Life, don't talk to me about life.

What do you do if you are a football headed manically depressed robot?

Marvin lives - well, technically, he's not alive, but he is done - stuffed, armed, seamed, and ready for giving.

Still here

Christmas Knitting up-date:

* Christmas shawl 1 is done

* Christmas shawl 2 is done

* Christmas shawl 3 is paused for now, since I screwed something up and need to pick back a couple of rows

* I've been working mostly on my lace shawl (for Mom), I'm on repeat #14 (of 11... *sigh*) I'm going to do at least 15, then check how long it is then.

I've started working on the Marvin I want to knit for my sister for her birthday in early October. I knit it in the round instead of flat, and now I need to stuff it before I can do the arms.

The yarn arrived today (my first order from the Loopy Ewe) for my Dad's socks - I'm thinking I'm going to do the Phineas socks. I'm now trying to decide whether to do them in Cherry Tree Hill (navy) or the Fleece Artist (midnight).

I really like the Loopy Ewe, and want to keep ordering from her, but I have a slightly problem - customs. The duty I had to pay was actually more than the shipping, which is a pain. I order lots of things from all over, and a fair amount of stuff from the states. I've never had to pay duty on yarn before, I'm trying to figure out what the difference is that makes this package require it vs. others. Ideas anyone?

To block or not to block

that is the question! The one I usually try to pretend doesn't exist, I mean, I think I've blocked a grand total of one sweater, I never block socks and my first real lace project is still on the needles.

But I just finished my first Christmas present, and it is a shawl. A lace pattern (basically like the lower edge lace of the After Dark Nightie). It was knit in a fingering weight superwash - so do I have to block it? Will it really look better if I wet it and pin it out?

(I can't find the camera cable or I'd add pictures at this point). Whether I have to block it or not, I'm very excited to have it done. I'm started already on the second one (which is going to be a slightly narrower chevron lace shawl). I've also planned out the third which I really don't know what to expect from, but it should be interesting at any rate.