New Year’s Eve. I can hardly believe it. I remember SO vividly New Years Eve in 2000. We stole away to my in-laws’ cabin on Hood Canal, just our little family, and reflected on the significance of a new millennium.

Side note- Do any of you remember that dairy commercial they were playing at the time? I don’t remember who it was, Darigold, or Got Milk? perhaps, but you saw a cow grazing at night, outside a barn, under a light. You could hear the New Year’s countdown offscreen in the farmhouse, and when they got to zero, the barn light exploded. The cow startled a bit, looked at the light (if I recall correctly), and continued grazing as you heard commotion in the offscreen farmhouse, complete with stereotypical farm-style accents, because the power had gone out. Then the announcer person’s voice said something like, “Our cows are 100% Y2K compatible.” I laughed my butt off. I’m sure you had to be there, and my pathetic description doesn’t do it justice, but if you’ve seen it, and my attempt at recreating it in type has reminded you of it, it will undoubtedly bring a smile to your face, as it has mine. Seriously funny.

Ok, enough of that. 2005, it’s unbelievable. Well, I guess I’m not entirely done yet… Do you realize that this next year will make it 20 YEARS since Back to the Future was in theaters? I do not see myself as old enough to vividly remember something that happened 20. YEARS. ago. !!!

Alright, maybe I’m done now. Moving on.

Right. So it’s another Hayden along day. The only Hayden activity that I’ve been made aware of is Darra. Very pretty colors. She’s doing dark grays, and they look wonderfully snuggly to me. Good job, Darra! Anyone else working on Haydens?

And now, the white hat I’ve been working on. I did a lot on it yesterday, and I have to frog. That’s what happens when you fly by the seat of your pants, I guess. I thought that I could get by without carefully planning every decrease, and letting the pattern fall random, so long as I maintained a stitch count divisible by six. Well it works, it just looks like crap. So I’m going to frog down to the start of the decreases and rework some numbers. When the sun comes up, I’ll take a picture so you all will believe me when I say it has to be done. On the plus side, while playing around with my nearly completed yet doomed hat, I realized that it may look even better inside out than it does right side out. I honestly can’t decide. How cool is that, eh? A reversible hat! Don’t worry, I’ll show you. Just waiting for the sun…

UPDATE– OK, here we go. This is the “good” side of the hat, or what the hat should look like…

and this is the way wacked side…

See? I’m not making this up. It needs help.

Last night we watched the second disc of the Two Towers. Love it! (Even though I still have to close my eyes at the gross parts). And guess what? I did some knitting yesterday! I’m so excited. There hasn’t been much knitting time recently, but yesterday, I finished the first sleeve to Lauralund, blocked it, and started that white hat I swatched weeks ago. I tried it on last night after a couple inches, and it makes a very cute headband.

I’m a little concerned about how it will look as a hat, mainly because over at Pieces of Life, Laura Marie made a two color hayden that she said looks like Epcot Center, and the stitch pattern I’m using might do the same, but I’m going to try it.

Yes, yes, I need to be working on the second sleeve to Lauralund, and Pete’s bag, but the needles for both of those projects are otherwise engaged, so I started something new. I should probably update the WIP section in my sidebar.

Wow, I slept in. I just woke up. Nate has left for work, the kids are half way through Finding Nemo, and I’m rubbing my eyes. Nate and I have been staying up late. We watched the extended version of Return of the King when it was released, and decided to start the whole trilogy over again, watching a disc a night. Last night we watched the first disc of the Two Towers. Good stuff. I’m tired.

SO, I took some pictures of Olivia’s and Veronica’s dolls yesterday.

If you recall, I showed Veronica’s doll to you awhile ago, but her hair was different. I didn’t much care for the doll. After making the braids on Olivia’s doll, I decided to try again with Veronica’s doll’s hair, and amazingly enough, it made the whole doll better. I’m pretty happy with it.

Jenny asked, in yesterday’s comments, about names. Abby’s doll is named Christine, Veronica’s (on the left) is named Laura (wish it wasn’t), and Olivia’s is named Lydia.

A note about the dressed doll pattern (as opposed to the naked doll, that you then make clothes for): I’ve made it twice now, each time with sleeves. All I did was start the I cord with the dress color, and an extra stitch, and then decrease down and switch colors when I wanted the flesh to begin. I highly recommend it.

This is Abby’s doll. At the time of her creation, she donned a blue mini-skirt and a red sweater. I never really liked the outfit, so for Christmas, I made her a new one. I still intend to embellish the sweater somewhat. In the pattern, (Interweave Knits, Summer 2002), there are many options for clothes, including two sweaters. Most of the dolls I have made wear the cuff to cuff sweater, but I decided to try the bottom to top version for Abby’s and Olivia’s doll. I don’t think I like it. I like it enough to leave them alone, but in the future, I think I’ll continue with the cuff to cuff.

With both sweater patterns, I pick up stitches around the neck to knit a turtle neck. The dolls necks look really funky due to the decreases and increases to get the shape, then you stretch it out when adding stuffing. It isn’t pretty. I like how the turtle neck covers, plus it gives the sweaters more of a finished look. This bottom to top sweater I used on Abby’s and Olivia’s dolls has a very strong, boxy shape. I think it overpowers, particularly on Olivia’s doll. You’ll see what I mean.

Oh well, good to know. I still absolutely LOVE using Lamb’s Pride for doll clothes. It feels wonderful, the colors are brilliant, and it’s been holding up well. I won’t, however, use it for hair again. It needs to be knit into stitches to maintain its integrity.

More doll pics tomorrow.

Christmas was wonderful. I hope everyone had a fabulous and relaxing weekend. My girls had a great time, and the season is always so magical with little ones around.

I finished Olivia’s doll. She has braids (by request) that won’t quit. I gave Veronica’s doll a haircut, and I like it significantly better now. On Christmas Day, I knit a new outfit for Abby’s doll, and she’s been attached to it ever since. I’ll take some pictures this week.

Look what I got on Thursday.

That’s right. My wonderful Flowerswap partner made this beautiful flower for me. It’s great! Thanks, Myra in Hawaii!

Well, I was telling my neighbor yesterday that it’s a weird sensation having Christmas over, my mom’s sweater done, the flower pin done… Other than Pete’s bag, I don’t have any knitting commitments left! I’m a free woman! I need to keep it this way for a little while. Well, there are a couple birthdays this month that I’d like to knit for, but I haven’t committed to anything. It feels great. I can focus on ME knitting for a bit. Let’s see, I want to finish Lauralund. I really want a new cardigan because my old one is ragged, and I much prefer cardigans to jackets. I want to make the hoodie from S&B… but you’ve heard all this before. I’m just so happy that I can knit for myself without feeling guilty. Right. So, on to Pete’s bag…

And there are some “little girly” Christmas pictures, if you’re interested.

O holy night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is Love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name

Christ is the Lord
Oh praise His name forever
His power and glory ever more proclaim
Oh night divine
Oh night, when Christ was born

It’s another Hayden-along day!

Gayle has been busy. She’s camera shy though, so Olivia is modeling for her.

Aren’t they lovely?

Katrina said she “inadvertently” participated in the knitalong when she needed a quick Christmas gift, so she whipped one out and it’s pretty in pink. (Scroll down to December 7th).

Any other Haydens out there? I have yarn for one more set aside, but I haven’t found the time yet.

I stayed up ’til 2:30 am making pants for Olivia’s doll. I really enjoyed it. It was so quiet and peaceful. I still need to knit her sweater and attach hair and feet. I’d also like to make an outfit for Abby’s doll. And I need to wrap everything. Better go.

I’m in trouble. I need to get Olivia’s doll done, and I haven’t been working on it. I haven’t been knitting much of anything. It’s been busy. SO, Here’s a picture of our christmas stockings.

I first learned to knit in September of 2000. My learning project was a garter stitch hat in the round on double pointed needles. I did a few of those, then as Christmas approached, I called some yarn stores looking for stocking patterns. That’s when I discovered Cher at Columbine Yarns. She sold me a pattern and yarn, gave me enough instruction to get me started, and told me to come in for help when I got stuck. That first year, the stocking on the far left, and the one in the middle were created. The following year, I made the two blues. Last year, I needed one more, and it’s my favorite.

Either last year, or the year before (I don’t recall), I made one for mom, but I don’t have a picture of that. It was light green, and had a dark green, horse head silhouette on it. Stockings are fun. There’s so much you can do with them.

Now I need to get cracking on Olivia’s doll. The kids are on Winter Vacation from school, so if I’m going to get anything done on it today, I’ve got to lock myself in my room. I’m not feeling very optimistic.

Yesterday was lame. I’m not going to whine, so I’ll just say that sometimes, staying home with three little children pushes a woman to her limit.

Wanna see something gorgeous?

I love this. You can find it here. It’s Arwen’s riding pin from the Lord of the Rings movies. I think it would look fabulous on my stole. It’s on my Christmas list.

Gayle stopped by today with color cards from Peace Fleece. They have some beautiful colors. She bought a few mini-skeins to swatch with for that afghan pattern I’ve been linking. I also just realized that I’ve been misspelling afghan. What a dork. Anyhow, the colors look much different in person than they do online. Hooray for color cards! I haven’t swatched yet, but so far I like this yarn. I think it could make a nice blanket. I guess we’ll see.