Testing.

  I'm testing a pattern for a friend. I don't know what it is, but it makes me feel special to test a pattern.  Maybe because I get to see it before the general public?

   This is mine after I finished the hem and also the first three cable rows.  Anyone who has been around here for a while knows that I have a real problem sticking to a pattern.  For tests I am a lot better at it, but when I saw this I wondered why she did the top of the arrows the way she did them.

  Maybe she wanted to keep them simple?  I wasn't sure, so I asked her if she was up for suggestions on the cables or if she really liked them.  I didn't want to go in and tell her to change things if she had gotten them exactly the way she wanted.  Most testing isn't about telling someone how to make their pattern but to tell them if the numbers work out or not.  Like in my shawl pattern where I had you go from 28 stitches to magically needing 32 on the next row.

  She said that she was up for suggestions so I worked out a chart for her.  They are just easier for me to get out of my head than trying to do written directions.  She tested out a strip of just the cable pattern and said she really liked the changes I made.  She also mentioned that she might make a few tweets to the changes I made, but it is her pattern and I would have been fine if she hadn't used any of my suggestions.

   I also feel really silly for not posting this a while ago!  This was my big order to e.l.f. where I got all the eyeshadow brushes and eye-lid primers for the make-up bags.  I had planned on finishing these a lot sooner than I am, but I am still working on it.

  I also have the rest of the tinted lip balms coming to me in the mail.  There was some kind of mix-up between me and the person who offered to send them all to me, but I think we are all set now.  I can't wait to show those off next!

Leaping Around

Last time we had a Leap Day I made something that was themed accordingly.  This year I was not as prepared.

   What with taking care of Mr. Jag and doing that work thing, it kind of snuck up on me.  I did get this hat done, however.  It is the Wave Pattern Hat.  I taught it in a class and it was so quick that we actually finished it in time.  We both have the same problem where our starting chain is a little too tight so while the rest of the hat could fit on our heads, the bottom could not.  I let know know how to fix it by chaining with a larger hook.

 

  I did also finally get this done.  I was 3 rows away from the end, but then I left my phone at home and I wasn't sure what to do so I didn't finish it that day.  Then I kept putting it off.  Now I am finally done with it.  Ends are woven in and everything!  It is called Foliage and is a free pattern on Ravelry.

  Happy Leap Day everyone and I hope it is as fun as a Monday can be!

Winter Wonder Land!

  They said that we were going to have a lot of snow, and that is exactly what happened.

  I took this one from my window on Saturday night.  It snowed most of both Friday and Saturday.  I didn't measure it, but I believe it was close to three feet of snow.  That lump to the right is my car.  I just love how the lights look when they are reflected off of the snow.

  You can see one of the three poodle-legs Mr. Jag has.  I thought they would make use of the shaved leg he already had, but then I saw he had two more when we got back from the swanky vet visit.  He seems to be feeling okay for the most part.  He is eating and drinking from his new kitty fountain.
  You can see in the picture that we are starting a hat.  You can also see the baby surprise sweater.  I have that one off of the needles and seamed.  All it needs are buttons.
  The hat will go with the hat knit-a-long that someone else started.  I like hats, so it will be fun.  I am having to change the pattern a little because the yarn doesn't match what the pattern says to use at all.  This always makes me nervous when I have a limited amount of yarn since I can't check to see if I have enough before I start.  Fingers crossed everyone!

This is a swanky place!

  Today was the day we met with the oncologist.  She was super nice and has also had a cat that has gone though something similar.  Mr. Jag was not shy about any of it.  He came right out of the carrier and sniffed pretty much everything.  He even tried to walk along the keyboard after they took his weight and temperature.  We joked that he was trying to get a job there to help pay his bills.

Kitties Fur a Cause.

  I have been feeling like I have been neglecting my graphic design skills.  I have also wanted to be able to have something limited edition to put on my Etsy shop.  One night I thought of what I wanted to do.
  I had the idea to make some cute kitties in different colors.  I didn't know how to make them special until I thought I would combine it with what I do on this blog.

  Here is the preview of the one I am making for January.  It is cervical cancer colors of teal and white.  I know January is more than half over, but I plan on leaving any given month listed until they sell out.
  I am using Awareness Depot to see what charity goes with what month.  Some months have many causes, but I plan on just making a new design if I have to repeat over time.

  In Mr. Jag news: he got a glucose curve done today.  I also unpacked his kitty fountain today to surprise him once he got home.  Other news I got was to stop giving him insulin until further notice.  The last time he had any was on Monday night and the vet said his levels have all been super perfect today.

Mr. Jag needs some good vibes.

  So we were getting the skin problem under control when another popped up.  He had been eating less, but I thought that was because the anti-fungal medication, but he was eating less than I thought he was.  He had a really scary episode with too much insulin and not enough blood sugar on Monday night into Tuesday morning.  It was so bad he has seizures.
  I then rushed him to the emergency vet.  They started pumping him full of sugar.  They also wanted to check to make sure there was nothing else wrong.  They found some masses in his abdomen and also near his lungs.  I gave the okay to have samples of those taken to see what they might be.  For all we know, those might have been there for a while.
  He came home last night and was still recovering from the sedative they gave him for taking samples.  He was in bed with me for a while last night but then was hiding in the morning.  I tried giving him some treats and he wasn't very interested.  I also gave him some squirts of water.
  I called my local vet and she said to try and get him to eat more and as long as he just seemed sleepy from the pain meds that I don't have to panic.  So instead of just giving him the "okay" treats  I went to the store and got him his favorite treats.  His favorite treats are the Temptations Chicken tartar control.  He has eaten a whole hand full of them since I brought them home and he has come out from under the extra desk.

  Here he is with that full tummy.  You can see where they shaved to put the sugar IV in.  We won't hear back about the samples until tomorrow or the next day.
  He needs some good vibes sent to him so he can feel better and go back to annoying Bill.

2015

Here is a quick list of everything I got done in the year of 2015

Crochet: 2
~Blanket:

Hexagon Spiral

~Scarf:

Manly Woven Scarf

Knit: 10
~Body:

Fragole Shrug

Herbivore Inspired Shawl

Skywalker Shawl

Scuttle Shrug

10 Stitch Blanket

~Hats/Head:

Trees and Mountains

Go Sports: Wurm

Go Sports: Brioche Slouchy Hat

Patriotic Stocking-Cap

Braided Cat Hat

Hat or Headband

~Neck:

Fragole Cowl

Other stuff: 2

Coloring Bags

Crafting Books

Others Work: 7

Double Crochet Lap Blanket

Chain Huggable Monsters (6)