More from the sweatshop

I FINALLY got the Cigar gloves done!! Hooray! I used WoolEase on size US1 needles. That's right, the suggested size is US8, but not for me--size 1s gave me the tight fabric I was looking for on these gloves (6 stitches per inch).

Here's a picture:

The black and grey yarns are WoolEase worsted weight, and the sparkly stuff is something that I can't remember at the moment. I think it's from Moda Dea. These are for Greg's boss' wife, a very nice woman. She (and the boss) spend a lot of time in the garage smoking, and since she's so thin she just freezes the whole time. Thus, gloves that will still keep you warm while you smoke! I hope they'll work for her--she's not exactly easy to buy for.

Here's a close-up of the fingers; the ring and pinky fingers are full-finger gloves, while the other three digits are partial fingers:

Not exactly easy to see since I used black yarn, buy I think they look good. They took me MUCH longer than I thought they would. The mittens I made for Gillian's teacher's aid took me a day each, and these gloves took me about 8 days, I think.

So now I only have two stockings to finish before Christmas, plus a few little things I can't mention here until after Christmas.

Happy Holidays, and I hope you're further along with your holiday preparations than I am.

Christmas sweatshop

Well, not really a Christmas sweatshop since 1.) I'm the only one frantically knitting, and 2.) it's too cold to sweat. ;-)

I did finish gift for Gillian's teacher's aid and teacher. Since neither of them are aware of this blog, I'll post pictures:

This is a scarf for Gillian's teacher. I used Wool Ease Chunky (since I have NO idea about many of the recipients will treat their gifts, I decided to use washable yarns) and the pattern is "Midwest Moonlight" from Scarf Style by Pam Allen. The pen is there to show scale--it's a big scarf!

The mittens are for Gillian's teacher's aid. I used Kool Wool, also from Lion Brand, and the pattern is from The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns which I highly recommend!!

The rest of the knitted items are destined for people who might read this, so I won't be posting about them until after Christmas.

I'm currently working on a pair of Cigar gloves from Knitty, and I'm trying something new to me: working on both of them on the same time, using two sets of double-pointed needles. It certainly isn't going as quickly as the mittens did, but I'm using Wool Ease in worsted weight (again, not sure about how they'll be laundered) at 6 sts to the inch, so the fabric is going to be fairly thick and warm. I hope. And I have to keep reminding myself that not only will they be the same, since I'm finishing one step on BOTH gloves before going to the next step, but they'll also BOTH be done when I'm finished with the last step. Pictures when there's something to see! ;-)

I'm getting really excited about my family coming for Christmas, although there's an overwhelming amount of stuff to be done before then. I need to finish painting the bathroom they'll be using in addition to the regular mad cleaning session that takes places right before the parents come over.... Then there's the sewing/craft/computer/guest room that has to be shoveled out before we can set up the bed. And the knitting I'm planning to do between now and Christmas. Ack!! Here's one of the things I managed to finish a few weeks ago, and now I just need to do two MORE:

The one on the left is my original stocking (my parents call me "Kate" but I haven't gone by that for about 15 years now; I'm not changing the stocking though!) and Greg's is the one I made. I didn't have a pattern so I copied it as best I could. I'm thinking about trying to block it more flat, but I don't want to kill the acrylic. I managed to find almost exactly the same yarn with the exception of the green, which is darker. Not bad for 30+ years later, though! I just need to do one for Gillian and one for Ryan. In 10 days. Oh, my.

NOT Sweepstakes after all

After inquiring about why I didn't get the prize money for my Sweepstakes hooked rug, it turns out I DIDN'T GET SWEEPSTAKES, DESPITE THE RIBBON BEING PINNED TO MY RUG.

I got a really condescending email basically calling me a liar from the creative arts people at the Tulsa Fair. My response was that the damn ribbon was pinned to my rug, and to attach a picture showing it in their locked display case. Fine, so I didn't get sweepstakes (the rug that did definitely deserved it more than mine) but THEY PINNED THE RIBBON TO MY RUG. I just think that's really shitty.

Just in case you were wondering if it could have been a mistake on my part, not only do I have the ribbon in hand (as it was pinned to my rug), but here's a picture again of the rug with said purple sweepstakes ribbon:

The angel rug above it was the real sweepstakes winner. Deservedly so, as it's a beautiful rug. I couldn't figure out at the time why mine had gotten sweepstakes instead of hers. Yeah, turns out it DIDN'T. Sorry, a little bit bitter and hurt here. I was SO excited to have won, and for the woman at the fair office to basically call me a liar is just an additional slap in the face. Here's her email:

[name deleted] gave me your email to answer.

The Sweepstakes winner for Rug Hooking was Mynette [name deleted], I'm not sure who had given you the information that you had been given the Sweepstakes. But sorry for the misinformation.

[name deleted], Creative Arts Assistant

So now what the hell do I do with this ribbon??? I proudly wrote in my information on the back. I know Mynette and she's a wonderful, very nice person. Now I'm wondering if she'll say anything the next time I see her. I'm just totally embarrassed about the whole thing now, and I'm excruciatingly glad I didn't go to the rug hooking meeting last night.