Music Monday

"Make the World Go Away" by Eddy Arnold. I'm feeling exactly this way right now - almost 6 am on a Monday morning and I'm ready to crawl back into bed and pull the head over my covers. I think we can all relate to this feeling.

FO: Simple Skyp Socks

Now that it's almost the New Year I feel like things are a little more calm and I have time to post again without feeling like there are deadlines to meet or parties to attend.

Finished socks!  

These are for my new brother in-law so they're too big on me but I think they'll be perfect on him - I also want a pair for myself now that I've made these. 

Pattern: Simple Skyp Socks by Adrienne Ku

Yarn: Malabrigo Arroyo in Vaa

Needles: US #2 (2.75 mm) needles

Mods: None! There are over 2,000 projects for these socks on Ravelry so if you're interested in modifications I'm sure you can find them there. I knit these in sport weight yarn but a lot of people have knit them in fingering weight and they turn out fabulous regardless. They're also available in multiple sizes. 

Happy 5th Birthday!

Today is Little A's 5th birthday! At some point (maybe if she's taller than I am) I'll have to stop calling her Little A but she's still Little A to me. I can't believe that she's been around for five years already and getting ready to enter kindergarten next Fall - time flies! This morning I made apple pancakes with golden syrup and veggie sausages and then Little A opened her gifts.

 There were books and art supplies and a board game to play as a family. She received this giant atlas from her Nana and it's a new favorite already.

I knit her a Bunny Girl with two different dresses and I now have a standing request for a Fox Girl so they can be friends (I did not disillusion A about the "friendship" between real rabbits and foxes). Also, "more clothes in lots of different colors" for the bunny and the fox. 

Little A is going to her Grandma's house to make and decorate sugar cookies later today and we're having the requested dinner of burgers and french fries with cupcakes for dessert. In case you're wondering, we did throw a birthday party for A a couple of weeks ago that involved around 20 of her preschool friends with some parents, lots of food, dinosaurs in party hats, a book exchange, and all the attending noise and mayhem of a room with loads of children free to run and yell. It was exhausting and wonderful. 

Happy birthday, Little A! 

Just in case you want to knit some little bunnies and foxes of your own here are the details: 

Pattern(s): Little Bunny Girl (or Fox), Seasonal Dresses by Julie Williams

Yarn: Rowan Kid Classic in Cream, Millamia Naturally Soft Merino in Fuchsia, Lime, and White

Needles: US #3 (for the body) and US #2 1/2 for the clothes

Mods: I knit the skirt portion of the dresses in the round and the bodice back and forth since I didn't want to knit colorwork flat. You'll also need black yarn for the embroidery on the face. I used DMC perl cotton thread in black since I already had a little ball of it hanging out in my sewing kit and it is nice and smooth to used for the french knot eyes. The dresses are great to knit in leftover balls of sock yarn since they take hardly any yardage and you can add all sorts of details in a contrast color. Little Bunny has already been stripped down multiple times and redressed this morning - I think she's a success!

Music Monday

Last week I wrote that I don't like Christmas music, but there are several songs that I do enjoy listening to this time of year. I'm not sure they're "in the spirit" of the holiday season but I think they mention snow and Christmas and other seasonal stuff that other Christmas songs mention, so there we go. 

"Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues

The Sonics "Don't Believe in Christmas"

"Fuck Christmas" by Fear

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the Holiday season and all the attending parties, family time, and sparkly lights but the music does absolutely nothing for me. So here you go, Christmas music ErinB style. Happy Holidays!

Music Monday

I have to admit that I'm really not a fan of Christmas music. Being inundated with the same songs over and over and over again doesn't move my Christmas spirit or instill feelings of good cheer the way I think it's supposed to do. So what do I listen to when trimming the Christmas tree? Booker T. & the MGs. Every year I slap "Soul Dressing" on the turntable and give it a whirl while we fancy up our Christmas tree. Give it a try, it's definitely got more soul than jingle bells.

Music Monday

"Sir Duke" from the 1976 album, Songs in the Key of Life, by Stevie Wonder.  I'm through round one of the Holiday party circuit and Monday came way too quickly - I need a little pick me up!

Music Monday

"Funnel of Love" by Wanda Jackson.

FO: Maeby Socks

Pattern: Maeby by Liz Abinante

Yarn: Fly Designs Cashmara (80/10/10 merino/cashmere/nylon) in Blood Red

Needles: US #1 (2.25 mm) Hiya Hiya Sharps

Mods: None. I knit four repeats of the pattern for the leg and four for the foot with three rows of plain knitting before beginning the toe. Easy peasy.

 

 I won this yarn as a door prize at Madrona the last time I went - at least four years ago now - and it wasn't even entered in my Ravelry stash despite multiple cullings between then and now. How does that work? 

Pair #6 for my Holiday gift-knitting marathon.