Right as rain

*ice dip*

Early this morning, Plat told me it was snowing. So you can imagine how much happier I was when I woke up and saw rain instead. (And a bunch of green poking out of the ground!)

Sedum sprouting

As a kid, I mostly hated the spring rain. It's finally warm enough to play outside and then it has to go and get all wet. Jumping in the puddles is only fun the first few splashes and dancing in the rain lasts just a dozen twirls until you're chilled to the bone.

Now that I'm all adult-like and have a house, I am loving the rain. The pitter-patter on the roof, the wind through the trees and the occasional car whipping through the rain-soaked street — that rhythm is my music inside today. And outside? Our new trees and spring flowers are getting a good soak.

Daffodils hopefully and lilies ... Lilac buds

*ice dip*

In the time I write this blog, I will have dipped my wrist in icy water three times. The lack of crafty updates is mostly due to a knit-injury that slowly gripped me. It was just sore for most of last week. So I babied it with some easy projects ... like a twisted-knit stockinette afghan I started last summer and a spring bunny picked up on Friday.

Second panel of Yarn Bee sampler afghan


Bunny leg ... Bunny Wabbit pattern photo

But when I woke up Saturday, it was popping every time I pivoted my wrist. A painful pop. Lucky for me, my knitty friends planned a yarn-shopping trip instead of a knit-all-day. We drove up to Door County and the temperatures soared into the 80s. In April! It was a beautiful yarny day.

Zauberball sock yarn is a piece of art!

And today, I think the wrist is almost 100%. As long as I keep up with my ice dips, I think I'll try a few simple rows.

*ice dip*

A blog award for meeee?

Brenda over at Loom Lore recently honored me with a super-sweet award! She posted The Kreativ Blogger award on my Maniac Legwarmer pattern.


The obligations of this award are to hop in the air seven times, eat seven yummy grapes, give seven squeeze-y hugs, list seven things I love and then pass it on to another seven bloggers. OK, the first few things might just be me.

Seven loves
1. My sweet husband who supports but still pushes me to try new things (and video games) — AND who will be the unsuspecting recipient of the seven hugs
2. My family who are always there for me during highs, lows and in-betweens
3. Mr. Mitzy, my bunny baby who I know only scratches me with equal love
4. Friends who just "get" me, even when I don't get myself
5. Our awesome house that gave me a crafty sanctuary
6. Almost all things cheesy — I am a Wisconsin gal
7. SOCK!! (and other loom-knitting fun of course)

Seven blogs that brighten my day (in no particular order)
1. Disapproving Rabbits ... LOL-worthy captions!
2. I'm crocheting to keep from smoking ... I enjoyed seeing how her felted pencil cups progressed and — fish afghan!!
3. Polka Dot Cottage ... Fun-to-read snippets of life from a mega-talented crafty gal
4. Dillfrog Noise ... Music to fill my days at home (it has an RSS feed so I consider it a blog :-P) and it's like husband "Plat" is right in the room with me!
5. Knitting Without Needles ... lots of loom-knitting fun and sweater patterns that are on my to-do list
6. Confessions of a Craft Junkie ... her recent charity efforts are inspiring
7. Gettin' It Pegged ... Bethany's booties are the cutest pattern I've seen and can't wait to try them someday!

Thanks again and check these blogs out. Reading their posts everyday keeps me on my toes to update my blog, too!

Happy Easter from Mr. Mitzy!

What am I supposed to do with this basket?


Nope, I am not filling it with eggs. Who do you think I am — the Easter bunny?!

photos by the talented Tessa, my sister

SOCK!

I loom-knit a sock! It's late so this will be a shorty* but I want to gather my thoughts before bed. I used the Weekend Socks pattern from Isela Phelp's Loom Knitting Primer book.

Loom-y magic shines in those wrap-and-turn short rows. I don't know how it all stays connected but it works awesome. First moment of glee: "Look! It's a heel! Woo!"

Please pardon the cruddy no-flash photo here. It was the best one to show the heel.

It wasn't always 100% woo-hoo though.

Issue 1: My cables don't match from the leg to the foot. They jag when they should be straight. At least I think so.

Issue 2: I'm not sure if I did the kitchener stitch in the toe area correctly. Halfway through I had one more stitch on the top needle than the bottom. Eek! So I just tried to work it in because I had no clue how to work backwards to fix it. Also, the whole seam made a ridge when I thought it would be flat.

Issue 3: The foot part might be a couple rows too long. I can scrunch it up and then it fits. But I have yet to see how it stands up to the walk-around-a-bunch test.

So yeah, it's not a perfect sock. But you know the funny thing about socks? You get a second chance to make it all right!

When I tried it on ... second moment of glee: "SOCK!" (as I stick my foot in the air)

* I don't think I can write a shorty.

Pattern: Maniac legwarmers

Wanna dance to your favorite 80s music in the cold of night? Then cast on for some super long and warm legwarmers.

Tools
Knifty Knitter red loom or any large gauge loom with 31 pegs
4 skeins of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick (plum, sky blue, lime and navy) or bulky to super bulky yarn (5-6)

Size: adult

Skills needed
Crochet cast-on; knit and purl stitches (directions can be found in Isela Phelp's Loom Knitting Primer)

Pattern PDF download: $3


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Flash my stash! (and WIPs)

My forum friends at Ravelry say today is Flash Your Stash 2009. A Flickr search agrees.

Dear husbands and other significant others everywhere ... just pretend it's an April Fools joke.

To prove that yes, I am actually using my yarn, here are some works in progress.

Yarn "ball" of disaster and the Mochi turtle for my friend Donna

I finally finished a fingerless mitten for me! Gonna make Mitt No. 2 before Easter.

We finally saw "Snakes on a Plane" recently. Upon Plat and Enstrim's urging, the snake hat is born — with an awesome braid cable!!

I recently finished the Maniac legwarmers for pyr4lis. They are 29 inches of fun scrunchies and warmth. And they're up on Etsy waiting for her. I'm writing up the pattern for my next blog post to share! No foolin'.