Next up in sample knits for The Knitting Nest – a project that happens to also be the household Halloween costume.

All four dogs are going as Harry Potter this year. I didn’t give them a choice.

	This sample is for a class I’ll teach for beginners who can already knit and purl, to give them skills in double-knitting, changing colors, k2tog, finishing, and blocking. These are Gryffindor colors, even though I was sorted as a Ravenclaw. If you haven’t been sorted into your house yet, this test is pretty cool.
	My guess is that Gus would actually be sorted into Slytherin, which explains his discomfort with wearing Gryffindor colors.
	It’s hard to tell if Lou loves it, or hates it.
	Oh. He hates it. I would guess that he would actually be a Hufflepuff.
	Abe awaits his turn. I think he’d be a Gryffindor. It was at this point that I started to worry about the destruction of the “costume”, so Ike didn’t get a chance to try it on. That’s okay. Ike has suffered plenty of humiliation with modeling handknits. Happy Halloween!

It used to be that my plan was to move to Austin, and my plan didn’t have any shape beyond that. But because of my friends and this amazing thing called The Online, a better plan is coming into focus.

I have made the greatest connection with Stacy who just opened The Knitting Nest in south Austin. After only knowing me through verypink and a few emails, Stacy asked me to teach knitting classes at her store.

Now I have something to do once I get to Austin. I am so grateful. Not only does Staci own the greatest knitting store in Texas, but she is kind, generous, and sympathetic to my situation. I tell ya, it’s a great connection.

So now I have prep work to do before my move. I need to knit samples for the classes I’ll teach, as well as some shop samples for Stacy. Last time I was in Austin, Stacy sent me home with a metric ton of yarn to get me started. I’m glad that I’m a fast knitter. I have been busy.

Here is just the first of many things in the works…

	This crazy thing. Doesn’t look like much, but it is The Number One pattern in it’s category on Ravelry. This will be a shop sample.
	I’m sure that some of you recognize what this is already. I’m going to to play dumb for a bit. Umm…no.
	In Spanish: No.
	In French: Non.
	In Italian: No.
	In English: Almost!
	Viola! The Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann, from her book The Opinionated Knitter. I swear, it looks nothing like a baby sweater while you’re knitting it. You gotta trust the pattern and press on. Just a couple of seams, some blocking, and a few buttons needed now.
	Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between a bed and a toy. Both are destroyed equally in this house.

Do you remember the Bugs Bunny cartoon with Hansel and Gretel and the witch? The witch had hairpins that flew out every time she ran, and Hansel and Gretel were fat little blond kids with German accents?

Every time the kids said, “We’re Hansel and Gretel!” the other character would say, “Hansel?…Hansel?!” Like they were suddenly surprised and kind of angry to hear the name.

I don’t really get it, either, but it is what I think of whenever I hear “Gretel”.

Speaking of Gretel…

	I finished Gretel. It’s very cute, and it was fun to knit. I could go on and on about how much I like this pattern. But truthfully, this was my second try.
	My first try wasn’t quite as successful. I SWEAR I got gauge. I was surprised that I had to go up three needle sizes to get gauge, especially because I usually have to go down a size or two. I was nearly finished knitting before I tried it on for the first time. It made a good face warmer.
	Back to the good one. The pattern is really pretty, and the designer does such a good job with decreasing while maintaining a cable pattern. Mine is made with one hank of Cascade 220. Ravelry details.
	On to some irritated dogs… Sunday was Basenji Bath Day. This is a BIG DEAL around this house. Since Basenjis clean themselves like cats, baths are only necessary every 6 months or so. After their scrubdown, the two younger dogs believed that running round the house would dry them off…
	…While the two older dogs wanted to go outside to dry in the sun. I can practically hear them saying, “We are wet. We are mad. Let us out NOW.” Angry, perhaps. But they smell like lavender.

Just in time for 90 degree weather…a finished sweater.

Naturally, I have photos of it. But the model was being a total diva bitch during the photoshoot. She was whining and fussing and sweating the whole time.

Okay, that fashion model was ME.

But I can explain! You see, Gus wanted to bask in the sun outside. Since my dogs are never shut out of the house, I had to leave the back door open for him. The a/c was running, but it was still pretty warm inside the house.

Truth be told, I would have had to set the a/c to a much chillier temperature to be comfortable in a wool and alpaca sweater.

	The photoshoot started out okay, but the light wasn’t right…
	The light is a little better, but you still can’t see the sweater…
	Model is looking annoyed and sweaty…
	The light is there, but now the model is in complete diva meltdown. Luckily, there is a much more cooperative model in the house.
	Yay for Anne Boleyn! Pattern: Feeling Feminine from Cast On Magazine, August-October 2007 Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Notes: The sizing in the pattern was confusing, and I ultimately made more of a jacket than a fitted cardi. Ravelry details
	Love the picot edging.
	I suppose I’ll pack this sweater away for a while. I know I’ll really enjoy it in another couple of months.
	Dogs don’t sweat. Lou’s head, Ike’s head, Abe’s legs.

Laurie Perry made it to Houston on her Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair book tour. Back when I was Sober, Committed, and Covered in Dog Hair I contributed a pattern to her book. Friday was the first time she and I met in person.

I was feeling pretty low that night, but I was really excited to meet her. Laurie knew that I am now Drunk, Divorcing, and Covered in Dog Hair, and she also knew just what I needed.

Laurie gives good hug. She is a sweet thing.

Thanks for the photo, Drew!

My current knitting project: endless BLACK STOCKINETTE. It’s too dull to be remotely photo-worthy.

My current moving/divorce/future outlook: progressing, but again, no photos. (I’m not sure that images of moving boxes are very exciting.)

But – I had a pretty fun time on the floor with my boys yesterday. Here are the best shots I got of each of them, oldest to youngest – Gus, Ike, Abe, and Lou.

Have I ever mentioned that living with these dogs is like living in a cartoon? A very silly, fast-action cartoon full of fake violence. I wouldn’t have it any other way. As insane as they are, these dogs have helped me keep my sanity through the last several weeks of turmoil.

Excuse me while I go plant a million kisses on four warm foreheads.

I had a great weekend in Austin, but surprisingly, I didn’t take photos of all the fun things I saw. (Not even one with Meg in her new sweater!) Here are a few photos I did take, and one I didn’t.

	A little knitting time with my friends…
	The breathtaking Wall of Cascade 220 at The Knitting Nest…
	Caro…
	Some self-portrait action, showing the fancy necklace I scored from a piñata… I was trying to get Meg in this photo, but she turned her head right as I snapped the shot.
	The Moose Lodge… Photo courtesy of Josh.
	And back in Houston – skulls-and-crossbones are out, and hot-rod flames are in.

Hopefully this won’t be too distractinq. A fast-topic-chanqinq Friday and a messed up keyboard? Let’s see how it qoes…

	This is how my keyboard looks riqht now. BROKEN. That important letter of the alphabet that falls between “f” and “h” isn’t really there anymore. I fiqured that the letter “Q” is a decent replacement. My spell-checker doesn’t aqree. Next…!
	Weddinq present sweater is finished and ready to be handed to the bride. I have another Austin-tatious weekend planned, which includes a party for the enqaqed couple. Should be a really qood time. Next…!
	Crazy Aunt Purl is so nice! As a thank you for contributinq a pattern to her book, she sent me the nicest care packaqe. It included a siqned copy of her book, lovely yarn, a qift card, and a couple of mix CDs. I LOVE mix CDs, especially when someone else makes them. These two should make my drive to Austin a breeze. Next…!
	I decided to qet a french manicure, and now my nails look fake. They are not. Next…!
	The most knit-for baby on earth just turned five weeks old. This is my niece Molly Renee. I can’t tell if she’s yawninq, yellinq, or sinqinq, but she’s cute. Next…!
	If you were me, and you were tryinq to eat beef jerky, this is what you would see. Have a qreat weekend!