KNITTING WITHOUT DOG HAIR IS NOT AN OPTION

Yeah - I am still around. The blog is still around and hasn't been touched in days. Why, I don't know. Every time I get ready to sit down and draft an entry, I get interrupted and no entry gets drafted. Maybe I'll have more luck this time.

WORK IS FREAKIN' CRAZY!!!

My coworker left for Joisey - she loved the scarf and was very touched that I knitted something for her. She is a knitter, too, but not so into the craft as I am. But I am not going to bore you with more whining about the office. The job is still a lot of fun - it's just a ton to do. The good thing is that my new coworker is starting on Monday and then we'll figure out what I will do and what she will do. Actually, I'll do that tomorrow with one of our attorneys. The newbie will be more of a team assistant and I'll be the office manager and accountant and HR person and the Personal Assistant for the managing partner. I think I'll still have a full plate. :-)

What else??? Maybe knitting??? YES-YES-YES - My haven from insanity. :-)

Mystery Lace 3:

This is my swatch:

The first clue for the knit-a-long was published last Friday - 100 rows of an awesome pattern. Not easy, but a lot of fun. I knitted most of it Saturday morning and finished Sunday morning. Hubby was still asleep, I had peace and quiet, strong coffee and the fiber dogs by my side for moral support. :-) Here is my output:

Unblocked - always looks like boiled butt.

And now temporarily blocked - much better.

The center of the triangle - what could the pattern be? A mystery...

A close-up of the border - perhaps a Celtic influence?

Now I am waiting for clue no. 2, being published tomorrow.

I have also been knitting Preemie Caps for the AKG community project, headed by my friend Brett. I am using Rowan Calmer leftovers on needle size US# 3. Cast on 60 stitches, knit in a pattern in the round for 25-30 rows, decrease over the last 4-6 rows and bind off.

In the meantime I've knitted 2 more - they go really fast. And they are so cute. It just breaks my heart that they will eventually have an afflicted little owner. My hope is that every preemie can keep the little hat as an heirloom and some day show their kids and grandkids. A symbol of how little they once were and that they turned into a strong and healthy person.

And I finished the 8 mosaic coasters for the AKG potluck table decorations tonight. I brought a camera and I hope I won't forget to take pictures.

Sunday I went to the Lucky Duck event at Knitch. There was a bin of rubber duckies marked with discount amounts for each customer to pick from. Boy, the shop was busy. I bought some awesome lace stitch markers from Allison. I love these little rings. I can't deal with big dangling stitch markers when I knit lace. These rings are perfect!

My duck gave me a 10% discount - better than nothing. :-) So here is what I bought from Knitch:

From left to right and top to bottom: Rowan Calmer for a summer top with a lacey bottom pattern and two-colored garter ridge pattern. Two books - Knit 2 Together and Knitting for Peace. And a mystery bag - with 7 balls of Cascade Pima Tencel in black. Very soft! Calls for a shrug or wrap.

And finally - I got a haircut last Friday. I told my hairdresser to cut it really short for the summer - which he did. I almost look like a boy now. But I love it. No blowdryer needed. So - I wanted to show you how different hubby's and my hair is:

I love hubby's hair. He has these gorgous reddish curls. And what you can't see - a fluffy Santa Claus beard. But since he is very private, he doesn't want his handsome mug plastered all over his wife's knitting blog. Can't blame him for that. And in the background you can see one of hubby's hobbies - jigsaw puzzles. If I remember correctly, this puzzle of an ancient world map has 5,000 pieces.

BTW - you know what is really scary? When a summer intern - yes, we get fresh meat from Germany for 3 months of internship - googles your name and finds your knitting blog. And then he starts talking to you about knitting and that his mom is an avid knitter. Too funny and scary... Oh, and that is also one of my jobs - being the intern mom... At least they are all potty trained and in their early 20s. This is the current combination - 3 males: one full blooded German, one Turk, and one Israeli. They all speak German, but one also speaks Turkish and French and another speaks Arabic and Hebrew in addition. Pretty interesting crowd.