Boys Rule!

Well, I managed to get the boy baby blanket done on time for the shower! I'm still working on the girl blanket, but I think I've got about 5-6 weeks left before they get here, so it should all work out ok. Ugh, things always take longer than you think they're going to!

And, I also learned that when people say that a yarn is “plied,” they mean that strands of the yarn are twisted together to make the yarn stronger and softer. Individual plies can be very thin, so saying something is four-ply just means that it's composed of four strands of yarn and doesn't really say anything about its thickness.

Today's Tip: Happy Spring! Take the time to stop and really smell the flowers :-)

Just a few more blocks!

So, the baby blanket crunch time is serious now, hence no blogging! The baby shower is next Saturday, and the baby blankets are proceeding, but ... Though it is amazing what you can accomplish when the pressure is on. I hope to figure out how to do pictures on this blog soon so you can see the final products! Ah, so much to doooooooooo.

Anyway, I sort of knew that "mercerized" cotton involved doing something special to the cotton, but I just learned that it was a John Mercer who invented a process in the early 20th century that uses a solution to break down the cotton fibers to make them softer and more receptive to dye. Really interesting the info that you can pick up these days.

Ok, I gotta go back to the blankets! I promise, a better post coming soon...

Today's Thought: Soaking eggplant in cold, salted water for about a half hour makes it much easier to cook and less bitter.

Running Out

Argh, I've been experiencing running out of yarn too much lately. You know the feeling, "I can eke out 5 more stitches, come on!" But, of course, you can't. I found this tip, though, that has really helped: If you have a length of yarn at least three times the length of your knit or crochet row, you should have enough to get across to the other side. Otherwise, cut your losses and just go ahead and join a new ball before beginning the next row.

Today's Thought: Happy Easter!

On the Mend

Ah, can't believe I got felled by the cold/flu that's been making the rounds at work! Really knocked me for a loop.

Well, Nancy's sweater was finished in time for our annual lunch together, and she seemed really happy. Hopefully, it will be warm enough for her to wear it soon.

Now, it's on to the baby blankets that need to be finished by April 12th. I think I've got enough time, I've tried to plan out my strategy, but the best laid plans...

Anyway, I learned the most interesting thing today: There is sometimes a reference in history or literature to someone being from the “distaff side of the family” (meaning the maternal side). A distaff is a device constructed to hold unspun fiber as it’s fed onto the spindle or into the spinning wheel. The term originated during the Middle Ages. It comes from a reference in the Bible, which said that a virtuous woman is one who seeks wool and works willingly with her hands on the spindle and distaff.

Today's Thought: Just one or two cups of coffee causes your cortisol (the stress hormone) level to be elevated for 12 to 14 hours, which can have adverse consequences to your blood sugar level and immune system. Switching from coffee to tea has helped people lose weight and feel much better in just six weeks.

Happy Leap Year!

Ok, so I'm two days late! I can't believe how fast February has come and gone, and now we're already into the second day of March. The day job has been keeping me very busy as have a number of crochet projects. Remember? My vow to finish or abandon old projects before starting anything new? So far, so good. I finished the dog sweater but haven't yet gotten any pictures to post (my luck, it starts warming up around here in D.C. just about when the sweater is finished, but sometimes we have our craziest weather in March, so there's hope :-)

My other project has been to finish my friend Nancy's bolero jacket. The pattern is in Stitch 'n Bitch's The Happy Hooker, page 168. She started this project herself last spring, and we'd meet periodically for me to help her. Well, while reading the pattern to her and chatting between rows, I led her astray! Hence, I offered to correct and finish up the project for her. Her birthday's coming up, so I'm hoping to have it done by then (I ended up having to start over because I find it so hard to pick up something that I didn't start myself.)

After the bolero, it's on to the baby blankets! Turns out my friend who is having twins is having a boy and a girl! Very exciting (plus, for me, I know what colors to use!). The shower's in April, so you know you'll be hearing more about this project in coming posts.

Today's Thought: A nifty site I heard about on a commercial -- it's called CouponBug.com. You type in your zip code, and they show you all of the coupons available for your area. You can choose whick ones you want and then print them out!

Know Your Hooks

There are many types of hooks out there -- does it matter which one you choose for your project? Yes it does. For slippery yarns, like silk and bamboo, you are going to want to use a wooden or bamboo hook because it's less slick than steel or aluminum hooks and will allow you to have more control over the yarn as you work. For a cotton chenille or another bumpy, prone-to-snagging yarn, then you'll want the aluminum hook to help the stitches slide along.

Today's Thought: Yokan, or red bean cake, is a delicious Japanese dessert made mainly with red beans, sugar, and gelatin. It's got lots of protein, it's not too sweet, and it's a bit different!

Happy V-Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, everybody! These are hectic times, but we hope you'll take time today to tell all the folks in your life how much you love them. Enjoy the day :-)

Today's Thought: Yoga Toes. If your feet are aching and cramping, you need these! They look like those toe separators used for pedicures, only larger and of rubber. They take some getting used to, but stick with it, your toes will thank you! They're available through www.yogapro.com and www.amazon.com (you might want to price shop, there is a range of prices for basically the same product).