What I've been up to.

I have done a little knitting. I started the Feather and Fan sweater from Classic Elite Make It Modern booklet. Here's a shot of my progress.




In the rest of my life, there has been a flurry of activity.




This past weekend, A.K. and I had a little housewarming, since it was a year since we closed on our house. Actually, it was just a coincidence that the housewarming was on the anniversary of our closing. We are so bad at recognizing anniversaries, the only way we remember our own is it is only a few days after my birthday. (Our fifth was two weeks ago)

Anyway, the above photo is a before and after of our dining/living room. I know it's hard to see a difference except for paint color, but we ripped up the carpet, refinished the original oak floors, added a gas log fireplace, took out the radiator in front of the picture window and put a window seat with storage and cushions, took out the weird, built-in television hole and replaced it with custom bookcases on either side of the fireplace and right before the party, we just finished painting after smoothing the texture off the walls. That paint job signifies the end of a year-long renovation! I wish the photos look as dramatic as I feel about the room, but what can you do?

A.K. and his dad built a deck on the back of our house and A.K. made a great L-shaped bench to go with it. I'm pretty proud of us. If the weather in Seattle would just remain warm and sunny I could take beauty shots of the house. Maybe I'll be able to post some soon.

Nirvana

I think Kurt Cobain is messing with me from the afterlife. I look at my closet and all I want to wear is a flannel shirt and a green Mr. Rogers-esque cardigan.

Okay, so I probably have these urges because ...

-Seattle weather has been nothing but rain, gray and cold.
-Heating guys have a part on order so they can't turn on the radiators in my house.
-I'm reading Charles Cross's biography of Kurt Cobain, "Heavier Than Heaven." (I got to hear Charles Cross speak about Cobain, Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Lee as part of the P-I's Writer in Residence series. Every now and then, my job gets some pretty good perks.)

Instead of the cardigan, I decided to knit up a hat instead. Something that makes me think of the Pacific Northwest.



I decided on Brenda Zuk's Seaman's Cap pattern. I knit is using one skein of Debbie Bliss's Donegal Chunky Tweed. I wanted a more substantial hat, since it has been so chilly, so I knit with 5mm (US8) needles, instead of the 7mm (US10.5) that was recommended on the label. I love it, mainly because it was a fast knit and it keeps me warm, but I guess it's been a while since I wore anything 100% wool because I notice it irritates my forehead.


I don't consider myself allergic to wool, rather, I think my forehead may be a sensitive spot. I also didn't block it yet (IT'S BEEN CHILLY). So maybe after a good soak it will soften up a bit. Or maybe I'm in denial.

If it doesn't, maybe I'll sew a lining into it.

Speaking of which, I have a dilemma. I need to do some sewing for some cushions.



(I picked the green pattern, I'll use the yellow for something else, and just in case you are wondering, I'm really not over my beige phase, when I bought these, I was trying to find some gray fabric. These are the runner-ups)

I've blogged about my mom's sewing machine which I've sort of adopted and it is totally fine, I just find myself trolling craigslist and ebay looking at Husqvarnas and Berninas.

So what do you guys think? Should I be happy with my mom's 25+year-old Kenmore that she bought at Sears (I know this, because I remember being there when she bought it.) or get a fancy new-ish machine that practically sews everything for me? (Which I think could be helpful since I am lacking in sewing skill.)

(Little background about me that may or may not be helpful ... I drive a 10-year-old Honda Civic hatchback, I am easily swayed by shiny electronic objects and I have a big-fat mortgage on my 95-year-old house.)

(Oh, and I don't plan to give up the Kenmore, it would become my backup.)

(And, if you have any suggestions for a new machine, they would be much appreciated. I realize this sounds like I already made a decision, but I really haven't.)