I’ve knit several of these ornaments, four to be exact. I haven’t really had any major issues, so I began to grow complacent.
First, I bought aqua beads that came in a package with several different shades of tealish. When Meghan said, I’m not sure different colors of beads is a good idea, I said, I’ll be careful and plan. So, during the cluster that was the Aggie game last weekend, I carefully strung 110 beads in order so no big sections were one shade of teal. Then, I began to knit. I wasn’t paying much attention and soon, I was over halfway done and looking down at an ugly Christmas ornament. I love the Teal Mist colorway, so I wasn’t about to infect it with ugly beading. I ripped it out.
Then, I carefully sorted the bag of beads into five different colors and asked TH which one he thought was prettiest. He liked the opalish ones. So, I started stringing those on…..only to realize that some of them had chips in their shiny coating and looked cheap. So, I unstrung them.
I then selected TH’s second choice and strung 120 beads just in case. Ah, things seemed to be on a good path now. Until I took this on the road. I was knitting in the car (not while I was driving) and I somehow placed a bead and then knitted two stitches and placed a bead and knitted two more and placed a bead then the went back to the pattern with FOUR stitches between each bead. The sad part is that I noticed about 12-14 rows later. Sigh. I unknitted a row or two and then thought, there has to be another way to skin this silly irritating aqua ball of a cat. So, I got out the pruning shears to crack the bead off. Super plan! I’m a genius. Except that the shears were more sharp than I expected AND the bead was more sturdy than expected, so I cut the yarn and the bead was intact. No, I’m not kidding. So, I carefully pulled the extra yarn together and tied a square knot. I dropped the stitch and picked up the new formed loop with the knot to the inside. Crisis avoided. I finished up the ornament and surprisingly, it looks alright, especially considering the journey. Don’t you think?


Ps. Happy Birthday, Buck!

As you may have noticed, I’m somewhat of a fangirl of Hunter Hammersen. I LOVE her sock book and I’m already excited about her next book and I don’t even know what the theme is.
A good friend, let’s call her Meghan, called me when she noticed Hunter was calling for test knitters and I immediately signed up. I was assigned my pattern and got right to work. The lace pattern is very classic and I love it in this green.
TH actually took the pics because I was nearly getting my arm out of socket trying to take the pictures right outside his study window. Now, he could have just continued laughing, but he graciously came outside to offer assistance and discuss the pros/cons of bright sunlight while taking pictures of knitting.

Originally, this one was going to be a Christmas gift, but I ended up knitting a second knit test pattern of Hunter’s and that one felt more like the giftee to me, so I believe I’ll keep this set for my very own.

Ps. I will be wearing the daylights out of these on St. Paddy’s Day.

It is about 90 degrees outside and I might be one of the few people in Texas already getting excited about Christmas.

OH MY GOSH! It just thundered outside. It might rain?!!?! If it does, I’m pausing in my blogging and going out to dance in it. I haven’t felt rain in four months? five? I can’t remember.

I digress. I have started on my Christmas knitting since I don’t have a lot going on for Halloween this year and Thanksgiving to me is generally the day I put up my Christmas tree. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful Thanksgiving morning, through the turkey dinner, and until the last dish is washed. Then, when everyone else feels like napping, I get a little bit gleeful and drag out all the shiny ornaments. Here are a couple of the ornaments that I’ve completed so far. Here’s my version of the Amigurumi Snowball by Dawn Finney. This will be the only one of these I make since you have to sew it up at the end and it was difficult to make it fairly round. Even though I hate finishing work, I have to admit to enjoying the magic of the mattress stitch!


This Jingle Bell Hat is the free Deck the Balls pattern by Sonia Ruyts. Instead of cinching up the end, I wove in the end and rolled up the bottom. I glued it to a medium sized jingle bell with GOOP.


It is raining!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m outta here (picture Sound of Music style spinning in the rain on a hill covered in very very dead grass).