Mossy Cottage Knits

Happy Heart, Happy Feet

A few fun goings-on in the always unpredictable World of Dulaan:

First, a wonderful new Avalanche-Or-Any-Bulky-Weight-Wool-Yarn-That-Knits-To-Gauge hat pattern, designed by local knitter, Feralite, all-around fun gal, and one-half of the Yarn-Girls twins, Peggy. I can’t wait to make one of these hats! They fit wonderfully, look like a pantload of fun to knit, and Peggy reports that you can start and finish one in the time it takes to microwave your TV dinner.

And now, a confession. During last week’s Great Freeze of Ought Six, because I, being a child of the tropics, know squat about taking care of me and mine in winter weather, TMK advised me that I needed to start my car two or three times a day to make sure something horrendous didn’t happen to my “engine block,” whatever that is. This involved sitting in the icily radiating metal box that was my car for what seemed like interminable minutes in, oh, 20° weather, and discovering after about Minute Two, as my fingers turned blue and I shivered so hard I practically bounced my way into the back seat, that I hadn’t even come close to dressing warmly enough. Enter Peggy’s large bag of Avalanche hats which she had given to me at the last Ferals and which was sitting on the passenger seat. Once I espied the bag, things improved dramatically. Every time I went to warm up the car, I would slide into the driver’s seat, grab an Avalanche Hat—sometimes a tan one and sometimes, when I was feeling bold and giddy, a red one—plop it on my head, turn on the car, sit and wait comfortably and warmly until the engine block was once again feeling happy with its lot in life, turn off the car, plop the hat back in the bag and head back to the house. Borderline scammy I know, my personally wearing hats intended for the Mongolians, if even for a scant five minutes, but they will go to Mongolia, pinky swear, but, in the meantime, thanks to Peggy and her marvelous hats, I didn't lose a piece of ear to frostbite or a filling to over-the-top chattering of the teeth. And now that the Great Freeze of Ought Six is over, the hats are safely stored in my garage, no longer a temptation.

Secondly, on the money-raising front, through December 31, designer Lisa Shobhana Mason, knitter, designer, author of Yarnplay, and My Life in Stitches blogger, is donating a major portion of the proceeds—$1.75—from the sale of this pattern to F.I.R.E. What’s more, the company Anichini, which, per its web site, “purveys an extensive collection of luxury linens and home furnishings for the bed, bath, and table,” will match her donation, meaning for every pattern sold, $3.50 will go to F.I.R.E. Thank you, Lisa!!! Spread the word, everyone, and let’s see if we can’ get some real moolah sent F.I.R.E.’s way!

(Note: I just received an email from Lisa saying that she will be shooting an episode of Knitty Gritty over the next few days so she probably won't mail patterns until Friday.)

Thirdly, Tammy, "So Now What?" blogmistress, is running a contest for Dulaan, details here (you'll need to scroll down a bit). She's offering wonderful prizes and recently extended the deadline for the contest to December 23, so get knittin'!

(Good heavens, there's so much exciting, positive, creative energy out in the Dulaan Universe right now, I can't stand it!)

After the September/October borderline sock disaster, TMK took it upon herself to swear to the Knitting Gods that I would always have a pair of socks on my dpns so I wouldn’t lose my sock mojo again. (I now wonder why I quit knitting socks in the first place. In fact, I think I’m suffering from a slight case of was lost, but now am found.) Spurred by this and by some yarns that Blogless Elaine has dangled in front of me over the months, I went to Weaving Works and bought these mouth-watering Trekking yarns:

The yarn on the left has already been turned into My Most Favorite Socks Ever (er, Knit By Me since I have many Most Favorite Socks Ever, Knit By Other Folks; you know how that is):

Are these colors not yummy? Do they not make you want to kiss babies, secretly pay for the coffee of the person in line behind you, or go skipping down the street? Granted, for once I wish they were a little less fraternal but ultimately these socks just give me such total and utter happy feet I can’t complain.

The second skein of yarn is well on its way to becoming a pair of socks as well. Despite the yarn’s slightly muddy, almost pointillist colorway, it, too, is self-striping but makes lovely, soft, indistinct, dark-jewel-tone stripes. When they are finished, rather than make me want to kiss babies, I think these socks will make me want to wear tortoise shell glasses, discuss ethics and philosophy, and drink exotic teas. And then go skipping down the street.

P.S. For those of you who asked for TMK's caramel sauce recipe, she has determined that it is altered enough from its two original "source recipes" (at least, as much as one can alter a recipe that has three ingredients) that she can officially declare it "hers." She has made some noises about posting it on the blog, so keep your fingers crossed.

Posted by Ryan at December 4, 2006 11:31 AM