Friday, September 22, 2006

Sheep, sheep, sheep






I started buying Debbie Bliss books when my now fifteen-year-old daughter was a baby. I keep buying them because I love the textures she uses for her all of her knits, and because I like knitting baby items since they make up so quickly. I've been meaning for ages to start the little sheep dress in The Baby Knits Book, and I finally did this week. I don't really enjoy doing intarsia because I am lazy; and instead of carefully winding the yarn on bobbins, I just attach each strand of yarn and clean up the mess when I'm finished. Still, I had to knit this dress. I found some Debbie Bliss wool/cotton for half off on the Herrschners website last year. I have been a little snobby about Herrschners in the past, but they have some great yarn sales. Teal isn't a traditional baby color, but I think it will look good anyway. I think Debbie's little sheep are really cute. Even though I have a few mistakes and tension problems, I think that I'm going to be happy with the dress when I am finished. I'm learning to get over the imperfections. Factory-produced clothing is rarely perfect either, and not nearly so charming.


I must devote tomorrow to working on my master's proposal. I should have finished it back in June, but I really did need a break. Now my plate is pretty full again since I'm teaching a night class two night a week and spending the day teaching recalitrant high schoolers, so I've got to budget the time. I read on my university's website that only half of the students who finished the course work for their Master's in Humanities program actually finished the degree. That's a bit scary! I can't imagine devoting all of this time to the classes and not finishing when I am so close to the end. I've got to start using knitting as a reward instead of a diversion. I think I've been knitting more lately than I did all summer when I had time to knit AND work on my proposal. Pleeeeease someone chastise me if you find me writing a long blog tomorrow. I MUST be academic tomorrow, none of this comforting domestic stuff for me until I've shown some discipline.

5 comments:

Jenni said...

The sheepies are so cute. I teach recalitrant high schoolers as well. I have considered trying to go back to school, but it is so dificult to manage with a full time job. Hopefully I will be able to soon.

good luck to you

Anonymous said...

Oh dear, I shouldn't have looked! I love the sheep dress and now I need to make it for my granddaughter. Love the color you chose.

sturdygirl said...

i loooove debbie bliss' baby stuff too! have you ever seen the alphabet blanket pattern in the baby knits book? i want to make that for my little ones, when i have them :)

Tracy Batchelder said...

I have several Debbie Bliss books also. Just waiting to be blessed with grandchildren to knit for. I didn't know how to knit when my children were young. This dress is going to be sweet and the color is just perfect.

KnittenKnots said...

That little dress is going to be absolutely adorable - I really like the teal. And those sheep? C'mon - seriously - does it get any cuter?