July 21, 2008

Offspring is a fearless knitter. I am not.

I am a dream squasher.

She wanted to attempt a pair of socks. I was afraid to help her. I mean, yes, I can knit a basic sock. But can I help someone else knit a sock? Doing and teaching are two different things. And I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to convert the pattern she chose to Magic Loop (which is what she wanted to do.)

After I shot down the sock idea, she decided she wanted to make something for the dorm. A rug? Handtowels? Dishcloths? We pored over books and scoured Ravelry. Finally she decided on Absorba, the Great BathMat (rav link) from Mason Dixon Knitting. Having never done Log Cabin Knitting, I figured I would give it a try, too. Offspring was thrilled with the idea of doing the same project together. (In fact, she's nagging me right now to finish this and come knit.) We trooped off AC Moore.

There we discovered that they did not carry 16 oz cones of cotton. The closest we came was 14 oz mondo balls in natural and some browney ombres. We each chose a natural and focused on the little 2.5 oz balls. According to our calculations, we were going to need 6.4 balls of each color. The store had exactly 5 balls of any color that appealed to us and exactly a squillion balls of stuff we didn't want to knit with. I did some quick calculations (not really, I was flying by the seat of my pants) and told Offspring we'd just deal with what we had, cast on a few less than the 17 the pattern calls for and see what happens with 12.5 oz of each color. She sort of panicked at that. She's a little more particular and anal than I. I slapped her around a bit (not really) and she calmed down (only minimally.) It's at this point that I remember the book is in the car and I have no idea what size needles to use. I insist it's size 10 1/2. We grab needles and get out of there ('cause going back to the car is a ridiculous idea and darn it I was ready to start the project.)

In the car I discover we needed size 15 needles. Getting out of the car and going into the store to return the wrong needles is another crazy stupid thing to do, so I just tell Offspring that we'll just make the mat with the 10 1/2s. Besides, I tell her, maybe it will help out with the yarn shortage (and darn it I was ready to start the project.) As long as two feet fit on the thing we'll be fine, right?

Once back home we jump right in. We cast on 17 and begin. About halfway through the center square I remember that we were going to cast on fewer stitches, but I shrug and move on ('cause, darn it, I was ready to move on with the project.) As long as two feet fit on the thing, right?

I get to the first "turn" before Offspring (who now seems to think we are racing and is sort of freaking because I'm knitting faster than she is.) I assure her this is a "good thing". I can help when she gets to the turn. She also starts spazzing 'cause mine is bigger. I tell her I'm the looser knitter and to remain calm. As long as she can fit two feet on the thing, we're good. Right?

The pattern we are using is on page 70 something of the book and basic log cabin instructions are on page 68. I dutifully follow the instructions on page 68 through 2 turns before I turn back to the Absorba instructions and discover that I was supposed to work 6 garter ridges (not the 9 for the log cabin tutorial.) I sort of struggle about telling Offspring this, but opt for full disclosure. She looks at me and says "So what you are telling me is we are doing our own thing and not really following the pattern at all." She took the news rather well. (She's a rule follower, you see.)

After a few turns, we both stop to admire our work:



Looks like two feet will fit.

Countdown 1,000: 72

Labels: Family Fun, Knitting, WIPs

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July 19, 2008

I am sad to report that I was unable to submit a sock to the second Summer of Socks bi-weekly raffle (rav link.) For two weeks I tried to complete a sock, but I ended up frogging every attempt. You've seen the updates.

Well, finally, I think I am meeting with some success and I owe it all to Trekking XXL color #326 and the Anastasia Sock pattern. It probably doesn't hurt that Hubby is gone for the week-end and Offspring and the Stray are in Birmingham. No interruptions usually makes for good knitting. This progress pic was taken yesterday. Today I turned the heel and I'm knitting the leg.



And as always, I have some fiddly bits:

• I sold my soul to plurk.
• Offspring is nearly done with her charity baby hat.
• Heath Ledger is a terribly disturbing joker.
• It occurred to me as I labeled this post that I'm inconsistent.
  

Countdown 1,000: 73

Labels: Knitting, Socks, WIPs

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June 13, 2008

Let's start here:


This is the beginning of take two of the Gift of Friendship (pdf)(have you noticed that many of my projects are "take twos"?) Be sure to click on it so you can see it all big-like.

I swear there is a line about half-way up. I'm pretty sure it's due to a tension change. All I can do is hope a dunk and a block will help.
Countdown 1,000: 111

Labels: Knitting, WIPs

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April 25, 2008

Cindy left the following comment:

You are not unmotivated, you are at that place
between still water and simmering water.
Relax.

I just love this and need to remember it when I get down about finding a project. ('Cause yeah, it does depress me when I can't get into a project.)

I did, by the way, find something that seems to be working for me:





This would be the First Love baby afghan. (I decided to be a rebel and NOT link to the Ravelry page...I've got nothing against them, just thought I would be different. But until I post the FO deets, you can check out my project page here.)

The wife of one of my fellow teachers had a baby boy LAST MARCH and I've finally found the pattern I want to use for his blankie. Sheesh!

Labels: Crochet, Fan Mail, WIPs

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April 7, 2008

I stayed up past my bedtime last night to do the heel on the sixth pair. I must have been too tired because I flubbed it. I thought I could get away with a creative fudge here and there, but when the sock was tried on it looked terrible. There were a few large gaps and the stitches were too stretched out. I frogged and I started over this morning. I added 10 more stitches so I hope that will help. I really hate mucking it up, though. Oh well.

I worked on this WIP for a little yesterday:

But I was just itching to start something new. It didn't help that I had the new issues of Crochet Today and Interweave Crochet. I really loved the Tunisian Lace Ascot (scroll waaaay down), but I only have a size G tunisian hook. The pattern calls for a size J and when I tried it as written, the piece was about 2 inches wide. The pattern doesn't list the multiple of stitches needed to increase the width, so I whipped out a book I bought when I was 14:




And found a similar tunisian stitch pattern and voila!



Isn't it strange how differently the color turned out? The left is closest to real life. I managed to hide the wonky bottom too.

Labels: Bitchin' and Moanin', Crochet, Socks, WIPs

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December 31, 2007

I took advantage of Offspring's and Hubster's absence and dedicated the day to the sweater that shall not be named:







Top: blurry V-neck detail
Bottom: Full Frontal

I'll be knitting away on the right strap 'til the total length matches the back, then do it all over again for the left.

Andrea, I promise I am not purposely getting these two-color shots. My home has the worst indoor lighting ever (really! it's quite dark, even during the day.) and my camera is crap. And thank you for the spelling correction. I pramise I con spell nancholonce...I just blonked out (*hee*)

Wendy, I am using Caron Simply Soft for the sweater. I'll probably pin it then spray it lightly with water to block.

Now, if anyone has figured out which sweater I'm making, please refrain from saying it aloud. Bron made one this year...or was it last year? Oh I don't know, but I know for sure she's made one. If the name is spoken, I may be cursed...

Labels: Knitting, WIPs

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December 29, 2007

When last I left you, I had given up on template tweaking* and I'm still not sure if things are working correctly. (The bling doesn't seem to show up on all feeds.**)

What's a girl to do? Dishcloth Therapy of course!




I began with Yvonne's Double Flower. Really this pattern is best suited for a solid, not a variegated. I was pretty proud of myself with this one. DPN knitting is not one of my strengths and things did get a little hairy toward the end. There were almost too many stitches for the dpns and I was constantly worrying that stitches would slip off. Compound this with a husband who insisted on talking to me and then got cranky when I was snappish. He even had the nerve to suggest I find I hobby that doesn't make me so bitchy. Please note, dear Hubster, it isn't the knitting that makes me cranky...it's the family members and animals that disturb me when I'm knitting.

After casting off the double flower, I immediately started Diamond Edge.




I'm afraid it's a bit wonky on one edge, but it's a dishcloth (how's that for nonchalance...really the wonky edge is driving me nuts...)

Now, lest you think I have abandoned the sweater that shall not be named, I provide picture proof of a completed back:




Check out the curl on that bad boy. Serious blocking is in my future, no? Is this much curl normal?!



*It doesn't really take an hour to republish my blog, it just feels that way.
**And really I shouldn't have so many feeds, but I can't even begin to figure out how to consolidate and also let everyone know...

Labels: FO's, Knitting, WIPs

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December 28, 2007

I spent much of today working on the sweater that shall not be named. I'm hoping that by being somewhat secretive, I will finish it. (I know this makes NO sense, but to me it does.) Got to the armholes and now I'm in the danger zone. That part of the instructions where I am directed to work in stockinette until piece measures X inches. It's at this point that I begin to look at other patterns or go stash diving. Surely Knitter's ADD really exists?




Detail: right armhole (I'm working on the back of the sweater)




General progress pic.

Labels: Knitting, WIPs

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December 25, 2007

First, let me introduce you to evil incarnate:





Yeah, yeah. You're thinking "Oh, he looks so sweet! How can you say such a thing about the precious?"

Because the precious is evil and vile. Because the precious won't let you eat in peace. So you think "Oh, I'll just let the precious have a little nibble of pizza crust." And then precious does this. Can you see the swelling? I'm telling you, folks, I'm going to lose a finger. And I'm sure the hours of knitting I insisted on doing despite the injury have nothing to do with the throbbing and irritation...(the yarn drags right across it.) No, it's not the knitting. It's the poisonous demon cat venom.

Now on to better things...projects!
First, I will never understand teen-agers. Yesterday, the Stray saw my guacamole mitts and wanted a pair for himself...in black of course. Really! IMHO, they are girly, but I guess they are edgy to him. So I whipped up a pair. He has been wearing them ever since. Even reported that he slept in them last night. I'm glad he likes them. Offspring also requested a pair, so I'm thinking on starting a pair tonight. (Remember, vacation=wee hours crafting.)

Also started another baby project: Pebble. I'm done with all but weaving a few ends and Finding and sewing on the buttons. I'll have to go buy the buttons. Something natural I'm thinking.





And if this wasn't enough, I cast on for the Short Row Rib scarf. yay! Another scarf I won't finish!

Labels: Cats, Family Fun, WIPs

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December 22, 2007

You know, the time when everyone is taking a break from blogland because of the holidays. That time when I am on vacation from teaching and I blog when no one else is!

First I want to begin with a post that I've been meaning to do since the Spring (and on a Friday, too.)* It was then that this had hit the newsstands:






Imagine my surprise when I opened it and discovered that a pattern I owned was considered "vintage crochet":






And just to prove that I owned it (and bought it back in '88):

You know you've been crocheting a long time when something from your pattern stash is brought back and redone as a "blast from the past." It's a little like finding out that TV shows from your childhood are Nick at Nite worthy.

Needless to say, I've started a few "projects". I'm not sure if "project" is the right term. It's more like zen/yoga knitting. I'm just knitting to be knitting:






I had started the chevron scarf from the book "Last-Minute Knitted Gifts":





But decided I didn't like it. Off it went to the frog pond and now I'm doing a different pattern:




And there are tons of other things I want to get started on as well:

• A Baby Surprise Jacket
• Fetching
• Nosegay Doily

Just to name a few.

Next Time: More thoughts on my crafty self...

Labels: Flashback Fridays, WIMs and Wants, WIPs

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June 27, 2007

I must begin by telling you I'm not the brightest bulb. It takes me a little longer to catch on. I've been working away on a Baby Surprise Jacket for about ummmm two weeks? And for the life of me I couldn't figure out what was going on. I was increasing for cuffs about 30 rows into the project and working on neck fullness in the middle. Even looking at pics of what went where didn't help.

But today was different:



It clicked!

Labels: EZ, Knitting, WIPs

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June 23, 2007

As I promised myself, ends were woven and Amy is now happily blocking.


With and without a cat.

Hopefully I can get her seamed up this week-end.

The improvements I've made thus far:

1. I actually made the right size.
2. I made the neckline less stair-like by using some dc togethers and forgoing the instructions to "turn and sl st to the next dc."
3. I couldn't get row gauge, so I had to add three rows of plain dc at the bottom.
   

Labels: Cats, WIPs

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June 19, 2007

I'll begin with Amy. Remember I started a greeny blue tweedy version?




Well, this is destined to be frogged. I'm quite disgusted with myself. I know that yarn companies put few ounces in multicolored yarn skeins. It is one of the first things I ever learned about yarn. (Knowing this fact doesn't help me understand it, though.) So how I could forget that the colorway I was using was 3 oz worth of yarn and not 3 1/2 I'll never know. 4 3 oz skeins does NOT equal 4 3 1/2 oz skeins...it doesn't matter how dead on the gauge is.

So no progress there. I am done with the back of a new pink Amy, though.

Baby Surprise Jacket
When you see this yarn, you will understand why I was determined to use it.



Isn't this the coolest?! The photo really is not doing justice to the rainbow effect. It truly is Roy G. Biv-ing. I think it will be a great baby jacket if I actually finish.

Unfortunately, I haven't even finished the decrease section. Progress: slow.

The Thing
I thought of making this a post to itself. I really HATE the Thing. And I now understand Yarn Snobbery. If you are bi-craftual (Ravelry has it's own vocabulary...awesome!) then you may understand. All my crafting life I've been an acrylic user. And I mean the cheap Red Heart petroleum based stuff. Most of my work tended to be crochet afghans. RH works for this purpose and works well, so I never understood the brou-ha-ha. But now I'm trying to knit with it. (My knitting to this point has been Caron Simply Soft scarves and cotton dishcloths.) I am not an eloquent enough writer to describe the absolute....awfulness of this stuff. My wrists hurt and the work looks like crap:
I'll admit that I'm not the best knitter or photographer. But let's compare the work above (3 increase sections, a cardigan border and buttonhole and 2 stripes) with the Gift of Friendship Scarf I recently cast on:


Fingering weight merino from Knit Picks, peeps. Tell me yarn doesn't make a difference (and BTW, not much progress on the scarf, either.) I've just given up on the Thing and I'm futzing with something right now that will still get me to my goal of making a sweater. Even though the yarn was awful, the exercise itself was not futile. There is much I learned. All that was really left of the Thing was two color pattern and some fancy cast offs. Right now in my knitting life I don't care about that, so I just set the Thing to the side.

Jury Duty
I go, I sit, I read, I freeze. Still not picked (*sniff*) but still having to go every morning...without a project to work on. I really hope I'm either picked or excused tomorrow 'cause The Stray is at Band Camp (I'll give you a moment to say it....One time, at band camp....) and they are having a end of camp "show" on Thursday and I want to see it.

Labels: Bitchin' and Moanin', Crochet, Knitting, WIPs

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June 17, 2007

The Right Way- Approximately 2 hours
Be realistic and willing to compromise when choosing yarn. Gauge can be a big help when choosing yarn. In my case I'm looking for anything that will get me 6 stitches to 1"...probably not a heavy worsted...maybe DK or sport. Surely that stuff can be found in my stash.

Take the time to do a gauge swatch. Don't worry about how many needles sizes you have to go down. Use the same ones you plan to use for the project.

Read the pattern. Look up anything you may need to know.

Cast on in a quiet environment.

Knit joyfully. (Picture lavender scented candles in the background, mood music, calm quiet cats)

The Wrong Way-Approximately 6-8 hours
Find the yarn you want to use and don't budge. Does it really matter that it's worsted? I can make it work. I knit really loosely anyway, so going down a needle size (or five) isn't going to hurt that much. By jiminy! I'm using this stuff if it kills me. It makes the coolest marled, rainbow-stripey pattern that would totally rock for a baby sweater.

Knit a really nice gauge swatch with a chain selvage edge. Measure and discover it is 4 stitches per inch. Get impatient and knit 1/4 of 2 more gauge swatches. Decide that 5 stitches per inch is good enough. It's a baby sweater, at some point , some baby will fit in it (but probably won't be able to move due to the armor-like density of the fabric created by a worsted weight yarn and size 3 needle.)

Cast on 114 out of 160 stitches on a size 3 straight needle. (Not a long enough tail for the long-tail cast on)

Cast on 140 stitches on the same size 3 straights. Decide the stitches will fit, but just barely. Stop and search for size 3 circs somewhere around 24" (just like the directions say). Discover a 36-incher, and decide to use them. (Note: these are by no means the same used for the pseudo-swatch made earlier.)

Cast on approximately 130 stitches and lose count. (Offspring comes in with ice-cream.)

Re-count stitches. Cast on about 20 more and lose count (Phone rings.)

Re-count stitches. Finally get 160. Knit the first row. Decide the 36" long circs are too unwieldy (EZ told me they were, but I was brash and over confident). Hunt down a pair of size 3 29 inchers. (Note again: NOT the needles used for pseudo-swatch.)

Work first seven rows of the decrease pattern with the new needles. Fight the cat to retrieve the 36" circs I never put away.

Read ahead briefly and panic. Wait! I need more step-by-step! EZ, I love ya' girl, but I've been brainwashed by the capitalist knit pigs and can't understand your friendly, conversation-like style of pattern writing!

Take a deep breath and relax. Become one with the knitting. Read directions again. Use the force, Luke. All is clear. I understand. Ah.

When blogging about the experience, be sure to ask myself why the h*ll it was so important to get 6 stitches per inch. An especially frustrating realization, since the whole must-do-what-book-says attitude completely defeats EZ's purpose. Oh well, some baby is going to need this armor coat.

I may actually end up with a Baby Surprise Jacket when all is said and done!

Labels: EZ, stupid me, WIPs

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June 15, 2007

I don't know what came over me last night, but I started three more projects: Pink Amy, doily and The Gift of Friendship Scarf

That means I now have

• 2 Amys
• 2 afghans
• 1 doily
• 1 scarf
• 1 Thing
  
• and a partridge in a pear tree

on my plate.

Labels: Wild Hairs, WIPs

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June 13, 2007

Just a couple of pics with no real theme

First: The New and Improved Amy. I'm working it in the smaller size.






Second: Kitties!







Here's the conversation I imagine:
Topper: I don't know, man. It sure doesn't feel as good as the doily.
Bat: Dude! Just keep sittin' there! I'm tellin' ya wearables are the bestest!

Labels: Cats, WIPs

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June 12, 2007

Amy
Originally uploaded by topperarnold

Not really, but I thought it was funny.

So here she is basking on her towel. Hopefully I can get ther sewn up and photographed tomorrow. Feelin' kind of lazy right now and I need to be somewhere by 7. Hope you don't mind if I forgo the details for right now. I promise they will be posted later.

You know, I perfectionist would probably line up all the little openwork designs perfectly and pin them.....

Labels: WIPs

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June 7, 2007

Earlier you saw the swatch.

Now, the project.






The first 5 rows of Amy.

This gauge thing is kind of cool. I took the time to make my gauge match the pattern and you know what? When I measure the sweater, it is exactly what it should be!

Whoda thunk it?

Labels: WIPs

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A gauge swatch peeps. Can you believe it?

Labels: WIPs

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June 6, 2007

The day began with promise (picture Cinderella waking up so the sunrise, birds chirping and helping her dress.) No errands to run, great trash on A&E today (City Confidential, American Justice), plenty of WIP and me time (would calling it WIP ME time be too risqué?)

Then this:





Rest assured the cat still lives (he is the sweetest one, you know), but the Cinderella moment was gone (now it was more like evil step-mother.)

I took a deep breath and decided to rescue today's WIP from the closet:




You'll notice that Asher Dashery is thinking "Whoa!! What a mess! I can't even get in here! (The WIP itself is the cream colored blob off to the left and kind of in the middle of the pic)

So I rescue the WIP and decide that perhaps I should clean the closet.

Mere nanoseconds later I discover another cat interfering with my craft:





I just gave up in frustration and here I am posting.

Really, though. I need to clean that closet.

sigh....

Labels: Cats, WIPs

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May 27, 2007

But I will spare you and consolidate...

50 Book Challenge (or What Would Have Been the 4th Post)
The Shrone posted something about this at Crochetville. Of course, she started it in January. True to form, I am coming in to this late. You know the saying about beats and drummers. Some of us don't even hear the drummers.

1. A Vision of Light by Judith Merkle Riley
2. In A Dry Season by Peter Robinson

Only 48 to go!! I could have totally been done if Lori had challenged us to buy 50 books this year...

Progress Pic and Batrick le Fatrick (or What Would Have Been the 5th Post)
Among the many WIP's that I really have (I just tell myself I have 2 at a time), is the Baby Albert Coat from Book 1 of Sally Melville's series The Knitting Experience: The Knit Stitch. It's a mini-version of the Einstein Coat (which is on my list of WIM's). Only one more sleeve to go!





I'm also including a pic of Bat. He is the hardest of my cat children to photograph. Part of the difficulty is my inability to take good pictures period. Another difficulty is his coloring and the general lack of lighting in my house. I was quite pleased with this shot, though.




There was actually a better pic, but I have no idea how to remove "green eye". Red eye I can manage.

Summer of Givin' (or What Would Have Been The 6th Post)
After going through all the mags today, I discovered that I now have a nice stack of mags I don't need. It is a sin to throw away patterns, so I am now going share; however, I want to make it a little entertaining...and maybe grab a little traffic while I'm at it. Basically, instead of saying "here's what I've got, who wants it?" I'll be coming up with ways to award them as "prizes." Since I plan to organize patterns and stash this summer, there will be lots o' easy-as-pie mini contests.

My first mini contest begins....NOW!

The Prize:
This Pattern


The "Challenge"
Here are the lyrics:


Can you name the song and artist?
Send me an e-mail with the correct answer and be entered in the drawing that will take place June 10th*







*some of you may be thinking "isn't Netter still waiting for her prize from last year's contest?" Yes, it's true, she is. But I've turned over a new leaf!

Labels: 50 Book Challenge, Summer of Givin', WIPs

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May 17, 2007

Did you know that WIPs can get dusty? Yeah, they can. I discovered that when I pulled out the Seraphina yesterday (now the world knows how badly I keep house.)

I did not make as much progress as I had hoped on the Seraphina. The students were a little restless and I had to do a little frogging. To top it off, every time the Stray walked into my classroom (did I mention he was a student at the school where I teach?*), I had to look at the wizard's hat that looked a little too big. Finally, I just took it from him and said I was making another. So instead of Bones and Seraphina last night it was Bones and Wizard Hat (This is the third time I've done this hat...It does indeed save time when you check gauge.)





*No, it's not as bad as it sounds...he and Offspring met in middle school, then parted ways at high school. They reconnected when I started my current teaching stint...Talk about meant to be...

Labels: stupid me, WIPs

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May 16, 2007

Remember this number?





Well, I'm going to work on it today. I think the last time I picked it up was the day this picture was taken....

Labels: WIPs

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Apparently, there are blogging "rules" and an "About Me" section is mandatory. Well, here you are:

I blog because I like to. I am a curmudgeon. What else would you like to know? Ask me, I'm happy to oblige!

Hub-a-Dub: Claims he is being punished for sins from a past life.

Offspring: A teen-aged girl who gets away with murder

The Stray: Offspring's boyfriend. We fed him and now he won't leave.

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• He's a Keeper
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• Ooops! Sorry for the confusion!
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• One Step Closer to Twitchysticks

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