More muddy bits

Finally! The vest is finished as of this morning and is currently in the process of drying. I could have rushed it in order to wear it to an event yesterday, but after all these weeks of work, I didn't want to risk using steam to block the piece. It's got a high silk content and I thought that since I'd followed the instructions of this piece so precisely, it might behoove me to follow the designer's operating manual on blocking, too. So I gave it a bath. A long one that I hoped would wash out the coffee stain. It did. I didn't spill the coffee, but in preparation for bathing, I set the finished vest on dark coffee grounds on a dark counter top. Don't worry though--the coffee stains are gone.


The sweater is gorgeous, soft and warm. All the qualities I like in my hand knits. Pictures on the live model will have to wait for the drying process.


There was a bit of worry for a time when I realized that somehow, I'd lost my focus and made some rookie mistakes on the collar. In one area, I forgot a cable. In another, I dropped a stitch and didn't notice for 2 rows. In my defense, that stitch was hiding in a ribbed section. The last was finding a yarnover when clearly, there's not a yarnover to be had in the entire pattern.

There was a lot of puttering, tinking and cursing to make it all right and for now I'm blaming the mistakes solely on Donkey Kong.


On Saturday, I bought a used Wii system and had my son rent Donkey Kong Returns for me. Instantly, I was transported back to the days when my kids were young and played video games. When they went to bed, I hogged the nintendo system all to myself and I played DK and Mario Brothers for hours on end. It's taken 2 days and an entire team, but we've cleared two worlds so far and are dying too often on the third world to make a dent. I ignored the manufacturer's warning on this operating manual and I did sustain some minor injuries. I have developed a bruise on the tip of my left thumb from manhandling the controller. We were supposed to go out for dinner last night to celebrate my birthday, but instead, we ordered pizza to be delivered while my daughter, my son and I played and laughed for hours.

Now that's my kind of celebrating.