My first attempt at complicated charted patterns (from Scarf Style, the Backyard Leaves pattern):

It started out fine, once I figured out if I was starting with a right song or wrong side row. You can see a nicely formed leaf at the beginning. But then it all went terribly wrong, and I’m still not sure what happened. So I’m taking it to my lunchtime knitting class today, so I can show my students that I make lots of mistakes and am always ripping and starting over. For some reason, they have a great fear of undo-ing.

Anamaria took some really lovely pictures of the goods I sent her, and now I’m not as embarrassed as I was. The bag looks much cuter in her photos.

I wore my pink ruffles scarf yesterday, and while most comments were very complimentary, one person said that it looked like intestines.

No self portrait today, I don’t feel like it.

I’m nearly finished with the pink sweater, but since pictures of random knitted pieces are boring, I’ll spare you until it’s completely done and sewn together. Instead, I’m just breezing in and out today, and leaving you with a picture of my kitchen wall:

A philosophy to live by.

In need of a little relaxation the other day, I went to Mitsuwa to check out the new bookstore and the mayonnaise aisle. I spent way too much on craft books:

The first one is all sorts of patchwork projects, and I was inspired to try my hand at a little log cabin block. I think I will make it into a small bag. The middle book is crocheted animals. I wish I could crochet. I’ve tried a few times to teach myself, but it just feels awkward. A friend and expert crocheter is going to give me personalized lessons, so there is still some hope. Mostly I just want to be able to make those little birds (if you look closely, you can see one on the book cover). The third book is lots of tiny embroidered projects, many of them on my favorite-natural linen! Lots of inspiration for me :o)

I also picked up a treat for my little sister:

I know it’s not Argentinian mayonnaise, but it’s Food for ages 0-100! It’s QP Mayonnaise! And it’s squeezable! I hope she likes it.

Once again, I used up my weekly exclamation point allotment in one entry.

My favorite things this week:

The Modern Quilt Workshop. I treated myself to this book after reading about the ModernQuilt-along . I’ve been liking circles lately, making yo-yo’s for, if not a ‘quilt’, then maybe some throw pillows. There are some great patterns in here using circular shapes, and it’s gotten the wheels (ha!) turning and I am wanting to make a quilt before the year is out.

Sitting in the rocking chair on the porch, knitting and enjoying the view.

A recent blog discovery: Jenny Vorwaller. Lovely creations, lovely person, so inspiring!

Music this week:

The Ditty Bops – Great harmonies and a unique sound, so much fun! My favorite song at the moment is Sister Kate

I have a freckle in my eye. Actually, it’s a mole, as I learned while having my eyes examined before having lasik surgery a few years ago.

The pink scarf is finished, and I’ve moved on to yet more pink! A baby sweater for a friend who just had a little girl last month. This is the fourth sweater I’ve made from Debbie Bliss’ The Baby Knits Book. I’ve liked everything I’ve made so far, but the instructions are not the best. I guess the editors felt that fewer instructions make the patterns seem easier, but I’ve been confused a few times. I’ve never done pockets before, and there is nothing in the instructions about finishing the pockets, so I’m just going to have to wing it. And there are a couple of mistakes in the pattern. Ah well, I love the little cables, and I’m using Cashmerino Aran, which is so nice to work with and nice and soft for a baby!