Knitting Fever

OH, boy, summer is here in Phoenix!!!

Between the 114 degree days and the 104 degree fevers, it's amazing that anything gets done at all. The Hall Hartley girls are leaving their mark all over the valley, though, in the form of pukey parking lots!

Lovely thought.

Anyway, Stephen managed to miss out on some of the fun here. He traveled to balmy Indiana (70 degree highs) for a week of 1). Funeral business (we are very sad to say goodbye to his grandfather, Charles Church, who was an optimistic, kind man. He will be missed by too many people.)

2). Yarn shopping. Our favorite store, Mass Ave Knit Shop, in Indy had some great sales. So many, in fact, that Stephen had to ship home what he had bought!

3). Baby holding. He got to coddle various friends and family members. Kids, and babies, love this man. And he made some cool stuff while he was gone, too. Like this shot of his niece, Cali.

And here is Sith-Obsessed nephew Connor. A four-year-old with a serious Pez jones. Gotta love the cardboard crown. He wore it until it sweated away.

And while Dad was away, the girls did play. Lucy, in more lucid moments, finished her felted bag for her teacher, Ms. J. She added a silk photo of one of Stephen's photos, a flower. The yarn is Brown Sheep, and she designed the squiggly handle.

And Mom made some emergency wristbands for friends who will be missed this summer. Come knit with us by the pool, ladies!

Here's what Stephen made on the plane. I always crack up when I think of this man, sitting so innocently with his needles, as other passengers travel the aisles just to see what in the hell he's doing.

He's a little worried that he is adding so many leashes to collars for the women that he loves. Think it means something? This one is a big shoutout to Letoya, for getting him to Indiana so quickly. Thanks!

And Look, I get sloppy seconds. Leftovers make a little chain for me, too.

And here is where we are really worried about Steve. Apparently, like Anakin, he is seduced by the Dark Side. Yes, Crochet. Sigh. What are we going to do? Again, he likes the look of chains. Again, for Letoya (a bracelet).

Four Tanks In Four Days

Inspired by the Loop-d-Loop book by Teva Durham, I ACTUALLY USED A PATTERN. No, TWO patterns. The girl's got it down right, and I wouldn't change a thing. Although, on the next one I probably will.....

Here's Lily in the Ballet Tee, made of Ete by Phildar (a cotton tape, yes, cotton, but it feels ok to knit with) that Eleni and Ippolyti got us in France. They live on the same block as a Phildar store, and had never been in before....can you imagine? Hope that they are liking the results, and there are more to come.....

Lily thinks that she looks like a penguin in that picture....

Ms. Lulu in the Steek Vest, made in peach R2 Paper. It fits me too, but not suitable for all audiences, unlike the one that Ms. Illanna made. Fun, fun, to knit, and I have others planned. Great work, Teva!!!! You are right up there with Elizabeth Zimmermann in the pantheon of knitting goddesses. What an inspiration her work is!

Now, me. Umm, excuse the belly thing. I promise to finish it off with a crocheted edging before wearing it again. It's some old tape that I had around the house, Malindi by Filatura di Crosa, knitted on #15 needles, double stranded, Ballet Tee pattern again. And, below is a half version of the tee for a little Jamaican/German girlfriend of mine. She will be the cutest thing in Indy.

And finally, Lucy Jane finished her bear sweater, ends and buttons and all. And to all a good (cool) night.

Love,

Kikiluscious

PS Updates on the sidebar, Bound Off, and On the Needles.