery

I’ve added a second page to the Mouse Along Gallery (link to the galler in the sidebar). I love seeig everyone’s kitties playing with their mice! There are even a couple of dogs in there too!

Lucy sez:

How cute am I?

Some of you have already sent me photos of your kitties enjoying their mice. Thanks! There’s a link to the Mouse-along Gallery in the sidebar, so check it out. There are some really cute photos there that are guaranteed to make you smile, no matter how sucky a day you’re having! I’ll be updating as the photos come in, but if I get alot at one time, it could take me a while to get them all posted. But I will . . . eventually.

Here is Lucy’s mouse before sewing or stuffing.

And here it is sewn up, being played with by Lucy.

And being used as a pillow by Lucy.

She very graciously played with it (and slept on it) all evening, taking time out from playing with the toys that Aunt Lolly sent her last week (which she has been playing with nonstop since receiving!)

Bloggie Bye-Bye to Kate

Last week Mama Kate announced that she’s taking a possibly permanent break from blogging. I’ve been thinking about it for a few days, and about the future of blogs in general. As I surf around the knitblogs, I see some people talking about blog blahs. I know the feeling — I go through periods when I’m burned out and feel as though I have nothing blog-worthy to say. I’m sorry to see that others are going through this too. I’ll miss you, Kate. I would not have gotten to know you if not for blogging. I hope you’ll come back someday but even if you don’t, the knitblogging community is a better place because you were here and helped start it all.

Lookie What I Got!

This came in the mail on Tuesday. Ooh! Ooh! I can’t hardly wait . . .

And this came in the mail yesterday:

A box that was on the outside marked “Killer Brownie” from Teresa. YUM and thanks!

Lucy’s Roots

Yesterday in a comment, Marta suggested that Lucy might be a Ragdoll. I looked up the breed description and it sure does fit Lucy in both physical description and personality. So as far as I’m concerned, Lucy is a Ragdoll. Not that it matters, but maybe Lucy feels better, having a sense of her own identity. Ya know?

Now that I’ve got a bit of Roscalie completed, I can take a good look at it and tell you what I think about the colors in this version (knitted from Virtualyarns 2-ply Hebridean) as opposed to the original (knitted in Scottish Campion? J&S? I forget. And Lucy’s in my lap so I can’t go get the book to check).

I am making the Roscalie cardigan. Virtualyarns sent me the color patterncard for the Roscalie vest, along with an insert with instructions that revise the vest pattern into a cardi.

The photo on the patterncard is of the vest, knitted in the exact colors that I’m knitting my cardi in. And is unfortunately often the case with Virtualyarns, I don’t think the photo on the patterncard accurately depicts the colors. In the photo, the whole vest looks much more “orangey” than it does in person.

Teresa, did you find this to be true? I went back to your blog to see once again the photo of your finished Roscalie vest, but couldn’t get access your archives.

In my opinion, the colors of my Roscalie look much more like the original photo in In the Hebrides, but richer, more glowing colors. But that of course could just be bad photo reproduction in the book.

So I looked at Geane’s Roscalie, which she knitted from presumably the original yarn. (Didja, Geane?)

Very close indeed, I think.

Catnip Mouse Knit-along

So when do you guys wanna start knitting? I think most of us are ready, right? I can post the basic pattern tomorrow and you all can jump in when you’re ready.

Here are my supplies.

Some Brown Sheep Naturespun wool, a tub o’ catnip, and a 16 inch circular needle in US size 5.

Oh, and if you don’t cable without a needle, you’ll need a cable needle as well. And a tapestry needle for sewing up the mouse after knitting it.

We’ll be knitting back and forth, so you don’t need a circular — straights are fine. And the size is not hugely important. Just go down a couple of needle sizes from what you usually use for worsted. I generally knit Naturespun with a US size 7, so I’ll be using a size 5.

I usually buy Cosmic Catnip, but this little tub of catnip looked intriguing — bought it in PetsMart over the weekend. We’ll see how Miss Lucy likes it.

I plan to make a catnip mouse gallery page, so when you’ve finished your mouse, you can send me a photo for the gallery if you like. If you can photograph your kitty with the mouse, that’s great too!

Lucy

Yesterday was the first sunny afternoon since Lucy came home, so I was able to clearly photograph her sweet little face.