Pattern giveaway!

Need a gift idea for a dog lover on list? I might be able to help you! Today I'm doing a pattern giveaway

Details -
- leave a comment telling me which one of my patterns that you'd like (and it can be any of them, not just the dog themed ones!) and some sort of contact info

- I will email a copy of the pattern requested to the first 6 people that leave comments with the above info

Please note - no info and I can't get a pattern to you so I'll move on to the next person on the list.

Complete pattern list can be found here

Woof! hats will be available to purchase

Over the next few weeks I'm going to be knitting up a couple of Woof! Hats to put up for sale in my Woolie Dog Etsy shop

I'll be using a light worsted weight superwash merino yarn that I've hand-dyed. While the yarn isn't from my sheep, it is warm, incredibly soft and easy to care for.


If you're interested in a hat in one of the above colors (with paw prints in black or natural ivory) let me know - marajessup AT yahoo DOT com. The price will be $28/each + shipping. The pattern is a one size fits all adult, but if you have a special size request I'd be happy to modify the size a bit when possible.

In the last 11 days

It seems my blogging is starting to become a bit more sporadic...

In the last 11 days besides showing up for classes and work I've prepped for and taken two tests, written two papers, took a 3 day trip to WI for some sheepdog lessons (yay!) had two more patterns go up on Knit Picks (the Woof! Hat and Cobblestone Socks) and my Mini Stocking Ornament was featured on Knit Picks blog for Freebie Friday.

I'd write more but I've got to catch up on the rest of my homework from when I was away doin' the sheepdog thing!

Random Pictures

Mini Stocking Ornament - free pattern!

I love these little stockings - they're fun and quick to knit, they make a great gift or gift tag and they can be made with yarn that is leftover from other projects.

The smaller stocking uses just 6 grams of fingering weight yarn and the larger one just 12 grams of worsted weight. The pattern can be used with whatever weight of yarn you have on hand.

It takes me about an hour to complete one.

The pattern can be found here Mini Stocking Ornament

All new TMT questions!

1. What are you thankful for this week?
I am thankful that I've got a job that is accommodating with my crazy school schedule. And that I get to work with my little brother on Thursday and Friday each week. He is smart. He is funny. And he's a really hard worker. We swap school/classmate stories on Thursdays - it can be a hoot!

2. How do you deal with a squeaker/shrieker/noisy dog?
It depends on why they're being noisy and what frame of mind I'm in... I usually redirect and tell them to knock it off. And they are usually really good about being quiet in the first place. Usually.

But then there was this one time a couple years ago with Kenzi... I had stayed up 'til the wee hours of the morning finishing a paper and I had to get up early in the morning to deliver said paper to school. I had probably been asleep about two and half hours when the barking started. My sleep hazed mind wasn't working that well but I eventually figured out that the coon hunters were out and about. With dogs. And Kenzi was going to tell the world. The other two dogs were curled up sleeping and ignoring them like good dogs who understand that you don't wake the person up unless it's an emergency. I tried the normal things a half asleep person usually tries to get her to be quiet. She'd settle down for a minute then go back at it. So I finally grabbed a pillow and threw it in the direction of the barking. After the second or third pillow I think she got the hint. Or maybe I was too tired to care and fell back asleep. I do know that I probably did her a favor because if I hadn't gotten her to be quite Missy and Kipp would have pushed her down the stairs or something for breaking rule of the bedroom - you do not wake each other up in the middle of the night unless it's an emergency!!

3. Barbara wants to know: what would you say is ONE skill or attribute needed to be successful?

Hard work. Talent is good, but it won't get you very far by itself.

4. Pippin wants to know: what are your favorite games?

For the dogs? outdoors it's B-A-L-L. Indoors it's gnaw on each other's legs. Weird, but it works for them so who am I to question it?

For me? I love the card game Dutch Blitz. It's fast, kind crazy and really keeps you on your toes.

5. What are some of your strategies for dealing with winter?

Good outerwear. Good boots. Wool socks. Sonoma long underwear from Kohls. Blankies, hot chocolate and knitting in the evenings when I can get away with it. Pray that I don't have to get out and go anywhere when it's nasty. Snow can be nice because running in it wears the dogs out twice as fast (or keeps them snoozing twice as long afterward!)

Productivity

Late this afternoon I was thinking of the the things I should be getting done today. Then I stopped and though of all the things I had already accomplished for the day. That made me feel a bit better.

Two classes this morning - turned in a final paper at one and final test prep at another. Unloaded and stacked a trailer full of wood this afternoon. Put supper in the crock pot. Spent 1.5 hours training/exercising the dogs. Cleaned the kitchen. Worked on patterns. Answered a forum question for my hybrid class.

I guess I was pretty productive today.

And then I dyed up some Woolie Dog tugs :-) I was dyeing the wool then making and felting the tugs. But un-felted wool is very lofty and takes up A LOT more room in the dye pan. So I now I'm felting them first, then dyeing. It kind of gives the tugs a tie-dye effect. I like it!

Tug toys in the dye pot freshly dyed -