The Sweatshop of Love Blog

I finished Grandma’s hat!

And I had maybe 10 yards of yarn to spare. I was cutting it close and getting nervous.

Cable Crazy

I changed my mind about it, too. I think she will really like it! She has a very smiliar hat that she has been wearing for years, only ribbed and not cabled. Cables are so much better than ribs. So, it isn’t baige. But it is a similar tint… oh who knows. I like it. I might even knit myself one of these with the left over blue yarn from my sweater jacket I put on hold for this hat.

I caught up with my friend Shannon who is about to give birth to her second child and I got inspired to Amigurumi her first child Natalie a duck.

Duck Parts

I knit a blanket for the new baby back in October for my Baby Class. I was getting ready to mail it out but figured I should throw something in the box for the unsuspecting big sister. I’ll finish him up this weekend and mail the hat to Grandma, the blanket and Duck to Shannon, and then finally get back to my sweater. It has been sitting on my work tablel for five days now, patiently waiting for another sleeve. Sleeve number two is just one duck away!

And just a little reminder to you reading procrastinators: Book Club meets Monday at 7pm! Take the weekend to finish our book! I can’t wait to talk to you all about it.

So I had to stop knitting my sweater and knit my grandma a hat. I had this hat in mind from the 2008 Holiday issue of Vogue Knitting that I really wanted to try. Very complicated looking and intricate with the cables and ribbing, and it will all be lost on my grandmother. In fact I can pretty much guarantee that she won’t like it. So what is the point? I want to knit it.

Grandma's Hat

I always say don’t knit for non knitters, and if you do keep it simple. I’m going against my own rule in this case because it is just a hat, it will be a beautiful hat, and I’ve never knit a tam before, but I don’t think I will look good in it, but I want to knit it anyway. I might as well have someone to knit it for, even if it is someone who won’t appreciate it, or even probably like it.

One Down, One to Go

I did finish a sleeve of my sweater, though, and it is turning out really beautifully. I also went ahead and bought the yarn for my sweater dress. More Carron Simply Soft in dark red. I am an idiot, though, and thought I needed 29 inch size 4s, but I already have them! I don’t remember ever using 29 inch size 4s before. I hate 4s! They are tiny! I thought for sure I would need to buy one.

While I was home I got to scope out my mom’s sweater. Please keep in mind that this is her FIRST sweater. First sweater ever! And I practically had to scream at her until she started it. I forced her to buy the yarn, I forced her to realize she understood the pattern.

Mommy Back

And now she has a beautiful sweater.

(cute cameos in that picture? Oliver my puppy, and PT in the kitchen)

Mommy Front

The left front still needs a button band, but look at how great that looks! My mom rocked it out! I’m exceedingly proud.

Mushroom Sandwich

On a completely different level I’m also exceedingly proud of this sandwich. I don’t like slimy veggies and therefore never order veggie sandwiches when I’m out at restaurants. Why can’t the veggies not be slimy? PT and I sauteed up some onions, mushrooms and green pepper and put it on homemade bread toasted in the oven with a few slices of melted pepper jack cheese on it, with sliced tomatoes. Not remotely slimy, ridiculously delicious and easy cheesy. So what the hell every restaurant in the world? Do this and watch the happy people line up to pay you $6 for it.

I can’t help but wonder, though, why everything that comes out of my crock pot ends up looking exactly the same?

Potato and Vegetable Curry (too much cumin seed)