This looks like a nice place to have a knitting blog...

...except for the incredible dearth of all things fiber related.  I have been doing fibery things, just not blogging about them.  First a quick catch-up on finished objects.

Starting at top left:
1.  Penguin dishcloth, finished 1/13/09 (Yeah, I'm that far behind.  Deal with it.)
2.  I love you dishcloth, finished 2/13/09
3.  Beeb's Peace Fleece hat, finished 1/22/09
4.  Bean's Fish Hat, finished 2/28/09
5.  Raspberry Charade Socks, finished 6/27/09
6.  Beeb Shorties, finished 6/28/09
7.  Beeb Shorties, finished 7/17/09
8.  Leyburn Socks, finished 8/21/09
9.  Bean Water Bottle holder, finished 12/02/09
10.  Sweater for Missy, finished 2/12/10
11.  Scrubby, finished 2/12/10
12.  Beeb Shorties, finished 2/12/10

There are also a couple of other things finished that need pictures yet (one is a biggie!).  I'll get them up eventually, and hopefully before I'm over a year behind!  Coming soon...the last of the past due FOs, a spinning FO, some knitting/crocheting WIPs as I figure out what's next, and hopefully some more regular posting.

Taking inventory

Fiber-wise, that is. My fiber life has clearly been as chaotic and scrambled as my blogging life. I am up to my armpits in WIPs. We'll consider this post to serve the dual purpose of me getting my act (somewhat) together and updating the world as to my fiber stuff.

Fiber, the first: Knitting.

• Turquoise Leyburn Socks: Done. Too small to get over my big heels. Need to take FO photos and find them a home with a smaller footed person.
  
• Raspberry Charade Socks: Done. Need to take FO photos before I wear them out.
• Beeb Shorties II (Red, Orange, and Yellow): Done. Need to take FO photos before Beeb grows out of 'em.
• Bug's Fish Hat: Almost done. I'll have to dig it out to see what is left. I also need to sew the eyes back on Bean's Fish Hat again.
• Kitty Man Socks: Need to figure out where I left off. I misplaced one of the socks, the non-missing sock's needle broke, and my mojo had left the building before I got everyone reunited.
• Hemlock Shamrock Sweater: Heading into the home stretch. I have been plugging away and am currently working on the sleeves. I may even get to wear it this winter!!
• More Beeb Shorties (greenish and bluish): Wandered away from them. Need to get back to it and finish before Beeb decides to potty train!
• Bright Leyburn Socks: Was coming into the home stretch on the first sock when they got misplaced. Found them a couple of days ago, so hope they will start chugging along.

Fiber, the second: Spinning

• Bunny: I have about an ounce of bunny that I haven't touched for over a year. We won't discuss it any further.
• Mountain Colors Targhee: Over 3/4 of the way through it, but haven't spun since mid-September. Note to self: Locate spinning mojo and finish it up!!

Fiber, the third: Crochet

• Little Crochet on the Prairie Scarf: I took a vintage crochet class at the Ear in October and started a scarf based on a crochet edging that Laura's Ma made as cuffs on a dress. I am now completely intrigued by vintage knitting and crocheting. Yeah, I know. I was just sitting around bored before, but now that I have another hobby to keep me busy, I'm golden. Or something. It is pretty though:
  

I've done about a zillion of the little loopies and came back to the circle to go the other way. Then I have to go around the whole with the edging. I'll have to get a more recent picture soon!

First FOs of 2009

So, for several months now, when I tuck Bug into bed, I have to tell him "Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed octopuses bite." Then I have to spell octopuses. I can't even remember how it got started, but I do know that for almost as long as we have been doing it, he has been begging for me to knit an octopus. I had been considering a Socktopus, but just wasn't getting around to it. I just wasn't feeling the love for a somewhat involved project. I really wanted something get-in-get-out-get-on-with-it. Anyway, I had been wanting to try some Amigurumi, but hadn't dipped my toes in. I can crochet, but it tends to involve a fairly colorful array of four-letter words. I decided that this might be a good time to try. Introducing Bug's Bed Octopus:



And little sisters being little sisters, her tuck-in included "Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed hippopotamuses bite." So an amigurumi hippo for her:



And finally, as I was on a roll and didn't want anyone feeling left out (though there are currently no turtles in his bedtime ritual), I made a Turkel for Beeb:



Although knitting is still, by far, my drug of choice, I am happy to report that I am now crocheting with somewhat fewer curse words. There may be more amigurumi in my future. Wouldn't Kitty Daddy just be completely taken by these?

FO: Medieval Treasure

Specifications
Yarn: Lion Brand Lion Suede (Ebony)
Needles: Denise Interchangeables, Size 9 (I think)
Pattern: Winged it (Wung it?). It went something like this:
CO 48 st Join in the round.
Round 1-3: * K1P1; repeat from *
Round 4: Knit
Round 5: * K2, yo, ssk; repeat from *
Round 6 to running short on yarn: Knit
Decrease K6, K2tog first round, K5, K2tog for second round, etc. until out of yarn. Run tail through remaining stitches and pull tight.
Verdict: Meh. But good for using up spare yarn from Knight's armor.

Specifications
Yarn: Lion Brand Glitterspun (Silver, Gold)
Hook: Boye, Size G
Pattern: Crocheted disk from here.
Verdict: Crochet is still not my forte, but after finding this in Ravelry, I figured I had better get over my crochet block. Even though the pattern calls for single crochet, some of them are a completely made-up stitch that vaguely resembles a half double. I'm calling this a FO even though I still have lots of silver and gold yarn and will probably continue to turn out the odd coin or two as the urge hits.