little things
I had big plans for a productive weekend, but then I decided to do some knitting and the laundry is not done, the chicken coop is still in need of cleaning, and we won't even discuss the state of the bathroom. It was necessary, you see, when I went in search of some new pants the other night, and found a cute little jacket on the sale rack at Macy's. Regularly $89, marked down to $19.99! So I had to get it, but it only has 3/4 sleeves, and it's chilly up here in the mountains, and in my air conditioned office, so I thought some arm warmers were called for. I used this easy-peasy pattern, but made a few adjustments. I know my arms are a little larger than average, so I cast on 42 instead of 34. I never did check my gauge, but that ended up working well for my arms. I also made them pretty long, because I have gangly monkey arms, and I wanted them to go nearly to my elbow. Then I finished off the finger-tip edge with a little scalloped crochet border. I think they are quite cozy, and they were super easy and fast. If you haven't knit in the round before, they're a great little project to learn with, since there's no shaping, just straight knitting.
Here's the scallop edge pattern, in case you want to try it: single crochet all the way around the edge. On the next round slip one and in the next stitch, single crochet, double crochet and single crochet. Repeat these two stitches all the way around. I am probably not using the correct crochet lingo, but I'm still a novice, and probably the world's slowest crocheter. I'm getting the hang of it though.
Oh, and I did manage to find one pair of pants. They're a size smaller than I've been wearing, and fit pretty well, so that made me a happy shopper. And they were also on sale.
Since I blew off all my other responsibilities I decided to play around with my macro filters again. I can't get the 10+ one to work, but the 4+ is nice. Here is a tiny, 2" tall meerkat:
He reminds my of a trip to the zoo with my sister and brother-in-law at the beginning of the year. We had our new cameras and took a lot of pictures of the meerkats, because they were so darn cute. I've watched Meerkat Manor a time or two, but they were kind of mean to each other, so I prefer to think of them as the cute little critters we watched that day at the zoo.
And how cute are these tiny mushroom dishes?
They were a Re-ment purchase, and I got pretty lucky to get this little set. Re-ment are the Japanese version of Cracker Jacks, except with these you get one tiny piece of candy, and a really great prize, such as a set of mushroom dished, complete with 1/2" tall salt and pepper shakers.
What is it about tiny things that makes them so endearing? I loved doll houses and miniatures since I was little. I even got a doll house kit one year for Christmas or my birthday. It had all the pieces stamped into thin plywood, and theoretically you would just pop them out and glue them together. My dad helped me with it, and I did my best, but inevitably the pieces would splinter when you popped them out, and they never fit together quite right. I don't think we ever finished it. I still think it would be fun to decorate and furnish a doll house.
I have been itching to make armwarmers for quite awhile now… I even have the perfect yarn. But honestly, I really don’t want to actually knit them. Just around and round and round and round and round…. until my head comes off. Bleh. But yours are pretty!
And, I looooove the scallop edge. I’m a big fan of scallops lately.
I totally know what you mean about small things and doll houses!! I have always wanted to build one, and furnish it but never have. And now my daughter really wants one too, and I am not really sure why I haven’t gotten one for her yet. Maybe it’s because I am too selfish and won’t want to let her do the decorating…hmmm…may need to rethink Christmas gift for her.
And I love the arm warmers, that scallop edge adds just the right amount of girlish whimsy. Nice work!!
Good job on the arm warmers. I received a pair for Christmas last year and was surprised how warm they were. The little mushrooms are so sweet. Congrats on the link to your pear cake! We will be tasting your tasty cake for Thanksgiving!
Hey, I got an unassembled doll house from Grandma and Grandpa one year that was never put together, either. I think there were pieces missing or something and it sat on Dad’s workbench for years. Anyway, let that be a lesson to us to never buy one of those ever again. Preassembled doll houses or BUST!
I think Arm warmers would kill me. Menopause is not fun, don’t let anyone fool you. π
Do you still make those cute little knit dolls? I have a friend that is looking for one. π
Love the armwarmers – esp the scalloped edging. The little mushrooms are so cute too!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I totally forgot to let you know I made the ginger cake. It was so good and I will make it again. Maybe it will look better next time. Yours looked great — that’s what got me to make one. π
The arm warmers are perfect- maybe I wil give them a whirl after the holidays…. Re-ment- never heard of this before, but I am fascinated. I better not show my daughter- this is right up her alley, she will be obsessed.I am glad you mentioned “Meerkat Manor”, I was trying to remember the name of that show. I think they are so cute,but they are really little bastards in real life with each other? Bummer, I was wanting to check that show out. We used to go to the DC zoo lots when my guys were little and I loved the meerkats. Your photo almost looks like a real meerkat!We are sick at my house (my son shared his cold) so I am hanging in blogland for the day again.