Snowblock

We got a lot of snow this past weekend- 20 inches. I got bored. Have no idea what possessed me. Part of the problem might have been that we we moving things around for the holidays. We also had a full house. My eldest son was home for winter break. That meant we suddenly had two teenaged boys lumbering around the house. Normally they'd be off in their respective corners, lairs, what-have-you, minding their own business. Add a day of enforced togetherness and snow to shovel and the system breaks down. Meanwhile, I've got this huge (20" X 72") red wrap that I knit which desperately needed blocking. The last thing I wanted to do was to get this thing dripping wet and then have to find a place to block it. We don't have the space available right now. What to do?
After about 24 hours of enforced togetherness, husband and older son just HAVE to go out to shop or do something. In the interval, the younger son begins to fret about needing photos for a class project. The subject was "texture". I suggest that we put my knitting out in the snow. My hope was that the fresh snow would dampen the knitting just enough to get it evenly wet without getting it completely sodden. I tossed the shawl out the front door and younger son spread it out for the first photo. After that, he took astick and churned it in the fresh powder until it was evenly coated. We popped the shawl into a gigantic plastic bag and let the snow melt inside for a few hours. When I took the knitting out, it was damp, but could probably have used a litttle more snow. At the moment, it's hanging in the bathroom to dry. It's stretched out a bit, but nothing dramatic has happened. It's a large enough project that i won't block it again until it needs a wash.

Blue Moebius

This was a very quick and fun knit that I just completed for someone. It's made from Bernat Softee Chunky in the Denim color. The pattern is so simple that you can get it visually. Cast on 18 stitches. Knit 10 rows of garter stitch. Knit one row of elongated stitch (2 wraps around the needle). Repeat this pattern until scarf is desired length. At the end, I gave the scarf a 180 degree twist and used a 3-needle bind-off to finish/seam the ends. It fits nicely on the shoulders and goes well with denim jeans. I think the recipient will like it.

EKG Knit Hat

Here is the finished hat along with a photo of the graph/tracing that I used. The hat is a simple watch cap knit in wool using worsted weight yarn on size 6 needles (circular and double point). I was able to freehand embroider the pattern three times around the hat. I can't wait to send it to my friend who is finishing up her finals for the semester. (nursing school).

Knit EKG Swatch

This is a swatch I made for a project that has been in my mind for a long time. Originally, I was inspired to make a hat for a drummer. This drummer was quoted as saying that rhythm was everywhere, in heartbeats and handclaps. I later saw a pattern for a heartbeat hat and bought the pattern. However, as a biologist, I wanted to design my own pattern that showed the tracing of a normal EKG pattern. Add to that the fact that I have a friend who is in her final year of nursing school. Finally, she has been studying EKG's this past semester. It was time to knit. I looked at lots of EKG image tracings. This swatch has originally knit in intarsia to show the EKG pattern in the top example. I didn't like the way it looked. Someone else saw it and suggested that the Holbein Stitch (embroidery) would look more like a tracing. He was right. The bottom EKG pattern is in Holbein Stitch. I'll have the hat finished soon.

Mouse Pocket Scarf

I've been making this for a friend I used to work with. She loves all things Disney. Carrie asked me to knit her a scarf. Of course, I was happy to do this because I really enjoyed working with her. She chose the color and requested a Disney theme. I did a long search looking for knitttable images. I settled on the Mouse because it was easily recognizable and fit within the "pixellation limit" of a scarf. I used a pattern for a Mouse washcloth as the graphic. Originally, I tried knitting this in stockinette stitch with a seed stitch border, as per the washcloth. Unfortunately, the knitting simply curled too much for my taste. On my second, successful attempt, I knit the main portion of the scarf in seed stitch and knit the graphic portions on each end, UPSIDE DOWN. The Mouse graphic was then folded up and stitched to form a pocket. The yarn used was and acrylic, in lavender, about 2 skeins of worsted weight. The pattern for the Mouse can be found here:

Knit with Square Holes Around

It's drafty here. My chair is in the path of a sliding glass door. In Winter it gets pretty cold. I am still looking for a way to weatherstrip it more efficiently. In the meantime, I insulate MYSELF with knitting. The piece at left is a long rectangular wrap that I am making of Paton's Shetland Chunky Tweed in red. It is nearly finished and has used a total of 11 skeins. The center portion of the shawl was knit on size 10 knitting needles and measures approximately 20" x 60" before edging and blocking. The edging, nearly finished, is from Nicky Epstein's book, Knitted Embellishments. I liked it because of the modern, square holes. It was NOT fun to knit because of all the starting, stopping, casting/binding and loose ends. I still like the way it looks. I knit the edging on three sides of the shawl. The fourth (long) side will be plain garter stitch so that I have a solid edge near my neck and shoulders. I have not figured out how to block this thing yet. My house really doesn't have that much quiet real estate. Also, we are having new carpet put down soon. My husband would have a fit if I blocked anything on the new carpet for a while. The entire household is in an uproar as we prepare for some major fixing. I may just have to block this .....I have no idea....

Knit Sushi

Just a little knit sushi that I've been working on. I'm doing this freeform. There is no pattern. It's been fun to look at what other people have done in this area for inspiration. Now I've started pulling cookbooks and restaurant menus into use, too. I'll come back to this project from time to time, until I have a complete set that can go into some sort of fiber-based bento.

BTW, my husband is recuperating form surgery. It's been a long year. At his follow-up visit, we hope to hear that he is cancer-free. Knitting has helped keep me sane. Surprisingly, this last week, when he actually had the surgery, I was too fried to knit much. THAT'S how rattled I was.

Knit Periodic Table: With The New Elements

Here is the finished article. It's about the size of my dining room table, just under 4 x 6 feet. The picture was taken by my husband, who stood on a chair to get most of the piece in the frame.
Once the shawl/afghan was completed, I realized that there is NO way that I'm going to just drape this over a chair anytime soon. My fingers get tired every time I look at it. It's carefully folded (inside out) and on my desk. No cats allowed. In the meantime, I have gotten a few suggestions that I donate this , perhaps to a local science teacher. Admittedly, this is a good idea. My favorite teacher of all time, my chemistry teacher, was a knitter. She's definitely a spiritual part of this project. Here's my dilemma. Most people do not value handcrafts nearly enough. I'm not ready to part with this. Maybe. We'll see. I'll think about it. Put it in writing and I'll get back to you......

Update

Quick update. I'm binding off the edging. It's taking quite some time. Hope to have a photo of the finished project up very soon and then on to the next project(s).

Edging

Nearly done. This is the second try on the edge. Originally, I tried a slip stitch type of ribbing. Unfortunately it did not lie flat. It was wavy and the edges curled. After completing two sides, (one short and one long) I ripped it out and started over. As much as I hated that, it was better to have a decent-looking finish on this project. This time, I picked up about 20-25% fewer stitches on the long edges and worked a simple K1P1 ribbing with mitered corners. It's simple, lies flat and is effective. Each row of the ribbing changes color. Every other row is done in light teal, for consistency. The alternate rows are worked in stripes of all the other colors.. I've worked the ribbing for about 3-4 inches (length of my index finger). In real terms, that means I worked the ribbing until I was sick of it. Since each round had at LEAST 600 stitches......I was unusually patient. I worked 12 rounds......

Knit Periodic Table: The New Elements

This photo shows how I interpreted the elements that have temporary names. That means that most of them have been "discovered" (synthesized) but IUPAC and IUPAP have not verified them or agreed on a two-letter symbol and name. Note that UUS, (atomic number 117) has not been discovered yet.The layout of the three-letter elements is not ideal, but I was happy just to get three letters squeezed into the space originally intended for two letters. As the new elements get permanent names, I have the option of changing the letters. I might also be too lazy to do that.

Rare Earths, done

Progress photo. Rare earths done. The last groups to go in are the newest elements, the halogens and the inert gases.

Periodic Table Shawl Knit: Adding Metalloids

A progress photo. The metalloids are going in, along with the rest of the rare earths. Slogging along at this point. The novelty has worn off. Note stubborn cat on left.

Periodic Table Knit Update: Transition Metals

I'm finishing the Transition Metals. I'm going to fiddle with the Nonmetals and Metalloids/Poor Metals together. Trying to figure out color combinations using existing yarns only. I don't want to buy anything or add another yarn. So far, I was lucky to find reasonably compatible cotton yarns in my stash. Luck is the key word, here. Even though I've read a good deal more color theory than average, strange things happen when I combine yarns......

Transition Metals and Rare Earths

Actually, this is from a couple of days ago. I stretched out the knitting so I could get a sense of the overall project. (Of course a cloud passed over to change the lighting while I was working.) Interestingly enough, the letters look better from a distance. That is what I need to see. When I work on the individual stitches, I lose perspective and get totally fixated.....pixellated, if you will. Stepping back allows me to see that potassium (K) needs an extra stiche and thatI want to replace the dark green bars between the Reactive Metals and the blanks blocks for the Rare Earths. The Transition Metals and Rare Earths are the longest running portion of the Table. I really want to work steadily so that I don't put it down and start to procrastinate. If I pick up anything else now, this project is DOOMED.

Periodic Table: Chart of Updated Elements

Here is my graph of the recent updates to the Periodic Table of the Elements. My update is based on the original charts of Avital Pinnick. I am insanely grateful to Avital for having such a great idea. Avital's Periodic Table Sweater and original charts can be found at her blog, This and That. I have used her layout and style so that the new or changed elements can be incorporated right in with the elements that she charted. I have chosen to arrange my project according to the 2007 (most recent) IUPAC version of the Table. I have also chosen to add element 112, Copernicum, which was officially named this year. I will also probably add the temporarily named elements that have three-letter symbols. I have charted these symbols, but had to compress the letters. I would suggest duplicate stitching the temporary symbols so that official symbols could be added later. I'll add photos as the new elements get stitched into my shawl.

Pink Beanies, Decidedly Done

Here are the finished beanies. One has been sent out to the recipient. The second one should be sent or delivered soon, but was not a surprise. Haven't heard anything, but I do hope they like them.....handmade and all that. I certainly like the results and would wear them. In fact, I may make one to match my own coat.......

Periodic Table Knit pt. 2

I've put in the Reactive Metals and am starting to fill in the Transition Metals, along with the Lanthanoids and Actinoids. I'm doing the groups together so I can keep everything aligned properly. Tentatively, the Transition Metals have been worked in a variegated blue yarn, shown at left. Surprisingly, the photos help me decide which colors work best. When I am stitching, I am too close to the work. The photo provides a real sense of detachment.

The variegated blues may be too pale to read in the lightest areas. I will try the next few blocks using the darker sections. Based on the sample, I'll try the following.....

Outlines in blue/green twist and variegated blues.
Transition Metals- medium/darker blues
Lanthanoids- Blue/green twist
Actinoids- Blue/lavender variegated

The newer elements are coming up. The chart that I am using for the majority of the elements comes from the Periodic Table Sweater by Apinnick.

Periodic Table Shawl Knit with Updated Elements

Let me say right off that I am using the chart so kindly posted by Apinnick for her Periodic Table Sweater. My background is in Biochemistry and I love Chemistry. This sweater grabbed my attention immediately, especially since I used to wear a yellow periodic table T-shirt in high school. (long term geek that I am)

Instead of a sweater, I am making a flat shawl/throw in worsted weight cotton yarn. I chose this yarn because I've had a couple of CONES of the stuff sitting around since 2006, driving me nuts. The numerical description of the background is at least 120 stitches by at least 215 rows. Note that I am doing this SIDEWAYS. The sideways orientation fits my knitting frame and my (im)patience level. I would have gone bonkers knitting this by hand right now. I have other stuff to finish on a deadline.

I chose to knit the background in stockinette stitch on a Bond knitting frame. I knit 11 rows of white, then 1 row of (blue-green) contrast yarn. The contrast yarn helps me define the squares of the Table and serves as a counting device. Also, when complete, I want the background to evoke the idea of "notebook paper" and "graph paper". Besides, that, it was in my stash.......

So far, I have knit the background. I have not bound off the edges because I will hand knit some sort of edging later. I'm considering stitch patterns, etc.

I'm doing the actual elements in duplicate stitch, rather than knitting them in with the background. As I go, I'm making decisions about color and arrangement. (That means digging up stash yarn).

Important Note: The original Periodic Table Sweater was made in the late 1990's. There have been a number of new elements that have been discovered/ approved since then. IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) has approved names for some of these elements and had temporary names for others. I am going to make (and post) a chart for some of the updated elements. Also, there are a few variations on the arrangement of the Periodic Table. My version will be slightly different from Apinnick's version. The new elements get added and the actinoids and lanthanoids are slightly different. Here is a version of the Periodic Table that shows the new elements, starting from the Atomic Number 104.

Pink Beanie, Decidedly Delicate

What I'm working on right now. The pattern is from Ravelry, called Decidedly Delicate. It has an easy 4 row pattern repeat. I'm making two hats, one each on size 8 and size 9 circular or double point needles. Nice, fun, mindless knitting. I'm making the hats for two girls, one will be turning 9 soon and one who will be somewhat older. The pink yarn is a departure for me, but I like it. It was chosen by one of the (future) gift recipients.
Stiil playing with trim. One girl wants a bow. The first hat has a crocheted flower trim,- my call. We will see about the bow.....

Jellyfish I

These photos are what I have at the moment. The jellyfish could be considered complete, but I think additional tentacles are needed. I need to give it a good long stare in a dark room (it glows). Then I will try out tentacles and various accents in s "glow", pink, or clear cord. The clear cord is being reserved for a transparent knit first. These photos were taken with the unwilling cooperation of two surly teenagers who specified they be edited out.



















Details: This was knit using two skeins of Bernat "Glow in the dark" Yarn in white. I used size 7 needles, both double point and a 24" circular. For the body, I cast on 174 stitches on the double point needles and did 10 paired decreased evenly around the circle every other row. Then i closed the center. The tentacles were formed from a long (6-7 foot) length of ruffle. I knit this by filling a 24" circular needle with stitches. I knit a row, then formed a double increase in each stitch, to form the frill. I knit for about 1.5 inches in garter stitch and bound off the ruffle.
Assembly: Weave a length of yarn around the edge of the circle leaving long ends, to form a drawstring. Use the drawstring to pull the edge of the circle in until the shape is pleasing. Stuff the bell if you like. The ruffled strip was folded into quarters and attached to the body. I also used a cardboard circle to hold in the stuffing. For now, the tentacles are tied to the cardboard circle. They may be attached directly to the body once I finalize the shape a add additonal tentacles or accents.

Barcode Knit Complete

Music-themed scarf/iPod cozy.

Vital stats:

Needle size: 2, one set straight, one set double pointed
Yarn: sock weight
Gauge: 6 stitche per inch, 8 rows per inch
Total number of stitches in project, 13,382, (31 stitches per round)


Here is what I learned.

Barcode is truly a machine language. I took the name "bellflur" (after the band) and used an online converter to translate it into Code 128. It looks really good on paper. Great visual, nice stripes. I enlarged the printout so I could see and count each row of pixels. Very simple. Stripes are easy to knit?

WRONG.

In barcode, each number translates into rows of pixels. The number 1 is a single row, the number 3 is three rows. Code 128 does the same for letters. This allows a lot of information to be printed in a small amount of space, such as a label.

In knitting, this greatly expands the project. If you look at the photo of the scarf, you will see that the letters take up less space than the stripes of the code. In addition, in knitting there is the issue of color changes and weaving in ends. I carried the yarn up the sides to avoid having over 100 loose ends to weave. A final consideration with knitting is changing colors on odd or even numbers of rows. In flat knitting, it is easiest to change colors every two rows. Originally, I tried to expand the barcode so that one row of pixels equalled a two-row stripe. That gave me a pattern repeat in the range of 250-300 rows. Eventually, I chose to knit the scarf in the round, to facillitate frequent colr changes of one-row stripes. I knit the scarf as a closed-end, double knit tube to make it more interesting for myself. After knitting about 6 inches of the pattern, I decided to use the tube to hold my iPod or cellphone, leaving an opening that was later bordered in 1x1 ribbing.

After the barcode portion was completed, I knit the remainder of the scarf in plain black. This portion was knit on double pointed needles and I just knit until I used up nearly all of the black yarn. The final length is 55 inches, which is rather short for a winter scarf, but just right for holding my ipod at a comfortable level.

The last step in the main scarf was to duplicate stitch the name "bellflur" on the solid portion of the scarf. I used chart that I made some time ago. The chart was made from the band's logo that I charted using KnitPro and then altered to get the effect I wanted. I found it frustrating to duplicate stitch black yarn, at a small gauge, in a long, narrow, tube.

The final steps were to bind off the knitting and add fringe. The loose ends were tucked inside the scarf.

I am SO glad this thing is done. This project had an idea that I loved. I hated the execution. If I do another barcode project, I will choose a different yarn and perhaps knit it using a knitting machine, flat. I will definitely do it at a much larger guage. I fit the project to use the yarn I had available in black and white. I may try another version of barcode, called AZTEC next because it appears to be graphically intersting.

Jelly fish

The photo shows jellyfish, "moon jellies", my current model and inspiration. Jellyfish, invertebrates and bioluminescence have been interests of mine for years. I want to do something that has a passing resemblance to the real creature. I don't like cutesy, anthropomorhic versions with faces.
I started out trying to use some of my stash of glow yarn, but it wasn't right. I want to get something that is truly transparent or at least translucent. I've tried knitting strips of thin clear plastic from the dry cleaners. It was just awful, soft slippery, sticky at the wrong time, very frustrating. Besides that, at the end of the evening, my husband was making comments about my "descent into madness". Next morning, the plastic went into the trash. I went out and purchased two thicknesses of nylon monofilament fishing line to try. It is knittable. I am trying to find a tolerable way to start this project. Once established, it should work well. I will get the transparency I want and will use glow-in-the-dark yarn for the luminous parts.

Aberration, Anniversary, Independence

This is the one year anniversary of this blog. The embarrassing photo at left is Penguin, a "retired" feral cat who adopted us a couple years ago. Today I gave him cause to re-think that decision. I saw the blogpost about International Cat Hats, some time ago and just loved it. Normally, I don't humiliate the cats or make demands on them. They are independent contractors. This was the exception. I knit the crown overnight and got photos today. The photo part was hard. My husband is not a photographer and certainly not for cats. This was the best I could get. There was another photo shoot, with my cat, Raven, that was an unmitigated, blurry disaster. If my husband had shot video, it would have been fun. As it is, neither cat is speaking to me.

Barcode Section Knit- Update Bellflur

Confession....I have been "socializing" on Facebook and not knitting. Anyway, I'm back to the knit at least for a while. Bellflur is hitting the road for their summer season AND they will finally be releasing new songs. I want to get this project finished before the EP and Album are released.

This project started out as a simple barcode experiment. Along the way, I realized that I could use this narrow scarf/stole to hold my iPod. The barcode portion was knit in tubular double knitting. The remainder of the scarf will be knit in plain black until it is long enough, or I run out of yarn. I am finishing it on double point needles because knitting on black yarn in dim light made for some .......unravelling. Now I can just knit on circular auto pilot.

The last step will probably be to embroider the title "Bellflur" on the black portion.

If you look carefully at the iPod, you can see the cover of the first Bellflur CD.

A New Thread

I do other things besides knitting. All my life, I have been fascinated by bobbin lace. Several years ago, I finally found the proper materials and began to learn. This was really only possible through the Internet. Lacemaking requires focus and patience. For me, it is a form of meditation.

I am really glad to pull my pillows out of storage. The photos show a detail shot of my "cookie" pillow, which is about 18" in diameter. The pattern, called a pricking, is pinned onto the pillow and the lace is worked directly over the pattern. In my mind, bobbin lace incorporates techniques of weaving, braiding, and perhaps knotting. Pins are used to stabilize the threads at edges and crossings. Finished lace is stretched, stiffened and released from the pins.

This particular project is an exercise in Bruges lace. "Tapes" are woven to define the shape of the lace. The center area is filled with a "ground" pattern. It is a fairly easy, quick and fun type of lace. Since I haven't done this in a couple of years, this will be a good refresher piece to finish.

The photo on the right shows my pattern book and examples of my patterns or prickings.
I hope it will be easy for me to pick this up again.

I stopped making lace several years ago, when i went back to work full time. Somehow, working 8-12 hours a day for 5-6 day weeks is not conducive to focusing on anything other than sleep at home.

Life is Now

Everything changes, but why all at once? I am overloaded. The pillars of my life, spouse, kids, finances, friends, identity, language, psyche are all shifting. I have some choice in the matter. I am also obligated to cope with external change.
Hitting the wall. Knit happens.

A Neckwarmer means your scarf ran out of yarn

I just could not leave this alone. Last fall I knit a scarf for C-los, who surprised me and chose red yarn. I totally fell in love with the yarn and stole a skein for myself. (Carlos, your scarf is one foot short as a result.) I started knitting my own project with the "stolen" yarn and NOTHING has come out right in five different attempts. I finally settled on a pattern, the Lamar Scarf, only to run out of yarn- hence it's a "neckwarmer". I will never wear this as a neckwarmer. Last night, after work I went back to the store to get more yarn. There was no hope of getting the same dyelot. I'm only hoping that the color jog will blend at the back of the neck or get buried in the cable crosses.

I'm also feeling guilty about not finishing the barcode project. Maybe I'll finish it in time for the new Bellflur album.

FindtheWords

This is the creation of a longtime friend. We reconnected and he told me about the video. I love his work. I totally get this.

I must point out that this video has both original images and music. It is the work of John Chadwick. John wrote the lyrics and the music and created the images. He performs with his brother Roger.

I first met John around middle school age, probably playing outdoors. We were in daily classes together during middle and high school. Even then, he had an interest in film making. Both John and Roger were a part of my daily life. I did not know how important that was.

He's always been part of me.

Never Enough

My avatar is on the left. That's Raven, my yarn-addicted, bacon-addicted feline. As soon as I laid out the hats for a photo, she had to intercede. Surprisingly, she stayed still for several shots, so she's in the blog post.
The hats are made from stash that I brought up from North Carolina and knit during a recent cold snap. One was made at my husband's request, who promptly went to Target and bought a $2.99 hat while I was knitting. ^$%$@!@ to him! Tom, you are higher on my knitlist than Ian now. Hat knitting is new and interesting because it uses up single skeins of yarn and I don't get bored, I can also indulge various ideas such as : chicken vikings, mohawks, Daleks, Space Invaders, R2D2, .......

It has occurred to me that I could start knitting a few things for good causes. The knitting I've done for other people has been kinda fun. Also, after years of volunteer work, I want to make a change. I need to find volunteer efforts that fit my current capabilities. I've spent years doing exhausting, often thankless work, to suit the convenience of other people. Charitable knitting might be a welcome change.

I've been looking at my stash and looking for good causes. I've contacted someone who wants to distribute items, such as hats, gloves, sweaters to the homeless in Baltimore. (no response yet) Johns Hopkins Pediatric Intensive Care Unit has a program that accepts items according to a rotating schedule. They have six seasonal projects, slippers, Halloween caps, amigurumi (toys), etc. That might be a lot of fun and allow for creativity, too. For now, I'm going to knit occasional items and fill up a box with donations. Never enough time, energy, money to serve others.

He Rocks

I couldn't be more pleased with the beanie or the wearer. They've just posted a new video which I've been listening to intently. He's on the far left side, playing bass and synths/keys I believe.

Wind Whistling Between His Ears

This hat needs to contact the head on the far right ASAP. It's clear to me that he's gone without for too long. A regular, disciplined, stretch in a recording studio, followed by hot chocolate and a vegetarian diet would be appropriate.

While this Bellflur member was out pillaging the South, I was at home knitting furiously. The result was this most excellent beanie which suits those who like chocolate, caffeine, and organic chemistry in one fell swoop. The guitarist gets the beanie as long as I get photos.

This wayward group of musicians has been a source of inspiration for my knitting, as previous posts will show. Currently, they inspire my vegetarian leanings.

Needs a New Hat

I've been sitting on this for a while. I got a message from Tom, who plays bass and guitar for bellflur, that he needed a new hat. Over the summer, I made prototypes, for a similar project that did not suit. Recently, I saw that he was cutting down on caffeine and I remembered the Heterocyclic Hat Pattern. Tom wears a brown hat, so I'm making a version using the molecular structures for caffeine (in coffee) and theobromine (in chocolate). It's in the final knit stages.

Mea Culpa Cat Blanket

I was decluttering and threw out a handmade cat bed. Two days later, I noticed that a skein of newly purchased yarn had disappeared. I went nuts and searched the house. My kids eventually found the yarn being held hostage in the basement. Next morning, I found a hairball in my knitting basket. Mea Culpa, the cat was angry that her bed was gone. I knit this blanket by way of compensation. It's knit with 2 skeins of Paton's Soy Wool Stripes and one skein of the solid yarn. The offering was accepted immediately, with one cat lying on it while it was still wet. In fact, the crease shown in the picture is due to the cats taking possesion before the blanket dried. Guess I know who's in charge.