...a day makes. Reentry? You know the feeling. There's nothing in the fridge, the thermostat is all out of whack, the cat's pissed off at you, and the careful repacking job? Well, the under-strata is lovely, folded, and orderly, but the top layers are a treacherous, shifting rubble pile of all that you found in your "last sweep" of the place- miscellaneous Legos from under the couch, that final sippy cup in the drying rack, the shampoo and conditioner from the outside shower, and that Baby Einstein DVD you almost (phew) left in the DVD player. And half of that is now all over the trunk of the car, because even though you didn't acquire anything on this trip (okay, a little smidge of yarn, but that is still in its original bag or otn), you wish you'd brought twice the suitcases. Oh, yeah, and your plants are dead. Your creditors are not.
But if you're lucky, if you click your heels together three times and say, "There's no place like Black Dog Knits! There's no place like Black Dog Knits!" well, then, you might just get to come home to this:
Two packages from my new favorite Australian cultural export. You send me a cashmere/wool project bag, gemstone, freshwater pearl, vintage and crystal stitch markers, and two skeins of merino 4ply from The Knittery (colorways Earth and Passionfruit), and I'm one step away from having the Biscuit dress up as you for Halloween, instead. (Just kidding, Nora. Angus it is.)
And, from the files of "what a difference a gauge makes," we have these two numbers, my most recent FO's:
This is Cari Luna's Baby Yoda sweater, knit up in Manos Cotton Stria. It looks kind of lovely in the photo, and it is very soft, but despite the worsted/aran description, this yarn knits up kind of icky on size 6's. Like runny pantyhose. I made a few modifications to the sweater, mostly because after photographing Beth's for her, and falling in love with the pattern because of her lovely purple version, I also listened to her warning about the amount of seaming that goes into this relatively small sweater. I did the sleeves in the round and a three-needle bind-off for the shoulders. I also omitted the two 6" lengths of i-cord for the inner ties, opting instead for less bulky ribbons. Now I'm almost finished with version #2, which I did in the round to the armholes, and in a very Yoda color (photos in next post, promise). Because you know I can't knit anything just once, right? (Cough *Wallaby* *BSJ* cough.) I had plenty of the Cotton Stria left over, so I also whipped up another of Adrian's bonnets on size 3's:
Aaaah. Now that's how Cotton Stria should be knit. Anyone know how to do some good bear ears?
That little jacket is TOO cute!
Posted by: adrienne | July 01, 2007 at 06:55 PM
Cute baby jacket and hat. Just so adorable, and what a lovely package you received from Black Dog Knits. The yarn looks beautiful.
Posted by: Sue | July 01, 2007 at 07:11 PM
Oh! That Passionfruit! To die for....
Welcome home!
Posted by: Lynn in Tucson | July 01, 2007 at 07:13 PM
Do you have Weekend Knitting? I've used the directions for making the petals for those round washcloth as bear ears.
Posted by: Liz K. | July 01, 2007 at 07:38 PM
Back to life, back to reality...
Posted by: Heather | July 01, 2007 at 08:18 PM
That is going to be one well-dressed Fricklet!
Posted by: Kelly | July 01, 2007 at 08:21 PM
Very cute! Li'l Fricklet is one lucky child.
I'm still trying to envision knitting that emulates runny pantyhose...
Posted by: kmkat | July 01, 2007 at 09:13 PM
Oh, I definitely think the B should dress up as me!
Posted by: Nora | July 01, 2007 at 09:37 PM
Lovely bag. Not too shabby on the yarn, either. Does the little bagget hide the pretty stitch markers?
I knit loosely so I know exactly what you mean by runny pantyhose look. I think many yarn ball bands give gauges that don't suit the yarn. It sometimes feels as if some manufacturers fear scaring off customers with a realistic gauge and needle size.
Posted by: KarenJoSeattle | July 01, 2007 at 11:03 PM
Awww... those are just too cute. I really really like the color, too.
Posted by: nikki | July 02, 2007 at 12:11 AM
I love the Yoda pattern! It's one of my favorite quick baby knits :) I actually like the fabric you came up with - looks a bit rustic, which is in keeping with the theme, no?
Welcome home. We should all be greeted by gorgeous yarn and handmade gifts!
Posted by: reluctantmango | July 02, 2007 at 03:21 AM
such a beautiful set..
Posted by: toya | July 02, 2007 at 06:50 AM
Ooooh, too cute!!
Posted by: Jen | July 02, 2007 at 09:06 AM
Lovely sweater + hat + what a lovely gift. Seeing those little FOs makes me want another little one. Argh! Slap me!
Posted by: diana | July 02, 2007 at 09:56 AM
Killer package--what a treat to come home to! That would totally make coming back from vacation worthwhile.
Posted by: Ashley | July 02, 2007 at 11:49 AM
Fabulous package! Nora rules. I'm itching to make that adorable Yoda sweater for my new niece -- I have big plans for Baby's First Halloween. :)
Posted by: pamela wynne | July 02, 2007 at 12:23 PM
The cute animal ears in Itty Bitty Hats are just the top of the hat divided onto 2 sets of DPNs, knitted up a couple rows, then a couple of k2togs around. You could do that then sew 'em on in a curved shape to make them more ear-ish.
Posted by: Daphne | July 02, 2007 at 12:39 PM
I love going on vacation, and love coming home. But unpacking? Bah!
Posted by: Mandy | July 02, 2007 at 02:44 PM
Cute Yoda! That's a great colorway for it.
Posted by: cari | July 02, 2007 at 04:58 PM
as i'm at the beginning of two weeks away from home with little man(one week in VA and one week at the beach) i know i will be in similar packing/unpacking situations. oh the chaos! love your sweet little jacket/sweater and bonnet. lovely color! i just recently discovered black dog knits and was admiring that bag. you are so lucky!
Posted by: Haley | July 02, 2007 at 05:46 PM
oh i love how the cotton stria knit up. so rustic and i love the colorway.
Posted by: madelinetosh | July 02, 2007 at 07:06 PM
What great gifts and sweet baby set!
Posted by: tiennie | July 02, 2007 at 11:09 PM
Nothing says says welcome home like a pissed off cat! The sweater and bonnet are just adorable. Can't wait til there's a little something to fill em' out ;) How about a couple of half circles for the ears? I can only crochet those off the top of my head. (no pun intended) Welcome home!
Posted by: Carol | July 03, 2007 at 12:14 PM
Yummy looking package!
I love your Yoda jacket - that is so cute - are you sure you don't want to make Yoda ears?
Posted by: Miss Scarlett | July 03, 2007 at 10:34 PM
Welcome back. Just got back myself, and my plants are dead. Luckily, I do not have cats, or any other living thing to be dejected about my neglect.
Posted by: nova | July 04, 2007 at 03:57 PM