We’re having a heat wave! It’s all the way up to, uh, 75? I know, laughable to a lot of you, but in some parts of western Washington it’s in the 90’s today. Way too hot!! Luckily for us, we’re surrounded by coastline, so we’re staying relatively cool.
Not much knitting content because I’ve been sewing, sewing sewing. But I did make a new knitting bag – because we can never have too many knitting bags, right? To celebrate my new alumni status, I even made it in Washington State colors. Tastefully elegant on the outside:
Wild and crazy on the inside:
This is the Miranda bag from Lazy Girl Designs. I highly recommend this pattern for those of you who sew. The directions are very clear and the project was amazingly quick. There will definitely be more of these in my future. I’m going to stash some basic knitting notions in here and when I need to go I can throw in my wallet and current knitting project and I’ll be all set!
There were also knitting goodies for graduation. Mom and Dad gave me a sock knitting book along with a check for yarn. Thanks Mom and Dad – you really know the way to girl’s heart! Here’s the book:
I gave this technique a whirl, but found it awfully fiddly. There were just too many things to keep track of. But even if I don’t use the technique, there are lots of really cute patterns in here, including some darling toddler socks I’ll have to make for Isobel. However, it did get me thinking about the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome and my tendency to fall prey to it. Marguerite mentioned that she knits the two socks at the same time, each one on its own set of two circular needles, along with a fifth circular for doing the heel. That seemed just the ticket for me, so I used Mom and Dad’s check to order 5 size one circs from Knit Picks. I also searched high and low on the internet to find some Dream in Color Smooshy in Chinatown Apple. I think I scored the last skein available!
These weren’t the only gifts I received for graduation. My friends and family have been very generous. My sister gave me this Lladro:
Isn’t she precious? She reminds me of Isobel. My friends from church gave me a rose bush. The lovely pink blossoms will remind me of this celebration for many years to come (providing I don’t kill it!). My friend Jan gave me two beautiful Waterford goblets. The neat thing is that she also gave me two when I got my Associate’s Degree! She bought these at the same time and has been holding on to them for four years. She was probably also holding her breath that I would graduate and she wouldn’t be stuck with two mismatched goblets! And my brother-in-law and sister-in-law gave me a book on machine quilting. I’m going to get a lot of use out of it and am already planning projects. There is still one more gift to come – from hubby. But I will keep you in suspense.
Lastly, I leave you with this pathetic little face.
Our little girl is a woman now. Maggie came into season last week. What a pain! She really does not like wearing the doggie diapers, and I don’t blame her. I made these for her because the ones we bought had a hole for her non-existent tail and they kept slipping down. Our agreement with her breeder was not to spay her so that she could be bred at least once. Hopefully we won’t have to put up with this more than one more time. And, it will fun seeing her become a mother.
missouristar 
A ‘heat’ wave in more ways than one! The split personality bag is great.
Looks like you’re still riding high on the graduation experience, as well you might. What lovely, thoughtful gifts from your family and friends.
But I’m most jealous of the thought of puppies. Will you get to have them at your house or does she have to go back to the breeder?
That is one unhappy looking pooch. Poor girl. I can’t wait to see future puppies.
Great bag! I was about to comment and say that Washington state colors are green and gold, but then I smacked my forehead and realized you meant Washington State University colors!
Ick, doggie diapers. Our neighbor’s Corgi was just in heat, and they went through the same thing. Unfortunately she was too fat to breed, so they have to go through it one more time. They got a big lecture from their breeder. Now Rae gets carrots in her dinner instead of yummie treats. Both of our dogs are “fixed”, so we don’t have to go through any hormonal issues.
And I’m still just a die-hard dpn fan. I just love ’em.
I’m a ‘stranger’ and a ‘lurker’ but have been following your story with interest. I took my first college class at age 30 as a single parent with two kids. I plodded along through thick and thin, remarriage and the birth of my third child. Finally, at age 37, six months pregnant with my fourth child, mom of two teens and a toddler, I got my degree! We were worthy of a write up in the local paper, but the biggest satisfaction was that I did it!
I got the same question, what was I going to do with my degree. I didn’t admit to many, but I did nothing with it. Still haven’t, but it doesn’t make it any less spectacular in my heart.
Congratulations!
Jan
Oh puppies! I think Corgi puppies are so cute! :o) That would be so much fun. I love how your bag turned out. I’m glad you have had some time for sewing. I hope to get some time too and want to make those dresses before we go up to my Mom’s in WA.
Nice presents!!
Hey, could I pay you to make me a tote?? I love yours (other colors, though).
Great job on the bag. We’ve had a nice Spring here in Charleston so far, but I’m dreading the days of over 90 degrees and just as much humidity
I’m sure it isn’t much of a consolation, but I saw how warm it was for your part of the country (and hoped it wouldn’t come this way!). I’ve been trying to think of ways to keep my knitting spirit up when it does hit 90 here (and socks and shawls it will be).
Thanks for the bag link. I have resisted buying a knitting bag because I keep thinking I could always sew one up–but that hasn’t happened yet. Yours is nice, and so are some others on that site.
I love the bag! Maybe I’ll get the sewing machine out this summer – who knows? It’s definitely been busy – usually I don’t have to work full time in the summer – but not this summer. So, project time is suffering. I got my sock kit from Knit Picks and tried kool-aid dying. 4 Ice blue raspberry lemonaide and 1 grape later – I have what can only be described as a multicolor yarn in a vaguely blue/purple colorway. Loving the circular needles, though – very good call.
Your SIL – Deb
Hey,
The bag is great! Your poor doggy. In Chinese tradition when a girl is to be married, her husband…hey I’m going to write this in my blog instead of here. I think it is my turn to post. See you at the knittingdojo.blogspot.com
What an awesome bag! Love it!
Congratulations on graduating, twice! Your family knows how to give some presents. Very cool!