Why are these pumpkins smiling?

  

If they knew what was in store for them, they wouldn't be quite so cheerful. You see, these jack-o-lanterns(from my friend Christin) are about to meet their destiny. 

Hello, destiny.

  

  

  

The big pigs got some, too.

  

  

  

But it's not only the pigs who are reaping the benefits of post-Halloween treats. Look who's on the run.

  

  

  

  

  

Now, about Halloween. My daughter's skeleton costume was so uninspired, I won't bother to share photos. She got candy, that's all that mattered to her. And (insert sob here), I lost her new Celtic cable headband while we were out trick-or-treating. "It's fine," she assured me. "You can just whip up another one." Hm.

But I've been knitting. The February Lady Sweater nears completion. 

  

I'm on the second sleeve, but it's hard going. I am using 12" circulars and between my big hands and those short shafts, they are KILLING me hands and wrists.

  

They beat dpns as far as portability goes. And they beat magic loop because (a) there's less stopping and adjusting and (b) I didn't have any long circulars anyway. But man, my hands hurt. I wonder if Addis have a longer straight part.

Fortunately, this arrived:

  

My new Louet drum carder is here, and it gave me a chance to take a knitting break. I wasted no time throwing together something I thought would give me a nice gray mitten yarn. 

Clockwise from the top: gray mystery wool from my friend Donna, white Romney from my friend Jake, leftover bits of dyed silk/merino in pink and aqua (because that's all I had), and some black alpaca from Champlain Valley Alpacas. I wasn't sure if the silk would show or not but I thought it would add a little bit of sheen and softness and warmth and maybe a touch of color.

 

The result. Amazing how things combine, isn't it?

  

It's actually a bit pinker than I was hoping for, but I'm happy with the feel of it, and I carded up six ounces to be sure I'd have enough. I'm still working on my double-drafting (can someone tell me if this is the same as American, or supported, long draw?). I think it's easier with drum carded fiber than rolags, or maybe I'm getting better.

  

I still have a hard time controlling the thickness of the yarn, but I think the unnevenness makes it a bit more rustic. In a good way.

Now, about Milo.

Good cat:

  

Bad cat:

  

I finally caught in pictures (albeit long-exposure, before-dawn, no-flash photos) the kind of Jeckyll-and-Hyde mood swings that characterize this weird cat. In a span of less than 2 minutes, you can see for yourself the feral cat Milo transforming into contented pet Milo. Again, excuse the blurs.

6:17:18 a.m.:

 

(Note the rabbit-kick action in the next photo)  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

6:18:59 a.m. Zzzzzzzzz.

Comments

[JessaLu]

"Hello, destiny" you crack me up. ;o)

Love your FLS!

[Amanda]

--Well, that's a much better fate than my pumpkins will meet. :)

--So sorry to hear about the headband. Whip up another one of those in your spare time, why don'tcha?

--12" circs make my hands cramp just looking at them.

--And, wow, the magic of the drum carder! That's beautiful stuff!

[Sonya]

I think Milo may have a split personality thing going. I love the color of your FLS.

[Sarah L.]

Wow! My cat does the same thing. In the space of a second he goes from sweet and loving to evil. Same back leg action too. You can always tell it's coming, because his pupils dilate. Weird . . .

[trek]

1. If I recall correctly, and I think I do, your daughter knows how to knit. Tell her to knit her own danged replacement. ;o)

2. Dopey cat! :o)

[AnnaMarie]

Skitzo cat is cute but dangerous *lol*

Great minds and all that, I've been carding all afternoon. I've just come up with an idea that might be very cool if it works, but have to scrounge around for some black roving first....

[TheBon]

Our cat does the same dual personality thing. But she doesn't bite hard enough to hurt ever, or put her claws out when doing it.

[Cynthia]

Jessie -- the biggest difference between double drafting and American supported long draw is that in double drafting your first quick draft pulls a thick blob of fiber out from the rolag & then your drafting hand clamps down and doesn't release any more fiber as you do the second, evening-out drafting. American supported long draw can be more of a continuous drafting style, where you release more fiber from the rolag (or roving) as necessary. That's my understanding, anyways. I think my drafting style is a combination of the two!

[Judi]

Have you ever tried using two circs instead of dpns? It is nice and smooth (if you have nice flexible cables) and lots better than struggling with one.

[heide]

Waste not want not. Our Jack-o-lanterns are currently rotting on the sidewalk.

Milo is precious.

[Sylvia]

I cannot knit with those short circs. Yes, metal dpns fall out at that point in a sweater -- I take a different project if I need something portable and finish the sleeves at home. Wood needles might stick better for you?

Bummer about the headband. Definitely hand the needles, yarn and pattern to the daughterperson.

Love the pumpkin "re-use." After doing it by mistake one November, I always piled a tractor scoop of chicken S & straw in a fallow corner of a field, buried a complete pumpkin or two near the top, ran a bit of fence around to keep the critters out, and enjoyed the plethora of pumpkins the next fall. It is amazing how much fodder you can get from a single 6-foot-diameter hill of pumpkins.

[K]

Hee, the piggies, the piggies! They're so cute. And oi, cats and their mood swings. Zero to demon in 2.5 seconds.

Your FLS is a beautiful colour.

[Gretch]

I'm with Judi - two circs work great. If you could work dpns, these won't bother you. I hate HATE 12" circs, and wouldn't dream of doing sleeves, socks, wrists - anything round and little with anything but two of my trust circs.

[donna lee]

I'm amazed at how light and pretty the roving turned out after looking at the mix of colors you chose. You have a good eye for color. And when my daughter hinted that she wanted more handknit socks, I gave her some yarn and needles. She got the hint.

[Becky]

Yeah! Goat pics! And, the devotion of that cat to your husband is heartwarming.

[elizabeth]

My cat goes through the same transformation, particularly if you don't meet his needs RIGHTATTHISVERYMINUTE! Spoiled rotten, that one.

[Rachel]

I always look forward to your posts. The menagerie cracks me up.

[Knitnana]

Hmmm...Might Milo appreciate a touch of calming Rx? Perhaps an antidepressant?
lolol
He certainly looks the sweetie in that last photo!
BEAUTIFUL sweater!!!
(((hugs)))

[gayle]

The term "bi-polar" might have been invented for Milo...
I knew piggies loved pumpkins, but the other critters were a surprise!
And I'm glad you got a drum carder - I know you'd been missing the borrowed one.

[chris]

Love the color of your FLS - I just finished mine today - I magic looped the sleeves and it went pretty fast. Milo is cracking me up!

[CindyCindy]

Milo is consistent in his inconsistency. Amazing and beautiful wacko. I love your February Lady sweater. I cannot wait to see it completed.

[Beate]

great FLS.. reminds me of what Iam knitting, but in baby size: february baby s. from EZ Almanac.. is it the "same" ? in princip I meen?Love reading your blog on saturdays.. makes me feel good- something nice to look forward to while I am drinking my morning coffee. Have a great week-end.

[Mary Lou]

I was reading an article about cats which said that they go into attack mode when they are over-stimulated (too much petting). They twitch their tails to warn you when they've had enough. Maybe Milo is reacting to stimulation and isn't really bi-polar. :-)
My kitten does the same thing as Milo so I have learned to back off when petting or brushing her.
Blogless Mary Lou

[Teyani]

what a great use of old jack-o-lanterns. the critters look so happy to join in the celebration of this "holiday" .

I am totally with you about the pain of using small circulars. It's my least favorite thing to do, but it does make things ever so much more portable.
sigh.

[candycat]

I love the sweater and love peeking in on your amazing, beautiful life. Does Milo have a fan club? If not yet, can I be president??