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Checking out blogging by mail. Here is my painting in progress:

Christmas Tree Topper

size 6 needles
worsted weight yarn (Lion Wool-Ease) in red (MC), green (CC)
also needed: 2" cardboard circle, polyfill stuffing or extra/scrap yarn
approx 4 spi in stockinette

Cast on 18 stitches in CC. Join to knit in the round
Knit for 2"
Switch to MC, knit 2 rows
kfb around (36 stitches)
k
(k, kfb) around (54)
k 2 rows
k3tog around (18)
k
k2tog around (9)
k 2 rows
kfbf around (27)
k
kfb around (54)
k 2 rows
(k2, kfb) around (72)
k 4 rows
k2tog around (36)
k
(k4, k2tog) around (30)
k 2 rows
(k3, k2tog) around (24)
k 3 rows
(k2, k2tog) around (18)
k 4 rows
** Insert cardboard circle through bottom of tube to fill out first increase area. **
** Begin stuffing top half of Tree Topper. Continue stuffing after increases. **
(k, k2tog) around (12)
k 5 rows
k2tog around (6)
** Finish stuffing Tree Topper. **
Cut yarn and draw through remaining stitches.

Fall hats

I've been wearing a microfiber rain hat from Lands' End and it is getting to be lame. So I pulled the broccoli hat out of storage along with two grey wool felt hats. I'm also knitting a variation on VK's Eyelet Cap. That should perk up the fall wardrobe.

Whipped Cauliflower Mash

1 bag frozen cauliflower, microwaved 3-5 minutes to thaw
4 oz. cream cheese
1 scoop whey protein powder

combine and blend thoroughly with a stick blender

add 1 egg and blend thoroughly

bake at 350 for 20 minutes, until golden brown.

So much new Yarn

First, I received a yarny surprise from my sister:

The solid brown is cotton. The variegated is very soft bamboo.

Then at YarnCon, I bought this from Yarn Hollow:

Hand Dyed silk/merino in all of my favorite colors. I plan to make the cuffs, collar and button band of a cardigan out of this. As soon as I find (make?) a pattern.

I also bought a mystery bag from Chicago Knitters United for $5. One skein was (unlabeled) acrylic and I passed it along to Goodwill. One is Cascade Pima Tencel in the color Turmeric. Very cheery. The other two are unlabeled and I'm not sure of the content. If I can find a book of matches, I'll do a burn test.

Projects Update

The Bamboo Socks are done. And headed for the summer box. Won't they be a nice surprise after a long winter? The Pocket Hat is also done. And is too big. That's a problem I seem to have with hats.

I did a full round of decorative crochet on the Pi Shawl, but I'm still not happy with it. I think I'm going to unravel the silk yarn and start over with smaller needles and a real pattern.

The Muppet Sweater is still going on. It is tough to knit with navy blue yarn in the evening. And I don't know if it will have a home. I may just rush it through and ship it off to Goodwill.

The Pink Eyelet Hat is in the van for when I have spare time in the car.

The Impala towel pattern is in Pixelmator, so I have it next to the computer.

I'm seriously considering quitting the Fair Isle Vest and maybe turning it into a pillow. I don't think DH will actually wear it.

Another one down

I finished my Pocket Hat this morning and wore it to brunch. With any luck, I can re-bind off my toe-up bamboo socks (that's all they need) tonight while watching an Inspector Morse episode from Netflix.

I was actually just about to give up on the sock bind-off. I've messed it up twice and have since worn the socks with the remaining thread loosely woven through the live stitches. Pathetic! Fortunately, I recently learned about Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off. It may be just what I need.