A Haiku

After producing such whimsical haikus last year and the year before, the kids produced this gem today on the way to school:

Seventeen little
syllables all in a row
a Haiku - big whoop

You Know You're Rushed in the Morning When...

1) You try to drop off your 7 yr old at school, only to realize he has no shoes on... (Aaron, last month)

2) You drop off your 10 yr old daughter at school, only to get a phone call 15 minutes later from the office letting you know she is still wearing her pajamas... (Chardy, today)

3) You come back home after dropping your kids off, only to find a spilled/broken cup of coffee on the driveway because you once again forgot the mug on top of the car... (Dad)

Dandelion Wishes

Ginny and I were taking turns blowing wishes off a dandelion today.

Here was my first one (said jokingly):
"I wish Ginny doesn't pee her pants today."

Ginny grabs the dandelion for her turn and wishes (very seriously):
"I wish Mommy doesn't pee her pants today either."

Luckily, both of our wishes came true.

NEW FREE PATTERN: Cables & Garter Cardi

As promised, here is the new pattern. It has not been tested (except by me), so please send me any errors and I will correct asap if needed.

CABLES & GARTER CARDI
(For the Ravelry .pdf version, click here: download now)

MATERIALS:
• 3 balls Lion Brand Wool Ease (197 yds/85 grams each) or other worsted weight yarn in Forest Green Heather
• 3 buttons (1 ⅛”)
• 8 stitch markers
• Tapestry needle & scissors
• US 8 24” circular needle
• US 7 24” circular needle

GAUGE: 17 sts and 36 rows per 4” in garter on US8 needles

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:
Bust (bottom of garter section) = 29” around
Cables and Garter Body = 33” around
Length = 23”

Note: I have only made the one size. To increase to a larger size, you might try increasing in the garter stitch section until desired bust width. Then, increase for underarm sts as written, as well as evenly around to accommodate the number of chart pattern repeats needed to achieve desired body measurements. Each complete chart pattern repeat will add approx. 3” around.

ABBREVIATIONS:
CO: Cast on
BO: Bind off
K: Knit
P: Purl
k2tog: Knit two together
M1: Make 1 (I used the backward loop cast on)
C4B (Cable 4 Back): Slip next two stitches to cable needle and hold to back. Knit next two stitches. Knit two stitches from cable needle.
C4F (Cable 4 Front): Slip next two stitches to cable needle and hold in front. Knit next two stitches. Knit two stitches from cable needle.

CABLES & GARTER CARDI PATTERN

YOKE:

With larger needles, cast on 82 stitches. Work 3 rows in garter stitch.

Row 4 (setup row): k 14, pm, k1, pm, k 11, pm, k1, pm, k 28, pm, k1, pm, k 11, pm, k1, pm, k 14.

Row 5 (increase row): *k to marker, m1, slip marker, k1, slip marker, m1* Repeat * * 3 times, k to end.

Row 6 (WS buttonhole row): k 3, BO 3 sts, k to end.

Row 7: (RS) *k to marker, m1, slip marker, k1, slip marker, m1 (two stitches
added)* Repeat * * 3 times, k to bound off sts. CO 3 sts, k to end.

Row 8 (WS): knit all sts.

Row 9 (increase row): *k to marker, m1, slip marker, k1, slip marker, m1* Repeat * * 3 times, k to end.

Repeat rows 8 and 9 six times.

Then, work rows 6 and 7 to make second buttonhole.

Repeat rows 8 and 9 six more times.

Then, work rows 6 and 7 to make third buttonhole. [Buttonholes completed]

Repeat rows 8 and 9 until 242 sts total.

Work one more row 8 (WS).

BO sleeve sts purlwise (on RS).

Remove all markers.

BODY:

Increase row for underarm sts (WS): *Knit to bound off sleeve sts. CO 12 sts.* Repeat ** once. Knit to end.

Begin cables and garter pattern (see chart and notes at botton before beginning!).

Row 1 (RS): Knit 7 (pm), *K2, P2, 6-stich cable pattern, P2, K2, K3*. Repeat ** until 21 sts remain (i.e., last pattern repeat plus garter stitch band). For last pattern repeat: K2, P2, 6-stich cable, P2, K2 (pm), K7.

Row 2 (WS): Knit 7, *P2, K2, 6-stich cable pattern, K2, P2, K3*. Repeat ** until 21 sts remain (i.e., last pattern repeat plus garter stitch band). For last pattern repeat: P2, K2, 6-stich cable pattern, K2, P2, K7.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 following 6-stitch cable pattern over 8 rows until desired length. End with a Row 1.

HEM:

Switch to smaller needles.
Decrease row: K2, *K7, k2tog, K6, K2tog*. Repeat ** until last 9 stitches. K9.

Note: If you do not switch to smaller needles or do the decreases, your hem will flare because the garter stitches have a wider gauge than the corresponding cable stitches above.

End with 10 rows (or desired amount) of garter stitch for hem.
BO all stitches. Weave in any ends and sew on buttons.


Cables & Garter Stitch Pattern Notes (worked over multiples of 17 sts):

Notes:
(1) All rows begin and end with 7 knit stitches to form the garter stitch buttonband. It helps to mark these with stitch markers.
(2) Body pattern is worked over multiples of 17 stitches (on RS): 2 stockinette, 2 reverse stockinette, 6-stich cable, 2 reverse stockinette, 2 stockinette, 3 garter.
(3) Chart shows complete pattern on RS. All odd rows are RS. Below is a close-up of how these stitches will look once knit. Area in red represents the complete chart below.

Chart Abbreviations:


(Click to enlarge chart)

Spring!

Free Doughnuts

I was sleeping over at my friend Jenny's house and her grandma was over. We were all telling stories and I told one that our neighbors had told us about when these newspaper people were trying to interview anarchetists. Jenny's little sister, Emmy, said,"What's an anarchist??" Jenny's grandma was explaining that anarchy is just chaos, no rules,etc.. Emmy who is in second grade, looked enthusiastic, and said,"That means free doughnuts!!!" Jenny's grandma luaghed and said," People have been looking for a defionition of anarchy, and there you have it! Free doughnuts!!"

But It's Thirsty!

Ginny and I were playing outside today when all of a sudden, she starts doing the potty dance. I said, "Ginny, let's get inside to the bathroom." She replied, "No, I want to pee on the grass". Ummm...you can't Ginny. Her reply? "But, it's thirsty!!!"