Knitting with Oskee

Knitting with Oskee
Originally uploaded by Tishoopaper

This pattern, which works beautifully for scarves and shawls, is what I call Broken Rib stitch. But if you Google "broken rib stitch," you get a different pattern, one that I don't especially care for, as the texture isn't very distinct. In a nutshell, this pattern is 4 rows of 2x2 ribbing broken up by 2 rows of knit stitch (which equals one strip of garter.)

If you want to try this pattern, cast on an even number of stitches which when divided by 2 is uneven, e.g. 14 or 38 or 62. This makes the edges look neater.

Row 1: K2, P2, repeat until last two stitches, which should be K2
Row 2: P2, K2, repeat until last two stitches, which should be P2
Row 3: same as Row 1
Row 4: same as Row 2
Rows 5 and 6: K

Repeat 6 rows for pattern.

If you're interested in knitting shawls for a good cause, check out the Prayer Shawl Ministry--but I must admit I don't like their suggested pattern. It's not very distinct. I like a textured pattern you can see!

Fur & Furniture

"A lady, without a family, was the very best preserver of furniture in the whole world."
--Jane Austen, Persuasion.

I'd like to re-write that: A single lady, with a cat to whom she's unnaturally attached, is the worst preserver of furniture in the whole world.

Cold mornings and hot coffee

There is no greater joy than a cup of hot coffee on a cold morning. Even Oskee agrees. He likes his coffee with lots of cream and a generous pinch of catnip. I drink mine black.

This summer I bought some yard furniture at local garage sales, enough to furnish my "outdoor salon." Please say that with a fruity French accent: sah-LONH. It's fancier that way. I like sitting on my $12 glider with a good book and my great coffee. Unfortunately, the mornings now are so dark; I have to wait for the weekends to enjoy my hot coffee outside.

Might I add, there is no greater annoyance than forgetting to turn off the fricking coffeepot...

Save Gas, Burn Ass

In my effort to reduce my carbon footprint as well as my caboose, I have been biking to work. I've been at it for almost two months, and I'm really enjoying it. Granted, the five minutes before I leave for work I'm in agony: "Ooooh, I don't feeeeel like riiiiiding to work," I whine to Oskee. (Whereupon he looks at me and points an accusatory paw at aforementioned fat ass.)

There are a couple of really fun hills to swoosh down on the way to work. On the way back home, there are a couple of killer hills...so I take a different route home.

My new motto is: Save Gas, Burn Ass! Or you could say, Burn Ass Not Gas! Either works.