June 13, 2007
More Pictures!
To the people who are coming to Spawndog’s bbq, if conversation starts to lag, just ask TMK how I got dog poo on my elbow last weekend. Oh, and just how much she laughed and laughed and laughed. Good for a relationship, that. (Thank God for boiling water, strong soap, scrub brushes, sandpaper, Purell and eau de cologne. And the fact that it's physically impossible to put your elbow up by your nose. Try it.) In the meantime, as much as TMK thinks her tuteurs are for growing tomatoes, pole beans, clematis and honeysuckle, she could not be more wrong. Tuteurs are for photographing scarves. I present the finished Scarf in Drag, my last thing for Dulaan this year (which means the Yo-Yo Sweater didn’t make it in but, eh). Interesting side note: If you roll the scarf up and turn it on its side, you get a rose: Seriously, if you’re looking for a scarf to make for yo’ man—or for a woman who breaks out in hives at the sight of lace, satin, glitter, makeup, or anything pink—this is it, although in, you know, some slightly more macho color than bubblegum. If you knit it, though, be prepared for some weird reactions from other knitters. Despite how easy the pattern is, even experienced knitters fell silent when I hauled this thing out of my bag. This was usually followed by a thundering rush in my direction, major fondling, the use of loupes for up-close inspections, some “ooooo-ing,” and the inevitable in-depth stitch-analysis. Which was further followed by great confusion when they realized it was just a basic k2p2 rib and the simplest of alternating cables. Needless to say, all the credit goes to the pattern’s designer, Diana. Are you ready for more Mongolia photos? I know I am. First, a close-up of the face of the elderly lady whose photo I posted last time. I cannot get enough of this woman. Another face that mesmerizes me: Get a load of the kicky clown vest on this punkin’, which has been joined, I’m happy to see, by a fleece hat and a sweater. An adorable picture followed by a close-up of a most amazing hat: When was the last time something this simple made you this happy? Something has gone majorly wrong with this hat. I suspect there’s a whole other band of green crumpled up in there somewhere—but the face, look at the face! This child is seriously kitted out: Lastly, although I promise more photos on Friday, another child who is (a) also seriously kitted out and (b) apparently the third recipient of a frog hat. (By the way, see the little sticker on the hat? I did some sleuthing via the zoom feature in Photoshop, and determined that it says, “Handmade in Canada,” so, apparently, somewhere to the north of us, there’s a Canadian knitter churning these madcap (pardon the pun) things out.) 
Hi Ryan, love the scarf! Love the dulaan pics even more!
Posted by: Romy on June 13, 2007 12:58 PMYou know, one of those pictures reminded me of corporate schwag I've received and can't wear because it either doesn't fit or I don't want to be "branded" by a former employer. I should put it in the Dulaan box. It is a couple of sweatshirts and a fleece vest so it would fit the bill!
Why didn't I think of it before?
Posted by: Laurie on June 13, 2007 01:06 PMRyan, that scarf leaves me breathless! And the pictures.......oh man! *must* *knit* *more* *stuff*
We are doing this again next year, right?
Posted by: Nancy O. on June 13, 2007 01:07 PMOkay, I suck. I only knitted ONE thing for Dulaan, and there are way more cute urchins than that over there.
Must.
Knit.
More.
MINE! That top hat is one that I KNITTED!!! The one on the lady from yesterday! I looked at it yesterday and thought "hmmm...maybe?" And it IS!!!
Oh, I'm so totally affirmed!!!
Posted by: MaryB in Richmond on June 13, 2007 02:48 PMThanks for posting all these pictures -- I'm blown away by the skill of the knitters. Wow. MaryB
Posted by: MaryB on June 13, 2007 04:04 PMThose photos are just truly wonderful, so...we need to knit more adult sized items...right?
It's a good thing your elbow doesn't get too close to your own nose but.....it certainly wouldn't have been difficult at all to get it close to TMK's nose, while she's laughing and laughing and laughing.....
The scarf is a beauty, thanks for the link.
Posted by: marianne on June 13, 2007 04:19 PMThe little girl in the slightly-rumpled hat, with her hands folded... how beautiful is that child? Well, everyone in these pictures is beautiful, but in every batch of Dulaan pictures there is one face that really grabs my heart and runs with it. This time it's hers. :)
(One time it was an elderly gentleman wearing a pink hat and a big smile. I don't think I'll ever forget him!)
Posted by: Julie on June 13, 2007 04:53 PMIs also impossible to lick your elbow. We lovingly tease our kids with this all the time. :)
Posted by: Emily on June 13, 2007 05:41 PMI know a boy/man who would love that pink scarf. Thanks for the link, Ryan. I think it's on my Need To Knit list.
And thank you for the photos. They are a wonderful reminder of why we're knitting and shipping.
Dog poo on the elbow? Could've been worse, ya know. ;^)
Posted by: Cookie on June 13, 2007 09:17 PMYyyyyeeeeech! Dog poop.
I hope the frog hat knitter (crocheter?) comes forward because those are too stinkin' cute! We need a pattern!
Oooo-kay. While in the *relative* sense I would have preferred "lawnfrog" (awww...sorta) to "spawndog" (gross!), I gotta yank the emergency brake on this runaway train right this minute. Brother Konchog's name is NOT pronounced in that way. The "kon" is like "sun" and the "chog" is like "stroke". Sunstroke. Bunpoke. Gunsmoke. 'K? But please, for the love of Buddha, if you're coming to the BBQ, the use of Cuzzin Tom has my full blessing.
One "spawndog" outta my cuzzin and I can't guarantee where my spoonful of potato salad is going to land...
Posted by: Cuzzin Tom on June 14, 2007 06:38 AMSeeing the pictures was wonderful. My Dulaan box of 13 items ships tomorrow.
Posted by: Donna in Virginia on June 14, 2007 05:28 PMI love that pink scarf! It's beautiful.
I sent my Dulaan box today, and I am assured that it will be there just in time if not a bit sooner. I have the tracking number and will be checking Canada Post every day starting next Friday! There are a total of eleven items in the box including three child sweaters, two pairs of mittens, two hats, a scarf, and three pairs of child socks.
Posted by: Sheri on June 15, 2007 09:14 AM