Bye Bye Benicio

How lucky I am that I keep kitten milk on-hand. It doesn't matter how many decades pass without using it, for that one night when a half-dead kitten shows up long after pet stores have closed.

Much like that random night in May when Benicio crawled up from the creek. At first, I thought the sound was a baby.  Then we spotted him under the bushes.  He was so malnourished that his head and body were the same size. His whole face was crusted over with conjunctivitis and his bony body was covered in fleas. I gave him a light cleaning and a brief, frantic meal, and put him to bed in a box on a heating pad.  When his cries woke me up at 5am, I was completely surprised that he was still alive.

 

I remember the first time we realized that he had sight behind his ulcerated eyes.  I remember when his bowlegged back legs started to work and he went from dragging them around to a funny, little gallop.

 

15 years is three times longer than a feral usually lives. Despite a heart murmur, chronic herpes, the darkness that crept in at the back of his eyes, and a serious distaste for the dogs, he was my wild baby.  How he begged for pets from up in a tree or the roof of the house with a non-existent squeak. How he barely made a sound and only wanted attention from a few of us, until after Blink died. 

I remember the time that he drooled up my nose, cuz he fell asleep against my face.  He used to shove his nose in my hand and drool into it while I pet his face. It was a lifetime of cleaning him up before giving him love, and a life worthy of it. I imagine he made his way back to the creek that he came from. 

Benicio. Nisho. Bad Nisho. Nichi.

Entrelac Scarf

Entrelac Scarf that I have made and modified for many years now. Based on this Entrelac Scarf pattern.

Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable yarn in Sunrise color on size 8 needles, CO 24

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Harry Potter/Alice in Wonderland colored scarf works up into some of the most amazing blocks. I made this one with Red Heart Super Saver worsted weight yarn in Peruvian Print color.

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I forget the name of this rainbow-esque Red Heart yarn, but the rainbow pattern in it was lost until I tried it in the entrelac blocks!

Patches Cat Trap

Tried out one of those internet-recommended cat traps.  I do believe it was a success:  

The trap has attracted it's feline subject.

Subject decides to gather more information from a distance.

 Subject melts into fur pile.

Cat Trap Mission: Success

Half Dragon Scarf

Smaller Dragon Scarf

 

Based on the Dragon Scale Scarf on Ravelry, I halved the original pattern.

 

Bernat Mosaic in Waterfall.
100% acrylic

Cast on 17
Row 1 - 4: k
Row 5 (RS): k3, m1, ssk, k4, k2tog, k3, m1, k3
Row 6 (and all WS rows): k2, p13, k2
Row 7: k3, m1, k1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k4, m1, k3
Row 9: k3, m1, k2, ssk, k2tog, k5, m1, k3
Row 11: k3, m1, k3, ssk, k4, k2tog, m1, k3
Row 13: k3, m1, k4, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1, m1, k3
Row 15: k3, m1, k5, ssk, k2tog, k2, m1, k3

Dirt Girl

My name is Pumpkin Patches. 

My interests include rolling in the dirt. 

And cleaning my toe beans on white comforters.

Jackie O Blanket

 

I lost track of exactly what color green and brand of silky, worsted weight yarn that I used for Jackie O's Lace Chevron Blanket.  It didn't look so much like a chevron pattern to me, as it did a vine pattern, so I decorated it in cherry blossoms, using fine weight scraps of lavendar, purple and violet, edged in Patons Lace in cream, using and E hook. I made her initials using this Block Letters pattern. 

Dragon Scale Scarf

Rainbow Mosaic Dragon Scale Scarf on Ravelry

I used Bernat Mosaic in the color Psychedelic.  It's 100% acrylic and it feels really nice to work with.  The texture reminds more of cotton yarns and my only complaint is that it gets a bit twisted and if you untwist it to quickly, you can actually pull it apart.

Pumpkin Patches

I adopted Patches from the wonderful Petaluma Animal Services (PASF) shelter on a foster-to-adopt program. Renamed her Pumpkin Patches She had been turned in repeatedly for litter box issues. She spends the majority of her time hiding in the bathroom, but she's working on her bravery and she's a HUGE fan of belly rubs.

Lamb Hat & Shrug for Jenny's Baby Girl

This little Rejoice Shrug was quick and easy to make. I actually wish the pattern was in adult sizes, too. Note to self - *Finishing Sleeves section - when the instructions say 'Continue as established for 3 rows,' it does NOT refer to increases.  Do not increase in this section.

I used Bernat Cottontots in blue berry; machine washable and dryable, 100% cotton for my first attempt, but I goofed up and added unnecessary increases in the section mentioned above.

The final shrug was made on size 10 needles using Lyon Brand acrylic yarn in cream in size 6-12 mo to help compensate for the smaller sized needles.

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I made the lamb hat in size 0-3 mo from the pattern Crochet Lamb Hat in Red Heart heather grey acrylic yarn using a K hook. I used Lyon Brand acrylic yarn in cream for the insides of the ears.

I made the bow using thick red yarn thread (I have no idea what it is, as I bought it at the thrift store) and size 1 needles.

Bow pattern

co 12
row 1 - knit all stitches
row 2 - k2, p8, k2
row 3 to 8 - repeat rows 1 & 2
bind off knitwise

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Jenny had a lovely baby shower.  I can't wait to see the outfit on her baby girl.  :)

 

Divine Hat for Sara

Merry Christmas

Happy Housewarming 

Happy Birthday, Sara, Hat

I found this Divine Hat to be the perfect use for my silky yarns.  After working the pattern one time, I felt like it needed this note *on the sc round, be sure to start at the fpc st.
 

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I made a pink hat for Sara in Red Heart Soft in Rose Blush, worsted weight, 100% acrylic.

I crocheted 3 extra rows of the flower pattern to make a slightly bigger version. I worked the brim rows with the front and back posts inline making it sort of rib stitched.

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I also made the hat in Caron Simply Soft in Black, worsted weight, 100% acrylic.

It came out a little small for my head, leading me to add a few rows to my second try with the pink version.  I worked the brim rows with alternating front and back posts just to see how it would turn out. Also, I finished with an extra row of sc using a G hook to try and make the brim a bit smaller.

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Happy hats with the birthday girl.

Thank you to my hat model, Kayla.

Merry Christmas Hats

Hats for gifts:

This rainbow hat is Stitch and Bitch's Devil Hat, but without the horns. I used my new favorite Bernat Mosaic yarn in Waterfall. It's 100% acrylic, but it feels like you're working with cotton.

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This is the same Bohoknits' Sockhead Hat that I made for Tyler. The sock yarn I used was two other projects before this hat.  When I bought it years ago, it was going to be a sweater for Britton.  That didn't go well.  Then it nearly became a completed hat, but I dropped a stitch and the pattern was so complicated, I had to start over.  The third time's the charm. 

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Another gnome hat from the pattern Earflap Hat I made it with a leftover purple, lavender, sage yarn.  I don't remember what brand it was, but it was softer than the Red Heart acrylic yarn I usually use for my gnome hats.  It's edged in Lyon brand sage acrylic yarn.

Thank you to my hat model, Kayla.

Not So Silent Sockhead hat for Tyler

After five, or so, attempts, I've finally made an acceptable slouch hat for my brother! I love how it ended up looking like an eye in the center.

I found this Bohoknits' Sockhead Hat via Ravelry.  This hat was simple and fun to make.  I love working with sock yarn on non-sock projects.  The skein was small and the work mindless, so I kept it in my purse and worked it wherever.

The first one I made was a little generous, so I reduced the pattern by 8 stitches.  I used Loops & Threads Luxury Sock Super Fine in the color Ocean.

  Me knitting away at an open mic.

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Thank you, Tyler, for letting me photograph you.  Happy Christmas, Dr. Jones.