Three on Thursday - Quick Knits for Valentines

Thank you all for the wonderfully positive knitting and puzzle mojo you sent my way.  After reading your comments, I quickly finished the puzzle and pulled out a box of yarn and started a new project.  I'll show you the new shawl tomorrow but for now, I wanted to give back and share a little Valentine's knitting mojo with you.  So, for today's Three on Thursday, we have three quick to knit Valentines projects.

First up, and probably most difficult of the three, Valentine Plaids Hats from Cassandra May.  I just may have to knit all three of these for Hayden.  She's growing like a weed though so I better hurry!  The patterns are designed for newborn up to toddler size.

Or how about a cowl for the grown-ups?  Sweet Valentine Cowl, designed by Ambah O'Brien, is written for two sizes - a long and a short version.  I really like this one because I don't think I'd really notice the hearts if the cowl wasn't knit in traditional Valentines' colors.  Honestly, and no offense to the designer, I see lily pad leaves rather than hearts.  But that's probably because I've been reading a lot of fish pond/aquarium books lately and they are on my mind.  Whether they are intended to be hearts or lily pads, I like this design.

And, last but not least, a Valentines Dishcloth from Cecilia Fameli.  This pattern would be great for those of you (and most likely me) who have procrastinated until the 13th and are in a sudden Valentines Day panic.  Although it's technically a dishcloth, it could easily be used as a special wash cloth for the little one in your life.  Or knit it in manly colors for that boy child who's living on his own and may need a little motivation to wash his dishes. 

Thanks again for sending such an outpouring of knitting mojo my way.  You wouldn't believe how much it helped and I hope one of these patterns returns the favor.  I also hope you'll join me over at Carole's for today's Three on Thursday link up.

I've never been good at math

Knitters, bakers and mathematicians world wide know what tomorrow is - Pi Day.  Every year I say I'm going to cast on a Pi shawl and most years I'm able to ignore the urge.  The years I do cast one on, I'm cussing myself a few months into the project.  Have you ever knit a pi shawl?  They are so fun and quick to knit the first 4,000 rounds, but those last 20,000 rounds take FOREVER!

This year, I'm proud and excited to announce I did not have the urge.  Well, not a big urge.  It was just a teeny, tiny, "I should knit a Pi something for a blog post" urge.  So I knit a Pi dish cloth.

Pi fail

Or at least, I tried to.  I think I screwed up my math because it turned out to be shaped like a VERY wide brimmed sombrero for Barbie.  Oh well.  It will still scrub the dishes just fine.  And, it's green so it counts as my St. Patrick's Day knit.

If you're curious, the yarn is Dishie from Knit Picks in the Caterpillar colorway.  I used US 5 needles and cast on three stitches.  I think for a Pi, I needed four, maybe.  Really, I don't understand why it didn't work.  With the math of pi, it should have worked.  I knit a row, increased a row.  Knit 2 rows, increased a row.  Knit four rows, increased a row....  It should have worked.  But then, I've never been good at math.

Happy Friday 13th and wishing you a pie filled Pi Day tomorrow!

Giving Thanks, Day 1

Happy November, the month of giving thanks.  Along with everyone else in the free world, or at least the majority of American bloggers, I'll be posting something I'm thankful for each day during November.

Since today is the last day of my working season, I'll start the project off by being thankful for my wonderful supervisors and co-workers.  While I do love 'playing with the money' at work, the people are what make the job so much fun.  Without the fun people, the job would be a massive Hell hole.

Each year I've knit something small for our main supervisor & this year was no exception.

Amber's Fingerless Gloves

Sorry, Amber.  I didn't crochet shark slippers.  Instead, you're getting fingerless gloves to keep your hands warm while you read & cuddle with your cat.  And, if you hate them, you can use them as rat sleeping bags.  I'm pretty sure I remember you saying you have pet rats as well as a cat.  That must be an interesting combination.  Anyway....  I hope you enjoy the gloves.  I've certainly enjoyed having you as a supervisor.  You've not only been a great boss, but you handled all those 4:00 a.m. crisises like a pro.  Congrats on a successful first season wearing the Supervisor shirt.

And then there's Jarrett.  Jarrett is one of those crazy co-workers who has, on more than one occasion, almost made me pee in my pants from laughing so hard.  I don't normally make anything for the co-workers, but I saw this hippo dish cloth and well....

Hippo Dish Cloth

It's a silly gift and my version doesn't even look much like a hippo but when I saw the pattern, I couldn't resist.  There's a funny story behind the hippo thing, but I'm not going into details here.  For one thing, just thinking about it makes me laugh too hard to type plus, it's a little rude.  But, for the rest of my life, when ever I see a hippo, I will think of Jarrett.

So, thank you Amber & Jarrett and everyone else who has made this season such a fun success.  I will miss you all and hope to see each of you again in the spring.