Friday, May 16, 2008

Spring! (monkey edition)

In an attempt to prove that I haven't completely gone over to the spin side, here's my latest knitting project:

Yeah, I'm knitter #15,637 to finally knit a pair of Cookie's Monkey pattern. Honestly, I don't know why I waited-- there's noting short of love for this pattern once the purl stitches are replaces with knits. It's great, I highly recommend it-- and yes, I'll be knitting another pair!One more modification here - Eye of the Partridge Heel was used instead of a regular slip stitch. I love the way EOP looks in variegated yarn, and I actually like the fabric it creates better than the semi-ribbed slip stitch version.

The yarn used, oh - again, pure love: it's Handmaiden/Fleece Artist's Casbah. It's a merino, nylon, cashmere superwash heavy fingering blend that can only be described as near perfect sock yarn. Some people (a minority?) may think the blend feels a little velvety - I think it's cushy soft and fantastic. This yarn receives a thumb's up from me.

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Signs of spring at work-- a large bird's nest directly in view of skyway walkers in downtown St. Paul. Still no signs of life within, though. ...and here's the nest that stopped me in my tracks. Between the 400 Robert and Town Square building there is a marble enclosure with anti-pigeon effects. These include a substantial fake plastic owl hanging by a rope with light-up eyes and a bed of nails tucked into the marble niche to stop birds from seeking shelter in this spot. Low, and behold- pigeons have created a nest of their own poo on top of the bed of nails. I counted four babies and one un-hatched egg stuck between the nails. Two adult pigeons at the nest a few hours later. What a precarious beginning to life.
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A co-worker gave me an antique men's sock blocker - size 12- a few weeks ago. I keep forgetting to take a picture of it! A woodworker in the office asked me what the heck it was. After a short explanation and demo, an offer to make a set that fits came up. The next week he asked me what kind of dogs I have. The sock blockers aren't ready, but a prototype did end up on my desk this week. How cool is this??? I'm about to have a set of Basenji Blockers!

As always, Toby is thrilled for his human. :)





5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Deb.....don't give in to the spin side...................

Great monkeys! Don't worry. I'll be at least the millionth person to attempt them eventually.

aj said...

VERY pretty Monkeys! I'm going to have to look into that sock yarn. :)

Guinifer said...

Great colors on the monkeys!

I want some Basenji blockers!

Anonymous said...

Aw, what great sock blockers! Maybe you need to find yourself a size 12-footed male. Merely to justify the antique ones, you understand ;-)

Rebecca said...

I'm glad I'm not the only one facinated with those pigeon nests!