Hansel?…Hansel?!
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…
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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… |
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…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. |
Gretel looks great! Love the color, too.
As always, the dogs are presh.
Comment by meg — October 22, 2007 @ 7:16 am
I watched you get gauge….strange!
Comment by Jeanne — October 22, 2007 @ 7:44 am
I absolutely love your self-portraits! You always manage to snap a photo like we’re getting a glimpse into a fraction of a second of the action in your life. It’s fantastic and hilarious.
Gorgeous hat! Looks like you need a trip to Paris to go with it. Can’t you just imagine it?
Comment by Tara — October 22, 2007 @ 8:24 am
I love it in pink. (wait, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you knit one in pink..)
I’m making one in navy right now and I love it.
Comment by Katharine — October 22, 2007 @ 8:36 am
In the face warmer picture, the needles look monstrous compared to all the other needles pictured with all your other projects.
It’s wonderful when doggies smell…not like doggies. Around here it’s Mango flavor. Because you should always want to eat your dog when you’re done, right?
Comment by Amy — October 22, 2007 @ 9:32 am
Ah, bath day. always a treat! mine does the running around like mad trick, in addition to giving the towel the death shake and rolling around on the rug. we use oatmeal, and it smells like breakfast lol.
Comment by Kate — October 22, 2007 @ 9:54 am
What a pretty hat. I didn’t know that Basenjis only have to be washed every 6 months or so. They sound like an interesting dog breed.
Comment by Wanda — October 22, 2007 @ 10:16 am
I love your Gretel! The first version looks like it would have been big enough to pull down over your shoulders and wear as a tube top…
Comment by Alice — October 22, 2007 @ 11:28 am
You have it made!! Only having to wash your dogs every six months!! Izabelle needs it as much as the seven year old–I have found if I use baby shampoo (hypoallergenic of course) the nice smell lasts longer!! Also, she would LOVE to dry off in the sun, however its freezing outside and her fur would break off!
Comment by Phyllis — October 22, 2007 @ 11:30 am
Gretel is so very pretty pink on you!
Comment by yvonnep — October 22, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
I love the look that one your dog is giving you in the last photo. As if to say “How dare you do that again. Maybe I don’t like to smell of lavender.” lol.
Gretel looks great!!
Comment by Steph — October 22, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
Staci,
I admire you for being able to keep your sense of humor when you discover that your cute little tam has turned in to a tube top!
And I LOVE it when the boys smell like lavender. If I were you I would check my shoes very carefully before I put them on. The poochie in the back ground of the 2nd picture is very obviously figuring out his revenge.
Comment by TamiW — October 22, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
Cute, cute, cute!
Hat and dogs too.
Comment by paula — October 22, 2007 @ 5:08 pm
Damn that gauge—it hurts when it bites, doesn’t it?!?! Love the pattern. Another item to go on my list. The boys are so cute and I can smell them now. Good for you that you only need to do it every six mos. or so!
Comment by Cheryl — October 22, 2007 @ 10:25 pm
THAT is a very cute hat. The cable details are fantastic and so …. um.. organic? Anyway. I really like it!
Comment by Anne — October 23, 2007 @ 10:46 am
Love the hat! I still need to lern how to do cables – people keep telling me they’re easy but I just haven’t been brave enough – maybe that beautiful hat would be the final inspiration:)I so admire your talent.
Comment by Rita — October 24, 2007 @ 6:12 am
Ok, first of all, I completely know the cartoon you’re talking about! It’s one of my faves. Second, your hat is adorable and looks fantastic on you. Thirdly, there’s just nothing sweeter than warm, clean fur. The boys are adorable!
Comment by Tammy — October 24, 2007 @ 8:08 am
I loved the Gretel so much that I bought the pattern /right/ after reading your post!
Of course, now I’m worried that I won’t get the right gauge either. Should I just trust the needle size listed on the pattern?
Comment by Kim in Blacksburg — October 24, 2007 @ 8:46 am
I LOVE this hat, and I adore the color you chose. I just purchased the same pattern…now I just need to find the perfect shade to use.
Comment by Shannon — October 24, 2007 @ 5:27 pm
I love that hat. Cables are so very fabulously intricate-looking.
And of course, the dogs seem to look prettier now that they’re lavender-scented.
Comment by avalynda — October 24, 2007 @ 11:09 pm
I love Gretel! Darn you for linking to Ysolda though . . . I see several things I want to knit now.
You know, I too used to think of that cartoon until Zoolander. Now I think of Owen Wilson as “Hansel”
Comment by Janet — October 25, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
I watched this and thought of you… I hope it makes you smile
Comment by Dana — October 25, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em5s_jGBY18
duh. forgot to add it!
Comment by Dana — October 25, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
Gee whiz, I can’t get over the wonderful things you knit! I’m at an impasse; had to quit my lessons when it was so hot here, because I couldn’t stand the feel of wool on my hands. I’m sure I’d NEVER learn to knit if I lived in TX! Anyway, cable looks spectacularly, devilishly difficult!
Been meaning to ask: have you ever used soy silk???
Don’t tell your boys, but Ruby hasn’t had a bath in ages. I give her about one a year just on principle, but she really doesn’t need it. She never rolls in anything nasty, and dirt just dries up and falls off her. She doesn’t smell at all. Basenjis are the best! The only grooming required is nails.
Comment by Chey — October 25, 2007 @ 9:10 pm
Yes, I remember that cartoon! I am reminded of it every day! I’ve grown up to have that witch’s arse!
Comment by Malena — October 25, 2007 @ 9:34 pm